Water Damage Causes in Buildings | SERVPRO of East Cobb

3/17/2023 (Permalink)

Experienced water damage in your commercial building? SERVPRO of East Cobb can help you get dried out quickly.

Water is one of the top causes of damage in commercial buildings. Even a simple leaky toilet can lead to substantial damage when left undetected long-term.

When you own or manage a commercial building, you have a lot on your plate, and catching every leak or drip can feel like an impossible challenge. Get to know the most leak-prone areas in your building so that you can take proactive steps to prevent a total disaster.

3 Common Sources

An interruption in your business is never a good thing. Closing the doors because of water damage will not only cost you thousands in repairs and restoration, but it can also lead to income losses while you wait for everything to be cleaned up.

Start regularly checking water leak-prone areas as part of your everyday maintenance so that you can catch a problem before it causes damage.

1. The Roof - A leak in your roof can happen as a result of a severe weather event or from age and general deterioration. When left unchecked, a roof leak can cause damage on every level of your building. Clean your gutters year-round and check your roof quarterly and after every major wind or ice event to catch and repair issues quickly.
2. Bathrooms - Pipes on toilets and sinks can leak from a hole the size of a pin and are the cause of nearly 15% of all water loss in commercial buildings. Assign multiple members of your maintenance crew to checking all the bathrooms for dripping noises or standing water. Stop leaks quickly to avoid severe damages.
3. Water Heaters/HVAC/Boilers. If your building has large appliances that have a water line or create condensation, there is potential for them to leak. Drains and loose pipe connections can lead to leaks that might be hard to find. Check for puddles near your heating and cooling units, and pay attention to water pressure changes in your building. These are both indicators of an issue that if caught early can be stopped before disaster strikes.

Take Preventive Steps

With the exception of a natural disaster that leaves your building flooded, most forms of water damage can be prevented when an event is addressed quickly. Prepare your building and your staff now and you can lower your risks greatly.

Start by preparing a maintenance plan that covers your whole building and ensures someone is looking at plumbing regularly.

If you have a plan that isn’t cutting it or don’t even know where to begin on a plan, let us at SERVPRO work with to create an Emergency Ready Plan that will break down your response process step by step.

Make sure your plan includes every fixture in your building, including any kitchen sinks. Find your water shut-off valves throughout the building, and train several staff members to turn the water off in the event of an emergency.

Moving quickly will always be the best way to control damages during a water event. Handle the immediate situation first as safely as possible, then call SERVPRO. We are available ²⁴⁄₇ to start your restoration process quickly so that you can keep business going.

Experienced water damage in your commercial building? Contact us to get dried out quickly.

The Crucial Components of a Fire Evacuation Plan | SERVPRO of East Cobb

3/17/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is here to help when fire damage happens. Our highly trained technicians can restore your home while also restore your peace of mind.

Residential fires are unpredictable, which can be catastrophic for both your family and the safety of your property. Preparedness is the key to protecting the ones you love, even when the situation catches you completely off-guard.

Unlike residential flames, being prepared doesn’t just happen out of the blue! You’ll need to plan ahead of time to ensure that your entire family can escape a fire unharmed. Escaping quickly and securely is entirely dependent on the plan you create based on your own home layout and the fire threats that lurk within.

Consider this useful information as you and your family work together to form a fire escape master plan:

Consider All of the Possibilities

Your East Cobb home, like many others across the country, contains a variety of fire threats. Identifying the potential dangers lurking in your home will help you understand what might necessitate an escape plan and emphasize its importance.

Knowing the primary causes of fires can also help you prevent an emergency before you have to put your plan into action! Staying cautious while cooking, warming up with a space heater and using electrical gadgets could help you avoid disaster all together.

Small fires may not necessitate an emergency evacuation and can be controlled with extinguishing procedures and a quick response time. Developing a communication plan when a crisis of any size arises can allow your loved ones to know whether a rapid evacuation is necessary.

Timing Is Everything

A quick escape is the most important component to include in your fire evacuation strategy since it will allow you to get to safety if flames erupt. Without a strategy, you and your family will have no idea where to go when a fire breaks out, which can be deadly in the face of flames.

Develop an exit strategy for each room in the house and keep the path to safety clear of clutter at all times. It also helps to make sure your smoke alarms are operational so that you can respond on time when a fire is present.

2 Ways to Exit

Locate two exits in each room of your home that everyone can get to as fast as possible when disaster is on the rise. Two exits are essential so that you can get out even if one route is closed.

Show your family the main escape points you’ve chosen, and practice your evacuation a few times so they know where to go. If your home has multiple stories, a fire escape ladder is a great investment that can help each family member leave unharmed.

Reach out to SERVPRO when your East Cobb home suffers a fire emergency! We can repair the destruction and return you to a damage-free residence.

Call SERVPRO After a Fire Disaster | SERVPRO of East Cobb

3/14/2023 (Permalink)

For quick repairs following a fire, get in touch with our team at SERVPRO of East Cobb.

There are lots of ways we can be affected by disasters. While any kind of damage to your home or business can be a challenge to deal with, when a fire starts, it is likely to leave a path of destruction in its wake.

Fires spread quickly, and even when the flames don’t do damage, the smoke and soot will.

Cleaning up after a fire is a daunting task for anyone, but with neighbors like SERVPRO, you won’t have to walk the path of recovery alone. You can call us at any time of day or night, and we will work with you to get back on your feet fast.

Our recovery process is thorough, which means your property will be back to preloss condition in no time.

Our Initial Move

After a fire and once you and your family are safe and secure, make SERVPRO one of the first calls you make.

We are available to take your call 24⁄7, and we will start your recovery process over the phone by gathering as much information about your unique circumstances as possible. We will design a plan that will fit your needs and cover your entire restoration. Our team will be headed your direction not long after you call in order to further assess and begin cleaning.

Time to Get to Work

Once the assessment of your property is complete, work will begin immediately to secure your home and ensure no further damage occurs. This may include boarding up broken windows or doors or even tarping a portion of your roof if it is damaged.

As soon as everything is secured from the elements, our team will use industry-leading equipment and techniques to begin removing smoke and soot penetrations in walls, floors and ceilings. We will even check your furniture for odors and sanitize every affected surface in your home.

The Most Crucial Step

After the cleaning, removal and sanitizing the real restoration starts. This might include hanging new drywall, sealing windows and doors or even replacing carpet. Whatever is needed to make your home or business look good as new will be handled quickly and professionally.

If a portion of your home had to be demolished during the cleanup process, we will rebuild it. Our crew is experienced in every aspect of restoration, including construction. With a highly trained staff and all the specialty tools required, it is our goal to get your life back on track.

For rapid repairs following a fire, get in touch with our team at SERVPRO of East Cobb! We will work as quickly as possible to return you to a safe and fully restored property.

When Water Invades Your East Cobb Bathroom | SERVPRO of East Cobb

3/9/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is here 24/7 to provide emergency water restoration, drying and extraction services to home and business owners of Cobb County!

Water damage can happen just about anywhere in and around your East Cobb home. Water can sneak into almost any corner of your home, whether up in your attic or below in your
basement.

Your bathroom is a common source of water loss, which you might not be surprised to learn. Most, if not all, bathroom fixtures use water, which brings with it the unavoidable risk of leaks and moisture problems.

While your bathroom may be vulnerable to water damage, you can easily manage this risk. You can keep your East Cobb bathroom water-free by understanding what causes these bathroom disasters and how to avoid them.

What’s Causing Bathroom Water Damage?

It isn’t hard to imagine why the bathroom is such a popular place for water emergencies. We've all had a slow-draining sink or a leaky toilet at some point! While some of these issues may be resolved with DIY solutions, others may persist, resulting in a full-blown water calamity.

Clogs along plumbing lines, water fixture malfunctions, a compromised toilet seal and poor ventilation can all cause water damage in the bathroom. Water can collect almost anywhere in the bathroom, including behind walls, under the floor, around bathroom appliances, and even up on the ceiling.

You may choose to ignore these issues, believing they are insignificant, or even completely disregard them, but doing so may result in costly and time-consuming repairs in the future.

Keep Everything Running Smoothly

Now that you know where water can sneak in, it’s time to fight back and protect your East Cobb bathroom! Dealing with bathroom clogging as soon as you notice your drains slowing is a good place to begin. Clear any clogs in your sink or shower drain as soon as possible to avoid a larger backup of water in the future.

Poor ventilation in your bathroom doesn’t just lead to water loss—it can also create the perfect breeding ground for mold. Keep your bathroom fan running after you take a shower, and open a window if your bathroom has one, to ensure moisture has somewhere to go.

Check Up on Your Bathroom Fixtures

Constant maintenance is another simple way to avoid water damage in the bathroom. Inspecting your bathroom for leaks or plumbing problems on a regular basis can help you catch
water damage early.

You may have a leak if you notice wet puddles around your bathroom fixtures, a foul odor, cracked sealant, or loose toilets or faucet knobs. Even if these issues appear minor at first, they can quickly escalate, so have plumbing issues checked and resolved as soon as possible.

Water emergencies can usually be avoided, but even with your best efforts, problems can arise. If you’re faced with water damage out of the blue, SERVPRO of East Cobb can rapidly repair your losses. We can get your bathroom back in shape before any more water damage ensues.

Dealing with unexpected water damage? Call us day or night, and we’ll restore your property to
its former glory!

Prepare Your Business for Our Most Severe Weather Threats | SERVPRO of East Cobb

2/20/2023 (Permalink)

If your business has suffered storm or flood damage call SERVPRO of East Cobb today. We make storm and flood damage "Like it never even happened."

Running a business presents new challenges to overcome each day in order to keep things running smoothly. Along with their daily duties, business owners juggle a variety of responsibilities, with one of the most crucial being to safeguard the entire workplace from the unexpected.

Unfavorable weather is a serious threat to businesses. Each season brings a new set of weather hazards to our area, and their effects are powerful enough to throw businesses off-track
or force them to close permanently.

Preparing your business for the possibility of severe weather can be as simple as understanding what Mother Nature may throw at you. Here are some of the most prevalent weather calamities
for which your East Cobb business should be ready:

Tornadoes and Dangerous Winds

• Tornado season here in Georgia starts around the month of March and lasts until around May—or even well beyond these days. Tornadoes tend to have a devastating impact on East Cobb homes and businesses any time they blow through our area.
• Planning for tornadoes before these troublesome months is the best way to ensure you and your team are fully prepared. Conducting regular tornado drills, designating a safe shelter and developing a thorough readiness plan (a SERVPRO Emergency Ready Plan, for example) can provide your organization with the resources it needs to survive a twister.

Raging Floodwaters

• Flooding is among the most destructive natural disasters, and businesses often get hit the hardest when floodwaters flow through and destroy inventory, equipment and commercial buildings entirely.
• Understanding your flood risk based on where your business is located is the greatest approach to brace for these raging rapids. Knowing when floods are likely to occur in your area and how destructive they may be can allow you to appropriately prepare your workplace.

Heavy Rainfall

• Rain might not have as much of an impact on your building’s structure as strong winds or flooding, but it can leave you with substantial water damage. And this threat brings much more to the table than you might imagine; mold and mildew can form as a result of water damage caused by heavy rain.
• Waterproofing your business from the inside out could save you money on costly repairs and lengthy mold remediation. An understanding of East Cobb’s weather patterns and a few safety precautions around your commercial building will keep you in business, rain or shine!

When severe weather impacts your business, turn to SERVPRO to handle your losses. We can rapidly get you back up and running before you know it.

What to Do When You Suspect a Leaky Roof | SERVPRO of East Cobb

2/20/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help if your home has suffered water damaged. Call us 24/7 for emergency restoration and drying services.

You may not realize it, but your roof works extremely hard to protect your property. When severe weather strikes, your roof protects both the inside and outside of your East Cobb home. But
occasionally, after incidents like these, roof damage can go undetected, and leaks can develop over time.

A roof leak can cause a slew of problems for your house that will only worsen as time passes. A weakened infrastructure, worsening of present roof damage, water that travels down to the inside of your home and mold growth can all occur when your roof has a leak.

Avoiding these property problems can be simple as long as you are quick to find the source of roof leakage. Use these measures to aid in your search for roof leakage to keep that much-needed roof over your head:

Determine the cause...When you suspect a roof leak, you may be unsure where to begin. The best place to start is by determining the source and location of water infiltration.

Windy weather causes roof damage, which in turn can lead to mold and water damage. East Cobb is frequently hit by severe wind events such as tornadoes, so after these weather threats
pass through our area, you should inspect your roof to ensure that everything is in working order. Water can enter your roof and find its way down to your home through clogged gutters,
damaged shingles and chimney damage after a storm.

Neglecting roof damage from storms and other events is another reason leaks can form. Putting off repairs can have disastrous consequences, so it's critical to schedule regular roof inspections to address these issues.

Search for the signs....Typically, when a roof springs a leak, it won’t be long before you start to notice changes inside your home. Roof leaks reveal their hiding place when dark stains, an
unavoidable stench and water dripping from the ceiling appear.

If your home has an attic, this is the first place you should search when you’re looking for signs of a roof leak. You may notice wet spots and wet roof decking while searching. Mold growth in the attic or the exterior of your home is another clear indication water has found its way inside.

Although your roof may not always show signs of a leak, there are some warning signs that can point you in the right direction. If you inspect your roof after a storm and discover warped or missing shingles, you may have discovered the source of the leak.

If water damage sneaks into your home due to a roof leak, we can handle the mess. Our SERVPRO team can rapidly restore the damage before it gets any worse!

Bring Winter Weather Safety on the Road | SERVPRO of East Cobb

1/24/2023 (Permalink)

Let SERVPRO help when winter storms cause water damage to your home or business. We can make winter water damage "Like it never even happened."

It’s one thing to be caught off-guard by snowfall at home, but being caught in a snowstorm on the road is a whole other ballgame. Hazards like hidden black ice, strong winter winds and
snowfall that obstruct your vision can make driving a real challenge in the winter.

East Cobb might not be blanketed in snow every winter, but every now and then, snowstorms make a surprise appearance. It can be quite nerve-racking if you’re on the road during this rare
occurrence, but preparing ahead of time will allow you to keep your cool.

With a few extra precautions, you can bring winter preparedness on the go. You’ll be driving safely in a winter wonderland in no time—if we have one this winter!

Pack an Emergency Kit

Keeping an emergency pack in your home is essential for being prepared for the worst, but what if disaster strikes while you’re driving? Whether you encounter snow on the road in East Cobb
or on a winter road trip, having a winter emergency kit on hand can save your life.

Keeping emergency supplies in your car will help you keep comfortable if you’re stopped on the side of the road waiting for the storm to pass.

Take It Slow

Driving in inclement weather is difficult enough; don’t make it any harder for others on the road by driving recklessly. Drive slowly and keep a safe distance from the other cars around you.
Try to keep calm, and keep an eye out for any winter hazards hiding on the road as you drive.

If conditions become too intense or you begin to panic, pull over to the side of the road, turn on your hazard lights and wait for the storm to pass.

Prepare in Advance

Nothing is more annoying than jumping in your car only to discover that your windshields are covered in frost and your car temperature is below zero! Wait until your car has warmed up and the frost has cleared before driving to ensure that nothing is blocking your visibility.

If inclement weather is in the forecast, staying at home is the best way to avoid a slip-up on the road. Always check the weather the night before a trip to determine whether it is safe to travel.

Making sure your automobile is in good shape before you go will also help you avoid breaking down at the worst possible time. Before trekking through the winter weather, check your car battery, make sure your tank is full and inspect your tire tread.

If winter catches us off-guard this year, our team is ready to help! SERVPRO can repair the damage caused by extreme weather and return you to a safe home.

Winter Wonderland Season | SERVPRO of East Cobb

1/16/2023 (Permalink)

When winter weather gets rough call SERVPRO. We here to help restore your water or fire damaged property 24 hour a day, every day!

Winter officially starts on Dec. 21 this year, but according to where you look, winter likely looks incredibly different. In north Georgia, winter tends to creep in slowly as our mild temperatures lower gradually, while other areas move into winter fast as snow and ice seem to never end.

Regardless of where you are, winter comes with its own set of severe weather that can leave your property damaged and your family out in the rain (or snow…or fog…or, well, you understand).

When you understand all the potential hazards the season could carry, you can get your home ready so that your family stays safe.

Winter Around the Nation

Wet and mild, cold and full of snow are two ways that the upcoming winter has been described around the United States, creating a picture of a nation in two halves.

The Midwest area and areas around the East Coast can expect a winter that brings low temperatures and heavy amounts of snow that will last all season long. Out on the West Coast, temperatures will likely stay mild and more rain than snow will fall throughout the cold months.

While predictions can certainly vary over the months and according to the regions, the more prepared you are the more you can keep your property from incurring damages.

Winter Around East Cobb

Georgia weather is always a mixed bag, and winter is no exception. We can see anything from freezing temps to days in the 70s, sometimes within the same week.

December and January are our coldest months, and we average about two inches of snow for the entire winter season. While this winter is anticipated to be colder than average, we will still likely see more rain than snow.

Even without heavy precipitation this winter, when your home is prepared for anything you can snuggle under that heated blanket a little more peacefully.

Get Prepared

To be able to focus on that blanket and not the fear of weather related damage to your home, there are a few things you should do ahead of the season. The first thing is to get familiar with the kinds of winter storms that could threaten North Georgia.

Next, be sure you have at least two ways you can get weather alerts, and make sure one of them doesn’t need any kind of external power to work in the event a storm takes out your electricity.

A supply kit for emergencies is another way to prepare your home and your family for winter. Keep your kit in a safe location that can be accessed from an interior room, and take a look at its contents periodically to keep it seasonally appropriate. Pack one for the car, too, to stay safe in unexpected situations.

Even if we don’t see extremely low temperatures this season, weatherproofing your window frames and doors can protect your home from damaging moisture and help with your heat bill. Put a cover on your outdoor faucets, too, before our colder months hit to avoid frozen pipes in the morning.

Your roof protects your home all year, so give it a little extra attention before the weather gets really cold and wet to repair anything that has aged or broken. Cut tree limbs that have grown close to your home, and think about adding extra insulation to your attic or crawl space to help your home weather any storm.

Winter can feel like a magical season that wraps you in a fuzzy blanket with a cup of hot chocolate when you know your home is protected. Add SERVPRO to your contact list so you can take advantage of our 24⁄7 availability if your home is damaged during a storm and get back to all things comfy fast.

If you experience damage in a winter storm, call or contact us. We have the experience and equipment to get your home back to normal.

Decorate Safely This Season and Stay Fire-Safe | SERVPRO of East Cobb

12/21/2022 (Permalink)

If you have experienced a fire loss, SERVPRO is here to help 24/7 and can restore your property to preloss condition.

Can’t you just see this picture in your mind: glowing holiday lights, soft music and sweet smells wafting through the air? Taking in a concert at the Fox or at the Performing Arts Center, or shopping at the kids fair are all traditions of the seasons to look forward to.

It is easy to get lost in the wonder of this time of year, but we also need to be fire-aware during the season.

You can decorate safely and ensure you have preventive measures in place to protect your home. Paying close attention to the safety of your home means you can relax peacefully the whole season long.

Top Seasonal Hazards

Each year, there are 790 structure fires that start due to misuse of holiday decorations.

When decorations are hung too close to a heating source, they can become highly flammable. Christmas trees and candles also start a number of fires this time of year. These winter blazes can spread quickly and leave your home with extreme damages.

If you keep a real tree in your home, be sure to water it frequently and clean any needles that fall off. Artificial trees should have a tag that lists them as fire-resistant. If your artificial tree is several years old, consider replacing it to be sure that you have the safest version. Always unplug your decorations at night and any time you are away from home, and don’t overload your outlets.

Take Preventive Measures

You likely read that line “The stockings were hung from the chimney with care” to your family multiple times over the season, so make it your motto as you decorate your home.

• An average of 20 house fires a day are started by candles. Burn your holiday scents away from any materials, and be sure to blow them out when you leave the room. If your home has a fireplace, have it inspected and cleaned before you turn it on.
• Any decorations you use outdoors should be rated as such in order to prevent failures in wet weather. Hang lights securely with insulated nails so they do not fall and increase your risk of brush fires. Check with your community to ensure there are no current guidelines in place restricting decorations.
• Add checking your smoke detectors to your decorating duties and make sure you have one on every level that works appropriately. Practice your fire safety plan with everyone in your household, and make sure SERVPRO is in your contact list for fast recovery if your home is damaged during a fire.
• Have smoke or fire damage in your house? Contact us today to get cleaned up fast.

Enjoy the Holidays With a Partner Like SERVPRO of Standby | SERVPRO of East Cobb

12/21/2022 (Permalink)

If a water or fire disaster damages your home this holiday season, call SERVPRO so we can make it "Like it never even happened".

It’s time to get into the holiday spirit! There is a lot to do this holiday season, whether you plan to stay in and enjoy a hot cup of cocoa or venture out to join in our local holiday happenings.

East Cobb is the place to be when winter makes its grand arrival. No matter your age, you’re sure to find plenty of ways to get festive right here in town. Holiday light displays, Christmas tree
farms, holiday markets and other holiday happenings make winter here all the merrier.

The holiday season is the ideal time of year to get together with friends and family to spend quality time together. As soon as winter arrives, there will be a flurry of festivities, but these gatherings may not always go as planned.

Helping You Weather the Winter Season

• Winter in our area can be difficult for so many reasons. A pipe leak due to freezing temperatures, ice-clogged gutters and the numerous weather risks that these winter months offer can all have a negative impact on your property.
• Because snowfall in our area is not an annual occurrence, it’s well…let’s say…an adventure when we are unexpectedly hit with a winter storm. Even when you take action to prepare for the unexpected, storm damage is still capable of devastating your home.

Our team prepares for the worst-case scenario when winter rolls around to make sure we are fully equipped to handle any size disaster. Whether you experience an unexpected pipe burst or devastating winter weather destruction, we have the tools and resources needed to rapidly repair your residential damage.

We Are Always Here When You Need Us

No matter the situation this season, our team is ready to respond rapidly to your emergency calls. We are located right here in East Cobb, so you won’t have to wait out in the cold for us to arrive! Our 24/7 services allow us to be at the scene of a disaster as soon as possible.

If winter weather disrupts our community events and damages your home, we will be there fast to rapidly find a solution. Or if your holiday cooking erupts in flames, we can be there quickly to help you pick up the pieces. We recognize how important this time of year is, and where better to celebrate it than in the
coziness of your own home? When you partner with SERVPRO for repairs, we will get your home back to its pre-damage state just in time for the holidays.

If winter gives you any trouble this season, we are the experts to call. Our SERVPRO team will have your home back to its former glory before you know it.

Winterize Your East Cobb Home Ahead of Cold Weather | SERVPRO of East Cobb

11/2/2022 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO if you experience winter storms or freezing pipes, so we can help restore your water damaged property quickly and safely.

When winter arrives, there are so many things to look forward to. The excitement for this special time of year might make it easy to overlook all of the dangers that come with the delights of winter.

Your home is exposed to numerous types of damage from winter storms and freezing temperatures. Even if East Cobb isn’t visited by a blizzard this year, you should still take time to protect these problem areas around your property.

When winter hits, you should pay close attention to some of your home’s most vulnerable areas. Your house will be equipped to face any winter storm that might come our way!

Frozen Pipes

Burst pipes are a regular source of concern for homeowners, and the risk is heightened during the winter. When water freezes in cold temperatures, the added pressure can cause a pipe to break. What follows is a winter water crisis that could cause water to pour into your home.

A great way to make sure your pipes make it through the winter is to use insulation around any exposed piping. Additionally, since pipe bursts are brought on by cold winter weather, you should keep your garage or cabinet doors closed to keep these areas warm. Keeping your home warm and cozy can prevent your pipes from freezing up as well. 

Prepare Outdoor Water Sources

Just like your pipes, your outdoor water sources, such as your garden hose, can expand and burst when frigid weather freezes the water inside. Make sure to disconnect your house and drain any water left inside. Store your hose indoors through the end of winter to keep it functioning until the flowers finally blossom when spring arrives.

If your home uses a sprinkler system, make sure to winterize it as well by shutting off the main valve and draining any water that’s still inside.

Gutter Buildup

Your gutters are working hard to send any water that collects on your roof away from your property, but when ice and snow pile inside, this can lead to a clog that might seriously damage your home.

By clearing out your gutters of sticks, leaves and any other debris, you can avoid creating an ice dam that could ruin your home’s roof and foundation. Throughout the winter, be careful to frequently inspect your gutters to make sure the water is flowing freely and no icicles have made a home on the side of your roof. 

If a winter storm creates problems on your property, we are the expert crew to turn to. Our SERVPRO team can complete a restoration quickly to return you to a secure home.

Water Damage in Your Commercial Building | SERVPRO of East Cobb

11/1/2022 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO a soon as possible if you discover water damage in your place of business or commercial property today. We can help 24-hours a day!

Impacts on your business can be severe when it is affected by commercial water damage. Flooding often originates from right inside your building and can result in lost inventory and soaked floors. Burst pipes, leaky roofs and sewer backups all pose a threat to your building.

Natural causes are also extremely detrimental. Flash floods from heavy rains is one of the biggest risk factors we have in East Cobb, and we have seen extensive damages over the years.

If you are prepared before a flooding event can happen, you can move quickly and start recovery faster with less stress. No matter where the water comes from, take preventive steps to mitigate your losses.

Know Your Building’s Layout

Get to know the layout of your building in order to familiarize yourself with water shut-off valves. Make sure you know how to turn off the main water valve as well as the fire sprinkler system so that you can move quickly in the event of a leak.

Make this information a public part of your emergency plan so that several people are prepared to turn off the water if necessary. Cutting off the source of a flood can mitigate your losses greatly when you are able to move fast.

Know the Types of Water Involved

When your business is affected by water damage, it is important to understand the kind of water you are dealing with in order to respond appropriately.

White water. Plumbing failures are a common source of flooding that is not considered contaminated. White water floods are safe to clean up on your own when they are small in nature.

Gray water. Gray water originates from overflowing sink drains or toilets. This type of floodwater is contaminated but not dangerous.

Black water. When a sewer backs up or a storm creates flooding, it is called black water. This kind of water is contaminated and should only be handled by a professional.

Take Action Quickly

If you experience a flooding event, the faster you move, the more you can protect your property. Attempt to identify the source of the water and shut it off if possible.

Open windows and doors around the affected area to promote air circulation and expedite drying. Let anyone who may access your building know to avoid the flooded area.

Once you have taken these steps, document any damages you can safely see. Take pictures and notes to aid you in your insurance claim, and review these to determine if you need additional reinforcements in this part of your building to prevent further disasters.

Remember to Be Patient

Water damage you can see is typically only part of the problem. There may be hidden signs of water damage you should be watching for. Moldy framing, buckled spots in your flooring or soaked studs are all red flags that should be addressed quickly for potential damages.

If your building does experience a water event, call SERVPRO of East Cobb to get restoration started right away. We have ²⁴⁄₇ availability, industry-leading equipment and the trained professionals to handle your damage fast.

The drying process after a major flood can take more than a week. Stay patient while our team cleans and sanitizes. We will walk you through each part of the process and have your business back to normal before you even realize it.

When disaster strikes your commercial property, we’ll be there to help clean up and get you back in business quickly. Reach out ²⁴⁄₇ to get started!

Stop Flooding by Protecting Your Property, Inside and Out | SERVPRO of East Cobb

10/10/2022 (Permalink)

Experienced water damage in your home? Call SERVPRO of East Cobb to get the restoration process started right away.

Everyone needs to protect their property from flooding regardless of where you live. As little as an inch of water can do a good deal of damage and leave you with a large repair bill.

If your home is in an area that is not considered high risk for rising waters, you may not get a lot of help from private insurance or federal funding if you do experience flooding. This means the more you can do to mitigate your risks, the better it will be for your home and your wallet.

Understanding both our regional risks and your personal risks is the first step to protection. Our part of Georgia does not have a huge risk of flooding, but we do frequently see strong thunderstorms and heavy rains in the warmer months.

If you live near the Chattahoochee, your home may be at risk when its banks become overwhelmed.

When you know what kind of challenges you are facing, you can start putting preventive steps into place and stop flooding from the inside out.

Protecting Your Home From the Outside

Flooding doesn’t always come with early predictions, and sometimes a pop up storm that dumps huge amounts of rain will leave your yard soaked and your gutters struggling. When you prepare your home from the outside, you can save yourself from damage.

Clean your gutters regularly to keep them clear of debris and allow water to exit them correctly. Consider adding extended downspouts as an inexpensive and effective way to keep rain out of your house.

Use your landscaping strategically to stop water from ponding and to keep it out of your home. Gardens are highly effective at absorbing water by pulling it down through the soil into the roots. Organic materials such as mulch can also serve as protection when layered in a sloping manner adjacent to your home.

You could also invest in some upgrades that will add additional security in the event of a flood, including moving your electrical outlets up and anchoring a fuel tank if you use one. These can be pricey, but even an inexpensive rain barrel that catches water from your gutters can be a great way to stop flooding.

Adding one of these also comes with the bonus of cutting out the need for turning the hose on when it comes time to water all your plants!

Flood Protection From the Inside

One of the best ways to keep your home safe from water coming in from the outside is to have a well-shored up foundation and thoroughly sealed basement.

A sump pump can also make a huge difference in your basement or bottom floor of your home as it will pump water away before it has the opportunity to do any damage. If you are in an area that experiences a good deal of storm and flooding activity, consider a battery-operated pump that will work even if the power doesn’t.

When flooding doesn’t start outside, protecting your home comes down to how well-maintained it is.

Plumbing failures are one of the top causes of water damage in a home. If you have a dripping faucet, fix it.

Replace pipes that are aged, and add checking your toilets, sinks and showers for issues to your regular cleaning list so you can stop a problem before it starts.

A leak sensor can also be a great way to minimize damages. This device will alert you when water is somewhere it shouldn’t be, and oftentimes one can be included in your home security package.

Any kind of water that takes over your home will immediately cause damage to paper goods and photographs. Keep these items and anything else that is irreplaceable stored somewhere up high or in a water tight container.

Make sure your emergency plans and contacts are also stored somewhere safe, and put SERVPRO on the top of your list. We are available 24⁄7 to get your recovery started faster.

Experienced water damage in your home? Call SERVPRO today to get your restoration completed faster.

The Elements Mold Needs to Thrive in Your Home | SERVPRO of East Cobb

9/3/2022 (Permalink)

Don’t let mold take over your home! Contact our experts at SERVPRO of East Cobb.

Suddenly discovering signs of mold, like a musty odor or discoloration, can be overwhelming for homeowners. Your home’s structural integrity is only one of the worries that can arise when you spot spores lurking in your dwelling. 

Although it can be difficult to comprehend why mold develops in the first place, doing so is the best way to make sure that this issue never returns to your home. 

If you find mold developing in your house, you might have a lot of questions. Where could this infestation come from? Numerous elements combine to create the ideal conditions for mold growth in your house. 

Don’t let mold make itself at home! Learn the three main ingredients mold requires to thrive and what our team can do if you spot mold in your home: 

Excess Moisture 

If there’s one thing mold loves, it’s damp or wet conditions. Leaky appliances, plumbing failures or a severe flood infiltrating the home are a few ways moisture might pop up. Keep your home at a moisture level between 30 and 50% to keep mold at bay. 

A Place to Feed 

Mold needs a place to grow, and within your home, it may grow on almost any surface. Mold can appear on drywall, carpet, clothes and other surfaces that are ideal for the development of mold. 

Though mold can be found practically anywhere in your house, it likes to hang out in certain rooms that frequently house moisture, like your basement or bathroom. 

A Lack of Sunlight 

Mold can grow in any dark environment where sunlight and fresh air aren’t present. Light from the sun can fight mold growth and sometimes even eliminate it. 

Leaving your windows open is a terrific way to let beautiful sunlight in and excess moisture out. 

What Our Team Can Do for a Mold-Infested House 

It can be risky to deal with mold on your own, so calling on a team like SERVPRO of East Cobb to completely remediate your home can ensure the problem is gone for good. Since mold can grow and spread quickly, we offer 24/7 services and can be on the scene to begin the cleanup process fast! 

Once our team thoroughly inspects your property and determines the source and scope of your mold problem, we are able to begin to remediate your home to a safer and cleaner condition.

We use containment procedures to prevent mold from spreading and use antifungal methods to completely eradicate mold colonies. After that, you can return to your home unless some objects need to be cleaned or sterilized or some minor repairs need to be made. 

Don’t let mold take over your home! Contact our experts at SERVPRO, and we can create the perfect solution to return your home to its pre-mold condition.

SERVPRO Wants to Be Your Restoration Partner | SERVPRO of East Cobb

8/29/2022 (Permalink)

No matter what type of disaster you face, SERVPRO of East Cobb is only a phone call away.

We are locally owned, which means we know what business owners face in the daily running of a business. Trying to handle so many responsibilities and keeping your company successful can feel like walking on a tightrope, and a disaster striking could lead to everything falling apart.

Natural disasters can not be stopped, and sometimes they don’t even come with warning, but you can take the time to prepare yourself for them. And since damage doesn’t just affect your business, this means preparing your home as well.

In order to prepare yourself and your property, you should create an emergency plan. The American Red Cross has a wonderfully informative website that can provide a wide range of information on several different kinds of natural disasters that happen around the United States.

Once you have a general knowledge of disasters, you should investigate more localized information for the disasters we most commonly experience in Georgia. The East Cobb County website will be a great source before, during and after an emergency. You can also check out the state of Georgia’s website for statewide information.

While having an emergency plan in place is the first step in protecting your property and loved ones, damage may still happen to your home or business. Regardless of the cause, the sooner the response the more that can be restored.

That’s why SERVPRO, with day and night availability every day of the year, should be your first choice for restoration professionals.

Why Choose SERVPRO?

No two disasters will ever be alike. Disasters that produce the need for restoration are a common event across the United States, but every situation will be different.

Flooding is a great example of a common kind of disaster that will always result in many different restoration needs. While each year more than 14 million homes are at risk for floods, each home will require completely different restoration.

That is why our professionals are trained to handle a variety of situations. We take things one step at a time to ensure everything is dry.

SERVPRO is available around the clock. When a disaster happens, the most important part of recovery is how quickly you are able to respond. Once the immediate danger is over, a fast response means stopping additional damages and getting your home back to normal quicker.

If you experience flooding in your home or business, damages set in immediately to furniture, fabric items and painted surfaces. When water isn’t dried up quickly, mold will begin to take over, which can result in structural damages to your property. With our 24⁄7 availability, we can start your recovery quickly.

We do more than just basic damage restoration. We not only restore the damages your home took on, we cover the entire recovery project until things are back to normal.

This can mean helping you with everything from packing up unaffected items to rebuilding a room of your house if your restoration needs it. We also talk with your insurance company so that your claim is covered and used efficiently.

SERVPRO wants to make your process easier and pain-free while we get everything taken care of.

With any kind of disaster damages you may have, SERVPRO of East Cobb has your recovery completely covered. We have been around for years, and with our experience, training and industry-leading equipment, we can get things cleaned up and restored quickly. You will be back to your life faster than you thought possible.

When you suffer damage to your home or business, it’s important that you know who to call! Contact us today to get restoration started faster.

Pack a Disaster Kit Before a Calamity Strikes | SERVPRO of East Cobb

8/16/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb can repair the damage after a disaster leaves your house in ruins.

When it comes to natural disasters, you can never be too prepared. That is why putting together a disaster kit now, before the disaster strikes, can save your life if a disaster strikes East Cobb without warning. 

Our East Cobb community has experienced a plethora of natural disasters, some of which left homeowners without power or supplies for days. Since these occurrences are unpredictable, being prepared for a crisis when floodwaters begin to flow or tornadoes are forecast can be extremely helpful if you and your family are left without the essentials. 

Here’s what you can pack in your kit so you’ll have everything you need to endure any disaster: 

Food and water. Disasters could leave you without essentials like food and water for days. When packing food in your kit, it’s important to use nonperishable items to ensure they won’t expire when you need to eat them. Store around one gallon of water per member of your family per day for three days to ensure everyone has access to clean drinking water. 

Hand-crank radio. When a disaster strikes, you might not have access to your smartphone, so you’ll need to receive alerts the old-fashioned way to stay informed about the unfolding catastrophe! To stay informed about ongoing conditions, invest in a battery-powered or a hand-crank weather radio. 

Flashlights. Power outages are common during a natural disaster and can mean much more than simply a loss of electricity. A flashlight can help you navigate your home in the dark since you won’t be able to charge your smartphone for some time. Be sure to pack multiple flashlights along with extra batteries. 

First-aid kit. Even though it’s upsetting to think about it, disasters can result in injuries, and you might be forced to take care of them on your own. A first-aid kit filled with essentials like bandages, pain relievers, cold packs and other basic supplies can be helpful if anyone gets hurt during or after an emergency. 

Additionally, be sure to include any over-the-counter medications or prescriptions that members of your household depend on for their health or well-being in your kit. 

Being prepared for a disaster demands extra planning. A disaster kit is an ideal approach to make sure you and your family will withstand any crisis. While these are only a few items you should consider including in your kit, the American Red Cross has created a quiz so you can check if your kit is ready for any emergency!

Our SERVPRO team can repair the damage after a disaster leaves your house in ruins. We have experience responding to local emergencies, and we know what it takes to restore your home to its preloss condition. Contact us today. 

Keep Your Recreational Fire in Control | SERVPRO of East Cobb

8/11/2022 (Permalink)

If you have experienced fire or smoke damage, contact SERVPRO of East Cobb.

Building and enjoying a fire in your own backyard can lead to family memories that will last a lifetime. There is nothing better than roasting hot dogs, toasting marshmallows and spinning stories of years gone by.

We often turn to building a fire or using an open flame for many different reasons, including cooking a meal, controlling the pests or clearing out loose limbs and leaves. Even when we feel most in control of a fire, though, it can turn dangerous instantly. The National Park Service found that 85% of wildfires are started by humans.

Wildfires may seem like a foreign concept for us in Georgia, but when the summer turns dry and the humidity is low, a grass fire or fire in a wooded area can grow uncontrollable. Just this past June, we saw multiple high fire warning days in our county when the relative humidity took a plunge. The risk is always there for us, so staying fire-aware is essential.

This does not mean you can’t get out and enjoy your backyard. Grill your hamburgers, light your tiki torches and burn your marshmallows (they really are better burnt), but follow city regulations and put safety measures in place to mitigate your chances of danger.

Recreational Fire Hazards

While there are risks any time you light something, grills, campfires and fireworks are some of the top ways that outdoor fires are started. Each year, there are an average of 8,800 home fires started by improper use of a grill. Before you start cooking, be sure to check your propane tank or gas line, and never walk away from a hot grill.

If you are going to have a campfire, select a location safely away from structures or vehicles, and only use a match or lighter to start it. Once the fire is going, stick to approved firewood as fuel, and after all the chocolate has been eaten, make sure you watch the embers until they are completely out.

Fire pits are a backyard staple these days, but even with their convenience factor they should still be handled with the same safety measures as a regular campfire. If your fire pit is portable, be sure to never place it on a wooden surface or a surface with an overhang.

It may feel like an easy solution to use your fire pit to dispose of household waste or even left over construction materials from your latest project, but you should stick to wood approved for burning only.

If you choose to end one of your evenings with a bang, be sure to check local regulations for your area. Fireworks are legal in our county, but there are restrictions on usage hours. Fireworks are not allowed in county parks, so be sure you have proper space to both light and land your explosives away from those areas.

Other Outdoor Fire Hazards

Despite the risks they carry, fire and combustible materials serve a purpose in our lives. When fall sets in and our trees shed their leaves, we all know how essential cleanup is. If you live in an area that does not offer curbside pickup or other measures of waste disposal, burning them may be your only option.

Open burning is permitted from October through April, but is restricted to between the hours of 10 a.m. to sunset. Before you start a fire, be sure to check with the county for any warnings, and ensure you are meeting all the regulations required.

Cleaning up your yard is a helpful way of preventing wildfires, and combined with intentional landscaping it can actually protect your home as well. Make sure you understand what to burn and when before you start your fire so you can keep it from getting it out of control.

If you have yard tools, you probably have gas stored in a shed or garage as well. Improper storage can have terrible results, so make sure you only use approved containers and keep gas far out of the reach of kids. Gas should only be used as intended, which means reaching for the gas can when your campfire isn’t quite big enough is not a good idea.

Any time you are going to have a fire outside, be sure to check the local weather forecast and any regulations that may be in place for that day. If it is windy or has been dry for a while, skip the fire and save the marshmallows.

If you experience fire damage on your property, give SERVPRO of East Cobb a call. Our team is trained and ready with the proper equipment to restore as much of your home as we are able. Our goal is to get your restoration completed quickly and get you back to your life.

Burn safely outdoors. And save some chocolate for us! If you have experienced fire or smoke damage, contact us today to get restoration started faster.

Know Your Storm Alerts! | SERVPRO of East Cobb

8/3/2022 (Permalink)

If you suspect any damage to your home from a recent storm, call SERVPRO of East Cobb.

When it comes to scary weather, things can get confusing quickly. There are more than 42 different kinds of weather alerts from seven different categories. That is a lot of information to sort through in the midst of trying to protect your loved ones from harm.

Knowing what advisories and alerts mean allows you to quickly seek shelter as necessary. You can also take the time before a storm gets rough to prepare your property and minimize damages.

It is good to have knowledge on all varieties of weather and the alerts that can come along with it, but it is essential to understand the weather alerts we most commonly see right here in Georgia.

How Alerts Are Issued

So, where do weather alerts come from at all? A forecast is just a prediction, so how is the type of storm and its strength, location and length monitored? There are actually several different pieces of information that go into answering those questions.

You have likely heard the name the National Weather Service, but did you know they are the entity responsible for creating weather forecasts and then issuing any warnings that come along with them? Across the nation, there are six different regional offices and more than 100 forecasting offices, which means our forecast is localized and highly accurate. For us in East Cobb, our weather forecasting office is located in Peachtree City.

Meteorologists employed with the NWS utilize several different types of data in order to create a forecast, including seismic activity meters, solar activity, various sensors and satellite radar. The type of information used is different depending on the kind of storm moving in, but the end result is always the same: to provide the most accurate forecast possible.

The Most Important Alerts to Understand

When looking into different kinds of weather alerts, you need to first understand the difference between a “watch” and a “warning.” These are two types of alerts used in almost every weather situation, including floods, winter storms and thunderstorms.

When a watch is issued, you should begin taking steps to protect your home from what could become dangerous weather later. Watches are issued over large areas, while a warning is issued when a severe storm has been spotted in a smaller area such as a county or city.

When a warning is issued, you should seek cover immediately as danger is imminent.

It is also crucial to understand the weather that affects us here in Georgia, and we know that can mean a lot of different things. Our winters bring freeze warnings, ice storms and the occasional winter storm advisory, while our springs and summers bring heavy rains, strong thunderstorms and even tornadoes. This means understanding flood, tornado and thunderstorms alerts is must for all of us.

Protecting Your Home During a Storm

Familiarizing yourself with multiple kinds of weather alerts is the first step in protecting your loved ones and mitigating damage to your home, but there are a few other things you can do as well.

Keep your gutters clear and secure your outdoor furniture before a storm moves in to avoid flooding damage and wind damage later.

Create an emergency supply kit and keep it in a safe space in your home for your family to ride out a storm in. Prepare an exit plan and practice it with your entire household regularly for those times that staying put just isn’t safe.

Once a storm has moved through, take a look around your property and survey any damage that has been done. Take pictures and give SERVPRO of East Cobb a call. We are available 24⁄7 to get your recovery process started as fast as possible.

Learning about all the different kinds of weather that Georgia can throw at us means that we can protect our families and our homes. Stay aware of the alerts that can be issued all around so that you are ready when the next storm rolls through.

Experienced storm damage to your home or property? Contact us today for a quick response!

Trust Your Local SERVPRO Crew to Get the Job Done | SERVPRO of East Cobb

7/25/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO at East Cobb the team to turn to when your home or business is affected by a disaster.

Unexpected disasters can affect you and your loved ones when you least expect it. Damage from disasters like fires, inclement weather and even mold growth can leave your home uninhabitable. That’s where our expertise comes in handy! 

At SERVPRO, we make it our goal to return home and business owners to a destruction-free property. Our team is trained to return homes and businesses to their pre-disaster condition with advanced tools and techniques. 

We have the answer to any residential or commercial damage you may be facing. 

We are locally owned and operated. We work right in your neighborhood, and when our East Cobb community is struck by disaster, we strive to deliver repairs to any properties affected. Our team has experience responding to local emergencies like tornadoes and flash floods, which are common issues this area faces annually. 

We know that picking up the pieces after a property disaster can be hard, which is why our team will do as much as we can to make the recovery process as quick and easy on you as we can. 

We recognize that every situation is unique. While we may have ample experience responding to property disasters, we recognize each scenario will be vastly different and require its own unique approach. Disasters like severe weather or a leak in the home can lead to different levels of damage. 

Our team is trained to assess any size damage and come up with an effective restoration solution and return your residential or commercial property to its original condition. 

We ensure the process goes smoothly. Property emergencies like a fire or flooding can leave home and business owners alike overwhelmed and stressed. Our team can work directly with you to make the recovery process as stress-free as possible by keeping you updated on every step of your repairs and working with your insurance provider to take the stress away from the claims process. 

We also offer 24-hour emergency services to provide you with a rapid response to not only prevent further damage but to ensure your property is restored as quickly as possible to get your family back in your home or your business back up and running! 

SERVPRO at East Cobb  the team to turn to when your home or business is affected by a disaster. Don’t wait another minute for damage to worsen—contact the experts at SERVPRO. 

Stay Safe This Summer By Preventing Fires | SERVPRO of East Cobb

7/20/2022 (Permalink)

If your home or business is affected by flames this summer, get in touch with our team at SERVPRO of East Cobb right away.

When summertime rolls around, there are so many festivities to be enjoyed, like firing up the grill or relaxing by the campfire with your family. Many of these activities increase the risk of fires, so learning how to protect yourself from flames is essential. 

Fires like this can spread quickly. When flames from campfires and barbecues come into contact with outside materials such as trees, grass and leaves, they spread much faster. 

The first step in preventing these fires is to be aware of the flames you are in charge of! Here are a few ways you can keep accidental flames from spreading while enjoying the summer sun: 

Campfire Safety 

If you’re planning on starting a campfire this summer, be careful not to spread any unintentional flames. Build your fire away from any structures, plants and trees. 

Keeping your campfire small is the best way to be able to maintain flames. 

Have a water source nearby for when you're ready to put out your campfire or if any accidental flames appear. Douse the flames in water and completely cover any remaining embers with dirt after extinguishing them. 

Ensure there is nothing left smoldering by using the back of your hand to feel for any warmth. 

Grill Safety 

Grill fires are a common problem in the United States, costing homeowners an estimated $37 million in property damage each year. To keep flames from spreading, keep your grill outside at least 10 feet away from your home. 

Never leave food cooking unattended and always keep a close eye so you can control flare-ups as they occur. 

Keeping your grill clean can also help to prevent fires. Grease and food debris fall down and hit coals, causing fires. Regularly clean your grill by removing the drip pan, cleaning off any debris or grease and rinsing it off in warm water. 

Air Conditioning Fires 

As the summer heats up, you rely on your air conditioner to keep you cool, but if there are any defects, such as electrical malfunctions or faulty wiring, flames could ignite. 

Summer is the most common season for air conditioning fires, with 2,300 residential fires occurring year-round.

To avoid AC fires, try to avoid overuse as much as you can and be sure to keep your unit clean of dust and debris. It wouldn’t hurt to schedule a routine maintenance checkup for your air conditioner to have any damage repaired before it causes problems! 

If your home or business is affected by flames this summer, get in touch with our team at SERVPRO of East Cobb. We want to assist you in recovering any losses you may have suffered as a result of a fire.

Creating a Fire-Safe House | SERVPRO of East Cobb

7/12/2022 (Permalink)

If your home is damaged in a house fire, SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help. Contact us for any fire restoration needs.

The American Red Cross has responded to more than 20,000 house fires since the start of 2022, and that only reflects a portion of the total fires across the United States this year.

Smoke detectors are still the No. 1 way to prevent damage to your home and protect your life, but there are other measures you can take to make your house more fire safe. Even a few simple cleaning measures are an act of prevention.

Clear the Clutter

Clutter may already be a term you hate hearing in your home, so let this be a motivator to clean it up: It can also be a fire hazard. Allowing your hallways, stairwells or utility spaces to overfill can fuel a fire once it has started, as well as block emergency exits.

Leaving clutter near a water heater can actually start a fire. The more you create clear spaces in your home, the better. Clear spaces not only mean you have a clear path to get out when you need it, but they can also slow down the progression of flames.

Another area of the home to declutter is outlets and extension cords. Overloaded extension cords are a common source of house fires. Store any unused electrical appliances, and unplug anything you don’t use on a regular basis.

Make sure there is room between furniture and walls so that outlets do not overheat and air can flow properly.

Create a Defensible Space in Your Yard

Your yard can be the first line of defense when it comes to fires that originate outside the house. Landscaping that is intentionally placed can slow the progression of a fire before it reaches your front door while also allowing space for firefighters to work.

In some states like California, there are regulations for defensible zones due to the effectiveness of slowing down wildfires, but this kind of yard work is smart for every home.

The relatively low humidity, windy and dry conditions we have experienced over the spring kept us under a fire warning for several weeks. We even experienced multiple smoky days as winds brought in wildfire smokes from fires burning in nearby North Georgia. When our summer temperatures rise well into the 90s, we have the additional threat of hot vehicles parked on dry grass starting a fire.

This should all serve as a reminder that we are far from immune to wildfires and we could certainly benefit from caring for our yards. Always clear out dead plants, leaves and limbs. And plant the annuals you want, but plant them in strategic locations that allow for the best protection.

Keep It Clean & Keep It Safe

Clearing clutter from your home and yard are not the only cleaning you can do to help protect your house. Cleaning your stove regularly and having your chimney inspected can eliminate risk in two fire-prone areas of your home as well.

Lowering the risk at your house doesn’t have to be a ton of work. Even dusting is a great way to prevent fires, especially around outlets and other electronics.

Our homes are our sanctuaries and so much more. We work, play and learn at home these days, so keep them safe by keeping them clean.

If you have experienced fire damage or want to learn more about SERVPRO of East Cobb’s fire damage restoration services, contact us today. We’re here to act fast, 24⁄7.

5 Kinds of Fires & How to Extinguish Them | SERVPRO of East Cobb

6/29/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb works to repair any damage caused by a fire in your house, regardless of the type.

5 Kinds of Fires & How to Extinguish Them | SERVPRO of East Cobb 

You’re cooking in the kitchen when all of a sudden a grease fire breaks out! What would you turn to first to put out the flames? You may think water will quickly extinguish the fire, but it will only feed the flames. 

Knowing the different sorts of fires and how to extinguish them is an excellent place to start in order to prevent damage in 2022. Educate yourself about the various types of fires and how to safely put them out if one breaks out in your East Cobb home: 

Class A fires. Class A fires are started by flammable materials like cloth, wood, paper, trash and plastics. For example, if you are cooking on your stove and unintentionally leave a towel too close to the hot stovetop, a Class A fire may ignite. 

Class A fires are the most common form of fires, but they happen to be the easiest to extinguish. If a Class A fire starts, you can use a fire extinguisher or water to put out the flames. 

Class B fires. Class B fires start with any combustible liquid like oil, paint and gasoline. Propane and butane are common causes of Class B fires. The sole difference between these fires and the other classes of fires is what fuels them during the extinguishing process. 

According to the NFPA, a foam or powder fire extinguisher should be used to create a barrier between the fuel and the oxygen. Water should never be used to put out a Class B because it will only make the fire larger. 

Class C fires. Class C fires are started by electrical appliances. Electrical fires are the third leading cause of residential fires, and they are typically caused by defective extension cords and overloaded electrical outlets. 

To put these fires out, you should first attempt to unplug the connected appliance if you’re safely able to do so. A powder or carbon dioxide extinguisher is the best agent to use to extinguish the flame. Water or a foam fire extinguisher are not recommended for these fires as they create a shock hazard. 

Class D Fires. Class D fires are not as common within the home. These usually start in laboratories, warehouses and factories. Combustible metals like magnesium and titanium spark these flames. 

A dry powder extinguisher is the best way to extinguish this kind of fire. 

Class K Fires. Class K fires typically break out within your kitchen. Grease and vegetable or animal oils start these fires. Because these fires are highly flammable, they spread quickly.

The first step in putting out a Class K fire is to remove the source of heat, such as your stovetop. After this, you should use a wet chemical fire extinguisher, which is designed specifically for a Class K fire. If you don’t have this type of extinguisher, the NFPA recommends putting the lid on the pan and turning off the heat to smother a small grease fire. 

SERVPRO of East Cobb works to repair any damage caused by a fire in your house, regardless of the type. We are available to you 24/7. Call (770) 424-0400 or Contact us any time.

What Is Your Storm Safety Plan? | SERVPRO of East Cobb

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

If you discover storm damage to your home or business, reach out to SERVPRO of East Cobb right away.

Extreme weather conditions are something alarming. They can lead to lightning strikes, weighty downpour, hail and wind, all of which can cause harm and individual risk. Also, taking into account that there are around 100,000 rainstorms all through the United States each year, these occasions happen with relative recurrence.

In September 2021, torrential downpours flooded homes, washed out roads and left some drivers stranded in feet of water as heavy rain moved through the northern Atlanta suburbs, pummeling parts of Cobb County. At least 10 families were forced out of their homes as the fast-moving storm shut down busy streets, flooded government buildings and turned apartment parking lots into small lakes. Such instances of unexpected rain can happen at any time.

While we can never control the climate, we can get ready for it—and that is by and large the thing we will talk about today. From packing a first-aid kit to determining a communications strategy, making a move to plan for storms is a significant method for decreasing their effect on you and your home.

Your Severe Weather Communication Strategy

At the point when the weather conditions turn dreadful, having a method for speaking with everybody in your family is critical. To start with, it is critical to know the difference between watches and warnings so you know when to remain cautious and when to look for cover rapidly.

It is also astute to have different ways of getting alerts from authorities, for example, your mobile phone and an NOAA weather conditions radio.

Third, ensure you have a correspondence system for your household. Have an assigned safe region in your home (like a storm cellar or restroom) that everybody knows to get to when the weather conditions turn awful. Moreover, make an arrangement for correspondence in the event that at least one family individual is away from home when a storm strikes—this way everybody knows when and how to check in and mark themselves as protected.

Your Severe Weather Emergency Kit

A first-aid kit ought to be loaded with every one of the basics that your family members need for something like 72 hours of hunkering down, and it should be put away in your at-home safe space. In your pack, incorporate durable food, water, flashlights and batteries, first aid supplies and whatever else you or others might need to remain protected.

Your Severe Weather Aftermath Checklist

In the outcome of extreme weather, it is important to be sure you are taking proper steps to improve your safety plan and quickly address any damage to your home. When it is safe to do so, check your property for damage.

You will need to watch out for your rooftop and seals around windows and entryways, as water damage is most probable in those spaces.

If you do find damage, be certain you know who to call. Having a group of experts like SERVPRO of East Cobb that you can depend on to provide a quick response will bring about peace of mind so that you can act fast if you do discover damage to your home.

At the point when you can gather together with your family members, do a review of your whole security plan. Gather feedback on your communications, emergency kit and any other elements that could use improvement to keep everyone safer, so that you will be even more prepared the next time severe weather rolls through.

If you discover storm damage to your home or business, you can count on SERVPRO to handle the restoration. We’re here 24⁄7 to spring into action—call (770) 424-0400 to get in touch with us today.

You Can Trust SERVPRO. Here's What We Can Do for You | SERVPRO of East Cobb

6/2/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is your local restoration expert. We are the #1 choice in cleanup and restoration.

There are many things out there that can cause a great deal of damage to your home, business, personal property and auto. Many of those things we never think about until we have to.

Things such as a water heater bursting or an ice maker line rupturing can happen in the blink of an eye, and you need someone you can call on that is proven and dependable.

That is where SERVPRO comes into the equation. From the moment you call SERVPRO with your emergency our clock starts ticking! Your emergency becomes our priority.

We guarantee a call to establish a plan within ONE HOUR of your call to us from a qualified priority responder. Faster response time means less damage and cost to you and your family.

This includes anything from water to fire to storm damage. Here’s how we can assist you with each.

Water Damage

Floods cause more than $10 billion in damages nationwide every year.

Heavy rains often affect Cobb County. For example, remnants of Hurricane Ida hit the county in 2021 and caused flood damage to homes, businesses and apartments. This prompted the U.S. Small Business Administration to issue a Disaster Declaration for the county.

We can help you develop an action plan to dry your home and get it back to preloss condition.

Fire Damage

A fire department in the United States responds to a fire every 23 seconds. When your home has encountered fire damage, we’ll jump right into action with our seven-step restoration process.

We start by inspecting the home, doing a damage assessment and evaluating all the steps we need to take before getting everything back in order.

Storm Damage

When a storm hits your East Cobb home, depending on the damage that occurs, it is important that you know the experts you can trust. SERVPRO of East Cobb has a team of highly trained technicians who are ready to respond to your call for help.

Our team has specialty training in water damage and storm damage restoration. We will respond quickly and get to work restoring your home properly and immediately.

We Stand Apart

We guarantee to be on site saving you time, money and STRESS!

You already know SERVPRO is the No. 1 name in the restoration game but allow us to prove it to you! Call us today for more information.

Regardless of the type of damage sustained, SERVPRO of East Cobb has the tools and teams to help your home or business recover from its disastrous effects.

Call (770) 424-0400 or  Contact us anytime when you need a dependable team to help you rebuild your life.

The Dangers of Severe Weather | SERVPRO of East Cobb

5/16/2022 (Permalink)

If you have storm damage to your home or business, you can count on SERVPRO of East Cobb to help.

For Georgia residents, severe weather is not a foreign concept. Our hot and humid summers can often give rise to sudden thunderstorms, bringing along high winds, hail, heavy rains and tornado threats. No matter how quickly these events pop up or how quickly they are over, they can still cause serious damage to those caught in their path. 

There are many reasons why severe weather is dangerous that goes beyond the conditions of the storm. Due to the sudden and unpredictable nature of severe weather events such as thunderstorms, in addition to the temptation to not take events seriously when they occur often, the threat of severe weather goes far beyond flash flooding and lightning strikes. 

Why Severe Weather Is So Dangerous 

It can come about suddenly

 Sometimes, severe weather fronts will move into an area with plenty of warning, but this is not always the case. The heat and humidity of Georgia create conditions that are ideal for severe thunderstorms to pop up suddenly, which can catch people off-guard and away from a safe sheltering area where they can seek refuge. 

It can be unpredictable

 The reason behind having a watch and a warning system is due in part to how unpredictable severe weather fronts can be. During a watch, it means that conditions are favorable for an event (such as a tornado or flash flood) to occur. Oftentimes, these events will suddenly begin, starting before weather officials have time to catch them on radar or process on-the-ground reports, giving them an unpredictable nature that is a force to be reckoned with. 

It can be downplayed

 As we have already mentioned, severe weather is nothing new for our area, but that does not make it any less dangerous or any less likely to cause serious damages. While it may be easy to reason that the last storm did not cause damage, so the next storm likely will not either, this is a dangerous line of thinking. Every storm is different, and every severe weather front brings with it the threat of injury, property damage and even fatalities. 

If you have storm damage to your home or business, you can count on SERVPRO of East Cobb to help. We are here 24/7 to assist with restoration—call (770) 424-0400 or contact us today.

Water Damage and Your Home | SERVPRO of East Cobb

4/25/2022 (Permalink)

No matter the damage sustained, SERVPRO of East Cobb has the tools and team to help your home return to a normal state quickly.

Life as a homeowner is tumultuous, with a new challenge waiting around every corner. One of those dreaded roadblocks is water damage.

A leaky faucet or a small water spot may seem insignificant at the moment, but you never know what moisture might be lurking outside, eating away at your home’s structure. For perspective, the average household leak can waste up to 10,000 gallons of water in a year, and much of that water could end up somewhere in your home.

Unfortunately, water damage works quickly in your home, penetrating floors, walls and soft surfaces. This is why it’s so important to address the problem as soon as possible. As soon as your house encounters water, you can expect the damage to progress as follows:

24 Hours In

The first 24 to 48 hours following flooding or water damage are the most crucial. Certain items in your East Cobb home will become compromised immediately. These items can include personal belongings, such as books and photographs.

In addition, soft furnishings and upholstery will soak through, wooden structures can swell from the moisture and mold can begin to develop within this timeframe.

Because of this, SERVPRO of East Cobb operates with a “restore vs. replace” mentality. We know how precious your belongings are to you, especially keepsakes that can’t be replaced. We’ll immediately remove these items to expedite the drying process and restore what we can. Our experts will let you know if any items cannot be salvaged.

If you live in a house, there is a one in four chance of a flood damaging your home within a 30-year period in a high-risk area. This is why it’s essential to know what to do next.

One Week In

Now that the water has had time to sit and fester, the damage will progress further and quickly. Mold can spread like wildfire with excessive moisture.

Your home’s structure will become increasingly compromised as the mold sets in. Additionally, porous surfaces, such as wood surfaces and walls, will continue to break down, and metal surfaces will start corroding.

After One Week

You must avoid letting moisture sit for this long at all costs because you could reach the point of no return. As time goes on, the costs and efforts to restore the structure will increase significantly, and the risks associated with structural damage are greater.

How SERVPRO Will Help

SERVPRO’s experts will begin putting you home back together after the very first call to our East Cobb location. If possible, call immediately after flooding or water damage.

If you cannot, make an effort to call within the first 24 hours before serious structural damage sets in. Service work typically starts with a full water extraction to prevent the water from traveling anywhere else in your home. This will also speed up the drying process.

Once most of the water is removed, we will begin extracting the water you can’t see, using industry-leading drying equipment. Mostly likely, floors, furniture and other belongings will require cleaning, sanitizing and deodorization.

After our experts finish these first steps, your home may need some construction work to restore the property. Construction could include anything from minor repairs to rebuilding entire areas of your home.

If you would like to simplify the restoration process, allow SERVPRO of East Cobb to handle both the initial damage mitigation and rebuilding the affected areas. We will keep you up to date on every step and have you back in your home or business in no time.

Regardless of the type of water damage sustained, SERVPRO of East Cobb  has the tools and teams to help your home or business recover. Contact us 24/7 or call (770) 424-0400 when you need a dependable team to help you recover.

How Spring Rain Can Lead to Water Damage | SERVPRO of East Cobb

4/22/2022 (Permalink)

If you have water damage to your home, SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help!

Spring is synonymous with a lot of things: longer days, blooming flowers and warming temperatures, to name a few. However, spring is also synonymous with heavy rainfall in Cobb County—and often, this rainfall can result directly in unexpected water damage to homes. 

While water damage can occur due to flooding, burst pipes or other such surprises, it can also happen from consistent, persistent rainfall. Water can often work its way into minute vulnerabilities in the home, resulting in hidden leaks and unforeseen issues for homeowners. 

Below, we will be taking a look at exactly how this happens and what it means for you.

How Heavy Rain Can Cause Water Damage 

Leaks in your roof

Your roof is your first line of defense against weather-related water damage, but even it can be vulnerable during periods of heavy rain. While many roofs are now made to last decades, there will be maintenance and upkeep required during their lifetime—and without this, water damage can quickly result. Leaking roofs can damage your joists and insulation, and cause issues further down within the home, too.

Issues around your foundation

If your yard is not graded properly to route water away from your home, there can be damage done to your foundation during periods of heavy rain. Water pooling around the house is common when the ground is at capacity for moisture absorption, and with time, this can seep into your structure and cause significant issues. 

Leaks around your doors and windows

Because water can work its way into small areas of vulnerability, leaks around doors and windows are something we often see during the spring rainy period. Water can route itself between seals and around weather stripping often, leading to small leaks that can turn into major issues. 

Damages to your roof line 

If your gutters are not able to drain away the volume of rainwater you are dealing with, water may begin to pool in the gutters and seep into the roofline. Cleaning your gutters twice a year and ensuring they are graded properly can help make sure any water can quickly be routed away.

 “If you have water damage to your home, SERVPRO of East Cobb  is here to help!

Call (770) 424-0400 or Get in touch 24/7 to report damage or to learn more about our processes”

Get the Facts About Floods | SERVPRO of East Cobb

4/11/2022 (Permalink)

Regardless of the cause of the flooding, SERVPRO of East Cobb has the team to help you recover from any disastrous event.

Flooding is the most common natural disaster. It claims more lives in the United States each year than hurricanes, tornadoes or lightning. Flooding affects everything from individual homes where property collects excess water to wide swaths of communities and cities.

All of the United States and its territories are affected by flooding. There are similarities in types and causality among all them. Flooding happens for four typical reasons, and there are three usual types.

Natural Flooding and Its 4 Common Causes

Oceanic activity. Storm surges, hurricanes and rising tides can cause water levels to rise in waves, which can invade coastal communities and wreak havoc.

Heavy rainfall. Rainfall that is excessive or storms that sit and rest over an area for an extended period can cause flash floods or river flooding. Concrete and asphalt in urban areas make them more likely to flood after a rainstorm, since there isn’t enough soil to soak up all that water. Near the end of 2021, heavy rain ripped through East Cobb, causing serious flooding. As a result, multiple roads were closed, and Cobb Fire and Emergency Services had to rescue several people who were trapped in flooded cars. DOT crews worked 15 reports of flooded roadways in a single night.

Snowmelts and ice dams. When heavy snow and prolonged freezing temperatures are common in an area, snow and ice can build up over wintertime, and as soon as the snow and ice begin to thaw, they can trigger flowing waters, which make their way through communities. Ice dams or ice jams can occur when rivers become blocked by built-up ice traveling downstream, causing the banks to overflow.

Dams and levees failing. The most notable example of this in recent history would be the disastrous levee breaks during 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. Levees and dams fail when cracks occur or excess pressure overtakes the dam’s ability to contain the surge of water behind it.

3 Types of Natural Flooding

Flash floods are common, and they happen when heavy rain passes or sits over an area and overwhelms the ability of the ground to contain the moisture. Excess water runs off and takes garbage cans, cars and more with it.

River floods occur when there’s too much water for a river’s banks to hold, the water spills over the sides and causes destruction.

Coastal floods happen in areas next to large bodies of water, when storm surges or cyclonic activity causes ocean or gulf levels to rise to flood levels.

SERVPRO of East Cobb has the tools and teams to help your home or business recover from its disastrous effects regardless of the cause of the flooding. Contact us anytime if flooding or water damage affect your day-to-day life. Learn more about SERVPRO of East Cobb and our services online or call us at (770) 424-0400 to see how we can help.

Do Fire Sprinklers Actually Prevent Damages to Businesses? | SERVPRO of East Cobb

4/5/2022 (Permalink)

Sprinkler systems in your commercial business are a great way to prevent further loss or damage to your property.

A commercial fire is a nightmare that many business owners share, and for good reason. Fires at your business can cause significant amounts of damage in a short amount of time. Not only can they injure or threaten the lives of you and your staff, but they can also leave serious amounts of destruction in their wake—so much so that 60% of businesses never recover. 

Many—but not all—businesses are required to have fire sprinklers due to their local codes. Checking for your local codes is a great place to start. Depending on your industry and where your business is located will determine what local regulations you are subjected to, but even if you are not required to have fire sprinklers, it is something we strongly recommend. Below, we will examine why. 

How Fire Sprinklers Prevent Damages to Businesses 

They Can Stop a Fire Quickly 

Fires can spread in as little as two minutes, and this means they have an uncanny ability to cause a large amount of damage in a short amount of time. Once a fire grows past the point where it could be extinguished with a handheld fire extinguisher, it is time for you and your staff to evacuate. But without fire sprinklers, the fire will continue to spread, unchecked, until the fire department arrives. When fire sprinklers kick on, they can quickly stop a fire and thus the destruction. 

They Are Highly Unlikely to Malfunction 

While you have likely seen movies or TV portrayals of malfunctioning commercial sprinkler systems, they are actually a fairly fail-safe system, meaning there is nearly zero opportunity for them to go off when they are not needed. For this reason, it is estimated that they can prevent nearly 50% of losses when coupled with other fire safety measures at a business. 

They Can Save Lives 

In spite of efforts to create a fire evacuation plan and fill your business with an adequate number of fire exits, accidents do happen—especially in a scenario as stressful as a workplace fire. If a sprinkler system is installed, it is far less likely that anyone will be injured or killed by the fire, because the water will stop the fire from spreading out of control. 

If you have a fire at your business, you can count on our team to help. SERVPRO of East Cobb is here 24/7 to tell you more or to spring into action—contact us todayat (770) 424-0400 Learn more about commercial fire restoration for your business at www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com

We’re Your New Business Partner | SERVPRO of East Cobb

3/23/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is your local commercial restoration expert. Contact us today should you experience any damage to your business.

As an East Cobb business owner or operator, you know that running a smooth operation demands the utilization of every possible hand. Significant delays or losses can become disastrous for your company.

It doesn’t matter what kind of company or facility you run, you should know that you already have a built-in business partner to help with cleaning and disaster recovery right here in your neighborhood. We are here to help your business with a wide range of services. It’s as if you have a loyal ally in charge of a vital part of your company’s success strategy.

Large Loss Recovery

 The most frequent causes of financial loss for businesses in the United States are fires, storms and flooding. Any one of these disasters can cause serious damage if cleanup is delayed. When these events happen, call SERVPRO of East Cobb. You’ll speak with a highly trained staff that is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week to begin the process with you, reducing downtime and speeding up recovery time.

Emergency Ready Plan

Did you know that disaster recovery can begin even before the crisis occurs? We can help you create an Emergency Ready Plan that you can activate on demand. Following a disaster, you may need anything from an emergency chain of command to temporary meeting or work venues, as well as temporary suppliers. We’ll set you up so that everything can be started with the click of a button.

All-Purpose Cleaning

 We offer a variety of cleaning services, ranging from highly specialized ones like trauma site cleanup and safe biohazard removal to more general ones like carpet and upholstery cleaning, providing cleaning solutions for every condition. We’ve been doing this for a long time, and we’ve seen and cleaned all there is to see and clean.

Restoration Services

You never know when a storm may bring flash floods, when the interns will set fire to the kitchen or when a pipe will freeze and burst in the winter. All of these scenarios need SERVPRO of East Cobb’s repair and cleaning services. You may count on us to restore the sparkle of your business after a disaster occurrence, from cleanup all the way through to restoration.

Industry Specialization

We can help a wide variety of industries since we’ve spent decades getting to know the ins and outs of them all. We can assist you with any unique or customized cleaning or restoration requirements your company may have. In many circumstances, we’ll even enclose the work area to keep it from interfering with other areas of your company’s everyday operations.

“Whatever your recovery needs may be, and whatever your commercial property may require, trust SERVPRO of East Cobb to get the job done. Contact us today at (770) 424-0400 to get started on an Emergency Ready Plan or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com  find out how we can serve your business

How to Prepare to Shelter in Place in Case of Severe Weather | SERVPRO of East Cobb County

3/18/2022 (Permalink)

If your Cobb County home has suffered storm/flood damage call SERVPRO of East Cobb at 770-424-0400 for emergency water restoration & cleanup services.

When severe weather threatens Cobb County, it is often an unpredictable thing. Typically, the timing and the scale of the weather event will be unclear right up until the threat becomes imminent—and by that time, it is too late to get your preparations in order.

That is why it is so important to prepare in advance, so you and your family can know exactly what to do in the event of severe weather.

If severe weather is possible, it is wise to plan to stay at home if you are able to, so you can quickly shelter in place. Having a smart shelter plan can keep you and your family both safe and comfortable until the threat of the storm passes, and we have all the tips you need to know to set yourself up for success.

Preparing to Shelter in Place During Severe Weather

| Have a Designated Storm Shelter Area | 

- Having an area in your home that you have designated as a storm shelter is helpful, because when severe weather begins, everyone will know exactly where to go. The best place to shelter from severe weather would be the basement, but if you do not have one, get to the lowest floor possible and put as many walls as you can between you and the external part of the home. Finding an area without a window is a major plus, too.

| Put an emergency kit in your storm shelter area | 

- Because storms can last for quite some time, having a well-stocked emergency kit can keep everyone safe and comfortable. A weather radio is a must for getting updates, while flashlights and batteries will allow you to see even if the power goes out. Food and water will keep anyone from having to exit the storm shelter area while severe weather is still happening, and a first-aid kit is key in case of injuries.

| Have Multiple Ways to Get Alerts | 

- For most of us, our cell phones are our primary method of getting weather updates, but during severe weather events, signal strength can be unreliable. Make sure you have multiple ways to get Cobb County weather alerts, such as cell phones, a weather radio and a local news station, so you can know when it is safe to leave your shelter.

*If your home has been damaged due to severe weather or flooding, you can count on SERVPRO of East Cobb. We are here to help 24-hours a day 7 days a week and offer emergency water restoration and cleanup services. Contact us today at (770) 424-0400 or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com to learn more about our residential and commercial storm and flood damage cleanup and restoration services.

Spring Weather Concerns in Georgia | SERVPRO of East Cobb

3/10/2022 (Permalink)

Extreme temperature changes can lead to the possibility of severe weather. SERVPRO of East Cobb is a click away if you experience any damage.

The United States is one of the largest countries in the world, coming in second only behind Russia and Canada, though China is larger when excluding outlying U.S. territories. Seasonal weather is not uniform in a country with such a vast area under one roof, so to say. Different regions of the country encounter unique weather patterns and, as a result, varying degrees of weather threats.

As spring approaches and warm and cold air masses collide throughout the nation, let’s take a look at the many weather events to expect in some of the country’s major areas, as well as what we should be mindful of here in Georgia.

The Pacific Northwest’s spring months are prone to extreme rain, which may result in flooding and water damage to properties. Snow will continue to fall at higher elevations, and the melting runoff associated with it will create additional concerns.

Winters in the Upper Midwest and Northeast are the longest in the country, since cold weather persists throughout the season. Extreme cold and the potential of snowstorms and blizzards are likely from Maine to the Dakotas until late spring or early summer, when temperatures begin to climb.

The southern West Coast will need to prepare for excessive heat waves that could jeopardize safety, while the South Pacific, including Hawaii, will also be watching for possible tsunamis caused by tectonic activity. 

Windstorms, derechos and the threat of wildfires will be a worry for the middle of the country, from Iowa to Texas. When winds are high and the seasons are dry, wildfires may quickly spread. A portion of this area is called Tornado Alley, which has a high tornado frequency.

Finally, severe weather is a possibility across the Southeast, such as here in Georgia, spanning from tornadoes and severe storms in landlocked states to dangerous spring hurricanes on the coast. Thunderstorms are prevalent in Georgia, particularly during the spring and summer months. Oftentimes, traces of tropical storms and hurricanes will make their way inland from the coast that can create significant flooding.

Extreme weather poses a significant risk to the United States, regardless of where one lives. While your risk may vary from that of a relative a few states away, being prepared is always a smart idea.

*If extreme weather leaves you with damage from water, fire or other elements, help is a click away. Contact SERVPRO of East Cobb at(770) 424-0400 for fast, expert recovery or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com for more information on storm restoration and cleanup services.

How Do House Fires Spread So Quickly? | SERVPRO of East Cobb County

3/3/2022 (Permalink)

If your home has suffered smoke of fire damage call SERVPRO of East Cobb as soon as possible. We can help restore your property to preloss condition.

House fires are an extremely frightening thing to experience, but they are also quite common. An average of 350,000 house fires occur annually throughout the United States, leading to more deaths than all types of natural disasters combined and causing thousands in property damage as well.

Part of the reason why house fires are so dangerous and lead to so much damage is due to how quickly they spread. It can take mere seconds for a fire to turn dangerous and just minutes for a home to become fully engulfed in flames.

Below, we will be looking at how this happens and why house fires are able to spread through homes so quickly.

Why House Fires Can Spread So Quickly

| Many Items Around the House Can Catch Fire |

• While some things are obviously flammable, such as wood, there are other things that are also rather flammable that may be surprising. Things such as grease, crumbs in toaster trays, upholstery and carpet can all quickly spread flames throughout the home and aid in the fire’s growth.

| Fires Burn Extremely Hot | 

• As fires grow larger and larger, they burn hotter and hotter, which allows them to easily ignite objects that may not have burned easily in other parts of the fire. Smoke and hot air rising off of a fire are typically around 190 degrees Fahrenheit, which can damage many things in their wake.

| Fires Often Happen When No One is Home | 

• Quickly extinguishing a fire is the best way to mitigate the damages it can cause, but often, fires happen when no one is home—and are thus allowed to spread uninhibited. Fires can travel from spark to large flames in as little as 30 seconds, so the first few moments are so important to mitigating damage.

| More Synthetic Materials are Used Throughout Homes | 

• Synthetic materials, such as MDF and other types of synthetics used to make furniture and upholstery, tend to burn faster than natural materials—and this means that fires can often spread faster if there are a lot of synthetic materials present.

*If you’ve experienced fire damage to your home or business, do not hesitate to give SERVPRO of East Cobb a call at (770) 424-0400 or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com for more information on our fire restoration and cleanup services. We are here 24/7 to help—contact us today to learn more.

Would Your Business Be Prepared for an Emergency? | SERVPRO of East Cobb

2/24/2022 (Permalink)

If the day comes where your business is hit with disaster or emergency, you can rest assured SERVPRO of East Cobb will be there to help.

Starting and running a business puts a lot on your plate. Not only do you have a full-time job, but you have responsibilities that go home with you, too.

You spend countless hours working on staffing, inventory, payroll and so much more. All that work is in jeopardy if you’re not prepared for disaster to strike. As hard as you’ve worked to get where you are, we would not want to see you shut your doors after disaster hits.

When a fire, storm or even another pandemic hits hard, oftentimes, it’s difficult or impossible for businesses to open again. According to FEMA, 40% of small businesses shut down permanently after a disaster, and a good chunk of those that can open up again end up shutting down for good in less than a year.

So what can you do to give yourself hope in the wake of disaster? The answer is “have a plan.” Three-quarters of small businesses in the U.S. don’t have a plan in place for when disaster hits. We want to give you the best chance at a comeback.

SERVPRO of East Cobb helps businesses just like yours be prepared by customizing a Emergency Ready Plan specifically for their business, location and industry.

With our Emergency Ready Plan, we’ll cover everything from flooding to data recovery, just in case the worst happens to your business—you don’t have to wonder what to do or who will do it.

Reopening after a disaster does not have to be any more difficult than it already is. SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help create your Emergency Ready Plan today. It just might be the difference between keeping your doors open or shutting down for good.

*When your business is ready to prioritize planning and safety to prevent extended downtime, contact SERVPRO at (770) 424-0400 or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com to get the Emergency Ready Plan underway from the folks who know all there is to know about disaster and recovery.

How Do I Know if I Should be Concerned With Flood Damage? | SERVPRO of East Cobb County

2/23/2022 (Permalink)

No matter what type of water damage you experience, you can call SERVPRO of East Cobb 24/7 for water damage restoration and cleanup.

No homeowner wants to experience flood damage to your home, but if you do not live in an area prone to flooding, it may be something you have not seriously considered before. Flooding is something that may not feel like an immediate threat, but any homeowner is wise to consider how it could impact their home.

Floods are typically associated with hurricanes and other natural disasters, but they can have many causes. Bodies of water can rise due to heavy rains, storm drains can fail and cause a backup, or flash floods can inundate an area with moisture in a rapid fashion.

Being prepared for the reality that flooding is possible can help you put a plan of action in place so you can recover more quickly if it does impact you.

Do I Need to be Concerned With Sustaining Flood Damage?

| Should I worry about flood damage if I do not live in a flood area? | While it is required to purchase a flood insurance policy if your home is located in a flood plain, if your home lies outside of one, you may not be required to do so. However, the rise of flooding outside of these high-risk areas is significant. From 2014 to 2018, those outside of a flood risk area filed 40% of flood insurance claims, indicating that there are more areas prone to flooding than homeowners may realize.

| Should I worry about flood damage if I do not have a basement? | Many people think of basements when they think of flooding, but that is not the only area at risk when it comes to damage. Even in homes without a basement, if the ground becomes inundated with water, it can quickly seep into your home’s foundation and begin working its way into your first story.

| Should I worry about flood damage if I don’t live near water? | If you do not live near a creek, river or pond that is likely to rise in a flood, your main concern for flood damage will be flash flooding. Flash flooding can occur when storm drains and sewage systems get backed up and rapidly overflow, which can still cause serious damages.

*If water damage has occurred in your home due to a flood, SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help. Contact us today at (770) 424-0400 or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com to learn more about our flood restoration options—we’re here 24/7.

SERVPRO Provides a Host of Services | SERVPRO of East Cobb

2/15/2022 (Permalink)

When you need cleanup and recovery of any kind, you can trust SERVPRO of East Cobb to get the job done.

One thing about a SERVPRO van—you’re going to know it when you see it. The distinctive all-over green gives our fleet vehicles a look that catches the eye and commits to memory. But what do you think of when you pass our folks on the road or in a driveway? You probably get visions of some kind of cleanup or repair service, but unless you’ve worked with us before, we bet you probably don’t know everything we’re capable of helping you with.

So allow us to enumerate a few of the main services we provide, so that you can be acquainted with the many ways we can serve you in a pinch.

| Water Damage Recovery | 

This is what we may be most known for. We help homeowners with everything from simple appliance water leaks to nasty sewage backups.

| Fire Damage Recovery | 

One United States homeowner experiences a fire every 23 seconds, and those fires can do serious damage. We can repair the damage done, and restore homes to their pre-fire state again.

| Mold Removal | Water damage can cause mold quickly, and that mold can threaten the structure of your home as it eats through organic material.

| Storm Recovery | Storms of all kinds plague homeowners across the country, but when they cause damage to homes, we’re a click or call away to make things right again.

| Commercial Needs | Every kind of business can take advantage of the full range of SERVPRO awesomeness—from stadiums to schools, we clean, restore and otherwise serve the business community at large.

| General Cleaning | Dirty drapes, sullied carpets and more—all these things can benefit from the cleaning power of SERVPRO—no disaster required.

| Specialty Cleaning | We assist law enforcement with crime scene cleanup, medical centers with biohazard removal and so much more. The bottom line is if it gets dirty, we get it clean.

| Construction | Cleaning isn’t all you need sometimes. When something bigger is necessary, we can help with everything from remodeling to full-scale reconstruction after a major disaster.

*Add 24-hour service and an easy insurance process to all this, and the picture becomes clear—when you need cleanup and recovery of any kind, you can trust SERVPRO of East Cobb to get the job done. Contact us at(770) 424-0400 or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com for more information on our Commercial Services for Fire, Water or Mold Restoration.

Are Hiding Appliance Leaks Causing Damage Right Under Your Nose? | SERVPRO of East Cobb

2/7/2022 (Permalink)

If your home or business experiences water damage call SERVPRO of East Cobb. We make water damage "Like it never even happened."

Most homeowners assume that if there were a leak in their home, they would know about it—and in many cases, that may be true. Leaking pipes that are exposed, water seepage around faucets and other types of water damage can pop up in places that are quite noticeable and easy to address. Unfortunately, however, it is not always this apparent when a leak arises.

Hidden water leaks are a dreaded occurrence, as they can cause a significant amount of damage before they are ever detected by a homeowner. While there are some signs of water damage you can look out for, when leaks occur behind appliances, they can be impossible to spot.

Below, we have a list of the appliances to check so you do not have any sneaky leaks causing you a headache!

Indicators That You May Have a Hidden Leak

Increased Water Usage on Your Bill | A family of four uses about 12,000 gallons of water per month on average, so if you notice your bills reflect more than this, you may have a leak. To check, monitor your water meter over a two-hour span when nothing is in use—this will tell you quickly if there is a leak present.

Give to Your Subfloor | If you walk near your appliances and notice that the subfloor has more give to it than normal, this may indicate a leak. When the subfloor absorbs water, it can become soggy and squishy.

An Odd Odor | The first hint of water damage will typically be an odd odor near the impacted area, which can be caused by mold and mildew growth. If you notice this odor near any of your appliances, that may be a sign that water damage is afoot.

The Appliances to Check Regularly for Hidden Leaks

• The Refrigerator: Check under it, behind it and where the water line connects.
• The Washing Machine: Make sure all hoses are connected properly and there is no sign of water damage on the wall.
• The Dishwasher: Watch under the dishwasher when it is in use for any signs of water dripping onto the floor below.

*If you discover that your home is impacted by water damage, let SERVPRO of East Cobb help. Contact us today to learn more about water restoration or to get details on our process.

There Are 4 Ways to Stop Every Fire | SERVPRO of East Cobb

1/27/2022 (Permalink)

If your home or business has any damage, SERVPRO of East Cobb is ready around the clock to help you recover.

Reverse-engineering a product or concept can help you understand how it’s built, and fires are no different. Studying the breakdown of what makes fires happen has given scientists insight into how to put them to a halt.

Fires are depicted (theoretically, that is) in the shape of a tetrahedron to represent the fact that every fire is composed of the same four basic elements, in equal and continual measure.

These are the things fires must have in order to begin, and in order to continue to live, and in turn, they also represent the four ways fire can be extinguished.

The 4 Things a Fire Needs to Live

- Fuel - A fuel source must be present for a fire to start—not so much in the way you may think of fuel as something you put in your car (although those fuels are certainly flammable), but more in the way that you fuel your body by consuming food. Every fire consumes something, be it organic or inorganic.

- Heat - Fires start in part because their fuel sources reach a temperature at which combustion can occur. Every fuel source’s flash point is different, but all fuel sources have a definite temperature at which combustion becomes inevitable.

- Oxygen - Home fires at night are particularly dangerous to sleeping individuals, because fires compete for the very same oxygen we breathe. Many whose homes catch on fire simply never wake from their sleep because of oxygen deprivation.

- Chemical Chain Reaction - The fuel, the heat and the oxygen all combine in a chain reaction, which perpetuates the reaction between them. Without intervention, this reaction will last forever, provided the other components remain in supply.

The 4 Ways to Stop a Fire

- Cool It - The most common way to stop a fire is to cool it, probably with water. Cold water in heavy amounts quickly brings down the temperature of a fire’s fuel source, bringing thermal balance between the rate of rising heat and the cooling of the material being consumed.

- Smother It - Oven and stove fires are perfect examples of how smothering works. A stovetop fire can be smothered (aka deprived of oxygen) by placing a lid or pan on top of the pan whose contents are on fire, and an oven fire can be smothered simply by leaving the door closed, letting the fire consume the oxygen inside, and dying out.

- Starve It - Removing the fuel source from a fire’s path, or cutting the fire off from being able to reach new fuel, causes the fire to die by leaving it with nothing to burn. This sometimes feels like a “win” for the fire, in cases where homes are destroyed but the causal fires are kept from spreading by defensible space, such as sidewalks, around them.

- Interrupt the Chain Reaction - Halons and other gasses can be injected into the atmosphere of a fire with a mission to disrupt the fire cycle and handcuff the fire’s effectiveness. When the reaction remains broken, the fire can’t perpetuate itself and it dissipates.

*If the fire tetrahedron makes a wreck of your home or business, we’re ready around the clock to help you recover. Contact SERVPRO of East Cobb at (770) 424-0400 at any time for fast, thorough cleanup and recovery after a fire or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com for more information on residential and commercial fire restoration services.

What Is Your Business’ Severe Weather Plan? | SERVPRO of East Cobb

1/19/2022 (Permalink)

If your Cobb County business has suffered storm, flood or any other type of water damage call SERVPRO of East Cobb today!

A severe weather plan is something any business owner should have. In addition to your insurance policy and your fire evacuation protocols, putting a severe weather plan in place is one of the key things you can do to keep yourself, your staff and your business safe from harm. 

Because the frequency and severity of severe weather has been trending upward in recent years, the best time to plan for the threat is now. If you do not yet have a plan in place for severe weather, you are in the right place. Below, we will go over some key elements of severe weather safety planning for commercial spaces to help guide you as you draft a plan that works for your company.

How to Draft a Severe Weather Plan for Your Business

| Designate an Area for Sheltering | When severe weather comes through the area, it is important to have a place to seek shelter in your commercial space. Ideally, you will designate a space toward the interior of the building, without any windows and as close to the ground floor as possible. For example, in a grocery store, a walk-in produce cooler would likely be the safest spot to be. Make sure you have this spot picked out in advance and have clearly communicated to employees where they should go when there is severe weather around.

| Pack a Workplace Emergency Kit | Severe weather will often require you to shelter in place until the threat has passed, and can often interfere with power and other services. It is important to have an office emergency kit, containing nonperishable food items, sealed water bottles, first-aid supplies and flashlights with corresponding batteries. Ideally, you will store this in the area you will be sheltering in so it is easily accessible.

| Assign Roles to Key Employees | In the chaos of a severe weather situation, it is important to make sure everyone is safe and accounted for in a timely manner. Enlist the help of key employees in doing this—make sure you have a person who will do a headcount and round up anyone who needs shelter if it is too much for you to handle alone.

*If your business is damaged by severe weather, SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help. Contact us 24/7 at (770) 424-0400 for immediate help/emergency services or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com for more information about our commercial restoration process and how we can help.

Thorough Water Cleanup From the Professionals | SERVPRO of East Cobb

1/7/2022 (Permalink)

When water damage strikes, make the call to SERVPRO of East Cobb for A-to-Z cleanup and restoration.

It’s hard to believe, but it’s true—an average of 14,000 Americans each day are affected by a home water damage incident.

Now, we certainly hope you’ll go through life without becoming part of that number on any given day. But if there’s ever a day when water damage intrudes upon your life, you’ve got backup from the best team in the business.

When you enlist SERVPRO of East Cobb to see you through a water disaster, we’ll act both quickly and thoroughly. Take a look at the process here.

Emergency Contact |

When you call us (anytime, thanks to our 24-hour emergency service), we’ll ask you some questions to help us understand the situation fully. We’ll then figure out the soonest time we can arrive on site to survey the situation in person.

Inspection and Water Damage Assessment |

If water is still flowing when we arrive, taking care of that will be the first order of business. Then we’ll assess the damage and make sure you’re aware of any potential hazards it has created, and we’ll go about determining which items and surfaces can be restored and what’s going to have to be replaced.

Water Removal |

At this point, the removal can begin, as we remove the bulk of the water present using powerful vacuums and pumps. It’s very important that we do everything necessary for complete removal of all excess moisture.

Damaged Material Removal |

Our first hope is to restore everything to its rightful state, but some things simply may need replacement. Those things will be hauled away in a quick, safe manner, leaving a clean work space and adequate room for the drying and repair of the remaining items.

Cleaning, Sanitizing and Deodorization |

Obviously, water everywhere can create quite a soggy mess, and we’ll be able to get rid of stains, toxins and odors at this point. It’s going to start feeling like home again soon.

Drying |

Once removal is done, drying can begin. Moisture left behind after water invades can cause mold if it’s not managed, so we’ll use our high-powered equipment and HEPA vacuums to remove moisture from carpets, walls and other surfaces.

Monitoring |

We’ll be in contact regularly, giving any needed updates and making sure the whole process runs smoothly. If any adjustments to the plan need to be made, we’ll be close by to manage them.

Repairs & Construction |

Now we can make the final touches, whether they be as minimal as carpet or drywall or as significant as major reconstruction.

When water damage strikes, make the call to SERVPRO of East Cobb for A-to-Z cleanup and restoration. We’ll make your damaged property look “Like it never even happened.”

The Difference Between Severe Weather Watches and Warnings | SERVPRO of East Cobb

1/5/2022 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb if your home experience storm or flood damage. We are here to help 24-hours a day to help Cobb County homeowners.

Severe weather is something that threatens the majority of the locations in the United States, and it can be a threat nearly any time of year if the weather grows unseasonably warm. While severe weather can be an inconvenience, it can also be dangerous—between property damage and the threat to personal safety, it is important to keep your guard up should severe weather head your way.

Being aware of weather patterns for your area and tuning into local alerts is one of the best ways you can achieve this. By understanding your risk level, you can make more informed decisions about when to stay aware, change plans and seek shelter if necessary.

Severe Weather Watches and Warnings

|Severe Weather Watches| 

A severe weather watch will be issued when the potential for a severe weather event is present in the area, but one has not occurred yet. For example, if there is a tornado watch, that means that the current conditions are favorable for a tornado, but one has not been spotted on radar or on the ground.

|Severe Weather Warnings|

A severe weather warning is far more dangerous, as it means that severe weather is imminent or actively occurring in the area. This will be based on either radar or reports on the ground, but regardless, it means that there is an active threat in your region.

How to React to Severe Weather Watches and Warnings

• It is important to react properly to both watches and warnings so you and your loved ones can stay safe in the event of severe weather.
• When there is a “severe weather watch”, that indicates that you should stay alert and stay close to home. This will be the time to tune into local weather alert systems, power up your weather radio and ensure that your designated safe space is accessible and stocked with emergency supplies.
• If this is upgraded to a “severe weather warning”, that is when you will want to seek shelter immediately. Bring your weather radio, flashlights and any other necessities to your safe area and hunker down until local authorities provide you with the all-clear.

*If you have damage to your home due to storms, SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help. You can get in touch with us 24-hours a day at (770) 424-0400 or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com to learn more about our storm restoration services or to report damage for a quick response.

You Shouldn't Have to Wait for Cleanup and Recovery | SERVPRO of East Cobb

12/20/2021 (Permalink)

If a fire issue pops up during the holidays, remember the trusted leader in the recovery industry, SERVPRO of East Cobb.

Do you remember that general store with the big, red K out front? You could go in and shop for all sorts of things, and then suddenly you’d hear a voice overhead: “Shoppers, there’s a blue light special on aisle five,” and you’d rush over to see what was on sale.

If you have no idea what we’re talking about, you may also not be able to remember a time when people did much more waiting for things. Before cell phones, the Internet and same-day delivery, there were times when you would have to sit around and wait for something, without some other way to occupy yourself or be productive.

There are some things for which you don’t want to wait, and there are some things for which you shouldn’t have to wait. One of those things is cleanup and recovery after a sudden home disaster. That’s why SERVPRO of East Cobb is always awaiting your click or call, 24 hours a day, right here in East Cobb.

Fast service after home damage isn’t merely a want, it’s a need—and here’s why.

- After A Fire - 

A fire can eat entire sections of a house in minutes, and that damage is plain to see. But after the fire, your home continues to be damaged by soot, the micro-sized particles that immediately go to work on your carpet, walls and more.

In mere minutes, your home endures stains from soot and smells from smoke, and in a matter of hours these things become permanent and irreparable. That’s why it’s so important for you to be able to contact SERVPRO at any time to get the help you need—so we can prevent this permanent damage and the added cost and time associated with complete reconstruction.

- After Water Damage - 

The countdown to mold growth after water damage is a meager 48 hours. You’ve got two days or less before potentially hazardous mold, which you may not even be able to see, is growing all over affected surfaces of your home.

Left unmanaged, this mold can cause or worsen serious medical conditions, and it can even threaten the integrity of your home’s walls and structure.

Storms and natural disasters can bring their own acute needs ramming into your life as well, and they certainly have no interest in waiting for a convenient time to do it. Whenever these things happen, you need to know you can pick up the phone and reach immediate help.

Waiting for help is old-fashioned. Live in the now, and trust SERVPRO to see you through cleanup, recovery and more.

When you need help after a home or business restoration disaster, fast service is a priority, and there’s nobody faster or more prepared than SERVPRO of East Cobb. Contact us at (770) 424-0400 at any time to take advantage of our 24-hour emergency service or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com for more information on our mitigation, restoration and cleanup services.

Tips for Safely Using a Storm Generator | SERVPRO of East Cobb

12/16/2021 (Permalink)

Be prepared for storm events and severe weather. Having a generator can come in handy during extended power outages.

If you have ever experienced a power outage due to severe weather, you have likely considered getting a storm generator for your household—and for good reason. It is estimated that severe weather is responsible for a 70% uptick in power outages in recent years, and while most outages are resolved quickly, some weather events will knock the power out for days.

If you are considering a storm generator for your household, it is important that you know how to use it safely. Generators are useful, but they can be dangerous. Understanding the necessary safety precautions can ensure your family is comfortable and protected in the wake of severe weather.

Safety Considerations for Using a Storm Generator

Protect Yourself Against Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: The majority of generator models are powered by gasoline, which can lead to extremely harmful carbon monoxide fumes being emitted. For this reason, it is important to never use a generator inside the home and to keep it at least 20 feet away from all windows and doors so there is proper air flow. Additionally, it is a good idea to keep a carbon monoxide monitor in the home just in case.

Know Your Power Requirements: Generators are rated for their wattage output, so it is important to make sure you understand what your particular model can safely power. Look up the wattage requirements of each item you plan to use with the generator to avoid overloading it, as that can be a serious fire risk. Also check any extension cords or power strips you are using with the generator, as these may have specific wattage requirements as well.

Never Fuel the Generator While it is Running: Spilling gasoline on a hot, running generator can quickly start a fire. For this reason, it is a must that you turn off your generator before you fuel it up, exactly as you would when you fuel up your vehicle. That way, any spilled fuel can be cleaned up before the generator needs to be operated again to avoid the risk of a fire.

*If you have household damage due to a storm, SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help restore both your home and peace of mind. Contact us today at (770) 424-0400 or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com to learn more about our restoration services or to report damage of your own.

Cuando necesite una restauración comercial, somos la elección correcta | SERVPRO del condado de East Cobb

12/13/2021 (Permalink)

Descubrir que su empresa ha sufrido daños puede ser una sensación devastadora. Ya sea que el problema sea causado por daño por agua, daño por incendio o alguna otra causa, volver al trabajo rápidamente es probablemente su enfoque número uno una vez que pueda asegurarse de que todos sus empleados están a salvo. Planear con anticipación para un desastre es una necesidad para los dueños de negocios, pero también lo es saber cómo reaccionar cuando ocurre un desastre en su espacio.

Cuando necesite una restauración comercial, comenzar el proceso rápidamente es clave para una recuperación completa, y eso es exactamente en lo que estamos aquí para ayudarlo. Todo en nuestro modelo de negocio está diseñado para proporcionar a nuestros clientes una respuesta rápida y ayudar a las empresas a volver a lo que hacen más rápido. Siga leyendo para obtener más información sobre nuestras estrategias probadas a lo largo del tiempo para la restauración comercial.

Por qué somos la opción correcta para las necesidades de restauración comercial

Brindamos una respuesta rápida en cualquier momento | Desafortunadamente, no hay forma de predecir cuándo ocurrirá un desastre, pero cuando nos elige como su socio comercial de restauración, no tiene que preocuparse por eso. Contamos con una línea de contacto de emergencia a disposición de nuestros clientes las 24 horas, los 7 días de la semana, los 365 días del año. Puede llamarnos a cualquier hora y obtener una respuesta de nuestro equipo de técnicos expertos.

Nuestros técnicos cuentan con una amplia formación | Hablando de nuestros técnicos expertos, queríamos llamar la atención sobre nuestro increíble personal de restauración. Desde daños por incendio hasta problemas de humedad, todas las personas a las que empleamos están ampliamente capacitadas en técnicas y equipos de restauración, por lo que puede estar seguro de que el equipo que recibe en su negocio sabrá exactamente qué hacer.

Ningún trabajo es demasiado grande para nosotros | Estamos orgullosos de poder manejar desastres de cualquier tamaño para nuestros clientes comerciales. Si bien cada ubicación de SERVPRO es de propiedad y operación local, también tenemos el beneficio de una red nacional de otros propietarios de franquicias que pueden intervenir y ayudar cuando sea necesario. Esto significa que si un gran desastre hace que nuestros equipos y equipos se agoten, podemos solicitar respaldo de inmediato para asegurarnos de que nunca haya un retraso en el servicio para nuestros clientes.

* Si su negocio en el condado de Cobb ha sufrido daños por agua, fuego, moho o tormentas, los professionales de SERVPRO of East Cobb son la elección correcta de professionales de la restauración para usted. Nuestro personal está específicamente capacitado para manejar daños comerciales por agua, fuego y moho y puede manejar proyectos de restauración de cualquier tamaño con el respaldo de nuestra oficina corporativa y más de 1,700 franquicias en todo el país. Contáctenos hoy al (770) 424-0400 o visite www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com para obtener más información sobre los servicios que ofrecemos y cómo podemos ayudar a su espacio comercial.

Water Damage Numbers That Will Make Your Head Spin | SERVPRO of East Cobb

12/9/2021 (Permalink)

If water damage catches you off-guard and leaves you all wet, you’ve got help on your side. Contact SERVPRO of East Cobb.

There was a movie a couple years back about a team of heroes that fought a large, purple bad guy—you remember the one? He had a big chin and he told everyone that the success of his destructive plan was “inevitable.”

If that movie were a metaphor for your life, and the galaxy in question was your house, the titanic villain would almost certainly be water damage, and the heroes would be your pipes, roof and drainage system.

Water damage can definitely seem inevitable once you see how often it happens. That’s why it’s so important to keep your plumbing system well-equipped and maintained–it’s your best defense against leaks and flooding from inside the home.

Check out these shocking numbers:

24% - That’s the percentage of all U.S. home insurance claims covering water damage incidents. A quarter of all claims—that means one of every 50 homes in the country will file a claim this year.

48 Hours - This is how many hours it takes for mold to start growing in dampened areas after water damage. Under the right conditions, it may not even take this long.

98% - These are the highest odds stacked against you. If your home has a basement, this is the percent chance that your basement will take on water damage at some point in time.

$10,234 - This is the cost of the average water damage claim. Water makes a big mess in a short amount of time, so this may not be all that surprising.

14,000 - This is the number of water damage incidents that will be reported, not over the next year, but today. This equates to a new incident happening once every six seconds.

13,000,000,000 - Anytime a number reaches into the billions, you know it’s serious, and this number is definitely that. This number represents the annual dollar amount spent on the repair and recovery of home water damage incidents.

These numbers may make it seem that water damage to your home is indeed inevitable, but keep your head up. An attentive eye to maintenance, upgrades and safety can give you your best odds to stave off the dreaded aquatic attack of the water surging through your pipes.

*If water damage catches you off-guard and leaves your property all wet, you’ve got help on your side...SERVPRO of East Cobb! Contact us at(770) 424-0400 or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com to learn more about our water restoration and cleanup services. Call us as soon as water damage occurs and see how we can quickly and fully restore water damage to your home or business.

When You Need Commercial Restoration, We Are the Right Choice | SERVPRO of East Cobb

12/6/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is here 24-hours a day to make all of your companies water, fire, mold or storm damage "Like it never even happened."

Discovering that your business has suffered damage can be a devastating feeling. Whether the issue is caused by water damage, fire damage or some other cause, getting back to work quickly is likely your No. 1 focus once you are able to make sure that all your employees are safe. Planning ahead for a disaster is a must for business owners, but so is knowing how to react when one strikes in your space.

When you need commercial restoration, starting the process quickly is key to a full recovery—and that is exactly what we are here to help with. Everything about our business model is designed to provide our clients with a rapid response and help businesses get back to what they do faster. Read on to learn more about our time tested strategies for commercial restoration.

Why We Are the Right Choice for Commercial Restoration Needs

We Provide a Rapid Response at Any Hour | Unfortunately, there is no way to predict when a disaster will strike, but when you choose us as your commercial restoration partner, you do not have to worry about that. We have an emergency contact line available to our clients 24/7, 365 days a year. You can call us at any hour and get a response from our expert team of technicians.

Our Technicians Have Extensive Training | Speaking of our expert technicians, we wanted to call attention to our incredible restoration staff. From fire damage to moisture issues, everyone we employ is trained extensively on restoration techniques and equipment, so you can be certain that the team you receive to your business will know exactly what to do.

No job is too large for us to handle | We pride ourselves on being able to handle any size disaster for our commercial clients. While each SERVPRO location is locally owned and operated, we also have the benefit of a national network of other franchise owners who can jump in and help whenever they are needed. This means that if a large disaster causes our teams and equipment to be stretched thin, we can immediately call for backup to ensure there is never a lag in service for our clients.

*If your Cobb County business has suffered water, fire, mold or storm damage, the professionals at SERVPRO of East Cobb are the right choice of restoration professionals for you. Our staff is specifically trained to handle commercial water, fire and mold damage and can handle any size restoration project with the backing of our corporate office and over 1,700 franchises nationwide. Contact us today at (770) 424-0400 or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com to learn more about the services we offer and how we can help your commercial space.

Preparation for Winter Weather and Potential Storms | SERVPRO of East Cobb

12/1/2021 (Permalink)

If winter weather should bring damage to your home or business, contact SERVPRO of East Cobb for fast, restorative solutions.

The upcoming winter months are sure to be a blur of traditions and parties, gatherings and holiday events. It brings a promise of cold weather, but it almost surely also brings a promise of warm, cozy moments with the ones you love.

But if you want to maintain that warm, cozy feeling, there are few things you’re going to need to take care of first. Whether it’s protecting your home from harsh winter weather or preparing for potentially dangerous ice and snow, there are some things you’ll want to be aware of.

Protect Your Family

An important part of family safety in any season is communication. That’s why it’s crucial for you to develop and practice an emergency action plan that will prepare your family for the event of winter storms or emergencies.

And it’s time to winterize the family care, too—check the battery, the tires, the fluids and your car’s electrical systems. Even if we don’t see significant snow and ice this year, you’re sure to encounter some click road conditions from winter storms at some point. And as part of your emergency kit, pack some warm clothes and a pair of sturdy pair of shoes, should you end up stranded in your car at any point.

Protect Your Home

Frozen pipes aren’t a constant threat during Georgia winters, but when temperatures take a sudden nose dive, they become a very real possibility. When a hard freeze hits town, let your pipes release some pressure by letting showers and sinks drip. Check the health of your home’s heat system as well. It’s better to get it tuned up now than for it to struggle or fail in the dead of winter. 

If you have a wood fireplace or furnace, make sure to clean it thoroughly to avoid the fire hazard of accumulated soot, see to it that it’s well-ventilated, and always build and put out winter fires safely. And if you feel random cool breezes, or your home seems to lose heat, check your attic for inadequate insulation, and your windows for broken or damaged seals.

Protect Your Pets

Your pets likely aren’t built for the cold of winter. Bring them in and make them comfortable somewhere. If you do have outdoor animals or livestock, make sure they are properly sheltered, and that they have a constant source of water replenished regularly if temperatures are at or below freezing.

*If winter weather should bring damage or flooding to your home or business, contact SERVPRO of East Cobb for fast, restorative solutions.

Su lista de verificación para recuperarse de un incendio en su empresa | SERVPRO del Condado de East Cobb

11/30/2021 (Permalink)

Experimentar un incendio en su negocio puede ser un hecho realmente devastador. Los incendios no solo lo ponen a usted y a su valioso personal en peligro, sino que también pueden descarrilar sus operaciones comerciales y generar un golpe financiero a su presupuesto. Si bien una estrategia de prevención es imprescindible para reducir la probabilidad de que su empresa experimente un incendio, también es importante asegurarse de saber qué hacer después.

Recuperarse rápidamente es un enfoque importante para las empresas después de un incendio. Cuanto más rápido se recuperen, menor será el impacto del incendio en sus operaciones y ganancias generales. Al usar una lista de verificación como la que se muestra a continuación, usted puede estar seguro de que ha considerado todos los elementos necesarios para la recuperación y puede entrar en acción rápidamente después de un incendio.

Lista de verificación para que los propietarios de empresas se preparen para recuperarse de un incendio

- ¿Tiene la información de contacto de su seguro? -  Ponerse en contacto con el proveedor de seguros de su empresa es una de las primeras órdenes del día después de un incendio, por lo que es importante que sepa exactamente con quién ponerse en contacto. El proceso de reclamos a menudo puede llevar mucho tiempo, pero cuanto antes comience, más rápido podrá recibir los fondos que se le otorguen.

- ¿Sabe qué empresa se encargará de la restauración comercial? - Es imprescindible encontrar la empresa adecuada para encargarse de la restauración de su espacio comercial después de un incendio. Asegúrese de tener bien seleccionada una empresa antes de tener que contactarlos; de esa manera, después de un incendio, sabrá exactamente a quién llamar. Encuentre una empresa que utilice una línea de contacto las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana, de modo que pueda ponerse en contacto a cualquier hora y asegurarse de que siempre recibirá una respuesta rápida.

- ¿Tiene un plan para la recuperación de datos? - Independientemente de la línea de negocio en la que se encuentre, es probable que su empresa tenga bastantes datos a mano a los que deberá acceder posteriormente. Asegúrese de pensar esto con anticipación y de haber realizado las copias de seguridad necesarias y las pruebas de acceso para los datos de su empresa para que pueda obtenerlos cuando más los necesite.

Plan de Emergencia Listo Para Propiedades Comerciales 

Designe a SERVPRO de East Cobb como su proveedor de servicios de restauración preferido en su Plan de preparación para emergencias de SERVPRO personalizado, y su empresa recibirá el beneficio de más de 40 años de experiencia en la reducción del impacto de cualquier desastre natural, provocado por el hombre o por incendios accidentales. SERVPRO es líder en respuesta a daños por agua y fuego y puede ayudarlo a que su negocio vuelva a funcionar rápidamente.

* Si su negocio o propiedad comercial ha sufrido un incendio, puede contar con SERVPRO de East Cobb. Póngase en contacto con SERVPRO of East Cobb al (770) 424-0400 hoy o visite www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com para obtener más información sobre nuestros servicios de restauración comercial y cómo podemos ayudar a su empresa en el período subsiguiente.

¿Ha revisado últimamente la Impermeabilización de su hogar? | SERVPRO de East Cobb

11/30/2021 (Permalink)

Hay muchas cosas sobre la propiedad de una vivienda que son emocionantes y satisfactorias, pero nos aventuraríamos a adivinar que la mayoría de los propietarios no pondrían "comprobar su impermeabilización" en un lugar muy alto de esa lista. ¡Sigue siendo una tarea que no querrás saltarte!

Verificar la impermeabilización de su hogar es una tarea importante para prevenir daños por agua, y también puede ser una excelente manera de ahorrar dinero en costos de calefacción en el invierno porque garantiza que no se escape el aire. Si aún no ha comprobado la impermeabilización de su hogar esta temporada, ¡ahora es el momento!

¿Qué es la impermeabilización?

La impermeabilización se refiere a dos cosas: tanto el acto de impermeabilizar, cuando se usa como verbo, y el material que se usa para impermeabilizar, cuando se usa como sustantivo. Alrededor de cada ventana y puerta, pueden desarrollarse huecos microscópicos que dejan salir el aire caliente y entrar el aire frío; además, estos huecos pueden fácilmente provocar daños por agua alrededor de los marcos de las puertas y ventanas.

Al abordar la tarea de impermeabilización en el otoño, puede asegurarse de que todos estos huecos se rellenen para ahorrar dinero y evitar que surjan daños.

¿Dónde debo instalar la protección contra la intemperie?

Afortunadamente, la impermeabilización es un proyecto de bricolaje fácil para que los propietarios lo aborden como parte de sus proyectos de fin de semana. La protección contra la intemperie debe instalarse alrededor de cualquier entrada exterior de la casa, ya sea alrededor de puertas, ventanas, chimeneas o conductos de ventilación.

Cualquier lugar que tenga el potencial de que el agua ingrese debe estar cuidadosa y completamente a prueba de intemperie para que no descubra problemas ocultos cuando llegue la primavera.

¿Qué pasa si usted sospecha que ya hay daños?

Si sospecha que el agua se está abriendo camino alrededor de sus ventanas y puertas, hay algunas cosas que puede buscar para ayudarlo a determinar si ese es el caso. Alrededor de los marcos de puertas y ventanas, verifique si hay pintura burbujeante o descascarada, decoloración, suavidad de las paredes u olores almizclados, todos los cuales serán especialmente frecuentes después de una lluvia intensa, lo más probable.

Si nota alguno de estos sucesos, asegúrese de llamarnos y podemos ir a evaluar la situación para que pueda determinar si hay humedad oculta.

* Cuando ocurre un daño por agua, ¡sabes que SERVPRO of East Cobb es el equipo al que debes llamar! Póngase en contacto con SERVPRO de East Cobb a cualquier hora al (770) 424-0400 y nos comunicaremos con usted rápidamente. Contáctenos hoy para informar daños o visite www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com para obtener más información sobre nuestros procesos y servicios de restauración de agua.

Your Checklist for Recovering From a Fire at Your Business | SERVPRO of East Cobb

11/18/2021 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb at 770-424-0400 if your commercial property or business is in need of smoke & fire cleanup and restoration services.

Experiencing a fire at your business can be a truly devastating occurrence. Not only do fires put you and your valued staff in harm’s way, but they can also derail your business operations and deliver a financial blow to your budget. While a strategy of prevention is a must for reducing the likelihood that your business will experience a fire, it is also important to be certain you know what to do in the aftermath.

Recovering quickly is an important focus for businesses after a fire. The quicker they are able to recover, the less the impact of the fire will be on their overall operations and profits. By using a checklist such as the one below, you can be sure that you have considered all the necessary elements of recovery and are able to quickly spring into action in a fire’s aftermath.

A Checklist for Business Owners to Prepare to Recover From a Fire

- Do You Have Your Insurance Contact Information - Contacting your business’ insurance provider is one of the first orders of business after a fire, so it is important that you know exactly who to get in touch with. The claims process can often be time-consuming, but the earlier you get it started, the more quickly you can receive the funds you are awarded.

- Do You Know Who You Will Use for Commercial Restoration - Finding the right company to handle the restoration of your commercial space after a fire is a must. Be sure you have a company picked out well before you need to contact them—that way, in the aftermath of a fire, you know exactly who to call. Find a company that utilizes a 24/7 contact line so you can get in touch at any hour to ensure you will always receive a quick response.

- Do You Have a Plan for Data Recovery - Regardless of what line of business you are in, it is likely that your business has quite a bit of data on hand that will need to be accessed in the aftermath. Make sure you think this through in advance and have performed the necessary backups and access tests for your business data so you can get it when you need it the most.

SERVPRO Emergency Ready Plan for Commercial Properties

Designate SERVPRO of East Cobb as your preferred restoration service provider in your personalized SERVPRO’s Emergency Ready Plan, and your business will receive the benefit of over 40 years of experience in reducing the impact of any natural, man-made or accidental fire disaster. SERVPRO is a leader in water and fire damage response and can help you quickly get your business back in working order.

*If your business or commercial property has suffered a fire, you can depend on SERVPRO of East Cobb. Get in touch with SERVPRO of East Cobb at (770) 424-0400 today or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com to learn more about our commercial restoration services and how we can help your business in the aftermath.

Have You Checked Your Home's Weatherproofing Lately? | SERVPRO of East Cobb

11/18/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help when water damage happens to your home. Call us at 770-424-0400 for 24-hour help and water restoration services.

There are many things about home ownership that are exciting and fulfilling, but we would venture to guess that most homeowners would not put “checking their weatherproofing” very high up on that list. It is still a chore you do not want to skip!

Checking your home’s weatherproofing is an important task for preventing water damage, and it can also be a great way to save money on heating costs in the winter because it ensures that no air is able to escape. If you have yet to check your home’s weatherproofing this season, now is the time!

What Is Weatherproofing?

Weatherproofing refers to two things: both the act of weatherproofing, when used as a verb, and the material that is used to weatherproof, when used as a noun. Around every window and door, microscopic gaps can develop that let warm air out and cold air in—plus, these gaps can easily lead to water damage around the window and door frames, too.

By tackling the task of weatherproofing in the fall, you can ensure that all these gaps are filled in to save money and prevent damage from arising.

Where Should I Install Weatherproofing?

Fortunately, weatherproofing is an easy DIY project for homeowners to tackle as part of their weekend projects. Weatherproofing should be installed around any exterior entrance to the home, whether that be around doors, windows, chimneys or vents.

Anywhere that has the potential for water to work its way in should be carefully and thoroughly weatherproofed so you do not discover hidden issues when spring arrives.

What if I Already Suspect Damage?

If you suspect that water is working its way in around your windows and doors, there are a few things you can look for to help you determine if that is the case. Around door and window frames, check for any bubbling or peeling paint, discoloration, softness of the walls or musky odors—all of which will be especially prevalent after a bout of heavy rain, more than likely.

If you notice any of these occurrences, be sure to give us a call and we can come assess the situation for you to determine if there is any hidden moisture.

*When water damage strikes, you know that SERVPRO of East Cobb is the team to call! Get in touch with SERVPRO of East Cobb at any hour at (770) 424-0400 and we will get to you quickly. Contact us today to report damage or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com to learn more about our water restoration processes and services.

The Main Causes of House Fires | SERVPRO of East Cobb

11/9/2021 (Permalink)

Regardless of the cause, SERVPRO of East Cobb is here for you if your home is affected by fire.

A residential fire is a frightening experience, and one every home owner wants to avoid. Fires are unpredictable and seem to start from nowhere, causing damage to the home. Homeowners go to great lengths to avoid fires, but despite years of ad campaigns and awareness advertisements, more than 25% of all fires still occur in the home.

What are the top causes of these house fires and what can we do to reduce that number? Let’s take a look at how we can prevent them.

| Cooking | Cooking leads the list as the top cause of home fires and injuries, although, interestingly enough, not casualties. Almost half of all home fires start in the kitchen, and the No. 1 reason is unattended cooking. Want to avoid a fire at home? Stay in the kitchen at the stove or grill while your food is being prepared.

| Heating Equipment | Heating equipment is responsible for 14% of all home fires nationally. A combination of mishaps, equipment malfunctions and flammable materials placed too close to heat sources lead to this scenario, and portable space heaters are the top culprit.

| Electrical Fires | Electrical safety has improved over the years as new technology is introduced and building codes are updated. While appliances and electrical devices in the home are generally more efficient and require less electricity, there are more of these devices in the home, driving up the usage of electricity. Faulty wiring and the overloading of circuits are factors that contribute to electrical fires at home. Other top causes are the use of frayed or faulty outlets and appliance cords or extension cords that are damaged.

| Intentional Fires | Unfortunately, over 28,000 intentional home fires are started every year. Intentional home fires, or arson, still happens at an alarming rate. Some of the reasons are pyromania, crime concealment and vandalism.

| Smoking Materials | According to the CDC, smoking has declined by two-thirds in the past 50 years after the Surgeon General warned of health consequences. But tragically, despite only being responsible for 5% of home fire occurrences, fires started by smoking materials are the leading cause of civilian fire deaths.

*Regardless of the cause of loss, SERVPRO of East Cobb is here for you if your home or business is affected by fire. Contact your local team today at (770) 424-0400 to see how we can help.

A Severe Storm Preparedness Checklist | SERVPRO of East Cobb

11/2/2021 (Permalink)

If your home or business suffers storm or flood damage call SERVPRO of East Cobb. We make storm damage "Like it never even happened."

Preparing for severe weather may not be the most fun task, but it is one that will help you keep your home and family protected in case a storm comes through. While severe weather is quite common, it is important to regard every storm with caution—you never know when one could significantly impact you and your loved ones.

While storms can never be prevented, you can take steps to increase your overall safety. With our severe storm preparedness checklist, you can be certain you are doing all that you can to be ready for severe weather in case it pops up in your area. Keep reading below for all the important tips.

A Checklist for Severe Weather Preparedness

If you are hoping to be more prepared for severe weather, this checklist is a great place to start. By making sure you have a plan in place and everything you need, you can have the peace of mind of knowing you are as prepared as possible for a significant weather event.

Here are some items to check off your storm preparedness list:

• Get a NOAA weather radio (either battery-powered or hand-powered) so you can stay updated on weather conditions even if cell phones fail.
• Designate an area in your home to be a safe area (preferably a basement or room without windows).
• Gather supplies for a severe weather emergency kit, including flashlights, batteries, non-perishable foods and sealed water bottles. 
• Make sure you have first-aid items handy and have received basic first-aid training.
• Remove any questionable branches that could damage your home during high winds.
• Secure patio furniture and other potential projectiles ahead of every storm.
• Know where local shelters are in relation to your home.
• Educate yourself on the difference between thunderstorm watches and warnings.
• Unplug appliances, TVs and electronics ahead of severe weather.
• Avoid showering or using plumbing if thunder is audible in your area.
• Keep a copy of important documents such as passports, home insurance policies and checks with your emergency kit.

*If your Cobb County home has been damaged due to severe weather, SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help. Contact us at any time at (770) 424-0400 or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com to learn more about how we handle storm restoration.

Cleaning and Services for Your Business | SERVPRO of East Cobb

10/21/2021 (Permalink)

Are you ready to have the cleanest business in Cobb County? Contact SERVPRO of East Cobb for all your cleaning and bioremediation needs.

Everybody knows SERVPRO of East Cobb is who you call when a fire, flood or other disaster wreaks havoc on your home. But did you know that in addition to providing a wide array of residential restoration and cleanup services for homeowners, we also take care of businesses in Cobb County?

Yes, we offer all the services you’d expect from the leader in the restoration industry, and more, for local business owners. And in addition to cleanup and recovery, we can be your go-to solution for sanitation and cleaning, because we understand that the way your business looks and feels is an important part of communicating your values to your customers and clients.

Commercial Services for Businesses of Any Size

The bottom line is that you should be able to focus on what you do best—the business services you provide. So we’ve made it our mission to take cleaning off your hands so you can stay on track. So when it comes to commercial restoration services, SERVPRO of East Cobb is a leader in the industry. Available 24 hours a day and seven days a week, SERVPRO of East Cobb responds quickly to your East Cobb business’s fire, water, and mold damage emergencies. No commercial project is too big, because we have access to the resources of a nationwide network of 1,700 Franchises. Learn more about our commercial restoration services:

• Retail Stores, Supermarkets and Shopping Malls

If sales are being made, we can clean the store. No matter the size, your space will get the attention it needs.

• Schools and Athletic Venues

Daily disinfection by students and faculty only kills half the bacteria on high-touch surfaces like desks, and other areas which aren’t cleaned as often stay even dirtier. We can change that. The children are our future, you know.

• Hospitals, Outpatient Centers and Healthcare Facilities

From the delivery room to the hospice house, we believe patients, nurses and doctors deserve the highest care, and we’ll provide sanitation and cleaning that goes above and beyond existing standards to see to it that they get it.

• Hospitality Facilities, Resorts and Casinos

When people are in and out all day and gathering in large numbers, we’ll make sure the environment is safe for them to meet, mingle or play.

• Foodservice Facilities

We’ll make sure every surface is sanitized and a germ-free facility is in place, so you can be sure your food prep is clean, right down to the machinery or serving counters.

• Apartments and Managed Properties 

Wherever people live, work or play, we can make the environment safer, cleaner and fresher to make it feel like somewhere they feel valued and want to spend time.

Believe it or not, sick days and the productivity loss of workplace illnesses cost business owners $260 billion per year. With the SERVPRO cleaning team on your side, you can make sure your business removes itself from that statistic by promoting a healthy space, sanitized and cleaned to the max by the best team in the business.

When you’re ready to have the cleanest business in town, SERVPRO of East Cobb is ready to help. Contact us at(770) 424-0400 to get the pros working on the cleaning so you can work on the work.

Choose Your Restoration Company Carefully | SERVPRO of East Cobb

10/15/2021 (Permalink)

You can rest easy knowing you’ve got the trusted leader in the restoration industry on the other end of the line, SERVPRO of East Cobb.

It might not be a pleasant thought, but if you’ve been a homeowner for any length of time, you’ve probably come to grips with the fact that you’ll likely need some kind of home restoration someday. When fire flares up or a heavy storm causes flooding, you’ll have some quick decision-making to execute, and a little knowledge can go a long way in helping you make the right call.

*Here are a few questions to consider now, to help you when the time comes to make that important call:

Are They Legit?

We wish it weren’t so, but large-scale disasters bring scammers out of the woodwork to take advantage of home and business owners who are suddenly thrust into tough situations. When you’ve got severe damage to be taken care of, it’s crucial that you know you can trust the folks on the other end of the phone.

At SERVPRO, we’ve spent more than five decades proving ourselves to countless homeowners in need of service. And we’ve become the industry leader in the field because we continue to innovate and find new ways to show ourselves trustworthy.

What’s more, respected national organizations like the PGA Tour count on us to manage cleanup and restoration of some of the most pristine facilities in the nation, so you can rest easy knowing we’ve got a good name.

Will They Be There When I Need Help?

When disaster strikes, you don’t have time to wait around—that only leads to more damage and frustration.

That’s why we’re ready every second of every day to step in and deal with your restoration emergency. Your local SERVPRO team will be ready to go as soon as you’re ready to make the call.

Where’s a Fleet When You Need One?

SERVPRO of East Cobb is a locally owned and operated franchise based right here in North Georgia. But we’ve got a big brother, so to speak, in the form of the national network of other SERVPRO teams.

When a massive crisis or a spike in service needs comes, the area is inundated with helpful experts in green, so your needs never get ignored or pushed to the side.

*When you call SERVPRO of East Cobb, you can rest easy knowing you’ve got the trusted leader in the restoration industry on the other end of the line. When disaster hits home, contact us to get our local experts and nationwide network on your side.

Hidden Fire Hazards That May Be Sabotaging Your Business | SERVPRO of East Cobb

9/23/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help your business recover after any size fire loss. Call us 24/7...we are alway ready to answer your call!

When you think of fire hazards that may be impacting your Cobb County business, you are likely thinking of things such as inadequate fire extinguishers or improper use of the office kitchen—but unfortunately, many fire hazards are far more sneaky in the commercial setting. Business fires are a miserable thing to experience, and for the 100,000 businesses that must go through them every year, it is likely that a little bit of prevention could have gone a long way.

Making sure you are doing everything you can to prevent fires in your business is about more than simply adhering to commercial fire codes. It is also vital for keeping you and your staff safe at work and preventing the downtime associated with having a commercial fire. To keep your fire risk low, read on to learn about the hidden fire hazards businesses are often unaware of.

Hidden Fire Hazards That Can Put Businesses at Risk

- Improperly Used Extension Cords -

• For any office building or other commercial space with multiple electronic devices, extension cords are often a must for getting work done. However, when extension cords are used improperly, they can spark and cause fires that can be devastating. Watch out for extension cords that are overextended, overloaded or plugged into other extension cords, as this is how most of these fires begin.

- Blocked Fire Alarm Pulls -

• If a fire begins in your business, quickly alerting everyone and getting all personnel outside of the building is key—which is exactly what a fire alarm pull is designed to do. However, if these alarm pulls are obscured or otherwise blocked, they may go unused in the event of a fire, meaning that everyone will be put in more danger than was necessary.

- Unclear Fire Escape Routes -

• Because smoke can rapidly fill a room and cause breathing and visibility difficulties, being able to escape quickly in a fire is key. That is why having unblocked, unobstructed fire doors and well-illuminated exit signs is a must for any commercial space. This will allow people to quickly see where to go during an emergency so they can get to safety as quickly as possible.

* If your Cobb County business has sustained fire damage, you can count on SERVPRO of East Cobb. We are well-versed in handling commercial fire damage and are here 24/7 to respond to your call. Contact SERVPRO of East Cobb 24-hours a day at (770) 424-0400 or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com for more information on commercial fire restoration services.

Keep Fall Fire Safety In Mind | SERVPRO of East Cobb

9/22/2021 (Permalink)

Be mindful about fall fire safety. Always remember that SERVPRO of East Cobb is the trusted leader in the restoration industry.

Y’all feel that? The oppressive summer heat and muggy humidity are finally breaking, leaves are turning colors, and there’s football on every day this weekend. Yes, all signs point to the return of autumn. Everyone is cramming in those last few warm-day activities, and fall decorations are coming out of the garage like hotcakes. But as you begin your plans for this pleasant, cooler time of year, let’s run through a few things about seasonal fire safety you’ll want to keep in mind.

- Campfire Safety -

Ah, the campground, that hallowed fall getaway. You’ll want a fire at night for warmth and marshmallows, but make sure you both build and extinguish it properly. Keep your fire 25 feet from vehicles and tents, and out from under any low branches. Use only matches or a lighter to ignite your kindling, never kerosene or lighter fluid. Then you can add small, dry sticks, and finally larger pieces of wood. Don’t leave your fire burning while you sleep or unattended at any point, and make sure you extinguish every last glowing ember with water before you call it a day or leave the campsite.

- Leaf Burning -

Leaves are brown and likely all over the backyard by now, which leaves you (pun definitely intended) with options—haul them off, make mulch or burn them? If you choose to burn your yard trimmings and leaves, make sure to procure a permit from Georgia Forestry Commission first, and let your local firefighters know you’ll have an open flame.

Please note: It’s both illegal and harmful to burn garbage or anything other than yard waste. Use a burn barrel to control your fire if you have one, and keep your fire in a dirt area at least 50 feet from any structures.

- Halloween -

We’ll circle back to specifics for Halloween, but in general be reminded that candles, costumes and décor are flammable, so be mindful where you hang those cobwebs, and make the smart choice of using an electric candle in your carved pumpkin.

*If your home should suffer fire or smoke damage, remember the trusted leader in the fire restoration and recovery industry…SERVPRO of East Cobb. You can contact SERVPRO of East Cobb at (770) 424-0400 to get your property fully restored, including odor removal that will make that annoying smoke smell “Like it never even happened.”

The Most Common Places to Find a Water Leak | SERVPRO of East Cobb

9/13/2021 (Permalink)

A water leak can turn into a big problem. Contact the SERVPRO of East Cobb team if you are dealing with any water damage.

Many people start their mornings with reflection or prayer, but we’re willing to bet none of those prayers include a petition to discover an expectedly flooded laundry room. Nobody’s begging the heavens for a sewage-back to fill up their basement, but unfortunately, it happens. The good news is that you can give yourself better odds to avoid a surprise water attack if you know the most common points of failure. Let’s run down the top few.

• Toilets - The toilet is a simple machine that manages gallons of water every day. A leak or failure here can be a big problem—make sure your flapper gets replaced when it starts to wear down, and an old valve seal under the tank can cause a mystery leak in the floor.
• Appliances - Any appliance that uses water uses hoses or pipes to transport or dispose of it, and over time they may crack, dry out, or in the case of water heaters, even burst, sending water everywhere.
• Clogged Gutters - Spending an afternoon on the ladder probably isn’t your idea of fun, but it can save you the hassle of tracking down and dealing with a leak in your attic or walls later. Keep leafs and debris out, or install a gutter shield of some kind to prevent buildup.
• Roof Damage - Your roof is an under-celebrated hero at home. It takes a constant licking from hail, rain, sunshine and other factors, and it stays strong as long as it can. But it can only do so much—check your roof periodically for signs of wear or damage, and have a professional examine shingles and flashing if you suspect a leak.
• Pipes - There are many reasons pipes may fail—old age and oxidation are probably the most common, but faulty joints and high water pressure can do it, too. And there are dubious threats outside and underground as well, such as tree roots, which can sneak their way into sewer and water lines.
• Blocked Garbage Disposals or Other Pipes - Certain foods can cause garbage disposals to clog, and things like rice or pasta can clog drains because they soak up water and expand. These clogs can cause backups, and the plunging they may require can cause old or loose pipe fittings to fail.

You may not get a phone notification or text message warning you about a pipe break or impending water damage, but a little prevention and attention can make them less likely, less frequent and reduce overall recovery costs.

If a water leak erupts into a big problem at home, you’ve got the best team in the business on your side. Contact SERVPRO of East Cobb today at  so we can get started or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com for more information.

How to Practice Fire Safety When Cooking | SERVPRO of East Cobb

9/2/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help you recover after a home fire. From emergency boardup, smoke and odor removal to structural and textile cleaning.

Because many of us use our kitchens every day without incident, it can be easy to discount the very real risk of cooking fires breaking out in our homes. Cooking fires are actually the most common cause of house fires in the United States, and because of high heat, grease and open flames, they can often grow out of control in a short amount of time.

Fortunately, taking the proper precautions can make all the difference when it comes to how safe your cooking setup is. By being aware of how to stay fire-safe in the kitchen, you can significantly reduce the chances that a cooking fire will happen in your own home. Read on for our favorite tips!

Tips for Fire Safety When Cooking at Home

| Keep the Area Around Your Stovetop Clear | Many cooking fires are caused by total accidents, such as a dish towel or wooden cooking utensil getting too close to a stove top that is switched on and catching fire. Establish a safe zone around your stove and avoid keeping any flammable objects there so you can reduce the chances of sudden flames beginning.

| Never Leave Your Food Unattended | If you are roasting or simmering a dish for the long haul, it can be tempting to leave the room and return to your food later—however, this can be extremely dangerous. Avoid leaving the stove or oven on if no one will be in the room, as that can lead to a fire that is allowed to grow out of hand rapidly.

| Be Careful When Handling Hot Grease | Grease fires are especially dangerous because they do not respond to water, and hot grease can cause serious burns. Avoid throwing hot grease into the trash can, as it can ignite flammable items and start a trash fire until it cools down.

| Always Keep a Fire Extinguisher in the Kitchen | While preventing cooking fires is the most important thing, extinguishing them is the best second line of defense. Keeping a fire extinguisher at the ready is a must for any kitchen, and make sure that it is the right kind and that you know how to operate it.

*If your home has suffered fire damage, you can count on SERVPRO of East Cobb to restore your property to preloss condition. We have years of experience working with insurance companies like State Farm, Farmers, Travelers, The Hartford and many more, as well as homeowners who choose to self-pay to restore their homes. Contact us 24/7 for immediate service or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com to learn more about how we can handle household fire damage.

Be Prepared for Summer Storms | SERVPRO of East Cobb

8/24/2021 (Permalink)

If storms cause damage to your home or business, SERVPRO of East Cobb is on the line, ready to make things right.

Ah, the dog days of summer, when the weather is warm, the days are long and the sun is always shining—isn’t it? It has to be, right? It’s the sunniest time of the year, so obviously the sun must always be out. Except it’s not.

If it sometimes seems that thunderstorms are likely to ruin your summer plans, it’s not just you. While August in the greater Atlanta area is about average in the number of rainy days, the moisture and warm air of summer combine to produce more storms during those rainy days.

Be Storm-Alert

Storms should never be ignored, even though they may be considered commonplace. Local warnings should always be heeded, and considerations should be made regarding sporting events or outdoor activities.

Flooding can happen unexpectedly in thunderstorms, and if you receive a flood alert you would be wise to cancel travel plans. And look around the backyard for items like patio furniture, garbage cans or trampolines that might get blown around in heavy winds—see if you can store them safely somewhere until the storm passes.

Storm preparation isn’t exciting, but it mustn’t be neglected—there are dozens of storm-related deaths each year, many of which could have been prevented. Getting an NOAA Weather radio will help you stay in the know, even if the power should go out.

Be Storm-Safe

Keep yourself out of lightning’s way and stay indoors. You can safely head outside again once the storm has passed far enough away for there to be no lightning for 30 minutes. This keeps you outside the 10-mile reach of potential strikes.

Windows can break because of flying debris, so keeping away from them can keep you out of harm’s way. And avoid showering or bathing during a thunderstorm, because your shower and tub are electrical conductors, as is the water in which you bathe.

Keep an emergency kit packed for extreme situations like tornadoes, which may result in long-term power loss or displacement from home.

If heavy rains bring flooding, seek out or stay on high ground where it’s safe, and don’t touch flood waters because they can carry toxins. Rushing water can also carry you or your vehicle off the road, so turn around if you’re driving when flooding begins and seek an alternative way home.

*There are any number of dangers that can come into play in a thunderstorm, and it’s always best to be cautious and put things on hold until storms safely pass. If storms cause damage to your home or business, contact SERVPRO of East Cobb, ready to make things right again.

What Causes Grill Fires to Start? | SERVPRO of East Cobb

8/23/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help restore fire damaged homes and businesses. Give us a call 24/7...we are always here to help!

Grilling is a great way to take advantage of the extra daylight and warm weather that summertime has to offer, but as with any activity that involves open flames, it is important that you approach it with a fire safety mindset each and every time. While many people in Cobb County grill every weekend without incident, all it takes is one mistake to cause major damage.

Grill fires can occur for a variety of reasons, but fortunately, they are entirely preventable with a few helpful tips. By understanding why grill fires happen and how much damage they can cause, you can make safer decisions each and every time you fire up the grill.

| Why Grill Fires Start |

The main reasons why a grill fire may occur has everything to do with maintenance. Many grill fires are a result of a grill that is improperly cleaned, resulting in a buildup of grease on the tines that can lead to flare-ups. Another reason why grill fires occur in gas grills is a leak that goes unnoticed and then ignites. For this reason, experts recommend being vigilant about cleaning your grill and checking any hoses and gas lines thoroughly before each and every use.

| How Grill Fires Cause Damage |

The main way that grill fires cause damage is by spreading to other structures, such as a home, a deck or a fence. It is nice to have your grill in a convenient location, but if it is too close to something that is flammable, it can cause serious problems if the flames spread. Grills are responsible for $37 million worth of property damage every year, but much of this can be prevented by keeping a safety zone around them.

| How to Handle a Grill Fire |

One of the best things you can do when you grill from a fire safety standpoint is to keep a fire extinguisher handy in case of a major flare-up. Oftentimes, grill flare-ups can quickly be extinguished before they cause any major harm, so by acting quickly and never leaving the grill unattended, you can prevent quite a bit of the danger.

*If you or your friends or family have experienced fire damage due to a grill fire, you can depend on SERVPRO of East Cobb to address it quickly. Contact us any time to learn more about our fire restoration services or to report damage to your home.

Why Do East Cobb Residents Trust SERVPRO | SERVPRO of East Cobb

8/12/2021 (Permalink)

When you are dealing with any damage, immediate action is crucial. SERVPRO of East Cobb is your local restoration expert.

Home and business owners keep a lot of plates spinning. There’s the finance plate, the morale plate and a host of others that have to stay in the air to keep things running smoothly. All those plates can come crashing down when fire, storms or mold damage your property. Suddenly you are forced into one priority: disaster recovery. A job you haven’t trained for instantly becomes your main focus, and that kind of pressure can be overwhelming.

We’re here to alleviate that pressure so you can get back to your regularly-scheduled plate spinning. So why SERVPRO? Glad you asked...

We’re Always Ready and Faster to Any Size Disaster

We’ve got a team of elite recovery experts in the area right now, ready at a moment’s notice to tackle damage from fire, water, mold and storms. Every minute you have to wait means more mold growth, more deeply embedded smoke smell or a greater number of soaked-through possessions. A fast response is critical, so a SERVPRO franchise right here in East Cobb gives you the one-two punch of a local, agile team empowered and backed by a mighty nationwide network.

We’re Trained to Handle Residential and Commercial Services

Houses and businesses alike are susceptible to disastrous circumstances. But we have over 50 years’ experience customizing solutions for any situation, so you can rest assured we’ll be able to take care of yours.

We’ll Make It "Like it never even happened."

We’ll go to incredible lengths and use advanced techniques to make sure your restoration is total, and our technicians are so thorough and skilled that your place will have no traces of damage left by the time we’re finished. That’s not a brag; it’s simply a fact.

We Offer the Services You Need in a Changing World

Disease control is more a priority than ever, and we offer proprietary, ultra-high-grade cleaning solutions to keep any business free of dangerous pathogens. You get an unbelievable clean, and your customers get peace of mind.

*Regardless of why you need cleanup or disaster recovery, SERVPRO of East Cobb has the tools, the technicians and the training to get your situation under control. When you’re ready to get help from the best, get in touch with SERVPRO of East Cobb.*

Why SERVPRO is an Important Part of a Business Continuity Plan | SERVPRO of East Cobb

8/6/2021 (Permalink)

If your home or business has experience water, fire or mold damage call SERVPRO of East Cobb. We are the restoration professionals that can help 24/7!

If you are a Cobb County business owner, you are likely already aware of the importance of a solid business recovery plan in case of a disaster—but even if you are not, we are here to help. A developed recovery plan for your business is not simply something that’s “nice to have.” In fact, it is often the deciding factor in how quickly businesses are able to open their doors after a disaster, which often determines how long a business is able to survive.

Developing a business recovery plan is not difficult, but it is something you will need to put a lot of thought into to ensure it is comprehensive. From keeping track of your records to having damage to your building restored, there are quite a few decisions to make—but when it comes to commercial restoration, we can at least make that decision easy.

Why You Should Choose SERVPRO as Your Commercial Restoration Partner

| We Can Help Your Business Get Prepared | 

While our specialties lie with damage restoration of all sorts, we can also help your business get prepared in advance of a disaster. We understand what it takes to keep a business running and can help ensure that yours is fully prepped for any disaster or emergency.

| We Will Provide You With A Clear Timeline |

One of the most important things that businesses should focus on in the aftermath of a disaster is getting their doors reopened quickly to reduce lost revenue. We understand this, which is why we will provide our commercial customers with a full timeline of the restoration work we will be doing, so you can make sure every piece of the process stays on track.

| We Are Here At Any Time | 

We pride ourselves on our quick response time regardless of the hour of your call. We are here 24/7 to talk about your damage and respond rapidly when you need us. Disasters do not adhere to business hours, so we make a point to be here at any time to spring into action and start your commercial restoration job. 

The SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile (ERP) will help ensure you and your business are "Ready for whatever happens."

In the event of an emergency, the SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile, can help minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action in place for your facility. The ERP is a comprehensive document containing critical information about your business, including: emergency contact Information, shut-off valve locations and priority areas. The ERP is also accessible online using your computer or tablet; download SERVPRO's free Ready Plan app to access this information at any time using your smartphone or tablet.

The ERP is a NO COST assessment, all it requires is a little time, making it a great value that could save a lot of time and money in the future. Call SERVPRO of East Cobb to establish your Emergency READY Profile today!

*If you are in need of commercial restoration services, you can count on SERVPRO of East Cobb 24-hours a day, every day. Contact us at (770) 424-0400 for immediate service or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com to learn more about what we offer and how we can help.*

Make Your Surroundings a Defense Against Wildfire | SERVPRO of East Cobb

7/26/2021 (Permalink)

If your home is damaged by fire or water loss event, SERVPRO of Marietta West is ready and able to repair any damage.

One of the nightmare scenarios for any homeowner is seeing their home consumed by a wildfire, and while it’s not exactly likely, it’s more common than you might realize. Wildfires can happen in any area, and all they need is fuel to continue to grow and spread. A quick look out the window will likely show you that there’s plenty of fuel around for a hungry fire. But there are things we can do to combat wildfires, beyond the biggest difference we could make by simply being more careful.

Let’s talk about one of those concepts: defensible space

| What Is Defensible Space? |

It’s not about fending off UFOs—“defensible space” is a wildfire defense method using a series of buffer zones you manage around your home. By planting and pruning with defense in mind, removing potential sources of fuel (like dead trees and brush piles which combust quickly), and installing areas of gravel or hardscape that won’t burn near your home’s perimeter, you can make your home less vulnerable to the spread of a fire.

Think of it as a safety threshold (aka defense), designed to protect your home by choking out a fire’s fuel supply as it comes near. It also gives firefighters a better chance of stopping a wildfire before it reaches your home. Defensible space isn’t required by law in Georgia, but it’s a good practice to consider all the same.

| Why Defensible Space Matters |

When you think of wildfires, you may think of the West Coast, but the truth is wildfires can and do occur everywhere. There were over 59,000 wildfires across the United States in 2020, and almost 1,700 of them were in Georgia. Even if you remove California’s 10,000+ fires from that national stat, that’s still an average of almost a thousand fires per state. What’s more, the first six months of 2021 have seen a 25% increase in national fires over 2020.

Any method we can employ to stop the spread of wildfire, we should; defensible space is one more way we can make a difference.

*If your home is damaged by fire of any sort, wild or not, SERVPRO of East Cobb is ready and able to repair the damage caused. Get in touch today at (770) 424-0400 to get the SERVPRO of East Cobb pros on your team.

What Kind of Water Damage Does Home Insurance Cover? | SERVPRO of East Cobb

7/23/2021 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb 24-hours a day at 770-424-0400 or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com for more information on water damage restoration.

Water damage is an issue that is never fun to face as a homeowner, and it can leave you with a lot of questions if you discover it in your household. While homeowners insurance is an important component of protecting your investment, when it comes to water damage, the rules about what is and is not covered can be rather unclear.

To make things less confusing for residents of Cobb County, we thought it would be helpful to compile a general list of water damage types that are and are not covered by standard homeowner’s insurance policies. While it is always best to check your specific policy to understand exactly what is and is not covered, hopefully this guideline can help you be aware of where your policy may fall short in the event of water damage.

Types of Water Damage Typically Covered by Homeowners Insurance

The type of coverage that your insurance policy will extend to help you with water damage typically depends on where the water in question is originating from. Some of the water damage scenarios that are typically covered by a standard insurance policy are:

• Water damage due to burst pipes
• Water damage due to secondary damage (i.e. a branch breaks a window and lets rain in)
• Water damage due to broken sprinkler systems
• Water damage due to extreme weather conditions
• Water damage due to ice dams

Additionally, some insurance policies will cover water damage due to sewage backups, while others will not. That is something that is definitely worth looking into with your specific policy.

Types of Water Damage Not Typically Covered by Homeowners Insurance

The most well-known type of water damage that is not covered by a standard homeowners policy is flooding—this almost always has to be purchased separately by the homeowner. However, there are other scenarios where insurance may not provide coverage as well, such as:

• If water damage is due to neglect (i.e. leaving a window open in the rain)
• If water damage is due to a known issue (i.e. forgoing roof repairs)
• If water damage happens over time (i.e. an ongoing leak that was not repaired)

*If you discover water damage in your home, SERVPRO of East Cobb can help—and we can work with your insurance company, too. We are here for you 24/7. Give us a call today at (770) 424-0400 or click here and one of our loss coordinators will contact you ASAP.

the New Normal in Extreme Weather Costs | SERVPRO of East Cobb

7/8/2021 (Permalink)

When storms damage your home or business, SERVPRO goes to work to make things right. Contact SERVPRO of East Cobb to start the restoration process.

It’s a well-known fact that 2020 was a disastrous year for myriad reasons. But with all that it entailed, you might not have even had a chance to take in the fact that it was a record-setting year for weather disasters as well.

In fact, of all the years in history for which we have data, 2020 brought us the highest number of disasters.

A weather disaster is defined as an event that causes at a billion dollars in damages, and 2020 had 22 of them, shattering the previous record of 16.

And of course there were many other storms that didn’t reach that high dollar mark, but did plenty enough damage to keep the National Weather Service busy—so busy in fact that they ran out of English names for storms and had to make use of the Greek alphabet for only the second time in history.

Not Just Hurricanes

Hurricanes are probably the first thought as far as destructive storms go, but they’re not doing all the damage. In fact, the most expensive disasters of 2020 in the contiguous United States were thunderstorms and tornadoes. 

Fourteen of 2020’s billion-dollar disasters were thunderstorms, which happen with relatively equal frequency year-round and in locations across the country.

Take one example of the kind of destruction a thunderstorm can do: In August 2020, a seemingly normal line of thunderstorms in eastern Nebraska contorted into a violent derecho (essentially a tornado which unleashes straight-line winds instead of rotating), affecting over 10 million acres of corn fields. That was half of Nebraska’s entire crop, and over 11% of the corn crop of the entire United States.

Locally, we saw our own damage throughout the year, as both a round of tornadoes on Easter and remnants of Hurricanes Sally and Delta made their presence known in north Georgia.

Not Just 2020

One would like to imagine 2020 was an outlier, but in fact it was the 10th straight year of at least eight billion-dollar disasters. 2018 and 2019 took a combined $136 billion in damages, and 2017 reached a record total of over $300 billion.

As a home or business owner, you should put in place whatever precautions you can manage to minimize home and property damage and protect your family from thunderstorms. And if those precautions should fail or become overmatched, you’ve got a local SERVPRO office nearby with a team of experts trained and ready to help you recover and restore your property.

*When storms do damage to your home or business, SERVPRO of East Cobb goes to work to make things right. Contact SERVPRO today by giving us a call at(770) 424-0400 to see how we can help!

Considerations When It Comes to Household Water Damage | SERVPRO of East Cobb

7/6/2021 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb at (770) 424-0400 if your Cobb County home or business suffers water damage. We're here to help 24-hours a day!

If you discover water damage in your home, there are many things to consider right away. How you will mitigate the damage now, who you will use for restoration and what you will do to recover are all very important elements, and something that is worth thinking through well in advance to reduce the chaos.

Fortunately, SERVPRO of East Cobb has been able to help many area homeowners with water damage and have developed some helpful advice for things to consider if you are in the same situation. Below, we have listed out some of the most important things to consider when you discover water damage in your home.

What to Consider After Discovering Water Damage in your Cobb County Home

Can You Safely Cut Off Water and Power in the Home? 

If your water damage is caused by a leak or burst pipe and you can safely cut off your home’s water main, that is a wise first step so you can mitigate the damage that is being caused. Additionally, if you can safely cut off power to the home, you can reduce the dangerous risk of electricity being conducted through the water and causing injury or harm to your family.

Do You Know the Source of the Water?

Not all water damage is created equal, and depending on the source of your water damage, there may be extra considerations to keep in mind. The different water damage categories are used to determine the contamination level of water damage, which can impact the cleanup and restoration process tremendously. Water damage from clean sources, such as water pipes, will typically require less restoration work than water damage from flooding or sewage backups.

Is There a Restoration Plan in Place?

Treating water damage as quickly as possible is always recommended, as mold and mildew can begin growing in as little as 24 hours when moisture is introduced to an area. Having a restoration plan in place and knowing what company you plan to call is key for making sure that you can quickly address any damage and have the restoration begun as soon as possible.

*If you have discovered water damage in your home, do not delay in giving us a call. We are

here for you 24/7—contact us at any time for a rapid response to your water damage call (770) 424-0400.

Nothing is as Valuable as the Trust of Your Customers | SERVPRO of East Cobb

6/24/2021 (Permalink)

If your Cobb County local business has sanitation and cleaning needs, get in touch with the SERVPRO of East Cobb Team.

The recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is picking up steam everywhere from suburban areas like Cobb County to major metroplexes like Atlanta. Families and individuals are seeing signs of “regular” life emerge, and business owners are hoping for a full return to normalcy as much as anyone.

But because customers and employees returning to on-site work and shopping are more sensitive than ever to matters of health and human safety, it’s incumbent upon business owners to provide not only an environment that is safe, but one that instantly assures its patrons of that safety. So how do you do that?

Get Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned

The Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned program gives your business a deeper degree of cleanliness, destroying potential toxins and pathogens of all kinds, and providing the peace of mind your customers and employees are looking for as they return to in-person shopping. Your building will be ultra-sanitized, and your customers will know it before they even step inside.

How? Let’s look at the three C’s of a Certified: SERVPRO Clean

- Consult - We’ll consult with you regarding the unique needs of your business from a cleaning and sanitation standpoint, and we’ll work with you to determine how they need to be addressed. It helps that SERVPRO of East Cobb is locally owned and operated, so we are already acquainted with many of the mitigating factors of the north Georgia area.

- Clean - Now that we have a plan, we’ll execute it to the highest level. We’ll sanitize your building with proprietary, ultra-high-grade cleaning solutions and techniques no one else can offer. Your business will exhibit a clean like you’ve never seen, one which meets or exceeds all CDC standards. And this extends way beyond the coronavirus—our deep-clean disinfects and kills germs that cause all kinds of illnesses, so you can know you’re covering the health of your teams and patrons with a broad solution.

- Certify - You’re now able to display the Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned shield on your window or front door, letting potential shoppers know from the very start that they can rest easy inside your business, because you’ve gone to great lengths to consider their safety. You’ll also be supplied with other digital and physical resources, so you can project a beacon of cleanliness and courtesy to shoppers and employee teams.

*If you’re ready to get serious about sanitation and have your Cobb County business Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, get in touch today to get the best team in cleanup and restoration on your side.

If Water, Fire or Mold Damage Threatens Your Hospitality Business, Call SERVPRO of East Cobb

6/15/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help commercial property managers when disasters strike. Give us a call 24-hours a day at 770-424-0400.

The hospitality industry answers to numbers and costs drive their bottom line. So does the one company it calls on when fire or water damage strikes...SERVPRO of East Cobb. The number 1 choice in Cobb County for commercial cleanup and restoration services. 

At SERVPRO of East Cobb we understand that keeping your guest satisfied is your top priority, and you can rest assured that you are ours. When disaster strikes at a hospitality facility, the help of a specialized team is critical in assuring that normal operation resumes safely and quickly as possible. Whether the cause is a coat hanger on a sprinkler head or a natural disaster, we work to efficiently isolate the damaged area so that basic functions can continue normally, and guests can enjoy your services with minimal impact. Our professionals are trained to work with your management teams to prioritize spaces and make sure that all areas are restored to your complete satisfaction.

Our experience in the hospitality industry has given us that ability to provide a variety of detailed services for hospitality facilities like Hotels, Convention Centers, Casinos, Resorts, Entertainment Venues, and Banquet Halls.

FREE Emergency Ready Program for Commercial Facilities

Many businesses have an emergency contingency plan in place, but few have a detailed understanding of how to get back into buildings following a disaster. To access all of the SERVPRO capabilities, services and additional benefits, visit www.SERVPRO.com/READY.

Commercial Cleaning, Mitigation & Restoration Services - Helping to make fire and water damage “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO of East Cobb offers commercial cleaning, mitigation and restoration services ranging from cleaning biohazard contaminants to routine carpet cleanings. We have the specialized training and products to get your property back to business quickly and safely. SERVPRO of East Cobb offers the following commercial cleaning services and many more: Air Duct and HVAC; Biohazard; Carpet and Upholstery; Ceilings, Floors, and Walls; Drapes and Blinds; Odor Removal and Deodorization; Sewage Overflow; Trauma and Crime Scene; Vandalism

No Job is Too Large for SERVPRO’s Commercial Large Loss Division

The SERVPRO Commercial Large Loss Division is composed of our best of the best in restoration. Our elite large-loss specialists are prequalified and strategically positioned throughout the United States to handle any size disaster. Every large loss is supervised by a commercial operations manager to help ensure seamless communication and timely mitigation.

The SERVPRO Advantage is our ability to dispatch trained production professionals and cut costs through the strategic placement and oversight of temporary labor. SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help Kennesaw and Marietta property managers, hospitality, education, healthcare, rental and food service facilities that experience water, fire, and mold damage. We have the resources to help you immediately and will perform the necessary work to reduce further damage. SERVPRO of East Cobb works with you and your carrier to develop and approve a recovery plan designed to reduce business interruption.

Faster to Any Size Storm Disaster | SERVPRO of East Cobb

6/11/2021 (Permalink)

Unexpected emergencies like severe weather call for immediate action. SERVPRO of East Cobb knows immediate reaction to the disaster is important to helping you get your life back to normal. Call SERVPRO of East Cobb today if your home or business has experience storm or flood damage. We are the storm restoration professionals that can make storm and flood damage…

”Like it never even happened.”

Utilizing our 1-4-8 Service Response Guidelines, SERVPRO of East Cobb strive to:

• Contact you within 1-HOUR from notice of loss to arrange for services.
• Be on-site to begin mitigation services within 4-HOURS of notification of loss. *In most cases SERVPRO of East Cobb will arrive on site within 2-hours, because we know a quick response is important to a successful storm restoration project.
• Provide verbal briefing of scope to you within 8 business hours.

What is the Difference Between Storm Watch vs. Storm Warning?

| Storm Watch |

A severe thunderstorm watch means that the potential exists for the development of thunderstorms which may produce large hail or damaging winds. A watch issued by the SPC (Storm Prediction Center).

| Storm Warning | 

A severe thunderstorm warning means that a severe thunderstorm is occurring or is imminent based on Doppler Radar information or a reliable spotter report. A warning is issued by the local National Weather Service office.

When the severe storms roll out...we roll in

Storm Basics

A thunderstorm is a rain shower during which you hear thunder. Since thunder comes from lightning all thunderstorm have lightning. A thunderstorm is classified as “severe” when it contains one or more of the following:

• Hail (one inch or greater)
• Winds in excess of 58 mph
• Structural wind damage
• Tornado

Tornado Facts

Tornadoes are arguable nature’s most violent storms. Generated from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes generally appear as rotating, funnel-shaped clouds extending from the cloud base to the ground. With winds that can reach up to 300 mph, tornadoes can cause massive destruction within seconds. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and fifty miles long.

• The average tornado moves southwest to northwest, but tornadoes have been know to move in any direction.
• The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 mph, but may vary from stationary to 70 mph.
• Tornadoes can accompany tropical storms and hurricanes as they move onto land.
• Tornadoes are most frequently reported east of the Rocky Mountains during spring and summer months.
• Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.

SERVPRO of East Cobb Customer Testimonials & Reviews

Vijay of Marietta, GA - “These guys came in when my house had flooded. They packed up my home, dried up the house, removed all my carpets, flooring and furniture. No one hopes for a home disaster, but these guys are the people you need in that situation.”

Ruth of Powder Springs, GA - “SERVPRO has worked on my home through remediation/ abatement / remodeling / construction. Water may be a necessity of life, but it can also cause devastating damage! SERVPRO has been wonderful through this whole process and they are professional, but yet have that personal touch that is necessary.”

Stacie of Kennesaw, GA - “Thank you so much for all of your hard work. I don't know what I would have done without the help of your office team.”

Ray of Kennesaw, GA - “I just wanted to take the time to say that your guys did an awesome job on our house...Thank you for all your effort and especially your patience.”

Check Out SERVPRO of East Cobb’s Great Reviews

• Over 75 positive 5-Star Google Reviews
• A+ Rated & Accredited Business with the BBB
• Facebook Customer Review Rating of 4.3

Barbecue and Fire Pit Safety | SERVPRO of East Cobb

6/7/2021 (Permalink)

Restoring fire and smoke damage is one of our specialties. Contact SERVPRO of East Cobb to learn more.

Spring gives many people a little extra pep in their step. Winter has passed, and with it the cold weather and short days, and suddenly life feels new again.

Warmer weather and longer days invite us to go outside and enjoy nature, kids are getting out of school and making summer plans, and everything just feels fresh. You might even feel like doing some of that running you said you were going to start doing on January 1.

But among all the family cookouts and reunions, gender reveals, and graduation barbecues, we must remember that outdoor activities ramping up this time of year brings a heightened risk of backyard fires. In fact, spring sees more daily fires on average than any other time of year.

But if you stay on top of things, you can enjoy all that The warmer weather has to offer and do it safely. Let’s look at a few of the usual suspects.

• The Grill - As much as we love to grill, the truth is that grills are incredible fire hazards—the combination of flame, heat, grease and gas gives rise to danger easily. Make sure the grill, whether propane, charcoal or smoker, is sturdy and in proper working order with no leaks, away from anything flammable (including decking, leaves or the home siding), and don’t neglect cleaning it. Almost 20% of grill fires are due to poor cleaning.
• The Fire Pit - Evening conversations around the fire pit are a favorite spring and summer pastime, but make sure you’re exhibiting proper fire safety while you enjoy. Never leave the pit unattended (and never leave kids or pets alone near the fire). Don’t add pine needles or dry leaves to the fire; these easily become wind-scattered embers looking for a wildfire to ignite. And keep a bucket of water nearby in case of errant flames, and use it to slowly (again, because of potential flying embers) douse the fire when the evening is through. Once the ashes are cool to the touch, you’re safe to leave the pit and take the party inside.
• Chimneys & Dryer Vents - OK, so these aren’t really backyard things, but now is a good time to take care of them while you’re already thinking about fire safety. Get the chimney cleaned out so you’re not starting fires in an ash tube next fall, and check your dryer’s vent pipe for any lint that may have snuck past your filter (do this twice a year, actually).

Your local SERVPRO technicians are on hand ²⁴⁄₇ for emergencies. If you encounter fire damage at your home or business, no matter the cause, we will be there faster and have it cleaned up sooner. Call or click today and experience the SERVPRO difference.

How Can I Tell if I Have Water Damage in My Basement | SERVPRO of East Cobb

6/1/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help 24-hours a day. If you've experience water damage call us at 770-424-0400.

A basement can be a great addition to homes in many areas of the country. In addition to providing extra storage or play space, it can be fitted for living areas and provide necessary shelter in case of potentially damaging storms.

However, being surrounded by moist ground on two or more sides can mean that over time your basement becomes prone to taking on some of that moisture.

While this is not a certainty, statistics show that a large percentage of homes with basements will experience water leakage or damage of some kind.

Let’s examine a few of the most common signs that water may be present. And if these apply to you, remember that your local SERVPRO water technicians are close by and on the job for emergency situations.

Common Signs of Water Damage in a Basement

• Unpleasant and Musky Odors - The water from the surrounding ground areas may in fact be clean when it first enters your basement, but no matter—over time, it stagnates and creates that signature pungent smell. This is true so often that many people think all basements inherit a musty smell, but this really shouldn’t be the case. This smell will only arise when mold and mildew are present in the environment, and while these may not be visibly noticeable at first, they are easy to smell.
• Flaking Paint on Masonry or Walls - People often coat the basement in waterproof paint, thinking that will shield it completely from water damage. Unfortunately this paint will simply mask the problem for a while leading to a bigger problem when the water eventually breaks through, revealing bubbling, cracking or flaky paint.
• Foundational Cracks - Foundations may shift over time, but a crack is not normal, and it may indicate significant water damage. Cracks can show up in the floor, the ceiling or in your walls and are often harbingers of moisture damage that’s putting excess pressure on your structure. Hairline cracks are no emergency, but call us right away if they get bigger.

If you notice any of these signs in your Cobb County basement, let SERVPRO of East Cobb take a look. Our expert water restoration technicians can help you determine what is causing these issues and how to treat it properly. If you have experienced water damage give us a call at (770) 424-0400 or click here and one of our loss coordinators will contact you as soon as possible.

Does Your Cobb County Business Have an Evacuation Plan in Place | SERVPRO of East Cobb

5/18/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help property managers and business owners when their commercial facility faces water, fire or other type of disaster.

If you own your own Cobb County business, you are likely very concerned with the best ways to protect your investment. Between insurance policies and contingency plans, there are a lot of safeguards in place to help business owners in the event that the unexpected happens—but when emergency strikes, have you considered how you will react in that moment?

Just as it is important to protect your business assets, it is also important to protect yourself and your staff in the event of an emergency, which is why you should be sure to have an evacuation plan in place. This way you and all of those who work on the premises will know exactly how to get to safety in the event of a fire, flood or other issue.

Read on for some key considerations to keep in mind as you develop this vital safety component.

Considerations for Your Business’ Emergency Plan

Make Sure All Exits Are Marked and Accessible

At a minimum, OSHA requires that all businesses have at least two emergency exits for employees and customers to use, and this number may be increased depending on factors such as your building’s size and layout. It is vital that you make sure that these emergency exits are marked clearly, and that the routes to escape are free from clutter or debris that may make an exit difficult.

Run Drills to Reinforce the Procedure

While going over the evacuation procedure with all employees is a good place to start, it is also wise to do regular drills to make sure everyone has a chance to practice what they have learned. Be sure you have a designated person mock calling 911 and a person who will do a headcount once everyone is out of the building. It is also a good idea to post the evacuation post the evacuation routes at several spots throughout the building in case there are visitors around that may be unfamiliar with the proper procedures.

Establish a Communications Plan

If your business is struck by an emergency, you will likely have many people you need to contact with information. The contact information for workers who were not on site, vendors and suppliers should all be included in your communications plan so you can keep everyone looped in on the situation and provide important updates to key stakeholders.

The SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile (ERP) will help ensure you and your business are "Ready for whatever happens."

In the event of an emergency, the SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile, can help minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action in place for your facility. The ERP is a comprehensive document containing critical information about your business, including: emergency contact Information, shut-off valve locations and priority areas. The ERP is also accessible online using your computer or tablet; download SERVPRO's free Ready Plan app to access this information at any time using your smartphone or tablet.

The ERP is a NO COST assessment, all it requires is a little time, making it a great value that could save a lot of time and money in the future. Call SERVPRO of East Cobb to establish your Emergency READY Profile today!

*If your Marietta or Kennesaw business is in need of help to recover from a disaster, you can count on SERVPRO of East Cobb! Contact us today at (770) 424-0400 or to learn more or report non-emergency damages to us 24/7 click here.

How Auto-Owners Insurance Customer and Agents Benefit from Choosing SERVPRO of East Cobb to Service Water Restoration Claims

5/18/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb has a great working relationship with Auto-Owners Insurance agents and adjusters. As a preferred service provider for Auto-Owners Insurance customers along with many other insurance providers, SERVPRO of East Cobb can even assist clients in filing claims. We offer free moisture inspection and estimates to all insurance referrals, including Auto-Owner Insurance water damage claim referrals. 

With over 10-year of providing industry leading water, fire and mold restoration and mitigation services to the greater Cobb County area, SERVPRO of East Cobb is your number one choice in restoration services. We are here 24-hours a day, everyday, to provide emergency restoration and mitigation services to Marietta and Kennesaw home and businesses owners. Let SERVPRO of East Cobb make your water damage claim “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO of East Cobb’s 1-4-8 Emergency Service Guarantee 

• ONE - Within one hours from notice of loss SERVPRO of East Cobb will contact the insured to arrange for service.
• FOUR - Within four hours of loss notification, SERVPRO of East Cobb will be on-site to start mitigation services (if necessary). In most cases we are on-site within two hours of notification of loss because we know quick action is often key to water and fire claims.
• EIGHT - Within eight business hours a verbal briefing of the scope will be communicated to the adjuster by SERVPRO of East Cobb. 

*Agents can assign SERVPRO of East Cobb, without making an additional phone call at first notification of loss to Farmers.

Auto-Owners Agent and Customer Benefits of Choosing SERVPRO of East Cobb

Customer Service

What SERVPRO does: The science of restoration can be a complicated issue, but SERVPRO of East Cobb restoration professionals have the training, technology, equipment and customer diplomacy for any sized disaster.

Benefit: SERVPRO of East Cobb restoration specialist will handle each job according to the highest professional standards and interact with customers in a professional manor to provide excellent customer service.

Customer Retention

What SERVPRO does: We thoroughly document and communicate each step of the restoration process, because an informed customer is often a happy one and is always better prepared to restore their home or business. SERVPRO of East Cobb also produces the correct claim documentation for fast and easy claim processing.

Benefit: Satisfied customers translate to a higher rate of policy retention. Keeping agent’s client lists full and saving customers the hassle of having to shop for a new insurance provider.

Additional Product Sales

What SERVPRO does: If a large-scale disaster or storm strikes, SERVPRO of East Cobb has the resources to get to customers quickly. When an insurance client’s claim needs are met quickly, this reflects positively on both SERVPRO of East Cobb and Auto-Owner Insurance. This positive interaction adds value to the relationship with their insurance agent.

Benefits: Satisfied customers who are pleased with the claim handling process are more likely to provide new referrals and to be more receptive to allowing agents to offer additional insurance vehicles and products.

Two Year Limited Warranty on Labor & Manufacture Warranty

What SERVPRO does: We warrant for two years the workmanship of the emergency mitigation service or restoration work performed. We warrant for one year that all materials, furnished by us, will be new, of good quality and free of defects.

Benefits: Customers enjoy knowing we will meet expectations, or we will provide re-service at no additional cost for up to two years.

*If you are an Auto-Owners customer or agent that is in need of a reputable water restoration company call SERVPRO of East Cobb at (770) 424-0400 or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com for more information.

Smoke Detector Maintenance Every Cobb County Household Should Perform | SERVPRO of East Cobb

5/17/2021 (Permalink)

Make sure to test your smoke detectors twice a year and replace the batteries as soon as you hear a the first warning chirp.

Installing smoke detectors throughout your Cobb County home is one of the best things you can do to reduce your chances of getting injured or killed in a house fire, but many people wrongfully assume that smoke detectors are a “set it and forget it” device. House fires spread more quickly than they used to due to the materials used in modern furnishings, but working smoke detectors can quickly alert you and your family to the problem so you can get to safety quickly.

Maintaining your household smoke detectors is a quick and easy way to increase the overall safety of your household. Malfunctioning smoke detectors cost people their lives every year, but taking the right steps to keep yours working can make all the difference.

Tips for Smoke Detector Maintenance in Your Household

1. Make Sure You Have Enough Installed - Fire safety guidelines recommend having smoke detectors installed on every floor of the home, in the kitchen, in every living space and outside every bedroom so you can be alerted to smoke no matter where you are in the home. If you are installing smoke detectors in a new home, it is best to choose a system that is interconnected so that when one sounds, they are all triggered.
2. Make Sure You Do Monthly Tests - While most smoke detectors made in recent years have an indicator light to show they are operational, it is best to test your units monthly just to be sure. Always use the unit’s test button, and never attempt to test the smoke alarms by holding a lit candle or other source of fire up to the unit.
3. Replace Them On Schedule - Even if your smoke alarms appear to be working just fine each month, most manufacturers recommend that you replace the unit entirely every 10 years. This prevents the smoke alarm from having malfunctioning components that make the unit less accurate. Ideally, your smoke detector should have the install date written on it, but if you are not sure, it is best to go ahead and replace them just in case.

If you have experienced fire damage in your Cobb County home, you can count on SERVPRO of East Cobb for all your fire restoration needs. We professionally clean and mitigate damage from fire, smoke, soot and so much more. Contact us today at (770) 424-0400 or to learn more or report non-emergency damages to us 24/7 click here.

Commercial Property Restoration Made Easy

5/14/2021 (Permalink)

When water, fire or any other type of disaster causes damage to your commercial property, call the mitigation and restoration professionals at SERVPRO of East Cobb. We can restore your property damage “Like it never even happened.” Our team of highly trained mitigation and restoration specialists can help at any time, day or night. SERVPRO of East Cobb can have your commercial property back up and operational in no time while keeping repair cost well below replacement cost. 

SERVPRO of East Cobb is locally owned with the backing of the nation's leading brand in restoration...SERVPRO. This means that when a disaster strikes Cobb County, SERVPRO of East Cobb can call on our network of SERVPRO restoration professionals to accommodate any size restoration project. From storm damaged educational complexes, to work related incidents that result in water, fire, or even biohazard contamination or damage; SERVPRO of East Cobb has your commercial mitigation, restoration and cleanup needs covered.

SERVPRO of East Cobb’s experience with property management companies has given us the ability to provide a variety of detailed services for the following types of facilities:

• Multi-Level Commercial Buildings
• Multi-Tenant Facilities
• Shopping Malls
• Apartment Complexes
• Hotels
• Industrial Facilities

At SERVPRO of East Cobb our priority is returning damaged property and items to their preloss condition. Whether natural or man-made, a disaster at one of your client’s facilities needs to be handled by professionals who understand the importance of your tenants’ safety. At SERVPRO of East Cobb our teams are IICRC Certified and experienced in helping manage both commercial and multi-family properties during the recovery process while maintaining the security and safety of the facility and tenants. Our professionals work hard and fast to minimize the interruptions for your tenants’ daily operations. We will get the job done right and get it done quickly and safely.

Specialty Commercial Cleaning Services

Business owners and property managers often have little time to worry about the common wear and tear that gradually soils your office or workplace. When grime, odor and moisture challenges go beyond the scope of your regular janitorial staff, call in SERVPRO of East Cobb. We’re here to help 24-hours a day. Whether it’s removing an odor problem or deep cleaning flooring or carpets, you can rely on SERVPRO of East Cobb to make your workspace look its very best.

SERVPRO of East Cobb professionals offer cleaning services ranging from cleaning restaurant hoods to removing biohazard contaminants. We have the specialized training and products to get your property back to business. Their commercial services include the following commercial cleaning services:

• Air Duct and HVAC
• Biohazard
• Carpet and Upholstery 
• Ceilings, Floors, and Walls
• Drapes and Blinds
• Odor Removal
• Sewage
• Trauma and Crime Scene
• Vandalism

Emergency READY Program

Many businesses have an emergency contingency plan in place, but few have a detailed understanding of how to get back into their buildings following a disaster. To access all of the SERVPRO capabilities, services and additional benefits, visit www.SERVPRO.com/READY or call us at (770) 424-0400 and we can schedule a free no-cost Emergency Ready Plan for your commercial facility ASAP.

What Do Our Customers Have to Say?

Cecilia W. of Kennesaw, GA - “SERVPRO of East Cobb did a fantastic job and I will recommend them to anyone that will need their services. The crew is awesome!”

The Health Factory of Kennesaw, GA - “Carl was very helpful and guided us along with this unfortunate situation. I felt like he went over the top to make sure we were satisfied and kept in the loop. Highly recommended!”

Matt B. of Buckhead, GA - “It has been a pleasure working with SERVPRO of East Cobb. They have been straight forward and forthright with me from day one. Very prompt and on schedule. I think they are a great mitigation company and I would recommend them to all of my friends and family!”

Kenneth of Dallas, GA - “Jose was a delight to work with. When he arrived I assumed he was a supervisor due to him being so professional/knowledgeable. If ever we used your company again we would definitely request him. Thank you!”

Why Thunderstorms Should Be Taken Seriously | SERVPRO of East Cobb

5/7/2021 (Permalink)

Thunderstorms can pop up at any moment in Cobb County. Contact SERVPRO of East Cobb if you experience any storm or water damage.

When it is warm outside, conditions are often favorable for thunderstorms to develop—and this leads to them happening on a fairly regular basis. Thunderstorms are often disregarded due to their regularity, but it is important to note that every thunderstorm carries the potential to do serious damage and should thus be taken seriously.

In the event of a thunderstorm, there is always thunder and lightning that accompany the rain. Severe thunderstorms are even more dangerous as they contain winds above 58 miles per hour and hail that is larger than an inch in diameter. Severe weather is something that should never be discounted and always taken seriously.

A Look at What Dangers Thunderstorms Can Cause

Damage and Injury from Lightning Strikes - Whenever there is thunder, there is also lightning—which can be quite dangerous if it strikes toward the ground. Around 300 injuries each year occur due to lightning, which does not include the serious property damage that it can cause by starting fires or striking down trees.

Property Damage Due to Hail - Though not every thunderstorm contains hail, the ones that do are generally more serious than the ones that do not. Hail can fall with tremendous speeds from the sky, causing damage to anyone who is not adequately sheltered. Additionally, hail can cause serious property damage if it impacts the roof or siding of a home, as it can provide easy access for water damage to begin.

Harm from Flash Flooding - Flash flooding is an extremely dangerous force because of how suddenly it can come about and the fact that it can occur nearly anywhere. During periods of heavy rain, storm drains can become overwhelmed and begin to overflow, causing flash flooding conditions that can be deadly. Just a few inches of water can knock an adult off their feet or move a car, so never come into contact with flood water if it can be avoided.

Storm Damage Cleanup and Restoration

• Faster to Any Size Disaster with 24-Hour Emergency Service
• Highly Trained Water Restoration Technicians
• A Trusted Leader in the Water Restoration Industry
• Locally Owned and Operated

Restoring storm- and flood-damaged properties is the cornerstone of our business. Our highly trained professionals use specialized equipment and advanced training to quickly restore your East Cobb property to pre-storm condition. We’re dedicated to responding immediately, which helps to minimize secondary damage.

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

We are proud to be an active member of this community. SERVPRO of East Cobb is locally owned and operated, so we’re already nearby and ready to help Cobb County, GA residents and business owners with any size cleaning or restoration emergencies. We are proud to serve East Cobb, Cumberland, Sandy Plains and Kennesaw.

Thunderstorms are dangerous and can cause significant damage to homes or commercial spaces. If you have damage due to a thunderstorm, you can count on us to help. Contact us 24⁄7 for more information about our storm restoration practices.

Disaster Preparedness - What You Can Do

4/27/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help! We are here tp preform emergency water extraction, removal and drying services for your home or business 24/7.

Severe weather has the potential of causing damage to your Cobb County property and belongings. SERVPRO of East Cobb specializes in storm mitigation, restoration and cleanup. When Mother Nature’s wrath damages your home or business make sure you call the professionals at SERVPRO of East Cobb. We understand the stress and confusion that comes from such an experience. SERVPRO of East Cobb offers emergency services like emergency tarping and board up services for damaged or compromised roofs, walls and windows, as well as emergency flood water extraction, water removal and drying services.

If your home or business has been affected by flood or storm damage call SERVPRO of East Cobb. We can make flood and storm damage “Like it never even happened.” Our team of highly trained storm restoration specialists are available 24-hours a day, every day, to help Cobb County home and business owners mitigate and restore their water damaged properties. SERVPRO of East Cobb is an IICRC Certified Firm with the experience of servicing thousands of Marietta and Kennesaw homes and businesses over the past ten years. 

When disaster happens it is best to be prepared for the worst and hope for the best. Part of being prepared is asking yourself the right questions, so you know what you can do to better prepare yourself for a natural disaster like a tornado, hurricane or flood event. SERVPRO has put together the following bullet points to ask yourself to insure that you are prepared for whatever may happen.

What to Ask Yourself?

In order to be fully prepared, you should have all pertinent and proper information in a written plan for easy retrieval. Some key questions to consider when creating a personal emergency preparedness plan includes:

• Do you have an escape or evacuation route in place?
• Do you have a designated meeting place in case of separation?
• Does everyone have a list of contact information including family members out of state who can serve as a point of contact?
• Do you have a disaster supply kit with necessary supplies?
• Do you have a first aid kit that includes necessary prescription medicines, over the counter medicines and basic medical supplies?
• Do you have enough non-perishable food and bottled water?
• Do you have access to important family documents, including insurance policies, bank, credit card and loan information and family records such as birth certificates and social security cards?
• Do you have an inventory of valuable household goods?

Disaster Supply Kit 

A well equipped disaster supply kit should include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Water - A large enough supply to provide each person with one gallon daily for  drinking and sanitation.
• Food - Enough to last 3-7 days. Food needs to be non-perishable or canned food. You will also want to include a non-electric can opener and paper plates and plastic utensils.
• Clothing - Remember it may be warm, however, you may be working and cleaning and may prefer pants or long sleeves to protect your skin. You will also need sturdy, closed-toe, non-slip shoes if available.
• First aid kit including antiseptics or sanitizers and bandages, over the counter and prescription medications.
• Toiletries including toilet paper and hygiene items. Hand sanitizers are also good to have on hand.
• Extra flashlights and batteries. Oil lanterns also provide a good source of light, if available.
• Battery operated radio with extra batteries so you can listen to NOAA Weather service announcements.
• Bedding including sheets, blankets and pillows.
• Emergency phone numbers and contact information including insurance agent and family contacts.
• Important documents should be kept in a waterproof bag or plastic sealed container and should include insurance, medical and family records, birth certificates, social security cards, bank account information and a complete home inventory analysis.
• Pet care items including food, leash and carrier or cage.
• Cash - You will want some cash and small bills on hand as banks may not be open.
• Tools - Tarps, plastic sheeting, trash bags, duct tape, etc. for cleanup purposes and to help make minor repairs.
• Fuel - Fill your vehicle’s fuel tank ahead of time if time permits. You may also want to fill approved fuel containers with fuel to store.

*Do not wait until it is too late; prepare now to help protect your family in an emergency or disaster situation.

Emergency Do’s and Don’ts

These emergency tips will assist you in taking proper action until SERVPRO of East Cobb professionals arrive. Follow these Do’s and Don’ts to help reduce damage and increase the chances of successful restoration:

Shut off the water source if possible or contact a qualified party to stop the water source.

Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the structure when access to the power distribution panel is safe from electrical shock.

Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting.

Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting

Move any paintings, art objects, computers, documents, and other sensitive valuables to a safe dry place.

Don’t enter affected areas if electrical outlets, switches, circuit breakers, or electrical equipment are exposed to water. Always avoid electrical shock hazards.

Don’t use your household vacuum cleaner to remove water; this could cause electrical shock or damage to the vacuum cleaner.

Don’t turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet or enter rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water.

If you’ve enjoyed this blog and would like to read more SERVPRO of East Cobb Storm Restoration Blogs check out the following links: “How to File a Flood or Water Damage Insurance Claim in Marietta or Kennesaw, GA”; ”Storm and Flood Damage Repair in Kennesaw and Marietta, GA”; “Spring Cleaning & Springtime Storm Safety Tips for Cobb County”; “What To Do If Your Smyrna, GA Home Experiences a Flash Flood”

SERVPRO of East Cobb Keeps Residential & Commercial Insurance Claims Costs Low

4/9/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is a preferred service for most major insurance providers!

SERVPRO of East Cobb has a great working relationship with all of our local agents. We maintain a clear and constant line of communication with our clients and insurance providers alike. We know the best way we can encourage repeat customers and referrals to provide industry leading service. As leaders in fire and water cleanup and restoration, SERVPRO of East Cobb offers local Cobb County insurance companies an array of competitive advantages. Our goal is to restore both your customer’s property and their peace of mind through timely mitigation and adherence to IICRC standards. 

The result? Lower claims costs and satisfied customers – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Why SERVPRO?

The SERVPRO Difference - SERVPRO of East Cobb is uniquely qualified to keep claim costs down while still providing the best services possible for your insurance clients. We understand your situation. As an agent or adjuster, you have a responsibility to keep claims costs down while still providing the best service possible for your clients. SERVPRO of East Cobb is uniquely qualified to help. Our results create measurable differences, giving you many competitive advantages.

Emergency Response to Claims

Restoring property is the SERVPRO franchise professional's first priority. Your customer will appreciate the immediate response and you will know everything is being done to limit the damage.

Pretesting Reduces Claims Expense

Restoring property is less expensive than replacing property. Claims Professionals know the rule is, "Restore whenever possible, replace only when necessary." SERVPRO of East Cobb mitigation and restoration professionals make sure pretesting is completed on every loss to determine restorability.

Claims Inventory Service

SERVPRO franchise professionals can provide an itemized loss inventory. You will receive an Excel formatted report and pictures of important items.

Electronic Claims Information

Our Claims Information Center provides fast, accurate information you need to make sound decisions, including:

• A complete Electronic job file complete with first notice of loss, detailed estimate, digital loss photos, scanned forms and paperwork, and all delivered by email or hard copy.
• On-line access to all files including new assignments, pending jobs and completed jobs.
• Informative reports to improve results of job cost data and performance comparison to industry standard.

Superior, Time-Tested Training

From initial training at SERVPRO’s Corporate Training Facility to IICRC certification, SERVPRO of East Cobb’s team is highly trained in property damage restoration. Effective training is the best way to help ensure your customers receive the service they deserve. SERVPRO of East Cobb is trained to IICRC standards in Fire and Water Cleanup and Restoration. In addition, continuing education classes are available to SERVPRO of East Cobb’s professionals at SERVPRO Industries state-of-the-art IICRC Approved Training Facility.

Vendor Qualification Compliance and Professionalism

If you call SERVPRO of East Cobb, we will use only qualified vendors to service your customer. This commitment to only work with qualified vendors has resulted in:

• A Customer Care Center to achieve prompt handling of the claim.
• Implementation of best practices and job process programs.
• National Accounts qualification criteria and annual compliance checks.
• Crew and vehicle standards.
• Insurance requirements.
• File documentation requirements.
• Quality assurance program.

Serving Adjusters and Their Clients

A SERVPRO of East Cobb's job is to reassure the customer, perform quality service and to report to you quickly. We know your job is to interpret the policy and adjust the claim... and not to deal with problems from vendors! Working together we strive to save you time so you can focus on priority files, while having complete control of every loss you are assigned. 24-hour emergency response, damage mitigation, loss assessment, and an electronic file are available to you within hours. SERVPRO of East Cobb documented, measured performance increases value to you and your shareholders, managers and customers. Hard-earned results have made SERVPRO of East Cobb a leader in the fire and water cleanup and restoration industry. The SERVPRO System is geared to achieve customer satisfaction and mitigation results, adding to your company’s competitive advantage.

Large Loss Response

No restoration project is too large whether it’s a large commercial project or a major storm event, the SERVPRO Disaster Recovery Team can provide help quickly!

SERVPRO of East Cobb is Hiring Sales & Marketing Representatives

4/8/2021 (Permalink)

If your interested in becoming part of the SERVPRO of East Cobb Team, apply for our Sales & Marketing Role today!

Looking for an exciting career in sales and marketing? Do you love educating and helping people? If you want to be a leader in a great company, then don’t miss your chance to join our SERVPRO of East Cobb as our new Sales/Marketing Representative! In this position, you will be making a difference in people’s lives that are facing damage to their homes and businesses, each and every day. We have a sincere drive toward the goal of helping make water, fire & mold damage “Like it never even happened.” We are looking for a candidate that is comfortable meeting new people, who has excellent communication skills, has follow-through, and who is a serious multi-tasker. If you are self-motivated and have superb interpersonal skills, then you will thrive in this work environment. Our idea of the ideal candidate is one who is proactive, is experienced, truly enjoys providing superior service, and loves taking ownership of a project. Are you highly dependable and excited about routinely exceeding expectations? Then, you may be our perfect SERVPRO Teammate! As a valued SERVPRO of East Cobb employee, you will receive a competitive pay rate, with lots of opportunity to learn and grow.

Did you know here at our SERVPRO locations that 72% of our employees have been here a year or longer? It is our ultimate goal to make this a great place to work and the better we are at helping our team achieve their goals the more successful we become! That being said we are hiring for a dynamic Marketing Representative, to help Matt and Marianne take it to the next level! If you are looking for some motivated teammates, don't be shy and go ahead and click here to apply!

Primary Responsibilities

• Meet or exceed assigned sales quota by executing the sales cycle, setting up closing appointments, maintaining assigned contact lists, participating in professional associations, hosting lunch-and-learns, and promoting continuing education (CE) courses
• Support online marketing departments through customer review procurement, contribute content on social media platforms, and assist in creation of blog materials related to the restoration industry.
• Complete Emergency Ready Profiles (ERPs) and discuss benefits of emergency event preparation
• Conduct objective-to-objective daily marketing contacts, build customer relationships and rapport by educating them on the reasons SERVPRO® is the best cleaning and restoration company in the world, compile and maintain center of influence information., identify “Target 25” (Top 25 contacts to develop into clients)
• Provide owners and marketing managers with one-on-one meetings (closing appointments) with COIs to encourage SERVPRO® referrals
• Increase sales territory revenue by consistently achieving sales territory goals

Click Here to Apply

Position Requirements

• A minimum two years of progressive and responsible business-to-business sales experience
• Experience with sales and marketing within the service territory
• Superb sales, customer service, administrative, verbal, and written communication skills
• Strong business and financial background and process-and-results-driven attitude
• Experience in the commercial cleaning and restoration or insurance industry is desired
• Working knowledge of current business software technologies is required
• Bachelor’s degree in marketing or business or equivalent experience
• Ability to successfully complete a background check subject to applicable law

Pay Rate

Competitive base plus commission and increases based on merit.

For more information on this opportunity and to Apply - CLICK HERE

Why More Farmers Insurance Customer & Agents Choose SERVPRO of East Cobb

4/5/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is a preferred service provider for Farmers Insurance restoration claims. Call us 24/7 for emergency restoration services!

SERVPRO of East Cobb is the premier water, fire and mold restoration company in the greater Cobb County area. We’ve provided industry leading service for nearly a decade, and have developed a great working relationship with all of our local insurance agents. SERVPRO and Farmers Insurance have developed a particularly close working relationship over the years through SERVPRO’s network of over 1,800 franchises, cleaning and restoring thousands of Farmers policy holder’s properties. 

Farmers Insurance, their customers and SERVPRO have a symbiotic relationship. When a Farmers Insurance customer experiences a water, fire, or mold loss and chooses SERVPRO of East Cobb to restore their property, they can rest easy knowing they have the industry leading mitigation and restoration company cleaning and restoring their property. Farmers Insurance knows that they are being treated fairly and that their customer is in good hands, because of Farmers and SERVPRO’s pre-negotiated pricing through Xactimate and standards of service set by the IICRC. SERVPRO benefits by having a reliable source of water, fire, and/or mold restoration customers.

Farmers Agent’s Benefits of Referring SERVPRO of East Cobb 

Customer Services: SERVPRO of East Cobb professionals will handle each job according to the highest professional standard, interacting with customers in a professional manner to provide excellent customer service. The science of restoration can be a complicated issue, but SERVPRO of East Cobb professionals have the equipment, technology, training, and customer diplomacy for any size disaster.

Customer Retention: Satisfied customers translate to a higher rate of policy retention and renewals. We thoroughly document and communicate each step of the restoration process, because an informed customer is often a happy customer. SERVPRO of East Cobb also produces the correct claim documentation for fast claim processing.

Additional Product Sales: Satisfied customers who are pleased with the claim handling process are more likely to provide new referrals and to be more receptive to allowing you to offer additional insurance and financial products. If a large-scale disaster or storm strikes, the SERVPRO System has the resources to get to customers quickly. When their needs are met quickly, your relationship has added value.

Limited Warranty - Two Years Labor / One Year Materials: Customers enjoy knowing we will meet expectations, or we will provide re-service at no additional cost for up to two years. We warrant for two years the workmanship of the emergency mitigation service or restoration work performed. We warrant for one year that all materials, furnished by us, are of good quality and free from defects.

SERVPRO of East Cobb’s 1-4-8 Emergency Service Guarantee 

• ONE - Within one hours from notice of loss SERVPRO of East Cobb will contact the insured to arrange for service.
• FOUR - Within four hours of loss notification, SERVPRO of East Cobb will be on-site to start mitigation services (if necessary). In most cases we are on-site within two hours of notification of loss because we know a quick action is often key to a water and fire claims.
• EIGHT - Within eight business hours a verbal briefing of the scope will be communicated to the adjuster by SERVPRO of East Cobb. 

*Agents can SERVPRO of East Cobb, without making an additional phone call at first notification of loss to Farmers.

Check-Out SERVPRO of East Cobb Great Customer Reviews

Nancy of Kennesaw, GA - “Service was great - the notification of service calls helped especially when one works outside of the home. The office personnel were very friendly and understanding about the situation.”

Patricia of Marietta, GA - “Excellent service from the entire team. Sean was very patient and explained everything so that I could understand what was happening. Tiffany and Candy were also quite helpful.”

Carol of Smyrna, GA - “Great service, professional crew, Jamie Winston and Derek Brownlow you couldn’t ask for any better. They came in and got the job done. Quick, fast, and professional!”

Megan of Kennesaw, GA - “Jacob, Sean and D’Anthony did an amazing job when they came out to our home to clean up water damage we had from a busted pipe. Very efficient and nice people!! Would highly recommend them to anyone!”

Other Awesome SERVPRO of East Cobb Customer Reviews

• 75+ Positive 5-Star Google Reviews
• A+ Rated & Accredited Business with the BBB
• Average Rating of 4.3 on Facebook 
• Additional Customer Testimonials

Spring Cleaning & Springtime Storm Safety Tips for Cobb County

4/2/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help Cobb County home and business owners after they experience storm & flood damage. Give us a call, we're open 24/7!

As winter transitions into spring and temperatures rise, most people find this to be an opportune time to do some cleaning and maintenance around the house. Even nature seems to recognize after a long North Georgia winter it’s time to come alive again with beautiful blooming flowers and green lawns ready for outdoor activities like barbecues and children running and playing. Along with blooming flowers and lush green lawns comes unpredictable weather patterns and oftentimes spring thunderstorms, high winds and even flooding. SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help Cobb County home and business owners recover after storm damage 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. So if you experience springtime storm damage call the professionals that are faster to any size disaster...SERVPRO of East Cobb!

Georgia’s tornado season begins in march and typically intensifies during April and May. Make sure you're prepared for severe weather, high winds, and even tornadoes with the following www.weather.gov safety tips.

Protect Your Cobb County Family From Tornado Damage

• It is important to know the difference between a storm watch and storm warning. For example a tornado watch means favorable conditions are present to develop a tornado, but there is not an imminent threat. While a tornado warning means an imminent threat to life and property are present because a tornado has been detected.
• If you are at home or in a building you should move to a pre-designated shelter on the lowest floor (like a basement), or small interior room if a tornado is imminent. A small interior room, closet, bathroom or hallway, at ground level will work if there are no lower levels to the structure. Stay away from windows and put as many walls as possible between you and the exterior of the home or building.
• When possible, be familiar with the area and track storms, weather events and other disasters using apps on your phone, local TV, radio, or other reliable source for up-to-date news on current weather events. It’s a good idea to regularly check weather forecasts for threats and advisories especially if you will be outside or in a new area.
• DO NOT try and outrun a tornado in a vehicle. Get out of the vehicle and seek shelter immediately. If you are caught outside or in a vehicle and no safe structure is available, lie flat while covering your head in a nearby ditch or depression. Be aware of possible flooding and flying/falling debris. 
• You should go to the lowest floor of the closest sturdy building or storm shelter if you are in a mobile home. Mobile homes are typically not a very safe place to be during a tornado or other severe storm.
• The American Red Cross has created a Tornado Safety Checklist that can help you make a plan of action for threatening weather. If you don’t have an action plan in place before a major weather event happens you might be caught off guard and unprepared. Be sure to create a tornado safety plan so that you are prepared in the event of a major storm.

Spring Cleaning & Maintenance Checklist

Exterior of Home

Foundations - A good time to inspect the foundation of your home is while you're checking out the exterior walls. Look for similar issues like cracks or chipping masonry. If you find cracks in the foundation is probably best left to the professionals to seal and fix a cracked foundation.

Exterior Walls - Visually inspect your home’s exterior walls paying special attention to trouble areas like gutter downspouts and under eaves. Whether your exterior walls are made of brick, stucco or wood siding, water stains typically indicate that your gutters are not containing roof runoff. With wood siding, be mindful of bugs and animals like carpenter ants, woodpeckers and other nesting or burrowing animals that can damage your home exterior walls. If you have wood siding, check for openings, damaged areas or knots that have popped out. These types of damage make it easy for bugs and animals to damage your home.

Windows - Inspect windows for leaks and gaps along the window seal and pains of glass. If you're comfortable with minor DIY projects replace worn out, cracked or otherwise damaged weather stripping. Weather stripping helps prevent moisture from intruding into your home, and also prevents cold air from escaping due to displacement by hot air on warm days. An indicator that your double or triple-glazed window’s weather seal has been compromised or damaged, is condensation forming on the inside of the glass, especially during winter months.

Roof - Visually inspect your roof from the ground looking for missing or shifted shingles or fasteners that have come loose. Binoculars can help get a better view of any pushed up nails and cracked or damaged shingles. 

Chimney - With masonry chimneys be on the lookout for vegetational growth on masonry work or chipping and/or flaking of mortar, brick and/or stone. White calcium-like deposits on masonry joints indicate water absorption and means the joint might not be repelling water any longer.

Interior of Home

General Cleaning - Springtime is the opportune time to do some general cleaning around the house. Pay special attention to areas that typically do not see regular cleaning like dusting or vacuuming upholstered furniture, window seals, chair rails, and on top of ceiling fans and cabinets. The goal is to remove any dust, mites or other allergens so that your home is a healthier and cleaner space. Kitchen cabinets and walls that have minor oil buildup or grease residue, can oftentimes be cleaned using water and mild detergent. Also pay special attention to areas of the home that fluctuate in humidity and temperature like bathrooms. Look for signs of mold growth. Like on the exterior of the home check masonry work for damage like broken tiles or missing grout.

Leaks - Inspect plumbing connections under sinks for leaks and check drains and pipes for clogs and leaks. In the laundry room make sure that the washing machine hoses are not leaking, bulging, cracked or showing other signs of damage. Other areas that are notorious for leaks also involve appliances like water heaters and dishwashers. Make sure to check hoses and seals and be on the lookout for wetness under or around these appliances.

Basements - Two major things to look for in the basement are bugs/animals and moisture. High humidity and inadequate air movement can create the perfect conditions for mold to develop. Be on the lookout for signs of animals and insects that may have invaded your basement. Examine any exposed building materials for signs of moisture or mold growth. If you spot new crack(s) in the foundation, it’s probably advisable to call a structural engineer to determine if it could cause major issues or pose safety hazards.

Air Conditioning - Springtime maintenance for air conditioning units can vary greatly but in general there are some things you can do to help ensure your air conditioner runs great all spring and summer long (*always follow manufacture guidelines concerning any maintenance or cleaning procedures for your air conditioner). Change filters, check for leaks or loose hose connections, and make sure that your condensation lines and drain pads drain freely. Dust or gently vacuum dust from the unit and connections. For safety reasons, if there is an issue with the air conditioning unit and you don’t feel comfortable or qualified to handle, it’s highly advisable to call a professional.

Attics - Visually inspect the attic for signs that insects or animals have made your attic there home or feeding ground. Carefully inspect building materials like studs, insulation and trusses for mold growth, a flashlight will probably come in handy so that you can do a thorough search.

*Home maintenance tips & checklist created by home repair legend BobVila.com

If your home has been damaged by storms or flooding call SERVPRO of East Cobb at (770) 424-0400 or click here and a SERVPRO Team Member will reach out to you!

SERVPRO of East Cobb Customer Testimonials & Reviews

Vijay of Marietta, GA - “These guys came in when my house had flooded. They packed up my home, dried up the house, removed all my carpets, flooring and furniture. No one hopes for a home disaster, but these guys are the people you need in that situation.”

Ruth of Powder Springs, GA - “SERVPRO has worked on my home through remediation/ abatement / remodeling / construction. Water may be a necessity of life, but it can also cause devastating damage! SERVPRO has been wonderful through this whole process and they are professional, but yet have that personal touch that is necessary.”

Stacie of Kennesaw, GA - “Thank you so much for all of your hard work. I don't know what I would have done without the help of your office team.”

Ray of Kennesaw, GA - “I just wanted to take the time to say that your guys did an awesome job on our house...Thank you for all your effort and especially your patience.”

Check Out SERVPRO of East Cobb’s Great Reviews

• Over 75 positive 5-Star Google Reviews
• A+ Rated & Accredited Business with the BBB
• Facebook Customer Review Rating of 4.3

SERVPRO of East Cobb's Cutting-Edge Restoration Documentation System

3/8/2021 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb 24-hours a day. We're open 24/7 and always faster to any size disaster!

One of the most important parts of any restoration claim is the documentation process. Properly and thoroughly documenting a customer claim can be the difference between a smoothly run restoration project and one that drags on forever, causing unneeded stress and discomfort to the home or business owner. SERVPRO of East Cobb can attest to the importance of documenting any water, fire, or mold loss restoration project properly. With proper documentation adjusters and insurance companies can respond to questions and approvals more quickly and with a great degree of confidence that their customer’s property is being taken care of and in accordance with the customer’s policy and IICRC industry standards.

SERVPRO of East Cobb uses a combination of three documentation tools on every water, fire, or mold restoration claim. These pieces of technology actually improve both our customer service experience and the effectiveness of our technicians and restoration crews.  

SERVPRO DryBook  

Each and every SERVPRO franchise has access to a proprietary piece of software that was created to document and track the progression of restoration projects. From the beginning of the project, when our customer first calls, all the way through completion of the restoration project. Every restoration/cleaning project that SERVPRO of East Cobb takes on is documented within this system. This makes providing drying reports and other documents insurance companies commonly require, quick and easy. 

Xactimate + Restoration Manager 

Xactware specializes in technologies for the property insurance, remodeling, restoration, and mortgage and lending industries. It’s tools provide claims estimating, contents replacement, claims management, and property maintenance solutions. Xactware’s services include repair cost research and reports, aerial imagery, and real-time business intelligence.

SERVPRO partnered with Xactware back in 2019, to integrate the Xactware’s Restoration Manager tool into our franchise systems. Xactware Restoration Manager has been adopted as the estimating or “industry pricing” tool by insurance providers and reputable restoration companies like SERVPRO of East Cobb (*insurance providers like State Farm, Farmers, Allstate, American Family Insurance, and many more). Using this estimating software means that SERVPRO’s estimates and pricing are accurate and formatted correctly, making the approvals process much quicker, easier and prevents discrepancies.

Matterport System

The Matterport system consists of three main parts, the Matterport PRO2 camera, the Matterport Capture App, and the Matterport 3D Showcase App. The Matterport system is SERVPRO of East Cobb’s latest addition to the documentation process. This camera system allows our project managers to photograph our customer’s property in a 360º image. This means that every angle of the customer property is documented, allowing our team, insurance providers, and adjusters the ability to view the property as if they are standing on-site. The Matterport software and apps use AI technology to compile and stitch together 360º images gathered from our customer’s property to create a virtual tour of the home. Along with gathering visual images of the property the camera system also gathers measurements of the property using its onboard infrared sensors. Using these infrared measurements, an extremely accurate structural sketch or floor plan can be created. 

Aside from helping document our customer restoration claims, the Matterport system also affords the insurance companies and adjusters that work with SERVPRO of East Cobb, the ability to view their customers' claims remotely. With today's need for social distancing, this system can reduce not only “face-to-face” interaction but can also speed up the approvals. By being able to document our customers water, fire, or mold claims in 360°, it gives insurance providers the option of a “contactless inspection” while maintaining their ability to thoroughly inspect the claim. By limiting the number of people that have to visit the customer’s property we limit the amount of physical contact between customers, insurance companies, adjusters and SERVPRO personnel. Virtual tours can be shared with insurance providers and adjusters by simply emailing or texting them a link like this https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=fQWiUTJmLvZ. 

If your home or business suffers a water, fire or mold loss call SERVPRO of East Cobb at (770) 387-7455

SERVPRO of East Cobb is your trusted leader in the restoration industry. We are always investing in the most innovative equipment, like the Matterport Camera Systems used to document our customer’s claims. Not only are we IICRC certified, but certified in SERVPRO’s proprietary cleaning and restoration techniques. Our team of restoration technicians and drying specialists have extensive knowledge and training to ensure we are the best at what we do. We are locally owned and operated, but have the backing of a nationwide franchise system of over 1,700 franchises nationwide. We live and work in the Cobb County area, and understand the unique challenges damage to your home can bring. SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help and will work with you as the home or business owner to navigate the restoration claims process. 

SERVPRO of East Cobb - Commercial Air Duct Cleaning Services

3/5/2021 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb at 770-424-0400 today for a free quote for HVAC & duct cleaning services.

Did you know your HVAC system is one of the most common causes for poor indoor air quality? In many cases, the air-conditioning systems haven’t received much attention for quite a while. Dirty air ducts can circulate odors, contaminants, and irritants such as mold or dust throughout your facility. As part of our routine air quality services, SERVPRO of East Cobb inspects the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit (HVAC) for our customers. Regularly maintaining and cleaning your HVAC system and ductwork can extend the life-span of the HVAC system. This allows it to operate at peak performance, unimpeded by built up dirt, mold, or dust. A well maintained HVAC system may also save you money on your electric bill because the system can operate more efficiently. System wide duct cleaning may not always be necessary, but it’s a good idea to have them regularly inspected and maintained.

In some circumstances, such as after a fire loss or suspected mold growth, duct cleaning becomes an essential part of the cleanup process. Cleaning or replacing part or all of the HVAC systems are the only real options after such an event. In these cases, SERVPRO of East Cobb can often restore the HVAC system and ductwork to original condition, saving you thousands in replacement cost. 

For more information on duct cleaning, or to schedule an appointment, contact SERVPRO of East Cobb today at (770) 424-0400

If you have a fuel-burning furnace, stove, or fireplace, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends they be inspected for proper functioning and be serviced before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning.

The SERVPRO® Duct Cleaning System is a safe, tested, and cost-efficient way to improve indoor air quality. Unlike less reputable duct cleaning services, SERVPRO of East Cobb uses a portable ventilation and air duct cleaning system to examine ductwork and make a clean sweep, removing years of dust and grime.

• The process begins by using patented equipment, including a roto-scraper, which automatically adapts to the duct’s shape and diameter while traveling through the duct, removing debris and filth before vacuuming begins.  
• Next, a powerful push-pull air delivery and collection system transfers the debris from the ducting to a 16-gallon container.
• Air is filtered through a HEPA filtration system, removing 99.97 percent of the particles in the airstream. HEPA filters capture debris and keep the indoor environment clean.
• As an optional process, a sealant or coating product may be sprayed to address odor or microbial concerns.
• Filters will either be cleaned or replaced to remove odor and dirt.

Need a different service?

SERVPRO of East Cobb offers a wide array of commercial cleaning and restoration services like Biohazard Cleaning/Disposal, Carpet & Upholstery Restoration, Drapes & Blind Cleaning, Odor Removal, Sewage & Toilet Overflow Cleanup, Trauma & Crime Scene Cleanup, Vandalism & Graffiti Cleanup, Building Services and Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned Program. SERVPRO of East Cobb has your business covered when it comes to restoration and mitigation services, so call us today if your business is in need of a reputable and trustworthy restoration company.

SERVPRO Of East Cobb is Looking for Sales & Marketing Representatives

3/4/2021 (Permalink)

Are you looking for an exciting new career in sales and marketing? Apply to part of the SERVPRO of East Cobb Team today!

Now Hiring! Do you love educating and working with people? If you want to be a leader in a great company, then don’t miss your chance to join our SERVPRO of East Cobb as a new Sales/Marketing Representative! In this position, you will be making a difference each and every day. We have a sincere drive toward the goal of helping make water, fire & mold damage “Like it never even happened.” We are looking for a candidate that is comfortable meeting new people, who has excellent communication skills, has follow-through, and who is a serious multi-tasker. If you are self-motivated and have superb interpersonal skills, then you will thrive in this work environment. Our idea of the ideal candidate is one who is proactive, is experienced, truly enjoys providing superior service, and loves taking ownership of a project. Are you highly dependable and excited about routinely exceeding expectations? Then, you may be our perfect SERVPRO Teammate! As a valued SERVPRO of East Cobb employee, you will receive a competitive pay rate, with lots of opportunity to learn and grow.

Did you know here at our SERVPRO locations that 72% of our employees have been here a year or longer? It is our ultimate goal to make this a great place to work and the better we are at helping our team achieve their goals the more successful we become! That being said we are hiring for a dynamic Marketing Representative, to help Matt and Marianne take it to the next level! If you are looking for some motivated teammates, don't be shy and go ahead and click here to apply!

Primary Responsibilities

• Meet or exceed assigned sales quota by executing the sales cycle, setting up closing appointments, maintaining assigned contact lists, participating in professional associations, hosting lunch-and-learns, and promoting continuing education (CE) courses

• Support online marketing departments through customer review procurement, contribute content on social media platforms, and assist in creation of blog materials related to the restoration industry.   

• Complete Emergency Ready Profiles (ERPs) and discuss benefits of emergency event preparation

• Conduct objective-to-objective daily marketing contacts, build customer relationships and rapport by educating them on the reasons SERVPRO® is the best cleaning and restoration company in the world, compile and maintain center of influence information, identify “Target 25” (Top 25 contacts to develop into clients)

• Provide owners and marketing managers with one-on-one meetings (closing appointments) with COIs to encourage SERVPRO® referrals

• Increase sales territory revenue by consistently achieving sales territory goals 

Click Here to Apply

Position Requirements

• A minimum two years of progressive and responsible business-to-business sales experience

• Experience with sales and marketing within the service territory 

• Superb sales, customer service, administrative, verbal, and written communication skills

• Strong business and financial background and process-and-results-driven attitude

• Experience in the commercial cleaning and restoration or insurance industry is desired

• Working knowledge of current business software technologies is required

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing or business or equivalent experience

• Ability to successfully complete a background check subject to applicable law

Pay Rate

Competitive base plus commission and increases based on merit.  

For more information on this opportunity and to Apply - CLICK HERE

SERVPRO of East Cobb's Carpet Cleaning Process

12/4/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb can make carpet stains "Like it never even happened." Call us today for carpet or water damage restoration.

When water damage happens, many of our customers are pretty worried and even despondent in the beginning before our team of restoration professionals arrive on-site. These feelings of worry and sense of uncertainty quickly abate once our team outlines a tailormade restoration plan and starts restoring their property. Many of our customers even turn the water disaster into an opportunity to have their property professionally cleaned. When your home or business has suffered water damage, this can be the perfect opportunity to have all of your carpets, marble, stone or hardwood floors professionally clean. Sense SERVPRO of East Cobb is already performing water mitigation services in other areas of your home or business, why not have the rest of your property professionally cleaned as well?

Since 2011 SERVPRO of East Cobb restoration professionals have been handling stains and soils of all types, from residential homes to commercial facilities. Using Institution of Inspection and Restoration Certification (IICRC) standards for carpet care as a guide, SERVPRO of East Cobb will guide you in the best decisions to care for your carpet. This includes:

• Showing you what cleaning option would be best for your level of soiling.
• Give you an estimate of time and cost for the carpet cleaning
• Explaining the benefits of soil protection and the advantages of a clean carpet for good indoor air quality.

SERVPRO of East Cobb Carpet Care Options

Bonnet Cleaning is the preferred cleaning/maintenance method for light soiling. The carpet is lightly sprayed with SERVPRO’s proprietary cleaning solution and a rotary extractor with a “bonnet” pad is used to pull soil from the carpet.

Hot Water Extraction is the preferred cleaning technique for light to moderate soiling. Using one of SERVPRO of East Cobb’s truck mounted or portable extraction units, we apply SERVPRO’s proprietary cleaning solutions with hot water while extracting soils.

Deluxe Precondition & Rinse is the preferred cleaning procedure for moderate to heavy soiling including a pre-treatment and rinse. First a soil emulsifier is sprayed on carpet and allowed to dwell for 10 to 15 minutes, then the carpet is thoroughly rinsed and extracted to remove soils.

Showcase Premier Cleaning is a premium service available to clean moderate to heavily soiled carpet. This is a two step process where SERVPRO’s proprietary carpet shampoo is applied using rotary equipment, then the carpet is thoroughly rinsed and extracted to remove soils.

*For answers about carpet cleaning and care, contact SERVPRO of East Cobb today at (770) 424-0400 or visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com/carpet-upholstery-cleaning for more information.

Water Damage From Clean Water

DON’T:

• Enter affected areas if electrical outlets, switches, circuit breakers, or electrical equipment are exposed to water and can not be safely powered off.
• Enter rooms where ceilings are sagging and retaining water.
• Attempt to operate equipment exposed to water.

DO’S:

• Shut off the source of the water, if possible, or contact a qualified party to stop the water source.
• Shut down power to the affected areas where access to the power distribution systems is safe from electrical shock.
• Instruct people to avoid/limit access to wet areas to prevent the tracking of water and the risk of slips and falls.
• Place any available wet floor signage you have to prevent people from entering affected areas if possible.
• Identify high-value paintings, furniture, office equipment, etc. and report them to your SERVPRO of East Cobb restoration professional as quickly as possible.
• Identify critical or important work areas, and prioritize where you would like cleanup to begin.
• Identify any critical or important documents that were damaged, and inform the SERVPRO of East Cobb restoration professionals.
• Ensure all electronics such as computers, printers, and toner cartridges are off of the floor and not sitting in water.
• Wipe moisture from wood furniture surfaces, mop wet floors, etc.

Customer Reviews and Testimonials

Helena M. of Marietta, GA - “The work was done quickly and done well. SERVPRO did a fantastic repair job on our ceiling and was very friendly and thorough. It was nice dealing with SERVPRO and I would recommend them for any job.”

Jackie M. of Marietta, GA - “SERVPRO of East Cobb was great! We had water damage that managed to hit three levels of our home. They came immediately and set up their equipment. We used them not only for water removal but also to rebuild and rehab our home. We were in a hotel for four months and they went out of their way to keep us posted on all things that were happening along the way. We give them 5 stars!”

Floyd T. of Marietta GA - “Carl Sylvester came to our home and did a fantastic job with cleanup. He is very professional. Tells you what he is about to do before he does it, then he proceeds to do it with excellence. He managed my expectations and his crew very well.”

More Customer Online Reviews and Endorsements

• Over 70 Positive 5-Star Google Reviews
• BBB - A+ Accredited Business
• 5.0 Customer Rating on Facebook

SERVPRO of East Cobb’s team of commercial restoration specialists have serviced hundreds of Cobb County businesses over the past 17 years, and are specifically trained to handle commercial large losses. From large logistics centers and storage facilities to locally owned barber shops and beauty salons, SERVPRO of East Cobb has assisted a wide range of customers and got them back up and running quickly and safely. Our restoration technicians hold certifications from the IICRC and undergo rigorous initial franchise training and continued education class to hone their mitigation and restoration skills. If your commercial facility has suffered a water, fire, mold or other type of loss event, call the professionals at SERVPRO of East Cobb. Let us show you why our motto is “Like it never even happened.”

Have You Ever Heard of Ultrasonic Cleaning?

11/27/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb utilizes the ultrasonic cleaning systems to clean and restore home and business owners textiles and electronic devices.

Ultrasonic cleaning is a staple for SERVPRO of East Cobb when it comes to cleaning and restoring contents like textiles and electronics. While the majority of our Marietta and Kennesaw customer’s contents cleaning is performed by our Contents Restoration Professionals using traditional methods, there are some items that need a more specialized approach. That is where our ultrasonic cleaning comes in. These machines vary in size, based on what industry they are used in. Some are small enough to sit on a desk, commonly used in the jewelry industry, while some can take up an entire room and can be used to clean transmissions or even airplane parts! Regardless of the size of the machine, the way it works is the same. These systems are made up of a heated basin filled with ultrasonic cleaning solution. An ultrasonic transducer agitates the cleaning solution producing frequencies from 20-40 kHz. Items to be cleaned are placed in the cleaning solution. The transducer bombards the items with ultrasonic waves which form small bubbles on the surface of the item. Each bubble works as a tiny explosion removing the material adhering to the item that is being cleaned. 

The effectiveness of an ultrasonic machine is unmatched. It thoroughly cleans almost any item placed in it. Below are some common items that can be cleaned using these machines:

• Fire, Mold, and Water Damaged Items-area rugs, oriental rugs, collectibles, toys and stuffed animals are just some of the items that can be cleaned using ultrasonic machines.
• Electronics-As counter intuitive as it may sound to submerge electronics into a cleaning solution, ultrasonic machines do a fantastic job on items such as TVs, telephones, computers and appliances. Almost every electronic device can be cleaned using this method.
• Medical Equipment-Wheelchairs, tools, bed frames, nursing equipment and other medical devices. Because of the complex nature of these items, ultrasonic cleaning is a great choice for medical equipment.
• Parts cleaning-Automotive, marine, airplane and many other mechanical parts.
• Restaurant equipment-air vents, stove filters and other kitchen equipment can be cleaned with this method.
• Jewelry-Rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings are all cleaned using ultrasonic machines.

SERVPRO of East Cobb is your trusted leader in the restoration industry. We are always investing in the most innovative equipment like Morantz Ultrasonic Cleaning Systems to restore your property or belongings to a “like new” condition. Not only are we IICRC certified, but certified in SERVPRO’s proprietary cleaning and restoration techniques. Our team of technicians and content professionals have extensive knowledge and training to ensure we are the best at what we do. We are locally owned and operated, but have the backing of a nationwide franchise system of over 1,700 franchises nationwide. We live and work in the Cobb County area, and understand the unique challenges damage to your home can bring. We are Here to Help. SERVPRO of East Cobb will work with you as the home or business owner to navigate through the confusing process disasters can bring. 

Make SERVPRO of East Cobb your trusted restoration and cleaning provider. 

Give us a call today at (770) 424-0400 or click here to have one of our customer services professionals contact you.

Cobb County's Most Trusted and Reliable Commercial Restoration Company

11/25/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is open 24/7 and is always ready to help you mitigate and restore your commercial property after a water, fire, or mold disaster.

When it comes to commercial restoration and large loss recovery, very few companies have the consistent and reliable track record that SERVPRO of East Cobb has earned over the years. We have serviced and completed numerous restoration projects like commercial fire-loss claims, large loss water damage events, along with several commercial mold remediation projects. We are both staffed and equipped to handle any size commercial loss or disaster event. SERVPRO of East Cobb has the backing of over 1,700 SERVPRO franchises nationwide, and benefits from the logistical support of the nation's leading name in the restoration industry...SERVPRO.

SERVPRO of East Cobb recognizes that commercial facilities and businesses have come to rely on companies like us after they’ve experienced water, fire, or mold damage. SERVPRO of East Cobb will not only mitigate and restore your facility to preloss condition, but we will also help you establish order during a very trying and stressful time. Every moment your facility is down or out of operation affects your company's bottom line and the professionals at SERVPRO of East Cobb can help you get back up and running at full capacity quickly and safely.

24 Hour Commercial Water Extraction & Fire Mitigation Services

Disasters like pipe leaks and sewer backups can strike at any moment, and definitely can’t be put on hold until normal business hours. That’s why SERVPRO of East Cobb offers emergency restoration services like emergency water extraction, emergency storm damage boardup & tarping services, emergency fire mitigation, and even bioremediation. We are always open and ready for your call, even during major holidays. If your business has suffered a water, fire, or other type of disaster call SERVPRO of East Cobb at (770) 424-0400or click here to have one of our restoration professionals contact you directly.

SERVPRO of East Cobb Your One-Stop-Shop Restoration Company

Several years ago, with the addition of SERVPRO of East Cobb’s construction department, we became Cobb County’s one-stop-shop restoration company. Let our highly trained restoration specialist help and guide you through the restoration and rebuild process. They will explain each step along the way, allowing you to make the best educated decisions for the restoration of your property. Our team of restoration professionals will assess your facility and create a tailored plan of action, a comprehensive scope of the loss, and provide estimates for the services deemed necessary to return your property to preloss condition. 

Highly Trained Commercial Restoration Specialist

• Water Damage Restoration Technicians
• Fire and Smoke Restoration Technicians
• Applied Structural Drying Technicians
• Applied Microbial Remediation Specialist
• Odor Control Technicians
• Upholstery  Fabric Cleaning Technicians
• Storm Disaster Recovery Team

Customer Reviews and Testimonials

James U. of Marietta, GA - “Carl and his team were fantastic. They were prompt, courteous and explained everything fully. I will definitely be using them in the future.” 

Tami C. of Atlanta, GA - “Mandy, in the office, service team, Keith, and Luke have been polite and responsive. I could not have asked for better service. The two men went to work and have been unfailing king in answering questions and relieving my stress.”

Don S. of Marietta, GA - “Their tag line should read: “SERVPRO don’t play!” because these guys are awesome. Car Sylvester is the man. He showed up everyday, made sure we understood the process, stayed late, and basically treated us like family. I hope I never see SERVPRO again because it’ll mean another mess happened...but if I do ever need water remediation services, Carl and SERVPRO are going to be my first call.”

The Health Factory of Kennesaw, GA - "Carl was very helpful and guided us along along this unfortunate situation. I felt like he went over the top to make sure we were satisfied and kept us in the loop. Highly recommended!"

More Customer Online Reviews and Endorsements

• Over 70 Positive 5-Star Google Reviews
• BBB - A+ Accredited Business
• 5.0 Customer Rating on Facebook

SERVPRO of East Cobb’s team of commercial restoration specialists have serviced hundreds of Cobb County businesses over the past 17 years, and are specifically trained to handle commercial large losses. From large logistics centers and storage facilities to locally owned barber shops and beauty salons, SERVPRO of East Cobb has assisted a wide range of customers and got them back up and running quickly and safely. Our restoration technicians hold certifications from the IICRC and undergo rigorous initial franchise training and continued education class to hone their mitigation and restoration skills. If your commercial facility has suffered a water, fire, mold or other type of loss event, call the professionals at SERVPRO of East Cobb. Let us show you why our motto is “Like it never even happened.”

Commercial Damage Restoration

Commercial Fire Damage Restoration

Commercial Mold Remediation

Commercial Storm Damage Cleanup

Disaster Recovery Team

*Visit SERVPROeastcobbga.com/commerdcial-restoration-cleaning for more information on commercial restoration and drying. Or you can click here for information on residential restoration and mitigation.

SERVPRO of East Cobb 2020 Thanksgiving Restoration Newsline Contest

11/2/2020 (Permalink)

Read this blog and head on over to SERVPRO of East Cobb's Facebook page for a chance to win a FREE Honey Baked Ham!

SERVPRO of East Cobb would like to announce our 2020 Thanksgiving Restoration Newsline Contest! This contest was created to help educate the Cobb County community on the perils of home fires, and what you can do to help prevent both residential and commercial structure fires. One lucky participant will win a FREE Honey Baked Ham courtesy of SERVPRO of East Cobb.

CONTEST RULES:

• Like and follow SERVPRO of East Cobb’s Facebook page.

• Comment on the SERVPRO of East Cobb 2020 Thanksgiving Restoration Newline Contest post with the answers to following questions (the post will be pinned to the top of our profile page for your convenience or you can click here for a direct link).
  • What is the leading cause of residential fires?
  • On average, how many structural home fires occur every year?
  • Who can restore your home or business to preloss condition once the fire has been extinguished and smoke has cleared?

• Tune in for our Facebook Live drawing to see if you’ve won!

2020 Thanksgiving Restoration Newsline

Did you know cooking equipment is the leading cause of residential fires? As the holiday season begins and you find yourself in the kitchen more often while friends and family, fire precautions should be top of mind.

A property owner experiences a flood of emotions when a fire ravages their business or home. Fear, uncertainty, stress, and doubt about the future of the property and their livelihood can be overwhelming to the property owner long after the flames have been extinguished and the smoke has cleared. After the first wave of heroes have rescued the property, Let SERVPRO of East Cobb help you restore it to its preloss condition. Combining rapid response, the utmost professionalism, and open communication throughout the entire job process, we strive to restore not only the home or business structure, but the customer’s peace of mind as well.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) offers the following eye-opening statistics on structure fires:

• Most home fires and fire casualties result from five causes:
• Cooking
• Heating
• Electrical distribution & lighting equipment
• Intentional fire setting
• Smoking materials
• More than one-quarter (27%) of reported fires occur in homes within the last year.
• Even worse, 79% of fire-related deaths were caused by home fires.
• On average, U.S. Fire departments respond to an estimated average of 354,400 home structure fires per year, resulting in $6.9 billion in direct property damage.

If the unthinkable happens and a fire strikes your home or business, give the experts at SERVPRO of East Cobb a call at (770) 424-0400 or visit SERVPROeastcobbga.com for more information. We will help make it “Like it never even happened.”

Using a Portable Fire Extinguisher

A portable fire extinguisher can be a life and property saving tool when used correctly. In order to operate a fire extinguisher, the NFPA suggests remembering the word PASS.

• Pull the pin. Hold the nozzle pointing away from you and release the locking mechanism.
• Aim low. Point the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire.
• Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
• Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side

Read the instructions on the fire extinguisher and become familiar with them before a fire breaks out. Encourage your family members and co-workers to do the same. Remember, Extinguishers do have their limitations! It is also important to ensure you have the correct type of extinguisher for your home or facility. Refer to the next section of this blog to learn more about the different classes of fire extinguishers and the types of fire each are designed to extinguish.

Choosing the Appropriate Class of Fire Extinguisher

• Class A: This is the most common extinguisher and can be used to put out fires in ordinary combustibles such as cloth, wood, rubber, paper, and many plastics.
• Class B: Used on fires involving flammable liquids, such as grease, gasoline, and oil
• Class C: Designed for fires involving appliances, tools, or other equipment electronically energized or plugged in.
• Class D: For use on flammable metals; often specific for the type of metal in question. These are typically found in factories and commercial applications.
• Class K: Intended for use on fires that involve vegetable oils, animal oils, or fats in cooking appliances. Generally found in commercial kitchens.

*If you’ve enjoyed this blog feel free to check out some of SERVPRO of East Cobb’s Previous Restoration Blogs: ”PASS: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep”; “Smoke Alarms Save Cobb County Lives”; “Help SERVPRO of East Cobb Make Cobb County Fire Safe”; “Kitchen Fire Precautions for Your Cobb County Home”; “SERVPRO of East Cobb’s Advance Fire Restoration Process and Equipment"

How to Remove Glued Down Carpeting After a Water Loss

10/9/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage carpet can start growing mold in as little as 24 hours. If your home suffers water damage call SERVPRO of East Cobb as soon as possible.

So you’ve experienced a water loss in your Cobb County home or business and you are trying to sort out the mess caused by the water damage. Perhaps a toilet supply line leak caused water to spill from your bathroom into other living spaces that happen to have glued down carpeted flooring. When dealing with water damaged glued down carpeting there are a few things to consider. How large of an area is affected? What type of water caused the damage? Has the carpet begun to delaminate? How old is the carpet in question? All these questions must be considered when deciding how to handle a restoration project that includes water damaged glued down carpeting. 

According to IICRC S500 standards if a living space suffers water damage and the carpet shows signs of delamination, has been in contact with grossly contaminated water, or shows signs of microbial growth the carpet most likely needs to be removed and disposed of properly. Removing carpet often requires that the baseboards in the room also be removed and cleaned (if the baseboards were exposed to grossly contaminated water they will need to be replaced and disposed of properly). Removing carpet can be tricky particularly if it is glued down. SERVPRO of East Cobb strongly advises all property owners faced with water damage to their home or business to work with a reputable, licensed, and insured restoration company that they trust to complete any restoration project or repairs to their property.

SERVPRO’s Professional Guide to Removing Glued Down Carpeting

SERVPRO technicians will don appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect themselves during the restoration project. Cleaning up after a water loss can require a wide array of PPE depending on whether the water contains hazardous materials and the type of materials the water has come in contact with. If the water is grossly contaminated or the materials contain heavy metals or other caustic elements, tyvek coverall, rubber boots, chemical resistant gloves and respirators may be required. For other water losses that have less caustic conditions protective goggles, rubber gloves, and a respirator or dust mask may suffice. SERVPRO of East Cobb’s highest priority is the safety of our technicians and customers alike. Our technicians are specifically trained to deal with dangers one faces when mitigating or restoring a water damaged property. You should never put yourself in harm's way by taking on a restoration project, unless you are properly trained and experienced in the water restoration field. 

Other equipment and supplies needed to remove glued down carpet include professional cleaning products like those found in SERVPRO’s line of proprietary cleaning products (CitraSolvent and Bright-N-Neutral Cleaner), as well as pump sprayers, hand scrapers, squeegees, a buffing or sanding tool, air movers, mop, mop bucket, and carpet removal tools like a carpet puller or electric floor scraper.

How to Remove Glued Down Carpet

Glued Down Carpet Removal

• Remove glued down carpet using carpet removal tools like a handheld scraping tool, carpet puller, or an electric floor scraper. Be sure to consult the operational manual or owners manual prior to using each piece of equipment to ensure safe operation.
• If the carpet will not release from the subfloor or other substrate using hand scraping tools, carpet puller, or electric floor scraper apply a professional grade cleaning solvent like SERVPRO’s CitraSolvent to help release carpet from the floor.
• Make sure to properly ventilate the work area while performing this procedure.
• Apply professional grade cleaning solvent between the carpet and floor if possible.
• Saturate the carpet with professional grade cleaning solvent to allow penetration through the carpet backing.
• Let professional grade cleaning solvent dwell on carpet for 10-15 minutes.

• Utilize hand scraping tools, carpet puller, or an electric floor scraper to remove remaining carpet.

Removal of Glue from Concrete

• Using the aforementioned handheld scraper tool or an electric floor scraper, scrape up as much glue and glue particles from the floor as possible. A buffing or sanding tool may also be used to buff or sand away glue residue. 
• Generously apply the professional grade cleaning solvent to the carpet and concrete. This will loosen the glues hold and help facilitate glue removal.
  • On smaller jobs you can use a brush to work professional grade cleaning solvent into glue that is stuck to the concrete.
  • On Larger jobs you can use a buffing machine with a brush attachment to work professional cleaning solvent into glue that is stuck to the concrete.
• Allow the professional grade cleaning solvent to dwell for 10-15 minutes. This will help the solvent’s effectiveness and help the glue release from the concrete.
• Scrub the affected area using hand scrapers, electric floor scraper, or with an abrasive sanding block or buffing tool.
• Remove any excess liquid and residue using a squeegee or portable water extractor.
• Repeat as needed until no glue remains adhered to the concrete.
• *IMPORTANT* Mop the floor with hot water and a professional grade cleaning product like SERVPRO’s Bright-N-Neutral Cleaner to remove any residual adhesives or solvents.
• Finally rinse the entire affected area by mopping with clean clear water to remove any residual residue left behind by the professional cleaning product.

When water damage happens it can cause a whole host of issues in your home. From damage to your belongings and contents, to structural damage that denies you access to parts of your home that could force you to make adjustments to your living arrangements while the issue is resolved. Water restoration projects are never fun for homeowners to deal with, but choosing the right restoration company to handle your claim can save you tons of headaches and stress. If your home or business suffers water damage call SERVPRO of East Cobb today. We can restore your property quickly, safely, and cost effectively. Let the professionals at SERVPRO of East Cobb ease your burden and take all of the guesswork out of restoring your property.  

SERVPRO of East Cobb is Cobb County’s Preferred Water Restoration Services Provider... Don’t Take Our Word For It....

• Over 100 Positive Reviews Across Different Online Platforms
• Nearly Perfect Google Review score
• Accredited A+ BBB Business 
• Five Star Rating on Angie’s List, BBB, & Google My Business 

*If you enjoyed this blog check out some of our previous blogs on water restoration: “Drying and Mitigation of a Three Bedroom House in Marietta, GA”; “Roswell Toilet Leak Lead to Water Damage Throughout Home”; “5 Way Hard Water Can Damage Your Cumberland, GA Home”; “How to Handle a Cobb County Clogged Toilet, Sink, and Other Simple Plumbing Issues”; “The Best Water Restoration Company in Kennesaw, GA”; “The Science Behind the Drying Process”

Importance of Responding Quickly to a Water Loss

10/6/2020 (Permalink)

No matter what time day or night, SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help cleanup water damage in your Cobb County home.

Water can cause severe damage to the materials it saturates. That's why SERVPRO of East Cobb is ready to respond 24/7, 365 days a year.  Water losses can happen at any time and when they do, time is of the essence to prevent further damages. Water spreads quickly and will saturate floors, walls, furniture and many more porous surfaces it comes in contact with. SERVPRO of East Cobb will immediately respond to your loss and extract water to prevent further damages and reduce the cost of restoration. 

Some effects of water are immediate, while other effects can take days or weeks to become noticeable. The extent of damage depends on factors such as how much water is involved, how long the water sits and what type of materials is saturated. Let's take a look at how water can cause damage over time.  

Water Damage within minutes

• Water migrates throughout your home, saturating the porous materials it touches 
• Furniture finishes can bleed causing permanent stains on carpet and furniture
• Family photos, books, and  important documents can become soaked causing bleeding, swelling and warping. 

Water Damages First 24-Hours

• Drywall starts to breakdown and swelling occurs
• Furniture swells and cracks, veneer buckles
• Odors start to occur due to bacteria and mold 
• Metals start to tarnish 

Water Damages The First Week

• Doors, jambs, window seals and studs start to swell 
• Rust and corrosion begins on metal
• Paint begins to bubble
• Wood floors start to cup and buckle
• Water becomes category 3 water which is unsanitary 
• Microbial growth can set in and spread 

Water Damages Over a Week 

• Structural safety becomes a concern 
• Microbial growth and bacteria becomes a concern for occupants
• Cost increases significantly 

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb for Emergency Service (770) 424-0400

*Check out some of our Water Restoration Pictures previous Water Restoration Projects Before and After Photos: ”Roswell, GA Home Suffers Water Damage - Dining Room & Bar Area”; “Roswell, GA Home Suffers Water Damage - Dining Room & Kitchen”; “Roswell, GA Home Suffers Water Damage - Kitchen”; “Kennesaw Home Toilet Supply Line Leak”

Kitchen Fire Precautions for Your Cobb County Home

10/5/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb professionals are IICRC trained and have the experience and tools to restore even the most fire and soot damaged properties.

Each year, around the holidays, families gather together to celebrate by preparing delicious meals. However, not everyone practices safe cooking habits. According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and injuries. The leading cause of fire in the kitchen is unattended cooking. It’s important to be alert to prevent holiday cooking fires.

• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling food.
• Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, do not use the stovetop or oven.
• Keep anything that can catch fire, like oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, or hand towels, away from the stovetop.
• If you are simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the kitchen while the food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.

In the event of a cooking fire or kitchen fire in general, consider the following safety protocols to help you and your family stay safe.

• Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the flames.
• Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after you get out safely.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed.
• If you try to fight the fire be sure others are getting out and you have a clear path out.
• Keep a lid nearby when you’re cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.

SERVPRO of East Cobb would like to wish you a safe and happy fall season!

After a home fire many homeowners are at a loss for words and could use some help figuring out what to do next. Their world has been flipped upside down and they could use a shoulder to lean on. SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to be that support network and offer professional advice on how to move forward. We handle fire claims for homeowners on a daily basis and are well versed in the fire restoration process. SERVPRO of East Cobb knows what it takes to make a house a home again. Let SERVPRO of East Cobb help you file your fire claim with your insurance provider. With our experience and know-how, SERVPRO of East Cobb will put your mind at ease and take the uncertainty and turmoil out of the fire recovery process. 

If your home or business has suffered smoke or fire damage give  SERVPRO of East Cobb a call today, or click here and one of our loss coordinators can contact you! 

SERVPRO of East Cobb has been one of the most trusted names in the fire restoration industry for over seventeen years. We’ve earned this status by providing our customers with top notch customer service and by standing behind our work. SERVPRO of East Cobb strives to make each and everyone of our customers happy and will go the extra mile to make sure that we accomplish complete customer satisfaction. We pride ourselves on being faster to any size disaster, and getting the job done right the first time. Let SERVPRO of East Cobb make your home fire or water loss “Like it never even happened.”

*For more Fire Restoration Blogs and Fire Safety Tips take a moment to look at some of our previous blogs: “Help Prevent Fire In Your Kennesaw GA Home”; “Seven Ways to Protect Your Cobb County Home From The Silent Killer: Carbon Monoxide”; “PASS: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep”; “SERVPRO of East Cobb’s Advanced Fire Restoration Process and Equipment”; “Cobb County Fire Claim Scope and Walk Through”; “Cobb County Kitchen Fire Cleanup”

Help SERVPRO of East Cobb Make Cobb County Fire Safe

9/24/2020 (Permalink)

If your home or business suffers a fire loss, call SERVPRO of East Cobb. We make fire damage "Like it never even happened."

According to the American Red Cross, you may have as little as two minutes to escape your home in the event that a fire starts. They outline that having an early warning system like a fire alarm in place and practicing a fire escape plan can greatly increase your likelihood of a successful escape and can save lives. The American Red Cross also provide the following “Top Tips for Fire Safety”

• Smoke alarms should be installed on each level of your home, as well as inside each bedroom and outside of all sleeping areas.
• Smoke alarms should be regularly tested on a monthly basis, and if one or more is found to be inoperable they should be replaced immediately. If the batteries are dead, the batteries should be replaced immediately. Oftentimes when a smoke detector’s battery power is running low the alarm will chirp, chime or otherwise indicate the batteries are running low.
• All family members could be consulted when developing a fire escape plan and everyone should participate in practice evacuation at least twice a year.
• If your home ever catches fire, you should get out, stay out and call for help. Never go back inside for anything or anyone.

Learn what you and your family should do if a fire starts in your home

If a fire starts in your home there are several things you should know like how to safely operate a fire extinguisher. You should leave all your things where they are and save yourself, and when escaping or exiting a structure that is on fire close doors behind you if you can safely. This will help slow the fire’s progression. If you live in a building that has multiple floors, never use the elevator to escape, use the stairs. If smoke, heat or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with the doors closed. Place a wet towel under the door and call 9-1-1 or the fire department. Open a window and wave a brightly colored cloth or if available use a flashlight to signal for help. Smoke rises so when escaping a smoke filled room you should crawl getting as low to the ground as possible to avoid the smoke.

If your clothes catch on fire:

• Stop...what you’re doing.

• Drop…to the ground and cover your face if you can.

• Roll...over and over back and forth until the flames go out (running will only make the fire burn faster).

Once the flames are out, call for medical attention. Insignificant and non-life threatening skin burns can be cooled using running water by flushing the burned area(s) for three to five minutes.

SERVPRO of East Cobb is Here to Help

SERVPRO of East Cobb is locally owned and operated. We are proud to serve the East Cobb, GA, Noonday, GA, Westoak, GA, Kennesaw, GA, Cumberland, GA, Blackwells, GA, Mount Bethel, GA, and Sandy Plains, GA communities. We are a preferred vendor for most major insurance companies like  State Farm, Farmers, Auto Owners, American Family Insurance, Metlife,  and The Hartford. We have long-standing working relationships with our local agents, and help homeowners file an insurance claim when applicable. If your home our business suffers fire damage call SERVPRO of East Cobb at (770) 424-0400 or click here and one of our claims specialists can contact you today. 

For more information on fire safety or related Fire Restoration Blog check out some of the following links: “Did You Know September is National Preparedness Month?”; “PASS: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep”; “Smoke Alarms Save Cobb County Lives”; “Cobb County Kitchen Fire Cleanup”; “Cobb County Fire Claim Scope and Walk Through”; “First Hand Account of House Fire Cleanup in Marietta”; “Cobb County Fire Claim Step by Step Walkthrough of Scope”; “Seven Ways to Protect Your Cobb County Home From The Silent Killer: Carbon Monoxide”; “Help Prevent Fire In Your Kennesaw GA Home”; “Seven Ways to Prepare Your Kennesaw Home for a Home Fire”; “Smoke Alarms: Life Savers”

Commercial Water Restoration of Delta Office Complex

9/24/2020 (Permalink)

When water damage strikes your business, don't delay and call SERVPRO of East Cobb right away. We make water damage "Like it never even happened."

On Sunday, September 13th SERVPRO of East Cobb received an after hours call from Delta’s maintenance department notifying us that one of their office buildings was flooding due to a sink supply line. We arrived on site within the hour to extract several inches of standing water. We also completed necessary demolition/mitigation efforts by removing unsalvageable materials like sheetrock, glued down carpeting and cove base. Professional grad air movers and dehumidifiers were then strategically placed to facilitate the drying process. 

Nearly two hours after receiving the initial call from Delta’s maintenance department SERVPRO of East Cobb received a second call from the same facility manager stating that a second building in the same business complex had also experienced a water loss due to a busted sprinkler line. We immediately dispatched a second team of restoration professionals fully equipped with all the necessary drying equipment.

In total, SERVPRO of East Cobb dispatched four crews of highly trained water restoration technicians along with a Project Manager to oversee the mitigation and restoration efforts. Once our restoration professionals were onsite, we were able to stop the water loss source by turning off the water supply lines, extract all of the standing water and document the loss with our proprietary restoration software. Before our restoration team left either facility drying equipment was strategically placed to facilitate the drying of the structure quickly and safely.

H1>Call SERVPRO of East Cobb Today

Experiencing a commercial water loss can be stressful for property manager or facility manager and business could suffer major losses in production or productivity.  If your business suffers a severe to moderate water loss, SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help 24-hours a day.

SERVPRO of East Cobb Commercial Restoration Process

• When a commercial water damage happens, the first thing a property manager/facility manager should do is contact SERVPRO of East Cobb. We will immediately dispatch water restoration technicians and a project manager to the place of business to evaluate the water damage and start the restoration process. After an initial inspection, the project manager will lay out the scope of work to the property manager/facility manager and instruct our team of water restoration technicians to start extracting standing water and drying the structure in accordance with IICRC S500 Standards and in line with the custom made action plan for the facility. 
• Over the course of the next three days our highly trained restoration professionals will monitor and manipulate equipment to facilitate optimal drying (give or take a day or two depending on the size and scope of the water loss). Once the structure is dried to preloss condition the equipment will be removed and the rebuild/reconstruction process can proceed. Typically our construction manager will visit the facility shortly after the initial visit to create a scope of work and estimate to complete the reconstruction and repairs process.
• SERVPRO of East Cobb has the ability, asset, training and experience to handle commercial water loss claims from start to finish. From the initial drying process, to contents restoration, moving and storage process, to commercial reconstruction and repairs.

Want more content like this blog? Take a look at some of SERVPRO of East Cobb’s related Commercial Restoration Blogs: ”Prepare Your Cobb County Business With an Emergency READY Profile!”; “What Can You Restore Using Ultrasonic Cleaning?”; “Destroy Odors with Deodorization”; “Small Office Commercial Water Loss in Kennesaw GA”

*For more information on SERVPRO East Cobb’s Commercial Restoration Services check out our Commercial Restoration Before & After Photos

A Summer Cobb County Will Not Soon Forget

9/17/2020 (Permalink)

If your home or business has been effected by storm damage give SERVPRO of East Cobb a call today. We can make it "Like it never even happened."

Summer of 2020 has brought some pretty severe storms and major weather events throughout the US including hurricanes in the south, tornadoes in the midwest, and even wildfires on the west coast. Add to that, the worldwide pandemic that is COVID-19, and it’s pretty safe to say that nobody is going to miss 2020 when it's gone. Through it all, there has been one company ready to take on the overwhelming circumstances and step up when people and their communities need help...SERVPRO. Whether it SERVPRO’s new Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned program, designed to combat the coronavirus, or Disaster Recovery Teams headed to the gulf to help relief efforts for Hurricane Sally, or fire crews traveling to the west coast to help home and business owners recover after the devastating forest fires...SERVPRO is here to help!

One of the most rewarding aspects of SERVPRO answering calls to mitigate fires, extract flood waters, and provide home and business owners relief when things seem darkest, is that these efforts were primarily executed by people that live in these communities. SERVPRO franchise owners typically live within the communities they serve and have a vested interest in seeing their community recover after major storm damage. They could literally live right next door to a customer and genuinely care about their well being. SERVPRO of East Cobb is a prime example of this business model and is a firm supporter of Cobb County and the surrounding areas. If your home suffers storm damage call the professionals that have proudly served the Cobb County community for nearly a decade...SERVPRO of East Cobb. 

SERVPRO of East Cobb is the Best Choice for Storm Damage Cleanup for Your Cobb County Home or Business

We are Faster to Any Size Disaster

SERVPRO of East Cobb holds ourselves to the highest standards, and we pride ourselves on being faster to any size disaster. We know when storm damage or water losses happen, time can be of the essence. That’s why we have developed service response guidelines that govern how we address each and every restoration project we take on. 

SERVPRO of East Cobb’s Service Response Guidelines: 

• 1 HOUR – Within one hour of notice of loss, one of SERVPRO of East Cobb’s loss coordinators will contact you to arrange for service.

*While these guidelines are a good way to ensure that all of our customers are taken care of properly, SERVPRO of East Cobb strives for greatness and averages less than a two hour turn-around-time when responding to emergency storm, water, or fire service requests.

• 4 HOURS – Within four hours of loss notification, SERVPRO of East Cobb will be on-site to start mitigation services (if necessary).
• 8 HOURS – Within eight business hours, we will initiate a verbal briefing of the scope of damage and needed mitigation efforts.

We are Highly Trained Storm Damage Restoration & Drying Specialists

SERVPRO of East Cobb’s restoration specialists and technicians undergo a rigorous training and certification process as well as an extensive background check. We believe the best way to invest in our business is by investing in our people, that’s why SERVPRO of East Cobb only fields the most reputable, highly trained, experienced, and trustworthy water and storm damage restoration specialists in the Atlanta metro area. Our technicians hold IICRC certifications in both Water Damage Restoration Technician (WDRT) and Applied Structural Drying Technicians (ASDT). All technicians also participate in SERVPRO’s proprietary Continuing Education Classes that cover fire restoration, water restoration, mold mitigation and carpet & upholstery cleaning. 

We are Locally Owned and Have National Storm Relief Resources

With over 1,700 franchises nationwide, SERVPRO of East Cobb has the assets, equipment, personnel, and expertise to take on any size disaster quickly, safely, efficiently and effectively. Our network of other locally owned SERVPRO franchise lends SERVPRO of East Cobb a massive advantage over other locally owned restoration companies that may or may not have a support network at all. SERVPRO is the nation's leading storm restoration service provider.

SERVPRO of East Cobb is Cobb County’s Preferred Storm Restoration Services Provider... Don’t Take Our Word For It....

• Over 100 Positive Reviews Across Different Online Platforms

• Nearly Perfect Google Review score

• Accredited A+ BBB Business 

• Five Star Rating on Angie’s List, BBB, & Google My Business  

Did You Know September is National Preparedness Month?

9/8/2020 (Permalink)

If your home has been damaged due to a fire loss, call SERVPRO of East Cobb. We are the pros that make fire damage "Like it never even happened."

This year for National Preparedness month, join your community in preparing for emergencies and disasters of all types, and leading efforts to encourage the community as a whole to become more prepared. “Disasters happen” and not only devastate individuals and neighborhoods, but entire communities. Learn how to be prepared.

Smoke Alarms are Life Savers

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fire alarms and smoke detectors save lives when properly installed and maintained.  In residential settings, smoke alarms should be on every level of the home including the basement and in every bedroom. In commercial settings or in office spaces, please confer with your local fire marshal to insure your business or commercial property is in compliance with local and state requirements.
Smoke alarms should be tested monthly using the test button or in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines. Smoke alarms with non-replaceable batteries need to be completely replaced every ten years unless otherwise noted by the manufacturer. Alarms that utilize batteries should have the batteries replaced every year, and the unit itself should be replaced ten years from the manufacture date. Chirping alarms often signal a low battery and proper steps should be taken to replace the unit or the batteries immediately. Never disable or remove the battery from an alarm without first securing a suitable replacement fire alarm or smoke detector. Almost half of fires where smoke alarms were present but did not activate had missing or disconnected batteries (NFPA). Some larger commercial facilities have hard wired or wireless smoke alarms which give the added benefit of not needing to be tested as often, and some can even activate alarms throughout the entire building if smoke is detected in just one area. (NFPA). 

If you need help installing, testing, or changing batteries in your smoke alarms, contact the Cobb County Fire Department, an electrician, or the American Red Cross. Be sure your home or business has a fire emergency plan in place and conducts regular fire drills. For more information on Emergency Preparedness, contact SERVPRO of East Cobb. 

September Preparedness Tips: 

Make & Practice Your Plan

Do you have an evacuation and shelter-in-place plan? Do you have a plan to communicate with your family before, during, and after an incident? Do you have an emergency supply kit?

Make sure your family is informed and practiced in your emergency plan. Be sure to sign up for alerts and warnings for your area, and download other necessary apps to stay informed, such as the FEMA app.

Learn Life Saving Skills

Do you or someone in your family know CPR? Could you turn off your natural gas if necessary? Do you know how to take cover in an earthquake? Knowing these life saving skills could mean life or death in an emergency situation for you, your family or your neighbors.

Check Your Insurance Coverage

Have you reviewed your insurance coverage recently to see if you’re covered in a disaster? Evaluate which hazards are relevant to your area and obtain the appropriate insurance for your home, business, or other property and become familiar with your coverage.

Save for an Emergency

Are you prepared financially in case of a disaster? Does your family have an emergency fund for unexpected expenses after a flood or fire? Check our FEMA’s Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) for an in-depth document to help you identify and compile important documents and account information all in one spot. Just search “EFFAK” on fema.gov for the free PDF.

Whether it's a flood, wildfire, or extreme winter weather, we must ensure our families, businesses, places of worship and neighborhoods are prepared. Contact SERVPRO of East Cobb to find out how we can help make it “Like it never even happened,” if disaster strikes in your life.

Portable fire Extinguishers can be life and property saving tools when used correctly. In order to operate an extinguisher, the NFPA suggests remembering the following acronym PASS.

• Pull the pin while pointing the nozzle away from yourself and release the locking mechanism
• Aim low by pointing the extinguisher nozzle at the base of the fire.
• Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
• Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side

*Remember to read the instructions on the fire extinguisher and become familiar with your particular model fire extinguisher before a fire breaks out. Fire extinguishers have limitations so be aware of all safety precautions and ensure that you have the proper type of extinguisher for your facility. To find more information on choosing the appropriate class of fire extinguisher, please visit the NFPA website nfpa.org.

Fire Damage Cleanup Advice:

These fire restoration tips and advice will assist you in taking helpful first steps and actions until the professionals from SERVPRO of East Cobb arrive. Follow these dos and don’ts to help reduce damage and increase the chances of a successful fire restoration project.

Fire Damage Cleanup DOs:

Do...limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into carpet and avoid tracking particles to other areas of the home or business.

Do...keep your hands clean. Soot on your hands can further soil upholstery, walls, and furniture.

Do...empty the freezer and refrigerator completely and prop doors open to help prevent odor, if electricity is off.

Do...wipe soot from metal faucets, fixtures, trim, and appliances in kitchen and/or bathroom(s).

Do...pour RV antifreeze in sinks, toilet bowls, holding tanks, and tubs to avoid freezing pipes and fixtures during winter months.

Do...Remove soot particles from plants with a damp cloth.

Do...Change HVAC filter, but leave the unit turned off until trained professionals can inspect the system.

Do...tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers to stop particles of soot from getting in or out of the HVAC system.

Fire Damage Cleanup DON’Ts:

Don’t...attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces without first contacting trained fire restoration professionals like those found at SERVPRO of East Cobb.

Don’t...attempt to shampoo carpets, rugs, or upholstered furniture without first contacting trained fire restoration professionals like those found at SERVPRO of East Cobb.

Don’t...attempt to clean any electrical appliances (such as TVs, radios, computers, etc) that may have been close to the fire, exposed to high heat, or water used to extinguish the fire without first consulting an authorized repair service like those found at SERVPRO of East Cobb.

Don’t...consume any food or beverages that may have been stored close to the fire, exposed to heat, or water used to extinguish the fire. They may have been contaminated, and are not safe for consumption.

Don’t...turn on ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet or has been damaged by the fire. The wiring may be wet or damaged and cause electrical shock or shorts. Air movement can also cause secondary damage to your property.

Don’t…send garments to the dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set smoke odors in some types of fabrics.

For more information on fire safety and fire restoration check out some of our previous Fire Restoration Blogs: “Help Prevent Fire In Your Kennesaw GA Home”; “Seven Ways to Protect Your Cobb County Home From The Silent Killer: Carbon Monoxide”; “PASS: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep”; “SERVPRO of East Cobb’s Advanced Fire Restoration Process and Equipment”; “Cobb County Fire Claim Scope and Walk Through”; “Cobb County Kitchen Fire Cleanup”

SERVPRO of East Cobb’s Advance Fire Restoration Process and Equipment

8/4/2020 (Permalink)

Once the flames have been extinguished, SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help you and your family recover after a home fire loss.

Even a small fire in your home can cause major upheaval and discomfort to you and your family, or possibly even your business. Smoke and soot damage can be quite invasive and off putting if not cleaned and treated quickly and thoroughly by a trained professional. No matter what size fire disaster your home or business faces, SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help 24-hours a day, everyday. We are highly trained fire restoration specialists proudly serving Cobb County and the surrounding local areas for nearly 20 years. SERVPRO is a preferred vendor for most major insurance companies. We work hand in hand with Insurance companies like State Farm, American Family Insurance, Metlife, Farmers, and The Hartford to make sure that all steps are taken, to get your home back to normal. We also have a great working relationship with our local insurance adjuster and claims agents.

Left a pot on the stove for too long, causing smoke damage to your kitchen and dining room? Call SERVPRO of East Cobb. We have fire cleanup specialists that can make it “Like it never even happened.” Accidentally leave a barbecue grill unattended causing fire damage to your homes siding and need someone to secure and repair your property? Call SERVPRO of East Cobb. We have technicians available 24/7 for emergency boardup and fire restoration. Experienced an electrical fire that damaged several rooms and multiple levels of your home? Call SERVPRO of East Cobb. We have the experience, training and infrastructure to oversee the complete remodel and repair any structural damage that may have occurred. 

• Dry Clean Soot Sponges - SERVPRO’s dry cleaning sponge is made of natural rubber.  It safely scoops up and absorbs soot and dirt into their pores. Because of the soft surface, dry cleaning sponges are ideal for removing soot and smoke from walls, ceilings, and acoustic tiles. Technicians will use extension poles with dry clean sponges attached to clean the ceiling, since debris will drop down first. We then move to the walls, again beginning at the top and working to the bottom using straight, parallel strokes that overlap slightly. The sponge is also ideal for picking up dust and dirt from areas that cannot be cleaned by water or solvents. 
• HEPA Vacuums - HEPA (High-Efficieny Particulate Air) vacuums are different from conventional vacuums because they utilitze filters that are capable of trapping micron-sized particles (extremely small particles so small the naked eye can not see them). SERVPRO’s HEPA vacuum systems remove and trap 99.97% of all particles larger than 0.3 microns. 
• HEPA Air Scrubbers - HEPA air scrubbers are highly efficient air filtration devices and versatile. SERVPRO utilities The DefendAir HEPA 500 combines advanced clean air performance with the flexible features to help make improving indoor air quality easier. This multi-stage HEPA filtration unit delivers maximum performance for air scrubbing, negative air applications, or smoke and odor removal. 
• SERVPRO Proprietary Professional Cleaning Products - Over the past 50 years SERVPRO has developed numerous proprietary professional cleaning products that are tailored to the restoration industry and have a proven track record of safe and effective use in fire, water and mold restoration applications. Technicians are trained and well versed in the application and uses these professional restoration products and will use them to restore your property to preloss condition.
• Ultrasonic Cleaning Equipment and Technology - Ultrasonic cleaning is a technique that utilizes several different specialized pieces of cleaning equipment that results in highly effective and efficient cleaning. The magic behind ultrasonic cleaning is in the cavitational bubbles. Bubbles created through cavitation are just empty space. As a result, these bubbles collapse, or implode, almost as fast as they are created. In our machines, this happens millions of times per second. This constant implosion produces tremendous vacuum energy in the form of heat and pressure. It’s this combination of heat and pressure which gives ultrasonic cleaning its cleaning capability and power. Ultrasonic cleaning techniques can be used on a wide range of materials and items like window blinds, electronics, medical equipment, precious metals in jewelry, textiles commonly found in content restoration projects.  
• Advance Water Extraction and Drying Equipment - SERVPRO of East cobb specialize in water damage restoration, the cornerstone of our business. Water restoration and fire restoration go hand in hand sense water is often used to extinguish fires. We have extensive water damage restoration training, and our process emphasizes regular monitoring and documentation of the drying process from beginning to end.

Have questions about fire, smoke and soot damage cleanup? Call SERVPRO of East Cobb at (770) 424-0400 today!

While no two fire restoration projects are exactly the same, SERVPRO of East Cobb has developed a seven step process that will ensure your property is restored to preloss condition quickly, safely and in accordance with IICRC standards. 

Step 1: Emergency Contact

The restoration process starts when you, our customer, calling SERVPRO of East Cobb. Our job file coordinator will ask several questions regarding the fire damage event which will help us respond quickly with the appropriate equipment and resources. 

Step 2: Inspection and Fire Damage Assessment

We will inspect the property for safety concerns and mitigate any risks to your property and our employees, then carefully inspect and test adjoining rooms of your property to determine the extent of the fire, smoke, and soot damage. This step is crucial to developing a plan of action and allows us to put together a scope of work and estimate for your particular fire restoration project. 

Step 3: Immediate Board-Up and Roof-Tarp Service

Fire damage often compromises walls, windows, and even the roof. To restore security and to protect against further damage, we can board up missing windows and walls and place tarps on damaged roofs to protect your property. 

Step 4: Water Removal and Drying (if water damage is present)

The water removal process begins once the property has been deemed safe to enter and the property is secured. SERVPRO will remove the majority of the water using water extraction tools like high flow rate submersible pumps, sump pumps, high powered truck mounted vacuum systems, commercial portable wet vacuums. We then use dehumidifiers, air movers and an array of IICRC approved drying techniques to remove the remaining water and complete the drying process quickly and safely. 

Step 5: Removal of Smoke and Soot from All Surfaces

SERVPRO of East Cobb also has a host of specialized equipment and techniques at our disposal to remove smoke and soot from ceilings, walls, and other surfaces. Removing any remnants of fire damage and removing smoke odors, not just covering them up (Covering up odors often results in the offending smell returning once the masking agent loses its potency).  

Step 6: Cleaning and Sanitizing

We clean, sanitize, and disinfect all of the restorable items and structures that were damaged by the fire. We use a variety of cleaning techniques to restore your belongings to pre-fire condition. We’re also trained to remove odors using industrial air scrubbers and fogging equipment.

Step 7: Restoration

Restoration is the final step in getting your home or business to its pre-fire condition. Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall, painting, and installing new carpet, or it may entail major repairs such as the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business. Leave fire restoration to the pros at SERVPRO of East Cobb and let us take the uncertainty and headache out of restoring your home after a fire loss.

SERVPRO of East Cobb’s number one goal is returning fire damaged areas and items to preloss condition, doing all we can to make it “Like it never even happened.” We are dedicated to restoring both the property and the lives of the customers we help. Like it was never dirty, like it never overflowed, like it never caught fire, like it never spilled, like it never smoldered–whatever the case, with SERVPRO of East Cobb our goal is to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Want to know what Cobb County customers think about SERVPRO of East Cobb? Take a look at our 60+ Google Reviews! 

If you would like more information on Fire Restoration check out some of our previous Fire Restoration Blogs:”Cobb County Fire Claim Scope and Walk Through”; ”First Hand Account of House Fire Cleanup in Marietta”; ”Cobb County Kitchen Fire Cleanup“; “PASS: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep”; “Smoke Alarms Save Cobb County Lives”

How to File a Flood or Water Damage Insurance Claim in Marietta or Kennesaw, GA

7/23/2020 (Permalink)

Storms damage happens, when it does call SERVPRO of East Cobb. We can mitigate, dry and restore your property quickly and safely.

SERVPRO of East Cobb knows that you have many choices when it comes to water restoration companies in the Marietta, Kennesaw, and greater Cobb County area. We would like to thank you for choosing SERVPRO of East Cobb and trusting us to restore your home or business. Being trusted to restore your property is a big responsibility and one that we do not take lightly. Our goal is to mitigate and restore your property to preloss condition, making storm damage seem “Like it never even happened.” SERVPRO of East Cobb both acknowledges and accepts this responsibility, promising to always have our customers best interest at heart. When you choose SERVPRO of East Cobb can rest easy knowing that you have the best in the business taking care of your property.

Customers often have many questions about how to move forward with a water claim. Most have never experienced storm damage before and can be a bit distraught due to the uncertainty of the situation. SERVPRO of East Cobb will put your worries to rest because we are never more than a phone call away. If you are looking for some direction on how to file a flood insurance or water claim, the good people over at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have a great 5 Step Process to Filing a Flood Insurance Claim. You can also call one of our friendly restoration job coordinators at (770) 424-0400 and they can help walk you through filing a claim or have one of our restoration specialists contact you by filling out this short contact submission form. 

Below is a brief synopsis of their process:

Step 1 - Call Your Insurance Agent

When it is safe, gather your insurance information. Give your insurance company a call to notify them of the loss so that coverage can be determined.

Step 2 - Take Photos

Once your home or business is determined to be safe you can return to document the damage by taking pictures or video footage of the damage.

Step 3 - Begin Cleanup

Remove water damaged items but keep items like flooring and curtains so that they can be assessed by your insurance company or adjuster.

Step 4 - Meet With Your Adjuster

Your insurance company will assign an insurance adjuster to your claim and you will need to meet with them to discuss your claim. Your adjuster will also provide you with an estimate of the damages.

Step 5 - Receive Final Payment

Once the inspection of your property is completed by the adjuster you will receive a full report on your claim and a check to cover the allotted damages and repairs to return your property to pre loss conditions. 

Here’s a Better Option!

Step 1: Call SERVPRO of East Cobb (770) 424-0400.

Step 2: Step back and let SERVPRO of East Cobb take care of all the heavy lifting and make it “Like it never even happened." Our team of professional restoration specialists will document your loss using our moisture mapping systems and restore your property to pre loss condition. SERVPRO of East Cobb will provide estimates and drying documentation, like photos and moisture readings, to both the home or business owner and your adjuster. SERVPRO of East Cobb’s goal is to make this process as easy as possible for our customers. 

We are on call 24/7 and always ready for any size disaster. In most cases, we can be at your door within an hour. Because we are pre-approved or preferred service providers for most major insurance companies SERVPRO of East Cobb can even help you file your claim. This stream lines the entire restoration process and allows us to get you back into your home or business quickly.

Need additional information? Take a look as some of our related Storm Restoration Blogs: “SERVPRO of East Cobb is a Preferred Service Provider for Storm Restoration in Cobb County”; “What To Do If Your Smyrna, GA Home Experiences a Flash Flood”; “Kennesaw Homeowner Calls SERVPRO of East Cobb After Home Flood”; “Storm and Flood Damage Repair in Kennesaw and Marietta, GA”

Check out some of our previous Storm Restoration Projects: “Water Damaged Hardwood Floors in Kennesaw, GA”; “Rain Water From Hole in Roof”; “Tree on Roof”; “Flooded Hallway in Cobb County Home”; “Flooded Entryway to Home”; “Flooded Kitchen and Stairwell”; “Living Room That Required Total Removal of Flooring”

What About the Water You Don't See?

7/23/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is faster to any size disaster and is here to help 24-hrs a day 7 days week. Call us today for water restoration services!

There’s no such thing as a small disaster, especially when a small leak now could blossom into a big claim later. Unseen water can soak through walls, seep through carpet and pool on subfloors, causing major problems over time. When water damage happens, you need help fast. No matter what time of day or night, contact SERVPRO of East Cobb to begin emergency mitigation. Emergency mitigation means under normal circumstances, SERVPRO of East Cobb professionals can be on-site with two hours to begin drying your building and restoring contents. The faster the water is removed the less chance of serious damage to your facility. 

Even small water damages have the potential to cause serious structural and indoor air quality issues over time. The key to avoiding costly future repairs is to handle every water problem as a real threat to your property. SERVPRO of East Cobb has the equipment, training, and experience to find and dry unseen water, before secondary damages occur. The proper equipment makes a measurable difference in reducing the damage expense during a fire or water loss.

When time matters, technology and equipment must be counted on to perform. SERVPRO of East Cobb will answer your call with fast action and a full arsenal of drying equipment. Here are a few of the tools used by our highly trained technicians.

Moisture Sensors are used to detect moisture in carpets, baseboards, walls and other building materials.

Moisture Meters are used to determine the actual moisture content of various materials. The moisture tester provides accurate readings, allowing SERVPRO of East Cobb professionals to monitor the drying process.

Thermohygrometers measure temperature and relative humidity. When armed with this information SERVPRO of East Cobb technicians can calculate and create an environment most conducive to drying. When facing a contaminated water loss, it is not only important to dry the structure, but the structure must also be disinfected and often deodorized.

Ultra Low-Volume (ULV) Foggers will atomize liquid deodorizing agents, producing a fine mist that can easily penetrate the site where odor-causing residues may accumulate. This device can also be used to inject fungicides and disinfectants into wall cavities and other hard-to-reach areas.

Thermal Foggers dispense solvent based products by creating a dense fog. The fog consists of tiny particles of deodorant solution that attach to and neutralize odor causing particles to deodorize structures, garments, automobiles and other places where cleaning cannot reach.

The bottom line? The professionals at SERVPRO of East Cobb have the training and equipment to make it “Like it never even happened.” 

SERVPRO of East Cobb professionals are trained and understand how to manage the drying process. By utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and the latest technology, your structure will be quickly and thoroughly dried, which help prevent secondary water damage. SERVPRO will remove moisture and any contaminants by disinfecting and deodorizing to safely clean and dry your building and contents. Help ensure the value of your property by calling SERVPRO of East Cobb today. As the #1 choice in cleanup and restoration, we stand on over 17 years of experience and expertise to help ensure your home or business is taken care of quickly and safely.

Defense Against Mold Growth:

Prompt mitigation is vital to avoid mold growth, which can be visible in as little as 24 or 48 hours under certain conditions. Here are some tips on preventing mold growth:

• Keep the humidity between 30 to 60 percent.

• Provide for proper drainage away from building foundations.

• Regularly inspect plumbing and appliances for leaks.

• Keep gutters and drains clear of debris.

• Inspect the roof, windows and other areas where water might enter the building and perform necessary maintenance.

• Respond to all water instructions immediately.

• Contact SERVPRO of East Cobb for assistance after a water damage or if you discover mold.

If you enjoyed this blog here are a few related Water Restoration Blogs: “Drying and Mitigation of a Three Bedroom House in Marietta, GA”; “Roswell Toilet Leak Lead to Water Damage Throughout Home”; “5 Way Hard Water Can Damage Your Cumberland, GA Home”; “How to Handle a Cobb County Clogged Toilet, Sink, and Other Simple Plumbing Issues”; “The Best Water Restoration Company in Kennesaw, GA”; “The Science Behind the Drying Process”

Frequently Asked Questions About the Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned Program

6/15/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help business owners reopen their business and help keep employees and customer safe during these trying times.

The world has changed what it means to be clean, so let customers and employees know that SERVPRO of East Cobb, Georgia’s best choice in cleanup and restoration, has sanitized, disinfected and treated highly touchable surfaces at your business. SERVPRO of East Cobb wants you to feel comfortable in your place of business. That’s why the nation’s #1 choice in water restoration, can now provide you with proactive cleanings, a higher cleaning standard for the recent trying times everyone is adjusting to. Look for the Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned seal outside all participating locations, and you can rest at ease knowing the facility has been cleaned, disinfected and sanitized by the best in the business. For more details, visit www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com/contact/contactus

The Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned (CSC) program is designed to provide our communities with a way to know that a structure has been cleaned, sanitized and disinfected to minimize harmful pathogens. If a structure is sanitized and disinfected as part of the CSC program, a window decal shield will be left at the structure as well as a separate window decal which should be dated by the franchise to let everyone know when it was last sanitized and disinfected. This can be scheduled as a one time or a recurring service. 

Here is a list of frequently asked questions about the CSC program:

• What is Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned? 
• Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned is a proactive viral pathogen cleaning process that SERVPRO franchises nationwide are beginning to offer to our commercial and residential clients. 
• Can you explain the process of proactive cleaning?
• We apply EPA registered disinfectants like SERVPROXIDE Disinfectant, Benefect Botanical Disinfectant, or Sporicidin Disinfectant Solution to touch point services in a variety of methods including but not limited to ULV fogging or cleaning/wiping highly touchable surfaces.
• How often do I need cleaning performed?
• That will vary by location, foot traffic, and activity of occupants. We can set up a recurring cleaning schedule to fit the needs of any location.
• When can you perform these services?
• Our Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned crews are available 24/7. Our job file coordinator will ask you for some basic information and can schedule a time that is convenient for you and fits your schedule.
• How much does proactive cleaning cost?
• Our pricing for proactive viral pathogen cleaning is based on square footage. For a quotable price, we can schedule one of our Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned crews to visit your location and create an accurate estimate.
• What type of cleaning products are you using?
• We only use EPA registered disinfectants for proactive pathogen cleaning.
• How long is a proactive cleaning effective?
• After a structure is Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, maintaining that level of clean is dependent on occupants in the structure and how closely they follow health and safety protocols. We can schedule a recurring cleaning regimen to ensure that your location maintains that level of clean going forward.
• What are your safety protocols?
• Our Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned crews follow all safety protocols and social distancing guidelines dictated by local, state, and federal guidelines to ensure the health and safety of all involved individuals.
• How long will it take to perform the proactive cleaning?
• Service time varies on size and complexity of the structure. We can dispatch one of our Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned crews to your location. Once on site, they will be able give you a better sense of how long it will take to perform the cleaning.
• Is there anything I should do in between scheduled Certified: SERVPRO Cleanings?
• Continue with your regular janitorial services. If you would like, we can change your recurring schedule to better accommodate your unique needs or can change the frequency of cleanings.
• Is it safe to be in the structure when it is being cleaned?
• We recommend that the structure is empty when we perform the cleaning.
• How long do I have to wait to return to the structure?
• Our EPA registered disinfectants have a dwell time of about 10-15 minutes. After that dwell time, it is completely safe to reenter the structure.

As your favorite stores and businesses are beginning to open up their doors, we are offering them an additional step to help ensure your confidence with a higher cleaning standard, Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned. Beyond the standard cleaning protocols we know your business is implementing, take an additional step to make sure all your locations have received a higher cleaning standard with the Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned program. Show employees and customers you've chosen the highest level of cleaning. Our new Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned program is a weekly viral pathogen cleaning service, designed just for your business. For details and registration, CLICK HERE! 

*The CSC program is also available for residential service

Check out some of our previous blogs about the Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned (CSC) program: "SERVPRO of East Cobb Can Help You Reopen Your Business Safely"; "Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned - a defensive cleaning program"; "SERVPRO of East Cobb is Here to Help During This Time of Need"

SERVPRO of East Cobb is a Preferred Service Provider for Storm Restoration in Cobb County

6/9/2020 (Permalink)

If you experience storm damage or need help recovering after a natural disaster, SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help. You can call us 24-hours a day!

Heavy thunderstorms, lightning, snow with ice, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes can all bring storm damage to your home or business in ways no one can be fully prepared for. Whether a tree, that you have been meaning to cut down for years falls on your home. Shattering glass and wreaking havoc throughout several rooms of your home. A single limb with ice building up on it that can’t take any more weight from the winter ice storm and crashing down on your roof; SERVPRO of East Cobb can handle cleanup, from top to bottom. Our homes are supposed to be where we feel most safe. So when these unforeseen disasters happen, don’t go it alone! Contact SERVPRO of East Cobb. 

Here at SERVPRO of East Cobb, it is our goal to be your “one stop shop” in a time of need. We can provide homeowners with emergency roof tarping and board-up services, all hours of the day or night. We also have a team of qualified technicians and customer service representatives to help guide you, every step of the way, through the claim process and answer any questions that you may have.  

Since natural disasters commonly,unexpectedly occur, it’s important to be prepared before they happen. Heavy thunderstorms, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes, often cause major damages to a building’s exterior and interior. These natural disasters can result in unsafe structures and an expensive mitigation and repair bill. Rest assured, making one call to SERVPRO of East Cobb we will make it “Like it never even happened.” SERVPRO of East Cobb works hand in hand with Insurance companies like State Farm, American Family Insurance, Metlife, Farmers, and The Hartford. to make sure that all steps are taken, to get your home back to normal. We also have a great working relationship with our local insurance adjuster and claims agents.

Mother nature can really cause some damage! Most roof damage is due to a weather-related event, from hail and high winds, to trees or other structures. After a storm is over, be sure to have a professional check the severity of the damage, don’t be fooled into getting on your roof. Call SERVPRO of East Cobb, one of our trained customer service representatives will dispatch a technician, to your home, to inspect the damage.  We offer various emergency services, such as tarping and board-up and tree removal.    

Once we determine what services need to be performed, with homeowner approval.  If the interior of the home has been damaged as well, we will assess the severity and place the necessary equipment, such as dehumidifiers, air movers and fans, as well as extract any water that is in the home.  SERVPRO of East Cobb is also equipped to perform any demolition, if required, to any areas that cannot safely be dried. We are IICRC certified, you can feel secure in our knowledge and expertise.  

The next step, after the mitigation process is successfully completed, is to get your home back to its preloss condition. SERVPRO of East Cobb, has expertly skilled project managers ready to get the rebuild started.  

Regardless of what caused the damage to your home, SERVPRO of East Cobb has the knowledge and expertise to get you back “Like it never even happened.” Call us today! (770) 424-0400

What To Do and What Not To Do After Storm Damage

What to do after a home flood? Mopping and blotting are good ways to remove excess standing water and saturated materials. Wood furniture can be wiped down to remove excess water, be sure to remove tabletop items like lamps and pictures, so the surface can be wiped down thoroughly. Aluminum foil or wood blocks can be placed between furniture legs and wet carpeting, and wet upholstery and cushions should be removed and propped up to allow them to air dry. Your air conditioner can be turned up to the maximum to help circulate air and help dry your property during the summer or warmer months. Painting, sculptures, and other artwork should be removed and stored in a safe, dry place. Colored rugs should be removed from wet carpeting to prevent leaching and staining. Any loose items on the floor should be gathered and stored in a safe dry place as well.

What not to do after a house flood? Do not use your household vacuum to suck up water, unless it is specifically rated to handle wet vacuuming. Electrocution and damage can result from using a household vacuum to remove water from carpets, upholstery or other saturated surfaces. TV and other household appliances are also electrocution hazards and should not be turned on. When safe, unplug or remove the power source of electronic devices that have been exposed to moisture. Wet ceilings pose both electrical and fall hazards. Do not turn on ceiling fans or lighting fixtures in rooms that have ceiling water damage and stay out of rooms with sagging ceilings. Do not leave colored items like books and magazines in contact with wet carpet, hardwoods, or other flooring, as they may stain the surface they are sitting on. Furs and other leather goods should be hung up to allow them to dry while other fabrics can be left laying flat  and allowed to dry. Do not leave wet fabrics in place because mold and mildew can result.

Contents Restoration Services Overview

Storm damage can be devastating to homes and businesses and SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help. We specialize in restoring homes and businesses’s contents damaged by storms and other water damage events. Our expertise and our “restore” versus “replace” mentality can help you save money while preserving precious keepsakes that can’t be replaced. We pretest your contents, to determine what items can be restored back to their condition before the water damage. We utilize several methods of cleaning your contents, including:

• Wet Cleaning - An effective cleaning method for removing moderate to heavy residues.
• Dry Cleaning - Used for cleaning light residues or to pre-clean prior to additional cleaning.
• Foam Cleaning - Used for upholstery fabrics that might shrink or bleed if cleaned.
• Immersion Cleaning - Contents are dipped into a bath of the cleaning product.
• Abrasive Cleaning - Involves agitation of the surface being cleaned. 
• Spray and Wipe -Effective for items that can’t withstand cleaning.

Move-Out/Pack-Out Services Overview

Homes and businesses that have been damaged by storm or other water events often require extensive restoration or cleaning. SERVPRO of East Cobb can conduct an organized, efficient, and safe move-out of the affected area. A move-out will provide several benefits, including protecting items from potential damage, protecting contents from further on-site damage, and a quicker remodeling process. When the restoration portion of the claim is completed, SERVPRO of East Cobb will work with you to coordinate the move-in according to your individual wishes and needs. The services offered upon move-in may depend on your insurance coverage.

Contents Claim Inventory Services

When a storm event happens, the damage can make your stress levels go through the roof and often make you feel overwhelmed. We can help ease your stress and confusion during the recovery process by offering our Contents Claim Inventory Service (CCIS), which provides a detailed and accurate manifest of your belongings. We take a room-by-room inventory of your contents, including digital photos, and in some instances, bar coding.

Our Contents Claim Inventory Service Five Major Features:

•  Pre-loss list and value of contents

•  Detailed and accurate report

•  Better information to settle claims quicker

•  Assistance with burden of proof for claims

•  Peace of mind when you need it most  

Locally Owned Company with National Storm Resources

We live and work in this community, and we might even be neighbors! As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of East Cobb is close by and ready to respond to storm and disaster events in the Atlanta Metro area. We are proud to be active members in the Marietta and Kennesaw communities and want to do our part to make these communities the best they can be. We are proud to serve Kennesaw, GA, Westoak, GA, Mount Bethel, GA, Blackwells, GA, and Cumberland, GA communities.

Check our some of our Storm Restoration Before & After Photos: "Tree on Roof"; "Flooded Hallway in Cobb County Home"; "Flooded Entryway to Home"; "Flooded Kitchen and Stairwell"

*If you enjoyed this blog take a moment to look over our related storm restoration blogs: "What To Do If Your Smyrna, GA Home Experiences a Flash Flood"; "Kennesaw Homeowner Calls SERVPRO of East Cobb After Home Flood"; "Storm and Flood Damage Repair in Kennesaw and Marietta, GA"; "Be Alert for Summer Radio Weather Advisories in Cobb County"; "Call the Cleanup Team that is Faster to Any Size Disaster"; "After the Storm Passes Call SERVPRO of East Cobb"

Drying and Mitigation of a Three Bedroom House in Marietta, GA

6/9/2020 (Permalink)

If you suffer water damage call SERVPRO of East Cobb at (770)424-0400. We are available for emergency services 24-hours a day, every day!

SERVPRO has become the name that homeowners know and trust for water restoration, mitigation, and drying services nationwide. SERVPRO of East Cobb is proud to serve the Cobb County community and is available 24-hours a day, even during major holidays. We make it our priority to help Marietta and Kennesaw homeowners recover after disaster strikes. SERVPRO is a preferred vendor for most major insurance companies like State Farm, Farmers, Auto Owners and The Hartford as well as a great working relationship with our local insurance agencies. We adhere to strict industry standards put forth by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) and use Xactimate guidelines for flat rate fixed pricing which ensures that our estimates also adhere to industry standards (Xactimate is the computer program insurance companies use to price restoration and mitigation services). If you’ve suffered water or storm damage call SERVPRO of East Cobb today! 

*The following is a summary of the services SERVPRO of East Cobb performed for this Marietta, GA customer. SERVPRO believes strongly in our customers' rights to privacy and would never publish any materials related to the service we’ve performed for our customer, without their express written consent. This homeowner was gracious enough to authorize SERVPRO of East Cobb to share their experience working with us, and for that we are very thankful.

Late one evening early this year, SERVPRO of East Cobb received an emergency water restoration service call from a customer in the Hidden Creek subdivision in Marietta, GA. The vinyl sided home consisted of three levels (upstairs, main level, and a finished basement) and was built in the late 1980’s. The homeowner explained that there were several inches of standing water in their finished basement and that they needed help ASAP. SERVPRO’s highly trained team jumped into action. Our 24-hour call center took down the homeowners information, details about the water loss and dispatched four water restoration technicians immediately to the homeowners address. The four SERVPRO of East Cobb restoration technicians arrived on-site in less than an hour and helped the homeowner turn off the water supply line to their leaking water heater. They assessed the affected areas for safety concerns and began documenting the damage for the homeowner’s insurance company to help facilitate filing a home insurance claim. After extracting the standing water from the affected areas, our restoration professionals assessed the affected areas and contents of the areas, for cost-effective restoration. Items deemed more cost effective to remove were properly disposed of and both restorable contents and contaminated areas were dried to IICRC S500 Standards and sanitized using Sporicidin Disinfectant Solution (an antimicrobial professional cleaning product). Over the course of four days a total of 23 Phoenix AirMax air mover and two Dry-Eaz Evolution LGR dehumidifiers were strategically placed in affected areas to dry the structure of the home, and a single Dry-Eaz HEPA 500 air scrubber was used to remove water related odors caused by moisture in the basement and filter out particulate matter in the air introduced during the demolition phase. Contents of the rooms were carefully inspected for water damage, documented by photograph, and boxed up. They were then either taken to our 10,000 sq. ft. restoration and storage facility for cleaning or they were cleaned and stored on-site. 

Bathroom: The bathroom measured seven feet by five feet with a seven foot ceiling. Heavy water extraction was required of the 21 sq. ft. bathroom. Glued down carpet covered the entire floor of the bathroom and was 100% affected by class 2 grey water which meant it would have to be removed, bagged and disposed of properly. The sink, vanity, and counter-top in the bathroom were temporarily removed for cleaning/sanitization and stored on site for re-installation by SERVPRO’s construction team. Holes were drilled at the base of the drywall in the bathroom to allow airflow and to facilitate the drying process. This is called cavity drying, and is less invasive and much easier, quicker, and economical to repair than removing the drywall all together. Twenty-four linear feet of baseboards were also removed during the mitigation phase. The entire affected area was sanitized and cleaned using Sporicidin which also prevents future mold growth. Two AirMax air movers were strategically placed to safely and efficiently dry the bathroom to preloss condition over the course of the next four days. 

Bonus Room: The bonus room measured seventeen feet by thirty-one feet with a seven foot ceiling. Heavy water extraction was performed on the affected carpeted area, totaling 342 sq ft using SERVPRO’s high powered truck mounted water extraction vacuums. The flooring in the room was glued down carpet, which was about 60% affected by class 2 grey water, totaling 343 sq. ft of affected flooring material to be removed, bagged, and disposed of properly. Some of the baseboards, drywall, and insulation were also removed due to contact with grey water, totaling about forty linear feet of baseboards, twenty-four square feet of insulation, and twenty-four square feet of drywall. A sink located in a counter-top bar that measured sixteen linear feet, was detached to facilitate drying and was re-installed by our construction team once clean and sanitized and the mitigation and drying phases were completed. Contents of the rooms were carefully inspected for water damage, documented by photograph, boxed up, and either taken to our 10,000 sq. ft. restoration and storage facility for cleaning or cleaned and stored on-site. Antimicrobial agents were applied to all affected surfaces and used to clean/sanitize the affected area, before nine AirMax air movers, one low grain refrigerant (LGR) dehumidifier, and a Dry-Eaz HEPA 500 air scrubber were strategically place in the affected area to dry the bonus room to IICRC S500 Standards.

Hallway: The hallway measured eight feet by five and a half feet with a seven foot ceiling. Water restoration technicians extracted water from a forty-eight square foot area in the hallway to remove standing water before beginning the demolition process. Glue down carpet covered the floor and was 100% affected by class 2-grey water, totaling about forty-eight square feet that was removed, bagged, and properly disposed of. The walls were largely unaffected but did require about eight square feet of both drywall and insulation to be removed, bagged, and properly disposed of. Baseboards were completely removed totaling about twenty-six linear feet, so that five holes could be drilled into the base of the drywall to facilitate airflow and make the drying process more effective. Antimicrobial agents were used to clean the affected area to prevent future mold growth and sanitize the structure and building materials. Three AirMax air movers and a single LGR dehumidifier were strategically placed to facilitate the drying of the affected area over the course of four days.

Utility Closet: The utility closet measured eight and a half feet by eight feet with eight foot ceilings. This was the room where the cause of loss occurred, which was a busted water heater. Our technicians helped the homeowner turn off the water supply line to the water heater to stop the water leak. Water extraction also began in this room, as this was the area that held them most standing water. Glue down carpet covered the entire floor in the room and was 100% affected by class 2-grey water, meaning that about sixty-nine feet of glue down carpet needed to be removed, bagged, and disposed of properly. Baseboards were removed totaling thirty-three linear feet so that eight holes could be ported in the base of the walls to facilitate air flow and effectively dry the area. Additionally, some drywall had to be removed as well totaling about eight square feet due to severe water damage. Antimicrobial agents were used to clean the affected area to prevent future mold growth and sanitize the structure and building materials. Three AirMax air movers were strategically placed to facilitate the drying of affected area over the course of four days.

Basement Landing: The basement landing measured seven feet by eleven feet with seven foot ceilings. Water extraction was performed to remove class 2-grey standing water from a one-hundred and five foot area. The contents of the room were carefully inspected for water damage, documented by photograph, boxed up, and either taken to SERVPRO of East Cobb’s restoration and storage facility for cleaning or cleaned and stored on-site. The flooring in the room was glue down carpet, of which about 75% would be required to be removed, bagged, and disposed of properly due to contact with the class 2-grey water. Along with the glue down carpet, thirteen linear feet of baseboards were removed to facilitate the drying process. The entire affected area was treated with antimicrobial agents like Benefect Disinfectant Solution to prevent future mold growth and to clean/sanitize the home’s structure and building materials. A total of two centrifugal air movers were used over the course of the next four days to dry affected materials by circulating warm dry air throughout the area.

Billiards/Game Room: The billiards/game room measured thirteen feet by eleven feet with seven foot ceilings and the flooring in the room was glued down carpet. Heavy water extraction was performed throughout a one-hundred and five foot area and the carpeting covering that area was also removed due to contact with class 2 grey water totaling about 75% of the room flooring. Baseboards were removed totaling thirteen linear feet to help with the drying process. Antimicrobial agents were used to clean the affected area to prevent future mold growth and sanitize the structure and building materials. Five AirMax air movers were strategically placed to facilitate the drying process over the next four days, safely drying the room to preloss condition and in accordance with IICRC S500 Standards.

*If you have enjoyed this blog take a look at SERVPRO of East Cobb’s related water restoration blogs: “Roswell Toilet Leak Leads to Water Damage Throughout Home”; “Call the Cleanup Team That’s Faster to Any Size Disaster”; “Water Damage Restoration - What You Need to Know”; “What to do before help arrives!”

Check Out SERVPRO of East Cobb’s Before & After Water Restoration Pictures:

• Roswell, GA Home Suffers Water Damage 
• Dining Room & Bar Area
• Dining Room & Kitchen
• Kitchen
• Kennesaw Home Toilet Supply Line Leak
• Water Heater Leak in Cobb County Customer's Garage
• Sewage Backup in Kennesaw Master Bathroom
• Kitchen That Required a Complete Rebuild

SERVPRO of East Cobb Can Help You Reopen Your Business Safely

5/22/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb can clean and disinfect your office/workspace using our ULV fogging equipment and wiping down highly touchable surface.

The Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned (CSC) Standard Service is centered around limiting the survival and spread of emerging viral pathogens. SERVPRO of East Cobb is not aiming to replace your company's current cleaning crew or janitorial services, but rather working to supplement your current cleaning efforts. Our highly trained and certified technicians will apply EPA registered disinfectants to touch points described below. *This application of disinfection excludes inventory or retail merchandise. 

Step 1

Long before SERVPRO of East Cobb receives your call, we are preparing for the first step in the CSC program by completing an exhaustive training program and familiarizing ourselves with the disinfectants that will be utilized to disinfect your facility, like SERVPROXIDE Disinfectant, Benefect Botanical Disinfectant, and Sporicidin Disinfectant Solution to name a few. Our technicians will have specifically reviewed safety precautions and requirements related to the cleaning process, including protocols for any necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), application methods, and needed product dwell time to insure effective application.

Step 2

SERVPRO cleaning crews and trained technicians will don all the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves, tyvek suits and respirators to protect themselves during the cleaning process from pathogens like virus and bacteria that might be present. An N-95 respirator, disposable gloves, coveralls/gowns, and goggles are a minimum level of PPE. This level of PPE is sufficient when applying disinfectant with a saturated towel or a trigger sprayer and towel. Other application methods, such as utilizing a ULV mister or electrostatic sprayer, will require additional respiratory protection such as an air purifying respiratory (half-mask or full-face mask) with organic vapor (OV) cartridges. 

Step 3

SERVPRO will apply disinfectant to touch points. This can be accomplished with a towel saturated with disinfectant or a utilizing equipment to deliver disinfectant such as a trigger sprayers, pump sprayers, ULV misters, electrostatic sprayers, airless sprayers, foam applicators, or another equivalent effective dispersion technology. Our highly trained technicians will strictly follow product label directions to insure successful application and disinfection. Depending on the listed product dwell time and the application method, the disinfectant may be able to be applied once or it could require multiple treatments to keep the surfaces wet for the minimum time. We will carefully assess the surfaces to prevent the product from streaking or running while keeping the surface wet for the recommended contact time. 

• Door knobs, pulls, and locks, as well as 1 square foot around the knob or pull, door jambs 
• Push doors 
• Stair handrails, elevator car and controls 
• Light switches, switch covers, and accessible outlet covers 
• Counter tops, tabletops, vanity tops, and desktops. Disinfect accessible surfaces without moving contents. Prevent over-spray and potential damage (i.e. paper products, electronic devices, personal property). 
• Chairs. Avoid over wetting upholstered surfaces. Concentrate application on arms, backs, height/swivel controls. 
• Faucets, sinks, soap dispenser, towel dispenser, dryer, water fountains, napkin dispenser 
• Cabinet door and drawer exterior, door and drawer pulls/knobs 
• Toilets, urinals, bathroom stalls around locks and handrails, handrails, bathroom fixtures (i.e. toilet paper dispenser), diaper changing stations, fitting room stalls around locks and handrails 
• Telephones, computer equipment, shared office equipment, sales registers, point-of-sale equipment. 
• Exterior of shelves,?racking, displays,?bookcases, file cabinets,?lockers,?or other fixtures. Disinfect accessible surfaces without moving contents. 
• Operational/occupational equipment and controls (i.e. kitchen equipment, fitness equipment, laundry equipment).

Step 4

SERVPRO professionals will inspect the surfaces that have been disinfected. Wipe clean surfaces to eliminate product streaking and/or residues if needed. 

Step 5 

After step 4 technicians will perform end-of-visit cleanup. Once all work activities are complete, we will return all products, supplies, and tools to the work vehicle, bag all trash such as disposable towels and disposable PPE according to hazmat disposal procedures when necessary, and load bags into the work vehicle(s). Before leaving, walk through the work site one final time to ensure that the work site is clean and ready for your employees to return to the facility. 

Step 6 

Finally our technician will place a Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned window cling, complete with date of service, so that your employees and customers alike can rest easy knowing that your facility is Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.

For more information about our cleaning services and the Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned program check our our previous blog “Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned - a defensive cleaning program”; "SERVPRO of East Cobb is Here to Help During This Time of Need"

SERVPRO of East Cobb's 1-4-8 Service Response Guidelines

5/19/2020 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb for all of your water restoration needs. We can make water damage seem "Like it never even happened."

We here at SERVPRO of East Cobb have always prided ourselves on being faster any size disaster. Meaning that no matter what size water, fire, mold, or cleaning project you have on your hands, be it commercial or residential, you know that help from SERVPRO of East Cobb is on its way and will be there quick, fast and in a hurry. Our trained professionals will come equipped with all the equipment needed to stabilize water damaged areas and are ready to extract standing water with their powerful water extraction tool if necessary. SERVPRO has developed a set of Service Response Guidelines to ensure that all SERVPRO franchises are able to respond to our customers's needs in a swift and timely manner. 

Service Response Guidelines

1 Hour – Within one hour of notice of loss, one of SERVPRO of East Cobb’s loss coordinators will contact you to arrange for service.

4 Hours – Within four hours of loss notification, SERVPRO of East Cobb will be on-site to start mitigation services (if necessary). 

8 Hours – Within eight business hours, we will initiate a verbal briefing of the scope of damage and needed mitigation efforts.

*While these guidelines are a good way to ensure that all of our customers are taken care of properly, SERVPRO of East Cobb strives for greatness and averages less than a two hour turn-around-time when responding to emergency water or fire service requests.

Let's take a look at the first part of our Service Response Guideline, “Within one hour of notice of loss, one of SERVPRO of East Cobb’s loss coordinators will contact you to arrange for service.” What does this mean? This means that no matter what time you call, day or night, your call will be answered by a SERVPRO of East Cobb team member, and that technicians can be immediately dispatched to your location ready to start extracting water, mitigating damage, and restoring your home or business. Our loss coordinator will gather information about your water loss like: Is there standing water on-site? How many levels are affected? What type of flooring is affected? What year was the structure built? Are utilities like electrical power and water available on-site? We gather this information to better prepare our highly trained technicians and allow them to equip their service vehicle with the appropriate equipment.

The second part of the Service Response Guideline, “Within four hours of loss notification, SERVPRO of East Cobb will be on-site to start mitigation services (if necessary).” This section is pretty cut and dry. Within four hours of notification of the loss, SERVPRO of East Cobb will be on-site to stabilize the affected area(s) and start the remediation/restoration process. SERVPRO of East Cobb likes to point out that our average response time is well under the four hour guideline and in most cases, response time is actually less than two hours. Should our customer choose to delay our initial service call, our loss coordinator can help them schedule a more convenient time for our initial visit. We always advise our customer that the longer water damage sits unmitigated, the more likely it is to cause additional damage. The sooner SERVPRO of East Cobb can stabilize affected water damaged areas, the better!

Finally we have the third part of our Service Response Guideline, “Within eight business hours, we will initiate a verbal briefing of the scope of damage and needed mitigation efforts.” This is the step in the Service Response Guideline that gives you some solid information on what it is going to take to return your property to preloss condition and explain how SERVPRO of East Cobb can make it “Like it never even happened.” SERVPRO of East Cobb does not use scare or high pressure sales tactics. We prefer to work with customers that are well informed and understand the restoration process. This is why SERVPRO of East Cobb provides estimates and a scope of work to explain what it will take to restore your property, before performing services.

SERVPRO of East Cobb’s highly trained and professional restoration team will help you navigate all of the twists and turns that can come with restoring your home or business after water damage and can help you regain control of the situation. Upon notification, SERVPRO of East Cobb can have technicians on-site within an hour in most cases, ready to start the drying process so that your life can get back to normal. If your home or business has suffered water damage, give SERVPRO of East Cobb a call today! We are approved and preferred vendors for most insurance companies and have a great working relationship with local insurance adjusters. If you happen to be a State Farm, Allstate, Farmers, Auto Owners, or The Hartford insurance customer, SERVPRO of East Cobb is a preferred provider of these carriers making the process simple for our customers. Taking all of the guesswork out of filling out insurance paperwork, scheduling with adjusters, and documenting your claim.

*Check out some of our related Water Restoration Blogs: “Roswell Toilet Leak Leads to Water Damage Throughout Home”; “5 Ways Hard Water Can Damage Your Cumberland, GA Home”; “How to Handle a Cobb County Clogged Toilet, Sink, and Other Simple Plumbing Issues”; “The Best Water Restoration Company in Kennesaw, GA”

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned – a defensive cleaning program

5/13/2020 (Permalink)

Our defensive cleaning program gives your business a way forward by providing your employees and customers ongoing safety and assuredness.

Let us help you get back to business

As our communities re-open, we’re all moving back toward a new kind of normal. The expectations of visitors, customers, and employees who come into our establishments have evolved, and staying safe and well is a top concern. The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed what it means to be clean, and we’ve developed a program to help your business meet the new higher standard of clean that is now expected.

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned is a defensive cleaning program we’re offering to businesses and commercial locations to address the current COVID-19 pandemic. This proactive viral pathogen cleaning program goes well beyond janitorial or carpet cleaning. By choosing Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you, your employees, your customers, and your community can rest assured that you’ve selected a higher cleaning standard – you are Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.

Extensive training and specialized products

As the #1 choice in cleanup and restoration*, we stand on more than 50 years of experience and expertise to help your business become Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.  Beyond fire & water, SERVPRO professionals are trained and experienced in biohazard decontamination and chemical spills – always adhering to the cleaning and decontamination standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local authorities. 

From formulating and creating our proprietary cleaning products, like SERVPROXIDE, at our headquarters in Gallatin, TN, to taking the utmost care while disinfecting, we will ensure you and your business are set up to inspire consumer confidence as the economy continues to reopen.

3 C’s – Consult, Clean, and Certify

When the stakes are this high, you want a partner who has developed an industry leading, proprietary training program, cleaning solutions, and remediation processes over decades. We’ve cleaned up some of the most challenging biohazards imaginable. Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned reflects our unique experiences and capabilities. The program is grounded with our unique 3 C’s: Consult, Clean, and Certify.

• Consult – Every business is different, which is why you’ll be assigned a Cleaning Protocol Consultant who understands your business and will create a cleaning program to meet your specific needs. This program will be developed based on your business type, size of space, amount of high frequency touchpoints, foot traffic and congestion points.
• Clean – Based on your specific business needs, your location will undergo a thorough, deep clean, using exclusive cleaning products, according to protocols set forth by the CDC. Our employees have years of experience, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform. Cleanup procedures generally include cleaning of porous and non-porous surfaces, disinfecting of non-porous surfaces, cleaning and disinfecting of equipment, tools, and/or supplies used for cleanup process, and disposal of hazardous materials.  In the event of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 event, we will be there cleaning within 24 hours to ensure you get back to business as quickly as possible. 
• Certify - Once your business location has been Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you will gain access to proprietary signage, digital emblems, and other collateral that communicates that you’ve selected a higher standard of clean available to help protect your employees and customers. And because we add the day, month, and year to that proprietary stamp of clean, your guests will know that not only did you choose Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, but that your location is being cleaned regularly at this standard.

Call today for a Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation

We’re Here to Help – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – until life is back to normal in the communities we all call home.

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb today at (770) 424-0400 for your Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation.

* #1 Choice in cleanup & restoration based Commercial Attitude & Usage Tracking study. Polling 816 commercial business decision makers on first choice for future needs related to cleanup & restoration work. Study conducted by C&R Research: October 2019

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned means professionally trained SERVPRO franchises perform the requested cleaning, sanitizing and disinfection services according to proprietary SERVPRO protocols and recognized industry and CDC standards with EPA approved cleaning products to deliver a SERVPRO certified cleaning experience.  Each SERVPRO franchise is independently owned and operated.

What To Do If Your Smyrna, GA Home Experiences a Flash Flood

4/28/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help when flood events happen and can help you recover after flash flood damage.

Flash floods are one of the most common and widespread natural disasters in the United States, so it is important to be prepared for flood events. The American Red Cross cites that floods cause more damage in the U.S. every year, than any other weather related disaster. A flash flood can develop quickly or slowly and may come with little, to no warning. SERVPRO of East Cobb receives many different types of water damage emergency calls like pipe leaks, sewer backups, and storm damage nearly every day. We understand that water damage can create stressful times and storm damage can magnify stress. The good news is SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help! We are the professional storm restoration company you want on your side. We can not only restore your home, but your peace of mind, as well. 

What to do when flash floods damage your home?

Every flood, whether large or small, has the potential to cause major damage and devastation, to your home. After the storm, flood waters may be receding, however many dangers still exist. Here are a few tips to keep in mind after a flash flood:

• Always use caution when entering any structure, after a flood and if you have evacuated, only return to your home after authorities have deemed it safe. 
• It only takes six inches of moving water to sweep you off your feet, and one foot of moving water has the ability to wash your vehicle away, so avoid moving water.  
• If it is safe to do so, turn off the electricity at the main breaker, and only turn it back on after your home has been inspected by a certified electrician. The possibility of electrocution is a real and serious hazard, any time water is involved.
• To avoid additional damage, remove any items not affected by flood water. At SERVPRO of East Cobb, we offer professional pack-out services. Our pack-out professionals will safely manage the move of your belongings, taking a complete and thorough inventory. Your belongings will be safely stored and if needed, cleaned, in our climate controlled, video-surveilled warehouse, while your home is being restored. When your home is back to its pre-flood condition we will deliver your items to you, in a timely fashion. 
• Mold can develop within 24-48 hours of a flood. This is one of the reasons it's crucial to begin the cleaning and restoration process quickly. When you call SERVPRO of East Cobb, we will arrive right away to begin the water extraction and restoration process, saving your home from further damage and additional costly repairs.
• Understanding your insurance policy thoroughly is important and be sure to discuss your needs for flood insurance with your insurance agent. Having the proper coverage, can make all the difference in recovering fully after any natural disaster. SERVPRO is the preferred vendor for almost every major insurance company like State Farm, American Family Insurance, Metlife, and The Hartford; making SERVPRO of East Cobb the trusted professionals you want, when disaster strikes.

SERVPRO is recognized nationwide for our emergency response and support of regions devastated by natural disasters. With over 1,700 franchises nationwide, you are never more than a phone call away from the best restoration company, in your area. Our technicians are highly trained and certified professionals.We are the water restoration specialists, that have the ability to clean up any size disaster. Contact SERVPRO of East Cobb at (770) 424-0400, your local water restoration and storm recovery professionals. 

*For more safety and preparedness tips check out our friends at ready.gov/floods or if you enjoyed this blog, check out some of our related Storm Restoration Blogs: “Kennesaw Homeowner Calls SERVPRO of East Cobb After Home Flood”; “Storm and Flood Damage Repair in Kennesaw and Marietta, GA”; “Hurricane Dorian’s Destructive Path”; “Be Alert for Summer Radio Weather Advisories in Cobb County”

Kennesaw Homeowner Calls SERVPRO of East Cobb After Home Flood

4/16/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is here 24/7 to help you recover after storm damage. We can make disasters "Like it never even happened."

If you’ve lived in the Kennesaw or Marietta area for a very long, then you are familiar with the crazy weather changes that can occur. We sometimes experience what seems like multiple seasons in as short as just a few days. You may enjoy a gorgeous sunny day out with your family, bike riding with highs in the 70’s this weekend only to wake up a few days later to a winter weather advisory forecasting snow and ice! Kennesaw and Marietta experience all types of weather, from blazing hot summers to cool Autumn nights with everything in between. Including severe thunder and lightning storms, flash flooding, tornadoes and ice storms to name just a few. With such unpredictable weather, protecting your property is on the minds of almost every homeowner. 

Thankfully you will never have to face the destruction a storm may cause to your home alone. SERVPRO of East Cobb is Here to Help! We are your locally owned and operated restoration company specializing in storm damage cleanup, water extraction, smoke and fire cleanup and restoration along with a complete construction team, to put everything back together again just "Like it never even happened." 

One late August evening a homeowner in Kennesaw was heading home from a long day at the office. The rain was pouring down, lightning was lighting up the sky and the wind had picked up. As she drove into her neighborhood, she noticed the tree limbs above her swaying in the wind and she thought to herself, “I really should’ve taken care of that dead tree in my backyard.”

Once inside the comforts of her home, dry from the raging storm outside, the homeowner went upstairs and couldn't believe what she found! That very tree she had put off having removed, had fallen in the storm, knocking through her roof and into her home, creating an unwanted skylight in the master bedroom and bathroom. Tree limbs and debris were everywhere and rain was rushing into her home, as the storm continued. 

The homeowner acted quickly getting in contact with her insurance company and making the wise decision to call the best restoration company in the Kennesaw and Marietta area, SERVPRO of East Cobb. Upon calling SERVPRO, she was greeted by one of our professional and caring loss coordinators who was able to calm her nerves and assure her that help was on the way. Not only do we offer emergency roof tarping but our top-notch team is on call for situations just like this, any time of the day or night, 24 hours a day 7 days a week!

Our team was dispatched to the home and began the cleanup and restoration process, immediately upon arrival. SERVPRO of East Cobb handled everything from start to finish for the homeowner. From sending out a tree removal company, the emergency board up and tarping, documenting every step  for the insurance company and even helping the homeowner file a claim with her insurance company. At SERVPRO of East Cobb it is our goal to take a stressful and confusing time and make it as easy and seamless as possible.

Here is a short walk-through of the restoration and cleanup process for this homeowner: 

SERVPRO arrived on-site equipped with everything needed to complete the job in a timely, professional and efficient manner. Getting this Kennesaw home back to preloss condition in no time. After the roof was tarped and the site was secure our technicians began the restoration and cleanup process. First removing all of the debris and then using SERVPRO’s cutting edge portable water extractor to remove all of the standing water. The hardwood floors and baseboards in the master bedroom and bathroom were saturated with water. The drywall in both rooms were affected as well. 

Once all of the water was extracted our highly trained team of IICRC certified technicians began the drying and demolition process. First, our contents and moving professionals stepped in and carefully packed up, documented and processed all of the personal items affected in the rooms. Items such as books, photo albums, nightstands and a dresser were carefully packed and transported to our 10,000 square foot climate controlled, video surveilled warehouse to be cleaned and safely stored during the restoration process. 

The baseboards were removed and chalk-lines were made on the drywall for precise demolition cuts, removing the bottom few inches of drywall in the affected area. Our technicians then treated any exposed wall studs with SERVPRO’s proprietary cleaning products and antimicrobial treatments to prevent the growth of future mold. 

Now what about the beautiful hardwood floors?  At SERVPRO of East Cobb we use state-of-the-art equipment including the innovative Dri-Eaz Mat Drying System, one of the most effective and efficient pieces of floor drying equipment available. Along with the Dri-Eaz Mats for the hardwood floors, dehumidifiers and air movers were strategically placed to facilitate the drying process. Over the course of the next few days our technicians were monitoring and documenting the drying process. In the end, we were able to dry out and save the homeowners hardwood floors and when the drying process was complete the reconstruction portion of the restoration began. The roof was fully repaired, the drywall was mended, resurfaced and painted, and in no time, we were moving all of the homeowners belongings back into her home. 

After everything was said and done, the homeowner had nothing but wonderful things to say about the professionalism and workmanship of a job well done. SERVPRO of East Cobb stepped in and did what we do best. Walking this homeowner through every step of the process, always Here to Help. 

At SERVPRO of East Cobb we are recognized, nationwide, for our emergency response after a storm strikes. With over 50 years in the storm restoration industry you can rest assured that you are getting the best name in the business. We are the name you can trust with what is likely your largest lifetime investment, your home.

SERVPRO of East Cobb is your locally owned and operated restoration and storm professionals. We are proud to serve Kennesaw, GA, Westoak, GA, Mount Bethel, GA, Blackwells, GA, Cumberland, GA and the surrounding metro Kennesaw and Marietta areas. We are always just a phone call away.

*Checkout some of our other Storm Restoration Blogs: "Storm and Flood Damage Repair in Kennesaw and Marietta, GA"; "What to do after a flash flood in your Sandy Plains GA home or business"; "How to Remove Standing Water and Dry Your Kennesaw Basement"

SERVPRO of East Cobb is Here to Help During This Time of Need

4/10/2020 (Permalink)

We can help minimize the spread of germs with proactive cleaning! We’re trained to adhere to the highest cleaning and sanitization standards.

During this unprecedented time caused by the global pandemic of coronavirus, this is a reminder to our customers that we are specialists in cleaning services, and we adhere to the highest cleaning and sanitation standards.

Specialized Training

We are prepared to clean and disinfect your home or business, according to protocols set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We have years of experience in dealing with biological contaminants, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform on a daily basis.

The CDC encourages cleaning of high-touch surfaces such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets and tables. Other spaces mentioned in the CDC’s guidance for commercial spaces include:

• Kitchen/Food Areas
• Bathrooms
• Schools/Classrooms
• Offices
• Retail Spaces
• Water Fountains
• Shelving/Racks
• Sales Counters
• Carpets and Rugs
• Stair Handrails
• Elevator Cars
• Playground Equipment
• Fitness Equipment

Specialized Products

The CDC recommends usage of a labeled hospital-grade disinfectant with claims against similar pathogens to the coronavirus. Multiple products in the SERVPRO product line carry the EPA-approved emerging pathogens claims. While there is currently no product tested against this particular strain of the coronavirus, we are following all guidelines as provided by the CDC and local authorities.

Contact us today for a proactive cleaning

If your home or business needs deep cleaning services, call the experts today

– SERVPRO of East Cobb (770) 424-0400 –

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-prevent-spread.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fguidance-prevent-spread.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/guidance-business-response.html

Storm and Flood Damage Repair in Kennesaw and Marietta, GA

4/3/2020 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb for professional storm mitigation and restoration services. We are here to help the greater Kennesaw and Marietta area!

Marietta and Kennesaw experience some pretty extreme weather events from time to time. Tornadoes, hail, flash floods, and even tropical storms have hit the North Georgia area over recent years. SERVPRO of East Cobb has been around for decades and is proud we were able to help our local communities recover after each and every weather event. From flooded basements to roofs damaged by falling pine trees, SERVPRO of East Cobb has repaired them all. There is no storm damage that is too big or too small for SERVPRO of East Cobb to mitigate, restore and repair. After all, our mission is to help our local community recover after storm damage and that's why our motto is “Like it never even happened.”

Emergency Disaster Mitigation Services

Emergency Board Up Services are available 24-hours a day seven days a week to help our customers protect their property from roof damage caused by falling trees, broken windows or compromised walls. The purpose of the emergency board up service is to protecting your property from exposure to the elements and to preventing additional damage to the structure and contents of your home or business. SERVPRO of East Cobb will arrive on site within two hours of notification. Because we know how time sensitive storm damage can be, in most cases we will arrive onsite within an hour. We will secure your home or business by constructing a temporary protective barrier using lumber, tarps, and sheets of plywood, sealing off your property and protecting it.  

Emergency Water Extraction is also available 24-hours a day seven days a week. Home owners can’t schedule or choose when storm and water damage happen and that's why SERVPRO of East Cobb is open 24-hours a day, everyday, even during major holidays. We can help home and business owners remove standing water and dry out their property when they experience heavy rains and flood events regardless of the time of day. Our technicians are highly trained, certified by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification), and have many years of experience in the water and storm restoration industry. With our advanced water extraction equipment and drying technology SERVPRO of East Cobb will have your property dried to preloss condition in no time. 

*SERVPRO of East Cobb also offers Emergency Water Cleanup for plumbing issues like sewage backups or pipe leaks, as well as Emergency Fire Boardup and Cleanup for residential and commercial fire losses.

Locally Owned Company with National Storm Recovery Resources

SERVPRO of East Cobb team members live in this community too; we may even be neighbors. As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of East Cobb is nearby and ready to respond to the greater Kennesaw and Marietta area’s flood and storm damage emergencies. We are proud to be active members of the Kennesaw and Marietta communities and want to do our part to make our community the best it can be. We are proud to serve the local communities Kennesaw, GA, Westoak, GA, Mount Bethel, GA, Blackwells, GA, Cumberland, GA and the greater Atlanta Metro area. 

SERVPRO of East Cobb’s highly trained and professional restoration team will help you navigate all of the twists and turns that can come with restoring your home or business after water damage and can help you regain control of the situation. Upon notification, SERVPRO of East Cobb can have technicians on-site within an hour in most cases, ready to start the drying process so that your life can get back to normal. If your home or business has suffered water damage, give SERVPRO of East Cobb a call today! We are approved and preferred vendors for most insurance companies and have a great working relationship with local insurance adjusters. If you happen to be a State Farm, Allstate, Farmers, Auto Owners, or The Hartford insurance customer, SERVPRO of East Cobb is a preferred provider of these carriers making the process simple for our customers. Taking all of the guesswork out of filling out insurance paperwork, scheduling with adjusters, and documenting your claim.

SERVPRO of East Cobb Has the Right Tool For the Job

3/18/2020 (Permalink)

If your home needs deep cleaning, call SERVPRO of East Cobb. We offer proactive cleanings for both residential and commercial properties!

Construction workers and skilled trade workers know that having the right tool for the job is crucial to getting the job done right the first time safely and effectively. Could you imagine a carpenter trying to build a house without a hammer or a saw? How about a mechanic repairing a vehicle without wrenches? The same logic can be applied to restoration technicians. Without the proper tools and equipment restoring a home or business to preloss condition is near impossible. 

SERVPRO of East Cobb utilizes some of the latest and greatest tools and equipment on the market. Equipping our technicians with the right tools and equipment is only part of SERVPRO’s winning formula. Training and experience also play a major role in the success of a restoration project. This is why our technicians and drying specialists are some of the most well trained, certified, and most importantly experienced professionals around. In our industry disaster can strike at a moment's notice. Having enough and the right type of equipment on hand is key to a fast response time, and when you’re dealing with water or fire damage, a speedy response can be the difference in a small water cleanup and a major restoration project. 

SERVPRO is known nationwide for being the industry leader in the residential and commercial restoration industry, but did you know SERVPRO of East Cobb also offers residential and commercial cleanings as well? That’s right the same company that you have trusted for years to mitigate and restore your home or business after a water or fire loss, also offers deep cleaning and proactive cleanings for homes and businesses. 

What is a deep cleaning?

When SERVPRO of East Cobb is called out to a home or business for deep cleaning services, our customer usually has experienced an event that calls for a more comprehensive cleaning than a maid service or janitorial staff can provide. There could be biological factors or environmental restrictions like hazardous materials or other types of contaminants present that require specialized equipment and training to clean. After a fire SERVPRO technicians will use specialized dry-chem sponges to heavily clean and remove smoke and soot damage from walls and ceilings. HVAC systems can be deep cleaned using SERVPRO’s specialized duct cleaning systems that will remove built up dust and debris from customer's ductwork. Carpets can be cleaned, sanitized, and restored using SERVPRO’s proprietary professional cleaning and restoration products and equipment during a deep cleaning. Deep cleaning services are far more in depth and substantially more thorough than your typical cleaning service. 

What is a proactive cleaning?

Proactive cleanings are great for homes and businesses that want to minimize their exposure to viruses and bacteria. Proactive cleaning procedures consist of cleaning and disinfecting the structure of the facility along with high traffic areas and surfaces. High traffic areas are areas that many people pass through or congregate in like a conference room or lobby. High traffic surfaces are surfaces that people often come in contact with like handrails, door knobs, or water fountains. Both high traffic areas and surfaces are havens for bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. With SERVPRO’s proactive cleaning service home and business owners can minimize their exposure to these types of threats.

Let's take a look at some of the equipment SERVPRO of East Cobb commonly uses to complete both of these types of cleaning procedures.

Foggers, Sprayers, Misters, and Ozone Generators

Foggers, sprayer and misters are all trade names for different types of cleaning equipment utilized to distribute professional grade cleaning and restoration products. Foggers create thick fog that can be used in any number of applications like coating, sealing, and sanitizing building materials. Sprayers are also very versatile pieces of equipment that can be used to evenly coat building materials with cleaning and sanitizing products during the restoration and/or cleaning process. Misters can be very similar to sprayers but differ themselves by dispensing cleaning and sanitizing products at a far smaller particle size. This creates a fine mist that is capable of covering hard to reach or inaccessible nooks and crannies of a building’s structure. Ozone Generators are different from foggers, sprayers, and misters because they are typically used to clean and disinfect air instead of surfaces. You will find ozone generators in hotels, casinos, and other commercial buildings where large numbers of people congregate.

Electric and Pump Sprayers - Pump sprayers are not all that different from the lawn sprayers you could find at Home Depot or Lowes, and are great for spraying cleaning solutions on carpet or treating a large area with antimicrobial products to prevent mold growth. Electric sprayers utilize an electric pump instead of a manual pumping system in traditional pump sprayers. This allows electric sprayers to produce a more consistent spray pattern or rate of dispersion and allow them to cover large areas very quickly. 

*SERVPRO utilized several different types of pump and electric sprayers, here are a few of our preferred units: B&G Equipment One Gallon Pump-up Sprayer, Hudson Two-Gallon Pump-up Sprayer, Chapin Wide Mouth Pump-up Sprayer, Multi-Sprayer Electric Sprayer

Macromist ULV Mister - Ultra-low volume (ULV) misters or macromisters compress liquid cleaning and sanitizing products like SERVPROXIDE or Benefect through a specially designed nozzle which produces a fine cold mist or aerosol. These types of misters produce extremely small droplets ranging in size from 1-150 micrometers and have a wide variety of restoration applications including disinfecting surfaces along with mold and odor control. Typically air tight containment is set up around the area to be treated, where technicians, donning personal protective equipment (PPE) like respirators, gloves, eye protection, and tyvek suits, liberally mists the entire area to encapsulate unwanted odors and/or sanitize surfaces.  

*SERVPRO of East Cobb go to ULV mister is the B&G Flex-A-Lite 2600 ULV Sprayer/Mister

Thermal Fogger - Thermal foggers are very similar to mister in that they produce very fine aerosolized particles. They differ from them in the way they produce fog and the size of the particles they produce. Thermal foggers produce particles one micrometer or smaller and utilize heat to vaporize fogging solutions. When thermal fogging an area, air tight containment is erected around the area to be treated. Then a technician wearing the aforementioned PPE will liberally fog the entire area to sanitize surfaces and/or encapsulate unwanted odors.

*SERVPRO of East Cobb uses several different thermal-fogging systems, here are few of our favorite: Curtis Dyna-Fog Electric Thermo-Fogger, Legend Brand Electro-Gen Fogger, B&G Trailblazer 2600

Ozone Generator - Ozone generators do exactly what the name infers, they create ozone. Ozone is created by splitting oxygen into two solitary atoms. Each oxygen atom then attaches itself to a whole oxygen molecule to create an ozone molecule. Splitting of these molecules can be accomplished in two ways, Corona discharge which uses electrical discharge to split atoms and ultraviolet (UV) radiation which uses UV light to split oxygen molecules. On a molecular level ozone is very unstable meaning that its molecular bonds break down very easily and quickly (typically about 20 minutes). When ozone molecules come in contact with odors and/or bacterial molecules they bond with them, then break down destroying the odor and/or bacterials.

*SERVPRO of East Cobb uses several different ozone generators like: International Ozone Generator, Rainbow Air Ozone Machine, US Products Ozone Generator

SERVPRO is Here to Help during this time of need

During this unprecedented time caused by the global pandemic of coronavirus (COVID-19), this is a reminder to our customers that we are specialists in cleaning services, and we adhere to the highest cleaning and sanitation standards.

Specialized Training

We are prepared to clean and disinfect your home or business, according to protocols set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We have years of experience in dealing with biological contaminants, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform on a daily basis.

Specialized Products

The CDC recommends usage of a labeled hospital-grade disinfectant with claims against similar pathogens to the coronavirus. Multiple products in the SERVPRO product line carry the EPA-approved emerging pathogens claims. While there is currently no product tested against this particular strain of the coronavirus, we are following all guidelines as provided by the CDC and local authorities.

Call Today for a Proactive Cleaning

If your home or business needs deep cleaning services, call the experts today – SERVPRO of East Cobb 770-424-0400

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-prevent-spread.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fguidance-prevent-spread.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/guidance-business-response.html

SERVPRO professionals are trained in adhering to the highest cleaning and sanitation standards! 

SERVPRO franchise professionals offer cleaning services including the removal of biohazard contaminants. They have the specialized training and products to get your property back to business. 

About Coronavirus - The CDC is responding to an outbreak of a respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China and has spread to 60 locations internationally (as of this publication), including cases in the United States. The virus known as “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”) is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person or through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Scope of Cleanup Protocol - SERVPRO professionals can perform a proactive cleanup that involves facility or structure cleaning and disinfection where the customer states that there is no active known threat of COVID-19 contamination or exposure. The customer will be required to acknowledge that cleaning and disinfecting will only apply to the current state of the structure and contents. The structure would not be protected from future COVID-19 contamination if an infected person was to enter and occupy the building. 

Cleanup Scope of Work and Planning - The CDC encourages cleaning of high-touch surfaces such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and tables at a minimum. These same surfaces are mentioned in the CDC’s guidelines for commercial spaces as well, including:

• Kitchen/Food Areas • Bathrooms • Schools/Classrooms • Offices • Retail Spaces • Water Fountains • Shelving and Racks • Sales Counters • Carpets and rugs • Stair Handrails • Elevator Cars • Playground Equipment • Fitness Equipment

Cleanup and Disinfecting Procedures - Cleanup procedures generally include cleaning of porous and non-porous surfaces, disinfecting of non-porous surfaces, cleaning and disinfecting of equipment, tools, and/or supplies used for the cleanup process, and disposal of waste. 

The CDC recommends usage of a labeled hospital-grade disinfectant with claims against similar type organisms to COVID-19. SERVPROXIDE, SERVPRO’s proprietary disinfectant, is a hospital-grade disinfectant that has demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to SARS-CoV-2 on hard, non-porous surfaces. In addition, SERVPROXIDE currently has dozens of EPA-approved claims including Feline coronavirus, Canine coronavirus, Staphylococcus (MRSA), E. coli, Salmonella, Rotavirus, Swine flu (H1N1) and more. 

Porous surfaces that are not water-sensitive, such as carpet and other fabric material, cannot be disinfected but can be sanitized using SERVPROXIDE.

SERVPRO of East Cobb's Specialized Drying Equipment

3/12/2020 (Permalink)

When disaster strikes, call in the pros that know how to get the job done right the first time!

SERVPRO of East Cobb has been in the restoration industry for nearly two decades, in the age of “fly by the night” restoration companies this is no easy feat. The restoration industry can be a tough business to make customers happy. They are typically in a pretty poor mood when they call us, which is to be expected. Often times they have quite a mess on their hands. From water in the basement or crawlspace to discovering mold in the attic, even experiencing a kitchen or other type of house fire. Their home has been significantly damaged. That in itself can put even the most cheerful homeowners in a bad mood. Let SERVPRO of East Cobb ease your worries and stress. We can be on-site in less than an hour in most cases and are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, even during major holidays. 

One of the reasons SERVPRO of East Cobb has been so successful in the restoration industry is our resolve in using only the best professional/commercial grade equipment available on the market and our commitment to training our restoration technicians . Our firm as a whole, as well as our individual technicians, are IICRC certified and under-go rigorous ongoing training programs provided to us by SERVPRO’s corporate headquarters in Gallatin, TN. With over 1,700 franchises nationwide, you are guaranteed to have a SERVPRO franchise nearby that is ready to come to the rescue at a moment's notice. SERVPRO’s franchise system has built a network of knowledge and experience unmatched in the restoration industry, and affords every SERVPRO nationwide the assets necessary to take on any size disaster. SERVPRO of East Cobb is your local Cobb County and greater metro Atlanta area residential and commercial restoration service provider. 

If you’ve ever experienced a water loss in your home or business you are probably pretty familiar with some of the equipment SERVPRO of East Cobb utilizes on our customer’s restoration projects. Air movers and dehumidifiers are used on almost every water restoration project SERVPRO handles, and they work great for most drying situations. Sometimes materials or environment dictate the need for even more specialized drying equipment. Let's take a little bit closer look at some of these specialty drying machines.

Specialized Drying Systems 

When we talk about specialized drying equipment, we are talking about equipment that is not readily available to the general public or requires specialized training to operate safely and successfully. Customers often refer to our air moving equipment as “fans”. Fans are sold at your local big box store like Wal-mart and are great for keeping you cool during a hot afternoon, but are not designed to dry building materials or the structure of your home. Fans do not move the volume of air, commercial air movers move and lack the ability to be dirctionalized air flow to facilitate an ideal drying environment. The same can be said about the dehumidifiers SERVPRO of East Cobb utilizes. SERVPRO’s dehumidifiers are substantially different from the residential or home-use products people often use to remedy a cold or to alleviate asthma symptoms. Residential dehumidifiers are often conventional type dehumidifiers and are not capable of the same drying output or cubic feet per minute (CFM) of moving air, as SERVPRO’s low-grain refrigerant (LGR) dehumidifiers. Your average home use dehumidifier is capable of far fewer CFM’s than commercial grade dehumidifiers and often many lack the proper filtration capabilities to remove air impurities often found on water restoration job sites.

SERVPRO of East Cobb’s highly trained water restoration specialists have intimate knowledge of how each piece of drying equipment works and each piece’s specialized and intended purposes. Having the right tool for the job will only get you so far. Without proper training and an in depth knowledge of the drying process the drying equipment can cause more harm than good and can result in costly mistakes and repairs. 

Wall and Floor Mat Drying Systems - Wall and floor mat drying systems are industrial pieces of drying equipment that have specialized purposes. As you could probably glean from their names, they are specifically designed to dry walls and floors. There are many different types of wall and floor mat drying systems, but most operate off of similar designs. They typically have a centralized dehumidification or a heating pump unit that provides dehumidified/warm air to a series of mats or panels that are taped to the surface of the material being dried. The mats or panels force warm dry air over the surface of walls and/or flooring quickly and safely removing moisture from the building materials. *SERVPRO of East Cobb utilizes several different models of wall and floor drying systems, here are a few of our go to pieces: HP Plus Complete System, Injectidry HP-60 Drying System w/ floor drying panels, HP Plus Floor Drying Package, HP Plus Wall and Ceiling Drying Package

Carpet Cleaning and Water Extraction Systems 

Carpet cleanings are a big part of the restoration industry, and are probably one of the more common reasons customers call SERVPRO of East Cobb. Extraction power, heating capabilities, and operator training are the three main metrics that separate SERVPRO’s commercial carpet cleaning equipment/services from residential carpet cleaning equipment or rental carpet cleaning equipment. Residential or rental carpet cleaning equipment are not capable of the same heating and extraction/vacuum power as SERVPRO professional grade equipment, and unless you have a former carrier in carpet cleaning industry you probably lack the knowledge base and experience to avoid all of the possible pit-fall that come alone with rental carpet cleaning systems and DIY projects.

When a customer calls SERVPRO of East Cobb with several inches of water in their home or business, it’s time to bring out the big guns. SERVPRO has a plethora of water extraction tools at our disposal. From truck mounted vacuum extractors capable of moving hundreds of gallons of water an hours to powerful portable extraction units that can reach remote and hard to reach areas. We also have several different models of high-flow rate water pumps and sump-pumps, that are great at moving dirty water or liquids that contain solid waist.  When it comes to water removal/extraction and carpet cleaning, SERVPRO of East Cobb has you covered!

Portable Carpet Cleaning Systems - Portable carpet cleaning systems are great for reaching hard to reach areas in your home or business. They are typically a little bit smaller than a shopping cart that you would find at a grocery store. Restoration and drying specialists will use these types of systems to clean and restore carpet, window treatments, and upholstery. Our technicians have been certified by the IICRC and participate in our continued education training program, where they receive additional hands on training with the equipment they will use to restore our customers property. SERVPRO of East Cobb knows that a tool is only as effective as the technician operating it. This is why SERVPRO of East Cobb fields some of the highly trained technicians in the state. *SERVPRO of East Cobb utilizes several different models of portable carpet cleaning systems, here are a few of our go to pieces:US Products PEX 500, US Products King Cobra 1200/500, US Products Solus 500, US Products HP Plus, US Products Hydraport 400, Kleenrite Edge 500 w/ auto discharge

Truck Mounted Carpet Cleaning and Water Extraction Systems - Truck mounted water extraction systems are high powered vacuum systems that are capable of extracting hundreds of gallons of water per hour. SERVPRO of East Cobb fields several different types of truck mounted water extraction and carpet cleaning systems that afford our technicians extraordinary extraction and cleaning capabilities. Our truck mounted carpet cleaning systems utilize SERVPRO’s proprietary commercial restoration and cleaning products to clean and restore carpets and upholstery to preloss condition. SERVPRO has several carpet restoration specialists on staff that are capable of cleaning and restoring even high maintenance and specialty carpets. *SERVPRO of East Cobb utilizes several different models of truck mounted carpet cleaning and water extraction systems, here are a few of our go to pieces: Hydramaster Boxxer 427, Hydramaster Boxxer 421, Hydramaster Maxx 450, Hydramaster CDS 4.8 Direct Drive with Salsa Booster, Hydramaster CDS 4.8 Direct Drive, Prochem Legend GT, Sapphire Scientific 370SS, Blue Line Chopper, Blue Line Performer, Blue Line Cobalt,

Portable Water Extraction Systems - Portable water extraction systems range in shape and sizes. This is by design. Some portable water extraction systems are better suited for different situations. Some of the different types of portable water extraction systems SERVPRO fields are sump pumps, trash pumps, gas powered high flow rate pumps, and specialized flood extractors. *SERVPRO of East Cobb utilizes several different models of portable water extraction systems, here are a few of our go to pieces: Sapphire HVE 3000, Kleenrite Mega XL Flood Removal, Kleenrite Mega 4 Flood Removal, Kleenrite Mega X Flood Removal, US Products Flood King DX, Phoenix Hydro-X Vac Pac

When choosing a restoration company to mitigate and restore your property, it is important to do some research and find a company you feel good about and have confidence in. One of the best ways you can research restoration companies is to visit reputable online review platforms like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), HomeAdvisor, or Yelp. You can even try visiting the company's Facebook page, check out how many Google Reviews they have, or even simply browse their website for before and after pictures of the work they have completed. Review platforms often award badges or an accreditation to companies with great customer service. For example, the BBB website rates business based on customer experiences and identifies stellar companies with a “BBB Accredited Business” badge. Google has special ad placements for companies that are “Google Verified” and even offer customers financial guarantees and warranties on the work completed by the company that placed the Google Verified Ad. In case you were wondering, SERVPRO of East Cobb is both a Googles Verified Ads service provider, and an A+ Rated Accredited Business. 

Prepare Your Cobb County Business With an Emergency READY Profile!

3/5/2020 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb for your free facility disaster readiness assessment!

Did you know that 50% of businesses close their doors after a water loss? If only there was a way to prepare for water loss events, wait...there is! If you own or manage a commercial property, SERVPRO of East Cobb can help you be prepared for the worst. Whether it's a water loss due to a sprinkler system going off, or a fire in the company break room, SERVPRO of East Cobb has you covered with our free facility assessment call an Emergency Ready Profile (ERP). That's right, you read that correctly, SERVPRO offers a free service that will better prepare your facility for when disaster strikes!

What is an Emergency Ready Profile?

• A no cost assessment of your facility. This means there is no need to allocate funds, giving you a great value at no cost.
• A concise Profile Document that contains only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency. It will only take a little time to complete and will not take you away from current projects. But it will save a lot of time if ever needed.
• A guide to help you get back into your building following a disaster. This can help minimize the amount of time your business is inactive by having an immediate plan of action.
• Establishes your local SERVPRO Franchise Professional as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider. You have a provider that is recognized as an industry leader and close by.
• Identification of the line of command for authorizing work to begin. This saves time so we can begin the work of mitigating the damage which can save you time and money.
• Provides facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas and priority contact information. Having a quick reference of what to do, how to do it and who to call provides solutions in advance of an emergency so that during the emergency you are "Ready for whatever happens."

SERVPRO’s ERP program is a no cost, no commitment service SERVPRO of East Cobb can provide to commercial business owners and property managers to protect their commercial property. The ERP consists of a comprehensive walk through of your facility with one of SERVPRO’s highly trained disaster mitigation specialists, where they will document important facility information that will help get you back up and running quickly in the event of a water, fire, or other type of disaster. SERVPRO’s technicians will locate and tag your facilities water and gas shut-off valves, and electrical panels so that in the event of a disaster, your employees will know where these building fixtures are located. For example, if a toilet in your facility were to begin overflowing uncontrollably, would you know where the shutoff valve is located? Our mitigation professionals will also collect information about important areas of the facility like file rooms where customer documents and employee records are stored, IT closest or networking equipment that might need to be secured during a major disaster event, and any other sensitive areas or equipment in your facility that might be subject to water, fire or any other type of damage. Another important piece of information SERVPRO will gather is your facility’s emergency contact list. By having this information readily available both your employee and SERVPRO will have a clear chain of command to reference in the event of a disaster situation. Disasters tend to bring on stress and can be a hectic situation. Being able to cut through the clutter and communicate issues or responsibilities clearly and quickly, your facility stands a much greater chance of recovering with minimal downtime and profit loss.

The information gathered by our mitigation specialist will be neatly organized into an easy to use ERP information packet that you can keep on hand at your facility in case of disaster. The information gathered will also be available in digital format via the SERVPRO ERP READY App so you can literally take this information with you anywhere you go (available for free on both apple and android devices app stores).

The purpose of the Emergency READY Profile is to minimize downtime caused by an event like a facility fire, water loss, natural disaster, and even man-made disasters. If your facility is closed for repairs and you are unable to conduct business as usual, a disaster event can really affect your bottom line. Not only does it cost money to complete repairs to your facility, but it also can cost you in the form of lost production hours and/or lost revenue. Often times the cost of lost revenue far outweighs the cost of repairs, and this is why an Emergency READY Profile is so important. An ERP will allow your business to handle a disaster event head-on and get back up and running faster!

Want to participate in the SERVPRO ERP Program? Call SERVPRO of East Cobb today! Or you can  click here to learn more!

Roswell Toilet Leak Leads to Water Damage Throughout Home

12/20/2019 (Permalink)

If your home or business suffers water or fire damage call SERVPRO of East Cobb. We can make it "Like it never even happened."

In a well established and quiet neighborhood on the East side of the growing city of Roswell, GA, disaster struck a two story traditional brick house in the form of a toilet supply line leak. The homeowner was out of town on business for a couple of days and returned home to find water cascading down through the ceiling of his living room, kitchen, and dining room. He was immediately hit with an overwhelming sense of worry and dread. At the time, it seemed like everything he owned was ruined. He began playing through his head the process of having to rebuild his entire life, all because of this most unfortunate water leak. This only added to his feelings of uncertainty and frustration, and just when all seemed lost...He called SERVPRO of East Cobb.

SERVPRO of East Cobb’s highly trained and professional restoration team will help you navigate all of the twists and turns that can come with restoring your home or business after water damage and can help you regain control of the situation. Upon notification, SERVPRO of East Cobb can have technicians on-site within an hour in most cases, ready to start the drying process so that your life can get back to normal. If your home or business has suffered water damage, give SERVPRO of East Cobb a call today! We are approved and preferred vendors for most insurance companies and have a great working relationship with local insurance adjusters. If you happen to be a State Farm, Allstate, Farmers, Auto Owners, or The Hartford insurance customer, SERVPRO of East Cobb is a preferred provider of these carriers making the process simple for our customers. Taking all of the guesswork out of filling out insurance paperwork, scheduling with adjusters, and documenting your claim. 

It is SERVPRO’s policy to protect our customers personal information and SERVPRO would never publish identifying information about our customer’s property. We asked this Roswell homeowner if it would be alright to share his restoration project story with prospective customers and highlight the work we performed on our website. Having been thoroughly impressed with our level of service and attention to detail, he acquiesce without hesitation. The following is a step by step walk through of his water restoration claim.

Our customer called SERVPRO of East Cobb just after lunch on a Sunday afternoon, to notify us of his home water damage issues. Our loss coordinator fielded his call, and calmed his nerves by assuring him that SERVPRO help was on the way. Then immediately dispatched one of our IICRC certified water restoration technicians to his home to perform an emergency water extraction and start the drying process. While on the phone with our loss coordinator, we gather pertinent information about the homeowners property like when it was built, insurance policy information, and the number of rooms affected. Is water and electrical power available on-site? What type of materials were affected by water damage (hardwood floors, carpeting, drywall, etc.)? The information gathered was electronically transferred to our water restoration technicians, who were in route to the customer’s home. By gathering and providing this information to our technicians, they are ready to start the restoration process as soon as they set foot on the property. Equipped with specialty drying equipment suited to the type, condition and size of the loss at hand. 

SERVPRO’s goal is to save all building materials and restore them to their preloss condition through our advanced drying and restoration techniques and processes. Materials that can not be saved are documented for the homeowner and adjuster, then removed and disposed of off site. Sometimes materials may not be cost effective to restore, in which case the item(s) or material(s) are again, documented for the homeowner and insurance provider’s records then removed from the home or business.

The first step our water restoration technicians take on any restoration project is to assess the structure and affected areas for safety hazards like falling sheetrock or electrocution risks. Once the property was deemed safe, our technicians started documenting and assessing the extent of the water damage. Taking pictures and notes of damage to be compiled in the restoration job file along with drying-logs that document the progress of drying the structure, building materials, and contents of the home. 

Room by Room Mitigation Scope of Work

Cause of Loss: The cause of loss was a broken toilet supply line on the second level in the master bathroom. Water leaked from the broken toilet supply line for approximately three days and did damage to all three levels of the home, affecting fifteen rooms. The cause of loss, first, and second levels were all classified as a category 2 water damage due to contaminants in the water that could potentially cause illness through contact or ingestion. The basement level was upgraded to category 3 water damage because of potentially pathogenic, toxic organic and inorganic substances. 

*The home was divided into three zones and individual scopes of work were written up for each zone.

Zone 1: The basement was designated as zone one and consisted of three affected rooms. The basement was largely unfinished and used primarily for storage. Our team extracted water from the cement basement floor, safely packed up what little items were in the basement to be safely stored off site at our 15,000 sq. ft storage facility. Specialty commercial grade equipment was placed once all standing water was extracted. Using SERVPRO’s proprietary psychrometrics software, our technicians set up twenty-eight directional air movers, four low grain refrigerant dehumidifiers, and a courtesy HEPA air scrubber to filter unpleasant odors associated with the water loss. Affected areas were treated with antimicrobial and professional cleaning products to prevent mold growth. After a few days of drying, zone one was dried to IICRC S500 Standards and returned to preloss condition. Finally the contents that had been moved off site could be returned to the customer’s basement.

Zone 2: The main level was designated as zone two and consisted of four affected rooms (kitchen, dining room, living room, and hallway bathroom), an entryway, and a couple of hallways. The affected rooms all required light water extraction due to a small amount of standing water that saturated the free flowing hardwood floors. Extensive demolition was required throughout portions of zone two. 

• In the kitchen, hardwood floors were 70% affected requiring 235 sq. ft of flooring to be removed along with all wall baseboards. A small amount of standing water was extracted from the kitchen floor. Cabinets and countertops were emptied and belongings packed for cleaning and storage off site. The ceiling was 100% affected and required all 280 sq. ft of ceiling sheetrock to be removed. The walls and cabinets were largely unaffected and were able to be restored with minimal demolition, only the cabinetry baseboards would have to be temporarily removed to facilitate drying. Once demo was completed the entire area was cleaned using professional cleaning products and antimicrobial treatments to prevent mold from growing in the home. Using eight centrifugal air movers and a single Evolution LGR dehumidifier the kitchen was dried to IICRC’s S500 Standards and was now ready for our construction team to complete repairs and finish the restoration of the kitchen. New hardwood floors were installed. Baseboards were remounted to the fully restored kitchen cabinets. Touch up paint and drywall work was completed by our talented paint and sheetrock crews. The entire kitchen was given a final cleaning and the contents were returned to their rightful places, completing the restoration of the kitchen. 
• In the dining room, hardwood floors were 25% affected requiring 39 sq. ft of the flooring to be removed along with the removal of all baseboards. The contents of the room were safely packed into boxes and moved off site, taking special care of the customers antique dining room table. After demolition, the affected area was treated with antimicrobial professional cleaning products to prevent future mold growth, and two air movers were placed to dry the affected area to preloss condition in just a couple of days. Once our construction department replaced the hardwood floors and baseboards, the dining room table and other contents could be returned and arranged as they were before the loss. 
• In the living room, hardwood floors were 100% affected requiring 356 sq. ft of the flooring to be removed along with all baseboards in the room. Standing water was extracted using one of SERVPRO’s truck mounted water extraction vacuums and debris was cleared from the area. The ceiling was also 100% affected requiring all 375 sq. ft of the ceiling to be removed. Once demolition was completed the entire affected area was cleaned with antimicrobial professional cleaning products to deter mold growth in the future. Twelve Centrifugal and directional air movers were strategically placed to encourage drying of the subfloor and ceiling joists, along with two Dri-Eaz LGR dehumidifiers and a courtesy air scrubber to remove airborne particulate matter. Once the structure was dried to preloss conditions, SERVPRO’s construction department stepped in, replacing the hardwood floors, ceiling drywall, baseboards, and touched up paint and drywall.
• In the hallway bathroom, the hardwood floors were 100% affected requiring 18 sq. ft of the flooring to be removed along with the baseboards in the room. The cabinets, granite vanity and sink in the bathroom were detached to facilitate drying and the entire area was treated with antimicrobials and professional cleaning products to prevent mold growth. Two directional air movers were set up in the bathroom and drying in this area was completed in just a couple of days. The construction team replaced the hardwood floors, touched up paint, reset the vanity and sink to complete the restoration of the bathroom.

Zone 3: The second level of the home was designated as zone three and consisted of five affected rooms (master bedroom, master bathroom, two guest bedrooms, and a study/home office), and a long hallway that spanned the length of the second level. Excluding the master bedroom suite and hallway, the second level had free flowing carpet throughout which was completely saturated with standing water in some places. Water was extracted from the carpet and pad, then the carpet and pad was cut out and removed. The homeowner had postponed replacement of the carpet on the second floor for several years and used this disaster claim as an opportunity to complete the flooring renovations.

• In the master bedroom, hardwood floors were 100% affected and required all 228 sq ft of hardwood flooring be removed as well as all baseboards in the room. SERVPRO technicians utilized portable water extractors to remove standing water and carefully packed the contents of the master bedroom for cleaning and storage off site prior to removing the flooring. Professional cleaning products with antimicrobial agents were used to clean the affected areas, as a preventative measure against mold growth. A total of six Sahara HD TurboDryer air movers and a single low grain refrigerant dehumidifier were used to dry the master bedroom over the course of several days. The construction team reinstalled new hardwood floors and baseboards then touched up sheetrock and paint prior to final inspection. 
• In the master bathroom, tile floors were 100% affected and required all 60 sq ft of tile flooring to be removed from the master bathroom. Standing water was extracted from the tile floor and master bathroom contents were cleaned and packed for offsite storage. The toilet was detached to facilitate drying and the removal of the tile flooring. Then the entire affected area was treated with professional cleaning products and antimicrobials to prevent mold from growing in the future. Three centrifugal air movers were used alongside a single LGR dehumidifier to dry the master bathroom over the course of several days. Once the master bathroom was dried to preloss conditions SERVPRO’s construction department replaced the tile flooring, reset the toilet, and touched up drywall and paint, completing the restoration of the master bathroom.
• In the hallway, hardwood floors were 100% affected and required all 135 sq ft of hardwood flooring be removed as well as all baseboards. Standing water was extracted from the hall prior to removing the baseboards and hardwood floors. SERVPRO’s proprietary professional antimicrobial and cleaning products were used to clean the affected area and prevent mold from forming. Four centrifugal air movers, two axial air movers, and one dehumidifier was used to dry the hall to IICRC S500 Standards. Restoration of the hallway was completed when SERVPRO’s construction department installed new hardwood floors, baseboards, and touched up minor drywall and paint flaws.
• In guest bedroom one, carpeted flooring was 40% affected, requiring 65 sq. ft of carpeting to be removed. At the homeowner’s request our team removed 100% of the carpeted flooring in preparation of the new hardwood flooring that would be installed after structural drying was completed. The entire room was cleaned using professional antimicrobial cleaning products. The contents of the bedroom were packed up and moved off site for cleaning and storage. Only four air movers were required to dry all affected materials and subflooring in just a few days. As mentioned, our construction department completed the restoration of the bedroom by installing new hardwood floors, replacing baseboards, and touching up paint and drywall issues. 
• In guest bedroom two, there was no damage caused by the water loss, but in preparations of upgrading the flooring, carpet and pad was removed from the room. The contents of the room were packed up for safe storage off site, so that hardwood flooring upgrades could be completed in guest bedroom two. 
• In the study/home office, carpet was 10% affected and required that 14 sq ft of carpeting to be removed. Again, at the homeowner’s request our team removed 100% of the carpeted flooring in preparation of the new hardwood floor installation. The contents of the study/home office were carefully packed and transported off site for cleaning and storage. Antimicrobial professional cleaning products were used to clean the damaged area. Two centrifugal air movers quickly dried this partially affected room. Once dry, the construction department completed the restoration and flooring upgrades by installing new hardwood floors and touching up paint and drywall blemishes.

What to Expect Until Help Arrives!

When you call, SERVPRO of East Cobb a loss coordinator will ask you several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

• Your name and contact information
• Your insurance information (if applicable)
• The street address of the water-damaged home or business
• When did the flooding or water damage occur?
• What caused the water damage (if known)?
• Is there electricity available (on-site)?

About SERVPRO of East Cobb

SERVPRO of East Cobb specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

• ASD - Applied Structural Drying Technician
• WRT - Water Damage Restoration Technician
• RRRP - Lead-Based Paint Activities and Renovation
• ECTP - Employee Certification Training Program

Is your Cobb County home ready for winter weather?

12/3/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is the restoration company that is faster to any size disaster and can make it "Like it never even happened"!

As the weather outside is frightful and your cozy homes becomes warm and delightful, the holiday season’s aglow, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! While it is generally unlikely for Georgia to encounter massive snowfalls, it is still important to know how to be weather aware and prepared if winter weather strikes your home, business, or while your traveling. Winter weather can bring about more issues than just slippery roads and a sidewalk to shovel. If you live where temperatures sink below freezing, you are also at risk for frozen pipes and ice dams, which can create a major disaster at your home or property.

This blog is dedicated to helping you keep the holidays merry and bright, as well as keeping your property safe. But what happens if disaster strikes during the most wonderful time of the year? That’s easy...Call SERVPRO of East Cobb, you locally owned SERVPRO franchise. Even if it is the night before Christmas and even Christmas Day! SERVPRO of East Cobb is available when you need us 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 day of the year, ready when you need help the most.

National Influenza Vaccination Week: December 1-7, 2019

Starting in 2005, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) established the National Influenza Vaccination Week to highlight the importance of continuing flu vaccination throughout the holiday season and beyond.

During the 2017-2018 flu season, the CDC estimates the flu caused 49 million flu-related illnesses (more than the combined populations of Texas and Florida), 960,000 flu hospitalizations (more than the number of staffed hospital beds in the United States), and 79,000 deaths (more than the average number of people who attend the Super Bowl each year).

If you’ve already gotten the flu this season, you should still get vaccinated to protect yourself against other strands of the flu. People with a high risk of complications from the flu include young children, pregnant women, people with certain chronic health conditions, and people over the age of 65. Get a flu shot today to protect yourself and your loved ones. 

Tips For The Home

You can winterize your home by installing insulation and weather stripping in areas that have gaps where cold air can infiltrate your home. You can also insulate water lines installed in exterior or exposed walls to help prevent pipe freezes. Having a working and well maintained heating system, whether it is gas or electric is very important. You should have your heating system serviced professionally once a year, and check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors monthly for charged batteries and are in good working order. Having a backup source of heat that can operate on alternative fuels is also a good.

Tips For The Car

The CDC has a few simple tips to prepare your vehicle for winter weather. Make sure your vehicle is in good working order and has a full tank of fuel. This will help prevent fuel lines from freezing and keep ice from forming in the tank. Use cold weather windshield washer fluid and radiator fluid to prevent your vehicle’s systems from freezing. Always carry an emergency kit in the vehicle with blankets, cell phone charger or extra batteries, flashlight, first-aid kit, and some food and water.

Going on vacation should be relaxing and worry-free, which is why it is important to make sure your house is secure before you leave for your trip. Be SERVPRO ready so you don’t come back to damages in your home. Here are some tips for preparing your home provided by SERVPRO of East Cobb.

Make Arrangements with an Emergency Contact.

• Choose a close friend or neighbor you trust as your emergency contact and provide them with all of your itinerary information in case they need to contact you.
• A timer on the lights will give the impression that someone is home.
• Leave written directions for alarm codes, doors, or other information needed to properly care for your home.
• Make sure your mail is collected; burglars often look for homes with overflowing mail. 
• The Post office can suspend your mail and deliver the day you get back. Here is a link to the US Post Office.

Take plumbing and electric precautions.

• Prevent leaks and floods from damaging your home by shutting off gas and water at the meter, supply tank, or appliances.
• Turn off the water valves to washing machines, sinks, and the dishwasher.
• Unplug electronics to cut down on any possible shortages which could potentially cause a disastrous fire.
• Check your smoke detectors to ensure they are working properly.
• Adjust your thermostat for the season. Keeping your thermostat at 55-60 degrees in the winter and 75-80 degrees in the summer should help control usage.

 Right before you leave:

• Notify your security company that you are leaving town.
• Take out the kitchen trash and other trash that could get smelly.
• Go on one last walk through of your house to secure windows, blinds, fences, doors, and plugs. This will ensure all entries are safe from hazardous obstructions.

 If you come back from vacation and encounter damage to your home, call SERVPRO of East Cobb (770) 424-0400. We clean up mold, fire, or water damage to your home or business in the Kennesaw Area.

What to Expect Until Help Arrives!

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

• Your name and contact information
• Your insurance information (if applicable)
• The street address of the water-damaged home or business
• When did the flooding or water damage occur?
• What caused the water damage (if known)?
• Is there electricity available (on-site)?

About SERVPRO of East Cobb

SERVPRO of East Cobb specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

• ASD - Applied Structural Drying Technician
• WRT - Water Damage Restoration Technician
• RRRP - Lead-Based Paint Activities and Renovation
• ECTP - Employee Certification Training Program

PASS: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep

11/21/2019 (Permalink)

Know in what type of smoke and soot damage you are dealing with can make a world of difference in the restoration process.

The damage to your property following a fire can often be complicated due to the unique behavior of smoke. There are two different types of smoke, wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire.

Using a Portable Fire Extinguisher

A portable fire extinguisher can be a life and property saving tool when used correctly. In order to operate a fire extinguisher, the NFPA suggests remembering the word PASS. 

• Pull the pin. Hold the nozzle pointing away from you and release the locking mechanism.

• Aim low. Point the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire.

• Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly

• Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side.

Read the instructions on the fire extinguisher and become familiar with them before a fire breaks out. Encourage your family members and co-workers to do the same. Remember, extinguishers do have their limitations! It is also important to ensure you have the correct type of extinguisher for your home or facility. Check out our previous blog “How to Inspect a Fire Extinguisher” to learn more about the different classes of fire extinguishers and type of fire each are designed to extinguish.

SERVPRO of East Cobb professionals are thoroughly trained in fire cleanup and restoration and know the different types of smoke and their behavior patterns. Knowing this information is vital to proper restoration. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of East Cobb technicians will survey the loss to determine the extent of impact from fire, smoke, heat, and moisture on the building materials and its contents. The soot will then be tested to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. Pretesting determines the proper cleaning method and allows your locally owned SERVPRO of East Cobb professionals to focus on saving your precious items.

SERVPRO of East Cobb professionals know smoke can penetrate various cavities within the structure, causing hidden damage and odor. Their knowledge of building systems helps them investigate how far smoke damage may have spread. The following points are additional facts you may not know about smoke.

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Types of Smoke Damage:

• Wet Smoke - (Plastic and Rubber) Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, and smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

• Dry Smoke - (Paper and Wood) Fast-burning, high temperatures; heat rises, therefore smoke rises.

• Protein Fire Residue - (Produced by evaporation of materials rather than from a fire) Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor.

• Fuel Oil Soot - (Furnace puff backs) While “puff backs” can create havoc for homeowners, SERVPRO of East Cobb professionals can, in most cases, restore the contents and structure quickly.

• Other Types - (Tear gas, fingerprint powder, and fire extinguisher residue) Special loss situations require special care.

Deep Frying Dangers

11/6/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is here 24/7 even during major holidays. Help is never more than a phone call away!

Did you know cooking equipment is the leading cause of residential fires? As the holiday season begins and you find yourself in the kitchen more often while hosting friends and family, fire precautions should be top of mind. One of the most popular holiday season dishes is deep fried turkey. While it can produce some of the most delicious turkeys known to man, it also come along with some dire consequences if safety is ignored. Check out the video link below to see what can happen when safety is ignored when deep frying your holiday turkey.

5 Dangers of Deep Frying a Turkey

• Turkey fryers can easily tip over, spilling hot cooking oil over a large area or surface.
• An over-filled cooking pot can cause cooking oil to spill or spatter when the turkey is placed in the pot.
• Even a small amount of cooking oil spilling on a hot burner can cause a large fire.
• Without thermostat controls, deep fryers can overheat cooking oil to the point of igniting a fire.
• The sides of the cooking pot, lid, and pot handles can get dangerously hot.

*from our friends over at The US Fire Administration

A property owner experiences a flood of emotions when a fire ravages their business or home. Fear, uncertainty, stress, and doubt about the future of the property and their livelihood can be overwhelming to the property owner long after the flames have been extinguished and the smoke has cleared.

After the first wave of heroes have rescued the property, let your local SERVPRO of East Cobb professionals help you restore it to its preloss condition. Combining rapid response, the utmost professionalism, and open communication throughout the entire job process, we strive to restore not only the home or business structure, but the customer’s peace of mind as well.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) offers the following eye-opening statistics on structure fires.

• 482,030 structure fires were reported in the United States in 2018.
• These fires caused $9.9 billion in property damages.
• One structure fire was reported every 48 seconds.

If the unthinkable happens and a fire strikes your business or home, give the experts at your locally owned SERVPRO of East Cobb a call (770) 424-0400. We will help make it  “Like it never even happened.”

Thanksgiving Cooking Safety Tips From Your Friends at SERVPRO of East Cobb

11/5/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is open 24/7 even during the holidays. We can be at your door in less than an hour in most cases!

Each November, families gather to celebrate Thanksgiving by preparing a delicious feast, but if you don’t practice safe cooking habits, your happy holiday could quickly become hazardous in a blink of an eye. According to the The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking is the main cause of home fires and injuries, with the Thanksgiving holiday being the peak day for cooking-related fire emergencies. Review the following safety tips to help ensure you can enjoy a safe holiday.

• Never Leave cooking food unattended. Stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling, or broiling food. If someone must leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, they should turn off the stove.
• Check food regularly while cooking and remain in the home while kitchen equipment is in use. Use a timer as a reminder that the stove or oven is on.
• Keep small children away from the cooking area. Enforce a “kid-free zone” and make them stay at least three feet away from the stove and oven.
• Keep anything flammable like pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels away from the stove, oven, or other appliances in the kitchen that generates heat.
• Do not wear loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.
• Clean cooking surfaces on a regular basis to prevent grease build-up.
• Purchase a fire extinguisher to keep in the kitchen year round. Contact the local fire department for training on the proper use of fire extinguishers if you are unsure.
• Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving the home to make sure all kitchen appliances like stoves, ovens, and toasters are turned off.
• Install a smoke alarm near the kitchen, on each level of the home, near sleeping areas, and inside and outside of bedrooms. Use the test button to check it is working properly every month. Replace the batteries at least once a year.

Choosing the Appropriate Fire Extinguisher

• Class A: This is the most common extinguisher and can be used to put out fires in ordinary combustibles such as cloth, wood, rubber, paper, and many plastics.

• Class B: Used on fires involving flammable liquids, such as grease, gasoline, and oil.

• Class C: Designed for fires involving appliances, tools, or other equipment electronically energized or plugged in.

• Class D: For use on flammable metals; often specific for the type of metal in question. These are typically found in factories.

• Class K: Intended for use on fires that involve vegetable oil, animal oils, or fats in cooking appliances. Generally found in commercial kitchens.

SERVPRO of East Cobb wishes you a safe and happy Thanksgiving and holiday season.

What Can You Restore Using Ultrasonic Cleaning?

10/21/2019 (Permalink)

This is the state-of-the-art Morantz Ultrasonic machine SERVPRO of East Cobb uses to clean textiles, electronics, and other items.

When it comes to cleaning and restoring contents and textiles in commercial applications, there’s not much that can beat an ultrasonic cleaning from the pros at SERVPRO of East Cobb. You might be asking what is ultrasonic cleaning and what kinds of items can be restored or cleaned using this method? SERVPRO of East Cobb would like to address these questions and explain why ultrasonic cleaning is one of the most thorough and cost effective ways of cleaning any number of items. 

Ultrasonic cleaning is a time tested tool in the restoration field and has a wide use of applications in many industries. In the machining industry ultrasonic cleaners are used to remove fine surface particles from objects as well as oil, grease, and other lubricants/chemicals used in the machining process. Along with the oil, grease and other compounds mentioned above, ultrasonic cleaning removes dirt and grime on a microscopic level. This means that even hard to reach places like corners, cracks, crevices, textured surfaces, and other areas that are otherwise inaccessible to clean using traditional cleaning methods.

Make SERVPRO of East Cobb your official ultrasonic cleaning provider today. Give us a call (770)424-0400 and we can schedule your facility for an assessment today!

Let’s go over what exactly ultrasonic cleaning is. Ultrasonic machines very in size based on their application. Some are small enough to place on a desktop and take up no more room than a toaster oven. While other systems can take up the majority of a room and can be used to clean huge items like a vehicle transmission or even airplane parts. In either case, most systems are comprised of a heated basin filled with ultrasonic cleaning solution, and an ultrasonic transducer which produces ultrasound frequencies (20-40 kHz) to agitate the cleaning solution. Items are submerged in the basin and the transducer bombards the items with ultrasonic waves, cleaning the objects in the process. Small bubbles form on the surface of the items called cavitation bubbles. These bubbles might not sound like much but these bubbles are key to the ultrasonic cleaning process. These bubbles put a tremendous amount of pressure on dirt and other contaminants clinging to the surface of the items being cleaned. In effect each bubble is a tiny explosion that both removes and washes away materials adhering to the surface of the item being cleaned.

The reason ultrasonic cleaning is so useful in many industries, including the restoration industry, is because of how thoroughly it cleans just about anything ran through the system and the cost effectiveness of the technique. The following are some of the more common items cleaned using ultrasonic cleaning devices:

• Window Blind Cleaning - Plastics, vinyls, fabric, wood, aluminum, Venetian, vertical, micro/mini blinds are all easily and quickly cleaned using ultrasonic methods as well as pleated shades, shutters, and other draperies.
• Fire, Mold, and Water Damage Restoration Projects - Knickknacks, area carpets, oriental rugs, collectibles, stuffed animals, and even toys can be restored and cleaned using ultrasonic cleaning techniques.
• Medical Device Cleaning - Due to the complex nature of medical device cleaning ultrasonic cleaning is a great choice to clean and sanitize items like tools, wheelchairs, bed frames, nursing equipment, and other medical devices.
• Electronics Cleaning - As counter intuitive as it may sound to submerge electronics in a liquid to clean them, ultrasonic cleaning does a great job with electronics such as computers, TVs, telephones, and other appliances. Just about any electronic device can be ultrasonically cleaned and in some cases is the only method of restoring certain electronic devices.
• Parts Cleaning - Automotive, airplane, boat and countless other parts can be cleaned using ultrasonic cleaning methods as well as restaurants/industrial kitchen equipment, air vents, stove filters, and HVAC filters. 

Destroy Odors with Deodorization

10/15/2019 (Permalink)

When fire and smoke damage strike, You can be ruined or you can be read!

As many as 50% of businesses may never recover following a disaster like a fire. By developing a SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile for your business, you minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action. Contact us today to get started!

Even a small fire can cause odors for years to come if the affected areas are not properly cleaned and deodorized. Fire, smoke, and soot damage in your home or business can create unpleasant and potentially permanent problems. As various materials burn, the smoke produced travels throughout the structure, leaving odorous residues and deposits of surfaces and in hard-to-reach places. Unless fast, professional action is taken, these residues and deposits can cause permanent damage to  contents and may result in resurfacing odors.

With technicians certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC), SERVPRO of East Cobb professionals provide specialized services that can rid your home or business of offensive odors left by fire or smoke damage. SERVPRO of East Cobb does not cover up lingering odors with a fragrance. We seek out and remove the source of the odor. Once the source is found, SERVPRO's own proprietary line of professional cleaning products is used to treat and prevent the odor from returning. Any restorable items in affected areas will also be professionally cleaned and deodorized, including furniture, electronics, art, flooring, walls, ceilings, HVAC air ducts, draperies and upholstery, and more. 

Other Odors That May Require Deodorization:

• Cigarette Smoke
• Pet Odors
• Decomposition
• Mold

Ask your highly trained SERVPRO of East Cobb technician to explain the various deodorization methods available and which will work best for you.

If you or  one of your customers suffer a fire damage or some other accident that require deodorization services, contact SERVPRO of East Cobb your trusted locally owned restoration company. Whether it's fire, water or mold damage or just a stubborn odor that refuses to go away, we'll help make it "Like it never even happened."

Smoke Alarms Save Cobb County Lives

10/14/2019 (Permalink)

Smoke detectors can be your last line of defense against home fires. Make sure that your home has fully operational smoke alarms!

Smoke alarms save lives when properly installed and maintained according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). In homes, smoke alarms should be in every bedroom and on every level, including the basement. In office and commercial environments, check your states requirements (GA state requirements)or contact your locals Fire Marshal to help ensure all codes are met. 

Test smoke alarms monthly using the test button. Smoke alarms with non-replaceable batteries need the entire smoke alarm unit replaced every ten years. Other alarms need batteries replaced every year and the unit replaced every ten years. If the alarm chirps signaling low battery, take the proper steps to replace the unit or the batteries immediately. Never disable or remove the battery from an alarm. Almost half of fires where smoke alarms were present but did not activate had missing or disconnected batteries (NFPA).

In larger commercial facilities, hard wired or wireless smoke alarms offer benefits such as not needing to be tested as often and activating throughout the entire building if smoke is detected in just one area (NFPA).

If you need hep installing, testing or changing batteries in you smoke alarms contact your local Cobb County Fire Department, an electrician or the American Red Cross. Be sure your home or workplace has a fire emergency plan in place and conduct regular fire drills. For more information on emergency preparedness, contact SERVPRO of East Cobb!

When fire or water damage puts the things that matter most on the line, you need the very best help on the line, as well. That's why knowing the easiest ways to contact SERVPRO of East Cobb is so important. Just go to www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com or call (770) 424-0400 to get the team that's faster to any size disaster. We're a leader in giving control back to homeowners, property managers, and even entire communities after ravaging effects of water or fire. So whether you're responsible for 1,000 square feet or 100,000, be ready for the worst, with the very best. SERVPRO of East Cobb your trusted local SERVPRO franchise.

The Importance of Cleaning Dryer Vents

According to FEMA, Failure to clean home dryers causes 34% of home dryer fires. Home dryer fires cause $35 million in property loss and can even cause injury or death. To reduce the risk of these fires happening in your home or business, SERVPRO can help clean dryer vents and ducts that may have lint buildup. Other tips for keeping dryer vents clean from the National Fire Protection Agency include cleaning the lint filter before and after each load and making sure the outdoor vent flap will open and is not restricted by snow, a bird's nest, or other potential obstacles.

Take a look at some of our before and after fire restoration images, or check us out on Youtube! 

5 Ways Hard Water Can Damage Your Cumberland GA Home

10/10/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is a preferred service provider for most major insurance companies. We can can even help you file a claim!

So you’ve probably seen the late night infomercials advertising water treatments and devices that prevent hard water. You might have wondered to yourself, “What is ‘hard water’ and can it actually affect my home?”. Let's take a quick look at what “hard water” is and how it can affect your house.

SERVPRO of East Cobb is open 24/7. Our water restoration professionals can be at your door within an hour!

Hard water is just water that has a high content of minerals like calcium, magnesium carbonate, bicarbonates and sulfates (minerals commonly found in limestone and gypsum). These minerals are suspended in solution and are so small they can not be seen by the naked eye. To find out if you have hard water you can use a home test kit or by calling your local water department. Levels of hardness in water varies regionally. You can check to see if your water falls in line with Georgia’s average on the US Geological Survey’s (USGS) website. 

If your water has a slight metallic taste or smells like rotten eggs, you might have hard water. Hard water is typically not harmful to humans or animals, and some studies even suggest that water with slightly elevated mineral levels can be beneficial. The human body needs to take in many different types of minerals. The primary way we take in these minerals is through the food we eat and the liquids we drink. Household plumbing and appliances on the other hand are another story. Over time, hard water can cause major issues in homes, and can also cause minor discomfort to the occupants. Let's take a closer look at how hard water can affect your home.

5 Major Ways Hard Water Can Affect Your Home

• Hard water shortens the lifespan of your hot water heater and other appliances. Minerals can build up inside of your hot water heater causing it to fail. This can result in costly and time consuming repairs. By having your hot water heater and other appliances regularly serviced according to the manufacturer, you can prevent mineral buildup and prolong the life of your appliances and hot water heaters. 
• Hard water can cause faucets to drip and can discolor brick and other sidings. Hard water minerals can build up on just about any surface they come in contact with. Areas around water spigots, downspouts, and gutters are prone to discoloration for this reason. Exterior water sources are also prone to mineral buildup that can cause fixtures to drip. Having the exterior of your home pressure cleaned once a year will remove built up minerals on “high traffic water areas”, and can keep your home looking new. 
• Hard water can leave behind shower and tub rings. Overtime, minerals build up along the fill line of the tub or shower and leave them with an ugly brownish-red slimy residue that can be quite difficult to remove. Cleaning your shower regularly can help prevent shower and tub rings, and in most cases using household cleaners like CLR will remove the unsightly ring/residue. This tip also works on toilets, by preventing toilet rings.
• Hard water can cause slow draining Toilets, sinks, and shower heads. Not unlike the other examples, minerals can build up in side pipes, fittings, and connectors causing them to corrode and drain slowly. Being careful what you put down your drains is a good way of preventing blockages, but if you believe you have corrosion in your home plumbing system it would be advisable to call a reputable plumbing company you trust.
• Hard water can cause cloudy drinking water. The reason hard water sometimes appears cloudy has to do with the high mineral content (the higher the mineral content the more cloudy the water). You should never use water that you feel has been compromised in any way, but hard water is safe to drink and can help with some of your daily intake of minerals. Hard water will however, leave your dishes spotty, cause laundry to look less clean or dingy, and can leave your skin feeling dry and itchy.

If you’ve experienced a water loss and need some help cleaning up, call SERVPRO of East Cobb. We have the trained professionals that can make it “Like it never even happened”! Check out some of our great reviews on Google, Yelp and Facebook!

Winter Weather is Coming to Cobb County, Don't Let Your House's Pipes Freeze

10/10/2019 (Permalink)

Winter is coming and temperatures are dropping, make sure your home is prepared for cold weather!

Winter is fast approaching North Georgia and will be here before we know it. The best time to prepare for winter weather and the dropping temperatures is to assemble supplies and fortify your property before it arrives. Trying to gather supplies once the cold weather event is upon us results in more accidents on the roads and people stranded in the cold. Having a general all purpose disaster ready kit is a great idea and will help prepare your home and family for cold weather events.

One of the leading causes of water damage in winter months is due to pipe freezes. When pipes freeze fittings, connectors, or even the pipe itself can crack. When the pipes eventually thaw out the water leaks from the pipes causing water damage to the structure. The best way to prevent pipe freezes is to not allow the temperature in at risk areas to drop below freezing by heating these spaces. PEX flexible plumbing lines are better suited for cold weather and could be used in place of traditional PVC or copper pipes. Insulating pipes will also help prevent pipe freezes, and can also improve the efficiency of your hot water heater.

SERVPRO of East Cobb and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention want everyone in the Cobb County & Metro Atlanta areas to be better prepared for winter weather this year. Most Atlantans remembers “Snowmageddon” back in 2014, when we were caught off guard by a few inches of snow and ice. Almost the entire metro area was brought to a stand still because of impassable roads and wrecked vehicles. Hopefully some of these tips will better prepare us and keep us safe this winter.

• Tips For The Home

You can winterize your home by installing insulation and weather stripping in areas that have gaps where cold air can infiltrate your home. You can also insulate water lines installed in exterior or exposed walls to help prevent pipe freezes. Having a working and well maintained heating system, whether it is gas or electric is very important. You should have your heating system serviced professionally once a year, and check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors monthly for charged batteries and are in good working order. Having a backup source of heat that can operate on alternative fuels is also a good.

• Tips For The Car

The CDC has a few simple tips to prepare your vehicle for winter weather. Make sure your vehicle is in good working order and has a full tank of fuel. This will help prevent fuel lines from freezing and keep ice from forming in the tank. Use cold weather windshield washer fluid and radiator fluid to prevent your vehicle’s systems from freezing. Always carry an emergency kit in the vehicle with blankets, cell phone charger or extra batteries, flashlight, first-aid kit, and some food and water.

SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help the Cobb County area with any water restoration projects that might come up. No matter how big or small, SERVPRO here to help. We are the restoration company that can get the job done right the first time. Check out some of our satisfied customers on Facebook, Google, and Yelp!

Cobb County Kitchen Fire Cleanup

10/7/2019 (Permalink)

Our technicians will walk you through your fire claim step-by-step, explaining our procedures thoroughly along the way!

When it comes to fire restoration there’s not much that SERVPRO of East Cobb hasn’t seen. From commercial warehouse fires and large loss high rise restoration projects, to the more common house-hold fire restoration claims. The following is an account of one of our customer’s experiences working with SERVPRO of East Cobb. 

This restoration story began like too many others, in the kitchen. The homeowner was cooking dinner using the stove-top, which was located on an island in the middle of the kitchen. While he was cooking, the family dog came to him beckoning to let her outside to do what dogs do. The homeowner, thinking he could let the dog out quickly and return to the kitchen, got into a conversation with the next door neighbor that took longer than he anticipated. When he returned to his kitchen, flames were leaping from the stove-top. Black smoke had overwhelmed the vent hood and began to fill the room. Thinking quickly, the homeowner turned off the eye of the stove and used a fire extinguisher, that he kept in a cabinet under the sink, to extinguish the fire quickly and safely. 

*Taking your attention away from any open flame in your home is ill advised. Our customer found this out the hard way. While the damage was emotionally jarring, and the reality that his home could have just went up in smoke shook him to his core, he was quite lucky to catch the fire when he did. 

For more household fire safety tips check out our previous blog “Kitchen Cooking Fires: Prevention & Tips”

The homeowner called SERVPRO of East Cobb around 7:45 pm on a Sunday evening (same day as the fire). Our loss coordinator took down their information and informed the homeowner that we had technicians in route to his home and would be on site in less than an hour. Due to the late hour the homeowner preferred that we stabilize the affected area and return the following day to officially start the restoration process. Before leaving our technicians erected containment barriers to quarantine the affected areas (to prevent soot and ash from being transferred to non-affected areas), turned off the air conditioning unit, and place HEPA air filtration devices throughout the home and affected area to improve the air quality and reduce the smoke smell. 

The island was damaged beyond repair, and would have to be removed along with a small section of hardwood floors that ran along the front side of the island. The stove’s ventilation system also had to be removed as well as portions of drywall on the ceiling that bordered the vent hood. Odors from smoke damage were pervasive throughout the house, so walls and ceilings were cleaned using SERVPRO’s fire and chem-sponges. These sponges are specially designed to safely remove soot and ash from household surfaces. Along with the fire damage in the kitchen, a big part of the cleanup involved cleaning the fire retardant used to extinguish the fire. Fire retardants do a great job putting out fires but can be very messy to cleanup. Imagine taking a twenty pound bag of flower and spraying it all over your kitchen. 

Once the demolition and cleaning was complete our construction team created a scope for repairs and had them approved by the customer’s home insurance company. The homeowner’s kitchen was ready to be put back together, “Like it never even happened”. In no time, the whole ordeal was behind them and they were ready to get back to normal life, a little wiser for the wear.

If you or someone you know has a fire loss call SERVPRO of East Cobb - (770)424-0400

Cobb County Fire Claim Scope and Walk Through

9/25/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO's team of technicians hard at work. Making it "Like it never even happened."

According to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), US fire departments responded to and estimated 365,500 home structure fires in 2015. Over 11,000 people were injured and over 2,500 fatalities due to home fires, not to mention direct damages totaling $7 billion. SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help when one of these home fires strikes. Our staff of trained fire restoration specialists can return your property to preloss condition. 

The following is an overview of a fire claim SERVPRO of East Cobb completed for one of our customers earlier this year. While our customer did give us permission to use their story, we will not be identifying this customer or their property for privacy reasons. This overview will give you an idea of how SERVPRO goes about making it “Like it never even happened”.

Shortly after receiving the homeowner’s call, SERVPRO of East Cobb dispatched a team to secure the property by boarding up damages to prevent exposure to the elements. Before securing the property our technicians conducted a safety check to ensure that the fire was out, the property was safe to enter, and that any potential safety hazards were identified and addressed.Once the safety check was complete our mitigation manager conducted a mitigation assessment of the property and scoped the entire structure complete with documentation of conditions of the contents of the home.

This particular job was a pretty severe fire. The fire traveled throughout the main level of the home, damaging most of the furniture and contents beyond repair. The fire department had to use a good deal of water to extinguish the fire, so that brought an element of water restoration to the table as well. All three levels of the home were affected by this fire, but the structure of the home was actually in pretty good shape with only cosmetic damage to the support structure and exterior of the home. This is most likely a testament to the improved standards implemented in newly built homes and general advancement of fire retardant materials.

During fire restoration projects like this, our contents department will scope and pack-out the entire house. This helps facilitate the restoration process by clearing space for our technicians to restore the affected areas and gives them an opportunity to evaluate each item closely to determine if the item should be restored or discarded. Items that can be restored will be carefully packed for transport to our 10,000 sq. ft. cleaning and storage facility. Customers belongings are professionally cleaned using SERVPRO’s proprietary techniques and products as well as ultrasonic cleaning methods and thermal fogging treatments. The customers contents can then be returned or can be stored at our climate controlled facility until the customer is ready to take them back.

This fire started in the garage, where two vehicles were completely destroyed. It spread throughout the main level of the home damaging the hardwood floors, sheetrock walls, and contents. The garage, kitchen, dining room, and living room areas were pretty severely damaged by direct fire damage (fire damage that is caused by flames or ignition, not secondary damage like smoke or soot transfer). These rooms required an extensive amount of demolition and most of the contents like appliances, TV’s, food products, and furniture would have to be disposed of due to fire damage. Once demolition was complete and all sheetrock and hardwood flooring was removed, SERVPRO dried the structure using air movers and dehumidifiers then proceeded to clean and treat the fire damaged structure. After all traces of soot and ash were removed our technicians hot thermal fogged the rooms to deodorize the house.  

Aside from the main level, both the upstairs and lower basement levels suffered fire damage as well. These levels would also require some demolition, but was primarily damaged by soot, smoke, and water. The upper level consisted of the master bedroom, master bathroom, two additional bedrooms, and the attic, all of which would have to have the majority of the sheetrock and all of the carpet removed. Once demolition was completed our technicians placed drying equipment to dry the affected areas. They then cleaned and treated the affected areas and finished with a hot thermal fog to remove any trace of smoke odor. 

The Basement consisted of a home theater, guest room, a couple of storage rooms, and a bar. These were largely untouched by the fire but did suffer significant water damage. As you can imagine in order to extinguish the fire on the first two levels, an extraordinary amount of water was used. This flooded the basement with water carrying soot, ash, and several different types of heavy metals. The water was extracted and carpets removed. Drying equipment was placed in order to lower the moisture levels and dry out the basement. Once the basement was dried to IICRC Standards our technicians cleaned and treated the affected area using a hot thermal fog to deodorize the basement.

Once our mitigation team dried the structure and completed the restoration process, the house was ready to be turned over to our construction department for the rebuild process. For more information on our building services please give us a call (770)424-0400!

Small Office Commercial Water Loss in Kennesaw GA

9/25/2019 (Permalink)

Water damaged breakroom and kitchen flooded by pipe burst. SERVPRO made it "Like it never even happened"!

Drying a business after a water loss can be very different from drying a residential property. Commercial water losses can differ from residential claims in many ways such as size, scope, government regulations, and often timeline expectancy. When your business is flooded by a storm or has been water damaged by other means, call SERVPRO of East Cobb. We are the professional water restoration company that can help you get your business back up and running. SERVPRO knows that hours lost to down time can result in days of catch-up work, diminished or lost productivity, and missed deadlines. 

SERVPRO is faster to any size disaster! 

The following is a brief synopsis of an actual commercial water loss that SERVPRO of East Cobb mitigated and restored earlier this year. For privacy purposes we will not disclose the identity of our customer or reveal the address of their property, but express permissions have been granted for us to share their story.

SERVPRO of East Cobb responded to our customer's emergency water loss call, nestled in the back of an office park in Kennesaw, GA. The customer called our office early one morning after they discovered that over the course of the previous evening their office space was flooded by a pipe burst. Our loss coordinator immediately dispatched one of our commercial loss teams over to assess the damage and start the restoration process.

Approximately an hour after our first notification of loss, we had technicians on site that were able to temporarily turn off the water to the property, preventing additional damage to the building. Our highly trained technicians then assessed the property for safety hazards and began documenting the water damage. Safety hazard inspections are critical for the safety of our customers, their property, and our employees. Documenting the loss and completing an in depth restoration scope can prevent many issues associated with insurance coverage and allows our customers to make an informed decision on how they would like to handle the claim (or whether or not to file a claim in the first place). 

Now it was time to start the water extraction and demolition phase. SERVPRO’s professional restoration crew used two truck mount water extractors and an additional portable water extraction unit to suck out all of the free standing water from the structure. The floors were carpeted in an industrial high traffic glue down carpet, which would have to be removed using one of our commercial floor scraper/strippers. The four inch vinyl cove base would also have to be removed in several offices to allow the sheetrock to be ported for air circulation during the drying process. 

Air-movers and dehumidifiers were strategically placed throughout the affected areas to dry the building to IICRC Standards and antimicrobial cleaning products were used to clean and sanitize the entire affected area. Monitoring visits were scheduled with the customer's office manager to track and document the drying process. 

Once the building had been completely dried and drying equipment was removed, it was time for our construction team to start the rebuild process. First our construction manager scoped the job-site and built an estimate for re-construction using Xacitmate (industry leading construction estimating computer program). Once the approvals were made by the customer and their insurance adjuster, construction began almost immediately. Replacing and re-installing sections of sheetrock, high traffic commercial glue down carpet, and four inch vinyl cove base. Our construction department was able to complete re-construction in a matter of a few days and our customer was able to get back to business as usual.

Hurricane Dorian's Destructive Path

9/19/2019 (Permalink)

Hurricane Dorian's destructive path and timeline.

Hurricane Dorian was a devastating natural disaster that claimed an estimated 50 lives, displaced thousands of people, and left tens of thousands homeless. The true scope of Dorian’s wrath is only now coming into focus as rescue and relief efforts are well underway. Efforts by the The Grand Bahama Port Authority and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are leading the charge along with many other countries like the UK, Jamaica, and the European Union. Much humanitarian aid and work must be done to relieve the dire situation in the Caribbean.

Dorian hit Abaco Island in the Bahamas on September 1st as a category 5 hurricane with winds in excess of 180 mph. The next day it made landfall on the island of The Grand Bahamas, with powerful winds and the eye of the hurricane dumping between 6 to 14 inches of rain accumulation from it’s inner core. Along with Dorian’s high winds the progression of the storm began to slow, making it seemingly hover over the Caribbean, prolonging the battering the islands endured. 

In the US, Dorian did not make landfall until September 6th in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. From September 3rd through September 7th, Dorian pounded the East Coast from Florida to North Carolina, ranging in strength from category 4 to category 1 as it progressed up the coast. It even spun off almost two dozen tornadoes in the North and South Carolina leaving nearly half a million people without power temporarily. In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for 21 counties and several roads and highways were closed due to the storm. Not to diminish the damage done to the East Coast but it was largely spared in comparison to the damage done in the Bahamas. 

If you feel so move please support the American Red Cross aid efforts by clicking here to help the people affected by Hurricane Dorian.  1-800-435-7669 

SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help if you or your family experiences flood or storm damage in the Cobb County area or greater Marietta and Kennesaw area give us a call. We can make it “Like it never even happened."

Common Causes of Commercial Water Damage

9/12/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb has you covered no matter what size disaster!

Commercial buildings that experience water damage, pose unique challenges not typically found in residential structures. Along with typically being physically larger structures, commercial buildings often require specialized solutions like desiccate dryers, supplemental HVAC units to control the environment, and/or power distribution for the facility. Commercial restoration projects require a great deal of communication, documentation, and planning. 

SERVPRO of East Cobb has both the know-how and the equipment to take on any size commercial disaster. If your office space is flooded and you need someone to come and extract the water, call SERVPRO. If your apartment complex has a sewage backup and you need a crew to come cleanup the mess, call SERVPRO. If your sprinkler system soaks your warehouse and you need someone to turn off the sprinkler head and dry the facility, call SERVPRO. We are here 24 hours a day and always have technicians available for emergency services. 

We can be on site within one hour in most cases!

Speed is essential when it comes to restoring a commercial property. Not just in the interest of drying the structure quickly to prevent mold, but so that the business can get back to running as usual. In some cases the cost of drying and restoring the property is really insignificant compared to the amount of revenue lost due to down time or limited productivity. SERVPRO of East Cobb knows that time is money and when it comes to commercial water losses there is no exception. That’s why SERVPRO prides ourselves on getting the job done right the first time and on schedule.

The following are a few of the most common types of commercial water loss we see most often. 

• Toilet Backup - Toilet backups are hard to prevent and have almost become an accepted part of managing a commercial facility. Due to the frequency of use of the “facilities” in commercial settings, toilets and other plumbing fixtures are just more likely to experience issues that can result in extensive water damage. The best way to prevent these types of water damage is a strong cleaning and maintenance program.
• Sprinkler System Malfunction - This type of water damage happens more than you might think. Between warehouse fire suppression systems malfunctions, to hotel rooms flooded by sprinkler systems. These types of events are very difficult to avoid and can cause millions in damages. The best way to mitigate the chances of this type of loss is to abide by all fire and sprinkler system codes/regulations, have your system regularly checked and well maintained.
• AC Unit Leak - Water damage caused by air conditioning units tends to spike in the summer and warmer weather months. During warmer weather air conditioning units have to work harder and create more condensation than normal. This increase in condensation, along with a poorly maintained or malfunctioning system is a recipe for disaster. The best way to prevent your air conditioning unit from leaking water into your building is regular maintenance from a licensed and trusted service provider. 
• Fire Loss - Many people don’t think about it, but when you experience a fire loss the fire department typically uses a ton of water to extinguish the fire. Justifiably so, nobody wants the fire to flair backup, putting people and property at risk. Some of the water evaporates but most of it stays in liquid form and has to go somewhere often causing its own damage. 

If your business experience a water loss call the commercial water loss professionals...SERVPRO of East Cobb! (770) 424-0400

First Hand Account of House Fire Cleanup in Marietta

9/11/2019 (Permalink)

One of the less thought of ways that fire damage occurs is due to “secondary soot transfer”. This is when someone touches, steps or otherwise disturb

So when a homeowner first calls SERVPRO of East Cobb after a house fire, they are typically looking for some reassurance that things are going to get better. They have hundreds of questions running through their heads and are dealing with a ton of stress, but the recurring thought in their head is, “I hope the person on the other end of this call cares about my home as if its their own.” SERVPRO professionals help homeowners regain a sense of control and will care for your home like it is their own. 

One of the overwhelming parts of restoring a home after a fire, is the fact that many homeowners have never dealt with a house fire before. Setting aside the possible life-threatening experience they just went through, the aspect of rebuilding and replacing your home and belongings can be very overwhelming. Take solace in the fact that you are not alone and there are people like SERVPRO of East Cobb to help guide you through the restoration process.

The following is an example of how SERVPRO handles and documents an actual fire restoration/cleaning job. While we will not be identifying this customer (or their property), we did get their permission to share their experience working with SERVPRO of East Cobb. 

This fire claim was isolated primarily to the master bathroom. The cause of the fire was determined to be an appliance that caught fire. Luckily no one was hurt and the fire was extinguished by the fire department quickly. When the Marietta Fire Department responds to a fire, “it is time to extinguish a fire”. They are not taking any chances on letting the fire flair back up so they use plenty of water to douse the flames. Inevitably the water used to extinguish the fire causes water damage. This is just the nature of putting out fires, and is better than the alternative.  

The first thing our team did once the inspection was completed was establish a barrier between the heavily affected areas and lesser affected areas. This was accomplished by isolating the master bathroom from the rest of the house using a poly sheeting barrier with a zipper-door to service as access door. A “decontamination room” was setup adjoined to the zipper door to serve as a transition, in which a technician can “decontaminate” themselves before exiting the heavily affected area. 

Demolition in the master bathroom consisted of removing the flooring, sheetrock, insulation as well as both sinks, vanities, marble countertops, and toilet fixtures. Once demolition was completed fans, dehumidifiers, and air-scrubbers were placed around the master bathroom to dry the studs and subfloor. Several days later, after inspecting and documenting that all materials had been dried to IICRC standards, our team of professional cleaners treated, cleaned, and sealed the studs, subfloor, and ceiling joists using antimicrobial treatments like Sporicidin Disinfectant Solution and Kilz Original Primer to prevent smoke odors.

The rest of the house and master bedroom, were primarily damaged by smoke and secondary soot transfer. Very little actual “fire damage” took place in the master bedroom, but the smoke and soot did travel throughout most of the single level home causing an overpowering smoke odor. SERVPRO of East Cobb isolated the HVAC system by turning it off, sealing the registers and returns, cleaning the ducts, and changing the filters in the system. Our restoration specialist documented and packed up textiles and furniture to be cleaned and professionally restored to preloss condition off site using ultrasonic cleaning and other professional restoration methods. The restored items would be repacked and stored in our climate controlled warehouse, ready to be delivered back to our customer’s home at their earliest convenience.

The carpet in the master bedroom was beyond repair due to secondary soot transfer and water damage that occurred during the course of the fire being put out. So the carpet and pad were removed as well as the trim and lower 3 feet of the sheetrock and insulation in the master bedroom. Again, equipment was placed to dry the structure and a similar antimicrobial treatment was applied to the affected areas to prevent mold from growing in the future.

The entire house was literally cleaned from top to bottom. SERVPRO uses a method of cleaning called “Top-to-Bottom Cleaning” which entails using HEPA vacuums, dry-chem sponges, and other professional cleaning products to clean a structure starting with the ceiling and working your down to the floors. Using this method, it reduces the likelihood of resoiling an area that has already been cleaned. 

At this point the property was ready for reconstruction. It had been thoroughly cleaned, dried, and deodorized. Our Building and Reconstructive Services Department, never ones to waste time, had already pulled the scope from our Fire Restoration Department and had an estimate ready for the homeowners adjuster almost immediately. Our construction department was even able to include some changes to the bathrooms original design at no additional cost to our customer.

If you’ve recently experienced a home fire, please give SERVPRO of East Cobb a Call today! (770) 424-0400

National Day of Service and Remembrance : September 11, 2019

9/6/2019 (Permalink)

In honor and memory of those who died on September 11, 2001, as well as the survivors and First Responders, the National Day of Service and Remembrance was established in 2009 as a day of reflection. Led by the Corporation for National and Community Service, this is a day to come together as Amercians following the events of 9/11 to help neighbors in need and to honor veterans and First Responders in your community.

On this day and everyday, SERVPRO of East Cobb salutes those heroes who arrived in our nation’s most dire times of need and stand strong in the face of disasters. These heroes are the First Responders who keep our communities safe in trying times. They are the heroes that answer putting their own health and safety on the line for the betterment of our great country.

Give back and make a difference in your community this year. Click here to find a volunteer opportunity near you, or register your National Day of Service and Remembrance event, or visit nationalservice.gov/911day. 

SERVPRO would like to that this opportunity to remind you about the First Responders Bowl. Mark your calendars for December 30, 2019 and join us in Dallas Texas at the home of the SMU Mustangs, Gerald J. Ford Stadium. SERVPRO is proud to sponsor the second annual F1RST RESPONDERS BOWL! Two of the NCAA’s finest D-1 schools fight it out for 90 minutes and leave it all out on the field. 

Support our First Responders and reserve your tickets today!

Cobb County Fire Claim Step by Step Walkthrough of Scope

8/5/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is one of the most trusted names in the fire restoration industry. We’ve earned this status by providing our customers with top notch service for over 17 years and by standing behind our work. We pride ourselves on being faster to any size disaster, and getting the job done right the first time. Let SERVPRO of East Cobb make your home fire or water loss “Like it never even happened”!

While we won’t be disclosing any of our customer’s information, we would like to share the following account which was directly taken from one of our actual fire claims. We will walk you through this claim, start to finish, so that you will know what to expect should you require our services.

SERVPRO of East Cobb Receives Your Call!

No matter the time, day or night, SERVPRO is here to answer your call and can have technicians dispatched to your home in less than an hour in most cases. If your loss does not require immediate attention our call specialist will be able to schedule a service call at your earliest convenience. Please keep in mind that the first 24 hours in many restoration jobs are critical, so schedule an inspection as soon as possible.

“The Smiths” called us shortly after the fire trucks left their driveway in need of a fire restoration/cleanup company. She had never dealt with a home fire before and had no idea where to start. Our helpful call specialist helped “The Smiths” by providing them with a list of things to gather for the insurance company like a copy of the home policy, title or deed for the home, and personal identification. Along with a list of items to gather for the insurance company, we provided the family with a list of common items they would probably need in the event that the house would need to be vacated (Like clothing, toiletry items, prescriptions or medications, even items for pets).

Secure Customers Property

The first thing one of our technicians will do when they arrive on site is a safety check. This is to ensure that the fire is in fact extinguished and to make sure that there are no other safety concerns on site. After the property is ruled as safe our team will call in the appropriate resources to secure the property. Boarding up or tarping windows, doors, and/or holes in the structures walls or roof are some of the common measures we use to secure our customers property. We secure the property to ensure that no further damage befalls your belongings due to exposure to the elements. Before leaving the site SERVPRO professionals will confirm all of the homes access points have been secured (on this initial visit and every other visit until completion of services).

One of our fire restoration specialists arrived on site within 45 mins and immediately confirmed with a fire marshal that the house had been cleared and that property had been deemed safe for re-entry. Our fire specialist proceeded to inspect the property for safety concerns like falling ceilings, compromised flooring, and possible hazardous materials. Once satisfied that the structure was safe, he began inspecting the damaged property. In this case there was no structural damage to exterior walls or roof so securing the property was not an issue.

Estimating Scope of Work & Planning Cleaning Services

SERVPRO of East Cobb uses estimating software called Xactimate to scope and quote services on all of our fire, water, and mold claims. Xactimate is widely regarded as the industry standard when it comes to home repair estimates and is actually used by most insurance adjusters to scope residential and commercial losses. Our highly trained technician will scope the affected areas and our claims specialists will be able to provide you with an estimate with in 24-48 hours. Our technician will also start developing a restoration/cleaning plan for the property. They will make notes of services and/or trades that will be required to return the home to preloss condition.

 The scope of loss was broken down into zones or levels. The first zone being the “Main Level”, and consisting of the kitchen, family room, laundry room, living room, dining room, bathroom, two closets, powder room, pantry, foyer, and a set of stairs. The second zone was denoted as “Level 2” and consisted of a hallway, linen closet, master bedroom, two storage rooms, three additional bedrooms and several closets. This scope of loss encompassed a total of 23 scoped rooms, each of which had an individualized plan for restoration. 

The first things listed on the scope were to clean the furnace, duct-work, and heat/AC registers. Once cleaned the furnace and AC systems were sealed up at the registers to ensure soot particles didn’t re-contaminate the system or other areas. The scope for the remaining areas was pretty straight forward, listing line items like heavy clean floors, baseboards, cabinetry, light fixtures, and doors. The scope also includes less common line items that less experienced companies might not think to provide (like heavy cleaning: chandelier; window blinds; fireplace; garbage disposal; microwave; refrigerator; dishwasher) or lack equipment and/or training to provide services like deodorizing thermal fog or ultrasonic cleaning.

During the scope process our highly trained technicians documented damages to determine salvageability of the building materials and contents. The process was also used to determine the cost effectiveness of restoring, versus replacing items and determining how much demolition was required to remove fire remnants and any water damages the property suffered during extinguishing the fire.

Once documentation was completed SERVPRO of East Cobb conferred with the customer’s insurance adjuster by providing them, and the homeowner, with a copy of the scope to make sure all services were accounted for, all items were approved, and that all parties were on the same page as far as the scope and job timeline were concerned.

Preform Services & Monitor Equipment

This is the step when things really start to move, both literally and figuratively. Our technicians will swiftly and methodically pack up, move and store (if necessary) the contents of the affected area(s) such as furniture and personal items. Testing the structure and contents moisture levels as they work ensuring the drying process will work correctly. They will then further assess the affected areas determining if any additional areas/items can be restored or cleaned or need to be disposed of and added to the well documented list disposed of items. 

Demo having been completed, the next steps are to clean the affected area using specialized equipment and professional cleaning products so that drying, and air filtration equipment can be placed. Once drying equipment is place, this marks the beginning of the drying process. The moisture levels of the home and contents are manipulated to dry all materials to IICRC scientific standards in order to prevent mold growth. The drying process will take place over the course of several days. Monitoring visits will be scheduled so that our technicians can better assess the drying progress, document the progress in our “drying logs”, and can alter the drying plan if necessary (add additional equipment or move/place equipment to better facilitate drying process).

Upon completion of the drying process our technicians will remove the drying equipment and proceed with the “final cleaning”. This step is also known as a touch-up or quality assurance step, consisting mainly of HEPA vacuuming, wet mopping, and dusting of debris disturbed by drying equipment, and removing containment barriers (if advisable or needed).

Approvals from the adjuster came almost immediately, in part due to our proactive documentation process and restoration plan, but also in part due to SERVPRO’s experience and positive reputation from working with most major insurance providers and adjusters. Our Cleaning technicians went to work cleaning and restoring the property using our specialized equipment, professional cleaning products, and SERVPRO’s inside-out & top-down cleaning methods to completely rid the property of all soot and smoke particles.

The first step was to clean and isolate the air-conditioning and heating systems by sealing the air registers after cleaning the ducts, HVAC components, furnace, and replacing air filters. Then demo began by removing any materials not expected to dry, be restored, or were otherwise unsalvageable. Drying equipment was placed after all demolition was cleaned up to facilitate drying over the next 5 days. Monitoring visits took place on the second and fourth days to document the drying process in our drying logs, and the equipment was picked up on the fifth day. This allowed our fire crew to meticulously clean all surfaces and perform a complete thermal fogging of the affected areas the next day. Finally, we HEPA vacuum, wet mopped and dusted the affected areas and our workspaces as part of our “final cleaning”.

 Re-construction Services

SERVPRO of East Cobb offers full remodel or re-construction services. Our construction managers will work with customers hand in hand choosing the materials to build back your home. This is where we truly make it “Like it never even happened”! Some homeowners take this opportunity to upgrade elements of their home as well. If your going to have your home torn apart you might as well put it back the way you want it right? Why not upgrade? SERVPRO of East Cobb has the experience and know-how to make this as much of a hassle and stress free process as possible.

Be Alert for Summer Radio Weather Advisories in Cobb County

7/26/2019 (Permalink)

Better safe than sorry. Be prepared with an emergency weather radio!

One of the best steps you can take to prepare yourself for summer storms, is to purchase a good quality weather radio. A weather radio is designed to alert you to dangerous weather situations, such as an approaching tornado. It allows you to be warned ahead of approaching storms providing you time to seek shelter. A weather radio is one of the most reliable sources for weather alerts. Weather radios have improved in design and have made many other advancements over the years. They are now readily available and very affordable. Most basic weather radios average cost is around $30 and will warn you of all types of weather advisories and public announcements. Some models can be programmed to only alert you of specific weather alerts you designate.

When shopping for a weather radio, look for the following key features:

• Reviewable alerts (The ability to scroll through alerts and turn off the siren for alerts you do not wish to hear can be very helpful).
• Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) is the protocol used to encode the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and NOAA Weather Radio (NWR).
• Make sure the model you choose is easy to program.  Like any electronic emergency ready tool, it is critical that the device is reliable and simple to use. 

If you need help programming your weather radio, you can contact your local National Weather Service Office or for additional information, including county codes for Georgia, visit NOAA Weather Radio website at www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr.

Learn More About Wireless Emergency Alerts

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are emergency messages sent by authorized government-alerting authorities through your mobile carrier. Government partners include local and state public safety agencies, FEMA, the FCC, the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Weather Service.

Alerts receiving them  at the right time can help keep you safe during an emergency. With WEA, alerts can be sent to your mobile device when you may be in harm’s way, without need to download an app or subscribe to a service. WEA may be used to share:

• Extreme weather warnings

• Local emergencies requiring evacuation or immediate action

• AMBER Alerts

• Presidential Alerts during a national emergency

A WEA will look like a text message. The WEA message will typically show the type and time of the alert, any action you should take, and the agency issuing the alert. The message will be no more than 90 characters.

Visit www.ctia.org/wea to learn more about Wireless Emergency Alerts, including how to determine if your mobile device is WEA-capable.

How to Handle a Cobb County Clogged Toilet, Sink, and Other Simple Plumbing Issues

7/26/2019 (Permalink)

Water damage can not only be a hazard to your home or business. It can also be hazardous to your health!

Picture this, you are at your Cobb County home in your master bathroom using the facilities. Upon finishing your business you flush the toilet and notice the water level in the toilet raising (not draining as usual). Oh no! You’ve got a clogged toilet. Soon water begins overflowing from the bowl and spreads throughout the bathroom floor. In a panic you look anything nearby to sop up the mess, frantically soaking up as much water as you can.

Once the water finally stops coming you are faced with a couple of options. One, to clean up the mess yourself, exposing yourself (and possibly your family) to all the contaminants and risking additional damage to your home. Or option two call SERVPRO of East Cobb and let our trained professionals make it “Like it never even happened”. Our team can be on site within an hour in most cases and are on call 24/7.

Little known facts about common types of plumbing issues:

• Almost 20% of homeowners experience a clogged toilet on a regular basis
• Nearly 2 of 5 homeowners regularly have issues with packed up sinks or drains
• 1 in 20 homeowners have low water pressure
• Just shy of 5% of all garbage disposals have plumbing issues

How to fix a clogged toilet

The first rule of unclogging a toilet is to refrain from pressing the flush handle over and over again. This will only release more water into the bowl and sinse the drain is blocked all of that water will overflow into your floor. A better course of action is to use a quality toilet plunger. For best results use a flange plunger. Take the following tips under consideration:

• Making sure you have a good seal between the plunger and the toilet use a plunging motion quickly and repeatedly with firm pressure. With any luck this will break through the blockage clearing the line. 
• Be mind full of the water level and don’t attempt to flush the toilet until you are sure that the blockage has been cleared.
• It is inadvisable to use chemical drain cleaners on your toilet. The chemicals can damage you plumbing and tend to be very costly. If they come in contact with your skin, they can irritate or even burn your it.
• If you are unable to unclog a toilet or drain on your own, contact a trained professional.

If you or someone you know has experienced a water loss please give us a call today. Time is of the essence when it comes to water damage. We have trained professionals awaiting your call and can have a technician dispatched to your home or business in less than an hour in most cases. SERVPRO of East Cobb is faster to any size disaster, and can make it “Like it never even happened”. 

Check out what some of our satisfied customers have had to say about their experience working with SERVPRO of East Cobb.

Seven Ways to Protect Your Cobb County Home From The Silent Killer: Carbon Monoxide

7/26/2019 (Permalink)

Fire detection technology has come a long way. Make sure when you purchase a fire detector device that it also detect carbon monoxide.

Unfortunately, carbon monoxide is invisible to the naked eye. It is even more unfortunate that in high levels, carbon monoxide can kill a person in minutes. Often called the silent killer, because you can not see carbon monoxide (or CO). It is an odorless, colorless gas created when fuels like gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, and propane burn incompletely. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, each year more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning. It is estimated another 20,000 visit the emergency room, and more than 4,000 are hospitalized due to CO poisoning. All People and animals are at risk for CO poisoning, with some groups (including unborn babies, infants and people with chronic heart disease, anemia, or respiratory problems) being more susceptible to the effects of carbon monoxide.

When purchasing fire detectors make sure the device you choose has a carbon monoxide detection feature built in!

An excess of carbon monoxide, leading to CO poisoning, can occur due to numerous causes like faulty furnaces or other heating appliances. Portable generators, water heaters, clothes dryers and idling cars left running in garages are also common cause of CO poisoning. Taking some very basic precautionary steps will help reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in your Cobb County home. Protect yourself by reviewing the following tips provided by the United States Fire Administration.

1. Use portable generators outdoors in well-ventilated areas away from all doors, windows, vents, and other building openings to prevent exhaust fumes from entering the home.
2. Make sure vents for the drying, furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear of soot, snow, or other debris.
3. Have fuel-burning appliances, like oil and gas furnaces , gas or kerosene heaters, fireplaces, and wood stoves inspected by a trained professional regularly (at minimum once a year).
4. Only use barbecue grills outside, away from all doors, windows, vents and other building openings. Some grills can produce CO gas. Never use grills inside the home or the garage, even if the doors are open.
5. Make sure all fuel-burning equipment is vented to the outside to avoid CO poisoning. Keep the venting for exhaust clear and unblocked.
6. Open the damper for proper ventilation before using a fireplace. Never use your oven or stovetop to heat your home.
7. If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Never run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if the garage doors are open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not blocked with snow, ice, or other materials.

Should you or someone you know experiences a fire loss please don’t hesitate to contact SERVPRO of East Cobb. We are you local area SERVPRO service provider and can handle any size disaster. This means that no house fire is too big or too small for SERVPRO of East Cobb. Check out what some of our satisfied customers have had to say about us.

Commercial Building Restoration, Cleaning, and Mitigation Services

6/20/2019 (Permalink)

Call the professionals that know how to get the job done right the first time! SERVPRO of East Cobb (770)424-0400

Has your office space flooded or gone through a fire recently? Looking for help? Not too sure where to turn? Look no farther. SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to make it “Like it never even happened." Experiencing a water loss or fire can be an overwhelming event, but you don't have to go it alone. The first step to getting back your business back up and running is cleaning up the mess. Let SERVPRO of East Cobb help you take that first step. We can have uniformed and trained technicians at your business in under an hour. We are ready and equipped to start the mitigation process to get you back to preloss condition and more importantly back to business.

Commercial Building Restoration Services

SERVPRO of East Cobb prides ourselves on our quick response time and providing 24 hour a day emergency water, fire, and mold damage cleanup and restoration. It doesn't matter if your a big box store, office space in a highrise structure, or a small locally owned business; SERVPRO has the experience, equipment and training to handle any size situation. With the backing of over 1,700 franchises nationwide, we have the support and resources needed to respond to any size disaster. Learn more about our commercial mitigation and restoration services:

• Commercial Water Damage Restoration

• Commercial Fire Damage Restoration

• Commercial Mold Remediation

• Commercial Storm Damage Cleanup

• Disaster Recovery Team

Commercial Building Cleaning Services

When you need the job done right and done quickly the first time, call on the company that Kennesaw has trusted for decades, SERVPRO of East Cobb. No job to big or small! If dirt, odors, or moisture  causes an issue in your office space or warehouse call SERVPRO of East Cobb. Our highly trained technicians will be at your door in no time with top-of-the-line equipment to make your business new again. For more information on our commercial cleaning services click here.

Related Commercial Services

• Overview of Commercial Services

• Commercial Restoration

• Commercial Water Restoration

• Commercial Fire Restoration

• Commercial Mold Remediation

• Commercial Storm and Major Events

• Disaster Recovery Team

• Commercial Cleaning

• Building Services

What to do after a flash flood in your Sandy Plains GA home or business

6/10/2019 (Permalink)

When flash floods strike, strike back with SERVPRO of East Cobb. We are the water restoration specialist that can dry-out any size disaster. With the backing of over 1700 franchises nationwide we are the leading name when it comes to water restoration and storm recovery services. If you our someone you know need help making it “Like it never even happened” call SERVPRO of East Cobb!

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS & BEST FIRST STEPS

• Avoid flood waters as much as possible, they may contain contaminants like sewage, gasoline, heavy metals, and could be hiding electrocution hazards.
• When safe, turn off the electricity at the main breaker box and only turn the power back on when your home is dry and has been inspected by a certified electrician. Electrocution is a real risk when it comes to flood damage. Just one more reason why it’s best to call in the professionals.
• Quickly starting the cleaning and remediation process is crucial. Hiring a trusted and professional water damage mitigation service like SERVPRO of East Cobb is even more important! SERVPRO will jump start the cleaning process and get you back to normal in no time.
• Remove any items that have not been affected by flood waters, to prevent damage to non-affected items and areas during the cleaning process.
• Be familiar with your insurance policy. Call your insurance agent and discuss your coverage options for flood insurance before you have a flood. Having a solid insurance policy can be key to recovering fully from flooding event.
• Design and practice an emergency flood plan. Being prepared for a flood can be relatively easy and inexpensive. Check out this previous blog for more information on putting together an emergency flood plan - It Doesn’t Cost A Lot To Be Prepared.
• Call SERVPRO of East Cobb the trained professionals than know how to get the job done!

When it comes to flood waters it's very important to know your risks. If you have questions about your flood risk visit our friends over at FEMA. You can research your home or businesses flood zone risk level using this link.

SERVPRO of East Cobb can come to your home our business 24/7 to remove water and dry your property. Give us a call today (770) 424-0400!

The Best Water Restoration Company in Kennesaw GA

6/10/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb has many different pieces of equipment at our disposal to extract water safely from your home/business and we are available 24/7!

SERVPRO of East Cobb has provided the very best in 24/7 emergency water extraction and removal services for over 17 years. When it comes to water extraction, we know a thing or two. We’ve seen just about every scenario you might come across in a residential or commercial setting. To the average person it might just look like a bunch of people using big vacuum cleaners to suck up water, but in reality there is a lot of science, training and specialized equipment being utilized.

If your underwater, Call SERVPRO of East Cobb (770) 424-0400. We can dry you out!

SERVPRO technicians are IICRC certified and spent hundreds of hours on the job training. They also have the opportunity to take advantage of our continued learning opportunities. We like to say “Choose SERVPRO of East Cobb because we are the best”. The truth is SERVPRO East Cobb is the best because of our people. Our certified and trained technicians will treat your home or business like it is our home or business. When water damage happens it’s nice to have somebody on your side that has your best interests at heart.

Having the right equipment is also important when it comes to water restoration and that’s why SERVPRO of East Cobb has heavily invested in our equipment. Not only do we have more equipment than your average local water restoration company, but we also utilize the latest and greatest equipment available. SERVPRO of East Cobb uses moisture mapping technology to monitor the progress of drying over the course of our services. SERVPRO of East Cobb also has thermal imaging technology that helps track progress of  drying, as well as helps locate the source of water intrusion.

Our trucks and vans contain complete carpet cleaning/extraction systems. Our skilled technicians utilize this cutting edge equipment to extract dirty contaminated water from carpets and clean deep within its fibers. They can also use this equipment to safely sanitize other floorings like tile and cement, as well as to pump out massive amounts of water. Along with these truck mounted cleaning systems SERVPRO technicians have access to portable carpet cleaning/water extraction systems. The portable cleaner/extractors can be utilized when access to an affected area is limited or requires special attention. We also have a diverse fleet of pumps available to remove water. From sump pumps to trash pumps and even larger pumps capable of moving hundreds of gallons of water per hour. If you need to move a lot of water move quickly, SERVPRO of East Cobb has the equipment to get it done.

If you home or business is in need of emergency water removal call the extraction team that can handle any size disaster...SERVPRO of East Cobb!

Full-Time Restoration Technician Position Available

5/24/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is looking to fill full-time water/fire technician position. Must be able to work weekdays and weekends.

•Be authorized to work in the United States.

•Must have reliable transportation.

•Background check required.

You can apply for this position by clicking on the following link to our Facebook Job Listings!

24-hr emergency fire and water damage cleanup service looking for hard-working, dependable, customer-service oriented people for labor intensive position. Duties include, working in all weather conditions; cleaning up water (includes sewage) and fire damaged buildings utilizing specialized equipment; cleaning walls, ceilings, floors, personal property; demolition, lifting heavy equipment and personal property; mold removal; carpet/upholstery cleaning. Other job expectations include working overtime at a moments notice and being on-call during non-business hours, weekends, and all holidays per schedule/s.

Job Qualifications: Drug Free, Reliable transportation to/from work. Flexible schedule in order to work scheduled hours and be on-call. Be proficient in communications, both verbal and written. Be able to lift 50lbs-75lbs or more without restrictions. Enjoy working with people and follows direction. Able to problem-solve. Honest, hardworking and has leadership qualities. IICRC certified a plus

Lower Recovery Costs - The SERVPRO System Helps Save Money!

5/20/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb extracted water from this Smyrna crawlspace and replaced the vapor barrier to prevent moisture issues, odors, and mold growth.

When it comes to mitigating a home or business water loss a quick response time is vital. Emergency mitigation services help minimize additional property damages. Calling a trained professional as soon as possible is the best way to prevent further damage to your property. In the Cobb County area, SERVPRO of East Cobb has been fastest to any size disaster for over 30 years. We believe our customers deserves our upmost respect and perform our work accordingly. Call SERVPRO of East Cobb and you can expect to have a technician on site with the hour in most cases (never more than 4 hours). 

Emergency Water Damage Process Overview

• Hour One: SERVPRO of East Cobb’s loss coordinator will reach out to our customer to immediately dispatch a remediation crew to your address to administer emergency services. Knowing that help is on the way, can restore your sense of control of over the situation!
• Detailed Explanation: A uniformed, trained SERVPRO professional equipped with the latest in drying technology will walk the site evaluating and scoping the job. Once our technician has completed the walk through, they will sit down with the customer to go over the scope of work. They will explain, step-by-step, the SERVPRO recommended services to be completed.
• Pretesting: One of the ways SERVPRO saves our customers money is by pretesting effected materials like upholstery, carpets, drywall, flooring, and other textiles. By pretesting these materials, we can quickly discern how viable restoration of the item(s) will be. This prevents time consuming and costly cleaning of materials that are not suitable for restoration. Pretesting also allows our technician to choose the appropriate cleaning method for individual items, preventing them from being damaged during the cleaning process.
• Eight Hours: Within eight business hours of arriving on site, a verbal briefing of the scope will be communicated to the appropriate person, normally your adjuster or property manager.
• Cleaning & Restoration: SERVPRO professionals are trained not only to effectively help you regain control of your property but are also trained to work neatly and efficiently when a damaging event has turned your life upside down. They will use stat-of-the-art restoration techniques to ensure your home or business is properly taken care of, the first time.
• Final Walk-Through: To ensure our customers are completely satisfied, our technician will walk the entire job and review the scope of work with our customer a final time once all services have been completed.

SERVPRO of East Cobb is locally owned and operated with the backing of over 1700 locations nationwide. This means that no matter what size disaster, SERVPRO of East Cobb is up for the challenge and is ready is ready to provide 24/7 emergency water restoration services.

SERVPRO of East Cobb can make it “Like it never even happened.”

How to Remove Standing Water and Dry Your Kennesaw Basement

4/29/2019 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb 24/7 Emergency Water Removal & Extraction

Removing standing water from your basement might seem like an impossible task but SERVPRO of East Cobb handles this type of situation nearly every single day. SERVPRO brings newest drying technology to every jobsite as well as highly trained professionals. SERVPRO of East Cobb holds ourselves to the highest industry standards. To us it’s not just another job, it is one of our valued customer’s home or business. SERVPRO of East Cobb can make it “Like it never even happened."

“Dealing with a flood” in Kennesaw GA, makes most business and home owner’s list of worst-case scenarios. We typically find during most water damages that the basement is affected whether it is a pipe leak or a result of outdoor flooding. Water travels to the lowest point so it usually winds up in the basement or crawlspace. SERVPRO of East Cobb's highly trained professionals can dry out your home or business using our top-notch equipment and drying techniques.   

Here are a few things you should expect over the course of our service:

Move-Outs

Depending on how large the affected area of your property is and how many contents are involved, SERVPRO of East Cobb will likely move furniture and other personal belongings out of the structure or to a non-affected area. This will allow us to clean and restore the affected area more efficiently and effectively. This will also allow for additional room so that the restoration equipment can be placed in a way that will successfully dry out the property.

Water Restoration

Once the contents have been manipulated, our restoration team will start extracting water by using a submersible pump or extraction unit. Submersible pumps have enclosed motors which allow the pumps to be submerged into water and pump the water out of the area. Our extraction units allow for pumping of standing water into a portable tank which can then be disposed offsite. Either method will successfully remove any water from your basement.

Drying and Cleaning

After the water is removed from your basement our professionals will place specialized equipment to dry the structure of your home. This specialized equipment will include air movers to evaporate the moisture from affected materials and dehumidifiers to lower the humidity in the affected area. Drying out your home after a water loss is essential to keep mold from growing. If mold has already started to grow, SERVPRO of East Cobb has trained professionals standing ready to remediate your home or business 24/7. Drying your home will require several visits to monitor the progress of drying and to manipulate the equipment to achieve moisture contents goals. The affected area of your home will be treated with an antimicrobial agent, which will keep odors at bay as well as prevent microbial growth.

*Once all Moisture content readings have meet goal all equipment will be removed and you will be ready to move forward with the next step in the restoration process if necessary, The Rebuild Phase.

SERVPRO of East Cobb is proud to be a part of most major insurance providers preferred vendors as well as our local agents go to restorers.  Our skilled technicians have passed background checks and are IICRC certified. We help make it “Like it never even happened.”

Give SERVPRO of East Cobb a call at (770) 424-0400 if you have experienced a water loss in your home. We are Ready to Help!

Visit http://www.SERVPROeastcobbga.com for more information on water damage.

Pay Attention to Kennesaw Flood Warnings

4/19/2019 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb for 24hr water extraction & restoration for your home or business!

Flooding is a temporary overflow of water onto an area that normally is dry. Injury or death can result from failing to evacuate flooded areas, going into flood waters, or staying in flooded areas after water passes. As far as natural disasters go, floods are the most common natural disaster.

• Floods can damage buildings, create mudslides/landslides, and cause substantial disruption of transportation/resources
• Floods result from rain, snow, storms, or even overflows of dams and other water systems.
• Flash floods can develop quickly or slowly and can come with no warning.

If you've experienced flood damage call SERVPRO of East Cobb (770) 424-0400. We offer 24/7 emergency service!

If you are under a flood warning, seek safe shelter immediately!

• Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters. Turn Around, Don’t Drown! (Just six inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.)
• Stay off of bridges over fast-moving water.
• Determine how best to protect yourself based on the type of flooding.
• Evacuate if told to do so.
• Move to higher ground or a higher floor.

Are you one of our many satisfied customers? Click Here to let us know how we did!

For more information about floods and similar articles check out our friend over at www.ready.gov

Storm Insurance Related Questions For Your Kennesaw Storm Claim

4/5/2019 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb 24/7 Emergency Storm Repair Service! (770)424-0400

SERVPRO of East Cobb field hundreds of emergency water restoration calls every year from often frantic customers dealing with their first storm related insurance claim. This can be a very trying and stressful time for even the coolest headed individuals. SERVPRO has your back and can make it “Like it never even happened.” With over 1600 franchises nation wide we have the national backing to handle any size disaster.

SERVPRO of East Cobb prides itself on not only restoring our customers property, but also our customers peace of mind. Customers tend to have questions flying through their head causing all sorts of anxiety and stress. Having a company that you can turn to, to answer your questions and provide 24/7 service is essential.

Some of the most common questions customers ask us about their home, condo or business water damage:

• Is a water leak covered by home insurance?
• Is a leaking toilet covered by insurance?
• Is water damage from a leaking roof covered by insurance?

While we wish we could give a simple yes or no answer to these questions, there are way too many variables to issue such an overly simplified blanket answer. If you have questions about your coverage, we encourage you to contact your insurance agent. Familiarize yourself with your policy and don’t be afraid to ask your agent questions about coverage. Knowing what kind of coverage, you have will prevent you from being ill prepared when disasters happens.

Types of water damage that depending on coverage, may or may not be covered by your insurance policy:

• Sudden or Accidental Discharge - A window is broken allowing rain water to damage the interior of a structure.
• Sewer Backup or Water Backup - The sewer system is clogged causing sewage to flow backwards into a home or business.
• Overflow - A water shut off valve or drain fails causing water to flood a kitchen or bathroom.
• Flood - During inclement weather water levels rise such that water engulfs street, home & business.
• Insurance Covered Storm Related Water Damage - This would be determined on a case by case basis and depend on the insured’s coverage

SERVPRO of East Cobb is a leader in the water restoration industry and is a preferred service provider for most major insurance providers. This means that SERVPRO has pre-negotiated pricing, rates and terms of service with your insurance provider on a national level. Providing both cost savings for insurance companies and their customers. It also means that you will receive the same high level of service from highly trained restoration professional no matter where you live!

Give SERVPRO of East Cobb a call today!

Why SERVPRO of East Cobb?

3/19/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb 24/7 Emergency Water, Fire, & Mold Restoration

The People, Experience, Training and Equipment to make it "Like it never even happened."

The People - With over 10,000 quality teammates nationwide, SERVPRO Franchise Professionals are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The Experience - SERVPRO is a Franchise System with over 40 years of leadership in fire and water cleanup and restoration. Our track record of results has earned us the trust of the insurance industry, countless homeowners, commercial property managers and in one unforgettable instance, even the Pentagon. 

The Training - Franchise Professionals undergo extensive fire restoration training an d certification SERVPRO Industries, Inc. offers an IICRC-approved school to help ensure our training meets and exceeds accepted industry standards.

The Equipment - With over 5,000,000 square feet of building space, housing over 140,000 pieces of cleaning and restoration equipment, SERVPRO Franchise Professionals have the resources to help you take back control of your life.

The SERVPRO system saves you money by reducing recovery costs.

Mitigation requires quick action. The faster SERVPRO of East Cobb arrives on-site to preform cleanup and restoration, the better the results - including lower claim costs.

• Emergency Mitigation Services help minimize additional property damages.
• Restoration versus replacement of contents saves heirlooms and money too.
• Restorable contents will be cleaned and deodorized to preloss condition when possible.

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb at (770) 424-0400 for all of your restoration and mitigation needs!!!

Restore Your Flooded Home In Cobb County, GA

3/18/2019 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb once your family is safe. We are ready to help 24/7!

During a flood, make sure that you avoid contact with flood waters and always contact local authorities when you are in immediate danger. There are a variety of local, state, and federal agencies equipped to respond to flooding situations throughout the state. In Cobb County you should contact Emergency Services by calling 911. Your Family is not alone; help may be closer than you think.

Contamination levels of flood waters may include raw sewage or other toxic substances that cause significant health issues for you and your family. Follow a few simple guidelines for avoiding extensive flood damage in your Cobb County area home. 

• If you become stranded on your property during a flood and use a generator for energy, remember that generators produce toxic vapors called carbon monoxide. These vapors are extremely dangerous for you and your family, resulting in death if not handled correctly. 
   
• Never allow your children or their pets to play in flood waters. Several chemicals and diseases exist which heighten the risk of exposure and sickness to small children. If one does become exposed and experiences flu-like symptoms, report this to first responders, immediate medical attention for your loved ones is important. 
   
• When the property is deemed safe to return to by local safety officials, make sure to contact a trusted restoration company, like SERVPRO to help you quickly get things back to “like it never even happened!”

 
SERVPRO of East Cobb offers a variety of services to remove flood waters quickly and help prevent mold growth that happens due to extensive exposure. Mold can cause severe health issues that you want to avoid, get the help you need within 48-hours to prevent these problems and other issues in your home. 

SERVPRO technicians utilize a variety of techniques, including IICRC training and EPA guidelines to help return your indoor environment to a healthy, safe one that you and your family can enjoy. Take this opportunity to talk to professional technicians about possible improvements and address any concerns you may have for future events. 

SERVPRO of East Cobb can help, call today (770) 424-0400. Your property and  its contents can be returned to pre-condition in no time.

Could Your Kennesaw, GA Workspace Use a Good Sping Cleaning?

3/6/2019 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb for 24 hours 7 days a week (770)424-0400

The temperatures may be chilly right now but before you know it, it will be spring time again. Most people think the beginning of spring is great time of year to complete household chores we’ve put off all winter or prepare our homes for the coming warm weather. With each new spring comes the opportunity to participate in the time honored tradition of spring cleaning. SERVPRO of East Cobb would like to remind you that spring time isn’t just a good time to cleanup around the house. You should also really do some spring cleaning and organize your place of business.

SERVPRO of East Cobb can help get your facility in tip top shape. In addition to air duct and HVAC cleaning, SERVPRO of East Cobb is trained to use state-of-the-art equipment to remove soils hiding deep within your carpet, as well as focused stains removal and stain resistance applications. Other services include: upholstery and drapery cleaning, hard floor cleaning and care, and odor deodorization.

A clean environment is a healthy environment! Improve your living and work spaces this spring. SERVPRO of East Cobb have the tools to make your home or business sparkle in on time!

Quick Workspace Tips:

• Divide Your Workspace Into Zones: Determine how you want and need to use the space and set up zones for your daily functions. You may require a workspace for your computer, a library area for our research, a storage area for supplies and a filing area for your archives. This will provide a foundation for a more efficient use of space.
• Keep Only What You Need At Arm's Length: Boxes of pens, stacks of papers and old coffee cups need to go. Rid your desk of visual clutter by paring down the items on top to the essentials only. Supplies, paperwork and personal items should be kept in the zones you've established for them.
• Sort Your Catch-All Drawer: Use drawer dividers to give everything a place, like compartments for paperclips and rubber bands. Go through the draw every six weeks and clear out anything that is out of place or isn't being used.
• Eliminate Digital Clutter: Digital clutter can be just as stressful as physical clutter. Organize digital files and your e-mail inbox just as you would paper files-with a system of logical and clearly labeled folders. Also, keep the icons on your desktop to a bare minimum, and trade in sticky notes on your monitor for calendar reminders.

If your business is in need of a little spring cleaning or just experienced a massive fire or water loss, SERVPRO of East Cobb has you covered. With the national backing of over 1600 franchises, we can handle any cleaning or restoration project you can send our way. 

Give is a call today for a quote! (770) 424-0400

The Science Behind the Drying Process

2/18/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb 24/7 Emergency Water Restoration Services - (770)424-0200 - We work with insurance companies and adjusters!

Having the knowledge of psychrometrics in essential to restoring a water damaged structure to its preloss condition. While your initial reaction may be to grab a few towels to mop up the mess and place a fan or two around the damaged area, SERVPRO of East Cobb Professionals are trained in the science of drying and follow strict industry-approved standards to help lower the chances of any secondary damages. If your business suffers a water damage, SERVPRO of East Cobb Professional will:

• Inspect the building to detect every component that is wet, to help prevent secondary damage from happening.
• Measure how much moisture is in wet materials and monitor whether the materials are drying properly.
• Speed up Mother Nature by using professional drying equipment.

What exactly does it mean to help "speed up Mother Nature"? A wet building can often dry naturally because the environment always seeks equilibrium. When materials are wet, moisture will naturally move to drier air at the surface of the material-but only if the air is, indeed, drier. The only problem is, nature takes too long and secondary damages may occur while the building is drying out.

SERVPRO of East Cobb Professionals have the tools and equipment to help dry hardwood floors, tough-to-reach spaces inside walls, and much more. SERVPRO of East Cobb Professionals also use state-of-the-art monitoring equipment, and a proven scientific process to help speed the drying of your home or business.

The bottom-line? SERVPRO of East Cobb Professionals have the training and equipment to help make water damage "Like it never even happened."

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb at: (770) 424-0400

What to Expect When You Call SERVPRO of East Cobb

2/13/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb provides 24 hour fire and water damage restoration service in East Cobb

SERVPRO of East Cobb is available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today - (770) 424-0400

We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of East Cobb has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration—in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business.

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

• Your name and contact information
• Your insurance information (if applicable)
• The street address of the water-damaged home or business
• When did the flooding or water damage occur?
• What caused the water damage (if known)?
• Is there electricity available (on-site)?

About SERVPRO of East Cobb

SERVPRO of East Cobb specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

• ASD - Applied Structural Drying Technician
• WRT - Water Damage Restoration Technician
• RRRP - Lead-Based Paint Activities and Renovation
• ECTP - Employee Certification Training Program

Valentine's Date Night Package Contest

2/6/2019 (Permalink)

How many candy hearts can you count?

Are you one of our local insurance agent?

Do you work at one of our local insurance office?

Could you use a night out with your special someone?

Then all you have to do is answer one more question correctly...How many hearts are in the jar?

The rules are pretty simple...Like SERVPRO of East Cobb's Facebook page and comment on the linked contest post with how many candy hearts you think are in the jar. Who ever guess the number or comes the closest will win SERVPRO of East Cobb's Valentine's Date Night Package.

We will announce the winner via Facebook, February 13th. SERVPRO of East Cobb would like to wish everyone the best of luck and a happy Valentines Day!

Winter Weather Worries

1/24/2019 (Permalink)

Keep an eye out for snow build-up on roofs!

Winter weather can bring about more issues than just slippery roads and a sidewalk to shovel. If you live where temperatures sink below freezing level, you are also at risk for frozen pipes and ice dams, which can create a major disaster at your home or property.

Frozen Pipes

Frozen pipes are often those exposed to the cold weather, such as those outside your home, or in cold areas such as basements, attics, garages or kitchen cabinets.

A frozen pipe can burst at the point where the ice blockage inside the pipe is located, but typically the rupture is caused by the backflow pressure between the water source and the blockage. A burst pipe can cause considerable damage to your property if not addressed quickly.

To prevent pipes from freezing, here are a few steps you can take, according to The American Red Cross:

• Be sure to completely drain water from swimming pool and sprinkler lines as well as outside hoses.
• Open kitchen cabinets to let warm air circulate near the plumbing.
• When the weather is extremely cold, let water drip from faucets that may come from exposed pipes.
• Keep your heat set to the same temperature both day and night.

Ice Dams

Ice dams can be a little-known, but major problem during the snowy season. They form when heated air melts roof snow downward into water dammed behind still-frozen ice. When the trapped water cannot safely flow gutter system, it can backflow under the roof's shingles and into the structure's interior areas, as well as causing gutters and shingles to move or fall.

Removing an ice dam as soon a it is found is vital to helping prevent damage to your property and can be done using heated cables , a roof shovel, or calcium chloride ice melter.

If winter weather causes water damage to you or your insured's property, SERVPRO of  East cobb are only a call away, 24/7, ready to restore to preloss condition.

Seven Holiday Safety Tips

11/29/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb can make your fire damage, "Like it never even happened."

Beautiful holiday decorations like lights, candles, and lawn displays are just a few of the things that make the holiday season seem to come alive with charm and cheer. However, if they are not used carefully and well maintained your holidays could go from festive to frightening in no time at all.

The American Red Cross offers the following safety tips to help greatly reduce the fire risk in your home or business this holiday season.

1. Place Christmas trees, candles and other holiday decorations at least three feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, portable heater, radiators, heat vents, and candles.
2. Make sure light strings and other holiday decorations are in good condition. Do not use anything with frayed electrical cords and always follow the manufacturer's instructions.
3. Always unplug tree and holiday lights before leaving the property or going to bed.
4. Never use lit candles to decorate a tree. Always extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to bed.
5. Use only sturdy tree stands designed not to tip over. Keep curious pets and children away from Christmas trees.
6. Keep anything that can catch fire away from your stove top (pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains).
7. Designate one person to walk around your property to ensure all candles and smoking materials are properly extinguished after guests leave.

We here at SERVPRO of East Cobb would like to wish you a safe and happy holiday season!

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of East Cobb is strategically located to respond quickly to your smoke or fire damage event. When a major fire or disaster event occurs, we can call upon our national network of 1,700 SERVPRO Franchises and special Disaster Recovery Teams if we need additional resources or personnel.

We are proud to serve our local communities:

• Kennesaw, GA
• Westoak, GA
• Mount Bethel, GA
• Blackwells, GA
• Cumberland, GA

Make your Kennesaw Business Emergency READY!

11/2/2018 (Permalink)

Did you know...? 50% of all businesses that suffer a water loss never reopen there doors.

The SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile (ERP) will help ensure you and your business are "Ready for whatever happens."

In the event of an emergency, the SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile, can help minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action in place for your facility. The ERP is a comprehensive document containing critical information about your business, including: Emergency Contact Information, Shut-off Valve Locations and Priority Areas. The ERP is also accessible online using your computer or tablet; download SERVPRO's free Rady Plan app to access this information at any time using your smartphone or tablet.

The ERP establishes your SERVPRO of East Cobb - 770-424-0400) as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider, giving you access to over 45 years experience and a system more then 1,700 franchises strong. Knowing what to do and who to call in advance is key to quick response and timely mitigation. Having a plan in place may help minimize the amount of time your business is inactive and get you back in the building following a disaster.

Preparation is the key to making it through any size disaster, whether it is a small water leak, a large fire or an area flood. The best time to plan for such events is not when the event happens, but well before it happens. No one ever plans on a disaster, but now, you can plan for it.

The ERP is a NO COST assessment, all it requires is a little time, making it a great value that could save a lot of time in the future. Call SERVPRO of East Cobb to establish your Emergency READY Profile.

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb - (770) 424-0400

Trained & Certified Technicians With the Proper Equipment

10/22/2018 (Permalink)

When there's a water intrusion, like a roof leak or leaking water line, mold can quickly become a problem in your home or business. Mold can cause health effects and can also cause significant damage to your property. Fortunately, SERVPRO of East Cobb have training, protective gear, and specialized equipment necessary to handle your mold problem. Although every mold damage scenario is different requiring a unique solutions, the general mod remediation process stays the same. the following steps illustrate a "typical" mold removal process.

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb (770) 424-0400 your local SERVPRO Franchise Professionals! 

The mold cleanup and restoration process begins when you call SERVPRO of East Cobb Call Center. A representative will ask a series of questions to help determine the necessary equipment, resources, and personnel needed.

Inspection and Damage Assessment - your property will be carefully inspected for signs of mold using technology designed to detect mold and hidden water sources. Mold feeds on cellulose and water can can be hidden from plain view.

Mold Containment - Various containment procedures will be placed to prevent the spread of mold and isolate the contaminated area with physical barriers and negative air pressure to keep the mold spores from spreading during the cleanup process.

Air Filtration - Specialized filtration equipment captures microscopic mold spores out of the air. SERVPRO technicians utilize powerful air scrubbers and HEPA vacuums to prevent the spread of these mold spores while the mold remediation is in progress.

Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials - The mold remediation process depends on the amount of mold growth and the types of surfaces on which the mold appears. Anti-fungal and antimicrobial treatment will be used to eliminate mold colonies and help prevent new colonies from forming. Removing and disposing of mold-infested porous materials, like drywall and flooring, may be necessary to re-mediate heavy mold growth.

Cleaning Contents and Belongings - SERVPRO of East Cobb Franchise Professionals clean your furniture, decorative items, curtains, and other restore-able items affected by mold. They use a variety of cleaning techniques to clean and sanitize your belongings. They are also trained to remove odors and deodorization using fogging equipment.

Restoration - Depending on the level of mold damage, drywall, sub-floors, and other building materials may be removed. Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall, painting and installing new carpet; or it may entail major repairs such as the reconstruction of various areas of rooms in a home or business.

SERVPRO of East Cobb understand mold and mold growth and have the training and equipment to remediate mold in your home or business.

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

SERVPRO of East Cobb is locally owned and operated—so we live and work here too and are proud to be part of the Kennesaw community. When you have a water or mold damage issue, we’re already nearby and ready to help.

We are also part of a national network of over 1,700 SERVPRO Franchises and special Disaster Recovery Teams strategically located throughout the country to respond to large scale disasters.

We are proud to serve our local communities:

• Kennesaw, GA
• Kennesaw, GA
• Westoak, GA
• Mount Bethel, GA
• Blackwells, GA
• Cumberland, GA

Help Prevent Fire In Your Kennesaw GA Home

10/17/2018 (Permalink)

House fires affect millions of people every year at the cost of over $500 Million. Smoke detectors have proved their value every year, saving lives and homes from total loss. Most house fires start in the kitchen, but a significant number still occur in a place most forget about once the item is installed, the dryer vent. 

A dryer vent cleaning cost may seem like an avoidable charge, but it is needed to prevent fire in your Kennesaw home. There are over 15,000 dryer fires each year, and the accumulated property damage cost exceeds $70 Million annually. SERVPRO has the personnel and equipment needed to keep you from adding to those numbers in the coming year. This vent cleaning can also reduce the workload of your clothes dryer while lowering energy usage.

A dryer inside the house or apartment uses a metal exhaust pipe (galvanized iron or steel usually) to vent hot air to the outside of the home. The zinc-coated material is designed to handle the highest dryer setting and more, but not open flames from burning, built-up lint. Since this is an exhaust pipe and smoke seeks the easiest access, a vent fire goes undetected by the smoke detectors much longer than a fire anywhere else in the house. 

If your dryer is in the garage or under a carport, the chance for a major fire is reduced, but not eliminated. The flexible vent tube may not run under the house, but it is still at risk. The buildup of lint can still ignite, destroying your dryer and the washer next to it. As the flexible, plastic pipe melts, the burning material quickly ignites drywall and other building material. Worse, there is the possible loss of a car, boat, ATV or RV that might be parked next to the dryer as well. 

Our SERVPRO technicians can eliminate this threat with an inspection. We can attach an air mover which introduces high-velocity air flow into your vent for just a few minutes. If the build-up has caked against the sides of the pipe, they use a brush with a telescoping handle to scrape the sides and then reattach the air mover to blow the lint outside your home. For a flexible conduit, we detach it from the dryer and clean it outside using either an air mover or your own garden hose to wash it out. 

The cost for vent cleaning is minor compared to other restoration and cleaning work. It is significantly cheaper than removing fire damaged drywall and cleaning smoke and soot covered property. If you need our services or would like an inspection...

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of East Cobb is strategically located to respond quickly to your smoke or fire damage event. When a major fire or disaster event occurs, we can call upon our national network of 1,700 SERVPRO Franchises and special Disaster Recovery Teams if we need additional resources or personnel.

We are proud to serve our local communities:

• Kennesaw, GA
• West Oak, GA
• Mount Bethel, GA
• Blackwells, GA
• Cumberland, GA

Contact SERVPRO of East Cobb - (770) 424-0400 -

Are Your Ducts In A Row?

10/17/2018 (Permalink)

Did you know, your ventilation system is often the biggest culprit in poor indoor air quality? Inspecting the duct work in your facility or home should be a high priority. In most cases, the HVAC system has been operating for some time without much attention. Dirty ducts can circulate odors, contaminants such as mold, and irritating dust throughout your building or home.

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb for All of Your Mold Removal Needs! - (770) 424-0400 -

We are proud to serve our local communities:

• Kennesaw, GA
• Westoak, GA
• Mount Bethel, GA
• Blackwells, GA
• Cumberland, GA

A routine part of SERVPRO of East Cobb service is inspecting the heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit (HVAC). Keeping the HVAC and duct work clean can potentially extend the life span of the equipment by allowing it to operate at peak condition, which may help save you money. Duct cleaning may not always be necessary. SERVPRO of East Cobb will inspect your HVAC system and duct work and make recommendations about the best way to address any indoor air quality concerns. This inspection can help save you money and provide peace of mind on the health of your HVAC system and duct work.

In some circumstances, such as after fire, smoke or  suspected mold growth, duct cleaning becomes an essential part of the cleanup process. In these cases, SERVPRO of East Cobb can often restore the HVAC system and duct work to pre-damage condition.

If you have a fuel burning furnace, stove or fireplace, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends they be inspected for proper functioning, and be serviced before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning.

The SERVPRO Duct Cleaning System is proven and cost efficient. Unlike the majority of duct cleaning services, SERVPRO of East Cobb uses a portable ventilation and air duct cleaning system to examine duct work fan make a clean sweep, removing years of dust and grime.

• The process begins by using patented equipment including a roto-scraper, which automatically adapts to the ducts shape and diameter while traveling through the duct, removing debris and filth before vacuuming begins.
• Next, a powerful push-pull air delivery and collection system transfers the debris from the ducting to a 16-gallon container.
• Air is filtered through a HEPA filtration system, removing 99.97% of the particles in the air stream. HEPA filters capture debris and keep the indoor environment clean.
• As an optional process, a sealant or coating products may be sprayed to address odor or microbial concerns.
• Filters will either be cleaned or replaced to remove odor and dirt.

For more information on duct cleaning, or to schedule an appointment, contact SERVPRO of East Cobb today.

SERVPRO of East Cobb (770) 424-0400

Helping Cobb County Schools Provide Clean & Health Environments for Our Children

10/17/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb – In A Class By Ourselves

Educational institutions can depend on SERVPRO East Cobb for fast, thorough service in the event of fire, water or mold damage. With 24-hour emergency response, SERVPRO of East Cobb provides mitigation, cleanup and restoration services to reduce recovery costs and to help ensure minimal interruption to your curriculum. SERVPRO of East Cobb also provides expert cleaning for emergencies or special needs exceeding routine janitorial capabilities, including stain removal, upholstery and drapery dry cleaning, indoor air quality and vandalism cleanup. Our franchise is trained to clean and sanitize building materials, surfaces and contents following restoration industry standards, using professional cleaning products and EPA registered cleaners and disinfectants.

Restoration:

• Fire, Smoke and Soot
• Water Removal and Dehumidification
• Mold Mitigation and Remediation
• Catastrophic Storm Response
• Move Out and Contents Restoration
• Electronics and Equipment
• Document Drying
• Contents Claim Inventory Service

Cleaning

• Air Ducts and HVAC
• Biohazard, Crime Scene and Vandalism
• Carpet, Walls and Hard Floors
• Deodorization

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb for All of Your Mold Removal Needs! - (770) 424-0400 -

We are proud to serve our local communities:

• Kennesaw, GA
• Westoak, GA
• Mount Bethel, GA
• Blackwells, GA
• Cumberland, GA

Cobb County Emergency Water Damage Restoration Service

10/11/2018 (Permalink)

When every minute counts and customer satisfaction is critical, you want experienced people you can rely on!

Emergency flood water damage restoration requires urgency and skill. Trained and certified to the highest standards in the industry, our professionals respond immediately – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – mitigate loss and meet every challenge with professionalism, reliability, compassion and respect.

SERVPRO of East Cobb provides 24-hour water damage restoration service in:

• Kennesaw, GA
• Westoak, GA
• Mount Bethel, GA
• Blackwells, GA
• Cumberland, GA

Recognizing that water damage causes a devastating setback to families or businesses; we do whatever it takes to give back that sense of security with minimal disruption. Our recovery and restoration process is aimed at property and people. We offer water damage repair solution; you can rely on to minimize the impact of flooding and water damage.

Take a Moment to Consider

Our commitment to customer excellence includes you, which means that you can expect effective, ongoing communication and reporting from us. We understand your requirements. We will provide a complete estimate within 24-48 hours.

SERVPRO of East Cobb offers the following emergency water damage restoration services:

• Emergency water extraction
• Removal and containment of odor caused by mold and mildew
• Drying and dehumidification
• Emergency Commercial Water Damage Restoration Service Available
• Fully Licensed & Insured Commercial Water Damage Restoration Contractor
• Expert Certified Commercial Water Damage Restoration Professionals

Call us immediately at (770) 424-0400 for water damage restoration services in Cobb County.

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

We live and work in this community too; we might even be neighbors. As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of East Cobb is close by and ready to respond to your smoke or fire damage emergency. We are also part of a national network of over 1,700 SERVPRO Franchises and special Disaster Recovery Teams strategically located throughout the country to respond to large scale disasters.

We are proud to be an active member of the Cobb County community and want to do our part to make our community the best it can be. We are also proud to serve our local communities:

• Kennesaw, GA
• Westoak, GA
• Mount Bethel, GA
• Blackwells, GA
• Cumberland, GA

How To Cleanup A Flooded Basement

10/11/2018 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb for professional emergency water extraction service (770) 424-0400

One of the most common areas that flood in our homes are our basements. The water seeps in from different places and can ruin many beloved items. Typically, garages are near basements and can run into the same treatment. Water damage requires a professional to make sure you steer clear of possible mold damage. Here are some techniques you can use to make the process easier before we arrive:

• Use wooden clothespins to hang up clothes, children’s stuffed animals, and photographs that may have been effected.
• Make sure that furs and leather items dry separately and at room temperature.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture and wet carpeting.
• Remove upholstery and cushions for drying.
• Remove any excess water by mopping or blotting until we arrive.

SERVPRO is ready for any size disaster. If your basement floods, call us at (770) 424-0400.

Check us out on Facebook and Google Local

Locally Owned and Operated

We live and work in East Cobb too! We might even be neighbors. As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of East Cobb is close by and ready to respond to your flood or water damage emergency. We are proud to be an active member in our community  and want to do our part to make our community the best it can be.

We are proud to serve our local communities:

• Kennesaw, GA
• Westoak, GA
• Mount Bethel, GA
• Blackwells, GA
• Cumberland, GA

Seven Ways to Prepare Your Kennesaw Home for a Home Fire

10/8/2018 (Permalink)

The fire restoration professionals SERVPRO of East Cobb

When your Kennesaw home or business suffers fire damage, it can be especially devastating. In addition to the fire and smoke damage, your property may have substantial water damage from firefighting efforts. You may feel stressed and confused after such a disaster, and you’ll need a caring expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of East Cobb has the specialized fire and water damage equipment and expertise to help you through this tough time.

Fire Damage Repair and Restoration

• 24-Hour Emergency Service
• Faster to Any Size Disaster
• Locally Owned and Operated
• A Trusted Leader in the Restoration Industry
• Highly Trained Fire Restoration Technicians

Our friends over at the American Red Cross have put together seven fire safety tips that they would like you and your family know about.

1. Install the right number of smoke alarms. Test them once a month and replace the batteries at least once a year.
2. Teach children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one.
3. Ensure that all household members know two ways to escape from every room of your home and know the family meeting spot outside of your home.
4. Establish a family emergency communications plan and ensure that all household members know who to contact if they cannot find one another.
5. Practice escaping from your home at least twice a year. Press the smoke alarm test button or yell "Fire" to alert everyone that they mush get out.
6. Make sure everyone knows how to call 9-1-1.
7. Teach household members to STOP, DROP, and Roll if their clothes catch on fire.

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb 24/7 for Water and Fire Restoration (770) 424-0400

The Key To Controlling Mold Growth

10/8/2018 (Permalink)

Dustin and Sunny using HEPA vacuums on a mold removal project.

When water leaks or spills occur indoors clean them up quickly as possible. If wet or damp materials or areas are dried 24-48 hours after a leak or spill happens, in most cases mold will not grow.

Call the Professional Mold Removal Team - SERVPRO of East Cobb (770) 424-0400

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has provided us with the following tips on controlling mold growth:

• Clean and repair roof gutters regularly.
• Make sure the ground slopes away from the building foundation, so that water does not enter or collect around the foundation.
• Keep air conditioning drip pans clean and the drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly.
• Keep indoor humidity low. If possible, keep indoor
  humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) relative humidity. Relative humidity can be measured with a moisture
  or humidity meter, a small, inexpensive ($10-$50)
  instrument available at many hardware stores.
• If you see condensation or moisture collecting on windows, walls or pipes act quickly to dry the wet surface and reduce the moisture/water source. Condensation can be a sign of high humidity.

Actions that will help to reduce humidity:

• Vent appliances that produce moisture, such as clothes dryers, stoves, and kerosene heaters to the outside where possible. (Combustion appliances such as stoves and kerosene heaters produce water vapor and will increase the humidity unless vented to the outside.)
• Use air conditioners and/or de-humidifiers
  when needed.
• Run the bathroom fan or open the window when showering. Use exhaust fans or open windows whenever cooking, running the dishwasher, or washing dishes, etc.

Actions that will help prevent condensation:

• Reduce the humidity
• Increase ventilation or air movement by opening doors and/or windows, when practical. Use fans as needed.
• Cover cold surfaces, such as cold water pipes, with insulation.
• Increase air temperature.
  
  

SERVPRO of East Cobb - The mold removal professionals!

Why the Emergency READY Profile?

10/2/2018 (Permalink)

The SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile (ERP) will help ensure you and your business are "Ready for whatever happens."

In the event of an emergency, the SERVPRO Emergency Ready Profile can help minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action in place for your facility. The ERP is comprehensive document containing critical information about your business, including emergency contact information, shut-off valve locations and priority areas. The ERP is also accessible online using your computer or tablet; download SERVPRO's free Ready Plan App to access this information at any time using your smartphone or tablet.

The ERP establishes SERVPRO of East Cobb as your disaster mitigation an restoration provider, giving you access to over 50 years experience and a system more than 1,700 franchises strong. Knowing what to do and who to call in advance is key to quick response and timely mitigation. Having a plan in place may help minimize the amount of time your business is inactive and get you back to the building following a disaster.

Preparation is the key to making it through any size disaster, whether it is a small water leak, a large fire or an area flood. The best time to plan for such events is not when the event happens, but well before it happens. No one ever plans on a disaster, but now, you can plan for it.

Advantages of the SERVPRO Emergency Ready Profile

• A no-cost assessment of your facility
• A concise Profile document that contains only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency
• A guide to help you get back into your building following a disaster
• Establishes SERVPRO of East Cobb as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider
• Provides facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas, and priority contact information

The ERP is a no-cost assessment; all it requires is a little time, making it a great value that could save a lot of time in the future. Call SERVPRO of East Cobb to establish your Emergency READY Profile (770) 424-0400.

A Salute to First Responders

9/28/2018 (Permalink)

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” This famous Mr. Rogers quote comes to mind when we celebrate first responders: those who arrive first on the scene of any disaster or emergency.

In the event of a disaster or emergency, there are many different agencies and people in your community who are ready to respond. Whether it’s a house fire or a hurricane, we are thankful every day for these first responders.

Firefighters, EMTs, and Police

Local fire and police departments, as well as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), are often first on the scene of an emergency. In the U.S., there are more than 29,700 fire departments with 1,160,450 total firefighters, according to the National Fire Protection Association’s 2015 U.S. Fire Department Profile.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are almost 245,000 EMTs and paramedics in the U.S. In the U.S. there are about 18,000 federal, state, county, and local law enforcement agencies, employing more than 750,000 full time sworn officers, according to the Uniformed Crime Reporting Program collected by the FBI.

Military

When events such as natural disasters strike, different branches of the military are often a first line of response. The Army National Guard and Air National Guard, with over 342,000 soldiers, respond domestically when deployed by their state Governor, often during states of emergency from weather-related events. They can also be called upon during terrorist attacks or civil unrest, or called overseas by the President of the United States.

Active duty soldiers can also be called upon for certain domestic events as well.

FEMA Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

As a part of FEMA’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), these volunteers are trained to be prepared for any disasters that may affect your local area in an effort to support professional responders. CERT volunteers are trained in “basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations,” according to FEMA.

With more than 2,700 CERT programs, over 600,000 individuals have been trained nationwide. Teams are managed locally, but supported nationally by FEMA.

SERVPRO® of East Cobb recognizes these and the countless other first responders in our communities for keeping our communities safe.

Locally Owned Company with National Storm Resources

SERVPRO of East Cobb is locally owned and operated, so we are part of this community too. When you have a flooding or storm emergency, we’re already nearby and ready to help. We take pride in being a part of the Kennesaw community and want to do our part in making it the best it can be.

We are proud to serve our local communities:

• Kennesaw, GA
• Westoak, GA
• Mount Bethel, GA
• Blackwells, GA
• Cumberland, GA

Lightning Safety Tips

9/28/2018 (Permalink)

Although lightning can strike anytime, the chances for lighting increases in the summer months. Stay safe with these basic tips.

• Have a lighting safety plan, and cancel/postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are expected.
• If you do get caught outside, avoid high ground, open spaces, and all metal objects including electric wires, fences, etc. Seek shelter in a substantial building or a fully enclosed metal vehicle.
• If you are indoors, stay away from doors and windows. Do not use the telephone. Consider unplugging computers, power tools, and TV sets. Lighting may strike exterior electric/phone lines, inducing shocks to inside equipment.

Locally Owned Company with National Storm Resources

SERVPRO of East Cobb is locally owned and operated, so we are part of this community too. When you have a flooding or storm emergency, we’re already nearby and ready to help. We take pride in being a part of the Kennesaw community and want to do our part in making it the best it can be.

We are proud to serve our local communities:

• Kennesaw, GA
• Westoak, GA
• Mount Bethel, GA
• Blackwells, GA
• Cumberland, GA

Call the Cleanup Team that is Faster to Any Size Disaster

9/28/2018 (Permalink)

Floods are one of the most common and widespread natural disasters in the United States. Whether your home or business is near a coastline, along a city streets, in the mountains, near a river, or even in the desert, there is always potential for flood damage. FEMA.gov reports in the last 5 years, all 50 states have experienced floods or flash floods. Just because you haven't experienced a flood in the past does not mean you won't in the future. In fact, nearly 20% of all flood insurance claims come from moderate-to-low risk areas, and even just one inch of flood damage in an average home can cost you up to $27,000.

According to the American Red Cross, floods cause more damage in the U.S. every year any other weather related disaster. The American Red Cross offers the following safety tips. 

• Stay away from floodwaters. If you come up on a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, sop, turn around, and go another way. Six inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off your feet.
• If you approach a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get our of the car quickly and move to higher ground. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water.
• Keep children out of the water. They are curious and often lack judgment about running water or contaminated water.

If a flood does strike your home or business, contact SERVPRO of East Cobb (770) 424-0400. Even minor floods have the potential to cause major damage to a structure when not treated quickly and properly, and the cleanup is often an overwhelming task. The SERVPRO System is prepared to handle any size disaster. When fire and water take control of your life, SERVPRO of East Cobb will help you take it back.

Learn More

Locally Owned Company with National Storm Resources

SERVPRO of East Cobb is locally owned and operated, so we are part of this community too. When you have a flooding or storm emergency, we’re already nearby and ready to help. We take pride in being a part of the Kennesaw community and want to do our part in making it the best it can be.

We are proud to serve our local communities:

• Kennesaw, GA
• Westoak, GA
• Mount Bethel, GA
• Blackwells, GA
• Cumberland, GA

What To Do Until Help Arrives

9/26/2018 (Permalink)

A fire can leave behind soot, smoke damage and a host of other problems. Ceilings, walls, woodwork, carpeting and floors will often need a thorough professional cleaning. If your home or business suffers a fire, it is important to take the appropriate steps to prevent further damage until SERVPRO of East Cobb arrives. The following tips may help reduce damage and increase chances of a successful restoration:

DO:

• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpet.
• Keep hands clean. Soot on hands can further soil upholstery, walls, and woodwork.
• Place dry, colorfast towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery, and caret traffic areas.
• If electricity is off, empty freezer/refrigerator completely and prop doors open to help prevent odor.
• Wipe soot from chrome kitchen/bathroom faucets, trim, and appliances, then protect these surfaces with a light coating o lubricant.
• If heat is off during winter, pour RV antifreeze in sinks, toilet bowls, holding tanks, and tubs to avoid freezing pipes and fixtures.
• Change HVAC filters; leave system off until a trained professional can check the system.
• Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers to stop particles of soot from getting in or out of the HVAC system.

DON'T:

• Don't attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces without first contacting trained professionals like SERVPRO of East Cobb
• Don't attempt to shampoo carpet or upholstered furniture without first consulting trained professionals.
• Do not attempt to clean any electrical appliances (TV sets, radios, etc.) that may have been close to fire, heat, or water with out first consulting a authorized repair service.
• Do not consume any food or beverages that may have been stored close to fire, heat, or water as they may be contaminated.
• If ceiling is wet, do not turn on ceiling fans. Wiring maybe wet or damaged and cause electrical shock, and air movement may create secondary damage.
• Don't send garments to the dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set in smoke odor.

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb (770) 424-0400 Fire & Water Restoration

When your Kennesaw home or business suffers fire damage, it can be especially devastating. In addition to the fire and smoke damage, your property may have substantial water damage from firefighting efforts. You may feel stressed and confused after such a disaster, and you’ll need a caring expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of East Cobb has the specialized fire and water damage equipment and expertise to help you through this tough time.

We’ll treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care. If you suffer a fire damage event, please refer to our Fire Damage Tips—Until Help Arrives Guide and follow these tips to protect yourself and your property.

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of East Cobb is strategically located to respond quickly to your smoke or fire damage event. When a major fire or disaster event occurs, we can call upon our national network of 1,700 SERVPRO Franchises and special Disaster Recovery Teams if we need additional resources or personnel.

We are proud to serve our local communities:

• Kennesaw, GA
• West Oak, GA
• Mount Bethel, GA
• Blackwells, GA
• Cumberland, GA

Emergency Commercial Flooding & Water Removal Services for Kennesaw GA

9/14/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb can make flood clean up "Like it never even happened."

Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States and can happen anywhere. Preparing for a flood is crucial in order to protect yourself, your property, and your business from flood damage. There are some guidelines the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encourage business owners to take under consideration, so that business owners can act quickly when the time comes when your home, or your business is in danger.

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb -Emergency Flood & Water Removal (770) 424-0400

Flooding is an overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a business or home's rooftop. Flooding can occur during any season, but some areas of the country are at greater risk at certain times of the year.

Coastal areas are at greater risk for flooding during hurricane season (i.e., June to November), while the Midwest is more at risk in the spring and during heavy summer rains. Ice jams occur in the spring in the Northeast and Northwest. Even the deserts of the Southwest are at risk during the late summer monsoon season.

Flooding can happen in any U.S. state or territory. It is particularly important to be prepared for flooding if you live in a low-lying area near a body of water, such as a river, stream, or culvert; along a coast; or downstream from a dam or levee.

Flooding can occur in several ways, including the following:

• Rivers and lakes cannot contain excessive rain or snow melt.
• Excessive rain or snow melt cannot be fully absorbed into the ground.
• Waterways are blocked with debris or ice and overflow.
• Water containment systems break, such as levees, dams, or water or sewer systems.
• Strong winds from tropical storms or hurricanes cause a storm surge by pushing seawater onto land.

The speed and duration of flooding can vary significantly.

• Flooding can occur slowly as rain continues to fall for many days. This type of flooding, sometimes called a slow-onset flood, can take a week to develop and can last for months before floodwaters recede.
• Rapid-onset floods occur more quickly, typically developing within hours or days. These types of floods usually occur in smaller watersheds experiencing heavy rainfall, particularly in mountainous and urban areas, and the water usually recedes within a few days.
• Some rapid-onset floods known as flash floods occur very quickly with little or no warning, such as during periods of extremely heavy rain or when levees, dams, ice jams, or water systems break. Densely populated areas are at a high risk for flash floods. In urban areas, flash floods can fill underpasses, viaducts, parking structures, low roads, and basements.
• The strong winds of a tropical cyclone or hurricane can push large amounts of seawater up onto the land, causing a storm surge. A storm surge combines with the ocean’s tide to produce a storm-tide surge. Storm-tide surges have been registered as high as almost 35 feet above normal sea level and can cause significant flooding across a large area. This generally occurs over a short period, typically 4 to 8 hours, but in some areas, it can take much longer for the water to recede to its pre-storm level.

The physical destruction caused by flooding depends on the speed and level of the water, the duration of the flood, terrain and soil conditions, and the built environment (e.g., buildings, roads, and bridges).

• Flooding can cause fatalities and serious injuries for people who are trapped or swept away by wading in, driving through, or boating across floodwaters.
• Transportation routes, power, water, gas, and other services may be disrupted.
• Commercial supplies and government support systems may be temporarily unavailable.
• Drinking water supplies and wells may become polluted.
• Floodwaters can cause erosion, which can damage roads, bridge structures, levees, and buildings with weak foundations, causing their collapse without warning. The floodwaters may carry the worn-away mud, rocks, and other sediment.
• Landslides and mudslides can occur.
• Even a few inches of floodwater in a home can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage

Smoke Alarms: Life Savers

9/13/2018 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb if you are need of fire remediation services. We are here to help!

Smoke alarms save lives when properly installed and maintained, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

 In homes, smoke alarms should be in every bedroom and on every level, including the basement. In office and commercial environments check your state requirements or contact local Fire Marshall to help ensure all codes are met.

Test smoke alarms monthly using test button. Smoke alarms with non-replaceable batteries need the entire smoke alarm unit replaced every then years. Other alarms need batteries, replace the batteries every year and replace all together every ten years. If alarm chirps signaling low battery signals replace batteries immediately. Never disable or remove batteries with out replacing them or replacing the fire detector. Almost half of all fires where smoke alarms were present, the fire detector was inoperable due to missing batteries or in need of replacement.

In larger commercial facilities, hard wired or wireless smoke alarms offer benefits such as not needing to be tested as often and activating throughout the entire building if smoke is detected in just one area. 

Be sure your home or workplace has a fire emergency plan in place and conduct regular fire drills.

For more information on emergency preparedness or restoration contact SERVPRO of East Cobb or give us a call at 770) 424-0400

Hoarding Is A Fire Hazard

8/6/2018 (Permalink)

If you are like most people you probably have at least one room in your house dedicated to "storage". This is a practical way of keeping items that you don't use regularly but need to keep around for one reason or another (sporting goods, seasonal decorations, keepsakes or antiques). Storing items in this manor is a healthy practice and make both financial and practical sense. However, it is important to keep storage areas clean and organized. Not only so that you can access your belongings easily, but also to prevent the area from growing out of control and to reduce unnecessary wear and tear on your items.

We all probably know someone that has a hard time throwing things away or we might even have issues with this task ourselves. No one wants to be wasteful and we definitely don’t want to have to re-purchase items that we discarded in the past. There is a big difference between keeping items for practical reasons/future use and hoarding.

As defined by the Mayo Clinic, "Hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. A person with hoarding disorder experiences distress at the thought of getting rid of the items. Excessive accumulation of items, regardless of actual value, occurs." This inability to discard items can results in cramped living conditions. In some cases, homes are filled to capacity with clutter.

Here are some signs or symptoms the Mayo Clinic advise us to be mindful of:

• Excessively acquiring items that are not needed or for which there's no space
• Persistent difficulty throwing out or parting with your things, regardless of actual value
• Feeling a need to save these items, and being upset by the thought of discarding them
• Building up of clutter to the point where rooms become unusable
• Having a tendency toward indecisiveness, perfectionism, avoidance, procrastination, and problems with planning and organizing

Hoarding items can result in some major issues. Cleanliness and general order typically decline and there are some genuine fire concerns when it come to properties that have become over crowed by hoarding.

Here are some fire safety risks brought on by hoarding, provided by FEMA:

• Personal items can crowd cooking equipment, making it unsafe to cook.
• Personal items can crowd heating equipment, putting you at risk of having a fire.
• Blocked windows and doors make it difficult for firefighters to get into the home to fight the fire and search for occupants.
• Piles of belongings make it difficult for firefighter to move through your home quickly.
• Always keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from cooking and heating equipment
• Keep doorways and windows clear for escape in case there is a fire. This will also prevent injuries from falling over excessive personal items.

Call SERVPRO of East Cobb for all of your fire clean up need (770)424-0400

How a Water Damage Restoration Company Can Help Your Kennesaw Home

7/30/2018 (Permalink)

A Kennesaw Water Damaged Home and Help

Once a flood or fire has damaged your Kennesaw home, it's important for you to obtain water damage restoration services. Restoration services are multi-faceted in so much as they involve both cleaning, removing excess water from your home and repairing regions of the house that have been subjected to substantive water damage. As the water damage specialists know from SERVPRO, it is important to start the cleanup and repair process right after the flood or fire to ensure that the water damage is minimized and that mold and mildew do not begin to accumulate on the property. Learn more about the helpful services that this water damage restoration company can offer by reading the following short reference guide: 

A Water Damage Restoration Company Remediates Your Property Quickly

One of the benefits that results from employing a water damage restoration company is that they complete the cleanup, repair, and restoration processes quickly. A water damage restoration company like SERVPRO employs a large staff who can work with expedience and excellence. This group effort ensures that they can tackle a large number of problems that have resulted in the accumulated water damage in your Kennesaw home. The end result is the rapid restoration of your home, a reality which can greatly reduce the onset of secondary water damage and offer you peace of mind.

A Water Damage Restoration Company Limits Mold and Mildew Proliferation

Another great service provided by this water damage restoration company is the treatment of mold and mildew growth in your private living space. Restoration specialists accomplish this objective by removing excess water quickly so that the fungi do not have an opportunity to form and proliferate. If mold has already begun to grow in your home, this will commence in 48-72 hours after the initial water intrusion, the restoration specialists can eliminate it through the use of cleaners and industrial-grade disinfectants. These cleaners will not put you and your family at risk. It's important to let a team of trained professionals handle your water damage issues rather than attempting to solve the problem on your own. In recognizing that a water damage restoration company like SERVPRO can restore your home to its original condition, you may wish to ask your insurance agent for recommendation and advice.

Let's Get Started Now 

Homes that have been subjected to water damage are in need of high quality remediation services. Once you start looking for a professional water damage company to assist you in restoring your home, you should look no further than SERVPRO. Our company is committed to consistently offering cutting edge, expedient restoration services that get your home back in great condition with lightning speed. For water damage restoration services that work, contact us today and let's get started.

Locally Owned and Operated

We live and work in East Cobb too! We might even be neighbors. As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of East Cobb is close by and ready to respond to your flood or water damage emergency. We are proud to be an active member in our community  and want to do our part to make our community the best it can be.

We are proud to serve our local communities:

• Kennesaw, GA
• Westoak, GA
• Mount Bethel, GA
• Blackwells, GA
• Cumberland, GA
• 
  
  

The Restoration Process Begins When You Call Us.Here is the number for an immediate response.  (770) 424-0400

Kitchen Cooking Fires Prevention & Tips

7/30/2018 (Permalink)

Of all the rooms in your home, the kitchen is the one in which you may spend more of your active time than anywhere else. This is where you gather, entertain, eat and, of course, cook. Unfortunately, this is one of the most common areas in the home where fires start. Often, destructive fires start because of unsafe cooking practices. It’s important to follow some best practices and tips to keep fires away.

1. Watch Your Clothes
   • You may not think of your attire as being important when it comes to fire prevention tips. However, if you’re not careful, loose and dangling clothing could touch a burner or come into contact with grease. This could injure you and could even spread flames in your kitchen. 
2. Clean, Clean, Clean
   • Not only will cleaning up grease and other materials help your kitchen look nicer, but this will reduce the risk of a grease fire. As soon as you’ve finished preparing and cooking your meal, wipe down the surfaces of your stove. 
3. Stay Nearby
   
   • Whether you’re standing at the stove or using an electric skillet, it’s important to not leave any cooking food unattended. Un-monitored cooking can lead to extensive fire damage. 
     -Stay in the kitchen whether you’re grilling, frying or broiling your meal.
     -If you have to leave for any reason, turn the stove or other appliance off. 
     -If possible, have someone at your watch your food while you step away.
4. Use a Timer
   • It’s easy to throw something in the oven and forget about it, especially if you leave the kitchen and go into another room or outside. Setting a timer will help reduce the risk of a fire starting in the oven and spreading to other areas. 

These simple fire prevention tips could help save you and your loved ones from catastrophe. Be conscientious as you cook and entertain so you can avoid the terrible consequences of a house fire.

For more information, please visit us at SERVPRO of East Cobb or you can check out our friends over at the U.S. Fire Administration.

Why Choose SERVPRO of East Cobb

7/18/2018 (Permalink)

Insurance agencies and adjusters have an obligation to keep the cost of claims low while still delivering the level of coverage outlined in your particular policy. SERVPRO of East Cobb is uniquely qualified to help you through a water, fire, or mold claim and understands your situation. We can help your insurance agent and adjuster keep claims cost down while still providing the best service possible to our customers. 

Emergency Response to Claims

Restoring property is the SERVPRO's first priority. Customers appreciate immediate response and regain control of the hectic situation that a home insurance claim can cause, and your insurance company will know everything is being done to limit the damage through industry leading trained professionals that document the work preformed.

Pretesting Reduces Claims Expense

Restoring property is less expensive than replacing property. Claims Professionals know the rule is, "Restore whenever possible, replace only when necessary." SERVPRO Franchise Professionals make sure pretesting is completed on every loss to determine restorability. This process helps insure that the restoration process is runs smoothly, efficiently, and in a timely manor. After all SERVPRO of East Cobb's goal is to get our customers back into their homes or businesses with as little disruption as possible. By adhering to this principle we can provide great customer service while maintaining both effective and economical options to your adjuster and agent.   

Claims Inventory Service

SERVPRO can provide an itemized loss inventory. You will receive an Excel formatted report and pictures of important items.

Electronic Claims Information

Our Claims Information Center provides fast, accurate information you need to make sound decisions, including:

• A Complete Electronic Job File.
• First Notice of Loss
• Detailed Estimate
• Digital Loss Photos
• Scanned Forms and Paperwork
• All delivered by email or hard copy
• On-line Access to All Files
• New Assignments
• Pending Jobs
• Completed Jobs
• Informative Reports to Improve Results
• Job Cost Data
• Performance Comparison to Industry Standard.