What IS Water Damage Restoration?

3/14/2025 (Permalink)

Moisture Meter Checking Moisture Level on Wooden Floor.

Transforming Water Damage into Safe Living Spaces:

Water Damage Restoration is the process of fixing and restoring a water damaged home, or office, with the intention of restoring it to its original condition before the water event. However, this can only be done after the water mitigation. The importance of Water Damage Restoration and Water Mitigation ultimately comes to a person’s health! By removing excess moisture, SERVPRO can eliminate a breeding ground for dangerous molds which will lead to a healthier living environment.

The Hidden Dangers of Ignoring Water Damage:

Water damage can lead to health effects, as excess moisture attracts rodents and insects, creating electrical hazards.

Leading the Charge:

In the constant battle of Water Mitigation and Water Damage Restoration, SERVPRO® is a leader in water cleanup and restoration. We have seen it all! If you need Water Mitigation and / or Water Damage Restoration, just remember, SERVPRO is faster to any size disaster™!

What To Do Immediately After A Water Or Fire Disaster

11/1/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Disaster Team Beginning Work Post Disaster

While nobody wants to be the victim of a water or fire disaster, nature often has other plans. What should you do as soon as possible to Mitigate as much Water Damage / Fire Damage? Assuming everyone is safe, and uninjured:

1. Contact your insurance company: In many cases, your insurance company will direct you to an organization like SERVPRO® to assist in the clean-up and restoration in these unfortunate circumstances.
2. After the Fire / Water Cleanup and Restoration: Check for Molds! With water damage, mold is quick to follow. In some cases, it can take as little as 24 hours for mold to begin breeding in any water. If there is mold, organizations, like SERVPRO® Team George, provide Mold Mitigation and Remediation services!
3. Test your water: Be sure to test your water, if there was Water Damage, for contaminants before using it!
4. Inventory your property: If there is a fire, inventory all items in the building and don’t throw anything away without your insurance company’s approval!

Florida Heat Can Be Brutal

6/23/2023 (Permalink)

Going over the scope of work prior to beginning the job.

June 2023

Let’s talk about something all Florida residents are familiar with. HEAT! As we all know, summers are brutal in Tampa, FL. With heat index’s reaching up to 115 degrees at times, it can be extremely dangerous if the right precautions are not taken. Below we’ve listed the type of heat warnings and what they mean.

Heat Advisory

In order to receive a heat advisory in Florida you must have a heat index value of 108 degrees or higher for at least two hours. For an excessive heat warning, the heat index needs to reach 113 degrees or higher for at least two hours. 

A heat advisory means that people can be affected by heat if precautions are not taken. The issuance of a heat advisory is important to raise public awareness that these precautions need to be taken. Heat advisories are also used to trigger other actions and regulations such as no evictions, no turning off of power, changing outdoor work requirements, etc.

Excessive Heat Warning

 A heat warning means that some people can be seriously affected by heat if precautions are not taken. Studies in Canada, Europe, and the U.S. have indicated that mortality begins to increase exponentially as the heat increases or stays above a heat index of 104°F.

In addition to raising public awareness, the issuance of a heat warning will alert hospitals and officials to take certain actions to prepare and respond to an increase in emergency calls, and activate programs to check on elderly and the home-bound. In some cases cooling centers can be open or designated and donation programs activated for fans and air conditioners. As in the case of an advisory, certain regulations may change such as turning off people's electricity, evictions, and outside work requirements.

While all of us Floridians are used to our hot summers, we must practice safety whenever there is any kind of warning or advisory.

Have you checked your smoke alarms recently?

6/23/2023 (Permalink)

Going over the plumbing in a residential home.

June 2023

Has your apartment or rental home owner ever given you a list to cross off and hand back to the property manager saying you have checked that everything worked and nothing is broken? Did you test out the smoke alarm to make sure it worked?

When smoke alarms are properly installed and maintained, they save lives. According to the National Fire Protection Association (https://www.nfpa.org/), residential 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 your local 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. 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. If you need help installing, testing or changing batteries in your smoke alarms, contact your local fire department, an electrician or the American Red Cross (https://www.redcross.org/).

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 West Tampa at 813-855-0888

SERVPRO New Hire Expectations vs Reality

1/3/2023 (Permalink)

Our new hire Chelsea posing with her dog Bauer

I’m Chelsea and I was recently hired as the Administrative Assistant at SERVPRO. Previously, I had no experience in this type of industry or emergency services. I knew it would occasionally be fast paced, but that’s the only expectations I had. Since I have been here 3 months, I’ve learned a lot and realized that there is something new to do every day, and every job is different. I’ve also gained appreciation for our technicians! To run or assist on a project in this industry requires talent, to not only know how we can help in almost any type of situation, but also to do the work.

  Since being here we have done not only water, fire, mold, biohazard, and cleaning jobs, but also assisted and completed work I never knew SERVPRO could help with. We have worked on cleaning and reconstruction in RV’s, houses damaged from lightning strikes, and even removing mold and odor from cars. There are things that truly make SERVPRO one of a kind and truly “Ready for Whatever Happens”.

Storm Season 2022

1/3/2023 (Permalink)

Technician taking a break next to a SERVPRO truck at a storm job site

Here in Florida, we have had quite the storm season! When we saw Hurricane Ian was going to make a direct hit, our team jumped into action and was ready for whatever happened. We didn’t get directly hit here in the Tampa Bay Area, however, that didn’t stop us from helping our fellow Floridians. Shortly thereafter, Hurricane Nicole passed through the Sunshine Sate as well.

Here’s a breakdown of what storm season looked like for Team George:

• We responded to one of the sites most heavily impacted within 24 hours of landfall.
• We had over 10 commercial large loss jobs running at one time, including the Braves Training Facility, multiple Publix’s, and Sarasota Memorial Hospital, while also assisting local residents as well.
• Many of our Project Managers and technicians worked around the clock, most putting in 15-hour days.
• We are still actively working on jobs there, that’s 10 weeks and counting that our team has been putting effort into restoring the lives and homes of the people that need it most right now.

While our hearts are saddened that so many people’s lives have been affected by this, we are beyond grateful that so many people have trusted SERVPRO to help restore their community, and that we have the opportunity to help.

Water Damage? What you can expect when you call SERVPRO.

1/3/2023 (Permalink)

Our snack manager, Loki, managing a loaded trailer ready to dispatch to a water damage.

One of the most common calls we get is for Water Restoration Services. It can be very stressful when there is water damage in your home, and you might not know what to expect, especially if this has never happened before.

Here’s what you can expect when you call:

• Our receptionist will take your information and try to help walk you through the process. Once we get all the required information from you, we will dispatch a team to respond to your home.
• When the technician arrives, they will be thorough and quite literally walk you through the process, explaining what they see, what they’re doing and why. Our technicians are experts in this industry and will be more than happy to answer any of your questions and guide you through the process.
• Once the equipment is placed, our technicians will continue to monitor and make sure affected areas are drying properly.
• We work with almost every insurance company in the country, if a claim is filed, the office staff will speak to your adjuster and work directly with your insurance to make the process as streamlined as possible.

We understand the process and want to help you understand it as well. Even though these situations can be overwhelming, we are here to help you.

How to prepare for Hurricane Season 2023

12/19/2022 (Permalink)

Equipment lined up in Commercial Building hallway following water intrusion.

As hurricane season 2022 ends, preparing your commercial building for Hurricane Season 2023 is essential to preventing flood damages that could be quite costly.  

There are two phases to building preparation:  

• Preventative 
• Pre- Storm 

The Preventative Phase can be taken at any time throughout the year and should include having your building inspected and retrofitted for common risks, including flood water and heavy winds. You should also make data backup a part of your everyday routine and implement an alternate means of communication for when lines go down.  Starting this process well before we enter storm season could save you valuable time and resources.
 
The Pre-Storm phase should include closing all your storm windows, covering equipment and moving it to a secured area, disconnecting electrical equipment and turning off gas and electricity.  
 
Stay Safe 
 
When a flood warning is issued, get to higher ground as soon as possible. If flooding is already underway, stay put until authorities say that it is OK for everyone to go home. Heed all evacuation warnings, and don’t wait to act until flood water has already entered your building.  
 
A flooded building is dangerous to both your assets and your personnel. Keep everyone safe and protect your assets from water damage by implementing the tips above and contacting SERVPRO of West Tampa at 813-855-0888 for all your restoration needs. 

Fire damage? We are here to help!

12/19/2022 (Permalink)

Roof damage as a result of a stove catching fire

Fire damage usually isn't on the mind of most homeowners until a situation arises. While fires typically happen unexpectedly, their severity can offer a range of different effects to your home. This hurdle requires professional restoration services as they have the tools and expertise to do the job thoroughly, and it is a requirement for most insurance companies handling a claim.

While you might not be adequately prepared for the fire damages that you now face in your Tampa residence, SERVPRO of West Tampa is always ready to help. Our technicians are trained to deal with all levels of fire restoration from smoke/soot cleaning to water damages left behind after extinguishment.

When our technicians arrive, we work quickly to fully restore your home. This process begins with an initial assessment of the damage that your home faces and what restoration techniques to implement. We then set out to cover and board off any openings that the fire has left in the house, which might expose your home to further external damages.

Water damage is a common problem after a fire and cleaning up the damage must occur before fire restoration gets underway to prevent compounding damage like mold growth. Addressing the most pressing issues of the recent fire ensure that you can exist more comfortably in your home, and this process includes smoke and soot removal from all affected surfaces.

While there are several layers to the restoration process, our experienced restoration specialists can handle any damage that a recent fire has presented to your home and can help you take the necessary steps to make it "Like it never even happened." Give us a call today at (813) 855-0888.

Professional Restoration After a Tampa Fire

6/13/2022 (Permalink)

After a fire call the specialists at SERVPRO of West Tampa (813) 855-0888.

Residential and commercial fires are unpredictable and can be devastating.
Hopefully you have given thought to fire prevention for your home. In addition to taking these steps, you have also developed an escape plan with your family. In the unfortunate case of a serious fire, would you know where to turn after the fire crews leave?

SERVPRO of West Tampa (813) 855-0888 is the simple, effective solution. We'll respond quickly and get to work restoring your property.

One of the first steps in our fire damage restoration process is the inspection.

Without proper and careful inspection, we cannot be sure of risk factors in the environment, the extent of damage, critical utility locations, and numerous other important factors. Inspection can sometimes be a lengthy process, as SERVPRO of West Tampa inspectors have to look for and catalog many different factors.

Here are some of the things that we look for in homes that have taken fire damage.
 

Structural Instability

 
One of the most important considerations when inspecting fire damage in Tampa is structural stability. Fires, as they burn through supports and other structural components, can create unstable conditions and high potential for collapse. Our technicians look for signs of structural weakening to ensure the safety of both you and SERVPRO of West Tampa technicians, such as warped walls, burned columns, caved-in ceilings, buckled door frames, and scraping between doors, windows, and their upper frames. Any of these may be an indicator of a weakened structure, so knowing of them before any work begins has the potential to save lives.

Spots for Tarping and Boarding

 
Immediately following inspection, our crews move in with tarps and boards to seal up any windows, doors, or holes in the home that leave it open to the elements. Inspectors look for these openings and compose plans to seal them most effectively.

 
Damage Inspection

 
Of course, the central part of any fire damage inspection is what has been hurt, and how much. Inspectors will catalog items, surfaces, and areas which have taken damage, describing in detail for our other teams how bad the situation is and what factors caused it. From there, our technicians can work to apply appropriate cleanup processes and measures. If you have used our ERP (Emergency Ready Profile) system, this process may be greatly accelerated as our inspectors will have access to plans and inventory lists beforehand.

 
SERVPRO of West Tampa works with you to get fire damage cleaned up quickly at a fair price. Call us at all hours at (813) 855-0888.