Uh-oh: is there more mold in 2024?

11/13/2024 (Permalink)

Unfortunately, we’ve observed a significant increase in mold cases in Buffalo’s homes and businesses throughout 2024.

Whether it’s due to growth in the area or heightened awareness, it’s clear that mold, mildew, and microbial growth have become persistent challenges in Western New York, showing no signs of slowing down.

Preventing a mold outbreak on your property is crucial. Beyond the immediate issues—health risks, unsightly appearances, and the costly, labor-intensive remediation process—mold is often a red flag for deeper issues. It could indicate flooding, leaks, burst pipes, or even significant structural issues allowing moisture intrusion.

No matter the cause, addressing it promptly is essential. Let’s work together to reverse this trend and keep Western New York mold-free in 2025!

Should you be prepping your home for winter?

9/15/2023 (Permalink)

As most of you already know, we are almost at that time of year again when the sun sets by 5:00 p.m. and it's 20° out. There's nothing worse than having a pipe burst in your home or an issue with your HVAC system during the winter time. So what can we do to prepare our home for the winter? Here are some tips

1. Clean Out Your Gutters

You should try to clear out your gutters at least a few times per year. This can fluctuate depending on how many trees you have in your yard. Don’t forget the downspouts either because twigs and leaves tend to build up in them.

2. Protect Your Pipes

Places that are usually unheated are your garage, basement and attic. These areas are the most at risk for frozen pipes. Pipe insulation works well on pipes that might be exposed. Try to keep your garage closed at most times during the winter. Keep the temperature of your home above 55 degrees fahrenheit

3. Recaulk your windows and doors

Any windows or doors in your home that might have a draft, need to be recaulked to help keep the temperature in your home from changing rapidly. This also saves on your heating bills so the furnace doesn’t keep turning on and off. Be sure to only caulk the exterior perimeter, and use exterior silicone caulk so it doesn’t shrink and expand due to seasons.

4. Get your roof inspected

This is a very crucial step. Before winter you might want to hire a contractor to inspect your roof for any missing or cracked shingles. If you have access to your roof, you could do it yourself but take the right precautions. Packed snow could cause issues for you in the future if you don’t take the right sets beforehand.

SERVPRO cleans state and local police vehicles?

9/15/2023 (Permalink)

Have you ever wondered what a police officer does if someone bled, threw up, or urinated in the back of a police vehicle?

It depends on each department, but most have a cleaning service that they have contracts with.

SERVPRO specializes in Biohazard cleanup and we’ve been cleaning police vehicles for years.

Usually, we will have the state or local police drop off the vehicle at our shop and we usually have it back to them within the day. We take all the appropriate precautions including a full Tyvek suit with gloves and respiratory protection.

If you know of any police departments that are looking to have there interiors cleaned after a biohazard incident please contact us at sales@SERVPROthesouthtowns.com.

Why relationships matter during a storm

8/31/2023 (Permalink)

As of the time of writing, the last major storm that hit Western New York was Winter Storm Elliott over the holiday season in 2022. 

Elliott was a game-changer for many - the high winds mixed with the freezing temperatures and the massive snowfall created a "perfect storm" situation for property damage to go from bad to worse.

In these situations, the level of need for SERVPRO's services is through the roof. And it's in these situations exactly that relationships really matter.

Our premier partners with whom we have formal service agreements were able to get the help they needed immediately, without any need to procure insurance certificates, go over protocols or delay service for administrative reasons.

We implore all commercial real estate professionals to form a relationship like this with a restorer. You never know when you'll need it. 

How much does a commercial water loss cost?

8/31/2023 (Permalink)

Even in the most dire of circumstances, when a property manager is looking at multiple floors of severe water damage still trickling through the floors and the ceilings, we've had them stop us from getting started with a deceptively simple question: "before we get started, how much is this going to cost?"

We wish we could answer that question exactly, in the moment, every single time. It would make many people's lives easier to know the exact costs and scopes of the project as soon as we set foot on the premises.

The fact of the matter is, though, is that answering that question is like answering the question "how long is a piece of string?" Every single loss is different, and the factors influencing cost are complex. 

In these situations, we typically explain the following: "right now, we need to stop the bleeding and stabilize the environment, and that work needs to happen no matter what. We'll work up a scope for you alongside that effort, but if we don't get started now, this damage is only going to get worse and worse." 

What are bloodborne pathogens?

8/31/2023 (Permalink)

The risk of bloodborne pathogens is one of the reasons that biohazard jobs, specifically trauma and crime scene cleanup jobs, are such specialized projects. 

Bloodborne pathogens are typically viruses, bacteria or other microorganisms that are carried in the blood. Because they thrive in that kind of environment, they can be incredibly easy to transmit through contact with any number of bodily fluids.

These pathogens can be extremely dangerous. Malaria, brucellosis, hepatitis, HIV and many other pathogens are often transmitted in exactly this way.

This is why cleaning up blood and bodily fluids requires such a high level of care and coordination. In order to ask our biohazard technicians to do this work, we have to provide them with every possible safeguard against such pathogens, including PPE, certifications and specialty training. We also have to follow local, state and federal regulations for dealing with these sorts of materials.

That's why it pays to call a pro for your biohazard cleanup needs.

What is roof tarping after storm damage?

8/5/2022 (Permalink)

Imagine: the big one hits. A gigantic thunderstorm (or, more likely in Western New York, a historic blizzard) blows through town and wreaks havoc on your neighborhood.

You're fast asleep when you hear an enormous crashing sound coming from above you.

Uh-oh. The limb of a nearby tree has decided to finally give out and crash into your roof, punching a hole in the top of your house.

What do you do?

Obviously, you'll need to clear the limb. But once that work is complete, you've still got issues on your hands. Your roof has been compromised and your house is now exposed to the elements, including snow, rain, ice and wildlife.

Getting a roofer out to fix the problem could take days, if not weeks, especially if the weather's bad. 

That's where emergency roof tarping comes in. Tarping your roof is a temporary fix that prevents additional secondary damage after an initial damage event. 

If you've had damage to your roof, don't wait - call for a tarp-up before it gets any worse.

How dangerous is wind in a storm?

8/5/2022 (Permalink)

Your home was built to stand up to the elements for a long, long time. Especially here in Western New York, it's not uncommon for people to live in homes that are over a century old and still in excellent condition.

That said, your house is not invulnerable when big storms roll through the region. And one of the most dangerous elements of those storms is invisible to the naked eye: high winds.

For the most part, wind itself isn't dangerous to a structure. Your house might creak and groan, but it's not going to get blown over.

Wind damage usually comes from other debris blowing around. A rotting tree, dead branch or even a few pieces of gravel propelled by abnormally high winds can harm you as well as your property.

How can you protect your home? Clear this debris so that it doesn't pose a threat, maintain your home well, and hope for the best.

There was a fire next door. Should you worry?

8/5/2022 (Permalink)

A house fire, especially a serious one, can be a really terrifying thing. 

Within a very short timeline, your home can go from a safe, comfortable place to a dangerous, uninhabitable environment.

What many people don't realize is that house fires affect more than just the houses where they start.

Smoke, soot and other forms of damage can easily affect neighboring homes as well.

As smoke pours out of the source unit, it doesn't necessarily just go straight up into the sky. It can migrate to nearby structures, get blown around, and cause serious secondary damage throughout the neighborhood.

Often, this damage is most pronounced in the form of odor. Even when the restoration is totally complete on the source unit, neighboring people may notice that they still detect a smoke odor in their own homes.

Sometimes, this is psychological - they're so used to smelling smoke that they can't shake it. But often, it's a sign that the neighboring home may need some level of cleaning and restoration as well.

How common are cooking fires?

8/5/2022 (Permalink)

Every single day, fire departments respond to a wide variety of emergencies in the communities that they serve. 

Out of all of the fires that they respond to, the bulk will be cooking fires.

Kitchen fires are by far the most common types of fires that occur in the United States and throughout the world. It's no surprise as to why - we use our kitchens every single day, and we're usually using some form of heat or open flame to cook food. 

If something goes wrong, the consequences can be deadly.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, there were over 172,000 fires caused by cooking in the US from 2014 - 2018.  These led to over $1 billion in property damage and around 550 deaths. 

Why do things go wrong in the kitchen? Usually, the culprit is not paying attention. Unattended cooking fires are the bulk of the problem.