Tips to Prevent Water Damage From Summer Storms

4/8/2024 (Permalink)

1. Keep trees trimmed 

• Regularly trimming trees will prevent tree limbs from potentially damaging your roof during a storm with high winds or heavy rain. 

2. Keep gutters clean

• Making sure your gutters are clear of debris year-round is essential to preventing major damage to your home. 
• If gutters are full, water may not be able to flow away from your house causing water damage or mold. 

3. Keep your sump pump in working order

• Checking on your sump pump regularly can prevent flooding during heavy rains. 

4. Replace missing or damaged shingles

• During a storm with heavy rain, water will try hard to find a way into your home. In order to avoid the headache of a roof leak, check the integrity of your shingles. 

5. Repair loose siding

• Just like shingles, loose or damaged siding can allow water to get into your home and potentially cause mold. 

Following these basic home maintenance tips can help prevent damage from storms, however, things can still happen and if they do we are Here to Help. 

How to Get Rid of a Bad Odor in Your Car

4/5/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Farmington and Farmington Hills was called out by a local car dealership to clean the inside of this car before starting repairs

A bad odor in your car can become extremely bothersome because more than likely you drive your car every single day. There are endless causes for a bad smell in your car, however, when getting rid of the odor there are less possibilities.

Common suggestions for getting rid of an odor in your car are to vacuum the upholstery, sprinkling baking soda on the are where the smell seems to be coming from, leaving a chunk of charcoal in there for a few days, or using a natural deodorizer. If none of those take care of the odor, that is when you need to call in a professional cleaning company like us and let our SERVPRO of Farmington and Farmington Hills technicians take care of your vehicle.

We use specific machinery and chemicals to safely and effectively remove odors after identifying the source. We have many methods of deodorizing a space including ozone machines, chemical solvents, and even as far as professional upholstery and carpet cleaning.

If you have an odor in your home, business, or vehicle call us at (248) 427-1500

Spring Cleaning

3/14/2024 (Permalink)

Before and after photos of a finished basement after technicians cleaned up

Spring is right around the corner here in Michigan and for most that means spring cleaning! Maybe you finally cleaned out the catch all closet and need it scrubbed down floor to ceiling? Or you hauled all that old unused furniture to the curb and the carpet underneath was disgusting? Well, the typical homeowner will probably cover the basics with dusting, mopping, vacuuming, throwing things away here and there, making the infamous ‘donate’ pile and wiping down surfaces and furniture. However, sometimes your spring-cleaning needs go a little deeper than that.

Our SERVPRO of Farmington and Farmington Hills technicians can do the dirty work for you no matter how bad the situation. Here are just a few ways we can help you:

• We have specially formulated SERVPRO chemicals
• We use green products safe for pets
• HEPA vacuuming
• Carpet Deodorization and cleaning
• Ozone Machine for strong odors
• Using reach poles to clean tall ceilings
• Washing walls/moldings/baseboard etc.
• Floor cleaning
• Trash out/de-cluttering services

Get a head start on your spring cleaning today and call us at (248) 427-1500

Flooded Basement?

2/27/2024 (Permalink)

Before and after a flooded basement clean up

As any Michigander knows, springtime means heavy rainfall for us. The April showers may bring May flowers and nice weather; however, it can also flood basements for a lot of homeowners. Most homeowners who have experienced or are prone to flooding in their basement may take some cautionary steps like waterproofing, gutter maintenance, proper landscaping, inspecting and repairing foundation cracks, sump pump maintenance, and even installing window well covers, however, heavy rainfall can cause your basement to flood despite all of it. 

Basements can flood at any time, but primarily after winter moving into spring when we have a lot of rain combined with the ground thawing. Flooding can occur by seepage or flow through the walls or foundation floor, from surface water sources, or by a sanitary or storm sewer backup.

Most homeowner’s first reaction when their basement floods is to panic and start trying to clean it up themselves, granted if it’s a tiny bit in a small area you may be able to, but typically the problem is too large for you to handle. That is where our water-certified SERVPRO of Farmington & Farmington Hills technicians come in. We are a 24-hour Emergency Service that can effectively work with you and your insurance company to extract the water, dry out the structure, demo any damaged materials such as wet walls and flooring, as well as assess and potentially restore any contents you may have in your basement.

Call us at (248) 427-1500!

Commercial Fire Kitchen Clean

4/5/2023 (Permalink)

Pictured above is one of our cleaning technicians doing a thorough cleaning of a commercial kitchen in a church in Ferndale.

A Ferndale church experienced a pipe break in the slab of the kitchen floor.  To make the necessary repair to the floor, plumbers had to remove the tile floor, break up the cement, repair the broken pipe, and lay new cement over the repair.  Because of the construction work performed, a cleaning needed to be done in the building. 

The technicians worked quickly and efficiently to clean up the areas with dust.  Technicians washed all ceilings, walls, floors, tables, chairs, dishes, and cooking utensils so the church could use the kitchen for their daily events.

Commercial kitchen deep cleaning can be broken down into a number of categories, SERVPRO of Farmington & Farmington Hills offer every service that you could need, including:

• Structural cleaning
• Cooking equipment cleaning
• Extraction cleaning

When construction is done in a commercial building, detailed cleaning is often needed to remove the dust entirely. 

Call us today at 248-427-1500 to schedule a post-construction clean for your home or business!

Spring Cleaning

3/9/2023 (Permalink)

Before and after photos of a finished basement after technicians cleaned up.

Spring is right around the corner here in Michigan and for most that means spring cleaning! Maybe you finally cleaned out the catch all closet and need it scrubbed down floor to ceiling? Or you hauled all that old unused furniture to the curb and the carpet underneath was disgusting? Well, the typical homeowner will probably cover the basics with dusting, mopping, vacuuming, throwing things away here and there, making the infamous ‘donate’ pile and wiping down surfaces and furniture. However, sometimes your spring-cleaning needs go a little deeper than that.

Our SERVPRO of Farmington and Farmington Hills technicians can do the dirty work for you no matter how bad the situation. Here are just a few ways we can help you:

• We have specially formulated SERVPRO chemicals
• We use green products safe for pets
• HEPA vacuuming
• Carpet Deodorization and cleaning
• Ozone Machine for strong odors
• Using reach poles to clean tall ceilings
• Washing walls/moldings/baseboard etc.
• Floor cleaning
• Trash out/de-cluttering services

Get a head start on your spring cleaning today and call us at (248) 427-1500

Emergency Fire Damage Restoration Process

2/21/2023 (Permalink)

Black soot from fire damage

1. A SERVPRO of Farmington and Farmington Hillsprofessional will contact you within one hour to arrange for service. 

• We understand the importance of letting you know help is on the way, right away. 

2. Within four hours, a trained professional will arrive on-site prepared to begin emergency mitigation services (if necessary).

• Timely response is key to preventing further damage. 
• Timely mitigation can mean the difference between restoring property and replacing it. 

3. The loss site will be reviewed with you, and your questions and concerns will be addressed. A SERVPRO of Farmington and Farmington Hills Professional will: 

• Identify the source of loss.
• Identify the source of your concerns. 
• Identify the types of residue present. 
• Identify safety issues. 

4. A SERVPRO professional will begin pretesting for restorability. By pretesting, four key questions are answered: 

• What is unable to be restored?
• What is restorable and what methods of restoration will be most effective?
• What areas and items are unaffected? 
• What areas need to be reviewed by the Adjuster or Property Owner?

5. The scope of the project will be communicated to you or your adjuster if a claim has been filed. 

6. The structure and contents will be cleaned and restored by SERVPRO of Rochester Professionals. 

7. After the work has been completed, a final work through will be conducted with you to help ensure your satisfaction. 

SERVPRO of Farmington and Farmington Hills has trained and certified technicians to help you in the event of fire damage to your home or business. 

Call us at (248) 427-1500!

How to Get Rid of a Bad Odor in Your Car

11/29/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Farmington and Farmington Hills was called out by a local car dealership to clean the inside of this car before starting repairs

A bad odor in your car can become extremely bothersome because more than likely you drive your car every single day. There are endless causes for a bad smell in your car, however, when getting rid of the odor there are less possibilities.

Common suggestions for getting rid of an odor in your car are to vacuum the upholstery, sprinkling baking soda on the are where the smell seems to be coming from, leaving a chunk of charcoal in there for a few days, or using a natural deodorizer. If none of those take care of the odor, that is when you need to call in a professional cleaning company like us and let our SERVPRO of Farmington and Farmington Hills technicians take care of your vehicle.

We use specific machinery and chemicals to safely and effectively remove odors after identifying the source. We have many methods of deodorizing a space including ozone machines, chemical solvents, and even as far as professional upholstery and carpet cleaning.

If you have an odor in your home, business, or vehicle call us at (248) 427-1500

Financially Planning for Emergency Disasters

9/21/2022 (Permalink)

September is National Preparedness Month

One of theme of National Preparedness Month in 2022 is the focus is on getting financially prepared for an emergency disaster. Ready.Gov highlights some ways that homeowners can get prepared at either no cost or a low cost. In addition to the resources listed on Ready.Gov, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers a plethora of resources that can be shipped directly to your home.

At SERVPRO of Farmington and Farmington Hills, we are able to work directly with your insurance company to ease the stress during emergency disasters. It’s important that homeowners make sure they are adequately covered for emergencies that the region is prone to. For example, if your home is in a flood zone, flood insurance should be a priority. Likewise, if your home is in an area where wildfires are prevalent, insurance for wildfires is a must. The Red Cross has an interactive map that shows common disasters across the United States by region and what you should be prepared for.

To get started, here are a few tips you should consider in order to get financially prepared for an emergency disaster:

1. Gather financial, medical, personal, and household information and keep them in an accessible safe space.

2. Keep small amounts of cash in your home for items such as food, gas, or other supplies in the event that you cannot get to an ATM. In addition, consider opening a savings account and saving up money for potential disasters.

3. Keep on top of your homeowners or renters, health, and life insurance. Consider purchasing flood insurance from the national flood insurance program as well as reviewing your policy to make sure you’re adequately covered.

For more information, click on any of the links in this blog or contact us at (248) 427-1500. 

How to Prevent Damage Before a Big Storm

9/14/2022 (Permalink)

Fallen tree on a home in Metro Detroit due to a major wind storm

Even a wind storm can have disastrous effects on your property. That’s why it’s important to make a plan in advance to limit storm damage. Follow these tips so you know what to do before, during, and after a wind storm.

What To Do In Advance: 

Wind damage comes from a variety of storms and each has its own ways to prepare. Be sure that everyone in your home or business knows what to do in case of the most likely storms for your area. If you operate a store, restaurant, or other business that deals with many members of the public at once, be sure your staff knows how to escort them to shelter.

• Stock up on emergency supplies. Be sure the first aid kit is stocked and the flashlights have working batteries. A generator can power a house and costs a few hundred dollars - which may be well worth your money when you are without it for an extended amount of time. Solar panels that can charge cell phones are available online for under $50 as well.

• Know how to turn off utilities or override electronics. Depending on any wind or flood damage, you may need to turn off the water or circuit box. If the power goes out, cars will be stuck inside a garage with an electric opener unless you know how to use the manual override.

• Give the roof a checkup. Be sure there aren’t any loose or missing shingles that could blow away during a storm or let in rain. It’s better to make repairs during good weather than to try to get a tarp over a hole in the roof during a thunderstorm.

• Check the perimeter. When you know a storm is on the way, do a quick check outside if there’s enough time. Put lawn furniture in the shed, pick up toys, put cars and bicycles in the garage, and fasten loose items, like patio umbrellas. Not only will these items blow away in a storm, but they can cause a great deal of damage in the process. A lawn chair can shatter a window, while a bike can put a huge dent in a car. Be sure to close any awnings too; even a mild wind storm can tear fabric from the frame.

• Back up your computers frequently. If your electronics suffer flood damage or any kind of storm damage, you’ll be glad you took the time to back up your files. Cloud backup services are available for free from Dropbox, Google, and other providers for a set amount of data and extra amounts of storage can be purchased for a nominal fee. The advantage of a cloud backup service is that you can access them from anywhere; if your home or business is damaged, you can use a computer or smart device anywhere that has internet access.

• Be sure you have a weather app on your smartphone and enable severe weather alerts. You won’t be near a TV or computer for every storm, so you need a way to check on the severity of storms and know when to take cover.

We do experience heavy thunderstorms in Michigan with very strong winds. so make sure you take the time to go over these precautionary steps. If you do suffer damage to your home or business call at SERVPRO of Farmington and Farmington Hills at (248) 427-1500