Damaged or Faulty Pipework Necessitate Queens Water Restoration

5/24/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO understands how important your business is. Let us help you out.

We Expertly Handle Queens’ Water Restoration Needs 

As one of America’s first heavily settled areas, Queens hosts some of the oldest buildings in the nation. An astounding number of these date back to the mid-to-late 1800s, but some were constructed well over three hundred years ago. Local business owners should consider this when leasing or buying commercial facilities and prepare for potential issues related to old, degraded piping.

SERVPRO is exceedingly experienced in performing water restoration work on Queens’ historic buildings. Our emergency water damage services teams have routinely located and repaired ceiling leaks and burst pipes. Moreover, they have also completed any water damage repairs necessary to return businesses to their normal operations. It is important to remember that pipe-related problems can arise from a number of ordinary, everyday situations. Some of these particular circumstances include:

• Defective piping that has bad, leaky connections because it was constructed with cheap materials or was done by low-skilled workers
• Metal and plastic pipe failures resulting from age-related corrosion or brittleness
• Ruptured pipework is caused by freezing and thawing cycles that either cause pipes to burst immediately or weaken them over time until they eventually fail
• Pressure-producing clogs and blockages arising from accumulations of mineral deposits, grease, and remnants of everyday wastes
• Excessive water pressure that exceeds a pipe network’s design limits and causes parts of it to leak or burst
• Construction or renovation mishaps that accidentally damage pipes in structural elements like ceilings, walls, and flooring

Armed with knowledge, it becomes much easier to know where to anticipate possible plumbing issues in your commercial establishment.

With that said, if your shop, store, restaurant, or hotel ever suffers a water event, remember that your friends at SERVPRO of Forest Hills/Ridgewood can help. Contact us anytime for all of your water restoration needs. We are ready for your call at (718) 381-3702.

Experts for Water Restoration in Queens Residences

4/25/2023 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood immediately to respond to your emergency! Our crew is standing by 24/7.

Psychrometry to Improve Water Restoration Speed

Drying up a home or apartment in the city takes more than having the equipment to meet the demand. Therefore, we educate our SERVPRO field team in psychrometry or the behavior of water in disaster situations. An understanding of this topic is critical for effective and efficient restoration practices. 

Understanding the Behavior of Water 

Water restoration for Queens homes hinges significantly on understanding how water behaves in specific situations. Environmental factors, impacted materials, and the volume of water can all play an essential part in how we prepare to overcome the impact of water moving and migrating through a residence. The principles of psychrometry include the following: 

• Wet Goes to Dry - One of the clearest examples of psychrometry is water migration to the dry materials around it. Pooling water continually spreads as long as possible, making containment vital in managing drying zones. 
• Hot Goes to Cold - Temperature plays an essential factor in the drying process, so when the heat of an area is moving to find cooler spaces, the drying process slows. Regulating temperature is vital to dry wet rooms effectively. 
• High Pressure Seeks Low Pressure - Wet materials have a higher pressure than the dry air around these impacted elements. Evaporation pushes high pressure to these low-pressure regions, raising the humidity.  

Using Psychrometry to Speed Up Drying

We can better establish an effective and efficient recovery solution by understanding what to expect from water and how the structure responds to the drying processes. For example, knowing how humidity and trapped moisture migrate in the household, we can manipulate conditions to promote continual and steady evaporative drying. 

Our educated and experienced SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood team can help with end-to-end water damage cleanup and drying. Call us at (718) 381-3702.

Skilled Fire Damage Restoration for Queens Property Owners

3/30/2023 (Permalink)

When your Queens home has fire damage, you need to bring in an experienced company with effective equipment. Contact SERVPRO right away!

24/7 Fire Damage Assistance from SERVPRO Gets Results in Queens

Kitchen fires, electrical fires, a blaze started by an unattended candle or cigarette – all fire emergencies result in damage on some level. How you act and proceed determines what the outcome will be as far as fire restoration. SERVPRO is there 24/7 for all fire restoration needs, including removing charred debris, drying any water or moisture, and handling smoke remediation. We get the job done so that you can get back to your home and life as usual quickly – We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster!

Why hire professionals to handle fire damage in Queens? One reason is that smoke is inescapable with any fire. Once you have smoke and fire-charred debris on your property, significant damage may be present. No matter how the fire started, how far it reached, or how it got extinguished, some of the damage you may be up against includes:

• Structural damage
• Broken stairs
• Charred contents and furnishings
• Discoloration on various surfaces
• Damage to appliances and electronics
• Scorched building materials, fixtures, and cabinetry
• Saturated materials from chemicals or water used to douse the flames
• Etching or pitting on materials like glass, metals, and stainless steel

We Have IICRC-Certified Fire and Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT)

When it comes to property restorations, you want nobody but the best. Fire restoration is no different except that specialized training is necessary to handle the hazards that come with all fire-related projects. Our IICRC training helps us know and understand the risks involved and how to address the safety of your building throughout the job. 

Fire-Related Restoration Risks:

Contrary to what many people may think, fire risks do not end once the flames are out. Soot and smoke remaining and soiling your interior leave a pungent and unsightly reminder of what took place. Because remaining residues and fire-damaged materials can be harmful, our crew wears personal protection equipment (PPE) for our safety during the house fire cleanup and restoration.

Several household items do not burn clean, including:

• Food items (proteins)
• Foam
• Plastics
• Wood
• Textiles
• Chemicals/cleaners

Other elements that may get caught up in invisible soot particles during a fire include asbestos fibers, tar, formaldehyde, and ammonia. This is why our crew chief does a thorough inspection and testing during the assessment phase, so we know how to proceed with the cleaning and restoration throughout each affected area of your property. 

Why Detailed Assessment Matters for All Restoration Projects

Anyone with an untrained eye may sift through charred possessions and declare many items worthless. Not only that, but there are a lot of hazards that homeowners or business owners may not know about. A professional assessment helps minimize risk and loss so that the team can move through recovery procedures. Cautious disposal cuts back on possible risks and allows many more items to get salvaged. 

How Does SERVPRO Handle the Pungent Odors from Soot And Smoke Residue?

We have odor control technicians (OCT) on our team who understand best practices for eliminating even the toughest odors. With the top equipment in our industry, we can move through each room to break down odorous particulates and leave everything smelling fresh and clean. Some of the equipment you may see us using includes ultra-low volume (ULV) foggers, thermal foggers, air scrubbers, and products like deodorizing granules and pellets.

Let us assist with your fire damage needs, including working with your insurance provider to facilitate your fire restoration claim. SERVPRO of Forest Hills/Ridgewood can be reached by dialing (718) 381-3702, or you can request help online.

Water Damage to Any Queens Property Calls for Skilled Restoration

3/30/2023 (Permalink)

Water can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time. Contact SERVPRO for water damage mitigation in your Queens home.

SERVPRO Helps Queens Home and Business Owners with Water Damage

Hiring a water restoration professional generates the best result when you experience damage brought on by flash flooding or burst pipes from an upstairs bathroom. A significant amount of damage can come from water infiltration, especially if it seeps into your building materials, behind walls, and saturates your belongings. SERVPRO features franchises nationwide, including Disaster Ready crews available for dispatch as needed during emergencies. You can always look to us to help at your commercial and residential property for all your water restoration needs!

It would help if you took action promptly to reduce water damage in Queens. While some people wish to try the do-it-yourself way by cleaning up water with a mop and bucket or shop vac, skilled technicians know how to limit the loss, locate hidden moisture, and perform specialized cleaning to get the results you deserve.

SERVPRO Wants Area Customers to Know the Benefits of Hiring Our Skilled Team

Advanced Equipment

Our Green Fleet arrives filled with the best tools and equipment that allow our technicians to handle water removal services and water damage repair with ease. Some of the pieces we have readily available include:

• Wet/dry vacuums
• Submersible pumps
• Truck-mounted extractors
• Moisture detection tools; sensors, meters, and thermal imaging
• Air scrubbers with HEPA filters
• Injecti-dry system
• Centrifugal air movers
• Desiccant dehumidifiers

Highly-Trained Staff

We take pride in keeping our team staffed by trained and IICRC-certified technicians ready to handle the whole gamut of restorations – water, fire, mold, and biohazard cleanup. Our team takes the necessary time to ensure everything gets done correctly, informing you through each step. We also work as a liaison with your insurance provider to assist with your water damage claim. 

Save Time and Money

You might be surprised to know how long DIY efforts can take to adequately address water damage, whether commercial or residential, regardless of the size and scope of the project. Opting to hire skilled technicians with proven processes in place allows for:

• Rapidly remove the water before it has the chance to migrate and cause secondary damage
• Ensure drying gets done in tandem with water removal services to help us achieve our overall goals
• Restore versus replace – meaning we do whatever we can to salvage contents and building materials to save money on your project

Mold Mitigation and Cleaning

Where there is any water-related incident within your property, there stands a chance that moisture creates the perfect environment for mold to thrive. Depending on how long water was left standing in your Queens property, our team may have to begin mold remediation to ensure safety with proper cleaning. We have EPA-registered cleaning solutions and antimicrobials that help us clean, disinfect, and sanitize all surfaces.

When is Controlled Demolition Necessary?

Controlled demolition gets performed by trusted area contractors so that we can ensure your property gets left “Like it never even happened.” If you have saturated drywall that is swelling, warped, or crumbling, we will need to remove it to replace it with all-new drywall. When floodwater only impacts some drywall, we may perform flood cuts a few inches above the saturated and unsalvageable portion. New drywall gets installed and finished with paint or wallpaper for a seamless look. 

We also consider any saturated carpeting, tile, hardwood, and subfloor that may call for replacement or repair. It all boils down to water damage being no match for a trained team of restoration technicians, which you will find when you put SERVPRO in your corner. 

Do you have water damage that requires attention? Call SERVPRO of Forest Hills/Ridgewood at (718) 381- 3702. We can have a team there within hours to begin the inspection, water removal, and drying!

Safe, Effective Mold Damage Cleanup for Queens Property Owners

3/30/2023 (Permalink)

Mold damage should be addressed with rapid haste to prevent further spread. Call SERVPRO in Queens, and our technicians can investigate the situation.

Contact SERVPRO in Queens for Commercial or Residential Mold Damage

Why not handle black mold and mildew on your own? Many people think they can buy mold removers or wipe away visible mold they find within their Queens property. However, there are hidden dangers with mold infestations that call for the help of trained restoration technicians. There is the potential for structural damage that can occur if mold colonization gets worse. SERVPRO is there for mold remediation to feel confident that you can breathe easily again!

But why choose SERVPRO for mold damage in Queens? You might be amazed at how people are unaware of best practices for handling mold. Not only that, but property owners also have to consider how the mold growth began. After the mold has the chance to start colonizing, it may spread rapidly in as little as 48 hours. 

A Few Things Everyone Should Know About Mold

When you hear about a product or company that says mold removal is possible. It is not. Because mold is all around us - on our clothing, outside in our environment, and in the air, a complete removal is impossible. However, SERVPRO’s skilled team understands all the properties of mold, including proven methods for cleanup, to help you get back on track and your property free of the issue in very little time. Things to remember:

• Countless types of mold are present all around us
• Microscopic mold spores are not visible to the naked eye
• Mold is located both outdoors and inside all buildings
• Itty bitty mold spores can make their way into your living space on your clothing, attached to your pets, and through the windows or HVAC system

You may want to have a professional mold inspection and testing done in some instances. This gets followed up by our SERVPRO team handling cleanup and remediation so that you can get the spore count back to baseline levels within your home or commercial property. Our team also addresses the source that brought on the mold problem during any mold project so that it does not come right back. This means our technicians determine where the moisture came from – it could be excessive moisture because of poor ventilation, a hidden plumbing leak, or a water spill that was not thoroughly dried. The problem gets fixed so our technicians can move forward to handle mold cleanup with precision and care.

How Do I Know Mold is There?

Because you may not see the mold does not mean your property is free of it. Should you notice musty odors, the chances are high that mold has begun to colonize somewhere. You may also have an issue should you have 45% or higher humidity levels, which means there could be mold just about anywhere – under bathroom cabinets, within your carpeting, and in various tight spaces. 

After our Green Fleet arrives at your door, inspection and containment begin. We put up containment barriers and use negative pressure in the area where mold is suspected so we can keep the spores from traveling. Our equipment consists of specialized air scrubbers with onboard HEPA filtration to pull tiny spores out of the air.

Contents Handling and Cleaning Following Our Protocols

Mold infestation impacts more than your structural components and building materials. There could also be spores multiplying on your personal belongings and furniture. Our team knows how to handle mold on surfaces such as:

• Artwork
• Furniture
• Keepsakes
• Toys
• Clothing
• Books and more

Whether you have questions about mold damage or need to schedule a crew to help at your house or commercial property, you can count on SERVPRO of Forest Hills/Ridgewood to get the job done right the first time. Reach us by dialing (718) 381-3702, and we will make it “Like it never even happened.”

Experienced Fire Damage Remediators Help Queens Residents

3/29/2023 (Permalink)

No matter the size and destruction to your building, SERVPRO handles all damage restoration projects. Call now!

Queens Company Makes Fire Damage Cleanup Easier

Overcoming residential fire damage is often a daunting challenge for homeowners in Queens. Doing so generally requires hiring remediation professionals skilled in all steps of the restoration process, equipped to complete them, and able to effectively work with both subcontractors and insurance adjusters. One trusted, local service that checks all of these boxes is SERVPRO.

Widely recognized as a leader in the Queens fire damage recovery industry, SERVPRO has consistently proven that it has what it takes to deal successfully with blaze-related devastation. Our fire restoration technicians are house fire cleanup experts knowledgeable in the latest residue removal and smoke remediation techniques. SERVPRO managers skillfully direct the various workers, and efforts are taken to restore fire-damaged homes. At your residence, we:

• Thoroughly inspect your home’s interiors for fire and smoke-related issues, identify levels of structural and content damage, locate and classify residues, assess smoke impacts, and ultimately determine what can be saved and what must be replaced.
• Attempt to prevent further particle contamination by sealing affected rooms with plastic sheeting, using reverse air machines, and employing HEPA-filtered vacuums, a general-purpose detergent, a ULV fogger, and a sealing agent to sanitize the entire HVAC system.
• Diligently work to remove fire residues from surfaces throughout your home with dry, abrasive, wet, or cutting-edge methods designed to clean uniquely soiled materials.
• Screen, enlist, and manage subcontractors that are skilled at performing specialized jobs like document or painting restoration, cleaning and repairing electronic equipment, and major reconstruction projects.
• Communicate with insurance adjusters, ensuring that they are comfortable with and more likely to approve the remediation work being done. 

In the long run, these actions make the overall recovery process much easier for homeowners.

So, if a fire ever ravages your home, remember SERVPRO of Forest Hills/Ridgewood can help you overcome your fire damage. Call us anytime at (718) 381-3702 for assistance.

SERVPRO has the Utilities Necessary for Storm Water Damage Repair in Queens

2/22/2023 (Permalink)

Don't let storm damage take control of your Queens property. Call SERVPRO today!

Fixing Storm Water Damage in Queens Requires Expertise

Nature can make unexpected turns unannounced, part of which are storms. The damage that storms cause may include destroying a home's roof, siding, and foundation. Often, the damage is larger than a homeowner may have prepared for and so significant for an untrained hand to handle it successfully and efficiently. 

Stormwater damage can leave homeowners devastated by turning their lives upside-down. You can escape the devastation and uncertainty of handling stormwater damage in your Queens property by relying on SERVPRO. We have a local station available to you 24/7, full of trained restoration personnel, and a wide variety of state-of-the-art technology to help us navigate and handle any situation without a hitch. We recommend the following sequence of steps if you find yourself in this unfortunate situation:

• Ensuring you stay safe.
• Contacting water damage restoration professionals.
• Photographing visible damage while noting everything down.
• Contact your insurance provider to determine the extent of repairs we can do according to your budget and policy.

Stormwater certainly falls under the black water category. SERVPRO is determined to eliminate microorganisms by investing in industrial-grade cleaning products. We can use antimicrobial products to clean and disinfect the affected areas to guarantee your home's safety. 

After completing the restoration process, our SERVPRO team confirms that our work is satisfactory and acceptable. To confirm this, we have moisture monitoring and detection devices like moisture sensors, moisture meters, and thermo-hygrometers. Using thermo-hygrometers, our technicians confirm that the structures and materials we have worked on have regained their room temperatures and humidity. Our SERVPRO technicians perform a walkthrough and have the customers sign a Certificate of Satisfaction. 

To get premier restoration services following storm damage, don't hesitate to contact SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood at (718) 381-3702. We have the equipment and expertise required to make the stormwater damage seem "Like it never even happened."

Protecting Family and Friends During Mold Remediation in Queens – SERVPRO

1/23/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO to the rescue of another mold-infested property in Queens. We leave when the mold leaves.

SERVPRO Acts Quickly to Minimize Mold Remediation Requirements in Queens

Damage from mold infestations can be minimized by quickly enacting mold remediation activities in your Queens home as soon as it is noticed. Mold spores are everywhere, waiting for the right conditions to form colonies and grow. Within 24 to 48 hours of a water leak, you may notice a musty odor, a sure sign of a mold infestation somewhere in your home or office building. Occasionally an unobserved water leak under a sink or inside walls leads to a major mold infestation.

SERVPRO can be onsite within four hours of your call to initiate mold remediation in your Queens home, including:

• Porous materials damaged by mold removal
• Cleaning and disinfecting non-porous materials using EPA-approved antimicrobial products
• Identification and elimination of the moisture source
• Controlled demolition of structural components sustaining significant damage from mold

SERVPRO also appreciates how concerned many consumers are when they find mold in their homes. No one wants to be exposed to mold, and SERVPRO takes special precautions during mold remediation activities to protect your family. These include:

• Careful removal of mold from surfaces avoiding agitation
• Bag in place of all contents and materials before removal from your home
• Installation of plastic barriers to prevent mold spore distribution to other areas of the home
• Blocking and sealing all HVAC vents and intakes in the affected area
• Installation of negative pressure rooms to contain mold particles and spores in the impacted area

Once our team has completed all mold remediation activities, we can also help with restoration and reconstruction as needed:

• Utility repairs – plumbing, electrical, and heating
• Structure repairs – flooring, drywall, ceiling, etc.
• Content restoration – furniture, dry cleaning, etc.

We coordinate with your insurance, providing all required paperwork to support the claims process. Note that many carriers do not offer policies with mold damage remediation. Often, the coverage will be minor in terms of dollars.

Call SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood for mold remediation services. We provide service to Queens and nearby areas. We can help 24/7. Call (718) 381-3702.

Water Restoration Experts Help Keep Businesses Open in Queens

12/27/2022 (Permalink)

“We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.”

Water Restoration - Clean, Dry, Open for Business

Different businesses in Queens make our area vibrant and economically healthy. SERVPRO understands that your ability to stay profitable depends on your business's open doors. When water causes damage, our water restoration experts can help you continue "Like it never even happened." 

We use industrial-grade machinery to restore your business after a water main break, flooding, or clogged sink. If your diner or boutique is wet, water restoration in Queens is the answer. We can undo the situation step-by-step and help you stay open for business, ensuring your customers remain engaged with your products and services.

When we first arrive at a business, we quickly assess the situation. We want our customers to know that SERVPRO always scales its services to handle the project. Our goals are to:

• Ensure clean conditions are present,
• Drying occurs at an industry-standard pace, and
• Prevent similar situations in the future.

With flooding or other dirty, contaminated water, we rinse and clean the affected surfaces. To further accomplish this, we use disinfectant sprays. Other times, clean water comes into contact with substances that cause it to become dirty. Standing water, if enough time passes, can become dirty by itself.

We pump out standing water, if any, and downsize to smaller handheld units to extract water from around corners and inside enclosed spaces. Using air movers, portable heating units, and desiccant machines, we dry the interior of your business. These machines use air currents to keep porous materials from absorbing any of the evaporated water. 

Depending on how the situation developed that created the need for water restoration services in the first place, we can take steps to prevent the event from recurring. If plumbing had been the culprit, we can repair it and check to ensure there are no loose fittings. If the rain had entered through loose shingles or siding, we can make repairs, keeping future precipitation where it belongs – outside.

Call SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood at (718) 381-3702 for advanced technology and professional service when you need water restoration.

Things to Focus On During Water Damage Repair in Queens

11/22/2022 (Permalink)

For fast and efficient service call SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood.

SERVPRO Simplifies Water Restoration in Queens Properties

It is common knowledge that water intrusion is destructive to property. However, the specific issues to expect and the necessary water damage repair processes may need to be clarified. 

Involving a professional like SERVPRO simplifies the prospects of water damage repair in Queens. We can readily identify the most vulnerable items and devise appropriate mitigation approaches. 

Things Typically Affected by Moisture:

• Carpets
• Thermal insulation
• Electronic appliances 

The effects of water exposure can be temporary or permanent. The main determinants of such outcomes are the amount of water involved and the kind of action you take. For example, water readily soaks into carpets, but when well-dried, there is no long-term effect. 

Long-Term Effects from Moisture Exposure

Other materials may not recover so well once exposed to water. Structural insulation is one such material because of its natural properties. Thermal performance in insulation materials occurs because of tiny air pockets within its structure, which have limited conductivity. When moisture replaces the pockets of air, conductivity increases, diminishing its R-value.

Other Effects of Moisture on Insulation:

• Matting
• Rusting 
• Mold growth

Water intrusion can ruin electronic appliances and entertainment systems in a property irreparably. Even waterproof or resistant items may be vulnerable because the IP ratings may be specific for a certain exposure duration or depth. Even when not directly exposed, electronics are still vulnerable because of the high humidity levels in a property after a leak. When temperatures drop, the humid air inside the items condenses, causing internal components to rust. 

Our SERVPRO crews take different steps to repair the issues caused by the intruding water. For porous materials such as carpets and wall panels, timely extraction and drying are sufficient interventions. For insulation, the action depends on the variety you have in your property - we can save fiberglass through drying but for other options such as Rockwool, removing the wet insulation is the best solution. 

SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood responds to any situation involving water damage repair. You can reach us at (718) 381-3702. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.