Proactive COVID 19 Cleaning & Post Positive Cleaning

4/30/2020 (Permalink)

These are times of stress and uncertainty and the best way to combat the threat of COVID-19 is preparation. When it comes to disinfection and sanitization, SERVPRO of Chesapeake North cleanup practices follow CDC guidelines and use EPA-approved products. The Coronavirus may be new to all of us but we have years of experience dealing with biological contaminants. We’re here to help you protect your business and your employees– 24 hours a day, seven days a week – until life is back to normal in the communities, we all call home. Proactive and Post Positive Cleaning and Sanitization. 

What is a Furnace or Fireplace Puffback?

12/18/2018 (Permalink)

Soot Damage Cleanup in Elizabeth City/Outer Banks

What is a Furnace or Fireplace Puffback?

Laughing at someone in a movie whose face has just been engulfed with black soot after standing in front of a fireplace is one thing, but in the real world when you hear that distinctive loud wuff sound, it turns into something else altogether, not so funny.  When your fireplace or furnace creates a puff of soot inside of your home, often called a puffback, suddenly you have a real sooty problem that needs to be handled quickly.

When a puffback happens, soot and oil residue can literally cover every surface that it can reach.  Puffbacks normally happen around this time of year when furnaces and fireplaces are fired up, no pun intended, after being dormant all summer.

In a furnace, a puffback is usually caused by a buildup of excess fuel, oil, even dirt or dust in the ignition chamber.  The buildup prevents oxygen from reaching the combustion chamber.  When the ignition flame in the furnace pulls in the rush of oxygen it needs to ignite, the result is a powerful explosion of soot and oil that can even come out of the wall or floor vents.

In a fireplace or woodstove puffback, the cause can be like the furnace, however, the cause is most likely a problem in the chimney.  There is usually a buildup of ash and leftover residue clumped in the chimney that creates an uneven air flow of oxygen and carbon dioxide.  The kindling and wood have plenty of fuel, but the oxygen it needs to burn is stuck above the chimney blockage.  The fire will eventually correct the imbalance by sucking in a large amount of oxygen all at once, igniting the excess fuel in the fireplace and the buildup in the chimney all at once.  The force of the ignition pushes ash and soot out of the fireplace.

Puffbacks can usually be prevented by routine chimney and furnace maintenance.  If you experience soot or smoke damage in Chesapeake, call SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks at 252-331-7889.

SERVPRO Green Products

6/6/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Likes Being Green

We must all be environmentally conscious and SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks has Green cleaning products which allows us to finish any cleaning project in an environmentally sound way. 

If you need a good Spring cleaning in your office or home, we have the expertise to provide a deeper clean than your basic house cleaning services. 

Our SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks technicians are highly trained in cleanup services and can professionally clean your carpet, upholstery, furniture, drapery, blinds, and hardwood floors, all which will surely brighten and freshen up your home.  We have products designed to clean carpet and upholstery and surface and glass cleaner all of which are environmentally friendly.  

Let us not only get rid of the dirt you see, but also remove the unwanted dust you don't see.  Need Cleaning Services in Elizabeth City or the Outer Banks? Call us today-252-331-7889.

Free Air Duct System Inspection in Elizabeth City and Outer Banks

4/11/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Elizabeth City/Outer Banks, 252-331-7889

SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks offers a FREE Residential or Commercial Air Duct System Inspection.  Now you have a reason to add an air duct inspection to your Spring cleaning to do list. 

The excitement of warm weather seems to encourage us to want to clean.  SERVPRO remediation specialists suggests adding heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) maintenance to prepare for the warmer weather to come.  SERVPRO Industries, CEO, Sue Steen suggests the maintenance will help your HVAC work at its maximum efficiency and quite possibly reveal a problem that you might need to address sooner than later.

Ventilation systems are often the biggest culprit in poor indoor air quality. Make it a priority to inspect the duc twork of your home or business

If your HVAC has been operating for some time without attention, it could be circulating one or more of the following:

• Dust
• Pollen
• Odors
• Dirt and debris
• Other contaminants

SERVPRO of Elizabeth City / Outer Banks and our air duct cleaning services can help keep your air duct system clean and help extend the life of your equipment. This can in turn save you money and give you cleaner air to breathe.

CALL AND ASK FOR YOUR FREE AIR DUCT INSPECTION AT 252-331-7889.

Air Ducts Cleaning in Elizabeth City/Outer Banks

9/22/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® of Elizabeth City, (252) 331-7889.

Ventilation systems are often the biggest culprit in poor indoor air quality. Make it a priority to inspect the ductwork of your home or business.

If your HVAC has been operating for some time without attention, it could be circulating one or more of the following:

• Dust
• Pollen
• Odors
• Dirt and debris
• Other contaminants

SERVPRO of Elizabeth City / Outer Banks Professionals routinely inspect the heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit (HVAC).  Keeping them clean can extend the life of the equipment. This can in turn save you money and give you cleaner air to breathe.

 However, duct cleaning is not always necessary. We will make recommendations about the best way to address any indoor air quality concerns. This can save you money and provide peace of mind on the health of your system.

The benefits of servicing your HVAC unit include:

• Helps to restore peak energy efficiency.
• May help to eliminate offensive odors.
• Helps reduce the potential for mold growth.

For more information on HVAC and air duct cleaning, call us today #AirDuctCleaning

Dryer Vent Safety Tips

5/22/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Elizabeth City/Outer Banks Gets Your Vents Cleaned

Dryer Vent Safety Tips

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety commission (CPSC) estimates that 15,500 fires associated with clothes dryers occur annually.  These fires account for an average of 10 deaths, 310 injuries, & more than $84 million in property damage annually.

Here are a few tips on how to help extend the life of your dryer and prevent a potential fire.

• Don't Risk Mold Damage

A full load of wet clothes placed in a dryer contains about one-half gallon water.  Obviously this would be a spin cycle issue for your washing machine, but trying to dry the wet clothes could lead to an excessive amount of water left inside of the dryer.  

• Prevent a Fire

If your clothes dryer takes longer than one cycle to dry clothing, the problem could be that the inside of your dryer and the vent system need cleaning.

• Save Money

The clothes dryer is one of the most expensive appliances to operate.  A dirty dryer vent line can drastically increase the dryer run-time, resulting in higher energy costs.

• Clean the Vents

By cleaning the dryer vent system, you help to reduce the risk of mold and fire hazard.  

How Can SERVPRO Restore Soft Contents?

4/14/2017 (Permalink)

Technology to help restore your treasures and valuables

 Textile Cleaning & Restoration. . . See How We Do It

What Should Be Cleaned & Restored vs. Replaced

4/7/2017 (Permalink)

To Clean and Restore vs. Replace (Photo: Shutterstock)

Our friendly insurance adjusters at National Underwriter Property & Casualty say when determining whether soft-surface-content items such as fabrics and carpets should be remediated or discarded,  it can be difficult to determine.

SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/OBX works directly with your insurance adjuster,  as the restoration contractor.  We are able to classify the indoor space that has been affected by a water loss into zones based on the amount of water damage.  These zones are determined based for example areas of the structure that were not affected by the water loss or those directly affected by the water loss.  

After the classification, cost effective remediation methods are tailored to the expected condition of the items in each conditional area.

This process helps to determine the amount of aggressive cleaning needed, thus helping to keep the costs at a minimum.  Read More: Determining the fate of soft-surface items

SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/OBX offers Lunch & Learns to Insurance Adjusters to show them how we are able to restore soft content items (Textile Restoration) with our Esporta® Wash System.  This technology not only saves the insurance company money, but it also helps to prevent filling up landfills with chemicals & man-made fibers.  How it's Done

Soft Contents Restored

3/15/2017 (Permalink)

Results due in part to a smart adjuster

In Florida, a hurricane wreaks water damage havoc to America's first wax museum and it's fragile fabrics, embroidered costumes, suits and dresses.  To throw away such valuable content would be a tragedy. 

A 225,000 sq.ft. sporting goods store has a small display fire where smoke and ash have left a fine coating all over the entire store. The sporting goods store receives over 1 million visitors a year could not afford to be shut down for 3-4 months.

Content restoration professionals are capable of restoring to preloss conditions and help to provide a simpler and faster claim settlement process.  

Insurance agents and adjusters consider the textile contents pros among their most valued assets. Adjusters would much rather improve the bottom line for their company by restoring not replacing.  

The contents pros don't cost-they save. . . $40 million for insurance companies.

Soft Contents Restored

Help Keep Your Gutters Clean in Elizabeth City/Outer Banks

10/5/2016 (Permalink)

Help prevent your gutters from getting clogged.

Take action to keep downspouts running freely before those shade trees start shedding in earnest. One of these guards won’t totally free you of ladder duty, but it could buy you time between checkups.

Mesh-screen Caps

How They Work: A vinyl, plastic, or metal grid sits atop the gutter, letting water in while keeping leaves out.
Your Job: Brushing aside any accumulated debris from time to time to prevent runoff from cascading over the face of the gutter.
The Cost: Seamless, pro-installed systems start near $5 per linear foot, while snap-on DIY options, which are more visible, start at about 33 cents per foot.

Foam Inserts

How They Work: A porous foam that fits half-round or K-style gutters blocks leaves while letting water through. These DIY guards often come in 4-foot sections that are easily trimmed to turn corners or fit around hangers. Because they nest inside the gutter, they’re hidden from view.
Your Job: Regular debris removal.
The Cost: From $1.75 to $3.50 per linear foot.

Surface-Tension Hoods

How They Work: As with mesh, a hood sits on top; water follows its rounded edge and flows into the gutter, though heavy rains can overwhelm it. Some hoods have clips that make it easy to remove them to check gutters.
Your Job: Occasional clearing of small debris.
The Cost: From $15 per linear foot when a pro installs them, and from $2.50 it it’s DIY.

*From This Old House

The Truth About Dust Mites

6/6/2016 (Permalink)

Dust mites can be found on soft surfaces, like a couch or bed.

Dust mites feed on organic detritus such as flakes of shed human skin and flourish in almost all environments. House dust mites are a common cause of asthma and allergic symptoms worldwide. The mite’s gut contains potent digestive enzymes (notably proteases) that persist in their feces and are major inducers of allergic reactions such as wheezing, coughing, itchy red eyes, nasal blockings and other undesirable symptoms that have a negative effect on humans. The mite’s exoskeletons can also contribute to allergic reactions. The European house dust mite and the American house dust mite are two different species, but are not necessarily confined to Europe or North America.

House dust mites, due to their very small size and translucent bodies, are barely visible to the unaided eye. A typical house dust mite measures 0.25-0.3 millimeters in length. For accurate identification, one needs at least 50x magnification or an electron microscope. The body of the house dust mite has a striated cuticle. Like all species of the arachnid family, house dust mites have eight legs.

The average life cycle for a male house dust mite is 20 days. A mated female house dust mite can last up to 70-90 days, laying 60 to 100 eggs in the last 5 weeks of her life. In its normal life span, a house dust mite will produce approximately 2,000 fecal particles and an even larger number of partially digested enzyme-covered dust particles.

The house dust mite survives in all climates, even at high altitude. House dust mites thrive in the indoor environment provided by homes, specifically in bedrooms, family rooms, and kitchens. Dust mites survive extremely well in mattresses, carpets, furniture and bedding, with figures around 100-500 dust mites occupying every 1 gram of dust. Even in dry climates, house dust mites survive and reproduce easily.

Allergens produces by house dust mites in are among the most common triggers of asthma. There are at least 15 mite allergens which are subdivided into groups. Group 1 and 2 allergens are the most problematic. Studies have shown the mean attributable fraction of adult asthma due to atopic sensitization was 30% for sensitization to dust mites. The allergy occurs because the immune system of allergy-affected individual, for reasons not fully understood, misinterprets a usually innocuous substance as a disease agent and begins producing a type of antibody against it. This is called the “primary antibody response.” The antibody produced during this response binds to basophils in the bloodstream and to a similar type of cell called mast cells in the tissues. When the person again encounters the allergen, these basophils and mast cells release histamine, prostaglandins and leukotrienes, which causes inflammation of the surrounding tissues, resulting in allergic symptoms

Contrary to popular belief, dust mites cannot be removed from bedding by separating the bedding from skin or by using some type of mattress cover. In some cases, that will cause dust mite populations to grow faster on the surface. The most effective way to treat dust mite allergies is to use a professional service that uses a high-powered HEPA filtration extraction device combined with a UV-C germicidal light on all surfaces that come in contact with humans.

A 10-year controlled study in 60 mite sensitized, asthmatic children, showed almost complete remission of asthma in those environments professionally treated using the method described above and that this remission was still apparent 5 years after continuing regular treatments. The finding was supported by a review of 39 mite-triggered asthmatic children, who were suffering on average of 8 acute exacerbations per year. After regular treatments, generally at 4-6 month intervals, the exacerbation rate was reduced by 95%.

Attempts at cleaning mattresses an upholstered items with any type of consumer household vacuum cleaner will not remove dust mite allergens, but instead throw them into the air and increase their volatility, which is why professional dust mite eradication services are recommended. A home allergen reduction plan has been recognized as being an essential part to the management of asthma symptoms and therefore all aspects of the home environment should be professionally treated.

COMMON BELIEFS AND MISCONCEPIONS

Allergy and asthma sufferers are often advised to avoid feather pillows due to the presumed increase of the house dust mite allergen. However, according to a 1996 study from the British Medical Journal, the reverse is true. The study showed that polyester fiber pillows contained more than 8 times the total weight of dust mite fecal matter.

House dust mites reproduce quickly enough that their effect on human health can be significant. Since dust mites depend on moisture to survive, they are most often found in bedding such as pillows and most types of upholstered items found throughout a home, hotel room or any type of multi-bed facility. Dust mites can be reduced by replacing carpets with hard surfaces that are easier to clean. Dust mites that may exist in linens can be eradicated by washing and drying these items in lethal temperatures of 221 degrees F or more.

Call SERVPRO® of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks today at (252)331-7889/(252)480-8557 for your home dust mite needs.

Clean, Disinfect & Protect with BactiBarrier

5/23/2016 (Permalink)

BactiBarrier protects both hard and soft surfaces in your home.

Let SERVPRO® of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks help protect your family, friends, and employees from harmful bacteria, fungi, yeast, algae and viruses with BactiBarier’s microbial protection system. This long-lasting antimicrobial protection application can be employed to treat almost any surface. A surface cleaned and treated by the 2 step BactiBarrier system will stand against future microbial growth.

BactiBarrier is a specially formulated antimicrobial first introduced over 30 years ago. BactiBarrier is a 2-step, EPA registered microbial disinfectant and EPA registered microbial protector that can be used to create Long Term protection on surfaces where the spread of germs is a concern. BactiBarrier creates a permanent bond with a surface that bacteria cannot penetrate. This blocks microorganisms from contaminating surfaces and inhibits their growth, month after month.

Is the treatment safe for use on all surfaces?

Generally speaking, yes. You can pre-test any questionable or extremely sensitive surfaces to determine if the products will adversely affect them, but this technology has bonded safely to almost every surface encountered.

The treatment can last for the life of the treated surface, if the surface is not subject to heavy soiling or abrasive cleaning.

The time the process takes and how soon the treated surface can be used varies greatly depending on the volume of space and number of items. Simple applications can be completed within a few hours while others may be more labor intensive. For the treatment of hard surfaces, you can re-enter with an hour or so while soft surfaces, we suggest allowing the fabric to dry.

The application has no harmful or objectionable odors and the microscopic layer of protection is invisible and imperceptible to touch. This layer of protection provides a preventative coating that inhibits future growth.

The level of contamination on a surface, before and after cleaning, can be measured using a Hygiena Adenosine Triphosphate meter, otherwise called an ATP meter. This measures the level of clean or contamination on the surface.

What are some common uses for the BactiBarrier system?

Common Surfaces - Chairs, desks, counter tops, door handles, common contact surfaces, bathroom surfaces, toilets, sinks, and kitchen surfaces.

Building Materials and Components - Wooden building materials, engineered lumber, plywood, flake board, oriented strand board, particle board, fibre board, sheathing, decking or planking, wall board, vinyl siding, plastic siding, wood siding, concrete and concrete products, cinder blocks, brick, stone, ceiling tiles, architectural metal, louvers, vents, coping.

Roofing Materials - Wood shingles, composite shingles, asphalt shingles, roofing granules, tiles, membranes, underlayment, wood shakes, felt, stone, concrete, asphalt coating, synthetic coating.

Insulation Materials - Cellulose insulation, fiberglass insulation, panel insulation, rigid foam, expanded foam, moisture and wind fabric barriers.

General Use Materials - Vinyl, plastic, wood, laminate, concrete, tile, stone, wallboard, gypsum board, plaster, EIFS wall systems, fiberglass, synthetic stucco, cinder block, brick, siding, wall paper and wall coverings, carpet, underlayment, mats.

Fabric Materials - Acetates, acrylics, cotton, fiberglass, nylon, lycra, polyester, polyethylene, polyolefin's, polypropylene, rayon, spandex, vinyl, wool, orlon, silk, natural down, and blends of these fibres.

Call SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks today to set up an appointment for your BactiBarrier application! (252)331-7889/(252)480-8557.

Are You Sleeping With the Enemy?

5/9/2016 (Permalink)

Do you wake up in the morning with itchy skin, a stuffed up nose, sneezing, wheezing, headaches, or are suffering from asthma? Then your mattress may be contaminated.

The mattress is one of the dirtiest places in the home containing millions of dust mites and may be housing bacteria, mold and mildew, fungal spores or viruses. Mites produce potent digestive enzymes that are allergenic to humans. If your mattress is 8 years old or more, is has more than doubled in weight.

The Simple Truth

We all release as much as a pint of sweat each night and our bodies are permanently shedding skin. Adding these to the bacteria that are formed from other fluids our bodies release and deposit on the mattress, it makes you wonder why this problem has never been remedied until now. The Hygienitech Mattress & Upholstery Cleaning & Sanitizing System uses a high powered HEPA filtration device to extract dust mites and other debris along with suing a UV-C germicidal light to sanitize.

Traditional household or commercial vacuums do not have the extraction power to remove the highly resilient dust mites, bacteria, allergy triggering contaminants and other harmful debris that are deeply embedded in the mattress or the germ killing mechanism to disinfect and sterilize. Studies on protective covers show them not to work effectively. Also from our experience, whenever we have tested a mattress with a protective cover, the mattress has tested positive for contamination.

So how do you determine if you mattress shows contamination? We have a free no obligation detection test that only takes a few minutes. We take collected sediment form your mattress to perform a sample allergen test, which will enable you to see firs-hand the level of contamination that exists.

Once we determine the level of contamination, we then use the Hygienitech Mattress & Upholstery Cleaning & Sanitizing System. This system combines high frequency, pulsating waves, incredible suctions and a patented, high intensity germ killing, UV-C Germicidal lamp to pulverize and extract all the dust mites, bacteria, viruses, fungal spores, harmful organisms and other sediment that accumulated on your mattress or upholstered items. It is a dry and chemical free process that only takes about 15 to 20 minutes for a mattress, and your bed can be made again in 10 minutes after the process. This process is dry and chemical-free, requires no drying time, and has a 72+ hour residual effect to continue destroying allergens. It is also safe on all types of pillows and mattresses, is color safe, will neutralize odor causing bacteria, and does not require the removal of the mattress from the bed. The system is completely portable, and requires no set up time.

We recommend you schedule your mattress to be cleaned every 6 months. However, if you suffer from sever allergies or asthma, then we recommend servicing the mattress once every 3 months.

If you have any questions regarding this process, and want to set up your appointment today, call SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks at (252) 331-7889/(252) 480-8557.

Full Service Smoke & Water Textile Restoraiton in Elizabeth City/Outer Banks

4/25/2016 (Permalink)

The before and after of a beloved item after a run through the Esporta Wash System®.

SERVPRO® of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks is happy to announce the introduction of our new iS4000 Esporta® Wash System! This new system allows us to clean and restore soft-goods items that would normally be considered unsalvageable. This includes items that are:

• Contaminated by water and sewage
• Soiled by heavy smoke and soot
• Contaminated by mold
• Contaminated by Bio waste

Traditional restoration dry cleaners typically consider much of these items non-restorable and they end up in a landfill.  By choosing SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks, an Esporta Certified Operator™, you can make a big difference. When textiles are sent to the landfill, it leaves the fabric dyes and chemicals to leach into the soil, contaminating both surface and groundwater.

What can be restored on the Esporta Wash System?

• Leather goods of all kinds
                  -Shoes
                  -Purses
                  -Jackets
• Laundry of all kinds
                  -Wash and fold
                  -Press and hang
• Household goods of all kinds
                  -Sleeping bags
                  -Pillows
                  -Comforters
                  -Stuffed animals
• Unique articles such as sports equipment
• A wide variety of other articles.

With the Esporta Wash System, you will benefit from 24 hour turnaround time on emergency items, the recovery of sentimental items, a simpler and faster claim settlement, and a satisfaction guarantee. If you experience a devastating loss from fire or water damage, call SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks to handle not only restoring your home, but your soft-goods as well. Call us at (252)331-7889/(252)480-8557.

Hardwood Floor Cleaning in Elizabeth City/Outer Banks

4/4/2016 (Permalink)

Return your hardwood floors to their original luster with SERVPRO.

Protect your hardwood flooring investment!

Hardwood floors become dull and dirty over time just like carpet, which is professionally cleaned to extend the life. SERVPRO’s Intensive Cleaning Process can now breathe new life into your hardwood floors.

Professional hardwood maintenance can dramatically improve the appearance of wood floors and bring back their original luster. SERVPRO's deep cleaning process removes the toughest dirt and residue, both safely and effectively. Commercial strength cleaning agents and innovative equipment lifts away buildup and rejuvenates floors for a fraction of the price it would cost to repair floors that are not professionally maintained.

Which Hardwood Floor Solution is Right for You?

We use the Dirt Dragon Floor Prep and Cleaning Machine and Basic Coatings commercial grade cleaners to successfully eliminate dirt, dust, oil and other contaminates that weaken hardwood floors and can lead to costly repairs. SERVPRO’s Intensive Cleaning Process does not just clean the surface like most systems and products-it extracts hidden dirt deep within the boards of hardwood floors. Improve your indoor air quality and circulation plus rejuvenate hardwood floors with the professional hardwood floor maintenance procedures that we provide.

Intensive Cleaning
Aggressively cleans: dirt, grease, hair, dust build-up, residue, and contaminates. It is low odor, pet and kid friendly, no need to move furniture, and has quick drying times.

Clean and Refinish
Aggressively cleans and refinishes the floor to a uniform sheen of semi-gloss or satin. This is ideal for rental properties. It is available in satin or semi-gloss, restores the floors’ original luster, is dust free cleaning, has low VOC with less harmful fumes, and the floors are back in use the same day.

Call SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks now for more information at (252)331-7889/(252)480-8557.

Spring Clean Your Elizabeth City/Outer Banks Home!

3/24/2016 (Permalink)

Spring has arrived and the team here at SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks is excited for the warmer weather!

But before you open your windows and doors to let that fresh air in, here are some tips for Spring Cleaning your home:

• Start from the top and work your way down. This means starting on the top floor of your home, and at the top of the tallest items in any room. As we clean, uncollected dust will fall and settle on anything below it. So save yourself from cleaning the coffee table twice!
• Reorganize your closet. Take out any items you wish to donate. When putting clothes back, turn the hangers so they face out. Anytime you use an item, place it back right side. Any items that are still on backwards hangers by the end of the year should be removed and donated.
• Change out the filters in your air vents, as well as in your vacuum. It is a good habit to change them at least monthly to keep the air clean and allergen free in your home.
• Wipe down your computer work station with a clean microfiber cloth. Use special anti-static wipes to clean your computer screen of stuck on gunk, as well as your key board. Used compressed air cans to knock out any dust or food particles stuck between the keys.
• Remove all pillows and mattress toppers from your bed. Wash in hot water in your washing machine.
• Give your home a fresh sent by getting rid of garbage odors. Take your trash can outside for a good hose-down, and leave upside down to dry. Sprinkle baking soda at the bottom before putting in a new trash bag.

Let SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks help with your spring cleaning process. We provide services such as the Hygienitech system, carpet cleaning, drapes and blinds cleaning, ceiling and hardwood floor cleaning, as well as deodorization and sanitizing. Call our local offices today at 252-331-7889/252-480-8557. Follow us on Pinterest for more Spring Cleaning tips at SERVPRO Outer banks/Elizabeth City.

Carpet Odors...

2/15/2016 (Permalink)

So Your Carpet Is Smelly…

 There are many reasons why a carpet can become smelly, from pet odors to heavy soiling and other causes. However, what some don’t realize is a little water intrusion can cause a big problem with the condition of their carpet, even after it seems the carpet has dried.

 Water intrusions can be from many sources. If it is from a toilet (raw sewage), it’s almost always best to discard the carpet and pad and get something new. While doing that, be sure the subfloor is also cleaned and disinfected appropriately, and sealed if necessary. If it is from an overflowing sink or a leaky pipe, the damage can usually be limited so purchasing new flooring isn’t always necessary.

 But one of the biggest problems is waiting too long no matter the cause of the water damage in your home.

 When you discover a wet carpet or rug, it’s time to get to work. Remove the water with extraction, and get some air movement and ventilation started on removing moisture.

However, here’s the problem. If the carpet isn’t dried really fast, like how professional water damage experts can dry carpet using their specialized tools and equipment, a persistent musty smell can develop. There’s not much a homeowner can do to fix that issue. In the winter months, when humidity is low, you may not notice the odor that much. But when summer arrives, with the higher humidity, those odors will come back with a vengeance.

 Even worse, mold can begin to grow. No one wants potentially dangerous mold in their homes!

Certified Electronics Restoration Network

12/8/2015 (Permalink)

Electronics Cleaning

SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks has recently completed training through ElectroClean and is now a certified electronics restoration contractor, and part of the Certified Electronics Restoration Network! 

What does that mean for our customers?  We’re glad you asked!  It means we are now even more trained and equipped to provide cleaning and restoration services for damage incurred from fire, water, lightning strikes, electrical surges, and more. 

This particular certification is focused on electronics restoration and data recovery including:

• Electronic Inventory Controls
• State-of-the-art Electronic Data Base Platform
• Standardized Cleaning and Testing Technologies
• Each Item Tested Three Times Prior to Packaging
• Standardized Data Back-Up in 48 Hours or Less
• Standardized Job Management, Forms and Procedures
• Standardized Packing and Automated Detailed Packing Labels
• Customer Service Requirements and Network Standards
• A 92.7% Success Rate in Electronic Restoration
• Average Cost for Restoration 20.3% of Replacement
• Both Residential and Commercial Services Available
• Onsite Cleaning Available if Required and Requested
• Onsite Electronic Evaluation Reports from Lightning Strikes, Water Leaks or Electrical Surges

When disaster strikes your home or business, call SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks. Our heroes are standing by, ready make it "Like it never even happened."252 331-7889