Prepare your business for possible disasters.

12/29/2022 (Permalink)

Hazardous conditions after a blizzard.

When you are a business owner, one of the most important factors to think about is emergency preparedness.

Disaster are going to happen, and while having a plan in place cannot stop all disasters, it can still offer a certain sense of security and at least ensure that your employees are aware of what to do if a disaster or emergency situation should occur.

What’s Your Plan?

Please take the time and make it a priority to sit down and work out an emergency preparedness plan for various disaster situations that could affect your business!

There are numerous emergencies your business should have a preparedness plan in place for, including:

• Fire
• Severe weather, including thunderstorms and winter storms
• Other natural hazards like floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes
• Human-caused hazards, including accidents or acts of violence
• Technology-related issues like power outages and equipment failure

When disaster strikes, it doesn’t matter if it’s a man-made incident or natural, if no emergency plan is in place for your business, things could get even more stressful quickly.

You should make sure that safety training and familiarization of emergency preparedness plans are included in the company onboarding process, team-building activities and continuing education opportunities. By encouraging your employees to familiarize themselves with proper safety protocol and emergency procedures, you’re not only giving them the tools to protect themselves, but you are also setting them up to help protect guests/visitors and the business itself.

Where to Begin

In beginning to set up an emergency plan for your business, start by evaluating which scenarios are most likely to occur—and go as far as considering the longshots that could still happen. After all, it’s better to prepare for all the worst-case scenarios and not be caught off guard.

There are plenty of online resources to help guide you through this process, including Ready.gov, the American Red Cross, FEMA and the CDC.

If you have a business impact analysis (BIA) done, it will help predict potential effects a disaster may have on your business. This would include lost or delayed sales and income, increased expenses from repairs, and delayed implementation of business plans. Don’t forget to make sure a crisis communications plan is in place, too.

Once you have come up with an emergency preparedness plan, be sure to review it and practice it with employees. Reviewing and rehearsing various scenarios can help ensure the process remains fresh in their minds and can help employees feel more empowered.

Disaster can strike when you least expect it, but by being prepared and having a plan in place, your business will be better suited to handle whatever Mother Nature has in store. If the worst should happen and your business is damaged, know that SERVPRO® of Western Essex County is here to help make it “Like it never even happened.”

Prepare your business for possible disasters.

12/29/2022 (Permalink)

Hazardous conditions after a blizzard.

When you are a business owner, one of the most important factors to think about is emergency preparedness.

Disaster are going to happen, and while having a plan in place cannot stop all disasters, it can still offer a certain sense of security and at least ensure that your employees are aware of what to do if a disaster or emergency situation should occur.

What’s Your Plan?

Please take the time and make it a priority to sit down and work out an emergency preparedness plan for various disaster situations that could affect your business!

There are numerous emergencies your business should have a preparedness plan in place for, including:

• Fire
• Severe weather, including thunderstorms and winter storms
• Other natural hazards like floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes
• Human-caused hazards, including accidents or acts of violence
• Technology-related issues like power outages and equipment failure

When disaster strikes, it doesn’t matter if it’s a man-made incident or natural, if no emergency plan is in place for your business, things could get even more stressful quickly.

You should make sure that safety training and familiarization of emergency preparedness plans are included in the company onboarding process, team-building activities and continuing education opportunities. By encouraging your employees to familiarize themselves with proper safety protocol and emergency procedures, you’re not only giving them the tools to protect themselves, but you are also setting them up to help protect guests/visitors and the business itself.

Where to Begin

In beginning to set up an emergency plan for your business, start by evaluating which scenarios are most likely to occur—and go as far as considering the longshots that could still happen. After all, it’s better to prepare for all the worst-case scenarios and not be caught off guard.

There are plenty of online resources to help guide you through this process, including Ready.gov, the American Red Cross, FEMA and the CDC.

If you have a business impact analysis (BIA) done, it will help predict potential effects a disaster may have on your business. This would include lost or delayed sales and income, increased expenses from repairs, and delayed implementation of business plans. Don’t forget to make sure a crisis communications plan is in place, too.

Once you have come up with an emergency preparedness plan, be sure to review it and practice it with employees. Reviewing and rehearsing various scenarios can help ensure the process remains fresh in their minds and can help employees feel more empowered.

Disaster can strike when you least expect it, but by being prepared and having a plan in place, your business will be better suited to handle whatever Mother Nature has in store. If the worst should happen and your business is damaged, know that SERVPRO® of Western Essex County is here to help make it “Like it never even happened.”

Why Regular Carpet Cleaning is Important

11/2/2022 (Permalink)

Carpet Cleaning is very important. Learn why here!

Carpet cleaning can be a bothersome chore. However, the reward of restoring the freshness and beauty back to our carpets is very often worth the efforts. Carpets without proper cleaning quickly lose its beauty in due time. The soiling of carpets can unfold rather fast, even with regularly vacuuming and spot cleaning. Let’s take a look at the main reasons why carpet cleaning is so important.

It prolongs the life span of the carpet.

Vacuuming does help but there are dirt and grime that sinks deep within the fibers. They become hard to clean. They even make the carpet look old and discolored. Regular carpet cleaning in intervals of 12 to 18 months sustains longer life span. It also maintains the beauty of the carpet as if it is only several months old since purchased.

It removes stains, restoring the carpet back an unblemished state.

Carpet stains often mar the look of a carpet and make our living space less pleasant-looking. Carpet stains appear all the time from the dirt carried inside from the soles of shoes, to spilt coffee, wine and other drinks, to pet accidents and more. Deep carpet cleaning can separate the dirt from the carpets, bringing it back to an unblemished and pleasant-looking state.

It lessens pollutants.

The carpet is an effective trap of various particles. Dirt, dust, pet dander, and insect allergens are regulars of home carpet. Regular carpet cleaning helps lessen or completely eliminate these pollutants. The use of special sanitizers like carpet shampoo kills the bacteria from these particles. Would you believe that the average home toilet seat is cleaner than the average home carpet?

It prevents insect infestation.

There are insects that are hard to notice when they are on the carpet’s surface. Sometimes, adaptive coloration makes cockroaches and mites to stay on it until they release eggs. They also leave body fragments like shed skin. With regular carpet cleaning, you do not clean the carpet alone but also kills insects and prevents possible infestation.

It eliminates bad odor.

The dust, insects, urine and various pollutants on the carpet emit foul odor. They also increase the chances that some organisms like bacteria and fungi will soon thrive on the carpet. The bad odor is itself a sign of an unhealthy environment. Regular carpet cleaning will not only eliminate bad odor. It will also hinder these harmful organisms from being carpet mainstays.

It contributes to overall home appeal.

A well-maintained and regularly cleaned carpet is a sign of a well-maintained home. It leaves an impression that the homeowner is careful and meticulous of how his house looks and appeals to his guests. More often than not, a clean home carpet reflects that other things and other parts within the house also shows equal cleanliness.

It protects your investment

Regular carpet cleaning treats your carpet as a great investment. It doesn’t matter how cheap or how expensive you’ve bought it. This is an effort that maintains beauty, color, and the pattern or designs of your carpet longer than you could imagine. It can even make your carpet a legacy passed to your children.

Summary & Next Steps

Regular home carpet cleaning should not be taken for granted. Summing up, the importance it brings comes down to adding beauty wherever that may be.

Manual (hand wash) carpet cleaning of homes can be a tedious, if not impossible process. Fortunately, there are many models of home carpet cleaning machines that allow the process to be much easier.

On top of your own carpet cleaning routines, you may also consider engaging qualified professional cleaning services for an expert review of your carpets. Here at SERVPRO Western Essex County we have the most up to date equipment to do a job well done. You can always give us a call for professional advice on the matter at hand.

Proper Air Duct Cleaning for Businesses

11/2/2022 (Permalink)

What You Need to Know About Air Duct Cleaning

Air duct cleaning is a misnomer. In actuality, the entire HVAC system should be cleaned. Failure to clean all components of the system can result in recontamination of the entire system, thus minimizing the benefits of cleaning.

Just as you wouldn’t clean only half of your living room floor, you also would not want to clean only part of your HVAC system. NADCA recommends cleaning the entire HVAC system, including the following components:

• air ducts
• coils
• drain pan
• registers
• grills
• air plenum
• blower motor and assembly
• heat exchanger
• air filter
• air cleaner

There are two key components to HVAC cleaning: breaking contaminants loose, and collection of contaminants.

Breaking Contaminants Loose

Properly cleaning HVAC systems requires removing the sources of contamination. Source removal begins with the use of one or more agitation devices designed to loosen contaminants from the surfaces within the heating and air conditioning system. Examples of agitation devices include: brushes, air whips and compressed air nozzles or “skipper balls.” Agitation can also be achieved through hand-brushing or contact vacuuming.

Collection of Contaminants

During cleaning, the entire HVAC system is placed under continuous negative pressure (a vacuum) to prevent the spread of contaminants. Continuous negative pressure allows very fine particles to be removed from the system as they become airborne, ensuring that these particles are not released into the living space when the system is turned on after cleaning. This negative pressure also serves to extract the loosened contaminants, which are collected and removed from your home.

System Access

HVAC system cleaning is not a complex process, but each job is unique. Where possible, access to duct interiors should be made through existing openings such as supply diffusers, return grills, duct end caps and existing service openings. Cleaning technicians may need to cut access holes in the duct work in order to reach inside with various cleaning tools. Creation of these service openings, and their subsequent closure, requires craftsmanship and professional skills.

Equipment Requirements

There is a wide variety of equipment available to HVAC cleaning professionals. Both truck-mounted and portable vacuums can be used to stop the spread of contaminants and get the system cleaned to the NADCA Standard.

Antimicrobial Chemicals

Antimicrobial chemicals include sanitizers, disinfectants and deodorizers that can be applied to nonporous surfaces in HVAC systems to address microbial contamination and help control odors. Only chemicals registered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can be used. These products should only be considered after mechanical surface cleaning has been performed and if the need for such treatment has been deemed necessary. Review the NADCA White Paper on Chemical Applications in HVAC Systems for more information. 

Commercial Services

11/2/2022 (Permalink)

When it comes to your commercial property, we mean business. You need a company that can minimize the disruption to your clients while delivering superior results. Whether you need professional cleaning to make your business shine, or emergency water restoration services, SERVPRO of Western Essex County has the training and expertise to help make it “Like it never even happened.”

• Small Office Buildings
• Large Office/High-Rise Office Buildings
• Apartment Buildings
• Restaurants
• Hotel/Motels
• Small Retail Stores
• Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
• High-Rise Residential
• Manufacturing & Industrial
• Government/Military

Commercial Building Cleaning Services

Whether your need is removing an odor problem or deep-cleaning flooring or carpets, you can depend on SERVPRO of Western Essex County to get the job done right the first time. We’ll respond promptly and make your work space look its very best. Learn more about our commercial cleaning services.

Commercial Building Restoration Services

SERVPRO of Western Essex County is available 24 hours a day to restore your property and get you back to business. We have the expertise, equipment, and highly trained personnel to handle your commercial water, fire, or mold damage. We can also access the resources of our national network of 1,700 Franchises to handle large commercial projects and major storm events. Learn more about our commercial restoration services.

Give us a call we can help

(973) 944-1640

The Importance of Cleaning Dryer Vents Commercial

11/1/2022 (Permalink)

Over 15,000 Dryer-Related Fires Each Year

Home and business owners should be taking note: when lint clogs a dryer duct, your building is at risk for fire. Dryer vent cleaning helps to prevent costly fires, reduce dryer downtime—and keep your building’s dryer system functioning properly.

SERVPRO of Western Essex County is a cost-effective way to protect the safety of building residents. As part of our service, we remove lint, birds’ nests, small articles of clothing and more from dryer vents in houses, beauty salons, hotels, multi-family living structures and other establishments.

SERVPRO of Western Essex County ensures that the full length of the dryer vent is clean when we leave your property.

This may entail cutting additional access points to the dryer vent from the attic, basement—or where ever the dryer vent routes through your home or business. 

Here at SERVPRO of Western Essex County no job is too big for us and we are always here to help. We are open 24/7 seven days a week, just for our customer's needs.

Commercial Division| Our Services

11/1/2022 (Permalink)

Commercial cleaning and restoration present unique challenges. Our goal is to provide excellent results while minimizing the disruption to your clients. SERVPRO of Central Union County & Roselle are fully equipped to take on your commercial property no matter the size of the job.

Commercial Services:

• Air Ducts / HVAC
• General & Specialty Cleaning
• Post Construction Cleaning
• Punch List Services
• Dry Ice Blasting
• Power Washing
• Biohazard & Sewage
• Odor Removal / Deodorization

We offer our services to any time of commercial property:

• Small/Large Office Buildings
• High-Rise Office Buildings
• Apartment Buildings
• Restaurants
• Hotel/Motels
• Small Retail Stores
• Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
• High-Rise Residential
• Manufacturing & Industrial
• Government/Military

For any additional information, please feel free to contact our office for all of your commercial property needs.

The Importance of Cleaning Dryer Vents Commercial

10/3/2022 (Permalink)

Over 15,000 Dryer-Related Fires Each Year

Home and business owners should be taking note: when lint clogs a dryer duct, your building is at risk for fire. Dryer vent cleaning helps to prevent costly fires, reduce dryer downtime—and keep your building’s dryer system functioning properly.

SERVPRO of Western Essex County is a cost-effective way to protect the safety of building residents. As part of our service, we remove lint, birds’ nests, small articles of clothing and more from dryer vents in houses, beauty salons, hotels, multi-family living structures and other establishments.

SERVPRO of Western Essex County ensures that the full length of the dryer vent is clean when we leave your property.

This may entail cutting additional access points to the dryer vent from the attic, basement—or where ever the dryer vent routes through your home or business. 

Here at SERVPRO of Western Essex County no job is too big for us and we are always here to help. We are open 24/7 seven days a week, just for our customer's needs.

Be Severe Weather Ready

10/3/2022 (Permalink)

Prepare your business before storms happen.

Severe weather can happen any time, anywhere. Each year, Americans cope with an average of the following intense storms:

• 10,000 severe thunderstorms
• 5,000 floods or flash floods
• 1,000 tornadoes
• 2 landfalling deadly hurricanes

Approximately 98% of all presidential declared disasters are weather-related, leading to around 500 deaths per year and nearly $15 billion in damage.* Knowing your risk of severe weather, taking action and being an example are just a few steps you can take to be better prepared to save your life and assist in saving the lives of others.

Know Your Risk 

The first step to being weather-ready is to understand the type of hazardous weather that can affect where you live and work, and how the weather could impact you, your business and your family. Check the weather forecast regularly and obtain a NOAA Weather Radio. Severe weather comes in many forms and your shelter plan should include all types of local hazards.

Take Action

Take the next step in severe weather preparedness by creating a communications plan for your home and business. Put together or purchase an emergency kit. Keep important papers and valuables in a safe place.

Be an Example

Once you have taken action to prepare for severe weather, share your story with co-workers and family and friends on Facebook or Twitter. Your preparedness story will inspire others to do the same. Contact SERVPRO of Western Union County for more readiness tips and tools to make it, "Like it Never Even Happened." 

Make Sure Your Business Is Ready for Potential Disasters | SERVPRO® of Western Essex County

3/28/2022 (Permalink)

A quick response time with an alertful team will ensure that your restoration needs are professionally completed by SERVPRO of Western Essex County.

When you are a business owner, one of the most important factors to think about is emergency preparedness.

Disaster are going to happen, and while having a plan in place cannot stop all disasters, it can still offer a certain sense of security and at least ensure that your employees are aware of what to do if a disaster or emergency situation should occur.

Does Your Business Have a Natural Disaster Plan? | SERVPRO® of Western Essex County

3/28/2022 (Permalink)

A quick response time with an alertful team will ensure that your restoration needs are professionally completed by SERVPRO of Western Essex County.

Would your business be prepared to face all that Mother Nature can throw at it through floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and earthquakes? The most important key to surviving these natural disasters is to be prepared for these situations.

Being prepared for these situations involves creating a natural disaster plan for your business. This blog will lay out some aspects to consider when designing that very important disaster plan.

<h4to-start-with-your-disaster-plan">Where to Start With Your Disaster Plan

There are many things you will need to consider, including your employees, your material assets and equipment, when developing a disaster plan for your business.

Some of those considerations should be:

1. How to protect your employees
2. How to secure your assets
3. How to get business up and running again

Many checklists have been made available through sources like the Red Cross, FEMA and Ready.gov that can offer information that will help you identify areas that need to be included in your natural disaster preparedness plan. These sources will also help you see just how prepared you truly are.

<h4t-neglect-employee-safety">Don’t Neglect Employee Safety

If a disaster should strike without warning, your plan must lay out clear and concise procedures and safety measures for the protection of your employees and visitors. Your evacuation routes and exits from your facility should all be properly and clearly marked, have an area designated that will serve as a shelter space, consider emergency light installation, and ask for volunteers to serve as designated “safety wardens” properly trained and ready to guide and assist with all emergency efforts.

When choosing a place for shelter, ideally this space would be a basement or storm cellar in the event of tornadoes or other high-wind situations. If there is no basement available, select a small interior room on the lowest level of the building, such as a closet or interior hallway.

<h4to-protect-the-assets">How to Protect the Assets

In a brick and mortar location, you’ll still need to make careful decisions when it comes to protecting the assets inside the building. You have thousands of dollars tied up in equipment and/or merchandise that will be at risk should a natural disaster strike.

Be sure to have a complete and up-to-date inventory of all equipment and assets. Having photographs prior to a disaster whenever possible is also always helpful if insurance claims need to be made. If your assets are computer data-based and kept on a server, take the steps necessary to ensure that the backup system is making regular backups and that the storage system cannot be damaged, such as a cloud storage option.

If you own the building that you conduct your business in, get with a contractor to uncover areas that could be structurally strengthened. This contractor should be able to suggest possible safety upgrades and advise on any areas that may not make the grade in certain weather situations.

<h4back-to-business">Getting Back to Business

When—and if—a natural disaster does occur, it may be entirely possible that your business will have to be closed for days or months due to the damage incurred. And every day you remain closed is another day of lost profits. It is wise to set up a disaster fund to help cover any additional costs that are not covered by your insurance.

Keep a list of contractors handy who will make themselves available for repairs, and know which cleanup and restoration service will be available to quickly respond to your emergency situation.

With SERVPRO® of Western Essex, you can count on us to get to the disaster faster and make it "Like it never even happened." Our training and expertise have prepared us to help with water damage, storm damage, fire damage and mold remediation quickly and effectively.

Knowing what to do when disaster strikes your business is of the utmost importance. When it comes to the cleanup and restoration aspects, depend on SERVPRO® of Western Essex County to be there for you.

How We Approach Restoration Differently | SERVPRO® of Western Essex County

12/2/2021 (Permalink)

A quick response from SERVPRO of Western Essex County ensures your Damage Restoration needs are professionally completed.

There is a lot that goes into choosing a restoration company as a property manager. Not only are you picking someone to restore your building, but you are also forced to make a big decision during a stressful time in life. Choosing the right company will give you peace of mind and make your experience a positive one, but it’s important to pick one that is trustworthy.

Because there are so many types of damages that can occur from a disaster, it is important to choose a company that can handle a variety of situations.

When water damage turns into structural damage or a fire releases toxic soot particles into the air, you will want a company that can handle the entire situation. Seeking a company that can handle complications is essential for a positive experience.

Commercial Division | Our Services

11/29/2021 (Permalink)

We are available for cleanup and restoration services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Commercial cleaning and restoration present unique challenges. Our goal is to provide excellent results while minimizing the disruption to your clients. SERVPRO of Western Essex County is fully equipped to take on your commercial property no matter the size of the job.

Commercial Services:

• Air Ducts / HVAC
• General & Specialty Cleaning
• Post Construction Cleaning
• Punch List Services
• Dry Ice Blasting
• Power Washing
• Biohazard & Sewage
• Odor Removal / Deodorization

We offer our services to any time of commercial property:

• Small/Large Office Buildings
• High-Rise Office Buildings
• Apartment Buildings
• Restaurants
• Hotel/Motels
• Small Retail Stores
• Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
• High-Rise Residential
• Manufacturing & Industrial
• Government/Military

For any additional information, please feel free to contact our office for all of your commercial property needs.

Why Business Owners Choose Us for Restoration | SERVPRO® of Western Essex County

11/19/2021 (Permalink)

If you’re in need of commercial restoration, do not hesitate to call us so you can get your business back faster.

For many business owners, sustaining damage to their business can damage more than just their property—it can also damage their entire venture. In a recent FEMA study, they determined 40 to 60% of businesses will not reopen following a natural disaster. That is why if your business has sustained fire, water or mold damage, either due to a disaster or any other cause, it is important to choose a company that is well-versed in commercial restoration.

We know how important your business is to your livelihood, which is why we make it our mission to be experts in commercial restoration. Having a team you trust on your side will help you focus on other crucial business aspects and help get your doors open again faster. These are just a few of the reasons why business owners have chosen us for commercial restoration:

What Could Cause Fires in Your Business | SERVPRO® of Western Essex County

11/1/2021 (Permalink)

A quick response from SERVPRO of Western Essex County ensures your Damage Restoration needs are professionally completed.

Business owners have many responsibilities, with one of them being safety factors to take into consideration regarding risks to your business, staff and visitors. One of those risks that needs some extra consideration is planning for and working toward preventing fires.

Leading Causes of Commercial Structure Fires

According to a report published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) the leading causes of structure fires in office properties were (in order):

1. Cooking equipment, 29% of fires
2. Electrical distribution and lighting equipment, 12% of fires
3. Heating equipment, 11% of fires
4. Intentional, 10% of fires
5. Smoking materials, 9% of fires
6. Exposure, 4% of fires
7. Electronic, office or entertainment equipment, 3% of fires

Of those causes, intentional, exposure, and electrical distribution and lighting equipment accounted for the most property damage with 20%, 18% and 15% respectively.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that in 2007, fires and explosions accounted for 3% of all workplace fatalities.

In more recent studies, the NFPA estimates that from 2007–2011, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 3,340 fires at office properties per year. Those fires were responsible for an annual average of four deaths, 44 injuries and $112 million in direct property damage.

Protect Your Business

By focusing on fire risk assessment, fire prevention and staff education, you can take steps to protect your business from a fire risk and help reduce the chance of a fire breaking out.

First, you must assess the fire hazard risk. Fire marshals are often offered in some areas by the local government. During a visit, the fire marshal can offer advice and help identify your business’ risks, providing guidance on your fire prevention plan.

You’ll want to make sure you have chosen the right fire protection equipment. This should include an automatic sprinkler system, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers on each floor.

Finally, and more importantly, consider your employees and visitors. By creating a fire prevention and evacuation plan and reviewing it with your staff, you’ll be making sure everyone knows what to do in the case of a fire. Conduct regular fire drills at least annually to keep the fire safety protocol fresh, and take time to review evacuation plans and routes and also the location of first-aid kits.

Despite best efforts with fire prevention and safety tips, the worst could always happen at your business. If a fire has damaged your business, SERVPRO® of Western Essex County is available to help make it "Like it never even happened."

Make Sure Your Business Is Ready for Potential Disasters | SERVPRO® of Western Essex County

10/11/2021 (Permalink)

A quick response time with an alert team will ensure that your restoration needs are professionally completed by SERVPRO of Western Essex County.

When you are a business owner, one of the most important factors to think about is emergency preparedness.

Disaster are going to happen, and while having a plan in place cannot stop all disasters, it can still offer a certain sense of security and at least ensure that your employees are aware of what to do if a disaster or emergency situation should occur.

What’s Your Plan?

Please take the time and make it a priority to sit down and work out an emergency preparedness plan for various disaster situations that could affect your business!

There are numerous emergencies your business should have a preparedness plan in place for, including:

• Fire
• Severe weather, including thunderstorms and winter storms
• Other natural hazards like floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes
• Human-caused hazards, including accidents or acts of violence
• Technology-related issues like power outages and equipment failure

When disaster strikes, it doesn’t matter if it’s a man-made incident or natural, if no emergency plan is in place for your business, things could get even more stressful quickly.

You should make sure that safety training and familiarization of emergency preparedness plans are included in the company onboarding process, team-building activities and continuing education opportunities. By encouraging your employees to familiarize themselves with proper safety protocol and emergency procedures, you’re not only giving them the tools to protect themselves, but you are also setting them up to help protect guests/visitors and the business itself.

Where to Begin

In beginning to set up an emergency plan for your business, start by evaluating which scenarios are most likely to occur—and go as far as considering the longshots that could still happen. After all, it’s better to prepare for all the worst-case scenarios and not be caught off guard.

There are plenty of online resources to help guide you through this process, including Ready.gov, the American Red Cross, FEMA and the CDC.

If you have a business impact analysis (BIA) done, it will help predict potential effects a disaster may have on your business. This would include lost or delayed sales and income, increased expenses from repairs, and delayed implementation of business plans. Don’t forget to make sure a crisis communications plan is in place, too.

Once you have come up with an emergency preparedness plan, be sure to review it and practice it with employees. Reviewing and rehearsing various scenarios can help ensure the process remains fresh in their minds and can help employees feel more empowered.

Disaster can strike when you least expect it, but by being prepared and having a plan in place, your business will be better suited to handle whatever Mother Nature has in store. If the worst should happen and your business is damaged, know that SERVPRO® of Western Essex County is here to help make it “Like it never even happened.”

Commercial Division | Our Services

10/7/2021 (Permalink)

Contact us to make it, "Like it never even happened."

Commercial cleaning and restoration present unique challenges. Our goal is to provide excellent results while minimizing the disruption to your clients. SERVPRO of Central Union County & Roselle are fully equipped to take on your commercial property no matter the size of the job.

Commercial Services:

• Air Ducts / HVAC
• General & Specialty Cleaning
• Post Construction Cleaning
• Punch List Services
• Dry Ice Blasting
• Power Washing
• Biohazard & Sewage
• Odor Removal / Deodorization

We offer our services to any time of commercial property:

• Small/Large Office Buildings
• High-Rise Office Buildings
• Apartment Buildings
• Restaurants
• Hotel/Motels
• Small Retail Stores
• Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
• High-Rise Residential
• Manufacturing & Industrial
• Government/Military

For any additional information, please feel free to contact our office for all of your commercial property needs.

Does Your Business Have a Natural Disaster Plan?

3/22/2021 (Permalink)

When it comes to the cleanup and restoration aspects, depend on SERVPRO Central County | SERVPRO of Roselle.

Would your business be prepared to face all that Mother Nature can throw at it through floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and earthquakes? The most important key to surviving these natural disasters is to be prepared for these situations.

Being prepared for these situations involves creating a natural disaster plan for your business. This blog will lay out some aspects to consider when designing that very important disaster plan.

Where to Start With Your Disaster Plan

There are many things you will need to consider, including your employees, your material assets and equipment, when developing a disaster plan for your business.

Some of those considerations should be:

1. How to protect your employees
2. How to secure your assets
3. How to get business up and running again

Many checklists have been made available through sources like the Red Cross, FEMA and Ready.gov that can offer information that will help you identify areas that need to be included in your natural disaster preparedness plan. These sources will also help you see just how prepared you truly are.

Don’t Neglect Employee Safety

If a disaster should strike without warning, your plan must lay out clear and concise procedures and safety measures for the protection of your employees and visitors. Your evacuation routes and exits from your facility should all be properly and clearly marked, have an area designated that will serve as a shelter space, consider emergency light installation, and ask for volunteers to serve as designated “safety wardens” properly trained and ready to guide and assist with all emergency efforts.

When choosing a place for shelter, ideally this space would be a basement or storm cellar in the event of tornadoes or other high-wind situations. If there is no basement available, select a small interior room on the lowest level of the building, such as a closet or interior hallway.

How to Protect the Assets

In a brick and mortar location, you’ll still need to make careful decisions when it comes to protecting the assets inside the building. You have thousands of dollars tied up in equipment and/or merchandise that will be at risk should a natural disaster strike.

Be sure to have a complete and up-to-date inventory of all equipment and assets. Having photographs prior to a disaster whenever possible is also always helpful if insurance claims need to be made. If your assets are computer data-based and kept on a server, take the steps necessary to ensure that the backup system is making regular backups and that the storage system cannot be damaged, such as a cloud storage option.

If you own the building that you conduct your business in, get with a contractor to uncover areas that could be structurally strengthened. This contractor should be able to suggest possible safety upgrades and advise on any areas that may not make the grade in certain weather situations.

Getting Back to Business

When—and if—a natural disaster does occur, it may be entirely possible that your business will have to be closed for days or months due to the damage incurred. And every day you remain closed is another day of lost profits. It is wise to set up a disaster fund to help cover any additional costs that are not covered by your insurance.

Keep a list of contractors handy who will make themselves available for repairs, and know which cleanup and restoration service will be available to quickly respond to your emergency situation.

You can count on us to get to the disaster faster and make it "Like it never even happened." Our training and expertise have prepared us to help with water damage, storm damage, fire damage and mold remediation quickly and effectively.

Why Business Owners Choose Us for Restoration | SERVPRO® of Western Essex County

3/22/2021 (Permalink)

Our trained experts are here to help 24/7—contact us today.

For many business owners, sustaining damage to their business can damage more than just their property—it can also damage their entire venture. In a recent FEMA study, they determined 40 to 60% of businesses will not reopen following a natural disaster. That is why if your business has sustained fire, water or mold damage, either due to a disaster or any other cause, it is important to choose a company that is well-versed in commercial restoration.

We know how important your business is to your livelihood, which is why we make it our mission to be experts in commercial restoration. Having a team you trust on your side will help you focus on other crucial business aspects and help get your doors open again faster. These are just a few of the reasons why business owners have chosen us for commercial restoration:

Does Your Business Have a Natural Disaster Plan? | SERVPRO of Western Essex County

11/18/2020 (Permalink)

Knowing what to do when disaster strikes your business is of the utmost importance. When it comes to the cleanup & restoration aspects, depend on us.

Would your business be prepared to face all that Mother Nature can throw at it through floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and earthquakes? The most important key to surviving these natural disasters is to be prepared for these situations.

Being prepared for these situations involves creating a natural disaster plan for your business. This blog will lay out some aspects to consider when designing that very important disaster plan.

Where to Start With Your Disaster Plan

There are many things you will need to consider, including your employees, your material assets and equipment, when developing a disaster plan for your business.

Some of those considerations should be:

1. How to protect your employees
2. How to secure your assets
3. How to get business up and running again

Many checklists have been made available through sources like the Red Cross, FEMA and Ready.gov that can offer information that will help you identify areas that need to be included in your natural disaster preparedness plan. These sources will also help you see just how prepared you truly are.

Don’t Neglect Employee Safety

If a disaster should strike without warning, your plan must lay out clear and concise procedures and safety measures for the protection of your employees and visitors. Your evacuation routes and exits from your facility should all be properly and clearly marked, have an area designated that will serve as a shelter space, consider emergency light installation, and ask for volunteers to serve as designated “safety wardens” properly trained and ready to guide and assist with all emergency efforts.

When choosing a place for shelter, ideally this space would be a basement or storm cellar in the event of tornadoes or other high-wind situations. If there is no basement available, select a small interior room on the lowest level of the building, such as a closet or interior hallway.

How to Protect the Assets

In a brick and mortar location, you’ll still need to make careful decisions when it comes to protecting the assets inside the building. You have thousands of dollars tied up in equipment and/or merchandise that will be at risk should a natural disaster strike.

Be sure to have a complete and up-to-date inventory of all equipment and assets. Having photographs prior to a disaster whenever possible is also always helpful if insurance claims need to be made. If your assets are computer data-based and kept on a server, take the steps necessary to ensure that the backup system is making regular backups and that the storage system cannot be damaged, such as a cloud storage option.

If you own the building that you conduct your business in, get with a contractor to uncover areas that could be structurally strengthened. This contractor should be able to suggest possible safety upgrades and advise on any areas that may not make the grade in certain weather situations.

Getting Back to Business

When—and if—a natural disaster does occur, it may be entirely possible that your business will have to be closed for days or months due to the damage incurred. And every day you remain closed is another day of lost profits. It is wise to set up a disaster fund to help cover any additional costs that are not covered by your insurance.

Keep a list of contractors handy who will make themselves available for repairs, and know which cleanup and restoration service will be available to quickly respond to your emergency situation.

With SERVPRO® of Central Union County, you can count on us to get to the disaster faster and make it "Like it never even happened." Our training and expertise have prepared us to help with water damage, storm damage, fire damage and mold remediation quickly and effectively.

Business Owners Should Practice Flood Preparedness | SERVPRO of Western Essex County

11/17/2020 (Permalink)

A flood can happen when you least expect it. If your business experiences water damage, contact SERVPRO of Western Essex County.

t is not uncommon for home and business owners to underestimate their flood preparedness, especially if they are not in an area historically known for flooding. However, it was recently reported that natural disasters involve flooding in 90% of instances and affect areas that are not typically known for flooding quite often.

Planning is a smart idea for business owners not only to increase safety within the workplace, but it can also serve to allow businesses to reopen more quickly after the flood passes. By planning ahead, business owners can have the peace of mind to know that they are ready should a flood occur.

How to Practice Flood Preparedness

Some key ways business owners can practice flood preparedness are:

• Make use of the Flood Map provided by FEMA to get an overview of flooding rates in your geographical location.
• Copy business documents and keep them in a secure location such as a waterproof safe or safety deposit box.
• Develop an official training guide for emergencies so employees can be educated and know what to do.
• Designate evacuation routes and mark them clearly.
• Consider adding flood insurance to your business policy, which does not typically include it.
• Create a personal emergency kit for your desk and an office-wide one in case someone is stranded.
• Find creative ways to raise electronics if necessary.

How to Prepare Documents for a Flood

As you begin the process of reopening the business after a disaster, having helpful documents will make the process much easier. Consider preparing and storing copies of the following:

• The continuity plan for after floodwaters recede
• Contact information for all employees, vendors, suppliers and any other parties that might need to be contacted right away
• Your insurance policy records and agent contact information
• Digital file backups and recovery instructions
• Financial documentation that may come in handy

If your business has experienced a flood, we are always here to help. Call us ²⁴⁄₇ to get our team of professionals to your business quickly so you can get back on track.

Why Business Owners Choose Us for Restoration | SERVPRO® of Western Essex County

10/29/2020 (Permalink)

We are available for cleanup and restoration services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For many business owners, sustaining damage to their business can damage more than just their property—it can also damage their entire venture. In a recent FEMA study, they determined 40 to 60% of businesses will not reopen following a natural disaster. That is why if your business has sustained fire, water or mold damage, either due to a disaster or any other cause, it is important to choose a company that is well-versed in commercial restoration.

We know how important your business is to your livelihood, which is why we make it our mission to be experts in commercial restoration. Having a team you trust on your side will help you focus on other crucial business aspects and help get your doors open again faster. These are just a few of the reasons why business owners have chosen us for commercial restoration:

1. We’re Proud of Our Response Time

You may be aware that our slogan is “faster to any size disaster,” but that’s more than just something we say. Our emergency line is open ²⁴⁄₇, 365 days a year to ensure our restoration experts are alerted right away when a business owner calls to report the damage.

A quick response time not only gives business owners peace of mind, but it also makes the restoration process more efficient. By getting to the scene quickly, our technicians can stop further damage from occurring, saving both time and money on the project. This makes for one less thing business owners have to worry about as they get their business on track to reopen.

2. We’re Proud of Our Technicians

Our technicians are leaders in the restoration field because of the education and training they receive. They study the guidelines set forth by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) to learn about best practices, restoration techniques and other insider tips in the field.

Technicians also have the opportunity to further their education through certification programs, online courses and other industry knowledge throughout their employment. This allows them to be prepared for any damage scenario your business might face.

3. We’re Proud of Our Equipment

The materials and procedures we use on commercial restoration projects comply with the IICRC’s guidelines, ensuring we are tackling the job with the most advanced tools in the industry.

From water extraction machines following flooding or odor removal equipment to remove smoke after a fire, we’ve got the tools to make your commercial remediation a success.

If you’re in need of commercial restoration, do not hesitate to make the call so you can get your business back faster. Our trained experts are here to help 24/7—contact us today at 908.650.8611.

What Could Cause Fires in Your Business? | SERVPRO® of Western Essex County

10/27/2020 (Permalink)

Having a team on your side after a disaster can help relieve stress. SERVPRO of Western Essex County is here to help.

Business owners have many responsibilities, with one of them being safety factors to take into consideration regarding risks to your business, staff and visitors. One of those risks that needs some extra consideration is planning for and working toward preventing fires.

Leading Causes of Commercial Structure Fires

According to a report published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) the leading causes of structure fires in office properties were (in order):

1. Cooking equipment, 29% of fires
2. Electrical distribution and lighting equipment, 12% of fires
3. Heating equipment, 11% of fires
4. Intentional, 10% of fires
5. Smoking materials, 9% of fires
6. Exposure, 4% of fires
7. Electronic, office or entertainment equipment, 3% of fires

Of those causes, intentional, exposure, and electrical distribution and lighting equipment accounted for the most property damage with 20%, 18% and 15% respectively..

Protect Your Business

By focusing on fire risk assessment, fire prevention and staff education, you can take steps to protect your business from a fire risk and help reduce the chance of a fire breaking out.

First, you must assess the fire hazard risk. Fire marshals are often offered in some areas by the local government. During a visit, the fire marshal can offer advice and help identify your business’ risks, providing guidance on your fire prevention plan.

You’ll want to make sure you have chosen the right fire protection equipment. This should include an automatic sprinkler system, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers on each floor.

Finally, and more importantly, consider your employees and visitors. By creating a fire prevention and evacuation plan and reviewing it with your staff, you’ll be making sure everyone knows what to do in the case of a fire. Conduct regular fire drills at least annually to keep the fire safety protocol fresh, and take time to review evacuation plans and routes and also the location of first-aid kits.

Despite best efforts with fire prevention and safety tips, the worst could always happen at your business. Click here to contact us to learn about our fire damage repair and restoration.

A look into our Commercial Division | Services

8/1/2019 (Permalink)

It's tough to find a reliable company with enough man power to address any commercial services you may need. Commercial cleaning and restoration present unique challenges. Our goal is to provide excellent results while minimizing the disruption to your clients. SERVPRO of Western Essex County are fully equipped to take on your commercial property no matter the size of the job.

Commercial Services:

• Air Ducts / HVAC
• General & Specialty Cleaning
• Post Construction Cleaning
• Punch List Services
• Dry Ice Blasting
• Power Washing
• Biohazard & Sewage
• Odor Removal / Deodorization

We offer our services to any time of commercial property:

• Small/Large Office Buildings
• High-Rise Office Buildings
• Apartment Buildings
• Restaurants
• Hotel/Motels
• Small Retail Stores
• Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
• High-Rise Residential
• Manufacturing & Industrial
• Government/Military

For any additional information, please feel free to contact our office at 866-361-3400. Our Sales department will gladly assist you with the best services for your commercial property

Time Is of the Essence in Cleanup and Restoration

4/11/2019 (Permalink)

Time become a precious commodity when disaster strikes your home or business. There is no benefit of waiting for help when it is your home or livelihood on the line, because you need help right away.

Nobody understands how important a fast response is like we do, which is why a fast response to any size disaster is more than just a slogan for us.

IICRC Certified Firm

9/5/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Western Essex County is an IICRC firm. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) creates the standards for the restoration industry and provides training and certification to restoration companies. IICRC Certified Firms have the right to display the IICRC Certified Logo.

IICRC Certified Firms must
• Present accurate information to consumers and conduct business with honesty and integrity.

• Require a technician on all jobs who has been formally trained and passed all required tests.

• Require a continuing education program to keep technicians up-to-date on the latest changes in the industry.

• Maintain liability insurance to protect all parties in the event of an accident.

• Maintain a written complaint policy and agree to Better Business Bureau or similar arbitration to resolve disputes and accept the conclusions and recommendations of arbitration.

The IICRC Develops the Standards for The Restoration Industry
The IICRC has been the driving force in establishing the main industry standards and reference guides for professional carpet cleaning, water damage restoration and mold remediation. These IICRC standards take years to develop and require the coordination of experts in the field: manufacturers, industry organizations, insurance professionals, training schools, contractors, and public health professionals.

Every five years, the standards are reviewed and updated. The water damage restoration field changes rapidly with advancements in technology and science, and therefore the standards must evolve to keep pace.

About SERVPRO of Western Essex County
SERVPRO of Western Essex County specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration and we are an IICRC Certified Firm. We believe in continuous training: from initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Is Your Business Ready?

9/4/2018 (Permalink)

Preparation is a vital component for making it through a disaster, whether it's a small water leak, a large fire or an area flood. The best time to plan for these events is well before they happen. No one ever plans a disaster, but you can plan for it. Now is the time to ask yourself and fellow employees, "Are you Ready for whatever happens?"

SERVPRO of Western Essex County offers the Emergency Ready Profile as a startup approach that provides the important information needed to begin mitigation and recovery services. It was created to help as a quick reference guide of the buildings most important information.

The SERVPRO Emergency Ready Profile Advantage:

• A NO COST assessment of your facility
• This means you do not need to appropriate any funds, giving you a great value at no cost.
• A Compact Profile Document that contains only the important information needed in the event of an emergency.
• It will only take a short time to complete and will not take you away from current projects. Most importantly it will save you a lot of time if ever needed
• A guide to help you get back into your building after a disaster.
• This can help minimize the amount of time your business is inactive by having an immediate plan of action
• Establishes SERVPRO of Western Essex County as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider.
• You have a provider that is recognized as an industry leader close by.
• Identification of the line of command for authorizing work to begin.
• This saves time, so we can begin the work of mitigating the damage which can save you time and money.
• Provides facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas, and priority contact information.
• Having quick reference guide provides solutions in the advance of a disaster, so that during a disaster you are "Ready for whatever happens."

                  Call Today to Get Started!

                         (973) 994-1640

What To Expect When You Are Expecting A Contractor

7/31/2018 (Permalink)

Looking for a commercial or residential construction company can be exhausting. You want to ensure that whoever you hire is the best company for the job at hand.

Know What You Want

As the client, you are the one driving the process. Before speaking with Contractors, spend time thinking about your goals for the project -- what it might look like, the amenities you want, and so on. If you don't know how to translate your goals into specific features or products, hire a design-build firm that can offer that service too.

Why Contractor Quotes Vary Drastically

Contractors cannot offer a correct fixed price because there are too many unknowns about the job, so try to eliminate as many of the unknowns as possible. For example, have them open up a wall to examine the skeleton of your house where the add-ons would happen.

Request to define the project specs to include only what he expects to do with the mutual understanding that if additional work is needed, you will get a change order — a written mini-bid for new work after the project has been started. This is common in the construction industry and it is the reason quotes vary by thousands of dollars. The cheapest quote also means they are not being conscientious of the realities that may come later to blow your budget when you were not prepared for unexpected expense(s).

Costs for all of the various elements of the job should include:

• Demolition and hauling trash
• Framing
• Plumbing
• Electrical work
• HVAC
• Tiling and floor covering installations
• Lighting fixtures
• Drywall and painting
• Finish carpentry
• Clean up

Contractors will often give you a fixed bid, but some work may be on a "cost plus" basis, charging you for materials, time/labor, and an administrative or overhead fee for their time managing those aspect of your project. “Cost plus” is sometimes a legitimate alternative, but it should have a cap or some provision to contain cost overruns that exceed your max budget.

Reputation Has More Value Than Price
Reputable and therefore trustworthy Contractors in trade locally for five or ten years will have an established network of subcontractors and suppliers in the area and a local reputation to uphold. That makes them a safer choice.

Ask for a business card with a real street address, not just a post office box, and get references from one or two early projects and some current customers. This will help you verify consistency and honor.

You should also vet their background by verifying their credentials and insist on a detailed contract before making a hiring decision.

Personality Is Prettier Than Price

You’re going to be spending a lot of time with this contractor, so when you make your decision, think about whether you feel comfortable with their personality, background, methods, and communication skills. Is everyone clear about the project at hand and on the same page? If not, you could end up disappointed, frustrated, and possibly out several thousand dollars beyond what you budgeted for.

Set Job Site Boundaries

Let the company know you expect routine precautions. Also, establish some ground rules about parking, bathroom use, smoking, and other issues that might concern you.

Have A Resolution Strategy

Any contractor you hire will become part of your life for at least the duration of the project. Make sure you pick someone with whom you can communicate, and trust your gut if first impressions leave you feeling uneasy. Reputable professionals will insist on clear written agreements in order to protect both parties.

During initial meetings, ask how unexpected issues or differences might be handled. This can include change orders (these should always be in writing, with cost issues directly noted) or more serious disputes, such as unintended damage or a failure to meet legal or reasonable standards.

Why Choose a NADCA Certified Company for Your Commercial Property

7/27/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Western Essex County is a proud certified NADCA member. As a NADCA certified company, we assure that your commercial property is treated with proper and safe techniques required during HVAC inspection, cleaning and restoration procedures. We maintain this certification with Continuing Education Credits each year. The certified members in our company have significant knowledge of the tools and equipment that are necessary for each job. Please be advised that sadly there are air duct cleaning companies that illegally use the NADCA logo or claim to be NADCA members when they are not. To ensure that the company you hire is indeed a NADCA member, look the company up in NADCA's Find a Professional Directory or contact NADCA Headquarters to verify membership. NADCA provides certificates to each of its members which list the company’s name and when their membership expires. Let SERVPRO of Western Essex County be your first choice for your business!

Commercial Services

7/27/2018 (Permalink)

When it comes to your commercial property, we mean business. You need a company that can minimize the disruption to your clients while delivering superior results. Whether you need professional cleaning to make your business shine, or emergency water restoration services, SERVPRO of Western Essex County has the training and expertise to help make it “Like it never even happened.”

• Small Office Buildings
• Large Office/High-Rise Office Buildings
• Apartment Buildings
• Restaurants
• Hotel/Motels
• Small Retail Stores
• Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
• High-Rise Residential
• Manufacturing & Industrial
• Government/Military

Commercial Building Cleaning Services

Whether your need is removing an odor problem or deep-cleaning flooring or carpets, you can depend on SERVPRO of Western Essex County to get the job done right the first time. We’ll respond promptly and make your work space look its very best. Learn more about our commercial cleaning services.

Commercial Building Restoration Services

SERVPRO of Western Essex County is available 24 hours a day to restore your property and get you back to business. We have the expertise, equipment, and highly trained personnel to handle your commercial water, fire, or mold damage. We can also access the resources of our national network of 1,700 Franchises to handle large commercial projects and major storm events. Learn more about our commercial restoration services.

Give us a call we can help

(973) 944-1640

Benefits of HVAC System Cleaning for your commercial Building

4/12/2018 (Permalink)

Our SERVPRO staff are trained to take on even the biggest tasks. SERVPRO provides cleaning services to commercial buildings no matter the size.

For those with HVAC Systems, it is very important to do routinely maintenance. This has many benefits including better air quality and less energy wasted.

 HVAC systems can get dirty over time and they have the potential to contain large amounts of dust and particulates. Although this does not mean that the air is unhealthy, it may contribute to health issues for people with respiratory health conditions or allergies. Indoor air quality is crucial and is one of the main concerns that building managers and building inhabitants have when they decide to investigate HVAC system. Normally, commercial buildings generate a great deal of contaminants and air pollutants, such as dander, dust, and chemicals. These contaminants are pulled into the HVAC system and re-circulated 5 to 7 times per day, on average. This re-circulation can cause a build-up of contaminants in the ductwork overtime.

Although filters are used, the heating and cooling system still gets dirty through normal use. Contaminants in the heating and cooling system cause it to work harder and shorten the life of your system. When an HVAC system is clean, it doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain the temperature you desire. As a result, less energy is used, leading to improved cost-effectiveness.

Source: nadca.com

Red Cross Helps

9/6/2017 (Permalink)

In the wake of this historic catastrophe, it is inspiring to see so many in the community come together to help Red Cross make a difference for the people whose lives have been devastated by Hurricane Harvey. 

I want to share some stories of the people who braved life-threatening conditions to find shelter from the storm. Thanks to your generosity, those fleeing their homes found a safe, dry place to stay, nourishment and warmth, and emotional support during this traumatic time.

Please take a moment to learn more about some of the families you are helping:

Jennifer and her 10-year-old son Kortney were evacuated by helicopter from their home in Houston. 

“I haven’t cried at all, because I’m looking at the news and seeing all the people who have lost everything… so I’m not going to complain,” she recounts her experience to a Red Cross volunteer. Asked to describe what it meant to have a safe place to be, she shared, “[I’m] very appreciative because some people are still waiting. And yesterday, we were eating, we were safe, we were warm, we had three hot meals.” 

Noticing tears forming in his mother’s eyes, Kortney gave her a warm hug.

By late Monday night, the shelter population at the George R. Brown Convention Center had nearly 9,000 residents. “No one will be turned away” was the mantra of service at the Houston mega shelter:

And finally, there is Diesel, a service dog, who came to the shelter with his owner, Chris Long. Late at night on August 27 at a Red Cross shelter, Diesel alerted others that Chris was having a stroke. Thanks to his service dog, Chris got the urgent medical attention he needed while staying at the shelter. “The Red Cross, y’all are good people. If you need something they got you,” said Chris. 

Every day, we strive to make Chris’s words true. 

From cots and blankets, meals and medicine, to hugs and games, we are helping meet the most urgent needs of families and individuals like Chris, thanks to your generous support. 

Proper Air Duct Cleaning in Businesses

9/6/2017 (Permalink)

What You Need to Know About Air Duct Cleaning

Air duct cleaning is a misnomer. In actuality, the entire HVAC system should be cleaned. Failure to clean all components of the system can result in recontamination of the entire system, thus minimizing the benefits of cleaning.

Just as you wouldn’t clean only half of your living room floor, you also would not want to clean only part of your HVAC system. NADCA recommends cleaning the entire HVAC system, including the following components:

• air ducts
• coils
• drain pan
• registers
• grills
• air plenum
• blower motor and assembly
• heat exchanger
• air filter
• air cleaner

There are two key components to HVAC cleaning: breaking contaminants loose, and collection of contaminants.

Breaking Contaminants Loose

Properly cleaning HVAC systems requires removing the sources of contamination. Source removal begins with the use of one or more agitation devices designed to loosen contaminants from the surfaces within the heating and air conditioning system. Examples of agitation devices include: brushes, air whips and compressed air nozzles or “skipper balls.” Agitation can also be achieved through hand-brushing or contact vacuuming.

Collection of Contaminants

During cleaning, the entire HVAC system is placed under continuous negative pressure (a vacuum) to prevent the spread of contaminants. Continuous negative pressure allows very fine particles to be removed from the system as they become airborne, ensuring that these particles are not released into the living space when the system is turned on after cleaning. This negative pressure also serves to extract the loosened contaminants, which are collected and removed from your home.

System Access

HVAC system cleaning is not a complex process, but each job is unique. Where possible, access to duct interiors should be made through existing openings such as supply diffusers, return grills, duct end caps and existing service openings. Cleaning technicians may need to cut access holes in the duct work in order to reach inside with various cleaning tools. Creation of these service openings, and their subsequent closure, requires craftsmanship and professional skills.

Equipment Requirements

There is a wide variety of equipment available to HVAC cleaning professionals. Both truck-mounted and portable vacuums can be used to stop the spread of contaminants and get the system cleaned to the NADCA Standard.

Antimicrobial Chemicals

Antimicrobial chemicals include sanitizers, disinfectants and deodorizers that can be applied to nonporous surfaces in HVAC systems to address microbial contamination and help control odors. Only chemicals registered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can be used. These products should only be considered after mechanical surface cleaning has been performed and if the need for such treatment has been deemed necessary. Review the NADCA White Paper on Chemical Applications in HVAC Systems for more information. 

Why Carpet Maintenance is Important in The Workplace

7/31/2017 (Permalink)

Maintenance Protects your Investment Flooring is a substantial investment —one you’ll want to protect for years to come. After all, the longer your flooring lasts, the less it costs. The initial cost for floor covering materials and installation does not fully encompass your total floor covering investment. The life cycle cost also factors in life expectancy of the carpet, costs for removal/disposal, lost revenues during renovations and maintenance costs over the life of the carpet.

Good maintenance helps protect your total flooring investment.

Maintenance Helps Carpet Last Longer and Cost Less Proactive, regularly scheduled maintenance removes soil before it can build up and damage carpet fibers. This can actually extend the life of the carpet, reducing the costs of restoration, replacement and disposal. Reactive maintenance cannot fully restore a carpet to a like-new appearance. This results in shorter carpet life and higher carpet life cycle costs.

Maintenance Is Good for the Environment

Our life cycle analysis of carpet shows that the overall environmental footprint of carpet is reduced by increasing the amount of time a carpet remains on the floor. A consistent, proactive maintenance program can significantly improve the appearance retention throughout the life of the carpet. Less carpet waste going to landfills is always good for the environment.

Creating a Carpet Maintenance Program

Once the importance of proper carpet maintenance is understood, we can create a comprehensive maintenance program for you.

Step 1: Make Preventive Maintenance a Priority Preventing soil from entering the environment is easier and less expensive than removing it from the carpet.

Here are five simple but important steps in a preventive maintenance program:

Keep Outside Areas Clean Outside maintenance helps minimize immediate sources of soil. The cleaner you keep sidewalks, parking lots, garages and other areas around the perimeter of your building, the less dirt that will be tracked inside.

Use Soil Barriers Walk-off mats, grates and removable elevator carpets help collect soil before it can be tracked throughout the building. Be sure soil barriers are large enough to allow for at least five steps across.

Vacuum daily, clean frequently and change often for best results. Protect Desk Areas Chair pads under desk chairs prevent casters from crushing carpet and grinding in soil. Specify eating, drinking and smoking areas By restricting these activities to limited areas, you can help confine certain difficult kinds of soil.

Maintain your HVAC System To remove many airborne particles before they are recirculated, regularly replace or clean filters on air-handling equipment. Airborne soil includes industrial wastes, auto emissions, tobacco smoke and pollen.

Step 2: Manage Soil with Regular Vacuuming Vacuuming is the most important dry soil management procedure. Effective vacuuming removes dry soil so that it cannot spread to other carpeted areas.

The level of effective vacuuming has two components: frequency and equipment type. Vacuuming Frequency

• Heavy- to moderate-traffic areas (entrances, elevator lobbies, reception areas, busy corridors, cafeterias, vending machine areas, employee lounges) should be vacuumed daily.

• Light-traffic areas (offices, conference rooms) should be vacuumed at least two to three times per week. Equipment Type

• Dual-motor vacuums are very effective machines for thoroughly cleaning heavy- to moderate traffic areas. This vacuum uses two motors to clean. One motor drives a beater-brush bar that knocks dirt loose, while the second motor provides suction that pulls dirt into the vacuum bag.

• Single-motor vacuums can be very effective machines depending upon their design. For the most part, they should only be used in light-traffic areas. They are generally less powerful than dual-motor vacuums, but easier to maneuver around furniture.

• Detail vacuums can be used to clean around the edges of a room or in confined areas around furniture.

• Carpet sweepers may be used to remove larger particle-sized surface dirt and small litter in high-visibility areas during the business day. However, they are not an effective cleaning method and should not take the place of thorough vacuuming. 

The Carpet and Rug Institute has identified vacuum cleaners that meet industry criteria for removal efficacy, particulate emission and carpet damage.

Step 3: Promptly Remove Spills and Stains Although spills are inevitable, permanent stains do not have to be. Most stains can be avoided or removed by immediate, or at least same-day, treatment. It is good practice to have spot and stain removal products and equipment on hand for immediate use.

Correct identification of spots and stains is the first step in proper removal because some types of spills may require special cleaning solutions and techniques.

But for most spills, the basic removal procedure is the same:

1. Blot as much of the spill as you can with an absorbent towel. Always work toward the center of the spill. Do not rub! If the spill is solid or semisolid, gently scrape off what you can using a dull knife.

2. Apply a general-purpose carpet spotter to the spill. This is a detergent solution that is specially made for use on carpets. Never use other kinds of cleaning solutions, such as bleach. These may permanently damage the carpet.

3. Tamp or pat in the carpet spotter with a tamping brush.

4. Wait three minutes, then blot again.

5. Rinse with clean water, then blot as dry as possible. If the stain remains, repeat the entire process. If the stain persists after the second time, contact us here at SERVPRO of Western Essex County.

Step 4: Renew your Carpet with Proactive, Periodic Cleaning Even the most effective, consistent vacuuming may leave some soil behind.

Periodic cleaning improves the appearance and extends the life of carpet. Periodic cleaning also removes oily, sticky soil from the carpet that attracts and holds additional soil. Depending on soiling conditions and other factors, there are a number of available cleaning methods. Your choice of method should be based on what will be the most effective and compatible with your carpet and its traffic levels.

Why Regular Carpet Cleaning is Important

7/31/2017 (Permalink)

Carpet cleaning can be a bothersome chore. However, the reward of restoring the freshness and beauty back to our carpets is very often worth the efforts. Carpets without proper cleaning quickly lose its beauty in due time. The soiling of carpets can unfold rather fast, even with regularly vacuuming and spot cleaning. Let’s take a look at the main reasons why carpet cleaning is so important.

It prolongs the life span of the carpet.

Vacuuming does help but there are dirt and grime that sinks deep within the fibers. They become hard to clean. They even make the carpet look old and discolored. Regular carpet cleaning in intervals of 12 to 18 months sustains longer life span. It also maintains the beauty of the carpet as if it is only several months old since purchased.

It removes stains, restoring the carpet back an unblemished state.

Carpet stains often mar the look of a carpet and make our living space less pleasant-looking. Carpet stains appear all the time from the dirt carried inside from the soles of shoes, to spilt coffee, wine and other drinks, to pet accidents and more. Deep carpet cleaning can separate the dirt from the carpets, bringing it back to an unblemished and pleasant-looking state.

It lessens pollutants.

The carpet is an effective trap of various particles. Dirt, dust, pet dander, and insect allergens are regulars of home carpet. Regular carpet cleaning helps lessen or completely eliminate these pollutants. The use of special sanitizers like carpet shampoo kills the bacteria from these particles. Would you believe that the average home toilet seat is cleaner than the average home carpet?

It prevents insect infestation.

There are insects that are hard to notice when they are on the carpet’s surface. Sometimes, adaptive coloration makes cockroaches and mites to stay on it until they release eggs. They also leave body fragments like shed skin. With regular carpet cleaning, you do not clean the carpet alone but also kills insects and prevents possible infestation.

It eliminates bad odor.

The dust, insects, urine and various pollutants on the carpet emit foul odor. They also increase the chances that some organisms like bacteria and fungi will soon thrive on the carpet. The bad odor is itself a sign of an unhealthy environment. Regular carpet cleaning will not only eliminate bad odor. It will also hinder these harmful organisms from being carpet mainstays.

It contributes to overall home appeal.

A well-maintained and regularly cleaned carpet is a sign of a well-maintained home. It leaves an impression that the homeowner is careful and meticulous of how his house looks and appeals to his guests. More often than not, a clean home carpet reflects that other things and other parts within the house also shows equal cleanliness.

It protects your investment

Regular carpet cleaning treats your carpet as a great investment. It doesn’t matter how cheap or how expensive you’ve bought it. This is an effort that maintains beauty, color, and the pattern or designs of your carpet longer than you could imagine. It can even make your carpet a legacy passed to your children.

Summary & Next Steps

Regular home carpet cleaning should not be taken for granted. Summing up, the importance it brings comes down to adding beauty wherever that may be.

Manual (hand wash) carpet cleaning of homes can be a tedious, if not impossible process. Fortunately, there are many models of home carpet cleaning machines that allow the process to be much easier.

On top of your own carpet cleaning routines, you may also consider engaging qualified professional cleaning services for an expert review of your carpets. Here at SERVPRO Western Essex County we have the most up to date equipment to do a job well done. You can always give us a call for professional advice on the matter at hand.

Be Severe Weather Ready

7/27/2017 (Permalink)

Severe weather can happen any time, anywhere. Each year, Americans cope with an average of the following intense storms:

• 10,000 severe thunderstorms
• 5,000 floods or flash floods
• 1,000 tornadoes
• 2 landfalling deadly hurricanes

Approximately 98% of all presidential declared disasters are weather-related, leading to around 500 deaths per year and nearly $15 billion in damage.* Knowing your risk of severe weather, taking action and being an example are just a few steps you can take to be better prepared to save your life and assist in saving the lives of others.

Know Your Risk 

The first step to being weather-ready is to understand the type of hazardous weather that can affect where you live and work, and how the weather could impact you, your business and your family. Check the weather forecast regularly and obtain a NOAA Weather Radio. Severe weather comes in many forms and your shelter plan should include all types of local hazards.

Take Action

Take the next step in severe weather preparedness by creating a communications plan for your home and business. Put together or purchase an emergency kit. Keep important papers and valuables in a safe place.

Be an Example

Once you have taken action to prepare for severe weather, share your story with co-workers and family and friends on Facebook or Twitter. Your preparedness story will inspire others to do the same. Contact your local SERVPRO® Franchise Professionals for more readiness tips and tools and be “Ready for whatever happens!”

The Importance of Cleaning Dryer Vents

7/27/2017 (Permalink)

Over 15,000 Dryer-Related Fires Each Year

Home and business owners should be taking note: when lint clogs a dryer duct, your building is at risk for fire. Dryer vent cleaning helps to prevent costly fires, reduce dryer downtime—and keep your building’s dryer system functioning properly.

SERVPRO of Western Essex County is a cost-effective way to protect the safety of building residents. As part of our service, we remove lint, birds’ nests, small articles of clothing and more from dryer vents in houses, beauty salons, hotels, multi-family living structures and other establishments.

SERVPRO of Western Essex County ensures that the full length of the dryer vent is clean when we leave your property.

This may entail cutting additional access points to the dryer vent from the attic, basement—or where ever the dryer vent routes through your home or business. 

Here at SERVPRO of Western Essex County no job is too big for us and we are always here to help. We are open 24/7 seven days a week, just for our customer's needs.