Recent Posts
Sump Pump 101
5/17/2023 (Permalink)
What is a Sump Pump?
“Sump Pump” A sump pump is defined as “a pump (as in a basement) to remove accumulations of liquid (such as water) from a sump pit.” These pumps can range in size and there are different types depending on the size of your basement and how likely you are to experience flooding or water damage.
Not all basements need a sump pump, but these are some criteria when deciding if you should purchase one or not.
It is a good idea to invest in a sump pump if:
- You live in a flat area, or location that sits low to the ground
- You live in an area where snow and rain are common
- You live in the basement of a property
- Your property has a basement
- Part of your property is underground
- Your property has a history of floods
- Your basement is continuously wet
In the event of intense storms, flooding, melting snow, or other excessive moisture, these machines work to ensure your home or business remains free of flood and storm water. As much as SERVPRO is always here to help, a sump pump is a huge advantage to hopefully not having to make that phone call to ask for help with water damage.
What Do They Do?
Sump pumps operate by collecting water in a pit beneath the pump. When water reaches a designated point in the pit, the pump begins removing the water to a location outside the property. This process automatically occurs via a float sensor, and the pipes that carry the water away have check valves to ensure the water does not flow back into the property.
How Can SERVPRO Help If My Sump Pump Fails?
- Emergency Contact: After you call SERVPRO ar 610-776-7774, we will ask you questions regarding the size of the area of damage, equipment our professionals will need, any necessary information
- Inspection: We will provide an initial assessment of the affected area at a scheduled time that we discuss with you
- Water Removal: Using extraction equipment to remove water from the affected area
- Damaged Material Removal: Removing restorable materials such as clothing, items affected for our contents cleaning department to repair
- Cleaning, Sanitizing, Deodorization: Our team will use products and techniques to ensure your space is safe and properly cleaned
- Drying: Using equipment to remove water you cannot see that may be trapped in walls, in floorboards, etc
- Monitoring: Our team will routinely check on your property to ensure everything is drying correctly and adjust any equipment if necessary
- Repairs & Construction: From there, our reconstruction team can take over if you need any additional construction due to the damages
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 610-776-7774!
Community Involvement: Allentown
5/17/2023 (Permalink)
At SERVPRO of Allentown & Western Lehigh County, we want to give back to our community as much as possible and show our support for our first responders. We are involved in the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and are active members in our community. We love to attend ribbon cuttings to support local businesses, like the new opening of the Fogelsville location of Sherwin Wiliams pictured in the attached photo. We are always looking to sponsor local events and show our support for growing in the community. Events that involve first responders such as firefighters and police officers are important to us because we know how hard they work to keep our community safe. Recently we are able to take firefighters from Coopersburg Fire Company to an IronPigs Game to treat them to a special night and get away from the stress they may face during their days. We love having a relationship with our fire departments to donate water to them, provide dinner for their training nights, and be involved in their community days. We are always looking for more opportunities to donate and give back to our communities through any events that are being hosted. Contact our Marketing Manager, Susan, at 610-776-7774 if you have an event you would like SERVPRO to be a part of!
Why SERVPRO?
5/17/2023 (Permalink)
Having a fire, flooding, finding mold in your home, having storm damages, and anything other issues similar to those can be stressful and anxiety inducing thinking about how to deal with it. Here at SERVPRO, we have a team that will stick with you from the beginning to the end of your project and keep you informed throughout the entire process.
Our team prides ourselves on communicating with our homeowners as much as possible. Everyone on our team is friendly, reliable, respectful, and trustworthy. We understand that you may be emotionally dealing with a lot after facing disaster in your home, and we want to make this process as painless as possible for you. We will go out of our way to make sure that everything goes as planned and your home is back “like it never even happened” in no time!
One of our qualities that we also like to point out is that we are available 24/7. Having a fire in the middle of the night leaves people with a lot of questions, especially with what companies are possibly open at that time. SERVPRO is available 24/7 no matter what time of day and will be here to help you as soon as we can. Unlike other restoration companies, we have someone from our team on call to answer the phone and any questions you may have so you’re not stuck with an automated system trying to explain your problem to them.
We have team members on call to get on site to your home as quickly as possible to start the process of getting everything back to normal again. Our team does our best to lift your spirits and assure you that everything will be okay no matter how stressful it may seem. We can handle your project from start to finish as well and handle any reconstruction that may be needed after boarding up your home or putting up new drywall or floor boards.
SERVPRO is always here to help you with any damages you may face, or even if you’re just looking for an upgrade and remodel to your home. Don’t hesitate to reach out and call us at 610-776-7774!
Community
5/8/2023 (Permalink)
At SERVPRO, we pride ourselves on our community involvement. The Allentown & Western Lehigh franchises are heavily involved in donating water and supplies to local fire departments, participating in community events, and being proud members of chamber of commerce organizations.
At Chamber of Commerce organizations, we are able to share with other businesses and community leaders about SERVPRO’s quality services such as our Esporta machine. With our Esporta machine, we are able to provide highly detailed cleaning of things like fire equipment for firefighters or even sports jerseys for local schools. We offer these services at no cost to our community in order to give back and show our appreciation.
Paws in the Park is one of our favorite events planned by the chamber to be involved in. We love being able to gather with our community and especially get to hang out with all of the adorable dogs and cats in the park. Through networking opportunities like this, we are able to grow closer connections within our community and even get to inform others about our wide range of services. We love to provide the community with items to take home with them as well. For Paws in the Park specifically, we provide doggy bags, treats, tennis balls, or other dog themed items to give out to the public for their enjoyment.
We donate supplies to fire departments as often as possible and enjoy maintaining our relationship with them to form tighter bonds in our community as a whole. Any way that we can help, we love to make situations easier and provide assistance to anyone!
Dealing with Springtime Storms
5/5/2023 (Permalink)
Springtime is always exciting with flowers blooming and the sun finally shining, but there can be a lot of severe weather during this time as well. Severe weather consists of several different types of weather events, including tornadoes, thunderstorms, and floods (which includes flash floods, and urban and small stream flooding). The National Severe Storms Laboratory also classifies lightning, hail, damaging winds, and harsh winter weather under the “severe weather umbrella.”
Thunderstorms typically are the most severe weather experienced in the spring. With the collision of the warm and cool air, thunderstorms can lead to damage to the roof of your home, flooding in your basement, and even trees or outside debris damaging your home.
During this storm season, make sure to have an emergency ready plan, detailing places of shelter, methods of communication in case you are separated from family and friends, evacuation routes, and more. If you need assistance putting one together, SERVPRO can help. Make sure everyone knows where emergency supplies are located and they know how to access and turn off electricity, gas, and water in your home. Be sure to have a first-aid kit, non-perishable food and water supplies, and stay tuned into weather alerts for your area.
To best prevent your home from experiencing any damages from the harsh weather, ensure the outside of your property is prepared. Trim tree branches and place valuables in a sturdy, covered location. Clear your yard and secure loose objects, ensuring nothing can blow around and cause damage (such as bikes and grills).
Close and lock windows and doors. You may consider installing storm shutters, or nailing plywood over window frames to protect yourself and family from shattered glass.
If you experience damages that need reconstruction services, need someone to clear up all of the leftover debris from the storm, or ensure your property is sanitized and safe, contact SERVPRO immediately at 610-776-7774! We are always here to help.
Commercial Building Maintenance Tips
4/12/2023 (Permalink)
Safety is an extremely important topic when it comes to commercial buildings where people are constantly working and going in and out of. These tips will be able to offer insight on how to keep your commercial space as safe as possible during the winter months with colder temperatures and weather conditions.
Commercial buildings are typically using heating systems with the frigid weather outside to keep their employees warm and comfortable during their working conditions. SERVPRO can inspect your heating systems and make sure they are being well-maintained to survive the colder months and make sure they are efficiently working and are as up to date as possible.
Even if it appears that your heating systems are working perfectly, cold winds and dropping temperatures can freeze pipes and affect temperatures as well. By calibrating your thermostats and making sure everything is according to plan, you will be able to have a similar success with your heating system
- Inspecting Doors and Windows
Doors and windows are primary locations where you can find a sudden rush of cold air entering your building. Even a small crack left open in a window can cause your heating bill to skyrocket if it is constantly trying to keep up with maintaining warmth throughout the building with the breeze coming through the window. Doing a walkthrough of your building at least once a day and making sure doors and windows are properly closed and locked will save you both money and warmth
Employees are at risk during icy and snowy conditions, especially if the building is still up and operating after a snowfall overnight. If it is safe for employees to come into work, it is crucial that sidewalks and walkways leading to and around the building are both efficiently salted in order to prevent anyone falling and hurting themselves. Rock salt and de-icing liquid are two options that your building could invest in to prevent any accidents happening during these snowy months.
SERVPRO is a commercial cleaning company that can keep your building in perfect condition and help with any needs you may have.
Fire Prevention
4/12/2023 (Permalink)
SERVPRO offers fire restoration services for any damage left to your home following a fire. We can take care of any smoke, soot, or damages. The following tips are ways you can prevent a fire in your home and stay safe.
- Installing smoke alarms on every level of your home and testing them consistently
- Discuss an escape plan with family members living inside your home
- Give heaters space and keep
- them away from anything that can burn. Never leave children or pets unattended near a heater
- Use electricity safety and replace cords that may be cracked or broken. Do not overload extension cords or run them under rugs
- Install home sprinkler systems to be able to put out fire before it begins to spread
- Keep matches and lighters in a safe place away from children
- Cook carefully and do not leave stoves unattended. Always make sure stoves and other appliances are turned off being leaving your home or going to bed
Water Damage Signs
4/12/2023 (Permalink)
Water Damage that is trapped in walls can lead to problems like mold growth and damages. However, sometimes it can be hard to tell at first glance. These are some key signs to watch out for to tell if your walls have been affected by water damage.
- One of the first noticeable signs of possible water-damaged walls is peeling paint and wallpaper. If the inside of a wall contains excessive water, paint and wallpaper can lose their adhesion and start to come off or bubble
- Any stains, discoloration (typically a yellow-brown color), and warping can be major indicators of underlying water damage within and around walls
- Check for softened drywall. If you suspect water-damaged walls in a particular area, be sure to press against those areas and see if the wall buckles or sinks inward
- Visible mold growth is a sure sign of water damaged walls
- Musty smells and overly damp air can be a sign that there may be water trapped in your walls as well
- White stains that appear chalk-like, called efflorescence, are another sign of water moving through walls in your basement, which appear after the water’s evaporated\
If you suspect any of the above signs of water damage in your home, be sure to contact us today at 610-776-7774! We are always here to help and are available 24/7 to make your home “like it never even happened!”
Emergency Ready Plan for Commercial Businesses
4/12/2023 (Permalink)
Unexpected events can be a worrisome time, but having a well-thought-out plan in advance can prepare your business for a lot less stress and the capability to survive any disaster. SERVPRO’s “Emergency Ready Plan” can help give you, your customers, and even your employees a peace of mind if disaster happens to strike.
Why use our Emergency Ready Plan?
- No-Cost Assessment of your Facility
We provide a no-cost assessment of your facility. We are able to provide you with great value at absolutely no cost to you
- Easier Insurance Claims Process
SERVPRO is able to work with insurance companies to ensure that your experience with us is as seamless as possible. Us working with your insurance allows less stress on you after already experiencing damaging losses
By completing a concise profile document with critical information in the event of emergency, it can save lots of time and effort to prepare for disaster before it is too late
Have a plan of action for everyone to return to the building safely ahead of time. For example, have routes planned out for any emergency that could occur and make sure employees in the building are up to date on any procedures they need to be familiar with
- Establish SERVPRO as your Provider
By connecting with a local SERVPRO to your business before disaster strikes and making them aware that you want to use their services in case of emergency, it can be easier for everyone to know exactly who to call when disaster strikes
Save time and money by allowing SERVPRO to work with any mitigation damages and authorize our company to take care of your problems
- Facility Emergency Details
Provide us with facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas and priority contact information. Being ready for whatever can happen will save you time and stress during the actual emergency. Having contact numbers and electrical locations to shut off in case of emergency can allow employees to know exactly what to do
Why SERVPRO of Western Lehigh County?
3/31/2023 (Permalink)
Community Involvement
At SERVPRO, we pride ourselves on our community involvement. The Allentown & Western Lehigh and Carbon County & Pocono Pines franchises are heavily involved in donating water and supplies to local fire departments, participating in community events, and being proud members of chamber of commerce organizations.
At Chamber of Commerce organizations, we are able to share with other businesses and community leaders about SERVPRO’s quality services such as our Esporta machine. With our Esporta machine, we are able to provide highly detailed cleaning of things like fire equipment for firefighters or even sports jerseys for local schools. We offer these services at no cost to our community in order to give back and show our appreciation.
Paws in the Park is one of our favorite events planned by the chamber to be involved in. We love being able to gather with our community and especially get to hang out with all of the adorable dogs and cats in the park. Through networking opportunities like this, we are able to grow closer connections within our community and even get to inform others about our wide range of services. We love to provide the community with items to take home with them as well. For Paws in the Park specifically, we provide doggy bags, treats, tennis balls, or other dog themed items to give out to the public for their enjoyment.
We donate supplies to fire departments as often as possible and enjoy maintaining our relationship with them to form tighter bonds in our community as a whole. Any way that we can help, we love to make situations easier and provide assistance to anyone!
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