Protecting Your Garden During Rainstorms

4/19/2024 (Permalink)

Although our gardens love a nice rain shower, too much rain can be harmful to all the plants.

Although our gardens love a nice rain shower, too much rain can be harmful to all the plants. After all the hard work you have done to manage your garden, do not let heavy rainstorms ruin it! Follow these tips to protect your garden during heavy storms:   

Before Rainstorm:   

• Remove damaged limbs and shoots – Removing dead limbs and shoots from your plants will help make them more streamlined and will reduce snapping and tangling.   
• Add compost and mulch – Adding a couple of inches of compost to the top 8 to 12 inches of soil will help with drainage.   
• Support taller plants – Push wooden or metal support into the ground and tie taller plants to it. This will help keep them stable against rain and strong winds.   
• Drainage – Make sure there is a proper runoff that tilts away from your garden and make sure it is not blocked. Water collecting in your garden can be damaging to your plants, possibly drowning them.   

During Rainstorm:   

• Cover your most delicate plants – Use a waterproof tarp to cover your most fragile plants during heavy rainstorms. Make sure that the covering is not blocking water from draining because it can cause other plants to drown.   

After Rainstorm:   

• Check your vegetable roots – Once the rainstorm has stopped, make sure there are no exposed roots following soil erosion. If there are exposed roots, cover them with soil or compost before they dry out.   
• Check your pots and planters – Pots and planters can easily become flooded if the drainage is blocked. Check them before, during and after rainstorms. You can always cover pots and planters if necessary.   
• Pull weeds up by hand – The moist soil after rain means you are much more likely to retrieve the whole root without it snapping or breaking.   

Need more tips? Go to The Plant Guide for more information on maintaining your garden during severe weather. 

Tips on Driving in the Rain

4/10/2024 (Permalink)

Rainy roads can be dangerous.

Did you know nearly half (47%) of all weather-related car accidents — more than 700,000 a year — are due to rain? Here are a few tips to help you drive safely in the rain:   

• Exercise caution. Engine oil and grease build-up on roads and highways over time, and when combined with precipitation, you’ve got the equivalent of an automotive Slip ‘N Slide.   
• Slow down. Wet pavement causes tires to lose traction and vehicles become more difficult to handle.   
• Use headlights. Always use headlights in the rain – even if it’s just a sprinkle. Headlights help you see and be seen in wet weather.   
• Keep your windshield wipers in tip-top shape. Summer can wreak havoc on your blades, so get them checked before fall’s showers arrive.   
• Defog your windows. Precipitation can cause your windshield to quickly fog up, so use the front and rear defrosters to maximize visibility.    

By employing these safe driving techniques, you can keep yourself and your passengers safe during spring drizzles and downpours. Rainy roads can be dangerous, but if we all slow down and use extra caution, rainy days might actually be a little brighter. 

Storm Damage Services

4/1/2024 (Permalink)

When water damage strikes, a fast response is critical.

Severe storms can cause heavy rainfall which can lead to flooding which can lead to unwanted water damage to your business in no time. SERVPRO® wants local residents to know that when a storm damages your commercial property, our highly trained professionals will respond to cleanup and restore your property to pre-damage condition. Our ability to immediately respond to a storm emergency helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs.   

Here are Some of the Services We Provide:   

• Emergency Contact 24/7/365  
• Inspection and Damage Assessment   
• Water Removal and Water Extraction   
• Drying and Dehumidification Services   
• Cleaning and Repair   
• Odor Removal   
• Restoration   

When water damage strikes, a fast response is critical. Day or night, business owners can expect our team to respond immediately to any storm emergency. 

Flooded Basements

3/18/2024 (Permalink)

A basement can flood at any time, although flooding most often occurs during heavy rainfall.

A basement can flood at any time, although flooding most often occurs during heavy rainfall. Basements are inherently prone to flooding because they are at the lowest level of a building and are normally built partly or entirely below ground level. There are a number of reasons why your Indiana basement could flood, including:  

• A blocked or failed sewer lateral pipe 
• Heavy rain causes surface water to pool around your home 
• Storm sewer backup 
• Sanitary sewer backup 
• Foundation drainage failure 
• Water supply-line break or hot-water tank failure 
• And many more 

If flood water is not handled quickly and properly, it can jeopardize your health and safety, and cause severe damage to your home’s structure. Remember, the longer you wait, the worse the problem will get. 

The bottom line: a flooded basement can jeopardize your health, safety, and your home’s integrity. Let our trained, professional crews handle the situation safely and correctly. We have earned the trust of hundreds of homeowners, business owners, and property professionals. 

Why Choose SERVPRO® 

• We are available 24 hours/7 days per week 
• We’re a preferred vendor to many national insurance companies 
• We bill the insurance directly – one less thing for you to worry about 
• Our technicians are highly trained in water restoration techniques 
• We use s500 IICRC Restoration standards 
• Advanced inspection and extraction equipment 

Winter Water Damage

12/19/2023 (Permalink)

With below freezing temperatures, snow, and ice, your home or business could be in jeopardy of water damage.

Indiana winters are known to be brutally cold and large amounts of snow are always expected. With below freezing temperatures, snow, and ice, your home or business could be in jeopardy of water damage. It is crucial that you are aware of the hazards and can prepare, prevent or act quickly if faced with winter water damage.  

FROZEN PIPES  

A frozen pipe can burst at the point where the ice blockage inside the pipe is located, but typically the rupture is caused by the backflow pressure between the water source and the blockage. A burst pipe can cause considerable damage to your property if not addressed quickly.  

ICE DAMS  

Ice dams can be a major problem during the winter season. They form when heated air melts roof snow downward into water dammed behind still-frozen ice. When the trapped water cannot safely flow or run into the gutter system, it can backflow under the roof ’s shingles and into the structure’s interior areas.  

Cold weather, snow, and ice storms can cause severe damage to your home or business. When these types of disasters strike, immediate action is necessary to prevent additional damage to your property. Our team has winter storm experience, expertise, and the resources to remediate damage caused by winter weather. If disaster strikes your home or business during the winter months, know that SERVPRO® has your back. 

Fire Threats Around the Holidays

11/14/2023 (Permalink)

It is as important to keep safety top of mind with a small family gathering as it is with a large holiday party.

SERVPRO® fire restoration specialists say to use common sense and caution to help control risk of holiday season home fires!  

In times when large holiday gatherings may not be possible, fire damage restoration specialists at SERVPRO® of North Ft. Wayne say the focus on family decorating traditions and more intimate celebrations may take on extra significance. It is as important to keep safety top of mind with a small family gathering as it is with a large holiday party. We all enjoy bringing the glow of the holiday season to our homes with Christmas trees or menorahs and candlelight, but these statistics from the U.S. Fire Administration show how easy it is for home decorating to turn into a home disaster.  

• The top three days for home candle fires are Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve.  
• More than half of the home decoration fires in December are started by candles.  
• A heat source too close to the Christmas tree causes one in every four winter fires.  
• On average, one of every 52 reported home Christmas tree fires resulted in death.  

SERVPRO® is an industry leader and provider of fire damage restoration services. For more fire prevention and fire safety tips and information about fire and water damage restoration services, call us at 260-255-6271. 

Sewage Cleanup and Restoration

7/28/2023 (Permalink)

There are three major types of contaminated water.

There are three major types of contaminated water. SERVPRO® will inspect contaminated water to determine the type of water and then plan the appropriate response to safely restore your home or business. The three types of contaminated water are: 

Category 1: "Clean Water" 

This is water from a clean source, such as a broken clean water supply line or faucet. If left untreated, category 1 water can quickly degrade into category 2 or 3 water depending upon such factors as time, temperature, and contact with contaminants. 

Category 2: "Gray Water" 

This water has a significant level of contamination that could cause discomfort or illness if ingested. Sources for category 2 water may include washing machine overflow, toilet overflow with some urine, but no feces, or dishwasher overflow. 

Category 3: "Black Water" 

This water is grossly unsanitary and could cause severe illness or death if ingested, and any contact should be avoided. Sources for category 3 water could include flooding from rivers or streams, water from beyond the toilet trap, water from the toilet bowl with feces, or standing water that has begun to support microbial growth. 

Sewage backup should be considered an emergency and dealt with as quickly as possible. SERVPRO® the water damage restoration specialists with specific training and expertise to safely restore your home or business. 

Commercial Cleaning Services

7/27/2023 (Permalink)

You can rely on SERVPRO to make your workspace look its very best.

You don’t have time to worry about the common wear and tear that gradually soils your office. When grime, odor, and moisture challenges go beyond the scope of your regular janitorial staff, you should call SERVPRO® for prompt service.  

SERVPRO® offers cleaning services ranging from cleaning restaurant hoods to removing biohazard contaminants. We have the specialized training and products to get your property back to business. Our cleaning services include the following: 

• Air Ducts and HVAC 
• Biohazard and Sewage 
• Trauma and Crime Scene 
• Carpet and Upholstery 
• Drapes and Blinds 
• Ceilings, Walls, and Hard Floors 
• Odor Removal and Deodorization 
• Vandalism 

Whether it’s removing an odor problem or deep cleaning flooring or carpets, you can rely on us to make your workspace look its very best.  

Odor Removal

7/19/2023 (Permalink)

The science of identifying and eliminating odors can be a tricky thing.

Has a nearby home or business had a fire that left you with soot or fire damage odor? We can help. As experts in deodorization, SERVPRO® is trained to identify and eliminate odors left behind after property fire damage. Masking and other shortcuts don't work when your odor problem is serious or persistent. 

SERVPRO® has the training and equipment to identify and eliminate these offensive odors. By identifying the cause of the odor, and determining the conditions where it contacts surfaces, the odor can often be removed over time without a trace. Our technicians have access to several odor removal products capable of penetrating surfaces to neutralize any unpleasant odor thoroughly. 

The science of identifying and eliminating odors can be a tricky thing. Call SERVPRO® and leave the fire damage odor removal to us. 

Carpet Cleaning for Your Business

7/13/2023 (Permalink)

Our professional carpet cleaning can address moderate and heavy soil conditions in the carpets in your business.

Our professional carpet cleaning can address moderate and heavy soil conditions in the carpets in your business. How often you’ll need professional cleaning depends on soil build-up, traffic, type, and color of carpeting. A good rule of thumb would be to professionally clean your carpet every 12 months.  

The best advice is to clean carpets before they become totally saturated with soil. If you wait until the carpets look dirty, there’s a chance that the carpets may never be restored to their former appearance. Dirt builds up in layers, and when a carpet looks dirty, you are only seeing the dirt at the tips of the fibers. More dirt is hiding below the surface down near the base of the pile, causing damage to the carpet. When a carpet is saturated with dirt, the soil has already penetrated the crevices and has become firmly lodged. 

For professional carpet cleaning backed by state-of-the-art equipment, over 25 years of experience, and professionals trained to the highest standards, call SERVPRO®.