Packing is a pain - but SERVPRO can help!

5/26/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Duncanville/Desoto can help pack your belongings.

When an unexpected kitchen sink leaks, a severe thunderstorm brings flash flooding, or a house fire rips through a section of your home, suddenly there are many issues to tackle. But you are not alone! SERVPRO Duncanville/Desoto deals with these emergencies on a daily basis and we have the training and know how to serve you from beginning to end when disaster strikes.

 Packing your belongings is a headache you don’t think about until you are faced with it in a disaster situation. SERVPRO Duncanville/Desoto has packing experts that will clean, dry and pack your belongings, safely and securely and store them with the utmost care during the reconstruction process at your home or commercial property.

A water or fire emergency has the ability to put life on hold, but SERVPRO Duncanville/Desoto has the ability to get you back up and running in no time. ‘Like it Never Happened’. Call us today!

If you can see mold, it may be too late.

5/19/2023 (Permalink)

Can you see mold in your home?

Mold is a natural part of our everyday lives. There are many types of molds, but none of them grow without moisture or water. In the outdoors, mold is a necessity. But, in your home it could be a danger to your health or your family’s health.

If you notice a small patch of mold in your home, you must first locate the source of the moisture or water. Then you need to inspect, or have a professional inspect your home because chances are, there is more mold hiding out of eyesight.

Mold to a home owner is a scary word! But SERVPRO Duncanville/Desoto are mold remediation experts. Our technicians have the training and skill to remove the mold from your home – seen and unseen – and return your home environment to ‘Like it Never Happened’. If you are in need of remediation, call SERVPRO Duncanville/Desoto today. 972.224.8800

Wind Damage. But what is it from?

5/12/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Duncanville/Desoto can help with storm damage and clean up.

Damage can come from many sources during a thunderstorm. Heavy rains can cause flash flooding, lightening strikes can start house fires and downed trees can take out power lines very quickly. Winds in a thunderstorm can be a devastating factor. There are two types of winds that can cause destruction. Do you know the difference?

Tornadoes and straight-line winds are often confused with each other when it comes to damage on the ground. After a major storm event, the National Weather Service will dispatch a team to inspect the damage and determine if it was caused by a tornado touch down.

With a tornado, all winds are pulled into the storm, leaving a trail of debris in angles. Since the winds in a straight-line wind event put air out, the winds will usually lay debris down in a straight line.

Regardless of the type of storm damage you experience, SERVPRO Duncanville/Desoto is here and ready to help get the cleanup process started. We are available 24/7, so call us today!

Fire Extinguishers - What's your Type?

5/5/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO knows that fire extinguishers help save lives.

Fire extinguishers – What’s your type?

 There are 5 types of fire extinguishers rated for different types of fires. Knowing the ratings of the extinguishers could be the difference between life and death when it comes to a home fire. There are 5 classes; A, B, C, D and K.

  A Class A extinguisher is a water or water mist spray. Best used for carbon materials such as wood, textiles or paper. The label on a class A extinguisher will be a triangle with an ‘A’ inside and if color coded, will be green.

 A Class B extinguisher sprays a film forming foam that aids in keeping a fire from reigniting. This line of defense is recommended for flammable liquids such as oil, oil-based paints, tar, etc. The label on a class B extinguisher will be square with the letter ‘B’ inside and if color coded, it will be red.

A Class C extinguisher is a carbon dioxide spray that is used to extinguish a live electrical fire. These extinguishers will smother the fire without the danger of electrical shock. The label on a class C extinguisher will be a circle with a ‘C’ inside and if color coded, it will be blue.

A Class D extinguisher is a dry powder spray and is specific to the combustible metal that is being dealt with. The label on a class D extinguisher will be a five-point star with a ‘D’ inside and if color coded, it will be yellow.

A Class K extinguisher is specific to kitchen fires, extinguishing cooking oil, animal oil and high temperature fats. The label on a class K extinguisher will be a hexagon with a ‘K’ inside and if color coded, it will be black.

Knowing the types of fire extinguishers that should be used on specific types of fires can be a life saver. But, if you experience a fire disaster in your home or commercial property, SERVPRO Duncanville/Desoto is always ready to help. We are available 24/7 to respond to your emergency and help you get back to ‘Like it Never Happened’.

Leadership and SERVPRO

5/5/2023 (Permalink)

Matt Fabish talking on large scale losses

On May 4, 2023, SERVPRO Duncanville/Desoto owner, Matt Fabish, participated in a full day of continuing education classes for licensed adjusters in the DFW metroplex. The CE program was not only informative, but also a lot of fun! Complete with Star Wars trivia, prizes and food.

Matt spoke to adjusters from around the metroplex on the topic of Large Losses. He had a few points regarding large fire losses; however, the primary focus of his segment was large scale water or storm losses.

In a large-scale loss, there are many moving parts and Matt took the opportunity to review with the attendees how important it is for restorers to meet the appropriate response goals –

• Reducing business interruption
• Reducing claim cost
• Minimizing call backs

The attendees joined in the conversation by explaining their experiences with large-scale loss and water mitigation jobs. From traveling to the site of a tornado or taking a team to work in a hurricane hit region, there are many obstacles to restoring a house, a neighbor or even a town. Matt was able to talk through many of these road blocks that adjusters and restorers come up against in this post covid world. SERVPRO Duncanville/Desoto is proud to have our own franchise owner take the time to lead others in our industry in excellence.

Spring Clean the SERVPRO Way

4/28/2023 (Permalink)

Spring clean with SERVPRO

When it comes to spring cleaning, there are a number of items in your home that bring the immediate thought of ‘I should clean that’. Cleaning out closets, wiping down baseboards, and refreshing all of the linens are just a few of the chores that make the list.

But what about those things that we think about throughout the year that aren’t so easy to mark off of the cleaning list? Let SERVPRO Duncanville/Desoto help you with those big items that are impossible to get to on your own. Our technicians can clean soft surfaces such as furniture and floor coverings, along with hard wood floors and tile.

A clean home is important to the overall health of our families. At SERVPRO Duncanville/Desoto, we have the expertise and equipment required to make sure your home is as clean as possible. Call us for a quote today!

Can you see dirt and dust in your air ducts?

4/21/2023 (Permalink)

Let SERVPRO professionals clean your dirty air ducts.

Dust and dirt build up can be much worse that just what you can visually see. That build up can lead to poor indoor air quality and illness according to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association. Dirty ducts can circulate odors, dust, pet dander and mold. Members of your household maybe more sensitive to the air quality in your home, so having your ducts professionally cleaned can be beneficial to all.

Keeping the HVAC and ductwork clean can potentially extend the longevity of your equipment because that allows it to operate at its highest functionality. A system working to overcome a build up of dirt and dust can waste 25% to 40% more energy according to the NADCA than a system that has been professionally cleaned.

After experiencing smoke or fire damage, or discovering mold, duct cleaning is a crucial part of the restoration process. SERVPRO of Duncanville/DeSoto is equipped to handle this kind of damage, and can often restore the HVAC and ductwork to pre-damage condition.

The SERVPRO Duct Cleaning System is proven and cost-efficient. For more information on duct
cleaning, or to schedule an appointment, contact SERVPRO of Duncanville/DeSoto at 972-224-8800.

Why SERVPRO?

4/7/2023 (Permalink)

'Like it never happened'

SERVPRO is still one of the top 500 franchises in the market, according to Entrepreneur Magazine. SERVPRO began as a painting company in 1967 and has since grown to become the leading restoration company in the United States and Canada. SERVPRO sets restoration industry standards by training all technicians and franchisees at our national training facility in Gallatin, Tennessee.

 SERVPRO Duncanville/Desoto makes full use of the training and opportunities provided. Our technicians are IICRC certified and continue their education throughout their careers. This unique training, combined with commercial grade equipment and a 24/7 on-call team, is the recipe for why SERVPRO Duncanville/Desoto is one of the metroplex's leading restoration companies.

Our training sets us apart and prepares us to uniquely assist when needed. When you find yourself in the midst of a water or fire emergency at your home or commercial property, give SERVPRO Duncanville/Desoto a call and let us help you when disaster strikes.

Smoke Alarms Save Lives

4/6/2023 (Permalink)

Smoke alarms save lives.

What is the best way to protect your home and family against a house fire? According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), smoke alarms are the best offense in fire protection when installed and used properly.

All smoke alarms in your home should be tested once a month to ensure they are in working condition. To test an alarm you will push the push the "TEST" button. Smoke alarms with non-replaceable batteries should be replaced every ten years. For smoke alarms with replaceable batteries, it's advised to switch the batteries out annually, and replace the entire unit every ten years. A few suggestions to timing in switching batteries in the alarms would be to do it on the first day of spring or daylight savings.  When the alarm begins to chip because of low battery, make it a priority to replace the battery as soon as possible. Never disarm or remove a battery completely from a smoke alarm. In almost 50% of fires where smoke alarms were present, but did not function properly, this was due to a removed or disconnected battery.

Take a look around your home to make sure the smoke detectors are located in the correct places for maximum protection. There should be one alarm in every bedroom, outside of each bedroom and one on each level, at minimum. For larger homes, more smoke alarms may be required. If you are unsure about installing or testing your smoke alarms, an electrician or your local fire department can assist.

Be sure that your household has a plan in place in the event of a fire emergency. Practice fire drills with your family regularly, to ensure that all family members are aware of what to do in case of a fire. Talk with your family about a designated area outside of your home to use as a meeting place in the event of a fire evacuation.

Water Mitigation and Water Restoration – Do you know the difference?

3/24/2023 (Permalink)

Mitigation with SERVPRO is easy!

In the midst of a water emergency there two processes that are needed to return your home to ‘like it never happened’ status - Mitigation and Restoration.

The process of mitigation is the first vital step in addressing the water emergency. Whether your home has been affected by a leaking pipe or a spring storm caved in your roof, the unwanted water must be extracted. SERVPRO Duncanville/Desoto has technicians that are specifically trained to effectively mitigate the water from your home or commercial property. On arrival they will remove the damaged materials, such as dry wall, carpet and flooring, and assess the structural integrity of your home. They will also use commercial grade equipment to dry out the affected areas and take any other precautions needed to protect the property.

Once the water has been removed from your home or commercial property, the restoration process can begin. SERVPRO Duncanville/Desoto will begin working to eliminate mold, repair or replace any damaged materials, and test the humidity and moisture levels in effort to ensure all water issues have been resolved. Once the restoration has been completed, our goal is to leave your property in ‘like it never happened’ condition.

A water emergency can be devastating, but with SERVPRO Duncanville/Desoto there to help, the effects can be minimalized by our trained professionals.