What You Don't See Can Hurt You

1/14/2025 (Permalink)

It is extremely important to have your HVAC system cleaned and maintained yearly. Most people will take out the permanent filters, wash and reinstall them.  Others take out the paper filters, discard and replace and think they are done. Please keep in mind this is not the correct way to fully clean and maintain your system.  Your system should be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis. Keep in mind, your forced-air system could be a perfect, out of sight way to spread mold, dust, or other allergens throughout your home. 

At SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park we have trained crew members that will clean your entire HVAC system.  From air handler to the full duct system. 

Call us for an estimate. Also, call us for any fire/water damage.  We are available 24/7.

Here to Help®

If a Storm or Flooding Hits Long Island

1/13/2025 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park we specializes in storm and/or flood damage restoration.  Our team is highly trained and certified.  We use specialized equipment to restore your property at your home or business. We are always here for our community.

Faster Response

We are locally owned and operated, in that case, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit Long Island, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can contact other teams and crews from a large network of over 2,200 franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

If your home and/or business experiences storm and/or flood damage call SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park.

We are a 24/7 fire and water restoration company. 

"Like it never even happened."

Why SERVPRO?

12/23/2024 (Permalink)

People may ask Why SERVPRO®? There are a so many reasons why you should chose your local SERVPRO. The SERVPRO team members are citizens of the same community as its customers. We are apart of your community, we care for your community and are proud to be there to help. We take pride in creating personal bonds with our customers and establishing TRUST. We do our best to have the trusting connections and friendships within our community. We take pride in our work with our community. 

SERVPRO is there 24/7 for our customers and we will get the job done promptly and make sure our customers are satisfied. We take care of water, mold, fire restoration and clean-ups. We also take care of duct cleaning on HVAC systems, carpet cleaning and so much more. 

At SERVPRO of Babylon/ Deer Park, we want you to trust us with your home and/or business. It's our job and we take pride in it! Please give us a call at 631-661-3802. Here to Help®

Call us any time 24/7!

8 Step Plan for your Business

12/23/2024 (Permalink)

There could be unfortunate times and some businesses are forced to close due to a disaster or emergency and are not able to reopen. Small businesses are especially vulnerable because they do not usually have the means to continue paying expenses when income is interrupted. By planning ahead your business can greatly reduce the chances of a disaster becoming a death sentence for your business.  Here are a few things that should be in place. 

Step 1.

Identify which natural disasters are most likely to occur in your area. Recognize that some disasters can be very localized like a tornado or brush fire and others can affect a wide area like hurricanes or floods. You will need a plan flexible enough to deal with both situations.

Step 2.

You should review your insurance protection. First, it is best to understand what is covered and what is not covered. For instance, while many business insurance policies cover loss of income that only applies to causes of loss specified in business insurance policies. Flood, earthquake, and acts of terrorism are often excluded as covered causes of loss. More so, when a disaster does not affect you directly, even if the cause of loss is covered, you would not be compensated for lost business income. Scenarios like this include a major supplier suspending operations or a significant part of your customer base being forced to evacuate due to flood or fire.

Once you understand what is covered you need to review the amounts of insurance that you  might need. You should confirm that your insurance protection will be enough to see you through a transition period and get your business up and running again.

Step 3.

Your employees should be assigned key responsibilities and make sure everyone knows who is responsible for what in the event of a disaster. Typical responsibilities include deciding whether to implement the emergency plan, contacting employees, setting up temporary operations, etc.

Step 4.

Make sure all employees have a copy of your emergency contact list which includes names, addresses, cell phone numbers, and email addresses.  Contact list should also include local fire, police, and federal authorities like FEMA and the SBA. You should also compile a list of your largest and most important suppliers and customers.

Step 5.

Back up your latest data of all important records and computer information. Your business will be up and running faster with up to date insurance. Few businesses can run for very long or recover very easily without the information that is the lifeblood of commerce.

Step 6.

Identify alternative business locations for the short and long term. Your business may have the meant to have employees work from their homes if your business location becomes inaccessible. But you may need to make provisions for temporary office space in the event that is not possible. Likewise, you may want to identify a facility where you could set up operations or outsource work during a recovery period. Always have a backup plan.

Step 7.

Have your inventory of business property and equipment including serial numbers.  Include the price, when bought, and vendor or retailer. You will need this information for insurance reimbursement and tax purposes should the business property become damaged or destroyed.

Step 8.

Walkthrough plans. Make sure you have a plan in tact what works! What looks good on paper often breaks down in practice. Consider different scenarios. For instance, if you will rely on cell phones for short-term communication what happens if the cellular network is down or overloaded? How will you let employees know what to do?

SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park for a free Emergency Ready Profile at631-661-3802

We are always Here to Help® 24/7 for emergency services.

"Like it never even happened."

Storm Damage to your Home

12/23/2024 (Permalink)

During and after a storm your first priority needs to be the safety of your family.  Once your family is safe, you need to thoroughly document the damage to your property.  With the convenience of of cell phone cameras and other video devices, it is easier than ever to memorialize the damage caused by the storm and to easily provide the same to your insurance carrier. ALWAYS TAKE NOTES OF THE DAMAGES FOR PROOF!

 Please insure you have pictures and other documentation from before the storm so that you can demonstrate to the insurance company the nature of your property and the condition of the same prior to the damage. Before and After pictures are very important. 

Once you are able to communicate, you should also immediately place your insurance company on notice of your loss.  Many insurance policies are now written to specifically mandate “immediate” notice of a loss, and insurance companies will often spend lots of money defending against the payment of your claim based upon an alleged “late notice” defense.

After notification of your claim, an adjuster from the insurance company will come to your property to inspect the damage.  It is crucially important that you point out any and all damage to your property so that the damage can be documented.

We are always here to help you through fire, storm and flood damages.  Call SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park at 631-661-3802.

We are open 24/7 for emergency services.

We Follow Strict Guidlines

12/10/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO was able to dry out room and repair damage.

The IICRC Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration (IICRC S500) is a procedural standard.

It is based on reliable restoration principles, research, and practical experience. In addition, there has been extensive consultation and information obtained from numerous sources.

These sources include, but are not necessarily limited to, the scientific community, the international, national, and regional trade associations serving the professional disaster restoration industry, chemical formulators, and equipment manufacturers, cleaning and restoration training schools, restoration service companies, the insurance industry, allied trades persons and others with specialized experience.

It is subject to further revision as developments occur in technology, testing, and processing procedures. The Fourth Edition of the IICRC S500 Standard and Reference Guide has been completely updated and rewritten with the best information and knowledge of the time.

Additional Chapters and Sections have been added to the S500 that have not been included previously. These areas include Building and Material Science, by Definition, and the Science of Drying, Limitations Complexities Complications, and Conflicts, Structural Restoration, HVAC, Contents Evaluation Restoration and Remediation, and Large or Catastrophic Restoration.

Also, note that Carpet Disengagement and Reinstallation have been moved back into the Appendix of the document. The IICRC S500 provides a specific set of practical standards for water damage restoration. It does not attempt to teach comprehensive water damage restoration procedures; rather it provides the foundation for basic principles of proper restoration practices. IICRC S500 does not attempt to include exhaustive performance characteristics or standards for the manufacture or installation of structural components, materials, and contents (personal property).

The IICRC S500 Standard and Reference Guide is presented using a two-part format: the standard itself and a supplementary reference guide. The procedural standard is featured in this first section, supported by the reference guide in the second section. The intent is to use the principles outlined in the reference guide as a tool to better understand and apply the standard itself.

However, the reference guide is not considered part of this standard.  

Here to Help®  24/7.

"Like it never even happened"

Fire Safety Concerns

12/10/2024 (Permalink)

Damage fire in home.

The immediate life-safety concerns about fire are obvious and frightening. What many people don’t realize is that returning to a fire-damaged home or building is also hazardous.

Cleaning after the fire is part of recovery, but if it is done wrong this activity may do more harm. If you’re returning to a fire-damaged community follow these fire restoration tips.

After you have dealt with the initial raw emotions of fire loss after you have contacted your insurance company and relatives and emergency personnel that are worried about you, it is time to clean up and rebuild.

Immediate Threats When Cleaning After Fire

These basic measures may save your life when you return to clean up after a fire.

• Do not re-enter a fire-stricken area or building unless a professional has verified it is safe to enter. Fires may reappear and you do not want to be stuck in the danger zone. Do not go around police/fire barricades or ignore evacuation orders.
• Do not approach downed power lines or attempt to work around electrical wires.
• If the structure has been significantly impacted and there are any concerns about the structural integrity of the building, do not enter until an expert or structural engineer okays the building.
• Do not enter areas with standing water. There may be hidden dangers in the water.
• Hire a professional fire restoration company.

SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park is Here to Help® 

Call us 24/7 

Take a Look at Our Office

12/10/2024 (Permalink)

Front of Office Building

Welcome to SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park!

It's hard to believe we'll be at our West Babylon location at 411 Broadway for 6 years! It's been great being a part of the community we service. We recently were a part of the restoration of 1902 Artillery cannon located in West Babylon.

Our office has plenty space for all our staff and crew members as well as a bigger and better warehouse for all the equipment needed. Our location provides us with easier access to our community. SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park.

Here to Help®

"Like it never even happened." 

We are open 24 hours 7 days a week for any water mitigation, fire and mold issues, as well as clean-ups.

Time to Call a Professional

11/19/2024 (Permalink)

Soot in warehouse.

Grease fires can spread very quickly and the damage can be very intense, so it is always imperative to call a professional.  The damage of a grease fire can most often leave a heavy scent of smoke throughout your home.  It can also leave soot covering your kitchen, including the ceiling, cabinets, and much more. No matter what, there’s going to be grease residue and soot everywhere, grease is notoriously difficult to clean.

Calling a professional company like SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park that has the knowledge and experience to quickly and effectively repair damage from a grease fire, as well as the tools and solutions to get the job done, is always the best decision.  In addition, Our Team at SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park will know the proper techniques for taking care of grease fire residue on different materials. It is in your best interest to only let a professional do this. 

Residue can often find its way onto paper, wood, plastic, natural substances, etc., there’s a proven process for cleaning each.  Each process is different. A professional has the knowledge to take care of these different materials in the best way possible for each.

Be Proactive While You Wait.

If you have experienced a grease fire in your home or in your restaurant, it’s important to be proactive. Here’s a few pointers of what you can and should do immediately:

• Find a Professional: It’s likely you’ll need fire damage restoration professional like SERVPRO® to help. 
• Remove Pets and Children: Smoke and soot can cause health effects in both people and animals. So until the environment has been cleaned and repaired, children and pets should be taken out of the home. 
• Replace Your Filters: Because of the smoke and soot’s ability to travel throughout your house, it’s important that you change out your air filter. Replace the filters on your refrigerator also. 
• Toss Out Food: Discard any food substances that were out when the fire struck. Soot and smoke particles most likely have contaminated your food.
• Clean Cabinets: It is most likely your cabinets are covered with soot inside and out. Wipe them down. While initially cleaning them is important, you may need a professional to sand, reseal and repaint the cabinets to fully remove the odor.
• Check Appliances: If your microwave is located close to the fire it may need to be discarded.  The smoke scent is very difficult to be removed from the plastic. Check the gasket seals on your refrigerator for damage as well. If they are impaired, it may be time to get a new refrigerator. This is another area where professional guidance can be helpful.

Never enter a structure that has been affected by any kind of fire until it has been declared safe to do so by the fire department or other public authority. If you have any doubt about the structure’s soundness, wait until a professional can assess it.

There can be Hidden Damage caused by Kitchen Grease Fires.

You can see soot when it is clinging to your kitchen ceiling and cabinets. But a restaurant kitchen fire or a home kitchen fire can leave damage that’s not as easy to see.

If not addressed, flames from a grease fire can find their way into the ductwork and cause damage there that will only get worse.  Smoky odors leftover from a grease fire can also linger if they aren’t dealt with in a professional manner.

Hidden damage is yet another reason why it’s often a good idea to call in professionals for help cleaning up after a grease fire. If left to take care of the damage on your own, you may get your kitchen and home looking great, but the hidden damage can cause problems down the road.  This can also hurt your home’s resale value. A professional will know all the places to look. They will also know how to repair that damage.

 Call SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park at 631-661-3802 for any emergencies, questions, concerns, and estimates. Here to Help®

Mold vs. Mildew

11/19/2024 (Permalink)

Mold spores on back of chair