Recent Posts
Mold Testing
11/12/2024 (Permalink)
Mold Testing was not done in this home.
When to Decide if Mold Testing Necessary In Your Home?
Mold and mold spores are a part of our everyday living and breathing space.
Some mold and mold spores in small amounts are generally harmless. There are certain types of mold can effect good air quality.
The mold elimination process will begin with a mold test to determine the type of mold might be effecting the air quality.
Identifying the type of mold in the air and where it is will help us with the remediation. Then the appropriate method can be made for mold removal.
How is mold testing performed?
There are experienced and thorough testers that will determine if mold is in your home. That is the easy part.
Anyone claiming to be an inspector can look official, they can walk into your home with a swab and tape-lift. Anyone can wave a mold spore trap around the air and catch spores. The real value lies in the results and documentation that is used in the remediation process.
The fear of the unknown when it comes to a mold issue could be very annoying and frustrating.
The inspector comes will take a swab test or tape-lift test. These are done exactly how they sound.
A sample of air might me taken also, put in a small plastic cassette that takes a measured amount of air so that the severity of the mold problem can be measured based on air volume.
These samples are sent to a lab so that the lab technicians can see how many different types of spores are present and how many of them are present in your home.
They will create a report that states how many spores are present per cubic meter. The inspector may also take an outside air sample to compare with home.
This helps determine if the fungal reserve in the home is high compared to the outside air.
Call SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park to help you with this process. 631-661-3802. Open 24/7
Here to Help®
Duct Mold Remediation
11/12/2024 (Permalink)
Call SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park for HVAC system cleaning.
Can there be mold growing In your HVAC System?
Mold can grow in dark and moist areas. This is the reason often the first signs you'll see are in the bathroom, especially if there is not efficient ventilation. Other common areas for mold include attics, basements, and cabinets with sinks, these are the most prone places in your home.
Due to moisture and condensation, one of the most common places where mold grows is in your HVAC system. Two factors come into play most commonly during the summer months of the year for obvious reasons.
When using the air conditioning during the summer months, water vapor can make its way inside the air ducts. If you happen to live in an area that is very humid, the water will stay stuck in your system instead of evaporating like it normally would.
As external particles continue to travel through your air ducts, dust gathers, thus becoming a feeding ground for mold. Mold feeds off organic materials, allowing them to multiply at an exponential rate.
If the issue is not addressed in a timely manner it will spread throughout your home.
Call SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park 631-661-3802 for HVAC system cleaning.
Here to Help® "Like it never even happened."
After a Storm Hits in West Babylon
11/7/2024 (Permalink)
If you have experienced the unfortunate mishap of a storm, when returning to your home after take some time to document all inventory in the home. Keep track of valuing all damages and costs to repair or replace your property. If your home or business is insured for flood damage, there are differences in how a flood works versus a home insurance claims that get adjusted and settled. Wind damage will be covered under your homeowner's policy. Flood damage caused by storm surges should be covered under your flood policy.
Check your home owners and wind policies for special deductibles or coverages related to hurricanes, wind, hail, and other damage. We're rooting for your recovery and SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park is here to help!
Here are a few Tips:
Take photos of the damage before any clean-up or repairs are done.
- Keep notes of any of conversations with insurance, repair, government, and other professionals. To prevent any confusion.
- Focus on drying/cleaning out, avoiding further damage, while getting all damage inspected, measured, and estimated by qualified, reputable, and independent experts such as SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park.
Flood insurance policies have different rules than home insurance policies. - Start working on a detailed and itemized "proof of loss" form but don't rush and leave things out.
Different Types of Water Damage in W Babylon
10/21/2024 (Permalink)
Water damage caused floor to buckle due to water and moisture left on flooring before dry out began.
Water damage in our local neighborhoods can originate from different sources. A dishwasher hose, washing machine issue, burst pipe, storm flood and toilet overflow or toilet clog. The EPA reports 13.7% of all water used in the home today can be attributed to plumbing issues. That is approximately 10,000 gallons of water per year wasted by leaks for each US home. A tiny, 1/8-inch crack in a pipe can release up to 250 gallons of water a day. Sources, in August 2000, stated broken water pipes ranked second to hurricanes in terms of both the number of homes damaged and the number of claims. Experts suggest that homeowners inspect and replace worn pipe fittings and hose connections to all household appliances that use water at least once a year. This should include washing machines, dishwashers, kitchen sinks, bathroom toilets, refrigerator ice makers, and humidifiers. A number of insurance companies offer policy holders reduced rates for installing a whole-house leak protection system.
As far as insurance coverage is concerned, most damage caused by bad weather is considered flood damage and normally is not covered under homeowners' insurance. Coverage for bad weather would usually require flood insurance. Please contact your insurance company with regards to your own policy.
3 Steps You Need To Take When You Have A Pipe Break
8/1/2024 (Permalink)
1. Stay Calm
If you happen to come home or go to your place of business and have experienced a flood it is normal to panic. Try your best not to. Instead, remain calm as you face the problem of water in your home or business. It will better for everyone involved with water cleanup, mitigation, and drying performed. SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park will ensure your flooded home or business is returned to its normal state, but panicking won't make this happen faster. Remember that people all over have dealt with water in their flooded home or business. You, too, can handle this. We promise.
2. Get to Safety
When you have a supply line break, you might be tempted to try to fix it yourself. Keep in mind that a break is nothing to face on your own. Water in your Babylon/Deer Park home or business can quickly become a hazard, so it's important that you leave the area with water damage as quickly as possible. Water damage isn't simply structural. When you have a pipe break, the area becomes prone to mold growth and insects, as well. A restoration company can handle water cleanup, mitigation, and drying.
3. Call a Professional Restoration Company
Your home or business may have flood damage after a pipe break, but a restoration company can help with water in your home. Flood damage can manifest itself visibly, but you may also have structural damage that a restoration company can notify you about after mitigation, water cleanup, drying, and restoration. While the flood damage in your home or business might seem impossible when it comes to water cleanup and drying, the truth is that your restoration expert has seen this problem before, and they are fully equipped to handle this situation.
No homeowner or business owner wants to deal with flood damage, but unfortunately, flooding does happen. If you find yourself in a situation where you have river flooding or a pipe breaks, remember that you aren't alone. SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park is ready to help you with mitigation to prevent flood damage from happening to you again. SERVPRO of Babylon/ Deer Park will work with you to ensure you're safe and that your home or business is repaired after the damage.
How to Choose a Restoration Professional
The person or company you use to restore your home or business after serious flooding should have experience handling water cleanup specifically. While most companies are familiar with handling a variety of damage issues, make sure you ask if the company is ready to assist with cleanup after water damage caused by a pipe breaking. When you reach out to the company, you need to provide as much information as possible. Was the flood water in your home or business caused by a pipe break? Has your area recently experienced high rainfall? Did a nearby dam break? If you aren't sure what caused the water buildup in your home or business, just let the company know and they will work with you to create a plan that will remove the excess water from your building and help you get back to your normal life.
Call SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park at 631-661-3802. We are open 24/7 for emergency services. Mold, Water, Fire, Clean-Up and Restoration - Here to Help®
Fire Prevention Tips
7/29/2024 (Permalink)
We all know that fire damage is an extremely horrible occurrence and so it is extremely important to know how to properly prevent fires. Here are some important fire prevention tips:
1) Install smoke alarms. When smoke is detected the smoke alarms will alert the people in the house and the local fire department in your area.
2) Test your smoke alarms in your home or business every month to ensure they work properly.
3) If there is fire in your home GET OUT immediately, do not linger around in the home/building or grab anything. Your safety is more important then any object.
4) Have an emergency plan with your family to make sure everyone in the house knows where to go and what to do in case of fire.
If you unfortunately have fire damage in your home, SERVPRO of Babylon/ Deer Park is here for you and all your emergency situations.
SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park is always Here to Help® "Like it never even happened."
Please call us at 631-661-3802. We are open 24/7.
Prepping for a Thunderstorm
7/29/2024 (Permalink)
Thunderstorms can be more dangerous than you think! They happen often and can cause a lot of damage to your home. Of course, there are ways to help prevent this.
To prepare for a thunderstorm, you should do the following:
When a storm hits, SERVPRO of Babylon/ Deer Park is ready for you! Please give us a call at 631-661-3802. We are always Here to Help® Open 24/7. "Like it never even happened."
How Weather Can Disrupt A Business
7/9/2024 (Permalink)
There are many different ways weather can impact your Business...
For example if an electrical storm occurs it can knock out power. A snow storm could do the same and make it impossible to operate your business. It could also damage your building and make it necessary to shut down. You could lose business capabilities for a period of time. Thankfully, insurance will cover many of these problems.
Business Disruption Insurance is Crucial
General commercial insurance may not cover these problems if you do not include business disruption coverage. This type of insurance coverage is designed to help cover losses when weather or damages impact the operation of your business. It will help get your business get back up and running and minimize personal and businesses losses in an effective manner. As weather-related damage is considered an act of God, specific coverage like this is needed for your business.
Important Considerations
When purchasing this type of insurance, it is important to choose a type that covers all possible damage. For example, it should cover emergency repairs to your building, equipment breakdown, food spoilage, loss of power, tree damage, loss of water, wind damage, snow damage, and winter storm damage. These types of weather damage are hard to predict and must be covered as much as possible.
Call SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park at 631-661-3802. We are open 24/7 for your emergency service needs!
A Commercial Property Uses Coinsurance
7/9/2024 (Permalink)
Coinsurance clauses are found in a wide range of insurance policies, but serve varying purposes depending on the area of insurance. When used in the context of property insurance, coinsurance is defined as "the percentage of the value of the property that a policyholder is required to insure." Coinsurance clauses are included in commercial property policies in order to ascertain that policyholders are purchasing a sufficient limit of insurance, and penalizes those who do not. If the policyholder fails to purchase an adequate amount of the value for their insured property, then their claim payment is reduced and they may not be fully covered in the event of a disaster. When this happens, the insurer compares the policy’s limit at the time of the loss against the amount required by the coinsurance percentage to calculate what will be paid out on the claim.
Let's illustrate this in an example: Say a building is valued at $1,000,000 and the insurance policy contains an 80% coinsurance clause. This clause would specify the policyholder insures the building for $800,000. If the policyholder were to only purchase $600,000, they would be subject to penalty in the case of a property loss. Continuing the above scenario, if only $600,000 of property limit is purchased and a fire occurs that causes $300,000 in damage repair, the claim payout would be calculated by dividing the actual insured amount ($600,000) by the required insured amount ($800,000), or 75%. That percentage is then multiplied against the $300,000 loss, so the policyholder would only receive $225,000 minus any applicable deductible. Insuring the property at an amount less than the coinsurance clause percentage detracts from the claim payout.
Coinsurance does not affect you until a loss is suffered, but it is essential to be aware of the inclusion of this clause when purchasing a policy as it will directly impact the coverage you receive in the event of a disaster.
Here at SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park, we are open 24/7 for emergencies. Please give us a call at 631-661-3802. "Like it never even happened."
Getting Ready for a Storm
7/9/2024 (Permalink)
After experiencing a long winter we welcome the spring and summer seasons. Both seasons don't always warrant sunny and warm weather. In fact, both seasons are notorious for bringing heavy rains, lightning, thunder, and even tornadoes. Protecting your home, business and its employees by being prepared is your first line of defense against the potential for spring storm damage. Your second is the right package for your business, which is complete with a Business Owner's Policy (BOP), commercial property coverage and general liability protection.
Emergency Checklist
First, establish a chain of command, a communication plan, and an exit strategy if you should need one. Involve your staff members in the emergency instructions so that everyone is on the same page. Next, ensure your staff members are familiar with tornado procedures.
Prepare For Power Outages
Here are some steps you can take to manage and prepare for power failures.
- Clearly label circuit breakers
- Keep a generator on site
- When severe storms come, unplug computers and other equipment that could be damaged by the surge
- Install surge protectors
- Service emergency equipment prior to storms to ensure it will work when you need it
- Keep backup digital files for critical information
Protect Your Home Or Office
Take an inventory of your important items before a storm. This will help to report lost or damage property after a severe spring storm. Ensure all latches and supports are in good working order and that heavy items are secured. Next, find a home for loose items, especially important documents.
Here at SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park, we strive to keep our customers satisfied and provide them the right information and advice to help them in these situations. Please call us at 631-661-3802. We are an emergency service company. Here for you 24/7. We always Here to Help®
"Like it never even happened."
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