5 Facts About Commercial Water Damage

6/1/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage can strike at any minute. Therefore, it is important to know a little about this and the water repair process.

Commercial Water Damage: 5 Facts

Every building is in danger of water damage. Whether it comes from a broken pipe or roof leak, it can cause serious damage to your business. Here are a few facts business owners should know about commercial water damage.

1. Regular Maintenance Can Stop Damage

Regularly inspect your building for problems. This includes checking for a clogged gutter, roof damage, and broken pipe. You may even want to have a professional come out and examine your building yearly.

2. Leaking Roofs Cause Problems

A tiny leak in your roof can cause more damage than a broken pipe. Even buildings with new roofs can leak due to freezing temperatures, high winds, and hail.

3. There Are 3 Different Categories of Water Damage

There are 3 different categories of water, including clean, contaminated, and grey water. What is necessary to clean the damage up and the safety precautions used is based on the water category. Therefore, it is a good idea to have water restoration professionals clean up the damage.

4. Insurance Doesn’t Cover All Damage

Most insurance companies cover unexpected water damage if it comes from within your building in Edmond, OK. Typically, they don't cover floodwaters that occur due to natural disasters. For this reason, you should read your insurance policy and make sure it offers the coverage you want.

5. Flood Insurance Policies Are Available

There are insurance policies available specifically for flood zones. If your business is in an area with a high risk of flooding, purchase a flood policy. You can have this coverage added to your standard policy, or you can purchase a separate one from a different insurance company.

Water damage can strike at any minute. Therefore, it is important to know a little about this and the water repair process. It is also important to know what your insurance covers and if you need an extra policy. This can help protect your business from water damage.

4 Ways To Prevent a Sewage Backup

5/24/2022 (Permalink)

When disaster strikes, SERVPRO of North Oklahoma City is always "Here to help." Our team is on standby 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

4 Ways to Avoid a Sewer Backup

As a homeowner, you understand the responsibilities that come from ownership. Still, you likely also understand that disasters, such as a sewer backup might occur despite your best efforts. According to water mitigation services in Edmond, OK, there are several things you can do to limit or reduce your risks of such disasters.

1. Backflow Valve

Many homeowners might commit to routine sewer cleaning as a prevention strategy, but that will not always prevent the problem, especially during a storm surge. Instead, homeowners can opt for a backflow prevention valve. The mechanism requires professional installation, but it closes off access to your home's plumbing from the exit point, allowing water or sewage to flow out but not in.

2. Backup Drain Plug

A drain plug works similarly to a backflow valve, but it is significantly less expensive and can be installed with DIY methods. However, it is not as effective as a valve. The plug is essentially a rubber ball or blocker on a float. As the water level rises in the drainpipe, it seals off the drain. Unfortunately, some fluids might seep past the plug, allowing for some water or storm damage.

3. Overhead Sewer

An overhead sewer provides the best protection against floods and incorporates a sump pump and overhead plumbing. Unfortunately, it is also the most costly option for prevention.

4. Standpipe

A standpipe is exactly what it sounds like. It is a standing pipe, typically connected to a drain. The pipe provides extra space for backflow. Ideally, the pipe itself will not overflow. The pipe typically offers protection against three feet of flooding.
Having backup prevention options is a crucial part of homeownership. You want to ensure that your basement is free of all flood risks or as many as possible. Incorporating any one or combination of the above measures can significantly decrease flood risks.

Protecting Your Business Against Fire Disaster

5/12/2022 (Permalink)

You can trust SERVPRO of North Oklahoma City to restore your home or business back to its pre-damaged condition after a fire strikes. Call us!

Protecting Your Company From A Fire Disaster

Commercial properties should always have a fire preparation plan in place to protect businesses against possible future losses. A fire mitigation service in Oklahoma City, OK, can help company owners make the appropriate arrangements. However, there are other factors to consider for protecting your business against a potential fire disaster.

1. Develop an Emergency Fire Preparation Plan

The most significant aspect of disaster preparation is creating an effective plan. Where are emergency exits located throughout the property? Who should team members contact in the event of a fire? Who is responsible for ensuring everyone is safely evacuated from the premises? All of these details are relevant and can ensure the safety of each member of your team.

2. Have a Mitigation Team on Standby

When a fire occurs, fire damage is inevitable. While the extent of the damage is dependent on the severity of the fire, a business will likely always require some form of remediation or mitigation.
Having a mitigation team on standby can put your mind at ease. Having the service on standby means you have a plan in place for when you call the company. The company will respond as you discussed when they are contacted after an emergency or disaster.

3. Install Necessary Safety Equipment

Aside from emergency plans and mitigation services, the most fundamental aspect of disaster preparation is the installation of fire safety equipment. Do you have all necessary fire extinguishers in place and inspected? Do you have a working sprinkler or suppression system in place? Are all exit lights and other emergency lightings in working order?

While a fire disaster is not imminent, fire preparation is a requirement for safety and ease of mind. Having an effective response plan, a mitigation service on standby, and the essential safety equipment installed is the best commercial property owners can do to prepare and protect businesses.

Commercial Insurance for Flood-Related Damage

5/1/2022 (Permalink)

Any attempt to make an insurance claim for flooding on a standard commercial insurance policy will quickly reveal the need for a separate flood policy

Commercial Flood Insurance

Any attempt to make an insurance claim for flooding on a standard commercial insurance policy will quickly reveal the need for a separate flood policy. Find out why general property insurance often excludes flood damage and what to look for in terms of flood insurance for a commercial building in Oklahoma City, OK.

Most General Policies Exclude Flooding

Primary commercial property insurance policies often exclude incidents in which external water breaches the interior of a structure, with the exception of leaks in an otherwise well-maintained roof. Check to see whether the following types of damage are cut out of a general policy:

• Flooding
• Sewer backups
• Storm surges

It is necessary to obtain endorsements or supplemental policies to cover this damage. Flood policies typically cover storm surges, but an additional rider or policy is required for cleaning and restoring sewer damage.

The National Flood Insurance Program

The NFIP is a relatively easy way for commercial property owners to get coverage for flooding. A property must be located in a community that participates in the program. If the owner of a property located in an area with a high flood risk has a mortgage from a federally-backed lender, flood coverage may be a requirement. This policy may include up to $500,000 in coverage for a structure and up to $500,000 for business or personal contents.

Private Commercial Insurance

If the NFIP is not available in a particular area, a property owner may want to obtain an independent flood policy through a private insurer. Check to see whether a primary commercial insurer also offers flood coverage.

If you own a commercial building in Oklahoma City, OK, you should be aware of the extent of your insurance coverage. General property insurance, flood insurance and additional policies or riders to cover interruptions can keep a business afloat in the event of major flooding or other storm damage.

Will Your Smoke Alarms Wake You Up in Case of Fire?

4/13/2022 (Permalink)

Smoke detectors are an important part of keeping you and your family safe. An effective alert system will allow you to get help as soon as possible.

Will Your Smoke Detectors Wake You Up In The Event Of A Fire?

No one wants to think about the event of a home fire happening to them in Edmond, OK, but the best time to think about it is before it happens. A little preparation goes a long way to keeping you and your family protected. One major key to that preparation is keeping your smoke alarms up to date. You want to be sure that your smoke alarm will alert you rapidly in case of fire, especially during the night when those in the household will be sleeping. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Do You Have Enough Alarms?

Experts say that you have just minutes to safely escape a burning home. Because of this, it is paramount that your smoke detector is able to detect and alert you rapidly, no matter where you are and no matter where the fire is located. Make sure that you have a smoke alarm in each of these key places:

• Inside each bedroom
• Outside each bedroom
• One on each level of the house

You can also get interconnected alarms, so that when one goes off, they all do. This is especially helpful in a large home or for heavy sleepers who may struggle to hear an alarm in another part of the house.

Are Your Batteries and Alarms Up-to-Date?

Once you are certain you have enough alarms, be sure to maintain them regularly. Check the date on each smoke alarm and remember to replace it after 10 years. Alarms powered by nine-volt batteries should have those batteries replaced every year. Newer fire alarms that use lithium batteries will not need to have the batteries replaced. The 10-year batteries are designed to last until the unit needs to be replaced. For all types of smoke detectors, it is important to test the alarm every month.

Smoke alarms are an important piece of keeping you and your family safe. An efficient alerting system will help you to get out and get help fast to prevent fire damage. Minimizing the damage to your home will help the fire restoration process to go more smoothly as well. A little preparation pays large dividends.

The 3 Steps for Unclogging a Drain With a Snake

4/8/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is highly trained and experienced in water damage cleanup and restoration and we are always here to help, no matter the day or hour

How To Unclog A Drain With A Snake In 3 Easy Steps

If you can't get a clogged pipe clear with a plunger or cleaning the trap, it is time to use an auger. This coiled snake will get fed down your drain, and you will twist the tip into the obstruction. While parts of the clog will break away and flow down the pipe, the rest will get trapped in the snake and pulled out. These tools are convenient for clogs deep in your pipes. Using one properly will prevent you from experiencing a pipe break or other plumbing disaster.

1. Find the Clog

Push the snake into your clogged pipe until you feel resistance. If there are any tight curves in your plumbing, you may feel some resistance, but you need to put a little extra force behind your reel and keep pressing until you find the clog. Just be sure you are gentle because you don't want to break your pipes on accident and end up having to hire a water restoration company anyway.

2. Snake the Debris

Rotate the snake until you feel it move freely in the spot where the block was. The rotating action will help the tip grab onto the debris and loosen it. If it is a solid object, you will likely feel the snakehead get wrapped around it. When you feel either it loosens the clog or get stuck, reel the tip out of the drain in your home in Oklahoma City, OK.

3. Wash It Away

When the tip is out of the clogged pipe, run the water down the drain. This will help flush any remaining debris down the pipe and ensure your drain is ready to go.

Snaking a stopped drain is a great way to prevent plumbing disasters and get your pipes working again. Follow these tips to ensure that the snaking process goes smoothly and you don't do any further damage to your home.

How Insurance Helps Your Business After a Storm

4/1/2022 (Permalink)

Insurance provides a safety net for your business's unexpected expenses, like the need to rebuild after a storm.

How Insurance Can Assist Your Business Following A Storm

If you need to rebuild after a storm damages your Oklahoma City, OK, commercial building, you may worry about lost income and restoration expenses. Fortunately, there are a variety of insurance policies available that can help you stay afloat while you restore your business to full operational capacity. The following are two types of insurance that come in handy after damage to a commercial property.

Interruption Insurance

Even a closed business has expenses. Business interruption insurance covers many of those expenses, including:

• Payroll
• Taxes
• Monthly payments
• Temporary relocation expenses
• Training for new equipment

Interruption insurance also covers lost profits if you have adequate documentation showing earlier profits that can be used to estimate how much earning potential was lost during the restoration period. Speak with your insurance agent to ensure you fully understand what is covered and under what conditions as well as any special documentation that you need.

Commercial Property Insurance

Property insurance generally covers the cost of damage to physical property, including lost inventory and structural damage as well as damage to employees' personal property that was at the insured location. As with interruption insurance, it is important to speak with your insurance agent so that you fully understand what is included your policy. The insurance agent should also be able to provide you with a list of approved restoration service providers to help with the rebuild.

To make filing a claim easier, it is ideal to have a list of all inventory and property located at the covered address. Include purchase dates and prices on the list and store it in a secure location, such as cloud storage or a fireproof safe.

Insurance provides a safety net for your business's unexpected expenses, like the need to rebuild after a storm. Make sure you keep your policies up-to-date and speak with your insurance agent so that you fully understand your policies and coverage.

3 Reasons To Board Up After a Fire

3/18/2022 (Permalink)

You can trust our SERVPRO team to take care of your fire damage cleanup and restoration needs. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

After A Fire, There Are Three Reasons To Board Up Your Home.

If your home in Oklahoma City, OK, catches fire, your first thought is likely to be your family’s safety. Closely following that thought, however, is how you’re going to restore your home so that you can return to it. How do you protect your home between the time you call fire restoration specialists and the time they begin repairs? Board up services can protect your home from more damage and protect you from liability and insurance coverage loss. Here are three reasons it’s important to secure your home after a fire.

1. Protect Property

A fire can be devastating to your home. Emergency board up services help you keep any further damage from occurring. By covering broken windows, holes in your roof or walls and compromised doorways, you can protect the inside of your home from wind or rain before and during the repair process. Securing your home can also keep out animals and would-be vandals and thieves. It’s wise to minimize your worry in any way you can.

2. Protect People

Some people consider an opening to a home an invitation. If you board up your home after a fire, however, you can prevent them from entering. Your home is not likely to be structurally sound, so anyone who enters it is in danger of injury. If people are injured on your property, particularly if they can prove you did not indicate that it was unsafe to enter, they can sue you. Protecting people from injury also protect you from liability.

3. Protect Coverage

If your home has fire damage and you fail to secure it, your insurance company could discontinue your coverage. Because protecting your home from further damage saves your provider money, the company may consider it negligence if you don’t place boards or tarps over the open areas of your home and thus may refuse to accept your claim.

Professional restoration technicians are Here to Help in any way they can. They can board up your home as part of their repair process.

3 ways to prevent mold growth

3/9/2022 (Permalink)

Although mold growth can cause significant damage to your business, many serious infestations can be avoided by keeping the building clean and dry.

3 Methods For Preventing Mold Growth

Mold can be a serious problem for your Oklahoma City, OK, commercial building. However, a little preventive maintenance minimizes the likelihood of a large infestation. The following are three ways to prevent mold growth.

1. Keep the Building Dry

Mold needs moisture to grow. This moisture can come in the form of standing water from leaks and spills or high indoor humidity. If your business is located in a particularly humid area, or if there are rooms with excess moisture, running a dehumidifier will decrease the amount of moisture in the air and make it more difficult for mold to grow. Leaks, spills and other types water damage should be dried up as quickly as possible and the affected areas should be sanitized to remove any lingering bacteria.

2. Decrease Mold Spores

Unfortunately, mold spores are everywhere. However, it is possible to minimize the number of spores present in your commercial building. Air purifiers with HEPA filters trap spores before they have a chance to colonize. Many HVAC systems can also be outfitted with special filters that catch spores circulating in the air.

Spores that travel in on employees’ and customers’ shoes are likely to become lodged in carpets and rug fibers. Vacuum cleaners that have HEPA filters are able to capture mold spores rather than releasing them back into the air. Routine carpet cleaning also cuts down on the presence of spores.

3. Check Regularly for Signs of Mold

Catching mold growth before it expands into a large infestation is key to preventing serious damage. If you have mold covering a large area, you will likely need a professional restoration service. Small patches can often be taken care of by non-professionals. Keep an eye out for discoloration, warped building materials and peeling paint or wallpaper. Investigate musty odors and strange smells.

Although mold growth can cause severe damage to your business, it is possible to prevent many serious infestations by keeping the building clean and dry. If you spot mold growth, have it remediated as soon as possible to keep it from spreading.

Checklist for Prepping Your Home for Vacation

3/1/2022 (Permalink)

Water pipe repair and cracked hose replacement are not the only ways you can protect your home during vacation.

Preparing Your Home for Vacation Checklist

You and your family may want a getaway, but you don't want to come home to a watery mess that leaves you scrambling for water pipe repair and flood remediation services. To make sure your home in Oklahoma City, OK, is safe from water damage during your vacation, check the following items off your to-do list before you leave.

Inspect

A broken pipe often starts with a small leak. By conducting regular inspections, particularly right before you are going to be away for a while, you can find small issues before they become large ones. There are several areas you need to look over before you leave:

• Window seals
  
• Roof joints and shingles
  
• Rain gutters
  
• Appliance hoses
  
• Sump pump

Look for weak spots and have them repaired. By ensuring that all these things are in good working order, you can prevent damage while you're gone.

Protect

Water pipe repair and cracked hose replacement are not the only ways you can protect your home during vacation. In addition to making sure everything works, add backups and protection to make sure they continue to do so, even if conditions change. For example, installing a backup battery on your sump pump keeps it working even if the power goes out. Adding insulation to both indoor and outdoor pipes and fixtures provides an extra layer of protection against freezing.

Enlist

If you want extra assurance that your home will be safe while you are enjoying your trip, seek out the assistance of a trusted neighbor or friend. Friends can make sure the heat stays on in the winter, pick up your mail and check for sudden problems that may cause damage. In addition to providing a key the person watching your home, it is also a good idea to show him or her how to turn off the water main to prevent your home from being flooded.

Protecting your home is part of planning for your trip. Make your vacation more relaxing by taking the steps needed to know your home is safe.