Recent Posts

Flooded Basements

3/18/2024 (Permalink)

Flooded basement. 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)

Icicles hanging from the gutters of a house. 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)

Lit white candles. 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)

Sewage backing up onto a bathroom floor. 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)

Employee in Tyvek suit wiping down a table. 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)

Employee in white Tyvek suits. 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)

Carpet being cleaned. 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®. 

The Right Equipment

7/5/2023 (Permalink)

Air movers and dehumidifiers. SERVPRO understands that using the proper equipment makes a measurable difference in reducing claims loss expense.

SERVPRO® understands that using the proper equipment makes a measurable difference in reducing claims loss expense. When time matters, technology and equipment must be counted on to perform. Learn more about the water mitigation equipment used by our team members! 

Detection Equipment 

  • Moisture Sensors - Used to detect moisture in carpets, baseboards and walls.  
  • Moisture Meters - Used to determine the actual moisture content of various materials. The moisture tester provides accurate moisture readings that enables our team to monitor the drying process. 
  • Thermohygrometers  - Measures both temperature and relative humidity. Capturing these two readings, we use a psychrometric chart to calculate specific humidity, dew point and vapor press. 

Extraction Equipment 

  • Extractors - Used in cleaning carpets and upholstery and in removing water from floors following water damage. Extractors can either be truck-mounted or portable, allowing for greater access inside structures. 

Dehumidification Equipment 

  • Refrigerant Dehumidifiers - Works similarly to air conditioners.  
  • Desiccant Dehumidifiers - Uses chemicals, called desiccants, that readily absorb moisture from the air. 

SERVPRO® has the training, expertise and proper equipment to help with your water damage problem. If your commercial or residential property has an issue with water damage, call us today. 

Protecting Your Garden During Rainstorms

4/18/2023 (Permalink)

Plant propped up on stick in garden. 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.

Always Prioritize Safety as You Grill

4/18/2023 (Permalink)

Chicken on a grill. The risk of a grill fire is there every time you light yours up.

For us, enjoying summer is all about getting outside with family and firing up the grill, but safety is key to making sure this stays a fun activity. Grilling dangers are something many people do not discuss, but as with any open flame, the risk of a grill fire is there every time you light yours up. Fortunately, a bit of prevention goes a long way.

It is reported by the U.S. Fire Administration that grill fires occur at least 5,700 times every year, making them more prevalent than many realize. But grilling can be a fun and safe activity if you follow the proper fire safety protocols when you do it.

Keep Grilling Fun, Safe and Fire-Free

  • Create a safe zone around your grill. It is convenient to place your grill in a spot close to your home but giving yourself plenty of surrounding space is important in case of flare-ups. Three feet is the recommended distance to have around your grill, free from wood, siding or any other flammable materials.
  • Clean your grill grates often. By keeping your grill grates clean, you can keep the temperature inside your grill steadier and reduce the chances of a sudden fire starting. Built-on food particles can get extremely hot when the grill is in use, even suddenly igniting in some cases. A quick scrape after each grill session can go a long way in reducing this danger.
  • Never leave the grill unattended. There is no safe way to ever leave a grill unattended, even if the lid is closed. Fires only take a second to start, so your best bet to circumvent damage is by always being nearby with a fire extinguisher just in case. Even for a quick break, it is best to have someone take over your grill station to keep a vigilant eye out.
  • Inspect the grill regularly. The components of a grill are not made to last forever, and even if you are using yours regularly, you never know when something could finally give out. Before you ever light your grill, do a visual inspection to make sure everything looks like it is in good shape and there are no areas that could lead to a gas leak on your connectors.