Cicadas Are Coming - Be Prepared

5/2/2024 (Permalink)

2 cicadas enjoying their time above ground.

The Brood X Cicadas will be making an appearance this year for the first time in 17 years. Cicadas are the loudest insect in the United States, so be ready for the loud noise.

There are ways to get prepared for the arrival of our loud friends:

*Make sure the screens on your doors and windows are secure and have no holes especially if you plan to leave them open during the warm weather.

*Cicadas fly but with no direction so they may easily fly into your path.  Be prepared with an umbrella or hat.  If you have long hair, consider wearing it back.

*Cicadas are less active in the early morning and evenings.  So consider doing yard work at these times.

*Watch your pets as they like to eat cicadas which can cause digestive problems.

*Change your car's windshield wipers as they may be needed when cicadas fly into your windshield.

*Protect young trees with mesh netting.

The cicada season should last no longer than 4 to 6 weeks.  Remember that Cicadas do not bite or sting, they are harmless.  Cicadas spend 99% of their lives underground, so do not let the 1% that they are above ground "bug" you too much.

Determining Category of Water

4/8/2024 (Permalink)

Category 3 water coming up through sewer line.

The Categories of Water, as defined by the IICRC S500, refer to the range of contamination in water, considering both its originating source and its quality after it contacts materials present on the job site. Time and temperature can also affect the quality of water, thereby changing its Category. 

Category 1 comes from a sanitary water source. Examples are a tub or sink overflowing, rain water leaking in a doorway, melting ice or snow.  Once this water contacts other surfaces or materials, it may no longer be a category 1 loss.

Category 2 contains a significant about of contamination.  Examples are water discharged from dishwashers or washing machines, overflow from toilet bowls or even water from an aquarium. 

Category 3 is grossly contaminated water and carries harmful agents. Examples are all types of sewage backup,  rain water from hurricanes and tropical storms and water that comes from rivers or streams.

It is important to know the category of water you have when you get the lose mitigated so it is properly done and safe.

Spring time in the Chicago Area

4/3/2024 (Permalink)

Mother Nature bringing in spring.

Spring is here and mother nature is very moody.  One day it is sunny and the temperature is in the 70s and the next day it could snow.

Sun, snow and rain are no strangers to the Chicago area spring season.  SERVPRO of Oak Park-River Forest is ready for any weather conditions. 

SERVPRO of Oak Park-River Forest is here for our customers when the rain starts leaking into their basements or through their roofs.  Our professional team is trained in water, fire and mold mitigation.

Be prepared and save our contact in your phone, 708-483-8636 and we will only be a phone call away from saving your home.

With rain comes mold..

4/3/2024 (Permalink)

It’s estimated that more than 1 million types of mold exist, yet less than 10 percent have actually been named. This means mold is very common in both indoor and outdoor environments. While mold and humans can sometimes co-exist without issue, there are certain species of mold that can cause health effects for some people.

If the right conditions exist, mold will grow.  Those conditions include:

• Water - Different mold types require varying amounts of liquid before growth begins.   
• Temperature - Normal indoor temperatures will promote mold growth.
• Time - Initial mold colonizers can take hold within one day after being exposed to an adequate water supply.

Mold growth can occur in any home, so it’s important to keep an eye out for situations that might promote mold activity. Roof/chimney leaks, wet basements, or condensation from ducts that dampen surrounding insulation are just a few examples of issues that make a house a prime target for mold growth.

If you suspect mold in your home, call SERVPRO of Oak Park-River Forest to assess the situation. We have the knowledge, tools and track record to effectively remediate mold in your home or business.

If you suspect mold, call us today at 708-483-8636

What to Do:

• Stay out of affected areas.
• Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
• Contact SERVPRO of Oak Park-
  River Forest for mold remediation services.

Insurance Companies Choose SERVPRO

2/4/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Oak Park- River Forest has worked with many insurance agents and claim adjusters. We understand your situation. As an agent or adjuster, you have a responsibility to keep claim costs down while providing the best services possible for your clients. We work together to make sure your claim is handled with care. 

Call SERVPRO of Oak Park- River Forest today at 708.483.8636

Our Methods for Restoring your Property

2/4/2022 (Permalink)

Restoring Your Property after Water Damage

Have you recently had water damage in your home or business, and are not sure how to handle it? You are not alone, many people are unsure of the steps they should take after having a water damage event, and how they should go about having their home or business properly restored after the damage occurs.

There are a variety of issues that can cause your home or business to suffer from water damage. These can include a flood, burst pipe, sewage backup and more. These issues can occur without any type of warning and gravely affect your Oak Park- River Forest home or business.

It is stressful and often it is not clear what to do or who to call. When your home or business suffers from water damage, even an extra hour can significantly worsen the damage. It is important to call water damage professionals immediately to handle your issue. SERVPRO of Oak Park-River Forest can help immediately to stop the damage from worsening and restore your property and belongings to make it "Like it never even happened." Our SERVPRO professionals are highly trained and certified water damage restoration technicians, and we can handle all your water damage restoration water extraction needs.

The first step to restoring your home or business after a water damage event is to act quickly. Acting quickly can help immensely in salvaging and restoring your belongings and property, including the drywall and flooring that is in your home. It is important to note how quickly water can permanently damage organic material. Unfortunately, it is only a matter of hours before your property can be left with irreversible water damage. If our certified SERVPRO technicians are called immediately, we can respond quickly and often save and restore water damage and lessen the chance of secondary issues such as mold growth.

If mold does begin to grow in your home or business, you may need to have mold remediation as well.

Your first step to restoring your home or business is to call us at SERVPRO of Oak Park- River Forest so that we can respond to your emergency as quickly as possible. After arriving, our technicians will do a thorough inspection with our moisture readers to determine the extent of and where there is potential for water damage and how far the moisture has traveled. Once assessed, our production team will use heavy duty water extractors (powerful pumps and vacuum units) capable of removing hundreds or thousands of gallons of water to pump out standing water and areas of property saturated with water.          

Next, our technicians use room measurements, temperatures from various locations and relative humidity to determine the appropriate number of air movers and dehumidifiers needed to dry your home or business. Our air movers are strategically placed to evaporate excess moisture from belongings and property while dehumidifiers reduce the moisture content of the air, hastening the drying process. Once dry, we use cleaning techniques to provide sanitizing, deodorization, and disposal to decrease the possibility of microbial growth.

We are trained to identify and deodorize offensive odors when necessary. Our technical expertise and industrial grade air scrubbers and fogging equipment go well beyond simply masking odors and other shortcuts that do not work when your odor problem is serious or persistent.

Depending on the scenario, we may additionally use antimicrobial, antibacterial, or disinfectant treatments to clean your property. We will remove and dispose of damaged materials with guidance from you and your insurance adjuster.

Call us today at SERVPRO of Oak Park-River Forest as we continue to provide support for all your restoration needs. 708.483.8636.

We Answer the Phone, Ready to Help.

2/4/2022 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO of ­­­­­Oak Park-River Forest, we are available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.

We Answer the Phone, Ready to Help

We understand when you call, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through. SERVPRO of ­­­­Oak Park- River Forest has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration as the cornerstone of our business.

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.

Here are some of the questions you may be asked:

               Your name and contact information

               Your insurance information (if applicable)

               The street address of the water-damaged home or business

               When did the flooding or water damage occur?

               What caused the water damage (if known)?

               Is there electricity available (on-site)?

We specialize in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Call us today at SERVPRO of ­­­­­Oak Park- River Forest for more information.

How to Prepare for Emergencies with a Plan

2/4/2022 (Permalink)

Most commercial buildings are required to provide an emergency exit strategy for their people incase an unfortunate accident were to occur. Some buildings are also required to have a contingency plan to protect the building itself, but not all properties will have this in place.

Our team here at SERVPRO of Oak Park- River Forest will provide this service to business owners in need of a water and fire preparedness plan. As restoration professionals, we have the experience and trained crew members required to show you necessary steps to limit potential damage that can occur from a water, fire, or storm like scenario.

Being a step ahead and knowing how to shut off a utility, fix a sprinkler issue, or set containment, can make the difference between shutting your doors and being able to open your business again. Every moment counts as disasters rarely happen during business hours.

During this process, a team member will document all necessary details as we walk your building with you. Important items to address will be the preferred initial point of contact, pinpointing your main utility shutoffs, locating any and all hazardous materials, documenting preferred parking and access for our team once we arrive, and priority or essential equipment that needs to be protected.

Our goal here is to provide you with a simple and easy to access plan for your team so they can react appropriately in these situations with little effort and a nominal amount of time. Knowing what to do and who to call can save you a considerable amount of money, prevent secondary damage and limit the amount of business time lost due to repairing and replacing damaged items within your facility.

Whether you have a team in place, or we are the ones to arrive onsite first, our technicians will be fully aware of the shut-off locations and can address this ourselves. Preparing this plan ahead of time will always provide quicker and more efficient results.

Feel free to reach out to our office for further information, do not feel this is something you need to explore on your own, our team is always here to help.

Deep Cleaning Services

2/4/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Oak Park- River Forest provides a full range of residential deep cleaning services to keep Chicagoland area homes looking their best. These services go way beyond the scope of a traditional cleaning service.

Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning

SERVPRO’s carpet and upholstery cleaning service will not only get out the dirt you see but will also remove the unwanted dust you don’t. A professionally cleaned carpet and furniture may make all the difference in brightening up a room and freshening up your home.

Air Duct Cleaning

Properly maintaining your home’s air ducts should not be one of them. Regular duct cleaning can increase your home’s heating and cooling efficiency and improve the quality of the air you and your family breathe.

Odor Removal

Your basic cleaning service will not have the expertise to deodorize your home effectively. Take advantage of SERVPRO’s residential cleaning services to remove unwanted odors.

Sewage and Biohazard Clean Up

Our experts are ready to assist in the cleanup of sewage and other biohazard materials and provide deep cleaning services for your home. Find out more about these services from our franchise professionals.

Call Us Today!

Chicagoland residents can trust the professionals at SERVPRO Oak Park-River Forest to keep your home looking and smelling great!  Call us today at 708.483.8636.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Why We Approach All Damages With a Restoration-First Mindset

2/1/2022 (Permalink)

If you sustain damage to your home, whether it be due to a fire, a flood or some other type of scenario, it can be difficult to know what comes next. Many people who have never had serious damages before might assume that a damaged area must be completely rebuilt and that all items must be liquidated and replaced—but when you work with us, that is not necessarily the case.

When we approach commercial damages, we do so with a restoration-first mindset. After helping countless businesses in the area recover from various damages, we understand how helpful it is to have your items restored instead of replaced.

Not only are many things irreplaceable due to sentimental value, but being able to keep your belongings also saves you time and money as your company works on recovering emotionally from the event.

The Benefits of Our Restoration-Focused Approach

We can salvage many irreplaceable items. While an insurance adjuster can easily come in and provide you with a dollar value for everything in your space, we understand that it is not always that simple. Objects could never be replaced for any amount of money, which is why we will do everything we are able to restore them instead.

We are able to work with your insurance. If you are able to claim damages on your insurance, such as in the event of water damage, you certainly should—however, this can lead to a higher premium as a result. We will work directly with your insurance to lower the costs with restoration instead of liquidation to save you money.

We can make your items safe for use again. There are many things to consider when an object is damaged by fire and water, such as lingering smoke and soot odors or the possibility of mold beginning to grow. However, we have the technology to make sure your items are totally safe to use once more. We can clean, deodorize and sanitize your items so you can be certain they are safe for your family to use.

If you have sustained damage and are not sure what comes next, you can depend on us. Contact us at any hour to see how we can help you with every aspect of the restoration process.