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Archived Cleaning Blog Posts

Sewage Backup Cleanup Company Is Ready To Help In Spokane

5/20/2016 (Permalink)

Spokane Sewage Cleanup

Sewage backup cleanup and removal in Spokane is always a messy job. All you have to say is the sewage word and people know exactly what you are talking about. When it comes in contact with your homes flooring or contents is when you have a problem on your hands.

If a sewage line gets clogged or you just have a random backup that is where SERVPRO of Northwest Spokane comes in. We have the tools and knowledge to help you get everything cleaned up and sanitized as quickly as possible. Our technicians have been trained on how to clean up contaminated water and use the proper protection from what may it may contain. Not only does the look of sewage water scare people but the odor will definitely make you think twice about cleaning it up yourself. Most Spokane homeowners do call for advice if it is a small problem, but if you feel you’re in over your head with the sewage overflow cleanup, we are ready to help.

Sewage Backup or Toilet Overflow in Spokane? Call Us Today – (509) 487-4700

24 Emergency Service

Sewage backup should be considered an emergency and dealt with as quickly as possible. We are the water damage restoration specialists with specific training and expertise to safely restore your home or business

Preparing Your Spokane Home For Winter

11/5/2015 (Permalink)

Source: esurance blog

blog.esurance.com

Preparing Your Home for Winter: 8 Fall Maintenance Hacks for Cold-Weather Comfort

We all look forward to fall’s festivities. But taking the time to prepare your home for winter (before it arrives) can help ensure you’re cozying up by the fireside — worry-free — once cold weather rolls around. Find out how with these 8 simple hacks.

Ahhh, fall is finally here! The leaves are changing, there’s a crisp coolness in the air, and our favorite pumpkin-flavored treats line store shelves once more. Decorating and meal-prepping might be the first things on your mind when it comes to preparing your home for the colder months — but the National Weather Service is predicting strong winter storms that could affect homeowners across the country this year.

Here are 8 important fall maintenance tips that can make all the difference once winter’s first freeze hits.

1. Clear out your gutters

All those colorful leaves falling from the trees sure are pretty — but they also pile up pretty quickly in your home’s gutters.

Excess debris can lead to clogs (or ice dams in wintery conditions), which can prevent gutters from draining properly. In turn, there’s a chance water could seep into your home since it has nowhere else to escape to, causing a multitude of issues like damage to your valuables, mold growth, and even structural rot.

Before winter hits, clear your house’s gutters of leaves and any other debris that might’ve accumulated during the summer months. It also helps to run water through the gutters afterward to check for any leaks or misalignments that could damage your home.

Related link: Fall Home Maintenance Tricks You’d Be Crazy Not To Try

2. Inspect for air leaks

Things like damaged weather stripping and small cracks in your home’s structure allow warm air to escape, causing your heater to go into overdrive to keep your place warm.

The solution to your chilly house and high utility bills is pretty simple: before it gets wintery outside, inspect your home’s windows, doorways, and any other places where air might be able to enter or exit.

You can use caulking to stop leaks in the stationary components of your home (like a crack in your doorframe) and weather stripping to insulate the moving components (like windows and doors).

Related link: Top 6 Reasons to Winterize Your Home

3. Have your heating system checked

Home just doesn’t feel like home if a malfunctioning heater is leaving you with the chills. And in parts of the country with freezing temps, it can be a much more serious situation.

That’s why it’s wise to have a licensed contractor come out to inspect your heater at least once a year, especially before the weather outside becomes frightful.

4. Prepare your pipes

Get to know where the pipelines in your house are located and make sure to inspect them every autumn (at least).

Simply patch any small leaks with heat tape to help reduce weaknesses that might cause the pipe to burst in freezing weather. And you can further protect any exposed outdoor pipes by insulating them with foam or rubber pipe wraps, which can be found at your local hardware store.

For larger leaks or pipeline problems, it’s always a good idea to play it safe and call the pros.

5. Drain any outside faucets and irrigation systems 

Speaking of bursting pipes, it’s important to pay attention to the water systems immediately outside your place too. Undrained water in outdoor faucets and irrigation systems can expand when frozen and cause a pipe to burst.

Draining faucets is simple enough: just pack away your garden hoses in the garage for the winter and let out any remaining water — easy as that!

Irrigation systems, on the other hand, often vary in the way they should be maintained. It’s best to call a professional who has experience with underground water systems, just to cover all your bases.

6. Have your roof inspected

For your safety, a full-blown roof inspection should be done professionally. The cost to hire an inspector can be as low as a little over $200 and can prevent seriously hefty repair expenses down the line if a winter storm wreaks havoc on your roof and you don’t have sufficient insurance coverage to cover repair costs.

Reinforcing your roof now can help you avoid a whole host of hazards, like air and water leaks, water damage, mold, and more — all of which could put a damper on your seasonal festivities (and your wallet).

7. Restock cold-weather home essentials

Key items like rock salt or kitty litter, snow shovels, space heaters, extra batteries, and heated blankets can help make your home both more functional and comfortable during wintertime. Stock up on these helpful winter wares ahead of time to help avoid any extra hassle or stress come holiday season.

Related link: Tips for Before, During, and After a Winter Power Outage

8. Take a peek at your homeowners insurance

Believe it or not, your homeowners policy could come to the rescue for a whole host of cold-weather mishaps.

Whether a hailstorm leaves holes in your roof, a vandal breaks into your home and destroys valuables while you’re out holiday shopping, or the weight of snow and ice results in structural damage to your house,homeowners insurance could help pay to repair or replace your losses.

Air Duct Cleaning - Why It's Important

9/24/2015 (Permalink)

HVAC experts agree - there is REAL value in having your homes' air ducts cleaned.

"At the very least, performing some simple maintenance on the ducts in your home will help your HVAC system work at maximum efficiency," says Sue Steen, SERVPRO Industries, Inc. chief executive officer. "In some cases, it may highlight a problem you need to address."

Steen offers the following guidelines based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommendations for routine maintenance of the HVAC system in your home:

  1. Maintain filters.
    Use the highest efficiency air filter recommended by the manufacturer of your HVAC system and change filters regularly. If your filters become clogged, change them more frequently. Also, be sure you do not have any missing filters and that air cannot bypass filters through gaps around the filter holder.
  2. Minimize dust.
    Dust and vacuum your home regularly, using the highest efficiency filter bags your vacuum cleaner can take – preferably HEPA bags. If you undertake dusty construction or renovation work in your home, seal off supply and return registers and do not turn your HVAC system on until you have cleaned up the dust.
  3. Clean cooling coils and drain pans.
    Cooling coils, which are designed to remove water from the air, can be a major source of moisture contamination that can lead to mold growth in your HVAC system. Make sure that the drain pans under these coils drain properly and check any nearby insulation for wet spots. If you see substantial standing water and/or debris in these pans, contact a qualified service professional immediately. If your system includes an in-duct humidifier, be sure to follow manufacturer operating instructions.

For some homeowners, this routine maintenance may uncover evidence of a larger problem, like mold growth, rodent or insect infestation, or ducts so clogged with dust and debris that particles are being released into the home through air supply registers. Steen says this is the time to call in the professionals for an expert evaluation of the problem and, if necessary, a cleanup plan.

"Restoration and remediation specialists like the technicians at SERVPRO can help you determine how serious the problem is," says Steen. "In many cases, routine maintenance is all that is required. But if the problem could pose a health threat to people living in the house, you need to call in the professionals. SERVPRO technicians are trained to use specialized cleaning and disposal techniques to remove any contaminants from your ducts safely and completely, without releasing them into your home."

For more information on air duct cleaning and other related cleaning services, please visit http://www.SERVPROnorthwestspokane.com/airduct-cleaning