Identifying And Addressing Mold Growth

10/30/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Technicians speaking with customers about water damage and potential mold.

If you’ve had Water Damage, you’re sure to know that mold is not far behind! But, how do you know for sure you have mold (Aside from having mold testing done)?

The Telltale Signs:

1. Visible Discoloration – With over 100,000 species of mold, the color can widely vary. Commonly you can find molds with darker colors such as black, green, blue, or gray. Some appear fuzzy, and others are slimy, and can be smudged to when touched.
2. Smell – While older homes may have a slight damp smell, a strong odor of mold is often much more apparent.
3. Peeling Paint or Wallpaper – Due to mold growing from Water Damage, signs that the damage is in the walls by clearly visible peeling, flaking, or bubbling paint or wallpaper!

SERVPRO® Team George is the #1 choice in mold remediation and mitigation, and our professionals have the training and expertise to help make your damage “Like it never even happened.”

Florida Heat Can Be Brutal

6/23/2023 (Permalink)

Going over the scope of work for an upcoming project

June 2023

Let’s talk about something all Florida residents are familiar with. HEAT! As we all know, summers are brutal in Tarpon Springs, FL. With heat index’s reaching up to 115 degrees at times, it can be extremely dangerous if the right precautions are not taken. Below we’ve listed the type of heat warnings and what they mean.

Heat Advisory

In order to receive a heat advisory in Florida you must have a heat index value of 108 degrees or higher for at least two hours. For an excessive heat warning, the heat index needs to reach 113 degrees or higher for at least two hours. 

A heat advisory means that people can be affected by heat if precautions are not taken. The issuance of a heat advisory is important to raise public awareness that these precautions need to be taken. Heat advisories are also used to trigger other actions and regulations such as no evictions, no turning off of power, changing outdoor work requirements, etc.

Excessive Heat Warning

 A heat warning means that some people can be seriously affected by heat if precautions are not taken. Studies in Canada, Europe, and the U.S. have indicated that mortality begins to increase exponentially as the heat increases or stays above a heat index of 104°F.

In addition to raising public awareness, the issuance of a heat warning will alert hospitals and officials to take certain actions to prepare and respond to an increase in emergency calls, and activate programs to check on elderly and the home-bound. In some cases cooling centers can be open or designated and donation programs activated for fans and air conditioners. As in the case of an advisory, certain regulations may change such as turning off people's electricity, evictions, and outside work requirements.

While all of us Floridians are used to our hot summers, we must practice safety whenever there is any kind of warning or advisory.

Why You Seen Green, Think SERVPRO!

6/23/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Truck pulling a trailer

06/23/2023

Neon green is not my car color preference, but it serves a very specific purpose when it comes to customer and company recognition. It is said that the first person who started SERVPRO did a test to see what color people liked better on cars, which ones stood out and caught the eye more. He had a variety of colors and more times than not people chose the neon green. To this day, all the SERVPRO franchises you see around have the neon green color and when you see green, you think SERVPRO. It is sort of funny the way that it sticks in people’s minds. One of the questions we ask our clients when they call in for us to come out to help them is, “where did you hear about us?’, and a lot of the times the response will be “I saw your truck, or I saw your cubes driving around town”. We love to hear this because that just goes to show that when our customers see green, they too think of SERVPRO!

SERVPRO New Hire Expectations vs Reality

1/3/2023 (Permalink)

Our new hire Chelsea posing with her dog Bauer

I’m Chelsea and I was recently hired as the Administrative Assistant at SERVPRO. Previously, I had no experience in this type of industry or emergency services. I knew it would occasionally be fast paced, but that’s the only expectations I had. Since I have been here 3 months, I’ve learned a lot and realized that there is something new to do every day, and every job is different. I’ve also gained appreciation for our technicians! To run or assist on a project in this industry requires talent, to not only know how we can help in almost any type of situation, but also to do the work.

  Since being here we have done not only water, fire, mold, biohazard, and cleaning jobs, but also assisted and completed work I never knew SERVPRO could help with. We have worked on cleaning and reconstruction in RV’s, houses damaged from lightning strikes, and even removing mold and odor from cars. There are things that truly make SERVPRO one of a kind and truly “Ready for Whatever Happens”.

Storm Season 2022

1/3/2023 (Permalink)

Technician taking a break next to a SERVPRO truck at a storm job site

Here in Florida, we have had quite the storm season! When we saw Hurricane Ian was going to make a direct hit, our team jumped into action and was ready for whatever happened. We didn’t get directly hit here in the Tampa Bay Area, however, that didn’t stop us from helping our fellow Floridians. Shortly thereafter, Hurricane Nicole passed through the Sunshine Sate as well.

Here’s a breakdown of what storm season looked like for Team George:

• We responded to one of the sites most heavily impacted within 24 hours of landfall.
• We had over 10 commercial large loss jobs running at one time, including the Braves Training Facility, multiple Publix’s, and Sarasota Memorial Hospital, while also assisting local residents as well.
• Many of our Project Managers and technicians worked around the clock, most putting in 15-hour days.
• We are still actively working on jobs there, that’s 10 weeks and counting that our team has been putting effort into restoring the lives and homes of the people that need it most right now.

While our hearts are saddened that so many people’s lives have been affected by this, we are beyond grateful that so many people have trusted SERVPRO to help restore their community, and that we have the opportunity to help.

Water Damage? What you can expect when you call SERVPRO.

1/3/2023 (Permalink)

Our snack manager, Loki, managing a loaded trailer ready to dispatch to a water damage.

One of the most common calls we get is for Water Restoration Services. It can be very stressful when there is water damage in your home, and you might not know what to expect, especially if this has never happened before.

Here’s what you can expect when you call:

• Our receptionist will take your information and try to help walk you through the process. Once we get all the required information from you, we will dispatch a team to respond to your home.
• When the technician arrives, they will be thorough and quite literally walk you through the process, explaining what they see, what they’re doing and why. Our technicians are experts in this industry and will be more than happy to answer any of your questions and guide you through the process.
• Once the equipment is placed, our technicians will continue to monitor and make sure affected areas are drying properly.
• We work with almost every insurance company in the country, if a claim is filed, the office staff will speak to your adjuster and work directly with your insurance to make the process as streamlined as possible.

We understand the process and want to help you understand it as well. Even though these situations can be overwhelming, we are here to help you.

Tarpon Businesses Face Water Damage After a Fire

6/13/2022 (Permalink)

Hotel fires are more common than you might think. Firefighters in the U.S. respond to an estimated average of 3,520 structure fires in hotels and motels each year. In addition to the fire damage there is the issue of water damage throughout the hotel.

It is very important to address any hotel water damage in a timely manner. There are serious consequences when water damage is ignored. These issues can cause visitors to leave the hotels and not come back. It is important to hire professionals to take care of the cleanup. It is a bad idea to rely entirely on your abilities to clean up all of the water damage. This can result in some of the water left in inaccessible areas which can give way to mold and other issues on the property.

Knowing who to call is an important decision that will have an impact on your business. Call SERVPRO of Tarpon (727) 934-5555. Any moisture needs to be cleaned up and taken care of to avoid hazards. You want to avoid mold getting into the airways. SERVPRO of Tarpon has well trained experts that know how to take care of water issues.

SERVPRO of Tarpon is an IICRC firm. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) creates the standards for the restoration industry and provides training and certification to restoration companies. IICRC Certified Firms have the right to display the IICRC Certified Logo.

Before mold or other issues cost you more contact SERVPRO of Tarpon (727) 934-5555.

The longer water is left standing, the more likely mold growth will become a problem. Mold can begin to grow in a flooded commercial site in 24 to 72 hours. Contact SERVPRO of Tarpon to eliminate standing water.

We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

As a trusted leader in the restoration industry, we have highly trained technicians that are dedicated to responding faster to any size disaster. We provide 24-hour emergency service and have the training and expertise to handle your restoration. Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

One thing you can do to help out is to make sure all of the items that are damaged by the water are dried out quickly so that there is no growth of mold. Call SERVPRO of Tarpon (727) 934-5555.

Commercial Disaster Response in Tarpon

6/3/2022 (Permalink)

Quick to Help

After a disaster, Tarpon home and business owners often do not know where to begin when it comes to cleaning up and making repairs. It can be a frustrating task without a professional cleanup and restoration company to help.

 
SERVPRO offers an extensive list of building services for Tarpon commercial and residential customers. Many of them are apparent, like boarding up broken windows, but we also take care of tasks that many people do not realize they need until after the fire or flood has already been through their structure, damaging their property.

 
Temporary fencing, warehouse space, and moving out are three of the immediate "I never thought of that" problems we can help take care of after a disaster, from fire or flood. When a structure is declared unsafe to operate out of, our crews can install a temporary fence in less than a day, usually. If it is a business, and it is safe to enter and remove property, we can help proprietors move their inventory to storage on our facility or assist in finding temporary storage elsewhere. There, we can salvage inventory and other valuables.

 
Portable power is another example. Even after a major disaster, most residents in our area expect the power back on by the time it gets dark; this rarely happens. For private homes, this is not usually a problem for a day or two unless one of the residents has a medical need requiring uninterrupted power. We can trailer in a generator that handles all power requirements to include medical support, refrigeration, and to run our equipment. Depending on the incident, portable generators always available on our Green Fleet may fill the bill.

 
For businesses, power means lights, security, and being able to operate basic equipment. SERVPRO technicians can set-up larger generators for medium-sized businesses like a corner market so the owner can support his neighborhood to include fresh milk, eggs, and other foodstuffs. We use these same generators to help city offices to help residents with finding temporary housing and other services.

 
We can also support larger structures like shelters and clinics with generator trucks. These large-scale generators can provide power for up to 24 hours without service. Thanks to their design, our support teams can safely refuel them without shutting down the power. From small remodeling and reconstruction to large-loss natural disasters, SERVPRO of Tarpon technicians and mechanics can help.

Reliable Professional Services

 
Those are just a few of the building services that SERVPRO of Tarpon offers to help start the recovery and restoration process. If you need us or have questions about what else we can do for you, call today at (727) 934-5555. We are here for you.

Severe Storms on The Way to Tarpon

6/2/2022 (Permalink)

As water travels it picks up residue from materials, it comes into contact with along the way.

SERVPRO of Tarpon Is the Right Call

Flood water can devastate an entire town or city in a matter of hours. Storms are a serious risk to your safety and have the power to flip SUV's or uproot trees with as little as a foot of rushing water. This year, flash floods have accounted for billions of dollars of personal property damage. The restoration process begins with a quick call to a professional service to arrange an emergency call-out.

Properties need an expert restoration provider after flood damage in Tarpon Springs to ensure no further damages are caused and that it is safe to return to the property. SERVPRO of Tarpon has a wealth of experience dealing with flooding and has sent large loss teams all over the country to help residents get their homes back to pre-flood conditions, “Like it never even happened.”

Many of our technicians are IICRC certificate holders in applied structural drying, odor control, and other essential restoration areas. SERVPRO can promise to arrange a service within one hour of receiving notification of loss; we can arrive onsite within four. Our technicians have the necessary training to restore power, the expertise to mitigate loss and the experience to relocate your possessions for deep cleaning processes.

Extreme Weather

In extreme weather conditions, a service you can trust is your first call. SERVPRO has access to national scale equipment that can help to dry your property faster. Truck-mounted extraction units can be brought with us in severe property damages alongside submersible gas-powered pumps. Quickly removing standing water is crucial when it comes to guarding against permanent damages. SERVPRO of Tarpon uses the finest equipment in the industry to ensure properties can be restored to their preloss conditions.

As water travels it picks up residue from materials, it comes into contact with along the way. These can be harmful and include raw sewage, animal carcasses, pesticides, herbicides or other dangerous pathogens. We can both assess and remediate damages that Black Water causes using our industry-leading training and resources.

Trained, Trusted Professionals in Tarpon

Equipment is essential to proper flood remediation. Contact SERVPRO of Tarpon at (727) 934-5555 for professional restoration.

Mold Could Be Costing Your Tarpon Business Time and Money

5/31/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Tarpon has the training and expertise to respond promptly with highly trained technicians to get your property back to business.

Tarpon Water Damage Could Result in Mold in Your Business

When your business or commercial site has water damage, please consider calling in SERVPRO of Tarpon restoration experts right away.

SERVPRO of Tarpon has the training and expertise to respond promptly with highly trained technicians to get your property back to business.
Microbes can grow out of control in even the cleanest environments. A tipped-over mop bucket, a tiny leak in a water line or drain, or anything else that introduced water into a hotel's interior can lead to problems.

Timely remediation and preventative measures provide long-lasting protection from additional damage.

Trained Technicians

SERVPRO of Tarpon technicians receive extensive and thorough training, earning them certifications from the IICRC. We know that the hotels in our area provide crucial services for our local economy, and we want to ensure that remediation leaves your hotel "Like it never even happened."

Remediation and restoration can rid your commercial site of any excessive mold and any related damage but also the often-pervasive odors that accompany microbial infestations.

To accomplish this, SERVPRO of Tarpon technicians begin with an assessment that includes locating the source or sources of intrusive water. These may include past mishaps, such as a sink that overflowed, or more recent or ongoing situations like seeping water lines. Moisture readers help us detect any sources of water, stagnant moisture, or abnormal humidity.

Resolving the issue that allowed the water to enter, drying out any leftover moisture, and restoring dry conditions paves the way for our expert remediators to begin their work.

To keep remediation and restoration costs low, we test materials exhibiting mold colonization to ensure we perform the least costly method. When cleaning alone proves sufficient, we know this method provides the useful results desired but at a fraction of the costs involved in replacement options.

When mold grows deep into materials, cleaning can no longer do the job required, and replacing damaged materials becomes part of the restoration process. We remove the damaged materials in a safe, clean manner, so microbial-laden dust never finds its way into uncontaminated areas of your hotel.

We implement the use of containment structures and equipment to prevent the spread of microbial activity. Temporary negative pressure structures keep microbes from settling elsewhere while HEPA-filtered air scrubbers remove any unwanted particles present in the air. Both maintain your hotel's air quality at a safe and healthy level.

SERVPRO of Tarpon's 24-hour service line, (727) 934-5555 is answered 365 days a year. If mold damage affects your business, our professional technicians can remediate the situation quickly. We also serve the business communities surrounding Innisbrook and Trinity.