Vacation Time

10/21/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Mar Vista Mold Remediation. Call now at (310) 822-780

Getting ready for a vacation is exciting but can be very stressful at times. Being focused on packing and trying to be on time for the airport can cause you to forget your toothbrush, your phone, or more importantly, turning off the sink or unplugging the hot iron. SERVPRO of Mar Vista has encountered many damages within the last few months that occurred while the tenant or homeowner was out of town on vacation.  To enjoy a stress-free, fun vacation we advise that you take a few precautions before leaving your home.

• Check pipes, hoses, faucets, water heaters, and bathrooms for any type of leak.
• Clear excess debris from gutters and downspouts to prevent water buildup.
• To avoid electrical fires or power surges, unplug all unnecessary appliances.
• Check all the smoke detectors in your home to ensure that they are properly working.

Asking a friend or a family member to house-sit while on vacation, is always a great option. You would have a faster response to an unfortunate event that could have possibly happened. Here at SERVPRO of Mar Vista, we want you to be able to enjoy your vacation and be able to come back to your home as you left it. Remember, with any emergency situation, SERVPRO of Mar Vista will be ready 24/7, 365. Our friendly team will be here, ready to assist you when needed. Give us a call at (310) 822-7800.

No Job is Too Big or Too Small

10/21/2024 (Permalink)

Commercial Building Water Damage. Call now at (310) 822-7800.

When owning a commercial property, you want to be able to maintain a professional look. Any source of damage can ruin the appearance that appeals to your associates and customers. With the water needing to be mitigated, and the amount of time it usually takes to restore the property fully, it can cause a loss to the business and start to affect revenue if it isn’t handled properly. There had been a recent water loss at a commercial building caused by a failing sprinkler system. The caller had been slightly unsettled with the situation and was not sure how to handle it. Here at SERVPRO of Mar Vista, we make sure to take great care of our customers. We assured them that we were there to help and take the matter into our own hands. Being a commercial building, many of the tenants were worried about canceling appointments and losing clients. With that in mind, our experienced technicians mitigated all the water off the property without disrupting day-to-day business. No job is too big or too small. With any emergency situation, SERVPRO of Mar Vista will be ready 24/7, 365. Our friendly team will be here, ready to assist you when needed. Give us a call at (310) 822-7800.

Keep Your Landscape Lush

10/21/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Mar Vista fire clean up. Call today at (310) 822-7800

Keeping your landscape maintained and lush can save your home from a fire. When your landscape has dried out and is deprived of water it is an easy target for it to catch on fire. A dried-out landscape can cause indescribable damage from just a small spark. Not only would your house look nicer with a lush landscape, but it can save you a lot in damage. The water in the grass makes it much harder for healthy grass to catch on fire. If you are looking for a new hobby or project that can increase the worth of your home consider fixing up your landscape. Working with nature can be relaxing and fun for you and your family to work on together. Although it will take time and money to maintain a beautiful lush landscape, the benefits you will get from it are priceless. 

Earthquake in a Commercial Building

10/21/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Mar Vista Commercial Clean Up. Call now at (310) 822-7800

Before 

Make a supply kit

-  Make a supply kit that has food, water, first aid kid, batteries, a flashlight, and a fire extinguisher. 

Secure items

- Secure the items that are hanging on the walls and ceiling to reduce falling objects that may lead to injuries. 

Practice

- Have training sessions on what to do in case of an earthquake. Have a game plan and practice it.

During

Drop, Cover, and Hold On. 

- Drop down to the floor. Hide under a surface that can protect your body. Hold on to the object as if your life depends on it. 

Do NOT use the elevator. 

- During an earthquake the elevator can apply its emergency breaks. 

Stay inside until the shaking has stopped

- Running outside during an earthquake can be dangerous. Running during an earthquake increases the chances of falling objects that can cause you more harm. 

After

Check your injuries

- Examine your body thoroughly to ensure that you have no injuries. Make it a priority to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Do not take your injuries lightly. 

Damaged building

- Avoid going into any building that appears to be damaged. 

- If the building you are in is damaged, leave the building and move away from it. 

Fire Clean Up

10/21/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Mar Vista fire clean up. Call today at (310) 822-7800

The potent smell of fire is almost impossible to remove with typical cleaning products. This is not an easy DIY.  Here at SERVPRO of Mar Vista, we have cleaning products and equipment that will take the smell out of almost all affected materials. 

Cleaning up a fire job is not impossible if you have the right team. SERVPRO of Mar Vista practices these 3 steps in all fire clean-up jobs to ensure the job is done perfectly. 

Step 1: Do a heavy wipe-down of the structure that will remove the soot and a majority of the odor. We will perform a heavy carpet cleaning to ensure that the carpet does not hold any odor. 

Step 2: Clean all salvageable contents with our special products. Not all contents can be salvageable after a fire. However, a heavy wipe-down can save most of the non-pores materials. 

Step 3: The last step would be to remove any odor that may still be present. Here at SERVPRO of Mar Vista, we have equipment that will decrease the odor significantly and make it "Like it never even happened." 

Board Up

10/21/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Mar Vista Board Up. Call now at (310) 822-7800.

Don't wait! Be proactive and call us out to board up your windows before the storm. If you have a damaged window or window seal do not let the storm cause more damage to your home. It is very common for a damaged window or window seal to cause leaks into the house that can cause predicted damages. The two commonly affected areas are walls and flooring. The insulation in the exterior wall is very difficult to dry since it is in a sealed tight environment and it does not get any airflow. This trapped moisture can cause mold growth if it is not treated properly. The water can travel down to the flooring and it can cause the flooring to buckle, swell, or discolor. A simple board-up can save your home thousands of dollars in repairs. Do not wait until it is too late to take care of your home. 

How to Prevent Dryer Fires

9/15/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Mar Vista fire clean up. Call today at (310) 822-7800

Did you know that according to the U.S Fire Administration 2,900 home dryer fires are reported each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss? The leading cause of home clothes dryer fires is a failure to clean them which causes lint to accumulate and cause a fire. Home fires happen more often during the fall and winter seasons. Here are some ways to avoid fires within your home:

• Clean the lint screen/filter before or after drying each load of clothes.
• Clean the dryer vent at least once a month to avoid lint accumulation.
• Use metal dryer ducts to help prevent dryer fires.
• No matter the kind of duct is installed in your dryer, make sure to regularly clean it.
• Occasionally wipe the sensor with a rag or cotton ball.

Are You Ready For an Emergency?

9/15/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Mar Vista Emergency Ready Profile (ERP). Call now at (310) 822-7800

What is an ERP and why is it beneficial for my home or business?

Did you know that 50% of businesses are not able to recover after a loss because they weren’t prepared? Well, let us tell you how an ERP would be beneficial for your home and business.

An ERP is short for Emergency Ready Profile, it is a tool for businesses, property managers, and homeowners, both residential and commercial. By creating an ERP with SERVPRO of Mar Vista profile for your home or business, you minimize your business and home loss by having an immediate plan of action in case of a disaster such as mold, fire, water damage, and living in California we need to be prepared for natural disasters such as earthquakes. Give SERVPRO of Mar Vista a call today for your ERP free of charge at (310)822-7800!

Ways to Prevent Mold in Your Home

9/15/2023 (Permalink)

The first step would be to identify the problematic areas in your home and correct them. A hygienist can do an initial mold assessment and detect the spore counts and determine if there is an area that will require mold remediation. Most of the time mold grows in a sealed-off area. The moisture and humidity in the sealed-off area create an easy environment for mold to grow. If your home has water damage make sure to call out a professional to mitigate the water properly to prevent mold growth. If an area has not dried out properly the mold can spread in all the areas that hold moisture. Here at SERVPRO of Mar Vista, we can do a visible mold inspection and advice if mold remediation is in need or not. We will then be to remediate the mold and mitigate the moisture to drastically decrease the chances of the mold growing back.

Exhaust Fan Tips!

9/15/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Mar Vista fire clean up. Call today at (310) 822-7800

It is known that mold found in a bathroom, can at times be caused by poor ventilation. Taking consistent hot showers can cause damped walls. To avoid the growth of mold in the bathroom you want to be sure to properly let it air out after a shower. In this case, some bathrooms do not always have windows. This is where an exhaust fan comes in handy. It helps prevent steamed-up mirrors and of course damped walls. The exhaust fan does its part to prevent mold, although, it can also present a potential fire hazard if not cleaned and maintained on a regular basis. In some cases, an exhaust fan is thermally protected, allowing it to shut off when it begins to overheat. With precautious measures, you should still clean your exhaust fan twice a year. With the buildup of lint, the motor of the fan can overheat and ignite the lint itself, the plastic blades, or any wooden structure surrounding the fan. Below are a few tips to help with the prevention of an overheating exhaust fan.

• Clean all bathroom exhaust fans twice a year.
• Clean the exhaust fan by removing the fan cover and removing the lint from around the motor and all airflow areas.
• Wash the cover in warm soaped water to remove lint. If there is any visible mold, you can add some bleach to the cleaning mixture. The cover must be completely dry before putting it back up.
• If not easily accessible, or happen to have evidence of heat damage, the exhaust fan should be replaced with thermally protected units.
• At times, people forget they are running and leave them on. Exhaust fans should only be used for brief periods of time. The best time to have it on would be during a shower. Turn off all fans once the shower has been completed.

SERVPRO of Mar Vista has recently helped with an unfortunate fire and water loss caused by the exhaust fan. The exhaust fan had gotten stuck and lit a fuse in the wiring causing a slight fire, which then triggered the water sprinkler system. The customer was very worried and concerned about her home and getting someone out there as soon as possible. We made sure to take great care of our customers. We insured them that we were here to help and take the matter into our own hands. With any emergency situation, SERVPRO of Mar Vista will be ready 24/7, 365. Our friendly team will be here, ready to assist you when needed. Give us a call at (310) 822-7800.