Ever experience a water loss at your business? Don’t set your team back with unsafe work conditions and an elongated cleanup process. Call SERVPRO of Orange County, leaders in water cleanup and restoration, to ensure damage is mitigated according to industry standards.

Storm damage is sometimes unpreventable, but you can take action to keep your home safe. Follow these four easy steps to make in the case of an accident:

1. Be careful and stay alert while checking your home
2. Assess damage and take photos
3. Prevent further damage by shutting off affected utility lines
4. Call SERVPRO of South Durham & Orange County to schedule your estimate with a Mitigation and Restoration Professional

Did you know water damage can negatively affect walls and baseboards despite the water’s level? Through a process known as wicking, water moves up porous materials being absorbed as much as possible. Protect your home by calling SERVPRO, the premier choice in fire and water cleanup and restoration.

No Job Is Too Large

There’s never a convenient time for flooding or water damage to strike your business. Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So, when an emergency situation arises in your business, give us a call and we’ll be there fast with the help you need.

• 24 Hour Emergency Service
• Faster to Any Size Disaster
• A Trusted Leader in the Restoration Industry with over 1,700 Franchises
• Highly Trained Water Damage Restoration Specialists

For more information, call us today, (919) 596-1242.

After everyone is safe and the fire department has extinguished the flames, the aftermath of a fire and smoke damaged home or business can be traumatic and overwhelming; especially, if the next steps of mitigation and restoration are unknown.  Every year, thousands of home and business owners experience a fire loss and the SERVPRO franchises are there to assist them in the process of making it "Like it never even happened.”  The #1 thing to remember after experiencing a fire is that time is of the essence when it comes to mitigating your loss. 

Key actions to take:

• Call your insurance carrier and file a claim
• Get approval for a restoration company to perform emergency services

Your insurance carrier will be able to answer questions you may have, start the claims process, and give authorization for emergency restoration services to be performed to prevent further damage to the property and its contents.  The insurance carrier will also assign an insurance adjuster to work with you and your restoration company in determining what is salvageable and what needs to be replaced.  

Our fabulous Orange County Sales & Marketing Representative, Jim McNeely entertains and educates us all every Friday with a Weekly Blog Post. Jim takes the time to discuss and explain many commonly asked questions and situations – check out one of our favorite posts by Jim, “The Princess and the Protein Fire”. Thank you, Jim, for the knowledge and the laughs!!

As a business owner, you should be informed about fire extinguisher requirements to keep you and your team safe. You need to have the right kind of Fire Extinguishers as there are a few different types of fire extinguishers and each is designed for use based on the kind of fire. These extinguishers need to be inspected regularly since they expire and need recharging. If you have questions regarding fire safety in your building reach out to have an ERP plan created or contact your local fire department for assistance. 

What to Expect: 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.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

• Your name and contact information
• Your insurance information (if applicable)
• The street address of the water-damaged home
• When did the flooding or water damage occur?
• What caused the water damage (if known)?
• Is there electricity available (on-site)?

In many cleaning & restoration situations, immediate action is needed. Water is particularly invasive, quickly spreading throughout your property and being absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, etc. SERVPRO of South Durham & Orange County arrives quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately. For help restoring your home after a water loss, call us at 919-596-1242. We will make it “Like it never even happened.”

“National Pet Fire Safety Day” Tips to Keep Pets Safe from House Fires:

Extinguish Open Flames – Pets are generally curious and will investigate cooking appliances, candles, or even a fire in your fireplace. Ensure your pet is not left unattended around an open flame and make sure to thoroughly extinguish any open flame before leaving your home.

Pet Proof the Home – Take a walk around your home and look for areas where pets might start fires inadvertently, such as the stove knobs, loose wires and other potential hazards.

Secure Young Pets – Especially with young puppies, keep them confined away from potential fire-starting hazards when you are away from home.

Keep Pets Near Entrances – When leaving pets home alone, keep them in areas or rooms near entrances where firefighters can easily find them.

Practicing Escape Routes with Pets – Keep collars and leashes at the ready in case you have to evacuate quickly with your pet or firefighters need to rescue your pet.

Since Pets Left Alone Can’t Escape a Burning Home – Use monitored smoke detectors which are connected to a monitoring center, providing an added layer of protection beyond battery-operated smoke alarms.

Affix a Pet Alert Window Cling – Write down the number of pets inside your house and attach the static cling to a front window. This critical information saves rescuers time when locating your pets. You can obtain a free window cling at AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days events. Details are available at www.akc.org.

Keep Your Information Updated – Firefighters are familiar with pet alert window clings so keep the number of pets listed on them updated. Knowing the accurate number of pets in the house aids rescuers in finding all of your pets.

AKC Communications. 2018. July 15 Declared National Pet Fire Safety Day to Help Protect Pets from Home Fires. (March 2018). Read Full Article Here!

One of the most common calls our franchise receives is from customers in distress over a water loss even impacting their hardwood flooring. The #1 question they have is , "Can my floors be saved?" Learn More Here!

What To Do After Flooding:

• Remove excess water by mopping and blotting.
• Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removal of lamps and tabletop items.
• Remove and prop wet upholstery and cushions.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.
• Turn air conditioning on for maximum drying in summer.
• Remove colored rugs from wet carpeting.
• Remove art objects to a safe, dry place.
• Gather loose items from floors.

What NOT To Do After Flooding:

• Don't leave wet fabrics in place. Hang furs and leather goods.
• Don't leave books, magazines or other colored items on wet carpet or floors.
• Don't use your household vacuum to remove water.
• Don't use television or other household appliances.
• Don't turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet, and keep out of rooms where ceilings are sagging.

Commercial Water Damage Restoration – No Job Is Too Large

There is never a convenient time for flooding or water damage to strike your business. Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So, when an emergency situation arises in your business, give us a call and we’ll be there fast with the help you need.

• 24 Hour Emergency Service
• Faster to Any Size Disaster
• A Trusted Leader in the Restoration Industry with over 1,700 Franchises
• Highly Trained Water Damage Restoration Specialists

Water Damage or Flooding? Call Us Today 919-596-1242

The two most basic elements that cause a thunderstorm to develop are: moisture and rapidly rising warm air – during these warm summer months, we see an influx of thunderstorms and therefore storm damage and flooding. Head to our storm page to learn more on how you can prevent storm damage.

Water Damage Can Be a Tricky When It Comes to a Homeowner’s Insurance Policy. “It depends” is usually the answer to claim coverage. It will all depend on where the water initially came from, the insurance company and the coverage of your policy.

Water damage claims that are ‘usually’ covered:

• Tub and sink overflows
• Burst pipes
• Overflows from washing machine and other appliances
• Water damage caused by a leaking roof.

For more information, call us today, (919) 596-1242.

Our SERVPRO autumn acronym is full of fire safety tips to keep you and your family safe this season.

• Asses Smoke Alarms & Change Batteries
• Use Caution with Space Heaters
• Teach Kids About Fireplace Safety
• Use Caution with Lit Candles
• Make and Appointment to Service your Furnace
• Never Burn Leaves to Dispose

For more information, call us today, (919) 596-1242.

Mold is an underrated disaster that can be caused by the smallest water leak and can spread throughout your home or business in as little at 48-hours. The presence of a colony can cause health effects to anyone exposed to the organism in your home or business, because of the allergens and irritants it can produce. SERVPRO of South Durham and Orange County has multiple pieces of equipment, such as our sir scrubbers and hydroxyl generators, which allow our team to quickly reduce the threats of this organism in the least invasive method possible.

If you suspect you have discovered mold in your home or business, it is important to call SERVPRO of South Durham and Orange County as quickly as possible to minimize the chances of mold spreading throughout your property.

Call SERVPRO of South Durham and Orange County Today – (919) 596-1242

Every water damage event is a little different and requires a unique solution, but the general process stays the same. You can head to our Water Damage Restoration Process page and click on any of the steps listed below to learn more about the process. We are always available to answer questions regarding any of the steps – we are Here to Help!

Step 1 - Emergency Contact

Step 2 - Inspection and Water Damage Assessment

Step 3 - Water Removal / Water Extraction

Step 4 - Drying and Dehumidification

Step 5 - Cleaning and Sanitizing

Step 6 – Restoration

Water or Flood Damage? Call Today – (919) 596-1242

Water Damage Emergency Tips – What You Can Do Until Help Arrives

After any water damage situation, your primary focus should be safety first.

• Remove excess water by mopping and blotting.
• Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removal of lamps and tabletop items.
• Remove and prop wet upholstery and cushions.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.
• Gather loose items from floors.

Have A Water Damage Emergency? Call SERVPRO of South Durham and Orange County at 919-596-1242

Learn how to turn off the water to the bathroom sink quickly before a problem occurs that could result in a water damage.

• Look under the sink for two turnoff valves — one each for the hot and cold water faucets (possibly labeled with red and blue).
• Turn the two valves with your hands (no tools are needed) clockwise until they are tightly closed.

Have Water or Flood Damage? Call SERVPRO of South Durham and Orange County Today – (919) 596-1242

Thank you, Timothy, for leaving us such a wonderful review. We are glad that you enjoy working with Jim & Nelson as much as we do. We thank you for your recommendation and appreciate that you continue to put your trust in us. Out goal is to leave you happy and satisfied - with the result being "Like it never even happened." Thank you!

Weather conditions year-round can damage either the exterior or interior components of your South Durham or Orange County property. Storms might not always cause widespread flooding, but they can impact smaller areas, including your home or business. Even without flooding, wind or sleet can break exterior components of your property. Your roof can lose shingles and your siding could take a beating. Because this damage happens around the clock, we at SERVPRO of North Orange County work around the clock as well. We can respond immediately to your storm damage emergency because we are locally owned and operated.

Storm damage doesn't wait for business hours to strike, give us a call 24/7 for all your storm clean up needs to make it "Like it never even happened."

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today (919) 596-1242

When water damage occurs in a home or business, due to supply line break, pipe break or other fixture or plumbing problem, knowing where the water shutoff valves are located is crucial for immediately stopping the water flow and preventing further damage.

Take a moment right now to locate all of the shutoff valves in your home so you'll be prepared for an emergency

If you are experiencing water damage in your home or business, contact SERVPRO of South Durham and Orange County at 919-596-1242

Ventilation systems are often the biggest culprit in poor indoor air quality. Make it a priority to inspect the ductwork of your business. If your HVAC has been operating for some time without attention, it could be circulating one or more of the following:

• Dust
• Pollen
• Odors
• Dirt and debris
• Other contaminants

SERVPRO franchise professionals routinely inspect the heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit (HVAC).  Keeping them clean can extend the life of the equipment. This can in turn save you money and give you cleaner air to breathe.

However, duct cleaning is not always necessary. We will make recommendations about the best way to address any indoor air quality concerns. This can save you money and provide peace of mind on the health of your system.

For more information on HVAC and air duct cleaning, call us today, (919) 596-1242.

Commercial Sewage Cleanup and Restoration

There are several causes for sewer blockages which can lead to sewage water backup in your building, requiring immediate commercial sewage removal. While some are easy to prevent, others are hidden and hard to detect before damage occurs.

Water from sewer system backups should be considered very dangerous. The water is grossly unsanitary and may contain bacteria and viruses that could cause serious illness. Special training and equipment is necessary to safely clean this type of contamination. 

Call SERVPRO of South Durham and Orange County Today - (919) 596-1242

Proper preventive maintenance to property can minimize the damage and economic impact of storm damage.  Here are several things that can be proactively done to lessen the impact of storm damage to your property.

• Have your roof inspected for damage prior to storm season, to correct any issues such loose shingles, damage to chimney flashing or damaged roof vents.
• Have your siding and windows checked to correct any damage that may have previously occurred through normal wear and tear.
• Have foundation checked for cracks and have fixed
• Make sure your sump pump is working correctly
• Fix landscaping issues that may cause water to flow towards the home
• Caulk areas that could be access points for wind driven rain
• Have trees that r leaning, or have dead branches removed
• By following these simple tips, you can effectively lessen the impact of storm damage to your home

"Russ and Nelson were very professional, responsive and courteous during their visit. Our kitchen was flooded. They were great at explaining the process and answering any questions I had. I would highly recommend their services to anyone." - Robin C.

We put customer experience and satisfaction as our priority, and Robin's review reaffirms the hard work we put in every day. Our goal is to leave you happy and satisfied - with the result being "Like it never even happened." Thank you Robin!

What To Do After A Fire:

• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpets.
• Keep hands clean so as not to further soil upholstery, walls and woodwork.
• Place clean towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery and carpet traffic areas.
• If electricity is off, empty freezer and refrigerator and prop doors open.
• Clean and protect chrome with light coating of petroleum jelly or oil.
• Wash houseplants on both sides of leaves.
• Change HVAC filter.
• Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers.