Overcoming the Effects of White Plains Mold Damage

9/14/2022 (Permalink)

Mold damage remediation for White Plains homeowners and SERVPRO for great customer satisfaction.

Mold Remediation Should Be Managed Quickly

A common threat to area homes is excess moisture and water leaks leading to the possibility of mold development. In Westchester County, basements and attics are the most susceptible to this fungal presence, and if you suspect it might exist in your home, you should act quickly for removal.

Overcoming White Plains mold damage begins with the fast response of our SERVPRO remediation team. Because of the urgency of these conditions, we have professionals ready 24/7 to mobilize for inspections and remediation solutions.

What Makes Mold a Threat?

Understanding what makes mold and microbial growth a problem for area homes and businesses is essential. Knowing how organisms move through the residence and how rapidly colonies can replicate can express the urgency of securing remediation professionals when you see this threat exists. Some concerning attributes of mold colonization include:

• Colonies Are Destructive – Mold feeds on organic matter, destroying hosting materials like drywall and other building elements.
• Mold Moves Quickly – Another disturbing attribute of mold development is how quickly colonies move throughout a structure. Moist environments make all nearby surfaces susceptible to support migrating mold spores.
• Living with Mold – While naturally occurring spores are in almost every environment, higher concentrations make comfortable living a challenge.

How Do You Find Mold?

Suspecting mold in your home might not be enough for you to consider seeking the assistance of our remediators and project management. There are ways to help you have a better idea of whether microbial growth is likely in your residence. Physical signs can point to higher spore concentrations and even colonies existing out of sight. Some of these signals include:

• Damp Surfaces
• Spotting
• Musty Smells

Remediation Solutions for Mold

Choosing the right approach to remove mold damage from your home is more than just a universal solution. Careful consideration must be made to the hosting material's state, the damage's location, and the concentration of mold colonization in the area. Some mold removal solutions include:

• Surface Mold – When mold is still only impacting the surface of hosting materials, this is when remediation and cleanup are most straightforward. We have several sporicidal products that can destroy mold spores on contact.
• Infestation Beyond the Surface – Through abrasive cleaning and approaches like sanding, we can often reach mold that has moved just beyond the outermost layer of structural components.
• Fully Impacted – When the mold has overtaken the entire hosting material, there is no way to restore and preserve it. We must remove and discard these structural elements.

What Are Lingering Effects of Mold Damage?

Mold is destructive because it can impact your property in many ways. Even after you have removed any colonies remediation could find, there are still lingering threats that could exist that require attention. Much of this cleaning process hinges on restoring the appearance of former colony-hosting materials. Our SERVPRO IICRC-certified technicians follow specific protocols for effective remediation. It could also address the concerns of severe, musty malodors throughout the structure. Our focuses during post-remediation cleanup include:

• Refinishing
• Odors
• Structural Damage
• Need for Moisture Management

Is Reconstruction Necessary?

The role of repairs and reconstruction after mold damage is essential for your home. Not only will our general contractor license allow us to replace the materials removed to eliminate the colonies and the threat of spreading organisms in your house, but repairs are needed for other reasons. Preventing the recurrence of mold growth through installing better ventilation, patching and repairing structural vulnerabilities, and replacing damaged portions of plumbing keeps microbial threats from returning this same way.

White Plains mold damage can threaten comfortable living in your home. Let our SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle remediators help you resolve this threat quickly and prevent it from coming back. Give us a call now at (914) 684-1560.

Specialists Are Necessary for Water Damage Repair in White Plains

9/13/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can mitigate water damage and perform demolition when required in White Plains' properties.

SERVPRO Can Handle Water Damage in White Plains Homes

Water can cause serious and long-term damage to your house, including creating a rich ground for mold growth. As a homeowner, you need to contact a reliable water damage restoration company that can help you to tidy things up when there is a leakage. This can help you avoid extensive damage to the house structures and belongings.

SERVPRO has expertise in handling water damage in White Plains homes. Some things that have enabled us to withstand the test of time and earn the trust of most homeowners are:

• We provide advanced training sessions to our technicians and ensure they are certified by the relevant authorities.
• We exhaustively document the situation at your house so that the insurance claim process is not too long for you.
• SERVPRO’s services are reliable, and our response time is always timely.
• We have developed roots in the local community, which helps us fashion our services according to the community.

Our technicians can use powerful water extraction equipment to remove as much water as possible. After removing it, we can run air movers and dehumidifiers in the area to pull moisture out of the affected structures and contents. This is especially vital in rooms with wood, carpeting, and other porous materials.

Advanced Equipment and Training

Our SERVPRO team can also use portable electric heaters to direct heat towards specific areas of a building instead of heating the whole airspace. We use these systems to heat materials and focus the heat on limited areas. Many of these units use heat exchangers to transfer heat from hot coils to air streams that air movers produce.

Applying antimicrobial and antifungal products is necessary for SERVPRO’s restoration process since it helps prevent mold growth and destroys the existing mold spores. This process allows for the restoration of the contents and reconstruction and rebuilding necessary to get your house back to its preloss condition.

Contact SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle for efficient restoration services at (914) 684-1560. We’re faster to any sized disaster.

Handing Soot and Fire Damage in New Rochelle Homes

8/9/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO FRST crews mitigate smoke and soot damage with special cleaning products and equipment. "Like it never even happened."

What Makes Soot Challenging Fire Damage?

Because soot damage is one of the expected effects of structure fires, SERVPRO professionals arrive with the tools and products to overcome these threatening conditions. As a homeowner, there are things you can know about this fire disaster byproduct to show why professional restoration is a necessity.

You Must Remove Soot

Before managing the many layers of fire damage in New Rochelle homes and businesses, you must have a credible attack plan for soot and smoke residues. Many property owners mistakenly believe these conditions will lessen or disappear entirely on their own with enough time, but that could be a big mistake with the corrosive composition of soot particles and sensitive underlying substrates that could get ruined.

There Are Multiple Types of Soot

Because several types of materials can suffer damage in your home, the subsequent byproduct of this combustion varies in composition. Several types of smoke damage exist:

• Dry Smoke – Using chemical sponges and dry HEPA vacuums, SERVPRO professionals can often resolve the bulk of dry smoke damage on surfaces.
• Wet Smoke – Emulsification and pairing agents work well to lift soils from the surface after wet smoke effects. Wipe cleaning could smear on the surface, so pre-testing is essential.
• Protein Residues – Protein or grease residues can coat kitchen surfaces and be a challenging soil deposit to remove. Solvents are a helpful product in these cases.

Soot Needs More than DIY Cleaning

One of the common misconceptions about soot damage in your home is that it is easy to clean. While dry smoke can be less of a burden on professional restorers, cleaning up after any fire damage situation should be done by experienced technicians to prevent irreparable harm to the affected materials. We have special cleaning products, tools, and IICRC training to handle specific situations and return your property to preloss condition.

SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle can help with soot and fire damage cleanup. Call now at (914) 684-1560.

Causes of Possible Mold Damage in White Plains Homes

8/9/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO says that robust ventilation can help prevent mold growth and damage in your White Plains home. Call us for mold remediation.

SERVPRO Overcomes Mold Damage Threats

Mold development in your home is easier to understand and resolve when you can identify the cause and work on preventing recurrences. While there might be many reasons moisture could exist in your home, there are a few critical possibilities why mold is a threat right now.

Moisture and Water Damage Concerns

Even before you notice mold damage in White Plains properties, conditions must exist to support colony development and sustain their presence. Moist or damp areas of the residence are needed for this, which are not difficult to produce after disasters like burst pipes or leaks in the plumbing system. Drying must be complete to prevent mold and microbial growth, meaning that our sophisticated detection tools and sensors must get used to tracking moisture movement. Options include:

• Surface Moisture Detectors
• Thermo hygrometers
• Thermal (Infrared) Images
• Probing Meters

High Environmental Moisture Content

Humidity is one of the most direct influences on mold development in the house. After disasters, environmental moisture can continue to be a factor even if the surface water is resolved. Dehumidifiers can help collect humidity and lower these levels to prevent ideal conditions for colonization.

Poor Ventilation

Bathrooms and kitchens without adequate ventilation often see damp conditions persist, and water becomes a prevalent threat to these house areas. The lingering moisture content creates a viable location for mold development, so SERVPRO can resolve these threats by installing sufficient ventilation outlets at homeowners' request. 

Unknown Mold Damage Concerns

Mold damage can be challenging to track and identify until it breaches the surface materials of areas in the living space. Consequently, mold development can allow a continued spread of the organism through sensitive materials nearby until this threat gets resolved. You can look for surface spotting, persistent dampness, or a harsh odor to indicate the presence of colonies beyond what you can see.

Do you have mold damage? Call SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle at (914) 684-1560.

Recipe for an easy July 4th BBQ

7/1/2022 (Permalink)

July 4th is here! Here at SERVPRO of White Plains, we have gotten some great recipes for red white and blue BBQ. Enjoy, be safe and have a great time! 

1st up is Potato Salad, Every BBQ has to have one, everyone makes theirs “the best” and here is ours 

4lbs Yukon Gold Potato boiled until fork tender, 1 Red Onion Diced, 1 Bunch Celery Diced, 6 Hard Boiled Eggs Diced. 

Add all ingredients to a large bowl. In a separate bowl make the dressing 

½ Cup Sour Cream, ½ Cup Mayo, 3 tablespoons Dijon Mustard, 2 Tablespoons White Vinegar, 3 Tablespoons Dry Dill, 1 Tablespoons Celery Seeds, Salt and Pepper to taste. With a whisk, mix well and reserve 1/3 of a cup. Pour the rest over the potato salad. Gently Fold until everything is covered. Place in fridge until ready to serve. Stir again and add remaining dressing. Enjoy! 

Next up Brie and Fig Caramelized Onion Burgers with Horseradish Sauce This is not your typical burger! A must try! Most of the work can be done in advance so it’s just throwing the burgers on the grill. 

4 Vidalia Onions sliced not too thin and not too thick, 3 Tablespoons butter, 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil. Heat on low, add the onions and slowly cook until caramelized. This can take about 20-30 min. Add salt and black pepper to taste. Prepare your burger patties and place in the fridge. Make the Horseradish Sauce- ¼ Cup Prepared Horseradish. 1 Cup Sour Cream, ¼ Cup Mayo, 1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard, 1 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika, ½ Teaspoon Garlic Powder. Mix all together cover and put in fridge. Hollow out the top of a pretzel bun Brush the buns with butter and garlic powder and toast on the grill. Take a medium size wheel of Brie and place it on a piece of foil. Spread 3 Tablespoons of Fig Jam on it and wrap it up. Place on grill for 3 minutes. After your burgers are cooked, spoon the horseradish sauce on bottom bun, add the burger, the brie and fig and then the caramelized onions. Close the bun and take a big bite! You will not believe how amazing these burgers are!!  

Next up a crazy easy desert. Trifle Buy 2 of your favorite frozen pound cakes, you know the one with the lady’s name on it and the foil loaf shaped pan. 2 large can slice peaches, 1-quart Strawberrys, 2 pints raspberries, 2 pints blue berries, I pint heavy cream whipped up, 1 box vanilla instant pudding prepared according to the box and fold n the whipped cream.   Take a trifle bowl or pretty glass bowl and on the bottom start with a layer of thinly sliced pound cake, then the pudding mixture gets spread on that, then lay a layer of fruit on top of that and repeat until you get to the top ending in fruit. This desert is so impressive your family and friends will forget you didn’t have to even turn on your oven! 

Enjoy these recipes and enjoy your Fourth of July! Be Safe and remember SERVPRO of White Plains is there when you need us. 

Getting Rid of the Smell of Cigarette Smoke

6/28/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of White Plains gets a lot of calls for many different types of odors to be removed. We recently had a homeowner contact us. He bought a small house that had been lived in for 30 years by 2 heavy smokers. He said he thought if he opened the windows and got the carpet cleaned and got rid of the curtains and blinds that were left behind, the smell would go away. He soon discovered he was wrong!  

Our estimator went over to take a look. It’s a good thing masks are still in style, because this house smelled from the driveway. The previous owners had smoked in the house and the smell had permeated everything.  

We gave the new owner our estimate and he liked the price and scheduled the work to begin. 

We sent our team out to get started. We had to clean every imaginable surface. Walls, ceilings, floors, doors, closets – the ceilings, walls and floors, cabinets, windows, screens. Every surface in the house got cleaned. The brown nicotine was running down the walls but was not match for SERVPRO of White Plains and our products. We scrubbed and wiped and mopped and wiped some more. Soon the walls, floors, and ceilings were cleaned and ready to be painted. While we were cleaning all of the surfaces, we had air scrubbers running. We ripped up carpets and padding and threw them into the dumpster.  

After all the cleaning was completed, we set up an Ozone Machine let it run for a day and came back the next day. Mission accomplished! The new owner came in and was so surprised. He could not believe the smell was gone. He was so impressed that he called his real estate agent to tell them. They said they should have called us first and then sold the house at for more money. They came over and were in shock the way the house smelled. We now have a happy customer and a real estate company that now has a company to call on to clean a house like this and make more money on the sale.  

It's Flag Day June 14th

6/14/2022 (Permalink)

Today is Flag Day. I really never knew the history of Flag Day, so I did a little research. Fly your flags proudly and here is a bit of history. You never know when any of this information, might be an answer on Jeopardy! 

When the American Revolution broke out in 1775, the colonists weren’t fighting united under a single flag. Instead, most regiments participating in the war for independence against the British fought under their own flags. In June of 1775, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to create the Continental Army—a unified colonial fighting force—with the hopes of a more organized battle against its colonial oppressors. This led to the creation of what was, essentially, the first “American” flag, the Continental Colors. 

For some, this flag, which was comprised of 13 red and white alternating stripes and a Union Jack in the corner, was too similar to that of the British. George Washington soon realized that flying a flag that was even remotely close to the British flag was not a good idea for the revolutionary effort, so he began to think of a new design. 

On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress took a break from writing the Articles of Confederation and passed a resolution stating that “the flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white,” and that “the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson marked the anniversary of that decree by officially establishing June 14 as Flag Day. 

Over 100 years later, in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson marked the anniversary of that decree by officially establishing June 14 as Flag Day.  

In 1885  Bernard Cigrand, teacher from Wisconsin, came up with the idea for an annual flag day, to be celebrated across the country every June 14th.  Bernard Cigrand  advocated respect for the flag throughout his life.  

 We were taught that Betsy Ross, who assisted the Revolutionary War effort by repairing uniforms and sewing tents, made the first American flag. It is now widely believed that Francis Hopkinson, a delegate from New Jersey who signed the Declaration of Independence, designed the American flag. 

The lyrics of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” America’s national anthem since 1931, are taken from a patriotic poem written by Francis Scott Key after he witnessed the Battle of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812.  

On January 3, 1959 Alaska officially became a state and was admitted to the Union. Designers began redesigning  the American flag to add a 49th star to the flag. Bob Heft, a 17 year old student from Ohio   disassembled his family’s 48-star flag and stitched on 50 stars in the pattern we see today. He handed in his creation to his history teacher for a class project, explaining that he expected Hawaii would soon achieve statehood as well.  Heft also sent the flag to his congressman, Walter Moeller, who presented it to President Eisenhower after both new states joined the Union. Eisenhower selected Heft’s design, and on July 4, 1960, the president and the high school student stood together as the 50-star flag was raised for the first time. Heft’s teacher promptly changed his grade from a B- to an A. 

The Flag Code stipulates that the Stars and Stripes should not be used as apparel, bedding or drapery. We see shirts, jackets, hats with everywhere, not sure how this developed but it is obviously not policed. 

Draping The American Flag over a coffin is a common practice in the military. This can actually be done for anyone, not limited to government officials or veterans.   

Flags are only supposed to be flown during daylight hours.  

 During the Vietnam War era, some demonstrators burned American flags as an act of protest. The Flag Protection Act of 1968 was enacted in response, making it illegal to burn or otherwise deface the Stars and Stripes. In two landmark decisions 20 years later, the Supreme Court ruled that the government couldn’t curb individuals’ First Amendment rights by prohibiting desecration of the U.S. flag. Respectful burning of damaged flags according to established protocol has always been acceptable. 

When flags are taken down from their poles, care must be taken to keep them from touching the ground. In fact, the American flag should always be kept aloft, meaning that rugs and carpets featuring the Stars and Stripes are barred by the Flag Code. 

 When the flags of cities, states, localities or groups are flown on the same staff as the American flag, Old Glory should always be at the peak. When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they should be of equivalent size and flown from separate staffs of the same height. 

The Flag Code strictly prohibits adding an insignia, drawing or other markings to the Stars and Stripes. Some American politicians have been known to defy this regulation by signing copies of the U.S. flag for their supporters. 

 Ever wondered how to correctly fold an American flag? You need 2 people to face each other, each holding both corners of one of the rectangle’s shorter sides. Working together, lift the half of the flag that usually hangs on the bottom over the half that contains the blue field of stars. Next, fold the flag lengthwise a second time so that the stars are visible on the outside. Make a triangular fold at the striped end, bringing one corner up to meet the top edge. Continue to fold the flag in this manner until only a triangle of star-studded blue can be seen. 

SERVPRO of White Plains, invites you to contact your local fire department if you have a flag that is torn, in disrepair or any other reason you have to get rid of a flag.   Stay tuned for the next blog which will highlight the local FD burning ripped and dirty flags here on our property on Flag Day

Surprise Visitors in the Attic

6/10/2022 (Permalink)

The start of summer can be a wakeup call for some of our rodent friends. Often times they have spent a sleepy winter and cold spring hiding in your attic.

Once you’ve heard them you can never unhear them.

What to do? Call the animal experts first of all, and when the Attic BNB seasonal residents have gone, and their access blocked off it’s time to call SERVPRO of White Plains. Why SERVPRO? What can SERVPRO do? Actually there is a lot we can do. Think about it, the whole time the raccoons were living there, they have been using your attic as their bedroom and bathroom. A guaranteed mess!

We recently had a family call us after the raccoons in their attic had been served their eviction notice. The trapper had taken pictures and the family was absolutely freaked out by the mess the raccoons left behind. They called us here at SERVPRO of White Plains to have us come out and take a look. They were beginning to have an odor in the house and were absolutely frantic to get this taken care of.

We really do have a glamorous job here sometimes!

We put together an estimate and the next day began the work to clean the attic. The wood beams were washed and disinfected, antimicrobial was applied and then had the pieces of insulation replaced. We were glad to have gotten this call before the weather turned too hot. It was a job well done, and the family was thrilled with the results. The raccoons, probably not so much. The good news is that they were caught and released in a wooded area on the other side of the county by the trappers.

You never know when you are going to need us here at SERVPRO of White Plains- 914.684.1560- Keep this number handy! We are a 24/7 business and will be there for you!

Don't Lower Your Expectations

3/25/2022 (Permalink)

These days, there is a lot of talk about people having to lower their expectations in all aspects of service.  If you go into a restaurant, they are under staffed, in a grocery store there are sporadic products out of stock,  and shopping for anything means longer lines, longer lines, less product and less staff.   

Here at SERVPRO of White Plains we beg to differ.

We firmly stands by never lowering your standards when it comes to our service!   We strive to provide outstanding service, from your first phone call to our office to the last day we leave your house, making it "Like it never even happened."

Our professional, friendly, and knowledgeable staff are here to help you  navigate through these unchartered waters.   We strive to make things as easy possible for you.  We are in contact with insurance companies, sub contractors, vendors, landlords, you name it, we have spoken to them.   

Our phones are answered 24/7 365 days a year. 

Keep SERVPRO of White Plains in mind for any unfortunate incidents that take place at your home or business.   We will strive to exceed your expectations!    

Got Germs? We Don't Think So.

1/10/2022 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO of White Plains & New Rochelle, we pride ourselves on not only remediating water, fire, smoke and mold losses, but also keeping things clean in the process. Our team is not only highly trained, but also very proficient when it comes to germs, how they spread and the best way to disinfect the surfaces they contaminate. With the cold, flu and COVID-19, staying clean is more important than ever for our health. While we understand not every person is comfortable with people entering their home, we highly recommend giving our office a call so we can come take a look at your residence and move forward with the deep-clean and disinfection process.

If you're set on keeping non-family members outside of the home, keep reading for the best tips & tricks we have to keep you safe this cold & flu season: 

• Make sure that you have the proper chemicals. Most labels list what viruses the specific chemical is successful in killing.
• Focus on cleaning major hot spots in the home. This includes light switches, doorknobs, faucet handles, remote controls, phones and keyboards.
• Be sure to wash, disinfect and sanitize your cleaning equipment on a regular basis. This includes mop heads, rags and cloths. 
• Make sure to regularly clean all bedding, blankets, pillow and furniture covers. 
• When in doubt... WASH YOUR HANDS! It's simple yet every effective. 

All of us here at SERVPRO of White Plains & New Rochelle hope that you stay safe! Remember, give us a call at 914-684-1560 if you need any help. 

Fall is a beautiful time of year to grow mold!

8/5/2021 (Permalink)

Fall is coming up fast and the fluctuating temperatures can create condensation on doors and windows and lead to hidden mold growth if not addressed properly and attended to promptly. 

This is a common problem many people overlook and can lead to much bigger issues down the line. 

This is a common problem many people overlook and it can lead to much bigger issues down the line. 

If you see condensation around doors or windows, dry the area regularly and check for mold and water damage to the surrounding trim and walls.

SERVPRO is skilled at mold remediation and it is important to get on top of the issue and stop the mold asap.

If you see damage to trim or drywall around windows or doors that regularly hold condensation, call SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle to come out and assess the damage and stop the mold. 

Why SERVPRO?

5/13/2021 (Permalink)

Why SERVPRO?

SERVPRO franchise professionals understand your situation. As an agent or adjuster, you have a responsibility to keep claims costs down while still providing the best services possible for your customers.

SERVPRO Franchise Professionals are uniquely qualified to help. Our results create a measurable difference, giving you many competitive advantages.

Emergency Response to Claims

Restoring property is the SERVPRO franchise professional's first priority. Your customer will appreciate the immediate response and you will know everything is being done to limit the damage.

Pretesting Reduces Claims Expense

Restoring property is less expensive than replacing property. Claims Professionals know the rule is, "Restore whenever possible, replace only when necessary." SERVPRO franchise professionals make sure pretesting is completed on every loss to determine restorability.

Claims Inventory Service

SERVPRO franchise professionals can provide an itemized loss inventory. You will receive an Excel formatted report and pictures of important items.

Electronic Claims Information

Our Claims Information Center provides fast, accurate information you need to make sound decisions, including:

• A Complete Electronic Job File.
• First Notice of Loss.
• Detailed Estimate.
• Digital Loss Photos.
• Scanned Forms and Paperwork.
• All delivered by email or hard copy.
• On-line Access to All Files.
• New Assignments.
• Pending Jobs.
• Completed Jobs.
• Informative Reports to Improve Results
• Job Cost Data.

• Performance Comparison to Industry Standard.

Superior, Time-Tested Training

Effective training is the best way to help ensure your customers receive the service they deserve. Franchises are trained to IICRC standards in Fire and Water Cleanup and Restoration. In addition, continuing education classes are available to franchise professionals and insurance clients at our state-of-the-art IICRC Approved Training Facility.

Vendor Qualification Compliance and Professionalism

If you call SERVPRO, we will use only qualified vendors to service your customer. That commitment resulted in:

• A Customer Care Center to achieve prompt handling of the claim.
• Implementation of best practices and job process programs.
• National Accounts qualification criteria and annual compliance checks.
• Crew and vehicle standards.
• Insurance requirements.
• File documentation requirements.
• Quality assurance program.

Serving Adjusters and Their Clients

A SERVPRO franchise professional's job is to reassure the customer, perform quality service and to report to you quickly. We know your job is to interpret the policy and adjust the claim... and not to deal with problems from vendors! Working together we strive to save you time so you can focus on priority files, while having complete control of every loss you are assigned. 24-hour emergency response, damage mitigation, loss assessment, and an electronic file are available to you within hours. SERVPRO franchise professionals’ documented, measured performance increases value to you and your shareholders, managers and customers.

Hard-earned results have made SERVPRO leaders in the fire and water cleanup and restoration industry. The SERVPRO System is geared to achieve customer satisfaction and mitigation results, adding to your company’s competitive advantage.

April Showers bring May Mold

5/13/2021 (Permalink)

Spring is finally here, the temperatures are rising and the rains are coming. All this increase in humidity and moisture can create a perfect environment in homes or businesses. A water damage event in the home or business creates an even higher chance of a mold event occurring if it is not dried out properly. If you notice mold in your home or business give us a call here at SERVPRO at 914-684-1560

Microscopic mold spores naturally occur almost everywhere, both outdoors and indoors. This makes it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Therefore, mold remediation reduces the mold spore count back to its natural or baseline level. Some restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold, which is a fallacy. Consider the following mold facts:

Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.

Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.

Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water. These colonies may produce allergens and irritants.

Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.

Mold often produces a strong, musty odor and can lead you to possible mold problem areas.

Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.

WHY SERVPRO? SERVPRO has a proven history of re mediating mold successfully in homes and businesses throughout.

If your home or business has a mold problem, we can inspect and assess your property and use our specialized training, equipment, and expertise to re mediate your mold infestation.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today – (914) 684-1560 OR TOLL FREE AT 800-967-6663.

We handle it so you do not have to

5/13/2021 (Permalink)

Running a home or business can be stressful. The day to day tasks that need to be done to keep home and business running can be daunting and tiring. The last thing that you need is a sewage back-up, toilet overflow, pipe break, fire or even mold. SERVPRO of is the assurance you need to keep these issues from being overwhelming.

Our techs are IICRC certified and have years of experience dealing with the issues of flooding, sewage back ups, fire and even mold. The IICRC is a certification and standard-setting non-profit organization for the inspection, cleaning and restoration industries. The training received by our techs allows us to handle all of the unpleasant and difficult parts of a sewage clean-up, pipe break, fire or mold remediation. These tasks are handled in an experienced, timely and professional manner.

We work hand in hand with your home or business insurance and will work hard to get your home or business back to “Like it never even happened.” If your home or business has been affected by any of these issues, SERVPRO is here 24 hours a day 7 days a week, call us anytime.

Soot Damage and the Shocking Facts.

4/18/2021 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle, we take the state of your home and your health very seriously. This includes soot damage, which our SERVPRO staff and technicians have been trained to deal with. Due to this, we are able to provide you with the best service possible if you are suffering from soot damage in your home. It may be from numerous sources, as any material that can burn is able to produce soot, including candles, cooking oils, tobacco smoke, etc. Regardless, SERVPRO is here to help as soon as possible, so the impact felt on both your health and your home, is as minimal as possible. Keep reading below to find out some information about soot damage that may shock you:

• Did you know that sustained exposure to soot-polluted air and particles can possibly result in a vast array of health effects? This includes asthma, bronchitis, etc.
• Within minutes of soot exposure, plastic surfaces in your home can discolor and turn yellow.
• Within hours, surfaces in your home such as metal can tarnish, fiberglass can yellow and tile grout can become stained.
• Countertops and appliances may also yellow within mere hours of soot exposure.
• Within days, painted walls can permanently yellow, clothing and upholstery can stain, metals can begin to pit and corrode and vinyl floors could need to be replaced. 
• Fast-forward a few weeks and glass, china and crystal can begin to etch and pit, audio and video tapes can begin to distort, and carpet fibers can become permanently yellow and discolored. 

Due to these very serious facts, SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle do not take soot damage lightly. If you suspect you have soot damage in your home for any reason, please give us a call at 914-684-1560. We are more than happy to help.

Keeping You Safe is Our Job!

4/7/2021 (Permalink)

Even though it has already been a year, we are still in the grasps of a global pandemic and trying to keep ourselves and our homes as clean as possible. Due to this, you may find yourself using household cleaners and chemicals more often. You may be wondering if there are any tips or tricks to prevent a hazardous situation from occurring, and you’re in luck. SERVPRO of White Plains & New Rochelle employees go through multiple safety training sessions to learn how to keep ourselves and our customers safe from chemicals, both household and industrial. Keep reading to find out some of our must-know tips:

• Keep any bottles containing hazardous chemicals properly labeled and stored. NEVER remove the label unless it is corroding. In that case, carefully re-package and label the container.
• Never store these containers near any food items.
• When using household chemicals, never use near an open flame. 
• Some chemicals should never be combined as they may react, ignite or explode. An example is chlorine bleach and ammonia. 
• Make sure that you have access to the phone number for the National Poison Control Center on both your cell phone and landlines. They can be reached at 1-800-222-1222.

If you ever find yourself hesitant to use chemicals you’re not sure about, SERVPRO of White Plains & New Rochelle is happy to help. Give us a call at 914-684-1560 and we would be glad to answer any questions, or schedule a deep-clean or disinfection of your property. We have the knowledge to keep you safe!

Water your grass, not your home!

3/15/2021 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO of White Plains & New Rochelle, we’re passionate about not only remediating any water, fire or mold issues that may arise within your home, but we are also happy to provide you with tips and tricks to help prevent these disasters from ever arising. With that being said, warmer weather is approaching which means we can start thinking about maintaining our beautiful lawns and gardens this Spring and Summer season. Part of that maintenance includes making sure our grass and plants are adequately watered. For some, this might mean they utilize a sprinkler system to guarantee everything stays hydrated. Keep reading below to make sure your sprinkler system keeps your grass and plants hydrated, not your home! Here are some tips to ensure you don’t fall victim to a sprinkler system water damage:

• Clean that filter! This is usually located between the valve box and water main. It should be cleaned at the start of the season and at least once a month during irrigation season. 
• Keep an eye out for any areas where water is gushing or there are excess puddles. This will indicate if and where a repair needs to be made.
• Be aware of your system’s design. The spray from your system should be at least 2 ft away from your home.
• Don’t overrun your sprinkler. Instead of running it every single day, most experts recommend running your system 3x a week for 30 mins a day. 

If you do happen to become a victim of your sprinkler system, don’t panic. SERVPRO of White Plains & New Rochelle is trained to deal with any water damage that comes our way, including sprinkler systems. Give us a call at 914-684-1560 and we would be more than happy to help.

Mold & Your Home

2/12/2021 (Permalink)

While SERVPRO might be best known for helping restore water or fire damages, we’re also very passionate about our ability to help remediate mold infested areas. Mold is nothing to mess around with, and has the ability to strongly impact both your home and your health. At SERVPRO of White Plains & New Rochelle, we have technicians and project managers that take the time to go through rigorous training specialized in how to handle said mold. We know that dealing with mold in your home can be a very overwhelming and scary situation, so we want to make it as simple as possible for you. First, mold testing will need to be performed by a licensed mold inspector or hygienist, to figure out if there is a significant issue going on, and how exactly it should be remediated. Don’t worry if you don’t have someone in mind, as we have plenty of companies that we work closely with and can refer you to. Once we receive the proper protocol, our trained project manager is able to put together an estimate that our trained technicians follow to properly remediate the impacted areas. We also have the proper equipment, such as air scrubbers and HEPA filters to clear the area of any excess spores that might have been missed. Once SERVPRO is done with the remediation, the area will be re-tested to ensure the area has been properly cleaned. The process might take a little while, but it is vital for your home and most importantly your health. It is our goal to leave you with a healthy and happy home here at SERVPRO of White Plains & New Rochelle. Give us a call at 914-684-1560 and we’ll be happy to help!  

Happy Healthy Homes

1/11/2021 (Permalink)

While it might be hard to imagine spring coming around in the next few months as the temperatures are dipping around us, however, it will be here in no time. I think we all know the famous saying, “April showers bring May flowers”, but spring also brings more than beautiful weather and flowers. As nature begins to bloom again, different types of pollen and allergens are released, and begin to wreak havoc on allergy sufferers. While we can’t always control the outside weather and pollen levels, there is another important factor when it comes to allergies… our homes. Dust and pet dander easily collect and get trapped on porous surfaces and in household materials, triggering allergies and even asthma. Due to this, it’s immensely important to keep your home clean on a consistent basis, and a deep-clean of your residence would also be highly effective in combating allergy and asthma woes. 

Here at SERVPRO of White Plains & New Rochelle, we understand that life gets crazy, and sometimes you just don’t have time to go above and beyond your daily cleaning. That’s where we step in! Our technicians might be specially trained in disinfection measures, but they are also experienced in deep-cleaning homes that are not impacted by hazardous materials or water/fire damage. Simply cleaning all wall-to-wall carpets, area rugs and paying attention to all hard to reach areas of your home, will dramatically reduce any allergens that are lurking around. We make it our goal here at SERVPRO of White Plains & New Rochelle to help our customers and assist in making their residences safe and healthy to live in, with or without a disaster. If you need us, give us a call at 914-684-1560, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! 

Get the Facts, not the Flu!

8/27/2020 (Permalink)

Fall brings the excitement of so many things that we all look forward to every year… leaves changing colors, pumpkins, apple picking, football, Halloween and so much more. However, fall also brings the peak of the dreaded cold and flu season. While this year is a bit different as we are in the midst of a pandemic, the same threat remains from viruses that cause cold and flu illnesses. The CDC recommends taking personal protective measures such as getting up-to-date vaccinations, washing your hands, covering coughs/sneezes, staying home while sick and keeping your distance from others. While these tactics do aid in stopping the spread of these pesky viruses, sometimes it’s just not enough.

Viruses, including influenza, tend to be able to live on surfaces for multiple days. This means if you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth, you’ve just potentially infected yourself! That is the reason why now is the time to start thinking about calling us here at SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle to deep clean your home or business. We don’t just take care of water damages, fires and mold… we do it all. We have been trained in disinfection and sanitation protocols, and strive to create a safe and germ free environment for you and your loved ones during the cold and flu season. Give us a call at 914-684-1560 to get the facts, not the flu! 

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned – a defensive cleaning program

5/13/2020 (Permalink)

Let us help you get back to business

As our communities re-open, we’re all moving back toward a new kind of normal. The expectations of visitors, customers, and employees who come into our establishments have evolved, and staying safe and well is a top concern. The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed what it means to be clean, and we’ve developed a program to help your business meet the new higher standard of clean that is now expected.

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned is a defensive cleaning program we’re offering to businesses and commercial locations to address the current COVID-19 pandemic. This proactive viral pathogen cleaning program goes well beyond janitorial or carpet cleaning. By choosing Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you, your employees, your customers, and your community can rest assured that you’ve selected a higher cleaning standard – you are Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.

Extensive training and specialized products

As the #1 choice in cleanup and restoration*, we stand on more than 50 years of experience and expertise to help your business become Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.  Beyond fire & water, SERVPRO professionals are trained and experienced in biohazard decontamination and chemical spills – always adhering to the cleaning and decontamination standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local authorities. 

From formulating and creating our proprietary cleaning products, like SERVPROXIDE, at our headquarters in Gallatin, TN, to taking the utmost care while disinfecting, we will ensure you and your business are set up to inspire consumer confidence as the economy continues to reopen.

3 C’s – Consult, Clean, and Certify

When the stakes are this high, you want a partner who has developed an industry leading, proprietary training program, cleaning solutions, and remediation processes over decades. We’ve cleaned up some of the most challenging biohazards imaginable. Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned reflects our unique experiences and capabilities. The program is grounded with our unique 3 C’s: Consult, Clean, and Certify.

• Consult – Every business is different, which is why you’ll be assigned a Cleaning Protocol Consultant who understands your business and will create a cleaning program to meet your specific needs. This program will be developed based on your business type, size of space, amount of high frequency touch points, foot traffic and congestion points.
• Clean – Based on your specific business needs, your location will undergo a thorough, deep clean, using exclusive cleaning products, according to protocols set forth by the CDC. Our employees have years of experience, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform. Cleanup procedures generally include cleaning of porous and non-porous surfaces, disinfecting of non-porous surfaces, cleaning and disinfecting of equipment, tools, and/or supplies used for the cleanup process, and disposal of hazardous materials.  In the event of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 event, we will be there cleaning within 24 hours to ensure you get back to business as quickly as possible. 
• Certify - Once your business location has been Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you will gain access to proprietary signage, digital emblems, and other collateral that communicates that you’ve selected a higher standard of clean available to help protect your employees and customers. And because we add the day, month, and year to that proprietary stamp of clean, your guests will know that not only did you choose Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, but that your location is being cleaned regularly at this standard.

Call today for a Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation

We’re Here to Help – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – until life is back to normal in the communities we all call home.

Call SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle today at  914-684-1560 for your Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation.

* #1 Choice in cleanup & restoration based Commercial Attitude & Usage Tracking study. Polling 816 commercial business decision makers on first choice for future needs related to cleanup & restoration work. Study conducted by C&R Research: October 2019

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned means professionally trained SERVPRO franchises perform the requested cleaning, sanitizing and disinfection services according to proprietary SERVPRO protocols and recognized industry and CDC standards with EPA approved cleaning products to deliver a SERVPRO certified cleaning experience.  Each SERVPRO franchise is independently owned and operated.

ACHOO!!!

5/13/2020 (Permalink)

The pollen this year seems to be extremely high. Coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, nasal congestion, runny nose and just general irritability are some of the symptoms of allergies. The misery of these symptoms combined with side effects of allergy medication can make this time of year uncomfortable and unbearable. SERVPRO OF White Plains and New Rochelle can help alleviate the irritants and allergens in your home with a thorough and professional deep clean. Maintaining a clean home is vital to a healthy breathing environment. If you suffer from allergies and are sensitive to the environment in your home, scheduling an initial deep clean and follow-up cleanings will help reduce the number of allergens affecting you, your family and guests.

SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle has years of training, certification and experience to clean your home thoroughly. The company of SERVPRO started in 1967 as a painting business by Ted and Doris Isaacson and two years later in 1969 along with Ted and Doris`s experience in cleaning and restoration, SERVPRO was transformed into a clean-up and restoration business. The knowledge and their expertise has been handed down from them to all of their franchises for 50 years. Armed with that knowledge and along with IICRC certifications our technicians are trained extremely well and certified. IICRC is the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration is the non-profit certifying body for the cleaning and restoration industry. Our technicians and even office staff are certified to serve all of our customers in an informed and professional manner.

Come get your SERVICES!

4/15/2020 (Permalink)

A flooded basement, a fire damaged kitchen and a moldy bathroom all need attention. The proper attention. Here at SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle we have the experience and training to handle any job that comes our way. We have been here 25+ years in the community and service our community with pride.

What do you do if you have a flooded basement? First get the source of the leak repaired by a professional or if it is storm related, wait for the storm to pass. Then give us a call we will come and extract the water and remove any of the affected materials and set up drying equipment. Our Project Managers will monitor drying until your home is completely dried out. If you need rebuild services we also offer that as well too. A one stop shop.

If you have fire and soot damage, we can handle that too. We will clean all surfaces with approved chemicals and sponges to remove all the soot. We will catalog any affected items and set up air scrubbers to help eliminate the smell of smoke. We will also discard any damaged item after cataloging it for insurance purposes. We can also offer painting and rebuilding after the clean up process is complete.

A moldy bathroom can be handled by us. First a mold test will need to be done by the proper Mold Tester or Hygienist . If the results say there is a significant issue we will follow the cleaning and removal protocol set up by the Hygienist and clean the affected area and remove anything that needs to be removed. We will also install air scrubbers with HEPA filters to clean the air of the excess mold spores. After the cleaning process there will be another test to make sure the mold spore levels are where they should be. If the test is passed then the bathroom can be put back together.

We have many services and work with insurance companies. We want to make these life experiences less stressful. Call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays. SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle is in the community serving the community.

Cleaning house and chemical precautions

4/3/2020 (Permalink)

Cleaning the house is a normal necessary everyday task done on a regular basis. Some people clean certain parts of their house on certain days and some people clean it all at once over the weekend. Due to this pandemic it has been recommended that all high touch surfaces be cleaned which includes table tops, counter tops, switch plates, handrails, door knobs, cabinet handles, appliance handles, remote controls, toilet handles, faucets, computer keyboards, computer mouse and any other surface in your home that might be high touch.

There are various cleaning products used to clean homes due to different surfaces and which is safe to use on each surface. Some of your choices are from bleach, vinegar, ammonia and even isopropyl alcohol for sanitizing. Using these chemicals separately is ideal because mixing one chemical with another can result in breathing difficulties and even death. Here are some examples:

• Ammonia and bleach mixed create a dangerous and deadly chlorine gas.

• Bleach and vinegar mixed also create a dangerous and deadly chlorine gas.

• Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar mixed creates peracetic acid or corrosive acid.
• Isopropyl Alcohol and bleach mixed creates dangerous and deadly chloroform and hydrochloric acid.
• Bleach and toilet bowl cleaner (containing sodium bisulfate) mixed creates dangerous toxic fumes .

If you are unsure about using chemicals together, do not combine them and use one at a time. There is a lot of cleaning and sanitizing happening now. Cleaning is being done on a more regular basis now due to the pandemic. The need to keep our homes free of any harmful pathogens is a must, to prevent ourselves or our family members from getting sick. You can also reach out to us at SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle and let us clean for you. We do offer deep cleans and proactive cleans to help get rid of nasty germs in your home. We want you and your family to stay safe and healthy.

Spring is on the way

2/24/2020 (Permalink)

Spring is a month away and it will be time to travel to vacation homes and beaches. If your vacation homes were closed up for the winter and hardly being used, a spring cleaning might be in order. What do you do if you arrive there and you have a water leak, a broken water or sewage pipe? After calling a plumber and repairing the leak, call us here at SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle. We can handle and have the experience to clean up pipe breaks, water damages, water losses of any kind as well as sewage backups. We also handle mold remediation, fire damage and fire restoration. Our rebuild department is also available for rebuilding any type of water, fire or mold damage that has occurred.

If your vacation home is not in the Rye, Rye Brook, New Rochelle, Larchmont, Port Chester, Mamaroneck, Harrison, Purchase or Pelham, SERVPRO has 1700 franchises located throughout the country and we can service your home or vacation home. In case of a major storm or disaster SERVPRO and it's franchises are able to mobilize and work in conjunction to make sure your home, neighborhood and event town get back to “Like it never even happened.”

We handle it so you don't have to.

2/14/2020 (Permalink)

Running a home or business can be stressful. The day to day tasks that need to be done to keep home and business running can be daunting and tiring. The last thing that you need is a sewage back-up, toilet overflow, pipe break, fire or even mold. SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle is the assurance you need to keep these issues from being overwhelming.

Our techs are IICRC certified and have years of experience dealing with the issues of flooding, sewage back ups , fire and even mold .The IICRC is a certification and standard-setting non-profit organization for the inspection, cleaning and restoration industries.The training received by our techs allows us to handle all of the unpleasant and difficult parts of a sewage clean-up, pipe break , fire or mold remediation. These tasks are handled in an experienced , timely and professional manner.

We work hand in hand with your home or business insurance and will work hard to get your home or business back to “Like it never even happened.” If your Rye, Larchmont, Harrison, White Plains, New Rochelle, Purchase, Port Chester, Rye Brook or Pelham home or business has been affected by any of these issues, SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle is here 24 hours a day 7 days a week, call us anytime.

Holiday and Our Homes

12/26/2019 (Permalink)

Tis the season for family and friends to get together. Our homes are filled with love and joy celebrating the holiday season.Our kitchens are busy with food cooking and there is always the clean up. The fireplaces are blazing with the sound of crackling wood. With the increase of cheer and love there is also an increase of workload on a homes drainage and sewage system. The increase of people also leaves homes more vulnerable to back up of drainage systems and an increase of fires in the home. What do you do in case of an emergency? First call a plumber if you have a water emergency or if you have a fire call the fire department to get your fire extinguished . Second call us here at SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle.

Did you know that SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle is open 24 hours a day/ 7days a week? That is right, we have a crew available 24 hours a day even through the holidays for all your emergency needs for water mitigation and fire damage. If you are in Harrison,Rye, Rye Brook, White Plains, New Rochelle,Purchase , Port Chester, Mamaroneck, Larchmont , Pelham and surrounding areas. Call us here at SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle if you have any water or fire damage this holiday season. We are here all day and night to help.

Flu Free Turkey

11/21/2019 (Permalink)

In the United States , flu season occurs in the fall and winter. The influenza virus does circulate year round and most of the time peak flu activity falls between December and February but occasionally lasts into the month of May states the CDC.

. Did you know that the flu virus can remain viable on surfaces for up to 48 hours? Cleaning surfaces and objects that are frequently touched minimizes the likelihood of contracting the flu virus when you touch an infected surface. With the holiday season approaching quickly and families preparing for travel and quality time with one another, now is the time to step up normal cleaning processes and call us here at SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle

As an emergency response company, we understand the hidden danger of contaminated surfaces in a workplace or home. This time of year, the flu virus can be a hidden danger at home, at work and in the community. It is a serious illness and we want our friends and neighbors to take it seriously.

So before your family and friends arrive from out of town call us here at SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle to deep clean your home or business. Here at SERVPRO of White Plains we are experts in cleaning and sanitizing building materials, surfaces and contents after fire, water, or natural disasters. We are open year round and are able to deep clean after your holiday guests leave.

Reconstruction Department

10/9/2019 (Permalink)

We here at SERVPRO of White Plains & New Rochelle, offer a full Reconstruction department for all projects with interior construction.  Any and all kinds of mitigation work to be performed should be done in such concept to make reconstruction efforts as swift as possible.  If a restoration business is solely geared towards demolition, though never sees nor learns the reconstruction process, the demolition workers could ultimately make each reconstruction project very difficult without knowing better.  If we remove drywall and plaster, we do so in a fashion to make it easy for separate crews to reconstruct the walls and ceilings with a professional paint job to follow. Here at SERVPRO of White Plains & New Rochelle all of our Mitigation managers have much reconstruction knowledge, and do not perform demolition without the know-how plan to reconstruct any materials taken out.

Before performing 25K worth of mitigation work SERVPRO has the experience to detail and negotiate with adjuster to classify the scope of work as necessary and just.  Insurance adjusters do the same work as our managers here at SERVPRO, yet they handle many more jobs each since they have no crews to oversee and manage. Being well professed in their craft, insurance claims can sometimes be a tough battle to work through alone, without having much knowledge related to the claims process as far as the insured’s options, coverage, and most of all negotiations.  Many people think water will dissipate through materials and cause no harm, but do not realize how necessary it is for removing non-salvageable materials, drying equipment, containment, decontamination, determining quantity of flooring layers, asbestos and lead testing, and last but not least the importance of experience to know what can and cannot be saved to better serve the customer and keep claim costs down.  When a claim is not covered that does not mean it is permanent. Hence why it is important to have a mitigation professional determine the scope or work and it’s scientific necessity to save your property.

Clients can sometimes be confused by the terminology and process in our field, so to better clarify, there are three main parts to a claim.  The Cause, Mitigation, and Reconstruction are the stages which all have individual key importance in claims process. The Cause of loss, whether it be from: a broken pipe, back-up from drain, fire source, or mold source - is the factor that determines what shall or shall not be covered.  For instance, a flood in a basement with Cause of loss as ground water penetrating foundation wall in basement, would typically not be covered, unless an endorsement is specified in insurance policy. Meanwhile, a broken pipe in basement wall may appear as ground water, but you wouldn’t know unless able to find broken pipe by the aid of our moisture meter and experienced plumber.  The Mitigation is where all non-salvageable structural materials like drywall and flooring are removed only where necessary, and the remaining structure is dried by aid of drying equipment – dehumidifiers and air movers. Once all necessary demolition finished and remaining structure confirmed dry with no future damage possible by water remaining saturated, then it is time for the Reconstruction.  The last part is the Reconstruction, which is where we fully rebuild all removed materials in structure that were taken during mitigation. Reconstruction requires experienced and licensed professionals who understand the craft and know the best and safest way to repair the loss.

If a simple loss occurs, that is localized, mitigation is typically completed in under 7 days, unless factors present themselves which extend the time frame.  The reconstruction typically can take much longer, but if all costs are approved and negotiated beforehand, which we always do here at SERVPRO of White Plains & New Rochelle, then the rebuild process can be complete in a few weeks for a localized loss.  Before mitigation is complete, our rebuild department will usually have all necessary items in place to begin and approval of costs set so there is no waiting period due to us. That is not to say that a rebuild can take up to 6 months, which does happen.  But if there are no asbestos abatements, or hiccups in coverage, then we make every effort to reconstruct your home beautifully back to how is was prior or even better, to serve our motto and make it appear “Like it never even happened.”

If someone should need emergency services, mitigation, cleanup, mold remediation, mitigation reconstruction, separate reconstruction not due to a loss, or even project advice

Please call us at:   (914) 684-1560 or toll free at 800-967-6663

Open 24/7  - Typically onsite within 90 minutes  - Experience to make process seamless

Asthma and Allergy Month

5/14/2019 (Permalink)

 The month of May has been declared “National Asthma and Allergy Month” since 1984 by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. As the weather warms and plants,flowers and trees begin to bloom they release different types of pollen and the chance of an allergy episode or an asthma attack increases exponentially. The OTC options  and quality of allergy fighting medication has gotten better over the years and with better asthma medications, allergy and asthma symptoms can be controlled. Another important step to take in managing allergies and asthma is environmental, meaning your home.

 An important aspect of taking care of allergies and asthma is home cleanliness. Everyday dust, animal hair and even pest droppings can affect allergies and asthma. Maintaining a clean home is vital to have a healthy breathing environment. Here at SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle we can help with your cleaning needs. A deep cleaning of your wall to wall carpets and your area rugs will help to decrease dirt and allergen build up in your home. A thorough cleaning of those spots that rarely get attention such as behind large pieces of furniture and corners of barely used rooms need cleaning  attention too.

 Reducing the amount of dirt and allergens in your home will help the asthma and allergy sufferers in your life breathe a lot clearer and focus on the life around them and not the symptoms of their ailments. SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle will help with that deep clean of your  Rye, New Rochelle, Mamaroneck, White Plains, Harrison,Purchase, Port Chester or Larchmont home.

May showers are on track to beat April showers.

5/14/2019 (Permalink)

The past few days here in the White Plains, New Rochelle, Rye,Purchase and Harrison areas it has been non stop rain. The month of May is for enjoying the bloom from April`showers but it seems Mother Nature has different plans this year. The steady rain has been falling for days saturating everything.The water table has risen and we don't know what areas will be over saturated and begin flooding soon. Low lying areas will show signs of flooding first but sometimes flooding occurs when we least expect it.

  When a flooding incident or water damage strikes, it is never a planned event. We can make preparations for heavy rain events or take precautions with our homes plumbing but it is impossible to know when water will flood and damage our home or business. Here at SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle we provide 24/7 emergency response because our decades of experience has shown the unpredictability of these events. We have an emergency response crew on-call after business hours just in case of an emergency. Our on-call hours are everyday of the year including holidays.You can expect an immediate response day or night. We are “ Faster to any disaster.”

Moldy Days of May

4/16/2019 (Permalink)

Spring is finally here , the temperatures are rising and the rains are coming. All this increase in humidity and moisture can create a perfect environment in homes or businesses. A water damage event in the home or business creates an even higher chance of a mold event occurring if it is not dried out properly. If you notice mold in your home or business and you are located in White Plains,Harrison,Rye,Rye Brook,Purchase,Port Chester,New Rochelle, Mamaroneck,Larchmont  or Pelham give us a call here at SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle at 914-684-1560

Microscopic mold spores naturally occur almost everywhere, both outdoors and indoors. This makes it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Therefore, mold remediation reduces the mold spore count back to its natural or baseline level. Some restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold, which is a fallacy. Consider the following mold facts:

Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.

Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.

Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water. These colonies may produce allergens and irritants.

Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.

Mold often produces a strong, musty odor and can lead you to possible mold problem areas.

Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.

WHY SERVPRO? SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle has a proven history of re mediating mold successfully in homes and businesses throughout Westchester County.

If your home or business has a mold problem, we can inspect and assess your property and use our specialized training, equipment, and expertise to re mediate your mold infestation.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today – (914) 684-1560 OR TOLL FREE AT 800-967-6663.

Faster to any disaster.

4/4/2019 (Permalink)

Time is of the essence when there is a water damage to your home or business in the White Plains and New Rochelle area. SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle is located centrally to reach  White Plains, New Rochelle, Rye, Rye Brook, Harrison,Port Chester, Mamaroneck, Purchase, Larchmont and Pelham and are on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week to meet your emergency water remediation needs.

 Our highly trained and certified technicians will arrive to your home or business quickly and immediately begin working to remediate the water damage to help reduce the impact of the water event to your home or business. We have the resources to handle a pipe leak or even a major flood or storm.

When a storms hit Westchester County, we can scale our resources to handle  a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,700 franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Call us today for all your water remediation needs (914) 684-1560 or toll free at 800-967-6663.

Experienced and trained technicians

2/27/2019 (Permalink)

          You come home from work after a long day at work and you find water in your basement , not just a puddle but a few inches of water or you come home and your living room ceiling has collapsed onto your living room furniture and water is dripping from the ceiling , what do you do next? Who do you call?   First you call your plumber to find the source and repair the leak and then you call us at SERVPRO of White Plains. We will send out a Project Manager during regular business hours and if it is after hours we will send an emergency crew to mitigate the situation and set up drying equipment. How do you know our crew will do the work correctly?

Our technicians are trained and certified through the IICRC which stands for Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification . The mission of the IICRC is to establish and advance globally recognized standards and certifications for the inspection, cleaning, restoration and installation industries. Our technicians also go through recertification at required intervals to maintain an up to date understanding of the work we do.

They have worked in homes and businesses that have sustained major water and mold damage as well as fire and smoke damage. Our technicians have years of works experience along with hundreds of hours of certification and training. They have in total handled thousands of water related issues from small areas to entire homes or businesses being saturated. SERVPRO of White Plains has been serving the community since 1996 and our technicians have from 5 to 25 years of experience . With the education and real life experience of our technicians you and your home or business will be back to “Like it never even happened” as soon as possible.

Almost time for a spring cleaning.

2/19/2019 (Permalink)

There is under a month left of winter , it is time to think of that spring cleaning. The house has been closed up for months with the fireplace blazing and the family coughing. The house will be able to be opened up and aired out in a few weeks , hopefully taking some germs and dirt out on the fresh spring breeze. Only if it was that simple. Dirt , dust and germs have been able to stagnate in the house since the fall, fireplaces have been roaring and carrying soot particles in their flames and distributing them into the air. The families winter colds and flu  have been saturated into the air and a deeper clean will be need for that fresh spring feel to really set in.

As a child watching my grandmother clean the house from top to bottom and helping when I could was an arduous experience but well worth the result. The house seemed to brighten up afterwards , the walls and ceiling were glowing , the rugs looked plush and the carpet fibers danced under my feet while the air in the house smelled of fresh flowers and a hint of bleach. Even though she was exhausted from the cleaning ,she was able to relax with a cup of tea and a good book afterwards. She would curl up in her favorite chair next to the living room window as the spring breeze danced through the curtains and read for a few minutes and doze off for a well deserved nap.

The surface of the house was spotless and the furniture and all the contents were cleaned thoroughly but she was not aware of the dryer vent line or duct cleaning that could be done.    The dryer vent cleaning is necessary to help with effective and timely drying as well as fire prevention and safety. The HVAC duct system also needs periodic cleaning to remove any allergen ,dirt or dust build up . Following a regularly scheduled filter replacement will help maintain a clean and effective  HVAC system and provide a cleaner air those asthma and allergy sufferers in your family. SERVPRO of White Plains offers this service and can help meet your spring cleaning needs. Our trained and professional staff will be able to add a refreshing finishing touch to your spring cleaning.

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

1/15/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO  SERVPRO First Responder Bowl was played at historic Cotton Bowl Stadium. The newly renamed bowl is designed to honor the sacrifice and service of the brave men and women who are the first line of defense in local communities when the unexpected or the unthinkable happens says Antoinette Pelli of SERVPRO of White Plains. Kickoff for the event was televised by ESPN, on December 26 at 1:30 ET, featuring Boston College and Boise State University.

“It’s a privilege to have the SERVPRO name associated with an event that celebrates the dedication and selflessness of first responders,” said Pelli. “These men and women are true hometown heroes and first on the scene when disaster strikes, helping to save lives and protect property.”

The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl honored first responders including police officers, firefighters, EMS workers, correctional officers, search and rescue teams, dispatchers, security guards, federal agents, border patrol agents, and military personnel who have specialized training and are the first to arrive and provide help at the scene of an emergency. Event organizers distributed  complimentary tickets to verified first responders and their families who signed up at https://www.firstresponderbowl.com/first-responders. These complimentary tickets were possible thanks to corporate sponsors like SERVPRO and individual fans who choose to “Sponsor a Responder” with a $15 donation when they purchased their general admission tickets.

“The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl was a celebration of the commitment to service demonstrated by the everyday people who willingly put themselves in harm’s way to protect the lives and property of their neighbors,” said Sue Steen, CEO of SERVPRO Industries, Inc. “SERVPRO is honored to have this opportunity to shine a spotlight on all of these hard working first responders, and their families, and to recognize them for the heroes they are.”

Unfortunately the game was called off after the area had experienced some very inclement weather. The safety of the fans, players and event staff are paramount. Safety First! 

SERVPRO is an industry leader and provider of fire and water cleanup and restoration services. For more information on SERVPRO of White Plains, please contact Antoinette Pelli at (914) 684-1560 or SERVPRO8270@optimum.net. For more information about SERVPRO, please visit https://www.SERVPRO.com.

About SERVPRO^®

Founded in 1967, the SERVPRO Franchise System is a leader and provider of fire and water cleanup and restoration services and mold mitigation and remediation. SERVPRO’s professional services network of more than 1,700 individually owned and operated Franchises responds to property damage emergencies ranging from small individual disasters to multi-million dollar large-loss events. Providing coverage in the United States and Canada, the SERVPRO System has established relationships with major insurance companies and commercial clients, as well as individual homeowners.

Our highly trained specialists can restore your home.

5/13/2016 (Permalink)

If you live in Harrison,Purchase,Portchester, Rye, Ryebrook, Pelham, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, or White Plains call us immediately if you have water or fire damage.

SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle 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.

IICRC Certified Firms must

• Present accurate information to consumers and conduct business with honesty and integrity.

• Require a technician on all jobs who has been formally trained and passed all required tests.

• Require a continuing education program to keep technicians up-to-date on the latest changes in the industry.

• Maintain liability insurance to protect all parties in the event of an accident.

• Maintain a written complaint policy and agree to Better Business Bureau or similar arbitration to resolve disputes, and accept the conclusions and recommendations of arbitration.

The IICRC Develops The Standards For The Restoration Industry

The IICRC has been the driving force in establishing the main industry standards and reference guides for professional carpet cleaning, water damage restoration and mold remediation. These IICRC standards take years to develop and require the coordination of experts in the field: manufacturers, industry organizations, insurance professionals, training schools, contractors, and public health professionals.

Every five years, the standards are reviewed and updated. The water damage restoration field changes rapidly with advancements in technology and science, and therefore the standards must evolve to keep pace.

About SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle

SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle specializes 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 and we are an IICRC Certified Firm. We believe in continuous training: 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.