Choose a Certified Restoration Team

6/22/2021 (Permalink)

Let's be honest, no homeowner likes to think about needing the type of services we provide. But when they do, it's because their homes have been damaged by water, fire, or other accidents.

The type of help homeowners need when we are called is home restoration, and its goal is to get the home back to its original state. Sometimes all the is needed is a mop, bucket, and some elbow grease, but other times you need a team of experts to help you get your home restored. When that happens, it is important to understand the restoration process, and why choosing the right team is vital to you being happy with the results.

Damage Claims are Common

According to the Insurance Information Institute, about one in twenty homeowners will need to file a home damage claim every year. When you think about the entire population of the United States, then that statistic translates to millions of families. Some of these people will need to get help from a professional team. That's when choosing a quality restoration company will make all the difference.

Our Training Matters

Beyond the training offered by SERVPRO at a national level, our technicians earn certifications through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification. This non-profit group provides various certification programs to ensure restoration and cleaning technicians use the latest proven techniques when restoring your home.

Heat Safety

5/3/2021 (Permalink)

It is important to sit down and cool off while working in the heat.

Summer is Coming

It is hot out there, and it is not even Summer! Which means that the hottest part of the year is still coming! Here at SERVPRO we worry about our crews, but we also worry about you. That’s why we want to share some tips for those of you who are out working in the heat.

• Tip #1: Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Drink about half your body ounces in water and remember to hydrate and stay hydrated, days in advance
• Tip #2: Try to stay out of the sun in the hottest part of the day but if you must work in the sun choose lightweight clothing including hats and sunglasses.
• Take breaks when needed! Working out in the sun is exhausting, so take a quick break when you need to cool down.
• Tip #3: Don’t forget to use sunblock.

We hope you’ve enjoyed these heat safety tips. And remember, when the unexpected happens call SERVPRO of Putnam County.

Home Pool Safety

4/21/2021 (Permalink)

This is a pool that has been properly fenced in, and has the proper self closing and self latching gates.

Pool Weather is almost here!

April in Florida means that it is time to start getting ready for the swimming pool! While pools are great family fun, they also pose some dangers; especially for those with younger children. There are steps you can take that can help keep your mind at ease.

Never Leave Children Unattended

Always watch children when they are near a pool! If you have a large group of adults, then take turns being the pool watcher. Even if there is a lifeguard present parents should still watch the pool.

Swimming Lessons

All children should begin swimming lessons as soon as possible. Knowing how to swim is not only fun, but it can also be a lifesaving skill. It is imperative that kids learn to swim.

Keep Away From Drains

Teach children who can swim to stay away from drains. Children's hair, limbs, or bathing suits can get stuck in a drain cover or suction opening. This could lead to an accidental drowning.

Proper Barriers

Make sure that you have proper barriers, fences, and alarms have been installed. The fence or barriers should be at least 4 feet high and completely surround the pool. It should also not be easily climbable by children. The fence should have self closing and self latching gates. Audible alarms should be installed on all home doors leading out to the pool.

Learn CPR

Oftentimes bystanders will be the first to aid with a drowning victim, so it is of utmost importance that if you have a pool that someone be certified in CPR.

Have Fun

One of the most important rules with a pool is to have fun! Pools are a great source of family fun, and can provide memories that will last a lifetime. Just be sure to keep a watchful eye while having fun!

Know Your Fire Extinguishers

9/5/2019 (Permalink)

Not All Are Equal

Did you know that not all fire extinguishers are the same? Fire extinguishers are designed for specific types of fires. Using the wrong type of extinguisher on the wrong type of fire can make matters worse instead of helping the situation.

Class A

Class A fire extinguishers are for ordinary combustibles such as wood or paper. This type of fire extinguisher would be good to keep handy in a wood shop.

Class B

Class B fire extinguishers are for flammable liquids like grease, gasoline, and oil. This type of fire extinguisher would be perfect to keep in the garage.

Class C

Class C fire extinguishers are only to be used on an electrical fire.

Class D

Class D fire extinguishers are only to be used on flammable metals. This type of extinguisher would not normally be found around the house, but would be found somewhere like a welding shop.

Class K

Class K fire extinguishers are for cooking oils, animal fats, and vegetable oils. They are perfect to keep in the kitchen.

Multipurpose 

Some fire extinguishers are multipurpose, and will be labeled as such. Some examples include A-B, B-C, and A-B-C.

Here to Help

After using you fire extinguisher there will undoubtedly be a mess to clean up. SERVPRO of Putnam County will be there to help you cleanup and deodorize to help make it, "Like it never even happened." 

Fireplace Cleaning

1/31/2019 (Permalink)

Fireplace Safety

Even here in sunny, Northeast Florida we sometimes have to light up our fireplaces. Creosote, which is a flammable tar-like substance, builds up in your chimney and flue over time. This should be cleaned up by a professional, but there is some general cleaning that you can do in and around the firebox.

What Type of Wood to Burn

You should only burn seasoned hardwoods in your fireplace. Oak is the most popular to burn in our region. Pine and other softwoods are woods that you should avoid. They produce a lot of smoke which will lead to faster creosote buildup.

How to Clean Your Fireplace

Some places that you the homeowner should clean regularly include the firebox and the hearth. The firebox is where the actual fire is located. Wait at least 12 hours after your last fire before attempting to clean the firebox, just to be sure there are no hot embers while you are cleaning. You may shovel the ashes into a bucket or bag to dispose of them. Then gently scrub the walls of the firebox. Vacuum up all the light dust that remains. To clean your hearth just simply dust or vacuum to prevent any dust or soot buildup.

Enjoy the Warmth

Do these few simple things and you will be able to enjoy the warmth from your fireplace safely, on the few days we have that are cold enough to use it!

Christmas Light Safety

11/27/2018 (Permalink)

Christmas time is upon us! This means millions of people will not only be decorating the inside of their homes, but also the outside. Here are a few tips to keep you and your home safe.

• Check the string of lights for cracked cords, frayed ends, or loose connections before you hang the string up.
• If you have an older string of lights that does not have a fused plug throw them out, and replace them with a newer set of lights.
• If you need to replace bulbs make sure the replacement bulbs are the correct wattage.
• Do not hang light with tacks, nails, or screws. These can pierce the wire and cause a shock hazard. Use insulated hooks or plastic light hangers.
• Elevate the plugs on extension cords to keep them out of the rain.
• Only use light that are for outdoor use outside. Lights rated for indoor use only are not made to withstand the outdoor elements.
• Always plug your lights into a GFCI outlet to avoid electric shocks and short circuits.

The folks here at SERVPRO of Putnam County want you to stay safe, and we look forward to seeing all your beautiful light displays around Putnam County!

Water Heater Maintenance

10/16/2018 (Permalink)

This customer's water heater was way past it's life expectancy when it failed at the cold water inlet. Flooded three rooms before we arrived.

Let's Talk About Water Heaters

You know that one appliance in the home that never crosses your mind until either you don't have hot water, or even worse, you find a puddle of water in the location of your hot water heater. They are out of sight and out of mind; just quietly doing their job while all the other appliances in the house get all the attention and glory.

There really is not much to maintaining your water heater, but there are a couple things you can do to make sure you make it through the lifespan of your water heater trouble free.

Testing the pressure release valve is very important. This valve releases pressure should your water heater become over pressurized. If the valve is faulty this could cause the water heater to explode violently.

Flushing the sediment out of your water heater can help with the efficiency of the water heater and also prevent clogged pipes in your home. If your water heater is electric be sure to wait for the tank to fill back up before turning the power back on. if the tank is not full before power is restored the heating elements will burn out.

These couple tips will help insure that your hot water heater will function properly throughout its lifespan.

Hurricane Preparedness

8/22/2018 (Permalink)

Here is a small example of some of the damage from the past two hurricane seasons.

Heart of Hurricane Season

We are now headed into what is historically the most active part of the hurricane season. Over the past two years we have been affected by two hurricanes locally during this part of the season. Now is the time to get everything ready at your home.

Hurricane Kit

Get started now preparing a hurricane kit full of supplies.

• One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days
• Three day supply of non-perishable food
• Flashlight
• Battery operated or hand crank NOAA weather radio
• First aid kit
• Extra batteries
• If you have pets make sure they have a fresh supply of food, and extra water for them also.

These are just the essentials. You can add any other items that you can think of to fit your personal needs.

Evacuation Plan

If you already have an evacuation plan in place things will go much smoother in the event that n evacuation is ordered. You should already have a location in mind that you will head to if there is an evacuation ordered. Make sure that location is not in the same direction that the storm is headed.

If you have pets you need to be prepared to either take them with you of find a shelter that is going to stay open during the storm. If you are taking them be sure to bring their food and any medications they may be taking.

After the Storm

Be sure to use caution after the storm has moved out of the area. Stay away from downed tress and power lines. If you drive your vehicles watch out for debris in the road.

If there was an evacuation ordered, wait for the all clear before you try to get home. It is hard to have to wait and see what the storm has done to your home, but things will move much more smoothly if you wait for the all clear before trying to get home.

If your home sustained any damage you can call us SERVPRO of Putnam County during and after  the storm. We will get to you as soon as it is safe to do so. We will do out best, in your time of need, to make it "Like it never even happened."

Wintertime Tips

1/2/2018 (Permalink)

This is the kind of winter we like as Floridians, but we do get a few weeks a year where it is too cold to go to the beach!

Winter is Here!

Wintertime is upon us! Even though we only really have a few weeks of winter weather here in North Florida; there are still a few things you should do around your home to make sure you are ready for the cold weather when it comes!

Fireplace Preparation

Even though our winters are not normally harsh, we do have those few weeks that make having a fireplace in your home great! If your home is equipped with one there are a couple things to do to make sure you are ready to fire it up safely.

You should have you fireplace chimney cleaned by a professional chimney sweep. If you're unable to find one they sell chimney sweeping logs at most hardware stores that can get you by in the mean time.

Make sure that your chimney is drawing smoke up and out properly. Do this before you have a large fire going, so if it is not working properly your whole home does not fill up with smoke!

Avoid Burst Pipes

When the temperature dips below freezing burst water pipes become a concern. There are steps you can take that will help alleviate those concerns.

Wrap outside pipes with foam insulation and disconnect garden hoses from outside faucets. If you have a private well on your property be sure to cover it and put a a small heat lamp under the cover.

Indoors you can leave a water faucet trickling to keep water moving through the pipes. If you are going to be out of town it is a good idea to shut off the water supply and drain all the water from the system.

Pets and Plants

You should always bring pets indoors when the temperature dips to freezing! Their bodies do not like the cold weather anymore than we do! Cover or bring in all plants that you want to survive the cold!

These few things should get you ready for the Florida winter! As always should you need us because of a water or fire damage SERVPRO of Putnam County will be there for you!

Fall Home Maintenance

10/18/2017 (Permalink)

It may not get too cold here in Florida, but fall is the perfect time to get out and take care of chores you did not want to do in the summer heat!

Fall has Arrived!

Now that cooler, fall temperatures have started to arrive here in Northeast Florida, it is time to start some of your fall home maintenance! We will list just a few things that you can do around your home to keep it in top shape heading into winter.

Yard Work

Everyone's favorite outside activity gets a little easier when the temperature starts to drop. Now is the perfect time to get things done that you had been putting off during the heat of summer. Trimming the shrubs and tree branches is just a couple things that will be easier in the cooler temperatures.

Gutters and Roof

It is a good idea to clear your gutters of debris with every change of season. Be sure to use good ladder safety while cleaning your gutters.

Inspect your roof and the exterior of your home to make sure there is no damage from summer storms that you may not have noticed yet. Make repairs as necessary.

Clean Exterior

Now is the perfect time to pressure wash your sidewalks and the exterior of your home. After all the summer rain there is sure to be some buildup that needs to be cleaned up. Be sure to do it before it gets too cool! Nobody wants to pressure wash in the freezing cold! 

Atlantic Tropic Update

8/22/2016 (Permalink)

Satellite view of current tropical cyclones. Source: www.nhc.noaa.gov

Tropical Outlook for Northeast FL

8/22/2016

As we enter into the heart of the Atlantic hurricane season, SERVPRO of Putnam County would like to keep you up to date on current tropical disturbances, depressions, storms, or hurricanes that may be building.

Tropical Depression Fiona is currently moving WNW at 18mph, and is not expected to have any impact here in Northeast Florida. There are currently two tropical disturbances that the National Hurricane Center is monitoring for further development. The first is nearing the easternmost part of the Caribbean Sea, and only has a 20% chance of further tropical cyclone development. The second is just off the coast of Africa, and currently has a 100% chance of further tropical cyclone development.

We will continue to monitor these storms and update as needed!