Residential Cleaning

3/17/2023 (Permalink)

Spring is coming, warmer temps will soon be upon us and we will be ready to open the windows and let some fresh air in. Then when you open them and see all the dirt and debris that could be left over from the fall and winter months. Once you clean the window track out you start to notice all the things left behind from the cold weather months. Now starts the spring cleaning and now starts the feeling of being overwhelmed. Or you may have a cottage or cabin you are ready to open up for the summer months on the lake, you let that musty air out and start to freshen things up, you can quickly realize how long it may take to get things ready. Another reason you may need to get your residence clean is if you're ready to sell your home. 

No matter the reason you are ready to get into some spring cleaning you can call the professionals at SERVPRO of Mt Pleasant, Clare and Houghton Lake to help get your property ready. We have the experience and equipment necessary to get your home clean and for the summer, cottage season, or ready to hit the market. 

The Benefits of Having a Plan

3/16/2023 (Permalink)

Would your business know what to do if there was a fire or flood? Many times losses like this happen when you are not around such as a vacation, middle of the night, etc. While you are not there, would your staff or employees know how to stop a broken pipe from causing more damage, would they know who to call? 

In many cases the business I speak to does not have a plan in place or it may be part of a plan but not well thought out. I have seen business' take a very long time to get the doors back open and operational and sometimes this loss can cause the business to never re-open to seeing a business with a plan have things in order and doors re-open 4-5 days after a fire. As their clients came back I overheard many say, " you would never know there was a fire here" . 

Here are a few things to consider when putting together a plan: 

-does your plan cover everything? Some things we think of are common events, wind damage, roof damage, power outage, etc. But have you thought of what to do after a fire, after a flood? 

-Do you have things in place to have your building put back together in case of fire or major water loss? Most times we can get things cleaned up rather quickly, but in recent times it seems to take a long time to get things put back together. 

- do you have a list of important contacts? This can be a list of who can make decisions on what to do, insurance contacts and emergency contacts and info. 

As you think of if your plan is complete or could use some work, call SERVPRO of Mt Pleasant, Clare and Houghton Lake to help assist with this. We have have a template that we can put info, pictures, contacts, etc into an electronic and paper form to have and will help go through the place with staff so everyone knows what to do in case a loss should happen. 

Are your electrical cords safe

3/6/2023 (Permalink)

I always make the joke of electrical outlets and cords looking like the Griwswold's on National Lampoons Christmas vacation. But more times than not I end up seeing extension cords plugged into more extension plugged into cord that have wires showing and perhaps duct tape holding those together and more times than not this ends up being the cause of fires in a house or business. Another cause I see are cords being overloaded. I've seen two or more space heaters plugged into one extension cord that causes it to be overworked and lead to fires. Here are a few tips to being safe when using electrical cords: 

- Do not use extension cords to plug into a power strip

-Do no overload outlets( the Griswold effect)  or extension cords with too many appliances or overload the capacity of the cord

-Never use staples or nails to attach cords to a surface

-Make sure there is no crimping

-Never run a cord under a rug . It prevents the cord from releasing heat and can cause a fire. 

Is your house prepared for Freezing Temps

3/6/2023 (Permalink)

Recently numerous areas of the United Stated experienced freezing temps that they are not prone to seeing. In Nashville, TN temps around the holidays dipped into the single digits and some below zero. In an area that is not prepared for this it can cause widespread damage and a lot of it. Even if you are in a region that is prepared for freezing temps that normally occur, if your home or insulation are not prepared for it, it can also cause widespread damage. Most recently SERVPRO of Mt Pleasant, Clare and Houghton Lake helped home and business owners in the NE portion of the nation with a freeze even though they had. Prolonged freezing temps cause pipes to break and cause flooding throughout many residences and businesses. 

As soon as SERVPRO of Mt Pleasant, Clare and Houghton Lake got the ask to help, we dispatched teams and were heading out to help. Crews work extended hours to get wet affected material out of homes and businesses to get the residents back to their everyday life. 

Spring Thaw

3/14/2022 (Permalink)

Another winter is coming to an end here in Michigan. As temps start to climb and the snow depth disappear many of us will start to look at what we can do around our homes to be prepared for the spring thaw. 

After a long and cold winter the ground will still have frost in it and a fast warm up followed with rain can cause flooding. Here are some steps that can help prevent a flood in your home. 

-Clean out gutters and Downspouts- also done in the fall to prepare for winter, there can still be leaves and debris that get in there and can cause a failure in the gutter system. If the snow melt and rain cannot properly flow it can backed up and flow into your house, down the walls, floors and into your basement. 

-Sump Pump- be sure your sump pump is working properly and you have a backup in case power should failure. With the frost still in the ground, water can sit on top or worse, find a way into your basement. If this is the case, your sump pump working properly can get the water out of your basement and protect your belongings. 

- Basement Storage- Good to have all year long, storing your items that in your basement in water proof storage and on shelving off of the floor. If flooding does occur, this will help save your items from being damaged beyond repair. 

If a flooding event should happen at your property this spring, call the experts at SERVPRO of Mt Pleasant, Clare and Houghton Lake to get your properly dried out. 

Is Your Fireplace Clean

1/31/2022 (Permalink)

This was caused by a Chimney Fire

How often do you have your fireplace cleaned? Do you have it cleaned by a professional or do you do it yourself? 

However you have it cleaned you want to make sure its done properly and done often. Having a nice warm fire in your home or cabin can be nice to come back too, but if it is not properly maintained, it can lead to a disaster. Creosote can build in your chimney and lead to a fire that can  get out of control very quick. The damage in limited to just your chimney and fireplace. If it grows to quick it can quickly burn your walls and roof, soot will spread throughout your house and if the fire department is called out, they can quickly soak your house leading to a water damage as well. 

If this unfortunate loss should happen to you, call the professionals at SERVPRO of Mt Pleasant, Clare and Houghton Lake, 989-775-5065.  

Is Your Business Prepared For Freezing Weather

1/31/2022 (Permalink)

A burst pipe caused this business to flood, Drying Equipment set to help start the drying process

Over time Plumbing can become weak and wore down. Sometimes the insulation around the pipes may not be as efficient as it once was. If this should happen and plumbing happens to be on an exterior wall, it can lead to a frozen pipe and once the temperature rises, it can burst, causing water to go everywhere. It does not take a big crack in a pipe to allow gallons and gallons of water to come out. Damage that can happen from this can be as small as some flooring that needs to come to multiple floors of flooring, walls, insulation and ceilings that need to come out and be repaired. 

If this loss should happen to you, call SERVPRO of Mt Pleasant, Clare and Houghton Lake. We have the experience and know how to get you dried out and get your doors back open quicker.  We understand that the longer it takes to get the water dried out, the longer it can take to get back to business.  

Boiler Failure

1/31/2022 (Permalink)

Water Stained Walls from a Boiler Loss

Is your Home or cabin's heating sources properly maintained? It is important to have them properly maintained to avoid failure that can lead to further damage. The latest scenario is from a second home and the boiler failed. The water through the baseboard heat then froze during the cold Michigan winter months. Once temps rose and the pipes thawed, the split in a few different locations causing water to spill from the second floor all the way down to the crawl space effecting every room in the house. The homeowner was not there at the time and was not able to turn the water off in a timely manner. The condensation from this caused the insulation in the walls to become soaked along with the river of water that was coming out of their crawl space. 

SERVPRO of Mt Pleasant, Clare and Houghton Lake was able to get out the property and get the water extracted and the walls opened up to allow the condensation to evaporate to limit further damage. 

Are you Prepared for Winter

10/4/2021 (Permalink)

This time of year brings Football, Cooler Temps, Leaves changing colors and Pumpkin Spice is back in season. Once all of this happens its a great reminder to make sure your home is ready for the freezing temps and snow to start. Here is a list of things to help be ready for the Winter season:

1) Check your homes heating system. Don't get caught in the cold when a simple check up could have noticed something simple to fix. Routine check up on your homes heating and air conditioning can help avoid more costly repairs down the road

2) Seal masonry and hard surfaces. Look for any daylight that may let in cold air and moisture and seal them. 

3) Clean your chimney and order firewood. If you are going to use wood to help heat your home there is probably nothing more important to then making sure your chimney is ready to go. 

4) Clean your Gutters and Drains. If there is an ice build up in your gutters this can lead to ice build up on your roof. This can create future damage on your rood and can also melt the ice into your walls. 

5) Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. This is a good practice to have throughout the year and not just in the winter months. 

How to Keep Mold and Mildew Away

9/15/2021 (Permalink)

Most of of us experience humidity either in our homes, places of Business, Rv's and even in Boat cabins. When high levels of Humidity are present, microbial growth can also take place. Mold and Mildew can grow where there is moisture, low sunlight and poor ventilation. Here are some ways to help keep those conditions low: 

Keep humidity levels low ( between 30%-50%) as you can. Air conditioners and dehumidifiers can help keep these levels low. 

Be sure that you have enough ventilation. Exhaust fans that vent to the outside of your home or business. 

Fix any leaks in your roof, windows and walls that you can, so that mold doesn't have a chance to start growing. 

Try not to use carpet in areas that may have higher moisture or humidity levels such as in a basement. Carpet can hold moisture and create a good environment to have microbial growth. 

If you feel like you may have a mildew smell or can see something that looks discolored call the experts at SERVPRO of Mt Pleasant, Clare and Houghton Lake at 989-775-5065 or visit us online at www.SERVPROofmtpchl.com