Why is Containment Important?

4/2/2024 (Permalink)

When faced with mold growth, it is critical to protect the unaffected areas from those that pose a health risk.  Our containment barriers allow us to protect a property from further harm while mold remediation is in progress.

SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County uses air scrubbers and HEPA vacuums to remove mold, odor and other airborne contaminants from a given space.  Without barriers to contain the harmful particles, they can travel throughout a structure.  During the mold removal process, we place containment in all areas that will require demolition or equipment, or that have otherwise been determined to contain mold.  We perform similar services in instances of sewage or other biohazard events.

SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County follows the guidelines set forth by the IICRC, an organization that sets standards for cleaning and restoration in regard to the proper procedures and safety protocols.  Our crew is trained and certified in the industries we serve in order to provide the utmost expertise to our clients!

Preventing Water Damage In The Spring

3/22/2024 (Permalink)

During the spring season, the risk of water damage rises as rainfall occurs.  Water can often enter a property due to structural damage and other issues.  Regular inspection and maintenance of your property is crucial in preventing storm damage.

• Clear your gutters and downspouts of any debris.  A buildup in your drainage system can cause water to flow near your foundation, rather than away from it.
• Ensure that there are no issues with water pooling around the foundation that can eventually find its way into a structure.
• Windows and doors should be sealed to help prevent water from entering a property.
• Check your sump pump for issues and install a battery backup in case of power failure.
• Inspect your roof for signs of structural damage, such as missing roof tiles.  Repair these areas immediately.

Should your home or business suffer water or storm damage this season, SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County can quickly restore the property “Like it never even happened".  We provide emergency services for when the unexpected occurs.  We also have an entire reconstruction department on standby for storm disasters and other situations where areas need to be restored!

Furnace Fire in Lancaster

2/22/2024 (Permalink)

After the regulator in his propane furnace malfunctioned, this Lancaster homeowner suffered smoke and soot damage throughout the entire home.  Our fire damage restoration professionals began the mitigation process immediately.  The fire cleanup process is quite extensive.  During this process, we often use our soot sponges to detect if there is soot in areas where it is less evident.  This helps us to ensure that any signs of soot are eliminated from a property.

Once we have established which areas are affected, the removal process can begin!  Our team thoroughly cleaned the structure from top to bottom, including surfaces such as the walls, ceilings and floors.  At SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County, we get down to the details, removing the fire damage from the outlets and light fixtures, windows, doors and even the baseboards and trim.

Our odor deodorization techniques are then utilized to eliminate the airborne traces of smoke.  Leaving a property with a clean and healthy environment is one of our top priorities when it comes to restoring a structure after fire damage.  Content cleaning is also a critical component of the restoration process; we can restore damaged items, including even your salvageable documents and photos.  SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County offers emergency assistance for fire damage in the Lancaster area while also providing the utmost care for your home and belongings!

Preventing Storm Damage After Severe Weather

2/1/2024 (Permalink)

This time of year brings many weather-related forms of property damage to the Lancaster area.  The recent rain and snowstorms are no exception.  To help prevent storm damage to your own home or business, we can’t stress enough the importance of being prepared!

Inspect your property!

Check for structural issues or have a professional take a look.  Roof and foundation issues are two big ones to handle immediately.  Doing so can save you from a water leak down the road.

Keep the cold air out!

Seal any gaps between your doors and windows to help keep the moisture out.  This will also help with your electric bill.

Do your chores!

After a snowstorm, shoveling your sidewalk and walkways is a given to help avoid slippery conditions.  Removing the snow off your roof is also a good idea after heavy snowfall.  As the snow rests on your roof, the weight can potentially cause a roof leak or collapse, particularly if your roof is not up to par.  In addition, an ice dam can occur overtime and block where the water needs to drain out properly.  These issues can lead to water damage.

Insulate!

Your pipes should be insulated in addition to areas that are more prone to the exposure of moisture or cold air.  This includes attics and basements and will help to prevent frozen pipes.

Check your Sump Pump!

Sump pumps can save you from water damage, so it is important to make sure they are running efficiently.  But what happens when the power goes out?  Install a battery backup for the utmost peace of mind!

Trim Your Trees!

Loose tree limbs or branches should be removed to help eliminate the risk of roof damage during high winds.

These are just a few of the many preventative steps you can take to save your property from storm damage.  Should you suffer a loss of any kind, call SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County for a free assessment.  Our storm damage restoration team will guide you through the process as we get things back on track!

Wind Gusts and Heavy Rain Cause Storm Damage in Lancaster!

1/17/2024 (Permalink)

Lancaster has suffered several major storms in the past couple months.  During each of these storm events, SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County received dozens of calls to help restore storm-damaged properties.  With severe rainfall and wind gusts up to 50 mph, many were left with flooding or structural damage.  Downed trees, power lines and water rescues were other hazardous factors that came into play.  We would like to thank our local first responders for their efforts during these emergencies!

From sewage backups to busted pipes, our team was on standby to provide storm damage restoration services immediately for the many properties affected.  While this process generally remains the same as we utilize our IICRC guidelines, each situation has its own issues and demands.  Once the water mitigation of the affected areas is complete, we clean and disinfect those same areas with our anti-microbial and anti-fungal cleaning treatments.  We also provide more vigorous cleaning options for sewage and other biohazard events, including a hospital-grade disinfectant.

Our advanced air movers help get the job done when it comes to drying a structure, while our Reconstruction Department can handle the next steps of restoring damaged drywall, insulation, trim, flooring and more!  Our tarping and board up services are also only a call away when a tree comes down on your property. 

When it comes to storms, we don’t take the damage lightly.  SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County is always prepared for the worst so that we can respond as soon as a disaster occurs!

Fire Destroys Leola Business!

12/28/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County recently assisted a local salon that had been destroyed after a devastating fire.  One of our local fire chiefs gave us a call to assist over the weekend, so we immediately went out to assess the fire damage and see what we could do to help!

Unfortunately, the building was too severely damaged to be saved, but we were able to help secure the property until demolition could begin.   We provided temporary fencing as well as boarding up of the property.

When fire damage strikes, SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County assists our local homes and commercial properties based on each situation and its particular needs.  Although it is always difficult to see a business or home destroyed by such a disaster, we are grateful to have the opportunity to help in any way possible.  We strive to make these events less overwhelming for those involved!

SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County provides 24/7 emergency services for water and fire damage.  Should you suffer any extent of property damage, give us a call so that we can begin the restoration process immediately!

Dryer Vent Cleaning

12/13/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County provides more than water and fire damage cleanup!  We also provide a variety of cleaning services such as carpet cleaning, HVAC duct cleaning, post construction cleanup and general cleaning to include ceilings, walls, floors and more!

One of our specialty services is dryer vent cleaning.  When your dryer builds up of dirt, dust and lint, a clog can form that can potentially lead to a fire if ignored.

Dryer vents should be cleaned once per year, or as needed.  If you use your dryer more often or have pets, this may need to be done more often.  If your clothes take longer to dry or become overly warm, you may need a cleaning.  You should also look for any signs of musty or burning odors.

Should you have issues with your dryer, SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County can help to remove the excess materials that are clogging your vent.  We continuously suction everything out of the vent through the back of the dryer until the vent is clear.  We then ensure that there is no other debris that could cause a clog, leaving you with a much lower risk of fire damage.

Our team provides 24/7 emergency services for water and fire damage, but we are equipped with the expertise and resources to handle smaller disasters as well!

Water Damage in Landisville

11/14/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County stopped out to a local home to perform water damage restoration services after the water softener left a substantial leak in the basement.  The standing water had damaged the floors and walls in addition to the furniture and other content in the space.  The homeowner had used SERVPRO before for another property, so he gave us a call to quickly mitigate and dry the affected areas.

Once our water restoration professionals had extracted all of the initial water, our air movers and dehumidifiers were placed throughout the space.  While air movers circulate the air and help to dry particular areas, our dehumidifiers are utilized to remove the excess water from the air until the humidity in the space is reduced to the proper level for the property.  By ensuring proper dehumidification, this helps us to prevent potential mold damage to a structure.  Equipment is set for approximately three days or more if needed.

Using our anti-fungal and anti-microbial solution, our team will clean and disinfect the areas, leaving the property as good as new once we exit the premises!  We also can provide complete content cleaning services as well as storage and disposal for items that have been affected.  Our Reconstruction Department can then provide the finishing touches by restoring what was removed in the process.  This includes the installation of components such as drywall, insulation, trim, floors, and carpets in addition to services such as painting!

SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County is prepared to restore properties back to preloss conditions after water damage takes place.  We take pride in making it “Like it never even happened.”

Shred Event for Our First Responders!

10/18/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County held our first free shred event!  We partnered with Aubrey Montgomery State Farm and Manheim Township Fire Rescue Foundation.  The event brought many members of our community out to destroy their sensitive documents.  The fire engines were also onsite for families to tour and enjoy!

During the shredding, we accepted monetary donations on behalf of Manheim’s first responders.  We raised approximately $1,500 in donations, which will go towards purchasing ballistic vests for the fire department while they are on scene!

SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County appreciates the community’s support and generosity for this event!  We are grateful that we had such a great turnout, and we hope to partner with our co-sponsors again soon.  We are always looking for ways to give back to our local fire departments, and we are glad that we could help to make a difference!

Water and Fire Damage in New Providence

9/8/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County was called to assist with a home in New Providence after the property suffered both water and smoke damage.  During these types of losses, we utilize our advanced equipment to perform the proper fire and water damage restoration procedures to help restore your home or business to preloss conditions!

Water damage events require our mitigation techniques followed by our air movers, which help to remove more of the water droplets that attempt to hide in your walls and floors.  This equipment is necessary in order to prevent further water damage or the potential growth of mold.

Our air scrubbers are also utilized in the role of removing smoke damage inside a structure.  This equipment captures and eliminates even the smoke that we can’t see through our IICRC-certified restoration procedures.

These techniques and equipment are just the beginning of the resources and expertise we offer for our Lancaster clients!  Should you experience fire, water, storm, or mold damage, SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County provides free consultations and estimates!