Recent Posts

Mold Threats

10/6/2023 (Permalink)

Mold can be an intimidating thing, but understanding it and resolving it as soon as possible is the key. As we enter fall this is the time many people realize they have mold especially after the summer we had. Areas that are damp and moist are mold spores happy place. 

Some common rooms that mold likes to present its self is in rooms with poor ventilation such as a bathroom and kitchen. Once mold makes its presence you might notice a strong must smell. That smell might lead you right to where the mold might be present. 

The first step to mold remediation is mold testing, this testing will allow us to correctly attack the mold as it tells us the spore count and the type of mold. The next step is to set up the proper equipment such as an air scrubber as well as HEPA filters. After that process is done we the have to retest the room to ensure that the area has been properly cleaned. 

After that you will have a safe and heathy home again. Mold is not something to take lightly but it is something we not only take seriously but we do the best job we can to ensure you have a safe home. If you have signs of mold or have any mold questions feel free to give us a call at (914) 684-1560 

Water Damage

10/5/2023 (Permalink)

Three things to know after experiencing water 

1.Emergency services  

2. Drying process 

3. Final cleaning 

Now lets get into what each one means, 

When it comes to the emergency services which is also known as water mitigation we always begin with extracting the water that is present which the faster you call us the faster we get out there and try to minimize the damage that can occur. After that we begin to go through whatever got damaged which we call contents we will attempt to salvage any personal items that may have been caught in the flooding, what ever can be saved we will take photos and store them for you. 

The second step which is important is drying process, sometimes it is as easy as drying what ever is wet on the surface but sometimes it does get trapped within walls and even flooring but don't you fret we have the best drying equipment and even if your floors are beyond the help of drying we can also help you with removing them and even putting them back.

Step three which can be the most satisfying part is cleaning after the chaos of flooding. We use not only the best products to clean after situations like this but we also have plant based products so you do not need to worry about the smell of harsh chemicals. 

Water damage can be a tough situation and overwhelming but do not worry we at White Plains and New Rochelle will always be there to help. We have experienced professional's who are ready to help 24/7. Always remember we will leave your home like it never happened. Call (914) 685-1560 with all your needs.     

Rainy Days Ahead

6/21/2023 (Permalink)

Well here we all are another rainy weekend is in our foreseeable future. Although we all hope we just have a few light showers if it turns out to be heavy showers and flooding does happen feel more than welcomed to call us at SERVPRO 914.684.1560 we will take some of the frustration away since we will quickly come out a remediate the problem. We understand the struggles of flooding as we too have been flooded so we keep an eye out on the weather.

Good tips to know is the difference between Flood Warning, Flood Advisory and a Flood Watch.

Flood Warning happens when a flood is going to happen to be vigilant this is where you might take some time to put things on a lower level to a higher point. 

Where a flood Advisory is when the weather is looking like it possibly could flood but not to such a bad extent meaning you might have a little water come in but not enough to cause so much damage just enough to be annoying because you will have to use your good towels to dry up the water.

Flood Watch is when the weather is in a favorable condition to possibly cause a flood but it might not happen. 

Neverthertheless as we all keep our fingers crossed and hope this rain does not damper our weekend we will be prepared. If mother nature decides to cause some damage we are here to help whether it is 2inches of water or 10inches we will be there in a flash and help you the best way we know how. 

Summertime Fun with our Furry Friends

6/20/2023 (Permalink)

Its that time of the year SUMMERTIME, as we begin to plan what fun activities we will be doing this year our furry babies are always in the back of our head especially when we can not bring them with us everywhere (even though we wish we could. Here are a few tips to ensure they are safe while we are out. 

Always make sure you leave your pet with water in an area they can always get too.

On those very warm and maybe humid days make sure your pet is kept in a cooler room to ensure they do not overheat. On those super hot days wait until it cools down a bit before walking them. If its too hot for us to walk barefoot on the floor its too hot for them since the asphalt gets hot it can burn their paws when its 87 degrees out the floor could be a whopping 143 degrees the best way to test it is by placing the back of your hand on the floor for roughly 7 seconds if its too hot wait for the sun to go down and try again. On those days you cant wait invest in some shoes for your fur babies they work magic but still keep an eye on your animal incase they overheat. 

Now for those trips you can bring them out keep these few tips in mind,

 Never leave them in a car alone with it off temps can easily rise in a car quickly.

Always travel with a small portable bowl for them as they will drink more because of the heat than during the winter.

If you do own a short snout dog like a Pug or Frenchie keep in mind since they have a harder time breathing summer might not always be fun for them paying attention to your fur babies breathing you can avoid overheating. 

But all in all enjoy the summer and bring those fur babies everywhere you can I know we will here at SERVPRO of white plains and New Rochelle. 

Elements of Water Damage Restoration in White Plains

9/14/2022 (Permalink)

servpro poster green duck and water damage Don't duck calling SERVPRO for water damage cleanup and restoration for your White Plains property.

The Three Primary Phases of Water Damage Recovery

Knowing what to expect with damages from water disasters is important to keep customers calm and informed through the restoration process. While an oversimplification, water restoration services can be broken down into three primary phases:

  • Emergency Services
  • The Drying Process
  • Final Cleaning

White Plains water damage can be challenging to overcome through these restoration stages, but our SERVPRO team can help. We have experienced professionals capable of responding fast to emergencies and an educated roster licensed and certified to offer comprehensive restoration and recovery solutions.

Emergency Services and Mitigation

To mitigate when water damage is involved, remove the pressing concerns that threaten the structure and its contents. In most situations, properties face several approaches to eliminating direct problems. From water pooling on exposed surfaces to managing the location and condition of personal belongings and contents, there is more to mitigation and emergency services than homeowners might think. Our fast response allows us to get these early actions underway, with objectives like:

  • Extraction - Water removal services are often the first action taken by SERVPRO professionals reaching damaged residences. We must eliminate pooling to protect exposed building materials like carpeting, plank flooring, and drywall.
  • Managing Damaged Contents - Personal belongings and loose contents throughout the structure must be identified and cataloged for inspection. When these items are at risk for harm from migrating water, they can be moved to a safer area of the house or transported to our SERVPRO facility for intricate cleaning.
  • Cataloging Damage - The inspection and evaluation process involves an experienced staff member walking through the property and noting damage encountered. The information collected here creates a detailed estimation and restoration plan.
  • Removing Ruined Materials - Controlled demolition also plays an essential part in pre-restoration emergency services. Sagging materials overwhelmed by moisture and water must be cut out and removed. Similarly, SERVPRO can also discard any overexposed building materials like carpeting.
  • Emergency Repairs Necessary - Because many water emergencies homeowners face can happen from broken fixtures, and portions of the plumbing, our general contractor's license can help by allowing us to complete needed repairs before the bulk of restoration gets underway.

Starting the Necessary Drying Process

Drying your home or business after water damage means overcoming moisture in several scenarios. One drying approach is not universal for structures, meaning SERVPRO professionals must diversify measures to ensure the expected moisture range is met. Some types of expected damage include:

  • Wet Surfaces – When homeowners think of needed drying practices, damp surfaces and building materials come to mind. Air movers can help with the evaporation of this outermost moisture.
  • Trapped Water – Water can become absorbed into materials like wood plank flooring, requiring specialty tools to resolve like drying mats.
  • Humidity – Increasing the room's humidity requires suitable equipment to collect and manage this growing moisture concern. Dehumidifiers can trap moisture and prevent relative humidity from reaching its maximum.

Thoroughly Cleaning After Drying Materials

Cleaning up after water damage exposure can be an essential part of restoring the former appearance of your home after a disaster. Often elements like carpeted floors can become soiled or discolored, requiring focused cleaning efforts after drying with bonnet tools or hot water extraction equipment from our inventory.

Disasters like these are not fully resolved without needed repairs and reconstruction completed. We have a general contractor license to save customers time and money on vetting and selecting a subcontractor.

White Plains water damage can impact your property in many ways, but SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle can help. We have experienced professionals ready 24/7 to mitigate damage and protect your property from preventable harm. "Like it never even happened." Call now at (914) 684-1560.

How SERVPRO Helps White Plains Fire Damage Restoration

9/14/2022 (Permalink)

servpro poster extraction demo after fire SERVPRO fire damage and restoration experts return your White Plains home to preloss condition, "Like it never even happened."

Fire Damage Recovery Happens in Many Ways

A fire is one of the most damaging events a property can experience in its lifetime. Much like other disasters and emergencies, there is an urgency to get restoration professionals on-site to begin needed mitigation and restoration services as soon as possible. We work with first responders to ensure we can start our emergency services when it is safe to begin this work.

Because of the possibility of White Plains fire damage for any residence, homeowners need to understand and appreciate the need for restoration professionals in these situations. Insurance companies require skilled and certified technicians to restore fire losses, and we are a preferred vendor to help.

The Importance of Swift Action

Because situations like fire damage threaten structures, our professionals need to reach the residence quickly. Mitigation is the objective of early responders, seeking to eliminate pressing concerns and prevent irreparable harm to the structure whenever possible. Much of the fire mitigation involves creating a safer workspace, such as:

  • Air Filtration
  • Fire Debris Removal
  • Water Removal

Improving Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

A threat of post-fire conditions in households is the concentration of airborne contaminants. Aerosolized soot particles, smoke solids, chemicals, and other particulates create a volatile environment that is hazardous for the house occupants. Before SERVPRO professionals can begin mitigation and restoration services, air filtration with HEPA products is often necessary.

How to Remove Smoke Residues

Smoke and soot damage is a common byproduct of the combustion process, making it one of the challenges SERVPRO professionals must overcome when addressing fire damage. There are multiple approaches to removing residues from surfaces.

  • Solvent Products – Solvents work to dissolve moist soot buildup on surfaces.
  • Alkaline Agents – With the acidity of soot particles, alkaline cleaners can be a practical choice to reduce corrosivity and prevent the erosion of finished surfaces.
  • Media Blasting – Using various media under pressure by air or water, we can abrasively clean soot-damaged surfaces without destroying underlying substrates. Materials can include baking soda, corn cobs, and other abrasives.
  • Material Removal – When other cleaning options have been exhausted, or the damage is noticeably more significant than these other restoration methods can resolve, controlled demolition is a suitable solution.

Post-Fire Malodor Removal

While one of the final obstacles for fire restoration services, malodors present a unique threat to the property. While these conditions are often mild enough to be pushed to the final stages of recovery after reducing their strength with mitigation and soot removal, house occupants cannot have comfortable living conditions with these persistent smells.

Deodorization must occur after the cleanup finishes and after fire losses. This typically requires a combination of hydroxyl machines with HEPA filtration and ULV or thermal foggers for widespread pairing agent distribution. These foggers are effective when removing trapped odors in porous building materials.

Build-Back Services Help After Cleanup

One of the advantages of SERVPRO for clearing fire damage threats from your property is our general contractor license. This accreditation allows us to assess the structural inefficiencies of the property after disasters to determine where reconstruction and repairs might be required. A structural engineer must inspect and provide the manner of reconstruction for extensive damage. Instead of waiting weeks on scheduling availabilities of subcontractors, our professionals can seamlessly transition from restoration to repairs and get the job done much more expediently.

New Plains fire damage can be destructive and ruinous for area homes and businesses. With our SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle team's fast response, we can quickly help get life back to normal. Give us a call now at (914) 684-1560.

Overcoming the Effects of White Plains Mold Damage

9/14/2022 (Permalink)

servpro poster mold out of sight 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)

bathroom with drywall removed and equipment drying the tiled water damaged floor 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.

Factors That Influence Flood Damage Restoration in White Plains

8/9/2022 (Permalink)

blue arrows signifying evaporation off water Thermaldynamics plays a key role in evaporation. SERVPRO knows how to mitigate storm damage and water from your White Plains property.

Flood Damage Recovery Follows Specific Principles

Flooding can be a complicated disaster for your home to endure and restoring and recovering from these circumstances most often requires experienced professionals like our SERVPRO team. We use science like psychometry to understand the behavior of water after a disaster like flooding to predict migration patterns and better protect the structure. This information can help in related restoration actions like:

  • Structure drying
  • Humidity management
  • Content cleaning

Absorbency of Building Materials

Flood damage in White Plains can quickly overwhelm rooms and require fast and focused mitigation solutions. In places with unfinished areas like the attic or basement, the absorbancy and porosity of materials play a considerable role. SERVPRO professionals can quickly identify what building materials and contents are most at risk for saturation damage and relocate objects or establish containment and drying approaches for structural elements.

Warm Temperatures Seek Cold

One of the principles of water's behavior after flooding or other disasters is that this moisture moves from warm conditions to cold. All things in nature seek a balance, and cold and warm temperatures clash within your home to create a state in the middle. Likewise, warm and wet conditions migrate towards cooler temperatures in the building. It is often beneficial for SERVPRO professionals like ours to manipulate surrounding room temperatures to discourage migration and make drying practices more efficient.

Wet Conditions Migrate to Dry

The typical behavior of water through the study of psychometry also shows that areas of the home that are wet will seek a balance with drying regions. The wet to dry draws moisture and water damage through building materials to impact new structure areas. Understanding this behavior, SERVPRO professionals can better safeguard at-risk building materials with direct drying practices. A wet home will seek a balance with drying regions. The wet to dry draws moisture and water damage through building materials to impact new structure areas. Understanding this behavior, SERVPRO professionals can better safeguard at-risk building materials with direct drying practices. 

Flooding is a disaster that is devastating for your home or business. Our SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle team is ready to help; however, you need 24/7 at (914) 684-1560.

Handing Soot and Fire Damage in New Rochelle Homes

8/9/2022 (Permalink)

black soot on white wall 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.