SERVPRO Uses The Most Cost Conscious & Effective Tools Of The Trade

1/15/2022 (Permalink)

You can trust the in the event of fire or water damage SERVPRO is dedicated to use the best technology on your space.

Here are SERVPRO of Western Lake County we bring you the best tools of the trade to make it "Like it never even happened." Our goal is to always use the most cost conscious and effective tools.

Here's a look at some of the technology we use!

• Commercial Dehumidifier: This is used to prevent secondary damage, mold, and wet walls that won’t dry with a semi-gloss paint. We use this often to dry out rooms. We even drill holes in the baseboards to make sure we get the water out from behind them, where mold can grow.
• Injecti-Dry Equipment: We inject warm, dry air and dry the walls instead of having to cut the walls out.
• Hardwood Floor Drying Mat System: This special hardwood floor drying mat system allows the mats to go on the floor and suck the water out of the floor. They are perforated to soak up the water quickly. Customers can save $1,000’s by drying the floors instead of having to replace them. 
• Deodorization: We use air scrubbers for air quality. They contain HEPA filters and deodorizers.

You can trust the in the event of fire or water damage we are dedicated to use the best technology on your space. 

Do You Know The Importance of Being IICRC Certified Firm? We Do & Are!

11/14/2021 (Permalink)

We are an IICRC Certified Firm!

SERVPRO of Western Lake County 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. I

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.

About SERVPRO of Western Lake County

SERVPRO of Western Lake County 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. In fact, both owners are IICRC certified as Master Water Restorers! Very rare indeed. This is what sets SERVPRO of Western Lake County apart. 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.

SERVPRO Is The #1 Leader In Cleaning & Restoration

11/14/2021 (Permalink)

We are faster to any size disaster, no damage is too small for SERVPRO of Western Lake County.

SERVPRO is a cleaning and restoration company dedicated to serving your cleaning and restoration needs, remediating damage “Like it never even happened.” SERVPRO of Western Lake County is an independently owned and operated franchise owned by James & Nancy Adomitis, to learn more about Todd and Tina, check out our Company Profile. 

SERVPRO Franchise Professionals are leader is fire and water damage cleanup and restoration, as well as mold mitigation and remediation. We are faster to any size disaster, no damage is too small for SERVPRO of Western Lake County

Are you in need of any cleaning or restoration services? Call SERVPRO of Western Lake County today! (219) 922-9300

We offer many services, including fire and water damage restoration, mold remediation, as well as various cleaning services. We clean from your flooring to your ceiling. We can help you with any of your carpet, wall, and ceiling cleaning as well as cleaning your HVAC, air ducts, and much more. Visit our Cleaning Services Overview page for more information about SERVPRO of Western Lake County.

Ask The Experts: What might winter weather mean for my business?

1/14/2021 (Permalink)

This time of year, a winter storm is imminent. While not every storm will cripple a business, it is still necessary to be prepared. Along with frigid temperatures and snow, winter can create problems with plumbing and operations. Therefore, it is essential to make a plan for the worst-case scenario.

1. Prepare Your Building

In an effort to prepare for potential storm damage, it is wise for a business to focus on plumbing and electricity. Outside plumbing should be shut off and cleared to prevent freezing and possible burst pipes. Additionally, it may be a good idea to secure a generator if your business does not already have one. If your company does have a generator, it is a good investment to have it serviced before the winter weather sets in.

2. Plan for Ice and Snow

Any winter storm is going to bring issues of snow and ice. Being prepared for this situation means having a plow service on contract and ensuring that all walkways and driveways are cleared and salted. It is vital to do everything in your power to ensure that customers do not get hurt on the way into your business.

3. Focus on Inventory

Also, as storms have the potential to cause significant business interruption as well as property damage, it is vital to take an accurate inventory of all your assets. This inventory will be used for insurance claims if property damage results in an inventory loss. You should move stock to a secure and climate-controlled area, photographing and documenting everything. This will help streamline the process if a claim is made.

4. Make a List of Contacts

While taking inventory is necessary, it is also crucial to make a list of emergency contacts. This list should include all personnel who are essential to your operations. Additionally, you should include a disaster restoration specialist in the Western Lake County area in case of an emergency.

Winter storm season can produce significant threats to business operations. Massive snowfalls and ice storms can wreak havoc on a business, so it is essential to have a plan like the one above.

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Ask The Experts: Removing mold from a work of art

12/30/2020 (Permalink)

Many artists know very well that accidents can happen at any time, such as a careless brush stroke or knocked over paint palate. Unfortunately, some accidents are larger than others. An unexpected flood in your studio can force you to partake in some very necessary mold cleaning. Follow the steps below if your house in has recently experienced a flood that resulted in some moldy paintings.

1. Dry Any Remaining Moisture.
It's natural to want to remove the mold as quickly as possible. The best way to protect the painting is to prevent the mold from spreading any more than it already has. Do this by setting the painting out in direct sunlight to dry for a few hours.

2. Carefully Brush Away Dried Mold.
You must be very careful during this step to avoid brushing off the paint itself. Use a soft-bristled brush, such as a sawdust brush to carefully sweep away the dried bits of mold.

3. Create a Cleaning Solution.
Fill a spray bottle with clean water and add a few drops of bleach. It doesn't take a lot of bleach to erase the mold damage. Mist the painting where the mold was located on both sides of the canvas. It's important to note that this cleaning solution should only be used on canvas oil paintings. Acrylic and watercolor paints are water-soluble, and using this type of cleaning solution is likely to wash away the painting.

4. Dry the Painting Again.
Hang the painting on a rack to allow the mold cleaning solution to dry completely. You can place the canvas back into direct sunlight if you wish to speed up this process.
Mold cleaning is typically a tough job that you would tackle aggressively. However, this is not the case when you wish to preserve your precious paintings. The above technique should help you eliminate any mold growing on your canvas oil paintings without damaging the artwork itself. Remember to contact mold remediation experts for assistance with any unwanted mold growth.

Why SERVPRO? Faster to any disaster!

12/30/2020 (Permalink)

When your Business has incurred damage from fire, flood or a storm, you may need a local restoration team like SERVPRO who can be Faster to Any Size Disaster. These professionals are preferred vendors for many insurance providers for a number of reasons. Here are three you may want to know about.

1. Locally Owned

Choosing a local restoration team allows for a faster response time to your business. Not only do they know the area allowing them to arrive on scene quickly, but this will allow them to more quickly assess the damage and begin cleaning operations. Staying local also allows the restoration team quick access to any tools and materials they may need from their own office, without having to wait an extended length of time for their delivery.

2. Large Scale Resources

While they are a locally owned company, these professionals also have access to corporate resources. This means they can be Faster to Any Size Disaster, Whether that means handling a small leak, or calling in large scale equipment for a heavy-duty job, they can restore your business “Like it never even happened.”

3. Trained for Various Needs

These professionals are also often listed as preferred vendors by the company handling your insurance claim because not only can they meet industry restoration standards, but because they can deal with a variety of disaster types. SERVPRO professionals have gone through the training necessary for dealing with fire, smoke, soot, water, storm, flooding, and mold damage. This means that even if one damage type has lead to another they have the ability to take care of your company.
If you need a local restoration crew who can be Faster to any size disaster, choose SERVPRO. These professionals are already in your area allowing them to respond quickly. They also have access to larger resources if needed. In addition, your local restoration team has been trained to handle a variety of damage types.

SERVPRO Tips: A Pound of Cure

12/29/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is here to help when a disaster strikes. We are also here to help you prevent disaster from striking. With all of the frigid cold temperatures occurring everyone needs to be taking the appropriate steps to prevent this.

Any type of water line can freeze when it goes below 32 degrees. This occurs when the water inside the pipe freezes, the ice causes an increase in pressure, and when the pressure gets to high it bursts.

Steps to prevent this:

• Assess Conditions
• Adjust Habits
• Add Insulation

Assess Conditions

One of the most important prevention tips is to make sure that your pipes are in optimal condition. This can be done by having a plumber inspect your pipes and replacing older pipes, if instructed. It is known that PEX tubing is more flexible than copper so it is less likely to freeze and burst.

Adjust Habits

People leave for vacation all of the time throughout the cold season. If you are to leave your home make sure to keep it at least above 60 degrees. Some other habits to practice are run your ceiling fans in reverse, keep garage doors shut, close outdoor vents, keep interior doors open, and disconnect all outdoor hoses.

Add Insulation

Some areas in a home are not temperature controlled, that is why it is smart to add insulation to these areas. These areas can be the attic, basement, and crawl space.

So give us a call! We are faster to any disaster and ready to make things "Like it never even happened."

We are here to help you when disaster strikes

12/29/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is here to help when a disaster strikes. We are also here to help you prevent disaster from striking. With all of the frigid cold temperatures occurring everyone needs to be taking the appropriate steps to prevent this.

Any type of water line can freeze when it goes below 32 degrees. This occurs when the water inside the pipe freezes, the ice causes an increase in pressure, and when the pressure gets to high it bursts.

Steps to prevent this:

• Assess Conditions
• Adjust Habits
• Add Insulation

Assess Conditions

One of the most important prevention tips is to make sure that your pipes are in optimal condition. This can be done by having a plumber inspect your pipes and replacing older pipes, if instructed. It is known that PEX tubing is more flexible than copper so it is less likely to freeze and burst.

Adjust Habits

People leave for vacation all of the time throughout the cold season. If you are to leave your home make sure to keep it at least above 60 degrees. Some other habits to practice are run your ceiling fans in reverse, keep garage doors shut, close outdoor vents, keep interior doors open, and disconnect all outdoor hoses.

Add Insulation

Some areas in a home are not temperature controlled, that is why it is smart to add insulation to these areas. These areas can be the attic, basement, and crawl space.

So give us a call! We are faster to any disaster and ready to make things "Like it never even happened."

Why SERVPRO? Multiple Specialties Under One Roof!

11/11/2020 (Permalink)

Demand for damage mitigation and restoration services spikes after a severe storm. Insurance agents and adjusters need to be able to rely on a local mitigation and restoration company to provide timely storm response services. Here are three services that make a local SERVPRO franchise the right choice for storm restoration.

1. Disaster Response

No matter how many properties are affected by a storm, a Disaster Response Team can arrive on each location within a matter of hours. Independent mitigation and restoration services are more likely to be backlogged than a national corporation that can dispatch employees and equipment from nearby franchises to areas that have experienced large losses.

2. Mitigation and Cleanup

The initial stage of storm response involves mitigating damage. In the case of structural damage, this may involve boarding up broken windows or breaches in a building envelope or tarping over a damaged roof. Standing water resulting from flood damage should be extracted as soon as possible. A full-service company can ensure that these initial measures contribute toward complete storm restoration.

3. All-In-One Restoration

A company that offers mitigation and restoration services can reduce the workload on insurance agents and adjusters while simplifying the claim process for property owners. Relying on a one-stop shop may make miscommunication less likely, prevent scheduling conflicts and allow for a faster and more thorough restoration job. Depending on a single service also means that the initial estimate is likely to be more accurate.

These storm restoration services set SERVPRO franchises apart from independent companies. The business model means that each location has the backing of a national corporation and the ability to call on nearby locations for additional personnel and equipment. A single estimate from a service that can clean up damage and rebuild a commercial property can also be more convenient for insurance agents, adjusters, and clients.

Why SERVPRO? We are here to guide you every step of the way!

11/11/2020 (Permalink)

Experiencing a water loss can be a traumatic time for you or your business, so we put together a free guide of 10 things that walks you through the process of what to focus on if you have a water loss in your home or business. 

1. Assess the situation: It is critical to look over the situation and see exactly what you are dealing with. It is critical to make sure that you take plenty of photographs of the damage and make sure that the source of what caused the damage is well documented. It is extremely important to make sure you do not walk or enter the water if the power is still on in the home or business. At this time it is proper to check with your insurance company to see what type of coverage you have.

2. Check was is wet throughout the damaged area: Through the use of moisture meters and other devices, you can begin to see what is wet and not wet. It is critical that you map out the damage and affected area. This can be an important part of the documentation process. 

3. Begin the water extraction process: The first step after the documentation has begun, is to get the water removed as soon as possible. If the water sits for too long it can begin to create secondary damages. Water can be removed by using portable or truck mount extractors. Portables will take more time, and the truck mounts are much faster and efficient. 

4. Begin to remove damaged materials that can not be dried and ventilate enclosed areas: Once all of the water has been extracted, certain flood cuts and other vent holes might be necessary. This is to allow air flow in closed off spaces. If no ventilation is allowed, secondary damage can occur inside the walls. Many times if you are dealing with sewage water, more flood cuts will be necessary. Try to take as many before and after photos as well. 

5. Start to place air movers and dehumidifiers throughout the home or facility: The proper amount of equipment is critical when drying out a structure. It is important to make sure that all of the guidelines of the IICRC are followed to insure proper drying times. Be sure to continue to take plenty of photographs of the equipment in place on the job. 

6. Monitor the drying process daily: Every 24 hours it is critical to make sure that you are checking the facility to make sure that it is drying. Sometimes there might be a delay in the drying process due to the source of the damage not being corrected. If so it will need to be corrected so proper drying can occur. Be sure to document the drying data each day for accurate records. 

7. Remove Equipment: Once the home or building is dry, all of the equipment can be removed. It is important to make sure the right cleaning products are used to clean up the affected area. This will keep other secondary issues from happening as well. 

8. Document with more photos: After the job is complete, be sure to document with more photos. This will keep accurate records for your insurance company from start to finish. You can never take too many photos when dealing with a water loss. 

9. Begin the reconstruction process: Once everything is dry, you can begin to put the pieces back together. In some cases you might have to hire a contractor to do specific tasked like repair damaged drywall from the water. Be sure to continue to document any and all work on your home or business. 

10. Keep complete records on file: After the entire job is complete, be sure to keep all of your records on backup. This can be valuable in case of any secondary damages in the future. 

SERVPRO can handle any water damage job from start to finish. It is critical to make sure you understand the in's and out's of each step mentioned above. SERVPRO has the team and equipment to handle any size job and make sure that it is properly documented along the way. If you have any questions, or need emergency services you can call SERVPRO, 24/7!

SERVPRO of Western Lake County is here to help in this time of need

3/23/2020 (Permalink)

During this unprecedented time caused by the global pandemic of coronavirus, this is a reminder to our customers that we are specialists in cleaning services, and we adhere to the highest cleaning and sanitation standards.

Specialized Training

We are prepared to clean and disinfect your home or business, according to protocols set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We have years of experience in dealing with biological contaminants, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform on a daily basis.

The CDC encourages cleaning of high-touch surfaces such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets and tables. Other spaces mentioned in the CDC’s guidance for commercial spaces include:

• Kitchen/Food Areas
• Bathrooms
• Schools/Classrooms
• Offices
• Retail Spaces
• Water Fountains
• Shelving/Racks
• Sales Counters
• Carpets and Rugs
• Stair Handrails
• Elevator Cars
• Playground Equipment
• Fitness Equipment

Specialized Products

The CDC recommends usage of a labeled hospital-grade disinfectant with claims against similar pathogens to the coronavirus. Multiple products in the SERVPRO product line carry the EPA-approved emerging pathogens claims. While there is currently no product tested against this particular strain of the coronavirus, we are following all guidelines as provided by the CDC and local authorities.

Call Today for a Proactive Cleaning

If your home or business needs deep cleaning services, call the experts at SERVPRO of Western Lake County at 219-922-9300.

WHY SERVPRO when it comes to fire damage

1/20/2020 (Permalink)

Fire damage to any home or business can be devastating. Knowing there is a way to make the fire look "Like it never even happened," is reassuring. SERVPRO's Production Technicians are trained and equipped to handle an array of damage and are available 24/7.

The first 3 steps to follow after you have experiencing fire damage:

1. Evacuation 

In case there is someone still trapped in the building, because of soot and smoke damage, emergency services should be called such as the fire department to put out any fire remaining.

2. Calling the insurance company

After the fire has been completely put out the most challenging part of the fire restoration process begins. Make a call to your insurance company or agent and inform them of the incident that has just ensued.

3. Contacting your local SERVPRO

Fire damage experts recommend that you stay away from a building that has suffered from a fire until it has been certified safe to enter. Once contacted a project manager will head to your home or business to assess the damages and work with you and your insurance to get you back to preloss conditions. SERVPRO will clean up the smoke smell and soot on all surfaces left after the fire leaving your building looking like the damage never even happened.

Check out reviews and more info about us on Google, Better Business Bureau, Facebook, Yelp and Angie's List.

Here to Help®

10/8/2018 (Permalink)

Here to Help®

Hurricane Florence made landfall causing significant flooding and wind destruction in North and South Carolina, and our local SERVPRO Franchises are already in place and ready to respond.

This mentality is why we became part of the SERVPRO family. The community involvement and Here to Help® campaign is an important element of SERVPRO.

Your local SERVPRO team has stayed right here in Northwest Indiana to help serve our community and storm-damage needs. Our hearts are with those impacted by Hurricane Florence.

Why Choose SERVPRO of Western Lake County?

A Fast Response Is Crucial:
In many cleaning and restoration situations, immediate action is needed. An immediate response helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs. Water is particularly invasive, quickly spreading throughout your property and being absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, etc. SERVPRO of Western Lake County arrives quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately.

Highly Trained Water Damage Specialists
SERVPRO of Western Lake County specializes in water and storm damage restoration, including damage caused by hurricanes, storm surges, and wind damage. SERVPRO of Western Lake County has extensive water damage restoration training that enables them to get you back to normal.

The Resources to Handle Storms and Disasters
The SERVPRO of Western Lake County Disaster Recovery Team can provide help whether you're dealing with a tornado, blizzard or flood. Should a disaster strike near you, we are available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, SERVPRO of Western Lake County Franchise is prepared for the unpredictable.