What are Some Fourth of July Safety Tips

7/2/2022 (Permalink)

Fireworks are fun but are more fun when caution is taken

From our team at SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas to your friends and family, we want to wish you a happy Fourth of July…more importantly a safe Fourth.  It is a time for cookouts, drinking, fireworks and kids playing.  The combination of these things can lead to undesirable outcomes if caution is not taken.  Below are some tips to keep in mind:

-Check on local laws to see if it is legal in your area to light fireworks.

-It is summer, find an area that is not overly dry and conducive to catching fire.

-Keep a buck of water around.

-Ideally, only adults light fireworks. We know this is not always the case so if children are involved make sure they are highly supervised and understand the dangers of the fireworks.

-Designate an adult to supervise that remains sober.

-Don’t point fireworks in the direction of others.

-Don’t keep them in your pocket or try to light them while contained on your person.

-If a firework does not light, do not try to reignite it.

-After all fireworks have been set off, let duds dwell for 10 minutes before pouring water on them.

We hope nothing happens and everyone safely enjoys the holiday.  If something does happen, we are there to help in any way we can.

Help Protect Your DFW Home With a Trusted Local Mitigation Company

10/27/2021 (Permalink)

Protecting a DFW Home Includes Calling a Professional Flood Damage Restoration Team After a Storm

Dallas Texas lines its streets with beautiful homes and splendid trees. Each house has its history, and architectural details can be seen virtually everywhere. However, homes are vulnerable to rising water levels, backed-up sewage lines, and ceiling leaks when storms strike. If and when you discover water in your home, do not hesitate to call a professional water restoration company.

In DFW, leave the restoration needs to SERVPRO. Our crew specializes in handling the toughest situations while preserving the original elements of your home as much as possible. At SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas, we train with industry experts and know that being quick isn't always the answer, particularly when structures are older and boast hardwood floors and architectural details. Our focus is to work with efficiency while mitigating your loss.

SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas staff is ready to answer your questions about the restoration process, and we understand the importance of getting it done right. In our work, we carefully comply with local regulations and focus on your family's safety and preserving your belongings. As necessary, we coordinate with relevant parties such as insurance representatives and sub-contractors, so the restoration process is seamless. Our clients can expect to see the following actions upon our arrival:

• A complete assessment of the damage. A close inspection of all areas of your home is critical to a successful water restoration process.

• Water extraction and evaporation with the aid of pumps, extractors, air movers, and dehumidifiers.

• Mold prevention through the application of anti-microbial solutions and the removal of unsalvageable items affected by storm water.

• Specialty drying solutions to restore priceless items such as photographs and documents.

Rest assured that our SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas team is here to provide the latest water restoration technology. Call us at (214) 463-5880, and let us work hard to meet your water restoration needs.

"Like it never even happened."

How a Fire Restoration Company Remediates A Fire In Your Home

10/26/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is Your Advocate After Fire Damage in DFW

Words cannot express the feeling of devastation you may experience when faced with fire damage to your property. Whether a natural disaster caused it and you are one of many facing the need for recovery, or a fire started and affected only you, the result is the same; it is overwhelming. Your most immediate response should be quick and effective to avoid damage from spreading and escalating.

When you experience fire damage in the DFW metroplex, SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas is there to respond quickly to your call. We are equipped to be one of the fastest in the industry to respond, and we do this by having a team on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, that is not enough. What is most important is that our team is also prepared to apply the latest technology and industry best practices to restore your property and bring it back to normal.

Why SERVPRO for Fire Damage Restoration

In case of fire damage, our SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas team is often faced with the consequences of the fire itself, and with the damage caused by those putting out the fire. There is usually water to contend with, as well as debris that has traveled through your property, along with smoke and soot adhered to much of your walls and the contents of your home. When our Green Fleet arrives, you experience their initial efforts focused on extracting all water remains, drying your property, and removing soot as much as possible. Doing all this while keeping your family and our staff safe is our priority. 

At SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas, we are highly trained to undertake a critical next step- deodorizing your home. Our staff is continually being educated in newer products and techniques so they can bring them to you in the case of disaster. Deodorizing after fire damage is extremely important, and we do it according to industry best practices. For example, our team may apply a dry fogging technique to your property. In this process, we disperse solvent-based deodorants by using specialized equipment. The dispersion process allows the solvent to penetrate your home and belongings, which overcomes the odor and eliminates it. Even though it sounds like a straightforward process, it is one that requires many safety precautions and specific steps before the actual fogging. 

Restoration after fire damage is best left to experts such as SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas. We are not only able to respond to your needs expediently, but we are explicitly trained to restore your property and leave it "Like it never even happened." Call us at (214) 463-5880 and make us part of your team.

Document Recovery

10/19/2021 (Permalink)

Document Recovery

Did you recently experience a burst pipe or similar flooding incident at your DFW home or business? If so, you may now be facing some very unfortunate water damage issues, including finding a host of wet documents. Some papers that you may find damaged by water include business files, financial records, and legal documents. Fortunately, help is available. If this flooded paperwork is highly important to you or your team on a professional level, you will want to learn about these three ways that restoration specialists handle document recovery.

1. Document Drying

If something is wet, the most natural solution is to dry it if possible in an attempt to save the item. Restoration professionals will often freeze-dry documents to make sure that they have the best chance of being recovered. Vacuum-based freeze-drying is often the best method to restore highly important business paperwork.

2. Deodorization and Sterilization

Since wet paper can be exposed to bacteria, mold colonies and other unwanted infections, most technicians will take steps to deodorize and sterilize wet documents after they are dried. Gamma irradiation is one technique that is often used with great success. Deodorizing and sterilizing help the papers to smell clean and be rid of any infestations.

3. Digital Storage

A full-service water damage company will offer you digitizing services so you can preserve your wet documents. This helps to protect you against future losses, and may allow you to maintain a record of any newly damaged documentation that could not be salvaged. As an extra bonus, you can choose to go paperless and free up storage space in your office if desired.

Understanding that help is available will help you to stay calm and hopeful when you find your business littered with soggy documents after a water disaster. It is better to get professional help than to attempt to fix what could be complex damage on your own.

Faster To Any Size Disaster

10/4/2021 (Permalink)

Here is one of our vans, headed into Dallas for a commercial building loss.

When fire or water damages your home or business, you have plenty of mitigation companies to choose from, however here at SERVPRO, and especially at https://www.SERVPROsouthwestdallas.com, we pride ourselves on doing the best job to make it "Like it never even happened." Because we have over 1800 franchises across the US, we are able to take on any size disaster, and when there is a catastrophic storm or event, our franchises will come together and work together to get the community cleaned up safely and quickly. 

Your home or business will be in the best hands with SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas, and when you call us we can be on site within one hour for an assessment, and once we have assessed the damage, we can send a team out to start the work very quickly. We hope you never need mitigation, however in the event that you do, call us at https://www.SERVPROsouthwestdallas.com, 214-463-5880, and you will be in the best hands in town!

Major Catastrophe Assistance - Few National Mitigations Can Provide the Help Needed

7/14/2021 (Permalink)

Flood at a large warehouse during the February 2021 Winter Storm

In February of 2021, a major winter weather event affected a wide swath of US unofficially called Winter Storm Uri.  States not accustomed to winter weather of this sort and of this duration like Texas were hit hard compounded by a power crisis resulting in electrical blackouts.  Something of this size caused major damage most notably with pipes that froze and burst.  This happened immediately and for months after as pipes were weakened. This was the costliest recorded natural disaster in the history of Texas.

In each local area, there were not enough specialty companies like plumbers and water mitigation companies to help the mountain of people needing help.  It is during this time that many "new" companies pop up overnight to take advantage of the situation and people in desperate help.  Many of these fly-by-night companies not only don't have the right tools to get things done and leave things often worse off but gouge trusting customers.

SERVPRO is a trusted, nationally recognized company with more than 1,700 locations across the US.  It is a time like this when we use the power of our numbers to come to the aid of people and companies in dire straights.  We have great relationships with just about every insurance company out there with numerous contracted national account agreements.  SERVPRO has been around for 50+ years and has the experience, knowledge and family like culture that makes us the choice when it comes to major disasters.

Specialized Tools for Fires to Take Service to the Next Level

10/14/2020 (Permalink)

Specialty Equipment Used for Fire Losses

There are many things that separate companies in any industry: communication, response time, professionalism, knowledge and efficiency.  While most of these depend on the characteristics of the team providing the service, a large part of the efficiency relates to the tools to get the job done.  

In a fire, you will usually be dealing with a heavy odor from the smoke.  Aside from the standard process of cleaning up the soot, a thermal fogger, an ozone machine, a hydroxyl generator, and carbon filter may be needed. 

A thermal fogger heats up a liquid solution to a temperature hot enough to morph into a fog.  This is distributed to all affected areas, binding to the smoke particles to neutralize the odor.

An ozone generator functions in a similar fashion.  Ozone (O3) works at the molecular level by breaking apart the odor molecules and recombining with them to form a more stable molecule which in turn neutralizes the odor. 

Hydroxyl generators work by using UV light to sanitize and deodorize a structure.  These can be used if residents of the structure are not able to fully vacate the premises during remediation.

Another unique tool is a carbon filter which resides inside an air scrubber. With this special filter, the air scrubber will not only help clean the air but can substantially capture the odor before returning clean air.  

These are just some of the advanced tools we use at SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas to efficiently and effectively mitigate fire losses.  Give us a call to help with any fire damage you may encounter!

Working With Insurance Carriers

8/20/2020 (Permalink)

North Dallas Water Damage as Seen with Thermal Camera

When water or fire damage occurs to your home or property, customers typically do not have the experience, time, or energy to work through the insurance process and may sit in limbo until the problem becomes even worse.  SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas has worked with nearly every insurance carrier and their team is very familiar with the process.  They are happy to help you from the initial claim (and if it needs filed, depending on your deductible), and how things will work going forward.  The trained technicians and office staff at SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas has worked on projects throughout DFW, as well as on storm / disaster events throughout the United States, and they will take care of the paperwork, photo documentation, proper next steps, etc., when an unfortunate event happens in your life.  Call us today if you have questions about the insurance process and to see if we can help make it "Like it never even happened."

Choose Wisely When Selecting a Mitigation Company

8/20/2020 (Permalink)

Water Damage in South Dallas

Why should you choose SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas to take charge of your fire, water, cleanup, and/or restoration project?  We will list just some of the reasons...  SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas is experienced and certified with the IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification).  We have a warehouse full of a vast amount of equipment, tools, cleaners, and chemicals, to make sure that we are ready for any project that may present itself.  Our team is background checked and certified.  SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas meets the rigid standards necessary to be on most insurance carrier programs, meaning we can take care of the project, as well as the paperwork, helping to alleviate that additional stress in trying situations.  Also, we are ready to help 24/7, and we will make sure that the job is done right the first time.  Please give us a call if you have questions about your restoration of cleaning needs.  

Call the Professionals When a Disaster Occurs - Dangers of DIY

7/23/2020 (Permalink)

Dangers of DIY Fire Damage Assessments of Your Oak Cliff Home

After a disaster in your Dallas or Oak Cliff home, many owners want nothing more than to get back inside and determine the scope of the damage for themselves. While you might do this to better understand the effects of a disaster on your property, many others do it to begin to assess an expected cost to restore or repair damaging effects to the house. The best solution after a fire has occurred within your home is to reach out to our rapid response team to get a thorough and honest evaluation of the effects and damages.  We can walk you through the process and provide your insurance company with the details necessary to get you back to normal as quickly as possible.

One of the concerns about the DIY assessment of fire damage to your Oak Cliff property is the possibility of structural failure and weaknesses. Fire can affect materials like wood flooring and supports can quickly burn to the point of structural compromise, and these issues may not be recognized easily. Our highly-trained technicians have extensive knowledge of fire restoration and recovery so that we can offer effective solutions for our customers regardless of the severity of the incident.

With structure fires, many materials and products can come into contact with the spreading blaze. What results sometimes is a volatile combustion of materials and chemicals that could be hazardous to breathe. Our SERVPRO team that arrives on site does so with the full measure of our personal protective equipment designed to keep us safe even in potentially hazardous conditions.  In addition, tools like our hydroxyl generators and air scubbers with HEPA filters can help to remove potential contaminants, particulates, and odors from the environment while restoration work gets underway. 

In conclusion, while it might be tempting to rush into your home after a fire has been extinguished, please keep yourself and your family safe and trust the experience of our SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas fire restoration technicians.  Give us a call anytime at (214) 463-5880.

Disaster Recovery in DFW

7/23/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas Disaster Recovery

Disasters can be catastrophic for residences and businesses. Water, fire, or storms can create chaos; leaving you with a feeling of helplessness, not knowing where to turn after a catastrophe. SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas is ready to help.

We understand that your property is one of the most significant investments that you will ever make.  This is why it is essential that you choose a company with the knowledge, equipment experience, and reputation you can trust to return your property to its preloss condition or better. We make your disaster, "Like it never even happened."

Call SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas because

1. We are trained to IICRC’s high standards in fire and water cleanup and restoration, mold remediation, carpet and upholstery cleaning, and other cleaning and restoration courses.
2. Our industry professionals regularly attend SERVPRO continuing education classes locally and at the corporate offices.
3. IICRC sets the standard for equipment in our industry. We meet their standards. Our team uses moisture detection, measurement, water extraction, drying, odor removal, and deodorization equipment. Our equipment can completely clean and remove the effects of water, mold, soot, smoke, and odor restoring property quickly.
4. SERVPRO has been in business for over 50 years and has a team of over 1,700 locations nationwide.

The next time you need the help of a disaster restoration company, call SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas (214) 463-5880

A Salute to the North Texas Day Of Giving

9/24/2019 (Permalink)

Supporting Our Communities is #1 to Our Team

For SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas, it is important for us to be involved in community events.  That promote uplifting others in Dallas and the surrounding communities

Recently, we were promoted and participated in the North Texas Day of Giving which is led by Communities Foundation of Texas. It is one of the largest community charity events in the nation.  As a giving event, it designed to empower everyone to give back to their community by supporting local nonprofits and causes important to them.  It was a one-day event that raised over $50 million dollars.  It is all about helping the communities we serve to thrive. 

We appreciate the hard work that went into this successful event.  And, we appreciate our local communities for their contributions.  Thank you.

Commercial Fire Prevention Tips!!

9/4/2019 (Permalink)

Firefighters put out a blaze. Keep your business and team safe by following a few safety tips.

The devastation that a fire can cause a large commercial or small business is extremely stressful. Business operations and customer relationships can be stalled, not to mention the impact on equipment, materials, and structures. For SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas, it is important to us that the business owners are able to not only focus on the health of their business but, also on be able to prevent future fire emergencies, risks and staff education.

Here are some tips which may reduce your risk of fire hazards in the workplace. 

• Have the Fire Marshall or local Fire Department inspect equipment and chemical areas routinely. These team can make sure that the fire alarm and sprinkler system are in excellent working order.
• If you do not have a sprinkler system, consider purchasing one. According to NFPA, “Sprinkler systems were effective at controlling 96% of fires in which they operated.” 
• It is crucial to unplug small appliances over the weekend – coffee makers and microwaves. Make sure that the appliances are given plenty of room to breathe. This includes mechanical rooms. This area should always be neat and free of debris.
• Employees should know where the fire extinguishers are located in the building. An evacuation plan should be in place.   
• Smoking should not be allowed in or around the building. 
• Keep all doors closed during business hours; not only for security but the fire safety of your team. 
• Make sure that the garbage is taken out daily. 

We understand at SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas how devastating a fire can be to your business. SERVPRO professionals have helped many businesses recover from small to extensive fire clean up. We will remove debris, clean the area, improve air quality, odor removal, and restore your property. Our goal is to return your site to the pre-fire condition.  

Call us if you have a commercial fire restoration emergency (214) 463-5880. We are here to help!

Your Fire and Water Damage Team!!

7/17/2019 (Permalink)

Fire and smoke damage after a kitchen fire.

SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas realizes how upsetting and worrisome a fire or water damage situation can cause for your family or business. It is a disruption that can turn your day to day life upside-down. Our team of professionals will help minimize the interruption and fix the property damage quickly in the most cost-effective way possible. SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas specializes in water and fire cleanup and restoration for both residential and commercial properties. And if necessary, we will mitigate mold and mildew.

Our team is highly trained and certified in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification renewals, you can be assured that we are equipped with the knowledge to restore your property. No fire or water damage is too large or too small for SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas. 

SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas takes great pride to ensure our communities families and businesses are taken care of.   When the need arises for a fire or water restoration team, call us at (214) 463-5880.  We are available, 24/7!

SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas Is READY to Help!

7/16/2019 (Permalink)

Water, Fire, and Storms - We are "Faster To Any Disaster"

Disasters can be catastrophic for residences and businesses. Water, fire, or storms can create chaos; leaving you with a feeling of helplessness, not knowing where to turn after a catastrophe. SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas is ready to help.

We understand that your property is one of the most significant investments that you will ever make.  This is why it is essential that you choose a company with the knowledge, equipment experience, and reputation you can trust to return your property to its preloss condition or better. We make your disaster, "Like it never even happened."

Call SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas because

1. We are trained to IICRC’s high standards in fire and water cleanup and restoration, mold remediation, carpet and upholstery cleaning, and other cleaning and restoration courses.
2. Our industry professionals regularly attend SERVPRO continuing education classes locally and at the corporate offices.
3. IICRC sets the standard for equipment in our industry. We meet their standards. Our team uses moisture detection, measurement, water extraction, drying, odor removal, and deodorization equipment. Our equipment can completely clean and remove the effects of water, mold, soot, smoke, and odor restoring property quickly.
4. SERVPRO has been in business for over 50 years and has a team of over 1,700 locations nationwide.

The next time you need the help of a disaster restoration company, call SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas (214) 463-5880

We Have The Proper Techniques To Restore Your Dallas Home After A Water Damage Disaster

6/7/2019 (Permalink)

Water damage leaves behind a damp and musty odor . Pictured is a hi-tech piece of equipment known as a hydroxyl generator used to remove odors.

SERVPRO Saves Carpet from Water Damage in Dallas

We know there are many ways water damage can affect a home in Big D. The two most common areas in the house where water loss occurs is in the kitchen and bathroom, however there can always be unusual circumstances.

A homeowner in Dallas with a water damage emergency contacted our SERVPRO location. He was widening a room in his home and accidentally hit a supply line as he removed sheetrock, resulting in a large amount of water spewing in the living room before he shut off the water.

Why SERVPRO? Our technicians have the training and equipment to handle any kind of damage from water in a home. We stay on top of the latest advances in the restoration industry so we can assist property owners in saving water loss items rather than replacing at extra cost.

When we arrived, we scoped and found the water loss localized to a single area in the living room where the pipe break occurred. We moved the furnishings out of the room and used weighted extractors on the carpeting to push as much water out of the padding as possible.

Once we extracted the maximum amount of water, we set up air movers and dehumidification equipment to dry the wall cavity and carpeting. The air movers were set up to direct air inside the wall cavity. For the carpeting, it is essential that the padding is thoroughly dried to avoid secondary issues such as foul odors or mold.

We used a technique called "tenting" to dry both the carpet and padding at the same time by lifting the sides, and we positioned one of our air movers to direct airflow over the padding and under the carpet while we positioned a separate air mover to blow air over the top of the carpet. This application forces any embedded moisture to rise where our dehumidifiers collect it.

Once dry, we confirmed with our detection equipment there were no elevated moisture pockets left within the room. Our technicians disinfected the room as another layer of protection against both mold and odors.

No matter if your water damage is large or small, SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas at (214) 463-5880 is ready 24/7 to mitigate your water loss, so it is "Like it never even happened."

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SERVPRO Brings the Experience, Expertise, & Equipment to Water Damage Emergencies!

4/15/2019 (Permalink)

Moisture meters can detect areas of excess moisture not perceptible to the naked eye.

Why Controlling Microbial Growth is Essential to Water Cleanup in your Dallas Home

A thorough remediation service is one that does not require repeat visits to the property weeks or months after initial service. The presence of moisture is a contributing factor to microbial growth which can cause further damages in the home. Controlling microbial growth and drying a structure completely requires professional expertise as well as advanced remediation equipment.

Our IICRC certified technicians provide water cleanup in Dallas homes. Our service offers a two-stage procedure to both remediate the immediate concerns and potential secondary damages. That means using our expertise to control microbial growth while service is carried out, ensuring your property is restored to its preloss condition.

Moisture is the leading factor in allowing microbes to grow. It makes sense then that thoroughly drying a property is critical in the first stage of the operation. SERVPRO technicians are equipped with thermal imaging cameras that use infrared light to detect damp spots or moisture pockets. We also carry moisture meters that can be used to penetrate beneath the surface of hard flooring or sheetrock to assess the level of water saturation within.

Finding where moisture is residing helps to inform us of the type of equipment we need to remediate your property. Water beneath subfloors can be extracted using drying mats. This equipment, which is placed on the floor, covers a large surface area. The central area of the mat attaches to a vacuum to draw water from the floor without damaging or scratching the surface.

Once the fast-drying process is complete, SERVPRO can adopt the second stage of treatment to reduce the likelihood of microbial growth. The removal and disposal of any porous contaminated materials are necessary for this step. We can also thoroughly disinfect surfaces and apply anti-microbial treatments to walls, floors, and upholstery.

You need a comprehensive strategy for effective home remediation, contact SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas at (214) 463-5880 for assistance.

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What to do after a fire in your Dallas or Oak Cliff Home

2/20/2019 (Permalink)

Hydroxyl Generator for Smoke Odor Removal

Dangers of DIY Fire Damage Assessments of Your Oak Cliff Home

After a disaster in your Dallas or Oak Cliff home, many owners want nothing more than to get back inside and determine the scope of the damage for themselves. While you might do this to better understand the effects of a disaster on your property, many others do it to begin to assess an expected cost to restore or repair damaging effects to the house. The best solution after a fire has occurred within your home is to reach out to our rapid response team to get a thorough and honest evaluation of the effects and damages.  We can walk you through the process and provide your insurance company with the details necessary to get you back to normal as quickly as possible.

One of the concerns about the DIY assessment of fire damage to your Oak Cliff property is the possibility of structural failure and weaknesses. Fire can affect materials like wood flooring and supports can quickly burn to the point of structural compromise, and these issues may not be recognized easily. Our highly-trained technicians have extensive knowledge of fire restoration and recovery so that we can offer effective solutions for our customers regardless of the severity of the incident.

With structure fires, many materials and products can come into contact with the spreading blaze. What results sometimes is a volatile combustion of materials and chemicals that could be hazardous to breathe. Our SERVPRO team that arrives on site does so with the full measure of our personal protective equipment designed to keep us safe even in potentially hazardous conditions.  In addition, tools like our hydroxyl generators and air scubbers with HEPA filters can help to remove potential contaminants, particulates, and odors from the environment while restoration work gets underway. 

In conclusion, while it might be tempting to rush into your home after a fire has been extinguished, please keep yourself and your family safe and trust the experience of our SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas fire restoration technicians.  Give us a call anytime at (214) 463-5880.