Recent Posts
Why Are Your Pipes Freezing?
3/15/2023 (Permalink)
When temperatures drop, water freezes and expands causing pipes to burst.
Temperatures outside must drop to 20 degrees or lower in order for a pipe to freeze. Homes built in southern climates can face problematic hard freezes due to homes not being built to accommodate cold temperatures.
Which Pipes Are Vulnerable to Freezing?
- Pipes located on the outer walls of the home
- Pipes located in unheated garages, attics, and crawl spaces
- Copper pipes
- Galvanized pipes
- Uninsulated pipes
So What if Your Pipes Freeze?
When temperatures drop, water freezes and expands causing pipes to burst.
A burst pipe can result in a water leak. Ruptured pipes and water damage can cost thousands of dollars to repair. The amount of damage depends on where the burst occurs, how long it takes to catch the problem, and how much water is leaking from the pipe.
Prevent Your Pipes From Freezing.
- Install Insulation
- Insulate pipes on the outside of your home
- When temperatures drop, open your faucets to a slow dribble
- Open cabinets for warm air to circulate through your home
- Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature during the night and day
- If you leave your home for extended periods of time leave your heat on at 55 degrees
What Do You Do if Your Pipes Freeze?
- Turn off the main water valve
- Call a professional plumber
- Call an IICRC-certified restoration & mitigation company
SERVPRO of Horry & Georgetown Water Restoration Process
The restoration process begins when you call us. Our representative will guide you through the crisis and may ask several questions to help us better understand the equipment and resources.
We determine the scope of your water damage at this stage. We inspect and test to determine the extent of damage and how far the moisture has traveled to ensure proper and complete restoration.
The water removal process begins almost immediately and removes the majority of the water. We use powerful pumps and vacuum units to quickly remove hundreds or thousands of gallons from your property, which helps prevent secondary water damage and mold growth.
We use specialized equipment to remove the remaining water that is harder to access. Our professionals will use room measurements, temperature, and relative humidity to determine the optimal number of air movers and dehumidifiers needed to dry your home or business.
We clean all of the restorable items and structures damaged by the water. We are adept at cleaning contents using a number of techniques. Our professionals are trained to provide sanitizing treatments and remove odors and deodorize your property.
Restoration is the process of restoring your home or business to its pre-water damage condition. Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall and installing new carpet or may entail major repairs, such as the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business.
Call us at (843)236-6278 if you have any questions or concerns.
How to Prevent or Handle Frozen Water Pipes
3/15/2023 (Permalink)
Insulate your water pipes
Winter might be harsh outdoors, but when frozen water pipes burst, the real emergency conditions are, ever so suddenly, indoors. Whether you’re thinking ahead to protect yourself from this bad scenario—or you’re thinking on your toes in an actual pipe-burst situation—you can use the following helpful tips to ensure that you act smart.
Prevention Tips:
- Insulate your water pipes.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not expanding ice from within a pipe that makes it burst; it’s the remaining liquid water finding nowhere else to go but out. Wherever your pipes are warm to the touch, insulation is likely needed. Insulating your pipes not only serves as a preventative measure for pipe bursts but also reduces the cost you pay for hot water. Ask a local hardware store for pipe insulation that you can install quickly and painlessly.
- Seal those seams.
To keep cold wind away from your pipes, seal cracks and holes in your walls with caulking. Simply walk along the walls of your house and feel for drafts. And for fainter drafts, light an incense stick. When the smoke is offset, there’s a draft.
- Some doors are best left open.
Did you know? Kitchen and bathroom cabinets can keep warm inside air from reaching pipes under sinks or in adjacent outside walls. It’s a good idea to keep cabinet doors open during cold spells to let warm air circulate around the pipes to prevent freezing.
- Don’t hesitate to use your taps.
As long as water is running and pressure doesn’t build up, there’s a far lower risk of freeze and pipes bursting. Also, it’s okay to let faucets lightly drip where you believe there could be risk of cold pipes. The slight relief in pressure prevents potential buildup within your pipes.
- Leaving for a trip? Don’t over-lower the heat.
While understandably it saves money to lower your thermostat when you’re away from home, it’s important to not be overzealous and allow your home to cool excessively in your absence. A home kept reasonably warm will ensure pipes share the same cozy condition.
If your property experiences a water loss call the professionals at SERVPRO® of Horry & Georgetown County, our dedicated team will make it like it never even happened.
(843)236-6278
Why You Need a Professional to Clean Your Home After a Fire
2/6/2023 (Permalink)
Did you know that a small fire in the home can cause a whole lot of damage? Believe it or not, it does.
Did you know that a small fire in the home can cause a whole lot of damage? Believe it or not, it does. From smoke, to soot, to damaged belongings, the cleanup process can be quite grueling for someone who is not a highly trained restoration technician.
Why Do You Need a Professional?
Restoration professionals immediately know where to look to find damage that an untrained person would not be familiar with. Knowing the extent of the fire damage is key to creating an action plan. In addition, restoration professionals restore belongings and your home rather than throwing out and buying new. Our “restore first” mentality reduces interruption and gets you back to your life.
What is the Difference Between Smoke and Soot?
Smoke and soot are commonly misunderstood. Soot comes from smoke, while smoke is a result of fire. “Smoke is a collection of tiny unburnt particles – very small carbon particles and tiny droplets of tar.” As a result, smoke is very dangerous to inhale, as it contains many things that we are not meant to inhale."
Soot, sometimes called lampblack or carbon black, is a fine black or brown powder that can be slightly sticky and is a product of incomplete combustion.” Since soot is a slightly sticky powder, it rests in all crevices of a home that has experienced fire damage. It sticks to the walls, the ceiling, anything that it can find.
To restore your home of soot and smoke damage takes professionals with an eye for detail. Learn more about Smoke and Soot.
To learn more about what SERVPRO of Horry & Georgetown County has to offer, give us a call at (843) 236-6278 or visit our Website!
How to Clean Up After a House Fire in South Carolina
2/6/2023 (Permalink)
There are many steps to go through before reaching recovery. These steps include everything all the way from cleanup to re-build.
Recovering after a house fire in Horry & Georgetown Counties and their surrounding areas is not always a quick process. There are many steps to go through before reaching recovery. These steps include everything all the way from cleanup to re-build.
Tips for Recovering from Fire
The Red Cross suggests these tips below:
- Consult a professional about replacing drywall and insulation that has been soaked by water from fire hoses. It cannot be dried out and maintain structural integrity or resistance to mold and mildew.
- Pots, pans, flatware, etc., should be washed with soapy water, rinsed, and then polished.
- Stuff purses and shoes with newspapers to retain shape. Leave suitcases open.
- Wear protective clothing, including work gloves and heavy soled shoes.
- Learn more about how to clean up after a home fire, including the supplies you’ll need, how to deal with contaminated food and water, and how to repair smoke and water damage.
- Follow public health guidance on safe cleanup of fire ash and safe use of masks.
- Wet debris down to minimize breathing dust particles.
SERVPRO of Horry & Georgetown Counties are fire and water damage restoration specialists. We are always Here to Help, 24/7. If a fire does occur in your home, give us a call at (843)236-6278 for immediate assistance, or visit our Website!
SERVPRO Can Fix Commercial Building Damage
2/6/2023 (Permalink)
IICRC certified water damage restoration professionals
Flooding and other water damage events in a commercial building often present unique and complex challenges. From figuring out how to remain operational, product loss, and information security, solving these problems requires a flexible company that understands that every water damage event is different. Here at SERVPRO of Horry & Georgetown Counties our team is constantly training to help ensure that we're able to address every water damage as efficiently and effectively as possible.
As IICRC certified water damage restoration professionals, if possible, we have the knowledge necessary to properly contain an area so that you can continue your business's operations safely. If needed, we're able to perform our work after-hours as well. Additionally, we offer contents restoration and are often able to help reduce your losses by drying and cleaning the items damaged in the water, including your important paper documents. Replacing items and building materials can be costly, which is why we always focus on repairing rather than replacing them wherever possible.
In some cases, water damage can span thousands or even hundreds of thousands of feet of building space. We have a large loss division to address these events that are trained in the logistics of restoring large buildings like dorms, hotels, warehouses, and large offices spanning multiple floors. There is truly no job too large for us to handle.
With over three decades in the restoration industry, you can count on SERVPRO of Horry & Georgetown Counties to make your commercial water damage, "Like it never even happened."
Water Damage Mistakes to Avoid in Your Home!
2/6/2023 (Permalink)
For Fast and Professional Water Damage Cleanup and Restoration, call on SERVPRO of Horry & Georgetown County.
Common Homeowner Water Damage Mistakes to Avoid!
When you home suffers from a water damage event, the process of minimizing damage and restoring a property to its original condition can be stressful time. Unfortunately many homeowners are not fully aware of the proper process for cleanup and restoration and make common mistakes while trying to help. These mistakes can make restoring a home even more challenging.
Following are some helpful tips that can help homeowners avoid common mistakes, which will reduce the cost, time, and stress for making a water damage event "Like it never even happened."
Mistake #1: Trying to self-clean and restore their home after a water damage event.
We have all been there; we want to save time and money so we try to take on a project in our home. Water damage to your home should not be treated as a normal project. If you the amount of water is covering multiple rooms or has shown damage to cabinets or other structural components, you do not want to just try and mop it all up and put a fan or two on it. The problem is most homeowners do not have the right experience and equipment to properly handle a water damage. Water easily seeps into areas that you may not know to look or have the ability to check. Properly drying out building materials is a difficult task and one best left to a professional.
Mistake #2: Not Calling a Professional Soon Enough.
One of our taglines at SERVPRO is 'Faster to any size disaster.' This isn't just a fancy and good sounding branding effort, it is because arriving and acting fast is a critical aspect of effective water damage restoration. Water tends to spread fast, traveling behind walls, cabinets, appliances, and underneath flooring. Once that happens, mold can grow and further damage walls, furniture, and other materials. Mold can begin to grow less than 24-48 hours after water exposure depending on other circumstances in the home (humidity level, pre-existing water damage, temperature, etc.).
To quickly find the source of the water damage and shut it off, and then to immediately begin the water extraction and drying process is crucial for your home's restoration. Calling a professional water damage cleanup and restoration company is the best way to do that.
Mistake #3: Not Taking Safety Precautions.
Being in a home that recently suffered from a recent water damage evet can be dangerous, especially if the water damage came from flood waters, sewage back up or other 'category 3' type sources. Along with potential biohazard contaminations, potential slips and falls from wet flooring and stairways can also create a dangerous situation. Care must be taking when operating any electronic device or appliance because turning on electronics or touching electronic devices can result in electric shocks or further damage to the property.
Saturated building materials can fail, and debris can lead to slips and falls. The best thing a homeowner can do after eliminating the source of the water (if possible) and calling a water restoration company is to leave the building and stay out.
Mistake #4: Not Realizing the True Amount of Damage to Your Home.
The amount of damage caused by a water damage event isn’t always immediately visible. If you take the "Do It Yourself" approach and only clean up the visible water, you will most likely discover mold or unpleasant odors lingering in furniture, floors, and walls in the near future.
To properly evaluate the true amount of damage from a water event, you must follow through with industrial standards for cleanup and deodorization. This may include antimicrobial treatments or sanitization processes and is something a professional restoration company is best suited to handle.
A proper evaluation of the damage is also vital for insurance reasons. Some insurance providers will deny claims where homeowners attempt repairs themselves or delay calling a professional to document the damage. The best way to ensure a policy covers the full cost of a restoration is to work with a reputable restoration company and contact them immediately.
SERVPRO of Horry & Georgetown Counties works with all local, state, and national insurance companies, and is a preferred vendor for many of them. If your home suffers from a water damage event, call us 24/7 365 days a year at 843-236-6278. We are here to help.
Summer Showers can Relief from the heat but may also bring flooding.
8/1/2022 (Permalink)
Nature can be unforgiving
If you are in an area of Horry County that constantly floods and you were worried about who to call if we do suddenly get a large amount of rain this August call SERVPRO. If all the rain causes severe flood damage, then call us and let SERVPRO put your fears to rest.
The professionals at SERVPRO have high-grade equipment that includes extraction pumps, industrial vacuums and the technology to make your water damage disappear quicker than a spring puddle.
Call SERVPRO today for a plan that includes what to do if an emergency does happen and you are stuck with massive flood damage.
Commercial Experts - Cleanup & Restoration
7/1/2022 (Permalink)
Flooding and water damage events at Horry and/or Georgetown commercial properties are often complex with numerous issues that require a knowledgeable and efficient team of specialized professionals. Whether we are dealing with a relatively small water cleanup scenario or a large-scale event, we work quickly to assess each unique situation and isolate the damaged area. In many instances, normal operations can continue in a temporary space while we restore your facility.
Restoring Commercial Properties Presents Unique Challenges
Our professionals are trained to be mindful of legal and environmental concerns and strive to fully restore the damaged area while working within your budgetary constraints. We understand that every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So, when an emergency situation suddenly arises in your business, give us a call and we’ll be there fast with the help you need.
About SERVPRO of Georgetown & Horry Counties
We specialize in the emergency cleanup and restoration of commercial and residential property after water, fire, or mold related damages occur. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration as well as content manipulation when necessary. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the know how and the resources to restore your property to preloss condition.
Let SERVPRO Help You Expand Your Business
5/13/2022 (Permalink)
Upgrade or Addition, SERVPRO Can Help!
Commercial building construction, 5 tips to know before you go
1. Check your options
The scale of any construction project demands a major commitment from a company. Remember that the time and energy invested in commercial building construction could also be put into the business itself.
2. Make the correct projections
A bank advisor can help you determine the cost of your project, how much money you'll need from start to finish and the right financing options for your build.
3. Make sure your building permits are in order
Be sure that you've satisfied all local rules with the right permit. Do this as early as possible, since building without a permit is not an option. Check with your city to see exactly what you're allowed to do with and without a permit.
4. Get a good architect
Good ones cost money and because of this some companies will sometimes skip the step of hiring a good architect. While you might think you're saving money up front, you will lose in the end because of problems not originally planned on .
5. Be realistic
Companies often lose business during construction projects because management is less focused on performance and too worried about the new building.
Bottom line is we can help. Call us today 843-236-6278
Water Damage in Pawleys Island? Hire the best!
3/23/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Horry & Georgetown County. There when you need us most!
You may have read before in our blog post titled "Water Damage In My House" some great tips about water damage cleanup.
SERVPRO knows you do not always have the resources to do the water damage cleanups and restorations yourself and we want to let you know that in Georgetown County, we have been cleaning up and drying out water damages for decades and that includes Pawley's Island!
SERVPRO has helped many families and businesses in Pawley's Island when water damage or flooding had struck their properties.
We have repaired and restored buildings and homes of all sizes in Pawley's Island and want you to know that your water damage will be in professional hands once you call SERVPRO to dry you out!
If you have suffered water damage in Georgetown County in particular Pawley's Island, call SERVPRO now we can help! 843-236-6278
24/7 Emergency Service