Pack Out Contents Safely with SERVPRO during desperate times.

2/9/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO pack out, boxing, storing, in warehouse, safety, fire damage, content cleaning, moving services, pack out services, restoration, cleaning.

SERVPRO® offers pack-out services as part of their comprehensive restoration and cleaning services. Pack-out services are typically utilized in situations where a property has suffered grave damage due to fire, water, mold, or other disasters, and it's necessary to remove belongings from the affected area for cleaning, restoration, or storage.

Here's an overview of what you can expect from SERVPRO's pack-out services:

1. Assessment and Inventory: Trained professionals will assess the extent of the damage and create a detailed inventory of items that need to be packed out. This inventory helps keep track of all belongings throughout the process.

2. Packaging and Removal: SERVPRO teams carefully pack and label each item to ensure safe transportation. Fragile items may be wrapped or boxed securely to prevent further damage during transit.

3. Transportation: Belongings are transported to a secure facility for cleaning, restoration, or storage. SERVPRO typically uses specialized vehicles equipped to handle sensitive items safely.

4. Cleaning and Restoration: At the facility, SERVPRO employs advanced cleaning techniques and equipment to restore items to their pre-damage condition. This may include cleaning, deodorizing, and sanitizing belongings as needed.

5. Storage: If the property is undergoing restoration, belongings may be stored securely at SERVPRO's facility until the restoration process is complete. Climate-controlled storage options may be available to protect sensitive items.

6. Documentation: Throughout the process, SERVPRO maintains detailed documentation of all items, including photographs and written records. This documentation helps track the progress of the restoration and ensures that items are returned to their rightful owners.

7. Return of Belongings: Once the restoration is complete, SERVPRO will coordinate the return of belongings to the property. Items are unpacked, inspected, and placed back in their original locations whenever possible.

SERVPRO's pack-out services aim to minimize disruption and help homeowners and businesses recover from disasters efficiently. By entrusting the packing, transportation, cleaning, and storage of belongings to trained professionals, property owners can focus on the restoration process with peace of mind.

Space Heater Safety

11/27/2023 (Permalink)

Should you ever experience a fire or smoke damage, contact SERVPRO of Fernandina Beach/Jacksonville Northeast. But here are tips for space heaters as compiled by Consumer Reports:

Using a Space Heater: Safety Tips

Half of all home heating fires happen during the months of December, January, and February—they’re mostly caused when a heater (typically an electric one) is placed too close to curtains, bedding, or upholstered furniture. Our experts, as well as the pros at the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturersand the National Fire Protection Agency offer the following safety tips:

• Place the heater on a hard, level, and nonflammable surface. These appliances are intended to sit on the floor, not on a table.
• Establish a 3-foot kid- and pet-free zone around the heater, and never put a space heater in a child’s room.
• Keep the space heater at least 3 feet away from combustible materials, such as furniture, bedding, and curtains. A taller heater may need to be even further away.
• Don’t use a heater in a workshop or garage near paint, gas cans, or matches.
• Turn it off when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Unplug the heater when it’s not in use by pulling the plug straight from the outlet. Check the cord for damage periodically, and don’t use the heater if the cord is frayed or worn.
• Don’t plug another electrical device or an extension cord into the same outlet as a heater—that can cause overheating.
• Install working smoke alarms on every level of your home and in every bedroom, and test them monthly.
  
  SERVPRO is near you in Fernandina Beach, Yulee, Jacksonville and more for water damage restoration, fire damage restoration and mold remediation!

Heartfelt Holiday Greetings After a Tough Year

12/15/2020 (Permalink)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at SERVPRO of Fernandina Beach/Jacksonville Northeast

Each year we thank our customers when this time of year rolls around. This year, our gratitude is even more heartfelt. 2020 has been tough on all of us. Without the support of you, our customers, our business would not have survived this pandemic and we would have had to close our doors and let our employees go. 

Instead, we have broadened our service base to include comprehensive COVID-19 cleaning and have continued to serve the water, fire and mold damage needs of our community. Now, with the introduction of the vaccine on the horizon, we hope and pray that the coming year will be more forgiving than the last.

So, as we fast approach this holiday season, we at SERVPRO Fernandina Beach/Jacksonville Northeast would like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! You can rest assured that we will be here 24/7 if you need us in the coming year.

Lead Paint Removal  

6/20/2018 (Permalink)

Contact SERVPRO of Fernandina Beach/Yulee at 904.729.2401 if you need lead paint testing or removal.

The Facts About Lead

• Lead-based paint was used in more than 38 million homes until it was banned for residential use in 1978.
• Lead can affect children’s brains and developing nervous systems, causing reduced IQ, learning disabilities and behavioral problems.
• Even children who seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies.
• Lead is also harmful to adults and the elderly.
• Lead in dust is the most common way people are exposed to lead. People can also get lead in their bodies from lead in soil or paint chips. Lead dust is often invisible.
• Projects that disturb lead-based paint can create dust and endanger you and your family.
• In most cases, lead-based paint that is in good condition is not a hazard.

SERVPRO of Fernandina Beach/Yulee Certified for Lead Paint Removal

EPA's Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP Rule) requires that firms performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities and pre-schools built before 1978 have their firm certified by EPA (or an EPA authorized state), use certified renovators who are trained by EPA-approved training providers and follow lead-safe work practices.

SERVPRO of Fernandina Beach/Yulee has RRP certification and will take the necessary precautions according to current laws. SERVPRO of Fernandina Beach/Yulee professionals have been trained and certified to follow lead-safe work practices while performing renovation and repair projects in our area.

According to EPA requirements (40 CFR Part 745) contractors must use lead-safe work practices and follow these three simple procedures:

• Contain the work area.  
• Minimize dust.  
• Clean up thoroughly.

Does Your Property Contain Lead?

Older homes, older child care facilities, schools and other buildings are more likely to contain lead-based paint. Homes may be private, government-assisted or public housing. Schools are preschools and kindergarten classrooms. They may be urban, suburban or rural.

Percentage of homes likely to contain lead:

• Built between 1960-1978 = 24%  
• Built between 1940-1960 = 69%  
• Built before 1940 = 87%

What You Can Do To Protect Your Family From Lead in Pre-1978 Homes

• If you rent, notify your landlord of peeling or chipping paint.
• Clean up paint chips immediately.
• Regularly clean floors, window sills, and other surfaces. Use a mop, sponge, or paper towel with warm water and a general all-purpose cleaner or a cleaner made specifically for lead.
• Thoroughly rinse sponges and mop heads after cleaning dirty or dusty areas.
• Wash children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers and toys often.
• Keep children from chewing window sills or other painted surfaces.
• Make sure children eat a healthy, nutritious diet consistent with the USDA’s dietary guidelines, which helps protect children from the effects of lead.
• Clean or remove shoes before entering your home to avoid tracking in lead from soil.

Contact us at 904-729-2401 if you need to lead paint testing or abatement at your home or place of business.

Elliminating Odor with Ozone. What is Ozone? Is It Safe? Can I Use Ozone?

6/9/2014 (Permalink)

We can use Ozone (O3) aka Activated Oxygen to Eliminate Odor at its Source

What is Ozone?

When the oxygen (O2) that is all around us rises to the upper atmosphere, and is exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays, that oxygen is naturally turned into ozone (O3). That is the "ozone layer" that protects us from the sun's harmful UV rays. Since ozone is heavier than air, it falls back to earth. This is the ozone that naturally purifies our air and water. Because it is made up entirely of oxygen, ozone is sometimes called "activated oxygen". Ozone occurs commonly in nature as a result of lightning strikes during thunderstorms. Ozone is also created by waterfalls. The “fresh, clean, spring rain” smell you notice after a storm results from natures creation of ozone. 

Isn’t Ozone Smog?

Ozone is O3, three atoms of oxygen linked together, rather than the two atoms of oxygen, O2, we normally breathe. O3 Ozone is not smog

While some people mistakenly refer to ozone as smog, smog is actually a combination of hydrocarbons, the being CO2 CO, and SO2 that react with UV rays from the sun to form nitric oxides (NOX). These hydrocarbons are most commonly created by the exhaust that comes from automobiles.

Ozone O3

The three atom form of oxygen is a naturally occurring compound in the earth’s atmosphere. The life cycle of ozone is: generation, oxidation, return to oxygen.

Ozone cannot be stored or transported because of its unstable tendency to break down quickly, so ozone must be generated on site. Because gaseous ozone is highly reactive, it readily oxidizes (breaks down) organic matter. When the ozone encounters another compound, one oxygen atom will break away, attach itself to the compound, and oxidize it. Ozone actually breaks down odor-causing compounds, thereby eliminating the odor and changing the ozone back to oxygen (O2). 

One of the best features of ozone is its ability to control odors by attacking the offending organisms.

How Long Does The Ozone Last?

As soon as ozone is formed in the generator and dispersed in a room some of it decays back into oxygen. This step occurs by several processes including the following: Natural decay (or revision to oxygen) due to ozone chemical instability. The natural process is sped up by the presence of walls, carpets, furniture, etc. Additionally ozone itself has a very short half life which means that any extra ozone will return to oxygen within about 30 minutes, in amounts equal to half its level.

How Does Ozone Handle Tobacco Smoke?

It eliminates the irritation caused by phenol gasses, by oxidizing them. Phenol gasses are the invisible part of tobacco smoke that cause such offensive odors, and discomfort to one’s eyes and nasal passages.

Ozone rids offensive odors in the environment rather than merely filtering out some of the visible particles like other “air cleaners”.

Is Ozone Safe?

Yes! Ozone is safe when used properly. There is no reason to fear ozone. Yes, breathing in overly high levels of ozone is not good for you. But low levels of ozone are all around us, and are safe to breathe.

Having Odor Issues?

If you are having odor issues in your home, office, or even your car, you can use ozone to efficiently and effectively oxidize (break down) any organic matter, killing the odor at its source. We have commercial grade ozone machines that we can use to eliminate odors in spaces as small as a pantry or cabinet, or spaces as large as your home or office. For more information about our deodorization services you can visit Servpro® Deodorization Services or to get help online Contact Us Now