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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Archived Blog Posts

SERVPRO a Trusted Leader in Water Restoration

11/1/2022 (Permalink)

Water Damage Emergencies

In Paramus, Westwood, Montvale, and the surrounding area, SERVPRO of Paramus provides 24/7 emergency services for any water damage emergency. When water damage occurs the clock start ticking and action should be taken quickly. You can count on our highly trained crews and the specialized equipment they use to restore your property to preloss conditions.

Faster To Any Size Disaster

Most cleaning and restoration situations require immediate attention. A fast response can help minimize the amount of damage, therefore reducing the cost of the restoration work. Water is an invasive element, since it can spread through your property quickly and be absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, etc. Once a SERVPRO professional arrives the water restoration process can begin.

Locally Owned and Operated

Here at SERVPRO of Paramus all of our employees live and work in the community. Being locally owned and operated means we are close by and are ready to respond to your water damage emergency. We are also happy to take part in community activities such as national night outs and other events that are hosted by towns within our territories. We are a proud to be an active member of the Paramus and surroundings community in order to do our part to make our community the best it can be.

The Fire Damage Restoration Professionals

9/19/2022 (Permalink)

Fire damage with soot covering the bathroom The struggle of fire damage.

Has your Paramus Property been affected by Fire Damage?

After the fire has been extinguished in your property, people usually want to get the ball rolling and begin the restoration process quickly. When rushing to get the process started mistakes can be made, a property owner can risk their own health and safety when the issue is addressed without plan. Without full working knowledge of what to keep an eye out for and how to properly mitigate issues as they get discovered. These risks should not be taken and a restoration specialist should be called it this situation.

Fire Damage Assessment

A professional fire damage assessment of the damage can save time and money in most cases instead of attempting to do it yourself. An experienced and certified SERVPRO team of specialists will effectively evaluate the damage quickly in order to determine the proper restoration solution. There can be many lingering issues/consequences that can’t be found on the surfaces. A specialist will know what to look for and how to find any of the hidden problems because of the experience and training they have received over the years. Our workers have been accredited by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) in fire restoration and odor control.

Another benefit that comes with choosing SERVPRO of Paramus to assess your fire loss is that it can prove to be cost-effective, since our organization has strong relationships with local as well as large insurance agencies. We know what they need when it comes to evidence and the documentation needed for filing a damage claim. When you choose us to handle your fire loss we will get the job done to your satisfaction.

Give us a call at (201) 445-5588

How can Water Damage Affect your Home or Business

9/6/2022 (Permalink)

Water loss in a basement. The effects of water damage

Water is a powerful force and at times even our buildings impacted by its strength. There are ways that a property owner can improve/prevent the chances of their home or business affected by the elements. A few common causes of water damage include:

Severe Weather

Bad weather may not happen every day but when a severe downpour, hurricane, or thunderstorm rolls in, there will always be increased risks. Heavy downpour and winds can damage your roof and depending on the location of your house or business the soil can become over saturated, which can lead to ground water seeping into the structure. Flooding is one of the more severe scenarios that your structure can face during a rain storm and a flash flood event can happen at any moment catching you off guard.

Drains

A drain systems can be a useful tool against water damage, but drains can be clog if left unmaintained. Your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, bathtub/shower drain, and French-drains can clog up for a number of reasons. Grease build up, dirt, hair, and foreign objects could obstruct the pipe preventing water to drain through properly. If the issue isn’t noticed and dealt if, it can lead to clogged drains and create a backup causing water to flow upwards back into your home leading to water damage.

Pipes

Pipe leaks can be caused by simple things such as a loose-fitting. It can be difficult to figure out if you have a pipe leak until the damage has been done, since a lot of pipes are hidden behind the walls, under floors, and beneath the foundation. Water damage brought on by a pipe leak can be very costly, since it can go unnoticed.

If the water has been unmitigated for some time it can make an already bad situation worse, since the high moisture levels allow mold spores to form and spread. When this happens the job isn’t only mitigating water damage, but also dealing with mold cleanup.

Supply Lines

Many homes have washers, dish washers, and fridges with water supply lines running into those appliances. Problems tend to happen more frequently if the supply line is rubber or PVC. Those materials can wear out and rupture more frequently when compared to a line using braided stainless steel. If the supply line fails it can flood the area quickly if the water source isn’t shut off as soon as possible.

Air Conditioning Condensation

Condensation is a normal part of an A/C’s operation. When there is an issue the condensation drain line can get clogged with debris or the drain pain can be damaged. This prevents the water to flow out of the unit causing water to drip into your home or business. If the issue is noticed quickly and the unit is turned off you should be fine and might just have to do a little bit of a cleanup, but when no one is around the water can do a lot of potential damage to your floors and walls.

Water Heater

Water Heaters have provided homes and businesses with hot water for more than a century. They became more commonly used in the 1940’s. There are new high end water heater systems that don’t require a water tank, but the most common are water heaters that have a water tank. If a water heater with a tank isn’t replaced over a long period of time, the chances of a water leak increase. It can also happen if the water heater isn’t maintained or installed properly. Whenever there is a leak you can expect the entire area around the water heater to be affected by water damage.

How can SERVPRO of Paramus Help?

We specialize in water mitigation and restoration for homes and businesses in the Bergen County area. Our team consists of highly trained professionals with years of experience in water recovery situations and accreditations through the Institute of Inspection, cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). With the knowledge and experience that our team has allows us to quickly address the threats to a property amid a water loss incident using effective mitigation strategies and top of the line equipment.

Our team operates 24/7 emergency services to those experiencing a severe situation. As a locally owned and operated business we have an understanding when it comes to the most common causes of water damage in the surrounding area, since we are close by it also ensures fast response times in most cases. The only time where our response times may be affected would be during severe weather events that affect a large amount of properties within the region.

Why SERVPRO® is a Leader in Fire & Water Cleanup and Restoration

8/24/2022 (Permalink)

servpro vehicle on-site during sunny day Ready to Respond at Anytime

SERVPRO of Paramus, Assisting property Owners in need of Restoration Services

Water and fire one of the most common ways a business or home can be damaged. Whenever a property owner runs into a situation where their structure has been affected by those elements, SERVPRO of Paramus is “Here to Help“. Our company specializes in water & fire restoration cleanup, we take pride in the services we provide to residents in the Garden State. We have an amazing team of professionals that have the training and expertise to provide high quality solutions to address your restoration needs.

Water Restoration Process

Each situation is unique and in most cases requires professionals to get the job done. An efficient and reliable process is used to address water damage no matter what type of structure is affected. This section will briefly go over the steps that are taken to mitigate your issue and provide information, so you can understand why certain things may need to be done during mitigation. Our company has developed a general six step water damage restoration process.

Step 1: Emergency Contact

Step 2: Inspection and Damage Assessment

Step 3: Water Removal/Water Extraction

Step 4: Drying and Dehumidification

Step 5: Cleaning and Repair

Step 6: Restoration

Fire Restoration Process

Dealing with fire damage can be challenging even for a qualified professional to overcome. There are so many variables that make each job unlike any another, it is important to quickly set up appointments for damage assessment and an inspection. We have experienced employees that can handle the full range of effects can come about after a fire emergency, our technicians have (IICRC) certifications in fire & smoke restoration and odor control. That knowledge can go a long way when it comes to getting your property restored properly.

The work done on commercial and residential fire restoration jobs in the Paramus area wouldn’t be possible without our growing inventory of recovery and mitigation equipment. Situations where soot and odor are a primary concern, containment strategies are vital. Hydroxyl and ozone machines are used to filter out particulates/contaminants while addressing odors. Chemical sponges are used on areas that have built up smoke/soot residues. SERVPRO has also developed a fire damage restoration process made up of multiple steps.

Step 1: Emergency Contact

Step 2: Inspection and Fire Damage Assessment

Step 3: Immediate Board-Up and Roof Tarp Service (if required)

Step 4: Water Removal and Drying (if water damage is present)

Step 5: Removal of Smoke and Soot from All Surfaces

Step 6: Cleaning and Repair

Step 7: Restoration

Faster to any size disaster™

With more than 1,900 franchises across the United States, allows our experienced employees to respond quickly to any size disaster. Professionals are available 24/7 and are ready to restore and clean your property. SERVPRO of Paramus is locally owned and operated along with our other locations, which means each team has an understanding on what areas are affected more frequently and will be able to provide an effective solution based off of environmental factors.

If your property has been affected by fire and/or water damage give us a call today at (201) 445-5588.

Storms & Property Damage

8/17/2022 (Permalink)

Lighting striking during a storm. Whenever a storm devastates a property, SERVPRO is Here to Help.

Sometimes you just can’t win Against Nature

Even in todays’ modern age storms can still cause a lot of damage, no matter what we do to prepare for them. Our government from the federal to the local level, along with private and public organization monitor our weather 24/7 with some of the most advanced equipment at their disposal and still can get inaccurate predictions. Due to the changing environment around us weather is becoming increasingly unpredictable and more extreme. If this is becoming the new normal, it can be difficult to take preemptive measures and sometimes the only option is to mitigate the damages after the storm has passed. These extreme weather events, which are increasing in frequency are damaging more homes and businesses each year.

Flood and Storm Damage Recovery

It is a stressful situation if your home or business has been affected by storm damage and restoring/recovering from these circumstances requires experienced professionals like the team at SERVPRO of Paramus. Our technicians use proven scientific techniques involving psychrometrics giving them the ability to understand the behavior of water in order to mitigate the damage effectively. This provides us data on how to properly dry the structure and manage humidity levels. Here at SERVPRO we understand how traumatic and overwhelming it can be when your property is damaged. Once our team is on-site they immediately begin assessing the damage to determine what steps need to be carried out, such as determining if demolition is needed to move the restoration process forward. When the non-salvageable material is removed, whether it be part of the structure or contents, drying equipment can be set up and left on site for a few days. During the drying process an employee will stop by and take readings of the affected area until moisture reaches acceptable levels. Once the area has been dried the equipment can be removed and job can be marked as competed as long as you are satisfied with the work. Then you can begin planning your next move.

Why Choose SERVPRO of Paramus

We are the leaders in the restoration industry. Certified technicians will walk you through the entire process until the job is completed to your satisfaction. A benefit of being a locally owned and operated business gives us the ability to respond to property damage emergencies quickly at any time, since we provide 24/7 emergency service. SERVPRO of Paramus will do whatever it takes to make it “Like it never even happened”.

Deodorizing a Property after a Fire

8/8/2022 (Permalink)

Fire Damage - Cleanup Soot being cleaned off a wall in a Paramus home after a fire in the kitchen.

Here at SERVPRO of Paramus we are experts when it comes to restoring properties after they have experienced fire damage. Whether it be your business or a home we will get the job done to your satisfaction. The first thing people think of after experiencing a fire is cleaning the debris, soot, and char damage, but that’s not the only thing to focus on. The longest affect a fire can have on your property is the smell, which is a big part the restoration process that requires our deodorization equipment.

We have specialized Ozone generators that can be set up on site and left for a few days in an effort to eliminate any smells that have been brought on by the fire. Our team will also collect and box up salvageable contents so they can be thoroughly cleaned and stored until the restoration process is completed.  Ozone has the ability to destroy odor particles in materials through a process that is called oxidation. This process works on all kinds of odors ranging from organic to any odor that has been brought on by fire damage. This process can take some time, but in most cases gets the job done.

SERVPRO of Paramus can handle all your restoration needs. We don’t just focus on fire restoration alone, our other services include water and mold damage restoration. If you have experienced water, fire, and/or mold damage don’t hesitate to give us a call at (201) 445-5588.

SERVPRO of Paramus is the Number #1 Choice in Fire and Water Cleanup and Restoration for Paramus Businesses

8/3/2022 (Permalink)

Office Hallway Restoration Whenever your business is affected by water damage, our experienced technicians will get the job done.

Why do Businesses Choose Us?

We are the primary choice for businesses in the area, since we are the leader in the fire and water cleanup and restoration. Our staff of professionals have the training and experience needed to get the job done quickly and to the satisfaction of our customers. Our entire process for handling losses is streamlined for efficiency with no compromise to the end result. Our objective is to get your business on track quickly to minimize the affect a loss may have on your business, since we understand that going through a situation that requires our service is extremely stressful at time. The SERVPRO team both office and field employees are here for you and to make sure your worries are washed away.

When Should You Call?

A business should reach out to us whenever they have or may think their property has been affected by water, fire, or mold damage. When your business is affected by water damage it has the potential of going unnoticed for some time depending on the cause. Water damage can happen from a large range of things such as leaking pipes, pipe bursts, failure/misuse of appliances, sewage backups, broken/unmaintained hot water heaters, storms, frozen pipes, the list can go and on. Then there is fire damage which can occur in a many different ways hopefully when it does happen no one gets hurt. Fire damage could be caused by faulty/damaged wires, appliances, mismanagement of equipment, arson, power surges, even something being burnt can lead to fire damage allowing soot to travel through the air and settle on everything in the affected area. Once the damage has been done in most situations it can’t be done alone, that’s why we offer our 24/7 emergency services, so you can call us and a technician will be sent to the affected property right away.

The Restoration Process

In most cases water and/or fire damage can be quite the load to handle and may require a lot more work than business owner may have initially thought. When it comes to mitigating these situations a large amount of the time it may require demolition to properly fix the issues especially if a large area is affected, it also depends the materials that make up the structure. A business in more extreme circumstances may need to shut down operations if the affected area has significant damage having a negative impact on the profitability of the business. This is why it’s important to address the issue quickly. Once the affected area went through demo then the cleaning and drying process can begin along with sorting through the contents to determine what is salvageable and what can be claimed.

Fire Damage in Paramus New Jersey

8/3/2022 (Permalink)

Structure Fire A structure fire in a single family home in Paramus, NJ.

Preparation Tips for your Paramus Home

Have you inspected your smoke alarm system recently? You can prepare your household for the possibility of a fire and by doing so can help save lives. It may be difficult to even imagine a fire breaking out in your home, but that’s why taking the proper precautions can greatly affect the outcome of a house fire.

Helpful Tips

Here at SERVPRO of Paramus we offer these helpful tips provided by the American Red Cross to help families prepare for a fire emergency.

  • Install the right number of smoke alarms. Test them once a month and replace the batteries at least once a year.  
  • Teach children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one. 
  • Ensure that all household members know two ways to escape from every room of your home and know the family meeting spot outside of your home.
  • Establish a family emergency communications plan and ensure that all household members know who to contact if they cannot find one another
  • Practice escaping from your home at least twice a year. Press the smoke alarm test button or yell “Fire“to alert everyone that they must get out.
  • Make sure everyone knows how to call 9-1-1
  • Teach household members to STOP, DROP and ROLL if their clothes should catch on fire

Putting the Pieces Back Together

If you have experienced a fire in your Paramus home, we understand that it’s a traumatic and difficult situation to deal with. It can be hard to figure out where should things go from there, but that’s why we offer our fire restoration services, so we can help pick the pieces up and do everything within our power to put them back together. Our team has the expertise and advanced training that allows us to get your property restored quickly and thoroughly.

If you are in need of our services give us a call at (201) 445-5588

The Power of Mother Nature

7/22/2022 (Permalink)

Flooded street in New Jersey Flooded Street during a storm with water stretching all the way up to single family homes.

SERVPRO of Paramus is "Here to Help" Cleanup the Aftermath of any Storm

When disaster strikes we will be there to pick up the pieces and do whatever it takes to get things back on track. Whether it be rain or snow SERVPRO of Paramus is here for the local Bergen county community. Storms can be quite unpredictable and have the potential to cause quite a bit of damage. During a torrential rain storm or when a large amount of snow melts can potentially cause flooding among other things, which could cause major damage do properties. 

How can SERVPRO Help you?

We offer restoration/mitigation services after the damage has been done. Our company specializes in water, fire, and mold mitigation services and when it comes to rebuilding we got your back. No matter what type of property you own, whether it be residential, commercial, or industrial we will get the job done. 

Expect the Unexpected

Water emergencies such as flooding from a storm or burst pipe can happen at any moment. Events such as this can happen at any time, when it does you need trusted professionals to handle water removal and drying. SERVPRO is the trusted name in the restoration industry. Our locally owned and operated franchise has technicians that have up to date IICRC certifications for water restoration. We are faster to any size disaster and we're ready to respond to any water emergency 24/7. 

Why Should Flooding be Addressed Quickly?

The longer water is left sitting the more hazardous it becomes.

  • Within minutes of flooding - water can move rapidly through a structure, saturating the building materials, carpeting, and anything that can absorb water. 
  • Within 24 Hours - Unpleasant musty odors can develop, drywall can become over saturated and begin to break down, inks and dyes from items can mix with the water potentially staining other contents. Wood furnishing can begin to crack after being exposed to large amounts of water. 
  •  Within 48 hours - Building elements that have been exposed to water and high levels of moisture will begin to warp. Mold spoors can begin to colonize and spread throughout the structure. Paint can begin to peel off the walls and the floors could start to warp. At this time, severe contamination is possible.
  • After a week - The integrity of the structure will be questionable. By this time mold will have taken hold and the cost and time will be multiplied due to the severity of the situation. Building materials that have been exposed for too long will need to be replaced and total reconstruction of the affected area will be considered.

Faster to any Size Disaster

This is why we offer 24/7 emergency services, so any further damages can be potentially stopped. A fast response time will give our technicians the ability to take action and work with you every step of the way through a very stressful situation. Our objective is to mitigate and restore your property so it's "Like it Never Even Happened."

How Bad can a Water Leak Be?

7/12/2022 (Permalink)

Water damaged caused by leaking pipe. Water damage caused by pipe leak located in the ceiling.

There are many outcomes that can come from a water leak, whether it be in a home or commercial establishment. If you spot a water leak have SERVPRO of Paramus evaluate and determine the severity of the water damage. We are available 24/7 and give us a call at (201) 445-5588 to set up an appointment.

You can find some helpful ideas bellow when it comes to spotting and determining if there are any water issues going on that may need to be addressed. 

What should you watch out for? 

stains and discoloration on surfaces such as floors, walls, and ceilings.

- Swelling or buckling of floorboards.

Standing water in low places such as basements, and under porches along the foundation.

Water soaked insulation, electrical outlet covers, and light fixtures.

If a room feels abnormally humid check to see if any furniture or drapery is wet.

What should you do if you find a leak?

If you do find a water leak you should turn off your water supply valve to prevent further damage and move any electrical items away from the affected area. 

Turing off the water is the first step that should be taken to help prevent any further damage.

A water leak can be detrimental if not addressed quickly. Water damage can occur quickly and without much warning. Our SERVPRO professionals are available 24/7 to help with any and all water damage issues that you might have. 

Fire Damage Restoration You Can Trust in Paramus

6/23/2022 (Permalink)

fire damaged living room with soot-covered items and debris Don't worry if you have fire damage in your Paramus home. Call SERVPRO for their specialized service.

SERVPRO is Here for Fire Damage Cleanup for Paramus Residents

There are instances after a fire gets put out in a home where little thought goes into the impact of smoke and soot on your interior. This is a common problem when anyone attempts a DIY fire restoration rather than calling in the expertise of skilled fire and smoke restoration technicians (FSRT) after having a fire in their Paramus home or business. SERVPRO understands best practices for house fire cleanup and smoke remediation so that we can help you restore your home to pre-fire condition. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster and come armed with the right equipment and methods to get the restoration project completed promptly.

There is the fallout from charred debris and other fire damage in Paramus, but you also need to think of the impact of smoke and soot throughout your home. These residues are byproducts that can cause corrosion or discoloration of various materials. This is why it becomes essential to enlist the help of a trusted restoration team to address fire damaged homes to get at all of the soot and smoke that traveled into crevices and various materials. 

We Understand the Damage Brought on By Soot and Smoke Residue

There are several factors at play with any fire restoration project. Not only do we handle the removal and careful disposal of all charred contents and debris, but we follow best practices for smoke remediation. The different types of issues to remember when it comes to smoke residue and soot include:

  • Wet Smoke – This gets generated with a smoldering fire that burns at a lower temperature. Unlike the dry, powdery soot you will have in a fast-burning fire, as wet smoke settles, it becomes sticky and clammy. It will also be challenging to clean due to smearing, so we bring specialized cleaning agents to each project.
  • Odors – Some smoke damage will be easy to see and smell depending on the nature and materials impacted. Fabrics like upholstery and clothing make it easy to detect smoky smells. Because the particles can become embedded in certain materials, they can linger for a long time if not appropriately addressed. Our Odor Control Technicians (OCT) know how to root out and manage all areas where odorous particles are settled, using ultra-low volume (ULV) foggers and various products to eliminate them rather than masking the smell.
  • Staining – Once flames get extinguished, there will be some signs of visible smoke damage, while other surfaces might not show it until days later. Walls, granite or marble countertops, and any exposed wood may experience permanent discoloration if not treated as soon as possible. Due to smoke damage, tarnishing may also develop on iron, steel, brass, and aluminum.

We Are Here to Ensure You Get Prompt Restoration to Ease Your Mind

Homeowners that go through a fire often feel several stages of loss and grief. SERVPRO’s technicians understand the impact and devastation fire brings, so we take the time to carefully navigate your project, keeping you apprised of our progress at each step. It is normal to feel shocked, angry, and even hopeless seeing the charred remnants of a fire. We are here to:

  • Restore your belongings versus replace them whenever possible
  • Working as a liaison with your insurance company for your fire damage claim
  • Board up and tarping services to protect your interior from further damage during restoration
  • Controlled demolition services to make your home “Like it never even happened.” – General Contractor License #13VH001305854800

Request help online or call SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 for rapid response to address fire damage – residential or commercial!

Paramus Residents Deserve Quality Water Damage Restoration

6/23/2022 (Permalink)

water damage equipment on a linoleum floor We have state-of-the-art equipment to handle any size water damage job. Call us right away to prevent further damage to your Paramus property.

Call SERVPRO for Prompt Water Damage Assistance in Paramus

One of the more prevalent forms of damage found in residential homes and commercial businesses is water damage. This is due to many causes that may sometimes go undetected. Any excess water can make its way into your Paramus property because of weather conditions like heavy rains and flooding. There could also be internal problems like leaking or burst pipes, excessive humidity, and leaking fixtures. Because the extent of the damage may be deceiving, having trained technicians from SERVPRO take a look is the best course of action.

While it may be tempting to address water damage in Paramus on your own, hiring a professional ensures nothing gets overlooked. DIY methods and someone with an untrained eye could make it where you have the potential for costly secondary damage or mildew and black mold growth. Here at SERVPRO, we have IICRC-certified water restoration technicians (WRT) with all the experience and equipment to handle any size residential or commercial water restoration project.

Top Reasons to Hire Skilled Technicians for Water Damage Issues

Aside from the need for results, there are plenty of benefits that come from having SERVPRO for water removal services and restoration, including:

  • Hidden leak and water damage detection – One of the most challenging things about water issues will be understanding the extent of the damage. Water gets absorbed into building materials like drywall, insulation, and wood. We dive in to follow the path of migration to ensure no moisture gets left behind, pinpointing and addressing the root cause of the water problem.
  • Professional-grade equipment, tools, and products – We bring state-of-the-art equipment to each water damage call to ensure all excess moisture and water get removed. This includes advanced drying equipment like air movers, shop vacs, drying mats, and dehumidifiers. There will also be helpful tools like moisture sensors and meters that find hidden moisture and tell us how we are doing as the project moves along.
  • Rapid response and proven methods generate results – Once you make initial contact with our customer care team, we arrive at your door within hours to get to work. We assess the issue and begin water extraction as soon as possible to ensure proper water mitigation. 

How Can Professional Water Damage Cleanup and Restoration Save Me Money?

It may seem that hiring professionals for water damage are a cost that you cannot take on. However, it saves you time and cuts losses in the long run. We want all Paramus area customers to know that SERVPRO makes it “Like it never even happened” while working to restore versus replace whenever possible. Things to keep in mind:

  • Having our Green Fleet on the scene as soon as possible to perform water mitigation keeps water from getting absorbed into your building materials. It can generate more extensive damage or mold growth.
  • Restorations for extensive secondary damage and structural issues brought on by water and mold can be more expensive than calling us initially.
  • We work with the restore versus replace mentality, meaning we salvage and clean whatever we can to save time and money.

We are Your Insurance Liaison to Ensure Your Claim Goes Smoothly

Should your home or any personal belongings get damaged because of excessive water or moisture, you must file a claim for insurance compensation. We work with your insurance provider to ensure all paperwork is in order so that your claim goes off without a hitch.

SERVPRO of Paramus is here whenever you require skilled technicians for help with water damage. Call us 24/7 at (201) 445-5588!

Mold Damage Cannot Wait – Call for Help in Paramus

6/23/2022 (Permalink)

mold damage on the concrete walls of a basement Do you know how to locate mold damage in your home? SERVPRO does! We have the tools to remediate the mold quickly.

SERVPRO’s Mold Damage Techniques Offer Results for Paramus Residents

If you find mold in your Paramus home or business, you should never take it lightly. Seasoned property owners who spot mold on floors, walls, and furniture will know that something needs to get done as soon as possible. SERVPRO is there to help you remedy the issue and clean all surfaces to restore your property, ensuring everything gets our Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned seal of approval!

Why hire professionals rather than embark on a DIY journey for mold damage in Paramus? Most people do not have the proper gear, tools, and products to handle mold infestation. Additionally, any over-the-counter products that tell you they remove mold are simply a myth. You should always have the pros handle any mold mitigation and cleanup!

We Know How to Handle Careful Mold Remediation

Several issues can arise from a mold problem in your bathroom, kitchen, basement, and other areas of your home. Mold comes in many forms and only needs the right environment to thrive and colonize – moisture and organic materials to feed and grow. All it takes is a slight increase in humidity, and it can kickstart the mold growth process. Some problems that may occur once microbial spores multiply include:

  • Severe structural damage
  • Permanent damage to furnishings and contents
  • Devaluation of your home

What if I Find Mold During a Renovation Project?

During a renovation to your Paramus property, you will repair or remodel any broken, damaged, or outdated building areas. Most mold types will be noteworthy and apparent as far as appearance. Just a few of the visible mold types include:

  • Velvet-like mold grows in damp areas around leaking sinks, showers, and bathtubs.
  • Black, pink, or brown mold may develop around furniture, wooden surfaces, and behind wallpaper. 
  • Gray, pink, orange, or white mold can sometimes be found around cooling coils, drain pans, window sealants, and humidifiers.

Did You Know There Could Be Mold Development Throughout Your HVAC System?

It is no secret that mold spores detach and move through the air that we breathe to find new materials to thrive on. It is essential to call for professional mold remediation if you suspect it has infiltrated your HVAC system. Any trapped moisture in your air ducts can become a problem during the spring and summer months as cool air moves through. In just a couple of days, spores can accumulate and spread throughout the rest of the system. 

When you call in SERVPRO to help with mold cleanup efforts, we will:

  • Suit up in a full set of personal protective equipment (PPE), including hazmat suits, boots, gloves, goggles, and respirators.
  • Turn off your HVAC system to keep the mold spores from blowing around your home. 
  • Identify all areas where mold is present, ensuring everything gets thoroughly cleaned, sanitized, and deodorized with the help of EPA-registered disinfectants and antimicrobials. This may include cleaning air vents, handling mold that may have developed in your insulation, and looking at areas where mold could be hiding. 
  • Our IICRC-certified technicians also ensure the cause of the mold growth gets addressed, whether it is a slow leak in your plumbing, a faulty tub or shower, or poor ventilation in a bathroom, laundry room, etc.

For areas where materials are deemed unsalvageable, our team performs controlled demolition to remove the mold damage to make everything “Like it never even happened.”

Call SERVPRO of Paramus whenever you suspect you have a mold damage issue. We can be reached by dialing (201) 445-5588.

Rapid Water Removal in Paramus Business Premises Prevents Damages

6/22/2022 (Permalink)

concrete floor flood With advanced equipment, SERVPRO restores property to pre-damaged conditions, "Like it never even happened."

Emergency Water Extraction in Paramus with SERVPRO

Plumbing incidents like a burst pipe often leave a massive mess in Paramus commercial properties, mainly when the water spreads to neighboring premises. While a plumber may help with the necessary repairs, it is up to you to remove the moisture and dry things out. Water often causes severe damage if not addressed promptly. Therefore, your cleanup efforts should start immediately after the event.

You may think that professional water removal in Paramus business premises is mostly necessary if the leak has affected multiple rooms or has gone unnoticed for many hours. Thus, attempt cleanup on your own. However, professional intervention is still necessary as the water may have spread to hidden areas or is at greater levels that require specialized equipment and skills to reach. SERVPRO technicians offer quick water removal services preventing secondary damage to your premises.

Handy water extraction devices

  • Squeegee wands
  • Carpet wand
  • Dry/wet vacuums

Water Extraction Technique

SERVPRO removes puddles of water from the floor in various ways depending on how much water is there. This can be achieved with a vacuum or water pump. The key is to get as much standing water out as possible.

Wands are ideal for accessorizing pumps when removing large volumes of water and can be used on surfaces such as tile, asphalt, concrete, and linoleum. They are usually used for commercial tasks with a lot of surface area to clean. The type of squeegee to use depends on the kind of floor. For the uneven floor, like tile and asphalt, our crew uses a foam squeegee since the soft foam rubber blade can adjust to the cleaning surface.

Removing most of the water from the affected room is only a fraction of the work. You need to remove any excess moisture from the rooms through drying, which requires air movement, heat, and humidity management.

Drying equipment for total moisture control

  • Axial/ centrifugal air movers
  • Dehumidifiers
  • Structural cavity drying equipment




SERVPRO of Paramus is available 24/7 for water removal and can quickly mobilize a team to help you restore your business to pre-damage conditions. Call us at (201) 445-5588. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

After the Fire: How to Remove Smoke and Soot Residues From Your Paramus Home

6/22/2022 (Permalink)

Soot Covered Items Fire damage creates residue that is difficult to clean. Let SERVPRO handle the mess for you!

Strategies for Residue Removal After Fire Damage to Your Paramus Home 

After a fire breaks out in your Paramus dwelling, both structural components and contents can burn. Depending on the kind of materials and oxygen availability, flames can burn hot, smolder, or heat up and evaporate the fuels. Each kind of fire leaves a signature type of ash, soot, or residue. The substances that remain vary in the intensity and unpleasantness of their smells. 

The first tasks our employees complete after fire damage to your Paramus usually include water removal and soot and residue cleanup. The water is a result of the firefighters’ efforts, and it must be resolved quickly for safety because water is inherently destructive to the structure and contents of your house. Once water evacuates and structural drying completes, we begin cleaning the soiling. 

SERVPRO’s Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)-trained Fire and Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT) evaluate the characteristics of the residues on surfaces. Our training and experience help us match products, tools, and cleaning methods. Hot, paper, and wood-fueled ashy soot vacuums and dry sponges away successfully. Lingering smells are minimal, especially with good airflow. 

At lower temperatures, oxygen-poor fires smolder, coating walls, ceilings, floors, and furnishings with thick and sticky soot that is more pungent and persistent in odor. SERVPRO technicians choose cleaners with surfactants and wetting agents for this kind of residue. We also use controlled agitation to loosen the acrid-smelling coating. 

Cooking fires produce a residue consisting of proteins reduced to a thin, clingy film. The adhesion of protein-based residues is intense, often requiring solvents and abrasive tools or products to dislodge. Of all the fire residues, protein-based is the most unpleasant smelling, with a rancid odor that makes it hard to forget the fire event even after a thorough cleaning. 

If a deep cleaning does not eradicate the smells, SERVPRO has innovative equipment that neutralizes the odor-carrying capability of the particles at the molecular level. Thermal fogging combusts deodorants under conditions similar to the fire, the tiny bits seeking to pair with and neutralize odor-bearing particles. Hydroxyl generators use free radicals to change the chemical composition of soot, rendering it smell-free. Ozone machines harness oxidation to rid spaces of smoky smells. 


SERVPRO of Paramus uses the cleaning and restoration industry’s best practices to clear away fire residues and neutralize odors. Call us round the clock at (201) 445-5588 to schedule a thorough assessment and to begin mitigation and remediation steps.

When Storms Bring Flood Damage to Westwood

6/22/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Equipment We recently restored this water damaged basement. We have the equipment and training to complete the job quickly.

Flood Damage Control and Restoration for Westwood Homeowners

Flooding has become more prevalent in Westwood in the last few years, thanks to the more extreme storms in our area. Unfortunately, removal and cleanup actions often take longer since this outside water carries contaminants not found in water when an inlet pipe breaks or a hose leading into a dishwasher bursts.

Westwood flood damage is rarely very greater than a few inches, so SERVPRO efforts focus on removal, disposal, and cleaning of the floors and any property on the floor when the water enters the home. Specialists begin with tools from our equipment inventory to remove the floodwater.

Since this is outside water, removal operations only begin after eliminating the initial health threat. Contaminants in the water would include soil, fertilizers, new pet waste, and even sewer waste if the flooding caused problems for much of the city system. After spraying an anti-bacterial spray over the water surface and affected items, they bring in water pumps and smaller extractor wands to rid the home of standing water.

Now comes disposal. Team members remove all paper and other items that can drip or bleed colors onto the hardwood or different types of flooring. If there are carpets, they remove them last so they can serve as a sponge to absorb colors. Carpet removal is necessary since SERVPRO cannot provide a 100% guarantee that it is safe to use again even after thorough shampooing with our most active cleaner. 

Specialists then begin cleaning the floors and property with various chemical agents. A mild agent usually works for concrete, hardwood, and most other floorings, including linoleum and tile. For furniture such as dining room sets, they sparingly spray the wood with a cleaner and then wipe it off carefully with a sponge or cloth. If needed, they dry the item first to allow any varnish or other finishes to harden again and avoid streaking. If curtains or upholstery absorbed any floodwater, specialists would use a sprayer, and an upholstery brush was needed to work in the cleaning agent.

SERVPRO of Paramus is ready to help every homeowner and resident here or in Hillsdale, Washington Township, and Woodcliff Lake return home to its pre-damaged condition. If you need us, call (201) 445-5588 today. We are here for you.

Hillsdale Home Having a Water Problem?

5/19/2022 (Permalink)

standing water on a concrete floor What! DIY'ers drying their home in Paramus without advanced equipment like SERVPRO's centrifugal heated air mover? Call us for positive results.

Tips for Performing Water Cleanup in Your Hillsdale Property

The scene of standing water in your kitchen, dining room, living room, or even the bedroom can be stressful. Water does not belong there. If you do not take care of this problem quickly, you may incur unimaginable damage within a short time. In any water  incident, you can take the following steps to clean up your residence.

Observe safety

Before you start performing water cleanup in your Hillsdale home, take precautions to ensure safety. Switch off the power to prevent the risk of electrocution if the water is pooling around outlets or appliances. You should also try to wear thick rubber gloves to protect your hands.

Remove the water

You can remove the water using mops or a shop vac. Remove as much water as possible to speed up the drying process. Please consider hiring a professional water damage restoration company like SERVPRO to help you out. We have powerful water extraction equipment such as portable pumps and wet/dry vacuums. We can use them to remove water from your carpets and hardwood floors effectively and quickly, perhaps saving your efforts and possessions.

Dry the affected areas

Drying your home after a water intrusion incident is best done by professionals because the typical fan may not remove all the moisture. Dampness can cause secondary damage to your home. The moisture enables the growth of fungi which can cause wood rot. Paint and plaster can deteriorate, and wallpaper can loosen. Our technicians can use industrial-grade air movers and dehumidifiers to dry the floors, walls, and other surfaces in your home thoroughly. We also use thermal imaging cameras to inspect and monitor the moisture in building materials. If the water pooled on your carpet, our technicians can use moisture sensors to detect moisture in the carpet and pad. Moisture sensors have sharp probes that can penetrate through carpets and padding to determine if there is moisture in the subfloor underneath.

Disinfect and deodorize

Regardless of the cause of water intrusion, it is essential to disinfect your home to kill bacteria that the standing water might have spread. Microbes are present in any water damage, be it black, gray, or clean water. They may proliferate and cause one category of water damage to deteriorate into a more contaminated category. Our SERVPRO crew can use antimicrobial products to sanitize the affected areas. Your home may also have bad scents after a water intrusion incident. We can use equipment like hydroxyl machines, air scrubbers, and Vaportek units to remove the offensive odors. We understand how odors spread through water, and we can eliminate them.

If you need help to restore your Paramus, Westwood, or Washington Township home after water damage, contact SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588. Our SERVPRO team is available 24/7 and will respond quickly to your emergency.

Our Experts Explain How A Flood Could Damage Your Paramus Home

5/19/2022 (Permalink)

yellow background with words need help on it Call SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 to help restore your property to its preloss state.

What Could Worsen Flood Damage In Paramus Homes?

Flooding is not an outcome that you would typically expect to deal with in your home. However, flooding in urban settings is a real danger due to several factors such as inadequate storm drainage systems and landscaping options such as paving of driveways and walkways. If a flood hits your home, some factors may worsen the situation. Our professional flood damage mitigation services help Paramus homeowners prevent a bad situation from turning worse.

Delayed removal of water and excess moisture after flood damage in Paramus can worsen the situation. Other problems, such as mold start developing within 24 to 48 hours. Rotting and other forms of deterioration affecting various materials such as wood may also occur. Our SERVPRO technicians begin water extraction procedures as soon as possible. We expedite the process by using sophisticated equipment such as truck-mounted or portable water extractors depending on the severity of the situation.

Having the wrong expectations can worsen the situation. Since it is probably the first time your home has flooded, you might not expect the restoration process to take long. However, many flooding situations require weeks or even months for proper cleanup and restoration. Alternatively, you might feel that the situation is dire and therefore see no urgency in starting the restoration process. A lackluster approach could create an opportunity for avoidable deterioration. Our SERVPRO technicians rely on extensive experience to help you understand the situation. The training and IICRC (The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) certification we receive also helps us evaluate the damaged site, and give rough estimates of the time it can take to fix.

Failure to do proper scoping after a flooding incident can leave some issues unaddressed, worsening the initial problem. The water left pooling around after flooding migrates due to gravity action. Therefore, even extraction efforts might leave pockets of wetness. Our SERVPRO technicians do thorough scoping and rely on sophisticated moisture detection equipment such as thermal cameras and moisture sensors to ensure we identify all wet areas.

Suppose you need professional help for the proper management of flood damage. Call SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 to help restore your property to its preloss state. We’re Faster to Any

Commercial Kitchen Fire Restoration Handled by Pros in Paramus

5/19/2022 (Permalink)

fire damage in a building FIre damage to you business is hard to endure. Give SERVPRO a call today.

SERVPRO is the Answer in Paramus for Commercial Fire Restoration Projects

A business owner's last thought is for their bakery, restaurant, or commercial kitchen to get taken out by fire damage. It is best to know as a business owner that the faster you act to restore your commercial space, the easier it is to get back on your feet and recoup your losses. SERVPRO is here for Paramus business owners that have been dealt with devastating fire loss so you can save time and money on the cleanup. We have the technicians, training, and equipment to ensure the project gets done and that no lingering odors are left behind. 

SERVPRO is a name that businesses trust for commercial fire restoration in Paramus. Depending on the scope of the fire, we take time to inspect all facets of your commercial property. This allows us to pick the best methods for handling charring, smoke deposits, and soiling. We can then get started with pulling up standing water and removing any debris that must get disposed of.

Tools we bring with us to each fire restoration project

Fire debris removal is essential but not the only step we take with the cleanup. We have deodorization practices that allow us to neutralize odors. We also bring a collection of industrial-grade equipment on our Green Fleet that will help us reach our goals. Some of the tools we use most often to battle smoke odors include:

  • Odor counteractant pellets/beads/granules
  • Exhaust system/HVAC cleaning
  • Thermal fogging equipment
  • Ultra-low volume (ULV) foggers
  • Air scrubbers featuring HEPA filters
  • Ozone machinery
  • Hydroxyl generators
  • EPA-registered antimicrobial

Controlled demolition making it "Like it never even happened."

We perform controlled demolition to replace everything with new materials for areas where fire and smoke render materials unsalvageable. We go through the carpeting, fixtures, drywall, and every other element of your commercial kitchen or restaurant to return it to pre-fire condition. – General Contractor License #: 13VH001305854800

Contact SERVPRO of Paramus when you require assistance with commercial fire restoration. You can reach out to us online or call (201) 445-5588.

Handling Commercial Losses With Ease in Paramus

5/3/2022 (Permalink)

Handling Your Commercial Loss

When it comes to commercial restoration, you shouldn't leave anything to chance. That's why property managers all over the Paramus area rely on professionals like SERVPRO of Paramus. Compared to other restoration companies, our skilled technicians and the advanced equipment we use to take care of any-scale disaster is unmatched. Our use of professional equipment and trained technicians allows us to restore your Paramus commercial property or retail business back to its preloss condition quickly, reliably, and efficiently.

Here are some of the unique tools we have to restore your property:

  • Infrared cameras can be used to identify hidden water locations for the thorough removal of moisture that is hidden by the naked eye.
  • Sensitive moisture meters/detectors, hydrometer, and other meters to assist us with measuring the extent of moisture saturation.
  • Submersible and gas-powered pumps for continuous pumping of high-level water from evens like floods, pipe burst/leaks, hot water heaters along with a variety of other situations.
  • Truck-mounted and portable extraction units preform efficient water removal.
  • High-speed air movers allow moisture to evaporate quickly.
  • Industrial grade dehumidifiers pull the water vapor from the air.
  • Air Scrubbers that are able to filter the air of contaminants and fumes.
  • Thermal Foggers and environmentally-safe Deodorization Agents to leave a pleasant scent upon use.

When disaster strikes, you can count on SERVPRO of Paramus to take care of your property, so you can put your commercial business back in order. Give us a call at 201-445-5588!

What is Rain Runoff and How Does it Impact Your Paramas Home?

4/20/2022 (Permalink)

Car Driving Through Water in The Road Heavy rains can cause rain runoff to enter your home. Call SERVPRO for the expertise to remove it quickly.

Rain Runoff Causes Flood Damage in Paramus

North Jersey is densely populated, and our many retail and commercial outlets offer paved parking for all. Residents of Paramus can find rain runoff impacting their homes, filling basements and lower levels with potentially contaminated water. We invest in state-of-the-art equipment and a highly-qualified workforce ready to help with flood water woes. 

Flood damage in your Paramus residence is unduly disruptive and destructive. It cannot be ignored and requires the assistance of professional remediation specialists. Rapid removal and a complete dry out are essential to avoid progressive deterioration of building materials and inhibit mold growth. 

Our SERVPRO flood damage remediation crews are prepared to work immediately after our experienced project manager assesses the situation and develops the job plan. We stock our vehicles with the equipment, products, and specialized tools needed for the series of tasks we anticipate completing so that we can begin working as soon as we reach the worksite. 

The crew is also fully trained and certified in various specialties such as Water Damage Restoration Technician (WDRT) and Applied Structural Drying Technician (ASDT). The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC), an international standards development organization for the restoration industry, provides the coursework and knowledge base supporting our employees. 

Water quality assessments generally indicate that floodwaters are contaminated, so we contain and dispose of them following applicable regulations. SERVPRO uses commercial-grade pumps and water extractors to get that part of the job accomplished. We use sensitive moisture meters and thermal scanners to detect hidden water, using flood cuts or top-down extraction to release it. 

Cleaning and disinfecting with EPA-registered antimicrobials follow. The flooded space receives thorough structural drying using air movers, heaters, and dehumidifiers. We continuously monitor for moisture levels, ceasing the drying efforts only after the reading return to normal. 

We also assist with an evaluation of the damage done to contents, often transporting them to a protected area on your property or our production facility. Specialized SERVPRO technicians offer innovative strategies like freeze-drying for papers and photos and controlled drying chambers for electronics and furnishings. 

SERVPRO of Paramus is ready to help with all aspects of flood damage remediation. When runoff becomes a problem, contact us at (201) 445-5588.

Did Your Paramus Property Experience a Emergency Restoration Need? Call SERVPRO!

4/20/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Equipment No matter the size of your restoration emergency, SERVPRO has the equipment an manpower to restore your property.

Why SERVPRO of Paramus is Equipped to Handle Water, Mold, Fire, and Storm Damage Restoration in Paramus

We have developed a strong report with our customers and other businesses throughout the Paramus area because of how we prioritize your loss and seek to save our customers money regardless of the circumstances. We understand that having you wait for professional restoration services is the same as asking you to pay more for them, as symptoms of every loss situation can worsen with time. We have all aspects of recovery and restoration in-house, which can also help to save you time and get you back into your home quickly after a disaster strikes.  

Mold Remediation

Because Paramus homes have to contend with mold growth and its health hazards so frequently, we train and prepare for changes in methods and tactics continually. We are always looking to deploy remediation techniques and equipment that can save our customers time and money. The faster we address these concerns, the less potent and hazardous mold colonization can become inside the house. Our preparations also include Interactive Occupational Training (IOT), which provides advanced mold scenarios to improve the response of our technicians.  

The products and equipment we use in remediation and restoration services are state-of-the-art. We can help to reduce the severity of mold colonization already underway. With the application of products like our antimicrobials and sporicides, we can prevent the spread of colonies to new areas of your Paramus home by eliminating active spores on the surface of affected host materials.  

Remediation does not always happen quickly, and sometimes the only suitable solution is to implement controlled demolition techniques. With years of experience to offer, our in-house contractors can offer intricate removal procedures to limit the time and money involved in full-scale reconstruction to come. These licensed (#13VH001305854800) professionals are on-call for emergency services to Paramus homes, the same as the rest of our team. 

Water Damage Restoration

Because water losses are such an everyday staple to the work that we do, we have made it a requirement for all of our technicians to have Water Restoration Technician certification through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC.) Because of how quickly the symptoms can migrate and saturate construction materials, contents, and flooring in a Paramus home, many technicians have additional training and certification in Applied Structural Drying (ASD) and extensive training through the American Drying Institute.  

Our fixation on customer service and satisfaction is the bedrock of our award-winning restoration we offer Paramus homes in a crisis. Because we have technicians on-call 24/7 for disasters that could occur after regular operating hours. We can reach water loss emergencies quickly in the critical 48-hour span before structural degradation, content saturation, and early microbial growth occurs.   

The arrival of our professionals whenever disasters strike is only part of what your Paramus water damage situation requires. We have invested in cutting-edge equipment and products that can work to manage your loss situation beginning the moment our team arrives. We have extraction tools ranging from portable light wands and sump pumps to truck-mount pumps in our Green Fleet to quickly prepare your property for air movers and dehumidifiers that can dry up the damage.   

Fire Damage Restoration

The inspection of your property after a fire is a critical element that often gets overlooked in the panic and confusion following this traumatizing event. As much as many Paramus homeowners look to reach out to their insurance companies first once the firefighters leave, the best first phone call is to our SERVPRO team. With established relationships with all area insurance providers, we are already a trusted name for these organizations to provide damage assessment and mitigation services. By reaching out to our team first, you get this process started immediately and expedite the claims process. 

We have put a lot of our time and resources into building our inventory of recovery tools and equipment to be a competitive force in the restoration industry. With fire losses, every minute counts, and we arrive at Paramus fire damage scenarios with the full measure of deodorization, cleaning, and air filtration tools to regulate the safety and production of our professionals. Our hydroxyl machines are a vital element in this recovery process, as their presence can help fire-damaged properties in two ways – by deodorizing smoke odors and by eliminating harmful particulates in the environment through cleaning and filtration.  

For materials too severely damaged to protect or the widespread fire debris removal your Paramus property might need, you can rely on our in-house contractors. These professionals have unique training in controlled demolition techniques to ensure that only severely damaged construction materials get removed so that the reconstruction phase to follow is smooth and seamless for our customers.  

Storm Damage Restoration

Bergen County has seen a fair share of debilitating storms and destructive weather events in the years that our SERVPRO team has offered help and recovery efforts to damaged properties. With many of these storms reaching the coasts at hurricane strength, we have to stay vigilantly prepared for the damage that homes and businesses could suffer throughout Paramus under these conditions. With multiple properties often getting affected simultaneously, our involvement as a substantial loss recovery team can help. We have a deep inventory of equipment and personnel with this unit, ensuring that no customer waits for the restoration work their property needs.  

We can never know what storm damage to Paramus properties can cause, as each situation is unique. From heavy snowfall to gale-force winds, we have to expect that we could face instances that require the experience and certifications of our water, mold, biohazard, and reconstruction professionals. Our inspection of the property can help to determine the threats present and what restoration services are necessary.  

With flooding being a common effect of severe weather damage to Paramus properties, customers have come to expect our fast response with powerful extraction and drying tools. We can work to protect exposed elements as much as possible with the use of our potent disinfectants and antibacterial agents.  

No matter what disaster your home faces, you need assurance that skilled professionals can help you overcome the obstacles to make it “Like it never even happened.” Let our SERVPRO of Paramus team help you however you need by calling (201) 445-5588.

How to Remove Soot and Smoke Damage From Your Paramus Home

4/7/2022 (Permalink)

Soot In A Room Removing smoke and soot damage from walls can be difficult. You can trust the experts at SERVPRO of Paramus to clean your home.

Dry Cleaning is not Just for Clothing - We Use it to Cleanup Smoke-Damaged Homes in Paramus. 

Restoring our customers' homes in Paramus means that every aspect of their house's damage needs attention. We provide this in a diverse number of ways, using different methods. We have the necessary materials to ensure that not only do we do this effectively but that we also do so efficiently. 

If the surfaces inside your home in Paramus become soot-covered, permanent staining and corrosion can happen. We know how to remove this from both washable items and non-washable ones. Dry cleaning methods work to remove soot and smoke residue from non-washable surfaces. Wetting these items could lead to irreversible damage. SERVPRO's dry cleaning methods prevent this from happening and save you from needing to replace such belongings and other materials. 

Two of the most relied upon methods are the dry sponge and the vacuum. Both remove and trap soot particles. The sponge relies on its pores, and the vacuums we use come with HEPA filters. Our vacuums trap lighter particles of soot. SERVPRO technicians often use a brush with the vacuum to remove more of the larger-sized particles. We can get surfaces cleaned more fully with the sponge after removing a significant portion of the soot. 

A sponge can clean large areas of walls and ceilings before it begins to show overload by leaving streak marks behind. Once this happens, we continue with another sponge. While these are reusable after we rinse and air dries them, we do not need to do this on the job site, as they come in packs of a dozen.

Another method that removes soot is compressed air, which can blow soot off surfaces without introducing any moisture into the material we are cleaning. 

The stress on a displaced family can create additional problems, and we want to eliminate the mess that keeps our customers from residing in their residences. We use these same techniques to prepare washable surfaces for wet cleaning, as the removal of any soot beforehand makes the process more efficient. 

SERVPRO of Paramus can help your family with these and other methods after smoke and fire damage create a dirty mess in your Hillsdale, Washington Township, or Woodcliff Lake residence. Call us at (201) 445-5588, any time, 365 days a year, to speak to us about how we can help.

Our Water Damage Technicians Discuss Our Restoration Process In Hillsdale

3/24/2022 (Permalink)

Red Need Help Sign Call SERVPRO of Paramus any time at (201) 445-5588 to help.

What It Takes For Thorough Water Cleanup At Your Hillsdale Home

Whenever you think of cleaning something, water is the most likely agent that comes to mind. However, any accidental spill that sends water into unwanted areas in your home ends up soiling it by spreading debris, dissolving substances, and even sparking microbial growth. Water loss incidents, therefore, necessitate thorough cleanup to restore your Hillsdale property to its pre-damaged state.

The level of necessary water damage cleanup after your Hillsdale home is affected by spills or other incidents depends on the circumstances, including the time it takes to notice the problem and the type of water involved. If it takes hours or days to notice the loss, water has enough time to spread to several sections in your home, affecting a wide range of materials. If it is a grey or black water loss, the resultant soiling is heavier. Such situations complicate the cleanup process. Our SERVPRO technicians use different chemical agents, including sanitizers, disinfectants, and bleach, to clean affected areas neutralizing the effects of the loss.

Both the contents and the structure require cleaning after a water spill. Some contents, such as carpets, might present more challenges because of their location on the floor of the house where most of the water pools. Carpets are also porous, so debris and other soils penetrate deeper. We have certified Carpet Cleaning Technicians at SERVPRO who utilize their skills to handle any problematic cleaning tasks.

Dealing with soils and other contaminants helps restore sanitary conditions in your home. However, building materials remain wet, and relative humidity is high, creating perfect conditions for microbial growth. Our SERVPRO technicians take several steps to dry your property. We use moisture meters and other detection equipment to determine wetness levels. We then set a drying goal, which determines the number of dehumidifiers and air movers necessary to extract excess moisture before mold, rot, and other forms of deterioration develop further.

A well-planned cleanup exercise should deal with any aspect of a water spill, “Like it never even happened.” Call SERVPRO of Paramus any time at (201) 445-5588 to help.

Three Common Damages to Contents After Paramus Property Fires

3/17/2022 (Permalink)

Garage with water Our SERVPRO of Paramus rapid response team is available 24/7! “We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.”

Fire Damage Restoration for Paramus Properties Includes Managing Damage to Contents

The contents of your property are often deemed the most important restoration objectives for responding technicians. In many cases, the belongings and valuables of your property are as important to preserve and clean as the structure itself. We have multiple mitigative strategies to help in this regard, and even beyond content management, we can help with:

  • Debris cleanup
  • Air filtering
  • Water extraction
  • Surface cleaning

Soot Deposit Damage

One of the first obstacles for fire damage restoration in Paramus is the impact and spread of soot and smoke residues. Soil deposits can be a significant obstacle for recovery, especially when strategies like emulsification or dissolving are needed to cut through thick residues present on surfaces.

Smoke Odors

Fire loss odors are particularly damaging to your belongings and soft materials throughout the property. Absorbing malodors is a severe threat to the restoration and recovery of the property. We have multiple deodorization strategies to help neutralize harsh smells as they are discovered.

Water Damage

One more threatening situation with the structure and contents of your property after a fire is the potential for water damage. While burning and combustion are chief threats for fire loss incidents, it is also possible for your property to be damaged by the extinguishment effort. High volumes of water are often necessary to put out fires, which can leave pulling and standing water in several areas of the property to be cleaned during mitigation.

Can SERVPRO Help?

Our knowledge of mitigative strategies and emergency services is an advantage of choosing our experienced professionals to help with restoration and recovery after damaging fire events. We appreciate the urgency of these situations and have an effective strategy for clearing soot and smoke deposits from surfaces and contents. FSRT-Certified technicians are available 24/7 to help when you need it most.

Fires can be destructive and costly to restore the longer you wait to act. Protect your personal belongings and call SERVPRO of Paramus today at (201) 445-5588.

How are Dehumidifiers Used for Water Damage Restoration in Paramus?

3/4/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has state of the art drying equipment You can depend on our SERVPRO teams to cleanup and restore your property and personal belongings after water damage takes place.

SERVPRO Has a Proven Method for Setting up Dehumidifiers that Maximizes Efficiency

Air-movers, pumps, and water extractors are the most efficient equipment for getting rid of water in your home. However, dehumidifiers can often be equally essential. Understanding when and how to set up dehumidifiers to restore a wet property is vital for any trained restoration professional. One of the first considerations for using dehumidifiers is the nature of the environment. Dehumidifiers are most useful when the indoor environment has a lot of wet, porous materials. Porous materials could include carpets, carpet pads, plasterboard, and upholstery. In these situations, we may use as many as twenty dehumidifiers to dry a property correctly and prevent moisture damage. We can help your home with:

  • Property drying
  • Structural drying
  • Upholstery restoration

When conducting water damage restoration for your Paramus home, technicians first assess the power capabilities of dehumidification equipment. Dehumidifiers are measured by the number of cubic feet they can pass per minute (CFM) and how many gallons of water they remove over twenty-four hours under standard conditions. To understand how many dehumidifiers to use, technicians calculate the cubic feet of the affected area by using the following equation: length x width x height. In some circumstances, dehumidifiers can be used to draw moisture from hard surfaces or materials such as lumber, hardwood flooring, or concrete, although this method utilizes specialized equipment.

  • Dehumidifiers are largely used to balance the drying process and ensure that the environment is neither too dry nor too humid for fast evaporation. 
  • We can daisy-chain equipment to allow multiple units in one given space.
  • Smaller drying chambers may be created by sealing rooms, windows, or ducts.

Contact SERVPRO of Paramus for water damage restoration for expert, balanced drying systems at (201) 445-5588.

How Are Residential Properties in Paramus Prepped for Flood Damage Restoration?

2/23/2022 (Permalink)

Moisture meter SERVPRO has the tools your property needs after a storm hits home. Call us for assistance at (201) 445-5588.

SERVPRO Technicians Use Proven Methods to Restore Paramus Homes Quickly and Efficiently

Floods that occur from stormy weather are tough to protect your home from completely. Sometimes the only option for homeowners is to make sure they respond correctly after a flood to save as much of the structure and belongings as possible. The strongest response to a home emergency is to bring in experts. Professionals can prep your property for the drying phase before undertaking the necessary reconstruction work to return it to its preloss condition. To understand how properties are dried following flooding, it is first vital to understand how properties are constructed- referred to in the industry as building assembly. We help residents with:

  • Flood restoration
  • Drying flooded properties
  • Prepping a home for restoration

Prepping for flood damage restoration in your Paramus home usually involves cutting away parts of the building assembly. In most flood situations, our team first pumps out standing water. We can then remove a two-foot section of drywall from the base of walls and ceilings to prevent vapor damage. Removing drywall helps remove contaminants that may have entered your home in floodwater; it can also assist the drying procedure by allowing greater air circulation into wall cavities. Other systems that are common when responding to a flood emergency include:

  • Stripping or removing carpets from all floors that were exposed to floodwaters. Removing carpets allows us to reduce contamination and assess potential subfloor damage. 
  • Shutting off all power to the property to reduce hazards. We can bring portable generators and lighting to work safely within the powerless environment.
  • Using penetrating moisture meters to gain accurate moisture content analysis of structural frameworks in the building. 

Prepping your home for restoration helps to ensure a smooth workflow. Contact SERVPRO of Paramus for flood damage restoration at (201) 445-5588.

Can Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems Be Repaired with Fire Damage Restoration in Westwood?

2/23/2022 (Permalink)

HVAC units Our certified experts are standing by to assist you now.

SERVPRO Technicians Can Inspect and Clean HVAC Systems at your Westwood Workplace

Large commercial buildings tend to have powerful heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to regulate temperature and humidity in the building. These labyrinthine networks often connect all rooms and spaces across a commercial. In the event of a fire, HVAC systems can often work against the building by transporting hot smoke from one area into other areas of the premises. Fire restoration technicians focus on HVAC systems when conducting commercial restoration to prevent the spreading of soot or ash before, during, and after cleaning. While it is not always necessary to clean ducts in fire repair, it is vital to inspect them for potential damages. Our team can help your business with:

  • Duct cleaning
  • Fire debris removal
  • HVAC inspection after a fire

HVAC cleaning is frequently required for moderate to heavy commercial fire damage restoration in Westwood. The fire department usually cuts the main power to the building in a fire, so it is common for HVAC systems not to be in use during a fire. However, turning off circulation does not preclude the chances of smoke or ash entering ducts. The pressure created by high temperatures can force soot or smoke through return or supply-side ducts of your air-conditioning unit. SERVPRO technicians can also assess whether subcontractors are needed to fix an HVAC system damaged by fire. 

  • Sheet metal ducts can usually be cleaned easily. Ducts lined with insulation often require the removal and replacement of insulation inside ducts.
  • We can professionally disassemble HVAC systems to allow ductwork or systems deep cleaning.
  • Sealing a duct before deodorizing it with thermal fogging equipment may be necessary if part of the HVAC is impossible to clean or disassemble normally. 

Expert cleaning for your business's HVAC system is available. Contact SERVPRO of Paramus for commercial fire damage restoration at (201) 445-5588.

Which Firm Handles Mold Damage in Paramus Effectively?

2/4/2022 (Permalink)

mold growing on the wall of a room Team SERVPRO has the certified technicians and advanced equipment to detect and remediate the mold damage in your home. We are standing by 24/7.

SERVPRO Has Expertise in Performing Mold Damage Remediation in Paramus

Mold can cause health effects to you and your family. Therefore, remediating it without contaminating other parts of your home or people is a priority. SERVPRO’s mold remediation experts can assist you in handling mold issues.

The main goal of mold damage remediation in your Paramus residence is to minimize the risk of exposure. It is essential to identify and eliminate the underlying causes of dampness to prevent mold from reappearing. Ongoing prevention like keeping your home dry is a crucial concept in mold intervention. We usually base remediation decisions on the amount of visible mold contamination or the condition of the area. The strategies that SERVPRO can use to remediate mold include: 

  • Identifying and eliminating the moisture source.
  • Removing and remediating contaminated contents.
  • Physically removing mold from the structure.
  • Disposing of contaminated materials.

Identifying and eliminating the moisture source

We can use thermal imaging cameras to inspect and monitor the moisture in building materials. These devices can show how water travelled in your home. Our SERVPRO team can remove moisture using air movers and dehumidifiers. Eliminating the moisture source may also involve structural modifications like adding insulation.

Removing and remediating contaminated contents

Our SERVPRO team can remove contaminated and non-contaminated contents from the affected area. We can clean contaminated contents thoroughly or discard them.

Physically removing mold from the structure.

We can remove affected porous materials and discard them. We can use a HEPA vacuum to decontaminate porous materials which are contaminated with mold spores or dust on the surface. HEPA filters can trap a large number of small particles that other vacuum cleaners would recirculate back into a home's air. They can remove 99.97 percent of particles, 0.3 microns in size or larger. We can scrub and clean affected non-porous materials.

Disposal of contaminated materials

We seal the contaminated materials we remove from a building in 6 mil polyethylene bags to prevent the dispersal of spores. Our team discards them following local regulations.

If you need mold remediation services, call SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

How to Deal With Fire Damage in Westwood

1/28/2022 (Permalink)

a fire damaged bedroom with soot covering everything Contacting SERVPRO after a fire in your home is the best recourse for effective results. Our technicians are standing by 24/7 for your emergency call.

SERVPRO Can Assist You to Handle Fire Damage in Your Westwood Residence

After a fire breaks out in your residence, leaving the building immediately and having the local fire department extinguish the flames is essential. After the fire is out, using improper cleaning methods and products to clean your home can smear smoke residues and cause them to penetrate deeper into the affected materials. Call a restoration specialist like SERVPRO to stabilize your property and begin the restoration and rebuilding process.

We have the expertise, products, and equipment required to handle fire damage in your Westwood residence and return it to its pre-fire condition. The fire damage repair process varies slightly between cases and may involve the following activities:

  • Removing debris
  • Removing water and chemicals used to extinguish the fire.
  • Soot removal
  • Odor removal

During a fire, smoke and soot particles settle on and adhere to surfaces. Restoration involves removing the soot residues. Soot residues differ, and some types are easier to clean than others. The types of residues that our SERVPRO technicians usually clean include:

  • Wet smoke residues
  • Dry smoke residues
  • Dry and damp smoke residues
  • Fuel oil smoke residues

We use different cleaning methods to eliminate various kinds of residues. It is necessary to capture residues before removing them. Our SERVPRO technicians use fluids and air to release and carry soils away. Fluids and air carry suspended particles with them on contact. Dissolving and vacuuming are two methods we use to contact soils and carry them away. Vacuuming is effective in removing dry particles which are loosely attached to surfaces.

Our SERVPRO restorers can use thermal fogging equipment to remove odors. Thermal foggers work by vaporizing petroleum-based or solvent-based deodorizers. They generate a fog or smoke that consists of small particles, ranging in size from one half a micron to 25 microns. They are approximately the size of odor-generating molecules. The particles make a fog similar to the smoke a fire produces, enabling the deodorizer to interact effectively with odor-causing residues.

For professional fire damage restoration services, call SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588. We’re available around the clock.

What to Expect from Water Restoration Companies in Paramus

1/23/2022 (Permalink)

a puddle of water on the floor of a room Regardless of the extent of the water damage, team SERVPRO can help with water restoration. Our technicians are trained and here to help you.

Water Restoration Companies Like SERVPRO Can Restore Your Home to its Former State

All homeowners desire to live in safe homes, void of any issue. However, they are sometimes forced to deal with unforeseen events like water damage. To keep damage from spreading, you can seek help from a water restoration company like SERVPRO.

As one of the reputable water restoration companies in Paramus, we can help you prevent the short- and long-term consequences of water damage from increasing. We are well-equipped and trained to extract the water and dry the affected structures and contents. SERVPRO can handle water damage in the briefest time possible by taking the following steps:

  • Measuring moisture content
  • Water removal
  • Drying
  • Repairs

Measuring moisture content

We can use non-penetrating moisture meters to measure the actual moisture level or content of various materials. These meters detect moisture using capacitance, conductivity, or radiofrequency emissions.

Water removal

We attach deep extraction equipment to extractors to remove water from affected surfaces. For instance, we can use stationary tools to extract water from carpeting and padding utilizing the weight of the technician standing on the equipment. The device has a vacuum system that pulls water through a series of small holes at the unit’s base.

Drying

We use air moving and dehumidifying equipment to dry affected areas. Our SERVPRO restorers control airflow, humidity, and temperature to work towards the drying goals. Managing the psychometric conditions helps in speeding up the drying process. Reducing the humidity ratio lowers the vapor pressure. High pressure goes to low pressure, and water evaporates faster when the air above the wet material has lower pressure. As water evaporates from damp materials, the air directly above the material, known as the boundary layer, becomes saturated and cool. Airflow disturbs the boundary layer, replacing the saturated, cool air with drier, warmer air, expediting evaporation. Increasing the material temperature and the material temperature within the material increases the energy within the water molecules, and this increases the evaporation rate.

Repairs

Our SERVPRO team can fix damaged building materials like drywall, tile, and wood to restore them to their original state.

If you need water damage repair services, call SERVPRO of Paramus for help. Our 24-hour helpline is (201) 445-5588.

Need a Mold Removal Company for Your Commercial Building in Hillsdale

1/7/2022 (Permalink)

mold growing on the wall next to an outlet Finding mold at your commercial location needs not shut down your doors. Contact SERVPRO to assess the mold infestation in your home.

SERVPRO Provides Mold Removal Services for Commercial Buildings in Hillsdale

Whenever mold is found in a commercial building in Hillsdale, day-to-day operations may be severely restricted until the mold infestation is removed. Mold can cause health effects in many people; we prohibit both customers, employees, and suppliers from entering the area. Once a mold colony becomes established, the mold can spread throughout the building, damaging the contents and the structure if left unattended.

SERVPRO is a mold removal company providing service to commercial customers in Hillsdale and surrounding areas. Our applied microbial remediation specialists work closely with our water damage restoration technicians and drying technicians to identify the source of moisture and begin mold removal from the building.

We follow a four-step process:

  • Containment – installing barriers and negative air pressure rooms to contain the distribution of mold spores. We also seal HVAC systems and set up clean rooms and decontamination rooms.
  • Mold Removal – usually, porous materials must be removed for disposal, while non-porous materials can be cleaned and sanitized. We remove heavily damaged structural materials if their structural integrity is compromised.
  • Cleanup – of all dust and settled spores beginning from the highest point to the lowest point and towards the airflow of the negative air pressure machines.
  • Dry the Materials – We identify the source of the moisture and remove the source. The entire area, including contents and structure, is dried to its normal moisture content levels.

Commercial companies dealing with a potential mold infestation can arrange for a mold inspection by our SERVPRO experts. SERVPRO provides advice on the best approach to take that maintains the safety of your employees and customers and minimizes the impact on day-to-day operations.

Call SERVPRO of Paramus in Hillsdale and nearby areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 445-5588.

Need Help with Frozen Pipes and Ice Damming in Paramus – Call SERVPRO

12/31/2021 (Permalink)

icicles growing on the side of a roof When ice damming affects your home, team SERVPRO can help. Our team is standing by 24/7 to mitigate the excess water in your home.

SERVPRO Can Repair Damage Frozen Pipes and Ice Damming in Paramus

Cold weather brings freezing temperatures in Paramus, Freezing rain, ice crystals, and even snow. Homes with poorly insulated attics and skylights are often susceptible to ice buildup on the roof, creating ice dams. With nowhere to go, melting snow and ice creates pools of water on your roof and leaks into the attic, often penetrating living areas causing even more damage. Homeowners must deal with wet insulation, damaged drywall, and flooring materials that become wet from the water pouring into their homes.

SERVPRO provides drying and restoration services for damage caused by frozen pipes and ice damming in Paramus. Our contractors can carefully remove the ice dam from the roof area to allow melting water to flow off the roof. We investigate the damage caused by the water to your insulation and ceiling materials, such as drywall. We check for water and moisture inside the walls and the main living areas. Once we understand which areas have been compromised by the melting water, our team deploys equipment to begin drying your home and making repairs, including:

  • Moisture extraction equipment for flooring, cavities inside walls and the ceiling
  • Air movers to blow dry air across wet and high humidity areas
  • Dehumidifiers to reduce humidity levels to return humidity in your home to normal levels

Copper or plastic pipes that froze during the cold weather must be repaired before the main water supply is turned on.

Consumers can prevent ice dams. Installing additional insulation in the attic and waterproof membranes around skylights and areas susceptible to ice dams can reduce the chances of future ice dams during cold weather incidents. SERVPRO can assist with these repairs under general contractor license #: 13VH001305854800.

Call SERVPRO of Paramus in Paramus and nearby areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 445-5588.

Need Help with Fire Damage Restoration in Paramus – Call SERVPRO

12/26/2021 (Permalink)

a fire damaged room with debris and soot everywhere Fires and resulting fire damage can happen very quickly. React right away by contacting SERVPRO. Our team is standing by 24/7 for your call.

Call SERVPRO for Fire Damage Restoration Services in Paramus

A fire in your Paramus home can be devastating. The damage caused by the flames, the smoke residues, and the efforts of the firemen to quell the fire can be extensive. Water and fire retardants are used to quell the fire and damage areas of the home not touched by the flames. Smoke residues are distributed throughout the house by the HVAC system and the air currents generated by the heat of the fire. While overwhelming, the damage can be repaired and your home restored to its original condition.

SERVPRO provides fire damage restoration services to homeowners in Paramus and surrounding towns. With all the damage caused by the fire, homeowners find it difficult to imagine their homes returned to their original condition. Many feel that everything must be replaced. They are surprised at how much can be cleaned and restored at a much lower cost. Our restoration teams have significant experience cleaning, repairing, and restoring homes damaged by fires.

We can help keep your insurance claims to a manageable level, recover family heirlooms and return your home to you quickly. For example:

  • Repaint structural surfaces
  • Clean non-porous items
  • Recover upholstered contents
  • Refinish wood contents
  • Smoke residues can be removed and washed from fabrics and clothing

Restoration of your home is usually much less costly than replacing contents and structure.

SERVPRO offers the following services to consumers fire damaged homes :

  • Fire and smoke damage restoration
  • House fire cleanup
  • Fire damage repair

SERVPRO can make all of the necessary repairs to your home under general contractor license #: 13VH001305854800 and restore your living areas to their original state, “Like it never even happened.”

Call SERVPRO of Paramus in Paramus and nearby areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 445-5588.

Need Help with Water Cleanup After a Plumbing Leak in Paramus – Call SERVPRO

12/9/2021 (Permalink)

Equipment Our skilled technicians have the expertise and state of the art equipment to get your property back in order after a water catastrophe.

SERVPRO Provides Water Cleanup and Restoration Services in Paramus

Plumbing leaks can occur anytime in homes across Paramus. Whether it is old pipes that finally break down, or cold weather causing pipes to freeze and leak, or overflowing water caused by water taps forgotten and left on, water can cause significant damage to your home. High moisture levels can also jeopardize flooring materials and structural components and lead to mold growth in your home.

SERVPRO can help residents and homeowners with water cleanup in their homes in Paramus. We can be on-site in less than four hours after your call, assess the situation, and deploy the equipment needed to remove standing water as well as moisture and reduce humidity levels in your home. Mold can begin growing in twenty-four hours. Producing a strong, musty odor if allowed to continue, mold can cause health effects for some people.

Once the water leak is removed, we can focus on the hard-to-reach areas to remove water and moisture. For example, water on hardwood floors penetrates the floor at the joints between the wood planks. Water left in place is absorbed by both the hardwood planks and the subfloor, leading to swelling, cupping, and warping of the floor. SERVPRO uses hardwood floor mats to extract water and dry the floor before it has a chance to be absorbed and cause further damage.

Fast action by SERVPRO can significantly reduce the secondary damage caused by water leaks. Our services include:

  • Fast response emergency water damage cleanup
  • Restoration and repair caused by water damage
  • Active mitigation action to minimize secondary damage from water leaks

Call SERVPRO of Paramus for water cleanup in Paramus and nearby areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 445-5588.

Commercial Water Damage Restoration and Repair in Westwood by SERVPRO

11/26/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Equipment and technicians You can depend on our professionals with state of the art equipment to thoroughly dry your property after a water incident.

SERVPRO Provides Water Damage Restoration to Commercial Customers in Westwood

Multi-story office buildings, motels, and apartments in Westwood often suffer water damage in multiple units. The water leakage may have occurred in one unit and trickled down into the unit or units below. Numerous tenants and guests are impacted by the water leaking into their apartments or offices, and the owner of the building may also lose revenue and incur additional expenses while they are being cleaned, dried, and restored.

SERVPRO can mobilize in less than four hours of your call for assistance with commercial water damage restoration emergencies in Westwood. Not only does the immediate damage and water need to be cleaned up, but delays also risk significant secondary damage as porous materials absorb water, swell and lose structural integrity. Drywall, ceiling tiles, subfloors, and furniture are prone to permanent damage if they absorb water. In addition, your tenants, employees, and customers cannot go about their regular business, which implies further losses.

Immediately after the water has been shut off, begin mopping up excess water. Be careful of slippery surfaces and also live electrical circuits. Avoid turning lights, TVs, radios, etc., on. Once our SERVPRO team arrives, we utilize the appropriate equipment to remove water and begin drying your building space. This equipment includes high capacity pumps, weighted water extractors, air movers and dehumidifiers, and specialized dryers to push air under equipment or into small areas. We also remove ceiling tiles that may have collected water from the floor above.

The SERVPRO team acts quickly to:

  • Minimize secondary water damage to walls and floors
  • Completes ceiling repairs and restoration from water damage
  • Dries carpeted and hardwood floors, interior and exterior walls
  • Provides building services to complete water damage restoration

Our commercial building services division can help with most restoration and repair needs.

Call SERVPRO of Paramus for commercial water damage restoration in Westwood and nearby areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 445-5588.

Storms Can Cause Surprising Amounts of Flood Damage to Homes in Paramus – Call SERVPRO for Help

11/17/2021 (Permalink)

Rain on home Storm flooding can impact your home in many ways. If your home has been affected by storm damage, just call the experts at SERVPRO.

SERVPRO Provides Flood Damage Cleanup, Repair and Restoration in Paramus

When storms bring water into your home in Paramus, causing damage to your floors and walls, it can seem very overwhelming. The floor is wet, and the water is seeping into the walls and wicking up the drywall. Items sitting on the floor are soaked in water. In addition, if the water is from a backed-up storm sewer or sewage line or floodwaters that washed into the house, it may be contaminated with dangerous viruses, bacteria, biological material, and chemicals.

SERVPRO provides cleanup services for flood damage to homes and businesses in Paramus. Our team responds in less than four hours from your call. We treat sewage and floodwaters as highly infectious waste materials. We take all of the appropriate precautions for the protection of your family and our employees. The steps required include:

  • Wearing personal protective equipment while cleaning and removing waste material
  • Set up containment areas to protect the remainder of the building and remove the waste material
  • We apply EPA registered disinfectant material to all waste material and all surfaces as they are cleaned
  • We dispose of all trash following industry-approved guidelines.

SERVPRO may need to complete control demolition of contaminated flooring materials, make flood cuts in the walls to expose damaged and contaminated drywall, insulation, and vapor barriers. After all of the contaminated material is removed, everything is disinfected and cleaned. We use air movers and dehumidifiers to dry the space damaged by floodwaters. Our building services team can also assist with repairs and restoration of your home after a flood. Our general contractor license is # 13VH001305854800

Call SERVPRO of Paramus for flood damage cleanup in Paramus and nearby areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 445-5588.

What Happens to Walls With Mold Damage in a Paramus Property?

11/4/2021 (Permalink)

Mold colony on ceiling. Mold infestations are no DIY project. Mold remediation services by SERVPRO are top-notch. Call now for fast and immediate service.

SERVPRO Technicians Perform Professional Mold Remediation in Paramus Properties

When mold damage happens in a Paramus home, the infestation can be quite large by the time the visible signs appear. The belief persists that mold can get removed by using bleach and repainting the walls. However, this practice can cause even greater damage and allow the infestation to continue to spread behind the scenes.

SERVPRO technicians handling mold remediation in Paramus homes work to neutralize the cause of the mold growth rather than using methods of covering it up. Signs that mold colonies are present in the home include: 

  • Lingering musty odor
  • Damp walls with or without dark spots
  • Warped or crumbling drywall
  • Loosened tiles or wallpaper

Elevated moisture levels are crucial to the survival of mold spores. Exposure to water causes dormant spores to expand and grow as more spores join; soon, a mold colony forms and spreads. As long as the temperatures are favorable and the moisture remains, so does the mold. SERVPRO technicians uncover the root cause of the water or elevated humidity within the home and get the interior humidity levels under 65% to render the spores back to a dormant state, often using air movers and dehumidifiers in tandem to draw the moisture out and port it off-site.

Once the colonies are dry and removed from surfaces, SERVPRO technicians use anti-fungal agents to kill active spores and organisms and clean them off of surfaces. If the mold hyphae have penetrated the surface, they remove and dispose of the infested materials immediately. If any repairs are needed after the remediation concludes, this SERVPRO location has a general contractor license #13VH001305854800 and can repair or rebuild as required.

SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 brings advanced equipment, professional mold remediation training, and restoration services certification to every Paramus work site to ensure the best outcome for property owners.

How Can Westwood Homes Benefit From Flood Damage Restoration?

10/27/2021 (Permalink)

Standing in a pool of flooding water in a home. Storm and flood damage mitigation by SERVPRO IICRC certified technicians is the best choice you can make for your home. Call now!

SERVPRO Technicians Bring Years of Experience and Expertise to Water Damage Cleanup in Westwood

After floodwater affects a Westwood property, some homeowners attempt to dry out the property on their own. The water may recede rapidly, but the floor, subfloor, and walls may need attention to get dried completely. If the moisture remains, further damages can occur within the structure. Signs of water damage to walls include:

  • Warping and buckling
  • Sloughing off of the outer layers
  • Saturated portions deteriorating

A Westwood homeowner undergoing flood damage cleanup can find the situation happened in numerous ways. A forgotten window left open during heavy rains can drench the drywall around the sill, and the result can be a portion of a wall that buckles and warps. The insulation inside may require removal to dry to the interior wall cavity completely. In some cases, the techs will need to remove the damaged portion of the wall in an action known as a flood cut. This action stops further damage to the wall from excessive moisture.

The professional equipment used by SERVPRO assists in pulling even embedded moisture out of the structure. The techs use their equipment to determine areas of collective moisture. This ensures they know where to focus their water removal and drying efforts. Once they run their drying equipment, the techs set drying goals and then scope the property to ensure no pockets of water vapor are left behind.

After the floodwater extraction and drying, this SERVPRO location holds a general contractor license #13VH001305854800. The technicians can perform any needed repairs on the structure, from reconstruction to priming and painting in colors chosen by the homeowner.

SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 supports the local Westwood area with its flood damage restoration services. The trained, certified technicians are available 24/7 to make the water damage in the home, "Like it never even happened."

What Should Paramus Homeowners Expect During Kitchen Fire Restoration Services?

10/22/2021 (Permalink)

Kitchen fire with soot damage on the ceiling SERVPRO fire damage restoration team has the experience and manpower for any size disaster.

SERVPRO Technicians Have Decades of Fire Damage Cleanup Experience for Paramus Area Properties

A Paramus kitchen with fire damage needs special attention for the best outcome. A large number of actions need to occur to ensure the kitchen is safe and clean for food preparation and meals again.

SERVPRO technicians know that fire restoration services in a Paramus kitchen mean that a certain amount of controlled demolition may be necessary. Common actions the techs frequently perform are: 

  • Removal of ruined food items in cabinets, freezers, and refrigerators
  • Controlled demolition of charred cabinets and walls
  • Cleaning smoke damage from surfaces

Kitchens can harbor a unique type of smoke residue caused by a kind of fire known as a protein fire. This type of damage typically happens when a protein-based food catches on fire in a pan or oven. The result is not the regular covering of dark soot, but a nearly invisible, but highly pungent greasy residue.

This residue needs a solvent-based cleaner to release the grip it has on surfaces. SERVPRO techs have cleaning agents that will not mar surfaces but can clean away all types of smoke damage, including protein residues. Once the damage from the smoke gets cleaned, the odors in the kitchen typically diminish.

Odor control is usually the final step of the housefire cleanup job. The technicians make sure that no lingering smoke odors remain in the kitchen. Once the fire damage services are complete, this SERVPRO location has a general contractor license #13VH00130585480. The technicians can repair walls, ceilings and reinstall cabinets as needed. Installation of flooring is no problem no matter if it is tile, hardwood, or another type. Whatever actions need to occur to return the kitchen to a like-new status get done.

SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 brings fire restoration services to Paramus properties when needed and is available 24/7.

How Crucial Is It to Hire a Professional Team for Water Damage Restoration in Paramus?

10/4/2021 (Permalink)

malfunctioning toilet Water damage from an appliance or burst pipe is a job for SERVPRO. We use the latest technology and equipment for every service.

Certified Water Restoration Technicians Help Protect Paramus Homes from the Effects of Water Damage

Water damage to a Paramus home can happen thanks to a storm, a leaky roof, or a malfunctioning appliance. Still, they all have something in common- consequences can upset your daily routine and cause collateral damage. An increase in humidity can cause issues such as mold to the surface and compromise drywall and other structural features. To understand the amount of the damage and for water damage repairs, call a reputable company for help.

SERVPRO is a leading water damage restoration company in Paramus, and we invite you to call our offices as soon as you detect a problem. Our specialized equipment and industry know-how arrive at your doorstep for the latest in water cleanup and restoration, focused on returning your home to mint condition. Rather than attempting to remove water and dry your space with household tools, let our certified team handle the problem efficiently and safely. As our SERVPRO team goes through your home, there are a few steps we take to ensure a job well done, for example-

  • Water extraction with pumps of varying power helps us remove standing water, whether it is covering your kitchen floor or hiding underneath a cabinet. Specialized tools inform us of water presence and guide us for optimal removal.
  • Drying the air and the contents of your home to control humidity is made possible thanks to air movers, dehumidifiers, and desiccants. The goal is to restore a normal humidity level, not to remove it entirely.
  • Ultimately, using specialty drying techniques such as freeze-drying photos and important documents or drying electronics in an off-site location helps us avoid replacements whenever possible. Although we may discard some items, we try to mitigate your loss as much as possible.

The SERVPRO of Paramus team is here to help when you need us. Call us at (201) 445-5588 and let us leave your home “Like it never even happened.” 

Mold Remediation Protects Paramus Residents from Unwelcome Effects of Mold Growth

9/27/2021 (Permalink)

mold under carpet Mold remediation services by SERVPRO are top-notch. Call now for fast and immediate service.

Mold Inspections, Remediations, and Most Removals in Paramus are all Possible by Calling SERVPRO

Mold can cause health effects in any home, and it may take a while for Paramus homeowners even to realize they have a problem. Mold spores travel throughout the house, and cleaning with a household cleaning solution is not enough. Instead, contacting a mold remediation team can save you precious time and nip the problem in the bud.

A mold remediation issue in Paramus is a job for SERVPRO and our certified staff. Whether you encounter mold in a bathroom or attic mold, our team is ready to eliminate it and control environmental factors that encourage its growth. Keeping safety top of mind, we assess the damage and identify any potential threats so they may be included in a robust action plan designed for your specific needs. When you have our crew on your property, you can expect to see us do the following-

  • Establish containment areas by creating physical barriers with negative pressure and plastic sheeting. This step protects against further dissemination of mold throughout the home.
  • Install HEPA filters to aid in removing mold spores from the air. Cleanup happens alongside the filtering equipment as an extra layer of protection.  
  • Apply antifungal solutions to prevent a recurrence. Whenever materials are permanently damaged (typically porous surfaces such as upholstered furniture and insulation), we remove them entirely and dispose of them per environmental recommendations.

At SERVPRO of Paramus, our goal is to save as much as possible, and we use advanced cleaning techniques to achieve it. Call us at (201) 445-5588 and let our expert team work for you.

Sorting Through Fire Damage in a Paramus Home is Overwhelming

9/21/2021 (Permalink)

exposed burnt insulation, with removed ceiling drywall Fire damage to your home can be overwhelming. SERVPRO has you covered from start to end of your restoration service.

SERVPRO’s Fire Restoration Team Serves Paramus Area Homeowners

Keeping your home in Paramus in good shape requires vigilance and fixing problems before they escalate. It is even more important when fire damage is involved, as the soot and debris left behind can cause bigger issues if left unattended. When an emergency requires a professional team that understands the impact of fire damage, making the call as quickly as possible is essential.

The call to make in Paramus for fire damage restoration is to our SERVPRO offices. Available around the clock, we dispatch our staff as soon as possible and begin an assessment of fire damage, along with plans for fire and smoke damage restoration. From the get-go, we coordinate with relevant parties to protect the safety of all involved and avoid cross-contamination throughout the home.

Our SERVPRO clients often worry about replacing furniture, carpets, and personal items at a sizable cost. Our staff helps guide you through the process and focuses on mitigating your loss. Even though some things may be a total loss, we may be able to restore others by applying the latest techniques available to the fire damage restoration industry.  

Homeowners frequently toss items because they smell smoke. Before taking that step, let our staff use deodorizing tools such as-

Along with traditional odor counteractant pellets and deodorizing solutions, the above help neutralize and eliminate the stench left behind by the flames.

SERVPRO of Paramus is just a phone call away. Reach us at (201) 445-5588 and let our staff work diligently to leave your home “Like it never even happened.”

Is Water Mitigation Vital for Restoring Homes in Paramus?

9/9/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO equipment at work. Water damage may happen in many different ways. SERVPRO has the solution for every water damage restoration service you need.

SERVPRO Has Expert Water Mitigation Technicians Ready to Help Paramus Residents

Restoration companies use dedicated technicians to work as a go-between for the homeowner, insurance adjuster, and insurance company. Processing a claim following a water intrusion event can be tricky. Restoration technicians can help to reduce the permanent losses in your home by using their training and access to assistive drying equipment. The process of lowering permanent losses is referred to in the industry as mitigation. Mitigation is a manifold process, but the core principle in water damage events focuses on drying the building appropriately. Once contents, structure, and building assembly are adequately dried, the chances of excessive damage are greatly reduced. Restoration technicians help with:

  • Water damage restoration
  • Water clean up
  • Water damage repairs

Being able to measure the effectiveness of water mitigation efforts in your Paramus home is vital. Without counting the impact of our drying strategy, we cannot understand when the house is dry or how effective and efficient the system is. Measuring can also help reduce overdrying of parts of the home, which wastes energy and can also be damaging to some materials within the building assembly. Measuring equipment can also help identify trapped moisture pockets and humidity levels, which can be damaging to the home environment in the long term. 

  • Calcium carbide testing can help ascertain the amount of moisture removed from a sample material which can then be applied to larger structural elements of the home.
  • Capacitance meters are non-invasive measuring equipment that uses an electrical frequency to measure conductivity. Wetter materials are generally more conductive than dry ones.
  • Capacitance meters can have drawbacks relating to their ability to gain direct contact with the materials in question. In these circumstances, we can rely on conventional moisture probes to ascertain moisture content. 

Professional mitigation can save money in the long run. Contact SERVPRO of Paramus for water mitigation at (201) 445-5588.

How do Paramus Residents Overcome Dry or Wet Soot Fire Damage?

8/25/2021 (Permalink)

fire on wood floor When a fire strikes your property, SERVPRO is the team to call. Our IICRC certified technicians use the latest technology and equipment.

SERVPRO Fire Damage Restoration Technicians in Paramus Can Identify and Restore Smoke Residues from Fire

Smoke damages caused by fire can severely impact your home and quality of life by showing visible soiling, releasing odors of damaging appliances. In most property fires, materials that are severely scorched or charred number in the minority. The lion's share of damages is usually attributable to smoke which can travel through the home, penetrate surfaces and affect carpets, paintwork, textiles, and fittings. There are different approaches to restoration required depending on the type of fire that occurred. Generally, fast-burning, high-oxygen fires create dry soots, whereas slower burning fires make wet smoke deposits which can easily smear or spread around during the cleaning effort. SERVPRO is a qualified restoration service for:

  • Fire damage restoration 
  • Fire and smoke damage
  • Fire damaged homes

With two different types of smoke deposits, tackling fire damage in your Paramus home can be tough. There are general rules that are worth following to protect yourself and your home from further damages. These methods include the procurement of the correct safety equipment such as dust masks and gloves. It is also vital to take care when transporting charred debris out of the property to avoid cuts and potential slip or trip hazards. Using a professional service can help to significantly reduce the risk of causing further damage to your home and minimize inconvenience to your everyday life. 

  • Dry sponges are effective for high-oxygen, dry smoke deposits, which can then be followed up with extra cleaning from a water-based detergent.
  • Slow-burning fires can often lead to smearable smoke deposits. Avoid using dry sponges and consider solvents that can react with the oil-based residues. 
  • If dealing with a kitchen fire, it is essential to clean inside cabinets, drawers, and behind appliances to ensure that all smoke deposits are fully removed. 

We can help you with restoration. Contact SERVPRO of Paramus for fire damage restoration at (201) 445-5588.

How Long Does it Take to Dry a Paramus Property with Flood Damage?

8/17/2021 (Permalink)

Flood Zone sign Storm and flood damage restoration is no easy task. SERVPRO techs are trained and experienced in all phases of storm damage remediation.

Using SERVPRO Technicians in Paramus for Flood Damage Can Greatly Reduce Drying Times

One core area of concern for homeowners with flooded properties is drying times. Flooding exposes the home to an enormous amount of moisture in a short space of time. Since there are many different materials in a building's assembly, all with additional normal moisture content, it can be tough to determine exactly when the building is suitably dry through calculations. Attempting to dry a property through opening windows or entranceways naturally can take up to six months. It makes sense that restoration companies use assistive drying techniques to reduce the expected drying time to around three weeks. Assistive drying is useful for:

  • Flood restoration
  • Water damage restoration
  • Water clean up

When a flood damage restoration in Paramus is complete, the general rule is when it is deemed safe for occupants to return to the property. Assistive drying speeds up the drying process by focusing on particular areas of the property using advanced drying equipment. A subfloor, for example, can be dried quicker by focusing the output of a rapid-air mover at 45 degrees to the surface. Wall cavities and framing in the building assembly can be dried quickly using injectidry systems or other specially designed structural cavity drying equipment. Prioritizing areas of the home that could continue to sustain damage if remaining wet is essential to ensuring re-occupancy of the property can occur within an approximate three-week timeline. 

  • Drying goals can be drawn up by analyzing moisture contents from similar but unaffected materials in the property. Upstairs rooms, for example, can be a good choice for setting drying goals.
  • Monitoring is vital to ensure that materials are drying efficiently and that they do not drop below their natural moisture content which can cause buckling or cupping. Many assistive drying technologies have real-time data flow to help with monitoring. 
  • Often repeated use of drying equipment in the same area of a property can aid the drying process by ensuring thorough and consistent airflow, temperature, or humidity. 

We aim to return a flooded property to its preloss condition in around three weeks. Contact SERVPRO of Paramus for flood damage restoration at (201) 445-5588.

Is Fire Damage Restoration Available in the Paramus Area?

8/6/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO vehicle outside job site. SERVPRO is ready 24/7 365 days a year for any size disaster. Fire damage restoration is a job for SERVPRO.

SERVPRO of Paramus Has Dedicated Fire Damage Restoration Technicians to Help Restore your Home.

The high temperatures and pressure created by the fire can lead to microscopic dust particles and debris bonding with surfaces or polluting your indoor air quality. These particles can often be invisible to the naked eye but produce a noticeable odor and, in some cases, can cause health effects with ingestion or inhalation. SERVPRO offer round-the-clock support for:

Restoring indoor air quality as part of fire damage restoration in your Paramus home is one of our priorities. House fires are traumatic enough without homeowners worrying about odors, unsanitary conditions, or airborne dust particles. One possible solution that we can provide is to seal off rooms with ducts and use industrial direct expansion units or air filtration devices to return indoor air quality to its preloss condition. Other options may include the application of negative air pressure or physical plastic sheetings.

  • Air filtration units use high-efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA), which match the highest standards for cleaning indoor air quality. 
  • Chemical pairing agents can be distributed into the home to find and neutralize microscopic odor particles. 
  • We can ensure safe working conditions for all staff and contractors on-site by providing medical-grade N-95 respiratory equipment. 

To recover property after a house fire, contact SERVPRO of Paramus for fire damage restoration at (201) 445-5588.

Is Mold Damaging to Commercial Properties in Paramus?

7/30/2021 (Permalink)

mold spore Mold can damage structural integrity. SERVPRO uses the latest technology and equipment for every mold remediation service. Call now!

SERVPRO of Paramus Can Perform Mold Remediation and Abatement for Commercial Businesses

Microorganisms like mold require moisture, organic matter, and temperature to grow. Commercial premises can offer these conditions for mold growth, affecting indoor air quality, sanitary standards and even damaging the property's structural integrity. Discovering mold requires immediate action, including:

  • Mold inspection
  • Mold Remediation
  • Mold specialists AMRT

Mold remediation services in Paramus can help to return your business to a safe and sanitary standard.  The factors that may lead to molds, such as the age of the building, material construction, and ventilation systems, can usually be addressed by SERVPRO mold remediation professionals to prevent mold issues from becoming long-lasting issues. Our crew chiefs can help communicate with your staff about no-entry zones and any safety hazards that may be present due to the mold damage in your premises. SERVPRO technicians can:

  • Inspect and clean heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems to prevent condensation or moisture buildup from spreading through the premises.
  • Our technicians have mold certifications which help them perform expert remediation and return premises to sanitary conditions.
  • Abatement removes mold-infested materials from the property altogether and replaces them with clean materials. 

Protecting your staff and customers from mold is a priority. Contact SERVPRO of Paramus for commercial mold remediation at (201) 445-5588.

Who do Westwood Residents Rely on for Flood Damage Restoration?

7/24/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO equipment at work. Flooding causes numerous problems in your home. SERVPRO has you covered in any situation. Flood damage restoration is what we do.

SERVPRO is an Expert Flood Restoration Provider Operating in the Westwood Area

Adverse weather situations can knock out power to your home, damaging tiling or roofing, and cause flooding. These emergencies require a quick response to reduce losses from exposure to the elements or floodwaters. Our services run twenty-four hours a day for residents in an emergency and can help with:

  • Water mitigation
  • Leaking roof from storms
  • Basement flooding

Basements can often sustain the worst of flood damage in your Westwood home. Most basements in flood risk areas are installed with sump pumps, which help manage excess water flow. In some situations, these pumps can become overloaded, resulting in excess water intruding into the basement. These walls, flooring and ceiling structure in your basement is often less protected than in your home. This lack of protection can sometimes lead to structural damages such as cracking of concrete subfloor and plaster. SERVPRO technicians can help:

  • Quickly remove items from the basement to dry, clean areas for restoration.
  • Use high-pressure electric submersible pumps to transport water uphill and out of the property.
  • Assess concrete and other solid subfloor materials for damage and perform mitigation to prevent permanent losses. 

In an emergency flooding situation, it is vital to act quickly. Contact SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588.

Water Damage Remediation Guide from Experts in Westwood

7/5/2021 (Permalink)

protective covering on pool table; pooling water on covered pool table and floor Water damage often ruins family treasurers. SERVPRO knows how to protect and restore your property.

Protecting Water Damaged Contents in Properties

One of the most detrimental aspects of water damage incidents to Westwood homes is the potential damage to your personal belongings and keepsakes. While many of the construction materials and structural elements throughout the property can get replaced by our licensed contractors and reconstruction experts, replacing your treasures and acquired items cannot happen so easily. In many cases, substantial water damages lead to irreparable damage to these contents without the appropriate preventative measures from skilled professionals like ours.

By protecting the contents of your Westwood home from water damage that can occur with situations like appliance failures, broken fixtures, and aging plumbing, our SERVPRO team is always here to help. We have a full-service content department with accreditations in multiple niches of the restoration industry through the standard-setting Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).

Water Damage Repairs

At-risk items in your home get assessed and tagged throughout the initial inspection process. We can determine which items do not require removal, which of your belongings are at risk, and which contents require relocation on site. These determinations must happen quickly, as water damage effects can lead to irreparable saturation and degradation of specific belongings. Our experienced professionals arrive with packing materials and boxes to remove designated items and furniture with our production trucks back to our SERVPRO facility for cleaning, drying, and safekeeping.

At our facility, items can get restored at a more concentrated and advanced degree than our team can do on-site. While we have the complete comprehensive approach to restoring your home, including valuable time and money-saving reconstruction, protecting your belongings is one of the main objectives of our mitigation process. We know that certain items cannot get replaced, so we take our time to protect everything we possibly can from rapidly spreading water damages.

We can respond quickly to water damage emergencies with the advanced equipment to address both the saturation and standing water. You can also trust in our experienced and highly trained SERVPRO of Paramus contents department to protect what matters most. Give us a call anytime you need us at (201) 445-5588.

New Furniture and Old Wet Carpets in Your Paramus Showroom? Time to Call SERVPRO

6/23/2021 (Permalink)

Rug showroom; rugs stacked and hung on wall Water damage can ruin your inventory. SERVPRO is equipped to quickly remove the water.

Water Cleanup – A Good Time to Replace Carpeting

Even small amounts of water can cause a great deal of damage. Furniture showrooms in Paramus are particularly vulnerable, with wide-open spaces and lots of furniture; the water can easily migrate across these vast spaces. The good news in these situations is that there are not many walls. There is space to remove furniture from damp areas to those that are dry during water cleanup activities.

SERVPRO provides water cleanup services for Paramus business owners. Regardless of the job or the time of day, our team can respond and immediately provide water mitigation, removal, and drying services. We understand how important it is to return your business to normal operations as fast as possible. Showrooms present unique challenges in many respects.

Clean and Dry or Replace

Once the source of the water is found and repaired, SERVPRO can establish a plan to remove the water and protect the furniture. With large open spaces, furniture with hard surfaces in wet areas can be dried and moved to other areas of the store unaffected by the leak. If there are fabric items that are wet or damp, these items can be processed separately.

Carpets in showrooms receive a great deal of traffic. Often the carpet separates from the backing, and once it is wet can ripple and not return to its original state. The carpet may need to be replaced in these situations. The project manager or the crew chief, and the client can discuss the pros and cons of removing or salvaging this flooring material.

Portable water extractors can be used to vacuum up the water from the carpet. Air movers can be deployed to blow dry air over the carpet to expedite drying. Air movers draw clean, dry air in one door and moist air expelled through another door. SERVPRO can also deploy dehumidifiers to assist in further drying the carpeting.

Once the carpeting is fully dry, SERVPRO can assist in moving all of the showroom furniture back to their designated locations.

Call SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 for 24/7 service. We also serve Westwood and Hillsdale, and surrounding areas. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Does SERVPRO Handle Flood Damage from Storms in Paramus?

6/16/2021 (Permalink)

'safety first' signs on top of each other Floodwaters can contain contaminants. SERVPRO can safely remove the water. Call us today!

SERVPRO Offers More Than Just Water Removal Services after Flooding Affects Paramus Properties

Although the most anticipated problem in flooding is inundation in various sections of a property, other issues do develop, complicating the restoration process. In case of storm-related flooding, calling a professional to help resolve flood damage at your property is one way to simplify the recovery process.

Typical issues likely to develop after flood damage in Paramus properties include water in cavities such as walls, cabinets, or floors. Shattered windows or torn roofs are also possible since gale-force winds can push large debris against the structure causing significant damages. Other problems include deep contamination and the development of foul odors. SERVPRO provides all the solutions necessary to resolve the myriad of obstacles under one roof.

With our flood management service, you do not have to worry about:

  • Biohazard remediation
  • Sewage cleanup
  • Rodent clean up services
  • Disinfecting companies

SERVPRO works to secure the property affected by a storm, thus preventing further deterioration of any section, whether affected or not. We take preventive measures such as installing roof tarps to seal holes in a torn roof. We also board up the structure to separate affected areas from the rest of the house or seal openings such as doors or windows damaged by storms. Boarding up also helps keep rodents and small animals from readily accessing the house interiors.

Buildings affected by storms may be hazardous because of unstable components or the heavy contamination from groundwater. However, our SERVPRO technicians can access the properties safely since we use protective gear such as hard hats, bodysuits, and rubber boots, thus minimizing the chances of injury.

SERVPRO of Paramus can handle any flood damage loss, restoring properties to their preloss state. Call us at (201) 445-5588 when you need assistance. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

How Water Damage Affects Flooring Materials in Paramus

6/4/2021 (Permalink)

float carpet SERVPRO can rescue water damaged carpets in Paramus homes with advanced equipment and a method called, "floating a carpet."

Why SERVPRO For Water Damage Restoration In Param

In a town so perfectly suburban that even The Wall Street Journal has to admit it, Paramus is an ideal place to live and raise a family. Minor disasters like a failing water heater or a broken inlet pipe still cost our neighbors thousands of dollars in damage and restoration expenses every year.

Why Should You Choose SERVPRO for Water Damage Restoration?

Every technician on our restoration team trains to the standards required by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification). They can perform every task, from removing standing water to performing minor repairs and drying out the interior of each home.

Failed plumbing issues do not usually leave a large amount of water damage inside a Paramus home. Team members begin by removing this standing water with extraction wands. These devices are excellent for removing water about ankle deep or closer to the floor. Technicians can adjust the vacuum rate and use an internal heating element to help dry carpets and wood floors.

Making the adjustments can prevent delamination in carpets. This separation of the top and bottom layers happens when the glue softens from being underwater for too long, so quickly drawing it off reduces the risk. The wands can also draw out water from between floorboards to lower the threat of their cracking or splitting from extended exposure to the water.

SERVPRO technicians then examine beneath both to reduce the humidity. For carpets, this means lifting and rolling them up out of the way. They next remove the carpet pad and throw it out. Pads deteriorate quickly, and it is simply more economical to replace them than spend labor hours trying to dry them. They next use air movers and fans to dry the floor before laying down the pad and replacing the carpet.

For wood floors, team members insert a moisture meter between floorboards to test the space underneath. If the air tests high, they carefully lift a floorboard usually hidden by a bed or other furniture pieces. Technicians insert a hose attached to an air mover to force warm, dry air into the space to increase the evaporation rate. Once it tests at normal levels again, they carefully replace the floorboard. If needed, our personnel can strip the old veneer from the wood and apply a new coat for a professional appearance.

For SERVPRO of Paramus, the goal is to return every home to its original condition. To learn more, call us today at (201) 445-5588.

Don't Tackle Fire Damage Remediation Alone in Your Paramus Home

5/26/2021 (Permalink)

drawing house fire flames and smoke Don't Let a House Fire in Your Paramus Home Get You Down--Call SERVPRO for Cleanup and Restoration

How Learning Fire Behavior Helps Restorers When Fixing Fire Damage in Paramus

To the average person, the best way to define the aftermath of a fire is chaotic. The damages left by the blaze affect contents and structure haphazardly. Therefore, it is challenging to know the best place to begin the restoration process. On the other hand, our IICRC professionals recognize patterns, including how smoke residues spread out throughout the property, thus helping in preparing a response plan.

Temperature levels differ in different fire incidents, and this affects the restoration of fire damage in Paramus. Temperatures in a fire incident affect the restoration process by determining where smoke movements deposit residues and how hard such deposits adhere to materials. Smoke from hot fires concentrates near the ceiling, where it replaces cooler air through convection currents.  Finding heat lines in such cases is common. From experience, our SERVPRO technicians understand how difficult it is to clean residues above the heat line, so we remove the affected materials instead of trying to clean them.

As the fire burns, some surrounding surfaces might remain cooler, attracting smoke, which moves towards colder areas (hot to cold). In a room with well-insulated walls, the temperature differential is usually around the windows. As the smoke wafts to the window, it leaves massive deposits of tar and other residues on the back of draperies. Our SERVPRO technicians make a point of checking such areas even when there are no visible smoke deposits on the front. Also, closets and other concealed areas collect large amounts of residues, so we check them too.

Smoke particles can also go through ionization, especially when a fire burns plastics. The electrically charged smoke particles are attracted to surfaces with an opposite charge, which can manifest in smoke webs forming, which are similar to cobwebs. When our SERVPRO team finds signs of ionization, we know that the fire burned plastics even if all physical evidence is gone. We, therefore, prepare for advanced cleaning procedures to remove wet smoke residue and pungent smells associated with such fires

In case of a fire incident in your Westwood, Hillsdale, or Paramus property, call SERVPRO of Paramus to help. You can reach us at (201) 445-5588 any time. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

SERVPRO Offers Fast and Reliable Water Mitigation Services to Paramus Residents

5/20/2021 (Permalink)

equipment drying hardwood floor in a kitchen Water mitigation in Paramus means limiting the water damage caused by spills--That is where SERVPRO can help

Paramus Homeowners Rely on SERVPRO for Water Mitigation of Their Homes

If water mitigation is not done promptly at your Paramus home, it can cause secondary damage that can make the situation worse. Hiring a professional water mitigation company like SERVPRO can help you prevent extensive water damage and save time and money.

SERVPRO performs water mitigation of Paramus homes after a variety of water incidents, including-

  • Burst pipes
  • Ceiling leaks
  • Basement flooding
  • Sewer backup

Removing the moisture during water damage restoration can be easy or difficult, depending on how the moisture is contained within the material. SERVPRO technicians use a variety of strategies to deal with different types of moisture.

Forms of moisture SERVPRO techs encounter during water damage remediation of your Paramus home

Moisture can get trapped or absorbed on various surfaces after a water damage incidence. SERVPRO technicians classify moisture in the following categories-

  • Surface water- It is the water in liquid form that accumulates on the surface of a material. Technicians deal with this water first during the water cleanup process. Technicians remove it by extraction followed by evaporation with the help of air movers.
  • Free water- It is the water absorbed by the material when it is either in contact with water or humid air. Although it is within the material, it is still 'free' as it is not chemically bonded with the molecules. The evaporation rate of this type of moisture is slower and needs higher air temperatures and flow rates.
  • Bound water- It is the water that is bound within the cells of the wood. It is most difficult to remove. Heating the material can speed up the drying process.

Call SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 today; we are here to help you 24/7.

Can Paramus Companies Rely on Mold Removal Companies Like SERVPRO for Help?

5/4/2021 (Permalink)

mold growing in storage area Dark and damp areas, like storage rooms, are places where mold can grow. Inspect your business often for signs of mold growth.

Does SERVPRO Provide Mold Inspections, Remediation, and Removal for Companies in Paramus?

The first time many companies in Paramus realize that they have an issue with mold is a musty odor in their buildings. Mold spores are everywhere, both inside structures and outside. Mold spores need moisture, a food source, and warm temperatures, often located inside dark unused rooms with little air circulation.

SERVPRO provides mold removal, inspections, and remediation services to companies in Paramus with mold infestations. If one of your employees or your property manager suspects there is mold due to a musty odor, call SERVPRO for a mold inspection.

We will check your entire premises for mold and sources of moisture that could contribute to mold growth. Our mold removal and remediation services include:

  • Remove porous materials contaminated extensively by mold
  • Clean nonporous materials
  • Vacuum using a HEPA equipped vacuum to remove loose mold fragments
  • Clean all surfaces from top to bottom to remove mold spores
  • Complete several rounds of cleaning to remove all newly settled dust and spores

 Call SERVPRO of Paramus for mold removal companies in Paramus and surrounding areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 445-5588.

Will SERVPRO Review Their Water Mitigation Plan with Homeowners in Westwood?

4/27/2021 (Permalink)

living room with puddled water on floor A broken water heater flooded this house. SERVPRO was able to quickly remove the water and restore the home.

When Does SERVPRO Do Water Damage Restoration Planning for Clients in Westwood?

There are considerable advantages to developing a proper plan before starting any job, including water mitigation in Westwood homes and businesses. Developing a procedure helps to estimate the equipment and staff needed to complete the water damage restoration project. A project plan also helps our clients understand what is involved and how long it will take for water cleanup, drying, and needed repairs.

SERVPRO has provided water mitigation and water clean-up services in Westwood since 2007. Our water removal services experience has shown us that our clients are anxious when their homes are wet and looking for help. That’s why we respond in less than 4 hours on a 24/7 basis.

We discuss our plan to remove water, moisture and dry the structure and contents and repairs required with the customer. Our communications with our customers always ensure that their concerns are addressed. We take the time to:

  • Explain all of the necessary steps for water mitigation and restoration
  • Identify all areas and contents that need cleaning and drying
  • Explain why some items may not be restorable and need a decision by the client or the adjuster
  • Answer all our client’s questions.

Call SERVPRO of Paramus for water mitigation in Westwood and surrounding areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 445-5588.

Can Paramus Commercial Companies Rely on SERVPRO for Fire Restoration Help?

4/20/2021 (Permalink)

after fire, salvageable equipment in taped off area When a fire damaged this restaurant, SERVPRO was there! We made it "Like it never even happened."

Commercial Businesses in Paramus Needing Fire Restoration Can Rely on SERVPRO

Paramus is considered a suburb of New York City and located only 20 miles northwest of midtown Manhattan. The borough was incorporated in 1922. Paramus comes from native American origin and derives from words meaning “Land of the Turkeys.”

Although all shops must be closed on Sundays, except gas stations, restaurants, and a few other essential businesses, the area generated over $6 billion in annual retails sales. Sales of this magnitude are more than any other zip code in the United States.

Paramus is a prominent shopping destination for many people in the New Jersey area and New York City. Major shopping destinations include:

  • Westfield Garden State
  • Paramus Park
  • The Outlets of Bergen Town Center
  • Fashion Center

There are many other activities for residents and visitors to consider.

  • Bergen County Zoological Park
  • Easton Tower
  • Fritz Behnke Historical Museum
  • Bury the Hatchet Paramus – Axe Throwing
  • IFly Indoor Skydiving – Paramus
  • Monster Mini Golf

Bergen County Zoological Park

The Bergen County Zoological Park in Paramus was the first Zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Exhibits include wildlife from South and North America. Species found at the Zoo include Baird’s tapers, American Alligators, Andean Condors, Golden Lion Tamarins, and South American Pampas. These animals are unusual and rare species.

Daily Admission is from 10 am to 4:30 pm, from May 1st to Oct 31st. The Bergen County Zoological Park can be found at 216 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ. Visitors and interested parties are encouraged to join Friends of the Bergen County Zoo dedicated to supporting the Zoo and the animals, educational programs, and facilities at the Zoo.

Easton Tower

Easton Tower was built in 1899 on the estate owned by Edward Easton and used to house a water pump. Easton used the water pump to provide water to feed several fountains, small lakes, and water to expansive lawns commissioned by Edward Easton.

The tower is located next to the Saddle River near the crossroads of Red Mill and Paramus Road. The Saddle River Bike Path runs nearby along the Saddle River. The tower is a great place to stop for a break, take pictures and relax while enjoying the scenery.

Fritz Behnke Historical Museum

The Fritz Behnke Historical Museum is named after Fritz Behnke, whose family ran a vegetable farm and later started a building supply business. The family has lived at the site since 1886. Visiting the museum will provide a glimpse of how they lived life during the 1800s and early 1900s.

SERVPRO Utilizes a Variety of Products to Remove Smoke Damage in Paramus Commercial Buildings

Many different chemicals can be introduced during a fire and combined with smoke residues generated from the fire. These chemicals typically found in commercial buildings are carried from the fire source and deposited as smoke residues on structures and contents near the fire.

SERVPRO provides fire restoration services to Paramus commercial buildings covering all types of fires. Smoke residues can be non-water soluble in these situations and require specialized solvents to dissolve the residue before removing it from surfaces without causing further damage.

We train SERVPRO technicians to recognize the various types of smoke residues and use the appropriate cleaning agents. We also avoid using solvents on materials that the solvent may damage. We use solvents in situations such as:

  • Where water may damage surfaces
  • Removing soils that are not water-soluble
  • Where water and soap are ineffective

Call SERVPRO of Paramus for commercial fire restoration services in Paramus and surrounding areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 445-5588.

Does SERVPRO Handle Muck-Out Cleaning in Paramus Homes after Flooding?

4/7/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Equipment and technicians Don't let flood water take over your Paramus home, Call our certified storm damage technicians for assistance.

Following Flood Damage, Debris and Mud can Overwhelm Exposed Areas of Your Paramus House. 

Flood restoration can involve many steps and intricate efforts from our experienced storm damage response team. However, emergency services water damage, including extraction and water removal services, are the first needed actions. Eliminating the water can often expose a secondary need for extensive surface cleaning and controlled demolition.

What Can Muck-Out Cleaning Remove in Paramus Homes? 

You cannot begin to recover other flood damage in Paramus homes without first addressing the debris and sediment that has made its way inside. Muck-out cleaning and debris removal play a critical role in expediting the overall restoration process and preventing further damaging effects like contaminants. These efforts can often find a wide variety of soils and debris after a flood, but the process targets:

After a flood, our SERVPRO of Paramus team can help with fast mitigation and cleaning efforts to make it "Like it never even happened." Call us today at (201) 445-5588.

How Do You Spot a Need for Mold Removal in Paramus Homes?

3/26/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Equipment If mold is left unchecked, it can spread very quickly. Contact our IICRC certified mold damage remediation team for an assessment today.

Our SERVPRO Mold Specialists Can Help with a Thorough Mold Inspection in Paramus.  

Mold organisms can develop and begin spreading through an affected area of a residence within 48 hours of moisture exposure. Our experienced team of professionals can help you to identify potential mold growth and microbial threats when signs might not be deliberate and apparent. We have moisture detection tools to find damp pockets that can often facilitate mold colonies.

When is Mold Damage Remediation Needed for Paramus Homes? 

Because mold removal for Paramus homes can be a complicated procedure when different levels of damage exist, we rely on the mold inspection results to determine where to begin and which areas are the priority for responding remediators. Our mold specialists can work to remove active colonies using multiple strategies and techniques, including:

  • Abrasive surface cleaning
  • Antimicrobial cleaning products
  • Dry ice blasting
  • Sanding
  • Controlled demolition

As challenging as mold growth can be in a home, our experienced SERVPRO of Paramus team can help to overcome its effects. Give us a call anytime at (201) 445-5588.

How Does SERVPRO Clean Fire and Smoke Damage in Westwood Homes?

3/19/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO logo SERVPRO has the experienced technicians with the equipment and expertise your home needs after a fire mishap. Give us a call right away.

Our Team Has Multiple Products and Tools for Fire Damage Restoration in Westwood.

Fire and smoke damage can spread quickly in a home, making it vital to get professionals moving swiftly to help. Our SERVPRO roster has fire and smoke restorers and odor control technicians to reach your property fast. We can help with:

  • Fire damage restoration
  • Fire damaged homes
  • Smoke remediation
  • Fire and smoke damage

How Does Fire Debris Removal Help Fire Damaged Homes? 

One of the first actions for fire damage restoration in Westwood homes is fire debris removal. Addressing the immediate fire and smoke damage in the property can significantly reduce the concentrations of soot particles and smoke damage. Because smoke remediation is a critical phase of fire damage restoration, these emergency services make later cleaning and recovery efforts more efficient and cost-effective. Other emergency services that can also help to reduce structural damage or content damage in your home include: 

  • Controlled demolition
  • HEPA air filtration
  • Water extraction

How Can Our Professionals Clean Smoke Damage in Westwood?

Air filtration and environmental cleaning are essential to allow a safe workspace for responding technicians on our team. Airborne hazards and contaminants can pose threats to those without the appropriate personal protective equipment. However, these coverings can also impede the speed and efficiency of fire damage restoration practices to follow. We have air scrubbers, HEPA vacuums, and other cleaning processes to overcome pressing smoke damage concerns.

House Fire Clean Up of Soot and Soils 

Soot can be one of the most hazardous presences in a home after a fire. Fire damage restoration of these specific threats can involve many steps and stages, specifically removing residues and soils from surfaces. Because of soot particles' carcinogenic and acidic composition, they can permanently damage and stain underlying surfaces and structural materials after prolonged exposure. Our SERVPRO team works with leading removal techniques to protect these building materials and prevent unnecessary controlled demolition when possible. Surface cleaning can be achieved with detergents and solvents that can emulsify or dissolve stubborn soils. 

Removing Harsh Odors During Westwood Smoke Remediation

Among the objectives of responding fire damage restoration technicians is removing and neutralizing odors present in the environment. Post-fire damage can overwhelm rooms and areas of your property that preliminary smoke remediation cannot completely address. We have multiple cleaning products that can reduce the concentrations of strong and noxious smells following fire damage, but also rely on effective deodorization instruments in our inventory such as: 

  • HEPA filtration products 
  • Air scrubbers 
  • Hydroxyl generators 
  • ULV / thermal foggers 
  • Ozone machines 

Because fire damage restoration can take so many forms and stages after an emergency, you need a team of professionals capable of helping you nearly every step of the way. Our SERVPRO of Paramus team has the experience and extensive training to make fire disasters "Like it never even happened." Give us a call today at (201) 445-5588.

Can SERVPRO Protect Your Carpets during Water Remediation?

3/1/2021 (Permalink)

two young girls lying on carpeted floor Keep your floors safe for them. Call SERVPRO to remediate your water damage.

Paramus Floor Coverings are in Safe Hands with Us

One of the most frustrating aspects of water damage in your home is the thought of replacing everything that got soaked. Carpets, drapes, and furniture are not cheap, so it is better to repair rather than replace where possible.

SERVPRO focuses on repairing as much as we can so you do not have to replace everything after water remediation in your Paramus home. For example, we can apply a range of cleaning methods to restore your carpets “Like it never even happened.”

The best way to preserve your carpets is to carry out a thorough examination before we begin. Your SERVPRO team will examine your carpets to determine:

  • The type of fibers constructing the carpet, such as wool or synthetics.
  • Carpet style such as loop, multi-loop, plush, or shag. The carpet style affects which methods we can use to clean it.
  • Colorfastness, so we know which methods we can safely use without causing the color to bleed.

Carrying out a proper assessment first means we can better determine how to tackle the water damage and restore your carpets and rugs.

For water remediation that you can trust, call SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588.

Can You Prepare for Flood Damage to Your Paramus Business?

2/26/2021 (Permalink)

water damaged hallway; standing water on floor Commercial flooding happens. Should the water enter your business, call SERVPRO for fast effective remediation.

SERVPRO Helps Paramus Companies Handle Flood Damage

No one wants to incur flood damage in their business. A closed business means no customers and no revenue. Unfortunately, sometimes even with the best planning, you cannot avoid a flood.

However, you can prepare for potential flood damage in your Paramus business. Preparing now means you can get back on your feet faster.

The best way to ensure your business is ready if a flood comes is to sign up for a SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile (ERP.) Your ERP contains all the essential information, such as:

  • Water and power shut-off points.
  • The chain of command to contact in an emergency.
  • A solid plan for getting your business open again.

You can also use your ERP to set your local SERVPRO office as your go-to flood damage repair service, which means you can contact us faster when you need us. It is free to set up your ERP. Simply create an account online, download the app, and follow the on-screen instructions.

To help prepare your business for potential flood damage issues, call SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588.

Help for Water Damage Repair in Westwood

2/19/2021 (Permalink)

gloved hand cleaning rain gutter Clogged gutters and downspouts account for significant water damage each year. Clean your gutters at least once per year.

SERVPRO Keeps the Borough Dry Whatever the Weather

Westwood is a small borough of New Jersey, with just over 10,000 residents. Despite its small size, Westwood has a rich history and plenty of things to see and do. The local government formed Westwood due to a phenomenon known as "Boroughitis." In the late 1800's the provincial government decided to reform the school system in New Jersey and regarded the best way to do that was splitting large townships into smaller boroughs. This craze continued for several years, and Westwood is one of the boroughs that came about.

Westwood started as farming land with just a small scattering of families. In the mid-nineteenth century, the town consisted of six stores, four schools, and twenty mills. However, the Hackensack and New York Railroad's beginnings in 1870 changed its fortunes, causing it to grow rapidly. Builders soon added churches, more stores, European-style homes, distilleries, hotels, and even a laundrette to the town's landscape.

Today, Westwood is a pleasant suburb with a green park at its heart and is popular with people who want easy access to bigger towns without the hustle of urban life.

Enjoy Time Outside in Westwood's Beautiful Parks

Westwood has a wealth of community parks designed to encourage residents to enjoy fresh air and exercise. Town parks offer a wide range of activities and facilities, including dog walking parks, plenty of long walks, ball fields, playgrounds, and tennis and basketball courts. Some even offer outdoor yoga spaces. The local community holds events in Westwood's parks throughout the year, and many of the parks also provide picnic and barbecue spaces that you can rent for a low fee if you want to host a gathering.

Some popular Westwood parks include:

  • Veteran's Memorial Park offers a quiet recreational area with plenty of seating. The bandstand is home to concerts throughout the summer, and there are also easter egg hunts and children's parades. 
  • Westfield Park offers ball courts, pavilions, a concession stand, and a paved walking area. Located in a convenient locale, you can walk from Westfield across a nature reserve to Pascack Brook County Park, where you will feel as though you are miles from civilization.
  • Westwood Train Station is a historic train station set in a rolling green park. Take the time to explore the nearby walks, or check out the Westwood Heritage Society's Museum, located in the old station. The station itself is striking, being built of cream-colored Briar Hill Stone.

Can yard care help prevent water damage?

Groundskeepers at Westwood parks know the importance of keeping lawns, flowerbeds, and outbuildings in good condition. Keeping an eye on your yard can also help protect your home from water damage. Some problem areas to be aware of include:

  • Lawns that slope towards your home rather than away.
  • Blocked drains and gutters leading to overflow.
  • Precarious old trees that might damage the roof and let the rain in.

SERVPRO recommends taking good care of your yard as a way to protect your home from water damage. However, if you need water damage repair, our expert teams are here for you. We can clean and dry everything from drapes and carpets to walls and furniture.

For reliable water damage repair, call SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588.

Unattended Candles Can Cause Extensive Fire Damage

2/1/2021 (Permalink)

a ceiling that has soot covering it from fire damage Suffered through a fire at your home? Call our certified technicians at (201) 445-5588 to investigate the fire damage situation.

Water and Fire Damage Can Cause Extensive Damage in Westwood Homes

Fires start in homes and buildings for many reasons. A burning cigarette casually discarded, electrical short circuits, or even a candle left burning can initiate a fire that causes extensive damage to a home and the contents.

While fire damage in Westwood homes can be catastrophic, so can the damage caused by the fire department in quelling the fire. The fire department uses lots of water, or in some cases, foam fire retardants to remove oxygen from the fire. SERVPRO removes all of the water and chemicals, and damaged material before restoration can begin.

SERVPRO has extensive experience managing the aftermath of this kind of damage. Our team provides all of the services required after a fire, including:

  • Board up of windows and doors, tarps covering the roof
  • Removal of water and chemicals, moisture removal, and drying
  • Soot and smoke removal from all surfaces
  • Sanitize and cleaning of all recoverable contents
  • Restoration of your home or business to its preloss condition

Contact SERVPRO of Paramus for fire damage services to Westwood residential and commercial buildings and surrounding areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 445-5588.

Remove Water and Humidity Before Long Term Issues Occur

1/29/2021 (Permalink)

a flooded room with stairs Affected by recent water damage? Contact our technicians at (201) 445-5588 for services to help you at this time.

Can Water Mitigation and Removal Reduce Mold Infestations in Westwood?

Water leaks occur all of the time from leaking pipes or overflowing sinks or tubs. Many consumers mop up the water and let the moisture dissipate over time, assuming no further damage will occur. Water seeps into many nooks and crannies, inside walls and under cupboards. These dark warm areas are perfect conditions for mold to grow, especially with lingering moisture.

SERVPRO can assist with water mitigation in Westwood and avoid mold growth. Our experience and water sensing equipment can find water and moisture in these hard to reach areas. We use:

  • Moisture sensors to assess moisture in carpets and padding
  • Thermal imaging cameras to determine moisture levels in building materials
  • Moisture meters to measure actual moisture content
  • Inspection cameras to observe water and moisture inside cavities

Once moisture is detected, SERVPRO uses specialized equipment to dry these areas and avoid mold growth, which causes health effects for many people and structural problems if allowed to continue.

Contact SERVPRO of Paramus for water mitigation services to Westwood residential and commercial buildings and surrounding areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 445-5588.

Paramus Commercial Building Mold Inspection Services

1/24/2021 (Permalink)

mold growing on a wall near an outlet Mold damage can quickly overtake your home. Contact our technicians at (201) 445-5588 for emergency services.

SERVPRO Provides Commercial Mold Inspection in Paramus

Paramus, NJ, is located approximately 8 miles west of upper Manhattan. Paramus gets its name from Native American origin, derived from a word meaning, "Land of the Turkeys." The Lenape Native Americans settled the area and sold 2000 acres to Albert Saboroweski. Saboriweski had emigrated from Poland in 1662. Paramus also played a part in the American Revolutionary War. General George Washington had his headquarters in the area in July 1778.

During the 20th century, Paramus became a shopping destination for nearby New York State consumers looking for great prices and lower sales taxes.

The city is one of the largest shopping locations in the US, producing over $6 billion in retail sales. The combination of:

  • Lower sales taxes
  • Proximity to a dense urban area – Manhattan
  • Efficient transit network
  • Limited planning restrictions

These factors provided ideal conditions for the city to achieve tremendous retail sales results, even with "Blue Laws" in place. Blue laws ban almost all white-collar and retail establishments from opening on Sundays. Grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations can remain open.

Major shopping malls include:

  • Westfield Garden State Plaza
  • Paramus Park
  • The Outlets at Bergen Town Center
  • Fashion Center

Many retailers have stores in multiple locations. There are at least 25 retailers with outlets in 2 or more malls.

Attractions and Activities in Paramus

Shopping is a major attraction to the area; however, there are many other attractions in the area. A few of these include:

  • Bergen County Zoological Park
  • Easton Tower
  • Fritz Behnke Historical Museum
  • Bury the Hatchet Paramus – Axe Throwing
  • Golf courses, Restaurants, and Theaters

 Bergen County Zoological Park

The zoo focused on North and South American animals, covers 18 acres with several exhibits, including a Great Plains exhibit, amphitheater shows, an 1860's farmyard, and an aviary to walk through. The zoo is open year-round and currently is offering free admission during the current health situation. Some activities are closed or restricted. Visitors are encouraged to check local requirements before heading to the Bergen County Zoological Park.

Easton Tower

Edward D Easton built Easton Tower in 1899 next to the Saddle River. Initially, it housed a water pump on the estate. He was president of the Columbia Phonograph Company.

Fritz Behnke Historical Museum

The Fritz Behnke Historical Museum provides a glimpse of what life was like in the late 1800s living in Paramus's village. Woodworking, blacksmithing, farm implements, schooling, and an 8-minute video of Paramus's history are on display.

Make Arrangements for Mold Inspection in Paramus

Commercial buildings often experience minor water leaks or condensation on cold water pipes. Mold can grow in dark and warm locations where moisture exists, potentially causing health effects for employees and customers entering the building.

SERVPRO utilizes various inspection tools to check for high moisture levels in the air, inside materials, and in cavities hidden from view. Our team uses minimally invasive procedures to avoid damage to walls and floors. Once we detect high moisture levels and potential mold infestations, our team explains the action required to:

  • Remove infested materials
  • Remove moisture and dry the area
  • Eliminate the source of the moisture

Contact SERVPRO of Paramus for mold inspection services to Westwood commercial buildings and surrounding areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 445-5588.

Visit Westwood's Demarest Farm this January for Excellent Food, Drinks, and Tours

1/11/2021 (Permalink)

demarest farms bbq Relax, SERVPRO takes care of the floodwaters in your Westwood home, while you enjoy a great BBQ.

The Demarest Farm is a Family-run Business for Westwood Residents this Winter

The Demarest Farm is 34-acre farmland that has been in the family for over 130 years. Since the mid-seventies, the farmyard has been open to the public for seasonal peach and pumpkin pickings as well as tours of the local orchard. While the orchard light show may well have been packed away come January, the weekly barbeques that have become a tradition for residents continue. Every Thursday night, the barbecue feast serves up ribs, salads, chicken, and hotdogs to its delighted guests. Wagon rides are also available, while winter specialties like flaming smores are a joy. For older visitors, the home-made ciders that come directly from the orchards are an experience that you cannot find anywhere else in Bergen County.

  • The farm features a pick your own orchard, seasonal gardening center, and a farm store for taking produce with you
  • Barbecues cost $21 per head and are served up every Thursday.
  • A drive-in movie theater opens periodically throughout the year with family-friendly picks.

Getting rid of floodwaters from your home is only possible with industrial equipment. Contact SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 for help with your flooding emergency.

Skydive this Winter with Paramus' Only Indoor Skydiving Center

12/21/2020 (Permalink)

The Indoor skydiving iFLY SERVPRO can remediate the mold from your Paramus home while you go Skydiving!

The iFly Indoor Skydiving Center on Paramus' State Road Provides Expert Training and Experiences for Budding Aeronaughts

The winter months may seem daunting to experience your first skydiving experience. Paramus' indoor skydiving center, iFly, provides a similar experience without the need to drop out of an airplane at 20,000 feet. Indoor skydiving uses vertical wind tunnels to recreate flying without a parachute, plan, or experience. In a wind tunnel, upwards air reaches speeds of 120mph, which matches the terminal velocity of a human being falling. The wind tunnels at iFly allow anyone to experience the sensation of flying without the need to jump out of an aircraft. This winter, skydiving training, group events, and tours are available for all ages.

  • During the holiday season, gift cards for iFly experiences are up to 40% off.
  • Experienced skydiving tutors give all members a tutorial before entering the wind tunnel
  • Educational programs for STEM students are available throughout the year.

The presence of mold in your home can affect indoor air quality and damage materials. Contact SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 for highly-trained remediators and mold assessors.

Violent Weather Events Can Cause Extensive Damage to Paramus Properties

12/14/2020 (Permalink)

techs, generator, trucks Count on SERVPRO for Commercial and Residential Storm Damage Mitigation in Paramus--We've Got It! Go shop at the mall!

SERVPRO of Paramus Can Mitigate Losses and Repair Damages in an Emergency

Paramus is a quintessential suburb of New York City. Situated just 8 miles away from Manhattan, the bedroom community here numbers 26,342 people. This area of the Garden State has a long history dating back to the arrival of early colonial forces from Holland and England. During the Revolutionary War, Paramus became a key staging ground for battles fought along the East Coast and was visited several times by the patriot forces leader, George Washington. The district was a former headquarters for Washington before advisors suggested he move to Westchester County. For most of the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth-century, this region was a rural farming community with a relatively small, light population of around 5,000 people. The primary focus on agriculture gave Paramus, and the surrounding area, a nickname of the Garden State. It was only by the twentieth century, and the building of the George Washington Bridge in 1931, that the region developed into today's commercial outlet. Infrastructural connections to New York City and an unregulated land development saw Paramus triple its retail outlets to 319 stores in the 1950s alongside three massive shopping malls. Today, it holds a reputation as both a commuter destination and a vibrant shopping district outside New York City.

The Garden State city of Paramus

is well-known as a shopping district. The earliest malls were constructed in the 1950s and 1960s, while local governments have brought in sales tax reductions and levies to encourage further business. Today, five shopping malls serve residents and tourists of Bergen County throughout the year. While the shopping destination does attract visitors and boost the local economy, there are efforts to prevent congestion or other high traffic areas for residents. The so-called blue laws restrict the trade of non-essential goods on Sundays, which have been enforced by the local government since 1957. Paramus is one of the last regions in the US to maintain strict regulation on Sunday trading. The only time these blue laws have been suspended was following the events of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Charities, food, and medical stores are the only retailers that remain open during Sundays as a result of the blue laws in effect. Alongside Paramus's shopping districts are a significant number of theaters and cultural centers for the arts, which attract internationally renowned artists throughout the year. 

  • Bergen County Zoological Park is located with the Van Saun County Park and offers 146 acres of parkland, forests, and waterways. The center also encourages entertainment for younger children with its playgrounds, Washington Spring Garden Train, and Millenium Carousel. The zoo opens from 10 am until 4 pm each day, with free admission throughout the year. Alongside the animals on show, the zoo encourages nature through several education programs, volunteer workshops, and displays. 
  • The Garden State Plaza is home to some of the largest shopping malls in the region, including Westfield. These destinations cater to visitors throughout the day, with several food courts and hundreds of retail outlets selling electronics, fashion items, and accessories. Flagship stores include Lord & Taylor and Macy's, although many smaller gems are found here like the Timberland outlet. The mall also hosts a sixteen screen IMAX cinema.
  • Hyatt Place Fair Lawn Hotel in Paramus is one of the more popular mid-range hotels in the area and is ideally situated on Broadway Route North. The large property has several room types, TVs in all rooms, and a complimentary breakfast. It is located near enough to Manhattan and the Garden State Plaza to ensure that guests can experience both the big city and shopping destination without moving to the hotel. 

Popular dining destinations in Paramus, NJ

  • The Capital Grille is among the standout food outlets from the Garden State Plaza. The menu is a mixture of fish, meats, and fried fish in the traditional American style. During the summer months, the outdoor patio is a treat for breakfast or lunch, while desserts are typically excellent. 
  • Just down West Pleasant Avenue in nearby Maywood is the excellent Seafood Gourmet. The charming narrow restaurant serves a variety of freshly caught seafood. Seafood Gourmet has become something of an icon to the local community and delights visitors all year round with their range of traditional soups and salads.
  • In and around Paramus Road are two excellent seafood restaurants. The first is El Cid, which cooks up freshly caught in Spanish style and serves paella, among other seasoned favorites. Down the road is the Bonefish Grill, which offers refined grilled fish alongside a surprisingly good cocktail menu.

Large Weather Events Can Cause Damage to your Paramus Home. SERVPRO Can Help Secure and Restore your Property after a Storm. 

Storm and flood cleanup is a time-sensitive task that requires experience working with residential properties in the area. SERVPRO has been helping residents recover after massive storm events like Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and can help protect your home in an emergency. Our first step is to secure the property against looting or further water intrusion. We can erect temporary tarpaulin to prevent additional rainwater from entering the property and boarding up broken windows or entrance ways. Inside the home, our team can quickly pump water out of the property, which reduces stress on the structure. Using our leading drying techniques, technicians can promptly guard your home against the secondary damages associated with water intrusion. Storm and flash flooding can have a devastating impact on your daily life. SERVPRO has both the resources and infrastructure to return your home to its preloss condition. 

  • Our technicians are trained to work in biohazardous substance environments that are a frequent byproduct of flash flooding. Using our full range of disinfectants and cleaners, we can safely remove contaminated materials or restore property parts. 
  • Crew chiefs can perform emergency pack-outs of the contents in your home following a storm event. Pack procedures can secure your possessions and store them at a climate-controlled warehouse while restoration of the structure begins.
  • Powerful submersible pumps can be deployed in the property to pass contaminated water and solid waste that may enter the home. Our extraction equipment is capable of removing hundreds of gallons of water at a time. 

Storm-related incidents can cause havoc in a home environment. Contact SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588.

Help Your Kids Learn More About Giving in Paramus This Holiday Season

12/4/2020 (Permalink)

Welcome to Paramus sign on Road We look forward to seeing you at the Westfield Garden State Plaza Holiday Events!

Enjoy a holiday shopping experience for the smallest members of your family! 

At the Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus on December 4th and 5th, 2020, children can experience a unique shopping experience tailored specifically to them. Not only will they get a bit of training in managing a budget while shopping for specific members of their family, but there are also many entertainment elements to make the experience memorable. 

The recommended age for this event is 5-12. There are two puppet shows. Also included are a Kids Market photo wall, a scavenger hunt, a section of giftable items to purchase featuring things like candles, jewelry, and ornaments to encourage your child to pick out Christmas gifts all on their own (with the oversight of event personnel.) Tickets are available by time slot through Eventbrite or by calling (201) 843-2121. 

Overloaded circuits during the holidays can cause a fire disaster. When fire mitigation for your Paramus home is necessary, trust our SERVPRO of Paramus team to help quickly when every minute counts. Call us today at (201) 445-5588.

Westwood and Paramus Locals Can Get a Dose of Comedy

11/27/2020 (Permalink)

Gazebo in Westwood SERVPRO can restore flood damage while you laugh away your cares at the Flamingo Club.

Step away from the serious for a night of free stand-up in Hackensack 

With so many people not being able to travel and visit with their families as they would like, the Flamingo Club in Hackensack has the solution to get Westwood families laughing the weekend after Thanksgiving. A free stand-up comedy event is taking place Saturday, November 28th, 2020, from 7 PM to 9 PM.  

Even though this event is free to the public, limitations on admittance and seating should encourage you to book your spot through Club Flamingo's website. Don't miss your chance to see many of NYC and NJ's up and coming stand-up talent. For more information, contact the club at (201) 440-3332.  

Flooding is no laughing matter, so when you need storm and flood restoration for your Westwood home, trust the professionals that can get there quickly. Our SERVPRO of Paramus team can show We're Faster To Any Size Disaster. Contact us today at (201) 445-5588.  

Is Professional Water Mitigation Beneficial to Paramus Businesses?

11/18/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO restoration vehicles in front of home Water damage is always a threat, and that is why SERVPRO mans the phone 24/7.

Severe water disasters could threaten structures and shops throughout the borough 

As a highly populated New Jersey borough, there are many attractive features and places in Paramus for those traveling through the area or looking for a new place to settle down. Beyond our favorable climate that features each season and charming vistas of the fall when the leaves change color, there are many other things that potential travelers should know about Paramus and what has allowed its population to increase. As an area that continues to expand and thrive, much of it has to do with the most profitable and accessible industries' growth.  

Rapidly Expanding Retail  

Retail is arguably the most profitable piece of Paramus's economy and is one of the shopping meccas for the entire New York City metropolitan area and Greater Newark region. Annually the locale generates more than 6 billion in retail revenue, all without levying a sales tax. It is one of the main reasons that Paramus has had the substantial retail success that it has, with New York City and other areas of New Jersey charging sales taxes on clothing and shoes.  

Shoppers can appreciate five main malls, outlet store locations, and several retailers with multiple locations throughout plazas and shopping centers so that Paramus continues to be one of the most profitable zip codes for retail sales. When you consider the strict laws of the borough that prohibits non-essential services beyond groceries, restaurants, and gas on Sundays, the impressive profit and revenue generated annually is a considerable feat that expresses the popularity and draw of these shopping experiences.  

The Colleges of Paramus  

With several institutions for secondary education in Paramus, the demographic is evenly distributed. While many area students pursuing specific arts and majors can reach New York City in around an hour commute, the multiple colleges and satellite campuses here in Paramus encourage many high school graduates to stay in the area and reintegrate into the workforce after pursuing their degrees.  

One of the county's largest institutions is the Bergen Community College, with its main campus in the borough. Collectively, Bergen claims to have more than 18,500 students regularly actively. While there are Hackensack and Lyndhurst campuses, Paramus offers room and board for the most significant portion of the collective student body. This younger portion of the population, in turn, helps to keep the high volume of retail options in the area growing and thriving.  

Renowned Medical Facilities for Bergen County 

Bergen County and Paramus are specifically served by several prominent medical facilities, such as the Rutgers-affiliated New Bridge Medical Center, a massive hospital founded in 1916 and maintains its status as the largest medical facility of its kind in all of New Jersey. In addition to this centerpiece for emergency and long-term care, Paramus residents can also utilize secondary institutions like St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center and The Valley Hospital. SERVPRO works quickly for emergency buildings like this to keep them up and running after a disaster.  

Community Events in Every Season of the Year  

One of the gems of living in Paramus is how the community celebrates holidays and events. Even more to how unique and alluring this can be for a city of this size, many area businesses and organizations' involvement helps ensure that each of these gatherings is safe, memorable, and worth returning to each year. Even our SERVPRO franchise has been part of community events, fundraisers, and holiday gatherings to spend time with our friends and neighbors beyond the emergencies that impact their lives.  

Multiple events fit into the annual schedule of events, and many of the Paramus residents look forward to a time soon when social distancing and regulations can allow for these special occasions to get together to be as they once were:  

  • July 4th Parade from Century Road to the Memorial Elementary School  
  • Memorial Day Parade event annually  
  • Fire & Rescue in Paramus (Companies 2 & 3) host an annual "Safe Halloween" party for the children of the community  
  • Santa Detail is a parade-like event where the Paramus Fire Department drives Santa around the borough and gives out candy to those coming out to wave to Mr. Claus as he passes by their house. 
  • The National Night Out changes every year but often features many games, activities, and live music.  

What is Water Mitigation for Paramus Homes and Businesses?  

Mitigation is one of the most vital efforts that our experienced SERVPRO water restoration professionals undertake for area homes and businesses. While the general premise and desired results are the same, the methods used to reduce the immediate damage and potential loss of a residence varies from one to the next. Water mitigation is broken down into a few key stages that start as soon as our professionals first reach the damaged site.  

Content management and relocation are among the chief concerns for many Paramushomeowners, as every house has irreparable items, keepsakes, treasures, and belongings of sentimental value. Actions taken quickly can help protect these treasured belongings by relocating to a safe area of the house or our SERVPRO facility nearby. An evaluation of exposed and water-damaged contents can determine the extent of recovery efforts required to return them to their original condition.  

Extraction is also a critical effort, as successful drying cannot begin without first completing this phase. Surprisingly, this goes beyond surface damage to impact trapped moisture and dampness in porous materials like OSB board subflooring or wooden framework behind drywall and insulation. Multiple tools play a role in removing surface water and trapped moisture from flooring materials, including carpet wands, weighted extraction stand-on units, and electric submersible pumps.  

Water restoration needs require immediate attention so that the situation does not get worse. With most of our roster certified as Water Restoration Technicians (WRT), our SERVPRO of Paramus team is ready 24/7 to help when disasters strike. Contact us today at (201) 445-5588.

Paramus, NJ – The Racefaster Thanksgiving Day Run

11/4/2020 (Permalink)

5k run - image of runners on track SERVPRO is looking forward to the annual Thanksgiving Day Run!

Residents of Paramus, NJ, Gear Up for the Annual Racefaster Thanksgiving Day Run!

Besides the Thanksgiving turkey and giving thanks for everything you have, there is nothing quite like burning off calories before the big meal with a Racefaster Thanksgiving Day 5k run! This event takes place rain or shine, and there will be plenty of protocols put in place for social distancing. Due to local guidelines and all participants' safety, the race will feature an 'open start and finish' to allow for funneling through the start and finish two-by-two or by family. Each runner will have their start time begin when they cross the start line and then ends once they cross the finish line.

  • Date: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2020
  • Location: Garden State Plaza Mall, Paramus, NJ
  • Time: 9:00 am until 11:00 am 
  • Cost: Registration is $30, and the cut-off is November 23, 2020 at 6:00 pm

We care immensely about the health and well-being of our community here at SERVPRO of Paramus. If you have a fire emergency that calls for skilled technicians' help for fire and smoke cleanup, we can be reached at (201) 445-5588. We are Faster to Any Size Disaster, and we will have a crew on-site and ready to work within hours of your initial call.

Can A Regular Water Restorer Help Save Wet Electronics in Paramus?

10/31/2020 (Permalink)

water damaged home It is possible to save some of your appliances after water exposure.

SERVPRO Takes Preventive Water Damage Restoration Steps or Helps Paramus Homeowners Find Specialists to Fix Advanced Issues

When water leaks into a property, electronic items or appliances are vulnerable since moisture can cause permanent damage to their interior components. Managing damage in electronics requires the right set of skills to guarantee a positive outcome. SERVPRO takes protective steps to safeguard electronic items or finds specialists in Paramus to assist.

What situations lead to water damage in electronics?
You might believe water damage restoration of electronics in Paramus properties is only necessary when such items are submerged in water. However, other situations can lead to such outcomes, including:
    •    Humidity in the air condensing, wetting the items
    •    Water splashing on the items
    •    Moisture spreading from other wet items nearby

What are the best ways to restore wet electronic items?
    •    Drying the moisture
    •    Preventing rusting or other chemical reactions
    •    Cleaning all traces of impurities

Water damage in electronics can develop differently. For instance, the moisture or impurities dissolved in the water have conductive properties, which might cause short-circuits when an item is powered. Our SERVPRO technicians take simple steps, such as unplugging all the items to prevent shorts. Ensuring there is sufficient heating in the house helps prevent condensation, which can spread damage in items all over the house. Regular drying procedures such as dehumidification also help.

In case the water involved has significant impurities or is salty, the affected items require cleaning because traces of such materials can corrode or short-circuit internal components when the appliances are turned on. We can arrange for such cleaning by a specialist to forestall future issues.

It is possible to save some of your appliances after water exposure. Call SERVPRO of Paramus to help you take proactive steps. You can reach us at (201) 445-5588. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster!

Why is SERVPRO So Much More Effective at Mold Removal Than Other Services?

10/19/2020 (Permalink)

hand peeling wall paper back and revealing mold Do you know how to locate mold in your home? SERVPRO does! We have the tools to quickly remediate the mold.

SERVPRO Understands the Nature of Mold and Uses Various Advanced Techniques to Remove It from Your Paramus Home

Anyone living in Paramus knows that local conditions can be quite humid.  This excess atmospheric moisture often fosters the rapid growth of harmful fungi like mold and mildew.  When these growths develop, they can cause various effects ranging from cosmetic to the structurally destructive.  Luckily, SERVPRO is often able to resolve such issues successfully. 

How Does Mold Grow and Spread?

As an experienced Paramus mold removal service, we know the nature of mold, the reasons it proliferates, and have perfected techniques to mitigate or eliminate it effectively.  When dealing with mold, we have learned that it is useful to remember its essential characteristics which are:

  • Mold is naturally occurring and can exist almost anywhere outside or inside your home.
  • Its spores are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
  • It is moisture-loving and proliferates when it encounters water.
  • Mold thrives on higher indoor humidity levels, especially those above forty-four percent.
  • Its lightweight enables it to travel around easily: the wind can carry mold spores into your home through an opened door or window; spores can attach to your clothing and be unknowingly transported into your residence; pets can also carry them inside, and your HVAC system can blow them around your home’s interior.
  • Mold usually gives off a strong, musty odor that makes impacted areas easier to locate

SERVPRO technicians, using cutting edge tools like moisture sensors and meters, thermohygrometers, and infrared cameras, can relatively quickly locate areas around your house where mold exists or could soon develop.  

What Steps Does SERVPRO Take to Resolve Mold-Related Issues?

Since we have extensive training and experience in mold remediation in Paramus, our professionals know the best ways to eliminate the troublesome fungus and mitigate its effects, leading to our development of a time-tested process for resolving mold-related issues.  In general, we take the following measures when cleaning up and restoring mold-damaged properties:

  • Once you call us, we immediately evaluate your situation over the phone and determine the resources necessary for handling your problem.
  • Since we understand that significant mold growth and damage can occur in just a few hours, our experts usually arrive on-site within four hours of your call to locate and assess mold damage.
  • We then work to prevent mold from further spreading around your house by shutting off your HVAC system, employing work area seals, and creating negative air chambers to confine mold spores while your home is being remediated.
  • Our technicians test the materials to see what is salvageable. They then clean and treat restorable household contents with antifungals and deodorants, and discard materials beyond repair.
  • While your residence is being cleaned, we remove mold spores from the air with advanced filtration devices like HEPA vacuums and air scrubbers.
  • Finally, if necessary, we replace damaged structural elements and reconstruct destroyed sections of your residence.

Ultimately, SERVPRO can help you successfully deal with every phase of the recovery process.  Moreover, our policy of always trying to restore damaged materials first, rather than simply replacing them, saves you time and money.

What Specialized Content Remediation Services Does SERVPRO Offer?

We are unique in the cleaning and restoration industry in that we offer a wide variety of services dedicated to the protection and restoration of your household contents.  These services include, among other things:

  • Professional moving and off-site warehousing of contents to safeguard them from further damage
  • Extensive inventorying and tracking of your furnishings and personal possessions to ensure that insurance claims are processed more smoothly
  • Advanced photograph and document drying that ensures that these precious items are preserved
  • Electronic cleaning that often prevents things like computers, TVs, and other electronic devices from being irreparably damaged by mold growths

Company experts are dedicated to doing whatever it takes to preserve your household contents and return them to their preloss condition.  In their efforts, they carefully employ a wide variety of cleaning methods.  These could include dry, wet, foam, spray & wipe, immersion, and abrasive cleaning techniques.

Mold is an omnipresent threat in New Jersey, and it does not necessarily require severe weather to encourage its growth in your home.  Merely heightened humidity levels or minor water leaks can cause it to invade sections of your residence.  If mold is not remediated quickly, these fungal growths could discolor structural elements and contents, cause persistent foul odors, and severely damage your home and possessions.   

With all that said, your neighborhood SERVPRO of Paramus is always here to help you overcome your mold issues.  Call us anytime at (201) 445-5588 for assistance.

What is the Fastest Way to Reduce Standing Water in a Property?

10/5/2020 (Permalink)

gutted basement after flooding After pumping out the floodwaters, SERVPRO techs prepare this Paramus basement for a build back, clean and sanitary.

SERVPRO is a Professional Flood Water Removal Firm with Access to High-Powered Pumps and Extractors to Restore your Paramus Home.

What pumps are useful for property flooding?

There are a variety of pumps to choose from when restoring your Paramus home from water intrusion. The capability of a pump should match your requirements. Some situations may require pumps that can transport water a long distance. Other conditions may require pumps that can lift water uphill or remove water with solid waste.

Professional services can quickly assess the ideal type of pump for a flood situation in Paramus and use it as soon as possible. The capability of pumps is generally measured in lift capacity and volume. These measurements can be calculated against the architecture of your home to find the ideal solution.

What types of water pumps are used for flooding?

  • Self-priming trash pumps to remove water with solid waste.
  • High pressure pumps to transport water from below-grade levels of the home.
  • Electric submersible pumps which are commonly used and can transport water up to twenty-five feet away via a hose

Can water contamination affect pumps?

Contamination is present when performing flood water removal in your Paramus. Water flotsam and debris must be assessed before choosing the right type of pump. Solid-waste could clog up a pump or make it less efficient. Equally, the amount of standing water can be a critical factor in assessing the type of pump. Priming is required for most equipment to work. However, when standing water drops below two inches, the pumps may begin to take in air. We can combat this by using a diaphragm pump or relying on a different water extraction method after initial pumping.

What assessments are necessary before water removal?

  • The type of water source and the level of contamination
  • Whether the basement is occupied (electric pumps) or unoccupied (diesel pumps)
  • How far, and through what obstacles, does water need to be transported

A quick resolution to water intrusion can help to reduce losses significantly. Contact SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588.

Can Upholstery be Restored After a Fire?

9/23/2020 (Permalink)

burlap textile fire damaged SERVPRO can often salvage upholstery and textiles after house fires in Paramus with high-tech cleaning

Professional Fire Restoration Technicians in Paramus Can Help You Assess the Damage and Decide Whether to Restore or Discard Your Upholstered Items

Whether a massive fire roars in your Paramus home, or a relatively small kitchen fire burns for a few minutes, homeowners face critical decisions after the flames die down. Even a fire seemingly contained in one area of your home can cause smoke, soot, and an acrid smell to travel and settle all around it. Instead of fighting the ensuing damage by yourself, a professional fire restoration team can assist by providing an expert point of view and plan of action.

Homeowners in Paramus facing fire damage to their homes can find expert advice upon calling SERVPRO. Our team is available 24/7 and quick to respond to your emergency, which helps mitigate your loss. Any delay in taking action allows soot to settle deep within your home, including fabric fibers of your furniture, curtains, and other textiles. Rather than wasting time on do-it-yourself solutions, let industry experts do the work for you.

How can a professional service remove the smell of smoke?

Very often, our SERVPRO technicians find that the foul smell the fire leaves behind is the top priority for our clients. When it feels like linens, clothes, and your very walls are exuding a strong odor, they are at a loss. Our team of experts inspects the property and follows the smoke path through your home and the ventilation system and takes action to purify the air in your home. 

Among the equipment available to our staff to counteract smell molecules are the following-

  • Air scrubbers
  • Thermal fogging
  • Ozone generators

Along with odor counteracting pellets and promoting air circulation, our crew takes a knowledgeable approach to neutralize and eliminate odor molecules in your home.

With advanced equipment and cleaning products we can often salvage fire damaged upholstery by first testing for compatibility and the working the item.

SERVPRO of Paramus has the team you need when disaster strikes. Call us at (201) 445-5588 and let us leave your home smelling, “Like it never even happened.”

Can Food Stores Be Saved During Fire Damage Restoration In a Restaurant?

9/17/2020 (Permalink)

question mark made of food Contact SERVPRO today for assistance with fire damage in your Paramus restaurant.

Paramus Restaurant Owners Are Concerned About Food During Fire Damage Restoration.



Anyone who runs a restaurant in the Paramus area knows how much time, money, and dedication it takes to keep a restaurant thriving and profitable. Sound financial practices are a crucial part of business success, and savvy business owners know the importance of using their dollars wisely.

If your Paramus eatery needs fire damage restoration, you might be concerned about your food stocks. SERVPRO of Paramus understands – a restaurant is nothing without food, and you have likely invested plenty of money in your inventory.

What are the risks to food during fire damage?

Fresh food such as meat and vegetables might be burned in the fire, or if they survive they could be contaminated by soot or toxic fumes. However, canned and packet food is also at risk from a fire. The heat from the fire can have the following effects on cans of food:

  • The cans can warp and bulge, causing seals to break and rendering them unsafe
  • Heat damage can cause food inside the can to start spoiling
  • Toxic fumes can seep into the can, contaminating the food and causing an unpleasant taste

What should I throw out after a fire?

SERVPRO strongly recommends you throw the following items away if they have come into contact with heat from the fire, chemicals, or water from firefighting efforts:

  • All fresh fruit, vegetables, salad, eggs, poultry, and meat
  • Any containers or packets that were already open
  • Food stored in foil, paper, plastic, or cloth packaging
  • Food stored in canisters or packets with peel-off tops

We cannot stress this strongly enough – if in doubt, throw it out. It is frustrating to have to replace food, but it is better than using food that might be contaminated.

Can I salvage any food at all?

You might be able to salvage some canned food, under specific circumstances. The food must be stored far enough from the fire that it did not come into contact with the heat of the fire. There must be no sign of water, firefighting chemicals, soot, or heat damage. In some cases, the fire is small enough, and the food stored far enough away that it can be salvaged.

What about food in the freezer or refrigerator?

Some fridges and freezers do not have completely tight seals. Smoke can get into the unit, and soot can bond to the appliance’s surface. However, if the freezer is located far from the fire, you might be able to save the food if it has not defrosted. If the freezer lost power during the fire, be extremely cautious about keeping any food.

What about the restaurant itself – can SERVPRO help salvage that?

Your food is not your only concern after a restaurant fire. Fire damage can have wide-ranging effects, including:

  • Soot stains on the ceilings, walls, and across preparation surfaces
  • Fire damage to restaurant appliances such as cookers
  • Discolored upholstery due to soot damage, or water from firefighting efforts
  • Warped or cracked wooden furniture or wooden décor
  • A lingering smoky smell

Thankfully we are on hand to assist you with every aspect of fire damage restoration. Our process is based on thorough inspection and repair that leaves your business “Like it never even happened.” We train our technicians to the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) standards, and equip them with industry-leading equipment.

What happens during restoration?

The first step in a fire damage restoration is assessment. After examining your property and the extent of the damage, we draw up a cleaning plan for your business. We consult with you at every stage to ensure you are satisfied.

We use dry scrubbing to clean away dry soot. However, many restaurant fires include burning protein, which creates greasy, sticky soot that is harder to clean. We use scrubbing, wet wiping, ultrasonic cleaning, and even baking soda blasting, to remove stubborn soot. Our teams know which cleaning method is best suited to different materials.

We can also clean carpets, drapes, and upholstery. When we cannot salvage soft furnishings, we oversee their replacement, to leave your restaurant looking as good as new.

If firefighting efforts have left your restaurant wet, we use dehumidifiers and air movers to dry it. We close out by deodorizing your eatery with air scrubbers, foggers, and ozone generators.

Is there anything I can do to help the restoration process along?

We recommend signing up to SERVPRO Emergency Ready Plan (ERP). ERP is a free app that helps you plan for disasters in your business. Follow the on-screen instructions to log details about your business and register us as your go-to fire damage restoration specialists. ERP saves valuable time in the event of a disaster.

If your restaurant has suffered fire damage, do not delay. Call SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588.

Who do I Call When my Westwood Garage Floods?

9/3/2020 (Permalink)

Standing water in the garage of a home. No matter what part of your Westwood home floods, SERVPRO will be there right away to assist you.

When your Garage in Westwood Floods, SERVPRO is at your Service

Weather events can cause water levels to rise or your windows to leak, allowing floodwater to come in straight into your Westwood home. Despite your best efforts, winter clothes, your children's schoolwork, and your personal belongings can now be in peril thanks to the excessive moisture and bacteria brought into your garage. Rather than sorting through items on your own, reach out to a reputable restoration company for assistance.

In Westwood, help with your flood damage is a job for our water restoration technicians at SERVPRO. We are certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) in all matters of water restoration. You can have peace of mind that you are in the hands of the most competent team in the area. As soon as the storm passes and it is safe for us to visit your home, our Green Fleet arrives and designs an action plan specific to your needs. With safety as a priority, we wear personal protective equipment and set up barriers to avoid contamination in other areas of your home.

Are all the keepsakes in my flooded garage trash?

It can be very discouraging to see pictures and other personal items soaking in water after you have kept them so carefully. Before you despair, allow our team to extract the excess water and moisture by using industry-grade pumps and equipment such as dehumidifiers and air circulators. As we strive to mitigate your loss, we control the humidity and presence of bacteria and then address the specific drying needs of your garage's contents. In this process, we may suggest some of the following-

  • Outside laundering and disinfection of porous materials such as textiles
  • Dry freezing to preserve paper products such as pictures and documents
  • A temporary move of furniture into our facilities where we can treat and disinfect it away from the worksite

Sometimes restoration is not feasible, so we help guide you in deciding which items to discard and take care of their removal. What is important to remember is that SERVPRO of Paramus is here to help. Call us around the clock at (201) 445-5588 and let us leave your home "Like it never even happened."

Should Drywall Get Removed After Water Damage in Hillside?

8/30/2020 (Permalink)

woman holding a bucket to catch dripping water When water damage happens in your home, your drywall can be severely damaged. Contact SERVPRO to handle the remediation and maintenance services.

Water damages in wall cavities of Hillsdale homes can be destructive for the entire house, requiring a need for fast restoration and recovery.

Because so much of the plumbing gets hidden in interior and exterior wall systems of your Hillsdale home, any breaks and damages to these lines can be destructive to multiple materials simultaneously. Many homeowners do not realize that these situations do not resolve themselves by fixing the waterline's damage. Natural drying often does not happen on the agreeable timetable to prevent microbial threats from developing. After a plumbing breach, there are several layers of a wall system that can become damaged by migrating water loss effects and saturation, including:

  • Drywall
  • Wood Framing
  • Insulation
  • Plywood
  • Exterior Veneer/Siding

Water damage repairs in Hillsdale homes begin with an evaluation of the impact migrating moisture has on the elements of these wall systems. If caught early enough where the flow of water can get stopped and repairs made to the damaged plumbing, immediate damages can get limited to the insulation and wood framing. Suppose thorough saturation that leads to warping and distortion has not occurred. In that case, these elements can often be dried using positive pressure systems, centrifugal air movers, and other evaporative drying tools.

Is It Cheaper to Replace Drywall than to Restore It?

Damage to the drywall itself can present a query for responding technicians and general contractors of our SERVPRO team. When does the cost of drying and restoring this surface material outweigh the expense of removal and replacement? As one of the cheapest construction materials available, it is often not cost-efficient to spend the time restoring materials that could become irreparably damaged in as little as 24 hours from direct water exposure.

Restoration and repairs are two areas where our SERVPRO of Paramus team can help after a water loss. Give us a call anytime you need us at (201) 445-5588.

Click here for more information about Hillsdale.

Should Mold Removal Interfere with Bookings at Our Hotel?

8/15/2020 (Permalink)

polysheeting containment in a hotel SERVPRO Provides Minimal Disruptions to Westwood Commercial Properties with Containment Techniques during Mold Remediation

SERVPRO Can Help Perform Mold Remediation at Your Westwood Hotel with Minimal Inconveniences to Unaffected Sections of Your Facility

Mold is the last thing hotel guests expect to find when they spend time at your hotel. Since mold can cause health effects, some guests can cut short their stays or cancel their bookings altogether. Therefore, finding a way to avoid these outcomes should be a top priority when you discover clear signs of mold at your establishment. SERVPRO is always ready to send a team of professional technicians to Westwood hotels or other commercial properties that require mold remediation services.

What does it mean when mold signs appear on walls or other surfaces?

Some signs like dark spots on surfaces indicate an infestation and thus the need for mold remediation in your Westwood hotel. Because mold spores occur naturally in the environment as part of the decay processes, but they require the right conditions to start attacking materials, the signs you notice mean that other conditions like excess moisture are also present in the area. In some cases, the issue can be sparked by a localized problem such as an unresolved water spill, but in other instances, the issue is further entrenched. Our SERVPRO technicians can help you determine the true nature of the problem at your establishment before you pick a course of action. We check for other signs of an infestation in the property like:

  • Darkened grout on bathroom tiles
  • Peeling or bubbling wallpaper
  • A trace of musty odor
  • Weird smell from the HVAC system

What should follow the initial assessment?

Since quick remediation to save your facility from further damage, and the comfort of your guests are your two main concerns, you need to prioritize actions such as:

  • Cleaning areas with mold residues
  • Moisture management
  • Removal of mold-infested materials

However, your actions can be limited by factors such as the possibility of spreading mold debris or the musty odor all over the hotel, unless you isolate the affected areas from the rest of the facility. Our SERVPRO technicians can help by creating airtight containments that seal off the affected area. Since we use plastic sheets and spring-loaded poles to set up the barriers, we can finish the containment in a couple of minutes. We also seal off other openings such as air duct openings.

What is necessary for cleaning mold from surfaces?

  • Access to the affected material
  • A way to loosen mold residues from the surface
  • A way to stop further growth

The cleaning process must remove settled spores and any mold materials proliferating on surfaces. Direct access to the surface that needs cleaning is therefore necessary. Our technicians can help open up walls or other assemblies in the hotel area to gain access to such access. Unlike cleaning regular soils where the use of water is the standard approach, cleaning moldy areas using moisture would only worsen the situation. Alternative solutions are necessary to loosen the mold residues from surfaces. Our SERVPRO technicians vacuum the affected surface to remove loose residues.  We can also sand, damp wipe, or wire brush the surfaces to remove the residues. Running dehumidifiers or applying other drying procedures to the areas we clean help eliminate the moisture fueling the mold growth.

An additional thing to note is that mold hyphae penetrate beyond the surface when the affected material is porous. Cleaning such material is rarely possible, so removal of the entire material is the best solution. Our technicians help teardown materials like drywall, insulation, and carpets from various areas, including walls and ceiling. Running negative pressure machines when tearing down such materials, helps prevent the spread of residues where they can interfere with other activities.  One such method is deploying several air scrubbers fitted with HEPA filters for capturing airborne spores and mold particles. Our crews also bag the mold materials in sealed plastic bags before removing them from the property for disposal.

Does mold cause structural damage?

When mold grows on a material such as wood, the material serves as its source of food. Therefore, unchecked growth over months or years can eat the wood away, compromising its integrity. However, unless the moisture problem fueling growth is localized to a tiny section, the infestation is likely to spread to visible areas before it compromises frames and joists supporting your structure.

Scheduling remediation immediately, you notice the signs of a mold infestation in your hotel can help prevent any extreme outcomes that force you to close down your facility for repairs.

Mold can develop at any time in your Paramus, Hillsdale, or Washington Township hotel. SERVPRO of Paramus can help you respond to the challenge fast, making it, "Like it never even happened." Call us at (201) 445-5588.

Local Flood Damage Repair Services Around Me?

8/6/2020 (Permalink)

Rain boots in water If you don’t act quickly, water damage in your home can escalate. Contact our experienced SERVPRO team right away.

SERVPRO of Paramus Can Offer Flood Damage Mitigation Services to Your Home! 

Living in the small city of Paramus can seem like a relatively quiet way to live your life until flood damage suddenly impacts your home. It is essential to realize that not all floods are catastrophic. When it comes to flood damage, many homes are affected by heavy rain and thunderstorms. 

Imagine a scenario where a freak storm causes flood damage in your Paramus basement while at work. No rain was forecasted, so you left your basement window ajar to help air out some old boxes. When you saw cars breaking streets flooded with ankle-deep water, you knew your home was in trouble. 

What Can I Do in This Situation Knowing Water Might Be Pouring into My House? 

Here at SERVPRO, we believe it's better to be safe than sorry. If you know floodwater has an access point to your home, get help. You can: 

  • Call us from your car on your way home
  • Rely on an existing SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile Plan
  • If you can do neither of the above, you can call our office as soon as you arrive at home 

The SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile Plan is a great way to help you prepare for an accident you cannot see coming. By making a plan before the flood happens, you can ensure our technicians have quick access to your home.

My Basement Ended Up Flooded; How Can SERVPRO Help Me? 

Fortunately, here at SERVPRO, we are flood damage experts. When we arrive, we can: 

  • Remove boxes, furniture, and clothing from your basement
  • Use advanced technological devices, such as industry-grade wet/dry vacuums, to remove the standing water
  • Make any necessary flood cuts and remove damaged materials
  • Set up drying equipment, such as heaters, axial fans, and air movers 

Our ultimate goal is always to leave a smile on your face, and return your home to its preloss state. 

If your home has suffered flood damage, do not wait. Contact SERVPRO of Paramus by dialing (201) 445-5588. No matter the time, we can help you.

Want to see more about Paramus?

A Pipe Burst In My Paramus Home. Can SERVPRO Save My Hardwood Floor?

7/29/2020 (Permalink)

Hardwood floor Homeowners have to deal with many things which may include water damage to hardwood floors. Contact SERVPRO right away.

Without Prompt Professional Water Mitigation, Your Hardwood Floors May Suffer Permanent Damage. 

Once professionals from SERVPRO arrive at your Paramus home, we can begin assessing the extent of the damage. Our teams can carefully document this process to quickly provide your insurance adjuster with an accurate estimate. Once the initial paperwork is out of the way, our technicians can get to work. 

Can Hardwood Be Saved After Water Damage? 

Hardwood usually can be restored after coming into contact with water. However, if your home has a hardwood veneer, restoration may not be possible since veneer flooring is much more easily damaged. Our water mitigation in Paramus consists of:

Reducing the humidity in the area to a level between 30% and 45%. 

Lowering the moisture content in the hardwood to 16% to allow for drying with hot air. 

Removing the floor finish if moisture is not evaporating quickly enough. 

Drying from below to avoid ruining the floor finish. 

Throughout these steps, SERVPRO technicians can monitor your subflooring with a moisture meter to ensure that we are drying beyond the surface level hardwood. 

What Tools Are Used To Dry Out Hardwood? 

Unless quickly dried, hardwood will begin to develop mold when it has a moisture content above 20%. Our teams use the following equipment to speed up the drying process and avoid further damages:

Dehumidifiers

Air movers

Penetrating moisture meters

Can SERVPRO Refurbish My Floors if Warping Occurs? 

Yes, our technicians can help refurbish your hardwood floors if cupping or crowning occurs. Wood flooring typically takes between 1 to 2 months to stabilize down to equilibrium moisture levels. Once your hardwood floors are free of excess moisture, our teams can sand out any remaining warping in your floors and refinish the wood. 

Call SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 if you need help drying out your home. We will send professional assistance as soon as possible to get you on your way to feeling "Like it never even happened."

See more about Paramus.

How Can Embedded Smoke Odors Get Eliminated in Your Paramus Home?

7/25/2020 (Permalink)

fire damage in home Our SERVPRO of Paramus team can help with a fast and reliable response in your time of need.

Trapped scents can be a considerable challenge to remove in Paramus, but we have advanced tools and practical strategies to help.

Multiple obstacles exist after a fire loss incident in your Paramus home. Our restoration professionals can help address the varying layers of damage, much of which must occur shortly after arrival. Between emergency services, mitigation, and restoration cleaning, we have multiple skilled professionals capable of helping your home through each phase of recovery to make fire losses “Like it never even happened.”

Odors can often be one of the most considerable challenges for fire restoration in Paramus properties, especially when these conditions spread farther than the ignition point. With pathways in your house like the HVAC system, otherwise unaffected areas of your home can become compromised by harsh smoke odors after extinguishment. These effects can be even more challenging to address when these odors become embedded in porous materials.

How Do Odors Become Trapped?

Naturally, porous surfaces have a higher permeance level, allowing gaseous odors to penetrate the surface and embed within the composition of the material itself. In other situations, the fire's heat can expand pores, allowing smoke to enter the material without much incident. After extinguishment, the surface cools again, and these pores shrink and trap odor molecules within the construction elements and contents. Much of the time, these odor concerns do not get addressed until the final stages of restoration and recovery, specifically because controlled demolition and other actions taken throughout mitigation can agitate these odors. Some of the most sensitive materials for absorbing smoke after a fire include:

    •    Drywall
    •    Fabrics
    •    Textiles
    •    Furniture
    •    Flooring

Can Certain Practices Alleviate Harsh Odors?

Specific emergency services and other efforts started quickly when our professionals first arrive at a fire-damaged address can help to reduce the severity of odor concerns. These same actions can reduce the concentrations of soot and smoke residue particles as well. Debris removal from the flooring is one of the most effective approaches for reducing the severity and intensity of odors and other health hazardous concerns. We cannot stress enough the importance of removing from the fire-damaged premises non-salvageable fixtures, building members, and content to mitigate the smoke odor. Often, the moisture is also reduced within the structure from the fire-extinguishing efforts, another source of foul odors.

Do These Concerns Dissipate Naturally?

There is a common misconception that smoke and fire odors naturally dissipate on their own. In most situations, allowing odors to move unabated and unaddressed can lead to more significant damage areas and more of the contents in your home, requiring focused cleaning and recovery. There are multiple approaches to addressing odors where they are discovered. The choice between these depends on the severity of the situation, the material affected, and the likelihood of restoration. If it is more cost-effective to remove material and later replace it rather than attempting to clean and deodorize the affected area, these are considerations made during the job scoping phase. Some of the approaches designed to address trapped odors include:

    •    Fogging - Superheating deodorization products into a vapor or a mist provides small enough particles to penetrate porous surfaces and neutralize trapped odors within these materials. This deodorization process often does not occur until even reconstruction has finished in the house after mitigation.
    •    Surface Cleaning - The removal of soot and smoke residues can reduce the concentration and severity of smoke odors. Often, removing these residues involves emulsification or media blasting to prevent damage to the underlying hosting material.
    •    Controlled Demolition - There are many situations where the only suitable solution for protecting your home from odor threats involves removing compromised construction materials and contents. By only removing the portions of this material that are the most damaged, we can make the reconstruction and rebuilding phases more efficient and less costly.

What Tools Address Trapped Odors Exclusively?

The removal of smoke and burning odors can be a considerable challenge for even our SERVPRO professionals. Addressing these concerns utilizes multiple tools in our recovery inventory. Each of these units has its own set of advantages that make it ideal for specific conditions. The choice among the available equipment often comes down to several factors simultaneously, including the affected materials, how widespread the damage has become, and whether the occupants of the house are still on-site. The options for deodorization equipment in these situations often becomes a choice between:

    •    Thermal Foggers
    •    Hydroxyl Generators
    •    Ozone Machines

Fire restoration is not a universal approach from one address to the next. Each home requires its unique blend of cleaning, deodorization, and even reconstruction. Our SERVPRO of Paramus team can help with a fast and reliable response in your time of need. Give us a call today at (201) 445-5588.

Why Can’t I Let Water in My Paramus Home Air-Dry?

7/12/2020 (Permalink)

water sitting on a basement floor and walls without drywall Water removal is not an easy job for a family to take care of alone. Call SERVPRO to get professional help and mitigate water damage to your home.

Failing to Locate Hidden Moisture in Your Paramus Home Can be Costly and Harmful – Call SERVPRO for Efficient Water Removal

Something you never want to do is let water linger for too long before calling in the help of trained water restoration technicians. Your Paramus home could fall victim to secondary damage that boosts the cleanup cost and leaves you open to the onset of mold and mildew. SERVPRO features a skilled team of technicians to provide you with quick restoration while ensuring your family goes through as little inconvenience as possible.

What About Flooring and Carpets? Can I Use My Wet Vac?

When we have a call for water removal in Paramus, careful care must be taken with all carpets and other flooring surfaces.

To address your carpets, we:

  •   Remove and dispose of any unsalvageable carpeting
  •   Commence with water extraction
  •   Test carpet fibers for colorfastness
  •   Thoroughly dry and pre-condition carpet fibers
  •   Buffer the affected carpet so that we can return the fibers to preloss condition

To address your hardwood floors, we:

  •   Pull up standing water with pumps and industrial-grade vacuums
  •   Utilize drying mats, air movers, fans, and dehumidifiers to pull up water trapped below the flooring
  •   Employ the use of moisture detection tools to ensure the hardwood is dry to prevent buckling or warping

Floating of the carpet may be an option depending on the situation at hand. To float the carpet, our technicians detach it from the baseboards and seams so that an air mover can be placed underneath. Our centrifugal air movers help circulate dry, warm air under the carpet to restore it and dry the subfloor below. In many situations, this method helps reduce the restoration timeframe while lessening the level of inconvenience for the homeowner.

SERVPRO of Paramus is the team to call when you need assistance with water removal. Call us 24/7 for emergency service at (201) 445-5588, and we will send a crew out as soon as possible.


Click here to learn more about Paramus.

How do I Minimize Water Loss at my Business?

6/18/2020 (Permalink)

outside view of multistory office building Don't let a water loss event close your business. Call SERVPRO today!

SERVPRO Commercial Water Restoration Helps Paramus Businesses Recover from Water Losses with a Minimum Loss of Revenue.

When should I use professional restoration services for my business?

Water can impact the structure, equipment, and viability of your Paramus business. Small businesses like retail outlets or supermarkets can be at particular risk of water-related losses because of the temporary closure. If you or your staff notice damp spots in your business premises or odors in some areas of the structure, these can be a sign of a slow leak or water issue. Water-incidents can make your business unsafe for staff and customers, so you should use a commercial restoration specialist to identify and repair the problem as quickly as possible. SERVPRO can mobilize water restoration technicians (WRT) quickly to dry out and decontaminate your property.

What qualifications should I look for when arranging commercial restoration?

When choosing a commercial water restoration provider in Paramus, it can be tough to decide which is the most reliable. Independently awarded qualifications can re-assure you of the expertise of a restoration firm. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certifications (IICRC) body is an excellent place to start when looking for commercial restorers. SERVPRO has a roster of technicians that have the expertise to recover losses in your business as well as many essential IICRC qualifications. Our focus is on water restoration with additional knowledge in textile cleaning, floor care, and general construction.

What constitutes urgent water damage?

  • Unpleasant odors emanating from particular regions of your business
  • Visible signs of dampness, mold, or moisture
  • Leaking and dripping
  • Loud plumbing systems or rattling inside walls
  • Discoloration of paintwork, cracking, and markings on the structure of the property
  • High humidity levels- you can measure these using a thermal hygrometer

Do I need to close my business during water restoration?

Closure of your business may be necessary for extreme Paramus water damage situations. SERVPRO communicates closely with premises managers and business owners throughout the restoration project. In some circumstances, it may be possible to work around your needs during commercial restoration. We can set up signage and barriers to warn staff or customers of areas that are restricted access. By confining the water emergency to a single space, we hope to cause minimum disruption to your business while still preventing foot-traffic from causing further harm. If water is in the central region of your business, it may be more efficient to dry the area by closing your business temporarily.

How do I dry out commercial premises?

The core methods of drying water damage are to control the temperature, humidity, and airflow within the area. The surest way to maintain control over these metrics is to establish a closed system drying method. Closed-system drying uses air-moving equipment, dehumidifiers, and portable furnaces to create ideal conditions for drying. Air movement helps to ensure that water can evaporate properly, while dehumidification draws evaporated moisture from the air. A closed system drying procedure, on average, takes between two and five days, although the size of your business premises and the extent of damage can influence the timeframe.

How do I measure the effectiveness of the drying procedure in my business?

  • Use a thermal hygrometer to measure the relative humidity of an unaffected area of the premises
  • Use combination dehumidifiers and air movers to encourage drying
  • Measure the exhaust output of the dehumidifiers and water level to assess the effectiveness
  • Compare the humidity of the unaffected area with the affected area until the results are the same

Is commercial water damage likely to return?

Recurring water issues are usually the result of insufficient restoration. Sometimes, a property may appear dry, but the root causes of your water issue remain. When water issues are recurring, it could be due to plumbing issues in the building or leakages. Although these issues can stack and result in secondary damages like mold growth, SERVPRO technicians undergo training to identify water issue sources. You may need to enlist the assistance of a plumber or roofer to remedy the cause of damage rather than remediate the symptoms. We can contact trusted professionals on your behalf for specialized restoration to ensure that a water issue returns once the premises return to a preloss condition.

If your business suffers from a water issue, it is vital to us a commercial restorer to stop it at the source. Contact SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 now.

How Can I Prevent Moisture From Ruining My Carpet in Hillside?

6/14/2020 (Permalink)

home interior water leaking damaged plasterboard and carpet Quick action after a water damage emergency can help save money when repairing your home. Contact SERVPRO right away.

For Water Damage Repair Services That Can Save your Carpets in Hillsdale Call SERVPRO

When working towards restoring your home after any type of disaster, our SERVPRO experts work towards preserving and protecting your negatively affected structure and contents. One of the most primary concerns is saturated carpets and padding.

How can my carpets be saved?

During water damage repair in Hillsdale, our SERVPRO technicians take every measure possible to save your carpets. We know that your carpeting materials can get ruined if it gets saturated or if it stays inside the fabric materials for too long. Therefore, we can utilize methods, including implementing industrial extractors and drying equipment to remove moisture from your flooring as quickly as possible.

How can moisture ruin my carpets?

  • Delamination: Carpeting consists of fibers with secondary and primary backings. Moisture can make the backings of your carpet separate from the grains. Delamination is a term that describes the aspect of carpet separating from the material holding it together, and when it occurs, it can cause your flooring to get removed and replaced.
  • Latex Deterioration: All carpets have a primary and secondary backing that helps hold the fibers to the support that sits on your subfloor. Both of the backings get held together by latex adhesives. Latex starts slowly deteriorating as soon as it gets installed by naturally occurring events such as foot traffic, sunlight, and gases in the air.

If my padding gets wet, does it have to be removed and replaced?

The answer to this question is that it depends upon how much moisture has soaked into your carpet pad. If your padding gets saturated, it is often cheaper to just remove and replace it than it is to attempt to dry it out. However, in situations where the amount of water entering your house is minor, extraction and drying methods could save all of your floorings.

Any time you notice wet carpets inside your house in Woodcliff Lake or Montvale, call SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588.

Click here for more information about Hillsdale.

I Need to Eliminate the Fire Damage in My Paramus Office Building. Who Can Help Me?

6/2/2020 (Permalink)

Burning flame isolated on black We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

Call SERVPRO to Deal With the Commercial Fire Damage in Your Paramus Office Building

A fire’s destructive power can leave your Paramus office building devastated. Once firefighters extinguish the flames, you need to take steps to restore the building to its normal condition. SERVPRO can help you to clean up and restore your commercial property.

What can SERVPRO do to eliminate the fire damage?

Our fire restoration experts can assist you in putting your business premises back together so that normal operations can resume. To deal with the commercial fire damage in your Paramus office building, we can first assess the damage to know how the restoration process should proceed. The other steps we can take include:

    •    Removing debris
    •    Water damage restoration
    •    Soot cleanup
    •    Odor removal

What could happen after fire damage in an office building?

A fire-damaged office building is a hazard for the people who work in it and the customers. The heat and water could have weakened the walls, making them prone to collapse. There could also be a danger of electrical shock. Fire, smoke, or soot-damaged office equipment and possessions could end up being beyond repair if they are not handled properly from the first response. Downtime for firms operating in the building could translate to lost revenue. That’s why you need to hire SERVPRO since we can help you to restore the property within a short time.

Removing smoke residues after a fire is difficult. How do you remove them?

Thick layers of soot mixed with moisture often cover a large area of commercial fire sites. Soot’s acidic composition can cause additional destruction on its own on the surfaces it is in contact with. It can stain textured and porous surfaces, and permanently discolor plastics, grout, granite, and the unburned fixture constructed with wood or textiles.

Our team can use industrial vacuums to remove dry particles that are loosely attached to surfaces. If moisture contacts the particles, it can cause the surface to absorb them and be difficult to eradicate. We usually try to vacuum dry smoke residues from surfaces before we apply wet cleaning products. For soils that are not loose particles, our SERVPRO team can dissolve them so that it is easier to remove them.

How do you neutralize smoke odors?

Many owners of office buildings find that the smell the smoke, soot, and water leave behind after a fire is impossible to neutralize. It is a toxic and lingering odor that makes the environment unpleasant. Our team can use specialized odor removal equipment like thermal foggers, air scrubbers, and hydroxyl machines to remove the odors.

Are you dealing with fire damage in an office building? Call SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 to offer effective restoration. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

What Can Flood Damage Do to My Hillsdale Basement?

5/31/2020 (Permalink)

flood damaged basement When basement flooding affects your home, a quick call to SERVPRO is what you need. We are available 24/7.

Hillsdale Homes That Have Suffered Flood Damage Can Receive Mitigation Services from Disaster Cleanup Specialists

Basement flooding is one of the most common home maladies after a natural disaster in the Hillsdale area. Small-scale basement floods can be as much as $10,000, while more substantial flooding can rack up costs between $25,000 and $50,000.

If a disaster has left flood damage in your Hillsdale home’s basement, SERVPRO technicians can return your home to a preloss condition. Your local SERVPRO is also licensed to render general contracting services (license #13VH001305854800) for more effective rebuilding after flooding.

How Floods Can Affect Your Basement

  • Foundation damage. If the foundation of your home has cracks, a ground flood can deepen these cracks, which can be costly and challenging to repair.
  • Mold growth. Basements already often tend toward being humid and hospitable for mold, but this is amplified by the presence of floodwaters and contaminants that can allow microbes to spread.
  • Overloaded waterproofing. Waterproofing systems in your basement, including sump pumps, may not be able to handle the amount of water that comes into your home. After cleanup, these systems may require repair or replacement.

SERVPRO’s Sanitation Strategies

Sanitation is key to flood damage mitigation and comes before drying. This process is essential to keeping homes safe because:

  • Microbes can spread through the air when SERVPRO techs are operating air movers and dehumidifiers.
  • The high contamination risk posed by floodwaters requires more stringent sanitation than a typical clean or gray water damage situation. Sewage, pests, and chemical runoff all create safety concerns that must be addressed promptly through sanitation.
  • SERVPRO’s EPA-registered biocide solutions eliminate microbial proliferation, which curbs the spread of contaminants and odors.

After extraction and sanitation, structural drying can begin.

SERVPRO of Paramus supports the community with mitigation that is Faster to Any Size Disaster when you call (201) 445-5588.


Click here to learn more about Hillsdale.

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned – a defensive cleaning program

5/20/2020 (Permalink)

Table tent signs describing the Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned program on top of a wooden table. Our defensive cleaning program gives your business a way forward by providing your employees and customers ongoing safety and assuredness.

Let us help you get back to business

As our communities re-open in Paramus, we’re all moving back toward a new kind of normal. The expectations of visitors, customers, and employees who come into our establishments have evolved, and staying safe and well is a top concern. The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed what it means to be clean, and we’ve developed a program to help your business meet the new higher standard of clean that is now expected.

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned is a defensive cleaning program we’re offering to businesses and commercial locations to address the current COVID-19 pandemic. This proactive viral pathogen cleaning program goes well beyond janitorial or carpet cleaning. By choosing Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you, your employees, your customers, and your community can rest assured that you’ve selected a higher cleaning standard – you are Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.

Extensive training and specialized products

As the #1 choice in cleanup and restoration*, we stand on more than 50 years of experience and expertise to help your business become Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.  Beyond fire & water, SERVPRO professionals are trained and experienced in biohazard decontamination and chemical spills – always adhering to the cleaning and decontamination standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local authorities. 

From formulating and creating our proprietary cleaning products, like SERVPROXIDE, at our headquarters in Gallatin, TN, to taking the utmost care while disinfecting, we will ensure you and your business are set up to inspire consumer confidence as the economy continues to reopen.

3 C’s – Consult, Clean, and Certify

When the stakes are this high, you want a partner who has developed an industry leading, proprietary training program, cleaning solutions, and remediation processes over decades. We’ve cleaned up some of the most challenging biohazards imaginable. Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned reflects our unique experiences and capabilities. The program is grounded with our unique 3 C’s: Consult, Clean, and Certify.

  • Consult – Every business is different, which is why you’ll be assigned a Cleaning Protocol Consultant who understands your business and will create a cleaning program to meet your specific needs. This program will be developed based on your business type, size of space, amount of high frequency touchpoints, foot traffic and congestion points.
  • Clean – Based on your specific business needs, your location will undergo a thorough, deep clean, using exclusive cleaning products, according to protocols set forth by the CDC. Our employees have years of experience, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform. Cleanup procedures generally include cleaning of porous and non-porous surfaces, disinfecting of non-porous surfaces, cleaning and disinfecting of equipment, tools, and/or supplies used for cleanup process, and disposal of hazardous materials.  In the event of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 event, we will be there cleaning within 24 hours to ensure you get back to business as quickly as possible. 
  • Certify - Once your business location has been Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you will gain access to proprietary signage, digital emblems, and other collateral that communicates that you’ve selected a higher standard of clean available to help protect your employees and customers. And because we add the day, month, and year to that proprietary stamp of clean, your guests will know that not only did you choose Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, but that your location is being cleaned regularly at this standard.

Call today for a Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation

We’re Here to Help – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – until life is back to normal in the communities we all call home.

Call SERVPRO of Paramus today at (201) 445-5588 for your Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation.

* #1 Choice in cleanup & restoration based Commercial Attitude & Usage Tracking study. Polling 816 commercial business decision makers on first choice for future needs related to cleanup & restoration work. Study conducted by C&R Research: October 2019

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned means professionally trained SERVPRO franchises perform the requested cleaning, sanitizing and disinfection services according to proprietary SERVPRO protocols and recognized industry and CDC standards with EPA approved cleaning products to deliver a SERVPRO certified cleaning experience.  Each SERVPRO franchise is independently owned and operated.

Who Can Help When I Cannot Get Rid of the Smoky Odors After a House Fire?

5/19/2020 (Permalink)

serge protector with plugs on fire. Don't have no worries if you had a fire in your Westwood home. Call SERVPRO for their specialized service.

Westwood Residents Rely on SERVPRO to Offer Cutting-Edge Fire Damage Odor Resolution

The job of cleaning up fire damage residues is far from easy, but it eventually completes with or without the assistance of an expert disaster response company. Surfaces are clean, appliances work safely, personal possessions are cleared of corrosion and set back in place, clothing is laundered, and furniture is ready for your family to gather. As you settle back into a semblance of normalcy in your Westwood home, one fire loss related problem endures. Malodors are present despite all the cleaning and repairs. The quiet enjoyment of your home is impossible to sustain.

Is the Only Answer to Persistent Fire Damage Odor an Air Freshener?

The internet marketplaces and shelves at your local hardware or grocery store line up perfuming or masking agents as an answer to tough odors following fire damage in Westwood. Sprays, deodorant blocks, essential oils, wax melts, fabric wicks, absorbent clays, and more claim to solve your odor problem. Although we may choose briefly to employ professional masking agents as one tool, our Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)-trained managers and technicians also have other strategies that are longer lasting or permanent solutions. Masking distracts from the foul smell, but it does not eliminate it, and its temporary nature means reapplication of the products may be necessary.

How Are Odors Linked to Fire Damage Mitigation and Remediation in General?

Odors are created during combustion. As materials burn, many chemical changes occur in reaction to the heat, oxygen level, and air pressure. Combustion unleashes toxic residues, vapors, and liquids, all of which can carry distinctly unpleasant smells. Soot particles are tiny bits of potentially hazardous and unpleasantly scented and incompletely combusted plastic, textiles, wood, food, grease, paper, and more. They float on air currents and settle on all surfaces and contents inside your home. Sometimes they get sucked into HVAC systems. Basic deodorization protocols learned and used by SERVPRO technicians during IICRC coursework recognize the link between debris and residues and odors, recommending the following multi-step protocol to work toward odor elimination:

First, remove the odor source.

If the charred debris and waste are gone, they carry the odor out of your home. Checking under and behind fixtures and furniture can reveal debris missed. When an area of a room or hall is particularly smelly, removing a portion of drywall might show burned framing, insulation, or other materials that must be removed to eliminate odors.

Second, thoroughly clean surfaces coated in the odor-bearing soots (check the entire house--these residues drift).

If the soot left behind is cleaned with appropriate products, tools, and methods, the bulk of the odors is removed as well. Be sure the interiors and tops of cabinets receive a cleaning, as well as hidden surfaces such as the top of fan blades, woodwork. Replace HVAC filters.

Third, if smells persist despite disposal and cleaning, recreate the environment present during the fire and odor penetration and apply deodorizers in the sam way.

The heat and smoke of a fire can be recreated by thermal fogging, where a heated chamber breaks down the deodorant into smaller particles that seek out, pair with, and neutralize soots, both airborne and settled.

Fourth, consider sealing surfaces that absorbed malodors.

Sealing can help in extraordinary situations like HVAC systems and attics, vaulted, or otherwise inaccessible spaces where surface cleaning is impossible. Broadcast sprayers propel sealants onto these hard to reach surfaces where they keep the malodorous vapors from leaching into the air.

Are Any Other Options Available to Eliminate Odors?

We continuously train our employees and research unique and innovative improvements in odor-elimination technology. When we find effective options that we can use safely, we add them to our arsenal of odor elimination tools.

Ozone MachinesUsed with care, usually in small, contained areas or even off-site, ozone machines can remove odors from furniture and other items. Ozone cannot be used around pets or people, limiting its application as a whole-house remedy. 

Hydroxyl Generators

These machines produce molecules that seek out the odor-bearing particles. A chemical reaction occurs that alters the soot at a molecular level, neutralizing the smell. The operation of a hydroxyl generator does not put humans or pets at risk.

Enzymatic Treatments

Some products are available that break down organic-based malodors using enzymes. Often used for fabrics, they can solve odor problems with protein-based residues.

Who is better positioned to eliminate persistent fire damage odors SERVPRO of Paramus for members of our community? If smoky smells linger, give us a call at (201) 445-5588.

Contractor Licenses:

General: 13VH001305854800

What Is Better? An Open or Closed Drying System After a Water Leak in your Paramus home?

5/16/2020 (Permalink)

water damage caused by storm We make it, “Like it never even happened.”

The Paramus Restoration Team at SERVPRO Scopes the Damage and Determines the Best Drying System for Your Home

After a water leak, one of the key factors in returning your Paramus home to preloss condition is adequately drying surfaces and removing moisture from the air. Without a dry environment, further damage may occur, such as mold infestations or long-term structural damage.

What Factors go Into Choosing an Open or Closed Drying System?

SERVPRO Water Damage Specialists Consider Weather and Other External Factors
With any water damage in Paramus, there are several external factors to consider, such as the time of year and the weather outside your home. The specific location and security of your home are other deciding factors. For an open drying system, consistent weather is crucial.

What is an Open Drying System?

    •    Open drying systems exchange the air from inside the home with air from the outside.
    •    Air is constantly warm and dry for success with this system.
    •    Outside humidity levels are 20 fewer grains per pound (gpp) than indoor levels.

What is a Closed Drying System?

    •    Closed systems use dehumidification equipment to pull moisture from the air.
    •    Technicians control humidity levels with dehumidifiers and air moving equipment.
    •    Portions of the home may be sectioned off to form drying chambers.

Which System Works the Best?

Most often, SERVPRO technicians choose a closed system over the open drying system. It's far easier to control, especially in a colder, variable climate like that of New Jersey's. An open drying system may pose security issues as windows are open and unlocked. Closed systems also facilitate closing off one area of the home to concentrate drying efforts in just one space.

Contact SERVPRO of Paramus (general contractor # 13VH001305854800) at (201) 445-5588 for 24/7 assistance. We make it, “Like it never even happened.”

For more about Paramus click here.

A Pipe Burst and My Paramus Home Has a Lot of Water, Whom Should I Call to Protect My Property?

4/25/2020 (Permalink)

damage caused by water leakage If you are dealing with water damage in your house, contact SERVPRO and ask about our restoration services.

SERVPRO Can Offer Fast Service to Mitigate the Water Damage in Your Paramus Home

Seeing water damage in your home can be a traumatic experience. If it happens at odd hours of the night, it is disconcerting, and you might be unsure of what to do. Thankfully, you can call SERVPRO because we offer restoration services on a 24-hour basis. We have a licensed, insured, and certified crew. Upon arrival at your house, our crew can survey the destruction and address your concerns to prevent further damage.

What type of damage does water cause?
Our technicians can handle any magnitude of water damage in your Paramus residence. This includes an influx of water in your house because of water heater leaks, broken pipes, and overflowing tubs, among other mishaps. Water can pool in a specific room of your home, and it can ruin wood floors, carpets, insulation drywall, furnishings, and wood beams.

Water can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes and microorganisms like fungi and bacteria. The longer water remains standing in your house, the more challenging it is to clean up. Our SERVPRO team strives to arrive at an affected property within four hours, ready to start the remediation process. We also eliminate the stress of filing a claim. Our goal is to make the entire repair and claim process fast and as pain-free as possible.

What do you do to deal with water damage in a house?
Before we perform remedial work, our team makes sure that the property is safe to entre and read for cleanup and repair. Our team does the following things:

    •    Conducts a damp surface check and requests your permission to deal with your insurance company directly.
    •    Prepares a comprehensive report that outlines remedial work and expenses.
    •    Meets with your insurance loss adjuster to go through the report and agree on the work that we need to complete.
    •    Pumps out the standing water using pumps
    •    Clears the affected rooms of your water damaged building materials and contents
    •    We set up drying equipment.

Which equipment does SERVPRO use to extract water
We use state of the art water extraction equipment to remove the standing water. For instance, we can use portable extractors and carpet wands to remove it. Portable extractors are flexible since restorers can take it into most areas of a building. They are ideal for removing water from high rise buildings. They require power to operate, and it can come from the building or a generator. Carpet wands, on the other hand, are ideal for extracting water from glue-down carpets. They can also effectively remove the water that remains on the surface of carpeting after we have used a stationary tool. Removing water helps reduce secondary destruction.

Is it necessary to remove the carpet?
A carpet easily attracts and retains microscopic organisms and moisture. This combination almost provides laboratory conditions for microbial growth that produces an odor. When a carpet becomes damp, mold growth can occur within 24 to 48 hours. During this time, professionals need to intervene with specialized water extraction and decontamination tools to avert mold infestation. It is not always necessary to remove the carpet in a category once water loss. However, there are several reasons why your carpet may be unsalvageable. They include:

    •    Loss of adhesion, which can happen because of the age of the carpet or prolonged exposure to water.
    •    Delamination – This is when the backing separates from the carpet fibers.
    •    Permanent stains.
    •    Carpeting covers wood flooring- We can remove it to salvage the wood floor.
    •    If mold has contaminated carpeting and it is not responding to professional smell removal techniques.

How long does it take to dry a home?
Several factors determine the drying time, including the type of building materials water has affected, the duration that the water pooled in the home, and weather conditions. Another factor that determines drying time is the techniques and equipment that restorers use to dry affected structures and contents.

Our SERVPRO team can mitigate the overall destruction and salvage some of your belongings using proven techniques like dehumidification. Dehumidification is necessary because moisture in your home can be as destructive as pooling water. Humid air can ruin floors, furniture, walls, and other structural components in your house. Dehumidification reduces moisture. It mitigates damage to a home and prevents mold infestation. We can use Low Grain Refrigerant (LGR) dehumidifiers because they provide maximum power in eliminating moisture from the air. These dehumidifiers differ from conventional refrigerant dehumidifiers because they have a pre-cooling component. LGRs re-cool the air before it gets to the evaporator coils. This leads to more condensation, which forms on the coils in the machines. Therefore, more moisture is pumped out, and less moisture is left in the air that returns to a room.

How do I know that my house is dry?
The proper way to determine if affected areas are dry is testing with specialized equipment. We consistently monitor and evaluate the drying process to determine when drying is complete. For instance, our team can use infrared cameras to inspect and monitor the moisture in building materials. When beginning a water damage restoration project, these cameras help our restorers to evaluate the extent of moisture quickly. Infrared cameras are great for showing how water traveled in a building. When ending the water restoration project, they offer excellent evidence that the property is dry. Your property may take about 3 to 5 days or more to dry based on the prevailing conditions. Once dry, we can issue you with a certificate of dryness, air quality, and hygiene.

If you are dealing with water damage in your house, contact SERVPRO of Paramus and ask about our restoration services. You can reach us at (201) 445-5588 to schedule a visit.

For more about Paramus click here.

How Can I Dry Out Acoustic Ceiling Tiles in Paramus Offices After Suffering From Water Damage?

4/19/2020 (Permalink)

water damaged ceiling tiles in office When ceiling tiles or other parts of your office sustain water damage, contact Team SERVPRO. We respond quickly to your emergency call.

SERVPRO Can Set Up Equipment To Dry Out Your Various Building Materials In Your Paramus Office

Office complexes that sit on the lower level of a building risk severe problems in the case of a pipe breaking above them. However, it is possible to dry out and restore several of the wet items in your office instead of removing and replacing everything that got wet.

How Do I Know What Items In My Office Got Affected?

Finding all of the water damage inside your Paramus office can be tricky. Our SERVPRO technicians can utilize a wide array of advanced technology in the form of moisture sensors and other tools to help us find where the liquid went and what it contacted. During our initial inspection, we can take moisture readings of affected and unaffected areas of your office so we can find out how wet your contents and building materials got.

How Does The Drying Process Start?

  • Initial Inspection: We find out where the moisture traveled and figure out which items got wet.
  • Safety Assessment: We walk through your office building and look for any potential safety hazards, such as fallen ceiling tiles.
  • Calculations: We take the results from our tests and determine the type of equipment to use.
  • Equipment Setup: We strategically place tools like air movers and dehumidifiers to speed up the natural drying process.

How Can You Tell When To Remove The Drying Equipment?

  • First, establish a drying goal by testing unaffected items that are similar to the wet ones.
  • Once the equipment is up and running, we return to your office to take readings that tell us how well the drying efforts are working.
  • When moisture levels reach the drying goal, we can then remove all of our equipment.

When you find everything wet inside your office, including your ceilings, call SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588. We are available 24/7, and we also service Hillsdale and Woodcliff Lake.

Click here for more information about Paramus.

We Put The Flames Of Worry Out In Paramus After A Fire

4/2/2020 (Permalink)

A picture of our ozone machine We used our ozone machine to counteract the smoke produced from a fire in this home. Call us right away to prevent further damage.

I live in Paramus, How do I Tackle Cleaning Up After a Grease Fire?

SERVPRO Technicians Use Specialized Cleaning Techniques for Fire Damage Cleanup

After a fire, homeowners are faced with many challenges before their lives can return to normal. One of these challenges is the extensive cleanup required after a grease fire in the kitchen. Although it may be a small fire, smoke residue and odor tends to permeate throughout the home.

What techniques do SERVPRO IICRC-certified technicians use for Fire-Damaged Paramus Homes?

1) Finding and Identifying: We locate the smoke residues in the impacted areas to determine the type of residue and the best way to clean it and then remove it.

2) Vacuum: Some residue has loose, dry carbon particles, requiring vacuum removal rather than wet removal that grinds the residue further into the surface.

3) Dissolve: For residues that are not dry, technicians use professional cleaning products to dissolve the residue. This loosens the bond to the surface and can then be rinsed away or extracted using a portable extraction device.

For cleanup assistance after fire damage, contact SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588.

See more about Paramus.

We Remove Wood Trim to Dry Water Damage in Paramus

3/20/2020 (Permalink)

water damaged floor; flooring removed We often remove trim to ensure drying of flooring and drywall is complete.

Why We Remove Wood Trim After Water Damage in Paramus Homes 

When you think about the damage that water losses can do to Paramus homes, many property owners do not consider construction materials like wood trim. While the removal of drywall and flooring might feel more significant, there are several reasons why removing baseboards and other accentuating woodwork might benefit the drying process and make water losses “Like it never even happened.” 

Water damage to Paramus homes requires focused attention and drying efforts by our SERVPRO professionals. We have skilled technicians that can utilize efficient drying and extraction tools to manage water losses and their effects shortly after these emergencies take place. Wood trim might feel insignificant to the drying and recovery process of your home, but there are many ways that this material can have a vital role in the work that must get done. 

Damaged Trim  

One of the most direct reasons that our SERVPRO team must remove wood trim from water damaged areas in your home is that the material has suffered from exposure. Standing water, for example, often directly absorbs into these particleboard trim pieces. This exposure can quickly swell and distort these installed materials, making it necessary to remove them to prevent the facilitation of mold growth or seepage into drywall surfaces behind the trim. Our in-house contractors can reinstall this baseboard and removed portions of the wallboard when drying completes. 

Access for Drying Purposes 

Removing the baseboard can often be beneficial when structural cavities have become compromised by migrating water. Preventing saturation to wood framing and insulation can often be a challenge without removing portions of drywall and the wood trim. Utilizing positive pressure systems to force heated air into wall cavities can help with evaporative drying, and can get done through multiple hoses in drilled holes behind the removed baseboard. Once the area gets dried, our professionals can patch the drilled holes and replace the trim. 

There are reasons to remove wood trim baseboards to benefit the drying process in your home. With positive pressure systems like our Injecti-Dry system and controlled demolition, we can restore and dry damaged properties quickly and thoroughly. Give our SERVPRO of Paramus team a call to help anytime at (201) 445-5588. 

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Removing Commercial Water Damage In Paramus

3/11/2020 (Permalink)

repair shop Rapid disaster mitigation is only a phone call away at (201) 445-5588.

Removing Commercial Water Damage from a Paramus Tech Repair Shop

Many businesses, particularly small ones, do not have adequate insurance for when disasters occur. An estimated 75% of businesses in the United States are underinsured, while a staggering 40% of small business owners are entirely uninsured. While disasters can be incredibly costly, all-in-one disaster cleanup pros that specialize in everything from cleanup to reconstruction can help you save time and money.

If your Paramus small business needs commercial water damage mitigation, the certified technicians at SERVPRO are ready to assist you. SERVPRO's repair-first approach strives to save your assets, documents, and other business essentials while minimizing replacement costs whenever possible. Your local team also offers licensed general contracting services (#13VH001305854800).

Dealing With Water-Damaged Documents
While electronic restoration experts may be well aware not to turn on water-saturated electronics, paper documents, such as insurance papers, tax necessities, and invoices, need a different kind of care. Papers are fragile, especially after moisture exposure, and require delicate care and attention during the mitigation process to minimize damage.

    •    If your office area has water damage, take care to remove essential papers from the situation as soon as you are able.
    •    Freeze documents to prevent further warping of paper or spreading of ink.
    •    Never separate wet papers to minimize the risk of tearing.
    •    If your facility handles photographs or film negatives, do not touch them. Carefully air-dry the materials and do not freeze them.
    •    Do not aim fans directly at papers to dry them.

SERVPRO Saves Your Office
This team's cleaning and drying methods address moisture contents in a wide array of surfaces with careful monitoring. Furniture can be removed, cleaned, and dried to minimize the risk of secondary damages to your possessions. SERVPRO can freeze your documents while evaluating them to determine the best course of action for cleaning. Sublimation is preferred for drying papers because it prevents liquid water from warping the material further. SERVPRO technicians can also make electronic copies of your documents so that you have access to them regardless of their physical condition.

SERVPRO of Paramus keeps your business looking, “Like it never even happened.” Rapid disaster mitigation is only a phone call away at (201) 445-5588.

For more about Paramus click here.

We Have The Proper Techniques To Restore Your Paramus Home After A Flood

3/4/2020 (Permalink)

Common Questions When Paramus Homes Need Flood Damage Cleanup

Flood damage needs fast action. Even though SERVPRO techs get to each loss-site quickly, often in the four hours or less it takes them to come, much of the water has either receded into the walls or flooring.

Homeowners have questions about flood damage in their Paramus properties. That following are some of the most common situations that SERVPRO technicians encounter.

Should I Clean Up the Water Before SERVPRO Arrives?

It is fine to put down towels and rags to help absorb the water, however, until the techs get to the premises and test the water. Also, if there is any danger of slip and fall accidents, close off doors to the loss area in the home and wait for help to get there.

Does Carpet Require Removal?

If the carpet has floodwater, it usually requires disposal as a biohazard. The reason for this is because groundwater has the potential to contain a host of contaminants. When SERVPRO technicians work on flood damage, they wear protective clothing and commonly set up containment around the loss area to stop cross-contamination to other areas of the home.

Why is Sheetrock Cut Away From the Floor Up?

This is a controlled demolition technique known as "flood cuts." When sheetrock wicks water, it has no restoration potential. The technicians use their moisture detection equipment to measure several inches above the waterline and cut away the damaged portion of the building materials. This is a clean-cut that leaves the wall open for drying and makes repairs fast and easy. When the restoration services complete, the techs have a general contractor license #13VH001305854800 and can perform any necessary repairs to bring the house to its pre-flood condition.

Why Did Mold Grow on the Walls So Quickly?

After a water loss in a home, the interior humidity levels go up. As airborne mold spores are present indoors and outdoors, when they encounter these favorable conditions, they germinate and begin to spread rapidly. The techs use professional drying equipment and monitor the process to ensure the ambient humidity gets quickly lowered. Any existing mold growth also gets addressed, and treatments such as antimicrobial cleaners and sealants.

SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 cleans up flood damage of any size in properties and makes the water loss in the homes "Like it never even happened."

See more about Paramus.

Removing Refrigerator Water Damage from a Paramus Residence

2/26/2020 (Permalink)

Leaking Refrigerator We know more than just the basics when it comes to your Paramus water damage.

Faulty Appliances Can Cause Water Damage In Paramus Homes

Whether it is from a small pipe leak or appliance failure, water damage impacts a staggering 1 in 50 homeowners on average each year. On top of that, claims can cost anywhere from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars in damages. Many water-related disasters go unnoticed because they start in hard-to-reach areas like leaky supply lines or behind wall cavities. 

If your Paramus residence requires water damage removal due to a kitchen appliance failure, SERVPRO technicians can restore your home to a preloss condition. The focus during the cleanup process is always on minimizing loss while safely salvaging items when it is feasible to do so. SERVPRO is also licensed to offer general contracting services to further repair your home after a disaster (license #13VH001305854800).

SERVPRO's Commitment to Education

SERVPRO technicians, staff, and franchise owners alike receive thorough education and training in fire, water, and mold damage mitigation and remediation, as well as self-paced online learning opportunities to expand their knowledge. SERVPRO techniques and equipment rely on consistent adherence to IICRC standards as well as accurate measurement and calculation to achieve the desired effect. You can rest assured that these technicians know everything from calculating the number of air movers and dehumidifiers needed to dry your home to the ideal humidity of water-affected materials in your structure.

SERVPRO Takes Care of Water Damage

After a refrigerator leak, technicians can address moisture on walls and flooring with portable, back-mounted extractors. If you have vinyl flooring in your kitchen, it is possible that some of the water-exposed tiles may have delaminated and may require replacement. If there is moisture inside the walls, technicians can drill holes to extract moisture and facilitate drying. Infrared cameras can be used to determine the amount of moisture in walls and under flooring. 

Air movers and dehumidifiers are carefully placed to address moisture, and polyethylene drying chambers can be constructed to accelerate the process in a contained space. This measure is especially crucial in homes with open floor plans, as too much open space can reduce the efficiency of drying. 

SERVPRO of Paramus can ensure that your home looks, "Like it never even happened." If your home suffers a disaster, call (201) 445-5588.

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SERVPRO Restores Paramus Home with Flood Damage in a Basement

2/15/2020 (Permalink)

Wet basement floor Don't let water damage take over your basement. Call the experts at (201) 445-5588.

What It Takes for Timely Resolution of Flood Damage Incidents in Paramus

A study showed that nearly 98% of basements would receive some form of water or flood damage in their service life. It is vital to begin cleanup as soon as possible after the water intrusion to limit the loss to the structure and contents. 

A finished basement in Paramus with flood damage needed fast action. The homeowner had a good deal of items stored in the basement and moved a portion of the smaller things out of the way before SERVPRO technicians arrived on-site. During the initial call, the technician advised the homeowner to avoid contact with the water until the technicians came to test the water and determine the nature of any contaminants or bacteria present. 

Scoping and First Actions

The technicians use their equipment to determine the scale of the water loss in the basement and begin extraction. In cases where the water is deeper than two-inches, SERVPRO has submersible pumps to perform removal without delay. The glue-down carpet delaminated from the concrete slab after a short period of exposure to the excessive moisture and required disposal. 

The sheetrock wicked water and showed signs of buckling. The techs removed the sheetrock so the cinderblock wall underneath could dry. Each item in the basement received inspection to determine the restorability potential to save the homeowner from the cost of replacing things as much as possible. 

Drying Challenges

SERVPRO technicians use powerful air movers to bring down the ambient humidity and dehumidification equipment to capture and port away moisture. 

Efflorescence Looks Worse Than It Is

When concrete dries, salts in the composition sometimes rise to the surface and appear as a dry, white powder. At first glance, the substrate looks ruined, but it only needs wiping away to look good as new. 

Repairs and Rebuilding

To restore the basement to its preloss condition, SERVPRO holds a general contractor license #13VH001305854800 and can reinstall carpet, sheetrock, and other needed restorations to bring the basement back to normal for the homeowner. 

SERVPRO of Paramus restores local properties with flood damage. The certified technicians are available 24/7 at (201) 445-5588 to make the water loss in the home, "Like it never even happened."

See more about Paramus.

Proven Tips to Remediate Fire Damage in Westwood

2/9/2020 (Permalink)

ceramic modern space heater Take care when using a space heater in your home. Never leave anything on top. Contact SERVOPRO should that cause a fire in your living space.

Space Heater Causes Fire Damage in Westwood

Fall, winter, and early spring in New Jersey often have unbearably cold temperatures, and your heat may not reach your bedroom very well, primarily if you use a wood stove. Using a space heater can keep you warm, but often has some safety concerns. It is essential to turn off and unplug them at night. You should always plug it in by itself so that it does not share an electrical outlet while placing it on a level surface. However, even the best of us might fall asleep while using a space heater. Imagine that is what you did, and a small fire erupted. Before you quickly put it out, there are burnt curtains, bedding, and sooty walls.  

Fire damage like this in Westwood is relatively common yet requires specialized cleanup to ensure your home does not have lingering smoke odors, and your walls are correctly cleaned. Cleaning in the fire damage restoration refers to removing smoke residues and then deodorizing smoke odors. 

In this case, SERVPRO technicians remove burnt items such as curtains and bedding. It is imperative to remove these things quickly as they are sources of smoke malodor, and keeping them within the room hinders clean-up effort. Technicians remove other fabric and upholstered items to be dry cleaned or cleaned off-site.

Technicians capture other remaining residues in dry particulate form or in a solution using air and fluids to carry suspended particles. Dry particles are now loosely attached to surfaces and may be removed most effectively by vacuuming them away. Using wet cleaning products on dry particles creates a bigger mess and may force absorption into the item being cleaned.  

Technicians dissolve the non-particulate residues and soil, such as soot, before they can remove them. It is ideal for dissolving the residues to loosen their bond, allowing them to suspend in a wet product before being flushed away while the cleaning product is rinsed or extracted from the surface being cleaned. The type of soil and surface contribute to dissolving ability. Soils can be water-soluble, while others may need a solvent-based cleaning product. 

This type of small fire is relatively easy to clean up by taking the proper steps and using the right tools and products; otherwise, you may have to deal with the smell of smoke for weeks, or even months.

For 24/7 assistance after a fire, contact SERVPRO of Paramus (General Contractor # 13VH001305854800) at (201) 445-5588. We make it, "Like it never even happened."

Click here for more information about Westwood.

How Our Experts Address Flood Effects In Your Home

1/26/2020 (Permalink)

flooded home after a storm Give our technicians a call whenever you need us at (201) 445-5588.

Importance of Fully Addressing Flood Effects in Homes

Flooding can quickly get out of control for your home, leading to widespread surface water concerns and a pressing need for water removal services. Even without the threat of contamination, properly drying and recovering the property can protect your belongings and the investments you have made in the house.

DIY restoration and cleaning are a common consideration for flood damage in homes, especially when homeowners believe the loss has only reached a small area in the house. Among the most pressing threats that exist after migrating flood damage is the water entering areas that property owners cannot see or restore, making the full restoration and recovery of your house impossible. It is essential to thoroughly dry out moisture and saturation from the contents, construction materials, and furniture.

Failure to properly dry out the damaged areas can lead to more substantial threats like mold and microbial growth. Superficial drying of your home might give the impression that the work was completed successfully. Without inspecting structural cavities, building materials, and other areas out of your immediate sightline, you cannot know if you have adequately addressed the moisture concerns. Our SERVPRO professionals can help with a thorough inspection of the house and a determination of the attention affected areas need.

The inspection of your property hinges on the sophisticated tools and equipment available to our professionals. Apart from fast extraction tools like our electric sump pumps and pump trucks, and our line of premier drying equipment, we have an assortment of discovery tools and devices to know where moisture has reached beyond the surface and its concentration.

Between drying materials like hardwood flooring and carpeting, low profile centrifugal air movers in combination with weighted extraction units or drying mats can have a positive effect on flooring materials that can get saved.

DIY restoration is rarely as cost-effective and efficient as homeowners might believe. Our SERVPRO of Paramus team can help with a fast response and a knowledgeable delivery of thorough recovery services. Give our technicians a call whenever you need us at (201) 445-5588.

For more about our work click here.

Is Your Paramus Home Experiencing Mold After a Water Loss Event?

1/16/2020 (Permalink)

mold damage shown on water damaged floor Mold damage often follows water damage. SERVPRO can restore your water damage and prevent mold microbes from growing.

Why SERVPRO Uses Antimicrobial Applications after Mitigating Water Damage in Paramus 

There are several indicators when your house in Paramus experiences some a problem. Dealing with the situation as early as possible can reduce the expenses involved, as well as protect other areas of your home. Minimizing the amount of damage that spreads helps immensely in controlling how well things turn out overall. Water, for an example might come from a slow leak under the faucet in a bathroom. 

One reason why SERVPRO applies antimicrobials to residential interiors in Paramus after mitigating water damage is to help prevent common problems in the future. Softening of materials after your house's bathroom faucet leaks into your living space give microbes an increased chance at survival. 

Bringing the water vapor content down to normal helps prevent any mold spores from activating, but it does not prevent them from lying dormant, waiting for an excess of moisture in the future. Bathrooms are often damp because of showering and bathing, and any microbes present can quickly begin growing. 

An antimicrobial that we use often contains salts that keep microbes from becoming an infestation. These salts act in a manner that encapsulates any spores or living microbes, and as it dries, it shrinks and forms a long-lasting, invisible seal. 

Our building department, working under General Contractor License #13VH001305854800 is also ready to work with us in mitigating water damage and restoring your home "Like it never even happened." They can make repairs to any weakened floors so your bathroom floor never becomes unsafe because of any soft spots. 

SERVPRO of Paramus restores homes after water damage and other problems in Hillsdale, throughout Washington Township, and around Woodcliff Lake. Contact our team of professional mitigation experts and restoration specialists by calling (201) 445-5588. 

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Paramus Cleanup and Restoration Needed after a Fire? SERVPRO Can Make Your Home Whole Again!

1/3/2020 (Permalink)

burnt and charred house after a fire interior living room When a Paramus House Fire Does this to Your Home--Call SERVPRO for Cleanup, Restoration, and Odor Removal

How to Handle Fire Damage in Your Paramus Kitchen

Kitchen fires are frequent throughout New Jersey and the rest of the country because there are the most electronic appliances found within the home. Over half of all house fires ignite in the kitchen. Often a blaze begins with the oven or by having combustible items near the stove.

If you experience fire damage in your Paramus kitchen, then SERVPRO is available to assist you for all of your cleanup and restoration needs.  Cleanup after a kitchen fire requires special care. Trained SERVPRO fire restoration professionals understand that the process is unique to each fire, and should happen quickly to ensure the least amount of damage as possible. Mitigation can significantly decrease out-of-pocket costs and days of inconvenience.

Some contents often found after a kitchen fire are dishware, crystal, and china. It is crucial to clean these right away so that the residue produced in the fire does not become more challenging to remove. These items are fragile and often need to be cleaned by hand. Dishware absorbs much heat during the actual fire and can suffer cracks if the home is cooled down rapidly after extinguishing the fire. Kitchen grease fires often produce an oily residue that becomes more difficult to remove from dishware the longer it stays on the dishes.

Before cleaning, SERVPRO technicians presoak the dishes in a mild alkaline detergent like the specially formulated Wall and All Surface Cleaner. If the oil and grease residue is excessive, dishes may require presoaking in a heavy-duty cleaner such as our Industrial Cleaner. Technicians take extra care with crystal and china, washing it by hand and using less aggressive cleaning methods as not to remove metallic paints or accent trims. For fragile crystal or intricately designed items, an immersion in an ultrasonic bath can be a viable option. These types of dishes need cleaning quickly because acidic smoke residues may cause etching on their surfaces.

SERVPRO focuses on each item within the impacted area of your home to ensure that they are correctly cleaned and restored whenever possible. For structural damage, our qualified team (General Contractor License: 13VH001305854800) can rebuild where necessary and make it "Like it never even happened."

For 24/7 assistance after a fire, contact SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588.

Water Damage Paramus – Moisture Removal Importance

12/29/2019 (Permalink)

Mold on the subfloor of a room. Let us show and explain why your Paramus water damage needs to be mitigated.

SERVPRO will be right there every step of the way for your Paramus water damage.

Water damage often occurs from a leaking pipe, an overflowing tub, or even a leaky window when an intense rainstorm is pounding against the side of a home. Many consumers assume that all that is needed is to mop up the water. The area can dry on its own over a few days. Depending on relative humidity levels, local temperatures, and airflow, moisture levels can remain high for some time, causing more damage and even mold growth.

Our SERVPRO technicians are trained water damage mitigation experts in Paramus. Our technicians have loads of experience as well as accreditation from the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) and ASD (Applied Structural Drying Technicians).

Time is Important

As the water spreads throughout your home, different materials absorb moisture at different rates. Carpets and underpads, fabrics, and other similar materials absorb moisture quickly. These materials also can release moisture quickly if the relative humidity of the air around these items is lower. Drywall also absorbs water quickly. However, drywall tends to swell as it absorbs moisture.

Hard surfaces such as hardwood floors and even subfloors also absorb moisture, but more slowly. Nonporous materials also release moisture more slowly. Removing the water from these surfaces quickly and lowering the relative humidity quickly, can limit the amount of moisture hard surfaces like these absorb and the damage swelling can cause.

Drying Conditions 

At SERVPRO, we understand that the removal of surface water is essential and must be completed as quickly as possible. Also, we account for the relative humidity, temperature, and airflow when setting up drying conditions. For example, drawing outside humid air into the home may make conditions worse in an attempt to dry the floors and contents. SERVPRO technicians use Psychrometric calculators to determine the best approach to setting up the most efficient drying conditions. 

In conditions of high outside relative humidity, we can seal the home and utilize air movers and dehumidifiers to remove moisture from the air, which in turn draws moisture from porous materials quickly and non porous materials more slowly. We continuously monitor the humidity levels to ensure the most efficient drying of your home.

Call SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 for 24/7 service. We proudly serve Westwood, Washington Township, and surrounding areas. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

To find out more about Paramus, click here.

Why Not Go with a Premier Water Damage Restoration Company in Paramus? Contact SERVPRO

12/26/2019 (Permalink)

air movers and dehumidifiers drying out basement Why Paramus Homeowners Trust SERVPRO for Water Damage Cleanup and Restoration--We Have the Skilled Technicians and Advanced Equipment

Trusting the Experience of Qualified Restorers for Paramus Homes

Loss incidents can feel overwhelming and stressful, so much so that many homeowners get left with the impression that their Paramus home might never be the same again. As tricky as water loss emergencies can be, and how quickly these situations can spread throughout a property, our team of professionals has gotten equipped to handle it. We have extensive training and hands-on experience to provide our customers with a comprehensive recovery solution encompassing everything from the initial inspection of the property through the final cleanup.

While water damage in Paramus homes might not always seem easy to contend with, our SERVPRO team has spent years building up our inventory and attracting the top-tier restoration talent to give our customers an expectation-exceeding result. Homeowners might become convinced they can address water emergencies on their own with limited equipment and drying techniques, but this often results in inadequate moisture removal that can lead to microbial threats developing a few days later. Why settle for mold in your home?
 
You might find that there are no shortages of restoration companies around the Paramus area, but there are advantages to choosing our SERVPRO brand. We are a recovery team that can handle jobs of any size and severity by pooling our local resources with a neighboring branch, SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County. This collaborative effort helps us always to have the right amount of technicians, equipment, and products to handle any size water loss situation.
 
The experience of our team is another factor that helps to distinguish us from the other options. Our staff has gotten certified through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), and nearly all field technicians have specific training and endorsements for water restoration (WRT) and structural drying (ASD.) We can provide knowledgeable and confident recovery specialists at any time of the day, as there is always a competent water restoration crew on call.
 
You can count on our SERVPRO of Paramus professionals to live up to the reputation that we have built. We are a locally owned franchise that can help with whatever disaster you face 24/7. To make water loss incidents, “Like it never even happened,” give us a call at (201) 445-5588.

Here is our beautiful borough!

Paramus Basement Flooding Cleanup is a Cornerstone of SERVPRO Services

12/23/2019 (Permalink)

basement water damage, removed flooring and wall panels Paramus Basements after a Storm, Get Cleaned Up, Restored, and Repaired by SERVPRO Skilled Teams

Stormy Summer after a Cold Winter? Get Professional Help for Paramus Flood Damage

When warm weather comes to Paramus, it is hard to fit all needed maintenance during busy, fun-filled days. If winter’s ice and snow bent gutters and downspouts, some of the connections might be loose, causing poor drainage. Blossoms and seeds from nearby trees also add to last fall’s leaves, creating clogs that interfere with the smooth flow of summer rainwater. Any of these conditions can increase the chance of a flooded basement.

Torrential summer rains sweep across New Jersey, resulting in flood damage to Paramus homes struggling with roof drainage issues. When water pools in a portion of a gutter, it spills over with force into a concentrated area of your yard. Since it does not follow the drain pattern that was designed to channel water further away from your foundation, it often seeps into your basement.

We see this flooding every year, and our technicians bring the tools and training to your home as soon as possible after your initial call. Our SERVPRO  project manager or crew chief assesses the damage and devises a plan to rid your basement of the current flooding. Team members unload gas-powered pumps and truck-mounted extractors to remove the water quickly. We assess the water’s category, and if contamination is evident, we contain and dispose of the fluids according to local ordinances.

If you use part or all of your basement for storage or living quarters, SERVPRO might suggest moving wet items either to a dry staging area on your property or to our production facility. Our pack-out service saves many possessions and treasures from the scrap heap. We use the Contents Claim Inventory System (CCIS) to track the condition and location of any moved items.

Clearing the flooded area allows our crew to work rapidly to remove the water. Minimizing the number of wet materials in the affected area during structural drying permits our air movers, heaters, and dehumidifiers to work more efficiently during the drying phase. To avoid flooding from the next storm on the horizon, you should consult with a trustworthy roofing or gutter cleaning contractor to solve the drainage issue.

SERVPRO of Paramus provides fast and reliable assistance when poor roof drainage results in flooded areas in your lower levels. Call (201) 445-5588 to arrange an assessment followed by prompt flood remediation.

Paramus House Fires Call On SERVPRO for Cleanup, Restoration, and No Odors

12/22/2019 (Permalink)

fire scorched and charred interior of a house Fire and Odor Damage Typically Require Professional Help for Cleanup and Restoration--We at SERVPRO Can Help

Contact SERVPRO to Cleanup the Fire and Odor Damage Inside Your Paramus Home

Many people know that fire damage can lead to billowing smoke inside of your home, but not many consider the foul odor that it can leave behind as well. The malodor can make it impossible for you to move on from the damage that happened inside of your home. It can even bring thoughts of the damage to mind months after restoration.

However, if done correctly, no unpleasant aspects of the fire and odor damage inside of your Paramus home should remain after remediation. For this reason, you must get help as soon as possible after a blaze happens on your property. The quicker the damage is dealt with, the easier it is to remediate.

Here at SERVPRO, we always respond to your call as soon as possible. We base our entire service around fast, effective, and expert remediation services. We always try to arrive at your location within hours of your initial call and, once we get there, we are with you every step of the way.

Our expert fire and smoke damage remediation technicians could get to work immediately upon arrival. For example, let's say the fire happened in your kitchen and was caused by an unclean toaster. Before you put out the fire, it had managed to spread to several Tupperware containers and a few cooking utensils. The blaze left the smell of burning plastic, metal, and wood behind in your kitchen as well as scorch marks on your wall, countertop, and ceiling.

Our SERVPRO techs could start by setting up an air scrubber in your kitchen, equipped with a carbon filter to capture the particles in the air that are causing the odor. From there, SERVPRO can use a special cleaning agent to help lift the grime and soot from the various surfaces of your kitchen. It may take several re-applications and much scrubbing, but steadily your kitchen can begin to look like it did in its preloss state.

If any odor lingers after all physical signs of the damage have been remediated, our technicians can try deodorizing beads to absorb lingering odors and, if necessary, finish with a thermal fogger, capturing any remaining airborne particles and neutralizing them. Our goal is always to leave your home with you feeling, "Like it never even happened."

If your home experiences a fire, never wait to get help. Get in contact with SERVPRO of Paramus by phoning (201) 445-5588. Night or day, we're ready to come to your aid.

Our Professionals Will Sanitize Your Paramus Home After A Flood

12/8/2019 (Permalink)

flooding in home after a storm Call SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 for 24/7 service.

Sanitizing after a Flood in Paramus

Flooding potentially introduces a great deal of contamination into the home or business. Floods carry debris such as sand and dirt, various objects picked up and carried by the floodwaters, and of course, a variety of biohazards. Biohazards may include blood, human and animal waste, body fluids, microbiological waste, and pathological waste.

SERVPRO provides flood cleanup services to Paramus and surrounding areas. Some storms produce devastating damage across the state; other floods are contained in local areas affecting neighborhoods. We can respond within 4 hours on a 24/7 basis and mobilize equipment and teams at a moment's notice.

Cleanup After a Flood
The first step is to ensure the safety of the occupants and our team members. We check for electrical hazards, damage to buildings that may be dangerous to staff, and we check for debris, including biohazards that may be dangerous to humans.

We deploy truck-mounted water pumps if needed. Generators are brought in to power smaller pumps and water extractors as needed. We remove and dispose of any debris that may have been carried into the home or building. Unrestorable items are identified, recorded, and the owner notified before destroying any contents. Some items may be too damaged or contaminated and must be thrown out.

Cleaning and Drying
Depending on the extent of the damage and the contamination, flooring and walls may need to be exposed. Quick action and application help to control the growth of microbes and mold. Hard surfaces are cleaned with antimicrobial, disinfectant, or sanitizers as required. HVAC systems may be turned off, and all occupants are asked to leave during the application of these chemicals.

Complete drying and dehumidification of the structure and remaining content before restoration and reconstruction of the building begins. Every flood damage event is different and requires a variety of equipment and supplies. Our SERVPRO team is trained and has the experience to handle all flood damage events.

Call SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 for 24/7 service. We proudly serve Washington Township, Woodcliff Lake, River Vale, and the surrounding areas. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

For more about Paramus click here.

We Are Available 24/7 to Restore Your Paramus Home After Water Damage Strikes

12/4/2019 (Permalink)

Our air movers set out in a room drying the carpet We have the state of the art equipment to handle any size water removal job. Call us right away to prevent further damage to your property.

Water Removal in Your Paramus Home

An accident like a bathtub overflowing in a downstairs bathroom can lead to excess water in your home. This type of excess, although seemingly small, can have a significant impact if not correctly extracted from your home. You may be able to remove most of the water through mopping and wiping, but it is crucial to ensure you have all of the water removed. Otherwise, you may find yourself with a growing mold infestation or an unbearable odor, even with clean water from the bathtub. 

You may need to get the professionals involved in the water removal from your Paramus home. Getting help can save yourself a lot of long term consequences. SERVPRO professionals use moisture sensors to determine where excess moisture is hiding, so there is no doubt regarding excess humidity in the home. You may also be able to find the source with your nose if there is a strong smell coming from it. Depending on the amount of leftover moisture, technicians may use extractors to pull water out of nearby carpet or rugs during water removal

When clean water meets germs from the bathroom, bacteria can flourish, potentially leaving you with a smelly situation. Odors are some of the most offensive remnants of a water leak. If such ascent has set into your home, technicians first find the source of the smell. After that, they locate and remove the source. 

Deodorizing after odor removal is often necessary to altogether remove the offensive smell from your home. Merely using a masking agent does not fix an odor problem and can make it worse. Technicians assess the situation to determine what type of deodorization process and chemicals to use to come up with an individualized plan. Technicians utilize Orange and other specially formulated deodorizers and disinfecting agents to attack offensive orders and kill microbial growth, always checking with clients to ensure the smell of the cleaning agent is pleasing. A combination of disinfectants, sanitizers, and pairing agents remove odors. 

Contact SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 for help with water removal. We are available 24/7 to help. 

See more about Paramus.

How We Handle Hazards And Mold Damage In Your Hillsdale Restaurant

11/14/2019 (Permalink)

mold infestation in commercial property We are ready to provide professional services you can count on to help keep your business running smooth.

Dealing With Hazards And Mold Damage In Your Hillsdale Restaurant

Biohazards can make patrons of your Hillsdale restaurant sick, and nearly all of them can harm you one way or another if exposed to large amounts of microorganisms. Referencing our Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, IICRC Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration, provides us with an extensive discussion concerning microbiology associated with water damage.

Any water intrusion on your property in Hillsdale can lead to mold damage. Water may also contain organisms that pose a potential health threat to workers and guests in your restaurant. Damage created by a clean water source can easily pose a problem, especially after water gets left within a structure for too long. Water and excessive moisture provide an excellent environment for the advanced growth of bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

SERVPRO technicians always treat sewage and floodwaters as highly infectious waste material with the potential to pose a severe threat. These sources may contain cholera, tetanus, typhoid, polio, hepatitis, and a variety of other infectious diseases, which makes taking precautions a necessary step. Regular sewage backups in your restaurant also emit methane gas and other sewer gases, which are harmful to breathe.

When SERVPRO technicians work in an environment with the potential to contain infectious waste, we always follow local, state, and federal safety precautions and guidelines. Since exposure to molds may also pose health risks to anyone working in a mold-contaminated building, our technicians make every effort to inform you of potential hazards. We keep safety at the forefront of every job while working as quickly and efficiently as possible, limit your losses, and provide excellent results.

SERVPRO teams working in contaminated environments use personal protective equipment, including full-body suits with hoods, rubber and latex gloves, and eye protection. Goggles, half-face, or full-face respirators that supply purified air are a must in extreme situations. We ensure everyone’s safety before beginning work and ensure that our customers fully understand their situation.

Protect yourself and your patrons, call SERVPRO of Paramus for 24-hour access to mold damage remediation, and damage mitigation experts throughout Westwood, Oradell, and Montvale. We are ready to provide professional services you can count on to help keep your business running smooth. Call today (201) 445-5588.

For more about Hillsdale click here.

Why Drying Is Vital After A Flood In Paramus

11/7/2019 (Permalink)

flooding in home after a storm Contact SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 today for flood assistance.

Why Drying is just as Important as Removal after Flood Damage in Paramus

A priority concern for homeowners when flood water enters the property is to remove as much volume as possible, as quickly as possible. However, the drying procedure is equally important but can quickly fly under the radar. Failure to correctly dry a flooded property can lead to water damages, which present themselves as discoloration or rotting of structural materials in the home. Previous flooding incidents can also lead to microbial growth issues further down the line, which can be both difficult and expensive to repair.

Our restoration services for flood damage in Paramus, incorporate proper drying techniques to ensure secondary harms are kept to a minimum. SERVPRO technicians are trained to recognize both immediate dangers as well as putting in place procedures to prevent secondary ones. We consider restoring a property to be not just the removal of water but also the thorough drying and cleaning of the affected area.

After pumping out large volumes of water, your home may feel safe to re-enter and inhabit. However, standing water can migrate quickly from the source and enter underneath the flooring, inside wall cavities, or beneath fittings. SERVPRO technicians use a range of measuring equipment, including moisture meters, sensors, and thermal imaging cameras, to track the migration of water around your home. This equipment can help us to restore the property without performing unnecessary removal of drywall or other physical barriers.

If the presence of moisture is detected inside wall cavities, they can cause secondary mold growth issues. By removing the baseboard of the wall, a SERVPRO technician can drill small holes to allow ventilation into the cavity. We can then use these small holes to attach our Injectidry system to the wall and circulate warm, dry air. Creating circulation is essential to ensuring that the evaporation process happens quickly without condensation damaging or discoloring paintwork.

While restoring a flooded property incorporates cleaning, the most effective guard against secondary issues is controlling humidity. Using thermal hygrometers with dehumidification equipment, our technicians can keep the affected area above the dew point. This drying method can be especially effective at protecting electronic equipment, which can often suffer irreparable damage if the dew point is reached.

Removing large volumes of water is just the first step in getting your home back to its preloss condition. Contact SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 today for flood assistance.

For more about Paramus click here.

We Help You Safely Handle Fire Debris In Your Paramus Home

10/7/2019 (Permalink)

One of our technicians using a chemical sponge to wipe away soot from the walls One of our technicians is using a chemical sponge to wipe away soot from the walls. We have the right tools and are available 24/7.

How To Conduct Fire Debris Removal In Paramus: Tips For The Homeowner

If a spark ever ignites inside your Paramus home, the blaze can go from minor to enormous in a short amount of time. Once ignited, flames can use many of your contents and building materials as fuel, which can force you to have to conduct fire debris removal on your property. After something burns at your residence, the best idea is to call in a professional restoration company such as SERVPRO.

However, there are some ways you can conduct fire debris removal inside your Paramus home on your own. If the area burnt was large, it is possible that many things got ruined as a result of the blaze. Charred materials such as drywall or wooden cabinets often have to be removed and replaced after the burn.

When items are severely burnt, our SERVPRO technicians recommend that you remove them as soon as possible. If things like your charred contents remain on your carpet or next to a wall stay put, they can affect previously unaffected areas of your home. Your torched contents can also become a source of pungent aromas if left inside your living area for too long.

The first step our SERVPRO experts recommend to take when handling fire debris removal is to inspect the area for any potential safety hazards. It is always wise to shut off your electricity, gas, and water running to your house after a fire takes place. Next, look for any other potential hazards, including falling light fixtures or drywall and remove them so that they no longer pose a threat. Clear any debris from walkways so that there is a safe path running through your home.

Once you have mitigated any potential safety hazards in the affected areas, it is time to start removing burnt material. Begin by discarding any severely charred, loose contents by putting them directly into a sealed trash bag before moving to prevent the spread of soot. Next, if you notice any severely burnt building materials such as carpet or drywall, it is wise to cut off the burnt sections and put the charred pieces in a sealed trash bag.

Structural burns can be a massive burden on you if you don't call in the experts. For all of your professional restoration needs, call SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588. We can return your home to its preloss state, "Like it never even happened."

See more about Paramus.

Paramus Properties Are Subject to Various Forms of Water Losses--Call SERVPRO for Restoration

10/2/2019 (Permalink)

water heater leaking from the valve and bottom onto the floor Leaks Can Mean Water Damage Caused by Appliances and Plumbing Failures, for Fast Water Removal and Restoration in the Paramus Area--Call SERVPRO

Identifying The Top Four Sources of Water Damage In Your Paramus Home 

Every homeowner should be aware of the biggest potential sources of water damage. Knowing how to identify and regularly maintain these sources can help you avoid damage and mitigate the effects of water quickly.

Water from flooding and storms can be quite harmful, but the most common sources do not actually come from the outside elements. The top four causes of water damage in Paramus are in or around the home. This includes:
 
1. Washing Machine
The average life expectancy for a washing machine is about a decade. Over time, your washing machine can break or leak, causing water to spray out onto the floor. This is usually due to the lack of integrity of old rubber hoses. A metal-braided washing machine pipeline can prevent the hoses from breaking down so much. Alternatively, you can reinforce your rubber hoses every few years.

2. Toilet Overflow
Toilets can stop working due to a clog in the pipes or a problem with the float in the top of the tank. Regardless of the reason, this water can come out of the toilet bowl and drench your floor. Turn off the source of water to your toilet before the water spills out to avoid water damage. Water that comes from the toilet may be contaminated, and SERVPRO technicians may need to restore or possibly remove the flooring that has been damaged by this water.

3. Broken Plumbing Systems
You may not see them, but pipes run all over your house, inside and outside. Pipes can weaken or break over time, causing a water leak somewhere within the system. The water main can burst or a draining issue can cause a backup. Either way, it’s important to have your plumbing systems inspected to prevent water damage.
 
4. Broken Water Heater
Water heaters are large appliances that can burst or leak, usually after running past the manufacturer’s warranty. It is likely that you need to replace the water heater at this point. It is essential to make sure the broken water heater hasn’t affected other parts of the home.
 
Avoid water damage by identifying the top problem areas of your home. For water damage assessment and mitigation services, contact SERVPRO of Paramus at (210) 445-5588. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Click here for the local map.

A Severe Storm Can Spell Big Trouble For Your Paramus Home

9/17/2019 (Permalink)

Torrential Rain Storm Overflowing Roof Gutters No matter the time, we're here for you.

A Harsh Atlantic Storm Could Cause Flood Damage To Your Paramus Home

Living adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean can put your Paramus home in danger of flood damage. A severe storm off of the ocean could bring heavy rains, ripping winds, and rushing waters to your home. In these scenarios, it is imperative for you to reach out for help as soon as possible. Doing so could significantly reduce the overall damages that your home could suffer.

Imagine a situation where a severe thunderstorm uprooted a tree on your property and plunged it into the side of your Paramus home, causing flood damage. The tree shattered a window and did structural damage to the side of your home. Furthermore, the tree allowed for hundreds of gallons of rainwater to pour into your home. In this scenario, what is the best course of action for your home?

Calling for professional cleanup and restoration services as soon as you can after the damage occurs is essential. Heavy rain could have flooded streets and uprooted more trees near your home. However, those things cannot deter SERVPRO from setting out to arrive at your home as quickly as we can manage.

Once we arrive, our water damage restoration technicians (WRT) could begin to remove the tree from your home. We could use chainsaws to make it easier to remove the tree, section by section. After the obstruction has been removed, we could put a tarp over the damage, to limit the amount of rainwater coming into the structure. As we work with your home, SERVPRO can keep in touch with your insurance adjuster.

Our SERVPRO WRT can use a few different devices to remove the standing water from your home, including wet/dry vacuums. To limit the damages to your walls, we can make flood cuts. If the rainwater might have extensively damaged any of your floorings, we could tear it up and expose the base so that it can be adequately dried. Our technicians can use a variety of advanced equipment to dry out the structure of your home, including devices like air movers, heaters, and ventilation fans. Afterward, we can call in trusted contractors to expedite or complete any reconstruction or remodels that we may not do.

If your home ever ends up suffering from flood damage, never wait to reach out for aid. Speak with SERVPRO of Paramus by calling (201) 445-5588. No matter the time, we're here for you.

For more about Paramus click here.

Some Steps to Effective Commercial Flood Damage Remediation in Paramus

9/8/2019 (Permalink)

interior of office building with water pooling on the floor Flood damage can critically affect your business. Contact Team SERVPRO to quickly assess and dry out the premises.

Commercial Flood Damage Paramus – Preventing Contaminants from Spreading

Business owners always want their flooded premises cleared of debris, the water removed and everything dried as soon as possible, so their business is back in operation. SERVPRO understands these requirements and responds and works efficiently whenever there is a flood damage event.

SERVPRO responds fast to any commercial flood damage event in Paramus. Our crew chief can quickly assess the situation and muster the equipment needed along with skilled technicians to deal with your emergency. Water pumps, dehumidifiers, debris removal, and moisture detection is always top of the priority list to ensure our customers receive the best service possible.

Protecting Unaffected Areas of the Building

Often floods damage a portion of the office while other areas remain unscathed. Employees in these areas can often continue their jobs. A huge concern of SERVPRO is avoiding spreading contaminants (water, soil, or worse) throughout the unaffected areas of the building. Foot traffic, moving equipment, and dust from air movement can quickly contaminate these areas.

The crew chief can discuss the potential spread of contaminants with the client and the steps that may be required to avoid this problem. In some situations, it may be as simple as laying down runners to protect the floor from foot traffic transferring moisture and soil to clean carpeting.

Turn Off HVAC and Seal Registers

The objective is to avoid moist air or contaminated air from being spread to the rest of the building. Efficient moisture reduction may involve sealing off open doorways with 6-mil polyethylene plastic and creating a negative pressure situation.

Air filtration devices may be deployed to filter the air and exhaust the contaminated air outside the building while drawing in fresh air at the same time. None of the contaminated air is distributed to unaffected areas of the commercial space. 

Rest assured that SERVPRO assesses the situation quickly and deploys the required resources to protect your existing space while restoring flooded areas. Our team wants to minimize the impact of the flood while restoring your commercial space, "Like it never even happened."

Call SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 for 24/7 serve. We serve Westwood, Hillsdale, Washington Township, and surrounding areas. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Click here to see more info about the city of Paramus.

Why SERVPRO Has a High Standard of Training for Flood Damage Technicians

8/29/2019 (Permalink)

Sticker saying 'certified' We continually train our team members so they can handle every situation that comes their way.

The Advanced Training Required to Become a SERVPRO Flood Damage Technician in Paramus

Becoming a flood damage technician with SERVPRO is no easy feat. To start working on our crews and responding to calls from local homeowners in distress, every team member has to go through numerous certifications and educational courses. While national and local regulations require some of these, we also dedicate time and money to train our crews in specialized roles to increase their flexibility and mastery of each type of damage.

Flood damage in Paramus and other local communities causes many thousands of dollars of damage each year, and when hurricanes strike, the problems can become far worse. We send our technicians to our national training facility where they train under some of the most veteran restoration specialists in the country. While there, they receive numerous certifications from the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) that enable them to work on a wide variety of projects legally and in accordance with insurance policies.

Our training doesn't stop once fresh technicians get placed on crews. We balance our teams between newcomers and veterans, allowing our more experienced professionals to train their co-workers on the job site and oversee their work. After working with us for a while, we also offer advanced training that can help our technicians specialize in flood damage restorations and other potential work.

Unlike many other damage mitigation and restoration company technicians, SERVPRO crew members also receive training in multiple disciplines and cross-types of damage. Many cases of flood damage, for example, also lead to mold growth problems that can be very difficult to combat if they are not dealt with swiftly. Because our crews are composed of individuals with a wide variety of specializations and are trained to handle multiple types of damage at once, we can handle these problems as they arise. This versatility helps us to save time and money on almost every restoration we do.

SERVPRO of Paramus utilizes the best available tools and training to help your home overcome even the worst flood damage situations. Call us 24/7 at (201) 445-5588 for our emergency services.

More about Paramus.

We Help You Get Back To Business In Paramus After A Flooding Disaster

7/8/2019 (Permalink)

We used air movers to dry out the storage area of this children's clothing store. We have the equipment to handle any job big or small.

Developing A Flood Response for Your Paramus Shop – The ERP Emergency READY Profile Plan

Protecting your business means much more than bolstering security or improving how steadily your Paramus shop functions when you leave it in the hands of management. It is also about knowing how to respond to emergencies and disasters that can strike with little warning. With the severe weather systems that the area can expect throughout the year, elements like roofs, siding, and windows fall victim to brutal conditions. This breach leaves the shop vulnerable to devastating circumstances like flooding.

While you might not be able to prepare for all possible flood damage to Paramus properties adequately, there are ways that you can protect your shop long before disaster ever occurs. Our SERVPRO team can help business owners to develop an Emergency READY Profile to increase the focused response buildings can receive during an emergency. This process has gotten designed to compile all necessary information our team needs about a location and its specific needs so that there is no delay in getting mitigation and recovery efforts started immediately once our team arrives. This mobile app allows you, the business owner, to be in direct contact with all relevant personnel from managers to the municipal contacts. Contact our office to arrange an appointment to explain this no cost consultation that may save your business thousands in profits and good will.

Even with a profile like this, there are things that you or your management team can do to protect your investments in the shop and the building that you use in a time of a flood damage crisis. One of the priorities that any business owner would have is protecting the stock and inventory of the shop by getting it relocated to a dry place in the store. While these often still must get entirely removed by our SERVPRO professionals for focused cleaning, deodorization, and drying efforts, these preliminary efforts can often prevent a costly total loss of these stocked items as standing water levels rise in the shop.

We strive to provide every customer with a fast and tailored response to their emergency, and their help with preliminary mitigation and completing an Emergency Ready Profile allows our SERVPRO of Paramus team to do more for your business right away. Give our experienced professionals a call at (201) 445-5588 to make flood loss “Like it never even happened.”

See more about Paramus.

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Hotel Guests in Paramus Getting Wet? Call SERVPRO Fast for Water Removal

6/11/2019 (Permalink)

For Commercial Properties in Paramus with a Water Damaging Event--Call SERVPRO for Cleanup and Restoration

Professional Help Reduces the Impact of Commercial Flood Damage in Paramus Hotels

Closing a business that offers food or accommodation even for a day is not something to look forward to since the inconvenience it creates for your customers can leave a lifetime impression on them. So when a flooding incident affects your hotel, you need to take immediate steps to mitigate the situation. A professional restoration service has the necessary resources, including skilled crews and a variety of equipment to handle the process smoothly.
 
There are different dynamics at play in separate incidences of commercial flood damage in Paramus. Restoration, therefore, requires quick thinking and some degree of improvisation. You need to know whether leaving contents in place or taking them out to pave the way for restoration can quicken the process. Our SERVPRO technicians have extensive experience dealing with flooded hotels so we can advise you on the quicker approach.
 
Flooding can leave high levels of contamination or wet swathes in your property, depending on how the incident unfolds. A torn roof or other problems in higher levels of your building can leave a significant number of contents and building materials wet. The good news is that such intrusion mostly involves clean water, so soiling and contamination is limited, unlike cases involving rising ground water. Our SERVPRO technicians scope your property to establish problem areas. We also apply stopgap measures such as installing roof tarps to protect your property from additional damages as we clean up soiling and other storm damages.
 
Restoring the hotel to its preloss state requires the elimination of all traces of excess water. Such removal is a multi-step process that involves extracting standing water, drying contents and materials as well as restoration of normal humidity levels. Our SERVPRO crewmembers are trained in ASD, Applying Structural Drying, allowing them to utilize the best approaches when drying your hotel. Apart from using sophisticated air movers and dehumidifiers, we also segment the affected areas into smaller drying chambers using plastic sheets, expediting the entire process.
 
In case your hotel floods, call SERVPRO of Paramus for assistance at (201) 445-5588. We are available at any time. With our combined resources, we can help fix flood damage "Like it never even happened."

More about this area by clicking.

How We Help Prevent Permanent Issues After A Flood In Your Paramus Home

5/25/2019 (Permalink)

Preventative actions could prevent permanent damages, contact SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 for assistance.

Preventing Permanent Issues After Flood Damage In Paramus

In an emergency, situation trust is of the utmost importance. Flooding can occur at any time either by natural weather events or from issues with internal plumbing in your home. Depending on the type of water you are dealing with, these damages can be relatively simple to repair or require PPE as well as biohazardous waste disposal training. We're a locally owned company with decades of experience in dealing with water and flood-related repairs.

Our service incorporates rapid response units for emergency flood damage in Paramus. That means we have technicians on call throughout the night as well as during regular hours. We do this because in a flood situation, sometimes the smallest repairs taken in time can prevent severe or even catastrophic damages to your property. You can reach our experts 24/7  by calling our emergency number to arrange a service.

The job of a restorer is to work after the first responders- police, fire department, ambulances- have arrived but before general contractors carry out works. One of our roles can be creating a safe workspace for third-party remodelers. These duties could include performing emergency board-ups, restoring power to your property, or identifying and removing potential hazards like debris or loose wiring.

Professional restorers can also help to protect you from unnecessary property damages. Indeed, water damages, in particular, must be rectified quickly to reduce the risk of a permanent issue. SERVPRO can remove carpets, dispose of saturated subfloors as well as remove valuable possessions or furniture from the affected zone. In taking these small steps, we can significantly limit the losses your property may otherwise have sustained.

Flood water can cause unpleasant odors in the home. Usually, thoroughly drying the affected area is effective in reducing the presence of odors, but it is not always one hundred percent effective. SERVPRO can deploy thermal fogging equipment to help neutralize lingering odors and getting your home back to its preloss condition.

Preventative actions could prevent permanent damages, contact SERVPRO of Paramus at (201) 445-5588 for assistance.

Click here for more about Paramus.

Why Home Maintenance Is Important

3/11/2019 (Permalink)

Your home is likely the most expensive thing you own in your lifetime. That is why it is so important to take the time to protect it. There are things in your home that need some care to ensure they last otherwise when they fail you can watch your insurance skyrocket.

Many times, we see home damages that occur by sources that could have been easily prevented.

Just to mention a few:

  • Not cleaning out your gutters can cause water to back up under your roof shingles.
  • Not cleaning your chimney can cause creosote buildup that creates a fire.
  • Not cutting down that dead tree can cause it to fall onto your house.

So here are some items you should be inspecting and how often you should be doing so.

Every Year:

Hot water heater-drain water to remove sediment & refill.

HVAC/Furnace system

Inspect garage door-be sure auto-reverse is functioning

Vacuum refrigerator coils: These build up dirt and grime which overtime effects the efficiency of the fridge.

Check water softener, add salt if needed.

Check grout and caulking- re-apply if needed. 

Inspect sump pump is running properly

Inspect basement & foundation for any cracks or leaks. 

Every Month:

Test Smoke & Carbon Monoxide detector

Look for leaks around toilets/sinks

Check HVAC filters for replacement

Check Kitchen Vent Hood Filter

Inspect fire extinguisher

Every Season:

Before the cold months inspect your pipes. If certain areas of your home do not receive adequate heat then considering wrapping your pipes to prevent a frozen pipe from bursting.

Check the drainage system outside your home to ensure water is flowing out and away from your home/foundation.

Clean out gutters.

Inspect roofing for any damage or leaks.

In the winter regularly inspect for any ice dams or icicles as these can cause damage to your roof and gutters.

What Type of Fireplace is Best?

1/7/2019 (Permalink)

Did you know that 1 in every 3 homeowner uses a fireplace to provide heat in their home? It is also one of the top 10 sources of a fire in a home. There are several different types of fireplaces out there to use, some safer than others. This blog will help you distinguish which one may be best for you.

Some key factors to think of when choosing the right fireplace for you are the following:

  • Efficiency
  • Cost
  • Maintenance
  • Safety

1. Traditional fireplaces -wood-burning

A traditional fireplace is nostalgic for many people and can often been seen by some as the one and only fireplace out there.

It involves an open combustion system which can produce some heat but the heat generated actually just gets sucked back up the chimney like a vacuum. Older fireplaces are around 10-15% efficient in producing heat into a home. 

It requires a chimney which in itself has its own maintenance needed. If they aren’t inspected and cleaned regularly, they can create a build-up of soot and other substances that can be flammable. 

It also requires more effort to burn the logs correctly as well as the post fire clean up. However, many will say it is worth it because of the authenticity of having a real fire shooting sparks and crackling as it burns. It is easy on the eyes, creating a warm comfort feeling. 

2. Gas

This method is most popular for a number of reasons. It takes minimal installation effort and can be installed almost anywhere since venting gets set up through a PVC pipe in the wall instead of a chimney. Everything is enclosed behind a piece of glass so it very safe to use with little to no monitoring. It can easily be turned on with a switch and heats up a home very well. 

It also comes in a vent-less option however these emit the exhaust they produce into your home.

They produce an actual flame that is visible without the need of wood or pellets. It is very efficient in producing heat into a home.

3. Electric

This is probably the most mobile type of fireplace as it can be moved from room to room wherever it can reach an outlet. Downside is because there are no live burning flames it doesn’t produce much heat.

It does prove to be ideal for commercial settings like hotels because of the beautiful appearance of a fireplace without the liability of burning someone who tries to touch it. Cost to buy one is more affordable but in the long-term electric bills will spike.

4. Bio-ethanol

This is the most expensive and referred to as the high-end option. They don’t run on gas, wood or electric but bio-ethanol which is a burning fuel made from an alcohol produced by the fermentation of carbohydrates. They have no cleaning required and are very good looking on the eyes. Downfall is they do not provide as much heat as gas fireplaces and minimal protection from heat.

When deciding on which option is best for you we hope this helped point you in the right direction. 

Snowbird Living

11/19/2018 (Permalink)

Living in New Jersey, I know everyone must know at least one person living the snowbird lifestyle. (Unfortunately that is not me.) I'm referring to those that are originally New Jersey residents who escape all of the winter blues and head to Florida for a few months out of the year. 

If you yourself fall into this category then here are a few tips to help you keep your New Jersey home safe and sound while you are enjoying the sun. 

1. Winterize Plumbing:

 This involves turning off the water supply and draining the pipes from the faucets leaving them bone dry.  If unfamiliar with the process contact a plumber, they can also blow compressed air. Almost 1 in every 4 homeowners insurance claim is related to water usually as a result of low temperatures causing freezing pipes. 

2. Roof:

Have roof inspected for any wearing or damage. Typically roofs are only designed to last for 20 years. 

3. Temperature:

Have fuel tanks filled. Keep interior temperature around 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Gas:

Turn off gas line to reduce risk of fire. 

5. Exterior:

Make sure all landscaping is tailored to reduce the risk of coming in contact with your home and creating damage. Clean gutters to prevent buildup and flow occlusions during snowfall. 

6. Phone a Friend:

Have a friend come by to check that everything is okay at your home. You can also have them pick up the mail for you to reduce the chance of a break-in. 

7. Insurance:

Review homeowners insurance policy to make sure no updates or extra coverage is needed. 

8. Snow Removal:

Arrange for someone to come after snowfall to keep walkways free of snow and ice.

9. Safety:

Consider installing motion sensor exterior lights and timed interior lights to make your home appear occupied and unattractive to prowlers.

10. Electricity:

Unplug all unnecessary appliances and electronics. 

How to Install a New Hot Water Heater

10/22/2018 (Permalink)

You have likely already read our blog on how to remove a hot water heater so now we will discuss how to install your new hot water heater. When purchasing a new tank be sure to use something similar to the pre-existing tank as far as being an electric or gas tank.

  1. Start by positioning the new tank in the area where it will rest. Maneuver the tank to an orientation where all the wiring and pipes can easily be attached. Also keep in mind that the tank has cover plates that need to be accessible during any future maintenance so keep these visible.
  2. Wrap any threaded pipe fittings with two or three layers of teflon plumbers’ tape then re-install the water pipes. When applying the tape, start at about 1" from the end of the fitting and wrap the tape in a clockwise manner around the pipe, overlapping at least 1/2 with each rotation. The entire threaded area of the pipe should be covered with two layers of tape.
  3. Connect and tighten all pipes with a wrench. (DO not over tighten).
  4. Turn on the water and check for any leaks. Wipe all joints dry and check again after several minutes for any leaks. To eliminate air in the tank and plumbing allow the hot water tap to run until it stops sputtering.
  5. When the tank is filled turn on the power (if electric) or connect the gas supply line (if gas). Test the gas line for leaks. Recommended temperature is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This will take several hours to reach.

Hot to Remove a Hot Water Heater

10/9/2018 (Permalink)

Hot water heater leaks are a fairly common cause of water damages that we deal with. Some homeowners use a plumber to handle the removal and replacement of their hot water heater but if you are the DIY type it is simple enough for one to do it on their own. Some tips you should know before starting is that you may need a hand when removing the heat due to its size. Even after it is drained it is still not light and very bulky. You should also keep in mind that you will not have water available for use for a couple hours during this process. 

1. Turn all water/energy sources off!

Start by turning off the water supply to the hot water heater whether that is the main valve to the house or a shut off valve directly to the heater. Turn off the power to the heater at the panel board as well as the gas supply. 

2. Remove any insulation around the tank and save to reuse if still in good condition.

3. Drain the tank. At the bottom of the tank there should be a valve that will allow you to attach a garden hose. Once attached have the other end outside to allow water to be drained. 

4. Open both hot and cold water valves somewhere in the house.

5. Time to disconnect the tank.

If you have an electric HWH- there top should have a small steel plate where the wires enter the tank. Remove the plate and gently pull the wires out. For a gas HWH- remove all connections to gas piping. 

6. Take a wrench and disconnect the water pipe. You may have to carefully bend this flexible pipe out of the way to remove the tank. It is normal for some extra water to leak at this point. However if it is more than a cup worth the water has not been shut off. 

7. Remove the tank and set aside for discard. 

Be on the lookout for our next blog on how to install a new hot water heater!

Why Keeping Inventory is Important

9/14/2018 (Permalink)

How to Properly Purchase Contents Insurance

Have you ever asked yourself, "how much coverage do I really need on my belongings?" There is no way to just guess and hope you have enough without keeping an inventory of what you have. Not only for the purpose of determining how much coverage you will need but also in the event of a loss where those items become damaged and that policy comes into effect.

When setting up your home or business insurance policy it is important to keep an inventory of your personal belongings or products/merchandise. Whether you are dealing with personal or business items the same guidelines follow. Keeping a list of items along with the value of them will help keep you prepared when a disaster strikes. It is also important to keep this list current with any new purchases that may increase the value of your property. Trust me, it will be less of a hassle than having to figure out what items you own when they are possibly damaged by a disaster such as a fire. With all the stress and amount of effort one deals with after property damage, one less thing to worry about will help the restoration process resolve much quicker and easier for the owner.  

Also, aside from the usual items like furniture and jewelry; it is important to keep copies of any important documents. Things like birth certificates, property deeds and business contracts should be kept safe with duplicates available along with electronic copies. 

Once you have an idea of everything you own and its value this will allow you to confirm you are receiving enough coverage for those items in your insurance policy. Every insurance policy has a limit for reimbursement so knowing how your policy matches up will keep any surprises down the road from surfacing. 

Can Living With Mold Affect Your Health

6/14/2018 (Permalink)

The topic on health hazards from mold exposure is a gray area. It is believed that living with high levels of mold can cause some minor and/or serious health affects. However, there is very little evidence to confirm all instances at this time. 

What most can agree on is living with mold should not be ignored. Not only due to the beliefs of the health risks accompanied but the affects it may cause to the value of your home. Any new buyer or renter will not want to walk into another person's mold issue. 

Mold comes in thousands of different strains but only a few of those produce toxins. The most well known being stachybotrys chartarum also known as "black mold". Did you know the term we hear often as "toxic black mold" is not actually a scientific term. It was created by news reporters that carried the term around to create the myth that "toxic black mold" is deadly which in reality that has not been proven. 

Now lets discuss what types of symptoms are reported due to mold exposure. People who spend time in these environments report respiratory issues such as shortness of breath, development of asthma, coughing, wheezing, eye irritation, nasal congestion and throat irritation. It is believed that those with weakened immune systems or a history of allergies or asthma are more prone to adverse reactions from mold. There are also some people that are more sensitive to particular strains of mold that can vary from person to person.  

The CDC suggested a link between mold and a medical condition called acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage (AIPH) or pulmonary hemosiderosis. Others state that mold causes more serious conditions as well like lung disease, upper respiratory infections or even cancer. These claims have yet to be proven with any substantial evidence. 

Although the research is limited on proving many of these claims it should still not keep someone from treating and removing any mold growth in their home. Hopefully future research can provide more insight so that federal laws can help regulate mold in homes. 

What is Not Covered?

6/13/2018 (Permalink)

Here are a few key areas that are typically not covered by your standard insurance policy. Also keep in mind of a deductible that may need to be met or coverage limits. 


1. Damages resulting from unresolved maintenance issues or neglecting to repair source. For instance, you have a leak coming from your toilet supply line that you have just been ignoring for almost a year. It caused some water damage to the ceiling below which typically would be covered by your policy initially but waiting too long to fix the problem will likely cause your insurance to reject coverage. 

2. Flood. Any source of water that enters your home from a flood regardless of the cause is not covered under a standard insurance policy. Yet you may purchase flood insurance which would be recommended for those living in a flood prone area. 

3. Law or Ordinance Upgrades. This type of scenario can come into play for something like a fire that causes the electrical wiring in your home to need to be removed and replaced. Yet, your town has new building codes that require a more expensive upgrade to new wiring being installed. In this case your insurance will only cover the costs of the original old wiring and the difference in charges for the new upgrade will be your responsibility. 

4. Sewer or drain back up from OUTSIDE. You will typically not be coverage for water that backs up into your home from an outside source. There are endorsements that can be added on to your policy to cover backs up occurring within your property line. If the source is coming outside of your property line your city may be responsible. 

5. Costs to repair and/or replace source. Most insurance companies will cover the damages associated however the costs to repair the cause falls under the homeowner. For example a pipe bursts in your home causing damages to your hardwood floors. Your insurance company will take care of fixing the floors yet the plumber you hired to replace the pipe will come out of your pocket. 

Emergency Ready Profile

6/8/2018 (Permalink)

The Best Way to Reduce Business Interruption Following a Disaster is to Plan For it NOW.

As many as 50% of businesses may never recover following a disaster, according to the latest industry research. 

SERVPRO of Paramus offers a FREE assessment of your property and develops a plan in the event of a disaster. 

Why the SERVPRO® Emergency READY Profile?

Here are just a few reasons why your business will benefit from having an emergency ready profile in place. 

  • A no cost assessment of your facility. – This means there is no need to allocate funds, giving you a great value at no cost.
  • A concise Profile Document that contains only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency. – It will only take a little time to complete and will not take you away from current projects. But it will save a lot of time if ever needed.
  • A guide to help you get back into your building following a disaster. – This can help minimize the amount of time your business is inactive by having an immediate plan of action.
  • Establishes your local SERVPRO® Franchise Professional as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider. – You have a provider that is recognized as an industry leader and close by.
  • Identification of the line of command for authorizing work to begin. – This saves time so we can begin the work of mitigating the damage which can save you time and money.
  • Provides facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas and priority contact information. – Having a quick reference of what to do, how to do it and who to call provides solutions in a disaster.
  • A concise Profile Document that contains only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency.

Developing your Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) will only take a little time to complete and will not take you away from your current projects.

The SERVPRO Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) could be a valuable tool to help restore your business in the shortest amount of time possible.

To set up this free service, call Tony D'Arco @ SERVPRO of Paramus. 

Top Sources of Mold

5/30/2018 (Permalink)

We will be discussing the primary sources of mold that are commonly found in homes. As we all know mold needs moisture and food (porous materials) to grow. Mold also likes dark humid environments. Some key causes to look out for mold are:

1. Leaky Appliances

Daily wear and tear to your appliances can cause leaks or splits that can allow moisture to escape. Unfortunately most appliances have the pipes and hoses hidden out of sight running inside walls or cabinets. So it may take some digging around to find any leaks. We recommend checking regularly for loose washers or leaky hoses. 

2. Air Conditioning Units

The condensation from an air conditioning unit creates moisture for mold. On top of that it also sucks in air from the outside that contains dirt and pollen which are attractive materials for mold. You can help minimize mold growth by running it everyday for at least 10 minutes. When it sits for long periods of time it is more likely to grow mold. When not in use like during winter season you should remove it and store in a dry place. 

3. Water Intrusion

It is beneficial to check your ceilings and cracks of your windows for any water getting in. This can be a sign of poor building construction so you may need a professional to diagnose and treat the issue. 

4. Window Sills

This area is subject to higher levels of moisture and humidity along with dirt that is a valuable source for mold. 

Next, we will discuss some locations in your home that have a higher chance for mold to grow.

1. Basement

Being that most basements are located on a sub-level, moisture is constantly part of its environment. The humidity level is much higher and typically not well ventilated leaving humidity to linger longer. Any cracks in foundation can also add to the issue. 

2. Wallpaper

If wallpaper is peeling it is likely that it has mold growing behind it. 

3. Attic

The attic of a home is home to many air flow sources like dryer vents, plumbing vents, and kitchen/bathroom. All of these constantly pump moist air into the attic accompanied with all the inevitable dust found there makes a perfect environment for mold. 

4. Crawlspace

Like a basement the crawlspace also has a higher relative humidity. The soil in the crawlspace will absorb and lock in moisture and when it dries it will evaporate adding moisture to the air. 

What To Do Until SERVPRO Arrives

5/30/2018 (Permalink)

When you experience a water damage the quicker you tackle it the better the outcome. First and foremost, finding out the source and stopping it should be your main priority.

If there are no safety hazards begin by shutting off the water source at the shut off valve. If applicable contact a plumber to fix the source to keep further damage from re-occurring. 

If the water did not come from a clean source and likely contaminated avoid all wet areas. 

DO

- Contact your homeowners insurance company

- Contact a professional restoration company (SERVPRO of Paramus @ 201-445-5588)

- If safe, turn off electricity to affected areas at circuit breaker

- Try to mop or blot up water with towels

- Place furniture legs on foil on wooden blocks

- Use safety pins or clothespins to keep furniture skirts and drapery off wet floors

- Remove oriental rugs and place in a dry area

- Remove all moisture sensitive items to a dry place

- Prop up any wet upholstery cushions to dry

- Remove books, magazines, paper to a dry place where they will not transfer and stain

- Wipe excess moisture from furniture

DO NOT

- Use a household vacuum to remove water

- Use any electronics in a room with wet flooring

- Use ceiling fans where a wet ceiling is present

- Open windows in temperatures higher than 70 degrees. AC may be used if water is not contaminated.  

Generator Safety

5/29/2018 (Permalink)

A generator being used after a house fire in Rutherford, NJ.

When a storm hits and your home loses power many people turn to a portable generator. Although generators may seem simple enough to use many people do not know the risks of operating one. 

Using a generator indoors can kill you in minutes. The primary hazard is the likelihood of carbon monoxide poisoning from the toxic engine exhaust. Carbon monoxide does not produce an odor and is invisible to the eye. That is why it is important to practice safe handling. 

1. NEVER use a generator indoors including a garage (even with an open door). The best and only place you should place an operating generator is outdoors. Allow 5 feet of clearance around the generator. Be sure the generator exhaust fumes are away from all windows and doors to prevent travel indoors. 

2. Install carbon monoxide alarms in your home. Follow the manufacturers guidelines for correct placement and mounting height.

3. Avoid electric shock or electrocution by keeping the generator dry. Do not use in rain or wet conditions. 

4. When refueling be sure to turn off the generator and allow to cool. Spilled gasoline on the hot engine parts can ignite causing an explosion. Do not overfill tank! Leave room of fuel expansion. 

5. Never smoke near a generator. 

6. Know the output rating of your generator. To prevent overloading select the right sized generator to handle the power requirements of your appliances you wish to use. Overloading can destroy not only the generator but also your electronics and/or appliances. 

7. Never plug directly to your homes wiring or household outlets. Plug appliances directly into the generator or use a heavy duty outdoor extension cord with the correct outage to handle your appliances. Never use a cord with exposed wiring. 

STORAGE

Storage of fuel safely is just as important as operation of the generator. Store fuel outside living areas, such as a locked shed, in a properly labeled approved safety can. Use the fuel recommended in instructions for your generator. Some areas restrict the amount of fuel you may store so be sure to verify with your local fire dept. Do not store fuel near a fuel burning appliance like a natural gas water heater. 

Practice proper generator handling to keep your home & family safe!

Why Bleach Is Not Recommended for Mold

5/29/2018 (Permalink)

Mold Growth on Sheetrock

Did you know that bleach does not actually get rid of your mold problem?  The old school thought of spraying bleach whenever you see mold is nothing but a myth. The reason people believe this works is because to the naked eye the visible mold is gone, yes, but that is because the bleach has removed the color of mold not its roots.  

The OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) stopped recommending the use of bleach for dealing with mold problems. The ESA (Environmental Site Assessment) also updated their guide similarly as well. 

The problem with bleach is that it is has too many variables that affect how it can treat mold. Bleach only works on killing mold on non-porous materials. If you read our previous blog on how mold growth occurs you will know that mold typically grows on porous materials like drywall and wood. So the chances your mold growth will be on a hard surface is unlikely anyways. 

Using bleach to clean areas like wood can actually promote mold growth and can leave you with a bigger problem than when you originally started. This is because mold spreads its roots deep into porous surfaces. When you use bleach it creates excessive moisture which then creates a better environment for the mold to return and thrive. Bleach will also negatively affect materials like wood by breaking down its fibers. It can also cause corrosion to metals. 

Bleach contains an ingredient called Sodium Hypochlorite which in high concentrations can be registered as an antimicrobial pesticide that will kill mold under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. However Sodium Hypochlorite can also be sold as a household cleaner without being registered as a pesticide due to this type of item only containing small amounts of Sodium Hypochlorite. This means it is not guaranteed to kill mold nor is it sold for that purpose. 

We want to steer you away from thinking bleach is the best route to dealing with your mold. Not only is it not effective but the dangerous fumes are toxic to your health. Plus, there are many  anti-microbial alternatives readily available that will get the job done and are safer to use. 

If you are dealing with mold in your home it is recommended to contact a professional. We are available to answer your mold questions. Contact us today @ 201-445-5588.

Minimize Business Interruption

5/25/2018 (Permalink)

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency 40% of businesses that experience a disaster never re-open. In order to protect your business from any type of interruption, it is adamant that you have a plan in place. 

Every business owner should be familiar with the location they are in and what types of natural disasters the location is historically known for. Knowing what type of natural disaster is common in your area will help you develop an accurate emergency preparedness plan. Some examples of natural disasters can be flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, etc.

Once you have figured out what may be inevitable in your area you should then understand your insurance coverage. Business property insurance pays to repair or replace property damage but does not protect against consequential damage like the downtime of a business while repairs are going on. This type of damage would be picked up by a business interruption coverage. It is important to also understand this type of coverage as it can differ significantly with possible exclusions, coverage limits and waiting periods. 

When preventing hazards from arising you should ask yourself if these areas are up to standard/code:

1. HVAC system

2. Electrical system

3. Telecommunications system 

4. Fire protection systems 

5. Sprinkler system

These areas should be regularly inspected and maintained for proper functioning. 

Other potential risks may be occurring from indirect sources such as other occupants if in a multi-occupancy building. It is beneficial to know what hazards might be going on nearby. For instance, if the neighboring occupant to your property is a business that manufactures acetone products, which is extremely flammable, you would want to take note of this and customize your plan accordingly.   

To prevent inventory damages, store contents based on level of sensitivity. Any water sensitive products should be removed from flood prone areas and placed above 100 year flood level. Vital records that are necessary for the survival of the business should be given maximum protection from any disaster. If possible establish electronic back up copies.

To expedite repairs in the event of an emergency, companies should develop contacts with contractors in the area. By establishing prior contacts in advance will help to initiate return to operation quickly and efficiently. This will also prevent any time wasted by auditioning different contractors to pick the best one. 

We, at SERVPRO of Paramus, offer an Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) for businesses who would like to develop not just a plan but a relationship they can trust to help them be prepared for any size disaster. Contact us today to learn more!

Natural Disasters- Prepare Your Home

5/24/2018 (Permalink)

You are home watching the local news when the reporter says the next big hurricane is coming through your area within the next couple of days. You may think running out to fill up your gas tank and grabbing the last carton of milk and loaf of bread at the store means you are prepared. However, what about your home? Is it protected and prepared for the storm?

Here are some last minute tips on what you can do to get your home ready in the event of a natural disaster:

  • Close all windows, doors, and shutters
  • Bring in anything outdoors that can be picked up by wind. 
  • Keep trees trimmed, remove any compromised limbs
  • Turn your fridge and freezer on to the coldest setting & keep it closed as much as possible so food will last longer in case of a power outage 
  • Turn off propane tank
  • Unplug any small appliances
  • Make sure your sump pump is working

To keep your home prepared all year round you must first identify any vulnerable areas in your home. 

  • Check for cracks or small holes in the foundation where water can seep in. 
  • Check for any loose or missing shingles on your roof. Secure soffits that may weaken over time. You can reinforce them by adding stainless steel screws. 
  • Touch up areas with caulking that have worn away like windowsills and door jambs. You can easily fix these cracked areas on your own by simply getting a caulking gun and a waterproof sealant 
  • Keep gutters free of debris and make sure water flows several feet away from your home
  • Make sure the septic tank and sewer are inspected and cleaned before the start of every season 

If your home is affected by a major storm or disaster, an emergency restoration company can help you with cleanup. You should also contact your insurance company to report the damage and file a claim. Our team at SERVPRO of Paramus can handle any size disaster you may face. Call us for more info. 201-445-5588

What Is Asbestos?

5/17/2018 (Permalink)

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral in the ground typically found in North America. It was frequently used in the past as a flame-resistant insulation. It is a durable material made of layers of fibers that together virtually create an indestructible material. It was widely used up until the 70's when it was discovered to be a carcinogen. 

Asbestos is found to be the sole cause of a deadly and rare form of cancer known as mesothelioma. After being exposed to asbestos mesothelioma can take 20-50 years before symptoms can appear. Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, heart and abdomen. Despite asbestos being known as a carcinogen it is still not banned. However, most manufactures have phased out the use of the material to switch to safer alternatives. 

The EPA classifies six different materials as asbestos. All six being human carcinogens.

1.  Amosite

2. Crocidoltite

3. Tremolite

4. Anthophyllite

5. Actinolite 

6. Chysolite

Only amosite which is the brown colored asbestos and crocidolite (blue) are mainly used. 

Now that we know what asbestos is and the negative side effects lets talk about what to do when you come across asbestos. When finding asbestos in your home or building you don't necessarily need to go remove it immediately. It is actually best to leave it untouched if it is intact. Generally asbestos containing material that is in good condition and not disturbed will not release asbestos fibers. In the case the material is not in good condition or is in the vicinity of a renovation it should only be removed by a trained professional. 

If you suspect the material contains asbestos but are not completely sure you can have testing done to confirm. Air testing can also be performed to confirm the air quality is safe after removal.

The most common scenario we come across is asbestos containing tile found hidden under layers of flooring. In the event our technicians suspect asbestos we will have testing performed to verify and then plan on the best route of execution. 

Preventing an Ice Dam

5/16/2018 (Permalink)

What is an ice dam and how will it affect my home?

Have you ever noticed those pretty icicles hanging off the edge of your roof after a big snowstorm? Although they are beautiful to look at (I guess that's why they mimicked them with Christmas decorative lighting) those icicles can cause some serious water damage to your home. 

An ice dam forms when snow melts from the upper portion of your roof causing water to run down your roof and then refreezes when it reaches the edge causing an ice dam to form over your gutter backing up water from properly draining. This pool of water that gets trapped backs up under the roof shingles soaking the roof sheathing and eventually finds cracks in the roof where it leaks into the attic of your home. 

Typically this is usually caused by poor roof ventilation, and a warm attic space. A clogged gutter system can also intensify the extent of the situation. 

Some steps that can be taken to prevent this from occurring are:

1. Check attic to make sure it is in good condition. You can do this buy searching your attic for daylight through any cracks. 

2. Keep gutters clear of debris. Make sure your gutter is draining properly. Remove any tree limbs that can come in contact with your home. 

3. Keep interior roof structure the same temperature as exterior. This can be done by providing ventilation for continuous airflow under the roof deck. As far as the interior temperature start by removing any heat sources like un-insulated lighting or un-insulated duct work. Opt for sealed can light instead of recessed lighting. Also increase attic floor insulation to keep living area heating from rise to the attic. 

4. Use a roof rake to remove snow (6 inches or higher) from the edge of your roof. 

If you find yourself with water leaking into your home call us at SERVPRO of Paramus to handle your ice dam problems. 201-445-5588

Dealing With Hoarding

5/9/2018 (Permalink)

Homeowner with hoarding disorder affecting the mitigation of water damage and mold growth.

What is hoarding?

By definition hoarding is collecting or keeping large amounts of various items in a home due to strong urges to save them or distress experienced when discarding them. It is classified as a mental disorder that usually is the result of a traumatic event or a symptom of another disorder such as depression, dementia or obsessive compulsive disorder. It is most commonly found in older adults.

Many rooms in a hoarders house are so packed with items that the room cannot be used for its intended use. This makes normal everyday living compromised. 

Hoarding can really be an issue in terms of safety and health. For one it can be a major fire hazard. In the event of a fire many occupants die due to the inability to escape the home because of blocked exits or even injuring themselves by tripping over items. Firefighters responding to a fire that is home to a a hoarder can be put at risk as well due to these obstructed exits and falling objects. It makes the search for occupants much harder and very risky. The weight of large amounts of piled up personal belongings along with the use of water to put out a fire can lead to a homes collapse. 

Along with fire safety hazards hoarding can also be detrimental to health in the event of ignored or even unnoticed water leaks that can lead to mold growth. Many times a pile of various items can hide any issues that may be going on in the home since they are blocked out of sight. It can also attract pests and rodents that can gnaw away at materials like wiring causing further safety risks. 

To prevent and respond to hoarding behavior be sure to be respectful when communicating with the individual. Instead of acknowledging the clutter focus on expressing safety concerns for not just themselves but for those around such as neighbors, family members, responders etc. The use of outside outlets to help with intervention can be beneficial and necessary.  

How to Prepare For and Prevent a Fire.

5/2/2018 (Permalink)

Did you know that the actual heat from a fire is more dangerous than the flames?

Room temperature during a fire can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit at floor level and rise to 600 degrees at eye level.

You can scorch your lungs just trying to take a breath. The high temperature will even melt your clothes onto your skin.

PREVENTION

  • Install the right number of smoke alarms for your home and test them at least once a month. Batteries should be changed once a year.
  • Never leave a burning candle unattended
  • Turn off portable heater when unattended.
  • Never smoke in bed, when drowsy, or medicated. Douse cigarette buds in water before disposal.
  • Never smoke in a home where oxygen is used. Oxygen can be explosive and will make a fire burn hotter and faster.
  • Never use a portable generator indoors. It should also only be refueled outdoors or in well ventilated areas.
  • Keep items 3 feet in distance from any fire source.

PREPARE

  • Teach children what to do when they hear the sound of the smoke alarm.
  • In the dark close your eyes and practice feeling your way out of your house.
  • Establish two ways to exit each room.
  • Create a meeting point for all the members in your family outside of your home.
  • Make sure everyone knows how to call 911.
  • Make sure windows are easily accessible and screens can be removed quickly.
  • Make digital copies of all important documents and records such as a birth certificate.

In the event of a fire; before opening a door, feel the doorknob and door. If it is hot and/or has smoke coming out of the cracks do not open it. Use your second mode of escape from that room. If clothes catch fire teach everyone to stop, drop and roll. If someone cant drop down you can also take a blanket to smother the flames.

Better Act Quick!

5/1/2018 (Permalink)

Soot cob webs found in the kitchen of this home.

A fire is a devastating thing to have happen to anyone. No homeowner wants to experience a fire and its damages left behind.

Why is it important to start clean up and restoration after a fire?

Health Risks

First and foremost, left over smoke & soot particles is a bio-hazard. Smoke inhalation can cause respiratory problems or worsen conditions like asthma and heart disease. If possible always try to limit exposure by staying with a relative or in a hotel during restoration. Many times when filing a claim your insurance company may offer you a stay in a hotel until it is no longer a hazard. 

Was Water Used?

There may be occurrences where water was used to cease the fire. If that is the case you may be experiencing not only fire and smoke damage to your home but also water damage. It is imperative to start proper drying of water in your home to prevent mold growth from occurring. 

Permanent Damage

Acidic soot can cause damage to porous materials leading to permanent discoloration that even a professional at that point wouldn't be able to remove.  However, if action is taken quickly permanent damage can be prevented.

It is expected that wherever the fire occurred there can also be electrical damage to outlets, wires, appliances. Make sure these are deemed safe before return to use. 

Soot can also cause damage to finishes on appliances or kitchen surfaces. These can become discolored turning a yellow hue. Over time smoke and soot can cause etching to glass and tarnishing of metal. 

Hopefully this situation will not occur in your home but if you find yourself needing to act quickly contact SERVPRO of Paramus.

Most Common Types of Homeowners Claims

4/17/2018 (Permalink)

Did you know that in 2016 losses due to natural disasters in the U.S. totaled $23.8 Billion in costs. Severe thunderstorms accounted for 60% of the losses at $14 Billion.

The most common types of homeowners insurance claims policy holders will file are:

1. Theft- Unlike most of the other types of losses this one can be prevented with security measures like an alarm system, safe box or my personal favorite a dog! 

2. Wind Damage- Be sure to check trees and shrubs around your property to make sure they will not cause damage to your home. Also checking the shingles on your roof should be done yearly. 

3. Water Damage (non-weather related)- This list includes causes like a pipe burst, leaky appliance, sump pump failure or even a sewer back up. 

4. Water Damage (weather related)- This is most common in the Northeast where colder temperatures are common. Some measures can be taken to avoid instances like clearing out snow and ice to prevent buildup.

5. Hail Damage- This type is most common in the West and Midwest where golf ball sized hail can cause serious damage to property. 

Water Damage? Let's Talk Contents!

4/17/2018 (Permalink)

When dealing with property damage to your home one of the challenging tasks is trying to save all of your possessions.

It may be a disappointing and daunting task to itemize, photograph and list every single item for insurance reimbursement but SERVPRO of Paramus will be there to help give some guidance as well as lend a hand with the removal of any unsalvageable items. 

Here are some tips to help you figure out how to categorize your items.

Let's start with discussing what types of contents cannot be saved from water damage.

Items like food, cosmetics, medicines, medical supplies, carpet padding, stuffed animals and baby toys should never be tried to salvage. Mainly due to the risk of contamination and potential health hazards.

There are also some types of contents that can usually be saved but depending on the extent of the damage.

These are items like mattresses, pillows, large carpets, area rugs, upholstered couches & chairs, books, paper products, solid wood/metal/plastic furniture, metal utensils, pots and pans. 

Now that you have an idea of what types of items can be saved it is important that you move FAST! Make sure everything you want to save is moved to a safe dry place to prevent further damage. Time is of the essence to decrease the chances of further damage.

The things you don't want to save should be left outside to dry until your claims adjuster arrives. Sometimes your adjuster may not be able to get out for a couple of days. In the case that some of these items are things like food that will spoil or may attract rodents; make a separate pile to have discarded as soon as possible after contacting your adjuster. 

Be sure to have EVERYTHING documented as well as photographed for your adjuster to confirm all of your losses. 

We hope this provides you some help and insight when dealing with your personal items. 

What Is Soot?

4/12/2018 (Permalink)

Soot shown on a chemical sponge.

Did you know that the highest cause of house fires is from cooking? Usually when a homeowner leaves a pot or pan unattended and then only remembers it when smoke invades their home. It may not develop into fire damage to your property but rather smoke and soot damage that usually is worse than you would think. Although your kitchen cabinetry isn’t on fire and ruined there is still some specialized clean-up needing to be done from the smoke & soot. 

Soot is a powdery, flaky substance composed of mostly carbon that is a result of incomplete combustion of materials like coal, oil and wood. Not only is it harmful but it can also be a pain to remove due to its stickiness which can cause staining if not treated properly. 

A chemical sponge is used to clean soot from walls. Commonly a chemical sponge may also reveal soot you did not notice was there. 

When treating textiles, a heavy duty vacuum must be used  before trying to clean them. Do not try to wash these in regular dry-cleaning or wash. Professional cleaners will need to use counteractants to break up smoke molecules and eliminate odors. 

It is highly recommended to hire a professional to properly handle clean-up and restoration to eliminate chances of staining and odor. 

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today – (201) 445-5588

How to Prevent Mold Growth After a Water Damage

4/11/2018 (Permalink)

Mold growing behind wainscoting in home theater.

Mold spores are everywhere! It only wrecks havoc on our life when it starts to grow in our home. 

Mold requires a few circumstances in order to grow. 

1. Warmth: Ideal temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit or above. Mold does not flourish in cold temperatures. 

2. Food: Organic matter found in sporous materials like carpet, carpet pad, drywall, wallpaper, wood materials, paper products and ceiling tiles.

3. Moisture: Humid environments with poor circulation.

Typically when mold has these conditions present it can begin to grow within 24-48 hours. 

To prevent mold from reaching these conditions we must:

First, eliminate water ASAP.

Second, remove any saturated porous materials like carpet padding, insulation and ceiling tiles. Upholstered furniture should be removed as well since it can be a nesting ground for mold and difficult to clean. Lift carpeting to allow flooring underneath to dry out. 

Third, dry out any wet materials with fans. Keep area ventilated by opening windows and doors. 

Fourth, dry out the moisture in the air with a dehumidifier.

Fifth, sanitize walls, flooring and baseboards. Any baseboards not made of true wood should be discarded. If so made of wood detach from wall to allow drying to occur behind. 

In most cases a professional like SERVPRO of Paramus is recommended to perform proper water mitigation and drying. In the event mold does grow on these materials mold remediation will need to be done safely and effectively to ensure no health risks are present. 

Do You Live In a Flood Zone?

4/10/2018 (Permalink)

Unfortunately, there are some homes that are just more prone to floods that it is almost inevitable. Of course, the first option to fix the problem is to just pick your house up and move (literally), but not everyone has the ability to do so.

Here are some tips to help you prevent the damages resulting from a flood to your home.

1. Consider replacing building materials with water-resistant materials such as:

  • Galvanized nails - will not rust in a flood
  • Indoor/Outdoor carpet w/ synthetic pad
  • Synthetic baseboards instead of wood
  • Marine plywood-most water-resistant plywood
  • Metal doors & frames- will not warp, only rust which can be later sanded & painted

2. Have your washer/dryer in the basement? You may want to relocate them to the 1st floor or even just elevate them from the floor. (12" above 100-year flood level recommended). This can also be done with your hot water heater.

3. Raise all sockets, circuits breakers, switches and wiring to at least a foot above your expected flood level. 

4. Install a sump pump. Sump pumps are the first line of defense in preventing water from seeping into basements. Also recommended to install a battery powered backup in case of a power outage.

5. Although expensive, raising your home with piers or columns so that the lowest level sits above flood level may be the drastic option needed if you live in a high risk flood zone. 

6. Review your homeowners insurance policy. Did you know that most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover flood damage? Flood insurance is a supplemental policy you can purchase through an insurance agent or company.

7. Lastly, be prepared with a company you can trust like SERVPRO of Paramus that can help a devastating disaster like a flood become "Like it never even happened."

Smoke, Soot and Odor Removal

4/1/2018 (Permalink)

Dry Sponges or Chem Sponges used to remove soot from hard surfaces

Smoke and soot is very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.  

Smoke and soot facts:

  • Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
  • Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
  • The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Paramus will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

  • Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

  • Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

  • Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today – 201-445-5588

Why Your Roof May Not Be Covered

3/29/2018 (Permalink)

Its common for many homeowners to look at their homeowners insurance as an extended warranty for their roof. However, insurance companies expect you to maintain your roof like you would your car. (oil change, tune up, new tires, etc.) When you fail to keep up with the maintenance of your roof, insurance companies will deem damage caused to your home due to your neglect resulting in possible claim denial. 

One of the more common claims to get denied is "wind drive rain". If heavy wind causes rainwater to get pushed under shingles yet you have an old roof that needed repairs or even a replacement don't expect your insurance be on the hook.  

Usually around 15-20 years your roof is on its last legs needing a replacement. However, keep in mind if your roof experiences its fair share of beatings like hail or catastrophic storms your need for a new roof may be much sooner than that. 

Try to have your roof inspected annually during the warmer months to make sure you are prepared. Maintenance is key to the longevity of your roof.

Flooded Basement? Call SERVPRO of Paramus

3/9/2018 (Permalink)

Water Heaters can go without warning and the damage can be extensive

SERVPRO of Paramus is available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today - (201) 445-5588

We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of Paramus has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration—in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business.

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

  • Your name and contact information
  • Your insurance information (if applicable)
  • The street address of the water-damaged home or business
  • When did the flooding or water damage occur?
  • What caused the water damage (if known)?
  • Is there electricity available (on-site)?

About SERVPRO of Paramus

SERVPRO of Paramus 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. 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.

When Clean-up Demands A Professional

3/5/2018 (Permalink)

Your basement? Don't pick up a mop, pick up the phone

When That Sewer Back-up Is Too Much To Handle On Your Own.

At SERVPRO of Paramus, we know that sometimes sewer back-ups can be bad... very bad. Our IICRC certified technicians know the safest way to clean up the mess. Sewer back-ups can cause illness if not properly remediated. Let our trained technicians get the job done right for you and your family.

We'll work directly with you and in most cases, your insurance company to assure that your home is properly cleaned, deodorized and sanitized. We'll make it safe again for your family, we'll make it "Like it never even happened."

Call us, SERVPRO of Paramus, your clean-up professionals.

We're here for you: 24/7 (201) 445-5588

Title: Restoring Your Bergen County Commercial Property After A Water Damage Event

2/13/2018 (Permalink)

Commercial Water Damage Events Present Unique Challenges. The time between a flood and your business getting back is critical.

Flooding and water damage events at Bergen County commercial properties are often complex with numerous issues that require a knowledgeable and flexible response. Whether we’re 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 arises in your business, give us a call and we’ll be there fast with the help you need.

About SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County

SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County specializes in the cleanup and restoration of commercial and residential property after a water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. 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.

Call us, 24/7 201-445-5588

You Need a Professional to Fix Your Smoke Damage

2/22/2017 (Permalink)

Severe Smoke Damage in a home

Why You Need a Professional to Fix Your Smoke Damage

There is no question damage from flames and smoke can destroy a home. If your home has sustained fire damage, you might have one question when it comes to smoke damage:  Why should you use a professional for cleanup?  For three simple reasons, you should leave your fire and smoke damage to the pros.

Time Matters

When it comes to mitigating the damage of smoke, time is important. The longer smoke residue stays in your home, the more likely it is to cause permanent damage. If you hire a professional restoration service, it will be able to enter your home quickly, saving items before smoke has a chance to completely destroy them. Further, if you work with a professional restoration company, you can ready your home for other contractors to make repairs.

Equipment Counts

With industrial-grade filtration equipment and chemicals, professional fire restoration companies have the tools to deal with both fire damage and smoke damage. You probably do not. You might have one question about smoke damage:  Why should you use a professional for cleanup?  When it comes to the best equipment for the job, you want to rely on a professional service who has the tools to do the job right.

 

Smoke Is Hazardous

If you plan to try to fix your burn damage by yourself, you should think again. Smoke generated from household fires is a known carcinogen. Without the training, experience, and safety equipment to protect yourself from the health hazards of smoke, you could get quite sick. By working with a professional restoration company, you can protect your health while restoring your home.

There is a simple answer when it comes to the following question about smoke damage:  Why should use a professional for cleanup?  Since you probably don’t have the time, equipment, or skill to properly restore your home, you should leave fixing your smoke and fire damage to the professionals.

Car Crashes Through Home

2/21/2017 (Permalink)

Rick Cristofol secures the house jack assisted by Kyle Meehan and Joe Kelly from Servpro of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County

When the accelerator stuck, a woman's car drove through the street in reverse and crashed through the front of a home. Fortunately no one was hurt. Washington Township's Fire Department was quick to respond was SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County who was called in to do the emergency board-up.

SERVPRO works with multiple Fire and Police Departments throughout Bergen County

Fire Restoration Can Make Your Home Livable Again

2/9/2017 (Permalink)

Room After a Fire

How Fire Restoration Can Fix Your Home

There is no question fire damage can be catastrophic for any home. Even if the flames are never too bad in your house, smoke damage can make it unlivable. Either way, by working with a qualified fire restoration specialist, you can return your home to a good condition again. Here are two ways fire restoration can make your home livable again.

Flame Solutions

If a fire breaks out, your home can sustain fire damage ranging from cosmetic to structural. A good fire restoration company can complete a full structural analysis of your house. If any part of your home is unsafe, the company will rope it off and discuss structural risks with you. Then, the company will remove any damaged materials to ready your home for repairs. Because they have knowledge and skill related directly to flame mitigation your restoration company will be in a better position to advise you on home repairs following your fire than a general contractor. If you are wondering if fire restoration can make your home livable again, this should give you peace of mind.

 

Smoke Remediation

Whether flames in your home were severe or relatively minor, smoke damage can be catastrophic. Even if the fire did not directly damage parts of your home, it’s smoke probably permeated every inch of your house. Because of this, you need to work with a skilled fire restoration specialist. You will receive a full analysis of what furniture, belongings, and building materials you need to remove from your house. The company will then use chemicals and filtration to purify the air in your home. Eventually, you might not even notice the effects of smoke damage.

 

If your house has sustained fire damage, fire restoration can make your home livable again. By working with an exceptional fire restoration specialist, you can return comfort, usefulness, and beauty to your house.

Why You Need Flood Damage Restoration Immediately

12/29/2016 (Permalink)

Flooded Basement in Paramus, NJ

There are essentially two types of flood damage that can occur within a residential home. The first is the more common type, and it is caused by a pipe bursting. The second is damage caused by a flood or hurricane that came through your town. Either way, you want to seek out flood damage restoration as soon as possible, and that requires a few steps.

As soon as you realize your home has been flooded, you need to call your insurance agency. Different policies need to be taken out for each type of flooding. Flooding as a result of a pipe is covered by most types of homeowners’ insurance, but a separate policy generally needs to be taken out for flooding as a result from a hurricane. However, if you live in a part of the country that is not prone to heavy rains, then you may be able to go without it.

Your insurance agent will likely give you advice on what to do concerning your flood damage policy. You will probably be told to take pictures of the damage to show exactly how much flooding occurred. You may also need to make an itemized list of everything that was affected. Some insurance policies will only cover damage repairs that need to be done to the house itself, but others can cover personal belongings.

After you have spoken with an insurance agent, you want to call SERVPRO of Paramus to fix this damage. If you wait a while before calling a professional, then there is a significant risk mold could develop. Mold leads to various respiratory problems, so you want to prevent it from growing if possible. It is dangerous to handle items affected by flood water on your own, particularly electronics. Leave this work to the experts who know how to be safe.

Most importantly, you need to act fast when it comes to flood damage restoration. The longer you wait, the more you are going to be inconvenienced

Bleach Does Not Kill Mold

11/23/2016 (Permalink)

Got Mold? Call Servpro of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County

BLEACH DOES NOT KILL MOLD
 

A well-known expert when interviewed on a local New Orleans radio station, recently said, “When you have a mold problem, simply wash down the affected area with diluted bleach.” We have seen FEMA handing out gallons of Clorox to flood-victims. Lowe’s and Home Depot stock up pallets of the stuff whenever the impending doom of a threatening hurricane is close. This is one of the most widely publicized “urban legends”. Bleach is a powerful oxidizer and can, in many instances, sanitize surfaces of certain types of bacteria but when you are faced with a wall or beams etc. covered in mold, Bleach is NOT the product to use. Contact the professionals at SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County.

Eyebrows raise in disbelief every time I say the phrase “bleach doesn’t kill mold.” Some look at me as if I’m speaking another language and they are right. I am speaking the TRUTH. Bleach (active ingredient is Sodium Hypochlorite) is very effective in removing the discoloration but may leave the microflora that will enable the mold to return in exactly the same spot when conditions are right. So, “how do you know this,” I’m asked.

Anecdotally, my wife wonders why she has to clean the same spot of mold on the bathroom tile month after month. Now she knows why. The mold has never been killed – it simply goes clear and then returns. Bleach will not kill the mold but a good biocide, or anti-microbial will.

To underscore the validity of my claim, I suggest the “Journal of Forest Products” who commissioned a study by Oregon State University a couple of years ago. The mold disappears but the microflora remains and under the right conditions the mold will begin to grow.

In our Sanitization Protocol we recommend using GREEN technologies to remove surface mold. When you use the right kind of anti-microbial, the mold will be destroyed and the underlying bio-slime will be annihilated.

SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County provides free estimates for mold remediation. We can recommend an Industrial Hygienist if needed for testing and protocol. We don't recommend using the same company for testing AND remediation as these should be completely independent of each other.

Contact SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County at 201-445-5588 or SERVPRO9475@SERVPROparamus.com

 

At the mall...

8/23/2016 (Permalink)

Frozen pipe two weeks before the Christmas holidays. This could have been a disaster. We scheduled crews on a Sunday to work around the clock.

Restoring Your Bergen County/Paramus Commercial Property After or Water Damage Event

Flooding and water damage events at commercial properties are often complex with numerous issues that require a knowledgeable and flexible response. Whether we’re dealing with a relatively small water cleanup scenario or a large scale event (this very popular Bergen County mall), 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 arises in your business, give us a call and we’ll be there fast with the help you need.

About SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County

SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County specializes in the cleanup and restoration of commercial and residential property after a water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. 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.

Meet Our Crew: http://www.SERVPROparamus.com/employee-photos

Don't Let This Happen To You

8/12/2016 (Permalink)

Address water damages professionally as soon as they happen. Contact SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County for help.

If you think you might have a mold problem, call SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County. One of our mold remediation specialists will examine the structure for any visible signs of mold. In the event mold is found, you will be asked to sign a work authorization form prior to any mold clean up or related work being performed. SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County can provide a written, detailed estimate for you or your insurance company.

If extensive mold growth is present, additional assistance may be required. Some situations require testing by an Inddor Air Quality/Environmental Professional or an Industrial Hygienist. They will independantly do testing and provide a written remediation protocol. You may wish to consult with your insurance adjuster prior to any work being completed to discuss your policy coverages.

You can call our office (201)445-5588 for a referral to an independant Industrial Hygienist.

Our professionally trained crews are here and ready to assist you with any mold concerns.

Always Ready When You Need Us !

8/11/2016 (Permalink)

 Bergen County 24 Hour Emergency Water Damage Service

SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County is available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today – 201-445-5588

We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of [[Franchise Name]] has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration—in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business.

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

  • Your name and contact information
  • Your insurance information (if applicable)
  • The street address of the water-damaged home or business
  • When did the flooding or water damage occur?
  • What caused the water damage (if known)?
  • Is there electricity available (on-site)?
  • About SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County

    SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen 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. 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.

    Meet Our Crew: http://www.SERVPROparamus.com/employee-photos

    Found Treasure

    6/17/2016 (Permalink)

    The homeowner was in Arizona when she got the call that there was a fire in her townhouse in River Vale, New Jersey. SERVPRO of PARAMUS/NORTHEAST BERGEN COUNTY was called in to do the emergency board-up and later to clean some of the structure, any salvageable contents and to perform the demolition in other areas. We had been in the townhouse numerous days but could not get into the utility room due to the structure of the kitchen floor above being compromised. Eventually after the area was secured we began cleaning the utility room. During cleaning one of our technicians (Gus Calliste) found 5 cardboard boxes, small but heavy. He opened the first one and discovered a solid silver bar, it weighed 100 Ounces and was marked 99.999 pure silver. Gus opened the remaining four boxes and found the same solid silver bars in each one.

    Gus took a picture and sent it to our owner, Tony Palumbo. The picture only showed four silver bars. Tony called the homeowner and told her we found four solid silver bars. She wasn’t even aware they were there but she was very grateful. She also misunderstood Tony and thought they were one ounce silver bars. Gus came back to the office and turned in the 5 silver bars. We cleaned the soot from the silver bars and made arrangements to return it to the insured/homeowner.

    The day we arrived at the scheduled appointment she wasn’t home. Our technician Mike Johnson called her cell phone and she said she was stuck at the Verizon store in Hillsdale. Mike told her not to worry and he drove the big green truck out to meet her. She was absolutely shocked to discover they were 100 ounces each and that there was 5 not 4. Mike handed over the 5 bars, 100 ounces each to a delighted homeowner. 500 ounces at about $17.43 an ounce was a nice ($8715) and very unexpected surprise. She couldn’t stop thanking Gus and the crews that had been working in her house for their honesty. This was definitely one of our more interesting finds at a jobsite. Lastly for the record, she was grateful for the job we did in her home to get her on the road back to getting her home and life restored. SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County was happy to assist.

    Restaurant Impossible: Ambush

    1/28/2016 (Permalink)

    MARCH 9th, 2016 at 9 PM only on the FOOD NETWORK

    We have the date the show will air. Titled AMBUSH:FADED STAR will debut on Wednesday, March 9th, 2016 on the Food Network at 9 PM. We were there but we don't know how this one turns out. Watch the episode and other episodes on the Food Network.

    Additional airings Thursday March 10th @ midnight and Saturday March 12th @ 5 PM.

    We're not just fire, water and mold!

    SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County to the rescue!

    FREE Smoke Alarms installed from American Red Cross

    12/2/2015 (Permalink)

    SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County is working with the American Red Cross in New Jersey to help spread the word about their push to make your home, business a safer place. Please click on the link to get to their website for more details.

    The American Red Cross is helping families protect themselves from home fires through the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign. At no cost to you, we would like to demonstrate some simple changes in the home that can help you protect your family against fire. In addition, the Red Cross will install FREE smoke alarms where needed within your home.

    The Red Cross is always trying to prevent the need for Disaster Relief whenever they can. Our office as well as SERVPRO'S nationwide work side by side with the many men and women of the Red Cross.

    www.redcross.org/nj/princeton/home-fire-visit

    Emergency Ready Profile

    11/25/2015 (Permalink)

    One of our 8 production vehicles ready to respond to your emergency

    The Best Way to Reduce Business Interruption Following a Disaster is to Plan For it NOW.

    As many as 50% of businesses may never recover following a disaster, according to the latest industry research. Of the businesses that survive, the overwhelming majority of them had a preparedness plan in place. Pre-planning can serve as an insurance policy aimed at peace of mind.

    *** This a NO COST assessment of your facility ***

    Important contact and phone numbers as well as insurance information, contractor, plumber, electrician and roofer info and more at your fingertips no matter where you are. If you are stuck at home and circumstances don't allow you to get to your business, you have everything you need right there with you. SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County can help you coordinate at a time when you need help the most.

    A concise Profile Document that contains only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency.

    It will only take a little time to complete and will not take you away from your current projects.

    The SERVPRO Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) could be a valuable tool to help restore your business in the shortest amount of time possible.

    To set up this free service, call Tony D'Arco @ SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County, CALL NOW or contact Tony via e-mail: TDarco@SERVPROparamus.com

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