Water Damage Can Warp and Buckle Flooring

9/5/2022 (Permalink)

Water Damage to Wood and Laminate Flooring is Very Common

When your bathroom fixture or dishwasher leaks, the basement floods or a window is left open during a torrential downpour, your flooring can get quite wet. When these things happen, your flooring can sustain enough water damage that it has to be cleaned, repaired or even replaced. The guide below to flooring water damage costs can help you understand what steps will have to be taken to bring your floor back to a preloss state, if possible.

Water Damage to Hardwood Flooring
In humid or wet locations like the laundry area, bathrooms or the basement, flooring contractors try to discourage homeowners from installing hardwood flooring. When there is high humidity or a significant amount of water present, moisture gets into the wood, causing it to expand and producing separating, warping and cracking.

Flooring which is engineered handles humidity a lot better since the underlayment attached is made to expand and contract with normal humidity changes without damaging the solid wood layer on the top. It is however still not a good choice in locations that are humid and wet. In rooms with high RH, avoid wood. Concrete, tile or vinyl is preferred in these areas.

Water Damage to Laminate Flooring 
Laminate flooring is composed of layers of material which will absorb water readily and swell, making the layers separate. This happens when water penetrates past the water-resistant barrier of the laminate top. This is often the result when a flood causing standing water to collect for an extended length of time. In this case, laminate flooring needs to be replaced, as there is no cost-effective way to repair the loss. Therefore, this flooring isn’t recommended for areas that are often humid or wet, either.

Tile Water Damage
Grout and tile are quite water resistant, and this is one of the reasons it’s such a good choice for pool areas, showers, entryways, and bathrooms. Your primary concern is the subfloor, as water can get through cracks in the grout, or around the tile field edges. The subfloor will swell if damaged, and the tile and grout can crack or the tile field in this area will be raised.

Linoleum and Vinyl Flooring Water Damage
These both can stand up to water quite well. It can be dried by using a wet vacuum to get rid of the standing water and fans can be placed in the area to dry up water which could have seeped into the subflooring while increasing the evaporation rate.

Hiring the Professionals
Professional water restoration companies, such as SERVPRO, specialize in drying out flooring of all kinds with pumps, fans, wet vacuums and desiccants. We have the right equipment and knowledge to dry out each kind of flooring properly if it is possible to salvage it, and we also know when it needs replacing. We can also sanitize and deodorize your flooring to stop mold and mildew from growing and to eliminate any potential odors.

When water damage in your Bourbonnais home affects your flooring, call SERVPRO of Kankakee County right away at (815) 935-0077 so we can come out to your property and perform the water removal and remediation services that you need. We can restore your beautiful home "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO's Commercial Alliances

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

Involvement by our SERVPRO at all levels in the community can not be understated. One of these levels is at the city and county economic level. Every town and city has a vested interest in trying to help their local business survive and thrive, providing much needed jobs to the members of their communities and also providing economic stimulus and tax revenue generation. 

These needs get interrupted when disaster strikes a business and it is vital to get their operations back up and running, as quickly as possible, "Like it never even happened." This is where the relationships you form with SERVPRO prior to the disaster striking are so important. Does your business already have a SERVPRO Representative (SMR) assigned to you? If not, complete a internet search for your local SERVPRO franchise and ask for one to be assigned to you. This SMR will go through the process of educating your business about all that they can do in advance of the coming disaster, to help you prepare so that when it happens, it is not as costly to you in downtime and lost production.       

There are many different ways to get involved with your community business members. Recently two of our SMR's attended the Kankakee County Economic Alliance meeting that was hosted at Olivet Nazarene University (ONU). Local and County business members and community leaders participated, where current happenings and futures plans were discussed. Building relationships at this level is key for when large events happen at this level, those leaders run in small circles and great relationships are needed here, so those business leaders can get their business's back up and running and restore their communities to like it was before the disaster.... "Like it never even happened."

Commercial Business Services in Bradley

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

Commercial Property owners and Property Managers are entrusted with keeping their businesses operational. When Disaster Strikes, SERVPRO of Kankakee County is here to help make it “Like it never even happened.” We've assisted some of the Kankakee Area's largest properties following disasters. Oliver Nazarene, Presence St. Mary, Sears, Bungi Oil, Denny's and many others have utilized our Commercial and Industrial Services. Facilities Managers rely on us to be Ready for Whatever Happens.

General Adjusters and Consulting firms from around the Chicago and Northwest Indiana region trust SERVPRO of Kankakee County with their must complex claims. Some of our specialties include

• Small Office Buildings
• Large Office/High-Rise Office Buildings
• Apartment Buildings
• Restaurants
• Hotel/Motels
• Small Retail Stores
• Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
• High-Rise Residential
• Manufacturing & Industrial
• Government/Military
• Universities
• Schools
• Restaurants
• Commercial Disaster Recovery Services 
• Commercial Reconstruction

We are available around the clock to get your business back up and running. Our expertise includes restoration services for fire and water damage, including electronics restoration and document drying. We are also your business’s best resource for mold remediation. Learn more about our commercial restoration services by calling SERVPRO of Kankakee County at (815)935-0077.

When Water Attacks Your Commercial Building, SERVPRO is Here to Help

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

Water can be fantastic...if you are at the water park! When it attacks your commercial building though, well, that is another story. Never fear though, SERVPRO is here to help!

Water damage never sets an appointment, and it is always inconvenient. Most people have never had a water damage event in their commercial building, but those who have, know that it is time-consuming, has a lot of moving parts, and can be seriously overwhelming. That is where SERVPRO comes in though! Dealing with all stages of water damage mitigation and repair is what we do, so even if the situation seems enormous, we have more than likely dealt with a situation that is the same or that is very similar, and we can walk you through each and every step. 

So give the professionals at SERVPRO a call! We are faster to any disaster and are here to help get you back to "Like it never even happened."

Fast Response Necessary to Damaged Flooring in Bourbonnais

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

Damaged Floors in Bourbonnais Can Be Salvaged with SERVPRO's Fast Action

When water enters your home through the bottom, from a flood or sewer backup, or from the top, due to storm damage, plumbing or appliance failure, it is a given that your flooring is likely to suffer some damage. All types of flooring can be affected, including cement or concrete, laminate, hardwood, tile or carpeting. The steps necessary to restore the flooring in your home after water damage will vary depending on the type and amount of time the water remained on the floor and its covering. SERVPRO technicians are highly qualified to investigate your water damaged flooring and to develop a comprehensive plan to restore your floors and attachments to the condition they were in before the water invaded.

Flooring in Bourbonnais is vulnerable not only to water damage but also to secondary problems if the problem is not managed quickly and microbial growth occurs. The sooner our crew can consult with you the faster we will be able to respond by drying out the flooring and determining what type of repair replacement or refinishing will be necessary. Hardwood floors can react well, but only if we are able swiftly to extract the water and direct airflow and add heat as needed both above and below the flooring.  Ceramic and asphalt-tiled floors also bounce back in most cases as long as there has been little or no water infiltration to the sub-flooring, again mandating that standing water is removed fast and airflow established. 
 
Vinyl and laminate flooring may not survive water damage, but SERVPRO will evaluate each situation and suggest a replacement if restoration is not possible. Carpeting frequently can be dried in place or removed to dry and reinstalled. Area rugs are almost always dry-able, and we will make every effort to restore their appearance and function. The padding may need to be replaced but often can be dried as well. Our technicians will pay particular attention to the condition of the subfloors in all cases. If the surface under carpeting, hardwood, tile or laminate is wet, we must solve that issue as well. Our specialized equipment, IICRC best practice methodology, and experience ensure that once we have completed our treatment, restoration or replacement of your water damaged flooring you will be able to enjoy your home again in preloss condition faster than you thought possible. "Like it never even happened."
 
When water soaks your flooring, the fast response of SERVPRO of Kankakee County is critical to a successful restoration. Operators are on alert 24/7 at (815) 597-5315 waiting for your call to set up an inspection and plan of action today

Air Movers an Essential Mitigation Resource

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

Air movers (also known as “floor drying fans”, “commercial blower fans” and “industrial air blowers”) are used in water damage restoration to enhance evaporation at the surface level and reduce drying time. This type of equipment introduces airflow at the surface level and replaces the highly saturated air with drier air to enhance evaporation. Your SERVPRO of Kankakee County technical experts have been specifically trained on the science of drying to know how many air movers they will need and how to position them to create airflow across all wet surfaces. In some cases, when the lower portion of multiple walls are wet, involving wet drywall behind baseboards, enough air movers are positioned to create a vortex of circular airflow around the walls. Our SERVPRO technicians operate the air movers in several different positions, offering flexibility in how to direct the airflow with the best possible outcome.

Air movers are an essential tool when mitigation services are needed due to water damage or restoring flood or disaster damage. Some advantages of drying a building with the use of air movers are as follows:

• Low power draw
• High velocity, making them ideal for cooling and ventilation purposes
• Reduces water damage dry out time to carpets and floors, as well as wall cavities behind drywall
• Dries concrete and paint
• Removing fumes or gases from a workspace

All of us here at SERVPRO of Kankakee County understand that having dedicated and trained technicians, utilizing professional protocols and equipment make a real difference in down time and in reducing claims and loss expenses. Our adage “Like it never even happened,” is our goal in returning damaged areas to a preloss condition and we are dedicated to both the property and lives of the customers we assist 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. We are SERVPRO of Kankakee County 815-935-0077

The Importance of Dryer Vent Cleaning in Bourbonnais

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

The Importance of Bradley Dryer Vent Cleaning

Dryer vent cleaning prevents fires. If you live in Bradley or any other area within Kankakee County, you will want to make sure that your home or commercial property is completely safe. Whether by flooding, fire or some other mishap, there are plenty of ways that your property can be threatened. One of the best ways to ensure that you are prepared for a catastrophic emergency is always to have a local residential and commercial property cleanup and restoration service.

Dryer Vent Cleaning Prevents Fires 

Keep your property from sustaining irreversible fire damage. Making sure your dryer vents are clean and free from obstruction will help keep your property safe from the possibility of a fire. It's also an excellent precaution to take to keep the air in the building from getting choked up with dust, lint and other health hazards that can accumulate in a dryer vent. 

Get Help from a Local Cleanup and Restoration Service 

It's up to you to contact an expert local cleaning and fire restoration service to ensure that your vents get cleaned in a correct and timely fashion. When you are in doubt as to whether the vents or other areas in your home are functioning correctly, a good, thorough cleaning is never a bad idea. 

Even if it turns out that your property is not quite yet due for a full cleaning, a reputable local cleanup service can help such as removing any excess pollen or debris that has accumulated in the vents. This way, you can save a great deal of time, money and worry by taking timely preventative measures. Keeping the proper level of air quality in your home or commercial building will go a long way toward keeping the structure safe for your family or employees to inhabit. An expert local service will ultimately save you a great deal of time and stress.

Expert Help for Dryer Vent Cleaning Is Available 

At SERVPRO of Kankakee County, we know that dryer vent cleaning in Bradley prevents fires. This is only one of the many services that we can provide for you to make sure that your home or commercial property will be safe against the event of an unforeseen mishap or emergency. If an emergency should befall your property, you'll want to call a service that can get to you in a prompt and timely manner. 

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

If you are in need of quick and efficient dryer vent cleaning, we're here to assist you. We can also help residents in Bourbonnais, Gilman, Beecher, Dwight and other nearby areas. Call us at (815) 935-0077 for more information.

Water Damage Restoration By SERVPRO

6/27/2022 (Permalink)

A Leaky Roof can Cause Multiple Problems 
If your home in Momence has a roof that is allowing water damage to become an ever-present problem in your life, you should know that there is a company, SERVPRO, which has the trained professionals you need. We can fix your roof so that no more additional water from rainfall can enter and then repair any interior damage. From water damage that has caused deterioration of the roof's support beams and sheathing to interior walls and horizontal structures such as your floors, ceilings, and stairways, we have the training to mitigate professionally any damages that exist in your home. 

We can also check for and eliminate any other roofing shingles that have been loosened and may pose a future problem for you and your home. We can check your rain gutters for clogs to help prevent ice dams from causing seepage into the attic or framing. We have the tools and equipment to clean-up any deteriorating interior structures, and then reduce the humidity to acceptable levels inside your home. Additionally, we are trained in mold remediation according to IICRC standards, providing additional protection to you, your family, and your home. 

Not All Roof Damage is Caused by High-Speed Winds 
If your roof has been damaged by tree limbs or other debris, we can also clear that away and provide further care that will eliminate the problem, as well. Sometimes, animals will find a small opening in between shingles and use that as a means to enter into your home's attic space to find shelter. If the interior of dead spaces such as those found over porches has been affected, we will also treat these so that mold will not grow, and so that you will have the same beautiful look you've come to love and appreciate in your home's exterior. 

Call SERVPRO to protect your home's interior from further damage. When faced with damage to your home from a leaky roof, or any other access point, you need to contact SERVPRO of Kankakee County at (815) 935-0077. We are available 24/7, and ready to take your call. We will respond with our highly trained technicians and repair experts who will restore and protect your home's interior and exterior.

Water Damage To Your Home or Business Is Not Your Job To Fix - It's SERVPRO's

6/27/2022 (Permalink)

Once this situation has manifested itself, water damage can proliferate through leaks in the weakest portions of the plumbing. These can be challenging to ascertain as moisture and dampness can affect a broad area. To prevent excessive tear out and replacement once you have encountered water damage, you can reach out to the SERVPRO of Kankakee County professionals for fast and effective restoration and repair.

Our Professional team that arrives promptly at your home or business is equipped with detection technology to identify leaks in the plumbing behind the walls and identify the full scope of the water damage that your home or business has sustained throughout the time that the pipe has been leaking water. Our auditory equipment can help us to hear behind drywall to determine the location of the problem only to remove portions of wall required for us to repair the damaged plumbing and begin drying efforts effectively.

To better allocate our drying equipment, we utilize thermal imagery cameras which non-invasively identify moisture pockets behind walls of your home or business to determine where focused drying efforts occur to remove the dampness present. If the damage is severe enough, SERVPRO of Kankakee County technicians might also implement our injectidry system to introduce heated air through wall cavities to dry them efficiently before secondary effects like mold growth can occur.

While water damage might happen from a variety of sources, clean up and drying efforts need to begin promptly to prevent excessive structural concerns.

All of us here at SERVPRO of Kankakee County understand that having dedicated and trained technicians, utilizing professional protocols and equipment make a real difference in down time and in reducing claims and loss expenses. Our adage “Like it never even happened,” is our goal in returning damaged areas to a preloss condition and we are dedicated to both the property and lives of the customers we assist 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. We are SERVPRO of Kankakee County 815-935-0077

Does Your Warehouse Need Help Cleaning Up?

6/5/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Kankakee County provides cleaning services for your warehouses. Our technical experts are pictured here at a 1 million square foot warehouse in Manteno, Illinois. SERVPRO in this case cleaned beams, ceilings, pipes, lighting, T-Bar, etc. We removed dust, grime, grease, webs, etc.  SERVPRO utilized specialty equipment and hand. Ceilings and rafters over time accumulate many varieties of particulate matter and simple vibration or air movement can cause the matter to fall and contaminate the areas below.

Certain types of particulate dust can pose a fire hazard if they adhere to a large area, not to mention bacteria, etc.  It can also create odors and affect the heating, cooling and ventilation.

We here at SERVPRO of Kankakee County are here to help you and make your Manteno Warehouse or Industrial facility maintain a clean environment for you, your workers, visitors and products.

Have You Ever Heard About Asbestos Testing and Abatement?

6/5/2022 (Permalink)

Asbestos Testing and Abatement

What is asbestos? “Asbestos refers to a set of six naturally occurring fibrous minerals: Chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite. Among these, chrysotile and amosite asbestos are most common.”

For many years asbestos fibers were used in several different commercial, residential and industrial capacities. Asbestos is heat resistance and became the material of choice. For example it can be found in roof shingles, floor tiles, ceiling materials, cement compounds, textile products, and automotive parts.

Asbestos is regulated due to the fact of how hazardous this mineral is. It is scientifically linked to many health effects. Not only workers are affected but many families.

We offer:

• Asbestos Inspections
• Asbestos Disposal
• Asbestos Abatement

Did you know? Asbestos test should be done on any house built prior to 1980. However, we feel like inspections should be completed on every house.

Any questions? Do not hesitate to call our office at (815) 935-0077

Ever Thought About Becoming A Storm Spotter?

5/31/2022 (Permalink)

It’s that time of year when weather conditions can become hazardous in a matter of minutes, why not consider becoming a Storm Spotter.

Q. What is a storm spotter?

A. The National Weather Service's (NWS) primary mission is to save lives and protect property through the issuance of warnings for hazardous weather. The WSR-88D Doppler Weather Radar is a great tool for detecting and tracking potentially severe storms and essentially all strong and violent tornadoes. However, NWS meteorologists also depend on real-time reports from trained spotters to know exactly what is occurring on the ground under a storm. The NWS trains people to identify severe storms and tornadoes and report them via organized communications networks (primarily local and county emergency management, law enforcement and amateur radio).

Q. What is the difference between a storm spotter and a storm chaser?

A. A storm spotter is volunteer or paid county or municipal employee who is spotting as a community service. Most spotters work as part of an organized network and are in communication with their community or organization, which is in turn in communication with the NWS. Some spotters are "mobile" spotters in vehicles, but most spot from fixed, strategic locations around the community or county. The purpose of spotting is to alert community officials and the NWS and assist them in warning the public. Schools, hospitals, and other facilities are encouraged to have spotters to alert people in their care of impending severe weather.

Storm chasing involves following a developing thunderstorm to view or photograph severe weather phenomena. Chasing may be done for educational purposes or scientific research but is mostly done for personal fulfillment.

Q. I want to be a storm chaser. What should I do?

A. College of DuPage in Glen Ellen offers storm chasing field trips that are open to students and the public. The Valparaiso University Meteorology Department offers storm chasing as an educational tool to 3rd and 4th year meteorology students. There are private firms, mostly in the Great Plains, that offer storm chase tours/vacations. Many can be found through an internet search.

Q. How do I become a spotter?

A. Attend a basic tornado and severe weather spotter class. Classes are held throughout the area, they are free and open to the public. The class takes about 1 ½ to 2 hours. Most classes are held weekday evenings, but there are a few daytime and Saturday classes. The training is generally done in late winter and early spring - before severe weather season. The training consists of a slide and video program which teaches potential spotters about severe storm structure, and how to identify cloud features and other environmental clues to identify severe storms and tornadoes. Communications systems and spotter networks are explained so the spotter knows where to report, and how that information is used by the NWS and local officials. A complete schedule of classes can be found on our website from about late January through April.

Q. Is there a minimum age requirement to become a spotter?

A. Because of the complexity of severe thunderstorm structure and development, and the potential danger involved, spotting is recommended for adults. People of all ages attend spotter training classes. Those ages 10 and up are likely to get the most from the class. Youth who are interested inattending a spotter training class are welcome to attend with a parent or other adult.

Q. I have already taken a spotter class. Where can I learn more?

A. The National Weather Service encourages spotters to be retrained every 2 years. In addition, spotters can attend the Advanced Severe Weather Spotter Workshop at Lisle . The Advanced Spotter class is usually held on a Saturday in early March. It is an all-day class. There is a registration fee that covers the cost of the speakers, lunch and refreshments. More information will be given when the date is set.

Q. Does the NWS issue a certificate or spotter ID number?

A. The NWS does not issue spotter ID numbers. Certificates are available on request. Some county emergency management agencies issue IDs and/or certificates. Please check with your local officials.

Q. Does the NWS have any training material?

A. In the past, the NWS has been able to hand out copies of the Basic Spotters' Field Guide. However, due to limited printing this year, the NWS has made the Field Guide available online. You can find it at: https://www.weather.gov/media/lot/spotter/basicspotterguide.pdf. There is also a version of the Weather Spotter's Field Guide in Spanish too.

Cleaner Air Makes For Healtheir Employees & SERVPRO Is Ready To Help!

5/31/2022 (Permalink)

If you think the air you breathe indoors is cleaner than what’s outside, think again. The EPA estimates indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. All that bad air translates into everything from frequent colds and sore throats to headaches, asthma, allergies and chronic fatigue, which in turn causes employee downtime.

When dust, debris and other contaminants build up in your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, they can trigger allergies and other health issues. But they also reduce energy efficiency, which increases your energy costs. Now you have two compelling reasons to make sure the air ducts and HVAC system in your workplace are running efficiently.

Ventilation systems are often the biggest culprit in poor indoor air quality. Make it a priority to inspect the ductwork of your home or business.

If your HVAC has been operating for some time without attention, it could be circulating one or more of the following:

Dust

Pollen

Odors

Dirt and debris

Other contaminants

SERVPRO of Kankakee County Professionals routinely inspect the heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit (HVAC).  Keeping them clean can extend the life of the equipment. This can in turn save you money and give you cleaner air to breathe.

However, duct cleaning is not always necessary. We will make recommendations about the best way to address any indoor air quality concerns. This can save you money and provide peace of mind on the health of your system.

The benefits of servicing your HVAC unit include:

Helps to restore peak energy efficiency.

May help to eliminate offensive odors.

Helps reduce the potential for mold growth.

For more information on HVAC and air duct cleaning, call us today, (815) 935-0077

Let SERVPRO Get Back To Business In Bradley After A Flood Damage Disaster

5/1/2022 (Permalink)

Shop Carefully for Bradley Retail Flood Damage Remediation

Summertime can bring torrential rain, strong winds, and even tornadoes to the Bradley region. Fierce storms can damage commercial buildings, including malls and shopping centers that are home to multiple retail outlets. Even if your store does not receive a direct hit from severe summer weather, water can intrude into your shop from neighboring businesses and common areas damaged by the event. Working with a reliable remediation company ensures no flood waters go unmitigated in your retail space.

When flood damage occurs to a Bradley commercial building housing several businesses, mapping out the migration of the water is crucial. You might feel fortunate that your business seems untouched immediately after the storm drenched the interiors of other shops, only to realize the extended reach flood water has hours or days later. Our flood damage technicians receive comprehensive training from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Reconstruction Certification (IICRC), mastering methods to locate hidden water and measure the moisture content of structural components.

SERVPRO evaluates the flood damage suffered by your shop with an on-site assessment. We know where to look for potential water losses, including above the ceiling and in cavities between the interior walls within your space and the common walls you share with neighboring businesses. Clogged drains on flat roofs typical in shopping centers result in water moving in unexpected directions. Damage to the exterior of the main building also can divert the rainwater in ways not planned by the architects, with the possibility of significant damage to your business.

Thermal imaging and moisture meters help SERVPRO’s crew locate where the flooding might be lurking in your space. If we do not find and release the moisture, you risk ongoing destruction to drywall, framing, metal supports and fasteners, insulation, and more. Mold growth and malodors follow within just 24 to 48 hours of a flooding event that goes without remediation.

If SERVPRO finds hidden flood damage in your retail space, we take all steps needed to remove the water and dry out the wet materials. Our crew arrives with all the equipment needed onboard our service vehicles -- pumps, water extractors, air movers, heaters, and dehumidifiers. No delay in our services means you are back in business in no time.

Contact SERVPRO of Kankakee County if your business is located in a commercial building flooded after summer storms. Call (815) 935-0077 round the clock for our expert assessment and assistance.

Assessing Contamination for Flood Demolition

4/26/2022 (Permalink)

Many homeowners believe that when their Bourbonnais residence becomes affected by any manner of flooding that there is no other solution but tear-out and reconstruction. Truthfully, there are many times where reconstruction and controlled demolition are inevitable, but they are not a guarantee for any damaged home after a storm event. Our SERVPRO crew can help with an accurate and thorough assessment of your property to determine potential contaminants and excessive damage.

Categories get used to determine the potential contaminant levels that exist after flooding, which coincidentally can indicate a need for flood damage demolition in Bourbonnais homes. In instances where floodwater could have encountered chemicals, sewage, bacteria, and other substances, it is often best to consider the situation hazardous. Contaminants require a specific approach to overcome and continue to pose a risk to those directly exposed until resolved.

For contaminated surfaces and materials, the most frugal and efficient path to clearing out these threats is to remove the material altogether when possible. For elements like drywall, it is possible to remove only the portions of the wall or ceiling that have been affected by the spreading water so far and allow the rest to remain if no threat for further water migration exists. We have a crew of licensed general contractors that can begin this controlled demolition as soon as possible to limit additional exposure and to aid in drying out lightly damaged areas like structural cavities.

In some circumstances, wood framing and other similar structural elements can remain installed with the right treatment from our powerful line of antibacterial agents and biocides. Eliminating both bacteria and mold spores can prevent secondary damages and harmful effects to those directly exposed. This step can occur while our SERVPRO team works to dry out the moisture in the house after the controlled demolition.

No two flooding circumstances are alike, but our SERVPRO of Kankakee County professionals have the right expertise to address both the restoration and reconstruction needs of the house. Avoiding contaminants might not always be possible, but our technicians can help to make these losses “Like it never even happened,” by calling (815) 935-0077.

For more about Bourbonnais click here.

Did You Know - Roofing Services Offered by SERVPRO Following a Storm

3/5/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Kankakee County understands that when a storm hurts your home, you have little patience for a lengthy and unclear restoration project.

Roofing Services Offered by SERVPRO Following a Storm

When a big storm hits, the first place in a home to take damage is often the roof. Roofs are flat, brittle surfaces with relatively little avenues for a homeowner to prevent damage. In many cases, whether or not a roof will be damaged in a storm simply comes down to the construction quality of it. Once a roof has sustained damage from an impact or otherwise been opened up to the elements, it often quickly takes on water damage and may even flood. SERVPRO helps to respond fast and deal with pressing damages to your roof and attic before a contractor can arrive to patch it up.

Initial Response and Services 
When we first arrive on-scene, our technicians will get to work first emptying out floodwater and eliminating further sources of damage, then tarping over the roofing in Bourbonnais. This covering helps to stop further damage from occurring and avoid a more costly and time-consuming restoration job. Also, we emphasize sealing up openings and avenues for any water inside or outside of the roof. 
 
Damage Restoration 
Following these initial steps, our crews will get to traditional restoration measures if they are necessary, helping to repair water and fire damages in the roof and attic. We also check the basement for any water intrusion. In many cases, attic insulation will be water-logged, and can be discarded and replaced by our teams. Depending on the attic and what it contains, we may also remove some of the items inside it temporarily for drying and cleaning purposes. 
 
Preventing Future Damage 
We offer a number of services designed to prevent future damage to your attic and roof, including small structural improvements, recommendations on materials and safety steps, and treatments to prevent mold proliferation. We can also help to identify any potential damage hazards present in the attic, such as old papers that may combust, exposed electrical wiring, or a small leak. 
 
SERVPRO of Kankakee County understands that when a storm hurts your home, you have little patience for a lengthy and unclear restoration project. That's why we send out our teams rapidly and at all hours, to help reduce secondary water or fire damage to your property and get things in order as quickly as possible. Call us 24/7 at (815) 935-0077.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County Responds To Commercial Water Damage

3/3/2022 (Permalink)

When flood damage hits a commercial building housing several businesses, mapping out the migration of the water is crucial. You might feel fortunate that your business seems untouched immediately after the storm drenched the interiors of other shops, only to realize the extended reach flood water has hours or days later. Our flood damage technicians receive comprehensive training from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Reconstruction Certification (IICRC), mastering methods to locate hidden water and measure the moisture content of structural components.

SERVPRO evaluates the flood damage suffered by your shop with an on-site assessment. We know where to look for potential water losses, including above the ceiling and in cavities between the interior walls within your space and the common walls you share with neighboring businesses. Clogged drains on flat roofs typical in shopping centers result in water moving in unexpected directions. Damage to the exterior of the main building also can divert the rainwater in ways not planned by the architects, with the possibility of significant damage to your business.

Thermal imaging and moisture meters help SERVPRO’s crew locate where the flooding might be lurking in your space. If we do not find and release the moisture, you risk ongoing destruction to drywall, framing, metal supports and fasteners, insulation, and more. Mold growth and malodors follow within just 24 to 48 hours of a flooding event that goes without remediation.

If SERVPRO finds hidden flood damage in your retail space, we take all steps needed to remove the water and dry out the wet materials. Our crew arrives with all the equipment needed onboard our service vehicles -- pumps, water extractors, air movers, heaters, and dehumidifiers. No delay in our services means you are back in business in no time.

All of us here at SERVPRO of Kankakee County understand that having dedicated and trained technicians and utilizing professional protocols and equipment make a real difference in reducing claims and loss expenses. Our adage “Like it never even happened,” is our goal in returning damaged areas to a preloss condition and we are dedicated to both the property and lives of the customers we assist 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. We are SERVPRO of Kankakee County 815-935-0077

Commercial Water Damage - SERVPRO Is At Your Service

3/2/2022 (Permalink)

Commercial Buildings and Water Damage There are many property issues that business managers may have to grapple with, commercial water damage in Bradley-Bourbonnais being one of the worst. Unfortunately, this type of damage can occur in the business setting at any moment. Whether the water damage results from a natural disaster or office mishap, substantial structural deterioration or destruction is often the result. In many cases, the emotional and economic pains that water damage produces force business owners to close their companies permanently. However, learning more about commercial water damage and how to efficiently complete the cleanup process, using an experienced company like SERVPRO, can help you impede this from happening.Commercial Water Damage: Key Causes: The undesired result can be from numerous factors. The damages can result from flooding, roof leaks, frozen pipes, ice dams, and sewage backups. Additionally, disasters like fires can require extinguishing work from the fire department, leaving large quantities of standing water behind. No matter the cause of water intrusion, the effect is often the same: actual damage to the structural integrity of your property coupled with the compromise of safety to employees, and clients.Identifying The Source Of The Problem. To deal with water damage effectively, you have to identify the source of the problem and then eliminate it. It's also important to know that there will be different methodologies for water damage restoration depending on the source. Excess water flowing from a broken or frozen pipe or ice damming on the roof will be handled differently than issues which result from floodwater or a sewage backup.Avoiding DIY Projects. Business proprietors are tempted to begin the cleanup process by themselves to quickly reopen the doors to commerce. If the normal business traffic patterns have been disrupted, then it is time to call in SERVPRO, to mitigate water damage restoration time and costs. Rapid water pumping will diminish downtime and lessen damage to inventory, office furniture, supplies, and the building's structural components. Precise assessment and planning get results.Contact SERVPRO Today. If your Kankakee commercial property has been impacted by water damage, it's time to take action. When you call the friendly professionals of SERVPRO, you'll receive a fast response from IICRC-certified technicians who use cutting edge equipment and customized methodologies to expedite the restoration process. Our techs are trained in water damage restoration, applied structural drying techniques, odor control, and mold remediation. Cleaning and restoring, as opposed to more costly replacing, is our policy so that we save you money as we quickly work to get your business back in business. "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO - Restoring Manteno Homes After Fire Damage

2/28/2022 (Permalink)

Left starting from scratch after fire damage has turned your home upside down? Call SERVPRO to help with all your remediation needs.

Revive Your Home in Manteno After Fire Damage Using SERVPRO

At just an hour south of Lake Michigan, Manteno is a perfect, little town just off I-57. Residents and visitors call it picturesque, and they are correct. Even so, our community still has its share of fires and other disasters.
 
When a homeowner must deal with fire damage in Manteno, the only way to ensure complete restoration is to hire an experienced company with an extensive inventory of tools and cleaners. Every SERVPRO office has access to a nationwide support network. With it, our restoration specialists can perform nearly every task except for total reconstruction of a damaged home.
 
House fires usually start in the kitchen and either burn themselves out or get extinguished quickly. Common forms of damage include scorched ceiling and wall tiles, melted or warped flooring, and residue deposits from the smoke.
 
For physically damaged items, SERVPRO specialists quickly remove all drywall, appliances, flooring, and ceiling tiles. It clears the home so they can clean, but disposal also reduces the number of odors left behind after the fire. Our team members break down and bag everything when possible to avoid accidentally spreading ash or soot throughout the home.
 
After clearing out the kitchen, personnel clean everything remaining from floor to ceiling. If not removed quickly, residues can continue to eat away at surfaces while also continuing to generate odors. Specialists have access to cleaners tailored to both dry or wet residues and the type of surface they settled onto such as porous wood tables and nonporous surfaces such as marble countertops.
 
As team members clean the salvageable items, others begin construction where needed. Specialists replace interior wall framing that cannot be cleaned of residues and then hang new drywall panels to enclose the kitchen from the rest of the home again. As the walls go up, personnel can also lay in new flooring to include wood, commercial carpeting, or vinyl tile.
 
Regardless of the level of damage or where it may be, SERVPRO of Kankakee County quickly works to remove or clean it from your home. If you have had even a very small fire in your home, call us at (815) 935-0077 today to schedule a visit. We are here for you.

Click here for more about Manteno.

Fire Damage in Kankakee County - SERVPRO Responds

2/28/2022 (Permalink)

First Responders at recent occurrence in Kankakee County

SERVPRO of Kankakee County recently responded to a fire damaged residence. Mitigating and restoring your Kankakee County home to its original condition requires a professional service trained to handle physical damage, smoke residues, and odors.

Smoke residues present a unique hazard that can be challenging to clean making it a situation many Kankakee County homeowners leave up to the expertise and skills of our SERVPRO professionals. From the risks present in the spread of these residues, from surface to surface throughout a fire-damaged address, to the staining that could result from improper removal, fire loss effects can permanently mar your property without the right approach. 

All of us here at SERVPRO of Kankakee County understand that having dedicated and trained technicians and utilizing professional protocols and equipment make a real difference in reducing claims and loss expenses. Our adage “Like it never even happened,” is our goal in returning damaged areas to a preloss condition and we are dedicated to both the property and lives of the customers we assist 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. We are SERVPRO of Kankakee County 815-935-0077

Proud to be an associate member of MABAS

1/26/2022 (Permalink)

MABAS is an acronym for Mutual Aid Box Alarm System. MABAS offers a statewide mutual aid response system for fire, EMS and specialized incident operational teams. Sharing the effort are representatives from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Department of Public Health – EMS Division and Illinois Fire Chiefs Association. The system defines a resource response plan to any location within the state when the Governor orders a Declaration of Disaster.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County is an associate member of MABAS, and even have a firefighter on staff. We are committed to the keeping our county safe and are pleased to be associated with this amazing organization! 

SERVPRO of Kankakee County is proud to be a sponsor of the Battle of the Badges Charity Basketball Event

1/25/2022 (Permalink)

Join us as the police and fire take on each other in a charity basketball game!

All proceeds will go towards the First Responders Children Foundation. This foundation works with families across the country, including police, fire, Forest Service, Border Patrol, EMS and all other forms of responders. They help provide college scholarships to children whose first responders' parents have either died in the line of duty or have become permanently disabled due to their line of work.

‍Monday, January 31

7:00-9:00 pm

KVPD Rec Center (150 N. Indiana Ave. in Kankakee)

$5 per person

(Sponsored in part by SERVPRO of Kankakee County)

https://www.kvpd.com/events/police-dept-vs-fire-dept-fundraiser-basketball-game

Help Minimize The Spread Of Influenza With These Tips From The CDC

1/22/2022 (Permalink)

The highly-trained and experienced team at SERVPRO of Kankakee County is ready to help with infectious agent cleanup! Call us today!

Influenza is a contagious disease with potentially severe outcomes, including hospitalization and death, in some cases. In our Kankakee community, administrators and managers of schools and other buildings welcoming the public want to get ahead of the infectious curve. Great strides toward protecting students, families, and school staff, as well as the general population, definitely are within the power of school administrators and commercial managers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer practical strategies for all at risk in these settings.

"Take  3" According to the CDC

The CDC recommends three research-based protocols to protect people across all environments from catching and spreading influenza. Taking the time to communicate these health and life-saving strategies to students, staff, and families in our schools pay big dividends by involving all affected individuals and giving each the power to improve their odds against influenza.

Immunize

Yearly flu vaccines are the initial and critical step individuals and families can take to protect themselves and others against the viruses that cause influenza. Year-round research by more than 100 countries' national influenza centers provides globally relevant surveillance for influenza. Five World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centers for Reference and Research on Influenza meet twice yearly in February (Northern Hemisphere) and September (Southern Hemisphere) to review data and make suggestions on the viruses to include in the new influenza season's vaccine. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ultimately makes the decision on which viruses to include in our country's yearly vaccine.

Commonsense Preventative Measures

Families and their students, school staff, and those who interact in other commercial settings have a range of practical strategies that make a big difference in preventing the spread of influenza.

• Avoid close contact with those infected with influenza
• Limit contact by those infected with others
• Stay home during the flu, waiting at least 24 hours post-fever except to get medical care or for other necessities
• Cover either mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing and sneezing, disposing of tissues in the trash
• Wash hands frequently, using both soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable
• Do not touch eyes, nose, and mouth
• Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces possibly contaminated

Take an Antiviral Medication

If prescribed by a medical professional, an antiviral drug taken early can shorten the duration of influenza and make symptoms milder. People with higher risk factors such as the elderly and very young or the immunosuppressed might avoid hospitalization and severe complications.

The highly-trained and experienced team at SERVPRO of Kankakee County is ready to help with infectious agent cleanup in schools and other commercial buildings. Call us at (815) 935-0077 to discuss your options.

Leave It To The Professionals To Clean Up Soot! Call SERVPRO!

1/17/2022 (Permalink)

Soot damaged framing at a home in Momence, IL.

You’ll probably be anxious to start cleaning your home after a fire, however, unless you take the time to get a professional to help you, you’ll be wasting your efforts and time or even creating more damage. Contact your insurance agent immediately; they can give you advice on replacement or restoration of any items which sustained fire damage. If you are a renter, speak with your landlord so you can both assess the damages.

Your insurance agent might also be able to help you find a professional fire damage restorer. These companies can give you hints to prevent any more damage, and help you figure out what items can or cannot be refurbished, plus give you estimates and services for thoroughly deodorizing and cleaning your home. Even if you think the services are pricey, it is well worth it to avoid more costly damages or replacing furnishings and floors they might otherwise be able to restore for you.

Avoiding More Damage

Before you get the professional fire damage restoration company in your home, there are some things you can do to prevent more damages. However, make sure that you have permission from the fire marshal first that it is safe to enter your home again before you do anything at all. Open up windows to get the air inside moving and ventilate areas of your home. If you can, place a fan inside as well to help circulate the air. If there has been water damage which is substantial and it is warm outside, you will likely have to keep the windows closed and use a dehumidifier. With cold weather, your heating system, if operable, plus the cold air will help to start to take the moisture out. Change your furnace filter daily in this case until no soot shows. When the professionals get there, they will have the proper industrial equipment to continue and finish the process of drying your structure out completely. You can begin the dry out process to help mold from forming, which can happen quite quickly. Put plastic food wrap or aluminum foil around the legs of our furniture, and over items that are clean and dry with plastic, so they are not damaged during the repairs process.

Soot in Household Textiles

Soot is oily and will easily stain your draperies, carpets, and other household textiles. This is why it needs to be removed before anything is cleaned or deodorized. Let a professional restoration company remove the soot with a heavy-duty vacuum. They will be able to get the soot out properly and thoroughly so that your belongings have the best chance of being restored. They will also know how to avoid other items from being damaged from the soot during clean up. The professionals will also be able to remove soot from walls and other items in your home before they professionally remove the odors left behind as well.

Winter Storm Preparedness: Prevent Frozen Water Pipes

1/17/2022 (Permalink)

Winter storms are here and it won't be the last. We can be reached 24/7/365 at (815) 935-0077

The National Severe Storms Laboratory categories a winter storm as having snow, sleet, or freezing rain.  In Gilman, we can see any of this type of precipitation throughout the winter months. When the temperature is below the freezing point and precipitation is in the forecast, that’s when our office knows what types of calls we’ll be getting: water damages.

How Water Pipes Freeze and Break

A water damage during a winter storm happens when your pipes freeze.  When water freezes, it expands and creates pressure inside the pipe, which can cause it to break.  The pipes that are most likely to freeze are those outside the home that are exposed.  Other vulnerable pipes are those indoors that don’t have access to heat, like those under your kitchen cabinets or in the garage.

Indoor Frozen Pipe Prevention

• Before temperatures reach freezing, insulate exposed and vulnerable pipes.  You can do this by installing pipe sleeves or even wrapping the pipes with newspaper.
• Close the garage door to prevent cold air from coming in.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinets to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.
• Keep your home heated above 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

What To Do Until Help Arrives

If your pipes still freeze and you have a water damage, give us a call immediately and follow the following steps:

1. Don’t delay.  Call us as soon as you notice your water damage.  The longer water stands in a structure, the more damage it will cause.  As soon as you call, we will schedule a crew of technicians to travel to your home and begin remediation.  
2. Cut off the water source, if possible.
3. Get textiles off the floor.  Many homeowners rush to put down towels to stop the water flow, and that’s okay.  Towels can easily be cleaned at our textile cleaning facility if need be.  What you want to look out for are small fragile textiles or objects on the floor that can be damaged by water.
4. Begin documentation.  Start with the point of origin and all affected areas.  While our technicians will also take the document, it's important to start documenting as soon as possible to prove your loss to your insurance company.

Be Aware of the Weather

Keep your eye on the weather forecast.  Not only will you be prepared to travel safely, it’ll also give you to valuable time to prepare your home and keep it, and everyone living inside it, safe.  

SERVPRO of Kankakee County

We can be reached 24/7/365 at (815) 935-0077

“Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO Provides Solutions to Flood Damaged Properties

12/13/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Device to Extract Water From Hardwood Flooring in Bradley.

If you've ever experienced flood damage first hand, you'll likely want to prepare, whenever there is the slightest possibility of it happening again. Taking the time to research the history and procedures deployed by a company can assist you in making this important decision; not all flood damage restoration services are the same. Besides, it'll give you additional comfort in your decision to use them when or if flood damage rears it's ugly head in your direction again.

 Our expertly trained teams supply you with Bradley flood damage restoration services that are easy to understand and were developed to restore your property "Like it never even happened." Take advantage of the transparency of our training procedures and learn more about what we offer. We can also supply you with a free mobile app called the ERP, Emergency Ready Profile; that can offer suggestions and also keep crucial contact information at your fingertips.
 
After you've placed the initial call to SERVPRO, our technicians arrive at your home or commercial property and carefully inspect and assess any damaged areas. Making sure that there aren't any immediate dangerous situations such as; electrical, tripping or falling hazards.
 
We'll pump out any water that is left over and check all of the floors, walls, and crawl spaces for standing water as well. SERVPRO technicians also deploy sump pumps, that are especially useful when standing water is over two inches high.
 
Next moisture meters are used to determine the amount of water that is present inside of the carpeting, flooring, walls and ceilings. We move and block any furniture remaining in the area, making sure that it is secure within a safe zone away from any moisture to assist in drying.
 
The professionals at SERVPRO work hard to remove any water remaining in carpeting or hard flooring and will even remove the carpet & replace the padding in most cases to ensure that the flooring underneath is thoroughly dried. In the event of sewage or highly contaminated groundwater, the flooring must be safely discarded.
 
We're only half-way through the necessary steps that our professional staff takes to ensure a high-quality water removal and drying process after your property receives damage from a flood. Any variations to our usual process gain approval from both you and your insurance company before being implemented.
 
Our teams at SERVPRO of Kankakee County are here to assist you, every step of the way. Make the call today to obtain the assistance that you and your property deserve. (815) 935-0077

National Storm Response Team answers the call

12/12/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Kankakee County responding to tornado damage in the central united state

For years, our SERVPRO Disaster Recovery Team and National Storm Response Team has been responding to weather events across the country. While we refer to ourselves as "team Nichols" we have a One Team mentality and work within the SERVPRO system of services to accomplish our shared goals to restore communities following these types of disasters

• Tornadoes
• Hurricanes
• Flooding
• Deep Freezes
• Wild Fires 

Our Commercial Large Loss Response Team (LLRT) is known throughout the country as one of the very best restoration and construction companies in the industry. Our experienced project managers work with Insurance Adjusters, Executive General Adjusters, and Consultants to restore buildings and mitigate losses of all sizes and building types. Some of our specialties include

• high rises
• medical facilities
• assisted living facilities
• education
• industrial
• warehouse
• transportation centers
• office space
• retail
• hospitality 

Our team typically mobilizes days before some events and within 24 hours of others. We bring our own mobile command unit, RVs for sleeping quarters, portable generators/power, and a vast array of restoration equipment. Our team is self contained for the most part. We are called upon by other franchises, national master service agreements, and various other sources. If you should require Storm Response, reach out to our office at (815) 935-0077

Material Belongings Can Be Replaced - A Life Cannot!

11/7/2021 (Permalink)

Victim bags ready to help when disaster happens.

When your home is struck by fire or a major storm you may have only a few minutes to gather belongings and move to safety.  For many of us, gathering a few clothes, and the family photo album take priority over a toothbrush or comb.  

At SERVPRO of Matteson- Homewood we care about the community, that is why many of our staff carry these emergency bags in our vehicles.  Each bag contains a few of the essential personal care items that many people need after a fire or storm disaster.  Our hope is that each bag can bring a bit of comfort to the community after a tragedy. 

Having your own preparedness bag is very important especially if you live in an area where natural disaster such as tornado can strike.  It is also important to remember, only gather personal effects when it is safe to do so: material belongs can be replaced, but a life can not be. 

SERVPRO of Kankakee County Has The Best Rapid Response Board Up Team

11/7/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Technician accesses damage to a multi-unit dwelling in Kankakee County.

Recently an apartment fire broke out in the early hours of the morning in Kankakee County.  SERVPRO of Kankakee County was called by the Local Fire Department to provide Emergency Board Up Services to the damage rendered.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County was on site within minutes and working with the property owner and their insurance carrier began the process of mitigation. Damage to a business or dwelling from fire and resultant smoke, soot and water damage can be devastating for any business or commercial property with lost revenue, productivity and emotional hardship. As can be seen in the photograph our Professional Response Team inspected the property in order to determine the extent of the fire and resultant smoke and soot damage. The fire damage caused damage and breakage to windows, walls and roof necessitating board up and tarping of missing windows, walls and roof and also protecting the interior from further damage by the elements. Mitigation followed instantaneously with our certified fire mitigation technicians. 

SERVPRO of Kankakee County’s Professionals clean and restore your property using time tested specialized equipment and cleaning techniques which reduces interruptions and gets you back to normalcy. All of us here at SERVPRO of Kankakee County understand that having dedicated and trained technicians and utilizing professional protocols and equipment make a real difference in reducing claims and loss expenses.

Our adage “Like it never even happened,” is our goal in returning damaged area to a preloss condition and we are dedicated to both the property and lives of the customers we assist 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year,  We are SERVPRO of Kankakee County 815-935-0077

Did You Know - SERVPRO Can Repair and Replace Hardwood Flooring

11/7/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Provides Water Loss Cleanup, Restoration, and Repairs to Retail Shops, Bars, Big Box Stores--Even Hardwood Flooring!

Real water loss incidents can strike in the areas of your Bourbonnais bar where it can do the most damage. While the broken plumbing fixture to the wash sink behind the bar spread water across the main bar floor, the tile construction made it easy to sop up and dry out. The time spent on the wooden dance floor in that time can cause more substantial concerns for the structural integrity of this flooring material.

While the quaint size and feel of your bar have been a draw to your loyal patrons over the years, it is also a catalyst to damaged flooring in your Bourbonnais bar after water seepage. As much as you can often contend with the messes on your own, standing water and migrating moisture can create a compromising condition that both weakens flooring materials on your dancefloor and meets the requirements for mold colonization and other fungal threats.
 
Bound moisture is the concern with porous, aging wood planks used initially in the construction of the bar. While the only wood left to absorb standing water exists in the fixtures like the bar itself, tables, and the dancefloor, prolonged exposure of the flooring can allow for moisture to get trapped in the material. This moisture inevitably bonds with the cells of the wood on a molecular level and warps its appearance and weakens its resilience.
 
Our SERVPRO team can not only help to dry out lingering moisture throughout other areas of the bar, but our team of licensed general contractors can remove the wooden planks of this dance area down to the concrete pad underneath. Once this pad is sufficiently dried, our contracting team can replace the flooring with a durable oak, tongue and groove plank material. To provide a final professional touch, a polymer finish can get applied to reduce scuffing damages for new feet to hit the dance floor once the work gets done.
 
Water loss incidents do not have to close you down for good or have you searching all over the region for subcontractors. Our SERVPRO of Kankakee County team can help you through nearly every phase of reconstruction and restoration after water losses. Give us a call today at (815) 935-0077.

When Fire Strikes - You Need A Team That Responds Quickly! SERVPRO!

10/21/2021 (Permalink)

Fire Damage can affect any aspect of your life. Call SERVPRO to help with any Residential or Commercial Fire Damage Needs.

Having a fire event on your property can produce some pretty destructive and violent results. Regardless of how large or small the damage is, you never hear a property owner say that they are glad it happened to them.
 
What you need is a team that can respond quickly to your request and starts taking care of the fire damage to your Boulder property immediately. Our technicians arrive on site within four hours and give you the benefit of having a company with IICRC certified technicians working for you.
 
Due to the extensive damage received throughout the duration of a fire, professional restoration services are your best bet to returning your home to a quality pre-damage condition in the quickest most efficient way possible.
 
Heat alone does a significant amount of damage to your structure; it can warp your flooring and cause extensive damage. The contents of your home may be affected in various ways, requiring specialized item restoration services only available at SERVPRO.
 
Smoke can reach into cracks and crevices throughout your home, leaving soot residues behind, staining surfaces and cause odors to penetrate various materials, SERVPRO can help. With a variety of deodorization and cleaning methods designed to return things to normal quickly.
 
SERVPRO gives you access to technicians with the experience and training required to present you with the quality services you need to make your fire damage disappear, "Like it never even happened."
 
We help you manage your insurance paperwork and communicate with your insurance company. Taking care of you and your family along the way to ensure a smooth restoration process.
 
SERVPRO technicians also answer any questions you have about our services and only present you with those that you need. We have certified technicians to handle every aspect of your restoration, from water removal to finishing touches.
 
Remember, we are a locally owned and operated company. We live, work, and play in the same places you do. Giving us a unique perspective towards your restoration needs.
 
Give us the opportunity to provide you with a unique solution to your problem by calling SERVPRO of Kankakee County today. (815) 935-0077

Do You Know How Important Renters Insurance is?

10/21/2021 (Permalink)

Do you know how important renters insurance is?

We see disasters everyday... and one of the saddest things is when people don't have rental insurance and lose everything.  If you have questions about rental insurance you should speak to an agent for more information.

Top myths and the facts—about renters insurance from State Farm:

1. The landlord's insurance covers your possessions. Don't count on it. Most landlords' insurance covers only the building and damages due to negligence. 
2. Renters insurance is expensive. In this case, the numbers speak for themselves. The average renters policy costs just $12 a month for up to $30,000 in personal property coverage. That's solid coverage for less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee a week.
3. Still concerned about price? Your insurer will work with you to find the combination of coverage and costs that suits your needs. You might even qualify for a discount by taking some simple home safety precautions or purchasing another policy, such as auto insurance, with the same insurer.
4. You don't need insurance if your stuff isn't expensive. Most renters' belongings cost more than they think. 
5. Think that number is too high? Take a moment to add up the approximate cost of your computer, television, stereo, furniture, jewelry, and clothing. If a fire gutted your apartment tomorrow, would you have the cash to replace it all?
6. Renters insurance covers only your possessions. In fact, renters insurance covers much more than just your personal property: The average policy also includes up to $100,000 in liability coverage. That means in the event of a covered loss your insurer will help cover the costs if you're held responsible for injuring another person or damaging another person's property, including your landlord's. 
7. Renters insurance is hard to get. You can research providers, compare quotes, and even find an agent online.

When Sump Pump Fails - SERVPRO Is Your Answer!

10/21/2021 (Permalink)

If your sump pump goes out, do not hesitate to give SERVPRO a call immediately (815) 935-0077!

When the power goes out in Kankakee County Illinois, homeowners with basements begin to worry about the opportunity for water damage in basements. Often a battery back up will only last for so long and once its exhausted, the water starts coming in around the perimeter if not right from the hole.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County keeps a number of sump pumps on hand for replacement and/or temporary use until a plumber can make it out to replace the failed unit. We work with just about every plumber in the area from Kankakee to Manteno, so if we happen to be swamped or out of pumps, we can quickly get you in touch with a reputable plumber to assist. 

Our main purpose to help mitigate damages from failed sump pumps. We sometimes bring generators with us to get help get the water out and then begin extraction and drying operations immediately. We also have hundreds of drying fans and dehumidifiers available for direct rental. Don't wait to call SERVPRO of Kankakee County as normally we can save most wet materials if we get to it fast enough. From carpet and pad to trim and drywall, we have the tools and training to make your water damaged or Flooded basement whole again. And if you are worried about mold in your basement, we use an EPA registered disinfectant on ALL water and sewer back up projects.

For additional tips on how to avoid further damage until help arrives, go to our website http://www.SERVPROkankakeecounty.com or call our office directly at (815)935-0077.

Winter Is Around The Corner - Space Heaters Bring Risk Of Fires!

10/12/2021 (Permalink)

Space Heaters in Kankakee Need Watching

SERVPRO Tips to Prevent Fire-Induced Space Heater Damage to Your Home

When the weather grows colder, many homeowners turn up the furnace but also dig out the space heaters from storage. If your home is older with drafty windows and inefficient central heating, you may use the heaters to add another layer of warmth. Sometimes you may hold off on increasing the heat throughout the house because you think it will save money or you have rooms or areas you do not wish to heat. Whatever the reason for using space heaters you may find yourself calling SERVPRO if a fire sparks and your home is damaged. Space heaters often cause fires small and large, and it is essential that you do everything possible to avoid tragedy in your home if you choose to use one or more.

Kankakee home fire damage is not surprising when using space heaters in the winter for various reasons. Often they are located in bedrooms where the occupants are asleep and unaware that bedding or other objects have fallen into or have been kicked over the heater. Children's rooms are especially problematic with toys, games, and books in abundance, all of which can be very flammable if they touch the heater. Space heaters may also be knocked over by pets or people, especially if extension cords are used (which should never be allowed) and trip the unsuspecting. The expense of buying the most currently model may deter some from upgrading their space heaters, exposing family and friends to risks.
 
If you must use a space heater, please abide by the following tips that will make the use of it less likely to be hazardous and a call to your local SERVPRO franchise to restore your fire damaged property more remote.

Buy only space heaters that comply with current safety standards and dispose of those that do not.

Research the size heater needed for warming your planned area and do not exceed the size and power recommended. Watch the wattage.

Position the space heater with at least three feet in all directions of an uncluttered room.

Keep the space heater away from draperies, bedding, papers or anything else that is flammable.

Plug the space heater directly into a properly grounded outlet of the correct wattage for the heater. Know the limits of your electrical system and the load available for space heater usage.

Do not use adapters or extension cords to extend the range of a space heater.

Never leave a space heater on unattended in any room.

Turn off space heaters, including unplugging them, when you retire for sleep. If you are sleeping in the same room with the heater, please switch it off.

If you have the misfortune to experience fire damage from a space heater SERVPRO of Kankakee County stands ready to help you restore your dwelling and your peace of mind. Call for a consultation from one of our fire damage specialists at (815) 935-0077.

Did You Know - SERVPRO Provides Content Cleaning & Storage

10/12/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Content Storage

If your home or business suffers water, fire, smoke or mold damage, the cleanup and restoration experts at SERVPRO are the premier choice for content restoration and pack-out.

Content Pack-Out

There are scenarios that require business content removal and relocation for prompt and thorough cleaning and restoration. If a business suffers fire and smoke damage, for example, it is often easier, more secure and cost-efficient to take certain contents to another location for restoration work.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County provides complete pack-out services. We will carefully and respectfully take the contents of your home or business to be restored, packed, and delivered to an off-site facility. The pack-out process involves meticulous documentation to ensure your items receive the best possible care, including photo documentation, identification numbers and detailed lists.

• Artwork
• Documents
• Books
• Photographs
• VHS and DVD media
• Clothing
• Electronics (televisions, computers, stereos, etc.)
• Furniture
• Rugs
• Retail Inventory

Storage

Meanwhile at a SERVPRO restoration location, your items are stored in a secure, climate-controlled environment. They remain there until the cleaning and restoration process is complete.

Content Pack Back

After content cleaning and restoration, items are returned to your business using the same inventory procedures and documentation employed in the pack-out process. Your items are loaded, transported and delivered with great care and then reconciled with original pack-out inventories.

Content cleaning and restoration is offered at SERVPRO locations and on select jobs and services performed. The availability and scope of content cleaning and restoration varies by location, job, insurance provider (if applicable) and other factors.

SERVPRO Is Here 24/7 To Help - When Your Sump Pump Fails!

10/12/2021 (Permalink)

For additional tips on how to avoid further damage until help arrives, go to our website or call our office directly!

When the power goes out in Kankakee County Illinois, homeowners with basements begin to worry about the opportunity for water damage in basements. Often a battery back up will only last for so long and once its exhausted, the water starts coming in around the perimeter if not right from the hole.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County keeps a number of sump pumps on hand for replacement and/or temporary use until a plumber can make it out to replace the failed unit. We work with just about every plumber in the area from Kankakee to Manteno, so if we happen to be swamped or out of pumps, we can quickly get you in touch with a reputable plumber to assist. 

Our main purpose to help mitigate damages from failed sump pumps. We sometimes bring generators with us to get help get the water out and then begin extraction and drying operations immediately. We also have hundreds of drying fans and dehumidifiers available for direct rental. Don't wait to call SERVPRO of Kankakee County as normally we can save most wet materials if we get to it fast enough. From carpet and pad to trim and drywall, we have the tools and training to make your water damaged or Flooded basement whole again. And if you are worried about mold in your basement, we use an EPA registered disinfectant on ALL water and sewer back up projects.

For additional tips on how to avoid further damage until help arrives, go to our website http://www.SERVPROkankakeecounty.com or call our office directly at (815)935-0077.

SERVPRO Offers Document Preservation, Restoration, Conservation, and Recovery

10/4/2021 (Permalink)

Vacuum Freeze Drying Chamber

When disaster strikes, it usually hits where its hurts the most. Important documents such as books, medical paperwork, legal writings, etc are not spared. Sometimes despite the disaster you still need to retain these materials for legal or personal reason, that is where SERVPRO's Document Recovery and Restoration come in!

Acting quickly is imperative! Should you have important documents that get wet, damaged by smoke, or even a sewer damage, don't wait! CALL US RIGHT AWAY! 815-935-0077

Our highly trained staff of Restoration and Mitigation Professionals will arrive onsite and quickly take steps to limit damage and preserve as much as possible. 

 Document Restoration Services as follows:

• Drying - process in which an item containing moisture is frozen and dried using vacuums and pressures to achieve sublimation.
• Cleaning - we offer onsite cleaning. This is cleaning each document front and back to remove debris and any surface particulate. 
• Sterilization - Gamma Irradiation is a process that is used for disinfecting and decontaminating documents or other consumer goods. 
• Deodorization - once paper has been wet, an odor can begin to form. Letting us deodorize your documents will reduce the odor and sometimes almost completely eliminate it. 
• Destruction - we offer destruction onsite.
• Digitization - digitizing documents makes them easier to access as well as easier to store. We use state-of-the-art equipment to turn your paper copy into a digital file.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County..... "Like it never even happened."

www.SERVPROkankakeecounty.com           

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned When Disaster Strikes

8/26/2021 (Permalink)

Your local SERVPRO Franchise Professional will get the job done right and get it done quickly!

One definition of a disaster is a serious disruption, occurring over a relatively short time, of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental loss. When we talk to people in the commercial setting they think of a disaster as a major weather-related event. 

A disaster in a commercial setting is anything that causes disruption to business or causes damage to services or goods that negatively impact profitability. 

Failed Plumbing: Just like your home, a commercial building is just as susceptible to failed plumbing. Frozen pipe bursts are common in the winter because people may times try to cut cost and may not keep the property from freezing. The strain on plumbing because of everyday harsh use also can weaken the plumbing and make it vulnerable.

Appliances & Equipment: From a simple water heater malfunction to major machinery using high water pressure. Appliances and equipment, even with the best maintenance sometimes fail. Evaluate the equipment in your commercial building. If you are a restaurant or food service provider you may be more at risk.

Sprinkler System Malfunction: Have regular maintenance performed on your sprinkler system annually. This the best way to prevent malfunctions.

Roof Leaks: Okay this one is kind of weather-related. But it doesn’t take a huge thunderstorm to leave water in your building if you have roof issues. A regular shower can do a great amount of damage if the roof allows it to leak inside.

At any point, your commercial property is faced with a disaster call SERVPRO and let our trained professionals take the hassle off your hands. We are faster to any disaster and ready to take our expertise and put it to work for you! 

SERVPRO of Kankakee County's Disaster Recovery Team Is Ready To Help!

8/23/2021 (Permalink)

Chicago High Rise water damage affecting five floors and 25 units. All residents stayed in the building during drying! SERVPRO got the job done!

High rise buildings in Chicago and NW Indiana have great potential for water damage. Property managers and Condo Associations relay on SERVPRO of Kankakee County's Disaster Recovery Team to have the knowledge and training to respond to these problems. Nationwide Shopping centers, hotels and other large buildings have special issues when it comes to water, fire or other kinds of disaster damage, which includes: 

• Lift devices malfunctioning. Flooding on levels below then can make elevators and escalators malfunction, cutting off access effectively to levels higher up besides by taking the stairs.
• Leaking of cold lines. A lot of high-rise buildings use cooling systems which are complicated so they can run all the huge amounts of necessary equipment to keep the building functioning. When these cooling lines encounter problems, it can lead to breakdowns all across the building in systems and even chemical leaks which are dangerous.
• Fire sprinkler system damage. A great way to keep your building safe in a large-building fire, fire sprinklers can however cause significant damage to the building itself, especially since most of these systems are set to trigger at just a hint of a temperature rise or smoke.
• Computer and data system damage. A lot of high-rise buildings have delicate and expensive data controls systems for intercoms, cameras, and other devices. These systems can quickly be shorted out by flooding, causing damage that is expensive, plus putting the occupants of the building in danger.

Water Damage and Gravity

No matter what floor the water damage source might be, water flows outward until it finds its way down. Water damage to lower floors is common in High Rise structures and knowing how to locate it is important.

Once its determined where the water went, a plan to mitigate the loss is important. Reconstruction, cut outs and mold remediation could be necessary after the flood water is extracted. This is when you should be calling our professional staff at SERVPRO, as we have all the necessary equipment and knowledge to perform these jobs correctly. Unless you clean the high-rise immediately and correctly, more damage may result and could be costly.

When you discover water damage in your high rise or condo contact us at SERVPRO of Kankakee County's Disaster Recovery Team by dialing (815)935-0077.

After A Fire Disaster - SERVPRO Gets You Back To Business As Usual!

8/23/2021 (Permalink)

Our certified technicians are ready 24/7 to offer their expertise and experience as well as utilize our state of the art equipment after a fire.

Overcoming Smoke Odors in Your Bourbonnais Thrift Store

While you might carry a fair stock of housewares in your Bourbonnais thrift store, the bulk of your secondhand items are clothing. As quickly as you can turn over this apparel, it is also among the most susceptible to the damaging effects of small electrical fire flare-ups. While some of these items might be in the direct path of this spreading blaze, combusting upon exposure, other clothing items outside of this path are more susceptible to effects like smoke odors. 

Instead of considering all exposed apparel as a loss, you should consider what aspects of present fire damage in your Bourbonnais business can get overcome. While you have little investment in the clothing itself, it is the bulk of your profits. Losing the potential money that these items could be worth is not a decision that often must get made. Our SERVPRO professionals have multiple advanced machines capable of addressing harsh lingering odors in your business as we also work to mitigate your loss.

Smoke odors spread quickly throughout an open area and can quickly embed into clothing and other soft materials such as furniture you might have for sale. Small fires do not often require the full shutdown of your building, which makes deodorization equipment like ozone machines unsafe to use. Instead, our professionals can lean towards other capable equipment such as hydroxyl generators and thermal or UV foggers.

Depending on the volume of soft materials that require this focused attention, we can also devote some of the fire damaged items to dry cleaning with our contents department or with a third-party associate. These facilities often implement the use of ozone, which features an added oxygen molecule that can bond with odor compounds and neutralize the entire structure. Once the cleanup of the fire has completed, and the minor cosmetic damages have gotten addressed, we can return removed and newly deodorized clothing items to their original positions in the store.

We strive to provide our customers with real-time solutions that protect their investments and ensure that they can keep their doors open to their customers whenever possible. You can count on the fast response and expertise of our SERVPRO of Kankakee County team to make all fire loss incidents “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call today at (815) 935-0077.

See more about Bourbonnais.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County Responds With Sense Of Urgency With No Time Wasted!

8/23/2021 (Permalink)

“Like it never even happened,” is our goal in returning damaged area to a preloss condition! We are SERVPRO of of Kankakee County 815-935-0077.

After a recent fire in Bourbonnais, SERVPRO of Kankakee County responded to assist the homeowner. SERVPRO’s fire mitigation specialists were on site within minutes of the event.

Immediate response time allows the minimization of damage and subsequent cleaning and restorative costs. Working with the homeowner and their insurance company, work has begun to mitigate the physical structure and the contents therein. Soot and smoke damage permeated the structure and contents. Soot and smoke damage is a byproduct of burning fossil fuels, consisting of dust, acids and chemicals causing not only health hazards but significant damage to contents.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County’s Professionals clean and restore your property using time tested specialized equipment and cleaning techniques which reduces interruptions and gets you back to normalcy. All of us here at SERVPRO of Kankakee County understand that having dedicated and trained technicians and utilizing professional protocols and equipment make a real difference in reducing claims and loss expenses.

Our adage “Like it never even happened,” is our goal in returning damaged area to a preloss condition and we are dedicated to both the property and lives of the customers we assist 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year,  We are SERVPRO of Kankakee County 815-935-0077

Did You Know? SERVPRO Uses Environmentally Friendly Products

8/23/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Professional will get the job done right and get it done quickly using environmentally friendly raw materials.

SERVPRO wants you to know that we are doing our part to help our Planet.  That is why we want you to know about our Green Cleaning Products.

SERVPRO® Industries, Inc. is a member of the EPA’s Design for Environment (EPA/DFE) initiative. As a member company, SERVPRO® can access the listing known formally as CleanGredients. The EPA/DFE has established a set of criteria for formulating environmentally friendly cleaning products.

With the assistance of larger chemical companies the EPA/DFE has put together a listing of safe cleaning components that can be used in Green cleaning formulations. From the listing a formulation can be derived that incorporates “green” chemistry. The initiative is designed to allow chemical formulators a resource to formulate environmentally friendly cleaning products using environmentally friendly raw materials.

So next time you see our Green Vehicles, you'll know we are doing our part to sustain our Environment.

What Is A MABAS? Read Below To Learn More!

8/23/2021 (Permalink)

The MABAS Division 7 provide fire suppression, EMS, rescue, and specialized response teams that allow the division to handle & mitigate.

The MABAS Division 7 / Kankakee Valley Fire Chief’s Association is made up of 17 fire departments and 20 associate members.  MABAS Division 7 covers Kankakee County, located approximately 50 miles south of Chicago, Illinois. 

Division 7 is dispatched by KanCom Dispatch located in Kankakee, Illinois.  The fire departments associated with MABAS Division 7 provide fire suppression, EMS, rescue, and specialized response teams that allow the division to handle and mitigate.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County is honoured to be an Affiliate Member of MABAS Division 7. These dedicated men and women protect out lives and property twenty fours a day three hundred and sixty five days a year. They are our friends and neighbours, they till our soil, work in factories and offices.  When the “call”comes they are there to save our lives our pets and our properties. They educate the residents and business community about fire safety.  

MABAS-Illinois serves local fire agencies, MABAS Divisions, State of Illinois departments, and Cook County UASI-DHSEM by providing a systems-based resource allocation and distribution network of robust traditional and nontraditional fire-EMS-rescue and special operations teams for emergency and sustained response within and outside of the State of Illinois. Accomplishment of the services requires cooperation, standardization, reliability, partnering, brokering and ongoing communication and compliance with customer specification and expectations. Customer trust and reliance on the MABAS system is built upon personal relationships, credibility, and ongoing customer support.

The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) provides emergency rapid response and sustained operations when a jurisdiction or region is stricken by an overwhelming event generated by manmade, technological, or environmental threats. In response, MABAS will mobilize and, deploy a sustained fire, emergency medical services (EMS), hazardous materials, technical rescue, water rescue, urban search & rescue, and incident management assistance team resources to prevent loss of life, human suffering and further damage to property.

Don't Panic If Water Is In Your Home After A Storm - Call SERVPRO (Part 1)

7/26/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Kankakee County has the most experience handling potentially hazardous water cleanup!

Do you have water in your home after a storm?  So many questions will start going through your mind on what you should do.  Let SERVPRO of Kankakee County help!

What we call Category three groundwater is one of the worst types of water loss that can affect your home. The water ruins anything porous it touches.  Water can find a way of getting into areas that you wouldn't think it could, and the longer it remains in the house, the more damage that it does. Fast action is the best action when it comes to "dirty" water in your home. 

What Could Potentially Live In Floodwater?

When groundwater is the cause of the flood in your home, there can be many problems that can present within the water. As the water travels, it picks up everything it comes in contact with and brings it along for the ride. SERVPRO of Kankakee County technicians perform water restoration services on water damages that could contain one or more harmful agents. Additionally, all types of mud and debris may potentially be in the water when it comes into your home.

Can Floodwater Harm Your Flooring?

The potential outcome of your flooring in your home after a floodwater disaster is dependent on how fast the cleanup efforts began making it even more important to call a professional to clean it up. After groundwater enters a home, it travels to any area that offers the least resistance. SERVPRO of Kankakee County techs know from experience some of the most common places affected by floodwater are:

• Under your tile

• Behind baseboards and drywall

• Through your floor joists possibly into your basements or crawlspaces

• Through carpet and pad 

Extraction of Floodwater is Critical When You Have a Flood Damage

After floodwater enters a home, the timer starts ticking. If the water gets extracted quickly after the water starts to enter your home, there is a greater chance that you will not have as much damage to the structure of your home as well as your possessions inside.

Because of the contaminated nature of this water, SERVPRO of Kankakee County techs often apply treatments that will greatly lessen the possible contagions present before starting the mitigation process. 

It is common for the original amount of water to seem like it is starting to recede.  Be aware that when that happens, most likely the water has started being soaked up by drywall, carpet/pad, and paneling.

Don't Panic If Water Is In Your Home After A Storm - Call SERVPRO (Part 2)

7/26/2021 (Permalink)

Controlled Demolition is Part of the Restoration Process

As scary as it may seem, part of the mitigation process may entail demolition.  Our technicians may have to cut into the wall to remove all wet drywall and insulation that is behind it.  Leaving wet drywall or insulation can lead to mold.

When contaminated water soaks into your carpet, it is almost always a loss. It is almost impossible to return the carpet to a sanitized state for reuse. 

If any of your possessions are contaminated from the flood water that require disposal get documented, including photos to assist the homeowner in the filing of insurance claims.

How Do Wet Items in a Home Get Restored After Flood Damage?

Unfortunately, It depends on the material. Porous items after exposure to contaminated water rarely have restoration possibilities. Non-porous items can respond well to methods of cleaning. Immersion cleaning tend to have the most potential for a positive outcome. SERVPRO of Kankakee County techs have access to a wide range of cleaning products, including powerful biocides and antimicrobial solutions.

You can call SERVPRO of Kankakee County at (815) 935-0077  24/7 to handle any size flood damage. 

SERVPRO Can Handle Any Size Flood Disaster In Your Bradley Home

7/26/2021 (Permalink)

With the fast response of our professionals, let us show you how our experience and equipment can make this loss “Like it never even happened.”

Stopping The Spread Of Flood Damage In Your Bradley Home

Once flooding has occurred in your Bradley home, the effects can spread quickly from room to room, even affecting multiple levels of a two or three-story house. The farther that these damaging effects can spread throughout your property, the more costly and time-consuming that professional restoration ultimately becomes. It is imperative to thwart the spread of these determinantal effects to save your property costlier repairs and restoration and also to reduce the irreparable damage that could result.

We know how imperative a fast response is for storm and flood damage emergencies that can affect Bradley homes, and that is why our SERVPRO team has a 24/7 response window for disasters. We have a full crew of qualified professionals accredited through the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) in all water restoration facets of the industry, including Applied Structural Drying, to give our customers the best possible technicians to address the flood effects.

Flooding can happen from several points in your home, and knowing where the source of this damage exists can help our responding technicians to provide a temporary solution to prevent further penetration. Removing the flow of floodwater into the property is the first logical step in stopping the spread of these damaging effects. We have multiple solutions to address structural compromise in a temporary sense so that mitigation, extraction, and drying can get underway.

Stopping the movement of floodwater in your home begins with a fast and effective response to the situation. Our SERVPRO professionals must set up extraction equipment quickly, and there are varying degrees of these machines based on the severity and volume of the standing water. Once the excess has gotten removed, our team can utilize moisture readers to determine the scope of the spread of the damage and work to set up multiple air movers and dehumidification units quickly to address saturation and moisture concerns.

You cannot expect to protect any home damaged by flooding fully, but you can help the situation from getting out of control. With the fast response of our SERVPRO of Kankakee County professionals, let us show you how our experience and equipment can make this loss “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call at (815) 935-0077.

Click here for more about Bradley.

SERVPRO Has The Best Restoration Equipment For Water Damage

6/24/2021 (Permalink)

Call us any time any day! We are faster to any size disaster!

Understanding Equipment Helps During Water Damage Restoration In Bourbonnais

Water spills can happen at any time. When your Bourbonnais property is affected, the most crucial step to take is to extract any standing water and dry moisture remnants quickly. With the right equipment, this task can be easy to handle. However, failure to understand how different equipment types work can interfere with the outcome. You can learn how to use the equipment effectively or hire a water damage mitigation company such as SERVPRO.

One category of equipment that plays a crucial role during water damage restoration in affected Bourbonnais properties is lift-equipment. Pumps and water extractors fall under this category. When used properly, they can help remove significant amounts of water from your property within a short period. Among the factors you can consider when choosing the equipment to help you extract water from your property is the lift capacity and CFM, Cubic Feet per Minute, rating. Apart from that, the kind of wand attached to the extractor also matters. You should choose carpet wands for carpeted surfaces, and squeegee wands for wood and other hard surfaces. Our SERVPRO technicians have access to a wide range of equipment and accessories to tackle all situations.

Scoping is part of an effective restoration of water damage. While most of the water might pool on floors and other visible areas, a small percentage can reach subfloors and other hidden cavities. Equipment such as moisture meters, sensors, and thermal cameras help when scoping for moisture. Understanding how each type of equipment works can help improve their efficiency. For example, when using a thermal camera, you should realize it detects temperature and not moisture. However, since moisture alters temperature, the camera identifies wet areas.

Drying helps remove the final moisture remnants in affected areas. Drying relies on evaporation which incidentally removes moisture from materials but leaves it in the air. Condensation can reverse this process. Combining equipment that improves evaporation and those that extracts moisture from the air, such as dehumidifiers, guarantees a good outcome. Our SERVPRO technicians have access to a wide range of extraction equipment that ensures balanced drying, including:

    •    LGR Dehumidifiers
    •    Desiccant Dehumidifiers
    •    Box Fan Extractors
    •    Centrifugal Air Movers

You don’t have to worry about choosing restoration equipment when you hire SERVPRO of Kankakee County. Call us at (815) 935-0077 any time. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

For more about Bourbonnais click here.

Water Damage Can Have Its Challenges - Not For SERVPRO Though!

6/24/2021 (Permalink)

We can help and want to! Don't wait to call any time or any day!

Water extraction is an evolved science that encompasses a professional assessment of the water damage and the creation of a plan of action for recovery. The professionals in this industry are Certified Water Damage Restoration Technicians (WRT) or Certified Mold Technicians (CMT). They utilize established equations and properties of materials, psychrometry (the study of gas-vapor mixtures), an understanding of mold and microbial activity, and water restoration equipment technology to determine the set of industry accepted mitigation protocols to use.

The use of equations, properties of materials, and psychometrics is needed because water behaves differently depending on its state (liquid, gas, or solid), temperature, the type of material it has penetrated (wood, dry wall, ceramic, concrete, cloth, etc.), and the environmental conditions (relative humidity & temperature). Once all of these parameters are known, calculations are made to determine the most efficient extraction rate possible without causing additional damage.

Mold and microbial growth is possible in the presence of water so it’s vital that the offending water be extracted as soon as possible. Although everyone has seen mold in the past, in many cases mold is not visible. Determining the presence of non-visible mold requires a Certified Mold Technician to take swab samples of the affected material and send the samples to a certified lab for analysis.

There is a wide range of water restoration equipment available to perform water extraction. Suffice to say that it is important to have the right equipment selected for the particular water restoration job at hand.

Have Questions? Call Us Today – (815) 935-0077

SERVPRO of Kankakee County & COVID Readiness

5/27/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Team ready to get to work!

If you are thinking about your business reopening, or for emergency response and decontamination projects, SERVPRO of Kankakee County can assist for Bioremediation for your business. 

As a leading service provider of biohazard cleanup, our properly insured and OSHA-certified COVID cleanup teams are among the best trained and most reputable in the industry. 

Having a reliable resource to help, plan and disinfect, is critical for your business and those under your employ.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County’s bioremediation staff has the resources, materials and experience to respond to environmental challenges due to COVID-19.

Fully understanding the importance of confidentiality, SERVPRO of Kankakee County also knows that many partners will want others to know that reputable service has been performed by a trusted professional company. 

SERVPRO of Kankakee County is working with companies to develop a cohesive strategy for this purpose, as well as plans on reopening, and contingency for business continuity in case of shutdown.

SERVPRO CLEANING PROTOCOLS

• LEVEL 1 - PROACTIVE - No exposure; precautionary.
• LEVEL 2 - SUSPECTED - Suspected COVID-19 contamination
• LEVEL 3 - CONFIRMED - Confirmed COVID-19 case

SERVPRO utilizes the understanding of chemical application, dwell-time, and infectious diseases following the directives and protocols of the CDC,EPA, OSHA, IDPH and the FDA.

We sincerely hope that the need for a relationship with SERVPRO of Kankakee County due to concerns or issues due to COVID-19 has never been greater. 

Please allow our Professionals to earn your trust in providing a clean and healthy working environment for your staff and clients to have confidence and piece of mind when coming to work, going home, and visiting your facilities.

Are you and your stakeholders open to learning more of the Bioremediation expertise of SERVPRO of Kankakee County?  If so,  please call our office at 815-935-0077

SERVPRO Is Here For Your Commercial Carpet Cleaning!

5/27/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technician cleaning stained carpet in Bradley

SERVPRO provides heavy duty carpet cleaning at your Bradley commercial property for those tough stains.

Keeping your carpets clean enhances the appearance of your offices.

Damage May Come To Your Commercial Flooring, But SERVPRO Is #HeretoHelp

5/1/2021 (Permalink)

Wood flooring is a common choice for cafes throughout Bourbonnais because they add a charming aesthetic to the business but remain one of the most natural floor types to clean. In a place that serves a product that can easily get spilled, having carpets can quickly become a poor decision. Even the engineered wood flooring is not impervious to water damages, however.

We have an entire division of restoration professionals equipped to handle water removal and drying of flooring in Bourbonnais businesses. Engineered flooring might initially resist water penetration; in time, standing water can penetrate beyond the surface of the individual installed planks through vulnerabilities in the seams and creases. When we respond quickly enough, our SERVPRO professionals can often use drying mats and tenting practices to draw moisture from these planks before irregularities, and physical damage exists. Experience in enveloping only affected areas of the flooring can greatly decrease service time while preserving the floorboards.

Once warping and distortion have started, our professionals have no choice but to remove the water damaged planks of the flooring. Controlled demolition is always ideal here, as it is much less expensive than the costs of full floor replacement and can often happen much faster. We strive to dry and reinstall these removed slats by sanding and refinishing them whenever possible. It is our priority to get you back to business as usual as promptly as possible.

While we have moisture detection tools that can determine if moisture and dampness exist in the subflooring beneath the planks, a visual inspection can often be beneficial once the OSB board or plywood gets exposed. If these materials also show signs of warping and malformation, they must get removed and replaced. We have a full division of in-house general contractors that can oversee demolition and flooring replacement while our water restoration technicians dry out salvageable contents and materials throughout the café.

There is little that you can do to predict when widespread water losses might occur, but who responds to these emergencies can help you to get back to serving customers quickly. Our SERVPRO of Kankakee County team has a full-service approach to handle both mitigations of water damaging incidents and reconstruction as necessary. Give us a call today at (815) 935-0077.

Storms storms GO AWAY! (If they don't though, give SERVPRO a call!)

4/22/2021 (Permalink)

Life in Bourbonnais near the Kankakee River comes with concerns about flooding. In the early spring, the river itself threatens as ice floes jam, causing localized flooding. Later spring and summer feature fierce winds and heavy rains that train across the former prairie south of Chicago. One weather event after another create vast volumes of water with nowhere to go but inside your home. If you find yourself overwhelmed with storm damage or seepage, we are here to help.

A series of severe storms can create a train-like effect, causing flood damage to your Bourbonnais home and its contents. Your roof, windows, and siding can remain in good condition, impervious to the weather, yet water still enters the lower levels of your home.

Seepage happens because the ground surrounding your house becomes supersaturated even if the river doesn’t rise. The physics involved impels moisture to move from the wet ground through your dry foundation into the basement. When the SERVPRO team arrives to help expect us to inspect your gutters and downspouts first. We check to see if they are operating appropriately, draining many feet away from the perimeter of your house.

We assess the interior flooding, and devise a plan using both submersible pumps and wanded extractors to remove the water. Thermal imaging technology helps us locate any water trapped behind building materials in a finished basement or inside the cells of cinder block construction. To aid the SERVPRO team in accessing the floodwater, our crew might make flood cuts in drywall or paneling. Holes drilled in mortar joints help release water in masonry or the blocks.

Our trained manager categorizes the water for containment and disposal purposes. If a sewer backup complicates the scenario, the water is Category 3 or black water. It can carry human waste with the risk of exposure to blood or fecal-borne pathogens. The water removed must be handled per local hazardous waste rules.

Surfaces need cleaning and disinfection with EPA-registered products and antimicrobials. SERVPRO technicians then determine drying goals and use air movers, heaters, and dehumidifiers to meet those marks.

Rely on the professionals from SERVPRO of Kankakee County to help when flooding damages your basement or walk out. Call (815) 935-0077 to set up a consultation without delay.

For more about Bourbonnais click here.

Water Damage at your Kankakee County Company

2/23/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Techcians addressing a recent water damage caused by winter weather in Kankakee County

If your Kankakee County business need water intrusion and damage mitigation, you can count on the IICRC-certified professionals at SERVPRO of Kankakee County to get the job done right. Our technicians receive both extensive training and continued learning opportunities through SERVPRO learning modules based on the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification standards and protocols. Not only does this education ensure that technicians, staff, and franchise owners are knowledgeable, but that businesses benefit from a consistently high standard of cleanup and restoration.

SERVPRO's Drying Process
SERVPRO technicians typically use two industrial-grade tools for structural drying: centrifugal air movers and dehumidifiers. In flood situations, these are utilized after water extraction and disinfection to minimize the spread of microbes in the air.

Air movers can pull moisture from walls most effectively when placed at a 45-degree angle in relation to the surface. If your basement is insulated with organic material like cotton or cellulose that may have been affected by flooding, removal is recommended to prevent the spread of mold and contaminants.

Call SERVPRO of Kankakee County, our team is based in Manteno, Illinois and within minutes of towns like Aroma Park, Bourbonnais, Bradley, Grant Park, Herscher, Kankakee, Limestone, Momence and St. Anne. All of us here at SERVPRO of Kankakee County understand that having dedicated and trained technicians and utilizing professional protocols and equipment make a real difference in reducing claims and loss expenses. Our adage “Like it never even happened,” is our goal in returning damaged areas to a preloss condition and we are dedicated to both the property and lives of the customers we assist 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. We are SERVPRO of Kankakee County 815-935-0077

SERVPRO CONTINUING EDUCATION ONLINE CLASS FEBRUARY 2021

2/23/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO ETHICS CLASS FEBRUARY 2021

Recently SERVPRO of Kankakee County, SERVPRO of Bloomington / Pontiac and SERVPRO of Champaign/Urbana hosted a Continuing Education live webinar for over 125 Insurance Agents, Brokers, CSR's and Adjusters. 

Course Curriculum over a two day period entailed:

a) ETHICS and Professional Standards

b) FIRE DAMAGE

c) WATER DAMAGE

Insurance Professionals in Illinois are required by Law to complete 24-hours of insurance Continuing Education, including 3-hours of ethics are required every 2-year license term. The ethics CE requirement must be completed in an approved classroom or webinar course.

Our Moderator is Todd Davis, CIC. With over 25 years experience teaching professional continuing education classes and more than 40 years working in the industry as an agent, agency owner, and expert witness, our students find classes on topics such as ethics, laws, errors and omissions, sales, fire damage, water damage, mold and coverages informative and engaging. 

SERVPRO Responds to Fire Damage in Kankakee County

2/23/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Kankakee County on site at recent residential stucture fire.

After a recent fire, SERVPRO of Kankakee County responded to assist the homeowner. SERVPRO’s fire mitigation specialists were on site within minutes of the event. Immediate response time allows the minimization of damage and subsequent cleaning and restorative costs. Working with the homeowner and their insurance company, work has begun to mitigate the physical structure and the contents therein. Soot and smoke damage permeated the structure and contents. Soot and smoke damage is a byproduct of burning fossil fuels, consisting of dust, acids and chemicals causing not only health hazards but significant damage to contents. SERVPRO of Kankakee County’s Professionals clean and restore your property using time tested specialized equipment and cleaning techniques which reduces interruptions and gets you back to normalcy.

All of us here at SERVPRO of Kankakee County understand that having dedicated and trained technicians and utilizing professional protocols and equipment make a real difference in reducing claims and loss expenses. Our adage “Like it never even happened,” is our goal in returning damaged areas to a preloss condition and we are dedicated to both the property and lives of the customers we assist 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. We are SERVPRO of Kankakee County 815-935-0077

Frozen Weather Can Pause Your Life, But SERVPRO Is Here To Help You Hit The Restart Button!

2/17/2021 (Permalink)

We are no stranger to freezing temps here in Illinois, but, nonetheless, it can still cause some serious issues for businesses, regardless of how often it occurs.  The major water repairs that are caused by frozen pipes are a real concern for local businesses, and we want you to know that we are here to help! 

Some helpful tips to prevent frozen pipes:

Simply letting your faucet drip can help prevent them from freezing. It isn't a huge water waster either, as it doesn't take much and it can make a huge difference! 

Pipes can get cold just like we do! Don't worry though, pipe sleeves and heating tape are available to keep your pipes warm. 

Water sources coming in from outside should be shut off during the winter months. 

Never lower your heat down below 60. The colder the inside of your house is, the more chance areas of your house not touched by your HVAC system may be freezing, which will leave you wishing you wouldn't have touched that thermostat! 

Open cabinet doors under sinks and in storage areas to allow heat from the room to circulate around uninsulated pipes.

If the freezing weather does leave you with a giant flooded mess, give the professionals of SERVPRO a call! We are faster to any disaster and we will make the mischief that Jack Frost makes in your home or business "Like it never even happened."

Top Tips On Dealing With Frozen Pipes

2/17/2021 (Permalink)

Here are a few great ways you can deal with the frozen menace known to all of us in the midwest as "frozen pipes"!

Hairdryer – This is one of the safest and most effective ways to thaw a pipe. Open the faucet and then heat the pipe by working back toward the area where the blockage has occurred.

Space heater – A small heater can work much faster than a hairdryer. Simply direct the heater toward the frozen area of the pipe.

Make sure you and your employees know where the shut-off valve is located. If you are dealing with frozen pipes or water damage from frozen pipes in your commercial building call SERVPRO as soon as possible.

We are faster to any disaster and are ready to get you back to "Like it never even happened."

Why SERVPRO? Fire Repair & Assessing Potential Hazards

2/17/2021 (Permalink)

Before professional fire restorers begin devising a plan to remove residues and debris in your Bradley home we must make the safety of the worksite and any living spaces you hope to occupy during the project a priority. Every fire scenario is different. The time taken to identify and manage safety hazards is well spent, ensuring workers and their loved ones avoid health concerns a potential accident during the restoration process.

Assessing Potential Hazards

Our project management team is highly-qualified to review the fire damage affecting your Bradley home. We have substantial experience in evaluating damaged structural components and the substances used to knock down the fire. The crew lead scopes the integrity of the floor, walls, and ceilings, securing surfaces if needed. We determine the category of water and composition of the chemical solutions used to put out the fire as inches to feet of water often need extraction prior to other tasks. The firefighting water commonly is contaminated, and our crew contains the fluids for appropriate disposal per local regulations. Electrical and other utility lines expose our technicians and the occupants of the house to the risk of shock, slip and fall, and further contamination with oil, propane, or natural gas.

Safety Considerations When We Clean Residues and Charring

Your dwelling shelters a broad range of building materials and contents that ignite and burn. As the fire moves through the building materials give off gasses and deposit residues that are toxic. Cleaning up without safety equipment exposes eyes, lungs, and skin to hazardous materials. Because of the potential harm to the health and safety of SERVPRO technicians and your family, we implement protocols to protect anyone in the space.

Negative pressure air scrubbers -- contain the workspace, filtering smoke, chemical, and microbial residues out of the air and exhausting to the outdoors.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) -- professional-grade clothing and accessories that cover bare skin, eyes, feet, and face for SERVPRO workers. Gloves, boots, goggles, and a respirator complete the ensemble. Changing into this apparel helps limit the tracking of water, soot, and other debris into unaffected areas of your home.

Once we address safety concerns, SERVPRO of Kankakee County is ready to remove post-fire water and debris. Call us at (815) 935-0077 to get the process rolling, transforming wet and soot-covered to “Like it never even happened.”

To find out more about Bradley, click here.

When Fire Hits Your Home, SERVPRO Is Here For You!

2/17/2021 (Permalink)

Your dwelling shelters a broad range of building materials and contents that ignite and burn. As the fire moves through the building materials give off gasses and deposit residues that are toxic. Cleaning up without safety equipment exposes eyes, lungs, and skin to hazardous materials. Because of the potential harm to the health and safety of SERVPRO technicians and your family, we implement protocols to protect anyone in the space.

Negative pressure air scrubbers -- contain the workspace, filtering smoke, chemical, and microbial residues out of the air and exhausting to the outdoors.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) -- professional-grade clothing and accessories that cover bare skin, eyes, feet, and face for SERVPRO workers. Gloves, boots, goggles, and a respirator complete the ensemble. Changing into this apparel helps limit the tracking of water, soot, and other debris into unaffected areas of your home.

Once we address safety concerns, SERVPRO of Kankakee County is ready to remove post-fire water and debris. Call us at (815) 935-0077 to get the process rolling, transforming wet and soot-covered to “Like it never even happened.”

To find out more about Bradley, click here.

SERVPRO Provides Emergency Structural Repairs

2/1/2021 (Permalink)

Tree Damage at Kankakee County Residence

SERVPRO of Kankakee County is locally owned & operated. We respond to emergency roof repairs, tarping and patching 24 hours a day. We also do complete roof replacements including decking, shingles, ice & water, and proper venting. We provide free estimates for hail damage, wind damage and fallen tree damage. We have many selections of color and types from asphalt, steel, rubber, and steel shingle, and we can have your new roof installed quickly and professionally.
Your roof is the most important building material and is vital to your home's value.  Call SERVPRO,  our team is based in Manteno, Illinois and within minutes of towns like Aroma Park, Bourbonnais, Bradley, Grant Park, Herscher, Kankakee, Limestone, Momence and St. Anne. All of us here at SERVPRO of Kankakee County understand that having dedicated and trained technicians and utilizing professional protocols and equipment make a real difference in reducing claims and loss expenses. Our adage “Like it never even happened,” is our goal in returning damaged areas to a preloss condition and we are dedicated to both the property and lives of the customers we assist 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. We are SERVPRO of Kankakee County 815-935-0077

Supporting locally owned businesses is vital to our community

1/16/2021 (Permalink)

Locally owned and operated SERVPRO of Kankakee County staff

You may often see and hear local community members talking about hire local or buy local. In our area, the Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce has a slogan "shop small, shop local, shop Kankakee County. Well that's not just a tag line. It's a necessity in order for small businesses to survive and thrive. Every job completed locally helps employees via pay checks. Using local companies also helps the local tax base via sales tax and income tax for those working at these locally owned businesses. 

SERVPRO of Kankakee County is locally owned and operated by the Nichols family. Bobby Nichols has spent over 25 years in the restoration and construction industry. His wife, Kata is a veterinarian by trade and has worked in the business since 2010. Their SERVPRO franchise consistently ranks in the Top 100 franchises in the United States and Canada. They also own 3 other SERVPRO franchises to the north.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County employs over 50 locals and nearly 100 local subcontractors. Our reputation locally is unmatched. Our green trucks can be seen buzzing around town every single day helping our friends, neighbors and local businesses clean up all kinds of messes.

We are members of the following chambers of commerce

• Watseka Chamber of Commerce
• The Manteno Chamber of Commerce
• The Kankakee County Chamber 

In addition, we are members of the following local associations. 

• Kankakee-Iroquois-Ford Association of Realtors
• Kankakee Valley Fire Chiefs Association
• MABAS 37

SERVPRO provides cleaning support for nearly every large company in town. From our schools and hospitals to our houses of worship and warehouses. From our smallest towns like Grant Park, Bonfield, Herscher, Limestone, St. Anne, and Aroma Park to our larger cities like Bradley, Bourbonnais, Kankakee, Manteno, and Momence. You can usually find one of our trucks at a Friday Night High School Football game in nearly every one of these towns. You will find our trucks in the parades and at the local diners every Sunday. That's because we don't just service this area, we are from Kankakee County. We invite you to call our office with any of your cleaning needs. Rest assured, we will be there quickly because we won't have to get on the highway to get to you!

SERVPRO Responding to Major Storms in Kankakee County

1/12/2021 (Permalink)

Flooding in Kankakee Area Municipality after a major storm.

Whenever a storm strikes Kankakee County area, heavy rain or snow is possible. When high amounts of precipitation occur, you may find yourself needing to call a professional.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County are the Professionals. 

Our team of dedicated professionals provides emergency tarping, board up and water damage mitigation. While water damage might happen from a variety of sources, clean up and drying efforts need to begin promptly to prevent excessive structural concerns. Working in conjunction with an array of Insurers and their field adjustors, SERVPRO of Kankakee County responds with the aplomb we are noted for; “Faster to Any Size Disaster”. These five words encapsulate what we do best, assisting the communities we live and work in when storms unleash their fury. You can rely on the Professionals at SERVPRO of Kankakee County to be there. Our technical experts are accredited in water damage and mold remediation.  We have state of the art equipment to determine the water damage and the equipment necessary to mitigate the damage.  We are here for you 24-7-365. We are SERVPRO of Kankakee County. 815-935-0077

SERVPRO responds to recent Structure Fire in Kankakee County

1/6/2021 (Permalink)

Fallen ceiling tiles and insulation at a recent residential structure fire in Kankakee County.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County recently responded to a fire damaged residence. As you can see from the photograph fallen ceiling tiles and insulation as the result of fire, smoke and water can cause extensive damage. Mitigating and restoring your Kankakee County home to its original condition requires a professional service trained to handle physical damage, smoke residues, and odors.

Smoke residues present a unique hazard that can be challenging to clean making it a situation many Kankakee County homeowners leave up to the expertise and skills of our SERVPRO professionals. From the risks present in the spread of these residues, from surface to surface throughout a fire-damaged address, to the staining that could result from improper removal, fire loss effects can permanently mar your property without the right approach.

All of us here at SERVPRO of Kankakee County understand that having dedicated and trained technicians and utilizing professional protocols and equipment make a real difference in reducing claims and loss expenses. Our adage “Like it never even happened,” is our goal in returning damaged areas to a preloss condition and we are dedicated to both the property and lives of the customers we assist 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. We are SERVPRO of Kankakee County 815-935-0077

SERVPRO of Kankakee County responds to Storm Damage

12/2/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO a rapid response to Storm Damage

When storms hit damage can be extensive that is why you can rely on the expertise and professionalism of SERVPRO of Kankakee County for emergency response to your commercial business or residence.

Our team of dedicated professionals provides emergency tarping, board up and water damage mitigation. Working in conjunction with an array of Insurers and their field adjustors, SERVPRO of Kankakee County responded with the aplomb we are noted for; “Faster to Any Size Disaster”. These five words encapsulate what we do best, assisting the communities we live and work in when storms unleash their fury. You can rely on the Professionals at SERVPRO of Kankakee County to be there. Our technical experts are accredited in water damage and mold remediation.  We have state of the art equipment to determine the water damage and the equipment necessary to mitigate the damage.  We are here for you 24-7-365. We are SERVPRO of Kankakee County. 815-935-0077

SERVPRO Commercial Board Up

11/3/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Technical Expert securing property after occurrence.

Recently after a fire at a Kankakee County business, SERVPRO of Kankakee County responded with alacrity and expertise working with the commercial property owner, their tenants and their insurance carriers.

Damage to a business from fire and resultant smoke, soot and water damage can be devastating for any business or commercial property with lost revenue, productivity and emotional hardship. The fire damage caused damage and breakage to windows, walls and roof necessitating board up and tarping of missing windows, walls and roof and also protecting the interior from further damage by the elements. Mitigation followed instantaneously with our certified fire mitigation technicians. 

With resultant smoke and soot damage there may be recoverable contents on the property. If products that appear viable remain in the building, you should consider boarding up. These items will require assessment and cleaning and may not be fit for sale, but having them properly processed rather than stolen can be helpful for insurance purposes. You want to protect your electronics and other important items. Depending on the extent of the fire damage, you may be able to restore some electronics or other valuable property to working condition.You need to keep your contents out the elements. If the structure of your property has sustained extensive damage, you should try to keep the elements out to prevent additional damage. Exposure to additional water, wind, or sunlight can compound the damage caused by smoke residue and soot.You want to limit soot damage. It is generally a good idea to reduce foot traffic on the scene of a recent fire. When soot gets embedded into carpeting or upholstery, it can be much more difficult to remedy.

All of us here at SERVPRO of Kankakee County understand that having dedicated and trained technicians, utilizing professional protocols and equipment make a real difference in down time and in reducing claims and loss expenses. Our adage “Like it never even happened,” is our goal in returning damaged areas to a preloss condition and we are dedicated to both the property and lives of the customers we assist 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. We are SERVPRO of Kankakee County 815-935-0077 

Manteno Fire Loss mitigated by SERVPRO of Kankakee County

11/3/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Kankakee County on site at a commercial fire loss in Manteno, Illinois

When a recent fire damage occurred at a Manteno business you need help on many fronts. This is why the technical expertise and rapid response of SERVPRO of Kankakee County is invaluable.  Exterior damage receives needed tarping and boarding up to protect from the elements. Our on-site fire mitigation and remediation crews arrive with the workforce, products, and equipment needed to start the turnaround from chaos to calm inside your home. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) training mastered by our Fire and Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT) is crucial to mitigating further damage and remediating the harm already done.

We pledge transparency in our communications with you during the project and also collaborate with you as we work with you and your insurer. Meticulous documentation is needed for you to receive appropriate payment, and we have employees dedicated to ensuring that we have the evidence to back up your claims. Both at your business and our production facility located in Manteno we follow the restoration industry’s best practices to clean up the water and soot damage, disinfect and dry building materials and contents, and eliminate the odors that can linger.

All of us here at SERVPRO of Kankakee County understand that having dedicated and trained technicians, utilizing professional protocols and equipment make a real difference in down time and in reducing claims and loss expenses. Our adage “Like it never even happened,” is our goal in returning damaged areas to a preloss condition and we are dedicated to both the property and lives of the customers we assist 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. We are SERVPRO of Kankakee County 815-935-0077

SERVPRO of Kankakee County at MABAS 37 Golf Outing

10/5/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Kankakee County proud to Sponsor the MABAS 37 Golf Outing

SERVPRO of Kankakee County recently was one of the major sponsors at the MABAS 37 (Eastern Illinois Mutual Aid Association) Golf Outing.

Spending the day with our First Responders playing golf, chatting and having a great meal with them and fellow sponsors is what community is all about.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County is honoured to be an Affiliate Member of MABAS Division 37. These dedicated men and women protect our lives and property twenty fours a day three hundred and sixty five days a year. They are our friends and neighbours, they till our soil, work in factories and offices.  When the “call” comes they are there to save our lives our pets and our properties. They educate the residents and business community about fire safety.  

The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) provides emergency rapid response and sustained operations when a jurisdiction or region is stricken by an overwhelming event generated by manmade, technological, or environmental threats. In response, MABAS will mobilize and, deploy a sustained fire, emergency medical services (EMS), hazardous materials, technical rescue, water rescue, urban search & rescue, and incident management assistance team resources to prevent loss of life, human suffering and further damage to property.

Recent storms cause water damage to Kankakee County

9/1/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Technical Experts mitigating water damage in Kankakee County.

Recent heavy rains caused extensive damage to residences throughout Kankakee County. Apart from the detritus common in these types of occurrences, there are also present associated health risks. With any type of water damage SERVPRO of Kankakee County are your certified water damage professionals. SERVPRO of Kankakee County is trained to deal with a myriad of water damage issues. 

Below are some basic procedures for clean up

1. Identify ALL safety issues
2. Determine source of the water and get problem fixed as quickly as possible 
3. Extract materials and/or remove all standing water
4. Apply EPA registered disinfectant
5. Remove and discard all contaminated porous and semi-porous structural materials included carpet and pad
6. Measure and document all moisture levels in affected areas.
7. Install barriers to contain damaged areas
8. Install drying equipment 
9. Monitor job daily.
10. Once completely dry. Clean all areas prior to rebuild.

When your Kankakee County home or business has a sewer back up you can rely on the professionals at SERVPRO of Kankakee County. For a free estimate call (815)935-0077

SERVPRO Mitigating Water Damage in Kankakee County

9/1/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Technical Experts addressing water damage issues in Kankakee County.

Water damage can happen at any time. When your Kankakee County property is affected the most crucial step to take is to extract any standing water and dry moisture remnants quickly.

One category of equipment that plays a crucial role during properties is lift-equipment. Pumps and water extractors fall under this category. When used properly, they can help remove significant amounts of water from your property within a short period of time.  Equipment that extracts water from your property is the lift capacity and CFM, Cubic Feet per Minute, rating. Apart from that, the kind of wand attached to the extractor also matters. You should choose carpet wands for carpeted surfaces, and squeegee wands for wood and other hard surfaces. Our SERVPRO of Kankakee County certified and trained technicians have access to a wide range of equipment and accessories to tackle all situations.

Drying helps remove the final moisture remnants in affected areas. Drying relies on evaporation which incidentally removes moisture from materials but leaves it in the air. Condensation can reverse this process. Combining equipment that improves evaporation and those that extracts moisture from the air, such as dehumidifiers, guarantees a good outcome. Our SERVPRO of Kankakee County technicians have access to a wide range of extraction equipment that ensures balanced drying and the expertise to handle any eventuality arising form water damage.

You can rely on the Professionals at SERVPRO of Kankakee County 24/7/365.  We can be reached at 815-935-0077

SERVPRO assisting our local Fire Departments

9/1/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO a of Kankakee County donated a Palmer Dollhouse to a local Fire Department.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County takes an active role in supporting our local Fire Departments.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County is a proud supporter of our Fire Departments. Whether it be a Fire Department's Open House, Golf Outing, a pancake breakfast, fish fry or benefit, SERVPRO of Kankakee County is there.

Pictured in this blog we donated a Palmer Doll House which we constructed for the Momence Fire Department.

The Palmer Doll House is an effective tool for the training of firemen in both classroom and hands on. For a Department to be effective as with any business, knowledge and education are paramount.

Using the Palmer Doll House is a superb vehicle to show and demonstrate how ventilation of positive and negative degrees allows backdraft and flashover to occur.  It also can be a tool to demonstrate tactics and results.

We here at SERVPRO of Kankakee County thank our local Fire Departments for the Professionalism, Dedication and Bravery and we are honored to assist them always.

SERVPRO hosting Kankakee Fire Chief’s Association Monthly Meeting

8/18/2020 (Permalink)

Executive Board Chiefs of the Kankakee Valley Fire Chief’s Association at SERVPRO of Kankakee County

Recently SERVPRO of Kankakee County hosted the MABAS Division 7 / Kankakee Valley Fire Chief’s Association monthly meeting at our Manteno facility.

The Association is made up of 17 fire departments and 20 associate members.  MABAS Division 7 covers Kankakee County, located approximately 50 miles south of Chicago, Illinois.  Division 7 is dispatched by KanCom Dispatch located in Kankakee, Illinois.  The fire departments associated with MABAS Division 7 provide fire suppression, EMS, rescue, and specialized response teams that allow the division to handle and mitigate.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County is honored to be an Affiliate Member of MABAS Division 7. These dedicated men and women protect our lives and property twenty-fours a day three hundred and sixty-five days a year. They are our friends and neighbors, they till our soil, work in factories and offices.  When the “call”comes they are there to save our lives our pets and our properties. They educate the residents and business community about fire safety.  

SERVPRO responds to Commercial Fire Loss in Manteno

8/3/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Kankakee County at Commercial Fire Loss in Manteno, Illinois

Recently in Manteno, Illinois a commercial fire loss caused extensive damage.  SERVPRO of Kankakee County was on site within minutes and working with the business owner and their insurance carrier, and began the process of mitigation. Damage to a business from fire can be devastating for any business or commercial property with lost revenue, productivity and emotional hardship. As can be seen in the photograph our Professional Response Team inspected the property in order to determine the extent of the fire and resultant smoke and soot damage. The fire damage caused damage and breakage to windows, walls and roof necessitating board up and tarping of missing windows, walls and roof and also protecting the interior from further damage by the elements. Mitigation followed instantaneously with our certified fire mitigation technicians.  Today the commercial property is back up and running and serving their community “Like it never even happened.” We are local, we live, work and worship in your community and we are proud to be SERVPRO of Kankakee County.  We are here 24/7/365 and can be reached at 815-935-0077.

Tornadoes, heavy rain and damaging winds in Central Illinois

7/23/2020 (Permalink)

Massive storm approaching Ashkum, Illinois - 15 July 2020 5:31 pm

Recent severe storms coupled with tornadoes and damaging winds occurred in our area one week ago Wednesday. These storms brought record setting rains and associated flooding. In addition to hail, several outbuildings were destroyed, basements were flooded and power lines were down. Within moments after the storm hit SERVPRO of Kankakee County responded.  Our team of dedicated professionals provided emergency tarping, board up and water damage mitigation. Working in conjunction with an array of Insurers and their field adjustors, SERVPRO of Kankakee County responded with the aplomb we are noted for; “Faster to Any Size Disaster”. These five words encapsulate what we do best, assisting the communities we live and work in when storms unleash their fury. You can rely on the Professionals at SERVPRO of Kankakee County to be there. Our technical experts are accredited in water damage and mold remediation.  We have state of the art equipment to determine the water damage and the equipment necessary to mitigate the damage.  We are here for you 24/7/365. We are SERVPRO of Kankakee County. 815-935-0077

Major Water Damage event in Herscher, Illinois

7/1/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technician mitigating water damage at residence in Herscher

Recently there was a major water damage event in the village of Herscher Illinois. According to the weather service 2.8 inches of rain fell in the Herscher area in less than one hour and 15 minutes causing extensive flooding and water damage to over 30 residences including the village hall and police department. The overflow also caused the southeast tank at the sewer plant to move. 

SERVPRO Of Kankakee County began receiving calls as early as 1:45 AM. Our crews responded with professionalism and aplomb.

The Village of Herscher is a dynamic community and SERVPRO was there to assist in the mitigation efforts. 

The community pulled together during this calamity. We salute the Pilot Township Fire Protection District, the Herscher Police Department, Public Works, and the electric, gas and cable utilities.

We also wish to thank a major Insurance Carrier in Herscher who graciously  encouraged us to use their parking area and their offices for our staging and data entry.

We are SERVPRO of Kankakee County and we are here 24/7/365

Fire and Smoke Damaged home in Manteno Illinois

7/1/2020 (Permalink)

Owner headed to a fire in Manteno

After a fire incident, many homeowners naturally want to do something to fix the situation. Sometimes, the steps you take can worsen the state of affairs, so it is essential to know what to do after such incidents. Immediately calling a professional restorer is the ideal response because the crewmembers are trained to handle such situations. We offer professional restoration services in Manteno, and IICRC certifies our crews in Fire and Smoke Restoration.  

Although you might feel the need to clean up surfaces or items after incidents of fire damage in Manteno, you should avoid doing so. Some cleaning actions can exacerbate the situation or have no impact on general restoration efforts. For example, trying to clean walls can transfer the soot residues from the walls to materials on the floor staining them. Some ash residues might also be present in the areas you want clean, and they can cause problems if inhaled or exposed to your skin. Our SERVPRO technicians handle the process better because they have PPE, Personal Protective Equipment, and we use systemic procedures when cleaning up.  

Movement around the fire-damaged house can cause additional damages by spreading soot, ash and other residues around the house. Touching different contents with soot-covered hands can impregnate upholstery, walls and wooden materials with soot residues causing additional damages. Our SERVPRO technicians evaluate damaged materials separating them into salvageable, unsalvageable and questionable categories. We can also pre-clean some of the salvageable materials ensuring the occupant has access to what he or she needs thus eliminating the need to venture into the damaged house.  

Soot residues are acidic so that they can corrode or stain different materials in the house. There is a need to protect materials with chrome or other metallic finishes and stone surfaces such as granite. Our SERVPRO technicians pre-clean these areas then apply a thin coat of lubricant to protect them until it is possible to do thorough restorative cleaning.  

For the right response after fire incidents in Bourbonnais, Bradley, and Kankakee areas, call SERVPRO of Kankakee County to help. You can reach us at (815) 935-0077 any time. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Learn more about Manteno here.

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned – a defensive cleaning program Category: Cleaning

5/13/2020 (Permalink)

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, 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.

Locus Street in Manteno, Convent Street and Court Street in Bourbonnais, and Kennedy Drive in Bradley are full of businesses that are turning to SERVPRO of Kankakee County for disinfecting Services.  With our office based on Boudreau Road in Manteno we frequently service businesses on Route 1 and Route 17 in Grant Park all the way to Station Street in Saint Anne.  Having I-57 so close to our offices allows us to easily service Chebanse, and Gilman to the South or travel North to service our other two franchises.  The three franchises of SERVPRO Team Nichols are SERVPRO of Kankakee County, SERVPRO of Chicago Heights/Crete/Beecher and SERVPRO of Matteson-Homewood are fully trained, certified, and insured to handle any disaster including pandemic disinfecting.

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 Kankakee County today at  815-935-0077 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.

REOPENING YOUR BUSINESS- COVID-19 RESPONSE

5/11/2020 (Permalink)

Before opening your business, call SERVPRO of Kankakee County for COVID-19 disinfecting services.

REOPENING YOUR BUSINESS

As businesses are preparing to reopen, it is important to correctly clean and disinfecting.  The type of needed disinfecting is a higher level than your day to day cleaning.  Disinfecting is vital to protect your employees and clients.  Though businesses are reopening, the threat of COVID-19 is still present and in order to reduce the risk of further spread is to take steps to disinfect your buildings.  No building is to small or too large for these services.  The experts at SERVPRO of Kankakee County are trained to handle disasters.  Out Large Loss team specializes in disasters such as the Coronavirus Pandemic.   Our technicians are trained in Biohazard cleanup, Blood-born pathogen and virus trained, and IICRC certified.  Additionally, our technicians are fully trained in proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

What our reopening cleaning includes

SERVPRO reopening cleaning and disinfecting includes a wide range of services dependent on your business needs.  These services all include the use of EPA registered, Hospital Grade disinfectants approved for use in COVID-19 in both electric static fogging and spray and wiping.  Carpet cleaning, and floor cleaning may be required or suggested as well, depending on the facility.  Disinfecting of all touchable areas in your building will include but not be limited to: walls, doors, door handles, light switches, windows, tables, table tops, chairs, sinks, cabinets, filing cabinets, computer key boards and mouse, phones, printers, lunch rooms, bathroom stalls and machinery.  Our technicians follow all OSHA regulations, as well as guidance from the CDC.

What businesses we can help

SERVPRO technicians are capable of helping many different types of businesses with our services.  We can effectively disinfect offices, salons, and small stores as well as large manufacturing facilities, warehouses, restaurants, and schools.  All businesses in the state of Illinois have at least these things in common:  employees and being effected by COVID-19.

Preventative Vs. Reactive

Preventative disinfecting is a service made for businesses that have not experienced a positive or suspected COVID-19.  Preventive cleaning still disinfects all touchable surfaces to treat any possible viruses that may be in your facility.  Reactive cleaning on the other handle is just that, a disinfectant service after a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19.  This disinfecting is a higher level of disinfecting, requiring the use of several types of services.  It is vital that if your business needs a reactive disinfectant cleaning to call us as soon as possible in order to correctly create a plan to reduce further contamination as well as spread of the virus.

What our fogging allows us to do

By using the electrostatic fogging technology, SERVPRO technicians can cover an area is a short period of time.  This process allows for the use liquid disinfectant in a non damaging manner to paper or fabrics.  The fogging turns the liquid disinfectant into a fine mist that lands on all surfaces and then dissipates after a specific dry time.  Because this fine mist allows technicians to disinfect areas faster, this service can be more cost effective then using a pump sprayer technique.  While some areas of your building may require the use of a pump sprayer, where ever possible, our technicians will use fogging to efficiency service our clients.

Towns that we service

SERVPRO of Kankakee County services towns with in Kankakee County including Manteno, Bradley, Bourbonnais, Kankakee, Momence, Grant Park,St. Anne, and Chebanse.  We also service Clifton, Herscher, Piper City, Danforth and every where in between.

Deep Cleaning Needs In Kankakee County- SERVPRO Is Here!

5/3/2020 (Permalink)

Always Here To Help, SERVPRO owner Bobby Nichols

As Kankakee County officials begin discussing re opening businesses, SERVPRO stands ready to assist local businesses, municipalities, and educational facilities protect the public and employees. Per the CDC recommendations, deep cleaning high touch surfaces of gross filth and then disinfecting with a hospital grade EPA registered disinfectant is key. SERVPRO has OSHA certified technicians and carries the proper liability insurance to perform the work quickly and safely.

During last week's meeting at the County building located at 189 E. COURT ST., KANKAKEE, IL 60901, local leaders reiterated how important it is for the residents to remain diligent in their efforts to "flatten the curve". We have worked closely with multiple businesses and residents directly affected to the COVID19 outbreak and recognize the importance of sharing any information that may help residents be safer and healthier. Questions regarding the latest information in our area can typically be answered by going to the Kankakee County Health Department website. Questions about re opening your business and properly cleaning and sanitizing recommendations can be answered by calling our office (815)935-0077. Our trained project managers have been responding to restaurants, retail, assisted living and other buildings for proactive and reactive COVID19 cleanings. 

Our processes include a thorough fogging prior to a complete cleaning of all touchable surfaces. Our clients from Banks on Main Street in Bourbonnais IL to apartments on Broadway in Bradley IL all recognize that SERVPRO is the community leader in Cleaning and Sanitation

SERVPRO, FEMA, and ISBE Deep Cleaning

4/29/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is working with school districts to fight Covid-19

What we know

Due to the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic private and public schools have been forced to close to onsite learning.  The decision to closed schools was a hard one, however in the best interest of slowing the spread of this viral infection it was necessary.  In order for schools to prepare for the opening of the 2020-2021 school year, schools are scrambling to disinfect the buildings.    The Illinois State Board of Education has recently distributed the information for school districts to apply for FEMA Assistance due to the March 26, 2020 declaration of a major disaster for the state of Illinois by the President.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County is and has been on the front lines of servicing schools for years.  Armed with EPA registered hospital grade disinfectants, airborne and blood born pathogen training our technicians are working hand in hand with schools to make sure they are ready to greet children in the coming school year.      Our local franchise has handled flu epidemics in the past at schools and will continue to service our local schools to best protect the children of our communities.

School Boards and Administers

If your school has not had a thorough disinfecting of your building by a professional biohazard remediation company call our offices today.  SERVPRO of Kankakee County will work with an Environmental Hygenist if needed to create a customized plan for your school district.  This plan can be as little or as much as you need to ensure that your building are properly cleaned, while still following the guidelines set forth by the CDC.

Assisting our Fire Stations

4/28/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Technician cleaning and disinfecting fire apparatus.

As Associate Members of Fire Divisions 7 and 37 of MABAS-Illinois, SERVPRO of Kankakee County is honored to donate the following services free to these brave departments who are on the front lines during the current situation as well as every day and night.  

1. Fog/Electrostatic treatment for all areas with an EPA Registered Disinfectant.

2. Clean and Disinfect all touchable surfaces such as door knobs, jams, handles, faucets and the like.

3. Treat all apparatus of the department.

It is SERVPRO of Kankakee County’s way of saying thank you to our local Fire Departments.

MABAS 7 is composed of 17 Departments located primarily in Kankakee County.

MABAS 37 encompasses 21 Departments located in Iroquois County.

MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) is a statewide mutual aid response system. MABAS provides speed of response of emergency resources to stricken communities when emergencies occur. When Disaster Declarations happen, MABAS provides sustained system response on top of standard mutual aid occurrences. In the State of Illinois since the late 1960’s, the Mutual Alarm Box Alarm System includes in its membership approximately 1,175 of the 1,246 of Illinois’ Departments.  MABAS is organized into 69 Divisions. Geographically the Illinois MABAS serves from Lake Michigan to the border with Iowa and south almost into Kentucky.  MABAS Divisions  from Wisconsin also respond to Illinois.  Major Urban areas such as St. Louis, Milwaukee and Chicago are also MABAS member agencies.

In Illinois there are 102 Counties where MABAS is present.

To give you an idea of size, nearly 38,000 firefighters!

There are over 1600 fire stations, 1300 ambulances, 500 ladder trucks, 1000 water tenders and a reserve of more than 1000 additional emergency vehicles. Another interesting statistic is there are over 2375 engine companies.

MABAS has special teams for hazardous materials with over 40 teams in Illinois.

MABAS has 15 underwater rescue teams, 39 technical rescue teams and urban search and rescue teams.

Next time you see one of our first responders be it on duty or at your local grocery store or church, be sure to thank them for all they do for you.  

We here at SERVPRO of Kankakee County salute you.

SERVPRO mobilized to assist Senior Nursing and Assisted Living Homes in Kankakee County

4/28/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Technicians at Senior Living Facility in Kankakee County

With our most vulnerable citizens at risk, SERVPRO of Kankakee County and Disaster Recovery Team Nichols have been mobilizing cleaning crews to assisted living and senior nursing homes throughout the area day and night.

With the IEPA and CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting buildings requiring trained professionals, our SERVPRO of Kankakee County Team is trained and equipped to handle any sized facility. We have responded to State of Illinois facilities and privately owned businesses alike. We bring hospital grade EPA registered disinfectants, PPE, and fogging equipment to handle our work. 

Occupied spaces, isolation units, and confirmed COVID19 cases are handled with extreme care and thoughtful planning. Protecting residents and staff while we provide our cleaning and disinfecting. Executive directors and CFO's rely on SERVPRO of Kankakee County and Disaster Team Nichols to provide the very best project management and results. 

Call our office today at (815-935-0077) for a rapid response to your positive tested facility and we will help you navigate the path ahead.

We live and work in Kankakee County, we are your friends and neighbors and we at the Dedicated professionals at SERVPRO of Kankakee County and we are here to assist.

SERVPRO - Assisting Businesses as a Result of the Pandemic

4/28/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Technicians at local Kankakee County business.

Responsibilities of Businesses

As a business owner or manager it is your responsibility to ensure the safety and health of your employees.  In order to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, businesses are urged to take steps to prevent the spread.  Additionally, it is imperative to create a response plan, should your employees encounter an exposure in the workplace. 

How SERVPRO is helping businesses 

SERVPRO of Kankakee County technicians are working 7 days a week to clean, disinfect, and sanitize businesses all over Kankakee County . Our technicians can come in after hours to disinfect prior to the next shift or we can disinfect while you are part of the mandatory closure.  There are many different types of services that we are currently providing to both businesses and residents and we encourage you to speak with our Marketing or Production staff.

Precaution 

As a precaution, cleaning and disinfecting can be done.  This means that there had been no confirmed or suspected case in the building.  Our SERVPRO of Kankakee County Technicians are trained in pathogen safety and maintain all CDC recommendations. The use of electrostatic fogging of EPA registered hospital grade disinfecting of touchable surfaces below 8 feet.

Suspected Exposure

When there is a suspected case of exposure in your building, a higher standard of disinfecting is recommended.  To mention, disinfecting and cleaning of the area 10 feet and below using a mixture of fogging and spray/wiping using hospital grade disinfectants.  

Confirmed Case

If the event that your business is exposed to a confirmed case, it is important to create a plan of action. Our SERVPRO of KANKAKEE County team will create an appropriate plan for your business to protect all your employees. It is important to call our specialist immediately to begin the planning process if you experience a confirmation of Covid -19 in your business. 

We are the Dedicated, Certified, Professionals at SERVPRO a of Kankakee County. We are also your friends and neighbors and we are committed to assisting the residents and businesses in Kankakee County.

You can always reach us at 815-935-0077 anytime.  We are SERVPRO of Kankakee County.

Storm Damage in Herscher

4/21/2020 (Permalink)

Storm Damaged Community in Kankakee County

When the storms hit and affect communities like this one above you can rely on SERVPRO to respond. SERVPRO provides many services to deal with the effects of wind and water intrusion. Immediate services in this aspect is to secure your structure from any further potential damage. Securing your property by boarding up windows and tarping if needed protects what is inside. Working together with you we address the damage to contents in the interior of the household. We also can assist in the reconstruction of the damage structure. We take special care of your contents during the restorative process. We work with both you and your insurance company. In unfortunate event that a wind storm affects you, be you a commercial or residential owner or public entity, we here at SERVPRO are committed to assisting you 24/7/365.

Tile and Grout Cleaning in Kankakee County

4/21/2020 (Permalink)

Since we are all at home a lot more than we have been in the past, it is possible that you are starting to notice things that maybe you did not see before.  Example: NASTY DIRTY GROUT!!

Think of grout like the sponge in your kitchen sink: it can get really gross very quickly. Grout is a porous material so therefore, it absorbs debris, dirt and other materials from your home.  Even if you regularly sweep and mop your floors, your grout will get dirty over time.  Nobody wants to spend their weekend scrubbing tile floors with a toothbrush! Especially not when you can see higher quality, longer-lasting results by hiring SERVPRO of Kankakee County.

Deep cleaning grout on your own can be difficult and expensive … not to mention disastrous if done incorrectly. Choosing professional grout and tile cleaning service from SERVPRO of Kankakee County will save you money, time, effort, and peace of mind.

The Pros of Choosing a Professional Tile and Grout Cleaning Service

Dedicated DIYers may be tempted to tackle dirty grout on their own. There are plenty of resources out there designed to help you clean tile and grout without calling in a specialist. While attempting to clean grout on your own may seem feasible, there are lots of reasons to hire a professional.

When you choose professional tile and grout cleaning from SERVPRO of Kankakee County, you can count on:

• A deep, lasting clean
• Fast, efficient and convenient services
• A greater return on your investment

The Cons of DIY Grout Cleaning Can Lead to a Potential Disaster

Without the help of a professional tile and grout cleaning service, homeowners often struggle with:

• Renting expensive equipment.
• The time cleaning grout actually takes.
• Getting the results they want. (We’re called professionals for a reason!)

Between teaching yourself what equipment you need, where to rent from and how to use it, you’ll be spending double the amount of time it would take for skilled professionals to clean the grout for you. 

Let the Professionals at SERVPRO of Kankakee County Keep Your Grout Clean!

If you are in the Bourbonnais, Bradley, Kankakee or Manteno area, Choose SERVPRO of Kankakee County for all your tile and grout cleaning needs! Our professional, IICRC-certified teams will make sure you get the help you need. 

https://www.SERVPROkankakeecounty.com/

SERVPRO responds to storm damage in Kankakee County

4/20/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO vehicle and crew at storm damaged community in Kankakee county

It’s that time of year when the spring storms come out of nowhere. You can rely on the Professionals at SERVPRO of Kankakee County to be there when storms hit.  Whether it be emergency board up, tarping and restoration you can rely on us to respond.

Cleaning your facility in BOURBONNAIS

4/20/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO on site at Bourbonnais facility

You can rely on the Professionals at SERVPRO of Kankakee County! Let us help your business stay in business or get back to business. Our Professionals are available 24/7/365. 

Storm Damage in Manteno

4/20/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO on site after Manteno microburst

When a sudden microburst hit Manteno the Professionals of SERVPRO of Kankakee County were on site and assisting families affected. We are always available to assist you for storm damage scenarios. 

Cleaning Your Manteno Corporate Offices

4/20/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Technician cleaning office in Manteno

You can rely on the Professionals at SERVPRO of Kankakee County cleaning at your Manteno Corporate Offices.

SERVPRO responds in Southern Kankakee County

4/20/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Professional in neighborhood hit by tornadic activity

After tornadic activity in southern Kankakee County, Professionals at SERVPRO assisted the afflicted community in the restoration process. This sudden storm occurred in the early morning hours and SERVPRO of Kankakee County was on site within the hour with crew, equipment, provisions and portable power to begin the mitigation and restoration process.

Working together with residents, Insurance Companies, First Responders, Utilities, Charitable Organizations, specialty contractors and countless other service providers, we are honoured to say that this neighborhood suffered no casualties and today the neighborhood is back. We here at SERVPRO take enormous pride and care in what we do and how we do it. We are always there for our clients and the communities they reside in. We are available twenty four-seven 365.  We are SERVPRO of Kankakee County.

Bourbonnais Fire Protection District

4/13/2020 (Permalink)

Bourbonnais Fire Protection District sign adjacent to Fire Station

The Bourbonnais Fire Protection District serves approximately 36 square miles wherein are over 36,000 patrons be it residential, commercial, industrial, educational, including rail, interstate highway, and pipelines.

Bourbonnais Fire Protection has one fire station which houses 14 vehicles including 3 ambulances, 3 engines, 1 ladder truck, 1 brush truck, 3 command vehicles, a boat, and a tactical rescue semi-trailer.

We here at SERVPRO are proud supporters of the Bourbonnais Fire Protection District and we are so grateful for them for all they do.

Your Fire Damaged Residence in Momence

4/13/2020 (Permalink)

Extensive Fire and Water Damage at Momence Residence

When fire, smoke, soot and resultant water damage strike your Momence home you can rely on the Professionals at SERVPRO to assist in the restoration process. 

Water Damage at Your Manteno Restaurant

4/13/2020 (Permalink)

Water Damaged ceiling tiles and insulation at Manteno restaurant

When water intruded the ceiling of a local Manteno Restaurant causing extensive damage, the Professionals of SERVPRO with their Expertise and Reliability mitigated Water Damage.  

You can rely on SERVPRO for your Commercial, Residential or Public properties in Manteno.

Cleaning your Manteno Trucking and Logistics Facility

4/10/2020 (Permalink)

Professionals, vehicles and equipment at transportation logistics facility in Manteno

SERVPRO - Cleaning your Trucking and Logistics facility in Manteno Illinois. Utilizing state of the art equipment and our Professional Staff you can rely on SERVPRO.  Be it trucking, logistics, railways, heavy equipment, transportation companies and like you can rely on the professionals at SERVPRO of Kankakee County

Residential roof tarped after Momence windstorm

4/9/2020 (Permalink)

Tarped rooftop in Momence

SERVPRO provides emergency board up and tarping 365 days a year.  When heavy weather hit Momence our crews installed tarping which protects the residence.  Homeowners and Companies rely on SERVPRO to respond when heavy weather occurs.

SERVPRO responds to Water Damage in Bourbonnais

4/9/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO response vehicle with mitigation equipment in Bourbonnais

When water damage strikes your Bourbonnais residence you can rely on rapid response, professional technicians and the equipment to mitigate water damage from SERVPRO 

SERVPRO a Proud Supporter of The Fire Departments in Kankakee County

4/8/2020 (Permalink)

Reddick Fire Protection District Engine 1012 with SERVPRO vehicle in foreground

We here at SERVPRO are proud supporters of the various Fire Departments in Kankakee County.

The MABAS Division 7 / Kankakee Valley Fire Chief’s Association is composed of 17 fire departments and 21 associate members.

SERVPRO takes a lead role in providing assistance to those great Professionals in MABAS Division 7.

The acronym MABAS The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System encompasses emergency rapid response along with sustained operations when an area is stricken by an overwhelming event generated by manmade, technological, or environmental threats.

SERVPRO - Proud Member of MABAS 37

4/8/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO vehicles at Crescent-Iroquois Fire Protection District in Crescent City, Illinois

SERVPRO of Kankakee County is a proud Associate Member of the MABAS 37. This division has 21 Fire Departments and we here at SERVPRO are honored to be associated with these Departments. 

Fire, Smoke, Soot Damage at your Kankakee Restaurant

4/8/2020 (Permalink)

Extensive soot damage at Kankakee Restaurant

Unfortunately when Fire hits your Kankakee restaurant the professionals at SERVPRO are here to assist in the clean up so you can get back in business.  We are available 24 hours a day 365 days a year.  

Fire Damage Board Up in Herscher, Illinois

4/8/2020 (Permalink)

Fire Damaged Residence in Herscher, Illinois

SERVPRO provides 24 Emergency Board Up Services in Herscher, Illinois.  Securing your property is essential for the safety of all.  We here at SERVPRO are now involved in the process of Restoration in Herscher, Illinois.

Cleaning your Visitors Entrance at your Manteno Headquarters

4/7/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technician cleaning your Manteno Headquarters Entrance

Spring is here in full swing and it is a perfect time to power wash the exterior of your corporate headquarters, clean the entry area, windows and reception, clean the carpets and tile. Your SERVPRO Professionals are here to assist you in Manteno.

Residential Emergency Board Up in Bourbonnais

4/7/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Emergency Board Up crew at Bourbonnais residence

SERVPRO provides 24 Hour Emergency Board Up Services in Bourbonnais, Illinois. 

For fire loss, storm damage, vandalism and many other exposures you can rely on SERVPRO in Bourbonnais. 

Clean carpets at your Grant Park Home

4/7/2020 (Permalink)

Happy Cat on clean carpet with SERVPRO toy truck and duck

SERVPRO provides residential carpet cleaning in Grant Park.  Having your carpets cleaned extends the life of your carpets and enhances the overall appearance of your residence as well as a healthy environment.  Your family, friends and pets will thank you. 

Tile Clean at your Kankakee Office

4/7/2020 (Permalink)

Sparkling clean common hallway in Kankakee

SERVPRO provides tile cleaning for your Offices in Kankakee.  Whether you have a small mercantile or a expansive mercantile, industrial, religious, or public complex our Professionals are here to assist.

Cleaning your Bourbonnais House of Worship

4/6/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Kankakee County provides cleaning services for your House of Worship in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Keeping your facility in great shape is often more complicated than mopping and vacuuming. SERVPRO can address your Carpets, Tile, Upholstry, Ducts, Disenfection, etc.  Our technicians utilize state of the art equipment and are available 24 hours a day to assist.

Emergency Board Up for your Bradley Commercial Structure

4/6/2020 (Permalink)

Board up of fire damaged commercial structure

SERVPRO of Kankakee County provides 24/7/365 emergency board up services for your commercial property. We sincerely hope and pray an incident like this never occurs.  When it does we here at SERVPRO secure your structure as the prelude to assisting you and your business with mitigation.

Water Damage at your Kankakee Store

4/6/2020 (Permalink)

Debris from water damaged ceiling

A tiny trickle from pipes or roof leakage can turn your Kankakee store into a soggy state. SERVPRO trained professionals are there for your and you business to mitigate the situation. We are here to assist you 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.

Water Damage at your Momence Church

4/6/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Technician employing thermal imaging

SERVPRO Professionals utilize state of the art equipment to see what the human eye cannot. Determining the location and density of water damage is paramount.

The thermal imaging application which detects subtle temperature differences allows SERVPRO technical experts to non-invasively ascertain the area in question prior to any intrusion of the structure.

Stop Brush Fires in Herscher and Essex

4/6/2020 (Permalink)

Raging brushfire in Western Kankakee County

It is that time of year when the fields are drying out after winter and it’s also the time when brush fires occur and sadly the majority of which are started carelessly. Please be sure to extinguish tobacco products before disposal.  Find out your local ordinances in regards to burning leaves or yard waste. Don’t burn in windy or excessively conditions.  If you do burn be sure to have water, extinguisher and shovel nearby.  Our first responders will thank you.

The Palmer Doll House and Training

4/1/2020 (Permalink)

Demonstration of how fire moves through a home.

The Palmer Doll House is an effective tool for the training of firemen in both classroom and hands on. For a Department to be effective as with any business knowledge and education are paramount.

The behavior of fire and its dynamics as well as the tactics employed by the fire service are faced by departments all over the world on a daily basis. 

Fire Dynamics means basically how a fire starts, how it spreads and how it develops. Fire Behavior is the way a fire acts in the environment it is in.

When the Department arrives on scene and open a door to gain access, air rushes in to give the fire its nourishment to grow rapidly and spread.

Using the Palmer Doll House is a superb vehicle to show and demonstrate how ventilation of positive and negative degrees allows to see how backdraft and flashover occurs.  It also can be a tool to demonstrate tactics and results therefrom.

Live fire training is a way to get students involved and it seems that most firefighters learn more from doing things in a up close and personal than as opposed to maybe a PowerPoint presentation.  Students who spend time at a doll house training can read the fire and the moderator can explain the science behind it. This type of training as well as all of the other things that go into the fire training allows them to be in a position to attack the situation.

Resolving Challenging Issues When Restoring Fire Damage Incidents in Manteno

2/28/2020 (Permalink)

Our professionals have state of the art equipment to clean up and restore your home so you can return safely after a fire.

Our SERVPRO Crews are up for the Challenge

Fire can cause widespread damages in a matter of minutes. Restoring such damage presents various levels of challenges depending on the materials or contents the fire affects. We offer professional fire damage restoration that helps address such challenges.

In almost all fire damage incidents in Manteno, the accumulation of residues such as soot and charring of surfaces is common. Cleaning off such residues is easy using sponges, cleaning solutions, and other materials. However, when the affected surface is made from unfinished wood, cleaning becomes more challenging. Most structural supports, including trusses, joists, and frames, are made from unfinished wood, which is rough, making it harder to remove residues through wiping. In the unfinished state, the material is also porous, allowing penetration of residues.

Although the structural supports may be hidden under other materials such as ceiling or drywall, leaving them caked with residues is not ideal because residues can cause deterioration. They also emit odors, so leaving them in place can reduce the comfort in the home. Our SERVPRO technicians use advanced cleaning procedures such as soda blasting, which removes heavy residues or charring from unfinished surfaces easily. The sodium bicarbonate used for soda blasting also helps with deodorization.

During the process of putting out a fire and restoring the damages, there is considerable movement around the loss site. Such movement can spread damages from the areas affected directly by the fire to other sections of the property. Materials on the floor, such as carpets, are affected most when people spread debris through movements. Our SERVPRO technicians are highly trained to handle such cleaning tasks comfortably. We use different approaches to ensure full restoration of carpets thorough cleaning, including, bonnet cleaning, deluxe precondition, rotary jet extraction, and hot water extraction. Apart from cleaning, we also use preventive measures such as placing covers on carpets over the areas with substantial movement during the restoration.

Restoring fire damage poses various challenges. Call SERVPRO of Kankakee County at (815) 935-0077 to help. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

See more about Manteno.

JOB OPENING - CONTROLLER

2/24/2020 (Permalink)

Join our team today!

CONTROLLER Job Discription 

*****Email resume to: BNichols@SERVPROKankakeeCounty.com

Position Summary / Purpose 

Provide leadership and coordination of company financial planning, debt financing, and budget management functions. Ensure that company accounting procedures confirm to generally-accepted accounting principles. 

Assist in managing the profitability and cash flow of the business that will assure the continued liquidity and growth of the company and the financial well-being of its stakeholders. 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities 

• Direct and coordinate the company financial planning and budget management functions
• Manage the preparation of financial reports and forecasts
• Monitor and analyze monthly operating results against budget
• Oversee daily operations of the Finance department
• Design the organization structure for the Finance department, staff positions with qualified employees, and continually train and develop employees in order to effectively accomplish the department’s goals and objectives
• Ensure compliance with local, state/provincial, and federal reporting requirements
• Work with other department managers, executives, and owners to develop and execute the strategic plan
• Direct and coordinate debt financing and debt service payments with external agencies
• Direct financial planning, procurement, and investment of funds
• Recommend benchmarks for measuring the financial and operating performance of departments and divisions
• Direct financial audits and provide recommendations for process and procedure improvements
• Determination of depreciation rates to apply to company capital assets
• Establish and implement short and long-range departmental objectives, policies, and operating procedures
• Advise owners / management regarding property and liability insurance coverage needs
• Accurately prepare and file required tax forms

Additional Duties and Responsibilities 

• Assist in collecting overdue receivables
• Represent the company to external media, funding agencies, government agencies, and the general public
• Provide accounting policy orientation for new staff

Decision Rights and Authority 

• Hiring, development, and termination decisions for finance department employees
• Creation of financial forecast and budget portion of strategic plan based on input from owners and department managers
• Determine when borrowing from existing line of credit is required

Working Relationships and Scope 

• Regular communication with owner(s) and CEO regarding company performance and strategic issues
• Maintain communications and relationship with banking and lending organizations.
• Coordination with all department managers regarding budgets, operating performance, and strategic direction.

Performance Competencies 

• Integrity–Ironclad. Does not cut corners. Puts the interests of the business above self. Earns trust of co-workers. Intellectually honest, doesn’t play games.
• Oral Communication–The individual speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations. Effective in one-on-one, small groups, and in public speaking contexts. Adaptable and able to think on his / her feet. Demonstrates a command of the language. Easily articulates ideas and standards.
• Written Communication–Writes clear, precise, well organized letters, proposals, and emails. Uses proper grammar and punctuation. Demonstrates appropriate vocabulary and correct word usage.
• Team Building–Achieves cohesion and effective team spirit with subordinates. Ability to motivate teams to produce quality output within tight timeframes and to simultaneously manage multiple projects. Sustains a climate characterized by open, honest relationships where differences are constructively addressed rather than ignored, suppressed, or denied. Treats subordinates fairly and shares credit.
• Sound Judgment and Decision Making–Demonstrates consistent logic, rationality, and objectivity in decision making. Driven by the financial well-being of the business and its stakeholders
• Planning and Organizing–Plans, organizes, schedules and budgets in an efficient, productive manner. Effectively contributes to the long-range planning activities. Focuses on key priorities. Pays attention to details. Manages personal time well.
• Money Management–Demonstrates sound fiscal habits. Employs a disciplined approach to spending. Tracks expenditures. Works from a budget.
• Excellence–Sets high, ‘stretch’, standards of performance for him / her self and their organization. Demonstrates low tolerance for mediocrity. Encourages individual initiative. Maintains a level of intensity sufficient to achieve long-range goals.
• Technology–the individual uses typical communication devices to effectively speed communication and appropriately utilizes company-approved estimating, customer contact management, and standard word processing and spreadsheet software tools to enhance efficiency and accuracy of work performed.

Qualifications-Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business or related field plus CPA certification. (MBA or Master’s degree in finance or accounting is preferred but not required). Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in senior-level accounting or finance positions with similar sized and larger organizations. 

• Finance, Accounting, Budgeting, and Cost Control

Extensive knowledge of the principles and concepts and significant experience in these areas – including generally accepted accounting principles. Knowledge of federal and state/provincial financial regulations. Ability to analyze financial data, prepare financial reports, statements, and projections. Working knowledge of short and long-term budgeting and forecasting. 

• Strategic Skills

Proven ability to identify clear opportunities and threats. Accurately assesses the company’s strengths and vulnerabilities. Comprehends the big picture. 

• Mathematical Skills

Possesses strong mathematical skills. Able to quickly compute rate, ratio, and percentages and to interpret financial reports, analyze performance changes and trends. Recognizes inconsistencies across multiple reports and sets of data. 

• Constructive Confrontation

Has the ability to solicit, process, and integrate inputs and ideas from subordinates, peers, and executives. Recognizes areas of conflict or disagreement and deals with them through open and honest dialogue. Effectively provides feedback. Willing to stand their ground based on sound principles and experience, in the face of opposition by owners and other executives. 

• Software

Knowledge of automated financial and accounting reporting systems. Effectively operates accounting software (e.g. QuickBooks, Peachtree) and understands how to make changes to ledgers, accounts, and reports to reflect the needs of the business. 

• Computers and Electronic Technology

Demonstrates intermediate to advanced skill in the use of computers, the internet, PDAs, and other digital technology specific to the job as well as MS Word, Excel, and other industry-specific software. 

Physical Demands 

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is frequently to stand and walk. The employee must regularly lift and / or move up to 10 pounds. 

Working Conditions 

• Controller’s work is typically carried out in an office environment. Occasionally traveling to and meeting with customers and clients at their facilities is required.
• Noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

***Email resume to: BNichols@SERVPROKankakeeCounty.com

Roofing & Exterior Remodeling

2/7/2020 (Permalink)

Roofing replacement done anytime

SERVPRO PF Kankakee County is locally owned & operated. We respond to emergency roof repairs, tarping and patching 24 hours a day. We also do complete roof replacements including decking, shingles, ice & water, and proper venting. We provide free estimates for hail damage, wind damage and fallen tree damage. We have many selections of color and types from asphalt, steel, rubber, and steel shingle, and we can have your new roof installed quickly and professionally.
Your roof is the most important building material and is vital to your home's value. SERVPRO is the recommended vendor for nearly every insurance carrier in the country. Local agents trust our local team to handle roof repairs and replacements because we have a proven track record of satisfied customers. We offer a strong warranty and provide financing opportunities when money is tight and the work must get done. 
Don’t trust storm chasers or fancy sales pitches. Call SERVPRO of Kankakee County to repair your Bradley Bourbonnais roof. Our team is based in Manteno, Illinois and within minutes of towns like Momence and Grant Park.

Let Our Crew Save Your Home In Bradley After A Flood

1/31/2020 (Permalink)

Give us a call today at (815) 935-0077.

Drying Timelines for Flooded Bradley Homes

The recovery of your Bradley residence after a flood or water loss can rely on the experienced professionals overseeing drying and moisture removal. Flood effects might often outweigh some of the immediate need for drying with a pressing concern of contamination or present debris, but once this task begins, established timelines dictate the effectiveness of moisture removal in your damaged house.

Despite the universal need for drying of flood damage in Bradley homes, specific materials and areas of your residence require more time than others to reach peak moisture content levels. Our SERVPRO team might not see the expected results with certain installed structural elements until our second or third trip to your property during the recovery phases. Knowing what to expect when flooding exists can help our technicians to ensure that these efforts are happening on schedule, and there are not unforeseen hindrances reducing efficiency.

2nd Visit
Within the first 24 hours, many materials can begin to show adequate progress with our drying efforts. The second visit to your residence happens within the first 24 hours so that our SERVPRO team can monitor the impact that air movers, dehumidifiers, and other moisture removal tools have had on carpets, drywall, and insulation.

3rd Visit
The framework of your residence might require drying when water migration goes beyond drywall and other surfaces to impact structural cavities. While we have a team of licensed contractors capable of replacing removed drywall and flooring, we must first ensure that progress to wood framing and subflooring has begun.

4th Visit
Less porous materials like solid woods and hardwood flooring can take several days to show the effects of our direct drying efforts. It is vital to restore these materials when possible, as recovery is often more cost-effective for our customers than removal and replacement by our contractors.

Every material affected by flooding in your home has its timeline and potential hurdles to drying entirely. Our SERVPRO of Kankakee County can help you to dry out your flooded residence and work to make its current effects “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call today at (815) 935-0077.

For more about Bradley click here.

Fire Damage In Your Bourbonnais Home

12/29/2019 (Permalink)

Intervening early in soots and smoke residues can increase the likelihood of salvaging your possessions.

Protecting Your Upholstery and Carpets from Falling Soots after Fire Damage to your Bourbonnais Home

Hot air rises. As hot air rises, it pushes cooler air beneath, creating pressure. Understanding this process can help you to understand the types of harm your home may sustain during a fire, and how you can avoid excess damage. Property fires can come from just about anywhere. Leaving a hob on or a portable heater too close to dry fabrics and material can set alight, forcing you to evacuate in the middle of the night while the fire department deals with the resulting blaze.

The success of restoring fire damage in your Bourbonnais home depends on the extent of your knowledge of fire, smoke, and ash. Once a fire official declares your home is safe for entry, the first thing you may notice is the extent of soiling. The pressure created by rapidly rising temperatures causes smoke to spread out from the source of the fire exponentially. This pressure is why even a contained fire may present a homeowner with a myriad of soiling on ceilings, furniture, walls, inside cabinets, and your building's exterior.

When temperatures cool, loose soiling may drop from the ceiling onto your floor or furnishings. At SERVPRO, we always recommend that homeowners protect furnishings in the affected area as quickly as possible. You can use old sheets or tarpaulin to place over surfaces and upholstery as a simple solution that could mitigate losses significantly. Unfortunately, while soots remain in the property, the affected rooms are unusable.

The quickest way to regain access to living rooms or kitchens is by using a professional fire restorer like SERVPRO. Our team can scope the property, assess the damages, and put in place a gameplan to recover your contents. Carpets and upholstery that show signs of smoke damage are frequently restorable to a good condition. SERVPRO deposit carpet conditioners using truck-mounted wands in combination with rotary machines for upholstery and carpets. These can remove soiling while cleaning the carpet at the same time.

Intervening early in soots and smoke residues can increase the likelihood of salvaging your possessions. You can contact SERVPRO of Kankakee County by dialing (815) 935-0077.

For more about Bourbonnais click here.

Why SERVPRO Is the Solution to Winter-Damaged Structures in Bourbonnais

12/16/2019 (Permalink)

Roof Damage from the Winter Blues in Bourbonnais? Call SERVPRO for Comprehensive Cleanup and Reconstruction

How Can Heavy Snowfall Compromise Bourbonnais Roofs

With winter well underway, Bourbonnais homes can soon encounter multiple instances of substantial snowfall. With lake effect precipitation that can sometimes bring over a foot of snow, the remains of these situations can have destructive effects on older homes. With the degradation of structural elements over time, roof supports, joists, and underlayment can weaken. Heavy snowfall can cause enormous pressure on these weakened areas, which can lead to a collapse.

Snow that contains more water can be ideal for making snowmen in the front yard but can be catastrophic as roofing snow on Bourbonnais homes. Drier snow is a powdery consistency that is much lighter and easier on the roof supports. A thicker, wet snow is heftier because surface temperatures are just above freezing, which can allow for slight melting and permitting the snow to come down in heavier flakes. After more than a foot of this wet snow has fallen, you should consider the effect it can have on the roof of your home.

Most homeowners do not recognize a threat or problem with the roof of their house until the situation has gotten out of control. In most cases, homeowners cannot understand that a problem exists until a breach occurs in the form of moisture penetration or the collapse of a portion of the roof. At this point, many seek the experience and expertise of our SERVPRO professionals. Between our division of qualified water restorers and our in-house licensed general contractors, we can offer a comprehensive restoration and recovery of the property, including any water or mold damage that might exist in the moist attic.

Temporarily, our SERVPRO contractors can utilize roofing tarps to prevent further moisture and water penetration through vulnerabilities in the roof. Once mitigation and drying efforts complete in the attic, our licensed contractors can get to work on permanent build back and repair of the damaged portions of the roof, and any other structural damages that exist from the water exposure.  

Regular inspections of your attic space, when possible, can help to gauge potential problems that are starting before they get to a destructive point. Our SERVPRO of Kankakee County team can help however you need by calling (815) 935-0077.

First Responders Bowl Contest

12/13/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Kankakee County is proud to support our local first responders

SERVPRO of Kankakee County is a proud supporter of our local first responders. Firefighters, police, EMTs and radio dispatchers sacrifice plenty to serve their communities. We are having a contest where local citizens can nominate a local hero before kick off of the SERVPRO First Responders Bowl. At half time, a random winner will be chosen from the nominees and they'll win a tail gate party for their office or station. No purchase is necessary.

Go to our facebook page for more details

https://www.facebook.com/SERVPROK3/

Bourbonnais Roof Damage from a Severe Storm? Try Calling SERVPRO for Water Removal and Roof Repair!

12/3/2019 (Permalink)

Count on Team SERVPRO of Kankakee County for Storm Damage Mitigation and Roof Repairs

Repairs After Severe Windstorms Damage Bourbonnais Roofs

If you can recognize that a recent windstorm has damaged the roof of your Bourbonnais home, it is crucial to get this problem fixed immediately. Not only is it likely that vulnerabilities can lead to moisture exposure in the attic or ceiling spaces of your upper floor, but these compromised areas can get worse over time if unrepaired. While you might look to our SERVPRO team for experience with overcoming the water damage that can often result, we also have a full team of licensed general contractors to aid in the repair to your structure as well.

Shingles are not the only area of a roofing structure that can become damaged after weather events, and windstorm roof repair for Bourbonnais homes can reduce the likelihood of more expensive water damage and mold remediation when moisture exposure goes unnoticed. While we can benefit from the information provided by our customers after a preliminary inspection, we also can provide this thorough assessment on our own for residents that are unsure of what to look for or unable to complete the task physically.

One of the most challenging obstacles for homeowners to face after windstorms that compromise their roof is dealing with the insurance companies. These providers can foot the majority of the cost to repair your roof, but not without legwork on your end. Because we have an established relationship as a preferred vendor for many of these companies, we know that your insurance company needs to approve a damage claim and get work started quickly.

We are a restoration team that can offer comprehensive services ranging from thorough inspections and mitigation techniques to full-scale roof construction, tree removal, debris cleanup, and structural repair. We know what damages can exist after weather events, from missing shingles to ruined underlayment – and we can repair it. As a one-stop company, we can seamlessly complete the build back of your home.

As stressful as structural damage can be after a weather event, our SERVPRO of Kankakee County team can help with a prompt response. Windstorms can cripple a roof and its supports, so taking care of the problem quickly is vital. We have a qualified team of experts available 24/7 when you call (815) 935-0077.

Did Recent Storms Damage Your Bourbonnais Roof?

11/27/2019 (Permalink)

Storms and wind can damage roofs. Did you know SERVPRO provides emergency roof tarping services?

Why Efficient Roof Repair is Vital for Bourbonnais Homes  

Many restoration teams that you might have worked with in the past did not have the capability of helping on each side of recovery like our SERVPRO team can for Bourbonnais homes and businesses. With an ability to do more than address water loss, flooding, and fires, our team can help to provide customers with long-term solutions for reducing moisture penetration and the destructive effects that can often result.  

Structural damage can often have a substantial role in the continued threat to your home from water and flood effects, so roofing repair for Bourbonnais homes is a vital step to take. You could expect wind damage to come off the great lakes and surrounding the city, shingles can get removed, seals can become broken, and trees can fall over to damage these crucial elements.  

Considering that many of these damages occur during severe weather events like heavy snowfall, torrential rains, or other destructive conditions, roof vulnerabilities can have an immediate effect on the interior of your home. Holes and collapsed portions can welcome water runoff and direct exposure until the situation gets temporarily under control. Our emergency services through our licensed in-house general contractors ensure that we can tarp and board up exposed areas of the property beginning as soon as our SERVPRO team arrives at the address.  

Temporary solutions are only part of the equation, however. We are a team of professionals capable of doing more than placing a bandage on the many problems that exist after structural breaches. Our mitigation team can begin drying out the damaged areas inside the house while our experienced professionals in various niches of the building trades can get to work on rebuilding the missing portions of the roof when the storm system has passed. The seamless transition between these actions can save you time and money on the restoration work your property needs.  

Not all of the restoration teams that you know or have worked with have the personnel to handle both loss effects and the structural woes that result as well. Let our SERVPRO of Kankakee County team show you how we can make it “Like it never even happened” by calling (815) 935-0077. 

More about Bourbonnais.

Experts Talk About Restoring Water Damaged Floors in Bourbonnais

11/6/2019 (Permalink)

Water damages flooring materials fast! Did you know that SERVPRO has the equipment and knowledge to restore your floors?

Options for Restoring Bourbonnais Home Flooring After a Disaster 

Water and fire losses all can take a destructive toll on the flooring of your Bourbonnais home. With our skilled professionals working around the clock in many areas of your property to conquer other immediate threats and effects, you might wonder what becomes of your marred flooring. Depending on the severity of the damages and the type of disaster that takes place, there are many options for addressing compromised carpets, hardwood, and tile.  

Depending on the type of flooring in water damaged Bourbonnais homes, we have multiple solutions for both restoring and cleaning on-site as well as a team of dedicated and licensed general contractors that can reinstall hardwood, carpeting, tile, and linoleum materials after controlled demolition. Making the right choice for your property involves a thorough and comprehensive inspection of these materials and a determination of their structural integrity, appearance, and overall condition. With this data, our crew chief and production manager can decide whether to remove the material altogether or to attempt to restore it.  

After a fire or water loss incident, soot and moisture can penetrate most flooring materials, including hardwood and carpeting. In many cases, when the concentration of these damages is not too considerable, drying and deodorization can occur. Cleaning is always a sound approach, and we have deep cleaning equipment for carpets, including hot water extraction. Hardwood materials can benefit from our revitalizing oil-based cleaner for these flooring types.  

Deodorization is vital for recovering these materials installed in your house, as well. Infiltration of odors, especially following a fire, can become embedded in construction materials, contents of the room, and clothing. Thermal and UV fogging is the preferred method for effective and comprehensive odor removal. In some situations, odors can also get noticeably reduced after controlled demolition of the most compromised portions of flooring, drywall, and other surfaces.  

After a disaster, you have to put considerable trust in a restoration team designated to recover your losses. No matter how severe your emergency is, trust in the experience and the industry-leading equipment available to our SERVPRO of Kankakee County team. We can help – give us a call today at (815) 935-0077. 

More about Bourbonnais.

Contact Us When You Need Prompt Water Removal In Kankakee

10/23/2019 (Permalink)

We have the equipment, training, and experience to restore your home to pre-damage condition after water damage enters your home.

Prompt Water Removal in Your Kankakee Home Can Save Your Carpeting

Have you experienced a water leak that has saturated your carpets? If so, you need to act fast to dry it up quickly. If you leave the water to dry out naturally, mold can grow on your carpeting. The carpet fibers can also get ruined.

Water damage does not spell the end of a carpet’s life. If you perform water removal in your Kankakee residence quickly, you can save the carpets. Before you dry your carpeting, you need to consider several factors, including:

The age of the carpet

If the carpeting is old or has sustained damage in the past, saving it can be difficult. Over time, the backing can deteriorate or pull away from the carpet.

Extent of destruction

You can dry your carpet if there are one or two inches of water. However, when more water is involved, or it has sat for an extended period, drying the carpeting is more complicated.

Source of water

The kind of water involved determines how easy or hard it is to restore the ruined carpet. In most cases of clean water damage, it is possible to restore both padding and carpet through appropriate sanitation, remediation, and cleaning techniques. Salvaging a carpet after gray water saturation is possible, but do so quickly before gray water turns into black water.

Depending on the type of water on your carpeting, you may not feel safe handling the situation on your own. You can hire restoration experts from SERVPRO to remove the water. One of the main concerns in water damage incidents is the delamination of carpets. Delamination is the separation of primary and secondary backings. Even a new carpet can delaminate. Our technicians can check your carpeting to determine if delamination has occurred. If that is the case, you have to replace the carpet.

If delamination has not occurred, we can use wet/dry vacuums to remove as much water as possible from the carpet. Our restorers can then dry your carpet to remove the remaining moisture from the carpet fibers so they can return to their natural texture and appearance. When the carpet fibers are dry, they cannot attract and hold additional soils and microorganisms cannot grow on them. Drying requires low humidity, heat, and air movement. We can use air movers to enhance air circulation and dehumidifiers to control humidity in your home. Before you clean your carpets, you need to be sure they are thoroughly dry. Our SERVPRO team can use moisture meters to confirm that they are dry.

After a water leak, SERVPRO of Kankakee County can restore your carpeting by removing the water without damaging or altering the appearance of the fabric. Contact us today at (815) 935-0077 for effective restoration.

See more about Kankakee.

Need Carpet and Flooring Installation Services in Bourbonnais? Call SERVPRO!

10/22/2019 (Permalink)

We are not only for disaster restoration. We also install carpeting and flooring. Yeah, we do it all!

Professional Floor and Carpet Installation For Bourbonnais Homes

Bourbonnais is a beautiful community along I-57. Thanks to the growing local economy, many residents are not only buying a home as an investment, but many of them are also taking steps to make it their “forever” home as well.

At SERVPRO, we are proud to help make that happen. Over the last few years, we noticed that our employees in Bourbonnais were replacing flooring and carpeting in their own homes and bragging about the results. Their skills in restoring homes after a disaster quickly adapted to making those and other home improvements.

Thanks to that realization, we are happy to offer more than just disaster-support services. Our technicians and work crews can now walk into a dry, mold-free home, and help the owner improve the appearance without any of the messy cleanup or demolition. We even have staff members trained to help owners choose the right style and color of carpets and flooring to match any existing paint and décor already in the home.

With more than 20 years of experience in helping the community, our SERVPRO office has an excellent relationship with carpeting and flooring suppliers locally and nationwide. If a specific color and style exist, we can have it delivered for our neighbors in just a few days and begin installation faster than almost anyone else around.

Removing the old carpets and floors usually takes only a day or two. After completing removal and disposal, crew members carefully clean the floors for a smoother installation. Depending on the size of the home, crew members can usually install most carpets quickly, often in just a day or two. When it comes to wood or laminate flooring, our experienced technicians can install it throughout the home quickly, with the same beautiful result that you might receive from a specialized, professional installation service.

As you can see, SERVPRO of Kankakee County is not just for disasters anymore. We are proud to help our neighbors here, and in Bradley, Manteno, and Momence turn their residences into homes that can house multiple generations for many years to come. To schedule a visit and receive a free estimate of services, call our office at (815) 935-0077 today.

More about Bourbonnais.

How SERVPRO Determines the Best Restoration Methods for Fire Damaged Property in Bourbonnais

10/6/2019 (Permalink)

As soon as the fire department leaves, SERVPRO is ready to begin restoring your home.

Cleaning Smoke Residue in Bourbonnais Properties 

Smoke residues present a unique hazard that can be challenging to clean, making it a situation many Bourbonnais homeowners leave up to the experience and skillset of our professionals. From the risks present in the spread of these residues from surface to surface throughout a fire-damaged address to the staining that could result from improper removal, fire loss effects can permanently mar your property without the right approach. 

While smoke residues might only be one of many effects of fire damage in Bourbonnais homes, quickly addressing the situation prevents excessive migration of this and other symptoms. Smoke particulates can agitate respiratory concerns as well as cause other potential health effects. Though not as directly dangerous and hazardous as soot particles, smoke in the air can still cause concerns for those exposed and for all affected surfaces in rooms beyond the origin of the fire. 

We have many products that can work to remove various carcinogens and residues from surfaces, and we must carefully determine the type of damage our SERVPRO team is contending with before proceeding. Chemical sponges used both wet and dry can offer a powerful and potent cleaning potential while limiting possible smearing and staining as a result. This approach is ideal for contents and surfaces that remain installed and in place in your house as restoration and recovery continue. 

Content management is also an approach with proven results against soot and smoke residues that get attached to surfaces of items and your personal belongings. We have multiple approaches at our SERVPRO facility when pack-outs occur, such as restoring silverware, ceramics, and hard materials with our submersion ultrasonic tank. These units utilize the energy generated by exploding microscopic bubbles created by soundwaves to loosen and remove soot and smoke residues.

We have several approaches ideal for removing smoke residue from construction materials and the contents of your property. You can count on the fast response of our SERVPRO of Kankakee County team to assist you through each phase of this fire recovery. Call us today at (815) 935-0077. 

More about Bourbonnais.

Vital Roles Played by Water Removal Professionals in Bourbonnais

9/30/2019 (Permalink)

Bourbonnais homeowners don’t live in fear, we will take care of your water damage fears.

SERVPRO professionals with take care of all your worries when it comes to your water damage in Bourbonnais.

Small water spills happen every day, and you probably take care of when with a mop and towels then leave the remaining wetness to dry on its own. If you have never dealt with a significant water spill, you might expect the process to be similar, only on a bigger scale. However, in practice, you might face several obstacles when you try to handle water removal on your own. Professionals like SERVPRO play different roles during the removal that ease the process.

Bringing the Right Tools

Spilled water can present a myriad of challenges. By having access to a broader range of tools for water removal professionals in Bourbonnais can deal with any challenge that might arise. Challenges might include the presence of large sediments in the pools that need an extraction, thus limiting the efficiency of conventional extraction tools. Water filtering into concealed areas can also hamper the removal process. Alternatively, the lack of power to operate the removal equipment can also be a principal hindrance. Our SERVPRO teams bring a wide range of equipment to address different challenges, including:

• Self-priming Trash Pumps
• Cavity Drying Equipment
• Portable generators
• Portable Heaters

Understanding Psychometrics

Water removal happens in stages, with the first one dealing with surface water while the other stages deal with the water soaked into materials. Proper understanding of psychometrics is crucial when handling this latter stage to ensure proper manipulation of factors such as humidity, temperature, and air movements, which influence drying. Our SERVPRO technicians use equipment such as thermo-hygrometers to take humidity and temperature readings, thus establishing which factor might slow the drying process.

Preventing Microbial Growth

Microbes such as mold thrive in moist environments. Proper handling of the water removal process should help prevent their development, thus saving you from the laborious removal process. Our SERVPRO technicians spray EPA registered disinfectants and use cleaning agents with anti-microbial properties when cleaning the loss site. We also work fast to finish removal before mold starts growing.

Professional assistance is worthy during water removal. Call SERVPRO of Kankakee County at (815) 935-0077 to help deal with the incident, "Like it never even happened."

To find out more about Bourbonnais, click here.

We Can Handle Any Size Storm Disaster That May Occur In Your Bourbonnais Home

9/21/2019 (Permalink)

Reach out to SERVPRO of Kankakee County by phoning (815) 935-0077. We are ready to help you.

SERVPRO Can Remediate the Roof of Your Bourbonnais Home After Storm Damage

Sometimes the damage from a storm is relatively inconsequential, and sometimes it can cause critical issues for your home, such as tearing off a portion of your roof. When a storm brings significant issues to your home, you need to contact professional help immediately. Leaving a roof open to the elements is extremely unwise and invites a plethora of problems for your home to arise.

For example, one of the problems that could come about by neglecting the storm damage to your Bourbonnais roof could be the growth of mold damage. Mold spores only need excess moisture to be present for seventy-two hours to begin forming an active colony. Not only does mold compromise organic materials, such as the wooden frame of your home, but it can also cause health effects. For the betterment of your home, it is always wise to get help right away.

The hole in your roof came about by a storm from Lake Michigan. The intense wind of the storm ripped a portion of wood sheathing and shingles off of your rood, leaving a hole behind. When SERVPRO gets to your home, our first task is to cover the hole in your roof with a large blue tarp. From here, our technicians can split in half, to address the damage inside and out.

Half of our crew can go inside to preserve the interior contents and structural materials with standard cleanup and restoration services. Our technicians can use advanced technological devices, such as air movers, dehumidifiers, heaters, and flood drying mats to facilitate a drying process. The other half can remain behind outside and begin to fix your roof. SERVPRO can use 4 x 8 plywood panels to replace the sections that were ripped off your roof. From there, our technicians can reapply the waterproof underlay before re-shingling the area. Once we're finished, we can return your home to you, “Like it never even happened.”

If your home experiences sudden and destructive storm damage, never wait. Reach out to SERVPRO of Kankakee County by phoning (815) 935-0077. We are ready to help you.

For more about Bourbonnais click here.

How Water Damage Affects Hardwood Floors in Bourbonnais

8/29/2019 (Permalink)

Water and hardwood flooring don't mix. When you experience a water loss incident, call SERVPRO to remove the water from your floors!

Strategies to Dry Damaged Bourbonnais Flooring Fast 

One of the most considerable investments that an individual makes in their lifetime is their home. Caring for your Bourbonnais property can sometimes feel easier said than done. Whether you have protected original construction materials like wood flooring to these options getting installed along with some aesthetic and functional upgrades to the home, water loss incidents, and other damaging emergencies can threaten the strength and integrity of these materials. As a premier restoration company in the area, we want to show our potential customers some of the approaches we take to protect their investments like flooring amid a crisis. 

While those with water and moisture resistant flooring homes have had more success avoiding substantial water loss incidents in Bourbonnais from penetrative dampness and saturation, not all homes have these options installed. Natural hardwood has multiple layers of considerations for our SERVPRO team once affected by spreading water damage, beginning with the best approaches for drying out these materials. Also, our technicians must diligently remain aware of how this saturation might affect joists and supports beneath the main floor. 

Our professionals have multiple specialized tools to help with the moisture removal from the planks of your flooring. A standard application for hardwood options is the drying mats. This derivative of our Injecti-Dry System helps to control the draw of humidity and saturation from the flooring materials to control the degree of dryness ultimately achieved. Getting the floors too dry can be as damaging as allowing them to stay saturated. 

Drying is only part of the equation for water damage, however. Residues, dirt, and debris that can accompany spreading water throughout your property can come to rest on the surfaces of wood flooring options. We have a dedicated line of SERVPRO cleaning products that can help not only to remove this dirt and grime but restore a sheen and gleam to your hardwood flooring that you might not have seen in the past. We have cleaning products that also feature wood oil that improves the aesthetic appeal and the longevity of these materials. 

We are a team of professionals with a deep inventory of recovery tools and extensive experience and training in water restoration. No matter how severe loss incidents can be in your home, our SERVPRO of Kankakee County team can help to make it “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call today at (815) 935-0077. 

More about Bourbonnais.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County Seeks a Marketing Support Coordinator

8/29/2019 (Permalink)

Have you considered a marketing career at SERVPRO of Kankakee County? Call us today!

Are you passionate about being part of the solution when residents and businesses in our community suffer from the effects of natural disasters or other emergencies? 

If so, we need your enthusiasm and skills as our Marketing Support Coordinator. Join our caring and highly-qualified team of professionals, working together to help after water, fire, storms, or other crises result in residential or commercial property damage. SERVPRO strives to help shoulder this burden, committing to deliver superior results no matter the circumstances, transforming disastrous consequences to “Like it never even happened.” 

Homeowners and business leaders in our community, facing the stress and worry of property damage challenges, need reliable and clear information about our industry-leading services. You fulfill this vital role with your top-notch communication skills and genuine desire to reach out to assist customers. A self-starter who enjoys and is experienced in seamlessly managing competing tasks is the perfect match for the rewards of this job. Reliability is a must, and a desire to set and exceed high expectations fits the profile of our ideal candidate. 

SERVPRO offers competitive compensation and many opportunities to expand your knowledge of our business and to meet your professional growth goals.

Odor Control and Soot Cleanup Needed/ SERVPRO Helps Bradley Property Owners

8/6/2019 (Permalink)

Fires Big and Small in Bradley Are Restored by SERVPRO, "Like it never even happened."

Cleaning And Restoring Bradley Homes After Fire Damage

Surrounded by state and federal highways, Bradley is an important stop along the eastern border of our state. Residents work all over the area, but choose here for their home and to raise a family. Despite the benefits of living here, disasters, like a fire, can still happen.

Restoring a fire damaged Bradley home to its original condition takes a professional service, trained to handle physical damage, smoke residues, and odors. Most house fires are relatively small and extinguished quickly. For SERVPRO restoration teams, that means they deal primarily with cleaning and removing smoke residues, and eliminating the odors they generate.

As an example of what specialists clean and deodorize are the cabinets in a kitchen fire. Since these wood or composite surfaces are smooth, team members can usually wipe off the residues with a dry sponge. For thicker, or stickier residues left behind, they break them up with a minimal amount of water or cleaning agent for easier wiping and removal. In some homes, it might be necessary to remove the handles and hinges and clean them separately.  

The problem here for SERVPRO specialists are the odors the wood or composite absorbs before they can remove the residues. If the residues are dry and powdery and removed quickly after extinguishing the fire, then very little odor transfers to the cabinets. Stickier residues take longer to remove, so the cabinets absorb more odor particles.

With either type of residue, if odors linger after removal, team members start with a deodorizing spray. They apply it to the surface, allow it to dry, and repeat as needed. If odors remain after several applications, they can use a stronger deodorizing agent, switch to another method, or dispose of it.

To remove the deeper odors from the cabinets, specialists use a fogger to create a cloud of deodorizing particles. This cloud can penetrate as deeply as the smoke from the fire to neutralize the odor and eliminate it.

Our goal at SERVPRO of Kankakee County is to return every residence to a clean, safe, and odor-free condition it enjoyed before the fire. If your home here, Bourbonnais, Manteno, or in Momence, has had a fire of any size, call our office 24/7 at (815) 935-0077 to schedule a service call. We are here to help you restore everything to normal.

Here is your local FD

Lucky Bourbonnais to Have SERVPRO Closeby for Restoration Services

7/12/2019 (Permalink)

Another Bourbonnais Fan After a SERVPRO Restoration Service to Her Damaged Property

Our Highly-Qualified Team Is Why SERVPRO Guides Bourbonnais Residential Restorations to Successful Conclusions  

The compassion our team of restoration professionals brings to residential customers in Bourbonnais provides balance at a difficult and stressful time. A water, fire, mold, or storm disaster makes it impossible for you and your family to function. You are consumed by worry and feelings of inadequacy while trying to decide what tasks are needed and which to tackle first. We shoulder some of your burden with our highly trained and well-equipped managers and technicians.

Water Damage
Perhaps one of the most stressful things you cope with when water damages your Bourbonnais home is the potential loss of treasured photos, saved cards and letters, books, and other papers. Remediation of the structural components damaged seems doable in most circumstances, even if some materials need repair or replacing. Bringing a lifetime of memories back to form and function from the sodden mess our technicians boxed up and transported to our production facility does not feel likely.

We have resources that can remove water from paper without causing additional harm. To utilize this technology, the water-logged materials are frozen. Then lyophilization or as it is more commonly known, freeze drying, removes ice and other frozen liquids from materials using a process called sublimation. Sublimation changes solid ice directly to a vapor, skipping the liquid phase, by using a pressurized chamber and manipulating the temperature. The water exits the chamber in a gaseous state and condenses inside for disposal. Less water damage, when it cannot soak into the documents or photographs.

Desorption completes the remediation in cases where bound molecules remain, releasing them either from or through the surface by changing the equilibrium in the chamber. Our ability to access this advanced technology for our customers is why SERVPRO delivers satisfaction no matter what type of water damage you endure in your home. Imagine your delight and relief when the pictures and papers you thought ruined are returned for your enjoyment. We cannot promise "Like it never even happened," in this case due to the difficulty of restoring. However, we are your best shot.

Fire Damage
When fire damage devastates your Bourbonnais home, you need help on many fronts. Exterior damage receives needed tarping and boarding up to protect from the elements. Our on-site fire mitigation and remediation crews arrive with the workforce, products, and equipment needed to start the turnaround from chaos to calm inside your home. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) training mastered by our Fire and Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT) is crucial to mitigating further damage and remediating the harm already done.

We pledge transparency in our communications with you during the project and also collaborate with you as we work with your insurer. Meticulous documentation is needed for you to receive appropriate payment, and we have employees dedicated to ensuring that we have the evidence to back up your claims. Both at your home and our production facility we follow the restoration industry’s best practices to clean up the water and soot damage, disinfect and dry building materials and contents, and eliminate the odors that can linger.

Throughout the process, we treat you and your family with concern and compassion. Your journey back to the familiar comfort and feel of your home from fire damage can be complicated, and this is why SERVPRO takes our role seriously. The stress and worry homeowners feel when emerging from the trauma of a home fire is real, and it is our privilege to use all our resources to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Mold Remediation
Although molds can grow any time of the year and thrive in a wide range of temperatures, you might feel like you see the most microbial activity during the warmer months in Bourbonnais. Mold removal connects with underlying circumstances more common during the summer to give some support to this supposition. Rather than focusing on the time of the year, it is more useful to concentrate on developing good habits that reduce the chances of mold growth.

We stress to customers that we cannot promise to eliminate all the mold spores in your home, but we can manage and rid your house of active mold infestations and educate you and your family on ways to limit recurrence through a remediation plan. Mold spores coexist with humans 24/7, causing few if any issues until a source of water is nearby. Little plumbing leaks and humidity over 60 percent are common mold accelerators.

Once a spore absorbs water, a growth cycle begins that generates many more spores and has the potential to damage organic building materials significantly. Summertime features dripping AC units, piles of wet beach towels, blown in rain, and multiple trips to the refrigerator for drinks among other ways excess water can pool up for mold spores to feast.

When we respond to your mold concerns, expect us to follow the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protocol of containing first, removing second, and practicing prevention third. After the mold colonies are removed and bagged for disposal, we treat affected areas with an EPA-registered disinfectant and work with you to eliminate sources of moisture. Our proactive approach is why SERVPRO is a reliable partner for mold remediation.

Storm Damage
The midwest endures four seasons of potentially severe weather, with storm damage concerns for Bourbonnais residents a constant worry. Spring, Summer, and Fall are times of torrential rain and high winds that sometimes rotate into tornadic activity. Your home can suffer exterior damage if roof shingles detach, siding peels away, or windows break from flying debris. Quantities of water can then intrude, from rain or flooding, damaging structural components, and contents. Thunderstorms with lightning can set homes on fire.

Similar outcomes occur when heavy snow and sleet storms damage your home during the winter, tree limbs breaking from the weight of frozen precipitation and crashing into your home’s exterior. You need a restoration company that can respond to a broad range of disasters rolled into one meteorological event, which is why SERVPRO’s team of technicians holding multiple IICRC certifications meets the mark.  

We secure your home with boards and tarp before assessing the damage and developing a project plan. Water removal is usually the first step for safety reasons, and because it is exceedingly damaging to most construction materials. Contamination from overland flooding or overwhelmed sewer systems can make containment and proper disposal necessary. Soiled surfaces need cleaning and disinfection with EPA-registered antimicrobials. Structural drying must complete to avoid persistent breakdown of structural components and mold growth. Deodorization using state-of-the-art equipment is the final step towards returning your home to preloss condition.

Count on SERVPRO of Kankakee County for all of your disaster mitigation and remediation needs. We answer calls to (815) 935-0077 round the clock every day of the year.

Can you BEAR It?

Our Skilled Professionals Can Restore Your Water Damaged Store In Bourbonnais

7/1/2019 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Kankakee County to help mitigate the damage.

Fighting Commercial Water Damage Affecting Your Bourbonnais Home Improvement Store

If you run a home improvement store, you probably have many items that can be damaged if the place floods. Whether it is pieces of wood, packaging materials such as cartons, decorations, accessories such as batteries for electronics or area rugs, exposure to water, or high amounts of moisture can cause different problems. We offer professional restoration of water damage that can help limit the effects of the incident or help your home improvement store restore normal operations faster.

To limit the effects, commercial water damage incidents in Bourbonnais, have on your home improvement store, you should evaluate the loss areas as soon as possible. Evaluation helps determine whether to throw out affected items or take steps to restore them. Removing contents from hit sections early can also help limit the damage. Our SERVPRO technicians help carry out a thorough evaluation, including using advanced equipment to check moisture levels in contents, building materials, and the air. Some of the equipment types that help us to evaluate loss sites include:

• Moisture Meters
• Moisture Sensors
• Thermo-hygrometers
• FLIR Thermal Cameras

Removing any water collecting on any surface within your store fast enough helps minimize the damages. Removal may require high capacity equipment that can draw thousands of gallons within a short while. It might also require tools that ease accessibility. Our SERVPRO technicians rely on truck-mounted pumps for situations requiring high capacity extraction. We also have advanced equipment such as Injectidry systems, which help extract moisture from concealed areas such as subfloors without tearing them down.

Water damage is likely to leave your store soiled even if the water originates from a clean source such as a burst plumbing line. The water collects various types of debris, including dust leading to soiling. Our SERVPRO technicians help clean your store, restoring it to its preloss state. We use professional cleaning products and equipment such as pressure washers to remove any soiling clean up all forms of soiling “Like it never even happened.”

Water loss incidents are quite disruptive to a business. Call SERVPRO of Kankakee County to help mitigate the damage. You can reach us at (815) 935-0077any time.

For more about Bourbonnais click here.

Water Cleanup Teams In Bourbonnais Describe How They Deal With Broken Appliances

6/28/2019 (Permalink)

Don’t let an appliance stop your day. Call SERVPRO today.

NO matter the damage we can get you where you need to be.

To make everyday life easier, most people have a number of appliances inside their Concord home. If certain appliances inside your house malfunction there is a chance that they can leak and force you to call in a professional water cleanup company such as SERVPRO. Many of the machines inside your home use water such as your washing machine, dishwasher, and air conditioner. If the water pipes running to them break or if something breaks inside of them, it is possible that they can spill hundreds of gallons into the interior of your building. Once moisture starts to soak into your building materials and contents, it is essential to conduct water cleanup promptly so that no mold growth or other secondary issues occur.

Primary problems take place when objects inside your dwelling like your family’s personal possessions and your structural components come into direct contact with moisture, whereas secondary issues are those created by high humidity levels. If a professional restoration company such as SERVPRO conducts water cleanup inside your Bourbonnais residence quickly, then we can lower your home’s indoor relative humidity levels and prevent secondary damage from happening. To accomplish this task, we first start by figuring out how wet items inside your home got after the appliance malfunctioned. We also determine how far away from the original source the water damage traveled. We do all of this with the help of advanced moisture sensors and hygrometers.

Once our water restoration technicians or WRTs figure out the extent of the damage, we then start the extraction process. During this stage of restoration our WRTs attempt to remove as much moisture as they can while it is still in the liquid form. We can remove this liquid water by implementing high powered extractors that pull moisture out of materials like your carpet and other fabrics.

Once our WRTs have removed all of the liquid H2O that their machines allow, we then come up with an applied structural drying or ASD plan. When implementing ASD we first find out what is wet by taking tests with our moisture sensors in both affected and unaffected areas of your home. Once we know which sections we need to work on, we set up air movers and dehumidifiers in the region to speed up the natural evaporation process.

If you ever have an appliance malfunction and leak water, call SERVPRO of Kankakee County call at (815) 935-0077 24 hours a day.

Click here to learn more about Bourbonnais IL.

Farm Fire Safety

6/24/2019 (Permalink)

Farm Fire Safety Electrical Safety Checklist

Barn fires are the farm owner’s worst nightmare. Most have tragic results whether it’s the loss of human life, an animal, valuable equipment or the building structure itself. The majority of all barn fires are the result of carelessness and lack of fire safety knowledge.  Insurance statistics show that the two most common times of the year for barn fires are winter and summer .  Winter fires are caused by appliances, rodents chewing through wires or the accumulation of dust or cobwebs on electrical surfaces.  Summer fires are often the result of electrical storms or spontaneous combustion of hot hay.  Farm owners and managers should take the following precautions to help reduce the incidence of fires.

1. Are all farmstead electrical systems free of corrosion?

2.  Are all electrical panels readily accessible and clearly labeled? 

3. Do all electrical cables and conduit’s enter boxes from the side or bottom?

4.  Is all electrical equipment equipped with a separate grounding conductor? 

5.  Are all lighting fixtures of an enclosed, gasketed, watertight and non-corrosive design?

6.  Is a UL approved Lightning protection system in place in all buildings, silos, etc?

7.  Are all buildings free of damaged or chewed wiring and conduit?

8.  Is the use of extension cords kept to a minimum? When an extension cord is needed, either a heavy duty (Type S), grounded cord or equivalent should be used.

9. Are all motors equipped with a properly sized fused disconnect or circuit breaker located within sight of and within ten (10) feet of the motor?

10.  Are all motors are they totally enclosed, farm service duty design rated for continuous operation?

11.  To all heat lamps have cords short enough to prevent contact between the heat lamp and floor without first becoming unplugged, are installed in porcelain sockets and are supported by chains?

When a fire breaks out in a house or a farm building, everyone must be evacuated from the building. Normal exits may be blocked; therefore, it is compulsory that emergency exits exist. Once everyone is out of the building, call the fire department.  Give your name, address, and the exact location of the fire.  I have the person you were talking to repeat your information. Never allow anyone to re-enter a burning building.

We Provide Kankakee Area Mold Inspections and Air Sampling

6/20/2019 (Permalink)

Kankakee Area Homeowners Rely on SERVPRO for Mold Inspections, Air Sampling, and Remediation

Testing to Identify Mold in Your Kankakee County Homeor Business

Many situations can lead to the production and spread of mold and microbial threats throughout your Kankakee County residence or business. While these circumstances can produce hazards for those exposed to active colonization, a more alarming situation exists where property owners contend with mold growth and never realize it. With risks to both the health of those around mold and the effect that it can have on structural integrity and stability, it is important to address the situation as promptly as possible with trained professionals able to help.

Testing is vital for situations where mold damage in Kankakee County homes is visible, and structures where conditions for colonization have gotten met, such as persistent moisture and dampness. We have the experience to provide mold inspections and air sampling for our residential and commercial customers.

Along with our effective containment of mold spores and present odors, we can begin our inspection and sampling of the affected property right away. Our SERVPRO remediation team specializes in indoor air quality and mold assessments and consultations. This sampling of the environment gets sent to a lab for analysis, determining the concentration of mold spores present to identify the severity of the situation on the property.

Hygrometers and moisture readers are valuable tools to the mold inspectors we dispatch to your address. These tools can determine the level of relative humidity, and when combined with tools like thermal and infrared imagery, can approximate the location of moisture pockets and dampness out of sight. As part of a thorough inspection, our professionals check foundations, attics, air ducts, windows, and other areas throughout the property for moisture and leaks that could ultimately facilitate mold growth.

We have a full-service team of reconstruction and general contracting specialists that can help with controlled demolition and build back scenarios as well. Often widespread mold damage can compromise construction materials hosting the colonies, but our SERVPRO professionals can help with full reconstruction, repair, and renovation.

We rely on advanced equipment and our teams training to inspect and test your property for the possibility of mold and microbial growth. From Bourbonnais to Bradley, you can count on us to help.
For an assessment of your commercial or residential property, reach out to our SERVPRO of Kankakee County professionals today at (815) 935-0077.

More about this area here.

Air Quality Threats After a Fire in a Manteno Bakery

5/20/2019 (Permalink)

With our state-of-the-art equipment, we'll restore your bakery "Like it never even happened."

Commercial Fire Damage Restoration & Deodorization in Manteno 

When a fire affects your Manteno bakery, it can quickly put a stop to the production of baked goods and require immediate attention from trained restoration specialists. Even without structurally compromising disasters, effects from a fire can still prove impossible for an unskilled business owner to address on their own. By reaching out to our professionals quickly, we can get mitigation work started to overcome hazardous and damaging effects like indoor air quality threats that can linger after extinguishment.

We understand how vital it is to get the doors to your Manteno bakery back open again after fire damage has occurred, and to do this, our SERVPRO team must address multiple effects. Smoke and soot damages are a common occurrence, and residues and odors from these carcinogens can present a health hazard for those exposed without the appropriate personal protective equipment. Addressing these concerns requires sophisticated equipment.

Our SERVPRO professionals arrive at every fire loss incident with deodorization and air purification equipment both to begin containment protocols for lingering effects and to begin removing harmful presences in the bakery. With indoor air quality concerns, air purification is a vital component to returning your business to its preloss condition, but also in helping to keep your equipment like ovens and food preparation tools from becoming irreparably damaged by excessive soot and smoke residues.

Addressing the threats in the environment falls to sophisticated equipment like our air scrubbers and hydroxyl generators. Both of these machines feature onboard HEPA filters and can pull contaminated air through the unit and trap particulates, soot, smoke, and other debris in the filter to improve overall air quality in the business. This process can also help to begin deodorization efforts necessary to get customers back in your bakery.

We understand that for every day that your business has its doors closed that you are losing money, so our SERVPRO of Kankakee County team works quickly and efficiently to limit this span. You can count on our fast response and experience to get this job done as fast as possible. Give us a call anytime at (815) 935-0077.

For more on Manteno, click here. 

How Water Damages Hardwood Floors in Kankakee

5/20/2019 (Permalink)

Water can quickly damage hardwood flooring. Call SERVPRO to restore your water damaged flooring today!

Addressing Saturation of Hardwood Floors in Kankakee Homes

Hardwood flooring is an everyday staple of construction in many Kankakee homes, but caring for this material can often be a challenge. Moisture and saturation can distort the shape and weaken the integrity of these materials, which can ultimately cause homeowners to need to replace them. To avoid this costly repair and reinstallation of hardwood, seek the experience and industry-leading equipment of restoration professionals that can address this saturation effectively. 

Many homeowners mistakenly believe that addressing flooring damage in their home after a water loss incident in Kankakee is only involved as removing surface moisture and standing water. In truth, these situations can often move far beyond the surface and affect into subflooring material. The only way to know the full extent of the spread of water damage is to utilize the advanced detection equipment and thermal imagery cameras available to our SERVPRO team. 

We understand how vital it is to address water damaged flooring as quickly as possible because, within a few days, hardwood flooring and vinyl alternatives can begin to swell and distort. Bloating can cause the tongue and groove connections of the individual planks to disconnect, separating entire portions of flooring. Once this degradation begins, it is no longer possible for professionals to reverse this damage and controlled demolition techniques become necessary instead. 

Our SERVPRO team can work quickly to set up our Injecti-Dry System with drying mats to begin a slow and steady draw of moisture from these affected materials. By tenting over these mats, our team can better regulate the loss of moisture from the planks, helping to keep constant monitoring of moisture content to ensure that the flooring does not get overly dry which can be equally destructive. 

We understand how critical a fast response is to protecting hardwood flooring in your house, and so our SERVPRO of Kankakee County professionals stay available 24/7 to help. You can trust our experienced and equipped professionals to make flooring damage “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call anytime that you need us at (815) 935-0077.

Learn more about Kankakee here.

Electrical Home Safety

5/13/2019 (Permalink)

Electrical Safety

Flipping a light switch. Plugging in a coffee maker. Charging a laptop computer. These are second nature for most of us. Electricity makes our lives easier. However, we need to be cautious and keep safety in mind. 

Here are some safety tips courtesy of the National Fire Protection  Association.

1. Have all electrical work done by a qualified electrician.

2. When you are buying or remodeling a home, have it inspected by a qualified private inspector or in accordance with local requirements. 

3. Only use one heat producing appliances such as a coffee maker, toaster, space heater, etc. plugged into a receptacle outlet at a time.

4.   Major appliances such as refrigerators, dryers, washers, stoves, air-conditioners, microwave ovens, etc. should be plugged directly into a wall receptacle outlet. Extension cords and plug strips should not be used. 

5. Arc – fault circuit interrupters (AFCI’s).  These shut off electricity when a dangerous condition occurs. Consider having them installed in your home. 

6. Use ground – fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).  These reduce the risk of shock they shut off an electrical circuit when it becomes a shock hazard. They should be installed inside the home in bathrooms, kitchen, garages and basements.  All outdoor receptacles should be GFCI protected. 

7. Testing ACFIs and GFCIs: Once a month according to the manufacturers recommendations.  You do not need a flame to start a fire. Fire is can start when heat builds up near things that burn. This can happen when a hot lightbulb is near things that burn.  Things such as cloth or paper, or a cord that has been placed under a carpet. 

8. Use ground – fault circuit interrupters to reduce the risk of shock.  These items shut off an electrical circuit when it becomes a shock hazard. They should be installed inside the home and bathrooms, kitchen, garages and basements.  All outdoor receptacles should be GFCI protected. 

9. Check electrical cords to make sure they are not running across doorways or under carpets. Extension cords are intended for temporary use. Have a qualified electrician add more receptacle outlets so you don’t have to use extension cords.

10. Use a lightbulb with the right number of watts. There should be a sticker that indicates the right number of watts. 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

Call a qualified electrician or your landlord if you have: 

Frequent problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers.

A tingling feeling when you touch an electrical appliance.

Discolored or warm wall outlets. 

A burning or rubbery smell coming from an appliance. 

Flickering or dimming lights.

Sparks from an outlet. 

SERVPRO Assesses the Category of Fire Damage in Manteno Properties to Maximize Recovery

5/2/2019 (Permalink)

From New York to Manteno, This Brave Firefighter Puts It Out, Then SERVPRO Cleans It Up!

What the Category of Fire Damage in Manteno Means to the Restoration Effort

When a fire razes property, it damages the contents and structure in many ways. Combustion may consume materials fully or partially, while smoke residues pile up on surfaces. Heat action may also blister surfaces untouched by the flames. In addition to these central aspects of the fire, other damages can happen as water or other chemicals are pumped in to extinguish the fire. A fire incident can, therefore, have very different implications from what you expect. Working with a professional Manteno restorer can help manage your expectations.
 
You might expect the restoration processes after fire damage in Manteno to be same in every incident if you believe all fires are similar. To a professional, there are different types of fires based on the damages they cause. Minor fires leave light smoke residues in a few rooms or limited areas in the property. Medium fires leave moderate smoke residues spread out over more areas. More items are damaged to a level that requires replacement and floors may require refinishing. Major fires leave severe damage especially near the source of the blaze, and they also affect structural framing. Our SERVPRO technicians scope the loss when we arrive at your property to determine the required response plan.
 
Establishing the category of fire damage ensures the response plan meets the requirements. It also helps limit the chances of resource wastage. Structures affected my major fires require emergency services such as boarding up, winterizing and establishing electricity sources. Such steps would be a waste of resources if taken after medium or minor fires. Contents affected by major fires mostly require pack outs for restoration in an offsite facility, but in medium and minor fires, it is possible to clean them on the job site.
 
The number of steps involved in restoring each fire damage category differs. For minor fires, the bulk of the work is done through dry and wet cleaning. A few areas may require repainting to finish the job. For medium fires, the bulk of the work involves wet cleaning, repainting surfaces and refinishing materials. Odor problems might also develop necessitating deodorization. For major fires, all restoration steps including tearing down scorched areas, repainting as well as extraction of water used to fight the fire. Our SERVPRO technicians are Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) certified meaning we have sufficient skills to deal with every fire category.
 
For proper management of fire loss incidents, call SERVPRO of Kankakee to assist. You can reach us at (815) 935-0077 any time. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Here are the Village Board of Trustees members.

Manteno Possessions Are Cleaned of Soot from a House Fire by SERVPRO

4/24/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Provides Advanced Equipment for Cleaning Fired Damaged Possessions for Manteno Homeowners

Different Types of Fire Damage Require Different Clean Up Methods to Restore Property in Manteno

The restoration and mitigation specialists at SERVPRO take pride in the results of their IICRC training. We learn new techniques that help us restore your Manteno property and clean your possessions. We want to make everything like it was before the disaster, “Like it never even happened.”
 
To do this, SERVPRO employees use specific methods to clean different items in your Manteno house of the effects of fire damage. We use both dry and wet methods, depending on what we are in the process of cleaning and restoring. Our teams can do some of the work at your home, without needing to remove the items to our facility. We place these belongings in a secure area of your house where they do not impose on our other team members who are performing other restoration work.
 
Just like we use brushes, vacuums, and dry sponges to remove a large amount of soot from interior structures like walls and cabinet doors, we can use similar methods for many items that require attention to detail. Portrait frames with deep grooves can suffer corrosion and discoloration when soot remains embedded for too long. While we clean, we also take note of any bubbling or other effects caused by heat.
 
Sometimes, we need to apply cleansers in a wet or damp cleaning method to rid items of the blackened mess that mars their finish. Ceramic-coated tubs and windows are two examples. When we restore things that we can safely wash while submerging the item in water, we can use ultrasonic cleaning machinery.
 
The tiny waves produced inside an ultrasonic machine form bubbles in the water. These act much like the bubbles in hydrogen peroxide at lifting foreign substances from the surfaces of the item placed in the machine. Ultrasonic cleaning does not require any soap or detergent and does not bleach anything like hydrogen peroxide might.
 
Because it uses no foaming agents, rinsing is never required. We need to dry the items cleaned this way and return them to you. We can clean jewelry, stuffed toys, ceramic and porcelain pieces, and many other things. The results often surprise our customers with how well it works, even in tiny grooves and other areas that brushes barely reach.
 
SERVPRO of Kankakee County can help you restore not only your Bonfield, Aroma Park, or Momence house after fire damage happens, but also your personal belongings. Call us at (815) 935-0077, so we can help your family recover faster.

Click here for Village news.

Snowmelt, Spring Storms, and Flooding in Bourbonnais

4/18/2019 (Permalink)

Snowmelt can cause flooding.

Flood Removal Experts In Bourbonnais Talk About Problems Associated With Spring Storms

Whenever a spring storm strikes the Bourbonnais area, heavy rain or snow is possible. If high amounts of precipitation occur, you may find yourself needing to call in a professional flood removal company such as SERVPRO. During the spring, it is possible to see snow storms that bring in significant amounts of wet, heavy snow. Once the snow melts when the sun comes back out, moisture melting off of it can find its way into your home. Sometimes the snow melt can work its way slowly into your Bourbonnais home without you noticing it right away.  

Even if no standing water is visible, your building materials and contents could have still retained moisture. Many times when our SERVPRO team shows up at your flood removal project in Bourbonnais, all of the liquid water that was once present has soaked into your building materials and structural components. Once melted snow leaks into your house, it elevates the humidity level inside the structure which can cause issues throughout the building. The moisture can also saturate building materials such as your drywall or carpet and cause them to lose their structural integrity. Wet organic substances can become prime spots for future mold growth.  

In situations where there is little or no liquid water present, our SERVPRO technicians begin the structural drying process immediately. We set up dehumidifiers and air movers to create an environment conducive for rapid evaporation and drying. When several of your building materials got saturated, we utilize more dehumidification to help pull moisture out of your structural components.  

Refrigerant or LGR dehumidifiers work best for removing moisture from porous materials. Desiccant dehumidifiers are more forceful and used in more severe situations where moisture has soaked into solid, non-porous substances like concrete. Desiccant systems work by pulling wet air across a silica gel that attracts water molecules. The machine then heats the gel so that the moisture evaporates into a separate air stream which vents outside of the building.  

If you ever notice wet building materials after a spring storm, call SERVPRO of (815) 935-0077 Kankakee County at any day of the week.

Read more about Bourbonnais here.

Household Escape Planning

4/5/2019 (Permalink)

ESCAPE PLANNING

Plan Ahead!

If a fire breaks out in your home you may have only a few minutes to get out safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Everyone needs to know what to do and where to go if there is a fire.

SAFETY TIPS

1.  Make a Home escape plan. Draw a map of your home showing all doors and windows. Discuss the plan with everyone in your home.

2. No at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily.

3. Have an outside meeting place like a tree, light pole, or mailbox. Make sure it is a safe distance from the home where everyone should meet.

4. Practice your home fire drill at night and during the day with everyone in your home at least twice a year.

5. Practice using different ways out.

6. Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.

7.  Close doors behind you as you leave. 

IF THE ALARM SOUNDS...

1. If the smoke alarm sounds get out and stay out! Never go back inside for people or pets.

2. If you have to escape through spoke, get low and go under the smoke to your way out.

3. Call the fire department from outside your home.

FACTS

! A closed door may show with the spread of smoke, heat and fire. Install smoke alarms inside every sleeping room and outside each sleeps area.  Install alarms on every level of the home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected. When one smoke alarm sounds, they all sound.

! According to an NFPA survey, Only one of three American households have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan.

! While 71% of Americans have an escape plan in case of a fire, only 47% of those have practiced it.

! 1/3 of American households call made an estimate thought they would have at least six minutes before a fire in their own home would become life-threatening. The time available is often less. And only 8% set their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to get out.

Is Professional Remediation Necessary After a Manteno Fire?

4/2/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has the expertise to restore your fire damaged home. Call us today!

Useful Considerations when Responding to Fire Damage in Manteno

After a fire incident, many homeowners naturally want to do something to fix the situation. Sometimes, the steps you take can worsen the state of affairs, so it is essential to know what to do after such incidents. Immediately calling a professional restorer is the ideal response because the crewmembers are trained to handle such situations. We offer professional restoration services in Manteno, and IICRC certifies our crews in Fire and Smoke Restoration.  

Although you might feel the need to clean up surfaces or items after incidents of fire damage in Manteno, you should avoid doing so. Some cleaning actions can exacerbate the situation or have no impact on general restoration efforts. For example, trying to clean walls can transfer the soot residues from the walls to materials on the floor staining them. Some ash residues might also be present in the areas you want clean, and they can cause problems if inhaled or exposed to your skin. Our SERVPRO technicians handle the process better because they have PPE, Personal Protective Equipment, and we use systemic procedures when cleaning up.  

Movement around the fire-damaged house can cause additional damages by spreading soot, ash and other residues around the house. Touching different contents with soot-covered hands can impregnate upholstery, walls and wooden materials with soot residues causing additional damages. Our SERVPRO technicians evaluate damaged materials separating them into salvageable, unsalvageable and questionable categories. We can also pre-clean some of the salvageable materials ensuring the occupant has access to what he or she needs thus eliminating the need to venture into the damaged house.  

Soot residues are acidic so that they can corrode or stain different materials in the house. There is a need to protect materials with chrome or other metallic finishes and stone surfaces such as granite. Our SERVPRO technicians pre-clean these areas then apply a thin coat of lubricant to protect them until it is possible to do thorough restorative cleaning.  

For the right response after fire incidents in Bourbonnais, Bradley, and Kankakee areas, call SERVPRO of Kankakee County to help. You can reach us at (815) 935-0077 any time. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Learn more about Manteno here.

SERVPRO In The Comunity

3/20/2019 (Permalink)

Marketing Representative Angela Kuelper with future SERVPRO employee, her son Vincent.

This past weekend SERVPRO of Kankakee County had the chance to take part in an event for area fire fighters and police!  Peotone Fire Department held their 7th annual Fire & Police Swap Meet at the Will County Fair Gounds in Peotone.  This swap meet has been a great success over the years attracting people from as far away as California!  We were very proud to be able to support such a great event and our local Police and Fire departments.  SERVPRO of Kankakee County marketing representative Angela Kuelper was onsite to answer questions and get to know more about the community that we serve.  

“I meet people from St. Luis, Chicago, Pennsylvania and California while at the event.  It was so nice to see the turn out of both vendors and attendees.  The Peotone Fire Department did a great job putting on the event!  I was told by one person that the event just Kees growing ever year, a sure sign of success!” -Angela Kuelper

At SERVPRO of Kankakee County we love to do these local events.  Community involvement is one of the biggest things that sets us apart from out competitors.  

To see where we will be next or other past events visit us and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SERVPROk3.  Also be sure to check back to the page for more news, tips, and events or call our friendly office staff at (815) 935-0077 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year!  

#Fire #Police #PlanetSERVPRO #Likeitneverevenhappened #KankakeeCounty 

Kankakee Properties, Storms, and Fallen Trees? Call SERVPRO--Fast!

3/19/2019 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO for Emergency Storm Damage Help with Your Kankakee Property

Tree Damage that Can Allow Flooding in Your Kankakee Home

Trees can line your property or add some aesthetic appeal to your Kankakee yard. When wind storms occur, however, these appealing fixtures of your property can fall victim to broken limbs or becoming uprooted entirely. While many threats exist when heavy branches or full trees fall over towards your home, damage to your roof from a tree can allow flooding to occur almost immediately in your home if torrential rainfall is already occurring.

Finding the right professional assistance for the potential flood damage that could occur in your Kankakee home should not be a difficult endeavor. With our 24-hour response to emergencies and our industry-leading equipment for fast mitigation and restoration, our SERVPRO team has become a trusted name throughout the area. We strive to ensure that no customer waits for the effective approach of our professionals when faced with an emergency, and our team is ready at a moment’s notice to provide disaster relief even amid the storm.

We can arrive promptly to your home and immediately get to work on emergency board up services to protect your property from further damage from the elements. This task gets overseen by our contracting division, and these professionals have years of hands-on experience in the construction industry to provide efficient and cost-effective reconstruction and renovation to damaged areas of your home immediately after the mitigation.

This same team of professionals within our SERVPRO crew can remove the tree that still threatens your property. Once the tree gets officially removed from the roof or against your home, our experts can get a better look at the full scope of the damage to your roof or siding and what material and personnel are necessary to build it again. For starters, we can place tarps or boards to reduce any rainwater water intrusion and keep out pesky wild animals.  Once mitigation completes, our contractors can get to work on the steps necessary to reconstruct and rebuild your damaged roof.

You cannot predict the vulnerability of some of the trees on your property against high-powered wind storms, but if damage does occur to your home, you can count on our SERVPRO of Kankakee County professionals to restore it. Our dedicated technicians and contractors are available 24/7 by calling (815) 935-0077.

Click here for municipal information

After A Fire In Your Manteno Boutique, Call Our Experts Immediately!

3/11/2019 (Permalink)

Give us a call whenever you need us at (815) 935-0077.

Smoke Residue Types That Can Damage Your Manteno Boutique

While you might not understand all of the ways that disasters can affect your Manteno boutique, a situation like a fire can present multiple threats that require immediate attention. While you already have the stress of getting your doors back open to your customers after a fire has occurred, you might not fully understand the severity of the situation or what needs to happen to return your building to its original condition. Our professionals can work quickly to assess the scope of the damage and determine what approaches are necessary to recover your store and get you back to business as usual.

Smoke effects are a common fire damage element that can vary between disasters, and understanding what type affects your shop can be helpful to appreciate the steps required to restore it. Smoke damage in Manteno can often spread far throughout the building, affecting areas that were not in the initial combustion area. These effects can be a noxious odor that becomes embedded in the walls and contents of the shop or with a residue from the smoke particulates.

Two main types of smoke affect buildings and these get determined on the heat of the fire itself. For lower temperature, smoldering situations, wet smoke residue gets distributed throughout your property. These effects present a thick film of particulates that require intricate cleaning techniques from our SERVPRO professionals to recover. Attempting to clean these damages on your own can allow for staining, which can prove impossible to reverse.

Higher temperature blazes produce a dry smoke, which still spreads a residue of particulates throughout the affected areas of your building. The affected surfaces and materials from this type of smoke get coated in a thin and easily cleaned powdery residue, often mistaken as ash. With our efficient and effective cleaning tools and equipment, our SERVPRO professionals can quickly and completely remove these effects.

Smoke damage can prove problematic for your boutique, but our SERVPRO of Kankakee County professionals can help with a fast response and the expertise to get the job done right. Give us a call whenever you need us at (815) 935-0077.

Click here for more about Manteno.

Thunder Storms & Power Outages - Bonfield, Essex, Reddick, & Herscher

3/4/2019 (Permalink)

Storms hit Kankakee County

The spring rains are almost here and when they arrive, they will bring thunderstorms and power outages with them. 

Torrential down pours can knock out power lines and quickly overwhelm sump pumps. Battery back up systems usually will only last about 45 minutes during a big down pour, no matter what the box you bought it in said.

Having the right insurance coverage is only part of the equation, if you haven't spoken to your agent to make sure you have it, don't wait anytime. The second part of that equation is having the support team ready to answer your call when you need help drying out your home or business. That's when you call SERVPRO of Kankakee County!   

Available 24/7/365 SERVPRO is only phone call away. 

Our trained and certified technicians will be there to help you through the claims process. Commercial building or residential home, no job it too big or too small. 

Think you have a commercial structure with a large loss in Kankakee County or any of the surrounding Counties? You want our Disaster Recovery Team. SERVPRO has been leading the way nationally in commercial restoration, just ask for Team Nichols. 

#waterdamage #sumppump #sumppumpfail #thunderstorm #poweroutage #SERVPRO #PlanetSERVPRO #SERVPROkankakeeCounty #LikeItNeverEvenHappened #IICRC #ICRA #DocumentRestoration #DocumentDrying 

Thunderstorms Roll into Auroma Park

3/4/2019 (Permalink)

Don’t let the storm rolling in scare you... SERVPRO IS HERE!

Yay! Spring is right around the corner, but spring flowers come with spring showers!  When the weather turns and the clouds roll in, flooding can occur.  As spring makes its way into full swing the frozen ground can’t always keep up with th rain that we get and that unfortunately is when basements flood.  Sump pumps do their best to keep up with the rain water that is not being soaked up by the ground, but sometimes they fail or the ground is still too frozen to soak it up!

There are a few steps that you can take to limit the damage from flooding:  

• Store belongings in plastic containers.
• Having generator back up for when the power goes out.
• Check battery back up for your sump pump!
• Have SERVPRO’s number on hand!

At SERVPRO of Kankakee County our technicians are ready to respond to all your water emergency needs!  From water mitigation to dehumidification to mold remediation we can handle it all!

No job is too big... and no job is too small... we got it all!  We are available 24/7/365 for all your disaster needs.  At SERVPRO we know that you can’t always plan for a disaster but we can help you weather the storm and make it "Like it never even happened."

Call our office at (815) 935-0077 for prompt friendly service anytime of day!

Check us out and like us on Facebook to keep up to date on news and contests!

#Likeitneverevenhappened #SERVPRO #Flooding #waterdamage #storm 

Our Experts Explain Where You Can Find Mold Damage In Your Bourbonnais Home This Winter

2/26/2019 (Permalink)

If efforts to reduce interior moisture during the winter fail SERVPRO of Kankakee County can help remediate mold damage in your home.

Unanticipated Places For Winter Mold Damage In Your Bourbonnais House

Bourbonnais homeowners can be surprised with the news that mildew or mold has invaded spaces inside their homes during cold weather. Musty smells or dark staining signal mold problems that can shock, but might be easily explained by experts wise in the ways of microbial growth. Our team has seen countless examples of winter fungal growth that befuddle property holders. We point to the causes and offer solutions.

Mold damage in your Bourbonnais home is not inevitable. It happens when excess moisture lingers long enough for mold spores to absorb it and begin a cycle of growth and multiplication. Spores are always present indoors and out. It is the availability of water in some form within your home that encourages the growth that leads to damage. We can help you discover moisture sources you might fail to anticipate could lead to mold growth.

SERVPRO technicians know any season can expose your home to the possibility of mold damage. Cold weather and a wintry mix of icy rain and snow support mold growth if your gutters clog with ice dams. Heat leaking out of your attic, melting snow and ice into liquid water, soaks into the building materials in your attic. Mold grows and moves down walls, eventually migrating to living areas. Clearing gutters in the fall, sealing heat leaks, and upgrading insulation can all help break the thaw and freeze cycle.

Dry air during the heating season should inhibit mold growth, but the arid conditions are irritating to human respiratory systems. SERVPRO finds winter mold damage in rooms where vaporizers or humidifiers raise airborne water vapor levels. The moist air condenses on colder walls, providing perfect conditions for opportunistic molds to take hold. Maintain indoor humidity levels lower than 60 percent to discourage mold.

Winter fun tracked in on boots and jacket can cause damp areas in mud rooms or hallways where snow and ice melt and drip. Wet rugs and piles of gloves, mittens, scarves, and socks offer organic nutrient sources needed for mold growth. The SERVPRO team recommends hanging clothing and switching out wet rugs for dry. Fans and heaters can reduce humidity levels to inhibit mold growth.

If efforts to reduce interior moisture during the winter fail SERVPRO of Kankakee County can help remediate mold damage in your home. Call us at (815) 935-0077 to schedule an evaluation.

Click here for more about Bourbonnais.

Kankakee Property Flooding Requires Skilled, Equipped Help--Call SERVPRO

2/25/2019 (Permalink)

Muddy Floodwater in Your Kankakee Home? Make the Call to SERVPRO--"Like it never even happened."

Why SERVPRO Uses Advanced Technologies to Fix Flood Damage in Kankakee

Fixing the damages caused by flooding incidents is a tedious process. Whether you do it yourself or hire someone to help, the process can be tiring, especially if it takes too long before the home reverts to its preloss state. One way to beat the odds is to engage a professional restorer that invests in advanced technologies in the restoration industry.

It is only natural to start by extracting water first when dealing with flood damage in Kankakee since it is water that ruins the property. The ease of doing this depends on the volume of water involved, the number of sections affected in the house, and whether concealed or hard-to-reach areas like crawl spaces are involved. SERVPRO invests in many extraction technologies. Using truck-mounted water extractors, our technicians can remove thousands of gallons of water per day. We also have portable extractors, which can reach concealed areas conveniently.
 
In many cases, there is a high presence of silt, mud and other soils in floodwaters depending on how widespread the incident is, so there is a need to clean all the affected areas. The soils may also include traces of biohazards such as raw sewage and harmful chemicals, so direct contact with the skin is not advisable. SERVPRO invests in different PPE, Personal Protective Equipment, including chemical resistant gloves, splash goggles, and rubber boots, so our technicians can work at full speed without fearing for their safety. We also use power washers to speed up the removal of soils. Yes, there are shovels in our equipment inventory.
 
Flood situations can involve electrical hazards if there are downed power lines. Within the home, the water might reach electrical outlets or severed wires creating electrical hazards. Our SERVPRO technicians are equipped with electrical circuit testers to confirm that no hazards exist after turning off power mains. We also have GFCI, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters, which help protect our air scrubbers, dehumidifiers, air movers, and other power equipment from shorting.
 
You can avoid the inconveniences of mitigating flood damage by choosing a restorer that uses state-of-the-art equipment. Call SERVPRO of Kankakee County. You can reach us at (815) 935-0077 any time.

More about our city by clicking

Don't Let Water Damage Shut Down Your Bradley Hotel, Contact The Professionals At SERVPRO Immediately!

2/19/2019 (Permalink)

We are aware of the timelines of secondary damage risk such as mold growth.

Commercial Water Removal In A Bradley Hotel

Owners and building managers in the lodging and hospitality business in Bradley worry about accidents and malfunctions of the plumbing and appliances in common areas, workspaces, and guest rooms. If significant water intrusion occurs from a supply line break, overflows in the pool and spa area, or exterior flash flooding visitors can be inconvenienced and structural components damaged. You need fast and professional evacuation of water immediately to save your business.

Efficient water removal in your Bradley hotel is critical to maintaining the reputation of lodgings struck with a water loss. If unsuspecting guests wade through soggy carpets on their way to check in because your response to the emergency is slow or inadequate it is likely they might choose to cancel their reservations and move to a competitor. Throwing in a poor review on social media could act as a final strike against your bad luck.

Strategic planning by our experienced team ensures common areas with significant flooding are managed rapidly. SERVPRO scalable work crews can complete the tasks needed swiftly to remove water and dry out your property of any size. We carry commercial-strength submersible pumps and high-efficiency water extractors on every service vehicle, ready to move into action. Your guests want a seamless visit and to enjoy your luxurious rooms despite the water problem. We can make that happen.

SERVPRO increases our technician crew size and availability of tools to make sure even multilevel and large square footage spaces receive water removal within hours of your first call. Our management assesses the needs of each project and our office assists with the details of the catastrophe and the restoration efforts for your insurance carrier.

We are aware of the timelines of secondary damage risk such as mold growth. Our team works tirelessly to remove water and start the structural drying process to be sure that normal moisture levels are restored within 24 to 48 hours. SERVPRO crews take steps not only to remove the water and dry out the building materials but also to use EPA-registered antimicrobials as inhibitors of mildew or mold growth.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County prepares for the unexpected and catastrophic. Call us at (815) 935-0077 to arrange for our professional assessment and water removal services if the worst happens.

Click here for more about Bradley.

Broken Pipes in Kankakee

2/15/2019 (Permalink)

Broken Pipe

The extreme temperatures can cause frozen pipes.  When water freezes inside of pipes it expands and the pipe breaks causing damage that can be catastrophic to a home or business owner. Let SERVPRO of Kankakee County help you get it back to "Like it never even happened."

From residential to commercial, we are Ready To Any Size Disaster!  We can help you through the process of water damage from start to finish in a number of ways including:

Emergency 24/7/365 mitigation services,

Minimize additional property damages,

Use specialized test equipment to determine hidden water,

Review restoration vs. replacement,

Office staff that is highly trained in working with your insurance company,

Construction division to help rebuild what where to have to tear out,  

Use advanced drying techniques to monitor and ensure your property is properly dried!

www.SERVPROkankakeecounty.com
www.SERVPROmattesonhomewood.com
www.SERVPROchicagoheightscretebeecher.com

#frozenpipes, #waterdamage, #molddamage, 

#SERVPRO, #planetSERVPRO 

How Our Experts Can Restore Your Fire Damaged Home In Bourbonnais

2/12/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Kankakee County uses fire restoration industry best practices to restore your home “Like it never even happened.”

Some Things To Expect From Professional Fire Cleanup In Bourbonnais

A fire in your Bourbonnais home causes significant damage not only to the structural components but also to the contents. Cleanup is a complicated process, best complete by well-qualified fire damage restoration professionals. You need a company that can handle a comprehensive list of all the potential issues safely, efficiently, and in compliance with local requirements. Our team of Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) trained technicians can help.

Ensuring that your family escapes the flames in your home is your first priority. Arranging for fire cleanup in your Bourbonnais home with our skilled team is the second priority. As soon as the fire officials declare your dwelling ready for evaluation you need to move swiftly. Fire residues are toxic and corrosive. Within minutes and hours of the fire possessions and building materials become progressively damaged. We have the knowledge and a team of technicians to take on the challenge of mitigating fire damage fast.

When SERVPRO arrives, an experienced member of our management assesses the damage. Because of the fire fighting efforts, an initial task is frequently water and chemical removal and structural drying. Safety from slips and falls and electric shock is one reason this must be done immediately. Water damage also is just as devastating to your home as the fire and cannot wait as mold can infest wet areas after just 24 to 48 hours.

Personal possessions and furnishings might be packed out to our production facility in advance of fire cleanup. We use the SERVPRO Contents Claim Inventory Service (CCIS) to inventory and track the items removed. Digital photos, lists, and barcoding technology all assure that we account for each item, including documenting the cleaning and restoration efforts we make. This helps support claims made with your insurance carrier.

Back at your home, the SERVPRO crew matches the types of soot residues with the appropriate cleaning products, tools, and methods and the technicians go to work. If some spaces are relatively unaffected, a containment perimeter can be established to prevent drift of residues and odors. Heavy plastic sheeting might be augmented with air scrubbing equipment, filtering the floating debris and sealing off the work area with negative air pressure.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County uses fire restoration industry best practices to restore your home “Like it never even happened.” Call us at (815) 935-0077 day or night to arrange an assessment.

Click here for more about Bourbonnais.

Floor Coverings made easy in Manteno

2/4/2019 (Permalink)

From Carpet to Tile, we have your floors covered

SERVPRO of Kankakee County is well known for helping clients recover following fire, mold, and water damage in the Bradley Bourbonnais area. What many local people don't recognize is that our SERVPRO also provides professional flooring sales and installation.

Our Manteno facility is home to thousands of flooring samples including carpet, vinyl, wood, and ceramic tile to name just a few. In fact, with our preferred status with most flooring distributors, there's not much we can't get for a discounted price.

Why pay retail prices when SERVPRO of Kankakee County can get the same flooring for wholesale pricing? Our Flooring Sales Representatives are the same individuals that do your installation. That takes the guess work out of what product is best for you commercial or residential flooring needs.

We are certified distributors for Mohawk, Tarkett, and Dream Weavers. We also use our buying power with the big box stores to get our clients the best prices possible from retailers like Menards, Lowe's and Home Depot. Locally, you won't find a better flooring company to assist you.

Wood Flooring replacement and refinishing when needed is also a service SERVPRO can assist you with. Before replacing wood floors, our trained professionals will come out to determine if that's the most cost effective solution to your problem. Working with one of the best Floor Refinishers in Manteno Illinois, we are always watching out for our clients' bottom lines.

Call SERVPRO of Kankakee County for all you residential and commercial flooring needs. Appointments are by appointment only and we also can bring flooring samples to your home.

What to Do if There's Water Damage to Flooring in Your Home

1/28/2019 (Permalink)

Water can be a very destructive force and adversely affect just about every part of your home's structure, including flooring.

Steps To Take After Water Damage to Flooring in Your Home

Water can be a very destructive force and adversely affect just about every part of your home's structure, including flooring. Whether the issue is severe weather, a malfunctioning appliance, burst pipes, or a leaking roof, handling water damage to flooring as early as possible is the key to avoiding huge hassles down the line.

Homeowners who suspect water damage to flooring in Bradley should take immediate action before the problem gets worse. If your home's floors have been affected by an influx of water, here are some things to keep in mind.

1. Have any excess water removed before refinishing wood floors.
Professional removal of excess water is essential before refinishing wood flooring. Otherwise, it may end up warping and cause structural damage. It can take weeks for wood floors to dry out on their own, and by then mold will likely become a problem. SERVPRO technicians will quickly remove the water from your floors and ensure the area is dry and ready to be refinished.

2. Prevent mold and mildew growth by calling an expert.
Some homeowners attempt to remove water damage to flooring on their own. However, they're typically unable to get the water out of each floor layer. The excess moisture then leads to mold and mildew, which are more challenging to eliminate. SERVPRO has industrial grade equipment that we use to ensure no moisture remains, which is vital to stopping the growth of harmful mold and mildew.

3. Don't automatically assume your carpets will be a lost cause.
If you look at the water damage to flooring in your home and think there's no way your carpet can be salvaged, call us first. We're experts at restoring water damaged areas, and we may be able to extract the water from your carpets and sub floors and save you the expense of completely replacing it.

If your home's flooring has been affected by water damage, count on the team at SERVPRO of Kankakee County to get it back in excellent condition. For a quote or to learn more about our water damage restoration services, call us at (815) 935-0077.

Learn more about Bradley, IL by clicking here. 

Bourbonnais Water Damage?? SERVPRO Has the Crew and the Devices for Mitigation

1/28/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Says Call Us at the First Sign of a Water Leak in Your Bourbonnais Home

Effective Removal of Moisture Behind Walls in Bourbonnais Homes

Water loss incidents can occur from many different sources in your Bourbonnais home, but aging plumbing often plays a contributing factor. Many of the older homes in the area still have metal piping throughout the property, which can begin to degrade and erode over time, especially when exposed to higher mineral elements in the public water such as iron and manganese. These minerals are not harmful to consume, yet, can have a damaging effect on older pipes when sediment builds up around connections, bends, and fixtures.

Once a problem has started, water damage can soon develop in your Bourbonnais home through leaks in the weakest portions of the plumbing. These can be challenging to chase down, as the moisture and dampness can affect a broad area. To prevent excessive tear out and replacement once you have encountered water damage, you can reach out to our SERVPRO professionals for fast and effective restoration and repair.

Our team that arrives at your home comes equipped with detection technology to help them both identify leaks in the plumbing behind the walls, and identify the full scope of the water damage that your home has sustained throughout the time that the pipe has been leaking water. Our auditory equipment can help us to hear behind drywall to determine the exact point of the leak only to remove portions of wall required for us to repair the damaged plumbing and begin drying efforts effectively.

To better place our drying equipment, our thermal imagery cameras can identify moisture pockets behind walls of your home to determine where focused drying efforts must occur to remove the dampness present. If the damage is severe enough, our SERVPRO technicians might also implement our injectidry system to force heated air through wall cavities to dry them efficiently before secondary effects like mold growth can occur.

While water damage might happen from a variety of sources, clean up and drying efforts need to begin promptly to prevent excessive structural concerns. Give our SERVPRO of Kankakee County rapid response team a call 24/7 at (815) 935-0077.

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Frozen and Busted Pipes in Bourbonnais?

1/28/2019 (Permalink)

Frozen and busted water pipes in Kankakee County?

Have frozen and busted pipes affected your Bourbonnais area home or business? Kankakee County is experiencing extreme cold weather like we haven't experienced, since the two Polar Vortexs 5 years ago. 

Temperatures are plummeting to dangerous levels, where even having exposed skin for a mere matter of minutes can be dangerous. 

Subzero temperatures like this will be testing the limitations of not only the plumbing in your commercial home or business, but the insulation as well. Pushing piping and HVAC systems to their limits.

If your plumbing system fails, your first call is to your plumber. Your second call is to SERVPRO of Kankakee County!  Available 24/7/365 for any of your mitigation and restoration needs. Our trained technicians are up to the task of getting your business or home back to preloss condition, making it "Like it never even happened."

Here are some tips to help you during this extreme weather:

1. Protect your plumbing pipes from freezing

When winter temperatures plummet, water can easily freeze inside, causing them to burst. If you are out of the house or unaware of a burst pipe, the results can be disastrous, including massive home floods and damage to your beloved furniture, rugs and home structure. 

To reduce the possibility of frozen pipes, wrap each of your un-insulated pipes in a blanket of foam. You can purchase foam tubes with a slit on the side at most hardware stores. Cut the tube to the length you need, pull it open and push it over and around your pipe. Use duct tape to secure if the foam does not have self-adhesive edges. 

2. Fix home plumbing leaks now

The best time to get leaks repaired is the present. Check all of the faucets in your kitchen, bathrooms and utility room for drips and puddles. If you have a leaky faucet, contact your trusted plumber immediately to get your pipes back in tip-top shape.

3. Drain your water heater

If you live in a location with hard water, sediment can build up in your tank, causing rust to develop inside. This rust can then find its way into your drinking, cooking and bathing water. If your hot water heater already is rusted or is too old, consider purchasing a new one before cold weather sets in.

4. Lose the outdoor hose to avoid frozen pipes

Until warm weather returns, your best home plumbing practice is to disconnect, wrap up and pack away your garden hose. Leaving a hose connected outside in winter can cause water left inside to freeze and expand, freezing your faucets and connecting pipes as well. Just say no to hefty repair bills and yes to a hose and fixtures you can use next year. 

5. Close and drain shut-off valves leading outdoors

If you have interior shut off valves leading to outdoor faucets, close them and drain the water from outside lines. Any water that remains in the lines and freezes could cause major damage.

6. Clean your home's sump pump pit

Before cold weather hits, you will need to inspect and clean your sump pump and the pit in which it rests. When exposed to extreme cold, your pump can freeze, causing it to stop working. 

If your sump pump malfunctions, water can enter your basement and cause flooding, especially when winter rains are in full swing. Do yourself a favor and inspect your pump and pit now to avoid massive flood damage and cleanup bills later.

Your winter should be full of cheer and warm family get-togethers, not exploded pipes and leaks that take days to fix. Prepare and repair your plumbing in advance to avoid a costly disaster.

Hopefully some of these will help you! Other wise SERVPRO of Kankakee County is ready to help you.

              815-935-0077

www.SERVPROkankakeecounty.com

Call Our Professionals If You Discover A Mold Infestation In Your Manteno Home

1/28/2019 (Permalink)

When you discover mold growth in your home, do not hesitate to give our SERVPRO of Kankakee County remediation specialists a call.

Moving Forward After Mold Damage In Manteno Homes

As difficult of a situation as mold colonization might be in your Manteno home, it is also something that can get corrected and restored with the right equipment and expertise. While the remediation process might be involved, it is necessary to fully remove the growing organism from structural elements and protect as much of the investment that you have made in your property as possible. This need is why it is important to trust skilled and trained professionals like ours for remediation and restoration in your damaged home.

Many owners do not fully understand the risk that they take by allowing mold damage in Manteno to persist after it has been discovered on a property. From health effects to structural failure, mold growth continues exponentially, and can easily spread beyond the initially affected area to other parts of your home that get trafficked more frequently.

When our SERVPRO team first arrives at your home, we inspect the property for the full extent of the damage and begin immediately setting up containment equipment and barricades to prevent the spread of the organism beyond this affected region. Once these physical plastic sheeting barricades get installed, we can begin with the use of our hydroxyl generators and air scrubbers to begin trapping airborne spores with the installed HEPA filters.

This purification process continues throughout material removal, sanding, soda blasting, and other removal and remediation efforts. These machines in use can help to reduce the presence of dust, debris, potential contaminants, and mold spores circulating through the air throughout the demolition process.

You can feel more comfortable about moving forward after a mold incident by understanding some ways that you can reduce the possibility of this happening again. Our SERVPRO team on site can identify the source of the moisture and help you to determine the best approach to keeping this dampness reduced, or eliminating it, to prevent mold growth from repeating.

When you discover mold growth in your home, do not hesitate to give our SERVPRO of Kankakee County remediation specialists a call at (815) 935-0077.

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FREE CE Classes this March

1/24/2019 (Permalink)

March 2019 FREE CE Classes for Insurance Agents

Attention Insurance Agents!!! Are you in need of Continued Education (CE) credits for your license? We are offering FREE CE classes March 6th & 7th, in two separate locations for your convenience. March 6th in Homewood, IL and March 7th in Bourbonnais, IL. Both days will have the same line up, Ethics and Professional Standards (3 Credits) from 9am-12pm & Water, Bio Clean Up, Trauma and Hoarding Claims (4 Credits) from 1pm-5pm.  

**Please see the attached flier for location addresses**

Breakfast and lunch will be provided for those in attendance. 

So come partake in our educational and lively classes. Hope to see you there. 

For further questions please contact us at 815-935-0077 

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Bradley Homeowners Rely on SERVPRO for Professional Mold Remediation

1/22/2019 (Permalink)

Moisture Makes Mold Damage in Bradley--And Here Comes SERVPRO for Remediation

Mold Inspection and Damage Assessment for Bradley Homes

If you suspect that the conditions are right in your Bradley home to facilitate the growth of fungal organisms or mold, it is beneficial to have these situations assessed by professionals. With the right training and experience, our team can quickly identify the presence of mold within your home and offer lasting solutions to remove the active colonization and work to prevent recurrences moving forward.

In your Bradley home, mold damage can cause health effects and also degrade the structural integrity of construction materials. Taking care of this situation as promptly as possible ensures the most cost-effective approach. With our SERVPRO team also featuring licensed contractors, we can provide our customers with remediation, restoration, and reconstruction efforts that are seamless and can save you time and money.

Our initial inspections provides a game plan for effectively remediating the mold infestation by using our time-tested methods. We can work quickly to determine the full scope of the damage, and also what areas and materials must ultimately get removed, if any,  and replaced to eliminate the colonization from the house fully. While we cannot exclude the presence of naturally occurring mold spores, as they exist in nearly every environment, we can work quickly to ensure that the growth occurring in your home is no more.

Lasting solutions can help to prevent this occurrence from returning a brief time after remediation has completed. The SERVPRO professionals dispatched to your address can assess the root cause of the moisture and dampness that allowed the colonization of mold to occur. With this knowledge, our professionals can offer solutions to help divert this water damage from the property or stop it entirely to prevent dampness from returning to the restored area of your home. Without moisture, dormant mold spores cannot grow into new colonies.

While mold damage can be something that many homes have to experience, taking care of this damaging presence quickly is essential to protecting your investment in your property. Give our SERVPRO of Kankakee County rapid response team a call today at (815) 935-0077.

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Yikes, Your Bourbonnais Home Has Mold Damage! Call SERVPRO for Remediation

1/22/2019 (Permalink)

Moldy Walls in Bourbonnais? SERVPRO Remediates, Cleans Up, "Like it never even happened."

The Steps that Follow Mold Discovery in Your Bourbonnais Home

Discovering mold in your Bourbonnais home can be alarming and scary, but understanding what to do to make your home safe and protected is vital to navigating the process to come. As tempting as DIY “mold removal” strategies might seem on the internet, these rarely provide the results that you want in your house. Our highly trained specialists can help you to identify the full scope of the damage that has occurred to your property and offer comprehensive solutions to remove the growing organism and restore damage it has caused to structural elements and contents within the home.

Understanding the steps that you should take once you have discovered mold damage in your Bourbonnais home is critical to getting the right professionals involved quickly. You must first understand that the mold growth that you can see is likely far more ingrained and embedded than it appears. Colonies feed on organic materials and seat deeply into surfaces and structural elements to compromise their integrity and strength.

Limit Exposure
The first step that homeowners should take when posed with mold growth in their house is to get away from the colony as best as you can. Exposure can cause health effects for humans and pets, so limiting activity in this area is important until the appropriate containment methods are in place once SERVPRO professionals arrive. Trust our IICRC certified AMRT applied microbial remediation technicians to secure your home during the remediation process. We can erect containment areas and utilize negative air pressure to keep the dust, mold particles and spores isolated from unaffected areas.

Call Professionals
Our response team, which features our highly trained applied microbial remediation technicians, is available 24/7 to begin remediation and restoration efforts quickly for your home. With a single phone call, you can have the full measure of our resources into both containment strategies to prevent the spread of the organisms to new areas of your home, and removal solutions that can eliminate the growing colonies affecting areas of your home.

As alarming as mold growth might be for your home, the right professionals can return your property to original condition quickly and cost-effectively, "Like it never even happened." Give our SERVPRO of Kankakee County remediation specialists a call today at (815) 935-0077.

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Mold Cleanup is Possible with SERVPRO's Esporta System

1/17/2019 (Permalink)

The Esporta System

What would you say if we stated that a significant amount of the items that you thought lost during a fire, smoke, water, or storm disaster situation were fully restorable to a quality pre-damage condition? What if you could give your child back their precious stuffed animal that unfortunately got left behind? Or restore your grandmother's porcelain dolls to near perfection? How about moldy clothing stuck in the corner of your closet?
 
Take this opportunity to contact our offices in Bourbonnais for mold remediation to your soft fabrics and put the Esporta Wash System to the test. Take a few minutes to get the information you need to know about the quality of the wash system and see what it can do for you to recover the items you thought lost forever. There is finally a service available to you to assist with restoring your family heirlooms and personal items that you cherish. 
 
SERVPRO technicians have been through the training and go the extra mile to put Esporta's unique patented technology to work for you. Setting a new standard in the restoration of textiles and other soft contents; the Esporta Wash System is far more efficient than any traditional laundry services, and it shows in the results that you get from the process. 
 
By using this system, SERVPRO provides you with an industrial strength cleaning method that removes 99.9997% of all harmful bacteria, mold or fungus found in your hard and soft goods. Things such as plastic, leather, camping gear, foam, rubber, and reflective tape are finally restorable. 
 
Our expertly trained SERVPRO technicians have used the wash system to clean, disinfect and restore items such as; hockey and football equipment, personal protective equipment such as a Firefighters Bunker Gear or a SWAT Teams protective gear and is even useful for Military Protective clothing and regular household and business related items. Now hidden mold growths on expensive drapes can have an excellent chance of being restored.
 
The restoration process is simple, it removes soil, suspends the soils and discharges any contaminants from the machine through a drain. A more detailed explanation is that it uses hydraulic action to remove any organic or inorganic materials found on fabrics by holding the articles in place and forcing water and detergents through them. These washing cycles also destroy mold spores or any organisms embedded in the soft materials. Esporta's four-stage detergent process produces results that affect the color, wear, strength and brightness retention of your items. 
 
Give the Esporta Wash System a try today by contacting our professional staff at SERVPRO of Kankakee County. For mold remediation to your property or your home's structure, we have the solutions. We're available to you 24/7 and eagerly await your call. (815) 935-0077

Caring for Victims

1/14/2019 (Permalink)

Victim bags ready to help when disaster happens.

When your home is struck by fire or a major storm you may have only a few minutes to gather belongings and move to safety.  For many of us, gathering a few clothes, and the family photo album take priority over a toothbrush or comb.  

At SERVPRO of Matteson- Homewood we care about the community, that is why many of our staff carry these emergency bags in our vehicles.  Each bag contains a few of the essential personal care items that many people need after a fire or storm disaster.  Our hope is that each bag can bring a bit of comfort to the community after a tragedy. 

Having your own preparedness bag is very important especially if you live in an area where natural disaster such as tornado can strike.  It is also important to remember, only gather personal effects when it is safe to do so: material belongs can be replaced, but a life can not be.  

A community partnership

1/3/2019 (Permalink)

Breakfast with Santa at Matt Waite's State Farm Office, located in Bradley, IL.

At SERVPRO of Kankakee County we strive to be as actively involved in our local communities as possible. We strongly believe that to be successful you need to do more than just offer a great service to your communities, you need to buy into what is happening and what is important locally.

Over the years we have worked very hard to not only help sponsor events and charity fundraisers but also actively participate in them. If we aren’t trying to help those around us succeed then our success will also be limited, in being a valued community business leader and participant.

The best way to lead is always by example.

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www.co.kankakee.il.us

www.co.iroquois.il.us

www.fordcounty.illinois.gov

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                           815-935-0077

Your Business Church or School Can Count on SERVPRO

1/2/2019 (Permalink)

Commercial Property owners and Property Managers are entrusted with keeping their businesses operational. When Disaster Strikes, SERVPRO of Kankakee County is here to help make it “Like it never even happened.” We've assisted some of the Kankakee Area's largest properties following disasters. Riverside, Olivet Nazarene, Presence St. Mary, Sears, Bungi Oil, Denny's and many others have utilized our Commercial and Industrial Services. Facilities Managers rely on us to be Ready for Whatever Happens.

General Adjusters and Consulting firms from around the Chicago and Northwest Indiana region trust SERVPRO of Kankakee County with their must complex claims. Some of our specialties include

• Small Office Buildings
• Large Office/High-Rise Office Buildings
• Apartment Buildings
• Restaurants
• Hotel/Motels
• Small Retail Stores
• Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
• High-Rise Residential
• Manufacturing & Industrial
• Government/Military
• Universities
• Schools
• Restaurants
• Commercial Disaster Recovery Services 
• Commercial Reconstruction

We are available around the clock to get your business back up and running. Our expertise includes restoration services for fire and water damage, including electronics restoration and document drying. We are also your business’s best resource for mold remediation. Learn more about our commercial restoration services by calling SERVPRO of Kankakee County at (815)935-0077.

Frozen Water Pipes are a problem. Don't use a blowtorch to thaw.

1/2/2019 (Permalink)

Frozen water pipes are a serious risk during very cold winter weather. When water freezes in a pipe it expands and can exert pressure at over 2,000 pounds per square inch. This pressure is enough to rupture almost any pipe filled with water, which provides no place for the ice to expand. A burst pipe can spill several hundred gallons of water per hour, and that equates to thousands of dollars of damage to your home. Pipes are most susceptible to freezing when they are located:

• in an outside wall
• in a cabinet under a sink (especially near an outside wall)
• in an unheated crawl space or basement

If your pipe is frozen but not yet ruptured, you must thaw it right away. There are a few thawing techniques to try, depending on where the frozen pipe is located.

Warning: Never use a blow torch or other open flame to thaw a pipe. This presents a serious fire hazard and can damage the pipe.

A frozen pipe that hasn't burst yet often reveals itself at a faucet: when you turn on the faucet and no water comes out or it has slowed to a trickle, there's probably a blockage of ice somewhere in the line. It's time take immediate action: 

• Shut off the water to the faucet locally or at the home's main water shutoff valve.
• Open the faucet that is supplied by the frozen pipe; do this even if you don't know where the blockage is.
• Identify the frozen pipe and locate the blockage: Follow the pipe back from the faucet to where it runs through cold areas, such as an exterior wall or unheated crawl space. Look for areas on the pipe that have frost or ice; it may also be slightly bulged or fissured.

When you find that the frozen—but not yet burst—pipe is behind a wall or ceiling, you've got a challenge on your hands. You have three options for thawing the pipe:

• Turn up the heat in the house and wait.
• Cut out a section of the wall or ceiling to access the frozen section of pipe, then thaw the pipe as an exposed pipe (see next slide).
• Use an infrared lamp to help heat the wall section in front of where you believe the pipe is frozen. Infrared lamps are better than regular heat lamps because they pass through the air without heating it and will direct more energy to warming the wall and frozen pipe.

If the frozen pipe is exposed, you have several options for thawing it. Whichever remedy use use, heat the pipe from the faucet toward the frozen area. This allows water to flow out as the ice melts.

• Hair dryer: Usually the easiest and safest way to thaw a pipe. If the pipe is close to the wall, place a cookie sheet behind the pipe to help radiate heat onto the backside of the pipe.
• Heat lamp: You can use an infrared or incandescent heat lamp. As with a hair dryer, if the pipe is close to the wall, use a cookie sheet behind the pipe to help reflect heat onto the pipe.
• Portable heater: A small, powerful heater works great for warming pipes under a kitchen or vanity base cabinet. Direct the heater onto the frozen section of pipe. It will work like a hair dryer on steroids!
• Electric pipe heat tape: Heat tape is a ribbon-like wrap that contains electrical heating elements. You wrap it around the pipe you want to heat and plug it into the wall. The temperature of the tape is controlled with a thermostat. Heat tape can also be used to prevent pipes from freezing in critical areas; you can leave the heat tape on the pipe and plug it in only when needed.

There are a few things you can do to prevent the problem of freezing pipes from occurring again:

• Leave the faucet dripping slightly during the coldest time of the day or night.
• Open the cabinet doors to allow the heated air from the room to reach pipes inside the cabinet.
• Wrap the problem pipe with electrical heat tape.
• Insulate problem pipes with foam insulation wrap, especially those that run through unheated spaces. Note: Insulation merely slows the transfer of heat and will not prevent a pipe from freezing if the surrounding air is cold enough.
• Heat unheated areas with a permanent heater, just to keep the temperature above freezing, or about 40 degrees F. Warning: Do not use portable heaters, which should never be left running unattended.
• Remove garden hoses attached to outdoor faucets (hose bibs or sill cocks). If the faucet is not a frost-proof type, turn off the water to the faucet inside the house and drain the exterior section of the pipe and faucet.

Prevent Frozen Pipes in Watseka

1/2/2019 (Permalink)

Frozen Pipes

Winter Storm Preparedness: Prevent Frozen Water Pipes

Winter storms are here and it won't be the last.

The National Severe Storms Laboratory categories a winter storm as having snow, sleet, or freezing rain.  In Gilman, we can see any of this type of precipitation throughout the winter months. When the temperature is below the freezing point and precipitation is in the forecast, that’s when our office knows what types of calls we’ll be getting: water damages.

How Water Pipes Freeze and Break

A water damage during a winter storm happens when your pipes freeze.  When water freezes, it expands and creates pressure inside the pipe, which can cause it to break.  The pipes that are most likely to freeze are those outside the home that are exposed.  Other vulnerable pipes are those indoors that don’t have access to heat, like those under your kitchen cabinets or in the garage.

Indoor Frozen Pipe Prevention

• Before temperatures reach freezing, insulate exposed and vulnerable pipes.  You can do this by installing pipe sleeves or even wrapping the pipes with newspaper.
• Close the garage door to prevent cold air from coming in.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinets to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.
• Keep your home heated above 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

What To Do Until Help Arrives

If your pipes still freeze and you have a water damage, give us a call immediately and follow the following steps:

1. Don’t delay.  Call us as soon as you notice your water damage.  The longer water stands in a structure, the more damage it will cause.  As soon as you call, we will schedule a crew of technicians to travel to your home and begin remediation.  
2. Cut off the water source, if possible.
3. Get textiles off the floor.  Many homeowners rush to put down towels to stop the water flow, and that’s okay.  Towels can easily be cleaned at our textile cleaning facility if need be.  What you want to look out for are small fragile textiles or objects on the floor that can be damaged by water.
4. Begin documentation.  Start with the point of origin and all affected areas.  While our technicians will also take the document, it's important to start documenting as soon as possible to prove your loss to your insurance company.

Be Aware of the Weather

Keep your eye on the weather forecast.  Not only will you be prepared to travel safely, it’ll also give you to valuable time to prepare your home and keep it, and everyone living inside it, safe.  

SERVPRO of Kankakee County

We can be reached 24/7/365 at (815) 935-0077

“Like it never even happened.”

Why you want SERVPRO as your vendor for Medical Facilities

11/12/2018 (Permalink)

Infection Control Risk Assessment Certified

Working in Hospitals or other Medical Grade facilities is not a service you want to leave to just any vendor. A job completed incorrectly can open the door to a whole list of legal liabilities, this is WHY you need SERVPRO of Kankakee County.

Certified and accredited by the Linders Health Institute in Infection Control, we will help manage and control the risks that can be associated with this type of work. Protecting your patients, staff, other vendors, and helping your Risk Management Team limit your liability and enhance the Healthcare experience. 

               Don't wait, call us today!!!!

                      815-935-0077 

          www.SERVPROkankakeecounty.com

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Water Damage in your Gilman home

10/24/2018 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Kankakee County for Gilman Water Damage Cleanup

If your home has recently been damaged in a major flooding or plumbing disaster, it's time to call for expert Gilman water damage cleanup services. There's no time to lose, especially if your home has been flooded. The damage that can follow in the wake of a flood can prove to be catastrophic, both regarding property depreciation and the amount of money you will need to spend to address it. Even if the water only came up to your first floor, you'll need to get the entire property checked out and cleaned up. 

Dealing With the Aftermath of Bourbonnais Residential Water Damage
If your home has suffered severe damage due to a broken or frozen pipe, sewage system backup or flood, much work needs to be done as quickly as possible to ensure that your home returns to a safe and healthy condition for you and your family. The sooner you contact professionals to begin these vital operations, the sooner you can reclaim your home. 

What Happens When You Contact a Water Damage Service?
When you contact professionals to address your Bourbonnais residential water damage, they will immediately begin a full inspection of your property to deliver a prompt and accurate assessment of the damage that has been done. Once the initial analysis of the damage has been concluded, the restoration experts from SERVPRO will proceed immediately to remove the water from your property. After the water has been fully extracted, the professionals will dehumidify the area and remove all remaining debris.

Once the property has been properly dried, all lingering traces of odor will be removed using thermal foggers and air scrubbers. The technician will then inspect the area once more to make sure that it hasn't sustained any significant structural damage that could cause problems in the future. The last step in Bourbonnais residential water damage cleanup is to perform any restoration work that needs to be done. This will ensure that your property is fully ready for you and your family to inhabit once more. Water damage restoration specialists from SERVPRO, all IICRC certified, will use modern, high-tech equipment that has been specially designed and engineered to evacuate quickly water, debris and mold from your property without leaving any damage to your structure or its design features.

Contact Water Damage Experts Today
SERVPRO of Kankakee County is a premier company for Gilman residential water damage restoration. We are a locally owned and operated franchise that can respond to your emergency within a few short hours of your initial call. We are also fully authorized to respond to water damage emergencies in Manteno, Momence, Bourbonnais, Beecher and the rest of the surrounding area. When your home in Gilman is threatened by water damage, we can help get your property back into shape. Contact us today for twenty-four/seven service at 815-935-0077 to learn more about what we can do for you.

SERVPRO will restore your storm damaged property in Crescent City

10/24/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Promptly Restores Your Crescent City Storm Damaged Property

When you have suffered any flood damage in Crescent City, whether it was from backups in the basement sewer or from a large-scale disaster from a major storm, you’ll need certified technicians who know how to handle best flood damage, especially storm related. The last thing you want to have to do is search for a flood cleanup company that is reliable after you are dealing with a flood. Knowing who to call beforehand is important and will make things move much faster in the event of a problem. 

It can be deceptive to how much damage water really does. It will penetrate into structural cavities, making pockets of trapped saturation. Finding water in these areas can many times only be discovered with moisture meters. Moisture which goes undetected will keep causing damage, and this damage at a minimum will result in unpleasant odors. Even more, the damage will surface when materials shrink, delaminate and split, further deteriorating to where you will need very costly repairs. Plus, dangerous bacteria and mold can grow, causing very serious health problems for you and the members of your family. 

What You Can Expect 
Once you call a professional water damage cleanup service like SERVPRO, we will first come and remove all the water in your residence with tools such as vacuums. The professional equipment that we use will allow the company to get all of the water out of your home without creating a larger mess while doing so. Large air movers can also be used to finish getting rid of the water and dry out the rooms in your home. The primary goal is to dry your home out as fast as possible to prevent further secondary water damage. 

Once the water is visibly dried up, our company should also go through with water meters so we can assess the damage. This will make spotting the source of any other water or moisture much easier, and once we’ve conducted any work which needs to be performed, we’ll take another reading to make sure your home is completely dry and back to its normal state. We will also use thermal foggers, ozone machines, and air scrubbers as needed to ensure that all odors have eliminated and all debris as well. Sanitizing the affected areas after a groundwater flooding is critical to remove any pathogens or other harmful agents. 

Not all companies are the same, however, so that is why if you do have any Crescent City water damage, you will want to contact the professional services of SERVPRO of Kankakee County right away. We can be reached anytime of the day or night and any day of the week by calling (815) 935-0077, and we arrive at your residence promptly since we are Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Commercial Storm Damage - Large Loss

10/15/2018 (Permalink)

Commercial Desiccant Dehumidifier - Large Loss

The Fall Hurricane Season of 2018 has been devastating to the Southeast United States. Hurricanes Florence and Micheal have left only devastation and destruction in their wake, with billions of dollars in property damage to show for it. 

SERVPRO of Kankakee County was one of the many Large Loss, Disaster Recovery Teams that was called into action to help the residents of the affected areas recover. While homes are usually first on the minds of most people when they think about the recovery process, commercial structures and businesses are vitally important in help these areas recover quickly.

Getting a business up and running quickly helps get the wheels of commerce rolling. With businesses producing again, the economy starts to come to life. Pay checks are earned, money is spent in the relief and recovery effort, and the new normal starts to come about. Churches and Temples once again open their doors to their members, providing sanctuary, prayer, and hope. Stiffening the resolve of the survivors. 

Your State or town may not get hit with a hurricane but that doesn't mean that you are safe from disaster striking. Tornadoes, flooding rains, high winds, heavy snows, wild fires are just a few of the natural disasters that can overtake any community. When this happens, you want the best! You want SERVPRO of Kankakee County! 

With our highly trained Large Loss Disaster Recovery Team there is no job too big for us to undertake. With Nationwide reach, we can spring into action get get to wherever you need us to be!

          www.SERVPROkankakeecounty.com 

                        815-935-0077

#StormDamage #Commercial #InsuranceLoss #FireRestoration #FireDamage #SmokeDamage #SERVPRO #PlanetSERVPRO #DisasterRecoveryTeam #LargeLoss #IICRC #ICRA #WaterDamage #CommercialWaterMitigation #SewerDamage #Mold #BioCleanUp #SERVPROOfkankakeeCounty  

Senior Living Facility Bad Sprinkler Watseka

9/20/2018 (Permalink)

A faulty sprinkler head can cause major water damage when it goes off unexpectedly. SERVPRO of Kankakee County can come out to clean up water damage from a faulty sprinkler head that affects your Senior Living Facility.

A sprinkler system houses pressurized water and can dump as much as 150 gallons of water per minute. Over a two hour period, the sprinkler system dumped in excess of 18,000 gallons of water that flooded 4 units. 

SERVPRO of Kankakee County will dispatch crews to immediately begin the extraction, cleanup, restoration and drying processes in each unit. Carpet, drywall, insulation, and furniture can all be affected from the water. Crews are available day and night to help minimize the damage and begin the drying process. Our fully trained staff along with dehumidifiers and turbo high velocity air movers will have you dried up quickly. Owners of Senior Living Facilities all over Kankakee County have been please with our work for many years.

If you have trouble with your senior living facilitiy in Watseka, Bradley, Manteno, or any of the surounding areas, be sure to call SERVPRO of Kankakee County at (815) 935-0077

Water Damage to your Warehouse in Herscher

9/7/2018 (Permalink)

Commercial water damage presents double trouble to you as an owner and employer. Not only do you need to recover your premises, equipment, and inventory from the effects of leaks or flooding, you also have employees and customers who rely on you to keep your business running even while restoration efforts are in process. SERVPRO works closely with our commercial clients to avoid closure or a shut down even after a significant water crisis to your warehouse or other storage facility affects your business. We highly encourage business owners to consult with us before any warehouse water disaster. By developing an Emergency READY Profile, you can pinpoint all critical information about your operation into a plan. Once finished with that plan, the information can be shared with, and will be easily accessible to our local water damage restoration experts.

Preventing commercial water damage in your workplace may not be possible. For instance, if heavy storms or flooding affect your warehouse, some damage might be unpreventable, but that is where SERVPRO will help! A systematic review of your preparedness can limit the effects of inevitable leaking, moving, or standing water to your bottom line. Take advantage of our training and expertise by scheduling a thorough assessment of your warehouse and other operations. There is no charge for our review of your facilities, and we will use the information gathered to ready our team should the worst happen. You can identify your business’s key personnel, so we know who to consult when a commercial water damage disaster strikes even if you are not always available. Details such as warehouse layout and the location of utilities, important documents, and priority areas within your building clarify and order the restoration and mitigation tasks needed to be completed, ensuring our team of water damage restoration technicians are “Ready for whatever happens.” Our staff will take photos and scope out the dimensions of your warehouse to assist with our post water damage work.

If your business has water damage from flood or anything else give SERVPRO of Kankakee County call at (815) 935-0077

Board Up & Tarp Off - Kankakee

8/2/2018 (Permalink)

Fire is one of the most destructive forces in nature.

Fires can happen anytime without warning and that is why you need a company that can secure your structure (Residential or Commercial) anytime and anywhere. SERVPRO of Kankakee County is that Board Up Company. 24 hours a day 365 days a year, we are on standby to make sure your needs are met. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster and can quickly use plywood sheets or tarps to close any exterior holes or damage in your structure. We help to keep out bad weather, vermin, and even vandals!

Your personal belongings and home or business shouldn't be trusted to just anyone, you need professionals that the insurance professionals trust. We can help you recover from disaster and make it "Like it never even happened."  

                            815-935-0077

 www.SERVPROkankakeecounty.com

#BoardUp #FireDamage #SmokeDamage #WaterDamage #Mold #SewerDamage #BioCleanUp #SERVPRO #PlanetSERVPRO #Kankakee #Bourbonnais #Bradley #Manteno  

Roof damage caused by water to your home in Bourbonnais

7/23/2018 (Permalink)

Water Damage Restoration By SERVPRO

The winds of springtime can often be the reason shingles are lost on a home's roof, and sometimes, the damage may not be known right away. Shingles can become loose, and not be torn away until later, making it difficult to determine which ones are at fault for ceilings becoming wet during rainfall at later times. High-speed winds can later reveal this, but these are often accompanied by heavy rains that can pour water directly into the hole the missing shingles have left behind. This can lead to water infiltration if the underlaying tar paper is torn or worn.

A Leaky Roof can Cause Multiple Problems 
If your home in Momence has a roof that is allowing water damage to become an ever-present problem in your life, you should know that there is a company, SERVPRO, which has the trained professionals you need. We can fix your roof so that no more additional water from rainfall can enter and then repair any interior damage. From water damage that has caused deterioration of the roof's support beams and sheathing to interior walls and horizontal structures such as your floors, ceilings, and stairways, we have the training to mitigate professionally any damages that exist in your home. 

We can also check for and eliminate any other roofing shingles that have been loosened and may pose a future problem for you and your home. We can check your rain gutters for clogs to help prevent ice dams from causing seepage into the attic or framing. We have the tools and equipment to clean-up any deteriorating interior structures, and then reduce the humidity to acceptable levels inside your home. Additionally, we are trained in mold remediation according to IICRC standards, providing additional protection to you, your family, and your home. 

Not All Roof Damage is Caused by High-Speed Winds 
If your roof has been damaged by tree limbs or other debris, we can also clear that away and provide further care that will eliminate the problem, as well. Sometimes, animals will find a small opening in between shingles and use that as a means to enter into your home's attic space to find shelter. If the interior of dead spaces such as those found over porches has been affected, we will also treat these so that mold will not grow, and so that you will have the same beautiful look you've come to love and appreciate in your home's exterior. 

Call SERVPRO to protect your home's interior from further damage. When faced with damage to your home from a leaky roof, or any other access point, you need to contact SERVPRO of Kankakee County at (815) 935-0077. We are available 24/7, and ready to take your call. We will respond with our highly trained technicians and repair experts who will restore and protect your home's interior and exterior.

Certified Cleaning of Fire Fighter Turn Out Gear

7/23/2018 (Permalink)

Before and After Turn Out Gear Cleaning

Cleaning things may seem like it would be a low-tech task, but the reality is that cleaning items after a disaster are very high-tech. The Esporta Wash System is an excellent tool for getting materials clean and free of contamination, including items that look too far beyond hope. If you've had fire damage or flooding in your home or business, you might be very interested to find out what this new system can do for you.

Fire damage resulting in soot or water damage causing potentially hazardous pathogens on fabric calls for a sanitizing and powerful cleaning at your Bradley Bourbonnais home. The contamination level found on any particular item can be extremely high. Contamination is measured in RLU's or Relative Light Units. High numbers may seem benign because it's 'light' but what is reflecting the light back to the measuring device is what we are concerned with – the higher the number of contaminants on an item, the more light will be reflected back into the device. When items are removed from the Esporta, they don't just look clean, they are clean, deodorized, and sanitized, as well. The much lower number of RLU's will indicate how clean an item is after being removed. 

The Esporta Wash System is designed to eliminate the soot from fires and the bacterial deposits from floods and other disasters, such as storm damage, from a variety of items. These can include children's toys, leather items such as shoes, purses, belts, boots, and headgear, clothing, draperies, among others. It's design and means of functioning is extremely effective, but it is still gentle enough to be used on stuffed toys and clothing.

The effectiveness of the Esporta is substantial enough to handle even firefighters' Turnout Gear, leaving them looking like new again. The SERVPRO Esporta Wash System saves many municipalities from constantly purchasing firefighter Turnout Gear. When it comes to businesses in the retail clothing industry, when your inventory has suffered smoke damage or has become moldy, the Esporta might be exactly what you need to save your business financially. Large amounts can be cleaned at one time, saving you time, and money, simultaneously. 

Families who have been through a traumatic incident can often find that what might have otherwise needed to be thrown away such as their children's playthings, can be restored and in a condition clean and safe enough to be handled by their children again. This can greatly decrease stress experienced by children when a traumatic situation has happened. 

To find out more about the Esporta Wash System and what it can do for you in your particular situation, call SERVPRO of Kankakee County at (815)935-0077. We can answer any questions you may have and also schedule an appointment during which we can begin to restore your items to a pre-damaged state "Like it never even happened."

Fireworks Safety Tips

6/28/2018 (Permalink)

Recommended Safety Tips for Fireworks

• Obey all local laws regarding the use of fireworks.
• Know your fireworks; read the cautionary labels and performance descriptions before igniting.
• A responsible adult SHOULD supervise all firework activities.  Never give fireworks to children.
• Alcohol and fireworks do not mix.  Save your alcohol for after the show.
• Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks.
• Light one firework at a time and then quickly move away.
• Use fireworks OUTDOORS in a clear area; away from buildings and vehicles.
• Never relight a “dud” firework.  Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
• Always have a bucket of water and charged water hose nearby.
• Never carry fireworks in your POCKET or shoot them into METAL or GLASS containers.
• Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.
• Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down and place in a metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials until the next day.
• FAA regulations PROHIBIT the possession and transportation of fireworks in your checked baggage or carry-on luggage.
• Report illegal explosives, like M-80s and quarter sticks, to the fire or police department.

And let’s not forget the safety of our pets!

• Don’t bring your pets to a fireworks display, even a small one.
• If fireworks are being used near your home, put your pet in a safe, interior room to avoid exposure to the sound.
• Make sure your pet has an identification tag, in case it runs off during a fireworks display.
• Never shoot fireworks of any kind (consumer fireworks, sparklers, fountains, etc.) near pets.

Warehouse Damage in Bradley

6/27/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Promptly Restores Your Storm Damaged Property

When you have suffered any flood damage, whether it was from backups in the basement sewer or from a large-scale disaster from a major storm, you’ll need certified technicians who know how to handle best flood damage, especially storm related. The last thing you want to have to do is search for a flood cleanup company that is reliable after you are dealing with a flood. Knowing who to call beforehand is important and will make things move much faster in the event of a problem. 

It can be deceptive to how much damage water really does. It will penetrate into structural cavities, making pockets of trapped saturation. Finding water in these areas can many times only be discovered with moisture meters. Moisture which goes undetected will keep causing damage, and this damage at a minimum will result in unpleasant odors. Even more, the damage will surface when materials shrink, delaminate and split, further deteriorating to where you will need very costly repairs. Plus, dangerous bacteria and mold can grow, causing very serious health problems for you and the members of your family. 

What You Can Expect 
Once you call a professional water damage cleanup service like SERVPRO, we will first come and remove all the water in your residence with tools such as vacuums. The professional equipment that we use will allow the company to get all of the water out of your home without creating a larger mess while doing so. Large air movers can also be used to finish getting rid of the water and dry out the rooms in your home. The primary goal is to dry your home out as fast as possible to prevent further secondary water damage. 

Once the water is visibly dried up, our company should also go through with water meters so we can assess the damage. This will make spotting the source of any other water or moisture much easier, and once we’ve conducted any work which needs to be performed, we’ll take another reading to make sure your home is completely dry and back to its normal state. We will also use thermal foggers, ozone machines, and air scrubbers as needed to ensure that all odors have eliminated and all debris as well. Sanitizing the affected areas after a groundwater flooding is critical to remove any pathogens or other harmful agents. 

Not all companies are the same however, so that is why if you do have any water damage, you will want to contact the professional services of SERVPRO of Kankakee County right away. We can be reached anytime of the day or night and any day of the week by calling (815) 935-0077, and we arrive at your residence promptly since we are Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Mold in your Bourbonnais basement

6/27/2018 (Permalink)

What’s the Difference?

Since microscopic mold spores exist naturally almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors, removing all mold from a home or business is impossible. Many restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold. This is a fallacy. We understand mold and mold growth. SERVPRO of Kankakee County has the training and expertise to remediate the mold in your home or business.

Signs of Mold? Call Today – (815) 935-0077

The Mold Remediation Process

Every mold damage scenario is different and requires a unique solution, but the general mold remediation process stays the same. The steps listed below illustrate our “typical” process:

Emergency Contact - (815) 935-0077

The mold cleanup and restoration process begins when you call us. Our representative will ask a series of questions to help us determine the necessary equipment, resources, and personnel.

2. Inspection and Mold Damage Assessment

We carefully inspect your property for visible signs of mold. Mold feeds on cellulose and water and can be hidden from plain view. We use various technologies to detect mold and hidden water sources.

3. Mold Containment

Our professionals use various containment procedures to prevent the spread of mold. We may use advanced containment procedures like negative air chambers to isolate the contaminated area with physical barriers and negative air pressure to keep the mold spores from spreading during the cleanup process. All fans and heating and cooling systems will be turned off to prevent the spread of mold.

4. Air Filtration

Our specialized filtration equipment allows our Professionals to capture microscopic mold spores out of the air. We utilize powerful “air scrubbers” and HEPA vacuums to prevent the spread of these mold spores while the mold remediation is in process.

5. Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials

The mold remediation process depends on the amount of mold growth and the types of surfaces on which the mold appears. We’ll use antifungal and antimicrobial treatments to eliminate mold colonies and to help prevent new colonies from forming. It may be necessary to remove and dispose of mold-infested porous materials, like drywall and carpeting, to remediate heavy mold growth.

6. Cleaning Contents and Belongings

We clean your furniture, decorative items, curtains, clothing, and other restorable items affected by mold. We use a variety of cleaning techniques to clean and disinfect your belongings. We’re also trained to remove odors and deodorization using fogging equipment.

7. Restoration

Depending on the level of mold damage, drywall, subfloors, and other building materials may have been removed. Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall, painting, and installing new carpet; or it may entail major repairs such as the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business. The restoration step gets your home or business back to normal.

Keep your dryer vent clean in Gilman

6/27/2018 (Permalink)

The Importance of Dryer Vent Cleaning in your Gilman home.

Dryer vent cleaning prevents fires. If you live in Bradley or any other area within Kankakee County, you will want to make sure that your home or commercial property is completely safe. Whether by flooding, fire or some other mishap, there are plenty of ways that your property can be threatened. One of the best ways to ensure that you are prepared for a catastrophic emergency is always to have a local residential and commercial property cleanup and restoration service.

Dryer Vent Cleaning Prevents Fires 

Keep your property from sustaining irreversible fire damage. Making sure your dryer vents are clean and free from obstruction will help keep your property safe from the possibility of a fire. It's also an excellent precaution to take to keep the air in the building from getting choked up with dust, lint and other health hazards that can accumulate in a dryer vent. 

Get Help from a Local Cleanup and Restoration Service 

It's up to you to contact an expert local cleaning and fire restoration service to ensure that your vents get cleaned in a correct and timely fashion. When you are in doubt as to whether the vents or other areas in your home are functioning correctly, a good, thorough cleaning is never a bad idea. 

Even if it turns out that your property is not quite yet due for a full cleaning, a reputable local cleanup service can help such as removing any excess pollen or debris that has accumulated in the vents. This way, you can save a great deal of time, money and worry by taking timely preventative measures. Keeping the proper level of air quality in your home or commercial building will go a long way toward keeping the structure safe for your family or employees to inhabit. An expert local service will ultimately save you a great deal of time and stress.

Expert Help for Dryer Vent Cleaning Is Available 

At SERVPRO of Kankakee County, we know that dryer vent cleaning in Bradley prevents fires. This is only one of the many services that we can provide for you to make sure that your home or commercial property will be safe against the event of an unforeseen mishap or emergency. If an emergency should befall your property, you'll want to call a service that can get to you in a prompt and timely manner. 

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

If you are in need of quick and efficient dryer vent cleaning, we're here to assist you. We can also help residents in Bourbonnais, Gilman, Beecher, Dwight and other nearby areas. Call us at (815) 935-0077 for more information.

Keep your dryer vent clean in Gilman

6/27/2018 (Permalink)

The Importance of Dryer Vent Cleaning in your Gilman home.

Dryer vent cleaning prevents fires. If you live in Bradley or any other area within Kankakee County, you will want to make sure that your home or commercial property is completely safe. Whether by flooding, fire or some other mishap, there are plenty of ways that your property can be threatened. One of the best ways to ensure that you are prepared for a catastrophic emergency is always to have a local residential and commercial property cleanup and restoration service.

Dryer Vent Cleaning Prevents Fires 

Keep your property from sustaining irreversible fire damage. Making sure your dryer vents are clean and free from obstruction will help keep your property safe from the possibility of a fire. It's also an excellent precaution to take to keep the air in the building from getting choked up with dust, lint and other health hazards that can accumulate in a dryer vent. 

Get Help from a Local Cleanup and Restoration Service 

It's up to you to contact an expert local cleaning and fire restoration service to ensure that your vents get cleaned in a correct and timely fashion. When you are in doubt as to whether the vents or other areas in your home are functioning correctly, a good, thorough cleaning is never a bad idea. 

Even if it turns out that your property is not quite yet due for a full cleaning, a reputable local cleanup service can help such as removing any excess pollen or debris that has accumulated in the vents. This way, you can save a great deal of time, money and worry by taking timely preventative measures. Keeping the proper level of air quality in your home or commercial building will go a long way toward keeping the structure safe for your family or employees to inhabit. An expert local service will ultimately save you a great deal of time and stress.

Expert Help for Dryer Vent Cleaning Is Available 

At SERVPRO of Kankakee County, we know that dryer vent cleaning in Bradley prevents fires. This is only one of the many services that we can provide for you to make sure that your home or commercial property will be safe against the event of an unforeseen mishap or emergency. If an emergency should befall your property, you'll want to call a service that can get to you in a prompt and timely manner. 

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

If you are in need of quick and efficient dryer vent cleaning, we're here to assist you. We can also help residents in Bourbonnais, Gilman, Beecher, Dwight and other nearby areas. Call us at (815) 935-0077 for more information.

Being Prepared for a storm in Kankakee

6/27/2018 (Permalink)

Emergency preparedness is for everyone. The more basic preparedness needs that each family or individual can prepare for themselves, the less stress there will be placed on emergency management services. Summer storms, tornadoes and hurricanes often come with damaging winds and rain, and have similar preps even though they occur in different areas of the country. (Side note – the United States has more tornadoes each year than any other country, averaging over 1000 per year, but the United Kingdom has the highest number of tornadoes per unit of land area, per foreignpolicy.com). Everyone should take the time to make these basic emergency preparedness preps, no matter what region you live in. They may just save your life and the lives of those you care about.

Step One:  Have am Emergency Preparedness plan

Step Two: Prep Your Emergency Preparedness Essentials

Step Three:  Prepare Your Home for Summer Storms and High Winds

Storms & Possible Tornadoes In The Forecast

6/26/2018 (Permalink)

Pending Storms

Are you prepared for possible flooding, sump pump failure, sewer back up, or the need for board up and tarp off services after severe storms? Today's forecast calls for an unstable weather pattern which could lead to the potential of any of the previously listed claims. Tornado's destructive damage means a rapid cleanup and protection from the elements is needed swiftly to mitigate the already devastating structural damage. Whether it's your business, commercial structure, or residential home make sure you are prepared. Call The Best to help you mitigate your restoration claim. We already service many of the following areas... Manteno, Bourbonnais, Grant Park, St. Anne, Kankakee, Herscher, Custer Park, Dwight, Forrest, Piper City, Gilman, Watseka and many, many more. Call us today to help mitigate your disaster. 815-935-0077

Mold Testing, we can handle that

4/17/2018 (Permalink)

We have your Mold Solutions

Mold Testing

When to have an indoor air quality test done, and how the test is done. The word mold is not as bad as everyone thinks it is. The only time it becomes a problem is when there is too much of it. Too much mold can cause health problems or damage to your property. Not every home needs testing and not all testing is the same.

What sort of things should you be on the look for to decide if you need any mold testing.

Any general concerns about the house where something just does not seem right and you cannot put your finger on it.

When a home has been empty with no occupants for an extended period of time

Past water damage that was not cleaned up by a professional or you suspect was not done properly

No home inspections have been done in a while you see or suspect there is mold somewhere

A musty smell that is notice upon entering the home

Anyone in the home that has repertory problems

Mold Remediation was done and you want to ensure it was effective.

Visually seeing anything that looks like mold

If mold removal or clean up was done

When a 3rd party is effecting repairs and you need to make sure they are done correctly

There are 3 main options for testing

Surface Testing

This is done to look for evidence of actual current or past mold growth. The tester will use either a swab or a tape lift to obtain their sample. These tests can tell if the growth is from actual water damage and intrusion or if it is excessively humid in the home. Dark and discolored growth is not always microbial and would mean it is not from a water damage situation. When you see visual growth it is always important to get a sample of it as well as an air quality sample to ensure spores have not been released into the air.

Indoor air quality testing

This is done by taking numerous samples from within the inside of the home as well as a base line sample of the air quality on the outside of the home. These samples will be able to tell if you have hidden moisture leaks.

Indoor Air Quality with Comprehensive moisture evaluation.

This testing is done to provide a full scope picture of what is really going on in the home. It is able to locate sources of moisture that overtime could damage the property or become a health concern. Mold and moisture damage can drastically affect the value of a home over time. So it is important to stay on top of things and help prevent any major damage. Identifying the damage early can save you in the long run.

Remember when you have any doubts or questions about mold in your home talk to a professional get your results and get it right the first time. Call SERVPRO of Kankakee County for all of your mold testing and mold inspection needs.

Fire damage in Bourbonnais

4/2/2018 (Permalink)

You’ll probably be anxious to start cleaning your home after a fire, however, unless you take the time to get a professional to help you, you’ll be wasting your efforts and time or even creating more damage. Contact your insurance agent immediately; they can give you advice on replacement or restoration of any items which sustained fire damage. If you are a renter, speak with your landlord so you can both assess the damages.

Your insurance agent might also be able to help you find a professional fire damage restorer. These companies can give you hints to prevent any more damage, and help you figure out what items can or cannot be refurbished, plus give you estimates and services for thoroughly deodorizing and cleaning your home. Even if you think the services are pricey, it is well worth it to avoid more costly damages or replacing furnishings and floors they might otherwise be able to restore for you.

Avoiding More Damage

Before you get the professional fire damage restoration company in your home, there are some things you can do to prevent more damages. However, make sure that you have permission from the fire marshal first that it is safe to enter your home again before you do anything at all. Open up windows to get the air inside moving and ventilate areas of your home. If you can, place a fan inside as well to help circulate the air. If there has been water damage which is substantial and it is warm outside, you will likely have to keep the windows closed and use a dehumidifier. With cold weather, your heating system, if operable, plus the cold air will help to start to take the moisture out. Change your furnace filter daily in this case until no soot shows. When the professionals get there, they will have the proper industrial equipment to continue and finish the process of drying your structure out completely. You can begin the dry out process to help mold from forming, which can happen quite quickly. Put plastic food wrap or aluminum foil around the legs of our furniture, and over items that are clean and dry with plastic, so they are not damaged during the repairs process.

Soot in Household Textiles

Soot is oily and will easily stain your draperies, carpets, and other household textiles. This is why it needs to be removed before anything is cleaned or deodorized. Let a professional restoration company remove the soot with a heavy-duty vacuum. They will be able to get the soot out properly and thoroughly so that your belongings have the best chance of being restored. They will also know how to avoid other items from being damaged from the soot during clean up. The professionals will also be able to remove soot from walls and other items in your home before they professionally remove the odors left behind as well.

SERVPRO is hiring for construction

2/28/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is hiring for construction.   

• Job qualifications must include the following per building code regulations:

1. Install Doors and Windows
2. Install Kitchen Cabinets and Countertops 
3. Install casing and baseboards with mitered corners and 45 degree angles. 

• Must be able to know how to operate saws and basic handheld power tools and have general construction skills

• Must have a valid drivers license 

 Please send resumes to: Construction@SERVPROkankakeecounty.comor stop in at the office to fill out an application or drop off a resume:   1725 N. Boudreau Rd  Manteno 

SERVPRO relationships with businesses

2/19/2018 (Permalink)

Involvement by our SERVPRO at all levels in the community can not be understated. One of these levels is at the city and county economic level. Every town and city has a vested interest in trying to help their local business survive and thrive, providing much needed jobs to the members of their communities and also providing economic stimulus and tax revenue generation. 

These needs get interrupted when disaster strikes a business and it is vital to get their operations back up and running, as quickly as possible, "Like it never even happened." This is where the relationships you form with SERVPRO prior to the disaster striking are so important. Does your business already have a SERVPRO Representative (SMR) assigned to you? If not, complete a internet search for your local SERVPRO franchise and ask for one to be assigned to you. This SMR will go through the process of educating your business about all that they can do in advance of the coming disaster, to help you prepare so that when it happens, it is not as costly to you in downtime and lost production.       

There are many different ways to get involved with your community business members. Building relationships with our local businesses is key for when large events happen at this level, those leaders run in small circles and great relationships are needed here, so those business leaders can get their business's back up and running and restore their communities to like it was before the disaster.... "Like it never even happened." 

Water damage in your business

2/19/2018 (Permalink)

There are many property issues that business managers may have to grapple with, commercial water damage in Bradley-Bourbonnais being one of the worst. Unfortunately, this type of damage can occur in the business setting at any moment. Whether the water damage results from a natural disaster or office mishap, substantial structural deterioration or destruction is often the result. In many cases, the emotional and economic pains that water damage produces force business owners to close their companies permanently. However, learning more about commercial water damage and how to efficiently complete the cleanup process, using an experienced company like SERVPRO, can help you impede this from happening.

Commercial Water Damage: Key Causes. The undesired result can be from numerous factors. The damages can result from flooding, roof leaks, frozen pipes, ice dams, and sewage backups. Additionally, disasters like fires can require extinguishing work from the fire department, leaving large quantities of standing water behind. No matter the cause of water intrusion, the effect is often the same: actual damage to the structural integrity of your property coupled with the compromise of safety to employees, and clients.

Identifying The Source Of The Problem. To deal with water damage effectively, you have to identify the source of the problem and then eliminate it. It's also important to know that there will be different methodologies for water damage restoration depending on the source. Excess water flowing from a broken or frozen pipe or ice damming on the roof will be handled differently than issues which result from floodwater or a sewage backup.

Avoiding DIY Projects. Business proprietors are tempted to begin the cleanup process by themselves to quickly reopen the doors to commerce. If the normal business traffic patterns have been disrupted, then it is time to call in SERVPRO, to mitigate water damage restoration time and costs. Rapid water pumping will diminish downtime and lessen damage to inventory, office furniture, supplies, and the building's structural components. Precise assessment and planning get results.

Contact SERVPRO Today. If your Kankakee commercial property has been impacted by water damage, it's time to take action. When you call the friendly professionals of SERVPRO, you'll receive a fast response from IICRC-certified technicians who use cutting edge equipment and customized methodologies to expedite the restoration process. Our techs are trained in water damage restoration, applied structural drying techniques, odor control, and mold remediation. Cleaning and restoring, as opposed to more costly replacing, is our policy so that we save you money as we quickly work to get your business back in business. "Like it never even happened."

Snow Storm damage in Peotone

2/8/2018 (Permalink)

The SERVPRO of Kankakee County service area has been hit with snow this week.  The question we get is can snow storms be a possible hazard to my home? The answer is yes, it can!

Typically, we don’t get enough snow that hangs around long enough top worry much about this in our area. Folks in the north are a little more concerned about this than we are because of the greater amount of snowfall and generally colder sustained temperatures. But with snow covering roofs in our area and record low temperatures forecasted the conditions are right for a problem commonly referred to as ice damming.

An ice dam forms when ice builds up on the eaves of the roof and any water behind it has nowhere to go and may end up in your home. This happens because heat gathers in your attic and slightly warms the roof above. The eaves however do not warm like the rest of the roof because they do not have the warm air of your attic under them, they have the cold outside air underneath. As the snow melts from the warmer portion of the roof and runs down it can freeze over the eaves forming an ice dam. As thawing continues above the water running down is trapped behind the dam.

Water will always follow the path of least resistance. In this case it can back up under shingles. Once under the shingle it will makes its way down under the roof inside your attic. From there it can settle on the ceiling or make its way down wall cavities. If snow melts makes its way into your home don’t panic. Stay calm and call SERVPRO.

Sewer back up in Bradley

2/7/2018 (Permalink)

Sewer Damage and Drain Back Up can cause serious damage to Kankakee homes. They also present health risks and should only be cleaned by certified water damage professionals. SERVPRO of Kankakee County is trained to deal with sewer damage issues.

Some examples include, but are not limited to: sewage, toilet backflows that originate from beyond the toilet trap regardless of visible content or color.

Below are some basic procedures for clean up

1. Identify ALL safety issues
2. Determine source or Sewer back up and get problem fixed as quickly as possible 
3. Extract materials and/or remove all standing water
4. Apply EPA registered disinfectant
5. Remove and discard all contaminated porous and semi-porous structural materials included carpet and pad
6. Measure and document all moisture levels in affected areas.
7. Install barriers to contain damaged areas
8. Install drying equipment 
9. Monitor job daily.
10. Once completely dry. Clean all areas prior to rebuild.

When your Bradley home or business has a sewer back up, rely on the professionals at SERVPRO of Kankakee County. For a free estimate call (815)935-0077

Frozen pipes are a preventable winter problem

2/6/2018 (Permalink)

A few more steps to prevent frozen pipes from SERVPRO of Kankakee County.

The freezing temps and snow are upon us in Kankakee County again. SERVPRO has been very busy cleaning homes with water damage due to frozen pipes. Did you know that an 1/8 inch crack in a pipe can spew up to 250 gallons of water a day? This can cause flooding, serious structural damage and the immediate potential for mold.

Here are a few tips you can take to prevent your pipes from freezing:

· Insulate pipes in your homes crawlspace and attic.

· Heat tape can be used to wrap pipes.

· Disconnect garden hoses and use and indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets.

· Keep your thermostat set at the same temperature during both day and night.

· A trickle of hot water might be all it takes to keep your pipes from freezing.

By taking these safety steps, you can help save yourself the mess, money and aggravation frozen pipes cause.

Water damage to your Bradley, IL business

1/29/2018 (Permalink)

Having the right know how to address water damage in commercial buildings is a trade mark of SERVPRO technicians. We also have the drying equipment to tackle any complex water damage. We work closely with Property Mangers, Insurance Adjusters, and Consultants to handle jobs in a timely and professional manner.

Here are some facts about water damage and our services.

Schools are no place for mold

1/29/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Kankakee County's Disaster Recovery Team is ready and equipped to help with many different disasters, including clean ups due to microbial growth in schools. Microbial growth is a concern for all of us but select populations of people are more vulnerable to be affected. When children are concerned we do not feel there is a limit to precautions and safety measures to be taken. We are able to help local schools who have microbial growth in their buildings safely and correctly mediate the problem. We work after hours and over weekends to limit exposure to any dust or particulates as well as comply with third party testing to certify that work was done correctly and completely. If you suspect there is microbial growth present call us to speak about mold solutions.

Many School Districts, School Board members and Superintendents trust the SERVPRO brand to do the job right and on budget. 

Can my home have a Mold Problem in Bourbonnais, IL?

1/26/2018 (Permalink)

Yes. Molds will grow where conditions allow. Molds require two things to grow – a food source and moisture. Food sources can be anything from dry wall and insulation to carpeting or mattresses. Moisture can come from many sources, including high humidity levels, leaky pipes or appliance hoses, neglected or inadequately repaired roofs, improperly maintained air conditioners, landscape and drainage problems, etc.

Should I be Concerned About Mold in My Home?

Yes. Indoor mold growth is unsanitary and undesirable. If you can see or smellmold inside your home, you should take steps to eliminate the cause and clean up and remove the mold. If left unchecked mold growth can cause health effects and structural damage to your home.

What is "Black Mold"?

You may have seen sensational news reports that warn about the dangers of “black mold” or “toxic mold”. These reports can be alarming and confusing so it’s beneficial to get the facts to better understand mold. For more information about "black mold" please visit the link below.

http://www.SERVPROkankakeecounty.com/mold-remediation

Are Molds a Health Concern?

Quite possibly. According to the Centers for Disease Control, exposure to mold does not necessarily result in a health problem.

While many people seldom experience ill effects from mold exposure, it can cause health effects in others.

What Can I Do to Prevent Mold From Growing in My Home?

Since mold needs a food source and moisture to grow, the best thing you can do is to prevent moisture problems that allow mold to grow.

• Maintain lower levels of humidity in your home (preferably between 30-50%) by: venting bathrooms and dryers to the outside; using air conditioners and de-humidifiers; increasing ventilation by adding crawlspace and attic vents; using exhaust fans when cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning, etc.
• Add insulation to reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces such as windows, pipes, exterior walls, roofs, or floors.
• Inspect your home regularly for indications and sources of indoor moisture such as leaking pipes, appliance hoses, showers, tubs, sinks and toilets. Replace plastic hoses with steel-reinforced hoses. Check windows, doors, attics and ceilings for leaks or evidence of water stains or odors, particularly after rains. Fix plumbing, flashing, and roof leaks right away.
• Don't carpet bathrooms, basements, kitchens or other areas prone to moisture. Clean bathrooms often and keep surfaces dry.
• Cover dirt in crawlspaces with a moisture barrier plastic sheeting.
• Prevent water from entering basements and crawlspaces by repairing holes and cracks in walls and foundation. Use landscaping to direct water away from your foundation.
• Clean and maintain your gutters and make sure drainpipes carry water several feet away from your home.
• Watch your utility bills. An abnormally high water bill could signal a water leak.
• Before you travel, turn off the water at the main valve. Have a trusted friend or neighbor check the inside and outside of your home periodically while you're away.

If you think you may have a mold issue or signs of mold growth in your home call SERVPRO of Kankakee County at (815) 935-0077

**This information is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any health concerns regarding mold contact your doctor immediately**

Keep mold out of your Gilman home

1/26/2018 (Permalink)

Mold is a serious problem. For some Illinois homeowners, it can cause problems for the foundation of their home and even trigger health issues. At SERVPRO of Kankakee County, we know how dangerous it is. Many of our clients want to know how to prevent mold from coming into their home and prevent it from coming back. Many homeowners are delighted to learn there are easy steps they can take that will help with mold remediation. Such steps can help make sure the mold stays away from all areas of your home.

Moisture and Humidity

This problem is frequently caused by too much moisture and humidity in the home. Water encourages the growth of spores. If the initial treatment did not stop the problem, it's a good idea to think about where water in the home originates. We do our best to examine each area to make sure there is no problem with water. However, sometimes things can be missed. Water may be coming from other areas of the home as a result of a new problem. In that case, steps need to be taken to remove the moisture again.

Ventilation

Clean, fresh air can help get rid of mold. New mold remediation efforts may focus on bringing cleaner air into the home. It's a good idea to think about air circulation. If the air is stagnant, the problem can recur. Items like a ventilation system in each bathroom can help. Ventilation systems help remove water vapor and improve air circulation in your home. They're easy to install and can be turned on after a quick shower to remove the moisture in the air.

Periodic Cleaning

In addition to a ventilation system and a complete inspection of the property, it also helps to clean as often as possible. Cleaning helps with mold remediation efforts by keeping humidity and moisture at bay. Spills should be mopped up quickly. Vinegar is an effective cleaning agent that kills most mold species instantly. Distilled vinegar can be poured into a spray bottle and used to clean the walls each month. This will help kill any new spore growths. Wipe it down after cleaning to keep moisture out of your home.

Mold in your home in Gilman. What is it?

1/17/2018 (Permalink)

Mold is made up of several different types of fungi that reproduce that can grow rapidly if not treated. Mold that is found in homes are traditionally a white or grayish color. It is especially common to find mold in bathrooms, which is usually green.  Mold may grow in all different types of environments, but thrives in damp and warm environments.

Mold reproduces by forming microscopic spores. These spores can survive under much harsher conditions than mold. The spores move freely throughout the air until it lands on a surface that has excessive moisture on it. Once the spores land mold can begin to grow. In order for it to grow it needs to have oxygen and need to be in a space where the temperature can range from 40° to 100° Fahrenheit.

It is very important to make sure your home is mold free. If mold is present it can affect the health of you and your family. It can also damage or possibly destroy the drywall and wood in your home. If your home has mold, SERVPRO of Kankakee County are the Mold Pros you need to remediate the problem.

Never use a blowtorch on frozen pipes. Prevent winter fires.

1/2/2018 (Permalink)

Frozen water pipes are a serious risk during very cold winter weather. When water freezes in a pipe it expands and can exert pressure at over 2,000 pounds per square inch. This pressure is enough to rupture almost any pipe filled with water, which provides no place for the ice to expand. A burst pipe can spill several hundred gallons of water per hour, and that equates to thousands of dollars of damage to your home. Pipes are most susceptible to freezing when they are located:

• in an outside wall
• in a cabinet under a sink (especially near an outside wall)
• in an unheated crawl space or basement

If your pipe is frozen but not yet ruptured, you must thaw it right away. There are a few thawing techniques to try, depending on where the frozen pipe is located.

Warning: Never use a blow torch or other open flame to thaw a pipe. This presents a serious fire hazard and can damage the pipe.

A frozen pipe that hasn't burst yet often reveals itself at a faucet: when you turn on the faucet and no water comes out or it has slowed to a trickle, there's probably a blockage of ice somewhere in the line. It's time take immediate action: 

• Shut off the water to the faucet locally or at the home's main water shutoff valve.
• Open the faucet that is supplied by the frozen pipe; do this even if you don't know where the blockage is.
• Identify the frozen pipe and locate the blockage: Follow the pipe back from the faucet to where it runs through cold areas, such as an exterior wall or unheated crawl space. Look for areas on the pipe that have frost or ice; it may also be slightly bulged or fissured.

When you find that the frozen—but not yet burst—pipe is behind a wall or ceiling, you've got a challenge on your hands. You have three options for thawing the pipe:

• Turn up the heat in the house and wait.
• Cut out a section of the wall or ceiling to access the frozen section of pipe, then thaw the pipe as an exposed pipe (see next slide).
• Use an infrared lamp to help heat the wall section in front of where you believe the pipe is frozen. Infrared lamps are better than regular heat lamps because they pass through the air without heating it and will direct more energy to warming the wall and frozen pipe.

If the frozen pipe is exposed, you have several options for thawing it. Whichever remedy use use, heat the pipe from the faucet toward the frozen area. This allows water to flow out as the ice melts.

• Hair dryer: Usually the easiest and safest way to thaw a pipe. If the pipe is close to the wall, place a cookie sheet behind the pipe to help radiate heat onto the backside of the pipe.
• Heat lamp: You can use an infrared or incandescent heat lamp. As with a hair dryer, if the pipe is close to the wall, use a cookie sheet behind the pipe to help reflect heat onto the pipe.
• Portable heater: A small, powerful heater works great for warming pipes under a kitchen or vanity base cabinet. Direct the heater onto the frozen section of pipe. It will work like a hair dryer on steroids!
• Electric pipe heat tape: Heat tape is a ribbon-like wrap that contains electrical heating elements. You wrap it around the pipe you want to heat and plug it into the wall. The temperature of the tape is controlled with a thermostat. Heat tape can also be used to prevent pipes from freezing in critical areas; you can leave the heat tape on the pipe and plug it in only when needed.

There are a few things you can do to prevent the problem of freezing pipes from occurring again:

• Leave the faucet dripping slightly during the coldest time of the day or night.
• Open the cabinet doors to allow the heated air from the room to reach pipes inside the cabinet.
• Wrap the problem pipe with electrical heat tape.
• Insulate problem pipes with foam insulation wrap, especially those that run through unheated spaces. Note: Insulation merely slows the transfer of heat and will not prevent a pipe from freezing if the surrounding air is cold enough.
• Heat unheated areas with a permanent heater, just to keep the temperature above freezing, or about 40 degrees F. Warning: Do not use portable heaters, which should never be left running unattended.
• Remove garden hoses attached to outdoor faucets (hose bibs or sill cocks). If the faucet is not a frost-proof type, turn off the water to the faucet inside the house and drain the exterior section of the pipe and faucet.

Mold Cleanup in Manteno is Possible with SERVPRO's Esporta System

1/2/2018 (Permalink)

Mold Cleanup is Possible with SERVPRO's Esporta System

What would you say if we stated that a significant amount of the items that you thought lost during a fire, smoke, water, or storm disaster situation were fully restorable to a quality pre-damage condition? What if you could give your child back their precious stuffed animal that unfortunately got left behind? Or restore your grandmother's porcelain dolls to near perfection? How about moldy clothing stuck in the corner of your closet?
 
Take this opportunity to contact our offices in mold remediation to your soft fabrics and put the Esporta Wash System to the test. Take a few minutes to get the information you need to know about the quality of the wash system and see what it can do for you to recover the items you thought lost forever. There is finally a service available to you to assist with restoring your family heirlooms and personal items that you cherish. 
 
SERVPRO technicians have been through the training and go the extra mile to put Esporta's unique patented technology to work for you. Setting a new standard in the restoration of textiles and other soft contents; the Esporta Wash System is far more efficient than any traditional laundry services, and it shows in the results that you get from the process. 
 
By using this system, SERVPRO provides you with an industrial strength cleaning method that removes 99.9997% of all harmful bacteria, mold or fungus found in your hard and soft goods. Things such as plastic, leather, camping gear, foam, rubber, and reflective tape are finally restorable. 
 
Our expertly trained SERVPRO technicians have used the wash system to clean, disinfect and restore items such as; hockey and football equipment, personal protective equipment such as a Firefighters Bunker Gear or a SWAT Teams protective gear and is even useful for Military Protective clothing and regular household and business related items. Now hidden mold growths on expensive drapes can have an excellent chance of being restored.
 
The restoration process is simple, it removes soil, suspends the soils and discharges any contaminants from the machine through a drain. A more detailed explanation is that it uses hydraulic action to remove any organic or inorganic materials found on fabrics by holding the articles in place and forcing water and detergents through them. These washing cycles also destroy mold spores or any organisms embedded in the soft materials. Esporta's four-stage detergent process produces results that affect the color, wear, strength and brightness retention of your items. 
 
Give the Esporta Wash System a try today by contacting our professional staff at SERVPRO of Kankakee County. For mold remediation to your property or your home's structure, we have the solutions. We're available to you 24/7 and eagerly await your call. (815) 935-0077

Holiday Fire Tips for Watseka

12/5/2017 (Permalink)

The holidays offer many opportunities for family and friends to gather, but they also come with an increased fire risk. With a little extra attention and care, you can help your family have a happy and safe holiday season.

Cooking

The holidays don’t feel like the holidays without delicious food. While cooking always presents potential fire hazards, home cooking fires always spike up around the holiday season.

When you have lots of cooks in the kitchen, it’s easy for things to get messy and confusing. However, a cluttered, chaotic kitchen is a hazardous kitchen. Make sure to keep flammable objects, like towels, packaging, and potholders, away from the stove. Communicate with everyone in the kitchen so you don’t leave the stovetop or oven on when it’s not in use. Wipe up spills quickly, and don’t let grease pile up around a burner.

If a deep-fried turkey is on the menu, make sure you fry it on a flat surface outside at least 10 feet away from the house.

Holiday Lights

While holiday lights can add a fun ambience to your home, it’s important to decorate safely. When you first open a package of new lights or crack open a box of previously-loved strands, take time to inspect each strand. If you find frayed or cracked wires or any broken sockets, return them or throw them away.

Don’t put more strands of lights on your tree than the packaging recommends. Overloading trees (and outlets) are a common cause of holiday fires. Unplug your holiday lights (and tree, if applicable) before you go to bed or leave the house.

If you want to hang lights outside, don’t use nails or staples as they can damage the wiring. Invest in quality hooks or hangers. Once the holidays are over, take down all outside lights. Small animals, like squirrels, may start chewing on the wires if you leave them up all year.

Menorahs

If your family uses menorahs for Hanukkah, you could consider using an electric one to cut down on fire hazards. If you prefer traditional candles, just be careful.

Keep the menorah at least three feet away from flammable items, and make sure you place a non-flammable surface, like an aluminum foil-lined tray, underneath the menorah to catch the melting wax.

Christmas Trees

Setting up the Christmas tree can mark the beginning of the Christmas holiday for many families. Unfortunately, if they are not properly set up and taken care of, they pose a large fire risk.

Keep the Christmas tree at least three feet away from fireplaces or heating elements in your home.

If you prefer a live Christmas tree, make sure to care for it properly. A dry tree can start to engulf a room in flames within a minute of ignition. Help reduce fire risks with the following guidelines:

• Buy a fresh tree. When you first choose the tree, the pine needles should be green and not easily broken.
• Cut off the bottom. When you get the tree home, cut two inches of the bottom to create a raw cut so the tree can soak in water.
• Water the tree daily. Well-watered trees are less likely to catch fire.
• Throw it out promptly. No matter how much you water it, your tree will dry out over time. Once the pine needles start to fall off and the tree starts to dry, it’s time to throw it out.

If you choose an artificial tree, consider flame-resistant or flame-retardant options.

Taking steps to prevent holiday fires can help reduce the risk, but there’s always a possibility of a fire. If your home suffers fire damage, SERVPRO of Kankakee County can help.

We have the knowledge and experience to properly treat fire and smoke damage to make your home “Like it never even happened.” We offer 24/7 emergency service; call us anytime at (815) 935-0077.

Glad to be a part of the recent Beecher Fire Dept Open House

10/24/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Kankakee County took part recently in the Beecher Fire Dept Open House.

Gilman Water Damage - What should you do?

10/23/2017 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Kankakee County for Gilman Water Damage Cleanup

If your home has recently been damaged in a major flooding or plumbing disaster, it's time to call for expert Gilman water damage cleanup services. There's no time to lose, especially if your home has been flooded. The damage that can follow in the wake of a flood can prove to be catastrophic, both regarding property depreciation and the amount of money you will need to spend to address it. Even if the water only came up to your first floor, you'll need to get the entire property checked out and cleaned up. 

Dealing With the Aftermath of Bourbonnais Residential Water Damage
If your home has suffered severe damage due to a broken or frozen pipe, sewage system backup or flood, much work needs to be done as quickly as possible to ensure that your home returns to a safe and healthy condition for you and your family. The sooner you contact professionals to begin these vital operations, the sooner you can reclaim your home. 

What Happens When You Contact a Water Damage Service?
When you contact professionals to address your Bourbonnais residential water damage, they will immediately begin a full inspection of your property to deliver a prompt and accurate assessment of the damage that has been done. Once the initial analysis of the damage has been concluded, the restoration experts from SERVPRO will proceed immediately to remove the water from your property. After the water has been fully extracted, the professionals will dehumidify the area and remove all remaining debris.

Once the property has been properly dried, all lingering traces of odor will be removed using thermal foggers and air scrubbers. The technician will then inspect the area once more to make sure that it hasn't sustained any significant structural damage that could cause problems in the future. The last step in Bourbonnais residential water damage cleanup is to perform any restoration work that needs to be done. This will ensure that your property is fully ready for you and your family to inhabit once more. Water damage restoration specialists from SERVPRO, all IICRC certified, will use modern, high-tech equipment that has been specially designed and engineered to evacuate quickly water, debris and mold from your property without leaving any damage to your structure or its design features.

Contact Water Damage Experts Today
SERVPRO of Kankakee County is a premier company for Gilman residential water damage restoration. We are a locally owned and operated franchise that can respond to your emergency within a few short hours of your initial call. We are also fully authorized to respond to water damage emergencies in Manteno, Momence, Bourbonnais, Beecher and the rest of the surrounding area. When your home in Gilman is threatened by water damage, we can help get your property back into shape. Contact us today for twenty-four/seven service at 815-935-0077 to learn more about what we can do for you.

Water Damage in Peotone

10/22/2017 (Permalink)

Water extraction is an evolved science that encompasses a professional assessment of the water damage and the creation of a plan of action for recovery. The professionals in this industry are Certified Water Damage Restoration Technicians (WRT) or Certified Mold Technicians (CMT). They utilize established equations and properties of materials, psychrometry (the study of gas-vapor mixtures), an understanding of mold and microbial activity, and water restoration equipment technology to determine the set of industry accepted mitigation protocols to use.

The use of equations, properties of materials, and psychometrics is needed because water behaves differently depending on its state (liquid, gas, or solid), temperature, the type of material it has penetrated (wood, dry wall, ceramic, concrete, cloth, etc.), and the environmental conditions (relative humidity & temperature). Once all of these parameters are known, calculations are made to determine the most efficient extraction rate possible without causing additional damage.

Mold and microbial growth is possible in the presence of water so it’s vital that the offending water be extracted as soon as possible. Although everyone has seen mold in the past, in many cases mold is not visible. Determining the presence of non-visible mold requires a Certified Mold Technician to take swab samples of the affected material and send the samples to a certified lab for analysis.

There is a wide range of water restoration equipment available to perform water extraction. Suffice to say that it is important to have the right equipment selected for the particular water restoration job at hand.

SERVPRO Promptly Restores Your Gilman Storm Damaged Property

10/10/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Promptly Restores Your Gilman Storm Damaged Property

When you have suffered any flood damage in Gilman, whether it was from backups in the basement sewer or from a large-scale disaster from a major storm, you’ll need certified technicians who know how to handle best flood damage, especially storm related. The last thing you want to have to do is search for a flood cleanup company that is reliable after you are dealing with a flood. Knowing who to call beforehand is important and will make things move much faster in the event of a problem. 

It can be deceptive to how much damage water really does. It will penetrate into structural cavities, making pockets of trapped saturation. Finding water in these areas can many times only be discovered with moisture meters. Moisture which goes undetected will keep causing damage, and this damage at a minimum will result in unpleasant odors. Even more, the damage will surface when materials shrink, delaminate and split, further deteriorating to where you will need very costly repairs. Plus, dangerous bacteria and mold can grow, causing very serious health problems for you and the members of your family. 

What You Can Expect 
Once you call a professional water damage cleanup service like SERVPRO, we will first come and remove all the water in your residence with tools such as vacuums. The professional equipment that we use will allow the company to get all of the water out of your home without creating a larger mess while doing so. Large air movers can also be used to finish getting rid of the water and dry out the rooms in your home. The primary goal is to dry your home out as fast as possible to prevent further secondary water damage. 

Once the water is visibly dried up, our company should also go through with water meters so we can assess the damage. This will make spotting the source of any other water or moisture much easier, and once we’ve conducted any work which needs to be performed, we’ll take another reading to make sure your home is completely dry and back to its normal state. We will also use thermal foggers, ozone machines, and air scrubbers as needed to ensure that all odors have eliminated and all debris as well. Sanitizing the affected areas after a groundwater flooding is critical to remove any pathogens or other harmful agents. 

Not all companies are the same, however, so that is why if you do have any Gilman water damage, you will want to contact the professional services of SERVPRO of Kankakee County right away. We can be reached anytime of the day or night and any day of the week by calling (815) 935-0077, and we arrive at your residence promptly since we are Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Damaged property from storms in Kankakee

6/28/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Promptly Restores Your Storm Damaged Property

When you have suffered any flood damage, whether it was from backups in the basement sewer or from a large-scale disaster from a major storm, you’ll need certified technicians who know how to handle best flood damage, especially storm related. The last thing you want to have to do is search for a flood cleanup company that is reliable after you are dealing with a flood. Knowing who to call beforehand is important and will make things move much faster in the event of a problem. 

It can be deceptive to how much damage water really does. It will penetrate into structural cavities, making pockets of trapped saturation. Finding water in these areas can many times only be discovered with moisture meters. Moisture which goes undetected will keep causing damage, and this damage at a minimum will result in unpleasant odors. Even more, the damage will surface when materials shrink, delaminate and split, further deteriorating to where you will need very costly repairs. Plus, dangerous bacteria and mold can grow, causing very serious health problems for you and the members of your family. 

What You Can Expect 
Once you call a professional water damage cleanup service like SERVPRO, we will first come and remove all the water in your residence with tools such as vacuums. The professional equipment that we use will allow the company to get all of the water out of your home without creating a larger mess while doing so. Large air movers can also be used to finish getting rid of the water and dry out the rooms in your home. The primary goal is to dry your home out as fast as possible to prevent further secondary water damage. 

Once the water is visibly dried up, our company should also go through with water meters so we can assess the damage. This will make spotting the source of any other water or moisture much easier, and once we’ve conducted any work which needs to be performed, we’ll take another reading to make sure your home is completely dry and back to its normal state. We will also use thermal foggers, ozone machines, and air scrubbers as needed to ensure that all odors have eliminated and all debris as well. Sanitizing the affected areas after a groundwater flooding is critical to remove any pathogens or other harmful agents. 

Not all companies are the same however, so that is why if you do have any water damage, you will want to contact the professional services of SERVPRO of Kankakee County right away. We can be reached anytime of the day or night and any day of the week by calling (815) 935-0077, and we arrive at your residence promptly since we are Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Mold in Bathroom

6/28/2017 (Permalink)

This bathroom in Momence overflowed, causing some mold to form. SERVPRO of Kankakee County was able to come in quickly and clean up the mess, leaving it "Like it never even happened."

MOVING DAY - SERVPRO OF KANKAKEE

3/28/2017 (Permalink)

Finishing Touches at Manteno Warehouse for SERVPRO of Kankakee County

The crew spent all day on Friday, March 24th moving equipment and preparing our brand new warehouse location in Manteno that will enable us to work harder and respond faster for any size and type of disaster.

I Am Your SERVPRO Rep

3/13/2017 (Permalink)

Who Am I?

I am your SERVPRO of Kankakee County rep.  When I stop in, feel free to ask about SERVPRO services, hobbies, tell me a joke, or just chit chat for a little while.  I look forward to getting to know you!

Who is SERVPRO?

*SERVPRO began as a painting business in Sacramento, CA in 1967 by Ted and Doris Isaacson.

*The first SERVPRO Franchise was sold in 1969.

*Bristol-Myers Domesticare Division and its 175 Franchises were acquired in 1979.

*SERVPRO relocated the corporate headquarters from Sacramento to Gallatin, TN in 1988 and consisted of 647 Franchises. 

*In 1991 the Nashville Business Journal named SERVPRO the Small Business of the Year.

*In 2000, SERVPRO sold its 1,000^th Franchise. 

*SERVPRO moved to a 140,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility in Gallatin in 2005 to provide more room for expansion.

*Now, with more than 1,700 Franchises are operating nationwide, and SERVPRO continues to grow.

*SERVPRO works closely with insurance agents, property managers, and local fire/police departments to assist in any community disaster.

*SERVPRO of Kankakee County is ranked at Top 50 SERVPRO Franchise and Large Loss Certified as a Disaster Response Team.  We have the capability and staff to help in any size disaster and available 24 Hours a Day!

What Does SERVPRO of Kankakee County Do?

We offer a variety of restoration and remediation services including:

*Water Damage Restoration and Dehumidification

*Fire Damage Restoration including fire, smoke and soot

*Mold Mitigation and Remediation

*Storm Damage Restoration

*24 hour Board-up Services for fires, vandalism, and other emergencies

*Cleaning Services including carpets, tiles, upholstery, sewage, biohazard, and deodorization

*Contents Claim Inventory Service

*Document Drying

“Like it never even happened.”

Contact us 24 hours a day at 815-935-0077!

Tips for Spring Flooding

3/13/2017 (Permalink)

Residential Flooding Damage

Chicago is famous for heavy snows and bitter cold temperatures during the winter.  Melting snow and thawing pipes in the spring, on top of heavy spring rains often leads to floods and water damage.   These safety tips can help reduce damage and avoid dangerous situations before, during and after the spring thaw. 

Before a Flood:

*Prepare in advance by ask your SERVPRO Rep about completing an FREE Emergency Ready Profile® (ERP) for your business.  It will help you respond quickly to an emergency and minimize downtime due to water damage.  The ERP is available on a mobile app on your smartphone, tablet or computer and will allow you to access your utility and emergency contacts at any time from any location. 

*Check your sump pump to ensure it is working properly before water begins to rise.   Having a back-up generator will help ensure you’re your pump is working when you may need it.  Double check with your insurance agent to make sure your sump pump is covered.

*Protect important items/papers by putting them in plastic totes and raising them off the floor of your home/business.  In most cases, ensuring that boxes are at least a few inches off the floor with keep them above the water line from a flood.

During a Flood:

*Watch for water collecting by monitoring areas where water might collect and attempt to direct it away from buildings.

*Monitor power sources and outlets as water levels rise, so you don’t risk a shock from a live current flowing through water.   If you can cut the power to endangered outlets and power sources without standing in water, flip the switch.  If not, contact an electrician immediately and evacuate the area.  DO NOT ENTER STANDING WATER!

*Clearing storm drains prior to a thaw will help water flow away from your property and reduce water backing into the building.

*Flood insurance should be considered, especially in high-risk flooding or low lying areas near rivers and streams.  Most insurance policies do not cover flooding, and require a separate policy. 

*Watch the road during spring storms, especially during flash flood warnings.  NEVER drive on roadways that are submerged under water. 

After a Flood:

*Fast action will reduce danger risks and lessen damage to your property.  When a flood happens, you need to dry out wet items including walls and flooring to lessen damage. Contact SERVPRO® of Matteson-Homewood, Chicago Heights-Crete-Beecher, and Kankakee County at 815-935-0077 to extract water and mitigate any mold growth. Our franchise professionals have the training and experience to make flood damage “Like it never even happened.”

Contact us 24 hours a day at 815-935-0077!

Historic Home Restoration

2/10/2017 (Permalink)

While SERVPRO is nationally recognized as the leader in fire and water damage clean up and restoration, SERVPRO of Kankakee County is also recognized as the authority of restoring and renovating historically significant homes throughout Chicagoland. 

Our attention to detail, quality Subcontractors, and exceptional project management ensure a cost effective and timely restoration of homes. From plaster repairs to fine wood carpentry, SERVPRO of Kankakee County is the right call.

Quality Millworking, Hardwood Floors by the best in the business, and a flare for modern Updates that hold the historic value of homes while allowing for modern living, that's SERVPRO of Kankakee County's specialty. 

1. If you historic home needs renovation or remodeling to restore its luster, consider giving us 
2. If you are considering modernizing your historic home, consider us

Mold in Schools can be a problem

1/29/2017 (Permalink)

Equipment set during school mold remediation project

SERVPRO of Kankakee County's Disaster Recovery Team is ready and equipped to help with many different disasters, including clean ups due to microbial growth in schools. Microbial growth is a concern for all of us but select populations of people are more vulnerable to be affected. When children are concerned we do not feel there is a limit to precautions and safety measures to be taken. We are able to help local schools who have microbial growth in their buildings safely and correctly mediate the problem. We work after hours and over weekends to limit exposure to any dust or particulates as well as comply with third party testing to certify that work was done correctly and completely. If you suspect there is microbial growth present call us to speak about mold solutions.

Many School Districts, School Board members and Superintendents trust the SERVPRO brand to do the job right and on budget. 

FREE Continuing Education Classes for Insurance Industry Professionals!!

1/25/2017 (Permalink)

Free Ethics and Fire Restoration Continuing Education Classes March 8 & 9

We are offering two free CE Classes on two separate days - Day 1 will be in Matteson, and Day 2 will be in Bourbonnais.  Breakfast and Lunch will be provided, and all of this is free of charge to Insurance Agents and Adjusters!  

All we need to process your renewal is your NPN#, your email address, your phone number and fax number.  Please follow the link below to print the application form.  After filling in the information scan and email it to Marketing@SERVPROKankakeeCounty.com, or fax it to 815-935-1301.

Link to Application Form

DAY 1 CLASSES

Date: March 8 

Class 1: Ethics - 3 Credit Hours

Time: 9 am to 12 pm

Class 2: Where There is Smoke There is Fire - 4 Credit Hours

Time: 1 pm to 5 pm

Location: Matteson Community Center

               20462 Matteson Avenue

               Matteson, IL

              (708) 441-4500

              Directions

DAY 2 CLASSES

Date: March 9 

Class 1: Ethics - 3 Credit Hours

Time: 9 am to 12 pm

Class 2: Where There is Smoke There is Fire - 4 Credit Hours

Time: 1 pm to 5 pm

Location: Holiday Inn Express

               62 Ken Hayes Drive

               Bourbonnais, IL 60914

               (815) 932-4411

               Directions

Mold in your Bradley Bourbonnais IL home

1/25/2017 (Permalink)

Water damaged home in Manteno IL with suspect mold growth

There are many different kinds of residential water damage. It can be caused by extreme weather, like heavy rainfall and severe storms. Alternatively, a home can be flooded by a burst pipe or a broken down appliance. These incidents are usually quite dramatic and stressful.

They occur unexpectedly and cause immediate devastation. However, they are not the only ways in which water damage can wreak havoc on a home. Often, the signs are much more subtle, and the damage is being done beneath the surface. This might be the situation if, for example, a gutter cracks and starts to spill water around the foundation. If left untreated, it is likely to seep into the ground and begin leaking into the basement. In a home which doesn’t utilize the space, this kind of problem can go unidentified for some time.

With the guidance of a water damage restoration company, you can learn how to spot the subtle signs of water damage early, so that repairs can be arranged right away.

Rising Water Bills
This is a clear indication of a hidden leak, somewhere in your home. If your water bill is consistently increasing, but your consumption has not gone up, there must be water escaping from a cracked pipe or a burst main.

Peeling Wallpaper
One of the things that the technicians look out for is problems with the décor, particularly the wallpaper. If there is moisture behind the walls, this can cause it to bubble, peel, and warp. If you notice this, run your hands gently over the surface and see if it feels colder or damper than usual.

Cold Rooms
A change in temperature can be indicative of hidden water damage. Obviously, this isn’t always the case, but it might be possible if there is no other explanation. For instance, if a particular room always feels cold, where it did not before, there could be moisture affecting the drywall and wooden components behind it.

Wet Sensation
Often, homes with a wet atmosphere feel different to dry properties. It is a tricky feeling to describe, but you are likely to notice it at night when you’re trying to sleep. The air will feel heavy, close, and humid. You could have trouble sleeping as a result. Contacting the experts is the best option. They can carry out inspections and use high powered fans and dryers to eliminate the damp for good.

Even if you’re not 100% sure, it is best to get suspected water damage checked out by the professionals. They can determine, without a doubt, whether there is a problem that needs to be remediated. SERVPRO of Kankakee County has the moisture meters and tools to discover where your moisture problem is coming from.

Winter Related - Furnace Malfunctions - Inspections and Prevention of Fires

12/21/2016 (Permalink)

Be Safe and Warm in Kankakee County with a Well Maintained Furnace

SERVPRO Tips for a Warm Winter

As everyone knows by know, we're looking at another polar vortex event this winter. Temperatures have already dropped to near record levels and are expected to go even lower in 2017. This is not the time to have your furnace decide to take a vacation.

After decades in the cleanup and restoration business, SERVPRO has developed checklists for homeowners and renters to use when inspecting their furnaces and HVACs (hopefully preventing malfunctions and other problems) when the weather turns a bit more extreme than usual, even for Illinois. Taking care of these items should keep you warm over the holidays and through the rest of winter.
 
Outdoor HVAC Inspections
• Clear all dirt, leaves, and other debris from the inside of the cabinet.
• Examine the drain pan to make sure it's clear. Remove any obstructions and debris.
• Check the evaporator coil and cabinet itself. Scrub them thoroughly.
• Inspect the exhaust blades and the fan motor for damage. If you have an older unit, it may require lubrication.
• Check the control box, all wiring and connections.
• Examine the compressor and linked tubing for damage.
 
Indoor Furnace/HVAC Inspections
• Examine and clean the blower assembly. This includes the motor, wheel, and housing.
• Inspect the blower housing for debris and clean.
• Check the condensate lines and pan; thoroughly clean.
• Wipe down and examine the burner assembly.
• Test the igniter controls.
• Check the air exchanger.
• Examine the outflow pipe; make sure it is properly attached to the furnace. Sections that show corrosion should be replaced.
• Check the control box, all wiring and connections.
• Replace the air filter.
• Examine the ductwork in the attic if you can. You can find leaks simply by feeling for airflow; there shouldn't be any.
 
The outflow pipe or flue is of particular importance when it comes to furnaces. If it is not securely connected to the furnace, there is always the chance of 'Blow Back.' SERVPRO strongly recommends to deal with this possible problem. When this happens, soot from the outflow pipe will blow into the house. The resulting contamination will need a visit from one of our response and restoration teams to clean the affected area just like after a fire. With proper maintenance, this 'Blow Back' is a needless expense and inconvenience.

With snow expected this weekend, now is the time to look over your furnace or HVAC before you find yourself with a flashlight and a garden trowel trying to remove ice or other debris from your outside unit. If you are a renter or just willing to admit you don't know anything about your furnace, make sure you call a professional furnace and HVAC maintenance company.
 
Remember to ask for their business license to operate in Illinois and photo ID before you let anyone in your home. For other storm damage that you may have to deal with this winter, call us at (815) 935-0077. SERVPRO of Kankakee County is here to help.

Winterize your home in Bourbonnais, IL

11/22/2016 (Permalink)

Frozen pipes cause water damage

Realtors and Insurance Agents trust SERVPRO of Kankakee County to winterize vacant and damaged homes. Our trained technicians provide water evacuation from the plumbing systems to avoid frozen pipes and water damage. To winterize a structure, the following steps need to be taken.

• turn off or disconnect water main
• drain water heater
• extract water from toilet tank and pour RV antifreeze in tank
• disconnect washer, dishwasher, and refrigerator water line if applicable
• extract or blow out water lines thoroughly
• pour RV antifreeze in all drains

SERVPRO of Kankakee County uses the latest tools and equipment to winterize homes. Pricing varies by the size and difficulty of each project. Call our office to schedule service (815) 935-0077.

Semi-Annual C. E. (Continuing Education) Coming Soon

7/20/2016 (Permalink)

Up-Coming C.E. Classes Registration Form from SERVPRO of Kankakee County

SERVPRO of Kankakee County to Host C. E. Class

One of the ways we give back to our local communities is to offer free continuing education classes to our local insurance agents. Since we are group owned SERVPRO franchises comprising of three separate branches, we can reach out and assistance a large area audience of insurance agents. We believe that knowledge is power, and just as we are well trained and educated in our fields of expertise culminating in exceptional service, we can assist others to improve their knowledge and performance.

As shown in the insert to the right, these Two Continuing Education Classes will be held on consecutive days towards the end of September 2016. Click on this link for direct access to an application. Todd Davis, one of SERVPRO Corporate instructors, taught the two classes during the last Spring session. SERVPRO of Kankakee County will be one of the local franchises to contribute a free breakfast and a free lunch to all the participants. Like us on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SERVPROK3/posts/1351443434869267. The required Ethics Class will be followed by our revolving informational subjects; this class is "Understand Mold in the Restoration Industry.” Mold remediation in Bourbonnais can be a sticky wicket for both insurance agents, homeowners, and our highly trained AMRT, Applied Microbial Remediation Technicians. Knowing how to deal with mold infestations can limit liabilities and costs while ensuring mitigation from any health effects and protecting our residents.

Consider SERVPRO of Kankakee County as a partner in keeping our communities safe following any fire, water, or mold problems. Contact us for registration for the C.E. Classes or help with your home or business. (815) 935-0077

In Memory of Fire Chief Ross C. Butzow

5/18/2016 (Permalink)

The late Ross C. Butzow, Chief of Wellington-Greer Fire Department (retired) and community leader.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Butzow family in their loss.  

Ross was dedicated to his profession as Fire Chief and a wonderful husband and father.  He will be greatly missed in the community and the MABAS 37 family.

http://www.anderson-funeral-home.com/obituaries/Ross-Butzow/#!/Obituary

Memorials honoring Ross may be made to the Wellington-Greef Fire Department, P.O. box 143, Wellington, IL 60673. 

New Facility in Manteno highlighted in local paper

4/4/2016 (Permalink)

The owners of SERVPRO of Kankakee County, Bobby Nichols and Kata Nichols, were highlighted in an article last week in the Daily Journal. The new facility will be located in Manteno, Illinois and could be open as soon as August 2016.http://www.daily-journal.com/news/local/SERVPRO-plans-new-m-digs-in-manteno/article_7f5e2c4f-6032-5c6a-95ad-332a55f8f92a.html

The Daily Journal's Lee Provost has done many articles and features on our SERVPRO franchise

How to make your pumpkin last.

10/29/2015 (Permalink)

Want your pumpkin to last longer after carving? Check out this link...

Pumkins

Daily-journal.com talks storm damage with SERVPRO owner, Bobby Nichols

10/27/2015 (Permalink)

Finally, the most common headache for most homeowners comes with a leaky basement. SERVPRO of Kankakee County Disaster Recovery Team crews have appointments in just about every town in Kankakee and Iroquois counties.

"We had somewhere around 300 calls in 12 hours when that storm hit [Monday night]," said local SERVPRO franchisee owner and operator Bobby Nichols. "We have a lot of new customers and we have some folks, like down in Ashkum, who re-flooded."

He added that as part of a national response team, the local office was able to call in regional assistance.

"They were in last night and working today," he said. "We have 15 teams out in the field. That's 90 crew members, and don't even ask how long our days are. I went out at 10:30 last night and I'm still at it [around 4 p.m. Tuesday]."

Nichols added that he expects another 200 calls before this event is over.

Many thanks to the Daily Journal for taking time to hear our story.

Beecher Fire Department Open House

10/19/2015 (Permalink)

Beecher Fire Department Open House

SERVPRO was out to support the Beecher Fire Department Open House. SERVPRO provides Restoration Services for Board Up, Fire, Soot, Smoke, Water, Sewer, Mold, & Bio-Clean. As well as provides Carpet Cleaning, Tile Cleaning, Duct Cleaning, and Upholstery Cleaning.

Beecher Fire Department

IROQUOIS RIVER FLOOD WATSEKA IL

7/13/2015 (Permalink)

SERVPRO DISASTER RECOVERY TEAM prepared for any sized disaster

We are at the ready to assist FLOOD victims in the Ford and Iroquois County areas. As of today, evacuations have started and we will be setting up just outside the flood zone to answer questions and schedule work to begin.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County – is hosting our first Blood Drive

4/19/2015 (Permalink)

Sponsored by SERVPRO of Kankakee County And the American Red Cross of Kankakee County

Where:

Bradley Moose Lodge
730 N Kinzie Ave
Bradley, IL 60915

When:

Saturday, May 16, 2015 from9:00AM to 3PM

How:

For an appointment, callMary Arellano   at   815-386-0341or visitredcrossblood.org

All presenting donors will receive a free Red Cross T-shirt, Goodie Bags, and be entered into a raffle to win an IPAD and Gift Baskets.

New Facebook page for SERVPRO of Kankakee County

1/6/2015 (Permalink)

Happy to be joining the social media world

SERVPRO of Kankakee County has a new facebook page and we invite you to LIKE our page in you live in the area. We will be having exciting contests this year.

Also, friendly tips to avoid freezing pipes and water damage can be found on our page.

Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/SERVPROK3

Bradley Christmas Parade

12/6/2014 (Permalink)

Crews took a day off from cleaning up after water damage in Bradley and Bourbonnais Illinois to participate in the Christmas Light Parade.

Olivet Nazarene University Christmas Luncheon

12/5/2014 (Permalink)

The Olivet Nazarene University of Bourbonnais, Illinios held its Christmas Luncheon today. SERVPRO of Kankakee County was a guest at this event.

Olivet Nazarene University is a private, Christian liberal arts university located in the village of Bourbonnais Illinois

2014 SERVPRO Employee Appreciation Day - Paint Ball

12/1/2014 (Permalink)

SERVPRO employees enjoy a day of fun and fellowship.

Twice during the 2014 year, SERVPRO of Kankakee took its employees out to BAD LANDS Paint Ball, located in Crete, IL. Employees were treated to a chartered bus ride and a full day of entertainment and fun, blowing off steam and shooting each other with paint balls. A good time was had by all.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County provides the following services: Board Up & Tarp Off, Fire, Smoke, Soot, Water Damage, Sewer Damage, Mold, Bio-Haz Remediation, Carpet Cleaning, Duct Cleaning, Tile Cleaning, & Upholstery Cleaning.

We provide services to: Armoa Park, Ashkum, Beaverville, Bonfield, Bourbonnais, Bradley, Braidwood, Buckingham, Cabery, Campus, Chatsworth, Chebanse, Cissna Park, Clifton, Crescent City, Cullom, Danforth, Dwight, Emington, Essex, Fairbury, Forrest, Gilman, Grant Park, Herscher, Hopkins Park Iroquois, Kankakee, Kempton, Manteno, Martinton, Momence, Onarga, Papineau, Pembroke, Peotone, Piper City, Reddick, St. Anne, Sheldon, Stelle, Sun River Terrace, Union Hill, Watseka, Wilmington, and surrounding areas.

2014 Bourbonnais Friendship Festival Parade

12/1/2014 (Permalink)

Our smiling faces are ready to hand out candy to all parade goers.

2014 Bourbonnais Friendship Festival Parade

Some of our SERVPRO employees with their family and friends get ready for the start of the parade.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County offers the following services: Board Up & Tarp Off, Fire, Smoke, Soot, Water Damage, Sewer Damage, Mold, Bio-Haz Remediation, Carpet Cleaning, Duct Cleaning, Upholstery Cleaning, & Tile Cleaning.

6th Annual Brian Munz Golf Outing - MABAS 23

12/1/2014 (Permalink)

Pictured (from left to right) are SERVPRO employees: Jake Laue, Bob Patula, & Bill Wilczynski.

On July 19th, 2014 SERVPRO of Kankakee County participated in the 6th Annual Brian Munz Golf Outing at Indian Creek CC, located in Fairbury IL. Brian was killed in the line of duty responding to a residentail fire in Forrest, IL on July 22, 2008.

SERVPRO provides services for: Board Up & Tarp Off, Fire, Soot, Smoke, Water Damage, Sewer Damage, Mold, Bio-Haz Remediation, Carpet Cleaning, Duct Cleaning, Upholstery Cleaning, and Tile Cleaning.

SERVPRO of Kankakee County services Fairbury, Forrest, Saunemin, Chatsworth, Piper City, Cullom, Emington, Dwight, Campus, Kemptom, Cabery, Stelle, Aroma Park, Ashkum, Beaverville, Bonfield, Bourbonnais, Bradley, Braidwood, Buckingham, Chebanse, Cissna Park, Clifton, Crescent City, Danforth, Essex, Gilman, Grant Park, Herscher, Hopkins Park, Iroquois, Kankakee, Manteno, Martinton, Momence, Onarga, Papineau, Pembroke, Peotone, Reddick, St. Anne, Sun River Terrace, Union Hill, Wastseka, Wilmington, Sheldon, and surrounding areas.

WINTERIZE HOMES & COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

10/31/2014 (Permalink)

As winter temps drop, many vacant homes will suffer WATER DAMAGE from FROXEN PIPES if they are not winterized properly. Let the experienced professionals at SERVPRO WINTERIZE your home or business. We drain water heaters, blow out water pipes, and disconnect water mains. Most homes and businesses can be winterized for under $250.

Realtors and banking professionals trust SERVPRO OF KANKAKEE COUNTY to winterize vacant homes and avoid unnecessary damages. 

HAS – Home Assessment Specialists

5/17/2014 (Permalink)

HAS – Home Assessment Specialists – Home / Mold Inspections and more

Kris Pagliaro, CPI – (708) 465-8040

Complete Industrial Supply - New & Used Pallet Racks

5/17/2014 (Permalink)

 Complete Industrial Supply  - New & Used Pallet Racks

 Tim Blumenthal – (815) 939-3900

Ford and Iroquois County Health Department

3/3/2014 (Permalink)

Moldy drywall following water damage in Watseka IL

There is a FLOOD ADVISORY for the Iroquois River at Watseka, IL and the potential for WATER DAMAGE is serious in the coming weeks. Preparations are on going and your homes and businesses can be protected. You can find out more information by visiting the Ford and Iroquois County Health Department website http://www.fiphd.org/ 

SERVPRO of Kankakee County did a great deal of water damage and mold remediation work in Watseka, IL following the 2008 floods. Look for our flood tips in upcoming news articles and radio ads.

Ice jams threaten communities again this year

3/2/2014 (Permalink)

Ice jams may lead to severe flooding of the Kankakee and Iroquois Rivers this year. Towns like Watseka, Momence, Aroma Park, Kankakee, Bradley and Bradley can all expect some flooding due to rapid snow melt and heavy rains. Be prepared and if you experience water damage, call SERVPRO of Kankakee County.

Denny's Restaurant Fire - Bradley IL

2/16/2014 (Permalink)

Large Loss Trailer parked in front of the Denny's following an electrical fire with heavy water damage

SERVPRO of Kankakee County and SERVPRO of Matteson-Homewood teamed up to clean the Denny's Restaurant in Bradley-Bourbonnais IL following an electrical fire the spread soot throughout the kitchen and dining room. Severe smoke and water damage was mitigated quickly. Restaurant district and general managers rely on SERVPRO for all their cleaning and disaster recovery needs.

MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) Division 24 - Night at the Races

1/14/2014 (Permalink)

The WILCO Fire Chiefs’ Association Benefit was attended by:

MABAS Division 24 Web Site

Represents the Fire Departments in South Suburban Cook County, Illinois and Munster, Indiana:

Burnham, Country Club Hills, Calumet City, Dolton, East Hazel Crest, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Lansing, Lynwood, Markham, Munster, Oak Forest, Phoenix, Riverdale Fire Rescue, South Holland, Thornton, Tinley Park

SERVPRO of Matteson - Homewood

MABAS Division 27 – WILCO Fire Chiefs’ Association Web Site

Represents the Fire Departments / Fire Protection Districts of the following communities:

Beecher, Chicago Heights, Crete, Crete Township, Ford Heights, Frankfort, Matteson, Monee, Park Forest, Peotone, Richton Park, Sauk Village, South Chicago Heights, Steger, Steger Estates, University Park

SERVPRO of Matteson - Homewood

SERVPRO of Kankakee County

M.A.B.A.S. Division 7 Web Site

Represents the Fire Departments / Fire Protection Districts of the following communities:

Aroma, Bourbonnais, Bradley, Cabery, Essex, Grant Park, Herscher, Iroquois County, Kankakee County, Kankakee Twp., Limestone, Manteno, Momence, Otto Twp., Pembroke, Reddick, Salina, St. Anne

SERVPRO of Kankakee County

Diamond Tornado

11/18/2013 (Permalink)

Diomond IL Tornado Damage with SERVPRO of Kankakee County

We are on the ground in Diamond IL assisting our fellow SERVPRO franchises and Tornado victims. Water intrusion in some of these homes will be a problem so we expect to be in the area dealing with storm related damages for the next week or so.