Roswell Flooding and the SERVPRO Response

11/27/2024 (Permalink)

A basement awaiting muck out after being pumped empty of flood waters

SERVPRO of South Albuquerque responded to our neighbors in Roswell during their recent time of crisis after torrential rains caused flooding across the city and region. We were honored to join with another neighboring franchise, SERVPRO of Carlsbad/Hobbs as well as several others in helping as many homes and families as possible. 

When rainfall causes severe flood damage like this, and homes are affected entirely to a certain height or level, this height is called the "water line." Some homes in Roswell experienced 2'-3' water lines with the recent flood! When water travels across the land and intrudes into a home or business from the exterior as groundwater, the loss is a category 3 loss because of the bacteria levels in the water. This means that homes that were entirely affected had to be entirely demolished down to the framing members in a lot of cases. Some homes even had basements and or crawlspaces that had to be pumped out and then "mucked out," the process of removing layers of mud and soil from the interior of a basement or crawlspace. After many, many toilsome hours, our storm team has returned home safe and sound and is getting some well earned Thanksgiving rest with their families. 

The Importance of Mold Remediation for Your Home

8/2/2024 (Permalink)

Once you become aware that mold is growing in your South Albuquerque home, removing the fungus should be your biggest priority. Mold Remediation specialists state that mold could compromise the structural integrity of your property. Mold removal is not a DIY project. Rule of thumb is if there is about 10 square feet or more of mold growth, don't attempt mold remediation on your own. Play it safe and hire a professional mold remediation company like SERVPRO®.

Mold is a fungus that grows throughout nature. In the event that your house becomes moist and wet, conducive conditions are now in place for mold proliferation. The airborne spores that are naturally in your home will develop into strings of colonies that bloom into large areas of mold patches. Mold can show up in the form of black spots, blue, green, white or even red staining on porous surfaces. Discoloration on your walls and ceilings also present other problems.

 Mold can leave an unpleasant odor as it permeates through walls, flooring and HVAC ductwork throughout your home. This musty odor is endemic to outbursts of mold growth. Masking the odor does not solve the underlying problem. Identifying and eliminating odors are for the technically trained experts.

Although some homeowners are inclined to attempt the mold removal process on their own, this strategy is not advisable. Once you go beyond fungi on the bathroom tiles or a small patch under the kitchen sink, it is time to consider seriously professional assistance. Professional mold remediation experts will use specialized equipment that demands expert handling for mold containment, air filtration, and cleaning. They will also identify and eliminate most present mold to ensure that your home is restored to its original safe, sanitary condition. 

Call SERVPRO Today

When you realize that mold has invaded your home in South Albuquerque, it is important that you take action immediately. When it's time to call the right company to remedy unwanted mold, SERVPRO is the company to trust. With over 1,650 franchises and over 57 years of industry experience, our IICRC-certified technicians possess the expertise and training necessary to optimize the mold removal process for you.

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

As a locally owned and operated business,

SERVPRO of South Albuquerque Call us for help. (505) 345-4700

NM Monsoon Season

8/2/2024 (Permalink)

Monsoon season is here, and we have learned anything from this year, is to expect the unexpected. Don’t you agree? Now some monsoon seasons have been kind to us, while for those of us who have lived here longer, we have seen what they can do when they come in with a vengeance. A motto to live by is one from Benjamin Franklin, “failing to plan is planning to fail.” So, let us get a plan in place just in case the rain decides to come inside this year.

• If you live in an area that is prone to flooding, by some sandbags and keep them around, if storms are predicted, then set them up outside the doors to try and prevent the water from coming inside.
• Place towels on the inside of the window seals.
• Have a few extra buckets, large pots, or bowls around in case there is a leak from the roof.

What happens if water gets in the house? There are several steps you can take to help prevent extensive damage to your personal items. However, there are also things you need to be aware of to keep you and your family safe.

• If the water is minimal, get towels to wipe up areas or use a mop.
• Remove any books, magazines, or other colored items from wet carpet to prevent staining.
• If there is standing water, do not enter the room where electrical shock hazards may exist.
• Contact your insurance company so they can help assess the damage and to see if they will cover any damage caused by the water.
• Contact your local restoration company to help dry out your home and restore it to the way it was before the damage

Most importantly, be aware of the affected areas, and if the water looks dirty or has mud or other debris, completely avoid entering that area.

Trauma and Crime Scene Cleanup

7/29/2024 (Permalink)

After the police have finished processing a crime or accident scene, the cleaning and restoration process can begin. Many times, crime and accident scenes have blood and other biohazard contaminants that pose a serious health risk. SERVPRO Franchise Professionals will respond immediately and have the specialized training, protective equipment, and experience to safely clean trauma and crime scenes.

Need Trauma or Crime Scene Cleanup?
Call Today (505) 891-2345

SERVPRO® technicians follow OSHA and EPA protocols to help transform an unsafe environment back into a clean, safe home or business. Their first focus is always safety, since crime or accident scenes may involve bloodborne pathogens, harmful chemicals, and other dangers. SERVPRO Franchise Professionals will always treat your property and the people involved with the greatest empathy and respect in the face of trying circumstances.

Crime Scene and Trauma Cleaning Services

• Fingerprint powder and evidence-gathering chemicals
• Tear gas and pepper spray residues
• Fire extinguisher residue
• Blood, bodily fluids, and tissue remnants

Common Trauma and Crime Scene Scenarios

Crime Scene Residues

From fingerprint powder and evidence-gathering chemicals to tear gas and pepper spray residues, SERVPRO Franchise Professionals can clean and restore your property after a crime scene investigation.

Bloodborne Pathogens

SERVPRO Franchise Professionals remove and dispose of bodily fluids, tissue and other potentially pathogenic substances resulting from accident, trauma, crime or death. Trained SERVPRO Franchise Professionals clean, disinfect and deodorize the structure.

Methamphetamine Labs

SERVPRO realizes many of the chemicals used in the production of illegal drugs such as methamphetamine are volatile and can leave harmful residues throughout a structure. SERVPRO Franchise Professionals follow federal and state guidelines to properly clean all surfaces.

Open House Party

4/5/2024 (Permalink)

Click Here to RSVP

We would like to invite you to our 3rd-anniversary open house. There will be fun, food, drinks, learning and experience. 

• Equipment Demonstrations 
• Walk through a real-life mold containment!
• Try on PPE
• Food and fun
• Swag
• and more!

Our Office is located at 4374 Alexander Blvd NE Suite G, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107

See you there! Click Here to RSVP

Fire Damage must knows

7/3/2023 (Permalink)

Fire Safety

After any fire damage situation, your primary focus should be safety first.

-Is it safe in the house?

-Electrical and "slip and fall" hazards are some of the most prevalent concerns.

-Only do activities that are safe for you to perform.

-Wet materials can be VERY heavy. Be careful!

-Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into the upholstery and carpets.

-Keep hands clean so as not to further soil upholstery, walls, and woodwork. 

-Place clean towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery and carpet traffic areas.

-If electricity is off, empty freezer and refrigerator and prop doors open.

-Clean and protect chrome with light coating of petroleum jelly or oil.

-Wash houseplants on both sides of leaves.

-Change HVAC filter.

-Tape double layers of cheesecloths over air registers. 

-Don't attempt to wash any walls, painted surfaces, shampoo carpet or upholstery without contacting your SERVPRO Franchise Professional.

-Don't attempt to clean any electrical appliances that may have been close to fire, heat, or water without consulting an authorized repair service. 

-Don't use any canned or packaged food or beverages that may have been stored near the fire, heat or water.

-Don't turn on ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet. The wiring may be damaged.

-Don't send garments to an ordinary dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set smoke odor. 

Tips from IICRC - CARPET Cleanings

7/3/2023 (Permalink)

Commercial Carpet Cleanings

The following was copied directly from: http://www.IICRC.org/consumers/care/commercial-carpet-cleaning/

“What steps should I take to maintain carpet in a high-traffic area on a daily basis, and to deal with spills and stains?

·         It's a good idea to keep sand, grit and grass clippings off walkways outside entries to prevent inward tracking of these abrasive soils.

·         Purchase a properly sized entry mat, the bigger the better.  There must be room for at least two steps to sufficiently wipe soil from feet before encountering the installed carpet. A carpet with a nylon face and vinyl back is best for moisture and oils absorption, combined with the resiliency necessary to collect a quantity of particle soil. The IICRC suggests a rental mat, since that guarantees frequent maintenance. Place entry mats on hard surfaces rather than on carpet where they can trap moisture or cause plasticizer migration.

·         Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum daily, especially after major events. The sooner you collect soils from the surface, the easier it is to remove them. For most carpet, you should use an upright vacuum with brush agitation, unless your canister vacuum is particularly well designed. The wider the head, the more efficient.

·         Typically, deep cleaning should be accomplished on at least a semi-annual basis, with no more than two entry and high-traffic area "rinse" cleanings between the deep cleaning. This is dependent on traffic and daily maintenance as well. At a minimum, some attention should be given to primary entry areas on a quarterly basis.

·         If spots are treated immediately, most will respond with plain warm water and very little mild detergent added.

·         Use high-efficiency double-lined poly-fiber collection bags. This reduces periodic maintenance such as dusting of furniture, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) filter exchange.

·         Make sure the HVAC system is slightly positively pressurized as well, which means that air is going out when doors are opened, rather than being sucked in. Proper air exchange rates can be calibrated according to ASHRAE regulations for the building with a trained HVAC contractor.

·         Ensure proper air filtration through the HVAC System. High-efficiency pleated filters, rather than inexpensive fiberglass filters, are recommended.”

Air Movers & Drying Process

7/3/2023 (Permalink)

Air mover to the rescue

“Structure and contents

When working within a residence, it is often the case that those who are performing the water damage restoration must work with and around the contents of the home. This includes, but is not limited to, furniture, electronics, books, and any other materials that may have been affected by the water damage. The moving around of the said contents is often referred to "contents manipulation." Water damage restoration firms often bill content manipulation on a per hour basis.

Contents may also require treatment due to the effects of water damage. This may include, but is not limited to, sterilization, sanitization, deodorization, drying, and storage of said contents. Other contents may simply be unsalvageable, or the cost of having them salvaged would exceed its current value.

Monitoring

After the water has been extracted and any non-salvageable materials have been removed, water damage professionals should place drying equipment according to industry guidelines for capacity in the affected areas. Industry standards state that drying vendors should return to the residence at regular time intervals, preferably every twenty-four hours, to monitor the equipment, temperature, humidity, and moisture content of the affected walls, contents, or other affected materials. Should one area be dry and another affected area still wet, the firm will relocate or remove equipment accordingly.

Completion

Once temperature, humidity, and moisture content are deemed acceptable according to industry standards, drying equipment is removed and the drying process is complete. There are defining criteria and methods to be used for assessing water damage and establishing restoration procedures, but because of the unique circumstances of every water damage restoration project, it is impractical to issue blanket rules that apply to every situation. In extenuating circumstances, deviation from standard practices is appropriate.

Step-by-step process

Though the water seepage will stop once the source of water has been identified and plugged, the problem does not end there. It is essential to determine the appropriate water extraction method, which may range from the use of a wet-dry vac unit to more heavy duty equipment like submersible pumps. Once this has been completed, the process of drying and dehumidification should start. Oftentimes, affected surfaces and areas look dry once the water has been extracted and removed, but there remains hidden water and moisture.  This would call for the use of drying and dehumidifying equipment. As such, carpets, walls, and flooring require removal, drying, cleaning, and disinfecting."

Damp crawl space

2/23/2023 (Permalink)

Fogging of the crawlspace

Crawl space moisture is common, so don't sweat it. Expect your crawl space to get wet during hot and humid summer months, when precipitation is high. Moisture will condense on the crawl space walls and other materials inside. Depending on how humid the air is, puddles may form. Condensation in crawl space is a sign that you have a moisture problem. In general, condensation forms when the relative humidity in your crawl space reaches 100%. In other words, this is the point when the air can't hold moisture any longer. While a crawl space moisture problem can be complicated, the solution is fairly simple - seal the crawl space to keep out moisture from the outside air and soil and install a dehumidifier to control the humidity level. Using a dehumidifier will pull the moisture out of your crawl space air before it enters the rest of your home. You can install a crawl space barrier to eliminate odors. This prevents ground moisture from evaporating into your crawl space, which reduces your risk of odors from moisture, mold, or pests.

Moisture in your crawl space can lead to the growth and proliferation of mold. A wet crawl space is ideal for mold growth because of the presence of moisture. There’s also a lot of organic matter like wood that mold can feed on.

You’d be wrong to think that mold is harmless and only an aesthetic flaw. That’s because molded releases airborne spores into the air that find their way into your home. These spores can lead to a variety of respiratory complications, including allergic reactions and asthma attacks.

Don't let this disaster happen to you. Give us a call!

ONE Year SERVPRO of Rio Rancho, Sandoval County & South Albuquerque Celebration

6/28/2022 (Permalink)

Happy One Year Celebration

One year ago today SERVPRO OF SOUTH ALBUQUERQUE & SERVPRO OF RIO RANCHO AND SANDOVAL COUNTY was signed under new ownership. Building a strong, knowledgeable, dedicated team and being awarded Top 50 Franchise in the region, we are growing everyday. Join us in recognizing our amazing employees and leadership. #1YearCelebrations #FireWaterRestoration Tonya Smith, Former Marketing Manager, paved her way working and gaining knowledge in the company and in the industry to fulfill her goals of owning her own franchise and to make it even better she bought TWO!  Now, Owner/General Manager Tonya Smith, is developing a team to take over Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and surrounding areas. With Office manager, Michelle Archuleta and Production Crew Lead Manager, Anthony Garza, we are ensuring SERVPRO green is well known and used state wide.  Stop by the office or give us a call - Lets work together to make NM Clean!