Recent Posts

Can the Smell of Smoke be Removed after a Fire?

7/18/2023 (Permalink)

 

Smoke and soot are very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allow us to inspect and accurately assess the damage's extent to develop a comprehensive plan of action. 

Smoke and Soot Facts

  • Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.

  • Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.

  • The type of smoke may significantly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Southeast Memphis will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

  • Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

  • Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises; therefore, smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

  • Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is slightly different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions. We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage. We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care. We’re available 24/7 for your fire damage emergency. Call us anytime at (901) 334-9209. 

Easy Ways You Can Prevent Your Home From Water Damage

7/4/2023 (Permalink)

 

Water damage is one of the most costly disasters your home or business can experience. The Insurance Information Institute estimates that billions are spent on water damage each year. View these suggestions from SERVPRO of Southeast Memphis for preventing water damage

1. Be careful where you plant.

Some plants and trees, like weeping willows, have pretty invasive roots. If you’re not careful, they’ll grow right into your sprinkler system, drainage field, pipes, and septic tanks. Plan before you plant to keep roots away from any water lines.

2. Clean out roof gutters.

On a rainy day, a clogged gutter can send water spilling into your home’s foundation, through the roof, or down to your basement. That could cause some severe water damage So next time you’re doing some seasonal cleaning, make sure those gutters are clean. If your gutters are too high, be safe, and get a professional to check them.

3. Use a drain snake instead of unclogging chemicals.

Most folks don’t realize these chemicals are eating away at their pipes (and they might not be too good for you either). If you rely on them a lot, you could be setting yourself up for leaks. That’s why owning a drain snake is an excellent solution to clear away clogs. They’re pretty inexpensive, you can get them at your local hardware store, and they can cut through most any clog you’ll have without damaging pipes or making your eyes red and teary.


4. Never pour grease down your sink.

It doesn’t matter if you flush it with hot or cold water; grease can still cling to your pipes and could even cause some severe damage and blockage. The safest thing to do is pour your grease into an empty can and either let it sit or put it in the refrigerator. Once it hardens, you can toss it in the trash and get rid of it. Done and done. However, we know that water and flooding emergencies can happen any time, so we’re ready 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – including holidays. Contact us at  901-334-9209.

How to Save Your Belongings After Water Damage

7/4/2023 (Permalink)

 

Water in home settings can be devastating, whether from leaking pipes or backed-up drains or toilets. While there may be nothing you can do to prevent your items from becoming waterlogged in the event of an unexpected water leak, there are some things you can do to restore your belongings after water damage occurs. Here are a few ways you can clean up various items in your Memphis home.

4 Steps to Save Your Belongings After a Water Leak

1. Separate Items

Before you officially begin the cleanup process, separate your items into those that are porous and nonporous. Porous materials may include wood, paper, rugs, and other types of fabric. Generally, these are more likely to harbor mold and bacteria from broken pipe water, so it’s essential to clean them quickly. Nonporous items are usually much easier to clean since they don’t absorb water and are less likely to harbor bacteria and mold.

2. Dry-Clean Nonporous Items

Dry cleaning may be appropriate when removing light water residue from nonporous items in your home. Items can also be dry cleaned before floor restoration professionals come in and thoroughly clean your items. 

3. Air-Dry When Appropriate

If you’re not dealing with dangerous water, such as sewage, it may be appropriate to gently air-dry most of your belongings. If possible, do so indoors unless the weather outdoors is ideal. You can increase the airflow inside your home using open windows, air conditioners, and fans. 

4. Toss Dangerous Items

Depending on the nature of floodwater in home settings, it may be dangerous to keep saturated items. If there is a high likelihood of the floodwater containing harmful bacteria, it may be best to throw away contaminated objects. In other cases, professionals may be able to safely clean and salvage some of your valuables. 

While you may be able to clean some of your belongings that water has damaged in your home, safety should always be your top priority, whether you’re dealing with a broken pipe or a sewer backup. It’s best to wait for professional help to arrive for help with dry-cleaning or salvaging contaminated items. 

Need Help with Water Damage?

Call SERVPRO of Southeast Memphis at 901-334-9209 for additional information regarding water damage. We can professionally clean and restore the contents of your home. We are experts in water damage restoration and have top-notch equipment to dry out your home and get your life back on track as quickly as possible.

SERVPRO Dry Cleaning Techniques

5/23/2023 (Permalink)

house fire, SERVPRO technicians in white PPE suits cleaning out a room that has fire damaged debris Various fire residues adhere to each surface in your home differently, and we can help with it all.

Fire Damage Cleanup Restored Using Dry Cleaning Methods

Wet Cleaning Methods

When our SERVPRO technicians work with hard surfaces, we can use water based-detergents and other wet cleaning methods. But, for porous surfaces, wet techniques could cause the soot to soak deeper into the material. 

Dry cleaning methods that use agitation can prove useful in these cases.

4 Types of Smoke and Soils

Heat can burn flammable materials inside a structure, forcing removal and replacement of those materials, but the smoke coming from the blaze can also cause soils, soot residues, and intense aromas. 

A professional will know to use different chemicals and techniques when removing residues left behind, based on the smoke type. In most situations, smoke and the soils it leaves behind can be classified into one of four categories of smoke and soot damage: 

- wet

- dry

- protein residue

- and fuel oil soot.

Knowing which type of smoke was present helps the technician pick the best method to remove soot residues on the various surfaces of your building materials and contents. Often, a combination of the methods must be used.

Dry Cleaning Techniques for Fire Damage

Various fire residues adhere to each surface in your home differently, and we can help with it all. Some of the most effective techniques are dry techniques. Dry techniques are not suited to all material types, but they work well on materials that might otherwise be damaged from a more intense cleaning process. 

Light Agitation

SERVPRO of Southeast Memphis conducts the dry cleaning agitation technique with softer tools such as dusters or brushes. Special vacuums are also useful when removing some soot residues and using compressed air to blow off the soot. Light agitation is used for delicate or lightly soiled items that don’t require further scrubbing.

Medium Agitation

Residues that adhere to some of your contents and building surface materials could work better in medium agitation cleaning techniques. Dry sponges are an example of a medium agitation method, and they can be useful when removing soot residues from drywall. Dusting cloths or crumbling cleaners that work like a pencil eraser are also useful.

It's What We Do

Our experienced and trained SERVPRO team knows that mitigating fire damage includes a variety of replacing, restoring, and cleaning techniques. When mitigating smoke-related problems inside your home, it is invaluable to have the necessary knowledge. For professional assistance after a fire, call SERVPRO of Southeast Memphis at (901) 382-0900, 24/7. We're Faster to Any Size Disaster®.

5 Essential Tips for Preventing Kitchen Fires

5/23/2023 (Permalink)

house fire, SERVPRO technicians in white PPE suits cleaning out a room that has fire damaged debris Avoid kitchen hazards and protect your home.

As an expert in the field of fire damage restoration, we understand the importance of maintaining a safe and functional kitchen environment. Even the most experienced chefs can make costly mistakes that lead to devastating consequences. To help you avoid kitchen hazards and protect your home, here are five crucial tips to keep in mind: 

Keep Your Vents Clean and Clear

One of the most critical aspects of kitchen safety is ensuring proper ventilation. Regularly clean the vent screens above your stove to prevent the accumulation of grease. Over time, grease buildup can hinder ventilation and become a significant contributing factor in a kitchen fire. By keeping your vents clean, you reduce the risk of grease igniting and potentially worsening a fire. 

Never Leave Pans Unattended

It's a well-known rule among seasoned cooks, but it bears repeating: never leave pans unattended on the stove. Accidents can happen in an instant, from pans being knocked over to grease splattering or food cooking for too long. Any of these scenarios can quickly escalate into a fire hazard. Remain vigilant and always attend to your cooking to minimize the risk of accidents. 

Proper Disposal of Grease

After cooking, resist the temptation to pour hot grease down the drain. Such an act can lead to the accumulation of grease in your pipes, causing drain clogs and potential sink overflow. Instead, allow the grease to cool and pour it into a paper towel nested in a microwave safe bowl before disposing of it in the trash. By adopting this practice, you prevent grease-related plumbing issues and maintain a smoothly functioning kitchen. To avoid the buildup of grease and food particles in your kitchenware, make it a habit to wipe out greasy pans before washing them. Ensuring that your pans are free of excess grease before cleaning them is a simple yet effective preventive measure. 

Seek Professional Appliance Servicing

When you encounter issues with your kitchen appliances, it's crucial to seek professional assistance promptly. Attempting to fix problems without the proper knowledge and tools can result in potential electrical hazards and fires. Whether it's a malfunctioning stove or a clogged dishwasher disposal, entrust the task to a qualified professional who can address the issue safely and efficiently. 

Accidents Happen

In the unfortunate event of a fire or flooding in your kitchen, a fire and water damage restoration service can provide valuable assistance. These experts are trained to handle such emergencies and can help restore your kitchen to its former state. From mitigating fire damage to addressing water-related issues, restoration professionals possess the expertise and equipment necessary to minimize the impact of such incidents. By following these five essential tips, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of encountering hazards in your kitchen.

How Often to Clean HVAC?

5/23/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technician cleaning the air vent piping SERVPRO of Southeast Memphis can help. We offer heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit (HVAC) cleaning.

As you embark on cleaning your home, you may forget an important piece of machinery that needs cleaning and maintenance as much as the garage needs cleaning! Don't forget about your HVAC system.

Benefits of Cleaning Your HVAC

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pollutant levels inside your home can be two to five times higher than outdoors pollutant levels, and the ventilation system is often the largest contributor to low indoor air quality! Many systems go a long time before being inspected and cleaned, so if your HVAC system is like most, your dirty vents might be circulating odors, mold, and irritating dust throughout your home, too.

The EPA reports contaminants or foreign objects such as rodents, insects, dust, dirt, debris, bacteria, mold, and pollen have the ability to enter and collect in your air ducts. So not only is your indoor air quality worsened, but these critters and allergens can cause long-term damages to your HVAC system.

Who Cleans Air Ducts?

Cleaning your HVAC system is no easy task without the right tools, but that’s where a professional in the industry like SERVPRO of Southeast Memphis can help. We offer heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit (HVAC) cleaning. In most cases, air duct cleaning is not essential to a smoothly run home, but after a major air-quality-reducing event like a fire with smoke or suspected mold growth, duct cleaning is absolutely essential to limit the circulation of contaminants throughout the house.

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

  • Dust
  • Pollen
  • Odors
  • Dirt and debris
  • Other contaminants

How Does SERVPRO Clean HVAC Systems?

Unlike most duct cleaning services, we use a Portable Ventilation & Air Duct Cleaning System to examine ductwork and sweep clean years of dust and grime.

This system allows us to:

  • Remediate Bacteria, Fungi, and Mold
  • Reduce Potential for Mold Growth
  • Restore Peak Energy Efficiency
  • Eliminate Offensive Odors
  • Provide Free Written Inspections and Estimates

Our Duct Cleaning Process

  • First, we use patented equipment, such as the roto-scraper, which automatically adapts to the duct's shape and diameter while traveling through the duct, removing debris and filth before vacuuming begins.

  • Next, a powerful push-pull air delivery and collection system transfers the debris from the ducting to a 16-gallon container.

  • Air is filtered through a HEPA filtration system, removing 99.97 percent of particles in the airstream. HEPA filters capture debris and keep the environment clean.

  • As an optional process, a sealant or coating product may be sprayed to address odor or microbial concerns.

  • Filters will either be cleaned or replaced to remove odor and dirt.

If you have other cleaning needs, we provide various cleaning services. Call (901) 382-0900 today.

Save Your Persian Rug After Fire | Full Restoration

5/22/2023 (Permalink)

man in safety suit, PPE, cleaning up after a fire, filling a bag with contents Protect your investment with a professional service.

Rug Cleaning for High-Quality Carpet and Upholstery After a Fire

Even the highest-quality carpet and upholstery can show soiling over time. Let's face it, we don't live a Bubble Boy life even though it's a nice thought to imagine arts and crafts with little ones in a sizable, contained balloon. Finding residue and grime on expensive furniture items is easy enough, so that damage seems to increase exponentially after experiencing fire damage. Pieces of functional decor like Persian rugs are irreplaceable, timeless, and usually a large investment. Protect your investment with a professional service.

SERVPRO of Southeast Memphis knows how to clean, offering several washing options to match any type of carpet and upholstery:

  • Bonnet Cleaning, a less aggressive method for short pile carpets
  • Hot Water Extraction, a more in-depth cleaning method for all carpet types
  • Deluxe Precondition and Rinse, to restore deeply soiled areas
  • Showcase Premier Cleaning, the most thorough cleaning method in the industry
  • Dry Cleaning, used when color-fastness is an issue

After a fire, more than carpets and upholstery are damaged, though, because soot spreads. That is why, as cleaning professionals, we have equipment to clean varieties of surfaces and materials.

Cleaning vs. Replacing

Heat can burn flammable materials inside a structure, forcing removal and replacement of those materials, but the smoke coming from the blaze can also cause soils, soot residues, and intense aromas that are easier to restore. 

Our experienced and trained SERVPRO team knows that mitigating fire damage includes a variety of replacing, restoring, and cleaning techniques. Various fire residues adhere to each surface in your home differently, and we can help with it all.

Dry Smoke

Most fires go through stages of creating both wet and dry smoke. However, usually fires will have more of one type than the other. Dry smoke is created by fast-burning, oxygen-rich burns. Dry smoke is also usually created when organic materials like wood, paper, or natural fabrics burn.

Wet Smoke

Whether a fire produces a majority of wet or dry smoke depends on the amount of oxygen present, the combustion rate, and the type of substance that is burning. When the fire is starved of oxygen and burns at a lower temperature, it produces wet smoke. Wet smoke is also created when synthetic materials such as rubber or plastic burn. Wet smoke usually adheres strongly to surfaces and is difficult to remove. 

Cleaning Techniques

When our SERVPRO technicians work with hard surfaces, we can use water based-detergents and other wet cleaning methods. However, for porous surfaces, wet techniques could cause the soot to soak deeper into the material. Dry cleaning methods that use agitation can prove useful in these cases.

Dry Cleaning: Light Agitation

SERVPRO conducts the dry cleaning agitation technique with softer tools such as dusters or brushes. Special vacuums are also useful when removing some soot residues and using compressed air to blow off the soot.

Dry Cleaning: Medium Agitation

Residues that adhere to some of your contents and building surface materials could work better in medium agitation cleaning techniques. Dry sponges are an example of a medium agitation method, and they can be useful when removing soot residues from drywall. Dusting cloths or crumbling cleaners that work like a pencil eraser are also useful.

SERVPRO has the necessary tools, techniques and knowledge to save your rugs after fire damage. Protect your high-quality carpet and upholstery investment. For professional assistance after a fire, call us at (901) 382-0900, 24/7.

Clean Up Flood Damage: Call a Pro

7/8/2022 (Permalink)

Professional Flood Water Damage Cleanup

While some water damage events aren’t very predictable, flood damage from storms is comparably easier to forecast. Storm surges, torrential rain, and rising water levels cause massive water damage for those who live along the coast or in low-lying areas. Flood damage is terrible in every instance, but the good news is homeowners and business owners usually have adequate time to prepare their home and/or business for the impending water damage as best they can.

When a storm ends, and it's safe to return to a damaged property, many find the water damage in the home or business worse than they could have imagined. It sometimes seems impossible that water levels can rise so high and cause such devastating damage. In the unfortunate case that this has or will happen to you, follow the following important guidelines for safely handling flood waters and their effects.

Do Not Go Back To the Property Without Permission

Even if your curiosity wants to know how much water is in the property or the kind of water damage; never return to the property without being notified first that it's safe to return by proper authorities. Flood damage and waters can be hazardous, and it's easy to forget that there is so much more than just water on the road or in a home. 

Beware of Bacteria

Before anyone enters a home or office with water damage to begin the water cleanup process, they must know how much danger potentially awaits. The water cleanup process should begin as quickly as possible, but it cannot be done if the area is still unsafe.

  1. Live electricity. Don't assume just because the power is out in the town that there's nothing to worry about. The power could come back on at any moment, which means it could cause serious bodily harm to anyone in contact with the electricity or its conductors. Make sure all electricity is turned off at its source before entering any building with standing water.
  2. Danger in the water. The second danger is what might be waiting for people in the water. There could be animals like snakes or dangerous bacteria found in feces like E. Coli. Always let the local authorities do a neighborhood sweep before taking steps to prepare for the water cleanup and drying process.

Call the Pros

Restoration companies have powerful equipment designed to allow adequate drying in minimal time. Professional mitigation and restoration are imperative because any missed moisture leads to much larger problems like microbial contamination. Restoration is designed to clear out all the water in places others might not realize it is hiding. 

Call for professional restoration and mitigation rather than handling the drying process without a pro's help to remove water in a business or home. Contact SERVPRO of Southeast Memphis for professional flood water cleanup, professional drying, and content cleaning.

SERVPRO® of Southeast Memphis Promotes Two Longtime Employees

5/23/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® of Southeast Memphis Promotes Patrick Belcher and Chuck Tucker

Patrick Belcher was promoted from operations manager to general manager after long and faithful growth at SERVPRO Team Nicholson. 

Humble Beginnings

Patrick has been on our team since 2013. When he first started at SERVPRO Team Nicholson, he was looking to make some extra money on the weekends. A friend of his worked at SERVPRO of Montgomery County and let him know they needed extra people to help demo and clean up jobs occasionally. For the next year Patrick worked part time out of the Montgomery County Office.

Path to General Manager

In 2015, Patrick started his career. He began as a full-time production technician, then became a Crew Chief, then a Production Manager.

After 5 years, Patrick transferred to Memphis. There he was promoted twice: once to Operations Manager, then to General Manager. As the general manager, Patrick oversees daily operations. He coordinates with division managers to create an annual business plan with goals and oversees the management of the Sales, Production, Construction Services, and Office Divisions. 

When asked what he enjoys about this current role as GM, he replied, “I particularly like seeing all aspects of the business from mitigation to construction to future planning, all while being involved with each member of the team.”

When Patrick isn’t working, he is spending time traveling with his daughter to different cities and state parks, golfing and fishing—or anything that includes a body of water. He also enjoys volunteering with his Church at any of their opportunities to give back to the community.

Patrick Belcher has worked at the following SERVPRO Team Nicholson Locations:

SERVPRO of Montgomery County

SERVPRO of Central St. Petersburg / Pinellas Park

SERVPRO of Gulf Beaches South / West St. Petersburg

SERVPRO of Bartlett/Cordova

SERVPRO of Germantown/Collierville

SERVPRO of East Memphis

SERVPRO of Southeast Memphis

What an outstanding accomplishment!

Production Manager to Operations Manager

Chuck Tucker, a SERVPRO employee for over 20 years, stepped into Patrick’s former role of operations manager. Previously, Chuck had been a production manager. Now, as operations manager, Tucker is responsible for setting departmental budgets, managing daily operations, and identifying areas of improvement, all while ensuring a high quality of service in any dealings with customers, clients, subcontractors, resource providers, and company employees involved in SERVPRO services.

Chuck’s experience and loyalty is almost unmatched in Team Nicholson history. Almost—because it could be matched by his wife, Debra. After 4 years of working together at SERVPRO and 2 years of dating, Chuck married his coworker, Debra. The two continue to work together to this day and have a beautiful family together. As expected, Chuck has seen the industry change many times in the past 20 years. 

Congratulations on these achievements and continued growth! Thank you for your commitment to bettering SERVPRO Team Nicholson.

Our Employees

We pride ourselves on hiring people with a good work ethic, high integrity, and the ability to work in and adapt to tough conditions. We are continuously seeking individuals who are self-motivated, proactive, responsible, and service-oriented team players. If you are highly dependable and excited about exceeding expectations, consider joining us in our mission to help our customers in their greatest moments of need. See our available positions.

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

SERVPRO of Southeast Memphis is locally owned and operated—so we’re a part of this community too. We are also part of a national network of over 1960 Franchises, which enables us to respond quicker with more resources. For major storms and disasters, we can call upon special Disaster Recovery Teams strategically located throughout the country.

We are proud to serve our local communities:

Why Memphis Fabrication Plant Calls SERVPRO to Extract Water

3/13/2022 (Permalink)

a storage rack full of air movers along a wall, going up the side of an industrial warehouse, SERVPRO green We are proud to help businesses in this community with commercial water removal methods continue serving the public.

Flood water and storm damage events at commercial properties often involve numerous issues that require a knowledgeable and flexible response. Whether we are dealing with a relatively small water cleanup scenario or a large-scale event, SERVPRO of Southeast Memphis quickly assesses each unique situation and isolates the damaged area for cleanup. In many instances, normal operations can continue in a temporary space while we restore your facility and make it, “Like it never even happened.”

Unique Challenges of Restoring Commercial Property

Our professionals at SERVPRO are trained to be mindful of legal and environmental concerns and strive to fully restore the damaged area while working within your budgetary constraints. We understand that every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. 

Why Memphis Fabrication Plant Calls SERVPRO to Extract Water

Once a factory or other assembly plant sustains water loss, drying the area to protect employee health and safety, machinery, and productivity is a priority. Drains are a simple solution to water removal or rerouting, but they can only do so much when massive amounts of water are present in multiple areas. For instance, overhead water sources can ruin machines and other equipment by forming pools of water in the depressions of equipment.

Water Extraction

Removing the water from where it would otherwise remain trapped prevents corrosion of metal and keeps microbial infestations from developing. When your equipment retains water, we suction it out with specialty tools like water and other material extractors, helping ensure that employees can continue their jobs with little interruption from us. Then, if the machinery's maintenance instructions call for it, we will even wipe machines with oil to prevent rust and protect equipment from possible problems. 

SERVPRO Equipment Enhances Air Quality

Air movers help us keep moisture from condensing on surfaces and direct water vapor toward desiccation machines. These machines draw moisture from the air and release dry, filtered air back into the area we are treating. This cycle cleans and dries the air.

Using our various machines and tools, we protect your equipment and building from harm. At SERVPRO, we are proud to help businesses in this community with commercial water removal methods continue serving the public. We want to ensure businesses stay afloat, operating, and contributing to the local economy; part of the way we do that is by getting involved to mitigate a storm or water disaster as soon as we can. Call us today to schedule a free estimate, (901) 382-0900. We are also available 24 hours for emergency service.