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Can Carpets Be Cleaned After A Water Damage?

12/8/2017 (Permalink)

People around the Toledo, Ohio area have often asked "can my carpeting be saved after a water damage?" The answer has a couple of variables.

If The water source was clean water and you can it has not been sitting for an extended period of time chances are really god it can be saved. With that being said we then must make sure the carpets integrity will hold up when it is lifted to dry and then relayed. First we carefully remove the carpet from the tact strips, unless of course it is glue down; If that is the case we can simply extract the carpet and dry it in place. Once the carpet is lifted from the tact strip the padding is typically removed due to the fact that it is very hard to dry properly and completely. We want to make sue the pad will not hold and grow bacteria. After the pad had been removed we then put air movers under the carpet and "float" the carpet to dry. once the carpet and sub floor have dried completely new pad can be installed and the carpet can then be relayed. At that point SERVPRO of Sylvania/West Toledo can then Clean the Carpet.

Mold In your Toledo Home?

12/4/2017 (Permalink) If you find mold growing in your Toledo, Ohio home there are a few things you should know. Mold typically is the result of water intrusion in the home along with poor ventilation. Places such as basements that tend to be damp, dark  can be a breeding ground for unwanted mold. Bathrooms are another place where mold flourishes, usually do to tubs that are not properly sealed or a lack of an exhaust fan or sometimes we find the exhaust fan may be vented directly into the attic which can cause mold to develop over a period of time.

Thing you should do:

Toledo Residents:Snow Emergency Classifications
 With winter upon us I thought it would be a good time to put out our reminder about staying safe on the road this winter.

Pursuant of Ohio Attorney General Opinion 86-023, the sheriff of a county may declare a snow emergency and temporarily close county and township roads within his jurisdiction for the preservation of the public peace. Attorney General Opinion 97-015 allows the sheriff to close state and municipal roads.

Snow Emergency Classifications

The Wonderful World Of Weather Lore
 Let's face it if you follow the weather in any way at all we know that it is not an exact science. Yes there are satellites to observe cloud patterns around the world, and radars are used to measure precipitation. All of this data is then plugged into super computers, which is how they come up with an educated guess.They do not control the weather. So how do we know if we are in for a mild winter or a winter filled with snow storm and cold temperatures? My Papaw always said to look to Nature, It would tell you all you need to know. Living on a farm in the Midwest he would often say a severe winter had many tell tell signs. A simple sign like an over abundance of acorns was natures way of preparing Gods creatures for a rough winter. If there weren't many acorn then winter would be mild. He also said "onion skins very thin, mild winters coming in; onion skins thick and tough, coming winter is gonna be rough." I am not sure who is more accurate the weatherman or my Papaw, but the  acorns were abundant and my onions in the garden this year were tough. My Papaw would be happy that my snow boots and snow shovel are ready!

Molds Has Needs Too!
 Mold is literally everywhere. Mold is outdoors, indoors, in the air we breath and on surfaces we touch everyday.

According to Michael Pugliese, author of "The Homeowners Guide to Mold" , there are three main necessities that mold spores need to grow and thrive:


Mold spores need moist or damp areas to grow and reproduce. Area such as kitchens, laundry rooms and Bathrooms. Basements are also a very common place to find mold growing in your home.


Mold spores need food – Mold loves porous Materials. Building materials such as drywall, wood carpet and furniture. Mold loves organic matter.

Optimum Temperatures

Mold spores thrive in temperatures 32 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures from about 70 - 90.  Although Mold does not die in temperatures below 32 Fahrenheit, but it will lay dormant until temperatures rise to support growth.

Source: Pugliese, Michael. “The Homeowner’s Guide to Mold.” 4-5.

Sewage Backups. Are you Covered?
 This past year my Daughter had the unpleasant experience of having a Sewage backup in her home in Maumee Ohio. Thankfully I work for SERVPRO of Sylvania/West Toledo so I knew the steps we needed to take. What I didn't realize was she had never added optional sewage backup coverage to her policy. A lot of people do not realize that even though many water damages to your home are covered under your homeowners policy, sewage backup is most likely not. A sewage backup requires immediate proper clean-up that can be very expensive as well it can result in damage to carpets, walls, furniture and other personal property that will be costly to replace.The cost of adding the coverage to your policy is minimal in comparison. Needless to say she is now covered!

Fire Bug Out Bags
 Have you ever heard of a Bug Bag? A Bug out bag is something you can grab in a hurry to help you survive. One of the best reasons to have a bug out bag is in the case of a home fire. Why you may ask? Well, home fire can start with just a small flame and turn into a fully engulfed structure in just a matter of minutes leaving you only seconds to escape.

A Bug Out Bag can be as elaborate or as simple as you wish but for the purpose of this article we are suggesting to keep it simple. This bag should be kept within reach, such as next to your AND your children's beds. If a fire was to strike in the middle of the night you want quick access.

In the bag you should consider some type of fire hood. On the high-end is the iEvac Certified Smoke/Fire Hood. It protects against toxic gasses such as carbon monoxide (the number one cause of death and injury in a fire), smoke, hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, sulfur dioxide, tear gas and more. There are several options out there and a little research goes a long way.

Next we suggest a fire Blanket and a Flashlight.

Another great addition is a whistle! I know this may sound strange but if you are trapped and can not escape on your own blowing a simple whistle will help to alert firemen to where you are located.

This bag is simply for you to get out alive!

Remember to have a plan!

Talk to your children !

Practice your escape routes!

And most importantly ALWAYS Make sure you have working smoke detectors in you home.

 If you have ever had deep fried turkey you might never want to go back to oven roasted again. There is  just something about the crispy skin and the juicy meat that just melts in your mouth. If you are considering trying this method out for the first time, make sure you do your research. It is a delicious end result but you don't want to burn your house down in the process!

Here's a few safety tips:

1. Always use your turkey fryer outdoors, away from anything flammable.

2. Place fryer on a flat surface.

3.Place the propane tank and fryer so that any wind blows the heat away from the heat source.

5. NEVER overfill the fryer, the container must be large enough to hold the turkey with enough oil to cover it.

4. Make sure your Turkey is thawed completely. Thoroughly pat the turkey dry as  hot oil and water will cause extreme splattering.

5. Turn Off the heat source before placing the turkey into the hot oil, this way if they oil does overflow there is no flame to ignite. Once Turkey is safely in the oil you can then again lite the burner.

6.Check the oil temperature frequently. If the oil begins to smoke, immediately turn the gas supply OFF. (If you don't watch it carefully, the oil may catch fire).

7. Never leave your fryer unattended.

The oil will remain dangerously hot for quite some time after you have turned off your burner and removed your turkey. Please keep children and pets away from hot oil!

These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. The information is not intended to replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional.   And as always follow the manufactures recommendations on the turkey fryer.

Not All Mold Is "Black Mold"
 Quite often our office receives calls from customers concerned about "black Mold". Unfortunately, due to media attention years ago many people still believe that all mold is "black mold" or "toxic black bold". The terms  "black mold" and "toxic black Mold" are not scientific terms. These terms were used by the Media , typicality to refer to Stachybotrys molds. The first thing that people need to understand is that Mold is everywhere. There are over 100,000 types of mold. All homes and building in general contain mold. Mold is everywhere, it is in the air outside, the trees and even the ground we walk on. With that being said, you may find yourself asking what should you do if you find an overgrowth of mold in a concentrated area in your home? That is where we here at SERVPRO of Sylvania/West Toledo can come in and help you figure that out. Our trained professionals will do a complete visual inspection and come up with a remediation plan that best suits your particular situation. Call us today!

What To Do When The Storm Subsides
 2017 has had no shortage of severe weather hit around the globe. We have seen major Hurricanes such , Harvey, Irma, Jose, and Maria.  The Atlantic  alone has had 17 Named storms so far in 2017!

On top of the major named storms we have had sever thunderstorms, heavy rains and we are just barely into the winter season!

So what steps should you do after the storm is gone and you are left with damage to your home?

There are steps that you should be aware of, steps to make the process smother and less Complicated.

1. Take the proper safety precautions! If your property is heavily damaged contact a reputable restoration company such as SERVPRO of Sylvania/West Toledo to secure your property.

2. Contact your insurance company.

3.  Photograph damage, if it safe for you to do so. This is important to be sure you have an accurate record to give to your insurance company.

4. If the damage is from a storm such as a hurricane, look into Federal Disaster Assistance.The federal government may have declared the area affected by the storm as a disaster area that is eligible for low-cost loans to help restore your property to normal. You will be required to file documents to receive these loans.


