The Importance of Cleaning Dryer Vents

4/16/2024 (Permalink)

Over time, different contaminants or foreign objects can enter and collect in your air ducts that may diminish the indoor air quality of your home or office or cause other damages to your HVAC system.

• Rodents
• Insects or Pests
• Dust
• Dirt
•  Debris
• Bacteria
• Mold
• Pollen

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

According to FEMA, failure to clean home dryers causes 34% of home dryer fires. Home dryer fires cause $35 million in property loss and can even cause injury or death. To reduce the risk of these fires happening in your or your insured’s home or business, SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas can help clean dryer vents and ducts that may have lint buildup. Other tips for keeping your dryer vents clean from the National Fire Protection Agency include cleaning the lint filter before and after each load, and making sure the outdoor vent flap will open and is not restricted by snow, a bird’s nest, or other potential obstacles. For more information on cleaning dryer vents contact SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas. 

What to do Before Help Arrives

4/12/2024 (Permalink)

A fire can leave behind soot, smoke damage and a host of other problems. Ceilings, walls, woodwork, carpeting, and floors will often need a thorough professional cleaning. If your home or business suffers a fire, it is important to take the appropriate steps to prevent further damage until SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas arrives. The following tips may help reduce damage and increase chances of a successful restoration. 

DO: 

• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpet.
• Keep hands clean. Soot on hands can further soil upholstery, walls and woodwork.
• Place dry, colorfast towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery and carpet traffic areas.
• If electricity is off, empty freezer/refrigerator completely and prop doors open to help prevent odor.
• Wipe soot from chrome kitchen/bathroom faucets, trim and appliances, then protect these surfaces with a light coating of lubricant.
• If heat is off during winter, pour RV antifreeze in sinks, toilet bowls, holding tanks and tubs to avoid freezing pipes and fixtures.
• Change HVAC filters; leave system off until a trained professional can check the system.
• Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers to stop particles of soot from getting in or out of the HVAC system.

DON'T: 

• Don’t attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces without first contacting SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas, 702-656-0230.
• Don’t attempt to shampoo carpet or upholstered furniture without first consulting SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas. 
• Do not attempt to clean any electrical appliances (TV sets, radios, etc.) that may have been close to fire, heat or water without first consulting an authorized repair service.
• Do not consume any food or beverages that may have been stored close to fire, heat or water, as they may be contaminated.
• If ceiling is wet, do not turn on ceiling fans.
• Wiring may be wet or damaged and cause electrical shock, and air movement may create secondary damage.
• Don’t send garments to the dry cleaner.
• Improper cleaning may set in smoke odor.

Emergency Fire Damage Tips

4/3/2024 (Permalink)

These emergency tips will assist you in taking proper action until SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas arrives. Follow these DOs and DON’Ts to help reduce damage and increase the chances of a successful restoration.

DO:

• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into carpet and avoid tracking.
• Keep your hands clean. Soot on your hands can further soil upholstery, walls, and woodwork.
• If electricity is off, empty the freezer and refrigerator completely and prop doors open to help prevent odor.
• Wipe soot from metal kitchen and bathroom faucets, trim, and appliances.
•  If heat is off during winter months, pour RV antifreeze in sinks, toilet bowls, holding tanks, and tubs to avoid freezing pipes and fixtures.
•  Remove soot particles from plants with a damp cloth.
• Change HVAC filter, but leave it off until a trained professional can check the system.
• Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers to stop particles of soot from getting in or out of the HVAC system.

DON’T:

• Don’t attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces without first contact SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas.
• Don’t attempt to shampoo carpet, rugs, or upholstered furniture without first consulting your SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas. 
• Don’t attempt to clean any electrical appliances (TV sets, radios, etc.) that may have been close to fire, heat, or water without first consulting an authorized repair service.
• Don’t consume any food or beverages that may have been stored close to fire, heat, or water. (They maybe contaminated.)
• Don’t turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet. Wiring may be wet or damaged and cause electrical shock and air movement may create secondary damage.
• Don’t send garments to the dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set in smoke odor.

Spring is in the air!

4/2/2024 (Permalink)

With the warmer weather comes the tradition of spring cleaning, a time to organize and clean the environments—home, business, office—we encounter on a daily basis. SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas can assist you or your insured with during spring cleaning—or any season.
Perhaps you are selling a home and want to vanquish years of cigarette smoke odor that won’t go away, or you want to purge old clothes and junk that has accumulated over time in your living areas. Detailed articles on hoarding, deodorization, and much more are featured this month, but SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas also offer the following cleaning services:

• carpet cleaning
• upholstery and drapery cleaning
• ceiling and wall cleaning
• hard floor cleaning

Whatever your spring cleaning needs, SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas has you covered. Call your local SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas today to discuss or schedule your necessary spring cleaning services. 

Be Flood Smart

3/29/2024 (Permalink)

Floods are one of the most common and widespread natural disasters in the United States. Whether your home or business is near a coastline, along city streets, in the mountains, near a river or even in the desert-there is always potential for flood damage. Floodsmart.gov reports, in the last five years, all 50 states have experienced floods or flash floods.

According to the American Red Cross (ARC), floods cause more damage in the U.S. every year than any other weather-related disaster. The ARC offers the following flood safety tips.

• Stay away from floodwaters. If you come up on a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, stop, turn around and go another way. Six inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off of your feet.
• If you approach a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water.
• Keep children out of the water. They are curious and often lack judgment about running water or contaminated water.

If a flood does strike your home or business, contact SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas. Even minor floods have the potential to cause major damage to a structure when not treated quickly and properly, and the cleanup is often an overwhelming task. SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas is prepared to handle any size disaster. When fire and water take control of your life, SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas will help you take it back. 

Improve Your Air Quality: Duct Cleaning Can Help!

3/22/2024 (Permalink)

The ventilation system is often the biggest culprit in poor indoor air quality, but you can help change that! Inspecting the ductwork in your home should be a high priority. In most cases, the HVAC system has been operating for some time without much attention. Dirty ducts can circulate odors, contaminants such as mold, and irritating dust throughout your home.
A routine part of SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas  service is inspecting the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit (HVAC). Keeping the HVAC and ductwork clean can potentially extend the life-span of the equipment by allowing it to operate at peak condition, which may help save you money. Duct cleaning may not always be necessary. SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas will inspect your HVAC system and ductwork and make recommendations about the best way to address any indoor air quality concerns. This inspection can help save you money and provide peace of mind on the health of your HVAC system and ductwork.
In some circumstances, such as after a fire, smoke, or suspected mold growth, duct cleaning becomes an essential part of the cleanup process.
In these cases, SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas can often restore the HVAC system and ductwork to pre-damage condition.

What's in my Duct?
Over time, different contaminants or foreign objects can enter and collect in your air ducts that may diminish the indoor air quality of your home or office or cause other damages to your HVAC system.
• Rodents 
• Its or Pests 
• Dust 
• Dirt
• Debris
• Bacteria 
• Mold 
• Pollen

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
If you have a fuel-burning furnace, stove, or fireplace, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends it be inspected for proper functioning and be serviced before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning.
Our duct cleaning system is proven and cost efficient. Unlike the majority of duct cleaning
services, We use a portable ventilation and air duct cleaning system to examine ductwork and make a clean sweep, removing years of dust and grime. To schedule an appointment,
contact SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas today. 

Happy PI Day

3/14/2024 (Permalink)

Are you familiar with Pi? The mathematical constant that is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, approximately equal to 3.14159? It's celebrated annually on March 14th (3.14) as Pi Day. What better way to celebrate than by making and eating a delicious pie? This Blueberry Crumble Cream Pie looks delicious.

Ingredients:

• Pie crust
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups blueberries

For the crumble

• 4 Tbsp butter, melted
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup quick oats

Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450*F 
- Place your pie dough in a 9" pie pan and prick the dough several times with a fork. Bake for 9-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly brown. Remove from oven, reduce heat to 350*F
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, sour cream, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Gently fold in blueberries. Pour into the pie shell.
- For the crumble, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, flour, and oats in a medium bowl. Mix until combined, then sprinkle evenly over the pie.
- Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Let cool on wire rack.
Enjoy!

Flooding Can Happen

3/11/2024 (Permalink)

According to the National Weather Service (NOAA), “Approximately seventy-five percent of all Presidential disaster declarations are associated with flooding.” NOAA lists the most common flood hazards in the United States as:
• Flash Flooding
• River Flooding
• Storm Surge and Coastal Inundation from Tropical and Non-Tropical Systems
• Burn Scars/Debris Flows (Caused by Wildfires)
• Ice/Debris Jams
• Snowmelt
• Dry Wash (Caused by heavy rainfall in dry areas)
• Dam Breaks/Levee Failure
Just because you haven’t experienced a flood doesn’t mean you won’t in the future. In fact, 20% of all claims paid by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) were for policies in low-risk communities. On average, floods cost $3.5 billion in annual losses in the U.S., and commercial flood claims average more than $75,000 (NFIP).
When catastrophic water damage happens to you, SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas can help. We can help you prepare ahead of time with an Emergency Ready Profile (ERP), or respond to any size disaster to begin cleanup and restoration to get you back in business as soon as possible.
SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas are ready to help make it “Like it never even happened.”  

Staying Safe During a Flood

3/7/2024 (Permalink)

If you are in an area that is under a flood warning, find shelter right away. Depending on the type of flooding, evacuate if told to do so or move to higher ground. Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters! Just six inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away. Never drive around barricades. Local first responders use them to safely direct traffic out of flooded areas. Make sure you have a way to listen to local alerting systems, like the NOAA Weather Radio, for current emergency information and instructions regarding flooding. If you are sheltering indoors, get to the highest level in the building. Only get on the roof if necessary and once there signal for help. Do not climb into a closed attic to avoid getting trapped by rising floodwater. Review these preparedness tips each spring season!

DRYBOOK Documentation

2/27/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas uses state-of the-art monitoring equipment and a proven scientific process to help speed the drying of your home or business. 

DRYBOOK DOCUMENTATION 

SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas professionals use the latest technology to help ensure your property is dried quickly and efficiently.  

DryBook is a proprietary tool that:

• Manages industry drying requirements.
• Provides real-time documentation on the drying process.
• Validates that services are executed to standard.
• Reports to all stakeholders involved. 
• Allows real-time updates through DryBook Mobile integration. 

This improves results and restores your property at a faster rate, getting you back in your home or business sooner. The bottom line? SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas have the training and equipment to help make it “Like it never even happened.”