It's Time to Clean Out Your Gutters!

9/27/2021 (Permalink)

A common cause of roof and water damage in homes after a storm is malfunctioning gutters.

Fall is here, and with it, leaves, leaves and more leaves. 

I’m sure that it goes without saying for most of you, however, I’m going to go ahead and remind you to clean out your gutters this fall.

I usually find myself doing this task twice- once at the beginning of the season to get all of the wet, decaying leaves and twigs that have accumulated all year out. Then, I go out a second time in November, after all of the leaves have fallen but before the snow falls, to do a clearing of all of the new leaves. 

A common cause of roof and water damage in residential properties after a storm is malfunctioning gutters.

When your gutters are clogged, the water collects and spills out of the top in both directions. When it falls away from your house, it pools and causes problems at your foundation level, causing damage to your foundation and often flooding your basement. When it flows out onto your roof, it can create a leaking problem in your attic. Roof leaks often go unnoticed because most of us don’t make frequent visits into our attic spaces. But, eventually, the water will make its way into the insulation, walls and ceilings of your home. Roof leaks are also a common reason why attic mold grows.

Cleaning out your gutters lowers your risk of basement flooding and roof leaks. 

However, if you do find yourself with a flood due to clogged gutters, don’t worry - we won’t judge! We understand that despite a homeowner’s best intentions, life gets busy and accidents happen! Give our office a call at (906) 204-2450 and schedule an appointment with our team to restore your home "Like it never even happened."

Winter Weather Preparedness

2/13/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula is prepared to help you weather the storm!

Are you fully prepared for winter? Here's a few additional tips to make sure your home or business is prepared to weather the winter storms in the Upper Peninsula.

• Winter weather preparedness:
  • Go over how to ensure your home is insulated properly:
    • Weather stripping on doors/windows, insulate walls, attics, pipes
    • Plastic sheeting over windows that are drafty
  • Emergency safety kits, in case of power outages – in your home & in your vehicle
  • Stock up on food, water, gasoline for vehicles, shovels, weather appropriate clothing, blankets, salt/sand, etc.
  • Keep your phones charged
  • If power goes out close any curtains, blinds & doors to rooms that are not needing to be used to keep heat centralized. Cover windows to reduce a draft
  • If you have a wood burning stove, ensure you have enough wood in case of multiple days of power outages. Also, make sure the flue is always open. Keep a carbon monoxide detector in the home to detect any possible gasses.
• During/after winter storms:
  • Shovel during & after to ensure a safe entrance/exit in case of emergency
  • Keep an eye on your piping, watch out for frozen pipes. Make sure your pipes are properly insulated!
  • Switch your thermostat from auto to fan on, this makes your burners run less which results in a more constant circulation of heat throughout aka a more regulated temperature.

Asbestos Testing is Mandatory

11/7/2018 (Permalink)

Thankfully asbestos used in construction and manufacturing for the most part, is a material of the past.  However many buildings today still retain traces or even large quantities of asbestos. Particularly in older buildings, testing for and identifying this asbestos is an important job, but one that is unfortunately neglected by many business owners. Failing to test for asbestos when making renovations or restorations to a building can cause long-term negative health effects for restoration professionals, customers, and even yourself, creating a legal and financial disaster large enough to ruin most businesses. There are specific Federal regulations mandated by the EPA regarding renovating buildings, and asbestos abatement.

SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula completes certified asbestos testing to ensure the safety of our technicians and your customers alike.

Asbestos testing for a business is not only advisable for practical reasons, but also for legal ones. Failing to test for asbestos can lead to steep fines and regulatory penalties, regardless of whether or not the substance is present. OSHA has explicit guidelines in place regarding demolition or renovations of commercial structures, especially schools, and other municipal buildings. Furthermore, if a customer or employee gets sick as a result of untested asbestos, you may be at risk of a costly and difficult lawsuit. Federal and state authorities alike take this process seriously, which is why it is always recommended to hire a certified company like SERVPRO to complete the task. 
 
Health Reasons 
In addition to laws on the subject, testing for asbestos should be a major consideration for your health. Asbestos can cause many negative health effects, some of which can shorten your lifespan or lead to long-term illness. Asbestos is a known carcinogen.The longer you are exposed to it, the more likely many of these side effects are to manifest, meaning that valued employees and regular customers may also be at risk. Just as the removal of mold growth can help to avoid a medical emergency in your business, so too can asbestos testing prevent a host of serious medical issues. 
 

For Immediate Service in The Upper Peninsula, Call SERVPRO

5/8/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula provides 24-hour emergency services and is dedicated to being faster to any-sized disaster in The Upper Peninsula. We can respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs.

• 24-Hour Emergency Service
• Faster to Any-Sized Disaster
• Highly Trained Restoration Technicians
• A Trusted Leader in The Restoration Industry
• Locally Owned and Operated
• Advanced Restoration and Cleaning Equipment

Have Questions? Call us 24/7 SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula (906) 204-2450

Residential Services

Whether your Upper Peninsula home needs emergency flood damage or your upholstery cleaned, you can depend on us. Our technicians have extensive cleaning and restoration training and can make your property look its best. Learn more about our residential services:

• Water Damage Restoration
• Fire Damage Restoration
• Mold Remediation
• Storm Damage Restoration
• Cleaning Services
• Sewage Back-up Services
• Building/Reconstruction Services

Commercial Services

There's never a convenient time for fire or water damage to strike your Upper Peninsula commercial property. Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when the need arises for professional cleaning or emergency restoration services we have the training and expertise to respond promptly with highly trained technicians to get your property back to business. Learn more about our commercial services: http://www.SERVPROtheupperpeninsula.com/commercial-restoration-services

• Commercial Water Damage Restoration
• Commercial Fire Damage Restoration

Summer Safety!

5/8/2018 (Permalink)

Summer is in full swing, and summer means grilling out and lighting up a fire to sit around once the sun goes down. Here in The Upper Peninsula, we like to take full advantage of the summer weather! We also love a good cook out, so we move from cooking inside to outside on the grill. While we look forward to this time of year, it is important to keep these fire safety tips in mind.

Grilling:

• Keep at least a three foot clearance around the entire grill. Keep kids and pets clear of this area too!
• Move the grill away from the house and fence, and move it out from underneath any overhangs. Do not use the grill under trees or near shrubbery.
• Regularly clean out the grease traps on your grill to prevent grease fires.
• Never leave your grill unattended!
• If using charcoal, make sure the coals have cooled completely before disposing of them in a metal container.
• Keeping a fire extinguisher or a big box of baking soda in the vicinity is good idea in case a fire does breakout.

Bonfires:

• When a burn ban is in effect, use a fire pit, preferably with a lid that can cover the fire in case of an emergency.
• When a burn ban is not in effect, you can burn on the ground where the grass is low and green. Never burn on grass that is long or dry! Take a hose and saturate the area around the fire with water to help prevent it from spreading.
• Drag a hose over to where you’re burning. If you have a sprayer on your hose, turn the water on and keep it on until you’re through with your fire in case of an emergency.
• Never have a fire under trees or overhangs, near shrubbery, or close to the house.
• Keep flammable materials away from fires.
• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Never have a fire on a windy day!

Summer Fire Safety Tips

7/27/2017 (Permalink)

Summer is in full swing, and summer means grilling out and lighting up a fire to sit around once the sun goes down. Here in The Upper Peninsula, we like to take full advantage of the summer weather! We also love a good cook out, so we move from cooking inside to outside on the grill. While we look forward to this time of year, it is important to keep these fire safety tips in mind.

Grilling:

• Keep at least a three foot clearance around the entire grill. Keep kids and pets clear of this area too!
• Move the grill away from the house and fence, and move it out from underneath any overhangs. Do not use the grill under trees or near shrubbery.
• Regularly clean out the grease traps on your grill to prevent grease fires.
• Never leave your grill unattended!
• If using charcoal, make sure the coals have cooled completely before disposing of them in a metal container.
• Keeping a fire extinguisher or a big box of baking soda in the vicinity is good idea in case a fire does breakout.

Bonfires:

• When a burn ban is in effect, use a fire pit, preferably with a lid that can cover the fire in case of an emergency.
• When a burn ban is not in effect, you can burn on the ground where the grass is low and green. Never burn on grass that is long or dry! Take a hose and saturate the area around the fire with water to help prevent it from spreading.
• Drag a hose over to where you’re burning. If you have a sprayer on your hose, turn the water on and keep it on until you’re through with your fire in case of an emergency.
• Never have a fire under trees or overhangs, near shrubbery, or close to the house.
• Keep flammable materials away from fires.
• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Never have a fire on a windy day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

3/17/2017 (Permalink)

Don't get in a pinch! Choose the team that's ALWAYS wearing green! At SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula, we're always here to help. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

For Immediate Service in The Upper Peninsula, Call SERVPRO

1/27/2017 (Permalink)

We provide immediate service day or night!

SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula provides 24-hour emergency services and is dedicated to being faster to any-sized disaster in The Upper Peninsula. We can respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs.

• 24-Hour Emergency Service
• Faster to Any-Sized Disaster
• Highly Trained Restoration Technicians
• A Trusted Leader in The Restoration Industry
• Locally Owned and Operated
• Advanced Restoration and Cleaning Equipment

Have Questions? Call us 24/7 SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula (906) 204-2450

Residential Services

Whether your Upper Peninsula home needs emergency flood damage or your upholstery cleaned, you can depend on us. Our technicians have extensive cleaning and restoration training and can make your property look its best. Learn more about our residential services:

• Water Damage Restoration
• Fire Damage Restoration
• Mold Remediation
• Storm Damage Restoration
• Cleaning Services
• Sewage Back-up Services
• Building/Reconstruction Services

Commercial Services

There's never a convenient time for fire or water damage to strike your Upper Peninsula commercial property. Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when the need arises for professional cleaning or emergency restoration services we have the training and expertise to respond promptly with highly trained technicians to get your property back to business. Learn more about our commercial services: http://www.SERVPROtheupperpeninsula.com/commercial-restoration-services

• Commercial Water Damage Restoration
• Commercial Fire Damage Restoration