Commercial Restoration Services in Indianapolis

8/4/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East can handle any size disaster and make it "Like it never even happened."

Whether your business is a small retail store or a multi-building campus of buildings, SERVPRO of Indianapolis East has the expertise and the equipment to handle any fire, water, or mold emergency in central Indiana.

Commercial Mold Remediation

Mold is the result of a moisture problem that has usually been neglected. This can be the result of a leaky pipe that is hidden behind a wall or in a ceiling. Mold can also grow quickly when there has been water damage from the contaminated water, like a broken sewer pipe or flooding from a nearby river or stream. Contaminated water, also known as gray water or black water, can quickly promote mold growth in less than 24 hours. If not treated, it can quickly grow and cause not only property damage but potential health risks among inhabitants.

Commercial Fire Damage

Even the smallest of fires can result in extensive damage to a building. While the fire can be isolated and extinguished quickly, the smoke is the culprit of most damage after a fire. Smoke can get into the ductwork and quickly spread throughout the building. Hiring SERVPRO of Indianapolis East is the only clear choice with fire and smoke damage. We are professionals in the restoration industry and can quickly make your property "Like it never even happened."

Commercial Water Damage

Water damage can happen in many ways. In apartment complexes, there could be an overflowing bathtub or toilet that causes damage to the complex. A frozen pipe in a warehouse could burst and cause extensive damage. A burst pipe or a leaking roof in a manufacturing plant can shut down the production line causing huge losses. When these events happen, it's essential to call water damage professionals immediately to alleviate the damage. When hiring a water damage cleanup company, it's critical to ensure they have the expertise and equipment for such a large job.

Commercial Storm Damage Cleanup

Storms can be very damaging to a building or structure. They can cause water to leak from damaged roofs. They can cause fires to start from lightning strikes. Tornadoes and high winds can break windows, tear down walls, rip off roofs, and in the worst cases, they can level the entire building. A professional fire and water restoration company has the equipment, experience, and knowledge to handle any storm damage.

Call the Industry Leader in Commercial Storm Restoration

Damage to a business can come in many forms. From fire to flooding to storm damage and everything in between, SERVPRO of Indianapolis East has the experience, equipment, and expertise to make it "Like it never happened." So, whether you have a small store or a multi-building complex, call the commercial restoration, remediation, and cleaning experts at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East at 317-222-5068.

Clean Water, Gray Water, and Black Water

8/3/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East will help make it "Like it never even happened."

What's the difference between clean water, gray water, and black water? And why are they all bad when it comes to flooding and water damage to an Indianapolis home or business? 

What is Clean Water?

Clean water is water that comes from your faucet or shower head that you can drink safely. It is also considered rainwater or snow melt. Water damage to your home can come from a broken water line, a busted toilet tank, a leaky washer or refrigerator, or rain or snow melt entering your home or basement. While clean water flooding your basement or floors may not cause an immediate health risk, it can quickly evolve into gray water after prolonged contact with building surfaces, materials, and items. This can happen within 48 hours, so it is important to call SERVPRO of Indianapolis East as soon as possible after a flood or water damage. 

What is Gray Water?

Gray water is water that may contain chemicals or contaminants that may be harmful to your health. Gray water can come from the shower and sink drains, the washer drains, the dishwasher drain, and aquariums. Gray water can cause even more damage than clean water and evolve into black water within 48 hours, causing further damage and health risks. 

What is Black Water?

Black water is contaminated water from floodwaters and sewage waters. Black water can come from a flooded river, a backed-up toilet, or a backed-up sewage line in your home. Black water can contain all types of harmful contaminants like bacteria, mold, and viruses that can be highly harmful to humans. Black water can cause diseases and illnesses like cholera, hepatitis, and norovirus. Black water can be hazardous to one's health, and it is imperative to immediately call a professional cleanup team like SERVPRO of Indianapolis East. If the water damage from black water isn't professionally removed, dried out, and cleaned, infections and illnesses can occur from microbes in the air and dust. You must hire professionals with the right tools and processes to ensure a thorough cleanup. 

Time is Not on Your Side

If your home or business suffers water or flooding damage, you need to take immediate steps to dry out the property as quickly as possible. With black water, it is imperative that you call us immediately and not try to clean up the water yourself as this can be very dangerous to your health. Even with gray water, if you are unsure what contaminants may be in the water, it is usually best to rely on professionals, like us, who can test the water, extract the water, and take the appropriate steps to clean the property and ensure there are no health risks from contaminants. Even with clean water, if you do not completely dry the damaged areas, the clean water can quickly turn into gray water, which can turn into black water. 

At SERVPRO of Indianapolis East, we have extensive experience with water and flood damage in homes and businesses in the Indianapolis area. We have the professional equipment, tools, cleaning solutions, and expertise to properly extract the water, dry the property, and make it "Like it never even happened."

Fire Damage in Your Indianapolis Home or Business

8/3/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Indianapolis can fully restore your home or business.

Even a small fire can be devastating for an Indianapolis home or business. For example, a little grease fire in the kitchen can produce smoke and soot that spreads throughout the house, sticking to everything in its path. The fire damage can be overwhelming, but as long as everyone got out safely, your home or business and all your possessions can usually be replaced or cleaned. 

 What do once the smoke and fire is over?

• Always check to ensure it's safe to enter the home or business. There could be standing water from the fire department or broken glass on the floors. 
• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpets. You can make the cleaning process more difficult by walking on the carpets and sitting on the furniture. 
• If electricity is off, empty freezer and refrigerator and prop doors open. Foods will spoil quickly and can ruin the appliance. 

We specialize in fire and smoke restoration and can quickly access the damage and stop any further damage from happening. For instance, ash and smoke not only leave a strong odor behind but can also cause corrosion and etching that needs to be stopped before it becomes an even bigger problem. 

Things you should NOT do after a fire. 

• First and foremost, ensure you have permission from the fire department to enter your home after the fire is extinguished. Some fires can damage the structure and make it unsafe to enter.
• If you have any electronics exposed to fire or smoke, do not try turning them on. Not only could you be electrocuted or cause a new fire, but the smoke and ash could also cause further damage to the internals. We can examine your electronics and determine whether they can be professionally cleaned and restored. 
• Do not take or use clothes that have smoke odors from the fire. The smells can be transferred to your car's upholstery or the home or place you take them. 
• Don't try cleaning any walls, surfaces, fabrics, carpets, or furniture, as you could cause further damage. To remove smoke and ash requires specialized cleaning solutions, tools, and processes. It's best to leave everything untouched and wait for us to arrive to assess what can be cleaned and what needs to be replaced.

Who to Call After a Disaster

If you have questions about particular possessions or cleaning processes, we will be happy to answer them. We know a fire can be devastating, and our highly trained restoration specialists will work hard to get your home or business and your life back to normal as quickly as possible. So, call SSRVPRO of Indianapolis East at 317-222-5068, and we will make it "Like it never even happened."

Storm Damage in Central Indiana

8/3/2022 (Permalink)

Storms can cause heavy damage to your home or business.

Severe storms are common in Indiana, especially during the spring and summertime. While they are usually short-lived and tend to blow through rather quickly, storms can leave a path of destruction for businesses and homes in Indiana. The worst part about severe storms is they have many ways to cause damage in Indiana with very few ways to prevent it. Here are a few of the ways storms can damage your property. 

Damage from heavy storms

As the storms roll through your area, they can release a lot of water in a short amount of time. This quick accumulation of rain can cause flash flooding and overwhelm sump pumps. Flooded basements or water seeping through the basement walls is a common occurrence. With storms causing water damage inside homes and businesses, it’s essential to act quickly to get the water removed and the affected areas dried out. It only takes a short time before stormwater can cause even more damage by promoting mold growth in damp areas. Mold can grow in carpets, drywall, wood framing, furniture, and insulation. It can turn a bad situation into a much worse situation requiring mold remediation.

Damage from Large Hail

Golf ball-sized, baseball-sized, softball-sized...there are many ways to describe the size of the hale, and unfortunately, they are all quite destructive. Hailstorms tend to cause the most damage to cars and roofs. So, it’s not surprising to see dozens of roofing companies installing new shingles after a large hailstorm. Hail usually doesn’t cause further damage besides dents in cars and damaged shingles, but the larger hailstorms can break glass windows and doors and tear up roofs enough to cause water to leak inside.

Damage from Heavy Winds

The summertime seems to be the most popular for storms with heavy winds. They usually run in a vertical line and rip across the state from the west to the east. While they blow through quickly, their winds can reach up to 70+ mph. These damaging winds can tear shingles off roofs, rip trees out of the ground, pull siding off homes, and blow large debris through windows. Once they tear or blast a hole into a home or business, the rains can come inside and cause further damage.

Storm Damage Cleanup and Restoration in Indianapolis, Indiana

If you should experience storm damage to your Indianapolis-area home or business, contact the storm damage cleanup and restoration professionals at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East at 317-222-5068. We have the specialized equipment, professional training, and certifications to clean up, repair quickly, and remediate damage from fire, water, mold, and storms to homes and businesses around central Indiana.

How to Prepare for Winter Storms & Frozen Pipes

2/4/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East

The winter season is here and snow and ice can create major issues for you and your home. As we prepare to support you, it’s best for every business and homeowner to review potentially problematic issues.

Whether it’s snow, ice, heating, thawing frozen pipes or unforeseen accidents, the combination of certain elements can destroy your property. Most people will know to be aware of frozen pipes in the house, but other issues may arise. Ice on your roof can prevent proper drainage, if heat isn’t evenly distributed, some areas may freeze, and water in frozen pipes will freeze causing secondary damage to other appliances or household systems.

Here are three preemptive ways to check in on your property.

1. Insulate Your Roof

The best ice dam prevention solution is to properly insulate your roof. Heat escapes through ceilings and rises to the roof where it warms the wood and shingles above. To prevent this, check the depth of your insulation.

Anything less than 8 inches is usually not enough to prevent heat from escaping, and it's important to use foam or caulk to stop air leaks. This will not only stop roof issues, but it will also save you money on your energy bill.

2. Remove the Buildup

If you notice a large amount of snow gathering on your roof, you might want to consider eliminating it. Houses that have poor ventilation can also have poor distribution of heat. By removing the snow with a push broom or shovel, you can clear any potential problem areas.

3. Create Channels in the Ice

Ice dams can force water into your home through the attic. You can stop this by creating channels in the ice and draining the water into the gutters. Use a hose with warm water and melt the lower edge of the ridge. This solution is a temporary fix but could prevent a large amount of winter storm damage.

Winter storms will always be unpredictable and damaging in one way or another. Our only working defense is to focus on potentially preventable tactics.

You do not need to figure out how to prevent pipes from freezing or fix frozen pipes on your own. Feel free to reach out to us at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East for additional information on how to protect your home, we're always here to help!

Water extraction in Indianapolis and what you need to know.

9/2/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East

When your home has suffered from water damage, it can be a stressful and tense experience. If the damage is severe, you will need to hire professionals to repair and restore your home or business.

That’s where we come in as your highly recommended SERVPRO of Indianapolis, SERVPRO of Indianapolis East with years of experience to help support you. Understanding what to expect from a water damage restoration company can help make the process less overwhelming.

There is no such thing as a small disaster, especially with intrusion of water you can’t see. It can contain bacteria, mold, rot, mold growing, or other unseen damage.

Every water damage restoration project is different. The building (or structure) provides variables that may change with every project, such as the electrical system, type of building materials, or hazardous materials in the building.

The water loss itself provides variables, such as the sanitation of the water, hazardous substances in the water, length of time the water has been in the structure, presence of mold contamination, and mold growth. Take time to identify and resolve safety hazards before proceeding with the project.

Water damage can also affect the value of your property. Before you get out the mop bucket and clean the affected areas yourself, consider how the damage can potentially affect the long-term structure of your home or business.

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East professionals know how disruptive water damage can be for your business and are trained to manage the drying process from start to finish at a pre loss condition. With rapid response time and a full line of water cleanup and restoration services, we can help you regain control quickly, by helping to ensure your facility and its contents are properly dried, deodorized and protected.

When we respond to a call for water damage repair, we have one primary goal: To dry wet building materials and contents items. As restoration professionals, we remove water and moisture from a wet building and return the building to what it was before the loss—before the water intrusion occurred.

Goals of Restorative Drying:

1. Return excessively wet materials to their normal (equilibrium) moisture levels.

2. Reduce the time that materials are excessively wet.

3. Determine the most cost-efficient procedures for drying.

To accomplish these goals, our team controls the airflow, humidity, and temperature to promote drying.

Moisture moves by four mechanical processes.

Liquid flow, air movement, capillary suction, and vapor diffusion.

1. Liquid flow. We most often observe moisture movement as water flows in liquid form. Liquid flow occurs as rainwater leaks through a roof, ground water soaks through a foundation, or water pours from a broken water pipe.

2. Air movement. Moisture in the air is carried by moving air. Air moves from high air pressure areas to low air pressure areas and brings moisture with it.

Moisture moves by airflow through cracks and small openings in a building’s envelope or as air pressure moves moist air through a chimney. Moisture and air moving from outside a building to the inside is called infiltration; moisture and air moving from inside to the outside is called exfiltration.

3. Capillary suction. Liquid moisture can move through a narrow pathway due to contact between the moisture and the surface of the path. Capillary suction allows liquid moisture to move through the pores of porous materials.

4. Vapor diffusion. Water vapor moves as a gas through materials. Water vapor moves from areas of high vapor pressure to areas of low vapor pressure.

Whether moisture moves through a material by vapor diffusion depends on whether differences in vapor pressure exist across the material. How fast moisture moves by vapor diffusion depends on how permeable the material is.

Before you risk any further damage and potentially the long term value of your property, call us as your local water damage, flood damage, fire damage, smoke damage, and cleaning services professional at  SERVPRO of Indianapolis East.

What Is the Job of a Water Damage Restoration Company?

9/2/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East

Restoration companies are some of the first responders when a home has been damaged by fire or floods, excessive water damage, or other major catastrophes. The ultimate job of a restoration company is to clean up the damage, remove it from the property and to preserve and protect the home so that it and the contents within it do not suffer from further damage.

Restoration companies are brought in to repair your home or business back to its original condition. When hiring a water damage restoration company, you'll want to ensure you have a clear understanding of the process as they restore your property.

Your Insurance & the Restoration Company

After your property has suffered a major event and subsequent damage, you will want to contact your insurance agent. Be sure to review your responsibilities with your insurance agent and what is required by your insurance policy for cleaning up the home to prevent any additional damage. You will want to discuss any questions you may have at this time.

Your agent may provide referrals within the area, but you are allowed to contact a water restoration company on your own. 

When choosing a water damage restoration company, be sure they have proper certifications, fully licensed and have at least a few years of experience in the water damage restoration industry. Make sure you are working with a company you can trust; your property is in their hands after all. One of the benefits of working with SERVPRO of Indianapolis East is the national reputation of SERVPRO. SERVPRO franchises and employees are held to a high standard of training and experience before they move forward with any restoration job. Our strict training guidelines and experience rebuilding homes over the years continues to reflect our dedication to all our customers.

The Process Once the Water Damage Restoration Company Arrives

Here's how you should proceed once the water damage restoration company arrives. 

Once we arrive, we will walk the property with you as we discuss the affected areas. There may be some issues that were initially overlooked, so as we examine the area, we can identify all potential problems and solutions specific to your property.

Our team will be evaluating what will be needed in terms of time, work and equipment to clean and restore your home. We will provide you an estimate for those services once we review. 

Some Things to Look Out for When Choosing a Restoration Company

Reputable restoration companies will be IICRC certified. IICRC stands for the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. It is a non-profit organization that offers certification programs and standards for the restoration industry.

In order to be IICRC certified, the restoration company must have proof of insurance, maintain a written customer complaint policy with follow-up on complaints, and provide the technicians with education and training to become certified.

Companies may also be members of the Restoration Industry Association (RIA). The RIA is a trade association for cleaning and restoration professionals. In addition to education and training, the trade association offers technical support and several certifications for technicians.

Here's a quick review of how to proceed when water damage strikes your home or business:

1. Be sure to choose a restoration company with an excellent reputation that have been around for at least a few years.

2. Check that your restoration company is IICRC Certified

3. Read the contract carefully and be sure to keep your own copy

4. If a problem occurs, make sure you contact your restoration company right away

5. Check with your insurance company on what is expected of you following a major loss.

6. For any insurance coverage questions, be sure you get answers in writing from your insurance company claims adjuster.

7. Remember that it is important to act fast to prevent further damage from water or flooding. This is to prevent things like mold from growing. Delays can end up costing you much more in the end in terms of recovery, salvage, and reconstruction.

8. Make sure repairs to your home are done promptly after the cleanup service occurs.

We understand how devastating a damage event can be. Ensure your property is in good hands and call us at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East, your SERVPRO team. We do not just clean up and remove the damage, we specialize in restoring your property to its original condition and making it "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East Protects you from Flooding.

8/30/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East

Water is incredibly damaging, and most people would be surprised at what water can do once it sneaks its way into your home. SERVPRO of Indianapolis East is here for you for suggestions and life saving tips.

Our crews are highly trained and licensed to work in these situations. It is important to us to get out there and protect your property as quickly and professionally as possible, as we ensure the water will not migrate and cause additional damage to the surrounding areas.

Flooding can be dangerous and scary. Be sure to have emergency kits with you at all times in case of a storm.

Water intrusion for a home or business is always a traumatic event. Effectively restoring a fire or water damaged property is such a valuable service to any homeowner or business owner. This type of disruption creates stress and uncertainty for many individuals and can be very costly.

Excessive water and moisture in any indoor environment can pose health risks for occupants and if it is not resolved properly. Water intrusion can cause severe damages to both your structure and contents, as well as risking the need for mold remediation.

Properly mitigating, drying, and restoring a water damaged structure requires training, expertise, and specialized equipment with trusted leaders. With hands-on experience and coaching in the field, we are the best in the industry.

If for any reason, you and your family are unable to make it out of your home or town when a storm is coming, there are ways to be Storm Ready.

Follow the steps below to feel better prepared when a storm hits:

1.) Have a home emergency plan. Know all your safe exit points of the home, what to do with pets, keep on hand at least 2 Emergency Kits, and let your neighbors know you are still at the home.

2.) Stock up on the easy essential foods, water, toiletries, candles, lighters, and flashlights. Have plenty of blankets and pillows handy.

3.) Keep some games and toys for the children handy--Waiting for the storm to pass over might get boring in some cases.

4.) Secure loose things on your property.

5.) Make sure there are no branches hanging over your home or garage.

6.) Stay indoors when the storm is upon you.

7.) Ensure your home, contents and car insurance is adequate and current.

8.) Learn how to safely turn off your power, water, and gas.

9.) Keep a battery powered radio nearby so you can keep up with warnings and updates on the storm.

10.) Keep water containers, a camping stove and fuel safely on-hand.

Stay safe and prepared for storms in your area.  

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East Emergency Fire and Water Damage

8/30/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East Fire Damage

Dealing with emergency fire damage restoration can be extremely stressful especially when soot has made its way through your house and completely covered all of your belongings.

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East is trained and licensed to give you an optimal experience as we care for your residential or commercial property as your SERVPRO of Indianapolis, independently owned and operated location. It should be known that soot restoration is one of the most difficult aspects of a house fire as it can be very damaging.

According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), three of every five home fire deaths could have been prevented.

Most fatal fires happen when families are asleep giving them less than adequate time to escape. A smoke alarm stands guard around the clock, and when it first senses smoke, it sounds a shrill alarm. Smoke alarms are crucial elements in the early detection of fires.

National Fire Safety is important all year round and while the main focus is preventing residential fires, our team here at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East  would like to remind everyone this is a great time to revisit workplace fire prevention & safety.

 Below are 12 tips to ensure a fire-safe workplace:

Step 1. Get Organized– Practice good workplace housekeeping. Clutter contributes to fires by providing fuel and by preventing access to exits and emergency equipment.

Step 2. Designated Smoking Areas – Smoke only in designated areas and extinguish smoking materials safely. Never smoke in storerooms or chemical storage areas.

Step 3. Fire Extinguishers – Maintaining the appropriate type and number of fire extinguishers and learn how to properly use a fire extinguisher.

Step 4. Electrical Hazards – Report all electrical hazards. Many fires start in faulty wiring and malfunctioning electrical equipment.

Step 5. Access to Control Panels – Electrical control panels need to have free access maintained so that the electric could be shut off easily.

Step 6. Maintenance – Maintain machinery to prevent overheating and friction sparks.

Step 7. Sprinkler Systems & Smoke Detectors – Never block sprinklers, firefighting equipment or emergency exits. Observe clearances when stacking materials. Testing of sprinkler systems and smoke detectors at least annually.

Step 8. Chemical Safety – Use and store chemicals safely. Read the label and the Material Safety Data Sheet to determine flammability and other fire hazards. Provide adequate ventilation when using and storing these substances.

Step 9. Waste Control & Storage – Control the accumulations of flammable and combustible waste materials and residues so that they do not contribute to a fire emergency.

Step 10. Prevent Ignition – Use all precautions to prevent ignition in potentially explosive atmospheres such as those containing flammable liquid vapors or fine particles. Use non-sparking tools, and control static electricity as required.

Step 11. Exits – Emergency exit diagrams should be posted and emergency exits should be well lit with neon-regulation signs.

Step 12. Contact Info – Employees should have a list of emergency contact phone numbers in case of emergency. Remember that people will often panic in an intense situation; therefore basics such as the company address, phone number and floor plan should be posted.

Planning to ensure fire protection and safety is key to avoiding unwanted fire issues.

Residential and Commercial Fire Clean Up

Soot can be one of the hardest parts of fire restoration clean up and is developed through three different methods:

• Wet soot residue—results from smoldering, low-heat fires. This residue is sticky, smeary, and has a very pungent odor.
• Dry soot residue—results from fast-burning fires with high temperatures. This residue is typically dry, powdery, and non-smeary.
• Protein residue—almost invisible but can discolor paints and varnishes in your home. This residue also has an extremely pungent odor.

Each type of soot is different and requires specific expertise to clean for such needs or concerns.

Our fire repair process is outlined online for your review.

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East, your SERVPRO of Indianapolis, faster to any size disaster, for all your fire and restoration needs.

What to know when there's an Indianapolis Tornado Risk

7/25/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East

Tornadoes can strike without warning and destroy a community in seconds. A tornado is a rotating column of air that occurs during a thunderstorm and can have wind speeds that reach up to 300mph. Because wind is invisible, it is hard to see a tornado unless it forms a condensation funnel made up of water droplets, dust, and debris.

Know The Signs And Be Prepared

Before a tornado warning is issued for your area, here are some things to keep in mind.

1. Know the signs of a tornado, a rotating funnel-shaped cloud, an approaching cloud of debris, or a loud roar similar to a freight train. Many people have reported that when a tornado is approaching, the sound they hear is like a train barreling down the tracks.
2. Know your community's warning system and understand the difference between a tornado watch and warning through the national weather service.
3. A warning means a tornado is already occurring or will occur soon and to go to a safe place immediately. A watch means conditions are favorable, and a tornado is possible.
4. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or your local news channel for current emergency information and instructions. With advanced technology in weather forecasting, meteorologists can pinpoint circling winds and inform the public like never before.

Assemble An Emergency Kit

Assemble an emergency kit for you and your family. Put these items in zip lock bags and store them all in a plastic tub. Many different times can make up a kit, but here are a few of the basics to keep in mind.

It's recommended to have one gallon of water per person for at least three days, drinking and sanitation. At least a three day supply of non-perishable food per person. Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert. A flashlight, first aid kit, and extra batteries are all essential to keep in your kit.

Where To Go

Preparation is essential, and something we should all take time to do. It's a great idea to plan ahead of a disaster and chose a place where family members can gather if a tornado is headed your way.

It could be your basement or storm cellar, a center hallway, bathroom, or closet on the lowest level. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.

Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck. Always remember to stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls.

Understanding The Risk

Know your area's tornado risk. In the U.S., the Midwest and the Southeast have a higher risk for tornadoes. If you lived on the west coast, you probably would read about mudslides and wildfires preparedness rather than thunderstorms and tornadoes.

The infamous Tornado Alley, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska, still leads in the number of tornadoes. While Indiana is not one of the states that make up the region known as Tornado Alley, tornadoes aren't unusual in Indiana. Indiana averages 22 tornadoes each year, and that's why it's crucial to plan ahead to help keep your family safe.

If You Have Storm Or Tornado Damage

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East is here to help as your water damage company for Indianapolis. We offer emergency services as a restoration company for homes or businesses after a storm has passed. Some of these restoration services include roof tarping, basement flooding, water removal, covering broken windows, water damage repair, sump pump, structure dry out, and any flood damage repair in Indianapolis.

We're always available 24/7/365, even on holidays. You can expect an immediate response day or night (317) 222-5068.

Why you need a water remediation company in Indianapolis.

7/25/2021 (Permalink)

Ceiling Water Damage

After having water damage in your home or business, it’s not always easy to know how to handle it. You are not alone as many people are unsure of the steps they should take after needing water damage repair and water removal. It is stressful knowing how you should go about having your home or business properly assessed and restored after the damage occurs.

There are a variety of issues that can cause your property to suffer. These can include basement flooding, burst pipe, a disaster event, sewage cleanup and more. They can occur without any type of warning and gravely affect your home or business.

When water damage or smoke damage affect your home, even an extra hour can significantly worsen the chance of repair. It is important to call your preferred fire smoke, and water damage company in Indianapolis to handle your issue.

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East can help as your restoration company providing content restoration, carpet cleaning, and other cleaning and restoration needs. Our team of professionals are trained and certified water damage restoration technicians, and we can handle all your water damage restoration water extraction needs.

It is important to note how quickly water can permanently damage organic material. Unfortunately, it is only a matter of hours before your property can be left with irreversible water damage.

Our SERVPRO of Indianapolis East technicians can respond quickly to limit water damage and lessen the chance of secondary issues such as mold growth. If mold does begin to grow in your home or business, you may need to have mold remediation or mold removal.

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East can respond to your emergency as quickly as you call to provide water damage restoration in Indianapolis. Our technicians will inspect to determine the extent of damage, where there is potential for water damage, and how far the moisture has traveled.

Once we arrive at your home, our production team will use equipment to extract the standing water. Next, our technicians use measurements, temperatures, and relative humidity to determine the number of air movers and equipment needed to dry your home or business.

Once dry, we use cleaning techniques to provide sanitizing, deodorization, and disposal to decrease the possibility of microbial growth.

We are trained to identify and deodorize offensive odors when necessary. Our teams and equipment go beyond masking odors that do not work when your odor problem is serious or persistent.

Depending on the scenario, we may additionally use antimicrobial, antibacterial, or disinfectant treatments to clean your property. We will remove and dispose of damaged materials with guidance from you and your insurance adjuster.

Call us today at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East as we continue to provide support for all your restoration needs and flood damage repair in Indianapolis.

A Quick Response is key to water removal.

7/8/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East

Water damage to your home will always be a major event and something most people are not prepared for. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of water damage in an affected area. Your first move is to contact a water remediation company in Indianapolis that you can trust.

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East is here to help as your restoration company to remediate water damage for homes or businesses. We provide cleaning and restoration for residential and commercial locations, as well as content restoration, fire damage restoration, mold remediation, and carpet cleaning.

According to industry standards, water damage can be categorized into three distinct levels.

Category 1 Water – That which is clean at the releasing source and does not pose a hazard if consumed by humans. Category 1 water may become progressively contaminated as it mixes with soils on or within floor coverings or building assemblies (walls, decking, subflooring). Time and temperature, which promote the growth and amplification of microorganisms in water can cause Category 1 water to degrade. Examples: burst water pipes, failed supply lines on appliances, vertically falling rainwater.

Category 2 Water – That which begins with some degree of contamination and could cause sickness or discomfort if consumed by humans. As with Category 1 water, time and temperature can cause Category 2 water to become progressively more contaminated.

Category 3 Water – That which is highly contaminated and could cause death or serious illness if consumed by humans. Examples: sewage, rising flood water from rivers and streams, ground surface water flowing horizontally into homes. There are two ways in which water enters a building as a result of wind storm damage.

Water damage is one of the most common and costly disasters affecting U.S. homeowners yearly, accounting for billions of dollars in losses. Make sure that you've located the water damage company in Indianapolis that you intend to reach out to if an event like this occurs in your home.

You can protect yourself and your home by preparing for the worst. Homeowners insurance and flood policies cover a vast range of potential heavy rain, water extraction, fire and smoke damage, mold removal, and emergency services. Water that comes from the top down, such as rainfall, is covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy, while water that comes from the bottom up, such as an overflowing river, is covered by a separate flood insurance policy. SERVPRO of Indianapolis East also specializes in flood damage repair for Indianapolis.

By the same token, properly maintaining a home is one of the best ways to prevent water damage. A homeowner can prevent water seepage by painting water-sealant around the basement, and avert a sewer backup by installing and maintaining a backwater valve which allows sewage to go out, but not come back in.

Reach out to us here at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East for your water damage restoration in Indianapolis.

How the Water Damage Restoration Process Affects You.

4/30/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East for all your restoration needs.

Safety is everyone’s responsibility on a water damage work site. A primary concern in water damage safety is protecting employees. Observing appropriate safety procedures will help keep workers safe and healthy while they work in unsafe or unhealthy environments.

Restorers inspect the area where water has intruded to identify the extend to which water has mitigated through materials and the damage that has occurred. We discuss this with the building occupants about their observations to help further define the nature of the water damage and water damage tips to be aware of.

 The information we gather in this initial inspection is documented and used to plan the needed emergency procedures as trained restoration experts.

During the process of drying a building, restorers conduct ongoing inspections. They inspect and measure moisture conditions inside the building and in materials affected by the water. Information gathered in the ongoing inspections is documented and used to determine whether wet materials are drying properly.

When the structure and contents are considered dry, restorers conduct a final inspection. This information is documented to show that the building materials and contents have been restored to acceptable conditions. Restorers document not only conditions of the building and structure, but also the work procedures that are followed to address those conditions.

The restorers concern with any wet building is to prevent damages caused by water and moisture from becoming worse. Effective mitigation of a water intrusion will reduce the amount of damage a property suffers and thus also reduce the cost of restoring the property to its condition before the loss. Mitigation is important because it helps the occupant recover more quickly from the water loss event.

Call us at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East for all your restoration needs.

Water Intrusion in your Home and First Steps

4/23/2021 (Permalink)

Here to Help.

As a leader in the cleaning and restoration industry, we strive to meet or exceed the expectations of every customer, client, and business that is involved with water damaged property. Every property, every project, every customer deserves excellence.

Water intrusion in a home or business is always a traumatic event. Effectively restoring a water-damaged property is such a valuable service to any homeowner or business owner. This type of disruption creates stress and uncertainty for many individuals and can be very costly.

This is when you call us at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East to provide guidance and assistance to ensure the best decisions are made through these difficult times.

Excessive water and moisture in any indoor environment can pose health risks for occupants and if it is not resolved properly. Water intrusion can cause severe damages to both your structure and contents.

Properly mitigating, drying, and restoring a water-damaged structure requires training, expertise, and specialized equipment. With hands-on experience and coaching in the field, we are the best in the industry.

The goal of emergency actions is to protect your structure and contents from further damage, establish a safe environment, extract water, demo unrestorable materials, and create the conditions for drying the structure and contents effectively. This typically involves calculating and positioning air movers and dehumidifiers within the affected area.

Once the equipment is placed, we monitor the drying process and make sure it is working properly. Monitoring services continue until the structure and contents are dry as we evaluate, update monitoring logs, and make adjustments as needed.

Call us at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East , “Like it never even happened.”

How to prepare for water damage in your home.

4/23/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East is here to help.

Here at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East, we are available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.

We Answer the Phone, Ready to Help

We understand when you are ready to call, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through. SERVPRO of Indianapolis East has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration as the cornerstone of our business.

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO of Indianapolis East professionals may be needed.

Here are some of the questions you may be asked:

              Your name and contact information

              Your insurance information (if applicable)

              The street address of the water-damaged home or business

              When did the flooding or water damage occur?

              What caused the water damage (if known)?

              Is there electricity available (on-site)?

We specialize in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Call us today at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East  for more information.

Customer Service Is Our Top Priority

7/1/2020 (Permalink)

Happy customers are the key to success.

What Our Customers Are Saying About Us

From Paul,
"When our house was inundated by a flood, the team at SERVPRO were absolute rock stars in getting us taken care of. Their expertise and knowledge in how to deal with a disaster like that was invaluable to getting us back on our feet. I truly don't know what I would have done without their help. Anytime I need a service they offer, they will be the very first phone call I make!"

From Sherry,
"SERVPRO provided excellent customer service. Carpets look amazing, we couldn't ask for better! If you're looking for any kind of cleaning or restoration service, no need to look further. I highly recommend this company!"

These are actual real quotes from our customers. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service. Without happy customers, there is no SERVPRO of Indianapolis East. So going the extra mile to make you smile is what we do. Our teams are highly trained in water and fire cleanup and restoration and also how to provide excellent customer service.

No one is perfect, and we're not saying that we are either. Sometimes things are bound to happen, but how you respond to a negative situation defines you. If a problem does arise in the course of doing business, we'll address the situation and do our very best to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. That's our belief here at SERVPRO, turn a negative situation into a more positive one.

Online Presence

Excellent customer service is paramount in today's world. Customers research businesses online before they visit or buy from them. Having easy access to the web has radically changed the way people shop for almost everything today. If your business is not performing well, the potential customers will know about before they ever call you. Buyers value online reviews and will make an informed decision based on what others have said about you.

Always here To Help

Here at SERVPRO, we strive for excellent customer service every day. One way we do this is by promptly answering your phone call, day or night, 24/7. During the daytime hours, our office manager is onsite to take all incoming calls and answer your questions. After regular business hours, we always have a live SERVPRO representative ready to assist you. If your call is an emergency, then you're immediately connected to our on-call teams.

We Love Our Customers

We take customer service and attention to detail very seriously, and it shows to our customers. When we have a repeat customer or a referral from happy clients, it makes our day. You're the most important part of what we do here at SERVPRO. Restoring homes and businesses after fire and water damage is vital, but it's the people we like to help most. Returning your life to normal after a disaster is our primary focus. SERVPRO of Indianapolis East believes that happy clients are the key to success.

Commercial Cleaning Services In Indianapolis

6/30/2020 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Indianapolis East for all of your commercial cleaning and restoration needs.

Spending extra time and resources to clean and disinfect your office or warehouse space is something you don't always have time to do. Please turn to the professionals and let us handle the everyday wear and tear that gradually soils your Indianapolis business. When dirt, odor, and moisture problems go beyond the scope of your regular janitorial staff, you need to call SERVPRO of Indianapolis East for prompt service.

We specialize in all commercial cleaning services, from removing an odor problem to deep cleaning flooring and carpets, you can rely on us to make your workspace look its very best. SERVPRO of Indianapolis East can work around your regular business hours, so there will be no disruption or downtime for your office. From general cleaning of workspaces to heavy cleaning of warehouse walls and ceilings, we have specialized training, products, and equipment to get your commercial property clean and safe. 

A clean office promotes employee health and safety, production, and overall happiness. A clean business keeps customers coming back. SERVPRO of Indianapolis East wants to help keep your facility clean and a place where people want to work and buy from. We have service agreements that range from weekly cleaning services, quarterly, or by the call. We'll work with you and around your schedule and cater our services to your needs. We will work with you and around your schedule to limit business interruption.

Biohazard and Sewage

SERVPRO technicians are well trained to safely remove biohazards and dispose of them properly following OSHA and health regulations. Water from sewer system backups should be considered very dangerous and is best left to the professionals. Equipped with the necessary safety apparatus and cleaning products, we can help transform these unhealthy environments into clean and safe workspaces.

Trauma and Crime Scene Cleanup

Accidents and crime scenes often have blood or other biohazard contaminants that may pose a severe health risk. Our highly trained service professionals will respond immediately to safely clean and disinfect any trauma or crime scene with empathy and respect.

Carpet and Upholstery

A good rule of thumb is to have your carpet and upholstery professionally cleaned every six months. Protect your investment by calling us to clean and maintain your carpet and upholstery. Ceilings, walls, and floors are exposed to dirt, dust, and other contaminants from inside and outside. Whether they need general maintenance cleaning, or heavy cleaning from smoke or fire damage, SERVPRO of Indianapolis East has the expertise to do the job right the first time. 

Odor Removal and Deodorization

We have several different types of deodorization techniques. One of our Project Managers will discuss with you the method that will be most beneficial for your property. Masking the odors and other shortcuts are not what we do. We thoroughly address the source of the odor, so it doesn't return. 

Vandalism and Graffiti

SERVPRO offers emergency services for board up due to broken windows or damaged structures. Often simple acts of vandalism, like breaking a window, can cause significant water and mold damage if not addressed promptly. In addition to removing spray-painted graffiti from exterior walls, we also clean driveways, sidewalks, asphalt, metals, glass, wood, plastic, and masonry.

Call SERVPRO for Your Commercial Cleaning Needs

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East has the experience, equipment, and expertise to make it "Like it never even happened." Whether you have a small store or a multi-building complex, click here or call the commercial cleaning and restoration experts at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East at 317-222-5068. We can work around your schedule so that your business has no interruptions and remains open. 

Common Fires And How To Stay Safe

6/29/2020 (Permalink)

Be prepared to help you and your family stay safe.

Every day homes and businesses in and around the Indianapolis area experience an accidental fires. It may not seem like it, but structure fires happen often. These are often smaller fires that are extinguished quickly by either the owner or the fire department. We don't usually hear about the smaller fires; it's the more massive fires that make the news where significant damage has happened, or worse when someone might have been injured.

These fires disrupt the lives of homeowners, tenants, and businesses and can cause thousands of dollars to repair. Even the smaller fires can cause severe smoke and soot damage throughout the building. The flames are often extinguished quickly, but the smoke moves everywhere, getting into every nook and cranny. While there will be flame damage right near the source, most of the damage will be from the smoke of the fire.

The smoke will cause some discoloration on the ceiling and walls nearby. Smoke will often gather in the corners of the room, causing discoloration and smoke webs or soot tags. These webs or tags are often in corners and look like a spider web that caught the smoke and soot. So while it seems like a lot of soot got stuck on a pre-existing spider web, it is actually a whole new structure that happened because of the fire.

A fire in your home can be devastating financially and emotionally for your family. Many times the occupants are displaced, and their entire lives disrupted. Although there is no way to prevent every fire, there are steps that you can take to minimize your family's risk of being victims.

Install Smoke Alarms

Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside sleeping areas, and outside every bedroom. Check once a month to be sure these alarms are functioning and replace batteries as needed. To reduce false smoke alarms, you will want to make sure the smoke alarm in the kitchen area is 10 feet away from the stove and cooking appliances.

Develop A Fire Escape Plan

Decide on a fire escape plan with your family members and practice this plan often. This plan should outline a safe way to get out of every room and every level of the structure. Establish a safe place to meet outside of your home in case of fire or smoke. This might be across the street at a neighbors house or at least a safe distance away from the house.

Install A Fire Extinguisher

Having a fire extinguisher in your kitchen is essential. This will can help you in case a fire starts while cooking. The best place for the fire extinguisher is away from the higher risk fire areas like the oven and stovetop. A good storage area would be under the kitchen sink, or in the food pantry.

Close Bedroom Doors

It is recommended to close the bedrooms doors while sleeping. If a fire should start outside your bedroom, you want to lower the risk of smoke inhalation by keeping your door closed while sleeping. By closing your bedroom door, the smoke alarm located nearest to the fire should wake you up before smoke has had a chance to infiltrate your bedroom.

Why Call SERVPRO

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.
We carefully inspect and pre-test every area of your property and your belongings to determine the extent of the fire and smoke damage. This step is crucial to developing a plan of action best suited to restore your property.

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East has 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. Call us 24/7/365 even on holidays, were always open, and ready to respond to your call. You can click here to contact us or call 317-222-5068.

Tornadoes In Central Indiana

6/26/2020 (Permalink)

Be alert, stay alive! Tornadoes are possible anytime there are strong storms.

Tornadoes can strike without warning and destroy a community in seconds. A tornado is a rotating column of air that occurs during a thunderstorm and can have wind speeds that reach up to 300mph. Because wind is invisible, it is hard to see a tornado unless it forms a condensation funnel made up of water droplets, dust, and debris.

Know The Signs And Be Prepared

Before a tornado warning is issued for your area, here are some things to keep in mind. Know the signs of a tornado, a rotating funnel-shaped cloud, an approaching cloud of debris, or a loud roar similar to a freight train. Many people have reported that when a tornado is approaching, the sound they hear is like a train barreling down the tracks. Know your community's warning system and understand the difference between a tornado watch and warning.

A warning means a tornado is already occurring or will occur soon and to go to a safe place immediately. A watch means conditions are favorable, and a tornado is possible. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or your local news channel for current emergency information and instructions. With advanced technology in weather forecasting, meteorologists can pinpoint circling winds and inform the public like never before.

Assemble An Emergency Kit

Assemble an emergency kit for you and your family. Put these items in zip lock bags and store them all in a plastic tub. Many different times can make up a kit, but here are a few of the basics to keep in mind.

It's recommended to have one gallon of water per person for at least three days, drinking and sanitation. At least a three day supply of non-perishable food per person. Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert. A flashlight, first aid kit, and extra batteries are all essential to keep in your kit.

Where To Go

Preparation is essential, and something we should all take time to do. It's a great idea to plan ahead of a disaster and chose a place where family members can gather if a tornado is headed your way. It could be your basement or storm cellar, a center hallway, bathroom, or closet on the lowest level. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck. Always remember to stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls.

Understanding The Risk

Know your area's tornado risk. In the U.S., the Midwest and the Southeast have a higher risk for tornadoes. If you lived on the west coast, you probably would read about mudslides and wildfires preparedness rather than thunderstorms and tornadoes.

The infamous Tornado Alley, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska, still leads in the number of tornadoes. While Indiana is not one of the states that make up the region known as Tornado Alley, tornadoes aren't unusual in Indiana. Indiana averages 22 tornadoes each year, and that's why it's crucial to plan ahead to help keep your family safe.

If You Have Storm Or Tornado Damage

We can help! Call SERVPRO of Indianapolis East. We offer emergency restoration services after a storm has passed. Some of these services include roof tarping, covering broken windows, water removal, and structure dry out. We're always available 24/7/365, even on holidays. You can expect an immediate response day or night. 317-222-5068

We Can Handle Any Size Disaster

6/25/2020 (Permalink)

From a two-story to a twenty-two story building, SERVPRO of Indianapolis East has you covered.

Whether your business is a small retail store or a multi-building campus of buildings, SERVPRO of Indianapolis East has the expertise and the equipment to handle any size fire, water, or mold emergency in central Indiana. While a fire, flood, or storm damage can cause substantial damage to your business, it doesn't have to mean the end of your business. Your call to SERVPRO of Indianapolis East is the first step to getting your business back up and running to full speed. 

Commercial Water Damage

Water damage can happen in many ways. In an apartment complex, there could be an overflowing bathtub or toilet that causes damage. A frozen pipe in a warehouse could burst and cause extensive damage. A burst pipe or a leaking roof in a manufacturing plant can shut down the production line causing huge losses. Our main priority is to minimize downtime and get your business back. We understand that time is money and that an immediate response is critical. 

When any of these events happen, it's crucial to call SERVPRO of Indianapolis East to mitigate the damage immediately. When hiring a water damage cleanup company, it's essential to make sure they have the expertise and equipment to handle large scale jobs. Our office routinely sees residential and commercial calls, and we also have managed massive multi-million dollar projects. 

Commercial Fire Damage

Even the smallest of fires can result in extensive smoke and water damage to a building. While the fire itself can be isolated and extinguished quickly, the culprit of most damage after a fire is the smoke. Smoke can get into the ductwork and quickly spread throughout the building. With fire and smoke damage, it's crucial to hire fire restoration professionals that can quickly restore your business, warehouse, facility, or residential complex.

Commercial Mold Remediation

Mold is the result of a moisture problem that has usually been neglected. This can be the result of a leaky pipe hidden behind a wall or in a ceiling. Mold can also grow quickly when there is water damage from the contaminated water source such as a broken sewer pipe or flooding from a nearby river or stream. Contaminated water, also known as gray water or black water, can quickly promote mold growth in less than 24 hours. If not treated, it can quickly grow and cause property damage and potential health risks among inhabitants.

Commercial Storm Damage Cleanup

Central Indiana routinely sees severe storms, and they can cause many different types of damage to a building. They can cause flooding from rising rivers, and water leaks from damaged roofs. They can also cause fires from lightning strikes. Tornadoes and high winds can break windows, tear down walls, rip off roofs, and in the worst cases, they can level the entire building. SERVPRO of Indianapolis East has the equipment, experience, and knowledge to handle any size storm damage restoration project.

Damage to a business can come in many forms. From fire to flooding to water damage to storm damage and everything in between, SERVPRO of Indianapolis East has the experience, equipment, and expertise to make it "Like it never even happened." Whether you have a small store or a multi-building complex, call the commercial restoration, remediation, and cleaning experts at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East at 317-222-5068 or contact us here.

Top Reasons For Water Damage

6/25/2020 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Indianapolis East. Our expert technicians are trained to handle a mess like this.

Water damage can happen to your Indianapolis home or business in many different ways. In this blog, we will outline some of the most common sources of water damage. It's very likely that you have had water damage at one point or another, or may know someone who has.

If you think about water damaging your home, you might imagine the cause to be from a hurricane, tornado, or other natural catastrophes. The unfortunate reality is that most water damages are caused when ordinary household appliances fail. It's important to know the areas around your home that pose a threat for damage, and what to do after it happens.

Washing Machines

Washing machine leaks are one of the most common causes of flood damage in a home and can result in significant damage not only in the laundry room but also in adjacent rooms and areas. Some laundry rooms are located on the second floor of homes, and that can cause multi-level damage. Replace rubber and plastic hoses with reinforced steel braided hose. Check connections periodically to make sure they are secure and replace the hoses every five years.

Sewer and Drain Backups

Sewer water has the potential to cause health issues, not to mention the odor that accompanies it. Understandably, this can bring serious issues to the home or business owner. The water that backs up from a sewer is classified as "Blackwater." It can contain all types of harmful contaminants and can be very dangerous. For these reasons, a professional cleanup company like SERVPRO of Indianapolis East, is highly recommended. Call our office, and we will respond immediately to make your home safe again.

Bathroom Leaks

Bathroom water leaks cause significant damage to a home. This is especially true if the bathroom is located upstairs. The main culprit is usually a supply line to the shower or toilet. We can't see the copper pipes that carry the water inside the walls, but we can see and inspect the supply line to the toilet. It's a good idea to replace the older line with a stronger braided one. These steel braided hoses are less likely to fail and are a proactive way to lessen the chance of having a leak.

Frozen Pipes

Central Indiana is well known for having all for seasons. We have weeks in winter with severe weather when temperatures drop to single digits, and even in negative numbers. When outdoor temperatures drop that low homes and businesses are likely to suffer from broken pipes. The water inside pipes can freeze when outdoor temperatures drop below freezing. As freezing water expands, it causes the pressure inside the pipes to increase, possibly leading to bursting pipes. There are a few ways to help prevent this from happening.

Insulate pipes, especially those close to outside walls, attics, and crawl spaces where the chance of freezing is greatest. Open your cabinet doors under the sinks; this allows warmer air to circulate to the pipes. Seal air leaks surrounding pipes and keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.

The Refrigerator

The copper pipe that brings in water to the ice maker might have a bad or loose connection, or it could be pinched. Just like the other appliances in our homes, the fridge has a water supply line with continuous pressure in it. If that line becomes loose or broken in any way, water will spill out until the source is turned off. It's a great idea to familiarize yourself with where to go to shut the water off in case something like this happens to you.

Sump Pump Failure

If you have a basement, you understand the importance of a sump pump. Without one, water can seep into your basement and cause lots of damage. One of the most common causes of a flooded basement is a sump pump that stopped working. This could be that the pump is old and mechanically broken, but most likely, it's due to a power supply loss. When storms roll through, we can lose power to our homes at times. That's why it's so important to have a battery backup in place in the event this happens to you.

Call The Service Professionals

If you should suffer water damage, whether from a weather-related event or a cracked pipe, overflowing bathtub or toilet, call the water damage experts at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East 317-222-5068 for 24-hour emergency service. You can also click here to contact us online. At SERVPRO of Indianapolis East, we have specialized equipment, professional training, and certifications that allow us to restore your home or business to its pre-water damage condition and make it "Like it never even happened."

After The Fire Is Out

6/24/2020 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Indianapolis East and we will make it "Like it never even happened."

Once the fire trucks leave, the first step to clean up and restoration is the board-up process . This is part of the emergency services provided by SERVPRO of Indianapolis East. Firefighters will often break windows cut holes in the roof to help air out the property from all the smoke and heat. The board-up is essential to secure your property from theft and liability.

How The Smoke Travels

Even small-scale fires in a home can result in large amounts of fire and smoke damage. If your HVAC (your heater or A/C) system is on, then the smoke will most likely enter through the return vents and be spread throughout the duct system. This will not only carry the smoke and the smoke damage throughout the house but also cause smoke damage to your ducts.

Your ducts might have dust throughout the system, which can absorb the smoke, meaning every time your air conditioner or heater turns on, you'll smell the residual smoke for weeks and months after the fire.

You won't need to worry about that if you call service professionals at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East. We will clean the furnace and HVAC system thoroughly to remove the smoke from your ducts.

Get The Water Out As Soon As Possible

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East responded to a fire damage call that received water damage that nearly equaled the amount of damage from the fire. Sometimes fires are put out by extinguishers, and water is not a factor in the cleanup process. When there is water damage in tandem with fire loss, the water's extraction must happen as quickly as possible.

The water removal process begins almost immediately. It is essential to remove the majority of the water as soon as possible to avoid mold growth. Our technicians use state of the art moisture detection equipment and years of experience to find the water trapped behind the walls and under floors. We then use dehumidifiers and air movers to remove the remaining water and complete the drying process.

Saving Your Belongings

Once our SERVPRO professionals arrive at your Indianapolis home or business, always in properly marked SERVPRO vehicles and uniforms, we can get to work on mitigation techniques designed to preserve your property and its contents. Processes like pack-outs remove the at-risk furniture and contents from your property to our secured warehouse.

Pack-outs provide a safe place for their storage and specialized attention until it is time to return them to your fully restored home. Separating the two gives us a better opportunity to clean and restore the structure. During their time with our Contents Department, individual items get cleaned, disinfected, and deodorized to be ready for their return to the property.

Our crews hand wrap and protect every large item, such as furniture, tables, chairs, and artwork. Smaller items are sorted and put into boxes. For inventory purposes, we photograph and label each item packed out and removed, and organize these pictures and labels in our proprietary software to keep track of your items during the entire process accurately.

Call The Service Professionals

If you experience a fire in your Indianapolis-area home or business, call the fire damage restoration specialist at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East. We will respond immediately to your call, day or night 24/7/365.

We have the knowledge and equipment to remove all the fire and smoke damage and restore your property to how it was before the fire. We are a trusted leader in the restoration industry that business owners and homeowners have turned to for over 50 years to restore and repair their property.

Cleaning smoke damaged homes and businesses requires specialized training, materials, and equipment. Insurance companies trust SERVPRO of Indianapolis East to get the job done right. If your home experiences a fire or water damage, call the professional restoration at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East, and we will make it "Like it never even happened."

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned – a defensive cleaning program

5/28/2020 (Permalink)

Our defensive cleaning program gives your business a way forward by providing your employees and customers ongoing safety and assuredness.

Let us help you get back to business

As our communities reopen, we’re all moving back toward a new kind of normal. The expectations of visitors, customers, and employees who come into our establishments have evolved, and staying safe and well is a top concern. The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed what it means to be clean, and we’ve developed a program to help your business meet the new higher standard of clean that is now expected.

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned is a defensive cleaning program we’re offering to businesses and commercial locations to address the current COVID-19 pandemic. This proactive viral, pathogen cleaning program goes well beyond janitorial or carpet cleaning. By choosing Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you, your employees, your customers, and your community can rest assured that you’ve selected a higher cleaning standard – you are Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.

Extensive training and specialized products

As the #1 choice in cleanup and restoration*, we stand on more than 50 years of experience and expertise to help your business become Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned. Beyond fire & water, SERVPRO professionals are trained and experienced in biohazard decontamination and chemical spills – always adhering to the cleaning and decontamination standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local authorities. 

From formulating and creating our proprietary cleaning products, like SERVPROXIDE, at our headquarters in Gallatin, TN, to taking the utmost care while disinfecting, we will ensure you and your business are set up to inspire consumer confidence as the economy continues to reopen.

3 C’s – Consult, Clean, and Certify

When the stakes are this high, you want a partner who has developed an industry-leading, proprietary training program, cleaning solutions, and remediation processes over decades. We’ve cleaned up some of the most challenging biohazards imaginable. Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned reflects our unique experiences and capabilities. The program is grounded with our unique. 3 C’s: Consult, Clean, and Certify.

Consult 

Every Indianapolis business is different, which is why you’ll be assigned a Cleaning Protocol Consultant who understands your business and will create a cleaning program to meet your specific needs. This program will be developed based on your business type, size of space, amount of high-frequency touchpoints, foot traffic, and congestion points.

Clean 

Based on your specific business needs, your location will undergo a thorough, deep clean, using exclusive cleaning products, according to protocols set forth by the CDC. Our employees have years of experience, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff performs. Cleanup procedures generally include cleaning of porous and non-porous surfaces, disinfecting of non-porous surfaces, cleaning and disinfecting of equipment, tools, and/or supplies used for the cleanup process, and disposal of hazardous materials. In the event of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 event, we will be there cleaning within 24 hours to ensure you get back to business as quickly as possible. 

Certify

Once your Indianapolis business location has been Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you will gain access to proprietary signage, digital emblems, and other collateral that communicates that you’ve selected a higher standard of clean available to help protect your employees and customers. And because we add the day, month, and year to that proprietary stamp of clean, your guests will know that not only did you choose Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, but that your location is being cleaned regularly at this standard.

Call today for a Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned Consultation

We’re Here to Help – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – until life is back to normal in the communities we all call home.

Call SERVPRO of Indianapolis East today at 317-222-5068 for your Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned Consultation.

Will Mold Damage My Home?

5/27/2020 (Permalink)

Will Mold Damage My Home?

With the showers and storms of this season in Indiana come potential water damage to your home. Water can seep in through windows, leaky roofs, cracks in the foundation, and through basement walls. If you catch the water damage quickly, the cleanup can sometimes be somewhat easy and fast especially if you have a professional water damage restoration company like SERVPRO of Indianapolis East on the job. 

However, if you don't catch the water damage in time and allow it to sit, mold can quickly grow. In general, mold tends to grow in damp and dark areas. These areas can include basement drywall, carpet padding, carpeting, bathroom grout, ceiling leaks, up in attics, insulation inside walls, and drywall around windows. You can also find mold around leaky dishwashers and washing machines, as well as, around sinks, tubs, and toilets. 

If you find mold growing in your home, it’s usually best to call a mold remediation company like SERVPRO of Indianapolis East. No type of mold is good in the home, but there are types of black mold that can be especially dangerous to one’s health. The experts at SERVPRO will be able to identify the mold and determine the right steps to remediate the mold from your home. They have the tools, equipment, and cleaners to properly and effectively remediate the mold. 

Mold Can Be Dangerous to Your Health and Your Home

While we’ve stated above that mold can be dangerous to one’s health, it can also be dangerous to one’s home. For mold to grow and thrive, it must have food to eat. For mold, food is organic matter like that found in drywall (ceilings and walls), wood flooring, wood subflooring, carpets, carpet pads, fabric curtains, furniture, cardboard storage boxes, clothing, house framing studs, insulation, and more. Basically, mold can eat away and destroy the most porous materials in the home. If left untouched, mold can eat away floors, walls, and ceilings eventually leaving nothing but the concrete foundation of a home. 

Be on the Lookout for Leaks and Mold

It’s always a good idea, especially during the rainy season in Indiana, to check around your home for damp or wet areas from leaks. You want to check around the exterior walls, windows, doors, and ceilings. If you have a basement, check it after a storm to make sure there are no leaks and that your sump pump is operating. Many times, Indiana homeowners discover their basement flooding as a result of their sump pump going out. You can help reduce this risk by installing a battery backup to the sump pump and a flood sensor that will alert you if water starts pooling on your basement floor. This can be especially valuable for those who do not use their basement that often in the first place. By being proactive and catching any water leaks or damage quickly, you can reduce or prevent any damage that mold growth could have caused.

Mold growth that’s hidden usually doesn’t get spotted until it’s spread to a more visible area or in the scenario at the beginning where it’s on the ceiling, will only show once the mold has spread through the drywall on the ceiling causing the visible dark spot on the ceiling. 

Do you have mold growth or water damage in your Indiana Home?

If you find water damage or mold damage in your home, call SERVPRO of Indianapolis East immediately. The water and mold damage restoration experts are available 24/7 for any size emergency. They can remove the water and remediate the mold and help restore the damage to your home quickly. Contact them today if you discover mold growing in your Indianapolis home. 

Home Water Damage from Spring Showers

5/26/2020 (Permalink)

Home Water Damage from Spring Showers

The grass growing and the flowers blooming are just a couple signs of Springtime in Indiana. The other sign would be showers and more showers and more showers. Showers and thunderstorms seem to be a rite of passage for Hoosiers. With those rain showers come potential flooding and torrential rains that can quickly overcome your Indianapolis home causing substantial water damage and mold growth.

Luckily if you live on the East side of Indianapolis, you’ve got some of the top water damage restoration pros in the area at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East. Whether you have a home down in Franklin Township, live in a condo near Irvington, a home in Warren Park, or a place off Southeastern in Wanamaker, we are just right down the street and ready to help with any water damage emergency. We are available 24/7 for any size emergency. SO whether it’s a broken pipe at 3 in the morning on a Saturday or a flooded basement on Easter Sunday, we will be there for you. Just give us a call and we’ll be right there to help restore your home from water damage right away.

At SERVPRO of Indianapolis East, we have the expertise and equipment to clean up and restore all types of water damage. With the frequent rains and floods in Indiana during the Spring, water damage can occur in many different ways. At SERVPRO of Indianapolis East, we’ve seen it all. With basements, we’ve seen water damage from sump pumps failing, sewer backups from flooding, and flooding from local streams and rivers. With the rains, homeowners also discover leaks in their roofs which can damage ceilings and walls and flooring. If you should suffer water damage to your Indiana home, it’s reassuring to know that SERVPRO of Indianapolis East is just a call away to start the water damage cleanup and restoration.

Call the Pros if You Do Suffer Water Damage This Spring

Hopefully this Spring, your Indianapolis home stays dry and undamaged from the severe storms, flooding, tornadoes, and rain. If you should suffer water damage whether this Spring from flooding, backups, or leaks, call the water damage cleanup experts at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East for 24-hour emergency service. At SERVPRO of Indianapolis East, we have specialized equipment, professional training, and certifications that allow us to restore your home to its pre-water damage condition.

Springtime Rain Can Cause Flooding

5/18/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is a trusted leader in the restoration industry.

Flooded Basements

With all this rain recently in Indianapolis and more on its way, sump pumps are being overworked and overwhelmed. Some pumps seem to be working correctly but still allows water to back up in the basement or crawlspace.

If you have standing water (flooding) in your basement, disconnect the main electrical switch or call a professional to help. If you are in doubt about your basement's electrical safety, it's best to stay out of it! Remember safety first!

Certified Training To Get The Job Done Right

Call SERVPRO of Indianapolis East, and our Certified Water Restoration Technicians will make it "Like it never even happened."
The water removal and water cleanup process are completed by our highly-trained technicians who will document the drying process, and this validates that your property has was dried thoroughly and accurately.

We are routinely called to homes and businesses all across Indianapolis to clean up after a flood has happened. We feel like we've seen everything and can handle any Fire-Water Restoration job that comes our way. When Indianapolis experiences heavy rains like we're currently having, homeowners and business owners trust SERVPRO to arrive fast and make it "Like it never even happened." Our highly trained crews have the experience, equipment, and resources to handle the job, large or small, residential, and commercial.

One Call Away To Save The Day

When water damage strikes, a fast response is critical. Day or night, Indianapolis residents and business owners can expect us to respond immediately to your water emergency. Call us, SERVPRO of Indianapolis East 24/7 for emergency services 317-222-5068.