Recent Posts
Regional Sales and Marketing Meeting
12/4/2024 (Permalink)
SERVPRO employees from across the northeast
On Wednesday, September 18th SERVPRO® representatives from around the northeast came together to collaborate. We talked about how to best serve our customers and improve how we operate. It was inspiring to see so many professionals at different stages in their careers share ideas. There were over 50+ years of experience in the room and that industry knowledge is unmatched. At SERVPRO we work as a team so we can respond faster to any size disaster. As a single franchise, there is only so much we can do to help our customers but, with the support of over 2,200 franchises across the country, there is no job too big. This group takes disaster restoration seriously so when emergencies happen, you are in good hands. our competitors do not bring this level of service, capacity, or expertise so when you face property damage call SERVPRO to make it, "Like it never even happened."
Mold Testing
12/4/2024 (Permalink)
Do you have mold at your property?
Our franchises do not perform mold tests. We only provide a visual inspection. Mold is a part of our lives and is in our environment all of the time. That means a mold test will always pick up mold. We often get calls from property owners that they did a mold test that they bought from Home Depot and it came back positive. Well of course it will! Mold is everywhere all of the time. You need to do a control outside of the property to get a sense of what kind of mold levels are already in that environment. As a rule of thumb, never hire a company that does both testing and remediation, it is a conflict of interest. Mold test results can be presented in a way to make a homeowner feel like they have a serious problem on their hands. I have seen estimates from companies that test for mold and do remediation, and they are often a lot higher than companies that just do remediation and do not test. Hire a reputable testing company that does not do remediation to get an unbiased protocol.
Stuck on a DIY? Give Us a Call | SERVPRO of Lowell
5/21/2024 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Lowell is here to make your home remodeling dreams come true. Call us today!
As homeowners, we all love a good DIY. What’s better than tackling a dream come to life with your own two hands and one (OK, maybe multiple) trips to the home improvement store?
While certain projects can easily be tackled on your own, there may come a time when you delve into a project and realize you have bit off more than you can chew. Now what?
You call SERVPRO of Lowell, of course! In addition to our top-notch restoration services, we are also a trusted leader in the construction industry, and we can help you finish any sort of construction project you may need assistance with.
The Steps of Our Construction Process
We are proudly well known for our ability to quickly and efficiently restore homes after disasters, but we are trained to do so much more than that! Our construction crew can help you tackle a project from start to finish, regardless of where you are in the process. We can take a dream and turn it into reality, or we can help with a DIY gone awry and set it back on track.
We will start by evaluating your space and by listening to your design ideas. We will take that inspiration and turn it into a real-life construction plan based on your specific home’s layout and your budgetary restrictions.
We are a full-service construction company, which means that you will only be working with our crew during the entire process. We will handle the entire construction and we will navigate any permit pulling or code requirements to ensure your space meets the community guidelines.
We Make Construction Look Easy
Think your project is too large or too niche for our team to handle? No way! We have seen a lot on our days of reconstruction and remodeling, so nothing is out of our scope of practice.
We can help you overcome everything from a simple HVAC issue to the intricacies of marble floor repair. We will take your project from idea to reality so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
When you work with us, you can rest easy knowing that only the best and most knowledgeable people are working on your project. We are constantly learning and adapting our techniques to align with the best business practices to ensure your home is safe, secure and constructed to your liking. What are you waiting for? Give us a call and let us make your dream home a reality!
We can help you add a new addition or remodel your home. Contact us today at SERVPRO of Lowell.
Preventing Water Damage When It Rains | SERVPRO of Lowell
11/22/2023 (Permalink)
Home water damage always happens when least expected. SERVPRO of Lowell is Here to Help®. Don't hesitate to call us today!
We certainly are no strangers to rain here in the Lowell community. We can experience rain during many months out of the year, so we can expect storm conditions to pop up here and there at any time.
While we can sometimes be grateful for a gentle, steady rain in the heat of the summer, heavy rain during intense thunderstorms can be troublesome and can leave you with serious water damage.
Catching a water leak early can minimize the damage, but stopping it entirely is always the best-case scenario. Use these tips below to help you avoid water damage when the next storm comes to town.
Preparing Your Home
Each storm brings its own threats and levels of intense rain, so being prepared for anything can help make sure you stay safe and dry no matter what is going on outside. Start with your gutters!
Cleaning out your gutters regularly will ensure water will flow down and away from your home without backing up onto your roof or pouring over the sides of your home. A single gutter clog can be responsible for significant damage to your home.
If you have a sump pump, having it inspected regularly will ensure that any issues or maintenance needs are taken care of quickly. Sump pumps are a great investment in your home and can keep your property from experiencing significant water damage, but only if they are in good working condition throughout the season.
Routine Inspections
One place in your home that we suggest to inspect routinely is your roof. Our roofs put up with a lot over the course of the year, so it is only natural for them to experience damage from time to time. A single gap or crack along your roof line can cause water to leak down your walls and cause significant water damage all over your home.
Grab a ladder and do a visual inspection of your roof at least once a month, especially after a strong storm passes through. Look for missing or broken shingles or visible hail damage and address these issues right away.
You should also do the same for your windows and doors. A single leak around one of these spaces can lead to water damage that travels throughout your home.
Where SERVPRO® Comes In
Even if you prepare as best you can and take these precautions, water can still be sneaky and leak into your home at any point during a storm. Call us right away so our team can get started on your repairs and water extraction process.
The longer water sits on your floors or lingers behind your walls, the greater the chance that your home will start to experience structural integrity issues or even mold growth.
Our team will tackle these issues head on and ensure your space is cleaned, dried and repaired as quickly as possible. We will make sure every soggy piece of drywall and every inch of your soaked carpet is replaced and restored to its preloss condition.
You deserve to recover quickly after suffering from water damage. Call SERVPRO of Lowell right away.
When a Fire Breaks Out, Call SERVPRO® | SERVPRO of Lowell
11/21/2023 (Permalink)
When an unexpected fire strikes, the damage can seem overwhelming. That's why SERVPRO of Lowell is here to restore your house. Call us now!
House fires are perhaps one of the scariest experiences that any homeowner can suffer through. The sheer amount of damage and the serious danger that they pose to your family can keep you up at night.
While it can be an overwhelming experience while it is happening, it can also seem insurmountable when you are standing in your fire-damaged home after the flames are out.
That’s where SERVPRO of Lowell comes into play! Our fire damage restoration team will handle your entire recovery from start to finish with confidence.
Our First Conversation
Once the fire is out and the authorities leave, get us on the phone right away. We are here 24/7, and someone will always be there to answer your call.
We will first identify the emergency contact for the project and then we will start asking questions about the origin of the fire and the extent of the damage. This helps us create our recovery plan more extensively, and it can give us a heads-up as to what we will see when we arrive for our visual inspection.
While you are waiting for us to arrive, stay calm and be cautious about walking around your property. Take note of any damage you see by taking photos, noting that some damage may have occurred that wasn’t originally caused by the fire. Water damage is also a common part of any insurance claim after a fire because of the chemical agents and water used to put the fire out.
Removing the Damage
Once we arrive, we will assess the damage and create a recovery plan tailored to your home’s specific needs. We will work on pulling out damaged debris while also tackling soot and smoke damage.
We will go from room to room assessing the extent of the damage because smoke can travel to areas of your home that were never touched by the flames.
After the debris is gone, we will get to work cleaning your entire space. This will include water extraction and the drying of your possessions as well as documenting all possessions and addressing damage for salvageable furniture and other keepsakes. We have special upholstery and fabric cleaning techniques that allow us to clean your fragile materials without damaging them any further.
Rebuilding Your Home
The damage has been done, there is no doubt about that. However, we can reverse that damage quickly and return your home to its preloss condition quickly!
Our team can rebuild entire sections or levels of your home, but we are also trained to handle smaller, more intricate restoration projects like rebuilding cabinets or rebuilding ruined walls. We will make sure every inch of your home overcomes the fire damage, soot and smoke that is left behind.
We are here to help you overcome fire damage. Contact SERVPRO of Lowell for immediate assistance.
How to Avoid Appliance-Related Water Damage | SERVPRO® of Lowell
5/19/2023 (Permalink)
Water damage can happen anytime and anywhere. Call SERVPRO of Lowell day or night to help get your home or business back in order.
Our day-to-day is made so much easier by the helping hand of our trusted household appliances. We owe a lot to our hardworking appliances, and failing to upkeep them with the proper maintenance can result in major damage.
Staying on top of your appliance upkeep is a way to prevent a water damage disaster. Failing to catch problems like leaks early on can have a significant impact on your Lowell home in the long run.
Thankfully, you can keep your appliances running smoothly by including these vital prevention methods in your chore list:
Regular Maintenance
Checking for water damage on a regular basis is the most effective way to avoid it. A simple look around can often help you catch a vital issue before they get the chance to escalate.
Leaks can sneak in under your refrigerator or dishwasher, so it’s important to inspect these areas for wet spots or puddling often. Moving them out of the way allows you to get a better look and makes cleaning up around these unseen areas easier.
Your HVAC is another important part of the home that can hide major water issues in places you can’t see. To avoid water damage in these areas, be sure to check your vents for water on a regular basis and repair the damage as soon as you spot it.
It might not come as a surprise to learn that your water heater can be a main culprit of water damage. Pay close attention to your heater and check for leaks as often as you would with your other water-using appliances.
Yearly or Long-Term Maintenance
Consistent maintenance can help you avoid massive water damage, but following the maintenance schedule recommended by the manufacturer can be even more beneficial.
Inspect hoses and tubing on your fridge, washing machine and dishwasher for punctures, knots and other indicators of damage. Regular repairs and replacing damaged parts can help to prevent future appliance issues.
To ensure your appliances and parts are always up to date, you should retire older equipment at least every 10 to 15 years.
Our appliances can make life easier, but unexpected issues can turn them into a headache. Avoid issues and protect your home by working hard to prevent water damage and keep your equipment running smoothly.
Have water damage in your home from an appliance or another source? Our team is here to help, so call us day or night.
Dealing with the aftermath of a commercial fire? SERVPRO of Lowell is your local restoration expert.
4/3/2023 (Permalink)
Provide Your Lowell Workforce With Fire Extinguisher Training | SERVPRO® of Lowell
Disaster can be difficult to recover from, especially when it strikes an unprepared business. Business owners must prepare their teams for anything, not only to protect themselves but also the workplace in which they work every day.
For example, a fire emergency can be chaotic, especially if your team reacts erratically and irresponsibly. Training your team to respond appropriately is critical for keeping situations like this under control. Fire extinguisher training is an excellent place to begin and can put your team on the path to full workplace disaster preparedness.
To enhance a fire-safe Lowell business, teach your team how to use this firefighting tool:
Start With the FundamentalsOSHA mandates that all commercial buildings with fire extinguishers should supply the needed training to utilize them. This involves going over how to use them, when to use them and what type of extinguishers to use.
Begin the training by showing your team how to hold and aim the extinguisher. Next, you should teach them how to pull the pin, press the handle and glide the tool over a fire. Throughout your training, emphasize the importance of keeping a safe six to eight feet distance away from a fire.
To help them retain this information, you can introduce the PASS method. It’s best to revisit this topic at least once a year to help newcomers—and even seasoned staff members—keep this content in mind.
Assigning roles can ensure emergencies like workplace flames are dealt with quickly and properly. Pick a couple of well-trained employees to operate the fire extinguishers you have stored inside your Lowell building.
There’s a Time and a PlaceLet your team know about the different fire risks located around your building that require the operation of fire extinguishers to ensure they are always used at the correct moment. Talk through any relevant scenarios, hidden hazards and the type of extinguisher required for each one. For example, an electrical fire caused by an overloaded circuit requires a different extinguisher than a fire in the break room microwave.
Teaching your team when to give up and evacuate is one of the most important parts of fire extinguisher training. Fire extinguishers can be incredibly beneficial, but there are occasions when the flames are simply too powerful to fight without the assistance of officials.
Ensure your employees understand that once flames grow out of their control, they need to evacuate and contact local authorities.
Proper fire extinguisher training can make a significant difference in the safety of your Lowell workplace. Once you’ve gotten through the basics, you can equip your team with even more safety strategies that will protect them in the middle of an unexpected blaze.
Dealing with the aftermath of a commercial fire? Our SERVPRO specialists can restore your losses and return your workplace to its pre-fire condition.
Spring Tips for Storm
3/22/2023 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Lowell team is always here for you, if you experience any storm damage call us right away.
Spring is on the way, and we can’t wait to see a change in the weather. As you gear up for all of your outdoorsy spring activities, it’s a good idea to ready up your home at the same time.
Spring weather can bring a number of weather threats that can cause water damage if your Lowell home isn’t prepared!
While you write out your spring-cleaning list, make sure to complete a few of these vital outdoor chores around your property. We put together a few of the most important places you’ll need to maintain before spring has sprung.
Clean It OutAs winter comes to a close, it’s vital to maintain the parts if your home that might be dealing with a buildup of debris. Wind, rain, snow and ice can all lead to clogged gutters.
Leaves, twigs and other debris can clog up your gutters and downspouts, causing water to leak down onto your roof and into your home. Before spring arrives, ensure your downspouts, gutters and outdoor vents are all clear of blockages from excess debris.
Make sure to check your outdoor faucets for any leaks or gaps. It can get freezing cold here in Lowell during the winter, so there’s a good chance you might be dealing with frozen pipes. Checking these areas will ensure your pipes are good to go when the warm spring weather arrives.
Fix Issues FastWe typically don’t spend a lot of time outdoors when winter is in full swing. This can cause important issues on your roof or outside of your home to go unnoticed.
The heavy snow that visited our area this winter could’ve damaged your roof without your knowledge! Make sure any broken shingles, cracked gutters or other wear and tear are fixed before springtime.
Even the tiniest leaks and out-of-place shingles can result in a substantial water emergency when the first spring shower begins to pour. Checking these issues early on could save you from an even bigger problem in the future.
Get Ready for the WaterIf you have a sump pump in your home, you understand how critical it is that it works when spring arrives. A sump pump helps protect your basement and foundation from excess water, especially during rainy seasons like spring. Check that your sump pump is operational to avoid clogs or malfunctions when you begin using it.
Spring weather can change fast, so ensure your family is ready by updating your emergency kit, making any needed changes to your safety plan and finding more than one way to stay updated on local weather events.
Our crew at SERVPRO of Lowell knows that water damage can catch you off-guard, even when you work hard to prevent it. That’s why we are available 24⁄7 to respond to any of your water emergencies! We can be on the scene in a flash to begin restoring your Lowell home to its pre-water state.
Got water damage? We are here to help 24⁄7 and can restore your home quickly.
Keep Your Property Safe From the Dangers of Lightning
9/26/2022 (Permalink)
If you are dealing with smoke or fire damage from a recent fire, call SERVPRO of Lowell to learn about a restoration solution for your issue.
House fires can be disastrous, but when you follow safety measures, you can usually ensure the safety of yourself and your family. However, while many house fires have manmade causes and are preventable, natural causes are also capable of sparking unintended flames and much more difficult to prevent.
In 2020 alone, there were over 70,000 damage claims related to lightning strikes. Although being personally struck by lightning isn’t very common, your home is much more susceptible to damage. When lightning does strike, it can blow out your power, destroy trees or even ignite a fire.
It’s predicted that lightning strikes around 6,000 times per minute. This makes the risk of lightning even more significant and we should all make a point to keep ourselves safe when a storm is on the way.
What Is Lightning?Lightning is a huge, bright bolt of electrical current that occurs between the clouds and the ground. While thunderstorms produce lightning, they can also strike during volcanic eruptions, severe wildfires and even intense snowstorms.
We relate lightning to extreme weather, but it can also strike on a clear and dry day. “Dry lightning” is created without rain and is capable of sparking wildfires. This means we need to make room for fire safety while we prepare for the dangers of storms.
Protecting Your Home From Lightning FiresQuite a lot of destruction, including fires, can result from a lightning strike on your property. The heat of the impact itself or an electrical surge brought on by it can both spark a fire.
It’s possible that a fire that results from a strike won’t be immediately evident as it will typically start in a place like your walls or up in your attic. As soon as you discover your home has been struck, look for burn marks, and call the fire department as soon as you spot any black spots or detect any smoke.
One of the greatest methods for avoiding lightning-related fire is to install a lightning rod. This metal pole can deflect the force of a lightning strike away from your house so that it is not directly affected by the heat and electrical current.
When Lightning Strikes NearbyLightning is a leading cause of wildfires and other outdoor fires. Different parts of the country experience varying “peak” seasons for lightning fires, but an estimated 9,000 fires are sparked each year due to lightning strikes.
Maintain a tidy yard free of deceased or dying trees and plants, and think about utilizing defensible zones to shield your house from the impact of lightning strikes. To notify you as soon as a fire starts, your home should also include smoke detectors on every floor.
If your home suffers from damage after a fire, our team can be on the scene ASAP. Our team is trained to take care of fire damage of any size, no matter the source. With years of training and the use of advanced technologies, we can restore your home as fast as possible.
Have you experienced smoke or fire damage in your home? Call us today to finish the restoration quickly.
Is Your Home at Risk of a Flood?
9/13/2022 (Permalink)
Experienced water damage in your home? Call SERVPRO of Lowell to get the restoration process started right away
Water can be incredibly destructive around your property and your home. Even though water will eventually dry up, it can leave widespread damage behind.
As if dealing with damages inside your home isn’t enough, there is also the chance that your insurance won’t cover the cost to recover from the damage. That alone should make you take preventive steps against flooding right away!
We are in a particularly interesting flood risk location, nestled in right below the Merrimack River and amongst the Pawtucket Canal. If any of these water sources overflows or the water level gets high enough, we could experience flooding issues.
Utilizing Your Yard to Reduce Flood RiskTake a few simple steps to keep water moving through your yard and away from your home. If you have gutters, keep them clear and remove any blockages to prevent water from building up on your shingles.
You can also use your landscaping to your advantage! Gardens are a great way to absorb excess water, or install a rain barrel below your gutters to catch the run off. That way you can have complete control of where all of that water goes.
If your property relies on propane, take the time to anchor down your propane tanks to make sure they stay put during any sort of flooding situation.
Taking Care of the InsideA watertight home begins with a waterproof foundation. If you have a crack or a weak spot, you will find out quickly! Seal up any cracks and address any issues you discover right away.
You can also help out your home by installing a sump pump to keep the water continually moving away from your home.
Most families rely on their appliances to run the household, but those appliances are also at a higher risk of causing a water issue. Check on your water heater, dishwasher and washing machine while they are running to look for dripping or leaks, or install a leak sensor to help alert you of any issues as they originate.
In the end, most of your possessions will dry out, but some can be ruined and those things are usually the most important! Protect your precious photos and other keepsakes by keeping them high off of the ground or away from the basement.
Don’t panic if you do end up finding water in your home even after doing all you can to prevent it! Just address the issue quickly and thoroughly, and call us so we can help make sure your restoration is done professionally.
Experienced water damage in your home? Call SERVPRO of Lowell today to get your restoration completed faster.
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