Recent Posts
Keep your heat up to prevent pipe freeze!
12/11/2023 (Permalink)
Turning down the thermostat while away from home in winter can cause pipes to freeze and burst. The damage can be extensive, especially if you are away from home for a while. Remember that internal wall temps may be quite a bit lower than the temp at the thermostat. This homeowner found out the hard way.
This house had quite a bit of damage when the homeowner returned. Small uncaulked openings in the exterior wall allowed super cold winter air to get inside the ceiling, and freezing a large water line.
Luckily SERVPRO of Elgin was there to help them get back in their home quickly!
SERVPRO of Elgin, 847.697.8500 is there when you need experienced professionals to solve your problems!!
Are you prepared if your building has a fire?
10/11/2023 (Permalink)
Did you know that over 50% of businesses that have a major event such as a sever water damage or fire, never recover?! The loss of key customers due to delays in getting your operation back up and running could be the difference between success and never opening your doors again.
It is a scary thought.
Help your company by having SERVPRO® schedule an ERP inspection. Our Emergency Ready Program will help facility managers prepare for the unthinkable. We start by identifying important facility information, such as water shut offs, and critical areas of importance within the building. By doing this we can allow our emergency restoration professionals to concentrate their efforts on the areas that will provide you the flexibility to stay in operation and maintaining your important clients needs until the entire cleanup is completed.
A little planning today can provide a lot of reassurance in the future.
Contact us at 847.697.8500 to schedule an inspection.
Are you properly covered?
8/16/2023 (Permalink)
Flooding still remains the most costly natural hazard disaster in the United States. But did you know that flood losses are not typically covered under renter and homeowner insurance policies? Additionally, backup coverage in homes is typically limited.
Do you have the coverage necessary to get yourself back "Like it Never Even Happened?"
Contact your agent and discuss your coverage BEFORE the event occurs. Believe me, you WILL be very happy you did!
Smoke and Soot Cleanup Fire
8/16/2023 (Permalink)
Smoke and soot is extremely invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.
Smoke and soot facts:
- Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
- Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
- The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.
Different Types of Smoke
There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Elgin/NW Kane County will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures are then based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:
Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber
- Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.
Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood
- Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.
Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire
- Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor.
Our Fire Damage Restoration Services
Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions. We have 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.
Smoke and Soot Cleanup Fire
8/16/2023 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Elgin/NW Kane County provides 24-hour emergency service and is dedicated to being faster to any-sized disaster in Elgin and northwest Kane County. We will respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs while minimizing the interruption to your home or business.
- 24-Hour Emergency Service
- Faster to Any-Sized Disaster
- Highly Trained Restoration Technicians
- A Trusted Leader in the Restoration Industry
- Locally Owned and Operated
- Advanced Restoration and Cleaning Equipment
Have Questions? Call Us 24/7 – 847-697-8500
Residential Services
Whether your Elgin/NW Kane County home needs emergency flood damage or your carpet cleaned, you can depend on us. Our technicians have extensive cleaning and restoration training and can make your property look its best. Learn more about our residential services:
- Water Damage Restoration
- Fire Damage Restoration
- Mold Remediation
- Storm Damage Restoration
- Cleaning Services
- Building/Reconstruction Services
Commercial Services
There's never a convenient time for fire or Water damage to strike your Elgin/NW Kane County commercial property. Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when the need arises for professional cleaning or emergency restoration services we have the training and expertise to respond promptly with highly trained technicians to get your property back to business. Learn more about our commercial services: http://www.SERVPROelginnorthwestkanecounty.com/commercial-restoration-cleaning
- Commercial Water Damage Restoration
- Commercial Fire Damage Restoration
Restoring Your Commercial Property After A Water Damage Event
8/16/2023 (Permalink)
Flooding and water damage events at Elgin/NW Kane County commercial properties can be complex with numerous issues that require a knowledgeable and flexible response. Whether we’re dealing with a relatively small water cleanup scenario or a large scale event, we work quickly to assess each unique situation and isolate the damaged area. In many instances, normal operations can continue in a temporary space while we restore your facility to its preloss state.
Restoring Commercial Properties Presents Unique Challenges
Our professionals are trained to be mindful of legal and environmental concerns and strive to fully restore the damaged area while working within your budgetary constraints. We understand that every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when an emergency situation arises in your business, give us a call and we’ll be there fast with the help you need.
About SERVPRO of Elgin/NW Kane County
SERVPRO of Elgin/NW Kane County specializes in the cleanup and restoration of commercial and residential property after a water or fire 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.
How to Handle the Aftermath of a Sump Pump Failure in Elgin
6/29/2022 (Permalink)
It's that time of year where rain is usually in the forcast, so many Elgin homeowners are ensuring their sump pump is ready for the season. A sump pump is installed underneath the floor of basements which is called a “sump pit”. Once heavy rains hit your home, water starts to flow into the pit through drains or natural soil migration. Once watered is received, the pump will activate and start redirecting the water away from your home. It can be an especially important piece to your home if you invested money into refinishing the basement or have valuable items stored away. But like any piece of equipment, there is a possibility of it failing which can result in flooding, water backups, or water damage to your Elgin basement.
Your beautiful basement has flooded due to a sump pump failure, so now what?
- A flooded basement poses an electrocution hazard. Never enter a wet or flooded basement until the electricity has been shut off from the main panel.
- Locate and turn off the water source. If the source is coming from a ruptured pipe, turn off the main shutoff valve.
- Determine the type of water that has flooded your Elgin home. If it from a pipe, it’s generally safe up to 48 hours, but it is still recommended to wear gloves, boots, and other protective gear. If the water is from a sewage backup, it is classified as biohazard and requires intervention by qualified experts.
- Don’t attempt to pump it out yourself. If deep water is pumped from a flooded basement too quickly, you might cause structural failure. This is possible because there is external pressure exerted by over-saturated soil pressing against the basement walls.
- Call the experts. SERVPRO of Elgin is your water mitigation experts. Our franchise has been servicing basements with water damage since 2003. We can confidently provide you with quality solutions to bring your Elgin home back to preloss conditions.
Luckily, there are a couple of ways you can avoid sump pump failures. The first way to avoid failure is through annual maintenance. For example, clear the sump pump basin of debris which can clog the pump inlet. Be sure to also test the function of float switches. You can do this by pouring five gallons of water into the basin and observing proper activation. Lastly, you can help prevent failure is to upgrade to a battery backup feature. This ensures the sump pump continues to work after your Elgin home experiences a power outage.
Learn more about Elgin.
Even Small Storms Can Cause a lot of Damage
6/24/2022 (Permalink)
Flooded basement with wet content, flooring and workout equipment.
There are dozens of severe storm events across the country every year. Many of those can cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damages to homes, businesses and infrastructure.
Realizing that your home or business has sustained damage due to a storm is hard to deal with. What do you do? Who do you call?
There is one bit of advise that we can give you that can save you thousands of dollars; Call SERVPRO fast!! Water damage doesn't just sit in your home and business. It spreads, everywhere. It wicks up the walls, into adjacent rooms. It even evaporates into the air and can cause "secondary damage" to areas of your building you are not even aware of.
Even after you have sucked up the visible water off the floor and out of the carpet, water is still causing more damage every minute.
SERVPRO of Elgin/Northwest Kane County has the training, experience and equipment to get your building stabilized fast and minimize the damage that water causes.
Call SERVPRO at 847.697.8500!!
SERVPRO responds to storms like no one else!!!
6/24/2022 (Permalink)
Ready to roll!
What is one of the greatest things about working with SERVPRO during storms? BECAUSE WE ARE HUGE AND CAN SEND HUNDREDS OF CREWS!!!
SERVPRO of Elgin/Northwest Kane County is a part of the "Storm Response Teams." We keep a 36-foot trailer fully stocked with equipment and supplies so we can quickly respond to emergency situations. We will bring that trailer along with a couple of box trucks and vans full of our fully trained and experienced crew.
We bring enough equipment, crew and supplies that we can arrive onsite and start performing work for either dozens of homes or a large corporate facility immediately when we roll into town.
When you combine our formidable response with hundreds of other SERVPROs from around the nation, we literally "Paint the town Green."
We respond to storms like no one else. Residential, commercial and industrial all taken care of by the Men and Women or SERVPRO!!
SERVPRO of Elgin/Northwest Kane County; painting our town Green!!
Learn more about Elgin.
Gutters are SO IMPORTANT!!
6/24/2022 (Permalink)
Gutters work to keep us dry!
From intense wind, heavy snow fall, and rain showers, your Elgin home endures a lot of storms throughout the year. When these storms hit, your gutters are busy at work. Their job is to control the flow of rainwater which protects your roof, walls, foundation, and landscape. Unfortunately, they can also be at risk for causing serious additional problems if they are not maintained.
If your gutters are not maintained after enduring Elgin’s storms, you can easily be at risk for potential water damage which can cost thousands of dollars. Since the job of gutters is to carry water away from the home’s foundation, it cannot do its function without clear paths. Clogged gutters will eventually overflow onto the foundation of the home. And depending on the amount of water and condition of the foundation, water could seep into your basement or crawl space. Clogged gutters can also pose a weight strain on your roof and fascia. This could cause your roof to collapse and causing damage to the shingles of the roof and exterior of the house.
A routine cleaning of your gutters can prevent damage to your roof, exterior, foundation, and save you a lot of money in damage repairs. By setting aside a couple of hours, follow these steps to easily clean them yourself and ensure they are functioning properly:
- Protect your hands and keep them dry by wearing latex gloves
- Begin cleaning near the downspout
- Clear large debris such as leaves and twigs by hand
- Remove and clean downspout strainers
- Flush out the gutter with your garden hose. Start at the opposite end of the downspout
- Check the downspout for any lodged debris and remove any remaining debris
- Use a pressure washer to remove any mildew and dirt from the gutters
If your Elgin home has experienced water damage, be proactive by partnering with SERVPRO of Elgin to dry out the damaged area. We are the water restoration team and you can count on us to remove and repair water damage. We are a 24-hour service and can respond to the call at any time. To schedule an estimate or if you have any questions, call (847) 697-8500.
Learn more about Elgin.
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