Fire Safety and Your Children | SERVPRO of West Milwaukee

6/10/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of West Milwaukee is here for you and your family if you experience a fire in your home or business.

Keeping your kids safe is certainly a full-time job sometimes! It is hard work showing them the world while also doing your best to minimize danger and unpredictable situations.

While your children need to learn certain things in order to stay safe, it can be hard to introduce them to certain topics without scaring them with the facts. House fires certainly fall into this category. Fire can be scary for everyone, whether you are 5 or 55.

By introducing fire safety concepts in a fun or light-hearted way, you can increase your child’s likelihood of responding appropriately in the midst of a true emergency. Read on to gain some great ideas!

<h3fire-around-the-house">Explaining Fire Around the House

Your kids are constantly watching you. They are taking in every moment from when you turn on your stove to when you light your favorite candle, so it should be no surprise if your child is curious about fire. Take the time to explain what fire is and how it helps you around the home, and take a walk around to each space in your home where fire is used.

Explain how fire starts and how it spreads, and be sure to explain to them that matches and lighters should never be played with. A single lit match is all it takes to start a full blaze in your home, so teach your kids that these are tools for adults, not toys for kids.

<h3firefighters">Introducing Firefighters

Many kids look up to firefighters and police officers, but many of them are also shy around authority. Seeing a firefighter in his or her full gear can be scary or intimidating! In order to reduce this anxiety, expose your children to pictures, books and videos about firefighters and attend local meet-and-greet opportunities so your children can see these people in real life.

If your children meet your local fire crew now, it can help your children recognize them in a true emergency and trust the firefighters to bring them to safety. In order for this to happen, your kids have to be confident in calling for help! Practice this by holding a contest to see who can yell their name the loudest from their rooms and then practice army crawling through the house.

<h3together">Plan Together

You probably know how to get out of your home quickly in an emergency, but do your children? Involve them in creating your emergency exit plan by letting them find all of the ways out of each room in your home and write it down together. Make it a game and time them!

Don’t forget to include the windows in your plan. While it might seem scary to show your children how to open and get out of your windows, this is necessary for a true emergency situation. Teach them how to do this, but instill the rule that this skill is only to be used as a last resort and should never be used for fun.

Finally, choose an outdoor meeting location together and practice! Do a full run-through of your entire plan, and ensure your children know how to call 911 once safely outside.

Fires can cause widespread damage. Call us for a thorough and efficient restoration.

Keeping Your Home Safe in Strong Winds | SERVPRO of West Milwaukee

6/5/2023 (Permalink)

If you've suffered from storm-related damage to your home or business, make SERVPRO of West Milwaukee your first call.

The wind is an ever-present weather phenomenon that we can experience in a variety of ways. A soft breeze on a summer day can feel idyllic, while a strong gusty wind during a thunderstorm can have you running for the safety of your home.

When the wind starts to pick up, it can cause a great deal of damage in a short amount of time. Most damaging wind is associated with thunderstorms, but it can happen on a sunny day as well.

By learning more about the different kinds of strong winds and the damage they cause, you can take steps to protect your home now so you are prepared for any weather.

<h3wind-types-in-wisconsin">Common Wind Types in Wisconsin

Over half of all reported damaging wind is caused by thunderstorms, and even more when a tornado is present. You should always follow weather warnings and head indoors as soon as a storm rolls into town.

Thunderstorms can produce some strong winds in addition to other threats, like rain and hail. It can easily reach up to 60 miles per hour, which is fast enough to throw debris around your yard.

Straight-line winds are also often caused by thunderstorms. These wide-reaching winds can gust up to 100 miles per hour and can damage parts of town that don’t even see rain. They can cause widespread damage because there isn’t any rotation in them and can occur in single powerful bursts.

Tornadoes are also a common weather threat, and they carry a wider variety of wind patterns. Wind produced in a tornado can be straight-line winds, downdrafts, and micro- or macro-bursts.

Tornadoes don’t often touch down in Milwaukee County, but that doesn’t mean we don’t experience wind damage. Even just a few weeks ago we experienced a storm with wind that reached over 75 miles per hour!

<h3to-prevent-wind-damage">Tips to Prevent Wind Damage

Wind can easily topple trees and make your lawn furniture take flight, and it can even upend mobile homes and cars if it blows fast enough.

In order to stay safe from the wind, you need to know what the different weather alerts mean and act accordingly. You need to secure loose objects like trash cans and porch chairs, and consider moving your car into the garage before the storm arrives.

Clean up yard debris and remove fallen branches off of your property. If the wind picks up a branch, it can easily become a projectile that can cause a lot of damage to your home and windows.

Once your home is ready for the wind, get your family inside to an interior room to wait out the weather. Don’t go back outside until you are confident that the threat has passed.

Take a walk around your home and your property to look for damage after the storm is gone. You should address any damage right away, even if it is just a single missing shingle. SERVPRO of West Milwaukee can help you recover right away!

Has your home been damaged by wind? Call us and get things cleaned up fast.

Detecting Water Leaks Around Your Home | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

5/9/2023 (Permalink)

Think you may have water damage in your home? Here are some tips from SERVPRO of Rapid City to find the source.

If you have ever suffered water damage before, you know how frustrating it is to deal with. Regardless of whether the situation was widespread or contained to a single room, water damage has the potential to be really costly and troublesome to many homeowners.

Because of water damage’s destructive qualities, it is important to recognize where water leaks often start and to take action right away when you notice one in your Milwaukee area home.

Read on to learn about the top three locations for water damage below.

Your roof. Your roof has an important job of keeping your family safe and dry, but sometimes that process can get interrupted by roof damage or a small water leak.

Since we aren’t up on our roofs often, it can be easy to miss the signs until it is too late and you are left with damage.

If a leak goes unaddressed, it can slowly seep into the ceilings, walls and floors of your home and cause hidden chaos. This water has a hard time drying out on its own, which can lead to mildew and mold problems.

In your bathroom. Another common space is your bathroom areas. Water is constantly flowing in and out of your sinks, tubs, toilets and showers, making water damage here very common.

In order to stop water from becoming an issue in your bathroom, be proactive about checking your water lines and the seals around your fixtures. It is also important to dry out your space each day so that water and moisture cannot linger and cause water damage this way.

The best way to catch water damage in your bathroom is to investigate issues quickly. It can be hard to see a puddle on the ground and assume it was from one of your kids being messy, but do your due diligence and investigate further to be sure.

Your pesky appliances. We love having appliances like dishwashers, washing machines and fridges in our homes! It certainly makes life easier, but only when they are working properly. Any sort of leak or malfunction has the potential to flood or cause widespread water issues in your home.

Similarly with your bathroom, investigate puddled water quickly and check for moisture often around your appliances. It can be extremely helpful to pull them away from the wall to check for water spots or mold growth as well, which indicates a water leak somewhere.

Finally, do your best to only keep new or reliable appliances in your home. Older or worn-out appliances increase your risk of suffering a water catastrophe with every day they get older.

Remember, even if you do your best to avoid water damage, it can still happen. Our SERVPRO of West Milwaukee team is always here to help.

Dealing with a water emergency? Our SERVPRO specialists can be on the scene of the disaster ASAP to restore your water-damaged home!

The Training You Can Trust When You Need It Most | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

5/4/2023 (Permalink)

Is your home or business in need of restoration? SERVPRO of West Milwaukee is ready to help you recover.around the clock.

Taking care of your home takes work every single day to keep it functioning smoothly and efficiently. In addition to the little tasks like daily cleaning or minor maintenance work, you are also in charge of making the big decisions following a disaster.

If you suffer from a house fire or a basement flood, who would you prefer to be there to help you with the restoration? When faced with the choice between a top-rated company with extensive training and experience and a company with minimal training and expertise, which would you choose?

We thought so, too. When you choose SERVPRO of West Milwaukee, the team that arrives at your door will be highly trained in the latest and most advanced restoration techniques.

We Are Responsible With Our Training

We know how important your home is to you. That’s why we do our due diligence when it comes to training. This is why we frame our training around the IICRC standards to ensure we are following the industry’s leading practices on cleaning and restoration. We take all sorts of courses, including but not limited to:

• water damage restoration
• fire damage restoration
• mold remediation
• carpet and upholstery and cleaning

In addition, we also want to encourage further learning by offering our employees individualized certification training. These trainings can be on at each employee’s preferred pace so as to ensure they are understanding everything being taught.

We Learn Throughout Our Entire Careers

We don’t just stop learning once we are initially hired and onboarded onto our teams. We know that information and best practices can change all the time, so we encourage our staff to attend continuing ed classes and watch e-learning videos often.

Home damage can vary greatly based on the disaster and your specific home, so we train as much as we can to help you recover completely from any situation.

We want to stay connected to the latest information so that we can change up our processes to stay current with the changing policies and guidelines. As technology changes, we need to change along with it so we can help you best.

The Importance of Training for Your Home

When we know more, we can do more for you! Our training and experience allows us to have the confidence we need to tackle any disaster that you face. We are so confident in our ability that we will not leave until you are 100% satisfied with the final product.

Skip the hesitation and the worry of choosing another company—just let our SERVPRO of West Milwaukee team handle your restoration today.

When you need help recovering from a disaster, SERVPRO is here for you. Get in touch 24/7 to start your disaster recovery.

The Types of Floods You Might Encounter | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

4/9/2022 (Permalink)

Regardless of the cause of the flooding, SERVPRO of West Milwaukee has the team to help you recover from any disastrous event.

In the United States, flooding is the most common natural disaster, claiming more lives each year than hurricanes, tornadoes, and lightning combined. Individual homes with excess water can be affected, as can entire communities or even entire cities.

Flooding affects all 50 states and every U.S territory, but there are similarities in types and causality among all them. There are three common types of flooding, and they happen for four typical reasons.

<h4types-of-natural-flooding">3 Types of Natural Flooding

Flash floods are common, and they happen when heavy rain passes or sits over an area and overwhelms the ability of the ground to contain the moisture. Excess water runs off and takes garbage cans, cars and more with it.

River floods are exactly what they sound like. When there’s too much water for a river’s banks to hold, the water spills over the sides and causes destruction.

Coastal floods happen in areas next to large bodies of water, when storm surges or cyclonic activity causes ocean or gulf levels to rise to flood levels.

<h44-most-common-causes-of-natural-flooding">The 4 Most Common Causes of Natural Flooding

Heavy rainfall. Storms with excessive rainfall, or storms that sit and rest over an area for an extended period can cause flash floods or river flooding. Urban areas are more at risk for rain floods, because the higher percentage of concrete and asphalt means there’s a lack of soil to soak up all that water. In August of 2021, the Milwaukee area saw flooding like it hadn’t seen since 2008. In just two days, some areas saw as much as seven inches of rainfall, which lead to significant flash floods across the city. The total rainfall at Mitchell Airport on Sunday, August 2 was 4.79 inches, which broke the previous record of 2.79 inches significantly.

Oceanic activity. Storm surges, hurricanes and rising tides can cause water levels to rise in waves, which can invade coastal communities and wreak havoc.

Dams and levees failing. The most notable example of this in recent history would be the disastrous levee breaks during 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. Levees and dams fail when cracks occur or excess pressure overtakes the dam’s ability to contain the surge of water behind it.

Snowmelts and ice dams. In areas of the country where heavy snow and prolonged freezing temperatures are common, snow and ice can build up over a winter’s time, and when they start to melt, they cause rivers of water to flow through area communities. Ice dams or ice jams happen when rivers become blocked by built-up ice being carried downstream, causing the banks to overflow.

Regardless of the cause of the flooding, SERVPRO has the tools and teams to help your home or business recover from its disastrous effects. Contact us anytime when flooding or water damage makes a mess in your life.

Why We’re Your Next Business Partner | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

3/19/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of West Milwaukee are your local commercial restoration experts. Contact us today should you experience any damage.

Organizations need every bit of help possible in order to stay afloat. As a company owner or manager, you are well aware that maintaining a seamless operation requires the assistance of every available hand. Significant delays or losses may force you to permanently close your doors.

However, your retail space, manufacturing facility or rental property already has a hidden partner that can assist with all of your cleaning and recovery needs, and it’s just outside your door. SERVPRO of West Milwaukee is capable of satisfying a wide range of company demands; it’s as if you have a new business partner handling an entire component of your organization’s success strategy.

Large Loss Recovery. Fires, storms and flooding are the most common causes of financial loss for organizations in the United States, and they may result in much more damage if urgent action is not taken. When you contact SERVPRO, you can be certain that you are calling a highly experienced team that is available 24 hours a day to deliver proven emergency services, reducing business interruptions and accelerating the recovery process.

Emergency Ready Plan. Recovery begins even before the disaster occurs—that is, if your firm has been well prepared. We can assist you in determining the ideal strategy for when the time is right. During a crisis, you may need an emergency chain of command, alternative meeting or work locations, and temporary suppliers, and we’ll have you configured for a simple button press to initiate all of this.

Cleaning of All Kinds. We provide solutions for a wide variety of cleaning situations, ranging from specialized requirements such as trauma site cleanup and safe biohazard removal to more routine requirements such as carpet cleaning and upholstery restoration. We’ve been in this business for a long period of time and have seen and cleaned almost everything.

Restoration Services. Flash floods can ensue from a storm. The interns could ignite a fire in the kitchen. A water main can burst. All of these unfortunate events require cleanup and restoration. You can rely on us to restore the sparkle to your business after a property damage disaster, from water removal through restoration.

Industry Specialization. There is no industry that we are unable to help, and we have spent decades mastering the intricacies of them all. We can assist you with any unique or specialized cleaning or restoration requirements your business may have. In many circumstances, we can even enclose the work area to avoid interfering with adjacent regions’ normal activities.

Whatever your recovery need may be, and whatever your commercial property may require, trust SERVPRO to get the job done. Contact us today to get started on an Emergency Ready Plan or find out how we can serve your business.

SERVPRO Helps Businesses Prepare | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

3/12/2022 (Permalink)

If the day comes where your business is hit with disaster or emergency, you can rest assured SERVPRO of West Milwaukee will be there to help.

Managing a business is like walking a tightrope. There are many factors to consider when deciding how many employees to hire, how much to pay them and how to stay up with an ever-changing business climate. It’s a full-time job, for sure, but really more like an overtime time if we’re being honest!

You’ve put in countless time and effort to get to this point. If disaster hits, though, will you be ready?

A company can often be brought down for good by only a single disaster. Around 40% of small businesses fail to reopen following damage from natural disasters, according to FEMA. And 25% of those that do reopen fail within a year.

A disaster plan is more important than ever for small businesses as the economic horizon, especially in the shadow of recent pandemic shutdowns, is undoubtedly uncertain. As many as 75% of small businesses do not have an emergency plan in place, and this must change.

An Emergency Ready Plan is a detailed post-disaster plan that SERVPRO of West Milwaukee is eager to help businesses in the region with. Whatever your location or industry, we can help you figure out what to do after a crisis.

You’ll know the whole process from start to finish. When a crisis hits, your strategy is ready to get to work immediately to minimize the impact on your business. In the event of an emergency, you and your team will know who to contact and exactly what to do and when.

Plan ahead of time to avoid making your business path even tougher than it already is. SERVPRO experts can assist you in developing an Emergency Ready Plan to help you recover from a disaster. It could be the key to survival.

When your business is ready to prioritize planning and safety to prevent extended downtime, contact SERVPRO to get the Emergency Ready Plan underway from the folks who know all there is to know about disaster and recovery.

Examining U.S. Spring Weather Threats | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

3/12/2022 (Permalink)

Extreme temperature changes can lead to the possibility of severe weather. SERVPRO of West Milwaukee is a click away if you experience any damage.

As one of the world’s largest countries, the United States experiences a variety of seasonal weather patterns, resulting in a wide variety of seasonal weather threats.

We will examine the many weather patterns that might develop as spring approaches and warm and cold air masses mix throughout the country, as well as what we can anticipate in Missouri.

The Pacific Northwest is prone to severe rain in the spring, which may result in flooding and water damage. At higher elevations, snow will continue to accumulate, and its melting and runoff will create their own set of issues.

Winters in the Upper Midwest and Northeast, including Wisconsin, are exceptionally severe compared to the rest of the country, with freezing temperatures persisting throughout the season. Residents from Maine to the Dakotas should expect very cold weather even into the spring season, as well as the possibility of snow and freezing conditions.

Severe thunderstorms are a threat to the state, particularly during the spring and summer months. Strong derechos can blast at upwards of 120 mph, resulting in power outages and tens of millions of dollars in damages. Tornadoes are not as common in Wisconsin as in other midwestern states, but they do occasionally occur.

The Southwest will need to be watchful for severe heat waves that pose a danger to life and property. The South Pacific region, which includes Hawaii, will be on the lookout for tsunamis triggered by tectonic activity.

Windstorms, derechos and the potential of wildfires, which spread quickly in high winds and dry seasons, will be an issue for the central United States, which stretches from Iowa to Texas. Tornado Alley is an area within this region that is prone to strong storms and tornadoes.

The Southeast may see a variety of severe weather events, ranging from tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in landlocked areas to hazardous rip currents and hurricanes later in the season.

All 50 states face a substantial danger from extreme weather. Regardless of the difference in danger between you and a relative in another state, being prepared is always a good idea.

If extreme weather leaves you with damage from water, fire or other elements, help is a click away. Contact SERVPRO for fast, expert recovery.

The Full Spectrum of SERVPRO Services | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

2/5/2022 (Permalink)

When you need cleanup and recovery of any kind, you can trust SERVPRO of West Milwaukee to get the job done.

When you pass a house with big green trucks parked out front, you probably have a vague idea what’s going on. There’s cleaning of some kind happening, maybe some hoses or vacuums are getting involved, that kind of thing.

Everybody knows SERVPRO does *something*—but most people have no idea the breadth of service we provide, so let’s look today at the full range of things with which SERVPRO of West Milwaukee can help you.

Water damage recovery. You may know this one by now—no matter the source of water damage, we can get your home or business back in the dry again.

Fire damage recovery. A fire happens every 23 seconds in the U.S., and that’s actually down from previous statistics. When something ignites and starts a fire in your home, we can repair the damage, right down to the smell.

Mold removal. Water damage can allow mold to creep in quickly, and it can threaten the structure of your home, given enough time to work. It can be hazardous to clean up, too—so let us remove it safely.

Storm recovery. Large-scale disasters are unfortunate, but they happen from time to time. When they do, we can handle every aspect of your recovery.

Commercial needs. Anything we do for homeowners, we can do for business owners, too, plus some—including specialized sanitation to make your customers and employee teams feel safe.

General cleaning. Sometimes you simply need some help at home. Carpets get dirty, upholstery needs a facelift or general cleaning needs a professional touch. We’ve got you covered so you don’t have to halt your schedule.

Specialty cleaning. If you can imagine the scenario, we can clean it up—from biohazard cleanup to crime scenes. If it’s scrubbable or restorable, we can handle it.

Construction. Sometimes area homes take a big hit. When something large and unfortunate occurs, count on SERVPRO to see you through the process of rebuilding, from the first nail to the last coat of paint.

Add 24-hour service and an easy insurance process to all this, and the picture becomes clear—when you need cleanup and recovery of any kind, you can trust SERVPRO to get the job done.

Every Fire Has These 4 Things in Common | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

1/30/2022 (Permalink)

If your home or business has any damage, SERVPRO of West Milwaukee is ready around the clock to help you recover.

All kinds of scenarios result in fires, and of course, all kinds of materials catch fire—homes, forests, even the occasional tire factory. And while all these fires may start under varying circumstances, they all have the same origins.

It’s a little confusing, but that’s where the fire tetrahedron comes in.

See, the study of fire by the scientific community led to the realization that all fires have the same four elements present, and without all four of these happening simultaneously, no fire can start or survive. Ready to learn? Great.

<h34-things-a-fire-needs-to-live">The 4 Things a Fire Needs to Live

Fuel. This is the thing a fire devours. It may start out as one thing—a leaf, a napkin, etc.—but the fuel source can change as a fire spreads and finds new things to destroy.

Heat. Whatever burns has to first combust, and anything that combusts has to reach a certain temperature. That temperature varies from object to object and material to material, but anything that catches fire has a flash point.

Oxygen. Fires not only consume fuel, they consume oxygen—or more accurately, they convert it to carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.

Chemical Chain Reaction. The chain reaction among the other three elements is a crucial component of the fire tetrahedron, because in order for a fire to live, these things don’t only have to *happen*—they have to happen repeatedly.

The 4 Ways to Stop a Fire

Cool it. Fires can be stopped using the inverse principles of their building blocks—so, for example, cooling off a fire’s fuel source brings thermal balance, which causes the fuel to fall below its combustion threshold. This is why dumping water on fires is so effective.

Smother it. The oxygen a fire consumes is crucial to the combustion cycle, so covering a fire with something that keeps it from gaining access to more oxygen keeps a fire from growing and kills it quickly.

Starve it. In order for fire to continue, it has to either spread from its original fuel source or be able to dig deeper into its fuel source, to consume more of it. For this reason, if a fire runs out of fuel for any reason, it dies.

Interrupt the chain reaction. Class C fires—ones which involve electricity—need a different kind of solution than water. That’s where halon gases and other chemicals can come into play, because they can chemically trip up the continual reaction that has to occur for fires to live. These gases can stop any fire, but they’re particularly useful where electricity is involved.

If the fire tetrahedron makes a wreck of your home or business, we’re ready around the clock to help you recover. Contact SERVPRO anytime for fast, thorough cleanup and recovery after a fire.

SERVPRO Is Your A-to-Z Water Damage Restoration Team | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

1/22/2022 (Permalink)

When water damage strikes, make the call to SERVPRO of West Milwaukee for A-to-Z cleanup and restoration.

Thousands of times a day—14,000, to be precise, a homeowner’s domain is infiltrated by an invasion of unwanted water, whether through appliance failure, flooding or some other malfunction.

You probably know by now that SERVPRO can handle the cleanup and recovery after some such mess, but do you know how? Today’s the day to learn.

Emergency Contact. Our first conversation will consist mostly of us asking you some questions that will helpfully guide us through the incident and help us formulate a customized plan for the necessary cleanup and restoration. Then we’ll head over to your place.

Inspection and Water Damage Assessment. Once the SERVPRO team arrives on site, we’ll look over the property and get a feel for the damage to complete our plan. Then we’ll inform you of anything we see that we estimate to be beyond restoration, and we’ll make sure you’re aware of any on-site hazards resulting from the aquatic intrusion.

Water Removal. That water doesn’t stand a chance. Our powerful pumps will gulp down gallons and gallons of the stuff before it even knows what hit it. Depending on your scenario, there could be multiplied hundreds of gallons that need removal, and we’ll do it more efficiently than you could imagine.

Damaged Material Removal. Once water removal is done, we can remove the items and materials that are going to be replaced. You don’t want them sitting around soaking the place anyway.

Cleaning, Sanitizing and Deodorization. When water comes in, it brings stains and smells that you don’t want sticking around. We’ll use a combination of specially formulated products, high-tech equipment and time-tested methods to see to it that this important aspect of restoration is handled thoroughly.

Drying. The water is gone, but excess moisture in the air and on surfaces can cause Mold if your home isn’t properly dried. We’ll use high-powered HEPA vacuums and other equipment to restore the proper moisture level of your home.

Monitoring. You’ll get regular contact from our specialists during the drying process, so we can be sure everything is drying well and that our equipment is performing at optimal levels.

Repairs and Construction. Finally, we’ll be hard at work restoring damaged areas of your home, going so far as to fully reconstruct areas which have been hit hard. From the moment you call us to the moment we leave, we’ll treat your home with utmost care and leave the smallest possible footprint. You may never even remember we were here.

When water damage strikes, make the call to SERVPRO for A-to-Z cleanup and restoration. We’ll make your damaged property look "Like it never even happened."

A Quarter of All Fires Start *Where?* | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

1/9/2022 (Permalink)

Fire is a nightmare (sometimes literally). The threat of losing one’s home to the mouth of an angry flame should be enough to cause any homeowner to take every conceivable precaution to stop it from happening—or so it would seem.

But the facts show us that a quarter of all reported fires still happen at home, and a large portion of them are highly preventable.

So let’s dig in and look at the most common causes of home fires, to reveal just what we’re letting slip. Getting a grip on these safety needs could save you a regrettable, fiery mishap.

Cooking. Cooking stands head and shoulders above all other causes of home fires, and the top cause of cooking fires is actually unattended cooking. You read that correctly—the top cause of all 350,000 annual home fires in the United States could be prevented by paying more attention in the kitchen.

Heating equipment. Heaters are an inherent fire risk, because what they do is built on combustion. This creates problems, of course, especially when objects are left close to heat sources. And portable space heaters are notorious for starting fires as they tip over or overload circuits.

Electrical fires. This category has the most appearances of non-preventable occurrences, but still a great deal of electrical fires are within your power (pardon the pun) to prevent. Overusing extension cords, overloading circuits, neglecting needed maintenance and upgrades and even putting high-wattage bulbs into lower-wattage light sockets all contribute to these sparky fires.

Intentional fires. It’s almost inconceivable, but the U.S. sees 28,000 intentional home fires every year. These aren’t, for example, fires originally set on purpose in order to cook something—these are intentional uses of combustibles to set some piece of property on fire.

Smoking materials. While it ranks lowest on the list for number of occurrences, fire caused by cigarettes and smoking materials actually causes more civilian casualties than any other type of home fire. If you smoke, do it safely, and never do it while you’re drowsy.

Regardless of the cause, SERVPRO is here for you if your home is affected by fire. Contact your local team today to see how we can help.

Winter Storms Are Coming—Are You Ready? | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

1/9/2022 (Permalink)

If winter weather should bring damage to your home or business, contact SERVPRO of West Milwaukee for fast, restorative solutions.

Lake Michigan winters are a different level of winter, and they require preparation. A wait-and-see attitude toward winter in Milwaukee will have you up to your neck in snow with no power and no heat.

Winter’s risks should never be minimized or overlooked, so whether you’re a Milwaukee lifer or new to the area, it’s a good idea to go over some of the necessary preparations as we head into the bitter cold of the cold season.

You’ll Be Shocked by These Water Damage Numbers | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

12/22/2021 (Permalink)

If water damage catches you off-guard and leaves you all wet, you’ve got help on your side. Contact SERVPRO of West Milwaukee.

Like a team of heroes trying to hold a supervillain at bay, your pipes and drainage systems are the daily workhorses of your home, and they have the dual tasks of both transporting the water you need every day and keeping it from spewing, leaking or rushing all over your home.

Water damage can happen all too quickly, which is why keeping your plumbing and drainage systems well-equipped and maintained is an important part of preventing damage in your home.

We’ve put a few numbers together to give you an idea of the scope of water damage in the United States.

24. That’s the percentage of all U.S. home insurance claims that are water-related. That’s a quarter of all home insurance claims—almost 3,000,000 homes every year are damaged by water.

48. When water invades, the clock is ticking. You’ve got 48 hours to get rid of it and get your place dried out before mold starts growing.

98. Out of 100 homes with basements, this is the number of them that will experience water damage of some kind in said basement. This one’s simply hard to avoid—blame gravity and underground moisture.

10,234. When the water heater bursts or a flood brings water rising inside, this is the expected cost associated with the insurance claim. You may get away with less, but this is the average.

14,000. In the next minute, by average, there will be six water damage incidents across the country. That’s one every six seconds, for an average of an astonishing 14,000 per day.

13,000,000,000. All those zeroes are insurance companies crying—that’s how much money they’re shelling out every year to repair the damage done by water in homes across the U.S.

Shocking, right? But you don’t have to be part of these numbers. Everything you do to maintain, upgrade or otherwise strengthen your water system or protect your home from water damage is one more weight to tip the scale in your favor. Be vigilant, and we’ll hope with you that you can stay on the outside of these statistics.

If water damage catches you off guard and leaves you all wet, you’ve got help on your side. Contact SERVPRO to see how we can quickly and fully restore water damage to your home or business.

Does Your Service Company Measure Up? | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

11/9/2021 (Permalink)

You can rest easy knowing you’ve got the trusted leader in the restoration industry on the other end of the line, SERVPRO of West Milwaukee.

Home ownership should come with a healthy respect for accidental distress. You should get a card in the mail on day one that says, “Congratulations on the house! Now be ready for something weird or unfortunate to go wrong, because it probably will.”

Because let’s be honest, the odds are fair that at some point a pipe will burst or a flood will come, and you’ll be in need of some quick, critical thinking as you determine who you’re going to trust to take care of cleanup and recovery.

You can think through these questions now or when you have an acute need, but whenever you need a service company, you’re going to want good answers to these.

Are They Legit?

We try to keep it positive around here, but the truth is that disasters, especially large-scale disasters, are like a bug light for con artists and scammers who try to turn a quick buck posing as contractors for people who have undergone storm damage. Always make sure you do your research on anyone who offers help, especially if their rates or estimates seem too good to be true. A “storm special” could mean you’re paying someone to skip town with your money.

When you trust your cleanup and recovery to SERVPRO, you’re in the more-than-capable hands of a business built on 50 years of innovation, care and results. Time and time again, we’ve proven ourselves to homeowners who come back to us and recommend us to others.

Our reputation is so solid we’re trusted by the PGA Tour as a partner for cleanup and maintenance of tour facilities.

Will They Be There When I Need Help?

When moments matter most, we’ll be there for you. Speed absolutely counts when it comes to restoration and saving everything from carpet to documents, and you can’t wait around for the next available business day to start before you’re able to get some help.

We stay up around the clock so we can be available to take your emergency call, because we know how important it is for you to be able to reach actual help in a crisis, not an answering machine.

Where’s a Fleet When You Need One?

SERVPRO of West Milwaukee is your hometown team. We’re owned and based right here, so we can provide fast, expert service with localized expertise.

But if a situation arises that calls for more intense or complicated solutions, we squad up—the nationwide SERVPRO network of resources is at our fingertips at a moment’s notice, so there’s never a job too big or difficult to handle.

When you call SERVPRO, you can rest easy knowing you’ve got the trusted leader in the restoration industry on the other end of the line. When disaster hits home, contact us to get our local experts and nationwide network on your side.

Copyright © 2021 SERVPRO of West Milwaukee-11045

Fireproof Your Autumn Activities | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

10/11/2021 (Permalink)

Be mindful about fall fire safety. Always remember that SERVPRO of West Milwaukee is the trusted leader in the restoration industry.

It’s delightfully mild outside, there’s football available on TV constantly and seemingly everything carries the aroma of pumpkin spice. That can only mean that it’s fall in Milwaukee again, and you’ve probably got big plans to hit the trail or host Halloween parties on the horizon.

As with any season, fall has a few particular needs of note regarding fire safety, so as you plan, do keep these in mind.

Campfire Safety

The proper and safe ignition of a campfire is as important as proper and safe extinguishment.

Start simply, with kindling and a lighter or match. Resist the temptation to use potentially dangerous accelerants like kerosene or lighter fluid, and always keep your fire 25 feet clear of any structures or tents.

When you’re leaving or finished with the fire, use water to repeatedly snuff the flames and ash, until the pile is cool to the touch and no live embers remain to cause trouble.

Leaf Burning

The beautiful autumn leaves are, or will soon be, falling—if you don’t want to compost them or have them hauled away, you may choose to burn them, provided you acquire a permit first.

Only include organic material like leaves and sticks in your pile or burn barrel. Never burn anything manmade, as it’s both unsafe and against the law. Keep your activities 50 feet from the home, and follow all local guidelines regarding burn times and other factors.

Space Heaters

Portable space heaters may be your go-to appliances for keeping extra toasty without heating the whole house, but they’re also a major source of home fires.

Plug them straight into the wall, with no extension cords. Update to a new model with sensors for tipping over or overheating, and keep them at least three feet from anything that could catch fire with intense heat—that includes your clothes!

Halloween

We’ll likely come back to this in detail, but be mindful that any Halloween and fall decorations bear a degree of risk for fire safety, particularly candles, hanging decor and string lights. Celebrate safely!

If a fire hazard should turn from potential to reality in your home, remember the trusted leader in the recovery industry and contact SERVPRO to get your property fully restored right down to the smell of smoke.

Copyright © 2021 SERVPRO of West Milwaukee

Where to Sleuth Out Signs of Impending Leaks | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

9/7/2021 (Permalink)

A water leak can turn into a big problem. Contact the SERVPRO of West Milwaukee team if you are dealing with any water damage.

It sure would be nice if water damage announced itself before it happened. If you could get an email or a text that said, “Hey, it’s your sump pump here; I’m feeling a little clogged and I’m thinking about backing up tomorrow,” that would make things a lot simpler.

Unfortunately, we don’t get detailed plans and updates from our water devices. But if you don’t mind doing some routine checking, you may be able to stave off or even fully prevent some instances of water damage at home.

Toilets. The flapper inside the tank and the valve seal under it are both common sources of leaks, and if the wax ring under the toilet itself happens to lose its seal, it can introduce some seriously gross (and toxic) leakage.

Appliances. Washing machines are notorious for going through water hoses every few years, and any appliance runs water through hoses or soft supply lines may develop similar issues. And when’s the last time you considered the age of your water heater? Don’t let replacement wait too long, or it could explode.

Clogged gutters. This one at least has a repeatable prevention method that you can control, even if you’d rather not spend an afternoon on a ladder. Gutter clogs can force water to seep into and under your roof, and send water running down your interior walls, weakening beams and ruining paint and drywall.

Roof damage. Your roof is like Atlas, holding the world on its shoulders. It takes a constant beating from the elements and local critters, and it holds on as long as it can. But eventually, it will show signs of wear, and left unchecked, that wear will allow water into your house.

Pipes. Indoor pipes can crack or burst for several reasons, from freezing to rust, and loose joints and high water pressure can allow hundreds of gallons per day to flow into your home. And always keep an eye on your water bill, because if tree roots encroach on your water lines, you may have no other way of noticing—that is, until you have a massive backup.

Blocked garbage disposals. Foods that soak up water can really gum up the works and cause blockages in your sink, and excessive or hard plunging to remove those clogs can cause your p-trap to break free if joints are loose.

If a water leak erupts into a big problem at home, you’ve got the best team in the business on your side. Contact SERVPRO today so we can get started.

A Trusted Service Company to Restore Your Home or Business | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

8/25/2021 (Permalink)

When you are dealing with any damage, immediate action is crucial. SERVPRO of West Milwaukee is your local restoration expert.

Being a home or business owner can almost feel like running a circus at times. There are cyclists over here, acrobats over there and almost certainly some clowns someplace. And it’s up to you to keep all three rings running under the big top.

But unfortunately you can’t keep everything under control. Some things, such as unexpected fires or natural disasters, can’t be curtailed, and what’s more, they’re not situations you’re equipped to handle, even as the most fastidious circus master.

But you’re reading the right blog today, because we’re going to tell you why SERVPRO is the perfect fit when you need disaster recovery.

We’re Always Ready and Faster to Any Size Disaster

When the big top stops, we’re ready to start. Our teams are primed at any hour to make sure we reach your emergency with utmost speed.

Slow service means heavier patches of black mold, more ingrained smoke smell or another soggy piece of beloved furniture. A rapid response is our imperative, and having a SERVPRO team right here in West Milwaukee gives you the speed and flexibility of a local service, ably aided by the incredible nationwide SERVPRO network of assets.

We’re Trained to Handle Residential and Commercial Services

One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to disaster recovery, and we know it better than anyone. We’ve been working since Lyndon B. Johnson was in office to craft creative solutions for situations unique to area home and business owners. Whatever the problem is, we’re equipped to handle it.

We’ll Make It "Like it never even happened."

Restoration is our aim—we want you to keep as much as possible of what was already there. You worked hard for it, and you should get to hang onto it. When we’re through, your property will be restored to it’s pre-disaster state or better.

We Offer the Services You Need in a Changing World

It’s no secret that disease prevention is now at the heart of every business strategy—if consumers don’t feel safe, they simply won’t visit. That’s why we created the Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned program. You get a pristine clean from a company you trust, and your customers and employees get invaluable peace of mind from the get-go.

Regardless of why you need cleanup or disaster recovery, SERVPRO has the tools, the technicians and the training to get your situation under control. When you’re ready to get help from the best, get in touch with SERVPRO.

Summer Storm Planning | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

8/25/2021 (Permalink)

If storms cause damage to your home or business, SERVPRO of West Milwaukee is on the line, ready to make things right.

Summer calendars are full of fun activities. Long days full of sun make us year for outdoor activity—maybe you’re heading to the park to watch the Brew Crew, or maybe you’re taking the kids to splash around at a local pool or splash pad.

Whatever your plans are, though, don’t forget to bring an umbrella along.

It seems counterintuitive, but summer months are also a highly active time for thunderstorms. The highest month of rainfall in Milwaukee is June, and all of summer is above average in rainfall. Additionally, the warmth of summer combines with moisture from Lake Michigan to produce a higher likelihood that those extra inches of rain will come via storms.

Be Storm-Alert

Storms can pop up seemingly out of nowhere in summer. Pay close attention to notifications from weather apps or local weatherpeople. An NOAA Weather radio can always keep you updated as well, with the added bonus of being able to continue alerting you if power is knocked out.

If a flood watch is put into effect, you should postpone outdoor activities or think twice about travel plans. Take a look around at home as well—you might need to tie down or move some things to they don’t get blown or washed away in a heavy storm.

Preparing for a storm doesn’t quite excite the heart like watching Christian Yelich hit dingers, but it’s a difference-maker when it comes to safety. Storms cause an unfortunate number of deaths every year, and most of them could have been prevented.

Be Storm-Safe

Being outdoors during a storm is asking for trouble. Keep yourself inside from time thunder starts until it has stopped for at least 30 minutes to stay out of lightning’s strike range.

Lightning can electrify tubs and showers if it strikes the home, so bathe later when it’s dry. Lightning can also shatter windows, so sit or stand away from them during the storm.

Ensure that your emergency kit is stocked and ready, with anything you may need for up to three days without power. And a kit in the car can be a vital help if evacuation becomes necessary in extreme situations.

If it does flood, stay inside or get to high ground. Coming in contact with flood water can carry you or your car away, conceal roads that are damaged and unsafe or even make you sick.

There are any number of dangers that can come into play in a thunderstorm, and it’s always best to be cautious and put things on hold until storms safely pass. If storms cause damage to your home or business, SERVPRO is on the line, ready to make things right again.

Storms Are More Active and More Costly | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

8/5/2021 (Permalink)

When storms do damage, we go to work to make things right. Contact SERVPRO of West Milwaukee to start the restoration process.

2020 was an incredibly disturbing year for everyone, and a devastating year for far too many. Multitudes of us were stricken by the COVID-19 virus in one way or another, and almost everyone suffered the mental taxation of an extended quarantine period.

And not to be outdone by producing the worst scourge in a hundred years, the year also became a historic one as it pertained to disastrous weather. In fact, 2020 saw more weather disasters than any previous year on record.

A storm or weather event that causes over a billion dollars in damage is officially classified as a weather disaster. Last year, the U.S. was afflicted by 22 of these events, as well as a troupe of others that (thankfully) didn’t quite make that kind of financial impact.

The Atlantic hurricane season was so productive, in fact, that the NOAA ran out of names, and for just the second time in history had to resort to using Greek letters to name storms.

Not Just Hurricanes

Hurricanes are often assumed to be the storm types that cause the most financial turmoil, but the most expensive disasters of 2020 in the contiguous United States were actually thunderstorms and tornadoes. Fourteen of the storms classified as disasters were storms of some type.

Here’s an extreme example of the damage possible because of a single system: A line of storms in Nebraska last August that would typically be no big worry banded together and churned into a razor-like storm called a derecho. The massive storm sliced through over 100 million acres of corn fields—that’s more than 150,000 square miles—compromising over 11% of the entire country’s corn production in one fell swoop.

Around here, we saw the edges of that derecho reach all the way up to the Great Lakes, and we had our share of other storms throughout the year, including record-setting snowfalls and flooding caused by heavy rains in August and November.

Not Just 2020

While we definitely hope 2021 and following years will be milder, we do seem to be on an upward trend of storm activity and intensity. Each year of the last 10 has endured at least eight billion-dollar disasters, and two of those years set the previous records for activity with 16 storms each. 2017 set a benchmark for damages caused, with over $300 billion in reconstruction expenses.

Precautions against storm and water damage are the responsibility of every property owner. But when extreme weather comes, sometimes those preparations are unable to withstand the fury of Mother Nature.

When storms do damage, we go to work to make things right. Contact SERVPRO today to see how we can help.

Wildfire Protection by Smart Landscaping | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

7/29/2021 (Permalink)

If your home is damaged by fire or any other reason, SERVPRO of West Milwaukee is ready and able to repair any damage.

One of the scariest notions for any homeowner is the thought that their home might be threatened or even destroyed by a spreading wildfire. Wildfires are incredibly difficult to quench, and with so much of our everyday surroundings being made of flammable material, it’s a wonder that we can find ways to contain them at all.

But there are a few things homeowners can do, aside from the simplest and most impactful act of being more careful, to make homes less susceptible to wildfires.

Let’s look at a technique called “defensible space.”

A Continued Safe Environment for Customers and Employees | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

7/11/2021 (Permalink)

If you’re business has sanitation and cleaning needs, reach out to the SERVPRO of West Milwaukee team.

With metropolitan areas like Milwaukee and rural areas alike finally gaining significant ground in the area of COVID-19 recovery, hopes are high that “normal” life is on its way to a full return, and business owners are eagerly anticipating economic recovery as well.

But customers resuming in-person shopping habits at physical locations may need some extra assurance before they feel comfortable in your store. You need to provide a pristine environment for consumers and employees, and they need to know it in order to feel safe.

That’s why you need to have your business Certified: SERVPRO® Cleaned.

Get Certified: SERVPRO® Cleaned

The Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned program combines ultra-high-grade cleaning solutions and technology, a customized plan for your business, and exclusive marketing tools to give you the perfect strategy for putting returning individuals at ease.

What makes this program the right one for you? Let’s examine the three C’s of a Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned program:

Consult. No other business has quite the same needs as yours, and we’ll work with you to create a custom cleaning routine that fits your business like a glove. It also helps that SERVPRO of West Milwaukee is locally owned and operated, so we are already familiar with many of the unique sanitation needs of southeast Wisconsin.

Clean. Now the fun starts (well it’s our kinda fun, anyway). We’ll make quick work of your custom cleaning with proprietary, hospital-grade disinfection compounds that have are strong enough to nullify dangerous threats like anthrax and MRSA, and the resulting level of clean will meet or exceed strict CDC guidelines for sanitation. And COVID-19 protection is only a fraction of what we’ll be giving you—our solutions fight the transmission of a bevy of airborne and surface pathogens.

Certify. Now we can bestow upon you a new superpower—specifically, the power to instill confidence in potential customers and returning employees before they even step inside by displaying the Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned shield in windows, on doors, and on your website. Your customers will greatly appreciate the care you’ve shown, and they’ll be more likely to come inside and spend more time browsing, dining, and shopping because they know you’ve taken the utmost precautions to protect their continued safety.

If you’re ready to get serious about sanitation and have your business Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, get in touch today to get the best team in cleanup and restoration on your side.

Fire Safety Tips for Spring and Summer | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

6/25/2021 (Permalink)

Restoring fire and smoke damage is one of our specialties. Contact SERVPRO of West Milwaukee to learn more.

Spring is a favorite season for a number of people. The weather is warming and winter is left behind, kids have the excitement that comes with the end of school, and everything just feels fresh and new. Leaves and flowers bloom, and the outdoors calls like an old friend.

We often have lots of opportunities to attend outdoor gatherings—cookouts, barbecues and the like. We get together for family reunions and gender reveals, and whatever excuse we can come up with to grill.

The downside of the increase in outdoor activities, however, is that it brings with it an increase in fire activity across the United States. In fact, spring sees more daily fires on average than any other time of year.

But there are some common sense steps you can take to ensure all your activities are fire-safe.

The grill. This is probably what comes to mind first when you think of outdoor fire risks and rightly so. Grills, beloved though they may be, create perfect opportunities for out-of-control fire, with the close combination of heat, grease and flames. Ensure that any grill has no leaks, is stable and in good working order, keep it away from anything flammable (including the house), and clean it well between uses. Almost 20% of grill fires are due to poor cleaning.

The fire pit. Many homeowners love their fire pits, especially in mild seasons like spring and fall, when you can gather on cool evenings with friends. But fire pits must be carefully maintained and operated in order to have a safe gathering. Never use accelerants like lighter fluid to increase the flames, and always keep a bucket of water within arm’s reach, both for emergencies and to cool the fire at evening’s end. When you do put out the fire, pour the water slowly so as not to spread potentially hazardous ash and embers. Use a grill grate to cover your fire, and never let kids near the fire pit unattended.

Chimneys and dryer vent. While you’re thinking about fire safety, go ahead and check your dryer vent for built-up, flammable lint, and clean your chimney so you don’t have to deal with a buildup of soot and ash when you fire it up again in the fall.

Your local SERVPRO technicians are on hand ²⁴⁄₇ for emergencies. If you encounter fire damage at your home or business, no matter the cause, we will be there faster and have it cleaned up sooner. Call or click today and experience the SERVPRO difference.

The Tokens of Basement Water Damage | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

5/28/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of West Milwaukee is a full restoration company. Our restoration experts are on call and ready to help you determine the best course of action

Basements can be one of the most useful parts of a home. If you have a larger family, it can be a great place for kids to play while you get some peace and quiet upstairs.

As kids grow, it could be living space. You could use it for a home office or gym, and of course basements make pretty good storm shelters in a pinch.

However, many people who have owned a house with a basement can tell you the tale of the Achilles heel of basements—water damage.

Sure, it’s not an absolute lock that you’ll encounter a water emergency, but it’s one of the most common home insurance claims, so it’s in your interest to know both the risks and the warning signs. Let’s take a look at the things you’re most likely to see if water is becoming a problem downstairs.

Common Indicators of Moisture or Leakage in the Basement

Unpleasant, musky odors. Water that leaks into your basement doesn’t have to be dirty water or sewage to cause a problem. Even clean water will start to sour as it sits and soaks into surfaces, eventually producing the musty smell that arises when mold and mildew are present in the environment. You may not yet see mold on your walls or ceiling, but if you smell the aroma, it’s already there and you’ve got moisture somewhere.

Flaking paint on masonry or walls. If the paint is cracking, bubbling or otherwise contorting, you have a water issue somewhere. Even so-called waterproof paint sometimes used on cinder block walls won’t keep moisture out for long, and if you’ve got a leak or moisture from the surrounding soil, you’ll eventually see the disruptions in the paint.

Foundational cracks. It’s true that houses do shift over a number of years, but cracks in the foundation are not common, and they mustn’t be ignored. You may first notice cracks in the floor, the ceiling or in your walls, a sign that the house is exhibiting signs of pressure that could be caused by a compromised foundation. If you see any cracks inside that are larger than a hairline, call for professional diagnosis.

If you notice any of these signs in your basement, let us take a look. Our expert water restoration technicians can help you determine what is causing these issues and how to treat it properly. Contact us today to learn more.

We're Here When Milwaukee County Residents Need Help With Fire Damage | SERVPRO® West Milwaukee

12/19/2020 (Permalink)

If you have fire damage due to a heating malfunction or other issue, count on SERVPRO of West Milwaukee to fully restore your home.

We're Here When Waukesha County Residents Need Help With Fire Damage | SERVPRO® West Milwaukee

Milwaukee County residents know that when they need us most we’re here to help remediate and repair fire damage.

No one likes to think about fire damage, but it’s a common problem in the United States—something millions of Americans will deal with over the next year. That could include some families and neighbors in our community.

Want to know why so many families trust us in the community? Here’s what makes us different:

We believe in restoration. Our team helps families recover from a fire in a way that’s both logical and economical. Experts are there at every step. We’ll help you save money on repairs and insurance premiums.

We can do the entire process for you. House fires can damage upholstery, walls and more. Issues resulting from water and smoke are common problems, too. We have the tools and resources to remediate these issues. We’ll make the damage like it never happened.

We are a locally owned business. SERVPRO locations are everywhere—all across the United States. This location is locally owned. It’s staffed by team members who live in Milwaukee County and the surrounding communities. But since we are a SERVPRO location, we can use the resources, equipment and training you would find at a leading-edge company. Our team brings the advantages of that partnership to the jobs we do for our neighbors here.

We’re here ²⁴⁄₇. Beginning the restoration process quickly is an important step in getting your home back to its original state. When it’s an emergency, we’re available ²⁴⁄₇. We make sure our team is here when it matters most.

<h2fire-damage-during-winter">Increased Fire Damage During Winter

Fires aren’t a seasonal hazard, but more of them happen during the winter months. The season’s unique conditions create additional fire hazards homeowners should know about.

Space heaters without automatic shutoff functions can topple over. Candles left burning can fall over when someone bumps a table.

Kitchen fires happen more often, as many people are cooking and baking for the holidays. Christmas tree accidents are a leading cause of fires.

Other threats have little to do with holiday parties and more to do with the home malfunctioning items. Broken furnaces and issues with appliances happen sometimes.

If you have fire damage in your home due to a kitchen, heating or other fire, you can count on us for restoration assistance. Our team is always ready to meet your needs and help you restore your home. Contact us at any time to learn more about our restoration services.

Save Time and Money By Choosing Restoration | SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee

11/5/2020 (Permalink)

Have you sustained property damage and feeling overwhelmed? We are here to help, contact SERVPRO of West Milwaukee

Save Time and Money By Choosing Restoration | SERVPRO® of Southeast Waukesha County/West Franklin

While any type of damage to your home can be difficult to experience and recover from, if you have damage due to an emergency event, there can be many emotional hurdles on the road to recovery. Events like fire, floods and severe weather can have a long-lasting impact, but fortunately, we are here to make the recovery process as easy as possible for our customers.

We have helped hundreds of local residents with the recovery process, and we have the tools and expertise to help you, too. We perform every job with a restoration-first mindset, meaning that we will do everything we can to restore your home and belongings to their pre-damaged state instead of liquidating your property and recommending expensive replacements.

Why We Do Every Job With a Restoration-First Mindset

We can help you save money on your insurance. Many homeowners will be relieved to discover that most types of damage can generally be claimed with insurance, but this can be quite pricey depending on the cost of your claim and the rise in your premium. With a restoration-first mindset, we can keep your overall insurance claim lower, reducing the amount that your premium get raised.

We can protect your sentimental items. In any sort of disaster scenario, keeping your family safe is the most important thing—and when you have to evacuate to do this, you may be leaving some extremely sentimental items behind. We understand that some things could never be replaced, which is why we have invested in restoration technology to make salvaging these items possible even after severe damage.

We make sure your home feels like home again. It is emotional to return home after the restoration has been completed, and can be disheartening if the recovery is not what you had envisioned in your head. Because we handle all the cosmetic touches and keep your belongings where they belong, we aim to make your first trip through your front door a positive one after you have experienced so much.

If you have damages and are feeling overwhelmed, we are here to help. You can call us as soon as you need to in order to begin the restoration process. Contact us today to learn more.

Fire Season

11/1/2019 (Permalink)

According the to U.S. Fire Administration, there have been 45 deaths so far this year in Wisconsin. This has become the second highest recorded number of deaths in Wisconsin due to fires in the last 5 years. While fires can occur any time of the year, the chances increased during the winter months. Having said that, here are some things to keep in mind as winter approaches.

1. Now is a good time to change the batteries in your smoke alarms if you haven’t already done so. The life span of a smoke alarm is also 10 years, so make sure to check the dates on your alarms and replace if necessary.
2. Use caution in the kitchen as the Holidays are approaching. This is one of leading causes of home fires.
3. If you choose to use a space heater, make sure to use the proper precautions.
   • Never plug a space heater into a power strip or extension cord, always plug directly into an outlet
   • Place the heater on a flat surface, never on cabinets, tables, furniture or carpet
   • Always unplug and store it when not in use and never leave unattended when it’s running

Finally, it is so important to have an evacuation plan in place that you and your family practice. The more you practice it, the more it will become second nature if a fire does occur. A fire can be emotional and devastating, but we can help point you in the right direction and walk you through every step of the process so you always know what is going on. You spend years building the memories in your home and understand how important that is. Give SERVPRO of West Milwaukee a call today and we will make your fire “Like it never even happened.”

Preventing Fires in the Workplace

11/1/2019 (Permalink)

Often times we discuss how to prevent fires at home, but not always what we can do to prevent fires in the workplace. The best thing we can do as employers is educate the employees and keep our buildings running smoothly.

Here are some additional tips on things that the occupants of any commercial facility can do to help prevent fires in the workplace.

1. Make sure your fire extinguishers, control panels and any other fire protection equipment is easily accessible.
2. If you have any hazardous materials or waste on site, make sure they are stored properly and disposed of properly.
3. Schedule regular maintenance to make sure all your fire protection equipment is up to code and functioning properly.
4. Have regular fire drill training and educate your employees how to use fire protection devices.
5. Consider investing in building security. Employees should know how to lock up the building and how to report suspicious activity.
6. Have a designated smoking area that is a safe distance away from the building.
7. Have an emergency plan in place. SERVPRO of West Milwaukee has a great program available to all commercial facilities and it’s absolutely FREE for your business!
8. Follow OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Guidelines.

SERVPRO of West Milwaukee will always help you be prepared for the unexpected. If you do experience a fire at your workplace, give us a call and we’ll get to work to restore your property to its preloss condition as soon as possible to minimize down time.

Emergency Ready Profile

10/31/2019 (Permalink)

You are the facilities director for several properties. It’s 1:00am and your phone rings. A pipe burst in one of the 20 buildings you manage. Which one is it? Where is the water shutoff? Who do I call first and who’s going to answer in the middle of the night?

Having a plan in place should a disaster strike is the best way to minimize down time and business interruption. The percent of businesses that never reopen after suffering a disaster is overwhelming at 50%. Of the ones that survive, the majority of them had a preparedness plan in place. A SERVPRO Emergency Ready Profile can be a great asset to your company. It is a great supplement to existing disaster/contingency plans as well. It provides critical information needed to begin mitigation and recovery services.

The SERVPRO Emergency Ready Profile Advantage:

                -A NO COST assessment of your facility

                -A concise Profile Document that contains only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency

                -A guide to help you get back into your building following a disaster

                -Establishes your local SERVPRO Franchise Professional as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider

                -Identification of the line of command for authorizing work to begin

                -Provides facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas and priority contact information

 All of this information is available to you in a paper document we supply to you and you have access to the information 24/7 right from your smartphone in a free app. SERVPRO of West Milwaukee is committed to providing fire and water cleanup and restoration services to reduce your business interruptions and recovery costs. We can handle any loss, big or small. Give us a call today to schedule your ERP today or visit SERVPRO.com/Ready.

Winter is coming

10/28/2019 (Permalink)

With snow flurries in the forecast, it’s time to start thinking about preparing our homes for those cold snowy winter months. This past winter we experienced some of the coldest temperatures that we’ve seen in several years. Regardless of what Mother Nature decides to bring this year, there are some preventative measures we can take as homeowners and business owners to prevent our pipes from bursting.

When a pipe freezes, a lot of pressure is created and can cause it to burst, which can lead to serious flooding, especially if no one is home to turn off the water. Your best bet is to keep your water supply pipes warm and above freezing. Here are a few ways that you can do that:

1. Keep your heat on-If you are leaving for    a long period of time, you should keep your  thermostat at 50 degrees or higher. 
2. If you have concerns that your pipes may freeze, open the faucet slightly and let it drip. This helps relieve pressure in the system.
3. Open interior doors-Often times pipes are in cabinets. Opening those cabinet doors can help allow the heat in your home to keep the pipes warm.
4. Make sure cracks and holes are sealed-If there are any gaps around holes where pipes run through walls or floors, make sure to seal those with caulk or spray foam insulation. Seal both the interior and exterior if possible. 
5. Add additional insulation-If you have pipes in areas that are not properly insulated, adding some extra insulation will go a long way. Basements and attics would be a good example of areas that may be in need of more insulation.

Worst case scenario, if you do experience a burst pipe in your home or business, call SERVPRO of West Milwaukee. We’ve handled dozens of calls just like this and we will get your home back to its preloss condition as soon as possible. You can trust us to take care of your home as if it were our own.