Fire Damage? Give SERVPRO of Columbia County a Call. We Flame to Please!!

6/28/2024 (Permalink)

This SERVPRO employee is in full PPE disinfecting and wiping down items post fire.

How SERVPRO of Columbia County Can Help You

Experiencing a fire in your home is extremely stressful and understandably scary. Fire restoration requires experience, and luckily, SERVPRO of Columbia County is equipped to handle the mess for you! After a fire occurs you may be faced with a wet, soot-soaked mess. Our crews are fully equipped to restore your home to preloss condition. After our team arrives on site, our technicians will immediately set out to inspect all affected areas that need immediate attention.  

Our experienced technicians can identify and restore wet, dry or greasy soot deposits in your home. Fire odors can spread through the home rapidly and set in deep into furniture, upholstery and fabric. Our SERVPRO EPA approved cleaning agents range from oil-based, alkaline and acidic treatments. Coupled with our cleaning agents our machines, such as our Esporta, can clean affected textiles and restore them to their previous condition.  

After removal of all smoke residue, affected materials and charred items, we can begin the deodorization process. After all the mitigation, deodorization and decontamination are complete, we can begin the reconstruction of the affected areas in the home.  

Had a fire in your home? Give SERVPRO of Columbia County a call today at 706-750-0200 and we’ll make it “Like it never even happened”®. 

Columbia County is Great for Everyone!

6/20/2024 (Permalink)

Here is a view of the heart of Columbia County, Georgia.

History of Columbia County 

Columbia County lies along the Savannah River in east central Georgia and borders South Carolina which is northwest of Augusta. Columbia County was created by an act of Georgia state legislature from a northern part of its neighbor, Richmond County on December 10, 1790. Named after the explorer Christopher Columbus, the county was created in response to backcountry settlers to accommodate court sessions that would be more convenient for residents to attend locally.  

Columbia County has provided several leaders in national affairs. William Few Jr. And Abraham Baldwin were residents of the area that became Columbia County, and in 1787 both delegates attended the constitutional convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Few and Baldwin were the only two Georgia delegates who signed to ratify the Constitution of the United States. Both the oldest Baptist church in Georgia (Kiokee Baptist built in 1772) and the third oldest (Abilene Baptist built in 1774) are in Columbia County. Post build of the Georgia Railroad, new communities such as the city of Harlem and Grovetown began to flourish.   

An Expanding Community 

Columbia County today is a bustling, fast-growing suburban county that has expanded vastly and offers a huge variety of jobs, schools and recreation. Whether you are a citizen of Columbia County or visiting for a while, you will see what a treasure this growing community is. Columbia County has wonderful parks, greenspace, fun community events and an award-winning school system. There truly is something for everyone in this fun and flourishing community! 

SERVPRO® of Columbia County is Here to Help ® should an unexpected fire or water damage arise, give us a call at 706-868-5441, we’ll take away the stress and make it “Like it never even happened. ®” 

Water Heater Maintenance is a Must

6/18/2024 (Permalink)

This water heater began leaking due to damage within the tank.

Regardless of what kind of water heater tank you have in your home, every system requires regular maintenance. Typically, industry standards promote that homeowners should have their water heaters checked at least one to two times yearly. The most important part of water heater maintenance is making sure that you flush the tank. If the tank does not get flushed, sediment can build up inside your water heater tank. If sediment build up in your tank goes undealt with, this can lead to eventual loss of water pressure and corrosion. This corrosion can cause holes in your tank. Once there are holes in your tank the water heater will have to be replaced.  

How Do I Know When to Service my Water Heater? 

There will be signs to indicate that your water heater needs servicing. The signs differentiate depending on the type of water heater you have. For an electric water heater, you should notice that you do not have enough hot water for a typical length of time in the shower. Water may start off as very warm but quickly gets cold. A gas water heater, however, either works or they do not. When a gas water heater needs servicing, you will most likely notice that you are not getting any hot water at all. Finally, a tankless water heater will typically just stop working when it needs servicing. You may also hear strange noises coming from the tank's motor, this is also an indication that your tank needs servicing.  

What Do I Do If My Water Heater Leaks in My Home? 

If your water heater leaks into your home and you are facing a water disaster do not fear. Shut off your main water line and call SERVPRO of Columbia County at 706-750-0200 to start the mitigation process. We are Here to Help® 24/7/365! 

Tips and Tricks to Keep Commercial Spaces Cool This Summer

6/18/2024 (Permalink)

Don't let the heat get you down, follow these cool tips today!

While summer brings sunshine and excitement for outdoor activities, here in the south it also brings incredibly hot and humid weather. In large commercial spaces, it is important to keep both staff and customers comfortable when the temperature rises in the peak of the season. Here are a five tips and tricks to keep the air flowing cool and refreshing in your building all summer long: 

1. Set The Thermostat: To keep your energy bills down while maintaining a pleasant workspace, keep your thermostat set at an average temperature between 68 and 76 degrees. To maximize energy savings, you can also place fans throughout the building that have temperature automation built in.
2.  Change Air Filters Consistently: Air filters are important because they are responsible for eliminating impurities in the air such as dust, pollen and bacteria. An air-filter must be free of excessive build-up to perform properly. By replacing your air filters on a regular basis, you can improve airflow throughout your building and ensure that your AC system is operating at peak performance.  
3. Seal Windows and Doors: To maintain a consistent temperature in your commercial space, another easy tip to consider is to make sure your windows and doors are sealed properly and patch up any cracks in walls and the ceiling. By sealing any unplanned gaps or cracks, you are actively preventing the hot summer air from leaking into your space and affecting HVAC and staff efficiency.  
4. Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance: Maintaining a HVAC system in a commercial building is detrimental. It is one of the best investments a commercial facility owner can make to keep their energy costs down, while keeping building occupants satisfied. A general rule of thumb is to have your HVAC system serviced once or twice a year to maintain long-term efficiency and usage.
5. Install Efficient Lighting: Commercial spaces do not always get enough natural lighting, which is why artificial lighting is necessary. Usage of energy efficient LED lighting instead of fluorescent or incandescent lighting will drastically reduce HVAC overuse.  

SERVPRO of Columbia County is Here to Help® you keep your commercial property in tip-top shape 24/7/365. Give us a call at 706-750-0200 today for inquiries about our mold, water or fire damage remediation and restoration.  

Leaking Air Conditioner? Call SERVPRO®!

6/6/2023 (Permalink)

Summer is just around the corner and the familiar sound of humming air conditioners have already permeated the Georgia air. Everyone loves air conditioning, especially during these hot summer months, but there can be a major downside to these life-saving devices: they can leak. At SERVPRO®, we get a lot a calls each summer from customers who are dealing with water damage caused by their air conditioning units. If you start to see puddling near your air conditioner, don’t worry—SERVPRO® is, “Here to help.®”

Identify the Signs

When your air conditioner unit begins to leak, it’s crucial to address the problem promptly to prevent secondary damage to you home. Sometimes it is not obvious when your AC unit is leaking, here are some tell-tale signs that can help you identify those pesky leaks:

• Formation of frost/ice on the unit
• Puddles around the unit
• Water stains nearby the unit
• Musty odors

Why Your AC is Leaking

There are five common reasons why your air conditioner is leaking.

1. Frozen coils
2. Loose drain pans
3. Broken air handlers
4. Drain pipe clogs
5. Broken seals

If you, like many Georgians, are experiencing an air conditioner leak, don’t wait – call SERVPRO® of Columbia County a call at 706-868-5441. Our team can be at your home the same day to help you get your home back to preloss condition.

SERVPRO® Wishes Everyone a Happy Father’s Day!

6/6/2023 (Permalink)

Sunday, June 18^th is Father’s Day this year and it is a time to celebrate fatherhood and paternal bonds. People across the United States use this day to show the special men in their lives how appreciative they are for their hard work and dedication. This single holiday ensures that everyone, at least once a year, takes the time to think of dear ole dad and show him some much deserved love.

The Beginning of Father’s Day

Father’s Day had a slow start in the United States. On July 5, 1908, a church in West Virginia is on record for celebrating fathers during a Sunday sermon. It was in memory of the 362 men who had died the past December due to the explosions at the Fairmont Coal Company mines. This, however, was just a one-time commemoration. The following year, however, in Spokane, Washington, Sonora Smart Dodd attempted to establish the official equivalent to Mother’s Day for male parents, in honor of her own father who was a widower that raised six kids on his own. It did take some time to drum up support, but on June 19, 1910, Washington State celebrated the first statewide Father’s Day. In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge finally urged state governments to observe the holiday.

SERVPRO® of Columbia County would like to wish all father figures a Happy Father’s Day, and should an unexpected fire or water damage arise, give us a call ay 706-868-5441, we’ll take away the stress and make it “Like it never even happened.®”

Frozen Pipes in Commercial Businesses

6/6/2023 (Permalink)

This past December, on Christmas Eve, SERVPRO® of Columbia County experienced something new. Across the CSRA, a record number of homes and businesses experienced severe water loss within a short period of time. Over 150 calls came in between December 24^th and January 1^st, however, that number doubled mid-January, when many holiday travelers returned home or opened their businesses.

Faster to Any Sized Disaster

Our teams leaped into action with the first call of what we now call the “silent storm” came through. With our expertise in the mitigation and restoration field, our resources were first delegated to helping hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. Commercial properties such as those cannot afford to be closed for too long, with unexpected durations. With the number of water supply sources, commercial properties such as these, if not winterized properly and sufficiently insulted, are at greater risk of burst pipes than even residential homes. SERVPRO® technicians worked tirelessly day and night to get many of these buildings back to working order.

In the future, if your commercial property experiences water loss due to frozen pipes, give SERVPRO® of Columbia County a call at 706-868-5441. A team of trained professionals will be onsite the same day to get your business back to preloss condition.

That’s Not Charlotte’s Web!

6/6/2023 (Permalink)

Commonly, when a fire occurs, even a small one, strange thread-like chains reminiscent of a spider’s web can form. Many people are often concerned that the fire may have attracted some unwelcome guests into their home. Arachnophobes can rest easy, those web-like structures are (most likely) not from a spider, they are soot tags, also known as soot webs.

What Are They and What Causes Them?

Soot tags are thread-like chains that are made from carbon and tar that are released as a fire burns. They are black in color and people often wrongly assume they are cobwebs that are covered in soot. Fires produce heat that releases both soot and smoke. Soot is made up of powdery or oily carbon and tar, while smoke is a vapor that is made up of the finest particles. Heat is naturally drawn to cooler areas, and as it moves, it pulls the smoke and soot with it. The ionized soot particles gather in the corners of walls and ceilings, thereby forming the adeptly named “soot webs” in the home.

Have you recently experienced a house fire? Give SERVPRO® of Columbia County a call at 706-868-5441 for a consultation. We can clean, deodorize, and get your home back to preloss condition in no time!

How Your Business Can Weather a Storm

6/23/2022 (Permalink)

The increasing uptick in storms isn’t just your imagination. Over the past 20 years, there has been a steady increase in the number of dangerous weather events worldwide. The UN office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) produced a report that from 2000 to 2019, there have been 7,348 major natural disasters that resulted in $2.97 trillion worth of damage. Whereas from 1980 to 1999, there were 4,212 disasters with $1.63 trillion in damages.

Unfortunately, the odds of some sort of storm damage affecting your livelihood, and that of your employees, is increasing. Therefore, as a property manager or owner you need to not only contemplate the steps you need to take to clean and repair the damage, for the safety and longevity of your workers and business.

Create a Plan

The best advice we can give you is to have a plan and stay informed ahead of time for major storms. Here are some tips on the first steps you should take:

• Find locations suitable for employee evacuation.
• Have an emergency contact for every employee.
• Strategies to protect and access important business records.
• Off-site locations that employees can temporarily work from.
• Your company’s insurance information.
• A pre-emergency plan with a trusted emergency mitigation and restoration company.

SERVPRO® of Columbia County can provide, at no charge, an emergency plan for your company with our Emergency Ready Program. By developing an Emergency READY Profile for your business, you minimize workflow interruption by having an immediate plan of action. Knowing what to do and what to except in advance is the key to timely mitigation and can help minimize the damage to your facility.

Interested in getting started? Give SERVPRO® of Columbia County a call at 706-868-5441. We will make storm damage look “Like it never even happened.”

A Shocking Way Fires Can Start in Your Home

6/17/2022 (Permalink)

Can Batteries Cause a Fire?

The simple answer: yes! This phenomenon has been reported country across the United States. However, unlike AAA, AA, D, and C batteries that have their positive and negative posts positioned at opposite ends, 9-volt battery posts are set next to each other. This can become a potential problem if you place those batteries in that junk drawer along with other metal miscellaneous items such as paper clips, keys, aluminum foil, nail clippers, scissors, and more. When the posts touch metal, it can cause said metal to heat up, and if it is touching a combustible source like steel wool or paper, it can lead to a fire.

Tips for Prevention

• Keep 9-volt batteries stored standing up in a safe place where they can’t be knocked around
• Keep them in their original package or in a battery organizer before use.
  • If you can’t do that, cover both positive and negative posts with electrical tape.
• Never put batteries in a pocket with keys, loose change, or other metal objects.
• Do not store in a drawer loosely or in containers with metal objects or other batteries

In the event your property has been affected by fire or smoke from any source, SERVPRO® of Columbia County is “Here to help.®” If you are in need of our services, please contact us at 706-868-5441.