Recent Posts

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 18th 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 24th and January 1st, 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.

The SERVPRO® Emergency Response Profile

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

What is an Emergency Ready Profile?

An Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) is a digital solution which enables businesses to have instant access to request assistance from SERVPRO® of Columbia County. An ERP is an easy to download app that a SERVPRO® Representative can set up for you, after a no-cost evaluation. It will help minimize the time that your business is closed or inactive during a loss.

Benefits of Having an ERP

In a state of emergency, your staff may find themselves easily confused and stressed; having an ERP already set in place will enable them and you to have peace of mind that any sort of disaster will be taken care of by professionals. Your ERP is personalized to your businesses’ needs and is a straightforward way your employees can get the help they need. To ensure that your teams know what to do if disaster strikes, we highly encourage everyone in the facility to download the mobile ERP app. Having a quick reference of what to do, who to call, and in what order to do so is vital in making sure your business is Ready for Whatever Happens®.

Interested in Starting an ERP for Your Business? Give us a call at 706-868-5441 and ask to speak with the marketing team. We will schedule a meeting with a SERVPRO® Representative today.

Rain in Your Basement

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

Rain, Rain, and More Rain

This time of year, there is an abundance of water due to the seasonal rain. Therefore, it is no surprise that many houses experience water damage problems. Unfortunately, you may discover some of that water leaking into your basement after a hefty dose of rainfall.

Ideally, your sump pump should be able to keep water out of your basement; however, they can sometimes daily due to the rapid flow of the incoming water. It is always recommended, especially this time of year, to clear any debris from the sump pump’s drain pipe. You should also ensure that the sump pump is working properly. A quick way of telling if it is working properly is listening for a consistent humming noise. It could be a good idea to keep a utility pump on hand as back up if the sump pump does fail for whatever reason. Water coming into the basement where the walls meet the floor is an indicator of groundwater being pushed up by hydrostatic pressure. In this situation, you will need to unclog your foot drains and if the problem persists, call a plumber.

Who to Call? 

If your home has suffered from water damage, you’ll want the help of experienced professionals. A trusted company with well-trained staffed equipped with the proper tools to locate the problem and safely dry out your home. SERVPRO® of Columbia County is your local solution to your problem.

Are you experiencing water in your basement or anywhere else in your home, give SERVPRO® of Columbia County a call at 706-868-5441, we are available “24/7/365.®”

The Pillars of SERVPRO® of Columbia County

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO® of Columbia County, we have six pillars of standard conduct that we apply to our everyday services. These are standards that our franchise has set up and hold each member of staff accountable to, in addition to IICRC certifications. They guide our every action on a daily basis.

The first pillar is: “We have a servant’s heart”. To us, this means we are willing to serve others first before considering ourselves. Each member of our staff is willing to not only help our customers, but each other as well.

Then our second pillar is: “We have integrity.” We are honest and ethical in everything we do. We care about the work we do and the people we work with.

Our third pillar reads: “We grow healthy relationships.” For us, relationships exist between our customers, our internal teams, and with our families. Each of these relationships is vital to our success. We are passionate about developing relationships and helping others achieve their goals.

The fourth pillar is: “We exceed expectations.” We do this by caring for our customers, managing with a clear and concise communication, while responding to issues promptly and professionally.

The fifth pillar reads as follows: “Stewardship matters to us.” We judiciously consider all financial and resource allocations prior to deployment. We want to ensure that we can tackle any need our customers may have.

Lastly, the sixth pillar: “We operate with a spirit of excellence.” We always put forth our very best effort and conduct ourselves with a Spirit of Excellence.

SERVPRO® of Columbia County stands firmly behind each pillar. If you are need of our services, please contact our excellent office team at 706-868-5441. We are truly always “Here to help.®”

The First Steps to Take During a Water Loss

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage is one of the most serious and most common emergencies your home can ever experience. Whether you’re facing a storm, flood, HVAC leak, weakened roof, busted pipes, sewage back up, or overflowing appliances, it can be distressing and threaten the value and safety of your home. It is essential to address emergency water damage quickly to prevent further property damage. If you are facing a water disaster, keep these steps in mind:

  1. Protect Yourself and Your Possessions
    • Shut off the electricity by switching off the circuit breakers and unplugging devices – only when safe to do so.
    • If you’re in danger of flooding, evacuate the flooded area until authorities deem it safe to return.
    • Rescue the most valuable items, such as documents and electronics first. Keeping them in areas that would be hard for water to reach would be the best practice.
  2. Stop the Water Damage
    • The most common culprit of water damage is from a busted pipe or hot water leak, make sure you know where your shut-off valves are, and use them.
    • If a flood is predicted, take preventative steps such as sandbagging and ditching; for the worst case scenario, prepare to evacuate.
    • Keep an eye out for a leaky ceiling!
    • Pay attention to signs of mold – foul odors, discolored ceilings, and baseboards are among them!
  3. Contact Your Insurance Company
    • Call as soon as possible after the damage occurs, find out what steps the insurance company requires you to take.
    • Get an adjuster on site as soon as possible to document the damage.
    • Take photos of the damaged areas and any affected valuable items.
    • Keep detailed records and receipts.
  4. Call SERVPRO® of Columbia County
    • The sooner we are on site after a water loss, the better. If it is within the first 24 hours, it would normally take 3-4 day to dry out the home and eliminate the potential risk of mold and mildew
    • We will access the furniture and items in your home, and begin restoring them as needed.
    • We will utilize our professional grade equipment such as air movers and dehumidifies to ensure that the damaged areas are being properly dried.

If you are in need of water mitigation services, contact us at 706-864-5441. We are “Faster to any sized disaster.®”