Archived Why SERVPRO Blog Posts
Guide to Air Scrubbers and Negative Air Machines
9/6/2023 (Permalink)
Air scrubber in office building.
Air scrubbers and negative air machines are more than just smoke cleaners; they're versatile problem solvers for various air quality issues.
Air Scrubbers:
- Virus Outbreak Sanitization: Beyond smoke, air scrubbers are handy for sanitizing spaces during virus outbreaks. They're experts at removing particles and droplets, helping to create a safer environment.
- Pollutant, Toxin, Pet Dander, and Dust Removal: These workhorses aren't picky. They're equally effective at clearing out pollutants, toxins, pet dander, and dust particles from any area.
- Odor Elimination: Say goodbye to unwanted odors! Air scrubbers can freshen up spaces and are especially useful in places like cozy restaurants or bustling party gatherings.
Negative Air Machines:
- Containment during Cleanup: Negative air machines are containment champions. During tasks like mold and asbestos removal, they ensure that dangerous particles stay put, preventing them from drifting into other parts of the building.
Both air scrubbers and negative air machines come in various sizes to suit different spaces and contamination levels. An air quality pro can help you pick the right-sized machine for your needs.
How We Respond to your Calls
7/27/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO® can guarantee to make it “Like it never even happened.” Call us today and let us help you.
Did you suffer a disaster in your home or business and don’t know what to do next? Well, after safely removing yourself from the scene, you can begin taking steps forward. It’s difficult to know how to proceed following fire, water or smoke damage, but our team of experts at SERVPRO® of Culver City / Baldwin Hills will help you through the dilemma. Call SERVPRO® as soon as you can and let us assist you!
When You Call
We have a supportive team of representatives ready to answer your call. They will likely ask you a variety of questions which will help SERVPRO® determine the resources and equipment necessary to assist you. By answering our questions, you are allowing our representative to best prepare for response to your disaster.
Some Questions to Expect
- Name and contact information (Phone number, email address)
- Street address of home or business
- What year was the structure built?
- What type of damage has occurred? (Flood, fire, water, etc.)
- What caused the damage? (If known)
- Is there electricity and water available?
- Your insurance company?
SERVPRO® of Culver City / Baldwin Hills
SERVPRO® of Culver City / Baldwin Hills is here for you. With the best training in fire, water and smoke cleanup and restoration, we guarantee our SERVPRO® staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your home or business. In addition to our restoration services, we also offer mold mitigation and deep cleans of properties. SERVPRO® can guarantee to make it “Like it never even happened.” Call us today and let us help you. No disaster is too big or small. Call SERVPRO® of Culver City / Baldwin Hills at (310) 558-9422, we are 24/7/365.
SERVPRO: Here to Make Your Life Easier
7/20/2022 (Permalink)
At SERVPRO, we take pride in strong customer service and experts in the industry. Our team has years of experience and constant training.
Did you experience a fire, a flood or a plumbing problem in your home or business? There’s no one better to call for your reparations and restorations than SERVPRO® of Culver City / Baldwin Hills. We will make it “Like it never even happened.” Our quick and professional response team will know just what to do when you need assistance.
Highly Trained Professionals
Our restoration technicians are experts at restoring salvageable items from water or fire, and they document their work every step of the way. We guarantee our team will do their best job on your remediation and/or restoration project.
Customer Care
At SERVPRO, we take pride in strong customer service and experts in the industry. Our team has years of experience and constant training to ensure we do the best job in getting your home or business back to normal after we come through it.
Easier Insurance Claims Process
Insurance claims can be confusing and challenging, but we are here to help. Our team assists you in documentation for a quicker, easier insurance claim experience.
Don’t wait, the technicians at SERVPRO® of Culver City / Baldwin Hills are waiting to assist you today! Give us a call at (310) 558-9422, we are 24/7/365.
Mold, the Water Damage Unseen
3/14/2022 (Permalink)
Understanding the early signs of mold or water damage will help to minimize the extent damage can occur.
Mold thrives in unseen places, and less rather than more property owners are successful in identifying mold. In order to be vigilant, understand the importance of carrying out proper inspections and maintenance. Inspections should be performed at least twice a year, especially for those who live in areas where temperatures and moisture levels rise and fall frequently.
Inspecting for Mold
Check for water damage at the same time you inspect for mold growth. Water damage typically provides the prime spot for mold growth to occur. See below for the more common signs of water damage.
Bubbling walls:
A telltale sign of mold is bubbling forming on painted walls. These are the areas contain the most moisture and are more likely to bubble up.
Musty odor:
When pipes begin to leak and mildew forms, it will create a very unpleasant scent. This is one of the first signs to check for water damage and mold. The closer you are to the affected area the more extreme the odor.
Rusting in open and/or enclosed spaces:
Rust is the result of corrosion after the iron particles in an object have been exposed to oxygen and moisture. This can be a sign of excessive moisture in your commercial building. Humidity can also create the optimum conditions for mold growth.
Understanding the early signs of mold or water damage will help to minimize the extent damage can occur. If an inspection happens and a mold infestation discovered, reach out to SERVPRO® of Culver City / Baldwin Hills at (310) 558-9422 to return your business or home to its preloss condition.
Preparing a Commercial First Aid Kit
2/8/2022 (Permalink)
Search for OSHA's First Aid Kit Checklist to get started!
Your Commercial property is important and needs protection, and the people inside it even more so. Know that if the unforeseen happens to your commercial property, the experts at SERVPRO® of Culver City / Baldwin Hills are here to help. We are faster to any disaster and will strive to make it “Like it never even happened.”
There are steps you can take to ensure your workplace is compliant and safe, starting with a First Aid Kit.
Continue reading for tips on putting together a commercial property first aid kit:
Use OSHA’s First Aid Kit Checklist
Go online and search for OSHA commercial first aid kit checklist to start. There you will find the necessary items as required by Occupational Health and Safety Administration; they are the industry experts on these matters. Most items are found at local drug stores or local retailers.
Continued Education
No emergency response is straightforward, and there is no such thing as too much training when it comes to ensuring the safety of the people on your property. Once you finish your kit make sure everyone knows where to access it and that the regular people onsite are trained in it’s use.
OSHA Resources
To find more information on putting together first aid kits or how to use them when needed, consult OSHA’s website. And remember, once you can ensure the health of all the people on-site, you can call SERVPRO® of Culver City / Baldwin Hills 24/7 to respond to any restoration emergency at (833) WTR-FIRE (987-3473).
How Can Water Damage Structures?
1/17/2022 (Permalink)
Flood cut drywall.
Water damage is never an experience a property owner or tenant wishes to experience. Water is meant to stay in drainpipes, supply pipes, basins, and sinks. It should never run unabated within the dwelling or structure. Simple repairs and maintenance can help you to avoid minor to major water damage.
We do not always experience water damage from hurricanes and floods. More commonly, business and homes experience water damage from:
- small, pinhole-sized leaks in pipes
- poor grading techniques on soil
- gutter blockage
- sump pumps that may be malfunctioning
Many cases of water damage result from non-professionals attempting to remediate the problem(s) themselves without the proper equipment or experience. If left unchecked water damage can increase exponentially and will even rot out drywall and cause mold to grow. Talk with a professional like SERVPRO of Culver City / Baldwin Hills when you experience water damage to get best practices and next steps in addressing your loss.
How Long Does Residual Smoke Damage Last?
1/17/2022 (Permalink)
Aftermath of fire in utility room.
Ridding a property of smoke damage is a difficult task unto itself. One of the worst things a home or business can experience is a fire as it not only destroys household items but can also affect structural materials as well. The damage can sometimes extend after the fire has been extinguished in the form of water damage due to the fire-fighting efforts.
Residual smoke odor can linger within your business or home until affectively treated after the flames have been put out. If a fire affects your home or are, such as is the case with when a wildfire occurs, take the necessary steps to rid yourself of the smoke smell effectively and fast.
It can be quite difficult to remove the odor of smoke from your property. When the smoke first infiltrates your home, the small imperceptible particulates can stick to all household surfaces and even become embedded in porous materials – carpeting, furniture, fabrics, books, and even paint. Removing them requires a lot of effort and, often, specialized cleaning equipment. SERVPRO of Culver City / Baldwin Hills have the expertise and industry leading equipment (air scrubbers, nano filters, ozone generators, hydroxl technology, etc.) that is required to effectively deodorize after a fire loss. We use safe and efficient odor removal techniques to make it like it never even happened.
Choosing the Right Water Restoration
12/27/2021 (Permalink)
SERVPRO Project Manager performing inspection.
A professional water damage company offers many benefits to both business owners and homeowners. Licensed work is one of the biggest advantages of hiring a water damage restoration company as they are licensed under local government. This means that their methods of restoration have been reviewed and are legally accounted for. Post work being performed, should you find some problem with the electrical restoration or other physical repair work, then you can easily locate the agency and request additional repair work. Government Agency registration is one of the most important aspects of a professional company and is of immense benefit to clients.
- Reputation is important! Review the online reputation of the selected water damage restoration company you go with. Do not choose a company under the radar, but one with an established presence on the web and in the community.
- Tried and true, effective and fast protocols. Immediate action during emergencies proves the reliability of any emergency remediation service.
- Well established and fully geared. SERVPRO of Culver City / Baldwin Hills has the infrastructure to handle any sized loss, commercial or residential.
- Best Working Tools and Resources. One advantage of a licensed water damage company is that they are likely to have access to the best tools of the trade. This is because a licensed agency will be able to apply for authorial permission to get some of the best water damage control equipment that is available in the market. All in all, opting for a well renowned water damage company is a sure way to restore your home effortlessly.
Whether it is a natural flooding incident or some other flooding damage, water damage poses some major risks to your home. By hiring a professional water damage company, you will not only minimize risks but also ensure you the restoration services are handled correctly.
Holiday Emergency Services
12/23/2021 (Permalink)
SERVPRO equipment setup
With holidays coming and going throughout these winter months SERVPRO of Culver City / Baldwin Hills knows that these times are the worst possible moments to deal with the headache of a fire or water loss. Everyone should be with their loved ones this holiday season. We would much rather everyone be with their loved ones celebrating the joyous season. However, disaster waits for no one and never occurs at convenient times.
We are here to help! Even on holidays our teams are available and working around the clock. No job is too big, too small, too far, and too much of a hassle for us to handle. We have the infrastructure to handle any sized loss. If you suffer from a holiday water and/or fire loss this holiday season, be sure to call the professionals at SERVPRO first.
Why Use Professional Mold Remediation
10/28/2021 (Permalink)
Mold on ceiling.
When searching for the best way to carry out mold remediation services, hire a trustworthy professional to perform the mold remediation for you. Professional mold remediation is about results, giving value that not only corrects problems but also prevents them.
- Professional Mold Testing
One common cause of mold is from a combination of humidity and air conditioning. When HVAC systems try to cool down a home or business amidst humidity, air condenses inside vents. If mold occurs in your home, the source needs to be uncovered, the problem areas you don’t see require investigation, and the enlistment of professionals to remove that mold for good. From the onset, address the problem right by contacting a mold remediation expert. Rest assured that our highly trained technicians will deliver a proper mold assessment.
- Address the Mold Problem Right
When you’ve found a professional mold remediation company you can place absolute confidence in, the level of experience shown will be immediate. Our Step One involves completely assessing and documenting the moisture problem. Step Two is to properly treat and clean all affected areas.
- Helpful Tips
When hiring a mold removal specialist, you’ll receive multiple tips to prevent future mold problems and secure safe and proper ventilation. As mold problems require specialized expertise, you’ll want a good communicator in the field who is both dependable and honest. Meet the professionals at SERVPRO, who have serviced thousands of satisfied business owners and home owners.
- Save Money
Saving money is important, especially when it comes spending on repairs. The longer a problem lies unaddressed, the costlier it is going to be when it finally is fixed.
Round the Clock Emergency Services
8/31/2021 (Permalink)
24/7 Crew working - drywall cut post flood damage in commercial building.
SERVPRO is known for being “faster to any size disaster,” commercial or residential. When compared to other restoration companies SERVPRO of Culver City/Baldwin Hills is not only on site the fastest. We also maximize our efficiency while on the job to make sure we are fastest at getting you back into your home or place of business as well. Why SERVPRO? Because we understand what it means to be the leader in restoration not just in our city but across the nation, being a company that is available 24/7 we are truly around the clock. SERVPRO of Culver City/Baldwin Hills has a professional always on call to make sure we are ready to jump into action no matter what time it is or what the job call may be! You will never have to worry about what time your emergency may happen knowing that we will be there for you immediately.
Leave it to the Professionals
3/9/2021 (Permalink)
We have been busy disinfecting to make a clean and safe environment for our customers! Not all heroes wear capes. We just try to do our part for the community. Our SERVPRO team follows the process of proper donning and doffing of PPE when entering and exiting the decontamination chambers. The decontamination chamber is a three-stage chamber consisting of; clean room, decontamination chamber and equipment/dirty room. We used hospital-grade disinfectants called SERVPROXIDE.
Our SERVPRO team utilized foggers for the decontamination of areas before cleaning was performed. 5-10 minute dwell time for high contact, non-porous surfaces. 60 minute dwell time for all porous surfaces. Our team decontaminated up to 8 feet of high contact areas. We cleaned and removed containment upon completion of cleaning.
Stop The Spread of Germs with SERVPRO
3/1/2021 (Permalink)
Here are some helpful tips to prevent the spread of germs. This is to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases. The first tip is to avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you feel any ill symptoms, make sure to cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Another helpful tip to avoid getting germs to attack into your immune system is to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Also, clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. Some more tips include staying home when you are sick, except to get medical care. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is one of the important ways to spread germs.
Another way to fight germs in your home or business is to call SERVPRO to professionally disinfect and clean it for you. Call us anytime! We are here to help!
Why Commercial Restoration is Important
2/22/2021 (Permalink)
Always seek professional help in the face of water damage.
When there is water damage in your property, there is only one thing that you should do. You should always seek to get professional help. There are two advantages to getting professional help when it comes to having water damage to your property. One is that water damage companies have the proper equipment and they employ the best professionals to do the job. With a water damage restoration professional, your home will be in good hands since you have SERVPRO professionals working with you to combat the water problem.
At the first sign of water damage call SERVPRO of Culver City/Baldwin Hills to deal with your issues. We will work on your residential or commercial property immediately. When it comes to water damage, your action must be quick in order to prevent further damage to your property and health.
Why SERVPRO: The Best Of The Best
2/15/2021 (Permalink)
Water and fire restoration companies can seem like they are a dime a dozen. It's hard to know which ones you can full trust based on a quick Google search because they all promise the same thing. But at SERVPRO of Culver City/Baldwin Hills we have 10+ years of experience in our community.
When it comes to water, fire, mold, or storm restoration our crews and office staff are the best of the best. Every person is IICRC certified, has continual education courses, and is prepped for any level of damage when a call comes through to our office. We work closely with insurance companies and brokers as well as property managers who trust us completely when they have a client call up with an issue.
You can trust SERVPRO to make it "Like it never even happened."
Welcoming 2021 with SERVPRO of Culver City/Baldwin Hills
2/5/2021 (Permalink)
As 2021 kicks off SERVPRO of Culver City/Baldwin Hills wants to remind and assure you that we are here for you and the community. We saw COVID19 run crazy through Los Angeles county and we reacted immediately helping homes and businesses sanitize to hopefully help stop the spread.
If your home and/or place of business suffer from water, fire, mold, storm, or COVID19 damage you should immediately call the professionals at SERVPRO. We are trained to handle crisis situations of any size and we are always here to help. Our phone lines are open 24/7, 365 days out of the year. No job is too large or too small for our teams to take on. We want to work with you to make it "Like it never even happened." Happy 2021!
Should I File A Claim?
1/26/2021 (Permalink)
When you've had water or fire damage in your property one of the questions to ask is should I file a claim.
A claim whether how big or small gets on your record so it is important for a company like SERVPRO to perform a FREE damage assessment to you property to determine the scope of work. Once that claim is filed there is no turning back and that is why it is important to have a SERVPRO expert inspect the property for FREE to provide you the best guidance about your damages.
SERVPRO will perform a moisture mapping of the property to determine the extent of the damages or a fire damage inspection report to determine which areas of the property are affected.
SERVPRO is also an insurance preferred vendor by major insurance companies like State Farm, Farmer's Insurance, AAA of Southern California, Mercury Insurance, Nationwide Insurance, Travelers Insurance, The Hartford, CHUBB and many more.
Once next steps are determined SERVPRO will do all the heavy lifting for you to help restore your property "Like it never even happened." We are a full service restoration company that does mitigation, remediation, abatement, packout and construction for all your restoration needs. We're available 24/7 every day so just give us a call and someone will be there to assist you.
For a FREE Damage assessment please call us at (310) 558-9422.
Summer Heat Safety At Home
1/10/2021 (Permalink)
In sunny southern California, it's hot enough to be outside! Beat the heat this summer and stay cool indoors with the following tips:
- Cover windows to block extra heat from direct sunlight coming in.
- Use fans strategically. Your ceiling fans should be turning counter-clockwise to force the air downwards.
- Cook with small appliances, such as a slow-cooker or tabletop grill to minimize the heat level.
- Check on your elderly and disabled neighbors regularly.
- Stay hydrated throughout the day by drinking water steadily; don't wait until you're thirsty.
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol which causes us to lose water more rapidly.
- Wear loose-fitting, lightly colored, and lightweight clothes.
- Do not exercise outdoors. If you must exercise outdoors, only exercise in the early morning hours, before 8 a.m.
- Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
- Check the local news and other outlets for important safety information.
How To Go About A Water Loss
1/8/2021 (Permalink)
If you, unfortunately, suffer from a water loss it’s good to know your resources.
Two main priorities are calling your insurance company and getting a water restoration company out to you. The longer you wait the more damage you risk in your home, standstill water can lead to microbial growth and that’s another headache you don’t need on top of a water loss.
And most importantly, even if you think you can handle it and dry out the water yourself, you should always, and no matter what call SERVPRO. We would hate for you to not be able to complete the job and create a bigger problem for your home, and it’s what we are here to do. We want to handle your water loss!
Why SERVPRO of Culver City/Baldwin Hills
10/10/2020 (Permalink)
Restoration companies are a dime a dozen when doing a simple Google search.
What makes SERVPRO different is our promise to make it "Like it never even happened," and stand by all of our work. You'll never have to worry about who you are dealing with, what technicians are coming into your home, or the headache of billing. We hold ourselves to the highest standards possible and give white glove treatment to all clients.
SERVPRO of Culver City/Baldwin Hills is dedicated to being the best of the best when it comes to water, fire, mold, and storm damage remediation. We know you have lots of options when it comes to restoration companies but there's a reason so many insurance agents and brokers as well as property managers trust our work.
Faster To Any Size Disaster in Culver City and Baldwin Hills, CA
1/24/2020 (Permalink)
Your home or building will be quickly and thoroughly dried to industry standards.
There's no such thing as a small disaster, especially when the water you don't see has bacteria or causes mold. Water damage can and will affect the value of your property. Before you try and take care of it yourself, consider how the damage can affect your home. SERVPRO of Culver City/Baldwin Hills professionals know how disruptive water damage can be for anyone. Our technicians are trained and equipped to manage the drying process by using equipment and moisture measuring devices. Your home or building will be quickly and thoroughly dried to industry standards. Which, in turn, will prevent secondary water damages. With rapid response time SERVPRO of Culver City/Baldwin Hills can and will help you regain control and make sure your property is protected.
Who Should You Call for Water & Fire Damage in Culver City and Baldwin Hills?
1/21/2020 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Culver City/Baldwin Hills is here to help!
Rarely anyone prepares for a water or fire damage in their homes, but if you were to ever experience one, SERVPRO of Culver City/Baldwin Hills should be your first call for mitigation and remediation. Having a fire in your home can be a life altering event and you want your property to be restored back to the way it was before the fire. When a fire occurs at your house or commercial property, you should take swift action to handle the cleanup and restoration left behind by the fire itself and the efforts of the fire department. At SERVPRO of Culver City/Baldwin Hills, we value your home and place of business business as if it were our own because we understand clients in their time of need.
Large Loss Response Team
1/16/2020 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Culver City/Baldwin Hills is a Large Loss Response Team (LLRT) which means we can handle just about any size of job we are given. The purpose of the LLRT is to have Franchises pre-qualified to handle Large Losses for the Commercial Large Loss Division. SERVPRO requires that Large Loss Response Teams to be detailed and complete all jobs thoroughly, as well as have the performance capabilities to perform to corporate standards. Within the last few months of SERVPRO of Culver City/Baldwin Hills has completed a handful of commercial jobs with our Large Loss Response Team. Cities we have covered are Brentwood, Culver City, Baldwin Hills, Santa Monica, Westlake, Calabasas so much more. This includes highly trained technicians, detail oriented office personnel, and hard work around the clock. Most of the time Large Loss jobs are commercial clients that need to get back to business as soon as possible, "Like it never even happened." SERVPRO is well aware of the time crunch business owners are on to open back up their doors.
Mold Attacks in Baldwin Hills, CA
1/16/2020 (Permalink)
This mold was hiding behind cabinets that had not been moved in a while.
This Baldwin Hills company experienced two water leaks in their roof within a month of each other during a really bad rain season. With water damage comes mold, especially in a situation like this where they were hit hard with water in their offices. The mold came quietly and was hard to find, mostly hidden behind cabinets and on the walls behind decorations. It was not until our technicians started the water mitigation they realized the bigger problem at hand, mold. SERVPRO of Culver City/Baldwin Hills was able to handle the extensive process and remove all the mold that was encasing the office. This before picture shows the mess left behind after all the water damage, we were able to work through the entire process and get the office ready for reconstruction.
Six Steps To Take To Avoid Costly Repairs To Your HVAC System This Winter
1/10/2020 (Permalink)
Whether you’re living in Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Venice, Santa Monica or even in Pasadena, Glendale, or somewhere in North Hollywood, we all need tips on taking care of our HVAC systems to avoid any issues that will cost us in repairs.
First, let’s start with what does HVAC stand for?
Hvac - H stands for Heating. A heating element or a heater is an object with a purpose to emit heat to reach higher temperature.
hVac - V stands for Ventilation
Ventilation is the continuous process of air exchange and air circulation within the house of building. Controlling inside temperature, removing moisture, odors, smoke, heat, carbon dioxide and replenish oxygen.
hvAC - AC stands for Air-Conditioning
Air conditioning is in charge for heat removal and cooling of closed space, buildings and houses.
Now, that we are up to speed on this important element in our homes and businesses. Here are six simple steps you can take to avoid costly repairs to your HVAC system this wintertime:
- Have your air conditioner’s pressure checked.
- Clean the filters and equipment.
- Replace air filters.
- Test your thermostat.
- Check for leaky doors and windows.
- Check your carbon monoxide detector, and change the batteries
Everyone here at SERVPRO of Culver City/Baldwin Hills hope these property care tips were helpful. If you ever have any questions, please give us a call anytime! 310-558-9422
We are always here to help!
Got Mold? We Are The Experts In Mold Remediation!
1/8/2020 (Permalink)
Garage platform and car lift assembly located in Calabasas, California, where our team performed detailed cleaning and disinfecting.
Garage platform and car lift assembly located in Calabasas, California, where our team performed detailed cleaning and disinfecting. Our team utilized botanical disinfectants and photo-documented before during and after for complete transparency. Upon removal cleared all subterranean drains. Our team utilized a high-pressure steam pressure washing system.
The homeowner was referred to our office by a very prestigious and well-known luxury home builder. We also have pressure washers that will recover the water if contaminated and/or the city requires water drainage to be in a sanitary drain. We are very cognizant of the drought that plagues California and used only the necessary amount of water when pressure-washing both residential and sophisticated commercial or industrial building structures.
Sometimes we pressure wash inside of commercial/industrial concrete tilt-up buildings. We have performed this type of work in the city of Vernon and throughout the greater Los Angeles area. We are a preferred vendor for the California Department of Motor Vehicles and perform their exterior cleanup.
24/7 Emergency Service