Recent Posts

Hot Water Heater Leaked? No Problem!

11/12/2024 (Permalink)

Water Damage from Hot Water Heater Leaks Prevalent Among Many

 Hot water heater leaks are one of the most common plumbing issues in people’s homes across the country. These leaks can happen at any time whether you are away or at home. Sometimes Hot water leaks can be preventable when a homeowner notices the signs of deterioration to the tank.

Here are the Signs that your Tank may need an Inspection-

  1. Rust forming at the top and or at the bottom of the tank. If you see rust on the top, bottom, or anywhere on the hot water heater... It is time to get the tank inspected for replacement. The longer you wait, the more corrosion will take place and the potential for water loss will grow.

2.Copper oxidation, which is when the copper popes that come into the tank start to turn green. This occurs because of exposure to air and water over a long period of time. This oxidation process can cause corrosion to the pipes and sprout leaks if not replaced.

  1. Lack of hot water, if you are experiencing a lack of hot water from the sink, tub etc. Check the tank and the surrounding areas and there could be a flood

We are Pass the Replacement of the Tank, and the Basement is now Flooded. Now What?

  1. Turn off the tank, while this may not stop all water leakage from a hot water heater it may stop some.
  2. Move all contents out of the waters touch. If there is nowhere for the furniture to go, place the legs on blocks to lift it out of the water. The longer the items sit in the water the more damage occurs.
  3. Don’t Panic and Call your Local SERVPRO® franchise, we are trained in water restoration of all nature. We will refer you a plumber and send out a team of trained technicians to assist in drying out your home.
  4. Call that plumber, save the faulty piece or take a picture and keep it for insurance company for review.
  5. Floods from hot water heaters can be expensive. Reach out to your insurance company to see if this is something they can assist you with.

You Called SERVPRO of Perry Hall, now What?

Whether you call the SERVPRO National number or the local number we are always here to help. SERVPROs’ across the country are well trained in water damage, fire restoration, Mold remediation and many more.

SERVPRO of Perry Hall/White Marsh can walk you step by step of what to do when faced with a hot water heater leak. After the plumber has been called, insurance has been called, we will head out to your home to begin the mitigation process.

     This process includes detailed documentation to the insurance company and to the homeowner.

 Documentation includes photos (before, during, and after), drying log structural materials, line item estimate that is used nationally among insurance contractors.

Our team will assess, the damage to structural materials and decide what can be dried and what needs to be demoed.

Once the demolition portion is completed, we set drying equipment to dry the structure.

After the structure has been dried, we can line up a repair estimate for your home.

Once the repair estimate has been confirmed by the insurance company, we then can schedule you for the repairs!

  So, if you do not know where to start, start with a call to SERVPRO.

Deck the Halls this Season with Commercial Carpet Cleaning!

11/12/2024 (Permalink)

Do you hear what I hear? It’s the sound of a truck mount motor whirring outside of your business.

The sound of technicians unraveling hoses and laying down the pre spray on the office carpets.

This season, start your holidays off with the fresh scent of cleaned carpets.

Some business owners do not know the potential carpet cleaning can bring to their floors.

What may appear to be dingey, stained, and pass the point of no return, serves as no match for

SERVPRO® technicians, products, and technology. So, before looking into replacing carpets, give

A local SERVPRO franchise a chance to bring life back into your flooring.

SERVPRO uses in house products designed by a team of expertise to tackle almost any stain possible. We have product stain removal for everything, if you can name it, we most likely have it.

We also recommend a carpet cleaning schedule for your building based on usage and foot traffic.

That way we can keep your carpets looking fresh and clean for years to come.

So instead of thinking of carpet replacement, give your local franchise a call and we can assist you with a quote.

Prepare for Freezing Temperatures this Season!

11/5/2024 (Permalink)

As we approach the winter season and the freezing temperatures.. Homeowners must be prepared of the impending threat of water damage from frozen pipes.

Approximately two years ago in December of 2022, there was a surge of frozen pipes that occurred all across Maryland.

  Many homeowners were not prepared for the drop in temperature in their home. The pipes   began to burst in homes and buildings all across the state.

When outside temperatures drop below 32 degrees, the pipes to your sinks and showers begin to freeze.

The main reason these pipes freeze in the home is because of the following: not enough insulation on exterior wall, garden hose not disconnected and drained properly, heat turned off to the home.

How do we prevent them from freezing?

1. maintain heat in the home throughout winter months.

-If you are leaving your home for an extended period of time during these freezing months. Please, keep the heat on! Maintaining the heat can prevent large water losses from occurring in your home while away!

2. If you feel as if a room with plumbing doesn't receive enough heat from the HVAC system. open the cabinet doors to the sink to allow the air to warm it. Also you can add a space heater to those areas to maintain temperature.

3. Please disconnect your garden hoses and shut off the hose bib.

4. Make sure all plumbing is well insulated especially along the exterior walls. Lack of insulation can cause pipes to sprinkler heads, showers, and hose bibs to burst.

If the pipes are already frozen now what?

These are the telltale signs that the pipes to your home are frozen.

  • condensation on exposed pipes
  • water drips from faucet when turned on
  • expanded and bulging pipes

 We have passed the preventative stage and have moved onto how do we stop this from bursting?

1.  GO and turn off the water main to your home!

2. open the cabinet doors to your kitchen sink or bathroom sink and use warm wet towels and wrap the pipes with the towels

3. use a space heater and place close to direct heat on the frozen pipes as possible!

4. if you don't have a space heater use a hair dryer and blow heat onto the frozen area.

What if they already burst??

Please call SERVPRO of Perry Hall/White Marsh. We are here to help you through the steps from start to finish.

While you wait for service, we will give you a plumbing referral.

1.Call the plumber and set up service to repair

2. Reach out to your insurance company to see how to start the claim process

3. move any valuable items that are in the affected area that are wet to the side to a dryer location.

4. maintain list of non-salvageable contents. Take many photos throughout the process.

When we arrive onsite, we will assist from start to finish. From initial water loss to reconstruction turnkey repairs.

When fire damage takes control of your business, SERVPRO of Perry Hall/White Marsh helps take it back!

10/19/2022 (Permalink)

Your home or commercial facility often contains your most valuable possessions. SERVPRO of Perry Hall/White Marsh understands the trauma that follows a loss. When fire damage takes control of your business, we help take it back.

Fire is a naturally destructive force, but its damage takes all kinds of forms. The most obvious is when things are burnt down like furniture (and even rooms or whole houses), yet the damage is not always so visible.

In addition, soot can get into furniture, clothes, other possessions and even carpeting and walls. It requires a specialized process to fully remove any soot. SERVPRO of Perry Hall/White Marsh is fully capable of deep cleaning contaminated items with our special chemicals and equipment. And if there’s damage we can’t fix ourselves? We know the right people to call to help us take care of it.

“We were referred to SERVPRO by a neighbor the day the fire occurred. We called and they took over and arranged everything from contacting someone to board up the house to arranging every aspect of the damage. Very thorough, had our best interest and gave helpful information on how to work with the insurance company. Also extremely patient with my son, who lost the most.  I can't say enough kind words. They were so professional and helpful.” –George McDain

We here at SERVPRO of Perry Hall/White Marsh do our best to follow our mission to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Baltimore County - We specialize in Water Damage Cleanup + Restoration

10/13/2022 (Permalink)

A business can have a flood at any time, although water damage most often occurs during heavy rainfall. Basements are inherently prone to water intrusion because they are the lowest level of a building and are normally built partly or entirely below ground level – this is also where businesses typically store important documents and inventory. There are several reasons why your Baltimore county business could flood, including:

  • A blocked or failed sewer lateral pipe
  • Heavy rain causes surface Fire to pool around your home
  • Storm sewer backup
  • Sanitary sewer backup
  • Foundation drainage failure
  • Fire supply-line break or hot-Fire tank failure
  • And many more

Have Questions about business Flooding?

Call Today - 410-529-1664

If flood water is not handled quickly and properly, it can jeopardize your business. Remember, the longer you wait, the worse the problem will get. Not only that but the damage to inventory and important documents could be dramatic and irreversible.

We are Flooded Business Specialists:

  • We are Available 24 hours/7 days per week
  • We’re a Preferred Vendor to many National Insurance Companies
  • We bill the Insurance directly, using pricing pre-set and approved by your insurance provider – meaning your bill is always fair, and one less thing for you to worry about
  • Our technicians are highly trained in water Restoration Techniques
  • We use s500 IICRC Restoration Standards

Disaster's happen; here's how to prepare your Perry Hall Business

9/7/2022 (Permalink)

As a Perry Hall Maryland business owner, or property manager, you are a leader in your community and have the opportunity to set an example for your employees, customers and community to follow. 

This year for National Preparedness Month, join your community in preparing for emergencies and disasters of all types, and leading efforts to encourage the community to become more prepared. "Disasters happen" and not only devastate individuals and neighborhoods, but entire communities, not to mention businesses of ALL sizes!

As an employer in your community, having a business continuity plan is your best defense against a disaster. A business continuity plan protects the business, its employees, its infrastructure and maximizes the chances and speed of recovery after a disaster strikes. 

Don't know where to start? Give SERVPRO of Perry Hall / White Marsh a call or your local SERVPRO and we will get you started (for free!).

ABOUT SERVPRO of Perry Hall / White Marsh

SERVPRO of Perry Hall / White Marsh has been serving commercial properties all over the Overlea, Fullerton Parkville Carney area for over 17 years. We are a nationally ranked emergency restoration company, that is family owned and approved by all insurance companies. Please give us a call at 410-529-1664

6 Things to do after a Fire in your Perry Hall, Maryland home.

8/3/2022 (Permalink)

Everyone tells you how to put out a fire, prevent a fire and EVEN what to do if you yourself on fire… but no one ever tells you what to do next after a fire strikes your home or business. The following checklist serves as a quick reference and guide for you to follow if fire strikes your home in Perry Hall or White Marsh Maryland. 

  1. Check with the fire department to make sure your residence is safe to enter. Be mindful of any structural damage caused by the fire. The fire department should see that utilities are either safe to use or are disconnected before they leave the site.  DO NOT attempt to reconnect utilities yourself.
  2. Contact your local disaster relief service, such as The Red Cross, if you need temporary housing, food, and medicines.
  3. If you are insured, contact your insurance company for detailed instructions on protecting the property, conducting inventory, and contacting fire damage restoration companies. SERVPRO of Perry Hall / White Marsh is approved by all insurance companies and has over 20 years of experience in restoring homes after a fire.
  4. Conduct an inventory of damaged property and items. Do not throw away any damaged goods until after an inventory is made. SERVPRO of Perry Hall / White Marsh crews are trained to properly document, clean and store damaged items. Nothing will be disposed of without your knowledge or permission, and we do our best to salvage your precious items.
  5. If possible, locate valuable documents and records-deed to home, car, bank information, birth certificates, etc.Here is a handy list of all documents to locate, and where to get them replaced in the event that they are damaged.
  6. Begin saving receipts for any money you spend related to fire loss. The receipts may be needed later by the insurance company and for verifying losses claimed on income tax

If you've experienced a home fire, and aren't sure what to do, please call SERVPRO of Perry Hall / White Marsh, or your insurance agent. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today – 410-529-1664

How to Pick the Right Restoration Company

4/26/2022 (Permalink)

Just had a water damage in your basement and you don’t know what to do? Or had a fire that covered your entire kitchen in smoke and soot? In situations like these, your decisions will prove crucial in not only how quickly you can have everything go back to normal, but also how much will have to come out of your wallet. The most important thing to do (besides stopping the water or fire) is to call a restoration company. There are many companies to call and choose from, but not all can guarantee a great experience. As for SERVPRO of Perry Hall/White Marsh, we guarantee that we will not only give you your life back, but we will give you the best service while we do it.

Here are some reasons why SERVPRO of Perry Hall/White Marsh should be the first restoration company you call:

  1. Restoration is not something that just anyone can do.

It is not recommended that you hire someone who is an amateur or considers themselves a handyman, even if they claim to have experience with water damages. They will not have access to the same equipment, nor will they understand the process as much as fully trained professionals and as a result will cost you even more money in the future when you finally decide to call for professional help. Remember, microbes in water, even the cleanest water, multiply quickly – mold will grow in a matter of days if not treated soon and properly. Likewise, leaving your house covered in soot from a fire is incredibly dangerous to your health. It damages the air quality of your home, exacerbates breathing conditions, and leaves behind stains and bad odors. To get it properly cleaned, you must call professionals immediately to take care of it. SERVPRO spends thousands of dollars for equipment, training its employees, and obtaining licenses and certifications.

  1. SERVPRO of Perry Hall/White Marsh has access to disaster recovery specialists and “Storm Teams”. 

If the area is inundated with catastrophic flooding or fires. During the Polar Vortex, we averaged at about 15 new calls per hour for 3 days, Hurricane Sandy we received 120 calls in 4 hours; this is a standard circumstance for storm situations and if you call a SERVPRO, you will automatically be put into the system and you will be seen by either us or a “Storm Team” who come to our area from other states to help with large scale disaster recovery.

  1. Every employee has had a background check, leaving your property and its tenants in safe hands. 

Worried about strangers coming into your home to work? No worries! SERVPRO does extensive background checks into each employee to ensure that you and your property are safe and in good hands. Managers will come by your property during the work process every once in a while to supervise employees and their work. We strive to employ only trustworthy and hardworking individuals.

  1. SERVPRO Franchises have access to a network of specialists.

We have numerous contacts who can help you with any kind of damage in your home, such as damaged art, electronics, oriental rugs, plumbing, heating, electricians, and even reconstruction once the issue has been resolved and cleaned. When you call, feel free to ask if we can recommend you another service provider to have come to your home.

  1. SERVPRO of Perry/Hall White Marsh has their own climate-controlled storage space.

We have our own storage space in our facility so that your property can be stored during the restoration process. On top of that, our climate-controlled warehouse contains equipment that we are trained to use to help restore your items, including an Ultrasonic Cleaning System. We store it all in house, perform cleanings and repairs, and return it when your property is ready. 

Interested in our restoration services? Give us a call at 410-529-1664!

Flooding: What it Does, and What to Do, Perry Hall, MD

4/13/2022 (Permalink)

In the spring and summer months (sometimes as late as the fall), flooding is a common phenomenon to occur in the state of Maryland. In fact, the entire state minus the westernmost portions is a part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed: in other words, most of the state serves as a channel for the rainfall and snowmelt to flow through streams and rivers all the way into the Chesapeake Bay. Combined with its position next to the Atlantic Ocean, Maryland witnesses about 42 inches of precipitation on average every year.

Whether it’s a flash flood that strikes out of nowhere or the steady overflow of a river, both can be incredibly dangerous if you are not careful. While it’s common for local flooding to affect your home perhaps only via leaks or failing sump pumps, flood water is powerful enough to sweep away vehicles and even homes. Some homes are more prone to flooding than others depending on how high the property is in comparison to the surrounding area. In general, it is recommended that you check if your property is located within a flood plain. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is a useful resource for determining this, as they have a Flood Map Service that can determine which areas are more likely to be flooded.

If you ever encounter flood waters outside your home:

  1. Keep listening to the radio or local news stations for any developing information on the flood. This will help you learn to avoid flooded areas if you are on the road.
  2. Stay away from flood waters – if you come up on a flowing stream where the water is above your ankles, stop and turn around. 6 inches of water can sweep you off your feet. Tip: Find a large walking stick to use to check the ground’s firmness as you walk.
  3. If you approach a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another way. If you are caught on a flooding road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car immediately and move to higher ground. Most cars can be swept away in less than 2 feet of water
  4. Keep children and pets away from the water.

After the flooding, even if the water is still, do not touch or enter the water. Flood water is heavily prone to contamination of oil, gasoline, or raw sewage. Such contaminated water is extremely harmful to one’s health. Not only that, but flood water is murky and makes it hard to see where you are putting your feet when you walk. When the water has receded and gone, then you may assess the possible damages left in its wake.

Damage can occur long after the water has gone. The remaining moisture in the area is the perfect recipe for mold growth, especially in flooded basements where walls and floors were soaked. If left untreated, mold can go on to damage the structural integrity of your home. This can cost you thousands of dollars in repairs and treatments. At the same time, do not try to clean it by yourself. Even if it seems clean and dry, you have no means of accurately assessing the area without the proper tools and experience.

If a flood strikes your home or business, contact SERVPRO of Perry Hall/White Marsh immediately! Even minor floods have the potential to cause MAJOR damage and if not treated properly, can result in mold growth.

About SERVPRO of Perry Hall/White Marsh

SERVPRO of Perry Hall/White Marsh specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured, our staff is equipped to restore your property.

Essential documents you need to recover after a Fire damages your Perry Hall home.

2/21/2022 (Permalink)

Fires are devastating; its not something expects will happen to them, and when it does they often find themselves unprepared to deal with the loss and destruction. To get back to normal, you will need essential documents. Here is a list of vital documents you may need to recover after a fire and where to get them, courtesy of the Red Cross. If your home was effected by a fire damage, please give SERVPRO of Perry Hall / White Marsh a call! We are trained experts, approved by all insurance companies and have 21 years of experience handling fire and smoke damage jobs in the Perry Hall, White Marsh area and beyond! 

Driver’s License - Department of Motor Vehicles

Government Issued ID -Contact the issuing authority

Insurance policies - Your insurance agent or company

Military discharge -Department of Veterans Affairs, papers 1-800-827-1000 or TDD/TTY 1-800-829-4833

Passports - State Department—Passport Services, 202-955-0430 (24 hours)

Birth, death and marraige certificates - Bureau of Records in appropriate state

Social Security Card - Security or Local Social Security office

Medicare cards 1-800-772-1213 or TDD/TTY 1-800-325-0778

Credit cards The issuing companies as soon as possible

Mastercard, contact issuing financial institution

VISA, contact issuing financial institution

American Express, 1-800-441-0519

Discover, 1-800-DISCOVER (1-800-347-2683), TDD/TTY 1-800-347-7449

Titles to deeds - Records department of the area in which the property is located

Stocks and bonds - Issuing company or your broker

Wills - Your attorney

Income tax record - The IRS center where filed, your accountant or 1-800-829-1040

Citizenship papers - Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, 1-800-375-5283

Mortgage papers - Lending institution.