SERVPRO Cleanup & Restoration Services
Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration

Behavior of Smoke
A fire loss is very complex because of the unique behavior of smoke.  It is important to have trained technicians at the loss location.  SERVPRO franchisees know their smoke!

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows through plumbing systems, using holes around pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke will greatly affect the restoration process.

Types of Smoke
The first step at a fire scene is to calm the fears of those affected.  Next, SERVPRO tests the smoke to see which of the following types of fire took place. 

• Wet Smoke - Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary.  Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

• Dry Smoke - Fast burning at high temperatures. 

• Protein - Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes.  Extreme pungent odor.

• Fuel Oil Soot - Furnace puff backs cause fuel oil soot.

• Other Types - Tear gas, fingerprint powder, and fire extinguisher residue are other types.

Pretesting
After the type of smoke is known, pretesting on the property is performed to determine the following:

• What can be restored versus what can be replaced
• The most effective cleaning method
• Conditions to the property before the damage occurred
• The full extent of the loss
• Eliminate needless replacements

Pretesting also allows the SERVPRO Professional to focus on saving precious items for you, and that is what really matters!

SERVPRO Cleanup & Restoration Services
Water Removal

SERVPRO franchise professionals have the equipment and experience necessary to handle the most challenging situations. SERVPRO is THE one-stop water damage treatment company whose franchisees can respond to 24-hour emergency calls. Virtually all SERVPRO franchise offices nationwide are equipped with hotlines to facilitate quick response to water damage calls. Prompt action by experienced restorers makes a difference in mitigating structural damage to property.SERVPRO franchise technicians concentrate on safely drying, deodorizing and disinfecting the areas flooded or damaged by water. Franchise crews are available around-the-clock to help minimize water damage to walls, floors and ceilings. The SERVPRO advantage combines our franchisee’s professional know-how with state-of-the-art equipment and products.
 

Equipment:

• Powerful truck mounted and portable extraction units perform efficient water removal.
• Heavy-duty submersible and gas-powered pumps are used for continuous pumping of high level water.
• Moisture detectors, hygrometers and other meters measure the extent of moisture saturation. Necessary repairs may then begin when the area is determined to be free of excess moisture.

Sanitizing Agents, Germicides, & Anti-Microbial Treatments:

• Deodorization products control odors emanating  from microorganisms which flourish in excessive moisture
• Disinfection products arrest the growth of bacteria, fungi, mildew, and other harmful microorganisms

Hi-Tech Drying Equipment

• Industry-grade dehumidifiers reduce humidity levels, producing dry air and minimizing secondary water damage to contents and materials.
• High-speed air movers create airflow across walls, carpets, pads, and furniture, evaporating moisture.
• Drying equipment controls temperature and humidity, helping prevent swelling and warping of floors, walls, and furniture.

SERVPRO Cleanup & Restoration Services
Dehumidification

SERVPRO franchise professionals create effective drying situations. Dehumidification can save property owners, businesses, and insurance companies money in restoration and replacement costs, as well as the costs of downtime and delayed production schedules.

The dehumidifiers operated by SERVPRO franchisees have the power and capability of removing water and moisture from drywall, plaster, interior paint, cement floors, carpets, insulation, and basements. Drying time is reduced because SERVPRO restorers adjust the locations and types of dehumidifiers as drying conditions change. The results are exceptional and efficient.

Dehumidifiers selected for the SERVPRO franchise system are capable of reducing high humidity and moisture levels to normal levels quickly. Moisture that is not removed through extraction must be removed by dehumidification to prevent further permanent damage. Air is circulated over and under surfaces, causing the moisture to evaporate into the air.

Warmer air is capable of holding more moisture, so the warm, dry air from the dehumidifier collects the moisture from the air. The dehumidifier condenses the collected water vapor back into water, pumps it out, and continues to circulate dry air within the building.

SERVPRO franchise professionals apply their understanding of how relative humidity, temperature, vapor pressure, and air movement influence drying conditions. This “know-how” is important for handling the moisture damage efficiently. The unsurpassed quality of SERVPRO dehumidifiers and the capable experience of SERVPRO franchise technicians combine to handle any water damage situation. You'll see!

SERVPRO Cleanup & Restoration Services
Mold Mitigation & Remediation

Concerns of Mold

Intrusion of water into your home or place of business is an out of the ordinary event. This could result from broken water pipes or water heaters, sump pump failure or from long-standing leaks. Organic materials found inside a building, such as wood, paper, drywall, and some types of insulation, provide food sources for molds (given an adequate amount of moisture) to flourish.

A water damage, if left unattended for any period of time, may lead to mold growth. People may experience health effects associated with exposure to mold in damp buildings, according to a two-year study by the Institute of Medicine. These health effects may include a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, congestion, aggravation of asthma, sore throat, or inflammation of the sinus.

Concerns are more likely to arise when "at risk" individuals are exposed to mold growth. "At risk" people can include immune suppressed or compromised individuals, young children, and individuals with chronic inflammatory lung diseases such as asthma and severe allergies.

Dealing with Mold

SERVPRO franchise professionals handle water damages every day. Prompt action is required to prevent new mold growth. If your property has sustained a recent water damage, it is vital to have the water removed and the structure dried promptly.

When excessive mold contaminates a building, remediators follow five principles in dealing with the mold:

Principle 1: Provide for health and safety.
Since moldy buildings are associated with health problems, remediators protect the health of workers and occupants. Some work practices prevent workers from exposure as they disturb the mold during cleanup. Other work practices prevent mold from spreading to occupied areas of the building.

Principle 2: Document conditions and processes.
Remediators record conditions in the building such as the extent of the contamination and the amount of moisture saturation. Once remediation is completed, an independent indoor environmental professional may record that mold in the building is returned to normal conditions.

Principle 3: Control the mold contaminant at its source.
Work practices aim at keeping mold contamination from becoming airborne and then spreading from the source to clean areas. This reduces the amount of airborne mold that workers are exposed to. It also makes the process of removing mold more efficient.

Principle 4: Remove contamination.
Once mold has grown beyond normal levels, the most effective solution is to remove the excess mold contamination. This may be accomplished by physically removing materials damaged by growing mold, by vacuuming excessive mold spores into HEPA filters, and by damp wiping soiled surfaces with detergent cleaning products.

Priniciple 5: Correct the moisture problem.
This is the key to dealing with mold. Stop the source of moisture that initially contributed to mold growth. Even the best cleanup efforts will not keep mold from returning if a building continues to have moisture problems.

SERVPRO Cleanup & Restoration Services
Air Ducts/HVAC Cleaning

Since the ventilation system is often the biggest culprit in poor indoor air quality, inspecting the ductwork should be the first order of business.  In most cases, this system has been operating for some time without much attention.  Dirty ducts can circulate odors, contaminates like mold, and irritating dust throughout your building or home.

Duct Cleaning Is Not Always the Best Answer

Why waste money on unnecessary duct cleaning?  SERVPRO franchise professionals can inspect your HVAC system and ductwork, and make recommendations about the best way to address any indoor air quality concerns.  In circumstances such as after a fire, smoke, or suspected mold damage, duct cleaning is important in the cleanup process.

SERVPRO's System is Cost Effective

Unlike the majority of duct cleaning services, SERVPRO franchise professionals use a Portable Ventilation & Air Duct Cleaning System to examine ductwork and make a clean sweep, removing years of dust and grime.

A routine part of SERVPRO's professional service is inspecting the Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning unit.  Having a clean HVAC system and ductwork can potentially extend the life span of the equipment by allowing it to operate at peak condition, saving you money.

SERVPRO Cleanup & Restoration Services
Carpets and Upholstery

Carpeting and area rugs will need a deep-down thorough cleaning after a smoke or fire damage. Residue from smoke or soot will settle on the fibers and be ground in every time someone walks on them.

In most situations, SERVPRO will do a Showcase Method of cleaning to be sure your carpet is free of all smoke residue. The Showcase Method consists of gently agitating the carpet fibers with a machine that applies a highly-effective detergent and then rinsing the carpet with a top-of-the-line water extraction unit. As an added benefit, the carpet will also be deodorized, leaving a fresh scent.

Whether you require wall-to-wall carpet cleaning or restoration and cleaning of an expensive oriental rug, SERVPRO franchisees are specialists at cleaning all types of carpet fibers.

SERVPRO Cleanup & Restoration Services
Ceiling and Wall Cleaning

"Will my ceilings and walls ever be the same?" We hear this question frequently after a smoke or fire damage. There are no shortcuts to doing the job right. Using SERVPRO's recommended industry standard steps and materials, your ceilings, walls, and woodwork.  Our franchises strive to restore to pre-loss condition. 

Your SERVPRO franchise professional will pre-test to analyze the extent of the damage. SERVPRO franchises can save you money by expertly cleaning lighter soot without the expense of repainting. When there are higher concentrations of soot, SERVPRO franchise professionals can clean the area with specific techniques to prepare the surface for smooth repainting.

SERVPRO franchisees know you want the appearance of your home returned to the way it was before the damage occurred, like it never even happened.^® Our franchisees work to make sure the cleaning and painting can be done in a manner that preserves the value of your home.

SERVPRO Cleanup & Restoration Services
Deodorization

After a fire or smoke damage occurs, the odor will linger in the affected areas unless treated.  The SERVPRO franchise professional is skilled in detecting and removing odors due to smoke, mildew, pets, urine, cigars, and more.  We know that not every odor is good or bad.  SERVPRO franchise professionals neutralize the odor that YOU consider to be unpleasant.

Odors can come from many different sources.  Odors can require more than one method of deodorization.  However, no matter what the odor situation, the same fundamental principles apply in order to deodorize.

1. Remove the odor source and debris.
2. Clean surfaces that have odor-causing residues on them.
3. Recreate conditions which caused odor penetration.
4. Seal surfaces exposed to malodors.

At SERVPRO, we know that an odor is not REALLY gone until you tell us.  However, we are confident our franchisees' techniques, equipment, and professional cleaning products will do the job!

Servpro of Greensburg

607 Ludwick Street
Greensburg, PA 15601
Phone 724-837-8830
servpro9007@verizon.net
 

HISTORY:

SERVPRO OF GREENSBURG is a Fire and Water Restoration Franchise independently owned and operated by Fiato Enterprises L.L.C. Established in May 2003 with 3 Associates. We have successfully developed a reputation of providing 24/7 quick response to emergency services and quality work. Currently 18 Associates are dedicated to insuring that our customer is of the “Utmost Importance”!

MISSION STATEMENT:

Our customers will ALWAYS be of the "Utmost Importance"! We will be the "Leader in the field", providing total communications, quick response, and quality work striving for the reputation of having integrity beyond reproach.