What You Can Do If You Find Mold In Your New Orleans Home or Business!

10/27/2022 (Permalink)

Our New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City team is trained and certified to restore mold outbreaks by the Institute for Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) in El Paso, TX. We have the training, equipment, and experience to restore areas compromised by mold quickly and efficiently. Here are some mold damage emergency tips from our website for things you can do and should not do while waiting for help to arrive:

What to Do

• Stay out of affected areas
• Turn off the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and fans
• Contact our Southeast El Paso office for mold remediation services

What Not to Do

• Don’t touch or disturb the mold
• Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth
• Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself
• Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold

Call Us!

When you discover a mold problem in your New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City commercial business, our team is available to help! We’ll clean and restore the mold damage “Like it never even happened.” Contact us today.

How Can Mold Damage Your Business?

10/25/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO understands how mold can affect your business and the importance of stopping and preventing it.  Mold is a type of fungi (it’s not a mushroom) that is found outside as well as indoors.  Mold can be found in multiple colors, but the most common are black and green.

How does mold get in?  It gets in very easily.  It can float through the air right through a door or window, as well as attach itself to clothing or other things that are traveling around.  Once the mold is established, it will continue to release spores into the air so that it can spread (insert horror movie music here) all through the building.

Depending on the type of business that the mold finds itself in, it will always find something to do.  The best case scenario, if you have mold, is that it might put off a “musty” (you’ll know it when it happens) odor that spreads throughout the building.  On the other end is allowing the mold to get to the point where it starts damaging the structure.  Imagine the inside of your office walls covered with so much mold that they can’t be repaired and have to be destroyed entirely.  If you are in the food production business, mold can be your worst nightmare.  It can contaminate the food in your coolers and dry storage, not to mention the list of boxes that the Health Department just checked off on your business (not a good thing).

Let the professionals at SERVPRO of New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City help with your mold remediation.

Keeping the Air Ducts at Work Clean!

10/6/2022 (Permalink)

Air duct cleaning is an important cleaning service for homeowners. Air duct cleaning means having all your duct systems, including the supply, intake, and return vents cleaned using professional air duct cleaning equipment. In addition, air duct cleaning may also include cleaning the registers, grilles, fans, the HVAC unit, and cleaning the furnace if you have one.

If not properly installed, maintained, and operated, these components may become contaminated with particles of dust, pollen, or other debris. 

Ventilation systems are often the biggest culprit in poor indoor air quality. Make it a priority to inspect the ductwork of your business.

If your HVAC has been operating for some time without attention, it could be circulating one or more of the following:

• Dust
• Pollen
• Odors
• Dirt and debris

The benefits of servicing your HVAC unit include:

• Helps to restore peak energy efficiency.
• It May help to eliminate offensive odors.
• Helps reduce the potential for mold growth.

For more information on HVAC and air duct cleaning, call us today!

Commercial Duct Cleaning | SERVPRO of New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City

1/17/2022 (Permalink)

The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system in a commercial building serves an important function. The HVAC system brings in heating and cooling throughout your facility. As any employer knows, it’s important to keep your employees comfortable and happy. Regular cleaning of your HVAC ducts is an important maintenance measure in your building. Here’s why:

Having your air ducts cleaned decreases the number of airborne particles in your building. As air passes through the HVAC system, contaminants such as dust and pollen accumulate in the ducts. An excessive amount of these substances can cause allergies for some.

Frequent changing of filters helps control this problem, but some particles get past the filters. Duct cleaning reduces the amount of these fine particulates in the system, leaving you with healthier air. We use specialized tools to agitate the dust from the duct walls, and a HEPA-filtered vacuum unit to collect it from your system.

Air Duct Cleaning Conserves Energy

A clean HVAC system simply works more efficiently than a dirty one. If properly and thoroughly cleaned, it can reduce the costs of running your HVAC system. It can also increase the useful life of your air conditioner and furnace. Performing routine commercial air duct cleaning can help improve airflow, help your system to work more effectively, and use less energy.

SERVPRO of New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City specializes in cleaning commercial and industrial air ducts. Call our office today to set up your free estimate at (504) 468-3047.

Preventing Water Damage In Your New Orleans Business

1/5/2022 (Permalink)

A water-related event can be financially devastating to your New Orleans business. A burst pipe can cause your business to close and the lost revenue and the cost of repairs could be devastating.   

If your commercial business or non-profit experiences water damage, contact SERVPRO of New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City to quickly mitigate the damage.  While insurance plays a crucial role in lessening the financial impact, it is best to prevent the disaster from happening at all. The following tips will help protect your business from water disasters.

1. Insulate exposed pipes

Properly insulating pipes is the best way to prevent frozen pipes. Dropping temperatures and wind can freeze water inside pipes causing the pipe to burst. 

2. Seal cracks and gaps

Keeping cold air out and warm air in helps to make your home or commercial building more energy-efficient and reduces the risk of frozen pipes.  Use caulk, sealants, and weather stripping to seal cracks, gaps, and holes in your building's exterior and foundation.

3. Keep heat at sufficient levels

Keeping the thermostat above 50 degrees, even if the building is vacant is crucial. Nighttime temperatures can be significantly colder than daytime temperatures. These differences in temperature increase the risk of freezing pipes.  

4. Inspect gutters and drainage

Leaves and debris can cause water damage to the exterior and interior walls of your home or business. Having a professional clean the gutters will help ensure water drains properly and away from your home or business.

SERVPRO of  New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City should be your first choice for any residential or commercial restoration.  Our team of professionals is trained to assess the damage, identify potential threats, respond quickly to extract the water, and restore your property to preloss condition.  SERVPRO of  New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City is available 24/7 by calling (504) 732-9597.

How To Maximize Recovery After a Partial Loss

10/31/2021 (Permalink)

A commercial fire can be devastating, both financially and structurally, as it often results in the triple threat of fire, water, and smoke damage. Not only is the area where the fire most likely damaged, but so can other areas of the building due to traveling smoke and soot through the vents. Try following the next steps in order to maximize your recovery and get your business back up and running. 

• Call in New Orleans fire restoration team to perform a thorough inspection and document damage.
• Document everything that was damaged or destroyed, even if you're not sure it's worth documenting.
• To the best of your ability, check for mold, smoke, soot, and other irritants. Our team can handle anywhere that is too difficult for you to handle.

Most insurance adjusters won't accept a fire loss claim without the findings of a thorough inspection.  You must call in a licensed contractor who can walk through your building and inspect the roof, structure, siding, windows, insulation and plumbing, and HVAC systems. The contractor can provide an official report that itemizes damages and losses. This is called an adjusters report.

Most insurance companies are required to cover mold, smoke, or soot restoration, so long as the damage was from the recent disaster. Have your inspector check for any irritants so that you can request remediation.

In the event some things are not covered you are able to claim unreimbursed losses on your tax returns. 

It is important to have a professional mitigation team on speed dial to handle any disasters your business may face.

Commercial Mold Removal

10/31/2021 (Permalink)

Finding mold in your NOLA business is frustrating and can be scary for many. Understanding the mold removal process and getting the right help are keys to a faster recovery.

When it comes to mold growth, every situation is different. In most cases, the remediation process takes three to seven days. Depending on the location and extent of damage, it may require moving operations off-site during the cleanup. Once an inspection and assessment are completed, you can have the following expectations for mold removal:

• Technicians will be outfitted with safety gear, including a face mask, goggles, gloves, and protective suit (PPE).
• The affected area will be sealed off with a containment barrier, ensuring spores don’t spread to unaffected areas.
• Unsalvageable materials will be removed, such as portions of drywall, insulation, and baseboards.
• Surface areas are treated to kill the mold.
• After physical removal, high-tech air scrubbers or other tools are used to clean the air of any potential spores.
• A sealer or encapsulant may be used to increase resistance to black mold and water damage, as well as control odors.

Knowing that mold may easily return if not properly taken care of, finding the right help is essential. If the damage is extensive, it's best to find a certified remediation and restoration company. That ensures they are up to date on the latest standards and processes. It is also important to verify that their technicians are also certified. Contact us and we can help you through any mold-related issues you are having.

Commercial Fire Drill Tips

10/7/2021 (Permalink)

Most companies require yearly fire drills in order to ensure safety and follow fire department guidelines. Many employees and managers dislike fire drills due to the interruption during the day. However, these drills could save lives at some point. 

Here are some tips to follow to help with fire drill seriousness. 

Always take them seriously. Leading by example is a great way to get employees on board. Also having drills without warning will allow for employees to take them more seriously. 

Prepare your team ahead of time. Before there ever is an actual drill, make sure employees know what the fire plan is. Especially if you work in a high-rise building, making sure employees know where exits and emergency starewells are is important. 

For employees that could be dealing with customers during a fire drill, provide them with a few bullet points they can use during their conversation.For example, due to a local emergency, the call must be disconnected and we will return your call once we are back.

If your business experiences a fire, we have the resources in order to mitigate both fire-damaged items and smoke-damaged items. We can get your employees back into the office in no time. 

Commercial Relationships Are Important To Us

10/1/2021 (Permalink)

While we deal with Hurricane Ida's aftermath we are reminded of the importance of customer relationships. During the year our Sales team likes to make sure our customers are informed about who we are, and what services we perform. 

More often than not we receive calls from previous customers or customers who found out about us after learning about our services from a friend or family member. We always make sure to have a quick response time but calling on our sales team directly often expedites services. 

On top of that, clients who have an ERP, are often able to have mitigation services done ASAP. Because the ERP lets us know points of contact, and information about the building, we are able to perform services quickly. This saves our clients time and money!

If you’re responsible for the upkeep of a business or building, give us a call and allow us to help develop an Emergency Ready Plan to keep you one step ahead!

Fire Risks At Your NOLA Business

1/15/2021 (Permalink)

Offices across the United States suffer from fires more often than you think. A fire in the workplace is devastating to not only employees but also the business owner. Depending on how large the fire is, if you are not prepared, the likelihood of recovering can lower. Educating your New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City employees on common fire risks and ensuring they follow protocol can help minimize fires.

Damaged Power Cords

Because offices are jampacked with computers, phones, printers, kitchen appliances, and more, over time the electrical system can become overwhelmed. This can cause electrical shock which can result in a spark or fire starting. To avoid this from happening, check on your electrical panels regularly and make sure no wires are corroded. 

Dust

If your office is not regularly being cleaned, dust is accumulating. When dust builds up on wood, metal, and plastic it can become a fire hazard. Items that heat up such as computers, microwaves, and wires should always be kept dust-free.

Combustible Materials

Offices often have many papers, boxes, furnishing, and packaging lying around. All of these items can cause a fire to spread quicker than normal. Although many items are important to the daily functions of the office, try to keep it as tidy and minimal as possible. Fireproof furniture and desks should also be considered for the purposes of limiting what gets damaged and how fast the fire spreads.

Computers

Most offices have one computer per employee. Depending on how many employees you have, those can all be fire hazards. Employees should ensure they are not letting their computers overheat, or leaving laptops on materials that can catch fire if the laptop heats up too much. All employees should shut down their computers daily, and especially on the weekend.

After learning of all the fire hazards present in offices, it is important to have a plan. SERVPRO of New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City offers an Emergency Ready Profile which allows for us to start mitigation sooner to get you back into your building quicker. Call us today to get one up!

Commercial Mold Containment with SERVPRO of New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City

1/6/2021 (Permalink)

When your New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City business faces mold contamination, our professionals are here to help! We have a very specific process to contain the mold from spreading to other areas of your business to protect it. Here are some things you might want to know about our containment! 

Containment is important because mold can very easily spread. When there is mold present often times we need to remove drywall and flooring, and the mold spores can travel through the air. The containment will keep any rogue spores in the area that is already affected.

Containment prevents further mold contamination, by creating a barrier between the affected area and the rest of your home. In most cases, this is achieved by the use of plastic sheeting which should block the space from the rest of the home and sealing off air vents., Our team will also set up a fan that exhausts outside the home to create a negative pressure zone which should prevent mold from becoming airborne. 

While working in the contained area, our professionals will wear protective safety gear to help prevent tracking spores outside of containment. This may include clothing and shoe covered where are only worn in the workspace and then are removed before going anywhere else.

If you suspect you have a mold problem, give SERVPRO of New Orleans a call!

Recover & Reopen Your Business After a Disaster | SERVPRO® of New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City

10/30/2020 (Permalink)

Building up your own business is an extremely rewarding thing, but when it comes to the possibility of a natural disaster, the future is never certain. Many businesses are permanently derailed by disasters annually due to the difficult task of recovery—but thankfully, risks can be significantly mitigated by planning in advance for how you will recover.

Safety is always the top concern when it comes to preparing your business for the worst, but once your safety plans are in place, you can begin thinking about the physical recovery process. Handling insurance, restoration, communications, and applying for disaster assistance can all work together to get your doors reopened faster so you can get back to business.

Get Your Doors Reopened Faster After a Disaster Strikes Your Business

Check in with your insurance and restoration providers. There are many things that might be covered on your commercial policy, but because each one differs, it is best to check with your provider to know for sure. Once you do this, it is time for the restoration to begin—contact your commercial restoration provider quickly so they can begin formulating a response for you.

Make customers aware of the recovery plan. It is smart to get in touch with your customers right away after a disaster so they are aware of what to expect. Social media can provide a simple way to reach people quickly, and can give you the chance to promote any ways that customers can support you during the closure, such as buying gift cards or pre-purchasing items online to help your revenue during a difficult time.

See what disaster assistance you qualify for. After an official disaster event is declared, there will be many resources available to business owners such as disaster recovery loans from the Small Business Administration. These loans tend to be easy to qualify for, carry low-interest rates, and can be used for many different expenses that a business owner may incur throughout the recovery process.

If your business has been damaged due to a disaster, we’re here to help. Contact us at any hour to report your damage or to learn more about our commercial restoration services.

If The Levee Breaks You Need The Team At SERVPRO To Help Save Your New Orleans Department Store!

10/28/2020 (Permalink)

One of the most severe situations that New Orleans residents can face is the sheer force of hurricanes and their destructive nature on the structures and communities throughout our service area. As our residents saw with Hurricane Katrina, these same destructive forces can cause devastation to multiple properties simultaneously when the force and power of the storm break through levees. These levee breaks can quickly affect miles of properties, including your department store near the French Quarter.

With levee breaks, so many properties get affected all at once by storm and flood damages in New Orleans. Your department store has a substantial investment at risk by the rising and rushing waters, and you need a crew that can arrive quickly to help you protect this investment. Our SERVPRO Contents Department has the experience to remove at-risk items from flooded or flooding properties to protect them until it is safe to return them after restoration completes.

Often with substantial catastrophes like what our area saw with Katrina and the breaking of levees, there is no stopping the water flooding the area from infiltrating your business and affecting construction materials and the remaining contents. Most often, business owners must wait until the water settles enough for extraction and drying efforts to be effective. Our SERVPRO professionals can work quickly at this time with truck-mounted extraction pumps, offering a powerful 300 psi removal.

Our franchise offers comprehensive restoration services in the event of flooding throughout our area. With so much of the city and its surrounding communities well below sea level, many properties ultimately get affected by levee breaks. Our licensed contracting division can help with the demolition of unsalvageable construction and efficient rebuilding services to return your building to its former condition.

While you cannot always expect levees to break and flood the city, knowing what to do and whom to call in such a disaster is critical to protecting the investment you have made in your store. Give our SERVPRO of New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City rapid response team a call anytime disaster strikes at 504.468.3047

Click here for more about New Orleans.

COVID-19 Proofing your NOLA Business

10/1/2020 (Permalink)

Not every business gets the luxury of working from home during the COVID-19 Pandemic, especially if your business thrives on customers. Routine cleaning of your business is essential to limiting guests, and employees to exposure. Follow these tips to sanitize your space!

Start by educating workers, and developing policies for worker protection. This can include enforcing masks, and having a policy if workers start to feel ill. When cleaning your establishment, wear disposable gloves and start with plain soap and water and then use a disinfectant. Soap and water will reduce the number of germs and following with disinfectant will kill germs. Make sure to focus on high touch surfaces. These include but are not limited to: 

• Tables
• Doorknobs
• Light switches 
• Countertops
• Handles
• Desks
• Phones
• Keyboards
• Toilets
• Faucets
• Sinks

If an employee or customer has tested positive for COVID-19 it is best to let the professionals take care of the sanitizing. SERVPRO® of New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City offers a defensive pathogen cleaning program, that goes way beyond standard janitorial cleaning practices. We will tailor the program based on the need of your facility and use an EPA- Approved Hospital-Grade solution to decontaminate. Once completed you can be sure your business is Certified: SERVPRO® Cleaned. You will get a Certified: SERVPRO® Cleaned shield to place in your front window to let employees and customers know your business is committed to keeping everyone safe and comfortable.

If you are interested in our commercial cleaning services or want to learn more about our CDC complement Certified: SERVPRO® Cleaned program, contact us!  

Carpet Cleaning for Your Commercial Business

10/1/2020 (Permalink)

Although most commercial carpets are made for durability, dirt and debris will still build up over time in them because of all the foot-traffic. Maintaining regular cleaning will be beneficial to your carpet because once a carpet gets too soiled, it may never be restored to its original appearance. 

Preventative maintenance actions include: 

• Regular vacuuming
• Spot removal
• Pilating the carpet to prevent matting
• Moving furniture to change traffic patterns
• Using walk-off mats to limit the amount of soil tracked onto the carpet

Even when you follow preventive maintenance actions, carpets will still have dirt trapped below the surface that you cannot see with the eye, especially in dark carpets. Carpets act as a filter trapping gasses, hair, dirt, and dust. Did you know that 79% of soil in carpets is dry soil? To reduce that percentage, a good rule of thumb to maintain your carpet’s original state is to get it professionally cleaned once a year. Protect your businesses investment by having it cleaned by SERVPRO of New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City. 

Because each carpet can slightly vary, we offer a number of options to keep your carpet and upholstery brand new. Here is our range of specialized cleaning methods:

• Bonnet Cleaning: A less aggressive method for short piled carpets.
• Hot Water Extraction: A deeper cleaning method for all carpet types.
• Deluxe Precondition and Rinse: Helps restore deeply soiled areas.
• Showcase Premier Cleaning: The most thorough cleaning method in the industry.
• Dry Cleaning: When color-fastness is an issue.

For a cleaning backed by state-of-the-art equipment, over 40 years of experience, and Professionals trained to the highest standards, call SERVPRO of New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City today to schedule an appointment. 

Do You Have a Funky Smell In Your Condo?

1/8/2020 (Permalink)

Get rid of those funky smells and call SERVPRO® of New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City! 504-468-3047

Do you have a new tenant moving in, but can't get rid of a funky smell? Well have no fear SERVPRO® of New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City is here! 

You may be dealing with some unpleasant odors in your condo. Funky smells from pets, foods, cigarette smoke or just plain old grime can make life in a small-sized living space truly unbearable. As renovation and home repair experts, here at SERVPRO® of New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City we have a lot of experience in handling interior odor situations. Today, we would like to list some tips for you that can help you when deodorizing your condominium. 

• Clean every surface, including behind your refrigerator and stove, and consider replacing your shower liner, bed linens, and mattress pad, too. Pantries and vanities can often hold old food and products that emit smells due to their age, so purging these items can really help. 
• Make sure you clean fabrics like drapes, throw pillows, and zippered upholstery according to their cleaning instructions. Any rugs or carpeting should be professionally cleaned for a fresh start. SERVPRO® of New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City employs all the necessary equipment for deep carpet-cleaning. 
• A fresh coat of paint can also go a long way toward making your condominium smell and feel like new. Clean and flat neutral colors will make your condo seem larger, as well.
• Pet odor has become the most common problem stinking up people’s homes, and has actually surpassed cigarette smoke! People smoke in their homes less often these days because they don’t want their furniture to soak in the smell. Smoke-free condominiums have a premium over smokers’ units, so your property manager will really appreciate your choice to smoke outside, too. When it comes to your pets, make sure they are using the proper facilities for their needs, and make sure to empty the litter box daily to help deodorize your condominium. 

In a smoker’s residence, there can be instances where the smell becomes so entrenched that the sheetrock of walls has to be redone to avoid the home being completely devalued. If that is a possibility in your case, SERVPRO® of New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City can help you to deodorize your condominium. We specialize in carpet cleaning and large scale cleanups.

Is Your Business Properly Prepared?

1/3/2020 (Permalink)

Get SERVPRO® ready and protect your business the smart way!

When a disaster strikes the time to prepare has passed. Don’t be one of the 60% of businesses to not have a formal emergency response plan. Roughly 80% of businesses are likely to go out of business if they do not recover after a disaster within a months’ time, and 50% of businesses never reopen. The best way to protect your company is to have a solid game plan. Is your business prepared for a natural disaster to hit?

Well you are in luck; SERVPRO® of New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City is here to help! We have been working with local business to ensure that they will not fall victim to these statistics.

SERVPRO® has an amazing program called the EMERGENCY READY PROFILE. This program aids property managers and owners, both residential and commercial to be prepared for a disaster to hit.

We will walk you step by step to help you put together an EMERGENCY READY PROFILE. We will help you identify and label utility shut-off locations, identify local utility contact information, identify local emergency contact information such as fire, police, and hospital contacts, and establish main internal contacts for purposes of employee safety and emergency work authorization.

For more information please contact SERVPRO® of New Orleans Uptown & Mid-City 504-468-3047

We provide 24-hour emergency service and have the training and expertise to handle your restoration and cleaning needs. "Like it never even happened."