Celebrate Safely This 4th of July

7/2/2024 (Permalink)

Celebrate safely this 4th of July! But should disaster strike, call SERVPRO of North Hollywood for the fastest fire damage restoration service.

Do you have big plans for the 4th of July? Cookouts, campouts, and, of course, fireworks can make for a memorable holiday. With a heat wave and a red flag warning hitting Los Angeles, please take precautions when celebrating with anything flammable.

BBQ Safety Tips

Cooking out on the barbecue is a great way to serve a delicious holiday meal. But you'll want to fully extinguish the heat before you turn in for the night. And if you're cooking with charcoal instead of gas, take extra care when disposing of the ashes.

Did you know grilling injuries send almost 20,000 people to the hospital each year? Grills also cause over 10 thousand home fires annually. To reduce your risk, heed these tips for safer grilling this 4th of July.

Fire Pit Safety Tips

If you're camping out over the holiday, you might also gather around the fire pit for s'mores and conversation. Like barbecues, you must ensure your fire is completely snuffed out before hitting the sack.

But wildfires are already burning in parts of Los Angeles County. And with red flag conditions (dry heat and gusty winds) a threat, the safe choice may be to avoid open flames completely. If you do choose to light one over the holiday, follow these fire pit safety tips to reduce your risk of sparking a wildfire.

Fireworks Safety Tips

Last, but not least, most of us are looking forward to celebrating the 4th with fireworks. Your best bet, of course, is to watch the fireworks from a safe distance set off by professionals around the city. Remember, many types of fireworks are illegal in Los Angeles County. If not outright banned, only fireworks deemed "safe and sane" may be permitted, and only in certain areas. If caught with illegal fireworks, you can be fined up to $50,000 and face a year in jail. But even if you're using "safe and sane" ones, where permitted, you'll still want to take precautions to enjoy fireworks safely.

Fire Damage? Call SERVPRO!

Still, even when you do everything right, anything involving fire is a risk. Be sure to keep our emergency number, (818) 754-0050, handy in the event disaster strikes. The SERVPRO NOHO team will be working this 4th of July, and every holiday, with a fast response to anywhere in Los Angeles. From boarding up and securing your property to cleaning up the smoke smell and soot and restoring damaged areas, we'll make fire damage "Like it never even happened!"

What to Do Before, During & After a Wildfire

7/7/2022 (Permalink)

Wildfires can be a devastating disaster for homes and businesses across L.A. Stay safe, and call SERVPRO NoHo for fast cleanup & restoration service!

Hundreds of wildfires burn millions of acres across California every year. If you own a home or business in Los Angeles, they’re a fact of life, especially during the dry summer months. But although wildfires are unpredictable and dangerous, that doesn’t make property damage from the fire, smoke, and soot inevitable. A wildfire can spark without warning, so it is important that you know what to do before, during, and after one to protect your property and loved ones.

What should you do BEFORE a wildfire?

• Know your fire risk. The closer you are to campgrounds, parks, and heavily wooded areas like the Hollywood Hills or the Verdugo Mountains, the higher your risk.
• Have an evacuation plan. Local fire departments may require you to evacuate your home or business to assist them in containing the flames. Store important documents like passports, birth, and marriage records in easily portable or fire-resistant containers. Have a “go” bag ready with first aid supplies, water, non-perishable food, and clothing. Know how you will contact and where you will meet up with family members.
• Clear brush and other flammable materials. Create a defensible space around your property by clearing dead vegetation off your roof, deck, and patio. Consider planting fire-resistant plants, replacing mulch with stone or gravel, and storing flammable materials like paints, firewood, and furniture away from inhabited buildings. Remember: it takes just seconds for dry grass and trees to ignite and threaten nearby structures!

What should you do DURING a wildfire?

If you are at home or work during a wildfire, stay alert to changing conditions and heed advisories. If the fire is moving towards your community, follow evacuation orders and leave quickly enough to stay safe.

If you are not under an evacuation order:

• Stay indoors and close all windows and doors.
• While not ideal if it’s hot outside, turn off air conditioning units so they don’t blow smoke and ash into your home.
• Keep a list of emergency contact numbers handy in case of a power outage or loss of cellular service due to damaged power lines and towers.
• Most importantly, stay away from fire-affected areas! First responders don’t need to be worried about your safety or delayed from getting where they need to go by civilian onlookers.

What should you do AFTER a wildfire?

First and foremost, heed the instructions of your local fire department and DO NOT reenter your property until they deem it safe to do so.

If your property was damaged by the flames, you have soot and ash covering your structure or inside it, or the smell of smoke is permeating the building, call SERVPRO of North Hollywood. The sooner our fire damage restoration team is able to get on-site to inspect and mitigate the damage, the better our chances of restoring your property to its preloss condition. We can also provide board-up services to protect your property and prevent further damage from graffiti, theft, or squatters.

Wildfires can be one of Los Angeles’ most devastating natural disasters. Being prepared can help protect you, your family, and your property from fire damage. But in the event of a fire damage emergency, remember the name SERVPRO NoHo. Call us 24/7 for an immediate response and let us help you restore your property “Like it never even happened.”

What to Do When Your Home is Flooded

6/6/2022 (Permalink)

If you don't want your home to look like this, call SERVPRO NoHo for fast flood damage cleanup and restoration service in Los Angeles.

Many homeowners are unhappy when they find out they have water damage in their home. The first step in remediating water damage is to contact SERVPRO of North Hollywood. SERVPRO franchises specialize in water damage restoration, and SERVPRO of North Hollywood has over 15 years' experience in cleaning up and restoring water, fire and mold damage to homes and businesses. In the event of a crawl space, basement or bathroom flood, "SERVPRO NoHo" has the expertise and resources to assist you in drying out your home and getting it back to a livable condition. This post will discuss what you should do if your home is flooded and how to get help from SERVPRO NoHo when you need it.

What’s the first thing you should do if your home is flooded?

First, if it is safe to do so, you should check for the source of the water. If the source is a plumbing leak, you should turn off the main valve and shut off the water. If the source is a rainstorm, there may not be anything you can do to stop the water until the rain stops. But you can cover furniture and valuables with a tarp or waterproof material or move them to a dry place. You can also collect water in buckets and lay down towels to soak up the water and minimize the damage. If possible, you may also want to cut the electricity to the affected area to reduce the risk of a short that can spark a fire.

Do you have flooding insurance?

There are many things to think about when your home suffers water damage from flooding, but one of the first things you’ll need to answer is whether or not your insurance will cover the drying, repair and restoration process. Did you know that flood damage is often not covered by many homeowners’ policies? You often need a separate flooding policy or rider. On the other hand, so long as the damage isn’t a result of your negligence and is considered accidental, your standard homeowner’s insurance policy should cover other types of water damage. But if you’re not sure, a quick call to your insurance provider should be able to answer your question.

P.S. If you’re a renter, we recommend renter’s insurance. Depending on the cause of the damage, your landlord may or may not be liable for replacing your personal property in the event of a flood. While it won’t cover the repairs to any damage the flood causes to the property itself (walls, floors, ceiling etc.), renter’s insurance will help protect you and ensure that your furniture and other possessions can be replaced if necessary.

What should I do if I’m not insured?

Well, frankly, you should be. SERVPRO NoHo highly recommends homeowner’s and/or renter’s coverage for water damage. Indeed, we work directly with insurance to streamline the recovery process. But if you don’t have coverage, you’re at risk of having to pay the entire cost of repairing or replacing your property out of pocket. It’s not uncommon for the water damage restoration process alone to cost upwards of $2,500 depending on the extent of the damage.

That said, if you’re in the middle of a flooding emergency and aren’t sure about your insurance situation, SERVPRO of North Hollywood is here to help you. We’ll come out to your home to inspect, estimate the cost and mitigate the damage. We can work with you on paying the cost to fix the damage and get things back to normal as soon as possible.

When should I call in the professionals?

There are many things that you can do to minimize the water damage and make the clean-up process easier. But many property owners don't realize the severity of the damage and end up waiting too long to call for help. As soon as you are able to stop the flow of water, whether by taking mitigation measures yourself or by calling a local plumber, it’s time to give the professionals of SERVPRO NoHo a call.

Our team is here to help you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We respond quickly and can be on-site to many areas of Los Angeles to assess the damage and begin mitigation measures in as little as one hour. Simply put, SERVPRO is the most trusted name in the restoration industry. Calling (818) 754-0050 is certainly one of the first and best steps you can take to reduce the amount of potential water and mold damage from a flooding emergency!

P.S. Are you a renter? Before calling us, you need to call your landlord or property manager. Legally, we cannot even enter your apartment without their permission. Save yourself some time and headaches and coordinate things with them first.

What can I do to speed up the drying process?

First and foremost, you can move furniture and other possessions away from the affected area. You can also remove standing water with buckets, sponges, towels and anything else that can soak it up. Last, but not least, it can help to increase the air flow by opening doors, windows and running fans.

Of course, water can still seep into places not visible to the eye. Because even a small amount of moisture can trigger mold growth or weaken and damage wood, stone and other foundational materials, it’s still important to make sure the flooded area is completely dried and disinfected. SERVPRO of North Hollywood has the advanced technology, including moisture detection units, industrial air movers, dehumidifiers and chemical disinfectants to ensure that’s the case.

How can I keep my home from flooding in the first place?

There are a number of steps you can take to reduce the risk of flooding in your home. Regular and proper maintenance of your plumbing systems, particularly hot water heaters, pipes under sinks, toilets and sewer systems can help prevent clogs, bursts and overflows.

You can also inspect windows, doors and other areas where rainwater can enter your home. Replace worn weather stripping and caulk and close off those points of entry. You should also look up and check your ceiling and walls for bubbles or water spots that can indicate an impending problem, from rainstorms, leaky air conditioners and pipes and other sources of water entering your home.

Make sure to clear out your rain gutters and downspouts. During those infrequent Los Angeles rains, you’ll want to make sure they’re doing their job directing the water away from your crawl space, basement and foundation.

Last, but not least, consider installing a sump pump, or testing it out if you already have one. Sump pumps are a valuable first line of defense against standing water in your basement, garage or crawl space.

Conclusion: Don’t panic and call SERVPRO NoHo!

Like most homeowners, you may think a flooding disaster will never happen to you. Take our advice and prepare now, because most property owners will experience a flood damage emergency at least once in their lifetime. When it does, don’t panic and call SERVPRO of North Hollywood at (818) 754-0050. We’ll make a water damage disaster “Like it never even happened.”

It Rained? Top 5 Places to Check for Water Damage on Your Property.

2/16/2022 (Permalink)

When it rains, it pours. But hopefully not into your commercial property! After the storm, check these areas for water leaks to prevent water damage.

Did you know? Mold can start growing within 24 hours following water damage from a rainstorm. The best way to prevent that is detecting and eliminating any moisture that entered your property. Because it seldom rains in Los Angeles, you may not know where or how to look for evidence of a water leak. So here are the Top 5 Place to Check for Water Damage on Your Property following a rainstorm.

1. Beneath and Around Windows
2. By Exterior Doors
3. In the Basement or Crawl Space
4. Near Ventilation Units
5. Between Walls and Siding

Now that you know where to look, what should you be looking for? Besides any obviously wet or damp areas, that is.

Around windows and exterior doors, pay close attention to the sill, molding and framework. These are places where mold goes unnoticed and can thrive because moisture may linger. Look for dry, cracked or discolored wood as signs that water is leaking into your building when it rains.

In your basement or crawl space, checking for standing water following a storm is a must. Poor drainage can damage your property's foundation if left unaddressed. This is another place where mold can grow thanks to the dark and damp conditions.

Ventilation features, like central air conditioning units or chimneys are designed to let the smoke, heat or water vapor out. But, of course, if they can let these small things escape your property, they can also let others, like water, in. Plus, while you're up on your roof, you might look for missing or damaged shingles and clogged gutters. These are two common culprits when looking for ways rainwater may leak into your home or business.

Last, but not least, you should look for signs of lingering moisture in your walls. Outside, water can slip between gaps in your siding or absorb into stucco and other porous materials. Inside, leaks from your ceiling can flow down your drywall and damage studs. You may not be able to see it, of course. But if you spot peeling paint or discoloration, bubbles or soft spots or smell musty odors, these are sure signs of trouble lurking behind your walls.

How can SERVPRO of North Hollywood help?

If you suspect you may have water damage on your commercial property, call us anytime, day or night. Our highly trained commercial water damage restoration specialists know what to look for and have the tools, like moisture detectors, to find the problem fast. With industrial air movers and dehumidifiers, we make water cleanup a snap, minimizing inconvenience and downtime. And should you need further repairs, we're licensed contractors who can fix or replace damaged drywall, cabinets, flooring and more.

Plus, if we discover mold while inspecting for water damage, we can remove it and perform mold remediation services. In short, SERVPRO of North Hollywood is here, 24/7, to make property damage from a rainstorm "Like it never even happened."

Why It's Hard to Completely Get Rid of Smoke Smell in Your House

12/22/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke is more than visible clouds of ash and soot. Invisible particles get absorbed by porous surfaces and make it hard to get rid of smoke smells.

Maybe you live near a recent wildfire. Or had a fire on your property. Either way, you know it's hard to get rid of smoke smell. The pervasive odors may make it hard to move on following a fire disaster. But why?

It's because smoke is more than the visible, black or white clouds of ash and soot. These invisible particles are microscopic, smaller than 2.5 micrometers, known as PM2.5. For reference, a single human hair is 60-80 micrometers, while a red blood cell is 6-8 micrometers. That's tiny!

Smoke particles stick to non-porous surfaces. You can wipe down this residue using natural deodorizers like vinegar and baking soda. But a porous surface, including curtains, fabric, carpet, walls, furniture and upholstery, can absorb these fine particles. Some of these materials can be laundered to help wash away the lingering odors. But others need specialized technology and treatments to remove the smoke particles.

Tiny smoke particles, like those from a wildfire, can also linger in the air for weeks, even after the flames are out. While you may not smell them, you could inhale them. To remove smoke particles like these may require professional air scrubbers, fans, thermal foggers and deodorization agents.

Last, but not least, modern ventilation systems, like a central HVAC unit, can suck up these smoke particles. When the heat or air conditioning kicks on, it blows them out and all over your home. You should routinely have your HVAC system inspected and cleaned, but more so following a fire.

For these reasons, over-the-counter smoke eliminators do little more than mask smoke odors. Without a proper deep cleaning and restoration service, the acrid smoke smell may stick around.

Get Rid of Smoke Smell by Calling SERVPRO of North Hollywood

The scent of smoke odors won't dissipate, no matter how often you open windows, scrub surfaces or vacuum? SERVPRO of North Hollywood is your solution. We're smoke removal specialists with the training and technology to eliminate smoke, soot and ash to make fire damage "Like it never even happened."

3 Reasons You Need Expert Mold Remediation

11/30/2021 (Permalink)

Got mold? Call SERVPRO at (818) 754-0050 to make a mold infestation "Like it never even happened."

If you find mold on your commercial property, it may be tempting to try cleaning it up yourself. Mold remediation is expensive, or so you've heard. Maybe you don't want the hassle of an insurance claim. Or maybe you don't have time for proper mold removal, and you think a vinegar-soaked rag will do the job. Whatever your reasons, if you're unsure whether you need professional mold remediation, here are a few reasons to call in the experts.

1. You Have Water Damage

Mold needs several things to grow. Oxygen. An organic food source, like wood or drywall. Warmth (which is abundant in Los Angeles). And, most important, moisture.

If your property suffers a burst pipe or a water leak, removing the water is but the first step. Water seeps into porous surfaces quickly, so even if the surface appears dry, there might be moisture present. And moisture, coupled with the above elements, can spur mold growth.

A professional restoration company, like SERVPRO of North Hollywood, has advanced technology to detect hidden moisture. Whether behind drywall, under hardwood floors or soaked beneath carpeting, our water damage restoration technicians ensure that no moisture is left behind. And because we also handle mold remediation, we can remove any mold spores we find at the same time.

2. The Smell Won't Go Away

You cleaned the visible mold spores, and they haven't grown back. But there's still a musty odor coming from the affected area. Guess what? You probably still have mold spores hiding, inside the walls, under the flooring, in the crawl space etc.

While the cause of water damage can be obvious, sometimes it can go undetected. A leaky central a/c unit, for example, hiding in the attic. If you cleaned the mold, but didn't find the source of the moisture, the mold may grow back. And if the spores get behind or under the surface? You'll need professional mold remediation to open up the walls or pull up the floors and remove the mold. Otherwise, the room, or the entire building, will continue to smell like a locker room or bread that's gone bad.

3. There's a Lot of Mold

If mold covers a small area, like a window frame or the corner of the ceiling, a DIY approach may get the job done.

Sometimes the mold outbreak is so extensive, it's just not viable to try and wipe it all away. Mold can cover an entire crawl space, or infest the walls and ceiling in multiple rooms.

But no job is too big for SERVPRO of North Hollywood! Our certified mold specialists have the PPE, EPA approved biocides and professional contractors to remove mold no matter where it's found.

If you find mold on your commercial property, call the professionals at (818) 754-0050. And we'll take care of your mold problem "Like it never even happened."

3 Keys to Effective Disaster Response & Recovery

11/8/2021 (Permalink)

If flood water is left standing for too long, it can cause serious damage. Call SERVPRO of North Hollywood for fast flood damage cleanup & repairs.

There are many ways a water disaster can damage your property. The most common are a burst pipe or sewage overflow. An aggressive sprinkler system, leaky water heater or air conditioner could also be culprits. But rainstorms, as infrequent as they are in Los Angeles, can be devastating disasters for an unprepared property owner. To increase the likelihood of restoring your property to its preloss condition, read on for three keys to an effective disaster response and recovery. While the focus of this post is flooding, our advice applies to any disaster, including fire, mold or biohazard cleanup.

1. Be Prepared

Rainstorms in Los Angeles are hardly inevitable. But if one does arrive, you don't want to get caught off-guard. Like Disney advised, "be prepared." How?

First, ensure your flood mitigation measures are in proper working order. Clean out rain gutters and test your sump pump. Diverting the water from your foundation can help prevent your basement or crawl space from flooding.

Inspect your roof and look for broken or missing shingles. Through your roof is a common way water can find its way into your home or business. Look for water spots or discoloration on your ceiling and fix those weak spots before the storms arrive.

This is a good time to check the seals around doors and windows. Worn seals won't allow in a large amount of water, but any moisture can wear wood framing and drywall and spark mold growth.

Last, but not least, review your evacuation plan. Don't have one? Now is as good a time as any to make a plan. It should include resources for emergency alerts, an evacuation route, shelter and contact information for your family or colleagues.

2. Take Mitigation Steps

No matter how well you prepare, effective disaster recovery requires fast action when a disaster occurs. How you respond to an emergency disaster in those first critical minutes and hours can make all the difference.

First, cut the electricity to any area affected by a serious leak or standing water. You can do this from a local circuit breaker or the main electrical switch. Water and electricity don't mix, and you don't want to compound a water disaster with a fire disaster too.

If you can reduce or stop the flow of rain water, do it. Use towels or other absorbent materials to sop up as much water as possible. If the water is confined to a room, move furniture and critical possessions to a drier area.

Does the damaged area, like a broken window or door, make your property accessible to intruders? Consider boarding it up. If you're unsure how, we can help you. Boarding up your property following a disaster can help prevent access and further damage from opportunistic humans and animals.

3. Call SERVPRO of North Hollywood for Disaster Response & Recovery

We're here to help when you need us, 24/7. We provide emergency disaster response support, and can be on-site to most areas of Los Angeles in as little as one hour. An immediate response is critical to an effective cleanup and restoration process. And you can count on SERVPRO of North Hollywood for insurance claims assistance and superior customer service every step of the way. Part of your community and a local restoration leader, with national resources, we'll make any size storm disaster "Like it never even happened."

After a Fire: The Benefits of Boarding Up Your Property

10/8/2021 (Permalink)

One of the most important first steps to restore your home after a fire is to board up your property. Call SERVPRO of North Hollywood for help 24/7.

The aftermath of a fire is a confusing and stressful time for any property owner. With luck, you won't have to deal with fire damage in your lifetime. But if a fire does strike your home or business, knowing who to call and what to do is crucial to effective disaster recovery.

One of the most important, but overlooked, first steps is to board up your property. Damage to windows, doors and walls, whether by the fire or the first responders fighting the flames, is common. If your property isn't secure, it can become vulnerable to animals, thieves and weather. Dealing with fire damage is stressful enough. Having to clean up vandalism or animal waste only adds more time, expense and stress to the restoration process.

Plus, after any disaster, it can take insurance companies time to assess the damage and determine what they will, and won't, cover. Properly securing your property with boards and tarps protects your valuables before and during the inspection, clean up and repair process. It may even be required, so be sure to consult with your insurance carrier soon following a fire.

And because disasters happen at all hours, SERVPRO of North Hollywood is here to help, 24/7. For example, these photos are from a 1,600 square foot home damaged by an electrical fire. The homeowner wisely called us to board up and secure their property at 10 p.m. at night.

To ensure the best possible fire restoration service in Los Angeles, call SERVPRO of North Hollywood day or night. We'll make fire, smoke and soot damage "Like it never even happened."

How do Wildfires Start? What Can You Do to Limit Wildfire Damage?

9/17/2021 (Permalink)

Wildfires can be devastating natural disasters. If you need wildfire damage cleanup for your home or business, call SERVPRO of North Hollywood 24/7.

Wildfires are devastating fire disasters that can damage houses and commercial buildings and destroy forests. They can be a terrifying experience for any Los Angeles homeowner. And wildfires are getting more frequent and more intense with climate change. They are a regular occurrence across California, since it is one of the drier and warmer states in the country.

What causes these roaring infernos to ignite and burn everything in their path? And what can a responsible resident do to protect their belongings and reduce the risk of fire, smoke and soot damage to their home?

How Do Wildfires Start?

To light and spread, wildfires need three essential components, known as the fire triangle.

1. Heat

Heat sources from nature and human beings can be responsible for igniting a wildfire. Lighting strikes are a frequent source, and they're often larger and spark greater damage than human caused fires. However, humans are mainly responsible for them, accounting for "nearly 85 percent."

A range of human activities drives wildfires. Some examples are:

Campfires – People fail to extinguish fire pits. Or they build fires in dry or inappropriate locations. In both scenarios, sparks from the pit may blow onto leaf litter, setting it on fire.

Power Lines – Wind gusts and car accidents can knock down electricity lines. Those sparking power lines ignite a flame that spreads further with strong winds. Mitigating this risk is one of the reasons California's utilities enact controversial planned blackouts.

Cigarettes – Because it's a hazard to public health, California cities began banning smoking indoors in public places over 30 years ago. The state added state parks and beaches to the list of restricted areas in 2019. Of course, people don't always follow the rules and often discard their cigarette butts with little care to their surroundings. Plus, California's national parks, including Yosemite and Joshua Tree, do not currently have similar smoking restrictions.

Machinery Usage and Malfunctions – Believe it or not, lawnmower blades, weed whackers and other metallic machinery can create sparks, which fall on parched vegetation. A metal grinder sparked the Zaca Fire, a wildfire that remains the 10th largest in California's history.

Arson – Unfortunately, people do start wildfires on purpose. The Los Angeles Police Department detained multiple arson suspects accused of starting the Palisades Fire earlier in 2021.

2. Fuel

Wildfires burn hottest in dry, arid regions and drought-stricken places with dry, dead grass, leaves and trees for fuel. As a result, woods, meadows, and forested regions are susceptible to flames. For most of the year, thanks to limited rainfall in our area, they're a literal hotbed of flammable material. With enough heat, fires can also use living foliage as a fuel source. Pine trees and other evergreen trees also have combustible oils that burn when exposed to an intense heat source.

3. Oxygen

Fires need heat and fuel to ignite, but it's wind that spreads the flames to burn millions of acres. How quickly can wildfires spread? The stronger the wind, the faster the blaze spreads. Believe it or not, a wildfire can move up to 14 miles per hour, a threat to everything, including homes, in its path.

Strong winds also blow embers and ash to fresh fuel sources, creating new hot spots and flames. The Thomas Fire in 2017 is an excellent example of the way high winds can increase a wildfire's spread. The largest California wildfire at the time spread fast, with reports of it moving at the pace of a football field per second!

What Can You Do to Limit Wildfire Damage?

Weather satellites have made it easier for firefighters to anticipate the path of existing fires by tracking smoke and heat signatures. This gives communities a chance to plan evacuations, so emergency responders can work on containment while reducing the risk to human life.

However, there are several things you can do to both reduce the risk wildfire and help your community recover from one:

Be Careful With Fire – Being fire smart and fire safe is the main thing you can do to limit wildfire damage. When breaking camp, smoking a cigarette or dousing a fire pit, take extra care to fully extinguish the heat. One careless act and one small ember can literally destroy acres of forest and threaten lives, buildings and more.

Prepare Your Home or Business - Creating a defensible zone around your property. Draw up an evacuation plan. There are many things you can do today to prepare your home or business for wildfires.

Reduce Your Impact on the Climate – Human-caused climate change is increasing and exacerbating natural disasters, including wildfires. Consider carpooling, avoiding single-use products, saving water and engaging in other environmentally beneficial activities to help reduce the impact of climate change.

Give Back – Choose a charity and donate money or items to areas impacted by wildfires. You can also support relief efforts by volunteering your time with a national recovery organization, such as the American Red Cross.

Need Wildfire Damage Cleanup? Call SERVPRO of North Hollywood!

Should you become the victim of wildfire damage, don't hesitate to call SERVPRO of North Hollywood for LA's best fire damage restoration service. We're here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with an emergency response to any size fire disaster. Let us clean and restore your home or business from fire, smoke and soot damage "Like it never even happened."

P.S. Twitter is a great resource for staying informed whenever wildfires threaten Los Angeles and surrounding cities. Follow @LACoFDPIO and @NotifyLA for real-time incident updates. You can also follow us @SERVPRONoHo for water, fire and mold damage mitigation tips.

Sewage Cleanup Is a Difficult Job (but Someone's Got to Do It)

8/30/2021 (Permalink)

This crawl space was flooded with over 500 gallons of sewage. Call SERVPRO of North Hollywood to clean & restore it "Like it never even happened."

We don't often think about what's going on under our home, and not in a creepy, haunted house movie kind of way. If all is as it should be, your crawl space is out of sight and out of mind. But what if there's a sewage leak under your home? Or worse, what if you need sewage cleanup under a 21,620 square foot multi-family condo? Well, with an unforgettable odor permeating the property, you certainly can't ignore that forgotten area of your home anymore!

Enter SERVPRO of North Hollywood. We answered the call of a property manager with a big, stinky problem at their Los Angeles multi-unit condo. An individual is responsible for about 50 to 70 gallons of wastewater per day. Multiplied by all the occupants of a large, multi-family residential property and this number quickly increases. It should come as no surprise that a sewage pipe leak flooded this crawl space with over 500 gallons of sewage and blackwater!

The Sewage Cleanup Process

First, with any size sewage backup or leak, call the professionals. All sorts of bacteria and other microbes contaminate blackwater. For safety reasons, experienced and highly-trained restoration technicians wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) should clean it up.

Second, sewage cleanup, especially on this scale, requires specialized equipment. In this case, the restoration process included water extraction, moisture detection, air movers, dehumidifiers and SERVPROXIDE, our hospital grade disinfectant. We needed to remove the contaminated water, clean up the affected area, dry the support structure and disinfect everything. Any dampness or moisture left behind provides the perfect conditions for mold growth.

Of course, crawl spaces, by their nature, are difficult to access. And with numerous residents displaced from their homes, this job required immediate attention.

If this sounds like a dirty and difficult job, well, it is. Of course, there are things you can do to decrease the risk of costly water damage repairs. Inspecting toilets, pipes and plumbing fixtures regularly can help prevent a disaster in the future. But sometimes, well, poop happens.

And when it does, SERVPRO of North Hollywood is here to help. We respond immediately, 24/7, with an experienced cleaning and restoration team capable of handling any size sewage damage emergency. In most cases, we can be onsite anywhere in Los Angeles within an hour. So call us at (818) 754-0050 and our damage restoration and cleanup service will make even the dirtiest disaster "Like it never even happened."