How to Prepare For a Rain Storm

2/21/2023 (Permalink)

Preparing for a rain storm can help protect your home and property and ensure that you and your family stay safe. Here are some tips to help you prepare for a rain storm:

• Check your gutters and downspouts: Make sure that your gutters and downspouts are clear of debris and in good working order. This will help ensure that rainwater can be properly channeled away from your home.

• Secure outdoor items: Bring in any outdoor furniture, toys, or other items that could be blown around by high winds or flooding. This will help prevent damage to your property and neighboring properties.

• Check your roof: Inspect your roof for any damaged or missing shingles or other issues that could cause leaks during a heavy rainstorm.

•  Trim trees and shrubs: Trim any trees or shrubs that are close to your home and could potentially cause damage in high winds.

• Stock up on supplies: Be sure to stock up on supplies, such as food, water, batteries, and flashlights, in case of power outages or other emergency situations.

•  Create an emergency plan: Make sure that you have an emergency plan in place in case of severe weather. This should include a plan for where to go if you need to evacuate and a plan for how to communicate with family members if you are separated.

  By taking these steps, you can help ensure that you are prepared for a rain storm and minimize the risk of damage to your home and property.

Sewage Backup Questions

5/17/2022 (Permalink)

A sewage backup is a very serious event that can render a home or business uninhabitable. This form of water damage is classified as the most severe as it is toxic and can cause severe health risks. The Centers for Disease Control states that raw sewage can introduce a person to many severe bacteria, such as Giardia, Legionella (Legionnaires Disease), and many others that can cause severe health risks. 

If you are experiencing a sewage backup in your home or business, you should call SERVPRO Hollywood Hills/Los Feliz. This form of water damage should only be handled by professionals as the health risks are too severe to handle. 

A sewage backup is considered category 3 water damage, making it the most dangerous and harmful form of water damage. 

Though some do not know this, there are actually three different categories of water damage, with category 3 being the worst.

One of the first signs of backup typically does not come from a visual standpoint. The usual first sign of sewage backup comes from the smell. If you are smelling foul scents in a building, it is a telltale sign of backup. 

A backup is much more likely to take place in a room such as a bathroom, kitchen, or basement. These rooms have sewer lines that they run to and are susceptible as they have only one means of getting rid of waste, the sewer line that is either damaged or blocked. 

Our sewage backup cleanup services can help return your home or business back to its normal, preloss condition. You can reach us at 323-667-3100. We are a 24-hours service and can place you in direct contact with a project manager in as little as a few minutes, we can have a team at your property ready to assist in as little as an hour!

Promoting Fire Prevention Tactics in the Home

5/17/2022 (Permalink)

Fire prevention tactics are important and the most uncommon safety precaution taken amongst homeowners. What most people don’t know is that you have approximately two minutes to escape a house fire before it gets out of control.

During a fire, early warnings from a smoke detector and fire escape plan can save you and your family’s lives. If a fire safety plan is followed annually and executed you can surpass the grace period and save your family a lot of money and anxiety.

Tip #1: Install/Test Fire Alarms 

Smoke alarms are the saving grace in regards to fire safety. It’s important to install fire alarms in all sleeping areas throughout your home, that includes your outside sleeping areas if you have them. If you know there’s an area in your home without a sounding smoke alarm be sure to make the call and add one. That means changing the batteries too!

Unfortunately, batteries don’t last forever and malfunctions in systems do happen. You must do a test to see if your alarm does make a sound in the case of smoke or fire throughout your home. If they’re not working be sure to replace the batteries or get someone out to take a look at the system to maintain fire prevention in your home.

Tip #2: Keep a Fire Extinguisher 

Fire extinguishers should be household essentials and are mandatory in some places of residence. To maintain fire prevention it’s important to get one if you don’t have one and get it tested annually just in case you have to use it in a mini kitchen or grill fires.

Tip #3: Create a Fire Escape Plan

Fires are unexpected and no one truly knows when they might become a victim to one. That is why it’s important to talk over with your family an effective plan in what to do in case of a fire. Talk over fire security and escape plan routes throughout your home and practice them at least twice a year.

Tip #4: Get out, Stay out and Call for Help 

If your house catches fire it’s important that you Get out, Stay out and Call First Responders as soon as possible. Fires are dangerous killers and if not trained properly can do their damage.