Odor Removal

6/30/2024 (Permalink)

Residential clean up

SERVPRO® of West Topeka knows that sometimes odors happen and there can be any number of causes. Whether it be a rogue mouse that died in a wall, nicotine residue from years of cigarette smoke buildup, or a pile of your kids soccer jerseys that you forgot about in the trunk of your car.

SERVPRO is prepared to deal with any and all of these issues. The science of identifying and eliminating odors can be tricky, but as pros in deodorization, we're able to take care of it. Whether it’s a smoky smell in a vehicle, or a locker room full of stinky equipment, we’ve got odor solutions for any size job.

So if you have any questions about how SERVPRO can help out with odors in your residential or commercial property or in your car, get in touch! We are here to help.

Smoke Damage vs. Soot Damage

6/30/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO clean up

Smoke and soot are very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.

Smoke and soot facts:

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

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of West Topeka will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.
Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.
Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor.
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? Contact us today.

24/7 Water Damage Specialists

6/30/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO employee helping a homeowner

Flooding and water emergencies don’t wait for regular business hours and neither do we. SERVPRO of West Topeka provides emergency cleaning and restoration services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—including all holidays.

Faster To Any Size Disaster

Flooding and water damage is very invasive. Water quickly spreads throughout your home and gets absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, and more. SERVPRO of West Topeka arrives quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately. This immediate response helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs.

Water Damage Timeline

Within Minutes

Water quickly spreads throughout your property, saturating everything in its path.
Water is absorbed into walls, floors, upholstery, and belongings.
Furniture finishes may bleed, causing permanent staining on carpets.
Photographs, books, and other paper goods start to swell and warp.

Hours 1 - 24:

Drywall begins to swell and break down.
Metal surfaces begin to tarnish.
Furniture begins to swell and crack.
Dyes and inks from cloth and paper goods spread and stain.
A musty odor appears.

48 Hours to 1 Week:

Mold and mildew may grow and spread.
Doors, windows, and studs swell and warp.
Metal begins to rust and corrode.
Furniture warps and shows signs of mold.
Paint begins to blister.
Wood flooring swells and warps.
Serious biohazard contamination is possible.

More Than 1 Week:

Restoration time and cost increase dramatically; replacing contaminated materials and structural rebuilding may be extensive.
Structural safety, mold growth, and biohazard contaminants pose serious risks to occupants.
Need Emergency Service? Contact us.

Commercial Property Damage

6/30/2023 (Permalink)

Office interior

If you are a commercial business owner, you know that any type of water damage can be detrimental to your business. It is important when faced with a water damage, fire, mold or any other loss that you can resume normal operations as soon as possible to protect your business. If your business is forced to close until damage repairs are complete your short-term losses will start to add up and your customers may find somewhere else to go which could cause you to lose their business long-term.

SERVPRO of West Topeka specializes in commercial damage mitigation and repair and can help ensure that damages are kept to a minimum, reducing your total losses. Commercial businesses have unique needs when it comes to damage repairs and the best way to protect your business is to leave damage repairs to the pros.

What to Do If Your Property Floods

When your commercial property is affected by water or flooding, the source of water needs to be addressed before water damage repairs can begin. Water damage can affect expensive or specialized equipment and inventory, and it is imperative to act quickly! SERVPRO of West Topeka is ready to respond!

In an event of a disaster call SERVPRO of West Topeka at 785-862-0550. Our SERVPRO® team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year!

Water Damage Cleanup

6/29/2023 (Permalink)

24/7 Image

SERVPRO of West Topeka is available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage

We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of West Topeka has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration—in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business.

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

Your name and contact information
Your insurance information (if applicable)
The street address of the water-damaged home or business
When did the flooding or water damage occur?
What caused the water damage (if known)?
Is there electricity available (on-site)?
We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today - 785-862-0550

About SERVPRO of West Topeka

SERVPRO of West Topeka 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 with the knowledge to restore your property.

Fire Damage Cleanup

6/28/2023 (Permalink)

Packing boxes

Identify the type of residues

Different types of smoke residues can exist in
the same loss environment. SERVPRO of West Topeka will select a cleaning method that will effectively remove the type of smoke residues present.

Identify the type of surface

The type of surface determines which cleaning
methods and products are safe to use on that surface. SERVPRO will be careful to preserve the material or surface being cleaned, and unfortunately some materials may not be restorable because they cannot withstand the cleaning process.

Capture and remove residues

Smoke residues bond with surfaces they contact. SERVPRO uses dry and wet cleaning processes to release and carry residue particles away
from the affected surface.

Dispose of residues

SERVPRO of West Topeka properly disposes of debris and cleaning waste.

Our highly trained staff is available to roll out to any fire damage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Tornado Safety

6/22/2023 (Permalink)

Storm

With all the crazy weather that hits the Midwest during the spring and summer seasons, it is always better to be prepared and know how to stay safe ahead of time. Below are some tips from the American Red Cross on the best ways to stay safe during a tornado.

Top Tips

Identify a safe place in your home where household members and pets will gather during a tornado: a basement, storm cellar or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows.
In a high-rise building, pick a hallway in the center of the building. You may not have enough time to go to the lowest floor.
In a mobile home, choose a safe place in a nearby sturdy building. If your mobile home park has a designated shelter, make it your safe place. No mobile home, however it is configured, is safe in a tornado.
Know the Difference between a Tornado Watch and a Tornado Warning!

A tornado WATCH means a tornado is possible.
A tornado WARNING means a tornado is already occurring or will occur soon. GO TO YOUR SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY.

Professionally Drying Out Water Damage

6/22/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO equipment

Box fans are a good way to stay cool in the summer, but when it comes to significant water damage something more powerful is required to put a residence or commercial building back to where it needs to be.

The same can be said of general dehumidifiers. Small dehumidifiers in the basement can be helpful for general maintenance but when there is more than just moisture in the air something stronger is helpful.

SERVPRO of West Topeka is fully stocked with professional equipment to help with your next water damage. We have specialty fans and dehumidifiers to bring down humidity, conduct air, and help prevent any secondary damage.

SERVPRO also has a highly trained crew of professional water technicians that are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help out on any loss.

Commercial Building Maintenance

6/22/2023 (Permalink)

Commercial buildings

When commercial business owners think about water damage, they often picture storms and natural disasters wiping out power lines, flooding offices, and shutting down businesses for days at a time. While it is true that commercial water damage is often the result of floods and water coming from weather events and storms, that is not the only cause.

Many businesses on commercial property forget that damage can come from other internal issues as well. Here are some of the typical causes of water damage to commercial buildings.

Malfunctioning sprinkler systems

Some older office and retail buildings still have outdated sprinkler systems that work with fire protection systems. While these sprinklers can come in handy during a fire emergency, they can also cause commercial flood damage if they are faulty or in need of replacement. This could easily damage inventory and business assets.

Damaged appliances and equipment

This cause of commercial flood damage is more common in restaurants and catering facilities, as well as any business that has appliances and equipment that make use of water. If the appliance fails and sends water across your building, especially during late hours when no one is around, you may come back to work and face a water emergency.

Broken pipes and plumbing

Just like in a residence, if the plumbing system in your workplace fails water damage could be the result.

Backed up sewer lines

This is another cause of commercial water damage that often catches business owners by surprise. Should the sewer line to your building back up or become damaged, realize the potential dangers of contaminated Black Water which can cause health effects and ruin products and office furnishings.

If your business has suffered commercial water damage, SERVPRO of West Topeka will get you back up and running again. Call us anytime at 785-862-0550

What To Do If Your Basement Floods

6/7/2023 (Permalink)

Storm

Midwest summer weather is hard to predict but you can usually bet on some weeks of rainy weather, ranging from drizzles to monsoons, and knowing how to speed up the drying process and keep your belongings safe from damage is a must!

First of all Safety First!

If there is standing water, or any water, in your basement make sure you are wearing some sort of foot gear that will protect your feet from getting soaked.

NEVER plug in any sort of equipment near water or in to a damp socket!

Protect Your Belongings!

It is always a good idea to have any boxes or contents in your basement off the floor and up on pallets at all times in case of a flooded basement but if you don't or if you have a finished basement one of the first things you will want to do is move all (or as much as you can) of your contents and furniture away from the affected area. If you cannot get furniture out of the area place it up on foam blocks or at least put some sort of non permeable barrier in between the furniture and floor to help prevent further damage and staining.

Beginning the Drying Process!

Using a shop-vac, plugged in to a power supply that has not been affected by the water, start to suck up the incoming water.

During normal conditions SERVPRO would happily perform all of the above for any homeowner but when extreme weather hits and thousands of people have flooded basements, we want to try and help as many people as we can. By performing the above tasks you can insure less loss until we can get there to help!