Be Aware of Your Fire Pits!

9/14/2022 (Permalink)

Though we’re still feeling the summer heat and fall seems to be far away, we’ll start to experience colder temperatures as we approach October. Fall is prime time for s’mores, apple cider, time spent outdoors, and of course, fire pits. According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire pits and campfires can facilitate accidents that may lead to injury if safety guidelines are not followed. Keep reading to learn ways in which you can safely use a fire pit and prevent fire damage to your property this fall.

Fire Safety at the Fire Pit

Two different types of fire pits can be purchased for properties: in-ground and above-ground. Both types must be kept at a safe distance away from your home, in addition to any combustible objects on your property, like sheds, trees, bushes, and other types of brush. Your fire pit should also be built from a non-combustible material, heavy metal, brick, or stone, in order to reduce fire risks. To prevent a fire emergency, a responsible adult should supervise the fire pit at all times whenever a fire is actively burning in the fire pit. 

Make Safety a Priority

Be informed about your fire pit’s fuel safety protocols in order to protect your property. If you have a wood-burning fire pit, be sure that you use dry, clean wood. If your fire pit is not wood-burning, it is crucial that you follow the safety guidelines of your fuel type. These safety precautions may seem obvious, but a small oversight can have a significant impact on the safety of your property. Taking fire safety precautions such as those listed in this blog can decrease the risk of fire damage to your property, but accidents happen. For this reason, it is beneficial to always have a fire extinguishing device at the ready when using your fire pit. A fire extinguisher is a helpful tool, but a garden hose or bucket of water sitting nearby are also sufficient tools that can quickly douse a fire in an emergency.

Have a Fire? Call SERVPRO 

Emphasizing fire safety is of the utmost importance, but if disaster strikes unexpectedly, SERVPRO Team Wall has your back. Available to you 24/7 with our 24-Hour Emergency Services, our professional team of experienced fire damage restoration technicians will work diligently to restore your property to its preloss condition. We'll help make it “Like it never even happened” after fire emergencies large and small. To learn more about our fire restoration services, pick up the phone and call us today at 952-403-1050!

Water Damage Repair Timeline

9/14/2022 (Permalink)

The annoyance and ruination of water damage happens to U.S. homeowners a troubling 14,000 times a day. Statistically speaking, it’s happening at least once somewhere in America while you read this paragraph. And there it goes again.

Obviously, we hope your home stays bone dry as long as you live there, but should the day arise when you need emergency assistance from SERVPRO, here’s how all that will go.

Emergency Contact. When you reach out in a panic, we’ll reassure you and walk you though some guiding questions to help us understand the situation and start putting a plan together. Then we’ll set a time to meet in person. All of this will happen quickly.

Inspection and Water Damage Assessment. Once we arrive on the scene, we can flesh out the plan and stop any water that may still be flowing. We’ll make sure you know if the encroaching water has created any hazards on your property, and we’ll also give you an idea of the items or materials that will likely need replacement.

Water Removal. You’ll never get all that water out with a bucket or a regular water vacuum. That’s why we bring our pumps to make quick work of it.

Damaged Material Removal. The items that are unable to be restored can now be hauled away, expediting the process of restoration for the items and materials that remain.

Cleaning, Sanitizing and Deodorization. Water damage can leave a yucky mess. We’ll use our tools and some old-fashioned elbow grease to rid your home of unwanted stains, smells and depending on the nature of your emergency, harmful contaminants.

Drying. It’s only a short while after water invades that mold begins to grow. Even after the water is pumped out, your home will need some dehumidifying and drying out.

Monitoring. We’ll be carefully watching the entire process, making sure every box is ticked and every surface is cleaned and dried. Don’t you worry about a thing.

Repairs and Construction. Now that everything is dry and in order, we can go about the finishing touches, which may range from replacing carpet to reconstructing entire rooms. Large or small, we’ll be there to oversee every aspect of your water damage restoration.

Full Service Restoration: Construction Capabilities

7/26/2022 (Permalink)

One thing about our SERVPRO franchise that sets us apart from other local restoration companies is the fact that we have a highly skilled construction team. What does this mean for you? Our construction division can help restore your home like water damage or fire damage never even happened! They can help you do just about anything; from a simple paint job to performing a full-scale remodeling!

How does our Construction Division work?

We have a division dedicated solely to rebuilding your home to the way it was pre-disaster. Once you call us (the best decision you will ever make), our estimator will come out and examine the damages. The estimator takes note of all of the issues caused by fire or water and creates an estimate, which is a rough outline of the costs.

Once the estimate is created, we can help walk you through next-steps with insurance to ensure that you're saving as much money as possible. We understand that insurance can be extremely complicated and we're here to help to any way we can!

After the plans are finalized for the project, our construction project managers will walk you through the selections, outline, and timeframe of the project. We handling all of the scheduling so that you don't have to deal with the headache of subcontractors.

What services do we provide?

• Board Up
• Carpet Repair and Installation
• Document Drying
• Dry Cleaning
• Drywall Installation
• Drywall Removal
• Electrical
• Electronics Restoration
• Fine Art Restoration
• Furniture Restoration
• General Contracting
• Hardwood Floor Repair
• HVAC Services
• Linoleum Floor Repair
• Marble Floor Repair
• Move Out
• Painting
• Plumbing
• Portable Power
• Roof Tarp
• Roofing Services
• Temporary Fencing
• Temporary Warehouse Space
• Tile Floor Repair

From the bottom of the foundation to the top of the highest point on your roof, we have the reconstruction capabilities to get your property back to its preloss condition. Call Jeff today with any of your construction needs at 952-270-0603!

Annual Convention

7/7/2022 (Permalink)

The focus for all SERVPRO franchises this July is Collaborate, Collaborate, Collaborate. Our annual convention is a time for franchise owners to come together to learn about new ways we're serving customers and to reflect on everyone's successes. We learn with dozens of workshops focused both on helping our business be successful and improving how we assist our customers and clients. Dallas, we're here!

The exceptional thing about the SERVPRO system is that every owner can find another owner who has achieved the goal they're working toward. There's always someone to look up to, someone to help guide positive restoration tactics, and someone to base your performance off of. This friendly competition allows each franchise to increase knowledge and accelerate growth.

Here at SERVPRO of Shakopee Savage Prior Lake, we grow by moving the big rocks first. By prioritizing the improvements we need to make within the restoration industry and construction industry, our team develops the muscle memory needed to achieve any goals that we set.

By networking with others, such as instances like the annual convention, we are able to gain new perspectives on our business and align our focus of how to improve our company. By creating this alignment of goals and action, we are better equipped to help satisfy you as the customer.

When you're in need of restoration services or construction services, look no further than SERVPRO of Shakopee Savage Prior Lake. Give us a call today at 952-403-1050!

Community Involvement: Mendakota Country Club

6/29/2022 (Permalink)

Aimee and Stephanie hosting a hole at a golf tournament.

Here at SERVPRO of Shakopee Savage Prior Lake, we strive to be involved in our community. From clothing drives to sponsoring holes at a golf tournament, we love our community!

On June 6th, Aimee and Stephanie attended the IREM 2022 Golf Tournament to spread the good word of SERVPRO of Shakopee Savage Prior Lake. We were Gold Hole Sponsors this year! Check out the photo!

We love to give away free items at these events, inform potential clients of our services, and ensure that everyone is informed about our business in general. Events such as the IREM 2022 Golf Tournament are how we are able to engage with our local community and inform people that we are here to be a resource for you. That means regardless if you have damage or not, we are here to answer your questions! From water damage restoration to fire damage restoration, we have expert technicians on the clock 24/7 here to help you!

When you're in need of restoration and construction services, look no further! SERVPRO of Shakopee Savage Prior Lake is here for you 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Give us a call at 952-403-1050 today!

SERVPRO of Shakopee Savage Prior Lake: Count on Us for Fire Damage Restoration

5/18/2022 (Permalink)

As a water and fire restoration company, our number one priority at SERVPRO of Shakopee Savage Prior Lake is returning water and fire damaged areas back to preloss condition. Every single day we strive to make it "Like it never even happened."

How do we handle Fire Damage Restoration?

Structural Cleaning: After smoke damage or fire damage occurs, ceilings, woodwork, walls, carpets, and flooring will often need to be thoroughly cleaned. Our professionals at SERVPRO of Shakopee Savage Prior Lake will begin to clean from the source of the damage and move outwards. They will scrub every last inch until it is cleaned! By determining the extent of the damage first, our team can determine the most cost efficient and time efficient method for your individual circumstance. Our team are highly-trained individuals who will clean any damage and prepare it for painting. By ensure that locations such as walls are deodorized and properly cleaned, the new layer of paint will adhere properly to the surface and you will never be able to tell that there was smoke damage or fire damage!

Contents Cleaning: Another one of our top concerns here at SERVPRO of Shakopee Savage Prior Lake is to repair versus replace. Our technicians will sift through the damaged contents and determine if it is salvageable or not. If the contents are repairable, not only will the affected areas be cleaned but items such as rugs, furniture, draperies, and upholstery will be cleaned and deodorized, too! We are vigilant when it comes down to wiping all content materials of soot as we know that soot residue can be hard to see or extremely overwhelming. We will use our documentation process to inventory all "to be claimed" items if requested so that handling insurance is less of a nightmare.

Deodorization: You can count on SERVPRO of Shakopee Savage Prior Lake to use the best quality specialized services that will rid your home or place of business of offensive odors that are often left by smoke damage or fire damage. Every technician is trained to use top of the line deodorization equipment and environmentally friendly chemicals to remove the source of odor. 

We're a one stop shop!

If significant fire damage has erupted in your home, you can call us for the remediation and for all of your reconstruction needs! Our Construction Division has exploded this year and we have built out a team of intelligent, capable individuals to handle all of your needs.

When disaster strikes, don't hesitate to give the professionals a call! SERVPRO of Shakopee Savage Prior Lake is available 24/7 at 952-403-1050!

Proper Ingredients for Fire Safety

5/2/2022 (Permalink)

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) research, cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Two of every five home fires begin in the kitchen-more than any other place in the home. Cooking fires are also the leading cause of home fire-related injuries. Most of these fires start because people aren't paying attention. While a few minutes may not seem like much time to be away from what's cooking, that is all it takes to start a fire. 

Leaving cooking unattended and other unsafe kitchen practices are a recipe for disaster. Review the cooking safety tips provided below to learn how to help prevent kitchen fires before they start.

- Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. 

- When you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home, and use a timer to remind you. 

- Keep cooking areas clean and clear of combustibles such as towels, drapes, and pot holders. 

- Keep children away from cooking areas by enforcing a "kid free zone" of three feet around the stove. 

- If an oven fire starts, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. If the fire does not go out, get out of the home and call the fire department. 

- If you have a fire in your microwave, turn it off and keep the door closed. Don't open the door until the fire is completely out. If in doubt, get out of the home and call the fire department. 

- Always keep an oven mitt and a lid nearby. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan (wearing the oven mitt). Do not move the pan. To keep the fire from restarting, do not remove the lid until it is completely cool. NEVER pour water on a grease fire. 

There is no substitute for training and experience. Here at SERVPRO of Shakopee Savage Prior Lake, we are built on a foundation of fire damage restoration expertise. If your property suffers from fire damage, smoke damage, or anything in between, give us a call at 952-403-1050! We're here to service Shakopee, Prior Lake, Chanhassen, New Prague, Jordan, Elko New Market, Savage, Chaska, Victoria, Belle Plaine, Carver, Cologne, and the whole greater Twin Cities.

Putting a Stop to Moldy Carpets

5/1/2022 (Permalink)

Mold is extremely versatile. If given the proper environment mold can grow in virtually every single area on a property. While there can be many causes of mold, there are a few precautions you can take to reduce the chances that you will ever have to deal with mold damage. As with many aspects of home maintenance, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Consider taking the below steps in order to keep mold from growing on your carpets.

Control the humidity and temperature in your home.

Mold grows best with a certain amount of moisture in the air, in addition to certain temperature ranges. One way to help prevent mold growth in any location on your property is to ensure that your humidity levels never reach 60%. 

Consider a different floor covering in areas prone to moisture

Some areas of a home are just more prone to humidity and moisture. Like your bathroom, for instance. Every design aspect of your home should be done with appearance and functionality in mind, and that includes making sure you’re making smart decisions about the type of floor coverings to have in certain areas based on the area’s usage along with environmental aspects. When it comes to bathroom floors, and to a lesser extent basement floors, sometimes the smartest plan is to avoid carpets altogether.

Use carpet padding that is anti-microbial

There are a few different types of padding most commonly used in residential homes. While some are more budget friendly than others, if you’re considering carpet in areas that may be more prone to moisture issues, consider installing rubber-slab carpet padding. It’s much more resistant to mold growth than traditional carpet pads. 

If you do get standing water on your carpets, get it out fast!

This goes for any surface type in your home, and it’s especially true with carpets. With the right humidity levels and temperatures, mold growth can accelerate quickly when food and water are present. Getting the water and excess moisture out quickly can be the difference between a close call and a serious health problem for your family.

Clean your carpets regularly

Vacuuming your carpets regularly, along with having them professionally steam cleaned, can go a long way in preventing mold growth. One of the components of rapid mold growth is food, and mold loves dirt, grime, food, and any other organic substance that can be found in your carpet fibers. Regularly cleaning your carpets is a great way to help reduce the likelihood of dealing with mold in the future! 

Typically, if you have black mold on your carpets a visual inspection is all that is necessary. But in other instances, you may notice a musty smell or perhaps you’ve also been experiencing some troubling health issues that you think may be attributed to high levels of mold. In most states, mold remediation companies must be different than mold testing companies. The way it works is that the mold testing company will come take environmental samples from your home and have them sent off to a lab to be evaluated. If it’s determined through the testing that your home has a toxic black mold problem, it’s at that point that you’ll want to hire a mold removal company like us. Call our franchises!

Employee Spotlight: Andrew Knutson

4/25/2022 (Permalink)

Say "Hi!" to Andrew, everyone!

Learn more about Andrew below!

– Before working here, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?

My first job was in the library in my hometown. I love books, so I found that job to be very interesting.

– Favorite travel spot?

I really enjoyed Dublin! I hope to go back someday.

– How do you define success?

I think success in pursuit of a goal is excellence. When you set out to achieve a goal, strive for perfection, but settle for excellence.     

– If given a chance, who would you like to be for a day?

Somebody short enough to fit into a Formula 1 car, anyone driving in F1 today really.

– If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you?

Steve Buscemi

– How has SERVPRO helped you in your career development?

By showing me a clear path forward, SERVPRO is growing rapidly and having the ability to grow with it is an amazing opportunity.

– If you could pick one theme for SERVPRO to turn into a book about the company, what would it be?

Perseverance. We set expectations highly for ourselves and I think it’s important to keep pushing in the right direction all the time in order to meet those expectations.

– If you could switch your job with anyone else within SERVPRO, whose job would you want?

I’d like to swap with Aimee for a while, I’ve always been interested in the sales route.

– What advice do you have for prospective SERVPRO candidates?

Don’t be afraid to admit when you’ve made a mistake, just learn from it, and let it make you better!

– What are 3 words to describe SERVPRO

Hardworking. Teamwork. Fun.

– What do you find the most challenging at SERVPRO?

There are a lot of moving parts, prioritizing tasks is my biggest challenge day-to-day.

– What do you like most about SERVPRO?

The people!

– What drew you to SERVPRO originally? And how has SERVPRO changed since?

The fact that it was a growing business, and still is! I love the opportunity help that growth. I haven’t been here for very long, but I’d like to think that we’ve gotten more efficient in the short time that I’ve been here.

– What has been your favorite project at SERVPRO?

I’ve been fortunate in having been put into a fairly new role. I have enjoyed making it my own and developing the idea of what a project coordinator does.

– What have you gained from working at SERVPRO?

I’ve learned so much about the industry in just a few months, it’s really been a crash course into the insurance and reconstruction world.

– What is on your wish list for the next 10 years with SERVPRO?

I’d love to see how far we can take the RECON division; in 10 years I’d love to see us become the largest RECON division in the country.

– What is the favorite part about working for SERVPRO?

Again, the people. I love coming to work with coworkers that I enjoy being around.

– What is your proudest moment at SERVPRO?

Anytime I’m able to anticipate a problem before it comes up, solving problems before they become problems.

– What is your role at SERVPRO?

Reconstruction Project Coordinator

– Any favorite line from a movie?

Brad Pitt in Inglorious Basterds with a horrible Italian accent – “Gorlami”

– Any random facts you could share with us?

Whales have regional accents and dialects.

– Are you messy or organized?

I like to think I’m pretty organized.

– Best vacation you’ve been to?

Ireland by far!

– Choose your Mr. Men/Little Miss, to describe your work personality? – Your home life personality?

I honestly have no idea what Mr. Men/Little Miss means, but I’m pretty laid back outside of work.

– Describe what you were like at age 10.

I was very adventurous and loved to climb things. I was prone to injuring myself by falling out of a tree.

– Do you have a favorite newspaper, blog?

I listen to a sailing podcast called “On the Wind Sailing” regularly. That would be the closest thing I’d say.

– Do you have a favorite quote?

 “You learn a lot about someone when you share a meal together” – Anthony Bourdain

– Do you have an office nickname? What is it?

Not really. Jeff calls me AK, but he has a nickname for everyone.

– Do you recall any embarrassing moment at work?

Thankfully, I’ve not been here long enough to do anything profoundly embarrassing. Though I’m sure my time will come.

Working Together Conference & Products Show

4/21/2022 (Permalink)

What is MN Multi Housing Association (MHA)?

The Minnesota Multi Housing Association (MHA) was founded in 1967 to promote the highest standards in the development, management and maintenance of rental and owner-occupied multi housing. While members include the state's largest apartment management companies, developers, common interest communities, and providers of related products and services, the majority of our members own or manage fewer than 20 units each. Governed by our Board of Directors, all members of the Minnesota Multi Housing Association commit themselves to the ethical principles and standards of our Code of Ethics. 

Why are we involved?

As a member of MHA, we get to work directly with clients to allow them to have a greater understanding of our business. By working with them directly at these conferences, we can gain insight on their needs as clients, all the while explaining to them the multitude of services that we can offer them.

It's very important to us that we are first seen as a positive resource for our community. We want our clients to understand that you can always call us with questions and concerns, without knowing if you need our services or not. We are here to be a resource for you!

For all things water, fire, mold, and construction - give us a call today!