Recent Posts

When SERVPRO is Called, Flood Water Damage is Reduced

11/13/2023 (Permalink)

More bad weather! Be Prepared For Storm Damage in the Lenoir area.

At SERVPRO, we pursue an aggressive strategy of mitigation, meaning we send out crews 24/7 as quickly as possible to respond rapidly to a scene and stop further damage from occurring. Some disasters rely on mitigation more than others, and flood damage is one of the more significant mitigation topics. We urge homeowners who have fallen victim to a flood to contact us as soon as possible, as a speedy response makes a big difference in how much time and money the situation ends up costing you.
 
When water floods an area, every nook and cranny are susceptible to significant water damage. If we can't respond quickly to a case of flood damage in Lenoir or the surrounding area, water will begin to work its way through cracks and corners into deeper regions of your home. In the worst cases, when the homeowner is away or unaware of the damage, it can even seep into and damage the building foundation.
 
Floodwaters breed mold, fungi, and present an environment for  insects and microbes to expand in great numbers quickly. Early removal of floodwater is critical in stopping the growth and reproduction of these unwanted consequences. We will also need to initiate a thorough drying process to free the area from mold's grip, and pumping out water quickly is a vital first step to diminishing these effects.
 
Floods tend to open up areas to conditions that propagate further damage to the home, manipulating factors such as temperature, humidity, and air flow in the home. If we can respond quickly enough, we can set up equipment to control these variables before the flood ever gets a chance to disrupt the internal elements of the structure.
 
SERVPRO of Iredell County employs a strategy of mitigation to help prevent as much damage as possible to your home in the event of a disaster. If your home has been flooded, call us right away 24/7 at (828) 396-1070 so that we can respond quickly and begin to mitigate damage.

Water Damage in Your Business? SERVPRO is Here to Help

10/31/2023 (Permalink)

Review your Emergency Plan Count on SERVPRO for any Iredell area Water Damage Help

It's a regular part of many employees' work duties to maintain and clean their work area, and at times, the areas of other employees. Some situations fall outside of normal working conditions, and these need to have special rules. Allowing, or requiring, employees to clean up spills and messes is expected to a certain degree, but some situations surpass this.
 
If your Lenoir business has a case with commercial water damage, there are several reasons why you should bring in outside help, instead of having your employees rectify the watery mess. First is their safety during the task of cleaning up, but you should also keep in mind their experience in dealing with hazards such as this. Many times, it isn't only water that is causing problems, but microscopic organisms and inorganic compounds that the water might contain. These contaminants can create health and safety concerns and possible risks. Any injuries or illnesses resulting from cleaning up will be your responsibility.
 
You also have an obligation to your company. Having unskilled and unqualified people cleaning, restoring, and repairing commercial water damage at your site can leave the building lacking on many different levels. Some of these can become serious risks to the safety of others later. SERVPRO has the certified IICRC training and water damage restoration technicians to restore your structure.
 
Work done by unqualified or unlicensed people can also create havoc with not only your insurance agent but also with local code enforcement officers. Not only might you find that your employees are unable to complete even small portions of the work required to keep you in business, but you will be unable to provide the necessary paperwork to document the repairs that were needed, and performed, for your business to be re-approved by code enforcement. The same is also true with your insurance carrier when it comes time to file a claim for reimbursement. Better to call a business to keep you in business.
 
It's better to call an expert and experienced professionals with the required licensing and certifications who can handle any size disaster. When you have commercial water damage, it's time to call us, SERVPRO of Iredell County at (704) 872-7466. We'll get your business cleaned up and functional again.

Fire Damage? Here's What You Have To Do.

9/28/2023 (Permalink)

If your home has a fire, attaining high-quality fire damage restoration services is strongly recommended. If you don't take this important step, you could risk subjecting your property to structural damage and unwanted mold growth. There is a broad range of restoration services that these experts offer to get your home back in great shape.

The Four Major Fire Damage Restoration Techniques


In general, fire damage restoration companies in Lenoir will utilize four processes to restore your residential property. These methods include drying the home, the removal of unsalvageable materials, completing structural repairs, and thoroughly cleaning the HVAC equipment. Learn more about each process below.

Drying Your Home
One of your first priorities after a fire should be to dry the water damage left behind by the firefighters. Unfortunately, damp furniture, moist drywalls, and standing water all create the perfect setting for mold to grow and thrive within. Restoration specialists know this, and they use equipment like air movers and dehumidifiers to quickly dry your property. 

Discarding Unsalvageable Materials
After a fire, many items are unsalvageable and have to be discarded. This is necessary to prevent further contamination and for your own health and safety. Your local disaster restoration company will check all materials in the affected areas and properly dispose of items deemed unsalvageable (always with the property owner’s permission, of course).

If you choose to use our team here at SERVPRO, we can also store and clean items that are considered salvageable. This allows you to save many sentimental items and eliminates the costs associated with direct replacement.

HVAC System Cleaning
During a fire, smoke and soot particles cover affected areas, including your HVAC system. Before you even consider turning on your system, it’s essential that your ducts are thoroughly cleaned. This prevents particles from recirculating through your home and reduces strain on your system!

Structural Rebuild
In many cases, fires do substantive damage to the structure of a home. As such, many homeowners need repair services to get their property back to its original condition. Luckily, some fire damage specialists—like our team in Lenoir, NC—may offer this service as a part of the restoration process. 

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

If your home has a fire, you might face a difficult road to recovery. But calling a team of fire restoration experts can make the process easier to manage. If you live in the Lenoir, NC area, SERVPRO of Iredell County is your professional team. Now celebrating our 10th anniversary, we have the experience and expertise to make any fire damage “Like it never even happened.” If your home has a fire, call us today at (704) 872-7466!

Top Causes of Water Damage and How To Fix Them

8/21/2023 (Permalink)

Water Damage This is not where you want to see water!

As many water damage restoration experts know, there are numerous situations that can expose your Iredell County home to the effects of water damage. Irrespective of which situation arises—a weather event or a mechanical breakdown—it's crucial that you hire a top-notch water damage restoration company, such as our team at SERVPRO of Iredell County. 

Basements or Crawl Spaces

Basements are a very common place to have water damage. If your back and sideyard slopes have a negative grade, you can find your property subjected to water damage. In this case, excess lawn water or rain will flow toward your foundation rather than drain away from the base. Correctly grading your lawn can help prevent the need for extensive water damage repairs.

Pipes that leak or burst can also generate substantive water damage. To prevent this, the plumbing in the basement area should periodically be inspected for leaks.

Appliance Leaks

Broken or leaking appliances can generate unwanted water damage, such as dishwashers, toilets, or washing machines that leak or overflow. In some cases, this can be waste-filled, chemical-laden water which would make water removal the number one priority. Additionally, a refrigerator containing a water filtration system and ice maker may develop hose leaks from the water supply line. If these leaks remain unnoticed for extended periods of time, they can give rise to mold growth and damage to the walls, floors, and the foundation.

Other Causes and Effects Of Water Damage

In addition to water intrusion from the above instances, water damage can result from excessive humidity and leaky roofs. Water that enters your property from the roof indicates that quick repairs are necessary to stymie further issues. Similarly, excessive humidity can cause warping in your window frames, ceilings, flooring, floor joists, furniture, and walls. In a crawl space, it may be necessary to install permanent dehumidifiers and plastic poly to establish a vapor barrier.

It's important to minimize the effects of any water damage in order to prevent mold and structural damage. When moisture issues are not addressed, the structure can deteriorate, and mold growth can transform into an infestation. That's why a company with the knowledge, equipment, and experience—such as SERVPRO of Iredell County—should perform both water damage restoration and mold remediation.

A Recognized Water Damage Solution


If you find that your Iredell County property experiences water damage, the most effective solution is to hire a water damage restoration company to begin the cleanup, repair, and restoration process. In our case, we offer 24-hour emergency services, excellent customer service, and expedient remediation work that will return your home to a safe, sanitary condition.

As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of Iredell County is close by and ready to respond to your water and flood damage emergency. 

How to Prevent Water Damage in 5 Steps

8/15/2023 (Permalink)

Home Water Damage Most Homeowners insurance policies cover basic water damage claims up to the purchased limit.

Most Homeowners insurance policies cover basic water damage claims up to the purchased limit.

But you know what’s a lot easier than going through the claims process? Preventing the water damage in the first place!

Check out these 5 suggestions for preventing water damage:  

1. Be careful where you plant 

Some plants and trees, like weeping willows, have pretty invasive roots. If you’re not careful, they’ll grow right into your sprinkler system, drainage field, pipes, and septic tanks. Plan before you plant to keep roots away from any water lines.  

2. Clean out roof gutters

You know it’s on your to-do list anyway, so if you can, take a safe climb up to your roof next Sunday and check out your gutters. If you’re seeing lots of leaves, birds’ nests, sticks, and whatnot up there, your gutters may not be doing the job you hired them for. And on a rainy day, a clogged gutter can send water spilling into your home’s foundation, through the roof, or down to your basement. That could cause some serious water damage! So next time you’re doing some seasonal cleaning, make sure those gutters are clean. And if your gutters are too high, be safe and get a professional to check them.  

3. Keep an eye on your water bill

With so many water pipes hidden behind walls and in the floors in your house, you might not know there’s a leak until the damage is done. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep a close eye on your monthly water bill. If you see it starting to creep up, or get one that’s uncommonly high, it’s a pretty good sign that you may have a leak somewhere.  

4. Use a drain snake instead of unclogging chemicals

No matter how crazy clean you are, from your shower to your kitchen sink, clogs are going to happen. And chances are at some point in your life you’ve used one of those powerful chemical drain cleaners to get things moving again. But as convenient as they may be, most folks don’t realize those caustic chemicals are also eating away at their pipes (and they might not be too good for you either). If you rely on them a lot, you could be setting yourself up for leaks. That’s why owning a drain snake is a good solution to clear away clogs. They’re pretty inexpensive, you can get them at your local hardware store, and they can cut through most any clog you’ll have without damaging pipes or making your eyes red and teary.  

5. Never pour grease down your sink

You’ve probably heard this before, but you should definitely avoid pouring grease down your kitchen sink. It doesn’t matter if you flush it with hot or cold water. It can still congeal and cling to your pipes, and could still cause some serious damage and blockage.

Some people use detergent to break up grease before pouring it down the drain…and that may help sometimes. But there’s no guarantee that it’ll keep the grease from sticking to your pipes, so why take the risk?

The safest thing to do is just to pour your grease in an empty can, and either let it sit or put it in the refrigerator. Once it hardens you can toss it in the trash and get rid of it. Done and done.

3 Typical Causes of Fire Damage to your Home

8/1/2023 (Permalink)

House fire damage House fires can be highly destructive, but they can be prevented if you're aware of the most common causes!

Each year, many homes and businesses in the Statesville and Mooresville areas experience some kind of fire damage. In some cases, they have actual fires; in others, they have smoke and soot damage. These incidents can be expensive to clean up and restore, but they can also be prevented. There are many ways fire damage can occur, but we’ve identified at 3 of the most common sources.

  1. Cooking fires. Cooking-based fires are one of the most common causes of home fires each year. These can be further broken down into subcategories, but it’s important to practice fire safety in general. As a precaution, it’s highly encouraged that you never leave the kitchen unsupervised while in use.
  2. Electrical fires. We’ve worked on many homes that have experienced fire damage due to electrical sources. For starters, never use exposed wires, but it’s equally as important that you never overwork an outlet. Be smart with electricity, and you can reduce your risk of a fire.
  3. Heating-related fires. Heat is important to all of us, especially during the winter. But heating equipment—such as space heaters, candles, and fireplaces—can also start fires if they get too close to flammable objects. Keep heating equipment at least 3 feet away from such materials and that will substantially reduce your risk!

Fire damage can be stressful to navigate, which is why it should be prevented from occurring in the first place! If you do have a fire, though, our expert team can clean up and restore your property. You can call us anytime at (704) 872-7466!

Fire Safety Tips from the Iredell County Red Cross

8/1/2023 (Permalink)

Red Cross Fire Safety Plan Talk with all household members about a fire escape plan and practice the plan twice a year.

Did you know that if a fire starts in your home, you may have just two minutes to escape?

The most effective way to protect yourself and your home from fire is to identify and remove fire hazards. 60 percent of house fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms. During a home fire, working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives.

Fire Safety Tips

  • If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL for HELP.
  • Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.
  • Test smoke alarms once a month, if they’re not working, change the batteries.
  • Talk with all household members about a fire escape plan and practice the plan twice a year.

Meet Kisha, Business Development Rep at SERVPRO

10/7/2022 (Permalink)

Kisha Edwards, Business Development Rep at SERVPRO Kisha Edwards, Business Development Rep at SERVPRO

We recently spent some time talking with employees at SERVPRO of Iredell County to find out why they work for SERVPRO and how they feel they can help customers.

Click to watch the video of Kisha Edwards!

In this video, meet Kisha Edwards, our Business Development Rep. Kisha hit the ground running with us in June 2021. Kisha is enjoys building relationships with our customers and teams in Alexander, Burke, Caldwell Catawba and Iredell counties.

At SERVPRO of Iredell County, our cleanup and restoration team is always available to help you recover from water, fire, or mold damage. If you have an incident at your home in the Iredell County area, give us a call at (704) 872-7466!

Take Caution with Portable Heaters

9/19/2022 (Permalink)

Portable Space Heater These devices can generate a lot of extra heat, but if used improperly, can also create a serious safety hazard.

Winter is coming soon, along with bitter cold and freezing temperatures.  In an effort to keep living and working spaces cozy, many residents and employees turn to alternative heat sources. The most common form of alternative heat comes from portable space heaters. These devices can generate a lot of extra heat, but if used improperly, can also create a serious safety hazard.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating is the leading cause of home fire deaths. Almost half of these deaths occur during the months of December, January, and February.  Statistics show most of these fires also involved stationary or portable heaters.

When used as directed and maintained properly, space heaters can be used safely. When purchasing a space heater, make sure it has been evaluated by an independent testing laboratory; this will generally be indicated on the box or tag. Before operating the heater, read the manufacturer’s instructions. For more ways to minimize the risk of a heating related fire, review the tips list here:

  • Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from the heating equipment, like furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
  • Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters, or central heating equipment according to local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
  • Remember to turn off portable heaters when leaving a room.
  • Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.
  • Test smoke alarms monthly.

SERVPRO of Iredell County professionals are dedicated to restoring both the property and the lives of customers being helped. The number one goal is returning damaged areas and items to preloss condition, doing all we can to make it “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO Works to Preserve Your Storm Damaged Possessions

8/22/2022 (Permalink)

Storm SERVPRO is ready to inspect your home affected by a storm and begin mitigating the losses you suffer.

Water kept pouring down, it moved around the side of the house and filled the entire area surrounding your home with water. It just wouldn't stop raining; everyone felt helpless. However, there was simply nothing anyone could do to prevent this event from happening. Even though most of the water is gone now, homeowners now face the task of cleaning up mud-soaked areas of their home and are hopefully dealing with their insurance companies to get some assistance in addressing their current situations. Just remember that it is far easier these days to find help during these types of situations; you're not alone.

We have several teams of highly trained technicians that specialize in performing storm damage repairs to your Statesville home. We're available to assist you at any time, day or night, and work hard to ensure that your home gets returned to a quality preloss condition. We'll even help you communicate everything to your insurance company and get the proper paperwork started for your claim. 
 
After our SERVPRO technicians arrive on site, we carefully inspect the entire area affected by the storm and begin mitigating the losses you suffer immediately. We identify any possible hazardous situations that could develop and limit them by turning off the electricity and checking for falling ceilings or deteriorated subfloors. Once we've performed this initial inspection and determined that the area is safe, we'll explain which services we plan to provide and answer any questions you may have. 
 
SERVPRO offers water removal services to pump out any standing water that still exists in and around your home. We use moisture meters and other equipment to determine the extent of water penetration within your flooring, walls, and crawl spaces; and extract as much water as possible. Your carpeting, furniture, and other personal belongings are all handled with great care and moved to a dry location where they can be properly taken care of to prevent secondary damages from developing. 
 
Our technicians at SERVPRO remove all furniture as quickly as possible to prevent stains from forming on your carpet. We'll then examine your carpet for damages and determine if it is possible to dry and reinstall them. But before we do, we treat the floor and back of the carpet with deodorizers and antimicrobials to help protect it from further damage. 
 
Once we've taken care of all of the standing water and your personal belongings, we position the proper drying equipment to begin fully drying the affected areas. We follow IICRC recommendations to use air movers that deliver a warm, dry rapid airflow to wet surfaces. There is a lot more to our services than described here and even more situations that we can assist you through. 
 
Give us a call at SERVPRO of Iredell County today, (704) 872-7466. We're ready to make your situation, "Like it never even happened."