Recent Posts
Summer Storms
8/18/2022 (Permalink)
Southern Maryland knows all too well what these storms can bring us, especially if you live near the water. The summer of 2022 is the hottest one yet with lots of humidity, and we are enjoying the freedom to be out and about. However, the hot summer also brings these unpredictable, quick moving summer storms resulting in high winds, heavy rainfall, lots of flooding and oftentimes, property damage.
With all these storms rolling in means humidity and thunderstorms in southern Maryland is famous for our summer storms rolling in and giving us inches of rain a then rolling out like nothing ever happened.
Being prepared for summer storms is essential. The following are steps that we recommend at a minimum:
- Weekly checks of your sump pump
- Clean gutters and drains
- Check around your foundation and downspouts
- Cut or trim trees in danger of falling
- Important paper should be kept in a waterproof container
- Assemble a disaster supply kit
- Review insurance policies
You should make a habit of doing these checks on a regular basis no matter the season. These simple things could save you thousands of dollars and not to mention headaches!
But, if you ever find yourself with water in your home, excess humidity, or other damage from a storm, call your local SERVPRO professionals to come out and look at your home. We can help guide you through the steps toward restoration and remediation. We are here to help and available 24 x 7. Call SERVPRO of Charles County and SERVPRO of Oxon Hill 24/7/365 Emergency Services at 301-753-8313.
Fire Safety
8/18/2022 (Permalink)
Fire Safety
SERVPRO® of Charles County is your local Family Owned and Operated Cleaning Restoration Company. While we are experiencing these scorching heat waves, we would like to give you some Fire Safety Tips.
There are house fires every 24 second and that is more than 3,000 fires each day. House fires can be prevented, and unattended cooking is the leading cause of the house fires. Leaving unattended things plugged in which can get hot and cause an electrical fire. Also, make sure you have smoke alarms on every floor and every room in your home.
- Never leave food cooking unattended, especially deep fryers and other frying equipment.
- Avoid using portable and fixed space heaters, as heating equipment is the second leading cause of house fire deaths.
- Create a fire plan that gets you out of your home in less than 2 minutes and practice it.
- Avoid smoking in the house.
Be sure to check your smoke detectors each month and make sure your fire extinguishers are in a place where they are easy to grab, if needed.
To operate a fire extinguisher, remember the word "PASS:"
- Pull the pin. Hold the fire extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you and remove the pin to unlock it.
- Aim low. Point the nozzle at the base of the fire.
- Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
- Sweep the nozzle from side to side.
If you are faced with an emergency and need assistance call 911. Once your emergency has been controlled please do not hesitate to reach out to SERVPRO® of Charles County and SERVPRO® of Oxon Hill as we are always Here to Help! We will walk you through the cleanup, restoration and reconstruction process and get you back to living life.
We are available 24/7/365 @ 301.753.8313
Impact of Water Damage
8/18/2022 (Permalink)
Pipe leak
Your home is your safe place or respite and relaxation. It provides protection and comfort for family, friends and loved ones. However, sometimes accidents happen. Houses flood, pipes burst, and roofs leak. What might not seem like a big deal initially may become much worse if left unchecked. Water damage in a home can have a substantial negative impact on those living in the house. Water damage and freezing as a category is the second-most common type of home insurance claim (following wind and hail).
- Nationwide, household leaks waste an estimated one (1) trillion gallons or enough to supply 11 million homes with water for a year.
- 10% of homes with leaks waste 90 gallons or more per day.
- A leaky faucet can waste 3,000 gallons per year.
- A leak in an irrigation system can waste 6,300 gallons in a year.
- An average household leak can waste up to 10,000 gallons of water in a year.
- Annual water wastage from a typical household leak is equivalent to the water used for:
- 270 loads of laundry.
- 600 showers.
- 1,200 loads of dishes in a dishwasher.
- 6,250 flushes of a standard toilet.
- 80,000 servings of water.
Flooding and water damage is very invasive. Water quickly spreads throughout your home and gets absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, and more. SERVPRO of Charles County arrives quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately. This immediate response helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs.
Flooding and water emergencies don’t wait for regular business hours and neither do we. SERVPRO of Charles County provides emergency cleaning and restoration services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—including all holidays. As always, SERVPRO of Charles County and SERVPRO of Oxon Hill professionals are here to help!
Hailstorm
8/18/2022 (Permalink)
Hailstorm Damage
Occasionally, we southern Marylanders encounter a hailstorm. Let’s discuss what causes hail and its impact.
What is and what causes hail?
Often round in shape, hail is layered ice particles produced by thunderstorms with strong, tilted updrafts. They usually form within a unusually unstable air mass in which the temperature falloff with height is much greater than normal. The unstable air is required to create large updraft speeds -- fast enough to keep a developing hailstone from hitting the ground.
- Hailstorms are the identifier of a strong thunderstorm.
- The eventual size of the hail depends on how long they can defeat gravity.
- Hail size depends on the strength of the updraft.
- The bigger the hail balls are, the harder they fall.
- The largest hailstone ever recorded was the size of a volleyball.
- Hail causes $1 billion in damage each year with millions of ice balls ranging in size from golf balls to grapefruits.
- Oklahoma is the large hail champion in the United States.
Regardless of the type of storm, we recommend:
- Check your surroundings and make sure you are safe.
- Contact your insurance company.
- Inspect the roof and exterior siding.
- Check other outside structures
- Inspect your home’s appliances
- Check the attic, crawlspaces and basement.
- Document any and all damage.
In the event of an emergency, we are here to help and available 24 x 7. Call SERVPRO of Charles County and SERVPRO of Oxon Hill 24/7/365 Emergency Services at 301-753-8313.
The Importance of Professionals
4/11/2022 (Permalink)
We are here to help!
We can never accurately predict when the disaster will strike. But when it does, it is vital for us to understand that restoring damaged commercial property is a huge responsibility. In the case of commercial property, when it is the physical face of your company, it is always best to rely on professionals.
At SERVPRO® of Charles County and SERVPRO® of Oxon Hill, we provide:
- 24 x 7 Response to your emergency from the restoration team
- Experienced and trained technicians to guide you through the process
- Commercial equipment capable of restoring fire, water, mold, and storm damage
- Stress-Free claims process working with your insurance company
- Limits to service disruption while working on getting you back in business
Whether businesses, apartments, hospitals, hotels, medical facilities, or educational institutions, SERVPRO® of Charles County and SERVPRO® of Oxon Hill are here to help! We offer the best restoration services for commercial buildings so that your business can start running smoothly again. We can be reached by calling (301) 753-8313 for commercial restoration service.
Responsive, Ready and Qualified
3/28/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Charles County and SERVPRO of Oxon Hill are available 24 hours a day for emergencies, large or small. Depending upon the situation, immediate action may be crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the 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.
Serving our community for over 35 years, SERVPRO of Charles County and SERVPRO of Oxon Hill have the specific training and experience to help you through this tough time.
We specialize 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 team is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.
Our Commitment to our Community
3/28/2022 (Permalink)
Communities begin with Children
Why choose SERVPRO® of Charles County and SERVPRO® of Oxon Hill? With many other choices available, we stand out because of our local ties and commitment to our community. We are not just about work, work, and work. At SERVPRO® of Charles County and SERVPRO® of Oxon Hill, we believe a strong and cohesive community can grow and flourish. We understand the importance and responsibility of giving back to the community. When you give back through donations, volunteerism, promotions, we broaden our horizons and perceptions of the world. We realize what actually matters and are thankful.
To demonstrate our commitment to our community, we continue to support the Children’s Aid Society. The Children’s Aid Society is all about improving the quality of life for struggling Charles County families and children. We stand behind their goal of offering basic amenities of life like food, clothing, holiday assistance and much more.
The importance of community service lies in the fact that it connects us to the community by improving it, and making it a better place for all of us to live in. SERVPRO® of Charles County and SERVPRO® of Oxon Hill are here to help!
Exceeding our Customers Expectations
3/28/2022 (Permalink)
Exceeding our Customers' Expectations
After commercial or residential damage, it is necessary to begin the restoration process as soon as possible. Analyzing the damage on your own leaves behind many unnoticed areas that can cause havoc later or can lead to a bigger damage to your property. SERVPRO® of Charles County and SERVPRO® of Oxon Hill are professionals equipped to take care of everything, from analyzing to repair and restoration.
Why SERVPRO® of Charles County and SERVPRO® of Oxon Hill?
- Services on Time: We provide emergency services and are at your service as soon as you reach out to us for help.
- Expert Personnel and Technology: We provide highly trained technicians who are familiar with advanced technology designed for property damage restoration. With IICRC industry certifications, our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.
- Low Restoration Costs on High Quality Process: Our “restore first” mentality helps to lower costs and get you back in your home or business sooner. This focus relies upon our specialized training and equipment to restore your property back to pre-event condition.
- Insurance Claim Handling: We are also experts in handling insurance matters. If you have no experience in filling the insurance claims, then we can provide stress-free claims process where we manage the insurance paperwork and process.
Trained experts of SERVPRO® of Charles County and SERVPRO® of Oxon Hill are available 24*7 for emergency requirements and are reachable at (301) 753-8313.
Flash Flood Facts!
3/7/2022 (Permalink)
Don't do it! Stay Safe!
As severe spring weather begins to come into our region, it is wise to understand the importance of flash floods. A flood watch is issued when flooding is possible within the watch area. A flash flood is a rapid rise of water along a stream or low-lying area. They can be produced when slow-moving or multiple thunderstorms occur in the same place. A significant number of deaths occur due to flooding more than any other hazard related to thunderstorms. Accidents resulting in death commonly happen when vehicles are driven into hazardous floodwaters. It is essential to be aware of many of the possible hazards and precautions to take during a flood watch or warning, including:
- Gather emergency supplies, including food and water
- Listen to your local radio or TV station for updates
- Have immunization records handy
- Bring in outdoor possessions
- If advised to evacuate, do so immediately
- Only drive if necessary, since only two feet of water can float most vehicles
- Do not cross flowing streams where water is above your ankles
- Do not drive through a flooded road
- Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams or washes
- Do not drive around a barricade as they are there for your protection
- Be especially cautious at nights as it is harder to recognize
Let’s welcome Spring 2022 safely!
SERVPRO® of Charles County and SERVPRO® of Oxon Hill
(301) 753-8313
Knowledge is Key
1/31/2022 (Permalink)
The more you know!
SERVPRO® of Charles County and SERVPRO® Oxon Hill works to support commercial and residential customers. Available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, we are ready to support you whether your facility is a hospital, school, college, apartment complex, hotel, casino or home. Our knowledge and experience at SERVPRO® of Charles County and SERVPRO® Oxon Hill is over 35 years plus strong and we are only getting better and stronger.
Our Crew Chiefs and Technicians are trained on the latest and most up-to-date technology which helps us stay on top of our game and fully prepared to deliver quality service to you. We are constantly learning and improving our skills. There is so much to learn in this industry that our guys are constantly searching for new and more efficient ways to help improve our abilities to handle disasters. Additionally, we use the most recent equipment in order to provide the best for your property. No matter the size of your emergency, SERVPRO® of Charles County and SERVPRO® of Oxon Hill are here to help! What is better than having those that genuinely care, help you restore your home or business? We can be reached by calling (301) 753-8313 for water damage repair and restoration service.