Safety tips to keep your Christmas season merry!

12/12/2023 (Permalink)

Use these safety tips in your PGC residence or commercial building to make it a safe holiday season!

Christmas is less than 2 weeks away! Can you believe it?

During the winter holiday season, we notice a pattern of catastrophes, many dealing with Christmas trees. While they’re beautiful to look at, Christmas trees can cause a lot of issues if not properly taken care of.

To avoid hazards such as a tree fire, house fire, outlet overload, and even electrocution, follow the tips below to keep you and your family safe and happy during this 2023 holiday season!

• Water your tree daily! A dry tree can quickly transform into a tree in flames.
• Do not connect more than three strings of lights.
• Got cords? Keep them away from heat sources. Do not nail or staple them either. Placing them under a rug isn’t a safe idea. Neither is completely shutting a door or closing a window with a cord running through it. This is a fire hazard.
• Plugging in too many appliances can overload the outlet. 
• Before plugging in appliances, lights, yard decorations, etc., make sure your sockets are in good condition and that wires are not bare. Oftentimes, we use these decorations or particular outlets once a year, so it’s important to carefully inspect them.
• Turn off and unplug any lights before going to sleep or leaving your home. Extinguish any candles before leaving the vicinity.
• Cooking or baking for the holidays? Make sure to stay in the kitchen when doing so.
• Use battery-operated candles instead of candles with actual flames.
• Water and electricity do NOT mix well. Be careful your string lights are not touching or partially in the tree’s water bowl. Additionally, snow=water. Make sure you are dry when plugging in outdoor lights. Dry your hands from any falling elements such as rain and snow before dealing with electricity.
• It’s cold! But be careful where you place space heaters. They should always be at least 3 feet away from furniture, etc. and even farther from Christmas trees.

We at SERVPRO of Laurel and SERVPRO of Greenbelt NE/ Beltsville E wish you a Merry Christmas and safe holiday season!

For more fire safety tips, visit our website:

www.SERVPROlaurelgreenbelt.com/fire-damage-tips

Time to Winterize Your Property, to Avoid Pipe Bursts & Other Water Issues

11/11/2022 (Permalink)

Got pipe burst or other water-related damages to your home or business? SERVPRO of Laurel is a phone call away. 301-323-8862

With Winter just weeks away, we are reminding our customers & friends to walk around your home and yard and take a few simple steps to winterize your property.

The below 30 temperatures can freeze exposed water pipes. In the event you have frozen pipes, take these steps to be safe and help prevent further damage:

• First, find your home’s main water supply and shut it off.

• Next, turn off your main electrical supply to reduce the risk of electrical shock and damage to circuits and electrical appliances.
• If the water comes from a hot water pipe, shut the main valve to your hot water heater as well.
• Call a plumber for help as soon as possible.
• Your safety is most important. Please do not attempt potentially dangerous repairs. Be aware of submerged electrical outlets, appliances or chemicals that may be inside standing water.

The AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) offers the following tips to winterize your pipes and doors & windows this winter:

• Make sure to drain outdoor water spigots and winterize water pipes. You can winterize water pipes by locating your hose bib shut-off valve, which may be in a basement or crawl space, and turning it off at the source. For extra protection, purchase a Styrofoam cover that attaches over the outdoor spigots to keep them from freezing.
• You may also want to shut off water to exterior faucets and drain sprinkler systems for extra protection against freezing pipes and water lines.
• Heat lost through windows and doors can account for up to 30 percent of home energy use, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. To keep heat in the house, look for cracks or gaps in the exterior caulking, check seals around exterior door and add caulking or weather stripping as needed. While these do-it-yourself fixes can reduce heat loss, a professional energy assessment can provide additional insights into areas where you may be losing heat and recommend fixes. Call your utility company to ask about their services or get a recommendation for a pro.

Check out this article from the AARP website for more tips to winterize your home and save money:

www.aarp.org/money/budgeting-saving/info-10-2012/8-ways-to-save-money-this-winter.html

In the event you experience pipe bursts and other water-related damages to your home or business property, SERVPRO of Laurel & Greenbelt NE/Beltsville E is available 24/7 to respond to water damage emergencies. We are a water & fire cleanup and restoration company and can help. Call us at 301-323-8862.

Conserving Water In & Around Your Home

11/10/2022 (Permalink)

Follow these tips to help conserve water around your home.

At SERVPRO of Laurel and SERVPRO of Greenbelt NE/Beltsville E, we see the aftermath from home floods, which means a lot of wasted water. Excessive amounts of water leaking, bursting, or draining cause these floods. Our website mentions all the details on how we clean up and restore the flooded areas:

www.SERVPROlaurelgreenbelt.com/water-repair-process

In this blog, we will talk about water conservation. We hope to provide you with useful tips you can follow to save on your water bill and to our natural resources alike. Following these tips can also prevent a water catastrophe from occurring in your home:

• Check your toilet for leaks (the old food coloring trick is a sure way to discover any)
• Check for leaks in pipes and faucets, too
• Do not leave you water running the entire time you brush your teeth, shaving or showering
• Purchase water-saving appliances (a showerhead is probably the cheapest and will help cut your water bills)
• Wait until you have enough clothes for a full load to do laundry
• Position your lawn sprinkler in the most efficient way possible. Oftentimes, sprinkler water ends up watering the road or sidewalks
• Plant drought-resistant plants and trees
• Use a broom, instead of a hose, to remove dust and dirt from your sidewalks, etc.
• Reuse water when possible. You can water your garden instead of allowing a lot of the water you’ve used to flow down the drain
• Capture rainwater! Invest in a water drum to catch water from gutters and downspouts.

National Preparedness Month: Be 'Prepared, Not Scared!'

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

Be 'Prepared. Not Scared!'

September is National Preparedness Month. This year, ready.gov calls us to be “Prepared, Not Scared.”

Did you know you can:

• Download applications on your phone for weather alerts and updates
• Create a financial plan with consideration of a potential storm or other act of nature
• Check to see your insurance’s coverage for damages caused by an act of nature
• Learn more about how to protect your assets, potentially by investing in flood insurance
• Take a course or independently research about how to ensure safety during a storm or other event

The list could go on as there are endless precautions one can take, in addition to the rapid increase of technology. With that being said, SERVPRO of Laurel and SERVPRO of Greenbelt NE/Beltsville E make it easy for clients to be “Prepared, Not Scared,” as we stay up to date with the latest procedures and techniques to ensure your home or office is ready to face the potential natural force in its path.  

Waiting for a storm to pass through before asking for help can have disastrous effects on your property and can leave you and your family overwhelmed.

It's important to know that creating a plan and taking preventative measures will impact your safety and your wallet for the better, but sometimes, these emergencies cannot be foreseen. 

Luckily, SERVPRO of Laurel and SERVPRO of Greenbelt NE/Beltsville E offer 24-hour Emergency Service provided by highly-trained damage specialists who are equipped with stellar knowledge and skill. You can rest assure knowing our SERVPRO teams will demonstrate their mastery over acts of nature. You can remain confident as we restore any damages on your property. Click here for details:

www.SERVPROlaurelgreenbelt.com/storm-flooding-restoration

Call us at (301) 323-8862 to plan for an emergency or if you have damage from an emergency that needs to be fixed. 

How to Keep Your Pet Safe During a Storm

3/19/2021 (Permalink)

It's important to make sure your pets are safe and comfortable during inclement weather!

Pets can face a lot of anxiety amidst a storm.

If you know a storm is approaching, or see the first sign of one, immediately bring your pet indoors. Animals can become disoriented and panicky when witnessing intense conditions, and it’s not uncommon for them to wander away under these circumstances. Also, if a veterinarian has prescribed your pet any anxiety medication, this would be a good time to administer the medication.

It’s also important your pets wear ID tags, or better yet, are microchipped. If they do get lost, they will be much easier to identify and more quickly returned to you.

It’s very common for your pet to become frightened when they hear thunder or feel the house shake due to high winds. In case of emergency, in an instance where you have to pick them up and flee your home, be sure to remember their favorite hiding spaces. This way, you won’t waste time wandering around your home in search of them.

If you are leaving your home, it’s best to bring your pet with you. Create a list of surrounding lodging choices that are pet-friendly. See if you could drop off your furry friend at a friend’s or relative’s home, or call to see if any boarding kennels have space.

If you are staying home, keep your pets away from windows as much as possible. In a state of panic, your pet could either try jumping out (however, your windows should definitely be shut), or something may cause your window to shatter, sending pieces of broken glass everywhere.

In the event of heavy rains beginning to come inside your home, and it begins to flood, move yourself and your pet to the highest location inside your home. Your pet can take shelter in cabinets or shelving.

A few tips include moving your pet inside a room with no carpeting, in case of bathroom emergency, and having a fresh supply of water readily available, as you do not want your pet to dehydrate. Taking them to a veterinarian would be nearly impossible in the case of a serious weather crisis.

Additionally, make sure there are no poisonous substances or baits your pet can get ahold of. When taking shelter, your pet might either be in an unfamiliar room which you are not used to them being in, or they might get bored and begin getting into boxes, bins, or shelves. Again, if they consume something that will cause them to fall ill, it would be nearly impossible for you to bring them to the veterinarian.

Lastly, consider creating a first-aid kit for your pet. ASPCA has created a list of items you should include in your own kit. Check out their link: https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/saving-lives-shelter-health-poison-control/how-make-pet-first-aid-kit

For other tips or for fire and water cleanup & restoration, SERVPRO of Laurel and SERVPRO of Greenbelt NE/Beltsville E are here to help. Call us 24/7 at 301-323-8862.