Keep Your Air Ducts Clean

5/3/2020 (Permalink)

ducts need to be Cleaned!

Most people spend about 60 to 90% of their time inside the house. Yet, only a few of them really care about maintaining quality indoor air. Having a properly working HVAC system can improve your indoor air significantly. But, removing debris and dust from your duct system is even more effective in eliminating contaminants in the air inside your home.

Below are top 5 reasons you should have your air ducts checked and cleaned by professionals.

1. Duct cleaning prevents health issues.

Over time, dust and other air particles accumulate in your duct system. The air confined in your HVAC system carries harmful contaminants that surprisingly affect your family’s health. Once the dirt has buildup on a great amount, it gives way to skin allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions. But with routine air duct cleaning, you can prevent these health problems from conquering your family.

2. Duct cleaning improves your system’s performance.

Proper air duct maintenance and your system’s efficiency go hand in hand. When the ductwork is overcome by multitudes of dust, mold, allergens and pet dander without regular cleaning, it restricts your HVAC system from doing its job. But after cleaning and removing these elements, your system can efficiently and evenly distribute fresh and clean air throughout the house.

3. Duct cleaning increases the lifecycle of HVAC system.

Your heating and cooling system should be one of biggest investments. And, the last thing you have in mind is to buy a new one. Surely, you want to use it for a long time. Statistics show that 9 out of 10 systems do not last long due to less maintenance. Regular duct cleaning significantly adds years to your system’s lifespan. Prevent potential system breakdown and call your HVAC contractor now.

4. Duct cleaning eliminates musty odor at home.

Smelling unpleasant odor has something to do with dirty and clogged duct system. And, using scented candles and air fresheners cannot eliminate the odor. The best thing to do is to have your ducts serviced to improve air quality in your home.

5. Duct cleaning exposes underlying issues in your system.

Although it seems like your system is working good, what lies on it may remain unseen and unknown until it is checked by professionals. With a regular air duct cleaning, you foresee potential mechanical issues on the system, preventing expensive repairs in the future.

Looking for expert duct cleaning and maintenance services? C & K Heat and Air Conditioning is your one-stop shop for all your HVAC needs. Achieve high-quality indoor air with our unmatched duct cleaning service. Call us now! SERVPRO Columbus, 706-568-1934.

What is Covered by Homeowner's Insurance?

2/24/2020 (Permalink)

Although homeowner’s insurance policies will have different limits and coverage’s, there are general rules as to what they do cover.

What is Homeowner’s Insurance?

Homeowners insurance is a general coverage that can help to pay the repair and replacement bills after specific types of damages to a property, like water damage, fire, or vandalism. This insurance can also help to cover the cost of other properties if you are at fault or if a visitor was harmed on your property.

What Does Homeowner’s Insurance Cover?

• Your home
• Personal property
• Other structures on your property
• Liability protection

In addition to the general coverage’s listed above, there are add-on coverage’s that can offer extra protection.

Generally, damages caused by any of the following will be covered:

• Fires
• Windstorms
• Hail
• Lightning
• Theft
• Accidents
• Hurricanes

It’s also important to know that not all natural disasters are covered. For example, floods and earthquakes are not covered.

If you feel like you may need these too, they can be purchased in addition to your policy. You can also keep them separated, such as having the policies with a different insurance company. Regardless, doing this will keep you covered and protect your family from financial turmoil after a disaster.

A key point to keep in mind is to only purchase enough coverage that will rebuild your home.

Your Home

Your homeowners insurance policy pays to cover the reconstruction or restoration costs of your home. Other structures that are detached from the home, like a garage, swimming pool, tool shed, or gazebo are also covered on most policies, accounting for about 10% of the coverage stated on your policy.

Just keep in mind that the following disasters stated above, such as earthquakes and floods are not covered, nor is general wear and tear.

Liability Protection

Many homeowners insurance policies include liability for lawsuits, property damage caused by you and others, or bodily injury of anyone on your property. It can also pay for the damage caused by your pets. So if your children or pets accidentally break your neighbor’s window, it would be covered by your policy.

If anyone had taken you to court in regards to paying for the damage, the liability portion would also cover the costs of defending you. Although there is a limit stated within each policy.

Generally, liability starts at $100,000, but it should be considered to purchase higher level of protection with your agent, given specific circumstances. If you also own certain assets of high value, purchasing additional coverage, such as an umbrella or excess liability policy, would be a good idea. This way you wouldn’t have to worry about limits or minimal coverage.

The last part of liability includes no-fault medical coverage, so if anyone is injured on your property, they can send the medical bills to your insurance provider. Then you won’t have to be worried about any lawsuit being filed against you. The one limitation to this part is that it does not cover medical bills of anyone, including pets, already living on the property.

Personal Property

In addition to your home, your personal belongings also need to be covered if your home was hit by a natural disaster. So a homeowner’s insurance policy can cover any electronics, furniture, artwork, and any other valuables within your home.

To get an idea of how much coverage to purchase, conduct a home inventory that includes the value of all personal belongings.

You may also be surprised to find that trees, plants, and shrubs are also covered under standard policies, but have a limit of around $500 per plant. But there are some instances when they are not covered, such as poor maintenance or disease.

The policy can cover the cost to repair or replace personal contents, as long as it is a covered disaster listed above. Sometimes it can even cover the items if they weren’t in the house at the time of destruction. Just keep in mind that due to the worth of some items, like artwork, jewelry, collectibles, and silverware, extended coverage can be purchased as they will exceed the general coverage limit.

Additional Living Expenses

Additional living expenses (ALE) can cover the costs of living away from home if the damage caused to the structure has made it unsafe. This would typically cover restaurant meals, hotel bills, and other costs that would be additional to your regular living expenses.

However, this part of the policy should not be treated like an all-expense-paid vacation; there are limitations. While they are separate from the general coverage limit of rebuilding your home, it’s a good idea to know exactly how much would be covered before making accommodations.

For homeowners who rent out a part of their house, the insurance company can also provide the funds for the money you would have collected, had a tenant been living in that part of the home.

Finding a Restoration Provider

Having a homeowners insurance policy to cover the cost to repair the home or building is very important but hiring a service that can provide these repairs for you is just as important. When looking for a provider, you will want to make sure that they are reputable, such as being licensed, trained, experienced, and efficient in their work. Finding a company that can also cover all aspects of the repairs is another requirement since you won’t want to work with multiple vendors throughout the process.

SERVPRO Columbus Georgia

Our professionals are available 24/7 in the Columbus, Ga area and will dedicate themselves to your peace of mind.

One such provider that has all of these qualities and more is SERVPRO of Columbus Georiga. Available 24/7 in the Columbus, Ga area, our professionals are professionals when it comes to rebuilding properties. After receiving your call, we will respond right away to stabilize the property, regardless of the cause of the damage. We will then conduct a full inspection to identify the scope of the project as well as the development of a reconstruction plan.

We Work with Insurance Companies

SERVPRO of Columbus Ga will then proceed to the reconstruction process of the home, attending to all areas with extensive damage and restoring them to their original condition. Finally, we will work with your insurance provider throughout the claims process, providing you with the peace of mind knowing that all damage has been repaired.

If your home has suffered extensive damage in the Columbus, Ga area, don’t hesitate to call SERVPRO of Columbus Ga. at (706) 568-1934. We are available 24/7 to address all property emergencies.

5 Alternatives to Candles to Keep Your Home Safe

1/27/2020 (Permalink)

Diffusers are safe

Candles provide warm light and a refreshing scent in your home. They also pose a credible fire hazard. An unattended candle flame can contact a flammable object and create disastrous fire damage. Even though a fire restoration company can help you bring your home back, candle alternatives can prevent these incidents. Continue reading and consider some of the following options.

1. Oil and Wax Warmers

Warmers are safer solutions that deliver both light and a refreshing scent without an exposed flame. They usually have a small dish with either essential oils or wax. The device powered by batteries or electricity, heats up the contents, providing aroma and illumination.

2. Electric Candles

If you value the light and aesthetic value that candles give, then you might appreciate electric candles. These items operate on batteries. They largely resemble actual candles and generate around the same amount of light, but they can be left alone with no candle fire risk.

3. Book Lights

When using light mainly for visual purposes like reading, book lights are the perfect candle alternatives. These devices come with clips so you can attach them inside books, near desks or on any convenient area. They give enough reading light without consuming too much energy or disturbing others.

4. Fairy Lights

Fairy lights are another flameless solution. These lights are powered by electricity or batteries and can be spread throughout the room to create relaxed, atmospheric lighting. Fairy lights can last for a long time and come in a variety of colors and shapes.

5. Stick Diffusers

There are several options if you are simply looking for an elegant scent for your home. Stick diffusers deliver a strong fragrance without using any power source. Sticks such as reed absorb the scented oil in the bottle and spread out the pleasant smell.
Though candles may provide both illumination and fragrance for your Columbus, home, there are plenty of safe candle alternatives. Using any of these items can prevent a candle fire from destroying your house.

Christmas tree safety tips

12/20/2019 (Permalink)

Be safe during the holidays!

7 CHRISTMAS TREE SAFETY TIPS FOR HAPPY HOLIDAYS^.

For a wonderful while, it’s the most beautiful decoration in your home it may be tall, short, slender or plump, the Christmas tree stands at the center of holiday celebrations. It also stands as a seasonal addition to the house that needs to be treated with special care.

As you make plans to bring home this year’s fir or spruce, are you checking your Christmas tree fire safety list?

We offer this guide for keeping your Christmas tree safe based on our years of experience as Columbus’ most trusted fire cleanup company. We want you to celebrate the season with the security that comes from knowing your home is safe for the holidays.

According to the National Fire Prevention Association, Christmas tree fires cause property damage totaling more than $14 million annually. That figure can’t account for the heartbreak of a house fire over the holidays. These seven simple tips can keep your home and family safe while you all enjoy the Christmas tree’s bright lights and warm glow.

1. CHECK FOR FRESHNESS

Look for a tree with soft, green needles, and confirm its freshness by closing your hand over a bough and gently pulling down. If needles fall off at your touch, the tree is already beginning to dry out, and that can pose a fire hazard.

2. GIVE IT A STABLE STAND

Safely show off your Christmas tree in a sturdy, weighted stand with screw-in stabilizers that help anchor its weight. A large stand also holds plenty of water for keeping a thirsty tree fresh inside your home.

3. STAND IT AWAY FROM HEAT

Make sure the tree is standing at least 3 feet away from any heat source including space heaters, radiators and the family fireplace. High temperatures, flames and embers are serious fire hazards around a Christmas tree.

4. WATCH THE KIDS

A beautiful tree can tempt little hands with pretty ornaments and inspire rowdy playtime around its base. Talk to the kids about home fire safety. Explain that running around close to the tree can topple it and start a fire.

5. WATCH PETS TOO

The family dog and cat can create Christmas tree fire hazards too. Discourage dangerous chewing and tangling accidents by hanging tree light strands and decorations above your pets’ playful reach.

6. TURN EVERYTHING OFF

Always unplug tree lights before you leave the house or go to bed for the night. Turn off nearby space heaters, extinguish candles, and make sure embers are out in the fireplace.

7. GIVE IT AN HONORABLE GOODBYE

When a Christmas tree stops taking up water and starts dropping needles, it becomes more of a fire hazard with each passing day. Give the tree an honorable goodbye at one of the recycling centers across Columbus.

HOW TO KEEP A CHRISTMAS TREE FROM DRYING OUT

This part of Christmas tree fire safety deserves special attention because it keeps your tree fresher through the holidays, and that reduces the risk of a house fire. Good tree maintenance starts before you set it up in its stand.

• Saw 2 inches off the bottom of the tree stump, but don’t peel back lower bark or drill holes in the trunk. • If you can’t put the tree in its stand right away, prop it up in a large water bucket, and check it daily. • Monitor the tree’s water level every couple of hours on the first day. Afterwards, top it off every 24 hours.

CAN CHRISTMAS LIGHTS CAUSE A FIRE?

We’re often asked about decorations this time of year, so we finish up our Christmas fire safety guide with important pointers about lights on the tree.

• Always purchase Christmas tree lights that carry the Underwriters Laboratory UL Seal. • Inspect strands for frayed wires and broken sockets, and toss anything that looks damaged. • Don’t overload the tree with older incandescent lights or run too many strands from one extension cord. • Don’t connect incandescent and LED strands together, and keep them on separate extension cords.

WE’RE ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU

This year, gather the family around for a quick review of Christmas tree safety strategies. Make sure everybody understands how important it is to follow the guidelines.

All of us here at SERVPRO of Columbus Georgia send our warmest wishes to you and your family. It’s our honor to serve and be a part of this wonderful community, and we really value your support. Our teams are always here for you, with the best fire damage cleanup and fire restoration services available.

Personal Property - Move Outs

1/7/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Columbus works alongside many different insurance companies and their insureds when it comes to Personal Property. 

When a loss occurs and personal belongings are involved SERVPRO offers other services by performing a Pack-Out, Storage, and Pack-Back. 

Our process is very detailed depending on the type of loss. All items that are scheduled to be removed from your property will be inventoried and a list is created so it can be provided to your insurance company. All items are stored in a climate controlled warehouse. Then returned to your property once your home is back to its normal state. 

Give SERVPRO of Columbus a call if you're looking for the right company to handle your personal property "contents" during your next claim. 

IICRC Certified Firm

1/19/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Columbus is an IICRC firm. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) creates the standards for the restoration industry and provides training and certification to restoration companies. IICRC Certified Firms have the right to display the IICRC Certified Logo.

IICRC Certified Firms must

• Present accurate information to consumers and conduct business with honesty and integrity.

• Require a technician on all jobs who has been formally trained and passed all required tests.

• Require a continuing education program to keep technicians up-to-date on the latest changes in the industry.

• Maintain liability insurance to protect all parties in the event of an accident.

• Maintain a written complaint policy and agree to Better Business Bureau or similar arbitration to resolve disputes, and accept the conclusions and recommendations of arbitration.

The IICRC Develops The Standards For The Restoration Industry

The IICRC has been the driving force in establishing the main industry standards and reference guides for professional carpet cleaning, water damage restoration and mold remediation. These IICRC standards take years to develop and require the coordination of experts in the field: manufacturers, industry organizations, insurance professionals, training schools, contractors, and public health professionals.

Every five years, the standards are reviewed and updated. The water damage restoration field changes rapidly with advancements in technology and science, and therefore the standards must evolve to keep pace.

About SERVPRO of Columbus

SERVPRO of Columbus 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 and we are an IICRC Certified Firm. We believe in continuous training: 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.