Archived Why SERVPRO Blog Posts
The team that specializes in clean up
1/9/2023 (Permalink)
Technician cleaning in full PPE
Mold Issues In Wesley Chapel
Did you know that ignoring that leaking sink or failing to dry water-soaked materials may quickly lead to additional problems such as mold damage? When mold infests organic materials such as wood, they might cause decomposition.
Spot On A Wall
What appears like a simple black spot on the wall may end up developing into an extreme mold case. It means every homeowner should be observant and make the right decisions.
Getting out the water or high humidity from your property is the key to dealing with mold damage. We inspect your property, identify and correct the source of moisture. To stay safe from such dangers when we are performing the remediation process, our SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel technicians observe some safety work practices. Since the remediation process may involve disturbing the mold, we have to put containment measures in place to prevent the spread of the spores to clean sections of the house.
SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel specializes in mold cleanup and restoration, in fact, it’s a cornerstone of our business. Our crews are highly trained restoration professionals that use specialized equipment and techniques to properly remediate your mold problem quickly and safely.
Documenting the site's conditions is essential during mold damage remediation. If the cause of mold in the building is high humidity, we have to use a hygrometer to measure and record the amount of water vapor in the structure. The recorded figure helps us to monitor the progress of the remediation process, and if it is not up to speed, we might introduce other techniques to fasten the drying process.
The techniques we use to remove the mold depend on the degree of contamination. In some instances, we may physically remove the contaminated items from the site, some cases may make use to use HEPA filters to vacuum the excessive mold spores, and we can also damp-wipe surfaces using a detergent.
Training And Experience
SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel 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. 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.
SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel uses the state-of-the-art equipment to offer industry-proven cleaning and restoration services. Call us at (813) 929-9898 for our highly experienced technicians to respond immediately and meet your needs.
Wesley Chapel Smoke and Soot Cleanup
4/13/2021 (Permalink)
Smoke and soot is very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.
Smoke and soot facts:
- Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
- Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
- The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.
Different Types of Smoke
There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:
Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber
- Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.
Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood
- Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.
Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire
- Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor.
Our Fire Damage Restoration Services
Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions. We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage. We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.
Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today – (813) 929-9898
When You See Green, Think SERVPRO!
4/7/2021 (Permalink)
Neon green is not my car color preference, but it serves a very specific purpose when it comes to customer and company recognition. It is said that the first person who started SERVPRO did a test to see what color people liked better on cars, which ones stood out and caught the eye more. He had a variety of colors and more times than not people chose the neon green. To this day, all the SERVPRO franchises you see around have the neon green color and when you see green, you think SERVPRO. It Is sort of funny the way that it sticks in people’s minds. One of the questions we ask our clients when they call in for us to come out to help them is, “where did you hear about us?’, and a lot of the times the response will be “I saw your truck, or I saw your cubes driving around town”. We love to hear this because that just goes to show that when our customers see green, they too think of SERVPRO!
Our Reviews Speak for Themselves!
4/2/2021 (Permalink)
Committed to Excellence
At SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel, we work hard to ensure our customers are happy with the services we provide. Here are some customer testimonials from our website:
“We had black mold in our cabinets and the wall behind the cabinets. Steven came quickly and took complete care of everything. He made sure all the contractors were here on time and he had everything done so quickly. Shana took care of all the insurance forms and was always there when I had any questions Thank you very much I will always recommend SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel, West Pasco, and Hernando County.”
“We called SERVPRO on a Thursday late in the afternoon after the plumber we hired had had given us the bad news that we most likely would be ripping up all the tile in the bathroom and would need to dry the floors. I decided to call SERVPRO first to get an assessment of what damage was in the home and whether or not I should be calling my insurance company. Michelle was at my door Friday morning at 8:15 she was very helpful, very thorough in her investigation of the problem and has given me great advice on how to proceed from here. Michelle took the time to answer all my questions and left me with the knowledge to make the appropriate calls to move forward. . on top of that when she said call me questions, I believed her. In this world today finding a company that returns your phone calls, shows up on time, and has employees who care it's a rare find. So happy I called SERVPRO and you will be too.”
Call Us Today!
SERVPRO® of Wesley Chapel cares about our customers. Our highly trained restoration technicians are on-call 24-hours a day to restore your property damage in the Tampa Bay Area, no matter how big the job is. Call us today at 727-847-3000.
One Stop Shop
3/16/2021 (Permalink)
SERVPRO employee in full PPE.
SERVPRO is a one-stop-shop for anything that could happen in your home or commercial building. We take care of things such as water damage or flooding, fires, and the soot that comes with the smoke and that mold that you find behind the cabinet you haven’t taken off the wall since you moved into the house. Our 24- hour emergency service makes us easy to reach whenever you come across an emergency. If you don’t believe SERVPRO is the best, let our client's testimonials speak for us.
“They were extremely cautious, covering everything on plastic before they performed any work. They also spoke with me on several occasions as the work went on. Their customer service, Samantha, was very helpful. When she wasn’t sure she found out. Wonderful company to work with.” Kimberly (Pasco)
“Very professional service. Always kept their word and arrived on time. Did a beautiful job too.” Riesy (Pasco)
“SERVPRO people are all especially courteous and great communicators. Their work is of the highest quality and they care about the final result. They know how to deal with an insurance company after a flood. Glad I had them.” Sean (Pasco)
Kitchen Fire Safety Tips for Your Wesley Chapel
2/15/2021 (Permalink)
This fire caused damage in half of this Wesley Chapel home.
Kitchen Fire Safety Tips
In the kitchen grease fires are extremely common while cooking your favorite meal. This type of fire is known to go out of control rather quickly. Kitchen fires also known for getting completely out of hand very rapidly. Even a little bit of spilled grease could get out of hand.
Here are some tips on how to prevent a grease fire: Do not leave the grease unattended; always stay in the kitchen when you are using grease. Move all items that are flammable away from the heat source. Keep the grease at a reasonable temperature when cooking. Add the food slowly to prevent splatter. Always keep children or animals away from the stove while cooking with grease.
Now if the grease fire does ignite, here are some helpful tips to deal. Cover the flames with a metal lid or a cookie sheet so the fire is contained. Always keep baking soda nearby to toss on the grease fire, keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case of any emergencies, turn off all of the heat source if it is safe to do so, never try to extinguish the fire with water and never attempt to move the item that is on fire.
Lastly, for a grease fire, DON’T PANIC. People tend to get in a panic and that’s where the fire can take control and cause some serious damage.
Our Sense Of Normal
10/8/2020 (Permalink)
On Friday, October 2nd, we had our first all employee meeting since the start of COVID. While it was not how we usually get together to celebrate the previous month's achievements, it was great feeling that small sense of normal we’ve all been missing. While we spread our chairs out 6 feet apart in the parking lot and ate prewrapped breakfast sandwiches, we reminisced on life before COVID. We also announced our 6 employee of the month awards that we were not able to give out. We are so proud of the way our team has stepped up through these trying and unpredictable times. Between COVID 19 and the influx of hurricanes this season there has been many sleepless nights while our team scrambles to help those in need. We’re grateful for the compassionate, hard working men and women that dedicate their time and energy to helping our community every day!
SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel Introduces Matterport
8/18/2020 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel Introduces Matterport
With technology constantly improving, SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel likes to stay up to date with the times, which is why we’ve included Matterport Pro 2 to our emergency service procedures!
What is Matterport?
To simplify, this innovative, cloud based, powerful 3D platform lets you turn any space into an accurate and immersive digital twin. This is a standard tool that we use with many positive attributes. Not only does this device reduce time for our technicians, it reduces the amount of site visits from adjusters as well. By using this technology, our trained and certified technicians can upload the damage directly to your insurance company and yourself. This greatly reduces any insurance disputes on what may or may not have been affected by the initial damage. We can also attach virtual tags to show moisture in certain areas of your home or business. With the amount of time and resources saved, we are able to improve our CAT event response by nearly quadruple.
We’re constantly striving to provide the best customer experience we can in our clients time of need! If you or someone you know have suffered any damage in their Wesley Chapel home or business please give us a call at 727-847-3000! For reference of our work, check out our Google Reviews!
Day 16:The Day We All Became Epidemiologists
4/23/2020 (Permalink)
The number of expert epidemiologists has risen 3,000,000% in the last 45 days. Traditionally, this is an academic career path that takes nearly a decade of studying, a keen sense for numbers and statistics, requires tremendous discipline and patience and extreme focus. Esteemed within the public health community, these professionals investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury in human populations. Prior to the outbreak, I knew what an epidemiologist did in general terms but I had never talked to one, didn’t know one and had probably never used the word ‘epidemiology’ in a sentence. In the last month and half, I have met and talked to dozens of them. They have honed their craft over the last month by skipping the traditional 7 -10 years of education for 60-second sound bites and regurgitating headlines. Why read the article when you can get the gist from these great memes? I jumped on the bandwagon too and registered for a six-week online course, “Learn the Complexities of Virus Origins, Mutations and Vaccines to Cure Them." They guarantee you pass or your money back. Three easy payments of $49.99, couldn’t turn it down. I cannot even begin to count the number of mistakes I have made in my business. Once I bought an F350 for $4,000 and sold it two weeks later for $700. (Turns out you should check for oil leaks.) I paid a monthly software subscription for three years that we never used – not once. (Turns out watching money literally burn would have been a better use.) I have sent crews to Ohio for flooding in residential basements. Turns out if you live in Florida, there is no reason to go to Ohio for anything. All of this to say, the recovery and the people leading the efforts are going to be challenged, make mistakes and it will not be perfect -- but it will all be okay. The path to any outcome is generally not linear. On the bright side, Ohio is off my bucket list, and in five weeks I can give you an accredited opinion on the virus and pending vaccine.
Day 15: The Day My Zoom Reflection Made Me Reflective
4/22/2020 (Permalink)
The idea of the Zoom or Microsoft Teams conference video is to provide live stream with colleagues to make it feel like a real live meeting, where people are having conversations and collaborating. However, everyone appears to be staring at their own self. After a month of these calls, I am still trying to figure out why everyone else’s head looks so big on the screen but my head looks small in the picture. Does my head look big on their screen or is there something wrong with my head? Those thoughts quickly shift to thinking about the bags under my eyes accentuated by these office fluorescent lights- can we do something about this? And then I move on to, ‘Why am I wearing pants right now anyway?’ A friend warned from personal experience, if you don’t wear pants, make sure a mirror is not behind you – good tip. My early studies conclude it is not just me. The deadpan straight-ahead look is on almost everyone’s face. These studies are finding people are just trying to mask over the fact that they binged on “Ozark” Season 3 last night until 1 a.m. and they are just hoping to get through the call without having to participate. These early studies also suggest as the Pandemic Groundhog Days keep churning, blow-up dolls will soon take the place of people, just to see if anyone notices or, better yet, if anyone cares. A friend told me if you angle the camera just right, you can slide your phone under the camera, hit the mute button and complete your grocery list on Shipt all while appearing completely engaged. My studies have not confirmed this as fact. This seems like an advanced technique, more of a pro’s pro kind of move. So, if you see me driving down the road and I appear to be in a complete trance, just know it is not you nor it is personal, I am probably just on a Zoom hangover. Feel free to snap me out of it just don’t say anything about the bags under my eyes – I have already seen them in glaring light. On the bright side, the Bucs are rumored to sign Gronk. All is good in the world.
Our February MVPs
3/10/2020 (Permalink)
At SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel we know how great our team is but getting confirmation like this makes our hearts happy! For the month of February we have two MVPs, Jeremiah and Dan L! Check out this review we received from someone in our local community that came across our “SERVPRO Angels.”
"On February 18th .. 2 SERVPRO angels appeared. My car stopped ....totally ...on highway 19 and Floramar. A very fast and high traffic area. No flashers, couldn’t get it into neutral ..nothing. Not a spark. It just stopped. Pretty scary! 2 SERVPRO angels saw me .... nervous and shaking as the cars either sped past me or yelled at me. They crossed the highway and came to my rescue. Dan managed to get it in neutral by some magic trick, while Jeremiah comforted me and tried to keep me calm in the middle of a very dangerous highway. They managed to push me across the street (3 lanes of traffic) into a parking lot of Advanced Auto Parts. Jeremiah opened up the hood ....went in and got a spray and brush and cleaned off a very corroded battery. They got it started ....wouldn’t accept any money gave me hugs and a phone number to call when I made it home and even offered to take time on their lunch hour to follow me. What kindness! If this company hires these kind of men you should use them. They went way beyond to help, at great personal danger to themselves. Have you traveled 19? Ugh! A HUGE Thank you to Dan and Jeremiah and a message to their boss...... you are lucky to have these guys as employees. In fact you should give them both a raise. Big points in heaven for both of them. 5 stars!"
Our MVP for January!
2/21/2020 (Permalink)
The team at SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel is bar none. Over the years, we’ve honored one team member each month, giving them a small token of appreciation and a large amount of gratitude. Until now, the executive team selected the Employee of the Month; but we’re turning it back on the team now and looking to colleagues to nominate each other for a specific action that demonstrates our company’s Mission, Vision, and Purpose.
For our inaugural MVP award, we received dozens of inspiring notes about the good work of our team, but one stood out. While driving home after a long day in the office, Shanna R., our Project Coordinator for our West Pasco division, saw one of our technicians on the side of the road in distress. He had just gotten into a car accident and was waiting for police to arrive. Being that he is only 19 and his family is states away, Shanna went out of her way to sit with him and help him through the process for over two hours, not arriving home to her own family until late that night. This completely selfless and caring act is exactly what we look for in an MVP. We’re more than just a team at SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel; we’re a family and Shanna’s act was a prime example!
2019 December Employee of the Month
2/12/2020 (Permalink)
Our hearts are full as we honor our employee of the month for December 2019. As the year came to a close and we looked back on 2019’s highs and lows, this decision was easy. Time and time again, facing personal challenges many can only imagine, this person showed courage, strength and resolve, and a caliber of integrity that inspired the whole team. April P. has been with the company for the last two years as the Project Coordinator for Hernando County, and in that time she has become an important part of the SERVPRO family.
In August 2019, April was diagnosed with breast cancer. When she received the diagnosis, she was determined to make a full recovery will maintaining her full-time work schedule. She was a warrior throughout four chemotherapy sessions, leaning on colleagues and friends for support and keeping a positive attitude throughout it all. Although her journey is not complete, she continues to push forward, maintaining her regular schedule and being a resource to the SERVPRO team and client, and she plans to continue this as she begins additional treatments in the coming months. Just as April has supported our team, we are proud to continue to support her. Thank you, April, for your courage and dedication and for being an example to us all.
2019 November Employee of the Month
1/7/2020 (Permalink)
In-House Construction Manager Sheldon Borris
Honoring the Employee of the Month
WHO: Sheldon B.
WHAT: In-House Construction Team Manager; Skilled Carpenter; Trusted Colleague & Friend; November 2019 Employee of the Month
WHERE: You’ll usually find him at a jobsite, working alongside one of the carpenters he manages and mentors. Rarely will you find him at his desk!
WHEN: Sheldon joined the SERVPRO family seven years ago, working for four years with New Jersey franchise before he moved to Tampa Bay. He joined SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel three years ago and was promoted to management last year.
WHY: Sheldon was honored for his steady, consistent, and skilled work which is always appreciated but especially on a weekend in November when he went out of his way to pull a long day and keep a VIP client happy. Clients regularly applaud Sheldon’s attention to detail and skilled craftmanship, and younger members of the team jockey for opportunities to learn from him. He is patient and kind, and always willing to help – with a smile.
Owner/ Operator Jeremy George
12/17/2019 (Permalink)
Owner/Operator Jeremy George
NAME: Jeremy George
POSITION: Owner-Operator
YEARS IN FIELD: 27
- How did you get started with SERVPRO?
My parents, Laurie and Andy, joined the SERVPRO franchise community in 1992, and for the first few years, ran the operation from our home and our family were the primary employees. I responded to my first water damage when I was 13. After graduating from the University of Central Florida, I spent some time in Dallas before returning home to work full-time in the business and assist my parents with their retirement goals.
- What do you feel has been your greatest reward in this line of work?
I love what we do because we help people when they need it, plain and simple. But as I’ve developed into my role as owner, the ultimate reward for me has been watching our team come together, grow and advance as professionals, and people. We work hard to promote from within, and watching a team member focus in on their interests, skills and goals to begin a meaningful career path that advances them professionally as well as personally, is extremely satisfying. Working with fantastic people, and watching how SERVPRO can assist them in reaching their own goals, is the greatest part of my job.
- Does your SERVPRO franchise give back to your community? How?
We do, and it’s easy because our community gives so much to us. This month we sponsored the Festival of Trees, a Christmas tree auction benefitting the Good Samaritan Clinic – one of West Pasco’s most moving nonprofit operations, providing healthcare on a sliding pay scale to underserved populations. We are also , once again, an honored sponsor of the Celebration of Lights, a seasonal effort launched by my dear friend the late Dave Parris to benefit various charities in West Pasco. If you happen to drive by this weekend you can see the SERVPRO of West Pasco animated light, where you’ll find an elf is happily operating an extractor to remove water from a melting snowman. We also give of our time, with me personally serving on the board of the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce, and also as an active member of the New Port Richey Rotary Club.
Celebrating 2019 together!
12/10/2019 (Permalink)
Celebrating the end of the year with our SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel family.
As 2019 comes to a close, the team at SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel took an afternoon off to watch the sunset and celebrate a great year. There are so many accomplishments that we can celebrate, both as a company and individually. We laughed, we danced, and we ate a mashed potato bar!
Each year we recognize our team for outstanding service in three areas, presenting three awards: the Client Service and Care award, the Quantum Leap Award for outstanding professional development, and the Employee of the Year. We were excited to honor the following three teammates:
Samantha A. received the Client Care and Service year, honoring her focus on customers as the dispatcher and her then her recent promotion to Client Care Coordinator. In her new role, Samantha ensures our clients are pleased with the service – from the very beginning of the project through its completion. From what our clients say, we know she and the rest of the team are doing a great job!
Thomas K., received accolades for outstanding professional development with the Quantum Leap Award. Thomas joined the team as a technician this year and immediately dedicated himself to the industry, studying for IICRC certifications and always showing up with a stellar attitude.
Leah P. was honored as our Employee of the Year, following two years as the Client Care and Service recipient. Leah is an extremely dedicated member of our team, taking initiative in many arenas and using problem-solving skills on a daily basis. Known around here as the Water Queen, she handles water damages from the office perspective, turning into a valuable resource for clients who always tell us how her calm nature and steady skills are a big part of the project’s success.
This awesome trio, along with the balance of the SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel team, are the keystone of our company and also leaders in our community while helping our customers in need. We can’t wait to see what 2020 has in store for SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel!
Washing Machine Leaks in your Wesley Chapel Home
11/13/2018 (Permalink)
Although washing machines tend to make our everyday lives easier, they are one of the leading causes of water damages in homes. A leak in the line or even a simple overflow can cause extensive and expensive damages.
Recently we had a customer whose washing machine leaked and causing flooding in their laundry room, running down into their crawlspace and went through the wall affecting their garage. Many may not understand water’s ability to spread as quickly and as far as it can. We here at SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel have been helping customers when water causes damages in their work or home for over 25 years.
We are ready 24/7, 365 to assist and help to make it “Like it never even happened.” As part of your team, we will work hand in hand with your insurance company, simplifying the claims process, making your water damage as stress free as possible. If water damage should occur call us at (813)929-9898.
SERVPRO and the Holidays
11/7/2018 (Permalink)
With the holiday season looming around the corner, the amount of house fires begin to increase. This is often due to cooking, space heaters, fireplaces/wood stoves, and decorations such as candles. These different factors play a huge part in the spike in house fires around the holidays. It is very important to take many precautions in order to prevent house fires. A few are as follows:
- Do not cook when you have been drinking or are very tired
- Plug space heaters directly into outlets and not into extension cords or power strips
- Have your fireplace/wood stove inspected every year and cleaned when needed
- Do not sleep with lit candles or put candles on your Christmas tree
Even though homeowners take many precautions, accidents do still happen. When disaster strikes, have a company on speed dial that you can trust. SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel has highly trained technicians with the skills and equipment needed to be there in your time of need. We deal with many house fires around the holidays and have experience in all different circumstances and parts of the restoration process.
Have Questions? Call Us Today – (813)929-9898.
It's Halloween Time!
11/1/2018 (Permalink)
What do you get when Frankenstein, a sugar skull and a dragon walk into your office?
Our staff works diligently year-round, making fire and water damages “Like they never even happened” and there’s no better way to celebrate Halloween than with another year of fun and face painting at the SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel office.
Owner/Operators, Jeremy and Nora, make it their mission to create a family friendly work environment and Halloween time is no exception. Hiring a professional face painter (him even meeting our staff at 7 a.m. to make sure client schedules were not disturbed) to make all our Halloween costume ideas come to life.
Customers of all ages enjoyed seeing technicians painted up as their favorite superhero, villain, and even a mombie came to visit. A fun time was had by all and there has even been discussions on how to top this year’s festivities.
Advantages for hiring SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel for Mold Remediation
10/24/2018 (Permalink)
Get Rid of Mold with SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel:
After water or flood damage, your house might experience some mold infestation. Mold can form spores in a very moist environment. The spores are microscopic and can float in the air and travel around from places to places without anyone noticing it. If mold damage is left unmanaged, it can lead to some health issues.
Mold damage in Dade City can be a real problem for homeowners. People often think that they can clean out the excess water or put soap and water on a towel and wipe the mold away from the floor or the walls. Unfortunately, these mold spores are microscopic, so they often go unnoticeable. This issue is why eradicating mold spores requires a specialist and advanced technology. It can be exhausting and expensive to learn all the information and to obtain the equipment on your own.
SERVPRO has highly trained technician who is experts in mold remediation. They can promptly get to your residential area and inspect it for any signs of mold. Because mold feeds on cellulose and can hide from plain sight, experts often use various technologies to detect mold spores and water sources. They may use negative air chamber to isolate contaminated sites with negative air and physical barriers. The negative pressure can prevent the mold from spreading during the cleaning process. During this process, all heating, cooling, and fans must be turned off to prevent the spread of spores.
SERVPRO techs can use sophisticated equipment such as air scrubbers and HEPA vacuums to capture microscopic spores from the air. This process can prevent the mold spore from spreading throughout the remediation process. The technicians can also use antifungal and anti-microbial treatment to get rid of mold colonies and prevent new ones from forming. They can even get rid of carpeting and drywall that is severely infested by mold. The technicians can thoroughly clean your furniture, curtains, clothes, and other items that were contaminated. They can utilize special techniques to clean and sanitize your belongings.
If you want to save your property from mold damage, then call SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel at (813) 929-9898 for a consultation with our skilled technicians.