Identifying Odors

9/8/2023 (Permalink)

An odor can be a sign of a serious problem in your Cecil County home or business.  Odors should be assessed and handled immediately to help eliminate and prevent further damage.  Should you have a musty smell in your basement for instance, this could be a sign of mold growth.  The stronger the odor, the more likely that you have a significant mold issue.

Other odors to be wary of include a dirty or stale smell that may even smell like rotting plants.  This is a sign of mold damage.

If an area of your home smells like rotten eggs, this could mean that you have water damage.  This odor can be created due to the water and humidity present in those areas.

Strange or oily smells emanating from your boiler or furnace in the winter can be a sign that the oil in your system is building up and potentially preparing to burst out of your heating system.  When this occurs, the smoke and soot damage left behind is called a puffback.

When these odors occur in your property, services should be performed immediately to identify and recover the affected areas.  Should you suspect an issue, SERVPRO of Cecil County can provide a free assessment to determine the source of the problem.  In the event that you suspect mold, we also can provide information for mold testing.  We work with several providers for that service and your peace of mind!

Vehicle Cleaning and Odor Removal

8/23/2023 (Permalink)

When your car suffers a strong odor, SERVPRO of Cecil County can provide odor deodorization services to fully remove any pungent smell.  If rain enters your car through a leak or storm, water and mold damage can occur.  Our cleaning professionals provide thorough cleaning and restoration services in order to remove any form of damage in order to get you back on the road quickly!

Once the vehicle is prepped by the local dealership, we complete our odor deodorization technique using our HEPA vacuums to remove all particles in the space.  Containment is also placed to not allow outside dirt and particles to compromise the cleanliness of the newly cleaned car.  We wipe down and treat the interior of the vehicle to help ensure all potential signs of mold or water damage have been eliminated.

SERVPRO of Cecil County provides a variety of cleaning services to our residential and commercial clients.  We are proud to offer assistance to our local area no matter the extent of the damage!

Fire Damage and Demolition!

7/21/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Cecil County is continuing the demolition process of a local home after severe fire damage was suffered.  Once the fire was extinguished, our fire damage restoration team arrived on site immediately to assist the homeowners with the next steps to take with their living situation and insurance provider.  We also brought out our preferred local vendor to board up and secure the property right away.

The fire substantially affected the integrity of the structure, so we are working hard to restore and rebuild what was damaged.  Salvageable content has been removed to our off-site facility where it will be cleaned and stored until all repairs are complete and the homeowner is ready to move back into their home.

Our Reconstruction Department will continue the rebuild of the home.  This includes not only the outdoor structural elements, but also the plumbing and electrical components.  Our rebuild department thoroughly restores your home or business back to preloss conditions.  We can handle everything from a new roof to fresh paint.

SERVPRO of Cecil County is proud to offer complete fire damage restoration services to aid with the entire process of restoring your property “Like it never even happened.”

Storm Damage Prevention

7/11/2023 (Permalink)

Several areas in Cecil County have experienced storm damage recently due to lightning, flooding and power outages.  Our storm damage restoration team is always just a call away for when this occurs, but it is also the perfect time to prepare your family and property for the next storm!

• Inspect the interior and exterior of the structure for issues such as broken or missing roof tiles.  During a severe storm, these can easily break off and cause much worse damage.  Water or mold in your attic can also be a sign of roof damage.
• Look for any signs of leaks that can lead to further water damage after a downpour.  Wet ceilings or walls are the first sign that water is making its way into your home.
• Gutters should be cleared of debris as well as loose gutters repaired.
• Any low hanging tree branches should be trimmed away from the home.
• Ensure that your gutters and storm drains are properly directing stormwater away from your foundation.
• Stock up on an emergency kit.  Flashlights, extra batteries, and non-perishable food and water can assist you in waiting out a storm during a power failure.

In the event of water or storm damage, SERVPRO of Cecil County can handle your unexpected disaster and make it “Like it never even happened.”  With our specialized procedures and equipment, we will restore your home or facility to preloss conditions as quickly as possible!

Kitchen Fire Mishaps!

6/8/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Cecil County visited a Perryville home that suffered a kitchen fire, leading to smoke damage throughout the entire property.  Our team visited the property immediately to begin the cleanup process and restore the home back to a preloss state.

We have assisted several homes and facilities with their fire damage restoration needs recently, including a home in Elk Mills.  The homeowner’s insurance company asked us to visit the site to complete smoke, soot and odor removal services after an electrical fire in the kitchen.  While the kitchen was the only area that had been significantly destroyed, smoke had made its way into other portions of the home.

Smoke and its odor can leave behind its own substantial effects to a property that suffers from fire damage.  SERVPRO of Cecil County utilizes advanced cleaning and restoration procedures in order to eliminate these effects.  Our air scrubbers are placed in the affected areas for a minimum of three days.  This equipment is used to capture smoke and other harmful particles in the air.

Additionally, we use odor deodorization methods to infiltrate and decontaminate the poor air quality inside of a property.  In some circumstances, we provide an ozone treatment to help fully remove all odor in a space at a more extreme level.  During this process, our equipment uses electricity to alter the components of oxygen in the air until they take the form of ozone.  The ozone then attaches to the odor and eliminates it.  This treatment is hazardous and can only be performed when no one is present on site.

SERVPRO of Cecil County uses many different methods to remove fire damage based on the circumstances of the individual situation.  We are here to answer any questions you may have when smoke, soot or other forms of fire damage are present!

Be Prepared for Hurricane Season!

5/11/2023 (Permalink)

Hurricane season begins mid-May and poses a threat until the end of November.  During this season, SERVPRO of Cecil County recommends to always be aware of the risks for your area so that you are prepared no matter the severity of storms you may encounter.  Be sure to check out Ready.gov to learn more about how you can be prepared for hurricanes and other types of disasters.

The most critical step you should take is to create an evacuation plan for your family or business.  Having an emergency kit handy is also useful in the event of a severe disaster or power outage.  Stay tuned to weather alerts as well as announcements on hurricane watches and warnings so that you can ensure you and your property are ready to brave the storm!

SERVPRO of Cecil County is proud to travel for storms across the east coast after a natural disaster hits.  We most recently assisted with the storm damage in Fort Myers after Hurricane Ian made its mark as a Category 4 storm.  Our storm damage restoration team spent several weeks helping to ease the burden for many home and business owners that suffered property damage.  We are proud to help those in need when disaster strikes nationwide and in our local area.

SERVPRO of Cecil County also provides a free Emergency READY Profile for businesses so that they can be prepared for when fire, water or storm damage occurs.  This free assessment of your building includes pertinent information such as water and gas shut-offs and emergency contacts so that you can immediately prevent further property damage and therefore minimize the financial burden and downtime of your business.  Should you be interested in this free service, feel free to give us a call!

Sewage Cleanup in Conowingo

4/4/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Cecil County has cleaned up our fair share of sewage damage.  Several Cecil County homes were recently affected by septic backups, including this extreme loss in Conowingo.  The toilet had malfunctioned, causing this gruesome sewage mess that should only be handled by professionals.

Our restoration team properly removed the sewage and cleaned the affected areas with our hospital-grade cleaning solution which is also environmentally friendly for those who are sensitive to various chemicals.  Our crew performed top to bottom disinfection of the floors, walls, toilet and bathroom vanity in this space.  This was not the first time the homeowner had suffered this type of damage, so luckily some of the affected areas were already torn out and therefore easier to mitigate.

Incorrectly handling a sewage backup can lead to hazardous health conditions, so SERVPRO of Cecil County always recommends bringing in someone who can handle the loss from beginning to end!  We can also ensure that the proper steps are being taken, such as not running fans that will allow the sewage particles in the air to circulate throughout the home.  We have our own air scrubbers to help capture those particles!  Should you suffer sewage damage, give us a call before taking any drastic steps!

Team Hughes Has Grown!

3/9/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Cecil County is proud to share our big news!!  Team Hughes has acquired two new franchises to add to our portfolio and areas of service, SERVPRO of Lancaster East and SERVPRO of Southern Lancaster County.  We are excited to welcome Lancaster into our territories, which also includes our SERVPRO of Kennett Square/Oxford franchise.

Should you need our expertise in Cecil County, Chester County or our newly obtained Lancaster area, please give us a call!  Our teams are prepared to respond to any cleaning or restoration need for local residential and commercial clients.  We are also excited to meet our local business partners and organizations in this new territory as we expand our coverage!

Are You Prepared for Spring?

3/7/2023 (Permalink)

Spring is almost here, which means that a lot of us will begin our spring cleaning routines.  SERVPRO of Cecil County would like to remind you that we are here for those needs as well!

If you are thinking about getting your carpets, tile floors, upholstery or even area rugs cleaned, we can help with that!

When’s the last time you took a look at your ducts?  Duct cleaning is recommended every 5-7 years, depending on certain factors in your home or business such as pet dander.

Looking for more of a deep cleaning?  Our cleaning professionals can clean and disinfect all walls, ceilings and surfaces from top to bottom, even light switches and door knobs.

No matter the level of cleaning you are considering this spring, SERVPRO of Cecil County can assist you.  We offer free estimates for all of our services, and we can help you to determine what level of cleaning you may need to help keep your property in great shape!

Electrical Fire Safety

2/24/2023 (Permalink)

Electrical issues are not something you should put off, one of the reasons being that it can lead to fire damage.  The National Fire Protection Association states that electrical problems are the second leading cause of home fires.  SERVPRO of Cecil County recommends that you have a certified electrician install, inspect and repair any electrical components in your home to help prevent this often unforeseen disaster.

Some issues that can lead to an electrical fire include:

Power outages

Flickering lights

Significant heat coming from your appliances

A burning smell

Sparks from your outlets or devices

• Old wiring also has a hard time keeping up with powering your home.  Be sure to update your electrical system as needed.
• Do not plug extension cords into each other or overuse outlets.
• Do not use frayed or damaged cords.
• Light bulbs should not exceed the wattage needed, as this can lead to overheating.
• Make sure your dryers, microwaves and other appliances are working properly, since faulty appliances can lead to an electrical failure.
• When using a portable heater, keep it away from flammable materials such as rugs and curtains.  Always unplug them before leaving the home.
• Make sure your HVAC system, dryer and ducts are clear of dirt, dust and debris that can build up and cause a fire.  Our team provides duct cleaning and dryer vent cleaning services to help prevent this!

In the event of an electrical fire, disconnect the power source immediately if possible.  If the power is off, you can use water or baking soda to help eliminate the flames before help arrives.  Once the danger is over, do not re-enter the structure until you are told it is safe to do so.

Electrical fires can cause significant fire damage to your property, but SERVPRO of Cecil County is ready to respond immediately, should you suffer such a disaster!