If you have a fire or water emergency, please call us now at (850) 863-2552

To have the optimal experience while using this site, you will need to update your browser. You may want to try one of the following alternatives:

Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Archived Blog Posts

Fort Walton Beach Business Saved from Water Damage?

7/18/2023 (Permalink)

Water sprays out of a large broken pipe. Businesses trust us to restore water damage quickly and efficiently in Okaloosa County.

Our Fort Walton Beach team has been restoring water damage for local businesses for over twenty years. We know that every minute counts when your commercial business has a water damage emergency because water is invasive and will seep into any porous surface in its path quickly. Our technicians are on call and ready to respond to commercial water damage emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Here is a water damage timeline that describes the damage water can do in one day:

Within Minutes

  • Water quickly spreads throughout your property, saturating everything in its path
  • Water is absorbed into walls, floors, upholstery, and belongings
  • Furniture finishes may bleed, causing permanent staining on carpets
  • Photographs, books, and other paper goods start to swell and warp

Hours 1 - 24

  • Drywall begins to swell and break down
  • Metal surfaces begin to tarnish
  • Furniture begins to swell and crack
  • Dyes and inks from cloth and paper goods spread and stain
  • A musty odor appears

Call Us Today!

When your home or commercial business in Fort Walton Beach needs fast emergency restoration services, our local Fort Walton Beach team is Here to Help. ® We’ll restore your water damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Mold Damage Restoration Services in Ocean City?

7/11/2023 (Permalink)

A wall shows extensive mold damage. We provide mold remediation and reconstruction services in Okaloosa County.

Our Fort Walton Beach team is highly trained and certified to restore mold damage in Ocean City, no matter how extensive the damage is. Many times,  mold outbreaks are the result of water damage that requires the replacement of drywall and other areas of a structure. After the mold has been contained and the area has been cleared of mold spores, we clean and restore the damaged areas and provide any reconstruction services required to complete the job and restore the damaged area to pre-mold damage conditions.

Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials

We use antifungal and antimicrobial treatments to eliminate mold colonies and to help prevent new colonies from forming. We remove and dispose of mold-infested porous materials when remediating heavy mold growth.

Cleaning Contents

We clean your furniture, decorative items, curtains, and other restorable items affected by mold. We also remove odors and deodorization using fogging equipment.

Restoration

Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall, painting, and installing new carpet, or it may require the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business. 

Call Us Today!

When your home or commercial business in Ocean City needs mold damage restoration services, our local Fort Walton Beach team is Here to Help. ® We’ll restore your mold damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Hurricane Preparedness for Your Yard in Fort Walton Beach?

7/5/2023 (Permalink)

A satellite view of a hurricane is seen off the coast of Florida. We restore hurricane damage 24 hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our Fort Walton Beach team is a trusted leader in hurricane damage restoration services. Residents here have been relying on our teams of professionals to restore their storm damage for over twenty years. Hurricane season is upon us and the City of Fort Walton Beach (FWB) urges residents to prepare for these powerful storms by doing some pre-hurricane maintenance as follows:

  • Cut back all trees and weak branches that make contact with your home
  • Thin your foliage so the wind can flow freely through branches, decreasing the chance that trees/plants will be uprooted
  • Place tree trimmings at curbside on your regular scheduled collection day and follow the 6/40 rule (i.e., each piece cannot exceed 6 feet in length or 40 lbs. in weight) and must be clear of any obstructions.
  • Containerize your tree trimmings such as pine needles, leaves, twigs, etc. in plastic bags.
  • Clean your yard of any items that could become missiles in a storm such as broken lawn furniture, etc., and call FWB Solid Waste Division for a special pick up on Fridays.

Call Us Today!

When you sustain hurricane damage in your home or commercial business, our local Fort Walton Beach team is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Attic Flooding Damages Home in Lake Lorraine?

6/27/2023 (Permalink)

insulation is being reinstalled in an attic We respond to water damage emergencies 24 hours a day in Okaloosa County.

According to industry estimates, 75 percent of water heaters fail before they are 12 years old. For this reason, having water heaters inspected professionally is a good idea.

Our Fort Walton Beach team has been restoring water damage in the Lake Lorraine area for over twenty years. This picture shows a water heater failure that caused attic flooding that weakened the structural supports in the attic and damaged the ceiling in the room below. When needed to complete a restoration of this magnitude, we can provide a full range of rebuilding services offering our customers full continuity of service that eliminates the headache of having to manage multiple vendors and trades.

Once the water is removed and the damaged areas are completely dried, we clean and sanitize the area and complete final restorations to return your property to pre-water damage condition. We can help with everything from replacing drywall and installing new carpet to making major repairs when reconstructing specific areas or rooms is required.

Call Us Today!

Flooding emergencies can occur at any time. When you have a flooding situation in your home or commercial business in Lake Lorraine, our local Fort Walton Beach team is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Hurricane Watch Issued for Fort Walton Beach?

6/20/2023 (Permalink)

A satellite view of the eye of a tropical storm. We have been restoring storm damage in Okaloosa County for decades!

Are you prepared to evacuate in the event of a hurricane watch? The National Weather Service issues a hurricane watch when there is a threat to coastal areas for hurricane conditions within 24 to 36 hours. Our Fort Walton Beach team has been restoring hurricane damage in Okaloosa County for over twenty years.

The Fort Walton Beach Housing Authority (FWBHA) urges residents to be prepared to evacuate when a hurricane watch is issued, and:

Never ignore an evacuation order. Authorities will be most likely to direct you to leave if you are in a low-lying area or within the greatest potential path of the storm. Be aware that most shelters and some hotels do not accept pets.

If a hurricane warning is issued for your area or you are directed by authorities to evacuate the area:

  • Take only essential items with you
  • If you have time, turn off the gas, electricity, and water
  • Disconnect appliances to reduce the likelihood of electrical shock when power is restored
  • Make sure your automobile’s emergency kit is ready
  • Follow the designated evacuation routes

Call Us Today!

When you need help with storm damage in your Fort Walton Beach home or commercial business, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Failed Supply Line Causes Flooded Floor in Mary Esther Home?

6/13/2023 (Permalink)

A wood floor shows signs of water damage. We restore water damage 24 hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our Fort Walton Beach team is highly trained to restore water damage. Mary Esther residents and businesses have relied on us to restore water damage for over twenty years. When you have a water damage emergency, every minute counts because water is invasive and can cause considerable damage in a short period of time as follows:

Within Minutes

  • Water quickly spreads throughout your property, saturating everything in its path
  • Water is absorbed into walls, floors, upholstery, and belongings
  • Furniture finishes may bleed, causing permanent staining on carpets
  • Photographs, books, and other paper goods start to swell and warp

Hours 1 - 24:

  • Drywall begins to swell and break down
  • Metal surfaces begin to tarnish
  • Furniture begins to swell and crack
  • Dyes and inks from cloth and paper goods spread and stain
  • A musty odor appears

48 Hours to 1 Week:

  • Mold and mildew may grow and spread
  • Doors, windows, and studs swell and warp
  • Metal begins to rust and corrode
  • Furniture warps and shows signs of mold
  • Paint begins to blister
  • Wood flooring swells and warps
  • Serious biohazard contamination is possible

Call Us Today!

When water floods your floors and you need fast emergency water damage services in your Mary Esther home or commercial business, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Electrical Fire Damages Home in Fort Walton Beach?

6/6/2023 (Permalink)

An electrical cord catches fire. We restore fire damage 24 hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Electricity makes our lives easier, but it is also one of the leading causes of home fire damage. Our Fort Walton Beach team is a leader in fire damage restoration services. Here are some electrical safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association:

  • Have all electrical work done by a qualified electrician
  • Only use one heat-producing appliance plugged into a receptacle outlet at a time
  • Major appliances should be plugged directly into a wall receptacle outlet. Extension cords and plug strips should not be used.
  • Arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) shut off electricity when a dangerous condition occurs. Consider having them installed in your home.
  • Use ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to reduce the risk of shock. GFCIs shut off an electrical circuit when it becomes a shock hazard. They should be installed inside the home in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and basements. All outdoor receptacles should be GFCI protected.
  • Test AFCIs and GFCIs once a month according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • Check electrical cords to make sure they are not running across doorways or under carpets. Extension cords are intended for temporary use. Have a qualified electrician add more receptacle outlets, so you don’t have to use extension cords.

Call Us Today!

When you have a fire damage emergency in your Fort Walton Beach home or commercial business, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Evacuation Planning Saves Lives in Ocean City?

5/30/2023 (Permalink)

An evacuation route sign points the ways to safety. We are leaders in storm damage restoration services in Okaloosa County.

Our Fort Walton Beach team wants everyone in Ocean City to be prepared in the event of an evacuation order. Here is some information on evacuation planning from the Insurance Information Institute:

  • Identify where you can go in the event of an evacuation. Try to have more than one option: the home of a friend or family member in another town, a hotel, or a shelter. Keep the phone numbers and addresses of these locations handy.
  • Map out your primary routes and backup routes to your evacuation destinations in case roads are blocked or impassable. Try to have a physical map of the area available in case GPS satellite transmissions are down or your devices run out of power. 
  • Pre-arrange a designated place to meet in case your family members are separated before or during the evacuation. Ask an out-of-town friend or family member to act as a contact person for your family.
  • Put all evacuation plans in writing along with pertinent addresses and phone numbers and give them to each member of the family. Note that many home printer inks are NOT waterproof, so take appropriate precautions to ensure legibility.
  • Listen to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio or local radio or TV stations for evacuation instructions

Call Us Today!

Storms can cause flooding and evacuation orders, so it is a good idea to be prepared in advance. When you have a storm damage emergency in your Ocean City Beach home or commercial business, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Overflowing Bathtub Floods Floors in Fort Walton Beach Home?

5/23/2023 (Permalink)

Bathtub water overflows and floods the bathroom floor. We are leaders in water damage restoration services in Okaloosa County.

Sometimes water damage is caused by broken pipes, and sometimes, as in my case, it is caused by forgetting to turn the bathtub water off before it floods the floor. When I noticed the water pooling outside the bathroom door, I knew I had to act fast. I turned off the tub water and called the local Fort Walton Beach team.  

Their restoration crew arrived quickly and immediately began extracting the water. They set up powerful air movers and air blowers and documented and monitored the drying process to ensure all surfaces were dried completely. Thanks to their fast response time and use of industrial-grade equipment, the floors, drywall, and baseboards were salvaged and did not have to be replaced.

Our Water Damage Restoration Process

Step 1: Emergency Contact

Step 2: Inspection and Damage Assessment

Step 3: Water Removal/Water Extraction

Step 4: Drying and Dehumidification

Step 5: Cleaning and Repair

Step 6: Restoration

Call Us Today!

Water damage can happen at any time and for many reasons. When you have a water damage emergency in your Fort Walton Beach home or commercial business, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We’ll clean and restore your damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

How Can I Tell If I Have a Mold Problem in My Home in Cinco Bayou?

5/16/2023 (Permalink)

Mold spores grow in a Petrie dish. We are leaders in mold remediation services in Okaloosa County.

Our local Fort Walton Beach team has been restoring mold damage in Cinco Bayou for over twenty years. Florida’s climate presents the perfect warm and moist conditions for mold colonies to thrive. The Florida Department of Health offers this information for determining if mold is present in your home or commercial business:

  • Look for visible mold growth (it may look cottony, velvety, rough, or leathery and have different colors like white, gray, brown, black, yellow, or green). Mold often appears as a staining or fuzzy growth on furniture or building materials (walls, ceilings, or anything made of wood or paper). Look for signs of moisture or water damage (water leaks, standing water, water stains, condensation, etc.).
  • Check around air handling units (air conditioners, furnaces) for standing water. Routinely inspect the evaporator coils, liner surfaces, drain pans, and drain lines.
  • Search areas where you notice mold odors. If you can smell an earthy or musty odor, you may have a mold problem.
  • If mold-allergic people have some of the symptoms listed above when in your home, you may have a mold problem.

Call Us Today!

If you notice a strong, musty odor, or see visible signs of mold growth in your Cinco Bayou home or commercial business, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We’ll restore your mold damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Could the Bubbling Paint on My Ceiling be a Sign of Water Damage in Wright?

5/9/2023 (Permalink)

A person discovers bubbling paint on their ceiling. We respond to water damage emergencies 24 hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our local Fort Walton Beach team has been restoring water damage for Wright residents and businesses for over twenty years. We know that our fast emergency response time saves our customers time and money in many cases. If you notice paint bubbling on your ceiling or wall, you have a water leak either from water entering your home or building from an outside source, or you have a water leak resulting from a leak in your plumbing system. If left unchecked, the damage will not lessen and could lead to more serious damage and costly repairs. Here is a water damage timeline that demonstrates the type of damage water can cause in one day:

Within Minutes

  • Water quickly spreads throughout your property, saturating everything in its path
  • Water is absorbed into walls, floors, upholstery, and belongings
  • Furniture finishes may bleed, causing permanent staining on carpets
  • Photographs, books, and other paper goods start to swell and warp

Hours 1 - 24

  • Drywall begins to swell and break down
  • Metal surfaces begin to tarnish
  • Furniture begins to swell and crack
  • Dyes and inks from cloth and paper goods spread and stain
  • A musty odor appears

Call Us Today!

When you discover bubbling paint or other signs of water damage in your home or commercial business in Wright, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We’ll restore your water damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

How Can I Stay Safe During a Major Storm in Niceville?

5/2/2023 (Permalink)

Dirty water pours out of a sink faucet. We restore storm damage 24 hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our local team in Fort Walton Beach is a trusted leader in storm damage restoration services in Niceville. After any storm, flooding event, or disaster, your water supply may be contaminated. Before a major storm blows in, it is a good idea to prepare for any eventuality. Here are some water safety tips from the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

If you are in a disaster or emergency, it’s important that you take steps to prevent illness from unsafe water.

After a storm or disaster

  • Do not use water you suspect or have been told is contaminated to drink, wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, wash your hands, make ice, or make baby formula
  • Use bottled, boiled, or treated water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene
  • Follow your state, local, or tribal health department for specific recommendations regarding boiling or treating water in your area
  • Avoid drinking alcohol. Alcohol dehydrates the body, which increases the need for drinking water

Call Us Today!

When you discover storm damage in your home or commercial business in Niceville, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We’ll restore your storm damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Leaking Toilet Causes Mold Outbreak in Valparaiso Home?

4/25/2023 (Permalink)

A leaking toilet seal is being replaced. We are trusted leaders in water and mold damage restoration in Okaloosa County.

Our local team in Fort Walton Beach has been remediating mold damage in Valparaiso for over twenty years. Almost all mold problems originate from water damage, so if you have had recent water damage or water leaks, you may have a mold problem. Toilet leaks are a common cause of mold damage. The Environmental Protection Agency offers the following tips for detecting a toilet leak:

  • One way to find out if you have a toilet leak is to place a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If the color shows up in the bowl within ten minutes without flushing, you have a leak. Make sure to flush immediately after this experiment to avoid staining the tank.
  • If your toilet is leaking, the cause is often an old faulty toilet flapper. Over time, this inexpensive rubber part decays, or minerals build up on it. It’s usually best to replace the whole flapper, which is a relatively easy and inexpensive do-it-yourself project that pays for itself in no time. 

Call Us Today!

When you discover mold growing in your home or commercial business in Valparaiso, our team of professionals in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We’ll restore your mold and water damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

What Are Some Signs of Hidden Water Damage in Ocean City?

4/18/2023 (Permalink)

A technician uses an infrared camera to detect hidden water damage. We restore water damage 24 hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Does your water bill seem unusually high? According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), minor water leaks account for more than one trillion gallons of water wasted in United States homes each year. Many water leaks are hidden, and even minor water leaks can cause significant damage to a home over time. Our local team in Fort Walton Beach uses advanced technology and techniques to locate hidden water damage in homes and commercial businesses.

The EPA offers the following leak detection information:

  • A good method to check for leaks is to examine your winter water use. It’s likely that a family of four has a serious leak problem if its winter water use exceeds 12,000 gallons per month.
  • Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you probably have a leak.
  • To check for a toilet bowl leak, place a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If the color shows up in the bowl within ten minutes without flushing, you have a leak. 

Call Us Today!

When you need help with water damage in your Ocean City home or business, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

What Can I Do While Waiting For Mold Remediation Professionals to Arrive in Wright?

4/11/2023 (Permalink)

A closeup of mold spores is shown. Our mold remediation technicians are trained and certified in Okaloosa County.

If you notice a strong, musty odor or have had a water leak or water intrusion from recent rains, you may have mold growing somewhere in your walls. Our local team in Fort Walton Beach is a trusted leader in mold remediation services. Wright residents and businesses have relied on us to restore mold damage for over twenty years. Here are tips from our website for things you can do and things to not do while waiting for professional help to arrive:

Important Facts

  • Significant mold growth can occur in 48 to 72 hours
  • A strong, musty odor may indicate hidden mold behind drywall or under carpeting

What to Do

  • Stay out of affected areas
  • Turn off the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and fans
  • Contact our Otay Mesa/SanYsidro offices for mold remediation services

What Not to Do

  • Don’t touch or disturb the mold
  • Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth
  • Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself
  • Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold

Call Us Today!

If you have water damage in your home or business in Wright, there is a strong possibility of having a mold outbreak as well. Our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help ® when you require mold damage restoration services. Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Water Intrusion Causes Mold Outbreak in Niceville?

4/3/2023 (Permalink)

Mold grows around a leaking window frame. We mitigate and restore mold and water damage in Okaloosa County.

For over twenty years, our local team in Fort Walton Beach has been mitigating and restoring mold damage in Niceville. Mold is often a symptom of water damage and commonly occurs after it rains and water enters a structure. We identify and correct the source of the excess water during the mold remediation process to discourage the mold from returning once the job is complete. Here are some Google reviews from some of our valued customers:

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the professionalism and quality of work that each and every one of John’s team, including him, exhibited during the whole mold remediation process. I would definitely recommend SERVPRO for any of your needs. They actually care about the customer. It’s very hard to find that kind of customer service anymore.” Linda Faulkner

Services: Mold remediation, Mold inspection Positive: Professionalism, Punctuality, Quality, Responsiveness

“I used SERVPRO to handle mold growth within my walls when my water heater broke. They not only came right away, but did a fantastic job. Not only did they use premium materials, they also painted as if nothing ever happened.” Phillip G.

Call Us Today!

If you have a water intrusion issue and discover mold growing in your home or business in Niceville, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We’ll restore your mold and water damage "Like it never even happened." Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Mold-Damaged Belongings Require Professional Cleaning Services in Wright?

3/28/2023 (Permalink)

A closeup of mold spores is shown growing in a Petrie dish. We clean and restore mold-damaged items in Okaloosa County!

Our team in Fort Walton Beach team has been restoring mold damage in Wright and Okaloosa County for over 20 years. We follow local and state laws and will advise you on this process and provide guidance based on your unique situation.

Mold is always present in the Earth’s atmosphere, waiting for the optimum, warm, and moist conditions to occur. In many cases, mold infestations appear after it rains, and the mold spores can colonize in as little as 48 hours. When you discover a mold infestation in your home or business, it is important to act quickly.

Our technicians are trained and certified in applied microbial remediation by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, the nonprofit certifying body for the cleaning and restoration industry. They have the advanced training, specialized equipment, and experience to mitigate any mold infestation in your home or commercial business. 

Call Us Today!

If you have a mold problem in your home or commercial business in Wright, your belongings, furnishings, and surfaces will require professional cleaning services. Our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help® when your belongings require cleaning to remove mold exposure. We’ll remove your mold damage "Like it never even happened." Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Water Intrusion Causes Mold Damage in Lake Lorraine Home?

3/21/2023 (Permalink)

Mold grows along the edge of a leaking door. We are leaders in mold remediation services in Okaloosa County!

Mold often becomes an issue after it rains if there are opportunities for the water to enter the home or building. Our team in Fort Walton Beach team is a trusted leader in mold mitigation and removal services in Lake Lorraine. We have been restoring mold-damage properties here for over twenty years. Our teams are trained and certified in applied microbial remediation by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification. We have the training, equipment, and experience to restore mold damage quickly and efficiently, no matter how extensive the damage is. Here is a recent Google review from one of our valued customers:

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the professionalism and quality of work that each and every one of John’s team, including him, exhibited during the whole mold remediation process. I would definitely recommend SERVPRO for any of your needs. They actually care about the customer. It’s very hard to find that kind of customer service anymore.” Linda Faulkner

Positive: Professionalism, Punctuality, Quality, Responsiveness

Services: Mold Inspection, Mold Remediation

Call Us Today!

You never know when rainwater intrusion will create a mold problem, but when you discover mold damage in your home or commercial business in Lake Lorraine, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We'll restore your mold damage "Like it never even happened." Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

What Can I Do While I am Waiting for Professional Mold Removal Services to Arrive in Shalimar?

3/14/2023 (Permalink)

A person discovers a mold outbreak and is calling for professional help. We are mold remediation leaders in Okaloosa County!

Florida’s climate creates the perfect warm and moist conditions for mold spores to colonize. Our team in Fort Walton Beach team has been providing mold removal services in Shalimar for over twenty years. Our teams are trained and certified in applied microbial remediation by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC), the nonprofit certifying body for the cleaning and restoration industries. Here are some mold damage emergency tips from our website for things you can and should not do while waiting for professional help to arrive:

Important Facts

  • Significant mold growth can occur in 48 to 72 hours
  • A strong, musty odor may indicate hidden mold behind drywall or under carpeting

What to Do

  • Stay out of affected areas
  • Turn off the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and fans
  • Contact our Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley offices for mold remediation services

What Not to Do

  • Don’t touch or disturb the mold
  • Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth
  • Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself
  • Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold

Call Us Today!

You never know when a water leak will cause a mold outbreak, but when you discover mold damage in your home or commercial business in Shalimar, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We'll restore your mold damage "Like it never even happened." Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Broken Water Heater Causes Property Damage to Fort Walton Beach Home?

3/7/2023 (Permalink)

View of water heater flooded We restore water damage in Okaloosa County quickly and efficiently!

Some home appliances can fail at any time and can cause significant damage. Our local Fort Walton Beach team has been restoring Okaloosa County water damage for over twenty years. damage in Niceville. Often, leaks can go undetected, causing excess moisture within the walls, leading to mold growth and damage.

“I used SERVPRO to handle mold growth within my walls when my water heater broke. They not only came right away but did a fantastic job. Not only did they use premium materials, they also painted as if nothing ever happened.” Phillip G.

Our technicians are trained and certified to restore water and mold damage by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). We have the training, equipment, and experience required to get the job done the right way the first time! Thousands of people in the United States experience a water damage emergency at home or work each day. The most common causes of water damage are:

  • Severe weather
  • Clogged gutters
  • Leaking pipes
  • Washing machine water supply line leaks
  • Condensation from air conditioners
  • Blocked drains
  • Malfunctioning sprinkler systems
  • Leaking water heaters

Call Us Today!

You never know when a home appliance will fail and cause water damage, but when you discover water damage in your home or commercial business in Fort Walton Beach, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We'll restore your property damage "Like it never even happened." Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Recent Rain Causes Mold Outbreak in Niceville Home?

2/28/2023 (Permalink)

A severe mold outbreak covers walls in a garage. We mitigate and restore mold damage in Okaloosa County.

For more than twenty years, our local team in Fort Walton Beach has been restoring mold damage in Niceville. Mold is often a symptom of water damage, so we will inspect and identify the source of the excess water and correct the problem to discourage the mold from returning after it has been removed. Our technicians are certified to mitigate and remediate mold damage following state and local laws and protocols.

Here is some information about mold from our website:

  • Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors
  • Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air, and may enter your home through windows, doors, or air conditioning and heating systems or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet
  • Mold spores thrive on moisture
  • Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water 
  • Mold colonies may produce allergens and irritants
  • Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.
  • Mold often produces a strong, musty odor and can lead you to possible mold problem areas
  • Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.

Call Us Today!

When your home or commercial business in Niceville has mold damage, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We'll restore your damage "Like it never even happened." Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Rain-Damaged Home in Valparaiso?

2/21/2023 (Permalink)

A wall-mounted air conditioning unit is shown. We restore water damage 24 hours a day in Okaloosa County.

For more than twenty years, our local team in Fort Walton Beach has been responding to water damage emergencies in Okaloosa County. Valparaiso averages 66 inches of rain each year, making it one of the wettest places in Florida. One way water can enter the home is through wall-mounted air conditioning units. Here are some helpful tips from the Institute of Business and Home Safety for protecting your home from heavy rain:

Check wall air conditioners.

Internal Drain

If the air conditioning unit has an internal drain, make sure the pipe size is adequate and water is running and flowing freely in order to handle a high volume of water.

 Caulking of Air Conditioning Unit Sleeve: Look for any gaps, cracks, or other damage that indicates improper caulking around the edge of the sleeve to the exterior of the building. This increases vulnerability to water entry.

 Orientation: Tilting the air conditioning unit sleeves slightly (two degrees) towards the exterior wall can significantly reduce the water’s entry.

 Weather Stripping: Proper weather stripping between the air conditioning unit and the sleeve can reduce the water from entering.

Call Us Today!

When your home or commercial business in Valparaiso has water damage, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We'll restore your damage "Like it never even happened." Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Fort Walton Beach Businesses Benefit from Commercial Deep Cleaning Services?

2/14/2023 (Permalink)

A large office window is being professionally cleaned. We provide a full range of deep cleaning services in Okaloosa County.

You may not notice the tired-looking appearance of your office building or the stale air odor, but your customers will. Over time, surfaces and upholstery can begin to look dull, even if you use a cleaning service. Cleaning products can build up and leave surfaces with a dull film.

Although we are better known for fire and water damage restoration services, our technicians are also trained and certified to provide a full range of deep cleaning, decontamination, and deodorization services. For more than twenty years, our local team in Fort Walton Beach has been helping local commercial businesses with their cleaning needs. Our services go beyond what a standard janitorial service can offer.

Commercial Cleaning Services

  • Air Ducts and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
  • Biohazard and Sewage
  • Trauma and Crime Scene
  • Carpet and Upholstery
  • Drapes and Blinds
  • Ceilings, Walls, and Hard Floors
  • Odor Removal and Deodorization
  • Vandalism

We have over twenty years of experience working in all kinds of business settings and buildings:

  • Small Office Buildings
  • Large Office/High-Rise Office Buildings
  • Apartment Buildings
  • Restaurants
  • Hotel/Motels
  • Small Retail Stores
  • Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
  • High-Rise Residential
  • Manufacturing and Industrial
  • Government/Military

Call Us Today!

When your Fort Walton Beach commercial business or home needs deep cleaning services, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We'll deep clean your offices "Like it never even happened." Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Flooding Disaster Caused by Faulty Washing Machine Supply Line in Ocean City?

2/7/2023 (Permalink)

Rubber ducks float in a flooded laundry room. We restore water damage 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

For more than twenty years, our local team in Fort Walton Beach has been responding to water damage emergencies in Ocean City. Our technicians have the training, experience, and equipment to restore water damage emergencies quickly and efficiently. Routine inspection of your washing machine supply lines may prevent severe water damage. The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety offers these helpful tips for maintaining your washing machine supply lines:

  • Look for signs the supply hose may be ready to fail—blisters in the hose, worn tubing, stress cracks, or a loose connection
  • Replace the supply hose with a reinforced steel braided hose if it shows any sign of wear
  • Tighten the connection if it feels loose. The most common site of failure is near the connection where the hose bends.
  • Replace supply hoses every five years, even if there is no evident deterioration or wear. Some signs of deterioration may occur from the inside out and may not be visible until it is too late. When replacing washing machine supply hoses, always choose a reinforced steel braided hose over the traditional un-reinforced rubber hose. These hoses will last longer and are far less likely to result in catastrophic water loss.

Call Us Today!

When you have a water damage emergency in your Ocean City home or commercial business, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We'll restore your water damage "Like it never even happened." Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

What Are Some Common Causes of Water Damage in Niceville?

1/31/2023 (Permalink)

A pipe is leaking. We restore water damage 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

For more than twenty years, our local team in Fort Walton Beach has been helping people in Niceville with water damage emergencies. Water damage is the most common form of property damage in the United States. Here are some statistics about water damage:

  • 98 percent of basements in the United States will experience some type of water damage during their lifespans
  • 37 percent of homeowners in the United States claim to have suffered losses from water damage
  • 5 billion is the annual cost to insurance companies from water damage and mold in the United States
  • $6975 is the average cost of a home water damage insurance claim
  • The average age of failed washing machine supply line hoses is 8.7 years
  • 75 percent of water heaters fail before they are 12 years old

Our technicians are trained and certified by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), the nonprofit certifying body for the cleaning and restoration industry. According to industry estimates, 14,000 people in the U.S. experience a water damage emergency at home or work each day. Here are the most common causes of water damage:

  • Leaking pipes
  • Severe weather
  • Clogged gutters
  • Washing machine water supply line leaks
  • Condensation from air conditioners
  • Blocked drains
  • Malfunctioning sprinkler systems
  • Leaking water heaters

Call Us Today!

When you have water damage in your Niceville home or commercial business, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We'll restore your water damage "Like it never even happened." Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Advanced Moisture Detection Equipment Finds Hidden Water Damage in Wright Home?

1/24/2023 (Permalink)

An infrared camera is shown. We respond to water damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our local team in Fort Walton Beach has over twenty years of experience locating hidden water damage in Wright. We use advanced technology and techniques to find water leaks inside walls. Here is a customer testimonial from one of our happy customers:


"SERVPRO's mitigation team was top notch when they serviced my home Monday 28SEP - Wednesday 30SEP. Ray Fernandez responded quickly (I had called for an appt on Saturday 26SEP) and was very professional throughout his analysis. He took time to explain the process and what his moisture detection equipment was picking up. He explained his recommendations in detail on how to proceed, which were in accordance with the insurance adjuster's recommendations. Rachel and her team (Russell and Ian) came in later that afternoon to remove drywall, apply antimicrobial agents, and install drying equipment. They took steps to cover everything with tarps and made clean cuts in the drywall. Material was disposed of properly, and they did a good job. Rachel called to check on me mid-drying process, which I appreciate. I was impressed with SERVPRO's team's service and will definitely use you again if the need arises. My neighbor just contracted them based on my experience and her observations during the process at my home." Bridget L.

Call Us Today!

Our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help ® when your home or commercial business in Wright has a water damage emergency. We'll restore your water damage "Like it never even happened." Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Space Heater Fire in Mary Esther Business?

1/17/2023 (Permalink)

A heating fan warms a room. We respond to commercial fire damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our professionals in Fort Walton Beach have been providing commercial fire damage restoration services in Mary Esther for over twenty years. Some businesses allow the use of space heaters to take the chill out of a room. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the top causes of fires in commercial buildings are:

  • Heating equipment
  • Cooking equipment
  • Electrical and lighting equipment
  • Smoking materials
  • Intentional fire setting

Employers without a formal policy prohibiting space heaters should provide guidelines for safe use.

  • Use of space heaters should not be allowed unless supervisor or management approval is provided before use
  • Units that have been listed or labeled by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as UL (Underwriters Laboratories), CSA (Canadian Standards Association), or ETL (Intertek) should be the only space heaters permitted for use
  • Keep at least 36 inches of clearance around every space heater and only use them in areas free of flammable liquids and easily ignited or combustible materials
  • Proper placement of the space heater is important. Be sure it is not in a high-traffic area or where it may become a tripping hazard. Never leave a space heater unattended.

Call Us Today!

Our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help ® when your commercial business or home in Mary Esther has a fire damage emergency. We’ll restore your fire damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Installing a Rain Barrel Can Help Prevent Stormwater Intrusion in Fort Walton Beach?

1/10/2023 (Permalink)

A rain barrel system collects water from a home’s downspout. We respond to storm damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our Fort Walton Beach technicians are trusted leaders in storm damage restoration services, and we have been restoring storm damage here for over twenty years. Here are some suggestions from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for protecting exterior areas of your home from stormwater.

  • Install a rain barrel. A rain barrel is an alternative method for dealing with rainwater. Rain barrels are typically connected to gutter downspouts and collect the runoff from roofs. You can use this stored water for non-potable uses such as watering the lawn and gardens or washing your car.
  • Maintain proper water runoff and drainage. Routinely clean and maintain gutters, downspouts, and splash pads, so rainwater from your roof flows easily away from your home. Also, make sure that any nearby drainage ditches or storm drains are clear of debris and functioning properly.
  • Reduce impervious surfaces around your home. Water runs off concrete and asphalt almost immediately and can quickly exceed storm sewers’ capacity quickly during heavy rains. Retaining and creating natural green space around your home can help reduce sewer overflows by reducing stormwater runoff. Consider options such as rain gardens, vegetated swales, or pervious pavements, which allow more water to be absorbed by the ground.

Call Us Today!

Our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help ® when your home or commercial business has a storm damage emergency. We’ll restore your storm damage in Ocean City “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Dry Christmas Tree Causes Fire Damage in Ocean City Home?

1/3/2023 (Permalink)

A dead Christmas tree is shown. We are leaders in fire damage restoration services in Okaloosa County.

Our Fort Walton Beach technicians respond to fire damage emergencies throughout the year in Ocean City. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) wants residents to get rid of their trees after Christmas or when the tree is dry. Here are some tips for preventing Christmas tree fires from the NFPA:

After Christmas

Get rid of the tree after Christmas or when it is dry. Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home or garage or placed outside against the house. Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and make them last longer.

Okaloosa County Christmas Tree Recycling

The Okaloosa County Solid Waste Office reports that residents of unincorporated Okaloosa County may dispose of live Christmas trees as part of residential yard trash pickup.

  • Place live trees at the curb on your regular yard trash pickup day
  • Please remove lights and ornaments

If you have an artificial tree, you can place them at the curb for bulk waste pickup. Please contact the Okaloosa County Solid Waste Office at 689-5774 if you have any questions.

Call Us Today!

Our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help ® when your home or commercial business has a fire damage emergency. We’ll restore your fire damage in Ocean City “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

How Will The Mold in My Business Be Removed in Niceville?

12/27/2022 (Permalink)

A technician sprays an antimicrobial treatment to eliminate mold colonies on a wall. We remediate commercial mold damage 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our Fort Walton Beach technicians are trusted leaders in commercial mold remediation services in Niceville. Fast action must be taken when mold becomes visible, as it can quickly affect other areas of a property when it is not contained quickly. Here is the process we follow when addressing mold issues:

  1. Emergency Contact

Determines the necessary equipment and resources to mobilize.

  1. Inspection and Mold Damage Assessment

We follow local and state laws regarding inspection and documentation based on your unique situation.

  1. Mold Containment

We may use advanced containment procedures like negative air chambers to isolate the contaminated area with physical barriers and negative air pressure to prevent mold spores from spreading during the cleanup process.

  1. Air Filtration

We utilize powerful “air scrubbers” and HEPA vacuums to prevent the spread of these mold spores while the mold remediation is in process.

  1. Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials

We use antifungal and antimicrobial treatments to eliminate mold colonies and to help prevent new colonies from forming. Removing and disposing mold-infested porous materials may be necessary to remediate heavy mold growth.

  1. Cleaning Contents

We clean your furniture, decorative items, curtains, and other restorable items affected by mold. We’re also trained to remove odors and deodorization using fogging equipment.

  1. Restoration

Drywall, subfloors, and other building materials be removed during the remediation process. Restoration may involve minor repairs or require the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a business. 

Call Us Today!

Our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help ® commercial businesses and residents in Niceville with our mold removal services. We’ll restore your mold damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Can Your Garage Door Sustain Hurricane-Force Winds in Ocean City?

12/20/2022 (Permalink)

A double-car garage door is shown. We restore storm damage 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our Fort Walton Beach technicians have been restoring storm damage in Ocean City for over twenty years. The Florida Division of Emergency Management website reports that more than 90 percent of damage to homes during hurricanes begins when the garage door fails.  

What type of doors are best for high-wind locations?  

  • Wind- and impact-rated doors that are tested and approved. Wind-rated is good, and impact-rated is better. 
  • Single-car garage doors usually resist wind forces better than two-car garage doors 
  • Doors without glass, or glazing, are better than those with glass or windows (unless the glass is impact-resistant) 

How can you strengthen your existing garage door? 

  • Check the mounting brackets and connectors and ensure the screws are tight and the track is not loose 
  • Add mounting brackets and connectors if you only have three or four on each side 
  • Replace rusted pins or worn-out rollers, and make sure they are balanced 
  • Consider a bracing kit if the door is weak. If it is, it may fail and wrap around the bracing. 

Call Us Today! 

Our team in Fort Walton Beach is always Here to Help ® when your home or commercial business in Ocean City has a storm damage emergency. We typically arrive within four hours of receiving your call for help. We’ll restore your storm damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552. 

Franchises are independently owned and operated. 

What are the Top Causes of Fire Damage in Fort Walton Beach?

12/13/2022 (Permalink)

An electrical outlet has short-circuited, resulting in an electrical fire. We restore fire damage 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

For twenty years, our Fort Walton Beach technicians have restored fire damage in Oskaloosa County. The?National Fire Protection Association?(NFPA) reports that more home fires and fire casualties result from five sources: cooking, heating, electrical distribution, lighting equipment, intentional fire setting, and smoking materials. Here are some more statistics from the NFPA related to fire damage: 

  • More than one-quarter (26 percent) of reported fires in 2015-2019 occurred in homes. Even worse, three-quarters (75 percent) of civilian fire deaths and almost three-quarters (72 percent) of all reported injuries were caused by home fires. 
  • During these five years, United States fire departments responded to an estimated average of 346,800 home structure fires per year. These fires caused an annual average of 2,620 civilian deaths, 11,070 civilian fire injuries, and $7.3 billion in direct property damage. 
  • Over the five years of 2015–2019, cooking was the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, while smoking was the leading cause of home fire deaths. 

Call Us Today! 

Our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help ® when your home or commercial business has a fire damage emergency in Fort Walton Beach. We’ll restore your fire damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552. 

Franchises are independently owned and operated. 

How Will I Know if My Water Damage is Completely Dried in Lake Lorraine?

12/6/2022 (Permalink)

A person runs their hand through a dried carpet. We restore water damage 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

For twenty years, our technicians in Fort Walton Beach have been responding to water damage emergencies in Lake Lorraine. Most of the surfaces in homes and businesses are porous, so when they are exposed to water, the water can seep into them. Although these surfaces may be dry to the touch, they may retain moisture, which, left untreated, can cause the materials to break down, warp, or cause mold damage.

Drying and Dehumidification Process

We use room measurements, temperature, and relative humidity to determine the number of air movers and dehumidifiers to dry the area. We also monitor and document the drying process to ensure the damage is dried thoroughly. Here is some additional information from our website about our drying process.

Monitor Floor and Walls

We check the moisture levels to monitor the drying process. 

  • Monitor Floors
  • Monitor Walls

Drying Equipment

  • Industrial-grade dehumidifiers help prevent secondary water damage like swelling and warping floors, walls, and furniture
  • High-speed air movers create airflow across walls, carpets, pads, and furniture, accelerating moisture evaporation

Call Us Today!

Our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help ® when your home or business has water damage in Lake Lorraine. We’ll restore your water damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

What is the Process for Restoring Mold Damage in My Niceville Business?

11/29/2022 (Permalink)

Mold is visible on a ceiling and window frame. We mitigate and restore commercial mold damage in Okaloosa County.

Our local technicians in Fort Walton Beach are trained and certified to restore commercial mold damage. Although each case is unique, we follow the same comprehensive process for each customer as follows:

  1. Emergency Contact
  2. Inspection and Mold Damage Assessment

We follow local and state laws regarding inspection and documentation based on your unique situation.

  1. Mold Containment

We may use advanced containment procedures like negative air chambers to isolate the contaminated area with physical barriers and negative air pressure to prevent mold spores from spreading during the cleanup process.

  1. Air Filtration

We utilize powerful “air scrubbers” and HEPA vacuums to prevent the spread of these mold spores while the mold remediation is in process.

  1. Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials

We use antifungal and antimicrobial treatments to eliminate mold colonies and to help prevent new colonies from forming. We remove and dispose of mold-infested porous materials when remediating heavy mold growth.

  1. Cleaning Contents

We clean your furniture, decorative items, curtains, and other restorable items affected by mold. We also remove odors and deodorization using fogging equipment.

  1. Restoration

Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall, painting, and installing new carpet, or it may require the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business. 

Call Us Today!

Our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help ® when your commercial business or home has mold damage. We’ll restore your commercial mold damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Hurricane Damage in Fort Walton Beach?

11/21/2022 (Permalink)

Palm trees blow over during a tropical storm. We respond to storm damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our local technicians in Fort Walton Beach respond to storm damage emergencies throughout the year, especially during hurricane season. Last month, Hurricane Ian brought storm damage, watches, and warnings to many parts of Florida.

Fort Walton Beach has sustained hurricane damage in the past:

  • In 1896, a hurricane landed on July 7, when the area suffered severe damage from 90-mile-per-hour winds
  • In 1998, Hurricane Earl made landfall 30 miles east with 80-mile-per-hour winds recorded, causing mile damage
  • In 1995, Hurricane Opal made landfall along the Florida Panhandle as a Category 3 storm with top wind recordings of 115 miles-per-hour
  • In 1953, Hurricane Florence arrived on September 26 with 85-mile-per-hour winds and a five-foot storm surge

Hurricane Watch: An announcement that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or higher) are possible within the specified coastal area. The hurricane watch is issued 48 hours before the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds.

Hurricane Warning: An announcement that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or higher) are expected somewhere within the specified coastal area. The hurricane warning is issued 36 hours before the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds.

Call Us Today!

Our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help ® when your home or commercial business has storm or hurricane damage. We’ll clean, restore, and rebuild your property damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Pets Starting Fires in Blue Water Bay Homes?

11/15/2022 (Permalink)

A dog wearing a chef’s hat and apron is cooking on a gas stove. We restore fire damage24-hours a day in damage Okaloosa County.

Our local technicians in Fort Walton Beach have been restoring fire damage in Blue Water Bay for over twenty years. The dog in the photo looks innocent enough, but he has a long history of kitchen disobedience. Whether pets cause fires intentionally or by accident, the National Fire Protection Association reports that pets and wild animals are responsible for starting over 750 home fires each year.

Here are some pet fire safety tips from the NFPA to keep your pets safe around fire:

  • Keep pets away from stoves and countertops
  • Keep pets away from candles, lamps, and space heaters
  • Always use a metal or heat-tempered glass screen on a fireplace and keep it in place
  • Keep pets away from a chimney’s outside vents
  • Have a “pet-free zone” of at least three feet away from the fireplace. Glass doors and screens can stay dangerously hot for several hours after the fire goes out.
  • Some pets are chewers. Watch pets to make sure they don’t chew through electrical cords. Have any problems checked by a professional.

Call Us Today!

When your home or business in Blue Water Bay has fire damage, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We’ll clean and restore your fire damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Refrigerator Floods Floor in Fort Walton Beach?

11/8/2022 (Permalink)

A refrigerator with an ice dispenser is shown. We are leaders in water damage restoration in Okaloosa County.

Our local technicians in Fort Walton Beach have over twenty years of experience restoring water damage. I had no idea my refrigerator could flood my floor until it happened!

In a study published by the Institute of Business and Home Safety (IBHS), 75 percent of water damage losses involving an ice maker were caused by a supply line failure. Proper installation of the ice maker supply line hose is essential to avoiding water damage.

Here are some refrigerator loss prevention and maintenance tips from the IBHS:

  • Tightly connect the hose to the valve, and avoid over-tightening
  • Ensure the valve connection is secure and check for kinks
  • Inspect the hose every six months
  • If kinks are present, replace the hose
  • Leave a three-to-four-inch space between the back of the refrigerator and the wall to prevent the hose from crimping
  • When pulling the refrigerator out for cleaning or service, avoid getting the hose caught beneath the wheel
  • Locate the water shut-off valve
  • Inspect the valve every six months to make sure the water supply will shut off, and replace the valve if needed

Call Us Today!

When your home or business has water damage, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We’ll clean and restore your water damage in Fort Walton Beach “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Smoke Alarm Failure in Blue Water Bay Home?

11/1/2022 (Permalink)

Smoke rises towards a smoke detector in a home. We are leaders in fire damage restoration in Okaloosa County.

Our local technicians in Fort Walton Beach have over twenty years of experience restoring fire damage in Blue Water Bay. Smoke alarms are an essential part of a home escape plan. Working smoke detectors give early warnings, allowing you to get outside quickly. Here are some smoke alarm safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association:

Smoke Alarm Safety
  • A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire. Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home. 
  • Smoke alarms should be interconnected. When one sounds, they all sound. 
  • Large homes may need extra smoke alarms
  • Test your smoke alarms at least once a month. Press the test button to be sure the alarm is working.
  • Today’s smoke alarms will be more technologically advanced to respond to a multitude of fire conditions yet mitigate false alarms
  • When a smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside
  • Replace all smoke alarms in your home every ten years

Call Us!

When your home or business in Bluewater Bay has fire damage, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We’ll clean and restore your fire damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

What is the Most Efficient Way to Dry Water Damage in Mary Esther?

10/24/2022 (Permalink)

A person uses a hygrometer to measure moisture levels in a room. We monitor and document the drying process in Okaloosa County.

Our local technicians in Fort Walton Beach have over twenty years of experience restoring water damage in Mary Esther. Most surfaces in homes and businesses are porous, and water can seep in easily. Although these surfaces may be dry to the touch, they may retain moisture, which, left untreated, can cause the materials to break down, warp, or cause mold damage.

Drying and Dehumidification Process

We use room measurements, temperature, and relative humidity to determine the number of air movers and dehumidifiers to dry the area. We also monitor and document the drying process to ensure the damage is dried thoroughly. Here is some additional information from our website about our drying process.

Monitor Floor and Walls

We check the moisture levels to monitor the drying process. 

  • Monitor Floors
  • Monitor Walls

Drying Equipment

  • Industrial-grade dehumidifiers help prevent secondary water damage like swelling and warping floors, walls, and furniture
  • High-speed air movers create airflow across walls, carpets, pads, and furniture, accelerating moisture evaporation

 Call Us Today!

When your home or business in Mary Esther has a water damage emergency, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We’ll clean and restore your water damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Halloween Party Safety Tips for Ocean City?

10/17/2022 (Permalink)

A spooky forest with dead trees and lit jack-o-lanterns is shown. We respond to fire damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our local technicians in Fort Walton Beach have been restoring fire damage for Ocean City residents for over twenty years. Halloween is coming soon, so we offer these Halloween safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association so you can have a fun and safe celebration:

  • Use a battery-operated candle or glow stick in jack-o-lanterns
  • Dried flowers, cornstalks, and crepe paper catch fire easily. Keep all decorations away from open flames and other heat sources like light bulbs and heaters.
  • When using electrical lighting to decorate your home, ensure it is used per the manufacturer’s instructions. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
  • Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged
  • Remember to keep exits clear of decorations so nothing blocks escape routes. Make sure all smoke alarms are working.

For families still planning to attend Halloween parties or go trick-or-treating:

  • When choosing costumes, stay away from long trailing fabric that could come in contact with open flames or other heat sources
  • Teach children to stay away from open flames, including jack-o-lanterns with candles in them
  • Provide children with flashlights to carry for lighting or glow sticks as part of their costumes

Call Us Today!

When your Ocean City home or commercial business has a fire damage emergency, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We’ll clean and restore your fire damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Happy Commercial Water Damaged Customer in Fort Walton Beach?

10/11/2022 (Permalink)

An aerial view of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, is shown. Our fast emergency response time saves our customers time and money in Okaloosa County.

Our fast emergency response time and use of powerful, industrial-grade equipment save our customers money by minimizing the potential for secondary damage in many cases. Our local technicians in Fort Walton Beach have the training, equipment, and experience to restore water damage quickly and efficiently, no matter how extensive the damage is. Here is a recent Google review from one of our commercial customers:

“They arrived so fast. I said I needed as many people and as fast as they could, and I had 15 people within 30 minutes and about 30 people in 40 minutes. The reports were updated every day as this was a massive job. Thank you, SERVPRO.” Jeremy Fouquet

Commercial Properties

  • Small Office Buildings
  • Large Office/High-Rise Office Buildings
  • Apartment Buildings
  • Restaurants
  • Hotel/Motels
  • Small Retail Stores
  • Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
  • High-Rise Residential
  • Manufacturing and Industrial
  • Government/Military

Commercial Services

  • Commercial Water Damage Restoration
  • Commercial Fire Damage Restoration
  • Commercial Mold Remediation
  • Commercial Storm Damage Cleanup
  • Disaster Recovery Team
  • Commercial Cleaning Services

Call Us Today!

When your Fort Walton Beach commercial business or home has a water damage emergency, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We’ll clean and restore your commercial property “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

What Equipment Will Be Used to Extract Stormwater From My Home in Fort Walton Beach?

10/3/2022 (Permalink)

A pedestrian street sign stands in five feet of floodwater. We use powerful water extraction equipment to remove stormwater from homes in Okaloosa County.

Our local technicians in Fort Walton Beach use powerful water extraction equipment to quickly remove hundreds or thousands of gallons of stormwater from your property.

Here is some information from our website about our stormwater removal process:

Move-Out and Pack-Out Services

When your home requires extensive restoration or cleaning, we can conduct an organized and efficient move of your belongings to protect your belongings from further damage.

Emergency Water Removal

We use industrial-grade water extraction equipment to remove most of the water. This helps the drying time and prevents secondary water damage and mold and bacterial growth.

  • Moisture detectors, hygrometers, and other meters measure the extent of moisture saturation
  • Infrared cameras find “hidden” water behind walls and ceilings
  • Submersible and gas-powered pumps are used for continuous pumping of high-level water
  • Truck-mounted and portable extraction units perform efficient water removal

Inspect the Carpet Pad and Carpet

We inspect the carpet and pad and determine if they should be removed to protect the subfloor.

  • Inspect Carpet Pad and Remove If Needed
  • Inspect Carpet and Remove If Needed

Call Us!

When your Fort Walton Beach home or business has a storm damage emergency, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Lightning Safety Tips For Bluewater Bay Residents?

9/27/2022 (Permalink)

A view of lightning over the ocean at night is shown. We respond to storm damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our local technicians in Fort Walton Beach have been helping people with storm damage in Bluewater Bay for over twenty years. Here are some lighting safety tips from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:  

  • Avoid isolated tall trees, hilltops, utility poles, cell phone towers, cranes, large equipment, ladders, scaffolding, or rooftops
  • Avoid open areas, such as fields
  • Never lie flat on the ground
  • Retreat to dense areas of smaller trees that are surrounded by larger trees, or retreat to low-lying areas but watch for flooding
  • Avoid water, and immediately get out of and away from bodies of water
  • Avoid wiring, plumbing, and fencing. Stay away from all metal objects, equipment, and surfaces that can conduct electricity.
  • Do not shelter in sheds, pavilions, tents, or covered porches as they do not provide adequate protection from lightning
  • Seek fully enclosed, substantial buildings with wiring and plumbing. The interior wiring and plumbing in modern buildings will act as an earth ground.
  • A building is a safe shelter as long as you are not in contact with anything that can conduct electricity (e.g., electrical equipment or cords, plumbing fixtures, corded phones). Do not lean against concrete walls or floors (which may have metal bars inside).

Call Us!

When your home or commercial business in Bluewater Bay has a storm damage emergency, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Storm Water Intrusion Prevention Tips for Fort Walton Beach Homes?

9/20/2022 (Permalink)

A view of the shore of Fort Walton Beach is seen before a storm. We respond to storm damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Along with the rain comes the challenges presented by water intrusion. Our local technicians in Fort Walton Beach respond to water damage emergencies throughout the year, and we see the damage even a small leak can do to a home. Here are some helpful tips from the Insurance Information Institute to keep your home protected from unwanted water:

You can prevent water from entering your home by inspecting your home’s exterior for any place where water can enter the home and making repairs as needed.

  • Caulk and seal windows
  • Inspect the roof for missing and aging shingles
  • Check your rain gutters and remove any debris that may be clogging them
  • Check your downspouts and clear any clogs and make sure they are draining away from the house
  • Gutter guards are a good way to prevent clogs and water intrusion into the house
  • Check your sprinkler systems and make sure they are not spraying water into the house and that water is not pooling around the home’s foundation
    • Make sure water drains away from the building.Water is invasive and will find its way into a structure easily when water is allowed to pool around the foundation. After a storm, or when the ground is already saturated by rainwater, the water may enter into the foundation wall through any cracks.

Call Us!

When your home or business has storm damage, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Black Water Contamination in Fort Walton Beach Home?

9/9/2022 (Permalink)

Toilet paper with a happy face drawn on it sits on a toilet seat. We restore sewer backups 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our local technicians in Fort Walton Beach have the specialized training, equipment, and protective gear necessary to safely clean and restore sewage backups. There are three categories of contaminated water, as follows:

Category 1: “Clean Water”

This is water from a clean source, such as a broken clean water supply line or faucet.

  • Water from a clean source like a broken water line
  • If left untreated, it can degrade into category two or three

Category 2: “Gray Water”

This water has a significant level of contamination that could cause discomfort or illness if ingested. Sources for category two water may include washing machine overflow; toilet overflow with some urine, but no feces or dishwasher overflow.

  • It May contain bacteria and viruses
  • It can quickly degrade into category three if left untreated

Category 3: “Black Water”

This water is grossly unsanitary and could cause severe illness or death if ingested, and any contact should be avoided. Sources for category three water could include flooding from rivers or streams, water from beyond the toilet trap, water from the toilet bowl with feces, or standing water that has begun to support microbial growth.

  • It may contain untreated sewage, harsh chemicals, and microbes
  • Water from flooding rivers or sewer backup

Call Us!

When your home or commercial business in Fort Walton Beach has a sewer backup emergency, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We’ll clean and restore your damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Powerful Equipment Saves Water Damage Customers Time and Money in Fort Walton Beach?

9/6/2022 (Permalink)

People in yellow rubber boots stand in water covering a floor. We are leaders in water damage restoration services in Okaloosa County.

Our local team in Fort Walton Beach used powerful, industrial-grade water extraction and drying equipment to restore water damage quickly and thoroughly. This equipment rapidly removes water from surfaces and the air, minimizing the chances of secondary damage and saving our customers time and money in many cases. Here are some examples of the equipment and technology we use:

Moisture Detection and Measurement

  • Surface moisture meters
  • Infrared imagery
  • Evasive moisture detectors
  • Video borescope

Water Extraction Equipment

We use powerful extraction equipment to speed the drying process by removing the bulk of the water from your home or business.

  • Submersible and gas-powered pumps for continuous pumping of high-level water
  • Truck-mounted and portable extraction units perform efficient water removal

Drying Equipment

We use industrial-strength air movers and dehumidifiers to remove the remaining moisture from ceilings, walls, and floors. Proper drying helps to prevent swelling and warping of floors, walls, and furniture.

  • High-speed air movers cause moisture to evaporate at a faster pace
  • Industrial grade dehumidifiers pull the water vapor from the air

Call Us!

When your home or commercial business in Fort Walton Beach has a water damage emergency, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We’ll clean and restore your damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Water Damage Mitigation Tips for Fort Walton Beach Residents?

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

Water is leaking onto the floor. We are leaders in water damage restoration services in Okaloosa County.

Our local team in Fort Walton Beach uses  powerful, industrial-grade water extraction and drying equipment to restore water damage quickly and thoroughly. Here are some tips from our website on things to do while waiting for professional help to arrive:

What To Do After Flooding

  • Remove excess water by mopping and blotting
  • Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removal of lamps and tabletop items
  • Remove and prop wet upholstery and cushions
  • Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting
  • Turn air conditioning on for maximum drying in summer
  • Remove colored rugs from wet carpeting
  • Remove art objects to a safe, dry place
  • Gather loose items from floors

What NOT To Do After Flooding

  • Don’t leave wet fabrics in place
  • Hang furs and leather goods
  • Don’t leave books, magazines, or other colored items on wet carpets or floors
  • Don’t use your household vacuum to remove water
  • Don’t use television or other household appliances
  • Don’t turn on ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet, and keep out of rooms where ceilings are sagging

Call Us Today!

When your home or commercial business in Fort Walton Beach has water damage, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® We’ll clean and restore your damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Tips for Creating an Insurance Inventory List in Fort Walton Beach?

8/23/2022 (Permalink)

A person takes pictures of jewelry for a home inventory list. We are leaders in property damage restoration services in Okaloosa County.

When you have a fire or water damage emergency, having an up-to-date home inventory list makes it easier to settle insurance claims. Our local team in Fort Walton Beach offers these tips from the Insurance Information Institute for using technology to make your home inventory easier.

  • Take pictures – Create a photo record of your belongings. Capture important individual items and entire rooms, closets, or drawers. Label your photos with what’s pictured, where you bought it, the make or model—whatever information might be important to replacing or getting reimbursed for the item. Use your smartphone or digital camera—some give you the capability to put in the item’s description when saving the photo.
  • Tape it – Walk through your house or apartment, videotaping and describing the contents. For example, you might describe the contents of a kitchen cabinet: “Poppies on Blue by Lenox, service for 12 that includes a dinner plate, salad plate, bowl, cup, and saucer. Purchased in 2015.”
  • Use an app – Many mobile app options can help you create and store a room-by-room record of your belongings.

Call Us Today!

When your home or commercial business in Fort Walton Beach needs property damage restoration services, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Our technicians will clean and restore your damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

What Can I Do if I Have Flood Damage in My Home in Fort Walton Beach?

8/16/2022 (Permalink)

A road is flooded. We are leaders in storm damage restoration services in Okaloosa County.

When a storm causes water intrusion and your home or commercial business floods, our local team in Fort Walton Beach will restore the damage quickly and efficiently. Here are some tips from our website on things you can do while waiting for help to arrive:

What To Do After Flooding

  • Remove excess water by mopping and blotting
  • Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removal of lamps and tabletop items
  • Remove and prop wet upholstery and cushions
  • Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting
  • Turn air conditioning on for maximum drying in summer
  • Remove colored rugs from wet carpeting
  • Remove art objects to a safe, dry place
  • Gather loose items from floors

What NOT To Do After Flooding

  • Don’t leave wet fabrics in place. Hang furs and leather goods.
  • Don’t leave books, magazines, or other colored items on wet carpets or floors
  • Don’t use your household vacuum to remove water
  • Don’t use television or other household appliances
  • Don’t turn on ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet, and keep out of rooms where ceilings are sagging

Call Us Today!

Whether your business in Fort Walton Beach needs storm damage restoration services, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Our technicians will clean and restore your damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Commercial Restoration Services in Fort Walton Beach?

8/5/2022 (Permalink)

A wall in a commercial property is being cleaned. We provide commercial cleanup and restoration services in Okaloosa County.

When your commercial business has property damage, our local team in Fort Walton Beach will restore the damage quickly and get your doors open again with minimal disruption to your employees and customers. Our professionals have extensive experience working in all kinds of buildings and workplaces.

  • Small Office Buildings
  • Large Office/High-Rise Office Buildings
  • Apartment Buildings
  • Restaurants
  • Hotel/Motels
  • Small Retail Stores
  • Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
  • High-Rise Residential
  • Manufacturing and Industrial
  • Government/Military

We provide commercial property damage restoration services, including:

  • Commercial Water Damage Restoration
  • Commercial Fire Damage Restoration
  • Commercial Mold Remediation
  • Commercial Storm Damage Cleanup
  • Disaster Recovery Team

Although we are better known for fire and water mitigation and restoration services, we also provide a wide variety of commercial deep cleaning services. These deep-cleaning services exceed the scope of a routine janitorial service and are designed to keep your business looking its best:

  • Air Ducts and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
  • Biohazard and Sewage
  • Trauma and Crime Scene
  • Carpet and Upholstery
  • Drapes and Blinds
  • Ceilings, Walls, and Hard Floors
  • Odor Removal and Deodorization
  • Vandalism

Call Us Today!

Whether your business in Fort Walton Beach needs cleaning or restoration services, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Our technicians will clean and restore your business “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Kitchen Fire in Rocky Bayou Home?

8/2/2022 (Permalink)

A modern kitchen is shown with people cooking. We restore fire damage “Like it never even happened” in Okaloosa County.

When you have fire damage in your Rocky Bayou home or business, our local team in Fort Walton Beach can restore your damage quickly and efficiently. Busy modern families spend much time gathering in the kitchen around meals. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the United States, and most of them involve the kitchen stove. Here are some cooking safety tips from the NFPA:

  • Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or stovetop.
  • Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
  • If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking
  • Keep anything that can catch fire (oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, or curtains) away from your stovetop

Call Us Today!

When your Rocky Bayou home or commercial business has a fire damage emergency, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Our technicians are on call 24-hours a day and typically arrive onsite within four hours of your call for help. Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

How Can I Keep My Pets Calm During a Storm in Fort Walton Beach?

7/27/2022 (Permalink)

An anxious pet hides under a curtain during a severe storm. Our technicians respond to storm damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our Fort Walton Beach team has been restoring water damage in Fort Walton Beach for many years. Sometimes pets get very anxious during storms. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) offers these tips for managing your pet’s anxiety during a thunderstorm:

How to Help a Scared Pet

The good news is there are lots of things you can do at home to help your pet. Please remember that one thing does not work for all pets—so keep trying and see what works for them.  

  • Keep calm! Your dog is aware of your emotions; they are more likely to get upset if you are.
  • Let them hide. If they prefer to stay under the bed, in a closet, or bathroom, let them stay there. 
  • If your pet does not have a place to hide, consider creating a safe place for them. Interior rooms where there is less noise or flashes of light are a good place to start.
  • Try distracting your pet by playing games. You can turn on the TV, play soft music, or give them a food puzzle or kong filled with their favorite item are all great ways to distract your pet. 
  • Anxiety vests or shirts may also help your pet feel calmer

Call Us Today!

When your Fort Walton Beach home or commercial business has storm damage, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

When Should I Have My Water Heater Inspected in Ocean City?

7/21/2022 (Permalink)

A damaged water heater floods the floor. Our technicians are on call to respond to water damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our Fort Walton Beach team has been restoring water damage in Ocean City for over twenty years. Water heaters require periodic inspection and maintenance to keep them running optimally. Here are some tips for the professional maintenance of water heaters:

Use a qualified service professional for the following:

  • Clean burners yearly for gas and oil-fired water heaters. Have the service professional inspect flues and vents for cracks or loose connections that could leak deadly exhaust gases.
     
  • Have a qualified plumber replace your anode rod once every two to five years
     
  • The service life of a temperature and pressure (T & P) valve is usually three years. Even if a T & P valve looks fine from the outside, manufacturers recommend they be removed and visually inspected for accumulations of corrosion deposits
  • Call a qualified plumber if your water tank is leaking
  • If the T & P valve is discharging water or steam, the ONLY safe intervention is to remove the heat source by cutting off its fuel, if you can. For an electric heater, trip the circuit breaker; for a gas heater, shut off the gas.
  • If your water heater overheats, call a qualified plumber and allow the water heater to cool naturally. Never try to relieve the pressure yourself. Never add cool water to the tank, and never try to cool it by spraying it with a hose. 

Call Us!

When your Ocean City home or commercial business has a water damage emergency, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

What Are Some Signs That I have Water Damage in My Niceville Home?

7/13/2022 (Permalink)

Do you hear water dripping in your Niceville home but cannot locate the source? Or, maybe you smell a strong, musty odor? If We have been restoring water damage in Okaloosa County for over twenty years!

Do you hear water dripping in your Niceville home but cannot locate the source? Or, maybe you smell a strong, musty odor? If so, you probably have water damage lurking inside the walls or ceiling of your home. Our local team in Fort Walton Beach responds to more water damage emergencies each year than any other form of property damage emergency. Here are some of the signs that you may have water damage:

  • Dark or wet spots on the walls or ceiling
  • Wet areas or water pooling on the floor
  • Flaking, cracking, or bubbling paint or drywall
  • Hearing the sound of running water that you can’t place
  • Hearing the sound of dripping water that you can’t locate
  • Visible dripping water you can see but dripping where it should not be
  • Significant increase in your water bill for no known reason
  • Strong, damp, musky odors
  • Visible mold growing 

Water Damage Restoration Process

Step 1: Emergency Contact

Step 2: Inspection and Damage Assessment

Step 3: Water Removal/Water Extraction

Step 4: Drying and Dehumidification

Step 5: Cleaning and Repair

Step 6: Restoration

Call Us Today!

When your Niceville home or commercial business has water damage, our team in Fort Walton Beach is on call 24-hours a day to assist you. We typically arrive onsite within four hours of your call. Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Do I Have Hidden Water Damage in Lake Lorraine Home?

7/12/2022 (Permalink)

A water meter is shown. We are trusted leaders in water damage restoration in Okaloosa County.

Our local team in Fort Walton Beach responds to water damage emergencies 24-hours a day, every day of the year in Lake Lorraine, and we typically arrive onsite within four hours of your call for help. Water damage often occurs due to a leak somewhere in your walls or ceiling and may not show visible signs until the damage is more extensive. Here are some tips from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for ways to find leaks in your home or business:

  • Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.
  • Take a look at your water usage during a colder month, such as January or February. If a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month, there are serious leaks.
  • Identify toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. After ten minutes, if any color shows up in the bowl, you have a leak. (Be sure to flush immediately after the experiment to avoid staining the tank.)
  • Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks

Call Us!

When your Lake Lorraine home or commercial business has water damage, our team in Fort Walton Beach will restore your damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Fireworks Fire Damage in Fort Walton Beach?

6/27/2022 (Permalink)

A little girl is holding a sparkler. We are trusted leaders in fire damage restoration in Okaloosa County.

Our local team in Fort Walton Beach wishes everyone a happy 4th of July! The National Fire Protection reports that the only safe way to view fireworks is to attend a professional show. Fireworks cause thousands of injuries each year, and children ages 10 to 14 have the highest rate of fireworks injury. Surprisingly, sparklers reach the temperature of 1200 degrees Fahrenheit (that’s 300 degrees higher than the temperature of melting glass) and account for roughly one-quarter of emergency room fireworks injuries.

If you are going to use fireworks at home, the South Walton Fire District asks Floridians to follow these safety precautions:

  • Use sparklers and other legal novelties on a flat, hard surface. Do not light them on grass.
  • Use sparklers in an open area. Keep children and pets at least 30 feet away from all ignited sparklers.
  • Light only one item at a time and never attempt to re-light a “dud”
  • Do not use unwrapped items or items that may have been tampered with
  • Keep a fire extinguisher or water hose on hand for emergencies. It’s a good idea to drop used sparklers in a bucket of water
  • Only purchase fireworks from licensed vendors
  • Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks
  • Never have any portion of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse
  • Never carry sparklers in your pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers

Call Us Today!

When your Fort Walton Beach home or commercial business has fire damage, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help.® We’ll restore your fire damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Hurricane Warning in Fort Walton Beach?

6/21/2022 (Permalink)

A satellite view of a hurricane over Florida is shown. We respond to storm damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our local team in Fort Walton Beach has been restoring storm-damaged properties for Fort Walton Beach residents and businesses in Okaloosa County for over twenty years. The Fort Walton Beach Housing Authority website shares this information about the differences between the various alerts issued for hurricanes:

Hurricane definition: An intense tropical weather system of strong thunderstorms with a well-defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or greater.

The Difference Between a Watch and a Warning

Tropical Storm Watch: Tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are possible in the specified coastal area within 48 hours.

Tropical Storm Warning: Tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are expected somewhere in the specified coastal area within 36 hours.

Hurricane Watch: Hurricane conditions are possible within the specified coastal area, but tropical-storm-force winds may reach the coast within 48 hours.

Hurricane Warning: Hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the specified coastal area, but tropical-storm-force winds will arrive in less than 36 hours.

Call Us Today!

Hurricane season is here. When your home or commercial business has hurricane or storm damage, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help.® We’ll restore your storm damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Fire Extinguisher Safety Tips for Fort Walton Beach Residents?

6/14/2022 (Permalink)

A portable fire extinguisher is shown. We restore fire damage 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our local team in Fort Walton Beach has been restoring fire damage for over twenty years in Okaloosa County! Here are some tips for selecting a fire extinguisher from the National Fire Protection Association:

  • For the home, select a multi-purpose extinguisher (that can be used on all types of home fires) that is large enough to put out a small fire but not so heavy as to be difficult to handle
  • Choose a fire extinguisher that carries the label of an independent testing laboratory
  • Read the instructions that come with the fire extinguisher and become familiar with its parts and operation before a fire breaks out. Local fire departments or fire equipment distributors often offer hands-on fire extinguisher training.
  • Install fire extinguishers close to an exit and keep your back to a clear exit when you use the device so you can make an easy escape if the fire cannot be controlled. If the room fills with smoke, leave immediately.
  • Know when to go. Fire extinguishers are one element of a fire response plan, but the primary element is safe escape. Every household should have ahome fire escape plan and working smoke alarms.

Call Us!

It’s always a good idea to be prepared if there is a fire. Fire extinguishers, when used properly, can mitigate fire damage. When your home or commercial business has fire damage, our team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

How Can I Prevent Water Damage In My Okaloosa Island Home?

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

A water shut-off valve is shown. We are trusted water damage restoration specialists in Okaloosa County.

Our local team in Fort Walton Beach has been restoring water damage on Okaloosa Island for over twenty years. Routine inspection of indoor plumbing systems can help identify minor issues before they become major problems. Here are some tips from the Insurance Information Institute to help you maintain your indoor plumbing systems:

  • Inspect appliance hoses and faucets. Every year, make it a practice to check hoses leading to water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, and refrigerator ice makers. Immediately replace any hoses that have cracks or leaks and replace them all every five to seven years.
  • Inspect showers and tubs.Check the seal and caulking around showers and tubs to make sure they are watertight and reseal if necessary.
  • When away on vacation, shut off the water supply to the washing machine.Never leave the house while the washer or dishwasher is running.
  • Know the location of the main water shut-off valve in your home. A damaged hose or a burst pipe can send water racing into your home. Being able to locate and shut off the main water supply quickly will save stress, money, and time.
  • Check plumbing and heating pipes. Look closely for cracks and leaks and have any necessary repairs made immediately.

Call Us Today!

Water damage can happen at any time on Okaloosa Island. When your home or commercial business needs water damage restoration services, our team in Fort Walton Beach can respond 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Fire Safety Tips for Vacationers in Fort Walton Beach?

5/31/2022 (Permalink)

A view of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, is seen from the air. We restore fire damage 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

It’s vacation time, and many travelers are choosing to rent peer-to-peer vacation rentals. Our local team in Fort Walton Beach wants to encourage peer-to-peer vacation renters to be their own fire safety advocates and to do some research ahead of time. Fire safety regulations vary between jurisdictions, so be sure to research before you book your next vacation rental.  

The National Fire Protection Association offers these tips for things to be aware of when booking peer-to-peer vacation rentals:  

  • Peer-to-peer hospitality services are not regulated in the same way as hotels
  • Requirements vary across jurisdictions
  • Do your homework before making a reservation
  • Check online to see your travel destination’s regulations for rental properties
  • Ask your host if the property meets the regulations
  • Discuss other safety concerns you may have
  • Check the forecast in case of storms that could cause power outages; assure the property has equipment in the event of a power outage
  • Make sure there are working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms as required by law
  • Make sure the owner has posted a floor plan noting escape route and emergency contact information
  • All doors and windows that lead outside are able to be opened easily

Call Us Today!

When your Fort Walton Beach home or commercial business needs fire damage restoration services, our team in Fort Walton Beach can respond 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. We’ll restore your fire damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Hurricane Preparation For Businesses in Fort Walton Beach?

5/24/2022 (Permalink)

Stormwater seeps into a building and covers the floor. We respond to commercial storm damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Do you have a disaster continuity plan in place for your business? Commercial businesses in Fort Walton Beach can benefit from planning for inclement weather. Here are some planning tips from the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), businesses and their staff face a variety of hazards:

  • Natural hazards like floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes
  • Health hazards such as widespread and serious illnesses like the flu
  • Human-caused hazards, including accidents and acts of violence
  • Technology-related hazards like power outages and equipment failure

There is much that a business leader can do to prepare their organization for the most likely hazards. The Ready Business program helps business leaders make a preparedness plan to get ready for these hazards. Ready Business Toolkits are available on the ready.gov/business website. These toolkits give businesses step-by-step guidance to build preparedness within your organization.

  • Identify Your Risk
  • Develop A Plan
  • Take Action
  • Be Recognized and Inspire Others

Call Us!

You can never be too prepared for severe weather. When your Fort Walton Beach commercial business or home has a storm damage emergency, our local team in Fort Walton Beach will clean and restore the storm damage "Like it never even happened." Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Lightning Strikes in Fort Walton Beach?

5/17/2022 (Permalink)

Lightning strikes light up a stormy sky. We mitigate and restore storm damage 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Do you know that Florida gets more lightning strikes each year than anywhere else in the country? Our team in Fort Walton Beach responds to storm damage emergencies throughout the year in the Fort Walton Beach area. Here are some lightning facts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):

  • Lightning's unpredictability increases the risk to individuals and property
  • Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur as far as ten miles away from any rainfall
  • "Heat lightning" is actually lightning from a thunderstorm too far away from thunder to be heard. However, the storm may be moving in your direction
  • Most lightning deaths and injuries occur when people are caught outdoors in the summer months during the afternoon and evening
  • Lightning strike victims carry no electrical charge and should be attended to immediately. Most people struck by lightning are not killed but are injured significantly.
  • Your chances of being struck by lightning are estimated to be 1 in 600,000 but could be reduced even further by following safety precautions 

Call Us Today!

When your Fort Walton Beach home or business has a storm damage emergency, our local team in Fort Walton Beach will clean and restore the damage, "Like it never even happened." Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Fire Escape Planning for Fort Walton Beach Pets?

5/9/2022 (Permalink)

Two dogs ride in a car, leaving the scene of a fire. We are trusted leaders in fire damage restoration services in Okaloosa County.

Our team in Fort Walton Beach provides this helpful fire escape planning information from the National Fire Protection Association for situations when you need to evacuate your pets due to a fire:

  • Make sure your pets are included in your family’s evacuation plan
  • Build an evacuation kit for each pet in your household
  • Ensure each kit is a size and weight that can be quickly loaded into a vehicle when packing to evacuate.

Include supplies for your pet in your emergency kit or assemble an emergency kit for your pet. Here are some pet emergency kit tips from the American Red Cross:

  • Sturdy leashes and harnesses
  • Food, drinking water, bowls, cat litter/pan and a manual can opener
  • Medications and copies of medical records
  • A first aid kit
  • Current photos of you with your pet(s) in case they get lost
  • Information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian in case you have to foster or board your pets
  • Pet beds and toys, if easily transportable

Call Us Today!

When you have a fire damage emergency in your Fort Walton Beach home or commercial business, our local team in Fort Walton Beach will clean and restore the fire damage, “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Water-Damaged Belongings in Fort Walton Beach?

5/4/2022 (Permalink)

Belongings exposed to contaminated water are being cleaned in an immersion bath. We clean and restore water-damaged clothing and household items in Okaloosa County.

Do you know that we pretest every item to ensure we use the most effective cleaning method when restoring water-damaged clothing, furniture, and household items? Our team in Fort Walton Beach provides a full range of water damage restoration services, including contents restoration for your belongings. Depending on the type of exposure, we may use one or a combination of the following:

  • Dry Cleaning - used for cleaning light residues or to pre-clean prior to wet cleaning
  • Wet Cleaning - an effective cleaning method for removing moderate to heavy residues
  • Spray and Wipe - effective for items that can’t withstand wet cleaning
  • Foam Cleaning - used for upholstery fabrics that might shrink or bleed if wet cleaned
  • Abrasive Cleaning - involves agitation of the surface being cleaned 
  • Immersion Cleaning - contents are dipped into a bath of the cleaning product 

SERVPRO Water Damage Restoration Process

Step 1: Emergency Contact

Step 2: Inspection and Damage Assessment

Step 3: Water Removal/Water Extraction

Step 4: Drying and Dehumidification

Step 5: Cleaning and Repair

Step 6: Restoration

Call Us!

When you have a water damage emergency in your Fort Walton Beach home or commercial business, our local team in Fort Walton Beach will clean and restore the water damage, “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Tips for Preparing For a Power Outage in Niceville?

4/25/2022 (Permalink)

A person holds up a candle to read an electric meter at home. We are trusted leaders in storm damage restoration in Okaloosa County.

Our team in Fort Walton Beach restores storm damage throughout the year in the Niceville area. Gulf Coast weather can be unpredictable, and power outages happen every year. Here are some tips from the American Red Cross for preparing in advance for a power outage:

  • Create a support network. Identify people who can help you stay at home or evacuate during an extended power outage. Keep a paper copy of your contact list.
  • Stay connected and alert. Sign up for alert systems and apps for text alerts. Have communication devices that work without home power, including a crank or battery radio, a non-cordless home phone, chargers/batteries for your cell phones and your computers.
  • Stock food and water. Store non-perishable food and water supplies for at least two weeks. Plan to use coolers and ice to extend food refrigeration and keep a thermometer in the fridge, freezer, or cooler to monitor the food temperature.
  • Know and plan for your personal and medical electrical needs. Take an inventory of your electrical needs. Consider backup and non-power alternatives for lighting, communication, medical devices, refrigerated medicine, cooking, garage doors, locks, and elevators. Discuss a plan with your doctors for your medical needs.

Call Us!

When you have storm damage in your Niceville home or commercial business, our local team in Fort Walton Beach will clean and restore the damage, “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Tornado Warning for Fort Walton Beach Area?

4/19/2022 (Permalink)

A tornado warning sign is shown. We restore storm damage 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Do you know what to do when there is a tornado warning? Fort Walton Beach is known to have tornadoes. In 2021, a tornado caused damage in the area when strong winds caused a power line to fall across Lang Road. Our team in Fort Walton Beach restores storm damage throughout the year in Fort Walton Beach. Here are some tornado safety tips from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) if you are under a tornado warning:

  • Go to NOAA Weather Radio and your local news or official social media accounts for updated emergency information. Follow the instructions of state, local and tribal officials. 
  • Go to a safe shelter immediately, such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or a small interior room on the lowest level of a sturdy building
  • Stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls
  • Do not go under an overpass or bridge. You’re safer in a low, flat location.
  • Watch out for flying debris that can cause injury or death
  • Use your arms to protect your head and neck

Call Us Today!

When you have storm damage in your Fort Walton Beach home or commercial business, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Fire Safety Tips for Children in Fort Walton Beach?

4/13/2022 (Permalink)

A family roasts marshmallows over a fire pit in the backyard. No matter how big the job is, we restore fire damage in Okaloosa County.

Our team in Fort Walton Beach restores fire damage throughout the year in Fort Walton Beach. Here are some tips for preventing children from playing with fire from the  National Fire Protection Association:

  • Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children, up high, preferably in a locked cabinet
  • Closely supervise children, making sure that they are kept away from other fire sources, including lit candles, cigarettes, bonfires, and stoves
  • Explain that fire moves very fast and can hurt as soon as it touches them. Tell them that this is why matches and lighters are tools for adults only.
  • Teach young children never to touch matches or lighters. They must tell a grown-up when matches or lighters are found.
  • Establish clear rules and consequences about unsupervised and unauthorized uses of fire
  • Be a good example! Always use fire sources — matches, lighters, candles, fireplaces, and campfires — in a safe manner. Never treat them as toys, or children may imitate you.
  • Talk with children about what their friends or other children are doing with fire. What do they see online in video games, TV, movies, and social media? Teach them specific ways to resist the peer pressure to misuse fire.
  • Give praise for showing respect and age-appropriate responsible behavior toward fire

Call Us!

When you have fire damage in your Fort Walton Beach home or business, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Hoarding Fire in Niceville Home?

4/5/2022 (Permalink)

Firefighters are extinguishing a fire at a residence. We are trained to restore hoarding conditions in Okaloosa County.

Our team in Fort Walton Beach helps Niceville residents clean and restore hoarding scenes. Here is some information about hoarding from the National Fire Protection Association:

Hoarding Increases Fire Risks

  • Cooking is unsafe if flammable items are close to the stove or oven
  • Heating units may be too close to things that can burn. They might also be placed on unstable surfaces. If a heater tips over into a pile, it can cause a fire.
  • Electrical wiring may be old or worn from the weight of piles. Pests could chew on wires, and damaged wires can start fires.
  • Open flames from smoking materials or candles in a home with excess clutter are very dangerous
  • Blocked pathways and exits may hinder escape from a fire

Hoarding Impacts First Responders

  • Hoarding puts first responders in harm’s way
  • Firefighters cannot move swiftly through a home filled with clutter
  • Responders can be trapped in a house when exits are blocked. They can be injured by objects falling from piles.
  • The weight of the stored items, especially if water is added to put out a fire, can lead to building collapse
  • Fighting fires is very risky in a hoarding home. It is hard to enter the house to provide medical care, and the clutter impedes the search and rescue of people and pets.

Call Us Today!

When you have a hoarding situation or fire damage in your Niceville home or business, our local team in Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Happy Customers in Fort Walton Beach?

3/29/2022 (Permalink)

Five gold stars are shown. High customer satisfaction is the key to our success in Okaloosa County.

Our team in Fort Walton Beach always aims for five-star reviews. We are known for our fast emergency response time and highly trained technicians, and we typically arrive onsite within four hours of your call for help. Here is a recent Google review from a happy customer:

"After a water pipe broke, causing my house to flood, USAA directed me to [the Fort Walton Beach office]. Their demo team was at my house the next day and went to work. They explained everything while having the office personnel work directly with my insurance. The rebuild team then immediately got started, and they were even better. I'll be using them for future home projects. Everything was professional and quick. Outstanding!" Brian Mrr, Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Water Damage Restoration Process

Step 1: Emergency Contact

Step 2: Inspection and Damage Assessment

Step 3: Water Removal/Water Extraction

Step 4: Drying and Dehumidification

Step 5: Cleaning and Repair

Step 6: Restoration

Call Us!

We understand the importance of getting your home functional again after a water damage emergency. When you have a water damage emergency, our local team in Fort Walton Beach can arrive quickly and will immediately begin the cleanup and restoration process. We can also help with the insurance process and paperwork. Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Flooded Building in Fort Walton Beach?

3/22/2022 (Permalink)

The bottom floor of a building is flooded. We respond to commercial water damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

It is a surreal experience walking into a flooded commercial building. The water flooded our facility in Fort Walton Beach for two days before the damage was detected, and the water was shut off. Our insurance adjuster told us to call the local team in Fort Walton Beach. The technicians arrived quickly and immediately went to work!

  • Water Damage Restoration Technician
  • Applied Structural Drying Technician
  • Odor Control Technician
  • Upholstery and Fabric Cleaning Technician

They brought in powerful, industrial-grade extraction equipment to quickly get the water out of the damaged areas. The team removed all of the saturated drywall and insulation and installed air movers and blowers to remove the excess moisture from the air. They monitored and documented the drying process to ensure the area was restored to normal humidity levels.

Once the area was completely dry, they replaced the insulation and drywall and cleaned the entire floor. Now you would never know there had been a small lake in our building!

Call Us Today!

We understand the importance of getting your business operational again after a flooding event. When you have a water damage emergency, our local team in Fort Walton Beach can arrive quickly and will immediately begin the cleanup and restoration process. We can also help with the insurance process and paperwork. Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Fire Safety Tips for Okaloosa Island?

3/16/2022 (Permalink)

A person is replacing a battery in a smoke alarm. We respond to fire damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

SERVPRO® of Fort Walton Beach is a trusted full-service restoration and construction provider. We have been restoring fire damage on Okaloosa Island for over thirty years and offer these fire safety tips from the  National Fire Protection Association:

  • Watch your cooking
    Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food
  • Give space heaters space
    Keep fixed and portable space heaters at least three feet from anything that can burn. Turn off heaters when you leave the room or go to sleep.
  • Keep matches and lighters out of reach
  • Inspect electrical cords
    Replace cords that are cracked, damaged, have broken plugs, or have loose connections
  • Be careful when using candles
    Keep candles at least one foot from anything that can burn. Blow out candles when you leave the room or go to sleep.
  • Have a home fire escape plan
    Make a home fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year.
  • Install smoke alarms
    Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas. Interconnect smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
  • Test smoke alarms
    Test smoke alarms at least once a month and replace batteries once a year or when the alarm “chirps” to tell you the battery is low. Replace any smoke alarm that is more than ten years old.

Call Us!

When you have fire damage in your Okaloosa Island home or business, SERVPRO® of Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Advanced Technology Used in Fort Walton Beach Restorations?

3/8/2022 (Permalink)

A person is using a hygrometer. We use technology to save our customers time and money in Okaloosa County.

SERVPRO® of Fort Walton Beach has been restoring property damage in the Fort Walton Beach area for years. Our technicians use advanced technology and techniques to restore a property to preloss condition quickly, reliably, and more effectively. Here are some examples of the kinds of technology we use:

Moisture Detection and Measurement

  • Surface moisture meters
  • Infrared imagery
  • Evasive moisture detectors
  • Video borescope

Water Extraction Equipment

We use powerful extraction equipment to speed the drying process by removing the bulk of the water from your home or business.

  • Submersible and gas-powered pumps for continuous pumping of high-level water
  • Truck-mounted and portable extraction units perform efficient water removal

Drying Equipment

We use industrial-strength air movers and dehumidifiers to remove the remaining moisture from ceilings, walls, and floors. Proper drying helps to prevent swelling and warping of floors, walls, and furniture.

  • High-speed air movers cause moisture to evaporate at a faster pace
  • Industrial grade dehumidifiers pull the water vapor from the air

Call Us!

When you need help with property damage in your Fort Walton Beach home or commercial business, SERVPRO® of Fort Walton Beach’s technicians are on-call and ready to assist you 24-hours a day. We typically arrive onsite within four hours of your call. Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Water Damage Emergency in Fort Walton Beach Home?

3/1/2022 (Permalink)

A water-damaged wall shows peeling paint. We respond to water damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Water is invasive and can cause extensive damage to a home if fast action is not taken to mitigate the problem. SERVPRO® of Fort Walton Beach offers this water damage timeline describing the damage water can do over time:

Within Minutes

  • Water quickly spreads throughout your property, saturating everything in its path
  • Water is absorbed into walls, floors, upholstery, and belongings
  • Furniture finishes may bleed, causing permanent staining on carpets
  • Photographs, books, and other paper goods start to swell and warp

Hours 1 - 24

  • Drywall begins to swell and break down
  • Metal surfaces begin to tarnish
  • Furniture begins to swell and crack
  • Dyes and inks from cloth and paper goods spread and stain
  • A musty odor appears

48 Hours to 1 Week

  • Mold and mildew may grow and spread
  • Doors, windows, and studs swell and warp
  • Metal begins to rust and corrode
  • Furniture warps and shows signs of mold
  • Paint begins to blister
  • Wood flooring swells and warps
  • Serious biohazard contamination is possible

More Than 1 Week

  • Restoration time and cost increase dramatically; replacing contaminated materials and structural rebuilding may be extensive
  • Structural safety, mold growth, and biohazard contaminants pose serious risks to occupants

Call Us Today!

SERVPRO® of Fort Walton Beach has a team of water restoration technicians on-call and ready to assist you 24-hours a day. We’ll restore your water damage in Fort Walton Beach, “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Space Heater Safety Tips for Fort Walton Beach Residents?

2/23/2022 (Permalink)

A space heater is warming a room. We clean and restore fire damage in Okaloosa County.

Our local team in Fort Walton Beach has the equipment, training, and experience to restore fire damage, no matter how big the job is. It is nice to use a space heater during the cooler evenings to take the chill out of the night air. Here are some tips from the National Fire Protection Association to keep you safe around portable space heaters:

  • Purchase a heater with the seal of a qualified testing laboratory
  • Keep the heater at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn, including people
  • Choose a heater with a thermostat and overheat protection
  • Place the heater on a solid, flat surface
  • Make sure your heater has an auto shut-off to turn the heater off if it tips over
  • Keep space heaters out of the way of foot traffic. Never block an exit.
  • Keep children away from the space heater
  • Plug the heater directly into the wall outlet. Never use an extension cord.
  • Space heaters should be turned off and unplugged when you leave the room or go to bed

Call Us Today!

When you have fire damage in your Fort Walton Beach home or business, our local team in Fort Walton Beach will clean and restore the damage quickly and efficiently. Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Power Outage in Niceville?

2/23/2022 (Permalink)

A person uses a lantern to see in a dark room. We respond to storm damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our local team in Fort Walton Beach responds to storm damage emergencies every year in Niceville and offer these tips on preparing for a power outage from the American Red Cross:

Create a support network. Identify people who can help you stay at home or evacuate during an extended power outage. Keep a paper copy of your contact list.

Stay connected and alert. Sign up for alert systems and apps for text alerts. Have communication devices that work without home power, including a crank or battery radio, a non-cordless home phone, chargers/batteries for your cell phones and your computers.

Stock food and water. Store non-perishable food and water supplies for at least two weeks. Plan to use coolers and ice to extend food refrigeration and keep a thermometer in the fridge, freezer, or cooler to monitor the food temperature.

Know and plan for your personal and medical electrical needs. Take an inventory of your electrical needs. Consider backup and non-power alternatives for lighting, communication, medical devices, refrigerated medicine, cooking, garage doors, locks, and elevators. Discuss a plan with your doctors for your medical needs.

Call Us!

When a storm damages your Niceville home or business, our local team in Fort Walton Beach will arrive quickly to begin the cleanup and restoration process. We typically arrive within four hours of your call. Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Covid-19 Decontamination Services in Shalimar?

2/22/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technicians are decontaminating an office. We provide cleaning and decontamination services for Okaloosa County businesses.

Proactive COVID-19 cleaning program for Shalimar businesses

Although SERVPRO® of Fort Walton Beach is better known for restoring fire, water, and mold damage, our technicians also perform a full range of specialty, deep cleaning services, including our Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned defensive cleaning program.

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned defensive cleaning program. This proactive cleaning program was developed using our more than fifty years of experience in the cleanup and restoration industry.

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned

This customized program is tailored to meet your needs and considers factors like the type of industry, type of business, size of space, high traffic areas, and high-frequency touchpoints. Based on your unique needs, we will develop a program to clean and decontaminate all porous and nonporous surfaces.

CDC and EPA Approved

We follow the highest standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  (CDC) and use hospital-grade disinfectants and products approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local authorities.

Call Us Today!

Consumer confidence has never been more important to commercial businesses, so call us today for a free consultation and quote to keep your Shalimar workplace or home at the highest level of cleanliness. SERVPRO® of Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help® Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Certified: SERVPRO® Cleaned means professionally trained SERVPRO franchises perform the requested cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfection services according to proprietary SERVPRO protocols and recognized industry and CDC standards with EPA approved cleaning products to deliver a SERVPRO certified cleaning experience. 

How Can I Settle My Insurance Claim Faster?

2/21/2022 (Permalink)

Camera There’s no need for hundreds of photographs, measurements, repeat visits, and written statements with Matterport 3D walkthroughs

SERVPRO Uses Matterport 3D Showcasing

My Fort Walton Beach home recently suffered a catastrophic loss from a busted pipe on the second floor. I filed a claim with my insurance, but they told me it could take months - maybe even years to have to have my case settled if there were any lapses in documentation.

Luckily, I called the Fire & Water Damage Restoration company that takes pride in caring for their customers - SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach uses Matterport's 3D Model Platform to provide transparent documentation and accurate valuations for customers. It allowed them to document losses and create damage repair estimates faster than any other Restoration Company along the Gulf Coast. Since the 3D camera was able to clearly display every section of my house, my insurance company was able to identify all areas of loss and swiftly settle my claim. Thanks to SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach, I was able to save precious time, reduce mitigation costs, and close my insurance claim faster.  

Have Questions? Call Us Today – (850) 863-2552

How Can My Home in Fort Walton Beach be Restored After Flood Damage?

2/18/2022 (Permalink)

Communities along the Gulf Coast are among the most affected by natural disasters in the US Hurricanes, flash floods, and tropical storms keep us all on constant high-alert during the summer and fall months.

SERVPRO of FWB Employs Advanced Methods to Successfully Repair Flood Damage

Fort Walton Beach, FL is no stranger to flooding and many area homeowners have experienced it one or more times during their residencies.  Being located along the Gulf Coast leaves us susceptible hurricanes, tropical storms, and storm surge every year. Excessive rains from hurricanes and various tropical storms routinely inundate the area between June and the end of November.  While some residents can avoid the worst of this problem through preventative measures, many others have to deal with catastrophic flood damage. Luckily, for the ones impacted, SERVPRO has the proper equipment and expertise necessary for resolving their issues.                   

Is There Anything I Can Do to Prevent or Mitigate Potential Flood Damage?

There are various ways you can either prevent or mitigate potential flood damage in Fort Walton Beach. These measures help prevent floodwaters from entering your home through its foundation, roof, and windows.  The following is a short list of such preventative steps you can take to protect your home:     

  • Seal any cracks in your house’s foundation
  • Fix any roof leaks and ensure that your roof drainage system is in good working order
  • Cover all openings and windows with sturdy plywood
  • Strategically place sandbags around your home to divert floodwaters

What Equipment and Methods Can SERVPRO Use to Dry and Restore My House?

When SERVPRO technicians arrive on-site, they first evaluate your home for damage and then extract any standing water.  Once they remove any remaining mud and trash, our workers start drying and restoring your house.  The general process they follow to do this is:

  • Establish a drying goal based on scientific measures such as Temperature, Humidity Levels, and Vapor Pressure of both affected and unaffected areas. 
  • The most effective ratio of dehumidifiers to air movers is determined by the cubic footage of the affected area, the class of water, and the amount of standing water that is present.
  • Introduce Injectidry systems, connected to dehumidifiers, are used to dry hard-to-reach areas behind walls and ceilings    

Considering everything, you should now understand that there is help available if you need it.  Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 for assistance.

Outdoor Electrical Fire in Niceville?

2/15/2022 (Permalink)

Strings of electric lights in orange paper shades illuminate a backyard. We restore fire damage 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Niceville residents and businesses love their outdoor spaces, and many use lighting to improve the look and safety of their homes and workplaces. SERVPRO® of Fort Walton Beach offers these tips from the National Fire Protection Association for outdoor electrical safety:

Outside Electrical Work

  • Have a qualified electrician do all electrical work
  • To prevent an electrical shock, make sure all your outside electrical receptacles are ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected
  • Have a professional tree cutting service trim any branches that might fall into electric wiring

Equipment Safety

  • Use lighting and power tools that are listed by a qualified test laboratory and make sure they are made for outdoor use
  • Store your electrical tools indoors
  • Keep electric tools away from children
  • Keep the area around your electric meter and other electrical equipment clean
  • Check lighting and extension cords for damage before using. Replace any damaged cords right away
  • Use extension cords that are listed by a qualified test laboratory and are marked for outdoor use.
  • Extension cords are not meant for long-term use

Call Us Today!

When you have fire damage in your Niceville home or commercial business, SERVPRO® of Fort Walton Beach has a team of fire restoration technicians on-call and ready to assist you 24-hours a day. We typically arrive within four hours of your call. Call us today at 850-863-2552.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Mold Problem in Fort Walton Beach Home?

2/9/2022 (Permalink)

Mold is growing on a wall. We mitigate and remediate mold quickly and efficiently in Okaloosa County.

SERVPRO® of Fort Walton Beach is a trusted leader in mold mitigation and remediation services. Northwest Florida’s warm and humid climate creates the perfect atmosphere for mold to thrive, and sometimes a mold outbreak is a symptom of water damage. When we conduct our inspection, we will identify the source of the excess moisture and fix this problem to discourage the mold from returning once the removal process is complete. 

Here are some Mold Damage Emergency Tips from our website on things you can do and not do while waiting for help to arrive: 

Important Facts: 

  • Significant mold growth can occur in 48 to 72 hours 
  • Mold may present a greater risk to children, the elderly, and anyone with respiratory problems 
  • A strong, musty odor may indicate hidden mold behind drywall or under carpeting 

What to Do: 

  • Stay out of affected areas
  • Turn off the HVAC system and fans 
  • Contact SERVPRO® of Fort Walton Beach for mold remediation services 

What Not to Do: 

  • Don’t touch or disturb the mold 
  • Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth 
  • Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself 
  • Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold 

Call Us! 

When you have a mold problem in your Fort Walton Beach home or commercial business, SERVPRO® of Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help.® We follow all local and state laws, and we will advise you on the process. Call us today at 850-863-2552. 

Residential Deep Cleaning Services for Ocean City?

2/9/2022 (Permalink)

A window is being cleaned. We provide a wide range of deep cleaning services for Okaloosa County homes.

Is your home starting to look dingy even though it is clean? If so, SERVPRO® of Fort Walton Beach’s technicians will come and deep clean your home from top to bottom! To learn more, please read our latest blog here. 

My Ocean City home was starting to look tired, and the fabrics and upholstered furniture looked dull and no longer smelled fresh. My floors looked dingy even though they were clean. A friend told me to call SERVPRO® of Fort Walton Beach because they do a great job cleaning her home and her rental units.    

The SERVPRO team cleaned my house from top to bottom! The light fixtures, ceilings, floors, windows, vents, cabinets, doors, baseboards, and millwork were cleaned. The carpets were cleaned and deodorized. They removed the lime buildup on my bathroom and kitchen faucets and cleaned the water stains from my glass shower walls. My house looked great and smelled great by the end of the day! They also told me about other deep cleaning services they offer: 

  • Air Ducts and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
  • Biohazard
  • Carpet and Upholstery 
  • Ceiling, Floors & Walls 
  • Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned 
  • Drapes and Blinds 
  • Odor Removal 
  • Sewage and Toilet Overflow 
  • Trauma and Crime Scene 
  • Vandalism and Graffiti 
  • Commercial Cleaning Services 

Call Us Today! 

When your Ocean Beach home or commercial business needs deep cleaning services, SERVPRO® of Fort Walton Beach is Here to Help.® We provide deep cleaning services that go way beyond what a standard cleaning service can do. Call us today at 850-863-2552. 

Franchises are independently owned and operated. 

Flooded Apartment Complex in Fort Walton Beach?

2/2/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Team We restore commercial fire damage in Fort Walton Beach!

When your commercial business has a fire or water damage emergency, every minute counts. At SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach, we follow the one-four-eight-hour-rule, meaning:

One hour: we will respond to your call within one hour or less

Four hours: we will be onsite within four hours of your call

Eight hours: we will contact your insurance adjuster within eight hours of your call

Fifty percent of businesses that experience fire or water damage never reopen. We understand the importance of getting your commercial business operational quickly and will work to minimize the disruption to your employees and customers whenever possible.

Our team of highly trained technicians has the equipment, advanced training, and experience to get your business back to business quickly after a property damage loss. We have experience working in all kinds of buildings and business settings, including:

  • Small Office Buildings
  • Large Office/High-Rise Office Buildings
  • Apartment Buildings
  • Restaurants
  • Hotel/Motels
  • Small Retail Stores
  • Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
  • High-Rise Residential
  • Manufacturing and Industrial
  • Government/Military

Call Us!

Fort Walton Beach businesses and residents can rely on SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach to arrive quickly and immediately begin the cleanup and restoration process. Call us today at (850) 863-2252. We’ll restore your property damage, “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach Gives Back during Christmas Time

1/5/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Team and Fort Walton Beach Fire Fire Department SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is truly honored to be a 2021 Sponsor for FWBFD's "Santa's Firehouse Cruz-Thru Toy Drive"

SERVPRO Fort Walton Beach's Commitment to Community

This past holiday Season, we teamed up with the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department and were thrilled to be a 2021 Sponsor for "Santa's Firehouse TOY Drive!" Santa's Firehouse Cruz-Thru Toy Drive is an annual initiative led by the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department that aides in bringing a comprehensive Christmas to those less fortunate during the holiday season. This year, over 30 local Fort Walton Beach Businesses pledged to support the Annual Toy Drive. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is truly honored to be a 2021 Sponsor for "Santa's Firehouse Cruz-Thru Toy Drive", and it was a success thanks to our local first responders and all volunteers. Their hard work and dedication gave kids a glimmer if hope on Christmas Day, reminding us what the season is all about.

SERVPRO is Fort Walton Beach's Leading Restoration Company

As the #1 Choice for Fire Damage Restoration in Fort Walton Beach, we work closely with our local Fire Department and certainly appreciate our First Responders' commitment to the community. Like our First Responders, SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach takes great pride in being a part of the Fort Walton Beach community. We want to do our part to ensure the Fort Walton Beach community thrives by helping those less fortunate, keeping the area safe and making our community the best it can possibly be.

Don't just take our word for it, see what our customer reviews have had to say.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach not only has teams of trained technicians to help restore properties from fire damage, but we also regularly donate to first responder charities to support our firefighters to support them in any way possible. When fire damage takes control of your life, we help you take it back.

Have Questions About Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage? Call Today – (850) 863-2552

Fort Walton Beach, Water Loss, SERVPRO's Great Restoration Services

12/28/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Trucks parked outside a job Water Damage in Your Fort Walton Beach Home? SERVPRO is on the Way--We're Faster To Any Size Disaster

How SERVPRO Keeps Personal Properties Profitable in Fort Walton Beach through Water Removal

Whether the water came from a storm, leak, or appliance mishap on your Fort Walton Beach rental property, you should prioritize removing it as quickly as possible. Professional damage mitigation companies like SERVPRO can arrive 24/7 as an emergency response to developing situations on your property, and we focus our efforts on both controlling costs and expediting our work processes to return the property to optimal conditions. Here are a few examples of how a call to us could save you thousands after a disaster happens on your property.

The faster that your property in Fort Walton Beach can receive water removal services, the less time should be needed to return the building to its normal operating condition. As water sets in and causes damages, it can create other problems that require additional time to rectify, even with powerful equipment and many technicians working on the project. We stay ready around the clock to respond to rapidly developing situations and bring industrial-strength water extraction pumps and dehumidifiers to both remove water and prevent additional problems from happening before the next renters arrive for their stay.

When dealing with a water catastrophe, rapid restorations also help to mitigate overall costs related to the incident. Problems such as mold growth and foundation damage can cost thousands of dollars to reverse if they are allowed to happen. Calling in a professional company to mitigate damages and remove water can help your property avoid these additional expenses. Plus, if additional problems do arise, we hold a wide range of applicable certifications and can keep most restoration work under one company and bill. Consider the implications and effects to neighboring condos in the building.

Over time, damages accrued on a property can cause the overall value to drop and waver. Even if you manage to remove all visual signs of damage on your own, an estimator may still look unfavorably on a property that sustained past damage but did not employ certified technicians to conduct repairs.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach can provide emergency water removal services for your property and keep costs as low as possible. Call us at (850) 863-2552 for our services or a quote.

Flood Damage Professionals You Can Count On In Fort Walton Beach

12/15/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Air-Movers in a row Our certified professionals have the right equipment to handle any type of disaster in your home.

Why SERVPRO is the Smart Choice for Flood Damage in Fort Walton Beach

Flooding can happen during any season in Fort Walton Beach, but there is a greater risk for flooding during hurricane season. Even so, heavy rainstorms can still create a flooding situation in the area and being aware of how floods occur and react is essential to keeping you and your family safe. 

If your Fort Walton Beach home has flood damage and has suffered, you want the help of a professional remediation company right away. SERVPRO is always standing by ready to help you with expert training and tools. We efficiently get the water out and dry your home, while not wasting any time doing it, making it easy to see why SERVPRO is the best choice for flood damage restoration.

As rain continues to fall for several days, flooding can slowly happen. With this kind of flooding, it can take up to a week to develop and can cast for months before the waters recede. On the other hand, rapid-onset floods happen much faster, usually developing within days or even hours. These floods generally happen in areas with smaller watersheds that experience heavy rainfall, usually in urban areas and the water recedes after a few days.

As soon as the storms that caused flooding in your home are over, contact SERVPRO technicians so that we can prevent any more damage from occurring. The structure of your home continues to suffer damage, while mold can begin growing within just 48 hours. We use truck-mounted pumps to get the standing water out fast, and industrial size fans and dehumidifiers to finish drying your home.

With floods, you also need to be concerned with debris and contamination in the water from runoff and sewage. Stay out of your home until we can make it safe for you again.

Flash flooding happens very fast with no or little warning, like during periods of very heavy rain or when dams, levees, or water systems fail. Areas which are densely populated are at high risk for flash floods, and in urban areas, these floods can fill viaducts, underpasses, low roads, and parking structures.

Strong winds from a hurricane or tropical cyclone can push huge amounts of seater onto land, creating a storm surge. The surge combines with the ocean’s tide to make a storm-tide surge. These have been registered as high as thirty-five feet above sea level and can cause significant flooding over a large area. It can happen over a short period, usually four to eight hours, but in some cases, it can take a lot longer for the water to recede.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach can come to your rescue of floodwaters enter your home in Fort Walton BeachNiceville, and Shalimar. We are also ready to serve both Hurlburt and Eglin Air Force Base.  Reach out to us immediately after the storms subside by dialing (850) 863-2552 and we can make your home dry and safe again after flood damage.

Where to Look for Mold in your Commercial Workplace?

12/2/2021 (Permalink)

mold growth forming in corner of a room Our SERVPRO Team is trained and qualified in the latest IICRC Mold Remediation Practices!

Mold growing in a business is not only a possible client deterrent, but could cause major health effects for customers and employees. Mold can grow virtually on any substance; it only needs moisture and air to thrive. If not properly removed, mold spores can be disturbed and sent airborne, affecting everyone in its vicinity. It is imperative that businesses to know where to look for moisture spots and how to properly address the issue if mold is identified. We can dive into the 3 most likely areas for mold growth. 

HVAC Units

Theses appliances are found in virtually all businesses across the United States. They provides ventilation, heating and condition the air (controlling humidity and temperature). When the HVAC is not properly maintained, it can malfunction causing leaks and increased humidity level inside a building. This is especially important in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where humidity levels are high year-round. A simple preventative tip is checking the drip pan monthly and changing the filter. If you suspect mold growth, your first step is contacting SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach  to inspect your property for signs of mold. Check out our website for information about our commercial mold remediation services, click here.

Windows and Doors

Doors are opened and closed hundreds of times a day by your employees and clients. Every time a door is opened, not only does it affect the HVAC, it allows particulates to enter the space. Don’t forget about your windows as well. Humidity and moisture will enter into a business through these passage ways as well, increasing the perfect place for mold to grow.  It is important to inspect seals around the doors and windows, minimizing the potential for unwanted moisture and particulates in your business.

Common Employee Activity Areas

Kitchens and bathrooms are areas where most clients won’t venture into, but these are areas where employees use daily. These areas can be especially vulnerable to mold growth because of the presence of multiple water sources and potential spills and leaks. When moisture accumulates around cabinetry and appliances in commonly used areas, they can remain hidden. It is important to clean these areas, and examine them for extra moisture.

When to Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach?

If your commercial business has any mold growth that is larger then 2’ x 2’, it is recommended to call a certified mold specialist. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is IICRC certified. IICRC is the international standard and guidelines on how to handle mold remediation. Not only are our teams certified to handle your mold issue, we have the equipment, experience and extensive commercial mold remediation training.  Our goal is to minimize the interruption in your business and to protect the health of your employees if mold is present. 

Strategies to Remove Standing Water and Begin the Drying Process

11/19/2021 (Permalink)

water damage

Removing water from surface materials in your Fort Walton Beach home requires several tools and technologies in our growing inventory of recovery equipment. After a thorough inspection of your property following a disaster, we can identify the most appropriate mitigation and restoration plan for your specific structure. Ultimately, we make these decisions based on the most efficient path to returning your home or business to its original condition. 

The tools and technologies that promote water restoration for Fort Walton Beach homes and businesses can vary significantly from one property to the next. As a leading restoration company for the Gulf Coast Area, we have a broad assortment of extractors and water removal tools to address both standing water and trapped moisture in porous materials like wood flooring and carpets. 

What Are the Best Tools to Remove Surface Water?  

Standing water can be one of the most destructive effects left behind after a water damage incident. Without quick action, absorption can occur to exposed materials. The removal of standing water is an essential effort to prevent unnecessary tear-out and reconstruction of areas that could otherwise be preserved. Some of the best types of tools for this action include:

  • Pumps – Electric submersible pumps and other units like high-pressure extractors and self-priming trash pumps are vital in different conditions to remove surface water. The effectiveness of these extractors hinges on the depth of the water involved. Under two inches of standing water causes the pumps to lose prime and become less effective.
  • Vacuums – Vacuums are a versatile water removal tool in our arsenal because of their portability. In addition to these units' mobility, wet vacuums are even more useful when combined with various wands and attachments for specific extraction scenarios. 
  • Wands – Special attachments for vacuums in submersible pumps can help resolve specific issues encountered in removing water. Wands are exceptionally beneficial for areas where accessibility is an issue.

Is That Musty Odor a Sign of Mold Damage in Fort Walton Beach?

10/7/2021 (Permalink)

If mold is left unchecked, it can spread very quickly. Contact our IICRC certified mold damage remediation team for an assessment today.

Signs You Need Mold Remediation in Fort Walton Beach  

Mold damage is one of those issues that will never, ever get better on its own. When there is an infestation, it continues to spread in the home as long as conditions remain favorable.  

When SERVPRO technicians perform mold remediation in Fort Walton Beach residences, it starts with identifying all the areas where mold infestations are. They use their experience and training and state-of-the-art moisture detection equipment to locate elevated areas of moisture under flooring and behind walls and ceilings.  

Why SERVPRO

The technicians have extensive training and certification in mold remediation #MRSR309. They know the signs and how to safely handle existing mold infestations to inhibit the chances of cross-contamination to other areas of the home.  

Musty Odor 

Many homeowners first discover they have a mold infestation through a damp, stale odor that no amount of cover-up scent masking seems to diminish. This odor is often a calling card of mold colonies located within a wall cavity or a ceiling area. SERVPRO technicians have the equipment to find collections of excessive moisture that pinpoints locations likely to harbor colonies.  

Water Leaks

A small, slow leak has the potential to create a place for mold to set up home if the temperature conditions are right. Regularly checking attic spaces, crawl spaces, and under cabinets for leaks helps keep this issue at bay. Check the sheetrock for softening or warping, which can indicate an ongoing water damage issue that may require removal for a complete repair and an application of antimicrobial sealant to inhibit mold growth.  

After Water Damage

When a supply line breaks or a flash flood happens, mold is always a threat. The elevated humidity in the home allows airborne mold spores to germinate as quickly as 24 hours. SERVPRO technicians extract the water and dry properties using equipment to lower the ambient humidity rapidly to deter mold infestations.  

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach (850) 863-2552 has technicians trained and certified in all types of restoration services, including mold remediation. They are available 24/7 to clean up damage from mold and make it, "Like it never even happened."

Is Water Damage Lingering in Your Destin Business Warehouse?

10/1/2021 (Permalink)

Our skilled technicians have the expertise and state of the art equipment to get your business back in order after a water catastrophe.

SERVPRO's Fast Water Damage Restoration Services Can Keep Your Warehouse and Potential Profits from Corroding

The amount of metal making up the surfaces and structures in a warehouse in the Destin area seems unimportant most of the time. Once an incident involving water flooding the facility happens, all of that metal can begin corroding. Corrosion can cause the paint to peel, surfaces to become hazardous due to its roughness, and even lose strength in platforms and stairways.  

SERVPRO can help keep your warehouse safe by providing commercial water removal services in Destin that do more than merely dry the floors. Our services require the use of heavy-duty equipment and machines to pull moisture out of hidden areas and get your business completely dry, which includes your inventory, equipment, and products. We understand that each component of your operations plays a crucial part every day, so we strive to get things back to normal for you, "Like it never even happened."  

What Does SERVPRO Use For Water Extraction in Destin

Our specialists choose between different water extraction devices, including our large and powerful submersible pumps that come mounted on one of our Green Fleet's trucks. They can also opt for smaller devices that pull water left on floors in hallways, closets, and other small areas up through the handheld unit and flexible, non-binding tubing and into an easy-to-empty canister. No matter the amount of water on your floors, SERVPRO has the equipment to get the job done.  

Our desiccant machines continue the process by extracting water vapor from the air. As we dry out any dampness held in walls or other locations with your air movers, previously trapped moisture ends up in the air. As the water vapor gets drawn through the desiccant machines, it removes the water and releases only dry air back into your factory.  

When metal structures sit in a damp environment, corrosion can begin breaking down the surface's smoothness as it oxidizes. Removing this extra moisture can prevent this from happening, but it often requires that we wipe everything down with absorbent cloths designed to extract moisture quickly. Our ability and skill in efficient teamwork help us accomplish this quickly. The application of protective sprays that arrest corrosion work well, and only require another team member or two to add substantial protection where needed.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach helps different business types in the areas around Mary Ester, Destin, and Niceville. Call us at (850) 863-2552 when your factory, warehouse, or other setting needs water removal services to stay up and running.

Need Water Mitigation at Your Fort Walton Beach Property? Think SERVPRO

9/23/2021 (Permalink)

You want a trusted team of experts with the equipment your property needs after a water incident occurs. Call SERVPRO right away.

How Can Hiring SERVPRO for Water Mitigation Help You Prevent Long-Term Damage to Your Fort Walton Beach Home?

A water damage incident can have a lasting impact on your property both in terms of affecting its cosmetic appeal as well as structural integrity. Hiring SERVPRO professionals for water mitigation of your Fort Walton Beach home can help you prevent such long-term damages. 

Before SERVPRO professionals can begin the water mitigation of your Fort Walton home, they determine the extent and severity of the damage using moisture sensing equipment. The water remediation plan is tailored toward the type of material involved and the amount of water present. It is crucial to use the right equipment and drying conditions to speed up the process. 

What are the Different Classes of Damage That SERVPRO Techs Encounter During Water Cleanup of Fort Walton Beach Homes?   

Depending on the type of the size of the loss, material involved, and the amount of water present, water damage in your Fort Walton Beach home can be classified into the following four categories-

  • Class 1: Affects only a small area of the building, and the materials absorb minimum moisture. SERVPRO technicians usually use an open system dehumidification to dry class 1 water damage. 
  • Class 2: More extensive damage and water usually is wicked up the drywall up to 24 inches. Moisture also seeps into structural components. SERVPRO techs use strategically placed dehumidification systems and air movers to speed up the drying process. 
  • Class 3: Water loss affects a large part of the building, with ceilings, subfloor, walls, insulation, and carpets are all saturated with water. Mitigation requires efficient use of water-moving equipment in a combination of dehumidification.
  • Class 4: Involves materials that have very low porosity and permeability. Some examples include hardwood, plaster, stone, and crawlspaces. It involves a lot of bound water, and it takes a long time to dry class 4 water damage completely. 
  • Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 for any questions regarding water damage.  

We Can Help You Take Quick Action To Get Back To Business After A Fire Disaster

9/9/2021 (Permalink)

When your business property experiences a fire incident, call the experts at SERVPRO right away.

SERVPRO Can Help After Fire Damage in Fort Walton Beach

Part of living the American Dream is being successful at owning your business. Imagine that you work hard, put in your time getting licensed, and have managed to raise the capital needed to open your beauty salon. You have insurance coverage in case of an accident but never think that you will use it. One day you face fire damage as the result of flammable beauty products catching on fire. Even if your insurance policy is in place to protect you, it is essential to move quickly and enlist professional help to restore your salon as soon as possible.

All business owners in Fort Walton Beach are vulnerable to fire damage to their establishments. Even small fires can break out in the blink of an eye and leave your shop compromised and unproductive, making life quite challenging. SERVPRO can help you take quick action to return your salon to normal; all you need to do is call our 24/7 hotline and allow us to partner with you in the restoration process.

Fire Cleanup and Restoration

Friends and family will offer their time and talent to help you clean up after the fire. Although muscle and elbow grease are welcome, it is crucial that a fire restoration technician (FRT) such as ours guides the process. Depending on the severity of the fire damage, our SERVPRO crew may implement different approaches to remediate the damage. For example:

  • Dry/wet cleaning
  • Air purification
  • HEPA vacuums

These are but a few of the techniques available to our staff as they clean and restore your salon. Aside from isolating damaged areas and inventory from those unaffected by the fire, we focus on mitigating your losses in terms of time and money.

Fire damage should not put an end to your American dream. Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 and let us leave your shop “Like it never even happened.”

Improper Gutter Maintenance of Your Fort Walton Beach Residence Can Result In Flood Damage

8/27/2021 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO for help with your gutters.

Improper Gutter Maintenance Can Cause Flood Damage

Your Fort Walton Beach home requires a lot of your attention and maintenance to perform the primary job of keeping outside elements from entering inside. While this doesn't seem like a challenging task for a structurally sound home to achieve, when all of its preventative measures to divert storm damage do not get appropriately maintained, their failure to perform can result in a water emergency for your Fort Walton Beach home.

Such is the case with your gutter system, which outlines the edges of your roof. When this diversion equipment gets jammed full of debris, leaves, and grime, its ability to move water away from your house gets dramatically compromised. Instead of moving water away from your siding and the ground around the foundation of your home, water pools up in the gutter and pours over the sides, overly saturating this area potentially to the point of flood damage to your Fort Walton Beach home.

When a severe weather event rolls through the area and leaves several inches of rain that cannot get diverted away from your home’s foundation, the overly saturated ground around your house can become highly pressurized and force its way through weakening points in the blockwork of your lowest level or basement. Once the water has a point of access, this vulnerable point gets worse and worse the more water allowed to pass through.

Storm Damage Restoration

Our SERVPRO team can not only help to resolve and restore the flood damage that resulted from an event like this but also aids in pinpointing the penetration areas and vulnerable regions of the foundation of your house. Our experienced technicians can seal up these points to keep similar traumatic incidents from happening again in the future. With our tools and expertise, the professional restoration specialists we employ can restore your current flood damage to preloss conditions and offer peace of mind against what the future might have held without foundation repairs.

We do not just claim to be “Faster to Any Size Disaster.” It is an assurance that we can respond quickly to help you set things right when you need us the most. Our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team of restoration specialists is available 24/7 by calling (850) 863-2552.

Is Successful Fire Damage Restoration of Fort Walton Beach Kitchen Appliances Realistic?

8/19/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has the tools and skill to bring your kitchen back from fire damages "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Crews Exceed Expectations, Emerging Victorious  After Kitchen Appliance Smoke Remediation Challenges in Fort Walton Beach 

Nearly 50 percent of Fort Walton Beach residential fires link to cooking accidents. The following kitchen appliances all can suffer fire and smoke damage:

  • Ovens
  • Range tops
  • Microwaves
  • Exhaust hoods and fans
  • Dishwashers
  • Refrigerators
  • Trash compactors, and more

How Is Kitchen Fire and Smoke Damage Unique?

The fuel in a Fort Walton Beach kitchen fire is nearly always protein-based -- meats, oils, greases, dairy, and sauteed or fried vegetables. Lingering residues result not only from charred items but also from entirely dehydrated foodstuffs. Organic compounds become rancid and incredibly malodorous during the kitchen fire, vaporizing then depositing on all available surfaces, including appliances. The coating is often transparent and thus hard to see but attaches tenaciously similar to varnish. Normal fire and smoke damage removal “first steps” like dusting or brushing are ineffective, and only rarely does a simple spray and wipe remove the residue altogether.

How Does SERVPRO Approach House Fire Clean Up of Protein-Based Residues on Appliances?

SERVPRO managers pretest cleaning strategies, ensuring our proprietary cleaning product and tools cause minimal damage to surfaces while also removing the smelly, oily film. As most appliances feature non-porous and resilient finishes, water-based cleaners and non-abrasive techniques would be perfect. Unfortunately, the protein-based soot can require solvents and more aggressive tools, necessitating trained and experienced technicians to strike a balance between proper cleaning and appliance durability:

  • Cleaning solutions need an increase in alkalinity.
  • Precise spraying of cleaning solutions limits damage to porous materials such as wood cabinets.
  • Aluminum or chrome might pit with longer dwell times using high alkaline cleaners -- prompt rinsing is vital.
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory for technicians.
  • Abrasive products or tools need an expert touch to prevent appliance finish damage --maintaining lubrication during the cleaning and employing soft cloths or towels to remove residues and excess cleaner are best practices.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach has the skills and appropriate tools and products to restore your fire-damaged kitchen appliances. Schedule an assessment by calling (850) 863-2552.

Remediating Commercial Fire Damage In Destin

8/5/2021 (Permalink)

Big or Small Fire, SERVPRO's Green Fleet Arrives as the Fire Trucks Leave! Call us right away for effective fire damage remediation efforts.

Smoke Odors Can Be Detrimental to Retail Shops After a Fire

Destin homes and businesses both deal with the aftereffects of a fire. For a business, however, it can result in the decline of income for every employee. Unless their insurance is robust, companies lose the money needed to make repairs as well.

Some types of fire damage are common to Destin businesses. Certain specialty businesses like wine shops have particular needs regarding their customer sales and what is essential for restoration. SERVPRO restoration crews work with every business owner to meet those needs. For example, while every business demands a clean, safe environment, a wine bar or wine shop with a tasting room needs complete odor elimination. Any lingering malodors can ruin the experience for individuals and special events. 

House Fire Clean Up

The immediate action our technicians take is to remove debris and property too damaged for restoration. That eliminates the source for most malodors, and usually the strongest ones. As team members remove the damaged items, others set up fans within the facility to increase air circulation. They also use axial fans to draw air inside the building and force it outside. Air scrubbers with small 0.3 micron HEPA filtering systems can capture airborne particulates contributing to the odors.

Next, a SERVPRO inspector examines property not physically damaged by the fire, such as ceiling tiles, paneling, and carpets. While not scorched, each type of item can absorb a massive amount of odor residues. The inspection determines what methods are needed to clean the structural property and which cleaning agents and tools to use. 

For most properties, spraying or wiping down the surfaces with a deodorizing agent cleans off the residues and removes the malodors. For mild odors that resist removal, our team can cover walls and ceilings with paint that contains a very effective sealing agent. 

If an inspection cannot identify the source of them, technicians use a cloud of deodorizing particles. This method uses the cloud or fog of deodorizing agents and one or more fans to recreate how the smoke moved throughout the facility. The agent attaches itself to the same surfaces the smoke contaminated and neutralizes the malodors.

If you have lingering odors after fire damage, contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552. We are here to help you reopen your doors to customers as soon as possible.

Water Removal for Your Destin Home After Washing Machine Malfunction

7/30/2021 (Permalink)

Water damage in your home? SERVPRO can make it "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Acts Fast to Remove Water and Restore Your Home Quickly 

With many newer homes in Destin having a laundry room on an upper level, this poses a risk of severe water damage if the washing machine ever malfunctions. Water can easily seep through the flooring into the ceiling and rooms below. A situation like this needs to be handled as quickly as possible to avoid further damages, but cleaning up a large mess requires professional knowledge and tools.

Your home is a significant investment, so when water damage in Destin has threatened any part of it, the faster you act, the better. Hesitating to get water removal services allows more damage to occur, resulting in a more massive repair bill. SERVPRO is standing by at any hour, ready to help you when a water disaster strikes. We know these things never happen at a convenient time, so we are here whenever you need us with the experience necessary to restore your home to the way it was.

Since water can spread and get into and through a majority of surfaces, floors, walls, and obstructions, we first determine the scope of the damage so we can adequately mitigate it. Doing so protects your home from future mold and other residual problems. Since we cannot always see with the naked eye where all the moisture and water are, we use thermal cameras and moisture meters to find all the areas affected.

Then, if needed, SERVPRO techs remove materials like drywall, subflooring, and flooring that have been affected to salvage the substructure and framing of your home. We also separate and store your personal property during the restoration process. Finally, we recover anything possible, cleaning and sanitizing all that can be restored.

Water Removal Services

We can then begin water extraction and drying. First, the standing water is removed with industrial-sized pumps, and then dehumidifiers and air-movers are brought in to finish the drying process. Times can vary depending on how much moisture is present, but this step can take a few days at least, during which we monitor all of the equipment.

The affected areas are then treated to prevent mold and bacteria. Any rebuilding can now be done. When needed, we bring in other professionals to help with this step.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach realizes your home in Fort Walton Beach, Destin, or Mary Esther is a significant investment, so we treat it as such. Therefore, when you contact us at (850) 863-2552 for any water damage emergency, we take care of your home as if it was our own.

What Options are Available in Fort Walton Beach for Fire Restoration?

7/21/2021 (Permalink)

When you experience a fire in your home, you need expert assistance. Call our team at SERVPRO at (850) 863-2552.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach Has Licensed Fire Restoration Technicians 

A property fire can affect both structure and contents. The most frequent restoration service provided by professionals is the removal of soot and smoke residues. Smoke can be most damaging when coming into contact with solid wood furniture such as cupboards or fittings. There may also be charring of wooden fittings, fixtures, furniture, and surfaces in a larger fire. SERVPRO can help with:

  • Fire and smoke damage
  • Fire and smoke damage restoration and cleanup
  • House fire cleanup

The process of fire restoration in your Fort Walton Beach home is manifold. Some smoke residues are possible to remove from wood surfaces using a mineral spirit and wiping cloth. Other areas may require a more robust cleaning method that relies either on aggressive agitation or chemical action. Our team is equipped with the necessary resources and know-how to perform efficient and effective restoration in your home. 

  • Burnt or charred areas of a wood surface can sometimes be sanding out without causing significant harm. We begin with 180 grit sandpaper to reduce the potential for over-sanding. 
  • A wood creme paste can help to get rid of burnt sections. These powerful chemicals are rubbed into the wood surface, working along with the grain of the wood to address burnt areas. 
  • In cases of severe damage, refinishing and varnishing can be conducted to return furniture to a preloss condition. 

Wood furniture has a strong chance of restoration following fire or smoke impact. Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach for fire restoration (850) 863-2552.

Do Not Let a Flood in Your Destin Home Ruin Your Priceless Items

7/9/2021 (Permalink)

Don't Let Storm and Flood Damage Win the Day. SERVPRO Can Rescue Many Contents and S

SERVPRO Restores Your Damaged Furniture, Materials, and Valuable Contents

Severe weather affects almost every area of the country, and those in Destin are familiar with these instances. While every year is not going to bring about destruction and devastation quite like what Hurricane Michael brought to the doorstep, it is evident that the threat of flooding is more on the residents' minds here than perhaps it ever was before. When disasters like this occur, you have to know whom you can trust to set things right and restore the damages quickly so you can go back to living comfortably in your own home again.

Flood damages to your Destin home can be catastrophic, primarily if you use your lower level for storage purposes. Sometimes valuable heirlooms or irreplaceable items from your past are stowed away for safekeeping only to get placed in harm's way when flooding occurs. While you might be aware of our SERVPRO rapid response emergency teams available for water extraction and damage restoration, you might not be aware of the extent of this restoration process.

Flood Damage Restoration

While many of our SERVPRO restoration specialists focus on repairing the source of the problem and removing the water damage from your home, another branch of our restoration process involves working with damaged furniture, materials, and other contents to restore them. Some of this work can get done on-site with delicate cleaning processes and disinfection.

For more damaged items, our team can take them from the affected area to a workshop where we have a full range of tools and equipment at our disposal. This restoration ultimately is a very involved process, utilizing every resource available to bring the item (deemed important to you) back to its condition before it was damaged by the floodwaters.

Flood damages do not have to be a death sentence to the contents of your home that you hold dear. Call the restoration specialists at SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach as soon as a disaster strikes. Our rapid response emergency team can be reached 24/7 at (850) 863-2552.

Speed, Training, and the Right Equipment Critical to Restoring Water Damage in Fort Walton Beach

6/28/2021 (Permalink)

Plumbing failures can lead to ceiling plus water damage as shown in this Photo. SERVPRO minimizes the deconstruction in this Fort Walton Beach Home

SERVPRO Focuses on Restoration over Replacement

Unlike some other cleanup tasks, responding to water damage in Fort Walton Beach cannot wait. The harm done to structural materials, fixtures, and contents begins immediately after water intrudes and is progressive, worsening over time. Partnering with a reputable water damage restoration company is the key to returning your home to preloss condition.

Professional water damage restoration for your Fort Walton Beach home aids the property owner in several meaningful ways. Extraction of large amounts of water needs heavy-duty equipment and a technician's experience with its use. Issues of water contamination when the source is flooding or sewage backup requires expert assessment and proper disposal. Our crews have Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) training, ensuring water damage management over many situations meets industry standards.

Water left to soak the wooden framing and flooring of most homes deteriorates these essential supporting building components. Swelling and warping occur if water is not removed fast. Drywall and ceiling tiles crumble when saturated, necessitating swift drying. Mold damage is a risk if the moisture is not removed within 48 hours. SERVPRO technicians use their coursework and experience to measure moisture levels, find hidden pockets of water, and remediate both quickly. Drying targets are calculated, and our crews position air movers and dehumidifiers to pull water vapor out of structures and fixtures. Monitoring of moisture reduction is continued throughout the process.

Restoring Water Damaged Materials

A layperson may believe that soaked materials must be torn out and replaced. SERVPRO focuses on restoration, using strategies learned in IICRC classes to dry out a broad range of items efficiently for use again. Hiring our crews can save money over the long run by placing structures and contents back in service for you. Expensive carpeting and irreplaceable hardwood floors respond well when skilled workers employ the proper techniques. Walls and ceilings dry and look "Like it never even happened." When the response is speedy, and the tools used are well-matched to the problem.

Even water damaged documents and pictures are restorable through resources available to SERVPRO. Advanced methods such as lyophilization, or freeze-drying, remove water vapor without further damage to the paper. Your most treasured heirlooms and important documents have new life after our treatments.

Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 to discuss your water damage restoration options. We are eager to assist our neighbors at this challenging time and pledge to be honest and trustworthy throughout the process.

The Importance of a Fast Response to Fort Walton Beach Flood Damage

6/14/2021 (Permalink)

Contact SERVPRO fast to mitigate storm and flooding damage in Fort Walton Beach

Hours make a difference for Fort Walton Beach flood damage recover

Disasters do not tend to strike at times that are convenient for us, but the longer you wait after they happen, the worse the situation is likely to get. We stay ready on a 24/7 basis to respond to any events that might occur.

When you call SERVPRO for help with flood damage in Fort Walton Beach, you can expect a professional damage mitigation team to arrive at your home within hours, ready to take control of the situation. Without this critical intervention, terrible consequences can happen to the structure of your home. By the time we arrive, water may have seeped into flooring materials, structural components, and furniture. Without intervention, furnishings can become irreparably damaged within a day, water can destroy carpets and rugs, and foul odors can set in. A few days longer, and you may also face a mold infestation. These consequences can happen for:

  • Flood Restoration from extraction to disinfecting and reconstructing
  • Burst Pipes from added pressure
  • Sewage Cleanup after backing up into the structure

The best way to stop further damages from happening and decrease restoration costs is to call SERVPRO as soon as possible after a disaster. Check with your insurance carrier and we can assist you with the claims process. With our help, a dangerous and expensive situation can become much more manageable, thanks to our rapid water extraction and furniture protection strategies. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach can assist with flood damage disasters of any size or severity. Call us at (850) 863-2552.

Restoring Dreams after Fire Damage in Destin

6/4/2021 (Permalink)

You are losing money each day your fire damaged business is closed. SERVPRO can perform fast restoration and get you back in business.

Call SERVPRO for Highly Trained and Experienced Fire Damage Remediation Experts

Owning and operating a business in Destin is the culmination of many residents' dreams. Providing locals and our many visitors with the goods, services, and experiences only this beautiful area offers is deeply satisfying. A fire can turn that dream into a nightmare. Still, we have the trained technicians, equipment, and restoration industry familiarity with restoring not only the damage but also the faith you have in your business.

Many of our seasonal guests in the Destin area fear fire damage to their reserved lodgings, dining establishments, or local attractions means their dreams of a restful or exciting -- or both -- vacation are dashed. Our mission for over two decades remains constant. Transform a disaster, so it feels to the property owner and his or her customers "Like it never even happened." Our mission and your passion for the business you claim and nurture means that the fire your company endured need not end in permanent tragedy. We strive to clean up and return your property to its function fast, just in time to exceed the expectations of those who traveled here to enjoy what you provide.

Our SERVPRO team delivers on these promises with highly qualified work crews, efficient and state-of-the-art equipment and products, and proven protocols that get you back to business fast. Expect an experienced crew chief or production manager to evaluate your site within hours of your call. A hierarchy of tasks swiftly develops, and our employees get to work. Water and sometimes chemicals used to douse the fire are removed first, and then the cleanup begins.

The soot generated by a fire takes several forms -- ashy and loose, thick and sticky, and even lacquer-like -- depending on what types of materials burned and the heat of the blaze. Our IICRC-schooled technicians combine coursework mastered with years of experience to appropriately manage each kind of residue and debris produced by your fire scenario. SERVPRO stocks each service vehicle with the tools and cleaning products needed for the entire spectrum of fire damage we see, from dry sponges and HEPA vacuums for light coatings of soot to abrasive cleansers and solvents for tenacious residues.

We pay particular attention to any spread of fire damage to your HVAC system. Businesses in our location take climate control seriously for customers' comfort, but the AC or ventilation systems can move debris far from the site of the fire. If needed, SERVPRO cleans out the ductwork, and at a minimum, makes sure the filters are changed and the system shut down until the floating soot is contained and removed.

As soon as the firefighter's exit, contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach to begin the process of restoring your fire damaged business. Call (850) 863-2552 round the clock for fast and efficient fire damage remediation from an experienced and talented team.

Mold Damage Specialists in Destin

5/31/2021 (Permalink)

It doesn’t take long for mold to grow. Call SERVPRO at the first sign of mold.

Remediating a Mold Infestation Requires Understanding How Mold Spreads

Sometimes a slow water leak occurs inside your Destin home, and it goes unnoticed for a long time. Anytime moistures sit indoors, mold growth may occur. Having fungus inside your home can ruin contents or building materials and cause foul odors to live inside your house.

Whenever water gets inside a structure, the chance of mold growth is possible. If you ever notice water from a slow leak that has been sitting in a place inside your home, it is wise to call SERVPRO's mold damage experts in Destin. As soon as mold gets noticed, it is essential to get the situation remediated by professionals so that spores do not spread and cause fungi to grow in other parts of the residence.

All types of mold start as spores. Spores are tiny, microscopic seeds that easily become airborne. Spores travel through the air until they find a place to settle. Once the spores settle, they sit idle, waiting for the perfect conditions to grow into a fungus.

Often, spores do not grow right away, and they sit dormant until the conditions are ideal for them to develop. When moisture enters a location, spores swell up as they absorb water. Eventually, spores grow a network of structures called hyphae. Some hyphae grow under the surface where the spores sit, others spread out onto the surfaces, and some hyphae grow straight up and produce more spores.

For mold to develop, it typically needs three things: a food source, water, and the correct temperature. Fungi usually form when the temperature of the area is between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. A fungus also needs a source of moisture and an organic type of food such as wood or paper.

Once mold forms inside a dwelling, it can cause health effects. Molds produce two types of chemical compounds. Microbial volatile organic compounds or VOCs are what give fungi an unpleasant odor. Myotoxins are substances created by mold that possibly affect the health of some people.

Mold damage is always a situation that everyone should take seriously. Whenever you think there is the slightest chance of mold damage affecting your home, call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 for assistance at any time of day, every day of the week.

How Expensive Is Professional Flood Damage Restoration in Fort Walton Beach?

5/26/2021 (Permalink)

When a storm caused water to enter this property, SERVPRO was there! We dried and restored this home.

Professional Flood Damage Restoration in Fort Walton Beach Is Less Expensive Compared to Self-Restoration 

When your property suffers flood damage, it is vital to involve professional restorers. Restoring your property yourself can lead to severe structural damage and can undermine the foundation of your property. Reputable restorers like SERVPRO can help get your property to its former glory at an affordable cost.

Flood damage in your Fort Walton Beach property requires professional attention no matter the magnitude of the damage. SERVPRO technicians have access to necessary equipment and tools that help us restore our customer’s property effectively and within a brief period.

Our restoration involves: 

  • Emergency floodwater removal using advanced equipment: We can use a self-priming trash pump to extract floodwater in your property above two feet. 
  • Flood clean-up and waste removal using unique but approved products 
  • Building drying: Our team of highly skilled restorers can use portable desiccant units that produce negative air pressure in the affected area. 

Different factors determine the cost of flood damage restoration in your property. How much you would pay for repair services is determined by the damage extent and its location.

SERVPRO restorers can restore a flood-damaged property in as little as a few days. We use a team of highly trained professionals and cutting-edge technology to expedite the process and ensure that your family is safe.

Restoration for your wet carpet and other house items can occur if you act right away. Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 to help mitigate flood damage in your property. We are Faster to Any Size Disaster.

SERVPRO provides water restoration to restore Destin residences to preloss condition

5/3/2021 (Permalink)

Destin homes with water damage count on SERVPRO with their IICRC certified technicians. For the service needed for their home.

Leaks Cause Large Water Losses in Destin Homes

Leaks cause approximately 14% of wasted water in homes. That adds up quickly when it comes to water bills. Drips and leaks can also cause hidden damage. This can slowly destroy walls, ceilings, and structural components. To prevent these problems, early mitigation is needed. 

How is the Plumbing Between the Floors Handled?

When IICRC technicians arrive, they do a scope of the situation. This allows them to determine what water restoration steps in Destin are necessary. Whenever there is plumbing between the upper level and the ceiling, water leaks can cause serious damage. We respond to emergencies fast and provide emergency water mitigation to protect non-affected areas and prevent further loss. The scope does several things:

•    Water Migration – The techs examine the moisture content, and water migration is tracked. It also tells them which structural components are impacted, even if no sign of water damage is present.

•    Material Affected – They locate the affected material and then test for moisture content with moisture sensors. Moisture probes can determine where the leak began. 

•    Replacement Needed – The team also looks for irreparable damage. These are portions of the ceiling and wall that may need to be replaced. Ceiling tiles often fall into this category. It is most often more cost-effective to replace, rather than repair, them.

Working with plumbing that is in between floors is not always easy, but with our advanced technology and experience, we can provide water damage remediation that can restore your home. Ceiling repairs from water damage are one of the things we do best. Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 for ceiling leaks and more.

Fort Walton Beach Businesses Can Be Ready When Flood Damage Hits

4/28/2021 (Permalink)

Water damage done to your business will cause harm to profits. SERVPRO will have you up and running in no time at all.

SERVPRO’s Emergency READY Program (ERP) helps Fort Walton Beach business owners prepare ahead of disasters

Coastal flooding is on the rise, and it can impact businesses without warning. Over 50% of all commercial enterprises that are impacted by a catastrophe never reopen. Most of those that do survive had a response plan ready. 

How Can ERP Help Local Business Owners?

Commercial flood damage in Fort Walton means closed doors, revenue loss, and a potential loss of clients or customers. SERVPRO’s ERP system can help by:

  • Allowing you to compile a comprehensive information resource center
  • Assisting you in building trust. Your employees and clients know you are prepared.
  • Reducing secondary damage to your business.
  • Reducing business interruption by providing timely mitigation
  • Minimizing loss of revenue by reducing downtime.

The ERP system is designed to decrease response time to emergency calls from companies. The web-based interface is easy to set up and user-friendly. With your information already on hand, our response is faster. That means you get back to business as quickly as possible. It all begins with the business owner creating a company profile. 

Commercial Flood Damage Restoration

When our team arrives at your business, we begin with emergency services water damage mitigation. This may include containment, tarping, and dealing with safety issues. Next follows:

  • Water clean up and extraction
  • Water damage repairs to fixtures and content
  • Sanitizing areas impacted by contaminated water
  • Flood restoration 
  • Disposal of contaminated content

Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 for more information on our ERP program and flood damage restoration.

SERVPRO provides water removal services when appliances in Fort Walton Beach flood the home

4/23/2021 (Permalink)

Appliance malfunctions may cause extreme water damage. SERVPRO has the services and manpower for any size disaster.

Dishwasher Overflows Can Cause Water Damage in Fort Walton Beach

If you like the beach and like to fish, Fort Walton Beach is the place for you. It is a resort town that sees a major increase in people and revenue during the summer months. Because it is a resort town, there is a lot to see and do in the area. 

Modern City with Ancient Roots

Today it is a city where people come to relax and play, but its roots go deep in history. The Fort Walton Culture, a prehistoric settlement, thrived from roughly 100 – 1550 AD. The first Europeans arrived on the scene with the explorer Alva Nunez Cabeza de Vaca. John Anderson was one of the first to settle in the area in the 1830s. 

Famous People of Fort Walton Beach

The city is, or was, home to quite a few notable people, including Lonnie R. Moore, a Korean War Double Ace. Other famous people who hail from Fort Walton Beach include:

• Richard Covey – Astronaut

• Matt Gaetz – current U.S. Representative

• Aric Almirola – NASCAR winner

• Jason Elam – Super Bowl Champion – Denver Broncos

• Edward L. Hubbard – Airforce, Vietnam Vet, author, artist

• Carolyn Murphy – International model

• Danny Wuerfful – Heisman Trophy winner

Okaloosa Island

Dolphin watching is one of the fun activities on this beautiful island. The water is stunning emerald green, and the beaches are pristine. There is plenty to do here, including jet skiing, kayaking, and deep-sea fishing. The kids will have a great time at Wild Willie’s Adventure Zone. It’s the biggest family entertainment zone in Northwest Florida and is a favorite of dinosaur lovers. The whole family is going to enjoy the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park. Here you can learn all about water creatures, and even swim with the dolphins. The boardwalk has all the fun shops you would expect in a beach resort, and summer evenings end with fireworks.

Indian Temple Mound & Museum

Learn all about the history of Fort Walton Beach, dating clear back to prehistoric times. This museum is one of four that make up the Heritage Park and Cultural Center. You pay one price, and you can visit four museums:

• Temple Mound Museum

• Garnier Post Office Museum

• Fort Walton Temple Mound

• Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum

The museum is full of fascinating exhibits. The early people who dwelled there were known for their pottery-making skills. Here you can see an amazing display of prehistoric ceramics. There are over 1,000 Native American artifacts plus displays for early explorers, settlers, and pirates. Don’t skip the other museums as they are very interesting as well.

SERVPRO Provides Water Removal Services in Fort Walton Beach

When the dishwasher overflows, it can be a disaster. Gallons of water can come pouring out rapidly. You may be able to mop up some of it, but much of it will seep under the flooring and into the corners of the kitchen. SERVPRO provides emergency services, water damage restoration, and water cleanup that finds even the smallest amount of hidden moisture. Our water damage remediation experts will:

• Use moisture meters and probes to find hidden water

• Employ powerful water extraction tools 

• Strategically place commercial air movers and dehumidifiers

• Use specialty tools to help with drying the flooring

• Apply controlled demolition techniques if needed

• Repair and restore your kitchen

All our water removal services are designed to get you back to normal as soon as possible. Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2522 for professional water restoration services.

What Fire Restoration Services Happen Immediately in Destin?

4/1/2021 (Permalink)

Fire and smoke damage to your home are hard to deal with. Let SERVPRO and their team of techs use their fire removal techniques.

Emergency services play a substantial role in overcoming fire and smoke damage. 

Fire restoration for Destin homes involves multiple steps and stages. We are leading experts in this niche, providing efficient service for fire-damaged homes. From repairs to surface cleaning, we can help with:

  • Fire damage restoration
  • Fire and smoke damage
  • Smoke remediation
  • Fire damaged homes

Can Emergency Services Improve Smoke Remediation Efficiency?

The initial steps that are professionals take upon arrival can dramatically impact the efficiency of later efforts like smoke remediation and cleaning fire and smoke damage in your Destin home. The necessary mitigation actions required in residence can change between one side and another, making job scoping efforts vital in determining which repairs and demolition need your home might have. Fire debris removal can improve fire restoration efficacy. 

Fire restoration is a complicated procedure for many homes. We are a one-stop-shop for fire and smoke damage cleaning and recovery for properties, and our experienced SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team can help when you call (850) 863-2552.

How Does Flood Restoration Begin in Destin Homes?

3/22/2021 (Permalink)

Water removal from your property deserves a professional outfit. SERVPRO is ready 24/7 365 days a year.

Flooding from burst pipes or leaking roofs from storms requires fast extraction solutions.

Flood damage in Destin homes can sweep quickly through a structure, requiring practical surface water removal tools to prevent unnecessary tear-out and reconstruction.

What Tools Are Ideal for Water Clean Up After Flooding?

Flood damage in Destin can often be one of the most troublesome situations for area homes and businesses, yet continues to be a common threat to these structures. Cleaning up after these water damages requires multiple extraction tools on the same site. Often, a combination of both stationary pumps and mobile extractors works to eliminate surface moisture concerns to promote a more efficient and thorough drying to come. Some of these water removal tools include: 

  • Electric Submersible Pumps
  • Trash Pumps
  • Carpet Wands
  • Wet Vacuums
  • Weighted Extractors

Our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team can help with multiple aspects of flood restoration, including water removal and repairs. Give us a call today at (850) 863-2552.

Does Black Mold Pose a Threat to Fort Walton Beach Homes?

3/16/2021 (Permalink)

Mold remediation is a job for a professional team. SERVPRO techs are IICRC certified for any size mold remediation service needed for your home.

Mold can be damaging to building materials and the occupants of the house. 

You might not always need to see mold in your Fort Walton Beach home to know that it is there. Evidence exists of active colonization even before the organism finds its way into areas of your home with better ventilation and fewer moisture concerns. From your attic to bathroom mold removal, a thorough mold inspection can identify mold damage beyond surface materials. We have highly skilled professionals to manage mold damage remediation and help with all aspects of:

  • Attic Mold
  • Black mold
  • Bathroom mold removal
  • Mold remediation
  • Mold specialists

What Makes Black Mold a Threat? 

A mold inspection can often determine where mold damage likely exists if you have not yet seen it invade high-traffic areas of the property. Black mold can look menacing and should be taken seriously when uncovered in your residence. Exposure to mold damage can cause health effects, so having a team that can respond fast 24/7 from our Fort Walton Beach warehouse is beneficial. We can help homes and businesses overcome these conditions before they get out of control and become more costly to resolve.

Are SERVPRO Mold Specialists Experienced? 

Many hours and continued training have gone into the development and knowledge of our mold damage remediation team. Applied Microbial Remediation Technicians (AMRT) accredited through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) are only the beginning of what a property often needs to recover from black mold fully. Mold remediation is a centerpiece of this project, but it must also include the efforts of IICRC-Certified Water Restoration Technicians (WRT), Odor Control Technicians (OCT), and those trained in Applied Structural Drying (ASD.)

What Mold Remediation Strategies Exist? 

Choosing the best remediation approach begins with mold inspections. Mold damage can move quickly throughout a property, and there are often several techniques and products vital to removing active colonies and repairing the mold damage that occurred. From attic mold to bathroom mold removal, our professionals must choose the most efficient option to make the house safe again. Some of these options include:

  • Surface sanding
  • Antimicrobial cleaning
  • Abrasive dry ice blasting
  • Controlled demolition

Can SERVPRO Help with Black Mold Damage Repairs?

One of the advantages to the one-stop-shop experience that SERVPRO provides for mold damage removal and remediation is the black mold damage repairs we can also conduct. With a general contractor license for mold reconstruction, we can offer your property multiple services vital to returning to its original state. Our license allows:

  • Plumbing repair
  • Roof repair
  • Controlled demolition
  • Reconstruction

As threatening as mold damage can be in your home, our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team can be a comprehensive solution to this situation. We have experienced mold remediators and a general contractor license to take care of nearly all aspects of mold damage recovery in your residence. Give us a call anytime you need us at (850) 863-2552.

What Are The Standard Water Removal Timelines?

3/5/2021 (Permalink)

You can count on SERVPRO’s experienced professionals to eliminate water damage on your property. Call us today.

SERVPRO Expedites Removal for the Convenience of Fort Walton Beach Residents

Water intrusions into homes are very disruptive and therefore require fast action to restore normal conditions. Resolving such incidents fast is also necessary to curtail secondary deterioration of various materials in the property. 

The process of water removal from Fort Walton Beach homes takes different actions with varying timelines. For instance, extracting any standing water is essential before embarking on drying wet materials and contents. In some cases, building materials such as carpet, pad, or insulation have to be removed since drying cannot restore them. 

When SERVPRO handles the removal process, our target is to complete extraction and drying within 24 to 72 hours. With such timelines, there is minimal disruption to daily routines and minimal chances of mold development. We use various strategies to achieve the desired goal, including maximizing extraction to minimize the resources needed for drying. We also use an array of advanced equipment, including:

  • LGR dehumidifiers
  • Centrifugal air movers
  • Portable and truck-mounted water extractors

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach strives to deliver quality water removal services. Call us at (850) 863-2552 if your property is affected.

What Requires Cleaning During Fire Restoration in Destin properties?

2/25/2021 (Permalink)

Call (850) 863-2552 immediately after the fire truck drives away to ensure a speedy and favorable outcome.

For Thorough Cleaning of Your Destin Home, Call SERVPRO

Cleaning is a typical restoration task after a fire incident. Although many people know this, many do not appreciate the full extent of cleaning work needed to restore the house to its preloss state. Therefore, it is possible to underestimate the resources needed for the task.

Most of the cleaning effort during fire restoration of Destin properties is likely to be expended on the removal of smoke residues. Such residues accumulate on uncovered surfaces such as walls and ceilings and hidden areas such as wall cavities and cabinet interiors. Hidden sections are likely to have more residues since convection currents tend to move smoke towards colder areas of the structure.

Before starting restorative cleaning after a fire, SERVPRO evaluates the spread patterns of residues. Our technicians also rely on their training that teaches them about smoke behavior. We offer services such as:

  • Content cleaning using regular and specialized methods such as ultrasonic cleaning
  • Removal of materials such as insulation since cleaning them is not cost-effective.
  • Surface cleaning using diverse methods including vacuuming, wet cleaning, or even soda blasting  

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach handles cleaning tasks regularly during fire restoration. Call us whenever you need assistance at (850) 863-2552.

What Resources Help Save Property after Flood Damage?

2/17/2021 (Permalink)

What Does SERVPRO Do to Help Destin Residents Affected by Flood Damage?

Storms and hurricanes have had a profound influence on the history of the city. For instance, even though it is currently located on a peninsula that separates Choctawhatchee Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, the area was originally a barrier island. However, hurricanes and changing sea levels gradually connected the island to the mainland, forming the peninsula. It was also identified in a 2013 study as having a high risk of inundation compared to other cities in Florida. 

Since inundation from flooding is a typical risk in the area, residents need a solid plan to save their properties when affected. The circumstances that lead to flooding differ in each incident, and therefore the response plan must be flexible to be helpful. 

SERVPRO handles flood damage restoration professionally and is therefore well suited to respond to any incident. We have highly trained technicians and a variety of sophisticated restoration equipment to match the needs of every restoration task. Some of the standard services we offer during restoration include:

  • Content move-outs to create room for repair or minimize exposure to floodwaters
  • Structure protection through boarding up
  • Decontaminating and deodorization of the structure

What Does Water Mitigation in Fort Walton Beach Properties Involve?

2/1/2021 (Permalink)

Water mitigation by SERVPRO is the way to go. Their trained IICRC technicians, and latest equipment have you covered.

For Thorough Water Mitigation Call SERVPRO to Assist 

Water exposure to your Fort Walton property can be detrimental to various materials, including natural fibers, metals, and even fabrics in your place of business. When a pipe bursts, HVAC systems malfunction, or any other leakage develops in business premises, the spilled water accumulates in many unwanted areas, causing widespread damages. 

Taking the right water mitigation steps helps Fort Walton Beach business owners minimize damages at their premises or resume operations faster. SERVPRO offers different resources to help businesses combat the effects of water intrusion, including:

  • Provision of sophisticated water removal and repair equipment
  • Use of advanced techniques to clean the affected areas
  • Safe removal of deteriorated materials

Our SERVPRO teams are made up of different professionals, including WRT, Water Restoration Technicians, and AMRT, Applied Microbial Remediation Technicians that take care of different issues the water causes in the affected premises, including:

  • Rusting of steel installations
  • Rotting in wood
  • de-laminating of materials like carpets
  • Composite wooden materials swelling

When the need arises to mitigate water damage, SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach can help. Call us at (850) 863-2552 to assist you.

What Support is Necessary for Stormwater Removal from Destin Properties?

1/26/2021 (Permalink)

Storms aftermath damages are no easy task to handle. Call the professionals at SERVPRO for their trained technicians.

When You Need Faster Resolution of Storm Damage Call SERVPRO

Storms damages Fort Walton properties, they release significant amounts of water within short durations. If such water accumulates within your property, you need to take steps to resolve the situation. You may need help because the extraction processes are labor-intensive or complicated in other ways.

SERVPRO offers all the assistance necessary to facilitate stormwater removal from Destin properties conveniently. Typical services include:

  • Rapid extraction of stagnant water
  • Teardown and rebuilding of assemblies such as walls to reach the water
  • Moisture extraction and drying of wet materials

Efficient water removal helps minimize the losses caused by storms by minimizing moisture driven deterioration of materials and reducing contamination from microbial growth. Efficiency can mean different things, including extracting water within the first 24 to 48 hours since mold development starts after that period. The removal must also reach all areas, including hidden areas such as wall and floor cavities. Our SERVPRO technicians make flood cuts, drill vents, or use other techniques to open up the concealed areas.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach helps property owners in Destin manage all aspects of damage caused by storms. Call us at (850) 863-2552 for immediate assistance.

Speedy Fire Damage Restoration in Fort Walton Beach

1/21/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Helps Restore Fort Walton Beach Properties Affected by Fires

The small city of Fort Walton Beach, located in the Florida panhandle, is known for its magnificent views and especially the white sandy beaches on the nearby Okaloosa Island. It is a year-round beach resort and fishing community. Each summer, there is the seasonal migration of people boosting the local economy.

The area has a history of settlement stretching back to prehistoric times and especially the native American culture referred to as Fort Walton Culture by archeologists that flourished in the period around 1200 - 1500. The culture was famous for intensive agricultural practices such as maize production and mound-building for ceremonies. In the more recent historical periods, various people settled in the area. The first settlers from Europe arrived in the area in the early 1800s. One of the most notable among these settlers was John Anderson, who obtained plots in 1838. The area was even referred to as Anderson before it was changed to Camp Walton around 1911.

Top Sites to Visit in Fort Walton Beach

Tourism plays a crucial role in the city for the residents as well as the government. While the emerald waters, magnificent beaches, and enjoyable golf courses draw most visitors, there are several other individual attractions that people can explore.

  • Indian Temple Mound Museum

The large 12 feet high and 223 feet wide mound is a remnant of prehistoric settlements. It is believed the mound was made in 850 CE by the Pensacola culture. Visitors enjoy a wide range of artifacts at the site and learn about the local history. Apart from the mound, there are three buildings at the facility.

  • Wild Willy's Adventure Zone

 The dinosaur-themed fun park offers a wide range of entertainment resources. They have games for people of all ages, including mini-golf, go-karts, and arcade games. The dinosaur section is also great to learn about them or test your knowledge levels.

  • Emerald Coast Science Center  

The center, established in 1989, is a hands-on science discovery facility that started to promote a scientifically engaged community. Visitors enjoy various attractions at the site, including learning about or petting various animals and participating in different scientific yet fun lessons.

  • The Boardwalk, Okaloosa Island

For general visitors who may want to explore the magnificent sunsets at the beach, the boardwalk presents the best location. There are numerous shops and eateries in the area for those who may want to enjoy seafood. 

How Does SERVPRO Help with Fire Damage Restoration?

When a fire breaks out in Fort Walton Beach, property owners have to address several problems to restore the property to its preloss state. The processes are not only time consuming but also require the right skills to accomplish. SERVPRO provides fully equipped teams that help:

  • Move contents at the loss site safely
  • Clean heavily soiled surfaces such as walls and ceilings
  • Deodorize the property to get rid of smoke odors
  • Replace deteriorated materials such as wall panels

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach offers comprehensive fire damage restoration services in affected residences. Call us at (850) 863-2552 to assess the damage and initiate the correct response.

Destin Residents Get Gardening Tips 

1/4/2021 (Permalink)

Water and flood damage will be a hassle for a DIY project. Call the professionals at SERVPRO for the water restoration services needed.

Learn Florida-Friendly Landscape Growing in Destin 

Developing a plan before planting your landscape can allow Destin property owners to embrace sustainable yards and gardens and determine plants' proper placement. This virtual class teaches the basics of planning a yard and garden and performing a site evaluation. This can enable participants to spot potential issues with drainage and correct it through landscaping, so issues like flooding can get avoided. The selection of hardy plants in the Florida growing zone can also eliminate frustration and lead to a flourishing landscape. This workshop is a virtual event and held live. Participants have the opportunity for a Q&A session after the event with the instructor, who can answer any remaining questions not covered in the seminar. 

  • Date: January 19, 2021
  • Time: 2 PM to 3:30 PM EST
  • Venue: Virtual event via Zoom, link provided at the time of registration

Destin residents trust SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 for water damage issues such as flood removal. The techs arrive quickly and work to restore the property thoroughly. 

Stretch Away Anxiety in Fort Walton Beach

12/28/2020 (Permalink)

A leaky faucet or burst pipe can be a hand full. Call SERVPRO for fast and experience service to handle your problem.

Fort Walton Beach Residents Can Take Advantage of Stress-Reducing Yoga

The past year has elevated stress levels in many people to new heights. Learning to relax through yoga is an ideal way to gently help your body and mind unwind and decompress through controlled movements and breathing.

This class taught by Joyce Wu is for all levels of yoga experience, from beginner to very knowledgeable. The event takes participants through simple exercises that encompass techniques for breathing, stretches, and guided meditation. This virtual streaming event happens in the comfort of the viewer's home. It is a good idea to dim your lights and use candles or incense to create an atmosphere that is calm and peaceful. 

  • Date: January 6, 2020
  • Time:  6 PM to 7 PM PST
  • Venue: Joyce Wu teaches classes via Zoom from her studio, and participants are sent a link 30 minutes before class starts

No matter if it is a significant flooding event, backed up toilet, or a pipe break, Fort Walton Beach residents trust SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 for their water extraction and restoration needs. 

Getting What You Want in Fort Walton Beach

12/21/2020 (Permalink)

Fire damage of any size is a job for SERVPRO. We can handle from start to finish when it comes to fire damage restoration.

Virtual Seminar Highlights How to Channel Dreams in Fort Walton Beach

Ustadha Yasmin Mogahed, one of the most influential Muslim women public speakers, is giving a virtual seminar to assist people in focusing on what they want to accomplish and making it a reality. When someone is in an unhappy state of being, it is referred to in Islam as 'Dunya', it is a feeling of something that is temporary or imperfect. She uses this seminar to help participants learn to create and achieve their inner desires and make them a reality. The event will stream live, but individuals that register for the event will have access to the post-event recording to listing to for inspiration. 

  • Price: Free
  • Time: 4:30pm-5:30pm EST
  • Date: Sunday 27th December 2020
  • Venue: Virtual event, reservation needed for entry

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 helps local property owners with any size fire damage cleanup needed. The trained technicians have the skills and equipment to return the structure to normal, "Like it never even happened."

Residents In Destin Rely On SERVPRO Among Mold Removal Companies

12/16/2020 (Permalink)

Mold damage can cause more damage than can be expected. It will cause lung problems amongst other issues. Call SERVPRO for the mold remediation.

Destin Property Owners Get Professional Assistance From SERVPRO Mold Removal Companies

Destin, situated on the Gulf-side of the State of Florida, has been a popular vacation spot and is well-known for having beautiful white sand beaches and emerald-green water. These attractive features make this city the most-visited on the Emerald Coast. This coastline is approximately 100-miles that encompasses five counties in the panhandle area of the state. While the city's population gets estimated at around 14,000, over 4-million people yearly visit the site as tourists. Along with fishing, tourism is a significant industry with local residents relying on the year-round influx of visitors for the sales of goods, services, and hospitality.

A Fisherman From the Northeast Named Destin

Fishing remains a robust trade in Destin, and the industry can trace its local roots to the founder of the city, Leonard Destin, a fishing boat captain that hailed from Connecticut. He decided the area needed a little touch of New England style and built a traditionally-designed colonial home at what is now known as the Moreno Point Military Reservation. Captain Destin's love of traditional design gets reflected in the older architecture still standing, such as the Henderson Park Inn, with hallmarks of the design style such as balance geometric shaped structures with few exterior flourishes. 

Destin Has More Fishing Vessels Than Any Other City in Florida

The fishing industry that Captain Destin saw promise in the city that bears his name still flourishes to this day. In fact, the nickname for the town is "The World's Luckiest Fishing Village." It is not uncommon for tourists to visit worldwide to sample fishing trips off the coast and sample the top-quality seafood offerings that the area is renowned for. October is a big month for this industry, with the Fishing Rodeo and Seafood Fest's annual events. 

Destin Is A Former Island

The white sand beaches that attract visitors and locals to the shores are actually not regular sand but finely ground quartz from the Appalachian Mountains. The residues from the natural wear on the mountains get carried into the Gulf of Mexico by the Apalachicola River. Eventually, the finely ground minerals wash up on the shores providing incredibly white beaches in the United States. Many people do not know that area was once a separate island located in Choctawhatchee Bay. Over time, changes in the sea level and land upheavals caused the island to connect with what would later become the state of Florida. 

Best Places to Visit in Destin

Henderson Beach State Park remains one of the top draws for visitors and locals alike. The clean, white sand beaches and campsites bring in people all year round to enjoy the serene beauty. Other points of interest include: 

  • The city's heart is a community project called The Destin Harbor Boardwalk that started 15 years ago and was finally completed in 2012. The boardwalk has a scenic design that takes visitors past bars, eateries, yacht clubs, and a fisherman's wharf.
  •  Bargains galore are in the Silver Sands Premium Outlets. Over 110 designer and name-brand stores give shoppers up to 65% off retail prices every day.
  • The Zoo Gallery is one of the art museum venues to visit in Destin. This gallery has a rotating collection of art, sculpture, repurposed lazy susans, and other unique, one-of-a-kind creations. 

While fishing is a for-profit industry founded and continues to support Destin, it is also a vital industry for the tourist sector. Multiple vendors offer to sportfish and even day diving trips. There are sunset tours that involve taking a small boat out into the bay and enjoying watching the sunset over the bay for people who do not wish to fish or dive.

The Cost of Sunny Days in Destin is Hurricanes and Flooding

While the rest of the United States averages 28 inches of snow yearly, Destin gets no snow as the winter temperatures remain too warm at 40-degrees Fahrenheit. The summers are hot and humid, topping out at around 90-degrees Fahrenheit in July. Heavy storms and hurricanes from the Gulf add to the more than 60-inches of rain per year. The city has a rating as "high risk" for hurricanes, and numerous storms have impacted the areas since recordkeeping began in 1930. The hurricanes and tropical storms bring issues such as: 

  • Storm surges that bring several feet of water causing flooding
  • High winds that cause damage to structures
  • Loss of power and other utility services

What Can Destin Mold Removal Companies Do That DIY Efforts Cannot? 

When a property in Destin has a mold infestation, it needs remediation by mold removal companies. A mistake many homeowners make is looking up fast fixes online. These home remedies often eliminate the mold's visual appearance and do nothing to halt the home's problem. Until it gets remediated, the problem can continue to spread throughout the house.

SERVPRO technicians have extensive training, and this location has certification for professional mold remediation #MRSR309. Scoping the property is necessary to find moisture areas that may harbor additional mold colonies behind the walls, under flooring, and ceilings. They use devices such as infrared cameras and probes to accomplish this task. 

During the remediation process, SERVPRO techs perform specific actions to stop the potential spread of spores. Some common tactics include: 

  • Containment by placing plastic over doors and vents
  • Setup of negative air chambers to port interior air off-site
  • Removal of damaged sheetrock and insulation

Mold depends on humidity as part of its life-sustaining process. The technicians use their equipment, such as air movers and dehumidifiers, to cause the embedded moisture to get pulled out of the structure and make the environment unfavorable for the colonies. Once dried, the techs perform abatement using manual tools and HEPA-fitted vacuums to lift away the dried mold gently. Afterward, the cleaned areas' treatment with an antimicrobial sealant ensures there will be no return of the issue in the future. 

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 supports the local Destin community as the choice among mold removal companies. The trained techs use their experience and advanced equipment to make mold damage, "Like it never even happened."

See Classic Plays Like “A Christmas Carol” in Destin

12/1/2020 (Permalink)

Join us for some holiday fun and enjoy live entertainment at The Emerald Coast Theatre Company. We look forward to seeing the community there.

Destin Residents Can Support Local Theatre Productions

The Emerald Coast Theatre Company is proud to present its rendition of the holiday classic originally penned by Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, for audiences from nearby Destin. This main stage production will be shown at 560 Grand Boulevard in Miramar Beach on December 12, 2020, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Director Patrick Barlow’s interpretation of this holiday staple is minimalist yet compelling, breathing new life into such characters as Ebenezer Scrooge, Mrs. Fezxziwig, and Tiny Tim.

Other upcoming productions from Emerald Coast Theatre Company this holiday season include:

  • A Christmas Cabaret on the Boulevard, featuring live music from Emerald Coast actors
  • The Storyteller Series, which starts in January 2021
  • A rendition of acclaimed playwright Nancy Hasty’s Florida Girls in January 2021
  • In February 2021, audiences can enjoy James Hindman’s Popcorn Falls

The Emerald Coast Theatre Company also specializes in theatre education events and productions for children and teens that families can enjoy together.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is among the fastest-responding commercial mold removal companies in Destin. Call (850) 863-2552 to begin the remediation process for your business.

Residents Participate in Destin Events This Autumn

11/25/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is looking forward to seeing our neighbors for Lunch and Bowling in Destin.

Lunch and Bowling in Destin Courtesy of the Destin Chamber

On December 4, 2020, the Destin Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Bowling for Business Tournament and luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hurricane Lanes on Emerald Coast Parkway. The venue can accommodate up to 100 guests for this lunchtime networking event.

Entry fees are $30 for non-members of the Destin Chamber and $20 for Chamber of Commerce members. Pre-registration and payments for both members and non-members are due before the event and are not accepted at the door the day of the tournament.

Tournament prizes and awards are designated for the following categories:

  • Top-scoring male and female players
  • Top-scoring team
  • Perfect score earners can receive a free one-year business membership to the Destin Chamber

Events like these are designed with the community in mind to support local business networking and a sense of togetherness. The Destin Chamber encourages guests to observe safety measures such as social distancing, avoiding handshakes, and wearing masks.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach provides Destin businesses with 24/7 commercial fire debris removal when you call (850) 863-2552.

Fort Walton Beach Properties Preserved from Disaster 24/7

11/19/2020 (Permalink)

For a reliable team that you can count on. Contact the experts at SERVPRO for your homes water damage. We're faster to any size disaster.

Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach for Reliable Mitigation Services

Fort Walton Beach is home to 19,000 people and is packed with history and recreation along Florida’s northwestern coast. Its sister city is Quezon City in the Philippines.

Popular attractions in this Okaloosa County beach town include:

  • Emerald Coast Science Center, an hands-on educational experience packed with family-friendly fun
  • Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, a marine park featuring shows and interactions with dolphins, rays, and sharks since 1955
  • Heritage Park and Cultural Center, which houses several museums and cultural sites, particularly those related to the indigenous Mississippian Fort Walton culture

Whether its business or pleasure you are coming to town for, Fort Walton Beach has plenty of shopping, recreation, and cultural landmarks for locals and tourists alike to enjoy. Along the coast, you can find plenty of shopping and dining opportunities along Mary Esther Boulevard, as well as Miracle Strip Parkway.

Just across Brooks Bridge is Okaloosa Island, which is filled to the brim with recreation and dining facilities and coastal condos and hotels with an unparalleled view of the Gulf of Mexico. Taking US Highway 98 southeast takes you to nearby Florida panhandle towns like Destin and Miramar Beach. Further west, you can find Pensacola and Warrington.

The Fort Walton Culture

Fort Walton’s history is believed to go as far back as between 1100 and 1550 CE, from a culture closely related to the preceding Weedon Island peoples inhabiting the Old Tampa Bay area during the same period. The name “Fort Walton culture” was coined by Gordon Willey, an archaeologist working at the site.

Many of the pottery and artifacts found in the area are reminiscent of Mississippian craftsmanship. Several ceremonial platform mounds exist in the area, indicating villages central to the Fort Walton culture’s chiefdoms.

The mound structure is as follows:

  • The base is constructed from several layers of fill inside of which can be found the remains of even more ancient structures
  • The main ramp to access the mound’s summit is paved with a log staircase
  • Many mounds still had a building at the summit with a wattle and daub construction
  • Many central mounds are surrounded by secondary mounds
  • Some mounds show signs of intrusive burial over the years

The Fort Walton peoples and the Leon-Jefferson era tribespeople who came after are the later Apalachee peoples’ ancestors. Their cultures were influenced by increased contact with European–particularly Spanish-- settlers and a decline in the traditional chiefdom system of rulership as colonial territory expanded.

Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park is not just a Florida State Park: it is also one of the most important archaeological sites for understanding the Fort Walton culture’s chiefdom structure and overall culture. The Indian Temple Mound Museum is another hub of Fort Walton culture and history, chronicling an estimated 10,000 years of indigenous societies living in the area with over 1,000 artifacts.

Notable Names and Places in Fort Walton Beach

Quite a few individuals of renown come from this gorgeous coastal locale, including the following:

  • Nuremberg trials court reporter and journalist Nancy Kenaston
  • Florida 1st District congressional representative Matt Gaetz
  • Former Department of Homeland Security Director and retired Coast Guard rear admiral John C. Acton
  • Two-time Super Bowl-winning Denver Broncos kicker Jason Elam
  • World-renowned guitarist Shane Gibson, who is most known for touring with Korn

Fort Walton Beach is well-known for its tourism industry and is home to two crucial United States Air Force bases: Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) and Hurlburt Field. These bases are by far the largest employers in the area, providing jobs for over 27,000 people combined in 2010.

Eglin AFB is one of the largest in the nation at over 700 square miles. Its size allows for a variety of flight exercises, as well as artillery and explosives testing. One of the most notable weapons tests conducted at Eglin was the Massive Ordinance Air Blast (MOAB) in 2003. Eglin also contains a Fighter Wing, Air Armament Center, and a Test Wing. Meanwhile, Hurlburt Field houses many essential components of the USAF, including Headquarters, Special Operations Command, and a Special Operations University.

How Does SERVPRO Measure and Detect Water Damage in a Fort Walton Beach Home?

SERVPRO technicians offer water damage cleanup for Fort Walton Beach properties at any time of the day or night, including weekends and holidays, to minimize damage while maximizing homeowners’ savings. One of the most critical aspects of ensuring this endeavor is successful is an accurate measurement of moisture-affected surfaces with the proper tools.

SERVPRO uses moisture sensors, meters, and infrared imaging to attain the following goals per Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) standards:

  • Returning structures and contents to their normal humidity levels
  • Accelerating drying with air movement and dehumidification equipment
  • Calculate drying goals based on air temperature and humidity as well as moisture content of damaged items
  • Detect and eliminate water damage in and behind structures such as walls, ceilings, and floors to prevent long-term structural damage and microbial growth

While sensors and meters are typically calibrated for the measurement of specific materials like wood and drywall, thermal imaging detects potential water damage through changes in temperature. Water damage affecting a structure is usually colder than in dry areas. SERVPRO techs can reach these areas by making small holes in wall or ceiling cavities, for example, or removing saturated sections of drywall or flooring to dry and sanitize materials easily.

Microbial growth can occur in as little as 24 hours after damage occurs so that SERVPRO technicians can remediate with various tools, including HEPA filter air scrubbers, EPA-registered antimicrobials, and agitation tools.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is a locally owned and operated franchise that is Faster To Any Size Disaster. Call (850) 863-2552 for emergency response cleanup and restoration services for your home.

What Kind of Damage Can Result from Flooding in Walton Beach?

10/30/2020 (Permalink)

Although flood damage can be troublesome to deal with, it is not impossible to remediate.

Flooding Can Impact Fort Walton Beach Homes in a Variety of Ways and Severely Affect Their Livability.

Located on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Fort Walton Beach is prone to suffering the yearly effects of passing hurricanes and tropical storms.  When these powerful weather systems pass, ravaged homes are usually left in their wake.

Flood damage in Fort Walton Beach homes comes in numerous forms. These range from the purely cosmetic to effects that severely undermine a home’s structural integrity. While performing remediations, SERVPRO technicians have encountered the following types of flood-related damage:
    •    Foul odors resulting from floodwater contaminants
    •    Mold and mildew discolorations and stains
    •    Disintegrating drywall and plaster
    •    Warping and buckling of structural elements like floors, walls, and ceilings
    •    Wood destroying dry rot that renders homes unsafe to live in

The sooner these forms of flood impact are identified and treated, the more easily they can be effectively resolved. This is why you must contact a good local cleanup and restoration company, like SERVPRO, as soon as possible after a flood.

What Does SERVPRO Do to Remediate Flood Damage?
SERVPRO’s experts have a clear time-tested process for returning your home to its pre-flood condition. These procedures generally start when we arrive at your residence within four hours of your initial phone call. Of course, our first concern is rapidly extracting standing floodwaters from your house. After this is done with the help of powerful pumps and extractors, we carefully remove hazardous waste and disinfect your home with powerful cleaning agents. Once we finish doing this, our technicians dehumidify your residence with state-of-the-art air movers, dehumidifiers, and Injectidry systems. Advanced foggers are then used to deodorize everything and inject antimicrobials into impacted structural elements and other materials.

Although flood damage can be troublesome to deal with, it is not impossible to remediate. Whenever you need assistance, call your helpful neighbors at SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552.

What Can SERVPRO do to Retain the Character of a Dining Room after Fire Damage?

10/22/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO will bring new life back to your dining room after a fire incident. Call us today at (850) 863-2552 for assistance.

Mary Esther Homeowners Need an Understanding Restoration Team.

Dining rooms are great for formal occasions, such as throwing a dinner party or entertaining guests. A dining room can be a valuable addition to a Mary Esther home, providing class, elegance, and a place to show off your skills as a host. They also often have sentimentally significant items such as beautiful dishware and carefully chosen décor.

If you suffer fire damage to your Mary Esther home's dining room, it can feel devastating. Of course, you do not want to replace all your belongings unless it is unavoidable. Not only does replacing items cost money, but many of them have memories attached that you do not want to lose. That is why you need a cleanup crew like SERVPRO – we always try to restore items rather than replace them if we can. We train our team to be aware of fire damage's emotional impact and the stress of seeing your belongings damaged. Our teams understand how difficult the aftermath of a blaze can be, and we are here to make it easier for you.

Can you protect your dining room from fire damage?

Prevention is always better than remediation. There are several steps you can take to protect your dining room:

  • If you must use candles on the table, keep them away from anything flammable, and never leave them unattended
  • If possible, switch to LED candles and lanterns, which look as good but are much safer
  • Keep warming trays away from flammable material, and make sure cords and plugs are in good condition
  • Do not let drapes or table cloths cover heaters

Pay attention to the kitchen too – many home fires start there. Do not leave hot pans of food unattended, and be mindful of fire hazards such as frayed or trailing wires. Keep pets and small children away from stoves, appliances, hot food, and trailing tablecloths. 

What happens when SERVPRO arrives?

The first step is a thorough assessment of your dining room and the fire damage. We create a cleaning plan and discuss it with you before we begin. We also take inventory of your belongings and note down what we can save, what we cannot keep, and what needs further consideration before we make a decision. 

We make the area safe before cleaning commences. This might include:

  • Pumping away excess water from firefighting
  • Boarding up the windows
  • Putting a tarp on the roof
  • Setting up a safe electricity supply for our equipment

When the area is secure, we commence cleanup.

Is it possible to save drapes and blinds?

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach offers a range of cleaning options for drapes and blinds:

  • Hot water extraction and dry cleaning are both effective on soot-damaged drapes
  • Ultrasonic cleaning is ideal for Venetian blinds
  • Individual blind slats can be taken down and wet-cleaned, followed by dry vacuuming

We can combine cleaning methods to find the best one for the situation. Our technicians thoroughly test each material before cleaning to ensure the chosen cleaning method is safe for the item at hand.

What about carpets and rugs?

We use a range of cleaning chemicals and extractors to tackle smoke-damaged floor coverings. We start by testing the fibers to determine which cleaning method is safest for each kind and to ensure the color will not run. We can also clean sooty residues from wooden or marble floors.

In the event of needing to replace the carpets, we can arrange for the new ones to be fitted.

Should you toss out dishware and crystal?

Dishware is sensitive to heat and often fares poorly during a fire. However, do not despair. Our technicians know how to examine dishware for tiny signs of stress fractures, many of which only become visible during the cleaning process. We can use powerful detergents and even ultrasonic cleaning to restore dishware.

Crystal items such as vases, decanters, and candelabras, are incredibly fragile. Smoke residue can cause surface etching, while detergents and cleaning machines can damage the metallic trims and decorative accents. We clean all crystalware by hand and examine it thoroughly for signs of damage.

How about table decorations?

As well as crystal items, you might be concerned about tablecloths, napkins, and even dried flower arrangements. We can brush, vacuum, and launder linens and apply spot cleaners to stubborn stains. We can even clean dried flower arrangements with gentle brushing, compressed air, and by gently shaking them in a bag with some salt.

Is it possible to restore wallpaper and paint?

It is possible to use dry and wet cleaning to remove soot residue from the walls in some cases. If the paper is too fire-damaged or the paint is stained beyond repair, we will supervise re-hanging and re-painting.

For help rescuing your dining room after fire damage, call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552.

Does Mold Make a Workplace Unsafe?

10/9/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is here and ready to assist you from beginning to end. We know how important your Fort Walton Beach business is to you.

Discovering Mold in the Workplace Can Be Unsettling. SERVPRO Commercial Mold Removal is Available for Fort Walton Beach Businesses.

Does mold indicate an unsanitary business?

The appearance of mold is not necessarily indicative of low building upkeep. Fort Walton Beach businesses can often suffer due to their proximity to oceanside and higher humidity levels in this area. Sometimes, mold colonies can form as a direct consequence of weather changes. Whatever the reason for mold growth, the most important thing is to get your business back to a sanitary state for your staff and customers. SERVPRO applied microbial remediation technicians (AMRT) have experience working with companies in the area and can quickly identify, assess, and repair mold issues in the workplace. 

What are the steps of mold remediation for businesses?

-    Clean materials with signs of infestation and dry them thoroughly.

-    Dispose of materials that do not respond to cleaning

-    Dry the area thoroughly within forty-eight hours

Can mold spread throughout a business premise?

One of the difficulties in dealing with mold damage in your Fort Walton Beach business is controlling spreading. Molds reproduce for spores, which can become airborne, especially when applying aggressive cleaning techniques to mold colonies. SERVPRO technicians are capable of confining a microbial growth issue to one part of your business. You may even be able to continue working on the premises while the mold remediation is underway. Containing the source of the issue is usually done using negative air-pressure, high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, and physical barriers in plastic sheeting.

What is the commercial mold remediation work process?

-    Confine the mold issue at its source and put in place controls to prevent spreading

-    Use aggressive, chemical, and mechanical cleaning to get rid of contamination.

-    Supply dehumidification equipment to correct the long-term moisture problem

Uncontrolled microbial growth could lead to temporary business closure and loss of revenue. Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552.

How Can Homeowners Prevent HVAC Water Intrusions?

9/25/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO helps Mary Esther Homeowners keep their HVAC systems maintained for Improved Indoor Air Quality.

HVAC Maintenance for Fall and Winter Can Help Prevent Damage in Mary Esther.



Keeping your HVAC system well maintained not only means it runs more efficiently but can prevent leaking and overflowing from condensation. The last thing you need is for your heating system to go out in the middle of winter due to a malfunction. A leak can cause that to happen and bring with it moisture problems to your Mary Esther residence, requiring the need for SERVPRO to intervene. 

What Should Homeowners Do to Maintain Their HVAC System?

You can prepare for fall and winter weather with some basic maintenance tips. While you may not be able to totally avoid the need for water damage repair in your Mary Esther home, you can do your part. 

  • Air Filters – these should be changed every three months, even if you think they do not need replacing.
  • Vents – clean them when you replace the air filters.
  • Inspections – schedule regular inspections with a professional contractor. Spring and fall will be the perfect time to do this.
  • Upgrade – if your HVAC system is more than ten years old, consider upgrading to a newer, more efficient model.
  • Programmable Thermostat – This enables you to control the temperatures throughout the day and night. 
  • Insulation – Lighten your HVAC’s load by insulating your attic. 

Keeping your air ducts clean and making sure drainage pans and hoses are working correctly can prevent water damage. SERVPRO can inspect your HVAC system for problems in these areas. We also offer routine cleaning for air ducts that can improve air quality.

If you do experience water spills due to a problem with your HVAC system, SERVPRO can mitigate the damage. We provide water damage repair services to residences throughout the area. Our technicians are well-trained and use advanced technology to mitigate all kinds of water intrusions.

Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 for expedient water damage repair service. Contractor Licenses: Mold Remediation: MRSR309, MRSR377.

Who Can I Call About Fire Damage in My Mary Esther Home?

9/23/2020 (Permalink)

If you believe your home requires fire damage remediation services, never wait.

SERVPRO Can Remediate the Fire Damage in Your Mary Esther Home!

No one wants to have fire damage happen inside of their Mary Esther home. When a fire breaks out, the repercussions are not just ashes and soot. Smoke damage is incredibly invasive and has a way of impacting everything in your home, from furniture to electronics. Furthermore, the malodor of fire damage can prevent you from living your life free of the reminder of what happened in your home.

Picture enduring fire damage in your Mary Esther living room. The evidence of the candle-gone-wrong had been removed weeks before, but the smell of burnt-fabrics and wood remained. You may feel like this is just the reality of your home now, but that is untrue. Here at SERVPRO, our fire damage experts can help you return your home to its preloss state.

What Can SERVPRO Do About the Smell?
Our technicians have thousands of hours of combined experience dealing with all of the ramifications of fire damage. When a malodor lingers in your home, we can:
    •    Check for any remaining soot and char on the walls or behind your furniture
    •    Use a priming paint on your walls to lock in odors
    •    Set up advanced technological devices to help reduce and remove stubborn odors

Our technicians are trained to understand the makeup of soot and how to remove it. Furthermore, SERVPRO uses industry-grade advanced technology to remediate lingering smells.

What Advanced Technology Could Be Used in My Home?
To remediate malodor from fire damages, we could use:
    •    Hydroxyl generators, which reduce airborne odors by chemically combining to form odor-free compounds
    •    Air scrubbers with carbon filters, to pull odorous particles from the atmosphere
    •    Thermal foggers, which dispense an odor-reducing vapor around your home

Here at SERVPRO, we have many devices to help us remove odors. In worst-case situations, where a fire has impacted a significant portion of your home, we can use Ozone Machines before reconstruction occurs.

If you believe your home requires fire damage remediation services, never wait. Get in touch with SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach by dialing (850) 863-2552. We're ready to help you.

How Does a Natural Scientific Principle Like Equilibrium Impact Drying in Destin?

9/18/2020 (Permalink)

Flooding is an unnatural occurrence that can be highly destructive to area residences.

Flood damage can be devastating to Destin homes, especially with the continual shift in airflow, humidity, and temperature.

After a water or flood disaster, professional restoration services hinge on experienced technicians providing more efficient solutions to harsh effects impacting Destin homes. Because flooding can quickly get out of control in susceptible properties constructed in known flood zones, elements like extraction often precede more direct drying and cleaning efforts. This process usually gets completed using multiple tools in the arsenal ranging from wet vacuums to submersible pumps.

Flood damage in Destin homes must get addressed as promptly as possible, as there are many materials and contents at stake when allowing standing water to persist. Even without direct contamination threats and overwhelming standing water situations, drying principles govern the efficiency and effectiveness of chosen equipment and practices. Experienced technicians like our SERVPRO team have a working knowledge of these essential drying principles to anticipate how varying conditions cause the environment to behave. A balance of three drying principles ensures efficient moisture removal and restoration:

    •    Airflow – Considering both the natural air movement through open space and the generated airflow from machines like air movers and desiccant dehumidifiers, regulating where air flows and what materials/spaces become impacted is vital to increasing the efficiency of drying.
    •    Temperature – Warmer temperatures are often ideal for evaporation and even most cleaning processes, as heat increases chemical reactions. Over-drying is a possibility, so temperatures should be continually monitored to ensure that they do not rise to undesirable levels that could damage materials and contents we attempt to restore.
    •    Humidity – The presence of moisture in every environment is unavoidable, but at specific percentages, relative humidity can become damaging to exposed materials and substantially slow the drying process.

How Does the Movement of Air Impact Drying Functions?
Our SERVPRO technicians must take heed of the environmental conditions in each workspace that we intend to dry. The equilibrium principles impact multiple vital factors in drying processes, including temperature, airflow, and relative humidity. With each of these factors' importance to efficient moisture removal, our technicians must remain continually aware of changing conditions caused both by the drying process and through vapor pressures and migration to even out the property.

    •    Moisture Differences – Properties are consistently seeking a balance of conditions, especially those vital to the drying process. Humid and dry spaces in the same house force air movement through materials to even out the moisture content across the open areas.
    •    Temperature Changes – When colder temperatures and warm temperatures share adjacent spaces, equilibrium is sought. Air moves through materials to regulate and balance the varying conditions.
    •    Vapor Barriers – Cooler temperatures and damp materials can prevent airflow through structural elements by creating a vapor barrier.

What Conditions Cause the Temperature to Change?
Temperature has an equal impact on the overall drying process, meaning that this is a condition that SERVPRO professionals must consistently monitor. Understanding ideal drying temperatures ensure that overdrying does not occur and that cooler conditions do not slow the evaporative process.

    •    Balance of the Environment – Often, the work zone is kept at a warmer temperature to promote faster evaporation, but this can also cause cooler rooms and areas adjacent to the drying zone to continually infiltrate this space in an attempt to equalize the overall temperature of the house.
    •    Drying Process – The evaporation of moisture trapped within the wall and flooring materials cools the immediate area. A cool air barrier can form over the affected surfaces making it more challenging to penetrate the surface for continued drying.
    •    External Factors – Open windows and doorways to cooler outside temperatures can directly impact the house's overall temperature - and thereby, the speed of drying.

Does a Present Moisture Influx Impact Drying Efficiency?
Higher humidity levels undoubtedly impact the pace and efficacy of drying methods. The greater the moisture content in the environment, the less efficient air movers and other drying equipment become. As much as air movers play a direct role in drying surface materials like drywall, flooring, and other exposed elements, moisture removal from materials often increases humidity in the room. The elevated moisture can make equipment like the low-grain refrigerant dehumidifiers work harder without more beneficial results.

Flooding is an unnatural occurrence that can be highly destructive to area residences. As overwhelming as the initial circumstances might appear, our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team can provide an efficient response complete with all of the necessary tools and products. To make flood losses, “Like it never even happened,” give our rapid response team a call today at (850) 863-2552.

Can Demolition Prevent Mold Growth After Water Damage?

9/10/2020 (Permalink)

We have the expertise and equipment to restore your water damage, no matter where it occurs.

Water Exposure can Deteriorate Fort Walton Beach Homes' Structural Elements, but our SERVPRO Team can Help Prevent Worsening Conditions 

Understanding the needs of yourFort Walton Beachhome after a water disaster is not always as simple as it might seem. Surface damage is rarely the extent of the concern but is the only depth that conventional cleaning and drying approaches can reach in DIY restoration. As a leading water restoration company complete with a division of licensed general contractors, we have a comprehensive approach to meet nearly all the damaged property needs after a disaster. 

Demolition and water damage repair for Fort Walton Beach homes can be a concerning necessity for property owners. These decisions do not get made lightly and can be instrumental in reducing the severity of the structural deterioration, water migration, and absorption into porous materials. 

What Materials Require Demolition and Discarding After Water Damage?  

Certain materials are more susceptible and sensitive to water absorption and deterioration, and these include: 

  • Drywall – Sheetrock makes up the surface layer of most wall systems, and because of its high porosity, it can become overly damaged in as little as 24 hours of direct exposure. 
  • Carpeting – Carpeting and wood flooring are often the most heavily damaged, as pooling water rests on these materials.  
  • Insulation – Wet insulation should get sucked out with an insulation vacuum and reinstalled when other wall system elements get replaced.  
  • Wood Framing – As vital as wood framing can be for the structure, saturation, or even microbial growth, requires controlled demolition and repairs. 
  • Furniture – Between wood and fabric, both of these materials can deteriorate and promote microbial growth after prolonged exposure. Instead of demolition, our contractors can move these items to a safe space. 

Water losses can be a hazard to your home, but our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team can help. We are available 24/7 to dry and repair your home. Call us at (850) 863-2552. 

More about Fort Walton Beach.

How Can I Stop Severe Water Damage at My Mary Esther House?

9/1/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has the experienced technicians with the equipment and expertise your home needs after a water catastrophe. Give us a call right away.

With Help from SERVPRO, You Can Reduce Damages from Moisture Exposure and Learn How to Prevent Water Intrusions.

When there is water in unintended areas in your property, various kinds of damages can develop. The intruding water can originate from malfunctioning appliances, broken pipes, or roof leaks. Damages are mostly influenced by the amount of water involved and the time that passes before you take to complete removal. SERVPRO helps avail the necessary capacity to Mary Esther homeowners in terms of skills and equipment to manage water loss incidents.

What should I expect when water damages my home?

A case of water damage in your Mary Esther home can affect almost any systems and materials in your home, but some problems are more common after such incidents including:

  • Rotting of wood
  • Swelling or delaminating of composites
  • Bacteria and mold growth
  • Soiling of surfaces and materials

As you have probably figured, some of the problems are readily resolved, while others require replacement or expensive repair of the affected materials. Our SERVPRO technicians provide solutions that can improve the outcome for any type of damage that develops. For instance, our commitment is to reach affected properties within 4 hours. Therefore, when notified of a loss in time, we can perform timely water extraction and moisture control, preventing severe physical damage such as rotting or warping of wooden materials.

Since water intrusion discovery is not always immediate in every incident that affects properties, severe problems may already have developed by the time restoration starts. Our technicians help by using non-invasive methods to probe the loss site and pinpoint the exact areas where materials have deteriorated. For instance, a thermal camera identifies a wet section of the wall or floor cavity without requiring removal of the covering materials. We then use superior techniques for controlled demolition, limiting the destruction done to the property as part of the restoration.

What typically delays the discovery of water damage?

Spilled water is easy to notice on an open surface, such as the floor. However, if the water originates from an enclosed area such as a wall or ceiling space, it might take time to identify. If you are not conversant with the early signs of water intrusion, the damage can develop unabated over an extended period. Some typical signs that can help you identify hidden water intrusions early enough include:

  • Walls and ceilings having a spongy feel
  • Finishes such as paint or wallpaper bubble or start peeling
  • Musty odors
  • Stains or patches on surfaces

Delayed detection of water intrusion can also happen if the property is unoccupied during the water spill. Vacationing is one of the main reasons people leave properties unoccupied, and from experience, we have noticed that many water spills tend to happen at such times. Our SERVPRO technicians can give you useful tips that can help limit the chances of water intrusion during your future vacations. Some of the general ideas include:

  • Turning off the valve in the main supply line
  • Turning up the thermostat but leaving the AC on
  • Lowering the temperature of the water or activating vacation mode
  • Adding antifreeze to the toilets

Such steps help prevent damage in many ways. For instance, turning off the main supply line eliminates cuts down the amount of water that can be released into the house in case of a leak from thousands of gallons to a minimal amount. Sometimes water damage can originate from indirect water sources such as condensation. Regulating the heat levels in the house by changing thermostat settings ensures that condensation does not happen on the days you are away from your property.

Is it possible to stop damages after the water is released?

Once the water breaches your property, some damages are instant. What you can hope for is to prevent advanced issues. Some advanced problems can develop because of the extended exposure of materials to moisture or improper restoration procedures. For instance, in a couple of days or weeks, wet wood rots or develops physical changes such as warping. On the other hand, rough water extraction procedures can contribute to carpets delaminating

Our SERVPRO technicians help expedite water removal processes by using superior water extraction equipment such as wet vacs and water extractors. Removing all standing water within the first 24 hours halts most of the deterioration that leads to secondary damages. We also take precautions to avoid damaging materials during restoration. For instance, we use separate types of wands when extracting water from hard surfaces and carpeted areas. For the hard surfaces, we use squeegee wands, which cannot scratch the surface. 

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach has extensive experience dealing with damages caused by water intrusion. Call us (850) 863-2552 to help you restore your home to its preloss state. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

There Is Mold in My Fort Walton Beach My Restaurant -- What Can Be Done?

8/12/2020 (Permalink)

Here is the SERVPRO Team that can mitigate and remediate mold damage in Your Fort Walton Beach Place of Business.

SERVRPRO Has Trained and Experienced Mold Remediation Specialists Who Can Mitigate Mold Damage

A good reputation in Fort Walton Beach draws customers to your restaurant. With all the restaurant competition in the Florida Panhandle, you do not need anything to cause you downtime.

 Can You Stop the Spread of the Mold?

 If you discover a mold problem in your kitchen or storeroom area, it should send you looking at mold removal companies in Fort Walton Beach. When considering a company, make sure they have the training required to deal with the situation. SERVPRO has the technicians to mitigate the damage and stop the spread. We are licensed mold remediation experts – Contractor Licenses: Mold Remediation: MRSR309, MRSR377.

Removing Mold Contamination

There are various mold removal methods, and each depends on the affected material. Nonporous material can usually be cleaned. Porous items that show signs of visible mold growth often need to be removed. The remediation process can include:

  • Porous material – If fabrics, drywall, carpeting, or insulation have active mold growth; it is usually removed.
  • Nonporous material – Glass, metals, and plastics are examples of nonporous material. HEPA vacuuming is used if the surface is dry. If the mold is growing in a layer of soils, damp wiping with a detergent solution can be utilized.
  • Semiporous materials – Wood and concrete fall into this category. Damp wiping, wire brushing, and other abrasive methods often get used to clean the affected areas.

Mold Spores

Mold spores are everywhere. It is when they get exposed to moisture for an extended amount of time that the problems transpire. Settled spores can be removed by HEPA vacuuming and damp wiping even on porous material, inhibiting further spread.

Moisture Removal

Since moisture is required for mold and mildew to spread, it is vital to dry the impacted area. Because air movers are often used in the drying process and can spread mold spores, this step may be postponed until containment and mold removal gets completed.  Removing damaged materials speeds up the drying process, and certain dehumidifiers can be used. 

Mold can cause health effects for your employees and customers. Minor water intrusions can cause infestations. If you suspect you need to look at mold removal companies, do so immediately. The more time needed for cleaning, the longer your restaurant is closed. This means lost revenue.

Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 for expert mold remediation service.

How do I Know if Flooding Weakened my Walls in My Mary Esther Home?

7/26/2020 (Permalink)

Decontamination of your home is just as necessary as restoring normal humidity levels.

Call a Professional Water Restoration Service to Assess the Damage to Your Mary Esther Home

Flooding in your home in Mary Esther can be quite overwhelming, particularly when you don't know what to look for in terms of damage. You may think that extracting water is all you need to do to bring your home back to mint condition, but it is not enough. A professional team can point out any areas of risk in your home to take timely action and protect your family from future complications.

If you live in Mary Esther, your flood damage needs are essential to us at SERVPRO. Let our expert crew guide you as we assess how far the water made it into your home. When water disasters occur, most homeowners do not realize that structural elements in their homes may be vulnerable. The spread of bacteria and even the growth of mold can become a reality if humidity is not put under control.

How do I protect my walls from flood damage?

Our SERVPRO team takes inventory of the damage in your home and plans the equipment and techniques we need. Controlling excess moisture is crucial to our success, so equipment such as dehumidifiers, air movers, and water extractors are standard in our restoration jobs. As we document the process, we pay close attention to the presence of bacteria and hidden water deposits so we can take care of them. This documentation can be beneficial as you connect with your insurance company to file a claim. Meanwhile, to protect your walls, we may take some of the following steps depending on your needs:

    •    Replacing drywall sections as needed and repainting
    •    Preparing the area for other contractors that may need to come in
    •    Disinfecting all areas of your home to avoid the growth of bacteria

Decontamination of your home is just as necessary as restoring normal humidity levels. Our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is at your service to help you restore your home. Call us day or night at (850) 863-2552 and let us leave your home, “Like it never even happened.”

Why Choose SERVPRO For Fire Damage Remediation?

7/23/2020 (Permalink)

We can get your property back to the state it was in before the unfortunate incident.

We Help Fort Walton Beach Residents Return To Normal After Fire Damage.

Fort Walton Beach homeowners are often concerned about what will happen to their house after a fire. It is terrifying if a fire starts in your home, and of course, your initial response is to call in the firefighters and make sure the blaze is out. 

However, after your Fort Walton Beach home is secure after fire damage, it is time to think about the cleanup process. Cleanup and remediation remove soot damage and lingering odors so that your house feels like your own once more. Restoration is an essential step in making your home suitable to live in, and it also helps you feel calmer and more at peace there because it does not look so fire damaged.

What Does Fire Damage Remediation Entail?

People sometimes think fire damage remediation means cleaning off visible soot stains. However, there is much more to fire damage remediation than scrubbing surfaces. Fire damage services include:

An initial assessment of the situation is a vital first step in determining what has happened and how much restoration work is needed

Securing your home with tarps and boards if necessary so that it is safe to carry out our work and your home is protected as much as possible

Extracting any water that remains from the extinguishment efforts to ensure moisture cannot seep into your belongings or cause mold growth

Thoroughly cleaning all soot damaged items and surfaces using a range of wet and dry cleaning methods

Sanitizing fire-damaged items, so they are safe for use

Every remediation project ends with deodorization so that your home smells clean once more, and carrying out minor and major repairs to make your house structurally sound.

Why Is SERVPRO The Best Choice For Restoration?

Fire damage cleanup is a complex process. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is the best choice for restoration due to our highly trained technicians and the full range of equipment we have at our disposal.

We do not stop at cleaning away soot. Our remit is to work on your home until it reaches its pre-fire condition to resume your life. We follow a proven series of steps, as outlined above, to take care of every aspect of restoration. Our teams handle everything from emergency boarding up through to removing lingering smoky smells.

Some companies are too quick to discard items or replace damaged structures within the home. We put our focus on restoring rather than replacing wherever possible. Restoration is ultimately more cost-effective for you and can help you return to your home more quickly, while still keeping the focus firmly on safety and security.

How Well Trained Are SERVPRO Teams?

We are proud to say that each SERVPRO technician is thoroughly trained, thanks to our extensive employee training program. Our program includes:

Initial training at our corporate training facility – this is a hands-on fifteen-day course

IICRC certification to keep us in line with industry standards

Employee certification training

E-training and ongoing education to ensure our teams stay at the top of their game

Our practical and ongoing training means you can rely on our technicians to efficiently and professionally handle your fire damage restoration. We keep up to date on industry standards and best practices and keep all team members informed.

Our thorough training gives our teams the edge and equips them to assess each situation and determine the course of action that will have the best outcome.

 What Aspects Of Fire Cleanup Can SERVPRO Help Me With?

Customers are often surprised by just how much our teams can help them.

We do not only clean your walls and floors but also take care of chairs, sofas, drapes, tables and any other furniture that got damaged in the fire

We assess personal belongings such as clothes and advise on what to save and what to toss

We can help with lingering moisture residue due to firefighting efforts

If you need to move out of your home, we assist with the pack up and move out process

We sanitize and disinfect your home as needed

We equip our teams with everything from smoke meters and water pumps to air scrubbers and industrial-strength cleaning materials. No matter the extent of the damage to your home, our people have the knowledge and equipment necessary to restore it.

Our teams take care of fire damage remediation from top to bottom, which means you do not have to call in any other professionals. We do everything for you, so you do not need to stress out.

If you need help with fire damage remediation, choose SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach. Give us a call at (850) 863-2552.

Is It Necessary to Have Professional Restorers Cleanup After a Fire in My Fort Walton Beach Home?

7/16/2020 (Permalink)

Should fire damage your home, SERVPRO is ready to handle the damage. This is just some of the equipment we have at our disposal to restore your home.

Why SERVPRO? Corrosive and Toxic Residues Pose Significant Dangers During Fire Damage Mitigation and Remediation in Fort Walton Beach -- We Can Help 

No one expects the average homeowner to understand how hazardous the structural surface and contents contamination is when fire residues spread through a Fort Walton Beach residence. Ordinary household objects like electrical cords, insulation, treated wood, and plastics, among other materials, transform during combustion. Chemical changes send carcinogenic compounds to disperse in hot air currents. At the same time, highly-acidic and corrosive soot attaches to walls, ceilings, counters, furnishings, and more, immediately beginning to break down materials. Understanding these processes and how to intervene safely to save structural components and contents is why our company exists. 

What Can I Expect When I Ask for Help? 

Fire damage in Fort Walton Beach shows its effects nearly instantaneously, why our local crews are the key to an efficient response. Our local presence pairs with a second-to-none best practices training program and resources, permitting us to reach out to our nationwide partners. We arrive ready to assess, plan, and implement, offering you the best chance to halt the fire damage and return your home to “Like it never even happened.” 

Why SERVPRO for Safe and Effective Results?

Rigorous training in evaluating fire residues and the most efficient way to remove them is why SERVPRO delivers a clean, sanitized, and deodorized result safely and in less time than you thought possible. Our crews master the theory and the techniques for safe yet effective cleaning during coursework from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). We then put this training to the tasks at hand, relying on scientifically vetted strategies. Safety is paramount, first to protect you and your family, and second to keep our technicians healthy and able to remediate your property. 

Fast response, trained restorers, and cutting-edge equipment are reasons why SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is a disaster recovery industry leader. Call for an expert assessment and immediate implementation of a restoration plan at (850) 863-2552. 

More about Fort Walton Beach.

Can My Fort Walton Beach Housekeeping Crew Adequately Cleanup After Fire Damage?

6/26/2020 (Permalink)

No matter when you make the call, we have technicians who can assist you.

Rely on the Experience, Training, and Equipment of SERVPRO After Fire Damage -- Fort Walton Beach Businesses Need Assurances Toxic Residues Are Eradicated through Professional Best Practices.

Perhaps to limit costs or not to embarrass your valued cleaning staff, you are considering delegating to them the management of a lobby fire in your Fort Walton Beach hotel. Before you cross that line, consider the responsibility you ask your staff to accept. Daily cleaning products and equipment are inadequate to clear away smoke and soot soiling. Plus, the residues on surfaces and air quality in the affected area expose both your staff and your guests to unacceptable risks from toxins created during the blaze.

What Differences Can I Expect When Fire Cleanup Professionals Take Over?

Fire damage at your Fort Walton Beach inn can include much more than merely soot cleanup. Because of the chance of the following needing attention, our multi-certified technicians can step in at every stage of recovery:

  • Water removal and structural drying

Sprinkler systems and firefighting water need extraction, and materials need drying.

  • Airborne residue containment

Fire consumes whatever is in its path, causing normally harmless materials to chemically change into harmful airborne substances, needing containment with plastic sheeting and filtering with negative pressure air scrubbers.

  • Inspection to locate and trained assessment of fire residues and cleaning methods

Soot moves on air currents, and then attaches to surfaces, requiring trained technicians to match products and techniques for successful removal.

Who Offers These Specialized Fire Damage Remediation Services?

SERVPRO is proud to offer fire damage restoration for commercial and residential customers as one of its core services. We are confident we can get your business back on track with our top-notch employees, products, and equipment.

Take the opportunity to leverage the years of experience and the training and equipment held by SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach when fire damages your lodging business. Call us at (850) 863-2552 to discuss how we can contain and remediate the damage, potentially while keeping unaffected sections of your hotel open for guests.

Find out more about Fort Walton Beach.

How Does Water Cleanup Affect Indoor Air Quality in Mary Esther?

6/19/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach can help you manage all aspects of water loss.

SERVPRO Understands How Different Factors Influence Air Quality and Addresses Them during Water Cleanup in Mary Esther

Cleaning up a house after a water spill takes more than extracting pools of water. Failure to take other preventive and restorative steps can lead to several problems, including the development of indoor air quality problems. When our SERVPRO crews respond to water loss incidents in Mary Esther, we perform thorough cleanup to eliminate or prevent any problems.

How does a water spill lead to problems with air quality?

When performing water cleanup in Mary Esther properties, our SERVPRO technicians are aware that the presence of moisture or the processes used to clean dirty areas within the property can end up causing air quality problems. Some factors that influence indoor air quality include:
    •    Humidity
    •    Temperature
    •    Noxious chemicals
    •    Microbial development

Although you might not notice higher humidity, you might experience eye irritation, nasal stuffiness, or other discomforts. Evaporation of spilled water increases the humidity levels in the house. Even after extracting all standing water, any wet materials in the house still contribute to higher humidity levels. Drying all materials and surfaces is, therefore, crucial during cleanup of water damaged properties.

Sometimes the wetness may be out of sight, hidden in wall cavities or even subfloors creating an unexplainable humidity problem. Our technicians rely on advanced equipment to diagnose such problems. For instance, a thermo-hygrometer helps identify rooms with higher humidity levels, thus helping narrow down the likelihood of hidden moisture in the area. We also use thermal cameras to help pinpoint the wet sections behind concealment. After identifying the wet areas, we perform controlled demolition to reach the hidden moisture and clean up the area.

Can restoration of a clean water loss involve noxious chemicals?

Clean water leaks are easier to clean up since they do not contaminate materials or contents in the house. In theory, extraction and drying are the only actions necessary. However, from the previous experiences we have had resolving such water spills, indirect soiling still occurs. Running dyes, rust, and microbial growth can happen, leading to deep soiling of fabrics, upholstery or carpets.
Cleaning such soiling necessitates several processes, including agitation of the surfaces and the use of chemicals, which help dissolve, suspend, or loosen the soils. Mixing different types of chemicals, especially when a particular soil proves challenging to remove, can lead to noxious fumes. Another problem is the inadequate rinsing of the cleaned areas, thus leaving traces of the chemicals embedded within the materials. Such traces can result in the development of bad odor in the house. Our SERVPRO technicians take precautions not to mix some substances known to react with each other, including:
    •    Vinegar and bleach
    •    Ammonia and bleach
    •    Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar

In case there is a need to mix two products that react chemically producing fumes, our technicians wear respirators for protection against inhaling the dangerous gases. After cleaning contents such as carpets or upholstery, we ensure to rinse them thoroughly before drying them. We also ventilate the cleaned areas to remove any odor remnants in the air.

Can I control microbial growth during the cleaning process?

Microbial growth is the process that leads to mold infestation in properties. It can also turn a clean water loss to a greywater loss. Unlike other problems such as soling or staining, microbial growth is a natural process, so most of the factors that support it are already in place before the water spill. Controlling microbial growth is possible through:
    •    Expedited water removal
    •    Applying antimicrobial agents
    •    Immediate removal of mold residues

If you notice the water spill in good time, it is possible to prevent mold development by expediting water removal and drying the premises. Mold starts developing within 24-48 hours after the water loss incident. When you call our SERVPRO technicians to your premises, we try to expedite removal by using several units of equipment such as extractors, air movers and dehumidifiers eliminating the moisture problem, “Like it never even happened.”

Since it might not be feasible to dry all wet materials within a few hours, the risk of mold development from residue moisture persists. Applying antimicrobial products in the areas we clean helps stop or delay such growth, ensuring that we complete drying before any problems develop.
Addressing the different factors that contribute to the state of the indoor air quality at your house eliminates chances of severe problems developing later on. When problems develop fully, they necessitate full deodorization and ventilation, among other processes, to restore standard indoor air quality in the house.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach can help you manage all aspects of water loss. Call us any time at (850) 863-2552 to help. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

What Can I Do About the Fire Damage in My Home?

6/5/2020 (Permalink)

Let our experienced SERVPRO teams help get your home back from fire damage.

If You Need Fire Damage Restoration Services, Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach! 

A small mistake could lead to fire damage on your Fort Walton Beach property. A candle left unattended could turn into a blaze, or a small kitchen fire could get out of hand. No matter what accident causes the fire on your property, you should reach out for professional help immediately. 

Here at SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach, we care about the fire damage on your property, and We're Faster To Any Size Disaster. To us, it doesn't make a difference if the fire was large or small- we're still available to help you when you need it. 

The Fire Left Soot on My Walls, What Can SERVPRO Do to Fix That? 

SERVPRO technicians are expertly trained and understand soot in and out. If your walls have a lot of soot on them, we can: 

  • Use EPA-registered cleaning agents 
  • Use sealant paints to lock odors
  • Remove the drywall in worst-case scenarios 

Soot stains can be tricky, as you must know what burned to break them down at a chemical level. However, our technicians are trained to know the difference and can apply the necessary technique to remove most stains. 

What Devices Can SERVPRO Use to Remove the Smell of Fire Damage? 

A Fire can leave behind unpleasant malodors. However, our SERVPRO techs can use a few different devices to neutralize the scents, such as: 

  • Hydroxyl generators 
  • Thermal foggers
  • Ozone machines 

Depending on how severe the fire damage is on your property, our technicians can use the appropriate device. For example, ozone machines are only used when the fire was so severe that residents cannot be inside of the house. Thermal foggers tend to be used in smaller, more concentrated, spaces. 

If your home needs fire damage restoration, do not wait. Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach by calling (850) 863-2552. Our technicians are always available to help you. 

Want to see more about Fort Walton Beach?

What Should I Know about Clearing My House after A Flood Damage Incident in Destin?

5/20/2020 (Permalink)

Storm season in Florida is year round. SERVPRO has the expertise to restore your home.

Removing Damaged and Undamaged Materials from Your Property Is Not Easy, but Your Local SERVPRO Can Help Ease the Process 

Dealing with flooding incidents at your Destin home is not a pleasant experience. Apart from the financial losses such incidents cause, the cleanup, and restoration that follows involve backbreaking work. Removal of contents and even some parts of the structure is standard procedure to allow thorough cleaning. Flooding also damages some materials irreparably, which also necessitates removal. Most people focus on restoring the house, so they overlook the removal of items. 

What typical issues lead to irreparable damage to materials? 

Although different incidents of flood damage in Destin have unique outcomes, the factors that cause permanent damage to materials are common in most cases.    

  • Exposure to contaminants
  • Heavy soiling
  • Overexposure to moisture 

In most cases, the physical properties of the material exposed to floodwater determine the level of damage. For example, porous and semi-porous materials including fabrics, and wooden furniture, are heavily damaged when there is a flooding incident at your property, unlike non-porous ones such as plastic. The water damage can be physical degradation or deep penetration of undesirable substances, which eliminates the chances of effective cleaning. 

How do you distinguish unsalvageable and salvageable materials? 

Since all materials or contents have some value or use, you are inclined to save them whenever possible. However, it would be unwise to retain items with residue damage or overestimate the level of flooding damages in Destin, thus throw away something useful. Our SERVPRO technicians consider several factors to distinguish what is salvageable and what is not. Some of the common factors we consider include: 

  • Changes in physical traits
  • Deterioration of finishes
  • Exposure or release of hazardous materials from within a material

Most organic materials, including wood and its derivatives such as drywall, exhibit signs of physical deterioration such as warping, swelling, or even crumbling when exposed to significant moisture in a flooding incident. In case of swelling, we can reverse the damage through highly controlled drying procedures such as the use of drying chambers. Other types of wood damage such as warping or buckling, are permanent, so removal is the only option. 

Some of the materials around the house have harmful substances within their structure, and exposure to water or high levels of moisture can lead to the discharge of such substances. Alternatively, the process of removing materials to facilitate cleaning or other restoration processes release hazardous substances. For example, the glue holding a glued-down carpet in an area such as a basement might contain asbestos. Our technicians evaluate all materials affected during flooding to establish whether they might contain harmful substances for safe disposal. 

What would complicate the removal of materials? 

Whether you want to remove items to pave the way for restoration processes or because they need replacing, several factors can complicate the exercise. Typical factors that complicate the process include: 

  • Finding a place to hold items after the removal
  • Finding a way to dispose of the unsalvageable items
  • The process of moving materials to the disposal point
  • The likelihood of destroying good materials when removing the damaged ones 

In most cases, our SERVPRO technicians find a safe storage place within the structure for salvageable items. We can clear out a room on a higher floor or other elevated section of the property to serve as the storage point. In severe flooding incidents, we arrange for move-outs to a storage facility away from the damaged home. We find ways to hold them around the loss site for unsalvageable materials until we finish the cleanup process without littering. Apart from bringing resources such as large trashcans and heavy-duty plastic bags to hold waste, we also prepare some of the waste for storage during removal. For instance, we cut the pad into small square pieces making it easier to fit in the trash receptacles for disposal. 

Damaging contents or building materials during removal or movement happens for many reasons. However, improper handling or using the wrong tools are the most likely reasons. Our technicians receive training on proper handling, especially when lifting heavy or bulky items. Simple techniques such as bending at the knees first, then at the hip, and pushing with the legs when lifting heavy items make a huge difference in facilitating the safe transfer. We also have a wide array of tools, including pry bars, awls, and rubber hammers. Such tools help with safe disassembly of fixtures like countertops and parts of the structure such as wall panels as well as door and window trims. 

Clearing out your Fort Walton Beach, Mary Esther, or Niceville house to facilitate the restoration of flood damage can be challenging. Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 to help. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned – a defensive cleaning program

5/19/2020 (Permalink)

Our defensive cleaning program gives your business a way forward by providing your employees and customers ongoing safety and assuredness.

Let us help you get back to business

As our communities re-open in Fort Walton Beach, we’re all moving back toward a new kind of normal. The expectations of visitors, customers, and employees who come into our establishments have evolved, and staying safe and well is a top concern. The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed what it means to be clean, and we’ve developed a program to help your business meet the new higher standard of clean that is now expected.

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned is a defensive cleaning program we’re offering to businesses and commercial locations to address the current COVID-19 pandemic. This proactive viral pathogen cleaning program goes well beyond janitorial or carpet cleaning. By choosing Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you, your employees, your customers, and your community can rest assured that you’ve selected a higher cleaning standard – you are Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.

Extensive training and specialized products

As the #1 choice in cleanup and restoration*, we stand on more than 50 years of experience and expertise to help your business become Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.  Beyond fire & water, SERVPRO professionals are trained and experienced in biohazard decontamination and chemical spills – always adhering to the cleaning and decontamination standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local authorities. 

From formulating and creating our proprietary cleaning products, like SERVPROXIDE, at our headquarters in Gallatin, TN, to taking the utmost care while disinfecting, we will ensure you and your business are set up to inspire consumer confidence as the economy continues to reopen.

3 C’s – Consult, Clean, and Certify

When the stakes are this high, you want a partner who has developed an industry leading, proprietary training program, cleaning solutions, and remediation processes over decades. We’ve cleaned up some of the most challenging biohazards imaginable. Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned reflects our unique experiences and capabilities. The program is grounded with our unique 3 C’s: Consult, Clean, and Certify.

  • Consult – Every business is different, which is why you’ll be assigned a Cleaning Protocol Consultant who understands your business and will create a cleaning program to meet your specific needs. This program will be developed based on your business type, size of space, amount of high frequency touchpoints, foot traffic and congestion points.
  • Clean – Based on your specific business needs, your location will undergo a thorough, deep clean, using exclusive cleaning products, according to protocols set forth by the CDC. Our employees have years of experience, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform. Cleanup procedures generally include cleaning of porous and non-porous surfaces, disinfecting of non-porous surfaces, cleaning and disinfecting of equipment, tools, and/or supplies used for cleanup process, and disposal of hazardous materials.  In the event of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 event, we will be there cleaning within 24 hours to ensure you get back to business as quickly as possible. 
  • Certify - Once your business location has been Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you will gain access to proprietary signage, digital emblems, and other collateral that communicates that you’ve selected a higher standard of clean available to help protect your employees and customers. And because we add the day, month, and year to that proprietary stamp of clean, your guests will know that not only did you choose Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned,but that your location is being cleaned regularly at this standard.

Call today for a Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation

We’re Here to Help – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – until life is back to normal in the communities we all call home.

Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach today at (850) 863-2552 for your Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation.

* #1 Choice in cleanup & restoration based Commercial Attitude & Usage Tracking study. Polling 816 commercial business decision makers on first choice for future needs related to cleanup & restoration work. Study conducted by C&R Research: October 2019

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned means professionally trained SERVPRO franchises perform the requested cleaning, sanitizing and disinfection services according to proprietary SERVPRO protocols and recognized industry and CDC standards with EPA approved cleaning products to deliver a SERVPRO certified cleaning experience.  Each SERVPRO franchise is independently owned and operated.

How Do I Know if the Stain in My Destin Home Ceiling is Water Damage?

5/8/2020 (Permalink)

Do you have water stains on your ceiling?

Water Stains Can Indicate Hidden Water Problems in Your Home--Call SERVPRO

Water is everywhere around us, but when this life-giving liquid exists in our Destin homes, we expect it to remain where it cannot do any harm. Sometimes it escapes and makes its presence known but in seemingly minor ways.

Other times, however, your property seems to develop not only visible and unsightly water damage but also the kind that ruins the interior of your home. What many homeowners in Destin never realize about water damage can end up costing them quite a bit of money.

Any type of water leakage, regardless of how slight it seems, means that water exists inside your home in places where it should not. Stains may not seem like severe damage, but they often indicate precisely that. The moisture creating stains on upper walls and ceilings did not appear there like magic. This moisture traveled there to these locations from other areas of your home. 

As it traveled through the materials comprising your home, it affected them. Because this often happens within areas that you rarely or never see, it stays hidden and unknown to you. Significant water damage typically can happen months before stained ceilings show up in your home's interior. A side effect of this intrusive water, possibly from a leaky toilet, a loose shingle, or even a window left open during a rainstorm, often includes stains on upper areas of rooms and possibly wavy or blistering paint.

SERVPRO technicians can help determine the pathways the water took and examine the materials from Point A to Point B for damage. Many facets of your home can become compromised, damaged, or worse by causing other types of damage to start developing in your home. Microbial populations can proliferate once water becomes available to them. Who wants mold growing in their home? Drywall and sheetrock can begin to crumble.

Wherever damaging effects occur, we can skillfully mitigate the problem and make your home "Like it never even happened," quickly. We also ensure that the source of water is fixed and cannot create future damage that you must deal with later. In the case of major leaks or drips, we advise the homeowner to call a certified plumber. 

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach can help you whenever you find water damage and its telltale stains. Call us at (850) 863-2552 to reach our 24-hour helpline and get to the bottom of what ails your home.

Learn more about Destin Beach, FL.

What Are the Best Ways to Prevent Home Structure Fires in Your Fort Walton Beach Home?

5/5/2020 (Permalink)

Prevent Fires in Your Fort Walton Beach Home

SERVPRO Wants to Help You Prevent Home Fires

It is important to frequently evaluate your home’s fire risk. We encourage you to review your fire prevention strategy, and complete yearly tasks that ensure the technology you rely on to alert you and your family is in good working order.

Smoke Alarms

Make sure a working smoke alarm is installed on every level of your home. Also, install a smoke detector in each bedroom. Use the yearly observation of Fire Prevention Week, coming up in October, or your birthday, to change the batteries in your smoke detectors or alarms, but also make sure you test each alarm monthly. Resist any temptation to disable a smoke detector in the kitchen because cooking steam or smoke sets it off occasionally. Instead, invest in and use high-quality exhaust fans when cooking.

Fire Extinguishers

Purchase appropriately rated fire extinguishers and distribute them throughout your home, concentrating on areas where the fire risk is highest. Kitchens, workshops, garages, and utility or laundry rooms are obvious choices, but ensure that an extinguisher is easy to access in every space of your dwelling. Test them regularly and recharge after use.

Plan And Clear Escape Routes

Plan and practice a fire escape plan for each room of your home. Discuss the plan with all members of your family and hold drills regularly so all are confident in what they should do and that they can do it. Assess for special needs like safety ladders for upper stories or your home, and then install and practice their use. Be sure that windows and doors you plan to employ as escape pathways are free of obstructions and are not screwed or nailed shut. Paint and caulk can interfere with opening a window or door. Remedy this problem if you find it impossible to open an escape route.

Review Insurance Coverage And Catalog Your Belongings

Contact your insurance agent yearly to review your fire damage coverage. Make an effort to document and inventory heirlooms and other items with high monetary or sentimental value in your home. Claims are easier to establish with this evidence in hand.

If despite your planning a fire damages your home, contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 for fast and high-quality restoration services. We have the trained technicians, experience, and professional equipment necessary to bring your home back to preloss condition after a minor or major fire.

Learn more about Fort Walton Beach.

What is the Most Common Cause of Flood Damage in Destin?

5/2/2020 (Permalink)

Finding that your home was flooded can cause some panic. Call SERVPRO right away for drying out services.

SERVPRO Technicians Arrive Quickly to Dry Out Your Flooded Property After Common Tropical Storms

One of the general causes of flood damage in Florida homes is seasonal tropical storms. Due to the unique geographical location of the state on the Atlantic ocean, storms can sweep in from the waters and bring intense rain, strong winds, and flooding. The rainwater from the storms can get inside of your home in a variety of ways. Debris can break a window, intense wind can force open an entrance, or an open window can allow gallons and gallons of water into your property. When it comes to flooding inside of your home, it is wise to seek professional help immediately.

As soon as we get your call, we can dispatch an estimator to your home to inspect the flood damage in Destin. The estimator can get a general idea of what our techs need to handle while they make their way to your home. We strive to keep you well informed and involved in every step of the remediation process. The estimator can listen to your concerns about your belongings and what is a high priority for you.

When our SERVPRO techs arrive on the scene, they can begin to extract the flood water as quickly as possible. We use industrial-grade wet/dry vacuums and pumps to remove the water from your home. Using these devices allow our techs to remove the water fast, which is essential because stagnant water can cause damage to the structure of your home and open the doorway to further problems such as mold.

Some floods can bring chemicals and bacteria into the house with the water, but not always. In many cases, the flood can merely carry in dirt, sand, and debris. Our SERVPRO technicians can send your valuable belongings to our cleaning headquarters to rid them of dirty stains caused by the floods. Afterward, SERVPRO can check the moisture levels of your home and then dry out areas in need of service.

Flood Damage Restoration

Our team can be at your residence within hours after you contact us and can start assessing the job as soon as they arrive. Identifying, the source of water in your house is the first thing our team does in emergency situations. Before the crew can proceed, they must stop the source of water flowing into the home. Next, the team can extract the excess water and thoroughly dry the structure.

After the drying phase, the team can inspect your home for the level of damage and checks how far the moisture has traveled inside the structure. The restoration phase may include the use of deodorizers to remove odors. When cleaning carpeting, the team may need to treat both sides of the carpet as well as the floor with an appropriate EPA-registered disinfectant. The crew may also use fogging equipment to eliminate odors in carpeting before and after cleaning the carpet. To clean hard surface flooring, we can deodorize your floors by mopping them with an appropriate disinfectant or by using a ULV fogger if there is severe damage to the floors.

Before the job is complete, we check the walls, ceilings, and flooring for damage. If necessary, our trained crew can remove and dispose of any unsalvageable materials with your approval. Plus, we work with your adjuster.

If seasonal storms leave your home flooded with water, do not delay. Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552. We strive to arrive and return your home to its pre-flood condition quickly.

Learn More about Destin, FL.

What are the Steps to Recovery After Devastating Hurricane Damage in Fort Walton Beach

4/27/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Says Be Prepared for Storms and Hurricanes in the Fort Walton Beach Area of the Panhandle

Here is a Reminder from SERVPRO to Be Prepared for Tropical Storms 

While you may not be prepared for the devastating damage that hurricanes can do to your Fort Walton Beach home or business, now that the hurricane season will be here before you know it, it is one of the only things on your mind besides the current crisis. As you work towards what comes next, many homeowners and business owners struggle with the steps towards protecting and possibly restoring their properties and getting things back to the way they were before. 

There is an extensive list of steps that you should take towards getting your Fort Walton Beach property professionally restored and repaired to preloss conditions whenever possible. However, even before you seek out the services of our dedicated and experienced SERVPRO team, there are some considerations that you should make to both keep your family safe and to help speed up the restoration process.

The first of these considerations is what your home insurance provider will expect of you if storm damage occurs. While there were many homes and properties that will be affected by severe weather systems, your insurance provider can give you direction and answers to your responsibilities as well as what they need to get the claims process started. In many cases, professional restoration work relies on insurance claims as opposed to demanding payment out of the owner’s pockets. SERVPRO works with you and your insurance adjuster always in your best interest.

Your insurance company might require you to provide some documentation of the damages that your home has sustained from the storm, and often you can do some of this on your own. Unless you are sure about the structural integrity and stability of your property, evidence and damage cataloging is often best left to trained professionals like our SERVPRO estimators. We get uniquely trained in safety precautions and equipment, helping to minimize conditions getting worse as well as knowing what insurance companies need regarding damage documentation.

To help preserve your possessions, even as we pump out the water and dry your home, we can perform a pack-out of some possessions to clean, dry, and preserve off-site. We have a meticulous system for safely packaging, documenting the contents with tags and barcodes, and then return them when your home is ready.

There are few things more unsettling than seeing your home or business after a hurricane has passed through the area. The effects of storms can seem overwhelming to overcome, but with the experience and equipment of our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach technicians, it can return to preloss condition, if at all possible. Give us a call 24/7 at (850) 863-2552.

Learn more about Fort Walton Beach.

How Do I Remove Odors After a Fire?

4/22/2020 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO for Smoke-Related Odor Removal

SERVPRO Technicians Use Thermal Fogging to Remove Fire Damage Odor in Your Destin Home

Smoke can cause severe damage to areas of your home not directly affected by a fire. In many situations, even trained professionals can take several visits to remove smoke odors from some spots in your home. Regardless of how thorough the restoration in your Destin area home seems, smoke odors can linger.

What you need is a trained professional, one that has access to the right equipment and understands which techniques to use, to get rid of the odors that exist in your Destin home. Fire damage often leads to extensive repairs, so having access to a highly-skilled professional makes sense. You want them to understand how to deal with fire, smoke, and water damage, including any cleaning, deodorization, or disinfection experience necessary to finish the job right.

SERVPRO technicians can put a variety of deodorization techniques to work for you. Our fire damage restoration technicians are well versed in using pressure sprayers, box fans, ozone machines, duct cleaning systems, HEPA filtered air scrubbers, and injection devices to get the job done right. We work out the proper way to approach the area in question, working to eliminate odors rather than just masking them.

SERVPRO can put a method called thermal fogging to use, where deodorizers are heated and sprayed throughout your home in fog form. A fogger allows deodorizer solutions to permeate tough-to-reach areas, absorbing smoke particles and neutralizing any odors that exist. Our advanced services involve removing the debris causing the odor and cleaning any surfaces that might have odor-causing residues on them.

However, SERVPRO restoration teams go even further, finding ways to replicate the nature of smoke, allowing deodorizers to penetrate different areas. Providing you with excellent results regarding odor neutralization and successfully returning your home to a quality pre-fire damage condition for you and your family to enjoy.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach has technicians available 24/7, 365, day or night. We provide you with the cleanup and restoration services that make dealing with damage to your home, easier. Our staff even works with your insurance company to help ensure you receive the results you deserve. (850) 863-2552

Learn more about Destin.

How Do I Perform Fire Debris Cleanup in My Home?

4/21/2020 (Permalink)

When it comes to fire damage cleanup and restoration in Fort Walton Beach, SERVPRO Is Serious!

You Can Hire SERVPRO Franchise Professionals to Assist You to Remove the Debris in Fort Walton Beach

After a fire, it is not advisable to tackle fire damage restoration in your Fort Walton Beach residence without the assistance of experts. However, you can take a few steps to start cleaning up your home. Make sure you prioritize safety.

What can I do after a fire?

Below is a list of several expert fire damage restoration tips to help you recover from your Fort Walton Beach home’s fire damaging event.

  • Reduce movement in the house to prevent additional damage, the spread of smoke, and soot particles from getting embedded in fabrics.
  • Place towels over high traffic areas like carpets and rugs
  • Wash your hands to avoid transferring soot to the walls, upholstery, and wood
  • If you have shut off the electricity, wait before emptying the refrigerator and freezer

What Should I not do after a fire?

The actions you should avoid doing after a fire damages your house include:

  • Avoid attempting to wash painted surfaces walls, upholstery, and carpet without the assistance of professionals
  • Avoid cleaning appliances or electrical equipment that the fire damages
  • Avoid consuming packaged or canned food that is stored close to the scene of the fire
  • Avoid turning on ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is damp because of the water firefighters used to extinguish the flames

What should I do about the debris?

As the property owner, it is your responsibility to clear debris from your home after a fire. Thankfully, most home insurance policies provide coverage for debris removal. It is an essential expense to restore your property to its preloss state. SERVPRO can help you remove the debris quickly because we have advanced tools to make this procedure easier. We can even remove hazardous materials safely.

What is regarded as household hazardous waste?

This is the waste from houses, which poses a threat to human and animal health or the environment. Examples include toxic, ignitable, reactive, or corrosive chemicals, such as pool chemicals, bleach, paint, antifreeze, and used oil filters; removing bio-hazardous waste quickly helps protect public safety and health. It is an emergency protective measure. Since the waste could significantly affect the environment, we do not combine it with the debris from the general clean up that is disposed of in a landfill.

Do you include burned appliances and electronics in the hazardous waste clean-up?

No, we do not include electronic wastes or appliances like computer monitors, televisions, cell phones, and CPUs in hazardous waste clean-up. Instead, we remove them as part of the overall debris removal procedure.

What next after debris removal?

The removal of debris paves the way for thorough cleaning of the property. It is essential to clean the structures of your house, such as flooring and painted walls. The longer you let soot sit on affected surfaces, the more extensive the destruction becomes, and the cost of restoration continues to increase.

How can smoke damage impact my property?

In the majority of fire losses, removing smoke and soot is the toughest part. Besides, even a small fire can cause severe soot damage within minutes and leave unpleasant odors if you do not clean up your property. It is appropriate to handle soot damage within one or two days of a fire to prevent permanent damage.  Our SERVPRO team has the tools and expertise to clean up affected surfaces quickly to mitigate the loss. Fire damages usually present unique cleaning and restoration situations. We consider certain factors in determining how difficult it is to remove smoke residues. They include:

  • The type of surface – In porous surfaces, particles, and odors penetrate further, and cleaning them is more challenging. It is easier to clean non-porous surfaces
  • Age of surface – In general, older surfaces are more challenging to clean, regardless of the materials
  • Amount of moisture – Moisture sets smoke residues, making them harder to clean and more likely to stain the affected surfaces
  • Amount of heat – If the flames of the fire were hot, cleaning the surfaces is harder. Surfaces expand and become more porous because of the heat. Therefore, odors and residues penetrate the surfaces more deeply. Heat may also cause materials to melt or char. In such a case, our SERVPRO team can often refinish the affected materials

There is water from firefighting efforts, what can you do about it?

Water can cause additional destruction, such as mold growth. Our SERVPRO crew can extract the water from the affected areas as part of the fire restoration job. We have different types of pumps, air movers, and dehumidifiers that we can use to remove the water and moisture. The time it takes to restore a property varies based on the extent of the destruction.

Cleaning up your house after a fire is a challenging task that calls for SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach the help of professionals. Call at (850) 863-2552 to help you restore your home to its original state. "Like it never even happened."

Why SERVPRO Uses Different Machines to Help with Water Removal in Mary Esther Homes

4/15/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is ready to restore your water damaged home.

SERVPRO'S Experts Explain the Need For Technology With Water Removal

When a property owner in Mary Esther calls us for assistance in restoring their property after a disaster affects them, we send out our crews. Along with our IICRC-certified employees, we stock our Green Fleet with the latest types of equipment to get the job done fast and correctly. We always want to do a thorough job and keep current damage from spreading. 

Why SERVPRO does this when Mary Esther residents need our water removal services is simple. We know that not only does standing water respond better to submersible pumps mounted on our trucks and that air drying works best for smaller structures. We need to use both, and others, to dry out your home, so it is once again “Like it never even happened.” 

We invest in the equipment used to mitigate homes and stand by our work. We also train extensively to keep ourselves informed of new developments in the restoration industry. Then we bring these skills when we work on your home, removing water and drying both the walls, floors, and other structures, so permanent damage does not occur. 

Other items we use during a water removal job include our air movers. These machines are much more potent than a typical household fan. Able to change the air in a room several times in an hour, these whisk moisture off of surfaces and into the air. 

Once the air begins to hold water vapor, we need to heat the area so its air can hold more. We use heaters to do this, which protects your HVAC system. As the air becomes more and more saturated, we use desiccant machines that steadily strip the water vapor out of the air. To keep microbes from proliferating and spreading, we also set up several air scrubbers to clean the air on both microorganisms and spores. 

Water Removal and Deodorization for Your Mary Esther Home

Another problem that comes along when you need water removal for your Mary Esther home is the removal of any odors caused by materials in your home being saturated with water. Not only do you need a professional who can remove the water, but you also need a company who can successfully deodorize your home as well. When you look at our staff and training standards, it is easy to see why SERVPRO is a smart choice in these situations.

Our first step in deodorization is to remove the source of the odor. Therefore, in a water damage situation, the removal of the moisture is our priority. Sometimes, effective deodorization requires us to use multiple methods, as one deodorant might not work on all odors. SERVPRO staff have specific guidelines for production for three processes of deodorization which include dry fogging, wet fogging, and activated oxygen.

With our injection method, we inject small amounts of deodorant into spots on upholstery or carpeting with a needle and syringe or a pump and injection needled. It is an especially helpful method when it is not practical to lift the carpet to get to the padding.

Direct spraying includes using a hand pump or powered sprayers to pump products in the area affected. Direct spraying is usually used in water damage situations to apply disinfectants. It wets the surface being treated, so it is used where discoloration does not matter or is unlikely.

Wet fogging disperses solvent and water-based deodorizers with an ultra-low volume fogger. The foggers create tiny deodorant particles, which penetrate most areas where odor particles hide. 

We use high-velocity exhaust fans to ventilate your home both before and after deodorization. These fans ventilate your structure quickly and shorten the time needed before you can return to your home after deodorization is complete. Air scrubbers can also be used to remove airborne particles, plus chemicals and odors from the air. The devices draw dirty air through a series of filters, while capturing odors and particles, and then puts out clean air back to the environment.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is always ready to respond to calls at (850) 863-2552. Here for residents of Shalimar, Holiday Isle, and Niceville, our teams can get your home dry again with our water removal services.

Learn more about Mary Esther.

We’re Asking Residents and the Business Community of Fort Walton Beach, Do You Want Professional Assistance with Preventative Cleaning?

4/15/2020 (Permalink)

Your regular cleaning staff works hard already. We are here if you need a little more help.

SERVPRO Technicians Can Thoroughly Clean Interiors of Homes and Commercial Structures

The virus is rapidly spreading in many parts of the country, including here in our area. By practicing social distancing, washing our hands, and paying extra attention to the cleaning of touchpoint surfaces, we are doing our part. What more can be done to help reduce the risk of the spread of the virus? 

The hardworking and skilled cleaning technicians in Fort Walton Beach have gone through rigorous training that prepares us to perform effective preventative cleaning and application of disinfectants in these difficult times.  Our crews put their learned skills to work every day when performing biohazard remediation such as antimicrobial cleaning, sewage back-ups, crime and unattended death scene cleanups,  and others. In difficult cleaning scenarios, SERVPRO team members are wearing PPE, following guidelines from the EPA, OSHA, and strict industry protocols. Some SERVPRO technicians even have SARS cleanup experience. This intensive work experience prepares our company to be able to offer top-level preventative cleaning at your home or business location.

  • Adjustable work hours to meet your schedule and needs
  • Professional equipment (more powerful cleaning chemical delivery systems)
  • EPA-registered and CDC recommended cleaning agents
  • Ability to understand and follow the appropriate CDC, EPA, and OSHA guidelines
  • Human power to complete any size job
  • Consultation. Let’s talk

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is available to help inhibit the spread of pathogens by way of professional deep cleaning services. Give us a call today at (850) 863-2552.

Advice from the medical and scientific community regarding how to deal with the coronavirus is based on present knowledge, which is subject to change as the situation continues to develop. There can be no assurance that disinfectants alone will be adequate to fully eliminate the virus. We are not physicians or infectious disease professionals. Consult your medical professionals for individual medical advice.

Find out more about Fort Walton Beach.

Flood Damage In Your Fort Walton Beach Commercial Property

4/14/2020 (Permalink)

If your business ever suffers from a broken window as a result of a storm, call SERVPRO.

Commercial Flood Damage In Fort Walton Beach Can Get Caused By High-Speed Winds

Anyone from the Fort Walton Beach region or anywhere in Florida for that matter knows that the state can often see heavy hitting winds blowing through town. When the wind blows hard, and the gusts get high in speed, an object can become airborne and strike your glass shop, which could cause your business commercial flood damage.

When the wind picks up during a storm, it can blow branches off of trees, dirt, or landscaping rocks to fly into your company's building's windows. Commercial flood damage in Fort Walton Beach often gets caused by windows breaking due to high-speed winds. Once a hole in your structure occurs, the interior of your glass store can start to retain moisture, and many of your contents and building materials can get wet. The rocks or branches that broke your window could also ruin some of your glass bulk or products.

Once the exterior shell of your structure gets breached, it is wise to call in a professional restoration company such as SERVPRO. We can start mitigating your storm-related issues by first securing your structure. If it continues to rain and your building is exposed to the outdoors, rainwater can keep entering your store and cause your business more problems.

For example, if moisture enters your place of business through a broken window, our SERVPRO technicians can board up and seal the opening with plastic so that no more rainwater can keep getting into your glass shop. We can then take other preventative measures to seal your building from the outdoors, like putting sandbags on each of your lower door seals. If the wind blew something into your roof, then we can temporarily seal it until we can get the problem repaired by a certified roofer.

Once our SERVPRO team secures your building and keeps H2O from entering, we then begin assessing the situation. We conduct an initial inspection to see what items inside your store we can save and which items must get removed and replaced. In some cases, many of your affected contents and building materials can be saved through our extraction and applied structural drying procedures.

If your business ever suffers from a broken window as a result of a storm, call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 24 hours a day.

For more about Fort Walton Beach click here.

As a Destin Hotel Owner, Do You Understand How Quickly Mold Can Spread and What To Do if it Does?

4/8/2020 (Permalink)

Guests expect a great smelling, clean room which is free of mold. Should your hotel suffer from a mold infestation, contact SERVPRO.

SERVPRO Technicians Understand How Quickly a Hotel Mold Infestation can Spread and Has the Tools for Mold Remediation

Destin sits on the Florida panhandle, saltwater and beaches in all directions. Our climate is hot and humidity is high, but the views are glorious, creating the perfect environment for visitors from around the country and world. Unfortunately, other wayfarers invade guest rooms and common areas -- mold spores that grow into full-blown colonies with a little moisture. Our skilled technicians and specialized equipment are on your side as you evict these unwanted stowaways.

Your goal is to offer comfortable lodgings for your guests to enjoy the local ambiance. Destin commercial mold damage makes your hotel feel, look, and smell uninviting, and the presence of mold growth can be a violation of health regulations. Mold abatement is necessary to bring your facility into compliance. Your housekeeping staff does not have the specific skills, tools, and products our mold remediation crews have available.

Liquid diluted bleach mixtures are often the choice of cleaning staff to rid surfaces of mold. SERVPRO technicians avoid this approach as it frequently does no more than fade the mold staining. The bleach often does not reach far enough into a contaminated material to get at all the fungi while the water mixed into the bleach fuels additional mold growth.

SERVPRO uses a multi-step protocol developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to remediate a mold damage scenario:

  • Contain the moldy area for safety and to prevent the spread of spores and debris with physical barriers and often a negative pressure air scrubbing system.
  • Remove the mold by mechanical means -- scraping, brushing, wiping, and advanced technology like soda blasting.
  • Clean up all debris with HEPA filtered vacuums.
  • Treat the affected areas with EPA registered antimicrobials.

To avoid mold damage after remediation, managing moisture is essential. When water or even high humidity persists on or near organic surfaces (wood, fabric, drywall, insulation, and more) for 24 to 48 hours, mold damage is possible. Stress to your employees that immediate cleanup and drying of all water events, large or small, is essential to limit the chance of mold damage.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach has the products, equipment, and highly-qualified technicians to remediate mold damage in your seaside hotel. Call us at (850) 863-2552 to schedule an evaluation.

Learn more about Destin.

When Your Plumbing Leaks Cause Water Damage in Destin

4/3/2020 (Permalink)

A plumbing leak caused water damage in this home. We completely restored this home using our specialized tools and trained techs.

Water Removal Destin – Leaky Plumbing 

Before the discovery, a leaking plumbing joint inside a wall can leak water for hours. Water may fill the cavity inside the wall before it spreads out onto the floor, soaking carpets and anything left lying around. Homeowners may discover the leak only when the homeowner enters the room and find water all over the floor, under cabinets, and inside the wall. 

SERVPRO provides water removal services in Destin and surrounding areas. We also hold contractor licenses for mold remediation: MRSR309, MRSR377. We respond to many water removal requests every year and have been providing service for over 26 years in the community. Our team can be onsite in less than 4 hours of your call to begin water and moisture removal. It is essential to act before mold has an opportunity to grow and become an infestation.

Moisture Removal 

At SERVPRO, we focus on removing all of the water and moisture to minimize water damage to your home. We are experts at mold mitigation and have seen the damage mold can do to a home if moisture is left to linger. We use weighted water extractors, vacuum wands, and suction devices to remove all excess water and moisture. 

If the original water leak is inside a wall, we may have to open the wall to expose the leaky plumbing joint as well as dry this area. We remove the drywall and vacuum all of the water from the area. The water may have also leaked along the wall into adjacent cavities between studs. We remove drywall to gain access to these spaces as well. 

Water under cabinets is removed by drilling access holes into the kick plate of the cupboards and using suction to remove excess water. SERVPRO uses specialized blowers to push air under the cupboards to absorb moisture and dry these areas. We use portable air movers and dehumidifiers to remove the remaining moisture and lower the humidity levels to normal levels. 

Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 for 24/7 service. We proudly serve Mary Esther, Holiday Isle, and surrounding areas. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster. 

More about Destin.

Why Should You Let Certified Professionals Handle Water Restoration?

4/2/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Restores Water Damage on Wood Floors and Makes it "Like it Never Happened".

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach Technicians Have Been Certified Through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) to Handle Complex Water Damage to Your Home

Water damage restoration professionals are needed to deal with both the immediate threat and the invisible threat left behind.  SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach certified professionals have the tools to combat these threats, eliminating them before they have a chance to cause real problems.

When it comes to water damage, restoration crews that are certified will do the best work and are qualified to deal with even the worst disasters possible. A family’s home is precious, but floods and busted pipes can leave it too dangerous to live in. When the worst does happen, a family may be tempted to clean up the damage themselves. This is the number one mistake of homeowners.  We understand that saving money becomes the primary goal due to all that comes with water damage. However, when homeowners try to DIY water restoration, it often ends up costing much more than any amount saved.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach certified water technicians are the people on the front lines against these disasters and we have the resources to deal with a disaster of any scale. Our water technicians have been certified through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) they trained for dozens of hours in the latest industry methods, giving them an edge over the competition. And because IICRC-certified water technicians are also informed of any advancements in the field, they will always have the latest equipment and methods at their disposal. 

That’s why more and more homeowners are turning to SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach for our IICRC-certified water technicians when they are faced with the worst.

If you’re experiencing water damage and need water restoration call us at (850) 863-2552.

Learn More about Fort Walton Beach.

Our Technicians Have The Expertise In Fort Walton Beach After A Flood

3/11/2020 (Permalink)

Pictured is an industrial desiccant dehumidifier which is used to restore large flood damage disasters. We are available 24/7, so call right away.

What Category Loss is Your Flooded Fort Walton Beach Home?

There is often a lot of technical jargon and terminology that can get thrown around in the earliest planning stages for water loss recovery in Fort Walton Beach homes. The contamination level of the water is always a point of concern in flooding scenarios, but so is the severity of the loss regarding the materials affected and the extent of saturation. Categories exist based on how much water exists after a flood and how readily moisture can get evaporated.

Knowing what condition your home is in can help you to appreciate the often-extensive efforts required to restore flood damage in Fort Walton Beach properties. Our professionals have thorough training and education in water restoration and applied structural drying, giving them the experience to take information about the class of loss in a residence and choose the right drying practice and extraction device to make restoration as efficient as possible.

Class 1 

This class is one of the lowest severity levels, which only typically involves a portion of a single room. In these circumstances, evaporative drying gets fixated on the immediately affected materials such as particleboard, wood, and flooring.

Class 2 

While evaporative drying practices are a little faster in a class two loss, the affected area grows as well. In these flood losses, invading water has begun to wick up drywall, and carpeted floors can get saturated to the subflooring.

Class 3 

When roofs leak, the result is often a level 3 loss. These encompass multiple areas of a home and require both extraction like submersible pumps and wet vacuums, as well as direct drying practices involving centrifugal air movers and dehumidifiers.

Class 4 

These losses present direct obstacles for our SERVPRO team regarding drying. Traditional techniques are less useful because affected materials have low permeance like brick and concrete. Drying mats and other specialty tools can help to draw moisture from these materials.

Understanding the class of loss for your flood damage can help you to appreciate the extent of work required to return the property to preloss condition. Give our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team a call to help however you need at (850) 863-2552.

See more about Fort Walton Beach.

Fire Damage In Fort Walton Beach

3/6/2020 (Permalink)

If you ever suffer from a severe fire starting inside your home, it is wise to call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 24/7.

Fire Damage In Fort Walton Beach Could Require The Occupants To Vacate The Structure

Structural burns in the Fort Walton Beach area account for more nearly half of the fires that burn each year. In the United States, there are nearly half a million cases of fire damage caused to structures annually. Infernos inside houses account for around $8 billion of property issues each year. During each individual situation, the problems can include those created by the heat and smoke created during the blaze.

When the fire damage inside your Fort Walton Beach residence is severe, your house could be deemed unlivable until restoration procedures get completed. If the incident is covered by your homeowner's insurance, then you will be compensated to stay in a hotel or different location during the mitigation process. If you and your family are forced to vacate your structure, our SERVPRO technicians can take several steps to ensure your home is secure and safe for our workers to begin the restoration procedures.

The first step our SERVPRO team takes after you vacate your property is to secure your structure. Many times when a building burns, the windows break, and doors no longer seal. When this occurs, we board up and secure your house from any intruders and the outdoor elements.

Next, we go through your damaged structure and look for any potential electrical issues. If there are any bare wires, we can call in a certified electrician to restore power to your building to aid with the work processes. Next, we check for any loss of integrity or stability of your house's structural components. If we find any dangerous areas, we can block them off from any foot traffic until the problems get repaired.

If possible, our SERVPRO crew returns heat to your building so that no pipes freeze. If restoring the heat to your home is not possible right away, we can then shut off your water so that your plumbing system does not fail due to cool temperatures. If water was introduced to your structure from the fire department or a sprinkler system, then we can take further steps to prevent moisture-related issues.

If you ever suffer from a severe fire starting inside your home, it is wise to call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 24/7. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

For more about Fort Walton Beach click here.

We Get You Back In Business In Fort Walton Beach After A Flood

2/28/2020 (Permalink)

We are ready 24/7 for any size disaster. We bring our state of the art equipment, expertise and experience to any size disaster. Call us right away.

Commercial Flood Damage Restoration In Fort Walton Beach Can Involve Contaminated Water

During this time of the year, the Fort Walton Beach area can get hit by storms that bring high-speed winds and extreme rains. When the rain pours in large amounts over a short amount of time, your office could become the victim of excessive commercial flood damage. Any time moisture enters your office building from the outdoors; there is always a chance it could be contaminated.

When working on your commercial flood damage project in Fort Walton Beach, our SERVPRO technicians take extra measures to ensure safety for the occupants of your office and our workers. If rainwater leaks into your office complex from the roof, there is a chance that it could be contaminated, so it is considered a category two situation. However, if muddy moisture comes in from the ground when the rain got deep outside, it can be classified as a category three problem because the dirt in the ground most likely contains harmful microorganisms.

When working with category two or three flood damage scenarios, our SERVPRO team takes extra caution to sanitize any affected areas inside your office and prevent any spread of the contamination. When working in your office, we know that different rooms can contain various flooring materials. Some of your offices could have carpet whereas areas like your bathrooms and perhaps your break room could be coated with linoleum or tile. Porous materials like your carpets must get removed when affected by contaminated H2O, but we can often save other types of flooring with extraction and drying procedures.

If we do need to remove your carpets, we can establish engineering controls before any demolition work begins. Since we know that contaminants can spread by things such as foot traffic, air movement, debris removal, or equipment movements, we control the affected area so that harmful particles cannot spread to previously unaffected regions of your office building. We can prevent the spread of many of the harmful microorganisms present by establishing a containment chamber within the affected regions of your office. We can then set up an air scrubber to create negative air pressure within the chamber so that the airborne particles get trapped in the scrubber's HEPA filter.

If you ever need help at your company's office after a vicious rainstorm strikes your neighborhood, call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 24/7.

See more about Fort Walton Beach.

Drying Based on Full Assemblies of Materials in Destin Homes

2/13/2020 (Permalink)

No matter when you make the call, we have technicians who can assist you.

Why You Need Help With Water Removal in Destin

Drying out a Destin home after a water loss incident or flooding is not the same from one property to another because the materials and their construction may vary. Assemblies are the complete layers of various construction materials that make up interior and exterior walls, flooring, or ceiling spaces. Understanding the presence of each of these individual layers and the best solution to restore and dry them helps to make restoring full assemblies faster and more thorough.

Knowing all of the potential layers that require water removal in Destin homes can help to save our customers time and money. Our SERVPRO professionals get focused training through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) to appreciate the complexities of modern construction and the obstacles of structural drying. For example, interior wall drying can often be more than addressing saturation of drywall, but also insulation, wood framing, and the wallboard on the other side of the cavity as well.

Part of successful drying where various construction materials get affected simultaneously is knowing the migration path of water. Thermography and hygrometers can both effectively note the presence of higher levels of moisture and saturation, which can showcase where focused drying and recovery efforts are necessary. In some cases, direct drying with positive pressure systems and centrifugal air movers can remove free and surface moisture concerns.

Addressing the full assembly drying obstacles might also demand-controlled demolition. In several situations, removing surface materials can help SERVPRO professionals to more efficiently manage the work to get done and save money on the total restoration project. Our in-house contractors can perform controlled demolition for portions of a full construction assembly when it is critical to:

  • Help with the drying process
  • Reduce the time drying takes
  • Access areas that require more concentrated drying or recovery efforts

After a water loss incident, there can be many materials throughout your house that require thorough drying to prevent microbial development. Our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team can help with premier drying and recovery solutions. Give us a call anytime at (850) 863-2552.

Learn more about Destin.

We Have The Proper Techniques To Restore Your Destin Home After A Flood

2/4/2020 (Permalink)

We have the state of the art equipment like this large industrial desiccant dehumidifier to restore your property after a flood. Call us right away.

Pack Out and Move Back for Flood Damaged Contents in Destin Homes

After a flood, our SERVPRO team is working to provide our customers with the most efficient and cost-effective path to return their Destin home to preloss conditions. Because of how devastating invading water can be for the structural elements and the contents of your property, the full recovery and restoration of your belongings might not be possible on-site. With advanced tools and technology available at our warehouse, pack-out and move-back services might be the best possible approach.

Knowing what follows flood damage in Destin homes can help to prevent excessive out of pocket expenses for our customers and expedite claims approval when insurance coverage exists for flooding. It is vital to understand when services like pack-out for personal belongings, content, and furniture are necessary because there might be lower-cost alternatives such as cleaning items and storing them somewhere else on-site or limiting the need for packing and unpacking at our facility for the same focused cleaning.

Pack-Out

If it gets determined by our SERVPRO professionals that move-out services are necessary, we work efficiently to get these items out of the damaged areas to prevent any further absorption or contamination. Our team of content management technicians arrives at the house with packing materials and available storage space to safely and quickly package up your damaged belongings or items at risk for flood damages, and transport them to our warehouse.

Move-Back

Staging is a vital element to the move-back process as it goes to establish how items get repacked into transport vehicles and allow our technicians a final opportunity to inspect formerly damaged belongings for any lingering effects or missed damages. We double-check our inventory and carefully move your belongings back to the residence once all flood effects have been removed, cleaned, and restored.

As destructive as floods can be to your home, they do not have to lead to irreparable damage to your personal belongings. Our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team can remove threatened items for focused cleaning and deodorization in our climate-controlled facility as needed. Give us a call anytime at (850) 863-2552.

See more about Destin.

Our Technicians Are Ready To Restore Your Fort Walton Beach Property After A Fire

1/29/2020 (Permalink)

We know that your property needs prompt cleaning of the soot to prevent staining and more damage. Call us right away, we are ready 24/7.

What Elements Affect Fire Damage Cleanup in Fort Walton Beach Properties?

Fire damage is never a one-size-fits-all project when it comes to the cleanup. Each property has unique factors such as the size and type of fire, items burned, and the amount of time that passed between the fire loss and the mitigation.

SERVPRO technicians carefully scope Fort Walton Beach properties with fire damage and look for structure and contents with restoration potential. They create detailed reports as they inspect the property of the condition of items and whether the things were restorable or required disposal as a loss. This assists in expediting insurance claims for items that need replacement.

Why SERVPRO?

When it comes to handling fire loss, the techs undergo extensive training using the tenents of the IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification), a non-profit organization that sets the standard for the restoration services industry. The techs learn the best practices. This knowledge assists property owners in realizing less damage no matter what type of home disaster the techs are dealing with.

Handling Smoke Damage

The longer the smoke and soot remain on-site, the more potential to spread. The techs often set up containment around a fire loss area in the home to limit the spread of odorous soot. Smoke residues can appear on any surface in different forms. The technicians use special dry cleaning tools to lift away dry smoke. Wet smoke frequently requires the use of solvents to release its grip on surfaces. Smoke webs are not standard but look exactly like black cobwebs and get gently cleared away to ensure they do not spread or break apart.

Odor Control is Necessary

Residual reminders of the fire sometimes remain after the initial cleanup efforts. The technicians apply multiple methods as needed to ensure there is not even a hint of the smoke odor.

When fire damage rears its ugly head, call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552. The technicians are available 24/7 to clean up and restore your property from any size fire loss and make it, "Like it never even happened."

See more about Fort Walton Beach.

We Have Effective Techniques To Restore Your Fort Walton Beach After A Fire

1/22/2020 (Permalink)

Our experts understand this can be a difficult time and our team is ready 24/7 to help you with the restoration process after a fire disaster.

We Help You Distinguish Between The Structure And Contents Of Your Home After A Fire In Fort Walton Beach

After experiencing a fire and making sure everyone within your home is safe, you now need to go about the process of restoring your home and getting back to your routine. The fire may have damaged not only the house itself but also some of your furniture, clothing, and other items.

If you have fire damage in your Fort Walton Beach home, it is important to distinguish between the structure and contents of your home. Typically, insurance companies separate the two things for scoping and estimating the cost of restorations. SERVPRO restorers handle the contents and structure separately. In some situations, restorers move the contents of the home to an offsite, secure location for cleaning before returning them.

After the project manager scopes the structure of the home, makes an estimate, and gets the go-ahead to begin the restoration process, the first step is to begin emergency services to ensure a safe work site. Depending on the severity of the fire, emergency services may include boarding up the home, debris removal, and creating ventilation. At this stage, this is when your contents (personal belongings) may go out for cleaning.

The SERVPRO project manager creates a specified plan for cleaning and restoring your home. Flooring, walls, and appliances all require specialized cleaning with specific products. For example, oxidizing cleaners such as StainZap work well on smoke stains and are useful in bathroom and kitchen cleaning. Strong acid cleaners like Stone and Porcelain clear attack soot and smoke from both stone and brick. Gentle creme cleaners are best for wood and restoring damaged wood surfaces around the home.

Before specialized cleaning, restorers often pre-clean the home to prepare each item for more in-depth cleaning. Pe-cleaning includes vacuuming to remove particulates and light debris. Compressed air uses air pressure to mildly agitate and remove loose particulate residues to allow more thorough cleaning of surfaces. Brushing, another form of pre-cleaning, can mildly or aggressively agitate the surface to remove loose residues. Soft brushes agitate delicate surfaces while wire brushes provide very aggressive agitation for more durable surfaces. Pre-cleaning makes the specialized cleaning more effective for the impacted areas and materials within your home.

For help restoring your home after fire damage, contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552. We make it, "Like it never even happened."

See more about Fort Walton Beach

Using High-Pressure Water Removal Equipment To Save Your Mary Esther Home

1/12/2020 (Permalink)

Homeowners find that tailoring solutions to property emergency are more efficient and less inconvenient.

Using High-Pressure Water Removal Equipment for Subterranean Regions of your Mary Esther Residence

A malfunctioning sump pump is hard to spot before it is too late. This equipment moves water from drains or groundwater and pumps it away from the lower levels of your home. During the winter, rainfall increases, which can put more pressure on your sump pump. Failure allows for groundwater levels to rise and can result in flooding. Handling these situations is often a professional task, although the rising water levels are unlikely to contain solid waste, which is common in flash flooding.

A roster of technicians with qualifications in water removal is essential to Mary Esther residents during the winter season. You can make contact with SERVPRO anytime, day or night, to arrange an inspection of floodwaters in the sub-regions of your home. Frequently, visual inspections are crucial to ascertain the level of water contamination as well as what equipment we require. We believe in getting your residence back to its preloss condition and work hard to find an efficient solution to suit your needs.

A broken sump pump can see water levels rise in crawlspaces as well as basements. Usually, the most effective remedy to rising water levels is pumping water out of the home at high volume. Pumping equipment generally grades on lift capacity and volume. Essentially, how much water is transportable and how the speed at which it transports. Many pumping equipment is submersible, allowing SERVPRO to place it below the standing water level.

During the visual inspection, a SERVPRO technician can decide on what type of pumping equipment to use. Subterranean rooms with flooding may not contain any solid waste. In these situations, high-pressure pumps can remove water exceptionally quickly. These specific pumps are useful in basements or crawlspaces because they offer high lift which makes moving water to the upper levels, and out of the home more comfortable.

Homeowners find that tailoring solutions to property emergency are more efficient and less inconvenient. Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552.

For more about Mary Esther click here.

Commercial Fire Damage In Your Fort Walton Beach Factory

12/28/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach provides mitigation and restoration services to businesses throughout Destin, Mary Esther, and Niceville.

Commercial Fire Damage caused by Other Disasters in Your Fort Walton Beach Factory

Flooding, torrential storms, and hurricanes can soak the interior of your factory in Fort Walton Beach, including the electrical system. When destruction also includes gas leaks, the situation becomes substantially worse. Explosions can result from such combinations, making normal operations so hazardous they must cease until mitigation resolves the crisis.

Multiple disasters affecting a factory in Fort Walton Beach, including commercial fire damage, makes working conditions extremely unsafe and can ruin valuable merchandise. SERVPRO works in teams and knows how to provide the services needed to clean up a factory and make it safe. Our inventorying system can provide you with accurate accounting, as well. We put our experience and training together, work in teams, and always keep you informed of the entire process and the progress we make.

Fire damage related to flooding or other horrific weather events can affect areas that otherwise might not have burned. Flames spread through areas of least resistance, and wherever fuel like boxes and plastics help keep the fire going. All this can start from a small spark at a soaked electrical panel, or from ruptured gas lines. When gas lines leak, we must wait until the utility company gives us the approval to commence mitigation work. As soon as this is granted, we start returning your facility to its preloss condition.

Restoring electrical power as part of fire damage in your factory is crucial toward recovering, and we can provide the work needed to get power back on and safe again. Until the electrical power does get restored, however, we can provide our own. A swift recovery is especially vital to reducing any additional losses related to existing fire damage.

Clearing damaged inventory out and cleaning up soot layers from surfaces helps immensely, but SERVPRO addresses any other types of damage, as well. Working with you to mitigate all types of damage makes recovery faster and more cost-effective.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach provides mitigation and restoration services to businesses throughout Destin, Mary Esther, and Niceville. When fire damage makes normal operations risky and dangerous for your employees, call (850) 863-2552 for the highly trained restoration experts near you.

For more about Fort Walton Beach click here.

We Are Available 24/7 For You Destin Flood Damage Restoration Services

12/11/2019 (Permalink)

We can bring in our own power supply when a storm strikes your property. Call us right away we respond day or night.

Recovering From Flood Damage in Destin

As a Florida resident, you are no stranger to intense weather and natural disasters. Between hurricanes and heavy summer rain and thunderstorms, flooding may occur. Flooding can cause damage to your home and should be adequately cleaned to mitigate secondary damage, such as mold infestations and lingering foul odors. 

If you experience flood damage in your Destin home, contact the trained SERVPRO professionals to help you with the cleanup after the floodwaters recede. Often, the cleanup is the most challenging part of a flood. Floodwater is considered black water or category 3 water, potentially contaminated with disease-infected organisms and contaminated chemicals. Blackwater is not necessarily the color black; the category is based on the source of the water. Floodwaters are always considered blackwater. 

Technicians take extreme safety precautions to ensure protection for homeowners as well as themselves using personal protective equipment (PPE) while they extract remaining moisture, remove damaged contents, and disinfect the home. They also treat flood water contaminated environments with biocides two times, once at the beginning of the cleaning process, and once at the end to ensure the most thorough cleaning possible. 

Biocides are cleaning agents that kill any organisms contained in the black water deterring the growth of mold. Specifically, virucides kill viruses, and fungicides kill mold. SERVPRO technicians also use antimicrobial cleaners called phenolics as a defense against bacteria and fungi. Some phenolic products are OSHA compliant for Bloodborne Pathogens and serve as another form of protection against disease and mold infestations. We hold licenses in mold remediation: MRSR309, and MRSR377, keeping us current in mold elimination techniques. 

The trained professionals at SERVPRO treat each flood damage situation differently and come up with a customized plan to ensure the least amount of damage as possible. The goal is to restore as much as possible without having to replace items that could otherwise be salvaged. An essential part of the plan includes extremely precautious cleanup methods to ensure the health and safety of your home and family.  

Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 for prompt help. We are available 24/7 to assist you with your flood water cleanup. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster. 

See more about Destin.

Our Experts Can Handle The Mold Damage In Your Destin Home

11/23/2019 (Permalink)

We're always ready to help you.

Trust SERVPRO to Handle the Mold Damage in Your Destin Home

Mold damage is something that no homeowner wants to deal with for a variety of reasons. When mold is left to its own devices, it can cause rot to the structure of your home, since it causes decay to organic materials. Furthermore, it can also cause health effects. For this reason, it is unwise to live in a house that has it inside. So, when you detect mold inside of your home, never wait to get help.

You may wonder what some ways to detect mold damage in your Destin home are. After all, microbial growth can be hard to see when it is underneath the floor or between the walls. The truth is, you might not always see a fungal presence in your home. However, if your home has experienced water damage recently, it is always wise to get help right away, so a mold colony doesn't get the chance to form.

Usually, people either see fungi forming on a surface in their home, like a wall, or they detect the malodor it causes. Mold smells very musty and stale, so if you detect an intense musty odor in your home that is not dissipating, you may want to reach out for help.

When you call SERVPRO, we make it a priority to get to your location as soon as possible. Our skilled technicians are certified by the Institution of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration. When you call us, you can trust our technicians to know how to remediate the damages in your home and to have advanced equipment with them for the job.

Once at your home, our SERVPRO technicians could set up a quarantine around the mold colony swiftly to prevent the spores from spreading once they become disturbed. If the damage was on your laundry room wall, for example, our technicians could begin to scrub away the microbial growth or remove the section of drywall that the colony is rooted in. Once we finish, we can use an antifungal agent to help prevent regrowth.

If your home needs mold damage remediation, get help now. Communicate with SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach by dialing (850) 863-2552. We're always ready to help you.

For more about Destin click here.

How to Succeed With Mary Esther Commercial Fire Damage Disasters

11/15/2019 (Permalink)

Your customers want to know that they can count on your restaurant being open for get togethers. Contact SERVPRO in case of fire damage.

Addressing Fire Damage At Your Restaurant In Mary Esther

Restorers in Mary Esther provide emergency services designed to protect both the loss site and human health after a fire. A restorer’s immediate objective involves the prevention of secondary damage, removal of possible hazards, and preparation of mitigation and restoration.  

When dealing with fire damage at your restaurant in Mary Esther, you want access to a restoration company that operates 24-hours a day. Emergency services are actions performed immediately following an event that helps reduce your losses and the overall costs associated with your claim.

Every fire loss situation is unique; SERVPRO trains in a variety of emergency services developed to adjust to different situations. Our technicians have the following emergency services at their disposal that may or may not come into play during your restoration process.

  • Thorough Building Inspections – Our team evaluates the loss site, checking for safety and health hazards. 
  • Board Up & Roof-Tarp Service – Using a variety of methods to secure the property and prevent intrusions.
  • Structural Drying – We use a variety of extraction and drying equipment to remove excess water used to extinguish flames. 
  • Establish Emergency Electricity – Our team uses equipment to provide temporary power to the site for lighting and heat.
  • Deodorization Services – We use fogging equipment and air scrubbers to make the degree of smoke odors present more habitable during restoration.
  • Initial Cleaning – We pre-clean carpets, and furniture to remove the heaviest soot, acidic residue from porcelain and metals, and dispose of charred materials. 
  • Pest Extermination – The extermination of infestations before packing, inventorying, or cleaning. 

At SERVPRO, we understand that some of you may want to start right away. However, the wrong cleaning action can hinder the effectiveness of restorers' actions often leading to permanent damage. Pay close attention to a few tips to help reduce this possibility:

Don’ts:

  • Wash any walls.
  • Attempt to clean carpet or upholstered furniture.
  • Send clothing with smoke residues to your dry cleaners.
  • Operate electrical appliances or equipment.

Do’s:

  • Place dry, colorfast towels or old linens on carpeting and upholstered furniture.
  • Limit your movement in and out of the property.
  • Keep your hands clean.
  • If your electricity is off, empty the freezer and refrigerator and prop the doors open. 
  • Clean and protect chrome on kitchen and bathroom fixtures with a light coating lubricant.
  • You can wash plants, both sides of the leaves, with fresh water.

Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach for access to 24-hour fire damage cleanup and restoration. (850) 863-2552

Click here for more information about the city of Mary Esther.

How Fort Walton Homes make a Full Recovery after Fire Damage

11/10/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO will get your Fort Walton residence back from fire damage.

We will help you get your Fort Walton home fire damage back to normal.

When your home becomes damaged in a fire, the initial flames are only half the story. Thick smoke and soot residues can permeate surfaces as well as buildup in cavities. These deposits are odorous, unpleasant, and can cause further harm if left alone. As a homeowner, you can begin restoration by covering furnishings and opening windows. These tasks can help to prevent falling soot from causing staining on furnishings and fabrics. Some malodors can disperse naturally by opening windows. However, if you want your home to make a full recovery, you need to bring in professional restoration services. 

When your home is overwhelmed by fire damage, local Fort Walton restoration services are available to return it to its preloss condition. SERVPRO uses technicians nearby to reduce call-out times and mitigate against any further harm. Our technicians are trained to recognize the common patterns of smoke dispersal and can conduct a thorough inspection of your home. This inspection includes challenging to reach areas like your heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit as well as electric fitting sockets.

Hot smokes are attracted to colder surfaces, which means that the most substantial damages are likely to be found inside drawers, cavities, or ventilation shafts. Here, thick smoke deposits can buildup releasing odors as well as occasional soot into the rooms of your house. SERVPRO technicians conduct a thorough review of HVAC systems, ventilation shafts, interiors as well as crawlspaces to locate and negate smoke damages. We achieve this by applying industrial chemical solvent cleaners as well as using mechanical cleaning equipment. 

There are broadly two types of smoke damage of concern to a homeowner. The first is loose particles, which can be spread around under wet-cleaning methods. We use air whips, negative air pressure machines as well as wet/ dry vacuums to remove loose particles. What usually remains is thicker, greasier wet smoke deposits. These need to be dissolved and suspended in a cleaning solution before removal. Each SERVPRO truck is fully-stocked with chemical agents and mechanical cleaning equipment. 

A large amount of odor is usually removed during the cleaning process. However, the odor can come from multiple sources, making it challenging to locate and identify a single source. Using a combination of thermal fogging equipment, pressure-spray deodorants as well as powerful anti-odor pellets, we can be confident of tackling odor in your home. Once the service is complete, all paperwork can be passed onto your insurer for a stress-free claim. 

If your property is worse for wear after a fire, contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552.

To learn more about Fort Walton, click here.

We Can Dry Your Water Damaged Home In Mary Esther

10/31/2019 (Permalink)

Call us today at (850) 863-2552. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

Get Professional Drying After Water Damage In Your Mary Esther Residence

As homes age, it is likely to find cracked tiles or leaking pipes in the bathroom or kitchen. Under extreme temperatures, water pipes can burst and flood the interior of a property, causing damage. These and other water loss problems can devastate your home. A primary priority after any water loss incident in your home is drying the affected areas quickly.

Water damage in your Mary Esther home can cause wood rot, mold, and other issues. It is difficult to dry out a home because water can get to hard-to-reach areas. Our SERVPRO team can help you restore the affected structures and contents of your house by providing sufficient water removal and drying services.

Even though the water intrusion in your home may appear to be limited to specific areas, the water continues to migrate toward other dry materials, causing more destruction to floors, walls, cabinets, and other items. Excess moisture in the air can damage other surfaces and promote microbial growth. Your insurance company may also decline your claim for failing to take steps to mitigate a water intrusion problem immediately. Professional drying is essential to avoid issues like:

    •    Ruined flooring
    •    Permanent discoloration of floors and walls
    •    Corrosion of pipes
    •    A compromised electrical system
    •    Mold growth
    •    Foul odors

Our SERVPRO technicians can remove water using portable exactors, which we can take into almost any area of your house. We can dry the affected areas exhaustively by using advanced processes. Our team can expedite the drying process by using axial air movers, which can move large volumes of air. These air movers deliver low pressure at high volumes and can, therefore, cover large areas of affected materials. Removing water from low evaporation materials such as hardwood floors, concrete, and plaster is intricate. We can use desiccant dehumidifiers to dry such materials.

Desiccant dehumidifiers create an extremely dry environment that helps eliminate moisture. They lower the humidity in the air by exposing the humid air to desiccant materials that absorb moisture. Afterward, the moisture is exhausted from the desiccant and expelled as water vapor through the reactivation outlet. Once our drying process is complete, our team can repair the affected structures.

When your home in Fort Walton Beach, Destin, or Niceville has water damage, SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach can help you restore it to the preloss condition. Call us today at (850) 863-2552. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

For more about Mary Esther click here.

Hidden Areas Where Water Damage Occurs in Fort Walton Beach Homes

10/18/2019 (Permalink)

Water can damage hardwood quickly. Call SERVPRO to dry and restore your home.

Why SERVPRO Opens Up Cavities During Flood Damage Incidents in Fort Walton Beach

Flooding might damage your Fort Walton Beach property in a matter of minutes. Such damage usually extends even to areas of which you are not aware. Opening up cavities in your home can help establish which materials require replacement, reveal hidden soiling and moisture pockets. The process of opening up hidden areas can damage materials still in good condition, so there is a need to follow the right procedures. The advanced training our SERVPRO crews receive helps them make the right decisions when opening cavities in your property.

Walls hold many essential utilities, so there is a need to open them up after flood damage affects your Walton Beach property. Power cables, air vents, and insulation are some of the standard utilities found in walls that a flooding incident can affect. The cavities in the walls also create a perfect refuge for moisture. Flood cuts help open up walls releasing water and creating room to scope other forms of damage. Our SERVPRO technicians scope the area and cut approximately 12 inches above the waterline. We also check for the location of utility lines to ensure we do not cut them in the process.

Floodwater settles on the floor where it can cause severe water damage, especially if left to sit over an extended period. After absorbing water, floor materials such as wood swell or develop other physical deformities. Other materials such as tiles might remain unaffected, but the water might pass through groove lines reaching subfloor materials. Our SERVPRO technicians might remove wooden floorboards for drying to reverse any physical changes that occur when they are wet. We also remove tiles if necessary, to reach subfloors.

Floors covered with carpets present significant contamination challenges, so removal is necessary. Some of the materials making up the floors, such as pad or glue, deteriorate fast. Our SERVPRO technicians handle carpet removal and reinstallation. The damaged carpet is considered a hazardous material, so we cut it into small pieces and use heavy-duty plastic bags for proper disposal.

Floodwaters spread widely in the affected property. Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 to help open up all nooks and crannies where such water finds a way, restoring the damage, "Like it never even happened."

More about Fort Walton Beach.

We Have Cutting Edge Equipment To Handle Water Removal In Destin

10/2/2019 (Permalink)

We have state of the art equipment to dry and remove water in your business. We can handle any job big or small so call us right away.

The Challenges of Water Removal for Destin Hotels

Many obstacles exist for Destin hotels when plumbing breaches or sprinkler malfunctions occur that can leave areas of your facility contending with several inches of standing water. Addressing these hurdles is often more challenging and overwhelming than you might expect, exceeding the abilities and expertise of your maintenance or custodial team. Even with the experience of our SERVPRO team, we can still expect challenges in restoring massive structures with hundreds of connected units like your hotel.

With standing water, the priority for even our experienced restoration specialists is water removal for the Destin business. We have premier extraction equipment designed to remove standing water at a continual rate, ensuring that we are removing this threat as efficiently as possible. We have obstacles to overcome in the complete restoration of your hotel, however.

Drying Structural Cavities

Addressing this problem can be one of the first hurdles that our professionals endure, as structural cavities can become equally affected by the water loss. With plumbing hidden between the many rooms available throughout your hotel, large areas of these structural cavities can contend with standing water before the effects bleed out into the rooms and trafficked areas of the building. Flood cuts are often a valid route to take as they provide access to the standing water for extraction and drying, and allow reconstruction to happen much more quickly.

Migration 

As much as we might want standing water to stay in one place for the most effortless extraction and recovery process, this is never the case. We must expect water to spread out as far as it can, affecting multiple rooms and areas before we can successfully utilize our premier extraction tools like sump pumps and light wands to remove it.

Elevation

Because many area hotels go beyond two stories, addressing water removal at higher elevations can be a challenge for our SERVPRO team. In most situations, we utilize our portable options like wet-vacs and submersible pumps, as our truck-mount extractors in the Green Fleet would require long-reaching hoses and discharges to remove water from upper floors successfully.

We can expect there to be obstacles that we must overcome for extraction of your hotel, but our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team can utilize our cutting-edge equipment and extensive experience to make these losses “Like it never even happened.” You can reach our rapid response team 24/7 by calling (850) 863-2552.

See more about Destin.

SERVPRO Offers 24/7 Emergency Services To Prevent Water Damage In Your Mary Esther Home

9/30/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has what it takes to get water removed out of your Mary Esther home today.

Water damage in Esther is no joking matter, call us today.

Water damage is something that can happen for a variety of different reasons inside the house. When this happens, you are facing immediate structural damage, and you need to figure out where the water is coming from as quickly as possible. SERVPRO’s services and technicians have designed a 24/7 emergency water damage service to be at your beck and call from the moment you notice water damage happening inside your home.

The first step is to determine what is causing the water damage in your Mary Esther home. Water can pool into the house for a variety of reasons, whether due to a faulty household appliance, a busted pipe, or a broken HVAC unit. Mold can develop from excess moisture after water damage. After the source of the damage has been found, we work to minimize the cost of your property damage, and determine the quickest way to get rid of this water as soon as possible. Specialized equipment might be needed to effectively rid your home of water, and dry the areas that have been damaged. 

Depending on the severity of the water damage, SERVPRO uses water detection and drying equipment to restore your home back to its structural soundness. Professional-grade equipment can help improve and expedite your treatment, and thankfully we can offer all of that to you and more right here in Mary Esther. Some of the equipment you may see us using to effectively get rid of water damage includes: 

  • Extractors - Machines that get rid of floor water while cleaning your carpets
  • Dehumidifiers - Heavy duty drying machines
  • Moisture Sensors - These help us find the source of the damage

When water damage occurs in your home, contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 for 24/7 emergency service. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster. 

To see more about Mary Esther, click here.

Mary Esther Professionals Give Tips on Cleaning Fire Damaged Homes

9/18/2019 (Permalink)

A small fire started in the kitchen, but smoke and soot spread throughout the home. SERVPRO has the tools to restore your home completely.

Cleaning That Takes Place After Fire Damage Affects A Mary Esther Property

After small fires such as a stove flaring in the kitchen or an appliance malfunctioning elsewhere, smoke deposits are likely to be the main problem that needs addressing. Depending on the materials affected, there might be clouds of smoke which spread to other parts of the house quickly, thus widening the scope of fire damage from the start point.

Apart from replacing the ruined appliance or other materials at the ignition point, restoring such fire damage in your Mary Esther property requires cleaning principally. It might sound simple, but on considering the variety of materials affected, from fabrics such as upholstery to building materials, you realize it is not an easy task. Also, apart from surface deposits, some might bond with materials creating stains. Our SERVPRO technicians can address the problem with ease because we first scope the property identifying the type of residues and their spread patterns. Scoping helps establish different categories of soils, including:

  • Hydrophilic – they dissolve in water
  • Hydrophobic – do not dissolve in water
  • Lipophilic – they dissolve in oil-based cleaning agents
  • Lipophobic - do not dissolve in oil-based cleaning agents

The wide variety of soils means that one approach only cannot clean your fire damaged property thoroughly. Some cleaning processes might also cause problems if used indiscriminately. For example, power washing is very useful in removing soils from surfaces. However, if used to clean materials such as drywall, excessive pressure and wetness can ruin the material. Our SERVPRO technicians use methods such as vacuuming to lift loose soils from surfaces. Agitation and use of cleaning agents also help break the bond soils have with materials.

In some cases, using conventional cleaning methods might not work on the soils, especially when involving wet smoke or protein residues. Advanced methods to breakdown such soils might be necessary. Our SERVPRO technicians can use enzymes or bleaching agents depending on the type of soiling. Enzymes work through changing the soil from insoluble to soluble state. Bleaches, on the other hand, work by adding or reducing oxygen molecules.

If you want a team that has what it takes to clean your home to its preloss state, call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach. You can reach us any time at (850) 863-2552.

More about Mary Esther.

Water Removal Mary Esther – Why It is Important to Act Quickly

9/17/2019 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO today when it comes to your water damage in Mary Esther.

We care when your Mary Esther home floods, let us help you. 

Anytime a leak in your home occurs the damage it causes can be immediate as well as long term if you do not act quickly. One of the major concerns is mold growth. However, long term moisture issues can also cause wood structures to deteriorate. Act quickly and avoid thousands of dollars in extra restoration costs.

SERVPRO specializes in water removal in the Mary Esther area. Our experienced technicians have been supporting the community for over two and a half decades providing water, fire, and storm damage restoration services. We have experienced in all types of disasters as well as relatively small leaks that require water removal and drying.

Take Action Fast to Remove Water

When you call SERVPRO about water removal in your home, our operators can immediately arrange to dispatch a team to your home. There are several steps homeowners can take to mitigate the effects of the water, including the growth of mold:

  • Make sure it is safe to enter the area
  • Stop the water leak, turn off the main water valve to your home
  • Mop up as much water as possible using mops, towels or even sheets
  • Remove small items from the area, dry these items as much as possible
  • Meet our SERVPRO crew chief and provide as much information as  
  • possible about the situation.

Assessment by Crew Chief 

Using your information provided over the phone and the onsite assessment, SERVPRO can arrange for the appropriate equipment to be brought on site. We aim to remove all of the water and moisture to return your home to its original condition, “Like it never even happened.”

The steps we follow include:

  • Removing excess water using pumps and water vacuums
  • Inspection of carpeting and underpads, arrange for removal if needed
  • Use air movers and dehumidifiers to dry the area including floors and walls
  • Use moisture sensors to find hidden areas of moisture
  • Restore and clean contents
  • Remove odors and sanitize as needed
  • Dispose of damaged materials
  • Restore your home – repairs, minor building services as well as reconstruction

Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 for 24/7 services. We serve the towns of Destin, Niceville, Shalimar, and surrounding areas. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster. 

To learn more about Mary Esther, click here.

Hurricane Dorian - Forecasted Track (Saturday Morning Aug. 31)

8/31/2019 (Permalink)

Forecasted Path of Hurricane Dorian as of Saturday Morning, August 31

Most models at this time are predicting Hurricane Dorian will skirt along Florida's East Coast and then move northeast along the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas.  It is currently considered an extreme hurricane at Category 4, with wind speeds exceeding 130 m.p.h.  It is presently predicted to strike the South Florida Coast at Category 4 strength, and then lose some of its energy as it moves north by northeast, dropping to Category 3 as it moves further north.  

We will update this website as the storm progresses and as new information becomes available.

Call Us If Your Destin Home Has Experienced A Flood

8/20/2019 (Permalink)

Give our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team a call whenever you need us at (850) 863-2552.

Drying Out A Flooded Crawlspace In Destin Homes

Crawlspaces are often designed as part of Destin home construction to combat the likelihood of flooding that exists continually throughout the year. While hurricane seasons often bring a much higher probability of these damaging conditions, the crawlspace of your property can help to reduce the floodwaters reaching into the primary levels of your house. When these areas become flooded, however, there is still a cause for an immediate response from competent professional restorers.

Drying out flood damage in Destin crawlspaces is a priority of our mitigation team that arrives shortly after your initial call to our SERVPRO 24/7 emergency line. Not only can our response to these situations prevent that same floodwater from reaching the main floor of the house, but it can also help our team to better protect your home and its occupants from secondary effects and structural deterioration that often accompanies excessive saturation and overexposure.

Many crawlspaces have not gotten designed to withstand high volumes of water of a prolonged period, and even excessive moisture can present issues too challenging for homeowners to overcome on their own. Reducing the moisture content begins with a thorough assessment of this portion of your property, including the use of discovery devices to determine the saturation levels of exposed structural elements, supports, and joists. This knowledge can help to formulate the ideal strategies for returning the property to preloss condition.

With a limited working area available in a crawlspace, our SERVPRO team must be selective about the equipment used to extract standing water and to begin drying out exposed elements. In most cases, portable sump pumps and wet-vacs can address the majority of floodwater, leaving the rest to get addressed with a combination of desiccant dehumidifiers and high-velocity air movers.

During this recovery process, it is also vital for our team to utilize our antimicrobial solutions to spray materials, elements, and areas susceptible to mold growth. These products can eliminate mold spores seating in the materials and prevent colonization during other phases of both mitigation and restoration of the crawlspace.

Our professionals have permanent solutions for crawlspaces as well through our licensed mold remediation contracting division. We can regrade flooring, install diversion tools and drainage systems, and even encapsulate the crawlspace for even more protection. Give our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team a call whenever you need us at (850) 863-2552.

For more about Destin click here.

We Act Fast To Limit More Damage To Your Mary Esther Home

8/13/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO offers 24-hour emergency service to our customers and we have the specialized training, advanced equipment, and experience.

SERVPRO Inspectors Find These Extra Consequences of Fire Damage in Mary Esther

Fire damage can impact your home in unpredictable ways. While it may be immediately apparent that ash, smoke, and burn damage need extensive restoration work to reverse, it might be harder to identify future problems such as water leaks that may be caused by flames on the building exterior. Part of the reason why SERVPRO has become such a trusted name for home damage restoration work across the nation is thanks to our inspectors that carry out thorough analyses of the situation and identify additional problems that may have escaped your attention. Here are some of the things they look for with fire damage situations.

Holes in Roofs and Exteriors

Dealing with fire damage in your Mary Esther home is bad enough – you probably do not want to handle damages from water on top of what has already happened. Water can even start to mix with ash and smoke materials to create a sludge that poses greater challenges even for well-equipped cleanup crews like those at SERVPRO. Our inspectors examine the fire-damaged part of your home thoroughly to check for potential leaks or holes in the building exterior. If they identify any potential problems of this nature, we work fast to set up tarps to cover the area before any ill weather effects can worsen the situation.

Electrical Damage

The heat of a flame can, even without direct contact, start to melt down metal cables and the materials that shield them. Sometimes, these damages may not be immediately apparent while still posing a significant safety hazard in your home. We know how to check for signs of fire damage on all types of household wiring and work to correct any safety hazards that may be present as a result.

Fabric Erosion

Many fire residues are acidic or can otherwise harm the types of fabric in carpets, furniture, and clothing typically found in local homes. We conduct tests to determine if there is any risk of material destruction to your belongings and, if there may be a significant problem, take care to clean each object in ways that do not cause harm.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach has years of experience helping local homes and businesses recover from the effects of fires large and small. Call us at (850) 863-2552 for our 24/7 services.

See more Mary Esther.

Our Technicians Have The Protective Equipment Ready To Handle Your Fort Walton Beach Flood Damage

8/6/2019 (Permalink)

When it comes to storm and flood damage timing is essential. We offer our clientele 24-hour emergency service to prevent further damage.

Infectious Waste Removal after Flood Damage in your Fort Walton Beach Property

Floodwaters can bring infectious waste into your home, creating a Biohazardous situation. Microscopic pathogens are invisible to the naked eye but can make you sick after even small amounts of exposure. Typically, infectious waste comes from raw sewage as well as sewer gases that may carry viruses like typhoid, polio, hepatitis, or tetanus. The importance of steering clear of floodwaters that have entered the home is essential.  

Contacting a professional restorer for flood damage in your Fort Walton Beach home is crucial to returning your property to a sanitary living environment. Our technicians are provided with personal protective equipment that allows them to enter a flooded property without risking their health or safety. An initial inspection, known as a scoping procedure, allows a SERVPRO technician to ascertain the type of equipment that can be brought into the affected area to reduce standing water levels and prepare for restoration services.  

Contaminated flood damage waters require storage and cannot be disposed of in the same way that clean water can. After pumping out the standing water from your property, SERVPRO can store it safely until it can be safely disposed of in a specialized biohazardous waste facility. In most situations, solid wastes need to be sealed in protective bags to avoid the chances of cross-contamination. Due to the highly infectious nature of blackwater emergencies, the initial steps involve preparing the site for further restoration. 

Disinfecting the affected area thoroughly, including the planned demolition of sections of drywall is necessary to re-establish a clean zone. Box fans may be placed overnight to remove pungent odors from floodwater or disinfectants while the drying process is underway. A SERVPRO technician can inspect the site again to ensure conditions have been returned to the sanitary state, before beginning work on reconstruction and replacement of removed contents and materials. 

Infectious waste poses a serious health risk. Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 if you suspect contaminated floodwaters in your property. 

See more about Fort Walton Beach.

Problems in Fort Walton with Storms, Mold, Fire or Water Damage? The Smart Choice for Restoration Is SERVPRO

7/20/2019 (Permalink)

Team SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach--They Really Are Serious About Restoration Services!!

Premier Restoration Services of Our SERVPRO Team in Fort Walton Beach

For more than two and a half decades, our SERVPRO team has been offering effective and efficient restoration services for Fort Walton Beach and its surrounding areas. With a roster of technicians comprised of local talent from Fort Walton and Okaloosa, we are your friends and neighbors helping homes and businesses through their times of crisis with a swift and confident response. We have certifications and endorsements in nearly every facet of the restoration industry, extending far beyond the core recovery niches for water, fire, storm, and mold loss.

Water
With water loss incidents in Fort Walton Beach properties being such an ever-present threat, we have encouraged much of our staff to pursue the education and training required to obtain accreditations as Water Restoration Technicians (WRT) through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC.) With the majority of our team having this base certification and additional training like Applied Structural Drying (ASD), no customer ever has to wait for effective mitigation and recovery services they need – regardless of the time that it happens.

We understand how typical water damage in Fort Walton Beach is, so we have established business relationships with many organizations to help us provide residential and commercial customers the most efficient service possible in this time of crisis. We have dealings through the Fort Walton Chamber of Commerce, Community Association Institute, and the Gulf Coast Association of Insurance Professionals (GCAIP), all of which have allowed us to handle claims with or without insurance adjustors at times.

Our SERVPRO team continually strives to be the premier option for water damage restoration in Fort Walton Beach homes and businesses. We know how quickly these situations can get out of control, so we invest in the inventory and qualified professionals that can complete jobs on time and within the budgetary confinements of our clients.

Fire
Fire loss situations present a unique risk for many of our Fort Walton Beach area properties, as not all of these are easy to access. With many homes and commercial structures built on outer lying areas of the coastline, we must have a clear plan of action to address any after-hours threats like fire damage that could exist. With a full team of qualified IICRC-Certified professionals, we can address all of the compromising effects of these disasters in a way that protects as much of your property as possible.

Fire damage to Fort Walton Beach homes requires a swift and deliberate response from our SERVPRO Fire & Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT.) These same professionals also often seek additional endorsements to further improve our efficiency and effectiveness in the field, pursuing training in areas like Odor Control (OCT), Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning (UFT), and Carpet Cleaning (CCT.) The more universally prepared our restoration technicians can become, the faster projects complete and the less they ultimately cost.

We know that our success in the region is also directly linked to the effectiveness and skills of the Fort Walton Beach firefighters and first responders. Along with our investments to continually improve our inventory of recovery and mitigation equipment, we also invest in these local departments to improve their response times, the equipment they use, and their training to better protect your property when every minute counts.

Mold
Mold is a complicated threat to Fort Walton Beach homes, mainly because of how quickly conditions can get met to promote the growth and spread of these damaging colonies. Northwest Florida is humid through the better part of the year, and homeowners and commercial property owners alike must contend with these threats with proper ventilation, cool temperatures, and active dehumidification where necessary.

The beachside communities, which makes up a large portion of the Fort Walton Beach area we service, are particularly susceptible to this increased humidity. With thick moisture in the environment, spores can more easily seat into organic materials and quickly spread throughout an affected area. Our SERVPRO Applied Microbial Remediation Technicians have advanced tools and equipment, but also the latest antimicrobial products to help overcome these colonies wherever they get found. We are certified and licensed through the State of Florida to address these damaging conditions in your house.

We strive to help our customers overcome mold damage in Fort Walton Beach homes as quickly as possible. This commitment can also get seen in the information we willingly provide all of our clients to help them manage mold situations, prevent it from occurring and stop the spread of this organism until our remediation specialists can arrive.

Storm
The NW coast of Florida is profoundly affected by natural disasters and is one of the most active areas for this destruction in the entire country. As such, we have a team prepared at all times to address the detrimental effects of storm damage in Fort Walton Beach homes. We understand how one breach in your home or businesses’ exterior can lead to a snowballing effect of destruction like flooding, so our fast response in these situations is critical to protect your property as much as possible.

In recent years, we have employed construction specialists to aid in rebuilds and temporary construction solutions necessary during and after storm damage affects Fort Walton Beach properties. After the incredible volume of reconstruction, renovation, and repair that had to occur after Hurricane Michael, we knew how valuable it would be to increase our ability to serve our customers with a comprehensive solution after debilitating storm effects.

We have a ready team prepared to address all concerns that exist throughout our region from storm damage. Information travels directly to a staffed emergency telephone line that Fort Walton Beach residents and other customers can call 24/7 to get our disaster relief team mobilized and dispatched to your damaged address.

We do more than offer restoration services when disaster strikes. We want to be the professionals that can help you through every phase of recovery, including helping our customers through this traumatic experience. You can count on the fast response and the expertise of our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach professionals to make all loss incidents “Like it never even happened.” Contact us 24/7 at (850) 863-2552.

Things to do here.

Our Technicians Can Restore Your Fire Damaged Contents In Your Destin Home

7/15/2019 (Permalink)

Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 today to arrange service.

Restoring Destin Resident's Valuable Contents After Fire Damage Using Immersion Cleaning

A fire may start and finish in just one area of the home. However, as materials combust, they release carbon in the form of gas alongside a range of other chemicals that are present in the material burning. Despite containment of the actual fire, smoke can spread throughout your home, leaving behind thick oily residues on both structure and content. The addition of water used in firefighting procedure can often cause these deposits to become embedded on surfaces creating a challenge for restorers to remove.

Many homeowners with fire damage in Destin become more concerned with contents than structure- walls can be repainted, doors and windows refitted, structure replaced. However, contents are collected over many months or years and hold both sentimental and literal value. High-density items like drapery rods, chandeliers or precious metal ornaments are prime candidates for immersion cleaning by SERVPRO because they are non-porous and generally made from non-reactive materials.

Immersion cleaning units can be brought on-site by SERVPRO. Where damage has spread throughout the structure, it may be necessary to inventory and pack items out to a unique facility. If items are damaged by oily residues, an immersion cleaning unit may be ineffective in restoring with dissolving the residue in an oil-based solvent a viable alternative. A SERVPRO technician can conduct pre-testing on the different types of soiling before any items entering an immersion cleaning tank.

Items that can benefit from immersion cleaning are placed in a tank of water with chemical cleaning agents. When the machine is switched on, high-frequency soundwaves create vibrations and with them, bubbles. As the bubbles burst, temperature and pressure are produced against the item agitating and scrubbing off the pre-existing soiling. Ultrasonic cleaning methods are exceptionally effective at restoring contents to a preloss condition- as they were before the fire.

Specialized equipment is how we restore rather than replace valuable contents. Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 today to arrange service.

For more about Destin click here.

Everything You Need To Address Flood Damage In Fort Walton Beach

6/30/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can fill you in on taking care of your damage.

Let us hook you up.

After experiencing flood damage on your property, you want to know that the company you call for help does everything it can to make it “Like it never even happened.” In our community, we do precisely that and pride ourselves on providing quality restoration services you can trust. 

If you live in or near the Fort Walton Beach area and have flood damage, give us a call. We have all of the personnel, equipment, and resources needed to provide you with excellent results. Want to know how much we put into performing your restoration? Take a look at our content management process (CMP) and let us know what you think.

SERVPRO technicians begin phase one of the CMP by preparing the initial scope of your restoration and providing you with an estimate. We conduct a pre-move-out review to ensure that we bring everything needed to get the job done right. After arriving on your property, we sort and inventory the contents of your home, with you present. 

SERVPRO packs the contents of your home, keeping every item safe and secure. Our team transports all contents to the warehouse or storage facility and verify that everything stays together. Once your contents arrive, we provide updates to your insurance adjuster and keep you informed as we move into phase 2.

At the start of phase 2, all of your items get placed into a staging area. Your belongings are unpacked and processed for cleaning and deodorization. We assess each item carefully and identify unsalvageable items. Salvaged items are repacked and inventoried before being placed in the clean items staging area. We inform you and your insurance company of any changes, losses, or cleaning issues and allow you to perform a walkthrough.  

In phase 3, your SERVPRO team performs an inventory and catalogs your items one final time before returning everything to your home. If authorized to do so, we can reset the contents of your home and inform your insurance company when the service is complete. We also perform a quality control walkthrough to ensure your satisfaction.

Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach to arrange your home’s initial inspection today. We are available 24-hrs a day, 7-days a week, year-round to provide you with flood damage restoration services you can trust. (850) 863-2552.

If you would like to know more about Fort walton Beach, click here.

We Are Available 24/7 To Restore Your Fort Walton Beach Home After A Fire Disaster

6/19/2019 (Permalink)

We have the experience, equipment, and training to restore your home to pre-damage condition. “Like it never even happened.”

Enjoy Professional Fire Damage Restoration For Your Home In Fort Walton Beach

Learning the basics of fire restoration can help any homeowner make crucial decisions concerning what to do or not do, should this type of event occur. It is easier than some of you might think to get your Fort Walton Beach home ready to face the worst possible situations. The actions you take both before and after can drastically impact the quality of the home restoration you receive.

You can start by locating a local, licensed company that specializes in fire damage restoration in the Fort Walton Beach area. An IICRC industry certified professional can give you a huge leg-up when it comes to restoring your home after a fire. Between preparing your home before an event occurs, and the support you receive immediately following a fire, the services we provide can be invaluable.

SERVPRO goes beyond basic cleaning; we utilize a variety of cleaning actions, making every effort to control the application of products that help produce the best results. Our technicians put the elements of cleaning to work quickly, often dislodging soils, oils, soot, and ash from various surfaces found in the home. It is our goal to restore as many items as quickly and efficiently as possible.

SERVPRO uses strict principles of cleaning to ensure quality results. Every item gets inspected fully, allowing us an opportunity to capture, dissolve, and remove any residues left behind. It is part of our job to prevent problems caused by the fire from turning into more significant issues down the road. With that said, we have access to all of the latest cleaning and restoration equipment, supplies, and techniques to help us get your restoration done right the first time.

SERVPRO has an entire staff of trained professionals standing by, ready to assist with any problems you might face. We are proud to serve homeowners in our local community and work hard to provide you with the home restoration services you deserve.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is a locally owned and operated franchise, available 24/7, year-round to provide you with the quality restoration services you can trust. We help our neighbors throughout the surrounding area get things back on track after events such as fire, mold, or even storm damage occurs in your home, call today. (850) 863-2552

See more about Fort Walton Beach.

SERVPRO Is Your Best Option To Return Your Water Damaged Home In Destin To Pre-Damage Condition

6/8/2019 (Permalink)

Our certified technicians serve the local area, and We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

Why Professional Water Removal Should Always Be The First Choice For Destin Homeowners

Water damage is one of the most insidious things that can happen to a property. Water follows the route of least resistance and winds up in subflooring, wicked into sheetrock and other places where it is not visible. Once there, it can be the catalyst for both mold and foul odors. Fortunately, avoiding all those problems is simple: get it professionally cleaned.

When SERVPRO performs water removal in Destin properties, one of the first actions we do is to scope the areas of water loss and track down all areas of migration. The equipment we use for this task includes hard and soft probes, hygrometers, and thermal imaging, which is excellent for finding moisture wicked into sheetrock.

Thorough extraction of water is crucial, and our technicians use different types of water extraction equipment depending on the seriousness of the water intrusion. Submersible pumps are invaluable tools for removing large amounts of water continuously, often used for removal of flood water.

When carpet and padding are affected by category one clean water, it is not automatically a loss because of our extraction methods and restoration techniques. SERVPRO has extraction equipment such as weighted extractors specifically designed to push the water out up and out of the padding. This assists the carpeting in drying and helps prevent both odors and mold from developing.

Professional water extraction can make the difference between restoring or replacing genuine hardwood flooring after a water loss incident happens on a case by case basis. Conventional wet/dry vacuums used in the home cannot sufficiently remove water at the same level of efficiency as our industrial equipment.

The reason we pay meticulous attention to the extraction phase is that the more water we remove, the faster the drying phase goes so you can get your everyday routine in your home back faster.

We know fast, efficient water removal is crucial to limiting loss. Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 when you need assistance with water damage to your property. Our certified technicians serve the local area, and We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

Click here for more about Destin.

You Can Count On Our Flood Damage Experts To Save Your Fort Walton Beach Property

5/28/2019 (Permalink)

Call us any time at (850) 863-2552 and let us leave your shop “Like it never even happened.”

Is Insurance Enough For Flood Damage In Fort Walton Beach?

If you have a business in Fort Walton Beach, you are probably well acquainted with your insurance broker and have reviewed your flood policy often over the past few years. Hurricanes and heavy rains have left us extra cautious when it comes to flood damage, and we try to protect against it as much as possible. However, an excellent policy does not necessarily entail fast and timely restoration services. It is still up to the business owner to act quickly and avoid unnecessary loss.

SERVPRO is a leader in commercial flood damage in our Fort Walton Beach community. We specialize in water cleanup and restoration we strive to protect your business. As our team arrives at your store, we assess the extent of the damage and move your belongings, including pertinent inventory, to an area designated as safe, where we can protect it from the consequences of it being exposed to flood waters. At the same time, we remove materials such as carpets and upholstery and dispose of them according to environmental regulations. Floodwaters can be loaded with microorganisms that permeate porous surfaces, which is why we remove them from your store as soon as we can.

Our SERVPRO technicians pay close attention to the surfaces we clean, disinfect, and deodorize. Although striving to eliminate all moisture from the air as soon as possible seems like a good idea, it actually can cause more damage to some surfaces, such as wood. This is why we use our hygrometers and infrared technology to test moisture levels specific to each surface and adjust the water extraction and drying process as needed. Knowing each surface well also guides us when we clean and disinfect them, since some cleaners can cause additional damage if not used correctly.

Restoring your business after it floods involves many moving parts. You can trust SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach to be a guiding hand through this difficult time. Call us any time at (850) 863-2552 and let us leave your shop “Like it never even happened.”

Click here for more about Fort Walton Beach.

Fort Walton Beach, Unwanted Groundwater Flooding, and SERVPRO Ready to Help--and Fast!

5/15/2019 (Permalink)

When Your Fort Walton Beach Home Needs Saving from a Flood--Call SERVPRO

Effective Extraction Options for Flooded Fort Walton Beach Homes

When flooding occurs in any Fort Walton Beach home, it is our utmost priority to respond to the situation quickly to help prevent the situation from getting worse than it already is. We understand how vital it is to offer effective mitigation solutions, as the more useful these approaches are, the more we can save our customers time and money. Mitigation for our technicians hinges on the advanced technology and equipment that we bring to every emergency, helping us to quickly get a handle on the situation and limit the exposure of damaging effects.

We understand that flood damages can often be stressful and traumatic for Fort Walton Beach homeowners. Higher volumes of floodwater in your house can quickly begin to saturate drywall, flooring, and other exposed materials. The initial and most crucial step in restoring order is extracting this standing water before it can continually spread throughout the property and affect new areas yet to get reached. Floodwater is a Category 3 type of water, contaminated requiring special methods, equipment, and gear for safe and fast extraction.

Extraction is a vital component to the mitigation work of our SERVPRO technicians, which begins from the time that our qualified professionals first arrive at your home. For severe situations, we have high-powered extraction equipment such as our truck-mounted pumps that are capable of removing water at 300 psi. This strength is not always necessary, however, so we have many levels of capable water removal tools.
 
Gas-powered trash pumps can remove several inches of standing water in a short period, yet most flooding situations still require more portable solutions like wet-vacs with extraction wands or submersible pumps. All of these units can play a role in preparing your property for the rapid drying solutions our SERVPRO team begins shortly after that.

Extraction is one of the essential steps to overcoming flood damage in your house. Our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team can offer efficient mitigation solutions amid a disaster to protect as much of your property as possible. Give us a call anytime that you need us at (850) 863-2552.

Click for the FWB homepage.

Contact Our Experts After A Fire Has Caused Significant Damage To Your Destin Property

5/7/2019 (Permalink)

Expert contents restoration is just a phone call away, contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 now.

Ultrasonic Contents Restoration For Fire Damage In Destin Properties

When we talk about contents damages, we are mainly talking about items of significant value that are difficult to replace. Cheaper fabrics, polyesters or paintwork may be non-salvageable if the cost of restoration is higher than the cost of replacement. In the event of a fire, soots or smoke residues can enter porous items causing permanent damages. Equally, water used during fire fighting procedures can cause soots to set making them more challenging to clean.

We operate an expert contents restoration service for homeowners suffering from fire damage in Destin. SERVPRO technicians are equipped with some of the finest technology in the industry that helps us to work to a restore rather than replace method. We have found this approach to be useful to homeowners who have spent years accumulating valuable or sentimental possessions that would be difficult or impossible to replace.

When materials burn they release carbon among other chemicals into the surrounding atmosphere in the form of smoke. Smoke can travel rapidly throughout a home and, as it cools, soots deposits appear on surfaces or possessions. In high-pressure fires, smoke is forced inside furnishings or upholstery which can create unpleasant odors. We tackle this issue onsite, primarily by using foam cleaning methods in conjunction with spray deodorants.

Denser items can also become soiled by smoke but, with the right equipment, respond well to restoration efforts. Precious metals, for example, can be sent to a SERVPRO external cleaning facility for immersion treatment. This type of cleaning is only suitable for items that can withstand complete submersion in a liquid, ruling out certain fabrics or electronics.

Your SERVPRO technician inventories items that can be treated using immersion cleaning before being sent to a cleaning facility. They are then fully-submerged in a water and solvent solution. High-frequency sound waves are emitted creating bubbles that burst at high temperatures which act as mini scrubbers. Ultrasonic cleaning methods like this have proven extremely effective in restoring golds, jewelry, ornaments and more.

Expert contents restoration is just a phone call away, contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 now.

Click here for more about Destin.

Mary Esther Small Business Owners Rely on SERVPRO for Water Loss Rapid Recovery

4/23/2019 (Permalink)

Need an RX for Water Removal in Mary Esther? The Prescription Calls for SERVPRO!

Essential Steps When Restoring Commercial Water  Damage in a Mary Esther Pharmacy

Running a pharmacy store can be a challenging exercise since you have to find customers, stock a wide range of medicines and keep up with changes In the industry. Your customers also expect high-quality products when they visit your store, so a water loss incident only adds to the list of challenges. For example, most types of medication require storage. In a dry environment, and if the incident increases humidity levels, it can shorten their shelf life. We offer professional restoration to pharmacies and other retail shops in Mary Esther after water loss incidents.
 
Removing any visible water on the floor is the top priority during an incident of commercial water damage In Mary Esther. Letting such water sit for long provides a chance for it to soak into floor materials especially if they are porous. Our SERVPRO crews use equipment such as wet vacuums or truck-mounted water extractors to remove water faster. We can also use ride-on high volume extractors, which simplify removal over large carpeted areas because the technician rides on the machine during the extraction.
 
In a pharmacy store where you have fixtures such as cabinets and shelves made from wood and its derivatives, the rate of water retention is higher. Such water can compromise the structural integrity of the fixtures by causing swelling, warping or even rot. Our SERVPRO teams check the moisture level In your fixtures using various detection tools. We have moisture sensors that help us establish whether there is wetness while moisture meters determine the actual level of moisture. We then use air movers to increase the evaporation rate and LGR dehumidifiers to extract humidity from the air, drying your fixtures faster. This rapid evaporation helps for storage areas with metal or vinyl covered shelving to prevent rusting or contamination of the drugs.
 
Water spills can drive the relative humidity In your pharmacy store above the optimal 50 percent. Such spikes can cause a wide range of problems to the products on your shelves including reducing their shelf life or making them toxic. Our SERVPRO crewmembers use thermo-hygrometers to establish the level of humidity In the affected areas. We also take readings In unaffected areas and outside the building to establish a response plan that can fix the problem "Like it never even happened."
 
When there is a water loss In your pharmacy In Fort Walton Beach, Destin, or Niceville areas, call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach. You can reach us at (850) 863-2552 any time. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Please click here to visit our official site.

We Have The Equipment And Training To Handle Your Destin Home Restoration

4/13/2019 (Permalink)

Water damage at this Fort Walton Beach home was due to the roof leaking. We arrived right away and restored it back to normal.

Water Removal Needs to be Fast and Complete to Protect the Floors in Your Destin Property

When a water loss seems minor in your Destin home, you might just reach for a bucket and mop rather than the phone. This choice often comes back to haunt you as moisture can migrate in the blink of an eye and be very challenging to eradicate without professional equipment and expertise. Contacting us for an evaluation by one of our experienced project managers is a wise decision, covering all the twists and turns a water damage scenario can pose.

Proper equipment and well-trained operators are the keys to successful water removal in Destin. No matter how the water found a pathway into your property, we have a set of strategies to get it out fast, including dealing with residual moisture trapped in hidden or difficult to reach spaces or absorbed by porous building materials. Failing to remove all the water and reduce the moisture levels in structural components exposes your home to the risk of progressive build material deterioration and potential mold growth and damage.

Upon arrival at your home, the SERVPRO team assesses the damage, including determining whether water migrated from the original incursion to other areas of the property. If standing water is more than 2 inches deep gas powered pumps begin removing the liquid. Follow up with wanded extractors then reduces the visible water in the affected space to zero. We scan with thermal devices to locate any hidden water caches between walls or in other recesses.

Water that pools up on hardwood floors tends to wick into the wood and seep into the cracks between planks. The subfloor can be saturated when the top layer looks dry. The water absorbed by the underlying plywood or other substrate causes the decorative hardwood layer to absorb water from the bottom up, causing swelling and distortion of the material. SERVPRO goes beyond the mop and bucket, using floor mats attached to negative air pressure equipment to suction up the unseen yet extremely destructive water.

Depend on SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach to have practical and proven solutions to your water removal worries. Call us at (850) 863-2552 to evaluate your water removal needs.

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of "JAWS 2" Saturday, June 16, 2018 at 1:00 pm and meet the author as well as local members from the cast and crew click here for more details.

Is it Safe for DIY Floodwater Clean Up in Mary Esther?

4/2/2019 (Permalink)

Heavy rains are a common occurrence in Florida. Call SERVPRO to restore your home.

Why Professional Help is Crucial after Flood Damage in Mary Esther

Flooding incidents overwhelm homeowners with a wide range of damages ranging from soiling, damage to structural components, to contamination. Flooding also leaves copious amounts of water in the house requiring extra effort to extract. We offer professional restoration services after flooding incidents. Our technicians are IICRC certified in Water Restoration and Applied Structural Drying among other skills.  

In most cases, the water and other wastes deposited in a house after flood damage in Mary Esther contain traces of raw sewage, pesticides, and industrial chemicals. Wading into such water can cause health issues. Our SERVPRO technicians use various PPE, Personal Protection Equipment, which helps them work without facing safety and health risks. We have heavy-duty gloves, splash goggles, rubber boots, and full body suits. Safety equipment also helps when mixing professional cleaning products.  

Removing water left by the floods can take a long time especially when done without proper equipment. Water also migrates to concealed locations such as wall cavities and crawl spaces complicating the removal process further. Our SERVPRO technicians use pumps and truck-mounted water extractors which can handle tons of gallons within a short while. We also rely on advanced skills to perform flood cuts and drill vent holes simplifying the removal process further.  

After a flooding incident, other problems such as mold development and bad odors can develop causing long-term problems. Mold is likely to develop if some moisture traces remain in items and materials proper drying is necessary. Odor can be caused by mold or poor cleaning that leaves some soils or debris. Our SERVPRO crews clean properties affected by floods to sanitary levels. We use power washers, surface scrubbers, and professional cleaning agents to achieve the desired results. We also take steps such as using foggers and Hydroxyl generators among other steps to deodorize affected areas.  

For proper handling of flood damage in Fort Walton Beach, Destin, and Niceville areas, call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach to assist. You can reach us at (850) 863-2552 any time. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Read more about Mary Esther here.

We Will Arrive Right Away To Restore Your Santa Rosa Beach Home

3/25/2019 (Permalink)

Water damage can cause roof leaking. We have the equipment and training to restore your home 24/7. Call us right away.

Fast Restoration for Your Water-Damaged Santa Rosa Beach Home

With the severe weather systems that can pose a persistent threat to Santa Rosa Beach properties, many homeowners tend to overlook the potential damages that could occur inside of their homes with greater severity and widespread effects. Water loss incidents can occur from many sources including appliance malfunctions, human error, HVAC concerns, or more substantial situations like burst plumbing. Regardless of what causes the water loss incident, you need fast and effective restoration for your home to protect it from costly repairs and recovery.

As with any water damage situation in your Santa Rosa Beach home, you have a finite amount of time to address spreading effects before they compromise structural elements entirely. Additionally, prolonged moisture from an inadequate cleanup of the damage can lead to secondary effects like mold and microbial growth, presenting further structural concerns and potential health effects for those exposed. Our SERVPRO professionals appreciate your need for effective drying of the damage and protection against these harmful fungal growths.

Our technicians have a 24/7 response to all water loss incident emergencies that threaten your property. We arrive with the full measure of extraction, drying, and indoor air quality improvement equipment. We can set up physical containment surrounding the damaged areas of your property to prevent the spread of both the water and any hazards that could result from the heightened moisture.

With effective equipment like our air movers and dehumidifiers, we can reduce the moisture content throughout the exposed areas of your property quickly. For inaccessible or intricate drying needs, we have specialized equipment to manage timely moisture removal.

Protecting your home from microbial threats requires our SERVPRO professionals to utilize biocides and antimicrobial sprays on exposed materials and contents to make the uninhabitable to mold colonies. We also trap active spores in the environment using hydroxyl generators, machines that can also help to regulate odor concerns as well.

Fast response to water damage incidents can save our customers time and money. Our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team knows We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster. Let us show you by calling (850) 863-2552.

Click here to enroll in swim lessons.

Our Specialists Explain How We Remove Smoke Odors From Your Mary Esther Home

3/12/2019 (Permalink)

If you ever need assistance after something burns on your property, call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 immediately.

Fire Damage Experts In Mary Esther Talk About The Removal Of Minor Smoke Odors

Whenever something burns on your Mary Esther property, the smoke coming from the blaze can create serious issues. Even if the initial burn is small, the smoke and heat coming from it can still cause fire damage. Most problems created inside a home after a fire are minor and do not require removing a lot of your structural materials. However, even the smallest blazes put out partially combusted substances into the air in the form of smoke. These airborne partially combusted particles can cause different types of fire damage to occur.

When smoke fills the interior of a building, it can float all through the building's air system. During many fire damage situations in Mary Esther, problems caused by smoke and soot are a majority of the issues our SERVPRO technicians work to mitigate. The smoke coming from a fire first rises with the heat to your ceiling before it spreads to other rooms. When the smoke hits cooler surfaces like your ceiling and the upper part of your drywall, it often leaves soils and soot residues behind. Soot residues can be easy or hard to remove depending on the composition and other characteristics of the soils present in the house.

When mitigating minor smoke-related problems, our SERVPRO technicians start by removing all of the soot residues. Our experts have at our disposal various types of chemicals and methods to use on the different surfaces inside your home. For porous surfaces, we utilize dry cleaning methods so that moisture does not soak the soot deep into the materials. When cleaning non-porous surfaces, we often apply wet chemicals and wipe off the soils with a rag.

In some cases, burnt aromas can exist inside the home even after all soot residues and soils have been removed. When this occurs, we utilize other deodorization methods such as ultra-low volume fogging, thermal fogging, or ozone generation. The fogging methods pump deodorants into the air so that the chemicals act the same way the smoke did. Ozone generators chemically neutralize malodor particles. If you ever need assistance after something burns on your property, call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 immediately.

Click here for more about Mary Esther.

Call Us Right Away So We Can Get To Work On Restoring Your Destin Home

3/8/2019 (Permalink)

We have the right equipment to handle the drying process in your home after water damage. Call us right away we are available 24/7.

SERVPRO Turns Around Water Damage to a Hardwood Floor in Destin

The saying, "Time is of the essence" was never more applicable than when you're dealing with water damage. Once even clean water spills inside the home, the clock starts ticking on contamination and secondary damage from spreading to other areas, mold and damage to building materials.

We were called to a home in Destin in the early hours due to a water damage from a dishwasher leak. The homeowner had the habit of loading up the dishwasher and going to bed. The family dog awakened its owner barking at the water which had pooled in the kitchen and was heading towards the living room. The homeowner used towels to stop the water and cleaned up what they could before calling us, but their hardwood flooring had begun to warp, and water remained.

Since we got the call so quickly after the event, our technicians used a penetrating moisture meter to monitor if water compromised the subflooring, it was only moderately damp thanks to the quick action by the homeowner. We decided to try to mitigate the damage done by the water to the flooring since hardwood is denser and tolerates water better than softwoods. We extracted the remaining water and set up air movers and dehumidifiers to quickly dry the hardwood flooring. To ensure focused drying of both the flooring and subfloor, the SERVPRO techs erected a polyethylene tent over the wet area.

SERVPRO knows mold may be an issue, and we wiped down the affected areas with our antifungal solution to inhibit mold growth. Once the area was dry, very mild cupping and warp remained in the wood and the homeowner was advised because of the density of the hardwood, to wait for one to two months to ensure the moisture levels in the wood were completely stabilized, ideally around 12% moisture content, before having the floors sanded and refinished.

We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster. Our highly trained SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team possesses the knowledge and equipment to mitigate water damage to your home. Call us at (850) 863-2552 any time 24/7 and we can be on-site in four hours or less.

Check out the Destin History and Fishing Museum, click here for more information.

When You Are Faced With Flood Damage In Destin Call Our Trusted Professionals

2/25/2019 (Permalink)

Tropical storms are the norm in Destin and you need professionals that can come to your aid. Our team is available 24/7 so call today.

What to Do When Flood Damage Strikes Your Destin Hair Salon

What to Do When Flood Damage Strikes Your Destin Hair Salon

Like all businesses, hair salons rely on foot traffic; therefore, it is never a good thing when a disaster, such as flood damage, interrupts the flow of customers into your shop. The flood damage that hit your hair salon came during the night, riding on the winds of an intense storm. A window that was left cracked open in the office space got caught by the wind and was forced to open completely, allowing the rainwaters to flow freely inside.

Upon finding the flood damage inside of your Destin hair salon the next morning, it was imperative for you to call for help as soon as possible. Leaving the flood damage any longer than necessary can compromise your office space. Microbial growth only takes seventy-two hours to begin after the initial exposure to excessive moisture. Furthermore, the filing cabinet, desk, and any other furniture in your office can absorb water and become damaged, as well as the tile flooring. To avoid further damages from developing, it is essential for you to reach out for help as soon as you discover the damage.

SERVPRO always makes an effort to respond to your call for aid as fast as possible, and we can work around your schedule. Coming first thing in the morning, or any other time, is no problem for our technicians. SERVPRO makes sure to remain open at all hours of the day so we can help you whenever disaster strikes.

Our IICRC-certified techs can come to your business equipped with advanced technologies explicitly designed to address flood damaged. The first step for SERVPRO is to remove the stagnant water in the office space of your hair salon. Our technicians can use wet/dry vacuums, portable pumps, or extractors to remove the floodwaters. Afterward, we can focus on cleaning your office space thoroughly, disinfecting all surfaces that the waters came in contact with. Finally, SERVPRO can use drying equipment, such as dehumidifiers and flood mats, to take care of any lingering moisture in the flooring.

Flood damage never waits to strike, so you should not either. When damage hits your business, contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach by calling (850) 863-2552. Day or night, we're always here for you.

Discover Destin Harbor Boardwalk click here for more information.

How Storm Water Damages the Structure of Destin Condos

2/13/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is ready 24/7 to restore your flood damaged condo.

SERVPRO Outlines Steps to Reversing Flood Damage to Condo Units in Destin

Storms are a fact of life in this area of Florida, and unfortunately, flood damage to condo communities is not an uncommon occurrence, especially during hurricane season from June to November every year. Any heavy rainstorm has the potential to cause water damage; the key is to begin remediation as quickly as possible to minimize secondary damage elements such as mold or warping of wood or building materials in the home. 

When SERVPRO Franchise professionals respond to a call to a condo unit, we arrive at your home in hours and begin the cleanup process. Flood water in Destin has the potential to carry contaminants and toxins in and the longer it remains in the home, the more likely both primary and secondary water damage happens. If the flood water has remained in the home for longer than 48 hours, the standing water is considered hazardous black water and requires a higher level of cleanup. 

Our technicians survey the damage and determine the best process for removing ruined materials that cannot be restored, including furnishings and carpeting. Personal items that were affected by water such as photos or documents should be set aside or tell our team so they can locate them quickly to avoid further water damage to the belongings. We can employ our special vacuum freeze-drying techniques on these items. This same process used by the Library of Congress to dry valuable historical documents and books. 

After we pump the standing water out of the condo, the technicians dry the air using both air movers and dehumidifiers to draw the moisture out of the building structure and move it up and out. Once the affected area is dry, we clean surfaces thoroughly with antifungals so mold growth should not become an issue after that fact.

Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach to reverse flood damage to condo units as soon as it happens. We are local and available to assist you 24/7, call (850) 863-2552 and one of our certified technicians can begin the process to restore your home to preloss condition.

Destin is known as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.”  Read more here.

It's Important To Know The Signs Of Mold Damage In Your Destin Home

2/6/2019 (Permalink)

We are available 24/7 to help you!

Signs Of Mold Damage In Destin

Mold damage can be one of the most frustrating problems for a homeowner. With average temperatures in this area of Florida ranging year round from the low 50s to the mid-80s, it sets up a perfect environment for mold to flourish if there is adequate moisture.

SERVPRO can thoroughly inspect your Destin home for mold. Some of the signs of mold growth behind the scenes are discolored walls, musty smell, black spots, and some people have health issues associated with exposure to mold. Our technicians are both Applied Microbial Remediation Specialist and certified in Structural Drying Techniques to deal with and eradicate mold from your home.

Our first step is to cut off the moisture that is feeding the mold, whether it is residual from previous water damage, a leaking pipe or appliance. Once that is done, we can thoroughly dry the affected areas and begin the remediation process to negate the mold damage in your home. Remember, when the walls and areas are dried, it does not mean the mold is gone. Mold can simply go dormant when conditions are not right and spring back to life when they are and start spreading in your home again when moisture and temperature levels are favorable.

To inhibit the return of mold, SERVPRO uses antifungal and antibacterial cleaners to clean both your home structure and possessions affected by mold. During the remediation process, we can utilize HEPA filtration systems with negative air chambers to stop the spread of spores and contain the mold. Our technicians always attempt to restore rather than have you replace building materials and possessions affected by mold.

At the first indication of mold in your home, contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach. Our certified technician will start the remediation process over the phone to determine the equipment and resources necessary to handle the mold in your home. We are available 24/7 to help you, call (850) 863-2552 to get started now.

Click here for more about Destin.

If Mold Is Growing In Your Destin Crawlspace, We Are The Team To Call!

1/2/2019 (Permalink)

Whenever you recognize a problem, contact our technicians to acquire the full measure of our resources to resolve the situation quickly.

Remediating Mold Growing In Destin Home’s Crawlspaces

Crawlspaces in Destin homes are notorious for being susceptible to moisture, groundwater, and other threats that could cause persistent dampness to the underside of your property. The trouble with excessive moisture throughout this area of your house is the threats that it can cause to the structural integrity of the flooring above, beams, supports, and framing materials. This saturation can also provide the appropriate conditions for mold and fungal growth.

Many homeowners are misinformed that mold damage in their Destin crawlspace or elsewhere in their home is not a serious situation and that ultimately it resolves itself after a time. In truth, the organism continues to spread quickly to affect more and more areas of your property and can travel through networks like your HVAC system to become widespread throughout your entire home. Without regularly inspecting your crawlspace for potential damages, many homeowners do not recognize a problem until it spreads to the main floor above the crawlspace and affects the occupants of the house and other readily seen materials directly.

From the time that you recognize mold growth, you should contact our SERVPRO professionals immediately. We have the tools to contain the spread of the mold and effective tactics for removing the organism and its colonies from your home to protect as much of the construction materials as possible.

We also have effective strategies that can protect your crawlspace from future damages once mold growth has gotten removed and the area gets thoroughly dried. From new diversion equipment that directs water flow to a sump pump to complete encapsulation solutions to protect all exposed elements of your property from moisture and mold, our SERVPRO technicians can help you to keep these conditions from reoccurring.

Many homeowners do not regularly inspect the crawlspace of their home for signs of water damage and mold growth but doing so can help you to prevent a widespread concern that invades the living space of the property. Whenever you recognize a problem, contact our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach remediation technicians to acquire the full measure of our resources to resolve the situation quickly. Give us a call today at (850) 863-2552.

Click here for more about Destin.

Your Guide to Destin Home Water Damage Remediation

12/23/2018 (Permalink)

Excess water and drywall are not a good mix. Be sure to contact SERVPRO should your family home face water damage.

Water Damage to Drywall in Your Destin Home

Certain materials used in the construction of your Destin home are more susceptible to damages than others. Drywall, in particular, is among the commonly used structural components that can quickly saturate water damage and prove difficult to salvage. Our professionals have a fast response in water loss emergencies, and part of this fast response is getting the appropriate equipment set up to salvage saturated materials when possible.

Water damage in Destin can spread quickly throughout your home, so it is critical to react quickly to these situations to get experienced professionals headed out to your property with the tools and expertise to help. Drywall can begin absorbing water almost instantaneously, which allows the material to get oversaturated after only a brief period. Understanding what water damage can do to the drywall in your home can help you understand the importance of reaching out to our SERVPRO professionals right away.

As soon as saturation begins in the drywall of your home, the composition of this material begins to change. Over as little as 24 hours, this material can begin to swell and bloat, causing it to lose its form and erode. While immediate response to the situation can often protect much of the drywall affected in your home, our professionals must assess the full scope of the damage when we arrive to determine how far the water damage has spread throughout these materials and how badly they have gotten affected.

Wicking is a problem for drywall, and typically this phenomenon happens from the baseboard up the wall. This situation causes the exposed portion of drywall to allow moisture to move up towards the ceiling. The designation of how far this moisture spreads gets determined by thermal imagery, and our SERVPRO professionals can make flood cuts to remove affected drywall and later replace it once drying has completed.

It is not uncommon for water damages within your home to affect the drywall. Our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach rapid response team can work quickly to preserve these materials when possible, clean up the mess, and dry out other damaged elements. Give us a call anytime at (850) 863-2552.

Click here for more about Destin.

Having A Flood Damage Disaster Plan In Place Can Save Your Destin Commercial Property

11/26/2018 (Permalink)

It doesn’t take much to recognize the advantages of how having a disaster recovery plan can help your Destin grocery store avoid losses.

Flood Damage Disaster Plans That Your Destin Area Business Should Adopt

Many natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and flooding incidents can drastically interrupt the food service industry. Whether you manage a fast-food outlet, a grocery store, or a restaurant having a plan can make a difference in how quickly your property can recover. Especially for those of you located near coastal waters in Destin, everyone can benefit from putting a disaster plan in place.

It doesn’t take much to recognize the advantages of how having a disaster recovery plan can help your Destin grocery store avoid flood damage losses. A well-developed plan can address aspects of your company that help keep your business going after a natural disaster occurs. You need something like this in effect to prevent permanent closures and to hasten any restoration efforts. There are qualified professionals right here in our local community, who are ready to assist with protecting your companies investment.

You need to discuss any available options and recognize the advantages of having a disaster plan in place. Your local SERVPRO can help you come up with a disaster plan and provide you with the support you need to implement the plan, should disaster strike. Our goals are to help reduce the impact natural disasters have on your business and speed up any restoration services that hinder normal operations. We can help you evaluate potential losses and help your company recover quickly. We have several years of experience with helping food industry businesses throughout the area and want you to know that we have the personnel, training, and resources available to be there whenever needed.

SERVPRO can help you identify problems early, address existing threats, note critical areas to focus efforts on, and help you develop a strategy to resume and maintain operations that support your local community. It helps to test any plan you develop, update the plan as needed to achieve the best results, and offer training to your employees so that everyone knows what their role is should you need to implement the plan fast.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is available 24/7, 365-days a year to provide you with the cleanup and restoration services you deserve. Our emergency response teams make us, Faster To Any Size Disaster and it shows in everything we do. Call us today at (850) 863-2552.

Click here for more about Destin.

After the Fire: Cleaning Versus Replacing Items From Your Fort Wall Home

11/15/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has cleaning methods to help salvage your personal property after a fire.

You Need Help Salvaging Items after Fire Damage in Fort Wall

Fires can be very destructive because many aspects, not just the flames, cause the damage on items. A combination of smoke residues, extreme temperatures, and combustion odors leaves many property owners in Fort Wall grappling with severe loss. Intercepting fires before they consume the entire structure is a good thing, but the process of salvaging undamaged items has its challenges too. Involving certified fire restoration technicians from the beginning is vital because they use their training to figure out the best approaches to help save more items.  

Among the steps that help improve salvage rate of items after fire damage in Fort Wall, is proper separation. When you look at the soot and other residues covering items, it is easy to assume that flames damaged them. Our SERVPRO crew makes it easier to separate items by grouping them into questionable, salvageable and unsalvageable items. Our electronic CCIS, Content Claim Inventory Service, further helps the process because we can create a room-by-room inventory. If the fire has only affected a few areas, it is easy to tell salvageable items such as those damaged by smoke by merely looking at a list.  

Cleaning items affected by the fire is usually better than replacing them. However, some cleaning actions can cause more damage. For example, wet cleaning can cause acoustic tiles to lose their sound-deadening capability. At SERVPRO, we have developed a specialized cleaning process called Peroxide Active Ceiling Cleaning, which removes all soot and leaves the acoustic characteristics intact. Our highly trained crews are also conversant with other specialized cleaning techniques that preserve other materials limiting what you have to replace after a blaze.  

Even after cleaning items and spaces affected by the fire, odors might persist. Such stubborn odors require specific deodorization efforts to eliminate them. Our SERVPRO technicians undergo training on how to establish odor sources and the best deodorization techniques. For example, we know that when there is high pressure during a fire, smoke residue is pushed to penetrate deep into insulation materials. In such cases, we remove the affected material. In other situations, we use specialized equipment such as hydroxyl generators to neutralize smells.  

You can improve the odds of salvaging items when you involve SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach. Call us at (850) 863-2552. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

The Emerald Coast boasts some of the best seafood in the states.  Click here for more information.

Some Ways to Avoid Extensive Complications When Dealing With a Destin Home Plumbing Break Scenario

11/9/2018 (Permalink)

When a plumbing break has caused water damage requiring extensive restoration in your home, contact SERVPRO for efficient services.

Plumbing Breaks Can Flood Your Destin Residence

As vital as indoor plumbing is to your Destin home, many homeowners still know very little about the conditions that could affect and strain this network of piping throughout their property. When this strain or degradation leads to a break or leak from one of the supplied pipes, ongoing and damaging flow of water results. Until this supply to the line can get shut off, the pipe continues to lose water into the affected area or wall cavity.

As traumatic as this might initially seem, it is vital for you to respond quickly to get Destin water removal services promptly to your address. Our SERVPRO professionals have the advanced gear to make extraction work efficient, but our ability to preserve vital structural components and the contents of your home depends on your response time to the incident. Shortly after your call, our response team can have our Green Fleet vehicles loaded up and rolling out to your home.

Once we arrive, we can utilize our leak detection equipment to isolate the location of the damaged pipe. While severe damage to your plumbing system requires a licensed contractor, we can shut off the supply to this portion of a line or the house until the necessary repairs can get made. We work quickly to bring in the appropriate extraction equipment, and also have a truck-mounted pump for substantial volumes capable of pulling out 300 psi.

Having extracted the water from the affected areas, our SERVPRO technicians can then utilize our advanced thermal imagery cameras to determine moisture pockets behind walls and through affected surfaces to determine the height of flood cuts to get made. These controlled cuts to the drywall material give our technicians access to wall cavities for efficient drying techniques and ensure that dry and undamaged material gets installed to replace it.

While you cannot anticipate the strain and aging joints of your indoor plumbing system, you always have a team of highly trained professionals that can help you clean up the mess. Give our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach water restoration technicians a call today at (850) 863-2552.


Click here for more about Destin.

Avoid Fire in Your Destin Home by Taking Certain Preventative Precautions

10/27/2018 (Permalink)

Portable heaters are helpful in the winter time but they have the potential to start a fire. Stay vigilant and call SERVPRO if you have fire damage.

Destin's Fire Damage Professionals Talk About Common Causes of Structural Burns

Nobody ever plans on starting a dangerous fire inside their Destin home, but sometimes accidents do happen. One moment you can be cooking dinner, the next minute putting out a fire, then next noticing the fire damage caused by the blaze. Some fires just happen due to electrical shorts, clogged chimneys, or broken furnaces and they are not necessarily easy to prevent. However, other structural fires ignite due to dangerous situations people create inside their own homes. By knowing the common causes, it is easier to prevent causing fire damage to your property.
 
First off, it is always important to have an emergency exit plan seen by all of the members of the household so that everyone knows the best way to get out of the house safely. Next, getting the flames extinguished quickly can save your Destin home from fire damage. Once the fire is out and no longer smoldering or burning, it is now safe to call in restoration experts such as SERVPRO. Problems associated with heat and smoke can be treated more efficiently if the process starts right away.
 
The most common cause of house fires is cooking equipment. It is important to never leave the kitchen while cooking to make sure nothing gets too hot. Heaters also cause many structural burns including portable space heaters and furnaces. Make sure not to put space heaters near flammable materials such as clothes or paper.
 
Indoor smoking also causes many blazes to start inside residences. Cigarettes can appear to be out but ignite things as soon as they come into contact with flammable materials. Electrical equipment is another common source for indoor burns. Anything that uses electricity can short out and cause a spark.
 
However, disasters are never planned, and some fires ignite due to no fault of the homeowner. If this occurs at your home, our SERVPRO technicians are available to help you mitigate your problems all hours of the day. If you are ever the victim of a structural fire, call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 immediately after the blaze gets extinguished.

Click here for more about Destin.

Our State-Of-The-Art Equipment That Can Save Your Destin Home From Water Damage

10/19/2018 (Permalink)

It takes some advanced gadgets to complete the water removal process.

The Infrared Camera Technology For Water Removal In The Destin Location

If you have just suffered water damage from a leaky roof, broken laundry, or bad plumbing, then you must be searching for information regarding water removal. Water removal is a tricky process because there are times that you may think that everything is dry, but when in fact, excess water can be lurking in places that you might not even think to look.

It takes some advanced gadgets to complete the water removal process in the Destin location. For example, the infrared camera can help detect excess water in the walls, doors, floor, or anywhere that we did not notice. With the infrared camera, it can save us from long-term and expensive repairs and replacements from hidden water damage. If water is left untreated, it can lead to the growth of mold, mildew, bacteria, and other microorganisms. It could also lead to an unpleasant odor that can linger around your residential area. Unfortunately, the infrared camera is quite expensive and requires a lot of skills and expertise to use it properly.

Fortunately, the SERVPRO technicians have all the experience and tools to remove water from your establishment. They can utilize the infrared camera with temperature sensing range to detect hidden water. They can scan the room with the camera to focus on a specific area like walls, ceilings, windows, toilets, and other closed areas. If they find a circular image that is a different color from the area surrounding it, then that is an indication of potential water invasion. The evaporation process can show the different temperature to allow the SERVPRO technician to identify hidden water. As soon as they notice the evidence of a leak, they can use a moisture meter to confirm the extra water in a particular location. This technology can help identify water damage in its earliest stage before it becomes a bigger problem. The tech can repair this damage by placing an insulated cover over the wet area. With all the right tools and expertise, you know that you are in good hands with these experts.

If you're interested in the state of the art technology for the water removal process, then give SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach a call at (850) 863-2552 for a consultation with our reliable technicians.

Click here for more about Destin.

SERVPRO Says to Evacuate from the Path of Hurricane Michael, Secure Your Fort Walton Beach Property and Leave

10/10/2018 (Permalink)

Evacuate Now from Fort Walton Beach Before Hurricane Michael Comes Ashore--SERVPRO Says

What to Expect During Hurricane Michael in the Fort Walton/Destin Area

It is a common fact that hurricanes like Michael bring power outages. The intense winds can do damage to power lines and leave homes in the Fort Walton Beach area without electricity for lengthy periods of time, even more than a week. However, many people do not consider all of the damages and the problems they can create during a storm. Understanding the dangers and how to counter them with solutions is vital for weathering the storm safely.

Always remember that losing power often means losing water pressure and a potable drinking liquid. As Hurricane Michael approaches Fort Walton Beach, a possible Cat 4 storm at 140 MPH, make sure you have plenty of sources of water on hand. Buy bottled water, fill your bathtubs, and fill as many water containers you own at home as possible. Dehydration can be a factor. Make sure your vehicle is stocked as you must evacuate before this tropical storm hits landfall.
 
Similarly, remember that if you do not have power, other places most likely won't have power either. Make sure you are not low on any prescription medications you need to take. Ensure that you purchase all of your emergency supplies well before the storm begins.
 
This storm may bring storm surges as high as 13 feet; this can be devastating to the structure of your home or business. You must evacuate.
 
Make sure that you have all the emergency supplies like food, water, medications, clothing, and flashlights as you leave. Have a plan where you can spend the days needed until you can return to your home. The dangers are great, even during the travel path due to flooding, storms, fallen trees, and traffic jams. Don't wait or delay, leave now.
 
A hurricane is likely to do damage to the roof of your home and the siding. Make sure that the safe-place of your house is not in an attic space. Finding a space away from any glass windows is essential as violent winds can shatter them, and the glass can cause injury. An interior bedroom is often the safest place to wait out a storm inside. Of course, with the impending force of this hurricane, the above advice is for much smaller storms.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is here to serve you after the storm has passed. We take pride in helping our neighbors and have support to assist you from our National Disaster Recovery Teams. Contact us, when you can at (850) 863-2552.

Click here for local weather conditions.

Here's What Really Matters When It Comes To Our Fire Damage Restoration Services In Fort Walton Beach

10/2/2018 (Permalink)

Fire damages can appear in various ways throughout your Fort Walton Beach home.

Professional Restoration Following A Fire In Your Fort Walton Beach Home

Some disasters can catch a family by surprise and cause far-reaching damages to their Fort Walton Beach residence. No matter how the situation occurred, the only thing that matters now is going to be returning your house to the way it used to be. To do this, many insurance providers recommend the use of our professional restoration services for our fast response time and expertise in overcoming the effects of a fire on your residence.

Fire damages can appear in various ways throughout your Fort Walton Beach home, and the more that you can learn about these, the more you can appreciate the need for a professional’s touch in the situation. Our SERVPRO professionals have the expertise and training to overcome all facets of fire damage from the primary effects to secondary conditions that also must get addressed to restore one’s home successfully.

However, many homeowners might be leery of choosing professional restoration when they feel like they could repair the damage on their own. Even with some experience in the industry, fires can vary significantly from one situation to another. The damages that you can see easily are rarely the full extent of what you have to contend with, which requires specific training to inspect and identify. Furthermore, home insurance companies often require the use of professional restoration companies like our SERVPRO team to ensure that the job gets completed quickly and to specific standards.

Our technicians can work quickly to limit the prolonged effects of the fire damages on the contents of your home or specific areas through our mitigation techniques. From the moment that we arrive at your home, our mitigation work can begin to help make the restoration work simpler and reduce the irreparable damage that can continue in your house until the next phase begins.

There is no time to spare when it comes to overcoming fire damages in your home. From the time that the first responders extinguish the blaze, you should be thinking of our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach fire damage restoration specialists to help you bring your home back to preloss conditions. Give us a call anytime you need us at (850) 863-2552.

Click here for more about Fort Walton Beach.

SERVPRO's Better And Faster Two Step Process For Removing Mold In Your Destin Home

9/26/2018 (Permalink)

Getting rid of mold is a two-step process involving remediation and restoration.

Remediation And Restoration Of Mold Damage In Destin

Getting rid of mold is a two-step process involving remediation and restoration. Remediation is what we do to remove the visible signs of damage and carry out preventative measures. It can be a complicated procedure which involves finding the source of mold, cleaning indoor air quality, removing non-salvageable materials and disinfecting the affected area. Once remediation is complete, we can begin restoration which focuses on returning your home to its preloss condition.

Signs of mold damage in Destin properties could include a strong, musty odor or visible colonies. Mold spores can only grow in areas where there is moisture, so it can be essential to check for structural or plumbing issues and fix them before remediation begins. When you call our emergency line, we ask a few questions to determine the type of equipment we need, the extent of damage and the type of personnel.

We have dealt with many properties with mold infestations, and few of them have been the same. However, despite the variety in size, type and extent of mold damage, SERVPRO has developed a general set of guidelines that is a proven success. On arrival, your technician conducts an inspection. Sometimes we may need to remove floorboards or sections of drywall to check for infections or hidden water sources.

Once a SERVPRO technician has completed an inspection, we can set up containment zones. Containment zones can be cordoned off using physical barriers like sealed plastic sheeting or negative air pressure. We do this to ensure mold spores cannot spread into unaffected areas of your home during the cleanup effort.

SERVPRO uses air filtration units with HEPA filters that are capable of removing microscopic spores from surrounding air. These can be placed in the affected area as cleaning work is carried out to reduce the likelihood of mold returning after the service or being spread around your home as work is carried out.

We can use an anti-fungal or anti-microbial cleaning treatment to remove mold colonies and prevent them returning. In cases where porous materials are deemed unsalvageable, we may have to remove insulation, drywall, carpets or curtains permanently. These are disposed of correctly in designated clean-rooms or taken with us after service.

We always work toward a restore over replace method. We can take special care of your contents using different cleaning techniques including mechanical cleaning for fabrics at a SERVPRO facility. Thoroughly deodorizing the affected areas after service is a priority for home-owners and we can carry out restoration of any carpets, drywall or re-painting to bring your home back to a preloss condition.

If your residential property is showing signs of mold, contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552 for professional remediation and restoration.

Click here for more about Destin.

Options for Destin Residents after a Mold Damage Experience

9/16/2018 (Permalink)

Finding mold in your home is cause for alarm. Call SERVPRO right away to investigate, contain and remediate the damage.

SERVPRO Technicians Follow Standards and Guidelines When Remediating a Mold Infestation in Your Home 

Homes and commercial buildings with excess moisture and standing water are likely to experience mold damage. Indoor mold can cause health effects and cause damage to your property if you do not act quickly and ensure the right remediation procedures are in place. It is possible to smell or visually identify the mold once it has developed in your Destin home.
 
We use several methods to address mold damage problems in Destin, and we choose the techniques by looking at the extent of contamination and the type of items that need cleaning. The primary goal that our SERVPRO technicians have during this time is to fix the moisture problem, clean restorable materials and discard items which are contaminated beyond use. When we are cleaning the mold off hard surfaces, we can use detergents and water, and at the same time scrub using a stiff brush. After rinsing and drying the surface, we can finally use a disinfectant to sterilize any present bacteria and fungi to prevent chances of the problem recurring.
 
Our SERVPRO technicians observe safety precaution during the remediation process. For instance, we wear a disposable overall when entering a building with visible mold growth. We also use N-95 rated respirators or full-face respirators, rubber gloves, and safety boots. Usually, we follow the OSHA standards when choosing the PPE.
 
After removing the mold and cleaning the contaminated surfaces, it is vital to dry wet surfaces and items properly. Air conditioners, auxiliary electric heaters, dehumidifiers, and fans are some of the drying equipment that our SERVPRO technicians use. After drying, we can use penetrative/intrusive moisture meters to check whether we have achieved our drying goal since relying on sight or touch can be misleading. We presume wet materials are dry when their moisture content is less than 15%.
 
SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach offers both mold remediation and cleaning services that meet residential and commercial needs. Call us at (850) 863-2552 at any time of the day and give us a chance to make it “Like it never even happened.”
 
Click here for more information on the city of Destin.

Working With Insurance Providers For Fast Fire Restoration In Destin Homes

9/6/2018 (Permalink)

Once a fire disaster strikes your Destin home, you want to know that there is a restoration company that can assist you day or night.

Working With Insurance Providers For Fast Fire Restoration

Once disaster strikes your Destin home, you want to know that there is a restoration company that can assist you day or night. Insurance companies usually have emergency contact information to help begin the claims process and get a grasp of the situation that has impacted your home, and work to reach the appropriate parties on your behalf to begin the restoration process.

Fire damages in your Destin home need to get addressed as quickly as possible, meaning that you have to seek out the help that you need as soon as you can. When you reach out to your insurance provider about the incident, many of them choose or encourage you to call our SERVPRO team. We have a rapid response procedure that can get the situation professionally assessed and get an estimate to your insurance provider as quickly as possible. This service ensures that the claims process is as efficient as it can be.

Your insurance provider is going to need proof that the incident has taken place and that the severity is as bad as you tell them it is. You should avoid attempting to take pictures and assess the situation on your own, as there could be structural concerns or dangers present in your house that professional outfits like our SERVPRO technicians have the expertise and protective equipment to navigate safely.

Our estimator works to thoroughly assess not only the extent of the damage that your home has sustained from the incident but also a record of unsalvageable items and materials encountered that your insurance company must include in their claims process. We work directly with the adjuster to cut out the legwork on your end, making the claims and restoration process as seamless as possible.

Our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team of fire restoration technicians works to maintain our goal of efficient service that meets or exceeds your expectations. It is this commitment that has made us a company to call for insurance outfits serving their clients. Let our crew know how we can help you today by calling (850) 863-2552.

Click here for more about Destin.

Stains To Deterioration - Mold Damage In Destin Homes Affect Walls And Ceilings

8/2/2018 (Permalink)

When homeowners discover their Destin property contains mold damage, a quick call to SERVPRO can make things right again.

Mold Damage In Your Home

Homes and apartments in the Destin area range from full-time residences to seasonal getaways. During unoccupied periods, microbes can create a lot of damage inside a home or other dwelling.

When homeowners discover their Destin property contains mold damage and other microbial activity, a quick call to SERVPRO can make things right again. Our trained technicians know how to save our customers money wherever possible by only replacing irreparable materials and always restoring anything else. We can do this because mold damage happens in different degrees of severity.

The walls and ceilings inside your home contain significant amounts of cellulose. Other organic matter from the daily activities in your home can also provide a large number of consumable materials for microbes. While mold grows on the flat surfaces of your interior architecture, these microorganisms eat away at the surfaces underneath them.

Caught early, your walls and ceilings might only suffer stains. At SERVPRO, we can get these stains removed or covered up with a primer coat of microbial-repellent paint. Left alone, mold damage can escalate so severely that these same walls can become much worse. With time, they can begin falling apart, crumbling in spots or collapsing from their own weight.

Falling in, as in the case with ceilings, can happen when water leaks in across the top of the ceiling and gradually softens the drywall, as well as allowing mold to grow out of control. When water evaporates steadily, this situation often involves only sections of the ceiling instead of a more extensive section. However, either can prove dangerous and cause a significant amount of injuries to anyone in the area when the ceiling collapses.

Living in a home with these problems can cause health effects, as well, due to the high content of mold spores often found in the air. Because of this risk, SERVPRO technicians always clean the air with HEPA-filter air scrubbers as we remediate the damage. When we finish, not only do the homes we work on look “Like it never even happened,” but the home is once again a healthy place to live in once more.

We want the families around Mary Esther, Eglin, and Hulbert to live in beautiful homes that also pose no health risks to the occupants. Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach's 24-hour service line at (850) 863-2552, and we can start the necessary mold damage remediation your home deserves.

Click here for more about Destin.

Grilling too Close to Exterior Walls can Lead to Fire Damage to Your Mary Esther Home

7/23/2018 (Permalink)

Fires can start in many places which seem controlled, such as your grill. Should your house be facing damage after a fire, contact SERVPRO right away.

Certified SERVPRO Technicians Assess the Fire Damage and Work Towards the Goal of Restoration

Summer means many families cook outdoors at home, preparing meals on the grill, and spend time enjoying fresh air and sunshine. Sometimes, the way a Mary Esther home's exterior is laid out can make grilling and barbecuing difficult. Lack of space is often a culprit.
 
Getting your grill too close to your residence can cause fire damage in Mary Esther to both the exterior and the interior of your house. While requirements regarding insulation often dictate a non-flammable state, this can change over time. A grill placed too close is only one way a fire can occur in your home, also.
 
Regardless of how a fire starts inside your home, SRPRO can help mitigate the damage caused. We know how to re-establish livable conditions in your home again, just “Like it never even happened.” Fire damage can create many changes inside your home's undamaged areas, as well, but we always make sure we resolve these issues, also. Odor, water left behind from fighting the fire, bubbled paint from over-heated areas that did not catch on fire are some examples.
 
Because our team members work so well together, we resolve all of these problems quickly. We want to help get your family back home, or if you did not need to leave and reside elsewhere, to have the entirety of your home back to normal.
 
When families can stay in a home after a fire, the damaged area must remain unoccupied for both safety reasons and to allow our employees the space needed to complete the job. When a family must vacate their home, stress and significant inconveniences become an aspect of life that we know can create severe hardships.
 
Once our work ends, we walk through each area we worked in and explain the results to you. We are always available to answer questions, but we understand each stage, including the completion of our work, is unique to our customers. Questions are still welcome because we want to make sure you know what we need to do to restore everything wholly and safely.
 
SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is always here at (850) 863-2552 to take your call. We serve Fort Walton Beach and Destin and many more area residents for the restoration of their homes after fire damage and other crises.

Our Fast Water Removal Can Save Your Mary Esther Home

7/12/2018 (Permalink)

Water from a broken dishwasher can ruin your home.

Water Removal Can Save Your Home

Water from a broken dishwasher can ruin your home. It is true that appliances are built to make life easier and to give us more free time. Unfortunately, they do malfunction on occasion like yours did today. There is water all over your beautiful kitchen floor. Luckily, there are trained and skilled professionals nearby that can safely and effectively extract the excess water from your home.

Our SERVPRO water removal team in Mary Esther may use mops, extractors and wet vacuums during the migration process. You can depend on our crew to arrive at your residence within hours after you first contact us. They are highly efficient and work fast to reduce the amount of damage to your property. Standing water can ruin flooring and can cause further damage, which is why it is essential to reach us right away. Our IICRC certified technicians work quickly to solve the problem. They can handle a wide variety of water emergencies and have the proper equipment and expertise to do the job right.

After the migration period, the crew starts the drying phase. Drying the structure may involve the use of air movers, axial fans, and dehumidifiers. The team may also use large drying mats to remove moisture from the floor and to dry the area beneath the flooring. Mold can cause health effects, which is why drying subflooring can be vital to the drying process. The team may strategically place air movers and fans in the area to expedite the drying time. If needed, the crew may use dehumidifiers to reduce the amount of moisture in the area and to increase evaporation.

We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster. Contacting us can help prevent mold growth and can save your property. Our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach crew is fast and reliable and can restore your home when possible. Call us at (850) 863-2552 any time during the day or night. You can trust our skilled techs to respond quickly 24/7.

Click here for more about Mary Esther.

SERVPRO Supplies Destin Customers with a Stress-Free Post Storm Water Extraction and Cleanup

6/28/2018 (Permalink)

Tropical Storm Winds and Rain Causing Problems to Your Destin Property? Call SERVPRO for Help

Storm-Induced Damage in Destin? Call SERVPRO for Fast Cleanup and Restoration

While residents of Destin might not be a stranger to weather systems significant enough to cause substantial flooding through the area, many homes find themselves ill-prepared for this possibility when it happens. Storms passing through can create the kind of damage to allow water into your home through the siding and the roof.

Most Destin homeowners regarding storm damage do not even realize that their houses are susceptible to these disastrous conditions until the water begins flowing into the lower levels of their home unabated. While this situation is challenging enough for just block and concrete construction, when a large limb falls through the roof in a severe tropical storm, the damages and problems are exacerbated.

Our team of SERVPRO technicians is always available to handle emergency calls and works quickly to limit the damage that your home experiences from this natural disaster. From the moment that we arrive at your house, we locate the source of the flooding through the roof, and if possible, we can cover the exposed area with a tarp. Keeping out addition stormwater reduces further water damage and cuts down the service time to dry out your structure. A general contractor can repair the roof when the time is appropriate.

Our technicians can focus on removing any sagging ceilings caused by water intrusion through the attic for safety as well as drying reasons, and discard any soaked insulation as we set up dehumidification equipment.

Flood cuts are often a necessary approach to reach wall cavities and to remove overly saturated portions of drywall used in the finishing process for your lower level. By eliminating several inches to several feet of the material from the floors, our SERVPRO professionals can better extract and dry the areas affected by the pooled water. A thorough drying ensures that no lingering moisture gets left to cause secondary water damages unseen in the walls or underneath the flooring. Persistent moisture combined with the average warmth of a residence is a breeding ground for mold growth.

Flooding in your home is often something that you do not have the time to plan for and prevent. With all of the contents and construction materials in your living space, contacting professional restoration services can help you to keep the damage as minimal as possible. You can trust in our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach restoration specialists to help you clean up the mess and quickly return your home to preloss conditions, "Like it never even happened." Give us a call 24/7 at (850) 863-2552.

Things to do in Destin, click

Why Conventional Cleaning Does Not Remove Your Niceville Mold Problem

6/13/2018 (Permalink)

The discovery of mold growing in your Niceville home is never an easy thing to see.

Conventional Cleaning Does Not Remove Your Mold Problem

The discovery of mold growing in your Niceville home is never an easy thing to see. From the moment that you recognize what is happening, you might not even know what the next step to take is. Many owners mistakenly believe that they can handle a fungal growth like this on their own. There are several reasons to attest as to why this is not the case.

While you certainly want to handle mold damage in your Niceville residence as quickly as possible, handling this situation on your own is rarely an option. Most conventional cleaning methods only ever affect the top layer of the surface you are scrubbing, leaving any more deeply seated organism free to continue growing once the cleaning has stopped.

Our SERVPRO applied microbial remediation technicians undergo extensive training on mold and microbial growth. We can identify the type of mold that is growing in your home and the best ways to remove it and restore the damage it has caused. Our technicians get certified in their ability to contend with the harmful and sometimes hazardous conditions mold presents in a standard set in place by the IICRC.

With the potential health effects that can get attributed now to exposure to mold colonies in your home or business, you want to make sure that the removal of this intruder happens quickly and thoroughly. As stated above, conventional cleaning methods are often ineffective against a thriving mold colony, and a more concentrated effort is necessary.

Our SERVPRO technicians have the equipment and expertise to learn the farthest and deepest reaches of the colony and to work to remove the entire organism with our efforts. From sanding to soda blasting, penetrative approaches ensure that the entire hyphae feel the effects of our remediation efforts.

You might not be ready for finding mold in your house, but you can know whom to call when it happens. Our SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach mold remediation specialists can help you to remove the thriving colony and work to prevent future recurrences. Call SERVPRO anytime at (850) 863-2552.

Click here for more about Niceville.

The Common Effects After a Fire in Your Destin Home

6/10/2018 (Permalink)

Smoke is almost always a part of fire damage. Contact SERVPRO right away should your property suffer from a fire.

Team SERVPRO Tackles the Fire Damage Remediation Process From an Inspection to Restoration

The effects of a fire in your Destin home can be an overwhelming sight to see. When it comes to picking up the pieces and restoring the damage, most often it is a process best left to professionals with the right equipment and expertise to get the job finished correctly and have that job completed as efficiently as possible.

Fire damages in your Destin home appear in a variety of ways. From soot and smoke damage to the need for reconstruction, the right professionals can make all the difference. Our SERVPRO technicians get trained to handle all manner of fire damage, including the most efficient approaches to cleaning up the mess and the best methods for restoring a home to preloss conditions.

The process begins with a full inspection of all of the damages that your home faces. This assessment is in part to provide your insurance adjuster with the appropriate information to expedite a claim and also to give you and our SERVPRO professionals a better idea of the work that is necessary to restore the home.

For highly structurally damaged properties, there is little that we can do until the rebuilding and remodeling have occurred in the areas that need it. Once this reconstruction gets completed, our professionals can work to start removing the lingering harmful effects of the fire such as the soot and smoke damages.

Smoke damage is one of the most difficult to remove from your home because it often takes the form of a noxious odor that spreads throughout the affected areas of your residence. This effect often requires the use of thermal foggers and other such equipment to break apart the harsh smell on a molecular level. The process leaves no discernable scent behind and can be used to treat carpets, furniture, draperies, and more.

Overcoming a fire in your home does not have to leave you on an island. You can always count on the expertise and rapid response of SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach. Our dedicated team of fire restoration specialists can help you to bring your home back to its original condition quickly. Give us a call today at (850) 863-2552.
 
Click here for more about Destin.

SERVPRO Helps Make Sure Doors Get Back Open After Water Removal from Destin Bars

5/24/2018 (Permalink)

Getting your bar open quickly after a water damage event is our goal. Contact our team for an assessment and remediation services.

Drying Out Your Commercial Property is Our Top Priority After a Water Damage Event

Whether it is the weather, a mechanical mishap, or a rowdy patron that creates the problem, fast water removal from bars in Destin is essential to ensure that they reopen doors and avoid going out of business permanently. Nationwide, roughly half of all service businesses that encounter significant water damage never reopen, but with the help of a fast and cost-effective mitigation company like SERVPRO, you can get the place open sooner and open up the flow of customers anew.

Speed of Operations.
Establishments like bars take priority in commercial water removal cases in Destin handled by SERVPRO, as we know that waiting too long for appropriate treatment can put a small business out of commission for good. As local residents, we take pride in the area's strong service sector and enjoy frequenting many nearby places: our technicians may be some of your customers. We respond quickly and set up industrial-strength water removal and restoration technology to dry out the area and prevent additional damage from occurring. We follow this stage up with a series of fast and efficient damage restoration processes that get your business back to the way it was before the accident.

Quality of Service
Customers do not take kindly to poor restoration jobs. With a less-experienced company handling water removal and restoration work, customers may in time find many small issues that dissuade them from return trips and from providing favorable reviews both online and in-person. SERVPRO makes sure to nail down every detail possible and provide a reliable, thorough job done for every client business. Part of the reason why many insurance providers recommend our services is because the quality of our work helps to avoid future calamities and expenses of a similar variety. If you would like to see examples of work we have done for local companies like yours, check out some of the before and after photographs posted on the website.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach provides water removal and damage restoration services to help your business get back in action sooner rather than later. Call us 24/7 at (850) 863-2552.
 
Click here for more information on the city of Destin.

When Mold Grows in Your Destin Home, Trust Professional Remediators to Safely Remove it

4/29/2018 (Permalink)

Mold can spread quickly and is very unsightly. Contact SERVPRO right away after you see or smell mold in your home.

SERVPRO Technicians Understand the Science Behind the Prevention of Mold

Severe weather systems rolling in from the coast and a constant humidity are two ever-present battles that Destin homeowners are asked to endure for their little slice of paradise. Of course, the trouble with these specific issues is the damage that they can cause to a house when they have a chance. Severe weather has a nasty habit of causing flooding for residents in the area, and if improperly cleaned up and not thoroughly dried, your home could be at risk for fungal growth.
 
Unfortunately, the high levels of humidity (if not maintained adequately within your home) could also result in mold damages in Destin. When moisture is present in the environment, naturally occurring mold spores only require warmer temperatures and an organic surface to seat and form colonies. With this ease that mold can grow in your home, it is not a surprise that so many in the area struggle with the presence of varieties of mold growing in their residence.
 
When our SERVPRO team arrives at your home, we get to work quickly on sectioning off the area of your house where the mold actively grows and thrives. This isolation gets best accomplished with the use of negative air chambers or air scrubbers with HEPA filters. This level of protection can help to limit the spread of active mold spores through the efforts to remove the colonies are underway.
 
Sanding and spraying the surfaces with a chemical intended to penetrate through the porous materials (like the wood framing of your home) often is the most effective means of removing the mold colonies. This process is not always successful, as the mold can be too deep in the material for remediation efforts for our SERVPRO technicians to reach them entirely. In these unfortunate circumstances, construction materials and structural components need to get removed and replaced with new materials for the remediation process to complete.
 
While this is only a small piece of the overall mold remediation process, it can show the level of dedication and expertise that you can expect from SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach. Our mold remediation specialists are available 24/7 to help you through any circumstance you might face just by calling (850) 863-2552.

Click here for more information on the town of Destin.

Crucial Water Removal Services Help Restore Your Destin Home After a Fire

4/18/2018 (Permalink)

Water removal services are needed after fire damage

How water can affect your home after a fire

Restoring your home after a fire happens in your Destin residence involves a variety of crucial steps and procedures. Without the implementation of these steps, your home can suffer additional and unexpected damage months after the completion of restoration efforts.

One step that might seem counter-intuitive in restoring a Destin area home after a fire includes water removal services. However, removing the thousands of gallons the fire department used to extinguish the fire that attempted to destroy your home must happen or your home's future includes water damage as well as the destruction caused by the fire's heat, smoke, and flames. Removing it prevents both water and mold from creating more problems. It also helps keep restoration work from becoming an expensive but futile exercise.

At SERVPRO, we use a diverse array of equipment that can remove standing water, moisture hidden in absorbent materials, and humidity from the air. Because of the heat involved in a house fire, much of the water sprayed into your home by firefighters often does not remain a liquid but evaporates into steam. A significant portion of this steam remains in the air, with a considerable amount condensing on surfaces. When those surfaces can absorb the moisture, they do so quite readily, and then retain it, leading to mold problems, rusting of nearby metal pieces, and water stains and damage.

We understand that you want your home restored to preloss condition after a catastrophe such as a house fire, as quickly as possible. Even though the firefighters' water often remains invisible instead of making itself known as the charred materials, smokey smells, and soot-covered belongings do, we aggressively remove it from your home.

Without water removal services, homes that sustained fire damage and then allowed to 'dry out naturally' often harbor mold colonies only a few weeks afterward. Water damage also accrues steadily over time, and left-behind water can quickly damage freshly painted areas with both stains and bubbling, warp wood components, and disintegrate fresh glue in flooring. Restoring your home's natural levels of humidity prevents these problems.

Hand-held units efficiently extract water from floors while the overall humidity in your home quickly decreases once we begin running our desiccant machines. Air movers also help when walls and ceilings, undamaged by the fire, hold water that may have entered via vents in the walls or through charred areas that created holes. Dehumidifiers help in areas experiencing lower amounts of humidity in the air, such as attached garages and sunrooms or other areas of the home that did not sustain damage during the fire.

After a fire affects your home, call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at (850) 863-2552. We ensure that every step of the restoration process, including water removal, brings your home closer to its preloss state.

Click here for information on Destin, FL

Faulty Appliances Can Offer Water Damage to Your Destin House

4/15/2018 (Permalink)

Often when an appliance causes your home to flood, extraction is a necessary step to the water damage restoration process.

SERVPRO is Here to Help When Failing Appliances Cause Water Damage to Your Home

Your Destin home might have most of the luxuries that many feel that a home needs for comfortable living. The trouble with these implements designed to make your life easier is that you cannot always account for when things start to go wrong with them. Appliances are essential for this comfortable living, but they do not get designed or built to last forever.

While you might not consider that appliances are all that likely to cause water damage to your Destin residence, you could get surprised to learn just how typical it is for these machines to ultimately malfunction and allow significant volumes of water to pour out onto your floor. Washing machines and dishwashers get connected to a direct line of water, and when these machines fail to function correctly, they can continue to fill indefinitely until you manually shut down the supply line valve.

Water damage itself can cause various effects to your home, so taking care of the problem correctly and quickly is essential for less out of pocket expenses and lengthy repairs. Our SERVPRO professionals get specially trained to handle all manner of water emergencies and have the tools and expertise to handle whatever damages you face to help prevent compounding conditions or the need for large-scale reconstruction.

From the moment that our team arrives at your home, we assess the damage that you face and begin putting together a unique approach to resolving the present issues and restoring the area. In many cases involving failing appliances, some water extraction is necessary, and this gets accomplished through the use of wet vacs. Drying the area involves air movers and dehumidification equipment, but it might also involve our large drying mats to penetrate underneath flooring material to ensure the area gets thoroughly dried.

You should never sit around and wait for water damage to resolve itself, as waiting around opens the door for other types of disasters like mold growth. Instead, choose the trusted SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach team to help you clean up the mess and restore the damage that you are facing quickly and efficiently. Give us a call 24/7 at (850) 863-2552.

Click here for more information on the city of Destin.

When Severe Storms Cause Flooding In Your Destin Residence

3/13/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Swiftly Extracts Flooded Water from Destin Properties

Call SERVPRO Fast to Keep Storm Damages to a Minimum

A raging storm might seem potentially problematic enough as it is, considering elements like hail and high winds that can significantly impact the structural integrity of the exterior of your Destin home. The truth is, it is often the least expected culprits that tend to do the most substantial damage. A good example is falling tree limbs (or uprooted trees in general) that gash holes into the siding and through interior walls, or collapse portions of a roof, presenting large holes which allow rainwater from the severe storm to quickly access the interior of your house.
 
From the moment that a disaster like this strikes your Destin home, it is now susceptible to flood damage. If the severe storm that impacted the tree to fall into your house continues for some time, it can allow untold amounts of rainwater to access the affected area of your home through the newly formed wound. While you might not have the experience to handle a situation like this and to restore the current damages to preloss conditions, our experienced SERVPRO technicians do.
 
When we get dispatched to your home (either amid the storm or after) our immediate priority is the same: we have to seal up the exterior damage to your home that became the source of the floodwater. Often this is simple enough to do in a fundamental sense, as we can board up or tarp over holes to keep elemental damages from getting worse while the restoration process is underway. However, this is a stop-gap measure if it is not too extensively damaged. A construction company should be called in for permanent fixing of breaches to the structure.
 
Once this process has gotten completed, our SERVPRO restoration specialists can implement our extraction equipment to pull the high volumes of water from the floors and surfaces of this area of your home. Wet-vacs with extraction wands typically get used in these situations as they are small enough to reach into smaller crevices and have the power to pull up the liquid quickly.
 
It is nice to think of SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach as neighborhood professionals that can help you to restore your home in the event of storm damage and flooding. Our team has the training and experience to repair and restore the damage to your home quickly and professionally. Give us a call today at (850) 863-2552.

More about this Emerald Coast city here.

Commercial Water Removal can Save Your Destin Bakery

2/25/2018 (Permalink)

Bakeries and other places where food is made need to be dry and clean at all times. Should your business have a water damage incident, call SERVPRO.

SERVPRO Technicians Arrive Quickly to Dry Out Your Water Damaged Business

Destin locals love baked goods, especially when they come fresh out of the bakery that made them. A broken water line to your facility's ice maker can lead to standing water in your kitchen, though, causing not only an immediate slip and fall hazard for your employees and customers but also an unexpected risk of damage caused by water and microbial activity.
 
Bakeries and other food-producing businesses can rely on SERVPRO's commercial water removal experts in Destin to help remove any remaining after the initial cleanup efforts and prevent a multitude of expensive problems from developing. When we arrive, our initial assessment helps determine which methods we should use.
 
For vast amounts of water, such as experienced when a water line breaks and goes undetected for several hours, we use pumps mounted on large trucks. These units come equipped with submersible pumps that can remove any amount of water quite rapidly. After we remove standing water or for smaller emergencies, we use portable pumps, operated by hand, to extract water from small nooks and crannies. Removing the water can still leave your bakery damp. Heat and increased air circulation increase the rate of evaporation.
 
However, to capture the moisture in the air before it can lead to high humidity, which we know can affect the quality of your baked goodies, we set up dehumidifiers. For sizable jobs, a desiccant machine might work more efficiently and serve your needs better. Wherever foodstuffs come into contact with the water, we clean and remove the damaged inventory. We can help with insurance claims by providing third-party inventory lists to you. These can also aid you in replacing the correct amounts, so your bakery's downtime remains even more manageable.
 
The professional team members at SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach earn their various certifications from the IICRC, ensuring our communities' businesses of quality work when emergencies calling for water removal arise. If your bakery in Mary Esther, Okaloosa Island, or nearby location needs our services for this or other emergencies, call us at (850) 863-2552.

For more information regarding Destin, click here.

Quality Water Removal Services in Destin Make for a Healthy Business and Happy Holiday Customers

1/29/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can quickly restore your restaurant in the case of commercial water damage, allowing you to welcome incoming tourists and snow birds.

SERVPRO Offers Quick and Efficient Commercial Water Removal Services

A vacation destination community like Destin is the dream of people living in chilly, snowy climes. Planning and saving for some ocean time should result in fun and frolic, not a disappointment. Businesses relying on seasonal residents and the tourist trade cannot afford to renege on promises made due to water incursion problems. We have a proven track record of remediating water issues, so business and memory making continues.

Retail shops, entertainment venues, lodgings, and restaurants in Destin suffer when water removal becomes necessary. Regardless of the reason for the crisis -- broken pipes, appliance malfunction, operator error -- pools and puddles of water in your commercial spaces brings your business to a halt. Modern water removal techniques and equipment like those we employ can transform wet and dangerous to dry and back on course for your anxious customers fast.

Water removal and structural drying are two of our core services at SERVPRO. When we send work crews to your location, you can be confident that our employees are thoroughly trained through Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) courses in all aspects of your water removal requirements. The IICRC sets industry standards internationally for the best practices in the water damage restoration industry.

We arrive with vehicles fully equipped and ready for fast water removal. Water more than two inches deep is attacked with submersible pumps, and then powerful water extractors move in to pull water out of cracks, crevices, and hidden areas behind walls. SERVPRO technicians use moisture meters to help set drying baselines and scanners to locate pockets of water that we work to release by removing sections of walls or drilling holes.

Once the water is removed, drying commences. High-efficiency air movers and dehumidifiers bring moisture levels down quickly, and the SERVPRO team monitors this process constantly to determine when the drying targets are achieved. Different materials have various optimum moisture levels, and this is noted and taken into consideration so we do not overshoot a mark nor leave unwanted moisture that could cause secondary damage.

Water removal must be accomplished quickly to get your business up and running again. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is on task 24 hours a day. Call us at (850) 863-2552 to set up an assessment and plan to get the water out of your commercial building.

Click here for more information regarding the city of Destin.

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree

11/27/2017 (Permalink)

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree how lovely are thy branches. Christmas trees bring lights, joy and happiness into our homes during the holiday season, however they also bring risk of fires that could damage your home!

According to the American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA) Christmas trees alone result in $13 million in property damage each year.  We at SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach want to give you some tips on keeping your holiday safe and to be fire free.  

  1. CHOOSE FRESH OVER A CHEAP DRY TREE.The fresher the tree, the less likely it will pose a fire hard.  Look for flexible needles that don't break, and a trunk that has sap.
  2. KEEP THE WATER COMING. The tree stand should contain a continuous source of water and be sturdy enough to resist toppling over by children or pets.
  3. DON'T  OVERLOAD THE CORD.  Attach only 3 maximum strings of lights to anyone extension cord, then place cords along wall to prevent a tripping hazard.  Never run them under rugs or carpet.
  4. TREES DON'T NEED WARMTH.  Keep trees away from heat sources such as fireplaces, candles and even TV's.
  5. NOT ANY LIGHTS WILL DO.  Use low energy, safe lighting that's been certified by a safety testing lab.  Don't use damaged or frayed cords.
  6. UNPLUG LIGHTS.  Never leave the lights on over night or while you are not at home.
  7. DON'T KEEP A DRY TREE AROUND.  Dispose of it at this point properly.
  8. ARTIFICIAL TREE SAFETY AWARENESS.  Artificial trees should be flame resistant and have a seal of approval from a safety testing lab if the tree contains a built in lighting.
  9. DEATH BY ARTIFICIAL TREE. If the tree is metal, never use electric lights, as they can charge the tree and lead to electrocution.
  10. KEEP A FIRE EXTINGUISHER NEARBY.  Make sure that you have a fire extinguisher and everyone knows where it is located and how to use it.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach wishes you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  BE SAFE!  Remember we are here for you 24/7/365. 

FIRE SAFETY TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!

11/15/2017 (Permalink)

FIRE SAFETY TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner!!  This is the time of the year FOOD is one of the main focus’s -  The delicious turkey, dressing, sweet potato casserole, carnberries and the list goes on!  And what does that mean?? Lots of things going on in the kitchen and lots of people all helping out.  You may not realize that everyone’s favorite eating holiday Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires!  That is according to the US Fire Administration (USFA), a division of the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA)

 SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach has some fire safety tips for you and your loved ones this holiday season.

KEEP THE CHAOS OUR OF THE KITCHEN

Holiday meal preparation can be hectic, especially once guests begin to arrive.  For everyone’s safety, insist that all non-food-related activity happens outside of the kitchen.  Fewer people in the kitchen means fewer chances for a kitchen fire during holiday cooking.

NEVER LEAVE THE STOVE UNATTENDED

Stand by your pan! If you have to leave, turn the burner off. Make sure that all the handles are facing towards the middle of the stove, where no one can bump into them. 

DRESS FOR SAFETY

When you’re in the kitchen, how you dress can be critical.  Wear short or tight-fitting sleeves, and tie back long hair.  Loose clothing and long hair can catch fire when you least expect it, causing severe burns and spreading the fire to the rest of the kitchen.

BE READY TO PUT OUT A COOKING FIRE

The most effective way to put out a cooking fire is to smother it.  Keep a tight-fitting lid and potholder within reach anytime you use the stove so you can smother any flames that ignite inside a frying pan or saucepan.  Keep a working fire extinguisher handy for fires that start outside a cooking pot or pan.  Remember to aim the extinguisher at the base of the flame, not at the flames themselves.

IF YOU CANNOT GET A COOKIING FIRE UNDER CONTROL QUICKLY, EVACUATE THE HOUSE AND CALL 911.

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach 850-863-2552 wants to wish you and your family a very Happy and SAFE holiday season!!

"I Think I Have Mold"

10/23/2017 (Permalink)

“I THINK I HAVE MOLD.” IS A COMMON PHONE CALL THAT WE GET HERE IN THE PANHANDLE OF FLORIDA. 

FLORIDA WOULDN’T BE FLORIDA WITH OUT HIGH HUMIDITY AND THAT IS WHY WE SEEM TO HAVE MORE PROBLEMS WITH MOLD THAN THE OTHER HOMEOWNER IN OTHER STATES.

UNDERSTANDING MOLD

Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.  Mold spores are microscopic, floating along in the air and may enter your home through a window, door or AC/heating systems.  They can even catch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.  Mold spores thrive on moisture and can start growing within 72 hours.   Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water or high humidity. Mold often produces a strong, musty odor, and that odor can lead you to mold problem areas.  These colonies may produce allergens and irritants.   Try to keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.   

 HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST FREQUENT WAYS THAT MOLD ACTUALLY BECOMES A PROBLEM IN A HOUSE OR YOUR PLACE OF BUSINESS:

  • Roof damage from aged roofing materials or a strong storm
  • Leaking pipes or sewer back-ups
  • Household equipment overflowing such as a dishwasher, washing machine or water heater
  • AC units blowing too much humidity
  • Condensation on cold surfaces
  • Heavy rain or flooding from severe storms or cresting of rivers and/or a storm surge
  • Damp crawl spaces or basements

If you have any reason to think you have a mold problem or have water damage of any kind please  give us a call at SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach 850-863-2552.  Our highly trained technicians are here for you 24/7/365. We will make it “Like it never even happened.”

Some Myths about Mold

10/23/2017 (Permalink)

A FEW MYTHS ABOUT MOLD THAT EVERYONE THINKS ARE TRUE!

When it comes to mold there is a lot of misinformation floating around out there.  The mention of the word “MOLD” people will start to panic.  In reality, mold can be a serious problem, but with a little common sense and the right information, you can learn what is truth and what is myth when dealing with mold.

HERE ARE A FEW MYTHS ABOUT MOLD

  • ALL MOLD IS BAD – NOPE!! Do you like blue cheese? Or have you ever given taken penicillin?  Mold is used in making cheese and medicine.
  • BLEACH KILLS MOLD – This is half truth. Bleach may kill certain kinds of mold on non-porous surfaces however, it is not clear that bleach can kill all kinds of mold nor kill mold on porous surfaces such as mold.  Research is continuing to be done on the effectiveness of bleach as a mold cleanup agent. 
  • KILLING MOLD IS ENOUGH, I DON’T NEED TO REMOVE IT – Killing mold is not enough. Putting aside the conflicting reports on what kills mold, simply killing mold does not remove the health effects as the allergens are still present even in dead mold.  To properly protect against health effects, removal of the affected areas is often necessary.  Care must be taken when removing the affected areas so that the allergens and mold is not spread throughout the home or place of business.  That is why you call the professionals SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach 850-863-2552 to properly fix the problem.
  • MOLD IS NATURAL, YOU SHOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT IT – While mold may be natural, constant exposure to mold can have a negative effect on someone’s health. If mold is growing in your home or place of business it needs to be addressed because it will not only deteriorate your home/building but cause health issues with you family or coworkers
  • IF YOU ONLY SEE A LITTLE BIT OF MOLD IT IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT – If mold is to the point that you visibly see it growing on surfaces in your home or work place then you have a problem! Mold is like an iceberg, you generally see only the tip of it while the majority is below the surface.  If you see a little bit of mold you mostly likely have more growing that your cannot see!!
  • CLEANING UP MOLD ISNT HARD! YOU SHOULD  DIY! – This is another half truth.  While you may be able to clean up certain kinds of mold in small quantities most people are not equipped to do proper mold remediation.  Simply wiping down the evidence is not good enough.   If it is more than 10 square feet then you first need to have a hygienist come in and do testing and a protocol the call your professional SERVPRO of FORT WALTON BEACH 850-863-2552 to come in and do the proper containment of the area and follow the protocol to make sure that your home or office is properly cleaned.

 https://www.cdc.gov/mold/cleanup.htm

  https://www.epa.gov/mold

National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

9/5/2017 (Permalink)

The Ribbon Signifies a Vital Endeavor

SERVPRO Proudly Supports National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month 

Suicide is a tragedy that can affect any individual, whether as a person struggling with suicidal ideation and thoughts or as one of a circle of family, friends, and community members who want to help. Many resources are available year-round for both victims and their circles, but September is the month we refocus on the supports in our community. Suicide prevention is only effective if the information is made available and shared throughout the Fort Walton Beach area, and we are reminded each September to do our part to make this happen.

We at SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach have the honor to be part of the network victims and their support circles turn to after suicide affects their lives. Compassionate and professional restoration services are our contribution, and we deliver them quickly, discretely, and with respect for all those impacted by the traumatic event. Our entire company commits to deliver what is needed at your home or business to help the healing begin.

More information on this area click here.

Fire Damage in Fort Walton Beach, FL

12/13/2016 (Permalink)

Fire Damage SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach cleaned-up

When a fire happens, the first thing homeowners want to do is return their home to normal. The last thing they want to do is deal with the paperwork. That's understandable when one of the worst things that can happen to your home actually does, it's a nightmare came true. 

As a Fort Walton Beach homeowner, fire damage isn't just a job to you, and we at SERVPRO feel the same way. This is perhaps the most stressful thing to happen to you as a homeowner, and we will be with you from the first examination to when we put the keys back in your hand. We have six key steps to make sure it happens. 

1) We make sure YOU are satisfied - Our inspectors and technicians will explain the restoration process to you and answer every question. 

2) Minimize and further loss - Our teams are highly skilled and trained to prevent secondary property loss from smoke or soot damage and as we move your property out of the damaged areas and then back in once the work is completed. 

3) Identify what can be restored - We will test every item that may have been exposed to determine if it can be cleaned, does not require cleaning or could be questionable and depends on your decision. We will also be honest with you about what is no longer useful and needs to be replaced. 

4) Save you and your insurance adjuster time - We will help you work with your adjuster to process everything as quickly as possible. Our initial testing and inspections provide the adjuster with the information they need to get your fire insurance case started. 

5) Report the scope of loss - Our work reports to the both of you keep the paperwork moving as we restore your home and property. They also help the adjuster review our services and prioritize the work schedule to reduce costs. Once we're done, we will provide a final report that will help the adjuster process all final paperwork. 

6) Produce quality restoration - In the end, even if the insurance adjuster is happy with our work, we've failed if you aren't happy. This last step is what customer service is all about for us.

We don't just come in, drag out your possessions, throw on a coat of paint and then hand you a bill. As a locally owned franchise, SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is here to help our neighbors through every step of the fire restoration process. If you need us, call us today at (850)863-2552 to get started.

Are You Ready for the Holidays?

11/21/2016 (Permalink)

The holiday season is one of the best times of the year!  There is so much to look forward to, so you don’t want any accident to ruin your plans, home, or business. 

There are a couple things SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach wants you to check before you get into that holiday spirit:

  1. Check your home or business furnace before starting. Change the air filter, clear the vents of any debris, and make sure your thermostat is working properly. 
  2. Remember to turn off those lovely scented candles before you leave your house or office. Candles are one of the top fire starters when left unattended.
  3. Before placing your beautiful Christmas tree in the perfect spot, check the surrounding area. Make sure there is nothing that could catch the tree on fire, and that includes ornaments.
  4. Along with the Christmas tree placement, check the lights before you put them up outside or inside. Look for frayed wires or any hazards that could create an electrical fire.  Do not overload your outlets, too.
  5. Take it easy on the cookie baking. Make sure your oven is working properly and if you smell gas and hear a hissing noise, leave your house and call the emergency utility line immediately.  Do not reenter your house until it is checked for a gas leak.
  6. If you have a fireplace, have it inspected to see if it needs cleaning. Soot is flammable and can build up, so ensure your fireplace is good to go before you start using it!

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is available 24 hours a day, even on holidays, if an emergency occurs.  Make sure to call 850-863-2552 if there is any emergency we can help with!

 

*Remember, we are available for carpet, tile, drape, and upholstery cleanings too! We want to ease the craziness and take care of all that for you! Happy Holidays from SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach!

 

October - Fire Prevention Month

10/18/2016 (Permalink)

Fire in Destin, FL

   October in Florida – the perfect time of the year to get together with family and friends and prepare for the upcoming holidays ahead!  There is so much to look forward to like bonfires, dinners, parties, and etc.  SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach wants to remind you that October is also Fire Prevention Month!  Your safety is so important to us that we want to share how to prevent fires from happening in your home or business.

   Since 2013, SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach has partnered up with the American Red Cross and established the Disaster Responder Program to reduce fire injuries and deaths.  We want to provide you with some tips to prevent fires:

  • Install smoke detectors and test them every month to ensure they are working properly.
  • Have a conversation with your family or coworkers about a fire escape plan and establish a meeting spot outside.
  • Keep all items that could catch fire away from the stove and oven.
  • Make sure all candles are blown out before you go to bed or leave the house.
  • Learn how to use a fire extinguisher – you can contact your local fire department for training.
  • Ensure you have flashlights that are easily accessible if the power goes out.
  • Check your heating sources to make sure they are clean and working properly.
  • Do not overload extension cords.

   These are just some of the many ways to assist in preventing fires.  You can find more information online at www.redcross.org/homefires.  If a fire does occur, make sure to call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach, we offer FREE board ups and can provide you with everything you need to make your home or office look “like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach customer experience

6/13/2016 (Permalink)

Customers experience with SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach after suffering a water loss in her Destin home

Having a water loss in you in your home is never an easy process to deal with, here at SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach we work hard to make that process as seamless as possible. We stand by our motto and work to make it “Like it never even happened.” 

We often hear positive feedback about our services and crew members. Our owners recently received a typed letter from a more-than-satisfied customer. We are proud to have employees who go above and beyond their responsibilities to make sure customers are taken care of. Keep up the good work, John. You make us proud. 

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach specializes in:  water remediation, flood mitigation, carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, mold removal, fire damage, and smoke clean up, disaster restoration, storm response, and air duct cleaning. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach has been serving the Emerald Coast for over 20 years. We are licensed and insured. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach (850)863-2552

SERVPRO is here to help tips if your Fort Walton Beach home is affected by Fire & Smoke

6/10/2016 (Permalink)

Fire Damage in a Fort Walton Beach Home.

Do:

·         Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particle from being embedded into upholstery and carpet.

·         Keep hands clean. Soot on hands can further soil upholstery, walls and woodwork.

·         Place dry, colorfast towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery and carpet traffic areas.

·         If heat is off during winter, pour RV antifreeze in sinks, toilet bowls, holding tanks and tubs to avoid freezing pipes and fixtures.

·         Wash both sides of leaves on house plants.

·         Change HVAC filters, but leave system off until a trained professional can check the system.

·         Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers to stop particles of soot from getting in or out of the HVAC system

Don’t:

·         Attempt to wash any walls or painted surface

·         Attempt to shampoo carpet or upholstery furniture

·         Attempt to clean any electrical appliances ( TVsets, radios, etc.) that may have been close to fire, heat or water

·         Consume any food or beverage that may have been stored close to fire, heat or water( They may be contaminated)

·         Turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet. Wiring may be wet or damaged and cause electrical shock, and air movement may create secondary damage.

·         Send garments to the dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set smoke odor.

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, so SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach tailors a unique solution. Whether in Okaloosa, Walton, Washington or Holmes County we restore your property. Call us 24/7 for prompt service. (850) 863-2552

SERVPRO Can Quickly Start the Fire Damage Restoration for Your Okaloosa County Property

6/10/2016 (Permalink)

Fire Damage in kitchen at an Okaloosa County home

When Okaloosa fire damage strike your home, it is essential to hire a professional team to help restore any damages. Get an Estimate Right Away. Call your homeowner's insurance agent, ask for a suggestion for a fire damage restoration company, so that this group can meet with your insurance adjuster. SERVPRO has a working relationship with over 315 insurance and property management companies. This company will work with you to complete your paperwork and assist with your claim process. If an insurance company covers only a certain percent of the total cost, it is imperative to get an accurate assessment of the fire damage, and a scope of service for restoration and repair.

Repairs are needed Quickly 
Remember that repairs are required quickly to avoid permanent or further water damage caused by extinguishing the fire. Rapid cleaning and correctly wiping down soot will also salvage more fire damaged items and lessen your final expenses.

Free Estimates from a Professional Company 
Most quality restoration companies will provide detailed free estimates. The company will provide you with a list of needed repairs and a timeline for completing the repairs. The estimates must include all fire damage, but also the large tasks of safely removing charred furniture, walls, or other items, as well as clearing smoke odor and water damage from the home. Smoke and soot, in a large blaze, can cause significant destruction. After the water has been removed using industrial grade pumps, the drying process can start using air movers to increase the evaporation rate of the interior and dehumidifiers to reduce the relative humidity (RH) of the ambient air, porous materials, and fabrics.

Restoring your Home 
After you have a detailed plan, hopefully provided by SERVPRO, with your insurance company's agreement, our highly skilled IICRC certified technicians can commence with the repair and fire damage restoring of your home in Okaloosa County. Prompt fire damage restoration action helps a professional full-service restoration team like SERVPRO restore the structure to its previous condition as efficiently as possible. Restoring your home starts with good estimates from a good fire damage restoration team. The plan of action will carry through to its conclusion "Like it never even happened."

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, so SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach tailors a unique solution. Whether in Okaloosa, Walton, Washington or Holmes County we restore your property. Call us 24/7 for prompt service. (850) 863-2552

When Storms or Floods hit Fort Walton Beach, SERVPRO is ready!

5/31/2016 (Permalink)

Servpro of Fort Walton Beach assisting in storm work

SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach specializes in storm and flood damage restoration.  Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to its pre-storm condition.

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Niceville or any of Okaloosa County, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams  that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today 850-863-2552

Mold Vs. Mildew

5/16/2016 (Permalink)

Mold in home Fort Walton Beach

Mold vs. Mildew

While there are many differences between the two fungi, mold and mildew both develop and thrive in moist conditions. A leaking roof, a window that doesn’t seal properly, and a basement with water damage caused by a broken pipe can all lead to the growth of mildew and mold. In order to reduce the risk of health effects and damage to building materials, mildew and mold in the home or a business need immediate mold remediation. Continue reading to learn more about the differences between mold and mildew, and the danger both may present to your home or business.

Mildew vs Mold

Plain and simple, mildew and mold are fungi. Fungi can live in many different types of habitats such as in soil, on vegetation, and on surfaces exposed to moist conditions like a wall or ceiling after flood damage. Fungi reproduce by spores and quickly can spread.

What is mildew? Mildew is mold in its early stage and often the term is used interchangeably with the word mold. That whitish-gray, powdery substance sometimes seen on the leaves of a plant is mildew. Mildew is a surface fungi that grows on organic material like plants and food as well as wood or fibrous items like:

  • Drywall
  • Insulation
  • Cardboard/paperboard
  • Wallpaper
  • Fabric
  • How is it different from Mold? Mold ranges in color from green to gray, brownish and black. It may appear fuzzy, flat or even slimy. Green slimy mold may develop in the damp, shady areas of decks and even vinyl siding, while indoors, mold can develop on grout, tile and other surfaces found in and around bathrooms and other areas with high humidity and inadequate ventilation.

    Pro Tip: Slimy mold on decks, fences and siding often can be removed using a pressure washer. Always wear proper safety protection when dealing with mold and working with tools.

    Dangers of Mildew and Mold

    In a battle between mildew vs mold, which presents more problems and danger? It depends on several factors.

    The powdery mildew often found on the leaves of a houseplant, typically poses little danger to you, but it can harm the plant. However, anyone that suffers from mold allergies should avoid touching that mildew. If contact occurs, wash hands thoroughly and never touch your face/eyes/nose after coming in contact with mildew.

    The Need for Mold Remediation

    Mold and mildew, if ignored, can cause long-term health issues and physical damage to a home or business. Mold found anywhere in a building, such as behind drywall, on insulation, around windows and along basement walls has developed because there is a moisture problem. To avoid further damage, it’s essential to locate and correct the source of the moisture and then remove all traces of mold.

    Any home or business that’s suffered any type of water damage (from firefighting efforts, roof leak, burst pipe or flood) needs professional assessment quickly. Contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach immediately after any water disaster; mold can begin developing within 24 to 48 hours. Trust our professional technicians for a comprehensive mold remediation plan. Call (850)863-2552.

    Does your Destin Home have a Mold Problem

    4/21/2016 (Permalink)

    In Destin, FL Mold can spread through a home in as little as 48 hours.

    Microscopic mold spores naturally occur almost everywhere, both outdoors and indoors. This makes it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Therefore, mold remediation reduces the mold spore count back to its natural or baseline level. Some restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold, which is a fallacy. Consider the following mold facts:

    ·         Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.

    ·         Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.

    ·         Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water. These colonies may produce allergens and irritants.

    ·         Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.

    ·         Mold often produces a strong, musty odor and can lead you to possible mold problem areas.

    ·         Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.

    If your home or business has a mold problem, we can inspect and assess your property and use our specialized training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation.

    If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today – SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach 850-863-2552

    7 Upgrades for April

    4/5/2016 (Permalink)

    Plant a Tree!

    The beginning of Spring is always a good time for deep cleans and reorganization.  It makes us feel refreshed for the new season.  Here is a list of 7 easy upgrades you can do in your home this month.

    1.       Inspect porches

    You’ll want to check your porches for rotting, so that you can replace any old boards that might be damaged.

    2.       Organize attic

    This is a great way to de-clutter your home.  Throw away those items that have been stored up there for so long or maybe even sell them in a yard sale!

    3.       Head off spring allergies

    You can prevent allergens from spreading deep into your home by placing a door mat at each entrance of your home.  An even better way to be sure you aren’t bringing in allergens and pollens from the ground is to remove your shoes before entering your home.  This will also keep your carpets cleaner!

    4.       Check for termites

    And if you have a problem, call an exterminator!

    5.       Re-caulk around the tubs

    Ensure that no water is seeping behind the bathroom tiles by replacing your old caulk with new.  This can prevent extensive water damages.

    6.       Refresh old potting soil

    If your plants last year were healthy, then you can reuse the soil.

    7.       Plant a tree

    Happy Arbor Day!  April 29 is the date this year that is dedicated to planting and caring for trees.  A crap myrtle would be perfect for our area!

    SERVPRO Ready Plan Mobile App

    1/13/2016 (Permalink)

    Servpro Fort Walton Beach Emergency Ready Plan Mobile App. Help is at your fingertips.

    SERVPRO has come out with the latest in technology when it comes to responding to a disaster. There is an app for fast disaster responses  . When fire and water cleanup is needed getting help as quickly as possible can get your business back up and running in less time!  The SERVPRO Ready Plan App makes it quicker and easier for help to arrive.  The app is an emergency preparedness tool for home and business owners, property managers, risk managers, and facility management.  Your Emergency Ready Profile contains all the critical information needed in a disaster.  Having the info handy, cuts down on response time-saving you money and damages!!

    Call us today to schedule an appointment for us to build your Emergency Ready Profile for your home or business! 850-863-2552

    SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach specializes in:  water remediation, flood mitigation, carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, mold removal, fire damage, and smoke clean up, disaster restoration, storm response, and air duct cleaning. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach has been serving the Emerald Coast for over 20 years. We are licensed and insured. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach (850)863-2552

    Thanksgiving Prep

    11/24/2015 (Permalink)

    Thanksgiving can be the one of the greatest days of the year- joining with family to reflect on the year and all that it has brought, to be thankful for your blessings, and of course indulging in the feast of foods.  But for some it can end abruptly...   Thanksgiving is the leading day of the year for home fires involving cooking equipment. To prevent such a tragedy, please keep an eye on your cooking and also keep your cooking area neat.  With excess clutter lying around it can be a true fire hazard.  It is always nice to have little hands around to help with cooking, but those little hands can easily be injured, so keep children away from knives and all heating elements. 

    We hope your Thanksgiving dinner goes well!  SERVPRO of Walton County is a 24/7/365 company so if a disaster does happen know that you can call us to remediate the issue.  We specialize in eliminating smoke odors and cleaning soot from your home (or business).  

    Until Help arrives- Emergency tips for your home

    11/18/2015 (Permalink)

    Water Damage in Fort Walton Beach, FL

    The Fort Walton Beach area for the next 6 hours is expecting rain and thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may be severe. Emergency tips if you experience water intrusion in your home from rain contaminated water until help arrives.

    DO: Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage. Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with contaminated items

    DON'T: Spread contaminated water by walking unnecessarily on damaged or wet areas. Turn on the HVAC system if there is a possibility of spreading contaminated air. Use household fans to dry the structure and spread contaminants. Use products for personal hygiene and cleanliness if exposed to the contaminated areas.

    Call the professionals at SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach 850-863-2552 to handle your water mitigations needs.

    SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach specializes in:  water remediation, flood mitigation, carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, mold removal, fire damage, and smoke clean up, disaster restoration, storm response, and air duct cleaning. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach has been serving the Emerald Coast for over 20 years. We are licensed and insured.  

    Flooding due to heavy rain fall in Fort Walton Beach and Destin area.

    10/6/2015 (Permalink)

    Fort Walton Beach Business Flooded.

    Flooding occurred throughout Fort Walton Beach and Destin Area last Tueday, affecting several Fort Walton Beach and Destin homes and businesses. It was reported around 11 inches of rain fell last Tuesday causing damage to areas throughout Fort Walton Beach and Destin, FL. If your house or business experienced any moisture intrusion, there are some things you should keep in mind while trying to mitigate the damage and keeping your families and employees safe:

    1) Flood water is treated as Category 3 water by restoration specialists and insurance companies. This means that it is referred to as grossly contaminated. It could contain harmful bacteria and has the potential to cause health issues to patrons if not mitigated properly. 

    2) Highly porous materials such as carpeting and drywall should be removed in most of these situations. Often times these materials cannot be treated with traditional drying techniques. Once those materials are removed, all remaining areas such as concrete and wood framing should be treated with antimicrobials and then dried out properly. 

    3) Not everyone has flood insurance. Flood insurance is often contained in a separate policy. Not all insurance companies offer flood insurance and you should check your policy to see what is covered. 

    4) Water damage causes more issues the longer you wait. Materials continue to soak up moisture and microbial growth occurs within a couple days. Without quick action, the indoor environment of your home could be at jeopardy.  

    If you experience any water damage issues in Fort Walton Beach Destin area please contact your professional, local cleanup team for assistance and stay safe!

    National Preparedness Month

    9/2/2015 (Permalink)

    Fort Walton and Destin Businesses Call Professionals at Servpro of Fort Walton Beach to put together your Emergency Ready Plan.

    September is National Preparedness Month. Make sure you have a plan in place on how to stay safe with your family, pets and business during a disaster event. As many as 50% of business do not reopen after a natural disaster. Having a plan in place to quickly respond after a disaster strik can help mitigate damages. Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach today to have a professional help you with putting together Emergency Ready Plan!

    SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach specializes in:  water remediation, flood mitigation, carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, mold removal, fire damage, and smoke clean up, disaster restoration, storm response, and air duct cleaning. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach has been serving the Emerald Coast for over 20 years. We are licensed and insured. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach (850)863-2552.

    HVAC/Air Duct Cleaning

    8/10/2015 (Permalink)

    Before and after photo of an air duct cleaning

    HVAC/Air Duct Cleaning

    With the summer months being so hot, many people are spending as much as 80% of their time indoors.  Did you know if your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) unit hasn’t received attention in some time it could be circulating things such as dust, pollen, odors, dirt and debris throughout your home or office… One of the best things you can do for your indoor air quality is having your air ducts cleaned.  SERVPRO of Ft. Walton Beach uses a high efficiency HEPA filtered system that will clean air ducts ensuring you higher quality air with a reduced amount of indoor air pollutants.  Having your HVAC unit routinely inspected by SERVPRO professionals can extend the life of your equipment, so not only is the air you breathe safer but it can also save you money!! 

    SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach specializes in Water Removal and Dehumidification, carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, mold mitigation and remediation, fire damage, air duct cleaning and storm response. We are licensed and insured IICRC certified. 

    Back to School Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning

    8/6/2015 (Permalink)

    Call today to schedule your carpet cleaning after the kids go back to school. Okaloosa County Schools Start back Aug.17,2015.

    Okaloosa County Schools start date is just around the corner. When school starts back and the kids are gone, there is no better time to have your carpets professional cleaned. Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach to restore your home to its pre-summer state of order. 

    SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach specializes in:  water remediation, flood mitigation, carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, mold removal, fire damage, and smoke clean up, disaster restoration, storm response, and air duct cleaning. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach has been serving the Emerald Coast for over 20 years. We are licensed and insured. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach (850)863-2552

    Commercial Water Loss

    5/19/2015 (Permalink)

    Water Loss at a local church in Fort Walton Beach, FL

    SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach recently assistated a local church with a water loss. A sprinkler went off on the second floor causing a large loss. SERVPRO can handle any size job residental or commerical. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach was called in on a Monday and had the church ready for Sunday service the following Sunday. 

    SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach specializes in:  water remediation, flood mitigation, carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, mold removal, fire damage, and smoke clean up, disaster restoration, storm response, and air duct cleaning. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach has been serving the Emerald Coast for over 20 years. We are licensed and insured. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach (850)863-2552

    Limiting Fire Damage

    3/19/2015 (Permalink)

    Fire Damage Destin, FL - Fire Cleanup Restoration

    Although kitchen fires generally begin on the stove, the damages can affect the entire kitchen including, the walls, ceiling, air ducts and appliances. The following steps can help prevent further damage:

    • Limit movement to prevent further damage.
    • Place clean towels or old lines on carpet traffic areas to prevent additional soiling. 
    • If electricity is off, empty freezer and frigerator and prop doors open. 
    • Clean and protect chrome on kitchen and bathroom faucets and appilances with a light coating of petroleum jelly. 

    SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach professionals are trained in the cleanup and care of our customers' homes and personal belongings following a fire incident. Before trying to attempt cleaning up the fire damage yourselves contact SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach 850-863-2552 

    Air Duct HVAC Cleaning Fort Walton Beach

    11/24/2014 (Permalink)

    HVAC Air Duct Cleaning in Fort Walton Beach, FL

    Clean sweep for HVAC Air Ducts

    When addressing air quality inspecting the ductwork is  SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach first order of business. Dirty HVAC air ducts can work to circulate odors, contaminates like mold and irritating dust throughout the building.

    SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach use a proven Portable Ventilation and Air Duct Cleaning System to examine duct and grime. Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach to help improve your home air quality. 

    SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach specializes in:  water remediation, flood mitigation, carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, mold removal, fire damage, and smoke clean up, disaster restoration, storm response, and air duct cleaning. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach has been serving the Emerald Coast for over 20 years. We are licensed and insured. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach (850)863-2552. 

    New Location for SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach

    11/19/2014 (Permalink)

    SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach moving day

    SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach has a new home! More room more equipemt to better service our community with any fire or water cleanup restoration needs. Come by and check out the new office located at 646-1 Lovejoy Road Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548. 

    Call and schedule your appointment today! (850)863-2552

    SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach specializes in Water Removal and Dehumidification,  carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, mold mitigation and remediation, fire damage, air duct cleaning and storm response. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach has been serving Okaloosa, Walton, Washing ton and Homes counties for 23 years. We are licensed and insured IICRC certified

    Holiday Carpet Cleaning Fort Walton Beach, FL

    11/19/2014 (Permalink)

    Carpet Cleaning to prepare for the holidays at a home in Fort Walton Beach, FL

    As the holidays are quickly approaching with lots of gathering of friends and family SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is ready to help get your home guest-ready. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach provides a professional carpet cleaning services. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach has 23 years of carpet cleaning experience.

    Call and schedule your appointment today! (850)863-2552

    SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach specializes in Water Removal and Dehumidification,  carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, mold mitigation and remediation, fire damage, air duct cleaning and storm response. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach has been serving Okaloosa, Walton, Washing ton and Homes counties for 23 years. We are licensed and insured IICRC certified.

    The Reality of Hoarding

    11/11/2014 (Permalink)

    "Up to 5% of the world populations display signs of clinical hoarding, " according to psychologydegree.net. If you have a hoarding issue, a restoration professional can help, especially when you are dealing with bio hazard odor. This type of cleanup should be handle by a professional. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is here to help.  

    Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach at 850-863-2552 if you need a hoarding cleanup service. 

    SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach specializes in:  water remediation, flood mitigation, carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, mold removal, fire damage, and smoke clean up, disaster restoration, storm response, and air duct cleaning. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach has been serving the Emerald Coast for over 20 years. We are licensed and insured. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach (850)863-2552. 

    Black mold growth in your home

    1/13/2014 (Permalink)

    Mold growth in condo in Destin, FL after air conditioning was turned off for several weeks.

    10 Most common areas for mold growth in your home.

    Mold is a living organism that belongs to the fungi family (like mushrooms, yeast, and even some  cheeses like blue cheese).

    According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mold can grow on virtually any organic material as long as moisture and oxygen are present. There are molds that grow on wood, paper, carpet, food, and insulation. Because mold eats or digests what it is growing on, it can damage a building and its furnishings. If left unchecked, mold eventually can cause structural damage to building materials.

    10 Places to Watch for Mold Growth in Your Home:Basements or cellars that have been flooded

    • Underneath kitchen sinks
    • Underneath or behind refrigerators
    • Bathroom shower or under sink
    • Behind walls that also house plumbing
    • Stacks of damp or wet newspaper or cardboard boxes
    • Around air-conditioning units
    • Wallboard or around windows that leak
    • Under carpeting that may have become wet
    • Attics & Crawl Spaces

    Now offering Dryer Duct/Vent Cleaning in Fort Walton Beach

    11/22/2013 (Permalink)

    Dryer Vent Cleaning Destin, FL

    SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach is now offering Dryer Duct/ Vent Cleaning! Here are a few of the benefits: Reduce your risk of a dryer fire.  Lower your power bill. Your dryer will last longer with fewer repairs. Your clothes will dry faster with less lint left on them. Clogged vents cause dryers to overheat. This process pays for itself.

    Call SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach to reserve your appointment today. 

    SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach specializes in:  water remediation, flood mitigation, carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, mold removal, fire damage, and smoke clean up, disaster restoration, storm response, and air duct cleaning. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach has been serving the Emerald Coast for over 20 years. We are licensed and insured. SERVPRO of Fort Walton Beach (850)863-2552. 

    Categories

    Archived Posts