Air Conditioning Unit Causing Water Intrusion in Palm Springs Home?

2/21/2023 (Permalink)

We respond to water damage emergencies 24 hours a day in Palm Springs.

Have you checked your air conditioner unit for signs of water intrusion? This is an often overlooked area where rain can enter a home and cause damage. Our local team in Palm Springs is on call to respond to water damage emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in Palm Springs. 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 Sleepy Hollow has rain damage, our Palm Springs team is Here to Help. ® We’ll restore your damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at (760) 327-7700.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Vandalism Damage: What To Do

5/28/2020 (Permalink)

How to handle Vandalism Damage is not easy but we are here to help at SERVPRO of Palm Springs.

Do:

• Hose or wash egg damaged from building exterior as soon as possible.
• Vacuum glass particles from carpets and upholstery.
• Save containers which reveal the ingredients of spilled inks, cosmetics and paints.

Don’t:

• Attempt to remove ink, paint, or cosmetic stains.
• Operate damaged lamps or appliances.
• Discard furniture wood chips, broken pieces from porcelain, furniture or art objects.

If you have any questions or concerns about how to handle a Vandalism Damage situation contact your local franchise, SERVPRO of Palm Springs to find out more information or to schedule an inspection.

We Are Cleaning Experts

4/24/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is Here to Help during this time of need

During this unprecedented time caused by the global pandemic of coronavirus, this is a reminder to our customers that we are specialists in cleaning services, and we adhere to the highest cleaning and sanitation standards.

Specialized Training

We are prepared to clean and disinfect your home or business, according to protocols set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We have years of experience in dealing with biological contaminants, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform on a daily basis.

The CDC encourages cleaning of high-touch surfaces such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets and tables. Other spaces mentioned in the CDC’s guidance for commercial spaces include:

• Kitchen/Food Areas
• Bathrooms
• Schools/Classrooms
• Offices
• Retail Spaces
• Water Fountains
• Shelving/Racks
• Sales Counters
• Carpets and Rugs
• Stair Handrails
• Elevator Cars
• Playground Equipment
• Fitness Equipment

Specialized Products

The CDC recommends usage of a labeled hospital-grade disinfectant with claims against similar pathogens to the coronavirus. Multiple products in the SERVPRO product line carry the EPA-approved emerging pathogens claims. While there is currently no product tested against this particular strain of the coronavirus, we are following all guidelines as provided by the CDC and local authorities.

Call Today for a Proactive Cleaning

If your home or business needs deep cleaning services, call the experts today SERVPRO of Palm Springs, (760)327-7700

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-prevent-spread.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fguidance-prevent-spread.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/guidance-business-response.html

Water Damage: What To Do

4/24/2020 (Permalink)

WATER DAMAGE FROM CLEAN WATER

Do:

• Shut off the source of water if possible or contact a qualified party to stop the water source.
• Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building, when access to the power distribution panel is sage from electrical shock.
• Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting.
• Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removing lamps and tabletop items.
• Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions for even drying.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.
• Remove to a safe, dry place any paintings, art objects, computers, documents and other materials that are valuable or sensitive to moisture.
• Use wooden clothespins to keep furniture skirting off damp floors.
• Hang draperies with coated hangers to avoid contact with wet carpeting or floors.
• Hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature

WATER DAMAGE FROM CONTAMINATED WATER

Don't:

• Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with contaminated items.

Contact your local SERVPRO of Palm Springs for more information on Water Damage procedures (760)327-7700

The First 48 Hours After A Fire Damage

2/20/2020 (Permalink)

The first 48 hours after a fire damage can make the difference between restoring versus replacing your property and personal belongings. SERVPRO of Palm Springs can help prevent fire damage from creating long-term problems. With extreme desert heat in summer, fire damages can happen suddenly and keeping a fire damage emergency kit in a place outside of home with essentials that may be needed is something we should all do. 

What You Can Do Until Help Arrives:

• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from spreading and additional damage from occurring.
• Place clean towels or old linens on rugs and high traffic areas and upholstery.
• Coat chrome faucets, trim and appliances with petroleum jelly or oil.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpet.
• Do not wash any walls or painted surfaces.
• Do not shampoo carpet or upholstery.
• Do not clean any electrical equipment.
• Do not sent clothing to a dry cleaner since improper cleaning may set smoke odor.

For any further questions on what to do after a fire damage please contact our SERVPRO of Palm Springs Office at (760)327-7700. Our office staff will gladly answer any questions you may have.

DVBA Christmas Party

12/15/2017 (Permalink)

Hilton Ballroom for xmas party

For SERVPRO of Palm Springs we love the holidays, it allows us to engage more with our clients on a personal level. A majority of our interactions can be in response to emergency restoration situations, but during the holidays we can actually get together for the more positive reasons.

In this shot we are attending the Desert Valley Builders association annual Christmas party at the Hilton in Palm Springs. The evening’s festivities where capped off by a rousing recital by Dueling pianos, they are as the name implies, Dueling pianos that really get the crowd involved with tons of call and repeat and blasting out the oldies.

We always find that these events can be key to a successful partnership in the coming year, they really increase the personal connection...and they are really fun.

Happy Holidays

Flooded Tennis Court

12/15/2017 (Permalink)

Dirt, Clay or... Water Court play?

At SERVPRO of Palm Springs not every water damage loss we encounter is inside. Some of the situations we encounter are areas affected by sprinkler systems, outdoor spigots or broken water mains. While these damages do not affect a structure they still have to be dried out quickly. If the water is not removed it can affect he longevity of the affected areas, if concrete is over saturated the water can become bound at a molecular level. When this occurs the area can undergo spalling in the rebar. Spalling is when the rebar starts to rust and then degrades to the point where it can no longer support the surrounding concrete and it starts to crack and is no longer reliable.

In this picture we see a tennis court that has been flooded by a sprinkler valve that has failed. This will takes push brooms and a sump pump with some hosing and a drainage point to resolve.

Roof Leak in Commercial Facility

12/11/2017 (Permalink)

Buckets of Fun

SERVPRO of Palm Springs deals with commercial water damages all the time. While they may be larger than there residential counterparts, they still use the same equipment and approach.

In this picture we see a shot of a hallway in a commercial building where the owner has set out some buckets to catch the water that is coming through the ceiling. While the flooring might not require much attention, the ceiling and roof may require significant structural repair.

In these situations the damage may have occurred over time and will require demolition to remove all the affected material. This project may need some rebuild work and involve several vendors to get the structure back to operating status.

We always enjoy working with other vendors to bring a project to completion.

Aspects of a Kitchen Demolition

12/11/2017 (Permalink)

Propping up countertops

At SERVPRO of Palm Springs are work has many components. We have many things to consider when we arrive on a job site; what type of loss? How affected is the loss site? How long will the project take? These are just some of the questions we have to ask ourselves when we are first starting our work.

In this picture we see a kitchen demolition where the cabinets have been removed and the countertop has been propped up while the new cabinets are waiting to be installed. There are challenges when dealing with marble or stone as it can become very weak in some areas where it has been cut very thin. Any shifting or movement after it has been installed can cause breakage. This something we communicate before we attempt detachment. Typically we try to prop up the counter tops in place with wood and slats, this minimizes the danger of breakage and protects the customer’s home.

Always choose a provider with the knowledge and proven track record to work on your home.

Collectors House

12/11/2017 (Permalink)

Kitchen/Living room combo

At SERVPRO of Palm Springs we called on to deal with some very interesting projects. We have to deal with what we politely term as a collector’s house. These are projects that not only have a lot of physical work that is required but can also pose emotional problems for the client. We try and maintain a sense of caring and understanding, as well as focus and professionalism.

In this picture we see a shot of a person’s kitchen and living area, a large amount of personal items have been accumulated over the years and have affected access as well present additional work for the project. In this case we had a water damage that could not be mitigated until we cleared out all of the items. The hard part is that a technician does not know what is of value and what can be disposed of. Sometimes the owner has attachment to items that have no apparent value to others but still must be sorted and catalogued.

These jobs are not for the novice providers as they present some of the most challenging work that a vendor can undertake.