Recent Posts

What To Look for When Troubleshooting a Commercial Irrigation System

3/19/2024 (Permalink)

How to Troubleshoot a Commercial Irrigation System

A faulty sprinkler system can be a huge problem for your business in Manassas. If sprinklers malfunction, they might spray excessive amounts of water in the area, which could disrupt business operations or even cause structural damage to the building.
If you see a problem in your building's irrigation system, you may not know how to find the source of the damage. Here are several things to look for when troubleshooting.

1. Electrical Issues in the Irrigation System
There are many electrical parts in the system that can be damaged, such as valves, solenoids, wires, and timers.

2. Broken Pipes and Sprinkler Parts
If someone steps on a sprinkler head and damages it, the sprinkler may start to malfunction. A broken sprinkler head may be easier to fix than an electrical issue.

3. Damage From Tree Roots
One of the common causes of pipe damage is pressure from tree root systems.

4. Stress From Traffic
Extensive foot traffic in the area over an irrigation system can create stress that damages pipes and supply lines. If this is an issue, you may need to evaluate the placement of the sprinkler system and how you might change it.

5. Evidence of Water Damage
If you see that standing water has leaked into a building or commercial structure, you should be wary of potential damage to the building's structures and mold growth. Even if you cannot see any flooding, there may be serious damage nonetheless. A large sprinkler leak can cause water to seep into the basement or the building's foundation.
If you suspect that there may be water damage, it is a good idea to reach out to a professional water restoration company. A team of professionals can help you assess the damage and prevent mold growth.
Looking for these common issues may help you diagnose irrigation problems. If you are unable to ascertain the source of damage yourself, seek professional help.

Contact us at 703-656-9028!

Is Your Dryer Safe?

3/1/2024 (Permalink)

A dryer seems like a convenient, safe appliance that lets you forget it and go. If you don’t maintain it properly, a lint fire can happen, which can cause sever fire damage to your home.

A Surprising Amount of Lint

Depending on your family size and how often you go through clothes, it is likely that you do a lot more laundry than you realize. An average family does approximately eight to 10 loads a week. Every load means small fabric, dust and dirt particles are collecting in your dryer’s lint trap, vent and duct work. Lint is highly flammable, making it vital to maintain cleanliness.

Cleaning Out the Lint

Instead of dealing with a potential dryer fire and needing expert help in repairing the damage, good habits can go a long way. Lint traps should be cleaned after very load. Most dryers make this easy. The trap usually slides out and the lint can be lifted off. Any lint that is leftover should be removed with a brush. Every few weeks, the screen should be rinsed with water. While the screen is out, vacuum in and around its entry point. Approximately once a year, unplug the dryer and inspect the vent and hose or pipe connected to the dryer. Wipe lint off the opening and clean any leftover in the hose or pipe. A brush can bused to clean the interior of the vent. Don’t forget the exterior vent. Ensure the vent flap is still attached and working properly. Vacuum or wipe out the opening. This should be done a few times a year.

Extra Safety Tips

To further avoid a lint fire, ensure your dryer is properly installed. Additionally, avoid drying clothes stained with chemicals, gas, oil or cleaning products, and only operate the dryer while at home. In most cases, a lint fire happens because of improper cleaning and maintenance. Taking a little extra to be safe is worth it.

Leading Causes of Kitchen Fires

3/1/2024 (Permalink)

Leading Causes of Kitchen Fires

On average, 49% of fires start in the kitchen making it one of the leading causes of house fires.. It only takes a quick moment for something on your stove to catch on fire, and you have a costly disaster on your hands. Here are some safety tips to avoid expensive home repairs:

Frying With Oil

66% of kitchen fires occur while cooking with oil. Anytime you fry food using oil, it needs constant attention. Grease fires can spread fast and still have the capability to cause a fire if the residue is left on the stovetop after use. If your food catches fire while cooking, safely cover a non-glass lid onto the pan to extinguish the flames, and then turn off your stove. Do not use water; this will only cause your fire to spread.

Leaving Cooking Unattended

It is imperative not to walk away from your food while you're cooking. Neglecting your food while cooking is the leading cause of kitchen fires. If you are cooking, it is essential to only focus on that one task. It is not recommended to multi-task while cooking because an accident can happen in a split second. 

Cooking with Too High Temperatures

Although turning your stove to its highest setting seems like a good idea when cooking, setting your appliances too high is very dangerous. It is recommended to cook at medium temperatures to prevent food from combusting. If you have a gas stove, never let the flame rise above the top of the pan. Cooking requires a lot of patience; jumping the gun and attempting to cook faster than intended can put you and your family at risk.

If your kitchen catches on fire and you can’t control it, call 911 immediately. After the fire was safely put out, you may need repairs to your kitchen, including flooring, cabinets, and countertops. Keep in mind that smoke damage can also factor in the cost of repairs as it can damage your walls and the material underneath.

Here at SERVPRO we always want to help you put your best foot forward to avoid any fire, water, or mold damage. In the event that you do experience fire, water, or mold damage, we’re here to help! 

Give us a call for your quote today at 703-656-9028.

From Manassas, we take pride in serving your neighborhood! SERVPRO of Manassas is Independently Owned and Operated with employees dedicated to providing a quality customer experience!

Water in the Basement

2/15/2024 (Permalink)

A residential basement flood situation in Manassas, Va can cause serious problems for those involved if not addressed in a timely manner. Check out the following resources to better understand what to do if standing water occupies your lower floors.

1. Precautions

The most important consideration for any prudent homeowner is the safety of the occupants. Never enter a completely flooded basement area until you have disconnected the home from the power grid, especially if the electrical outlets or other appliances are still in standing water. You might also consider some form of contact protection, such as a pair of boots or waders, to prevent unnecessary exposure to contaminants from gray water.

2. Assessment

Trudging through the water will do you little good without a solid plan. Depending on the form your insurance coverage takes, you may need to make an inventory of the items affected by your basement flood. Your insurer may also require that you take active steps to prevent any ongoing damage, such as routing new sources of rainwater away from the home. The drying process for affected items should begin at this point. Your insurer may insist that certain sensitive items and procedures are handled by a qualified flood damage restoration service.

3. Prevention and Maintenance

Once you have cleared all standing water from the property and moved any water-susceptible belongings, inspect the basement area to determine why water accumulated. Is the sump pump in working order? Are there any clogged or broken pipes or drains between your basement and the sewer? Take steps to inspect and repair these items. Also, note that any drywall or flooring components that have absorbed too much water may need replacement, as these can harbor bacteria and mold.

Though a wide range of natural disasters or plumbing problems can affect any homeowner, a few preventative steps can reduce the risk of a basement flood and help to mitigate the amount of property damage.

3 Strategies for Preventing Water Damage in Your Home

2/15/2024 (Permalink)

Three Ways to Prevent Water Damage in Your House

Your Manassas, VA home is probably one of your greatest investments. Beautifying, decorating and improving your property takes hard work, so guarding it against damage can be as important as repairing existing issues. Preventing water in your home can help you avoid a variety of troubling issues, from structural problems to mold growth and more.

1. Insulate Your Water Pipes

Wrapping your home’s water pipes can protect your property from water damage in a few ways. First, it keeps the pipes warm when the temperature drops below freezing and prevents water from freezing inside them. Frozen water tends to expand and may cause the pipe to burst, resulting in a messy pipe cleanup job. Insulating your pipes can also keep your home’s water supply flowing normally, even during a cold snap when the risk of a broken pipe is higher than usual.

2. Upgrade Your Drainage System

When it comes to finding unexpected water in the home, one of the most common trouble spots is likely to be the basement. Basement floods can be common in early spring when runoff and heavy rains cause your yard to overflow. You can prevent this issue by upgrading your drainage system. Replace old gutters and downspouts and have your roof checked to ensure it is draining properly.

3. Have Your Home Inspected by a Water Remediation Company

Contacting a flood cleanup and water remediation company to inspect your home for possible flooding risks can help keep it safe. Knowledgeable flood technicians can identify and resolve issues that may increase the risks, whether you live in an area that floods often or your home’s basement is prone to taking on water. Working with a company like this can help you defend your home against water damage all year round.

Preventing water in the home probably a high priority for you as a Manassas, VA homeowner. Taking the proper steps to reduce this risk can give you peace of mind and allow you to enjoy your happy home.

How Can I Reopen My Motel After A Fire?

2/14/2024 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO® to Quickly and Safely Reopen Your Business

With counties starting to reopen, every business is essential once again. Families can begin to take vacations, with many of them still staying close to home for a while yet.

It’s a Large Motel, how far can One Fire reach?

Single story motels share an overhead crawlspace. Individual units spreads quickly along with the airflow, especially smoke and soot particles as the fire burns and then cools. SERVPRO specialists can follow this same airflow to clean out the residues left as the particles settle. They can clean surfaces by hand or generate a cloud of cleaning particles that neutralize odors and render the residues inert and reduce the risk of later mold growth.

Can SERVPRO do something about the Water and other Property Damage Left by the Fire Department?

Absolutely. We have specialists trained specifically on water and debris removal. They carefully demolish the unrepairable property for disposal and then use extractors to draw water off the carpets and floors. Finally, they apply special cleaning agents with shampoo machines to remove any remaining residues.

For any amount of fire damage to your business, contact SERVPRO of Manassas at 703-656-9028. We are here for you.

How Can I Remove Water Quickly from Restaurant Kitchens?

2/14/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® Can Help with Fast Extraction and Drying for Westerly Businesses.  

When a pipe bursts or some other clean water emergency occurs in your restaurant that leaves your staff contending with several inches or more of standing water, you do not have time to lose. Water has likely already begun migrating to dining areas and other rooms of your restaurant, so containment and mitigation are vital services that business owners look to our SERVPRO of Manassas team to provide.

With the tile flooring in your kitchen area, we can often utilize our squeegee wands on extractors to begin water cleanup in your restaurant. Many of the surfaces in the kitchen area have low-permeance, making it faster to remove standing water and reduce migration into more challenging drying areas like the dining space with carpeting and wood fixtures.

What is necessary for effective containment of water damage? 

  • Air movers
  • Plastic sheeting containment barriers
  • Air scrubbers
  • Extractors
  • Dehumidifiers

It is our business to get you back in business – give our SERVPRO of Manassas team a call today at (703)656-9028.

Financially Preparing for Emergency Disasters

2/13/2024 (Permalink)

For the third theme of National Preparedness Month in 2021, the focus is on getting financially prepared for an emergency disaster. Ready.Gov highlights some ways that homeowners can get prepared at either no cost or a low cost. In addition to the resources listed on Ready.Gov, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers a plethora of resources that can be shipped directly to your home.

At SERVPRO of Manassas, we are able to work directly with your insurance company to ease the stress during emergency disasters. It’s extremely important that homeowners make sure that they are adequately covered for emergencies that the region is prone to. For example, if your home is in a flood zone, flood insurance should be a priority. Likewise, if your home is in an area where wildfires are prevalent, insurance for wildfires is a must. The Red Cross has an interactive map that shows common disasters across the United States by region and what you should be prepared for.

To get started, here are a few tips you should consider in order to get financially prepared for an emergency disaster:

  1. Gather financial, medical, personal, and household information and keep them in an accessible safe space. 
  1. Keep small amounts of cash in your home for items such as food, gas, or other supplies in the event that you cannot get to an ATM. In addition, consider opening a savings account and saving up money for potential disasters. 
  1. Keep on top of your homeowners or renters, health and life insurance. Consider purchasing flood insurance from the national flood insurance program as well as reviewing your policy to make sure you’re adequately covered.

For more tips and resources on how to prepare financially, click on any of the links above in this blog or contact us at (703)656-9028.

Restoring Vs Replacing

2/13/2024 (Permalink)

National fire statistics indicate that a residential fire occurs approximately every 90 seconds somewhere in the United States. However, when a customer suffers a fire, only one fire matters. Customers' belongings are important to them. Personal belongings are a treasure of life, and a reflection of hard work and achievements. Photographs, books, and other personal items have a value that cannot be put into words. SERVPRO®  Professionals have the ability to help restore your belongings. 

SERVPRO technicians at SERVPRO of Manassas are skilled in Inventory Services when it comes to customers' belongings. These include: 

-Emergency Inventory

-Pre-Loss Inventory

-Restoration and Replacement Cost Data

-Schedule of Loss-Adjusting Software

  • Industry-Exclusive Access

-Complete Inventory

  • Total Loss Items, Questionable Items, Restorable Items

-Electronic Reporting 

  • Customizable Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet Reports Increase Flexibility

The value in restoration vs. replacement is that it reduces claims payout for insurance companies and saves you money. In most cases, SERVPRO® returns belongings to preloss condition and treasured items and keepsakes can be saved. 

Our Restore vs. Replace Mentality

We clean and restore your property using specialized equipment and cleaning techniques. Our “restore first” mentality reduces interruption and gets you back to your life.

Remember that SERVPRO of Manassas can help you return to a normal life and home after having a loss. 

Is Your Air Clean?

1/31/2024 (Permalink)

It seems that in addition to the more mainstream celebrations and holidays there are various observances that aren't as well-known. For example, did you know that February was "National Care About Your Indoor Air Month?" It just so happens that your local SERVPRO franchise is equipped to help you with that! If the air is coming out of your vents smells musty, or your air vent looks dirty, it could be time for an HVAC and air duct cleaning from SERVPRO. A healthy living environment starts with clean air. Each time your HVAC system circulates, your air ducts collect dust, dirt, and other airborne particles that were missed by the air filter. In just one year, a typical home can collect more than 40 pounds of dirt, dust and particles. Everyday house cleaning gets most of it, but it takes a professional cleaning service like SERVPRO of Manassas to clean air ducts.

As a homeowner, you should schedule a routine air duct cleaning if:

  • You have pets living in your home
  • You have allergies or asthma
  • You smoke
  • Your home has suffered damage
  • Your has been renovated or is being remodeled. 

SERVPRO's uniquely trained technicians follow the air duct cleaning process industry standards as defined by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA).