Recent Posts

Make Sure You Are Ready for Spring Storms | SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett

3/1/2024 (Permalink)

heavy rain pouring down on an outdoor metal roof in a storm Let SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett help you get from April showers to May flowers.

It may not seem like it with our winter temperatures that often hang around longer than most of us would like, but the spring season is upon us. As temperatures rise and any remaining snow starts to melt away, it isn’t uncommon for flooding, heavy rains and thunderstorms to arrive with the season as well.

Once spring fully sets in and summer isn’t far behind, storms can worsen in their intensity and become more frequent. That makes being prepared incredibly important. One of the best first steps in staying prepared for anything Mother Nature can bring is ensuring you have reliable ways to get up-to-date forecasts and weather alerts.

The Power of the Internet

Our lives are almost always surrounded by some kind of screen, which makes our phones, tablets and other hand-held devices a great first choice for receiving weather-related news. You can sign up for Wireless Emergency Alerts that will be issued automatically for a variety of situations, but you can also choose a few other apps in order to get the best picture of what is headed your way.

Make sure you are choosing reliable, nationally recognized sources to get alerts from, and seek out some local sites. Many local TV and radio stations offer an app that can notify you not just on weather events but many other local situations as well. The city offers a couple of different emergency alert system options as well, so be sure to sign up for those.

Don’t rely on alerts alone, though. Be sure to keep an eye on weather reports so you are not caught off-guard even by a mostly mild storm rolling in. This can also help you make travel plans if flooding is possible, or keep you up to date about shelters opening.

Non-Electronic Options

As much as we love the internet and all the devices that put it into the palm of our hand, these devices have batteries that will eventually die. You need to have at least one way of receiving weather notifications that does not require electricity.

If there are weather sirens near your home, get to know the different tones they will use to announce various situations so you can respond quickly when you hear one. Invest in a weather radio, too—these can go with you if you have to move to safety and require no electricity, which means they can work long-term. Keep it on well after a storm has passed to stay up to date with travel information and be prepared for potential second waves when storms are particularly nasty.

Weather alerts can go a long way in keeping your family safe, but even the most prepared home could still end up damaged during a disaster. If your home doesn’t fare well during a storm or flood, call us day or night. We are ready to respond and get your recovery started right away.

Serious storms can cause serious property damage. Call SERVPRO® 247 for immediate restoration assistance.

The Threat of Wind, Water and Impact Damage | SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett

2/22/2024 (Permalink)

Tornado damage in home When a storm hits your home, SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett is quick to respond. Call us today to restore your space!

When the wind blows around here, we know when to take cover! Storms come in all shapes and sizes in the East Lansing area from a gentle rainstorm to a powerful blizzard, and each instance can produce serious consequences for our homes if we are not prepared. 

Our team explains the possible damage situations that wind, water and impacts have on our homes, so read on to learn more and better prepare your home and family.

The Strength of Wind and Water
Rain can fall down softly or it can come in intense sheets that impact visibility across the area. No matter how it falls, rain can easily make its way into your home via the tiniest gap or crack along your roofline and down into your basement through a compromised or overwhelmed foundation. 

Once inside, it can leak its way into every surface and cause serious damage. Even just an inch of standing water in your home can lead to structural issues, mildew and mold growth. 

Strong wind can also cause damage, especially when it starts to pick up alongside a severe thunderstorm or a tornado. Straight-line winds can easily reach over 100 miles per hour, which is strong enough to topple trees, overturn cars and throw yard debris around with ease, causing the most unsuspecting window to become the victim of the storm.

The Threat of Impact Damage

Oftentimes, impact damages occupy our minds the most when it comes to storms. That’s because they cause some of the most obvious and outwardly disastrous situations! If a tree falls on your roof or house, it can impact entire levels or sections of your home. 

These types of damages are severe enough that it might require you to live elsewhere for a time period while the repairs are taking place. While impact damage cannot always be prevented or predicted, removing projectiles from your property is a good place to start. Pull cars and yard equipment into your garage, tie down patio furniture and trampolines and keep your trees trimmed of dead branches and limbs. 

Where Our Team Comes In

We know that Mother Nature can produce some serious storms, so we also know that storm damage can happen to any home, even if you have taken the proper precautions. 

Our team will arrive quickly to secure your home from further damage and then we will get to work drying out and restoring your home from top to bottom. We will handle everything from the initial debris removal to the final repairs. Just call us and we will be there.

Storms can cause water damage but also serious structural damage. Contact SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett today. 

What to Do When Disaster Strikes | SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett

2/15/2024 (Permalink)

business man in office talking to female SERVPRO rep SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett is here for your business every step of the way, from ERPs to disaster recovery.

A disaster can throw your whole world for a loop. In a matter of seconds, your home, community and business can all be affected, and dealing with the damage left behind can make you feel completely helpless.

When you have endured a disaster, getting your home put back together safely and quickly is essential. As a small business owner, getting things running again at work is likely just as essential. By creating a plan and having a team of experts right around the corner at SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett, you can put disasters behind you quickly.

Prepare Ahead of Time

The best way to get on the road to recovery when a disaster strikes is to plan ahead. When you and your employees know exactly what to do before, during and after a storm, flood or fire, getting back to work will be a breeze.

Communicating the steps of your plan is one of the most important parts of being prepared for anything. Your emergency plan should be practiced regularly, and every staff member should know what to do with little instruction.

Walk through your building once a month to remind yourself and your team where water shut-off valves and fire extinguishers are. Make sure everyone knows the fastest and safest exit routes from different areas of your building. Assign employees particular tasks to handle ahead of predicted disasters in order to best prepare your building.

After the major threat of a disaster is over, make sure your staff knows how they are expected to get back to work. If you are able to work remotely, ensure that secure networks and equipment are prepared. If you are planning on using an alternate location, your employees should know when and how to report for their duties.

The more you can communicate with your team throughout the entire process, the better. Use multiple communication sources, as some disasters can take out networks long-term.

Recover Quickly

Having a solid emergency plan can help you rest a little easier when a disaster does strike. Be sure to contact SERVPRO® the moment it is safe to do so. We will dispatch a crew to your property right away, day or night, in order to start the restoration process.

While we tackle any drying out, rebuilding or other restoration that needs to happen at your physical location, you can start communicating with your customers. It is important to keep everyone informed on how work will proceed, projected reopening dates and how your recovery is progressing. The more you can share your story, the better.

Throughout your recovery, keep an open mind. You will need to be flexible while our team works to get everything put back together. Be willing to take a step back and accept that this is only your normal for a while. You will get back to being a bustling business before you know it.

Make a plan and practice regularly to be ready for any kind of disaster. Share your story with your employees and your community, and things will be back to normal in no time.

Has your business experienced a disaster, or do you want help building an emergency plan? Contact us to find everything you need.

Damage of All Kinds Handled by One Team | SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett

2/1/2024 (Permalink)

heavy rain pounding down on a blacktop surface SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett is Here to Help® when any disaster strikes!

When one thing goes wrong, it often feels like it sets off a storm that leads to more and more disasters. That all-to-familiar cliche “when it rains, it pours” holds too much truth in our lives, particularly when it comes to a disaster striking.

Whether it comes from Mother Nature or is caused by an appliance failure, when damage hits your home or your community, it will quickly begin to compound and worsen.

That is why SERVPRO® being in your backyard is so important. We are the total restoration service you need to get life back together fast, no matter what happens.

The Impact of Disasters

Disasters can take an enormous toll on your home or your community, regardless of how large or small they are. Even if a storm is predicted in enough time to prepare, things can turn more severe and more damaging than you may have thought possible. Something happening due to manmade errors can be just as bad, especially when it happens completely unannounced.

When rains start and never stop, flooding is soon to follow, which eventually leads to mold growth everywhere that ends up wet. High winds can take out the power or put that tree that needed trimming on your roof. Fires bring smoke, soot, structural damage and water damage to your home—not to mention odors that can be hard to get rid of.

Disasters are always a worst-case scenario as one kind of damage quickly leads to another. The longer damage sticks around, the worse things get, too.

The physical damage you can see and touch isn’t the only kind of damage to handle either. The mental toll that a disaster can take on each individual that has to journey through them is simply immeasurable. That is why fast action is the best path to recovery.

A Single Team, Total Restoration

The faster your life can be put together after a disaster, the better. That is why our professional team is ready to take your call 247, any day of the year. The moment you call us, we will start putting together your information and preparing a team to head to your property.

Our experts are trained and certified in a number of disaster scenarios. We are also locally owned and operated, and that means that we love this community as much as you do. Not only have we experienced disasters right alongside you, we have cleaned up your homes and offices all around town.

If you experience roof damage during a storm, we can be there quickly to get it tarped in order to keep the rest of the elements out while your recovery continues. If a flood leaves your home wet, we will start removing water immediately while we also work to save as much of your property as possible.

When a disaster strikes that leaves a part of your home beyond repair, we can rebuild it for you. It is our goal to get your life back to normal fast, whatever that takes.

When we say we can handle your total restoration, we mean that we will stay with you from start to finish. If your home doesn’t completely feel, smell and even sound like your home, we will continue to work until it does.

With a local, highly trained staff and availability the very moment you need us, SERVPRO is your one-stop-shop for a complete recovery when rain starts pouring in your life. We will have you facing the sunshine again quickly, enjoying every moment of life as normal.

Have you experienced a disaster and need restorations? Make one call to our office to start recovery fast.

Stay Toasty and Avoid a Disaster | SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett

1/16/2024 (Permalink)

brick chimney with lit fire logs Fire safety is a top priority for us at SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett this winter. Keep your home safe with these helpful tips!

The cozy season is here, which means you can finally pile on the blankets and wear all the fuzzy socks. While a crackling fire in the fireplace goes great with a good sweatshirt, keeping your home warm and toasty can come with the risk of a fire.

During the winter, house fires can become common. Most often, they are caused by something that was preventable. Space heater, fireplaces and other electronic heating devices can cause fire issues, but when you use them correctly you can keep your home safe.

Addressing Your Fireplace

There is nothing quite as soothing as curling up next to a fire. When a winter storm blows through, having a fireplace can keep your home warm even if the power is knocked out.

Even with their benefits, fireplaces can be very dangerous. If you use wood for your fires, ash and other debris should be cleaned out after every fire. Your chimney should be professionally cleaned and inspected every year as well.

Make sure there isn’t anything flammable near your fireplace, including hanging off of the mantle. You should have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors either in the room with your fireplace or right outside of it.

For gas or electric fireplaces, make sure all the connections are tight and not showing signs of aging. Keep things clean—dust is highly flammable.

Space Heater Safety

Space heaters can be a great way to add a little extra warmth to a room when the temperatures are particularly low outside, but they are also responsible for nearly 1,700 house fires every year. Keep in mind a few safety tips when you decide to use a space heater in any room of your house.

Make sure they are on a level surface and have a three-foot radius of open space around them. Take a look at the cord and make sure there aren’t any signs of wear and tear. Always plug your space heater directly into the wall as well.

Teach the kids to stay away from your heaters, and take steps to protect your pets, too. Feeling the heat from the heater can be comforting, but avoid putting it too close to your couch, curtains or anything else that could start to burn. Always turn your heater off when you leave the room or head to bed for the evening.

Suggested Safety Features for Your Space Heater

There is a wide variety of space heaters on the market. You can find just about any size in any price range, but you want to make sure the ones you use in your home come with certain safety features in order to add another layer of protection against fires.

Check into the manufacturer to ensure that they are reliable and certified. Heaters should go through pretty strict testing before they reach the consumer to ensure they are as safe as possible. Any space heater you choose to use should have automatic shutoff features. They should turn off immediately when tipped, but they should also cut off after an extended period of use.

Space heaters should have a sturdy, well-made cord that is at least six feet long. You should never plug an extension cord into a space heater, so make sure you are getting one with a long enough cord to meet your needs.

By taking care of your fireplace and ensuring your space heaters have plenty of safety features means you can keep your home as warm as you like. If something does happen, our SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett team is ready to handle soot, smoke or any other fire damage around the clock.

A quick fire damage restoration is just a phone call away. Call SERVPRO® for immediate assistance.

Water Hiding in Your Home | SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett

1/2/2024 (Permalink)

close up of condensation on window pane and ledge Water damage can happen anywhere in your home. Call SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett to restore water damage on your property 24/7, 365.

Water plays a crucial role in our daily lives. Just consider how many times you run the dishwasher or hose the dog down after a walk gets particularly wild. Being able to use water on demand has its benefits, but when water gets into the wrong places, it can leave your house a complete mess.

The good news is that it only takes getting to know the most common places that water and excess moisture may be hiding in your home to prevent a total disaster. With some easy home maintenance, you can keep everything dry and free of damage.

Under Your Sinks

Sinks, toilets and bathtubs are all highly prone to leaking. While this might feel obvious, it can actually be hard to find leaks. There are generally multiple water lines under a sink, and with water already so common, leaks can get pretty bad before you catch them.

Check under your sinks weekly, and watch around other bathroom fixtures for unexplained water droplets. Feel the water lines for moisture and make sure connections are tight. Replace any seals that have worn down or are showing any other signs of aging.

Beneath Appliances

It would be a real drag not to have some of the appliances that make life so convenient. However, dishwashers, washing machines, water heaters and refrigerators with built-in water filters are all prone to hidden leaks. These leaks often start behind or under the appliance, which means you may not notice it until a good deal of damage is done.

Make a plan to pull out your water-based large appliances every few months in order to clean under and behind them. Look for mold growth, puddles or soft spots in the floor. Feel any of the water lines you can reach, and make sure everything is in good shape and well connected.

Behind Your Walls or Floors

One of the things that makes water leaks particularly dangerous is how quickly water can move. Even when the leak was small and you were able to catch it relatively fast, water may have gotten into any nooks or crannies around the source of the leak. This often results in water damage behind your walls or under the floor.

musty odor is generally the first indicator of this. Always pay close attention to any strange smells near water-based appliances. A new squeak in the floor or spot that feels soft close to appliances is another sign that something has happened.

Around Your Windows and Doors

When the temperature swings between warm and cold, it can create condensation on your windows. This is pretty common in most homes, which makes it easy to ignore.

Condensation can trickle down into cracks or between your shingles, causing damage to the structure of your home.

Run your hands around the window and door frames to feel for moisture. Take a look at the seal, and check for signs of wear and tear. Seals wear out quickly, so the change of the seasons is a great time to refresh any caulking in order to keep your home well insulated.

While you are inspecting your home, don’t let any water damage you happen to discover cause you to panic. SERVPRO® is just a phone call away, and we are ready to get a team out to your property around the clock.

We can handle an entirely flooded basement or damage left behind after a hole in a pipe. We make it our goal to get your restoration completed fast.

Don’t ignore signs of water damage! Call SERVPRO for a quick restoration.

Being Local Will Always Matter | SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett

12/15/2023 (Permalink)

group of 3 SERVPRO reps standing near a green semi truck at a work site No job is too big or too small for our team of industry leading experts at SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett!

Imagining a disaster happening isn’t something any of us want to do, even when it is far from home. Thinking about our own homes or towns being disrupted is almost incomprehensible.

While you can spend time preparing your home and mitigate some of your losses, natural disasters can’t be stopped and will often still leave behind destruction. A manmade disaster can create even more chaos in our lives since they are often completely unpredictable.

Regardless of where it comes from, when disaster strikes, we all focus on putting our homes, communities and lives back together as fast as possible. That is why being local will always matter.

Making the Right Choice

There are so many overwhelming emotions that come along with seeing your home damaged from a disaster that it can be hard to even know how to take your next step. You will need to make fast decisions, all while you try to keep your feelings in check and your family out of harm’s way.

Timing will always matter when it comes to damage, as things can only get worse over time. That makes choosing a restoration service that is right for you incredibly important. You need a company that is available around the clock with equipment that is ready to go and a staff that is trained and certified.

SERVPRO® meets all of those needs…and so many more. Our company is locally owned and operated—we are your neighbors. Living in this community means that we understand how important it is.

Being local also means we have seen everything that nature and other disasters can do. We have personally felt the physical and emotional toll that dealing with damage can do, and we have cleaned up every time the community needed it. We focus on more than just getting the job done, we focus on putting our home back together.

A History of Experience

Not only do you need a smiling face that understands your situation after a disaster, you need to know that there will be enough workers and tools to put things back as they should be quickly. SERVPRO is backed by a national brand, which means with a single phone call we can always have the exact amount of help needed to make communities whole again fast.

We have been in business since 1967 and have grown to become leaders in the restoration industry ever since. There are now more than 2,000 SERVPROs all around the nation, including ours here in East Lansing.

The professionals at SERVPRO are all trained and certified, and there isn’t a job that we haven’t cleaned up after. We do everything we can to be the total recovery package the moment you need us.

We handle every aspect of your recovery process, from securing things immediately after a disaster has struck to rebuilding your home when it is needed. Our crew comes with top-of-the-line equipment and the latest technology so that we are getting things done thoroughly and accurately. Our employees are always learning so that we can stay ahead of how to put your life and our community back together no matter what happens.

Our history of experience and deep roots in this community makes choosing SERVPRO easy. When a disaster strikes, we are ready to respond—day or night.

Want to learn more about everything we can do for you? Contact us to be prepared for anything.

When Water Tries to Take a Stand in Your Business | SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett

12/1/2023 (Permalink)

concrete floor tiling with large cracks and water on it Has water damage infiltrated your business? Give SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett a call to get that resolved!

You get to the office and unlock the doors, reach for the lights and suddenly start to notice that things are smelling musty and damp. Has your building sprung a leak somewhere?

That would certainly be an uncomfortable situation to be in, but picture stepping through the doors and into a massive puddle. Now we are in an actual nightmare!

Plumbing failures or natural disasters can create a big mess that needs fast action in order to keep it from getting bigger. When you know what to do after finding water in your business, you can prevent extreme damage and get back to work faster.

One Step at a Time

Flooding in your business is a lot to handle. Even when a natural disaster was predicted and you took every safety measure possible, finding water in your space can be extremely overwhelming.

Take a deep breath and break things down to a single step at a time. You can get things back to normal quickly and prevent deep damage or mold growth.

1. Stay safe. Any time a disaster strikes, regardless of size or source, safety should be your top priority. Call our crew at SERVPRO® immediately, and seek out a dry place to wait for the professionals to arrive. If you can safely do so, take as many photos of the water and damage as possible.

2. Control the disaster. The faster you can move when you discover water, the more you can prevent extreme losses. Find the source of the leak if you are able and shut the water flow off. If you can’t find the source but the leak is coming from an internal source, shut the main water valve off.

3. Start the drying process. Floodwaters, even when they start clean, can quickly become dangerously contaminated from external sources. The more you can stay out of the water, the better. Even still, if you are able to start the drying process, you should. Open windows around the flooded area, turn on fans and remove anything in the water’s path.

Work With the Pros

When our restoration professionals get to your property, they will immediately start taking action to get water out of your business. We will also complete a full assessment of everything your business needs, and walk you through what recovery is going to look like. Our crew works directly with your insurance agency so that your process is as simple as possible.

As your recovery progresses, you can turn your attention to getting your business going again. If the disaster was contained to a single space and our experts consider it safe to do so, you can utilize the rest of your building while complete repairs.

While you take care of your team, our team will take care of completing the drying process. It is always our goal to restore rather than replace your property, and we will involve you in every part of the decision-making process.

Don’t allow water to take a stand in your commercial building. Move fast, and call SERVPRO. We will get things dried out in no time so your business never skips a beat.

Do you need repairs after a water disaster in your commercial building? Contact us to get dried out quickly.

Tackling a Leaky Appliance With Confidence | SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett

11/22/2023 (Permalink)

Damaged wooden built-in furniture from water leak, Home problems Are you left dealing with the aftermath or water damage to your home? SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett wants to help. Contact us now!

Do you have an appliance that gets used almost every day in your home? We all have that one appliance that we rely on to get us through our days, and chances are that it is an appliance that uses water to function. Water heaters, washing machines and dishwashers play a vital role in our day-to-day functioning. 

Since we are surrounded by water all of the time, that also means that the risk of suffering water damage is always present. While we can’t always prevent water incidents and accidents from occurring, knowing what to do when one happens in your home can mitigate damage. 

What to Do First

Water leaks can happen in a singular, obvious event like a flood or overflowing sink, but they can also be much sneakier. If your appliance starts to leak out the back or underneath, the water leak could be happening for a significant period of time before you are alerted to the situation. 

By that time, serious water damage could have set in and even mold growth may have started.

It is time to investigate as soon as you notice a new puddle or a water spot that you know wasn’t there the day before. Shut off the supply of water by turning off the connecting water valve and powering off the machine. Avoid walking through any standing water, and consider shutting off electricity to the area, just to be on the safe side. 

What to Do Afterward 

Once the flow of water is controlled, it is time to get us on the phone. Water damage is often time-sensitive because bacteria can quickly start to grow and mold infestations can start to take hold the longer it sits unaddressed. It can even lead to serious structural issues throughout your home.

We will arrive quickly to start drying out the excess moisture and we will also tackle any residual damage left behind by the water. This could include carpet replacement, wall repair and the installation of new flooring. When we are through, we will even sanitize your entire space to ensure mold cannot grow. 

If the appliance that malfunctioned is getting old or unreliable, we recommend you look into replacing it as soon as possible. The older an appliance gets, the higher the chance that another water disaster will happen again. 

Water damage should always be cleaned up quickly. Contact SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett right away. 

What to Do When Your Home or Business Floods | SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett

11/22/2023 (Permalink)

flood restoration: flooding in the modern kitchen. Has an unexpected flashflood invaded your home or business? SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett is Here to Help®. Don’t hesitate to contact us now!

Water can impact our lives in many ways, and one of the most destructive ways is when flooding conditions are present. We all know how powerful water can be, and it can cause a serious strain on your home or business’ structural integrity.  

Floodwaters can cause intense amounts of damage in a short amount of time, and they can also create dangerous situations for anyone caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Understanding what to do before, during and after a flood is crucial for your safety.

When It Floods at Home

Flood watches and warnings can be issued even if it is not actively raining, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take them seriously. Start preparing your home for the possibility of a flood by clearing out your lowest level and by removing any important documents or keepsakes. Stay in a higher room to wait out the storm. 

When the water stops rushing in, use extreme caution if you have to walk around any flooded levels of your home. Floodwater can bring all sorts of hazardous or dangerous things into your home, like sewage, storm runoff, chemicals or sharp debris. If you must walk through the water to get to safety, wear sturdy boots and gloves and move slowly. 

When It Floods at Work

Flooding situations at work can cause chaos quickly as your employees scramble to safety and to stay dry. Your main focus should be on getting your team to safety, so either send them to a higher location or begin a quick evacuation, whichever is the safest option at the moment. 

Designating someone to grab any important electronics or files can help ensure everyone can navigate the next few days calmly and smoothly. 

Once the threat has passed, don’t let anyone into your building until the authorities have deemed it safe to reenter. Floods can easily compromise walls, floors and ceilings, so it is always best to get a professional opinion first. Take as many photos of the wreckage as you can and get us on the phone so we can start creating your restoration plan. 

Addressing Your Flood Damage

We will get right to work drying out your space and extracting excess water. The faster we move, the less of a chance that mold will set in and we can even prevent the damage from traveling to other areas. We will dry out your entire affected area and use our thermal cameras to detect hidden moisture.

Once the space is dry, we can handle any sort of reconstruction needs that your home has. We can replace drywall and carpet, install new flooring and even help restore any soft materials that suffered damage in the flood. 

We will do our best to restore as much of your property as possible, and we will work hard until your home or building is returned back to its pre-flood condition right away. 

Recovering from a flood is easier with SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett by your side. Call us today.