Winter Heating Smarts

1/29/2023 (Permalink)

The winter season is here, and with it comes shorter days and lower temperatures. No matter where you live, winter brings a change in weather.

Many use alternative heating sources like fireplaces, portable space heaters, and wood-burning stoves to keep their homes and workplaces cozy.

Did you know heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths? According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment fires cause an estimated $1 billion in direct property damage annually. Keep the following safety tips in mind to help reduce your risk of a heating-related fire. 

-Keep anything flammable at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or a portable space heater. Have a three-foot "kid-free zone" around open fires and space heaters. 

-Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home. 

-Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.

-Always use the right kind of fuel specified by the manufacturer for fuel-burning space heaters. 

-Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.

-Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer's instructions. 

-Test smoke alarms monthly. 

For Immediate Service in Lincoln & Warren Counties, Call SERVPRO

1/31/2022 (Permalink)

Lincoln & Warren Counties: We provide immediate service day or night!

SERVPRO of Lincoln & Warren Counties provides 24-hour emergency service and is dedicated to being faster to any-sized disaster. We can respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs.

• 24-Hour Emergency Service
• Faster to Any-Sized Disaster
• Highly Trained Restoration Technicians
• A Trusted Leader in the Restoration Industry
• Locally Owned and Operated
• Advanced Restoration and Cleaning Equipment 

Have Questions? Call Us 24/7 – 636.456.3422

Residential Services

Whether your home needs emergency flood damage or your upholstery cleaned, you can depend on us.  Our technicians have extensive cleaning and restoration training and can make your property look its best. Learn more about our residential services:

• Water Damage Restoration
• Fire Damage Restoration
• Mold Remediation
• Storm Damage Restoration
• Cleaning Services
• Building/Reconstruction Services

Commercial Services

There's never a convenient time for fire or Water damage to strike your commercial property. Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when the need arises for professional cleaning or emergency restoration services we have the training and expertise to respond promptly with highly trained technicians to get your property back to business.

• Commercial Water Damage Restoration
• Commercial Fire Damage Restoration

We Want You To Know That We Care About You!

1/17/2022 (Permalink)

Recently, mental health has been a hot topic in our society, and rightfully so. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the suicide rate is 25 times greater than the general public for individuals with serious mental illness and mood disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder.

Listed below are just some of the warnings a friend, coworker, and/or family member may be showing signs of suicide.

Warning Signs of Suicide

• Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
• Talking about being a burden to others
• Displaying extreme mood swings
• Losing interest in things or losing the ability to experience a pleasure.
• They are withdrawing or feeling isolated.

If you know someone experiencing suicidal thoughts, please help guide them to these resources.

Resources

• Missouri Department of Mental Health - Suicide Prevention
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• The Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-TALK (8255), Press #1
• 911 or emergency services

Our team at SERVPRO® of Lincoln & Warren Counties have the mindset of being prepared and looking out for our fellow community members. Missouri Suicide Prevention Project (MSPP) also fully believes in prevention training programs. They primarily target youth-serving organizations and at-risk youth and young adults aged 10 to 24. They have trained more than 75,000 people across the state of Missouri. Those trained include school staff, students, mental health providers, first responders, and community members.

As a community, we need to remember to care for one another and to be KIND. We never know the struggles someone could be going through. As fellow community members, our team at SERVPRO cares about you.

Smoke Detectors Save Lives

1/28/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke alarms play a vital role in saving lives, and when properly installed, can reduce the risk of fire injury by half. 

The National Fire Protection Association recommends smoke alarms be install in every bedroom, outside all sleeping quarters and on every level of the house. Business owners should consult the local Fire Marshall to ensure specific building fire codes and smoke detectors requirements are met. 

Smoke alarms work best when paired with a fire escape plan. A plan allows your family, employees or client to escape quickly and safely in an emergency situation. 

Review the following tips regarding smoke detector installation and maintenance. 

-Install smoke alarms on every level of the home including the basement. 

- Smoke alarms should be installed away from the kitchen to prevent false alarms. Generally, they should be at least 10 feet from a cooking appliance. 

-Test smoke alarms at least once a month using a test button. 

-Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. If an alarm "chirps" the battery is low and should be replaced right away. 

-Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old. 

Winter Safety

11/1/2019 (Permalink)

Fire damage to house in Lincoln County.

The winter season is rapidly approaching! The days are shorter and temperatures are lower. No matter where you live, winter brings a change in weather. In an effort to keep our homes and workplaces cozy, many people use alternative heat sources like fireplaces, portable space heaters, and wood burning stoves. According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment is responsible for an estimated $893 million in property damage annually. Heating is the second leading cause of residential fire deaths, making it important to review ways to help reduce the risk of a heating-related fire. 

-Keep anything flammable at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove or portable space heater. Have a three foot "Kid-free zone" around open fires and space heaters. 

-Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed. 

-Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters. 

-Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home. 

-Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional. 

-Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer's instructions. 

-Test smoke alarms monthly. 

Prepare For Winter

10/31/2019 (Permalink)

Water cascaded from frozen pipes

• Cold weather can have a huge impact on you home or business if you are not properly prepared. Whether it is freezing temperatures, damaging winds,sleet or snow, all can cause serious property damage. While you can’t control the weather, you can take the steps to be prepared, and help take the sting out of winter weather. To help prevent costly damages due to weather, consider taking the following precautions before winter weather hits (again…)

• Inspect property, especially walkways and parking lots, for proper drainage to alleviate flood hazard potential, and trapping water that will turn to ice.  Protect water pipes from freezing. In severe cold the faucet can  simply be allowed to drip to create flow, rather than water setting in the pipe. If pipes are under a cabinet, the cabinets doors can be left open allowing warm air inside to circulate around the pipes. If the building has an outdoor faucet make sure that all garden hoses are removed. The hose will prevent the faucet from draining.

Holiday Safety

10/31/2019 (Permalink)

Candles, pretty lights and decoration are just a few of the items that add to the charm and cheer of the holiday season. However, if they are not used carefully your holidays may go from festive to frightening very quickly. 

Review the Following simple safety tips, provided by the National Fire Protection Association, to greatly reduce your risk in your home or business this holiday season. 

• Two out of five home decoration fires are started by candles. Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that burns. 
• Use sturdy candle holders that are not likely to tip over and place candles on clear, uncluttered surfaces. Consider using flameless candles instead of real candles. 
• Make sure your tree and decorations are at least three feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles or heat vents. 
• Make sure you have the correct type of lights for your desired decor. Some lights are designed for only indoor or outdoor use, but not both. 
• Carefully inspect light strands before placing them. Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of light sets. 
• Remember to turn off outside decorative lights and Christmas tree lights before leaving or going to bed. 
• Get rid of your 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 home. Check with your local community to find a recycling program. 
• Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and make them last longer. 

Five Tips To Help Prevent Fires This Fall

10/28/2019 (Permalink)

Bonfires. S’more’s. Hot chocolate. Fall decor. Football. Pumpkin spice. And everything nice. All the reasons many people love fall. Sure, fall decor complements your home, but if you aren’t careful, it can be a safety hazard. A fire can strike your home or business at any given moment, but it doesn’t have to. Prevention is key. In this blog, you will learn about five tips to help prevent fires this fall. However, if it does occur, the fire damage repair and restoration specialists at SERVPRO® of Lincoln & Warren Counties can be at your residential or commercial property to make the damage “Like it never even happened.” 

Five tips to help prevent fires this fall:   

1. Fall decorations, like dried flowers and cornstalks, are highly flammable. Keep these and other decorations away from open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters.
2. Keep emergency exits clear of decorations so nothing blocks escape routes.
3. Teach children to stay away from open flames. Be sure they know how to stop, drop, and roll if their clothing catches fire.
4. Remember safety first when choosing a Halloween costume. Consider avoiding billowing fabric. If you are making your costume, choose a material that won’t easily ignite if it comes into contact with heat or a flame.
5. It is safest to use a flashlight or battery-operated candle in a Jack-o-lantern. Use extreme caution if using a real candle. Place lit pumpkins away from anything that can burn and out of the way of doorsteps, walkways, and yards.

For your safety -- and the safety of members of your family (including pets) -- reference these five tips to help prevent fires this fall. And if you happen to have fire damage at your home or business, the heroes of SERVPRO® of Lincoln & Warren Counties will come to your rescue. We’ll be there with you and your family to guide you throughout the entire process. We’re here when you need us, 24/7, 365 days of the year. Just call 636-456-3422.

Why Insurers Choose SERVPRO

6/20/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Lincoln and Warren Counties are trained, uniformed professionals using professional cleaning procedures, providing fast and efficient service to meet SERVPRO's high standards of excellence! 

Our equipment consists of state of the art truck mounted unites, extractors, dry cleaning machines, dehumidifiers and other cleaning equipment that is designed to cost efficiently arrest any further damage to the structure and contents and return your insured property to its preloss state in most cases. Only SERVPRO professionals are licensed to offer our exclusive line of products. 

Celebrate Summer Safely

7/6/2016 (Permalink)

Summer is synonymous with barbeques, parades and fireworks displays; but along with all the festivities are plenty of visits to emergency rooms—especially in July. Each year around 230 people are injured badly enough to require medical treatments after firework-related incidents, according to the U.S consumer Product Safety Commission. In addition to causing injury, fireworks are also responsible for thousands of house fires each year with millions of dollars in property damage.

There is nothing like firing up the grill during the summer months! Did you know, July is the peak month for grill fires? A backyard barbeque can become dangerous quickly if proper safety precautions aren’t considered. As your local SERVPRO professional, we want you to have an enjoyable and safe summer. Consider the following tips to help ensure your summer celebrations are disaster free!

-Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors.

-The grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and over hanging branches.

-Keep children and pets away from the grill area.

-Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.

-Never leave your grill unattended.

- When using a charcoal grill, let the coal completely cool before disposing in a metal container.

-Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear.

-Do not to try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire. Children should never pick up fireworks that may be left over as they may still be active.

-The Safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public display conducted by trained professionals. 

Smoke Alarms Save Lives

1/20/2016 (Permalink)

Smoke alarms play a vital role in saving lives, and when properly installed, can reduce the risk of fire injury in half. 

The National Fire Protection Association recommends smoke alarms be install in every bedroom, outside all sleeping quarters and on every level of the house. Business owners should consult the local Fire Marshall to ensure specific building fire codes and smoke detectors requirements are met. 

Smoke alarms work best when paired with a fire escape plan. A plan allows your family, employees or client to escape quickly and safely in an emergency situation. 

Review the following tips regarding smoke detector installation and maintenance. 

-Install smoke alarms on every level of the home including the basement. 

- Smoke alarms should be installed away from the kitchen to prevent false alarms. Generally, they should be at least 10 feet from a cooking appliance. 

-Test smoke alarms at least once a month using a test button. 

-Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. If an alarm "chirps" the battery is low and should be replaced right away. 

-Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old. 

Eliminate Heating Hazards This Winter!

1/12/2016 (Permalink)

The winter season is in full swing! The days are shorter and temperatures are lower. Here in Missouri the winter weather will affect what we do to keep our homes and work places comfortable. In an effort to keep our homes and workplaces cozy, many people use alternative heat sources like fireplaces, portable space heaters, and wood burning stoves. According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment is responsible for an estimated $893 million in property damage annually. Heating is the second leading cause of residential fire deaths, making it important to review ways to help reduce the risk of a heating-related fire. 

-Keep anything flammable at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove or portable space heater. Have a three foot "Kid-free zone" around open fires and space heaters. 

-Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed. 

-Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters. 

-Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home. 

-Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional. 

-Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer's instructions. 

-Test smoke alarms monthly.