Congratulations

12/1/2017 (Permalink)

We would like to congratulate Marco Garcia for successfully completing the fire restoration 151 class with flying colors. He is now certified in fire and smoke restoration technology.

According to the IICRC: In this class, the registrant will learn how to properly approach the technical side of the job. Students will be taught the best available techniques for removing damage caused by fire and will learn how to manage the job site while working. Also, the instructor will walk the registrant through assessing and pricing the work for the customer beforehand, ensuring that the professional is fairly compensated for their duties. This class is taught over two days, for a total of 14 hours. The IICRC does not conduct classes itself, but approves schools and instructors to teach the classes —  usually long-time registrants with many years of experience in the course area. This ensures that all techniques and technology used are relevant to the field at the time the course is taught. A professional who wants to take a smoke restoration course through the IICRC can likely find an instructor in their area, because they are spread throughout North America.

Meeting IICRC Standards

12/1/2017 (Permalink)

Standards: What are they and why do they matter? Behind the scenes, standards make everyday life work. They establish size or shape or capacity of a product, process or system. They can specify performance of products or personnel. Are All Standards Alike? No. There are several categories of standards: n Product-based standards n Performance-based standards n Management system standards n Personnel certification standards n Construction standards Should You Get Involved? Yes! There are many ways to participate in the IICRC standard-development and review process: n A voting member of a standards consensus body n A non-voting contributor as a chapter committee member n A reviewer during the public review period What’s The Bottom Line? Standards reflect strengths and innovations of those who develop them. That means nonparticipation in standardization hands decision-making over to the competition. Get involved with IICRC standards, and help us guide the future of the cleaning, restoration, hard-surface and inspection industr

Christmas Tree Safety

12/19/2016 (Permalink)

Merry Christmas from SERVPRO of Norridge/Harwood Hts.

ITS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN.

IF YOUR HOLIDAY IS JUST NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT A LIVE TREE, FOLLOW THESE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS TO KEEP THREATS AT BAY:

• Fresh trees are less likely to catch fire, so look for a tree with vibrant green needles that are hard to pluck and don’t break easily from its branches. The tree shouldn’t be shedding its needles readily.
• Always place your tree away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights, and keep the tree base filled with water to avoid a dry out.
• Make sure all your indoor and outdoor Christmas lights have been tested in a lab by the UL or ETL/ITSNA for safety, and throw out any damaged lights.
• Any lights you use outdoors must be labeled suitable for exterior placement, and be sure to plug them into a ground-fault circuit interrupter protected receptacle.
• Keep all your holiday candles away from your Christmas tree, surrounding furniture and décor.
• Bedtime means lights off! ­ Don’t forget to turn your Christmas tree lights off each night.

When your tree begins to drop its needles, it’s time to say goodbye to your evergreen foliage until next year.

Remember to stay safe during the Holiday Season From SERVPRO of Norridge/Harwood Heights

Winter Radon Protection from the EPA

12/9/2016 (Permalink)

Radon levels can soar during the colder months when residents keep windows closed and spend more time indoors. As many as 22,000 people die from lung cancer each year in the United States from exposure to indoor radon.

The EPA Administrator urges Americans to heed January as National Radon Action Month by testing their homes for one of the leading causes of lung cancer in the country, indoor radon gas. Approximately one home in 15 across the nation has unacceptably high radon levels; in some areas of the country, as many as one out of two homes has high levels

EPA Recommends:

• Test your home for radon -- it's easy and inexpensive.
• Fix your home if your radon level is 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher.
• Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk, and in many cases may be reduced.

Winter Heating Safety From The EPA

12/9/2016 (Permalink)

Always put generators outside well away from doors, windows, and vents. Carbon monoxide (CO) is deadly, can build up quickly, and linger for hours. 

Combustion appliances are those which burn fuels for warmth, cooking, or decorative purposes. Typical fuels are gas, both natural and liquefied petroleum; kerosene; oil; coal; and wood. Examples of the appliances are space heaters, ranges, ovens, furnaces, wood burning stoves, fireplaces, water heaters, and clothes dryers. These appliances are usually safe. However, under certain conditions, these appliances can produce combustion pollutants that can damage your health, or even kill you.

Possible health effects range from headaches, dizziness, sleepiness, and watery eyes to breathing difficulties or even death. Similar effects may also occur because of common medical problems or other indoor air pollutants.

A properly installed, correctly used wood-burning appliance should be smoke free. If you see or smell smoke that means you may have a problem. Never burn household garbage, colored paper or ink, or any type of plastic, foam, or other artificial materials. Burning these can release harmful chemicals. 

For Immediate Service in Norridge Harwood Heights or northwest Chicago, Call SERVPRO

12/9/2016 (Permalink)

Residential Services

Whether your Norridge Harwood Heights or northwest Chicago 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 Norridge Harwood Heights or northwest Chicago 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. Learn more about our commercial services: [[Link this to commercial services page]]

• Commercial Water Damage Restoration
• Commercial Fire Damage Restoration

We are an IICRC Certified Firm

11/30/2016 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Norridge/Harwood Heights is an IICRC firm. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) creates the standards for the restoration industry and provides training and certification to restoration companies. IICRC Certified Firms have the right to display the IICRC Certified Logo

IICRC Certified Firms must

• Present accurate information to consumers and conduct business with honesty and integrity.

• Require a technician on all jobs who has been formally trained and passed all required tests.

• Require a continuing education program to keep technicians up-to-date on the latest changes in the industry.

• Maintain liability insurance to protect all parties in the event of an accident.

• Maintain a written complaint policy and agree to Better Business Bureau or similar arbitration to resolve disputes, and accept the conclusions and recommendations of arbitration.