Efficient Water Removal and Drying Solutions for Your Charleston Commercial Property

9/12/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston and Mount Pleasant: Your commercial water damage experts.

When you own a warehouse in Charleston, it is essential to check your roof regularly. If you find ponding water, your drainage may not be working efficiently. Remember, each inch of water weighs around five pounds. Over time, pooled water can cause significant strain and lead to leaks and water damage inside your building. Look for any damage to the perimeter flashing, roof membranes, or roof penetrations like pipes, drains, and gas lines. These critical safety measures can deteriorate over time, leaving you with several potential hazards.

Dealing with water intrusion in your Charleston business is never an easy task. You need commercial water removal services as soon as possible to remove standing water and dry your building to prevent further damage. Our team at SERVPRO® understands the urgency in situations like this, and we are here to help whenever you need us. With the professional tools and training we have, it's best to let us handle the problem so you can get your business back on track.

To dry your structure, we also need to remove moisture from the air. Evaporation adds moisture to the air, and dehumidification helps remove it. Two drying systems can be used: an open system or a closed system.

With an open drying system, the moist air inside your building is exchanged with the drier air outside. Opening windows and using fans or air movers to ventilate the space helps exchange the air. These systems only work when the outside air has fewer grains of moisture per pound than the air inside. Ideal conditions involve outside air with high temperatures and low relative humidity. The difference between the specific humidity of the outside and inside air is also critical.

In a closed system, SERVPRO technicians close off the affected area from outside air and unaffected parts of your structure. Dehumidification equipment is used to remove moisture from the indoor air. For a closed system to work, we must control the indoor environment using air movers and dehumidifiers. It is easier to dry smaller areas by creating a drying chamber, using plastic sheeting, or closing windows and doors. Air conditioning can also assist in dehumidification. By setting up a drying chamber, the drying process accelerates, allowing us to dry everything more thoroughly.

SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston and Mount Pleasant carefully selects the best drying system to restore your property in Charleston or surrounding areas after a water loss. You can reach us at any time by dialing (843) 577-2470.

Water Removal & Damage Mitigation | SERVPRO® of Downtown Charleston and Mount Pleasant

9/6/2023 (Permalink)

Water removal and damage mitigation for your Charleston or Mount Pleasant business.

When your business contends with a significant water loss incident, you want to start working on a solution as expediently as possible. With so much riding on your availability to your customers during your regular operating hours, your Mount Pleasant business might take a substantial profit drop to be out of commission for weeks and weeks to get restored. Fast action on your part can actually do a lot to keep you from working around a lengthy restoration schedule when you select a professional and accredited company to accomplish the work.  With our team of professionals, mitigation plays a substantial role in our work. This process is separate from the restoration work that your business later requires. Beginning with the water removal at your Charleston property, our SERVPRO® team of technicians works quickly and expertly to remove all the dampness and moisture, effectively limiting the damage pooled water can do to the structure and your business's contents. In many ways, business owners assume that mitigation and restoration are in the same category, but this is not entirely true. While these processes complement one another, mitigation keeps the restoration work as efficient and limited as possible. Ultimately, a successful mitigation can shorten the potential time it takes to restore your building following a water loss incident. The success of this process is based on your ability to react quickly and to get our SERVPRO® professionals out to your property and start the work. The faster you respond to a disaster in your business, the quicker our experienced technicians can arrive and get to work. Mitigation lessens the damage to your property during water loss incidents or any kind of disaster you might face. When you have to contend with the effects of an incident in your store or business, trust in the rapid response and experience of our SERVPRO® of Downtown Charleston and Mount Pleasant water damage restoration specialists. You can reach our team any time by calling (843) 577-2470.

When Storms or Floods hit, SERVPRO® Downtown Charleston is Ready

9/9/2022 (Permalink)

Flooded Commercial Property

SERVPRO® of Downtown Charleston specializes in storm and flood damage restoration. Our crews are highly trained, and we use specialized equipment to restore your business to its pre-storm condition.

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we can respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit Charleston, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of more than 2,000 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams strategically located throughout the United States.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today at 843-577-2470

How to Handle Flooding In Your Business | SERVPRO® of Downtown Charleston

6/28/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® of Downtown Charleston is your local commercial restoration expert. Contact us if your company experiences any disaster.

Flooding is one of the most common causes of commercial damage in our country. Whether it be from natural causes, like rivers overflowing during storms, or manmade ones like pipes bursting or an appliance malfunction, they all can be devastating to a business.

In Charleston, we see severe storms fairly frequently, and it can seem like there’s never a rest. We face damage from hurricanes every season, but we also see other weather events during the warmer months as well. Like this batch of storms just last month that produced tornadoes, high winds and a trail of damage.

When flooding happens, it’s important to begin the cleanup process quickly to prevent as much damage as possible, especially to the flooring and foundation of your facility. Make sure you and your employees stay safe when experiencing flooding and begin the cleaning process promptly.

Here are some simple tips so you know what to do when experiencing a flooded business:

Why Your Business Should Have Regular Fire Drills | SERVPRO® of Downtown Charleston

5/25/2022 (Permalink)

Is your business prepared if disaster were to strike? Let our team help you create an Emergency Ready Plan.

When you’re operating a business, you have so many things on your plate. You’re concerned with everything from operational expenses to income to employee welfare to the ROI of your marketing efforts.

With all of those to-dos, it can be easy to allow some aspects of business to slip by. One that you shouldn’t allow to fall by the wayside? Regular fire drills.

In fact, when was the last time your business had a fire drill? If you can’t name it, you’re probably overdue.

Why Fire Drills Are Important

First things first, why are fire drills needed? A fire can have disastrous consequences for a business, impacting the structure of the facility and the products inside. But it can also put the lives of people in danger.

And that danger zone starts within seconds after a fire sparks. Once a fire begins, you may only have a couple minutes to safely exit the building before the entire structure can go up in flames.

Most office buildings, or retail facilities, aren’t necessarily set up for quick evacuation. Depending on your specific building and setup, you may have to navigate around multiple offices and down staircases—or you may need to dodge clothing racks and mannequins.

That’s why it is vitally important to plot out the escape route ahead of time and to practice it with all employees so they know how to quickly get out.

How to Conduct a Business Fire Drill

Not sure where to begin? Some basics will help:

1. Work with the fire department to determine an escape plan. They can help you determine the best way to evacuate when needed. Like in the home, there should be two ways to evacuate from every room in the building.
2. Outline those plans and place them strategically in the building. These need to be easily referenceable, both during an emergency and at other times for review. It should also be included in employee onboarding and training materials.
3. Determine who’s in charge. You need to have a safety team with leaders who are responsible in case a fire begins. This team of employees should be prepared to roll-call your entire roster of employees once evacuated, as well as any vendors or other people inside the building.
4. Run the drill. During a fire drill, your team should act as if the building is actually on fire. Run through every part of the scenario, including escaping from the building and taking roll to ensure everyone is out. During these drills, practice alternative scenarios, too, such as what to do in case one route is blocked and another needs to be used.
5. Repeat the drill. When you initially create a fire escape plan for your business, you should practice it every few weeks for a little while. This develops familiarity, which can help prevent chaos in the case of an actual fire. After a while, you can begin having unannounced fire drills every quarter.

Would your business be prepared if disaster were to strike? Our team of experts can help you create an Emergency Ready Plan for your business. Get in touch today to get started. 

What Should Go in an Office Emergency Kit | SERVPRO® of Downtown Charleston

5/16/2022 (Permalink)

Contact SERVPRO® of Downtown Charleston to create an Emergency Ready Plan or to learn more about our scope of commercial services.

When you’re running a business, you have tons on your to-do list at any given time. You’re making big plans, restocking inventory, keeping your facilities clean and safe, managing a team of employees and navigating the changing times.

While all of these things are important, there may be one item you’re leaving out—emergency planning.

As much as you might not like to think about it, emergencies happen. To keep your business up and running after an emergency, you need a plan, which we can help you with. And to keep the heart of your business—your employees—safe during an emergency, you need an emergency kit.

Why Businesses Need an Emergency Kit
Since we live in a coastal area that’s no stranger to hurricanes, you probably understand the importance of maintaining a well-stocked emergency kit.

You might have an emergency kit in your home. To protect yourself and your family, you ideally need a kit in your house and in your car, stocked with items to keep you safe and healthy in the case of a storm or other emergency.

But most of us spend hours each day at work. When you’re operating the business, you may even spend more time at work than you do at home sometimes.

So you need to take the same preventive measures in the workplace that you do at home. You need to maintain a stock of items that will help nourish your team and keep you safe and protected during a storm and the immediate aftermath.

What to Put in an Office Emergency Kit
So, what should go in an emergency kit for the workplace? Well, first things first—you may actually need multiple kits (or at least one very large supply) depending on the size of your facility and the number of employees on your team.

Determining what goes inside is fairly simple, if you already have a good understanding of what goes in a personal or family emergency kit. It’s basically the same thing, on a larger scale.

When planning out your emergency supplies, you’ll need to base the amount of supplies on how many employees you have. (You should update the kit with extra supplies when employees are added to the team.)

An office emergency kit should contain:

• Flashlights, with extra batteries
• First-aid kits
• Canned goods and prepackaged foods to supply the entire team
• Emergency blankets
• Enough bottled water to provide one gallon per person for at least three days
• A weather radio that’s battery-powered or operated by hand crank
• Extra cell phone batteries and/or portable chargers
• Physical maps of the area surrounding your facility
• Work gloves
• Multi-purpose tools, like a Swiss Army knife
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Matches

Because every individual has personalized needs, you may want to suggest that employees also keep a small kit of supplies on-site. This kit could include basics such as prescription medications, contact lens solution and personal hygiene products.

Planning ahead for an emergency is the best possible step businesses can take. Get in touch today to create an Emergency Ready Plan or to learn more about our scope of commercial services.

Do You Have a Commercial Fire Plan? | SERVPRO® of Downtown Charleston

4/21/2022 (Permalink)

If a fire strikes your place of business, don’t delay in treating the damage. Contact SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston right away.

Fires do enough damage on their own. When they interrupt business operations, it becomes more than an aesthetic inconvenience–it’s a major, and potentially costly, problem.

In order to avoid catastrophic losses to your business or commercial property, it’s essential to know what fire protection measures you can implement for your business.

Fires can cause major damage to your business from walls and flooring to electronics, paper documentation and furniture, not to mention the threat of structural damage. Because of this, risk mitigation through a proper fire plan should be at the top of your list if it isn’t already.

The following are the top three fire safety measures you can take immediately to ensure your business is protected in the event of a fire:

Fire Plan. A solid fire escape plan for your business is crucial to the life of your employees and your business. It’s important that anyone in the building, customers and employees alike, know what to do in the event of a fire.

Practice a fire drill with your employees at least once a year, and have fire escape routes posted throughout your building that can be seen clearly by anyone trying to escape the building. Never include elevators in your escape plan—use the stairs. Your fire plan should be a well-known protocol at the workplace.

Sprinkler System. Automatic sprinkler systems are the most effective method of protecting your business in the event of a fire. Without a system in place, a fire may quickly spread across an entire building, destroying a large portion, if not all, of a business’s property.

Sprinkler systems are an affordable fire prevention measure, considering the cost of installing a sprinkler system is modest in comparison to the potential harm caused by a fire.

SERVPRO’s Emergency Ready Plan. Know what to do after fire occurs with our Emergency Ready Plan. We will guide you through setting up a process that can be implemented immediately to minimize business interruptions by having a plan of action already in place.

If there ever were to be a fire emergency at your workplace, or any other disaster for that matter, the plan would have already covered everything from a temporary chain of command to interim workspaces.

If a fire strikes your place of business, don’t delay in treating the damage. SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston is available ²⁴⁄₇ to assist you at any moment with our emergency response teams.

The Importance of Commercial Inspection | SERVPRO® of Downtown Charleston

2/23/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage can occur at any time. Know that if you experience any loss, SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston is here to respond immediately.

Prevention is the best treatment. And inspection is the greatest form of prevention!

Having your HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems inspected by a qualified expert at least once a year can save you on energy bills, extend the life of your HVAC system and improve indoor air quality by ensuring you catch problems early. In addition, your facility should schedule frequent inspections for the following items:

Appliances. Make sure that equipment are properly spaced in order to prevent overheating the devices and potentially causing fires. Identify any fractures or leaks in the water lines of any machines that are linked to your water supply.

Any equipment that generates moisture (ovens, washing machines, showers and so on) should be located in a well-ventilated area to prevent unsightly mold growth or water damage.

Pipes. Inspect pipes for evidence of leaks or other damage. Pay close attention to spigots and pipelines that are exposed to the outdoors, since these are the ones that are most prone to damage, particularly during adverse weather conditions.

Leaks and cracks in pipes are two of the most common problems of water entering your facility. As you inspect throughout the whole property, look for cracks or evidence of water damage in the walls, ceilings, and the indoor and outdoor foundation. It’s important to note that peeling or damaged paint might be a symptom of concealed water damage.

Smoke alarms. Smoke and fire alarms should be checked on a regular basis. FEMA recommends checking the batteries monthly.

It is also suggested that you review your insurance policy on a yearly basis to ensure that you are fully protected against any loss. Take into consideration the fact that repair prices might vary year to year, so it’s important to check in regularly.

It’s important to do all you can to prevent big damage from affecting your business, but even the best at preparation and prevention can take on severe disaster damage. That’s where SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston comes in. When you take on damage, we are here to respond immediately to mitigate downtime and interruption to your business.

Have You Prepared Your Charleston Business for Hurricane Season?

9/14/2021 (Permalink)

Damage to Downtown Charleston after Hurricane Dorian

SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston is ready when disaster strikes. As a business owner in Charleston, SC you may not be expecting damage but it always a good idea to be prepared for it. With being so close to the coastline, we are often in the bull's eye for Hurricane winds and flooding. 

Building back after a natural disaster is difficult enough, but who will you call to handle the steps before building back? Who will extract the water, clean up and remove debris, check for and clean microbial growth? SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for emergency response to your commercial damage needs. 

What SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston Can Do For You: 

Fire, Smoke, and Soot Cleanup and Restoration

Water Removal and Dehumidification 

Crime Scene, Biohazard and Vandalism Cleanup 

Mold Mitigation and Remediation 

Contents Claim Inventory Service 

Air Duct and HVAC Cleaning 

Carpet and Hard Floor Cleaning and Care 

Stain Removal

Odor Identification and Deodorization 

Upholstery and Drapes: Wet or Dry Cleaning Methods 

Call us today to see how we can help you prepare! SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston 843-577-2470

Reduce Charleston Business Interruption by Planning For it

9/2/2021 (Permalink)

Fifty percent of businesses may never reopen after suffering a disaster. SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston supports your business with 24/7 emergency service. The best way to reduce business interruption after a disaster is to prepare for it by calling SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston to develop a SERVPRO Emergency Ready Profile for your business. This will allow you to minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action. Pre-planning can serve as an insurance policy aimed at peace of mind. This is a no cost assessment of your facility to create a concise profile document that contains only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency. Preparation is a key component for making it through any size disaster, whether it is a small water leak, a large fire, or an area flooded. SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston specializes in cleanup and restoration after fire, water, or storm damage to your business or home. Call today to get started! 

Building a Solid Evacuation Plan for Your Downtown Charleston Business | SERVPRO® of Downtown Charleston

6/1/2021 (Permalink)

Here are some helpful tips we’ve put together to help you build a solid emergency plan. Contact SERVPRO® of Downtown Charleston to learn more.

Every business needs an evacuation plan in case of a fire or another disaster. In many cases, OSHA requires it and even publishes their own standards to check your emergency plans against.

Plus, it’s a good way to ensure both your employees and your customers are safe if something unexpected happens. (And, considering everything that happened in 2020 with the pandemic, planning for the unexpected now certainly seems wise.)

We’ve put together some tips to help you build a solid evacuation and emergency plan if your business should need it. We’ve worked in the disaster restoration and recovery business for years, so our team understands how these processes can work.

Things to Consider

We use the term “emergency” or “evacuation” plan, but it should be more than one plan in reality. Here’s why:

Some disasters require you to shelter in place. In the event of a fire, of course, you’ll want to have the routes out of the building posted and employees trained to help with the process. But in other cases, sheltering in place is the right call. That usually is the best option if a severe storm or tornado has been spotted in the area. So, you’ll want to have a plan in mind that covers all types of disaster scenarios.

Your employees’ roles can change. You’ll want to talk with your employees about head counts, evacuation routes and their role in leading people out. You may also want to establish a set meeting place to ensure that everyone you know is in the building has gotten out. Or if they haven’t, how many people first responders should be looking for inside the building.

Some special equipment may be required. Depending on your business and the type of disaster you’re dealing with, respirators and other equipment may be required.

If your business is damaged due to fire, water or any other cause, you can always count on us for restoration assistance. We have crews who are available ²⁴⁄₇ in the event of an emergency. Contact us at any time to learn more about our restoration services.

When they call you...Call us!

4/5/2021 (Permalink)

YOU NEED QUICK RESPONSE

The first 24 hours following a water incident are the most important in preventing secondary or permanent damage. 

• SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston is nearby and ready to begin water restoration services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 
• A uniformed SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston professional arrives onsite usually within 4 hours of notification 
• Our staff undergoes extensive water restoration training and certification at SERVPRO’s in-house IICRC-Approved training school to ensure water-damaged structures are dried to meet industry standards 
• We utilize a real-time electronic claims information center to provide you with accurate reporting on the progress of the claim 

WHEN THEY HAVE WATER DAMAGE… 

They look to you to handle the situation. You collect information from them and provide reassurance everything will be returned to normal. 

Research indicates the arrival of a cleanup and restoration company following a water incident signifies to the property owner a resolution to the problem, is beginning. A SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston professionals is often viewed as a hero arriving to save them from distress. As their insurance provider sending this service, you can become the hero for helping them in their time of need. Contact the company with 40 years of experience providing water damage mitigation for insurance companies and their insureds nationwide. 

SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston professionals understands your priority is helping restore your insured’s property and peace of mind while minimizing the loss on a claim. 

Franchise technicians are trained to help:

-Limit the extent of the damage

-Reduce the claim cost 

-Provide real-time electronic claims reporting

-Reduce the length of time the claim is open

So before any further water damage occurs to your insured’s property and belongings, contact SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston at 843-709-0145

COMMERCIAL FIRE AND WATER DAMAGE IN CHARLESTON

3/22/2021 (Permalink)

THE EXPERIENCE TO MAKE FIRE AND WATER DAMAGE "Like it never even happened."

Timing is Everything 

Water leaks within a business can seep into flooring, carpets, baseboards, and walls while moving throughout the structure, potentially creating mildew and staining walls. Quick action is critical in avoiding costly repairs and expensive downtown. SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston professionals understands the water damage event can not only disrupt your facility, but it can also interrupt day-to-day functions - possibly closing the business and ultimately affecting your revenues. 

Experience counts when it’s your business. 

There’s no such thing as a small emergency when it threatens to shut down your business. Turn to the company with the resources and experience to be a national leader in cleaning and restoration. SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to assist you with your cleanup and restoration needs. 

Leak Prevention Tips 

Regularly check the following items for leaks:

Exterior

• Check roofing for deterioration 
• Check gutters and downspouts for blockage
• Check basements and crawl spaces for moisture

Interiors

• Check appliances in break rooms and cafeterias
• Check sinks and toilets in restrooms
• Check HVAC for leaks and blockage

Charleston Business Owners Should Call a Professional Restoration Service to Detect Water Damage

3/15/2021 (Permalink)

Charleston Business Owners Should Call a Professional Restoration Service to Detect Water Damage

Your office is an extension of your brand. When clients arrive, you want them to experience your philosophy and company values and peeling wallpaper, and the smell of mold is not in tune with your business personality. Both moldy surfaces and walls in disrepair can be the consequence of a leak in your business, and you want to take care of it as soon as possible.

In Charleston, water damage cleanup is the specialty of our SERVPRO crew. Our industry-grade equipment and expertise help us detect leaks and restore water damage even when it is not apparent. Spots on the ceiling, peeling paint, and a humid smell can all be telltale signs of water hiding beneath your floors or behind your walls. When you call our 24/7 hotline, you receive expert advice to eliminate the problem and return your workplace to mint condition.

What should I do if I see signs of a water leak in my business?

As you wait for our SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston team's arrival, you may want to air out the area as much as possible. Improving air circulation helps water evaporate and accelerate the drying process. We develop a plan specific to your needs when we assess the damage and ensure that the leak is under control. In doing so, we rely on technology available to our industry, such as-

• Wet-dry vacuums that lift water from surfaces.
• Drying mats allow us to remove water from underneath flooring materials such as laminates and tiles.
• Injectidry technology lets us inject warm air within wall cavities to encourage water evaporation.

Along with air circulators and dehumidifiers, moisture meters are also essential to our work. When we work at your office, we consistently assess the humidity in your office and use it to guide our efforts.

Water cleanup is a job for professional technicians. SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston is your partner when disaster strikes. Give us a call at 843-709-0145 and let us work with you to leave your office, "Like it never even happened."

What Should I Do if I Discover Water Damage? | SERVPRO® of Downtown Charleston

10/1/2020 (Permalink)

Do you have any water damage in your home? Contact SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston, we are your local water restoration company.

Water damage is not something any homeowner or business owner wants to deal with. Not only is it something that can cause damage to your building, but it can also require an insurance claim, leading quickly to a rise in your premium.

In addition to the financial considerations, the way water damage can impact a building is serious, and the longer it is left to fester, the more complicated it can become. It is wise to check common problem areas often for damage and be sure you know what to do if you discover a leak in your own home.

Commercial Services for Your Charleston Business

7/30/2020 (Permalink)

Whether you need cleaning for a commercial office or require industrial cleaning services, SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston can help. Along with deep cleaning flooring and carpets, did you know you can rely on us for commercial duct cleaning as well? That's why SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston  is your one-stop shop for restoration and cleaning services.

Ventilation systems are often the biggest culprit in poor indoor air quality. Make it a priority to inspect the ductwork of your commercial business.

If your HVAC has been operating for some time without attention, it could be circulating odors, dust and other contaminants.

SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston can routinely inspect the heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit (HVAC).  Keeping them clean can extend the life of the equipment. This can in turn save you money and give you cleaner air to breathe.

Duct cleaning is not always necessary, however. Our professional team will make recommendations about the best way to address any indoor air quality concerns. This can save you money and provide peace of mind on the health of your system.

The benefits of servicing your HVAC unit include:

• Helps to restore peak energy efficiency.
• May help to eliminate offensive odors.
• Helps reduce the potential for mold growth.

Additionally, make sure to keep the HVAC drip pans clean and unobstructed. And, don’t forget to replace your filters as needed.

Call SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston at 843-577-2470 if you need assistance with mold, water, fire, or storm damage to your residential home or commercial business.

We Can Handle Your Commercial Building Damage

4/7/2020 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston, our team of highly trained technicians works proactively and accurately restore any damages and protect families from potentially dangerous mold growth.  Using our updated methods, SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston’s technicians first identify the extent of the problem and then work with care and sensitivity to rescue and restore the area to normal conditions. Our technicians are trained and ready to mitigate loss and meet every challenge with professionalism, reliability, compassion, and respect.

Commercial Building Water Loss

Any kind of commercial damage presents unique and different challenges than residential restoration. But Downtown Charleston residents are in luck! Your local SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston is qualified as a Large Loss Franchise. What’s that mean?

Well, it means that there is no job too big for us! Regardless of how big the property may be or how large the scope of work is, we are the guys that can handle it properly and professionally.

Our Promise to Downtown Charleston

Our commitment to excellence includes you, which means that you can expect effective, ongoing communication and a report from us.  SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston is open 24/7 to help the residents of Charleston, Pineville, Jamestown, Bonneau, West Ashley, South Carolina. Our certified technicians have handled jobs big and small, and we can handle your job no matter what.  Just give SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston a ring at any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 843-577-2470 is HERE TO HELP!

Restoring Your Downtown Charleston Commercial Property After A Water Damage Event

3/26/2020 (Permalink)

Flooding and water damage events at Downtown Charleston commercial properties are often complex with numerous issues that require a knowledgeable and flexible response. Whether we’re dealing with a relatively small water cleanup scenario or a large scale event, we work quickly to assess each unique situation and isolate the damaged area. In many instances, normal operations can continue in a temporary space while we restore your facility.

Restoring Commercial Properties Presents Unique Challenges

Our professionals are trained to be mindful of legal and environmental concerns and strive to fully restore the damaged area while working within your budgetary constraints. We understand that every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when an emergency situation arises in your business, give us a call and we’ll be there fast with the help you need.

About SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston

SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston specializes in the cleanup and restoration of commercial and residential property after a water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Workplace Emergencies

3/26/2020 (Permalink)

The time to prepare for a workplace emergency is before it occurs. We never expect an emergency or disaster to happen in our home, workplace or community. The truth is an emergency or disaster could happen anywhere at any time. Having a well thought out emergency action plan is the best way you can protect yourself, your family, your business and your employees. These unforeseen emergency situations can be natural or man-made and they threaten us by causing physical harm or environment damages.

Unexpected emergencies can include the following categories.

Weather emergencies:

Floods

Earthquakes

Hurricanes

Tornadoes

Environmental emergencies:

Fires

Toxic Gas releases

Explosion

Accidental or deliberate release of hazardous biological agents, or toxic chemicals

Pandemic disease

Man-made emergencies:

Civil Disturbances

Workplace violence

Deliberate release of hazardous biological agents, or toxic chemicals

Active shooter

Most people cannot think clearly and logically in a crisis. The first step in being prepared is to brainstorm all the potential emergencies that could disrupt your workplace. Once you establish your vulnerability you will want to address these objectives.

Steps to create an Emergency Preparedness Plan:

• The most important objective will be to prevent injuries or fatalities.

1. Who is responsible to alert employees?
2. How will they be alerted?
3. Is evacuation required? What is the evacuation plan?
4. How to determine a safe meeting space?

• Call for help, fire department, police, medics etc.

1. What emergency phone numbers do we need?
2. Who will have access to this list?
3. Who is responsible to make the phone calls?

• When possible act to reduce the damage to your building and contents.

1. Where are the main shut off valves?
2. SERVPRO offers an ERP (Emergency Ready Profile) at no cost. We will send a SERVPRO representative to help you assess your facility.

After all emergency situations are analyzed, create your Emergency Preparedness Plan and put it in writing. It will then be important to set-up training for all employees. It is also a good idea to have practice drills to prepare employees and this also helps to evaluate your Emergency Preparedness Plan.

Is Your Business Ready For An Emergency?

10/1/2019 (Permalink)

If you own a business and suddenly have a water or fire damage, would you and your employees be prepared?

SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston offers the ERP: Emergency Ready Profile, a useful tool that can help prepare your business for anything that may happen. The SERVPRO Emergency Ready Profile serves as a quick reference document, detailing important building and contact information. It can be an ideal supplement to any existing emergency preparedness plan. Rather than simply reacting to a disaster, businesses can be proactive by establishing a relationship with a restoration company. SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston is a leader in fire and water damage response and can help you get your property back in working order.

The SERVPRO Emergency Ready Profile offers the following:

A free assessment of your facility's emergency preparedness.

Secure information in one location that will help you get back into your building following a disaster.

Facility details such as shut off valve locations, priority contact information and identification of the line of command to authorize emergency work to begin.

Call us today for your ERP at (843) 577-2470!

How A Suppression System Can Save Your Charleston Night Club

7/8/2019 (Permalink)

Give our specialists a call anytime you need us at (843) 577-2470.

Sprinkler Suppression For Fire Damage In Charleston Night Club

Overcoming the effects of a fire loss in your Charleston night club requires a fast reaction to the emergency. Often, with suppression systems installed, fires do not have a chance to become devastating and destructive forces to the building, though there are still direct consequences of this disaster to address. As much as you might want to take care of these problems on your own, professional recovery can help you to get your doors open again as quickly as possible.

Soot, smoke, and odors become widespread fire damage in Charleston clubs, though concerns also exist for overcoming the damage that the sprinkler system that had been running in the building has caused as well. These systems continue to shower affected rooms with water until the embers have been extinguished, which can lead to pooling and saturation of construction materials and electronics.

The DJ stand and set up on the stage of your nightclub is one of the most expensive areas of your establishment, as people come to dance to the music provided by this equipment. When it becomes involved in suppression, a damage assessment can determine the presence of fire damage, but our SERVPRO team must work to quickly mitigate loss by getting drying efforts started to protect electronic components and circuitry in units like amps, speakers, soundboards, and lights.

Our content management team can help to remove items affected by a fire or its extinguishment efforts to a safe spot nearby. We do have on-site recovery methods, though transporting to our nearby SERVPRO facility for concentrated cleaning, drying, and deodorization might benefit our customer if recovery efforts require your facility to shut down for a short time.

Multiple steps play a role in the full recovery of your damaged nightclub, but it is the business of our SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston team to get you back in business right away. You can count on our expertise and industry-leading equipment to make fire losses “Like it never even happened.” Give our specialists a call anytime you need us at (843) 577-2470.

For more about Charleston click here.

What is the Best Way to Dry Water Damaged Concrete in Charleston?

5/28/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Downtown Charlotte is ready to tackle your water damage restoration needs.

Commercial Water Removal Experts In Charleston Talk About Removing Moisture From Concrete

Any building in Charleston that has running water can suffer from plumbing failure. When a pipe breaks inside your food storage warehouse, it is wise to call in a professional commercial water removal company such as SERVPRO. Our water damage restoration technicians (WRT) can utilized advanced equipment and techniques to dry out your contents and structural components quickly. When dealing with food storage facilities, we know that excessive moisture can ruin your food items. If your products get wet, it can become costly to replace several of your products, so conducting commercial prompt water removal is vital.

Even a small crack in one of your water pipes can spray hundreds of gallons into your company's building quickly. During any commercial water removal project in Charleston, we start by extracting the moisture while it is in its liquid form. Removing liquid H2O is much easier than removing it once it soaks into your contents and building materials and evaporates into the air. If there is a large amount of standing water, we first use a submersible pump to pull out the water and put it into a sewage drain. Next, we utilize heavy-duty extractors and specialized tools to remove moisture from wet surfaces, including your flooring materials.

Once all of the liquid water gets extracted by our SERVPRO team of WRTs, we then begin the applied structural drying (ASD) process. When implementing ASD, we use a combination of air movers and dehumidifiers. The air movers move moist air away from affected surfaces while the dehumidifiers pull moisture out of the air.

When drying out your food warehouse, removing moisture from your wet concrete floors is vital. Moisture that soaked into your concrete floors can raise the relative humidity levels inside your warehouse. When the humidity levels rise, the water vapor in the air can ruin your food products or cause problems with any wooden shelving units.

When drying out concrete, our water damage restoration technicians at SERVPRO can implement desiccant dehumidifiers. Desiccant dehumidifiers use a silica gel to attract moisture particles. The machine then heats of the gel to release the moisture. Desiccant systems work better with hard non-porous materials like concrete than refrigerant dehumidifiers. If you ever need concrete inside your warehouse dried out, call SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston at (843) 577-2470 24 hours a day.

Read more about Charleston here.

SERVPRO Will Restore Your Charleston Business After Water Damage

4/8/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can store and dry contents off-site to preserve their appearance and functionality after water damage. We are here for you 24/7, call today.

Commercial Water Damage Mitigation in Charleston Orthodontics Office by SERVPRO

Commercial water damage can be disruptive to a business, especially one based in the service sector such as an orthodontics office. It can be chaotic to cancel and reschedule much-needed appointments, not to mention patient unhappiness at having their schedules disrupted. Fast action for cleanup is the key to making both the business owner and their clients happy.

SERVPRO was called to mitigate commercial water damage in a Charleston orthodontics office when a water supply line to a dental unit ruptured overnight. The water ran into several treatment rooms in a single section of the office. Our technicians arrived on site within hours of the initial call and immediately got to work extracting the water so the practice would have as little downtime as possible during cleanup.

Multiple technicians used portable pumps to remove the water damage in the patient rooms so the drying process could begin as quickly as possible. Once extracted, technicians used moisture detection equipment to verify there was no residual moisture under the tile floor. The baseboard under the supply line was removed to allow for airflow behind the wall cavity. The chairs and stools in the patient rooms were placed up on blocks to dry in place.

Drying goals are set by measuring the moisture levels at unaffected areas of the property. Air movers and humidifiers were set up to quickly dry the rooms and lower the air quality to meet the predetermined levels for dryness.
After drying, the final stage of restoration began so the orthodontics office could reopen for business. Our technicians clean the rooms affected by water and ensure they were disinfected and deodorized to meet sanitary standards for seeing patients as soon as they reopened for the day.
Commercial water damage should be addressed professionally to avoid disruption to your business. Our services are available 24/7 when you contact SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston at (843) 577-2470.

2019 Seasonal Recreation Guide
Check out the 2019 Seasonal Recreation Guide, click here for more information.

SERVPRO Acts Fast To Restore Mold Damage in Charleston

2/25/2019 (Permalink)

If you even suspect that you have mold in your business please call our experts immediately. We are available 24/7 and have the right equipment.

Mold Remediation to Reopen Your Charleston Deli Quickly

Your Charleston delicatessen is one place that is always getting foot traffic at all hours of the day. While you offer premier cuts of meat and prepare sandwiches to tailor to the lunch crowd on the go, you might not always stay aware of areas of your business that might not be in the best shape. Structural compromises can lead to moisture and water penetration, and persistent dampness can allow for mold growth to occur in as little as a few days.

While you might find that there would be time for you to identify a potential problem in your Charleston deli before mold damage occurs, it is more challenging to spot than you might think. Many problems that result from penetration in exterior walls begin within the wall cavities, so mold colonization could occur without you even knowing you have moisture concerns. The best solution is to reach out to our SERVPRO mold remediation specialists to get efficient and effective help right away.

From the time that our professionals arrive at your deli, we can identify all of the present moisture in the walls of your building to begin isolating the damaged areas and working to dry out the affected regions. Containment of the mold can help to prevent the spread to new areas while our technicians work to remove the active colonization that we find.

Our SERVPRO team appreciates the knowledge that you have to shut down to your customers for the time that this remediation gets underway and until you can pass certain health code tests to reopen again. We work efficiently and quickly to ensure that we can remove the threat and restore indoor air quality to limit the time that your doors stay closed to the community you serve.

The discovery of mold might put the brakes on your business, but with the right professional help, you can remove this threat and return to serving your customers quickly. You can count on our SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston mold remediation specialists to remove the colonies and restore the damage that has occurred promptly. Give us a call anytime at (843) 577-2470.

Click here for more information on the city named America's favorite destination.

Got Water Damage In Your Charleston Business? Our Team Is Faster to Any Size Disaster!

12/17/2018 (Permalink)

During water emergencies, we are just a phone call away.

Commercial Water Cleanup In Charleston Can Save Your Business

The pipe leaking under the sink in the bathroom of your music shop may force you to shut down for a time while professionals clean up the mess. We know that your business needs to be open for you to make a profit, so you can expect us to work quickly. Plus, we understand that you do not wish to disappoint your customers who like to come in daily to browse and shop.

SERVPRO water cleanup in Charleston can help you get back in business as soon as possible. Our teams are well trained and can stop the leak and remove water from the premises fast. Excess water can ruin your floor tiles and walls and can also damage the structure of the building. Plus, moisture can ruin various contents inside the store such as musical instruments and display cases, which can be costly. Dampness can also lead to mold growth, which can cause health effects. Calling us right away may help reduce damages and lower restoration costs.

The water removal process may involve the utilization of portable extractors, wet vacs and pumps to remove water quickly. If there is a large amount of water, we may need to employ truck-mounted extractors. Next, we can start drying the affected areas. Typically, our crews use air movers, heaters and axial fans to dry structures fast. If necessary, the team may use dehumidifiers to reduce moisture and to speed up drying.

Our techs may also need to pack-out some of the items inside the store such as sheet music, musical books and various instruments like guitars, organs, horns, and drums. If we remove any contents from the structure, our team can wrap, label and categorize every item. Plus, they can bar-code, photograph and tag all items. This step helps keep accurate records that can be helpful for your insurance claim.

SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston provides dependable commercial water cleanup restoration that can make it look “Like it never even happened.” During water emergencies, we are just a phone call away. Contact us at (843) 577-2470. When possible, we can return your shop to its preloss condition.

Click here for more about Charleston.

How to Get Charleston Area Charities Up and Running After Flooding

10/1/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Downtown Charlotte Removes Water From a Commercial Building

Water Removal For Charleston Charities And Businesses 

Charleston businesses are dealing with flooding now. Getting the water out quickly and drying the facility helps each business reopen its doors. In a situation as we face now, this is not about making a profit, it is about providing the goods and services our community and state needs to recover. Reopening for business also puts residents back to work and paychecks in their pockets so they can keep moving forward.

When it comes to charities, commercial water removal in the Charleston area is primarily about helping people rebuild. SERVPRO restoration teams can clear a building of water, provide the means to wash and dry donated clothing, and return food kitchens to active status so they can cook meals for neighbors who do not have power or are still unable to return to their homes.

We start with anti-bacterial agents and commercial water pumps. Floodwater contains soil and other contaminants, so technicians treat the water as a potential health threat. They spray the water surface and any property that was under the water before it began receding to kill bacteria before wading in.

Next, technicians engage the pumps to remove the water. Since it is still considered contaminated, they have to pump the water into the nearest sewer opening. If the system is not available, they pump the water into a tank truck for delivery to a water treatment plant.

If the shop has donated clothing for sale or to give away, we can help with that. Our equipment inventory has extra-large, commercial washers and dryers that we can bring on-site. If the power is still out, SERVPRO teams have access to a variety of generators that can operate for up to and over 24 hours of continuous operation.

Once we finish removing the water, our team members move in to dry kitchen equipment so that volunteers and employees can begin preparing meals. While some of the cleaning and drying we accomplish by hand, technicians also use a combination of air movers and fans to force warm air across and under appliances to speed up the drying process and draw the damp air out of the facility.

Getting our community back up and thriving is our only goal right now at SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston. If you need us to help others, call today at (843) 577-2470 to get started. We are here for you.

Charleston is home to Boone Hall Plantation. Click here for more information.  

Removing And Remediating Commercial Water Damage In Charleston

8/27/2018 (Permalink)

Our goal at SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston is to help our fellow business owners reopen for service as quickly as possible.

Commercial Water Damage

Charleston businesses can be affected by storms, just like homes. Most of the flooding and other damage comes from more common threats like a split hose or some other plumbing failure. In a few cases, sprinkler systems fail and cause even more problems when they soak clothing and other items on shelves or hanging on walls.

T-shirt shops are popular with tourists and Charleston residents. Commercial water damage to these small businesses has to be removed and remediated as fast as a restoration team can be called in. SERVPRO restoration teams are on-call seven days a week to help business owners reopen their doors to customers and make certain they have product available for sale.

In smaller shops like these, water removal happens quickly. Technicians use extraction wands to draw water out of carpets and off of the surface of concrete and wood floors. They can accomplish this in about a day, two for shops with a larger floor area. The advantage is that with commercial carpets, there is no pad underneath, so our teams do not need to lift them to remove one.

If clothing was affected, the next step for our teams is dry it. For damp items, the quickest method is to increase air circulation and carefully raise the surrounding temperature. SERVPRO Technicians use every surface available to hang items and then open doors and windows (weather permitting) and augment natural circulation by setting up fans at entrances and exits. They can also bring in hanging racks if needed. To speed up the drying process, technicians install space heaters and carefully monitor everything to prevent over-drying items.

In cases with a water-soaked property, our teams can bring commercial-grade dryers to the business, and dry it on-site. If the store power was affected by the water damage, teams could also bring in a portable generator from their equipment inventory.

While technicians dry the store’s inventory, one of our inspectors examines the building for damage. Usually, damage to drywall and other building material is minor. Our teams attempt to dry everything in place using fans to draw out damp air, and air movers to force warm, dry air across surfaces.

Our goal at SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston is to help our fellow business owners reopen for service as quickly as possible. If you are dealing with flooding or another water issue, call us today at (843) 577-2470 to set up a visit.

Click here for more about Charleston.

Charleston's Commercial Mold Damage Experts Discuss Air Quality

5/14/2018 (Permalink)

Mold Can Close the Doors to Your Retail Shop in Charleston--Call SERVPRO for Remediation

Mold Remediation in Retail Stores Is Essential for Successful Commerce

If a slow water leak ever develops at your Charleston thrift store, microbial growth can take place. A fungus grows inside any building that is exposed to excessive moisture in places that were not designed to handle getting wet. When water leaks from a pipe or appliance slowly it can go unnoticed for a long time.
 
Fungi need elevated moisture levels, an organic food source such as wood, and temperatures between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit to form. When working on a commercial mold damage project in Charleston, controlling your store's indoor environment helps control microbial growth. Once a fungus develops it produces microscopic spores that can circulate to other sectors of the building, creating more problems.
 
Most structures have microbes in places like attics and air ducts. If the relative humidity inside is higher than 60%, these inactive microbes can start to grow structures called hyphae. If spores inside air ducts have the ideal conditions, they can grow hyphae that spread across surfaces and lets off more microbes throughout the ventilation system.
 
The spores can spread all over your shop or large commercial building finding other moist areas to create more issues. Since mold can cause health effects with some people, if it grows inside the ventilation system, air quality becomes a serious concern. Any time a mold is found at a property, our SERVPRO technicians take measures to prevent microbes from spreading throughout the structure jeopardizing the quality of air your employees and customers breathe.
 
When microbes get activated inside air ducts, there are a few ways the problem can be mitigated. If the affected portion of the ducting can be accessed, then the contamination gets removed by scrubbing or using a vacuum with a HEPA filter. If the contaminated portion is not easy to get to or cannot be found, then antimicrobial chemicals get sprayed into the ducts with a sprayer or ULV fogging machine.
 
If the ventilation system is contaminated, it can spread pungent odors through your thrift shop. Clothes are porous materials that can store malodor particles. If products and contents inside your shop produce mildew-like odors, then we can deodorize them with ULV foggers or ozone systems.
 
We know that keeping your store smelling clean is essential for your business. We take special care when working to restore your company's assets. If you need help after damage occurs at your business, call SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston at (843) 577-2470 any day of the week.

Click here to contact the local city government.