Winter hasn't left just yet!

3/31/2022 (Permalink)

At this point most New Englanders know how to handle the big winter storms. We rush to the grocery store to get milk and bread because we are all convinced we will be in our house for days on end! The storms that bring feet of snow to our area, no school for days, and state of emergency to keep nonessential personal off the roads. You could lose power, which could cause food spoilage or frozen pipes… and let’s not forget if there is a quick warm up right behind it, you could experience flooding. The nice thing about these larger storms is that they give us time to prepare.

BUT what about the smaller storms? The ones that only bring a coating, inch or two of sleet, snow or ice? The ones that they always say won’t cause much of an impact?

Did you know these smaller, less significant storms can actually cause a greater impact to your home and business? Why? Because we don’t prepare as much. We are told they won’t be as big so we tend not to stress as much and let our guard down. Four wheel drive can plow through anything right… wrong!

So... what can you do?

1. Have a list of your vendors and an emergency ready profile (ERP) completed on your business as an additional add to your continuity plan. It saves you time, in the event this “insignificant storms” turns out to be a really big deal.
2. Just because there is a storm coming, your business operations cannot come to a halt. Set clear expectations for those in authority as well as non-critical employees in the event an emergency does occur. Is your emergency plan communicated by text, email, or phone call? Is everyone aware of this? It may also be beneficial to subscribe to and send out public transportation updates so no employees are left stranded at your office. Likewise is it acceptable for your employees to arrive late or leave early to ensure their safety?
3. With smaller storms we tend to not walk the perimeter of our business to inspect for damage or ice accumulation. By not doing this, it can lead to larger issues down the road or worse, a customer becoming injured. It is always a good practice no matter how large or small the storm might be to inspect your property and document everything. You never know when your insurance may need that information.

In the end, the size of the storm shouldn’t matter. As business owners preparation is key no matter what Mother Nature has up her sleeve. Contact your sales and marketing representative to learn more about the emergency ready profile (ERP) and how it could benefit your business. Call us with more information 978.688.2242 

Dress for all Seasons this time of Year!

3/31/2022 (Permalink)

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Winter time in and around Lawrence, Methuen and Dracut can be very beautiful! It can also bring lots of weather hazards. Dressing in layers and taking steps to each your body properly fuel should ensure you can enjoy all that winter has to offer!

1. Wear layers - Many layers trap more heat in than just a big jacket alone

2. Hat and Gloves - Most of the body's heat loss occurs in these extremities so keep them covered. 

3. Stay Dry - Water compounds any cold weather situation and dramatically speeds up heat loss.  For example, wet feet loss heat 25 times faster than dry feet. 

4. Take a break = take frequent, short breaks in a warm dry shelter to let your body heat up.

5. Feed! - Eating warm, high calorie foods will give your body the energy it needs to create body heat. Pasta, warm sugar water/sports drinks, etc. 

Stay Safe and Warm! Keep COVID common sense in mind as well by always washing your hands with soap for 20 seconds!!

Want more helpful tips. Call us at 978.688.2242

Protecting yourself and potential buyers during a home sale

3/28/2022 (Permalink)

In today's real estate marketplace, you can have an edge with a reputation for having quality listings. You also want the ability to move a sale through quickly to get your commission. Presentation is everything. 

SERVPRO of Lawrence professionals will inspect a property - including crawl spaces - to help determine the extent of water or mold damage and remove potentially harmful bacteria and odors. 

So before you risk your buyer's health or the opportunity to close the sale of a property, call the local cleanup and restoration professionals at SERVPRO of Lawrence at 978.688.2242 for a free personal walk through and quote. 

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, SERVPRO staff arrives on any and all inspects in personal protective equipment for the safety of all parties. 

50 years of Keeping it "Green"!

3/28/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Lawrence has been a family run business since it opened its doors in Windham, NH back in 1975. Our franchise moved to Lawrence, MA in 1985 and has been here ever since! 

With over 100 combined years of knowledge and expertise, SERVPRO of Lawrence continues to lead our industry in cleaning and restoration services throughout the Merrimack Valley region. Our second generation ownership team was born and raised this community. Because of this, we are full aware of its strengths, challenges and its local people and businesses. It brings us some much joy to be able to help the schools that taught us, to serve the agents and adjusters who grow with us, and the homes we made memories in.

If working with a trained and certified firm is important to you, as well as supporting a local company - SERVPRO of Lawrence at 978.688.2242 is your only call!

Fire, Water, Mold, Reconstruction Services

SERVPRO of Lawrence would love the opportunity to work with you to make it “Like it never even happened.”

3/28/2022 (Permalink)

2/9/2021

WATER… that amazing property that can be a liquid, solid or a gas. We need water to wash dishes, do laundry, shower, cook… the list could go on and on. But in the winter when temperatures drop, that liquid can quickly turn to solid ice and cause havoc in our plumbing. Outlined below are the 3 main causes of frozen pipes as well as ways to prevent pipes from freezing when the bitter cold strikes.

The 3 main causes of frozen pipes are:

1. Quick drops in temperature
2. Poor insulation
3. Thermostat too low

Quick drops in temperature

We can’t control Jack Frost but we can take actions to prevent pipes from bursting when he puts us under a cold spell. Did you know a frozen garden hose can actually burst an indoor pipe? When the water in the hose freezes, it expands, increasing pressure throughout the whole plumbing system. Garden hoses should be disconnected, drained, and stored before the first freeze.

Close the interior shut-off valve leading to outside faucets, open and drain the spigot, and install a faucet insulator. Don’t forget, outdoor kitchens need winterizing, too, to prevent damage.

Poor Insulation

Exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing so be sure to insulate pipes in your attic or crawl space even if you live where freezing is uncommon. Consider installing products made to insulate water pipes like a "pipe sleeve," "heat tape," or similar materials on exposed water pipes. Newspaper can provide some degree of insulation and protection to exposed pipes.

Thermostat too low

Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By momentarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.

If you are planning to head south for the winter, make sure the furnace is set to no lower than 55 degrees. Shut off the main water supply and drain the system by opening all faucets and flushing the toilets. In extreme situations (a vacation home in a bitterly cold climate), you may want to have a plumber come to inspect the system.

If you find yourself in the middle of disaster, our trained, certified professionals are just a phone call away. We are available 24/7/365 and we work with your insurance company to manage the process and paperwork. SERVPRO of Lawrence would love the opportunity to work with you to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Storm Help = SERVPRO

2/25/2022 (Permalink)

Helping over 400 residents, municipal buildings, hospitals, and business, SERVPRO® sent hundreds of crews to help

2011 Hurricane Irene/Tropical Storm Lee

The storms ranged from North Carolina to New England, and the Disaster Recovery Team®. About 1,000 crews took care of these states, helping return everything to normal.

2012 Hurricane Issac

This storm took on about five states and almost 100 franchises responded to help

2012 Hurricane Sandy

Sandy left her damage across 20 states and brought in 300 franchises, with 1000 crews coming across the country to help and sort through the damage.

2013 Alberta, Canada Floods

Over 120,000 residents were affected by these floods, and was the costliest storm to the country.

2013 Colorado Floods

The Disaster Recovery Team® responded to the towns surrounding the Colorado mountain communities to handle the damage from up to 17 inches of rain. 48 Franchises responded with 109 crews to take on the emergency response.

2014 Polar Vortex

39 States and 70% of the SERVPRO® franchises were affected by these lower than normal temperatures causing pipe breaks and more.

SERVPRO of Lawrence is always ready to help, and call in the Disaster Recovery Team® where needed. When you are looking for help, give us a call.

Why Use the SERVPRO Emergency Ready Plan?

12/21/2021 (Permalink)

How SERVPRO of Lawrence can help your business through proper planning using our ERP!

A no-cost assessment of your facility.

A concise Profile Document that contains only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency.

A guide to help you get back into your building following a disaster.

Establishes your local SERVPRO as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider.

Identification of the line of command for authorizing work to begin.

Provides facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas and priority contact information.

Easier insurance claims process

How SERVPRO can help your business!

12/21/2021 (Permalink)

When disaster strikes your business, having a plan in place ahead of time for what you will do can make all the difference in whether your business survives the event. Over 200,000 business closed their doors since 2019 according to Businessinsider.com 

The majority of businesses that come out stronger on the other side of an emergency are the ones that pre-planned for one. That’s where SERVPRO’s Emergency Ready Plan (ERP) can help give you, your employees and customers peace of mind.

You can trust that whatever might happen to disrupt daily business will only be temporary. With our Emergency Ready Plan, your business will be able to minimize interruption because you’ll know what to do and what to expect if any-sized disaster strikes. This is important to timely mitigation and can help minimize how water and fire damage can affect your business.

Call SERVPRO of Lawrence today for more information! 978.688.2242

The Holidays' are upon us!

12/20/2021 (Permalink)

The Holidays' are upon us! With that comes family, fun and unfortunately some fire hazards. Christmas trees account for hundreds of fires each year. Typically, shorts in electrical lights or open flames from candles, lighters or matches start tree fires. Well-watered trees are not a problem. A dry and neglected tree can be.

Christmas trees account for hundreds of fires each year. Typically, shorts in electrical lights or open flames from candles, lighters or matches start tree fires. Well-watered trees are not a problem. A dry and neglected tree can be. 

• Be sure to keep your tree watered so it doesn’t dry out, and if it does get rid of it ASAP.
• Make sure your tree is at least 3 feet from any type of heat source (fireplace, space heater, radiator, or candles).
• Read the instructions on your Christmas tree lights so you are not over the recommended amount to connect for safety.

And, let’s not forget our furry friends. They are part of the family too! Before you leave your Salem, NH home remember these items.

• Securely anchor your tree so it doesn’t tip over and fall causing harm to your pet
• Mistletoe and Holly are beautiful to decorate with but they are actually toxic to your four legged friend. You could always opt for artificial plants keeping the season bright and your pet safe
• Keep lights and ornaments out of your pets reach.

We want to wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, love and peace.

Sincerely,

SERVPRO® of Lawrence

Commercial Reconstruction

12/20/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Lawrence is your one-stop shop for commercial construction. The last thing you want to worry about when your business has a restoration need is contacting and managing multiple repair crews, which can be time consuming, disorganized, and expensive. With one phone call, our highly trained professionals will oversee your project from start to finish. We offer all services needed to get your business constructed. This includes inspection and estimating, mitigation, restoration and reconstruction. In addition to these services, we offer premium services for dust control. We are competent and experienced and believe in delivering quality workmanship. We’ll work with your insurance company to restore your business to help make it “Like it never even happened.”

Call SERVPRO of Lawrence today 978.688.2242