One Team, Multiple Kinds of Damage | SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties

2/1/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties is Here to Help® when any disaster strikes!

We have all heard the saying “when it rains it pours” one too many times. As far as cliches go, that one holds particularly true, especially when it comes to dealing with damage left behind after a disaster.

Whether Mother Nature dealt a huge blow to the community or one of your appliances sprung a leak and flooded your kitchen, one kind of damage will almost always lead to another.

That is why having a team like ours at SERVPRO® is important. With one call, we can handle every step of your restoration, even with multiple kinds of damage.

Preparing for Water Damage Inside and Out | SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties

1/24/2024 (Permalink)

Flooded floor in kitchen from water leak. Damage , Property insurance concept.

Just picture hanging out at home and enjoying a little peace and quiet…and then you spot a growing puddle coming from the kitchen. Or you step off the last stair into the basement, into ankle-deep water. 

There are so many risks to our homes, both internal and external. While Mother Nature sometimes gives us plenty of warning before literally raining down her fury, some disasters can strike without any notice at all. 

Preparing for water damage in your home is the best way to mitigate as much losses as possible and keep your home safe. And the good news is that with a few simple steps you can keep your home prepared year round from water damage inside and out. 

Natural Disasters

We live on the Mississippi, so flooding is something we all have to be very cognizant of. We have seen the banks of the river swell many times, and understand what it means when heavy rains are forecast. 

To keep your home safe, get familiar with your specific risks. Has your area seen extensive flooding in the past, or is your home in a direct flood path? Take note of how your yard drains during a rain storm as well, and add sloping where necessary. Organic materials in your yard or a rain garden can also help increase absorption and drainage as well. 

Keep some home maintenance on your regular to-do list to make sure your home stays safe when flooding is predicted. Your gutters should be cleaned often, and downspouts should be clear of debris. Install a sump pump in your basement or crawl space to keep your basement dry, and make sure your foundation is fully sealed and free from cracks. Seal doors and windows well too. 

Store important documents in a waterproof container on an upper level of your home. Make sure your emergency plan includes contact information and a place for your family to meet together in the event of an evacuation. 

Internal Incidents

Being prepared for natural disasters is crucial for your safety, but not all water incidents are going to come from outside the home. We use a lot of water in our daily lives, and all of the water leaves our home vulnerable to plumbing or appliance failures. 

Just like preparing your home for a natural disaster, preparing for unpredictable accidents can be done with simple home maintenance. Keep a close eye on the areas of your home most prone to water damage, like bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms. 

Check under sinks often for signs of leaks. Watch for moisture, mold or musty odors which are all indicators that there is an issue. Pull out your dishwasher, refrigerator and washing machine every few months. Clean under and behind them while checking for puddles, mold growth or soft spots in the floor. Look at their water lines and check for signs of aging. Even a hole the size a pinhead can result in massive damage when not caught early. 

The more you do on a regular basis to protect your home from water damage, the fewer your losses will be. Even when the unpredictable happens, a prepared home can be restored quickly, especially when you call us right away. We are ready 24/7 to start drying out any water in your home, regardless of the source. 

Do you have water damage in your home? Contact us and get things put back together.

Moisture Hiding in Your Home | SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties

1/2/2024 (Permalink)

Water damage can happen anywhere in your home. Call SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties to restore water damage on your property 24/7, 365.

Water does a lot for our homes. Just think about how many times a day you run your dishwasher or wash a load of laundry. Even if it is just hosing down the dog (or the kids) after a particularly muddy romp, having simple access to water is really a blessing.

It is a blessing when we need it, but water can also create total chaos in our lives. Mother Nature might bring us heavy rains, flooding or even the occasional snowstorm that leaves our home wet, or a simple leak can have you uncovering water that has seeped through floorboards and walls.

Getting to know the top places that moisture likes to hide in your home is the best way to find and correct issues before damage becomes extreme.

Don’t Stand for Standing Water in Your Business | SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties

12/1/2023 (Permalink)

Has water damage infiltrated your business? Give SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties a call to get that resolved!

You head into work for the day, unlock the doors and start flipping on lights—only to notice a musty odor. Could there be a water leak somewhere?

This might be an unnerving scenario, but imagine walking into work for the day and suddenly finding yourself ankle deep in standing water. Now it is a true nightmare.

Whether it is from a plumbing failure or a natural disaster, tackling standing water in your business requires fast action. The sooner you can start addressing the problem, the less damage you will have overall. Get to know what to do so you don’t have to stand for standing water in your business.

Steps to Take After Your Home Is Damaged by Water | SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties

9/19/2023 (Permalink)

If you discover water damage in your home or business, call SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties right away.

Water is such an incredibly powerful thing, even in the controlled sense. In our homes, we pump it through pipes and can turn it on or off with the wave of a hand. And if you have been to the ocean recently, you have seen and felt the raw and powerful nature that water holds.

While it certainly plays a critical factor in our everyday lives, when water gets into all the places it shouldn’t be, it can create utter chaos. The Cape has seen its share of flooding from the Mississippi that certainly resulted in a big mess. And a flooded basement from a busted water heater, a leaky roof from a strong storm or a flash flood seeping in through your doors and windows will also leave your home damaged and your life upside down.

There are plenty of ways that you can prepare and protect your home from water damage, but there are some disasters that no amount of preparation can stop. The good news is that you have water damage restoration experts right around the corner that are ready to take care of your home night or day.

When the Rain Starts Coming In | SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties

9/19/2023 (Permalink)

Water damage in your home? Not for long with SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties on the case!

Rain can be a calming treat that leaves the earth feeling refreshed, or it can pound down and leave behind puddles and drips in all the wrong places.

Of course, some rain is needed and incredibly welcome, especially in the heat of the summer. But when rain comes in hard and fast, often bringing strong winds with it, we can end up with a mess inside our homes.

At SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties, we are here to keep you safe and dry through any kind of severe weather. With ²⁴⁄₇ availability, we are ready to dry out your home any time the rain starts coming in.

Lurking Water Damage in Your Home | SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties

5/9/2023 (Permalink)

Think you may have water damage in your home? Here are some tips from SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties to find the source.

Water can do a lot of damage in a very small amount of time. Even a little bit of water can result in devastating amounts of damage the longer it is allowed to sit, making hidden water damage particularly dangerous.

When you know how to find water damage, you can stop it before mold and structural issues start, which means you can also avoid needing costly repairs. Get to know some of the most common places water likes to hide out in your home, and make it a habit to check them frequently.

Some of these places include the following:

The roof. With lots of nooks and crannies, finding water leaks on your roof can be a real challenge. If you don’t get on your roof often, try to add checking it after every wind storm and at least once a quarter to your regular home maintenance.

While they often start out very slow, it's crucial to fix even small leak issues quickly. When your roof leaks, it can lead to damage on every level of your home, and it sets your attic up for pretty serious mold growth. Check for wet insulation regularly, and take action when there is excess moisture.

The bathroom. A space where you use so much water (and drip so much water) should come as no surprise as being a common spot for water damage. Leaks can still hide out in the bathroom, however, which means you need to look for problems regularly to prevent damage.

Look under your sink for puddles or damp walls, and make sure the sink faucet and tub faucet aren’t dripping. Feel around the base of the toilet weekly for water drips, and make sure your bathroom is drying completely out even after the steamiest shower.

Excess moisture or slow-running drains in the bathroom are another indicator of a hidden issue that could lead to mold and other damages.

Large appliances. If an appliance uses water, that appliance can leak. Leaky appliances can be especially challenging to discover, as the leak often originates underneath or behind the appliance.

Pull large appliances like your washing machine, dishwasher and refrigerator out away from the wall at least twice a year. Clean under them and check for soft spots in the floor, standing water or mold growth. These are all indicators that there is a problem with the water line.

Check for issues while you are using these appliances too. Listen for dripping noises, or take note of unexplained water drops on the floor. Every appliance has a different lifespan, but it is a good rule of thumb to replace anything that is more than 10 years old. This is a great way to stop problems before they ever start, as well as ensure your home has the safest items in it.

Dealing with a water emergency? Our SERVPRO specialists can be on the scene of the disaster ASAP to restore your water-damaged home!

Have water damage in your home from an appliance? SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau and Scott Counties is always on call ready to help,

4/12/2023 (Permalink)

Have water damage in your home from an appliance? SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties is always on call ready to help,

Maintaining Appliances That Can Cause Water Damage | SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties

The clink of ice, a cup of cold water straight from the fridge, clean laundry and dishes…could we function without the appliances in our home? While these units make our life easier, they also pose a risk of leaking from the water lines that make them work, making your home susceptible to damage.

Water damage that originates from an appliance can be challenging to find, as they often are slow leaks and can be hidden underneath the appliance itself.

When you know what to look for and you are able to act fast, however, you can mitigate your losses and get back to enjoying the appliances for their intended use.

Regular Maintenance

In order to prevent water damage, you have to look for it regularly. Use your hand to feel for wet spots around and under appliances as often as you clean in order to fix things quickly.

When an appliance leaks, it is often hidden underneath, so keep an eye out for unexplained drips in the floor. Move your appliances every so often to clean underneath them and check for mold growth or soft spots.

Your HVAC is another appliance that can often cause a leak inside or outside your home. You should have your unit professionally serviced once a year and change your filters every few months, but also check for moisture near vents and puddles of water by the exterior unit. These are both signs there is a leak somewhere, and it could be causing unseen damage or mold.

Check your water heater, too. This is one of the most common sources of water leaks in the home, and it can easily be forgotten until something stops working. Treat it like all your other appliances and watch for signs of leaks regularly.

Yearly or Long-Term Maintenance

Watching your appliances weekly or monthly means you can catch any problems early and stop damages before they become extreme. In addition to this, you should also get your appliances serviced according to their manufacturer guidelines. For some of your larger items, this likely means bringing in a professional, but there is also some long-term maintenance you can do on your own.

Look at hoses and other tubes on your refrigerator, dishwasher and washing machine. Check for signs of wear and tear like holes or kinks. Replace aging material to avoid problems, and upgrade your appliances altogether every 10 to 15 years.

Appliance leaks can start small but lead to massive damage when they aren’t caught and fixed fast. Enjoy your cold cup of water and the smell of fresh laundry with ease knowing that water damage isn’t hiding out anywhere in your home.

Have water damage in your home from an appliance or another source? Our team is here to help, so call us day or night.

Experienced water damage in your commercial building? SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties can help you get dried out quickly.

3/6/2023 (Permalink)

Experienced water damage in your commercial building? SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties can help you get dried out quickly.

Commercial Building Water Damage | SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties

Water is one of the leading causes of damage in commercial buildings. Something as small as a leaky toilet can leave a building in utter chaos, especially when it is allowed to leak long-term.

Catching every leak or drip in a commercial building, especially a large one, can seem like an impossible task. However, when you know the most water damage-prone areas, you can be a lot more proactive about preventing damages.

Protect Your Home From Water Damage in the New Year | SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties

1/10/2023 (Permalink)

Have water damage in your home? Contact SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties for quick and professional restoration.

A new year means new possibilities and the opportunity to plan for big and small projects that will make life just a little easier. This year, let one of the small projects you focus on be protecting your home from water damage by adding simple changes into your regular routines.

Water is one of the top ways homes are damaged, and a hole the size of pinhead can cause extreme damages overtime. Make a resolution to protect your home and avoid the need for costly repairs.

The Many Ways Water May Enter Your Home | SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties

1/4/2023 (Permalink)

If you experience any water damage inside your home or business, reach out to SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties.

Water could be seeping into your home largely unnoticed. If you have noticed a musty odor or cracks and stains in the walls, you could have a leak somewhere causing havoc and leading to foundation issues.

Extra moisture can also cause your interior appliances to rust. There are several signs to check for when investigating your home for leaks, but the most obvious one will be puddles on the floor.

Water can do a lot of damage, so the more you know about where it comes from and what to do about it, the safer you can keep your property.

Commercial Water Damage in Your Business | SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties

10/20/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties are your local commercial restoration company. We will always be here to help clean up and get you back in

The impact that a flood can have on your commercial property is huge. Flooding can originate inside or outside, and even a small flood can create complete chaos.

Burst pipes, a leaky roof, a flooded bathroom or backed up sewer can destroy your inventory, shut down a floor or even cause the need for the entire building to be shut down.

Natural causes can also have the same devastating effects. Living so close to the Mississippi River and its tributaries, we understand the constant threat of flooding.

Even with the recent updates to the flood wall, the more prepared we are before a flood happens, the safer and faster we can respond. That means keeping your business on track no matter what happens.

Take Care of Your Property and Prevent Flooding | SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties

9/9/2022 (Permalink)

Experienced water damage in your home? Call SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties to get the restoration process started right away

Anyone who owns property needs to prepare for flooding. Just an inch of water in your house can do an enormous amount of damage that in the end could cost you a lot of money.

For those who live in an area that isn’t considered high risk for floods, you may not be eligible for assistance through insurance or federal programs, which means the more risks you can mediate, the better.

Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do both inside and out to protect your property. Being close to the Missouri River means that our risk of flooding is fairly high.

We also have heavy storms to contend with that can leave yards and roads flooded. It is crucial to not only understand our regional risks, but to also know your individual concerns in order to start putting preparation into action.

<h3your-home-from-the-outside">Protecting Your Home From the Outside

Even a completely unexpected rain can leave yards and gutters overflowing. Take the time to get your home ready from the outside in so you can lower the risk of costly damages.

Clear out your gutters regularly so that water can flow quickly away from your house. An extended downspout can help keep water moving well and can be an inexpensive way to protect your house.

Landscaping is another great way to protect your home.

Gardens absorb water fast by pulling it down through soil and into roots. Mulch or other organic materials added to the base of your home in a slight slope can also ensure that water does not enter your home. Both of these can help you avoid puddles and protect the foundation of your home.

You might also consider investing in some upgrades that will help you avoid damages from weather events. Anchoring fuel tanks if you use them and having your electrical outlets raised are both effective ways of avoiding disaster when waters begin to rise.

While these additions can cost a lot out of pocket, a simple rain barrel that collects rainwater directly off of your house is an inexpensive way of keeping water out. It also means you have a free source of water for all those plants you added, too!

<h3protection-from-the-inside">Flood Protection From the Inside

The single best form of protection for your home from external flooding is a strong foundation and completely sealed basement.

A sump pump in the basement can also add a layer of protection from water. In areas that are at a high risk for extreme weather, it may be wise to invest in a battery-powered pump that will stay on even if the power is out.

For flooding that does not come from outside, protection is as easy as basic home maintenance.

Your pipes are one of the top causes of flooding in the home. Keep an eye on your plumbing, especially if it is aged or worn. Stop leaky faucets quickly, and add checking your pipes to your regular cleaning schedule to catch problems before they cause damages.

A leak sensor may also be a great choice in mitigating damages. This device will let you know when water is flowing somewhere it isn’t supposed to. Some home security systems offer this as an upgrade, so if you are thinking about adding one, take the leap and add the upgrade. It will offer you a lot of peace of mind.

No matter where the water starts, floods will damage paper goods and photographs immediately. Keep documents and other irreplaceable items stored on a high shelf or waterproof container. Make sure your emergency contacts are also stored somewhere safe, and add SERVPRO to your list. We are available ²⁴⁄₇ to start cleaning up after a flood fast.

Experienced water damage in your home? Call SERVPRO today to get your restoration completed faster.

Tides Change and the Unexpected Can Occur

7/18/2022 (Permalink)

Change is an inevitable and constant part of life that every human being must come to terms with. Some change is difficult to bear, but through it comes the refining of our character. With every passing day, we grow through what we go through. And if we resist change and refuse to grow, we find ourselves catching dust and missing out on a life well lived. A quote from a favorite childhood book, Tuck Everlasting, reads: "Life's got to be lived, no matter how long or short. You got to take what comes." Some change is external and out of our control. But there is a kind of change that is within our control?the kind of change that happens within us. What happens within us is the kind of change that is the most transformative.

It is really easy to slip into a routine of just going through the motions. For you it could be working a job that doesn't fulfill you or staying in an expired relationship. Life can catch up with you only for you to realize you've been standing still catching dust. Now you're faced with a dilemma: change or stay the same. The answer is clear: jumping into the sea of uncertainty is what makes life worth living. There will be more change in my future?it's inevitable. But the lesson to the learned is to face the sea of uncertainty with my eyes set not on the rising tides, but on the beautiful sandy beach beyond.

In case an unexpected water damage happens in your home or place of work, call your local SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties franchise professionals for all of your cleanup and restoration needs. SERVPRO is available 24/7/375 days a year. Let SERVPRO help you make it "Like it never even happened."

It's The Water You Don't See

4/28/2022 (Permalink)

Even small water damages have the potential to cause serious structural and indoor air quality issues over time. The key to avoiding costly future restoration is to handle every water problem as a real threat to your property. SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties has the equipment, training, and experience to find and dry unseen water before secondary damages occur.

The proper equipment makes a measurable difference in reducing the damage expense during a fire or water loss. When time matters, technology and equipment must be counted on to perform. Your local SERVPRO® franchise professionals will answer your call with fast action and a full arsenal of drying equipment. Some of the tools we use are as follows:

• Moisture Sensors
• Moisture Meters
• Thermohygrometers
• ULV Foggers
• Thermal Foggers

The bottom line? Your local SERVPRO® franchise professionals at SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties have the training and equipment to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Understandings the Categories of Water

3/18/2022 (Permalink)

There is certain "lingo" used in the world of water restoration that is sometimes foreign to those who aren't around it a lot. One of those, is the Category of the water loss. There are three different categories of water damage scenarios listed below. The category is defined and then lists examples of scenarios of each.

Category 1:

• Clean Water
  • originates from a sanitary water source
  • does not contain waste or contaminants
• Examples:
  • Broken water supply lines
  • Appliance malfunctions involving water-supply lines
  • Falling rainwater
  • Tub or sink overflows with no contaminants
  • Melting ice or snow
  • Broken toilet tanks or toilet bowls that do not contain contaminants or additives

Category 2:

• Grey Water
  • Contains some soils and contaminants
• Examples:
  • Discharge from dishwashers or washing machines
  • Overflows form toilet bowls on the room side of the trap with some urine but no feces
  • Broken aquariums
  • Overflows from washing machines
  • Seepage due to hydrostatic pressure
  • Punctured water beds
  • Roof leak

Category 3:

• Black Water
  • Water is grossly contaminated
• Examples:
  • Raw sewage
  • Wasteline backflows that originate from beyond the trap regardless of visible content or color
  • Flood water
  • Wind-driven rain from storms

At SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties, our team belongs to the IICRC: Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. You can trust that our professionals can identify and properly clean any water damage situation. Give us a call at 573-339-1948 with any questions you may have.

Don't Let a Water Damage Ruin Your Football Game

1/27/2022 (Permalink)

Football is very popular this time of year. The best teams of the league are playing some of the most exciting games of the season, and you don't want to miss it! But what happens if there's a hiccup in your plan? Think about it...

You have friends coming over to watch the game in your mancave downstairs. It’s been raining all day. Your buddies arrive and you take them downstairs only to discover that your sump pump failed, and your heavenly oasis is now covered in soppy carpet. Well, at least you have manpower. With a team effort, some shop vacs, and all the towels in your home, you manage to take a handle on the situation. You finally get to sit down and watch the end of the game. Not how you wanted to spend your night, but at least it’s taken care of.

The next week, those same friends return for a game night. You go downstairs to rearrange the furniture to put up some card tables and notice some stains in your carpet and a musty odor. There’s also a discoloration along part of the wall nearest the sump pump. Everyone else that night also notices the odor in the basement.

What happened?

You didn’t call the professionals at SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties. Our professionals would have used commercial grade equipment to properly extract the excess water in the carpet and identified the source of the water as Category 2 “Grey Water,” requiring the carpet pad to be removed due to the contaminated water. We would have set our professional, calculated amount dehumidifiers and air movers to properly dry the carpet and affected drywall. Our professionals would have used furniture blocks underneath your sofa so that the wooden legs would not have contacted the wet carpet and left stains. We also would have monitored the drying progress of the floors and walls until they reached the drying goal. Once the carpet and pad is reinstalled, then we would have cleaned your carpets to decontaminate them.

Since you chose to handle the situation yourself, the floors and walls were not properly dry, and your furniture stained your carpet. The discoloration on the wall along with the odor are now evidence of a possible mold problem. Not to mention, there are contaminants contained in your carpet pad and carpet because the situation was not handled by a professional.

Why SERVPRO®?

When you have a water damage at your home or business, rely on the professionals at SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties to properly handle the mess. In the long run, you’ll be glad you did. 

The good news is that we offer more than just water restoration. Along with Fire and Water Mitigation, we do Mold Remediation, Storm Response, Biohazard, and other restoration work. Our cleaning services include Carpet and Upholstery, Air Ducts, Odor Removal, and various others.

SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties is your local Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration Company, and we are Here to Help.

SERVPRO’s ® 1-4-8 Philosophy for Water Damage

7/23/2021 (Permalink)

Water damage. Something you never want to encounter. Something that’s never fun. Something that many may face one day. According to industry estimates, 14,000 people in the U.S. experience a water damage emergency at home or work each day. And did you know 98% of basements in the U.S. will suffer from some type of water damage during its lifetime? If your home happens to fall into that percentage, rest assured, the highly trained water restoration technicians at SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties can make the damage "Like it never even happened."® SERVPRO’s ® 1-4-8 philosophy for water damage is a guarantee. 

Our water damage process overview:

One Hour

Within one hour from notice of loss, a SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties’ professional will contact you to arrange for service. You’ll know professional help is on the way.

Four Hours 

Within four hours of loss notification, we’ll be on-site to start mitigation services. The key to reducing damage and saving money is responding quickly to your damage.

Detailed Explanation

Our trained, uniformed and equipped professional will walk you through the job process step-by-step. He or she will thoroughly explain what to expect and the anticipated outcome.

Pretesting 

Our professionals will begin pretesting for restorability, working from the source of the damage outward. 

Eight Hours 

Within eight business hours of on-site arrival, a verbal briefing of the scope will be communicated to the appropriate person -- normally your adjuster or property manager.

Cleaning & Restoration

SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties’ professionals will work diligently and efficiently to help you regain control of your property when a damaging event has taken over. We use state-of-the-art restoration techniques to ensure your property is taken care of right the first time.

Final Walk-through 

After the restoration and/or mitigation work has been completed, a final walk-through will be conducted with you to help ensure your satisfaction. Our team always strives to create happy customers.

When there’s a disaster at your residential or commercial property, you don’t have time to waste; you need to act quickly to help prevent secondary damage. You need a quality restoration company that’s fully capable and quick to respond. SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties is fully capable and faster to any size disaster. You can fully rely on and trust our experience, reputation, credibility, integrity, equipment, and knowledge. You can also rely on and have faith in SERVPRO’s ® 1-4-8 philosophy for water damage. When it comes to fire damage, water damage, or storm damage, trust that SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties has it figured out like a science. When you need us, we’re Here to Help.® Make the call today: 573-339-1948. 

When Water Damage Strikes

6/13/2021 (Permalink)

Do you know what to do when water damage strikes your residential or commercial property? SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties does! We are Here to Help you and your family in your time of need.

Did you know the first 24 hours following a water loss are the most important in preventing secondary or permanent damage? It’s true! Here at SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties, we stand behind our 1-4-8 philosophy. 

One hour

Within one hour from notice of loss, one of our heroes will contact you to arrange for service. You’ll know help is on the way!

Four hours

Within four hours of loss notification, one of our professionals will be on-site to start mitigation services. The key to reducing damage and saving money is responding quickly to your damage.

Eight hours 

Within eight business hours of on-site arrival, a verbal briefing of the scope will be communicated to the appropriate person, normally your adjuster or property manager.

It’s critical you know what to do if -- or when -- water damage strikes. We’ll provide you with three tips. 

Tips: 

1. Shut off the water source, if possible, or contact a qualified professional to stop the water source.
2. Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building when access to the power distribution panel is safe from electrical shock.
3. Do not enter affected areas if electrical outlets, switches, circuit breakers, or electrical equipment are exposed to water. Always avoid electrical shock hazards.

Immediate action needs to be taken if you’re experiencing a water or storm event. Fast response time is vital to help prevent further damage. The heroes here at SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties are faster to any size disaster. 

When water damage strikes your home or business, contact the Brand leader in the cleanup and restoration industry: SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties. We’re Here to Help you 24/7, 365 for all your emergency service needs. Just call 573-339-1948.

Important Disaster Tips

5/27/2021 (Permalink)

It’s critical to know important disaster tips, especially if you reside in disaster-prone regions. 

If you had a disaster, such as water damage, storm damage, or fire damage, at your home or business, would you rely on the number one leader in the restoration and cleanup industry? Or, would you rely on a subpar company or contractor? Not only has SERVPRO® earned the position as the #1 franchise in the cleaning and restoration industry for the 21st year in a row, but we’ve been named a Top 10 overall franchise system in the nation by Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 list.

When disaster strikes, SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties is always Ready for whatever happens.® Whether it’s water that infiltrates your property, a fire that blazes it, or some kind of storm that strikes it, our highly experienced and trained professionals are always ready to serve you and your family and to make the damage "Like it never even happened."®  

As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties is strategically located to respond quickly to your water or flood damage event. When a major storm or flood event occurs, we can call upon our national network of 1,700 plus SERVPRO Franchises and special Disaster Recovery Teams if we need additional resources or personnel. We have the resources, tools, equipment, capacity, and experience to handle storms and disasters. No job is too big or too small for our team.    

Speaking of disasters, consider the following tips below. 

1. If you live in a high wind or hurricane-prone area and do not have code-approved shutters for protection from windborne debris, consider temporarily protecting your doors and windows by mounting exterior grade, 7/16" minimum thickness plywood and fastening it into place.  
2. Consider building or retrofitting to create a tornado-safe room in your home. 
3. In wildfire=prone areas, remove fine (dead grass, leaves, etc.) and coarse fuels (dead twigs, branches, etc.) within 30 feet of a building to create a survivable space in case of a wildfire. Be sure to remove dry leaf and pine litter from roofs, rain gutters, decks, and walkways. 
4. Flooded roads could have significant damage hidden by floodwaters. Never drive through floodwaters or on flooded roads. Do not attempt to cross a flowing stream. It takes only six inches of fast-flowing water to sweep you off your feet and two feet of water to move an SUV-sized vehicle.

If a disaster, such as water damage, storm damage, or fire damage, threatens your residential or commercial property, remember that SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties has the tools, resources, equipment, capacity, and experience to make the damage "Like it never even happened."® Only rely and trust the number one leader in the restoration and cleanup industry. We’re available 24/7, 365 days of the year for all your emergency service needs. Will you contact us for your next restoration job? Just call 573-339-1948. 

Understanding Water Types: Part 2

4/24/2021 (Permalink)

If you have residential or commercial water damage, having an understanding of water types is helpful. Knowing that critical piece of information helps ensure the proper cleanup is performed when qualified professionals arrive on-site. Our heroes here at SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties can assist you with that and help make the damage “Like it never even happened.”  

Gray water is used to classify slightly contaminated water. Clean water becomes gray water when it is left untreated allowing bacteria and other contaminants to begin growing, making the water hazardous. Sinks, showers, tubs and washing machines are examples of gray water.  

Black water is highly contaminated and filled with fungi, bacteria, chemicals and more. It is typically caused by sewage damage, flooding or any type of natural disaster. Black water should always be handled by trained professionals. Bathrooms and toilets that contain fecal matter and urine are considered black water. Did you know water from your kitchen and dishwashers can also be classified as blackwater? It’s true due to the contamination by grease and other pathogens. 

Consider taking the following precautions to help minimize damage or prevent further damage while waiting for help to arrive. 

Damage from Contaminated Water

• Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage. Wash your hands thoroughly if you come in contact with contaminated items.
• Do not walk through contaminated areas, as you could spread damage to unaffected areas. 
• Do not turn on the HVAC system if there is a possibility of spreading contaminated air.
• Do not use household fans to dry the structure; air flow could spread contaminants.
• Discard any food and/or products for personal hygiene and cleanliness if exposed to the contaminated areas.

Now that you have an understanding of water types part 2, you can make an informed decision when you need a restoration company. When you have water damage, don’t leave your property to chance. Contact your local SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties. We’re available 24/7, 365 days of the year for all your emergency service needs. Call us: 573-339-1948.

Understanding Water Types: Part 1

3/19/2021 (Permalink)

When your home or business suffers a water damage, it’s vital that you have an understanding of water types. This is critical to help ensure proper cleanup. The heroes at SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties are highly qualified and experienced in this vertical.   

There are three types of water: Clean, gray, and black. 

Clean water is water from a broken pipe or another water source; rainwater is also considered clean. 

Gray water is used to classify slightly contaminated water. Clean water becomes gray water when it is left untreated allowing bacteria and other contaminants to begin growing, making the water hazardous. 

Black water is highly contaminated and filled with fungi, bacteria, chemicals and more. Black water is typically caused by sewage damage, flooding or any type of natural disaster. Black water should always be handled by trained professionals. 

There are a number of water damage scenarios that can cause water damage at your residential and/or commercial property. Consider taking the following precautions to help minimize damage or prevent further damage while waiting for help to arrive. 

Damage from Clean Water 

• Shut off the water source, if possible, or contact a qualified professional to do so.
• Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building if access to the power distribution panel is safe from potential electrical shock. Do not enter rooms with standing water, as electrical shock hazards may exist.
• Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting. Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removing lamps and tabletop items.
• Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions to allow more even drying.
• Move any paintings, art objects, computers, documents and other valuable items that may be sensitive to moisture to a safe place.
• Do not leave books, newspapers, magazines or other colored items on wet carpets or floors as they may cause staining. 
• Do not use your household vacuum cleaner to remove water as there is potential for electrical shock or causing damage to the vacuum cleaner. 
• Do not turn on ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet; do not enter rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water.

Now that you have an understanding of water types part 1, stay tuned for understanding water types part 2 to learn about the necessary precautions to take for damage from contaminated water. When water damage strikes your home or business, contact your premier local cleanup and restoration company. Call SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties day or night at 573-339-1948. 

How To Prevent Frozen Pipes

1/30/2021 (Permalink)

Before all the snow and ice come, it’s good for you to know tips on how to prevent frozen pipes. Because old man winter can cause damage to your residential or commercial property. Winter is a prime time for pipes to freeze. And frozen pipes can result in water damage. If this occurs, SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties is always Here to Help.® 

One of the number one tips to avoid frozen pipes is by allowing water to drip from faucets while the temperature is below freezing. According to the Red Cross, below are three other ways to prevent frozen pipes. 

1. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals out of the reach of children.
2. Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily 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.
3. If you are going to be away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home; set it to a temperature no lower than 55° F.

It’s also a good idea to detach your outdoor hoses. 

Now that you have some tips on how to prevent frozen pipes, here’s another tip for you: If you happen to have water damage at your home or business, contact SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties, where their heroes make the damage “Like it never even happened.” Call today: 573-339-1948.

How Our Heroes Ensure Water Damage is Handled Properly

7/23/2020 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties, we have an effective protocol in place for everything. And when it comes to water damage, utilizing that system is of the utmost importance. The below steps demonstrate how our heroes ensure water damage is handled properly at your home and/or business. 

Within four hours of receiving a loss notification, a SERVPRO® franchise professional will be on-site to help ensure the water damage is handled by completing the following steps. 

Inspection 

Our heroes will inspect the affected areas to determine the extent of water damage and will review the inspection with you to answer any questions before beginning the work. 

Emergency Services 

Our heroes take steps to help protect your home or business, as well as personal property and other contents, from further damage by extracting the excess water and preparing the area for drying. They will explain the needed emergency services in-depth to you step-by-step. 

Monitoring 

To help ensure your home or business and belongings are dried to appropriate industry standards, our heroes will monitor the drying process. The updates will be consistently communicated with you. 

Restoration Services 

The heroes here at SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties will repair structural materials, reinstall carpets, and clean affected areas of your property and contents. A final walk-through of the jobsite will be conducted with you to help ensure the property was returned to its preloss condition.

When there’s water damage at your residential or commercial property, contact us. Rely only on the premier water damage repair and restoration company: SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties. We’ll make the damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today: 573-339-1948.

Emergency Water Damage Tips

6/13/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage can happen at any given moment, so it’s good to always be prepared. The emergency water damage tips provided below can help salvage your belongings. The first 24 hours following a water loss are the most important in preventing secondary or permanent damage. It’s vital that you act fast. And that’s exactly what the heroes here at SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties do when there’s water damage at your residential or commercial property. We are faster to any size disaster.  

In the event of water damage, follow these tips: 

1. Shut-off the water source, if possible, or contact a qualified professional to stop the water source. 
2. Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building when access to the power distribution panel is safe from electrical shock. 
3. Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting. 
4. Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting. 
5. Move any paintings, art objects, computers, documents, and other sensitive valuables to a dry place. 
6. Do not enter affected areas if electrical outlets, switches, circuit breakers, or electrical equipment are exposed to water. Always avoid electrical shock hazards. 
7. Do not use your household vacuum cleaner to remove water! This could cause an electrical shock or damage to the device. 
8. Do not turn on ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet or enter rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water. 

We hope you found these emergency water damage tips useful. Should you have water damage at your home or business, SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties has an effective 7-step process to help make the damage “Like it never even happened.” Contact us 24/7, 365 days of the year. Will you choose us for your next restoration job? Call us for all your emergency services: 573-339-1948. 

3 Flood Safety Tips

5/27/2020 (Permalink)

Floods are one of the most common and widespread natural disasters in the United States. It’s vital that you are always prepared, so we want to equip you with three flood safety tips so you’re prepared. Whether your home or business is near a coastline, near a river, or even in the desert, there is always potential for flood damage. If your residential or commercial property is affected by flood damage, SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties is your local storm damage cleanup and restoration company.

Fema.gov reports in the last five years, all 50 states have experienced floods or flash floods. Just because you haven’t experienced a flood in the past does not mean you won’t in the future. In fact, nearly 20% of all flood insurance claims come from moderate-to-low risk areas, and even just one inch of flood damage in an average home can cost you up to $27,000 worth in damages. According to the American Red Cross, floods cause more damage in the U.S. every year than any other weather-related disaster. The American Red Cross offers the following flood safety tips. 

1. Stay away from floodwaters. If you come up on a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, stop, turn around, and go another way. Six inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off your feet. 
2. If you approach a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water. 
3. Keep children out of the water. They are curious and often lack judgment about running water or contaminated water. 

We hope you found these three flood safety tips helpful. If you have flood damage at your residential or commercial property, contact the heroes at SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties. We are Here to Help.® We’ll be at your home or business to make the damage “Like it never even happened.” We make it easy and convenient for you to reach us. For all your emergency services, we are available 24/7, 365 days of the year. Call us anytime: 573-339-1948. 

The Science of Drying

4/24/2020 (Permalink)

The science of drying is not something most people think of often unless your property is impacted by water damage. If water damage strikes your home or business, you should rely on the professionals who use the science of drying, and that’s the heroes at SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties. 

Psychometrics is the study of air and its properties and how those properties relate to the effects moisture has on various structural materials and contents. The “Science of Drying” is understanding how to manipulate temperature and humidity levels to produce optimal drying conditions, without causing secondary damages.

Our One Team MVPs are trained in the science of drying and follow strict industry-approved standards to help lower the chances of secondary damage. Here at SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties, we have highly trained restoration specialists. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s Corporate Training Facility to regular IICRC industry certifications, rest assured, our staff is equipped with the tools, knowledge and resources to restore your property.

If your business experiences water damage, here are 3 tactics your local SERVPRO® Franchise professionals will do:

1. Inspect the building to detect every component that is wet to help prevent secondary damage from happening.
2. Measure how much moisture is in wet materials and monitor whether the materials are drying properly.
3. Speed up Mother Nature by using professional drying equipment.

When there’s water damage at your home or business, our advanced technology, techniques and equipment help to effectively get your property back to Like it never even happened.® SERVPRO® has developed DryBook™, a proprietary tool that provides real-time documentation and updates on the drying process. It helps ensure industry drying requirements are met. With DryBook™ Mobile, we have the ability to easily track where your property is in the drying process.

The next time your residential or commercial property has water damage, rely on the premier water damage repair and restoration company. The heroes at SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties have the science of drying down to a science. Call us at 573-339-1948.

Water Damage Company Reviews

3/19/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage company reviews can have a huge influence and impact on your purchasing power. When you need a water damage company, your journey may look something like this: Pull out your phone → Go to Google → Search for “water damage company” → Do a little research → Read some reviews → Click the “Call” button. Reading those reviews can help you determine which company you are going to use. Review some of SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties’ reviews. And if you happen to have water damage at your home or business, you can make an informed decision.   

Our heroes here at SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties always strive to create happy customers. Some of the below reviews are proof. 

Happy customers testimonials: 

“If you have a fire or any flood damage at all, SERVPRO is who you want to call. They were there for us when we didn’t know what to do. They walked us through the flood damage we had and made us feel like family the whole time. Thank you, SERVPRO!!!” 

- Brandi 

“I've been an insurance agent for over 12 years. The various insurance companies I represent often recommend SERVPRO. So, when I had a water leak from an ice maker in the middle of our kitchen, I called SERVPRO. By the end of the day, my damaged flooring had been removed, appliances moved out and fans and dehumidifiers were set up throughout the house. My kids said they were like a swarm of green bees, they swooped in and out. Informative & personable. I had a great experience with SERVPRO.” 

- Jennifer 

“SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties is the best company I have ever done business with! Over the last 10 years, we have used SERVPRO for a variety of situations -- a remodeling accident that burst a water pipe, a flooded basement, and the cleaning of our air ducts. In every situation, SERVPRO arrived quickly. I can't say enough great things about the people who work for SERVPRO! From the receptionist to the head of the company!”

- Marueen 

The next time you need a local water damage repair and restoration company, read some of the water damage company reviews for SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties, then contact us. You, too, can write us a review. For all your residential and commercial water damage needs, our experienced and qualified heroes can make that damage "Like it never even happened."® Will you give us your next restoration job? Just call 573-339-1948.  

How Do I Know If My Walls Have Water Damage

1/30/2020 (Permalink)

How do I know if my walls have water damage? Is that a question you have ever pondered or, perhaps, a query you searched online? It’s not always evident. Water damage can cause an individual a flood of emotions. And, as you know, it doesn’t typically occur at 8 a.m., 1:30 p.m., or 5 p.m. Oftentimes, it occurs at times you may be sleeping, on vacation, at work, etc. It can happen at the most unpredictable and most inconvenient times. That’s why SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties offers 24-hour emergency service. Our professionals are Here to Help you and your family, to help ensure your property is safe and free of water damage from wall to wall. 

Depending on the category of water damage at your residential or commercial property, your walls may need to be torn out. The SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties’ specialists can help you with tear-out and the water damage at-hand. It’s not always easy to identify if your walls are damaged, but here are some signs.   

7 common signs if your walls have water damage:

1. Musty odor

Water damage can cause mold damage and/or mildew damage. The thing is, though, mold isn’t always visible. If there is a musty odor, that’s a sign there may be mold. You’ll want to be sure to have both sides of your walls checked out and tested for the likelihood of mold damage. Furthermore, you’ll want to find the source so the mold doesn’t return and to prevent further damage. 

2. Visible mold growth on walls and baseboards

Visible mold growth on walls and baseboards can come in varying sizes. And you want to be careful because mold may cause harm to you and your family’s health. It can even affect your pet’s health. Be on the lookout for visible mold growth. Mold infestation can quickly arise and spread throughout a home in 48-72 hours. Because mold can cause health effects, you will want a professional who has training and experience to properly resolve the mold infestation.  

3. Discoloration 

Discoloration is a key indicator if your walls are damaged as a result of water damage. It’s important that you don’t confuse water stains with discoloration. If you see the color yellow, brown or copper, those are typically the most common colors associated with discoloration. 

4. Peeling or bubbling paint and wallpaper

If you see your wallpaper and/or paint peeling or bubbling, guess what? Your walls are probably  damaged. If this is the case, it’s vital that you contact a professional to come out to assess your walls. If you don’t, peeling or bubbling paint and wallpaper can cause further damage down the line.   

5. Warped walls

Warped walls can be a result of water damage. When the sheetrock behind a wall absorbs too much water, it will cause it to bend and curve, which, in turn, can cause a wall to warp. Check for leaks to help prevent further damage to your walls. Excess moisture is a wall’s worst enemy. Inspect your walls carefully to see if you have any warped walls. The degree of damage will help determine if you need them replaced or not.    

6. Buckled ceilings and floors

When there is water damage, there is a likely chance of buckled ceilings and floors. You’ll want to do a thorough walk-through of your home or business to identify any buckled ceilings and floors. Depending on the extent of damage, they’ll need to be replaced. A professional can advise you on your best option.    

7. Water stains 

Water stains can be easily missed, especially if they are minute in size. Since they can start out small, homeowners typically do not realize the water stains until they’ve increased in size, which, at that time, further damage may have occurred. Inspect your walls carefully for any potential water stains -- small or large. It’s a good idea to inspect around your windows and frames, too.    

We hope these signs helped to determine, “how do I know if my walls have water damage”. If you’re in Cape, Bollinger, Mississippi, Perry, or Scott County and have water damage at your home or business, contact the company that can make that water damage "Like it never even happened."® Call SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties at 573-339-1948.

SERVPRO’s Effective 7-step Water Damage Process

7/23/2019 (Permalink)

When you have water damage at your home or business, you can rely on SERVPRO’s effective 7-step water damage process. Guaranteed.

Water damage at your residential or commercial property? You need a professional company that has the expertise and equipment to properly restore your property. SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties is faster to any size disaster. Don’t let water damage cause you a flood of emotions, because SERVPRO’s effective 7-step water damage process can make the damage Like it never even happened.®  

True or false: Restoration through mitigation is less expensive than replacing! The answer is true.

Anytime you have water damage, there are three different categories it can fall under. The heroes at SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties can effectively handle any category. Since we are a mission-driven company, when it comes to water damage or any other kind of disaster, our One Team MVPs are on-site until the mission is complete.

SERVPRO’s Effective 7-step Water Damage Process:

One Hour

Within one hour from notice of loss, a SERVPRO® Franchise Professional will contact you to arrange for service. You’ll know help is on the way!

Four Hours

Within four hours of loss notification, a SERVPRO® Franchise Professional will be on-site to start mitigation services. The key to reducing damage and saving money is by responding quickly to your damage.

Detailed Explanation

A trained, uniformed and equipped SERVPRO® Franchise Professional will walk you through the job process step-by-step, providing you a detailed explanation, what to expect and the anticipated outcome.

Pretesting

A SERVPRO® Franchise Professional will begin pre-testing for restorability, working from the source of the damage outward.

Eight Hours

Within eight business hours of on-site arrival, a verbal briefing of the scope will be communicated to the appropriate person, normally your adjuster or property manager.

Cleaning & Restoration

SERVPRO® Franchise Professionals will work neatly and efficiently to help you regain control of your property when a damaging event has taken over. They will use state-of-the-art restoration techniques to ensure your property is taken care of. We do the cleaning and restoration right the first time.

Final Walk-through

After the work has been completed, a final walk-through will be conducted with you to help ensure your satisfaction.

When your Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Scott City, Charleston, Marble Hill, Jackson, Perryville, Chaffee, East Prairie or Benton, Missouri, home or business has water damage from flooding or leaks, you can rely on SERVPRO’s effective 7-step water damage process. Guaranteed. We are always Here to Help you, your family, your business. Will you call us for your next water damage job? Here’s our number: 573-339-1948. Call now!  

How Water Damage Can Cause Mold Damage

6/13/2019 (Permalink)

You’re on vacation. On the beach. Soaking up the rays. Taking a swim. Laughing. Spending quality time with your family. Playing instead of working. Enjoying the 75-85 degree weather every day. No worries. Life is good.

Little do you know, back home, there has been torrential downpour every day. And you will soon find out how water damage can cause mold damage in your home. But, thankfully, there’s SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties.  

But, back to the beach. While you’re there, the last worry on your mind is probably your home. Since you have an alarm system, you have peace of mind knowing the place you’ve built and created memories will be intruder-free once you return home. You don’t worry about any stolen valuables or anything because of that security system you invested in.

Do you know what your home is not protected from? Water damage. Water damage can occur at any given moment. Yes, even while you’re living it up at the beach.

So, you return home, after your 7-day relaxing vacation, to 10-inch standing water in your basement, crawlspace, kitchen, and just about every other room throughout your home. Now, instead of you actually going for a swim at the beach, your belongings are going for a swim inside your home. A huge disaster. Contents are saturated. Mold damage has set in. You’re overcome with a flood of emotions. Not how you envisioned your home to look. And this is when you witness first-hand how water damage can cause mold damage.

When you have water damage at your home or business, you may just think there’s water damage. However, there can be further damage, such as mold damage, especially if you do not act quickly and have the experienced professionals there to make it Like it never even happened.® It’s vital you have a clear understanding of this concept: how water damage can cause mold damage.

When your Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Scott City, Charleston, Marble Hill, Jackson, Perryville, Chaffee, East Prairie or Benton, Missouri, residential or commercial property suffers a water damage event, a mold infestation can quickly arise and spread throughout your home in 48-72 hours. Because mold can produce allergens and irritants, you will want a professional who has training and experience to properly resolve the mold infestation.

As a result of the water damage, chances are, those highly important professional and/or personal documents are saturated. No need to fret, though. SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties offers document restoration. We can effectively restore your paperwork. We are your professional local document restoration specialists.

SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties is your professional local water damage repair and restoration company. Our experienced and qualified heroes can get your property back to Like it never even happened.®  When your home or business has water damage from flooding or leaks, you need the professional water damage company that can respond immediately and has the expertise and equipment to properly restore your property. Our professional team uses advanced water damage inspection and extraction equipment to help them find the moisture and to remove it as quickly as possible. Our highly trained technicians will monitor and document the drying process so that you know your property is back to normal.

Now that you’re informed about how water damage can cause mold damage, you can make an educated decision should you be faced with this situation. As you can see, water damage can lead to a host of other issues. From water damage to mold damage to document restoration, the heroes at SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties will come to your rescue. If you have a vacation planned in the near future and are concerned your home or business may be affected by water damage, you can have peace of mind knowing we’re just a phone call away: 573-339-1948.

And don’t forget you can lessen your risk of a water damage while you’re gone by turning off your water supply.

DIY Water Damage Scenarios

5/27/2019 (Permalink)

When you have water damage at your home or business, rely on the professionals at SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties to properly handle it.

Your dishwasher overflows overnight. There is two inches of standing water on top of all of your hardwood floors in your kitchen and dining room. You call your uncle because he has an extra shop vac. He willingly brings it over and starts helping you suck up water. Together, with two shop vacs, it takes you three hours to suck up all of the standing water. You make a run to Buchheit’s and pick up some large box fans. You set them up and let them run all day. The next morning, you notice some warping in your hardwood floors and think, “How is that even possible? We sucked up all the water?” The next morning, it’s even worse. Now you have to seriously consider replacing your beautiful but expensive hardwood floors.

What would have happened if you called the professionals at SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties right away?

A bright green truck would have pulled up to your house, and a crew would have used a truck-mounted vacuum or submersible pump to suck up the water in a fraction of the time. With stronger power, more water between the wood panels would have been extracted and removed, making the drying process faster. After extraction, we would have placed a calculated amount of commercial-grade dehumidifiers and air movers to aid the drying process. We also would have used our specialty equipment drying mat on the hardwood floors that continuously pulls water from between the cracks and specifically guides airflow between panels. Our professionals would have returned every day to monitor the drying process and adjust, where needed. Your hardwood floors could have been saved.

You have friends coming over to watch the game in your mancave downstairs. It’s been raining all day. Your buddies arrive and you take them downstairs only to discover that your sump pump failed, and your heavenly oasis is now covered in soppy carpet. Well, at least you have manpower. With a team effort, some shop vacs, and all the towels in your home, you manage to take a handle on the situation. You finally get to sit down and watch the end of the game. Not how you wanted to spend your night, but at least it’s taken care of.

The next week, those same friends return for a game night. You go downstairs to rearrange the furniture to put up some card tables and notice some stains in your carpet and a musty odor. There’s also a discoloration along part of the wall nearest the sump pump. Everyone else that night also notices the odor in the basement.

What happened?

You didn’t call the professionals at SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties. Our professionals would have used commercial grade equipment to properly extract the excess water in the carpet and identified the source of the water as Category 2 “Grey Water,” requiring the carpet pad to be removed due to the contaminated water. We would have set our professional, calculated amount dehumidifiers and air movers to properly dry the carpet and affected drywall. Our professionals would have used furniture blocks underneath your sofa so that the wooden legs would not have contacted the wet carpet and left stains. We also would have monitored the drying progress of the floors and walls until they reached the drying goal. Then we would have cleaned your carpets to decontaminate them.

Since you chose to handle the situation yourself, the floors and walls were not properly dry, and your furniture stained your carpet. The discoloration on the wall along with the odor are now evidence of a possible mold problem. Not to mention, there are contaminants contained in your carpet pad and carpet because the situation was not handled by a professional.

When you have a water damage at your home or business, rely on the professionals at SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties to properly handle the mess. In the long run, you’ll be glad you did. Call us at 573-339-1948.

How April Showers Can Bring Water Damage to Your Home or Business

4/25/2019 (Permalink)

Beware! Wondering how April showers can bring water damage to your home or business? Torrential downpour can cause pipes to leak, can affect plumbing, can cause roof leaks, can cause damage to infrastructures, and so much more. Sure, April showers can bring pretty May flowers, but it can also bring more than what you bargained for. If any of the above happens as a result from those April showers, call on SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties to make your water damage “Like it never even happened.”

See if you can find all the words in this fun and interactive water damage word search.

The professionals at SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties use advanced water damage inspection and extraction equipment to help find moisture and to remove it as quickly as possible. Our highly trained technicians will monitor and document the drying process so that you know your property is back to normal.

Click the links below to see before and after photos of how our heroes here at SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties made water damage for both commercial and residential properties “Like it never even happened.”

Commercial water damage from a main break in Kelso, Missouri

Commercial water damage

Commercial water damage from a main break in Scott City, Missouri

Residential water damage from a pipe in Jackson, Missouri

Residential water damage from a broken pipeline in Perryville, Missouri

Residential water damage from frozen pipes at Bent Creek

If you’re worried about how April showers can bring water damage to your home or business, you can feel worry-free with SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties. Because we make it “Like it never even happened.” When your Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Scott City, Charleston, Marble Hill, Jackson, Perryville, Chaffee, East Prairie or Benton, Missouri, residential or commercial property has water damage from flooding or leaks, you need the professional water damage company that can respond immediately and has the expertise and equipment to properly restore your property. We offer 24-hour emergency services in case you have this kind of emergency. We also have the capacity to handle a plethora of customers at one time because time is of the essence. If you and the rest of your neighborhood are all underwater, don’t worry because we can take care of you all. If you do have a water emergency, just give us a call at 573-339-1948.

Water Damage From a Sewage Backup

3/19/2019 (Permalink)

If you have water damage from a sewage backup, the SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties' heroes can make it "Like it never even happened."

Have you ever had water damage from a sewage backup at your home or business? It can cause your emotions to “overflow” and present a big problem, but it doesn’t have to. SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties can clean up that nasty job to make it “Like it never even happened.”  

Water damage can come from a myriad of sources: toilet, dishwasher, bursting or leaking pipes, HVAC system, and more. Water from sewer system backups should be considered very dangerous. The water is grossly unsanitary and may contain bacteria and viruses, which could lead to serious illness. Special training and equipment are a necessity to safely clean this type of contamination. And that’s where the heroes of SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties come into play.

Our heroes are well-equipped, experienced and trained to handle any size water damage and any category.

Here are three categories of water:

Category 1: "Clean Water"

This is water from a clean source, such as a broken clean water supply line or faucet. If left untreated, Category 1 water can quickly progress into Category 2 or 3 water depending upon such factors as time, temperature, and contact with contaminants.

• Water from a clean source like a broken water line
• If left untreated, it can degrade into Category 2 or 3

Category 2: "Gray Water"

This water has a significant level of contamination that could cause discomfort or illness if ingested. Sources for category 2 water may include washing machine overflow; toilet overflow with some urine, but no feces; or dishwasher overflow.

• May contain bacteria and viruses
• Can quickly degrade into category 3 if left untreated

Category 3: "Black Water"

This water is grossly unsanitary and could cause severe illness or death if ingested, and any contact should be avoided. Sources for Category 3 water could include flooding from rivers or streams, water from beyond the toilet trap, water from the toilet bowl with feces, or standing water that has begun to support microbial growth.

• May contain untreated sewage, harsh chemicals, and microbes
• Water from flooding rivers or sewer backup

If your Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Scott City, Charleston, Marble Hill, Jackson, Perryville, Chaffee, East Prairie, or Benton, Missouri, residential or commercial property experiences water damage from a sewage backup, go with the sewage cleanup and restoration professionals at SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties. Call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year. For easier and faster access, program our number in your phone: 573-339-1948.

How Water Damage Affects Your Business

1/29/2019 (Permalink)

Ever wonder how water damage affects your business? If you’re a business owner, that’s a question you should ponder. Because, sooner or later, you may experience a water damage at your commercial property. And in order to quickly get back in business, so it doesn’t result in lost sales, it’s important you know what actions you should take. If you have water damage, the first thing we encourage you to do is call the water damage restoration professionals here at SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties, because we can get your business back to “Like it never even happened.”  

Commercial water damage restoration presents unique challenges. But, you can feel rest assured the team at SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties is highly qualified to handle it effectively and quickly. We have the training, experience, and equipment to handle large commercial flooding or water damage emergencies. Whether your water emergency occurs in a small office building or big box store, we will respond quickly to mitigate the damage and manage the restoration project through to its completion. Learn more about our training and certifications.

Here are 4 ways that water damage affects your business:

1. Health and safety risks
2. Emotional hardship
3. Property damage
4. Economic loss

Here at SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties, it’s always our #1 goal to create happy customers. So, anytime a customer has water damage, or any type of damage, we do everything in our super”hero” powers to make it right, to make them happy, to make it “Like it never even happened.” We go above and beyond. In fact, here’s a testimonial of a happy customer who had water damage at his business:

Happy customer testimonial:

“Dear Ms. Hastings,

It is without reservation and without request that I am writing this letter concerning the performance of your team with the recent water damage/flood situation that occurred at our facility on Nash Rd. Within 2 hours of my initial call to your office on Saturday morning, January 7, 2017, your General Manager, Brian McCallister, was on-site and was mobilizing a wide array of assets to the site starting immediate restoration services. We discussed the need to be operational on Monday morning and what steps needed to be taken to accomplish that goal.

Brian and his team worked well into the night Saturday night and were back in early Sunday morning continuing the necessary work to meet our established time frame. By Monday morning, the mud and water was cleaned up, the wet carpet removed and the bottom 12 inches of drywall and insulation throughout the whole office area had been removed and we were able to operate on Monday with very minimal disruptions. Over the course of the next 3 weeks, SERVPRO continued to clean, dry and disinfect every inch of the area and return us to normal operations in record time. Now it's like this catastrophic event never even happened and it is very much in due to the actions of you and your team of professionals who came willing, ready and able to do whatever it took to save our business. From the bottom of my heart, I wish to thank you, Brian and your whole team for such an outstanding effort.”

Very truly yours,

Darryl ******

Read other happy customer testimonials here.

There's never a convenient time for water damage to strike your business. 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. We’re always ready to get your business back to “Like it never even happened.” like we did for Darryl, and can do for you. Get in touch with SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties today: 573-339-1948.

Types of Water Damage

1/25/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties makes water damage at your home or business "Like it never even happened."

Did you know there are different types and categories of water damage? There are actually three types of water damage that can affect your home or business: water/sewer backup, overflow and discharge, and flood. Because SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties is your water damage repair and restoration specialists, we can quickly and effectively restore your residential or commercial property to get it back to “Like it never even happened.”

Water/Sewer Backup

Water/sewer backup is what occurs when water comes up or is pushed up into your home or business through the pipes from a sewer or drainage system. This type of water damage, which is highly unsanitary, can greatly affect your personal property and your health. Potential sources of water/sewer backup are as follows:

1. Blockage of a city sanitary main
2. Aging sewer system
3. Tree roots
4. City-related pipeline issues   

Overflow and Discharge

Overflow and discharge water damage can happen as a result of water escaping or overflowing from appliances, pipes or water outlets in your home or business. Your bathtub or washing machine is a good example of what can cause overflow water damage.

Discharge occurs when water is released from plumbing or appliances, then, in turn, floods your home. An example of this would be if a water heater decides to give out or if a pipe bursts. This can cause a sudden discharge of water.

Seepage is also categorized under overflow and discharge water damage. Unlike overflow and discharge, which results in copious amounts of water in your home, seepage is not all of a sudden. Since that is the case, seepage is typically not covered under insurance claims.

Flood

Contrary to popular belief, there is a difference in flood damage and water damage. According to Google, a flood is defined as a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres and two or more properties of normally dry land. Flood damage can only be caused by the following water sources: Overflow of inland or tidal waters. As for water damage, that refers to an array of potential “losses caused by water intruding where it will enable attack of a material or system by destructive processes such as rotting of wood, growth, rusting of steel, de-laminating of materials such as plywood, and many others,” according to Wikipedia. It’s vital to know what your insurance policy covers. Because, in most cases, a flood is typically not covered.

Get other tips and learn more about the different types of water damage.   

SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties’ team of qualified heroes can educate you on the different types of water damage. We have highly trained water restoration technicians who can come to your rescue. We are a locally owned and operated business with national resources that is faster to respond to any size water damage, any size disaster you may have at your home or business. We’re readily available to restore your residential or commercial property 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year. You can contact us anytime. Make the call today: 573-339-1948.

How Water Damage Affects Your Home

1/2/2019 (Permalink)

It's crucial you know how water damage affects your home. SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties can make it "Like it never even happened."

Wonder how water damage affects your home? Significantly! When it comes to water damage or flood damage, time is of the absolute essence. And if it’s not properly handled, it can result in further damage, such as mold damage. It’s critical that you contact the water damage specialists at SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties at the first sign of water or flood damage.

According to this article from Angie’s List, below you will see just how water damage can affect your home within minutes, hours, days and weeks.

Water damage within minutes:

• Water contamination spreads, rapidly increasing claim costs.
• Moisture-sensitive furniture finishes begin to turn white.
• Furniture standing on saturated carpets will begin to leach and stain the carpeting.

Water damage within hours:

• Furniture in direct contact with water begins to delaminate and swell.
• Normal household odors, amplified by humidity, become glaringly apparent.
• Dyes from non-colorfast fabrics begin to bleed.

Water damage within days:

• Fungi appear, along with their characteristic musty odors.
• Severe warping and cupping of wood become apparent. Wood floors may become unsalvageable.
• Paint blisters, and wallpaper adhesives release and start to peel away.
• Wood structural members begin to swell, warp and split apart.

Water damage within weeks:

• Mold sinks roots into organic materials and destroys their integrity.
• Occupants must be evacuated due to health hazards.
• Allergen sensitivity may arise from microbial growth.
• A complete gutting of the structure may be necessary, which will drive the claim up astronomically and displace the occupants.

Since water damage greatly affects your home and can cause serious damage, SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties offers 24-hour emergency services. We’re faster to any size disaster. In many cleaning and restoration situations, immediate action is needed. With over 1,700 U.S. and Canadian Franchise locations, SERVPRO is strategically positioned to be faster to any size emergency. An immediate response helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs.

Water is particularly invasive, quickly spreading throughout your property and being absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, etc. SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties arrives quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately.

Upon reading this, you learned how water damage can affect your home immensely. But, with a trusted leader, you can count on SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties to get your residential property back inhabitable and “Like it never even happened.” That way, you can get back to work, back to life. For all your water damage or flood needs, call us: 573-339-1948.

How We Make Water Damage "Like it never even happened."

12/27/2018 (Permalink)

The heroes at SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties makes water damage at your home or business "Like it never even happened."

Water damage or flood damage can cause a “flood” of emotions. Wonder how we make water damage “Like it never even happened.”? SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties specializes in water damage restoration, which is the cornerstone of our business. And we make it our business to make it “Like it never even happened” at your home and business. We have extensive water damage restoration training, and our process emphasizes regular monitoring and documentation of the drying process from beginning to end.

Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s Corporate Training Facility to regular IICRC industry certifications, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property. Our training program includes the following:

• IICRC Training
• Employee Certification Training
• Initial Franchise Training
• e-Learnings
• Continuing Education Classes

Learn more about our IICRC training and certification, employee certification training and more.

We are the water damage restoration specialists. And that’s the SERVPRO Advantage. We live and work in this community, too; we might even be neighbors. As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties is nearby and ready to respond to your flood or water damage emergency. We are proud to be an active member of the Cape Girardeau community and want to do our part to make our community the best it can be.

Water damage or flood damage doesn’t have to interrupt your home, your business, or your life. SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties is a company that’s locally owned, but with the luxury of national resources. Now that you’ve learned how we make water damage “Like it never even happened.” contact us today. Give SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties a call anytime: 573-339-1948.   

Water Damage Emergency Tips

12/3/2018 (Permalink)

These water damage emergency tips can save your home or business. SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties makes it "Like it never even happened."

It’s critical that you’re equipped with water damage emergency tips should water damage strike your home or business. If it does, your primary focus should be safety first. SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties cares about the safety of you, your family, your fur babies, your home, and your business. Here are some questions and things you should ponder if you’re faced with water damage:

• Is it safe to stay in the house?
• Electrical and "slip and fall" hazards are some of the most prevalent concerns.
• Only do activities that are safe for you to perform.
• Wet materials can be VERY heavy. Be careful!

Have a flood at your residential or commercial property? Here’s what you should do after flooding:

• Remove excess water by mopping and blotting.
• Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removal of lamps and tabletop items.
• Remove and prop wet upholstery and cushions.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.
• Turn air conditioning on for maximum drying in summer.
• Remove colored rugs from wet carpeting.
• Remove art objects to a safe, dry place.
• Gather loose items from floors.

While it’s important to know what to do in the event of water damage, it’s as equally important to know what NOT to do after flooding:

• Don't leave wet fabrics in place. Hang furs and leather goods.
• Don't leave books, magazines or other colored items on wet carpet or floors.
• Don't use your household vacuum to remove water.
• Don't use television or other household appliances.
• Don't turn on ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet, and keep out of rooms where ceilings are sagging.

Follow these water damage emergency tips should you face water damage at your residential or commercial property. SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties is your trusted leader in the water restoration industry. We have a team of highly trained heroes to come to your rescue 24/7, 365 days of the year. We make it "Like it never even happened." Should you have water damage at your home or business, follow these water damage emergency tips, then call the professionals at 573-339-1948.

What to Do When You Have Water Damage

9/19/2018 (Permalink)

Imagine: You’re on the last day of your family vacation, soaking up the rays, getting a nice tan, swimming in the pool or ocean, just living it up to the fullest before you have to depart. Now, you’re on your way back home, sharing lots of laughs with your family and loved ones. You finally arrive home safely. Then, you walk into your home and … surprise. The ocean has taken a vacation at your residence. You now have a beach inside your home. Not so much fun, huh?!

Before you leave for a vacation, or anywhere for that matter, there are some things you can do to prevent water damage. However, it’s not always preventable. It can be very stressful dealing with this type of situation, but having a clear plan can help alleviate the situation at hand. As you know, water damage doesn’t have a time schedule. It can happen at the least unlikely times. But, when it does, SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties is available 24/7, 365 days of the year. When you experience such, it’s important you know what to do when you have water damage. Follow these 5 tips:

Stop the Water Source  

Water damage can be a result of a number of things such as a pipe burst, dishwasher malfunction, and so much more. If either of these happen, find the source where the water is coming from and stop the water source immediately. Then, contact water damage professionals.

Turn Off the Power

When you have water damage in your home or business, it’s key you turn off the power immediately to avoid a serious potential hazard. Know beforehand where the source is so you can act fast and shut it off in the event of water damage.

Assess the Damage

Assess the water damage to see the severity of it. Make sure you take photos and other documentation as proof for your insurance company. And once the professional is on-site, consult with him or her and do a walkthrough to help determine what will be needed to help you get it back to “Like it never even happened.”

Rescue Your Most Valuable Possessions

Water damage can ruin your most valuable possessions. If possible, rescue them from the flooded area as soon as you can to help prevent further damage. This can include valuables such as jewelry, heirlooms, money, photos/photo albums, awards, etc. Protect your investment and rescue your most valuable possessions as early as possible.

Call SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties to the Rescue

It’s crucial that you act fast when you have water damage at your residential and/or commercial property. Because, if you don’t, you can have a bigger issue on your hand, like mold. Thankfully, our highly trained specialists (heroes) are well-equipped to handle either. Allow our heroes to restore your home and/or business after a water damage. Call us today at 573-339-1948.

Why call SERVPRO when you have a water damage?

7/24/2018 (Permalink)

There's no such thing as a small disaster--especially when a small leak now could blossom into a big claim later. Unseen water can soak through walls, seep through carpet and pool on sub floors, causing major problems over time. You need help--fast.

No matter what time of day or night, contact SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties to begin emergency mitigation.

Emergency Mitigation

Emergency Mitigation means under normal circumstances, a professional from our local Cape Girardeau office can be on-site within four hours to begin drying your building and restoring contents. The faster the water is removed, the less chance of serious damage to your facility.

SERVPRO Professionals

Every SERVPRO Professional is trained and understands how to manage the drying process. BY utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and the latest technology, your structure will be quickly and thoroughly dried, which helps prevent secondary water damages.

SERVPRO Professionals will remove moisture and any contaminants by disinfecting and deodorizing to safely clean and dry your building and contents. Help ensure the value of your property by calling SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties.

Restoration Network

SERVPRO'S network of more than 1,700 Franchises is ready to help in the event a fire, water, or mold loss occurs. Call on arestoration system serving insurance companies and their insureds, as well as thousands of commercial property owners in North America. You can trust the SERVPRO® Brand, too!

We're the Water Damage Restoration Team Near You!

3/20/2018 (Permalink)

With our office in Cape Girardeau, we service Cape, Scott, Bollinger, Mississippi, and Perry Counties.

When water damage puts the things that matter most on the line, you need the very best help on the line as well. That’s why knowing the easiest ways to contact the SERVPRO® nearest you is so important. Just visit SERVPROcapegirardeauscottcounties.com on your computer, tablet, or mobile device or simply call 573-339-1948 to get the team that’s faster to any size disaster. We’re a leader in giving control back to homeowners, property managers, and even entire communities after the ravaging effects of water. So whether you are responsible for 1,000 square feet or 100,000—be ready for the worst with the very best: SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties. With a network of more than 1,700 franchises ready to help in the even of a water loss, our local team, owned by Richard and Sandy Hastings, has all the resources needed to take care of you. Call on a restoration system serving insurance companies and their insureds, as well of thousands of commercial property owners in North America. SERVPRO® is a brand you can trust…and we’re just down the street.

The Super Bowl

1/30/2018 (Permalink)

Call the green team that's ready to clean!

You have a bunch of friends over to watch the Patriots play the Eagles in Super Bowl LII. You're all enjoying classic Super Bowl snacks: buffalo dip, wings, BBQ sliders, and maybe a cold one. 

Can't miss the game. Can't miss the commercials.

The only time to go to the bathroom is while they are setting up for the halftime show.So EVERYONE has to go in that small window of time.

That's a lot of flushing in a short period of time.

Right as JT finishes up his last song, the last person runs out of the bathroom saying that the toilet is overflowing and there is water all down the hall.

Well, there goes the rest of the game.

Or not.

Download our SERVPRO Ready App NOW and set SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties" as your preferred franchise. That way all you have to do is "tap, tap, tap," and we'll be on our way, and you can finish the game knowing help is on the way.

Or you can call us at 573-339-1948. Our 24-hour emergency services are ready to take care of that water from your overflowed bowl during the Super Bowl.

An Unwanted Valentine

1/25/2018 (Permalink)

Just before you and your significant other head out the door for a romantic Valentine's dinner, a pipe bursts in your wall spraying water everywhere.

Exchange the heels and dress shoes for water boots because your house is a sloppy mess.

OR...

Download our SERVPRO Ready App NOW and set SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties" as your preferred franchise. That way all you have to do is "tap, tap, tap," and we'll be on our way, and you can still go out and have a nice Valentine's date knowing that the water restoration and cleanup professionals are taking care of your house to make it "Like it never even happened."

We are also available at 573-339-1948. Our 24-hour emergency services are ready to take care of your wet, unwanted valentine so that you can still spend time with the one that you love.

Frozen Pipe Winter Problems

1/2/2018 (Permalink)

Download the SERVPRO Ready App today

It has been unusually cold to start off the new year. This bitterly cold weather often causes water pipes to freeze and then burst, causing a cold, wet mess in your home or business.

SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties can take care of your busted frozen pipes. We have a commitment to be on-site within 4 hours of receiving your call, which means the sooner we get to work to restoring your property to preloss condition.

Take the time now to download the SERVPRO Ready Plan App. Create your profile now, so that when disaster strikes, we are just a few quick taps away from helping you in your time of need. Be sure to set SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties as your preferred franchise to ensure a quicker response.

When the cold weather takes control of your life, we help you regain that control. Call us at 573-339-1948.

Wet Document Restoration

9/26/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® has a million-dollar Vacuum Freeze Drying Chamber

Restoring Your Wet Documents

Did you know that SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties has the capabilities to restore your wet documents? We use a special combination of vacuums and pressure to achieve sublimation to dry wet papers in a special drying chamber. Sublimation is the direct conversion of a solid into a gas without passing through the liquid stage. This technique of Vacuum Freeze Drying is the only method that the NARA and GSA approve. That’s why the most important detail in document restoration is immediately freezing all wet papers to stop any more damage from occurring.

The following is a non-exclusive list of items we can dry in our chamber:

• Medical Records / Patient Records
• Sheet Music
• Blueprints
• Company Records
• Customer Records
• Archived Records
• Government Documents
• Historical Documents
• Magazines
• Maps
• Photos
• Pressed Plants
• Drawings
• VHS Tapes
• Log Books
• Certificates / Diplomas
• Transcripts
• Books

What We Offer

Our document restoration service is not limited to simply drying wet papers. The following is a list of services we offer for documents:

• Cleaning
• Sterilization*
• Deodorization
• Certified Destruction
• Digitization**

Certified to Handle Health Information

All Drying Chamber personnel are Master HIPPA certified, so handling PHI files should not be a concern. We also track documents through a Chain of Custody process according to HIPPA Guidelines.

Call the Professionals

Whether it’s a hospital, local city hall, library, or basement that floods, SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties has the capability to save your precious documents.

* Gamma Irradiation is a process that is used for disinfecting and decontaminating documents or other consumer goods. 

** We use state-of-the-art equipment to turn your paper copy into a digital file.

Your Professional Water Mitigation Specialists in Perryville

9/16/2017 (Permalink)

If you have a water damage in Perry County, call 573-339-1948.

Did you know that SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties makes a promise to be onsite to your emergency in your Perryville home or office within 4 hours of our initial contact? That means your water damage is a priority for us.

From Lake Perry to Friedheim, SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties services all of Perry County. So if your toilet overflows, ice maker leaks, pipes burst, sewage backs up, or a water main ruptures, have SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties on speed dial and give us a call. Or better yet, download the SERVPRO Ready Plan App and set up your account now, especially since it’s National Preparedness Month. Be sure to set SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties as your preferred franchise so that our response time can be even faster. Then if you have a water damage, we are only the push of a button away. Doesn’t that put your mind at ease?

Don’t worry Perryville, we’ve got your back. And your basement.

March Madness

3/17/2017 (Permalink)

Is your bracket busted yet?

A busted bracket is better than a busted water pipe. We specialize in water restoration at SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties. Our 24/7 Emergency Services means that we are available to help you the moment you call. Whether you have feet of standing water in your basement or just a damp carpet, we have the equipment needed to stop the damaged cause by unwanted water. Following a water damage, we can also clean and deodorize your flooring, helping get rid of the memory of that nightmare.

SERVPRO® Ready Plan

To be better prepared for the upset, you can download our Ready Plan App here, https://ready.SERVPRO.com/home/mobileapphttps://ready.SERVPRO.com/home/mobileapp. By creating a profile BEFORE your emergency, you can save time and energy if and when the emergency occurs. We are here to help when disaster strikes.

March Madness is for basketball, not your home.

Sikeston’s 24-Hour Emergency Water Damage Service

1/18/2017 (Permalink)

We provide 24-hour fire and water damage restoration service in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Sikeston, Perryville, Scott City, Gordonville, Millersville.

SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties is available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today – (573) 339-1948

We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration—in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business.

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

• Your name and contact information


• Your insurance information (if applicable)


• The street address of the water-damaged home or business


• When did the flooding or water damage occur?


• What caused the water damage (if known)?


• Is there electricity available (on-site)?

About SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties

SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or 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.

Meet Our Crew: http://www.SERVPROcapegirardeauscottcounties.com/employee-photos

Certifications: http://www.SERVPROcapegirardeauscottcounties.com/company-profile

Faster to your Cape Girardeau Area Water Damage

10/17/2016 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties provides 24-hour fire and water damage restoration service from Perryville to Sikeston.

Flooding and water emergencies don’t wait for regular business hours and neither do we. SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties provides emergency cleaning and restoration services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—including all holidays.

Faster To Any Size Disaster

Flooding and water damage is very invasive. Water quickly spreads throughout your home and gets absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, and more.  SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties arrives quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately. This immediate response helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs.

Need Emergency Service? Call Us 24/7 – (573) 339-1948 

Water Damage Timeline

Within Minutes

• Water quickly spreads throughout your property, saturating everything in its path.
• Water is absorbed into walls, floors, upholstery, and belongings.
• Furniture finishes may bleed, causing permanent staining on carpets.
• Photographs, books, and other paper goods start to swell and warp.

Hours 1 - 24:

• Drywall begins to swell and break down.
• Metal surfaces begin to tarnish.
• Furniture begins to swell and crack.
• Dyes and inks from cloth and paper goods spread and stain.
• A musty odor appears.

48 Hours to 1 Week:

• Mold and mildew may grow and spread.
• Doors, windows, and studs swell and warp.
• Metal begins to rust and corrode.
• Furniture warps and shows signs of mold.
• Paint begins to blister.
• Wood flooring swells and warps.
• Serious biohazard contamination is possible.

More Than 1 Week:

• Restoration time and cost increase dramatically; replacing contaminated materials and structural rebuilding may be extensive.
• Structural safety, mold growth, and biohazard contaminants pose serious risks to occupants.

About SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties

SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or 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. We service Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Sikeston, Perryville, Scott City, Chaffee, Charleston, East Prairie, Marble Hill, Benton, and any other area in or around Cape Girardeau County, Scott County, Perry County, Bollinger County, or Mississippi Country.

Our New Green Machine

11/5/2015 (Permalink)

Our New Van

Check out our latest addition! We use these vans to transport air moviers, dehumidifiers, truck mounts, and cleaning supplies to your home or office. Our green machines help us take care of fire and water damage, sewer backups, mold, ducts, and carpet cleaning. These bad boys help us get the job done. Whatever the emergency, we are there! Keep an eye out for these eye-catching vehicles and know that SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties is Ready for whatever happens® to make it Like it never even happened®! Call us today for a free estimate, and you might get to see one of our green vehicles in action!