Recent Posts

Ice Dam Removal for Your Brainerd Lakes Area Home or Business This Winter

11/12/2024 (Permalink)

Ice and snow buildup from an ice dam on a roof of a log home in Brainerd, Minnesota. Ice Dam on Roof in Brainerd, Minnesota.

In the Brainerd Lakes area, harsh winter weather often brings snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. Unfortunately, these conditions can lead to ice dams, a common issue where ridges of ice form along the edges of your roof. Ice dams can prevent melting snow from draining off the roof properly, leading to potential water leaks and interior damage.

At SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids, we specialize in safe and effective water damage restoration from ice dam damage. Our team can coordinate with a trusted ice dam removal specialist that uses professional tools and techniques to clear ice dams without damaging your roof. Quick removal is essential to prevent water from seeping into your attic, walls, and insulation, which can lead to mold and costly repairs. If you notice ice buildup on your roof this winter, contact SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids for prompt, reliable service. Protect your home from winter damage with our trusted, local expertise and 24/7 emergency services!

Spring Into Action: The Importance of Checking Your Sump Pump Before the Rain Starts

4/12/2024 (Permalink)

Spring is a beautiful season, but with it comes the inevitable rain showers that can wreak havoc on our homes, particularly in areas prone to flooding. One of the most critical components of your home's flood prevention system is the sump pump. As the season changes and the threat of heavy rain looms, it's essential to ensure your sump pump is in proper working order. Here's why checking your sump pump before the spring rain starts is crucial:

  1. Preventing Basement Flooding: A functioning sump pump is your first line of defense against basement flooding. It works by collecting excess water from the ground around your home and pumping it away from the foundation, keeping your basement dry. However, if your sump pump fails or becomes overwhelmed during heavy rain, it can lead to costly water damage and mold growth.

  2. Identifying Potential Issues: Checking your sump pump before the rainy season allows you to identify any potential issues before they escalate into emergencies. This includes inspecting the pump for signs of wear and tear, testing its operation, and ensuring it has an adequate power source. Addressing any problems early on can save you time, money, and stress down the line.

  3. Ensuring Proper Functionality: Like any mechanical device, sump pumps require regular maintenance to ensure they function correctly when needed most. Spring is an ideal time to perform routine maintenance tasks such as cleaning the pump and pit, testing the float switch, and lubricating moving parts. This proactive approach can help prolong the lifespan of your sump pump and avoid unexpected failures.

  4. Peace of Mind: Knowing that your sump pump is in good working condition provides peace of mind, especially during periods of heavy rain or when you're away from home. By taking the time to check your sump pump before the spring rain starts, you can rest assured that your home is protected against potential flooding and water damage.

Now that you understand the importance of checking your sump pump before the spring rain arrives, here are some simple steps you can take to ensure it's ready for the task:

  • Inspect the pump and pit for any debris or obstructions.
  • Test the pump by pouring water into the pit and ensuring it activates and pumps water away.
  • Check the power source and ensure the pump is connected and operational.
  • Consider installing a battery backup system to keep your sump pump running during power outages.
  • Schedule a professional inspection if you're unsure about the condition of your sump pump or if it's due for maintenance.

Remember, a little prevention goes a long way when it comes to protecting your home from water damage. By checking your sump pump before the spring rain starts, you can enjoy the season worry-free, knowing that your home is equipped to handle whatever Mother Nature brings its way. If you need assistance with sump pump maintenance or have any questions, don't hesitate to contact our team at SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids. We're here to help keep your home safe and dry all year long.

Don't Forget to Check for Leaks as a Result of Recent Storms.

6/10/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids has the equipment and expertise needed to check your home for possible moisture build-up.

The recent storms may be over but don't forget to continue looking for water damage.

Undiscovered leaks and moisture build-up can cause damage to the floors, walls, ceilings, roof trusses, and more.

This can lead to soft dry wall, warped floors, sagging ceilings and worse problems such as mold growth. 

Leaks from unrepaired roofs can cause water damage that can go unnoticed for weeks and even months. 

Call SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids at 218-568-6923 to handle cleaning up water damage caused by wind and/or hail to ensure it is done properly.

Don't try to clean it up yourself. This can lead to further damage if the cleanup is not handled properly.

SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids have trained professionals equipped to provide a full line of cleanup and restoration services to handle water damages caused by recent storm damage to your home or business.

SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids offers storm damage cleanup and restoration services and has tips on what and what not to do after you have received damage from a storm.

Summer Time Brings Increased Chances for Structural Fires.

6/10/2022 (Permalink)

Grilling is one of the leading causes of structural fires in the summer time. (Photo by Paul Hermann on Unsplash)

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) the top leading causes for house fires are: cooking, heating, electrical, smoking, and burning candles.

In the summer time there are two more main causes for house fires: grilling and fireworks.

Each year around 4000 structural fires are caused by grills, hibachis or barbecues.

Fireworks started an estimated 1,900 structure fires in 2018

The NFPA's website has many safety tips for homeowners to help reduce the chance of a structural fire in your home.

If you experience a structural fire in your home, call the professionals at SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids at 218-568-6923.

Our experienced team at SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids is ready too respond.  Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quickly to your home or business.  This fast response and immediate action can limit damage, prevent further damage and reduce restoration costs.   SERVPRO's highly trained crews have the specialized equipment and resources to handle the job whether it be large or small.  We are prepared to assist your needs in case of fire, wind and soot conditions throughout Crow Wing, Cass, Wadena and Hubbard counties.

Visit our website to see what fire damage and restoration services SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids can offer you.

No Power = No Sub-pump = Wet Basement

6/3/2022 (Permalink)

Recent storms caused many homeowners and businesses to be without power for many hours. You finally get power back on and go downstairs to find squishy carpet and/or standing water. Call SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids, your local wet basement specialists at 218-568-6923

For many homes and businesses in our area, a submersible pump is a must. These pumps keep ground water and rainwater from flooding the lower level of your home and/or business. If you experience water damage due to a failed sub-pump whether from a power outage, stuck switch, clogged discharge pipe or other issues, you need to react quickly.

All I need to do is put some fans around to dry up the water, right? WRONG! You never know where and what the water has seeped into.

SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids professionals have the training and equipment needed to safely dry, clean, and restore your wet or flooded basement.

Our professionals will:

  • Identify the source of water (confirm the cause was the sub-pump).
  • Measure temperature and humidity for drying analysis.
  • Survey the extent of the damage and inspect the premises for hidden moisture.
  • Perform emergency water extraction.
  • Move and block furniture and contents.
  • Inspect flooring.
  • Apply necessary treatments (disinfectants and deodorization).
  • Utilize advance drying and monitoring equipment.
  • Dispose of refuse.

SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids can handle all of your water damage repair and restoration needs.

Benefits of Mitigation Services

6/3/2022 (Permalink)

Mitigation services help reduce the cost of damages and in many cases, shortens the time frame of how long it takes to recover after a loss.

Restoration through mitigation is less expensive than replacement and can help save precious family heirlooms.

SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids offers the following mitigation services:

  • Emergency Mitigation Services - 24/7/365
  • Mold Mitigation and Remediation Services
  • Water Damage Restoration and Clean-up
  • Fire/Smoke/Soot Restoration and Clean-up
  • Contents Cleaning and Storage
  • Deodorizing and Sanitizing
  • Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning
  • Crime Scene/Bio-Hazard/Vandalism Clean-up

SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids follows industry standards and our professionals have undergone extensive training and have the experience needed to make your home or business look "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids uses industry proven equipment and cleaning supplies you can count on to ensure your property is taken care of right the first time.

Don't wait to mitigate! Call SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids at 218-568-6923.

SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids strives to help you reduce your property damage costs.

5/27/2022 (Permalink)

There is an old cheer that goes: " 2 - 4 - 6 - 8 who do we appreciate!" Well here at SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids our cheer is: "1 - 4 - 8 this is how we mitigate!"

What is Mitigation?

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary the act of mitigating is: "the process or result of making something less severe, dangerous, painful, harsh, or damaging." In other words, mitigation can reduce the amount of property damage you experience as a result of fire, water, mold, and/or storm damage.

So what do the numbers 1 - 4 - 8 have to do with mitigation?

1 - 

Within 1 hour from notice of loss, SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids will contact you to arrange for service.

4 -

Within 4 hours of loss notification, a SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids professional will be on-site to start mitigation services.

8 - 

Within 8 business hours of on-site arrival, a SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids professional will provide a verbal briefing of scope to you.

SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids knows immediate action to a disaster is important for helping you get your life back to normal and help keep your property damage costs down. Call us at 1-218-568-6923

#fastertoanydisaster

At SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids, we understand the Trauma of Fire Disasters.

5/27/2022 (Permalink)

Documents damaged by water used to put out a house fire.

Your home contains many of your most valuable possessions. SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids understands the trauma you experience after a home fire.

According to the Minnesota State Fire Marshall's office, in the last five years there have been approximately 5000 house fires per year! 

Only one will matter to you! Not only do you have to clean up from the fire itself, but also the water used to extinguish the fire.

You may be asking questions like:

  • Have I lost all of my family photos?
  • Can the quilt my Grandmother made me be cleaned?
  • Is the picture my friend painted for me as a wedding present able to be saved?

SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids will follow the following steps for the cleanup and restoration process of your personal belongings referred to as contents.

Inventory:

One of the first priorities in fire restoration is to complete an accurate inventory to ensure you properly account for all of your belongings. SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids can provide comprehensive room-by-room inventories and digital photographs suitable for filing insurance claims.

Move Outs:

If your home has suffered significant damage to the structure, the cleanup and restoration process may need to moved to another facility for cleaning, deodorization, and storage while your home is being repaired. The professionals at SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids will carefully pack and move your home's contents.

Contents Cleaning:

All the restorable contents in your home affected by the fire will be professionally cleaned and deodorized. This includes such items as area rugs, furniture, draperies and upholstery. The SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids professionals will carefully inspect and test all fabrics in the structure to determine which cleaning methods are the most appropriate. All other restorable contents will be cleaned and deodorized to as close to preloss condition as possible. This includes such items as clothing, bedding, kitchen items, wood furniture bric-a-brac and art.

Specialty Cleaning:

Documents & paper goods can be carefully packed out and sent to SERVPRO's document restoration facility. SERVPRO's document restoration team has training and experience in specialties, including photo restoration services, document freeze-drying and old document restoration. They use state-of-the-art technology to help restore your paper goods to as close to their pre-damaged condition as possible.

For electronic items, SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids will help assess which items are restorable and assist you with finding a repair specialist in the area.

When fire damage takes control of your life, nobody helps you take it back like the professionals at SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids. Call us at 218-568-6923.

SERVPRO Clean Will Help Your Clients Homes Sell Faster

5/25/2022 (Permalink)

Do you suspect mold? Call SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids to schedule a mold test.

Need a client's home cleaned before it can be put on the market? Call the cleaning specialists at SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids at 218-568-6923

SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids offer a variety of services to help get your listings to top show condition and ready to sell.

  • Carpet, Upholstery, Drapery, and Blind Cleaning
  • Ceiling, Wall and Hard Floor Cleaning
  • Deodorization
  • Mold Mitigation and Remediation

Are you concerned about possible mold growth affecting the marketability of a home?

It is especially important to clean up an existing indoor mold growth to increase the appeal of a property and help maintain the value of the property. Not to mention to avoid any other problems. 

If a property you are trying to sell has experienced water damage, SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids can inspect the damage to see whether moisture has penetrated materials or is allowing mold growth. 

SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids provides testing services to determine the presence or absence of mold in homes you are wanting to sell.

Contact SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids for Your Post Construction Cleanup Needs

5/25/2022 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids for all your Post Construction cleaning needs.

SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids helps ensure your finished projects always look their best.

SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids offers a variety of services to get your construction projects looking their best for their big reveals.

Post Construction and Cleaning

Do you need dirt, sawdust, and debris removed so you can lay carpet, paint and decorate? SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids can provide the debris removal and post construction cleaning needed to prepare the building for the final stage of laying flooring, painting, and decorating.

Dehumidification and Drying

During the construction phrase, a building can trap moisture and/or maybe your project got rained on. Excessive moisture could result in mold growth. If you think one of your projects may have a moisture issue, rely on the SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids professionals to provide the help you need eliminating moisture and preventing the potential for mold growth.

Final Cleaning

You are ready to open your doors but you want to make sure your facility looks its best. SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids provides professional cleaning services to make sure your building is ready for opening day. 

  • Carpet, resilient and non-resilient floor cleaning.
  • Ceiling, walls, and fixture cleaning.
  • Deodorization
  • Debris removal (if necessary)
  • Window cleaning.

Contact SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids for information on post-construction cleaning and other cleanup services. We can be reached at 218-568-6923.