SERVPRO's® Top Tips to Help Avoid Winter Storm Damage!

8/7/2024 (Permalink)

This facility suffered a pipe break causing over 6 inches of water to pool in a highly used area. SERVPRO handled this storm damage in no time!

Winter storms in the northeast can cause structural and water damage in your Rosendale home or business! Check out some of these “best practices” to help keep damage at bay!

Whether winter or summer, storm systems in the Hudson Valley can be completely unpredictable! Some of them can lead to water damage, roof damage, broken pipes & ice damming. SERVPRO® of Kingston/New Paltz wants to help make sure you are prepared for storms and know what to do in case you do have damage! 

Tips for Preparing your Home for Winter Weather:

• Keep cabinet doors around pipes open during cold spells. This allows warm air to circulate around pipes. Rooms like basements and any other weather-susceptible rooms are a must for this step. Additionally, a slow trickle of water flowing through the faucet can help.
• Check pipes in garages, basements, cellars, crawl spaces and any colder areas of your home that could benefit from some inexpensive pipe insulation.
• Consider winterizing outdoor faucets, like spigots you would typically attach a hose to. Contact a plumber about winterizing steps, especially if you won’t be home for periods of time. This is crucial for 2^nd homes, vacation homes and vacant properties. Contact your homeowner’s insurance company if you’re going to be away for a while, they also don’t like surprises.
• Keep the gutters clean, free of debris and secure. Leaves and debris accumulate, causing a damming effect on gutters, which could lead to roof problems and water damage. It’s smart to have them cleaned at least annually.
• Furnaces and hot water heaters need regular maintenance by a professional to help reduce the risk of puffbacks and unwanted water damage.
• Make sure you have regularly scheduled heating oil deliveries, if applicable, and never turn the heat below 55 degrees.

Preparing your Business for Winter Weather:

• Check your business property for downed tree limbs and branches. Weather, such as wind, heavy rain, ice and/or snow, can cause branches to fall which would cause damage to the property and potentially cause personal injuries.
• Inspect the property, especially walkways and parking lots, for proper drainage to alleviate flood hazard potential. Keep an eye out for broken concrete or raised areas that could be hazardous, collect ice or prevent proper drainage.
• Inspect all handrails, stairwells and entryways to locate and fix potential slippery or hazardous areas. Install mats or non-slip surfaces and post caution signs where water could be present.  It proves helpful to have a few buckets of rock salt at the ready, especially in risky areas like exterior entrances, stairs, and puddling or run off spots in the parking lot.

Ask SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz about creating an Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) for your business for any future or potential emergencies. This FREE, comprehensive tool is vital and packed with all the important info you and your staff could need in the event of an emergency or disaster, all right at your fingertips!

If your Ulster County home or business experiences water damage, broken pipes or ice damming, don't hesitate to contact SERVPRO® of Kingston/New Paltz at 845-255-4334. We’re here to help 24/7 for all emergencies and we'll make it "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO® of Kingston/New Paltz Has What It Takes to Handle Any Size Water Damage in Kingston!

8/6/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz was called to a large home in Kingston to restore multi level water damage, making it "Like it never even happened."

No matter if it’s residential or commercial in size, no two water damages are the same. It could be the result of a pipe burst, an appliance malfunction, a leak from a hot water heater, maybe an HVAC unit on the roof of a building or a flood from a storm, each one must be remedied in its own customized way. SERVPRO® of Kingston/New Paltz has been restoring water damaged properties in Kingston since 1992, with water damage remediation been the cornerstone of our LOCAL business, still to this day.

For commercial losses that affect a larger area, our professionals have extensive experience and the specialized equipment to get it done the right way, the first time. We make sure that extensive and ongoing training is always a top priority for all SERVPRO team members as well as having the most updated and efficient equipment on hand.  Being prepped at all times significantly helps eliminate the wait for resources or personnel to arrive from elsewhere and helps make the mitigation process start quickly and run seamlessly. In turn, helps the insured keep remediation costs down and re-open their business quicker or in a residential base, get the family home back to preloss condition faster.

For example, when there’s a large amount of insulation in a basement or crawlspace that’s been saturated by a burst pipe, the affected materials need to be removed cleanly and safely. Our professionals utilize a specialized insulation vacuum to make this type of job quick and effective. This specialty equipment helps contain the affected insulation in a safe and easy-to-dispose-of fashion and can be done so outside to decrease space restrictions.

For large water damages that need to get dried out, like an auditorium, a school or any other commercial structures, we use a powerful industrial machine called a Desiccant Dehumidifier. Desiccant dehumidifiers utilize chemical attraction instead of condensation to remove water from the air. Because they do not use condensation, they are not limited by low dew point temperatures, and produce the lowest vapor pressure of any dehumidifier. Portable desiccant dehumidifiers work best in cool and/or dry environments. The cooler and drier the air going into the desiccant, the drier the air will be coming out. Additionally, we are Large Loss Certified. Should a storm or disaster affect an area, we are able to call in additional resources to help everyone get back to normal quickly. While we keep significant quantities of equipment and reserves on hand, we always have the added power of acquiring additional supplies if needed.

If your home, property or business has suffered any level of water damage, call the local pros who have been taking care of properties in Kingston and the Hudson Valley for over 30 years. Our damage restoration teams are available and ready to help 24/7, and we’ll make it “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO® of Kingston/New Paltz is ALWAYS READY to Help at Your Commercial Property Emergency!

8/5/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz is here to help Ulster County business owners get back to business after a disaster, 24/7!

SERVPRO® of Kingston/New Paltz is here to help in any residential or commercial property. Proud to say that we too, have been a locally owned and operated company since 1992 and have extensive experience at restoring commercial properties to preloss condition in efficient manner. We understand how vital it is to get your business back up and running as soon as possible, so you can count on us to have a live staff and restoration technicians on standby 24/7 to help cleanup and restore fire, water, sewage and biohazard.

Our teams of professional restoration and remediation technicians are extensively and continuously trained and certified by the IICRC, to handle the remediation of all damages plus reconstruction, no matter the type and no matter the time.  Our professionals are trained to be mindful of legal and environmental concerns and strive to fully restore the damaged area while working within your budgetary or insurance protocols.

Being centrally located in Ulster County, our offices and warehouse have the specialized equipment and resources to get to your location quickly to help minimize the damages and get your Kingston, New Paltz, Highland or Saugerties property back in business!

We are Large Loss Response Team Certified

The SERVPRO® Disaster Recovery Team can provide help whether it’s a tornado, hurricane, blizzard or flood. The SERVPRO System has a network of strategically positioned storm teams on standby should a disaster strike near you. Available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, we are always prepared for the unpredictable.

Should your Ulster County business or commercial property experience fire, water, sewage or any kind of storm damage, we’re here to help. Keep our number in your phone, (845)255-4334.

SERVPRO® has the PROS for Commercial Property Damage Restoration in Kingston

8/5/2024 (Permalink)

No matter what size business you have, SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz can handle any type of property damage, locally owned for over 30 years!

There is never a convenient time for fire, water or storm damage to strike your business. These types of events at commercial properties are known to be complex and require the expertise and skills that the professionals of SERVPRO® of Kingston/New Paltz are certified and highly experienced in.

From damaging fire and smoke to sewage backups, our teams are on standby and ready to help 24/7. Storms and inclement weather can be devastating to any business. Wind damage, heavy rain, and flooding can occur suddenly and cause substantial damage in a matter of minutes.

No matter if it's a large-scale event or a small water cleanup, SERVPRO® of Kingston/New Paltz has the manpower, the technology and the right equipment to stabilize the property. We work quickly and efficiently to assess each building and its unique situation. In some cases, normal business can continue in a temporary area while we restore the facility. 

Our highly trained teams are mindful of and experienced with environmental, legal and budgetary concerns and will strive to remedy the damaged area within the constraints given. Our staff will also work directly with your insurance company to make sure we have a solid, customized strategy to restore your business back to preloss condition within the protocols permitted.

We have been the local experts in commercial damage remediation since 1992 and understand fully how vital it is to get your business back to normal quickly for productivity and revenue. Our professionals are trained and certified:

• Water Damage Restoration Technician
• Applied Microbial Remediation Specialist
• Applied Structural Drying Technician
• Odor Control Technician
• Upholstery and Fabric Cleaning Technician

We specialize in the cleanup and restoration of commercial and residential property after any kind of fire, water or storm event, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge and specialized equipment to restore your property.

SERVPRO® of Kingston/New Paltz is here to help no matter when, 24/7 for emergencies. We’ll help make commercial property damage “Like it never even happened.”

Do You Know How to Protect Your Saugerties Property from Damaging Winds and Why?

8/22/2023 (Permalink)

Taking protective steps ahead of time, even yearly, can help prevent significant structural damage and unforeseen dangers in high winds.

There are many concerns that come with severe storms, not just the heavy rain or even snow, but potentially damaging winds are always a threat to keep in mind. These winds, which can come with little to no notice, can be devastating and cause long-term structural impacts without thinking ahead and protecting your home or building.

When Wind Becomes Damaging

While many consider damaging winds to come from a tornado or hurricane, those are not the only times when they may come into play. Traditionally, damaging winds are considered those with wind speeds exceeding 50–60 mph. They can stem from a strong thunderstorm and are called “straight-line” winds, which cause damage much like tornadoes and, yet the damage is different. We have experienced our fair share of straight-line storms and the damage they cause. We often feel like these are actual hurricanes due to the amount of rain and force of wind, and while these storms certainly cause huge amounts of problems, the Ulster County doesn’t often feel the wrath of a true hurricane.

These winds can also cause loose objects on your property to become dangerous projectiles. Cars parked outside, windows and the roof are especially vulnerable and can take the brunt of this damage, and if the damage is extensive, water damage can happen inside your home as well.

Protecting Your Property from Damaging Winds

There are several ways you can protect your property from damaging winds but keep the “Two R’s” in mind: Reinforce and Remove. A few of these are listed below:

• Have a professional reinforce your garage door.
• Make it a yearly or bi-yearly plan to have your roof checked and repaired as needed.
• Remove and/or anchor loose objects on your property, items such as trash cans, grills, small plastic pools, trampolines, outdoor furniture, and toys that could be moved or tossed by the wind.
• Hire a professional to remove or trim back large or dying trees and branches that could fall over onto your home or someone else’s.
• Have your gutters cleaned professionally once a year, especially if there are trees growing near them. Leaf collection or heavy snow can cause water intrusion if the gutters can’t drain properly.

Not all high wind circumstances come with advanced warning, but some of these action items could be the difference between damage and little-to-no damage.

Also, when building a new home or renovating an older home, be sure the windows, walls and doors are up to code for the weather in your area.

If your home ever be hit by damaging winds and resulting water damage, our highly trained storm damage restoration specialists at SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz are here to help with the cleanup and restoration, 24/7 with an emergency response. Call us at 845-255-4334. We’re here to help make it “Like it never even happened.”

Steps to Making Your Kingston Business Workplace Safety Drill Actually Work

8/4/2023 (Permalink)

A well thought-out emergency plan is key for any business owner. You can never be too prepared when an emergency strikes your business!

If you are a manager or a business owner in Ulster County, you understand how important it is to keep your workplace free of hazards and your employees safe from harm during their work day. But have you considered what would happen in an emergency?

Because of how negatively a disaster can impact a small business, it is important to create a plan for what to do should an emergency occur. Creating a plan that accounts for multiple possibilities, gathering honest feedback and then using that to improve are all important components to creating with a fool-proof plan.

Here’s how business owners can begin creating a solid workplace safety drill:

1.    Plan Your Drill

To create a properly executed drill, it is important to plan it thoroughly and well in advance to ensure it is as effective as possible. Be sure to plan for every scenario that could put your staff in harms’ way, such as fires, storm damage, power outages or any other emergency that could be specific to your industry. Prepare for specific points such as:

• Determining a meeting point outside of and away from the building
• Designating someone to perform a headcount and ensure that everyone in the building participates
• How to perform any emergency shutdown procedures, like as turning off machinery before exiting the building
• Understanding and able to handle software backup and important document handling

It’s also important to schedule drills at various times if you have personnel who work a variety of hours so everyone is able to experience them and provide critical feedback no matter the time of day.

2.    Determine Where to Improve

After performing safety drills, the most important thing to do is take note of where improvements could be made. Even things that seem small can make a big difference in an emergency scenario, such as more lighting or better signage. Solicit feedback from employees on how the drill could improve to get further ideas.

3.    Make Changes and Repeat

As you continue to make improvements and run drills, it is important to note how more recent drills compare with earlier ones. Technology upgrades, building infrastructure changes, employee turnover, and even small changes are important to note for yearly improvements or revisions. Tracking the improvements that are made and the outcome of each round is a great way to ensure that drills are as efficient as they can be, that way everyone will stay safe should a real emergency occur.

If you’ve had an emergency occur at your business, we’re here for you! As experts in commercial damage restoration, SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz can handle fire, water or storm damage from any disaster. Here to help 24/7 with an emergency response!

The Right Choice for Water Damage Restoration in your New Paltz Home

8/4/2023 (Permalink)

Trust the certified pros at SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz to help you with any type of water damage at your house!

Finding water damage in your home leads to instant stress and lots of questions. Not knowing where to begin or the right steps to take is overwhelming, especially if you haven’t been through it before. Knowing ahead of time that you already have a trusted partner in restoration company can help.

You can rely on SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz to be here to help 24/7 with an emergency response to your water damage situation.

Typically, our services begin with one of our estimators arriving at your home to do a thorough scope of the structure and the materials affected, assessing damage to personal items and handling information, and gathering needed resources from both our company and from your insurance company. It’s critical that we look at it first, otherwise we couldn’t know the extent of the damage and the vital services your home needs.

By choosing a reputable and certified restoration company in advance, homeowners can alleviate at least one part of the process before it even begins and feel some relief. Our highly experienced water damage restoration teams will handle everything, from start to finish, alleviating a huge amount of pressure and inconveniences from the start.

There are a lot of companies out there, so it can be difficult to determine what is important when researching restoration companies. Here’s a guide of what to look for to make the right choice:

*A Full Restoration Provider

Damages to the home, including water damage, no matter the cause, often require multiple types and sometimes levels of restoration. Water can cause structural issues which means not only the removal of water and drying things out, but sheet rock, insulation, sub flooring and other components might need to be replaced as well. Our professionals are trained and certified in every type of water damage remediation and will provide full restoration of your home.

*A Flexible Emergency Service

When you discover water damage, you want to be sure you can contact your restoration company right away. That is why we have a 24-hour, 7 day-a-week emergency line staffed by live people, not just a recording, so we answer whenever you call and can assemble what you need right away.

*A Thorough Training Program

Technicians who perform restoration need to be consistently trained and highly skilled, which is why we only use the highest standards in the industry to design our training materials and educate our technicians. We pride ourselves on constantly evolving as new technology is introduced and additional certifications are gained.

A Scalable Model

SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz been a LOCAL community business for over 30 years, but we also have a nationwide network of other franchises that we can work with if a large disaster were to occur. Whether it’s manpower, equipment, specialty services or just someone needing help, this allows us to treat every job with the same level of service and expertise, whether for a single home or an entire area.

If you have experienced fire, water, sewage, mold or any storm damage, we are always here to help! Program our number in your phone, (845)255-4334, one less thing to worry about!  We’ll help get you back to preloss condition and make it “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz Has What it Takes to Handle Any Size Water Damage!

8/4/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz has the equipment and experience for any type of water damage!

No matter if it’s residential or commercial in size, no two water damages are the same. It could be the result of a pipe burst, an appliance malfunction, a leak from a hot water heater, maybe an HVAC unit on the roof of a building or a flood, each one must be remedied in its own customized way. SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz has been restoring water damaged properties since 1992 and has been the cornerstone of our LOCAL business to this day.

For commercial losses that affect a greater area, our professionals have the experience and the specialized equipment to get it done the right way, the first time. We make sure that extensive and ongoing training is always a top priority for all staff members as well as having the necessary tools and equipment on hand. This eliminates waiting for reources or personnel to arrive from elsewhere and helps make the mitigation process seamless and efficient. This in turn, helps the insured keep remediation costs down and re-open their business quicker or in a residential base, get the family home back to preloss condition faster.

For example, when there’s a large amount of insulation in a basement or crawlspace that’s been saturated by a burst pipe, it needs to be removed cleanly and safely. Our professionals utilize an insulation vacuum to make this type of job quick and effective. Using this machine helps contain the affected insulation in an easy to dispose of fashion and can be utilized outside to decrease space restrictions.

For large water damages that need to get dried out, like an auditorium, arena, or commercial structures, we use a powerful industrial machine called a Desiccant Dehumidifier. Desiccant dehumidifiers utilize chemical attraction instead of condensation to remove water from the air. Because they do not use condensation, they are not limited by low dew point temperatures, and produce the lowest vapor pressure of any dehumidifier. Portable desiccant dehumidifiers work best in cool and/or dry environments. The cooler and drier the air going into the desiccant, the drier the air will be coming out. Additionally, we are Large Loss Certified,. Should a storm or disaster affect an area, we are able to call in many additional resources to help everyone get back to normal quickly.

If your home, property or business has suffered any level of water damage, call the local pros who have been taking care of properties for over 30 years. We’re available and ready to help 24/7, and we’ll make it “Like it never even happened.”

How to Keep Your New Paltz Home Safe From Flooding

10/5/2022 (Permalink)

Regular home maintenance is vital to help keep flooding problems at bay!

All homeowners in Ulster County need to take steps to protect against flooding, even if you’re in a low-risk area. It takes less than an inch of water to do serious damage to your home, and with the unpredictability of weather, that could happen in under an hour.

You can take steps both inside and outside of your home to protect against flooding, but it all starts with understanding our local risks. Here in Ulster County, we face a higher risk of flooding than most, primarily due to our close proximity to the Hudson, the Esopus Creek and other tributaries that can overflow into our streets during storms.

After you fully know what types of weather we may face, you can begin to plan against them.

What Makes a Thunderstorm in Ulster County So Dangerous |SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

Thunderstorms should always be taken very seriously and can cause injuries and significant property damage!

Gray clouds, rumbles from the sky, light rain starting. You can almost watch it roll in over the Hudson and across to Highland. We all know this is the beginning of a thunderstorm.

These common storms tend to peak during the spring and summer and can bring with them some serious damage if the conditions are right. Many times the combination of hail, strong winds, lightning and flooding can lead to serious damage to personal and commercial property, as well as impact the lives of the people exposed to the weather.

A thunderstorm is any storm that has thunder and lightning. For it to be identified as a severe thunderstorm, it must contain hail that is at least one inch in diameter and straight-line winds that are (at minimum) 58 miles per hour..

Take a look at some ways that this weather pattern can create hazards so that you can prepare and keep your family, property and pets safe the next time one comes through Ulster County.