Recent Posts

Yakima Multi-Family Basement Water Damage Fixes

3/3/2024 (Permalink)

servpro tech standing by van with drying equipment Our SERVPRO Technician is ready to pump water out of your commercial Yakima flooded basement. "Like it never even happened."

Emergency Commercial Water Damage Repair Reduces Downtime

Whether the damage comes from leaky pipes, water heaters, utility sinks, or bathroom appliance mishaps, Yakima businesses need fast-acting restoration services when basement utilities are compromised. A swift response is crucial for rental properties and multi-family buildings to protect tenants and their belongings.

When multi-family units in Yakima need rapid commercial water damage cleanup, SERVPRO® technicians can answer calls for restoration around the clock. SERVPRO’s highly-trained team receives a thorough education in water damage theory and the principles behind its mitigation.

Preventing Large-Scale Basement Water Disasters

Like many types of disaster, prevention is the best possible method for minimizing damages. Fortunately, there are plenty of modern measures business owners can use to address this age-old problem:

  • Regular maintenance of plumbing, sump pumps, and appliances is the most effective prevention method.
  • Waterproofing with sealants or coatings on walls and floors can mitigate many water concerns, especially in basements.
  • Some simple landscaping tips can minimize the presence of water near a commercial building:
    • Ensure grading faces away from the building.
    • Keep large trees and shrubs away from the foundation to prevent damage from root growth.
    • Consider implementing a rain garden in particularly wet areas.

SERVPRO Odor Control for Basement Water Damage

One of the most persistent concerns around moisture is the musty, unpleasant smell it can impart on porous surfaces. This smell often goes hand-in-hand with the presence of microbes. SERVPRO professionals can address both of these concerns by:

  • Removing excess water with hot-water extraction units.
  • Deploying EPA-registered antimicrobial solutions.
  • Drying impacted spaces with air movement and low-grain refrigerant dehumidification.

Odor control, typically with ultra-low volume fogging in cases of large-scale water damage odors, binds odor counteractants with malodor particles to eliminate them.

SERVPRO of Yakima is a phone call away from leaving commercial spaces looking and feeling "Like it never even happened." Property owners can call (509) 972-6707 for service.

Complete Water Damage Restoration for Yakima Properties

1/7/2024 (Permalink)

puddles of water on white tile floor Water damage can happen to anyone and is hard to fix alone. Call SERVPRO 24/7 for professional technicians who are ready to help you.

Essential Processes That Control Water Damage

Yakima, WA, is a sizable city with a population of 96,578 known for its agriculture industry, especially apples and hops production. Within the city limits are several wineries and related businesses, including Adelia Wine Cellars, Kana Winery, Yakima Valley Vintners Yakima, and Wine Country Crushers Sports Club. Local museums tell the area's history, from Native Americans and pioneers to early business people. They include the Yakima Valley Museum, the McAllister Museum of Aviation, and the Central Washington Agricultural Museum. Local events include agricultural, trade, and sports like the Fresh Hop Ale Festival and Central Washington State Fair.

If an incident necessitates water damage restoration at your Yakima premises, it is essential to carry out the process comprehensively. Such a process requires a proper understanding of changes or effects water introduces in properties. SERVPRO® crews deeply understand moisture effects against utilities like HVAC, structural supports like frames, and floor materials like carpet.

Essential Restoration Steps

  • Drying moisture
  • Cleaning soiled areas
  • Testing utilities
  • Removing deteriorated materials

Identifying what needs fixing is essential, but correctly timing it is also crucial. For example, drying efforts may be futile or take too long if you have not removed wet insulation or drywall. SERVPRO technicians prioritize removing unsalvageable materials and cleaning before embarking on the drying steps.

Unlike structural components, utilities like HVAC and electrical systems may present unique restoration challenges. For example, assessing the level of damage takes more than observing wetness levels. Disassembly and evaluation of different components for moisture, rust, and other changes may be necessary. With assistance from SERVPRO professionals, opening up HVAC units to check for saturated materials, testing electrical components, and determining the state of ductwork is easy.

Preparing the worksite before water restoration is another essential step to guarantee comprehensive restoration. Clearing deteriorating ceilings, drywall, or insulation creates room for restoration processes. Our crews also set up staging areas for equipment and cleaning products for smooth workflow.

SERVPRO of Yakima facilitates complete water damage restoration. Call (509) 972-6707 for timely assistance. 

Processes Involved in Basic Fire Damage Restoration in Yakima

11/3/2023 (Permalink)

Fire and soot damage to the walls, ceiling, and  floor, of a home with the caption: FASTER TO ANY SIZE DISASTER SERVPRO If you have fire damage in your Yakima home, call SERVPRO. We'll make it “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO® Addresses Yakima Smoke and Soot Damage Promptly

Yakima, located in central Washington, is often called the "Palm Springs of Washington" due to its sunny, dry climate. The city is part of the Yakima Valley American Viticultural Area, one of Washington's most important wine-producing regions. The area is known for its wineries and vineyards, including Naches Heights Vineyard and Wilridge Vineyards, producing high-quality wines. The city has several cultural attractions, including the Yakima Valley Museum and the Capitol Theatre.

A fire can have a devastating impact, necessitating extensive fire damage restoration on a Yakima property. Smoke and soot, byproducts of a fire, can spread far beyond the area directly affected by the flames. They can infiltrate walls, ceilings, floors, and belongings, leaving a layer of black residue that is challenging to remove. This can lead to extensive cleaning, repairs, or even replacement of affected surfaces.

Fire restoration typically involves several processes to restore a property after a fire incident, such as soot removal. These processes ensure the structure's safety and its occupants' well-being. SERVPRO begins by thoroughly assessing the extent of smoke and soot damage. This evaluation helps us create a customized plan to address the property's needs. We help remove soot and smoke residues from your affected areas using specialized equipment and techniques.

Smoke residue removal techniques

  • Dry cleaning
  • Wet cleaning
  • Media blasting

Understanding Wet Cleaning Method for Soot Removal

Soot from kitchen fires often contains oily or greasy particles. Also, soot from fires extinguished with water may create a wet, sticky residue. Wet cleaning is beneficial for addressing this type of soot. It involves using water-based cleaning solutions and techniques to eliminate the soot and restore the affected area.

Considerations when applying the technique

  • We pre-test before wet-cleaning
  • We pre-clean excess non-greasy soils using a Dry Cleaning Sponge
  • We allow the solution to sit for a short period to allow it to penetrate and loosen the soot soils

For fire damage restoration, call SERVPRO of Yakima at (509) 972-6707. Faster to any size disaster™.

Yakima Professional Mold Removal Gets Results, Fast

9/2/2023 (Permalink)

entrance to servpro HQ When you need mold remediation in Yakima, please knock on this door for excellent results. "Like it never even happened."

Call SERVPRO® for Expert Mold Cleanup Services

Some people have microbial growth in their living spaces without even realizing it. Because of the damage and hazards molds present, it is essential to consider all potential signs of a problem to address it as soon as possible. SERVPRO can help all Yakima property owners with mitigation and remediation services – We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

There are several reasons why reaching out to professionals at SERVPRO for mold damage in Yakima is a wise decision. Whether you had a burst pipe, a significant spill, or storm flooding, we know how to locate any moisture-laden areas contributing to your microbial growth issues.

Why SERVPRO?

  • Mold remediation DIY can be dangerous. With all the possible hazards and chances of worsening the damage, this project is best suited for skilled technicians. Our SERVPRO team is fully trained and IICRC-certified to handle various situations with precision and professionalism.
  • Professional knowledge matters. Our team knows the best practices for containment and protection to keep spores from dislodging and traveling through your home. We follow strict guidelines for cleanup to ensure safe, efficient results.
  • We bring industrial-grade equipment. Our Green Fleet arrives stocked with HEPA vacuums, air scrubbers, antimicrobial cleaning agents, and other tools to help us finish each job right the first time.

SERVPRO makes a difference vs. DIY

When called to handle mold remediation, we implement detailed cleaning and deodorizing to ensure no musty odors get left behind. We work to eliminate smells rather than masking them, and we do this with the help of thermal fogging and other specialized tools. You can feel confident that your home will be Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, making it easier to return to daily life.

If you are concerned you have potential mold growth in your Yakima home, contact SERVPRO of Yakima by calling (509) 972-6707. You can also request help online at your earliest convenience, and we will schedule a crew to come out for an initial assessment.

Dealing with Fire Damage in Yakima Properties Requires Skills

5/7/2023 (Permalink)

a fire damaged kitchen with soot covering the cabinets Fire damage residues can linger long after the fire cleanup is done. Contact SERVPRO for effective remediation services. We are standing by 24/7.

SERVPRO Is Quick To Identify Yakima Fire Damage

A fire in your Yakima home can have a profound impact on the structural materials as well as the home’s contents. Sometimes fire damage may be apparent, but in others, it might be less obvious. Smoke residues can infiltrate structural materials, causing hidden damage and leaving long-term effects on the structure if not promptly addressed. For example, metal fittings and fixtures can deteriorate and corrode quickly because of the chemicals in the smoke.

With the help of restoration experts, you can repair any fire damage in your Yakima home and work on future fire prevention. Irrespective of the information you may have regarding fire restoration, it is unlikely to have the required experience to determine the safety of the property for reoccupation. SERVPRO remediation teams help confirm the safety of the house for entry. In addition, we check for any structural damage that might compromise the stability of your home. To properly assess and determine the remediation required for a property, we first analyze the type of residues the fire leaves.

Different types of residues created by smoke

  • Dry smoke residues
  • Wet smoke residues
  • Protein smoke residues
  • Fuel oil smoke residues

Characteristics of Smoke Residues

Wet smoke residues result from smoldering fires with low heat. The residues tend to be smeary and sticky with pungent odors. Dry smoke residues stem from a fast-burning fire at a high temperature. Residues are powdery, dry, non-smeary particles, and the smell is less pungent. Generally, the type of smoke residue present affects cleanability. For example, dry smoke residues do not stain surfaces deeply and require a less aggressive cleaning procedure like feather dusting and wiping with dry cleaning sponges.

Other factors to consider when cleaning after fire damage

  • Type of surface
  • Type of material
  • The temperatures involved during combustion

If you have fire damage in your home, call SERVPRO of Yakima at (509) 972-6707. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

SERVPRO Remediates Yakima Mold Damage Threats

4/10/2023 (Permalink)

Mold damage on a wall with the caption “What to know about mold” Yakima property owners rely on SERVPRO for mold damage remediation, "Like it never even happened.

How Mold Damage Impacts Your Residence

The threats and potential for mold development are common, from the moisture common to the Pacific Northwest and its homes to issues that could result in homeowners dealing with water damage. We have a growing Applied Microbial Remediation Technician force accredited through the IICRC to provide fast and focused services when these disasters strike.

When you recognize Yakima mold damage, the situation is often worse than it appears on the surface. Without experience or sophisticated equipment, it is difficult to track the movement of organisms and their infiltration of organic building materials.

The Causes of Mold Growth

Mold can be more prevalent in area homes and businesses than many realize. Because spores exist naturally in nearly every environment, these microorganisms only need appropriate atmospheric conditions to settle on surfaces and begin colonization. Mold growth can be a unique challenge for homeowners, especially when the full scope of the damage is not recognized. Several sources can lead to mold development, including roof leaks, dripping plumbing, and appliances, or high humidity.

How Does Mold Impact Your Life?

Every instance of mold damage and colonization is unique to the property. Directly, colonies can destroy the hosting material because these organic surfaces are used as a food source for the organism. Other potential issues include offensive odors through the impacted areas of your home, high humidity and moisture concerns, and challenging living conditions.

Is Mold Growth a Concern for Your House?

You might not know where to find mold damage in your home to determine whether this is a threat to your residence. Often, these colonies form in moist portions of the house with little sunlight, making basements and attics a common place for this fungal colonization. Poorly ventilated rooms with high humidity, like the kitchen and bathroom, can also welcome this mold development.

What Processes Remove Mold Growth?

Because mold can appear in several forms throughout your property, there are no specific methods for removing its presence. Remediation professionals must evaluate the condition of hosting materials and determine the best removal actions to overcome the current severity and concentration of microbial infiltration. Some of the common approaches to mold removal can include:

  • Surface Cleaning

Antimicrobial products and sporicidal agents are both effective approaches to eliminating surface mold growth. In addition to destroying active colonies, these products can act as an inhibitor against further infestation.

  • Sanding

The sanding process is especially effective with substrates that can remove a thin layer to eliminate active colonization. Wood framing is a good example of this.

  • Media/Soda Blasting

Another option for removing mold growth from your home is utilizing our abrasive cleaning machines. Media blasting using products like sodium bicarbonate or dry ice can eliminate surface mold without destroying the underlying substrate.

  • Controlled Demolition

When other remediation methods have been unsuccessful, controlled demolition provides the most direct and deliberate option for clearing mold-infested building materials from the property. SERVPRO professionals carefully remove only the unsalvageable portions to make reconstruction more efficient.

Keeping Mold from Recurring

It is important to avoid situations where mold development can reoccur. Recurrences are usually the product of mismanaged moisture or repairs not made to prevent water intrusion into specific areas of the property. With a general contractor license and experience, SERVPRO professionals can offer several services designed to overcome this potentially threatening obstacle, among other actions that can help your home after remediation. Some of these efforts include:

  • Reconstruction
  • Controlled demolition
  • Utility repairs
  • Containment
  • Structural repairs

Yakima mold damage can appear within days of water emergencies or mismanaged moisture in your residence. We quickly establish containment and remediation strategies to get life back to normal. Call SERVPRO of Yakima today at (509) 972-6707.

Better Understanding Yakima Water Damage Recovery

4/10/2023 (Permalink)

air mover advanced equipment poster SERVPRO's advanced drying equipment mitigates water damage in Yakima area properties. "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Cleans and Dries Water Damage

With hundreds of causes and triggers of water disasters in homes and businesses, ranging from broken appliances to burst pipes and flooding, these emergencies are the most common for restoration professionals to be dispatched to help. Our SERVPRO professionals recognize the urgency of these situations, making a prompt response critical in the embodiment of our motto. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Yakima is the Heart of Central Washington and the 11th largest city in the state. With a population nearing 100,000, the threats of various types of water damage occur frequently. Educated technicians on our roster have multiple accreditations to help in this restoration niche, including Water Restoration (WRT), Applied Structural Drying (ASD), and Microbial Remediation (AMRT.)

What Are Emergency Services?

A professional can take action before much of the restoration work begins, allowing a more streamlined cleaning and recovery of the house. Emergency services, as they are called, prioritize overcoming pressing issues in the residence that can lead to costlier or more time-consuming damage to the rest of the structure. This cleaning often precedes the in-depth inspection and assessment of the property to create a detailed restoration plan and estimation. Some emergency services can include:

  • Content Relocation
  • Water Removal
  • Structural and Utility Repairs
  • Controlled Demolition
  • Mold Prevention

The Tools of Water Removal

The first type of water damage our responding team will likely encounter is standing water throughout the structure. Extraction involves a combination of pumps and vacuums, but the greatest versatility comes with submersible pumps and wet vacuums in our inventory.

How Can SERVPRO Thoroughly Dry?

To overcome water damage in its many forms throughout a structure, SERVPRO professionals must have an effective strategy to dry and clean impacted surfaces. This begins with tools like air movers positioned at 45-degree angles to the wet material to provide a wider effective zone of evaporation. Our IICRC-Certified professionals must also resolve trapped moisture, including drilling weep holes, using positive pressure systems, and employing drying mats on plank flooring.

The Main Principles of Complete Drying

When creating the ideal conditions for efficient and effective water damage drying, specific principles must be modified and routinely monitored to produce the fastest and most complete results. The three primary factors of drying include:

  • Airflow – Air movers are the chief ingredient in the appropriate application of this drying principle. Using high-velocity blowers, these units promote steady airflow across moist surfaces to dry up surface water.
  • Temperature – Manipulating the temperature of a room or impacted surfaces can change how effective and efficient drying can be. Warming a surface being dried causes the chemical evaporation process to occur faster. Similarly, increasing the room's temperature allows for a greater moisture volume possible in the environment.
  • Humidity – Moisture in the environment can impact the drying process. High relative humidity slows evaporation, so it is necessary to implement dehumidification tools to regulate moisture.

Will Repairs Be Necessary?

Saturation and absorption are no friends to your home's building materials, and as water becomes trapped in drywall, flooring, and other construction elements, deterioration and degradation can result. Inspections and assessments determine the salvageability of impacted surfaces, and it is common for some repairs and reconstruction to be necessary. Our general contractor license ensures that when this action is needed, we have capable professionals available to produce results and limit overall restoration times.

Yakima water damage can become destructive and threatening to homes and businesses. With the experience of WRT-Certified technicians on our roster, you can count on SERVPRO of Yakima to help when disasters strike. Call us at (509) 972-6707.

Stages of Yakima Fire Damage Restoration and Cleanup

4/10/2023 (Permalink)

room with fire and soot damage with the caption “dealing with fire damage” SERVPRO's professional fire damage cleanup and restoration is the wise choice for Yakima businesses and homeowners. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

The Restoration Objectives After Fire Damage

From an overturned candle to an overloaded outlet with bad wiring in your home, there are many possible causes of a fire. Understanding these disasters' severity and impact on a residence can be critical. Most of the cleanup and recovery of your home after these emergencies is orchestrated through your insurance company, so it is important to have a trusted team that can work with these third parties to resolve concerns for your house efficiently. The process for fire restoration can include:

  • Emergency Services
  • Mitigation
  • Soot Removal and Cleaning
  • Deodorization
  • Repairs and Reconstruction

Yakima fire damage can sweep through the property quickly, including areas like the HVAC system and other confined spaces. FSRT-Certified technicians on our roster are available 24/7 to mobilize for mitigation, restoration, deodorization, and reconstruction. With the significant issues that can overwhelm your household and displace a family, we work around the clock and directly with insurance adjusters to get life back to normal.

The Focus of Emergency Services

Before restoration can get underway and SERVPRO can take significant strides to recover the damage to the property or clean the residence, emergency services must first occur. These efforts are the most critical to prevent the full destruction of a household. Our rapid response team works on these specific actions before the full scope of the damage is recognized or recorded through detailed evaluations and inspections. Some of the emergency services necessary after a disaster include:

  • Debris Removal
  • Water Removal
  • Temporary Construction

Employing Mitigative Strategies

With the emergency services completed, SERVPRO works to address other pressing concerns that must be overcome before restoration can begin. Mitigating loss combines several efforts to protect the structure and its contents from greater harm. A focus and objective of mitigation are to prevent the situation from worsening, often through the creation or implementation of containment barriers and products to limit the movement of soot, odors, and other fire damage effects.

  • Improving Indoor Air Quality
  • Protecting Personal Belongings
  • Discarding Damaged Structure

How Soot Gets Managed

Soot can be a corrosive form of fire damage. Partial combustion generates a dense concentration of smoke solids circulating in the environment and coming to rest on exposed surfaces. The acidity of these particles can ruin the finish of building materials and strip lacquers from cabinetry and other components. Alkaline cleaners can balance this pH level.

Heaped debris and residues on surfaces can also be a formidable challenge for our SERVPRO professionals, so we work to reduce this buildup with direct action. Dry vacuuming surfaces can have a positive effect on lifting loose soils and lowering the likelihood of smearing and staining with wet cleaning practices to come. HEPA filtration is important when lifting these dry particles from the exposed substrates to avoid agitating environmental conditions and increasing the density of circulating soot particles.

Destructive Malodors

One of the lingering forms of fire damage homeowners must battle are offensive odors throughout the property. The burning of building materials and contents creates a volatile environment, and the porous materials around ignition points can absorb malodors and permit them to resurface even after restoration. SERVPRO professionals must be careful to address these concerns wholly, including ULV, thermal fogging, and other deodorization equipment. 

Needed Reconstruction After a Fire

There is no mistaking the destructive capacity of fires against building materials. Most components used to construct your home are combustible, so several areas requiring repair and reconstruction are common. We have a contractor license to help complete these needed build-back services, from the controlled demolition process to repairing utilities and replacing entire ruined wall assemblies. With these professionals on our roster, we can seamlessly transition from restoration to reconstruction without requiring customers to wait.

Yakima fire damage spreads hazardous effects throughout the property, making it vital for restoration and recovery services to begin immediately. As leading experts in this niche, SERVPRO of Yakima is ready to help when disasters strike at (509) 972-6707.

Water Mitigation in Yakima Requires Experts

4/9/2023 (Permalink)

a water damaged ceiling Dealing with water damage can sometimes be a process. Contact SERVPRO to assess the situation and formulate a custom water damage remediation plan.

Count on SERVPRO for Water Mitigation in Yakima

All types of water damage to homes pose severe risks and must be attended to quickly. In particular water damage cases, it takes only 48 hours for mold to start growing, making it essential to begin the remediation process as soon as possible. 

Water damage mitigation in your Yakima home can stem any likely complications that could follow. Water damage mitigation is a quick process that SERVPRO uses to prevent losses that could otherwise have occurred if left unattended.

Using modern techniques and specialized equipment, our team can ensure that further damage to the property is minimized, thus reducing restoration costs. Our SERVPRO technicians can review the extent of the damage, then decide what action to take to reduce it. Such measures could include: -

  • Stopping the spread of water in the property.
  • Removing furniture and other items like electronics, flooring, and drywall that are at risk of being damaged.
  • Ensuring the structural stability of the property.
  • Disinfecting salvageable belongings.
  • Draining water and drying the home.

 SERVPRO’s water damage mitigation service involves completely removing water and moisture. Our technicians can use pumps to remove water from your property. The strength of pumps is stated in terms of volume and lift capacity. If the water in your home is over two inches deep, our team can remove it using a submersible pump with adequate volume capacity and lift capability. We can use air movers and dehumidifiers to dry out the property and remove moisture from the air.

The moisture meter is vital for determining if affected materials have returned to their normal moisture levels. After we complete the cleanup process, we can disinfect the affected structures and contents to kill or stop the spread of microbes. If drywall has sustained water damage, our remediation technicians can also make flood cuts in at least one of the rooms to determine if the water has ruined interior walls or if insulation and wiring are damaged. These cuts also help SERVPRO technicians to check if there is mold.

If you need residential water damage repair, call SERVPRO of Yakima today! Our 24-hour helpline is (509) 972-6707.

Conducting Commercial Water Mitigation in Yakima

3/13/2023 (Permalink)

a water damaged wood floor Water leaks can compound and cause a great deal of damage over time. Contact SERVPRO when you notice the situation so that we can assess and help.

SERVPRO Assists with Commercial Water Damage Restoration in Yakima

All restaurants have more water supply lines and appliances that use H2O than other commercial buildings. Since restaurants use running water constantly throughout the day, these buildings are at risk of suffering from a mishap. The ice machine inside your eatery is one appliance that uses water; if it malfunctions, a disaster could occur. Sometimes when ice machines break, they spray water and flood out your structure.

Any time water leaks into your restaurant, it is wise to have professionals perform commercial water mitigation at your Yakima property. Even though most restaurant floors contain hard surfaces that repel moisture, a water leak could cause problems with other building materials or contents. For example, moisture could soak your drywall and cause your wall studs or ceiling trusses to get wet. 

When dealing with wet walls, our technicians work towards removing moisture quickly so that secondary issues do not take place. Mold can grow inside your wall cavities on the back of drywall or on wooden studs if prompt action is not taken. Depending on the severity of the damage, we can often save sections of your walls that got wet.

Setting up air movers and dehumidifiers can help speed up the natural evaporation and drying processes. If your walls became saturated after the leak, we could also set up an injection drying system to pump warm, dry air into your wall cavities. We can drill holes into the walls behind your baseboards when installing an injection drying system. The tubes for the drying system then get inserted into these holes, and we run the machine until your walls are back to normal moisture levels.

Other services we can offer after a water leak:

  • Restorative carpet cleaning
  • Content pack-ins and pack-outs
  • Water extraction services
  • Deep cleaning of all affected areas

If the ice machine inside your eatery ever breaks or the lines running to it break, call SERVPRO of Yakima at (509) 972-6707.