Are Storms coming to the San Gabriel Valley?

9/29/2024 (Permalink)

Are Stormy Days Ahead in the San Gabriel Valley…

Some rainy days in one week? That almost sounds unheard of in the Glendora and San Dimas communities. Especially since the week before also had multiple rainy days. 

SERVPRO of Glendora and San Dimas believes in storm prevention. If you have noticed the condition of your roof is unsatisfactory, give our office a phone call. Our staff will be happy to walk you through options on how to protect your home before the rain starts. Our office can be reached at 626-852-9922. Our normal office hours are Monday through Friday, 8AM-5PM. However, we have an after hours emergency line, available 24/7, everyday of the year. 

Joe McCann and his team at SERVPRO of Glendora and San Dimas are experts in the restoration business - you are not alone during storm season!

Who Remembers the Colby Trail Fire?

9/29/2024 (Permalink)

Who Remembers the Colby Fire?

Roughly seven years ago, the city of Glendora experienced a very intense wildfire, in the foothills directly behind the city. The Glendora community was in a panic at the quickly growing flames.

It was started by a group of young men, who had illegally lit a campfire, while hiking in the mountains. The Santa Ana winds had picked up embers from the campfire and chaos ensued. It is now known as the Colby Trail Fire, named after a hiking trail. In total, it burned over 1,992 acres of land, destroyed 5 homes, and injured one person. 3,600 city residents were evacuated. Poor air quality was an immediate concern for residents.

Many Glendora and Azusa city residents were very concerned about their homes. Removing dry debris around them and watering their lawns was a tactic that many residents used in the hope to protect their property. 

Residents shut their windows and doors to keep falling ash and poor air from coming into their homes. Others take pieces of plywood or tarp and cover the vents on the roof or chimney, in order to prevent embers from entering their housing structures. 

Homeowners with pools would fill up their pools and spas with additional water from their garden hoses. It is not unusual for water-bombing helicopters to pick up water from residents' backyard pools in order to aid in putting out wildfires. It is a small gesture that can be of huge help to the air bombers looking for bodies of water nearby. 

The Colby Fire lasted approximately ten days.

Glendora and San Dimas residents are always encouraged to call SERVPRO of Glendora and San Dimas if their home is ever affected by a fire. SERVPRO® specializes in fire restoration and is available 24/7. Owner Joe McCann has a plethora of fire restoration knowledge. 

We are located at 433 Fleetwood Place, Glendora, CA 91741. Stop by and say hi sometime!

Why Gutters Matter

9/29/2024 (Permalink)

Gutter Importance:

Gutters are a very important part of roofs for commercial and residential buildings. Their main role is transporting water and debris off of roofs. Especially in stormy seasons, it is important to ensure gutters are functioning to their highest ability. They are responsible for keeping roofs clean.

Removal of water and debris in gutters lightens the weight on the roof, preventing the possibility of roof leaks and caving under stress from weather. It is imperative that gutters are maintained in optimal working condition to prevent damage to the entire commercial building or residential home. 

Gutters should be inspected twice yearly and cleared of debris that could prevent flow of water and materials from roof. Also, check for standing water in gutters as it could indicate inadequate flow of water. Water should be moving down off the roof toward storm drainage areas. Keeping trees trimmed near the roof will alleviate stress on gutters because the branches will not slow water flow or contribute more debris to gutters.

Ensure water is being funneled away from the building once off the roof, as flooding can sometimes occur due to runoff not having proper.

Water stains on the internal ceiling can indicate a roof leak. They are usually an off color, older stains can look like a tea spill.

In the case of water damage, roof leaks, and storm damage, SERVPRO of Glendora / San Dimas is avaible 24/7 for emergency services! Joe McCann and his team are a plethora of water damage knowledge.

A Team of Experts

9/29/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Glendora & San Dimas has been owned and operated by Joe McCann and his team of professionals for over 17 years. Each SERVPRO® franchise requires their technicians to go through a series of certifications. When SERVPRO Glendora & San Dimas shows up to your house you can rest assured that the most knowledgeable team in water mitigation, fire restoration, water restoration, and mold remediation have shown up to do the job well and properly.

Not only does each franchise have to continue training throughout each new year they also have spent  hours upon hours of hands-on experience with their customers. Each residential home or commercial building experiencing a loss great or small brings on new experiences for their staff. Every leaky roof and moldy bathroom furthers the restoration technicians' knowledge in order to serve you better.

So, while you’re looking for restoration companies online through Google or Yelp, you should feel confident that with over 65 five star reviews that SERVPRO of Glendora & San Dimas was the right choice to make. We are proud of each and every Google and Yelp review we have received. We encourage all of our customers to read through them to assure themselves that they have hired a true team of experts.

Is Your Commercial Building at Risk?

9/4/2024 (Permalink)

If your commercial building has suffered any water damage, call Joe McCann and his Team at SERVPRO of Glendora & San Dimas 626-852-9922.

There are many different ways that businesses can experience water damage. Most commonly, business owners assume water damage is caused by a major storm. However, that is not always the case.

 Malfunctioning sprinkler systems 

Some older commercial buildings still have outdated sprinkler systems that work in conjunction with fire protection systems. While such sprinklers can come in handy during a fire emergency, they can also cause commercial flood damage if they are faulty or in need of replacement.

Damaged appliances and equipment 

This cause of commercial flood damage is more common in restaurants and other kitchen facilities, as well as any business that has appliances and equipment that make use of water, such as laundry cleaning equipment.

Broken pipes and plumbing 

Just like in a residence, if the plumbing system in your workplace fails water damage could be the result. 

Backed up sewer lines 

Should the sewer line to your building back up or become damaged, realize the potential dangers of contaminated Black Water which can cause health effects and ruin products and office furnishings. 

Storm Damage Prevention

8/29/2024 (Permalink)

September 1st is almost here! As I woke up this morning, I was excited to see another gloomy, cloudy, overcast morning. Growing up in Southern California, I longed for long days at the beaches and poolside. Now, as an adult, fall and sweater weather reign king.

Although our rainy season is not usually very long in the San Gabriel Valley, I enjoy every minute of it. I also understand the importance of making sure my home is safe and secure during cool weather storms. 

My husband and I check our window and door seals to make sure they are in good condition and not damaged or missing. Doing so helps prevent water from entering our home when it rains. Improper sealing can lead to floor and wall damage, which can lead to mold if undetected. 

After the first heavy rainfall, we also inspect our ceilings to make sure there are not any leaks in our roof. Roof damage can happen all throughout the year, but it is usually a rain leak that will make you notice them. Detecting them immediately can help serious flood damage in your home.

Glendora Home Fire

6/12/2024 (Permalink)

Glendora Residential Fire

It all started at approximately 11:00pm on Monday night, July 25th, 2016.  Returning home after an evening out, Jason and his family entered their house in Glendora ready to call it a night. That’s when their 9 year old daughter happened to notice an unusual discolored spot on the ceiling about 15 feet from the front door.

They were all about to find out how important this little girl’s casual observation would be.

Upon examining the ceiling, Jason reached up and discovered there was heat coming from the ceiling where the spot was.  Climbing a ladder to get to the attic access opening, Jason discovered a fire was burning above the ceiling.  He immediately dialed 911.  Within minutes, the Glendora Police and the Fire Department arrived on scene.  Preparations were being made to penetrate the roof while FireFighters inside the home removed the ceiling where the flames were burning. 

Because of the quick observation of the resident and the immediate action of the first responders, the roof did not have to be penetrated, avoiding extensive structural damage to the property.   As the fire hadn’t spread, only a minimal amount of water was induced to suppress the fire.  Thankfully, no one was hurt.

Once the property was stabilized, the fire investigator was on site to determine the source of the fire.  It appears there was an electrical short that damaged a flexible gas line allowing gas to leak from the line and ignite.

Attic fires are not that unusual.  However, in this case the chance observation of the discolored spot on the ceiling by Jason’s 9 year old daughter was indeed fortunate.  If it wasn’t for her noticing this when they first arrived home, the trouble brewing in the attic could have been a much bigger problem for their home and their safety.

Joe McCann has over 16 years as a SERVPRO owner. With three franchises, Joe and his team have a plethora of cautionary tales to learn from. In case of an emergency fire, always call 9-1-1. For fire restoration, call SERVPRO of Glendora / San Dimas. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What Kind of Smoke Damage is This?

6/5/2024 (Permalink)

There are three different types of smoke that can damage your home. SERVPRO of Glendora / San Dimas is expertly trained in cleaning all of them.

Synthetic: Synthetic residue appears when oil based materials are burned such as plastics and fabrics. This could include everything from window coverings, furniture, carpets, and electronics. Synthetic materials produce a thick black smoke when they burn, leaving behind a smeary residue. Avoid touching any of the residue to prevent smearing. Vacuuming the residue has proven to be the best approach to cleaning synthetic residues left behind, followed by dry-chem sponge cleaning.

Protein: Proteins such as meat and beans, for example, will leave behind a yellowish brown residue when they burn. The texture is greasy feeling and can stick to any surface, making it a pain to clean up. Make sure you  head over to your local home improvement store and ask for the proper fire cleaning solution that will work well on cleaning up after protein fires.

Natural: These type of fires are caused by the burning of natural products such as wood and paper. They produce dry powdery residue that is greyish-black in colour. These residues are easier to clean up than the synthetic or protein residues. Removing the residues can be done by vacuuming with a bristled brush, followed by dry-chem sponge cleaning.

Always contact SERVPRO of Glendora / San Dimas after any fire in your home for proper fire restoration services. Joe McCann and his team can be reached at 626-852-9922.

Common Workspace Fires

9/29/2023 (Permalink)

Just as you work to ensure that your home is a safe place, making sure your workspace is also safe and protected from potential fire damage is also important. Offices have spaces and areas that you’ll want to make sure are safe and preventing potential fire damage. Here are some areas that you may not expect could cause a fire in your office. 

#1: Loose and Overloaded Plug Sockets & Extension Cords 

Making sure that all plugs in your outlets are securely plugged in and not loose in any way can help prevent fire damage. When a plug is loosely in an outlet it can cause reduced functioning, as well as strains wiring, connects which can cause sparking within your outlets. Additionally, do you not overload your extension cords, overloading can create too much electricity which can lead to overheating and potential fire risk. 

#2: Dishwashers & Other Kitchen Appliances 

Stovetops, microwaves, coffee makers and dishwashers all have the potential risk of starting a fire in your workplace. In order to ensure that your appliances are safe to use it’s important to check and make sure there are no faulty aspects of the appliances, everything is securely plugged in and no outlets are overloaded. Dishwashers, in particular, can be a surprising culprit in creating fire damage. Since dishwashers are a combination of electricity and liquids, it’s important to make sure they are functioning properly and not left on overnight to reduce the potential risk. 

#3: Paper Piles 

Whether it’s paperwork, magazines, newspapers, or items that need to be shredded, sitting piles of paper around the office can be potential fire starters. Make sure that paper piles are not near outlets, extension cords, or plugs and that they are reduced or eliminated as often as possible. 

SERVPRO of Glendora/San Dimas is a Large Loss, full-service fire, smoke, wind, water repair and restoration company. We offer immediate response to residential, commercial, industrial, and commercial property owners.

Is it Still Storm Season?

9/29/2023 (Permalink)

It is not very often that we have storms in Southern California. However, they definitely do occur. We often look up to the mountains towards Big Bear Lake, California and we can see the piles of snow that have accumulated during a wet winter. Now that the weather this week is starting to look sunny, one might ask, is winter weather really over?

 SERVPRO of Glendora and San Dimas happily will help you get a tarp on your roof when more wet weather occurs. We are able to provide this service to our clients and it is one of our best services that we offer during the cooler months. 

 If you are in fear of a roof leak before more rain hail or even snow comes our way give Joe McCann and his team a call. Usually, we are able to come out the next day to cover your roof to protect it from further damage. Once the wet weather dries up, allow SERVPRO Joe and his team to come back out and assess your roof to see if any water damage has occurred in the past. Often there might be mold lying within the drywall, wood or even underneath tiles in your roof and attic that you were unaware of. 

 Preventing further damage to your home is the first step of keeping your house mold free. Being actively aware of any leaks that might occur in your household is very useful information to share with our technicians when they come out to assess any damage that may have happened in prior storms or during the last rain spell.