Recent Posts

Every 18 seconds a fire occurs in the US…only ONE matters to you in Mercer County, NJ

9/15/2023 (Permalink)

Every year, the American Red Cross responds to on average, 60,000 disasters and the vast majority are home fires causing over $7 Billion in property damage. House fires endanger everyone in your home and even the smallest fire that is quickly extinguished can result in thousands of $$ of damage and clean-up.  Fire is unpredictable, can spread quickly, but house fires in Burlington County, NJ are also very preventable.

SERVPRO of Bordentown/ Pemberton is a leader in fire, water damage clean-up, and mold remediation. We work closely with local fire companies and support local community events.

Here are the top 7 causes of Home Fires:

  • Cooking Related-Grease fires are difficult to put out and are not extinguished by water.  Kitchen fires begin quickly.  If a grease fire starts, immediately turn off the heat source and cover with a metal cooking sheet or lid.  If the fire is small, pour salt or baking soda on it to extinguish.  As a last resort use Class B Dry chemical fire extinguisher.  DO NOT try to extinguish with water.
  • Heat Sources-Space heaters where fuel based or electric can cause fires if combustibles such as draperies, blankets or pillows are left too close. Space heaters are a nice addition to warm a chilly space, but only if you are home and monitoring.  Follow the instructions and inspect the device to ensure the heater is in good operating condition.
  • Smoking-Smoking is hazardous to your health in many ways, but any flame can lead to a fire. One single stray ash is all it takes to ignite carpet, clothing or bedding. Smoke outside whenever possible.
  • Candles-Candlelight is the perfect ambiance for a romantic dinner. Lovely to enjoy the soft light and fragrance, but the beauty can turn quickly if a candle is knocked over or left to burn unattended.  Keep matches, lighters, and candles in a secure place away from children. 
  • Electrical-Electrical fires are due to faulty wiring or overloaded circuits which stress the system or may spark. It is a good idea to have your electrical panel and your home’s wiring evaluated by a professional. 
  • Chemicals-Flammable liquids, motor oils, and cleaning chemicals should be stored in a cool location and in proper containers. Heat can cause the chemicals to ignite or possibly explode.  Vapors many times are more flammable than the chemicals themselves. Cleaning rags used may spontaneously ignite if vapors build up and get too hot.  Thoroughly wash all cleaning rags to remove the chemicals and dispose of them safely.
  • Christmas Trees-Holidays are warm, wonderful times to create memories around the festive tree, but attentiveness to watering a real tree is critical to keep it from drying out and becoming a potential tinderbox. Check your real tree often and remove when the tree is dry. Faux trees while safer in some regards also pose a risk to fire if the light strands have been compromised or if the outlet is overloaded.  In both cases, never leave the Christmas tree lights on when not at home. Real or fake, evaluate to ensure your lights are in good working order.

Attentiveness is the best, but accidents and unforeseen issues occur.  When you need disaster relief from fire or smoke, SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton is faster to any disaster.  SERVPRO’s mission is to see you through, provide solutions to have you back in your home, “Like it never even happened.”  We partner with local fire departments to offer emergency cleaning and restoration services.

Call us at 609-894-8555.

Is storm water the same as rain water?

5/22/2023 (Permalink)

Did you even wonder the difference between storm water and rain water? Are they different?

Rainwater is differentiated from storm water and is defined as storm water runoff collected directly from roof surfaces which can have lower levels of pollutants and it often requires less treatment than other forms of storm water.

A new rule amendment in New Jersey, which took effect on March 2, 2021, requires the use of green infrastructure. Green infrastructure refers to a set of storm water management practices that use or mimic the natural water cycle to capture, filter, absorb and/or re-use storm water.

Water from rain or snow storms, also known as storm  water, flows over streets, parking lots, roadways and highways and roofs and into a water body or storm drain which ends up in local streams and rivers. Storm water runoff is often worsened by human activities, and can contain nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants from fertilizers, pet and yard waste.

Did you know, it's almost BBQ season

5/11/2023 (Permalink)

When the warm weather arrives it only makes sense to break out the BBQ grill.  Seven out of 10 adults in the US use or own a BBQ grill.  Fire Departments respond annually to an average of 9000+ house or outside fires involving grills.

As we know, our options are gas or charcoal for our BBQ needs. While these create the tasty meals we come to love and enjoy, we must remember a few basic best practices to less the potential for a fire emergency.

A grill that is placed too close to a fuel source is one of the fastest ways to introduce heat and create fire. Gas and Charcoal grills should always be located away from home and deck railings & out from under eaves &  branches, maintain enough space to allow heat to rise easily and not into the building and or eaves of the building.

Also, the NFPA estimates that 1 in every 5 fires was due to a dirty uncleaned grill. You should always keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from grills & in trays below the grill.

Young Children under the age of five accounted for an average of 2,000+, of the contact-type burns in a year. The burns typically happened when someone, often a child, bumped or ran into, touched or fell on the grill, grill part or hot coals.

The NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association, 

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a global self-funded nonprofit organization, established in 1896, devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards.

About the NFPA

Rain, Rain Go Away, Come Back Another Day in Mercer County NJ

5/3/2023 (Permalink)

Recent NJ Storms have impacted over thousands of homes, especially in Mercer County, NJ.

Heavy rains can cause interior water damage issues leading to mold and even foundational deterioration.  As a homeowner or business owner, making sure water damage remediation is handled promptly and professionally can be the difference in avoiding more costly repairs and reconstruction of your property.

SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton is the leading water, fire, and mold restoration company in Mercer County NJ.  As part of the industry leader- SERVPRO, the local franchise operator has highly trained and experienced technicians to address any size water or fire disaster occurring in your home or business.  Water issues can also lead to complex mold problems, which if left unattended, can cause lasting and permanent damage to your property.

SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton is available 24/7 to address any size water, or fire restoration disaster that you might experience.  Call 609- 894-8555 for a professional and prompt response.

Tornadoes, Extreme Thunderstorms and Heavy Winds Hit Mercer & Burlington Counties in Early Spring 2023.

4/2/2023 (Permalink)

Storms are traumatic events that cause undue property damage whether from wind, tree damage, water or fire. Communities in both Mercer and Burlington Counties, NJ have experienced severe weather patterns in early spring/2023 risking property damage.

 SERVPRO offers safety, security and restoration measures. Homeowners and businesses need reputable companies to provide quality services to assist with the mitigation, clean-up, and restoration of their property.  

SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton is always available to provide solutions for everyone. Here’s  what sets us apart from the competition:

Top 3 Services SERVPRO Provides:

  1. Disaster Response: SERVPRO will respond to any local disaster and enlist the help of convenient franchises to provide necessary services.
  2. Mitigation and Clean-up: SERVPRO will do everything from surveying the damage to doing a total clean-up of the area. We are a full-service restoration company.
  3. All in One: SERVPRO is always available to provide comprehensive restoration solutions. We work closely with insurance agents and adjusters to provide a timely and quality response to any property damage.
  4. Professional & Highly Trained. Our team has numerous certifications in water and fire damage restoration.  We are in industry leader in restoration services.

Disasters are unpredictable, stressful events. If your home or business experiences a disaster, call SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton at 609-894-8555 to mitigate any storm damage. We are available 24/7.

Stay Ahead of Freezing Water in Your Mercer County Home

1/19/2023 (Permalink)

Although the winter of 2023 has been unseasonably warmer in Mercer and Burlington counties, NJ freezing temperatures at night still threaten water pipes in your home or business--especially if pipes haven't been properly winterized.

Here are some tips to ensure the pipes in your home or business don't burst and cause significant damage to property. 

Insulate Your Pipes: Wrap your pipes with insulation material such as foam sleeves or fiberglass insulation wraps. 

Proper Heating in Your Home: Set your thermostat to a temperature warm enough to keep pipes from freezing, usually between 45-55 degrees. This is especially true when you leave your home for an extended period of time.

Winterize Outdoor Faucets: Water should be turned off and the faucet should be drained, and hoses removed. 

Be aware of sudden drop in water pressure--such as a loud banging noise coming from the pipes-could indicate a leak in the pipe resulting in lower pressure. 

Prevention is always the strategy when dealing with freezing water issues.

SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton is the leader in the industry in water damage restoration.  Call 609-894-8555 for a professional review of your issue.  They work with all insurance companies to ensure an efficient and convenient resolution to your water damage problem. 

The Importance of Air Quality in Your Mercer County, NJ Business

9/14/2022 (Permalink)

Since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, indoor spaces, cleanliness of surfaces, and air flow have become more important elements when considering the overall health of a commercial property in Mercer County.

Maintaining a healthy environment in your building, maintains the health of employees, customers, patients, and residents alike. Research points to building occupant cognitive ability is 60-100% higher in Green Building environments.

What determines clean air?  According to the EPA pollutants fall into 3 main Categories: 

  • Biological
  • Chemical
  • Particles

Indoor Air Quality or IAQ is defined by the EPA as the “air quality within and around buildings and structures,” which can impact the health and well-being of the building’s occupants.  Exposure to indoor pollutants can impact the health of occupants immediately or build over many months or even years.

Air pollutants can be created by indoor and outdoor sources.  Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor contaminates by not bringing sufficient outdoor air in to dilute emissions or the reverse, but not expelling enough indoor air.  High humidity and temperatures also increase the concentration of harmful or hazardous particles.

DETERMINE THE SOURCE

The most effective way to minimize the effect of indoor air pollution is source control.  By eliminating the source of the pollutant to reduce their emissions.  Common indoor sources of pollutants can be building materials such as asbestos, fuel burning combustible appliances, building materials (flooring, carpeting, upholstery, cabinets of pressed wood products), household cleaning products, tobacco and excessive moisture. Outdoor sources are Radon, pesticides and outdoor air pollution.

 Indoor Air Quality is best handled by:

  • Isolation: Removing the pollutant from the air
  • Dilution: Removing the pollutant through ventilation
  • Filtration: Removing the contaminants through cleaning the air

Action steps to improve indoor air through integrating air quality protocols in purchasing decisions for building, furniture and cleaning products.  Establish and enforce an effective no smoking policy.  Educate employees in the building on management of air quality and healthy building environment.

Green Building certifications help your company communicate your commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency performance through certifications and reporting.

SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton is available 24/7 to address your water, fire /smoke, mold and biohazard restoration needs.  Call us at 609-894-8555.  We are proud to serve our local communities in Mercer County.

2022 Coastal Hurricane Season is Quiet—So Far

9/8/2022 (Permalink)

2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season update: This has been a very quiet hurricane season to date with one early named storm, but don’t let your guard down just yet.

Historical data shows peak season from Mid-August through Mid-October however August 2022 has not had one named storm, which is only the 5th time this has happened since data has been recorded, and the first time since 1997.

The Sahara Desert sand of the Africa coast has not allowed storms to develop and move west into the tropical Atlantic Ocean.

Hurricanes form when the Ocean temps are in the 80’s, converging winds and abundant moisture.  Let’s hope we can continue to dodge the stormy season and avoid the major disturbance and havoc of the hurricane season.

However, if a natural disaster strikes, the experienced team at SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton is ready to respond. Since we are locally owned and operated, we have prepared for expected damage from storms like Hurricane IDA and are able to respond quickly. Immediate action and a fast response help to reduce damage and mitigate costs associated with restoration. Our highly trained crews have the specialized equipment and resources to handle the job, large or small, residential and commercial. Our teams are prepared with equipment strategically located in case of flood or storm emergency in our area including:

Choose SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton, a local company that specializes in storm and flood damage restoration. Call us at 609-894-8555 for immediate relief. We are available 24/7.

Managing Your Commercial Property in Burlington County

9/7/2022 (Permalink)

Managing Your Commercial Property in Burlington County

When managing your commercial property in Burlington County, checking the indoor air quality and humidity levels are important to the overall health and wellness of your building. Healthy buildings, means a healthier workforce or residents.  

Excess moisture is a perfect environment of mold.  Control moisture and you can control mold. Here are 5 Important tips:

Quick clean-up of water leaks. Any water leaks or spills that occur need immediate attention.  Act quickly to thoroughly dry damp areas and materials with 24-48 hours to eliminate the potential mold growth.

Grade Landscaping Beds.  Slope landscaping beds away from your home and building to limit the opportunity for ground water to collect and jeopardize your foundation.

Maintain your Gutters and Roofing.  Seasonally clean and clear your gutters and spouting to keep it clean and flowing.  Debris build ups contribute water leaks around windows and roofing.

Inspect Air Conditioning drain lines and drip pans.  Routine inspection of filters, drip pans and drain lines for your AC system is a good practice to ensure lines remains unobstructed with a proper flow.

Indoor Humidity Levels.  The relative humidity in your home or office should ideally be below 60%.  This is easily monitored by a moisture meter that is usually available at the local hardware store.  Condensation on windows is an indicator that you may have humidity.  Running exhaust fans and a dehumidifier can alleviate this issue.

If you see mold and needed assistance with mitigation, SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton are the professionals to call. They offer expert clean-up and mold remediation services. Avoid the risk of long-lasting damage to your home or business; call the ‘faster to any disaster team’: 609-894-8555

SERVPRO Provides Hospital Grade Cleaning and Disinfecting Services

9/5/2022 (Permalink)

We are 2 years away from the COVID-19 pandemic, but awareness brought forth by the pandemic has put an emphasis on the importance of disinfecting surfaces we come in contact with daily.

As we continue to frequent all the communal commercial spaces: offices, hospitals, schools and public venues we want to be sure that the building is fully sanitized. Likewise, we want our homes to be as clean as possible. Luckily, SERVPRO is here to make that process as simple for you as we can. We produce a majority of the products we use every day during our work including cleaning supplies, deodorizing compounds, and disinfectants to solve any issues you may be experiencing or trying to prevent. 

SERVPROXIDE™ is our registered hospital-grade disinfectant. It is registered with the EPA and ranks in their lowest toxicity rating. The product is a stabilized chlorine dioxide-based antimicrobial which has little to no fragrance. Any mild cleaning odor disappears quickly, which makes SERVPROXIDE™ a great solution for people with sensitivities to strong odors. 

In terms of COVID-19, the CDC has recommended using products that are hospital-grade disinfectants with claims against similar types of organisms to SARS-CoV-2. SERVPROXIDE™ is the perfect solution, considering it is EPA-approved for use on Feline coronavirus, Canine coronavirus, staphylococcus, E coli, Salmonella, Rotavirus, and Swine flu. 

There are plenty of ways we can utilize SERVPROXIDE™ to clean your space. It eliminates odors through disinfecting and oxidation as opposed to just masking the smell. This can be done by applying the product directly with a towel or by spraying the product on the necessary area. It can also be used for crime scene cleanup. SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton is always here if you need a biohazard cleanup and restoration. 

SERVPRO is the #1 Choice for clean-up and restoration.  We offer 24/7 service of highly trained professionals for storm damage clean-up, water clean-up, fire clean-up and other specialty cleaning services.

If you need your home or business cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized, call SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton at 609-894-8555 for a FREE evaluation.