Recent Posts

What Are Those "Cobwebs"?

3/18/2024 (Permalink)

When your Cecil County property suffers fire damage in the form of a smoke or soot explosion, you may be wondering what those webs are on your walls and ceilings.  Those webs are soot carbon chains which often form when oil explodes out of a heat source, such as a furnace or boiler.

When a heat source is leaking oil or doesn’t function properly, the oil vapors in the system can build up to a dangerous level.  Eventually, the oil will have nowhere to go, leading it to burst out of the system and into your property.  The smoke and soot damage that occurs will quickly find its way throughout a property and onto many surfaces.  The carbon in the soot then begins to strike other sources of soot, which causes the carbon chains that take the appearance of cobwebs.

While this form of fire damage can be overwhelming, there are several actions you can take to help prevent this:

  • Heating systems should be maintained and cleaned annually.  A professional can help to address any issues.
  • Be aware of any signs that your system is not burning oil properly.  Soot can slowly appear on your walls, ceilings or other surfaces when there is a problem.
  • Be mindful of any offensive odors that could mean an oil leak.
  • Check for any signs of debris or buildup.

Should you have a puffback, we recommend hiring a fire damage restoration professional to clean and restore the affected areas.  Improperly attempting to remove soot can lead to additional damage.

SERVPRO of Cecil County offers 24/7 emergency fire damage services for residential and commercial properties!  We provide the utmost urgency and care for your property and belongings.

Preventing Mold Damage in the Spring!

2/22/2024 (Permalink)

Spring brings its own mold challenges.  The rainy season and warmer climate can cause mold to form unexpectedly.  Luckily, there are ways to stop mold in its tracks!

Keep your home dry. 

Mold feeds on moisture and wet areas.  Check your property for signs of leaks or cracks along your windows and doors where warm air can get in.

Inspect mold-prone areas.

Mold can grow quickly in places such as bathrooms where shower curtains and wet tiles are present.  Laundry rooms attract mold due to damp clothes or a humid environment, while window sills can collect moisture.  Clean these areas often.

Invest in an air purifier.

These help to trap and eliminate mold spores in a given space in addition to helping prevent those spores from entering a property.

Look for signs of water damage or strange odors.

After a water leak, mold can often be found inside the walls where it needs to be tested by a professional for the degree of severity.  A strong odor can be a questionable concern.

If you suspect mold, act fast!  Mold can spread in as little as 48 hours, but SERVPRO of Cecil County is equipped to respond immediately!  For a free assessment, give us a call!

Preventing Seasonal Water and Storm Damage

2/1/2024 (Permalink)

While we typically think of snow and frigid temperatures this time of year as well as what that may bring, we have also experienced a vast majority of rain this season!  It is important to always remain prepared for any storm when it comes to your Cecil County property.  Below, we list several preventative actions that can help!

When it rains…

  • Clear your gutters and downspouts of any debris to avoid a potential blockage. You should also ensure that your drainage system is pointing away from your property.
  • Make sure that your sump pump is working properly.  We recommend investing in a battery backup to help prevent water damage.
  • Look for signs of leaks. Moisture or wet walls are a bad sign.

 When it snows…

  • Do not let snow accumulate too heavily on your roof. When the snow freezes, the ice can cause a blockage and leave the melting snow to have nowhere to go but into your property.
  • In low temperatures, check for signs of frozen pipes.  This includes strange noises or odors as well as low or no water pressure.
  • Check any signs of roof damage before and after any severe storm. This could save you from water damage later. Look for broken or missing roof tiles or signs of leaks.

SERVPRO of Cecil County is on standby for when water or storm damage strikes!  Should you suffer an unexpected disaster and not know where to turn, give us a call!  We will guide you through the process as we perform the proper cleaning and restoration services!

Severe Storm Damage in Cecil County!

1/17/2024 (Permalink)

Cecil County has suffered multiple severe storms recently, keeping our storm damage restoration team busy day and night.  With over two inches of rain and wind gusts up to 50 mph, storm damage was a given for many property owners.  Power outages led to more problems, including sump pump failures.  In addition, the heavy winds led to downed trees and roof damage.

Like SERVPRO of Cecil County which is always “Ready for Whatever Happens,” emergency personnel in Maryland were prepared for the incoming storms.  The county was put under a State of Preparedness for the most recent weather event in order to have emergency personnel ready in the certain case of storm-related risks, including potential water rescues or damaged power lines.  The tide of local rivers had also risen up to four feet above average, flooding roads and properties located nearby.

It’s been a messy couple of months for the county, but SERVPRO of Cecil County is proud to always have a resourceful team on standby for when storm damage occurs!  Should you suffer any extent of flooding or storm damage, please do not hesitate to give us a call so that we can immediately begin the process of restoring your property!

The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl!

12/28/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® is proud to hold its own college football game every December in honor of our national police, fire and EMS departments that put their lives on the line every day!  This game acknowledges these departments and some of the officials involved.  This year, the game was once again held at the Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas and broadcast on ESPN!

The SERVPRO® First Responder Bowl gives back through various organizations, such as the Guns and Hoses Foundation of North Texas.  This foundation aids in the support needed for families of fallen firefighters, police officers and other emergency personnel.  As SERVPRO® continues our commitment to our first responders, it was recently announced that the games have been extended for another three years!

SERVPRO of Cecil County strives to support our local fire and police departments when the need arises!  We are proud to be a part of growing our support to first responders on a local level!

Assisting Through the Disaster!

12/13/2023 (Permalink)

What do you do when you have fire or water damage?

An electrical fire, water leak or structural issue can lead to a big disaster, especially if you don’t know where to turn.  SERVPRO of Cecil County can lift that burden off of you!

Our first step is to visit the site, assess the damage and determine the best plan of action for restoring the property.  We then work with your insurance provider on getting started and ensuring that you are covered for any restoration and repairs needed.

Once the water or fire damage restoration process begins, we utilize our advanced techniques and equipment to remove signs of water and smoke from all surfaces.  We tear out structural components that are damaged such as the drywall, baseboards and trim affected.  The areas that pose a larger threat to the integrity of the structure, such as a ceiling on the brink of collapse, are also removed safely.

As we continue the process of fire and water damage restoration, SERVPRO of Cecil County will continue to check in with you and your insurance company to ensure everything is running smoothly with no concerns.  Our team is here to help guide you throughout this process as we clean up the mess!

Restoring What Was Lost

11/13/2023 (Permalink)

Water damage can be overwhelming for our clients, but what do you do once the water is gone?  During the water restoration process, SERVPRO of Cecil County often needs to remove various structural components of your home or facility, such as drywall, insulation or even the affected flooring.  By removing these elements, water can be found in areas that are difficult to reach where our air movers can then eliminate further signs of water that can cause mold later down the road.

But once this is complete, those areas need to be replaced with new materials.  That’s where our Reconstruction Department can help!  SERVPRO of Cecil County has an entire division focused on your rebuilding needs in order to help make any size disaster truly “Like it never even happened.”  We provide services in areas such as the replacement of insulation, drywall, trim, baseboards, carpets and various flooring.  Our reconstruction team can also help with painting, document drying and furniture restoration.

When it comes to higher scale disasters, we work with our local partners on needs such as boarding up and temporary fencing to secure a property after a fire has occurred.  After a storm, we can also assist with roof tarping and tree removal services.

SERVPRO of Cecil County is proud to have the resources and expertise to handle a water or fire damage disaster from beginning to end in order to help our customers put an upsetting situation behind them!

Cleaning Up A Hoarding House

10/18/2023 (Permalink)

Our team offers biohazard services for properties in Cecil County after severe hoarding has taken place.  Hoarding is a serious health issue that shouldn't be taken lightly.  Often in these sticky situations (and yes, they can be sticky!), we encounter animals, feces and an unsurmountable amount of items we'd rather not discuss.

During this process, our biohazard professionals remove all content in addition to the affected areas that cannot be saved, such as the carpet and floors that may be too damaged.  We place dumpsters onsite, which are filled up rather quickly with the thousands of pounds of trash and hazardous materials inside these types of properties.

Our team also provides advanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures for the areas involved.  Our hospital-grade disinfectant is combined with our IICRC-certified cleaning and wipe down techniques to ensure that the property is left good as new once we leave the premises!  

SERVPRO of Cecil County is prepared to assist with your sewage, hoarding or vandalism situation in order to restore the integrity of your property.  We are “Ready for Whatever Happens” in the local area!

Identifying Odors

9/8/2023 (Permalink)

An odor can be a sign of a serious problem in your Cecil County home or business.  Odors should be assessed and handled immediately to help eliminate and prevent further damage.  Should you have a musty smell in your basement for instance, this could be a sign of mold growth.  The stronger the odor, the more likely that you have a significant mold issue.

Other odors to be wary of include a dirty or stale smell that may even smell like rotting plants.  This is a sign of mold damage.

If an area of your home smells like rotten eggs, this could mean that you have water damage.  This odor can be created due to the water and humidity present in those areas.

Strange or oily smells emanating from your boiler or furnace in the winter can be a sign that the oil in your system is building up and potentially preparing to burst out of your heating system.  When this occurs, the smoke and soot damage left behind is called a puffback.

When these odors occur in your property, services should be performed immediately to identify and recover the affected areas.  Should you suspect an issue, SERVPRO of Cecil County can provide a free assessment to determine the source of the problem.  In the event that you suspect mold, we also can provide information for mold testing.  We work with several providers for that service and your peace of mind!

Vehicle Cleaning and Odor Removal

8/23/2023 (Permalink)

When your car suffers a strong odor, SERVPRO of Cecil County can provide odor deodorization services to fully remove any pungent smell.  If rain enters your car through a leak or storm, water and mold damage can occur.  Our cleaning professionals provide thorough cleaning and restoration services in order to remove any form of damage in order to get you back on the road quickly!

Once the vehicle is prepped by the local dealership, we complete our odor deodorization technique using our HEPA vacuums to remove all particles in the space.  Containment is also placed to not allow outside dirt and particles to compromise the cleanliness of the newly cleaned car.  We wipe down and treat the interior of the vehicle to help ensure all potential signs of mold or water damage have been eliminated.

SERVPRO of Cecil County provides a variety of cleaning services to our residential and commercial clients.  We are proud to offer assistance to our local area no matter the extent of the damage!