Another Floor Saved!

2/27/2025 (Permalink)

Drying mats were used to save the wood floor.

SERVPRO of Middletown received a call to respond to an emergency water loss in Sea Girt, NJ. The customer was very concerned about possibly having to remove the hardwood flooring which was present throughout a majority of the house. Upon arrival to the home, our technicians inspected the flooring to see if it could be salvaged. Since the wood floor was not showing an extremely high moisture content, the technicians decided to use the Injecta-Dry system in an attempt to save it from removal.

The Injecta-Dry system works by utilizing extraction mats placed over wet sections of the wood floor. The mats are connected to a special machine which directs air below the floor in an attempt to dry underneath it quickly. Dehumidifiers are often placed alongside the system to assist in removing as much moisture from the surrounding area as possible.

After the system ran for four days, the mats were removed to revel the wood had dried exceptionally well and would not need to be replaced! The homeowner was so overjoyed to hear we were able to save the flooring. The Injecta-Dry system is an innovative tool often used by our franchise to alleviate costly, time-consuming repairs for our customers.

Never Know What You Can Walk Into

2/14/2025 (Permalink)

Walking through the flooded office.

When a water line on the upper floor of this Tinton Falls corporation leaked, the owner called SERVPRO of Middletown to help dry out the 36,000 square foot building. The employees walking into the office were alarmed by the water flowing across the carpeted areas of the office but remained calm until our emergency crew arrived on the scene. Using special extraction tools, the expertly trained technicians were able to quickly remove the standing water from the office floors. The affected carpet and trim were removed, and special equipment was placed to completely dry the structure. The owner was so satisfied with the work we completed; they asked us to repair the damaged facility for them. 

It is imperative our technicians are provided with ongoing training regarding the handling of large commercial water losses. Regardless of the size of the loss, SERVPRO of Middletown works quickly to assess each unique situation and isolate the damaged area. Our franchise has the proper tools and expertise needed to dry a commercial property in as little as three days to minimize the impact of the loss on the business.

Mold Hidden Behind The Wallpaper

2/7/2025 (Permalink)

Mold discovered under the wallpaper.

This homeowner did not realize there was mold under the wallpaper after he bought this house in Red Bank NJ. He called SERVPRO of Middletown in to remediate the house so that he and his family could move in as soon as possible.

Mold spores exist naturally throughout our entire environment and are often at levels which are not harmful to our health. Mold which is hidden in your home, however; can increase to unsafe levels and cause discomfort to those who reside in the structure. Once the customer in Red Bank started to remodel the home, he was so alarmed by his discovery he called SERVPRO of Middletown right away to remediate the mold growth.

Upon arriving on site, our expertly trained technicians removed the affected wallpaper, drywall and insulation from the home. After cleaning and sanitizing the remaining materials, special equipment was placed to remove any remaining contaminates from the air. The customer was very impressed and appreciative of the job our crew did to return the air in the home to safe breathing levels.

Broken Supply Line

1/29/2025 (Permalink)

Water can travel everywhere during a water loss.

When a supply line breaks, water will travel far and wide inside a structure. This home in Fair Haven NJ just had a new kitchen installed. As the SERVPRO of Middletown mitigation team investigated the extent of the damage, it appeared the cabinets may have not been affected. Once the cabinets were opened, it was discovered the items inside were soaked. Since the homeowners called SERVPRO of Middletown right away, the technicians were able to save the new cabinets from being removed.

Before our team arrives to take care of your loss, remove personal contents from areas where water can accumulate to begin drying as soon as possible. Please make sure any appliances which are plugged in are removed to prevent electrocution. Safety is the number one priority of our SERVPRO team; it prevents dangerous situations for the technicians and customers as well.

SERVPRO of Middletown is always ready to take care of homes and businesses affected by disaster. Call us at 732-530-9009, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Protecting Your Home in Extreme Weather

1/16/2025 (Permalink)

Ice formed from a water loss on the floor above.

When temperatures approach record lows for the northeast region, it is important home and business owners take steps to protect their structures from the extreme weather. Frozen pipes can lead to breakage, damaging personal property and essential heating systems which can create a major disaster at your home or property.

Be sure to keep all living spaces at a minimum low of 50 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent pipes from freezing. Frozen pipes are often those exposed to the cold weather, such as those outside your house, or in cold areas such as basements, attics or garages. A frozen pipe can burst due to the backflow pressure between the blockage and water source. Some additional prevention methods include:

- Draining pools, sprinkler lines, and shutting off the water source to outside spigots.

-Opening kitchen cabinets to let warm air reach the pipes beneath.

-Daily use of faucets whose source might come from an outside pipe.

In the event of a winter weather emergency, SERVPRO of Middletown is always ready to respond to quickly get your property back to normal! Give us a call 24/7 at 732-530-9009.

Always Here to Help!

Fire Spreads Quickly

1/7/2025 (Permalink)

Damage to the house caused by the fire.

Fire has the unique ability to spread rapidly and cause an enormous amount of damage. In light of recent wildfires in the west, it is important to remember many structures can be restored with proper remediation efforts. The restoration team at SERVPRO of Middletown is always ready to respond to home or business owners who have suffered a loss due to fire.

This damage resulted after a lawn mower caught on fire right outside the house. The owners were not at home at the time and the damage was extensive as the fire spread from the machine to the house very quickly. Our SERVPRO team was able to assess the site quickly and began remediation efforts immediately. Inside, the team removed sheetrock, removed affected contents, and performed smoke and soot remediation. HEPA vacuuming, deep cleaning of remaining materials and air purification were also performed after the demolition. Water from the fire department was removed via extraction and our effective drying equipment. After a building affected by fire is thoroughly cleaned, it is ready for our building services crew to repair the structure.

Clean It Right The First Time

12/21/2024 (Permalink)

Mold caused by moisture in the basement due to a water loss.

Always make sure you hire an emergency service company with expert knowledge and experience. A frantic customer in Manasquan, NJ called us at SERVPRO of Middletown after another restoration company failed to properly dry out his home. Instead of taking care of a general water loss, our team needed to perform a mold remediation on her entire home. Mold is provided with an ideal growing environment when wet building materials are not dried correctly.

The water technicians here at SERVPRO of Middletown always use special meters to verify wet materials progressively dry within a few days to prevent mold from growing. We encourage our customers to understand the drying process so they can be confident a job is being done correctly.

The home in Manasquan was returned to safe breathing levels following the cleaning of the mold. The customer was relived and extremely pleased with the job completed by our mold remediation team.

SERVPRO of Middletown is always ready to take care of homes and businesses affected by disaster. Call us 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Restoration After Fire and Water Damage

12/7/2024 (Permalink)

The completed kitchen after the restoration.

Fire and water combined cause a seemingly catastrophic situation. SERPVRO of Middletown was called following a kitchen fire to help this apartment building get their tenants back in their units. Our professional cleaning staff worked their magic in 24 hours to extract and dry the water damage before our construction department replaced the sheetrock, kitchen cabinets, painted the walls and finished the floors within 2 weeks. The property manager was thrilled with the results and the tenants were able to move back into their units quickly. Small kitchen fires can cause an incredible amount of damage in a short span of time in an apartment building when the sprinkler systems go off. There were over 5 units in the building, including the main hallway which were flooded following this unit’s fire loss. Our SERVPRO team is always ready to respond to an apartment complex which has a large-scale loss due to fire.

How Electrical Outlets Are Affected By Floods

11/29/2024 (Permalink)

When floodwaters rise to the height of electrical outlets, a common result is loss of power. However, in some cases the resulting sparks and damage can create a fire in a house, apartment, or commercial building.

There are restoration companies that specialize in water damage, but very few have the experience that can handle fire damage and water damage like SERVPRO of Middletown. For decades we have been in the business of restoring homes to original condition. Our expert response teams can pump out a basement and scrub away smoke residues with equal ease.

Fortunately, fire damage that is caused by a flooded outlet is usually small and is mainly just smoke damage. In either disaster, removal of drywall is critical so that the workload is not as difficult to deal with. However, the rising smoke can leave residue higher up on the walls, requiring more panels to be removed. Ceiling tiles can also require cleaning after a fire as well.

When an outlet is damaged by water, it needs a replacement from the hardware store, which typically costs less than $5 apiece. The spot where the fire begins, the point of ignition, would be the outlet in this case. The wires leading to the outlet are melted to the outlet box and may require cutting from above where there is any damage. It is important to inspect the rest of the building as well to ensure that the fried wires did not compromise any other building materials.

If the damage runs very far back along the wires, then they require replacing so that the new outlet is in the original location. Our technicians are trained to run new wiring from any point in the structure back to the breaker box if it is needed to rebuild the wiring system of your home or business. This task is extremely easier once a different team member removes the drywall for easier access.

Dealing with damage from a flood can be a very difficult and stressful process. Restoring your home and property from both requires professional treatment and care from experts with a nationwide support network or equipment. We are ready to help you whenever disaster strikes.

Importance of Cleaning Up After Storm Surge

11/18/2024 (Permalink)

The flooded home after demolition.

After this extremely active Atlantic Ocean hurricane season, it is important to understand how to calmly react to the tremendous damage which is left after a storm.

This photo was taken after the demolition of a flooded house in Manasquan, NJ. Our SERVPRO® crew was called immediately after ocean surge flooded this home within a block of the beach. Our team responded on the scene within an hour. During inspection, the crew determined all of the drywall and insulation needed to be removed as well as most of the flooring due to the contamination of the ocean water. The remaining stud beams and subfloor were sprayed with an anti-microbial solution to kill any lingering contaminants. Drying equipment was placed to remove any additional moisture to prevent further damage and/or the formation of mold.

Large floods are never too difficult for our SERVPRO of Middletown team as it is imperative to clean and dry the extensive moisture the water deposits into the structure. When dealing with a loss from storm surge, it is imperative to contact your local SERVPRO to properly clean and restore your property "Like it never even happened."