Recent Posts

Happy PI Day

3/14/2024 (Permalink)

Are you familiar with Pi? The mathematical constant that is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, approximately equal to 3.14159? It's celebrated annually on March 14th (3.14) as Pi Day. What better way to celebrate than by making and eating a delicious pie? This Blueberry Crumble Cream Pie looks delicious.

Ingredients:

  • Pie crust
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups blueberries

For the crumble

  • 4 Tbsp butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup quick oats

Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450*F 
- Place your pie dough in a 9" pie pan and prick the dough several times with a fork. Bake for 9-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly brown. Remove from oven, reduce heat to 350*F
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, sour cream, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Gently fold in blueberries. Pour into the pie shell.
- For the crumble, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, flour, and oats in a medium bowl. Mix until combined, then sprinkle evenly over the pie.
- Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Let cool on wire rack.
Enjoy!

Flooding Can Happen

3/11/2024 (Permalink)

According to the National Weather Service (NOAA), “Approximately seventy-five percent of all Presidential disaster declarations are associated with flooding.” NOAA lists the most common flood hazards in the United States as:
• Flash Flooding
• River Flooding
• Storm Surge and Coastal Inundation from Tropical and Non-Tropical Systems
• Burn Scars/Debris Flows (Caused by Wildfires)
• Ice/Debris Jams
• Snowmelt
• Dry Wash (Caused by heavy rainfall in dry areas)
• Dam Breaks/Levee Failure
Just because you haven’t experienced a flood doesn’t mean you won’t in the future. In fact, 20% of all claims paid by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) were for policies in low-risk communities. On average, floods cost $3.5 billion in annual losses in the U.S., and commercial flood claims average more than $75,000 (NFIP).
When catastrophic water damage happens to you, SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas can help. We can help you prepare ahead of time with an Emergency Ready Profile (ERP), or respond to any size disaster to begin cleanup and restoration to get you back in business as soon as possible.
SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas are ready to help make it “Like it never even happened.”  

Staying Safe During a Flood

3/7/2024 (Permalink)

If you are in an area that is under a flood warning, find shelter right away. Depending on the type of flooding, evacuate if told to do so or move to higher ground. Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters! Just six inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away. Never drive around barricades. Local first responders use them to safely direct traffic out of flooded areas. Make sure you have a way to listen to local alerting systems, like the NOAA Weather Radio, for current emergency information and instructions regarding flooding. If you are sheltering indoors, get to the highest level in the building. Only get on the roof if necessary and once there signal for help. Do not climb into a closed attic to avoid getting trapped by rising floodwater. Review these preparedness tips each spring season!

DRYBOOK Documentation

2/27/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas uses state-of the-art monitoring equipment and a proven scientific process to help speed the drying of your home or business. 

DRYBOOK DOCUMENTATION 

SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas professionals use the latest technology to help ensure your property is dried quickly and efficiently.  

DryBook is a proprietary tool that:

  • Manages industry drying requirements.
  • Provides real-time documentation on the drying process.
  • Validates that services are executed to standard.
  • Reports to all stakeholders involved. 
  • Allows real-time updates through DryBook Mobile integration. 

This improves results and restores your property at a faster rate, getting you back in your home or business sooner. The bottom line? SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas have the training and equipment to help make it “Like it never even happened.”

What Are Safe Moisture Levels?

2/14/2024 (Permalink)

One of the most common questions people have about moisture measurement is “What are safe moisture levels in walls, floors, etc.?”

The answer is: “It depends.”

Types of Wall Materials and Moisture

What constitutes a “safe” level of moisture in a wall will change depending on what the wall is made of. In most modern construction, interior walls tend to use a surface layer of gypsum (a.k.a. drywall) because it’s a relatively inexpensive, lightweight, and long-lasting material that’s easy to work with. However, older buildings may use other interior wall surfaces, such as wooden paneling or plaster.

Generally speaking, for drywall, a safe moisture content (%MC) would be less than 1% MC. Anything above 1% MC in drywall would indicate a level of moisture that could compromise the integrity of the gypsum board.

Exterior walls may use a variety of materials, from wooden siding, to vinyl, aluminum, brick, and stone. Of these exterior wall materials, wood is generally the most susceptible to moisture which is why wood siding is usually treated to resist rain. However, water repellent finishes can only prevent moisture from getting past the surfaces where the wood has been treated. If water reaches an untreated surface, such as the backside of the wood, then it can still be absorbed and cause problems.

With wood, it can be harder to generalize what a safe amount of moisture is. This is because the humidity conditions can have an effect on what the ideal moisture content of wood can be—not to mention that “safe” moisture levels can vary from one species of wood to the next.

How Humidity Impacts “Safe” Moisture Levels

The ambient humidity and temperature conditions where your walls are located can have an effect on what could constitute a “safe” amount of moisture in the wall when dealing with hygroscopic materials like wood. If wood wall materials aren’t in equilibrium with their surrounding environment, then they will absorb or let out moisture until they are—which can cause swelling or shrinkage that impacts the look and integrity of the wood.

So, knowing the relative humidity (RH) conditions is a must when trying to determine what a “safe” moisture content for wood walls is. For example, if the temperature in the room is around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and the RH is 50%, then a “safe” level of moisture in the wall would be about 9.1% MC.

Measuring Moisture in Walls

So, how can you be sure if the walls in a structure have a safe level of moisture? One way to check is to use a moisture meter that is optimized for building inspection work like the BD-2100.

This particular moisture meter is ideal for checking the moisture content of walls because it has reading scales for both drywall and wood that allow for precise, quantitative moisture measurements in these materials. A separate reference scale setting can be used for getting qualitative readings of moisture in other wall materials (like plaster).

The BD-2100’s drywall moisture meter readings are accurate in gypsum to moisture content percentages as low as 0.2% and as high as 50%. In the wood scale, the meter can detect moisture accurately over a range of 6% MC to 40% MC. The ability to detect moisture accurately in both wood and drywall makes this device particularly suited for building inspection work.

Learn more about measuring moisture by checking out Delmhorst’s restoration guide, which has information about the different kinds of moisture meters, the main causes of water damage, and how to best use moisture meters.

Source: Delmhorst Instrument Co

https://www.delmhorst.com/

What is Black Mold?

1/30/2024 (Permalink)

Stachybotrys chartarum is the type of mold often called “black mold” or “toxic mold”. Sensational news reports warn about the dangers of black mold and these stories can be alarming and confusing. Any mold in your home should be treated with caution – stay out of affected areas and don’t touch or disturb the mold.

How Do I Tell If It's Black Mold?

Since many types of mold can produce allergens and irritants, you should contact a qualified mold remediation company regardless of the color or type of mold. In many instances, multiple types of mold can exist in the same house or structure. If you suspect that you have a mold problem, contact SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas immediately.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today (702-656-0203)

2023 Resolution: Plan Ahead

1/26/2024 (Permalink)

With each new year, many people resolve to better themselves or some part of their life. This year, make a resolution to be READY. No one ever plans on a disaster or a water or fire damage to strike, but you can prepare for it. SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas Emergency READY Profile (ERP) will help ensure your business is “Ready for whatever happens” in 2023. In the event of an emergency, the ERP can help minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action in place for your facility. The ERP is a comprehensive document containing critical information about your business, including emergency contacts, shut-off valve locations, and priority areas. The ERP also establishes SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider, giving you access to more than 50 years experience and a system of more than 1,700 franchises strong. The ERP is a no-cost assessment; all it requires is a little time, making it a great value that could save you time and money in the future. By downloading the free SERVPRO READY mobile app, this important information is stored electronically and can be accessed using your mobile device putting immediate help right at your fingertips. Preparation is key to making it through any size disaster, whether it is a small water leak, a large fire, or an area flood. Having a plan in place may help minimize the amount of time your business is inactive and get you back in your building faster following a disaster. Don’t wait until disaster strikes—resolve to be READY by contacting your local  us today to establish your Emergency READY Profile and be “Ready for whatever happens” in
2023. 

Planning Ahead

1/5/2024 (Permalink)

While we only hope to see good things come about in a new year, it is always a good idea to plan ahead for the not so good things? like fire or water damage? that are always an unexpected and unwelcomed disaster. This year, take the time to be "Ready for whatever happens." Preparation and review will help get you through anything in 2024! The SERVPRO Emergency READY Plan (ERP) will help you ensure you and your facility are prepared. The ERP is a comprehensive document containing critical information about your business, including emergency contacts, shut-off valve locations, and priority areas. In the event of an emergency, the ERP can help minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action in place for your facility. Whether it is a small water leak, a large fire, or an area flood, having a plan in place may help minimize the amount of time your business is inactive and get you back in the building following a disaster. Don't wait until disaster strikes resolve to be ready today. 

Dangers of Extreme Cold

1/4/2024 (Permalink)

While your home can be damaged due to winter weather and extreme cold, your personal health is also at risk. Fifty-three people died and three were injured due to extreme cold in 2015. It is important to be aware of the effect extremely cold temperatures can have on you. The two main conditions to be aware of are frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite is caused when your skin is exposed to extremely cold temperatures. Physical symptoms are white or grayish-yellow skin, skin that feels unusually firm, or waxy numbness. Hypothermia occurs when your body temperature falls to an abnormally low temperature, caused from long exposure to cold weather. Signs of hypothermia include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, and drowsiness. If someone’s body temperature is below 95°F, seek medical attention immediately. To avoid these conditions, stay indoors if possible. If not, dress warm in layers and try to keep dry.
Source: https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather 

New Year, Be READY

12/29/2023 (Permalink)

With each new year, many people resolve to better themselves or some part of their life. This year, make a resolution to be READY. No one ever plans on a disaster, but you can prepare for it. The SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile (ERP) will help ensure you are "Ready for whatever happens" in 2024. 

In the event of an emergency, the ERP can help minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action in place for your facility, The ERP is a comprehensive document containing critical information about your business, including emergency contacts, shut-off valve locations and priority areas. The ERP also establishes SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider, giving you access to over 45 years experience and a system more than 1,700 Franchises strong. The ERP is a no cost assessment; all it requires is a little time, making it a great value that could save you time and money in the future. By downloading the free SERVPRO READY App, this information is stored electronically and can be accessed using your mobile device putting help at your fingertips. https://ready.SERVPRO.com/ 

Preparation is the key to making it through any \ size disaster, whether it is a small water leak, a large fire or an area flood. Having a plan in place may help minimize the amount of time your business is inactive and get you back in the building following a disaster. Don't wait until disaster strikes—resolve to be READY. Call SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas to establish your Emergency READY Profile, and be "Ready for whatever happens" in 2024.

Advantages of the SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile

  • A no-cost assessment of your facility.
  • A concise profile document containing only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency.
  • A guide to help you get back into your building following a disaster.
  • Establishes your local SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider. 
  • Identification of the line of command for authorizing work to begin.
  • Provides facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas and priority contact information.