Recent Posts
Team Bowen Expands SERVPRO® Franchise Territory into Charlotte and Surrounding Communities
7/14/2022 (Permalink)
“Here we GROW again! Team Bowen is ready to make it “Like it never even happened®.”
Team Bowen is excited to announce our expansion in Charlotte, North Carolina, which will add to the existing SERVPRO franchise in East Mecklenburg/Matthews. East Charlotte, Northeast Mecklenburg County, and South Mecklenburg County are now a part of the Team Bowen franchise. This means over 250,000 additional households and 8,000 businesses will receive support when in need of emergency response due to fire, water, or mold damage.
These additions are part of our commitment to helping our local communities flourish. We are available 24/7, 365, and are ready to take your call. Although we can’t prevent a disaster, we are ready for whatever happens!
“We are humbled yet excited to continue to grow and expand our market presence in the Charlotte community,” Bruce Bowen, CEO of Team Bowen, commented. “Our team of quality people who focus on excellent service, fairness, and mutual respect, have allowed us to expand our footprint and still provide that same quality service throughout the southeast. These locations are key to our regional coverage. Whether it is a storm event or a complex commercial/industrial loss, quick response time is critical. Our team has the resources, manpower, and equipment necessary to respond to these specific situations. We are the National Disaster Recovery Team.”
About SERVPRO®
For more than 50 years, SERVPRO® has been a trusted leader in fire and water cleanup and restoration services, mold mitigation, and biohazard and pathogen remediation. SERVPRO’s professional service network of more than 2,000 individually owned and operated franchises spans the United States and Canada, responding to property damage emergencies large and small – from million-square-foot commercial facilities to individual homes. When disaster strikes, homeowners, business owners, and major insurance companies alike rely on SERVPRO® to make it “Like it never even happened.”
SERVPRO® Team Bowen
In 1977, Barry and Beth Bowen decided to follow their passion for service to others with their careers and set out on a mission to build a reputable and respected property damage restoration company in Tuscaloosa, AL. Having grown up entrenched in the family business, it was no surprise when the current owners, Bruce and Brian Bowen, took over in 2004. Now based in Montgomery, AL., the Bowen Team has franchise locations in Montgomery, AL., Norcross, GA., Charleston, SC., and Charlotte, NC. Today, due to their continued dedication and hard work, we are a leader and trusted name in mitigation, remediation, restoration, reconstruction, and premier cleaning throughout Southeast and U.S.
Our team has more than a century of combined restoration experience. Each team member is equipped with unique and practical skills to excel in every project and exceed the expectations of our customers. Furthermore, we have an extensive inventory of restoration equipment designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of every facet of mitigation and reconstruction for damaged homes and businesses that we serve, no matter how big or how small.
Click below to find more information on our expansion:
SERVPRO East Charlotte
SERVPRO South Mecklenburg County
Fire Pit Safety Precautions
6/8/2022 (Permalink)
Keep your family safe around the fire pit
Whether you’ve used your fire put hundreds of times or just installed a new one, learning about fire pit safety is always important. Keep your friends and family safe when you follow these helpful tips:
Select The Right Site
Fire pits should always be placed on level ground at least 10 to 20 feet away from any structure, or plants. Overhanging trees can easily catch fire when flying embers come into contact with leaves or bark. Trim back trees or find an open area for your fire pit. Some local laws may require a minimum distance from structures, so always check local Charlotte, NC, guidelines.
To prevent the fire from spreading on the ground, keep the area clear of sticks and other flammable debris. If your ground cover is currently something like mulch or pine straw, replace it with pebbles, sand, or brick.
Use Proper Fuel
If you have a wood burning fire pit using the proper fuel is essential to your safety. Always use dry, properly seasoned wood. Using woods that are not intended for fire pits can release toxic fumes or burn too quickly and create dangerous flames. Using soft wood or wood that hasn’t been dried properly can cause pops and crackles. When preparing the wood, always cut the pieces to less than three-quarters of the length of the fire pit, and never use a fire starter or gasoline to get the flames started.
Safe Seating
When choosing your seating for the fire pit area, opt for chairs that are secured to the ground, or heavier options that are more difficult to move. This prevents people from pulling the chairs too close to the fire. Avoid chairs with flammable materials like polyester camping chairs or flammable outdoor throw pillows. When shopping for furniture, search for non-flammable options that are designed for use near fire pits.
Fire Blanket & Extinguishers
In the unfortunate event the fire does spread from your fire pit, it is best to have the necessary safety equipment nearby. Having a fire blanket is essential if someone gets too close to the fire. A fire extinguisher should also be stored nearby, but be sure you have the right class fire extinguisher. Be sure you are using a class B or C extinguisher. Once you have the right class, be sure you and those around you know how to use a fire extinguisher properly.
If your fire pit resulted in a fire that spread to your home, SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County is here to help. Call us at (704) 840-6112 anytime for all of your restoration needs.
Is There Water Behind That Wall or Under That Flooring?
6/7/2022 (Permalink)
Dehumidifier drying a wall leak in a baby's room
A water loss is something that always requires immediate attention, and should be remediated by professionals.
Water damage can come from many sources in your Charlotte, NC, home.
- Most types of water damage, like burst pipes and floods, are easy to notice, but leaks behind walls and under the flooring are not always so easy to see.
- By the time homeowners see a leak coming from the wall, ceiling, or flooring, it has often caused a significant amount of damage.
- Leaks hidden in walls can be especially difficult because flooring, drywall, support beams and sheetrock can absorb the water.
- If a leak is left long enough it can cause structural damage in your home and raise restoration costs.
Even though you think you have dried it up with that mound of towels and put a fan on it for a few days, the water is most like still there. It can often seem invisible, but there are a few signs to look out for:
- Musty odors
- Flaking or peeling paint
- Mold growth on walls, ceilings and baseboards
- Visible water stains
- Warping walls and flooring
SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County has the expertise and state of the art equipment to help you discover the source and the extent of the damage.
If you suspect sudden or long term water damage in your home, make sure you call SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County (704) 840-6112 to make it "Like it never even happened."
We are Flood Specialists
6/1/2022 (Permalink)
Standing water from a leak in laundry room
Whether you have unwanted water in your home or business due to weather outside or broken cracked water lines or pipes inside, SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County is ready to help. Our technicians are highly trained to respond to water disasters of any size with the professionalism and training necessary to ensure the space is restored as quickly as possible.
• We are available 24 hours a day & 7 days a week
• We’re a preferred vendor to many national insurance companies
• We work directly with insurance companies
• Our technicians are highly trained in Water Restoration Techniques
• We follow s500 IICRC Restoration Standards
• We use specialty inspection and extraction equipment
• SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County is local, so rest easy knowing our family will take care of your family
Call SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County today at 704-840-6112 and our professional team of technicians will respond quickly to your home or business. We are, Here to Help®!
What is Category 2 Water?
5/30/2022 (Permalink)
Carpet with Category 2 water
The technician said that the water damage is from Category 2 water- what does that mean?
Category 2 water can be classified as such straight from the source, or it can be a result of Category 1 water from a broken pipe that has come into contact with contaminated materials. Potential sources for greywater include:
- Overflow from washing machines
- Overflow from dishwasher
- Water flushed from sink drains
- Stagnant Category 1 water
- Category 1 water that has come into contact with building materials
Still a little confused? Let's say you had a pipe burst on the second floor of your Charlotte, NC, home or business. The water on the second floor would be classed as Category 1. If water seeps through the floor and into the first floor, that water is then classified as Category 2.
An experienced water damage technician from SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County can help you deal with all types of water damage.
To learn more about bacteria associated with flooding please review theCDC website.
Do I Need Water Extraction?
5/30/2022 (Permalink)
Water on Hardwood Floor
SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County takes pride in our ability to serve our customers. To do this in the best way possible, we have state of the art equipment to get your property back to preloss conditions. Each machine is crucial to our restoration process.
Our technicians are highly trained to use all of our equipment in the most efficient way.
When there is standing water, you will need to have the water extracted.
We use our extractors for cleaning carpets, upholstery and water removal. Extractors have three major parts: a heater, pump and a vacuum. Our techs use this for variable heat controlled cleaning, including to heat rinse solutions to clean more effectively. The vacuum system removes soils and moisture from surfaces and collects it in a tank. These extractors help expedite the removal of water and moisture from damaged materials. By removing water with this machine the necessity to replace belongings is lowered.
While there are many other machines and equipment accessories we use at SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County, this is a great overall look at our most commonly used pieces of equipment. This machine helps us make it “Like it never even happened,” because we are always here to help!
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I Have Damage From Water. What Do I Do Next?
5/30/2022 (Permalink)
Wet Tile Floor
If your Charlotte, NC, home has experienced water damage make sure to take these seven steps to protect yourself and your home.
- Calling SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County should be the second call you make. You can even call us first, and we can begin mitigation immediately! We will help you work with your insurance company.
- Call Your Insurance Company- Calling your insurance company should be one of the calls made after a water disaster.
- Later, an adjuster will be sent to your home to assess the damage and determine coverage. Don't worry, SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County will handle everything with the insurance company for you!
Important Note! It is important to know whether your home insurance policy includes flood insurance, as some do not. We encourage you to check BEFORE you have a loss.
What can you do while you wait for us to arrive?
- Take Precautions When Entering Your Home. If there is water in your home it is important to keep yourself and your family safe when re-entering.
- Be sure to follow CDC guidelines along with these tips below.
- The first step should always be to turn off power sources in the affected areas of the home to minimize the risk of electrocution.
- Make sure to wear protective gear such as rubber boots and gloves to protect against bacteria if the water is from sewage, flood, or toilet.
SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County is “faster to any size disaster,” including your flooded home because getting water out quickly can prevent further damage and ensure your safety.
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It Is Just A Little Water, Right?
5/30/2022 (Permalink)
Water damage not visible to the eye
Water damage seem like nothing or it can be scary. Whether it’s a small drip or gallons and gallons of water entering your home, the effects can be long-lasting if not properly dealt with. When water starts entering your home, it can be easy to jump into action trying to remove the water, but taking the wrong action could make the problem worse. Follow along to learn what NOT to do if there is water damage in your home.
- Do NOT touch the water. Depending on the source, you could have category 2 or 3 water in your home. If the water is contaminated you could be putting yourself in harm’s way and spreading dangerous bacteria throughout your entire home.
- Never use a vacuum cleaner to remove water. Unless you have a vacuum specifically designed to pump water, you could risk damaging your vacuum and starting an electrical fire.
- Do not use newspapers to dry the area. Not only will newspaper leave ink behind, but it is also likely to become fragile and tear, making an even bigger mess.
- Do not enter the affected area while the power is on, and do not bring any electronics into the area. When water and electricity are present, you are at risk of electrocution.
- Do not remove any carpeting.
What To Do
Once you make sure not to do any of the things listed above, be sure to give us a call at (704) 840-6112, because we are “Faster to Any Size Disaster.” . Getting the problem solved as quickly as possible means avoiding more damage and reducing higher costs during restoration.
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Are Renters Responsible for Water Damage?
5/15/2022 (Permalink)
Family moving into their new rental home.
When you rent out a home in Matthews, NC, your tenants expect a safe place to live. In addition to maintaining your property, you need to be ready for potential water loss.
Your first question will likely be: Are my renters responsible for any water damage? In most cases they are not. As the landlord, it is your duty to keep the property’s plumbing in working condition. If the water damage is caused by a pipe, faulty appliances, HVAC units or a natural disaster, the landlord is usually responsible. In some cases the renter can be at fault for damage if their personal appliance causes the damage. In most cases the landlord is not responsible for any damage to the renters belongings.
Signs of water damage to watch for:
Because you, the landlord, are responsible for most cases of water damage it is important to be vigilant. As a landlord you probably already check your property at least once a year. During these inspections keep an eye out for these signs.
- Changes in wall and ceiling surface texture: any bending or sagging of plaster or drywall is a sign of water damage. Look for bubbles or cracks that may indicate water.
- Odors: When water leaks behind walls it can often be slow enough that it is invisible. While you might not be able to see the damage, mold and mildew can grow causing odors. Mold can cause health effects, so it is important to contact a water restoration company to address both the water and mold.
- High utility bills: If you or your tenant notice unusually high utility bills, it can be an indication of a hidden leak that needs to be addressed immediately.
If your Charlotte, NC, rental property has experienced water damage, be sure to contact SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County to make it "Like it never even happened."
SHOULD I POUR GREASE DOWN MY SINK?
4/25/2022 (Permalink)
Grease being poured down kitchen sink.
Leftover grease is something no one likes to deal with, so it can seem like an easy solution to pour it down the sink, here’s why you should never do that.
No matter how much soap and hot or cold water you pour down with the grease, the grease can still congeal and cling to pipes. This can cause blockages in your pipes. Even heavy detergents that claim to be tough on grease may be no match for grease that clings to your pipes.
If grease backs up your pipes it can lead to leaks and cause water damage and mold. The safest and easiest way to get rid of old grease is to pour the hot grease into a can and let it cool. Once it has solidified it can easily be thrown in the trash.
If a water leak in your Charlotte, NC, home has caused water damage, call SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County to make it "Like it never even happened."
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