Recent Posts

MOLD Be Gone!

10/18/2023 (Permalink)

Visible microbial growth on the walls

With any potential property damage, prevention is key. The CDC recommends that after any sort of flooding that you clean up and dry out your home thoroughly and quickly within 24-48 hours to avoid the high risk of microbial growth.

Many have heard that you can use a bleach solution to scrub and wipe away to remove the visible mold, but will that work? It depends. If a hard surface is affected at the surface level only, is unoccupied by humans and/or pets, perhaps but PLEASE NOTE: PPE (personal protection equipment) should be used by regular building maintenance staff, and only if they have been properly trained by OSHA to do so. Also, if you are only talking about a wall or ceiling tile section where a small 10 square foot or less needs to be cleaned, the spores will become dormant and only reactivate if re-saturated.

Whether you are a homeowner, business owner, or commercial property manager/owner... Hiring an IICRC-certified professional restoration company like SERVPRO of Northwest Long Beach to remediate the mold the right way using many, many years of expertise along with specialty equipment will keep the air-quality healthy which can give you peace of mind in the future.

Business Fire Prevention Tips

9/19/2023 (Permalink)

Soot from a fire

Fires can have a devastating effect on your home or property. Regardless of the size or scope of the fire, it can lead to significant damage. Here are some tips to help prevent fire.

When cooking:

  • Stay in the kitchen whenever something is frying, grilling or boiling.
  • Keep flammable objects at least 3 feet away from the stove top

When heating your home:

  • Never leave a space heater or a fireplace unattended. Make sure to turn off space heaters and extinguish all embers before leaving rooms.

Other leading home fire risks:

  • Switch to flameless candles
  • Electrical equipment is the third major cause of home fires and the leading cause of property damage.

How to make a fire escape plan:

  • Have at least 2 exits of each room
  • Establish a designated meeting area outside safe from the building.

Preventing fires at home is important year-round, but Fire Prevention Month serves as a great reminder that simple steps can make a big difference in keeping your family safe. 

Do not hesitate to contact SERVPRO® if your home is affected by fire or smoke damage.

Henry Sonboli

9/8/2023 (Permalink)

Henry Sonboli

Henry Sonboli is the owner and has completed our rigorous SERVPRO® Certifications Training Program. This program teaches advanced cleaning and restoration techniques and how to properly use our state-of-the-art equipment. This training program also focuses on listening skills and customer service. Henry Sonboli has a strong worth ethic and is known around our office for his/her attention to detail. 

Mold Growth

9/7/2023 (Permalink)

Did you know mold can grow in 72 hours or less. Mold can cause severe health issues throughout time. Mold spores can worsen asthma, cause fatigue, and even irritate your lungs. Individuals with allergies or compromised immune systems should be wary of mold infestations. Black mold can produce symptoms similar to illness like coughing, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and skin rashes. When mold is not removed correctly, it can lead to contamination to other areas of your property. Are you in a situation where mold was found? Call SERVPRO® of Northwest Long Beach. We have all the equipment necessary for mold related issues. Our technician’s IICRC certified and follow industry standards to remediate mold that has infected and or damaged property the right way. SERVPRO® of Northwest Long Beach is prepared to get the job done in the safest way. SERVPRO® utilizes specialized plant based (vegan) chemicals for mold remediation services. Each independently owned and operated SERVPRO® franchise works with indoor environmental professionals (IEPs) and laboratories in an effort to protect you and your family from potentially dangerous mold situations. Our proven mold removal step by step will have your property back like it never happened.

Burst Pipe

9/7/2023 (Permalink)

Long Beach 24 Hour Emergency Water Damage Service Category: Water Damage Photo Caption: SERVPRO of Northwest Long Beach provides 24 hour fire and water damage restoration service in Long Beach. SERVPRO of Northwest Long Beach is available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage. We Answer the Phone Ready to Help Call Today – 562-506-4992 We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of Northwest Long Beach has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration—in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business. What to Expect When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO professionals may be needed. Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

• Your name and contact information

• Your insurance information (if applicable)

• The street address of the water-damaged home or business

• When did the flooding or water damage occur?

• What caused the water damage (if known)?

• Is there electricity available (on-site)?

Faces of Water Damage

9/7/2023 (Permalink)

Faster to your Long Beach Water Damage Event Category: Water Damage Photo Caption: SERVPRO of Northwest Long Beach provides 24 hour fire and water damage restoration service in Long Beach. Flooding and water emergencies don’t wait for regular business hours and neither do we. provides emergency cleaning and restoration services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—including all holidays. Faster To Any Size Disaster Flooding and water damage is very invasive. Water quickly spreads throughout your home and gets absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, and more. SERVPRO of Northwest Long Beach arrives quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately. This immediate response helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs. Need Emergency Service? Call Us 24/7 – 5692-506-4992 Within Minutes

• Water quickly spreads throughout your property, saturating everything in its path.

• Water is absorbed into walls, floors, upholstery, and belongings.

• Furniture finishes may bleed, causing permanent staining on carpets.

• Photographs, books, and other paper goods start to swell and warp. Hours 1 - 24:

• Drywall begins to swell and break down.

• Metal surfaces begin to tarnish.

• Furniture begins to swell and crack.

• Dyes and inks from cloth and paper goods spread and stain.

• A musty odor appears.

SERVPRO of Northwest Long Beach, like it never happened.

General

9/7/2023 (Permalink)

Long Beach Residents: We provide immediate service day or night!

For Immediate ServiceinLong Beach, Call SERVPRO®

SERVPRO® of Northwest Long Beach provides 24 hour emergency service and is dedicated to being faster to any size disaster in Long Beach. We can respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs.

  • 24 Hour Emergency Service
  • Faster to Any Size Disaster
  • Highly Trained Restoration Technicians
  • A Trusted Leader in the Restoration Industry
  • Locally Owned and Operated
  • Advanced Restoration and Cleaning Equipment 

Have Questions? Call Us 24/7 – 562-506-4992

Residential Services

Whether your Long Beach home needs emergency flood damage or your upholstery cleaned, you can depend on us. Our technicians have extensive cleaning and restoration training and can make your property look its best. Learn more about our residential services:

  • Water Damage Restoration
  • Fire Damage Restoration
  • Mold Remediation
  • Storm Damage Restoration
  • Cleaning Services
  • Building/Reconstruction Services

Commercial Services

There's never a convenient time for fire or water damage to strike your Long Beach commercial property. Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when the need arises for professional cleaning or emergency restoration services we have the training and expertise to respond promptly with highly trained technicians to get your property back to business. 

  • Commercial Water Damage Restoration
  • Commercial Fire Damage Restoration

What is soot and is it dangerous?

8/12/2022 (Permalink)

Don't let soot get you. For professional smoke remediation or fire damage repair, contact your SERVPRO Northwest Long Beach today.

Following a house fire, the danger unfortunately doesn’t stop once the flames have been put out. Soot may have spread to your entire home, posing a threat to your health and the building.

What is Soot from Fire and What Should You Know About It

Soot is made of tiny carbon particles created by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels (wood, oil, coal, and more). Soot contains lots of acids, as well as chemicals, metals, soils, and dust. These particles leave an ugly sight and foul smell. During a fire, soot spreads to the whole house, attaching to surfaces. Thus, the acidic properties of soot can further damage your home and indoor air quality if the soot is not removed immediately.

Soot can inhabit your home even if there wasn’t a fire. Excessive use of candles can lead to soot buildup, so make sure to use them sparingly (they are also a fire risk). Fireplaces can release soot as well if they’re not ventilated enough. Furnaces are also a source of soot contamination when they produce a puff back.

Outdoors, soot is released into the environment when fossil fuels are burned for industrial purposes. The chemical compounds of soot hurt the ecosystem considerably. Soot in your home acts similarly, damaging the indoor air quality in addition to leaving behind bad odors and stains.

What are the dangers of soot exposure?

Statistics show that particle exposure leads to around 20,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Soot-related diseases are the culprit of many of them. Moreover, soot exposure causes 300,000 asthma attacks and two million lost workdays annually due to respiratory problems.

Soot can enter your body through inhalation, ingestion or via the skin and eyes. These toxic particles can cause breathing issues, including asthma, bronchitis, coronary heart disease, and even cancer. Infants, the elderly, and those who already have breathing problems are the most affected.

To avoid the health risks of soot exposure after a home fire, make sure that all soot-affected areas are properly cleaned and sanitized.

How to clean up soot

Your house likely holds many chemicals, such as plastics, foams, carpets, wood products, and synthetic fabrics. Soot derived from these materials leads to health hazards that make fire restoration a dangerous and difficult task. Even if the fire was small, soot particles can invade your whole property through the HVAC system.

When cleaning soot, wearing safety equipment to protect the lungs, skin, and eyes is essential in reducing soot exposure dangers. Specialized techniques such as air scrubbing and thermal fogging are also needed to restore indoor air quality following a fire. A dust mask and a household cleaner are not enough to clean up soot! Removing soot thoroughly requires professional tools, knowledge, and expertise. Experts can properly clean soot and odors from your entire home to ensure it is safe to inhabit.

For professional smoke remediation or fire damage repair, contact your SERVPRO Northwest Long Beach today.

Extension Cord Safety Tips

8/12/2022 (Permalink)

For professional smoke damage repair or fire damage clean-up, contact SERVPRO Northwest Long Beach today! 562-506-4992

Does your home have too many electrical devices and too few outlets to plug them all? Chances are you’re using extension cords to power up your electrical devices. However, electrical cords can become fire hazards when used improperly. Follow these tips to use extension cords safely:  

  • Purchase only cords that are approved by an independent testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
  • Don’t overload extension cords with too many appliances. The cord can overheat and possibly cause a fire. Plug only one minor applianceinto an extension cord.
  • Plug major appliances, such as refrigerators, dryers, and washers, directly into a wall receptacle outlet.
  • Check the maximum capacityof the extension cord and appliance or tool you’re using, and make sure you don’t exceed it.
  • Fully insertthe plug of an extension cord (or any plug for that matter) into an outlet.
  • Unplug extension cordswhen you’re not using them. To safely unplug an extension cord, pull on the plug, NOT on the cord.
  • Use extension cords only temporarily. Don’t substitute extension cords for permanent wiring.
  • Don’t run extension cords through water or snowto avoid the high risk of electric shock. Keep water away from extension cords.
  • Don’t run cords through ceilings, walls, doorways, or floors. Never place cords under carpets, either. Covered cords allow little heat to escape and pose a fire hazard.
  • Keep cords out of the path of foot trafficto prevent tripping. Don’t leave cords dangling anywhere where they can be pulled down and tripped over.
  • If you use too many extensioncords, there may be too few outlets in your home. Have a qualified electrician install additional outlets to avoid using excess extension cords.
  • Avoid chaining multiple extension cords– plug extension cords directly into mounted electrical receptacles. Use extension cords that are long enough for your needs.
  • Never use indoor extension cords outdoors. For outside use, only use extension cords marked for outdoor use.
  • Inspect extension cordsbefore using them. If a cord heats up or is damaged in any way, discard it.
  • Always use extension cords with polarized and/or three-prong plugs. Don’t force a three-prong plug into two-prong outlets. Don’t remove or bend the ground pin to force a fit.
  • When using cord-bundling devices, such as spiral wire wrap, avoid cramming cords together to prevent damaging the cord’s insulation.
  • Never use staples or nails to attach cords to a surface like a wall to prevent puncturing the cord’s insulation.

For professional smoke damage repair or fire damage clean-up, contact SERVPRO Northwest Long Beach today! 562-506-4992

Why is Water Damage Restoration Important?

8/11/2022 (Permalink)

Our highly trained technicians are here to assist with any size water damage. Call SERVPRO Northwest Long Beach today 562-506-4992

In the age of technology, water damage is an important issue. Many people don’t realize the importance of a good damage restoration company. A good Restoration company like SERVPRO Northwest Long Beach can help you to get your property back in good condition as quickly as possible. Ten of the best reasons for water damage restoration are mentioned in this article.

  1. It Aids in the Prevention of Water Contamination

Water contamination is a very serious issue, and thus it is important that we take care of our homes and offices so that they do not become contaminated with harmful bacteria or viruses. Such damage can cause many problems, such as mold growth. Having concrete damage control methods in place will prevent these issues from occurring.

  1. It Helps Reduce Mold Growth and Other Hazards

The reduction in the growth of molds and other hazards will help prevent additional damage from occurring. If there is some kind of water leak, then it is necessary to have a professional come over and check out the situation. They will also be able to tell if there is any kind of leakage in the home or office. In this case, the problem should be fixed immediately.

  1. It Ensures All Contents of the House Remain Safe

If there is any kind of leak in the home or office, then it is very likely that the content inside the home or office could get damaged. This means that all the items stored within the home or office may get ruined. The presence of water damage can lead to the destruction of furniture, electronics, etc. Therefore, it is important that the condition is repaired as soon as possible.

  1. It Makes Sure that the Home or Office Remains Dry

Having a wet home or office can be extremely uncomfortable. There are chances that the moisture present in the home or office can make the air feel damp. This makes it difficult to breathe properly. Also, the humidity level in the home or office increases when there is water damage. This can result in various kinds of diseases. Thus, having a professional come over and repair the leak is highly recommended.

  1. It Helps Remove Odors

Odors are one of the most unpleasant things about water damage. When there is such a situation, there is always a strong smell associated with it. This is because the water has been leaking into the walls, floors, ceilings, etc., for quite some time now. Once the odor starts to dissipate, it is advisable that the professionals come over and fix the leak.

  1. It Improves the Appearance of the Home or Office.

When there is water damage, it is usually accompanied by a lot of mess. This includes water stains on the floor, walls, etc. The presence of such damage can also result in the discoloration of the ceiling and walls. This is why it is important that the leak is fixed as soon as possible. The sooner the leak is fixed, the better the results will be.

  1. It Prevents Further Damage to the Home or Office.

When there is water damage, the first thing that happens is that the walls start to crack. This is due to the fact that the water pressure is too high. As a result, the walls start to break down. This leads to more cracks appearing. Over time, the leaks can spread throughout the entire wall. This is why it’s imperative that the leak is fixed right away.

  1. It Reduces the Risk of a Fire

Fire is another major concern that people face when their homes or offices become flooded. This is because the water can easily find its way into electrical outlets, appliances, pipes, etc. This can cause a serious fire hazard. Therefore, it is essential that the leak is fixed so that the fire does not occur.

  1. It Protects the Value of the Home or Office

The presence of such a situation can affect the overall look and feel of your home or office. This can lower the value of your property. However, a properly executed restoration will prevent that from happening.

  1. It Increases the Lifespan of the Home or Office.

If no immediate action is taken after a flood occurs, the home or office will continue to deteriorate. This is because the moisture will remain trapped inside the walls and other parts of the house. Eventually, the walls will begin to crumble. This will lead to mold growth which will eventually rot the wood.

If you have ever had such a situation in your home or office, then you know how expensive it can be. It is very important that you hire a professional who knows what they are doing.

SERVPRO of Northwest Long Beach

SERVPRO NWLB is able to assist you throughout the entire water damage restoration process. We have years of service experience serving the central Florida area and can handle disasters of any size. If you need assistance with a water damage event, call the professionals 24/7 at (562)506-4992.