The act of being prepared took on new meaning this year as the coronavirus pandemic challenged every part of our lives. In the beginning, the basic necessities we take for granted became scarce quickly, shining a spotlight on the need to be prepared in the event of an emergency. 

September is National Preparedness Month (NPM). National Preparedness Month provides an excellent opportunity to promote the readiness tools SERVPRO provides in the READY app and the Emergency READY Profile. The scope and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of everyday life, health, and well-being have also magnified the importance of SERVPRO’s ongoing message: When disaster strikes, preparedness is the best defense. 

With more than 50 years of industry experience, SERVPRO is a leader of fire, water, mold and other specialty cleanup and restoration services. Our network of more than 1,700 franchises has responded to property damage emergencies ranging from multi-million dollar large losses to those suffered by individual businesses and homes. Providing coverage in the United States and Canada, SERVPRO has earned the trust of major insurance companies, commercial clients and countless homeowners. 

A moisture meter is used to measure the percentage of water in a given substance. This information can be used to determine if the material is ready for use, unexpectedly wet or dry, or otherwise in need of further inspection. We rely on moisture meters to identify potential problems and damage to structures from moisture buildup. 

We can help minimize the spread of germs with proactive cleaning! At SERVPRO, we’re trained to adhere to the highest cleaning and sanitization standards, making us the #1 choice for cleanup and restoration. Call (814) 946-0119 or email us at SERVPRO8464am@gmail.com to see how we can help clean your home or business.

During cold weather, burst pipes are common causes of property damage and can cost thousands to fix. To prevent this, drip your faucets. It will keep them from freezing up. 

If an ice dam on your roof is wreaking havoc in your home, remove wet materials near the affected area and place a fan to slow the leak and amount of damage until help arrives.

Removing gum from carpet doesn't have to be such a sticky situation. Call the PROS at SERVPRO of Altoona to help make gum in the carpet “Like it never even happened.”

We are currently cleaning and restoring this home in Duncansville, PA, that has damage due to a puff back. A puff back occurs when a furnace backfires and shoots smoke and soot into a home or business, covering drapes, bedding, furniture, cabinets, walls and everything in between. Puff backs can cause anything from minor inconvenience to severe damage to your property and heating system. It requires expensive cleaning and restoration in addition to repairs on your heating system.

Remember to use well-aged wood the next time you get cozy by the fireplace! Wet or green wood causes more smoke and contributes to soot buildup in the chimney.

Did you know that snow on your roof can lead to leaks, mildew buildup in your attic, and damage to your gutters? Follow these 3 tips for safe snow removal!

What a great turn out we had for the CE (Continuing Education) courses we held at the Altoona Grand Hotel! SERVPRO of Altoona offers FREE CE seminars twice a year. Many professionals are required to take these courses to upgrade their skills or expand their knowledge base. Contact us if you're interested in attending our future courses. 

Winter weather can bring about more issues than just slippery roads and a sidewalk to shovel. SERVPRO of Altoona is located in central Pennsylvania. If you reside in the area, then you know you live where temperatures sink below freezing, so you are at risk for frozen pipes, which can create a major disaster to your home or property. 

Frozen pipes occur when exposed to cold weather, such as those outside your house, or in areas such as basements, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets. A frozen pipe can burst at the point where the ice blockage inside the pipe is located, but typically the rupture is caused from the backflow of pressure between the water source and the blockage. 

If winter weather causes water damage to your home or property, call us at 814-946-0119. 

Talk about holiday spirit! We weren't done with our creativity after decorating the box truck. Our Tyvek suits made the perfect snowmen for the employees to dress in while throwing out the candy. Thank you Burgmeiers Hauling for putting together such a wonderful event! 

Another year of SERVPRO of Altoona participating in the Downtown Altoona Christmas parade. We had so much fun using our creativity to decorate the box truck this year. It was a blast! 

What a great looking crew we have! It’s no fun when disaster strikes, but our staff, from our trained technicians to our experienced construction crew, is at your fingertips to guide you through any situation. We are highly dedicated and educated in the field with the proper resources to get the job done quickly and efficiently. SERVPRO of Altoona professionals have the advanced training and equipment needed to clean or restore your residential or commercial property. Our promise to you is, “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO professionals know how disruptive water damage can be for your business. SERVPRO professionals are trained and equipped to manage the drying process from start to finish. By utilizing the proper equipment and moisture measuring devices, your commercial building will be quickly and thoroughly dried to industry standards, which will help prevent secondary damages! With rapid response time and a full line of water cleanup and restoration services, SERVPRO professionals can help you regain control quickly, by helping to ensure your facility and its contents are properly dried, deodorized and protected. 

Emergencies are chaotic! Make sure your child or their school knows how to reach you, and who should be called if your phone isn’t working. Be prepared and have a plan. #TipsAndTricks #SchoolPreparedness

Flooding and water emergencies don’t wait for regular business hours and neither do we. Our goal is to help make it...”Like it never even happened.” Call us today! 

Celebrating National Ice Cream Month the right way!  

No one plans on a disaster, but you can plan for it! Do you have an Emergency Ready Profile for your business? Contact us today and we can set up a plan for your business for FREE. 

Here we are using a hydroxyl generator to deodorize after a sewer backup. Odor removal is a critical part of the restoration and remediation process. A hydroxyl generator is the most effective odor removal tool. Hydroxyls react with as many as 5,000 different chemicals and compounds to eliminate a very wide range of odors and VOCs. Some of these odors include those caused by fire damage, smoke odors, water damage and mold situations (a sewer backup in this scenario), crime and trauma scenes and pet odors.

The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends having your carpet professionally deep-cleaned every two years. SERVPRO of Altoona uses the latest IICRC training as well as state-of-the-art equipment to remove entrapped soils from deep within your carpet's pile and backings. Using IICRC standards for carpet as a guide, our professionals will show you what cleaning option would be best for your carpet's level of soiling and explain the benefits of soil protection. 

We love getting involved and having fun with our community. We had a blast at the Altoona Christmas parade!

Every year during the holiday season we donate toys to our local Toys for Tots campaign. Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. We are thankful to help bring the joy of Christmas and send a message of hope to America’s less fortunate children.

This house experienced fire damage in Altoona, PA. This picture was taken after our team completely rebuilt the living room area and made the customer's house feel like home again. 

This was the result of an electrical box that caught on fire, spread to the rafters, and was working it's way up to the first floor. After repairs, the homeowner was quite happy how we were able to make it "Like it never even happened."

This was a house fire with very extensive smoke and soot that completely destroyed everything. The house had to be rebuilt. The homeowners were completely ecstatic when the job was completed.