October Home Upgrades: Save Money and Stay Cozy

9/10/2024 (Permalink)

Cozy up and save on home costs this Fall

The fall months bring a chill to the air, and sometimes a chill to your checkbook. It’s time to cozy up and save on energy costs! Check out these simple upgrades to keep your home warm and your wallet happy as we slip into the colder months:

• Add Door Sweeps: Install door sweeps on exterior doors to prevent drafts and keep the cold out, improving heating costs.
• Invest in Smart Power Strips: Use smart power strips that cut off power to devices when they’re not in use
• Insulate Pipes: Wrap your pipes to prevent freezing and avoid costly repairs.
• Install Thermal Curtains: designed to help regulate the temperature of a room by blocking out or retaining heat.

Some of these items require an upfront investment but in the long run, embracing these fall fixes can help you stay cozy and save money and energy usage this season!

Revitalize Your Carpets after the Holiday Hustle

12/27/2023 (Permalink)

Carpet revitalized by SERVPRO of Black Hawk County.

Merry Mess Makers

The holiday season brings family together through merry gatherings, but it can also be tough on your carpets. Increased foot traffic, accidental spills, and decorative elements can leave a lasting impact. If your gatherings include children or pets, you can expect an even merrier mess! The good news, is you don’t need stress, SERVPRO is here for when the party is over, and you need some help getting your carpets back into shape!

Revitalization by SERVPRO

SERVPRO of Black Hawk County specializes in handling the aftermath of events, big or small. Our team of trained professionals knows the ins and outs of carpet restoration. From advanced cleaning techniques to state-of-the-art equipment, SERVPRO has the tools to refresh your carpets and make them look as good as new.

Our Process

Our carpet cleaning process begins with a pre-spray, allowing ample time for it to work its magic. We employ a blend of hot water and steam for a thorough carpet cleaning, followed by a fabric rinse. What sets us apart from the majority of carpet cleaning companies is our simultaneous extraction and rinsing during the cleaning process. Additionally, we come fully equipped with our own water supply, ensuring we don't inconvenience you by tapping into yours, and we make sure to dispose of the dirty residue ourselves!

Empowering the Next Generation

9/13/2023 (Permalink)

As fall arrives and children head back to school, it's a perfect moment to empower the entire household, including the younger generation, in home maintenance. However, even if you don't have kids, these strategies can help create a cleaner and more organized living space for everyone.

Let's Get to It!

1. Shared Responsibilities: Designate cleaning tasks in a shared schedule, fostering responsibility, teamwork, and valuable life skills.

2. Make it Fun: Transform cleaning into an enjoyable group activity that encourages participation. Play lively music, and work together!

3. Learning Opportunities: emphasizing cleanliness, hygiene, and safe cleaning practices. This educational aspect empowers individuals with knowledge they can carry into their future.

4. Leading by Example: Empower others through your actions. Demonstrating your commitment to maintaining a clean and organized home sets a powerful example.

Whether you have children or not, fostering a well-maintained home empowers everyone within it. It promotes a healthier and more enjoyable living environment. By embracing the back-to-school spirit and ensuring our homes are set up for success, we empower the next generation to thrive, both in the classroom and at home.

Cotton Candy Chaos

9/1/2023 (Permalink)

The images captured during the restoration process tell the tale of hard work and efficient drying techniques.

One small pipe break can lead to a mighty big restoration project. 

Imagine this: You walk into your business and encounter what appears to be a sweet cotton candy dream – fluffy pink insulation filling the floors as the sun shines in. But alas, this is no sugar-filled treat; it's a major water loss scenario that has caused significant damage.

This incident began with one singular pipe break, and it soon turned into a sizable restoration project. Water seeped through various parts of the building, causing extensive damage to floors, walls, and other structures on several levels. However, with the combined efforts of our trusted subcontractors and the expertise of our dedicated SERVPRO team, we are committed to turning this chaos into a sweet success story.

We deployed state-of-the-art equipment to facilitate rapid drying and ensure no moisture was left lurking behind walls or under floors, and that is just the beginning! 

The pink fluffy insulation, while a striking visual, serves as a testament to the efforts put in to restore the building to its preloss condition. 

It emphasizes the need for proactive maintenance, regular inspections, and comprehensive insurance coverage. A small pipe break may seem insignificant at first, but without proper attention, it can escalate into a costly and complex restoration project.

At SERVPRO of Black Hawk County, we understand that a prompt and comprehensive response is crucial in mitigating damages and minimizing business interruption. Our team of professionals will be here to help!

Continued Growth For Our SERVPRO Employees

6/12/2023 (Permalink)

Congratulations to Brett and Devante!

We are thrilled to share some fantastic updates on our continued growth and expansion here at SERVPRO. Our commitment to providing exceptional services and meeting our customers' needs has led us to exciting developments within our team.

We are pleased to announce that Brett Armfield has recently been promoted to the position of Operations Manager. Brett's dedication, expertise, and outstanding leadership qualities have been instrumental in our company's success. As Operations Manager, Brett will oversee and optimize our day-to-day operations, ensuring smooth coordination among our teams and delivering top-notch service to our valued clients.

Additionally, we are delighted to congratulate Devante on his transition from a Technician to the role of Project Manager. As Project Manager, Devante will lead our teams to success!

These advancements within our team showcase the dedication we have here at SERVPRO. We would like to extend our sincere congratulations to Brett and Devante on their well-deserved promotions. We appreciate their hard work, commitment.

Being Part of Our CommUnity!

5/23/2022 (Permalink)

Our SERVPRO BBQ fund!

Being part of something bigger than ourselves, including our own jobs, can make such a difference all around! I’ve read several places where the importance of wage is not the highest overall deciding factor in job search anymore. People want more of an experience & know they are making a difference.

Sponsorships:

SERVPRO is often asked to consider a monetary sponsorship. With so many great causes & possibilities, we consider the passions of the people who work for us when committing. Employees appreciate that we support areas of their life outside of work that matter. Examples include the Special Olympics- Polar Plunge, donations to the Humane Society, House of Hope, Northeast Iowa Food Bank, and school fairs. To support business networking, funds are extended to include educational events, golf outings, and realtor activities. We enjoy being part of a diverse collection of communities.

Volunteering:

Natural connections in B2B make it easy to say YES when asked to volunteer. Staff is involved with the Red Cross activities including sitting on a community board and making & delivering cookies to first responders.

BBQ Social Jar:

Find a penny, pick it up, all day, have good luck…Crew Chief Mikey labeled a pickle jar and started filling it with loose change. This urged co-workers to throw in their 2 cents and fund a social BBQ for the team. Pooling together to celebrate working together feeds a feeling of unity.

Reel/Real Relationships:

Getting to know a person in a real way is encouraged at SERVPRO of Black Hawk County. In a REEL way / REAL Relationships is the foundation of our work.  Start by drawing a person in (reel) by asking good questions and listening. Adding personal content & sharing experiences establishes a friendship. Real relationships are developed when we take time to see people and put them first.  

PLUS 1=

When Scott, the boss, asks the employees for a + 1, he is referring to ONE extra step someone could do to make our service one step above the expected. He challenges everyone to find a particular way to make their day. When people experience more than they expect, a trickle effect happens and most often they will do something nice for someone else. What goes around, comes around! 

Joining together in a variety of ways, showing & extending care,
creates the Unity in CommUnity.

Expanding. Advancing. Moving Forward.

5/2/2022 (Permalink)

Three small words, big meaning!

Our world is in a constant state of moving forward. No matter how much you want to slow down and stretch out each minute, the reality of it is--  we are always expanding, advancing, and moving forward. This is especially important in the world of marketing, branding, and even business as a whole. To be an industry leader, you've got to do more than just keep up, you need to be ahead of the game! Here at SERVPRO, we are ALWAYS trying to improve and bring fresh ideas to the table so we can continually serve our communities in the best, most efficient, and purposeful way!

A FRESH LOOK FOR SERVPRO 

Since the new year, you may have noticed the words under our roof logo have changed. They read: "Cleaning. Construction. Restoration". Along with our new verbiage, our color pallet, logos themselves, and other SERVPRO content were all rebranded to a fresh, new, clean, and exciting look. A process that Headquarters took years in advance to plan, there is no shortage of thought behind our new brand, but let's break it down. 

CLEANING

SERVPRO is committed to getting things CLEAN, and we have pretty much seen it all! Whether it's the space within your home or business that needs to be brought back to its former glory or contents that get detailed in our wonderful cleaning room after a fire or water loss. No matter what tough grime you need to tackle, SERVPRO will put in the work!

CONSTRUCTION

After disaster strikes, things often get torn apart so we can remediate the issue right down to the root of the problem. We never want our customers to be left in shambles, instead, we send in our Construction Manager, Dennis, and he puts things back together to make it "Like it never even happened."

RESTORATION 

One of the biggest things that we pride ourselves on is restoring. We aren't just restoring homes, we are restoring precious items, memories, and lives. After a catastrophe happens, we look at all parts of the puzzle when it comes to restoring. We want to get people back into their homes and businesses, so they can too, work on expanding, advancing, and moving forward. 

As we move forward you will see these new words on our branded materials, social media, and CE registration sheets. When you read them, we hope you remember the deeper meaning of these three words that signify our staff and services because we are so much bigger than just three words!

Patience Takes Practice - Help is Coming!

4/12/2022 (Permalink)

Patience is key!

Sometimes it seems as if we live in a world where instant gratification is at the forefront of everyone’s minds. With the way the world is operating currently, getting things at the snap of a finger is even more of a challenge than it used to be. Items are taking longer than they used to in the world of shipping and materials. Many people are short-staffed, making it harder to stay operating for their full business hours.

SERVPRO STRONG

We are so blessed that we are able to trust in our team during these trying times to get things done, and done right! That doesn’t always mean we can be out on a job site within an instant. In the restoration business, sometimes emergencies come up and we need to send our staff to help those individuals right away. We take pride in our work being done quickly, but also efficiently, and most importantly done RIGHT!

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE - AND NOT JUST FOR THE RESTORATION BUSINESS

As quickly as we want it to be done, it is important to take each step carefully and not rush drying or demo processes. Our techs and machines are very calculated- serious math involved- to take out any guessing and possible problems down the road. SO- set your expectations longer than you think, and when it turns out shorter, it will feel better! If you are ordering materials (cabinets and such) we know there have been some delays for certain products…that’s today's reality no matter who, what, and where.

Right now, is a great time to exercise your patience. Be patient with others, but also learn to be patient with yourself!

Help is coming, whatever you are waiting on is coming…hang in there!!

319.268.1521

What's IN a Name?

3/18/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is our name, cleaning and restoration is our game!

One of the most commonly asked questions is, “What’s your name?” with the next inquiry following, “Where do you work?”. Our personal names and placement of our jobs are often the first way to identify ourselves. So, what’s really in a name, and how does it affect our lives?

Names hold emotional value-nickname vs legal name; they connect us to others (origin of family) and establish the depth of our relationship- “We’re on a first-name basis”. Titles added to our names define who we are in a job position: The Smile Supplier. J And of course, the name of a business is crucial in telling its story.

SERVPRO'S NAME

It might seem picky wanting SERVPRO spelled correctly, but for 2 reasons we desire so.
One, out of respect of our founders, Ted & Doris Isaacson. They took an early painting business in 1967 in Sacramento, California, and developed a premier cleaning and restoration company. Twenty years later, seeing the need to help more efficiently, they strategically moved the headquarters to Gallatin, Tenn., which is located within 600 miles of 50 percent of the US population and closer to more SERVPRO franchises. True service professionals with forward-thinking.

The second reason is so you can find us quicker! When searching on the internet, during a catastrophe, time is crucial, every letter counts.
Often asked, we don’t know the reasons for leaving off an ‘e’, in serve or why the ‘p’ isn’t capitalized in pro. What is known is, for 54 years, SERVPRO has spelled out clearly the compassion and help that is provided during a fire or water loss, with exceptional cleanup and restoration services.

When it comes right down to it, we are thankful to be connected to you, no matter how you spell SERVPRO.  Thank you for choosing SERVPRO for your cleanup and restoration work.

Need help identifying what it takes to put life back together again after a water, fire, or mold problem? Call SERVPRO of Black Hawk County

Elbow Grease, Heart, and Diligence

3/10/2022 (Permalink)

Our techs get it done right!

All cleaning and restoration companies have the ability to clean and restore, that is quite obvious. What most don’t have are individuals who go above and beyond and get the job done right, and then some!  

ELBOW GREASE 

Our cleaning technicians have what I like to call elbow grease. By definition, this means “hard physical work, especially vigorous polishing or cleaning”.  

Our technicians put in a vast amount of hard physical work to assist our customers. Cleaning and restoring is what we do best and in order to make sure that we can provide quality results, elbow grease is a big part of the process.  

HEART 

Not only is our team great at what they do in regards to their polishing and cleaning, but they have the heart for it. When contents come into our cleaning room, they know it’s not just an item that needs to be cleaned. People’s belongings have a story and our technicians take that seriously and provide extra care because of this.  

DILIGENCE 

Another big piece of the puzzle when it comes to our cleaning technicians' great work ethic, is diligence. Diligence is defined as “determination and careful effort. An example of diligence is a person who does a job efficiently and takes care of little details”. This is exactly what we see in our cleaning room every day. When it comes to putting people's homes and businesses back together, being efficient and putting care and attention into the little details is part of what makes our team so successful.

We are proud of our cleaning team every day! 

Growth for the SERVPRO Team

2/21/2022 (Permalink)

We hope to continue adding to this wall of certifications!

We have made it through almost two whole months of the new year but if you know the importance of growth, you know that the work is never done! SERVPRO of Black Hawk County and our employees at an individual level are always striving for growth. We see this in many ways, but one way, in particular, is through certifications.

CERTIFICATIONS

Since the new year, we’ve already had 5 people add to their list of certifications! This number will only continue to grow. We take pride in the fact that through these certifications we can better serve our community.  In addition to investing in our community, we are seeing our team members flourish in their careers.

GROWTH AT SERVPRO

For our employees here at SERVPRO, we know that every day is a learning opportunity. With the use of our extensive training in the restoration business, the ongoing education through certifications, and firsthand experience we are able to adapt and always be working towards advancing. We look forward to what we can accomplish if we continue to have a growth mindset.

GROWTH DOESN’T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT

Life can move at a speed that seems impossible to keep up with at times. Find the time to give yourself grace as you improve upon daily activities or certain areas in your life. Growth can not happen overnight, but if you are willing to put in the time and keep an open mind, it is amazing what you can accomplish!

Growth Under our SERVPRO Roof

12/13/2021 (Permalink)

Wall of certifications at our central office!

Our technicians are continuously adding to their list of certifications. This year is no different, in fact, this is something that our techs are super proud of this year. When asked what they thought were some of our SERVPRPO highlights, getting more certifications was one of their top answers! You can click here to see a list of all of our certifications!

Growth All Around

There has been so much growth under our SERVPRO roof this year in other areas as well. We gained 19,000 square feet in our move to our new central office, and many of our techs have had great personal growth and achievements. Graduating college, buying homes, growing families, are just some of the things that our team has accomplished.

 The year is now under wrap, and as we look forward, we anticipate even more growth for the years to come!

Business of the Year 2021

10/14/2021 (Permalink)

The faces of our wonderful SERVPRO team!

Moving forward in life’s aspirations can be fast and exciting! Pausing to take a look back is what keeps us grounded and even more appreciative. When we can see how decisions, along with hard work and determination, contributed to the success, we are mindful of the effort and people who were on this journey.

Grow Cedar Valley Business of the Year 

We are privileged to announce that SERVPRO of Black Hawk County has been awarded the Grow Cedar Valley Chamber Business of the Year, 2021. We are so proud that this award pays tribute to the owner, Scott & Libby Demuth, and all the employees who passionately & selflessly serve, helping people rebuild their lives after a catastrophe! THANK YOU SERVPRO TEAM FOR BEING EVERYDAY HEROES! 

How can SERVPRO support you?

5/31/2021 (Permalink)

Ever felt left out? When calls or emails aren’t returned and it appears everyone else’s life is going great; it can feel lonely. I was overwhelmed by that in late April. Doubt crept in and affected my home life and work progress. In desperation, I reached out again and discovered I wasn’t being ignored! Schedules have filled again, the business has sped up, and my people were tired, physically & mentally, and had not responded. Changing my perception of my loneliness helped refocus on what was really happening-LIFE, once again!

Another clue is the number of sponsorships, donation requests, and event participation appeals SERVPRO is receiving. Golf outings, auctions, and in-person activities are taking place!

On Saturday, May 1^st, our SERVPRO team took the plunge, raising money for Special Olympics in their annual Polar Plunge (which usually occurs the first week in April- and is a lot colder!)
The cause was one of our ‘passion points’ among our employees and provided incredible fun we enjoyed socially! 

Due to the variety of opportunities presented to SERVPRO over the years, it was important to create a process to manage the sponsorships. In the marketing field, we often think in terms of how the donation will benefit the business- our logo and name seen by many. There are natural alignments to businesses in regards to our cleanup & restoration and emergency services. So, helping out first responders and backing realtor events are an easy fit into our marketing budget. Others fall into different categories like a gift of goodwill or national support, the Red Cross, for example.

A larger impact occurs within our SERVPRO culture because our boss, Scott Demuth, asks employees for their input when supporting community efforts. He listens to what motivates them and discovers what areas of life they want to give back to. From hands-on volunteering to gathering items to donate and business dollars financially gifted to organizations; our SERVPRO family supports together!

It was the Polar Plunge that helped me realize that I wasn’t being left out. As I pulled together the team’s costumes & props for the event, I decided to put activities back on the calendar, and getting busy being involved, would keep me feeling positive and linked with others. A feeling, I think, we all want in our workplace and at home.

#NationalMentalHealthAwarenessMonth

SERVPRO Presents: Discover and Devours! Learn about SERVPRO.

5/10/2021 (Permalink)

“NOW you're speaking my language!”

SERVPRO of Black Hawk County has several “Discover and Devour” learning opportunities for you. We want to take the guesswork out of how catastrophes of water losses and fire damage are handled. Topics include but not limited to:

• The Journey of an Insurance Claim. Exploring the day in & day out of work that can be performed and the lingo that goes with it. Before and After pictures are the show stopper with this one.
• Display and Demonstrate. Hands-on opportunity with equipment made to clean it up “Like it never even happened.” See first-hand how we care for your clients.

Want to dig into a different SERVPRO subject? Let us know!
We’re open to suggestions.

We are flexible!

• Class length and arranged hours can be made to fit YOUR schedule. Early morning, over lunch, or late in the day, we will make it work for one hour or more.
• We can include team-building laugh factors to accentuate the material.

At NO COST to you!

• The education and all the ‘sides’ are entirely complimentary.

Leave knowing you can serve your clients better from the knowledge you gained.

CONTACT me at Debbie@SERVPRObhc.com to discuss your Discover and Devour details!

-Debbie R (SERVPRO Cheerleader)

Should you use bleach to remediate mold?

3/30/2021 (Permalink)

Bleach can be harmful if used on mold.

In some households, bleach has become a multi-cleaner agent and a disinfectant and while we can recognize that bleach does have its uses, when it comes to remediating mold, SERVPRO of Black Hawk County does not promote it as the best method.

Bleach is ok when it comes to "bleaching" things but, bleach alone is not a sufficient solution to mold issues. While bleach can kill mold on hard surfaces, it is almost impossible to use bleach to kill mold on wood, drywall, or any porous material inside your home. Not to mention the fumes can be hazardous to a person’s lungs. Mold tends to root itself deeper into the material. Bleach may kill some of the molds on the surface but what it’s mainly doing is “bleaching” or removing the color from the mold. This can be very misleading. Due to the bleaching of the mold, it might trick you into thinking the mold issue has been resolved, putting a pause to further removal actions. Even the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not recommend using bleach for mold removal.

While killing mold is important, the removal of the mold and its mold spores are too! This will require agitation of the mold, cleaning up the mold, and airing out the mold spores away from your home. Safety measures such as wearing gloves, safety goggles, and a respirator mask are highly suggested. In some mold cases, a DIY cleanup is perfectly ok but it will require a thorough cleanup job and resolving of the humid or wet environment so the mold doesn’t return.

MOLD WILL CONTINUE TO RETURN IF HUMIDITY IS HIGH

SERVPRO of Black Hawk County uses mold removal sprays in conjunction with cleaning methods as a way to remove and prevent mold. Two mold removal sprays that we recommend are Concrobium Mold Control and Benefect. The porous material may have to be disposed of and replaced. If you have mold issues inside your home or suspect some water damage, give us a call. We’re here to help!

References: https://moldhelpforyou.com/bleach-kill-mold/

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-10/documents/moldguide12.pdf

Spring Cleaning Tips from Cleaning Experts!

3/15/2021 (Permalink)

Cleaning Like a Pro!

Iowans understand what a false start to Spring looks like, but we cannot help but let our guards down and celebrate the upcoming warmer weather and the beauty of spring. We even started doing yard work (cleaning up the dog waste from winter). Most of us look forward to spring cleaning to refresh our homes and even our mood.

As cleaning experts, SERVPRO is sharing helpful cleaning tips that we use to clean and restore homes after a fire, water, or mold disaster.

7 TIPS TO HELP CLEAN THIS SPRING

1. Fold your cleaning rag like an expert. Do you know that we use an 8-fold technique with our microfiber cloth when removing dust or soot? Grab your cloth and fold it in half twice. After this fold, you should have 8 sides of the cloth to use for one single pass in one direction on each side. After each side is used, use a new rag. This will help avoid the spread of dust and cross-contamination.
2. Clean from top to bottom. Wipe the dust from the fans, exhaust fans, walls, trims, and furniture, and work your way down.
3. Use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum for window blinds, your dryer, and lampshades.
4. Use clean coffee filters for a streak-free window.
5. If you are a plant owner, make sure you clean and dry around the plant's space. Moisture and high humidity can promote mold.
6. Do not use bleach when trying to clean an area that has mold. Use a microbial cleaner instead.
7. Wash your carpets and rugs with a wet vacuum or have them professionally cleaned.

NEED EXTRA HELP?

SERVPRO can aid in areas that are a bit more challenging or questionable; call us for an expert opinion on cleanup.  

Merry Christmas from the SERVPRO family!

12/17/2020 (Permalink)

Here to help this Christmas season!

A holly jolly greeting from the elves at SERVPRO!

With how this 2020 has gone, we are on a mission to brighten our year with some holiday cheer. Our SERVPRO Elves are hard at work to make this happen. Brett, our project manager, took lead once again with setting up Secret Santa. Chuck, our warehouse manager, is decorating his “office” (the warehouse) with some twinkling lights. Debbie and Dani (marketing team) are hard at work wrapping up gifts for our Insurance friends. Scott & Libby, our SERVPRO Santa & Mrs. Claus, prepared a fun and safe party to show their appreciation for all the hard-working “elves” whose gift of restoring homes and businesses have shown greatly this year.

2020, you’ve been naughty… but still, we are grateful for all the NICE that happened during this time.

SHARING THE JOY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

We wanted to share with our community some Holiday Cheer too. Our team picked a few organizations to collect items for such as the Cedar Bend Humane Society… Most of us own a cat or dog and we love animals! Here are a few other things we did…

• Donate cans to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank
• Collected gifts for a mom and her two children from Friends of the Family
• Collected gifts and a cash donation for seniors in Home Care Assistance of the Cedar Valley and surrounding senior living.
• Drop off gifts to the Fire Department and City Hall.

We are doing our best to finish this year off with a positive attitude and a grateful heart. Thanks to all those who trusted us to clean and restore after a fire, water, or COVID-related disaster.

AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy Boss's Day!!!

10/15/2020 (Permalink)

Scott and Libby are the BOSS! (Best)

Today is Boss’s Day and we want to give a special shout-out to Scott and Libby Demuth, our franchise owners. We are so grateful for your care, generosity, and leadership. Here are a few of what your employees had to say about you two.

1. What was a time your boss(s) really helped you?

I didn’t feel like I was doing a good job but Scott gave me confidence. He encouraged me and believed and trusted that I could do the job right!

Even when I was doubtful of my work, Scott never ever thought I couldn’t.

Scott and Libby worked around my schedule with having to get off early during my pregnancy and having health issues that came up. They were super understanding and helpful.

2. What qualities do you most appreciate about your boss(s)?

They have a great sense of humor and I can rely on them to answer any questions or concerns I may have.

Sincere care, Flexibility, and Lightheartedness.

I appreciate having a comedic work atmosphere because it makes me enjoy my time at work. I want to get up and come in every day.

3. What have you learned from your boss(s)?

They always strive for excellence. They have invested in me by training and certifying me so that I may be more efficient with my work.

If I have any questions or concerns, I can trust Scott and Libby to answer and help.

4. What do you want to thank your boss(s) for?

Thank you for comforting me during my loss.

Thank you for allowing me to spend time with my family on short notice.

Thank you for giving me an opportunity to lead a team and for trusting me to do so.

Thank you for allowing me to work with great people.

Thank you for letting me do what I want! (Trusting me in the ways of my work.)

Thank you for giving me the confidence to do my job quickly and efficiently.

5. What is one positive thing you have always wanted to tell your boss(s), but never have had the chance?

You are the first boss that I haven’t wanted to push down a flight of stairs. Congrats!!

I like how you come to the office in a positive mood every day and greet everyone. You make us feel welcomed here and appreciated.

We wish you many more years of blessings and success!

SERVPRO to the (Food) Rescue!

7/7/2020 (Permalink)

Best marketing plan is to sincerely care!

Late April, SERVPRO of Black Hawk County filled the need of our local food bank by volunteering to rescue food from 4 grocery stores every Tuesday and Thursday. SERVPRO employees were all considered essential workers during the pandemic. The marketing team shifted to working from home since many in-person meetings and events transitioned into online gatherings. 

SERVPRO corporate provided online webinars for marketing staff. The focus of our marketing plan turned from visiting and educating insurance agents and commercial businesses of our services to giving generously and finding avenues of helping. In one webinar session, Amber, a co-owner of a SERVPRO in Idaho spoke about ways that she was helping her community. Amber connected people to resources they were looking for through a Facebook group she started. This group was all about the community and very little about SERVPRO. Her enthusiasm to coordinate this type of help inspired us at SERVPRO of Black Hawk County. She was making a difference individually but also as an extension of SERVPRO. When the community needed assistance with a task that she knew SERVPRO could accomplish, she did not shy away from proudly recommending her business. After listening to the webinar, we needed to take action and write our own story of care and concern for our community! 

Marketing Manager, Debbie Robeson, contacted the local food bank to see how we could help. We learned that many of their regularly scheduled volunteers were unable to put their time in due to pandemic restrictions. Governor Reynolds of Iowa mobilized the US National Guard & Americorps to help repackage food at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. One department that wasn’t staffed was the Food Rescue mission. Food Rescue consisted of stopping at several local retail outlets or grocery stores, to pick up food donated by them to the community through the food bank system. 

We are grateful to our boss, Scott Demuth, who didn’t hesitate and agreed to donate employee time, our green SERVPRO vehicles, and cover the cost of mileage each day of rescuing food for this mission.  

We, Debbie and Dani, and occasionally with our warehouse manager Chuck and project manager Sam, picked up food until June 18th, collecting over 16,000 pounds of food! We also donated $350 which provided about 1,400 meals to insecure individuals. If you would like to see more fun pictures of our community involvement, check out our community events photos page on our website.  

The best marketing is to put action with sincere care. Our friends at Northeast Iowa Food Bank shared some kind words about our involvement in their latest newsletter.  We are thankful for the opportunity to help in a different setting from our cleanup and restoration efforts and provide the resources needed. 

Here to Help. 

We won the 2020 Character of Business Award!

6/22/2020 (Permalink)

Thanks to our SERVPRO team who help make this possible!

We are happy to announce that SERVPRO of Black Hawk County and owners, Scott & Libby Demuth, recently won a prestigious award, the Cedar Valley Character Counts Business of Character Award! 

The Iowa Character Counts! program is based out of the Ray Center at Drake University, in Des Moines. Every year, Drake University recognizes Iowans who show the Six Pillars of CHARACTER which are trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship. 

We felt so loved and appreciated when the Vice President of Operations, Sandi Sommerfelt, at Grow Cedar Valley (local chamber) told us she was nominating SERVPRO for the Character Counts! Award. Her first experience with SERVPRO was after flooding at her workplace in 2019. We responded very quickly but what impressed Sandi the most was the care she felt from the SERVPRO team.  

“In my opinion, they exceeded expectations of ‘their job’, and demonstrated care and concern that meant the world to me and others in my office.” - Sandi 
 
We are thrilled that SERVPRO of Black Hawk County has won an award of this degree focused on integrity! We are very proud of how Scott and Libby have built a commendable position among hundreds of businesses while showcasing the SERVPRO brand. Their business ethics and sincere care for the team and the service they provide our community ranks right up there with large corporations! We knew it, now others do too!

The following is a nomination question answered by our friend, Sandi Sommerfelt. Thank you, Sandi! 

Explain how they demonstrate the Six Pillars of Character (trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, good citizenship)  

Trustworthy – Having worked with SERVPRO, they have my complete confidence that they can be trusted to do a thorough job without me having to look over their shoulder and can be trusted with personal belongings.  And not only can you trust SERVPRO to do the job right, you can also count on them to be discreet.   

 And the owner’s CONSTANT ON CALL motto is felt by many area businesses and homeowners. Testimonies of appreciation are often shared through emails, phone calls and letters from people that Scott and the team have walked with during their crisis. It’s always saying yes by being there at any hour, any day in all ways during their recovery after a fire or water loss situation.  

Respect – The team at SERVPRO show the utmost respect for their customers and for their personal belongings.  They take extra steps necessary to cover items while cleaning, and handle personal items with care. They are respectful of customers schedules and busy lives, trying to be the least disruptive as possible.    

Responsibility – SERVPRO doesn’t just do their portion of the work and leave. They will work with your insurance agents with you, help line up contractors, and make sure everything is done right. They take responsibility for the entire project from start to finish.  Throughout the process of my office flooding they were very responsive anytime I had a question about the clean-up.  They stood behind their work and did everything they could to make sure we were beyond satisfied with their service.    

Fairness – They don’t charge you for things you don’t need. A few years ago, prior to our complete office flood, we had a small water leak in one office.  SERVPRO checked it out, made some recommendations to continue the drying process and said I did not need any additional work. There aren’t many companies that won’t try to sell you on some sort of service, and I was truly impressed with their character.    

Caring – The staff at SERVPRO are so compassionate to their customers. This is clearly evidenced in the testimonials and the letter of recommendation.  They go out of their way to make sure their customer is okay first and foremost.  After my office flooded and days after the clean-up was complete, members of the staff actually came back to our office to check on us and bring us treats.  In addition, Scott frequently demonstrates genuine care and concern for his team members, commonly referred to as a family.   That is truly caring in my book!  

Good citizenship – During the flooding of neighboring counties, Scott has volunteered along with his own crews to tackle mounting service requests. When their SERVPRO office gets numerous weather-related emergencies called in, Scott reaches out to other local restoration companies and ‘shares’ the work. This helps to ensure our community members are taken care of and bounce back quickly. His ‘you before me’ attitude and passion for assisting others is a distinguishing trait that motivates others to be their best. 

SERVPRO® of Decorah opens in WINNESHIEK COUNTY

4/1/2020 (Permalink)

A new franchise opens up in Decorah, IA on April 1st, 2020.

There is a NEW, LOCAL, and independently-owned business right in Decorah, Iowa. Franchise owner, Scott and Libby Demuth are excited for this opportunity to reach out and be of service to the city of Decorah and the surrounding counties.

SERVPRO® is a top leader in Cleanup and Restoration

We are proud to be in the business of restoring lives back together after a disaster. Some of our services include cleaning up after a …

• Water Damage & Floods
• Fire & Smoke Damage
• Sewer Back-up
• Vandalism
• Storm damage
• Commercial Cleaning
• Carpet Cleaning

You’ll be seeing our green trucks around town as we get to know our new community. Scott Demuth, also the owner of SERVPRO® of Black Hawk County is eager to establish the SERVPRO® of Decorah.  Being more efficient and ‘faster to any size disaster’ in Winneshiek County and the surrounding area is important!

SERVPRO® NEW location is a natural connection. 

Since the floods of 2016, SERVPRO OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY has continuously traveled to northeast Iowa to provide needed service and care to individuals and businesses. Opening a new location allows us to invest in the city and provide job opportunities while expanding our reach. Time is an important factor when it comes to disasters; the SERVPRO® of Decorah Team will be available.

Our network of franchises allows us to team up for large commercial losses or heavy rain and flood damage in the area. We are trained and certified in the latest restoration certifications and our experience will benefit everyone. We truly believe we are ONE TEAM.

We are looking forward to becoming a trusted business in Winneshiek, Allamakee, Fayette, and Chickasaw counties.

If you need a general cleaning or clean up from a fire and water disaster, Call us at (563) 277-1615.

We are Cleaning Experts

3/16/2020 (Permalink)

We are here to help in general cleaning, specific cleaning and disinfecting.

SERVPRO is Here to Help during this time of need

During this unprecedented time caused by the global pandemic of coronavirus, this is a reminder to our customers that we are specialists in cleaning services, and we adhere to the highest cleaning and sanitation standards.

Specialized Training

We are prepared to clean and disinfect your home or business, according to protocols set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We have years of experience in dealing with biological contaminants, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff performs on a daily basis.

The CDC encourages cleaning of high-touch surfaces such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets and tables. Other spaces mentioned in the CDC’s guidance for commercial spaces include:

• Kitchen/Food Areas
• Bathrooms
• Schools/Classrooms
• Offices
• Retail Spaces
• Water Fountains
• Shelving/Racks
• Sales Counters
• Carpets and Rugs
• Stair Handrails
• Elevator Cars
• Playground Equipment
• Fitness Equipment

Specialized Products

The CDC recommends usage of a labeled hospital-grade disinfectant with claims against similar pathogens to the coronavirus. Multiple products in the SERVPRO product line carry the EPA-approved emerging pathogens claims. While there is currently no product tested against this particular strain of the coronavirus, we are following all guidelines as provided by the CDC and local authorities.

Call Today for a Proactive Cleaning

If your home or business needs deep cleaning services, call the experts today – [SERVPRO of Black Hawk County, 319-268-1521]

Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/guidance-business-response.html

SERVPRO Terminology (Part 2)

2/10/2020 (Permalink)

Packing out contents to our warehouse for content cleaning.

What is Pack Up/Out and Content Cleaning look like in the restoration industry?

As a restoration company, we help restore and clean up homes and businesses after an extreme loss. An extreme loss can look like vandalism, damage after a fire, a sewer back up amongst other types of damages. When there is in need of professional help, we come in to try to restore everything that has been affected.

What is Pack Up?

In order to clean the content, we will first have to determine what is salvageable and non-salvageable.  This will happen during the pack up process. Some of the contents that may not be salvageable are children's toys affected in sewer loss or perishable items. Our team will take inventory plus photographs of the items that can’t be saved. Some items are hard to determine whether it’s salvageable or not in the beginning but once it’s determined, it will be updated on that list. We take inventory and photographs to keep track of the owner’s items and for transparency of our work. Most times, insurance agents will require these documents.

What is Pack Out?

We pack up the contents carefully into boxes and then pack out to transfer the items to our warehouse. We will pack out if the current worksite might be going to a restoration process or if there’s not workable space for the cleaning process. Our warehouse is large enough to store content from multiple losses, as well as having a great cleaning station. We have the best cleansers and equipment including our UltraSonic that removes dirt or soot by the vibration of water. This comes in handy for hard to reach in areas.

What is Content Cleaning?

Content Cleaning is a part of the process of getting all the contents or items that have been affected clean from any odors, stains, or bacteria. Depending on the type of loss, the method of cleaning the items may vary. We have rolling carts with multiple shelving units to store items to dry. Once they are clean and shining, our cleaning technicians will re-pack them carefully into brand new boxes. Our team wraps the contents will packing paper and bubble wrap. We will store the clean content until the restoration process at the job site is completed.

Water or Fire Damage? Call NOW at (319) 268-1521.

SERVPRO Terminology (Part 1)

12/26/2019 (Permalink)

Our vision is to be the best restoration company in the world.

What is a production technician and what is the IICRC?

For SERVPRO, production technicians are the employees who work out in the field with water, fire or mold damage that can take place in a residential home or commercial building. They hold the responsibility of demolition, removal of trash, professional cleaning, using equipment for water extraction/drying and more. They do this with the utmost care and respect of our clients to get the job done in a timely matter.

All of our production technicians are trained and certified by the IICRC which stands for Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification. This is the most advanced certification for the restoration industry! We invest in this certification so that our employees can have the best understanding of how their job needs to be done and so that our potential customers can trust in our abilities to help restore their home or business.

Mold Remediation Training - Containment

12/26/2019 (Permalink)

Training for SERVPRO production technicians on Mold Remediation and Containment.

At the beginning of December, we sent two of our employees to a training opportunity held by the IIRCC.

Devon and Jeremy (production technicians) participated at a 4-day training of Mold Remediation alongside other Iowa’s SERVPRO employees. Scott, the owner of our Franchise, requested that they take thorough notes to report back to the office. We are always open to new techniques or best practices in our field. Luckily, these guys are team players and did exactly that. They had two experienced Instructors, Luis, a highly successful field expert from Australia and Rachel who has basically written the book on Mold Remediation. One of the training practices that we were very intrigued about is called “pressure fit containment” for mold remediation.

Mold releases spores when messed with so we must contain the affected room or area. We do this already by using 8-millimeter plastic and tape. A pressure fit containment requires more material. The pros of building a pressure fit containment are that it can be less invasive than using tape on painted walls. A tape can remove paint. The con is that the cost is more expensive and there’s the possibility that insurance may not cover it.

Pressure Fit Containment

A pressure fit containment is a frame constructed to fit in a doorway or entry. The frame is held by the pressure of 2 x 4” wood boards. Then the plastic is stapled tightly on the board. To get inside the containment, a zipper is attached straight down from the top frame to the bottom. The zipper has an adhesive in the back of it so it’s easy to attach right onto the plastic. After its attached, the zipper is unzipped and the plastic is cut straight down from in between the open zipper. The trainees had hands-on training on how to do exactly this in a demonstration room.

Aside from the pressure fit containment, they also built an exit chamber to be attached. The materials that are used are PVC pipes (nonporous material) and plastic that is glued on and wrapped around most sides except for the area that will attach to the main containment by plastic and tape. After they built it, the trainees attached it to the main containment. This area is used to enter after exiting the affected area so that the person can be HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuumed. When someone exits the chamber, all the spores or unclean air from their clothes, body and the chamber itself would have been removed. I have to mention that the plastic that they and we use is fire-resisting so in the case of a fire, the plastic will not engulf into flames spreading the fire but instead it would melt. Fire safety is quite important to us.

Back in the office, we were able to see exactly what went on because Devon brought back great pictures that showcases the training. Knowledge is power and we care about what we do. Our vision is to be the best in the world for restoration so training our team will help us achieve that! If you want to see the pictures Devon brought back, CLICK HERE.

#SERVPROstrong

A Letter of Thankfulness

11/11/2019 (Permalink)

We are grateful for people who trust, recommend, and choose us to clean and restore lives.

Dear Readers,

It’s not unusual for Iowa to experience white soft powder falling from the sky in November as you may already know. Apparently, we are preparing for a LONG and COLD winter this year but instead of being grouchy or “Grinch-y”, SERVPRO of Black Hawk County can’t help but be grateful during this holiday seasons.

SERVPRO of Black Hawk County is not only a business that cleans and restores homes or buildings, but we also restore lives.

In honor of Thanksgiving, we want to take a moment to jot down a few things that we are grateful for…

1. We are grateful for our families and friends.
2. We are grateful for shelter and warm clothes.
3. We are grateful for people who trust, recommend, and choose us to clean and restore lives.
4. We are grateful for our employees that raise their hands each morning and say “I’ll go do that clean up!”, no matter what it involves.
5. We are grateful for the wisdom and knowledge we gain being in this line of work.
6. We are grateful for our owners who care about our well-being and who encourage us to grow.
7. We are grateful for our first responders who protect our community.
8. We are grateful for insurance agents and adjuster who care about restoring lives as much as we do.
9. We are grateful for the turkey, potatoes, corn, gravy, biscuit, pies and all the other food we are going to be filling our stomachs with.
10. We are grateful that we are here to experience all that life has to offer, even the tough stuff because we are just a little more grateful for the good.

We hope that you can find joy and thankfulness during this season. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Sincerely,

SERVPRO of Black Hawk County.

Where it all started, Sacramento! | SERVPRO 50TH Annual Convention

7/10/2019 (Permalink)

Scott and Libby Demuth going back in time to the late 60s.

Having a Groovy time at SERVPRO Conference!

This Annual Convention is a very special one as we celebrate 50 years of making history as a cleaning and restoration company. We are so honored and proud to be a part of ONE TEAM and the SERVPRO family. Ted and Doris Isaacson launched SERVPRO in the late 60s in Sacramento, CA. It sure was a “groovy” decision because we are now the top leader in Restoration Services!

FUN FACT... SERVPRO started off as a painting business.

Scott and Libby Demuth, owners of SERVPRO of Black Hawk County enjoyed a week of reenergizing and restoration at the convention. The week included a golf outing, key speakers like John Gordon, a reception, educational workshops and so much more. Not to mention, so many photo ops with great leaders from corporate, photo booths, and the new SERVPRO tattoo Corporate gave us! No worries, it isn’t permanent.

Our vision is to be the premier cleaning and restoration company in the world.

As we mentioned, we are proud to be a part of a franchise that strives for excellence within our employees and with serving our customers in their time of need. We can’t wait to reunite again next year at the conference!

Taking Time for Your Timeless Pieces: Removing Soot from Furniture

6/8/2019 (Permalink)

Soot covered shelf RESTORED!

When we think of fire damage, we all can visualize the blaze and burned, charred items. What we don’t think of are the hidden effects that soot from the fire causes. Smoke carries the ash and particles throughout the house to places you would never think and deposits a thick layer of soot.

 It is everywhere: black lines emerging from air vents, nestled behind outlet covers, and of course, completely covering and darkening furniture.  At first glance, you might not even notice it on wooden furniture. But if you remove an item, you will see distinct outlines of it, almost looking like a painting.

Unlike a dusty room, where furniture polish will wipe it away, fire soot includes the fine particles made up from a wide variety of materials like wood, paper, plastic, and other synthetic items. It contains acids and chemicals and is actually smaller than dust or even mold, resulting in a serious cleanup problem!

SERVPRO has spent extensive time researching and formulating cleaning solutions that we use to remove soot particles. Trained technicians use the cleaners, taking great measures to remove all the soot from every crevice. Patience and good ole q-tips help in this effort.

SERVPRO of Black Hawk County stands proud over the items successfully rescued and restored for you!

There's an app for that! The ITEL speeds up productivity.

3/20/2019 (Permalink)

The ITEL app at work!

Technology is helping save time, money, and energy in more ways all the time.

SERVPRO of Black Hawk County is thankful for the advances it has brought to us in determining replacement costs for carpet and pad after a water loss. The ITEL app is one more way we are implementing to help reduce stress for customers and insurance agencies alike.

Previously, our office administrator, Lisa, would cut the samples to the correct size, bag them up, and ship them to Florida. A specialized company there would evaluate the sample and send back results for the adjuster and insurance company to settle on reimbursement. With mailing, the risk of losing samples, coupled with the wait time, evaluation and then reporting, took weeks. This process made restoring a customer’s home or business lengthy.

Now, after cutting carpet and pad samples to the correct size, our job coordinator, Nikki, can simply use the ITEL app to submit a test for the claim in a matter of minutes. Results are provided in 30 minutes or less. The app is so easy and convenient; it does not require education or prior experience with these materials. It guides you with step by step pictures and videos for user ease.

Another bonus is the ITEL app communicates to the insurance company itself! The whole process eliminates the lengthy wait and speeds up decision making.

SERVPRO of Black Hawk County is thankful technology is helping us get your home or business back together so quickly!

CE Classes for Insurance Pros - April 25th, 2019

3/9/2019 (Permalink)

Join us for a day of Continuing Education with Todd Davis.

SERVPRO of Black Hawk County has a history of hosting Continuing Education (CE) classes for insurance agents at Hawkeye Community College located in Waterloo, and this year is no different. On April 25, we will have two classes with Todd Davis as our instructor.

Todd has been a great addition to our class time traditions. Many agents have complimented that he keeps the information relevant and interesting. He is an independent insurance agent with the Davis Agency Insurance based in Peoria, Illinois, and he has 30 years of experience as an insurance agent.

Our spring classes are as follows on April 25:

• 8:30 am – 12:30 pm | LIFE: The Next Generation – 4 Credit Hours
• 1:00 pm –  4:00 pm |  21^st Century Ethics – 3 Credit Hours

It is $20 to attend one class and $35 to attend both. The fee covers the class as well as lunch.

Space is limited, so we encourage you to register as early as possible. Registration can be completed by emailing debbie@SERVPRObhc.com, calling 319-268-1521, or completing the form on our website.

We hope to see you there!

5 C's SERVPRO Employees do Every Day

2/15/2019 (Permalink)

We put lives back together one person at a time.

Confidence

We instill confidence in the homeowner or business because we are professionally trained to restore their items and space.

Clean Up

We do all of the cleaning, packing, organizing, and returning of items to their previous state. During this process, we also clean up after ourselves and leave your space in an organized and tidy manner.

Construction

We cut, tear, and haul out the drywall, carpet, appliance, and excess items that can’t be restored.

Carpet Cleaning

When we’re not responding to an emergency, we also do residential and commercial cleaning, including carpet and upholstery.

Counseling

As weird as it may sound, we help people get through their loss emotionally as well by listening to them and consoling them when they’re at their lowest. This part is just as crucial as the actual cleaning and construction.

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

1/31/2019 (Permalink)

This was the first bowl game to honor first responders, and we're so honored to have been a part of the experience.

On December 26, 2018, the First Responder Bowl was set to take place in Dallas, Texas. Unfortunately, due to severe weather, the game was delayed several times before making history as the first bowl game to be canceled. The irony of SERVPRO’s slogan, “Like it never even happened,” hung in the air as many disappointed fans packed up and traveled home.

Despite the unfortunate turn of events, we were still able to celebrate and honor the men and women who have dedicated their lives to being first responders. Awards were awarded and applause was applauded. Not even Mother Nature could take away from the special day.

In better hopes for next year, the First Responder Bowl offered a full game ticket refund or tickets to next year’s game at no cost. Our fingers are already crossed for better weather next time.

Northeast Iowa Food Bank Donation

1/18/2019 (Permalink)

Product Technicians, Devon and Keiland, donate non-perishable and self-care items for the food drive.

It takes a great deal of compassion to work at SERVPRO because we walk with people through their losses. These same individuals who put their heart and souls into their jobs have passions outside of work as well. One of them being the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.

This past November and December, SERVPRO of Black Hawk County hosted a food drive during the holiday season. The idea stemmed from Devon Burgess, Product Technician. His support for the Northeast Iowa Food Bank runs deep in his being, and he moved the rest of the team to make a difference during the season of giving.

The Northeast Iowa Food Bank was recently recognized as the 19^th best in the country, and that’s thanks to the support of the community and organization of the Food Bank, itself.

After finishing our food drive, we were notified that we donated 76 lbs. of food. We will continue to donate to local nonprofits because that’s what we do—we help people!