Recent General Posts

4 Homeowner Fix-it Hacks for Your Frankfort Home

2/22/2018 (Permalink)

Use these handy time-saving and stress-reducing hacks around the home and make your life easier:

How to Stop Window Screen Tears

Got any nail polish around the house?  Apply some clear nail polish on window screen fray’s and cuts to stop them in their tracks!!

Fill Nail Holes with Toothpaste

Need to fill some nail holes but don’t have any spackling handy?  That’s ok.  Just grab a tube of non-gel toothpaste, smoosh it into your nail holes, and wipe of the excess.  Presto!

Free Up a Clogged Shower Head

Fill up a ziplock sandwich bag about halfway with vinegar and tie it over your shower head with rubber bands, let it sit overnight, and in the morning remove the bag.  Now your previously clogged shower head will shoot out water likes it’s brand new again!

Sharpen Dull Scissors Easily

Sharpen up dull scissors with this handy trick: take several sheets of aluminum foil and fold them in half.  Then cut them with the scissors eight times.  Your scissors will now be razor-sharp and ready to use.

As a trusted leader in the restoration industry, SERVPRO of Frankfort provides 24-hour emergency service and is dedicated to being faster to any size disaster. We can respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs.

Get The Most Out of Your Firewood This Winter

2/8/2018 (Permalink)

Use these 4 practical steps to get the most out of your firewood this winter:

Use Seasoned Firewood - Good fire wood is “aged”, or seasoned, just like a good wine.  It takes time to for enough moisture to get out of a tree once it’s cut down.  You want your firewood to be seasoned at least a few months, if not a full year.  However, you can save money if you buy unseasoned, or green, firewood in the spring and store it yourself until the cold weather comes.  

Keep Your Stored Firewood Off The Ground - This will help keep moisture, bugs and critters away from your firewood, and prevent rot, mold growth and decay.  Use a couple of 2x4’s, wood pallets or a tubular wood rack.

Keep Your Stored Firewood Far Enough Away From Your House - Store your firewood in the closest practical location to your fireplace, but remember, your wood pile will attract critters, so stack firewood at least six feet away from your house.

Stack Your Wood Pile In a Criss Cross Pattern -  This will allow air to circulate through your wood pile and help keep it dry.  However, be suspicious if a company offers to stack your wood for you this way.  Wood piled in this manner naturally takes up more space, so make sure you are getting all the wood you have paid for.

As a trusted leader in the restoration industry, SERVPRO of Frankfort provides 24-hour emergency service and is dedicated to being faster to any size disaster. We can respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs.

Be prepared for a local disaster in Frankfort

9/14/2017 (Permalink)

The United States has been affected by many disasters, including Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Erma in Florida. In order to be prepared for such disasters, you must think ahead and have a plan in place. For information on disaster preparedness, visit www.ready.gov, or call your local SERVPRO of Frankfort. SERVPRO® Professionals can help your business prepare for the unexpected by creating an Emergency READY Profile® for your facility. The Profile is designed to be a quick and easy snapshot of your business, providing critical facility information needed for detailed emergency preparation.

The SERVPRO® Emergency READY Profile® (ERP) will help ensure you and your business is “Ready for whatever happens.” In the event of an emergency, the SERVPRO® Emergency READY Profile® can help minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action in place for your facility. The ERP is a comprehensive document containing critical information about your business, including emergency contact information, shut-off valve locations, and priority areas. The ERP is also accessible online using your computer or tablet; download SERVPRO’s free Ready Plan app to access this information at any time using your smartphone or tablet. The ERP establishes your local SERVPRO® of Frankfort Professionals as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider, giving you access to 50 years’ experience and a System more than 1,700 Franchises strong. Knowing what to do and who to call in advance is key to quick response and timely mitigation. Having a plan in place may help minimize the amount of time your business is inactive and get you back in the building following a disaster. Preparation is the key to making it through any size disaster, whether it is a small water leak, a large fire or an area flood. The best time to plan for such events is not when the event happens, but well before it happens. No one ever plans on a disaster, but now, you can plan for it. The ERP is a no-cost assessment; all it requires is a little time, making it a great value that could save a lot of time in the future. Call your local SERVPRO® of Frankfort Professionals to establish your Emergency READY Profile®.

Are you Prepared for a power outage?

3/8/2017 (Permalink)

You may need to survive on your own after an emergency. This means having your own food, water and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least 72 hours. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours or it might take days. Depending on the nature of the disaster road conditions may prevent help from arriving in a timely manner. 

Additionally, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment and telephones may be cut off for days or even a week, or longer. Your supplies kit should contain items to help you manage during these outages.  If the power goes out keep your pipes from freezing by shutting off the valve that allows water to come into your home. Then, open any drain valves and all faucets and let them run until the pipes are empty (it's helpful to identify these valves in advance). Next, flush all toilets and pour denatured alcohol into toilets and sinks to prevent water in the traps from freezing. Do NOT use automotive antifreeze in case there's trouble with your water system; you don't want the antifreeze to contaminate your drinking water. You may, however, use nontoxic antifreeze that's made for winterizing motor homes.

Be prepared for a power outage by keeping necessary items centrally located in your home. Take the time to ensure that everyone in your family is aware of the "kit." Periodically check your kit to see that batteries operate properly. The following is a list of items that are suggested to keep on hand:

1.     Flashlights for each family member

2.     Battery-operated radio and clock

3.     Extra batteries

4.     Containers of bottled water

5.     Canned, freeze-dried or dehydrated food, powdered milk, baby supplies for infants

6.     Non-electric can opener

7.     List of important phone numbers

8.     First-aid kit

Following a disaster, there may be power outages that could last for several days. Stock canned foods, dry mixes and other staples that do not require refrigeration, cooking, water or special preparation. Be sure to include a manual can opener and eating utensils. The following items are suggested when selecting emergency food supplies. You may already have many of these on hand.

•Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food.

•Choose foods your family will eat.

•Remember any special dietary needs.

•Avoid foods that will make you thirsty.

•Choose salt-free crackers, whole grain cereals and canned foods with high liquid content.

•Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, vegetables and a can opener

•Protein or fruit bars

•Dry cereal or granola

•Peanut butter

•Dried fruit

•Nuts

•Crackers

•Canned juices

•Non-perishable pasteurized milk

•High energy foods

•Vitamins

•Food for infants

•Comfort/stress foods

These and many other helpful tips are available at ready.gov Here is the link to winter tips for before during and after a winter storm http://www.ready.gov/winter-weather When winter weather strikes the Frankfort Lincoln-Way area knowing what to do until SERVPRO of Frankfort arrives will make a difference.  Call us directly at 815-485-6901.