Freezing Temperatures

2/6/2020 (Permalink)

Keep your thermostat set at 55°F or higher.

Our Livonia weather can be unpredictable. The new year has started out with a mix of 40°F and 20°F temperatures.

Now with the weather forecast showing temperatures will drop even lower thoughts of taking a vacation for a weekend or week long getaway are tempting.

If you plan on leaving your home it is important to keep the indoor temperature set no lower than 55°F. This will help prevent the air space located inside cabinetry and in basements from dropping to freezing temperatures. The pipes located inside those cabinets need to stay above freezing so they do not burst while you are away.

We hope this little tip will allow you to return from your relaxing vacation to a warm and dry home!

Car Emergency Kit

1/2/2018 (Permalink)

You may have a home emergency kit or a home first aid kit, however, a car emergency kit can be just as important to keep. May people spend large amounts of time in a car, expecting them to work at every use. This is a dangerous truth that can be believed as cars cannot be reliable all the time. It is when driving in the worst weather conditions or not in a great area that a car can lose functioning.

A car emergency kit is something that you may have never thought about until the exact time you need it.

Vehicle breakdowns happen and even a car service membership or calling for help may not be an immediate relief to the problem. Sometimes it can take hours for a car emergency to be responded to. This is why we suggest having a car emergency kit at hand in your vehicle. The following are items to keep:

• First Aid Kit
• Reflective warning triangles
• Tire gauge
• Foam tire sealant
• Jumper cables
• Flashlight/extra batteries
• Gloves
• Rags
• Maps
• Tire chains
• Duct tape
• Tow strap/rope
• Multipurpose utility tool
• Rain poncho
• Drinking water
• Nonperishable snacks

In the winter add:

• Snow shovel
• Blanket
• Cat litter
• Windshield ice scraper

An emergency kit for your car can be purchased or it can be homemade, either way it is a great way to keep safe on the road.

New Year's Eve Bubbly Safety

12/29/2017 (Permalink)

Follow these five tips to prevent serious injury or home damage when opening your bubbly this New Year’s Eve:

1) Just chill.

Champagne has tons of bubbles filled with gas that expand when warm. With each degree in temperature, pressure builds that can make a cork fly out unexpectedly. To preserve your eyesight (and the taste of your bubbly), always chill your Champagne in the fridge or on ice to about 45 degrees.

2) Don't shake, rattle…or point.

While it looks like fun in the movies, don't shake the bottle. Agitating Champagne increases pressure. Also, don't point the bottle at anyone! Beyond being impolite, it could cost someone an eye.

3) Control the cork.

After tearing off the foil, hold down the cork with the palm of your hand while removing the wire hood. Never use a corkscrew to open a bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine.

4) Towel, tilt, twist.

Place a towel over the entire top of the bottle and grasp the cork. Point the bottle at a 45-degree angle away from yourself and any bystanders. Slowly and firmly twist the bottle at its base while holding the cork — not the other way around — to break the seal. Counter the force of the cork using slight downward pressure just as the cork breaks free, creating the signature pop.

5) Cheers!

Time to toast. Clink carefully to avoid breaking any glasses. Here's to celebrating responsibly! If you do sustain an eye injury from a champagne cork, seek immediate medical attention from an ophthalmologist.

Happy New Year! Here’s to 2018!

Protecting Your Home from Invasion

12/19/2017 (Permalink)

Keeping your home safe is key. Here at SERVPRO Livonia we deal with some situations that involve a home invasion in which the burglars have left water running, causing water damage. Burglars do not care what happens to your home. Be proactive and check out these tips to keep your home safe:

1. Keep hedges and trees trimmed so it is difficult for a burglar to hide in them or climb up trees to get to second stories.
2. Keep car keys on a nightstand instead of a key bowl or hook. Providing easy access to keys is a no brainer for us but it is like handing the keys right over to a burglar.
3. Routinely check to make sure your windows are locked and secure; especially after having repair crew in your home
4. Store your spare key to the house with a neighbor or friend. Hiding a key under the mat or a rock is too obvious to a burglar.
5. Make sure all dead bolts are locked on all doors and that the garage door is closed.
6. When setting up a new purchase like a 60 inch TV, cut up the packaging so it will fit inside a recycling bin or put out on the curb the morning of pick-up. Burglars will notice a large TV (or other appliance) box sitting out on the curb.
7. When out of town have a neighbor or friend pick up mail or any packages so they are not piling up.
8. Keep your porch light on all night to keep it from looking like nobody is home. You could also install timers on lights in your home for days you do not arrive home until after dark.

Holiday Safety Tips

12/12/2017 (Permalink)

Safety in the home is essential during the holiday season; you want to make sure your close ones are safe and sound. With the hustle and bustle don’t overlook the following tips:

• Do not overload power strips and extension cords. Check the wattage rating on the extension cord before plugging anything into it.
• Inspect holiday light strings each year and discard any with frayed cords, cracked lamp holders or loose connections.
• Turn off Christmas lights, decorations, and blow out candles before going to bed or leaving the house.
• While cooking, do not leave the stovetop or oven unattended.
• When purchasing a live tree, look for freshness and remember to water once in the home.
• If using a furnace or chimney, inspect and make sure they are free from debris.

Fire-Proof Box

12/11/2017 (Permalink)

It is important to keep documents and other objects secure and safe in case a fire starts in your house or business. See some documents and objects we suggest you keep in a fire-proof box.

- Your Will and/or Power of Attorney; You will want to keep the lawyer’s information with the Will so that they will know who to call if they need it

-  Original birth certificates

-  Social Security Cards

-  Property Insurance information (and again, the number of your insurance company)

-  Medical information: Doctor’s numbers, prescriptions, etc…

-  Passports

-  Cash – in case of emergency

-  Titles to your vehicles and one spare key for each car

- Title and deed to house with one spare key

-  Marriage Certificate

-   DVD with household items

- Flash drive with family photos or any information backed up

Keep your fire safe box in a place that your family can find it.  Give a copy of the key to a family member or someone you trust.

Emergency Survival Kit

11/9/2016 (Permalink)

SERVPRO survival kits in preparation for winter.

With winter approaching, Michigan weather can be extreme. Between major snow falls and wind storms it's important to have an emergency survival kit ready for when the power does go out! These kits can also be stored in cars, for when that icy patch sends you off into a ditch. 

Keep in mind, doubling up on essentials like flashlights and radios is a smart move in case something malfunctions. 

• Clean water is a great start
• Blankets, Sleeping Bag
• Additional clothes
• Non-perishable food that can be eaten warmed up or cold (if you pack anything that's perishable, make sure to regularly cycle it through to keep it fresh)
• 1-2 Flashlights with extra batteries
• Matches and small candles. Check to make sure there is a metal or some sort of containment for the wax!
• Any necessary medicines (check expiration dates).
• Medical supplies such as band-aides, gauze, Neosporin and rubbing alcohol. 
• Lightweight tent
• Personal hygiene items 
• Paper goods (napkins, plates, paper towels)
• Manual can opener
• AM/FM radio.

There's always more a person can add to their survival kit. This is a great starting point. If you do lose power during a storm, pipes can freeze or other damage can occur throughout your home. If that is the case, keep SERVPRO Livonia in mind to help you through!