Recent Posts

Stay Away From Frozen Pipes This Year

1/22/2024 (Permalink)

Frozen pipes are a terrible thing to wake up to, but there are ways to avoid them completely! Follow our helpful tips this year to keep your home safe from the sub freezing temperatures. 

Step 1: Know your home:
Are there pipes in your house that are more exposed than others? Is there a faucet that freezes every year? Keep things like this in mind. If your unfamiliar with your home because its new to you, or your first winter staying in it, take a minute to familiarize yourself with where your water access' are. Faucets close to an outside wall are more likely to freeze than those closer to the center of the home.

Step 2: Let the tap's drip:
When below freezing temperatures are expected, leave your faucets dripping a little until the temperature's return above freezing. Moving water takes longer to freeze and just a little movement goes a long way.

Step 3: Leave the heat on in your absence.

Leaving your heater on just above freezing while your away at work, or on vacation might be the life saver of your return. Although it can feel like we are waiting electricity, leaving the heat on just enough to keep our house above freezing internally can save you thousands on a water loss, and a huge headache on your return. In combination with leaving the faucets dripping your return should be a dry one even in these subfreezing temperatures. 

Accidents happen all the time. When they do, leave it to the pro's at SERVPRO to help return your home to where it looks like it "Never Even Happened."

SERVPRO of Blackfoot Pocatello is open 24/7 365 and available anytime to help with your emergency! Call us at 208-242-3819. 

How to Prevent Christmas Tree Fires This Year

12/20/2023 (Permalink)

It only takes 10 minutes for an electrical spark to turn into a Christmas tree fire and devastate an entire room.  That's less than than it typically takes for the fire department to arrive to your home and start putting out a fire.  So here are some tips for having a live tree in your home.

1.  Make sure to check every day that the tree stand is full of water.  If it dries out, the base of the tree will harden and wont absorb enough water for the tree to stay health.  Water the tree every day.

2.  Keep all candles away from the tree.  Candles are the number one cause of holiday fires, not trees, but having a live tree in your home increases the chances of a fire spreading quickly.

3. Keep the tree away from fireplaces and heat sources.  It looks beautiful to have your tree next to the fireplace, but it's also the most dangerous.  Sparks can jump.  The tree is safer if it's more than 10 feet away.

4.  Check your lights every year to make sure the wires haven't been broken or chewed through.

5.  Remember that any cloth around the tree will catch fire just as fast as the tree, so try not to put it near curtains or blankets.

6.  Always have a full sized fire extinguisher and working smoke detectors, so you can stop the fire before it gets out of control.

If you follow these steps, you're setting yourself up for a very merry Christmas!

SERVPRO of Blackfoot/Pocatello 24 Hour Emergency Water Damage Service

10/4/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Blackfoot/Pocatello 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 - 208-242-3819

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 Blackfoot/Pocatello 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)?

About SERVPRO of Blackfoot/Pocatello

SERVPRO of Blackfoot/Pocatello specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

So you have an ice dam....

3/8/2023 (Permalink)

Roof with ice dams It's not just because of your gutters

We've had several calls this season of Ice Dams causing extreme water damage in attics.  So now what?

The main think to understand is that the cause of your ice dam is an improperly insulated attic.  If heat is escaping into your attic, it's causing the snow closest to your roof to melt, and the snow on top to refreeze it.  That will cause ice to form, and as we all know, ice EXPANDS.  That means that any little crack can become a bigger crack once ice is introduced.

The solution to preventing ice dams is to make sure that your roof is properly insulated so that it doesn't cause the snow to melt from the inside out.  You can also ventilate your attic by opening up any vents, and having the outside air circulate.  Keeping your attic cool is important.  Putting rock salt in your gutters can also help.  If you're worried about your flower beds or lawn, putting the rock salt in pantyhose is beneficial.

So how do you get rid of an ice dam?  That's not so easy, but it's possible.  The first thing we recommend is calling in the professionals.  It's can be dangerous to get on a roof that is covered in ice.  A professional roofing company can come out and use their skills to remove that ice, while we come in and help you mitigate the damage on the inside.

We know it's a stressful situation, and we're Here To Help®, so give us a call and we can help you get it taken care of fast.

Basement Floods in Spring

1/23/2023 (Permalink)

Concrete basement with damp walls and floors One simple crack can cause a lot of damage

Springtime is coming up fast!  That means that the ground is about to unthaw and all of that moisture that is surrounding your home is about to become a real problem if you have a crack in your foundation.

Wet and musty basements don't have to be a problem for you.  Call us today and we can come in and dry it out and make sure you don't have to suffer this summer with a stinky moldy basement!

SERVPRO of Blackfoot/Pocatello can come in and find the source of water, and help you seal it off.  Then we will dry everything out and make sure you're safe from future mold growth.  Keeping your family safe and healthy is the primary goal!  

Call us today, and we'll be there within two hours.

Water your Christmas tree!

12/19/2022 (Permalink)

Christmas tree on fire Our tree burned down in 9 minutes!

It only takes 10 minutes for an electrical spark to turn into a Christmas tree fire and devastate an entire room.  That's less than than it typically takes for the fire department to arrive to your home and start putting out a fire.  So here are some tips for having a live tree in your home.

1.  Make sure to check every day that the tree stand is full of water.  If it dries out, the base of the tree will harden and wont absorb enough water for the tree to stay health.  Water the tree every day.

2.  Keep all candles away from the tree.  Candles are the number one cause of holiday fires, not trees, but having a live tree in your home increases the chances of a fire spreading quickly.

3. Keep the tree away from fireplaces and heat sources.  It looks beautiful to have your tree next to the fireplace, but it's also the most dangerous.  Sparks can jump.  The tree is safer if it's more than 10 feet away.

4.  Check your lights every year to make sure the wires haven't been broken or chewed through.

5.  Remember that any cloth around the tree will catch fire just as fast as the tree, so try not to put it near curtains or blankets.

6.  Always have a full sized fire extinguisher and working smoke detectors, so you can stop the fire before it gets out of control.

If you follow these steps, you're setting yourself up for a very merry Christmas!

Shed Fire in Island Park

9/22/2022 (Permalink)

Shed burned down in a forest What we arrived to find

Recently, we got a call to clean up a fire in Island Park.  A gentlemen who did woodworking lost his shed to a very hot, very fast fire, but was able to stop it from spreading into the surrounding forest.  

SERVPRO of Blackfoot & Pocatello was able to get to the fire on the same day that it was cleared by the Fire Inspector, and we had it demoed and completely cleaned up in just three days!  It's a record for our team.  It was easy getting the job done with a homeowner who was communicative, and also trusted that we know what was best for safety and clean up.  

We know it's not easy to lose your belongings in a fire.  It's devastating.  But SERVPRO of Blackfoot & Pocatello is here for you every step of the way.

We want to thank the family in Island Park for allowing us to share pictures of their loss.

How do we deal with a total fire loss?

9/22/2022 (Permalink)

A forest with an empty space There use to be a shed in the middle of this picture.

One of the questions we get is "What do you do if the house isn't restorable?"

That's an excellent question!  We do demolition too.  Our highly trained crew is able to help you obtain everything that is salvageable, we will help you clean up anything that has smoke and soot damage, and we will help you document everything that was lost.

We do test all necessary materials for lead and asbestos removal, since you cannot demo a house that is still in need of abatement.  If the lead and asbestos tests are positive, we will properly remove all material before we proceed.

Then we will demo and remove all debris appropriately, and make sure there is nothing left for you to do but start rebuilding.

We know losing your home, business, or property to a fire is devastating.  SERVPRO of Blackfoot & Pocatello is the company that will show up and help you step by step to make sure that you can start rebuilding quickly.

Saving people is our business, too.

9/22/2022 (Permalink)

Bull fighters helping a cowboy Our SERVPRO Bull fighters

SERVPRO of Blackfoot & Pocatello had the honor of being a sponsor for the GEM State PRCA Pro Rodeo this year.  Our PRCA rodeo was voted the best small rodeo in the nation!  We couldn't resist being part of the group helping put it on.  But what event would we sponsor?

For me, the choice was easy.  Who's the person at the rodeo that is there to make sure that a disaster doesn't happen?  Who are the ones to handle the messes and make it like it never even happened?  The BULL FIGHTERS!  That's why we decided to sponsor them this year.  We'd like to think we're the bull fighters of restoration, and your disaster is the bull.  We can't stop the initial hang up, but we can make sure it doesn't get worse and we can make things easier to get back on your feet. 

It was a natural choice!  So let me introduce the SERVPRO Bull Fighters!

Prep Your Home For Fall!

8/24/2022 (Permalink)

a gutter with leaves and two hands with blue gloves and a small shovel removing the leaves. Clean out those gutters!

It's back to school time, and you could feel the crisp morning air today.  Don’t wait for the rain or snow to come before you start your preparations. It’s not winter just yet, but with cooler weather upon us, you may want to make sure your home is sealed up tight and ready.  

1. Check your home for leaks in your window seals or roof. If your home’s eaves have stains, that can indicate a leak. If you find any stains, call a roof contractor to make any repairs before winter.

2. Ensure the water drains away from the home and clean out those gutters. If your area experiences snow, any back-up of gutters may result in ice damming and lead to water damage.

3. Before winter arrives, shut off all outside water faucets or garden hose connections, then drain hoses and store them in the garage.

4. Clean overgrown vegetation and trim dead branches from trees that are close to your home. Also give your lawn one last cut before cleaning and storing your lawn mower. Apply a fertilizer and pre-emergent to your lawn to prevent winter damage and from weeds germinating underground.

5. Clean out your grill and firepit and make sure to keep propane outside. Cover up or store any outdoor furniture, so it’s out of the elements safe from wind-stormsand stays nice for next year.


6. If you have a HVAC service contract, have them stop by. Otherwise, replace filters and install covers on the AC condensing units on the outside of the home.

7. Call a professional to check your fireplace and chimney – especially if you plan to use it during the winter. Nothing is worse than smoking up your home when the weather is cold because your fireplace flue wasn’t cleaned. If you use a wood burning fireplace, be sure to dispose of the ashes properly using a fireproof metal bucket. 

8. Make sure everything you’ll need before winter is in good working order. If your area gets snow, test your snowblower and have it serviced. Ensure your outdoor activated night lights or security system components are all operating correctly. Stock up on Ice Melt and make sure you know where your shovel is. 

9. Repair cracks in driveways, walkways, and steps. Fixing these issues prevents water from getting into the cracks, freezing, and expanding which can turn the small cracks into big cracks. 

10. While you’re making fall preparations, we encourage you to plan ahead for winter too.  We'll get to that soon!