Recent Posts

Monthly Home Maintenance Tips

6/2/2023 (Permalink)

Employee with maintenance checklist Candice is going through this building's monthly maintenance checklist for peace of mind.

Preventative maintenance can help avoid major and expensive repairs later on. General home maintenance is a must to keep your home in tip-top shape.


JANUARY: Clean the condenser coils beneath or behind your refrigerator so that it cools more efficiently.
FEBRUARY: Inspect the grout and caulk around sinks, bathtubs and damaged materials, and interior showers. Repair or replace any damaged areas.

MARCH: 6 mo. Reminder: Replace batteries and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

APRIL: Clean all rain gutters and ensure the downspouts drain from the foundation.

MAY: Service your air-conditioning system before the weather gets hot.

JUNE: Clean the lint from the dryer vent where the air is vented outdoors.
JULY: Check GFCI devices and outlets using the test button. If they fail to trip, they should be replaced.
AUGUST: Check the roof for missing or damaged materials and interior ceilings and walls for signs of water leakage. Remember to check after storms and high winds.
SEPTEMBER: Service your heating system before the weather turns cool.
OCTOBER: Inspect and clean the fireplace and
flue before lighting your first fire.

NOVEMBER: Six mo. Reminder: Replace batteries and test smoke and
carbon monoxide detectors.

DECEMBER: Review your fire-escape plan. Check the pressure and expiration date on all fire extinguishers.

How to clean up after flood damage in East Texas.

6/1/2023 (Permalink)

Commercial building with flood damage Recent heavy rains flooded this building in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Cleaning up from a flood can seem like a daunting task. Preparing and planning for how you will deal with the damage is essential. Use the following guidelines to return your home to living standards immediately.

Remember, safety should always be the priority in such an event. Although your first impulse may be to start cleaning, you must protect yourself from hazards. The water may have contained sewage or other contaminants, and the structure may be unsafe. Keep in mind that buildings may not be habitable during the cleaning process.

For most insurance claims, before you start cleaning, take plenty of photos or videos and keep records of all expenses.

The cleanup process can take weeks or sometimes even months to complete. A good suggestion is to hire a reputable company like your local SERVPRO.  

For flood cleanup In Lufkin, Nacogdoches, Henderson, Center, Kilgore, Hallsville, Longview, or anywhere else in East Texas, call the pros! SERVPRO of Lufkin/S.Nacogdoches County  936-559-0404 or SERVPRO of Longview 903-238-8100.

General Pet Summer Safety Tips

6/1/2023 (Permalink)

Dog laying on the ground Gypsy is taking a little break from the heat on the cool shady bricks.

Hot weather can make anyone uncomfortable, and your dog is no exception. Here are some safety concerns for responsible dog owners:

  • Never leave your dog unattended in direct sunlight or a closed vehicle. Heatstroke can occur and lead to brain damage or death. Signs of heatstroke are panting, drooling, rapid pulse, and fever. Immediately immerse the dog in cool water and seek emergency veterinary assistance.
  • Never leave your dog unattended in a hot, parked car. When it’s only 80 degrees outside, the inside of a car can heat up to more than 120 degrees in just minutes. Leaving the windows partially rolled down will not help. Your dog is susceptible to heat stroke and possible death in these conditions.
  • Always make sure your dog has access to fresh water.
  • All dogs should have proper identification at all times. The AKC suggests a collar with an ID tag, along with a tattoo or a microchip.
  • Keep your dog on a leash outdoors to prevent accidents and injuries.
  • Avoid strenuous exercise with your dog on sweltering days and refrain from physical activity when the sun’s heat is most intense.

Most importantly, love and snuggle with your dog/dogs and enjoy a fun, healthy summer!

Do you need 3D documentation after a fire or water loss?

6/1/2023 (Permalink)

Technician with 3D equipment SERVPRO technician uses Docusketch to document a commercial fire restoration project.

Do you need 3D documentation after a fire or water loss? Docusketch is just one of the platforms we utilize to correctly and accurately document the claim process. 

We can provide the customer, insurance company, or property manager with a complete 3D scan of the loss. This is helpful to document the entire project and to compare every detail during the process – from our first visit on-site to the completion of the restoration process.

Our customers and business partners enjoy the convenience of the virtual experience, especially when travel is not an option. This often saves time and energy from not making multiple trips to the job site to see if anything was missed. 

Your local SERVPRO of Lufkin/S. Nacogdoches County and SERVPRO of Longview can help manage your loss and make it "Like It Never Even Happened." 

Storm Damage Cleanup and Restoration

8/22/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO employee with extractor SERVPRO was called to help this business recover from heavy storm rains.

Deep east Texas is no stranger to the ever changing and sometimes damaging weather.  A typical day in Lufkin or Nacogdoches may start off with beautiful warm friendly skies and by days end have changed to heavy winds and threatening wind and rain. Have no fear, you have a friend in the business. Your local SERVPRO team has the right experience and training to handle all that Mother Nature may bring. Our team has helped with Disaster Recovery in 30 other states here in the U.S.. We have helped literally over hundreds of people when their homes or business have been impacted by: Fire, Water, Rain, Flash Floods, Strong Winds, Tornadoes, Wildfires or Hurricanes. We want our customers to know that we have seen just about everything Mother Nature can do and want you to know that help is just a phone call away.

936-559-0404

Commercial Building Restoration Services

8/22/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO employee with extractor SERVPRO after-hours services can help your business be ready for business after a water loss.

SERVPRO of Lufkin / S. Nacogdoches County is ready to respond immediately and work quickly to clean or restore your business. We understand that your property’s appearance is important and that every hour spent restoring is an hour of lost productivity. When you need a restoration or cleaning professional, SERVPRO of Lufkin / S. Nacogdoches County has the training and expertise to help make it “Like it never even happened.”



  • Small Office Buildings
  • Large Office/High-Rise Office Buildings
  • Apartment Buildings
  • Restaurants
  • Hotel/Motels
  • Small Retail Stores
  • Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
  • High-Rise Residential
  • Manufacturing & Industrial
  • Government/Military

With over 20 vehicles in our local fleet, SERVPRO of Lufkin / S. Nacogdoches County can be just about anywhere in Deep East Texas in a quick hour! Getting to your loss sight quickly is just the beginning. Rest assured we will have the right equipment and trained staff to handle your loss no matter the size. 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.

Certifications

  • ASD - Applied Structural Drying Technician
  • CCT - Carpet Cleaning Technician
  • ECTP - Employee Certification Training Program
  • FSRT - Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Technician
  • IICRC Certified Firm
  • RRRP - Lead-Based Paint Activities and Renovation
  • WRT - Water Damage Restoration Technician
  • Small Office Buildings
  • Large Office/High-Rise Office Buildings
  • Apartment Buildings
  • Restaurants
  • Hotel/Motels
  • Small Retail Stores
  • Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
  • High-Rise Residential
  • Manufacturing & Industrial
  • Government/Military

Have Questions? Call Today – (936) 559-0404

Fire Damage Emergency Tips

8/22/2022 (Permalink)

Fire damage to a dorm room SERVPRO helped repair this dorm room recover after fire and smoke damage.

What you can do until help arrives

The steps you take immediately after a fire, especially within the first 24 hours, can determine whether or not you successfully restore your property and belongings. Your actions also have an impact on your health and safety, as there are many hazards to be aware of during the cleanup and restoration. The smoke and soot left behind after a fire can be extremely hazardous and even cost lives. In fact, smoke inhalation is the leading cause of death amongst fire victims. Soot inhalation can cause severe illness or death as well. Your first priority is to have a qualified fire damage restoration specialist come right away to assess the damage and ensure that the proper steps are taken as quickly as possible.

Have Smoke or Fire Damage? Call (936) 559-0404

What To Do After A Fire

  • Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpets.
  • Keep hands clean so as not to further soil upholstery, walls and woodwork.
  • Place clean towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery and carpet traffic areas.
  • If electricity is off, empty freezer and refrigerator and prop doors open.
  • Clean and protect chrome with light coating of petroleum jelly or oil.
  • Wash houseplants on both sides of leaves.
  • Change HVAC filter.
  • Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers.

What NOT To Do After A Fire

  • Don't attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces or shampoo carpet or upholstery without contacting us.
  • Don't attempt to clean any electrical appliances that may have been close to fire, heat or water without consulting an authorized repair service.
  • Don't use any canned or packaged food or beverages that may have been stored near the fire, heat or water.
  • Don't turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet. The wiring may be damaged.
  • Don't send garments to an ordinary dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set smoke odor.

Safely using your generator during a storm

8/16/2022 (Permalink)

storm damage Severe weather and wind caused this roof and tree to be damaged.

We want to make sure you are safe during the next storm power outage

If you have a generator on hand for power outages during severe weather, follow the safety tips below from American Red Cross:

  • Never use a generator, grill, camp stove, or other gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawl space, or any partially enclosed area.
  • To avoid electrocution, keep the generator dry and do not use in rain or wet Operate it on a dry surface under an open canopy-like structure, such as under a tarp help up on poles. Do not touch the generator with wet hands.
  • Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent carbon monoxide (CO) buildup in the home. Although CO can’t be seen or smelled, it can rapidly lead to full incapacitation and death. Even if you cannot smell exhaust fumes, you may still be exposed to CO. If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air immediately.
  • Install CO alarms in central locations on every level of your home or property and outside sleeping areas to provide early warning of accumulating carbon monoxide.

If your home or business is damaged due to a storm, call SERVPRO of Longview/S. Nacogdoches County! We have the training, tools, and equipment to make it “Like it never even happened.” 936-637-0404

How Do Fire Sprinklers Work

8/13/2022 (Permalink)

burned walls with sprinkler Sprinkler Systems are among the most useful tools in your firefighting arsenal.

Sprinkler Systems are among the most useful tools in your firefighting arsenal. Today’s systems have been shown to reduce deaths and property loss by more than 65 percent.

For this reason, you certainly want fire sprinklers on your commercial property! But how do fire sprinklers work?

Step 1: Fire Sprinklers Detect Heat

Contrary to popular belief, fire sprinklers are not triggered by smoke. It’s an easy mistake to make since heat is carried upward with smoke from a fire. But if smoke was the trigger, simply burning your toast in the office kitchen could be enough to drench the kitchen with water from a fire sprinkler head.

Fire sprinklers work because high heat triggers the sprinkler system. When a blaze ignites, the air directly above it heats rapidly. This hot air rises and spreads along the ceiling. When the air is hot enough and reaches a sprinkler head, it triggers a chain reaction.

Most sprinkler heads feature a glass bulb filled with a glycerin-based liquid. This liquid expands when it comes in contact with air heated to between 135 and 165 degrees. When the liquid expands, it shatters its glass confines and the sprinkler head activates.

Step 2: Fire Sprinklers Douse The Fire

Each sprinkler head is attached to a pipe that connects to a reliable water source outside the building. When heat activates a sprinkler head, a valve opens, allowing pressurized water from the pipe system to flow out.

It’s important for water in a fire sprinkler system to be pressurized. This allows the water to spray outward in an arc to more thoroughly douse the fire and prevent it from reigniting.

Step 3: Fire Sprinklers Minimize Water Damage

In movies, sprinkler systems operate misleadingly, leading many people to believe a fallacy that all the sprinklers in a system are tied together and when one is triggered by heat, they all activate.

If this was the case, putting out a fire would simply be trading fire damage for water damage, and it’s not how fire sprinklers work.

Fortunately, sprinkler heads function individually. Most of the time, fires can be completely extinguished after just one or two sprinklers activate. This allows water damage to be confined to the small area where the fire started. Plus, since fire sprinklers douse fires with about six times less water than a fire hose, their quick action is less damaging to your property than a visit from the fire department.

It is best to have your sprinkler system on regularly scheduled maintenance and keep their contact information available for your entire staff in case of emergencies.

We can help your historical home after a fire or water loss.

8/8/2022 (Permalink)

water damaged wood flooring Saving and drying out wood floors is our specialty.

Our number one priority is to help our community.  Our clients have helped transform us from a small franchise to the Large Loss Response Team we are today, serving all of Deep East Texas of SERVPRO of Lufkin/S. Nacogdoches County would not be here today as an industry leader in your local area without the faithful community members that have trusted us with their mitigation, restoration, and cleaning needs.

The communities we serve are full of beautiful historic homes inside and out and in a water loss situation, we have the expertise it takes to salvage as much of your home’s historical structure as we possibly can.  We especially cater to the natural hardwood floors, trim, and base as well as the plaster that was used for ceilings and walls in most of the older homes. From our hands to our specialty equipment, SERVPRO of Lufkin/S. Nacogdoches County handles these materials with the utmost care and diligence for preservation. 

When catastrophe strikes anywhere in Deep East Texas you can always call SERVPRO of SERVPRO of Lufkin/S. Nacogdoches County 936-559-0404. Available for emergency services 24/7365 and we are always just a phone call away!