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	<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/</link>
	<title>Fire, Water, Mold Damage Repair Stamford, Bridgeport, Norwalk, CT | Disaster Restoration Greenwich, Ridgefield, Sandy Hook, Connecticut | ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport</title>
	<updated>2014-06-02T15:00:00.05Z</updated>
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	<subtitle>Flood Damage Restoration in Connecticut. ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport fixes Basement Water &amp; Fire Damage, Carpet Cleaning, Mold Removal, and more. Get our estimates today!</subtitle>
	<rights type="text"> &#169; 2014 </rights>

	<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/about-us/news-and-events/33216-why-shouldnt-i-use-my-insurance.html</link>
		<title>Why Shouldn't I Use My Insurance?</title>
		<updated>2018-11-26T00:00:00.05Z</updated>
        		<media:content url="https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/why-shouldnt-i-use-my-insurance_1543243035.jpeg" medium="image" height="auto" width="100%"/>
        		<author>
			<name>Thomas Ayres, CPIA</name>
		</author>
		<description>Any insurance agent worth a lick generally gets involved with their client's claims in some capacity. (Any agent that slides you a phone number to call your own claim in is otherwise useless in my opinion.)</description>
		<content type="html">&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;img title=&quot;Why I shouldn't use my insurance&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/why-shouldnt-i-use-my-insurance_1543243035.jpeg&quot; alt=&quot;Insurance&quot; width=&quot;640&quot; height=&quot;480&quot; /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Any insurance agent&amp;nbsp;worth a lick generally gets involved with their client's claims in some capacity.&amp;nbsp;(Any agent that slides you a phone number to call your own claim in&amp;nbsp;is otherwise useless in my opinion.) Often times&amp;nbsp;a&amp;nbsp;claim will&amp;nbsp;be called in and the correct advice for the client is to actually NOT&amp;nbsp;file the claim (even if it appears to be a covered claim).&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Inevitably the knee jerk&amp;nbsp;client&amp;nbsp;response is:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Now, it is always up to the client if they want to file a claim or not.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;An agent&amp;nbsp;can't stop them from doing so.&amp;nbsp;However what&amp;nbsp;a good agent&amp;nbsp;CAN do is provide the proper insight and information so that an educated decision can be made&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;by the client&lt;/em&gt;.&amp;nbsp;Nobody goes to college to study insurance voluntarily do they?&amp;nbsp;Maybe they do, but nonetheless, I have yet to find a college that provides their graduating class with a practical understanding of general insurance knowledge&amp;nbsp;or it's purpose.&amp;nbsp;That said, its up to people like me, as the insurance agent/broker, to educate the client on it's purpose and when to and also when NOT to use it.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Average Claims Frequency&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The national average&amp;nbsp;for homeowners insurance claims is&amp;nbsp;once every ten years.&amp;nbsp;That is the&amp;nbsp;NATIONAL average.&amp;nbsp;Locally in the Northeast it's more like one claim every&amp;nbsp;seven years when you account for the string of catastrophe storms&amp;nbsp;that occurred in and around Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Most homeowners go their entire lives without filing a single home claim.&amp;nbsp;Others can't go more than a year or two without filing.&amp;nbsp;So it isn't surprising then that&amp;nbsp;most insurance companies view one claim in three years and two claims in five years as being&amp;nbsp;the maximum&amp;nbsp;acceptable frequency of claims.&amp;nbsp;Every claim has some impact on your next renewal.&amp;nbsp;Either your rates are impacted or your insurability is impaired.&amp;nbsp;Its the latter in conjunction with future rate impact&amp;nbsp;that&amp;nbsp;needs be&amp;nbsp;considered before filing a claim today.&amp;nbsp;Exceeding that claim frequency most likely will get you cancelled by&amp;nbsp;your current carrier at your next renewal.&amp;nbsp;If that happens you are left with one option:&amp;nbsp;Seeking insurance in the Non-Standard insurance market where the rates are twice the cost (or more) and coverage is half as good.&amp;nbsp;That said, you MUST stop and think about the future potential impact of your claim relative to your deductible and payout.&amp;nbsp;It is never worth filing any insurance claim if after your deductible you won't get more than $1000.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;The First Rule.&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Whether we are talking home insurance or auto insurance collision claims, it is&amp;nbsp;NEVER worth it to file a claim against your insurance if the most you will get is under one thousand dollars.&amp;nbsp;I could argue on a case by case basis that this number should be ever higher in some cases.&amp;nbsp;There are too many insurance agents that allow their clients to get themselves into poor insurability situations because they FAIL to provide the proper information to make an educated decision.&amp;nbsp;I never fault the client.&amp;nbsp;How would they know unless their agent taught them?&amp;nbsp;This first claim is not really the problem.&amp;nbsp;It is that&amp;nbsp;second one that is likely right around the corner that will sink the ship.&amp;nbsp;Clients need to know NOW that they must be careful not to waste a claim on something that is small because that second claim might be too big to avoid filing.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Insurance was always meant to be used for catastrophic purposes.&amp;nbsp;It is NOT a maintenance contract and shouldn't be treated as such.&amp;nbsp;Self insure the small stuff.&amp;nbsp;Consider what your budget can handle and then adjust your home deductible accordingly.&amp;nbsp;Why not save the money too?&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;The Optimal&amp;nbsp;Deductible.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In any homeowners insurance rate structure there is ultimately a optimal point where cost savings and appropriate deductible meet.&amp;nbsp;The most common home deductible is $1000.&amp;nbsp;however, if your home is insured for over $1m, then chances are you are paying too much for your home insurance with a $1k deductible.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;What I recommend is looking at the savings over a 3 year period.&amp;nbsp;(Considering that&amp;nbsp;the average in the northeast is 1 claim every 7 years this is a safe bet).&amp;nbsp;So if the cost savings on your insurance over three years is greater than the difference between the current and&amp;nbsp;the higher deductible, take the higher deductible&amp;nbsp;option.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Its worth noting, all of this math goes out the window if your budget cannot withstand the impact of the higher deductible.&amp;nbsp;Remember, in the scenario above, you will have a $2500 deductible.&amp;nbsp;When you apply the&amp;nbsp;&lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline;&quot;&gt;first rule&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;to never file a claim against your insurance if the most you get AFTER your deductible is $1000,&amp;nbsp;THEN you are essentially self insuring any loss below $3,500.&amp;nbsp;If&amp;nbsp;that type of risk worries you, then either save and set aside the&amp;nbsp;emergency fund to cover it&amp;nbsp;or stick with a lower deductible.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Claims Adrenaline.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;When claim calls come in the shock of the event always blows the cost of the damage out of proportion.&amp;nbsp;So many calls come in assuming a $20k loss that then&amp;nbsp;turns out to be&amp;nbsp;$3k.&amp;nbsp;Before you file, do your due diligence and find out&amp;nbsp;what the cost to repair&amp;nbsp;or replace might be.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Often times claims get initiated and&amp;nbsp;cancelled&amp;nbsp;after.&amp;nbsp;Usually this is not a big&amp;nbsp;deal...however that open and closed claim will show&amp;nbsp;in the (CLUE) claims database that all insurance&amp;nbsp;carriers use.&amp;nbsp;Human underwriters will ask questions about it if&amp;nbsp;your record shows other losses.&amp;nbsp;It muddies your record.&amp;nbsp;So its best to keep your record as clean as possible.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Make your claims decision an educated one.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Conclusion.&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;div id=&quot;ember87&quot; class=&quot;ember-view&quot;&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;reader-article-content&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If you have a healthy understanding of your insurance, select optimal deductibles, care for your home and understand claims frequency, making the choice to file or not probably never reaches the insurance agent.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;That question won't be asked.&amp;nbsp;However, I would still recommend that you call and discuss events at your home with your trusted independent agent before blowing it off.&amp;nbsp;You'd be surprised how expensive&amp;nbsp;a loss could turn out to be.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasayres/&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noopener&quot;&gt;Written by Thomas Ayres. Thomas is a&amp;nbsp;Certified Professional Insurance Broker &amp;amp; Agent&amp;nbsp;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;reader-flag-content__wrapper mb4 clear-both&quot; data-ember-action=&quot;&quot; data-ember-action-88=&quot;88&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasayres/&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noopener&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2018-11-26T00:00:00.05Z</published>
	</entry>
		<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/about-us/news-and-events/30798-how-does-fire-affect-electronics.html</link>
		<title>HOW DOES FIRE AFFECT ELECTRONICS?</title>
		<updated>2018-01-25T00:00:00.05Z</updated>
        		<media:content url="https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/real-estate-in-the-city-2_1516888320.jpg" medium="image" height="auto" width="100%"/>
        		<author>
			<name>Paul Plouffe</name>
		</author>
		<description>It is advisable to shut down, turn off and unplug electronics that do not need to stay running when you travel. If you travel for a couple of days, weeks or even months, unplug the laptop, portable heaters, rechargeable batteries, etc. In case of a power surge, these could be destroyed or cause a fire.</description>
		<content type="html">&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;img title=&quot;Servicemaster mold removal team fairfield county connecticut ct water damage fire restoration art restoration cleaning service stratford easton fairfield bridgeport trumbull southport westport greenwich  ELECTRONICS RESTORATION FIRE DAMAGE SMOKE AND SOOT FAIRFIELD COUNTY&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/real-estate-in-the-city-2_1516888320.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;HOW DOES FIRE AFFECT ELECTRONICS - Image 1&quot; width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Fire destruction&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;Fire can cause total damage or destruction to electronics in a residential or commercial setting. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;Electrical failures are the most common cause of fires in residential and commercial spaces. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;When this kind of fire happens, not to mention the accompanying water damage resulting from dousing the fire, all electronic equipment is at a great risk of being fully damaged or destroyed. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Smoke&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;Smoke in a fire causes great damage to the internal components within electronics. Smoke can create a coat on resistors, transistors, and capacitors, making it difficult for them to release heat. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;This could eventually lead to overheating within the entire device, causing total damage.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;It is very important to make sure that you have your electronics such as computers, computer monitors, or televisions cleaned out after a fire. Sometimes the unit might work for a while but, afterward&amp;nbsp;will frequently fail after a few months due to latent oxidation or corrosion.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Soot&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;Damage caused by fires is often more evident than that caused by soot. If electronic devices don&amp;rsquo;t physically go up in flames, it does not mean that they will continue to function normally.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;Because of its acidic nature, soot can cause corrosion in electronic components. If the electronics are not professionally cleaned out, their lifespan is greatly diminished.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What to do?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;Do not turn on electronics during or after fire damage. Electronics in or after a fire can be dangerous and a safety hazard. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;How to protect your electronics from fires?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;It is advisable to shut down, turn off and unplug electronics that do not need to stay running when you travel. If you travel for a couple of days, weeks or even months, unplug the laptop, portable heaters, rechargeable batteries, etc. In case of a power surge, these could be destroyed or cause a fire.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Smoke detector&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;It is important to have smoke detectors in your home or commercial space. Check your smoke detectors on a regular basis to make sure the batteries are still good.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;br class=&quot;kix-line-break&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Power Outage&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;If you experience a power outage due to a storm, turn off and unplug your electronics like computers and Televisions to avoid a power surge.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Power Surge units&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;You can protect your electronics from power surges by installing a Surge Protector. &amp;nbsp;This is a good investment with respect to cost/benefit. For just a few dollars you can purchase a high-quality protector which may make save your electronic appliance when the power surges for any reason.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2018-01-25T00:00:00.05Z</published>
	</entry>
		<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/about-us/news-and-events/30529-5-essential-tips-for-preserving-artwork.html</link>
		<title>5 Essential Tips For Preserving Artwork</title>
		<updated>2017-12-14T00:00:00.05Z</updated>
        		<media:content url="https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/in5c1818_1513264845.jpg" medium="image" height="auto" width="100%"/>
        		<author>
			<name>Paul Plouffe</name>
		</author>
		<description>When we go out to do restoration after water damage or fires, we always find that a lot of artwork gets destroyed in several ways. Some gets destroyed through unfortunate events like flooding, and some artwork just isn't placed or stored in the right place. We have decided to put together a few tips on how to preserve your artwork so that it can live for generations.</description>
		<content type="html">&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;img title=&quot;Servicemaster of greater bridgeport art restoration &quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/in5c1818_1513264845.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Art Restoration in Fairfield County &quot; width=&quot;640&quot; height=&quot;426&quot; /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;example1&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;1. What type of backing is best for framing artwork?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;If your work is framed, you should always make sure that the backing is non-acidic. This is very important to preserve framed prints for a long time. Ask the gallery for their advice on cleaning and maintaining the art. Corrugated cardboard backing, for example, is highly acidic and increases the challenge to the restoration process for fire and water damage events.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;example1&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;2. Where are the safest locations to display my artwork?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10px;&quot;&gt;Carefully place your artwork in places without excess heat or smoke like above the fireplace. These exposures contribute to decolorization and soot damage over time. The kitchen can also be a challenging location for artwork. Stay away from cooktops and ovens for the same reasons. &amp;nbsp;Exterior walls with direct sunlight will discolor or yellow wall hangings especially those constructed with delicate fabrics. Rooms with many windows may cause the art to become discolored from sun radiation, heat, and humidity via what we call the &amp;ldquo;terrarium&amp;rdquo; effect.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;example1&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;3. What is the best method for moving my Artwork?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;When moving any piece of art, the handling must always be with great care. Most artwork gets damaged due to poor handling. Transportation must always be dry and the temperatures must be moderate. Very cold temperatures lead to damage of artwork. Extreme care in wrapping or packaging are best practice. Do NOT scrimp on a good insurance policy for theft, loss or breakage.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;img title=&quot;Servicemaster of greater bridgeport art restoration &quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/in5c1813_1513265058.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Fairfield County Art Restoration &quot; width=&quot;640&quot; height=&quot;426&quot; /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;example1&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;4. What is the best method for cleaning and maintaining my artwork?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;When your art needs to be cleaned, it should be done by a professional art restorer that uses the right cleaning materials. Paintings should never be cleaned with a cloth and water. This could permanently damage them. Professional have the proper training, products, and materials to ensure the best outcome. There are some remarkable illustrations of before and after fire and water damage events online at ERS Art Restoration in East Hartford CT. Don&amp;rsquo;t just wait until something happens. Museums have maintenance programs for all of the art they curate, you should too. Paintings and other artwork should periodically be examined by professional restorers to make sure they still look beautiful and will last a long time. Examine the back of the artwork to make sure it is free of dust.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;example1&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;5. How should I store my Artwork?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;Proper storage is required for any kind of artwork. The artwork in storage should be raised off the floor to allow air flow underneath, avoiding flooding, water damage or even normal moisture migration from floors into the atmosphere of the room. You should apply dividers between stacked paintings to avoid damage from pressure to each piece. Make sure the humidity in the room conforms to the dry standard used by your closest regional museums. You can always purchase a Thermal Hygrometer from Radio Shack or Amazon online for under $40 dollars and install it in the rooms you are using.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;We hope this has added to your knowledge of the best practices for preserving your Artwork.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;img title=&quot;Servicemaster of greater bridgeport art restoration &quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/service-master-fairfield-county-art-restoration_1513265462.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Fairfield County Art Restoration &quot; width=&quot;640&quot; height=&quot;372&quot; /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2017-12-14T00:00:00.05Z</published>
	</entry>
		<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/about-us/news-and-events/30463-what-causes-mold-in-a-house.html</link>
		<title>What Causes Mold In A House?</title>
		<updated>2017-12-05T00:00:00.05Z</updated>
        		<media:content url="https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/mold-easton_1512489558.jpg" medium="image" height="auto" width="100%"/>
        		<author>
			<name>Paul Plouffe</name>
		</author>
		<description>Following these simple guidelines will help keep your home a safer and healthier place to live year round.</description>
		<content type="html">&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;img title=&quot;Servicemaster mold removal team fairfield county connecticut ct water damage fire restoration art restoration cleaning service stratford easton fairfield bridgeport trumbull southport westport greenwich &quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/mold-easton_1512489558.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Service Master Mold Removal Team&quot; width=&quot;640&quot; height=&quot;426&quot; /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span&gt;Flooding&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Flooding is one of the leading cause of mold growth. This mostly affects basement spaces that take a long time to dry after a flooding incident.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;Many basements are finished, living space which can make keeping them dry before or getting them dry quickly after a flooding incident.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Leaking Roof&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Houses that have older roofs&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;and chimneys&amp;nbsp;&lt;span&gt;are more prone to leakage than newer ones&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp;,but did you know that most of the mold remediation done by our company has to do with improper ventilation from within. Moisture gets trapped inside the home and creates opportunities for all sorts of mold which normally grow outside to grow inside!&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;Regular inspections of your attic are advisable especially corners, edges, and contents that you may be storing for longer periods of time.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span&gt;Leaking Pipes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Water leakage could go unnoticed especially behind walls. This water could&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;migrate&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;through walls for weeks, even months, creating a great deal of mold&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp;which although is &amp;ldquo;invisible&amp;rdquo; may be compromising your indoor air quality. There are meters and camera&amp;rsquo;s that can inspect these areas available on the market and can range in price from under one hundred dollars to many thousands.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span&gt;Humidity&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Humid conditions coupled with or followed by rain are one of the leading cause of mold formation in your house.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;Recommended indoor relative humidity should be kept between 40- 50% &amp;nbsp;in New England to minimize the opportunity for growth.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span&gt;Damp/Wet Clothes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;A pile of wet/damp clothes could cause mold to grow on them. It is always a good idea to dry clothes immediately after they are washed.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span&gt;Poor Ventilation&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;When you have poor ventilation, wet surfaces take longer to dry up. This causes lodged water to create mold inside the house. Basements are most affected by this poor circulation&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;as are attics. Have them checked regularly to&amp;nbsp;ensure proper temperature and relativity are maintained throughout the year.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Following these simple guidelines will help keep your home a safer and healthier place to live year round.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2017-12-05T00:00:00.05Z</published>
	</entry>
		<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/about-us/news-and-events/22931-tips-tricks-for-carpet-care.html</link>
		<title>Tips &amp; Tricks for Carpet Care</title>
		<updated>2016-05-21T00:00:00.05Z</updated>
        		<author>
			<name>Bruce Carney</name>
		</author>
		<description>Tips to help you with spots and spills!</description>
		<content type="html">&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;It's never a good day when you get a spill on a new carpet - believe me. &amp;nbsp;At ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport we have over 30 years expertise in how to properly care for carpeting. &amp;nbsp;Below are a couple of tips for removing some of the most common spots and spills:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Red Wine&lt;/strong&gt; - Use club soda to flush the wine from carpet fibers&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Soft drinks&lt;/strong&gt; - Blot the area with a vinegar solution (1 part vinegar, 2 parts water) then blot with a detergent solution (1 teaspoon detergent with 1 quart water)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Gum&lt;/strong&gt; - Freeze it with ice and use a dull knife to chisel it off.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Latex paint&lt;/strong&gt; - Soak with dish detergent diluted with 20 parts water. &amp;nbsp;Agitate the area, blot, rinse, and blot again.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;Pet Urine&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;- Dampen area with equal parts white vinegar and water. &amp;nbsp;Then blot dry.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;Keep in mind these are only tips and cannot guarantee perfect results. &amp;nbsp;If you are not comfortable doing it on your own please give us a call at [phone]! &amp;nbsp;We have special proprietary products that work on most spills and spots!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2016-05-21T00:00:00.05Z</published>
	</entry>
		<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/about-us/news-and-events/22930-what-should-you-do-if-you-experience-a-water-loss.html</link>
		<title>What should you do if you experience a water loss?</title>
		<updated>2016-05-21T00:00:00.05Z</updated>
        		<author>
			<name>Bruce Carney</name>
		</author>
		<description>Want to learn some tips to help &quot;stop the bleeding&quot; and reduce the damage during a flood?</description>
		<content type="html">&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;Anyone who is a homeowner has dreaded water intrusion within their house. &amp;nbsp;Usually this means you will need professional help from a restoration vendor. &amp;nbsp;However - what if you knew some tips to help &quot;stop the bleeding&quot; and reduce the damage? &amp;nbsp;Here are a couple that you can use in the event of a water loss:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;First&lt;/strong&gt; - Turn off the main water supply! &amp;nbsp;Make sure to locate the main water supply valve in your house before you will need it. &amp;nbsp;This will cut off the water supply to the entire house.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Second&lt;/strong&gt; - Be sure to stay away from any standing water! &amp;nbsp;It's possible the water can be conducting electricity. &amp;nbsp;This is for your safety! &amp;nbsp;Make sure the electricity has been turned off.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Third&lt;/strong&gt; - Remove as much water as possible by mopping&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Fourth&lt;/strong&gt; - Remove wet area rugs and other floor coverings not attached&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;Do not try to use a regular household vacuum to extract the water, use any electrical appliances while on wet carpet, and do not disturb any visible mold!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;Make sure to call us ASAP if you ever encounter a water loss! [phone]&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2016-05-21T00:00:00.05Z</published>
	</entry>
		<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/disaster-restoration/case-studies/5782-ceiling-tile-cleaning-in-shelton-ct.html</link>
		<title>Ceiling Tile Cleaning in Shelton, CT</title>
		<updated>2016-05-09T11:17:42.05Z</updated>
        		<author>
			<name>ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport</name>
		</author>
		<description>&lt;p&gt;After inspecting the building, using blueprints and securing the proper wands for our HEPA vacuum system, we were able to remove the dust and debris from atop the drop ceilings. &amp;nbsp;The business was able to get back up and running quickly! Call today if you need any restoration/cleaning services in Greater Fairfield County.&lt;/p&gt;</description>
		<content type="html">&lt;p&gt;A local manufacturer in Shelton had reached out to ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport. &amp;nbsp;They recently had their roof replaced, however debris and dust had crept onto their drop ceilings. &amp;nbsp;They need to maintain a sterile environment, so they requested we go above the drop ceiling tiles and remove the dust.&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2016-05-09T11:17:42.05Z</published>
	</entry>
		<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/disaster-restoration/case-studies/5769-skunk-deodorization-in-stratford-ct.html</link>
		<title>Skunk Deodorization in Stratford, CT</title>
		<updated>2016-05-06T13:52:10.05Z</updated>
        		<author>
			<name>ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport</name>
		</author>
		<description>&lt;p&gt;Our technicians, Andre and Matt, used a mixture of our proprietary products in a wet fogger to aerate the inside of the house. &amp;nbsp;After everything settled they went back over all the hard surfaces with a mop. &amp;nbsp;The products are designed to neutralize skunk odor, and it did the trick for this job. &amp;nbsp;The customer was incredibly happy and we were as well to help someone in need.&lt;/p&gt;</description>
		<content type="html">&lt;p&gt;ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport received a call from a resident in Stratford - he explained that his dog was sprayed with a skunk and ran through the house, rubbing his face on everything in site. He tried to get the smell out but to no avail and requested our help. Our challenge was that the skunk smell is not something that can be easily removed. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2016-05-06T13:52:10.05Z</published>
	</entry>
		<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/about-us/news-and-events/18743-what-is-a-puffback.html</link>
		<title>What Is A Puffback?</title>
		<updated>2015-09-11T00:00:00.05Z</updated>
        		<media:content url="https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/puffback_1441717194.JPG" medium="image" height="auto" width="100%"/>
        		<author>
			<name>Bruce Carney</name>
		</author>
		<description>Are you prepared for a puffback? As the winter approaches - it is important to know about the dangers of furnace puffback.</description>
		<content type="html">&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;A puffback occurs when an oil burner backfires sending soot through your home. &amp;nbsp;It can happen all at once, like a balloon popping, or more gradually, as if someone is holding the end of a balloon and letting the air seep out slowly.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;img style=&quot;border: 5px solid black; float: right;&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/puffback_1441717194.JPG&quot; alt=&quot;Puffback&quot; width=&quot;400&quot; height=&quot;533&quot; /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;Although there is no guaranteed way to prevent a puffback, annual inspection and maintenance of your oil burner or funace can greatly reduce your risk.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;If a puffback occurs at your home soot can cover every surface and may range from light to very heavy. &amp;nbsp;Sometimes the disbursement of soot is so light and fine it appears to be ordinary dust. &amp;nbsp;However, this &quot;dust&quot; reappears hours after being cleaned. &amp;nbsp;There is often a strong odor of oil accompanying a puffback.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;What should you do if one were to occur? &amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;-Do not attempt to wash wallpaper or flat painted walls, as improper cleaning will further compound the soot residue&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;-Do not use retail cleaning solutions or soap.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;-Do not try to clean carpets or furniture&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;-Avoid touching items, as oils in your fingers can react negatively to the soot&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;-Notify your insurance company immediately&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;Make sure to call a professional, certified disaster restoration company such as ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport. Click &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.servicemastergb.com/free-estimate.html&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;here&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; for a FREE estimate!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2015-09-11T00:00:00.05Z</published>
	</entry>
		<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/about-us/news-and-events/18474-servicemaster-of-great-bridgeport-provides-recovery-to-barnum-museum.html</link>
		<title>ServiceMaster of Great Bridgeport Provides Recovery to Barnum Museum</title>
		<updated>2015-08-26T00:00:00.05Z</updated>
        		<author>
			<name>Bruce Carney</name>
		</author>
		<description>ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport is proud to assist the Barnum Museum in its recovery from damage caused by an EF1 tornado that touched down in Bridgeport in 2010.</description>
		<content type="html">&lt;p&gt;On June 24, 2010 an EF1 tornado touched down in the heart of Bridgeport wreaking havoc on the downtown area. &amp;nbsp;The Barnum Museum was not spared in its destruction, causing extensive structural and environmental damage to the historic landmark building and thousands of artifacts in the collection.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport is proud to assist the Barnum Museum in its recovery from this devastating storm.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;P.T. Barnum's impact reaches deep into our American heritage and the story of his vast contributions are preserved in his Bridgeport museum. Conceived and constructed by P.T., The Barnum Museum has proudly served an international audience since 1893, and is one of our country's great national treasures. The ornate, exotic building distinguishes the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut's uniqueness, it is a symbol of achievement and creativity, and is a testament to the pioneers and visionaries of the 19th century.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Kathy Maher, the Executive Director of the Barnum Museum, has become an expert in storm recovery for museums and is invited to speak all over the United States.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If you are interested in learning more about P.T. Barnum&amp;rsquo;s impact on the city of Bridgeport and the entire world, enjoy history, or want to help in the recovery, you can go to the Barnum Museum website at&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.barnum-museum.org/&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noopener&quot;&gt;www.barnum-museum.org&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As the area's restoration contractor, ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport provides cleanup and recovery for local homes and businesses following a disaster, such as&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.servicemastergb.com/disaster-restoration/water-damage.html&quot;&gt;water damage repairs&lt;/a&gt;,&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.servicemastergb.com/disaster-restoration/fire-damage.html&quot;&gt;fire damage restoration&lt;/a&gt;, and&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.servicemastergb.com/disaster-restoration/storm-damage.html&quot;&gt;storm recovery&lt;/a&gt;, as well as&amp;nbsp;professional cleaning services.&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2015-08-26T00:00:00.05Z</published>
	</entry>
		<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/about-us/news-and-events/17459-we-serve-day-2015-operation-restore-the-ballpark.html</link>
		<title>We Serve Day 2015 - Operation: Restore the Ballpark!</title>
		<updated>2015-08-21T00:00:00.05Z</updated>
        		<media:content url="https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/check_1440181257.JPG" medium="image" height="auto" width="100%"/>
        		<author>
			<name>Bruce Carney</name>
		</author>
		<description>ServiceMaster volunteers to help restore the baseball diamond at the Shehan Center.</description>
		<content type="html">&lt;p&gt;&lt;img style=&quot;display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: 5px solid black;&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/check_1440181257.JPG&quot; alt=&quot;ServiceMaster presenting check&quot; width=&quot;400&quot; height=&quot;300&quot; /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport participated in the third annual We Serve Day, in tandem with ServiceMaster locations all over the world! &amp;nbsp;The project chosen was to restore the baseball field at the Cardinal Shehan Center. &amp;nbsp;The Cardinal Shehan Center does a lot of great work within the Bridgeport community to enrich the lives of young people, and ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport is proud to support such an organization.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;In addition to having an army of volunteers restoring the park, ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport made a $2,000 dollar donation to the Cardinal Shehan Center!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;If you are interested in learning more about the Cardinal Shehan Center, or wish to lend your support, please visit their website at &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.shehancenter.org&quot;&gt;www.shehancenter.org&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2015-08-21T00:00:00.05Z</published>
	</entry>
		<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/about-us/news-and-events/17402-pre-loss-planning-by-paul-plouffe.html</link>
		<title>Pre Loss Planning by Paul Plouffe</title>
		<updated>2015-08-10T00:00:00.05Z</updated>
        		<author>
			<name>Paul Plouffe</name>
		</author>
		<description>Paul Plouffe had recently wrote a blog that is featured on the Bridgeport Regional Business Council (BRBC) website.  This is what he wrote:</description>
		<content type="html">&lt;h4&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;Paul Plouffe, CEO &amp;amp; President, ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;You know that everyone dies and everyone pays taxes. &amp;nbsp;But, did you know that almost everyone (7 out of 10 businesses) will not survive after experiencing a significant disaster?&amp;nbsp; That&amp;rsquo;s 70%!&amp;nbsp; As the leader of your business or organization, how can you beat those odds?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;Answer: It starts with a plan. Unfortunately, like the stop sign principle where a sign was installed after the accident, most companies don't begin planning until after a disaster has happened. Any good financial advisor will tell you that it's not how much you make (Asset Generation) it's how much you keep, (Asset Preservation). Tragically, many short sighted businesses will invest years in R&amp;amp;D, training, and infrastructure development, only to lose everything for failing to plan for the unexpected disaster.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;Fact 1: There is&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;never&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;a bad time to get started.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;Fact 2: There is&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;always&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;something you can do to improve your existing program.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;Here are a few things you can do immediately as you consider the subject.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;When renewing your insurance coverage, take the time to consider some &quot;extreme&quot; disasters such as planes flying into you building or perhaps having a disgruntled employee enter your premises.&amp;nbsp; After that&amp;rsquo;s considered you can plan for likely scenarios such as having your customer/client/patient data hacked or losing your server, what kinds of coverage you need for personal liability or cyber-attack, or sprinkler malfunction or identity theft.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;Think about taking your fire escape plan to another level. Designate an employee (or yourself) the safety manager- then regularly conduct safety meetings. &amp;ldquo;Deputize&amp;rdquo; willing volunteers to be part of a safety committee and show them the 10 things they will need to do to report and respond to an emergency.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;Consider partnering with a disaster restoration company to close the response gap regarding a potential loss. Have that disaster restoration company in your emergency vendor list for immediate reference when the need arises. There are incalculable financial advantages to having an existing relationship with a restoration vendor who already knows your people and your premises.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;Paul Plouffe, CEO and President of ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport, has been helping businesses plan for and recover from any kind of disaster &amp;ndash; whether it&amp;rsquo;s fire, flood, mold, or water damage for many years.&amp;nbsp; His focus has been on helping business leaders plan for and recover from unexpected disasters, often under some of the most challenging circumstances of their lives.&amp;nbsp;Paul&amp;rsquo;s certifications include IICRC Water Damage Restoration, Fire and Smoke, Applied Structural Drying, and he is a Certified Indoor Air Quality Manager.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;Paul Plouffe&amp;nbsp;is a proud and active member of the BRBC. &amp;nbsp;He serves on the BRBC Board of Directors and the BRBC's Marketing and Membership Committee.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2015-08-10T00:00:00.05Z</published>
	</entry>
		<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/about-us/news-and-events/17377-what-is-an-air-scrubber.html</link>
		<title>What is an air scrubber?</title>
		<updated>2015-08-03T00:00:00.05Z</updated>
        		<media:content url="https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/air-scrubber_1438262317.JPG" medium="image" height="auto" width="100%"/>
        		<author>
			<name>Bruce Carney</name>
		</author>
		<description>An air scrubber is a filtration system for the air.  We only use the best tools available for your disaster restoration problems!</description>
		<content type="html">&lt;p&gt;&lt;img style=&quot;display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: 5px solid black;&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/air-scrubber_1438262317.JPG&quot; alt=&quot;What is an air scrubber - Image 1&quot; width=&quot;400&quot; height=&quot;300&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;An air scrubber...that sounds like quite a fancy piece of equipment! &amp;nbsp;Simply put, an air scrubber is just a filtration system for the air. &amp;nbsp;Much like you would use a filter at home to strain water and remove particles, the air scrubber does the same on an atmospheric scale. &amp;nbsp;A lot of times after either a fire or mold we need to set these up to make the air breathable and safe as best we can. &amp;nbsp;The air scrubber uses a HEPA filter, which can remove up to 99.7% microns from the atmosphere around it. &amp;nbsp;This filter shown in the picture is removing a heavy smoke smell and making the air easier to breathe for everyone!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2015-08-03T00:00:00.05Z</published>
	</entry>
		<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/about-us/news-and-events/17225-servicemaster-of-greater-bridgeport-gets-a-new-addition.html</link>
		<title>ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport Gets A New Addition!</title>
		<updated>2015-07-13T00:00:00.05Z</updated>
        		<media:content url="https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/smart-car_1436807811.JPG" medium="image" height="auto" width="100%"/>
        		<author>
			<name>Bruce Carney</name>
		</author>
		<description>No, we don't have a new person starting - what we do have is a new vehicle!  ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport made an investment in a Smart Car.</description>
		<content type="html">&lt;p&gt;&lt;img style=&quot;display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: 5px solid black;&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/smart-car_1436807811.JPG&quot; alt=&quot;Smart Car&quot; /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;No, we don't have a new person starting - what we do have is a new vehicle! &amp;nbsp;ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport made an investment in a Smart Car for Bruce Carney, Director of Sales and Marketing, to help cut cost and to reduce our carbon footprint. &amp;nbsp;We believe that by going this route we can save greatly on gas while still reaching our customers in an expedient fashion. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Smart Car may look small, but it's tough! &amp;nbsp;It's 3 cylinder engine gets it about 70 Horsepower, and it seats two comfortably (Along with about four air movers!). &amp;nbsp;Smart Car also has a special transmission called Smartshift, in which the car is driven with manual transmission, but it has an electronic internal clutch.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;You will be seeing a lot of the Smart Car on the road (once we get our logo on!) so keep a lookout and make sure to wave hello when you see it!&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2015-07-13T00:00:00.05Z</published>
	</entry>
		<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/about-us/news-and-events/17118-be-prepared-for-a-hurricanes-aftermath.html</link>
		<title>Be Prepared For A Hurricane's Aftermath!</title>
		<updated>2015-06-16T00:00:00.05Z</updated>
        		<author>
			<name>Bruce Carney</name>
		</author>
		<description>With Hurricane season in swing - FEMA and Ready.gov recommend these steps!</description>
		<content type="html">&lt;p&gt;If you have become separated from your family, contact the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit the American Red Cross Safe and Well site at www.safeandwell.org. (The American Red Cross also maintains a database to help you find family. Contact the local American Red Cross chapter where you are staying for information. Do not contact the chapter in the disaster area.)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If you evacuated, return home only when officials say it is safe.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If you cannot return home and have immediate housing needs, text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area (example: shelter 12345). For those who have longer-term housing needs, FEMA offers several types of assistance, including services and grants to help people repair their homes and find replacement housing.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Drive only if necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed out bridges. Stay off the streets. If you must go out watch for fallen objects, downed electrical wires, and weakened walls, bridges, roads and sidewalks.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Keep away from loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to the power company.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Walk carefully around the outside your home and check for loose power lines, gas leaks and structural damage before entering.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Stay out of any building if you smell gas, if floodwaters remain around the building or if your home was damaged by fire and the authorities have not declared it safe.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Inspect your home for damage. Take pictures of damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance purposes.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If you have any doubts about safety, have your residence inspected by a qualified building inspector or structural engineer before entering.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Watch your pets closely and keep them under your direct control. Watch out for wild animals, especially poisonous snakes. Use a stick to poke through debris.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are sure it&amp;rsquo;s not contaminated. Check refrigerated food for spoilage. If in doubt, throw it out.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Wear protective clothing and be cautious when cleaning up to avoid injury.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Use the telephone only for emergency calls.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Never use a generator inside homes, garages, crawlspaces, sheds or similar areas, even when using fans or opening doors and windows for ventilation. Deadly levels of carbon monoxide can quickly build up in these areas and can linger for hours, even after the generator has shut off.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Source: &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes&quot;&gt;www.ready.gov/hurricanes&amp;nbsp;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If you have any storm damage that needs to be repaired, call ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport!&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2015-06-16T00:00:00.05Z</published>
	</entry>
		<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/disaster-restoration/case-studies/3685-flooded-house-restoration-in-trumbull-ct.html</link>
		<title>Flooded House Restoration in Trumbull, CT</title>
		<updated>2015-06-04T13:54:50.05Z</updated>
        		<author>
			<name>ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport</name>
		</author>
		<description>&lt;p&gt;Bruce Carney, Director of Sales and Marketing, reached out to Augliera Movers in West Haven and set up Chris Hindinger, Director of Operations, to meet to discuss with them how we need to move the content out of the house and to our secure facility to be cleaned. &amp;nbsp;The house was cleared out within two days, so our team could immediately start the drying work, while a few team members stayed at the facility and was directed by Robert Wilk, Maintenance Engineer, to clean and repack the items. &amp;nbsp;Eventually the customers were able to salvage their most prized possessions, and the structure was dried out and restored to before the incident occurred.&lt;/p&gt;</description>
		<content type="html">&lt;p&gt;The challenge was a house that completely flooded due to a burst feeder pipe in the upstairs bathroom. &amp;nbsp;All the content was covered in moisture with a lot of precious art pieces. &amp;nbsp;The call came in on Saturday morning and ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport President Paul Plouffe had made it on site within an hour of discovery. &amp;nbsp;Paul was immediately aware that this is a job that will require extensive coordination with another company.&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2015-06-04T13:54:50.05Z</published>
	</entry>
		<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/about-us/news-and-events/16503-collaboration-to-the-rescue.html</link>
		<title>Collaboration to the Rescue!</title>
		<updated>2015-04-06T00:00:00.05Z</updated>
        		<media:content url="https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/venetian-glass-chandalier_1428350861.jpg" medium="image" height="auto" width="100%"/>
        		<author>
			<name>Jennifer Doyon</name>
		</author>
		<description>ServiceMaster collaborates with the Chicago Conservatory to restore a client's heirloom glass chandelier.</description>
		<content type="html">&lt;p&gt;When Superstorm Sandy struck the Fairfield Beach area in October of 2012, Mrs. Freeman was right in its path. When she called in the disaster team to assess and mitigate, they discovered that her Venetian glass chandelier had been damaged. One of the leaves was broken and she did not know where to turn for repair.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;ServiceMaster to the rescue. Since most people do not have disasters on a regular basis, one thing they fail to understand is that a Restoration Company has resources that an ordinary cleaning company does not. In this case, ServiceMaster worked with the Chicago Conservatory, restoration specialists that routinely repair and restore all types of art for museums nationwide.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;They were able to take the samples we sent and replicate the glass by hand-blowing and coloring it to match &lt;img style=&quot;float: right; margin: 10px;&quot; title=&quot;Mrs. Freeman &amp;amp; Chandelier&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/venetian-glass-chandalier_1428350861.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Glass Chandelier&quot; width=&quot;275&quot; height=&quot;206&quot; /&gt;exactly the leaves of the broken fixture. Here we show a picture of Mrs. Freeman happily pointing to the final product. She was most grateful to have her family heirloom back the way it was before the storm.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In locations across the country, ServiceMaster has partnered with the Conservatory on several occasions to tackle similar challenges following damage caused by fires, floods, and other unexpected events. Please take a minute and explore the &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.theconservationcenter.com/&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Chicago Conservatory&amp;rsquo;s website&lt;/a&gt; to see some of the other interesting projects they have done.&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2015-04-06T00:00:00.05Z</published>
	</entry>
		<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/about-us/news-and-events/16289-beer-wine-tasting-event-a-resounding-success.html</link>
		<title>Beer &amp; Wine Tasting Event a Resounding Success!</title>
		<updated>2015-03-04T00:00:00.05Z</updated>
        		<media:content url="https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/photo-3_1425523998.JPG" medium="image" height="auto" width="100%"/>
        		<author>
			<name>Jennifer Doyon</name>
		</author>
		<description>On the evening of February 19, more than 600 people enjoyed a special beer and wine tasting event at the Trumbull Marriott which raised over $25,000. </description>
		<content type="html">&lt;p&gt;&lt;img style=&quot;margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; float: left;&quot; title=&quot;Beer and wine tasting event&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/3008/medium/photo-3_1425523998.JPG&quot; alt=&quot;Beer and wine tasting event&quot; width=&quot;300&quot; height=&quot;225&quot; /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;On the evening of February 19, more than 600 people enjoyed a special beer and wine tasting event at theTrumbull Marriott. We are thrilled to report that this event, held for the second time in partnership with the Stratford Professional Firefighters Burn Foundation, raised over $25,000 for the Connecticut Burn Center at Bridgeport Hospital! Guests enjoyed a large sampling of fine beer and wine from numerous vendors, as well as live music and food.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2015-03-04T00:00:00.05Z</published>
	</entry>
		<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/about-us/press-release/394-service-master-of-greater-bridgeport-hosts-ceremony-to-unveil-new-disaster-app.html</link>
		<title>Service Master of Greater Bridgeport Hosts Ceremony to Unveil New Disaster App</title>
		<updated>2013-01-17T11:51:20.05Z</updated>
        		<media:content url="https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/press_release/3008/medium/sm21_1358951036.png" medium="image" height="auto" width="100%"/>
        		<author>
			<name>ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport</name>
		</author>
		<description>New application offers a new tool for immediate clean up after fire, water or storm damage.</description>
		<content type="html">&lt;p&gt;&lt;img style=&quot;margin: 6px; float: left;&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/press_release/3008/medium/sm21_1358951036.png&quot; alt=&quot;Service Master of Greater Bridgeport Hosts Ceremony to Unveil New Disaster App - Image 1&quot; width=&quot;300&quot; height=&quot;225&quot; /&gt;A new app that will make it easier to access the Service Master of Greater Bridgeport disaster team in case of fire, smoke, wind or water damage was unveiled today at the company&amp;rsquo;s headquarters in Stratford.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Unveiled officially at a special event, the new app represents a tool for commercial and residential property owners to report an emergency at their location requiring immediate assistance.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The application has a &quot;call button&quot; feature which connects the user with Service Master&amp;rsquo;s 24/7 emergency response line. It also tracks property details and insurance information to help expedite claims.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&quot;To download the free App,&quot; Paul Plouffe Service Master GB president said, &quot;simply go to servicemastergb.com/app on the Web, click on your phone type, I-Phone or Droid, and you&amp;rsquo;re done.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Stratford-based firm provides commercial and residential restoration services in the wake of a disaster caused by smoke, fire, wind or water. For more information about Service Master GB, visit &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.servicemastergb.com&quot;&gt;servicemastergb.com&lt;/a&gt; or call [phone].&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2013-01-17T11:51:20.05Z</published>
	</entry>
		<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/about-us/press-release/376-dewitt-joins-service-master-of-greater-bridgeport.html</link>
		<title>DeWitt joins Service Master of Greater Bridgeport</title>
		<updated>2013-01-07T14:25:36.05Z</updated>
        		<author>
			<name>ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport</name>
		</author>
		<description>Latesha DeWitt has joined Service Master of Greater Bridgeport, headquartered in Stratford, as an administrative assistant.</description>
		<content type="html">&lt;p&gt;Latesha DeWitt has joined Service Master of Greater Bridgeport, headquartered in Stratford, as an administrative assistant.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In her new position she will provide customer support and well as support for the personnel function.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Prior to Service Master she was with 3PL as an executive assistant is Milford.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;She lives in Bridgeport and participated in the University of New Haven Criminal Justice program.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Stratford firm provides commercial and residential restoration services in the wake of a disaster caused by smoke, fire, wind or water.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2013-01-07T14:25:36.05Z</published>
	</entry>
		<entry xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
		<link>https://www.servicemastergb.com/about-us/press-release/370-service-master-of-greater-bridgeport-names-kuzmich-to-administrative-position.html</link>
		<title>Service Master of Greater Bridgeport Names Kuzmich to Administrative Position</title>
		<updated>2013-01-03T09:47:21.05Z</updated>
        		<author>
			<name>ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport</name>
		</author>
		<description>Service Master of Greater Bridgeport announced today that Jill Kuzmich has been named senior administrator and estimator.</description>
		<content type="html">&lt;p class=&quot;NoSpacing&quot;&gt;Service Master of Greater Bridgeport announced today that Jill Kuzmich has been named senior administrator and estimator.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;NoSpacing&quot;&gt;In her new position, Kuzmich is responsible for customer service, scheduling, and information gathering when customer emergencies arise. She also assists with estimating jobs as required for Service Master, the go-to firm that handles clean up after emergencies affecting commercial and residential customers.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;NoSpacing&quot;&gt;The Stratford resident grew up in Fairfield and graduated from Roger Ludlowe High School.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;NoSpacing&quot;&gt;The Stratford-based firm provides commercial and residential remediation services in the wake of a disaster caused by wind, water or fire. For more information about Service Master Greater Bridgeport, visit &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.servicemastergb.com/&quot;&gt;www.servicemastergb.com&lt;/a&gt; or call [phone].&lt;/p&gt;</content>
		<published>2013-01-03T09:47:21.05Z</published>
	</entry>
	</feed>

