Fire Safety for Businesses: Protecting Your Property

1/26/2024 (Permalink)

Fire prevention

Fires are an important threat to companies, and the consequences can be disastrous. From economic damage to the potential loss of people's lives, businesses must develop efficient fire prevention procedures. In this article, we'll look at useful recommendations for businesses, covering fire prevention techniques, emergency response plans, and the importance of expert restoration services.

Understanding the most common causes of company accidents is the first step toward prevention. Electrical problems, heating and cooking equipment, combustible materials, and human error are frequently the cause of such events. Businesses may modify their fire security techniques according to the risks they notice.

Easy Fire Prevention Tips:

• Electrical safety requires regular maintenance. Ensure that all equipment is utilized appropriately and that any defective wiring is fixed promptly.
• For optimal building safety, consider purchasing fire-resistant materials and designs. To make your home safer, upgrade your insulation and roofing, and add fire-rated doors and windows.
• Properly keeping and handling combustible items is essential. Implement safe storage methods, train employees on handling dangerous substances, and keep flammable objects away from potential ignition sources.
• Establish designated smoking places away from flammable objects. To minimize the chance of accidents, discourage smoking around possible risks of fire.

Emergency Readiness: Planning and Action Strategies

• Establishing and communicating proper evacuation procedures is essential for ensuring safety and property. Regular employee training drills are essential for increasing knowledge of processes, and exit routes must be well-marked and easily accessible. This preemptive approach enables a timely and orderly response during an emergency.
• A reliable fire detection system is essential for effective emergency response. Installation and frequent maintenance of smoke detectors and alarms are critical. Consistent testing ensures their functionality in crucial situations, providing early warnings required for effective emergency response and evacuation.
• Plan for effective communication amid disasters. Develop a comprehensive communication plan that includes emergency contact information as well as communication tools. Ensuring that everyone is informed and on the same page may significantly enhance emergency coordination, leading to a safer and more effective response.

Getting Back on Track with Restoration Services:

1. Acting Promptly

The aftermath of a fire requires rapid treatment. Acting quickly is crucial for preventing additional harm and starting the repair procedure. A timely assessment of the degree of the damage is required to establish a complete repair plan. This prompt response not only helps to save precious assets but also plays an important part in reducing downtime for your organization.

2. Collaborating with Professional Restoration Services:

Professional restoration services are essential for a successful recovery. These experts bring a plethora of knowledge and experience to the table, resulting in a quick and effective cleansing and restoration procedure. From assessing structural damage to adopting effective recovery plans, their knowledge accelerates the restoration process, allowing your firm to resume normal operations as soon as feasible.

3. Insurance Collaboration:

After a fire, navigating the aftermath can be financially tough. Working with your insurance provider can help relieve these pressures. Working closely with your insurance to document damage for claims is critical. Ensure that your insurance coverage includes restoration services since this not only protects your financial interests but also allows for a more efficient and comprehensive recovery process. A well-documented and collaborative strategy between restoration providers and your insurance carrier is critical to ensuring a successful repair outcome for your company.

Continue Researching and Stay Safe:

1. Employee Fire Safety Instruction: A strong fire safety program starts with regular training for employees. Regular fire drills guarantee that personnel are not only aware of but also well-versed in evacuation methods. These drills increase familiarity, minimizing terror during genuine situations. Furthermore, offering continual education tools is critical to keeping everyone up to date on the most recent safety procedures. Continuous learning ensures that your staff is proactive in preventing and responding to fire incidents, resulting in a safer workplace.
2. Creating a Safety Culture: Safety is more than simply a set of laws; it should get into all elements of your business. Recognizing and cheering safe behavior in employees develops a sense of responsibility and ownership. Positive reinforcement motivates employees to actively contribute to workplace safety. Businesses foster a culture of safety in which everyone feels empowered to disclose and handle possible dangers, resulting in a collective commitment to maintaining a secure and protected environment.

3. Follow Local Regulations: Following local fire safety rules is essential for prudent business management, in addition to being a legal necessity. Regularly updating fire safety measures based on code changes is critical to being compliant and, more importantly, improving the safety of your property. Collaborating with local fire departments for compliance checks ensures that your company not only meets the required standards but also receives professional views and guidance. Businesses that are proactive in following local standards contribute to the general safety and well-being of their employees and customers.

Finally, protecting your business from fire involves a combination of proactive steps, preparation, and expert teamwork. Businesses that follow these fire protection techniques can considerably lower the probability of fire incidents and mitigate the possible damage to their property and personnel. Remember that a minor investment in preventive today might save your company from big losses later. Stay safe, and prepared, and preserve what's most important.

Remember the importance of prompt restoration when protecting your business from fire hazards. At SERVPRO, we provide exceptional fire damage restoration services that provide more than simply solutions; we also provide peace of mind and a secure commercial area. Call SERVPRO at (480) 503-2090 for emergency assistance, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Invest in the security of your business with us.

The Silent Threat: Understanding Smoke Damage in Homes

1/22/2024 (Permalink)

Smoke damage in your home

Not only do the flames leave a mark after a fire, but so do other elements. The stealthy threat of smoke damage stays like a shadow, silently corroding the soul of home. Understanding this sneaky intruder is beyond merely knowledge; it is essential for sustaining the place of safety we call home.

1. What frequently takes center stage in the aftermath of a fire, leaving a less obvious but equally dangerous threat lurking beneath the surface?

The aftermath of a fire is typically marked by visible destruction, but the often-overlooked threat of smoke harm quietly affects homes in ways that are not immediately noticeable. Aside from the obvious coloring and aromas, smoke residue infiltrates every nook and cranny, lowering indoor air quality and permeating materials. This invisible threat may pose long-term health consequences, such as breathing troubles and discomfort. Recognizing the numerous nuances of smoke damage is critical for a thorough restoration approach that extends beyond surface removal. Immediate action is required to alleviate not only obvious damage but also hidden, lingering dangers that can endanger a home's security and well-being.

2. What is smoke damage, and how does it distinguish from being just the consequence of a fire?

Smoke damage is a convoluted combination of soot, ash, and toxic substances. Its insidious character stems from its tendency to enter and attach to surfaces, leading to discoloration and persistent scents throughout the home.

3. How does smoke damage vary, and what role do different materials play in its severity?

Smoke damage varies depending on the type of smoke and the materials used:

Wet smoke is a result of sluggish burning with high water content.

• Dense and sticky, leaving greasy residues.
• Results in severe and difficult-to-clean damage.

Dry smoke results from quick burning with minimal water content.

• Lighter and thinner, penetrates surfaces deeper.
• Initially appears to be easy to clean, but can cause severe harm.

The Role of Materials in Damage Severity:

• The intensity of smoke damage is closely related to the type of material used.
• Synthetic materials, polymers, and chemicals emit dense smoke, causing further harm.
• Surface hardness and porosity influence smoke particle absorption and retention.

4. What are the immediate implications of inhaling smoke residues?

Inhaling smoke remnants causes more than merely apparent harm and poses serious risks to one's health. The invisible particles in the air during a fire may contain toxins and cancer-causing agents, causing respiratory problems, eye discomfort, and long-term health risks. Recognizing these threats is critical for timely intervention and comprehensive restoration efforts. Acting quickly not only preserves immediate health, but it also reduces the risk of adverse health effects caused by exposure to toxic smoke residues.

5. How can smoke damage influence the underlying structure of a house?

Smoke damage can threaten a home's structural integrity, posing a risk to both health and infrastructure. The invisible residue gradually infiltrates construction materials, weakening essential components. This balance necessitates an in-depth investigation and quick intervention to ensure the security of residents and the longevity of the home's structure. Furthermore, the continuous existence of smoke residue may result in leftovers odors, emphasizing the vital need for complete restoration. This not only prioritizes health, but also provides a pleasant place to live free of the long-term effects of smoke harm.

In the aftermath of a fire, a comprehensive understanding of the consequences of smoke damage is essential to effective mitigation. Beyond the visible damage, the silent threat infiltrates homes, affecting air quality and the strength of structures. Distinguishing smoke damage from fire aftermath reveals its detailed the structure of soot, ash, and toxic substances, which has a long-lasting influence.

Variations in smoke damage, caused by smoke type and substance, emphasize the distinguishing features of wet and dry smoke. Material choices increase the impact, with synthetics creating dense smoke and surface properties influencing particle retention. The inhalation of smoke remains causes health concerns, highlighting the importance of prompt identification and intervention.

Smoke damage not only threatens a home's construction but also produces persistent scents, underscoring the importance of comprehensive restoration. Swift, comprehensive action is essential to address both visible and hidden hazards, protecting properties from the long-term impacts of smoke damage.

To summarize, proactive understanding and early intervention are critical in navigating the aftermath of a fire. To protect our houses' safety and well-being, restoration operations should address not only visible damage but also the hidden complications of smoke damage. If damage has already occurred, call (480) 503-2090 for prompt and effective restoration, limiting the extent of the damage and preventing long-term problems like mold growth. Taking this proactive approach to recovering your house ensures that it regains its pleasant nature efficiently and successfully.

How to Recover from A Kitchen Fire in Your Phoenix Home

9/25/2023 (Permalink)

Many fires experienced by Phoenix homes start in the kitchen. Between ovens, stoves, toaster ovens and other electrical appliances, as well as the potential for grease fires, there are plenty of opportunities for things to go wrong quickly and fires to start. Understanding what happens once the flames are out will help homeowners recover from a kitchen fire. SERVPRO® of Phoenix can help!

 
When a kitchen fire occurs, the damage adds up quickly

It’s a fairly typical scenario:  A fire starts in your kitchen, say, from a grease fire. While you were fortunate enough to distinguish the flames before it spread into another room, you’re still facing significant damage in one of the most functional rooms in your house. Perhaps cabinets were charred where you store canned goods, packaged staples, and backup condiments. Your countertops and surrounding walls were impacted by the flames as well. You need help with smoke and soot damage, as well as an assessment of the best steps to take to repair and replace burned appliances. Regardless of how severe the fire, there’s work to be done.

 
Your first line for recovery is calling in the experts

Once the SERVPRO® fire damage team arrives, they’ll conduct a comprehensive inspection of the fire-affected area and offer a recovery plan. They’ll look at any potential structural damage, and then go on to assess damage to appliances and other items in the kitchen. They’ll also do a thorough examination of what items were damaged with soot, and what kind of odor control measures need to be taken. The large team of IICRC-certified professionals can conduct services ranging from debris removal and reconstruction through odor removal and environmental purification. 

The cleaning process after a kitchen fire

After structural issues, if any, have been addressed, any damaged appliances are removed, but the work doesn’t stop there! Our technicians begin the process of cleaning with appropriate tools and products. When the pantry and cabinet areas have their turn, we may recommend most of the items be discarded depending on how heavy and damaging the smoke and soot are. Fire residue and the chemicals in the extinguisher used to douse the flames filter into your foods, contaminating them, and making them unfit for consumption. SERVPRO® of Phoenix fire restoration specialists therefore strongly suggests disposal of any consumables stored in permeable bags and boxes. Even the food stored in a freezer or refrigerator is at risk of tainting from smoke, and other unsafe compounds as their seals are not airtight. Exposed fruits, vegetables, and baked goods all need to be tossed as the dangerous residues caused by the fire do not completely wash away.

Fire damage is painful, but restoration doesn’t have to be

Many types of fires happen every year in Phoenix. The experts from SERVPRO® of Phoenix are here to help make your traumatic experience a little easier to recover from by offering our expert services in fire damage restoration. Give us a call at (480) 503-2090 for a post-fire inspection to get the restoration started.

Let SERVPRO Help You Recover from a House Fire

9/23/2022 (Permalink)

A fire of any size can cause some serious damage to your home. You may need professional fire remediation services to minimize additional damage and ensure a complete restoration if a fire occurs. Knowing what kind of fire remediation services are available to you can help you be better prepared should your home experience a fire. SERVPRO can help!

SERVPRO professionals are trained to help

SERVPRO technicians are IICRC certified, which enables us to offer a range of fire remediation services to address fire damage and get the restoration process started immediately after a fire. We are dedicated to responding immediately to your fire damage emergency. A faster response is important to help prevent additional damage and reduce the restoration cost overall. With recovery solutions, including debris removal, soot, odor, and smoke residue cleanup, and reconstruction efforts, our technicians and contractors can respond quickly to help get your home back to normal.

Fire remediation services

Here are some of our services that are available to you after you experience a fire in your home.

• Mitigation services: These services secure your property and prevent further damage after the fire. These services include boarding up any openings to secure the property, providing an alternative source of electricity, and emergency drying to prevent secondary water damage.
• Structural cleaning services: Structural cleaning services involve removing smoke and soot residue from your home and deodorizing the premises after a fire. Our experienced technicians step you through the process and endeavor to repair as much damage as possible. As the homeowner, you’ll be fully involved in the process from beginning to end.
• Contents cleaning services: Smoke and soot can damage your personal belongings and furniture if not cleaned promptly and thoroughly. SERVPRO has expertise in cleaning and restoring many personal items such as furniture, documents, and other valuables after smoke and soot damage. We use state-of-the-art equipment to get rid of the damaging smoke and soot as efficiently and as possible and restore your belongings to pre-fire condition whenever possible.
• Specialty cleaning services: We also help you to subcontract the cleaning of precious or delicate items such as electronics, clothing, and expensive artwork.
• Reconstruction services: A fire can cause structural damage that cannot be restored by fire damage restoration services. If there is a need for reconstruction or structural repair, you may need the help of licensed general contractors. SERVPRO’s building services are available to help.

SERVPRO is your remediation company

Fire damage restoration is a tedious process that takes time and patience. With SERVPRO, you get a team of fire damage restoration professionals who can help you restore your home back to preloss conditions in no time. Call SERVPRO of Phoenix today at (480) 503 - 2090 to schedule an appointment and discuss your options today. Our experts are here to offer you all the help and guidance you need to make the whole process as painless as possible. We’re here 24/7 to serve you!

Battling the Aftermath of Soot Damage Following a Fire

9/7/2022 (Permalink)

Sometimes even the smallest house fires can cause considerable damage. Not only can you experience fire damage on your walls and ceilings, but you may also suffer from extensive soot damage, which can be difficult to clean up. Here are a few tips on addressing soot after you experience a fire in your home.

What is soot?

Soot, sometimes called lampblack or carbon black, is a fine dark powder that can be sticky and is a product of incomplete combustion. It is unsightly and leaves a foul smell. During a fire, soot spreads to the whole house, attaching to several surfaces. The acidic properties of soot can damage your home if the soot is not removed immediately. Unfortunately, a simple swipe of a cloth will not help; you need professional remediation to completely remove it.

Do all house fires generate soot?

Most of the materials used for the construction of your home can catch fire and help it to spread throughout the structure. Unfortunately, this can spread the effects of the flames all throughout your property, which means you will experience some level of soot in your home after a fire has occurred. While you might be tempted to simply clean up the soot on your own, as mentioned above, cleanup is best left to the professionals, as it can be more difficult to completely clean than you might imagine.

How can soot be removed? 
 

Removing this residue requires multiple approaches. For wall surfaces, scrubbing with wet and dry sponges can often remove the bulk of the present film. Confined spaces like ductwork require high-powered vacuums to get used instead. SERVPRO of Phoenix can assist in cleaning ductwork. Smoke damage often presents itself in the form of a harsh odor lingering in fabrics, carpeting, and open spaces throughout affected areas of your house. Removal of this odor typically requires thermal fogging to break apart odor molecules and leave no discernable scent behind. Depending on the extent of soot damage found in the home, our highly trained technicians will know exactly what to do to address the soot throughout your home.

Call in fire clean-up specialists

Most often, the considerable effects that stand out from a house fire of any kind are smoke and soot damage. These are common versions of fire damage in homes, and they can often prove to be challenging to remove without the right equipment. Fortunately, our SERVPRO professionals have the tools and expertise to help you through often widespread soot damage throughout your household. While the most concentrated of this effect can get found around the fire originating point where it burned the longest, this is not always the case. The debris and film from the combustion leave a dark, often black residue on surfaces, furniture, flooring, and other materials. That is soot. Unless the fire didn’t spread at all and was quickly extinguished, it’s time to call fire clean-up specialists, or those skilled in fire damage remediation, to help with clean-up.

If you suffer a home fire, regardless of the extent of damage, it is a good idea to contact SERVPRO of Phoenix to help with all your fire damage remediation needs, including addressing soot. We can be reached 24/7 at 480-503-2090. Let us help restore your home to pre-fire condition.

Removing Soot After a Fire in Your Home

4/25/2022 (Permalink)

Regardless of the size, the damage resulting from a home fire can be significant. Not only can you experience fire damage on your walls and ceilings, but you may also suffer from extensive soot damage, which can be a challenge to clean up. Here are a few tips on addressing soot after you experience a fire in your home.

What exactly is soot?

Soot, sometimes called “carbon black,” is a fine black powder that can be a bit sticky and is a product of incomplete combustion. It leaves an ugly film on pretty much everything, as well as a foul smell. During a fire, soot spreads throughout the whole house, affixing to surfaces. The acidic properties of soot can damage your home if it’s not removed immediately. The pros at SERVPRO now how to do just that!

Do all house fires create soot?

Most of the materials used for the construction of your home could catch fire which can help it spread throughout the structure. Unfortunately, this can spread the effects of this blaze all throughout your property, which means you will experience some level of soot in your home after a fire, regardless of size. While you might be tempted to simply clean up the soot on your home, cleanup is best left to the professionals, as it can be more difficult to completely clean than you might imagine. Sometimes trying to clean it can create an even bigger mess if not done correctly.

When to call in fire remediation specialists

Most often the effects that stand out from a house fire of any kind are smoke and soot damage. These are common during fire damage in homes, and they can often prove to be challenging to remove without the right equipment. Fortunately, our SERVPRO professionals have the tools and expertise to help you through often widespread soot damages throughout your household. While the most concentrated of this effect can get found around the fires originating point where it burned the longest, this is not always the case. The debris and film from the fire leaves a black residue on surfaces, furniture, flooring, and other materials. That is soot. Unless the fire didn’t spread at all and was quickly extinguished, it’s time to call fire clean up specialists, or those skilled in fire damage remediation, to help with clean up.

How is soot removed? 
 
Removing this residue requires several approaches. For wall surfaces, scrubbing with wet and dry sponges can often remove the bulk of the present film but not all of it. Enclosed spaces like ductwork require high powered vacuums be utilized instead. SERVPRO of Phoenix can assist in cleaning ductwork. Smoke damage often presents itself in the form of a harsh odor lingering in fabrics, carpeting, and open spaces throughout affected areas of your house. Removal of this odor typically requires thermal fogging to break apart odor molecules and leave no detectable smell behind. Depending on the extent of soot damage found in the home, our highly trained technicians will know exactly what to do to address the soot throughout your home.

If you experience a fire in your home, it is a good idea to contact SERVPRO of Phoenix to help with all your fire damage remediation needs, including removing soot. We can be reached 24/7 at 480-503-2090. Let us help restore your home to pre-fire condition. Contact us when you need help!

Lingering Odors an Unexpected Challenge After a House Fire

4/20/2022 (Permalink)

Experiencing a fire in your home is devastating. Dealing with the aftermath can sometimes be even more traumatizing, from the restoration of materials to the removal of soot that seems to attach to every surface. Even when the flames are out, leaving considerable damage, there now permeates an odor throughout your home you’re certain you’ll never get out of. You need to get professional help with odors caused by fire damage When your home becomes inundated with these odors, it’s time to call SERVPRO of Phoenix.

Odors linger long after the fire is out

Once your home sustains fire damage, the smell of smoke can linger indefinitely. While these odors slightly improve when the air becomes drier or when the temperature decreases, they never truly disappear without professional intervention. Try as you may use air fresheners, the odor won’t go away because the cause of the odor has permeated into the materials of your home. Structural mitigation and restoration do little to alleviate an odor problem. Odors from soot particles left behind by burning plastics and other synthetics can make food taste bad, your clothing smell, and even cause health effects in some individuals. SERVPRO's Odor Control Technician (OCT) can help eliminate the odors you’re experiencing and do it quickly. The sooner you get a professional in to deal with the unwanted odors, the sooner they can be eliminated.

Next steps after fire restoration

Through our fire damage mitigation efforts, we eliminate most of the smoke residue in your home. Keep in mind that soot could have found its way inside and into adjacent areas which in turn traps odors. Areas behind cabinets, above ceilings, and inside walls hide soot particles as well, but our professionals know how to seek these areas out and get to the root of the odors. The science of eliminating odors can be challenging, so it’s best to leave the restoration and odor remediation to experts. SERVPRO uses a technique to get to these particles wherever they might hide. Instead of removing them manually, thermal fogging eliminates odor’s ability to return to your home's air. The forced mist spreads out in the same way the smoke did and chemically bonds with any loose soot particles. The added weight makes it impossible for the soot to get lifted back into the air currents that travel through your home, thus eliminating the potential of odors arising again in the future. Other areas that might hold onto odors include carpeting and drapes. While soot can remain trapped here and thermal fogging might not reach all the residue hiding in the backing and pad underneath carpeting, our technicians can still treat the area with potent liquid deodorizers. We can infuse these directly into the absorbent padding. Other areas that continue to harbor odor sources often respond well to hidden gel packs, of which we have several different scents. These also last a significant amount of time. Our technicians have an arsenal of options to address odor issues!

Proper training in odor removal

We have the training and equipment to identify and eliminate offensive odors. By identifying the cause of the odor, and determining the conditions where it contacts surfaces, the odor can often be removed over time without a trace. Our technicians have access to several odor removal products capable of penetrating surfaces to neutralize an unpleasant odor thoroughly. Call SERVPRO of Phoenix at (480) 503-2090 to make sure that every aspect of your home's fire damage mitigation, including the elimination of odors, is handled professionally and by skilled specialists. We are here to help!

Functioning Smoke Detectors Can Protect You from Fire

1/28/2022 (Permalink)

An often-overlooked home maintenance item is smoke alarms. While many homeowners know the value of smoke detectors, few take the time to make sure they’re in working order, which can render an alarm useless in protecting your home. You can protect your home from fire damage with smoke alarms. Learn more about them and your home to stay protected.

Why do homes need smoke alarms at all?

Smoke alarms play a vital responsibility in protecting your home and your family. When properly installed, they can reduce the risk of fire injury by providing early detection. It can also help minimize damage to your home by providing early detection of smoke and fire, allowing for a faster reaction to the situation. The National Fire Protection Association recommends smoke detectors be installed in every bedroom, outside all sleeping quarters, and on every level of the house. Here are a few tips regarding smoke alarm installation, testing, and maintenance:

• Install smoke alarms on every level of the home, including the basement.
• Smoke alarms should be located away from the kitchen to prevent false alarms.
• Test smoke detectors at least once a month.
• Replace batteries in all smoke alarms annually.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.

Are smoke alarms really enough protection for a home?

Smoke detectors work best when paired with a well-crafted but simple fire escape plan. Such a plan allows your family, including your family pets, to escape quickly and safely in an emergency. The Red Cross offers a fire escape plan that homeowners can use. While smoke alarms can’t prevent a fire, early detection can protect your family’s safety, alerting them to get out of the home quickly in case of fire, and possibly minimizing damage to the home by addressing the fire early and extinguishing it quickly. Having functioning smoke alarms in your home is crucial to overall protection of your home, belongings, and family.

If you experience a fire, contact SERVPRO

If you experience a fire in your home, contact a fire remediation company like SERVPRO of Phoenix to help address the damage done by fire, smoke, soot, and fire extinguishing materials. Our SERVPRO IICRC-Certified fire restoration technicians can help, regardless of how extensive the damage is. We’ll work to make your home look "Like it never even happened," addressing property damage as well as odors to help restore your home to livable condition whenever possible. If you experience fire damage of any kind in your home, contact SERVPRO at 480-502-2090. We’re here 24/7 to help if your home experiences a fire!

Dealing with Smoke Damage After a Fire

11/22/2021 (Permalink)

Whenever a fire of any size ignites inside a home, smoke can affect items even if they were in a different room than the blaze. That’s why extinguishing the flames after a house fire doesn’t mean your woes are over. Learn about dealing with smoke damage after a fire.

How does smoke damage happen?

During a fire, combustion takes place. Smoke is created by materials that do not burn completely. With a burn, smoke can travel all over the house causing various problems even after the fire is out. A big part of mitigating fire damage is dealing with smoke-related issues. When a blaze takes place materials all over the home get coated in soot residue, and foul odors are left behind. If central air was on during the fire, this helps move smoke throughout the whole house which exacerbates the damage.

How can SERVPRO help with smoke damage?

When restoring a house damaged by soot and smoke, our technicians inspect the home to determine which areas were affected which helps establish which cleaning methods to use based on how concentrated the soot is, the type of residue present, and the kind of materials affected. If the soot is heavily concentrated, then it can be difficult to clean, whereas light residues can be wiped off easily. Having a professional fire remediation specialist review the damage and follow a specific restoration process is critical to the success of cleanup.

Why different approaches for cleanup?

A fire creates various kinds of smoke throughout its duration based on the materials it burns, the speed of combustion and the amount of oxygen. When synthetic materials are burned, they create soot that adheres to surfaces better than residues resulting from natural substances such as wood. Fires that burn slow and lack oxygen produce wet smoke that can be extremely difficult to remove compared to quick-burning fires that create dry smoke. The type of materials surfaces are made of also affects the cleanability of soot residues. Non-porous materials such as plastic and metal repel moisture well making them easy for technicians to clean using wet, water-based chemicals. Non-porous materials such as softwood and upholstery absorb soot residues better and can penetrate deep into the material. Water-based chemicals can soak the soot deeper into the material causing them to get ruined. Dry cleaning methods such as wiping with a dry sponge prove to work better in removing soot from porous substances.

Work with a professional for the most effective smoke damage remediation

 
Various methods are available to use when dealing with smoke and soot. If you need assistance removing smoke residue and soot from your home after a fire, call SERVPRO of Phoenix at (480) 503-2090 24 hours a day. We’re here to help you recover quickly!

Is Too Much Technology a Fire Risk to Your Home?

9/28/2021 (Permalink)

With more and more gadgets available to consumers, the increased need to plug in and recharge those items increases significantly. Keeping cell phones, iPads, iPods, and all the other fun technology we have charged often means plugging charging cables into adapters. Even more practical technology like hearing aids, electric shavers, and electronic toothbrushes now are rechargeable, yet another item in need of power! This practice and others like it can lead to overheated plugs and eventually cause a fire. Learn how to stay plugged in while staying safe.

Understand plugging in safely
 

Using properly rated power strips can protect your home from fire damage caused by too many electrical devices plugged into one socket. This used to be a challenge only for areas of the house that traditionally demanded a lot of plugged-in items, such as family rooms with TVs, stereos, DVDs, etc. A second room with huge power demand is home offices where computers, phone chargers, printers, and monitors demand power, as well as routers. Now we have a third room demanding power: the bathroom. Electric shavers, hearing aids, toothbrushes, cordless facial brushes, and more up increasing demand for power in the bathroom. Nowadays, vanities and drawers in bathrooms hold electrical outlets, which make any electrical issue such as overheating and burning out of sight and therefore more apt to catch fire if overloaded. The challenge is that even with the best adapters, too much plugged into a single device can overload and thus overheat. The rubber or soft plastic electrical cords on many devices give off noxious fumes when overheated or burned, which can create very dense soot if temperatures are high enough. The plugs can also contribute to this, as well as melt and cause the carpeting and adjacent wall to singe or burn. A definite safety hazard!

SERVPRO can help with damage caused by electrical fires
 

The trained professionals at SERVPRO know how this kind of disaster can affect your family and we are ready to help clean up the damage and make things “Like it never even happened.” The areas above doorways and windows near the fire often contain concentrated levels of smoke residue while areas in direct contact with flames will have more substantial damage. We begin working to remove this soon after we arrive. Allowing this substance to remain longer only allows it to adhere more tightly, making it more difficult to clean away. We also clean anything else in your home where smoke residue and soot settled. After a fire, odor from the fire, even if a low smoldering flame, becomes very noticeable. While cleaning soot off surfaces removes a significant amount of this odor, if the fire created enough smoke, the odor left behind might remain because its source hides in areas where our tools cannot reach. Our IICRC-certified Odor Control Technician (OCT) can efficiently manage this mess. For the toughest odors, we rely on thermal fogging and other techniques. For smaller fires, the use of gel packs and injected deodorizers often suffices. Working with a trained fire remediation company allows you to have options should you experience an electrical fire.

Enjoy the technology but know who to call

 
Technology is here to stay, so understanding how to safely charge up your devices is critical to keeping your home from experiencing fire damage of any kind from electrical devices. SERVPRO of Phoenix is ready to help should you experience an electrical fire and can provide you with the level of service you deserve. Call us at (480) 503-2090 so we can help mitigate your home after it suffers smoke or fire damage from electrical devices.

SERVPRO Offers a Variety of Fire Remediation Services for Homeowners

9/9/2021 (Permalink)

Regardless of the size, a fire can cause some severe damage to your home. Depending on the extent of the damage, you may need professional fire remediation services to minimize additional damage and ensure a complete restoration. Understanding what kind of fire remediation services are available to you can help you be better prepared should your home experience a fire.

SERVPRO professionals are trained to help

SERVPRO technicians are IICRC certified which allows us to offer a variety of fire remediation services to address fire damage and get the restoration process started right away after a fire. SERVPRO of Phoenix is dedicated to responding immediately to your Phoenix fire damage emergency. A faster response is the key to help prevent additional damage and reduce the restoration cost. With recovery solutions including debris removal, soot, and smoke residue cleanup, addressing indoor air quality concerns, and reconstruction efforts, our IICRC-certified technicians and contractors can respond quickly to help.

Fire remediation service options

Here are some services that are available to you after you experience a fire in your home.

• Mitigation services: The focus of mitigation services is to secure your property and prevent any further damage after the fire has occurred. These services include boarding up any openings to secure the property, providing an alternative source of electricity, and emergency drying to prevent secondary water damage. Handling these issues quickly can keep further damage to a minimum
• Structural cleaning services: Structural cleaning services involve removing smoke and soot residue from your home and deodorizing the premises after a fire. Our experienced SERPVRO technicians step you through the entire process and strive to repair as much damage as possible. As the homeowner, you’ll be fully involved in the process from beginning to end.
• Contents cleaning services: Smoke and soot can damage your personal belongings and furniture if not cleaned promptly and thoroughly. While it may seem that wiping down belongings will suffice, that’s not always the case. SERVPRO technicians have expertise in cleaning and restoring many personal items such as furniture, documents and photographs, and other valuables after smoke and soot damage. We use state-of-the-art equipment to get rid of the damaging smoke and soot as efficiently and as quickly as possible and restore your belongings to pre-fire condition whenever possible.
• Specialty cleaning services: We also help you to subcontract the cleaning of precious or delicate items such as electronics, clothing, and expensive artwork.
• Reconstruction services: In some instances, a fire can cause structural damage that cannot be restored by fire damage restoration services. If there is a need for reconstruction or structural repair, you may need the help of licensed general contractors. SERVPRO’s building services are available to help.

Fire damage restoration is a slow process that takes time and patience. With SERVPRO, you get a team of fire damage restoration professionals who can help you restore your home back to preloss conditions in no time.

Contact SERVPRO of Phoenix after a fire

Call SERVPRO of Phoenix today at (480) 503 - 2090 to schedule an appointment and discuss your options today. Our experts are here to offer you all the help and guidance you need to make the whole process as painless as possible. We’re here 24/7 to serve you!

Actions to Avoid Following a House Fire

4/26/2021 (Permalink)

Once a home fire has been extinguished, it’s a natural impulse to try and clean up as quickly as possible but doing so may cause more damage than good. Below is a list of actions to avoid following a house fire to help you recover quickly and safely.

Avoid using electronics

After a fire, it’s best to wait until a professional arrives on the scene to ensure electronics are safe to use. This includes TVs, computers, and DVD players. Even the A/C needs to stay off until you get the all-clear. Turning on electronics can create greater damage.

Don’t try to clean possessions on your own

While it’s tempting to grab a bucket of water and get to work, it's best if you do not clean walls, ceilings, and other similar surfaces, and wait to clean your clothing and similar garments. A professional should examine them first and provide advice. In some cases, different types of approaches to cleaning are necessary for different items to avoid causing further damage, so it’s best to wait for a fire remediation professional to give you advice before trying to clean on your own.

Toss all food in your home

Never eat anything that was in the home during the fire. Smoke, soot, and chemicals can get into everything and it’s better to be safe than sorry. It is most likely not safe to consume due to contamination from smoke, soot, or contaminants introduced to the environment when the fire was being extinguished. That includes canned goods. Heat damage may not be seen on the outside of canned goods, but the heat can re-cook the ingredients in the can causing harm.

Refrain from cleaning up after firefighters

Unfortunately, extinguishing a fire can cause a mess on its own as fire retardants and other foams or powders may have been used to stop the flames. Forgo trying to clean up any staining from the powder discharged by a fire extinguisher. It is best to let professionals guide the cleanup of these areas as they have the equipment to handle different types of chemical cleanup on a variety of surfaces.

It’s always tempting to start the cleanup process immediately and do as much as possible. The best course of action is to hire a certified professional to provide expert knowledge and service. The situation requires specialized tools and knowledge that only a professional can provide. A trusted professional will offer an after-fire checklist that will help speed along the fire and smoke damage cleanup process. Consulting a professional will help you restore your property back to like-new condition as quickly as possible. If you experience a house fire, contact SERVPRO of Phoenix 24/7 at 480-503-2090 to get the help you need.

Electronics Fires Are a Risk for Most Homes

4/21/2021 (Permalink)

Fires caused by electronics are on the rise in household across the country. More and more homes are investing in various types of electronics, all in need of charging at one point or another, and often left unattended while they’re charging. While there are basic safety habits that we should follow for these devices, most of us disregard these habits and put our homes at risk. When a house fire caused by electronics occurs, and the recovery process can be tough.

Preventing a house fire from electronics

Computer, tablet, and cell phone chargers need space for air circulation, as they put off a substantial amount of heat during charging cycles which must be dispersed with the right amount of ventilation. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for people to put these chargers by their beds, surrounded by flammable items which can cause significant heat. Devices that are covered up and not able to “breathe” can build up the heat and ignite a fire; often when no one is home to quickly extinguish the flames or asleep and unaware a fire has started. The lithium-ion batteries in these devices have containers that are pressurized and can rupture if the temperature goes up too fast or melt if they are heated for a long time. Many people think electronics fires are caused by faulty chargers, but these fires can happen when devices are on a charger or not. Following basic safety rules can protect your home from a house fire. Fire damage in your home from your electronic devices are almost entirely avoidable with a little diligence in following safety rules. Not charging your phone in or by your bed, and making sure all devices are on a hard, flat surface while charging helps avoid these disasters. Also keeping any charging electronic uncovered to allow for proper air circulation helps with overheating and potential fire damage.

If you experience an electronics fire

If you experience fire from an overheated cell phone, tablet, or other devices, there’s additional clean-up to face once the flames are extinguished. It’s best to leave the cleanup to the professionals at SERVPRO of Phoenix. SERVPRO has the training to know how to clean up your home after a fire of any kind and understand the special challenges of fires caused by electronics.

When electronics burn, they emit particles like those from burning plastics which become electrically charged are known as ionization. The particles can adhere to surfaces and can be a challenge to clean. At SERVPRO, we understand that because of this, clean up after an electronics fire takes special care to not only get rid of the smoke particles but to eliminate the acrid smell that accompanies burned plastics. Our highly trained technicians use advanced technology to clean your home, removed the damaged electronics, and address any odor issues to restore your home to pre-fire conditions. When a SERVPRO technician arrives on the scene, they’ll do a comprehensive job evaluating the situation, providing you with a clear plan ahead of time so you know exactly what to expect.

Contact us when you need help

You can rest assured that your home can be cleaned and restored by our staff thoroughly when you reach out to us at (480) 503-2090. We’re available 24/7 to help you recover from a fire caused by electronics.

Fire Safety Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

2/1/2021 (Permalink)

It’s no secret how devastating a house fire can be, so it only makes sense to do everything possible to keep your home safe and know what to do if you do encounter a blaze. Here are a few key fire safety tips to keep in mind.

Frequently inspect your home’s smoke detectors.

Smoke detectors are extremely important to fire safety and should be installed in every bedroom and on every floor of your home. While many suggest annually changing the batteries in detectors, homeowners should also do a routine monthly check to ensure they are operational, and replace them every 10 years or as directed by the manufacturer. Regardless of whether they’re battery-operated or hard-wired, these more frequent checkups can help keep your home safe.

Have a family fire escape plan. 

Understandably, people can become overwhelmed when a home fire breaks out. Creating an evacuation plan for the event of a house fire starting is a great way to ensure everyone in your household will know exactly what to do and can act efficiently if a fire starts. Plan out exit routes, meeting places and any special provisions your family members may need. Assign one person specific tasks such as gathering pets or contacting family members not in the home to ensure everyone is protected and communication stays consistent.

Know how to operate a fire extinguisher. 

Did you know there are actually several kinds of fire extinguishers available? Because of that, important to get the type you think will be most suited to your needs. Make sure you fully understand how to use it and share the information with your family members, as well. Here’s a summary of the different types of extinguishers. To correctly use a fire extinguister, remember the word PASS:

• Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you and release the locking mechanism.
• Aim low; pointing the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
• Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
• Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side.

Never leave flames unattended. 

Because open flames are so common in the household, many people forget the extreme dangers they can pose. Whether it is from a cooktop or candle, a flame can spread to other surfaces in an instant, which is why it is vital to never leave one unattended for any length of time. Pets and children can easily cause a fire if left unattended. Always extinguish all flames when you’re not in the room.

Have a plan should a fire break out

No one wants to consider the unthinkable, but you need to have a plan on what to do if a fire breaks out. In addition to the fire escape plan mentioned above, consider what you’ll need to do once the fire is extinguished. It’s important to contact a fire remediation company to assist with the damage left behind from smoke and flames. SERVPRO of Phoenix has a staff of trained professionals to assist you in this time of need. We’re available 24/7 to help you recover from a house fire. Call us if you experience a fire or any other type of disaster at 480-503-2090. We’re here to help!

Addressing the Smoke Smell in Your Home After a Fire

11/23/2020 (Permalink)

When you experience a house fire, the damage can be devastating. Beyond the charred materials from flames is the lingering smell of smoke. Smoke damage can often be one of the most widespread effects to contend with in your home after a fire. While there are other concerns to address after a fire often take precedent for restorations and mitigations, restoring damage to your property should include addressing the smoke to get your home back to normal.

Odor removal

Much of the cleanup and restoration after a fire in your Phoenix home focuses on cleaning and fire smoke odor removal. Indoor air quality is also a primary focus for our SERVPRO® professionals once the first responders have left. We work quickly to establish our purification equipment such as air scrubbers and hydroxyl generators to run the available air through HEPA filters over time to begin pulling smoke particles and soot from the environment and reducing hazards or risks of exposure without respirators.

How we address smoke damage

Smoke damage often depends on the type of smoke that impacted your home during the fire. Dry smoke results from high heat but is also a residue that is much easier for technicians to clean with dry and wet sponges on the coated surfaces. Wet smoke leaves a thick residue on surfaces and contents, which often requires specialized equipment to clean and deodorize fully. This kind of smoke damage is definitely best left to the experts! The heat generated by a fire impacts the actual penetration of soot particles into porous materials like drywall and fabrics.

Getting rid of the lingering smell of smoke

Improving the odors in your home after a fire is also a concern for our team, but these steps often follow reconstruction and other restoration efforts. Waiting for deodorization allows our technicians to leave your home completely cleaned and odor-free. Our thermal foggers can often do the greatest amount of deodorization, as these machines are suitable to use in open areas, fabrics, soft materials, and work to remove odors from surfaces as well. We work hard to completely address fire and smoke damage, from cleaning to restoration, and finally addressing ongoing odors of smoke.

If you experience a fire, our team can arrive quickly to help lessen the damage and prolonged impact of a fire emergency, and work to eliminate the presence of smoke damage. Our SERVPRO of Phoenix rapid response team has the expertise and tools to help. Give us a call today at (480) 503-2090 24/7 if you experience a fire in your home. We are here to help!

Work with Professionals to Help Restore Items After a Fire

9/29/2020 (Permalink)

During a fire, combustion, which is in the process of a solid turning into a gas by applying heat, takes place. Smoke is created by materials that do not burn completely. When fire burns, smoke can travel all over the structure, causing a variety of problems. A large part of mitigating fire damage in Phoenix is dealing with smoke-related issues once the flames have been extinguished. When a blaze takes place, materials all over the home can get coated in soot residue, and foul odors can get left behind.

Restoring items after smoke damage

When restoring a house damaged by smoke, our SERVPRO technicians inspect the structure to figure out which areas got affected. We then determine which cleaning methods to use based on how concentrated the soot is, the type of residue present on items and the kind of materials were affected. If the soot is heavily concentrated, it can be challenging to clean, whereas light residues can be wiped off easily. Having a professional assess damage is critical to fire remediation, and smoke damage clean up.

Types of smoke that cause damage

A fire creates different kinds of smoke throughout its duration based on the materials it burns, the speed of combustion, and the amount of oxygen present. When synthetic materials burn, they create soot that clings to surfaces, whereas residues resulting from natural substances such as wood cause let soot to adhere, though still difficult to clean. Fires that burn slow and lack oxygen produce a wet smoke that can be extremely difficult to remove compared to quick-burning fires that create a dry smoke. Our trained technicians know how to assess the type of smoke caused by the fire and how to address it.

Types of material surfaces
 

The type of materials surfaces are made of also affects how easily soot residues can be cleaned. Non-porous materials such as plastic and metal deter moisture well, making them easy for SERVPRO technicians to clean using damp, water-based chemicals. Non-porous materials such as softwood and upholstery absorb soot residues better and can penetrate deep into the material. Water-based chemicals can soak the soot deeper into the material, causing them to get ruined. Dry cleaning methods such as wiping with a dry sponge prove to work better in removing soot from porous substances. This is why various methods are available to use when dealing with multiple types of soot residues that affected different kinds of materials. There are different types of cleaning chemicals, as well as application methods that are designed specifically for dealing with certain situations.

A fire can be damaging, not only by the flames but the residual smoke and soot left behind. If you suffer a fire in your home or business and need help removing smoke residues and soils, call SERVPRO of Phoenix at (480) 503-2090 24 hours a day. Our trained technicians will help you recover from this disaster as quickly as possible.

Smoke from a House Fire Can Cause Significant Damage

9/9/2020 (Permalink)

A house fire can be devastating. Fire can cause structural and cosmetic damage that takes a long time to restore. What many people don’t realize is that aside from the flames, one of the most significant factors causing extensive damage from a house fire is the smoke and soot during a fire and after the flames have been extinguished.

Smoke residue

The smoke residue adheres to the surfaces of your home and causes discoloration and possibly structural damage. Understanding the behavior of smoke during a fire can help you understand the restoration process better and how SERVPRO can help. Different types of smoke cause different types of damage and need to be treated differently. Wet smoke, such as occurs with plastics, can leave items sticky, while dry smoke, such as wood or paper, can leave ash and powdery residue. Unfortunately, there is also damage done from trying to extinguish flames, such as fire extinguisher residue that requires a different type of cleaning. Working with fire damage restoration experts make all the difference in how well the home is restored after fire damage occurs.

The temperature of the smoke during a fire

The temperature of the smoke itself and the temperature of the surrounding surfaces affect the extent of the fire damage in Phoenix. Smoke rises away from the fire and is carried to different places by a process known as convection. Fire produces heat, and as a result, the air above the fire becomes hot, expands, and becomes lighter. The lighter air moves up, and its place is taken by the denser cold air. The process generates air currents called “convection currents”. It is due to these currents that the smoke rises. As the temperature of the air increases, the pressure it wields against the surfaces increases as well. What it means is that hotter fires produce a hotter smoke that is forced against the surfaces. The smoke particles in such fires can go deep into the surface pores and cause substantial damage. SERVPRO professionals understand the nature of smoke and design strategies accordingly.

The temperature of home surfaces

As hot smoke from a fire migrates to colder surfaces in a home such as outside walls, closets, and unheated rooms, these areas are damaged the most. It can be surprising to see how much smoke residue finds its way into drawers and closets, and other areas that would appear protected from such damage. SERVPRO technicians can use several techniques to clean surfaces that are heavily damaged by smoke and soot and help find other areas such as drawers and closets that also need attention.

Recovering from fire and smoke damage in your home

A fire can be a traumatizing experience, so it’s essential to seek professional help to address the damage as soon as you can. Trained technicians have a better chance of successfully restoring your home if they can get to work before the damage becomes permanent, so don’t hesitate if you experience a fire in your home. Call SERVPRO of Phoenix at (480) 503-2090 today to speak to one of our restoration experts.

Kitchen Safety Tips to Prevent a Kitchen Fire

4/29/2020 (Permalink)

We all look forward to cooking a wonderful meal with our loved ones, especially recently when we’re spending a lot of time together. You should always practice fire safety in the kitchen so that you can prevent a fire from occurring. Kitchen fires are sadly quite common, and fire damage can be costly; a single fire may cause hundreds if not thousands of dollars in fire damage, and can put those you love at risk. Here are some fire prevention tips from SERVPRO of Phoenix for your kitchen:

Keep Your Kitchen Clean

Before you even begin to prep for the meal, ensure that the entire kitchen is clean by clearing all grime from the oven, washing the microwave, and making sure the floors are swept. Also make sure that there’s nothing flammable near your stove or oven. Leftover food particles and grease can start a fire before you know it. Towels and potholders too near a flame can catch fire and spread quickly. A clean, uncluttered kitchen is a safe kitchen.

Protect Yourself While Cooking

When cooking, make sure to wear the right clothing. Don’t wear anything with dangling loose sleeves that could catch fire. Oven mitts are a must when you bring things out of the stove, too. Hot pots, pans, and utensils can catch other items on fire, so prepare a place to put them after you bring them out. Clear an area for hot items, and make sure the surface is clean and dry. 

Be Careful with Children in the Kitchen

Mealtime brings the kids into the kitchen, and they will enjoy help you by performing simple tasks, such as helping to get things out of the fridge. You can use this time to teach them fire safety and to ensure that they know to keep away from stoves and any other place where there might be live flames. Knowledge is one of the best fire prevention tools out there. Need more fire safety tips for kids?  Here’s a great list to share!

Properly Store Kitchen Items and Cleaners

One of the best ways to help prevent fires in your kitchen is to store all chemicals like solvents away from any heat source. Many people keep cleaning supplies under the sink which is fine (protected from little ones, of course). Or you can keep cleaning fluids on shelving that is protected far away from the stove and range, and make sure that any pots you are using have all handles away from everyone in the kitchen. Knocking a burning pot or pan onto the floor or a person can cause serious injuries and start a fire quickly. 

Kitchen fires can happen fast, even when you’re using all the right precautions. If you experience a kitchen fire, contact SERVPRO of Phoenix to help restore your kitchen back to normal. We’re here 24/7 to serve you! Call us at (480) 503-2090.

How to Safely Return Home After a House Fire

4/23/2020 (Permalink)

House fires can be physically destructive and emotionally shocking. Once the fire is out, homeowners are anxious to return to normal as quickly as possible to piece their household back together again. SERVPRO of Phoenix understands how devastating a house fire can be, and has a few tips on how to return safely home after a house fire.

Fire damage safety tips

• Do not allow children to play in the ash
• Wipe down kids' toys and pet toys.
• Wash body immediately if you come in contact with ash to avoid skin irritation.
• Keep pets away from ash areas.
• Do not use leaf blowers or anything that will put ash into the air.
• Wear gloves, long sleeves, pants, socks and shoes to avoid skin irritations
• Double bag debris and ash in plastic bad. Be sure to seal all bags to prevent ash from getting in the air.

Ideally, working with a fire damage remediation company will help you avoid and fire or ash-related issues, and can help get clean up and remediation done quickly and professionally. Fire debris removal and reconstruction are often two areas that homeowners fixate the most on when restoring the damages fire can do. With recovery solutions including debris removal, soot, and smoke residue cleanup, addressing indoor air quality concerns, and reconstruction efforts, our IICRC-certified technicians and contractors, can respond quickly to help.

Damage can go beyond the areas burned by fire

Even if a confined area of your home burns, you should be aware of possible issues that can occur in other rooms of your home. Ash and debris from burnt structures may be blown indoors and into areas not affected by the fires. It’s best to keep air conditioners, and fans turned off until a fire remediation specialist has come in and assessed the situation. The professionals at SERVPRO follow a 7-step fire repair process to evaluate the situation, clean and sanitize the area, and help return your home to normal.

If your home has suffered from a fire, don’t hesitate to call in the professionals at SERVPRO of Phoenix. Call us at 480-503-2090 and get the help you need quickly. We are here 24/7 to help. Contact us today!

What to Do After a Fire in Your Phoenix Home

2/4/2020 (Permalink)

A home fire, no matter how extensive, can be a traumatic experience for homeowners. Once everyone is safe and the flames are out, it’s time to call in the pros to help with fire remediation. Even before SERVPRO’s highly trained team shows up, there are some steps you can take after a fire in your Phoenix home to keep damage at a minimum and stay safe.

Staying safe after a home fire

While you wait for help to arrive, it’s tempting to start doing some of the cleanup yourself and trying to bring your home back to normal, but extreme caution needs to be followed to keep you and everyone in your home safe. First and foremost, if there are any electrical or gas appliances that may have been damaged by the fire or the subsequent water and chemicals used to put the fire out, do not try to turn those appliances, including ceiling fans, back on, as there may be moisture or other damage that could worsen by igniting electricity or gas. Wait for fire remediation specialists like SERVPRO of Phoenix to let you know when it’s safe to do so. Don't use any canned or packaged food or beverages that may have been stored near the fire, heat or water, or may have been impacted by smoke as they may contain toxins unsuitable for consumption. Even practice caution with smaller appliances; Don't attempt to clean any electrical appliances that may have been close to fire, heat or water without consulting an authorized repair service as you may cause further damage to the appliance or yourself!

Keep cleaning to a minimum

Fires can cause a huge mess, and some may seem easy enough to clean on your own but use caution. Don't attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces or shampoo carpet or upholstery without contacting us as you may set in the stains or odor from smoke. This applies to clothing as well; improper laundering by a dry cleaner may set in the smoke smell. Try not to move around the home too much immediately after a fire until clean up specialists have arrived to limit soot and other particles being tracked throughout the house, making cleaning more challenging. Again, our specialists are trained in fire, smoke and soot remediation and know best how to handle the cleaning after a fire.

Steps you can take until help arrives

While you’re waiting for the SERVPRO team to show up, there are a few actions you can take. Here are a few of our top fire damage tips:

• 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 a light coating of petroleum jelly or oil.
• Wash houseplants on both sides of leaves.
• Change the HVAC filter.
• Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers.

In the United States, fire departments responded to an estimated 1,318,500 fires in 2018 (the most recent stats available). House fires happen for a variety of reasons, but the devastating impact is felt by anyone who has experienced a home fire. Knowing what to do after a fire in your Phoenix home can make the circumstance less traumatic. If you experience a house fire, contact SERVPRO of Phoenix immediately at 480-503-2090. We’ll help you through the process and help you get back to normal again.

Fire, Smoke and Soot Restoration is Critical After a Home Fire

11/27/2019 (Permalink)

Experiencing a fire in your Phoenix home can be a devastating experience. The anguish of property lost to the flames is only compounded by the property left behind that survived the fire but still looks damaged beyond repair. SERVPRO of Phoenix understands how important it is to help homeowners get back to a place where it feels like the fire never happened at all, but time and experience are key to making that happen. Our fire damage repair and restoration services focus on the fact that fire, smoke and soot restoration is critical to recovery.

Fire Damage Process Overview

When a home fire occurs, reaction time and the steps to assess the damage are significant factors in restoring a home back to its preloss condition. That’s why it’s important to follow an emergency fire damage process; a routine that every highly trained SERVPRO technician follows when coming out to a home that has suffered fire.  SERVPRO’s quick response can reduce continued damage and save money by quickly responding to the incident. It starts with a quick response time to let a homeowner know someone is on the way to assess the damage. Within four hours of loss notification, a SERVPRO professional will be onsite to start mitigation services. A technician will walk the homeowner through the step-by-step process to explain what services are needed and what the expected outcome will be. For restoration of property, they’ll start pretesting for restorability. Once they understand the possible outcome, they’ll communicate findings to the homeowner to get the process started, cleaning, restoring and deodorizing the property. It ends with a final walkthrough so that the homeowner can see what work was completed.

Fire, Smoke, and Soot Restoration Services

There are essentially two types of cleaning that happen during restoration:  structure cleaning and contents cleaning. Structural cleaning relates to ceiling, walls, windows, floors, carpeting and woodwork. All need a thorough cleaning after a fire. In some cases, a simple cleaning may suffice while in other cases, the cleaning may serve as a preface to additional services such as painting.

Contents cleaning can save significant money over replacing items damaged by the fire. Area rugs, furniture, drapes and upholstery can be cleaned and deodorized, saving the homeowner significant expenses of having to replace these items. This cleaning can also be done for electronics, art, kitchen items, clothing, bedding and more. Many homeowners assume that once contents have fire, smoke or soot damage they need to be replaced but that isn’t always the case! Oftentimes cleaning and deodorizing will take contents back to their preloss condition at a fraction of the cost to replace it. SERVPRO’s highly trained fire damage restoration technicians will provide the homeowner with a list of items that can be restored.

Expertise dictates what kind of restoration is done

Different types of smoke cause different types of damage and need to be treated differently. Wet smoke, such as occurs with plastics, can leave items sticky, while dry smoke, such as wood or paper, can leave ash and powdery residue. Unfortunately, there is also damage done from trying to extinguish flames, such as fire extinguisher residue that requires a different type of cleaning. Working with fire damage experts make all the difference in how well the home is restored after fire damage.

Fire, smoke and soot restoration is critical after a home fire and must be handled by a professional that knows how to get the job done. SERVPRO of Phoenix wants to ensure that our customers can return to happily living in their homes after a fire disaster. We have extensive experience and training, including IIRC training and certification, needed to provide you with the level of service you deserve. Call us at (480) 503-2090 so we can help restore your Phoenix residence after it suffers smoke or fire damage.

Cleaning Up Smoke Damage After House Fire

9/30/2019 (Permalink)

Smoke damage cleanup after a house fire in Phoenix may seem like a no-brainer process, but cleaning smoke damage from anything is a bit more challenging than most think. The stubborn smell alone that seeps deep into all the different surfaces found throughout the house is very tough to completely remove and can make you nauseated and left with a headache or other health issues. SERVPRO of Phoenix has a lot of experience in this, so we would like to share our methods to cleaning up smoke damage after a house fire.

Tips on Cleaning Smoke Damage

After a house fire, especially in Phoenix with the warmer temperatures, the odor left by the fire never goes away entirely. Don’t bother to reach for the aerosols, air fresheners, and perfumes, they will only dilute the odor, but they are not capable of removing it completely. Before starting the smoke damage cleanup and restoration process, stop the soot from spreading by shutting off the A/C and opening all doors and windows to allow the fresh air to flush out the whole house. Set up an air purifier and let it run throughout the entire process to protect you from inhaling anything you’re not supposed to.

If you haven’t already reached out to your local fire cleanup company, like SERVPRO of Phoenix, then give us a call at 480-503-2090 and setup an appointment to address your needs. A good fire repair company should have well-trained and IICRC-certified techs that have a lot of experience. If you’re doing it yourself then you may want use a respirator during the process to protect your lungs from the negative effects of breathing in the soot.

Tips on Smoke Damage Cleanup

To begin, go through the house and gently dust off and vacuum any loose soot left behind after the house fire. Next, for any walls and other hard surfaces, you’ll need a dry-cleaning sponge (chemical sponge). This process is a critical part in the cleanup process because the special chemicals within the sponge are able to remove the smoke and soot stains from walls and other hard surfaces. Using single strokes in one direction, gently wipe the surface with a clean side of the sponge. The trick here is that when you have soiled a side of the sponge, grab your scissors and cut off a slice to reveal a new fresh and clean side to the sponge. Don’t ever use water or any soot cleaner prior to using the sponge as that will spread the soot all around making it impossible to clean it up with the chemicals in the sponge. 

Using white vinegar turns out to be a very effective smoke damage cleanup solvent. In fact, we recommend placing bowls of the white vinegar in all the rooms that were affected by the fire and leave them sitting in there for several days. Baking soda also has the same effect, but you may also use a commercial soot/smoke remover, paint thinner, some rubbing alcohol or a high powered degreaser like Benefect Botanical Atomic Degreaser. Soak a rag in the solution and wipe all hard surfaces, even if they don’t look like they were affected by the fire. The odorous particles are invisible and attach themselves to everything.

Next, add 1 to 3 teaspoons of a mild degeaser or dish soap to a gallon of water.and using the same motions as with the dry-cleaning sponge, wipe down all those same hard surfaces.It may be necessary to repeat these cleaning steps if it was a large fire that produced a lot of smoke. Always keep rinsing the rag or sponge so that you don’t spread the soot and smoke damage. Also, keep cycling through a new bucket of the solution once it turns a dark color. Then go over everything again with just a clean cloth soaked in nothing but clean water.

Then, you should make sure that the HVAC system gets new filters put in to replace the ones that were affected by the fire..We highly recommend having the HVAC system thoroughly cleaned by a professional. There are times that even after completing all these steps properly, the odorous smell is still there. That’s when you use an ozone generator, which you can rent, buy or borrow, but an ozone generator is very effective in removing the odor left behind after a fire in your home. Or you can again, have a fire repair company come out with the ozone generators to complete this process for you.

Call the Smoke Damage Cleanup Experts

Many people find that the process to completely eliminate the smoke odor after a house fire is just too time consuming and tedious. SERVPRO of Phoenix can help and do it all with their state of the art equipment an advance techniques, we get it done right the first time.Our highly skilled techs are sympathetic to the tragedy of a house fire and understand that communicating effectively with you is important. We also work with your insurance company.

A House Fire, What To Do After

9/9/2019 (Permalink)

After a house fire, knowing what to do after doesn’t come instinctively to most people. Of course fire and smoke damage restoration comes to mind, but there are things that need to be done before. Moving on after a house fire may seem impossible, but it doesn’t need to be. Understanding where to begin and the resources available to help you is crucial to putting your life back together. 

What To Do After a House Fire

Contact a family member or a close friend to inform them of what happened. They may be able to help you find a place to stay as well. Staying in your home anytime before a home restoration, after the fire is not safe. You can also reach out to the local disaster relief agency’s, like the Red Cross or Salvation Army.

Call your Insurance agent. Begin your claim as soon as possible so that your immediate needs can be met. Your agent should also help to secure your property in addition to recommending a home restoration after the fire company, like SERVPRO of Phoenix. The “Loss of Use” fund from your insurance policy can be used towards your daily living expenses and basic necessities. Keep all your receipts and a detailed record of all your purchases.

If and when you do plan on going back into the home for any reason, be sure to confirm the go ahead from the fire department officials. When given the green light to enter, another thing to do after a house fire is to take pictures and even videos of the damages. You’ll want these to support your claim. You had a house fire, what to do next involves taking inventory of everything affected after the house fire

Home Restoration After the Fire

Home restoration after the fire is your top priority. Reaching out to your trusted fire and restoration company, like SERVPRO of Phoenix to help mitigate early on leading to any reconstruction that may need to be done.

Best Smoke Detector for Your Home

6/26/2019 (Permalink)

Smoke detectors and alarms are essential when protecting our property from extreme fire damage and the ones we love, and what better time then now to update your smoke detectors. However, when smoke detectors are not something you know a whole lot about, it can be daunting to determine which system will serve you best.

Smoke detectors might not stop a fire from burning and causing serious smoke and fire damage, but a good alarm can make all the difference. There are too many options on the market with countless features, but we’ll narrow it down for you.

Deterring Fire with a Smart Smoke Alarm

A smart smoke detector works like other smoke detectors, but what makes it special is that it can send an alert to your phone when it senses smoke, even if you are away from home. It can also alert you when the batteries need to be changed, or even if there’s an internal system issue. Nest has a split-spectrum sensor that protects against fires and carbon monoxide.

A Dual-Sensor Smoke Alarm to Protect from Fires

Ionization and photoelectric smoke detectors both are best at detecting different kinds of fires, and it just so happens that there are now dual-sensor smoke alarms that do both, like the Kiddie Hardwire Smoke Detector which protects from fire damage.

Smoke Alarm with Security System

When looking for more advance fire protection services, having a smoke and carbon monoxide detectors connected to your home security system is your best bet, like the Vivint Smoke Alarm.

How Professionals Restore Fire Damaged Homes in Phoenix

4/24/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can make your fire damaged home "Like it never even happened."

Cleaning Up After a Fire in Your Phoenix Home

Cleaning is one of the most critical steps to restoring any disaster or emergency that could affect your Phoenix residence. With the many levels of hazards and effects that could result from widespread fires in your house, we understand the vital role that cleaning has in making your home safer after an emergency. With the extensive training and certifications that our professionals obtain through the IICRC as Fire & Smoke Restoration and Odor Control Technicians, we have continued education to offer the most complete and efficient restoration package for fire loss incidents.

Our cleaning technicians can perform multiple tasks in removing and restoring fire damage in your Phoenix home. Our SERVPRO professionals have a ready trailer stocked with an array of recovery and mitigation equipment that can help our team get right to work on reducing the severity of fire loss effects in your property. From the time that our professionals first arrive, we work quickly to reduce the presence of hazardous effects to ensure that cleanup can begin when it is meant to start.

Cleaning technicians on our team take on many of the roles to recovering your fire-damaged home. From deodorization to indoor air quality concerns, our experts have an array of essential equipment that can work around the clock to continue purification and deodorization efforts while other effects like soot and smoke residues get addressed throughout the property.

From the initial mitigation work that begins as soon as our SERVPRO team arrives at your address to the tireless efforts of our cleaning crews working to make these damaging effects “Like it never even happened” for your property, we can effectively address every facet including necessary reconstruction and renovation to bring your home back to original condition.

Cleaning up after a widespread disaster like a fire can feel overwhelming, but with our detail-oriented professionals, we can address each facet of fire loss recovery efficiently. Our SERVPRO of Phoenix team has the expertise and equipment to help. Give us a call today at (480) 503-2090.

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Is a Fire Cooking in your Phoenix Kitchen?

4/9/2019 (Permalink)

Don't DIY smoke and soot damage. Cal SERVPRO for professional remediation.

Techniques for Fire Odor Removal in Phoenix Properties

No one wants to be reminded of that time there was a fire in their kitchen; every single time they enter the room. Fire damage can come in many forms, and unless professionally remediated, unpleasant scents can remain in the home.

Fire odor removal in a Phoenix home affected by a small fire in the kitchen is frequently a problem homeowners have attempted to cover up on their own. A forgotten pan on the stove or turkey in the oven may not have left much in the way of visible residues, but a lot in the way of stubborn odors. That is because when proteins such as meat or eggs burn, the fats turn into a fine mist, bonding with the soot particles and penetrating porous surfaces.

Regular household cleaners do not penetrate deeply enough into the surfaces to reach the odor-causing particles and the longer they remain, the more embedded the odor becomes with the possibility of spreading to other areas. SERVPRO technicians are certified in Odor Control and use a multi-layered approach for protein-based odors.

Our professionally formulated cleaners are designed to penetrate deeply into surfaces. Our technicians use both wet and dry sponge methods to ensure that all affected areas of fire damage in the kitchen are addressed. The HVAC duct system is also inspected to determine if the odor was pulled through the ducts and they are cleaned if necessary and suggest a new filter installed.

When more robust methods of odor control are required to eliminate lingering protein odors, SERVPRO technicians may contain the kitchen using poly-barriers and set up air scrubbers fitted with HEPA filters to capture motes so tiny they cannot be seen with the naked eye. Heat removal of odors through fogging is another effective way to neutralize odors we use. A solvent is heated and spread over the area in a fog form, overtaking and changing odors at the molecular level.

SERVPRO of Phoenix is ready to help you remove fire odor in your home with our professional equipment and expertise. Call (480) 503-2090 for 24/7 and talk to one of our knowledgeable staff right now.

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Phoenix House Fire!!! Smelly Smoke??? Call SERVPRO for Improved Indoor Air Quality

2/4/2019 (Permalink)

Don’t Melt Down after a House Fire in Phoenix—Call SERVPRO for Cleanup and Odor Removal

Overcoming Smoke Effects in Fire-Damaged Phoenix Homes

Smoke damage can often be one of the most widespread effects to contend with in your home after a fire disaster. While there are many other concerns, such as structural weaknesses that often take precedent for restorations and mitigations, restoring damage to your property should be a focus of whatever professional outfit you choose. Our team can arrive quickly to help lessen the damage and prolonged impact of a fire emergency, and work to eliminate the presence of smoke damage.

Much of the cleanup and restoration for these results in your Phoenix home focus on cleaning staining and fire smoke odor removal. Indoor air quality is also a primary focus for our SERVPRO® professionals dispatched to your home once the first responders have left. We work quickly to establish our purification equipment such as air scrubbers and hydroxyl generators to run the available air through HEPA filters over time to begin pulling smoke particles and soot from the environment and reducing hazards or risks of exposure without respirators.

Smoke damage often depends on the type of smoke that affected your home throughout the fire. Dry smoke results from high heat, but is also a residue that is much easier for our SERVPRO technicians to clean with dry and wet sponges on the coated surfaces. Wet smoke leaves a thick residue on surfaces and contents, which often requires specialized equipment to clean and deodorize fully. The heat generated by a house fire plays a key role in the actual penetration of soot particles into porous materials like drywall and fabrics.

Improving the scent of your home after a fire is also a concern for our team, but these steps often follow reconstruction and other restoration efforts. Waiting for deodorization allows our technicians to leave your home completely cleaned and odor-free. Our thermal foggers can often do the greatest amount of deodorization, as these machines are suitable to use in open areas, fabrics, soft materials, and work to remove odors from surfaces as well.

Smoke can provide many damaging effects to your home after a fire emergency. Our SERVPRO of Phoenix rapid response team has the expertise and tools to help. Give us a call today at (480) 503-2090.

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How Our Professional Cleaning Services Can Restore Your Fire Damaged Phoenix Home

11/26/2018 (Permalink)

When materials burn they release carbon in the form of smoke.

The Use Of Sand Blasting, Water Pressure, And Air Pressure In Removing Fire Damage In Phoenix

When materials burn they release carbon in the form of smoke. As smoke comes into contact with a surface, it deposits parts of that carbon in the form of residue on that surface. These residues typically account for the lion's share of cleaning duties when restoring property after a small kitchen or living room fire. Although these types of fire are usually easily contained the smoke, which travels into open oxygen pockets, can spread far and wide. However, smoke residues contain more than just carbon, which is why professional cleaning services are a wise choice in the aftermath of soot or smoke harm.

A trained technician should be able to recognize the different types of fire damage in Phoenix, and property owners can benefit from that expertise.
At SERVPRO we have a range of different cleaning methods and techniques to tackle all damages. Synthetic materials, for example, can release carcinogens when burned. Likewise, differing temperatures, airflows and fabrics require a tailored cleaning response.

On arrival at your property, a SERVPRO technician can conduct what we call a pre-test. A pre-test involves testing different areas of the home for the type of damage. Wet-smoke, caused by burning synthetics, is particularly susceptible to wet cleaning methods. Dry smoke, on the other hand, may benefit from dry cleaning to avoid spreading smoke around and inadvertently causing further damages.

In fire fighting efforts, there is a high chance that water is used which can set soot and make it tricky to clean. One technique we use to tackle set soot is water pressure and air pressure. These advanced techniques help to dislodge soot from the surface where it can be washed away. If there is significant structural damage, we use sandblasting to rapidly smooth the affected area and remove charring or ingrained soot.

As part of a franchise with access to national resources, SERVPRO can afford to train our technicians to the highest level. With expertise in odor control, certified by the IICRC, and industrial fogging equipment we can help to remove the unpleasant burning odors that may remain long after a home is restored.

Contact SERVPRO of Phoenix at (480) 503-2090 24 hours a day to arrange a service.

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Uptown Phoenix Fire, No Rising from the Ashes, Call SERVPRO for Help

10/1/2018 (Permalink)

Uptown Phoenix, Not the Bird, Needs SERVPRO for Professional Fire Damage Restoration

The Risks of DIY Fire Restoration for Your Uptown Phoenix Home

One of the characteristics that define homeowners in this modern age is their drive to take care of issues and damages to their Phoenix residences on their own. The savvy homeowner can overcome minor situations that occur in their house, often by just searching online for advice. A fire in your house is not something that the average person can contend with on their own. The effects from a fire require experienced restoration technicians to restore to preloss conditions.

While this is not intended to discourage those looking to take care of the problems that their Uptown Phoenix home experiences, fire damages are often hazardous and challenging to restore by even the most experienced of technicians. Our SERVPRO professionals undergo extensive training in fire restoration to ensure that we approach conditions with a safety-oriented attitude and have the best techniques to overcome and restore the damages that your home has sustained from the blaze.

One of the things that you should know about a fire loss to help you appreciate the risk involved with DIY methods is the environment that you are walking into once the first responders leave the scene. The atmosphere inside of the house is full of debris, smoke, noxious odors, and possibly even chemical or toxic gases unsafe to inhale. Our SERVPRO technicians utilize the appropriate personal protective equipment to keep the team safe while we assess the damage and begin work to remove these harmful effects. After significant house fires, we await the okay from the fire marshall before attempting to enter the structure.

Another consideration that you should make is the stability of the structure itself. Some materials can become irreparably damaged, creating a persistent hazard for collapse or structural failure at any time. Our technicians get prepared for this possibility and can assess these risks safely while we formulate our plan for restoration in your house.

It is impossible for a homeowner to prepare themselves for a fire in the house, but you can remind yourself that the widespread effects should get left to trained professionals. Our SERVPRO of Phoenix emergency response team can arrive quickly and get to work on returning your home to preloss conditions as efficiently as possible, "Like it never even happened." Give us a call 24/7 at (480) 503-2090.

Does the Mythological Bird Really Rise from the Ashes? Click for more information.

Overloaded Electrical Outlets can Lead to Fire Damage to Property in Paradise Valley

9/9/2018 (Permalink)

When electrical circuits are overloaded, the potential for fire exists. Contact SERVPRO after suffering fire damage for remediation and prevention.

Team SERVPRO Remediates Fire Damage as Well as Offers Tips to Prevent a Recursion

Using social media via cell phone use keeps many teens and adults in Paradise Valley in contact with friends and family. Keeping cell phones charged often means plugging charging cables into adapters. This practice and others like it can lead to overheated plugs and eventually cause a fire.
 
Using properly rated power strips can protect your Paradise Valley home from fire damage caused by too many electrical devices plugged into one socket. The rubber or soft plastic electrical cords on many devices give off noxious fumes when burned, which can create very dense soot. The plugs can also contribute to this, as well as melt and cause the carpeting to burn.
 
The caring professionals at SERVPRO know how this kind of disaster can affect your family and we are ready to help clean up the damage and make things “Like it never even happened.” The areas above doorways and windows near the fire often contain concentrated levels of smoke residue. We begin working to remove this soon after we arrive. Allowing this substance to remain longer only allows it to adhere more tightly, making it more difficult to clean away. We also clean anything else in your home where smoke residue and soot settled.
 
After a fire, odor from burned materials and possessions becomes very noticeable. While cleaning soot off surfaces removes a significant amount of this odor, if the fire created enough smoke, the odor left behind might remain because its source hides in areas where our tools cannot reach.
 
Our IICRC-certified Odor Control Technician (OCT) can efficiently handle this predicament. For the toughest odors, we rely on thermal fogging techniques. For smaller fires, the use of gel packs and injected deodorizers often suffices. However, we always check with our valuable customers to make sure that they are satisfied with the result.
 
SERVPRO of Phoenix wants to ensure that our customers love living in their homes after a disaster. We have an extensive range of equipment to mitigate any sized disaster, large or small, and have the experience and training needed to provide you with the level of service you deserve. Call us at (480) 503-2090 so we can help mitigate your Deer Valley or Lone Mountain residence after it suffers smoke or fire damage.

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Fire Damage Experts In Phoenix Discuss Cleaning Contents Affected By Smoke

6/6/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Provides Excellent Fire & Smoke Cleanup and Odor Control for Phoenix Area Properties

Type of Burn and Residues Dictate SERVPRO's Cleanup and Restoration Methods

Whenever a fire starts inside a building, smoke can affect many different items. During a fire, combustion which is in the process of a sold turning into a gas by applying heat takes place. Smoke is created by materials that do not burn completely.

During a burn, smoke can travel all over the structure causing various problems. A big part of mitigating fire damage in Phoenix is dealing with smoke-related issues. When a blaze takes place materials all over the home, get coated in soot residue, and foul odors get left behind.
 
When restoring a house damaged by smoke, our SERVPRO technicians, inspect the structure to figure out which areas got affected. We determine which cleaning methods to use based on how concentrated the soot is, the type of residue present, and the kind of materials affected. If the soot is heavily concentrated, then it can be difficult to clean whereas light residues can be wiped off easily.
 
A fire creates different kinds of smoke throughout its duration based on the materials it burns, the speed of combustion and the amount of oxygen. When synthetic materials are burned, they create soot that adheres to surfaces better than residues resulting from natural substances such as wood. Fires that burn slow and lack oxygen produce a wet smoke that can be extremely difficult to remove compared to quick burning fires that create a dry smoke.
 
The type of materials surfaces are made of also affects the cleanability of soot residues. Non-porous materials such as plastic and metal repel moisture well making them easy for our SERVPRO technicians to clean using wet, water-based chemicals. Non-porous materials such as softwood and upholstery absorb soot residues better, and they can penetrate deep into the material. Water-based chemicals can soak the soot deeper into the material causing them to get ruined. Dry cleaning methods such as wiping with a dry sponge prove to work better in removing soot from porous substances.
 
Various methods are available to use when dealing with multiple types of soot residues affected different kinds of materials. There are different types of cleaning chemicals as well as application methods that are designed specifically for dealing with certain situations. For assistance removing smoke residues and soils, call SERVPRO of Phoenix at (480) 503-2090 24 hours a day.

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Estimating the Claim for Fire Restoration in Your Phoenix Home

5/24/2018 (Permalink)

Some items damaged by a home fire may need to be replaced while others can be professionally restored. Contact SERVPRO for an assessment right away.

Certified SERVPRO Technicians Help Restore Items in Your Home Damaged by a Fire

When it comes to assessing damages after a disaster to your Phoenix home, many people do not know where to begin. With everything seemingly ruined or damaged, it can seem overwhelming to determine what contents of your home are irreparably damaged and which items have a chance of getting restored by the right experienced professional.

Fortunately, this is something that you do not have to deal with on your own. When it comes to better assessing the fire damages to your Phoenix home after a recent blaze, our professionals have the experience and equipment to make educated decisions determining what areas of your home can get restored and what items and areas inside of your house have gotten irreparably damaged in the recent disaster.

While this step in itself seems like a taxing and time-consuming ordeal, it is a necessary component of insurance work and filing claims with home insurance outfits. Our SERVPRO estimator gets tasked with inspecting the full scope of the damage to your home and giving a realistic estimate of how much the restoration process costs for the homeowner.

A part of this process is determining what items are suitable for our move-out process. With this service, our SERVPRO professionals remove contents from affected areas of your home and send them to a nearby facility. We can then spend more focused time on cleaning and restoring these items, having the full scope of our equipment at our disposal.

Both the items that can get restored and later returned to your home and those that were irreparably damaged play a role in determining the filed claim amount with the insurance company. Our estimator and project manager can work and speak directly with the insurance adjuster to relay this pertinent information to help expedite the restoration process.

Restoring your home after a recent fire is no easy feat, but with the right professional assistance and expertise, it can seem more straightforward to manage. Trust our SERVPRO of Phoenix specialists to help your home get back to how it should be quickly. Give us a call anytime at (480) 503-2090.

Click here for more information on the city of Phoenix.

How Does Smoke Impact Your Fire Damaged Phoenix Home?

3/8/2018 (Permalink)

Some fires can engulf a large part of your home. Once your family is safe and the fire is out, contact SERVPRO for remediation efforts.

Certified Technicians at SERVPRO Efficiently Remediate Smoke and Smoke Residue Damage

A fire incident can potentially ruin your home. The fire can cause structural and cosmetic damage that takes a long time to restore. Apart from the flames, one of the most significant factors causing extensive damage is the smoke and soot during a fire.

The smoke residue adheres to the exposed surfaces of your home and causes discoloration and even structural damage. Understanding the behavior of smoke during a fire can help you understand the restoration process better. The temperature of the smoke itself and the temperature of the surrounding surfaces affect the extent of the fire damage in Phoenix.

The temperature of the smoke
Smoke rises away from the fire and is carried to different places by a process known as convection. Fire produces heat, and as a result, the air above the fire becomes hot, expands and becomes lighter. The lighter air moves up, and its place is taken by the denser cold air. The process generates air currents called convection currents. It is due to these currents that the smoke rises to the top.

Now, as the temperature of the air increases, the pressure it exerts against the surfaces increases as well. What it means is that hotter fires produce a hotter smoke that is forced against the surfaces. The smoke particles in such fires can go deeper into the surface pores and cause extensive damage. SERVPRO professionals understand the theory behind the smoke and design strategies accordingly.

The temperature of the surrounding surfaces
Hotter smoke moved toward colder surfaces. As the hot smoke migrates to the colder surfaces such as outside walls, closets, and unheated rooms, these are damaged the heaviest. It can be surprising to see how much smoke residue finds its way into drawers and closets. SERVPRO technicians can use multiple techniques to clean surfaces that are heavily damaged by smoke and soot.

A fire incident can be quite a traumatizing experience, but it is essential to seek professional help as soon as you can. Technicians have a better chance of successfully restoring your home if they can get to work before the damage becomes permanent.

Call SERVPRO of Phoenix at (480) 503-2090 today to speak to one of our restoration experts.

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What Are Different Restoration Services Available After a Fire Damage to Your Phoenix Property?

11/17/2017 (Permalink)

Our SERVPRO of Phoenix professionals will be there every step of the way when you're dealing with the aftermath of a fire.

SERVPRO Can Offer Different Types of Fire Restoration Services to Your Phoenix Home

A fire can cause some severe damage to your property. Depending on the extent and severity of the damage, you may need specialized services to minimize secondary damage and ensure a complete restoration. The knowledge of such services available to you can make the process of fire damage restoration a bit easier and stress-free.

Here at SERVPRO, our IICRC certified technicians offer various services to limit the damage and get the restoration process started right away after a fire. Here are some services that are available to you after a fire strikes your Phoenix home.

1. Mitigation services: The main aim of these services is to secure your property and prevent any further damage. These services include boarding up any openings to secure the property, providing an alternative source of electricity, and emergency drying to prevent secondary water damage.

2. Structural cleaning services: These services involve removing smoke and soot residue from your property and deodorizing after a fire. Our experienced technicians walk you through the whole process and strive to repair as much damage as possible.

3. Contents cleaning services: Smoke and soot can damage your personal belongings and furniture if not cleaned promptly and thoroughly. SERVPRO technicians have expertise in cleaning and restoring many personal items such as furniture and other valuables after smoke and soot damage. We use state-of-the-art equipment to get rid of the damaging smoke and soot as efficiently and as quickly as possible.

4. Specialty cleaning services: We also help you to subcontract cleaning of precious or delicate items such as electronics, clothing and expensive artwork.

5. Reconstruction services: In some instances, a fire can cause a structural damage that cannot be restored by fire damage restoration services. If there is a need for reconstruction or structural repair, you may need to take help of licensed general contractors. Although we do not offer reconstruction services, our team of experts is by your side through any reconstruction process, if needed.

Fire damage restoration is a slow process that takes time and patience. With SERVPRO, you get a team of fire damage restoration professionals who can help you restore your home back to preloss conditions in no time.

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

Call SERVPRO of Phoenix today at (480) 503 - 2090 to schedule an appointment and discuss your options today. Our experts are here to offer you all the help and guidance you need to make the whole process as comfortable and pain-free as possible.

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Electrical Fires Can Cause Extensive Fire Damage to Phoenix Properties

10/24/2017 (Permalink)

Rodents can get into your walls and chew on wiring, increasing the risk of electrical fires.

SERVPRO Offers Electrical Fire Damage Restoration Services

Statistics from the U.S. Fire Administration indicate that electrical fires account for about 7 percent of all residential fires in the country. This figure becomes much more significant when scaled down to a specific location like Phoenix. In most cases, the fire occurs from increased use of lights and heating appliances and usually starts in the bedroom. However, the highest number of fatalities (i.e., injuries and even deaths) come from fires happening in the family room, living room, and den.

When it comes to electrical fires, you cannot afford to be tolerant. You need to contact a locally based fire damage restoration company in Phoenix, such as SERVPRO, to start the mitigation process as fast as possible. Some electrical fires happen due to appliance failure or problems in house wiring, but many are a result of simple mistakes such as overloading extension cords or electrical outlets. Whatever the case, our IICRC-certified technicians have the tools and expertise to reverse the damage as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Research on fire damage events has shown that faulty wiring is the leading cause of electrical fires in most homes. If your house is at least two decades old, it is highly likely to have faulty wiring behind the walls. Rodents such as rats, mice, and squirrels can find their way into these spaces and chew on electrical cords, increasing the risk of a fire disaster.

At SERVPRO, we also deal with many instances of electrical fire damage resulting from shoddy installation. Home building trades are flooding with professionals who cut corners to save time or money, including electricians. On the other hand, overloading an older electrical system with modern electrical devices can prove to be too overwhelming, leading to damages on your wiring, appliances, and even breaker box.

Holiday seasons are associated with the most house fires resulting from misusing extension cords. Generally, an extension cord should only serve as a temporary solution, especially when it comes to plugging several things in at once. Apart from overloading extension cords, using a frayed power cord can also lead to serious fire damage. Indeed, electricity can escape through the holes in the cord and set the surrounding materials ablaze.

In the event of an electrical fire, make sure that everyone is safe and then contact SERVPRO of Phoenix as quickly as possible to deal with the fire damage. Electrical fires come with many hidden safety hazards, so it is important to allow trained restoration experts to come in and assess the extent of the damage. For any assistance, you can reach us 24/7, every day of the week at (480) 503-2090.  

For more information about fire prevention in Phoenix, visit https://www.phoenix.gov/fire/prevention.

In Case of Fire, Proactive Beats Reactive -- Create Your Phoenix Emergency Ready Plan Today

7/7/2017 (Permalink)

Phoenix Properties Fire Damage Is Mitigated with the ERP

The ERP Plan from SERVPRO is a Valuable Tool Against Fire and Water Damage

What is your preference if disaster strikes -- prepared or panicked? When fire or water damage threatens your property, knowing you have a detailed action plan solidly in place gives you confidence that your home or business is on the road to a speedy and sure restoration. We partner with you to get a complete recovery blueprint crafted and in place.
 
Developing a SERVPRO Emergency Ready Profile and Plan safeguards your investment by streamlining our response to your troubles. Select us as your SERVPRO Franchise Representative, and start by scheduling a free, no-obligation walk-through of either your home or your business with one of our professional assessors. A review of your physical plant sharpens our focus on how to best respond to your property’s unique needs in the event of a catastrophic fire event in Phoenix. We also recommend adjustments for you to better prepare for loss based on our experience.
 
The next step is to create your account online. Complete an Emergency Ready Profile for your property, following the template provided. Owning or operating more than one property simply means you fill out a Profile for each. The Profile app directs the procedure, including prompts to take and archive pictures and layouts of all areas. Utility locations and shutoffs are pinpointed, and sprinkler and alarm systems are delineated. Key managers or employees to whom you delegate decision-making authority are determined. Identify the owner of the building if you lease space.
 
We suggest the use of a tablet or phone to record the data requested in the SERVPRO Ready Plan Application, including taking pictures. A Field Form downloaded, printed, and completed as you tour the property also is acceptable for you to use as a preliminary source of information. Once you finish the walk-through, log into your account and load the details online, adding the pictures taken per the prompts.
 
Once your Emergency Ready Profiles and Plan (ERPs) are saved our SERVPRO will hit the ground running when you or your representative contact us after a disaster or mishap. Use the mobile app to log into your account and alert us about the specific situation. The app speedily leads you through the process, using the information you previously inputted. We have a clear and concise plan at our fingertips, permitting our technicians to get to work immediately to restore the damage. The established plan is vastly preferable to our crew familiarizing themselves with the building under stress and needing many questions answered.
 
Being "Ready for whatever happens" inspires faith in your customers, employees, and family. It is clear your business recovers and thrives, or your home again provides comfort and shelter. Work with the professionals at SERVPRO of Phoenix to devise an Emergency Ready Profile and Plan to protect your business, home, or other property from fire damage by calling (480) 503-2090 before a disaster occurs.

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Quality Fire Damage Restoration Services in the Phoenix Area

6/13/2017 (Permalink)

Fire Damage in Your Phoenix Kitchen? Don't Wait, Call SERVPRO

Phoenix Residents Rely on SERVPRO for Restoring Fire Damaged Properties

Damages found in your home after a fire, go far beyond what you might expect. Regardless of the size of the fire that you experience, smoke, soot, and ash often affect more than the immediate area around the source of a fire.
 
Restoration cleaning professionals often use a variety of cleaning methods to treat fire damage found in your Phoenix area home. It takes quality training, specialized equipment, and years of experience to perform the necessary services. You should expect nothing less than high-quality, exceptional service from a company performing restoration services on your property.
 
SERVPRO has IICRC certified technicians who go to work immediately mitigating damage and preventing losses after a fire disaster occurs. We pay specific attention to structural components, contents, and personal belongings, along with any items attached to the structure itself.
 
Cabinets often have a finished surface that adds a small amount of protection. However, the inside of the doors and interior of each drawer usually consist of raw materials that can absorb residues, causing extensive damage that requires specific attention.
 
Lighting fixtures also provide SERVPRO technicians with unique challenges. Technicians must remove soils and residues while avoiding additional damages. Some items require the use of a pre-cleaning agent or disassembly before other cleaning methods become useful, making the process more time-consuming than others.
 
When SERVPRO begins cleaning windows affected by the fire, it involves the entire framework and any hardware, not just the glass. Drapery, pictures, and other wall-mounted contents also involve different cleaning methods, especially on items made of different materials, including wood, metal, or plastic.
 
A fire that started in your kitchen may end up in your attic. Any raw structural timber exposed to water or fire damage might need replacement, rather than restoration, due to the costs involved. Same goes for any insulation damaged during a fire; in almost every situation, it is far less expensive to replace insulation than it is to attempt restoration.
 
Contact SERVPRO of Phoenix for access to expertly trained technicians that respond quickly and provide you with the results you deserve. Never settle for less, begin your restoration now, call today. (480) 503-2090

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The Facts About Cleaning Smoke Damage After a House Fire

1/11/2016 (Permalink)

 The Facts About Cleaning Smoke Damage After a House Fire

Many homeowners think that they can clean-up smoke damage to their home after it has been burned in a fire. Unfortunately, that is never a good idea. Cleaning up smoke and soot damage requires professionals to do the job.

Bring in the Fire Damage Pros

First off, a house that has been burned in a fire is typically not safe to enter or spend time in. The integrity of walls and floors may have been damaged, along with other hazards. It’s important not to enter the home until professionals tell you it is safe to do so.

While you should not undertake trying to clean up smoke and soot damage from a house fire yourself, you should get the professionals into your as soon as possible. Ash and smoke, if left untreated, will cause corrosion, discoloration and a lingering powerful and offensive odor. Ash, specifically, will start causing damage and discoloration almost immediately and the damage may be permanent and irreversible. Anything that was made of plastic will begin discoloring within minutes. Metals will easily tarnish and corrode and fiberglass will begin to yellow.

If you get fire damage restoration professionals in soon enough after a house fire, they can mitigate or eliminate the smoke and ash damage from the fire and prevent further damage to your property. Unfortunately, if you don’t get the pros in early, the damage becomes worse and worse and the costs to repair will begin to skyrocket within just a few weeks!

Know Who to Hire

Many companies claim to be fire damage restoration specialists, but they may not actually have the proper training and certification to do the job. The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) is the primary oversight agency for the industry. Companies recognized, registered and certified by the IICRC will have taken extensive coursework to earn their certification.

What a Trained and Certified Fire Damage Restoration Professional Does

A trained and certified fire damage restoration professional will first identify all affected materials and the source of odors, if possible. They will be extremely thorough. They will identify what can be salvaged and cleaned and what cannot be and must be completely replaced. They will then begin the clean-up process by removing built-up ash residue. Once the ash is cleaned, they can better identify the sources of odors, which they will treat with special detergents made to neutralize the odors. Once fire damaged materials are treated, they will be sealed to prevent future odors from emitting into your home.

If you or anyone you know is in need of smoke or fire damage restoration services.

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Condo Fire Damage

10/21/2015 (Permalink)

The fire department will make sure it's cold.