SERVPRO Helps Put Back the Pieces After a Fire.

1/10/2022 (Permalink)

House Fire and how to Minimize Damage

Cleaning Up After a House Fire

House fires are devastating. Seeing your possessions go up in flames can set you back financially and inflict significant mental distress. However, as with everything in life – you have to garner as much resilience to move on.

Starting over after a house fire does not always mean buying new things. Apart from fire damage repairs, you can salvage some of your belongings that the fire has not utterly destroyed.

Fire Damage Restoration Tips

We can recover many household items with a good clean-up. Use rubber gloves in your after-fire cleaning process to keep your skin from dealing with harsh chemicals for long periods. SERVPRO has natural and safe cleaners and disinfectants for restoration cleanup to choose from.

Removing Smoke from Fabric Items

Smoke fills up the entire house during a fire. The smoke scent lingers on your household items long after the blaze is extinguished. It may not be pleasant to live in a house smelling like burnt wood. How do you clean up smoke damage after a fire?

Trisodium phosphate is often used as a smoke odor remover. You can test it on garments to verify safe concentrations and usability. However, it is a harsh and dangerous chemical. At SERVPRO, we use natural and safe botanical cleaning and disinfectant alternatives. The Benefect Botanical Impact Cleaner may be used for carpets, upholstery and fabrics and we also have all-natural cleaning degreaser for contents.

Removing Soot and Smoke from Walls

Smoke and soot are fire byproducts. Soot contains tiny black particles that rest on walls and other household items. For a quick clean-up after a house fire, use mild soap and detergent or botanical products to rid the walls of soot and smoke or a more dangerous chemical solution, such as Trisodium phosphate.

For efficacy, clean small wall portions at a time. You can also wash the walls from the floor up to avoid streaking. Prevent mold growth after cleaning by rinsing the wall with a solution of one cup bleach per gallon of water.

How to Clean Books After a Fire

You can also remove soot and smoke from books after a house fire. Use a hepa vacuum to remove most of the fire debris from the book. You can then store the books in a hydroxy room to reduce burning. SERVPRO has a very successful and safe program for saving your books and important documents. 

Cleaning Furniture after a Fire

Although you can purchase new furniture pieces with insurance after a house fire, some possessions are irreplaceable. They could be family heirlooms or sentimental pieces that you still want to keep.

• Immediately after the fire is extinguished, start the cleaning process. You have to be swift. The quicker you act, the higher your cleaning success rate.
• Remove soot, smoke, and burning scents from wood and fabric items using trisodium phosphate solution mixed with bleach and a gallon of warm water. Or use the safe and natural botanical products (that not only reduces danger, but makes the cleanup process much easier).
• For furniture pieces with curves and corners, vacuum first before using a cleaning solution.
• Cleaning and disinfecting: Use detergent and bleach or the botanical alternatives to clean furniture upholstery.
• Sand and polish wood furniture that has been charred by fire for a refined finish.

Dry it out: Ensure the furniture dries properly to prevent mold growth.

How to Clean Fire-Damaged Stainless Steel 

You can reclaim scorched stainless steel items using vinegar and baking soda. Start by spraying equal parts white vinegar and baking soda on the burnt surface. White vinegar is slightly acidic. It breaks through the layer of soot, removing it from the stainless still.

You can also use soap and baking soda or a mixture of water and white vinegar in equal parts to remove the burnt substance from the stainless steel piece.

Contact a Fire Damage Restoration Service

Cleaning up after a house fire is a meticulous endeavor. Every item in your home needs special care in the reclaiming process. You can hire us to do the cleaning and salvaging process for you.
We are experts at SERVPRO N Lauderdale/ W Tamaracat redeeming fire-damaged household items. Call us today at 954-960-5322 for more information on our fire restoration services in Broward. 

10 Reasons Your Smoke Detector Goes Off

1/10/2022 (Permalink)

Don't just ignore this valuable warning item in your home.

Smoke alarms are extremely important in keeping you and your family safe in case of a household fire. They are there to get your attention. But they don’t always sound when an actual fire threatens to break out in your home. Though fake alarms occur often, that doesn’t mean you should ignore the sound if you don’t see or smell smoke. Smoke detectors can sense hidden fires, such as electrical ones, before you can. If an alarm sounds, assume there is a fire and follow proper safety precautions. To help you better understand how smoke alarms work, here are the top causes of smoke detector false alarms.

Top 10 Reasons Your Smoke Alarm Goes Off Randomly

1. Burnt Food on Stovetop

If you don’t supervise the stove when cooking, your dinner may produce smoke, which activates the smoke alarm. In some cases, smoke isn’t even necessary — a hint of burnt food can be enough to set off the detector. Also, make sure your smoke alarm is optimally placed, such as in the hallway leading to the kitchen, not in the kitchen itself.

2. Burnt Toast or Popcorn

Leaving bread in the toaster or popcorn in the microwave for a little too long can happen to the best of us. That sends heavy particles into the air, which your smoke alarm picks up. To avoid this situation in the future, keep your smoke detector at a safe distance from these devices.

3. Fireplaces

Fireplaces can also cause smoke detector false alarms. Your fireplace can sometimes send smoke into your house, which sets off the alarm. This isn’t the alarm’s fault, though. Your chimney may not be clean, and the dampers may not be properly set. Hire a chimney sweep if your fireplace sends smoke into your home.

4. High Humidity

Smoke alarms don’t always distinguish between smoke particles and moisture content. Thus, the density of the moisture particles can trigger your alarm, even if they’re water particles. If you have high humidity in your home, use fans or windows to dissipate the humidity.

5. Steam

Dense water vapor is like humidity when it comes to triggering false alarms. When you take a shower or boil water on the stove, smoke detectors can sense the steam and sound the alarm. Make sure you ventilate your bathroom and kitchen properly to prevent this.

6. Insects

Small bugs love dark crevices in your home, so they may crawl into your smoke detectors, triggering a false alarm. If you don’t know what caused an alarm, open the device and check for small insects. Use pest control sprays around your smoke alarms if insects were the culprit.

7. Chemical Smells

Painting or using harsh chemicals can also cause sensitive smoke detector false alarms. Smoke detectors pick up on those chemical odors fast. Ventilate areas where you paint or use chemicals to avoid the startling noise of your smoke alarm.

8. Dust and Dirt

Dust that comes from activities like remodeling may set off your smoke alarms. To clean your smoke alarm, open it up carefully, and look inside for dust or dirt. Use a vacuum attachment or electronic aerosol cleaner to remove dust particles.

9. Low Batteries

When smoke alarm batteries are running low or aren’t properly connected, they typically make small chirping noises. While that’s not the sound of smoke detection, it’s a warning sign that you should check on your device. Replace batteries twice a year — when daylight saving time starts and ends.

10. Old Smoke Alarm

Smoke alarms generally have a lifespan of about 10 years. When they reach the end of their lifespan, smoke alarms may give off false alarms. If your detector is older than 10 years, replace it with a new one right away.

For fire damage restoration, contact SERVPRO N Lauderdale W Tamarac

Remember, smoke alarms are meant to be sensitive. If a detector sounds like a false alarm, it doesn’t mean it’s broken. Their purpose is to help you catch a fire before it becomes life-threatening. Install your smoke alarms not too close, but not too far away either, from potential fire hazards.

In the unfortunate case where the smoke detector did not give off an alarm, the smoke likely caused heavy soot damage to the property. That fire and smoke damage will need to be handled by professional disaster restoration technicians. This is where PuroClean comes in. Learn more about our fire damage cleanup services. For fire damage restoration or smoke cleanup, contact us  today at 954-960-5322

Can You Prevent a Fire? YES You Can!

8/24/2021 (Permalink)

Follow these simple steps to protect your home and business from fires

Fires can occur in your home or place of business no matter how ce. However, by following a few simple safety tips, you may greatly reduce the risk.

SERVPRO of North Lauderdale West Tamarac is committed to helping you and your home or business prevent fire damage. Here are a few of our suggestions:

• Regularly check your smoke alarms to ensure the batteries are operational.
• Have yearly inspections of your HVAC systems by a professional. 
• Avoid using outlet extenders when at all possible. They increase the chance of overloading an electrical circuit. 
• Clean the dryer lint basket after one to two loads of laundry. A clogged filter can force lint into the heated coils of the dyer. 
• Make sure to properly extinguish smoking materials. For example, watch that candles are completely out before you walk away. 
• Safely store flammable items away from all sources of heat.
• Lastly, always have a fire extinguisher in your home.

While we hope this is something no one should deal with, in the event of fire damage to your home or business, SERVPRO of North Lauderdale West Tamarac is here for you. Give us a call at 954-960-5322

North Lauderdale and Tamarac’s Smoke and Soot Cleanup

3/31/2021 (Permalink)

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Did you know each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different? Each one requires a unique plan tailored for the specific conditions.  SERVPRO has the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We know this is a stressful time and we will treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Smoke and soot is very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home and this can cause hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage. We will develop a comprehensive plan of action.  

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke: wet and dry. Each produces its own type of soot residue. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of North Lauderdale and West Tamarac will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. 

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

No matter the cause, we will make it "Like it never even happened."

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today – 954-960-5322