But What About Smoke Damage and the Odor After a Fire?

10/2/2022 (Permalink)

Give SERVPRO of West Mecklenburg for any fire damage in your Charlotte, North Carolina home or business!

But What About Smoke Damage and the Odor After a Fire?

If you've experienced a fire, then you know how devastating it can be. However, what do you do if the smoke damage to your home is not immediately apparent? Or worse yet, what if there's damage to your personal belongings that get covered up by smoke and odors?

Structural Damage is Obvious

When there is structural damage to your home following a fire, it's pretty obvious. You can see the smoke damage on your walls and ceiling and on your furniture. Smoke damage is also called soot or charring.

When a home is exposed to excess heat, the resulting smoke can cause interior walls and ceilings to discolor and warp into irregular shapes. The wooden studs in the wall may swell up enough that they no longer line up with each other properly, creating large gaps between them where water can leak into the drywall behind them and start mold growth. The same thing happens when windows expand due to high temperatures—the seal around them breaks down, allowing moisture inside where it can cause more problems (like rain leaking through broken glass).

Smoke Odor and Damage are Not as Obvious

Not all fire damages are structural. Smoke damage can quickly destroy your personal property, especially if you don’t act quickly to mitigate the smell and damage done by smoke.

There are many ways that smoke can affect your belongings and cause permanent damage:

• Smoke destroys furniture by staining it and making it smell like smoke. If you want to sell a piece of furniture that has been exposed to a fire, but doesn’t necessarily have structural issues (like missing legs), then you need to clean it thoroughly first in order to get rid of any lingering odors.
• Smoke damages carpets and upholstery because they absorb the chemicals that come out of burning materials such as wood or clothing fabrics. If you don’t clean these items properly with professional equipment immediately after an incident occurs, there will be permanent discoloration as well as residual odor problems down the road when people sit on them or walk over them repeatedly over time

How does smoke cause odor in the first place?

There are many reasons why your home may smell like smoke after a fire. Some of these smells come from materials that were damaged by heat, while others are caused by chemicals released during combustion. Here are some examples of how smoke can cause an odor problem in your home:

Burnt Food

If you have a kitchen fire, the burnt food will release unpleasant odors into the air and onto surfaces throughout your house. Even if you don't have any ruined food items on hand when this happens, you can still get some lingering smells from them later on—like if someone else cooks something similar or if there's already grease buildup in your oven that hasn't been cleaned out yet. This is especially problematic for people who love making homemade meals with lots of spices or herbs—these flavors can become pungent over time and linger long after being cooked out!

Burnt Electrical/Plastic Parts

Aside from burning foods such as meatballs or tortillas (which do not contain any plastic components), there are other things that may catch fire due to electrical malfunctions within their circuitry - including TVs/gaming systems/phones etc.) which means those kinds of products release toxic fumes into homes when they're left plugged in for too long without proper care taken beforehand (such as changing batteries frequently). And since most people aren't aware of these kinds of hazards until after something bad happens, it’s best practice not to leave any kind of electronic device running overnight unless absolutely necessary!

Cleaning and Restoring After Fire

If you have had a fire in your home or business, you should contact a cleaning service as soon as possible to attempt to minimize the effects of smoke odors and other contaminants on your property.

The first step in cleaning up after a fire is to use a vacuum cleaner to clean up any soot and dust in the affected areas. You may also want to wash walls, ceilings and floors with a solution of water and cleaning detergent before drying them thoroughly with towels or fans. If there are stubborn stains left behind by soot particles, try using an ozone machine or thermal fogger (a machine that sprays heat-treated water vapor) to eliminate these stains; however, keep in mind that some types of flooring may be damaged by extreme temperatures like this one. Finally, use an air filtration device such as an ionizer (which removes odor particles from the air) after removing all visible signs of smoke damage for best results during reconstruction efforts later down the road!

Cleaning up after a fire is no fun, but it’s important to remember that there are many steps you can take. It’s not just about what products or methods you use to clean up the mess; it’s also about how you handle yourself in this stressful situation. Take care of yourself and your family members so that everyone stays healthy during this time. Don’t forget that there are professionals out there who can help make things easier for everyone involved! Give SERVPRO of West Mecklenburg for any fire damage in your Charlotte, North Carolina home or business!

How to Remove Post-Flood Odors

7/28/2022 (Permalink)

Make sure your odor removal involves the assistance of experienced storm cleanup professionals.

Three Steps To Deodorize Your Property

If you have recently experienced flood water-related odor issues at your Arbor Glen, NC, business, you are not alone. Many commercial property owners have suffered due to odors caused by mold growth, sewage loss, and other side effects of water buildup.

Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do to get the issue cleared up and get your business back to smelling like it did before the storm. Get started by learning about these three steps to deodorizing your property.

1. Call Professionals

No matter what is causing the stench in your building, it is important to make sure your odor removal involves the assistance of experienced storm cleanup professionals. There can be many different reasons that your business smells the way it does, and some of the causes may be complicated. Bringing in help from people who know exactly how to handle the cleanup after a commercial flood will be very beneficial to you and your company.

2. Disinfect

Disinfection is often one of the first steps to removing foul odors from your property, especially if the odor is caused by mold growth. Trained technicians will understand that growth of this kind will continue to be the source of your odor problem unless the mold is eradicated as soon as possible. Masking the smell will only be a temporary solution, and the unpleasant aroma is almost certain to return if your building is not disinfected.

3. Deodorize

After any infection is taken care of, deodorization can take place. Professionals can use specialized equipment to remove odors and identify their sources. They may use a number of different tools and techniques to eliminate your odors once and for all, and if any new causes arise during the process, they can be addressed, as well.

Be Patient

Remember that mold growth and other similar causes of odor after flood damage in Arbor Glen, NC, can be complicated, and eradication will not always happen overnight. Trust that your building’s odor control and removal are in good hands, and with a little patience, you will soon be able to breathe easy in the workplace once more.

3 Critical Steps for Cleaning Electronics After a Business Fire

5/18/2022 (Permalink)

3 Steps To Cleaning Electronics Following A Business Fire

A commercial fire cleanup is complicated enough, but when flames, smoke and soot damage electrical components, the restoration becomes even more difficult. An electrical fire requires specialty cleanup techniques that are designed for sensitive computer systems and other devices. This is true even if the fire was a short distance away, as soot and smoke can travel far from open flames.

Fine powder carbon residue wreaks havoc with electronics, shorting out circuits and coating other components. Not all is lost, though, as advanced techniques can often salvage impacted items.

1. Computer Cleanup

After a fire, it is not just the soot and smoke that impacts electronics. Fire fighting equipment from water to foams and other substances also can reach electrical systems. Therefore, the job of cleaning computers, printers and other devices after a fire requires a process that removes many harmful substances:

• Chemical residues from fire suppression
  
• Hydrochloric acid from smoke and chemicals
  
• Soot deposits
  
• Dust buildup
  
• Dirt and mud from water deposits

A trained and certified fire mitigation franchise in Collingwood, NC, will use the most advanced cleaning methods recommended by the restoration industry. Technicians will inspect all items damaged by an electrical fire and determine the best course of action, even taking some items off-site for access to additional resources.

2. HVAC Cleanup

It is not uncommon for smoke damage to impact the sensitive components of an HVAC system. A thorough duct cleaning process using the latest cleaning agents as well as manual cleaning can restore the heating and cooling system.

3. Electric Appliances

Individuals should not attempt to clean washers and dryers, microwaves and other electric appliances after a fire. An authorized repair service is the best source for restoring these units damaged by the impacts of fire.

An electrical fire that damages sensitive systems might seem dire at first glance. However, trained technicians can restore some devices with specialized cleaning methods.

Why SERVPRO Is the Preferred Choice for Restoring Documents

3/7/2022 (Permalink)

Why Is SERVPRO The Best Option For Document Restoration?

Any flooded business is likely to experience wet documentation. It is shocking how easily contaminated waters are able to breach file cabinets and storage boxes. The good news is that compromised data in West Charlotte, NC, may be saved with the right attention. If your records are in danger of being lost forever, contact an experienced document restoration professional for proper preservation.

Documents That Can Be Salvaged

SERVPRO is capable of restoring all types of materials, including:

• Paper records
  
• Photographs
  
• X-Rays
  
• Parchment

Besides document drying, disinfecting of affected items is also necessary, as bacteria and other harmful chemicals are likely to be present. Never touch soaked records before they have been sterilized.

Document Salvaging Methodology

SERVPRO’s facilities are specially designed for handling compromised files. Put their years of experience to work for you and save soaked documents before the knowledge contained within them vanishes.

Restoration experts employ freeze-drying and gamma radiation technologies on jeopardized files. These high-tech methodologies are two of the latest to become prominent in the field of document restoration. The Faster to Any Size Disaster company’s breadth allows enough flexibility to handle projects big and small.

HIPPA Master-certified technicians oversee the process from start to finish, guaranteeing your data remains confidential without direct oversight. Once document drying and decontamination are complete, additional services, such as re-jacketing and deodorizing, can be applied.

Document Digitizing

The experience of having your company’s paperwork imperiled may trigger the realization that you are better off moving to an all-digital system. SERVPRO’s team of document restorers can help make this happen. In addition to saving space, transferring records into electronic form makes duplicate record keeping a snap, thus reducing the odds of a similar disaster transpiring in the future.

Document restoration is a complex and delicate process best handled by knowledgeable individuals bearing specialized equipment. When your company’s documentation becomes at risk, hire experts to make sure the information contained within remains accessible.

How To Stock Your First Aid Kit

2/1/2022 (Permalink)

How To Put Together A First-Aid Kit

During storm season in West Charlotte, NC, your commercial building and its occupants could be subjected to dangerous elements. Just as you want to put measures in place to protect or storm restoration professionals to repair your building if it gets damaged, you should also have the tools to take care of people who are injured during an emergency. A well-stocked first aid kit is essential to every emergency preparedness plan. Here are some items you want to make sure to include.

1. Wound Coverage

If someone is wounded, you need to be able to dress the wound in some way. That’s where bandages come in. Scrapes and abrasions come in all shapes and sizes, and so should the materials you use to shield them from further harm. Each emergency kit should include:

• Standard adhesive bandages
  
• Triangular bandages
  
• Small gauze pads
  
• Large gauze pads
  
• One large roll of gauze

2. Wound Cleaners

To prevent infection, your kit should include products that disinfect. Individually wrapped moist towelettes or alcohol pads can suffice. You may also find antibiotic cream helpful in certain situations.

3. Fracture Care

If someone breaks a bone, you need to be able to stabilize it until emergency personnel arrive. Your first aid kit should, therefore, include a splint and something to secure the appendage to the splint, such as tape or elastic bands.

4. CPR Equipment

If someone’s heart stops, someone who is trained in CPR may have to resuscitate him or her. A resuscitation bag or face mask can come in handy.

5. Miscellaneous Items

Every emergency kit should also include scissors, tweezers, latex gloves and a blanket. All of these items can be useful when caring for the people affected by the disaster.

When you don’t know what kind of emergency is going to strike, it is good to be prepared for a wide variety of scenarios. A well-stocked first aid kit is one that can be used to address multiple kinds of injuries.

4 Types of Fire Damage Covered by Commercial Property Policies

1/5/2022 (Permalink)

After a fire broke out in this restaurant, there were significant smoke and soot stains. SERVPRO responded immediately to this emergency.

Commercial Property Insurance Policies Cover Four Different Types Of Fire Damage.

Most commercial property policies include coverage for fire. Fire is the fourth most common claim filed by small businesses, and is the third most costly. The average fire damage claim amount is $35,000. Commercial insurance policies should cover most damage caused by a fire. Here are four major types of damage covered by these policies.

1. Building Materials

Fire can char or warp building materials. Combustible materials, such as wood, can be destroyed. Metal or other components may no longer be structurally sound. Porous materials, such as drywall or insulation, can be damaged by heat or exposure to water during fire suppression efforts. Commercial property insurance policies should cover the costs of rebuilding or restoring a structure.

2. Contents

Items in a fire-damaged building may be ruined by exposure to excessive heat or damaged by soot and smoke. Commercial insurance policies should cover the cleaning or replacement of contents. Obtain photographic or video evidence of damage, make a list of items, and provide proof of purchase if possible.

3. Electronics

Electronics are among the contents of commercial properties. These items often call for more specialized restoration methods and may be more expensive to replace than other contents. Most commercial property insurance policies will cover the costs of cleaning or replacement.

4. Smoke Damage

Smoke stains surfaces and contents and can cause a black film to develop on internal electronic components. In addition to restoring or replacing materials or items with smoke damage, a restoration service may also perform odor elimination treatments. Air filtration and the use of ozone machines, thermal foggers, or other methods can get rid of every trace of smoke odor.

Most commercial insurance policies cover these types of fire damage. Make sure your business has adequate coverage. After a fire occurs, provide your insurer with an estimate from a damage mitigation and restoration company in Charlotte, NC.