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Fire, Smoke and Soot - What To Do and Who To Call
9/13/2023 (Permalink)
What to do if you face fire, smoke or soot damage to your home or business.
Smoke and soot are very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allow for us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to 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. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of [Douglas & Otter Tail Counties] 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. Here is some additional information:
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.
Our Fire Damage Restoration Services
Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions. We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage. We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.
Fire, Smoke and Soot - What To Do and Who To Call
9/13/2023 (Permalink)
What to do if you face fire, smoke or soot damage to your home or business.
Smoke and soot are very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allow for us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to 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. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of [Douglas & Otter Tail Counties] 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. Here is some additional information:
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.
Our Fire Damage Restoration Services
Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions. We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage. We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.
Sentimental Items Damaged in a Fire or Flood?
3/13/2023 (Permalink)
Call SERVPRO to restore your sentimental items after fire or flood.
Losing a sentimental item can be very emotional. After all, some of these items have been passed down for generations and generations. Although these items may never be returned to their original state, if the item is not completely disintegrated there are some things that you can do. Here are some tips to ensure that you are doing the most to restore your sentimental items:
- After a fire, water, or storm loss make sure to call your insurance company to file a claim as soon as possible.
- Before entering the building where your loss occurred, make sure that the structural integrity is okay to enter.
- Wear glasses, a facemask, and gloves when rummaging through damaged items.
- Take lots of photos of the damaged items for insurance claim purposes.
- Call us to schedule an appointment to go over your damaged items, we will always do our best to restore them as close to their original state as possible.
Although not every sentimental item is able to be restored, it may shock you how items can be saved using the proper techniques.
SERVPRO® Will Work with Your Business' Insurance Company
10/25/2022 (Permalink)
In the unfortunate event your business suffers water, fire, flood, storm, or mold damage, SERVPRO® of Bloomington and Richfield will work with your business' insurance company, so you have less work load on your plate. Our employees talk with insurance adjusters every day to make sure things are billed correctly with your insurance and the job is properly documented to ensure things are going according to plan. Being in business for over 10 years, whatever property and casualty insurance company your business uses, odds are we have worked with them in the past. Give us a call to set up an emergency preparedness plan for your business today. It's always best to be prepared. SERVPRO® of Bloomington and Richfield will work hard to make any damage, "Like it never even happened."
Would Your Business Be Prepared in the Event of Water/Mold/Fire Damage?
9/23/2022 (Permalink)
What would you do if your business suffered: Water Damage, Fire Damage, Smoke Damage, Mold, or a Bio-Hazard contamination? Do you have a plan in place? SERPVRO® offers at no charge a business "Ready Plan" app for your phone that will walk you through a preparedness plan that could save your business thousands.
As many as 50% of businesses close down following a disaster, according to the latest research. Of the businesses that survive, the overwhelming majority of them had a preparedness plan in place. In general, the faster the response time to a disaster, the less secondary damage can occur. SERVPRO of Bloomington / Richfield is "faster to any disaster" and works with you and your employees every step of the way.
The SERVPRO Ready Plan app will guide you through a: Water Damage event, Fire Damage event, Mold, Bio-Hazard contamination, and more. Pre-planning and having this app on the ready can help to give you tremendous peace of mind.
By developing a SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile for your business, you minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action. Knowing what to do and what to expect in advance is the key to timely mitigation and can help minimize how water and fire damage can affect your business. Call us today - we would love to help you set up a preparedness plan!
Air Conditioner Causes Water Damage to Ceiling
9/13/2022 (Permalink)
A homeowner in Minneapolis noticed round, yellowish, water spots had appeared on the ceiling of his master bedroom. Realizing that the cause of the water damage was likely the air conditioner located in the attic above the room, he climbed up to take a look. Sure enough, that was the culprit of the damage. He called out an HVAC repair company to fix the problem with the air conditioner, and then he called us at SERVPRO® of Bloomington and Richfield, to mitigate the water damage done to the floor of the attic and the ceiling of the bedroom. Our technicians removed all affected drywall, and set up several of our air movers to dry out the wet areas. After a few days of drying and daily moisture checks, the moisture levels were low and back to normal, so our crew pulled the equipment and packed up. The floor of the attic and ceiling of the bedroom were repaired, and it was like this water disaster never even happened!
Fire Prevention week October 9-15, 2022
9/13/2022 (Permalink)
Fire Prevention week October 9-15, 2022, “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape”
Home fire escape planning and practicing
It is important for everyone to plan and practice a home fire escape. Everyone needs to be prepared in advance, so that they know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Given that every home is different, every home fire escape plan will also be different.
Have a plan for everyone in the home. Children, older adults, and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out. Make sure that someone will help them!
Smoke alarms
Smoke alarms sense smoke well before you can, alerting you to danger. Smoke alarms need to be in every bedroom, outside of the sleeping areas (like a hallway), and on each level (including the basement) of your home. Choose an alarm that is listed with a testing laboratory, meaning it has met certain standards for protection. For the best protection, use combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that are interconnected throughout the home. These can be installed by a qualified electrician, so that when one sounds, they all sound. This ensures you can hear the alarm no matter where in your home the alarm originates.
Source: NFPA Online 2022
4 Ways to Check for Hidden Water Leaks
8/30/2022 (Permalink)
Four Ways to Check for Hidden Water Leaks
Think you may have a water leak somewhere in your home? Here are some good ways to tell when the leak is not obvious.
- Pay Attention to Increased Water Bills
Monitor your water bill for sudden unexplained increases.
- Check Your Water Meter
Pick a few hours when you can go without using the water In your home. Record your water meter before and after. Was there an increase?
- Toilet Leaks
Put a drop of food coloring in your toilet’s tank. If within 15 minutes or less, the toilet bowl reveals that color, you may have a leak. Make sure to flush the toilet multiple times after performing this test so your bowl does not get stained.
- Look for Mold
Where there is mold, there is moisture. Something is feeding that moisture. It’s possible there is a leak somewhere.
Are you in need of water damage restoration? Come to the certified technicians at SERVPRO of Bloomington / Richfield. We will work with your insurance every step of the way. Give us a call to get started!
Smoke Damage in the Kitchen from a Kitchen Fire in Richfield
8/30/2022 (Permalink)
Cooking is the #1 cause of fires in the home; specifically, fires that originate from the stove. Even when the fire is caught early, the smoke damage that it causes can be devastating to a home. Even burning food in the oven can cause considerable smoke damage. The smoke odor gets trapped in the curtains, sofas, on the walls, and other places in the home. SERVPRO of Bloomington / Richfield is IICR Certified to clean, deodorize, and sanitize upholstery, furniture, and carpeting. In addition, SERVPRO of Bloomington / Richfield has a tried and true process of eliminating the strong odor of smoke from the air using deodorizers and ionizing machines.
To learn more about smoke damage remediation from SERVPRO of Bloomington / Richfield, please click here.
Please call us today to get the process started: (952) 854-2000
What Secondary Damage can occur after water damage in your home or commercial building?
7/28/2022 (Permalink)
What Secondary Damage can occur after water damage in your home or commercial building?
After water leaks or flood damage, if not properly dried and treated, a home or business can develop mold from the moisture left on: wood, tile, carpeting, windows, concrete, and/or other materials/items that were affected. SERVPRO of Bloomington and Richfield strives to prevent secondary damage every time we remediate water damage. Building material and flooring are dried and treated to prevent mold and other allergens/contaminates using specialized equipment and cleaning products.
If water damage is not properly treated, the perfect environment is created for mold spores to grow in your home and to contaminate the air that is breathed.
Should you ever suffer water damage due to: a water heater leak, sink overflow, fire, refrigerator leak, excessive rain, storm damage, leaky roof, flood damage, or any other reason water has invaded your home or business, please know that SERVPRO of Bloomington and Richfield is here to help. Faster to Any Disaster
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