Caring for Your Belongings After a Fire

1/24/2023 (Permalink)

In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about saving your home and your contents after a fire.

Fire and smoke damage can ruin a home, but many belongings and possessions can be salvaged. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about saving your home and your contents after a fire.

Fire, Smoke & Soot Damage

Smoke and soot are the most common types of damage caused by fires. Smoke can cause discoloration and staining, which can be difficult to remove. Soot is another type of damage that can cause discoloration and staining. 

If the fire is contained in one area, it's possible that some of your possessions can be saved. The first thing you should do is call the insurance company and let them know what happened. Once they have been informed, they will send their adjusters out to assess the damage and determine whether or not anything can be saved. Take pictures of all damaged items so that when your insurance company arrives at your home, they have a visual representation of what was destroyed to give you an accurate estimate on a repair total or claim value.

What Can be Cleaned

If you're wondering what can be cleaned after a fire, the answer is "a lot." There are plenty of possessions that will withstand the heat and water damage from firefighting efforts. However, some items may be damaged beyond repair by the time the flames have been put out. 

Once you've determined which possessions should be saved and which should be thrown away, it's time to clean them off! Keep in mind that any item that was exposed to heat or smoke needs special attention. Our SERVPRO team is highly trained and experienced in content restoration post-fire. 

Content Cleaning

Cleaning content after a fire is an important part of the restoration process. Soot, smoke, and odor can all be removed to prevent or reduce damage to your belongings.

When cleaning textiles, use the gentlest method possible, such as hand washing with cold water and a mild detergent designed for delicate fabrics. If this doesn’t work, it may be best to have them professionally cleaned by an expert who knows how to treat different kinds of fabrics. 

Ultimately, you don’t want to mess this process up. Your best bet is to contact a professional at SERVPRO of Schertz Central, Cibolo, Seguin, Gonzales.

Ozone Treatment for Odor Removal

Is a non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and safe for people and pets method that can be used to cleanse smoke odors from your property.

Fire damage is one of the most devastating events that can happen to your New Braunfels home. However, there are many things that you can do to recover from this tragedy. Contact your SERVPRO today for help restoring your home and your belongings!

How To Stop a Fire Alarm From Beeping

5/13/2022 (Permalink)

It is recommended that the batteries be changed in each alarm every six months.

How to Quiet a Beeping Fire Alarm

It’s critical for your fire alarm to work when you need it. If the beeping sound goes off in the middle of the night for no foreseeable reason, however, it can be irritating and jarring. Let’s examine a few causes and remedies for the unpleasant noise.

1. Replace the Batteries

One of the most common reasons for a continuous beeping is a battery that is losing its power. It is recommended that the batteries be changed in each alarm every six months. Make sure you switch out the old batteries with properly-placed new batteries so that you know the device is working.

2. Clean the Alarms

Dust can settle into the crevices of your alarm and cause it to malfunction. If it beeps continuously, open the fire alarm and gently blow out the dirt with a small air blower. Since lodged dirt can also make the device stop working altogether, get in the habit of checking it for dirt and dust every few weeks. One of the last things you want to deal with is smoke damage in your Nixon, TX, home, so it’s important to stay vigilant.

3. Reset the Device

Resetting the alarm will sometimes stop it from beeping. At the circuit breaker, turn off the power to the alarm. Carefully remove the device from the wall mount. After unplugging the power supply and removing the battery, hold the test button down for about 20 seconds. Replace the battery and plug the power supply back in. Once you have restored the power at the circuit breaker, reattach the alarm to the wall mount.
If your alarm malfunctions during a fire, the resulting fire damage should be addressed quickly. Water and smoke can cause severe damage, so call a fire restoration service right away to inspect your home.
Make sure to conduct routine maintenance on your fire alarm, and it should serve you well for several years.

How To Protect Your Building From Significant Fire Damage

5/5/2022 (Permalink)

If a fire starts in your business, protecting your employees is your biggest concern.

How to Prevent Serious Fire Damage to Your Building

Your business in Marion, TX, depends on the security and safety of the building in which it is located. While it is certainly preferable that a fire doesn't break out at all, it's important to know what to do if one does. Good fire prevention and fire suppression strategies are a big part of making your building safe for you and your employees.

Evacuation

If flames erupt, protecting your greatest asset - the people inside - is likely your biggest concern. To ensure that they are able to get out of the building quickly in the event of a business fire, prepare with the following steps:

• Clear evacuation route, marked by maps posted in prominent locations
  
• Emergency plan that outlines responsibilities and expectations
  
• Contact information for insurance, emergency personnel and fire restoration experts
  
• Regular fire drills to practice the plan
  
  

Prevention

The best defense against fire, of course, is to keep it from happening in the first place. Most fire prevention tactics are simply a matter of keeping your building up to code. A fire marshal should inspect your building at least once a year. Comply with the instructions given after the inspection. Replace any questionable wiring as soon as you notice there is a problem. Keep appliances a few inches from the wall. Make your building as fire-safe as possible.

Suppression

No matter how much effort you put into prevention, sometimes accidents happen. Store fire extinguishers throughout your building, and make sure everyone who works there knows how to use them. This can prevent a small fire from becoming unmanageable. A sprinkler system can limit fire damage by unleashing a torrent of water as soon as the air around the detectors reaches a certain temperature.
It is your responsibility as the business owner to protect your building and everyone in it from the potential threat of fire. With proper fire prevention and suppression strategies, you can rest assured that your building is as safe as possible.

How To Clean Your Grill and Why You Need To

4/26/2022 (Permalink)

Proper grill cleaning after every meal makes maintenance much easier.

Grill Maintenance

Nothing says summer in Marion, TX, like the smell of your favorite foods on the grill. When the temperatures climb, it may feel easier to take dinner prep outdoors rather than sweat over a hot stove. However, it's important to clean your grill every time you use it. Not only does this prolong the life of the appliance, but it protects your home from fires as well. In a survey between 2014-and 2018, over 10,600 home fires were linked to grills and barbecues. A buildup of oil and grease makes your grill more susceptible to putting up large flames that can catch onto porches, roofs, and dry grass. Proper grill maintenance is essential for keeping your favorite summer activity safe.

1. Clean the Grates

Proper grill cleaning after every meal makes maintenance much easier. For either a gas or charcoal grill, scrub the grates while they're still hot and before the food particles stick too badly. Some people like wire brushes, though balled-up aluminum foil also works and won't leave little bristles behind.

2. Check for Grease or Ashes

Avoiding grease fires is a top priority with gas grills. Before you turn on the grill, check the grease tray. If it gets overfilled, you'll be cleaning grease spots off your patio. Similarly, always dispose of all completely cooled ashes from your charcoal barbecue.

3. Deep Clean Annually

When grilling season ends, deep grill cleaning saves your grill and prevents problems next season. Kicking off the season the next year with a fire due to an improperly maintained grill can put a major damper on your next barbecue.

4. Know Grease Fire Safety

Educate yourself on how to extinguish a fire in your grill. Never use water, as water can actually make a grease fire worse. Closing the lid is a good first step because it stops oxygen flow to the flames. If you do have a home fire, a local fire restoration company can help with repairs.
Enjoy grilling season to the fullest by practicing good grill cleaning habits to protect your home and your dinner.

Special Techniques To Protect Your Home From Fire

4/21/2022 (Permalink)

Clean the hose at the back of the dryer.

Special Fire-Resistant Techniques for Your Home

Fires happen in homes for many reasons. The six most common causes of house fires are as follows:

• Cooking
  
• Heating appliances
  
• Electrical
  
• Smoking
  
• Candles
  
• Chemicals
  
  

If your home in Gonzales, TX, has a washer and dryer, you could experience a lint fire. Because lint is an easily combustible material and because your dryer generates heat, this is a combination that should be monitored. Lint can build up in several places. The first spot is the lint trap, which should be cleaned out after each use. You should also occasionally rinse down this sheet of plastic as well as vacuum out the vent.

More Advanced Cleaning of the Dryer

A second spot to clean is the hose at the back of the dryer. This area should be looked at regularly to reduce the chances of a dryer fire. In many new models, a sensor will indicate if there is too much lint present; this sensor might not even allow you to operate your machine in these conditions. Every now and then, you will want to undertake complete cleaning of your appliance to protect against a lint fire. This involves removing the back panel of the appliance. For safety, you should unplug the dryer from the power source. Once the back panel is removed, look for the accumulation of lint and remove it manually or with a vacuum.

Other Methods of Preventing Fire Damage

It is important to install working fire alarms throughout your home. Regular monitoring of any space heaters in use is always important. The use of candles in the home should be limited to adults, and candles should never be left to burn unsupervised. If you do experience a fire, a quality fire restoration company can minimize damages to your home through quick and efficient actions. Avoiding a lint fire and other dangers can be accomplished through a combination of common sense and preventative maintenance.

How Do Experts Clean Contents Damaged By Fire?

2/25/2022 (Permalink)

Kitchen fire damage in Schertz, TX.

How Do Professionals Clean Contents That Have Been Damaged By Fire?

Restoration experts use a variety of treatments for contents damaged by fire or smoke. The best content cleaning method for any item or material will depend on its condition and composition. Hard, non-porous materials may withstand abrasion or immersion, while delicate textiles may be better suited to dry-cleaning. Learn more about how professionals treat content with different degrees of damage.

Charred Contents

Burnt or charred contents may or may not be candidates for cleaning. The severity of the damage and the durability and porosity of the material should all be considered. If cleaning is an option, experts may recommend one or more of the following treatment methods:

• Abrasion or blasting for durable, non-porous contents
  
• Immersion cleaning for non-porous items
  
• Ultrasonic cleaning for non-porous items
  
  

Immersion in the cleaning solution can be combined with the application of ultrasonic waves. This type of treatment is ideal for removing residues from ceramic, glass, metal, plastic, or rubber contents.

Smoke-Damaged Contents

Items with smoke damage are viable candidates for a variety of different cleaning methods. Restoration professionals will factor in the type of material and degree of damage before recommending one of the following treatments:

• Dry-cleaning textiles such as bedding, clothing or upholstery
  
• Foam cleaning materials prone to shrinking
  
• Spraying and wiping to remove smoke residue
  
• Wet cleaning durable materials
  
  

Electronics

Off-site cleaning and content storage are advisable for damaged electronics. Circuitry and other internal components may develop a black film that will increase the risk of overheating or corrode and become prone to short-circuiting. Specialists can remove build-up and determine whether an appliance or device should be restored or replaced.

Many items with smoke damage can be cleaned and restored. Burnt or charred contents or building materials may need to be disposed of and replaced. Residential damage restoration experts can recommend dry-cleaning and other content cleaning treatments after a household fire in Schertz, TX.

Fire Safety Tips for Your Home

9/30/2021 (Permalink)

Many home fires can be avoided if proper fire prevention techniques are in place. In this article, we will discuss some fire safety steps to implement in your home and prevent the need for fire damage restoration.

1. The first thing that you need to do is educate yourself on the different types of smoke detectors that are on the market. There are two kinds of smoke detectors on the market, ionization and photoelectric. Ionization smoke detectors are best used for detecting the smoke that is given off from flaming fires where the photoelectric smoke detector is best for detecting the smoke particles given off from smoldering fires. The National Fire Protection Association will tell you that most deaths in home fires are due to smoke inhalation. However, since each alarm is equipped to detect different types of fires, and there is no way to determine which kind of fire will break out in a home, it is best to purchase both.
2. You need to have a fire extinguisher in your home. If a blaze does happen to break out in your home, you are probably going to evacuate and not attempt to battle the blaze, but that does not mean you should not keep a fire extinguisher in your home. The fire extinguisher is like a tool, you want to have it and better it just sits there, and you never have to use it than need it and not have it there when you need it. Sure, fire extinguishers are kind of unsightly, but if you are stuck in a fire and flames block the only exit, that fire extinguisher is going to be the best-looking thing you have ever seen!
3. Every home must have a fire evacuation plan, and you need to practice it a few times a year, especially if you have children. There is nothing more tragic than a family escaping a home fire only to have a member of the family run back into a burning home because they think they are going to get someone who they believe to be still in there but is safely somewhere else. Make sure everyone in your family knows the evacuation plan from the home in the event of a fire and make sure everyone knows where the family is supposed to meet. Explain the value of staying at the meeting place and waiting there, and practice, practice, practice that plan.

If you are interested in learning more about fire damage restoration services call us at 830-379-7474

Get Thorough Fire Damage Restoration In Schertz by Hiring Expert Restorers.

8/31/2021 (Permalink)

You can depend on our SERVPRO teams to cleanup and restore your property and personal belongings after a fire takes place.

Reputable Restorers like SERVPRO Use Hi-Tech Equipment for Thorough Fire Damage Restoration in Schertz Homes

Property owners affected by fire go through a traumatic and terrifying ordeal, especially those who do not know where to begin. The intensity and ferocity of a fire can make you feel utterly fragile and can cause massive property damage and loss. To avoid more damage, involve professional restorers like SERVPRO for effective restoration.

How Fast do Restorers Respond to Customer’s Emergencies?

The more homeowners delay fire damage restoration in Schertz homes, the higher the restoration cost and chances of costly repairs. Our restorers respond to our customer’s emergencies as quickly as possible. We assess the damage and devise the most effective cleaning strategy.

Before We Begin Cleaning Smoke Residues, we First:

Identify the type of residues

Determine the type of surface on which the residue is present

Capture residues in solution or dry particulate form

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Fire damage, as well as water damage resulting from firefighting efforts, can add up fast. As a result, SERVPRO restorers can use hot water extraction that uses water pressure and airflow to agitate carpet fibers. Our restorers can use a powerful vacuum to remove the residues. 

Fire damage can be disastrous, particularly if it is left unattended for an extended period. Contact SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales Counties for professional restoration. Call us today at (830) 379-7474

SERVPRO can help with deodorizing fire damaged homes in Seguin

4/29/2021 (Permalink)

Fire and smoke restoration is a job for a professional outfit. SERVPRO has the manpower and experience for any size fire disaster.

Odor Removal Services in Seguin.

In many cases, a fire can burn building materials like your walls and ceilings. After the burnt debris gets removed, there may still be some smoke remediation needed on your wall studs and roof trusses. 

When handling fire and smoke removal in Seguin, our SERVPRO technicians can take steps to remove any foul odors and smoke damage. If your wall studs, roof trusses, or flooring contain visible issues with smoke or soot, sealing can provide the following benefits:

• When conducting fire damage restoration, we can use a sealant on affected surfaces when burnt fragrances still exist.
• As a part of a house fire clean-up, sealing affected surfaces can encapsulate any malodor particles embedded into the exposed wood of your subfloor, studs, or trusses.
• We can utilize sealers that are alcohol or acrylic-based during fire restoration and are either clear or tinted. 
• Killz or the EnviroShield Odor and Stain Blocker are top-notch sealants used for smoke-related issues and other problems.

If you have a fire that burns building materials like your carpet, drywall, or ceiling tiles, call SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales Counties at (830) 379-7474

Two Tips for Fire Safety

4/29/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke detectors are the best way of being alerted to a fire and surviving it. This is especially true when installed correctly by a licensed professional. According to U.S. Fire Administration, most alarms have a life span of 8-10 years so if you already have lived in your house for 10 years you probably should have it replaced.  Keep it in good working order by ensuring that it is free of dust and pest debris. Monthly monitoring companies will often times have a tamper alarm when you are doing anything around the smoke detector. Give them a call before touching your alarm, otherwise, you will be talking with them soon if you did not let them know ahead of time that you are testing or changing batteries.

Do you have a fire extinguisher? Do you know how to use it? Do you have the right extinguisher? The most recommended extinguisher for the home is a 2-1/2-pound Class ABC 

Class A - fires involving solid materials such as wood, paper or textiles.

Class B - fires involving flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel or oils.

Class C - fires involving gases. 

The recommended fire extinguisher can handle these types of fires however if you can’t reach any part of a fire with the extinguisher you should evacuate and dial 911.  Always be sure you have an exit at your back when fighting a fire, it should be a clear path to safety.

How to Care For Your Belongings After a House Fire

4/29/2021 (Permalink)

A house fire often brings destruction and leaves damage in its wake, and there’s a good chance that your belongings received the brunt of the damage. Caring for your belongings after a house fire may seem overwhelming, but there are a few things that you can do once you call the professionals, have the fire put out, and your house is deemed safe to enter again. Always, always make sure that your house fire is completely out and your home is safe to enter before even thinking about caring for your belongings post-house fire. Your safety and well-being are most important.

So, how do you care for your belongings after a house fire?

1) Coordinate electronic cleanup with professionals.

Under no circumstances should you turn on any electronics that were affected by your house fire. Any electrical devices or appliances may pose big hazards to you and your health if they were damaged in a fire since smoke residues may have caused their metal surfaces to corrode. Don’t attempt to turn on or operate any electronics. We advise you to leave the restoration to the professionals.

2) Approach contents restoration in a multi-faceted manner

Depending on the contents of your home, dry cleaning, wet cleaning, or even immersion cleaning may be in order. Our website nicely defines the different types of content restoration cleaning that you may need to undertake or invest in following a house fire.

• Dry Cleaning - Used for cleaning light residues or to pre-clean prior to wet cleaning.
• Wet Cleaning - An effective cleaning method for removing moderate to heavy residues.
• Spray and Wipe -Effective for items that can’t withstand wet cleaning.
• Foam Cleaning - Used for upholstery fabrics that might shrink or bleed if wet cleaned.
• Abrasive Cleaning - Involves agitation of the surface being cleaned.
• Immersion Cleaning - Contents are dipped into a bath of the cleaning product.
  
  

3) Take pictures of everything

If it’s safe for you to do so, take pictures of everything that was damaged in the fire so you can make the proper insurance claims and get them approved. Alternatively, a restoration team can do this for you in a safe, timely manner so that you have evidence of all the damage and it’s documented for any questions in the future.

For more information regarding caring for your belongings after a house fire, check out this page on our website. Our fire damage restoration team is always equipped and ready to come out to your home or apartment to take care of the damage and restore your property to its original condition. You can reach our SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales Counties team by calling (830) 379-7474. This franchise is independently owned and operated.

What Should I Do When a Small Fire Leaves Behind Residues in My Cibolo Home?

3/26/2021 (Permalink)

For Fire Damage Mitigation and Help With Smoke-Related Issues in Your Cibolo Home Call SERVPRO

A small kitchen fire can cause you issues even if the flames do not burn any of the building materials or contents inside your house in Cibolo. Kitchen fires can often get caused by grease getting too hot while unattended cooking is taking place. Once oil or something you try to cook ignites, smoke can spread throughout your structure.

How can you tell if smoke has affected my contents and building materials?
During fire damage mitigation in Cibolo, our SERVPRO technicians always start the work process with a thorough inspection of your property. We can perform wipe tests where we wipe all of the surfaces of your house inside and out with a white rag to see if there are any residues present. After we find where all of the soot residues are, we can then perform test cleaning procedures to see which cleaning products and procedures work best on your specific types of smoke residues. Then finally, we can begin removing your smoke residues even if they are light.

What happens to my house if light smoke residues exist?
When our SERVPRO crew conducts the removal of light smoke residues, we find that the following issues exist:

    •    Light smoke residues exist usually when the area affected by the smoke is small.
    •    In most cases, when the residues are light, there is no structural damage present inside your home.
    •    Sometimes after a small fire ignites, the smoke residues in the affected areas of your structure are light or not visible at all.
    •    Even if your house gets affected by smoke residues that are not heavy, foul odors can exist near the source. But if the fire was small and we conclude that you have light smoke residues as opposed to moderate or heavy residue situations, then unpleasant aromas may not exist in sections of your building that are far from the source.

If you ever happen to have a small grease fire break out in your kitchen, it is wise to call SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales Counties at (830) 379-7474 to see if you have any smoke residues present.

Fire Damage Restoration in Schertz, TX

2/26/2021 (Permalink)

If you're facing the aftermath of a fire, call the professionals at SERVPRO for professional fire damage restoration services.

Professional Fire Damage Restoration Service in Schertz, TX

The aftermath of a structure fire is overwhelming. The losses are difficult to accept as you are surrounded by the destruction of personal items and the shelter itself.

However, accepting what is lost and adjusting to the circumstances is the only way forward. With an experienced Schertz fire damage restoration company working for you, you’ll be on your way back to normalcy.

For decades, SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales Counties has helped countless property owners recover their fire-damaged properties in Schertz, TX. We understand the hardships and adjustments that come along after a fire. We do our best to minimize the recovery time.

Who you choose to manage your property restoration is a major decision. We’re here on standby to take your call 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. SERVPRO is “Faster to any size disaster” and we do all we can to make the process efficient. Call us at (830) 379-7474  with any fire damage recovery questions and for a free quote.

SERVPRO Fire Damage Restoration Process

After experiencing a major loss, you may be leery of placing your property recovery in the hands of a Schertz fire damage restoration company. We’re with you every step of the way through the fire restoration process and are transparent about all that is involved. To keep you updated and answer any questions you may have, we assign you a single point of contact.

A frequent question we hear is “What does a fire restoration company do?” We’ve put together this guide to familiarize you with how it works.

Phase 1: Fire Damage Inspection and Assessment

So what all is involved with Schertz Fire damage restoration? Fire and smoke damage restoration is about bringing the property back to its preloss condition. To plan out the process, we must have a list of everything that is damaged. 

We address what is beyond the surface of the obvious signs of damage to ensure that everything is recovered. This means we check the rooms and spaces adjacent to the affected area. Once we have all damage identified and itemized, we can begin the fire remediation work.

Phase 2: Board-Up and Roof-Tarp

SERVPRO is prepared to get started on the work immediately, but we may not be able to start until we have authorization (for example, from the insurance adjuster). 

Fire damage often leaves the property vulnerable to secondary damage from rain, vandalism, or theft. Imagine shattered windows, gutted walls, or holes in the roof left unguarded for several weeks.

We board up and tarp these areas to create temporary protection. Insurance companies may want to know what was done to prevent additional damage, and board up and tarping is a proactive safeguard.

Phase 3: Water and Smoke Removal

When people think of fire damage, they usually imagine singed corners and piles of ash. So why would there be water damage too? 

Fire sprinklers dispense 8-24 gallons of water per minute and a firehose dumps 50-125 gallons per minute, and this leaves behind water damage.

We eliminate damaging water and moisture with high-powered extraction machines, dehumidifiers, and air circulation acceleration. Lingering moisture will lead to mold growth, so the job is not done until everything is completely dry.

Fire damage leaves behind damaging soot, messy ash, and a strong odor. We use advanced techniques, specialized equipment, industrial cleaners, and air scrubbers to eliminate all remnants of smoke damage.

Phase 4: Fire Damage Restoration

Our goal is to restore rather than replace. We’ll clean, disinfect, and sanitize all that can be recovered, including personal items.

One way we recover personal property is with our Esporta Wash System. We place contaminated soft goods into the machine for thorough fire cleanup. Once these items have been processed, they will have achieved food grade cleanliness.

What cannot be restored will be rebuilt and replaced. We’ll replace drywall, wooden construction, paint, and put in new carpet. Our Schertz reconstruction services will do whatever it takes to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Fire Damaged Contents Restoration Service

Looking over all that has been severely damaged by fire, you may wonder how any of it could be recovered. Is it all bound for the dumpster? Not necessarily. Our Schertz Fire damage restoration services use a variety of techniques to restore your possessions.

Documents Restoration

While we may not be able to bring photos and documents back to their original condition, we can salvage the items for safekeeping.

Types of materials we restore:

• Paper documents
• Books and magazines
• Manuscripts and files
• Photographs, films, negatives, and microfiche
• X-rays
• Blueprints and maps
• Parchment

One of our most effective techniques is also used by Library of Congress historians. We use a vacuum freeze-drying process which is the only document preservation method approved by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the General Services Administration (GSA). We also sterilize the documents using gamma irradiation technology.

Digitizing allows you to have a copy of the original when its present quality is perishable. We’ll scan and store your items in a confidential manner to protect your privacy.

Below is a complete list of document recovery methods our technicians use:

• Air Drying
• Dehumidification
• Freezer Drying
• Vacuum Freeze Drying
• Vacuum Thermal Drying

Furniture Restoration

We understand that furniture purchases are a major investment. The cost of a new set of furniture is considerable, and antique furniture is irreplaceable. 

The first thing we do is separate the legs of furniture from contact with harmful elements (such as wet carpet).

We’ll apply the most appropriate remedy for each piece of furniture. We disassemble the furniture to give each component a thorough cleaning.

• Dry cleaning - Clean light residue from furniture surface or as a pre-treatment prior to wet cleaning.
• Wet cleaning - Removes moderate to heavy residues from the furniture.
• Spray and wipe - Used on furniture that would be damaged from too much exposure to water/soaking.
• Foam cleaning - Cleans upholstery fabrics would shrink or bleed from water-based cleaning.
• Abrasive cleaning - Agitation of the surface for stubborn soiling.
• Immersion cleaning - Contents are dipped into a bath of an industrial cleaning product.

Electronics Restoration

Some might guess that dusting the ashes off electronics is enough to clean them. The truth is that residue from smoke is acidic and corrosive to the electronic components over time.

We advise you not to attempt to turn on or use electronics that have been in a structure fire. Let the professionals clean these up for you so they can be saved. SERVPRO will carefully restore your televisions, DVD players, computers, etc. with our expert electronic fire damage cleaning techniques.

How Much Does it Cost to Restore Fire Damage in Schertz?

The average cost of Schertz fire damage restoration is $13,730 (while the national average is $13,566). 

Factors include:

• Square footage of the damage.
• Depth of the damage.
• How much soot and smoke damage.
• How much water damage.
• Reconstruction

Keep in mind that the figures mentioned above are industry averages for fire damage restoration companies and do not necessarily reflect SERVPRO’s pricing structure. To get an idea of what we would charge, please contact SERVPRO directly for pricing information.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Fire Restoration?

Most homeowner insurance policies do provide coverage for structure fire damage. Some may cover expenses for temporary relocation. Be sure to save proof of your expenses such as receipts for lodging and new clothing.

If you’ve been living in a house for many years, you’ve likely forgotten what level of coverage you secured. To refresh your memory, it’s a good idea to set up a meeting with your insurance agent to go over your coverages prior to any fire event. Ask about deductibles and how much coverage levels for personal property and temporary relocation. You may need to increase your coverage or initiate a new policy with another company that offers more benefits.

We work with your insurance company to make the process as efficient as possible. Because of our great reputation, SERVPRO is a preferred vendor for many major insurance carriers.

Does Fire Damage Affect HVAC systems in Schertz?

During a structure fire, smoke and soot travel into the ducts of your HVAC system, even when the system is not running. Aside from being a health hazard, the soot and smoke damage warps the ductwork.

Schertz fire damage restoration addresses the HVAC system with a full inspection, cleaning, and sealing. This resolves many climate control and air quality issues caused by the fire damage. Our goal is to keep your environment comfortable and healthy by ensuring that your HVAC system’s life is not shortened by this unfortunate event.

Certified Schertz SERVPRO Fire Damage Restoration Service Ready 24/7

Fire damage is one of the most unfortunate things to happen to a home or business. You’re surrounded by loss and destruction. We understand the stress that comes with fire events. Our team of Schertz professional fire restorers is here to pick up the pieces and get you back to your normal life as soon as possible.

When you hire SERVPRO for fire damage restoration services, you will have a single point of contact and we will communicate with your insurance company on your behalf. This makes the process efficient and reduces stress for the property owner. Call us today to get started on your fire damage restoration process. We’re available 24/7 year-round for emergency contact at (830) 379-7474

Fire Restoration is Best Left to Professionals, So Call SERVPRO to Address the Damage to Your Cibolo, TX Home

9/14/2020 (Permalink)

Don't let fire damage control your life! Call SERVPRO today 830-379-7474

There are countless reasons to call in the help of trained restoration technicians after a fire in your Cibolo, Texas home. For example, smoke and soot bring on foul odors that linger past the fire-loss zone and call for specialized techniques to rid your interior of them. Additionally, the only way you can ensure you salvage the most materials and belongings is by having specialized cleaning methods and the industry's best products today. SERVPRO comes to each fire restoration job, ready to work with all of the latest advancements in the field. 

How Do My Furnishings, Walls, and Ceilings Get Cleaned?

When you call us for help with fire restoration in Cibolo, we arrive with our Green Fleet loaded with all of the equipment and proper cleaning agents to handle the job. To determine the best measures for cleaning your interior, we test surfaces covered in smoke residue. This allows us to match the right cleaning techniques and products for optimum results. 

Anytime a homeowner tries to handle fire-loss with consumer cleaning tools and DIY methods, they run the risk of worsening the damage. Some of the standard, professional-grade equipment that we bring to each fire damage project includes:

•   Personal protection equipment (PPE), which protects the crew from harmful irritants, such as soot
•   Durable wet sponges best for working on the removal of wet smoke residue
•   Dry sponges that work to lift away any dry smoke residue on surfaces easily
•   Moisture detection tools to help find hidden moisture pockets from the water used to extinguish the flames
•   Air scrubber equipment that helps capture the soot particles from the air
•   EPA-registered solvents and cleaning solutions to fight smoke odors

What Sets SERVPRO Apart from the Rest?

Once you choose us for your fire damage restoration needs, we send out a team to begin assessing your interior. The crew chief examines each area and records each detail, which allows for the formulation of a tailored plan of action. We use research-based planning to help facilitate the mitigation and remediation steps. Several areas that we address when putting a plan into place include:

•   Integrity and safety of any structural materials
•   Whether pack-out services are required
•   The level of damage within the loss zone, including potential materials that must get treated using controlled demolition methods
•   Any residual moisture from water or chemicals used to douse the flames
•   What drying or dehumidification equipment, if any and how many, is needed 
•   What odor-control equipment will work best on the project

What are Pack-Out Services?

There are times when items can be relocated to another room of the home for cleaning, or we will send them to our facility for detailed cleaning. We may also suggest a partial move out, where only some of your contents get moved at any given time. Whatever we decide is best, all of your belongings get logged for your records and to your insurance provider to go with your claim. 

Of course, there will be items that can be cleaned on-site, which our technicians will address and handle with care. 

What is Done to Address Foul Odors?

A common complaint after a house fire is the strong smell of smoke and charred materials. Without proper techniques, the smoke remains a constant reminder even after other traces of the fire get removed. Handling smoke odors is something that our IICRC-certified technicians at SERVPRO are trained to do. We take measures to contain the fire-loss zone so that mitigation can begin, which includes tarping off the area and covering vents. This helps to keep soot and smoke from getting tracked throughout the home and limit particulates in the air. Whenever soot and smoke residue get into the ducts of your HVAC system, these foul odors can spread throughout each room in your home.

Some of the advanced technology that we bring with us to help battle smoke odors includes:

•   Sealants for walls and ductwork that halt odor transmission from soot that has become embedded
•   Powerful deodorizing agents
•   Hydroxyl generators with UV light technology that help to eliminate odors safely
•   Thermal foggers that use chemicals to bind with odor molecules for easy removal.

What Items are a Total Loss?

As mentioned with our pack-out services, we take the time to catalog all items that are handled. Our Contents Claim Inventory Service (CCIS), reports the condition of each item as well as anything that has been discarded. What this service does is establish a chain of custody, which then helps to give you added peace of mind while also helping to expedite your insurance claim. Any items deemed unsalvageable are adequately disposed of according to local guidelines.

To have a team deployed to your home for fire restoration services, call SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales Counties at (830) 379-7474. We are here to make sure that your interior is "Like it never even happened."

How Do You Stay Safe While Recovering From a Kitchen Fire?

5/1/2020 (Permalink)

Rely On the Safety Procedures SERVPRO uses for Schertz Homeowners

After any fire damage there are going to be several safety issues, however kitchen fires pose difficult challenges. These problems can include possible structural damage, unsafe kitchen access and electrical hazards. Having professionals to help you during this time is critical and can make the situation a little less overwhelming. After a fire, you should not go into the affected area until a trained professional is there to help. This will ensure you and your family stay as safe as possible.

What initial steps are necessary to make the kitchen safe after fire damage in your Schertz Home?

A thorough, professional assessment should be performed as soon as possible after the fire. Three significant issues must be addressed immediately:

• Identify unsafe areas and safe areas
• Secure and organize the worksite
• Cleaning protocols and debris disposal

What procedures are used to ensure kitchen safety before the recovery work starts?

SERVPRO professionals know how to separate safe and unsafe areas, and part of that process includes pinpointing structural issues that may be dangerous. Safe cleanup procedures are also spelled out, along with the steps necessary to remove hazardous debris. Charred debris sometimes produces foul odors and can be especially dangerous, so special procedures may occasionally be required to remove it.

Precisely what safety hazards must be addressed specifically?

• Electrical hazards and lighting issues
• Potential problems for at-risk individuals
• Using PPE

How are electrical issues handled?

Restoring electrical service is a priority, but dangerous hazards must be accounted for and eliminated as part of the process. These include damaged wiring and power cords, along with the complete verification of all circuits. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters are used to do this if moisture is present.

What about the safety of homeowners and workers?

Slip-and-fall accidents and injuries are common after a kitchen fire, but this can be prevented by identifying slick surfaces and dangerous obstacles. SERVPRO professionals have experience using protective gear while working, and they know how to implement special procedures to protect at-risk residents who have health or mobility issues.

Turn to SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales Counties to stay safe while kitchen fire issues are being addressed. Call us at (830) 379-7474 for an assessment.

How Smoke Damage Affects Your Home

5/1/2020 (Permalink)

It does not take a huge fire to leave smoke damage behind in your home. Even a relatively small kitchen fire can result in significant smoke damage to your belongings and possibly the structure of your home. Timely cleanup of smoke and soot is important to mitigate further loss.

After a fire, it is possible that some of your items might be able to be restored to preloss condition. SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales Counties works hand in hand with your insurance company to document your property and help you determine what can and cannot be salvaged in a timely manner by using the most effective cleaning methods for each item.

Smoke Damage by Surface Type:

• Curtains & Upholstery
  Vacuuming curtains and upholstery with an upright vacuum’s standard brushes or beaters can push soot deeper. This can make cleaning more difficult. The right filter, hose attachment and technique are crucial.
• Clothes & Bedding
  Unburned chemicals, invisible to naked eye, must be completely removed to rid odor. This takes special washing regimens and chemicals.
• Furniture & Carpet
  How do you clean smoke damaged wood furniture? You can inadvertently damage carpet when cleaning smoke damaged furniture. Wooden furniture can stain carpet with dyes.  Metal furniture can rust and stain the carpet. Protective barriers (foam blocks, etc.) are essential in keeping surfaces separate until dry.   
• Hard Flooring
  Flooring may require refinishing or replacement, especially those water damaged from firefighting techniques. In areas without water damage, and where burn damage is not deep, deodorizing and/or resurfacing may be possible.
• Porous Hard Surfaces
  Porous materials such as drywall, plaster, wallpaper, paint, and exposed wood can quickly become permanently discolored. How do you remove soot from wood and other porous surfaces? Dry chemical sponges are one way to prevent soot from seeping into surfaces to cause permanent stains.
• Fiberglass and Appliance Exteriors
  Yellow within hours if left unaddressed.
• Metallic Surfaces
  Acidic soot can cause metal surfaces, such as large appliances, to pit and corrode with time. Wiping them with cooking oil can prevent staining and rusting.
• Plastic & PVC
  Plastic surfaces and synthetics collect more smoke than other materials and can discolor within minutes unless wiped down with a mild alkali cleaning solution.
• Porcelain
  Washing machines, tubs, and basins must be cleaned quickly to prevent permanent staining.

After a fire, SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales Counties is here to help. Call us today! 

Why Do I Need Professional Fire Damage Restoration After a Fire In My Cibolo Property?

5/1/2020 (Permalink)

To ease the process of restoring your property after a fire, you should call SERVPRO.

Smoke, Soot Particles, and Odors Need SERVPRO Restoration Methodologies for Comprehensive Cleanups.

Fire damage to your Cibolo home can be a traumatic experience for any homeowner. Apart from the damage due to the heat, fire can cause significant damage to your property and belongings due to smoke and soot. The smoke particles can coat walls, ceilings, and almost any surface and cause permanent damage if not cleaned quickly and efficiently.

The particles in the smoke contain unburned carbon that can be very difficult to remove after a fire to your Cibolo property. Furthermore, not all soot particles are alike, and it takes a multi-step process to eliminate them. It is a job for the professionals who have years of training and expertise in fire damage restoration. Here are some of the ways that professionals get rid of the smoke and soot damage from your property.

Strategies are developed based on the type of soot residue

The plan to restore the smoke damage depends on the type of smoke residue. Here at SERVPRO, our team of expert restorers evaluate the type of smoke residue and prepare a plan accordingly. Dry smoke residue is easier to clean compared to wet smoke residue, as dry smoke residue does not stain the surface as intensely as wet smoke residue, thus it is easier to remove by wiping. Our IICRC certified technicians use less aggressive methods to clean such films.

Wet smoke residues, on the other hand, are significantly more difficult to clean. SERVPRO technicians use a variety of methods such as wet-cleaning, foam-cleaning and abrasive cleaning to mitigate the damage caused by wet smoke residues. The heat streams during a fire can drive these smoke particulates deep into cracks and crevices and porous surfaces further exacerbating the cleanup difficulty.

Deodorizing  

Smoke and soot pose another challenge during the restoration process- the odor. If proper precautions are not used during the restoration process, the odor can linger on long after the fire. SERVPRO technicians use equipment such as Ultra Low Volume (ULV) foggers, heat foggers, deodorizing beads, ozone machines and other methods to combat the odors after a fire. Our technicians have years of experience in managing odors after fires of all sizes. We can get your home smelling like home again in no time.

How To Deal With Various Aspects Of Fire damage In Cibolo

Considering it only takes 30 seconds for a small fire to turn into a huge blaze, every home faces the risk of fire damage. With more and more items being made from synthetic materials nowadays, fires can start and spread within a few minutes. These materials also tend to produce excessive smoke that can damage areas not affected by the flames. The wrong approach can hamper recovery efforts.

Most cases of fire damage in Cibolo also include damages from water. When fighting the fire, no one concentrates on the amount of water used so it might form pools or soak into porous materials. Extracting such water should be given priority once restoration starts because extended water exposure has equally difficult challenges. Our SERVPRO team is well equipped with extractors and other tools necessary to handle this.

In most cases, your insurance covers the costs involved. However, you might ruin the claim process if you fail to do proper documentation. Instead of waiting for the adjuster to arrive before starting the restoration, you can find out if photographic evidence is enough for the claim process. Calling the adjuster can help you confirm this and begin restoration. Our SERVPRO technicians can help you take the necessary photographs as they do the restoration. Doing this saves time thus limiting the chances of additional damages happening.

Unless it is a massive blaze that consumes the entire structure and its contents, most fire incidents leave many salvageable items. However, it might not be easy to tell the difference especially when everything is covered in soot. Our SERVPRO team begins by separating items into three groups. The groups include salvageable, unsalvageable and questionable items. To a trained eye, it is easier to make these distinctions. We can also move some contents to an offsite facility for cleaning. Move Outs improve the outcome of the salvage process.

Call SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales Counties at (830) 379-7474 today to talk to one of our fire restoration experts.

What To Do For Fire And Smoke Damage

3/13/2020 (Permalink)

STEPS TO RESTORE FIRE AND SMOKE DAMAGE

Experiencing fire and smoke damage to your home can be traumatic and upsetting. If you are unaware what to do and scouring the internet via google to find out what you should do, I feel your pain. If you follow these steps, it’ll make your fire and smoke damage restoration processes as smooth as possible.

1. Contact SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales Counties 

SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales Counties offers 24/7 emergency services, meaning we can come out quickly when contacted to provide immediate relief. This is a very important feature that you should always look for when contacting a damage restoration company. Why do you need immediate service for fire damage? Having expert technicians begin the fire restoration process quickly can prevent more damage from spreading throughout your home. The longer you wait after a fire and smoke event in your home, the worse the damage will get. Most companies will offer a free consultation or charge a small fee to come out and assess the damage. SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales Counties will scope the job free of charge.

2. Emergency Tarping & Sealing Services

Once the fire damage restoration begins in earnest, the main priority will always be to prevent damage from getting worse. For instance, then, if you have a leak thanks to a hole burned in your roof or due to a hole in your wall, then SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales Counties will start by addressing that.

Likewise, fire damage restoration can also often go hand in hand with water damage restoration. This can be necessary for instance if the fire has led to a burst pipe or water tank. In these cases, SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales Counties will act quickly to stop the source of the water before it spreads through more of your building and causes more damage.

3. Removal of Fire and Smoke Damage

Next, SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales will begin the clean-up part of the fire damage restoration process whereby they will clean away smoke, dust, and soot from your surfaces. After a fire often you will find that your property looks dark, stained and charred. The first job SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales will tackle will be to clean up all this damage and get your property at least looking as normal as possible.

This is also when water damage restoration will begin properly. Here any standing pools of water will be removed using submersible pumps and the areas will then be dried and sanitized. Water damage can also cause health problems owing to contamination in the water, so sanitization is particularly important here.

During this fire damage restoration process, SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales Counties will also ensure to remove any odors that can linger after the smoke has been in the room. This might involve carpet cleaning as well and will often need to address adjacent rooms as well as those directly affected by fire damage.

Finally, the clean-up part of the fire damage restoration process will also involve the removal and disposal of items that are too badly damaged to be repairable. If you have furniture for instance that has absorbed a lot of contaminated water, or if you have carpet that has been badly burned… in these cases often the best-case scenario is just to throw these things out and to replace them with new items. SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales handles this for you so that you don’t have to.

Restoration of Your Home

The next stage is to begin actually restoring furniture and repairing the damage caused by fire. For instance, if cabinets have been destroyed by fire, then SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales will involve either repairing those cabinets or replacing them with new ones. Carpets can likewise be installed a new and walls can be repainted, and wallpaper can be put back up.

The idea of this stage is to get your property looking as good as new so that you can go back to normal.

If you have just experienced fire and smoke damage, call SERVPRO Guadalupe & Gonzales Counties at 830-379-7474 for all fire, smoke, and water restoration needs. We are proud to serve Schertz, Seguin, Cibolo, McQueeney, Gonzales, Luling and the surrounding New Braunfels area.

Kitchen Fire in Schertz, TX Causes Smoke Damage

2/10/2020 (Permalink)

This heavy soot was caused by a kitchen fire in Schertz, Texas earlier this year.

Do you know the leading cause of home fires? Cooking. Ovens and stovetops that aren’t used correctly or are left unmonitored can result in disastrous effects. Even when a fire is caught soon after starting, the damage can be devastating to a home. Smoke moves fast and can leave soot and odor trapped in curtains, sofas, on the walls and other places throughout the home. Thankfully, SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales Counties is here to help. Our professional technicians can clean, deodorize and sanitize any affected materials, getting to your home back to preloss condition. SERVPRO of Guadalupe & Gonzales Counties 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, click here.

Please call today to get the process started: (830) 379-7474