What can be salvaged after a House Fire

2/22/2023 (Permalink)

There still is the potential to salvage content after a fire, give SERVPRO a call immediately.

Fires are never pleasant to deal with, and they can be especially devastating in a home. Fires destroy not only the items in your home but also your sense of security and comfort. There is hope for recovering from a fire that has destroyed at least some items within your home. Professional restoration companies can salvage many items after a house fire.

Prevent the Disaster of a Fire in your Home

While there is no way to entirely prevent the disaster of a house fire, there are many ways you can increase your safety and reduce the chances of your home becoming involved in one.

Be sure you have working smoke detectors in every room of your home. Replace batteries at least once a year or whenever they become weak, according to the manufacturer's instructions on each device.

Stay away from open flames when cooking or handling flammable materials such as gasoline, paint thinner and cleaning solvents — even if these items are contained in sealed containers. Keep children out of areas where these chemicals are stored!

Don't overload electrical outlets with too many appliances plugged into them at one time. Keep extension cords away from areas where people walk so they aren't tripped over. Use caution with electrical equipment while doing construction work around your house. All these things contribute to potentially dangerous conditions inside homes that could lead up to fires breaking out later on down the road!

What is Salvageable?

There are a few items that can be salvaged after a house fire. While you may need to replace most of the contents of your home, there are some things that can be cleaned and restored to their former glory. It is important to consult a professional restoration company if you want these items salvaged properly, as they will know what cleaning methods will best preserve them.

If there are any items that have sentimental value in your home, such as photographs or keepsakes, it is crucial that you save them immediately after the fire has been put out. Even if they seem damaged beyond repair at the time, there may be hope for salvageability later on when they are properly cleaned and preserved by trained professionals who work with damaged goods all day long!

Structure and Materials

A structure fire in an older home with wooden floors and walls may result in a home that's not safe to enter or even tear down for materials. In contrast, a kitchen fire might only damage the cabinets, leaving them safe for use again once they've been cleaned up.

The materials used in construction also factor into how much can be salvaged from a house after a fire. A structure made entirely out of wood might not be salvageable at all if it experiences heavy flames for long enough.

Use a Professional

A professional restoration company will help salvage many items after a house fire. A professional restoration company can help you get your home back to normal, and they can also help you get your life back to normal. If you are in a situation where your home has been damaged by fire, it is important to understand what you can salvage and what needs to be replaced. A professional restoration company can help salvage many items after a house fire.

Water Damage and the Impact it has On Your Home

12/12/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage can cause mold to grow.

Water damage is one of the most common and most devastating problems in homes. Water damage can occur from a leaking pipe, broken appliance, or even heavy rain. As soon as you notice the signs of water damage in your home, it’s important to act immediately. The longer you wait to deal with water damage, the more likely it is that permanent structural damage could occur—and that means more money out of your pocket!

What are the effects of water damage?

Water damage can cause a number of problems. Mold, rot, and electrical short circuits are all serious concerns that you will want to address immediately. If left untreated for too long, mold and rot can cause structural damage to your home or business.

Structural damage caused by water is often irreversible; meaning that it cannot be reversed or fixed without major renovations. This can be an expensive process that could potentially cost tens of thousands of dollars depending on the severity of the problem and how much structural work needs to be done.

Water damages building materials.

In addition to the damage caused by water, there are other ways that your building materials can be affected by moisture. When it comes to wood—and many other building materials—moisture causes them to swell and crack. This can lead to a variety of problems:

• Moldy, rotten or warped walls and ceiling panels
• Discolored walls or ceiling panels (from mold growth)
• Warped or damaged floorboards and drywall

Growth of mold.

If you've ever had to deal with a leaky pipe or a broken sink, then you know that water is no friend to your home. Water damage can cause everything from mold growth to the growth of bacteria and viruses.

When it comes to mold, it doesn't take much for it to develop. Less than 48 hours in damp conditions and just 24 hours in wet ones. In fact, all you need are three basic ingredients: moisture (from flooding), food sources (like paper products) and warmth. If these conditions exist for too long without proper ventilation, then your chances of facing an outbreak will increase dramatically.

Mold is especially common during springtime because of its ability to grow on almost any surface--and once it starts growing, there's no stopping it!

Structural damage.

The structural integrity of your home can be damaged in many ways by water damage. Water can cause wood to rot and become moldy, causing drywall to swell and crumble. It can also cause concrete to crack and crumble, or it can rust metal.

If you think that any of these things might be happening in your home, it’s best to contact a water damage restoration company right away!

Water damage is a serious issue that can lead to permanent damage to your home and valuables. If you believe that your home has been damaged by water, it’s important to contact an experienced restoration company as soon as possible. The sooner they arrive at the scene of the crime (so to speak), the less likely it will be that things get worse than they already are.

What To Do After a Toilet Overflow?

11/5/2022 (Permalink)

Toilet overflows can happen to anyone, but you can prevent them.

How Should a Toilet Overflow Be Handled?

If your toilet overflows, it can be a very unpleasant scenario. It’s important to understand what caused the overflow and what you need to do to fix it. In many cases, there will be no damage and you can just wait for the water to recede and then clean up any mess that was made by the overflow. However, if there is damage or if your home had flooded due to an overflowing toilet it is best to contact a professional right away so they can assess the situation and make recommendations for how best to proceed with repairs.

Turn Off the Water Supply

Turning off this valve won't necessarily stop all of the water right away; depending on how many toilets have overflowed, some may continue flowing out of their bowls until they're empty enough that gravity can take care of things. Remember, if any part of your house has flooded—and even if it hasn't—that means there's enough standing water for bacteria and mold growth. Make sure everyone knows where these shutoff valves are located just in case something else happens!

Remove Excess Water

If you have a wet/dry vacuum, this can be an excellent tool to remove excess water from your floor. If you do not have one, use a shop vac or mop in place of the wet/dry vacuum. For the shop vac method, simply use the hose attachment and suck up any standing water on your flooring. Make sure to rinse off this attachment when finished so that no residual grime remains on it—this can be done by using warm water and soap with some soft scrubbing.

What Can You Do If Your Toilet Overflows?

If you don't want to deal with the mess yourself, or if the damage is too extensive for you to handle on your own, call a professional. Here are some of the services that may be able to help:

Plumbers. These professionals specialize in drain cleaning and repair, and they can unclog any clogged drains in your home—including those caused by overflowing toilets.

Restoration companies. Restoration companies have equipment specialized for sewer clean-ups and repairs, so they're equipped to handle even large overflows that go all the way down into sewer lines and beyond! They will pump out any standing water left behind by an overflow situation then disinfect everything so there's no risk of disease spreading throughout your home or office building.

Toilet overflows can happen to anyone, but you can prevent them by keeping your plumbing in good working order. If you have a toilet overflow, it’s important to act quickly and call a professional so they can fix the problem before it becomes worse. Our SERVPRO of Edmond team can assist you with all your water and sewage damage cleanup and restoration needs. If disaster strikes, don’t hesitate and give our SERVPRO team a call today!

Fire damage and water damage

10/8/2022 (Permalink)

Fire in an apartment building in Edmond, OK

Fire and Water Damage Go Hand in Hand

When a fire breaks out on your residential or commercial property in Edmond, OK, it is very common to see a range of damage done. Not only will you see fire, soot, and smoke damage on your property, but it is very common to see water damage present on your property as well. Learn more about how fire and water damage go hand in hand below. 

Some fires burn for hours before being extinguished.

As a general rule, the longer a fire burns, the more damage it will cause. In addition to destroying property and causing injuries, fires can spread quickly throughout buildings. Firefighters may not be able to contain the blaze until it has burned itself out.

Here are some examples of what can happen when a fire goes unchecked:

• The fire can spread to other areas of your building or apartment complex.
• Smoke damage can occur when smoke fills up an area after part or all your home has been consumed by flames. 

Water damage from a fire is common.

Water damage from a fire is one of the most common types of damage seen in commercial establishments and homes alike. When a fire occurs, water is typically used to extinguish it. This can cause extensive water damage that can be more expensive to repair than the actual fire itself.

Water damage can occur in numerous ways:

• Fire hoses can spray water around and onto walls, ceilings, floors, and other parts of your building that are susceptible to it.
• Smoke or soot may seep into wall cavities or cracks between building materials where moisture cannot escape easily. The combination of smoke/soot with moisture results in mold growth which causes further deterioration of materials including wood paneling as well as plaster walls which have been affected by heat from nearby fires.

Mitigation and restoration services should be called as soon as possible.

The sooner you call a professional company to mitigate and restore your fire or water damage, the better. Don't try to clean up the mess yourself; this may not only cause more damage but can also be very dangerous. You should also not try to save anything that has been damaged by fire or water; instead, let professionals remove it from your home and dispose of it or restore it properly. Don't touch anything that is hot and don't touch any electrical equipment without first turning off the power supply at its source or calling an electrician for help. Do not turn off any water yourself either—this should be done by a professional who knows how to handle these situations.

In conclusion, it is best to call a professional fire damage restoration service as soon as possible after experiencing a fire in your home or business. The longer you wait to call one, the more expensive it will be when all is said and done.

How to Clean a Moldy Washing Machine

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

Take preventative measures in your washing machine

It's natural to assume that our washing machine is self-cleaning, especially with all that soap and warm water tumbling around. However, this isn't always the case. Your laundry machine actually has a pretty high risk of falling victim to mold growth, especially if you don't take the proper preventative measures. Follow these steps if your laundry machine in Waterloo, OK, has an unwanted mold smell.

Getting Rid of the Mold

Luckily, mold is extremely easy to clean out of a laundry machine. Just follow these steps:

• Create a non-toxic, mold cleaning mixture using equal parts baking soda and freshwater. 1/4 of each product should suffice. Add this cleaning solution to the machine's detergent container.
• Pour two cups of white vinegar directly into the drum itself.
• Run a normal wash cycle on the highest heat setting possible. Make sure you don't have any clothes in the washer for this specific cycle.
• After the cycle ends, use a kitchen sponge or scrub brush to attack any remaining patches of mold. Use a mixture that contains equal parts of white vinegar and fresh water for this process.
  
  

Even if your washing machine isn't suffering from mold growth, it's still a good idea to repeat the above process at least once each month for maintenance purposes. After all, the best offense is a great defense.

Preventing Mold Growth
Once you've gotten rid of the mold that caused your musty, dirty laundry, you're going to want to keep it away. Prevent subsequent mold growth by keeping your machine's drum as dry as possible. This involves removing your laundry as soon as possible after the wash cycle ends and leaving the washer's door open to dry out when you aren't using the machine. You might also consider running a fan near the washer to help accelerate airflow.
Nothing ruins the excitement of laundry day quite like a moldy washing machine. Using the above technique should solve the problem, but if it doesn't then you need to contact mold remediation experts for further help.

5 Leading Causes of Home Fires

8/28/2022 (Permalink)

Reduce the risk of electrical fires by plugging devices into appropriately powered outlets

Five Common Fire Causes

Home fires typically start when high heat or open flame indoors come into contact with combustible materials. Once a home fire ignites, it burns combustibles and can cause major damage to a residence in Hibsaw, OK. Here are five of the most common fire causes to be aware of in order to reduce the risk level of your home.

1. Cooking
The most common causes of fires at home is cooking. Cooktops and ranges with electrical heating coils or open gas flames can start a fire after being turned on accidentally or heat up hot oil to the auto-ignition point.

2. Heating
Heating equipment such as electric or gas furnaces and space heaters are common home fire risk factors. Have a furnace inspected by an HVAC professional at least once a year. Choose space heaters with safety features and only operate while attended and connected to a Ground-fault Circuit Interrupter outlet.

3. Electrical
Frayed or exposed wires anywhere in a home may cause a fire to start. Reduce the risk of electrical fires by plugging devices into appropriately powered outlets and avoiding overloading circuits or short-circuiting.

4. Open Flame
Any form of open flame poses an elevated risk of fire, whether on a cooking range, in the form of lit candles or a blazing fireplace. Always stay alert and pay close attention to any fire indoors, including cigarettes.

5. Chemicals
Improper chemical storage is a common factor in fires. In many cases, chemicals combust and necessitate more extensive fire cleaning and restoration.
While it is impossible to guarantee that a home fire will never take place in Hibsaw, OK, being aware of common fire causes can help homeowners make safer decisions. A household should have the right number of fire alarms and classes of extinguishers on hand. Store fire safety equipment in locations that are convenient for putting out fire.

What To Do Following a Furnace Puffback in Your Commercial Building

8/23/2022 (Permalink)

Puffback damage in Oak Tree, OK

What to Do If Your Commercial Building Experiences a Furnace Puffback

A commercial heating system keeps your employees warm during the frigid winter months in Oak Tree, OK. However, a malfunctioning oil furnace can cause major harm to your property. A broken HVAC system may spark a fire that necessitates emergency restoration services.
You may also have to deal with puffback damage to your property. The furnace could spray sticky soot all over the building. The soot could land inside closets and drawers and spread through the duct work.
Because the spread of sticky soot is often extensive, you should not attempt to clean up furnace puffback on your own. Instead, follow the below steps after the disaster.

1. Assess the Damage
Start by taking a tour of your building to see how far the soot spread. Do not forget to check behind closed doors or underneath furniture.

2. Call Your Insurer
Most commercial insurance policies cover puffback damage. Talk to your claims adjuster to find out the extent of your coverage.

3. Contact the Experts
You can use the insurance money to pay for the repairs to your property. Have a trained HVAC technician fix the broken furnace.
Then, contact restoration professionals. They will have the proper cleaning agents and tools to remove the soot from the property. They should eliminate odors and contaminants, as well. Depending on the extent of the damage, the process may include additional repairs to the structure of the premises.
You may be tempted to address the puffback on your own. However, soot is difficult to clean and may hide in hard-to-reach areas of your commercial property. Removing this soot thus requires special expertise. Failure to use the proper techniques could just make the puffback damage worse.
Therefore, you should let your local HVAC professionals and your preferred restoration company handle the repairs. If you have proper insurance, the out-of-pocket cost of the remediation may be minimal.

The Necessity of Security Fencing After a Commercial Fire

7/30/2022 (Permalink)

Security fencing after a fire in an Oklahoma Christian University, OK building

Security Fencing After a Commercial Fire

Fire loss is hard to comprehend for a business owner, especially the suddenness and urgency of it. Therefore, while an owner's mind should be on protecting the surviving structure and merchandise, they sometimes struggle to consider additional expenses, like a security fence. However, any disaster restoration service in Oklahoma Christian University, OK, can attest to the benefits of fencing, especially in three specific ways.

1. Protects Insurance Claims
A fence can protect your insurance claim. After a fire, you will want to protect your property from further loss, which most insurers expect from policyholders. Putting up a fence and utilizing mitigation services for boarding up damaged windows and doorways or covering holes with tarps are all excellent ways to protect your facility from further damage.

2. Limits Access
Limiting access to your facility should be your primary concern after a fire. Keep in mind that any person who enters your property, even illegally, is your responsibility. If someone enters and is injured, then you are liable. Putting up a security fence can help reduce that liability risk. Also, fences help to limit the amount of wildlife that may find their way into your property.

3. Adheres To Insurance Guidelines
What are your insurance policy guidelines in the event of a fire? Most companies expect their clients to do everything they can to prevent further loss. While many business owners only focus on boarding up openings and vulnerable areas, they should also consider fencing as the preferred way of preventing further damage due to vandals. However, to understand precisely what your insurance company expects, contact your agent for specific guidelines.
Do you think that a security fence is necessary after a fire? Have you spoken with your insurance company to understand your obligations as a business owner? Even if fencing isn't a requirement of your insurance policy, consider talking to a fire restoration service about the overwhelming benefits.

3 Benefits of Storm Shutters

7/20/2022 (Permalink)

Storm shutters can help protect your windows during a severe storm

Reasons Why Storm Shutters Are Beneficial To You

Dealing with high winds in Oklahoma City, OK, can be a challenge. They can cause a great deal of damage, and while your storm damage experts can help you repair your home, there are some things you can do to help prevent some of these issues from occurring in the first place. One thing to consider is having storm shutters installed on your windows. There are several reasons why this may be beneficial to you.

Reduce Broken Windows

When you have shutters on your windows, you can reduce the risk of a broken window. Wind, snow, and hail can damage windows and could lead to entire windows needing to be replaced. This can cause several issues:

• Broken glass can cause lacerations.
• Windows can be expensive to replace.
• Energy efficiency can be drastically reduced when a window is broken.
  
  

Storm shutters can help protect your windows during a severe storm.

More Energy Efficient

A great deal of energy is lost through the windows during the cold and winter months. High winds can cause brutal wind chills, and this can lead to a rise in your utility bills. In the summer, the sun shining directly in your windows can heat up a room quickly. Shutters can help reduce the amount of heat or cold that comes into contact with your window, helping you save money on your energy bills.

Increase Home Value

It's a good idea to do whatever you can to raise the value of your home. Adding things like shutters to your home can help increase your home's value. This can be especially beneficial if you are considering putting your home on the market at some point in the future.
Adding storm shutters to your home can be a great investment. It may save you money in the long run on utility bills alone, and can also save you from the headache of expensive repairs from high winds during storms.

5 Ways to Prevent Water Damage While on Vacation

7/15/2022 (Permalink)

Shut off your main water valve

Ways To Save Your Property From Disaster

Few things are more frustrating than returning home from a lovely vacation just to find that your Luther, OK, home flooded while you were gone. Simple tactics, such as a water pipe repair, a gutter sweep and several other methods could be enough to save your property from disaster.

1. Shut Off Your Main Water Valve.
This is the easiest way to prevent water damage. Turn off the main valve right before you leave for vacation to prevent water from entering your home. After you do so, test to see whether you were successful by turning on a faucet.

2. Clear Out Your Gutters.
Your home's gutters are intended to catch water running off of your roof and divert it away from your property. When they become obstructed, water pools on the roof and runs down the sides of your home, resulting in a flooded basement. You should regularly clear out your gutters, but make sure to also do so before you leave for vacation.

3. Prevent Freezing Pipes.
Always take your region's temperature into consideration. If you plan to leave during the colder months, make sure to turn your home's heat up to at least 60 degrees while you're gone to prevent the pipes from freezing.

4. Upgrade to Stainless Steel Supply Lines.
Plastic supply lines are significantly more likely to rupture while you're away. Upgrading to stainless steel can help prevent a broken pipe. The good news is that these supply lines are not costly to replace, and are significantly less expensive than an unnecessary water pipe repair job.

5. Shut Off Valves to Major Appliances.
You should have already shut off your main water valve, but you can never be too careful. Make sure to turn off the valves for major appliances, such as your washing machine and dishwasher. You should also shut off the supply valves for your toilets and sinks.
Preventing unnecessary damage is significantly easier than having to deal with bigger issues, like a water pipe repair or a flood. Contact water remediation experts for more information and assistance in protecting your home from water damage.