Ridgefield Fire Restoration Services for Homes

7/14/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has trained professionals for fire damage like this. Contact us 24/7 for professional equipment and technicians.

Professional Residential Fire Cleanup Addresses Fire Residues 24/7

When a home in Ridgefield experiences fire damage, timely and professional fire restoration services are critical for minimizing further damage and repair costs. Fires can cause significant structural damage, and the aftermath can include smoke and soot residues that do-it-yourself cleaning methods cannot adequately address. 

Accredited SERVPRO® technicians are available around-the-clock for fire restoration services in Ridgefield including soot cleanup that extends to wall cavities and HVAC systems. Techs work from ceiling to floor to ensure optimal efficiency during the restoration process. 

The Impact Fire Damage Has on Properties 

Homeowners in Ridgefield should be aware of potential problems that may arise from home fires, including: 

• Structural damage from a fire can weaken a home's sturdiness, particularly framing, joists, and studs. 
• Smoke and soot damage can settle on surfaces, causing discoloration and odors. The extent of this damage can also compromise the efficacy of HVAC systems. 
• Water damage from fire extinguishing efforts can lead to mold growth without comprehensive cleanup efforts. 

SERVPRO's Professional Fire Restoration Techniques 

Ridgefield SERVPRO crew members can perform fire mitigation and build-back services that include the following: 

• Inspection and assessments to determine the extent of fire and smoke damage, which can include moisture measurements if water damage from firefighting efforts is present. 
• Emergency board-up and roof-tarp services protect the home from further damage by sealing compromised areas. 
• Smoke and soot removal uses air scrubbers, dry cleaning sponges, and specialized solutions to remove wet and dry smoke residues. Thermal foggers can further reduce smoke odors. 

SERVPRO's Esporta Wash System can clean and restore soft contents affected by smoke and soot. Hydroxyl generators help neutralize odors by emulating sunlight's natural deodorizing effect. 

For more information about fire mitigation services, contact the SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield team at (203) 791-0920.

Defeating the Odors in your Danbury Home during Fire Restoration

4/19/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Effectively Deodorizes Danbury Homes after Fire Damage

Odors are volatile compounds constantly released into the air until the source is depleted. Fires leave different odor sources within a property, such as the fine soot and ash residues deposited on surfaces, charred material remnants, and wet smoke residues embedded in materials. Fire damage might also turn your ventilation system into an odor reservoir recirculating pollutants in your Danbury property.

Although odors may not seem complicated like the other aspects of fire restoration your Danbury home requires, resolving them can prove difficult. SERVPRO is already aware of the challenges of deodorizing smells left by the fire, so we start tackling them right from the onset, minimizing many difficulties.

Unique challenges when handling odors:

• Smoke characteristics and movements leave odors deeply embedded 
• Restoration processes such as cleaning can create chemical odors
• Various sources emit odors simultaneously, requiring a multipronged intervention
• Sometimes, people experience non-existent odors

Apart from the unusual cases when your brain erroneously tricks you that there is an unpleasant odor, the other scenarios require elaborate intervention to eliminate the odor sources. SERVPRO helps manage all the circumstances, including placing slow-release beads within your home to provide a sweet scent masking the bad smells. 

Dealing with Embedded Odors

Fire odors are deeply embedded in areas with porous materials since smoke molecules readily penetrate the surfaces. Hard-to-reach areas such as structural cavities and air ducts also accumulate odors. You need a subtle yet effective odor management approach if the materials the fire affects are structurally intact. One solution SERVPRO relies on is fogging deodorizing agents over the affected areas. A device such as a thermal fogger vaporizes solvent deodorizers creating fog with similar characteristics to smoke, thus penetrating all areas where odors are deeply embedded.

Another fogging solution is spraying sealing agents into air ducts where standard cleaning proves challenging. The sealants, which can be acrylic or shellac-based, encapsulate odor residue remnants.   

Other solutions that help manage smoke odors:

• Applying odor-absorbing granules or pellets
• Chemical neutralization with ozone generators
• Managing airborne particles with air scrubbers

SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield can help you manage any aspect of fire restoration, including successfully neutralizing any odor “Like it never even happened.” Call (203) 791-0920.

Hiring Professionals for Fire Damage Cleanup is Best in Danbury

3/22/2023 (Permalink)

Fire damage in your Danbury home can be difficult for you and your family. Contact SERVPRO for professional remediation services.

SERVPRO Handles Fire Damage Fast to Restore Your Danbury Property

Smoke is an unavoidable result of a fire. Once you combine the devastating nature of flames and smoke, you can have significant property damage to your Danbury home or business. Some of the fallout could be charred furnishings, holes in your burned roof, broken stairs, and issues with structural integrity. This is when you need professionals to handle your fire, and smoke remediation needs to get back to your life as you once knew it. SERVPRO is the team to call when tackling smoke, soot, charred debris, and everything involved in house fire damage. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster, including commercial and residential fire restorations, mold cleanup, and water removal services.

The consequences of fire damage in Danbury can be tremendous for home and business owners. The good news is that fire, and smoke restoration technicians (FSRT) from SERVPRO will respond quickly, supporting you as you move through the sorting process and restoring your home to pre-fire condition.

Why is it Better to Hire Specialists for Fire Restoration?

There are plenty of reasons to hire fire restoration technicians after a fire, including proven techniques and equipment that outweigh DIY. SERVPRO can mitigate all risks with our industry knowledge and training, including:

• Soot that collects after a fire due to foam, plastic, wood, textiles, and other household items that burned uncleanly. Because soot residues are acidic, the longer they sit, the more damage develops.
• Airborne soot particles can travel through your HVAC system and into areas of your property otherwise unaffected by the fire. SERVPRO puts containment barriers in place and wears foot coverings to limit the tracking of soot and soils.

Specialized Equipment is Critical When Addressing Fire Damaged Homes and Businesses

Someone attempting DIY will not have the right equipment and protections to safely and effectively handle soot, structural hazards, and moisture issues. SERVPRO goes beyond DIY approaches involving a degreaser bottle and a dust mask to address soot residues without advanced technology and industry knowledge. 

Did you know? When trying to clean smoke-damaged clothing and fabrics on your own, you should know that anything in your washing machine could compound damage and enhance the unpleasant odors. All clothing and textiles impacted by smoke must get specialized dry-cleaning attention.

Professional Assessment Makes All the Difference

Once you contact our customer care team, we mobilize a crew, and our Green Fleet will be at your property within hours of your call. Our crew chief gets started with the initial assessment to determine the best course of action and all equipment required to achieve our goals. 

• It is too easy for the untrained eye to go through possessions and deem items a loss. Our SERVPRO team works to restore versus replace whenever possible using the correct recovery procedures. 
• Your HVAC system gets inspected, determining the right way to clear out any smoke and soot residue. In some instances, cleaning and applying specialized sealants is the best course of action.
• Some items might get inventoried, packed up, and moved out for storage or off-site cleaning to facilitate fire restoration. Not only does this help us with content restoration, but it also frees up space for our technicians to work.

We Make it “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO takes the necessary time to handle all aspects of your restoration project. This includes water removal services and moisture detection to address the fallout from your commercial sprinkler system or first responders extinguishing the blaze. We also move through your property with the help of our odor control technician (OCT) to eliminate foul odors rather than mask them. Controlled demolition replaces charred building materials; everything gets finished and cleaned using disinfection with EPA-registered products.

SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield is your team when you require assistance with fire damage cleanup. Request help online or call (203) 791-0920.

HVAC Assessment Is Crucial to Danbury Fire Damage Restoration

11/15/2022 (Permalink)

We Do HVAC Fire Damage Restoration Work in Danbury 

One of the essential damage mitigation efforts following a Danbury house fire is restoring the home’s HVAC system to its pre-event state. This restoration process begins with a thorough evaluation of the fire’s impact on the system. The process involves determining the nature of the fire and HVAC network and the types of residues soiling ductwork.

Danbury fire damage restoration firm SERVPRO has been evaluating fire-impacted ventilation systems for decades and has become one of this region’s top inspection experts. However, inspections are the beginning when it comes to the services we perform once inside fire-damaged homes. After a residence has been effectively assessed, our professional house fire clean-up crews start working on smoke remediation and fire restoration efforts. With that said, before any of these later tasks are initiated, we examine the HVAC system to determine the following:

• How long the fire continued, how close it was to the furnace unit or vents if smoke entered the network’s return or supply side, and whether or not the blower was on during the blaze
• The types of smoke residues contaminating ductwork, their severity, and if any unpleasant, fire-related smells are present.
• What your ducts are made of, if they are insulated or of the flex type, and if the system needs to be disassembled to be effectively cleaned.
• Whether filters are dirty or not, they need to be cleaned or disposed of and replaced.
• If there are any mechanical components, like the cooling coil, dampers, mixing boxes, and turning vanes, that are damaged and need to be replaced.

Once our inspection is complete, we generally know what needs to be done. 

So, remember that your neighbors at SERVPRO of Danbury/Ridgefield are always ready to help you with fire damage restoration. Call us anytime at (203) 791-0920 for assistance.

Do Smoke Odors Come Out Of Fabrics In My Danbury Home?

7/21/2022 (Permalink)

Removing Smoke Odors In Danbury

Many of your belongings and furniture require deodorizing efforts by our skilled professionals after a fire in your Danbury home.

Odors can be a substantial obstacle in recovering your Danbury home after a fire loss. Porous materials can be the most harshly affected, such as clothing and fabrics. Removing smoke odors from these contents and fabrics requires multiple pieces of equipment, potent deodorization products, and experienced technicians to achieve.

Regarding the restoration of fire damage in Danbury homes, several strategies can reduce the severity of specific loss effects. Fire debris removal, for example, can often have a direct influence on the severity and concentrations of both smoke odors and soot particles circulating in the environment. While deodorization is one of the final steps to restoration in your house, it can be one of the most challenging obstacles to making fire losses, “Like it never even happened.”

What Materials Can Hold Smoke Odors?

While harsh smoke and burning odors can exist in the environments around where the fire originated or spread, some materials are more inclined to absorb these odor compounds and keep them trapped. The only suitable solution to removing foul odors from these affected surfaces is introducing them to one of our arsenal’s few efficient deodorization machines. Some of these materials are most inclined to hold harsh smoke scents:

• Clothing
• Drywall
• Carpeting
• Upholstery
• Drapes

What Tool is Best for Deodorization?

Choosing the right tool for removing odors is not always straightforward and simple. With soft and porous materials like clothing and upholstery, thermal fogging is often recommended. The lightweight, versatile equipment can create a vapor that can penetrate the pores of damaged surfaces to neutralize embedded odors.

Removing odors and other fire loss effects can be a substantial hurdle for even our experienced SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield team. We have premier tools and equipment to help make the process as efficient as possible. Call us today at (203) 791-0920.

The Basic Principles of Danbury Residential Fire Restoration

7/21/2022 (Permalink)

The Factors That Impact Fire Restoration

Fire recovery relies on potent agents and cleaning products to emulsify and dissolve stubborn soot deposits. Restoring the property is simpler when SERVPRO professionals manipulate cleaning principles for a shorter, equally effective result. 

Initial Cleaning and Where It Is Needed

Fire restoration for Danbury homes and businesses can be vastly aided by the fast response of our SERVPRO professionals. Getting mitigation started quickly reduces the migration of post-fire effects and can show where initial cleaning might be necessary. Actions like these might include removing soils, ash, and charred materials from the floors. 

Surface Cleaning Principles 

Vertical and horizontal surfaces can be impacted by the distribution of smoke solids and soot. Our understanding of the needed actions helps us to efficiently and effectively manage current surface damage and prevent the situation from worsening:

• Time – This measurement shows the time between the exposure to harsh post-fire damage conditions and when initial efforts begin to clean soot and smoke deposits on the surface. 

• Action – This principle shows the physical movement or mechanical agitation needed to increase the productivity of applied cleaning products. Friction and abrasive action can increase molecular activity and bonding.  

• Contact – This term is intended to measure the time needed between applying a cleaning agent to surface soil and when SERVPRO professionals can take another action to wipe this residue away successfully. 

• Temperature – When temperatures are increased, chemical processes like the reactions of products with the present soils happen faster. With quicker molecular movement, this heat can often reduce contact time. 

Understanding the elements and principles of post-fire cleanup can directly influence these measures' success. Residents depend on the fast and reliable response of SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield to help clean after a house fire. Our potent products and industry knowledge can help to make fires "Like it never even happened." Call now at (203) 791-0920. 

Replacing Walls During Fire Restoration in Danbury

4/21/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Can Help You Repair Structural Components after Fire Damage in Danbury

Fires can start in homes due to various mishaps, such as electric shorts, appliance failures, or cooking accidents. Once a fire ignites, it can spread throughout your house quickly using your building materials and contents as fuels. The fire's heat and smoke can also cause damage in places far away from the source. 

When working on fire restoration in Danbury, our SERVPRO technicians first inspect the building to look for potential safety hazards and the extent of the damage. Once we mitigate any possible safety risks, we can start formulating a plan to restore your home to its pre-damaged state, "Like it never even happened." We begin by determining which of your affected building materials and contents we can save and which ones we must remove and replace.

For example, if only the drywall surface got affected by heat or smoke, we could seal and repaint the exterior and save your drywall. But, if the charring is deeper than the surface or on both sides of your drywall material, we can remove and replace a section of your walls. If your wall studs have more than a quarter-inch of charring, the studs could lose their structural integrity, forcing us to remove them. However, if the burnt material is only on the surface of the studs, then we can wire-brush, scrape, or abrasion-blast the wood framing until the surface is clear wood. After the soot and charring are removed from your studs, we can apply a specialized sealant paint like Kilz to seal any malodor particles.

We Can Provide Several Services Whether Your Structural Blaze Is Big Or Small

• Fire Debris Removal
• Fire & Water Restoration Services
• Smoke Remediation
• Structural Deodorization
• Content Cleaning

Immediately after the fire in your house gets extinguished, you should call SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield at (203) 791-0920.

Fire and Smoke Restoration in Danbury Calls for Expertise

3/15/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Has the Expertise to Perform Fire and Smoke Restoration in Danbury

Fires are among the most feared disasters since they can cause widespread destruction in homes just as suddenly as they can start. The threat of fire damage does not cease when the fire is extinguished because corrosive byproducts and soot continue lingering in a home, causing damage to various structures and contents.

SERVPRO provides fire and smoke restoration in affected Danbury properties. Our quick response helps prevent secondary fire damage that can occur due to the presence of soot, water, and corrosive byproducts from burnt artificial materials. Our fire and smoke restoration services include the following steps:

• Fire damage assessment
• Cleaning smoke residues
• Water removal and drying
• Deodorization

Fire Damage Assessment 

Estimators can inspect and test for smoke residues to assess the extent of the destruction and determine which cleaning procedures to use for restoration. Apart from the estimator’s inspection, our SERVPRO technicians pretest particular items to determine the most suitable restoration procedure.

Cleaning Smoke Residues 

Our technicians can capture the residues to remove them. We can use fluids and air to release and carry the soils away. Fluids and air carry suspended particles with them upon contact. Dissolving and vacuuming are two methods of contacting soils and carrying them off for disposal.

Water Removal and Drying 

If there is standing water or moisture in your home resulting from fire-extinguishing efforts, our SERVPRO technicians can remove them using water extraction and drying equipment.

Deodorization

Smoke can penetrate absorbent materials and travel into voids in your home. Our restorers can use different deodorization procedures to remove the odors. For instance, if odors are present in confined spots on carpets or upholstery, our SERVPRO team use a pump and injection needle to inject small amounts of deodorant into the areas. This method is suitable when it is impossible to easily lift the carpet to get to the padding or backing material.

If you need fire restoration services, please call SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield at (203) 791-0920. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Professional Fire Damage Restoration Tools Used in Danbury

2/16/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO provides quality fire damage restoration services for everyone. We are here to help 24/7 365 days a year.

Danbury Residents Trust SERVPRO for Quality Fire Damage Restoration

Any fire within your home or business can create a dangerous situation from the start. The longer a fire burns, the more destructive and dangerous it becomes. Even the process used to extinguish a fire can become destructive and leave your property with additional damage from water or chemicals. Danbury residents look to SERVPRO for proven methods and all of the best equipment in the industry to generate the results they need. “Like it never even happened.”

With a team dedicated to handling fire damage restoration in Danbury, you have the power of knowledge and industry techniques to restore your home to pre-fire condition. SERVPRO’s certified staff knows how to work in the safest, most efficient manner.

SERVPRO’s Green Fleet is Fully Equipped

We use the latest high-quality equipment and tools while restoring fire damaged homes. Some of the categories include:

• Protective Gear – Safety is paramount with house fire cleanup, so we use personal protective equipment (PPE), including coveralls, safety goggles, head protection, and more.
• Vacuums – Some of the different items we use to handle soot and harmful matter include shop vacs. We also have water-capable vacuums to pull moisture from carpeting or hardwood floors, as well as truck-mounted vacuum extractors to handle standing water.
• Air Purification and Moisture Removal Equipment – Our team has access to industrial-grade dehumidifiers, negative air machines, air movers, and other equipment to handle various projects.
• Deodorizers – Pungent odors develop from soot and charred materials during a fire. We have many excellent tools in our arsenal, including hydroxyl generators, thermal foggers, ozone machines, deodorant pellets, and more.

Whether you had a small fire in your kitchen or a more involved blaze, we are here to help with fire damage restoration. Call (203) 791-0920 to have our crew at SERVPRO of Danbury/Ridgefield dispatched to your property to get to work.

Why Pack-Out Contents During Ridgefield Fire Damage Restoration?

1/18/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Pack-Outs Keep Ridgefield Valuables Secure During Fire and Smoke Remediation

Trying to complete the numerous tasks necessary for top-notch fire damage restoration in Ridgefield is infinitely more manageable when you authorize a professional pack-out of the contents inside your home. Firefighting water and smoke residues attack building materials and your personal possessions after a blaze. Separating the contents from the fire-damaged structure allows:

• Work crews to move unimpeded throughout the spaces of your home, avoiding delays and disruptions caused by constantly moving heavy furnishings and multitudes of boxes around
• Humidity and airborne soot load to diminish inside the envelope of your home, speeding firefighting water removal and structural drying while reducing the risk of stirring up soot during damage assessment of furnishings, household goods, and personal possessions
• Professional evaluation and planning for skilled restoration of water and fire damaged contents away from the chaos of the water, smoke, and fire residue mitigation and remediation at your dwelling  

How Does SERVPRO Track Personal Possessions and Furnishings During a Packout?

We use the Contents Claim Inventory Service (CCIS) to create a searchable catalog of items removed, including traditional lists, barcoding, and digital imaging. The pictures provide documentation of the condition of the articles and visuals to which our pack-back crews refer when reuniting your restored home with its repaired contents. CCIS also helps when we communicate with your insurance company, providing support for claims related to successful restoration interventions or replacement.

Does SERVPRO Make Specialized Interventions Available When Restoring Contents?

Our production facility features dozens of innovative opportunities to return wet, soiled, and malodorous items to “Like it never even happened.” A highly-qualified team of contents specialists assess and devise restoration plans for each fire damaged item and then implement the protocols chosen

Trust SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield to manage both your home and its contents’ fire damage restoration most effectively using our Contents Claim Inventory Service (CCIS). Call (203) 791-0920 for details.

Fire Restoration of Danbury Homes Happens Fast with SERVPRO Leading the Way

10/6/2021 (Permalink)

Soot and smoke damage is no easy task. SERVPRO uses the latest technology and equipment for every job.

How Can Danbury Homeowners Save on Fire Restoration Cost with SERVPRO? 

Hiring a professional fire restoration service like SERVPRO at your Danbury property can reduce the cost of a fire damage claim. Cleaning and restoration of the fire damage usually cost only a fraction of replacing or resurfacing. SERVPRO techs apply the principles and elements of cleaning to restore the material to a condition "Like it never even happened." 

SERVPRO techs use various methods and tools to capture and remove smoke and soot residue during fire restoration of your Danbury home. Technicians use a vacuum to remove smoke residues that contain dry carbon particles. However, soils that are not loose particles must be dissolved before techs can remove them. Depending on the nature of the soil, SERVPRO techs use either water-based or oil-based cleaning agents. 

How does SERVPRO Techs Decide Which Cleaning Product to Use During House Fire Cleanup in Danbury? 

The soot particles formed after smoke damage to your Danbury home can be hydrophilic (easily dissolves in water) or lipophilic (easily dissolves in oil-based solvent). SERVPRO techs use a variety of cleaning products to remove them. The basic principle that guides the choice of a cleaning product is "like dissolves like." 

Lipophilic soils are more difficult to remove than hydrophilic ones. SERVPRO techs use two types of cleaning solutions to eliminate such soils-

• Water-based cleaning agents: The detergents in these cleaning agents can emulsify the oily soils and make the oil particles disperse in the water for easy removal. However, restorers can't use detergent-based solvents with hard water as they form a scum with calcium and magnesium salts present in the hard water. 
• Solvent-based cleaning agents: SERVPRO only uses OSHA and EPA-approved solvent-based cleaning products. Solvent-based can easily dissolve lipophilic soils but can also damage surfaces. 

Call SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield at (203) 791-0920 for a fast, 24/7 service. 

How Can Fire Damage Restoration Get Rid of Smoke Odors in Ridgefield Properties

9/20/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke and fire damage restoration is no easy task. SERVPRO has the manpower for any size disaster.

SERVPRO Techs Have the Experience and Knowledge to Handle Fire and Smoke Damage 

The need for the post-fire cleanup in Ridgefield residential properties can happen in a lot of ways. Kitchens can be ground zero for smelly protein fires, and the charring and smoke from other fire types can leave behind deeply embedded odors. 

Professional fire damage restoration in Ridgefield homes is best done by trained technicians. When soot particles get into soft or porous surfaces, they emit odors until they get neutralized. SERVPRO technicians have various methods for eliminating fire odors in the homes they are cleaning, such as: 

• Equipment to clean washable
• Professional solutions for cleaning soot from surfaces
• Removal of articles and building materials that cannot get cleaned for reuse

Cleaning Fire Residues From Washable Items

In the past, washable items exposed to smoke may have required disposal. SERVPRO has access to the Esporta Washing System. In a single wash cycle, this powerful piece of equipment can remove all traces of smoke odors. This single unit can save homeowners the cost of replacing important wardrobe items. The system can also work for cleaning washable window treatments, rugs, and bedding. 

Hardwood Floor and Furnishings with Smoke Damage

During the mitigation process, SERVPRO technicians inspect furnishings and floorboards carefully to determine if they have any potential for restoration. The techs bring specifically formulated cleaning agents to lift away smoke damage from the wood. In many cases, they successfully restored furnishings that were covered in soot and looked like a complete loss. As long as the furniture joints have no signs of heat damage, there is often the potential for a complete restoration.

SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield at (203) 791-0920 helps local Ridgefield homeowners with small and large-scale fire damage restoration. 

What Should Danbury Residents Know About Fire Damage Restoration?

5/7/2021 (Permalink)

When a fire happens in your home, call SERVPRO right away for thorough remediation services.

SERVPRO Has a Proven Track Record in Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration for Danbury Residents.

Restoring a home and contents after a fire has many considerations and many moving parts. A few of these considerations may include cleaning or repairing structure, contents, deodorization, and safety. Communication and coordination can increase our restoration services' efficiency by helping to manage these moving parts more effectively.

Project management is necessary for:

• Fire damage restoration 
• Fire and smoke damage
• Fire damaged homes

Enlisting professional services for fire damage restoration in your Danbury home can help you organize the management of contents, site services, and fire debris disposal. A typical structure for the overall restoration of a home involves starting at the fire source and working outwards. This method can help to increase efficiency and reduce restoration timeframes dramatically. 

• Site services could include organizing dumpsters, portable storage, electric generators, and their proper setup. 
• Assessing and marking unsalvageable items. These items are inventoried before disposal for insurance companies and homeowners.
• Working areas may be set up in rooms which could include decontamination chambers and the fumigation process.

Efficient organization can take the stress out of home restoration. Contact SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield for fire damage restoration at (203) 791-0920.

Danbury Property Owners Deserve Quality Fire Damage Restoration

4/1/2021 (Permalink)

Recent fire? Team SERVPRO is ready to arrive on the scene with certified technicians and equipment to remediate the fire damage.

SERVPRO offers water & fire damage restorations to ensure Danbury homes get back to normal quicker

You may feel like the contents of your Danbury home are lost after a fire. However, skilled house fire clean up offers you the ability to restore many of your cherished belongings. SERVPRO handles the restoration of fire damaged homes so that you can get your life back and your interior “Like it never even happened.”

Did you know that there are many proven techniques SERVPRO uses to tackle fire damage restoration in Danbury? Our Green Fleet comes fully-equipped with EPA-registered cleaning agents and industrial-strength equipment to help us get the job done. When you call us for assistance, we may use a couple of different cleaning methods, including:

• Dry Cleaning – This gets used when there are non-grease-based soils that are light or medium. We might also use dry cleaning to help remove excess residue before we use wet cleaning methods. Some tools used for dry cleaning include dusting cloths, feather dusters, vacuums, and cleaning sponges.
• Wet Cleaning – We use this method when the situation calls for more aggressive cleaning of moderate to heavy oils. This process gets accomplished using water and sometimes the addition of a cleaning agent.

No matter the project's scope, we have the fire restoration processes you can count on to generate results. Call SERVPRO of Danbury/Ridgefield when you need us at (203) 791-0920.

Can You Stay in Your Ridgefield Home After Fire Damage?

1/28/2021 (Permalink)

Our fire damage experts can have your home back to its original state, “Like it never even happened.”

Be Careful About Toxins After Fire Damage

One of the most common questions our customers ask is whether it is safe to stay in their home after a fire. The answer to this varies depending on the severity of the fire. However, you might want to consider temporary alternative accommodation if possible.

There are several potential risks after fire damage in your Ridgefield home:

• Combustion during a fire creates soot, which can contain toxins.
• There might be slip and fall hazards due to structural damage and the water used during fire fighting.
• Broken doors or windows, or missing roof tiles, leave your home vulnerable to the elements.

SERVPRO is Here to Help

Our expert technicians can handle every aspect of fire remediation. We take care of structural repairs, clean away soot residue, and use a carefully-monitored drying process to deal with leftover water from fire hoses. We can bring in foggers and air scrubbers to remove odors and leave your home, “Like it never even happened.”

For fire damage assistance you can trust, call SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield at (203) 990-1864.

How Does Soot Removal Work?

10/14/2020 (Permalink)

Soot and Smoke Residue in Your Redding Home is No Match for SERVPRO’s Fire Damage Restoration Techniques 

The condition of your Redding interior after a fire depends on several factors. Even a small fire in your kitchen can leave you with immense soot and smoke residue that is tough to clean up with DIY methods alone. Calling in the help of skilled restoration technicians ensures your home is back to pre-fire condition faster so that your family can get on with your routine as before. SERVPRO is available all hours of the day and night to come and begin the process of boarding up or tarping, followed by proven restoration measures. Just give us a quick call to dispatch a crew to get to work. 

Does Soot and Odor Go Hand-In-Hand? 

When called to help clean up fire damage in Redding, we must address charred debris, moisture left from the water that extinguished the blaze, and the remaining soot and smoke residue. Because soot is acidic, it may cause surface areas to corrode, and you will have pungent odors that only get stronger the more that time passes. We address odorous soot and smoke particles as part of our restoration efforts by: 

• Soft-brushing or vacuuming to pull up particulates from a variety of surfaces.
• Wet or dry cleaning methods, selected based on material and soot type.
• Thermal fogging technology that works by heating a deodorant agent to put out a fine mist. This mist penetrates materials and helps to pull out odorous particulates.
• Walls or HVAC system ductwork can get sealed using a specialized primer to help eliminate odors. 

Will We Have to Worry About Indoor Air Quality? 

SERVPRO has a range of filtration tools and equipment to pull soot and odorous particles from the air. Whether we use air scrubbers or powerful HEPA filtration via our hydroxyl generators, we ensure that your interior has the indoor air quality (IAQ) you need to keep your family safe from health hazards. 

When you need help with fire damage, you can trust that our team at SERVPRO of Danbury/Ridgefield will get the job done. To have a restoration crew dispatched to your property, give us a call at (203) 791-0920.

What Kinds of Residues Need Restoration Services in My Redding Home After Fire Damage?

9/27/2020 (Permalink)

Soiling on Surfaces Due to Smoke and Soot Is Very Different from Ordinary Dirt and Grime, but SERVPRO Has Strategies and Solutions for Delivering Fire Restoration to Redding Residents

The mud tracked into your Redding home, or the dust floating on air currents before settling are both reasonably easy to clean up. With the addition of equipment like vacuums, dusters, and mops, consumer products, and supplies clear away the bulk of the day-to-day dirt. The same cannot be said of the residues coating surfaces after a household fire.

What Makes Up the Residues that Coat Surfaces After a Fire?

The soot that fire restoration targets in Redding homes comprises incompletely combusted building materials and household contents. Depending on the type of materials burned, professionals categorize the coatings as:

• Dry Soot

Produced by hot, fast-spreading burning of paper and wood, this type of soot is loose and ashy, responding well to mechanical cleanup methods like dusting, brushing, dry sponging, blowing pressurized air, and vacuuming.

• Wet Soot

Produced when plastics, rubber, wiring, textiles, and padding smolder, this type of soot sticks to surfaces, requiring trained technicians to match the soiling (water or oil-based) with like-based cleaning agents. Spray and wipe or careful agitation is frequently necessary to dislodge the residues from surfaces.

• Protein-Based Soot

Produced during kitchen fires, this coating is thinly spread, transparent, and tenaciously adhered. It is made up of dehydrated foods, grease, and oils, incredibly malodorous because of the rancidity reached when proteins react to high temperatures. SERVPRO technicians often select solvents and abrasives to break the bond between the soiling and the surfaces affected.

Depend on the experts at SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield to complete fire restoration successfully, transforming the damaged surfaces and spaces to preloss condition, “Like it never even happened.” Call us 24/7 at (203) 791-0920, so we can get to work for the best outcomes.

Click here for more information about Redding.

What Can I Do to Prevent a Bathroom Exhaust Fan Fire In My Ridgefield Home?

7/16/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Technicians Can Restore Your Ridgefield Home After Fire Damage

While bathroom exhaust fans only account for a small percentage of home fires, they can do significant amounts of damage to your Ridgefield property. Ventilation systems, structural material, and personal belongings alike are quickly lost to this type of fire. Losses can average as much as tens of thousands of dollars.

SERVPRO offers fire damage restoration services for Ridgefield residents that return homes to a preloss state. This team is trained to offer both mitigation–that is, the removal of damages–and restoration, which focuses on rebuilding and replacing components after cleanup.

What Can I Do to Maintain My Bathroom Exhaust Fan?

• Clean the fan twice a year. This process is as simple as removing the fan cover, wiping accessible components clean, and washing and replacing the cover.
• Replace the fan if it is already damaged. If you find signs of heat damage, contact, or local service professional about replacing your exhaust fan with a thermally-protected unit that can automatically shut down when the motor overheats.
• Keep fan usage brief. These fans are not designed to be used for hours at a time. Consider installing a timer switch to keep overuse to a minimum.

What Do SERVPRO’s Rebuilding Services Entail?

SERVPRO technicians can render a variety of services after a disaster, including the following:

• Manual cleaning and replacement for components of your ventilation system. Fire-damaged sheet metal vents can be cleaned, but flex duct should be replaced after a fire.
• Washing and deodorizing nonporous surfaces, such as sinks, toilets, and bathtubs.
• Removing fire-damaged drywall and exterior wall insulation for replacement.
• Abrasion cleaning for charred wall studs, subfloors, and ceiling joists that do not require replacement.
• Removing and replacing nearby carpeting, floorboards, or floor coverings that may have been affected by the fire.

SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield provides a rapid-response mitigation service that is Faster to Any Size Disaster when you call (203) 791-0920.

How Do I Get Rid of a Smoke Smell in My Danbury Kitchen?

5/12/2020 (Permalink)

We have advanced deodorization products and equipment to address all odors left behind by a structure fire in your Danbury home

Odors are one of the most challenging obstacles for homeowners to face after a fire. Even small kitchen fires and grease flare-ups can leave lingering smoke and burning odors that can seem the worst where the fire happened in the kitchen area. With potent deodorizing products, both scented and unscented, we can address these widespread effects along with other mitigation steps.

Why Are Lingering Odors Such a Challenge to Remove?
Especially with the case of fire damage in Danbury kitchens, odors can become absorbed into porous surfaces, including the cabinets, flooring, ceiling tile, drywall, and more. Despite the effects that fires can have on the contents and furniture within the kitchen, it is trapped odors in the wall and ceiling materials that become the hardest to address. When fires occurred, pores in these materials opened wider, allowing more smoke molecules to enter. When the area cooled, these molecules became trapped inside the porous surfaces.

What Tools are Necessary for Odor Removal?
Removing odors requires sophisticated equipment, and our SERVPRO professionals have multiple options. We make these choices depending on the severity of the situation, the materials affected, and the size of the damaged area. Some of the common choices include:

    •    ULV Foggers – Using pressurized misting, these foggers can cover a wide surface area with potent deodorizing products that can neutralize on contact.
    •    Thermal Foggers – Similar products get used in thermal fogging, which heats these products to a vapor that can get sprayed throughout the affected area. With soft materials and porous surfaces, these deodorizers are effective.
    •    Hydroxyl Generators – These are best for larger damaged areas and combine air quality control with UV deodorization.

Odors can be a challenge to overcome after a fire, but our SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield team can help. Give our technicians a call anytime at (203) 791-0920.

For more about Danbury click here.

Whom Should I Call to Get Rid of The Smell of Smoke And Fire In My Danbury Home?

4/15/2020 (Permalink)

Danbury Homeowners Should Call SERVPRO to Get Rid of the Smell Left Behind by a Fire

A fire in your home can be scary and devastating. Even a small flame can wreak havoc, leaving you anxious about the safety of your family and wishing you could restore your home immediately. Rather than wasting any time, call a professional fire restoration company to ensure your cleanup and the deodorizing process is quick and effective.

Isn't there a DIY Option to Recovering from Fire Damage?
At SERVPRO, we understand that you worry about the cost in time and money of calling us to help restore your home. However, our expertise and knowledge prepare us to detect hazards typically invisible to the average consumer. When you call us, you call upon an expert team ready to explore all ramifications of a fire in your Danbury home. For instance, you may not identify some of these challenges:

    •    The toxicity of debris left behind by the flames can be detrimental to your health. We use personal protective equipment to avoid exposure to hazards.
    •    Your home may suffer structural damage, even if it looks stable. Our crew explores how deep the fire and other extinguishing agents permeated your walls and floors, and take we take action accordingly.
    •    Smells vary depending on the nature of each material. Deodorizing efforts need to match the need of each surface. Sometimes we must neutralize the odor. Other times we counteract it, and others we dissipate the odor molecules. Our team knows how to tell the difference and apply appropriate deodorizing agents.

Do not let fire disrupt your life forever. Take all the necessary steps to bring your life back to normal.  Once everyone is safe, call SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield at (203) 791-0920 and let us leave your home, “Like it never even happened.”

For more about Danbury click here.

Redding Homeowners Appreciate When SERVPRO Rescues Their Fire-Damaged Furnishings

1/6/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Restores Fire Damaged Content in Redding Area Homes

Actions from SERVPRO Help Save Wooden Items Affected By a Damaging Fire Incident in Redding

A fire that affected the ground floor sections of a Redding home was stopped before causing significant damages. When the homeowner called SERVPRO to clean up and restore the damaged areas, there were clear indicators that she wanted her wooden furniture items restored.

Restoring wooden items after fire damage incidents in Redding is possible under certain circumstances, so our SERVPRO technicians first scoped the loss site before making any commitment. Scoping would help establish the type of finishes on the materials and the extent of the damage.

The type of finish an item dictates the types of cleaning procedures that can be used successfully to remove residues from its surface. At the Redding home, many of the items had a varnish finish so we could wipe off residues or use mild, wet cleaning processes. However, the interior sections of cabinets and bottom parts of drawers would require other procedures because of the unfinished wood. The texture of such surfaces is rough, inhibiting cleaning processes such as wiping off residues. The open pores also allow residues to penetrate beyond the surface. However, our technicians easily overcame these challenges by using dry cleaning sponges and denatured alcohol to remove all traces of residues.

For items close to the source of the fire, the damage was more than just the residue deposit. The heat had scorched some parts of these items while others were stained with soot. However, there was no blistering, so it was still possible to restore the items without needing to refinish them. For these areas, our technicians used a semi-refinishing approach by applying a solvent-based cleaner to remove the ultrathin top layer of the finish. We also had to agitate the areas to get the desired results. Extra-fine steel wool, grade 0000, helped add the necessary coarseness to the agitation process without damaging the finishes.

Saving contents helps reduce the restoration cost and preserves items with sentimental value. Call SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield at (203) 791-0920 to help salvage your contents from the effects of an incident, "Like it never even happened."

Is It Possible To Remove Evidence Of Damage From Appliances After A Fire In Redding?

11/17/2019 (Permalink)

If your appliances received fire damage, call SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield at (203) 791-0920.

Yes, It Is Possible to Remove Evidence of Fire Damage from Appliances

After a fire in a home, the effects look and smell devastating. Charred debris and smoke residues on surfaces actually make the scene look worse than it sometimes is.

Once SERVPRO technicians arrive on-site at a Redding property to clean up fire damage, a frequent concern from homeowners is if their appliances have the potential for restoration. A sooty, smoke residue-covered fridge or stove may look like a loss, but with the proprietary cleaning agents and methods, the loss gets turned around.

Inspection Before Cleaning
SERVPRO technicians have electrical appliances inspected by an expert to ensure they are in working order after exposure to fire and smoke damage before restoration of the exteriors begins.

Surface Cleaning for Smoke Damage
Consider the number of appliances in a typical kitchen. The refrigerator, range, and dishwasher could all potentially be a loss, and the homeowner may incur expenses to replace all these items. SERVPRO technicians know that cleaning the surfaces of these appliances is similar to hard-surfaced furnishings and similar restoration methods work.

How Does SERVPRO Clean Smoke Residues from Appliances?
When a smoke residue attaches to a nonabsorbent surface such as the outside of a fridge or freezer, the cleaning method used most often is wet cleaning, which releases the hold of the residue on the surface, so it wipes away easily. For stubborn greasy residues, the technicians mix cleaning agents with higher levels of alkalinity to ensure not a trace of fire loss gets left behind.

Pretesting and Research Before Cleaning
Certain types of finishes on appliances react badly to different cleaning agents. SERVPRO technicians inspect and confirm the types of materials that make up the outer surface of the appliance. Special care is applied to aluminum and chrome surfaces as they react by pitting when exposed to industrial cleaners without adequate rinsing.

Yellowed Finish From Heat
When appliances exposed to heat show yellowing on the finish, it is not something homeowners have to live with. Using paste cleaners, technicians gently abate surface yellowing without disturbing the finish.

If your appliances received fire damage, call SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield at (203) 791-0920. Their technicians have the training and expertise to make the fire loss, “Like it never even happened.”

For more about Redding click here.

3 Steps for Conducting an Emergency Escape Drill

8/23/2019 (Permalink)

Practicing an evacuation plan is one way to stay safe in the event of an emergency

3 Basic Steps For Any Emergency Escape Drill

In the event of a building fire or any sudden catastrophe, it is important that you and your employees know what to do in a pinch. Take the time to regularly practice evacuation procedures, and follow each step carefully. Whether it is a mock fire drill or a real-life crisis situation, here are three basic steps for any emergency escape drill.

1. Establish Clear Communication

Authorize a particular person to order a mandatory evacuation and determine how he or she will share this message with other employees. This prevents any confusion over whether or not to evacuate. There should also be a system in place for communicating with non-English speaking persons and disabled workers to ensure they have the assistance they need.

2. Manage Vital Operations

Depending on the type of workplace, you might need to designate some individuals to attend to critical functions. This may include anything from turning off ovens in a restaurant to securing hazardous chemicals in a laboratory. Even in the case of a fire drill, it is best to arrange a full shutdown of operations when possible. This gives everyone the most comprehensive understanding of their duties in the event of a real emergency. However, remind all employees that their own safety comes first. If they do not have time to safely attend to operations, they should simply focus on evacuating.

3. Practice Escaping

Develop clear evacuation pathways from every possible location in the building. Be sure these plans are mindful of employees with disabilities or special needs. The best type of plan will depend upon the layout of your building. Exit doors and escape routes should be clearly labeled, and diagrams should be posted in accessible locations throughout the building. After each fire drill or evacuation practice, consult with your employees to determine where they may have suggestions or concerns.
Practicing an evacuation plan is one way to stay safe in the event of an emergency. Another helpful step is knowing who to call after disaster strikes. Whether dealing with fire repairs or storm cleanup, trusted restoration professionals in Danbury,CT, can help your business get back on track after an unexpected event.

How To Prevent a Candle Fire

7/18/2019 (Permalink)

How To Prevent a Candle Fire

Aromatic candles may be prevalent inside many Hayestown,CT, homes. Despite their appealing qualities, these products can be hazardous. To prevent a potentially destructive candle fire requiring professional cleanup and restoration, every homeowner should abide by several safety strategies when lighting an open flame in their home.

1. Never Leave Candles Unattended

You should be vigilant and never leave a burning candle unattended, especially if you have pets or young children. Always extinguish the flame before leaving the room and refrain from burning candles while you sleep.

2. Instruct Children About Fire Safety

Ensure your children recognize potential fire dangers. Instruct them to avoid playing in the vicinity of the candle or attempting to ignite objects in the flame. Never let children attempt to light a candle without supervision.

3. Place Away From Flammable Objects

Nearby flammable items, such as curtains, blankets, newspapers and upholstered furniture, can spark a candle fire. To minimize this risk, place your candle on a sturdy surface away from potential combustibles. Ensure fans and HVAC vents do not blow objects toward the flame.

4. Keep a Fire Extinguisher Accessible

In the event a small blaze erupts, a quick response can minimize fire damage. As a precaution, keep a functioning fire extinguisher readily accessible and ensure household members know how to use it.

5. Choose Candle Alternatives

Perhaps the most effective way to prevent a fire is to avoid having an open flame in your home. Many candle alternatives can provide light and disperse aroma. Ideal choices may include wax warmers, essential oil diffusers and plugins. You can also keep flashlights and batteries accessible in the event of interrupted electrical service.
It’s easy to overlook the potential dangers of candles, but a lack of vigilance can have dramatic consequences. Fortunately, you can safeguard your home from a candle fire and subsequent fire and smoke cleanup by making conscientious safety decisions.

Why You Need Fire Insurance for Your Business

6/28/2019 (Permalink)

Investing in fire insurance can help comfort you during a difficult situation

Benefits of Buying Insurance to Protect Your Business

In order to keep your Ridgebury,CT, business running smoothly, your commercial building and property must consistently be in good condition. Factors such as fire damage can wreak havoc on your building and prevent your business from functioning at its best. Investing in fire insurance can help comfort you during a difficult situation and provide your business with an extra layer of security. Here are some of the major benefits of buying insurance to protect your business from fire loss.

Covers Damage

A key advantage of having insurance for your commercial building is that it provides coverage for various types of fire damage. Property damage and loss may be caused by factors such as:

• Flames
  
• Smoke
  
• Water
  
• Powders (from firefighting efforts)
  
  

The damage from these sources and others can add up and make fire restoration a more difficult job. Being insured helps to ease part of the process.

Takes Care of Costs

Without fire insurance, the many costs of fire repairs and smoke cleanup may become overwhelming. In addition to repairs, you will have the responsibility of paying for fire department service fees on your own if you aren’t insured. This responsibility can seriously harm your business if you aren’t able to pay for all the costs that are included. Having insurance takes this financial burden off your shoulders.

Gives You Peace of Mind

Dealing with the aftermath of a fire can be an incredibly stressful situation. The last thing you need to worry about is how to cope with the costs of loss and damage to your commercial building. When you have insurance to carry the financial weight of your fire damage, the process of fire restoration can go much more smoothly.

Investing in fire insurance is only the first step towards recovering from a fire in Ridgebury,CT. Be sure to call a professional for a fire damage assessment in order to have your business restored as soon as possible.

Preventing Fires in Your Home: 4 Candle Safety Tips

5/21/2019 (Permalink)

4 Candle Safety Tips

Candles can beautify your Ridgefield, CT, home and fill the air with a variety of different scents. However, having them present also poses the risk of a candle fire. You can reduce this danger by practicing a few safety tips and learning about what other options are available when it comes to this type of home décor.

1. Burn Candles Out of Reach of Kids and Pets

Curious little hands and wagging tails can knock over lit candles on nightstands and coffee tables. Not only could this start a fire, but spilled hot wax may cause serious burns. Keep candles well out of reach and place them on sturdy surfaces that are resistant to heat. If you have cats that climb shelves and are drawn to the flickering of an open candle flame, consider using enclosed candle holders or battery-operated candles that mimic a flame but give off no heat.

2. Use Candles in Occupied Rooms Only

Unattended candles can fall over, burn down too close to the bottom of the container or cause clothes or bedding to catch fire if these items are left nearby. Remember to snuff out candles completely and ensure the wick is not hot or smoldering before you leave the room. Do not leave candles burning on your patio at night, or use solar Tiki torches or other sun-powered devices to avoid a candle fire and create a safe and beautiful evening aesthetic.

3. Burn Candles in Well-Ventilated Rooms

Burning multiple candles in a room with poor ventilation can not only increase the risk of fire but also cause staining of your walls and ceilings. If you have a smaller house or apartment, consider using smokeless wax melt pots and calling in a smoke cleanup and fire restoration service to remove smoke discoloration from your home’s interior.

Candles are a common home décor choice that can add beauty and color to almost any room. Keeping a few safety tips in mind regarding their use may help you prevent a candle fire and better safeguard your Ridgefield,CT, home.

What Kids Need To Know About House Fires

2/4/2019 (Permalink)

Parents should teach kids safety measures in case of a home fire. Here are several steps that can prepare children to safely evacuate a burning structure.

What Fire and Smoke Alarms Mean

Fire and smoke alarms make loud sounds that are intended to get the attention of the occupants of a residence and wake anyone who may be sleeping when a fire starts. Familiarize kids with these noises and what they mean by testing alarms during fire drills. These drills should cover several fire escape basics:

• Rolling out of bed
• Pursuing evacuation routes
• Exiting the house
  
  

It is a good idea to do home fire drills several times a year to teach kids safety measures. Develop a plan to increase family fire safety awareness.

How To Evacuate

A fire safety strategy should include primary and secondary evacuation routes. Work with a simple floorplan or play a game in which kids find the fastest ways out of a house from each room. Determine which evacuation routes are best given the age and physical condition of all family members.

Where To Go 

Another important part of a fire escape plan is identifying a safe place to meet after evacuating. Parents should make sure that a meetup location satisfies several criteria:

• Far enough away from a burning structure
• Known to all family members
• Not located downwind from smoke
  
  

Kids should know to go to this location and wait for other family members or help to arrive. Make reaching this location a part of regular fire drills. 

Parents may want to practice evacuation maneuvers such as bed rolls, fire crawls, and door temperature tests during fire drills or turn preparedness practice into games. Teaching kids safety measures is an important part of a family fire safety plan. If fire damages your home in Danbury,CT, rely on the expertise of mitigation and restoration specialists.

Homeowner’s Insurance: When a Fire Isn’t Covered

12/20/2018 (Permalink)

When a Fire Isn’t Covered

Homeowner’s insurance is a protection against loss and damages, but there are times when insurance does not provide that coverage, that protection. Most property owners are aware of the peril section in their policy. This section dictates what type of peril is covered, and while most plans will note a home fire as being included, there are two specific instances where this is not the case.

1. Insurance Fraud

Insurance fraud is the purposeful deception of an insurer to obtain some financial gain or benefit. When this deception uses fire as the instigating tool, it is considered arson. Arson refers to the intentional and criminal act of setting your property on fire. Therefore, upon investigating, if it is found that the claimant intentionally set fire to their home, then they will not be covered by their policy, and they will likely be reported to authorities, arrested and serve jail time.

2. No Occupancy

No occupancy, or vacancy, is defined as a home that has remained empty for more than 30 consecutive days. Empty refers to inhabitants, not furniture and other belongings. Therefore, a home fire that occurs in a residence that has remained vacant for more than 30 days will likely not be covered by your policy. However, the coverage and definitions of a vacant home fire are dependent on the insurer and other policy amendments.

While it may be reassuring to know that most insurers cover house fires as long as they were not criminally perpetrated or occurring in a vacant property, a fire still creates a devastating amount of damage that will need to be fixed. If you experience a fire, your insurer may require bids from fire remediation specialists in the Ridgefield, CT, area before allocating funds.

A home fire is a nightmare experience, and it can bring about concerns over coverage. However, as long as you live in the home and do not intentionally set your property ablaze, you should be covered.

Safety Recommendations for Smoke Detectors

12/6/2018 (Permalink)

According to “Smoke Alarms in U.S. Home Fires,” a recent report published by the National Fire Protection Association, 3 out of every 5 home fire deaths are the result of a lack of working smoke alarms in the home. This is why current national building codes require smoke alarms in residential and commercial properties. Your locally owned and operated SERVPROof Danbury/Ridgefield wants to remind our community in the greater Danbury area that smoke detectors really do save lives and are an essential piece of safety equipment to prevent harm to your family and fire damage to your home.

Types of Smoke Alarms

There are two main types of smoke alarms/detectors on the market today—photoelectric and ionization. Ionization alarms detect smoke and are triggered when smoke enters the testing chamber, disrupting an electrical current. They are the older generation of smoke alarms and are known to trigger easily, often resulting in false alarms. In contrast, photoelectric alarms use a light sensor; when smoke enters the chamber, the light is disrupted, triggering the alarm. The ionization alarm is better at detecting flash fires, when small amounts of smoke are produced early in the burn cycle. Photoelectric sensors are better at detecting fires early, during the smoldering stages.

It is worth noting that while there are dual sensor smoke detectors available on the market today, they have received hit-and-miss reviews. So which should you use in your home to prevent fire and smoke damage? It depends. Many local fire departments have outreach programs and educational events to help you select the right smoke detector and alarm for your home. These outreach programs will also provide important details on requirements for the placement of smoke alarms in your home, and these should be followed.

Another factor to consider is whether to choose hard-wired or wireless smoke alarms. Each has its benefits, and the ideal solution for your home may even be a combination of the two. Wireless smoke detectors can be placed virtually anywhere in the home. They are battery operated and reasonably priced. Hardwired smoke detectors often require an electrician for proper installation; however, the benefit is they can be linked to one another as a network so that when one alarm is triggered, the rest of your alarms also trigger.

Placement of Smoke Alarms

Your fire department and code enforcement offices can provide you with exact details for your area and type of home. Also be careful to adhere to local building codes. However, here are some general recommendations for smoke alarm placement:

First, there should be a minimum of one smoke detector on each level of your home; this includes your basement and attic. Second, a smoke detector in the kitchen is required in most areas. The National Fire Protection Association recommends positioning it about 10 feet away from the stove, to prevent false alarms. Third, each and every bedroom and sleeping area should have a smoke detector, and each hallway leading to sleeping areas should also have a smoke detector.

In addition to the above minimum standards, most safety professionals recommend the following additional installations:

• Rooms with fireplaces
• Rooms with space heaters
• Garages
• Workshops
• Storage sheds

In the last 20 years, recommendations for smoke detectors and alarms—as well as the technology used—have changed dramatically. Once, it was believed that one smoke alarm per floor was enough. Today, it is safe to say that considerably more than two smoke detectors are recommended in homes to prevent fire damage and loss of life, although local jurisdictions vary to some degree in building codes and requirements. Smoke alarms are an essential part of your overall fire protection plan, which should also include an escape plan and routine fire safety checks.

The Top 5 Pet Fire Safety Tips

10/24/2018 (Permalink)

Place a window cling in your Redding,CT home to alert firefighter about pets in your home

A fire escape plan should account for every member of your household. You should also take measures to keep pets safe in the event of a fire emergency. Start with these five pet preparation tips.

1. Post Pet Decals Near Entrances

Attach decals or window clings that account for the number and type of pets in your home near the main entrances. If a fire breaks out and you successfully evacuate all of your pets, notify the firefighters. If pets remain in the residence, these pet safety signs can help firefighters save the animals.
 
2. Don’t Leave Open Flames Unattended

This preventative measure can help you to avoid a fire emergency. Pets can knock over candles or get burned by open flames. Avoid placing candles on low surfaces and monitor pets near a fireplace.

3. Prevent Pets From Turning On the Stove

Some pets can turn the knobs on a stove. Whether they release gas or actually heat or ignite the burner, this can result in a heightened fire risk. Use a gate to keep animals out of the kitchen while you are not at home or install protective equipment.

4. Store Records In a Fire Box

Keep pet ownership and vaccination records in a fire box in a convenient location. This pet preparation measure can increase the chances that you will retain these materials after a fire.

5. Include Pets in a Fire Escape Plan

Your evacuation plan should account for pets. Every human occupant should know who is responsible for animals and whether pets can be safely evacuated through both primary and secondary escape routes.

These pet safety measures can increase the likelihood that animals will stay safe in the event of a fire emergency at your home in Redding,CT. If your residence sustains damage, rely on the equipment and expertise of a mitigation and restoration service.

How To Protect Your Company From Losses After a Fire

9/4/2018 (Permalink)

Soot damage in Redding, CT

There’s a lot of work to be done after a building fire, and even more work when that fire interferes with your business. Even though restoration specialists begin work immediately after the firefighters leave, that work takes time and you still have a long road ahead of you before you may be fully operational in Redding, CT, again. Before a fire causes damage to your profits, be sure to check out insurance coverage for business interruption.

How Long Will It Take?

Even with the most experienced and qualified professionals, mitigation and restoration takes time. Here are some of the ways your mitigation team will work to help you recover after a fire:

• Protective services like adding a tarp, fencing a property or boarding a building to prevent further damage.
• Removal of water and excess moisture from materials.
• Smoke and soot cleaning.
• Content cleaning.
• Repairs and restoration, including rebuilding whole structures or replacing building materials.

What Does Interruption Insurance Cover?

While your business property insurance will help cover the cost of fire restoration, it won’t cover business-related costs or the loss of profits unless you have interruption insurance. This is an additional option that may help cover loss of profits and normal operating expenses like:

• Payroll
• Research and development
• Insurance premiums
• Marketing and advertising
• Inventory
• Rent

Review the details of your policy to see when the interruption insurance goes into effect and what the maximum coverage period is. You may consider adding an extension to your policy so that the coverage period can include some additional days.

A fire is one of the more common types of disasters that can cause a business interruption. You can feel good about your recovery by counting on a professional team to manage the fire damage mitigation process as well as having the right insurance policy to help financially protect your business and all the people depending on you.

How You Can Eliminate the Smell of Cigarette Smoke From Your Home

7/21/2018 (Permalink)

If you’re a non-smoker, if you’re trying desperately to quit, there are few worse odors than the smell of lingering cigarette smoke. Whether you used to smoke and the smell is strong in your Danbury, CT, home, or whether you’ve never smoked but you just moved into a home where smokers once lived, you want to do everything you can to get rid of the strong stench. Simply opening the windows or spraying an air freshener won’t do the trick. You need something heavy duty such home deodorization efforts.

Eliminate the Sources

The smell of cigarettes can hang around your home for years, so even if you’ve never smoked a day in your life, it doesn’t mean previous owners’ habits can’t affect you. However, if you once were a smoker or recently stopped the habit, you need to get rid of anything that produced the smell. These include:

• Cigarette butts
• Ends of cigars
• Ashtrays

Try Some Home Remedies

Home deodorization techniques can be effective, especially if you use them as soon as you detect a smell and if you repeat the steps as necessary. One of the most basic tricks is to sprinkle baking soda on the affected areas. This will probably include your carpet and furniture. The baking soda will absorb the smell. You can then vacuum the baking soda. Another option is to use charcoal, which also absorbs strong smells. If these don’t work, try using hydrogen peroxide in the smelly areas of your home.

Use the Right Equipment

When you use these remedies, make sure you wear disposable gloves and clothing that covers your arms and legs. It will also help to place a fan in the area.

It may surprise you how effective these home deodorization techniques may be. If you’re still struggling to get rid of the smells, consult an expert home restoration technician for help.

For more on Danbury click here. 

4 Lessons To Help Your Child Prepare To Escape a Fire

5/9/2018 (Permalink)

No parent wants to think that a fire could put his or her child’s life in danger. However, as frightening as that thought is, fire is a very real danger in Danbury, CT. It can be very important to consider how to prepare your child to escape from a fire if necessary. Here are three tips to help you educate your child about kids safety during a home fire.

1. Teach Them How To Fire Crawl

Your child should understand how to move around in a fire. The most common fire crawl is to get down on your hands and knees like a baby, lower your forearms to the ground and crawl with your face toward the ground.
If the air is too hot to have your backside up, another common fire crawl is to crawl on your belly, with your legs against the ground.

2. Explain How To Check Doors for Heat

Another thing you can do to promote kids safety is to show your child to how to check the heat of doors. Instruct your child to press his or her hand against any closed door before opening it. If it is cool to the touch, the door can be opened slowly and carefully. If the door is hot, your child should not open the door.

3. Review Your Fire Escape Plan

Once you have made your escape plan, practice it with your child. Make sure your child knows that once he or she has gotten out of the house, he or she is not to go back inside for any reason. Not even if other loved ones are still in the house, not under any circumstance. Designate a meeting place outside of your house where your child should go after escaping the fire.

It can be overwhelming to create a kids safety plan in case of a fire. Following these tips can help ensure that your child stays protected should a fire occur.

For more on Danbury click here.

3 Ways to Avoid Fire Hazards When Preparing Meals

2/8/2018 (Permalink)

Cooking on the stove is something most people do when preparing meals in Danbury, CT. Making the wrong decision when cooking could quickly lead to a small or large fire. If you’d like to prepare your meals as safely as possible, these three tips may come in handy for you.


1. Don’t leave your stovetop unattended. If you’re preparing a meal on the stove, don’t leave it unattended. Some people make the mistake of going into another room or getting distracted by certain appliances, such as the phone and television. If you’re not paying close attention to the stove and you’re cooking with oil, a grease fire could happen


1. Avoid using the highest flame setting. If you don’t have to cook with a high flame, make sure you don’t. It’s one of the simple tips that is often forgotten. You may be in a rush to prepare something, so you think it’s a good idea to set the flame on high. Unfortunately, that could lead to an unintentional fire.


1. Keep paper towels far away from the stovetop. Don’t make the mistake of leaving your roll of paper towels too close to the stovetop. You may have a roll of paper towel out because you’re wiping down surfaces in the kitchen while cooking, but leaving the roll too close to the stove could quickly become a problem that leads to fire damage in the home.


If you’re ever in a situation where a fire erupts in your kitchen, there are experts who can help with the restoration process. However, it’s best to avoid such a dangerous situation by following this helpful set of tips in Danbury, CT. If you’d like to avoid fire hazards, make sure you’re paying attention to the food you’re cooking on the stove, not using the highest flame setting, and keeping your paper towels and other paper products far away from the stovetop.

Visit http://www.SERVPROdanburyridgefield.com for your fire restoration emergency.

Content Cleaning Following Fire Damage

12/15/2017 (Permalink)

Content Cleaning Following Fire Damage

Cleaning your home after a fire can be mentally and physically trying. Even if the blaze does not destroy your home, you’ll still face smoke and soot damage. A fire damage restoration professional in Danbury, CT can help with content cleaning, which includes dry cleaning clothes and textiles.

Preventing Further Damage

After a fire you want to air out your home as soon as possible, but always get permission from your fire marshal before re-entering the property. Open windows to ventilate and use fans to circulate the air. If there is water damage, use fans and dehumidifiers to dry carpets and draperies. Moisture can quickly creep under floors and behind walls causing mold, so make sure that everything gets thoroughly dried with 48 hours.

Removing Soot From Textiles

Soot is oily and stains carpets, draperies and other textiles. You may be able to get rid of some of the soot using a vacuum nozzle over the fabric, but a professional restorer will be able to remove most stains with a heavy-duty vacuum. You should clean these textiles before attempting to further clean and deodorize your home. If your clothes were damaged by smoke, dry cleaning will be necessary.

To remove odors from your furniture, carpet and curtains, you will need specific counteractant chemicals. This project is best left to professionals because different materials require different chemicals. Most household sprays and deodorizers provide only a temporary fix.

Cleaning Soot From Walls

You will need a chemical sponge to properly clean your walls. These can be obtained from a cleaning supply company. It is imperative that you use non-water based cleaners. If you use paint thinner or rubbing alcohol, make sure to properly vent the area.

Recovering from a fire is a draining task. Hiring a professional is usually the best route, helping you get your life back to normal with minimal stress. Fire remediation companies offer content storage until your home is ready. They may even provide dry cleaning services for your damaged clothes. Visit http://www.SERVPROdanburyridgefield.com for more information on fire damage.

5 Awesome Fire Restoration Tips!

12/14/2017 (Permalink)

5 Awesome Fire Restoration Tips!

Home fires can be catastrophic, and people often left devastated when the shocking memories of loud fire trucks and relief of surviving have worn off. Whether its commercial fire damage or residential, fire restoration can be traumatizing to address. This is why it's best to hire professionals to help.

The first step of the fire restoration process is to contact the authorities, like firefighters, to alert them of the fire damage that has occurred. Once the firefighter or local authority determines the property is safe to enter, they will then assess the number of damages so that they don't spread through the building.

It may be best initially for only a couple of people to enter a property, especially when dealing with commercial fire damage because the area is bigger in space. Depending on the seriousness, everything may be covered in soot and ashes. Ensure not to track in soot from areas that may have soot damage. Soot damage may affect numerous different surfaces and cause permanent loss if not looked after quickly. And whether it's soot damage, electrical fire, fire damage or smoke-related, it needs to be addressed. This analysis will help to provide a detailed picture of the costs of repair, the amount of fire suppression that took place and the length of time to complete the restoration process.

The next step is to tarp and seal the property. This can include addressing leaks from possible electrical fires.

The third step is to clean things up. Smoke damage can leave a residue. Porcelain, for instance, can become and begin to yellow from the smoke damage. Upholstery which has deeply embedded from soot damage ought to be sent to professionals to ensure they get deep in the fabric to lift all the residual stains. Some folks even ask local firefighters for safe cleaning tips.

Next, it's time for repairs. Whether it's fire damage issues or electrical fire effects, cabinets on the property will likely need to be fixed. It's possible to spread the soot from smoke damage and produce the issue worse or impossible to reverse. So professionals should repair items from smoke damage. People should not ever touch any electrical appliances which have occurred from fire damage, smoke residue or utility room fires.

Lastly, it's crucial in fire restoration to get a proper consultation. Firefighters are great for this because they have first-hand knowledge safety. Firefighters are also fully aware of how important it is to learn fire suppression techniques that may potentially help to avoid future fires.

For instance, electrical fires can often go unseen. Whether its residential or commercial fire damage, paying attention to old wiring is a great way to prevent electrical fires and practice fire suppression.

Additionally, the walls of a property should be cleaned if caused by smoke damage or utility room fires. A utility room fire can be avoided by maintaining the dryer in the laundry room. And disposing of old lint is also a great way of preventing utility room fires.

That said, wouldn't it be great to have a fire hose handy just in case? The good news is people won't need an actual fire truck to accomplish this. These days, there are almost just as many residential fire hoses and commercial ones. Some places have a fire hose in every room. And a fire hose is always a great tool to fight fires, even if one can't afford the fire truck.

Various fire sprinkler systems can be used as great tools for fire suppression. The 'pre-action' fire sprinkler system is used is many larger buildings to prevent commercial fire damage. A 'dry pipe' fire sprinkler system may be good for warehouses. And the 'wet pipe' fire sprinkler system is great for homes because of its low maintenance.

Nobody wants to deal with the stress of a fire truck coming to the rescue. And there's no doubt that the fire restoration process can be a daunting one. But when thought out properly, things can be done in a timely manner, be cost-efficient, and provide peace of mind.
Visit http://www.SERVPROdanburyridgefield.com for more information on fire damage.

How to Handle Fire Damage Professionally

12/14/2017 (Permalink)

How to Handle Fire Damage Professionally


Fires in business and home environments occur from time to time and can be very devastating. They leave behind a lot of soot damage and smoke damage and can make your house impossible to live in. The smoke damage that lingers in the building can further worsen the levels of comfort in a building. The resulting loss is what makes people panic and make irrational decisions.


It is important to always remain calm after the occurrence of a fire in business premises. That way, you will be able to follow recommended procedures. Ideally, you should hire a professional company to put out the fire and restore your building.


Restoration after fire damage begins as soon as the fire has been put out. The restoration company will start with the fire cleanup. Anything that has been damaged beyond the point of repair will be disposed of. Otherwise, it might contribute to the appalling smoke smell in the house. The smell is even more serious if you are dealing with commercial fire damage. No work can be carried out in a building that carries excessive smoke smell.


Another major contributor to the smoke smell is the soot damage. The soot should be cleaned up thoroughly, after which the company will board up the seriously affected areas. Plywood sheets or plastic can be used to board up the said surfaces. Fires in homes can be easier to restore compared to fires in business premises. That said, it is advisable to hire a professional to handle the entire fire damage. This is because the cost of restoration will drastically rise if you fail to clean up correctly after the fire has been put out. Generally, the cost of commercial fire damage restoration is higher than that of fires in home buildings.


Sometime after the fire cleanup, the insurance company will come to assess the commercial fire damage and determine how they will help with the fire damage restoration. The insurance company may have to pay for some or all of the damages resulting from the fire.


In the next part of the fire damage restoration process, the professionals will board up the affected windows, walls, and doors in the house. It is advisable to leave some doors or windows open in order to get rid of the lingering smoke damage. You can board up the walls and some of the badly affected windows and doors.


To completely get rid of the soot damage after a commercial fire damage, restoration companies usually use a technique known as thermal fogging. This involves generating fog particles using thermal processes as opposed to mechanical methods. The process approximates the size of smoke particles and works by driving the particles into crevices in the floors and walls. Thermal fogging helps to control smoke damage and considerably deodorizes the rooms affected by the fire damage.


That does not mark the end of the fire damage restoration process. Fire in home or business environments usually leaves an irritating smoke smell, even after thermal fogging has been carried out. To completely deodorize the area, the restoration company will have to carry out suppression spraying. This is done using a pressurized sprayer. Further fire cleanup will be carried out using a vacuum or even the hand. Suppression spraying will help to get rid of the soot damage entirely.


After this, the areas affected by the fire in the home or business premises will be painted. Carpets or floorings may have to be installed by the restoration company. These processes must be carried out after further fire cleanup. In the case of fire in business premises, you will have to purchase a new set of furniture immediately if you want business to go on.


If you experience domestic or commercial fire damage, it is prudent to contact a professional restoration company since they have the knowledge and tools needed to get you through the disaster.
Visit http://www.SERVPROdanburyridgefield.com for more information on fire damage.

All About Professional Fire Damage Restoration

8/30/2017 (Permalink)

All About Professional Fire Damage Restoration

A fire in home or fire in business can create major issues for you to deal with. Most likely the fire damage, soot damage, and smoke damage can remain as major issues forever throughout your home or business regardless of the size of the fire. When restoring your premises or home after a fire in home or fire in business, coming up with a professional damage restoration service is a great idea. You should have in mind that many people can deal with residential or a commercial fire damage some extent but using a professional will ensure that all the restorations are carried out as required. Some of the factor when ensuring that you residential or commercial fire damage has been taken care of professionally is as follows.
? Importance of professional fire damage restoration services
The fire cleanup and restoration process are matters that need to be taken care of in a professional manner and therefore should be assigned only to professionals. Nowadays you can find a restoration company that specializes in residential or commercial fire damage restoration and repair work. They will help you board up and restore charred messes that are left behind by fire damage and also those caused by the use of water and fire retardant chemicals in your home or business.
Soot damage and smoke damage are also areas of concern since they might affect your property throughout. In the case of fire in home fire in business,board up and roof tarps should be installed immediately. The smoke smell will spread to all the rooms and therefore if the smoke smell is not attended to properly by professionals it might linger throughout the property. Professional fire restoration services need to be taken care of quickly and therefore a professional fire restoration company should be hired so as to do the work quickly to avoid impairing your ability to use the home or business until all the fire cleanup process is over.
? Features to consider when looking for a reputable fire damage restoration company
Since fire damage has become a common thing many fire cleanup and damage restoration companies have been set up. It is, therefore, your duty to choose the one you consider to be a professional one. The charred mess that is left behind from a residential or a commercial fire damage has to be removed from the property and replacement structures may need to be installed and therefore a professional cleanup crew should be able to perform all tasks such as board up, renovation, demolition, and construction. Board up helps keep the area of work away from prying eyes and also prevent further damage due to elements.
A professional fire damage and restoration company will ensure that the property gets back to its normal condition. Soot damage needs to be removed through professional cleaning techniques while smoke damage needs to be addressed using professional deodorization methods. The smoke smell in your business or home might remain and also can be unbearable since the smoke smell can be absorbed by some materials in the property. This, therefore, requires you to have a cleanup crew that is experienced in all those areas since the soot damage and smoke damage may require special cleanup materials.
? Understanding how long the process will take
The fire cleanup and restoration process require patience regardless of the areas affected such either residential or commercial fire damage. Fire in homes or fire in business requires needs special attention from a professional fire cleanup crew in order to attain the best results. The entire process of fire cleanup and damage restoration may take the damage restoration company some days or weeks depending on the type or fire damage that had occurred. Since some damages require special attention. The problem of fire in homes or fire in business can be somehow stressful since you may not live in your home or you may not get some income to pay your bills if the business property is damaged until the renovation has been completed. But if you had chosen a right damage restoration company they can do the work quickly and efficiently.
Visit http://www.SERVPROdanburyridgefield.com for more information on fire damage.

Tips to Reduce Risk of Furnace Malfunction

8/8/2017 (Permalink)

A puffback is a messy furnace malfunction that occurs when an oil burner backfires, sending soot throughout the interior of a home. It can happen all at once, covering the interior in grimy soot, or it can leak soot more gradually.

Initially, many people mistake soot for dust and simply wipe it away. However, once cleaned, this “dust” often reappears and can sometimes be accompanied by a strong, oily odor. There are several steps your clients can take to prevent damage to their home. Remind them to:

• Have the oil-burning furnace professionally checked and cleaned annually.
• Keep an eye out for traces of soot around their home.
• Install a carbon monoxide monitor. Puffbacks (and the soot they create) will increase the carbon monoxide levels in their home. A carbon monoxide monitor can help to detect the puffback in its early stages.

If soot begins accumulating on objects or walls within their home, they should turn off the heating system immediately. Contact a heating professional to service the heater and restore it to proper working order.

Fortunately, if your client does experience a puffback, SERVPRO has the knowledge and experience to complete a thorough cleaning and removal of any soot and odors. Our Fire Restoration Team will respond immediately and make it look Like it never even happened®.

Small Kitchen Fire? Leave the Cleanup to the Professionals

8/8/2017 (Permalink)

Kitchen Fire in Danbury, CT

Quickly assessing the damage caused by fire is a property owner’s number one priority.  Many items within a home or business may be overlooked when determining the full scope of the damage.  The following items should be carefully inspected or evaluated by a fire damage restoration provider before integrating them back into a restored home or business:

• Food
• Dishes/Utensils
• Clothing
• Furniture
• Upholstery
• Carpeting

Food, dishes, and eating utensils are some of the most commonly overlooked items when assessing damage.  Eating contaminated food or eating off of contaminated dishware or utensils can cause severe illness.  These items must be properly inspected by a fire restoration specialist.  If the items are not able to be restored, they must be disposed of properly.

While flames can cause the most visible damage to a property during a fire, smoke and soot are silent and sometimes invisible hazards that could cost lives.  Smoke inhalation is the leading cause of death amongst victims of a fire. Smoke and soot damage must never be overlooked when evaluating the damage caused by fire.

Unlike certain types of smoke, soot is a very visible threat.  Soot is a coating of fine, black dust created when wood, coal, or oil-based substances are burned.  These carbon particles are disbursed into the air and settle anywhere.  If inhaled, soot can caused severe lung deficiencies or even death.  If soot contaminates items in the home or office, a fire restoration service provider must assess the damage to see if restoration is possible.

If you have sustained even a small kitchen fire, contact the professionals at SERVPRO of Danbury/Ridgefield at (203)-791-0920 to perform a free inspection and assessment of scope of cleaning services required.

5 Fire Damage Restoration Questions Answered

7/25/2017 (Permalink)

5 Fire Damage Restoration Questions Answered

After fire damage, homeowners and business owners seek to restore their property and get back to the life they once knew, at least as normally as they can after such occurrence. Fire damage restoration companies provide thorough services for commercial fire damage and residential damage, ensuring that a fire doesn't impact your life any longer than necessary. If you've endure a fire in home or a fire in business, you probably have many questions. Five common questions are answered below. These questions and answers provide a bit of insight into fire damage restoration and cleanup, giving you assurance and confidence after the unthinkable happens.

1. Can I Safely Inspect My Business/Home After a Fire?

It is natural that you want to return to your business or home to examine the damage and begin salvaging any items left behind, and begin the fire cleanup process. But, doing so may be risky as residential and commercial fire damage still exists even when the flames are gone. Re-enter after a fire in home or fire in business when fire or building officials say it is okay. Once they give the thumbs up, remember it is up to you to stay safe. Wear protective clothing, including face masks, while inside the building. Although the flames are gone, soot damage and smoke damage have potential to cause breathing problems, and the smoke smell isn't pleasant.

2. What is a Board Up?

When fire damage causes destruction in a home or business, the fire department might recommend a board up of the property. A board up is a service a restoration company can perform if such a request is made after residential or commercial fire damage. A board up places air-tight boards over all openings of the home or business, preventing the smoke smell from spreading, preventing people from entering the building, and otherwise securing the location.

3. Can I Clean Fire Damage Myself?

Fire cleanup might seem like a simple task from the outside looking in, however, a plethora of dangers exist when you attempt to remove smoke damage, soot damage, etc. after a fire in home or a fire in business. As mentioned, the smoke smell itself is hazardous to breath, not to mention the soot damage, smoke damage, and other particles created after a fire. A residential or commercial fire damage restoration company is equipped with the safety equipment, tools, cleaning products, etc. needed to clean the unit after a fire efficiently and effectively. When the professionals from the restoration company handle fire cleanup, there's less worry and more confidence in the job.

4. What Can I Save After a Fire?

Obviously, salvaging as many of your belongings as possible after a fire in home or fire in business is desirable. While most items can be cleaned of soot damage, smoke damage, and smoke smell by a professional, water damage may leave other belongings unusable. It is best to let a restoration company evaluate the damage before throwing your belongings away. Food is also deemed unusable after a fire and should be thrown away. Smoke from fire causes the food to taste bad, but also contains harmful carcinogens that can transfer onto the food. Don't take any risks when you're consuming these items! Many of the appliances and electronics involved in the fire will likely need replacing, and furniture may or may not be salvageable, depending upon the extent of the damage.

5. How Long Does Fire Damage Cleanup Take?

The length of time involved in a fire cleanup project varies from one situation to the next as several factors influence this time. This includes the size of the home (or commercial fire damage,) and the extent of the damage. The sooner that a restoration company is contacted, the quicker the restoration is complete. Commercial fire damage restoration often takes longer than residential, although this varies considerably as well.
Visit http://www.SERVPROdanburyridgefield.com for more information on fire damage.

Advantages of Hiring Fire Damage Restoration Services

6/30/2017 (Permalink)

Advantages of Hiring Fire Damage Restoration Services

When a fire damage or smoke damage happens in a residential or commercial building, most homeowners and business managers get overwhelmed. Most of them start thinking that the building will never look the same again with the apparent fire damage to the walls, ceilings and smoldered surfaces.

The biggest mistake of addressing a fire or smoke damage is trying a DIY project, which in most cases may aggravate the extent of the soot damage. Furthermore, in order to salvage most of the damaged personal possessions from the fire debris, it's important to hire a professional fire damage restoration service provider to help out. Here are some of the benefits of considering hiring a professional to get the job done right the first time.

Availability of enough personnel

The commercial fire damage mitigation companies have enough trained contractors who can handle the fire cleanup process within a short time. The fire cleanup crew will be dispatched to the afflicted home or commercial building and commence an immediate smoke smell cleanup process to help alleviate the damage before it escalates. This will help the homeowner free up enough time to focus on other matters such as contacting lawyers or insurance companies as the professional handle the fire cleanup exercise.

Experience and qualification

Handling of a commercial fire damage or smoke damage is quite technical and requires professionals with the right skill set. The contractors know how to handle technical situations like cleaning up a soot damage or smoke damage that requires a certain set of skills and training.

Tools and equipment

Dealing with soot damage with lots of smoke smell and trying to salvage valuable possessions from a building that has been damaged by a fire requires some specific equipment or tools that might be too expensive for a homeowner to invest in for personal use. The contractors have the right lanyards, helmets, gloves, and other protective gear suitable for handling smoke smell that might actually be harmful to the occupants. Homeowners and commercial building managers should be careful when choosing the right commercial fire damage restoration professionals to avoid falling prey to some handy men carrying a few tools in a truck and masquerading as professional fire in home or fire in business cleanup contractors. Professionals are licensed and bonded contractors who have the necessary certifications in handling fire in a home or fire in a business.

Insurance coverage for fire damage

A fire damage restoration after a fire in a home or a fire in a business can pose a potential danger to the surroundings. In case a homeowner or commercial building manager hires a fire damage restoration company that is not licensed, he or she will carry the liabilities of any accidents that may occur during the execution of the project. Therefore, it's only prudent to settle for professionals who are insured against any liabilities. Remember, personal injury cases can be very costly in the long run, especially if it causes permanent disability or causes death. The company's insurance policy will cover everything in case of any unexpected eventualities while doing the smoke damage restoration project.

Get better settlement after a commercial fire damage

If the owner of the damaged building decides to work with an attorney experienced in handling fire in a home or a fire in a business after conducting the fire damage mitigation project, then chances are they will get a good settlement. Although most people think that the commercial fire damage mitigation companies recommended by insurance companies are cheaper and inadequate options, they might influence getting a better settlement. If an insurance company recommends a fire or soot damage restoration company, then it means they are in a good working relationship.

Salvage valuable personal belonging after fire cleanup

Trying to salvage personal belongings such as vital documents and jewelry from the rubble can lead to more damages. The contractors from a fire or soot damage company have the right equipment and experience in handling smoke smell and other technicalities at the site to help the homeowner salvage as many possessions as possible.
Visit http://www.SERVPROdanburyridgefield.com for more information on fire damage.

What To Do After You Sustain a Fire in your Fairfield County Residence

6/12/2017 (Permalink)

Soot contaminated HVAC filter.

After any fire damage situation, your primary focus should be safety first:

• Is it safe to stay in the house?
• Electrical and "slip and fall" hazards are some of the most prevalent concerns.
• Only do activities that are safe for you to perform.
• Wet materials can be VERY heavy. Be careful!

If you have central air (HVAC) system the unit should be turned off to prevent further soot contamination. Soot is very corrosive and even if you believe the soot contamination is minimal, preventing further damage should be top priority. The HVAC system can distribute the soot into rooms that were previously unaffected by the initial fire. Once our technicians arrive onsite we immediately inspect the unit to determine if any soot has penetrated into the system. Our crews are trained in HVAC system cleaning and deodorizing after water, fire or mold emergencies. HVAC systems are routinely overlooked after a fire damage emergency however SERVPRO of Danbury/Ridgefield has the experience to properly identify and clean fire damage.

Pack-out of contents of a New Fairfield fire damage

3/16/2017 (Permalink)

Contents inventoried and packed at our warehouse in Danbury, CT

SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield specializes in restoring contents damaged by water, fire, or mold. Our expertise and “restore” versus “replace” mentality can help you save money while preserving precious keepsakes that can’t be replaced. We pretest your belongings to determine what items we can restore to pre-fire condition. We use several methods of cleaning your contents, including:

• 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.
   

Move-Outs/Pack-Outs

If your home requires extensive restoration or cleaning due to fire damage, SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield can conduct an organized, efficient move-out of the affected area. Move-out will provide several benefits, including:

• A quicker remodeling process
• Protecting items from potential damage
• Protecting contents from further on-site damage

When restoration is completed, we will work with you to coordinate the move-in according to your needs. The services offered upon move-in may depend on your insurance coverage.

Commercial Fire Damage in Danbury, CT

3/16/2017 (Permalink)

Commercial fire damage

Fire damage is especially devastating for a business or commercial property. In addition to the fire and smoke damage, significant water damage from firefighting efforts and fire suppression systems may occur. Every hour spent restoring your business back to pre-fire condition is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. If your business experiences a fire loss, call the fire and water damage restoration experts and we’ll respond immediately to get you back to business. A fire breaks out and it’s a hectic situation, trying to coordinate your departments and keep employees update takes its toll. SERVPRO of Danbury/Ridgefield has a program to assist building owners and business managers after a disaster happens. The SERVPRO Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) is a free service that helps collect valuable data for the building owner/manager and store in a secure location in case of emergencies. If you feel your business is not adequately prepared in the case of emergency, contact our office at 203-791-0920 for a free assessment.

Fire Extinguisher Power in a Fire Damage

3/16/2017 (Permalink)

Fire extinguishers are generally looked upon as being a safety device, so not many people think about the potential dangers they hold. As with anything you bring into a home or workplace, it’s important to fully understand the devices used. While fire extinguisher powder is non-toxic, it is not entirely safe. The chemicals used are considered appropriate for home use, but you should take precautions to avoid touching or inhaling too much of the powder. After a fire, the residue left by a fire extinguisher needs to be cleaned up. Many areas do not permit phosphates or sulfates to be added to the water table. Since the vast majority of fire extinguishers contain ammonium phosphate and/or ammonium sulfate, you need to be careful about cleaning up. The chemicals can irritate skin, so use gloves and avoid inhaling by using a dust mask.  If you have sustained even a minor fire contact our office immediately at 203-791-0920 to begin the cleanup process.

Preventing your Heating/ Cooling Units from Starting a Fire

8/23/2016 (Permalink)

Check the air conditioning and heating unit in your home. These systems operate with electric motors and air moving equipment which requires periodic maintenance.

• Clean, or have your interior AC coils cleaned, and replace your return air filters regularly. This will prevent the fan motor from being overworked, and also save money on your energy bill. For window air conditioners, never use extension cords!
• Lubricate belt drive pulleys (where applicable), boss bearings on drive motors, and other equipment as needed.
• Have the resistance coils or furnace burners cleaned and serviced at the beginning of the heating season, since debris may accumulate there while the system is off during the summer.
• Listen to the system when it is operating. Squealing sounds, rumbling noises, or banging and tapping sounds may indicate loose parts or bearings which are seizing up.
• If you have access to a snap-on amp meter, you may check the amperage draw on the high amperage circuit to your heating coils to make sure they are in the normal operating range. Higher than normal amperage draw on a circuit indicates unusual resistance, and in an electrical circuit, resistance is what causes heat, and ultimately, fires.
• Always defer to a professional when checking the electrical demands of the units to ensure proper results.

Tips to reduce a fire in your home in Brookfield, CT

8/23/2016 (Permalink)

Check the condition of your home's electrical system.

• Look for improperly grounded receptacles. Many modern appliances require a "three pronged" (grounded) receptacle, but people will sometimes use an adapter to bypass this safety feature, or even break a ground prong off an appliance cord. Changing existing circuits to provide grounding is a job that is best left to a professional electrician.
• Look in the attic and crawl spaces for wiring which has been damaged by pests or insects. Some old wiring is insulated with a material which insects eat or chew on, and squirrels or other rodents will often chew the thermoplastic insulation off of modern nonmetallic cable (Romex).
• Look for overloaded circuit breakers, panel boxes, or fuse boxes. Check for breakers or fuses which may have circuits "piggy-backed" on them. These are rated for single circuit protection, but sometimes in outdated or undersized panel boxes, people will put two or even more wires in the terminal of a single breaker or fuse.
• Notice flickering lights, or intermittent power surges. These conditions may be caused by outside influences, but if they occur often, they may indicate a bad connection or a short in the circuit.
• Note breakers which trip, or fuses that blow frequently. This is almost always a sign of an overloaded circuit or other wiring problem, usually of a most serious nature.
• Look at the individual breaker connections, especially in outdoor panel boxes, for corrosion, signs of thermal damage (smut or smokey residue near terminals) splices which are poorly taped or wire nutted, or abraded or damaged wire insulation.
• Check the ground cable. A failure in the building grounding system and bonding can be dangerous in regard to electrical shock, as well as fire. Look for loose split bolts, clamps, or other connecting devices, and corrosion.
• Be especially careful to notice any connections in wiring other than copper. Installed correctly, and with tight connections, aluminum wire is not excessively dangerous, but when connections are made to copper wires, an electrolytic reaction may occur, causing increased resistance in the connection which will generate excessive heat. If you are able to apply an antioxidant compound to aluminum connections, it will help decrease the risk of oxidation causing a short circuit at these locations.

Soon Spring Begins!

3/15/2016 (Permalink)

Concrete wall covered in soot and oil

Although spring and the warm weather are right around the corner, please do not forget to have your furnace maintained before the end of heating season. The cleanup team at SERVPRO of Danbury/Ridgefield recommends having your furnace serviced to prevent a malfunction and "puff-back" which can contaminate your house with smoke and soot. Here is a photo of a puff-back we are completing. Soot can travel throughout your house or building, causing staining and odor issues that are difficult to remove. Soot damages in your home can create unpleasant and permanent problems if not properly addressed. As various materials burn, the smoke produced travels throughout the home leaving odorous residues and deposits on surfaces and in those hard to reach places. Unless fast, professional action is taken, these residues and deposits can cause permanent damage to contents and may result in periodically resurfacing odors. Unfortunately, such damages are often made more severe when unprepared homeowners attempt to perform the cleanup themselves. 

Fire Prevention Day

10/11/2013 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Danbury/Ridgefield was proud to be invited to the Danbury Fire Prevention Exhibit on 10/5/2013 held at the Home Depot on Federal Road. SERVPRO of Danbury/Ridgefield showcased its newly wrapped pickup truck at the event.