What Facts Should You Know about Fire Damage Restoration in Carmel?

10/31/2020 (Permalink)

Cleaning and remediating your home after a fire is urgent. Contact our experienced technicians for services.

Carmel Residents should be Armed with all the Fire Damage Facts

People living in the Carmel area hope that a disaster will never befall their property, but unfortunately, tragedy is not always avoidable. SERVPRO of Putnam Country believes that education is essential not only for our skilled technicians but also for our customers. The more you know about disaster remediation, the better placed you are to choose a reliable remediation company, and the less stressful the process will be.

If you need fire damage restoration in your Carmel home, it is useful to know a few critical facts about remediation and what to expect.

How quickly should a remediation company come to you?

Fast action is essential when it comes to Carmel fire damage restoration. This is because:

• Soot is corrosive and damaging, and the longer you leave it, the worse the damage can become
• Ash can discolor plastic, metal, and fabric in a few hours, and within a few days, the discoloration can be irreversible
• Lingering smoke odors can get worse if they are left untreated for too long
• Fire can leave your home structurally unsound, and it is better to have someone assess and secure it quickly
• Firefighting can leave parts of your home wet, and mold can start growing in as little as 48 hours

SERVPRO will call you back within an hour of your first call to arrange a time to come to your home. You can expect us within four hours, and you can expect a full assessment and plan of action within eight hours.

Why does the kind of soot matter?

The incomplete combustion of materials creates soot during a fire. The kind of soot makes a difference to the cleanup process, so it is crucial to choose a company like SERVPRO whose technicians understand the different soot types and how to clean each of them. Types of soot include:

• Dry soot from the fast, hot burning of natural materials is the most straightforward kind to clean, and we can usually brush it away
• Wet soot from slower burning fires is thick and smeary and requires damp-wiping and the application of cleaning solutions
• Oily soot from burning rubbers and oils is stubborn and clings to everything, requiring more vigorous cleaning
• Protein soot from burning proteins in a kitchen fire is incredibly smelly and hard to get rid of and requires extensive cleaning
  

Fast action is essential, especially in the case of protein soot, because the longer it has to set in, the harder it is to get the stink out.

Why is training so necessary?

Fire damage cleanup is not a DIY job. There are health risks associated with smoke fumes and soot, and your home may be structurally unsound after firefighting efforts. Firefighters sometimes have to cut holes in walls to check the fire has gone out, or make holes in the roof to vent smoke from the building. Do not attempt to enter the building or start cleanup yourself. Instead, wait for the trained professionals to arrive.

SERVPRO offers extensive Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) training to all its staff. The IICRC is a non-profit body that provides standards and procedures for the remediation industry. When you call on a company with IICRC-certified remediation experts, you are getting a company that knows the best techniques and practices.

Why is mold a concern during fire damage restoration?

Fire damage remediation is not only about cleaning away soot and getting rid of smoky smells. We need to be aware of the dangers of mold, too. After a fire, there may be many damp spots as a result of firefighting efforts. Those spots can quickly become home to mold colonies, which can propagate rapidly and spread throughout your home.

We will check for wet areas during our assessment. We can use a range of meters and probes to look for hidden moisture under the carpet, on the subfloor, and across the walls' surface. If we find any problem areas, we will set up drying equipment and dehumidifiers to restore moisture levels to preloss conditions.

Why should you choose restoration over replacement?

The heart of SERVPRO's philosophy is to restore your items rather than replace them. That could mean:

• Vacuuming and wiping residue from your furniture
• Spot-cleaning damaged upholstery to remove smoke stains
• Employing ultrasonic or hydraulic cleaning to get out the more stubborn soot stains
• Deep-cleaning carpets, rugs, and drapes
• Calling in a technician to restore electronics and test them before use

In most cases, restoration is the cheaper option, and it is the option preferred by most insurers, too.

For a fire remediation service you can trust, call SERVPRO of Putnam County at (845) 228-1090.