Five Categories of Fire Damage Restoration | SERVPRO® of Montgomery

6/19/2023 (Permalink)

Fire damage restoration entails many tasks and services. Contact SERVPRO® of Montgomery should your home suffer fire damage.

Most Montgomery, AL house fires do not cause massive damage to the structure itself. Much of the time and money spent on restoration and remediation is to clean and preserve personal property.  

Our overall goal is to restore the home and its contents to their pre-damaged state and prevent any secondary damage where possible. To accomplish this, SERVPRO® of Montgomery divides fire damage restoration efforts into five categories.  

1. Mitigation Services: To secure the home and prevent additional damage, we wrap exposed pipes to avoid freezing and rusting and boarding up broken windows or doors the fire department had to force open to combat a fire. If needed, we can set up a temporary source of electricity and then install pumps to remove water and set up fans, air movers, and dehumidifiers to begin reducing the humidity level to dry out the property and lower the chance of mold infestation.

2. Structural Cleaning Services: To remove smoke residues and odors from the house, we use a combination of dry and wet cleaning methods to remove residues, various cleaning agents, and ozone generators to destroy odor particles. If we determine that a section of the wall or a furnace is not restorable, we recommend replacement.

3. Replacement: We can do the work for minor items like hanging new drywall or installing a new appliance. For significant reconstruction, our team leaders recommend engaging a licensed general contractor. Replacement is part of our Reconstruction Services.

4. Contents Cleaning Services: Our technicians begin our Contents Cleaning Services to remove residues and odors from personal property. Where possible, we attempt to clean and restore items at home. For items with heavy residues, or if the structure is unsafe or cannot be secured, we take the property to our facility for cleaning.

5. Specialty Restoration Services: If an item is precious, it needs what we define as Specialty Restoration Services. That includes artwork and high-end electronic equipment. We have dry-cleaning in this category since we do not perform this type of restoration.

Even when a fire does minor structural damage, restoration work for your home requires a professional team. SERVPRO of Montgomery has returned area homes to their pre-fire condition for over two decades. Call today at (334) 273-0992 to schedule a visit from one of our inspectors. We are here for you.

Easy Ways to Prevent Fires in the Summertime | SERVPRO® of Montgomery

7/18/2022 (Permalink)

“Most structure fires are preventable. SERVPRO® of Montgomery is Here to help® show you how to be fire safe.” 

Making your home safer from fire hazards isn’t as difficult as you may think. You can add simple steps to your daily routine and simple home maintenance items to your checklist to lower your risk for common causes of structure fires. With summer heat blazing, it is essential to know what can spark a fire and how you can prevent it.

Know how to fight a grease fire.? 

Grease fires are a well-known cooking hazard. Part of their danger is because water cannot extinguish grease fires; it makes these events worse! When grilling, keep a fire extinguisher handy. Metal pan lids and baking soda can also work for smaller grease fires.

Pro tip: When using a charcoal grill, let your ashes cool before discarding them. 

Keep Your Burn Areas Free of Debris

One of the popular activities to do in the summertime is to host bonfires or burn yard debris. Ensure all fire areas are at least 15-20 feet clear of flammable objects. Keeping a water hose nearby is also a good idea to prevent rogue flames from spreading. 

Fully Extinguish Cigarettes in Safe Containers

Such a small thing as flicking a cigarette on the ground can cost thousands of dollars in damage. With this heat, it takes seconds for flames to spread throughout a building. Encourage others to fully extinguish their cigarettes and place them inside a cigarette receptacle.

Use a Mosquito Stand or Candle Properly

Everyone hates mosquitoes and summer bugs. They seem to be everywhere! While many of us see mosquito candles or stands as necessary, be sure to extinguish their flames when away from the lit area.  

Keep your smoke detectors working. 

Everyone should test their smoke detectors year-round to ensure they are operating correctly. Fires can start within seconds, and you need a way to be alerted to danger. Testing your smoke detectors, changing their batteries twice each year, and replacing them every ten years will ensure they continue to help protect your family. 

Consider switching to battery-operated candles

Scented candles are trendy but also pose a significant fire hazard. Switching to battery-operated candles lowers your threat of a house fire for obvious reasons.

Like most other disasters, fires can be powerful and challenging to contain, especially when the conditions are hot and dry. SERVPRO® of Montgomery encourages you to be fire safe and heed caution during these summer months. 

If your home is damaged due to a fire or any other cause, you can always count on us for restoration assistance. We have crews who are available 24⁄7 in the event of an emergency. Contact us anytime to learn more about our fire restoration services and how we can help your family. 

Summer Grilling Safety | SERVPRO® of Montgomery

6/28/2022 (Permalink)

“SERVPRO® of Montgomery is Here to help® if your summer grilling goes from flames to ashes.”

What better way to spend a summer night than grilling out with your loved ones? Summertime is the season for enjoying hamburgers and hotdogs out by the swimming pool with ice-cold lemonade in hand. While one may think it is easy to light the grill and start cooking, there are a few safety measures you should take. 

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) warns families that the onset of the summer season also marks a rise in home fires started by outdoor grilling activities. According to the NFPA, on average, 10,600 home fires are started yearly by grills. July is the peak month for grill fires, followed by June, May, and August. 

Did you know that 61% of U.S. households own a gas grill? 64% own at least one outdoor BBQ, grill, or smoker. The popularity of this outdoor cooking equipment combined with longer, warmer days creates a unique fire hazard that should be taken seriously. 

The NFPA offers these essential tips for fire-safe grilling. 

For Gas and Propane Grills 

Always check the gas tanks for leaks before using them. Clean the connection between the propane tank’s cylinder valve and regulator output with soapy water or a specific leak detecting solution. The cylinder valve must be slowly opened. If there is a leak, bubbles will form.

Opening the lid to a gas grill before lighting is essential for safety. Gas can quickly fill your grill if the top is closed, causing the flame not to be able to escape and creating an explosion.   

For Charcoal Grills 

Only use charcoal starter fluid to start the fire. NEVER add it or any flammable liquids to a fire that is already burning. It can cause an uncontrollable fire causing harm to any structure or persons around you.

Also, ensure coals are completely cool before you dispose of them in a metal container.

For All Grills 

Place your grill far away from any structure as well as deck railings. Do not place under eaves or branches. Maintain clear surroundings near your grill. Grills need proper ventilation to avoid carbon monoxide and smoke building up to dangerous levels. 

Remove grease and fat buildup from grills and tray after each use. Cleaning will improve the safety of your grill and the taste of your food. 

Key Reminders 

• Never leave the grill unattended when in use. 
• Keep children and pets at least 3 feet away from the grill. 
• Clothing is highly flammable. Keep shirt tails, sleeves, and apron strings tucked in, so they do not dangle over the grill. 
• If the flame goes out on your grill, wait to re-light! A minimum of five minutes should pass by before restarting your fire. 
• Have baking soda on hand for a grease fire and a fire extinguisher nearby for other fires. If you do not have a fire extinguisher, keep a sand bucket next to the grill. NEVER use water to put out a grease fire. 

Basic precautions set the stage for a safe and enjoyable outdoor cooking experience. Life is unpredictable, but you can take steps to control the risk of house fires. Whether you are a summer grilling warrior or a year-round grilling pro, we can all agree that the only smoke we want to smell is the sweet aroma of steaks and vegetables cooking. 

SERVPRO® of Montgomery specializes in fire and water restoration, helping to remediate damage for commercial and residential customers. Contact us today at 334.284.1612 for all your restoration needs. 

Firework Safety and Hazards | SERVPRO® of Montgomery

6/25/2022 (Permalink)

“More fires are reported on July 4th than any other day of the year. Use caution and be safe when using fireworks.”

Independence Day is just around the corner, and you know what that means! Celebrating our freedom, parades, remembering our country’s history, enjoying tasty food, swimming, and watching FIREWORKS! Many of us look forward to spending the day with our loved ones and watching fireworks together.

Did you know that China invented fireworks as a tool to frighten evil spirits away? They believed lighting fireworks would scare them back into the underworld, shunning them from entering our earthly world. The only thing you should be frightened of now is using fireworks irresponsibly. 

Each July 4th, thousands of people are injured while consuming fireworks, most often children and teens. Despite the dangers of fireworks, few people understand the associated risks, including devastating burns, other injuries, fires, and even death.  

Let’s Talk About Statistics

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission 2020 Fireworks Annual Report, there has been a fifty percent increase in deaths and injuries since 2019. The same report shows an estimated 16,000 injuries reported for fireworks and 900 injuries reported for sparklers. Of those injuries, 44% were severe burns comprising 14% eyes, 22% head, face, and ears, and 31% hands. With statistics like these, it is crucial to know how to be safe and prevent injuries.

Light In A Safe Area 

When using fireworks, you want to ensure you are lighting them in a safe location. The ground must be clear of trees or brush, with ample open space. Make sure it is flat and sturdy as well. Fireworks must be used away from structures, people, and flammable objects.

Ensure Your Fireworks Are Legal

Check your local laws and regulations to ensure that fireworks in your area are legal BEFORE buying or using them. Some counties do not allow for the use of fireworks and can carry hefty fines.

Light Fireworks Responsibly 

It is essential to light one firework at a time. Remove the firework from the container, light it with a long flame lighter, and move away quickly after lighting the fuse. Ensure anyone observing the fireworks is maintaining a safe distance. Remember, do NOT try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks! Soak them in water and ditch them immediately. 

Position fireworks away from homes, trees, and shrubbery. Never point or throw fireworks at another person. Never hold lighted fireworks in your hand. You want to ensure the safety of everyone and prevent as many injuries as possible. 

Sparklers Are More Dangerous Than You Think 

Sparklers alone can burn up to 2,000 degrees resulting in severe burns. That is as hot as a blow torch, and that level of heat can burn through some metals! Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing; many children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet. According to the National Fire Protection Association, sparklers account for more than 25% of emergency room visits for fireworks injuries. For children under five years old, sparklers accounted for nearly half of the estimated injuries. Children must be heavily supervised if you allow them to use fireworks. 

Supervise Children Closely

Ideally, children should not use fireworks. The highest number of reported injuries comes from  . Ensure you have close adult supervision if you allow children to use fireworks. Do not allow children to play with or light fireworks unattended. 

Disposing Fireworks Properly

It is a good idea to keep a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby in case of a fire. After fireworks finish burning, douse them with plenty of water from a bucket or garden hose before discarding them. 

Fireworks can not only lead to severe injuries but also destructive fires. House fires, damaged entertainment venues, and wildfires are typical results of the misuse of fireworks. Know how to use fireworks safely and how to educate those around you on taking safety precautions.  

Should you find yourself with fire damage because of fireworks, SERVPRO® of Montgomery is ready to make it “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 334.284.1612 for all your fire restoration needs.

Safety First; How to Prevent Fires in Your Home | SERVPRO® of Montgomery

4/4/2022 (Permalink)

"Fire and water restoration is what we do best! Call SERVPRO of Montgomery at 334.284.1612 for when disaster strikes."

Making your home safer from fire hazards isn’t as difficult as you may think. Small things such as checking your smoke detector, keeping your appliances unplugged, and using space heaters properly can make all the difference in preventing fires. Here are some tips on keeping your home safe for you and your family. 

Fire Prevention is Key 

Many fire prevention tips are easy to add to your home safety routine. They are cost-friendly and can make your family safer by lowering your risk of a house fire.

Know How to Fight a Grease fire 

Grease fires are a well-known kitchen hazard. Grease fires can be extremely threatening since water cannot extinguish them. Water makes these events worse. Instead, keep a fire extinguisher nearby. Extinguish smaller grease fires using metal pan lids or baking soda as well.  

Keep Your Fireplace Clear of Old Ashes 

If you enjoy using your wood-burning fireplace, be sure you are not letting the ashes collect there. Clean and dispose of your ashes safely after each use. 

Watch How You Use Your Space Heater 

Don’t plug your space heater into an extension cord. Use one of your wall outlets instead. Ensure your space heater surroundings have a clearance of at least three feet. When your space heater is not in use, keep it unplugged. 

Check Your Smoke Detectors Often  

Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors monthly. Changing their batteries twice each year and replacing them every ten years will ensure they are fully operable to help protect your family. The smoke alarms should be interconnected and should all trigger if one alarm triggers.  When an alarm sounds, move quickly and safely outside your home. Treat every alarm as a serious matter. 

Consider Switching to Battery-Operated Candles 

Scented candles are popular, especially during the fall and winter months. They add a warm glow to your home and can smell delicious. However, scented candles can be a fire hazard if they are left burning while you’re not home or knocked over. Battery-operated candles eliminate these hazards. 

Keep a Fire Extinguisher on Hand and?Have Regular Fire Extinguisher Training 

They seem simple, but many people may not know how to use handheld fire extinguishers properly. Teach your loved ones the PASS method: Pull the pin; Aim low, at the base of the fire; Squeeze the lever firmly and Sweep the nozzle from side to side. Remember to routinely check your fire extinguisher to ensure it is up to code. 

Finally, have a fire evacuation plan for your family and practice it regularly, especially if you have small children or senior adults. Teach young children as soon as possible about the dangers of fires and what to do if one occurs. 

Fire prevention saves lives. Should your home have an emergency and need fire restoration, SERVPRO of Montgomery is here for you in your time of need. 

Keep Your Family Safe During a Fire with These Helpful Tips | SERVPRO® of Montgomery

12/2/2021 (Permalink)

Should there be an unfortunate fire disaster at your home, call us at SERVPRO of Montgomery at 334-245-1258. “We are faster to any disaster!”

SERVPRO of Montgomery is committed to keeping our community a very safe place to live, work and play. It is important to remember that smoke alarms save lives. If they are maintained and in good working order, they can play an integral role in saving the lives of your family members. Smoke alarms afford you the opportunity to leave your home quickly if a fire emergency occurs.

Here are some helpful tips to help keep you and your family safe if fire strikes.

• Have a fire evacuation plan for your family and practice it regularly, especially if you have small children or senior adults.
• Test your smoke alarms monthly. If they are older, replace them especially if they are 10 years or older. There have been so many advances that can help save lives.
• The alarms should be interconnected. If one alarm sounds, they all sound – alerting your family to potential dangers.
• When an alarm sounds, move quickly and safely outside your home. Treat every alarm as a serious matter.
• Keep doors closed. This can prevent smoke and fire from spreading quickly.
• In the event of a fire emergency call 911, immediately and stay outside. 

Should there be an unfortunate fire disaster at your home, call us at SERVPRO of Montgomery at 334-245-1258. “We are faster to any disaster!”  

Fireplace Safety Tips for Your Family for Fall/Winter 2021 | SERVPRO® of Montgomery

11/24/2021 (Permalink)

Take Fireplace Safety this Holiday Season. Don't hesitate to contact SERVPRO of Montgomery if you experience fire damage.

It is that time of year again! The weather is getting colder, leaves are changing, finally getting to wear that favorite sweater! So, what better way to relax with your family and friends than by lighting your fireplace and putting on your favorite holiday movie? Of course, it is always imperative that you take the proper safety measures when using your fireplace so here are a few reminders about fireplace safety.

Fireplaces and Indoor Air Quality

Be sure to have a carbon monoxide detectors. "Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you before you are aware it is in your home," according to EPA.gov. Improperly maintained fireplaces, wood-burning or gas, can cause carbon monoxide gases to build-up in your home.

Before Starting a Fire in Your Fireplace

Before starting your fire, remember to clean out all the ashes from previous fires. High levels of ash can cause more smoke. Therefore, it is best to have one inch or less of ash inside the fireplace since a thicker layer can restrict the air supply. Be certain to make sure your damper or flue is open so the chimney can draw the smoke out of the house and leave it open until the embers are completely burned out.

What Types of Wood Should You Use?

Remember using smaller pieces of wood on a grate can burn faster and create less smoke. Also using dry, well-aged wood can help to burn logs more evenly. When you use wet, fresh logs it can cause the wood to cause more smoke and soot inside the chimney. Your chimney should be checked annually by a professional to make sure it is clean and in proper use. It is also a good idea to routinely check for animal nests or blockages that can become wedged inside the chimney and can prevent the smoke from being properly ventilated.

Around the Fireplace

Make sure that the area surrounding the fireplace is free of any objects especially anything flammable such as newspapers or lighters. Safety screens can also prevent any burns or sparks. Any stokes or sharp objects should also be out of reach from small children. Install carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and test them routinely. Also, remember to keep a fire extinguisher on hand that is up to code. Speak with young children as early as possible about the dangers of fires and the heat resulting from them. As always, happy warming!

If your home or business should sustain fire damage or water damage from fires, SERVPRO has local technicians on standby 24 hours a day for emergencies, and we’ll be on hand to make sure your restoration needs are taken care of. Click or call today to find out how we can help when disaster strikes.

Easy Ways to Make Your Home Safer From Fires | SERVPRO® of Montgomery

7/20/2021 (Permalink)

House fires are preventable. SERVPRO® of Montgomery is available 24/7 in the event of an emergency.

Making your home safer from fire hazards isn’t as difficult as you might think.

You can add simple steps to your daily routine and simple home maintenance items to your checklist that will lower your risk for common causes of house fires.

Be Sure You Know How to Prevent Fires

Most of these fire prevention tips are easy to add to your home safety routine. They don’t cost a lot but can make your family safer by lowering your risk of a house fire.

Know how to fight a grease fire. Grease fires are a well-known kitchen hazard. Part of the danger they present is because grease fires can’t be put out with water. In fact, water makes these events worse. Instead, keep a fire extinguisher handy. Metal pan lids and baking soda can work for smaller grease fires, too.

Keep your fireplace clear of old ashes. If you enjoy using your wood-burning fireplace, be sure you’re not letting the ashes collect there. Instead, clean your fireplace regularly and dispose of your ashes safely.

Watch how you use your space heater. Don’t plug your space heater into an extension cord. Use one of your wall outlets instead. Also, take steps to ensure your space heater is clear on all sides by at least three feet.

Keep your smoke detectors working. Testing your smoke detectors, changing their batteries twice each year and replacing them every 10 years will ensure they are best able to help protect your family.

Consider switching to battery-operated candles. Scented candles are popular during the fall and winter months because they add a warm glow to your home and can smell delicious. But these can be a fire hazard if they’re left burning while you’re not home or knocked over. Battery-operated candles eliminate these hazards.

If your home is damaged due to a fire or any other cause, you can always count on us for restoration assistance. We have crews who are available ²⁴⁄₇ in the event of an emergency. Contact us at any time to learn more about our restoration services and how we can help your family.

Preventing Kitchen Fires at Work | SERVPRO® of Montgomery

6/28/2021 (Permalink)

If a fire should get out of hand and cause damage to your business, SERVPRO of Montgomery is here to help

Offices in Montgomery are full of hungry people, just like anywhere else. When lunch or break time comes, the office kitchen gets busy—food gets reheated or cooked, leftovers and Lunchables are served and somebody always pretends they didn’t know you’re not supposed to microwave fish.

But kitchens in the workplace are a leading cause of commercial fires. In fact, the average number of office, hotel and restaurant fires started in the kitchen is a whopping 47%.

So aside from educating your team on workplace kitchen fire safety by showing them that one episode of The Office, what can you do and encourage to keep your workplace kitchen from becoming part of that unfortunate statistic?

Know your risks. This can vary from one workplace to another, but you should always be aware of environmental factors or specific things about your building that could come into play. Older buildings almost always have things like older wiring or less reliable sprinkler systems, which may need updating or regulation.

Check appliance cords. Faulty power cables are an easy cause of kitchen fires. Cables can fray or break down over time, exposing wire that can instantly cause a fire if an electrical short occurs. Don’t bother with electrical tape—if wire is exposed or cables are bent at sharp angles, replace them and prevent disaster.

Pay attention in the kitchen. Food should never be left alone while it’s cooking. Stovetops, microwaves and even toasters carry inherent fire risks and should always be used with caution in the workplace. And with any sign at all of burning, enact emergency measures.

Ensure proper cleaning. This isn’t fun by anyone’s definition, but it’s vital in keeping fires under control. Bits of food left behind in the microwave or grease on the stove can start blazes that can quickly grow into something devastating. So put regular cleanings on the calendar, and make sure any spillovers in ovens, stovetops or microwaves are dealt with in between.

Have regular fire extinguisher training. They seem simple, but many people may not know how to properly use handheld fire extinguishers. Teach employees the PASS method: Pull the pin; Aim low, at the base of the fire; Squeeze the lever firmly; and Sweep the nozzle from side to side.

Kitchen fires don’t have to be a danger. The old saying holds true: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So make sure you’re following the recommended guidelines to minimize fire accidents in your building’s kitchen.

If a fire should get out of hand and cause damage to your business, SERVPRO of East Mecklenburg/Matthews is here to help. Call or click today to get in touch with your local technicians.

How Would You Answer These Fire Safety Questions? | SERVPRO® of Montgomery

4/5/2021 (Permalink)

House fires trend to peak during the winter. SERVPRO of Montgomery is available 24/7 in the event of an emergency.

You can take simple steps today to keep your home and family safer from winter fire risks.

These fire safety questions offer you a roadmap for easy, inexpensive ways to maintain your home and lower your fire risk:

Do you know if your furnace is in good condition? Just because your furnace is working doesn’t mean it’s in good shape. Dirty, clogged vents from your furnace can create a fire hazard that puts your family at risk. The fix is surprisingly simple. If you haven’t had your furnace checked by a heating and air professional this year, it’s a good idea to have it looked over and ensure the ventilation is clear and everything is in good working order.

Does your family have a kitchen fire extinguisher? Grease fires can happen in any kitchen. Because these fires don’t respond to water (it makes them worse) and they’re a common threat to homeowners, keep a fire extinguisher handy. Fire extinguishers can help you put out a small grease fire before it becomes an enormous blaze.

Are you using your fireplace safely? Fireplaces with chimneys that are clogged and dirty create a fire hazard. If you want to light a crackling fire, be sure you’re you’re disposing of the ashes from your last fire correctly. Also, never light a fire before you are sure your chimney is in good shape.

Do you use battery-operated candles? Many people love the look and scent of a traditional candle burning at home. But they can be a fire hazard if you don’t use them properly and blow them out when you leave your home. These issues aren’t a concern if you opt for a battery-operated option.

If your home is damaged due to a fire or any other cause, you can always count on us for restoration assistance. We have crews who are available ²⁴⁄₇ in the event of an emergency. Contact us at any time to learn more about our restoration services and how we can help your family.

Odor Removal after Fire Damage | SERVPRO® of Montgomery

1/19/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damage, including smoke and soot, can leave behind an awful smell that affects your belongings. Click here to learn the best practices to avoid f

One of the most troubling side effects of fire damage is the smoky odor it leaves behind. Why does smoke seem to stick to everything it touches? Smoke particles are tiny and can easily embed into porous materials like carpets, furniture, fabrics, books, and even paint which are, unfortunately, very common to our homes. Furthermore, certain materials, like plastics, that burned in the fire can make removing the smell even tougher. With that said, it’s best to leave fire, smoke, and soot restoration to the professionals!

After you’ve called us and before you leave the home, please be aware of how much you’re moving around the house. Try to limit your movements because with each step or touch you can further embed soot particles into upholstery and carpets. This means that even though it might be instinctive to throw sooty towels into the washer or start washing your walls, you shouldn’t!

At SERVPRO® of Montgomery, we have technicians who have the training, equipment, and several odor removal products to identify and efficiently eliminate these odors. Our technicians can identify not only the cause of the odor, but the conditions when smoke or a fire touched the surfaces of your belongings. This knowledge enables them to often remove the odor over time without a trace.

Successfully removing offensive odors can be a challenging task, so give us a call, and leave the job to us! We’ll take care of you.

If your home or business needs fire, smoke, or soot restoration or any of our services, we are here to help. You can contact us at any hour to learn more about our services or to report damages. Get in touch today to speak with our team regarding our services.

Enjoy Winter Activities While Keeping Your Fire Risk Low | SERVPRO® of Montgomery

12/7/2020 (Permalink)

Make sure your fire risk is low during the holidays. If you experience any damage, SERVPRO of Montgomery will be here to help.

Regardless of the season or the weather, house fires are a possibility. However, during the winter months, they can be even more likely according to a report done by the Red Cross recently. Many winter activities lead to an increased risk of a house fire, so it is important to prioritize fire safety during all that you do.

During any given month, cooking is the leading cause of house fires, with winter being no exception. However, the use of space heaters, fireplaces and decorations also increase in the winter, raising the fire risk with them. Fortunately, there is no need to give up these festive activities—it is just important that they are done safely.

Make Sure Your Fire Risk Is Low During the Holidays

Keep safe when cooking. Cooking and baking incidents are always a concern when it comes to house fires, and with holiday meals and the baking of winter treats, it is even more likely. It is important to always be safe while in the kitchen, keeping flammable items away from the stove and oven, having a fire extinguisher handy and never leaving cooking food unattended.

Heat the house with proper precautions. As a chill hits the air, making use of a space heater or fireplace is a must to stay toasty—as long as they are used safely. Though space hearts have become safer in recent years, they are still responsible for many fires every year. Be sure your model is equipped with safety features and never leave it running while no one is in the room. If you have a fireplace, follow safety guidelines every time you light a fire.

Decorate with care. Winter holiday decorations such as string lights are festive and fun, but they can introduce more dangers as well. Around 25% of fires of Christmas trees are started by decorations, but by checking your cords for wear and tear, unplugging everything when it will be unattended and safely plugging things into multiple outlets, you can greatly reduce the chances of this occurring.

If you have damage due to a house fire, you can depend on us to help. Contact us 24 hours a day to report damage and receive a quick response from our certified restoration technicians. Get in touch today.

Doing What You Can to Reduce Your Fire Risk at Home | SERVPRO® of Montgomery

9/8/2020 (Permalink)

If you experience any damage due to a fire, we are here to help. Reach out to SERVPRO of Montgomery to learn more.

There will never be a good time to experience a house fire, but never experiencing one at all is certainly preferred. Practicing prevention can go a long way in reducing the likelihood that you will experience a house fire. It only takes 30 seconds for a fire to spread through the home and cause serious damages, but by preventing them altogether, you can keep your household significantly safer.

Reducing your overall risk profile is so important to your safety when it comes to house fires. By making sure your home is equipped with safety features, your family is prepared and you are practicing good habits, you can mitigate a fire’s likelihood and impact.

How You Can Reduce Your Household Fire Risk

Check your smoke detectors. Smoke detectors are always the first step in improving your household fire safety, as they will be the thing that notifies you if a fire has started. Be sure to do a monthly test to make sure they are operational, and keep track of when they were installed so you know when to replace the unit altogether.

Create a fire escape plan. Making sure that your family members feel comfortable escaping your home quickly in case of a fire is so important. Fire escapes should be done in under two minutes to avoid dangerous smoke inhalation. By drafting a solid plan and practicing it often, you can be certain that everyone will know exactly what to do.

Limit your fire risks. Practicing good fire safety habits on a daily basis can really add up, as you are reducing the chances that a fire can even start. Simple things, like not running cords under rugs, always attending to open flames and avoiding using frayed wires, will go a long way in ensuring your home will not be impacted by a fire to begin with.

Keep a fire extinguisher handy. Fire extinguishers are so important for having nearby while using any open flame. Though it is important to only use a fire extinguisher when the fire is small and contained, having one nearby can be the difference between a small flare-up and a large-scale house fire that causes significant damage.

If your home is damaged by a house fire, we are here to help. Our expert fire restoration technicians are here ²⁴⁄₇ to spring into action as soon as you call. Contact us at any hour to report your damage and receive a quick response.

Holiday Fires?! Let's Hope Not!

7/31/2020 (Permalink)

STOP!!! Can we get through Halloween first?? Sure, but the holidays are right around the corner and will be here before we know it. Time just seems to be flying by this year. Especially with the crazy 2020 year, we have already been having. The last thing anyone needs or wants is a house fire.  We at SERVPRO of Montgomery want to give you some Holiday Safety Tips so you make lasting memories with your family that does not include burning your house down! According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), here are a few holiday safety tips to remember;

Halloween

• Dried flowers, cornstalks, and crepe paper catch fire easily. Keep all decorations away from open
  flames and other heat sources like light bulbs and heaters.
• Use a battery-operated candle or glow-stick in jack-o lanterns. If you use a real candle, use
  extreme caution. Make sure children are watched at all times when candles are lit. When
  lighting candles inside jack-o lanterns, use long, fireplace-style matches or a utility lighter.
• Be sure to place lit pumpkins well away from anything that can burn and far enough out of the way of trick-or-treaters, doorsteps, walkways, and yards.

Thanksgiving

• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food.
• Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
• If deep-frying your turkey, defrost the turkey COMPLETELY – and dry it before putting it in hot
  oil.
• Keep a grease-rated fire extinguisher close by

Christmas

• Use lights that have the label of a recognized testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor
  or outdoor use.
• Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
• Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.

Be Safe Grilling!

6/29/2020 (Permalink)

If you're a Tri-County local, you know how gorgeous the weather can be in the summer. Our beautiful blue skies and high temps always inspire a barbecue. After you grill, watch some TV and catch up with your pals, then, it's time to clean up.

It's a job that nobody likes to do, but it has to be done. A grill that's mired in excessive grit and soot can become a hazard and could lead to fire damage on your property.

If you're already trying to deal with extensive fire damage, don't panic, because SERVPRO of Montgomery has your back. With 24/7 emergency service and highly trained technicians on call, SERVPRO can respond faster to any size disaster.

It's a hassle to get your grill back in top shape, but with these four tips for grill cleaning, you'll have a spotless grill in no time.

1. Safety First!

Always make sure to follow proper safety procedures! This is true whether you're looking to spot clean after you've grilled food or you're gunning for a more in-depth, thorough cleaning.

Ensure that each of the knobs is OFF. Next, if you are using propane, make sure the tank is closed. Following that, check that the grill is on a stable, even surface; and that the grill is no longer hot before you touch any of its individual parts without protection.

1. Quality Grilling Utensils

Your grill brush is an important tool that you don't want to skimp out on.

What makes a great grill brush? You'll want a brush that has smaller bristles and multiple heads. Also, a long handle so that you can scrub while the gratings are still hot, and one that's durable. You'll also want to make sure that whatever brush you pick up is a good match for the size and type of grill that you're using.

1. Food and Grease Excess Residue

It's never a bad idea to crank the grill up to its highest setting after you're done cooking so that it can burn off excess grime. This can make your post-barbecue spot clean easier.

1. Outside Grill Surfaces Clean

Ensuring that the exterior of the grill is spotless is as important as maintaining the cleanliness of its interior. It's an easier job than the inside, though; all you'll need is soapy water and a rag.

SERVPRO of Montgomery Professionals Can Help Restore Your Business

4/7/2020 (Permalink)

Handling the aftermath of a fire in Montgomery can be one of the most frustrating things a homeowner or business owner will ever have to deal with on their own. Fires, even ones that are quite minimal and were put out quickly, can cause a lot of damage. Not only is black soot on walls, ceilings, and furniture an issue, but the water damage that was caused to put out the flames is also an issue. For many, stagnant air and musky odors can linger for quite some time after a fire has been extinguished. Also, carbon monoxide levels might not be safe for those who are re-entering the home or building.

This is why it is important to have a professional handle the process of fire restoration. Professional damage restoration companies work with a wide range of different home or business issues pertaining to natural and man-made disasters. The reason these types of companies are so beneficial is that they have worked on thousands of homes or buildings very much like your own. They also have the skills, equipment, and tools necessary to get the job done effectively and efficiently. These are things that you might not be able to do on your own.

Another reason to have a professional handle the process of fire restoration and leftover water damage from extinguishing the fire is because it can sometimes be dangerous to do the cleaning on your own. The smoke from a fire can put carbon monoxide in the air, which is an odorless and tasteless fume that can be fatal to breathe in regularly. The expert company will check for carbon monoxide levels and take the appropriate actions if it is found to be within the home or building that has recently dealt with a fire and leftover damage from flames.

Your home or office building can easily get restored back to its former glory once a professional does the job for you. Trying to remedy fire damage on your own can be frustrating and even dangerous if you aren't checking for carbon monoxide levels and the like. Instead, think about contacting a local company to come in and do the job for you when it is convenient for you. The fire damage will be remedied and your home or place of business will be completely restored so that you can feel comfortable going back in and being there regularly.

Fire Damage Restoration

We understand that smoke and fire damage is both devastating and disruptive to your family or business. SERVPRO of Montgomery Professionals responds quickly to repair the fire, smoke, and soot damage, including:

• Fire damage cleanup
• Smoke and soot damage cleaning and repair
• Cleaning your home's contents and belongings
• Eliminating fire and smoke odor and deodorization

Why Advanced Training in Appropriate Kitchen Fire Damage Cleaning Is Crucial

3/28/2020 (Permalink)

Cleaning up after a fire in your Montgomery home requires more than an upbeat attitude and some elbow grease. Even if the flames subsided quickly, residues from the kitchen fire likely spread widely throughout your home. The soiling attaches to any surface, horizontal, vertical, or slanted, the hot air currents from the fire depositing the soot on cooler walls, ceilings, and furnishings often far from the ignition site. Residues are almost transparent but very bad smelling and tightly adhered to the surfaces. 

Not Typical Household Dirt and Grime

To understand issues presented by fire damage in Montgomery home, imagine the interior of your oven after many roastings and broilers without cleaning. Think about the coatings in a microwave or outdoor grill that were not addressed immediately after cooking. The residues that drift through your home after a kitchen fire are similar, not the dry and ashy soot of a wood fire, but the remains of grease, oils, and proteins, now dehydrated and in every corner of your abode.  

Principles and Elements of Cleaning 

At SERVPRO, our technicians train extensively to ensure that our cleaning efforts are successful. First, we focus on the principles of cleaning: 

• Locating the fire residues
• Identifying the type of residue
• Identifying the types of surfaces affected
• Capturing and removing residues for proper disposal  

Armed with that knowledge, we approach cleaning tasks by manipulating the following elements of cleaning: 

• Temperature
• Agitation 
• Chemical action
• Time 

How Do Protein-Based Residues Fit the Protocol? 

SERVPRO of Montgomery technicians are familiar with the challenges of resolving kitchen fire residues. The greasy, almost varnish-like residues are impervious to the water-based cleansers frequently relied upon as “one size fits all” solutions for cleanup. We use research-based procedures to break the bonds, utilizing the principle that “like dissolves like.” Instead of soap, we select a solvent and often choose to employ both agitation and abrasive tools to loosen the kitchen fire sourced soot. Detergents can also help us dislodge oily residues, acting with water to create an emulsion to suspend the dehydrated food and grease particles. 

SERVPRO of Montgomery has a highly-trained and skilled workforce ready to assist with your fire damage challenges. Call us at 334.284.1612

Fire Damage In Your Montgomery Residence Can Necessitate Soot Cleanup Services

1/20/2020 (Permalink)

Fire Damage In Your Montgomery Residence Can Necessitate Soot Cleanup Services

After a fire, homeowners commonly find soot on ceilings, walls, and other objects or materials in their homes. Most wall surfaces, including painted drywall, brick, or wallpaper, are porous. Soot consists of fine particles that can penetrate deeply into porous surfaces, causing lingering odors and stains.

Most of the time, it's possible to remove soot from ceilings and walls, but in serious cases, it may be necessary to remove, repaint or reinstall affected materials like wallpaper and drywall. To get the best outcome from soot clean up after fire damage in your Prattville residence, you should hire a professional restoration firm like SERVPRO. Our fire restoration experts are equipped to handle the smoke, ash, and soot cleanup process quickly and effectively. We begin soot cleanup by removing most of the dry soot using a duster, HEPA vacuum or dry cleaning sponge.

When cleaning some surfaces like wallpaper, the appropriate method to use is dry cleaning. Other surfaces can respond well and tolerate wet cleaning procedures. Using a chemical-dry sponge or a dry-cleaning sponge is appropriate when a high oxygen fire has caused soot to build up in a particular area. The soot can smear and leave an unsightly stain if one attempts to use a wet cleaning method. Before we perform any wet cleaning procedures, we test the cleaning solution on an inconspicuous, small area like behind a switch plate to see if it causes any staining.

Soot can cause further damage in your home if it is ground and smudged into paint, plaster, wallpaper, walls, upholstery, and carpets. The odor that soot can cause is difficult to eradicate with typical cleaning methods and household products. Normal household vacuums are inefficient in removing soot and ash for they redeposit the particles around a house which can contaminate previously unaffected rooms and areas. Our SERVPRO technicians can use HEPA vacuums to remove soot from the affected areas, including sockets and light switches. If you do not clean these fixtures before use, short-circuiting can occur. HEPA vacuums trap the particles, preventing them from redepositing.

For help in removing soot from your home, contact SERVPRO of Montgomery at (334) 284-1612. We have the tools and expertise to deal with the aftermath of a fire and restore your property to its pre-fire damage condition.

What To Do Until Help Arrives After A Fire

12/9/2019 (Permalink)

WHAT TO DO UNTIL HELP ARRIVES

DO:

• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpet. 
• Keep hands clean. Soot on hands can further soil upholstery, walls, and woodwork. 
• Place dry, colorfast towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery, and carpet traffic areas. 
• If electricity is off, empty freezer and refrigerator completely and prop doors open to help prevent odor. 
• Wipe soot from chrome on kitchen and bathroom faucets, trim and appliances, then protect these surfaces with a light coating of lubricant. 
• If heat is off during winter, pour RV antifreeze in sinks, toilet bowls, holding tanks and to tubs to avoid freezing pipes and fixtures. 
• Wash both sides of leaves on house plants. 
• Change the HVAC filter, but leave the system off until a trained professional can check the system. 
• Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers to stop particles of soot from getting in or out of the HVAC system. 

SERVPRO of Montgomery is a team of specialists, trained to professionally clean your home and personal belongings. If you experience a fire in your Montgomery home or business, give us a call at 334-273-0992.

SERVPRO Provides Montgomery Properties with Secure Surroundings during Clean Up

8/1/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Tarps Fire Damaged Roofs, Boards Up Structures during Restoration Work in Montgomery

Steps We Take to Secure Fire-Damaged Homes in Montgomery

The security of your home plummets after a disaster. Newly created openings give a wide berth to both the weather, critters, and trespassers. Many of our customers in Montgomery choose to use our building services team alongside our mitigation and restoration specialists. Using our extra services, under General Contractor License # 41839, decreases the length of time your family remains inconvenienced, regardless of the type of disaster.

When your house in Montgomery sustains fire damage, you need more than mitigation and restoration. You also need services that make your home secure, even as work progresses. SERVPRO understands the concerns of homeowners, and we offer several options that effectively keep your property secured against further damage.

The majority of people stay outside of the perimeter of fencing, including the temporary kind. When fire damage is located in other areas of a house away from the street, neighbors might not realize the extent of the damage. Highly visible fencing lets them know that the area is off-limits, at least until we finish working and your family moves back home.

To protect your belongings from the few individuals who disregard such visible signs, we also provide move out services, as well as temporary warehouse storage for non-damaged items. We store your belongings near the same area where our smoke and fire restoration technicians work at cleaning and deodorizing the things damaged in the fire. To help your family, we move all of your belongings back at one time, complete with updated inventory sheets.

The techniques approved by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) are incredibly useful in the restoration of homes and businesses. Securing tarps over openings in the roof after a fire helps ensure that our IICRC-certified teams retain their efficiency throughout the mitigation process. Our building services team can also help rebuild or repair the roof and its components, eliminating another facet of a fire-related disaster.
Boarding up any broken windows can help ensure security, as well as help us maintain strict environmental conditions inside your house while mitigation technicians work. We use three different methods to secure windows and doors. Screwing sections of drywall directly onto the exterior frame is the fastest method, but leaves permanent holes. Instead, we prefer to either cut boards that we can slip into place. Sometimes, however, our employees cannot do this. When we need a third method, we use the tension created between an exterior piece of particle board combined with a 2 x 4 placed on the inside of the window. In between these two, a set of longer screws hold both tightly in place.

SERVPRO of Montgomery's mitigation, cleaning, restoration, and rebuilding specialists all work together to make fire damage a thing of the past, “Like it never even happened” for homeowners. If your residence is in Chisholm, Highland Park, Highland Gardens, and Centennial Hill, call us at (334) 273-0992, 24/7, any day of the year, so we can help your family recover as quickly as possible.

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How to Remove the Smoke Odors From a Montgomery HVAC System

6/18/2019 (Permalink)

Did you know that SERVPRO of Montgomery can clean air ducts?

Removing Fire Odors in HVAC Systems of Montgomery Homes 

Many Montgomery homeowners run their air conditioning systems through most of the year, and there are only a few instances in which these units get turned off. When disasters like fire loss incidents occur, these HVAC networks do not shut down until you tell them to or until the conditions of the fire itself compromise the ability for the unit to continue functioning correctly. The result of these situations is often air ducts that get severely affected by soot, smoke residues, and harsh odors. Combatting all of these effects are out of the wheelhouse of the average homeowner, requiring you to trust in the expertise of certified professionals like our restorers. 

Fire odor removal can often be a considerable challenge for your Montgomery home, even with the experienced and trained professionals our SERVPRO team dispatches. Odors can spread quickly and embed into surfaces and materials throughout the house. In many cases, excessive heat causes pores in materials like drywall to expand, allowing these odors to penetrate the sheetrock. When the house cools down after extinguishment, these molecules get trapped within the pores of the material and continue to affect the occupants of the house without the appropriate deodorization methods. 

When areas like the HVAC system and air ducts become affected by spreading odors, it can be even more of a challenge to address these concerns. Our SERVPRO professionals arrive with an array of equipment designed to neutralize foul and noxious smoke and fire odors on contact, but other symptoms from the fire must also get addressed and removed within the air ducts to eliminate the scent. 

Our professionals arrive with sophisticated equipment to clean out this network of ducts, including whips, brushes, and HEPA vacuums. The sooner this system can get thoroughly cleaned after a fire, the less chance it has of perpetually circulating damaging effects. 

There are multiple concerns that every homeowner should have after a fire occurs in their residence, but with the fast response of our SERVPRO of Montgomery professionals, we can make these damaging effects “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call anytime you need us at (334) 273-0992.

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Call Our Specialists When Your Home In Montgomery Experiences A Fire Damage Disaster!

4/8/2019 (Permalink)

Call us at (334) 273-0992 immediately after the fire is out so we can get to your property and help you.

Fire Damage Restoration For Your Montgomery Home

Experiencing a fire in your Montgomery home is quite upsetting, and you could be feeling a sense of shock. Many people do not know what the first step to take is once the fire is out. Professional help to restore your home is going to be needed, and it is something that you should not wait on, as the longer you let the smoke and soot sit, the more damage occurs.

Make sure to follow any safety regulations given you by your local fire department after you’ve had a fire in your Montgomery home. After the fire is out, you can call our professionals at SERVPRO for help remediating fire damage. We have tools and experience that is needed to restore your home, so it looks “Like it never even happened.”

Take your children and pets to an environment that is smoke-free after a fire. Starting with a neighbor you trust for aid right away is good, then you can move to a temporary home with family or friends while the restoration to your home is being done.

Before beginning the restoration process, SERVPRO staff pretest certain items in your home to figure out the best restoration procedure. By doing an inspection and pretesting, we can find and identify the kinds of residues present and figure out what kind of surfaces need cleaning.

Residues have to be captured before we can remove them. We use air and fluids to release and carry the soils away. Air and fluids contain suspended particles in them once they come into contact with each other. Dissolving and vacuuming are two ways we contact soils and carry them off to dispose of them.

Smoke residues consist of solid particles that are mostly made up of carbon. Dry particles loosely attached to surfaces can be vacuumed. Particles containing moisture can make the surface absorb them and make them difficult to remove. We try to vacuum dry residues from a surface first before applying any wet cleaning products.

Soils and residues which are not loose particles have to be dissolved before we can remove them. Dissolving them and loosening their bond with the surface lets them be suspended in a cleaning product and then flushed away as we rinse or extract it from the surface. The kind of soil and surface are the two main factors in dissolving soils. Some are water-soluble, but others are not and need us to use a solvent-based cleaning product instead.

SERVPRO of Montgomery knows how to properly restore your home in Highland Park, Centennial Hill, or Arrowhead after a fire. Call us at (334) 273-0992 immediately after the fire is out so we can get to your property and help you. Do not try and enter back into your home until it can be cleaned, repaired and deemed safe.

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The Issues Soot Damage Can Cause To Your Home In Montgomery

3/13/2019 (Permalink)

Let our SERVPRO of Montgomery professionals work to return your fire-damaged property to its preloss condition quickly.

Why Soot Damage Can Be Problematic In Your Montgomery Home

Of all the hazardous situations that can result from a fire in your Montgomery home, several effects can prove impossible for homeowners to remove or restore on their own. Professional restoration is more than just suggested after a widespread structure fire on your property, but a necessity that can help you get back to your home as promptly as possible after a disaster. Our crew can help with every facet of recovery, including the incredibly damaging presence of soot throughout the interior of your home.

Soot removal and cleaning is one facet of fire damage recovery in your Montgomery home that homeowners often believe they can handle on their own. There are many risks associated with cleaning soot residue without the advanced equipment that our professionals have. Our SERVPRO team has seen failed attempts at cleaning soot from walls and carpeting that proved impossible to restore and these materials needed to get removed and replaced to complete the restoration.

Soot spreads out much farther than any other effect from the fire in many cases. It can also get moved through the HVAC system to impact other areas of your property that might be far away from the combustion site. Removing the presence of soot sediment on surfaces requires a specific approach that begins with our high-powered vacuums that work to break up the matting and pull the bulk of the soot away from the affected surface.

With a light residue remaining, our SERVPRO professionals can introduce affected materials to our industrial-grade, OSHA-approved solvents, and detergents combined with dry or wet sponging. Our efforts can often prevent the need for demolition and reconstruction when soot damage is the only effect on a surface or material.

While many potential effects and hazards can result after a fire in your home, soot damage is something that you cannot remove on your own. Let our SERVPRO of Montgomery professionals work to return your fire-damaged property to its preloss condition quickly. Give us a call today at (334) 273-0992.

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Learn How Your Furnace Could Start A Fire In Your Montgomery Home

1/16/2019 (Permalink)

Let SERVPRO's certified technicians be the first to restore your home from fire and smoke damage.

Puffback Residue is a Form of Fire Damage Affecting Many Homes in Montgomery

Keeping your family comfortable during the winter means you take measures to weatherize your home by sealing cracks around doors and windows. Making sure that your exterior walls contain enough insulation also keeps heating costs as low as possible while keeping your house cozily warm.

Many homeowners in Montgomery know that fire damage can result from overloaded electrical circuits and burning cigarettes. The majority also know that they should check the furnace every Fall to make sure that it does not need repairs and that it should last throughout the season. Few people want to find themselves without heat during the winter because of a furnace that quit working in the middle of the night.

Puffback is a problem that can develop in your furnace that allows it to continue heating your home. Telltale signs include a loud bang when the furnace is starting its heat cycle. You also might begin to notice a darkening around the furnace's housing and around heat vents. Most homes continue to stay warm, with little or no noticeable change.

These deposits around your vents and the furnace indicate a buildup of creosote inside the ducts and the interior of the furnace. Creosote is very flammable and can catch fire easily. The loud bang or boom heard is when the furnace misfires and a buildup of fuel ignites at once. This small explosion pushes partially combusted fuel out of the furnace and into the ducts, where it and the creosote gets stuck along the way.

The entire interior of the duct becomes capable of catching fire, causing your entire home to burn. When your furnace starts showing signs of puffback, you need to replace your furnace and get the creosote deposits cleaned up and removed, just like you would any other type of fire damage. You may have never seen the fire caused by this because it remains hidden inside the furnace and the ducts.

Merely replacing the defective furnace with a newer model only partially protects your family and home from risks. Also, the creosote can disintegrate and make your home full of a distinct and unpleasant odor. SERVPRO technicians can get all of this fire damage residue cleaned up, making your home safe again, ”Like it never even happened.” Once eliminated from ducts and surfaces, odors significantly diminish, also.

SERVPRO of Montgomery is always ready to send IICRC-certified technicians to your Chisholm of Arrowhead home to help mitigate fire damage caused by malfunctioning furnaces or other appliances. We also serve homeowners in the areas around both Gunter and Maxwell Air Force Bases. Call us at (334) 273-0992, and we can explain more about how our services can help you and your family.

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Restore Your Highland Park Property After the Fire is Put Out

12/10/2018 (Permalink)

Roofs are often in need of being secured after fire damage hits a property.

Eliminating Long-term Effects of Fire Damage in Highland Park Properties

Unless a blaze is catastrophic, it takes only a few minutes for extinguishing efforts to bear fruit. Despite the short lifespan, the incident might leave long-term effects, especially if mishandled. Long-term consequences of a fire in your Highland Park property can range from inconveniences such as bad smell to significant risks such as compromised structural integrity. Our certified FSRT, Fire & Smoke Restoration technicians, can help you manage both short-term and long-term effects of fire damage.

Residues left after fire damage in Highland Park are the most likely to cause long-term problems. While charred materials might form most of the remains, smoke residue spreads the most. On average, smoke particulate is around 1 to 4 microns making it easier to sift deep into various materials. Unless cleaned and deodorized properly, bad odors can persist long after the incident. Our SERVPRO technicians clean all affected areas thoroughly then use techniques such as fogging to release a deodorizing agent that pairs with the odor particles, neutralizing them.

You might not expect mold or rot after a fire incident. However, the use of water to extinguish the fire introduces these problems. Proper extraction and drying is the best weapon to eliminate long-term moisture problems. After extracting standing water, our SERVPRO technicians inspect all the areas reached by the water establishing the level of migration then come up with an effective drying plan. If we suspect moisture migration in enclosed spaces, we can use thermal cameras for confirmation.

If the fire damage is strong enough to affect structural parts of the property, it can destabilize it. Proper inspection can help confirm if indeed there is a problem and the best way to tackle it. Our SERVPRO technicians first secure the structure. This might involve actions like boarding up or installing roof tarps to protect structural parts from further damage. After this, we inspect the framework and other structural elements establishing whether there is a need for repairs or replacement. Taking such steps helps ensure that structural problems do not arise in the future.

Fires are temporary, but they can easily lead to permanent problems. Call SERVPRO of Montgomery to help restore your structure after an incident. You can reach us at (334) 273-0992 any day. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

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Avoid Fire Damage in Montgomery When Smoking by Taking Precautions

9/23/2018 (Permalink)

Fires caused by cigarettes are quite common. Take safety precautions and contact SERVPRO should you have a fire.

Montgomery's Fire Damage Technicians Talk About Problems Associated With Cigarette Smoking

Millions of people across the country smoke cigarettes and some may even smoke inside their Montgomery apartment. Smoking indoors is never a good idea for several reasons including that the act is a common source of fire damage. Nearly one in five people in the U.S. or over 40 million people smoke cigarettes on a daily basis. According to the stats, smoking materials cause over 17,000 structural burns every year. Among those, over 1,300 people get hurt, and almost 500 of them die from this type of fire damage each year.
 
Smoking is not only unhealthy for the smoker and everyone near them, but it can also be the source of several problems. Cigarette butts that do not get put out all of the way or ash that does not make it into the ashtray can cause fire damage to your Montogomery apartment. Some people fill up outdoor ashtrays too full or dump their butts in the trash when they are still hot. And the sad part is that these are only a few of the several ways our SERVPRO technicians have seen cigarettes and smoking in general set things ablaze.
 
When it comes to tobacco smoke, it can cause damage just by being inside a unit, and the act of smoking increases your risk of having a fire burn on your property. When someone smokes inside a building, the partially combusted tobacco penetrates into most materials inside the dwelling. The smell of cigarette or cigar smoke often lingers in contents and building materials even after people stop smoking inside the structure. In some cases, the smoke damage gets so bad that our SERVPRO technicians must use either an ultra-low volume fogging machine or an ozone generator to neutralize and remove the foul, burnt aromas from the apartment.
 
The act of smoking involves many activities that increase the risk of a person starting a fire inside a home. Even if the burn is small, different types of smoke other than those coming from cigarettes can affect building materials and your contents.
 
If a fire gets started by a smoker at your apartment complex and you think your unit may have been affected, call SERVPRO of Montgomery at (334) 273-0992 any day of the week.
 
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The Effects Of A Kitchen Fire In Your Montgomery Residence

7/25/2018 (Permalink)

Kitchen fires can happen in your Montgomery home from a variety of causes.

The Effects Of A Kitchen Fire

Kitchen fires can happen in your Montgomery home from a variety of causes. While many of these incidents can get extinguished before they spread out in destructive ways throughout the house, there are still effects that must get addressed when the time comes to clean up the mess.

Many homeowners have not ever dealt with a house fire throughout their lives, and are often unclear as to the wide range of lingering effects present once the first responders and firefighters complete their job. Restoring the fire damages to your Montgomery home, even with a smaller-scale incident localized to your kitchen area can prove challenging for even experienced professionals at times.

Legitimate threats to your home exist following a fire in your kitchen. Smoke damages penetrate not only the air in the affected areas of your home, but also the walls, cabinets, and furniture in the kitchen as well. Our SERVPRO professionals utilize various methods of deodorization to remove this noxious odor, leaving no discernable scent behind.

Cabinets above and near the heart of the fire are susceptible to irreparable damages. Often these units get constructed with thin wood, making them easy targets for open flames. While our SERVPRO technicians do everything possible to restore the damages to these units, cabinets sometimes need to get removed and later replaced to complete the restoration process.

Soot is another threat to the kitchen area, as it is a widespread concern. This layer of film and debris cakes to surfaces throughout the room, and can even get into the ductwork of the central air system. Cleaning up this mess requires several approaches which depend on the severity of damage and the location of the soot itself.

A homeowner might be fortunate when it comes to the limited range of a quickly extinguished kitchen fire. Even with this being the case, lingering effects still make it difficult to live comfortably in the house following the incident. Give our SERVPRO of Montgomery fire restoration technicians a call 24/7 at (334) 273-0992.

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Deodorization Techniques Neutralize Smelly Remnants of Fire Damage in Your Montgomery Property

5/14/2018 (Permalink)

Odor after a fire can linger for a very long time unless remediated properly. Contact SERVPRO to discuss and retain our services.

SERVPRO Understands That Fire Damage Remediation Includes Dealing With Any Odors That Remain

During a house fire, the wide variety of materials that either catch fire or become so heated that they give off fumes fill your Montgomery home with toxic smoke and gases. These by-products can cause problems for your family by damaging belongings and making breathing difficult for sensitive individuals.
 
Within your home's enclosed environment, even a small amount of fire damage in Montgomery easily causes long-lasting soot, and other chemical changes accumulate. Restoration of your home's interior that mitigates fire damage also removes a majority of the soot while airing out your home helps dissipate the gases.
 
Soot contains components that can destroy the sheen on glossy, hard substances, creating a permanent dullness that can keep reminding your family of the fire. Even though we remove these particles from your home's interior wherever we can locate them, inaccessible areas continue to harbor them. Particles that remain behind steadily decompose and drift back into your home's atmosphere. As they do this, many people can detect these smaller particles as a distinct, acrid odor.
 
While masking these odors can provide short-term relief from them, ridding your home of left-behind soot clinging to the interior spaces of walls, ceilings, and other hard-to-reach areas can put an end to this constant battle. SERVPRO's Odor Control Technician (OCT) can perform highly effective odor control management techniques that leave your home smelling beautiful once again.
 
Special deodorizing agents in a mixture loaded into a thermal fogging machine chemically bond with smoke particles produced as a part of your home's fire damage. After this bonding takes place, these now-altered particles can no longer waft back into the air, even when temperatures rise or an increase in humidity takes place that once caused spikes in the strength of the odors experienced.
 
Our technician uses the thermal fogging machine to inject a heated mist into your home that follows the smoke's pathways. This mist easily penetrates into areas that would remain otherwise inaccessible to us or our cleaning tools. Because the agents bond with the particles throughout your home, this procedure efficiently treats your entire home at one time.
 
SERVPRO of Montgomery North is always ready to help homeowners bring their homes back to pre'loss condition after any disaster. Fire damage causes many unwanted and drastic changes to a house, and we can help you restore your home by eliminating these, making it "Like it never even happened." Residents can always call us at (334) 273-0992, and discuss how we can help mitigate the damage sustained by their home.

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Preparing Your Montgomery Home For Reconstruction After Severe Fire Damage

4/10/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Says Place Fire Extinguishers in Your Kitchen to Help Prevent Montgomery House Fires

SERVPRO Professionally Cleans Up and Restores Your Home After a Fire on Your Montgomery Property

No one ever gets fully prepared for a fire in their Montgomery home, and the ensuing damage can seem overwhelming and traumatic. While your inspection of the devastation to the structural elements and contents of your home might not offer much in the line of hope, you can trust in professional restoration services to help you restore the damage and prepare your home for the work it requires to look its best again.
 
Fire damage in your Montgomery home presents itself in numerous different ways. For the most part, the symptoms that you face following a fire are universal, though the severity of these effects vary based on the size of the fire and how long it lasted. While you might not know what to do to bring your house back to preloss conditions, our certified and experienced SERVPRO restoration specialists can work with you to formulate a plan that caters to the most pressing concerns you have and ultimately restores the entirety of the damage that can get salvaged. Our CCIS form can help with your insurance paperwork.
 
For larger structure fires, the possibility for extensive damage to the exterior of your home is a legitimate threat. Having holes or cut out portions of your home for extinguishing efforts leaves your household exposed to elemental threats while the restoration process gets underway. Our SERVPRO professionals work quickly to board up, if minor and not a job for a construction company, these exposed areas to prevent further damage while our team begins working simultaneously on all of the present needs of your home.
 
Finding severely damaged structural components is not uncommon with significant fires, but these portions of your home must get repaired to allow you to live in the house again safely. This understanding requires our technicians to remove these weakened areas using controlled demolition techniques to prepare these points for reconstruction to follow by a residential contractor.
 
Fire damage to your home is never going to be something that you can appreciate seeing. We strongly advise the placement of fire extinguishers to quickly snuff out flare-ups before they become full-fledged blazes. Finding a way to restore your home should certainly be a priority that you have, and SERVPRO of Montgomery can help you through nearly every step of that journey. Give us a call anytime you need us at (334) 273-0992.

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Fire Damage Experts in Highland Park

2/13/2018 (Permalink)

Restoring the contents of your home after fire damage can be a difficult task, rely on SERVPRO's trained technicians to properly clean your home.

The Four Cleaning Actions Used During Fire Damage Restoration

If a fire ever breaks out in your Highland Park home, not only do the flames cause damage to contents and building materials but the smoke causes damage as well. During a fire, smoke spreads to all rooms of the house. Many times smoke causes soot to build upon contents and surfaces inside the structure.

In any fire damage situation restoring contents is always cheaper than replacing. Anytime there is a fire on your property, calling SERVPRO's experienced fire damage team in Highland Park is a wise idea. Our crew is IICRC certified and has experience in restoring contents that experience soot damage from the smoke.

Restoring contents and other surfaces after the smoke damage is sometimes difficult. Often the items need to be resurfaced. Other times cleaning the surface of the object is all that is needed. When cleaning there are four actions that are used to remove soot from the surface of something. The four cleaning actions used by professionals are mechanical action, lubrication, chemical action, suspension, and dispersion.

Mechanical action is when friction agitates the soot or soil off of the surface. Sometimes when cleaning soot off a surface, scrubbing the area before applying any chemicals is helpful. Many times our professionals at SERVPRO agitate the dry smoke particles to remove them from the surface before applying any chemicals.

The purpose of lubrication is to make the surface of the object slippery. When the surface of something is slick, the soot adhering to the object is released and thus easier to clean. Some detergents lubricate soot off of a surface while emulsifying the soil at the same time.

Many chemicals used for fire damage restoration change the chemical composition of the soil stuck to a surface. Once the composition changes, the soil quickly comes off.

One of the best cleaning methods is to loosen the soot from the surface then soak the item in a chemical solution. During the suspension action, the chemical dissolves the soil removing it from the object. Sometimes the chemical emulsifies and pulls the soot off of the item.

Anytime a fire takes place; cleaning is a must. When cleaning smoke-damaged items call the professionals at SERVPRO of Montgomery at (334) 273-0992 for assistance 24/7.

For more information on the Highland Park area, click here.

Professional Fire Damage Restoration Services For Montgomery Homeowners

12/7/2017 (Permalink)

Fire and Smoke Restoration by SERVPRO Mitigates Damage to Your Montgomery House

SERVPRO Understands the Characteristics of Smoke to Better Grapple with the Cleanup

It always helps to have a knowledgeable person to combat the results of any size fire in your Montgomery home. Since not all soot and ash residues are the same, they should understand fire and smoke, along with any residue type that may be left behind.

There are four different types of soot residue produced by fire damage that technicians working on your Montgomery area home need to know. Understanding that synthetic materials tend to produce wet smoke or that natural materials generate dry smoke can help a technician understand how to approach specific contents found in your residence.

At SERVPRO, we know that every fire generates both wet and dry smoke as it progresses through different stages. A fire can also produce higher proportions of one type of smoke over another, leading to the entire exposure having a categorization of either wet or dry. Each residue requires a specific cleaning method to remove correctly, which is why it is essential to understand the difference.
 
Our technicians look at the rate of combustion, amount of oxygen and the material burnt to determine a fire’s category. If there is more oxygen present, the fire burns faster, producing dry smoke as a result. Just like less oxygen produces a slow-burning fire and wet smoke.   

Natural Materials: Wood, paper, cork, wool, or cotton produce dry, powdery, non-smeary residues.

Synthetic Materials: Plastics, foam rubber, and polymers lead to more significant, smeary residues.

After determining the category of a fire, SERVPRO technicians use various cleaning methods to address the problem. For example; dry conditions allow the restoration of more materials than a wet fire, which means that more of your furniture, household contents, and personal belongings are salvageable if the right conditions exist.

There are also protein and fuel residues that a fire can produce. Each of these four residues requires your highly-trained SERVPRO specialist to utilize specific methods or combine them, to reach the desired outcome and the quality results you deserve.

Receive assistance with fire damage in your home from an expertly trained IICRC technician by calling SERVPRO of Montgomery North, today. We stand ready, 24/7, 365, day or night. (334) 273-0992

More about this city right here.

4 Steps to Help Seniors Stay Safe from Fire Damage In Montgomery

10/24/2017 (Permalink)

It is important to regularly test fire alarms to ensure they are properly working.

Preparation Can Help to Keep Everyone Safe in the Event of a Fire

Fire is a hazard that can affect all ages in Montgomery. However, senior citizens are at particular risk of death or injury due to a blaze. In fact, the National Fire Protection Association estimates that adults aged 65 and over are twice as likely to be injured or killed in a fire than the rest of the population. That is why it is essential to help the seniors in your life stay safe from fire damage in their homes.

There are several simple steps senior citizens can take to stay safe from fire damage in Montgomery. SERVPRO also suggests that friends, family, and caregivers check in with the older adults in their lives and help them with fire preparation. A few easy steps now can mean the difference between life and death. Here are 4 steps you can take to help keep your older family and friends protected.

1. Fit an Alarm

Ensure seniors have a working fire alarm on every floor of their home. Fire alarms need to be tested regularly to make sure their batteries are still working. You can purchase units that offer a flashing light and vibrating warning in addition to the standard alarm sound.

2. Do A Fire Drill

A fire drill helps everyone in a household understand what to do during a fire, and gives them a chance to practice using their escape route. Seniors who have mobility issues need a designated person to help them escape a fire, if possible.

3. Check Windows and Doors

Older adults should be able to open all doors and windows on their property quickly in the event of fire damage. If the property has storm shutters or security bars, make sure they are easy to release, even for older adults who may have arthritis.

4. Have a Phone Nearby

Seniors should have a phone close by their bed so they can call for help if a blaze erupts in the night. A mobile phone that they keep with them is even better. Make sure they have a list of emergency contacts and numbers to call if needed.

In the event of fire damage, SERVPRO is on hand to help with cleanup. Our IICRC-certified technicians understand the importance of getting everything back to normal quickly - “Like it never even happened.”

For help with soot and smoke cleanup in Highland Gardens, Centennial Hill, County Downs, Chisholm and surrounding areas, call SERVPRO of Montgomery North at (334) 273-0992 today.

To learn more about fire prevention in Montgomery, click here.

Keeping Fires from Starting in Your Montgomery Garage

8/7/2017 (Permalink)

Keep your garage clutter free. But if you do happen to have a fire, contact SERVPRO for remediation.

SERVPRO Technicians Remediate Fire Damage and Offer Many Fire Prevention Tips

The garage runs a close second to the kitchen when it comes to areas of the home that are a common source of fire damage. You store cars in the garage, and many people use this room for working on them, meaning there is gas or oil, or other flammable materials in this enclosed space. Add to this the clutter which goes with it and the fact that garages are storage spaces for flammable items, and you have the perfect place for fires to start.
 
As with anything else when it comes to fire damage in your Montgomery garage, being proactive is the best defense to keep your home as safe as possible from fire. Fuels, fluids, and cleaners should be sealed properly, and flammable materials stored away from elements which are flammable as well.
 
If the worst has already happened and a fire broke out, you can call us at SERVPRO. We are a professionally trained fire damage remediation company, and we have the tools and knowledge to help you restore your home back to its original condition.
 
Electrical devices in a garage need to be used carefully. Do not overload the circuit box, and unplug any units when not in use. You should also have a fire extinguisher in your garage. Clear any clutter out of your garage, as it makes it safer when you are walking around, but also cuts down on the probability of a fire spreading in the event of an emergency.
 
Flammable liquids need to be stored in small amounts and away from heat sources of any kind such as space heaters, vents, and pilot lights. Also, keep propane tanks outdoors. They are equipped and made sturdy for outdoor storage.
 
After a fire, there are several forms of damage including smoke and soot, plus water damage from putting the fire out. SERVPRO technicians take care of all of it for you, restoring anything salvageable, cleaning up the smoke and soot, and drying out the area and your possessions.
 
Fires in garages can spread just as quickly, if not faster, than other areas of your home due to several flammable items. Give SERVPRO of Montgomery a call as soon as the fire is safely out so we can salvage all that is possible. You can reach us at any time you need by dialing (334) 273-0992.

For more information regarding Montgomery, click here

Understanding Dangers of Smoke and Soot in Your Chisholm Residence

5/22/2017 (Permalink)

Chisholm Smoke & Fire Damage Cleanup is a SERVPRO Specialty

Count on SERVPRO for Smoke & Fire Cleanup to Your Property

Everyone knows fires are dangerous. However, did you know the flames are not the biggest risk as far as health and property damage? Smoke is the leading cause of deaths from fire, exceeding burns by a 3 to 1 ratio. Direct exposure to smoke is, of course, harmful to your respiratory system, but it can affect the structure of your home negatively as well.

Smoke from any fire is composed of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, other chemicals, and particles which can produce even more fire damage in your Chisholm residence. Depending on what burned, other harmful chemicals are airborne and can be inhaled into your lungs or stick to furniture, walls, ductwork, clothing, and other areas. It is urgent after a fire that you call in a fire damage restoration company like SERVPRO who can remove the smoke and soot from your home to prevent additional damages.

Since hot air rises, you can commonly find smoke damage right over where the fire was burning. Strong air currents can circulate through your residence. You can also find smoke damage outside windows and walls because cold air sinks under warmer air which opens a path for the smoke to travel to the exterior walls and windows.

Your home has decorations, furniture, enclosed spaces and other features which interact with smoke, causing the harm to sometimes be found in more unusual spaces, such as closed closets, dresser drawers and wall cavities which seem to be closed off. Smoke and soot can also be found behind blinds and drapes because smoke naturally goes to cooler areas.

Many times, smoke particles are ionized, which means they hold an electrical charge that attracts them to surfaces. Smoke and soot can, therefore, be found surrounding nail heads in a ceiling, on synthetic materials, and clustered into cobweb-like shapes in the corners of rooms. Currents of air can carry soot and smoke away from the fire, depositing residue in various ways. You can also find smoke and soot in your ductwork because of this and on the farther side of door openings.

SERVPRO of Montgomery North understands that smoke and soot can be found in unexpected places and how detrimental it can be to leave it unhindered. When you call us at (334) 273-0992 we respond rapidly.

Local Schools: http://www.chisholm.mps-al.org

What Can Fire Damage In County Downs Do To Concrete Houses?

2/27/2017 (Permalink)

While the structural integrity of a house is unlikely to be at risk, concrete is still vulnerable to heat.

Fire Damage And Concrete

Over the last decade, concrete has become an increasingly popular material for homebuilders. It is unyielding, functions as a great noise and shock absorber, and it is surprisingly energy efficient. It is one of the most fire resistant building materials and insurance companies recognize it as being one of the safest ways to construct a house.

While the structural integrity of a house is unlikely to be at risk, concrete is still vulnerable to heat. If flames do not get extinguished quickly, fire damage in County Downs can lead to cracking and warping. There may also be a loss of compressive strength. SERVPRO advises homeowners to respond to structural and aesthetic changes fast by calling in a repair team. Keep reading for more information on how fire affects concrete and what we can do about it.

How Concrete Reacts To Heat
Normally, it takes a heat of more than 248 degrees for concrete to respond in any way. In fact, it is after a fire approaches 482 degrees that noticeable damage begins to occur. At this point, localized cracks appear, and water within the cementitious paste dries up. The process causes a reduction in elasticity and strength. If the fire heats the concrete to more than 572 degrees, a substantial drop in compressive strength occurs (around 30-40%). It is common for the appearance of the material to change too. It takes on a light pinkish tone.

Tackling Concrete Repairs
Restoring concrete after a fire is easier than you might think. Often, the damage is superficial and aesthetic. The top layers of material get degraded, but if the pre-stressing tendons are untouched, they do not always need removing. Fire damaged concrete requires extraction behind the traditional steel reinforcement. However, adding bonded concrete in sections can be a quicker and easier solution than replacing large areas. Afterward, it needs to be rebuilt to the original surface profile using steel primers, substrate bonding coats, and cementitious polymers.

The One Stop Repair Shop
SERVPRO is committed to providing comprehensive, seamless fire damage restoration. Our technicians use sophisticated tools to spray wash stains on walls, remove smoke particles from the air, and clean carpets and other materials.

If structural materials (like concrete) require full or partial restoration, we can arrange for the right contractors. They are under supervision from our team, so you do not have to worry about keeping track of multiple projects. We can do it for you. In the case of concrete repairs, this is of particular importance, because the work involves heavy machinery and industrial substrates.

At SERVPRO of Montgomery, fire damage restoration is a complete process. We are a one stop repair shop and can find skilled contractors on your behalf. Our guys work on the clean-up, while the contractors handle the heavier reconstructions. Call us 24/7 on (334) 273-0992.

Ash Damage In Your Arrowhead Home

2/25/2017 (Permalink)

Ash is one of the most destructive factors in a fire, second only to the blaze itself in potential to harm your home.

Ash Damage

Ash is one of the most destructive factors in a fire, second only to the blaze itself in potential to harm your home. In some cases, ash may be present in such large volumes that it causes thousands of dollars in damage all on its own. Ash is difficult and labor-intensive to remove, but with the right crew and the right strategy, SERVPRO makes short work of it. So, where is ash most liable to cause extensive damage?

When Mixed With Water
In Arrowhead fire damage cases, ash often combines with water to create a staining and difficult-to-handle sludge. This material may require extra care and slower extraction than other material, costing time and energy otherwise spent on restoring other types of damage including burns and smoke odors. This material, while visually disastrous and time-intensive to take care of, is thankfully relatively straightforward to clean up and remove from a home.

Clogged Drains And Pipes
Ash is highly liable to clog up drains and pipes around the home. While lighter clogs may be easy to clean up and remove, in some cases ash may fill up an entire section of pipe and become packed in. When this happens, the pipes may have to be removed and flushed out with specialty equipment. SERVPRO technicians usually examine each water fixture in your home thoroughly to determine how severe the damage is before ripping out pipes.

Carpeting And Floor Materials
The most likely place for ash to end up is on your floor. Depending on the intensity of the fire, flooring may receive multiple inches of ash cover. This material is staining, dusty, and difficult to remove from most types of carpeting. In some cases, the carpet may have to be removed to allow for cleaning or replacement.

SERVPRO of Montgomery has been helping local homeowners to recover from fire damage for years. Give us a call around the clock at (334) 273-0992 for our services.

Get The Odor Out After Fire Damage In Highland Park

11/4/2016 (Permalink)

Because a fire damages your house both as it burns and as it is controlled and contained, it is essential to get our full-service restoration company.

Fire Damage Restoration and Odor Removal in Highland Park

Dealing with fire damage is a many step process, difficult for the average homeowner to navigate on his or her own. SERVPRO will be your partner in recovery from a fiery disaster in your home, helping you with everything from securing the building if areas are open to the elements to restoring the structure and contents back to their pre-loss condition. Because a fire damages your house both as it burns and as it is controlled and contained, it is essential to get our full-service restoration company on board. We are trained to handle fire and smoke damage as well as the water and chemical damage that results when the blaze is finally extinguished. You will not have to hire a series of professionals to get your dwelling back together as we have experience in a wide range of disasters. 

One issue that may not be your biggest concern at first when you experienced fire damage in Highland Park is odor removal after the structure is restored and your possessions are cleaned, repaired and replaced within your house. Lingering smoke odors can ruin your sense that the fire and its toll on your home and peace of mind have been resolved. Our SERVPRO trained technicians will problem solve concerning the residual smoke you still smell keeping in mind that the odor perception of each individual is different. The stress of the fire can also heighten your or family members’ feelings that the odor still pervades your home and we are skilled in helping all residents of your house get past the sense that smoky smells are still present.

Where there were smoke and fire water may also have damaged structures and possessions, increasing the risk of mold and its musty, unpleasant smell. The deodorization specialists at SERVPRO use a range of products and techniques to manage and eliminate unwanted odors or any kind. Some of the methods involve thermal foggers that must be used in accordance with safety and industry standards. Good deodorization results are to be expected with these approaches, but we will need to keep people, pets, and food aware from the fogged areas for the requisite time for health and safety reasons. We will advise as well on air flow and dehumidification suggestions that will help keep the odors from returning as weather and temperatures vary.

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

Fire damage restoration throughout its many steps is best handled by professionals like our local crews at SERVPRO of Montgomery. After the firefighters have coiled their hoses, call (334) 273-0992 any time of the day or night to schedule an appointment with one of our professional fire damage inspectors.

Fire Damage Needs To Be Removed and Repaired Immediately

8/23/2016 (Permalink)

The most expensive part of damage to a private home from fire is not normally from the flames themselves.

Fire Damage

The most expensive part of damage to a private home from fire is not normally from the flames themselves. Smoke alarms help ensure the arrival of local fire departments and even many homes today have suppression systems in place in key areas. It is unseen damage from smoke and soot that can wind up costing much more.

Home damage in Highland Gardens from fire is clearly visible and, usually removed quickly. Soot is also easy to see and removed or cleaned until it gets into your heating and air system. When that occurs, it can become much more expensive. SERVPRO knows that smoke and soot has to be discovered just like you would have an inspector examine a home before you would consider buying it.

Every closet, crawlspace, and room has to be checked. Ceilings have to be examined from an overhead viewpoint. Heating and air ducts must be inspected and (if needed) scrubbed before they are turned back on. Soot can be circulated into parts of your home that had no damage. Attic and crawlspaces must be inspected just like floors and walls. This is why a rapid response is so important. With the right set-up, even smoke and soot problems can be reduced and eliminated. We maintain a quick response team that is trained and equipped with everything you need to make your home livable again.

For over twenty years, SERVPRO of Montgomery has been restoring homes from fire, smoke and soot damage. This isn't merely a job for us. As a locally owned and operated company, these are our neighbors we help. Regardless if it is smoke or soot from a fire that needs to be dealt with or scheduling a free inspection to try and prevent future damage, call us today at (334) 273-0992.

Lake Martin Fire Damage--A Smoky Cleanup

5/9/2016 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Tip: Keep Smoke Detectors Functioning to Help Prevent Lake Martin Fire Damage

SERVPRO Can Clean a Fire & Smoke Damaged Property in Lake Martin

If you are left with fire damage in Lake Martin, you can be feeling quite overwhelmed, especially depending on how severe the damage is and if you also have water damage from when the fire was put out. You can, however, begin to pick up the pieces and get back to a normal semblance of life by starting to clean up the mess that the smoke and soot from the fire has left behind.

Heavy Residue Cleanup
This could require assistance from a professional fire restoration company, and cleaning methods can include the following: 
Sodium bicarbonate blasting
Low-pressure sandblasting
Chemical application and agitation
Dry ice blasting
Non-destructive rubber blasting
Power washing with steam

Techniques for Cleaning Specific Materials
For Upholstery and Curtains – If soot has been deposited, you’ll need to deal with it before getting odor relief or cleaning. Soot is an oily residue and needs to be removed with care to avoid smearing and staining. You can use a powerful vacuum. The chances of you staining your furnishings and other items are very great. We strongly suggest that you secure the services of a professional fire damage restoration team, with the proper equipment and expertise to resolve these dirty issues.With sooty fabrics, don’t use an upright vacuum or any machine or attachment with beater bars or brushes, since it will force the soot into surrounding objects and make them more challenging to clean. Position the vacuum nozzle just above the surface and allow the vacuum to do its work in lifting out the soot from the surface. Don’t forget to cover any possessions after cleaning them with sheets to stop them from getting dirty again while you are cleaning everything else.

For Carpeting – Use an extraction machine or rotary scrubber from a supermarket or rental outlet, or use a professional carpet cleaner. Even better, use a professional fire damage restoration company like SERVPRO.

For Bedding and Clothes – Odors of smoke can stay in fabrics quite a long time until all of the unburned chemicals are removed. A lot of them are not visible to the naked eye. Soak them overnight with detergent and wash them as usual. When items can be bleached, add laundry bleach per usual during the wash cycle.

Hard Materials which are Porous – If soot is present on porous surfaces such as plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, painted surfaces or exposed wood, it is recommended that you use a dry chemical sponge to get as much of the soot off as possible. This can stop soil from being transferred deeply into the surface where it might look like a stain which is permanent.

Hard Materials which are Less Porous – Use a towel, sponge or mop with a cleaning detergent to wipe down countertops, clean tile, metal, sealed wood, vinyl wallpaper, and appliances.

Safety Tips for Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration 
If the ceiling is wet, don’t use ceiling fixtures.
Don’t use electrical appliances which have been close to fire.
Don’t wash drapes or other materials that need dry cleaning.
Don’t touch anything in your first inspection to stop transferring soot from each thing to another. Wear latex or another type of gloves.

Don’t hesitate to ask a professional for help in your restoration efforts after Lake Martin fire damage. No matter what, clean up as soon as you can to also prevent mold from forming on porous surfaces which got wet. Contact SERVPRO of Montgomery North for all your professional cleanup needs. You can reach us 24/7 at (334) 273-0992.

Choosing a Fire Damage Restoration Company in Clanton

2/4/2016 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Can Help Relieve Stress After Fire Damage to Your Clanton Home

Fire Damage to Your Clanton Home Gets Restored by SERVPRO

When you find that your property in Clanton has experienced fire damage, responding appropriately and immediately is important. If you don't take quick action, your home could be subjected to secondary water damage from the fire department's extinguishing efforts resulting in additional structural damage, and health hazards. The best course of action to take during the aftermath of a fire is to hire a fire damage restoration company. SERVPRO offers the following information to help you in your quest for a return to normalcy.

Obtain A Referral from Your Insurance Agent
One strategy you can use for gaining help from a fire damage restoration company is to request a referral from your insurance company. Insurance companies have a list of preferred vendors. SERVPRO is one such provider whose name is on over 315 lists from insurance companies, property management firms, and local, state, and federal agencies. An added benefit of acquiring a referral from your insurance provider is that it increases the likelihood that your insurance adjuster and the restoration representatives will work well together. We will gladly assist with the claims process, help manage the paperwork, and coordinate a concise plan of action to restore your Wetumpka fire damaged home.

Do Your Research
After the fire, it's critically vital that you obtain services from the best company out there. Follow your agent's advice. But also, if you feel more comfortabe, research on your own. One thing to keep in mind during the research process is that each fire is unique and will have a distinct impact on your home. For this reason, you need to select a fire damage restoration company that offers a wide range of services.
• HVAC system cleaning of smoke and soot
• Debris safely removed
• Extensive water extraction and drying
• Potential structural rebuild, repair before replacing to mitigate costs

Why Choose SERVPRO?
After Clanton fire damage to your home, you want fast, professional service. To ensure that the fire remediation process is completed quickly and correctly to protect your personal property and to restore safety and sanitation, you need to hire a premier fire damage restoration company.
• 24/7 Emergency Services
• IICRC-Certified Fire Damage Clean Up Specialists
• Fast Response
• Trusted Industry Leader With More Than 1,650 Franchises, localized for your particular needs
• Preferred Vendor For Many Local And National Insurance  and Property Management Companies

Over the years, our company's professionals at SERVPRO have proven to provide outstanding value to our clients. Your Clanton fire damaged property will be restored using the latest cleaning techniques and equipment. Our cutting edge services will return your home to pre-fire loss condition "Like it never even happened."

24-Hour Emergency Fire Restoration Service

As water and fire damage specialists, SERVPRO of Montgomery has the experience, the expertise, and the advanced training that allows us to quickly service our local communities. (334) 273-0992