What Happens During the Fire Damage Restoration Process?

12/5/2022 (Permalink)

Board-up and security services

What Happens During the Fire Damage Restoration Process?

Every homeowner knows that fire damage can be devastating. After a fire, your house has been irreparably damaged and filled with smoke, soot, and ashes. The last thing you want to do is spend hours cleaning up the mess left behind by the fire if you don't have to! The good news is that there are trained professionals who can help make this process easier for you by performing fire damage restoration services. 

Cleanup & restoration is a time-consuming and complicated process.

The fire damage restoration process is a very time-consuming and complicated process. It can take several days, weeks, or even months to fully restore the extent of damage caused by fire to your home, especially if you’ve suffered smoke and water damage, which are two common forms of property destruction resulting from fires.

When you call a fire damage restoration company after a fire has occurred in your house, they’ll perform a thorough evaluation of your home and determine what steps need to be taken before beginning repairs. They also keep records of all their work so that any insurance companies who may be involved in paying for the damages can verify that everything was done according to industry standards for safety and legality.

The company will also look for any other signs of damage, like mold or water damage. If there is any mildew present, they will use special equipment, such as fans and dehumidifiers, to remove it from the walls, ceiling, and floors before beginning repairs.

Board-up and security services.

Once the company has determined the extent of the damage, there is a good chance that your property might need board-up and security services. It's important for you to know that once boarded up and secured, your home will be safe from intruders and vandals. In addition to protecting your property from outside elements, it also protects your belongings from theft. If you were unable to go back into your home due to fire damage restoration services being performed on it, then this would be especially beneficial for protection purposes.

Water removal and dehumidification.

Firefighting efforts can leave your house damaged by water and humidity, especially if large amounts of water were used during the firefighting efforts. If you have experienced a fire in your home or business, you need to know what happens during the restoration process and how it will affect your family.

Water damage can cause structural damage to your home that requires repair. Water that was used for firefighting may have penetrated into cracks in walls or ceilings and caused mold growth on walls and ceilings. 

Next, water removal and dehumidification are necessary. This is where you’ll see a lot of your water damage restoration company’s equipment. Any hazardous materials must be removed, along with any other materials that have been damaged by the fire and subsequent firefighting efforts. The goal here is to remove as much water as possible before it can cause further damage to your home or business.

The amount of time this process takes depends on how deep the water penetration is into your property. Once all traces of moisture have been removed from all affected areas, it may then be safe for you to reenter your home or business space again!

Cleaning and sanitizing materials in your home.

Once the drying & dehumidification process is completed, it's time for the cleaning and sanitizing of salvageable materials. The first step involves using an appropriate cleaning agent on your floors and walls to remove soil, soot, mold, and mildew from them. Once this process is completed, a fire restoration company will use an EPA-registered disinfectant that kills any remaining mold spores as well as any other pathogens found on your surfaces.

Depending on the extent of the damage, some salvageable materials can include:

• clothing
• furniture
• draperies
• toys
• appliances 

If you've just experienced a fire, you may feel overwhelmed and confused about what to do next. The best thing to do is contact a professional fire damage restoration company, such as SERVPRO of DeLand. We will help you walk through each step of the restoration process so that your home can be restored back to its original condition as quickly and efficiently as possible. When it comes time for repairs or renovations, we'll be here!

Choosing the Right Smoke Detector for Your Home

8/27/2022 (Permalink)

A smoke alarm may be small, but it is mighty when it comes to fire safety and prevention.

Selecting the Best Smoke Detector for Your Home

With so many smoke alarm options and brands on the market today, how do you choose the best alarms for your DeBary, FL, home? Below, you will learn about the different types of alarms available, the differences in power sources, and the various price ranges and add-on features.

What Type of Smoke Alarm?

Regardless of home size or layout, place alarms in each bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on each floor. There are two types of alarms available:

Photoelectric sensors use a light beam to detect reflected light off particles inside the chamber. These sensors respond best to smoldering fires.
Ionization sensors measure a disruption in the electric current or ion flow inside the chamber. These sensors respond best to flaming fires. 

You never know which type of fire will break out, so the recommendation is you install a combination of photoelectric and ionization alarms. You can also buy dual-sensor alarms for the same purpose.

What Power Source?

Alarm systems are either hard-wired or battery-powered. Hard-wired alarms are tied into the home’s electricity, have backup batteries in case of power outages, and typically require professional installation. Battery-powered alarms use standard batteries that need replacing once or twice a year, and they can be self-installed. No matter the power source, make sure you buy models that can be interconnected throughout the house. Ensure alarms are placed high on walls or ceilings, away from HVAC and fans, and at least 10 feet from cooking sources to limit interference.

What Price and Features?

A basic battery-powered single-sensor smoke detector can cost as little as $10. Added features or installation requirements can increase costs by more than $100. Some features to consider are voice alert, strobe light functions for the hearing impaired, and advanced systems that connect to your security system. Advanced systems will notify your associated app and the local fire department immediately, which can save time and money on home restoration services.

A smoke alarm may be small, but it is mighty when it comes to fire safety and prevention. Several options are available depending on your needs, preferences, and finances.