Some tips to avoid after a fire has happened

3/24/2023 (Permalink)

Trust the Professionals

A house fire is traumatizing. Even when everyone makes it out safely, even when the fire is contained to a small area, you will be left thinking of what could have been worse. Plus, you will have a mess that cannot be cleaned with conventional consumer products.

These tips will help you take back control of your life following a house fire.

See our previous blog for a list of things to do after a fire; avoid the following:

Do Not Wash Soot-stained Walls

If you attempt to clean painted or papered walls with typical household cleaners, you may fix the soot into the material. Suddenly, what should be a simple cleaning job may require painting or new wallpaper.

Do Not Shampoo Your Rugs

Again, household cleaners will not be effective removing soot from carpets and upholstery. Instead you risk making a temporary stain permanent when you attempt to clean fabrics yourself. Fire restoration professionals have commercial cleaning products that can safely remove soot from rugs, carpets, and upholstery.

Do Not Attempt Cleaning Electronics

When electronics like computers, radios, and televisions have been exposed to excessive heat or water, they should be inspected by an authorized repair service before you turn on the power again. Trust the professionals to avoid electrocuting yourself or igniting another fire.

Do Not Consume Contaminated Food

Foods that were not fully sealed should be considered contaminated following a fire. In addition, sealed foods that have been exposed to excessive heat may also be unsafe for human consumption. Check with a trained fire technician to learn what can be salvaged and what must be discarded.

Do Not Turn on Power or Electric Devices

If the power is out after a home fire, an electrician should inspect the building for safety before power is restored. If the power remains on, you should still avoid using overhead lights, ceiling fans, or other appliances that may have suffered fire or water damage until they have been inspected by a qualified professional.

Do Not Send Clothes to Your Regular Cleaner

Some drycleaners specialize in fire restoration. Others do not have the training and materials to properly clean clothes exposed to soot. If you want to salvage your clothes, be sure to take them to a drycleaner who specializes in cleaning after a fire.

Here at SERVPRO® Milton & North Oakville, our IICRC-certified fire restoration technicians have the training and experience to guide you in getting your life back following a house fire. Trust us to help you restore your home and peace of mind.

How to prepare in the event of a fire

3/24/2023 (Permalink)

It is always important to take preventative measures to ensure you and your family will be safe in the case of a fire. Doing fire drills can help enhance your families readiness, by eliminating the need to wonder what to do in an actual emergency. Always test your smoke alarms to ensure they are functioning properly. Adding a few fire extinguishers can help in an emergency, especially if you catch the fire in its early stages. Always remember to check wiring for excessive fraying. Remove any flammable materials from heat sources and always check to make sure the oven is fully off.

Fires are severely traumatic and life changing events.  It is always good to prepare, so that you are ready when the unexpected might happen. 

If the inevitable does ever happen, just know that SERVPRO is always here to help in any way. Call us today at 905-864-9544

Nicotine odor cleanup

3/24/2023 (Permalink)

Nicotine odours are some of the most difficult to counteract. A very typical scenario is that a seller wishes to maximize the value of their property, but the occupants had been heavy smokers for years. Smoke odour molecules can get everywhere, including behind kitchen counters, and embedded into painted surfaces.

Ordinary latex interior paint is porous and will trap nicotine odour molecules, so even after a deodorization, the embedded nicotine molecules may continue to emanate odours. Options include cleaning the affected surface, applying an odour blocking sealant to the surface, or removing and replacing the surface.
When opting to clean a painted surface, it is advisable to raise the temperature in the room to 29C (85F) for 24-48 hours prior to the work. This elevated temperature will open the pores in the painted surface, allowing the trapped nicotine odour molecules to be removed.
The application of an odour blocking sealant is not as labour intensive as cleaning, however it takes longer. After the sealant dries, the surfaces will need to be re-painted.
Removal and replacement is reserved for those situations when there is no viable alternative. For example, most textured ceilings (popcorn) are unpainted plaster and can trap a lot of nicotine odour molecules. Application of a sealant may lead to deterioration of the plaster. Removal of the texture and conversion to a smooth ceiling may be the preferred option.

Here are a few tips for you, while we restore your property!

3/24/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Of Milton & North Oakville are dedicated to make your fire restoration process as easy as possible. Here's some what to do and what not to do for your peace of mind! 

Take Inventory

SERVPRO will be taking picture's of everything as well, but if you'd like you are more then welcome to. Prepare an inventory of your damaged property with the quantity and description of everything.  This will be helpful when communicating with your insurance and SERVPRO of Milton & North Oakville to make sure all of your belongings are accounted for and properly cared for.  Some items will be salvageable and some will not depending on the level of damage, so this inventory list will help simplify this process. 

Hire A Professional

Yes! that's right, SERVPRO is here and ready to help! some things a homeowner can do, but jobs like this its good to hire a professional mitigation contractor from start to finish like SERVPRO!  You may need help boarding up and securing your home before cleaning and restoration can even begin, and SERVPRO can help with that as well!

Things To Avoid

While there are certain things you should do to make the process easier for yourself, there are also several things you should try to avoid in the fire restoration process.

Don't Wait to Get Started

While fire restoration doesn’t typically have the same urgency as water restoration, you still don’t want to delay getting started. As soon as the fire is put out, make sure to call SERVPRO of Milton & North Oakville and we will come out as soon as we can. 

Don't Downplay Your Contents and Belongings

Don’t under report your contents to your insurance company. When you take your inventory, be specific, SERVPRO can also help with you list, to make sure everything is documented properly. Assuming you have the appropriate insurance coverage, everything in your home that was damaged will be either replaced or repaired. 

Your home is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make and SERVPRO of Milton & North Oakville will make sure that we take care of everything as if its our own. 

Call us today for all your post fire clean up and restoration needs at 905-864-9544

Remodels, need to know!

3/24/2023 (Permalink)

As a restoration company, we find ourselves repairing a lot of kitchens and bathrooms and we're quite good at it. Whether it be a simple upgrade or a complete demolition and remodel, we love what we do.

However, this doesn't need to be limited to just restoration projects; we can come and upgrade your cabinets, install a backsplash, and upgrade flooring and we can even add in an addition to the house as well to create a space to get away from the world.

Call us today to quickly spruce up or make over your kitchen and bathroom or any space in the house.

The Dos and Donts- water

As professionals working in the business of water damage mitigation, we are often asked for advice about what to do when there's a water intrusion at a home or business. The first priority must always be safety. A flooded basement, for instance, poses a risk for electrical hazards from electrical devices that are plugged into outlets. If you have any doubts, call a professional right away. If it is sparking, smoking, or a suspected electrical fire, get out and call 911.

Another concern is the type of water. For example, grossly contaminated water from a sewage backup must be treated differently than clean water from a burst supply pipe. Turn off the water at the source, if possible. And please remember that a burst pipe is not a plumbing emergency: it is a drying emergency. Once the water has been shut off, the plumbing can be repaired at any time. However, the structure needs to be dried ASAP to minimize damage and prevent mould growth; mould fungi can begin to form in as little as 48 hours, so time is of the essence.

Here are some Duct cleaning secrets!

3/24/2023 (Permalink)

We've all received those annoying telemarketing calls asking to get our ducts cleaned. The dirty little secret about duct cleaning is that in a properly installed and well-maintained system, they should almost never need cleaning.

In theory, it should be cleaned once after construction to remove dust and after that, the built-in filtration system should capture all the debris before the air recirculates.

Reality, however, is different than theory. People don't always change their filters regularly and when they do, they use a cheap, inefficient filter that might not fit properly and allows some contaminants into the system.

Pet hairs often clog up the cold-air return registers, reducing efficiency.

Toilet and bath overflows allow contaminated water into the ductwork, potentially spreading germs and bacteria to other parts of the structure.

Children often like to drop food and toys down into the ducts.

In general, we recommend getting the ducts cleaned every 3-5 years

Owning a commercial property can be tricky, knowing what to do can be key!

3/24/2023 (Permalink)

It’s estimated that more than 1 million types of mould exist! Yikes, that's a lot and yet less than 10 percent have actually been named. This means mould is very common in both indoor and outdoor environments. While mould and humans can sometimes co-exist without issue, there are certain species of mould that can cause health effects for some people.

If the right conditions exist, mould will grow!!

These conditions include:

• Water - Different mould types require varying amounts of liquid before growth begins.

• Temperature - Normal indoor temperatures will promote mould growth.

• Time - Initial mould colonizers can take hold within one day after being exposed to an adequate water supply.

  What to Do:

• Stay out of affected areas.

• Turn off the HVAC system and fans.

Mould growth can occur in any home, so it’s important to keep an eye out for situations that might promote mould activity. Roof/chimney leaks, wet basements, or condensation from ducts that dampen surrounding insulation are just a few examples of issues that make a house a prime target for mould growth.

If you suspect mould in your home, call SERVPRO of Milton & North Oakville to assess the situation. We have the knowledge, tools and track record to effectively remediate mould in your home or business.

If you suspect mould in your commercial business, call us today at (905) 864-9544

Some quick tips while remodeling your space!

3/24/2023 (Permalink)

Thinking about doing some home renovations? Dust control is often overlooked. Not only will it get on and embed itself in any uncovered furniture, it will also spread throughout the house, get in your clothing, hair, lungs, eyes, nostrils, and just about every other point of entry.

Cover the furniture with drop sheets, or even inexpensive plastic sheeting. Also consider containing the area using 4-6 mm poly sheeting. When we do jobs, we will also consider putting the area under negative air pressure to minimize the potential for dust and other contaminants spreading. If the area is small enough, you can do this yourself using an ordinary cylinder vacuum cleaner (like a Shop-Vac), by placing the canister outside the contained area and placing the end of the hose inside the contained area.

Of course don't forget dust masks and eye protection. 

If you need any help, dont hesitate to call us 905-864-9544.

Some tips on your commercial reconstruc!

3/24/2023 (Permalink)

Some of the most preventable injuries in our field are slips and falls. We work in wet environments, wet carpets, with soggy belongings all over the place. Even worse, when tearing out wet carpet, it is all too easy to cut a finger on a rusty carpet tack strip.

All of our employees are urged to keep their vaccinations up-to-date, including tetanus and HEP-A/B. In addition proper PPE is a requirement. We will turn down jobs in which we're asked to cut corners and put employees' and occupants' safety at risk.

From the SERVPRO® Newsline:

To help prevent injury from an exposed tack strip, remove tack strips completely when possible. Cover tack strips at the end of the day as well as at the end of the job. At a minimum, cover tack strips in doorways and other walkways.

Restoring your commercial property after water damage

3/24/2023 (Permalink)

Flooding and water damage events at southern Ontario commercial properties are often complex with numerous issues that require a knowledgeable and flexible response. Whether we’re dealing with a relatively small water cleanup scenario or a large scale event, we work quickly to assess each unique situation and isolate the damaged area. In many instances, normal operations can continue in a temporary space while we restore your facility.

Restoring Commercial Properties Presents Unique Challenges

Our professionals are trained to be mindful of legal and environmental concerns and strive to fully restore the damaged area while working within your budgetary constraints. We understand that every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when an emergency situation arises in your business, give us a call and we’ll be there fast with the help you need.

About SERVPRO of Milton & North Oakville

SERVPRO of Milton & North Oakville specializes in the cleanup and restoration of commercial and residential property after a water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.