What are Common Fire Hazards in My Home?

9/20/2021 (Permalink)

A faulty dryer caused this fire. Fortunately, SERVPRO was a phone call away.

You Need Professional Restoration Services Against Fire Damage in Your San Antonio Home for the Best Outcome

By its very nature of being an unexpected home disaster, no one plans for a fire in their residence, however, common everyday activities cause some of the most typical reasons for a fire in a San Antonio house:

• Cooking
• Smoking and candles
• Heating
• Electrical wiring and appliance malfunctions
• Improper usage or storage of flammable liquids

What Should I Do First After Fire Damage? 

No matter how the fire damage in your San Antonio home occurred, all fire damage has a collective urgency: cleanup and restoration as quickly as possible to lessen the damages. Before the fire crew leaves after putting out the fire, discuss if your home is structurally sound for entering and safe to come in to retrieve any necessary items. If not, alert the SERVPRO crew chief when you arrange for the restoration services.

What Happens to Burned Items in My Home? 

The fire restoration process creates organization in the chaotic aftermath of a home fire. Typically, piles of burned contents get pushed into a wet heap, soot may cover surfaces, and frequently water is also a significant issue with which to contend. SERVPRO technicians organize the effort as follows:

• Removal of charred items that are damaged
• Separation of items with restoration potential
• Setup of cleaning stations
• Removal of smoke damage
• Odor control applications
• Prepping for any needed repairs/rebuilding

Care During Post-Fire Cleanup 

After a San Antonio fire, the home may need initial repairs to stop further damages from occurring. If a roof has a hole from the fire that the techs deem has temporary repair potential, they can tarp over it and secure it until the cleanup and restoration of the interior get completed. In cases where the property has extensive damage or is dangerous for people to enter, the techs typically board up windows and entry points when they are not on-site to discourage anyone from coming into the property.

Taking care not to spread soot throughout the house is another way the techs limit damages. In situations where only a part of a residence received damage, they contain the damaged area to inhibit airborne soot.

Why is it Better to Use a Professional Restoration Services Company Against Fire Damage?

One of the most compelling reasons is to lessen the damages. Waiting to begin mitigation or doing a poor DIY job of cleaning up damage from a fire in your home can make the situation far worse. For example, high heat fires that burn organic materials leave behind dry, powdery residues, particularly on walls and ceilings. If liquid cleaning solutions touch this form of smoke damage, it can drive the particles more in-depth into the wall and require sealant and repainting or removing the sheetrock. SERVPRO techs use tools such as dry cleaning sponges and a light touch to lift away the residues before cleaning the wall gently.

The method used to extract any remaining water on the premises can also have a bearing on the cleanup outcome. Using a wet/dry vacuum lacks the power to pull embedded moisture from within flooring and substrate, leading to seepage and further damage. The extraction equipment the SERVPRO techs use can remove the maximum amount of moisture and lessen the time needed for drying.

The drying equipment is another big difference. The techs bring powerful air movers that not even industrial fans can compare. Another effect of using this drying method is that the air delivery force causes remaining set moisture to rise to the surface, which lessens any potential for foul odors or mold to show up as a secondary issue during the mitigation efforts.

Odor control methods are a must before remediation for fire damage gets tagged as complete. The use of professional cleaning agents helps remove much of the pungent scent as surfaces get wiped down. However, more robust measures are often a must. Soot particles get embedded within the damaged area, and others may be airborne and travel via foot traffic or ductwork to other areas of the home. The techs have professional equipment to eradicate odors by neutralizing the odorous molecules. Air quality is a big concern during the cleanup, and it is a standard practice to run air scrubbers to keep airborne particulates at a minimum.

When fire damage leaves its mark on your home and contents, contact SERVPRO of Braun Station at (210) 267-2159. Certified technicians have both the experience and equipment to make the fire damage a thing of the past and return your home to its previous condition.