Odor removal after a fire can be the hardest part of recovering

2/11/2022 (Permalink)

Whether we bring your belongings back to our shop, or clean them in home, we make sure to care for them as if they were our own.

Dealing with a house fire may be one of the worst things you have to go through as a homeowner, so when SERVPRO of Jefferson County has come and gone, it can be like a breath of fresh air. Or is it? Unfortunately, you may notice some residual effects of the fire long after the last technician has packed his or her bags and left your home.

One such effect is a smoke odor. The good news is that cleaning up smoke damage doesn’t have to be difficult, especially when you implement a few tried and true smoke cleaning tips:

• Air out your home.
• Replace the air filter.
• Clean the HVAC system.
• Deep clean your home.

Air Out Your Home

The best thing you can do to reduce the risk of a linger smoke smells or to get rid of embedded odors is to air out your home. Open the windows and doors if it’s nice outside and turn on the fans. If it’s cold outside, you may need to face a fan inwards to force air into a single room with an open window or door.

Replace Your Air System’s Filter

You can deep clean your home as thoroughly as possible, but if you turn on an HVAC system that’s filter is contaminated with soot and odors, all your smoke cleaning efforts will have been for naught. Replacing the filter is a quick, affordable and efficient way to reduce the risk of lingering smoke smells.

Clean Your HVAC System

If you have hard ducting in your home, SERVPRO of Jefferson County can clean your heat ducts. We can also recommend a local professional to come in and clean and service your furnace, and help replace the air filters.

Deep Clean Your Home

SERVPRO of Jefferson County is here to help when it comes to deep cleaning your home after a fire damage. We make sure to remove all of the residual soot from all surfaces in the home. There may be some permanent staining to walls and ceilings which will require them to be re painted. Whether we pack out your home, or clean the items in place, we will clean everything from the carpets to the ceilings and all things in between.

If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to give us a call at 315-777-8377

Jefferson County renters should have renters insurance

2/10/2022 (Permalink)

Cleaning furniture and belongings can be a daunting task. It's time consuming and meticulous but we love doing it!

Are you currently renting an apartment or home in the Tri-County area? Do you have renters insurance?

Many apartment complexes and landlords do not require renters insurance. It's absolutely vital to have renters insurance in place to cover the loss of your belongings should you experience a water or fire damage. Without insurance you will be faced with the daunting task of replacing your household goods, or having them restored out of pocket.

Renters insurance is really quite inexpensive when you think about how much it actually covers. It can often be bundled with your auto insurance for extra savings.

 While we try to help in any situation where a renter unfortunately does not have insurance, we are limited to the services we can provide at that time.

Call one of your local insurance agents today for a quote!

Have a puffback in your Jefferson County home? We can help!

2/8/2022 (Permalink)

It's easy to see where our crews have worked and where they have yet to get to!

We know that winters up here mean two things. Cold and snow. Sometimes, when we turn our furnaces on for the season they can malfunction and cause what is called a "puff back".

The term "puff back" refers to the sudden expulsion of soot into the dwelling area, through the heating vents, caused by a malfunction in the heating system. The soot from a puff back is a sticky, greasy, grimy mess that is second to none. 

All of those minuscule, oil based particles embed themselves into curtains, carpets, and clothing while contaminating the air with known carcinogens. Running a vacuum over it only grinds the soot deeper and creates stains that will never come out. Wiping the soot from walls and ceilings creates a place where paint will no longer stick. Unless the soot is quickly and professionally removed, it can cause corrosion of metal on doorknobs, faucets, and even electronic equipment throughout the home. Because every inch of the home is affected, a puff back is an overwhelming job to clean properly.

This is where the SERVPRO team can help - you can trust SERVPRO to clean everything. Our highly trained crew will come in and clean any and everything that is even mildly affected by the soot. From carpets to ceilings, ductwork and everything in between, we've got you covered.  We're your one stop shop for puff back and smoke damage cleanup in the Jefferson County area. 

If you think your home has been affected by a puffback, give us a call at 315-777-8377 so we can come take a look and outline a plan of action.

Grills Are Top Causes of Spring Fires | SERVPRO® of Jefferson County

6/11/2021 (Permalink)

Restoring fire and smoke damage is one of our specialties. Contact SERVPRO of Jefferson County to learn more.

Spring is a time of hope, life and a renewed sense of purpose. Plants and trees have survived the long, cold winter and found a way to bloom again, and hey…we have, too.

The mild weather and absolute glamour show of nature call us to get up off the couch and do something. Maybe we can even use some of these workout pants we’ve stocked up over the last year.

And of course when the weather warms up we love to barbecue. We’ll use just about any excuse to get some fresh chicken wings going.

But the increase in outdoor and backyard activity also means an increased risk of fires. In fact, spring sees more daily fires on average than any other time of year.

But there are a few basic things you can take care of to ensure that your backyard time is safe and enjoyable.

The grill. Grills present the most danger and cause the most accidental spring fires. And it’s not hard to see why—they combine many elements that increase fire risk and throw them all in a confined space. So when you grill, make sure your grill is in good working order, with no leaks or rusted-out areas. Make sure you cook on solid ground away from any flammable leaves or materials. And don’t forget to clean your grill regularly. Almost 20% of grill fires are due to poor cleaning.

The fire pit. Marshmallows and stories around the fire pit are a regular spring activity, but enjoy your cool evenings safely. Never allow pets or children near the fire unsupervised, and definitely never leave the fire to itself. Don’t add leaves or pine needles, because they create lots of potentially destructive embers. And keep a bucket of water on hand for putting the fire out, which you should do slowly and repeatedly until all ashes are cool to the touch.

Chimneys and dryer vents. These aren’t really backyard-related, but they are fire safety measures all the same. So while you’re at it, get the ash and soot cleaned out of your chimney, and check the ventilation pipe attached to your dryer to make sure there’s not lint in there waiting to catch fire.

Your local SERVPRO technicians are on hand ²⁴⁄₇ for emergencies. If you encounter fire damage at your home or business, no matter the cause, we will be there faster and have it cleaned up sooner. Call or click today and experience the SERVPRO difference.

Soot damage in Jefferson County

11/3/2020 (Permalink)

Sometimes you don't notice all of the soot until we start to clean

As much as we don't want to admit it, it's time to turn our furnaces back on. We know all too well that things don't always go as planned. Sometimes furnaces malfunction with what is called a "puffback".

The term "puff back" refers to the sudden expulsion of soot into the dwelling area caused by a malfunction in the heating system. The soot from a puff back is a sticky, greasy, grimy mess that is second to none. It can also present a severe health hazard in the place that's supposed to be your haven- your home.

All of those minuscule, oil based particles embed themselves into curtains, carpets, and clothing while contaminating the air with known carcinogens. Running a vacuum over it only grinds the soot deeper and creates stains that will never come out. Wiping the soot from walls and ceilings creates a place where paint will no longer stick. Unless the soot is quickly and professionally removed, it can cause corrosion of metal on doorknobs, faucets, and even electronic equipment throughout the home. Because every inch of the home is affected, a puff back is an overwhelming job to clean properly.

This is where the SERVPRO team can help - you can trust SERVPRO to clean everything. We're your one stop shop for puff back and smoke damage cleanup in the Jefferson, Lewis and St Lawrence County areas. 

Jefferson County Smoke and Soot Cleanup

9/10/2020 (Permalink)

Smoke or soot damage can cause a pervasive odor in your Jefferson County home

Smoke and soot is very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.  

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Jefferson County will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today – 315-777-8377

We Use Thermal Foggers After A Disaster In Fort Drum

10/2/2019 (Permalink)

Our main goal is always to restore your home to preloss conditions “Like it never even happened.”

Using Thermal Foggers During Fire Damage Deodorization In Fort Drum

Heating and electrical equipment inside your Fort Drum home are common causes for structural blazes. A furnace overheating or an electrical short can cause your house to suffer from extensive fire damage. Once the blaze ignites, smoke can fill the interior of your dwelling, leaving behind soot residues and malodor particles. Smoke can also penetrate deeply into materials, making them smell burnt.

When working on any fire damage project in Fort Drum, our SERVPRO technicians know that making your home smell clean and restored is vital. Deodorization can, at times, be difficult and require us to use industrial deodorization equipment. During severe cases, the only way to get rid of foul odors is to dispense chemicals into the affected area that mimic the way smoke behaves.

One way our SERVPRO team can accomplish deodorization is to implement a thermal fogging machine. Thermal foggers vaporize solvent-based or petroleum-based deodorizers, generating a "smoke" or fog consisting of very small particles. The particles generated by the thermal fogger range in size from as small as a one-half micron to as large as 25 microns, approximating the size of odor-generating molecules. The particles make a fog similar to the smoke produced in a fire, enabling the deodorizer to interact more effectively with odor-causing residues.

Thermal fogs are pairing agents, meaning they chemically react with odor-causing residues and eliminate odors rather than just masking them. For this reason, counteracting odors by thermal fogging can be described as odor modification.

Before our SERVPRO crew begins the thermal fogging process, we take steps to prepare your house. We first evacuate all people, pets, and plants from your building. Fogging agents are flammable, so we eliminate all sources of flame, electrical arc, or flash before starting the fogging process.

After the fogging is complete, we then ventilate the air in the structure to remove odors and fumes. We can open windows and set up air movers to exchange the air 40 times to ensure proper ventilation.

If your home in Watertown, Adams, Sackets Harbor, or Carthage is ever the victim of a fire, call SERVPRO of Jefferson County at (315) 777-8377. Our main goal is always to restore your home to preloss conditions “Like it never even happened.”

For more about Fort Drum click here.

Revealed: How Team SERVPRO Remediates Adams Fire Damage Scenarios

9/8/2019 (Permalink)

Fire damage and the water damage that adds in with fire extinguishing can be extensive. Contact SERVPRO right away for remediation.

How SERVPRO Handles Fire Damage to Floors in Adams Homes 

Flooring bears the brunt of fire damage in a home collecting falling debris and charred items; while also surprisingly escaping loss in some cases.

When SERVPRO technicians handle fire damage cleanup in Adams properties, they carefully scope the loss area to determine the restorability factor of the building structure.

Quick Water Extraction

After fire extinguishing efforts, any standing water continues to do further damage to flooring. Including the delamination of floor tiles or glue-down carpeting. Another hazard from excessive moisture left behind is mold. Spores have the potential to germinate and set up home in as little as 24-48 hours if temperatures are above 70F-degrees. The technicians possess a Mold Remediation License #00261 and knowledge to identify and proactively treat areas prone to mold.

Prepping the Cleaning Area

To limit damage to the structure during fire debris cleanup, SERVPRO technicians use corner guards and protective coverings for trim and door jambs. They also lay down walk-off mats to inhibit tracking and safeguard against slip and fall accidents on wet surfaces.

Organized Cleaning Methods

During the scoping of the work-site, an organized grid is set up to ensure a thorough cleanup. SERVPRO technicians move items to the center of the room while cleaning floors. This method results in a faster cleanup of debris from the floor.

Carpet Salvaging After a Fire

In house fires where the carpet did not receive any burn damage, SERVPRO technicians determine whether or not it has restoration potential through their specialized cleaning processes. If necessary, the placement of furniture on blocks to inhibit stain from the furnishings leeching into the wet carpet.

Special Treatment for Hardwood Floors

It may take several repeats to clean a hardwood floor, but SERVPRO technicians repeat the cleaning process until the mop water remains clean after giving the floor a once-over. The deployment of proprietary techniques to dry the floorboards before the completion of further restorative efforts.

SERVPRO of Jefferson County stands ready to assist local property owners with the cleanup and restoration of fire damage. Contact our technicians any time at (315) 777-8377, and we can be on-site within an hour because We're Faster to Any Size Disaster.

Click here to see more info about the city of Adams.

We Can Save Your Home In Adams After A Fire

9/5/2019 (Permalink)

“Like it never even happened.”

What To Expect During Fire Damage Cleanup In Adams

A fire in your Adams residence creates a broad range of issues. Our full-service restoration company is well-matched to your needs, managing all phases of fire recovery. Our managers and technicians complete comprehensive training from the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) in the many tasks needing competition after a fire event.

Exterior Security and Assessment
If extreme fire damage to your Adams home opens your roof surfaces or exterior siding to the elements, our crews rapidly cover holes with boards and tarps. While these essential tasks complete, an experienced project manager inspects the interior damage, ranking the jobs that need completion in order. Your insurance carrier is on board by now, and we work with them throughout the process.

Water Removal and Drying
Large amounts of water and chemicals extinguished the fire, saving your home, but causing damage of a different kind. SERVPRO now focuses on removing contaminated fluids. Safety considerations drive making water remediation a priority, with both slip and fall and electrical shock urgent concerns. Because water restoration is another of our cornerstone services, our multi-certified employees take it on confidently. Structural drying follows as the crew members start the transition to fire residue cleanup.

Soot Removal and Charring Evaluation
The SERVPRO team matches soot damage to the appropriate products, tools, and methods for the three primary types--dry, wet, and protein-based. We also carefully determine what degree of charring is evident on structural components. Some damage can deep clean, brush, or sand off. Other heat and flame harm can be so profound that controlled demolition must take place.

Post Fire Damage Repairing and Rebuilding
SERVPRO starts a fire damage job with mitigation and remediation efforts. We concentrate on stopping the progressive damage of the water and soot, and then clean and disinfect surfaces and ready them for the final restoration tasks. We help our customers arrange for the repairs, replacements, and rebuilding that completes the project. Exterior and interior damage all receive attention, from roof or siding replacement to wall, ceiling, and woodwork repair, to repainting, or even total rebuilds of highly compromised structural components.

As soon as the fire department winds up their final tasks, contact SERVPRO of Jefferson County for help to complete the many additional steps needed for your house to return to preloss condition. We are available 24/7 at (315) 777-8377, awaiting our chance to make it “Like it never even happened.”

For more about Adams click here.

Watertown Property Under Fire? Call SERVPRO for Professional Mitigation and Restoration

6/26/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Shows Post Fire Damaged Watertown Home--with Poor Drying--Mold!

How Does Mold Occur After Fire Damage in Watertown Home?

Among house blazes that cause fire damage, one of the most disastrous is from an ordinary act people do every day: cooking. When a pan with oil or grease overheats and catches on fire, the absolute worst thing that a home cook can do is to put water into the pan. The reaction causes the fire to expand and spread quickly. Always keep a tight-fitting lid handy that you can cover the pan with and deprive the fire of oxygen, so it goes out.

The cleanup job from kitchen fire damage in Watertown homes is often substantial. Because of the potential to spread quickly and high heat, fire extinguishers are not always enough to handle this type of fire. If copious amounts of water are used to put out the blaze, then problems arise in the fire loss area if the liquid is not thoroughly extracted and dried.

Mold may seem more like a consequence of poor ventilation or a slow leak within a wall. However after just 48-hours, if the proper mitigation of the water left behind from extinguishing efforts does not occur, dormant mold spores can set up home in the area and begin to build colonies if ambient temperatures and materials are present such as sheetrock, paper or wood to grow upon and consume.

Our SERVPRO technicians hold certifications in mold remediation, and we have a Mold Remediation Contractor License #00261 and as well as Applied Structural Drying (ASD). This level of training ensures after the damage from the fire is mitigated, we know the signs that signal favorable areas for mold growth as a secondary damage source. We can help prevent it through the use of industrial equipment for water extraction and the use of powerful drying equipment to pull deeply embedded moisture out of building materials.

Fire damage cleanup should not be a DIY project, call SERVPRO of Jefferson County at (315) 777-8377, and our certified technicians can clean and restore your property and make it "Like it never even happened."

Here is your local govt.

We Work To Prepare Your Watertown Home For Repair And Build Back

5/16/2019 (Permalink)

We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with the necessary equipment, expertise and experience.

Repairing Fire Damage to Your Watertown Home

Fire loss effects come in many levels of severity and importance in recovering your Watertown residence. While every symptom must get addressed to restore and recover any property after a fire emergency fully, the order of these restorative acts and when specific equipment gets used is something that varies from home to home. With so many hazardous obstacles to overcome once first responders and firefighters have left the scene, it is imperative to trust in the experience and the advanced equipment and technology of our team.

We understand how detrimental fire damage can be to your Watertown home, especially from a structural standpoint. We strive to provide every customer with a comprehensive approach to returning their property to preloss condition. This process almost always begins with a thorough assessment of the damage and fire debris removal overseen by our contracting division. These licensed professionals within our SERVPRO team can ensure that the right precautions get taken to protect undamaged areas of your house and work to help expedite repairs and renovations after mitigation completes.

Part of the advantage of choosing a team that can offer both build back and full restoration of your property after a fire is the seamless transition between these phases. Other companies have customers seek out their own contractors and leave them at the mercy of wildly fluctuating schedules and unreliability. Not only can this draw out the recovery of the property, but multiple contractors and teams almost always mean a heftier price tag at the end of the labor.

We work to prepare your fire damaged structure for the repair and build back that the home needs after a fire loss incident. Our SERVPRO professionals use controlled demolition techniques to only remove the damaged portions of materials, further saving our customers time and money on the reconstruction to follow.

We know the importance of offering every customer a fast path to the full recovery of their home after a fire. You can always count on the extensive training and expertise of our SERVPRO of Jefferson County restoration technicians and contractors to make all fire loss effects “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call today at (315) 777-8377.

Click here to find out how to spend your day in Watertown.

SERVPRO, Fort Drum Fire Damage, and Your Insurance Adjuster

1/24/2019 (Permalink)

Fort Drum Properties, Fire Insurance, and SERVPRO for Cleanup and Restoration

Insurance Claims to Pay for Fire Recovery in Fort Drum Homes

Whenever your Fort Drum home suffers a fire, you want to get the situation resolved as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, there are hoops that you must jump through to obtain the approval of the home insurance claims that you might file in a situation like this. However, there are easier ways to obtain the necessary documentation and evidence that your adjuster requires to process the claim to get restoration and cleanup started on your property quickly.

From the moment that the first responders have left your Fort Drum property, you get your first look at the fire damage from a distance. While your first instinct might be to contact your insurance company directly, it might be more beneficial for you to reach out to our SERVPRO team before that. NO, IT IS NOT!  Get your insurance adjuster on the scene with a phone call. We can arrive quickly after you call with the tools and personnel to perform a thorough assessment of the damage to your home and catalog these damages for use in determining an estimated cost for restoration.

Our SERVPRO estimator can take photographs of damaged areas of your home to collect with the documentation to show evidence of the extent of the fire effects throughout your house. As you have already contacted our restoration team to begin this vital assessment of the property, we can begin mitigation work at this time to protect your home and its contents from further damage before the full restoration costs get approved by your insurance provider. The caveat here is if you sign off on the work order. We often communicate and coordinate with your adjuster prior to beginning the cleanup and restoration.

We work closely with the major and local insurance companies servicing our area to provide our customers with a seamless transition between our mitigation steps and the full restoration of their fire-damaged properties.

While you might not expect a disaster like fire to affect your home, you can help to ensure that the restoration process happens quickly by calling our SERVPRO of Jefferson County rapid response team right away. You can reach us 24/7 by calling (315) 777-8377.

Here is city-data

Smoke and soot cleanup

12/5/2018 (Permalink)

Soot on a tongue and groove ceiling during cleaning

Smoke and soot is very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.  

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Jefferson County will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today – 315-777-8377

Were Here to Help

10/16/2018 (Permalink)

Floor where there was a small furnace fire in Water Town.

Do you ever get tired of calling places and getting an answering service or voicemail? You won't with us! We understand that disasters don't have scheduled hours.

We adhere to our 1-4-8 guidelines. 

1- Within one hour from the first notice of loss, a SERVPRO Professional will contact you to arrange for service.

4- Within four hours of loss notification, a SERVPRO Professional will be on-site to start mitigation services (if necessary).

8- Within eight business hours of on-site arrival, a verbal briefing of the scope will be communicated to the appropriate person.

Exceptions may apply under certain conditions, such as a local catastrophic event or storm situation. 

Whether it's 8pm or 3am we're Here to Help! 

What You Should Know About Gas Leaks in Your Home

10/16/2018 (Permalink)

Soot Covered Furniture from a Gas Fire in Watertown, NY.

Fires from natural gas can occur suddenly and can result in a lengthy restoration process. If you suspect a gas leak in your home in Watertown, NY, there are various steps you can take to prevent a gas fire.

1. Preventative Steps

There are several ways you can prevent gas leaks from occurring, which can ultimately save you the stress of dealing with a fire. Prior to purchasing any appliances for your home, make sure you understand how they work and which signs could indicate a malfunction. Frequently check your appliances to ensure that there are no dysfunctions that could cause a leak. If you do have an issue with an appliance, it can be smart to have it professionally checked.

2. Signs of a Gas Leak

You cannot prevent a gas fire without knowing the most common signs of a natural gas leak. An unpleasant smell, often described as rotten eggs, is one indicator that you may have a gas leak in your home. Additionally, a whistling noise is sometimes heard near the gas meter when there is a leak.

3. Action To Take If You Suspect a Leak

If you suspect a leak in your home, it’s important to turn off any appliances that could result in a fire. To keep gas from building up, make sure your home is well-ventilated by opening any windows and doors. Even with these precautions, spend as much time as you can out of your home to avoid the negative health effects of breathing in the gas you suspect is leaking.

If you believe that your home may be experiencing a gas leak, it’s essential to do what you can to prevent a gas fire or a gas explosion. Once you have taken the necessary steps to protect yourself and your home, it can be helpful to work with restoration professionals who can fix the leak and ensure the safety of your home.

Do You Need Security Fencing After a Commercial Fire?

8/31/2018 (Permalink)

Fire damage in a tunnel in Carthage, NY

When you've had a fire at your Carthage, NY, place of business, there's a lot to consider once the blaze has been put out. You'll need to call your insurance company as well as consult with a reputable fire restoration company about cleanup and damage repair. But what about security? You'll want to talk to them about setting up a security fence around your building. Putting up fencing after a fire is a smart idea for a number of reasons.

1. Keep Out Looky-Loos

Increasing building security with fencing keeps looky-loos away, and prevents them from potentially injuring themselves on your property. The last thing you need at this point is a lawsuit from someone who's hurt himself while snooping around. Fencing also keeps curious people from inadvertently causing more damage to the property.

2. Theft and Vandalism Prevention

When you've got a security fence in place, you've essentially created a barrier to thieves, vagrants, and vandals. An unsecured building can attract looters or people looking for a place to sleep. Seeing a sturdy fence makes it much less likely that someone will to try to get in. Added options like barbed wire will make an attempt next to impossible.

3. Protection from Wild Animals

Security fencing can help keep larger wild animals, such as raccoons, skunks and possums, as well as stray cats and dogs, out of the building. Quick action to set up fencing can easily take care of a problem that might end up costing you much more time and money down the road.

4. Insurance Compliance

Your insurance company will expect you to take every possible measure to secure your commercial property after a fire, including putting up security fencing. If your property is left unsecured, you may have a tough time filing a claim and getting reimbursed for cleanup, repairs and lost work time.

In addition to taking steps to clean up the damage and effect repairs, it's important to have a sturdy security fence in place around your building, both for the added protection provided and for your peace of mind.

How To Protect Your Home From Lightning

7/23/2018 (Permalink)

A lightning fire in Watertown, NY, is a rare, but possible occurrence.

What happens when lightning strikes a home in Watertown, NY? About 6,300 homes are struck each year without a resulting house fire. However, an additional 4,300 strikes each cause a residential lightning fire. Learn how to keep yourself and your home safe during this unpredictable, menacing weather event.

How Do I Protect Myself During a Storm?

When the weather turns bad outside, it is tempting to go about your normal business inside of the house. When you hear thunder, however, there are steps you should take to protect yourself and reduce the risk of lightning fire:

• Stay inside of your home, away from windows and doors. A good rule of thumb is to wait 30 minutes after you hear the last of the thunder to resume normal activities.
• If lightning strikes your home, it could cause a power surge. As a precaution, keep your distance from televisions, computers and other electrical devices. Do not take baths or showers, wash dishes or do laundry. Cellular phones are safe to use.

What Actions Do I Take If My House Is Hit?

If your house is struck, you will hear and feel a powerful boom. If you suspect the bolt has made contact with your home, take the following steps:

• Quickly check the health and safety of all family members and pets.
• Leave your home immediately if there is fire or smoke.
• Call 911 and report it, regardless of whether you see a fire. The fire department can determine if your home is safe.
• Contact your homeowner’s insurance agent, as damage is likely covered under your policy.
• Call a fire restoration specialist to assess your home. Even if a large house fire did not occur, there may be hidden damage in your roof or attic that could lead to further troubles down the road if not repaired promptly.

A lightning fire in Watertown, NY, is a rare, but possible occurrence. By taking proper precautions during a storm and following correct procedures after a strike, you can keep your family safe and minimize the damage to your home. For more information, visit http://www.SERVPROjeffersoncounty.com/.

Eliminate Smoke Odor Post-Fire Once and For All

5/17/2018 (Permalink)

Burned end table after a home fire.

Odor Remediation in Watertown, NY

Dealing with a house fire may be one of the worst things you have to go through as a homeowner, so when the Watertown, NY, fire damage restoration team has come and gone, it can be like a breath of fresh air. Or is it? Unfortunately, you may notice some residual effects of the fire long after the last technician has packed his or her bags and left your home. One such effect is a smoke odor. The good news is that cleaning up smoke damage doesn’t have to be difficult, especially when you implement a few tried and true smoke cleaning tips:

• Air out your home.
• Replace the air filter.
• Clean the HVAC system.
• Deep clean your home.

Air Out Your Home

The best thing you can do to reduce the risk of a linger smoke smells or to get rid of embedded odors is to air out your home. Open the windows and doors if it’s nice outside and turn on the fans. If it’s cold outside, you may need to face a fan inwards to force air into a single room with an open window or door.

Replace Your Air System’s Filter

You can deep clean your home as thoroughly as possible, but if you turn on an HVAC system that’s filter is contaminated with soot and odors, all your smoke cleaning efforts will have been for naught. Replacing the filter is a quick, affordable and efficient way to reduce the risk of lingering smoke smells.

Clean Your HVAC System

Smoke can permeate duct work and linger in the HVAC system, just waiting for the moment that you turn it on. Make sure that your system blows nothing but clean air by thoroughly cleaning within it.

Deep Clean Your Home

This final step may be the most difficult, but it is the most important. Steam clean your carpets, furniture and draperies. Wipe down any solid surfaces with white vinegar, dish soap and warm water. Finally, wash any windows, screens and shades to ensure that a cool breeze doesn’t turn into an odor-infested one.

Renters Insurance Importance

11/16/2017 (Permalink)

Antique headboard during the restoration process

Many apartment complexes and landlords do not yet require renters insurance. It's absolutely vital to have renters insurance in place to cover the loss of your belongings should you experience a water or fire damage. Without insurance you will be faced with the daunting task of replacing your household goods, or having them restored out of pocket. Renters insurance is really quite inexpensive when you think about how much it actually covers, and if something were to happen, it will save money on replacement costs. While we try to help in any situation where a renter unfortunately does not have insurance, we are limited to the services we can provide at that time.  Call one of your local insurance agents today for a quote!

It's that time of year again!

9/26/2016 (Permalink)

As much as we don't want to admit it, it's time to turn our furnaces back on. We know all too well that things don't always go as planned. Sometimes furnaces malfunction with what is called a "puffback".

The term furnace "puff back" refers to the sudden expulsion of soot into the dwelling area caused by a malfunction in the heating system. The soot from a puff back is a sticky, greasy, grimy mess that is second to none. It can also present a severe health hazard in the place that's supposed to be your haven- your home.

All of those minuscule, oil based particles embed themselves into curtains, carpets, and clothing while contaminating the air with known carcinogens. Running a vacuum over it only grinds the soot deeper and creates stains that will never come out. Wiping the soot from walls and ceilings creates a place where paint will no longer stick. Unless the soot is quickly and professionally removed, it can cause corrosion of metal on doorknobs, faucets, and even electronic equipment throughout the home. Because every inch of the home is affected, a puff back is an overwhelming job to clean properly.

This is where the SERVPRO team can help - you can trust SERVPRO to clean everything. We're your one stop shop for puff back and smoke damage cleanup in the Jefferson County area.