Fire Damage Restoration You Can Count On

9/30/2024 (Permalink)

Fire Damage

A fire in your home or business can leave behind devastating damage. Beyond the flames, smoke, soot, and water from firefighting efforts can create lasting harm if not dealt with quickly.

At SERVPRO of Crestview, Defuniak Springs & Chipley, we specialize in comprehensive fire damage restoration to bring your property back to its pre-fire condition.

What Happens After a Fire?

1. Smoke and Soot Damage
   Even after the flames are out, smoke and soot can continue to damage walls, ceilings, and personal belongings. They can also cause lingering odors if not properly cleaned.

2. Water Damage
   Firefighters often use large amounts of water to extinguish the flames, leading to water damage in the affected areas. Left untreated, this can lead to mold growth.

3. Structural Damage
   Fire can weaken the structure of your home, from walls and support beams to flooring and roofing. A thorough inspection is critical to ensure the building is safe.

Our Fire Damage Restoration Process

• Inspection and Assessment: We begin with a detailed inspection to assess the extent of the damage.
  
  
• Board-Up and Tarping: If the fire has damaged windows, doors, or roofs, we’ll provide temporary protection to secure your property.
  
  
• Smoke and Soot Removal: Using advanced techniques, we clean and remove all traces of smoke and soot from walls, ceilings, and belongings.
  
  
• Restoration: We offer full restoration services, including water removal, deodorization, and reconstruction to bring your property back to its original condition.

If you’ve suffered fire damage, don’t wait—call SERVPRO of Crestview, Defuniak Springs & Chipley at (850) 863-2552. We’ll help you recover and restore your property as quickly as possible.

Outdoor Party Lights Cause Backyard Fire in Mossy Head?

6/13/2023 (Permalink)

We are leaders in fire damage restoration services in Walton County.

Mossy Head residents spend a lot of time outdoors. Many people install party lights to create festive settings in backyards. Electrical fires are one of the leading causes of fire damage in the United States. Our local Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley teams witness firsthand the damage electrical fires cause to homes and businesses and offer this information from the National Fire Protection Association for staying safe around powerlines and electrical equipment:

Powerlines

Have professional tree-cutting service trim branches that might fall on electric wiring. Use a wooden or fiberglass ladder outside. Keep the ladder at least 10 feet away from power lines. Never touch anyone or anything in contact with a downed wire. Power lines may be live; stay a safe distance away. Report downed wires to authorities right away.

Equipment Safety

• Have a qualified electrician do all electrical work
• To prevent an electric shock, make sure all your outside electrical receptacles are ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected
• Use lighting and power tools that are listed by a qualified test laboratory and make sure they are made for outdoor use
• Store your electric tools indoors
• Keep electric tools away from children
• Check lighting and extension cords for damage before using. Replace damaged cords right away.
• Use extension cords that are listed by a qualified test laboratory and are marked for outdoor use. Extension cords are not meant for long-term use.

Call Us Today!

Our local Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley team is Here to Help ® when you have fire damage in your home or business in Mossy Head. Call us today at 850-772-0686.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

What Equipment is Used to Remove Smoke Damage in Paxton?

1/31/2023 (Permalink)

We restore fire damage 24 hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our local Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley team uses several methods to remove smoke odor and residue as follows:

Air Scrubber or Filter

• A heating, ventilation, air conditioning system (HVAC) air scrubber or a high-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA) air purifier can capture larger smoke molecules. There will still be some residual odor from smaller molecules or surface residues.

Ozone Generator

• An ozone generator is a fast and highly effective smoke odor restoration method. These machines emit ozone, which follows the same paths through the air as smoke and oxidizes any residual traces in the air or on surfaces.

Thermal Fogging

• Thermal fogging is an intensive treatment involving fogging machines. After residents evacuate, smoke cleaning professionals fill a structure with petroleum distillates that neutralize odors and ventilate the area.

Hydroxyl Generator

• A hydroxyl generator is a slower and gentler alternative to ozone. These machines rely on ultraviolet light to generate hydroxyl radicals that eliminate smoke odors. It will take about three to five days of continuous operation to achieve the same results as a single ozone treatment.

Vapor Modification

• Vapor modification is another odor elimination method that relies on aromatic compounds and a blower or fan to neutralize smoke odor

Call Us Today!

When your home or business in Crestview needs fire damage restoration services, our Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley team can help. Call us today at 850-772-0686.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Christmas Tree Fire in DeFuniak Springs Home?

12/13/2022 (Permalink)

We respond to fire damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Walton County.

Christmas tree fires can get out of hand quickly. Our local team in Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley wants everyone to have a safe and fire-damage-free Christmas holiday in DeFuniak Springs. Here are some Christmas tree safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association: 

PICKING THE TREE  

• Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched  

PLACING THE TREE 

• Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 2 inches from the base of the trunk 
• Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents, or lights 

• Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit 
• Add water to the tree stand. Be sure to add water daily.  

LIGHTING THE TREE 

• Use lights that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use. 
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Read the manufacturer’s instructions for the number of light strands to connect. 

• Never use lit candles to decorate the tree 
• Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed 

Call Us Today! 

When you have fire damage in your home or business, our team in Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley is Here to Help. ® We’ll restore your fire damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-772-0686. 

Franchises are independently owned and operated. 

Fried Turkey Fire in Chipley Home?

11/15/2022 (Permalink)

We clean and restore fire damage in Walton County.

Fried Turkey Blues

Our local team in Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley wishes everyone in Chipley a very Happy Thanksgiving. We often respond to fire damage emergencies during the holiday season. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there were 1600 reported home cooking fires on Thanksgiving in 2017. The NFPA strongly discourages turkey fryers because they can cause severe burns, injuries, and property damage. They recommend forgoing the home turkey fryer and getting a fried turkey from a grocery store, restaurant, or another food retailer.

Our fire restoration technicians have witnessed many instances of fried turkey fires. Here are some of the more common reasons turkey fryers catch on fire:

1. Too much oil is placed in the fryer without factoring in the oil displacement by the bird. The oil spills over the side and ignites with the burner below.
2. Sometimes the fryers are knocked over by curious pets or clumsy guests
3. Other times, the fryer is positioned next to combustible materials, like wooden tables or fences, and when the fryers tip over, the oil and fuel ignite and catch fire

Call Us Today!

When you have a fire damage emergency in your home or commercial business in Chipley, our local team in Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-772-0686.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Fire Pit Fire in Bonifay Backyard?

10/24/2022 (Permalink)

We are trusted leaders in fire damage restoration in Holmes County.

Our local team in Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley is available 24-hours a day to respond to your call for help with fire damage. Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits are popular for people who like to spend time outdoors socializing in Bonifay. However, it only takes one burning ember flying into some dry leaves on your rooftop to start a fire.

Here are some fire pit safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association:

Fires are prohibited during times of high fire danger ratings and on “red flag” days that bring high winds to dry landscapes.  It is important to remember that embers blowing from a backyard fire pose the same threat to your home as if they are from a wildfire.  Start with these simple steps to reduce the ignition risk like:

• Cleaning out gutters of seasonal debris
• Clearing away leaves and needles in the 0-5 foot “immediate zone” around the house
• Moving any flammable material away from wall exteriors, like mulch, flammable plants, firewood piles
• Removing anything flammable stored underneath decks or porches

Call Us Today!

When you have fire damage in your Bonifay home or workplace, our local team in Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-772-0686.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Advanced Technology and Equipment Used to Restore Smoke Damage in DeFuniak Springs?

9/20/2022 (Permalink)

We are leaders in fire damage restoration in Okaloosa County.

Where there’s smoke, there’s smoke damage.

Fire does not always happen when there is smoke. Sometimes the flue is left shut, and a fire is started, causing smoke to billow into a room. Parties can leave houses filled with smoke odor, and wind can blow smoke into a home from a fire in the neighborhood.

Our local team in Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley is trained and certified to restore smoke damage in homes and businesses. Here are some examples of the equipment we use:

• Air Scrubber or Filter: Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system air scrubber or HEPA air purifier captures larger smoke molecules.
• Ozone Generator:  These machines emit ozone, which follows the same paths through the air as smoke and oxidizes any residual traces in the air or on surfaces.

• Thermal Fogging: An intensive treatment involving fogging machines. After residents evacuate, smoke cleaning professionals fill a structure with petroleum distillates that neutralize odors, and then they ventilate the area.

• Hydroxyl Generator:These machines rely on ultraviolet light to generate hydroxyl radicals that eliminate smoke odors. It will take about three to five days of continuous operation to achieve the same results as a single ozone treatment.

• Vapor Modification: This odor elimination method relies on aromatic compounds and a blower or fan to neutralize smoke odor.

Call Us Today!

When you have smoke damage in your DeFuniak Springs home or commercial business, our local team in Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley is Here to Help. ® Call us today at 850-772-0686.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Pack-out Services for Fire-Damaged Home in DeFuniak Springs?

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

Our Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley team offers many convenient services to assist people with home or business restorations.

Our local team in Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley have been restoring fire damage in Crestview for over twenty years.

Fires can cause severe damage to homes that may require the household contents to be removed and stored offsite to complete the repairs. Our Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley teams offer many convenient services when needed to restore a fire-damaged home or business in DeFuniak Springs.

Pack-out and move-out services help customers when the contents of the house need to be relocated to complete the restoration process. Our team will pack and move your household items or business inventories offsite to ensure the restoration process moves forward quickly. Customers have peace of mind knowing their items are stored and protected from further damage.

Pack-Outs/ Move-Outs

We can conduct an organized, efficient move-out of the affected area when your home requires extensive restoration or cleaning due to storm damage. Move-out will provide several benefits, including:

• A quicker remodeling process
• Protecting items from potential damage
• Protecting contents from further on-site damage

Once the restoration is complete, we will work with you to coordinate the move-in according to your needs. The services offered upon move-in may depend on your insurance coverage.

Call Us Today!

When your home or commercial business has fire damage, our local team in Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley is Here to Help. ® We’ll restore your damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-772-0686.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Smoking Materials Fire in Crestview Home?

5/9/2022 (Permalink)

We have the training and equipment to restore fire damage in Okaloosa County.

Our local team in Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley restores fire damage each year. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), smoking materials, including pipes and cigars, started an estimated 17,200 home structure fires in 2014, resulting in $426 million in direct property damage.

Here is some information from the NFPA on smoking safety:

Smoking Safety

• If you smoke, use only fire-safe cigarettes
• If you smoke, smoke outside. Most deaths result from fires that start in living rooms, family rooms, dens, or bedrooms.
• Keep cigarettes, lighters, matches, and other smoking materials up high out of the reach of children in a locked cabinet

Put It Out

• Use a deep, sturdy ashtray. Place it away from anything that can burn.
• Do not discard cigarettes in vegetation such as mulch, potted plants or landscaping, peat moss, dried grasses, leaves, or other things that could ignite easily
• Before you throw away butts and ashes, make sure they are out, and dousing in water or sand is the best way to do that

Electronic Cigarettes

Never leave charging e-cigarettes unattended. E-cigarettes should be used with caution.

• Fires have occurred while e-cigarettes were being used
• While the battery was being charged
• While the device was being transported
• Battery failures have led to small explosions

Call Us!

Crestview residents and businesses can rely on our local team in Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley to restore fire damage, “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-772-0686.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Fire Caused by Kids Playing With Fire in DeFuniak Springs Home?

4/13/2022 (Permalink)

We restore fire damage 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our local team in Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley has been restoring fire damage in DeFuniak Springs for over twenty years. We have seen fire damage caused by many different reasons. It is never too early to teach children about fire safety, and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) offers some great resources to help kids learn about fire safety. For more information, please visit Sparky the Fire Dog’s® website at www.Sparky.org.

NFPA statistics on “playing with fire” incidents

• Fire departments responded to an estimated annual average of 8,100 structure fires caused by playing with fire in 2014-1018.  These fires resulted in an estimated 50 civilian deaths, 450 civilian injuries, and $143 million in direct property damage each year.
• In 2014-2018, playing with fire is estimated to have caused 4,960 home structure fires each year, with associated losses of 50 civilian deaths, 398 civilian injuries, and $112 in direct property damage each year. The bedroom was the most common area of origin for home fires involving playing with fire, accounting for one-third (34%) of the total.
• More than four of five home structure fires caused by playing with fire were started by children ten years of age or younger

Call Us!

DeFuniak Springs residents and commercial businesses can rely on our local team in Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley to restore fire damage, “Like it never even happened.”  Call us today at 850-772-0686.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Microwave Oven Fire in Chipley Home?

3/16/2022 (Permalink)

We are trusted leaders in fire restoration services in Okaloosa County.

Microwave ovens make heating or defrosting a meal easy for busy Chipley families. SERVPRO® of Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, Chipley offers these microwave oven safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association:

• PURCHASE a microwave oven that is listed by a qualified testing laboratory. Make sure to complete and return the product registration card. This way, the manufacturer can reach you if there is a recall on the product.
• PLUG the microwave oven directly into the wall outlet — never use an extension cord
• MAKE sure the microwave oven is at a safe height, within easy reach of all users
• OPEN food slowly, away from the face. Hot steam or the food itself can cause burns.
• FOOD heats unevenly in microwave ovens. Stir and test before eating or giving to children.
• NEVER heat a baby bottle in the microwave. Since a microwave oven heats unevenly, it can create hot pockets, leading to burns. Warm the bottle in a bowl of warm, not hot or boiling, water, or by running it under the tap.

Call Us!

Chipley residents and businesses trust SERVPRO® of Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, Chipley, to restore fire damage quickly and efficiently. We’ll repair your fire damage, “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-772-0686.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Medical Oxygen Cannister Combusts and Starts Fire in Crestview Home?

3/10/2022 (Permalink)

We respond to fire damage emergencies 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

Our team in Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley responds to fire damage emergencies 24-hours a day, and we typically arrive onsite within four hours of your call. Medical oxygen is highly flammable because it adds a higher percentage of oxygen to the air, and fire needs oxygen to burn. Here are some medical oxygen safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association to keep Crestview residents using medical oxygen safe:  

Safety Tips 

• There is no safe way to smoke in the home when oxygen is in use, and a patient on oxygen should not smoke 

• Candles, matches, wood stoves, and even sparking toys can be ignition sources and should not be used in the home 
• Keep oxygen cylinders at least five feet from a heat source, open flames, or electrical devices 
• Body oil, hand lotion, and items containing oil and grease can easily ignite. Keep oil and grease away where oxygen is in use. 
• Never use aerosol sprays containing combustible materials near the oxygen 

Call Us! 

You never know when a fire will cause damage. Crestview residents and commercial businesses can trust our local team in Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley to restore fire damage with minimal disruption to your household. Call us today at 850-772-0686. 

Franchises are independently owned and operated. 

Lightning Fire Damage in Crestview?

3/3/2022 (Permalink)

We respond to fire damage emergencies often in Okaloosa County.

Last year lightning strikes caused many fires in Okaloosa County. Our team in Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley responds to fire damage emergencies 24-hours a day, and we typically arrive onsite within four hours of your call. Here are some lightning facts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

• Lightning's unpredictability increases the risk to individuals and property
• Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur as far as ten miles away from any rainfall
• "Heat lightning" is actually lightning from a thunderstorm too far away from thunder to be heard. However, the storm may be moving in your direction
• Most lightning deaths and injuries occur when people are caught outdoors in the summer months during the afternoon and evening
• Lightning strike victims carry no electrical charge and should be attended to immediately. Most people struck by lightning are not killed but are injured significantly.
• Your chances of being struck by lightning are estimated to be 1 in 600,000 but could be reduced even further by following safety precautions 

Call Us!

Crestview businesses and residents can rely on our local team in Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, and Chipley to restore fire, smoke, and soot damage, "Like it never even happened." Call us today at 850-772-0686.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Cooking Fire in DeFuniak Springs?

2/15/2022 (Permalink)

We restore fire damage 24-hours a day in Okaloosa County.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports home unattended cooking as the leading cause of home fires in the United States. Most cooking fires involve the kitchen stove. SERVPRO® of Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, Chipley is a trusted leader in fire damage restoration in DeFuniak Springs. Our technicians respond to fire damage emergencies throughout the year, and many of them start in the kitchen.

Here are some tips from the NFPA for cooking safely:

• Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or stovetop.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking
• Keep anything that can catch fire (oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, or curtains) away from your stovetop

Call Us Today!

When you need residential or commercial fire restoration services, SERVPRO® of Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, Chipley is Here to Help. ® Our technicians are on-call 24-hours a day, every day. We’ll clean and restore your fire damage in DeFuniak Springs, “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 850-772-0686.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Fire Damage Safety Tips For Crestview?

2/10/2022 (Permalink)

When my home was damaged by fire, my insurance adjuster told me to call SERVPRO of Crestview, Defuniak Springs, Chipley. They gave me some helpful tips on things I could do while waiting for help to arrive.

Fire Damage Safety Tips – While Waiting for Help to Arrive

After any fire damage situation, your safety should be the primary focus.

• Stay in the house only if it safe
• Electrical and "slip and fall" hazards are some of the most prevalent concerns
• Only do activities that are safe for you to perform
• Wet materials can be very heavy   

What To Do After A Fire

• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpets
• Keep hands clean so as not to further soil upholstery, walls, and woodwork
• Place clean towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery, and carpet traffic areas
• If electricity is off, empty freezer and refrigerator and prop doors open
• Clean and protect chrome with a light coating of petroleum jelly or oil
• Wash houseplants on both sides of leaves
• Change the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) filter
• Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers

Call Us today!

When your Crestview home or commercial business experiences a fire damage emergency, SERVPRO of Crestview, Defuniak Springs, Chipleyis Here to Help.

Fire Damage Restoration in Crestview

7/22/2021 (Permalink)

If you need professional assistance with fire damage, Call in the experts at (850) 267-0746. We are always available to help you!

Crestview Residents Rely Upon SERVPRO for Fire & Smoke Cleanup and Restoration

We are available for you twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, to repair the fire damage in your Crestview, Defuniak Springs, or Chipley home. The first forty-eight hours after a fire are vital. Soot or water that lingers can cause secondary damage if it is not addressed right away by professionals. Whether your emergency happens on a Sunday afternoon or a Tuesday at midnight, SERVPRO is ready to answer your call.

The process of fire damage restoration in Crestview starts with an inspection of your property to figure out the extent of the damage. We then make sure we go over things with you to understand the work that we are going to do. We show you the items which need to be restored and go over things that may be unsalvageable.

When necessary, we pack up your belongings like shoes, clothing, linens, and rugs and send them to the dry cleaners or to our facilities for cleaning. Your valuable items are secured, and we remove any decorative items plus other loose contents from your home. The items removed are carefully documented, then packed, and taken to our facility for cleaning by our specialists if needed. If the damage is minimal, the items can be cleaned on-site.

Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration and Cleanup

Pre-cleaning with a vacuum and dry brush is done for fire damaged articles to pick up any surface dirt or ash. Then, wet cleaning of floors, carpets, and walls can start. We also perform smoke damage clean up and cleaning of the structure.

SERVPRO technicians use equipment to get rid of biological and chemical pollutants and neutralize smoke odors. Industrial grade equipment like ozone generators, thermal foggers, and hydroxyl generators are used to do this. Air scrubbers can be used to remove grease, particles, and gasses from the surrounding air.

Many times, you are dealing with water damage as well from the fire department’s efforts. Our technicians also extract the excess water, measure how much moisture is in the air, and apply the right dehumidification procedures, so you do not have secondary damage from water. If your crawl space or attic has been affected, we can clean those as well.

Fires and fire damage put your life on hold, but SERVPRO of Crestview, Defuniak Springs, and Chipley is always ready to help you and guide you through the restoration process. We can be reached at (850) 267-0746 any time you need, so do not hesitate to call us when an emergency comes up.

Where Can Homeowners Go to Restore Their Homes After a Fire?

10/16/2020 (Permalink)

We have the training, expertise, and state-of-the-art equipment to restore your home to pre-damage condition after a fire. Call us right away.

For Professional Fire Restoration in Crestview, Defuniak Springs, and Chipley, Residents Call SERVPRO.

Can Smoke Residues Cause a Lot of Damage?

If not properly cleaned, smoke residues in homes can destroy many surfaces they touch, including glass, marble, and metal. SERVPRO technicians have the skills and equipment needed to preserve the most furniture and other property possible in each home. 

What Are SERVPRO’s Primary Methods of Cleaning?

Our fire damage cleaning methods fall into two categories: Dry and Wet. Each uses different tools and actions to remove the residues left behind after a house fire.

• Dry Cleaning – Technicians use feather dusters and dusting cloths to wipe off light-to-medium, non-grease-based residues with no need for water or a cleaning agent. For thicker layers of these residues, technicians can use dry, cleaning sponges or vacuums with special filters to capture and remove larger particulates.
• Wet Cleaning – Restoration team members use this more aggressive method for moderate-to-heavy residues. Each method requires water, sometimes with a cleaning agent to break down the residue for easier removal. The item may be saturated with a combination of both, depending on the material being cleaned. 

What Are Some of the Common Methods of Wet Cleaning Used? 

• Spray and Wipe – Technicians apply water or a mix of water and cleaning agent directly to the residue stain with a spray bottle. They then wipe the stain with a white, clean towel and repeat as often as necessary.
• Abrasive Cleaning – If the surface is rough, such as stone or marble, technicians use a thicker cleaner and hand or powered agitators. It allows them to penetrate the surface as deeply as the residues to remove them. 

To begin the restoration process for your home here or in Miramar Beach, call SERVPRO of Crestview, Defuniak Springs, and Chipley at (850) 267-0746 today. We are here to return your residence back to its original, pre-fire condition. 

How Much Damage Can a Microwave Fire Cause in My Kitchen?

8/3/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Cleans Up, Restores, and Repairs Fire Damaged Homes in Miramar Beach--from a small microwave to a large condo!

SERVPRO Technicians Save Miramar Beach Homes with Fire Restoration Services

Kitchen appliance fires can cause considerable amounts of damage quickly, even if the flames are smothered in a closed microwave or oven. Crestview homeowners may be surprised to find corrosion caused by soot deposits in other areas of the kitchen weeks or months after the fact, or have to deal with invisible protein residues imparting foul odors that are difficult to mask.

SERVPRO specializes in fire restoration for Crestview, Defuniak Springs, and Freeport properties with commercial-grade tools operated by licensed technicians. This firm knows the ins and outs of the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) standards for fire damage mitigation and consistently meets these industry benchmarks with rapid-response cleanup services.

If water damage from fire suppression efforts has allowed for mold to grow on your property, your local SERVPRO team is licensed to offer mold remediation services (license numbers MRSR309 and MRSR377).

What are the Common Causes of Microwave Fires?

• Overheating food or its packaging. Overheating is the leading cause of many microwave oven fires. Carefully assess the temperature of frozen or refrigerated items before heating to ensure that food is not cooked for too long.
• Power supply failures. Electrical fires are another risk that can come from microwave usage, as with any electronic appliance. A shorted-out power supply can burn components in the housing and start a fire.
• Power surges. Sometimes power surges can cause microwaves or other devices to accidentally turn on and run until it is shut off again.
• Ignition risks. Research the make and model of the microwave you currently own, as some have components that ignite when overheated. However, this is a very uncommon occurrence.

Even if the fire is small, kitchen fires can cause damage well after the cause has been addressed. Miramar Beach residents are encouraged to report fires and file claims to ensure that licensed professionals quickly address any risks created by appliance fires.

What Can I Do to Minimize Damage to My Home After a Fire?

Home fires can be a stressful experience that can leave Miramar Beach homeowners unsure of how to handle the situation. However, SERVPRO can offer tips on keeping damage in your home to a minimum before cleanup begins:

• Avoid taking items out of your property on your own, especially before an insurance adjuster has had a chance to evaluate the situation. This precaution allows you to get a more accurate assessment of the damage and receive compensation accordingly.
• Take care when entering and leaving the affected area to avoid spreading residues and odors that can stain or affect the comfort of other rooms in your home.
• Do not try to wash soot residues off with water or water-based solutions. Contact with moisture makes soot acidic and can corrode metals and other surfaces in your kitchen.
• Cover furniture with cloths to prevent accidental staining or spreading of residues.
• Avoid operating your HVAC system until it has been inspected and cleaned to keep soot and odors from spreading through your home via the vents.

How Do SERVPRO Technicians Remove Soot and Residues from Fire-Damaged Kitchens?

SERVPRO technicians are trained and experienced in using commercial-grade solutions to remove fire damage residues in kitchens, including the following:

• Large, dry deposits can be vacuumed up and removed from the property.
• Protein residues are eliminated with the help of enzyme digesters, which break down proteins into water-soluble byproducts for easy cleaning and odor control.
• Light soot deposits and stains can be removed with a variety of manual cleaning methods, including dry cleaning sponges and EPA-registered antimicrobial solutions.
• Substantial damage to wood and other structural materials can be removed with abrasion cleaning with materials like soda ash and corn cobs.
• Oily soils created by burnt rubbers and plastics are a challenge to clean with consumer-grade products. However, SERVPRO techs have access to lipophilic cleaning solutions designed to dissolve oil-based residues.

SERVPRO of Crestview, Defuniak Springs, and Freeport, provide mitigation and restoration to keep homes looking, “Like it never even happened.” You can call (850) 267-0746 to send a team to your home.

What Are Common Post Fire Damage Mistakes That Crestview-Area Homeowners Should Avoid?

5/5/2020 (Permalink)

Contact SERVPRO right away for fire damage mitigation.

SERVPRO Partners with You to Make Your Home Habitable After Fire Damage

Structural damage caused by fire usually leaves a homeowner with two options. The first option is for relocating those living in the property to temporary housing while restoration takes place. This option is for scenarios where the structure itself is severely impaired, or the structure is no longer safe to inhabit. The second option is to remain in the property while restoration is carried out.

When fire damage in Crestview properties occurs, it is necessary to use emergency restoration services. Everybody feels a strong attachment to their home, so it is only natural to attempt to clean or restore the property yourself. In some cases, self-restoration efforts can cause more harm than good.

SERVPRO is a nationally recognized organization that trained in emergency restoration after the fire. If it is safe for you to remain in the property our technicians can begin work restoring livable areas. Doing so involves cordoning off the areas of severe damage and clearing smoke, soot, and residue that may have traveled into hallways, carpets, and garments.

We can restore to habitable condition using wet and dry cleaning methods. Dry cleaning is suitable for ceilings or walls and may be completed before wet cleaning. Wet cleaning can be carried out on painted, wooden or metal ceilings. SERVPRO has also developed specialized peroxide active cleaning methods for porous or acoustical ceilings.

Contents damaged during the fire can be professionally cleaned and restored by our team. We do this by moving items to unaffected areas of the house where there is no risk of further contamination. Using a combination of sanitizers, foams and dry scrubbing we can salvage your contents as well as areas of your structure.

The goal of our work is to mitigate the loss by removing any elements that could end up causing further damage. At SERVPRO we also look to improve indoor air quality by using foggers or air-scrubbers. Our work is carried out to ensure that your home is habitable during the restoration of more severely damaged areas.

Dealing with the damage left behind after fire is very stressful. Call SERVPRO of Crestview, Defuniak Springs, and Chipley at (850) 267-0746 for an emergency restoration provider that cares as much about your home as you do.

Fire Damage in Crestview-Area

4/12/2020 (Permalink)

For answers, contact SERVPRO of Crestview, Defuniak Springs, and Chipley (850) 267-0746.

When to get professional fire restoration services in the Crestview Area?

At any fire loss site, you have the opportunity to recover large amounts of possessions or to risk losing them permanently. Contacting SERVPRO can help to ensure that your contents and structure return to a preloss condition.

While the structure of your home is unlikely to become permanently harmed by fire damage, there are numerous ways that a housefire can affect your home. Soots, as well as smokes releasing into indoor spaces, can result in heavy soiling, unpleasant odors as well as harming surfaces or paintwork. An excellent way to test whether you need professional assistance to recover the property is to perform light vacuuming of any soiling spots and surfaces. You can also ventilate the space thoroughly by opening windows.

If, after performing vacuuming and ventilation, there is still persistent soiling and odor, you should consider contacting your insurance provider as well as a professional restorer for fire damage in Crestview, Defuniak Springs, and Chipley. Avoid introducing moisture or cleaning products to affected areas yourself as these can easily cause further harm by driving smoke particles into surfaces or spreading wet smoke further around. SERVPRO technicians undergo years of training to understand when, how, and why to apply products with minimal damage.

What types of damage can I expect after a fire?
There are several types of harm that can befall a property with fire loss. The factors that inform these issues are variable. Heat, temperature, pressure, and time are all influential factors in a fire loss scenario. Equally, the source of the fire can change the type of soot deposits as well as the type of material exposure. Below are familiar sources of fire damage that may befall your home.

Upper Wall and Ceiling Soots
Smoke rises upwards at high velocity and pressure. In a typical fire, the lion's share of soiling is likely to be on the ceiling directly above the source of the fire. Upper walls can also be adversely affected by hot smoke and ashes. The consistency of soiling on your ceiling depends on the types of material that have burned. These may be wet smoke, which is challenging to remove or dry soot deposits, which can often respond well to vacuuming or dry sponging.

Drapery Rods, Chandeliers, Curtains
Thin fabrics like curtains can often suffer such severe damage as to render them irreparable. Fortunately, these items are relatively inexpensive to replace. Drapery rods, light fittings, and chandeliers are typically dense materials but can take on significant amounts of soot. Our technicians can deconstruct any fittings in the property to making the cleaning effort more efficient. Furthermore, our external cleaning facilities can provide immersion cleaning, which is particularly useful on dense items like drapery rods or chandeliers.

What Special Cleaning Services do we offer?

    •    Ultrasonic/ Immersion Cleaning Services
    •    Suspended Mechanical Cleaning (Esporta) for Fabrics
    •    Wet/ Dry Cleaning for Fabrics
    •    Carpet Pre-cleaning and Conditioning
    •    Leather Cleaning
    •    Rotary Cleaning

Interiors of cabinets or furnishings
Hot smokes seek out cooler surfaces. Often soot deposits can be heavy inside drawers or cabinets. Assessing the impact of a fire on your furnishings requires consistent pre-testing alongside careful inspection of the interior cabinet. Often interiors feature unfinished woods that can absorb soot into the grain of the wood itself. We can make use of cleaning solvents to restore interior cabinets and, in some severe cases, may need to remove surface layers before refinishing the area of harm.


How can you tackle smoke odors in my home?
Chemicals that release from combusting materials can include odor-causing particles. Odor removal is typically tough for homeowners to tackle by themselves because these light particles can infiltrate soft furnishings, small gaps, or cavities as well as ventilation shafts. We use a variety of methods to complete effective odor control. We may also use industrial equipment like ULV fogging to ensure that deodorants can reach cavities as well as soft furnishings effectively.

What about contents with specific cleaning instructions?
We begin fire restoration with pre-testing the affected area thoroughly. Your home is full of different materials, colors, and fabrics. Sometimes contents can respond adversely to cleaning solutions that would otherwise be effective. These issues can manifest as color fade, bleaching, spots, or watermarks. To provide a comprehensive solution, we conduct tests on the type of material as well as the type of soils. By doing so, we can ensure that we do not cause any further damage to your property.

Pre-testing can help to prevent:

    •    Color Bleeding
    •    Shrinking
    •    Material Damages
    •    Color Fade
    •    Watermarks

What about special content?
Pre-testing also allows us to understand which items are possible to salvage and which need disposal. Items that do not respond to cleaning or restoration and are inexpensive to replace can typically be discarded. By working quickly through content, SERVPRO can ensure that the restoration is as efficient as possible. If items require specialist services, like document recovery or hold the specific sentimental value, you can communicate with our restorers to discuss possible restoration options.

Fire restoration presents many challenging questions for a homeowner. For answers, contact SERVPRO of Crestview, Defuniak Springs, and Chipley (850) 267-0746.

Miramar Beach Property Owners Trust SERVPRO for Fire and Smoke Odor Removal

12/2/2019 (Permalink)

Don't Be a Butt-Head! Call SERVPRO to Abate Smoke and Fire-Related Odors from Your Miramar Beach Home

How to Remove Smoke Odor from Fire Damaged Crestview-Area Homes

The biggest problem following a house fire is the residual odor left behind throughout your home. Even the smallest kitchen fires have a way of penetrating smoke and its strong odor throughout the entire building. It is almost always impossible to remove the scent from the air without professional assistance.

Fire damage in your Crestview, Defuniak Springs, or Chipley home leads to extensive cleanup, especially when it comes to smoke. Often the most challenging piece of the cleanup is the smell remaining after you have cleaned everything else. Certified SERVPRO odor control technicians (OCT) use specialized techniques, cleaning and deodorizing chemicals, and equipment to remove the unwanted scent from your residence.

Every residence impacted by lingering smoke requires a customized plan to pull the odor from the home effectively. The severity and circumstances of each house are different.

The best way to attack the offensive smoke order is to recreate how the smoke first impacted the home. Thermal foggers vaporize deodorizers, creating aerosols consisting of microscopic particles. These droplets replicate the smoke molecules, which allow them to attack the smoke at a molecular level and by penetrating even the smallest cracks and crevices. Thermal fogs are pairing agents, eliminating odors rather than just masking them with deodorizers. People, plants, and pets are unable to remain in the home until the SERVPRO technicians finish fogging and until you feel comfortable re-entering the house. The preparation often takes more time than this actual service. But, the result of eliminating the source of the odors makes this a wise choice.

In addition to fogging, technicians use Air Scrubbers to pull particles as small as .3 micron from the air, run them through filters that contain activated carbon and potassium permanganate and then push them back into the air. Technicians work with resident owners to determine which, if any, deodorizers are used as a masking agent for the offensive smell of smoke. Masking is a stop-gap measure to improve the indoor air quality during the cleanup and restoration service.

Contact SERVPRO of Crestview, Defuniak Springs, and Chipley for help removing smoke odor from your home at (850) 267-0746. We make it, "Like it never even happened." 

Steps Homeowners can Take to Assist With Fire Damage Restoration in Santa Rosa

9/17/2019 (Permalink)

Not everything was lost in this fire. We were able to restore the home to its preloss condition.

Can You Do Part of Fire Recovery in Santa Rosa Beach Alone? 

There is no room for error when Santa Rosa Beach homes fall victim to fire loss incidents. With the likelihood of spreading effects reaching new areas within hours of extinguishment, many residents rely on the prompt response of our SERVPRO professionals to reach the property and immediately begin mitigation and restoration efforts. As much as we can handle nearly every aspect of this recovery, there are some areas that you can handle on your own when necessary.

As much as fire damage in Santa Rosa Beach homes feels overwhelming and highly stressful, your involvement in the restoration of your house can ultimately save you money. Also, participating in the early stages of recovery can ensure that certain damaged contents in your property do not become ruined as they contact spreading soot particulates, smoke residues, or odors moving through your home.

We work to provide a seamless transition between the early mitigation stages, such as fire debris removal, and reconstruction that your home might need. Here are some of the ways that you can help, even before our SERVPRO team arrives:

• Carefully remove at-risk contents and belongings from affected areas when it is safe to do so. Moving these items to a secure area of your property can ensure that further damage does not occur while our professionals are in route. 

• Get your family out of the house, especially when contending with a higher concentration of soot and airborne particulates. These carcinogens can cause health effects. 

• If safe to do so, remove standing water from extinguished areas with the use of a wet/dry vac. If the damage is too significant, our team has more efficient, high-capacity extractors to use instead.

While it is always a good idea to trust in the experience and prompt response of our SERVPRO of N. Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes & Washington Counties team after a fire, there are ways that you can help your property as well. Give our team a call to help whenever you need us at (850) 267-0746.

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What Can a Homeowner do After a Fire in Miramar Beach?

7/17/2019 (Permalink)

Not all items are unsalvageable. SERVPRO has specially designed cleaners to cut through the smoke and soot.

Can You Clean Soot Damage in Your Miramar Beach Home? 

Universally, Miramar Beach homeowners can attest that they would much rather save the money and time by restoring damages to their property themselves if possible. Even addressing specific symptoms and leaving the rest for professional restorers can reduce overall work times and the size of the final bill. After fire damage, multiple symptoms exist in areas far beyond the ignition point and can continue to get worse the longer the property waits for cleaning and restorative work to begin. 

Surprisingly, there are many steps that homeowners can take to reduce or eliminate fire damage in Miramar Beach properties by starting fire debris removal.  Homeowners can also work on getting the photographic evidence and documentation that your insurance company needs to process a damage claim. Other effects are more challenging to overcome without specific equipment and knowledge common to our SERVPRO team. However, there are things the homeowner can do to begin the process of cleaning soot and smoke residues from surfaces. 

Our SERVPRO professionals have tools and approved cleaning agents are used to clean thick smoke and soot residues left on specific surfaces throughout your property. Vacuums are often the first step that even our professional crews use to reduce the presence of soot buildup on hard surfaces. It is vital at this stage not to vacuum directly on the damaged materials, as smearing and ultimately staining are significant possibilities. 

We can use chemical sponges wet or dry, depending on the type of damage that exists.  These sponges have the embedded cleaning product to address an average of 50 square feet of the sooty surface before a new sponge must get used. 

While multiple steps are necessary to overcome damaging circumstances like soot and smoke residues, you are never alone in fire loss recovery. You can trust in the fast response and expertise of our SERVPRO of N. Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes & Washington Counties team to make it “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call at (850) 267-0746.

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Did You Know that Every Santa Rosa Beach Fire is Unique and Requires a Customer Restoration Plan

5/29/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can determine the type of smoke and clean your home. We will make it "Like it never even happened."

How we Tailor our Fire Damage Restoration to your Santa Rosa Beach Property

One of the biggest hurdles in overcoming a fire is to get your property back to preloss conditions without wholesale replacement of possessions and fittings. To work with a restore over replace mentality, we need to be well-versed in the theory of fire, how damages spread, and the best methods of cleaning away soot or smoke residues.

Moisture, heat, Oxygen, and gas interact in many different ways. Our technicians are trained in a variety of cleaning methods and are available to restore fire damage in Santa Rosa Beach. At SERVPRO, we believe that every property situation is different, which is why we conduct a thorough pre-test of your home before any work begins. During this time, your technician can trace the journey of smoke throughout the home as well as assess what type of smoke residues are left behind.

Different types of smoke deposits such as wet smoke, dry smoke, protein, or fuel have a strong influence on our procedure. However, we do not solely test the type of smoke, but also the type of surface. Some materials may shrink under heat or wet cleaning; others may be more robust and capable of sustaining corrosive chemical agents. Soot bonds with the surfaces they come into contact with, our job is to apply the right cleaning method to release deposits and get surfaces back to preloss conditions.

Depending on the variables of surface and smoke content, we use a combined temperature, agitation, chemical agents, and dwell time. Wet smokes are particularly stubborn and may require soaking in a cleaning solution before effectively removed. Robust surfaces like light fittings can benefit from soda blasting or corrosive chemical agents to help loosen and clear away damages.

Understanding the different elements of smoke and fire can help SERVPRO to apply methods that are both efficient and effective. We invest significant amounts into our technicians so they can apply their knowledge to each situation individually. As a locally owned and operated company SERVPRO provide a personal, tailored solution to your property making damages "Like it never even happened."

For a professional, individual approach, contact SERVPRO of N. Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes and Washington Counties at (850) 267-0746 today.

Read more about Santa Rosa Beach here.

We Can Handle Any Fire Damage To Your Condo In Santa Rosa Beach

2/19/2019 (Permalink)

Call our 24-hour service line at (850) 267-0746 for prompt, professional service from specialists who care.

When Overnight Guests Leave Your Condo With Fire Damage In Santa Rosa Beach

Having guests from out of town stay overnight is a great way to socialize and help someone enjoy the beautiful area around Santa Rosa Beach. While you do not expect to discover that your guests mistreated your residence during their stay, it does happen.

When your condo in Santa Rosa Beach contains fire damage in an area you spend little time in, it might seem unimportant at first. We want you to know that fire damage can cause health effects because of the soot, and also possibly place the rest of your residence at higher risk of future fires.

The soot that came from the fire and its smoke permeate everything nearby, and it does travel even after the fire no longer exists. When charred walls mar a room, this can also affect the electrical wiring. SERVPRO's professionals know how to get this taken care of so you do not need to worry about any of it any longer. We do this type of work regularly and can have your condo looking “Like it never even happened.”

When photo frames and other items look dirty from the soot, we can clean these, so they look new again. We also clean surfaces like dressers, windowsills, lamps, and many others. Some textiles need special laundering that we do at our site. However, most of the work we do is right in your home.

Our specialist partners can help make sure that electrical outlets function correctly, saving you the added expense of hiring an electrician separately. We only call our partners after inspecting for electrical damage and then discussing it with you. Our preliminary inspection can save you the trouble of an electrician's unnecessary service call.

SERVPRO of N. Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes & Washington Counties covers Alys Beach, Sandestin, and Seagrove, ensuring that residences in these locations receive fire damage mitigation services when needed. Call our 24-hour service line at (850) 267-0746 for prompt, professional service from specialists who care.

Click here for more about Santa Rosa Beach.

Miramar Beach's Fire Damage Experts Discuss Restoring Structural Components

7/31/2018 (Permalink)

Contact SERVPRO after your home sustains any type of fire damage. Our quick response to assess and remediate will help produce great results.

SERVPRO's Technicians Help to Effectively Restore Your Home and Contents After a Fire

Whenever a fire burns a building in Miramar Beach, various types of damage take place. The heat and flames that come from a blaze take their toll and burn anything that is in their path. Smoke coming from the burn will travel throughout the house leaving behind soot residues and pungent aromas. Various items inside your home like your possessions could get affected. It is also possible that your carpets, walls, and ceilings will also get damaged.
 
Insurance policies usually distinguish their coverage of items inside your home placing them in either the structure or contents category. Whenever we mitigate fire damage near Miramar Beach, we separate the scope of work of damage into the two separate categories as well. From the time we complete the initial estimate, we put the damage and work required to mitigate it into its appropriate category. We also clean and restore contents and structural materials separately. In some situations, our SERVPRO technicians even move the contents out of the affected building and into a separate location for cleaning. Other times we move the contents into a clean, unaffected area of the house for cleaning and remediation work.
 
Our SERVPRO crew groups items into the structure category when they are a permanent part of the structure of the building. Therefore things that are permanently attached to a building's framework including walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows, and attached floor coverings are all considered structure. Other items that are considered structural components include cabinets, heating and ventilation systems, and bath fixtures. If you could turn a house upside down and shake it, anything that fell out would be placed in the category of the contents, and anything that remained in the house would be put into the structure group.
 
Restoring a structure often takes both remodeling and cleaning procedures. Remodeling involves replacing items that got burnt or charred severely and removed. Cleaning involves restoring fire and smoke damaged items back to preloss conditions. If you ever need help restoring structural components after a fire engulfs your home, call SERVPRO of N. Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes & Washington Counties at (850) 267-0746 seven days a week.
 
Click here for more information on Miramar Beach.

SERVPRO Handles Smoke And Ash From Fire Damage In Miramar Beach

5/30/2018 (Permalink)

Fabrics and textiles can take some of the worst fire damage in a Miramar Beach home after a disaster.

SERVPRO Handles Smoke And Ash After A Fire

Fabrics and textiles can take some of the worst fire damage in a Miramar Beach home after a disaster. All types of fires, from electrical mishaps to kitchen accidents to natural disasters, produce enough smoke, ash, and other materials to mar fabric materials common in local homes severely. These contaminants cannot be removed with cleaning products and techniques available to homeowners. SERVPRO employs specialized cleaning solutions designed to eliminate smoke and ash damage without further damaging the objects.

Industrial Clothes Washing

Most articles of clothing found in the average home in Miramar Beach can be washed free of fire damage through similar albeit specialized techniques. SERVPRO owns and operates industrial washing machines designed to handle every article of clothing in your home in only one or two washes, saving time and expenses on what could otherwise be an arduous washing process. For more delicate or expensive articles, we have special treatments and close contacts with local dry cleaning contractors to make sure they receive the time and precision necessary to avoid further damage.

HVAC Systems

SERVPRO technicians are HVAC specialists that are well-acquainted with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems used in local construction. Smoke and ash can clog up these systems and potentially lead to additional problems such as long-term smoke odors and mold growth. We thoroughly check and clean out HVAC systems around your home to prevent them from becoming another source of headaches after a fire.

Walls, Floors, And Ceilings

The piling-up of smoke and ash can leave your home looking like a wreck with discoloration and grimy textures coating every surface in the area. Without the appropriate chemical treatments and cleaning supplies, these effects can become worse as water and household cleaning products press smoke particles into the material and solidify damage. Be sure to ask us before conducting any cleanup on your own; otherwise, you could inadvertently make the problem worse than it was before.

SERVPRO of N. Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes & Washington Counties provides fire damage cleanup and restoration services to homeowners in the area. Call us 24/7 at (850) 267-0746.

Click here for more about Miramar Beach.

Firefighting Efforts Leave Water Damage Behind in Santa Rosa Beach

3/29/2018 (Permalink)

Protect Your Castle in Santa Rosa Beach from Water Intrusion--Call SERVPRO for Cleanup and Extraction

SERVPRO Can Clean Up Debris and Extract Water and Quickly Dry Your Home

Fire can happen any home, including the ones located in Santa Rosa Beach. Significant damage can occur from even small fires to the interior of a home and cover different types of damage. Because of this, SERVPRO trains their employees so they know how to respond to each type of harm from smoke and fire that might exist within your property.
 
After a house fire, homeowners often find that their home sustains not only damage from the fire, but also water damage. Firefighters in Santa Rosa Beach may use thousands of gallons of water to extinguish each housefire they respond to, and this water remains until a qualified company extracts it from the home and restores normal moisture levels. Smaller fires that homeowners extinguish themselves can also cause this problem but on a smaller scale.
 
Because flooding in the traditional sense did not occur, we can skip straight to the use of hand-held extractions units that gently remove the water from your floors. These remove water and leave floors almost dry, but we need to take other measures, too. These steps include increasing the number of times that air changes inside your home and other methods.
 
We raise the temperature inside your property, so evaporation rates increase. Air movers do exactly that, - move air around, so the air whisks up the extra humidity and prevents it from condensing elsewhere in your home. Along the same lines, floors inundated with water require specialized care.
 
Other areas of your home, such as walls and even ceilings often absorb large amounts of water. Your personal belongings and household furnishings most likely absorbed quite a bit of the water, as well. The steps that increase the temperature and the airflow currents' speed take care of these issues for the most part, but special situations might exist, such as expensive paintings and other artwork, antiques, and family heirlooms that might sustain damage from excessive moisture. If such situations exist within your home and they concern you, please discuss these with us so we can give them the consideration they deserve. We want to make your home "Like it never even happened" again.
 
SERVPRO of N. Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes & Washington Counties can help your family after a fire leaves water damage inside your home. Call us at (850) 267-0746 if you live in the area near Freeport, Seagrove, or Sandestin for professionals with expert skills who can provide exactly what your home requires. We are always available to answer your questions by phone and start the process of restoring your property.

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Fire Damage from the Christmas Tree in Your Miramar Beach Home

1/5/2018 (Permalink)

Enjoy your tree and stay safe by taking preventative steps when caring for it. Should your home suffer a fire, contact SERVPRO right away.

Our Trained Professionals Can Quickly Remediate Damage Regardless of the Cause

Christmas trees can start a fire in your Miramar Beach home if you do not take the proper precautions. You can keep you and your family safe during the holidays by avoiding unnecessary fires. If you love real trees, they dry up very fast, so keep your tree watered. You also want to avoid overcrowding any electrical outlets and do not use any cheap or faulty extension cords. Check the lights you put on your trees as well.
 
Fires and fire damage are always stressful, but even more so during the holidays. If your Miramar Beach home has suffered fire damage, contact our professionals at SERVPRO right away. We can help you clean up and repair your home after a fire so that you and your family can get back to your regular lives.
 
When cleaning up after a fire, four elements affect how residues and soils are suspended in our cleaning products – temperature, agitation, chemical action, and time.
 
Heat causes molecules to move faster. The faster they move, the faster the speed of the chemical reaction between cleaning solutions and soils is. Every cleaning product has its temperature that is appropriate. Heat also reduces the tension of water-based solutions, which lets the products to penetrate surfaces and dissolve soils better.
 
Agitation is when the surface being cleaned is moved, or the cleaning solution is moved, or both. SERVPRO techs use agitation to free or dislodge soils. Once we break this bond, we can wash the soils away.
 
Cleaning solutions help us bridge the gap between the water and soil, making the process of cleaning easier. Several chemical reactions are used to get results when removing smoke residues. We use these various chemical actions to break the bond between smoke residues and the surfaces they are clinging to.
 
When it comes to restoration, time refers to dwell time. It is the time we need for soils to dissolve and the chemical action to work. Dwell time varies for different cleaning processes and professional products. Time requirements are based on various factors like the kind of soil, the kind of material, the method of agitation, and the temperature of the cleaning solution.
 
SERVPRO of N. Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes & Washington Counties understands the various factors that affect cleaning up fire damage so we can thoroughly clean your home the right way. When your home in Bonifay, Freeport, and Seagrove Beach has experienced a fire, contact us right away at (850) 267-0746.

For more information regarding the town of Miramar Beach, click here.

Reliable Fire Damage Options for Residents of Miramar Beach

11/9/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technicians use ozone and thermal fogging to rid your home of the unwanted odors and chemicals left behind by fire damage.

SERVPRO Offers Professional Deodorization after Fire Damage in Your Home

There are many challenges which result from a fire damage incident that many homeowners in Miramar Beach find disturbing. For instance, during such a time the air is filled with many irritants. One of the surest ways of restoring the situation is by deodorizing. But how are you going to conduct such a technique when you do not have the right tools and the knowledge?

Residents of Miramar Beach should not worry past that point since companies like SERVPRO have trained and certified professionals in fire damage restoration. Let us begin by understanding the two kinds of deodorization - ozone and thermal fogging.

Deodorizing using ozone needs much care since it is a poisonous gas. According to OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration), the PEL (permissible exposure level) of ozone stands at 0.1 ppm (parts per million). Despite that, we cannot underestimate its effectiveness as a deodorant. That is why the trained personnel use protective gear such as NIOSH-approved respirators, organic vapor cartridges, chemical resistant gloves and goggles when dealing with the gas.

On the other hand, solvent-based deodorants are emitted by a fogging device when carrying out thermal fogging. With the help of heat and combustion, the deodorants are broken down into small particles. Since the deodorizing products used by this technique are highly flammable, all pilot lights in the working area are extinguished. To prevent irritation, we ensure pets and people do not get into contact with the fog.

When either of the two deodorizing techniques is performed, ventilating the treated areas is encouraged. When windows and doors are not sufficient, you will service providers such as SERVPRO setting up high-velocity fans and air movers to thoroughly turn over the air in the area. For cases where ozone was used, air should be left to circulate for about 15 – 45 minutes.

At SERVPRO of N. Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes & Washington Counties we understand that fire damage issues are emergencies which need much seriousness. Call us at (850) 267-0746 for unrivaled services.

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Mark Your October Calendar As Fire Prevention Week in the Santa Rosa Beach Area

10/3/2017 (Permalink)

Fire Prevention Week is October 8-14, 2017

Prevent Fire Related Tragedies with a Plan of Action

Make an annual practice of reviewing your fire preparedness during October, Fire Prevention Week. Home and business owners can do much to ready themselves, their families, and their employees to respond to fire threats. Creating a fire escape plan and maintaining fire alert and fighting equipment are practical steps everyone can take both to lower the risk of fire and to increase the success of fire mitigation efforts.

Every family and business must invest in an emergency exit blueprint, and then perform drills to ensure all who may face a blaze know what to do to vacate their Santa Rosa Beach dwelling or commercial building safely. Keep the practices lighthearted but detailed in a home setting so as not to frighten children or vulnerable family member. Teach competence in this life-saving technique, so all feel confident in their duties.

Scrutinize escape routes to determine whether you need to perform repairs or maintenance to make them safe and simple to access. Doors and windows that double as fire exits must open easily with no paint or caulk redistricting movement. Remove any screws or nails that impede movement. Install or make available nearby safety escape ladders if escaping from an upper story of a building is necessary. Practice their use.

Make a list of equipment installed or available in your home or business that helps avoid fires or extinguishes flames. Smoke alarms or detectors need new batteries yearly, so make that an October ritual. Be sure to test them monthly, as well. Hang charged fire extinguishers in high fire risk areas like kitchens, laundry rooms, and garages. Evaluate areas of your commercial buildings to determine the best locations for extinguishers and then supply and maintain them.

Schedule an annual meeting with your insurance agent to familiarize yourself with your fire damage coverage, making adaptations as necessary to increase your comfort level. Maintain a running inventory of your personal belongings, important papers, pictures, and heirlooms to enable clear and supported claims in the event of a fire. Businesses should also document their intellectual and physical property to streamline the fire coverage claims process. October is the perfect time to make sure you are on track with this routine.

SERVPRO of N. Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes & Washington Counties is your community partner should fire damage your home or commercial properties. Call for reliable and professional restoration services at (850) 267-0746 day or night.

For more details about Santa Rosa Beach, visit http://www.santarosa.fl.gov/

SERVPRO Fire Damage Crestview

11/23/2016 (Permalink)

Call the experts at SERVPRO for any commercial or residential fire damage.

When a fire happens, the first thing homeowners want to do is return their home to normal. The last thing they want to do is deal with the paperwork. That's understandable when one of the worst things that can happen to your home actually does, it's a nightmare came true.

As a Crestview homeowner, fire damage isn't just a job to you, and we at SERVPRO feel the same way. This is perhaps the most stressful thing to happen to you as a homeowner, and we will be with you from the first examination to when we put the keys back in your hand. We have six key steps to make sure it happens.

1) We make sure YOU are satisfied - Our inspectors and technicians will explain the restoration process to you and answer every question.

2) Minimize and further loss - Our teams are highly skilled and trained to prevent secondary property loss from smoke or soot damage and as we move your property out of the damaged areas and then back in once the work is completed.

3) Identify what can be restored - We will test every item that may have been exposed to determine if it can be cleaned, does not require cleaning or could be questionable and depends on your decision. We will also be honest with you about what is no longer useful and needs to be replaced.

4) Save you and your insurance adjuster time - We will help you work with your adjuster to process everything as quickly as possible. Our initial testing and inspections provide the adjuster with the information they need to get your fire insurance case started.

5) Report the scope of loss - Our work reports to the both of you keep the paperwork moving as we restore your home and property. They also help the adjuster review our services and prioritize the work schedule to reduce costs. Once we're done, we will provide a final report that will help the adjuster process all final paperwork.

6) Produce quality restoration - In the end, even if the insurance adjuster is happy with our work, we've failed if you aren't happy. This last step is what customer service is all about for us.

We don't just come in, drag out your possessions, throw on a coat of paint and then hand you a bill. As a locally owned franchise, SERVPRO of N. Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes & Washington is here to help our neighbors through every step of the fire restoration process. If you need us, call us today at (850) 267-0746 to get started.

Fire Damage & Space Heaters

11/17/2015 (Permalink)

Don't Let a Space Heater Cause Fire Damage

SERVPRO Provides Tips to Help Prevent Fire Damage Caused by Temporary Heating

When the weather is starting to cool off, you may get the urge to pull out your space heater. These heaters are useful for the amount of warmth they can put off without driving up your electric bill too much.  However, if not used following manufacturers' directions, they can be very dangerous. Please educate your family or employees on how to use space heaters correctly because, in recent years, space heaters have been involved in an estimated 57,100 home structure fires.

 Here are some tips for preventing Crestview fire damage to your home or condo using space heaters:

1. Place the heater on a hard, level surface, never place on a carpet or mattress.
2. Turn it off when you leave the house.
3. Keep it at least three feet from nearest object, more for drapes, curtains, or fabrics.
4. Avoid using extension cords; overloading may cause an electrical fire in the wall or the wire.
5. Place the space heater where small children or pets will not topple it.
6. Limit the use of these heaters if a brown-out occurs in your home.

Always handle with care and only when a space heater is cold. Never transport or move while it is still hot. If a fire occurs, remain calm and be careful of an electrical shock. Remember that SERVPRO of Crestview, Defuniak Springs, and Chipley is only a phone call away if you have a problem with water, mold, or fire damage to your property. Our goal is always to restore your home to its preloss condition "Like it never even happened." (850) 267-0746