Tips for Preventing Fires in the House

8/29/2022 (Permalink)

Restoring your home or business after fire damage to its pre-fire condition is our main goal.

Tips for Preventing Fires in the House

When your home and personal things are damaged or destroyed in a house fire, the experience may be painful and stressful. However, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of an uncontrollable house fire by following the most common fire safety prevention tips daily.

INSPECT SMOKE DETECTORS MONTHLY

Homeowners should check their smoke detectors every month to ensure that their batteries are in good condition and operating correctly. On the other hand, if you don't check your smoke detectors for an extended time, you might end up with malfunctioning equipment that can't detect smoke or fire.

CHECK THE OUTLETS IN YOUR HOME.

It would help if you had a licensed electrician or home inspector examine all of the outlets in your house to look for any problems with the wires. If you are unsure where the problem with your home's wiring lies, an outlet fire may occur suddenly and without warning.

AFTER EACH USE, REMOVE ALL ELECTRONICS FROM THE SOCKET.

It's best not to overload a surge protector with too many devices, particularly those you don't use very often. When you're going for the day or on vacation, unplug any devices or kitchen appliances you aren't presently using.

WHEN IN THE KITCHEN, BE CAREFUL.

When using your stove, oven, or any other kitchen device, remember to always keep an eye on yourself. When baking or cooking, never leave your oven unattended. If an unplanned grease or oven fire occurs, have a small kitchen fire extinguisher on hand.

Are you searching for a fire damage restoration service near me in Belmont, CA? SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos is here to assist. Give us a call today at (650) 591-4137.

Causes Of Fire Damages.

8/16/2022 (Permalink)

Our professionals are highly-trained, with the experience, tools, and knowledge to clean up fire damage and remove the smell of smoke.

Causes Of Fire Damages.

Fire is the most destructive natural catastrophe. It may disrupt daily life and cost considerable cash, accompanied by several issues. When it comes to restoring your property, it is in your best interest to get started as soon as you possibly can. Not only will this help you save money, but it will also avoid more damage to your home.

Let's take a look at some of the most common sorts of harm that fire may inflict.

Burning

Burning will cause a lot of delamination, such as a charred stairway or a hole in your wall or ceiling, and prioritize these repairs.

Disgusting smells and filth

Smoke and soot damage may permeate a room for days or weeks, and many surfaces become permanently stained. Smoke can discolor the walls and carpets of your home. Even in regions not directly damaged by the fire, it may leave a trail of ash, ash residue, and soot everywhere. So, getting rid of it will be a top priority for any fire damage repair company that comes into your house or place of business.

Water Damage

Damage from both fire and water is quite common. This is because fire damage may create a broken pipe or tank, allowing water to flood over your building, or fire damage can produce holes in your property, which can lead to leaks during poor weather. In addition, firefighters will use water to put out the fire, resulting in water damage to your property.

Hiring a team of restoration experts is the most effective action after fire damage. They know how to remove smoke and soot from your possessions and fix structural damage and restore your home to its pre-incident state. Trust SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos  to handle all fire damage effectively. Give us a call today at (650) 591-4137.

Actions to Take in the Event of Fire Damage

7/16/2022 (Permalink)

Our professionals are highly-trained, with the experience, tools, and knowledge to clean up fire and smoke damage.

Actions to Take in the Event of Fire Damage

Fire damage can be a terrifying experience. However, after a moment of disbelief, homeowners often ask how they might begin the cleaning procedure. Thus, taking the required precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones is essential.

Ask First whether You're Allowed to Enter Your Property

Make sure that the Fire Marshall has given the go-ahead for you to enter the building. In that case, you should be aware of potential hazards in your house, such as hot spots and unstable beams. Waiting until it is safe to see whether your treasured possessions have been spared the fire's ravages is preferable to dealing with an injury that might prolong the process of clearing up the fire damage.

Take Pictures of the Fire Damage.

It's also a good idea to take photographs of the damage to show them to the insurance companies and other possible service providers while you're getting bids. Some damage may not be apparent, such as removing the smoky smell from clothing and furnishings.

Call a Fire Damage Restoration Company for Help

However, there are certain things that you can handle on your own, such as removing clothes and linens that may be laundered or brought to the dry cleaners. Items that have been severely damaged by fire, smoke, or water should not be handled. A restoration firm should be contacted immediately after a fire. These businesses are dedicated to restoring and repairing damaged property.

SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos is here to help if you require fire damage restoration services. There is no job too big or too little for us to handle. Give us a call today at (650) 591-4137.

Facts About Home Fires

4/13/2022 (Permalink)

Our goal is to restore your home or business after fire damage to its pre-fire condition.

Facts About Home Fires

Burns and fires continue to prove a significant cause of unintentional death and injury in home settings. Those who are the most at risk include the young and the elderly. Here are some fast facts about home fires.

Facts

• Nearly 4000 people die on an annual basis in the United States, with more than 2000 severely injured due to house fires.
• The heat emanating from a house fire can reach over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit in barely 3.5 minutes.
• Approximately 80% of casualties from fires occur in homes.
• For rooms that haven't been set aflame, the temperature is still liable to reach beyond 300 degrees, a figure hot enough to kill people and melt plastic.
• Across the overall population, senior citizens aged 65 and up are more than two times as likely to die from a home fire.
• The leading cause of death from fire is related to careless smoking.
• Having a smoke detector greatly increases the probability of surviving a fire.

Factors That Contribute To Fatality

Fire inevitably produces fumes and gasses that can easily confuse, make sleepy, or weaken people. Furthermore, the carbon monoxide produced is not sensible, so if you are already sleeping, the smell will not wake you up, but an alarm will. Unlike the flames seen in films, the smoke emanating from house fires is often so thick that the interior of a house can dark in less than 4 minutes, regardless of whether there are lights on or not.

Even if a fire is contained in one area, smoke and soot can travel throughout a structure. Our professionals at SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos are highly-trained to clean up fire and smoke damage. Contact us at (650) 591-4137.

Fire Safety in Your Home: Highly Flammable Everyday Items

3/27/2022 (Permalink)

Fire Safety in Your Home: Highly Flammable Everyday Items

Fire Safety in Your Home: Highly Flammable Everyday Items

There are certain items that we use everyday that we don’t even think about as flammable.  Fires can happen quicker and more often than we think, and often times these fires can be avoided or prevented.  We can start by checking the following list of everyday items that are highly flammable and making sure that they are properly stored or taken care of.  

Flammable Item #1 – Rubbing Alcohol

A common item found in many medicine cabinets, this is one of the most flammable items that are found in people’s homes.  It can easily start a fire if it comes into contact with any open flames.  To prevent this from happening, make sure it isn’t being stored in a place that is next to high heat or open flames of any kind.  If your medicine cabinet is near the heater or water heater, you may want to consider moving the rubbing alcohol.

Flammable Item #2 – Aerosols

Aerosols include air fresheners, deodorants, hair spray, spray paints, sunscreens, and some cleaning products.  Keep these items away from high heat, they are especially vulnerable to combustion with pressure due to temperature.  

Flammable Item #3 – Nail Polish & Remover

Acetone is one of the main ingredients inside most nail polishes and nail polish removers.  Acetone, like rubbing alcohol, is highly flammable.  Remain cautious of your surroundings while using these products, and make sure you aren’t using them near open flames, candles, or other household items that are flammable.  

While this list is a great start, you may also want to consider your mattress, dryer lint, and cooking oils.  Make sure you are checking your home at least once a year to ensure that these products are in safe areas and well maintained.  

Our main goal at SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos is to restore your home or business after fire damage to its pre-fire condition. Give us a call at (650) 591-4137.

Why It's Hard to Completely Get Rid of Smoke Smell in Your House

2/3/2022 (Permalink)

House fire

There are many reasons you'd need to get the smoke smell out of the house. Burnt toast, cigarette smoke, or a tragic house fire… whatever your reason, no one likes a smoky place, and we're here to help you get rid of that smoke smell that won't quit.

Although many homeowners use an ammonia mixture to remove smoke smells, there are natural alternatives to harsh chemicals that you can try first. A less intense but effective method is to mix a good Castile soap with water and essential oils of your choice and then scrub the walls with a microfiber cloth. 

You can also make a mixture using ½ cup baking soda, ¼ cup white vinegar, and hot water. This will also help remove any stains on the walls that may be contributing to foul odors. Follow these steps to clean the walls, including making sure the sponge or cloth you're using is just barely damp, not soaking wet, to reduce drips on the wall.

Get Rid of Smoke Smell by Calling SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos

Odors can be one of the most substantial hurdles to providing a comfortable living space for occupants in a home after a fire. Our SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos team can help. Give us a call today at (650) 591-4137

How Can I Get My Redwood City Home Smelling Normal After a Fire?

10/27/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO IICRC certified technicians use the latest technology and equipment for every fire damage restoration project. Call now!

Our Professionals Have Many Long-Term Solutions for Neutralizing Odors in Your Home. 

While multiple areas require attention and focus after a fire loss in your Redwood City residence, one of the most considerable hindrances to comfortable living is often lingering odors. Addressing harsh smells that result from burning and smoke can require the use of numerous tools, products, and approaches.

Fire odor and smoke removal for Redwood City properties involve a balance between the industry-leading tools available to our SERVPRO team and the experienced technicians of our roster. Continued education and extensive training from firms like the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) have allowed our Odor Control Technicians (OCT) and Fire & Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT) to be confident and knowledgeable with every post-fire response we provide.

Is It Possible to Reduce Odors Before Deodorization? 

A reduction in the severity of fire odors is not impossible, but it is often a process that homeowners cannot complete on their own. Instead of waiting around in a potentially hazardous environment for ways that you can make the restoration process more efficient, it is often safer and faster to allow our team to complete some of these pre-emptive strategies for reducing the concentration of harsh odors.

Debris Removal 

Debris is one of the very first obstacles that our responding SERVPRO team must address. Heaps of charred remnants of your contents and structural materials can amplify the severity of lingering odors in the house. Discarding this rubbish can reduce the strength of these odors.

Controlled Demolition

Much like debris removal, many decisions must be made about materials still installed throughout the house. Damaged drywall, ceiling materials, and flooring can all become too compromised to leave where they are. Controlled demolition can remove only the irreparable portions of materials, making reinstallation and reconstruction faster. 

Cleaning Surfaces

Cleaning up soiled surfaces and areas where soot might be present can also be a way to reduce the severity of noxious scents in the damaged areas of your home. With potent chemical agents that can work to emulsify oils on the surfaces, we can also wash away thick surface residues that can hold odors.

What Equipment is Best for Odor Removal? 

Numerous tools and machines can help to address lingering odors in a Redwood City house after a fire loss incident. While many of these are ideal for very specific scenarios, we have three common types used that can address the majority of penetrating odors in a structure and its contents. These include:

Thermal Foggers

Foggers are one of the most widely used units, though they might not always generate fog. Some of the machines in our inventory create a gaseous vapor from deodorizing compounds among our products that can penetrate the pores of affected structural materials and contents throughout the damaged areas. The lightweight unit is among the most versatile and mobile of our entire deodorization inventory.

Hydroxyl Machines 

Using the same natural environmental cleaning practices in our atmosphere, harnessing the power of a chemical reaction between water droplets and the UV spectrum, hydroxyl generators can clean the damaged environment in multiple ways and work to neutralize odors in the process.

 Ozone Generators 

While it is not safe for use in the immediate proximity of humans and pets, ozone generators are among the soundest approaches to odor removal that exist. From the ozone chamber in our SERVPRO warehouse for damaged contents to in-house ozone units, we can utilize the splitting of oxygen molecules to neutralize present odors in your house after a fire.

What Happens to Smoke-Damaged Contents? 

While there are many immediate concerns after a fire loss incident, what happens to your belongings and treasured possessions sit at the top of the list. We have content management specialists dedicated to identifying the best approach for your items based on the severity of the damage, their location, and the specific processes needed to restore them fully. Removing odors from your possessions usually involves one of three potential approaches, including:

• On-Site Cleaning
• In-House Deodorization
• Off-Site Recovery 
• Are DIY Odor Removal Tactics Similar to Professional Methods? 

Many of the practices utilized by homeowners after a fire loss to address lingering odors does little to the odor itself. Masking a scent might resolve the issue temporarily, but it is a situation that you continue to face again and again. Our methods involve the removal and neutralization of trapped and open-air odors permanently.

Odors can be one of the most substantial hurdles that exist to provide a comfortable living space for occupants in a home after a fire. Our SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos team can help. Give us a call today at (650) 591-4137.

Addressing Pungent Odors in Redwood City with Kitchen Fire Damage Restoration

10/11/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damage from a kitchen fire is hard to handle. Call SERVPRO and let their technicians handle all the fire damage restoration for you.

Redwood City Residents Get Results When Hiring SERVPRO for Fire Damage Restoration After a Kitchen Blaze

You had a fire in your kitchen, and you know there is a long road ahead of you to get rid of the tough odors and mess. But, where do you start? Hiring skilled odor control technicians (OCT) from a team like SERVPRO gets you the needed results. The kitchen in your Redwood City home is a space that you use often, so restoring it to normal is critical. Our highly-trained technicians can get in fast to begin smoke remediation so we can make it “Like it never even happened.”

When you require kitchen fire damage restoration in Redwood City, residues will be created that are vastly different from regular burned building materials. This residue leaves a stubborn coating behind that may consist of proteins, grease, dehydrated oils, other food items, or a perfect storm of all. Such residue is:

• Often colorless, which makes it challenging for the untrained eye to detect it on contents and building materials
• Very sticky, quickly adhering to various surfaces
• Extremely pungent
• Easy traveling, often drifting throughout the home with the heat currents generated by the blaze
• Comprised of oils, which makes it difficult for water-based cleaners to break down

Rather than attempting kitchen fire clean-up on your own, fire and smoke damage remediation with SERVPRO gets you the best results. We arrive to assess the fire zone to select the right tools and products for the job. Some of the techniques we use may include solvents, abrasive tools, agitation, and specialized equipment to help us break down and trap odorous particles. 

You can trust that our skilled team at SERVPRO of Belmont/San Carlos will be quick to arrive and ready to get to work on your fire damage restoration within hours of your call. You can contact us 24/7 by dialing (650) 591-4137.

SERVPRO Makes Fire Damage in San Carlos Go Away

8/26/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO's IICRC certified technicians are ready for any size fire damaged job. Call on our skilled teams when your home experiences a fire.

Mitigating Kitchen Fire Damage in San Carlos

From 2011 to 2015, an estimated 358,500 fires occurred in homes that caused over $6.7 billion in damages, according to NFPA data. Not only are San Carlos home structural fires costly, but they can have long-term effects on homes without professional mitigation, including the spread of odors and residues that can be unpleasant and difficult to remove with consumer-grade cleaners.

If you need fast, reliable fire damage removal in your San Carlos home, they can always count on the restoration technicians at SERVPRO to get the job done right. SERVPRO technicians use contemporary technologies and EPA-registered antimicrobials to ensure that your home gets the restoration it needs after a fire occurs. Whether contents or structures are affected, these professionals focus on preservation and restoration whenever it is safe and feasible to do so.

Choosing the Right Fire Extinguisher

When buying fire extinguishers for your home, it is essential to be aware that there are several different categories made to fight different kinds of fires. These include:

• Type A, which is primarily for mundane fire situations involving materials like wood, paper, and cloth.
• Type B, which is designed for extinguishing fires caused by combustible liquids like oil, grease, and gasoline.
• Type C, which is made for handling electrical fires.
• Type D, which can extinguish fires involving flammable metals, and is mainly for commercial applications.
• Type K, which can handle vegetables and animal-based oils, as well as other fats, in cooking appliances. This variety is similar to Type B but is designed for commercial applications in areas like cafeterias and restaurant kitchens.

For home use, there are also multi-purpose extinguishers that encompass the traits of Types A, B, and C. Most homeowners should look for an extinguisher that weighs between two and ten pounds.

How SERVPRO Removes Fire Damage 

Kitchen fires can leave copious amounts of damage to appliances that can eventually corrode metals and plastics. It is crucial to examine and thoroughly clean electronics near where the fire occurred. All-purpose antimicrobials and glass cleaners can be used to take care of light damages. Yellowing on appliances is reduced by using a wood creme paste.

For polished finishes, chrome, and aluminum exteriors, alkaline cleaners designed for substantial damage are implemented with care to preserve the sheen and quality of your kitchen appliances. Electronics in need of restoration can be sent to an authorized electronics service technician after a thorough cleaning.

SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos is always ready to leave disaster-affected homes looking, "Like it never even happened." Whether you need cleanup late at night, on weekends, or during holidays, you can call (650) 591-4137.

Are Refrigerated and Frozen Foods Safe for Consumption After Fire Damage Restoration in San Carlos?

8/10/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can help you with every step following a fire incident in your San Carlos home. Call us for help right away.

SERVPRO Technicians Can Help Fire Victims Sort Out What Foods to Keep During San Carlos Fire Damage Restoration

Homeowners have dozens of decisions to make after professional fire damage restoration in San Carlos. One category might take you by surprise -- what chilled and frozen foods can you keep without risking the health and well-being of yourself and your family?

Why Would Food Secured in a Freezer or Refrigerator Pose a Hazard?

SERVPRO weighs many considerations before declaring an opinion  on food safety during fire damage mitigation and remediation in San Carlos. Heat, smoke, and soot are possible contaminants, as are the chemicals or water used for firefighting. Two significant concerns present:

• Did the appliance lose power or warm from the water or the heat of the blaze during the fire, causing a temperature increase that could make foods dangerous to eat? 

• Did toxic residues from the fire's combustion penetrate inside the freezer or refrigerator, possibly tainting foods and beverages?

Are There Guidelines SERVPRO Follows for Chilled and Frozen Food Safety During Fire Mitigation or Remediation?

Freezer seals are not reliably airtight, requiring an investigation of each fire scene individually. Expect SERVPRO to direct you to governmental agencies' advice regarding whether the food inside a cooling or freezing appliance remains protected adequately. Some recommendations include:

• Keep appliance doors tightly shut, especially if cooling and freezing are interrupted.

• Inspect for soot lines or a smoky odor when first opening the appliance. Discard food if present.

• Monitor temperatures of the food -- toss unless food items have temps of 40 degrees or lower. 

• Frozen items that thaw only to 40 degrees or colder can be cooked or refrozen.

• Refreeze juices, dairy items, and baked goods as long as they maintained the 40 degree maximum.

• Thawed vegetables can be refrozen only if ice crystals remain.

Work with SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos during and after fire damage restoration to keep your family safe. Call (650) 591-4137 for a consultation.

How Can My Foster City Home’s Fire Damage Be Remediated?

2/22/2021 (Permalink)

Do you know how to clean smoke and soot from your home? SERVPRO does!

Fire Damage Restoration Generally Involves Various Methods

When your home burns, its air, structural elements, and contents are all impacted, therefore, various techniques are necessary to restore your residence to its pre-fire condition.

Foster City fire damage restoration services routinely deal with diverse kinds of issues caused by fires. The fire and smoke produced by the combustion process consume materials in your house, fill its interior air with harmful particles, and deposit acidic soot residues on its surfaces. Some of the most often affected things in your residence are: 

• Ceilings, walls, and floors
• Insulation and attic rafters
• Furnishings and other household contents
• HVAC systems

When remediating such damage, professional services employ some of the following innovative techniques:

• Cleaning and deodorizing with air movers, scrubbers, ozone machines, Vaportek systems, foggers, and injection device.
• Removing residues on surfaces with dry cleaning sponges, wire brushes, abrasive blasting, the peroxide active cleaning method, or tri-sodium phosphate.
• Sanitizing HVAC ducts with specialized equipment.

Whenever you need fire damage restoration services, remember that SERVPRO of Belmont/San Carlos is always here to help. Call us anytime at (650) 591-4137.

It is Important to Remain Mindful of Wildfire Risks in Redwood City

2/8/2021 (Permalink)

Wildfires can cause a lot of destruction. SERVPRO can be at your hoe quickly for fast remediation.

Wildfire Preparedness Aids Fire Damage Restoration Efforts in Redwood City

As with any city, Redwood City has its positive and negative aspects. This popular bayside suburb of San Francisco is most notably a haven for professionals seeking to escape colder climates and the hustle and bustle of other nearby communities. However, these benefits come at the cost of a greater potential for wildfires. These increased risks are due to the city’s natural surroundings and the area’s unique weather patterns. Unlike San Francisco, Redwood City is bordered to the southwest by large wilderness preserves filled with fire fuel. In the spring and summer months, when the weather is hot and dry and winds are strong, forest fires are often sparked in these forested zones and spread quickly into our nearby community.

How to Prepare for Potential Forest Fires

If you properly prepare for wildfires in advance, you can often save yourself time and money on remediation efforts after they pass through. In some of the following ways, you can attempt to avoid suffering the worst fire-related damage:

• Know the area around your home well so that you can determine the likely direction of approaching wildfires and can better plan for them.
• Properly maintain your yard by routinely removing yard debris, limiting tree height, and keeping trees well-trimmed, preventing vegetation from growing too close to your home, and adequately watering your lawn.
• Always watch out for forest fire warnings/evacuation orders and, if possible, subscribe to phone/text message alerts from local authorities
• On days of increased fire risk, when permitted by law, use a garden hose to spray water around your house and yard to reduce the likelihood of them catching fire.
• Prior to evacuating your home, remember to turn off electric and gas utilities to prevent potential electrical fires and gas explosions.
• Make and keep a list of your most valuable possessions to facilitate their removal when you evacuate.

As you can see, there are various things you can do before and during a fire event to mitigate or eliminate potential losses. Therefore, it is essential that you, as a homeowner, remain forever mindful of local fire risks, know what preventative measures are possible, and never hesitate to take appropriate action to safeguard your family, home, and possessions.

What Does SERVPRO Do to Restore Fire-Related Damage in Redwood City?

When SERVPRO professionals in Redwood City remediate fire-related damage, they work to address the resulting air quality issues, soot residue deposits, and associated odors. In performing their services, our skilled technicians:

• Employ cutting edge air movers to circulate fouled air out of your home and filter remaining air with scrubbers.
• Use specialized HVAC cleaning systems to remove smoke particles from your ductwork and prevent them from further spreading around your house.
• Clean up soot residues with dry sponges, abrasive methods, and more gentle peroxide active cleaning methods.
• Neutralize unpleasant smells with Vaportek systems, ozone machines, and deodorizing foggers.

So, if a fire ever ravages your residence, call the fire damage restoration experts at SERVPRO of Belmont/San Carlos at (650) 591-4137 for help.

Lemos Farm Offers Fun for All Ages

12/22/2020 (Permalink)

Fire damage happens.. SERVPRO an help restore your home so you can enjoy all that the area has to offer.

Looking for Something New? Try This Goat Yoga Class Near Redwood City 

About 20 minutes away from Redwood City, nestled amongst the comfortable rural farms near the coast, lies an unexpected and exciting yoga opportunity. A trip out to Lemos Farm can find you a relaxing class from an experienced instructor, with a few helping hooves. While concentrating on your movements, you may find yourself interrupted by the gentle licks and nibbles of tiny, curious goats. While these friendly critters may not create the most smooth and calming experience, they’ve developed a regular clientele for a reason. The sessions are quirky and fun, and people end up loving every minute. 

A spot in each session costs $35 per person, and they run every Saturday and Sunday morning. After your hour-long yoga class, the folks at Lemos Farm grant a half-hour of petting zoo access. Since the yoga class is open to all ages, this makes for a fun family excursion. And, rest assured, every possible coronavirus precaution is made during and in between classes. 

SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos provides 24/7 fire damage restoration services for the smallest and largest disasters and anything in between. Call us at (650) 591-4137.

Have You Thought About Adopting a Kitten?

12/14/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can restore your fire damage so you and your pets can enjoy home!

Cats and kittens from Around Belmont Look for Good Homes 

On Sunday the 20th, just a short drive north of Belmont at the Pet Club of San Mateo, there will be a colossal adoption fair for kitties seeking a new home. If your household has room for a new furry member, then you should check this out. The event will be hosted by the San Mateo County Cat Rescuers, a group that takes abandoned and stray cats from around the area and places them into new and loving homes. With such a large event, expect to see a wide variety of ages, breeds, and attitudes. 

Every cat eligible for adoption comes with a full set of vaccinations and has been spayed or neutered. The Cat Rescuers note that due to coronavirus concerns, there is a chance that they may not be able to transport some or all the cats to the fair site. However, even if that happens to be the case, the volunteers present can match you and your household with the perfect pet. 

SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos is a locally owned company specializing in fire debris cleanup and other damage restoration services. Call us at (650) 591-4137.

Should Homeowners Paint Over Smoke Damaged Walls?

10/27/2020 (Permalink)

After a fire incident takes place. You can trust that your home is in good hands with the experienced technicians at SERVPRO.

Minor Fires May Seem Easy to Clean Up but Professionals Are Recommended to Mitigate the Damage in San Francisco.

A fire doesn’t have to be a blazing inferno to cause damage to San Francisco homes. Smoke can spread throughout the home, quickly impacting areas that have no direct fire damage. 

Isn’t Painting the Walls a Quick Fix?

A small trash can fire that gets extinguished fast can leave smoke residue on walls. Homeowners may think a quick wipe down can clean the soot. Then it is a simple matter of repainting. But that may not be the best choice. Using the wrong product can cause further damage. Painting over the sheetrock may not remove smoke odors. Calling a professional fire damage restoration company in San Francisco to handle the problem is the better choice.

What Gets Done in the Case of Sheetrock?

Anytime we are called out to assess a fire-damaged home, our technicians carefully inspect ceilings and walls. Because there are different types of smoke residues, they must determine which type they are dealing with. Adding to the challenge is that there can be more than one type involved in a fire. The four types of smoke residue include:

• Wet smoke 
• Dry smoke 
• Protein smoke
• Fuel oil smoke

Each of these requires a unique cleaning process, so it is vital to know which kind is present. Smoke that has settled onto surfaces is known as soot. It has a very strong odor. If it has settled onto the sheetrock and you paint over it without removing the contaminant properly, you can trap the smell. Our technicians perform tests to ascertain the soot type. They then clean the surface with the appropriate cleaning products.

Using Sealants

The particulates can become embedded in the sheetrock, and typical cleaning methods alone do not work. Sealants may be used in this case. The sealants encapsulate the odors in a way that covers the foul odors. Priming and painting can take place after that.

Contact SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos at (650) 591-4137 for professional fire damage restoration. We are licensed and bonded – Contractor Licenses: General: 937457. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

How Can Homeowners Reduce Bathroom Exhaust Fan Fire Risk?

10/14/2020 (Permalink)

Bathroom exhaust fans rarely catch fire. But if it happens in your home, be sure to contact the experienced professionals at SERVPRO for assistance.

IICRC-Certified Technicians Render Fire Damage Restoration Services for San Francisco Homes.

While bathroom exhaust fan fires account for a small percentage of home structure fires, they can cause a disproportionate amount of damages compared to other fires. Soot residues and char can settle in your HVAC system and adjacent rooms in your San Francisco home, which can lead to significant odors and potential corrosion from acidic residues.

SERVPRO provides rapid-response fire damage restoration to San Francisco residents within hours of their initial contact. These Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)-accredited pros are also licensed to render general contracting services to perform structural repairs after mitigating fire damage (license #937457).

How Can Homeowners Maintain an Exhaust Fan to Minimize Fire Risk?

While bathroom exhaust fans rarely catch fire and sport an increasing number of safety features to prevent them, a little bit of maintenance once or twice a year can go a long way toward reducing your fire risk. Keep these tips in mind while maintaining your exhaust fan:

• Remove dust and dirt. After removing the cover from your exhaust fan, wipe down or submerge it in soapy water before drying. Ducts can be cleaned with a flexible duct cleaning extension kit, which can be found at most hardware stores. Depending on how it is installed, it may be necessary to remove the fan itself before cleaning the ducts. Your local electrician is more than happy to perform these services for you.
• Use low wattage LED light bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs. LED bulbs use significantly less wattage to achieve the desired amount of light for your bathroom, which is a must for preventing an overheating exhaust fan.
• Quickly clean exhaust fans with compressed air. You likely already have a can or two of this in your home for keeping electronics clean. Make sure to turn the fan on before spraying it with canned air to get as much dust out as possible between deep cleanings.
• Make a routine out of bathroom exhaust fan cleaning. The beauty of the bathroom exhaust fan is that it only needs to be maintained annually or semiannually to keep it in good shape, with quick cleaning in between servicing.

Bathroom exhaust fan fires are most commonly created by dust and dirt buildup that causes the fan motor to overheat. However, even with proper maintenance, disasters can still occur. That is why SERVPRO is committed to assisting homeowners 24/7.

Do New Bathroom Exhaust Fans Have Additional Safety Features?

San Francisco homeowners can breathe a sigh of relief with the knowledge that modern bathroom exhaust fans offer a bevy of safety features. These features are dedicated to reducing your energy costs as well as your home fire risk and include:

• Thermal protectors, which were used as early as the early 1990s to reduce potential home structure fire risk.
• Thermal fuses, which shut off the fan when the motor hits a specific temperature, usually around 260 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Time switches can also be installed to automatically shut off the exhaust fan after it has run for a designated amount of time. This function prevents a failure that results from running the fan for too long.

Hardware stores can also assist you with ensuring that your exhaust fan is the right size for the room. The general rule of thumb is to choose a fan that circulates at a rate of cubic feet per minute (CFM) that matches your bathroom’s size. A fan that is too small for your bathroom can overheat more easily.

Can SERVPRO Techs Restore a Fire-Damaged Ventilation System?

Restoration technicians at SERVPRO can replace fire-damaged flex duct ventilation. In contrast, sheet metal ducts can be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before reinstallation. Minding the ventilation system after a home fire is crucial for several reasons:

• After fire suppression efforts, mold remediation may be necessary depending on how long the structure has been saturated. Mold growth can increase rapidly in as little as 24 hours.
• Ducts free of soot deposits and soils do not spread fire damage odors through the rest of the home for a protracted period.
• Sometimes, replacement is more cost-effective than repair for homeowners, especially with more fragile materials like flex duct.

After removing soils, SERVPRO Odor Control Technicians (OCTs) can focus on eliminating fire damage odors that spread through vents with thermal foggers, trays of scented granules placed at vent intakes, and EPA-registered antimicrobial solutions.

SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos is proud to assist the community with Faster to Any Size Disaster service, time after time. Call (650) 591-4137 for emergency-response mitigation and restoration services.

How Do I Get Rid of Burning Odors in my San Francisco Home?

9/22/2020 (Permalink)

If you are struggling to rid your home of smell, contact SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos at (650) 591-4137.

Smoke Odors Often Require a Fire Damage Restoration Professional to Remove. If Your San Francisco Home Suffers from Smoke Odors Contact SERVPRO.

Why do fire odors linger in a property?
Odor particles are naturally volatile, which can lead them to spread quickly in your San Francisco home. Since these particles move a lot, they should disperse naturally over-time. However, when dealing with fire or smoke odors, the malodor can affect the property's quality of life. In these situations, it is customary to use a professional odor control technician (OCT) to aid your home's recovery by using an array of techniques. It can be tough to find the sources of odors, which is why SERVPRO technicians employ a range of approaches to remove unpleasant smoke odors from your home.

What chemical treatments help to tackle fire odors?
- Odor counteracting beads which can be placed in regions of the home
- Pellets or deodorant granules to absorb odor particles
- Water-based odor counteractants which can be added to cleaning solutions

Is it possible to clear an entire house of fire odor?
Part of fire damage restoration in your San Francisco home is returning it to its preloss condition. For that, SERVPRO technicians take extra care to ensure that any residual odors are entirely removed or unnoticeable at the end of service. In large house fires, smoke odors can permeate an entire structure. To deodorize the structure time-efficiently, our technicians can use a thermal fogger. This equipment vaporizes solvent or petroleum deodorizers and develop a smoke. Smokes, or mists, are useful in counteracting odor because they can reach crevices or hidden areas of the home otherwise inaccessible using pellets or direct contact deodorants.

What machinery is used for odor removal?
- Photocatalytic Oxidisers which use UV light to rid odors
- Air-scrubbers or filtration devices
- Ozone generator that uses unstable gases to eliminate odor

If you are struggling to rid your home of smell, contact SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos at (650) 591-4137.

After a Fire, How do I get Rid of the Bad Odor in My San Francisco Kitchen?

4/5/2020 (Permalink)

If your kitchen suffers from a fire, make sure the remediation is done correctly by partnering with Team SERVPRO during this tough time. Call 24/7.

SERVPRO Technicians Attack Unpleasant Odors Created by Fire Damaged Materials in San Francisco

One of the most significant issues after a fire is not the loss of possessions, but the lingering malodor left afterward. It can be very challenging to remove smoke smells, often requiring the assistance of professionals who understand what to do when smoke odors do not go away.

What are the steps SERVPRO technicians put into place to remove the smells in a fire-damaged San Francisco home?

• Removal: We find and remove all sources of smoke, taking anything charred offsite for cleaning and restoration when possible, and disposing if unsalvageable. 
• Clean: We use dry cleaning for residue not yet absorbed and wet cleaning with solvents for absorbed residue requiring a deeper clean.

• Neutralize: When the smells still linger after removal and cleaning, we use odor-absorbing beads and then thermal foggers which produce a smoke-like substance reaching throughout the home, attacking hard to reach smoke particles. 

For 24/7 assistance after a fire, contact SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos at (650) 591-4137.

Click here for more information about San Francisco.

SERVPRO Provides Board Up Services to Secure San Francisco Homes After Fire Damage

3/3/2020 (Permalink)

Windows are frequently broken while extinguishing fires. SERVPRO has board up services to secure your home while the restoration work begins.

Fire Damage In San Francisco Can Require Boarding Up A Structure

If an inferno ever ignites inside your San Francisco apartment complex, the problems created by the heat and smoke can be quite catastrophic. If the flames burn for a long time before getting extinguished, they can cause you excessive fire damage. If the blaze burns hot, then they could destroy a large number of your contents and building materials.

During many fire damage cases in San Francisco, the windows get blown out, or they get broken by people trying to escape or by the firefighters attempting to extinguish the flames. The exterior doors of the home also often get purposely broken or destroyed in the fire. Having your building exposed to the outside due to broken windows or exterior doors can cause you more issues with items inside your dwelling.

Once the fire gets extinguished, our SERVPRO crew starts by assessing your building for any safety hazards. Once any potential safety concerns get mitigated, we then work towards boarding up your structure. The board-up procedure helps secure your structure after there are openings in it caused by the inferno as well as shield it from the elements of the outdoors.

In many cases, our SERVPRO technicians can conduct the board-up process ourselves as a first step in the mitigation process. However, some local regions may require that boarding up a structure gets completed only by a certified contractor with the proper license. When this is the case, we can refer the boarding up procedures to a subcontractor before we begin the restoration process.

Whenever the need arises to board up your charred structure, we can use exterior grade plywood along with other items like roofing tarpaulins, or rolls of polyethylene sheeting. When using plywood to secure the exterior of your building, we can attach it in three different ways depending on each specific opening. We can cover over the opening, insert wood inside the opening or bolt it with tension using two by fours. The most commonly used method is to cover openings with plywood by attaching to the surface around the opening with a hammer and nails.

If you ever need your structure boarded up after you suffer from a fire, call SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos at (650) 591-4137 24/7.

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SERVPRO Handles Your San Francisco Fire Damage From Cleanup to Complete Restoration

1/20/2020 (Permalink)

One of our technicians is removing soot from the ceiling. We have specialized cleaners for soot and smoke removal.

Why Are Contents Piled in the Middle of the Floor After Fire Damage in San Francisco Homes? 

Fire damage is a type of loss that homeowners can plan what to do in case it happens. Still, the total prevention of fire is difficult due to the myriad of factors that can cause a home blaze ranging from electrical malfunctions, improper storage of items in a garage or arson.  

When homeowners see the fire damage in their San Francisco homes after a loss, one of the biggest questions they often have is how did their possessions wind up in a pile on the floor? 

Fire Loss Cleanup 

SERVPRO technicians encounter these piles frequently during cleanup and restoration. It happens as the firefighters use water to extinguish the fire. They pull the contents to the center of the room and wet them down. Each time more items get added, the piles receives another blast of water to ensure nothing reignites. The result is the same when the technicians arrive for cleanup, a collection of wet debris that needs removal and disposal as fast as possible to limit loss. At the same time, they remove charred building materials to open up the structure for drying, soot removal, and deodorization to ready the property for reconstruction.  

Documenting the Loss for Homeowners

As items get removed from the property, SERVPRO techs photograph and give a detailed description of the article, its condition, and reasons it did not have restoration potential. This report assists homeowners in filing their insurance loss claims and expediting reimbursement.  

Restoration and Reconstruction Services

It is an excellent idea to let the company that handles the restoration also handle the rebuilding. With their general contractor license #937457, once the fire loss cleanup efforts complete, the techs can go straight into the repairs necessary to restore the home to its pre-fire condition. 

SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos at (650) 591-4137 serves the area in the cleanup and restoration of local properties from any size fire damage. Using their knowledge and equipment, the technicians make the loss, "Like it never even happened." 

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Effective Cleaning Actions to Remove Fire Damage Residues in San Francisco

1/8/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO's cleaning techniques will give you the very best results in bringing back your San Francisco home from fire damage.

The SERVPRO Method for Properly Cleaning Soot from your Fire Damaged San Francisco Home

When our crews analyze the residues left by a fire in your San Francisco house, we match our proprietary cleaning solutions to the characteristics of the soot evaluated and the surfaces upon which the coatings cling. One of the next steps then made is to choose among the most efficient cleaning actions for our technicians to employ while trying to break the tight bond between the soiling and the structural or contents’ surfaces.

A Quartet of Options

As they apply cleaning products to soot-encrusted surfaces, our technicians must take care not to worsen the damage or destroy an underlying surface because it is not durable enough to withstand the cleaner and the action. SERVPRO follows a protocol that emphasizes pretesting and continual adaptation to clean the residues away appropriately eventually. Four general cleaning actions comprise the repertoire of what our employees attempt:

• Mechanical Action -- Examples include a pre-cleaning scrub or dusting to reduce loose debris before using agitation to dislodge adhered soot

• Lubrication -- Using cleaners like detergents with wetting agents and surfactants to make surfaces or residues slippery to break their hold on each other, moving the soot into the cleaning suspension.

• Chemical Action -- Some substances can change the characteristics of soiling at a molecular level, loosening bonds or altering their effect on a surface or material to remove staining. Oxidation is an example.

• Suspension and Dispersion -- Finding a cleaning product that contains a substance that dissolves or emulsifies the soiling and then disperses it in the solution so it can be removed. 

The Science of Dissolving Soils

SERVPRO technicians learn and apply the principle that "like dissolves like" when matching products with the residues that need removal. Hydrophilic or water-based/loving soils easily dissolve in water. Lipophilic or oil-based/loving soils easily dissolve in oil. Oil-based soiling sometimes emulsifies or spreads evenly throughout water, often with the help of detergent molecules that have a tail that attaches to the oily soil and a head that attaches to water. 

Use of Solvents

Some protein and oil-based soot, such as the residue after a kitchen fire, requires the careful use of a solvent to dislodge. SERVPRO technicians handling solvents use personal protective equipment (PPE). We advise the evacuation of people and pets during solvent use and block the HVAC system, so the vapors do not spread throughout your home.

Finding the right combination of products and cleaning actions can be tricky after a fire deposits residue. Let the trained experts at SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos help by calling us at (650) 591-4137.

Learn more about San Francisco.

What is the Best Way to Clean Fire Damaged Possessions in San Francisco?

12/11/2019 (Permalink)

Not all is always lost after a fire. SERVPRO has the knowledge and equipment to clean and restore your fire damaged possessions.

San Francisco Fire Damage Contents Cleaning Overview 

Without a doubt, a San Francisco household fire brings your day to day life to a standstill. The residues left behind are unlike any conventional soiling. Quickly it becomes clear that you need professional help to respond to the crisis, but not only for the surfaces and fixtures that make up the structural components of your home. The same heat, flames, smoke, and soot that compromised your walls, floors, and ceilings also affected your furnishings, household goods, and personal possessions. 

Emphasis on Restoration 

When a blaze moves through the rooms of your home, everything is fair game as fodder for fire damage in San Francisco. Although the wet, sooty mess you view might seem destined for the landfill, it is much more cost-effective to restore contents as compared with discarding and replacing. The chances are good that your insurance company prefers exploring restoration options. As you consider what you fear lost, the possibility that we can return many prized possessions cleaned, dried, disinfected, and returned to function is an attractive outcome. 

Contents Cleaning Basics 

As SERVPRO evaluates the damage caused to contents by a home fire, we have six general cleaning options available to bring your items back to the preloss condition. 

Dry Cleaning 

Dry cleaning employs dry sponges, brushes, feather dusters, and cloths, which we use to remove loose, non-greasy light soiling like ash. Vacuuming is a dry cleaning method, as well. Dry cleaning can also be a pre-cleaning strategy to eliminate loose debris before deeper cleaning.  

Wet Cleaning 

Usually resulting in the items becoming completely saturated, wet cleaning uses water and selected cleaning products to loosen and rinse away soiling. Moderate to heavy residues are candidates for this method, and SERVPRO technicians might add agitation or an abrasive tool to dislodge tough soils. 

Spray and Wipe 

This option is a variant of wet cleaning, where we spray a cleaning solution on residues, followed by a wipe-down with a cloth. If an item cannot be soaked or saturated without damage, spray and wipe is a way to control the amount of fluid applied to protect the article while obtaining appropriate cleaning support.  

Foam Cleaning 

Used for upholstery or other materials that could bleed or shrink if immersed, the technique uses a brush or sponge to apply a foam that attracts the residues. As the foam lifts away, the debris comes along and can be discarded. 

Abrasive Cleaning 

Sometimes SERVPRO technicians recognize the need for an abrasive action to dislodge tightly adhered residues. We use cleaners with integral mild abrasives or apply cleaners with cloths, sponges, or brushes with abrasive properties, including steel wool or scrubbing pads. 

Immersion Cleaning 

Immersion cleaning is an option for articles that can withstand a cleaning product without ill effects. SERVPRO has portable tubs and basins for use on-site, and larger containers at our production facility. Ultrasonic cleaning is a type of immersion cleaning that uses sound waves to dislodge debris. 

SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos has a broad range of options available for contents cleaning after a home fire. Set up an evaluation of your cleaning needs by calling (650) 591-4137. 

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What are the Four Steps for Odor Control After a Fire in San Francisco?

5/28/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos can have your home smelling fresh after a fire.

Four Steps to Odor Control after Fire Damage in your San Francisco Home

A house fire can be a scary situation, but it is rare that they result in significant damages. In our experience, most fires are contained reasonably quickly to a single area of the home and only cause damage on a minor or medium scale. Malodor, on the other hand, is far more difficult to contain since the particles can be microscopic despite having a significant impact on your indoor air quality.

We are available for the removal of odor after fire damage in San Francisco and the local area. SERVPRO technicians are trained to conduct a series of necessary steps that effectively combat the most stubborn odors. Those steps are to remove, clean, recreate, or seal areas that are causing persistent problems. Each step represents an increasingly concentrated effort that is relative to the severity of smoke damages gauged during our initial inspection.

Before putting any deodorizers into use, SERVPRO technicians remove debris and any perceivable sources of odor. Focusing on removing the source of odor is essential to ensure the following steps are practical and odor-causing debris does not release more particles once deodorization is complete. Charred materials must be removed, sanded down or cleaned away by your technician before using any further deodorizing methods.

In a fire, materials that burn release chemicals in the form of smoke. Some of these chemicals, particularly those in grease or synthetic materials, create unpleasant odors. Since smoke migrates quickly, malodors deposit on surfaces throughout the home. SERVPRO use sanitizers and chemical cleaning agents to remove soiling from all areas of your home.

Once we are confident that sources of odor have been removed and surfaces thoroughly cleaned, we can begin the third stage, deodorizing. The most efficient method for deodorizing a property is to recreate the conditions in which the odor initially spread. In a fire, that means vaporizing solvents using thermal foggers that mimic the behavior of smoke damages; reaching the same areas, cavities, and surfaces as malodors. We can then seal the surfaces to prevent any further odors.

A tried and tested strategy can remove malodors from your property, contact SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos at (650) 591-4137.

Read more about San Francisco here.

Winning Tactics for San Francisco Fire Damage Remediation

4/7/2019 (Permalink)

Turn to SERVPRO when overloaded sockets cause fire damage in your home. We make it “Like it never even happened.”

Get Prompt Fire Damage Restoration for Your San Francisco Residence

Home fires occur due to many reasons, one of them being overloaded sockets. If you plug many devices into an outlet using extension cords, too much power is drawn into the outlet’s apparatus, causing it to overheat, and possibly melt, ignite or malfunction. To deal with the aftermath of a fire, you need fire damage restoration services. Walls, ceiling, and carpets can absorb the smoke a fire leaves behind, and it can remain even after several months. You can avoid long term problems and high repair bills if you follow the right steps to get your property back to normal.

The most crucial step is contacting a fire restoration service like SERVPRO. Our technicians can assist you in restoring your San Francisco residence after fire damage. We have the technical expertise to assess your property and then plan and complete the restoration process. We respond to calls within an hour of receiving them and begin the cleanup process quickly since fire damage is corrosive.

We use our expertise to deal with fire and smoke destruction. Your carpets, floors, walls, and ceilings may need a thorough cleaning. SERVPRO technicians use the appropriate cleaning products and equipment to clean and protect different surfaces. We can clean the soot on the walls in preparation for refinishing or painting.

We can also clean and deodorize the restorable contents like furniture, area rugs, upholstery and draperies in the affected areas. We also clean and deodorize possessions like bedding, clothing, art, and electronics to restore them to the preloss condition. Deodorization eliminates bad odors.

If the fire was massive, fire-fighters might have used a lot of water used to put it out. The water has to be cleaned up for it can ruin construction materials and contribute to mold growth. We can use dehumidifiers, water extraction units and blowers to quickly remove the water. We can also assist you in filling out the insurance forms required to claim damages linked to your fire accident.

After a fire, SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos can help you to restore your property. We have the expertise to make your home look like it never caught fire. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster. Contact us at (650) 591-4137 for fire damage restoration services in San Francisco, Redwood City, and Foster City.

Click here for more information about San Francisco.

Fire Damage in San Francisco? SERVPRO Has What it Takes to Restore Your Property

3/28/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos is always on call for your fire damage restoration needs.

Fire Repairs and Reconstruction of Your San Francisco Home

Structural damages are an everyday staple to widespread fire emergencies that affect San Francisco homes. While many homeowners want to address these concerns immediately, it is only part of the widespread effects that could impact your property during and after a fire has occurred. Addressing all of these effects as well as the structural concerns that exist requires comprehensive restoration services that provide a seamless transition between mitigation, restoration, and final restoration steps.

While many residential contractors can work to provide reconstruction after fire damages to your San Francisco home, it is more cost-effective and efficient for your time to trust in a team that can provide both effective restoration and quality reconstruction. Our SERVPRO team has years of experience servicing the area with a 24/7 response to emergencies to begin necessary mitigation work immediately. This rapid response can reduce the need for reconstruction and help to prepare your home for that step to follow immediately after mitigation efforts complete.

Through the fire debris removal process, our licensed contractors oversee these efforts to ensure that only the damaged portions of your property get removed. Not only does this mean fewer materials that must get reinstalled, but it also means less out-of-pocket expenses and wait time for you to get back into your restored home.

We work to provide a seamless transition between the recovery efforts of the mitigation phase into the needed restoration work to come. With licensed contractors with experience in all of the building trades pertinent to residential reconstruction, we can transition from the initial mitigation into reconstruction right away. While other outfits might have you seeking out your reputable contractor, our SERVPRO team has already started work on returning your property to its original condition.

It might seem overwhelming to contend with fire damage that leaves structural damage to your house, but our SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos response team can help. With effective mitigation and experienced reconstruction, we can make fire damage “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call at (650) 591-4137.

Read more about San Francisco here.

Our Specialists Explain Our Five Point Plan For Your Foster City Home After A Fire

3/5/2019 (Permalink)

A detailed plan of action is part of the journey to restoring your property to preloss conditions, contact SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos to begin.

The Five Point Fire Damage Plan For Foster City Residences

Unforeseen events at home can result in lengthy restoration procedures and testing to ensure it is safe for you to return. Often starting in the kitchen, a fire can be contained to one place, but smoke can spread outwards causing significant damages to furnishings or other areas. Using professional services with experience can help to mitigate losses and reduce the amount of time it takes to remediate your home.

When it comes to fire damage in foster city residences the majority of cases are minor or medium in scale. SERVPRO classify a medium scale fire as significant smoke residues which may require repainting, restoration, and replacement to ceilings, fittings, contents, walls or floors. Thankfully, in most medium losses, contents restoration can be done onsite without the necessity for expensive pack outs or relocations.

SERVPRO has technicians with IICRC certificates in fire damages and operates with a five-point plan to bring your property back to preloss conditions. We begin with mitigation which could involve performing temporary board ups or drying properties that are wet due to firefighting procedures. Temporary electrical generators can be provided if the property's primary source of electrics is shutoff.

Mitigation procedure is about preventing further damage and performing immediate, albeit temporary repair. SERVPRO follow it up with structural and contents cleaning. Repainting damaged walls and ceilings or removing items to a clean zone to allow both in-depth cleanings of the structure and restoration of personal possessions.

Some property owners may need specialty restoration. This restoration could include valuable items like artworks to be packed out and treated to advanced methods. Ultrasonic cleaning can be provided where necessary to help remove ingrained soot from valuable metals or woods, mechanical cleaning for clothing or refinishing furniture.

It is rare for medium scale fire damages to require reconstruction. However, where it is necessary, SERVPRO can leverage our trusted third-party contacts to perform architectural remodeling if areas of the structure are beyond repair. Odors left behind after a fire can be treated at the source or neutralized using industrial grade foggers.

A detailed plan of action is part of the journey to restoring your property to preloss conditions, contact SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos at (650) 591-4137 to begin.

Click here for more about Foster City.

How Does a House Fire Impact the Air Quality of Your San Francisco Home?

2/25/2019 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot can cause damage to the indoor air quality of your home.

The Tools to Improve IAQ After a Fire in Your San Francisco Home

After a fire occurs in your San Francisco home, many homeowners work to reach out to their insurance company to get the process started for recovery and restoration. As a result, this insurance provider requires documentation, photographic evidence, and cataloging of the damage to approve a claim made for home restoration. As simple as it might seem to gather this information on your own, there are risks with entering a home after a fire that many homeowners might not understand.

Indoor air quality can often become steeply compromised after fire damage occurs in your San Francisco home. Smoke and soot particles can remain in the air after the incident, posing a risk of their own for inadequately protected people entering the home. Additionally, threats like chemicals, gases, and contaminants can cause health effects to exposed individuals assessing the property without respirators or even SCBA gear. Our SERVPRO technicians can assess these risks and arrive with the personal protection equipment needed for a thorough inspection of your property to acquire the information your insurance company needs.

Improving the indoor air quality of your home begins with reducing the particulates and contaminants that could be circulating through the air. We can set up several pieces of equipment including air scrubbers and hydroxyl generators. Both of these have HEPA filters inside that can trap particles as small as .3 microns. The equipment continues to run through debris removal and any necessary tear out processes to reduce dust, debris, and further spread of soot and smoke effects.

Our SERVPRO Franchise professionals can also work to improve harsh odors that often follow a structure fire. Treating open areas and exposed materials simultaneously with equipment like our thermal foggers can permanently eliminate odors and help to make the damage “Like it never even happened.”

From the time that the first responders leave, give our SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos fire restoration technicians the opportunity to show you how our extensive training and industry-leading equipment can work to restore your home entirely. Give us a call at (650) 591-4137.

Read more about San Francisco here.

What is Protein Based Soot and How Does it Affect your San Carlos Kitchen

2/4/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos is ready to restore your fire damaged home.

What To Expect When Restoration Professionals Respond To San Carlos Fire Damage

Bringing your San Carlos home back from the damage done by a kitchen fire is a job for professionals. The residues deposited on surfaces are toxic and require a specific protocol for proper removal. Smoke and soot drift far from the original fire location, charred structural components need assessment to determine if restoration is possible, and lingering odors cannot continue to remind homeowners of the disaster. We can help. 

Our team of trained and well-equipped technicians addresses all these concerns and more when we arrive on-site after fire damages your San Carlos residence. We are a full-service disaster restoration company, employing industry best practices to return a fire-ravaged residence to refreshed and comfortable preloss condition. 

The first issue is almost always water and chemical removal, coping with these common complications after firefighting efforts. SERVPRO crews are experts in water extraction and structural drying, carrying the pumps, extractors, heated air movers, and dehumidifiers on response vehicles. Ridding the home of water first is a safety requirement, reducing the likelihood of slip and fall injuries and reducing the chance of electrical shock. 

Then the crew assesses and begins to use appropriate techniques and products to clean sooty residues. Kitchen fires produce protein-based soot, nearly invisible on surfaces. It is difficult to remove without abrasive action and special solvents best applied by our trained workers. The SERVPRO crew leads also assess the characteristics of the soot deposited in other spaces. Depending on the fuel consumed coatings can be ashy, sticky, light, or thick. We might use brush and vacuum, spray and wipe, or agitation to clear the different types of soot, matching the types we observe to the correct products and tools.

Let us help with odor neutralization, using modern advancements in equipment and methods. SERVPRO technicians are also able to save structural materials you might fear too charred to consider for anything but removal and replacement. Throughout the fire damage remediation and restoration process, we work with your insurance to minimize your out of pocket costs.

Reach out to a leader in the fire mitigation industry when you engage the services of SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos. Call us at (650) 591-4137 immediately after the firefighters leave to get your home back. 

Frederick Drake is known as the ‘Father of San Carlos.’  Read more here.

Commercial Fire Damage in Belmont is Restored By SERVPRO of Belmont/San Carlos.

10/1/2018 (Permalink)

A fire at a commercial establishment can be costly.

One of a business owner's worst horrors is a fire event to at their commercial property. However, this nightmare becomes an ugly reality all too often! While dealing with a commercial fire can be challenging and stressful, knowing how to expedite and optimize each component of the restoration process can save you money and a headache. Learn more about the steps you should take to restore your business by reviewing this short outline provided by SERVPRO:

Call Your Insurer
Once your commercial property is subjected to fire, call your insurer. In some cases, your insurance agent can help you locate temporary accommodations where you can continue conducting business transactions while fire damage restoration is on-going at your commercial property. The insurer will send out an adjuster to document the fire damage and to monetize fire damage restoration. Ask for a highly recommended company to promptly restore your property. 

In addition to calling your insurance provider, you'll need to get in contact with a fire damage restoration company like SERVPRO. An inspector will be dispatched to survey the fire damaged property, develop a restoration plan, and provide you with a CCIS report. This Contents Claim Inventory Service will specifically document damages to the structure and the contents--including all business-related items. SERVPRO is an approved vendor for over 300 insurance companies, property management firms, and government agencies. We can work in cooperation with your insurance company to expedite the fire damage restoration services. We can help you with the claims process, and the paperwork while minimizing your expenses.  

The fire damage restoration process is contingent upon the extent of damage to the building and the business assets.
• property assessment
• cleaning
• drying, water removal
• sanitation
• deodorization
• content restoration, document drying
• odor removal
• smoke removal 
• vent cleaning
• air duct cleaning

Getting The Best Restoration Services Available
We can offer the following attributes to ensure a rapid return to preloss conditions for your commercial enterprise.
• IICRC-certified professionals, with corporate and franchise training
• excellent customer service, communication from start to finish with guaranteed results
• fair pricing
• a good reputation
• cutting edge equipment
• advanced methodologies

Call SERVPRO For Expedient fire damage restoration in Belmont and the surrounding area.
We respond immediately to assist you in restoring your commercial property to working order. We are faster to any size disaster. Our goal is to compete swiftly the fire damage restoration, with minimal expense to you and reopen your doors for business. "Like it never even happened."

24-Hour Emergency Fire Restoration Service

SERVPRO of Belmont/San Carlos knows that fire damage can happen any time, so we’re ready to respond 24/7 —including holidays. Belmont, San Carlos, and Foster City are communities we proudly serve. Call us for help. (650) 591-4137

Restoring Your Property Back to Safety

7/25/2018 (Permalink)

Fire Damaged Home

House fires are one of the most stressful and frustrating experiences that a homeowner can endure. In addition to engendering substantive financial losses, house fires can pose several health and safety risks about which owners must be cautious. Because house fires can result in the loss of valuable property while also endangering the family's livelihood, it's no surprise that many homeowners experience profound emotional trauma during this time. To ensure that you can maintain your equilibrium and move forward, it's a good idea to obtain SERVPRO to help you. Learn more about how restoration companies can assist you by reading the short outline provided below:

Assessing Your Home’s Damage
In general, the first thing a professional restoration company will do when you call is to come to your property and complete an assessment. The assessment is designed to determine how much damage has been done to your home. During the assessment, SERVPRO specialists will inspect your entire home to decide what tools they'll need to clean and restore it effectively. The assessment will also help the specialists determine how long the restoration process will take and what the repair fees will be. Finally, the assessment will help the fire damage specialists determines whether the property is safe enough to start the cleanup and repair processes.

Cleaning, Repairing, and Restoring Your Home
Once the Fire Department specialists ensure that your home can be entered, they will start the cleanup process. Drying your home is at the top of the to-do list because it can help prevent the onset of mold and mildew accumulation. Mold and mildew thrive in moist environments, so exacting the drying process as quickly as possible is quite important. In addition to reducing the risk of mold accumulation, the specialists will use specific tools to remove ash, soot, and standing water from the premises. They will also carefully inspect the structure of your home and make any repairs necessary to ensure that the foundation remains safe and stable. The length of time the cleanup and repair process will take is ultimately contingent upon the extent of damage done to your home.

Conclusion
If your home has been subjected to a fire you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed at all of the work needed to restore your property. You don't have to worry. By contacting a team of professional fire damage specialists, you can get your property back in excellent condition. As a team of trained specialists who work with skill and speed to remediate your home, the SERVPRO crew is your first choice when you start searching for the ideal restoration services. Contact us now to obtain the professional, personalized services you need and deserve.

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

We live and work in this community too; we might even be neighbors. As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of Belmont/San Carlos is close by and ready to respond to your smoke or fire damage emergency. We are proud to be an active member of the Belmont community and want to do our part to make our community the best it can be. 

Our expertise in fire damage is extensive. SERVPRO utilizes IICRC training as part of our on-going education to stay ahead of the curve. Call us for help. (650) 591-4137

Putting A Boat Back on The Water

7/25/2018 (Permalink)

Fifty-One foot Boat

One of the most interesting and unique cleaning jobs our company performed was aboard a commercial salmon fishing boat. Our technicians cleaned up the contamination of an oily soot fire that started in the engine room.

The fifty-one foot fishing trawler also had significant soot contamination throughout its galley, sleeping berths and wheelhouse.

The fire occurred while the boat was “on the hard” which means while it was on the ground in a boatyard. The “chandlery” (boat repair company) caused the damage while they were performing routine repairs and service. The chandlery was responsible for the costs of cleanup. Our SERVPRO of Belmont /San Carlos technicians washed the interior surfaces from stem to stern…. Sorry for the pun. Our textile service provider, FRSTeam helped with the clothing and bedding that was onboard. Together, we had the boat cleaned and odor free in three days. The original engine repairs and the additional fixes to mend the damage caused by fire were completed in a timely fashion by the boatyard.

The captain was able to take her out on the first day of salmon season. Whether it’s removing a severe odor problem or cleaning carpets and floors, you can rely on the team At SERVPRO to make your boat, home or business look its very best. Call us at 510-785-0497 and we’ll get you back on the water again

Ozone Treatment

7/9/2018 (Permalink)

Ozone is a colorless and odorless reactive gas. It is comprised of three oxygen atoms and is found naturally in the earth's stratosphere, where it absorbs the ultraviolet component of incoming solar radiation that could be harmful to life on earth. Ozone is a powerful oxidant (far more so than dioxygen) and it has many industrial and consumer applications related to oxidation, mostly in the cleaning of products. Perhaps you have seen television advertisements about the power of oxidation. This same high oxidizing potential, however, causes ozone to damage mucous and respiratory tissues in people and also tissues in plants, above concentrations of about 100 ppb. This makes ozone a potent respiratory hazard and pollutant near ground level.

The restoration industry learned how to apply the oxidant powers of Ozone to clean and deodorize, especially building that stink from smoke and soot. Portable Ozone generators can be installed in unoccupied locations to clean the air and remove odor. Ozone generators are also used to remove tobacco odor and the overpowering odor of death.

It is important that whenever a restoration company installs an Ozone machine that the room is sealed, warning signs are posted and there are no open flames such as in a gas powered hot-water heater. Ozone should not be used in a wet environment because compound chemicals can be produced that are bleaching agents. At SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos we take the use of Ozone safety seriously.

Spider Webs?

7/9/2018 (Permalink)

Soot Tags

We recently responded to a house fire in Woodside, California.

The fire department had to cut electrical service to the home. Without a light source, the homeowner was unable to survey the damage. After we arrived to do an initial walkthrough, equipped with our flashlights, the homeowner began to notice very dark "spider webs" on the walls.  She said that she was disappointed with the quality of her house keeper's work. We smiled and explained that the "spider webs" are actually known as "soot tags".

As smoke/soot circulates through a home during a fire, the heat will move towards cold areas as the air seeks equilibrium within its environment. In areas of lower circulation, the soot will form what is known as "soot tags". Soot tags form when synthetic/petroleum based sources burn. It also has a lot to do with the Ion charge (static electricity) in the air.

Customers frequently mistake the soot tags as smoke that has attached itself to spider webs that were present during the fire. In fact, they are new unique chains of soot that look a lot like smoke covered spider webs.

Strange Fire in Atherton

7/9/2018 (Permalink)

Have you ever heard of something this bizarre?

How many of us would like to have a crystal ball? Well, one homeowner in Atherton had a crystal ball, and it turned out to be not so lucky, nor an accurate predictor of the future.  Their small crystal ball was an attractive decoration and an interesting conversation piece. It was placed on the wide windowsill of a gorgeous bay window in the formal living room of an Atherton mansion. At a certain time, each day the crystal ball caught sunbeams reflecting the dramatic prismatic colors into the room. As the seasons changed so did the angle and intensity of the sunlight until one day the reflected sunbeams from the crystal ball focused on the nearby crushed velvet draperies.  Yes... the draperies caught fire. The fabric, wall and ceiling were badly scorched causing smoke to contaminate a stairwell and the upper hallway with soot. Luckily, a maid service was working in the house. One maid called the fire department as the other maid used a garden hose to extinguish the flames. Our SERVPRO of Belmont/San Carlos franchise was hired to clean up the damage. This was one of the most unusual origins of a fire we have experienced. The crystal ball was not damaged, but it was never placed in the direct path of sunlight again. However, it does remain a conversation piece with a notorious past.

Ever heard of Thermal Fogging?

7/3/2018 (Permalink)

This solution and device kill heavy smoke odors.

The thermal fogging method of applying deodorants can be especially effective in treating odors caused by fire in a structure. As items are heated or burn, they may give off odors. Think about frying chicken or making French fries. The air is filled with cooking odors. Now, think about the smell of wood smoke at a campfire.

Campfire smoke can be very strong as the fire burns and the leftover ashes will have a lingering odor. The ashes usually won’t smell as bad as the larger leftover charred chunks of wood. That’s because the source wasn’t completely consumed and tiny odor particles are continuing to gas off.

When SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos cleans up a structure fire we have to remove the ashes and the sections of charred wood. That is a given. Our next concern in restoring a fire-damaged property is in addressing the smoke and soot contamination and the odor problem it creates. Soot with tiny odor particles can go everywhere. Because the hire of the fire is able to make the grains in wood and other surfaces such as paint to expand, the tiny odor particles can get trapped into the surface of these materials as they cool and shrink to normal size. This is where thermal fogging technology is useful.

A thermal fogging machine heats “oil that has been treated with odor counteractant ingredients.” The odor counteractant is transformed into a smoke that is laden with tiny odor killing particles. Because it’s “smoke” it will go into all of the same cracks and crevices the smoke from the fire went.  

An important principle of odor cleanup is to match the sources of the odor. For example if the odor-causing source was wet, then a wet cleaning agent should be applied. When the odor-causing source was smoke, then a “smoke” treatment with matching additives can be applied. Allow us to explain. Smoke from a fire may contain specific additives. For example, it may be a grease fire, or a plastic fire. Whatever burned will have an effect on the lingering odor. There are specific cleaning treatments to match the fire source. There are special additives to attack each type of smoke that can be used in the thermal fogger.

Fire restoration work is technical, it’s complex and at SERVPRO of Belmont / San Carlos we believe we are good at it… 650-591-4137

Results from Fire Content Damage

4/5/2018 (Permalink)

Fires in homes and offices may completely destroy some structural materials and personal items (contents) too.  Depending upon the insurance coverage purchased, policies will customarily pay to rebuild or replace structural materials, including personal contents that are destroyed. Insurance jargon refers to these as: total loss, or non-salvageable items. Adjusters request that restoration companies make an honest evaluation of what can be cleaned or repaired and what cannot be salvaged. If there is uncertainty, they direct the restoration provider to make a test by attempting to salvage. If the results are not satisfactory we are to stop cleaning. SERVPRO will provide an inventory of items that are deemed to be total loss/non-salvageable. The “total loss” inventory is usually supported by photographic evidence and job notes/reports. Sometimes, the adjuster or property manager/agent may want to personally inspect damaged items. It is the adjuster who makes the final determination concerning the total loss items based upon the terms of the insurance policy. Final cost settlement (reimbursement) is between the policyholder and the insurance company (not us).

Please Note: the term is “total loss” is not total lost. At all times, non-salvageable items are in a chain of custody. They are not lost. In fact items are disposed of only after we receive an “Authorization to Dispose” form from you (the policyholder) or at times your adjuster who has gained your approval.

If your property suffers a damage, we are here to help. If you need content cleaning or advice, please call us at: SERVPRO of Belmont/San Carlos 650-591-4137.

What happens when fire damages contents?

2/12/2018 (Permalink)

Contents, even important documents are often damaged during a property disaster.

Fires in homes and offices may completely destroy some structural materials and personal items (contents) too.  Depending upon the insurance coverage purchased, policies will customarily pay to rebuild or replace structural materials, including personal contents that are destroyed. Insurance jargon refers to these as: total loss, or non-salvageable items. Adjusters request that restoration companies make an honest evaluation of what can be cleaned or repaired and what cannot be salvaged. If there is uncertainty, they direct the restoration provider to make a test by attempting to salvage. If the results are not satisfactory we are to stop cleaning. SERVPRO will provide an inventory of items that are deemed to be total loss/non-salvageable. The “total loss” inventory is usually supported by photographic evidence and job notes/reports. Sometimes, the adjuster or property manager/agent may want to personally inspect damaged items. It is the adjuster who makes the final determination concerning the total loss items based upon the terms of the insurance policy. Final cost settlement (reimbursement) is between the policyholder and the insurance company (not us).

Please Note: the term is “total loss” is not total lost. At all times, non-salvageable items are in a chain of custody. They are not lost. In fact items are disposed of only after we receive an “Authorization to Dispose” form from you (the policyholder) or at times your adjuster who has gained your approval.

If your property suffers a damage, we are here to help. If you need content cleaning or advice, please call us at: SERVPRO of Belmont/San Carlos 650-591-4137.

SERVPRO Training House

10/4/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Headquarters has a fire cleanup training building.

SERVPRO Industries, Inc., one of America's largest franchise systems provides training for 1,700 independently owned and operated franchise locations.

SERVPRO of Belmont/San Carlos owners learned how to perform fire cleanup at the SERVPRO training house at corporate headquarters.

The two story home is "smoked up" with a variety of different types of smoke. (There are at least four basic types of smoke and each is cleaned with slightly different cleaning agents.) Certain materials when ignited produced different gases and soot. Each major type of soot presents cleaning challenges.

Participants in the training classes perform hands on cleaning. They use the techniques and cleaning agents innovated by SERVPRO. This assures better results when a SERVPRO franchises and their technicians respond to a local and "real" fire.