A little soot goes a long way

6/17/2021 (Permalink)

Soot and smoke can often times cause more damage than the fire itself. Call SERVPRO of the Mountains for consultation on soot removal.

Thankfully, we have amazing technology like smoke and fire alarms, both which have saved many lives and do a great job alerting us to threats. Home and places of business should all be equipped with fire alarms, extinguishers, and escape equipment.

The volunteer firemen in our communities are the first to respond, but also the last line of defense. These amazing people, many of which are our neighbors, respond at any time of day or night to quickly extinguish flames.

These indispensable resources and people have been so skilled and proficient, that the incidents of total fire loss have declined compared to the number of structure fires.

That said, small fires are still a large problem.  

As the fire is burning, it produces soot in the smoke and vapor cloud that it created. Soot is the residue of the burnt material that was converted to heat or vapor.

That sooty residue makes the qualities of the materials burned stand out more.

Naturally occurring materials that come from God’s creation tend to burn more completely. They produce a grey ash that is “cleaner”. The natural soot is also more powdery and generally easier to remove.

Materials that are not naturally occurring such as plastic, rubber, and artificial fibers generally include varying amounts of petroleum bases. Those types of materials burn slower and often burn less completely than natural materials.  

The soot that is left behind is much messier, often being oily, greasy, and smears when touched. This soot is much more difficult to remove.

More care and effort are needed to remove and properly clean this type of soot, which is why special products, tools, and supplies are required.  

If you were to have the unfortunate event of a fire, try to refrain from cleaning it. Using improper methods and tools can actually “set” the soot and staining in surfaces.

Call your friendly neighborhood SERVPRO professional for a quick, FREE and thorough fire damage consultation. We can assist with determining what can be cleaned, what methods to use and what results to expect.

Call today!

Things to Consider About Disaster Recovery at Your Business | SERVPRO® of The Mountains

6/17/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO The Mountains is your go-to in case a disaster occurs. Get in touch with us to learn more.

Business owners have so many decisions to make throughout their daily operations, but part of being a good owner is thinking about the future. When it comes to things that would slow down your production and productivity, it is especially important. Many times, these things are disasters that are out of your control. It is not uncommon for business that are faced with disasters to not recover from them, but those to create plans and think ahead come out much better in the aftermath.

People are the priority and of the utmost importance when disaster comes. Creating a plan of evacuation and having emergency procedures in place is super important. After you have those in place, it is time to begin thinking and planning recovery measures to help you reopen your doors as soon as possible.

Planning Out Your Disaster Recovery as a Business Owner

File an insurance claim and begin restoration. There is plenty of variety in commercial insurance coverage, so contacting your insurance company is the only way to know for certain what you will be eligible to claim. After you do this, making sure you contact your restoration company quickly so they can begin getting a response crew together to handle your damage.

Give customers the chance to show their support. It is impossible to know what type of operation you will be able to maintain after a disaster, but regardless of what you choose to do, letting customers know what your plan is will be key for getting their support. You may be doing takeout only, closed temporarily or operating on shortened hours—using social media to announce these changes will ensure that customers can support you when they are able.

Make use of the financial assistance that is offered. Even if you can claim your damages with your insurance provider, there can be many costs that are not covered such as loss of income and excess damages. The disaster loan program through the Small Business Administration is designed to help with this, so see if you qualify for funding options through them to help cover some of these extra expenses.

If your business has been damaged due to a disaster, we’re here to help. Contact us at any hour to report your damage or to learn more about our commercial restoration services.

Historic Hart County Church Fire

6/17/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of The Mountains assisted its neighboring franchise to clean up a fire and smoke damage for Sardis Baptist church located in Hart County.

SERVPRO of The Mountains assisted its neighboring franchise to clean up a fire and smoke damage for Sardis Baptist church located in Hart County just north of Hartwell, Georgia. It is a beautiful campus that overlooks the gorgeous Lake Hartwell near the Big Oaks State Park.  

This great church has been serving its local community since 1803!  Many of the members and visitors come from the surrounding counties of Elbert, Franklin, and Anderson. The historic church is in its fifth sanctuary building.

A few days before Christmas, a candle reignited after they wrapped up an evening service. Thankfully, a family of campers at Watsadler State Park noticed the flickering fire thru the stained-glass window and called 911.

Local volunteer fire fighters from Hart County Station 1 and Bio Volunteer Fire station responded very quickly and managed to save the sanctuary from total loss.

Even though the structural damage was contained to one window and an adjoining wall, smoke and odor had permeated throughout the entire sanctuary. SERVPRO of The Mountains was called to remove the soot and odor and restore the sanctuary.  

Due to high ceilings, recessed lights, speakers, projectors, and chandeliers, church sanctuaries often create difficult challenges when trying to restore them. Not to mention over 100 pews had to be detached, cleaned, deodorized, and reset. Every wall, ceiling, and surface had to be thoroughly cleaned and deodorized by hand.

The project was quite large and took SERVPRO crews several weeks, but in February, the church was able to reopen and resume its normal schedule of worship and its mission to serve the community.

The Warmer Months and Fire Safety | SERVPRO® of The Mountains

6/17/2021 (Permalink)

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

With the days starting to warm up, it becomes more inviting to spend your days outdoors. When you think of warmer days, you don’t typically think of fires, but when you stop and think, there are actually quite a few spring and summer pleasures that involve fire.

That means an increased fire risk. Did you know that spring sees more daily fires on average than any other time of year? While some fire safety comes as second nature, it’s nice to have a refresher.

What exactly should you pay attention to? Start here:

Fire pits. There’s something about sitting around a fire to help the conversations start flowing! While it seems like a no-brainer, never leave your kids unattended around the fire. It’s also important to keep a bucket of water nearby or drag a water hose close to the pit. You should never add leaves or pine needles to the fire, and finally, put the fire out slowly to avoid scattering embers.

The grill. There’s just something about seeing dear old dad in an apron standing around a grill! The smell of barbecue going is wonderful, but you need to stay mindful that you are working with fire. The combination of flames, heat, grease and gas can make things escalate quickly. Check to make sure the grill is in good working condition, have it placed at least three feet away from everything and clean it before each use. Cleaning the grill before use is the best tip there is, because almost 20% of grill fires are due to poor cleaning.

Chimneys and dryer vents. Some people have fireplaces built into their porch, which makes for a nice setting. But since you probably used it during winter months, be sure have it inspected before next winter. This helps avoid a dangerous buildup of ash and coals. Also, dryer vents tend to get a lot of lint buildup, so while you’re doing maintenance on your chimney, go ahead and clean these vents out as well.

While fire risk is not completely avoidable, being prepared can save you in the long run! If you have fire damage at your home or business, no matter the cause, we are here to help. Contact SERVPRO of The Mountains today to experience the SERVPRO difference.

The Warmer Months and Fire Safety | SERVPRO® of The Mountains

6/17/2021 (Permalink)

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

With the days starting to warm up, it becomes more inviting to spend your days outdoors. When you think of warmer days, you don’t typically think of fires, but when you stop and think, there are actually quite a few spring and summer pleasures that involve fire.

That means an increased fire risk. Did you know that spring sees more daily fires on average than any other time of year? While some fire safety comes as second nature, it’s nice to have a refresher.

What exactly should you pay attention to? Start here:

Fire pits. There’s something about sitting around a fire to help the conversations start flowing! While it seems like a no-brainer, never leave your kids unattended around the fire. It’s also important to keep a bucket of water nearby or drag a water hose close to the pit. You should never add leaves or pine needles to the fire, and finally, put the fire out slowly to avoid scattering embers.

The grill. There’s just something about seeing dear old dad in an apron standing around a grill! The smell of barbecue going is wonderful, but you need to stay mindful that you are working with fire. The combination of flames, heat, grease and gas can make things escalate quickly. Check to make sure the grill is in good working condition, have it placed at least three feet away from everything and clean it before each use. Cleaning the grill before use is the best tip there is, because almost 20% of grill fires are due to poor cleaning.

Chimneys and dryer vents. Some people have fireplaces built into their porch, which makes for a nice setting. But since you probably used it during winter months, be sure have it inspected before next winter. This helps avoid a dangerous buildup of ash and coals. Also, dryer vents tend to get a lot of lint buildup, so while you’re doing maintenance on your chimney, go ahead and clean these vents out as well.

While fire risk is not completely avoidable, being prepared can save you in the long run! If you have fire damage at your home or business, no matter the cause, we are here to help. Contact SERVPRO of The Mountains today to experience the SERVPRO difference.

Northeast Georgia Smoke and Soot Cleanup

5/13/2016 (Permalink)

Smoke and Soot Damage Can Cause a Pervasive Odor in Your Northeast Georgia Home.

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

Smoke and soot facts:

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

Different Types of Smoke

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

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

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

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

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

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

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

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

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

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today – 706-754-7378