Smoke Odor Remediation

1/18/2022 (Permalink)

Ozone machines work by oxidizing smoke residue and neutralizing smoke odors.

Three Methods To Remove Smoke Odor

If you have experienced a fire in Laredo, TX, you may be in need of smoke to get rid of any lingering odors. Whether the problem is overwhelming or barely noticeable, there are people that can help remove smoke odors from a variety of materials within your home. Smoke can permeate carpet and upholstery, walls, and personal items like artwork and paper documents. By working with a professional odor removal specialist, you may soon have things smelling clean and fresh. Here are three common methods professionals use to remove smoke odors.

1. Air Filtration Devices
Air filtration devices work by scrubbing the air clean. The air is sucked in, recycled through specialized filters, and then dispersed back into the room. Some of the most common filters for these machines are HEPA filters and activated carbon filters. Many companies also use specialized filters that are specifically designed to target smoke.

2. Ozone Machines
A popular smoke cleaning device, ozone machines can be tailored to your match your unique environment. Professionals can adjust the settings to control the amount of time the machine runs, the amount of humidity it expels, and the temperature of the exhaust. Ozone machines work by oxidizing smoke residue and neutralizing smoke odors. Although too much ozone can be harmful, these devices are considered safe when operated by a professional.

3. Thermal Foggers
By using heat and pressurization, fogging can help get rid of odors in tiny cracks and crevices. It works by permeating porous surfaces, attaching to smoke particles, and destroying them. The fog is capable of reaching anywhere the smoke damage occurred. This technique also neutralizes harmful, carcinogenic debris that may be left from the fire.
Smoke cleaning is often the last step in the fire restoration process. By working with an expert remediation team, your home may soon look and smell like the fire never even happened.

What To Know About Dryer Lint

1/18/2022 (Permalink)

Lint from the screen should be removed after each use.

To help avoid a lint fire in your Laredo, TX, home, many professionals recommend regular maintenance of your dryer. Fortunately, there are many maintenance steps you can perform yourself. During this process there are several things you may want to consider about lint removal from your dryer.

Where To Clean

Removing lint in order to avoid a dryer fire involves cleaning several locations.

• The lint screen
• The screen vent
• The exterior vent
• The exhaust hose
• The dryer back
• Behind the back panel

If you’re going to do more than wipe off the lint screen, it’s important to unplug your dryer first.

When To Clean

Many experts recommend deep cleaning your dryer at least once a year in order to avoid the build up that can lead to a lint fire. If your dryer seems unusually hot during use, or if your clothes regularly fail to dry fully, you may want to perform a clean then as well. If problems persist then it’s recommended to contact a professional. It’s also recommended to clear the lint screen after every use.

Why Clean

Every year fire damage restoration services conduct repairs to homes that experiences a fire due to lint built up. When lint accumulates inside the dryer it can cause the appliance to overheat. This is turn can lead to a fire made worse by lint’s flammable nature. Keeping your dryer clean is one way to help avoid this type of fire in your home.

Regularly removing lint from your dryer can help prevent a lint fire in your home. You could consider cleaning all the areas of your dryer including the exhaust hose and exterior vent. The dryer should be cleaned at least once a year, and lint from the screen should be removed after each use. If you think your machine is malfunctioning it’s best to call in a professional.

House Fires in Laredo, TX

1/12/2022 (Permalink)

If you have fire damage in your Laredo home give us a call (956) 568-0266

Dealing with the aftermath of a house fire in Laredo can be extremely stressful especially when soot has completely covered your belongings. It should be known that fire damage cleanup is one of the most difficult aspects of a house fire.

In the event of a fire in your home, be sure to call your local Laredo fire department first. Your focus should always be safety first. Once you and your family are safe and secure reach out to your insurance agent to see if an insurance claim is necessary.

This is when you call us at SERVPRO of North Laredo. Your family is safe, your insurance has been reviewed, and now you need a fire restoration company.

Soot can develop through three different methods:

• Wet soot residue results from smoldering, low-heat fires. This residue is sticky, smeary, and has a very pungent odor.
• Dry soot residue results from fast-burning fires with high temperatures. This residue is typically dry, powdery, and non-smeary.
• Protein residue is almost invisible but can discolor paints and varnishes in your home. This residue also has an extremely pungent odor.

Each type of smoke damage restoration is different and requires specific expertise to clean. You need a fire restoration company, our team here at SERVPRO of North Laredo. We are highly trained in smoke, fire and water cleanup and restoration and can assist in all aspects. We consider everything we need to clean and what our plan is moving forward.

Structural Cleaning - After a smoke or fire damage, ceilings, walls, woodwork, carpeting and floors will often need a thorough cleaning. Our team will walk your property to determine the extent of damage. We will use specific equipment and cleaning products for the different types of surfaces and products found within your structure.

Depending on the amount of soot, we can lower the cost of cleaning if lighter soot deposits are found. We can also see if the expense can be lower with repainting or refinishing. If this is not the case, we will clean to prepare for painting. This process deodorizes and ensures the new paint will adhere properly to the surface.

Contents Cleaning - All the restorable contents in affected areas will be professionally cleaned and deodorized. This includes area rugs, furniture, draperies and upholstery. Our team will begin by carefully inspecting and testing all fabrics to determine which cleaning methods are most appropriate.

Both wet and dry-cleaning services can be provided as we deodorize and restore contents to preloss condition. This process would include electronics, art, wood furniture, kitchen items, clothing, bedding and much more. Finally, we can provide an inventory list of all "to be claimed" items if so requested.

Deodorization – We provide specialized services that rid your home or place of business of offensive odors left by fire or smoke damage. We do not cover up lingering odors with a fragrance. As we seek out the sources of the odor and remove them. Ask us to explain the various methods available and which will work best for you.

No matter how difficult or hard you find your situation to be, we can help. Find your fire restoration team at SERVPRO of North Laredo to help restore your home and bring it back to pre-damage conditions.

How to Avoid Fires During Winter

8/30/2021 (Permalink)

Winter fires can be prevented

Fire does not care what season it is or whether or not it’s cold outside. Winter related fires are extremely common, especially when you are trying hard to keep warm. 

Our offices in Laredo have experience in fire damage from space heaters and can provide you with some tips to help avoid having to deal with these types of destructive events this winter season. 

Placing space heaters too close to other objects or using the wrong type of heater in a particular area can cause severe problems. 

Electric heaters come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be useful for many areas in your home. However, they should never be left unattended. Thinking of electric heaters as giant toasters can help you understand how important it is to keep a constant eye on them. Make sure you have sufficient wattage to run the device and never use extension cords.

Our SERVPRO of Laredo staff gets an incredible amount of space heater-related calls every winter. People are trying to stay warm and use space heaters quite often for this purpose. However, using a space heater does not need to cause so many problems during a cold spell. Just use common sense, and always follow the directions of the manufacturer.

Follow a few simple guidelines when operating your space heater: 

1) Always place space heaters on a flat, solid surface for proper stabilization. 

2) Purchase heaters with an automatic shut-off feature to prevent dangers from tipping. 

3) Maintain proper spacing between heaters and other objects in your home. 

4) Never leave children or pets unsupervised around operating heaters. 

5) Shut your heaters off properly before leaving your home or going to sleep. 

Following these guidelines does not ensure that you will never have to deal with fire damage from space heaters. However, you are less likely to have an unwanted consequence. If this sort of incident still strikes your home this winter season, make the call to our offices immediately. We will respond quickly and provide you with the services you need to get back to normal fast. 

Call SERVPRO of North Laredo today at (956)-568-0266