Being Prompt After A Fire Is The Key to Safety

1/16/2025 (Permalink)

A fire in your home or workspace can get out of hand if it’s not attended to quickly.

Commercial fire damage can come in the form of lingering smoke, soot damage, and smoke damage. It’s important to take serious action in the event that a fire spreads from the home to the business. The number one thing to do is respond as fast as possible. Though you may be in complete shock after viewing the damage, it is important to shift your focus towards finding a solution before it becomes an even bigger problem. The steps to bringing your space back to life after the fire needs to happen quickly. As a home or business owner, it is critical to follow these steps in the event of a fire.

Speedy Response

Acting quick with the help of a restoration company can be crucial in the event of a fire. The damage to the space can be less severe if a board is up. Being prompt can help the owner stay in business. It truly shows the character of a restoration business that is helping the owner get back on their feet by completing everything in a quick manner. They understand how important it is to get it running again, no matter what kind of damages occurred. The customers will also realize this and be very appreciative of it. An owner that works closely with a restoration company that specializes in responding to damage after a fire is one that puts their employees and customers before anything else. This shows they can truly overcome any obstacle that might arise in their business.

Damage Done

A fire doesn’t have to be huge to make an impact; any size fire can be harmful. It’s very easy for a fire to spread, which can cause smoke and soot damage. Smoke smell can travel from one area to another in just a few seconds. This is why it is so important for the owner to contact fire restoration and cleanup as soon as they realize the problem. They will learn that many other issues arise from commercial fires. The smoke smell is so strong that if it gets into any kind of inventory, it will make it nearly impossible to sell again. Not only will this ruin the inventory, it will also turn customers away from the strong smell. Fire damage restoration and cleanup should begin with a board up then analyze the other parts of the property. Contracts with restoration companies are crucial when it comes to help with problems such as smoke smell, fire cleanup and a board up.

Taking Initiative

The owner of a company exhibits their leadership qualities by knowing what to do in the situation of a fire. A fast response to a big problem can show the leadership qualities to the rest of the employees and motivate them follow in the same footsteps. “Leaders aren’t self-made; they are driven” as stated in entrepreneur.com by Arnold Schwarzenegger. A fire is the time to step up and take that initiative as a boss to be the leader of your business. Display what should be expected from everyone in your business. Having the damages cleaned up immediately by a restoration company will avoid the risk of any long-term damage to your employees, property and surroundings.

How Electrical Outlets Are Affected By Floods

1/7/2025 (Permalink)

When floodwaters rise to the height of electrical outlets, a common result is loss of power. However, in some cases the resulting sparks and damage can create a fire in a house, apartment, or commercial building.

There are many restoration companies which specialize in water damage, but very few have the experience that can handle fire damage and water damage like SERVPRO. For decades, we have been in the business of restoring homes to original condition. Our expert response teams can pump out a basement and scrub away smoke residues with equal ease.

Fortunately, fire damage which is caused by a flooded outlet is usually small and is mainly just smoke damage. In either disaster, removal of drywall is critical so that the workload is not as difficult to deal with. However, the rising smoke can leave residue higher up on the walls, requiring more panels to be removed. Ceiling tiles can also require cleaning after a fire as well.

When an outlet is damaged by water, it needs a replacement from the hardware store, which typically costs less than $5 apiece. The spot where the fire begins, the point of ignition, would be the outlet in this case. The wires leading to the outlet are melted to the outlet box and may require cutting from above where there is any damage. It is important to inspect the rest of the building as well to ensure the fried wires did not compromise any other building materials.

If the damage runs very far back along the wires, then they require replacing so the new outlet is in the original location. Our technicians are trained to run new wiring from any point in the structure back to the breaker box if it is needed to rebuild the wiring system of your home or business. This task is much easier once a different team member removes the flooded drywall, exposing the drywall for easier access.

Dealing with damage from a flood can be a very difficult and stressful process. Restoring your home and property from both requires professional treatment and care from experts with a nationwide support network or equipment. We are ready to help you whenever disaster strikes.

Moisture Masked by Dry Appearance

12/27/2024 (Permalink)

Moisture can cause mold to form in areas hidden to homeowners.

Water leaks and moisture are not always present in areas which are visible to home and business owners. Over time, slow leaks and high levels of humidity can cause mold to form under floors, behind walls and in air ducts. SERVPRO of Freehold’s expertly trained water mitigation technicians were called out to a home which had a water loss due to a broken sprinkler head. Once the crew started to remove the wallpaper, they realized mold had formed after a former slow leak from the air conditioning system.

This room looks nice and dry, but a closer inspection shows mold is growing under the wallpaper. If your walls are wet and the wallpaper remains in place, it can act as a vapor barrier preventing the drying process from occurring. Chances are the insulation behind the wall is also affected. Water will wick up a wall 1" per hour for the first 12 hours following a water loss. 

SERVPRO of Freehold is always ready to take care of homes and businesses affected by disaster. Call us 24 hours a day, and seven days a week.

Fire Spreads Quickly

12/16/2024 (Permalink)

Damage to the house caused by the fire.

Fire has the unique ability to spread rapidly and cause an enormous amount of damage. In light of recent wildfires in the west, it is important to remember many structures can be restored with proper remediation efforts. The restoration team at SERVPRO of Freehold is always ready to respond to home or business owners who have suffered a loss due to fire.

This damage resulted after a lawn mower caught on fire right outside the house. The owners were not at home at the time and the damage was extensive as the fire spread from the machine to the house very quickly. Our SERVPRO team was able to assess the site quickly and began remediation efforts immediately. Inside, the team removed sheetrock, removed affected contents, and performed smoke and soot remediation. HEPA vacuuming, deep cleaning of remaining materials and air purification were also performed after the demolition. Water from the fire department was removed via extraction and our effective drying equipment. After a building affected by fire is thoroughly cleaned, it is ready for our building services crew to repair the structure.

Protecting Your Home in Extreme Weather

12/7/2024 (Permalink)

Ice hanging from the ceiling!

When temperatures approach record lows for the northeast region, it is important home and business owners take steps to protect their structures from the extreme weather. Frozen pipes can lead to breakage, damaging personal property and essential heating systems which can create a major disaster at your home or property.

Be sure to keep all living spaces at a minimum low of 50 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent pipes from freezing. Frozen pipes are often those exposed to the cold weather, such as those outside your house, or in cold areas such as basements, attics or garages. A frozen pipe can burst due to the backflow pressure between the blockage and water source. Some additional prevention methods include:

- Draining pools, sprinkler lines, and shutting off the water source to outside spigots.

-Opening kitchen cabinets to let warm air reach the pipes beneath.

-Daily use of faucets whose source might come from an outside pipe.

 In the event of a winter weather emergency, our SERVPRO of Freehold team is always ready to respond to quickly get your property back to normal! Give us a call 24/7 at 732-431-4440.

Always Here to Help!

Clean Water Correctly The First Time

11/22/2024 (Permalink)

Cleaning up water correctly can prevent mold from forming.

Always make sure you hire a company who has the expertise to properly remediate a water loss. SERVPRO of Freehold was called in by a customer after another restoration company failed to properly dry out their home in Millstone, NJ. Instead of just mitigating a water loss, our team was charged with performing an entire home mold remediation. This situation arises when affected materials remain wet from incorrect treatment following the initial damage. 

Our SERVPRO® crew thoroughly inspects wet areas by using special meters to verify wet materials progressively dry within a few days. We encourage our customers to understand the drying process so they can be confident that a job is being done correctly.

The home in Millstone was returned to safe breathing levels following the cleaning of the mold. The customer was relieved and extremely pleased with the repairs completed by our mitigation team.

All technicians are extensively trained on how to prevent a water loss from turning into mold. SERVPRO of Freehold is always ready to take care of homes and businesses affected by disaster. Call us at 732-431-4440, 24 hours a day, seven days a week!

Importance of Cleaning Up After Storm Surge

11/7/2024 (Permalink)

The home after demolition following a surge of ocean water.

After this extremely active Atlantic Ocean hurricane season, it is important to understand how to calmly react to the tremendous damage which is left after a storm.

This photo was taken after the demolition of a flooded house in Manasquan, NJ. Our SERVPRO of Freehold crew was called immediately after ocean surge flooded this home within a block of the beach. Our team responded on the scene within an hour. During inspection, the crew determined all of the drywall and insulation needed to be removed as well as most of the flooring due to the contamination of the ocean water. The remaining stud beams and subfloor were sprayed with an anti-microbial solution to kill any lingering contaminants. Drying equipment was placed to remove any additional moisture to prevent further damage and/or the formation of mold.

Large floods are never too difficult for our SERVPRO of Freehold team as it is imperative to clean and dry the extensive moisture the water deposits into the structure. When dealing with a loss from storm surge, it is imperative to contact your local SERVPRO to properly clean and restore your property "Like it never even happened."

Floors Were Saved After A Water Loss

10/30/2024 (Permalink)

The wood floors were saved using drying mats!

When this 3 story Rumson home was flooded, the insurance agent said he did not think we could save the floors. He was very surprised when we saved the wood floor without needing the homeowner to move out for demolition. The insurance company and the homeowner were thrilled with the work our team did.

Upon arrival to the home, our technicians inspected the flooring to see if it could be salvaged. Since the wood floor was not showing an extremely high moisture content, the technicians decided to use the Injecti-dry system in an attempt to save it from removal.

The Injecti-dry system works by utilizing extraction mats placed over wet sections of the wood floor. The mats are connected to a special machine which directs air below the floor in an attempt to dry underneath it quickly. Dehumidifiers are often placed alongside the system to assist in removing as much moisture from the surrounding area as possible.

After the system ran for four days, the mats were removed to revel the wood had dried exceptionally well and would not need to be replaced! The homeowner was so overjoyed to hear we were able to save the flooring. The Injecti-dry system is an innovative tool often used by our franchise to alleviate costly, time-consuming repairs for our customers.

Broken Kitchen Supply Line

10/16/2024 (Permalink)

Water can travel everywhere during a water loss.

When a supply line breaks, the water will travel far and wide inside a structure. This home in Old Bridge, NJ just had a new kitchen installed before the water damage. After investigating the extent of the damage, it appeared that the cabinets may not had been affected. Once the cabinets were opened up, it was discovered the contents inside were soaked. Since the homeowners called SERVPRO of Freehold right away, the emergency technicians were able to save the cabinets by drying them in place.

Before our team arrives to help, clear contents out of any locations where water can accumulate to dry out as much as you can. Please keep your safety in mind and make sure any appliances that are plugged in are removed to prevent electrocution. Safety is the number one priority of our SERVPRO team; it prevents dangerous situations for the technicians and the customers as well.

SERVPRO of Freehold is always ready to take care of homes and businesses affected by disaster. Call us at 732-431-4440, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

It is Extremely Important to Prevent Mold Growth

9/13/2024 (Permalink)

Mold growing on the ceiling of the entryway.

This is a dramatic before shot of a portion of a mold job performed by our team. A long neglected and toxic environment was discovered upon inspection of a reported water loss. A mold test was performed to confirm the composition and severity of the infestation, and a comprehensive scope of work was enacted to remove the affected materials. The entryway pictured is the area most affected by the mold infestation. The enormous effort taken by the SERVPRO of Freehold mold technicians to clean the structure was successful and the air clearance test performed at the conclusion of the job showed there was no longer any mold in the house. Both the client and homeowner were thrilled with the final result.

There are many dangers in letting your home or business sit without proper cleanliness and maintenance habits. Not only are you setting the environment up for contamination, but the neglect may cause health effects to those who are exposed to that environment. In the event water affects the interior of any structure, it is imperative the water and moisture are removed as quickly as possible to prevent microbial growth from growing. Additionally, inspecting homes or businesses on a regular basis helps prevent structural components from degrading and allows owners to identify possible issues before they can cause water damage.