Understanding Fire Alarms

7/20/2022 (Permalink)

Fire Alarms; Ionization Vs. Photoelectric

There are two types of fire alarms: Ionization and Photoelectric.
Ionization fire alarms are more reactive towards blazing fires with large flames. A tiny amount of radioactive material is positioned between two plates that are electrically charged. This ionizes the air around it, causing a small current to exist between both plates. Once smoke from the fire enters the detector chamber, there is a disruption of the flow of ions, causing a reduced current flow. This lack of current flow triggers the alarm to sound.
Photoelectric alarms are more reactive to smoldering, long-lasting fires. A light source in the detection chamber is angled to point away from the sensor, to not receive any light When smoke enters the detection chamber, the light is reflected and dispersed onto the sensor which then triggers the alarm.
Combined alarms are available, or a combination of both alarms is recommended to provide maximum protection from both fast flaming fires and slower smoldering fires in both the home and the workplace.
Maintenance of fire alarms is straightforward:

• Once per month – test the batteries by holding the button for a minimum of five seconds. If they are working it will beep.
• Every six months – Use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust. Keeping the alarm free of particles will prevent false alarms and allows for easy access of smoke to the detection chamber and sensor.
• Every twelve months – Replace the batteries if they are lead or alkaline.
• Every ten years – All smoke alarms should be replaced with new ones, or earlier if this is recommended by the smoke alarm manufacturer.

SERVPRO Technicians Can Guide You and Help in Completing the Necessary Restoration Steps

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Technicians Can Guide You and Help in Completing the Necessary Restoration Steps

A fast response is crucial after fire damage incidents to forestall some problems that develop after putting out the fire. Quick action also helps guarantee faster reoccupation of the house. Although it might not appear so, planning the restoration process can be challenging because it involves several steps, and it might not be clear which ones have a higher priority.

What steps are typical in the early stages of most restoration exercises?

When choosing the steps to take immediately after fire damage incidents, the main consideration is how the incident is expected to unfold. If some materials or contents that survived the fire might deteriorate further, prioritizing steps that help stop such deterioration is essential. In most cases, the initial stages involve:
    •    Thorough scoping of the loss site
    •    Securing the property
    •    Calling the insurance company

Why is scoping essential before starting restoration?

Although it is easy to tell whether a fire extensively damages property or not, there are aspects of damage that you cannot identify without doing thorough scoping. Successful scoping requires the right skills and equipment. When evaluating a fire loss site, our SERVPRO technicians focus on issues such as:
    •    Charring depth especially on structural supports
    •    Pretesting materials for cleaning purposes
    •    Establishing the type of smoke residues left

Salvaging materials after fire damage helps reduce repair costs. Since the decision of whether to save an item depends on the level of damage, thoroughly evaluating affected materials is essential. For building materials such as frames and other structural supports, scoping helps establish whether there are significant residue deposits or charring on their surfaces. A tool such as a tar depth gauge helps establish whether charring affects more than 10% of the cross-section of frames, thus compromising their structural integrity.

Why is testing necessary before cleaning?

Cleaning is one of the activities necessary for the restoration of fire-damaged properties. Although cleaning is beneficial, it can also cause problems such as ruining the material being cleaned or spreading residues beyond the areas initially affected. Testing helps prevent such problems and also improves the ease of cleaning. Our SERVPRO crews test fabric materials such as carpets as well as finishes, such as paint on different surfaces. The tests we perform on carpets help establish several aspects that influence the cleaning processes, including:
    •    Stain resistance
    •    Level of soiling
    •    The physical condition of the carpet

Why does the type of smoke residue matter?

As the fire burns, you might notice minor differences in the type of smoke produced. For example, you might notice thick clouds of smoke, or the color can range from grey, brown, or black. Unlike the simple differences in appearance, the residue deposits from smoke can differ greatly, affecting the restoration process. Establishing the properties of such residues helps in choosing the correct cleaning procedures. Our SERVPRO technicians use several approaches to test residues, including simple ones such as running a cleaning sponge along surfaces starting from the seat of the fire and moving outwards to establish how far the residues spread. We also check other properties, such as whether the residues are predominantly dry or wet. From the information gained from testing, our technicians decide what cleaning procedures to use, including:
    •    Mechanical options such as wiping
    •    Wet cleaning with professional cleaning products
    •    Specialized cleaning with sophisticated methods such as soda blasting

How is a fire-damaged structure secured?

Securing a property immediately after fire damage helps prevent further deterioration. There are many ways to secure a property, so the steps taken depend on factors such as the level of damages and whether the property remains occupied during restoration. In case of severe fire damage, our SERVPRO technicians board up all openings in the exterior of the structure, protecting the interior from further deterioration. In case of fires localized in sections of the property such as kitchens or living rooms, we can board up those specific areas allowing access to the rest of the house.

Apart from setting up barriers, another way to secure the property is to identify vulnerable materials or contents and secure them. For example, soot has acidic properties, which corrode metallic materials and finishes. It can also stain stone materials such as granite permanently. Our Crews pre-clean such materials then apply thin oil film on their surfaces to protect them from further damages.

Taking the correct steps immediately after a fire limits the chances of unnecessary damage. 

Prevention is better than intervention when it comes to fires.

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

No Fire Can Be Totally Prevented, But There Are Steps You Can Take And SERVPRO Can Handle the Fire Damage if it Happens In Bridgewater!

Over one-fourth of all fires take place in homes. The majority of these fires happen in the kitchen. Prevention is better than intervention, but if help is needed in a home, call the professionals.

What are the most common causes of house fires?

A house fire is never a pleasant thing. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) notes, cooking is the main cause of fires in the home and the need for fire damage restoration in homes. But cooking isn’t the only thing that can lead to a residential fire. The top five reasons are:

• Cooking
• Heating
• Electrical & Lighting
• Arson
• Smoking

Kitchen fires are one of the main reasons SERVPRO gets called out to deal with fire damage. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) states that firefighters responded to 188,800 cooking fires in two years.

What Causes Cooking Fires

Kitchen fires resulting from a cooking fire involve a stove or cooktop 62% of the time. Unattended cooking is the main reason for this type of fire, but things like flammable materials too close to the stove are another reason. Electric stoves cause more problems than gas stoves. Improper disposal of hot items is another cause. Thanksgiving and Christmas appear to be the peak time for these incidents to occur.

How Can I Prevent a Kitchen Fire?

One of the foremost essential things you can do is to stay alert. Never walk away from the stove when you have something cooking, turn off the stove if you need to step out. Keep all flammable material away from the range. Many people use their flat surface stoves as additional counter space. That is a big mistake that could cost you dearly. Always assume the stove is hot even when off. Keep your heat at the proper level. If your skillet starts to smoke or your pot boil over, turn off the heat. Keep a cookie sheet handy to place over the top of a pan that does catch fire.

What Happens if There is a Cooking Fire?

If the worse does happen and you undergo a kitchen fire, our Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) accredited technicians are ready to go at a moment’s notice. Once they arrive, they will immediately assess the situation. Kitchen fires are often contained and damage minimal comparatively, but there are still things that need to be determined before fire damage restoration can begin. They will determine the type of smoke residue, pretest materials for the proper cleaning techniques, and decide if there is any structural damage. The goal is to restore items rather than replace them when possible.

Cleanup and Restoration

Once a course of action is decided, the Green Team of professionals get to work. With years of experience and specialized training, they can provide the necessary services for your situation. In the case of fire damage restoration, these could include:

• Debris removal – the stove may be charred and unsalvageable
• Dry cleaning – using techniques such as wiping down surfaces
• Wet cleaning – using professional chemical cleaners specific to the soot and the item getting cleaned
• Restoring wood surfaces
• Cleaning or replacing flooring
• Checking other kitchen appliances for problems arising from the fire
• Deodorizing – air scrubbers, thermal fogging, ozone generators or aroma pellets
• Cleaning HVAC duct systems

Do I Need Expert Restoration?

A minor house fire may look harmless enough and leave you thinking you can take care of it yourself. That isn’t generally the case. Smoke residue seeps into the tiniest cracks and crevices. Depending on the type of soot, it leaves behind improper cleaning can make it worse. SERVPRO uses industrial-grade equipment and cleaning supplies that the average homeowner does not have access too. Our experts know what and where to look for when it comes to fire damage.

Available Around the Clock

SERVPRO is ready to handle any fire damage that may occur, including kitchen fires. We hope that you can prevent a cooking fire, but if something unavoidable happens, we are available 24/7. Disaster doesn’t take a holiday, and neither do we. You can trust our fire restoration technicians to leave your home, “Like it never even happened.” Your life doesn’t stop because a fire happens, and we understand that. Our rapid response team will do everything they can to get you back to normal.

Cooking fires can destroy a kitchen. Contact SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield at (508) 824-0200 for expert fire damage restoration service that is Faster to Any Size Disaster.

Smoke Remediation is Critical When Performing Fire Cleanup in East Taunton

6/1/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke damage can leave behind stains and odors. Tackle them with a call to SERVPRO for fire damage cleanup services.

SERVPRO ensures your East Taunton home is free from odorous smoke damage during the fire cleanup process

No homeowner wants to have lasting reminders of a fire event within their East Taunton property. Unfortunately, DIY house fire clean up leaves you open to remaining odorous particles from soot and smoke. Hiring skilled fire damage restorations from SERVPRO helps battle foul odors so that your newly-restored interior and indoor air quality (IAQ) match when the project wraps up.

When handling fire cleanup in East Taunton, our smoke and fire damage team can access a broad spectrum of odor removal tools, products, and equipment. When you call us to address the fire event in your home, we may use some or all of the following:

• HEPA filtration – HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate arrestor. While using HEPA filtration tools, we can scrub the air to remove odorous airborne particulates.
• Thermal fogging – Our thermal fogging equipment works by dispersing a fine mist of special deodorizing agents. This allows it to bond with particulates, even in hard-to-reach spaces, to pull out foul odors.
• Ozone generators – This equipment works with the help of ozone gas production to help trap and remove odors and microorganisms within any given space. NOTE: all people, pets, and plants must be out of the area while this technology gets used.

There is nothing like house fire clean up by skilled technicians! Call us at SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield when you need assistance with fire cleanup and smoke remediation at (508) 824-0200.

Does SERVPRO Restore Fire Damaged Homes in Taunton?

4/24/2021 (Permalink)

Fire and smoke damage restoration for your property is no easy task to handle. SERVPRO has the equipment and experience for any size disaster.

SERVPRO Provides Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration and Cleanup in Taunton

Taunton is located in Bristol County on the Taunton River, with a population of approximately 60,000 people. The city was founded in 1637. It is considered one of the oldest communities in the United States and was nicknamed the “Silver City” for its expertise in the silver industry in the 19th century. 

It is also known as the “Christmas City,” for the annual light show on display each December.

The industry today is based on semiconductors, silicon, and the manufacturing of electronics. Taunton is 40 miles from Boston. Activities available for residents in Taunton and the surrounding area include:

• Massasoit State Park
• Watson Pond State Park
• Boyden Park
• Taunton Green
• Old Colony History Museum
• Gertrude M Boyden Wildlife Refuge
• Taunton Public Library
• Hopewell Park
• Fore Kicks
• Taunton Antique Center
• Bristol County Court House
• US Post Office
• Round One Entertainment

Massasoit State Park

Massasoit State Park covers more than 1200 acres with six lakes, numerous cranberry bogs, and trails that meander between the lakes, the wetlands, and the heavily wooded areas. The park is located in the southeast portion of the city of Taunton. There are four main trails – Massasoit, Lake Rico and Big Bearhole Pond, Massasoit Loop, and Adams Trail. Park hours are from sunrise to sunset, and there is free parking available. 

Activities at the park include camping, swimming, canoeing, mountain biking, hiking, and fishing. Hunting is also allowed; however, hunters should check with park rangers for details. There is also a boat ramp, playground, and trailer or RV hookups.

Watson Pond State Park

Watson Pond State Park is a smaller state park covering 10 acres with picnic areas on the beach, a bathhouse, a small pavilion, and a playground. It is open from late May until September from 10 am until 6 pm. Fishing and canoeing are allowed. There are several short trails to enjoy throughout the park.

Taunton Green

Taunton Green dates back to 1743, when it was used as a militia training area. There was also a meeting house. Today it is at the center of the old historic district of Taunton. The Green is the city’s holiday light display site, attracting visitors from around the area. Taunton gets its nickname, “The Christmas City,” from this attraction that continues to provide residents with a holiday event.

Providing Fire Damage Restoration Services in Taunton Residences

It is important to thoroughly clean all surfaces in homes, including contents and structural elements after a fire. When plastics burn, they produce chlorides that produce hydrochloric acid when combined with moisture. A common by-product of combustion is carbon dioxide, which produces carbonic acid when combined with moisture.

SERVPRO tests all surfaces before fire damage restoration begins in Taunton to determine the acidic nature of smoke residues. Once these surfaces are cleaned, they are retested to ensure no residual acid remains on the surface. Acids remaining on surfaces can:

• Cause discoloration
• Corrode surfaces
• Cause long term smoke damage

Completely removing and testing for acids eliminates further deterioration.

Call SERVPRO of Taunton / Mansfield for fire damage services in Taunton and surrounding areas. We can help 24/7. Call (508) 824-0200.

Why is it Risky to Avoid Professional Fire Damage Restoration?

3/25/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot from this fire traveled throughout the home. SERVPRO has the equipment and cleaners to restore you home.

SERVPRO Helps Taunton Homeowners with Hidden Risks 

We recognize that you want to save money after fire damage. Getting in a professional cleaning crew can seem costly compared to doing it yourself. It also feels like a hassle to have strangers in your home.

However, when it comes to fire damage in your Taunton home, it is better to call for professional help. Even if you clean away visible soot, there might be hidden damage:

• Soot sinks into all kinds of materials where it can cause damage and odors.
• Smoke and moisture from fire fighting can harm structural elements and even make your house unsafe. 
• Soot is full of nasty chemicals, and if you do not treat it, those chemicals react with carpets, drapes, and upholstery.

SERVPRO technicians track the pattern of smoke throughout your home and identify risk areas. We can test for areas of hidden moisture and make sure your home is structurally sound. We can also deodorize everything from upholstery to linen to the shell of your home, to leave it “Like it never even happened.” 

Do not leave fire damage restoration to chance. Call SERVPRO of Taunton / Mansfield at (508) 824-0200.

Fire Damage to East Taunton Structures

2/22/2021 (Permalink)

Fire restoration services by SERVPRO are top notch. Their techs are ready 24/7 365 days a year.

Why do some contents have more pungent odors from fire damage than others?

Many clients wonder why some materials smell of smoke residue more than others after a fire. Several factors contribute to these strong odors.

SERVPRO technicians are trained to recognize smoke residues' characteristics from fire damage in East Taunton buildings and contents. Smoke particles are one-tenth of a micron to 4 microns in size. This small size allows them to penetrate surfaces easily. Also, the following conditions can help odor particles penetrate materials:

• Porous materials absorb odors readily, e.g., fabrics, drywall, leathers.
• Heavy concentrations contribute to higher penetrations.
• Exposure time also increases the number of particles that are absorbed.
• Heat expands surfaces allowing particles to penetrate. The surfaces contract when they cool, trapping smoke particles inside
• Humidity helps odors vaporize and carry the odor vapor to the nose, making the smell seem more substantial than in dry air.

Our team acts quickly to mitigate the fire damage and the retention of smoke odors. Removal, cleaning, sanitizing, deodorization, and sealing surfaces are among the solutions used by SERVPRO to control smoke odors.

Contact SERVPRO of Taunton / Mansfield for fire damage services to East Taunton and surrounding areas. We can help 24/7. Call (508) 824-0200.

Do Some Fires Produce More Smoke Damage than Others?

2/1/2021 (Permalink)

From start to finish, Count on SERVPRO for fire damage restoration in Taunton

Taunton Fire Damage Restoration Requires Professional Measures

There are many different types of fires, each causing significant damage to homes and businesses. Some fires burn hot, burning quickly and charring content and structures in the immediate area of the fire. While other fires burn cooler, they produce significant smoke and soot distributed throughout the building. There may also be organic material mixed with the soot.

We Deal with All Types of Fires in Taunton

SERVPRO trained technicians manage all types of fire damage in Taunton and surrounding areas. We provide services depending on the extent of the fire and smoke damage to your home or business, including:

• Boarding up and tarps on your roof
• Remove water and dry all content and structures
• Removal of damaged structures or contents causing odors
• Soot and smoke residue removal from ceilings, walls, surfaces, and contents
• Restoration, cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfection

Contact SERVPRO of Taunton / Mansfield for fire damage services to Taunton residential and commercial buildings and surrounding areas. Call (508) 824-0200. Our team is ready to respond 24/7 to help with all your fire damage needs.

Take Out Service at the Taunton Public Library

1/19/2021 (Permalink)

It will be exciting to see the community enjoying their books from the Taunton Public Library!

Safely Social Distance and Get the Taunton Public Library Goods You Wish to Enjoy

The ability to enjoy a good book or other library materials is still available to residents of the Taunton area, even during this time of social distancing. At the Taunton Public Library, you can enjoy our Take Out Services! Please wear a mask, and proper social distancing rules are still in effect. But, you have the chance to call ahead to reserve what you need. Come in for an inside pick up, or you can take advantage of our convenient curbside services. Just get in contact with us at the library or use our online portal to place your order. We will then inform you when your holds become available.

• Date: Ongoing during library openings
• Where: Taunton Public Library, 12 Pleasant Street, Taunton, MA
• Times: Inside pickup, Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm – mask required. Outside curbside available Monday through Friday 9 am to 3 pm.
• Cost: No additional cost

We want the local community to stay safe during times of social distancing. At SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield, we are always available should you need prompt fire mitigation services. Our crew arrives fast to get to work on debris cleanup and soot and smoke residue removal. Call (508) 824-0200, and we will send technicians out as soon as possible.

I Need Fire Damage Restoration Services for My Home. Who Can Help?

7/28/2020 (Permalink)

Taunton Homeowners Are Happy with the SERVPRO Approach to Fire Damage Cleanup and Restoration--We Even Eliminate the Pungent Odors

Hire SERVPRO’s Team of Experts in Taunton To Complete the Fire Damage Restoration Process.

Nothing is more traumatizing than a fire threatening your family’s sense of security. Even after the flames are gone, the secondary damage may continue to destroy the structure and pose health risks to its residents. Therefore, it is essential to act fast by contacting restoration experts in Taunton within the first 48 hours to stop further damage.

Why the first 48 hours?

Restoration experts call the first 24 to 48 hours following a fire loss the golden hours of recovery. To ensure the recovery of as much property as possible after fire damage in your Taunton home, it is critical to have an effective response that stabilizes the property. When the firefighters extinguish a blaze, the acidic soot and smoke can speed up corrosion and deterioration of building components and valuable items. To compound the issue, firefighters use water or chemicals to extinguish the flames. Our technicians can remove the left-over chemicals, water, and the odor that a fire leaves behind.

What does fire damage restoration include?

Our restoration services include mitigating the fire damage, water removal, and smoke residue cleanup. We conduct the restoration process as quickly as possible so that our customers do not incur costly repairs. Beyond the visible structural damage, SERVPRO technicians evaluate contents inside a property for recovery based on factors such as:

• Decreased life expectancy
• Effect of smoke and heat
• Sentimental value
• Loss of value
• Loss of use
• Comparison between replacement cost and cost of restoration

Our fire damage restoration services can include:

• Emergency board-up: Since the restoration process might take a few days, we can protect your property from severe weather or intruders. We can use plywood enforced by two-by-fours to board up any openings. If the unfortunate incident damaged the roof, we can cover the opening using a polythene paper.
• Soot and smoke residues cleanup: We use advanced products to clean the soot and smoke residues from different surfaces. We can use Liquid Crème Cleaners such as stain scrub to clean high gloss surfaces or appliances made of stainless steel.
• Thermal deodorization: Smoke odor can hide in various places, including confined areas. Even after a thorough cleanup, the odors may persist. Our technicians can use thermal fog deodorizers to combat the odors. We use a thermal fogger to apply the product in the affected areas and allow it to work overnight.

Our SERVPRO technicians also inspect the property to ensure it is suitable for inhabitation.

Do not let secondary fire damage lead to expensive repairs in your property. Contact SERVPRO of Taunton / Mansfield at (508) 824-0200 immediately after the fire loss for effective restoration.

Can I Retain Any Paneling After Fire Incidents?

6/9/2020 (Permalink)

Call the fire restoration pros in your Taunton area. SERVPRO can mitigate fire damage with updated equipment and knowledge.

SERVPRO Can Help You Make Informed Decisions during Fire Restoration in Your Taunton Home

You might not recognize your own house after a fire incident because of the soiling of surfaces or other damages. The possibility of saving materials such as wall paneling might seem minimal. A professional restoration team from SERVPRO helps Taunton property owners evaluate what to save.

Is a plan to save paneling realistic?

The likelihood of successful fire restoration of materials in Taunton properties depends on several factors, including the physical characteristics of the material and the purpose such material serves. Paneling mostly serves a decorative purpose and is made from a variety of products, which are affected differently by fire. Typical forms of paneling that you might want to save include:

• Acoustic paneling
• Utility paneling
• Tileboard paneling
• Decorative wall paneling

Since paneling makes your home unique, the reason for restoring it might be more than just to save the money you would spend replacing it.

What is the best way to restore damaged paneling?

Unlike other materials in the house, the kind of damage you can restore on paneling mostly involves soiling or slight charring by heat or flames. Other forms of damage could be too severe to reverse. Our SERVPRO technicians use regular and specialized cleaning techniques to remove soils effectively, including:

• Peroxide active cleaning on acoustic paneling
• Soda blasting porous surfaces
• Spraying and wiping regular surfaces

Some forms of paneling create ridges or grooves on surfaces leading to higher accumulation of soils. The unevenness of the surface can also slow down the cleaning process. Our crews overcome such challenges by using chemical sponges, which limit smudging or vacuum the affected areas to lift residues from corners.

Saving affected materials during a fire incident keeps costs manageable. Call SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield at (508) 824-0200 to address any damage on fittings, "Like it never even happened."

The Hazardous Effects After A Fire In Your East Taunton Home

5/23/2020 (Permalink)

Our SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield team can help with efficient cleaning and restoration methods available anytime that you need them.

What Lingering Effects Are Hazards After a Fire in East Taunton?

Our SERVPRO team can help to identify hazards in your East Taunton home after a fire and work around the clock to restore these damages.

Fires are not one-dimensional threats to your East Taunton home that require only one specific restoration technique to resolve. In many situations, there are multiple lingering effects after a fire gets extinguished, which can be health hazards or structural concerns for your home. Addressing these conditions requires experienced professionals like our restoration technicians working with an insurance company and the customer to get the house back to preloss condition.

Fire damage in East Taunton often requires an array of qualified professionals from our roster, including Water Restoration Technicians (WRT), Fire & Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT), and Odor Control Technicians (OCT.) Assessing lingering threats like water damage from extinguishment or soot and smoke residues can happen in the initial walkthrough and job scoping conducted by our project manager and crew chief.

Where Is Smoke Damage the Worst?

Smoke damage is one of the lingering effects that can often continue to damage a residence after a fire gets extinguished. The smoke produced during the combustion and burning of materials throughout the house can spread quickly throughout the entire structure. With open HVAC systems, smoke residues and odors can spread into almost every room of the house connected to the initial damage point. There are a few places where smoke damage is likely to be the worst, including:

    •    Near the Ignition Point - It is not challenging to assume that smoke and burning are going to be the worst where the fire starts. Before the disaster spreads in the house, it can burn the longest in this starting point. With a total burning of the ignition point, smoke effects can be the heaviest in this area.
    •    Ceilings – In the same manner that convection ovens circulate warm air, smoke rises. You can recognize the presence of smoke and ash by a blackening of ceiling tiles and drywall.
    •    Upper Portions of Wall Surfaces – Much like the ceiling surfaces, oily residues, and smoke effects can also get found on the upper halves of wall surfaces towards the ceiling.

How Challenging Are Odors to Remove?

As is the case with many loss incidents like flooding and biohazard cleaning, odors can often be one of the most challenging and persistent threats to the structure. ‘Airing out’ the problem zone does not resolve the problem. Instead, deodorization is a process that relies heavily on sophisticated tools and equipment available to our SERVPRO professionals. Depending on what materials and what area of the house has become affected by foul smoke and burning odors, we can choose among multiple odor removal devices, including:

    •    Thermal Foggers – by heating a deodorizing compound to a vaporous gas, we can quickly and thoroughly spread out this neutralizing product throughout the affected area. In a gaseous state, the process is likely to also help trapped odors in materials get neutralized.
    •    Hydroxyl Generators – these devices work in two different ways to help the home after a fire loss. Through UV cleaning the environment and producing radicals, these machines can eliminate odor molecules on contact. The onboard HEPA filter can also reduce the present particulates and soot in the environment.
    •    Ozone Machines – These units are not safe to use with living things around but are among the most definitive and authoritative weapons in the battle on lingering odors. By breaking apart oxygen compounds, single molecules get produced, which can bond with odor groupings and break them apart.

Can I Clean Soot on My Own?

Soot can be one of the most unsettling symptoms of a recent fire, especially when you understand the immense challenge it can be to remove. There are several strategies that our SERVPRO team implements depending on its location and severity. These include:

    •    Water-Based Solvents – Oily residues often require water-based solvents to remove, but they can also be effective at times against the acidic soot particles.
    •    Media Blasting – By utilizing pressurized air and soft media like sodium bicarbonate, we can often remove much of the soot adhered to the surfaces of affected materials.
    •    Controlled Demolition – While it is always the focus of our professionals to restore before replacing, controlled demolition is one of the most surefire ways to remove soot from the household.

Many homeowners believe that the worst is over with fire once it has gotten extinguished, but there is still much damage that can happen. Our SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield team can help with efficient cleaning and restoration methods available anytime that you need them. Give us a call anytime at (508) 824-0200.

What Is The Best Way To Restore A Mansfield Kitchen After Oven Fire Damage?

5/1/2020 (Permalink)

You can depend on our SERVPRO technicians to respond quickly to remove fire damage from your Mansfield home.

The Most Important Thing You Can Do After A Fire Incident Is To Have An Experienced Team Of Professionals Like SERVPRO By Your Side.

According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) data from 2016, cooking fires alone accounted for 630,000 of all reported home fires. These fires typically involve the use of the stove or oven, and oils and proteins are among the most common sources of flames. Manby homeowners can mistakenly spread damage by opening oven doors before a fire has been smothered entirely or trying to douse a grease fire with water, spreading the flames to nearby surfaces. 

When a cooking mishap leaves your Manfield kitchen needing fire damage mitigation, the pros at SERVPRO are always ready to restore your home. Fire damage comprises more than just soot and odors in your kitchen: invisible protein residues and soot in your vents can spread unpleasant odors throughout your home that consumer-grade products are ill-equipped to address. SERVPRO also offers licensed general contracting services (#CS-108357) to restore your home as thoroughly as possible after a disaster.

Safely Using Your Oven as a Smoker

• Put the food you wish to smoke in a bowl or container and season as desired. Use a disposable or reusable oven smoker bag, which typically has wood chips and seasoning in the lining. 
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit for at least five minutes before inserting the smoker bag on a cookie sheet. Reduce the temperature and cook per smoker bag instructions.
• Maximize ventilation by opening windows and turning on your range's hood fan. 

Removing Soot Residues From Ceiling to Floor

After an oven fire, kitchens typically require soot cleanup with both wet and dry cleaning methods, particularly in and around nearby cabinets. Food stored in or near affected areas may require disposal, including cans and jars, because heat and residues can penetrate packaging or otherwise alter the container. Smoke damage on and inside the stove can be cleaned with EPA-registered all-purpose industrial cleaners as well as gently-applied abrasive or alkaline cleaners. Enzyme digesters can combat protein residues in your kitchen.

SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield is a service you can count on to be Faster to Any Size Disaster. Call (508) 824-0200 to have a team of IICRC-certified technicians at your home in as little as four hours.

Learn more about Mansfield.

How Can I Get Immediate Restoration Help After a Fire in My House?

4/19/2020 (Permalink)

The aftermath of a fire can be quite overwhelming. Contact our certified technicians if your home suffers fire damage. We are standing by 24/7.

Our SERVPRO Professionals Can Reach Your East Taunton Home Fast Whenever Fires Happen to Begin Vital Mitigation Efforts. 

When fires occur, it can be a hazardous situation for your home, especially considering that many homeowners are ill-equipped to handle the immensity of fire loss recovery. With dozens of threatening circumstances present all at once, it is critical to get mitigation and restoration efforts started as soon as possible. The sooner that professionals like our SERVPRO team can get to work on restoring your home in East Taunton, the less widespread and compromising many of these effects might become.

Our fast response when fire damage threatens East Taunton homes is part of the reason that we have become a trusted name throughout Massachusetts. We have dedicated professionals devoted to fire and water loss recovery to maximize our efficiency when you need it most.

What Are the Emergency Services SERVPRO Offers? 

Emergency services are the initial actions that our technicians take when we respond during a fire damage disaster in East Taunton. As the first professionals on the scene after your property gets turned back over to your care, there are immediate steps that our team can take to lessen the destruction that can continue after extinguishment. Some of these actions include:

• Temporary Construction Solutions  

With an in-house team of residential contractors (General Contractor License #: CS-108357), we can do more than implement approaches like controlled demolition. Because many structural breaches might exist after a house fire, or even man-made openings for immediate access for extinguishment, your home does not remain exposed to the elements. We can start roof tarping and board up services right away.

• Damage Assessment 

Scoping the work to get done through mitigation and restoration phases is an essential element of maximizing production and efficiency. By carefully planning out the actions of responding technicians and the placement of restorative equipment, we can provide a faster turnaround on recovery.

• Content Management 

We understand how valuable your belongings are to you, and during a fire disaster, you might consider many of these items to be a total loss. Through focused relocation of your possessions and designations for which contents need on-site cleaning or off-site recovery, we can do more to protect what matters most to you.

• Air Quality Control 

Between odors and circulating ash, debris, and soot, the quality of the air in your home after a loss incident is hazardous. By deploying machines like air scrubbers and hydroxyl generators, we can do more to clean up the environment with onboard HEPA filters.

How Hard Is It to Clean Soot Myself? 

There are a few reasons why it might not be advisable to attempt the cleaning and removal of soot in your home on your own. These include:

• Fine Particles 

Soot is almost microscopic by the individual particle, making it a hazard for those directly exposed without the appropriate personal protection equipment. When attempting to clean up settled residues, these particles can recirculate and become a health concern.

• Thick Residues 

Because soot can collect in thick layers on the surfaces of exposed materials, cleaning these residues might be harder than you think. Wipe cleaning is often ineffective and can stain or mar surfaces when the soot layer smears.

• Varying Cleaning Approaches

Similarly, many materials react differently to soot deposits. While some surfaces require soda blasting to clean, other affected contents or structural elements could get wipe cleaned or vacuumed. Knowing what your home needs is one of the benefits to trained and educated restoration technicians like our SERVPRO team.

Is Demolition a Necessary Restoration Step? 

As much as we always seek to restore before replacing, fires often make it impossible to avoid demolition entirely. There are several benefits to choosing controlled demolition during the mitigation phases, including:

• Access to Damaged Areas
• Removing Hazards that Could Collapse
• Reduces Concentration of Soot and Odors

What Happens When We Do Not Need to Relocate After a Fire? 

Many fire losses do not force the relocation of the affected family. In these situations, our professionals can still work to provide an efficient result through containment barriers that isolate the affected areas and prevent cross-contamination from those in the living space, however possible. Through physical, structural barriers, we can reduce the migration of fire and smoke odors, soot particles, and other compromising effects.

Getting skilled professionals to your house quickly to begin mitigation after a fire loss incident is vital. We have an extensive inventory of cutting-edge equipment and tools to maximize the efficiency of our SERVPRO of Taunton / Mansfield technicians in the field. Give us a call anytime that you need us at (508) 824-0200.

Our Professionals Have The Proper Techniques To Restore Your Taunton Home After A Fire

3/2/2020 (Permalink)

The light fixture in this home caused a fire and our restoration experts arrived right away and began mitigation. We are available 24/7.

Cleaning Up After Fire Damage in Your Taunton Home

Having a minor fire in your home means that you have a lot of clean-up from smoke residue and long-lasting malodors. If not handled right away and properly, you may be smelling smoke for weeks and months to come.

Dealing with fire damage in your Taunton home requires a lot of patience, and often professional assistance to use the proper cleaning techniques, products, and equipment. The same fire can produce different types of residue that require differentiated cleaning, making it challenging for homeowners to clean up properly.

There are basic cleaning principles after a fire that works as a process to clean and deodorize correctly. This process aids SERVPRO fire restoration technicians with ensuring your home is returned to preloss condition.

Locate the Smoke Residues

It helps estimators to trace the trail that the smoke traveled throughout the structure. This confirms the total distance the smoke traveled and helps technicians formulate a restoration plan. This helps prepare technicians the degree of the fire damages.

Determine the Type of Residue and Surface

Technicians test surfaces to determine the type of residue to decide the appropriate cleaning tactics. For example, different types of paint may need different types of cleaning. Sometimes surfaces are porous, and smoke residues penetrate deep within the fabric, making it difficult to remove. Fabrics and upholstery hold smoke residue differently from hard surfaces.

Remove Captured Residues and Dispose

Depending on the type of residue and surface, technicians vacuum or dissolve the soils. Technicians vacuum when particles are solid, usually made up of carbon. If moisture accidentally comes in contact with these solid particles, they may become tough to capture and remove. If a residue is not an individual particle, it needs to be dissolved before removal; this way, technicians can rinse and flush away the loosely-bonded residue. The most important consideration with residue disposal is that you dispose of it according to regional and state regulations. SERVPRO technicians do not dispose of it in gutters, septic systems, or sewer lines.

For assistance after a fire, contact SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield (General Contractor License #CS-108357) at (508) 824-0200.

See more about Taunton.

Tips for Cleaning Fire Damage in Taunton

9/9/2019 (Permalink)

You can rest easy after SERVPRO arrives at your home. Each vehicle has the equipment needed to restore the fire damage.

Clean Up of Fire Damage in Taunton Requires Many Strategies

When a fire ignites and moves through your Taunton home, various materials burn, creating different types of residues in the same environment. Comprehensive training in identifying the range of smoke and soot damage possible on a vast number of surfaces following residential fires is crucial. Our crews achieve mastery of the steps involved to capture, remove, and dispose of fire-related soiling regardless of location through research-based training offered by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).

Fire Residues Bond with Surfaces

Fire damage affecting your Taunton home presents challenges because the heat and creation of gases and chemicals during the blaze causes residues to bond with surfaces. Our technicians are familiar with techniques and products that combine to release the adhesion of soot to surfaces. The residues must be loosened and suspended in a solution for a thorough removal.

Fire Residue Cleaning Fundamentals 

SERVPRO fire damage remediation crews manipulate conditions as follows to dislodge and clear away soiling: 

• Raise the temperature to increase the speed of chemical reactions when using cleaning products. 

• Employ agitation with sponges, cloths, brushes, water or air pressure, and ultra vibration to dislodge firmly adhered residues. 

• Match chemical actions of cleaners to residues by evaluating the characteristics of both the soot and the affected surfaces, determining whether dissolving, emulsifying, oxidizing, bleaching, digesting, or manipulating pH is the preferred action. 

• Determine appropriate dwell time when applying products, considering the residue type, the surface vulnerability, and chemical reaction expected.  

Adaptation Is Frequently Necessary 

Because each fire scenario presents its challenges, SERVPRO crews are persistent and flexible. We adapt the fundamental cleaning approaches to meet the needs of your home and the damage it suffered. With the full range of options available to our team, we work until we find a combination of tools, products, and methods that work to remove residues and smoke odors. Our mission is restorative, avoiding tear out and replacement of surfaces only after we exhaust all possible ways to bring structures and contents back to preloss condition.   

The professionals at SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield have extensive experience and up to date training in fire damage management and restoration. Give us a call at (508) 824-0200 to see how our highly-skilled crew can make it “Like it never even happened.”

 More about Taunton.

SERVPRO'S Complete Fire Damage Restoration Process for Taunton Residents Explained

8/6/2019 (Permalink)

You can trust the SERVPRO Brand to restore your home to its preloss condition.

Wrap Around Taunton Fire Damage Restoration Services Streamline Recovery 

A fire loss in Taunton can become extremely disruptive to the day to day lives of you and your family. You are likely scared, grateful that you avoided injury, but wary that you can ever feel safe again in your home’s damaged shell. We take pride when offering our patrons the highest quality customer service. Our commitment is to conduct our business transparently and compassionately to make your home, “Like it never even happened.” 

Fire damage brings your Taunton daily routine to a halt. Our approach begins by assuring you it is safe to feel confident that our team can manage your fire emergency from start to finish. Knowing that you do not need to line up many different companies to handle the tasks needed to secure, stabilize, clean, and repair your home takes a huge weight off your shoulders. 

When SERVPRO starts a fire restoration, water removal and structural drying is almost always the first task. Firefighters use water liberally to knock down the flames. First, we contain and dispose of the contaminated fluids according to local hazardous waste rules.  We then prepare the space for soot removal, charring remediation, and odor elimination. 

As we begin the fire residue cleanup, you may be concerned that we wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and build a containment barrier around the work area. Although we are mindful of our own safety, the PPE and perimeter also keep toxic debris out of unaffected spaces in your home. The air scrubbing equipment we use to complete the containment seal uses negative air pressure to send floating contaminants through HEPA filters before venting to the outdoors. 

Room by room, we clean up soot residues and evaluate the condition of any building materials with heavy charring. SERVPRO has a restoration mindset, but our general contractor license allows us to tear out significantly damaged structures and rebuild them. Once we complete the mitigation and remediation of all areas, our Odor Control Technicians (OCT) use a multi-step protocol to eliminate noxious smells. Innovative equipment like thermal foggers and hydroxyl generators chemically alter odor-bearing particles, neutralizing malodors that deep cleaning did not resolve. 

SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield commits to completing the journey back to pre-fire condition with you after a blaze damages your home. Our emergency number, (508) 824-0200, picks up 24/7, and we schedule an assessment as soon as possible. 

More about Taunton.

Fire Loss? Smelly Odors? A Mess in Taunton? Just Call SERVPRO for Cleanup and Restoration

7/21/2019 (Permalink)

Here Is the SERVPRO Fire Damage Restoration Service You Need in Taunton

Cleaning Up Soot and Other Residues after Fire Damage in Your Taunton Home

A fire incident in your Taunton home can be very destructive. Major fires can bring down an entire structure or sections of the building. Small fires too can be very destructive, especially since they spread soot and other residues all over the property. Cleaning up to restore the property to its preloss state can be a lengthy process, but seeking professional assistance can help simplify it.

Smoke movements can leave residues in different parts of your property complicating the process of Taunton fire damage restoration. Apart from the deposits left on readily accessible surfaces such as the walls and ceilings, smoke also finds its way into concealed locations, including the HVAC system. More residues can enter the ductwork if the blower is operational during the fire. The heat from the fire also increases air pressure, which can force smoke into the ducts. Our SERVPRO technicians can help by vacuuming and fogging the HVAC system to remove soot and other residues.

The hot temperatures in a fire can lead to residue impingement or charring of some surfaces. Simple cleaning procedures such as wiping or vacuuming cannot clean such surfaces properly. Our SERVPRO technicians can sand any charred surfaces or use wet chemical sponges to eliminate the sooty film from surfaces preparing them for refinishing. We can also use specialized cleaning methods such as soda blasting. The soda blaster uses sodium bicarbonate powder and air pressure to loosen residues from surfaces, so it has an added advantage since it does not abrade the underlying material. For more robust scraping we can use an "ice-blaster," pressurized CO2 carbon dioxide pellets which as they remove the charred coating sublimate into the air, leaving no wetness behind.

Although not visible, a stubborn smoky odor is a likely outcome of a fire incident. While most of the odor dissipates after debris removal and cleanup of residues from surfaces, some can persist. The odor may require different actions for complete removal. Our SERVPRO technicians use hydroxyl generators, which chemically change odor particles. We also run air filtration devices with HEPA filters, which help capture particulate matter suspended in the air. On the surfaces where we clean soot, we apply odor-blocking primers before repainting or applying other finishes to eliminate all traces of the odor "Like it never even happened."

You can clean up your fire-damaged property better with help from a professional team. Call SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield to assist. You can reach us any time at (508) 824-0200.

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What to Expect from Professional Fire Damage Remediation in Your Taunton Home

7/12/2019 (Permalink)

Let SERVPRO help you get over your fire damage fears.

We will have your Taunton home back to normal in no time.

During the aftermath of a fire in your Taunton home, it might feel impossible to believe you and your family could ever live there safely and comfortably again. Water, charring, and soot damage can be seen on every surface in every room, creating a sense of overwhelming worry and fear. Our highly-qualified team of managers and technicians employ state-of-the-art fire remediation equipment as well as training and experience to return your dwelling to preloss condition.

Recovery from fire damage in Taunton is possible with the guidance of our production management and crew chiefs and the tireless work of our Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)-trained crewmembers. We arrive on the heels of the firefighters, immediately crafting a robust mitigation and remediation project agenda based on a careful assessment of the scenario and integration of the restoration industry’s best practices.

Water and extinguisher chemicals need removal first. Slip and fall concerns, plus the chance of electrical shock, push extraction of firefighting fluids to the top of the list. While a sub-crew of SERVPRO employees complete that task, others evaluate the characteristics of sooty residues throughout your home. Different types of soot respond to cleaning in unique ways, requiring us to match products and methods for optimum results.

Paper and wood burn hot and fast, leaving crumbly ash that vacuums and dry sponges off surfaces. Smoldering fires with low oxygen levels include burning fabrics, upholstery, and electrical cords. The soot deposited is thick and sticky, needing cleaners containing wetting agents and surfactants applied and agitation to loosen. Protein-based soot follows a grease or food fire and creates an almost invisible, thin layer that adheres stubbornly. Solvents and abrasive tools clear the residue, but it also produces a pungent and unpleasant odor the might need persistent effort from one of SERVPRO’s Odor Control Technicians (OCT) and advanced deodorization technology to eliminate.   

As we work at your property, likely, furnishings, household goods, and personal belongings transported to our SERVPRO production facility receive specialized cleaning and deodorizing treatment to restore their function and appearance. When your residence is clean and free of malodors, the return of the packed-out items can make your house a home again.    

SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield provides reliable and compassionate professional fire damage remediation services, responding 24/7. Make the call to (508) 824-0200 to start the process of regaining your home after a fiery disaster.

If you would like to learn more about Taunton, click here.

What You May Not Know About Smoke Damage

6/7/2019 (Permalink)

Smoke Damage from a kitchen fire in a home in Mansfield

What You May Not Know About Smoke Damage

Smoke travels very quickly during a fire and can touch nearly every item in your home or business. When certain items burn, they can emit chemicals and other bi-products that in turn contaminate the smoke. This smoke then touches the walls, furniture, clothing, kitchen cabinets, and other contents.  This is why it's so important to call the Certified Professionals at SERVPRO of Taunton / Mansfield to properly restore the fire and smoke damage to your home or business. 

SERVPRO of Taunton / Mansfield has restored many homes and businesses after they have suffered fire and smoke damage. For us, no job is too big or too involved.  Please call today and rest assured your home or business is in the hands of certified professionals.

Dryer Lint Fires

4/23/2019 (Permalink)

Dryer Lint Fires

Between 2010-2014, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 15,970 home fires involving clothes dryers or washing machines each year. These fires resulted in annual losses estimated at 13 deaths, 440 injuries, and $238 million in property damage.

Facts and figures

• Clothes dryers accounted for 92% of the fires; washing machines 4%, and washer and dryer combinations accounted for 5%.
• The leading factor contributing to the ignition of home fires involving clothes dryers was failure to clean, accounting for one-third (33%) of dryer fires.
• A mechanical or electrical failure or malfunction was involved in the vast majority of home fires involving washing machines.
• Fires involving clothes dryers usually started with the ignition of something that was being dried or was a byproduct (such as lint) of drying, while washing machine fires usually involved the ignition of some part of the appliance.  

Source: Report: NFPA's "Home Fires Involving Clothes Dryers and Washing Machines"
Author: Richard Campbell
Issued: March 2017

October is Fire Prevention Month

10/24/2018 (Permalink)

October is Fire Prevention Month

During Fire Prevention month, children, adults, and teachers learn how to stay safe in case of a fire. Firefighters provide lifesaving public education in an effort to drastically decrease casualties caused by fires. See what programs your local fire station offers.

Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware – fire can happen anywhere!” That’s the theme for Fire Prevention Week.

LOOK
Look for places fires could start. Take a good look around your home. Identify potential fire hazards and take care of them.

LISTEN
Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm. You could have only minutes to escape safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Go to your outside meeting place, which should be a safe distance from the home and where everyone should know to meet.

LEARN
Learn two ways out of every room and make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily and are free of clutter.

Source: https://www.nfpa.org

Here to Help After A Fire Damage| SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield

8/8/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield, the best professional fire and smoke damage restoration in Bristol County. We are always here to help!

In the Northeast we enjoy long Summer days and beautiful weather especially after the tough winter we all suffered this year with some of the lowest temperatures ever experienced here in the Bristol County Area. And even though we promised not to complain when the thermostat rose above 80 degrees we are because this Summer is abnormally hot, hazy and humid. And with no sign of relief in the forecast many people have turned to keeping their AC units on maximum 24/7 to keep things cool. And unfortunately, that turned into a problem for one Bristol County family. The air conditioning unit was plugged into an extension cord that overloaded the circuits causing the fire damage according to the local Fire Inspector. Luckily no one was in the home when it happened. But the fire caused major smoke damage.  We were called in to clean and we immediately started cleaning the thick, black soot off all the ceilings and walls. The kitchen and bathrooms were all effected too. But the two areas that needed great attention were the carpets and HVAC duct system which can lead to secondary odor source after a fire damage at your property.

When carpet cleaning their home and business it’s important to remember that the carpet (and padding) can absorb moisture and serve as a place for biological pollutants (mold and bacteria) to grow. To avoid this from happening make sure not to use too much water during the cleaning process and use commercial grade equipment to extract as much water as possible. If you're not sure how much is too much hire a professional trained (IICRC) person to perform the work. These tips can help protect your property from secondary damage

When we were ready to clean the family’s content we helped them by separating all the salvageable goods from the not salvageable ones which made it easier for the family to claim their lost items. One question that is often asked on jobs such as this one is what the difference is between content and structure. Do you know the difference? If not, here is an easy test. First, imagine you turned your home upside down and shook. Everything that would fall out would be considered content and everything that stayed intact in your home would be considered structure. A good example can be found in the kitchen. The cabinets would still be intact but all the stuff in the cabinets would fall out and be considered content. Equally so, the counters, would be structure and anything set on the counter would be content.

SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield helped this family after a fire damage and we can help you too! Call us at 508-824-0200 today.

5 Useful Tips for Fire Damage Restoration|SERVPRO Taunton/Mansfield

7/31/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield offers competent smoke and fire damage restoration by professional workers who possess proper training and experience.

Destruction from fire does not only damage your property, it can be fatal to your health. After a fire occurs, you will most likely need restoration services. If there is extensive damage, contact a professional company for the restoration process. Nonetheless, always contact the authorities first when faced with a fire situation. When the time for fire restoration arises, get in touch with SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield.

To facilitate a smoother restoration process, homeowners can follow these  5 useful tips:

Mend The Smoke Damage Wall

Fires will cause great damage to your paints, wallpaper and even the wall itself. Sometimes, simple soap or bleach with water is effective enough to clean the soot. For thicker soot, you may need to put a little extra elbow grease into scrubbing the walls. If the damage goes deeper, then it may be time to start looking for professional help.

Fix Flooring and Carpet

During a fire, water is abundantly used to put it out. It is a likely scenario that carpets and floors will be soaked after putting out a fire. You may need to remove the carpeting, as it is likely that water has permeated beneath the rug to the flooring. If it soaks into the wood, it may never completely dry when covered up by a rug. This is sure to create even more issues. Hire restoration technicians of SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield for expert rug cleaning or removal. We deliver the best results.

Get Rid of Mold and Mildew

Once the fire is put out, the property must be dried out immediately. Otherwise, the moisture makes it susceptible to Mold and Mildew. If mold goes untreated, it can set in to surfaces in your home including your salvaged belongings. In some cases you can clean it up with bleach and water or a disinfectant spray. If this does not work, don't allow it to spread, making matters worse after a fire. Get mold restoration in Taunton, MA to keep the problem away.

Clean Your Clothes

It is sad when even your clothes are affected or destroyed by a property fire. If clothes are covered in soot, throwing them into the washer will not work. In fact, it may make matters worse due to the oily and expansive nature of soot. Professionals have access to special equipment to remove soot rather than smear it. Local dry cleaners or other equipped professionals can help.

Washing Dishes

Fire can also affect your kitchenware. Dishes need proper cleaning, otherwise you may end up ingesting harsh chemicals. Deal with this by creating a solution of 2 tablespoon of bleach in one gallon of water. Soak your kitchenware in the solution for at least 20 minutes. Afterwards, wash the dishes with soap and rinse with hot water. If they don't seem to be getting properly clean, trust your gut. Throw away permanently fire damaged dishes to avoid gaining health issues. 

There are other steps and preventative measures that can be taken in a fire damage emergency. For more information on our fire damage and water removal service in Mansfield, MA, call at (508) 824-0200.

What You’re Able to Do Before Fire Restoration Help Arrives

7/19/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield is a leader in fire, smoke, water, storm and mold damage restoration of residential or commercial disasters.

Learning that you’ve been affected by a home fire is devastating. The good news is, if you hire a professional, much of the damage can be mitigated through restoration.

Working with a professional has several benefits—they will work with your homeowner’s insurance company on your behalf, and they will also be able to salvage more items in the cleanup. However, it’s natural to want to do what you can to get started as you’re waiting for help to arrive.

While some things should always be left to the professionals, there are a few things you can do while you wait. If you decide you’d like to start on fire restoration ASAP, here are three things you can safely do:

Increased Ventilation

If weather allows, open windows and doors to reduce the smoky smell, and let them remain open as long as possible. While the restoration team will bring industrial-grade equipment to aid this process once they arrive, this is a small step you can take toward helping the process along.

Laundry

Starting laundry right away is a great way to help the cleanup process. Most things will have to be washed several times, so washing any clothing, bedding or other machine washable materials with an alkaline cleaner or vinegar solution is a great place to start. Leave delicate fabrics, upholstery and curtains to professional care.

Preliminary Cleaning

Non-porous surfaces such as tile and countertops can benefit from a scrub with soap and water to cut through the outermost layer of grime. Use a mild dish soap or alkaline cleaner to begin, and let the professionals handle the usage of anything more heavy-duty. Cleaning improperly can result in more severe and possibly permanent damage to your surfaces, so anything you’re unsure about should be left to the pros.

SERVPRO® has a team of trained professionals that can help your life get back to normal, faster in the event of a home fire.

7 Pointers on Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration

6/6/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield offers competent smoke & fire damage handled by professionals who have been trained and experienced in fire challenges.

7 Steps for Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration

Life is unpredictable. You have no idea that what’s coming next? One should be careful and alert to the surroundings. Fire damage is an incident that can be fatal and/or destroy property to some extent. In some extreme cases, whole houses are burned down. After that damage, its restoration process is the second thing that comes to mind of any homeowner. During fire, the concerned authorities should be called first to help you out in fire extinguishing. Once that is settled, you can get in touch with SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield that offers fire restoration.

These are some of the steps we’ll take to stop smoke and fire damage restoration:

• As mentioned above, contact a competent and professional restoration company to get a quick response. This is absolutely necessary because the longer you let the smoke or soot sit, the harder it will become to remove and remediate it.

• A SERVPRO professional will monitor your house. Check the places to see damage in order to create a plan of action required for the restoration. Secondly, the person undertaking this task (estimator) will also work with your concerned insurance company to evaluate the loss.

• The restoration technicians of SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield will swoop in with all the necessary equipment. They will box up all things such as clothing, dishes etc. to save them. Many of the items can be saved through special cleaning and restoration procedure. The things that require quick cleaning or the ones you are sentimentally attached to should be cleaned and saved first.

• The procedure of cleaning starts with removing carpets, other porous material, scrubbing down walls with special solutions to remove odor and soot. We will wipe every single surface to have effective cleaning and removal. Sometimes, cabinets have to be removed to clean behind walls.

• Mold problem and water outburst is an issue that must be considered and addressed during the cleanup process. Get mold restoration in Taunton, MA to keep the nasty stuff away from your homes.

• After smoke damage, odor persists. To address this, proper procedures are adapted to remove the smell. If not done properly, the smell will reappear once the climate, moisture or environment changes.

• Your belongings are safely returned once proper cleaning has been completed, so that you may start your daily routines again. All things are packed according to your house so that you can easily get back to unpacking and settling in to your old life.

For more information on our fire damage and water removal service in Mansfield, MA, call at (508) 824-0200.

How Do Professional Commercial Restoration Services Stand Out

4/24/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield is a leader in the most effective professional commercial restoration services for business in Taunton and Mansfield.

Key Benefits of Hiring Professional Fire Damage Restoration Services 

What makes SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield an ideal restoration service for your fire-damaged residential or commercial property? Because our professionals have been efficiently and professionally handling such incidents for years now. We do the simple calculation that fire equals soot and smoke damage, firefighting equals water damage, and if not restored timely, water damage equals mold. For all these steps, we are prepared with the latest equipment from the industry as well as the best practices undertaken for productive results. Our services for fire, water and mold restoration will inspect, assess, clean up and restore every corner of your property while ensuring that everything is handled within a quick timeframe. From apartment mitigation to basement renovation, and from fire damage restoration to cleaning up your property; we do it all!

Effectively Avoid a Fire Hazard

There is a very long list of causes that may spark a fire within your residential or commercial property. But here’s a list of how to avoid these:

• First and foremost, ensure that all the electrical wiring and system is in check and properly handled to avoid any short-circuiting or sparking.

• Next, make sure that all gas connections, outlets, and stoves are properly shut at the end of every usage, be it at home or at your restaurant.

• Keep a safe distance between the cooking fire and inflammable materials such fabrics, wood, paper, etc.

• Remind everyone at home or at your business place to cap any and all unsupervised flames when not in use.

• Do not let anyone smoke near inflammable materials, and if it is absolutely unavoidable, designate a safe area of smoking.

• Switch off any and all unused electrical plugs and outlets so as to avoid any power surges or sparking.

• Do not keep matches, lighters, flints, fuel, etc. within reach of children. Always lock it up within a safe box.

• Always check the electrical requirements of any appliance, machinery, equipment, etc. before plugging it in. Use necessary safety precautions.

• Do not let water, electricity and fire mix up anywhere within your residential property or commercial setting.

• When indulging in cooking, make sure that you use cork or wooden mats so as to avoid placing hot pans or pots directly onto fabric.

• Keep fully-functional fire extinguishers at all safety points assigned within your property.

• Train everyone at your home/workplace on fire safety, guidelines and instructions including fire escape, notifying authorities, etc.

Hire Pros for Fire Damage Remediation

It is a most unfortunate event when a family or a business has to face loss as a result of a fire incident. We, at SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield, understand that every matter has to be dealt with carefully and professionally. Once the firefighting authority has given you a green signal that all is safe, you may contact our fire damage restoration services. We swoop in, assess the property damage, and help you in getting your home or business back on track. Since fire leaves behind a lot of soot and residue, we ensure that all that is cleaned up effectively. Also, any amount of firefighting will considerably put your property underwater damage. Worry not, as our water cleanup and restoration services will make sure that once we’re done with your home/workplace, it is new and improved ‘like it never even happened’.

For more information on our fire damage restoration service, get in touch with us at the 24/7 emergency helpline at (508) 824-0200.

Homeowners Insurance Questions and Answers

10/25/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield is available to fix the damage from a water or fire damage in the Greater Bristol County.

Know Your Deductible

Question: What does it mean when you have meet your deductible? 

Answer: Most insurance policies, whether home, auto or health use this method of meeting your deductible. For example, if your deductible is $250, you must spend $250 for doctors' visits or for prescription medications before your health insurance company will start to pay. Insurance policies can have a wide variance of deductibles. We have seen them as low as $250 and as high as $50,000 (however, both of those are few and far in between) depending on the location and circumstances. A typical family household most likely has a deductible of about $1000. Here's a good explanation of why insureds are required to pay a deductible.  If something such as a computer, cell phone or tablet were stolen, there is going to be coverage for that, but the deductible may exceed the value of the loss item.

Know Your Limits

Question: Does my homeowner’s policy have any limits of coverage?

Answer: Most insurance carriers do place limits on the policies that they write to protect themselves financial.  It's equally important to know that, whether it's during a move or not, any property covered by homeowner’s insurance will only be protected up to the limits on your policy on the day the damage occurred. Your policy may also include a lower limit for your personal property while it's away from your residence premises. Another example of limits to policies would be mold removal. Many carriers choose to have $10,000 limits for claims requiring any work relating specifically to mold remediation work.

In addition, there are different standard limits depending on the category of property. An example would be jewelry or collectibles; your policy may state maximum coverage amounts for such items. However, your agent may suggest purchasing extra coverage and creating a scheduling for items that are of significant value so you get protection for them up to their appraised value, not just the standard personal property limit. No one wants to spend $15,000 for a diamond ring only to get $10,000 for it when it comes time to file a claim!

Know Your Costs

Question: How Much Does It Cost to Insure a Home?

Answer: The types and amount of coverage you need depends on many factors. These factors include your home's size, location, and amenities. Meaning there isn't a simple answer that works in every case. Hint: How much you pay for your home may not be a key factor in the cost of the cost of insurance coverage. The formula for determining good insurance coverage takes many factors like the cost to replace it if something happened.

Question: Does My Location Change the Cost of Insurance?

Answer: Geographic location often affects the type of risks your home is exposed to. For instance, if you own a home on Cape Cod, Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard, you may be required to have different insurance coverage limits than those set by the owner of the exact same home in a neighborhood in the Taunton area of Bristol County. Why? Dwelling coverage limits are based on replacement cost, which can vary by location due to different construction or material costs in each area.

Another factor is the cost of labor and materials in different geographic areas. Since homeowner’s insurance typically helps cover the cost of repairing or rebuilding a home if it's damaged or destroyed by a covered peril (water, wind and fire damage are examples of peril), the amount of insurance you may need partly depends on what it would cost to complete the work in your town. Labor costs, in particular, vary significantly in different markets.

And why wouldn't you simply choose dwelling coverage limits that match the purchase price of your house? The actual labor and material costs to repair or rebuild your home could end up being less than what you paid. Or it could be costlier to rebuild your home. A local agent can help you understand the options, so you can choose the coverage that's appropriate for you.

We hope this information has taken a little of the mystery out of the frequently asked questions we receive. And because insurance policies vary so greatly, we strongly suggest that people ask their agent the specifics of their policy. And of course, if you ever need help with a water or fire damage please give us a call at 508-824-0200.

A Family Rebuilds After Disastrous Fire Damage in Mansfield, MA

8/11/2017 (Permalink)

Fire Damage not only effects your personal property it affects the family emotionally with the odor left behind after the fire is put out.

A Family Saved After Disastrous Fire Damage in Mansfield, MA

In Mansfield, MA, a family had to go through an immense loss of material damage after disastrous fire damage. The fire spread so quickly and immensely that the family had no option but to evacuate the house. A family member smelled something burning but ignored thinking that it was maybe the neighbors having a barbecue or maybe a bonfire somewhere down the street. Within few minutes, the situation got out of hand. The fire enveloped the entire house. Once the brave firefighters stopped the fire and it was cleared for cleanup, the residents worried about their property. This is when they decided to call SERVPRO.

After an investigation into the source and origin of the fire, it was found out that there was a short circuit damage near the kitchen side which promoted the spread of fire. As soon as our team arrived, we worked closely with the family and got the situation under control within a few minutes.

SERVPRO: A Team of Experts

Fire damage can occur because of many reasons, be it carelessness in lighting up firewood, or because of a faulty electrical circuit. In such devastating situations, the first thing that you want is to ensure that you, your family and your pets are safe. The next step, after the firefighting is done, is to protect your valuables. No matter what sort of fire damage your house has, call us and we will handle it. We have a team of professionals who have the right knowledge and experience to assess and handle fire damage of any amplitude.

Fire Damage Restoration At Its Best

Fire damage restoration requires great care and attention, and we are the people who carry it out efficiently with minimal inconvenience. Once your property has been cleared by the firefighting department, you can call us and we will assess and remediate the fire damage. Our professionals will handle everything. The first thing that our team will do is to inspect and assess the fire damage, followed by immediate services like roof tarp and board-up are given to the property. If fire damage has caused water damage as well, we’ll provide the necessary water removal. A proper removal of smoke and soot from every corner coupled with our exceptional cleaning and restoration services will make your property look like as it was, before the damage.

Services That Are Second to None

Having fire damage in your house or near your property requires quick actions. SERVPRO understands these sensitive situations very well and for this reason, our fire restoration services are available 24/7. Our experts are ready to respond immediately when you need help in critical situations. A speedy action always lessens the damage. Our professionals and technicians are highly trained and specialized in smoke and fire restoration. Fire damage causes a lot of burning odor but don't worry, we have got odor control technicians for you too. We assure you complete restoration and will help you in getting your property back to its original state before the damage.

Fire damage is a difficult situation which can very easily be averted with the help of exceptional restoration services. Fire damage restoration service Mansfield, MA by SERVPRO makes sure every corner of your property gets repaired and restored. We have won the trust of our clients by providing them excellent services at any time during the day. We treat our client’s property with care as if it’s our own. You can trust us with our specialized team and latest equipment to get your property back to life.

Berkley, MA Home Smoke and Soot Cleanup

7/9/2016 (Permalink)

Smoke and Soot Damage Can Cause a Pervasive Odor in Your Berkley 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:

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 Taunton/Mansfield 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

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

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

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 – 508-824-0200