Protect Your Orange County Home from Smoke Damage During Wildfires

9/16/2024 (Permalink)

Wildfires approaching homes can cause significant smoke damage. Trust SERVPRO of Fountain Valley for professional fire restoration services.

With wildfires becoming more frequent in California, even homes far from the flames can suffer serious smoke damage. Smoke particles can easily infiltrate your property, leaving behind stubborn odors, ash, and harmful residue. To protect your home, it’s essential to act quickly and professionally. At SERVPRO of Fountain Valley, we specialize in fire restoration, odor removal, and expert cleaning services to help safeguard your property.

Start by sealing windows, doors, and vents to prevent smoke from entering. Using air purifiers with HEPA filters can also help reduce airborne particles. However, when smoke does penetrate your home, call SERVPRO of Fountain Valley right away. Our experienced team will handle every aspect of your smoke damage restoration, ensuring your home is thoroughly cleaned and deodorized.

If you need to evacuate, trust us to safeguard your valuables. Our pack-out and storage container services provide a secure option for moving and storing your belongings away from smoke exposure.

Smoke damage can have long-lasting effects on your home's air quality and surfaces, but with professional help, these issues can be addressed quickly and effectively. Reach out to SERVPRO of Fountain Valley for comprehensive fire restoration and peace of mind.

California Fire & Fire Mitigation

8/14/2023 (Permalink)

Tis the season - California wildfire season is upon us. What is Fire Mitigation? Wildfire mitigation is an action taken before a wildfire ignites to reduce its severity and negative impacts such as the destruction of homes. Forest management, prescribed fire, home hardening, and defensible space are common wildfire mitigation strategies. Even though you take every precautionary measures to protect your home from the flames, smoke can be a huge problem. At SERVPRO, we are experts at Restoring your home or business after fire damage to its pre-fire condition is our main goal. As a leading fire damage restoration company, we specialize in fire damage cleanup and fire damage restoration, smoke damage cleanup, and removal of smoke odors. Our team will deep clean and remove soot from walls, carpets, and upholstery.

How To Avoid Space Heater Fires

6/17/2021 (Permalink)

Keep your space heater clean to minimize fire risk.

A space heater can provide extra warmth. It can also save on heating bills by allowing you to set the thermostat in your home in Beach Boulevard, CA, on low while still heating the specific rooms you are using to a comfortable temperature. A burned space heater doesn't help you, though. To avoid space heater fires, you need to follow a few simple tips.

Give It Space

The heating elements on a space heater give off an impressive amount of heat, but they can turn into a fire hazard quickly if they are crowded. There are several guidelines to make sure you have enough space around your heater:

• Maintain radius of three feet from flammable objects
  
• Don't use near combustible substances, such as gasoline
  
• Keep children and pets away from heater
  
• Set it on a level surface so it doesn't topple over
  
  

Turn It Off

To avoid having a burned space heater when you leave the room, remember to turn it off. Space heaters should never be left unattended while they are on, especially if you leave the house altogether. In fact, it's a good idea to unplug the heater when you are not at home. Keep an eye out for a frayed or otherwise damaged cord.

Keep It Clean

Keep your space heater clean to minimize fire risk. Dust and other debris can turn a functioning space heater into an electric fireplace in a hurry. Replace filters regularly according to the manufacturer's recommendation so that dirt does not infiltrate the heating mechanism. Follow maintenance instructions so that it not only lasts a long time but also does not become a safety issue.

A burned space heater can turn convenience into a nightmare. By following these simple guidelines, you can increase your creature comforts while still keeping you and your family safe. To avoid having to call for fire cleanup with a restoration company, choose a space heater that is safe and use it safely.

How To Avoid a Candle Fire

5/24/2021 (Permalink)

Wax warmers are good ways to infuse your home with a pleasing fragrance.

A candle fire at your Beach Boulevard, CA, home is a frightening thought, but many people enjoy candles enough to brave the risk. Fortunately, there are many candle alternatives available, and proper safety measures minimize the possibility of a fire for those who choose to enjoy traditional candles.

Alternatives to Candles

There are a variety of alternatives that can be used in place of traditional wick candles. The following are some of the most popular:

• Battery-operated candles
  
• Reed diffusers
  
• Wax warmers
  
• Plug-in air fresheners
  

Flameless candles are good for those who like the visual effect of a traditional candle but want to minimize fire risk. There are flameless alternatives, such as battery-operated Hanukkah menorahs, available for religious purposes. For those who are more interested in the aromatic experience of candles, air fresheners, reed diffusers, and wax warmers are good ways to infuse your home with a pleasing fragrance. Remember to keep oils and wax away from children and pets to prevent burns and accidental ingestion.

Safety Measures

Although there are a variety of candle alternatives available, sometimes homeowners want to burn traditional candles. Fortunately, wick candles can be enjoyed safely if adequate precautions are taken. Be sure not to leave the candle unattended or in reach of pets or children. Do not burn the candle near fabrics or anything else that can catch fire. Keep candles a minimum of three inches apart. Have a fire extinguisher and fire blanket nearby, and test your smoke detectors regularly.

Whether you choose to use one of the many candle alternatives on the market today or practice extra caution using wick candles, it is possible to enjoy the ambiance created by candlelight while avoiding a house fire. If your home does suffer damage from a candle fire, an experienced restoration service can provide the tools and expertise needed to get your home back to normal.

4 Items To Throw Out if Damaged by a Home Fire

3/30/2021 (Permalink)

The fire damage restoration process can be difficult to go through, especially when it involves getting rid of items that you care for.

If you've experienced a fire in your Fountain Valley, CA, home, there are several steps you'll need to take next. Regrettably, one of them is to throw away affected items. Once it's safe to return to your house, you'll want to immediately check for things that have been contaminated by the fire. If you're unsure of what to inspect, here are four items to throw out if damaged by a home fire.

1. Food
Unfortunately, one of the main items you'll need to throw away after a home fire is food. Inspect all of your food, not just the items that are perishable or lying out. Even your canned goods could have been spoiled by extreme heat. It's also important to check your fridge in case it lost power. Here are some warning signs to keep in mind:

An unpleasant odor
Bulging
Charred items

2. Medicine
Similar to food, you don't want to consume something that could be contaminated by high heat. Take a good look at each of your medicines. If anything looks charred, throw it out immediately. You'll also want to look for general signs of heat and smoke exposure.

3. Cosmetics
Cosmetics may not be consumed like food or medicine, but most still have contact with your skin. Therefore, you should inspect all of your makeup and skincare products. Make sure nothing is warped or charred. If something is, no matter how expensive the product was, throw it out.

4. Clothes
While clothes are a bit less concerning than edible items, you should still take care to throw away contaminated pieces. Look and sniff for any burn marks or distinct odors. You may be able to salvage unburnt items, so ask an expert if you're uncertain. Take special care to inspect the clothing of children.

The fire damage restoration process can be difficult to go through, especially when it involves getting rid of items that you care for. However, fire damage isn't something to shrug off. Take the necessary precautions and do a thorough inspection.

How To Clean Your Dryer and Prevent Lint Fires

3/19/2021 (Permalink)

You should remove lint from the dryer filter regularly.

Here Are Some Tips For Preventing Dryer Fire

After doing several loads of laundry, you may not feel like cleaning out the dryer. Yet failing to do so could cause a lint fire in your Gothard, CA, home. A dirty dryer also may not function properly. You should thus remove lint from the filter before or after each load. You should also perform a deeper clean every six months. 

1. Clean the Lint Screen
Every time you use your dryer, lint builds up on the screen. Remove this lint before or after you run the dryer. Start by locating the screen on the dryer door and pulling it out of the appliance. Be careful not to bend the screen too much.
Use either your hand or a cleaning brush to lift the lint from the screen. The lint should come off fairly easily. Every few weeks, you should rinse the screen with water before putting it back into its slot. To prevent a lint fire, you may want to vacuum the screen vent, as well.

2. Clean the Interior Dryer
The interior of the dryer should be cleaned every six months. Remove and wipe the access panel. Then vacuum or wipe any dirt, debris or lint inside the machine.

3. Clean the Vents
You should clean the dryer vents twice a year, as well. After unplugging the dryer, remove the exhaust hose at the back of the appliance. This may require a screwdriver. Use a cleaning brush or vacuum attachment to remove the lint inside the hose. Finally, put a cleaning rod inside the wall vent and rotate its brush to loosen and eliminate excess lint.
A lint fire can quickly spread from the laundry room to the rest of your house. To prevent the need for fire damage cleanup services in your home, you should remove lint from the dryer filter regularly and perform semiannual cleanings of the appliance's vents and interior.

SERVPRO Fire Damage Repair

11/9/2020 (Permalink)

House fire

Fires can be unnerving and cause massive damage to your property. When the fire department arrives, they will quickly take action to stop the spread of fire. It’s possible that to do this, they might have to cut a hole on the roof of your house or business property to release the smoke faster.  

Fixing the repair will take a lot of time and it’s definitely not an easy process. Fortunately, we at SERVPRO are always ready to help you with fire damage repairs! Our team of professionals are well-trained and have the necessary tools and skills to clean and restore your property in no time. We can fix the roof, clean the debris, and more! If you’re in the California area, you can call our Fountain Valley branch at (714) 965-4500. 

Preventing House Fires

11/9/2020 (Permalink)

You need to be vigilant to prevent house fires

Your home is the place where you create precious memories and feel safe. This is why it’s hard to imagine your home being destroyed by a fire. Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent house fires from starting. Check out these tips to keep your home secure! 

Don’t just install smoke alarms, test them! 

Installing a smoke alarm is one of the best ways to prevent fires from becoming worse. However, you need to check if they’re working well. If they beep weakly, then it most likely means the battery needs to be replaced.

Fire extinguishers 

A smoke alarm is good but it’s not enough. Once a fire has been detected, you need to have the means to eliminate the fire source. A fire extinguisher can control and remove small fires effectively. 

Ensure your heating sources are not a fire hazard 

Have your heating sources checked by a professional for safety. You should also have your air filters cleaned out. If you’re using a space heater, make sure it’s away from flammable materials.

Restoring Your Property After It Is Damaged by Fire

5/26/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Fountain Valley provides 24-hour fire damage restoration service in Fountain Valley

Seeing the remains of your burned home or business property is a heartbreaking and stressful experience. Though it may feel like you have lost everything it’s vitally important to take action immediately after the incident. This is to speed up the recovery process and bring things back to normal as soon as possible. Here’s how you can restore your property after it’s damaged by fire.

Reach Out to Your Insurance Provider ASAP

We know it’s difficult to think straight after your property has been burned down to the ground, but it’s important to focus and take the necessary actions. Contacting your insurance agent immediately is a great way to start the claims procedure as soon as possible.

Get Advice from the Fire Department, Engineers, and Electricians

First of all, wait for the fire department to assess the damage. Only enter the premises once the area has been designated as safe by the firefighters. You might want to contact an engineer or electrician to check the structure and electrical, respectively.   

Take Photos of the Damage and Ask the Fire Department for a Report

The insurance agent will take pictures but it’s important to have your own photos as well for documentation purposes. Take photos of the external damage if the property isn’t cleared for entry yet. You should also get a copy of the report from the fire department.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?

Call Us Today – 714) 361-0572

FASTER TO ANY SIZE DISASTER

SERVPRO of Fountain Valley is locally owned and operated, so we’re already close by and ready to respond immediately when you need us. We’re also part of a national network of over 1,700 Franchises, which gives us access to more resources for larger cleaning or restoration projects or major storm scenarios.

Getting Any Home or Business Back to Original Condition after Fire Damage

6/21/2017 (Permalink)

Getting Any Home or Business Back to Original Condition after Fire Damage

Once a home or business has gone through a devastating fire, the first things people might experience are a sense of shock and a desire to find effective fire damage restoration as soon as possible. In fact, time is critical in these cases since smoke damage and soot damage will normally only get worse as time goes on. Ash is incredibly corrosive and will lead to further damage if it's left in place.

Fire damage events can be very different, but they all have some basic things in common. After the fire trucks leave, the most common experiences are water damage, soot damage, smoke damage and a distinctive smoke smell that is alarmingly unpleasant. A fire in home or a fire in business property is best cleaned up and the areas are best treated and restored by professionals. Fire damage and fire cleanup professionals have the knowledge, expertise and specialized equipment to get the job done quickly and effectively.


Restoring Property and Furnishings to Original Condition


The goal of specialists in fire cleanup is to alleviate commercial fire damage or fire damage to properties. Here are some of the steps they'll take to accomplish fire damage restoration:


- Evaluation - A critical step to determine the extent of soot damage, smoke damage and water damage, along with any other ensuing damages that the home or business have undergone

- Tarps and Boarding Windows - Professionals will survey all commercial fire damage or fire damage to the home and will normally focus on walls, windows and the roof first. This means placing tarps on roofs that have been damaged, and boards over missing windows, along with putting boards over any missing walls that can affect the structural integrity of the building

- Removing Water and Drying Areas - One of the first steps when a fire in home has occurred or fire in business buildings is to remove standing water left behind and to begin a drying process of places that have sustained water damage. Specially designed air movers and dehumidifiers are some of the equipment that will normally be used

- Getting rid of Soot Damage and Smoke Damage - The next areas to concentrate on will probably be removal of soot damage and smoke damage and remediation of the smoke smell. Specialized equipment is used to get rid of soot and smoke from walls, ceilings, floors and other surfaces. Ash is very acidic and tends to spread quickly. Professionals know exactly what cleaning methods are most effective

- Removing Odors - This is done with specialty equipment like fogging equipment and air scrubbers to get rid of the smoke smell left behind. This smoke smell can be especially onerous and hard to deal with

- Thorough Cleaning - All of the structures involved in the fire in home or fire in business facilities will be thoroughly cleaned to eliminate soot, ash, odors and restore the integrity of the building and furnishings, if possible. Experts in commercial fire damage and home fire damage know exactly what is needed to clean and sanitize the space after such a catastrophic event

- Restoring a Home or Business to Original Condition - Specialists in fire cleanup, whether this includes commercial fire damage or fire damage restoration of a residence, finalize the fire cleanup process by repairing or replacing drywall, installing new carpets, painting or even reconstructing certain areas if that's determined to be necessary


Things Needed for the Most Effective Fire Damage Restoration


There are several main things needed after a fire in home or fire in business buildings have compromised the integrity of those buildings. These are enough manpower to make the necessary repairs and to do effective fire damage restoration, the proper industrial caliber equipment, proper cleaning solutions and knowledge of the best ways to do effective fire cleanup. A fire is traumatic. It's good to know there are experts in commercial fire damage and home fire damage to restore any home or business to its original condition.
Visit http://www.SERVPROfountainvalley.com for more information on fire damage.