Essential Large-Loss Fire Prevention Tips for Homes and Businesses

11/26/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO says to Easthampton property owners--Be prepared to prevent fires

Preemptive Steps for Easthampton Property Owners

Large-loss fires can have devastating effects on homes and businesses. Whether you're a homeowner or a business owner, it's vital to be prepared. Here's what you need to know about preventing and responding to these fiery situations. Being prepared will give you peace of mind, knowing you've done everything to keep your property and contents safe.

Identify Common Causes: Large-scale fires in Easthampton can start from cooking accidents, electrical issues such as overloaded circuits, faulty wiring, or even neglected heating equipment. Stay vigilant with regular inspections around your property and avoid those "oops" moments leading to chaos!

Implement Safety Measures: Install smoke detectors and fire extinguishers throughout your residential and commercial property. Additionally, smart monitoring systems are ideal for watching your property while you are away.

Protect Important Documents: Invest in a fire safe to hold your essential papers and vital documents. This acquisition is a good idea for both residential and commercial property owners.

Know Your Emergency Contacts: Make a list and include your insurance agent. Keep SERVPRO®'s number handy, and business owners should ensure that a trusted employee can access this information. Whether you own a home or a business, we're always available to assist with fire damage restoration services.

Trust the Professionals: In a fire emergency, every second counts. Quick action is crucial to minimize damage. Trusting fire restoration experts like SERVPRO can make all the difference, ensuring you swiftly get the help you need to tackle any aftermath. This fast response enables homeowners and business owners to return to normal quickly.

Stay Safe and Prepared!

Take preventative steps to protect your Easthampton property this winter. If a fire emergency strikes, don't worry! SERVPRO of Hampshire County is just a call away. We're ready to help you get back on your feet (or back in your chair). We're Faster to any size disaster™.

Essential Winter Fire Safety Tips for Amherst Homeowners

11/26/2024 (Permalink)

The SERVPRO superheroes suggest installing smoke detectors to prevent firemen from visiting your Amherst home.

4 Key Steps to Avoid Winter Fire Damage

Winter brings cozy fires, hot cocoa, and festive decorations but also increases the risk of house fires. Protect your home in Amherst from fire damage this winter by taking simple fire safety measures to stay safe and enjoy the warmth of the holidays. Here are some essential tips to help keep your winter merry, bright, and fire-free. We'd rather help you prevent a fire than put one out!

Key Fire Safety Measures

Inspect Heating Equipment: Before curling up by the fireplace or turning on your space heater, ensure your heating equipment is in top condition. Check for damages and keep anything flammable at least three feet away. Proper inspection can prevent accidents, so you can relax comfortably knowing your home is protected.

Check Smoke Detectors: Smoke detectors are crucial during winter. Test your home's smoke alarms regularly and replace the batteries as needed. Keeping them in working condition is like having a reliable safety net—the faster you get alerted to smoke, the quicker you can act.

Decorate Safely: Holiday decorations bring charm to winter, but safety should always come first. Choose flame-retardant decor, avoid overloading electrical outlets, and ensure lights are turned off when you're away.

Create a Family Fire Escape Plan: Prepare a strategy for your family, including your pets. Practice the plan at different times so everyone knows what to do no matter when an emergency happens. A plan can make a big difference in keeping everyone safe should the unexpected happen.

These small steps can help ensure your winter is filled with warmth and joy—not fire hazards in your Amherst home. For more tips on winter fire safety or if disaster strikes, SERVPRO of Hampshire County is Here to Help®. Our team is ready to swoop in like superheroes. (413) 324-1300

Fire Damage Restoration in Northampton – Call SERVPRO

3/3/2024 (Permalink)

Cleaning up fire damage is a tricky process with many steps. Contact SERVPRO for expert advice from our certified technicians.

SERVPRO® Provides Fire Damage Removal and Restoration in Northampton

A house fire in Northampton is devastating for homeowners and renters. In many situations, the home must be vacated until it can be cleaned and restored, which can take weeks or months. There are charred structures and contents in the immediate area of the fire. There are smoke residues and odors that have spread throughout the home. The fire department may also add to the damage caused by water and chemicals to control the fire.

Many residents turn to SERVPRO for help with the cleanup and fire damage restoration in their Northampton home. Our team can be onsite within four hours of your call, and we are available twenty-four-seven to assess the damage, formulate a plan, and restore your home to its original condition.

If you are dealing with a fire, there are emergency tips to consider:

• Assess if it is safe to remain in the building.
• Watch for electrical and slippery conditions to avoid accidents.
• Avoid lifting heavy, wet materials.
• Limit your movement within the home to reduce embedding soot particles in fabrics.
• Keep your hands clean.
• Clear our freezers and refrigerators if the power is off.
• Clean both sides of leaves on your house plants.
• Change air filters and add cheesecloths to air registers.
• Don’t clean electrical appliances and devices.
• Don’t turn on ceiling fixtures or fans if they were exposed to the fire or water.
• Avoid using canned goods that were exposed to the fire.

We follow industry-approved fire damage restoration processes that include the following:

• Inspect and assess any damage caused by the fire.
• Protect the building – board up windows, doors, and any punctures in the roof.
• Remove water and dry all areas using dehumidifiers and air movers.
• Remove soot and smoke from all surfaces.
• Clean and sanitize all contents and structures.
• Restoration may require minor repairs, drywall replacement, painting, flooring replacement, or reconstruction of severely damaged items.

Call for help with fire damage restoration at SERVPRO of Hampshire County and nearby areas for assistance. We are Here to Help® 24/7. Call (413) 324-1300.

Restorative Cleaning Can Save Northampton Homes from Fire Damage

3/22/2023 (Permalink)

Don't despair after fire damage in Northampton. Call SERVPRO for cleanup, "Like it never even happened."

How Do SERVPRO Technicians Clean and Restore Fire Damage in Northampton Homes?   

After fire damage to your Northampton home, professional cleaning and restoration is a much cheaper option than replacing or resurfacing the lost property. Services like SERVPRO, with a team of trained professionals, the right equipment, and experience, can help you get your home restored “Like it never even happened.”  

However, restoring fire damage to your Northampton home is complex, and technicians use a multi-faceted approach to get the job done. The first and most crucial step is to get rid of the smoke and soot residue from various surfaces. Different types of fires can generate other residues, and there is no one method to clean them all. SERVPRO uses multiple techniques and tools depending on the residue and surface involved. The process involves dislodging the soot particles and suspending them in a solution to remove them.  

Applying Cleaning Products 

Most cleaning products that technicians use in your fire damaged Northampton home are water or solvent-based. These products either dissolve, emulsify or suspend the smoke particles. However, these cleaning products can cause damage to the surfaces if the restorers are not careful while applying them. 

SERVPRO technicians use different techniques to control the amount of product applied to limit their effect on the surfaces. The methods can fall into the following three categories:

• Surface techniques: These techniques prevent the surface of the material from being saturated with the cleaning product, avoid over-wetting and allow the surface to dry quickly. Spray and wipe and foam cleaning are two examples of surface techniques. 
• Saturation techniques: The surface is saturated with the cleaning agent, which allows for more dissolving action and better extraction of residues and odors. Our restorers use saturation to clean residues from surfaces that can withstand being saturated with products. 
• Immersion techniques: allow for the greatest application of cleaning products since the material being cleaned is immersed into the cleaning solution. SERVPRO restorers control the temperature, quantity of the agent, and dwell time to get the best results. Ultrasonic cleaners that use sound waves to form and instantaneously implode millions of tiny vapor bubbles are an excellent example of immersion cleaning. 

Removing Water and Rust Stains

Water stains on fabrics or carpets can be a problem during restorative cleaning of fire damage. Our technicians use a special peroxide stain remover to remove the ‘browning’ caused by over-wetting or slow drying. The agent slowly decomposes when mixed with a detergent solution to liberate hydrogen peroxide, which oxidizes the residue removing the stain. 

SERVPRO technicians use an oxalic-phosphorus acid solution to remove rust stains. This strong acidic solution can dissolve rust stains on cotton, silk, synthetic fibers, and carpeting. 

Whatever cleaning technique technicians use, they always ensure the following:

• The product is safe to use on the material
• The product is used according to the label instructions
• Proper safety precautions are followed during the application of the product
• The product is approved by the EPA and other regulatory agencies

Successful fire damage restoration requires the restorers to thoroughly understand the scientific principles of restorative cleaning. SERVPRO’s trained and experienced professionals understand this and are equipped to handle fire incidents of any size. 

For further assistance, call SERVPRO of Hampshire County at (413) 324-1300; We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

For Furniture in Need of Fire Restoration Services in Northampton

3/21/2023 (Permalink)

If you find yourself in need of assistance with fire damage remediation, call SERVPRO at (413) 324-1300.

Our Fire Restoration Methods Save Time & Money

SERVPRO provides several types of post-disaster assistance to those living in Northampton. Our fire restoration team works with homeowners to restore their houses and as much of the contents to pre-damaged condition.

When your Northampton property needs fire restoration, you can trust SERVPRO's experience. One of the more significant investments involved in running a household is furniture. Some items carry a much higher price tag than other items, but your family members soon see each new piece as part of their home. We want to help your family by making everything "Like it never happened."

When furniture survives a house fire, pieces rarely do so without some significant and dramatic evidence that reminds everyone of the fire. Putting this traumatic event in the past is much more difficult when reminders surface regularly. Because of this, we do our best to remove such reminders from your good furniture by addressing the following:

• Soot and ash deposits
• Absorption of any water from firefighting
• Persistent odors after cleaning and drying

We launder removable covers in a special detergent. We use handheld cleaning devices that launder attached fabric and extract soils. Some slight abrasive scrubbing with a wood soap removes anything adhered to wood finishes. We provide additional protection with conditioners that enhance the luster of the wooden piece once dried.

Due to their absorbent nature, upholstered furniture often requires extensive time to dry. We use air movers and desiccant machines to make this stage occur as rapidly as possible.

Thermal fogging of the home often greatly diminishes odors. For heavier scents, we use our hydroxyl generators. These produce a harmless gas that breakdown odor-producing molecules and leaves your home with a neutral scent.

SERVPRO of Hampshire County can help your family put a terrible incident in the past where it belongs. Call us at (413) 324-1300 for the attention your family deserves.

Cleaning Fire Residues in Your Home

9/20/2022 (Permalink)

Residues after a fire can cling to surfaces and require more aggressive cleaning methods. Contact SERVPRO to assess and remediate the damage.

SERVPRO Technicians Respond Quickly and Use the Appropriate Cleaning Methods to Remediate Fire Damage in Your Home

Fires can be devastating and traumatic events for homeowners. In addition to the loss of property and essential documents, they must cope with a massive cleanup. You left candles burning in the living, and somehow your curtains caught fire. Cleaning fire residues such as soot and ash is a big job that requires professional experience. If there is a fire in your Hampshire County home, make a call to the professionals right away. We have the skills to safely and effectively remove smoke and soot residues from your home and furnishings.

In Easthampton, SERVPRO offers fire damage cleaning methods to return walls and ceilings, and other surfaces back to their pre-damaged condition whenever possible. There are various cleaning methods our team can use to clean soot, smoke, and ash from your home. Techs can use dry cleaning for light-to-medium non-grease-based residue. Technicians may also use this method to pre-clean before wet cleaning. Wet cleaning can effectively remove light-to-heavy non-grease-based soiling. Foam cleaning can remove fire residue from upholstery materials that may shrink or bleed if wet. Some items may require immersion cleaning. With this method, items are dipped in a cleaning product bath to remove soot and ash. Peroxide active cleaning is the method for cleaning acoustical ceilings and other porous and nonporous ceiling surfaces. This method is primarily for ceilings with heavy soiling.

Agitation can also be part of the fire damage cleaning process. The crew may use water or air pressure, rotating brushes, wiping, scrubbing, or sand-blasting to remove residues from various surfaces. Once the residues loosen up, the team can clean or remove them from the surface.

Before the cleaning phase begins, SERVPRO technicians perform tests to determine the correct cleaning method. The appropriate technique effectively removes residues from the surface without causing further damage. During structure cleaning, the team may put plastic sheets in place to seal off the areas and prevent fire residues from migrating to other parts of the residence. To remove smoke odors, technicians may use thermal foggers and air movers to neutralize and eliminate smoke odors.

If you need fire damage restoration, give SERVPRO of Hampshire County a call right away at (413) 324-1300. We are available 24/7 to restore your home to its pre-damaged condition whenever possible.

When Puffback Leaves Fire Damaging Soot in Your Grandy Home

4/20/2022 (Permalink)

If Puffback Strikes Your Pittsfield Home, Call SERVPRO for Cleanup

SERVPRO Offers Information, Advice, and Service Regarding Puffback and then Clean Up to Your Home

For homeowners who run oil-based boilers or furnaces in their Grandy home for heating, they should be well aware of the need for inspection and service on an annual basis. Your ability to listen for troubling noises that the unit is making or abnormal behaviors of firing and then get help can keep you from a severe mess to clean up in the future. In a phenomenon known as puffback, oil-burners are ignited and immediately burn off pooled oil in the combustion chamber, which can send a palpable wave of soot through the ductwork and vents of your home.

The lengths to which this fire damage can affect your Grandy home are directly correlated with the force of the blast. While, in some cases, this puffback could also cause damage to your heating unit altogether, you are almost always left with thick soot to clean up somewhere in your house. When the heated soot contacts cold corners of a structure, "soot tags," often mistaken for cobwebs, form. While this residue can be overwhelming to see at first, it is something that should be handled quickly. Lingering soot in areas of your home is not beneficial for your family to be around, and it is highly advisable to trust certified professionals to restore the damages created quickly.

Our SERVPRO technicians are well equipped to deal with fire damage restoration efforts, including the expertise necessary to successfully and completely clear up any presence of soot throughout your home and your ductwork. Our trained technicians deploy state-of-the-art equipment and cleaning products to ensure a clean-looking and smelling home upon completion of our service. The cleaning of ducts is a step that many homeowners rarely even consider. They can see a minimal way into the ductwork moving throughout their home. Yet, with any puffback scenario, this network going throughout your home will be hit the hardest by the soot damage.

While our SERVPRO professionals are well versed in ensuring that the full scope of the damage has been corrected, personal cleanup efforts might leave you overlooking this critical step. This can eventually send more soot through the system when the heating pump kicks back on again. To prevent an endless cycle of recleaning the same areas, consult with the appropriate repairmen to look into your oil-based furnace to ensure that it does not need servicing. Then, contact our team to thoroughly clean the soot from your walls, floors, ducts, and ceilings. You will feel "Like it never even happened."

While puffback can be an ongoing problem to underserviced heating units, it does not make the damage that occurs any less challenging to battle. Do not hesitate to give our experienced team at SERVPRO of Hampshire County a call. You can reach us anytime at (413) 324-1300.

Fire Damage from Your Clothes Dryer Can Affect Your Entire Amherst Residence

3/17/2022 (Permalink)

It is important to remove lint from the dryer vent after each use to prevent a fire from starting.

Rely on SERVPRO to Restore Your Home after Fire Damage

Pulling fresh, just-dried towels out of the dryer can fill the area with a fresh, pleasant scent. During the winter in Amherst, this chore can become one of the nicer ones just because of the warmth felt. However, just like the aroma can spread, lint from damp towels can accumulate and cause heat to build up to dangerous levels inside your ducts.

After pulling each load from your dryer you can prevent fire damage in Amherst, with the mundane task of removing the lint in the trap. When homeowners neglect this task, lint can eventually pass through and into the duct. Still damp, it often sticks to the interior of the duct, slowly building up. Continued use of your dryer and sporadic removal of lint from the trap can lead to a fire starting inside your ductwork.

Dryer fires can also affect the clothing inside the dryer in cases where heat cannot escape into the duct and out the exterior vent. Synthetic fibers produce toxic gases when they combust. When the basement holds the washer and dryer, fire can affect the floor of the ground-level story in your home. Finished basements, of course, sustain a great deal more property damage than unfinished basements might experience. The materials used to complete a basement often help spread the fire, which can weaken even more considerable areas of the ceiling above, and thus, the flooring above.

Because many homes do not contain functioning smoke detectors in the basement, or if they do, testing does not happen on a monthly schedule, a fire in this location can become quite large, even with the occupants at home. Just as home maintenance that takes place on a regular schedule helps prevent a lot of damages caused by a multitude of disasters, acting soon can help keep existing fire damage from worsening.

SERVPRO technicians hold IICRC certificates, including Fire and Smoke Restoration (FSRT). We continually maintain and check our tools and equipment to ensure they remain in working order. When a fire takes out your home's electric supply or only causes damage to the area we need to work in, we can supply our own to power our equipment.

After removing all charred and burned items from your basement, smoke odors can still permeate your entire home. This is because soot particles, as they disintegrate, become airborne and can enter your heating and cooling system and then spread throughout your home. Our Odor Control Technician (OCT) can help you address this predicament and make your home smell normal again.

SERVPRO of Hampshire County wants to help homeowners in our area, from Northampton to Ware, recover from fire damage. Ensuring your family lives in a safe home, free of the carcinogenic properties inherent in soot particles, is very important to us. Call us 24/7, 365 days a year, at (413) 324-1300, so we can help make your home "Like it never even happened." again.

How Quickly Can Northampton Residents Arrange Fire Restoration?

2/20/2022 (Permalink)

Time is of the essence when dealing with fire damage in your home. Contact SERVPRO right away for effective fire restoration efforts. We are here.

SERVPRO in Northampton Offers Expedient Fire Restoration Professionals to Local Residents

A property fire can be among the most emotionally draining situations to affect a homeowner. Not only can fires be traumatic experiences, but they can also leave behind smoke residues, staining, and debris that can take days to clear. At SERVPRO, we understand the stresses that homeowners face when trying to restore their homes after a fire incident. We begin by providing residents with twenty-four-hour contact with our dispatch personnel. Our one-four-eight program ensures that we can arrange service with you within one hour. For emergencies, our technicians can arrive within four hours to mitigate losses. By eight hours, we can provide you and your insurance adjuster with a detailed estimate of cost-breakdown, restoration activities, and salvageable versus non-salvageable materials. We assist residents with:

• Fire Mitigation
• Odor Control
• Home Restoration after Fire

Using fire restoration professionals in Northampton gives your home the chance to recover after a disaster fully. Our technicians have access to over 100 proprietary cleaning products for removing soot, smoke, and stains with various proven cleaning techniques. We also have specialized machines to help restore items alongside our structural cleaning equipment. According to independent research, our Esporta mechanical washing machines can restore up to 90% of textiles that would previously have been disposed of. 

• Esporta washing machines clear away textile contaminants, stains, and residues. Returning textiles are not just clean but food grade safe. 
• Once mitigation, drying, and cleaning are complete, our in-house construction team can rebuild your property to its preloss condition. 
• Fire restoration professionals are fully licensed and trained to deal with any-size disaster in your home. 

If your home suffers a disaster, contact SERVPRO of Hampshire County for fire restoration at (413) 324-1300.

Your Home Probably Isn't Totaled by Fire Damage in Granby

1/7/2022 (Permalink)

If you need a company you can trust, call SERVPRO today for any of your fire damage remediation needs.

Trust SERVPRO for Your Fire Restoration Needs, Big or Small

Large fires can sometimes be so all-consuming as to appear irredeemable to a despondent eye. If you do not know what to look for, it can sometimes seem as though your home has been burnt to ruin and must be entirely rebuilt. However, while this can happen, it is much rarer than most Granby fire damage victims think. The chances are that your home still has structural components, plans, belongings, and foundations that can be worked upon even if all else is lost. If the interior and exterior walls are mostly intact, the structure itself may only require quick repairs. While cleanup may be a long and arduous process, keep the big picture in mind.

For the most severe cases of fire damage in Granby, SERVPRO teams up with local contractors and businesses to bring a large workforce to the job. In addition to tarping, boarding, and room clearing, our mitigation response strategy also allows us to figure out exactly how much help we need for the job before restorations even begin. We can identify the causes of damage, the extent of the problem, the cleanup scale, and the required replacement materials within a matter of days.

How Quick is the Fire Restoration Process for Granby Residents? 

Once restorations begin, things tend to proceed quickly. We first remove debris and belongings from the house, carefully taking inventory of everything we must replace or restore. Once we have cleared the structure, we can begin the cleanup and restoration process, whereby we directly clean and repair any structural damage the fire may have caused. All the while, SERVPRO technicians advise and work with specialized contractors to ensure that everything gets the best care possible. 

Once the home itself has been restored to a condition even better than before the fire struck, we move your now-clean belongings back in and make sure everything functions normally.

SERVPRO of Hampshire County has the personnel and equipment necessary to clean up even the most severe fire disasters. No matter how large or how small the damage, we are ready to respond to your call at (413) 324-1300.  

Can the Interior of My Granby Home Ever Look the Same After Severe Fire Damage?

12/30/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO will get your house back to feeling like home again. Call on our professionals for help after a fire in your home.

SERVPRO Offers Full-Spectrum Fire Damage Restoration Services to Granby Residents, Including Repair, Resurfacing, and Rebuilding Options

Fire damage recovery in Granby can be a complicated matter, involving the employment of many disaster restoration strategies. A typical household fire, even if quickly knocked down, can include the following phases and remedies:

• Safety assessment
• Contaminated water containment and removal
• Debris cleanup
• Residue and surface evaluations and matching with effective cleaning products and methods to eliminate 
• Deodorization
• Repair and rebuilding of significantly burned structures and fixtures

Why Are Fire Damage Residues So Hard to Remove?

Everyday dirt and grime can pose a bit of a problem, but the conditions during which they settle on floors and surfaces are relatively consistent. Sweeping, a pass of the vacuum, dusting or a bucket and mop chases them away in short order. Fire damage in your Granby house can be a different matter. The soiling presented is not just tramped in leaves and garden dirt, food prep leftovers, the odd spill, or dust motes finally clinging to the woodwork. During the fire, the heat and the continuous combustion of a wide range of building materials, fixtures, and contents change everyday items into chemically altered substances. Benign materials transform into toxic, hazardous residues that are both airborne and attached to every surface in your home.

How Did the Fire Damage Inside my House Spread So Widely?

When materials catch fire, the burning heat causes the vapors and incompletely combusted bits of fuel, also known as soot particles, to spread on air currents. Hot air rises, so the pattern often is seen more substantial soot deposits near and on ceilings. The heat and response of the lighter-than-air particles of soot also explain why the soiling occurs one or more levels above the ignition site. If the vents in your HVAC system were open during the fire, soot could travel through the ductwork, emerging far from where the fire burned and thought confined.

My Attempts Only Made the Situation Worse! How Do I Clean Up?

Leave fire damage cleanup to our SERVPRO team of the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)-trained technicians. Rigorous coursework plus on the job experience under the tutelage of seasoned fire restorers helps our employees recognize the different types of soot commonly seen in household fires and then match the residues with effective propriety cleaners and appropriate techniques. Failure to follow these steps frequently results in smearing and setting in stains and incomplete removal of corrosive residues.

Is It Dangerous to Clean Up Soot?

The air quality inside your home after a fire in Granby can give cause for concern. When we assess the scene, we likely recommend at least partial containment of the hardest-hit spaces to improve the conditions our workers and occupants endure during cleanup. Wrapping the area with 1.6 mil polyethylene and employing a negative pressure air scrubber forces airborne residues through HEPA filters. Our crews also wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to avoid inhaling the residues or allowing skin contact during the project. We suggest you and your family avoid the work areas as much as possible.

How Can You Handle Severe Charring of Building Materials?

We always trend toward the restoration of damaged materials rather than demolition and replacement. This approach is less disruptive and costly in both time and money, but it is not always appropriate for every scenario. As we work on returning soot-encrusted surfaces to preloss conditions, we also encounter circumstances where the underlying material sustained significant damage from the heat and burning of the fire. There are options short of rebuilding, even in severe cases. We also consider a hybrid response when some areas of fire damaged materials can emerge from aggressive cleaning intact and can return to function while another section cannot. Here are some strategies we use:

Blistered and Peeling Finishes

• If brushing the loose finish reveals relatively undamaged material beneath, refinishing or painting can proceed after thorough cleaning and drying.
• Additional layers of charring might respond to controlled removal. We might choose to use an appropriate abrasive technique like fine-grit sandpaper or steel wool until we find undamaged, stable material to refinish.

Charred Structural Components Unable to Provide Support

When the integrity of a structural component or fixture becomes irreparably damaged by burn-through or heavy charring, our rebuilding division can assist with demolition and repair, and reconstruction.

Engaging the services of SERVPRO of Hampshire County gives homeowners a seamless and low-stress restoration experience after a destructive fire. We can handle everything from initial assessment to rebuilding severely burned structures, starting with a call to (413) 324-1300.

Is Your Home Office at Risk of Fire Damage?

12/3/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO IICRC certified techs have all the equipment and manpower for every size fire damage restoration service needed for your home.

Fire Damage in Amherst Is A Genuine Risk When Working at Home

Not everybody working in Amherst travels outside of the home for work. Some people telecommute or have a part-time job they run from their home. A home office makes working at home much more comfortable and cuts down on interruptions.

Fire damage in Amherst home offices is terrible news. Even if you are working from your house, you must pay proper attention to workplace safety.

What are some fire risks when working from home?

A home workspace contains several potential fire risks:

• Electronics can catch fire.
• Piles of paperwork or files provide kindling for flames.
• Heaters or radiators can become a fire risk during the winter months.

If you are inclined to burn candles or incense – or even smoking – there is an immediate fire risk in your office.

What can I do to lessen the fire damage risk?

SERVPRO recommends taking some easy steps to reduce the risk of fire damage in your home office:

• Unplug appliances when not in use
• Make sure tools do not have damaged cords or corroded batteries.
• Deal with paperwork and do not allow it to pile up.
• Use fireproof filing cabinets and storage boxes for all your papers and records.
• Never leave a burning candle or incense unmonitored.

How can SERVPRO help?

Even if you are careful when working at home, accidents sometimes occur. In the event of fire damage, we are on hand to help make your home, “Like it never even happened.”

Our technicians assess the fire damage extent and draw up a plan to clean up your office and get back to work.

We use a range of cleaning methods, mechanical and chemical, to clean soot damaged walls, ceilings, and floors. We also clean your office furniture and any soft furnishings such as rugs, drapes, cushions, and upholstery.

Once your home workspace is clean and sound, we work using air scrubbers and, if needed, thermal fogging to deodorize the room and leave it smelling fresh once more.

Do not let fire damage put a spanner in the works. Call SERVPRO of Hampshire County at (413) 324-1300.

Different Types of Cleaning Jobs Necessary in the Aftermath of Fire Damage in Northampton Homes

10/26/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO IICRC certified technicians have the training and experience in all phases of fire damage restoration for your property.

Hiring SERVPRO Ensures That All Restoration Tasks Are Taken Care of by One Professional Team

Cleaning your property after a fire incident is a crucial step since smoke spreads residues all over the house. The residues vary, ranging from dry to wet or greasy soot. You can get better results if a professional service provider cleans your house after fire damage.

The cleaning processes needed after fire damage in Northampton homes can be separated into several individual tasks to understand better what it takes to restore the preloss conditions. SERVPRO has seasoned fire restoration technicians who can provide a clear breakdown.

Typical cleaning tasks that your home might need include:

• Appliance cleaning
• Books and artworks cleaning
• Cleaning fabrics and fibers
• Cleaning wooden items

Each cleaning task presents a set of challenges requiring the right skills and other resources such as equipment or cleaning products. Our SERVPRO restoration teams present an advantage since they include highly trained technicians who readily adapt to each task.

When cleaning appliances, it is essential to protect electrical components. Therefore methods that over wet the items, such as immersion or pressure washing, are not viable options. Luckily the items are constructed with non-absorbent materials like plastic, metal, glass, and composites, so damp wiping can help eliminate most soils from their surfaces. In case of significant soiling, disassembly may be necessary to inspect and clean internal components.

Another challenging task is cleaning books or artworks since they are paper-based, so most cleaning processes can easily damage them. The items might also be damaged by many aspects of the fire incident, including moisture, firefighting chemicals, heat, or soot. Our SERVPRO technicians help with sorting and cleaning.

SERVPRO of Hampshire County can help clean your property thoroughly, eliminating all traces of soiling, "Like it never even happened." Call us at (413) 324-1300 for assistance. 

Smoke and Odor Control In a Fire Damage Situation in Northampton

6/24/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO teams are prepared to handle every level of fire damage, day or night. Call us today, (413) 324-1300.

SERVPRO Handles All Aspects of Cleanup and Odor Control After House Fires

Fire is a complex event resulting from the right combination of fuel, a source of heat, and an oxidizer. It is a combustion process that causes the production of light and heat. In some cases, it can also lead to the production of different types of gases and a wide range of vapors. These gases include carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, and carbon dioxide. 

If a fire damage event has hit your Northampton property, we have professional restoration services to deal with the resulting odorous smoke residues. SERVPRO experts have several years of experience and industry-leading equipment for effective odor and vapor control. 

Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration and Cleanup

The first step in vapor control is to remove the actual source of the odor and then clean the area of residues. This stage involves containing or blocking odor molecules from continuing to migrate throughout the structure. These physical barriers are generally set up with plastic sheets for isolation of the affected areas. 

During a fire damage emergency, SERVPRO technicians identify the materials causing the odor and spray them with a chemical deodorizer. The chemical forms a barrier that protects the source material from evaporating. Our IICRC-approved fire & smoke damage restoration specialists use industry-leading odor counteractants to prevent the odor molecules from further circulating in the air. For chemical containment to be effective, we have to spray directly onto the charred areas using a pump-up sprayer or a fogger. A thermal fogger dispenses heated aerosols that can travel the same path as the heated smoke particles and then bond with them to form an odorless compound.

The second phase is to counteract the odor particles that escaped into the air before the containment stage. This step is vital in a fire damage situation, as it helps eliminate airborne odors before the nose detects them. We can set up mechanical devices to change the chemical composition of airborne particulates. Hydroxyl generators can be deployed while work is ongoing. In the case of severe smoke and soot infusion and odors, there is another piece of equipment we use. This is the ozone generator, but because of the nature of ozone, this can only be placed and activated when no people, pets, or plants are within the structure. Overnight, it dramatically enhances the indoor air quality, IAQ. 

When a fire-damaging event occurs, it is important to protect your property from harmful smoke and odors. As part of the community, SERVPRO of Hampshire County is ready to help get your building back to normal, "Like it never even happened." For any assistance, call us anytime at (413) 324-1300.

Wait for the SERVPRO Restoration Experts to Start Fire Restoration of Your Northampton Home

5/23/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damage can quickly evict you from your home. Contact SERVPRO for the tools and technicians to remediate the damage.

SERVPRO Offers a Premier Fire Damage Restoration Service to Northampton Residents

Smoke and soot from a fire can ruin the contents of your home. Cleaning these residues and restoring the contents is one of the foremost challenges during the fire restoration of Northampton homes. SERVPRO restoration experts use a scientific approach to eliminate the smoke and soot particles from surfaces and restore them to a preloss condition. 

During fire restoration of your Northampton home, SERVPRO technicians use various cleaning agents and methods to eliminate the soot without damaging the contents. Restoring the contents is often a less costly option than replacing them, and hence SERVPRO experts prioritize content cleaning during fire and smoke damage restoration. 

Content Cleaning Methods SERVPRO Uses During House Fire Cleanup in Northampton 

SERVPRO technicians use several methods and cleaning agents to remove residue layers from the contents of your fire-damaged home at Northampton. Some of the techniques we use are:

• Spray and wipe: An aqueous or solvent-based cleaning agent is applied on the surface in the form of a mist and wiped with a clean towel. We use this method on surfaces that are prone to solvent damage. 
• Abrasive cleaning: Used on surfaces with moderate to heavy soot deposition. Abrasive materials such as scrubbing pads and steel wool can dislodge the soot particles easily. Some liquid cleaners also contain a mild abrasive agent that can scrub off soot and smoke particles resulting from smoke damage.
• Immersion cleaning: Only used for contents that can withstand being completely immersed in liquid during the fire damage restoration process. SERVPRO techs also use high-frequency waves to create millions of bubbles that implode, resulting in a scrubbing effect. 

Call SERVPRO of Hampshire County at (413) 324-1300 for fast and efficient service.

Amherst Residents Deserve Excellent Fire Damage Restoration Services

4/20/2021 (Permalink)

This fire was localized but caused smoke and soot damage throughout the home. SERVPRO was there and made the home "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Ensures the Best Results with House Fire Cleanup – Contact us when you Have an Emergency at Your Amherst Home!

Whether you are hoping to relocate or want a nice place to visit, you will find Amherst, Massachusetts to be an excellent choice all around. Nestled within Hampshire County, Amherst is home to five colleges. Within the region, you will find several communities, including North Amherst, South Amherst, and Amherst Center.

Some notable names come from Amherst, Massachusetts, including:

• Emily Dickinson, poet
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach, television actor
• Helen Hunt Jackson, poet
• Kyle Woodcock, pop singer
• Julie McNiven, television actress
• Mascis, guitarist

Exploring Flavors and Nightlife Amherst Has to Offer

Due to Amherst being a college town, you will also find a diverse selection of watering holes and eateries to experience. Whether you want a beverage with friends or an excellent spot for a slice of pizza or breakfast, Amherst has it all.

• Bistro 63 –This is an American-Fusion restaurant and bar on N. Pleasant Street with menu favorites like jambalaya, homemade soups, seafood, and more.
• The Lone Wolf –Located on Main Street, this café is the number one place in the area for breakfast. Be sure to check out the multi-grain pancakes, loaded omelets, crepes, or Southwest scramble!
• Antonio’s Pizza –This pizzeria and Italian restaurant on N. Pleasant Street features gourmet pizza, appetizers, salads, and convenient take-out.

Historical Landmarks and Sights to Check Out in Amherst, MA

You could almost call Amherst a sleepy little town, but this college town is bustling with local adventurers and visitors alike most times of the year. Some of the top sights and historical landmarks in the region include:

• Amherst College –You will find this renowned learning institution, open since 1821, located on South Pleasant Street. 
• Hampshire College –This laid-back campus is situated on West Street.
• Emily Dickinson Museum –Located on Main Street, this specialty museum and birthplace of Emily Dickinson is an interesteing place to visit for a bit of local history. 
• Sunset Farm –Not only does this destination on Brigham Lane feature rolling farmland and cute animals, but there are also occasional art installations, local events, and more to explore.

Professional Fire Damage Restoration Yields the Best Result – SERVPRO is the Answer for Your Amherst Property

Any Amherst fire emergency can be devastating, but there is no need to panic about the clean-up when you have skilled technicians from SERVPRO on the job. We feature IICRC-certified fire and smoke restoration technicians who use proven methods and advanced technology to assure the project gets done right the first time.

Fire damage restoration in Amherst has many moving parts, but there are a few things you can keep in mind while you navigate the house fire cleanup process:

• Have the utilities turned off –Having the electricity, water, gas, and other utilities off allows our inspection and assessment to go smoother.
• Never use your electronics –Utilizing electronics damaged from heat or soot particles before fire restoration takes place can make it worse or even hazardous.
• Don’t turn your HVAC system on –The air movement from heating or cooling dislodges and disperses odorous soot and smoke particles throughout your interior.

Smoke remediation and fire damage restoration are two areas where we thrive at SERVPRO of Hampshire County. Call us 24/7 for emergency response at (413) 324-1300.

Which Firm Can Homeowners Contact for Fire Damage Restoration?

3/1/2021 (Permalink)

When a fire strikes your business, SERVPRO is the team of professionals you need to call. Their techs are IICRC certified for fire restoration.

They Can Contact a Reputable Restorer Like SERVPRO for Effective Fire Restoration in their Amherst Business.

Fire can cause severe damage to your business. To prevent further damage, taking immediate action is essential. Delaying restoration and content cleaning can lead to irreversible damages. Certified restorers like SERVPRO can help restore your property to its former glory.

When fire damage affects your Amherst business, do not wait until everything falls apart. Our restorers are available 24/7 and can respond as soon as possible to your emergency. We have decades of experience in commercial fire damage restoration using up-to-date equipment, tools, and products.

When we arrive at the affected area, our highly skilled technicians can quickly survey the scene and determine the extent of damage caused by smoke, heat, moisture, and fire. Also, we can:

• Immediately secure your business.
• Dispose of damaged materials safely.
• Clean salvageable items.
• Clean and deodorize your business.

Our restorers have undergone thorough training in using various cleaning products. For instance, we can use a stain absorber mixed with a solvent spotter to clean fragile materials or surfaces that cannot withstand direct application of water-based products or aggressive agitation. 

We can also identify and eliminate hazardous chemicals, gases, and odors using hi-tech equipment. We can use air scrubbers to eliminate airborne particles and odors.

Do not let fire damage paralyze your business. Contact SERVPRO of Hampshire County for professional restoration at (413) 324-1300. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

A Fast Response to Fire Damage in Amherst Homes

2/19/2021 (Permalink)

Fire restoration is no easy task. Call SERVPRO and let their team of professionals handle the fire restoration process.

SERVPRO Uses the Shortest Time Possible To Restore Properties Affected By Fire Damage 

A town in Hampshire, pioneer valley western Massachusetts, Amherst hosts a population of 37,819 according to the census held in 2010. That made it the highest populated municipality in the County of Hampshire. Amherst is home to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Hampshire College, and Amherst College. Fire damage in Amherst homes is a problem.

Amherst's Government

A town council runs the town's legislative branch, while a town manager runs its executive branch. The town council, which comprises three councilors-at-large and ten district councilors, appoints the town manager. The entire town elects the three councilors-at-large. The councilors serve for two years apart from the first council, where members serve for three years. 

Places to visit in Amherst

· The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

This outstanding destination for residents and tourists of all ages features an art room for kids, a curated exhibit, speakers and performances, an auditorium for programs, a library, and a gift shop. Most families enjoy visiting the 40,000 square-foot museum in the middle of Western MA's Five College area. The facility also has a hands-on art studio where visitors can create their own art.

• Beneski Museum of Natural History

At Amherst College, the museum displays minerals and fossils, including vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology collected abroad and locally. It also showcases a wide range of geologic specimens and anthropological material. The facility hosts the largest dinosaur track collection in the world, which dates back to the 1850s.

• Puffer's Pond

This is a widely used natural amenity that residents enjoy spending time around. The pond has updated safety guidelines. It is open to residents and tourists for swimming. Apart from being the largest water body in the town, it is also a popular recreation area for nature walking, picnicking, fishing, canoeing, swimming, and birding. The 11-acre pond average depth is 5 feet and has a maximum depth of over 20 feet.

• Mount Holyoke Range State Park

The public recreation and state-owned area are next to J.A Skinner State Park. The area occupies half of the Holyoke range in the west. Residents and tourists use the park trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding. The recreational area also provides visitors with the opportunity to enjoy picnicking and restricted hunting.

SERVPRO technicians respond within the shortest time possible when fire damage occurs in Amherst Properties

SERVPRO restorers understand how fast the secondary damages of a fire can spread. We respond to our customer's emergencies within the shortest time possible. Our certified team of technicians can inspect your property to determine the extent of the damage and develop the best restoration plan. 

Most fire damage restoration processes begin a day or two after the unfortunate incident. However, the quicker the restoration process begins, the lower the chances of more damage occurring. Before cleaning the affected area, we remove items affected by the fire and separate the salvageable valuables from those damaged beyond repair.

Our cleaning and restoration services usually minimize the cost of fire damage claims. We use safe, unique, but approved techniques as well as products to clean the affected surfaces. We can use an ultrasonic cleaner that uses sound waves to clean our customer's valuables.

Fire damage can be devastating, especially when left for an extended period. Contact SERVPRO of Hampshire County (413) 324-1300 for professional restoration. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Who Can Remove the Smell of Smoke in my Amherst Home?

1/30/2021 (Permalink)

You can depend on our SERVPRO teams to clean up and restore your property and personal belongings after a fire takes place.

SERVPRO offers fire restoration services in Amherst

Firefighters serving the Amherst area know that fireworks, electrical malfunctions, and human behavior can all be the cause of a fire. In a short time, flames can escalate rapidly and ravage a portion or all of a home, leaving homeowners in dire need of guidance and assistance. When events like these happen, relying on experts to walk you through the aftermath is the most sensible course of action.

SERVPRO provides fire restoration services in Amherst. Our competent crew is quick to arrive at the scene shortly after homeowners contact our 24/7 line. Beyond discarding unsalvageable items and removing soot and ashes that settle on every surface in the home, our team pays close attention to neutralizing any lingering smells. Some techniques we may apply to achieve the latter goal include-

• Thermal fogging
• Deodorizing pellets
• Air scrubbers

Our team at SERVPRO of Hampshire County tailors the restoration plan to your needs. Call us at (413) 324-1300 and let us restore your home with the latest in fire restoration technology.

Take the Stage or Appreciate Live Local Tunes in Northampton

12/2/2020 (Permalink)

We always look forward to open mic night. See you there!

Join us for Open Mic Night at the Brew Practitioners 

With live music being such a powerful tool in bringing people together in what has been a challenging year for the country, events like the open mic night happening December 9th, 2020, at the Brew Practitioners are more poignant than ever before. Take a night to rest your minds to amateur artists' musical stylings from all over Hampshire County, hosted by Alex Johnson of the locally-renowned Colorway. 

Those wishing to attend or even perform do not need to notify the venue in advance. However, you can expect limited capacities, social distancing, and other safety precautions for those not actively performing. You can sign in to take the stage or begin viewing local talent at 7 PM, and the night is set to conclude at 9. 

Fire damage and odors in your Northampton home can have you singing a sad song, but our SERVPRO of Hampshire County team has the tools and products to make it "Like it never even happened." Contact us today at (413) 324-1300.

What Can I Salvage After a Substantial Fire in My Home?

8/20/2020 (Permalink)

Not all is lost after a fire. SERVPRO techs have the training and experience to handle all aspects of a fire loss event.

SERVPRO Uses Proven Fire Damage Restoration Methods to Increase Your Chances of Salvaging Belongings in Your Easthampton Home

There is plenty to worry about when you have a fire in your Easthampton home. The last thing on your mind should be whether you have the right tools to clean up the debris and charred materials. Instead of taking a chance that your DIY cleaning may compound the damage, SERVPRO has the right tools and techniques to salvage as much as possible. We work with the mindset that it is often better to try to repair and restore rather than replace, which also helps you lessen the cost of the loss.

How Can You Tell Which Belongings Are Salvageable?

When you call on us for fire damage restoration in Easthampton, we have technicians with specialized instruction through the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). Our team understands that multiple factors are at work that determines your interior belongings and materials after a fire. The way that items are damaged includes their exposure to:

• Flames of the fire
• Heat
• Smoke and soot residue
• Water or chemicals used to extinguish the blaze

In addition to these factors listed above, the length of exposure time also plays a vital role. A fire that gets extinguished quickly lessens damage. However, there is still amplified risk from exposure to fire residues and soot that can cause breakdown or corrosion. Depending on the materials burned, the right methods must also be selected to facilitate the restoration. Some of the more common materials utilized in household furniture include:

• Wood
• Plywood
• Medium-density fiberboard
• Glass
• Acrylic
• Leather
• Textiles
• Plastics, and more

I Have Hardwood Floors, Are They a Total Loss?

We take each Easthampton fire restoration project on a case-by-case basis. Our skilled fire and smoke restoration technicians (FSRT) know how to assess your hardwood flooring to determine the right course of action. Hardwood flooring is generally durable, so our team may have the option of sanding and then refinishing. If the floors are unsalvageable, we will perform controlled demolition to remove all charred materials and replace them with brand-new hardwood flooring.

What Methods are Used for Cleaning Furnishings and Belongings?

Depending on the materials and soiling level, we have a range of dry or wet cleaning methods to try:

• Dry Cleaning –This method works well for clearing away ashy, loose residue, and particles. We use various tools, including dusting cloths, feather dusters, sponges, brushes, and vacuums.
• Wet Cleaning –We use this method for soot and smoke residue that adheres to surfaces. Wet methods work to dissolve, loosen, and suspend using products like mild detergents or low-alkaline surface cleaning agents.

A practical method often used with fire damage restoration is agitation, helping to loosen soiling before removing it. Any dry soot that may not have bonded with a surface can be agitated to make the residue more easily washed or cleaned.

• We have mechanical agitation tools such as rotating brushes that work to remove soot from a heavily soiled surface.
• We use air pressure hoses indoors while we have water pressure equipment for outside use.
• Sandblasting is another form of agitation that allows us to blast away surface soiling and soot to bring about a smooth, clean finish.

How Do You Handle the Wetness from the Fire After Extinguishment?

Any time that water is part of fire-fighting efforts, moisture is often left behind. When this happens, it boosts the chances of odorous elements and mold festering within the fire zone. Without prompt attention, this is a combination that can quickly become problematic and hinder the restoration process. We have our technicians inspect your interior to ensure all water or chemicals from extinguishing the flames get removed before we move to the next phases of drying and deodorizing.

Ventilation is Key

With any fire restoration project, SERVPRO understands that airflow and ventilation help us meet our goals faster. We utilize negative air chambers or containment on an as-needed basis to inhibit soot particles from moving through your home’s ductwork. It also helps keep tracking to a minimum by anyone walking in and out of the loss zone. Additionally, we may:

• Set up air scrubbers with HEPA filters to improve general air quality
• Wipe down surface areas to help eliminate smoke residue traces

Smoke and odor control are also a significant factor for any fire damage project. It is essential not to leave odorous molecules behind that could become a constant reminder of the fire. We utilize a broad spectrum of tools and products to help us stop odors in their tracks, including:

• Thermal foggers
• Hydroxyl generators

SERVPRO of Hampshire County is the team you need on your side when faced with a need for fire damage restoration. Call 24/7 at (413) 324-1300 to have a Green Fleet deployed to your property.

What Should I Expect to Replace After Fire Damage in My Northampton House?

5/5/2020 (Permalink)

Fires do not always destroy everything. We try to restore your family treasures. Call us today!

SERVPRO Helps Scope Fire Damaged Materials Determining What to Salvage or Throw Away 

Fire leaves a blend of evident and obscure damages on different materials within a property. The varied nature of damages can lead to confusion on whether to dispose of items that survive the fire immediately or look for ways to save them. Our SERVPRO technicians understand that some items' immediate disposal is necessary because fire affects materials in many ways, apart from the physical changes observed.

How does fire damage things?

When looking through a fire damage site in Northampton homes, the evident signs of loss include soot, ash, and charred material remains, which are caused by flames and heat action in a fire. However, combustion involves other processes, including releasing harmful chemicals like hydrogen cyanide, sulfur dioxide, and tar. Some of these harmful substances find a way into some of the materials within the sections the fire affects.

What items typically require immediate disposal?

• Insulation
• Perishable and non-perishable food
• Cosmetics and medicine

Although the physical damage on the items may not appear significant enough to warrant removal, underlying reasons make it the correct option. For example, food items, exposed to heat or the chemicals produced during combustion, are no longer safe for consumption. For insulation, exposure to fire leads to different problems, including damaging its insulating properties. Another issue with insulation is the accumulation of soot and odor, yet it is not possible to clean it. Our SERVPRO technicians remove the top three to four inches of insulation in case the problem only involves residue deposits.  

What else needs removing?

Fire affects all materials and contents within the loss site. Meticulous scoping is necessary before deciding to throw away or save anything. Our SERVPRO technicians consider three main factors:

• The chances of successful restoration
• The cost of restoration
• The sentimental or other value of the item

SERVPRO of Hampshire County helps in addressing various challenges sparked by fire damage, including making tough decisions on the fate of valuables. Call us at (413) 324-1300. We're faster To Any Size Disaster.

 More about Northampton.

How Do I Restore Fire Losses to My Northampton Home?

4/24/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can board up and then restore fire damaged homes in Northampton

SERVPRO Professionals Respond Fast After a Fire to Start Mitigation and Recovery

When you ask how fire damage gets restored in any Northampton area home, the answers that you get are much like asking a panel of top chefs for how they might make some traditional dish. While many of the ingredients are the same, the methods and the nuances of individual efforts set each happening apart. Choosing a restoration team means choosing skilled professionals that can appreciate these differences and how to provide the most efficient restoration.

Considering how widespread fire damage in Northampton homes can be, our SERVPRO professionals do not waste time mobilizing to reach your damaged property as quickly as possible. Restoring your home is a collaboration of effort between your initial reaction to the emergencies and how our technicians can begin vital mitigation steps upon arrival.

What Do I Do Once the Firefighters Leave? 

Fires are already overwhelming, but when first responders tell you that their work is done and you can go about the restoration needs, it can feel like an impossible task. It is often better to break this critical time into smaller pieces so that you are reaching out to the right offices at the right times. Your initial response should involve:

•    Calling Our Professionals 

While you might want to reach out to your insurance company first, but there are distinct advantages to choose to call our SERVPRO team before that. The sooner that you speak with our emergency response team, the faster these professionals can mobilize and get on their way to your damaged address. Also, in many cases, your insurance company is going to want an estimate and a thorough evaluation of the property conducted by professionals, which we can do.

•    Calling Your Insurance 

Reaching out to your insurance provider is an important step that should not get forgotten. These are the professionals that are going to be involved in the funding of the restoration that your property needs and can keep you from paying little more than the deductible.

•    Waiting for Qualified Assistance 

While it might be tempting to begin an evaluation of the property on your own, this is not always advisable. Entering your home until professionals have deemed it safe to do so can lead to potential health hazards and structural threats you are not prepared to face. Our professionals get prepared for these possible risks with extensive training.  

When Does My Insurance Company Get Involved? 

You might be wondering where your insurance company fits into all of this, and they are a vital part of ensuring that restoration begins when it should and does not miss vital steps to bringing your home back to its original condition.

•    Initial Phone Call

With the initial phone call that you make to our SERVPRO professionals, we can find out information about your insurance provider. We can interface in these situations to cut through the substantial red tape that can sometimes exist that slows restoration from beginning. However, we are not an insurance company, and we strive to simplify the process, not direct it.

•    Preferred Vendor 

Our SERVPRO brand is recognized among local and national insurance agencies as a preferred vendor in the area. We have established a reputation with these companies for our thorough work and fast response.

•    Experienced Inspections and Documentation

Our professionals work to quickly gather the information that your insurance company needs to approve your damage claim. In many cases, this is photo evidence and documentation of the damage along with our estimations of the work to get done and the proposed costs. We provide the CCIS Content Claim Inventory Service program to catalog non-salvageable items and more to assist our customers.

What Might My Home Need to Look Like it Used To? 

After a fire loss incident, there are several things that your home needs to return to its original condition. Between all of these standard stages, you can see a seamless collaboration between our restoration professionals and our in-house licensed contractors. Some of these needs include:

•    Controlled Demolition

Fires often cause a need for controlled demolition when partial damage occurs to construction materials and structural elements. By only removing part of the material, reconstruction can cost less material-wise and take less time to complete.

•    Surface Cleaning

Removing residues and staining is an essential element to restoring your home after a fire loss as well. With hazards like soot residues, it is vital to carefully clean these exposed materials as not to cause more significant structural loss or health hazards.

•    Deodorization

Smoke and burning odors are among the most challenging obstacles for our team to overcome, and we have several deodorization products and equipment to neutralize harsh odors throughout the entire house.

•    Repainting

Even though we have potent cleaning products and solvents, repainting many of the damaged surfaces and wallboard can help to make it “Like it never even happened.”

After a fire, it can take a lot to make your house look and feel like home again. Let our SERVPRO of Hampshire County team help however you need by calling (413) 324-1300.

How Are Northampton Kitchen Fires Restored?

4/13/2020 (Permalink)

Kitchen fires happen quickly. Never leave cooking unattended.

Cooking Mishaps a Leading Cause of Fire Damage in Northampton

Cooking, we all do it.  It is a primary everyday task many of us in Northampton do one or more times a day. Not surprisingly, cooking mishaps are a leading cause of home fire damage.

One recent instance of such fire damage in Northampton occurred this past Thanksgiving when a deep fryer malfunction started a kitchen fire.  A resident, attempting to prepare a tasty deep-fried turducken for the family’s meal, had walked away for a few moments when the fire started.  By the time she had returned, flames engulfed the entire kitchen counter. Luckily, the fire department quickly extinguished the blaze before it spread to other parts of her home.

In the aftermath of the destruction, the Northampton homeowner faced the seemingly insurmountable task of restoring her kitchen to its pre-fire state.

The countertop and upper cabinets were beyond repair, so she had to replace them, but the lower cabinets had survived and were salvageable.  Looking around, she saw her kitchen ceiling, walls, bottom cabinets, and linoleum flooring covered in scorch marks.  Just as bad was the omnipresent pungent odor that filled her kitchen and the rest of her house.

When planning her restoration efforts, the homeowner came across a listing for SERVPRO and decided to try.  Once our technicians arrived, they quickly went to work on evaluating the situation.  They determined the extent of the fire damage, what type of fire caused it, and the types of smoke and residues involved.  The fire involved different substances, including wood from the counter and cabinets, oil and grease, the turducken, and various plastic bowls and utensils.

SERVPRO workers proceeded to clean off the oily residues and dry ash of the wooden ceiling with wet sponges and a cleaning agent.  They moved down and treated the walls similarly.

Technicians continued downward, cleaning the outside of the lower cabinets and wiping their interiors with dry cleaning sponges.  Next, they removed the scorch marks on the linoleum with steel wool. After completing the work, SERVPRO used foggers to deodorize the Northampton woman’s home thoroughly.

If ever faced with fire damage, find a reputable service to restore your home.  If you need assistance, contact SERVPRO of Hampshire County at (413) 324 – 1300.     

More about Northampton.

How SERVPRO Removes Odors from Northampton Fire Damaged Homes

2/11/2020 (Permalink)

Should your home experience fire damage, know that SERVPRO has the equipment and experience to restore your home. Call us today!

What to Expect from Deodorization After Northampton Fire Losses

Fire losses can leave Northampton homes contending with overwhelming smoke odors following these disasters. Our SERVPRO professionals have numerous deodorization strategies and products that can help to neutralize odors after extinguishing the fire. Knowing how the process works and what you can expect from these phases and techniques can allow you to appreciate each facet of odor removal after a devastating fire.

Odors are not often the most pressing fire damage to Northampton homes, but it does not make it any less dire to address these concerns when the time is right. Even during mitigation, specific deodorizing elements can get introduced that can help to reduce the later time and effort spent removing lingering scents entirely.

Debris Removal 

Our SERVPRO team can begin the removal of debris and ashes from the house during the mitigation phase. While this does not have a direct effect on neutralizing odors, it does remove catalysts to worsen these conditions.

Controlled Demolition

Damaged structural elements and construction materials can also be a source of harsh odors and foul scents. Our in-house team of residential contractors can remove compromised materials and reduce powerful odors in the process.

Cleaning

Removing fire residues from surfaces and contents can also improve the severity of odor damages. Because cleaning and controlled demolition can aerosolize smoke particles and ashes, we can also use equipment like air scrubbers to trap airborne particulates.

Deodorizing Beads

The science of odor removal can involve many approaches, products, and tools to complete entirely. Beads offer a trapping function for moving odor molecules by absorbing these compounds and releasing a pleasant scent in its place.

Odor Removal Equipment 

When other cleanings and restorative actions have completed, our professionals can work on deploying our premier deodorizing equipment. Depending on the severity of these conditions, we can use thermal foggers with high mobility, or hydroxyl generators and ozone machines with a wide coverage area. These devices can neutralize or break down odor molecules on contact.

Clearing out harsh odors after a fire involves strong products and cutting-edge equipment. Our SERVPRO of Hampshire County team can make fire losses “Like it never even happened,” by calling (413) 324-1300.

More about Northampton.

A Primer on Removing Smoke Odors After Northampton Fire Damage

10/21/2019 (Permalink)

A faulty appliance caused this fire. We were able to restore the home and remove the smoke odors. Call us today!

How to Remove Smoke Smells After a Fire Damages Your Northampton Residence

Fires can ignite anywhere in a home, but most of them start in the kitchen. Even if a fire affects only one room, it can also affect the rest of your house — smoke travels, particularly when an air conditioner or forced-air furnace is running. Unlike a fire, smoke does not destroy objects but covers them with a foul odor and soot. Smoke particles attach to surfaces and become encrusted in porous materials.

The odors may persist in a property for a lengthy period, compromising the quality of the indoor air and, the comfort of the occupants. After a fire damages your Northampton home, you can do a few things to eliminate smoke odors. They include:

• removing materials that combustion or heat has heavily damaged
• removing porous materials like smoke-damaged mattresses
• opening all doors and windows to increase ventilation and fresh air circulation
• washing or dry cleaning all curtains, draperies, and other washable materials
• You can also hang the materials outside to remove the smoke particles embedded in them.

If the odor persists or you are not up to the challenge of eliminating smoke odors in the manner previously described, then you can call SERVPRO franchise professionals. We perform effective fire restoration that returns your home into a smoke-free and safe environment to occupy. We do not mask persistent odors with a fragrance but look for the sources of the scents and eliminate them. Depending on the circumstances, our Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Technicians (FSRTs) employ various techniques to eradicate smoke odors, which may include:

Vapor modification 

Our FSRTs use a blower or fan to dispense aromatic compounds vaporized from sealed plastic containers into the air. The minerals used in vapor modification are non-explosive, non-flammable, non-oily, and non-toxic. The deodorizer also penetrates porous materials such as clothing and upholstery.

Hydroxyl generators 

These generators produce hydroxyl gas that gets into surfaces that cleaning cannot reach. The gas reacts with odor-producing compounds chemically to eradicate the scent.

Air scrubbing 

Our SERVPRO technicians set up air scrubbers to eliminate particulates from the air. Air scrubbers pull air through charcoal filters and capture the scents onto a filter. They recirculate the filtered are back into the building.

Thermal fogging 

Thermal fogging neutralizes smoke scents using fragrance modification. Thermal foggers use petroleum-based deodorizers. These deodorizers fill the affected areas with a mist-like deodorizer.

Ventilation fans

They exchange outdoor and indoor air, exhausting unpleasant smells outside and draw in the fresh air in a home from outside.

When you need smoke odor removal services after a fire in Amherst, Granby, or Easthampton, contact SERVPRO of Hampshire County at (413) 324-1300. Our technicians can eliminate smoke odor in your house to make it "Like it never even happened."

More about Northampton.

Odor Control by SERVPRO Is Essential for Fire Damage Restoration for your Amherst Home

10/8/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Says Keep Your Amherst Home Safe from Fires—Keep One of These in Your Kitchen

Small Grease Fire in Your Amherst Kitchen? Assess Your Fire Damage ASAP

Getting a handle on the fire damage caused by accident in your kitchen is necessary, no matter the size of the damage. Usually, when it comes to small grease-based accidents, items are not ruined. Some of the residues from the fire can be wiped down, and the levels of smoke in the air can be mitigated quickly by SERVPRO technicians.

Measuring the Damage

After a small amount of fire damage, your Amherst kitchen is salvageable. Grease fires are caused by quick flashes of flames from the stovetop. They can be put out with dry powders like baking soda to smother the flames by eliminating an oxygen source. Using water or glass to put out the fire is not recommended, as these can splash and spread the flames. SERVPRO recommends having a type ABC fire extinguisher stored under the kitchen sink cabinet for just such flare-ups. The aftermath of your kitchen fire can be cleaned efficiently.

The most apparent damage is soot and smoke. Particles travel through the air and can stick to surfaces such as fabrics and furniture. A wet cleaning process gets rid of the soot residue from hard surfaces. This involves the use of cleaning solvents and hot water.  We have sponges stocked on our service vehicles for this task. If any oils are left behind in the kitchen after the fire, additional solvents can dissolve the residue.

Cleaning the Kitchen

If your microwave is located above the stove, the bottom might be blackened by smoke. Cabinets, countertops, walls, and ceilings may also be affected. SERVPRO technicians can spray and wipe using specially formulated cleaning products. These cleaning agents are combined with dry or wet towels to clean affected surfaces and remove the stains from the area. Any remaining pungent odor, especially in the case of protein fires, can be neutralized through several different processes. We can set up a hydroxyl generator to neutralize malodorous airborne molecules and also produce a ULV ultra-light volume fogging for penetration into corners and crevices for odor abatement. In the case of significant smells, we can set up negative air pressure utilizing a HEPA filtered air scrubbers to vacate the treated interior air to the outside of the structure. An onboard activated charcoal filter can also reduce unwanted smells.

Handle your kitchen accident by mitigating fire damage right away. Contact SERVPRO of Hampshire County at (413) 324-1300 for fire cleanup and restoration services. 

Here is your area.

Our Tips For Cleaning Up After A Fire In Your Amherst Residence

10/3/2019 (Permalink)

Let our crew make it “Like it never even happened.”

Tips For Cleaning Up Your Amherst Residence After Fire Damage

Every day, homeowners in Amherst engage in behaviors that have the potential to start a fire without even realizing it. One of them is the improper use of appliances like leaving them plugged in for too long and failing to check the condition of their cords regularly. Others include leaving candles unsupervised, and improper disposal of used cigarettes. Going through the aftermath of a home fire is an emotional and daunting process.

When your Amherst residence has fire damage, it is vital to ensure that the building is safe, document all the damage, and clean and restore what you can. To get started with the restoration process, check with the fire marshal that your home is safe to enter and note any areas or rooms to avoid. Once you get approval, get note-taking materials and a camera. You should wear safety gear, such as:

•         Close-toed shoes
•         Pants
•         Long-sleeve shirts
•         Safety goggles
•         Work gloves
•         A face mask

Inspect the walls, flooring, and your possessions for smoke, soot, and water damage from firefighting efforts. Open the windows to enhance air circulation and dry wet items like carpet, drapes, and furniture to prevent mold damage. Remove large area rugs for proper drying.

Before you start working on removing smoke odor, you need to remove soot. To remove it, you can take a vacuum machine hose and hold it slightly off the surface of the affected areas or items. You can also use a non-water based cleaner such as a chemical sponge to remove soot from walls.

Although there are many ways to clean up your home yourself, remember that hiring a restoration company like SERVPRO is the best route to take for specific tasks. Our fire restoration experts know the best ways to get your residence to its pre-fire condition. We know where to check for the destruction that is not immediately apparent like under floors and inside walls. We can also inspect the items in your home to know which ones to save and which ones to replace.

Our technicians can remove smoke residues by agitating surfaces using brushes, towels, and air as well as water pressure. Agitation helps dislodge residues from surfaces and distribute cleaning products across surfaces. We also use multiple products that can produce chemical reactions to remove smoke residues.

Our SERVPRO crew also removes lingering smoke odors. A significant issue with smoke scent is that it can travel easily throughout your home, including through air ducts and walls. If the smoke gets trapped in air ducts, it can cause recurring odors months after the fire. We can thermal fog your home to neutralize the smells. Thermal foggers dispense solvent-based products in large volumes. The fog consists of minute particles of deodorant solutions, which pair with and neutralize the odor-causing particles.

To deal with fire damage in your Northampton, Granby, or Easthampton home, call SERVPRO of Hampshire County at (413) 324-1300. We have the expertise to make the incident seem“Like it never even happened.”

For more about Amherst click here.

Call the Experts in Fire Damage in Northampton For All Your Remediation Needs

6/28/2019 (Permalink)

The leftover residue from fire damage can be extremely burdensome to deal with. Contact the professionals at SERVPRO for help.

Fire Damage Mitigation In Northampton

Restoration costs associated with fire damage on your Northampton property are only a fraction of what it might be to replace or rebuild. With that in mind, always have a cleaning and restoration expert test for cleanability after a fire occurs. It helps to have someone looking at things from a repair perspective, rather than someone who falls back on replacing items if things look worse than they thought.

You also want someone that's on your side, keeping an eye on your policy limits, a company that works with your insurance company to ensure quality results. Having fire damage in your Northampton area home does not mean you lose everything you have worked so hard to obtain. A highly-trained restoration expert can often save many of your home’s contents, even those you may have thought were a total loss.

SERVPRO’s test for cleanability helps locate all of the smoke and fire residues caused by the fire. It also determines whether these residues are cleanable, or if they existed before the fire occurred. Through this process, our technicians learn enough about all existing damage to provide you and your insurance company with an accurate estimate. 

SERVPRO provides you with an estimate that lists all restoration procedures needed to return damaged areas to a quality preloss condition. It also shows which items remain salvageable and which do not, as well as a full list of undamaged items, and those that remain questionable. It is our goal to help recover every item possible, reducing any losses you might experience through quality restoration.

SERVPRO technicians explain the testing and cleaning services we provide in full-detail. We want to give you all of the information you need to make informed decisions about your property. Pre-testing allows us an opportunity to discover everything we need to know, including how long it might take to perform our services, what supplies we need, and any additional equipment necessary to move forward.

Contact SERVPRO of Hampshire County for full-service solutions to fire damage on your property throughout the Amherst, Granby, and Ware areas. Our Fire & Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT) are available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, year-round to help mitigate fire damage in your home. 

Click here to see more about Northampton. 

Call Our Certified Professionals For All Your Northampton Fire Damage Restoration Services

5/29/2019 (Permalink)

Fire damage started in the attic of this home and an electrical short was the cause. We arrived as soon as they called because we are available 24/7.

Full Restoration of Fire Damage in Northampton Home

When there is fire damage to a property, it is vital that it has professional mitigation as soon as possible. The longer odor-causing soot remains on surfaces, the more it spreads and permeates porous objects.

Our SERVPRO location handled a fire damage remediation in Northampton for a house with both water and smoke damage over half the property. When we arrived on-site, we contained the entryways and registers in each of the affected rooms to stop any further spread of soot.  

We used portable pumps and extractors to remove the remaining water. Then our technicians used controlled demolition techniques to remove the charred sheetrock and contents too damaged by fire to restore. Our goal is to limit loss for homeowners by restoring the structure and contents through our proprietary methods whenever possible. This commitment to service is why we go methodically through rooms to determine the restorability potential for items.

After the completion of debris removal, we turned our attention to soot removal. Using both portable and hand vacs both with HEPA filtration, we cleaned the residue from the floors, surfaces and ceilings.

Soot particles range from large enough to see to microscopic. We use air scrubbers with HEPA filters to cleanse the affected areas of lingering soot by capturing these odor-causing particulates.

Even after removing charred items, ventilation and cleaning with HEPA filtration, a pungent odor often remains after fire damage, and masking and covering up does not work. We have equipment such as ozone machines or hydroxyl generators that remove fire odors at the molecular level.

Another odor control method we use is thermal fogging. Our technician used an odor-neutralizing heated solvent delivered as a fog. The fog is used to penetrate every place the smoke permeated to remove deeply seated odors thoroughly. In many cases, the combination of multiple methods of odor removal is necessary to eradicate all smoke odor.

Call SERVPRO of Hampshire County at (413) 324-1300 when you need help with fire damage. We can handle damage of any size to residential or commercial properties. Our certified technicians can make your fire loss "Like it never even happened."

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If A Cooking Appliance Has Caused Significant Fire Damage To Your Amherst Kitchen Our Experts Can Help!

4/23/2019 (Permalink)

If you need our professional disaster cleanup for your home or commercial space, give us a call today at (413) 324-1300.

Mitigating Cooking Appliance Fire Damage In An Amherst Kitchen

Thrifting is a budget-friendly way to stock your kitchen with durable appliances, but sometimes those appliances end up not working as well as you might like. A vintage electric waffle iron can end up sparking and catching fire when plugged into an ungrounded kitchen outlet. Worse still, the resulting high heat and fire damage can cause leftover plastic takeout containers to melt in your overhead cabinets. Between cleaning up soot, heat damage, melted plastic, burnt waffle batter, and the foul odor from your now-singed waffle iron, it can be overwhelming to consider where to even start with the cleanup.

If your latest thrift shop find ends up causing fire damage in your Amherst home, SERVPRO technicians can ensure that your kitchen is restored to its pre-existing condition. “Like it never even happened.” After our professionals come to your home to assess the extent of damage to your kitchen, we can get right to eliminating the sources of odor from both dry and wet smoke.

The first step to eliminating foul odors from fire is to thoroughly clean residues from the fire, whether they be soot, burnt food particles, or melted materials. Our SERVPRO team can also clean the vents in your kitchen with agitating tools such as brushes and augers so soot and other odor-causing materials can be vacuumed up and thrown away. The thoroughness of this cleanup processes both on surfaces and inside cabinets also helps to minimize staining as well as control odors.

Deodorizing can be accomplished with a variety of equipment. One method that is favored for effective odor mitigation is thermal fogging, which releases a solvent-based smoke that binds with particles to eliminate odor through chemical reactions. Air scrubbers equipped with HEPA filters can catch particles as small as 0.3 microns that have settled on surfaces in your kitchen.

SERVPRO of Hampshire County is available 24/7, so we can be Faster to Any Size Disaster. If you need our professional disaster cleanup for your home or commercial space, give us a call today at (413) 324-1300.

Click here for more about Amherst.

How Our Specialists Take Care Of Your Smoke And Soot Damaged Easthampton Home

12/3/2018 (Permalink)

Smoke travels into clean air spaces and can race through the home during a fire.

Professional Cleaning Techniques For Soot And Smoke Residues In Easthampton

Smoke travels into clean air spaces and can race through the home during a fire. Mostly composed of carbon, it deposits residues on cooling surfaces it comes into contact with, leaving behind what is colloquially known as soot. Soot though is an umbrella term for smoke residues and does not take into account the different types which are vital to understanding if you want a professional restoration of your home.

When we remediate fire damage in Easthampton properties the first step we take is a thorough inspection. SERVPRO has technicians that are IICRC certified and trained in the patterns of smoke as well as the way it travels through the home. This training makes us one of the leading restoration providers in the local area and ensures you are not going be left with nasty surprises further down the line.

As well as carbon, smoke residues can carry the essence of the materials that they burn. When synthetic materials burn, they leave behind what we refer to as wet smoke — a sticky, odorous substance that can be difficult to remove and easy to spread around causing further damage. SERVPRO uses chemical wet cleaning techniques to help remove wet smoke. We may also use abrasives which can damage paintwork. Thankfully, we are also capable of repainting your walls and ceilings after service is completed.

When fires are extinguished water can compound the damages. Dry smoke, which is created by the burning of natural materials like wood has a crumbly texture similar to powder. Unfortunately, when the dry smoke settles on fabrics and is then exposed to water, it can be absorbed making cleaning complicated. By using foam cleaners, SERVPRO can lift soot out of fabrics using the process of osmosis where it can be wiped away.

House-fires are inherently unpleasant and stressful for all homeowners. We operate a 24-hour call line to support you anytime day or night. We also stick to the SERVPRO promise of sending a technician to your property within four hours of notification of loss to help put your mind at ease.

You need a restoration service that knows what it is doing. Contact SERVPRO of Hampshire County anytime at (413) 324-1300.

Click here for more about Easthampton.

SERVPRO Provides a Studly Service to Fire Damaged Homes in Easthampton

10/23/2018 (Permalink)

Don't Dispair After a Fire Loss in Easthampton--Call SERVPRO for Cleanup, "Like it never even happened."

Fire Damage Technicians in Easthampton Talk About Treating Burnt Studs

If a fire ever breaks out on your Easthampton property, it can cause a variety of problems. Some fires burn very hot and grow extremely quickly, which can cause extensive fire damage. Fires that have plenty of oxygen and burn hot can destroy more items inside your home but the smoke created is a dry smoke which is relatively easy to wipe off most surfaces. When a burn smothers at low heat and is oxygen starved, then it might not burn as much but the smoke created is wet which makes it tougher to remove. During most fire damage situations, our SERVPRO technicians mitigate problems caused by both heat and partially combusted materials or smoke.
 
The first step to any restoration process is to secure the work area, then come up with an initial estimate. During the first write up, our SERVPRO estimators inspect the fire damage on your Easthampton property and determine what should be considered a loss and what can be salvaged. Many times items that only receive smoke damage can be cleaned and deodorized and do not require replacement. However, if heat affected structural components severely, extensive reconstruction work could have to take place.
 
During the initial estimate of the damage, we inspect the entire property and figure out which materials got charred by the fire. Drywall often protects studs from getting burnt, but if the blaze gets hot enough, the wooden studs making up the walls of your house can become partially or entirely burnt. If wall coverings appeared to be charred, they usually get removed so that the studs can be checked out. The general rule is if the charred wood is deeper than a quarter inch, then the studs must be removed and replaced. A visual inspection, when done with the customer and the insurance adjuster, generally can conclude quickly how to proceed and what to toss.

If there is charring that is only on the surface and not quite a quarter inch deep, it is possible to treat the structural components and avoid removing them. When mitigating surface charring, our SERVPRO team often sands or sandblasts the burnt material off of the surface. We can also use dry ice pellets that are directed under pressure at the blackened surface to braid it down to clean, raw wood. The affected wood then gets sprayed with a specialized sealant paint that traps in any foul odors created by the burn. If you ever notice that a fire burns items on your property, call SERVPRO of Hampshire County at (413) 324-1300 seven days a week.

Our local fire department is ready to serve.

How SERVPRO Can Help You Recover From A Fire In Easthampton With Our Cleaning And Restoration Services

10/2/2018 (Permalink)

It is essential to remove the soot from your draperies and carpets during fire damage restoration before any attempt to deodorize or clean items.

Professional Fire Damage Restoration Solutions For Residents Of Easthampton

Cleaning your property after a fire damage incident requires a keen assessment of the damage left behind as well as the level of destruction. While we all know how important it is to notify your insurance agency and the owner of the structure if you are renting, you need to work with restoration professionals to prevent further damage. Usually, our team starts to restore your Easthampton property once we have determined it is safe to re-enter the building.

It is essential to remove the soot from your draperies and carpets during fire damage restoration in Easthampton before any attempt to deodorize or clean items. Soot is oily and to remove it, our SERVPRO technicians can use a heavy-duty vacuum. There are chances of forcing the soot into fabrics if the vacuuming is not done correctly. After removing the soot from your carpets, we cover them to prevent soil and other particles from tracking in during the clean-up process.

When cleaning the soils and other residues from surfaces, there are key cleaning elements we consider: time, chemical action, agitation, and temperature. For instance, when we introduce heat, it breaks the surface tension and allows better penetration of water-based solutions. When that happens, it enhances the dissolving of soils. Agitation may be necessary when we need to free and wash away residues from surfaces. Some of the cleaning methods that use agitation include sandblasting, wiping, scrubbing, and air pressure washing.

After a fire, the smoke that penetrates into various areas of the building may leave behind offensive odors. Covering this smells with a fragrance has never been a good idea since with time the problem can reoccur. To solve this challenge, our SERVPRO technicians perform deodorization. Usually, we analyze the situation at hand before choosing the deodorization technique that works best. When we need to apply disinfectant and fungicides, we may decide to use Ultra Low Volume (ULV) Foggers. Using thermal Foggers can be an option when dispensing deodorants in large volumes.

SERVPRO of Hampshire County responds immediately to all commercial and residential cleaning and restoration needs. Call us today at (413) 324-1300, and our highly trained technicians can make your property “Like it never even happened.”

Click here for more about Easthampton.

Professional Methods To Restore Your Easthampton Home After Experiencing Fire Damage

8/22/2018 (Permalink)

You need to know the options you have when your property experiences a fire damage incident.

Professional Methods To Restore Your Home

You need to know the options you have when your property experiences a fire damage incident. The idea is to put the right measures in place and act quickly to avoid the need to refinish and replace what professionals can easily restore using professional methods. We do not rely on a single cleaning method when restoring your property since different contents and surfaces may have the soot particles. We're going to cover some of the methods we use when addressing such events in Easthampton.
 
When our SERVPRO technicians are pre-cleaning light-to-medium soot particles during fire damage restoration in Easthampton, we might decide to use dry cleaning. During the technique, we use feather dusters to brush or lightly wipe surfaces to remove dust. Vacuuming as well as using a dry cleaning sponge is part of dry cleaning. We usually use this technique before introducing additional wet cleaning procedures.
 
If the soot particles are moderate to heavy, then wet cleaning can be a good option. In this process, we use an appropriate cleaning agent or water to do the work. This process is best suited for the contents which cannot experience any additional damage even after being thoroughly saturated by the cleaning agent. Spray and wipe also happens to be a wet cleaning process and when we use the method, we use a clean white towel to wipe the surface. We prefer to use spray and wipe when we need to control the quantity of the cleaning agent and when too much saturation may affect the surface or materials we are restoring.
 
If agitating the surface is necessary when removing the smoke particles, then our SERVPRO technicians may use the abrasive cleaning method. In this process, we may use a cleaning agent that contains abrasive ingredients or use an abrasive material when applying the cleaning product. If we have to use this method, we are careful not to damage surfaces with the abrasives.
 
SERVPRO of Hampshire County can restore both your residential or commercial property and return it to its preloss state. Call us at (413) 324-1300 and learn the options you have in our 24-hour emergency services.

Click here for more about Easthampton.

A Clothers Dryer Is Sometimes the Culprit in a Granby House Fire

7/10/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Says Keep Dryer Filters and Ducts Clean to Prevent House Fires in Granby

Granby Home Owners Call SERVPRO for Fire & Smoke Damage Cleanup

Fires can start wherever heat builds up inside your Granby house. This includes the laundry area. Dryer fires often happen when lint accumulates and then ignites. The airways get blocked from the appliance through the elbow leading to the venting duct. This heat can ignite and also put undue stress on your dryer's performance as it raises your electrical bill. While threads and other items generally become caught in the lint trap, it is possible for defects to cause problems. When objects have sharp points or edges, they can make small holes in the mesh, letting larger fibers through and into the ducts. Other times, a lighter left in a pocket can ignite inside the dryer, and spread from there.

Clothes dryer fires can ignite areas in your Granby laundry room or travel through the ducts from the dryer to the vent. Wherever fire damage spreads inside your house, SERVPRO quickly restores everything so you and your family can get back to your regular routines, “Like it never even happened.”

Removing fire-damaged ducts and other materials helps us uncover the rest of the damage more easily. Cleaning as much as we can to restore it back to usable condition keeps costs lower than replacing specific elements. However, when we cannot attain safe conditions with restoration replacements become our only option. Smoke from burned clothing can become very offensive. We eliminate these odors with thermal fogging as a last restort throughout your home. Hydroxyl generators typically can vanquish the foul-smelling airborne particulates. Smoke-killing agents perform the task of eliminating the particles that produce the smoky smell your family continues to breathe in, making the air clean again. Removing any residual water that was used to put the fire out also needs to take place. Preventing mold and mildew growth after a fire protects your house even further. Microbes do not care if the materials they consume carry an offensive odor.

Moisture from your washing machine may also play a part if electricity was cut off after the fire. We work with you to get everything back to normal and in healthy livable conditions. We want your family to live in a safe environment, free of damages that can easily cause harm or injury.

SERVPRO of Hampshire County can make your home's problems with fire damage a thing of the past. Call us at (413) 324-1300 to let us know of your situation, and we can explain how we can help you accomplish this in a fast and efficient manner.

Click here for the local fire dep"t

Appliance Fire Damage in Your Ware Home

12/27/2017 (Permalink)

Appliances make everyday living easier, but can easily cause fire damage to your home if not well maintained.

The Four Fundamental Elements of Cleaning Fire Damage

Appliances in your household in Ware make life more comfortable on a day to day basis. Each machine which operates on gas or electricity, however, presents safety risks and needs to be used according to the instructions from the manufacturer. When you follow basic safety tips, it helps you to avoid disasters in your home.

Keeping appliances away from wet areas in your kitchen or bathroom for example, and not running cords underneath rugs, assists in keeping your home safe from fire and fire damage. If you still experience an appliance fire in your Ware residence, however, SERVPRO can come to your aide in cleaning up and repairing the damage.

To clean fire damage, we need to remove smoke residues and deodorize smoke odors. Fire damage presents a large variety of cleaning challenges because of the various ways that oxygen, heat, gases, and moisture interact to make smoke residues. The different kinds of burning materials found in your home and the effects smoke and temperature have on them make different variables for cleaning methods.

When cleaning fire damage, there are four fundamental elements which we need to suspend residues to be able to remove them. Temperature is the first one. Heat increases the speed of chemical reactions in cleaning products. We select the right temperature depending on the solution being used and the material we are cleaning.

Agitation is next. SERVPRO techs agitate the surfaces by using brushes, towels, water and air pressure, plus sonic vibrations in ultrasonic machines. The process helps to dislodge residues from surfaces and spreads cleaning products over surfaces.

The professional cleaning products we use work through various chemical reactions with surfaces and residues. We select the right cleaning product depending on the action we want like bleaching, dissolving, oxidizing, emulsifying, digesting, or changing pH.

The amount of dwell time that is needed for professional cleaning and deodorization for products to work varies depending upon the kind of residues and the product.

SERVPRO of Hampshire County are experts at determining the right cleaning products and procedures for various types of fire damage. If you have had a fire due to a failed appliance in the areas of Belchertown, Ware, or Amherst, give us a call right away at (413) 324-1300, so we can clean and repair your home.

Click here to learn more about the town of Ware.

The Danger in Your Dryer Vents

4/25/2017 (Permalink)

This dryer caught on fire due to a clogged vent.

Did you know that dryer fires are one of the biggest causes of home fires? 

Each year, failure to clean clogged dryer vents and lint traps results in thousands of fires.  These disasters are easily preventable with proper maintenance.

Here are some tips to keep you and your home safe:

• Flexible metal venting material should be used to promote good air flow and drying time


• Make sure the dryer exhaust vent is properly installed and free of any obstruction


• Make sure the outside vent flap is opening properly


• Always use the lint filter in your dryer


• Clean out your lint filter before or after every load. 


• Clean dryer lint from around the drum and on the floor around the dryer


• Only operate your dryer when you are home; in case of a fire, you will be able to respond quicker and limit damage

Once a year, clean lint and other debris out of the vent and pipe.  Too messy, don't have the time? SERVPRO of Hampshire County specializes in air duct and dryer vent cleaning.  Our technicians have the training and the equipment to do the job quickly and efficiently.

Most of all, proper maintenance gives you peace of mind your Western MA home is safe.  And that is priceless.

Call SERVPRO of Hampshire County to discuss your air duct and dryer vent needs at 413-589-8975.

Some content sourced from the National Fire Protection Association.

Fire Damage Prevention and Cleanup In Hampshire County

1/6/2017 (Permalink)

I borrowed this blog post from SERVPRO of Franklin County, I thought it was a great read and timely in the wake of the recent deadly and devastating fire in Holyoke on New Years Day.

Fire Safety & Prevention

Did you know that if a fire starts in your home, you may have just two minutes to escape?

The most effective way to protect yourself and your home from fire is to identify and remove fire hazards. 60 percent of house fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms. During a home fire, working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives.

Fire Safety Tips

• If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL for help.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.
• Test smoke alarms once a month, if they’re not working, change the batteries.
• Talk with all household members about a fire escape plan and practice the plan twice a year.

Fire and smoke damage is especially destructive. In many instances your property will also suffer from water damage from firefighting efforts. Serving the Pioneer Valley in Western Massachusetts, SERVPRO of Hampshire County specializes in fire and water damage restoration; it’s the cornerstone of our business. We have specialized equipment, specific training, and certifications that allow us restore your home to pre-fire condition.

We understand you may be feeling confused, stressed, and more than a little vulnerable. Our technicians will treat your family with empathy and your home with great care. Until help arrives, please refer to our Fire Damage Tips—Until Help Arrives Guide and follow these tips to protect yourself and your property.

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. When various materials burn, the soot and residue they create differs greatly and requires a specific cleaning procedure. The steps listed below illustrate our process for the “typical” fire damage restoration. Learn more about our fire damage restoration process.

1. Emergency Contact
2. Inspection and Fire Damage Assessment
3. Immediate Board-Up and Roof Tarp Service (if needed)
4. Water Removal and Drying (if water damage is present)
5. Removal of Smoke and Soot from All Surfaces
6. Cleaning and Repair
7. Restoration

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

SERVPRO of Hampshire County is locally owned and operated and we are proud to be part of Northampton and surrounding communities for over 20 years. We are also part of a national network of over 1,650 Franchises with special Disaster Recovery Teams placed strategically throughout the country to respond to large-scale fire, water, and storm disasters.

Hampshire County Fire Damage Cleanup

11/4/2016 (Permalink)

How many items can you identify in THIS garage?

My previous blog about disaster readiness had a photo attached of a recent garage fire we responded to, asking if you could pick contents out of the debris if you needed to provide an inventory to your insurance company.  

This blog is to show yet another reason why you should do some sort of photographic or video diary of your home or business so that if THIS happens to you, you can get back on your feet as quickly as possible and work your way through your claim more easily.  

The SERVPRO READY PLAN is an APP that can also help you document and be prepared further in the event of a Fire Damage at your property.

SERVPRO of Hampshire County is quick to respond, the READY PLAN helps us to be familiar with your property and how we need to respond.

Remember, when it comes to Fire Damage and Water Damage, not only in Western Mass, but anywhere, it's all about how you respond and react.  Documenting your property and using a Readiness Plan will help you react quickly and effectively.

FIRE SAFETY ALERT!!!

1/18/2016 (Permalink)

photo courtesy of Sturbridge PD via Sturbridge FD Facebook page.

On a somber note, there have been many instance of fire losses this month.  Very much characteristic of what statistically is predictable.  Sad and unfortunate, yet real.  Some of these could have been avoided, some maybe not, but in the end it is still loss and a reminder of just how precious life is.

As the temperatures finally begin to drop into more “seasonable” ranges, be reminded that space heaters and such should be plugged directly into a dedicated circuit without using an extension cord (unless rated for the draw of a heater).  DO NOT run the cord across a floor or under a carpet, this could cause a fire or trip hazard.   Make sure all heating appliances are UL rated as well.  The following link will direct you to some information on a recent Holland fire that was believed to be caused by a space heater. 

http://www.westernmassnews.com/story/30708760/investigators-holland-house-fire-caused-by-unattended-space-heater#.VmjWRxb7Bj0.mailto

Secondly, a recent hotel fire at the Publick House in Sturbridge is a reminder to guests to BE AWARE of where your emergency exits and stairwells are when you check into your room.  You never know when this could be the difference between life and death. 

To Hotel and Restaurant Owners, as well as ALL Business Owners, Building Owners and Property Managers, it’s a great time to remind you that SERVPRO of Hampshire County can assist you in writing an Emergency Ready Profile.  This playbook will help you in the event of a disaster as a result of frozen pipes, ice dams, mechanical failures that cause flooding and fire/smoke/soot damage.  It’s available in the APP stores and is always at your fingertips on your smart device.

Regardless of the fire source or the extent of smoke damage and fire damage, SERVPRO of Hampshire County can clean and restore your structure and contents back to pre-loss condition.  Think of us in your time of need, many others have and were happy to know that we were quickest to their disaster.  

Stay Alert!

11/24/2015 (Permalink)

A short but busy week kicks off the Holiday Season of 2015.  Thanksgiving marks the start of probably the busiest time of the year.  It is at this time that you need to make sure you are most vigilant and pay attention to minor details to avoid disastrous results.  In Western Massachusetts we have already seen many major fires, causing both death and injury.  Especially over the next month, maintain discipline and common sense despite that chaos around you.  Leaving an unattended pot or pan on the stove or in the oven can do so much more than ruin a meal.  Pay attention to the little things over the next month.  Space heaters, candles, cooking and Holiday decorations are all major fire hazards that can be kept in check to avoid a fire damage, soot damage or deodorization situation. 

Our job at SERVPRO of Hampshire County is not only to make fire damage and water damage “Like it never even happened”, but to help you avoid calling us for the soot damaged kitchen or flooded basement.