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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Archived Fire Damage Blog Posts

Can the Smell of Smoke be Removed after a Fire?

7/18/2023 (Permalink)

 

Smoke and soot are very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allow us to inspect and accurately assess the damage's extent to develop a comprehensive plan of action. 

Smoke and Soot Facts

  • Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.

  • Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.

  • The type of smoke may significantly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Southeast Memphis will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

  • Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

  • Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises; therefore, smoke rises.

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

  • Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is slightly different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions. We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage. We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care. We’re available 24/7 for your fire damage emergency. Call us anytime at (901) 334-9209. 

5 Essential Tips for Preventing Kitchen Fires

5/23/2023 (Permalink)

house fire, SERVPRO technicians in white PPE suits cleaning out a room that has fire damaged debris Avoid kitchen hazards and protect your home.

As an expert in the field of fire damage restoration, we understand the importance of maintaining a safe and functional kitchen environment. Even the most experienced chefs can make costly mistakes that lead to devastating consequences. To help you avoid kitchen hazards and protect your home, here are five crucial tips to keep in mind: 

Keep Your Vents Clean and Clear

One of the most critical aspects of kitchen safety is ensuring proper ventilation. Regularly clean the vent screens above your stove to prevent the accumulation of grease. Over time, grease buildup can hinder ventilation and become a significant contributing factor in a kitchen fire. By keeping your vents clean, you reduce the risk of grease igniting and potentially worsening a fire. 

Never Leave Pans Unattended

It's a well-known rule among seasoned cooks, but it bears repeating: never leave pans unattended on the stove. Accidents can happen in an instant, from pans being knocked over to grease splattering or food cooking for too long. Any of these scenarios can quickly escalate into a fire hazard. Remain vigilant and always attend to your cooking to minimize the risk of accidents. 

Proper Disposal of Grease

After cooking, resist the temptation to pour hot grease down the drain. Such an act can lead to the accumulation of grease in your pipes, causing drain clogs and potential sink overflow. Instead, allow the grease to cool and pour it into a paper towel nested in a microwave safe bowl before disposing of it in the trash. By adopting this practice, you prevent grease-related plumbing issues and maintain a smoothly functioning kitchen. To avoid the buildup of grease and food particles in your kitchenware, make it a habit to wipe out greasy pans before washing them. Ensuring that your pans are free of excess grease before cleaning them is a simple yet effective preventive measure. 

Seek Professional Appliance Servicing

When you encounter issues with your kitchen appliances, it's crucial to seek professional assistance promptly. Attempting to fix problems without the proper knowledge and tools can result in potential electrical hazards and fires. Whether it's a malfunctioning stove or a clogged dishwasher disposal, entrust the task to a qualified professional who can address the issue safely and efficiently. 

Accidents Happen

In the unfortunate event of a fire or flooding in your kitchen, a fire and water damage restoration service can provide valuable assistance. These experts are trained to handle such emergencies and can help restore your kitchen to its former state. From mitigating fire damage to addressing water-related issues, restoration professionals possess the expertise and equipment necessary to minimize the impact of such incidents. By following these five essential tips, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of encountering hazards in your kitchen.

Save Your Persian Rug After Fire | Full Restoration

5/22/2023 (Permalink)

man in safety suit, PPE, cleaning up after a fire, filling a bag with contents Protect your investment with a professional service.

Rug Cleaning for High-Quality Carpet and Upholstery After a Fire

Even the highest-quality carpet and upholstery can show soiling over time. Let's face it, we don't live a Bubble Boy life even though it's a nice thought to imagine arts and crafts with little ones in a sizable, contained balloon. Finding residue and grime on expensive furniture items is easy enough, so that damage seems to increase exponentially after experiencing fire damage. Pieces of functional decor like Persian rugs are irreplaceable, timeless, and usually a large investment. Protect your investment with a professional service.

SERVPRO of Southeast Memphis knows how to clean, offering several washing options to match any type of carpet and upholstery:

  • Bonnet Cleaning, a less aggressive method for short pile carpets
  • Hot Water Extraction, a more in-depth cleaning method for all carpet types
  • Deluxe Precondition and Rinse, to restore deeply soiled areas
  • Showcase Premier Cleaning, the most thorough cleaning method in the industry
  • Dry Cleaning, used when color-fastness is an issue

After a fire, more than carpets and upholstery are damaged, though, because soot spreads. That is why, as cleaning professionals, we have equipment to clean varieties of surfaces and materials.

Cleaning vs. Replacing

Heat can burn flammable materials inside a structure, forcing removal and replacement of those materials, but the smoke coming from the blaze can also cause soils, soot residues, and intense aromas that are easier to restore. 

Our experienced and trained SERVPRO team knows that mitigating fire damage includes a variety of replacing, restoring, and cleaning techniques. Various fire residues adhere to each surface in your home differently, and we can help with it all.

Dry Smoke

Most fires go through stages of creating both wet and dry smoke. However, usually fires will have more of one type than the other. Dry smoke is created by fast-burning, oxygen-rich burns. Dry smoke is also usually created when organic materials like wood, paper, or natural fabrics burn.

Wet Smoke

Whether a fire produces a majority of wet or dry smoke depends on the amount of oxygen present, the combustion rate, and the type of substance that is burning. When the fire is starved of oxygen and burns at a lower temperature, it produces wet smoke. Wet smoke is also created when synthetic materials such as rubber or plastic burn. Wet smoke usually adheres strongly to surfaces and is difficult to remove. 

Cleaning Techniques

When our SERVPRO technicians work with hard surfaces, we can use water based-detergents and other wet cleaning methods. However, for porous surfaces, wet techniques could cause the soot to soak deeper into the material. Dry cleaning methods that use agitation can prove useful in these cases.

Dry Cleaning: Light Agitation

SERVPRO conducts the dry cleaning agitation technique with softer tools such as dusters or brushes. Special vacuums are also useful when removing some soot residues and using compressed air to blow off the soot.

Dry Cleaning: Medium Agitation

Residues that adhere to some of your contents and building surface materials could work better in medium agitation cleaning techniques. Dry sponges are an example of a medium agitation method, and they can be useful when removing soot residues from drywall. Dusting cloths or crumbling cleaners that work like a pencil eraser are also useful.

SERVPRO has the necessary tools, techniques and knowledge to save your rugs after fire damage. Protect your high-quality carpet and upholstery investment. For professional assistance after a fire, call us at (901) 382-0900, 24/7.

Smoke and Soot Dictate Cleanup Practices After Fire Damage

3/6/2022 (Permalink)

fire damage in rafters above residential home, charred wood going further into the attic Contact a professional in the fire damage restoration industry, like SERVPRO of Southeast Memphis at (901) 382-0900.

Professionals Describe the Different Types of Smoke

Suppose you ever suffer from a structural blaze inside your Memphis home. In that case, it is always smart to consult a professional when going about cleanup and restoration. 

A professional will know to use different chemicals and techniques when removing residues left behind, based on the smoke type. In most situations, smoke and the soils it leaves behind can be classified into one of the following four categories of smoke and soot damage. Knowing what type of smoke was present helps the technician pick the best method to remove soot residues on the various surfaces of your building materials and contents. 

Category No. 1 - Dry Smoke

Most fires go through stages of creating both wet and dry smoke. However, usually fires will have more of one type than the other. Dry smoke is created by fast-burning, oxygen-rich burns. Dry smoke is also usually created when organic materials like wood, paper, or natural fabrics burn.

Category No. 2 - Wet Smoke

Whether a fire produces a majority of wet or dry smoke depends on the amount of oxygen present, the combustion rate, and the type of substance that is burning. When the fire is starved of oxygen and burns at a lower temperature, it produces wet smoke. Wet smoke is also created when synthetic materials such as rubber or plastic burn. Wet smoke usually adheres strongly to surfaces and is difficult to remove. 

Category No. 3 - Protein Residues

Protein residues can be found any time products such as meat, poultry, or fish burn. These residues leave behind a yellow or amber discoloration, but they can sometimes be clear and hard to see on a surface. Protein residues leave behind strong odors making deodorization the biggest issue when dealing with them.

Category No. 4 - Fuel Oil Soot

Furnace puff-backs can create fuel oil residues that consist of dust particles from the ventilation system and fuel oils that did not burn all the way. This type of soot usually has a gray or black color and can consist of large or small particles. Often, the electrically charged ions form formations in corners that resemble spiderwebs and can smear readily if not vacuumed and sponged off correctly.

If a fire ever ignites inside your home, it is wise to contact a professional in the fire damage restoration industry, like SERVPRO of Southeast Memphis at (901) 382-0900.

What is Wet and Dry Smoke?

2/13/2022 (Permalink)

Did you know different types of smoke damages emerge based on the type of material burning? These smoke types determine the measures professional fire restoration technicians take when cleaning up after a fire. We break down the types.

Wet and Dry Smoke?

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, a professional like SERVPRO of Southeast Memphis tests the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pre-testing. 

Wet Smoke:

Plastic and Rubber

  • Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke:

Paper and Wood

  • Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises, therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue:

Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

  • Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extremely pungent odor. 

It's important to survey all areas of a property because every part has the potential for damages. Smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure, and smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions. We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action to restore your property to its preloss condition. We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?

Call SERVPRO of Southeast Memphis today at(901) 382-0900.