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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Archived Fire Damage Blog Posts

Professional Fire Damage Restoration When You Need It

7/25/2024 (Permalink)

Red fire extinguisher If You Have Fire Damage contact the Fired Damage Restoration Experts at SERVPRO of North West Montgomery County

Preparing Your Fire Escape Plan in Reading

A fire escape plan can very simply be the difference between safely getting out of a burning house and tragedy for your family. Every home and family situation is different and will have different needs, but there are a few universal steps for creating an effective emergency escape plan.

1. Make Sure the Whole Family is Involved

Your plan will impact everyone, so it’s important to include your family during all planning stages. Walk your household members through each room and strategize escape routes as a team.

2. Identify Potential Barriers and Problems

A blocked exit is an inconvenience in day-to-day life, but it can be deadly during a fire. Identify potential barriers with your family, taking care to ensure each member can identify problem areas so they’re better prepared to select the best route during disaster.

3. Take the Time for Maintenance Checks

Regularly monitor the state of your fire safety equipment. Sprinklers and alarm systems should be tested at least once a year. You can also turn your maintenance checks into opportunities to review your fire escape plan with your family.

4. Make Your Plan Official

Display a copy of your emergency escape plan somewhere safe and highly visible. The kitchen may be an ideal location for a laminated version of your plan.

The National Fire Protection Association has additional tips if you are interested.

If you do experience a fire in your home or business call the professionals at SERVPRO of Reading, Their teams of expert technicians are ready to respond when the fire is out. They will assess your damage and formulate a plan to take care of damage and odor. SERVPRO is the industry leader in fire damage restoration. Remember SERVPRO is also able to take care of cleaning, restoration and your construction needs.

Fire Damage Debris and Soot Removal in Reading

3/22/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technicians are available 24/7 to clean up fire damage in Reading; call us today.

SERVPRO Fire Restoration for Reading Homes Removes Debris and Rebuilds Structures

According to 2020 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) data, home fires caused $8.7 billion in property damage to residential structures and contents. Regardless of how much they prepare for a disaster, Reading homeowners may not have the equipment necessary to remediate fire damage odors, residues, or suppression strategies. However, professional restoration technicians can help.

Reading fire damage cleanup professionals at SERVPRO can return affected properties to a pre-disaster state. SERVPRO cleanup includes water mitigation post-fire suppression, sanitation with EPA-registered antimicrobials, and demolition of unsalvageable material where needed to prepare spaces for rebuilding services.

Why Does Smoke Damage Cleanup Matter?

Regardless of the source, flames often do more than leave behind smoke stains on drywall. Burnt materials leave lingering odors and residues with no "one-size-fits-all" cleanup solution. These materials differ significantly enough that various classes of fire extinguishers exist.

  • Class A extinguishers handle dry goods that burn quickly at high heat, like wood and paper
  • Class B extinguishers are designed for grease fires in kitchens and other low-burning oils and petroleum products
  • Class C remediates electrical fires
  • Class K is explicitly designed with commercial kitchen fires in mind

While various alternatives are available, homeowners may be overwhelmed by the diversity of flame suppression options. This variety also indicates how diverse and adaptable cleanup solutions must be for burnt items and structures. On top of that, smoke particles can become acidic and damage metals and finishes in the home, which creates even more repair and replacement costs for homeowners. 

SERVPRO's Fire Restoration Process Includes Residue Cleanup and Odor Control

Smoke and soot cleanup from SERVPRO addresses residues, debris, charring, and hard-to-remove stains and odors. Technicians can perform the following tasks:

  • Remediate any present water damage or microbial growth from moisture exposure after fire suppression. Mold can grow as quickly as 24 hours after exposure, so sanitation is essential for protecting indoor air quality
  • Use dry cleaning, alkaline cleaners, OSHA-approved detergents, and abrasion blasting, among other solutions, to eliminate soot, creosote, and char from surfaces
  • Deploy dry foggers to dispense solvent-based smoke that chemically binds with soot particles to eliminate the odors associated with them
  • Specialized enzyme digesters clean challenging protein residues after cooking fires, which account for approximately half of all home fires in the United States

After cleaning damage and eliminating unsalvageable debris and structural materials per homeowners' wishes, SERVPRO professionals can focus on restoring the property to a comfortable condition. Build-back services can entail installing new carpet and drywall, repainting walls, ceilings, and baseboards, and repairing subfloors and wall joists. SERVPRO techs can also implement boards-ups and tarps for damaged roofing, windows, and doorways.

This crew's restoration-focused approach also extends to homeowners' belongings. SERVPRO professionals can extract stains and odors from upholstery, dinnerware, and decor, among other items. Even electronics can often be restored after soot exposure.

Throughout the process, SERVPRO maintains a detailed inventory of belongs and their conditions to aid homeowners and insurance adjusters with claims filing and documentation. A restoration-based approach can ultimately minimize disturbances to the home and allow property occupants to return to their lives more quickly and smoothly.

SERVPRO of Reading can be reached at (610) 779-8189. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster and ready to work with homeowners to restore their properties.

Fire Restoration in Reading Homes Happens Fast With SERVPRO

1/17/2023 (Permalink)

Looking for a restoration company? Look no further, SERVPRO is just a call away.

SERVPRO Offers Premier Fire Restoration Services in Reading 

Smoke and soot particles settle on various surfaces after a fire incident and can cause discoloration and corrosion. Hence, the primary goal of the fire restoration of your Reading home is to remove these particles as quickly as possible. 

SERVPRO techs use different cleaning techniques during the fire restoration of your Reading home depending on the type of soot and the surface involved. As the smoke particles are tiny (0.1 to 4 microns), they can easily penetrate porous surfaces like fabric and drywall, making it challenging for the restorers to remove them.  

Factors Affecting the Cleanability After Fire damage 

Fire damage can present different cleaning and restoration situations depending on how various structural elements interact with the smoke and soot particles. SERVPRO techs consider the following factors in determining the cleanability of fire-damaged homes.

  • Type of surface: Porous surfaces allow the smoke and soot particles to penetrate deeper, making them challenging for SERVPRO techs to clean compared to nonporous surfaces. Similarly, synthetic fabrics are easier to clean than natural fabrics.  
  • Age of the surface: Older surfaces are more challenging to clean than newer ones. As the older paint on a surface deteriorates, it becomes more porous, making it more difficult to clean than a fresh coat of paint.  
  • Amount of heat: Hotter fires can cause more extensive damage to the surface that is difficult to clean. Intense heat can also char the surfaces, necessitating refinishing.
  • Impingement: Hotter-burning fires produce turbulent smoke that moves with incredible velocity through the structure, impinging (colliding) the surfaces. More significant impingement results in deeper penetration of the soot particles, making cleaning difficult.

SERVPRO techs are trained in handling even the most challenging smoke damage situations and work hard to restore your home “Like it never even happened.”

Call SERVPRO of Reading at (610) 779-8189 for fast and efficient service.

What Are Ways Gas Water Heaters Cause Fires in Reading?

8/16/2022 (Permalink)

The technicians are available 24/7 to clean up fire damage, call us today.

SERVPRO is Ready to Assist Local Reading Homeowners With the Cleanup of Any Size of Fire Damage

While electric water heaters generally are rarely the cause of residential fires unless they overheat, gas water heaters have more potential to be the center of a fire damage in Reading due to their open flame. There are actions homeowners can take to ensure their water heater operates safely.

  • Do not store clothes or papers near the water heater
  • Flammable liquids and cleaning products should be away from the water heater
  • The flame cover should be in place at all times

Where Do I Start to Cleanup Fire Damage from a Water Heater?

When a water heater in a Reading home leaves behind fire damage, the most likely area is in the basement. On the upper floors, some homes have utility closets, and those come with their challenges for cleanup. The key to limiting damage with either location is to begin the mitigation efforts as rapidly as possible.

Basement Water Heater Cleanup Post-Fire

Upon arrival to a home after a fire damage, the SERVPRO technicians get to work removing any water and putting up containment to diminish the chance of soot spreading anywhere else in the home. The damaged water heater and any charred items too far gone for restoration services get removed with the approval of the homeowner or adjuster.

In a finished basement, there tends to be more damage due to the probability of water from the fire extinguishing efforts seeping under the floor installation. One positive about the location is there is nowhere lower for the water to run on the slab substrate, so the extraction of the water is typically fast and easy.

The smoke damage on the walls may require the removal of the sheetrock on the walls down to the plywood or even brick or cinder block. Because of the potential for these porous areas to hold smoke odors, SERVPRO technicians use cleaning agents specially formulated for this type of surface cleaning without the use of acids that can harm the surfaces.

Utility Closet Cleanup After a Fire Caused by a Water Heater

The damage can be far more significant when the water heater has a location in the home outside of the basement. The smoke may have spread to different areas of the house, more than one place may have water damage due to the fire department putting out the fire, and both carpet and sheetrock require mitigation.

Water can equal fire in the potential for damage after a fire; it runs downward, flowing through the carpet and padding or under the tile and gets into floor joists, and drips through below. It can pick up soot and dirt along the way and stain the walls and ceilings when it comes out. Once water wicks into sheetrock, it begins to buckle and warp and needs cutting away to halt the deterioration.

The carpet gets inspected on a case-by-case basis for restoration. The water may cause shrinkage, dye bleed, or in the case of acrylic and polyester fibers with a low melting point, they may have too much damage from the heat of the fire for restoration through cleaning applications. Whenever possible, the technicians try to extract any remaining water and deep clean the carpets to eliminate odors and stains to save the homeowners the cost of replacement.

The restoration potential for hardwood flooring depends on the materials that make up the floorboards and how much exposure they had to heat and water.

Ceramic tiles tend to come out of this type of damage situation with the best potential for full restoration if the grout line sealant is intact. It generally needs cleaning with one of the professional-quality agents to remove any smoke residues, and little else is required.

Odor Control is a Big Part of the Fire Damage Cleanup Process

Doors and windows can get left open, and it will not diminish smoke odors within a home after something as significant as a water heater fire. Soot produces odors, and the motes can be smaller than the human eye can see, which makes removing them a challenge without advanced devices to capture the airborne particles. SERVPRO technicians have a broad array of odor control methods that include:

  • Specific equipment like hydroxyl generators and thermal foggers
  • Applications such as gel pellets or sprays for light, residual odors
  • Deodorizing cleaning agents for surfaces
  • Sealants to apply over painted surfaces to halt odors

SERVPRO of Reading at (610) 779-8189 brings advanced methods and equipment to handle any type of fire damage in local properties. The technicians are available 24/7 to clean up fire damage; call us today.

Can Wood Furniture Be Save After a Fire?

5/19/2022 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot affect wood. SERVPRO has the right cleaning methods to remove smoke from your fire damaged home.

Reading Homeowners can Count on SERVPRO to Restore Instead of Replacing When Possible

Smoke odors can quickly penetrate wood furniture. Pieces such as desks and coffee tables have unfinished sections such as drawer bottoms, backs, and undersides. Restoration depends on the material and the extent of the fire.

Can the Smell Be Removed from a Desk?

SERVPRO provides fire restoration in Reading with the goal of restoring as much as we can. We do not replace unless we have to do so. Our crew uses various cleaning techniques depending on the type of soot they are cleaning. Denatured alcohol and dry-cleaning sponges are two standard tools employed. Some signs indicate the item is beyond restoration:

  • Extensive surface blistering
  • Waterlogged joints
  • Cracked joints from intensive heat
  • Permanent staining
  • Severely charred areas

The fire does not have to be big to cause damage. SERVPRO of Reading understands fire damage and fire restoration. Contact us at (610) 779-8189 for all your fire, water, and flood restoration needs. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

We Discuss How Our Professionals Deodorized Your Exeter Home After A Fire

4/18/2022 (Permalink)

Contact SERVPRO to effectively tackle the fire damage in your property. Call now!

How Your Exeter Home Gets Deodorized After a Fire

You might assume that harsh odors present after a fire loss in your Exeter home gets related to smoke damage, but this is not always the case. Part of our ability to successfully navigate proper deodorization of your property after emergencies hinges on our knowledge of industry practices. Our professionals get trained specifically to identify foreign and noxious odors present in the house after a loss incident and, in doing so, can develop the best approach for removing them.

Smoke is a common contributor to harsh odors and other fire damage in Exeter homes but is not the only factor to consider. The combustion of specific types of materials, gasses that get released into the environment, and other destroyed items can all create foreign and challenging scents of their own. Our SERVPRO professionals can look to isolate these individual sources and eliminate their hold on your home instead of non-effective practices like masking odors and taking shortcuts.

As a team, we rely on multiple machines that can help with this odor elimination process, and much of the decision on the specific unit relates to the severity of the damage and how widespread this condition has become. Units like our hydroxyl generator, for instance, have a stationary operation that works to affect a broad area with central placement, whereas our portable thermal foggers can offer a more concentrated and direct approach by moving with our technicians from one space to another.

Deodorization is often one of the final steps of recovery, though efforts made through the mitigation process can often work to reduce the severity of these odors. Debris and residue removal can both substantially reduce the strength of present odors because of the elimination of primary sources, helping them to circulate continually.

We have invested time and resources into the development of our Fire & Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT) and Odor Control Technicians (OCT) on our SERVPRO of Reading team. Regardless of the situation you face, We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster. We will help you no matter how you need it. Give us a call today at (610) 779-8189.

What Measures to Take for Reading House Fire Cleanup?

2/17/2022 (Permalink)

Your local fire restoration experts at SERVPRO of Reading are waiting for your call.

Your Reading Home Can Benefit From SERVPRO's Unique Fire Damage Restoration Approaches 

Your home's electrical wiring may be damaged or installed poorly and end up causing a fire in your living room. Any kind of house fire, however small, can cause severe damage to your Reading home and ruin your possessions, especially the things close to the source of the fire.

SERVPRO technicians are experienced and use professional methods during fire damage restoration in your Reading home to clean and restore contents to preloss conditions. Flames are just a fraction of the problem that fire can cause. Smoke, soot, debris, and the water used to put out the fire can cause damage to the house itself and items like the couch, carpet, curtains, and your precious décor pieces. Your home and most of your belongings can be salvaged by acting quickly. Restoring your possessions is not an easy task. Basic cleaning principles are undertaken by experts while performing restoration:

  • Locating smoke residues by carefully examining the affected area
  • Identifying the type of residues and surface
  • Removing and disposing of the residue

Why It Is Important to Hire Fire Restoration Experts

Assessing the damage is an important step during restoration. Our team performs a thorough inspection and uses specific cleaning methods and solutions based on the items and the level of damage sustained. By scouring the home, we can find out where the problem lies and whether it affects contents like appliances or structural materials like drywall, ceilings, and floors. 

Various Methods to Help Restore Content

  • Wet cleaning
  • Dry cleaning
  • Abrasive cleaning

To formulate an effective cleaning method for drapery and upholstery, our SERVPRO technicians identify the type of fabric and the level of smoke residue. We pre-clean dry soils on smoke-damaged upholstery, mitigating residue absorption into the fibers. Oily soot can stain items. We may use a heavy-duty vacuum or apply dry solvents to clean the items at moderate soot levels. 

SERVPRO of Reading takes necessary steps during fire damage restoration to clean your possessions. Call us at (610) 779-8189. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Does SERVPRO Use Solvents in Fire Damage Restoration in Kutztown

1/23/2022 (Permalink)

When you see the walls caked in soot and smell the smoke in your home, it’s time to bring in the professionals at SERVPRO to tackle the situation.

SERVPRO Utilizes Water, Detergent & Solvents in Fire Restoration of Homes in Kutztown

A fire in a home or building in Kutztown often leaves a variety of smoke residues in the immediate area of the fire. In addition, smoke odors are distributed throughout the house by the HVAC system or the hot air currents generated by the fire. The residues can be difficult to remove unless the proper cleaners and solvents are used.

SERVPRO fire damage restoration technicians in Kutztown are experienced and trained to manage every emergency, including the removal of smoke residues and odors. Grease fires generate a great deal of heavy, greasy smoke residues. Hot fires produce less smoke and have light, fluffy residues. Plastics and other non-organic materials make residues difficult to remove unless the proper solvent and process are used.

Water does not dissolve substances very well, especially when the smoke residue is oily. Adding specialized detergents to water can quickly dissolve oily substances and remove them from hard surfaces. We rinse porous materials thoroughly to remove all residues. When hard water is used, it can leave a salt deposit.

SERVPRO also uses solvents to remove non-soluble water residues as a cleaning agent. We use solvents when removing soils with water that may damage these materials. We use a combination of spray-on water solvents and solvents that will not combine with water for cleaning. Our teams have a great deal of experience and always use the correct cleaning agent to clean your contents and structure to protect these items.

Let SERVPRO clean and restore your home after a fire. Our services include:

  • House fire clean up
  • Fire damage restoration
  • Smoke damage restoration and remediation

Call SERVPRO of Reading in Kutztown and nearby areas. We can help 24/7. Call (610) 779-8189.

Professional Residential Fire Damage Cleanup and Restoration for Kutztown Apartment Owners

12/31/2021 (Permalink)

Keep a close eye on your pots while cooking! Should a fire occur, contact SERVPRO right after it is put out. Our technicians are standing by 24/7.

Smoke from a Kitchen Fire Settles on Surfaces Throughout Your Entire Kutztown Apartment

A pot of food cooking on the stove might seem to take forever to boil. Such an extended period can make it seem safe to leave your kitchen for a few minutes to check on laundry in another part of your home. It only takes a few minutes for a small fire to expand into a huge disaster, leaving your kitchen in ruins.

The entirety of your residence in Kutztown experiencing an oily, greasy smoke residue from burned food can create issues ranging from an uncomfortable, dirty environment to unwanted health effects. SERVPRO invests in equipment that uses the latest technological advances to ensure our employees can efficiently mitigate and restore your property.

Our skilled technicians engage in extensive study to earn certification from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC). The Fire and Smoke Restoration (FSRT) certificate and others in specialized areas are crucial to protecting houses and businesses. Our technicians' dedication to our customers continues through training and the conclusion of mitigation and restoration.

Fire Damage Restoration Services

Restoring your residence includes taking care of the floors. Smoke can carry particles from burning items, resulting in specks of melted plastic on tile or linoleum floors. We can remove these and leave the floor in excellent shape. After a fire, carpeting can contain dense soot. Our methods remove this and leave the area smelling fresh again.

Windows often end up with heavy soiling because of the temperature differences inside and outside the house. When your windows and the corners of a room have little space between them, the area can become excessively soiled. We clean the surface and apply primer before repainting. After cleaning, we use special oil polish to replenish wood trim. Glass panes often shatter from the trauma a fire causes, but when panes survive, we clean them to remove soot and other evidence of the fire.

Personal belongings, including those in your kitchen, can suffer severe harm from a fire. Many things might need you to replace them. However, we can clean many items in our ultrasonic water bath equipment. The process works rapidly and removes odors that may have ruined specific items.

SERVPRO of Reading's IICRC-certified specialists provide residents with highly qualified smoke and fire damage restoration services. To ensure your situation receives proper mitigation services, call us at (610) 779-8189. We are here day and night, year-round, to take your call and provide you with the answers you need.

You Need To Contact Our Specialists If Your Reading Home Has Experienced A Fire

10/5/2021 (Permalink)

Stoves and space heaters are infamous for fires in homes. SERVPROs fire damage restoration team will be on-site within 4 hours of the initial call.

What Should I Do About the Soot In My Reading Home?

Fires happen all around us every day. A neighbor who leaves the stove on, a space heater left unattended, or a candle burning too close to a curtain can all cause incredible damage in a short time. When fire damage happens, homeowners take proper steps to call emergency personnel as well as their insurance company. However, we often forget about the damage caused to neighboring homes that also suffer from the smoke, soot, and smell left behind by the fire.

House Fire Clean Up

If your home is filled with the remains of a fire that burnt close to your house, you will do well in reaching out to SERVPRO for professional advice. Regardless of the size of the flames, you may find your furniture and belongings covered with fine dust and emanating a foul smell. Our fire and smoke restoration technicians in Reading train to assess your needs and establish an action plan that diminishes your loss and disruption to your everyday life. 

For our SERVPRO team to succeed, we first identify the source of the fire. If the fire burned hot and quickly, you would find residue in the form of fine powder in your home, which is cleaned relatively easily with wet sponges and dry cloth. If the fire was slower to ignite, it might leave behind a sticky residue which needs to be eliminated with industry-grade solutions and techniques made for the specific purpose of cleaning this type or remnant. In both cases, the smell of fire penetrates not only your clothes and upholstery but the very structure of your home. Regardless of the source of the flames, our SERVPRO team has at its disposal industry-grade solutions to leave your home spotless and smelling fresh even after a fire has burned nearby. 

Professional help is useful even if the fire did not originate in your home. Whenever you need a reputable fire restoration company, SERVPRO of Reading is here to help. Call us at (610) 779-8189 and let us leave it “Like it never even happened.”

Take The Stress Out of Fire Damage Restoration in Kutztown with SERVPRO

7/8/2021 (Permalink)

Removing smoke and soot damage is difficult. SERVPRO has the trained techs and cleaners to effectively restore your home.

Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration and Cleanup

A fire in your Kutztown home can be very stressful. It can also cause subsequent water, smoke, and fire damage, further impacting your damages. Even small fires can create a large amount of smoke, which affects your personal belongings and possibly your health. It would help if you made some critical decisions fast. Waiting too long to get the damages repaired can create more problems and higher restoration bills.

When fire damage in Kutztown has afflicted your home, acting fast is essential to avoid additional damage from settled smoke and water from firefighting efforts. SERVPRO staff is always available with the proper tools and training to assist you. We also understand that fires are unnerving, so we try to take care of all we can so you can concentrate on your family, including speaking to your insurance company for you.

Immediately after the catastrophe, keep a record of anyone you speak with, including representatives from the fire department. If possible, remove any valuables from your home like jewelry and cash, which could be taken quickly after a fire. You also do not want to throw anything away yet that was damaged.

House Fire Clean Up

When cleaning your fire damaged home, SERVPRO technicians prevent materials from being saturated with cleaning products with surface techniques. The spray and wipe process involves lightly spraying or misting the cleaning product onto the surface, then wiping it with a dry cleaning towel. It is used for cleaning furniture and hard surface contents. Foam cleaning is suitable for cleaning materials that can be damaged by excessive moisture from the cleaning products. By using foam, we use less moisture on the surface than when using a liquid cleaning product.

Please do your best to document all of your items by taking pictures of them. When your insurance claim is made, the damage is looked at, but it must be documented for you to be reimbursed. You should also document any expenses you incur while you are out of your home during restoration, such as living expenses and food.

SERVPRO of Reading can assist you in restoring your home in Kutztown after fire damage. You can expect us to handle you and your family with care when you give us a call at (610) 779-8189.

Call Our Team When Your Home in Kutztown Experiences Fire Damage

6/3/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke and Odor problems in your Kutztown home? No worries, call SERVPRO for full house fire cleanup and great indoor air quality

Smoke Odor and Residue Removal in Fire Damaged Kutztown Home

Disasters that affect your Kutztown home leave considerable damages for a homeowner to face. Situations like a fire can spread quickly throughout the property and affect many areas and materials simultaneously. While structural concerns are a priority once our technicians get called out to the scene of a recently extinguished fire, other health hazards and focal points must also get addressed, like the effects from the smoke.

When fire and smoke damage your Kutztown home, many homeowners tend to picture the billowy cloud that can leave a distinguishable odor behind throughout their property. In truth, smoke damages can do much more than leaving a harsh smell throughout your home, and knowing how to address all of the effects from the presence of smoke is one of the training elements to our SERVPRO restoration certifications from the IICRC. We can even explain the effects from phantosmia.

Even if your home was never on fire, a neighboring property could force your home to get overrun with the effects from the smoke as the structure fire rages next door. Depending on the heat from that fire and the materials burning, smoke damage can occur in different ways. Dry smoke occurs in oxygen-rich environments, leaving dusting and light sediment on surfaces that often leads to easier cleaning for our professionals on-site.

On the other hand, Wet smoke is the opposite and can leave a thick residue on surfaces, which is a challenge for our SERVPRO team to overcome. Since this smoke is thicker, the smell can become more substantial, and it has more of an opportunity to exploit cracks and seep into materials. The technicians contending with this variety of smoke damage often determine that removing the material entirely and reinstalling new components is more cost-effective and faster for the customer than salvaging the damaged area.

Smoke removal for your home often extends far beyond contending with the odor this effect can leave behind. Give our SERVPRO of Reading fire damage restoration team a call whenever disaster strikes at (610) 779-8189.

Is Wall Damage Repairable after Fire in Reading?

4/1/2021 (Permalink)

Is it the fire or the smoke that damaged more in your home? Team SERVPRO can help with any fire damage issues.

SERVPRO of Reading Has Local Fire Damage Restoration Professionals for your Home

Hot air rises. In a property fire, hot smoke can travel rapidly through the home, leaving behind smoke residues on upper walls and ceilings. The surfaces may show signs of blackening or emanate unpleasant burning odors after a fire. It is prudent to enlist an experienced restoration technician to clean or restore your home after a house fire. 

Pre-testing is a vital work process to carry out during fire damage restoration in your Reading home. Walls and ceilings can present a variety of surfaces that may respond differently to cleaning procedures. These surfaces could be painted, paneled, tiled, or textured. Each surface has its properties that must be tested before introducing cleaning products.

  • A dry cleaning sponge is an effective tool for removing dry soots with minimal risk of causing damage to the surface.
  • Wet cleaning with detergents is recommended for some paintworks as well as metal and wood surfaces.
  • Peroxide active cleaning is primarily reserved for synthetic materials like acoustical tiles, which may break apart or absorb wet cleaning products.

Qualified technicians are available to assist with restoration. Contact SERVPRO of Reading for fire damage restoration at (610) 779-8189 now.

Has Fire Damage Affected Your Home?

3/1/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technicians are IICRC certified and have all the necessary equipment to have your home back to preloss condition from any fire damage.

Even Limited Fires in Reading Can Have Long-Lasting Effects 

The heat and flames of residential fires often stay limited to the room where they started. It is the smoke and odor residues that can spread throughout the home. 

When fire damage happens in Reading, SERVPRO response teams begin work immediately. After a quick inspection, they determine what items can be cleaned and restored or have to be removed for disposal. Completing these tasks requires the following actions:

  • Carefully remove burned items to eliminate sources of odors and prevent spreading residues to uncontaminated parts of the home
  • Wiping down surfaces with sponges or cloths to remove dry layers of smoke and odor residue particles
  • Spraying affected surfaces with a cleaning agent that breaks down thick smoke and odor residues for easier removal

In addition to these first actions, team members also set up axial fans at entry and exit points to push odors and other residue particles out of the home, weather permitting. We also set up air scrubbers and hydroxyl generators to neutralize malodors.

To quickly repair or remove fire damage from your home, call SERVPRO of Reading at (610) 779-8189. 

Exeter Train Enthusiasts Unite for a Special Event

12/2/2020 (Permalink)

See the puffing trains, and SERVPRO can help remove puff back damage from your home.

Share your love of trains with many hobbyists from Exeter to Reading.

Hobbyists and craftspeople have known about Renninger’s Kutztown Antiques for decades. At several points throughout the year, the proprietor seeks to get like-minded enthusiasts together to share their passions, creations, and interface with one another. Such an event is scheduled to take place at Renninger’s on December 5th, 2020, from 8 AM – 2 PM.

This model train meet is being held in a large, open-air building on the property and will showcase countless engines, trains, tracks, parts, and scenery pieces on display and for sale. The event is taking place rain or shine and lets fans of model trains get together to share their creations, their passion, and see what is new on the market for this specific hobby niche.

You don’t need a smokestack to have furnace puff back damage in your house. Our SERVPRO of Reading team can help with fire damage cleanup in Exeter homes with industry-leading equipment and products. Give us a call at (610) 779-8189 to make it “Like it never even happened.”

What Happens After a Fire in a Hotel in Reading?

8/28/2020 (Permalink)

Day or Night, SERVPRO Can Arrive for Fire Damage Emergencies in the Reading Area. Give us a call at (610) 779-8189, We are always available.

SERVPRO Arrives Right After the Fire Trucks Leave to Start Assessing Damages.

When Can Guests Retrieve Their Belongings?

A fire in a single hotel room can cause a great deal of damage to the room and perhaps adjacent rooms in a Reading motel. There is the odor of smoke that seems to permeate everything nearby. Guests responding to emergency evacuation alarms leave their rooms without their belongings while the fire department deals with the fire. Many need access to their items as soon as it is safe to re-enter the building.

After the fire department has departed and the building is declared safe to re-enter, SERVPRO can assess the fire damage. They can work with your Reading management team to establish a plan for guests to retrieve their belongings while staying safe and clear of any fire damaged areas. Much of the hotel and guest contents in damaged rooms may also be destroyed by the fire, smoke odors, or materials used to quell the fire. Our team can work closely with guests and management to catalog everything and determine what needs to be cleaned or replaced.

Can Smoke Odors Be Removed in Undamaged Rooms?

We train our Reading SERVPRO smoke restoration technicians to recognize the various types of smoke particles caused by different types of fires. The amount of exposure time, the temperature of the fire, the material that burned, the humidity, and the porosity of the materials absorbing smoke residue all play a factor. Once our people have assessed the situation, a plan is prepared to deal with each fire and the items exposed to the fire.

All materials that have been burned or charred, and debris from the fire are odor sources. These items, including structural components, must be cleaned or removed from the building. Once these odor sources are extracted, SERVPRO can focus on deodorizing adjacent rooms.

We clean all hard surface items, removing all odors. Walls, ceilings, and flooring materials are also cleaned. Various fabrics, such as towels, bedding, and mattresses, can often be cleaned. However, there is a trade-off in terms of cleaning costs vs. replacement.

Call SERVPRO of Reading at (610) 779-8189 to assist with your emergency fire damage, recovery, and restoration needs.

Find out more about Reading.

What is the Purpose of Pre-Job Scoping After a Fire?

7/30/2020 (Permalink)

We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

Structure fires in Reading can be destructive, but with a better understanding of the damage and spread, we can arrive with the right tools and technologies to help. 

The first impression that we could provide Reading homeowners after a fire loss incident is critical. Thus, our project manager responds immediately to emergencies as they happen to ensure that we are there when you need us, even if you have not been cleared to re-enter the property. Job scoping is a method our SERVPRO team utilizes to understand better the damage in your home and what processes are required to return the structure to the preloss condition as quickly as possible.

What Happens During the Walkthrough? 

While fire damage in Reading homes might feel overwhelming, we can take these opportunities to work with our customers to identify both the source of the fire and any pre-existing conditions. Listening to our customers' concerns helps them through the expected anxieties and stresses of fire loss incidents while still allowing our professionals to document impacted areas. This data gets entered in our Xactimate and DryBook software for the consideration of responding technicians and insurance adjusters.

What Does an Inspection Seek to Provide? 

One of the reasons that job scoping and structure evaluation is critical in the earliest stages of recovery is how much safer it can make the recovery process. During our inspection of the grounds, we can identify not only the affected areas and service needs but also potential safety hazards and compromising environmental conditions that could impact the responding technicians. Also, scoping seeks to provide:

  • Addressing Customer Concerns
  • Documenting Damage
  • Cataloging Loss
  • Photographic Evidence of the Scene

Careful consideration in structural and content damage after a fire loss can prepare our restoration technicians for what to expect when they reach your damaged address. Our SERVPRO of Reading team is available 24/7 at (610) 779-8189.

See more about Reading.

Should I Really Be Concerned with Removing Dryer Lint?

5/15/2020 (Permalink)

Don't forget to remove lint in your dryer!

SERVPRO Says Absolutely!

An estimated 2,900 residential fires per year identify a dryer issue like lint or electrical malfunction as their cause. According to FEMA, 34% of fires are caused by failure to clean and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries and $35 million in property loss. Who knew that cleaning the lint from your dryer could save lives, create a safer home environment and prevent stressful and costly  fire damage.

Here’s How Dryers Work

A clothes dryer works by forcing hot air through a turning drum. The wet clothes then pass through the drum to be dried by the hot air. Most wet clothes contain one and half gallons of water. While most of the lint goes into the lint filter some of lint is carried through the vent system along with moist air.  Lint is a very combustible material that can accumulate both in the dryer and in the dryer vent. Accumulated lint leads to reduced airflow and can be a potential fire hazard.

Here are some tips to keep your dryer clean:

  • Have your dryer cleaned and installed by a professional. 
  • Do not use your dryer with a lint filter. 
  • Make sure you clean the lint filter before and after every load of wash.
  • Make sure the air exhaust vent pipe is not restricted and the outdoor vent flap will open when the dryer is operating.
  • Make sure the right plug and outlet are used and that the machine is connected properly.  
  • Don't leave the house when the dryer is on. 
  • If your clothes are not drying then call a professional to come look at your dryer. 

Call SERVPRO of Reading at (610) 779-8189 for 24/7 service. We proudly serve Boyertown, Exeter, and surrounding areas. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Learn more about Reading.

How Should I Clean and Deodorize After a Fire?

5/1/2020 (Permalink)

Fire extinguisher residue requires specific cleaning methods.

SERVPRO Can Help with Fire Damage Cleanup; Everything From Fire Extinquisher Residue to Deodorization of Your Kutztown Home

As you’re going through the stress of you, your family and home experiencing a fire, the last thing you’re thinking about is the cleaning that will need to be done. A fire is a disaster to clean, if your home is salvageable. Once the fire has been put out and fire department leaves the scene, you’ll be left with a stinky mess.

Fire Extinguishers

As handy as fire extinguisher canisters can be in your Kutztown home for small flare-ups, this suppression system gets designed to put out flames quickly and not to limit the mess that it can make. Often homeowners find that putting out a small fire causes more damage and need for cleanup than the fire itself did. Our professionals can help with all stages of fire recovery from debris removal to cleaning up the residue that extinguishing foam can leave on structural elements and contents of your property.

Fire damage in Kutztown can stay contained to a small area when you utilize fire extinguishers quickly in your home. The suppression chemicals inside these canisters get designed to smother the fire before it can get out of control, but this protection does not come without a need for extensive cleanup and evaluation of structural integrity. Our SERVPRO Franchise professionals respond to your fire emergency can assess the full scope of the damage and determine the restorative actions that your property requires to return to pre-fire condition.

Cleanup of residue from the extinguisher happens both through conventional cleaning approaches with wet and dry sponges on accessible surfaces, but also requires specialized equipment designed to reach inaccessible areas more easily. It is our focus to provide efficient and effective fire damage cleanup so that you can return to normal life seamlessly.

Carpeted areas often require focused attention as well when cleaning up extinguisher residue. If the carpet has managed to come through the fire unscathed, it still requires our premier cleaning services including steam vacuuming and dry cleaning to pull the chemical residue and any soot or smoke particulates from the fibers of the flooring.

Fire Odor Removal

After a fire cleanup, home deodorization can be an important next step to making the area livable again. When setting up the cleanup process SERVPRO professionals recommend these three steps for successful odor removal.

  1. Identify the Source

Knowing the source of the smoke odor can help determine the best cleanup plan. Odor can come from cigarette smoke, a house fire, or even extended use of a fireplace. In the event of a house fire it may be important to know what type of materials were burned, how long the fire lasted, and how long it’s been since the fire occurred. Smoke odor from cigarettes may also be stronger the longer it has been allowed to settle.

  1. Use the Right Tools

When it comes to home deodorization, masking the smoke odor is only a temporary fix. Things may seem fresh for a while but over time the odor will reemerge. This is why it’s important to use the correct tools and cleansers from the start. The method used may depend on the severity of the smoke damage, but in most cases a ozone machine or thermal fogger may be the best tool for the job.

  1. When in Doubt Call a Professional

Whether you’re dealing with cigarette smoke or fire cleanup, you may want to consider contacting a professional for your smoke removal needs. Many professional teams already have the tools needed to successfully remove the smoke odor from your home. They also have the knowledge they need to access the odor’s source and determine the best cleaning plan.

The process for home deodorization requires knowing the source of the odor, and which tools are best for the problem. Knowing these thing can help you formulate a plan for smoke odor removal. In many cases it may be best to contact a professional as they already have the tools and cleaning solutions needed for the job. 

Many factors determine the needs of your home following a small fire. Our SERVPRO of Reading rapid response team has the experienced personnel and industry-leading equipment designed to make restoration as efficient as possible in a traumatic time like this. You can reach our trained professionals 24/7 by calling (610) 779-8189.

Learn more about Kutztown.

Some Ways to Avoid Issues After Fire Damage in Reading

4/5/2020 (Permalink)

Fire damage can quickly spread, making a bad situation even worse. Contact Team SERVPRO for effective fire damage remediation services.

Stages of Content Recovery After a Reading Housefire

The walls of your Reading house are not what makes it your home. Construction materials can always get replaced and repaired, ultimately returning a property to its preloss condition. Your possessions and belongings, however, are not always fortunate enough to have this complete recovery. After a fire loss incident in your house, the damage to irreplaceable personal belongings can be devastating without the immediate intervention of qualified restorers.

Because of how quickly fire damage in Reading homes can spread, it is vital to call upon competent restoration professionals to help. Our SERVPRO team of professionals offers an array of emergency services that can precede the finalization of approvals by your insurance. We understand the need for controlled demolition, debris removal, and early water damage management to help reduce the total property loss.

Content management can also play a part in both the early stages of recovery and mitigation services to follow. The professionals of our team can choose among various strategies to help restore these belongings both on-site and at our nearby SERVPRO facility when necessary. Depending on the severity of the damage to the items, we can choose among several strategies, including:

  • Relocation on-site to a safe position
  • Cleaning with premier chemical agents and potent cleansers
  • Soda blasting and abrasive cleaning techniques
  • Pack-out / Off-site cleaning and recovery

It is almost always more cost-effective for our professionals to work to restore and clean items on-site rather than shipping them off in containers to our warehouse. When on-site cleaning with potent agents is ineffective, our technicians can carefully move the possessions to our facility. We have immersion tanks for soot cleaning, ozone chambers for deodorization, and numerous other intricate cleaning strategies to make fire losses “Like it never even happened.”

After a fire, there are multiple levels of damaging effects that our SERVPRO of Reading team must address to return your home to preloss condition. When contents are also a concern, you can trust our trained professionals to protect these items as much as possible as well. Give us a call at (610) 779-8189.

Click here for more information about Reading.

Fire Cleanup in Reading

12/19/2019 (Permalink)

We're available 24/7 to assist you with cleaning up after a fire.

Fire Cleanup in Your Reading Home

Smoke and soot residue from a fire, no matter how small, have a way of getting into even the smallest crevasses within your home. Even after a kitchen fire, odors can permeate throughout the structure, impacting your entire home. The cleaning process for fires can be a complicated endeavor unless you have professional assistance.

If you need fire cleanup for your Reading home, the certified professionals at SERVPRO are ready to assist you at any time. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster. Each fire and each cleanup is different, requiring the restorers to formulate a plan for your specific situation. Technicians locate, identify, capture, and remove residues from within your home.

There are four elements in effectively cleaning up residues following a fire. All four elements work together to attack smoke residues within the structure.

Temperature: Heating the cleaning solution increases the speed of chemical reactions allowing for faster cleanup.

Agitation: Using brushes, towels, air, vibrations, and even water to dislodge the lingering residues to distribute cleaning products evenly.

Chemical action: Using the correct cleaning products for the desired cleaning goal ensures the most effective residue removal. In some cases, restorers wish to emulsify, dissolve, or bleach the surfaces within the home and require different chemicals depending on the unique situation. This also includes fogging the home with a smoke-like chemical substance to attack the smoke residue at the micron level.

Time: Allowing for the correct amount of time for cleaning and deodorization is a crucial component. The time needed can vary significantly depending on the chemicals used and the type of residue. Too much time fogging, for example, can be detrimental to the restoration efforts. Too little time can leave lingering residue and odors.

SERVPRO technicians combine these elements to customize cleanup from your fire. Sometimes residues and odors can be challenging to remove, but restorers use the elements above to apply to each unique situation, ensuring the thorough removal of odors and residues.

Contact SERVPRO of Reading at (610) 779-8189. We're available  24/7 to assist you with cleaning up after a fire.

For more about Reading click here.

What You Can Do About Fire Damage In Kutztown Right Now

9/22/2019 (Permalink)

Setting off fireworks near your home is fun but you need to be careful of starting an unintentional fire. Contact SERVPRO should that occur.

Leftover Fireworks can Lead to Fire Damage in Garages, Sheds, and Other Outbuildings on Your Kutztown Property

Setting off forgotten fireworks after finding them in the shed or garage sounds like a fun activity to many children and teens. Lighting them where nobody can see might lead to problems with your outbuildings on your Kutztown property. Your garage or shed can end up with marks or burned areas. This can affect the ceiling of patios and other outside areas, too. 

Once a residential property in Kutztown sustains fire damage, especially in the winter, restoring things back to normal becomes crucial. Otherwise, damaged areas keep worsening, causing additional expense. SERVPRO's specialists arrive ready to work and start minimizing the damage. Fireworks might not last long, but their show of colorful sparks can ignite many things in the vicinity. 

More intense than the sparks are the flames that often linger afterward. This small fire can grow in size and spread fairly quickly. Sheds and garages made of wood can burn rapidly. Patios and other structures receiving more use or located closer to the house might attract attention before getting to this stage. 

SERVPRO technicians use an assortment of methods to restore your property. This includes personal belongings, furniture, minor equipment and tools, and structures. Fire in these locations often causes the destruction of stored items. When we encounter boxes in storage, we pull these out so you can examine their contents and decide on how you want us to proceed.

We can then clean those items at risk of smoke damage and return them to you. We list ruined things that do not seem likely candidates for restoration on inventory sheets. You can use these to help you replace such things and also for insurance claims paperwork.

Another problem with fire damage is that it often destroys the electrical wiring. Either by the heat of the flames or because of the water when putting those flames out, electrical systems often get destroyed during a fire. We work with certified electricians who can examine, test, and repair your wiring while we continue to work on the restoration.

SERVPRO of Reading understands that fire damage can start in many ways and in any location in your Exeter or Birdsboro home. Our skilled teams know that the earlier mitigation begins, the less overall damage your property experiences. Call us at (610) 779-8189, our 24-hour services line, year-round, so we can start the work your property needs.

Click here to learn more about Kutztown.

Berks County Smoke and Soot Cleanup

9/28/2018 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot damage can cause a pervasive odor in you home.

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

Smoke and soot facts:

  • 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 greatly 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 Reading 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 a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today – (610)779-8189

House Fire Cleanup

7/17/2018 (Permalink)

A house fire in Reading, PA, or any other small town, big city or sprawling suburb, could range from a nuisance to a nightmare, depending on the severity of the blaze. A fire of any size is likely to cause smoke damage, but it is reassuring to know that professionals can work quickly to get you back to your comfortable routines more quickly than you might expect.


Remediating Smoke and Soot. 


Fires can cause many kinds of damage to a house. After seeing to everyone’s safety, the next priority is to assess the type and extent of the damage and to secure the structure, all of which can be handled at any time of day or night by professionals.

• Repairing structural damage to the house may require partial demolition.
• Water removal will usually begin quickly and progress to the use of air movers and dehumidifiers to completely dry the environment.
• Smoke damage and soot damage require the specialized equipment and techniques that professionals use to treat walls, ceilings and any other surfaces that have been compromised.
• Structures and items that are restorable will usually receive special cleaning, such as steam cleaning of carpets and upholstery and dry cleaning of other fabrics such as window treatments. Fogging equipment is highly effective in smoke cleaning and can be part of the remediation process.
• Restoration work may entail replacement of drywall and carpets or other types of flooring, depending on the extent and type of damage.
• Painting walls and ceilings can restore the beauty of your home and prepare for the return of your furnishings and treasured belongings.

A home is a sanctuary for you and your loved ones, and the thought of being displaced by fire can certainly be nerve-wracking. But with today’s technological expertise, reclaiming your home from smoke damage and soot is more easily achievable than it has ever been.

For more information, please visit us at http://www.SERVPROreading.com.

Choosing the Right Smoke Detector for Your Home

5/8/2018 (Permalink)

Did you know that your family may only have a couple of minutes to escape your home in a fire? A good smoke alarm for your home in Reading, P, could give you ample warning. But, how do you know which smoke detector will be right for you?


Understand the Different Types of Smoke Detectors


Before you can figure out the options for your home, it is important to understand the different types of alarms and their uses. You may even consider using different kinds throughout the home:

• Photoelectric alarms use a short pulse of light to detect the smoke. Smoke causes the light to break apart, setting off the alarm. These are best for kitchens.
• Ionization smoke detectors work by using an electric current instead of a light. Smoke breaks the current apart, causing the alarm. These alarms are more sensitive than photoelectric and good for bedrooms and hallways.
• Some alarms on the market use a combination of both detection methods to create better protection.


Other Considerations for Your Alarm


You may think that all alarms are made the same, but they are not. You want a smoke alarm that has been tested and certified. These units have a “UL” label on them. Another factor to consider is how easy the alarms can be turned off when tested or if there is a false alarm from burning toast or other food. Finally, some alarms have visual features for the hearing impaired. If you need this feature, be sure to find an alarm with it.


Fire Safety Considerations


Ideally, you want a smoke detector in each room and hallway of your home, and you should test each one monthly. Vacuuming it monthly will also help keep dust out and keep it working properly.

If you do have a fire in your Reading, PA, home, a smoke alarm will help you save your house and family. Then, call a professional restoration company that will help you to get your home back to normal.

For more information, please visit us at http://www.SERVPROreading.com.

Handling a Fire Loss in Reading, Pennsylvania

3/30/2018 (Permalink)

Fire damage can be devastating for any business, residential, or commercial property.

On top of the fire and smoke damage, some people may experience significant water damage from fire. Every minute you spend looking at your property before the fire is time and revenue wasted. Hence, if you experience such losses, you should call Reading, PA fire experts immediately.

Preventing a fire and having a safe escape plan in case of a fire is crucial to you and your family. However, sometimes when it strikes, having an idea of what to do in the aftermath can make the process and recovery more bearable. Many people go into shock and are unprepared to recover from the loss. The right fire handlers in Reading should offer help and brief you on the issues you'll face after a fire. They can also advise regarding insurance claims and any other measure that can speed up the recovery process.

For more information about fire visit SERVPRO of Reading

Avoiding Chimney Fires

2/9/2018 (Permalink)

House fires can be devastating. Not only do you have to deal with the fire damage, but many possessions and furniture can be ruined by soot and smoke. Luckily, dry-cleaning, as well as other types of cleaning methods, can restore many of your belongings. Here are a few things to know about the content cleaning process.


Damaged Content Must Be Thoroughly Cleaned
Soot can be toxic and harm your respiratory system, if inhaled. Other materials that are exposed to flames can release harmful chemicals into the air that can be detrimental to your health. So, don’t just throw soot-covered clothing into the washing machine. Clothing and other possessions must be treated properly to eliminate all soot and smoke. It’s best to go to professionals who can help you by dry-cleaning or properly washing your valuables.

Act Quickly


Smoke can cause permanent damage to valuables in as soon as 24 hours. If you have items of sentimental value, you should get those cleaned and restored as soon as possible to reduce the amount of damage. Documenting and cataloging everything that was damaged can help you prioritize valuables and get them cleaned quickly. Then, you can take care of content storage at the same time.


Proceed Wisely


After such a disaster has occurred, you might feel the need to help professionals in Reading, PA, in any way possible. Some steps you can take might include:
* Giving the experts any information that they might need
* Ventilating your home
* Covering soot-free carpets or furniture with plastic to prevent damage during the restoration process


House fires are scary, but the fire damage and content cleaning can be taken care of when you have the right information and expert help available. Valuables and belongings can be repaired through dry-cleaning, vacuuming, and professional restoration. By being aware of what needs to be done, you can salvage many of your possessions.

For more information, visit http://www.SERVPROreading.com.

Preparing Your Fire Escape Plan

11/28/2017 (Permalink)

Preparing Your Fire Escape Plan

A fire escape plan can be the difference between calm and catastrophe during a crisis. Fortunately, although every home in Reading, PA will have different needs, there are a few universal steps for creating an effective emergency escape plan.

1. Involve Whole Family

Your plan will impact everyone, so it’s important to include your family during all planning stages. Walk your household members through each room and strategize escape routes as a team.

2. Identify Potential Barriers

A blocked exit is an inconvenience in day-to-day life, but it can be deadly during a crisis. Identify potential barriers with your family, taking care to ensure each member can identify and address problem areas so they’re better prepared to select the best route during disaster.

3. Schedule Maintenance Checks

Regularly monitor the state of your fire safety equipment. Sprinklers and alarm systems should be tested at least once a year, but it’s always better to over prepare when possible. Consider turning your maintenance checks into opportunities to review your fire escape plan with the household.

4. Formalize Your Plan

Display a copy of your emergency escape plan somewhere safe and highly visible. The kitchen may be an ideal location for posting a laminated version it, providing both prominent and easy access to the information.

Additional information should include emergency contacts and the Pennsylvania fire department’s emergency number, although the National Fire Protection Association recommends having each family member memorize this number, as well.

5. Develop Post-Fire Plans

Finally, after laying the ground work for your escape, consider adding post-disaster action steps as the finishing touch. This addendum should include friends and family you might board with, insurance information for filing claims and contact numbers for restoration specialists.

More Than Physical

While developing an emergency escape plan alone cannot avert disaster, readying your response strategy can help you manage stress before, during and following a fire. Your fire escape plan isn’t just to protect your physical health – it’s also an important safeguard for your family’s peace of mind when disaster strikes.
Visit http://www.SERVPROreading.com for more information on fire damage.

Help Prevent Outdoor Cooking Fires

8/14/2017 (Permalink)

Did you know?

Grill fires cause an estimated $37 million in property damage each year.

  • Almost half of all home grill fires happen between 5-8pm.
  • 57% of home grill fires occur during months of May, June, July, and August.
  • Patios, terraces, screened-in porches and courtyards are leading home locations for grill fires.
  • 79% of all home grill fires involve gas grills.
  • "Mechanical failure, malfunction" is the leading factor in the start of grill fires.  Leaks and breaks of containers or pipes are often to blame.

Grilling fire safety tips:

  • Only use grills outdoors, away from siding and deck railings.
  • Clean grills often and remove grease or fat build-up.
  • Make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting.
  • Have a 3 foot safe-zone around grills and campfires.  Keep kids and pets clear of the area.
  • Dispose of coals after they have cooled in a metal can.
  • Never leave grills, fire pits and patio torches unattended.

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