How To Handle a House Fire

8/23/2023 (Permalink)

House fire damage in Round Rock, TX

How To Handle a House Fire

House fires are common occurrences that affect and devastate many families every year. Residential blazes are scary, unpredictable, and alarming, so ensuring you and your family have a specific fire escape plan in place is crucial to your safety. Follow these simple steps, and be prepared during and after a potential emergency.

1. Be Alert and Take Action
If you experience a house fire in Round Rock, TX, promptly perform the following measures:

• Enact your emergency escape plan
• Dial 911 and alert emergency personnel to your situation
• Secure medical care for any people or pets with severe burns or injuries
• Call worried family and friends to let them know you are safe
• Do not reenter your home until a proper fire damage assessment is complete
  
  

2. Put Safety First
Following a fire, confirm with firefighters that it is safe to reenter your home. Dress in boots, long pants, sleeves, helmets, protective eyewear, and masks as you inspect your damaged residence. Consider consulting a professional smoke and soot removal team to clean your house and restore it to a safe and livable status.

3. Check-In
It is crucial to remove any smoke-damaged paraphernalia from your home. Specifically, dispose of any food that might have soiled due to heat or smoke. Physical damage is only a portion of the devastation fires create. Despite devising even the most detailed fire escape plan, many survivors experience feelings of guilt and angst in the months following the disaster. Make it a point to check in with your family members regularly. Ensure they appropriately deal with their stress and get professional help for anyone struggling mentally or financially. Further, watch your household pets, making sure they don't exhibit any long-term symptoms from the fire or smoke.
As ravaging as fires can be, remind yourself that your successful fire escape plan saved your family's lives. Remember that everything else is replaceable, and all that matters is the safety of your loved ones.

How to Clean Your Electronics After a Fire

6/23/2023 (Permalink)

It is deeply frustrating when possessions get destroyed, but computerized equipment can sometimes be saved.

Between tossing everything that has become damaged and hiring a fire restoration service to handle the most difficult aspects of the task, any fire cleanup job is deeply stressful. Often getting lost during the process is the recovery of precious electronics. Never trash them until you have confirmed they are impossible to repair.

Smoke Damage and Electronics
When smoke infects our digital gadgets, it impacts them in three ways:
1. Magnetization, leading to short-circuiting.
2. Corrosion, dramatically shortening their lifespans.
3. Overheating, caused by a thick layer of soot.
Any items displaying evidence of the above conditions should be disposed of, but those that do not may be rehabilitated. Should a fire strike your home in Round Rock, TX, remember that inspecting your beloved digital toys should automatically be included as part of the fire cleanup.

Cleansing Electronics of Smoke Damage
First, disconnect the device you wish to salvage and remove the batteries or any other existing power source. With a soft, dry towel, wipe your gizmo’s exterior of any residue, then use an air compressor or blow dryer to clear out any outlets or vents. Once this has been done, you can test your device by switching it on. Never do this, however, until the cleaning stage has been completed.

Sadly, your beloved item will likely never operate the way it once did, as ash is virtually guaranteed to compromise proper functioning. Should you detect unusual behavior from your device, have it inspected by a product specialist. You may have taken out warranties on your most prized pieces, but also note that many home insurance policies cover electronics-related losses, so check your provisions.

It is deeply frustrating when possessions get destroyed, but computerized equipment can sometimes be saved. Never let the hectic nature of a fire cleanup undertaking prevent you from granting your favorite gadgets one last shot at life.

What are Soot Tags?

1/27/2023 (Permalink)

Fire damaged content, give SERVPRO of East Round Rock a call!

When a home is damaged by fire or smoke, the resulting damage can be extensive. Soot tags are one type of residual damage that can occur after a fire or smoke event. A soot tag is a visible line of soot that is deposited on surfaces within the structure during the course of these events. The pattern created by these deposits resembles spider webs or cobwebs in many cases, hence their nickname "soot webs."

The appearance of soot tags does not necessarily mean there was inadequate ventilation during an event, it simply means that certain conditions were present at some point after the initial fire happened.

Smoke is attracted to and will stick to cold surfaces.

So, what are soot tags? Soot is a by-product of the smoke sticking to cold surfaces. Smoke particles are attracted to and will stick to cold surfaces, which causes soot deposits on those surfaces. These soot deposits can be seen in the form of black spots or streaks on ceilings and walls after a fire has been put out in your home or office building.

Soot tags may look like ash but they're not quite as fine-grained as ash. It's more like carbon dust left behind by burning wood or coal (or even candles).

“cast off” tiny particles

Soot is a by-product of combustion, which occurs when material is burned. Soot is composed of carbon particles that are black or gray in color and often resemble dust or ash. It can be found on the walls, ceiling, and other surfaces of your home if you've had exposure to smoke from fires or candles.

web-like pattern of soot on the surface.

Soot tags are a specific pattern of soot that is created by smoke and not by fire. They can be found on the surfaces of buildings, but they are not the same as soot stains.

Soot tags are typically circular or rectangular in shape, with a web-like appearance similar to cobwebs. They're caused by heat and moisture coming into contact with flammable material (such as paint), which causes the material to burn off in a controlled way rather than burn completely up into ash. Because this happens on the surface of walls or ceilings, it leaves behind its own unique mark on your home's interior decorating scheme!

Ceiling Tiles or Wall Cavities

So, what exactly is a soot tag? Soot tags are confined to areas above ceiling tiles or within wall cavities that have not been compromised by other means, such as water damage.

Soot tags can also appear on exterior surfaces of buildings as well as inside living spaces where there has been fire damage or improper ventilation during construction activities involving materials like drywall and insulation boards.

Soot tags are more likely to occur in rooms that are more closed off from outside air, which allows smoke to linger longer. Soot tags are not a sign of fire damage or water damage. They are also not a sign of mold damage.

Soot tags are a type of smoke damage that can occur in homes, but they are relatively rare. If you have any concerns about the condition of your home after a fire, contact an expert for help. Give SERVPRO of East Round Rock a call if your property suffers from a fire damage.

Learn How Puff Back Fires Originate And Tips For Reducing Your Potential Risk

12/7/2022 (Permalink)

A puff back can leave your home filled with soot.

How Puff Back Fires Start And To Lower Your Risk ‌

When you have a fire in your Round Rock, TX home it's scary. It's even scarier if the fire starts in your furnace. A furnace puff back is when an electrical fire happens inside the ductwork of your furnace and spreads to other parts of the house. Puff backs are more likely to occur during fall and winter months due to the increased use of furnaces during this time period. This can lead to serious damage, which is why it's important to know how puff backs happen and how to prevent them from happening in the first place.

What‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌Puff‌ ‌Back‌

A puff back is a fire that starts in your furnace system. It can be caused by a couple of different things:

• a malfunctioning heating system.
• a clogged or broken filter, which prevents oxygen from reaching the pilot light and causes carbon monoxide to build up inside of the furnace.
• a clogged or broken vent, which means that the gases have no way to get out of your home (instead they build up inside of it).

While it may be easy to assume that they're caused by a lack of maintenance on behalf of your HVAC technician, they can also happen at any point in time if there's an issue with one or both of these components:

• The blower motor
• The heat exchanger (also known as a heat exchanger coil)

Get‌ ‌Regular‌ ‌Furnace‌ ‌Maintenance

Getting your furnace inspected annually is an important step in reducing your risk of a puff back fire. A technician will check for carbon monoxide leaks, soot buildup, cracks or damage to the furnace and proper venting to ensure that it’s working properly.

Vacuum Furnace Components Often

One of the most common causes for a smoke chamber to develop is the buildup of dust, dirt, and other debris on the surface of the components. To reduce your risk of developing a puff back, vacuum furnace components regularly with a crevice tool (or attachment) that can get into all the small spaces. This will keep it clean and prevent any buildups from happening. Make sure your vacuum has a HEPA filter as well! If you are using an upright vac then make sure not to use any brush attachments because they may damage some surfaces in there such as platens or burners..

Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector

You can reduce your risk of a Puff Back Fire by installing a carbon monoxide detector in your home. Carbon monoxide detectors are inexpensive, easy-to-install devices that give you early warning that there is potentially dangerous gas in your home. The ideal place for a carbon monoxide detector is near bedrooms or other areas where people spend time sleeping or resting. When installing your carbon monoxide detector, follow these steps:

• Make sure to use an outlet with good voltage and amperage ratings. Also check the size of the outlet box so that it will fit properly (if necessary, have an electrician enlarge the box).
• Choose an appropriate location for placement of the detector: high on walls (at least six inches off floors), away from HVAC vents or windows/doors which may allow cold air into the room; test regularly as recommended by manufacturer’s instructions; replace batteries at least once per year; replace entire unit every five years if it is not digital (these should be tested every 12 months).

Have Soot Cleaned Immediately After Fire Damage

Soot, which is a byproduct of the combustion of wood and other materials, can be difficult to remove from your home. Soot can also be tough on furniture and other surfaces, so it's important to clean up as soon as possible.

Puff Back Prevention Checklist

This puff back prevention checklist can help you as you prepare and prevent puff back fires: 

• Do a thorough job cleaning the chimney before you start a fire
• Make sure there is adequate air space in the fireplace, so that smoke can rise freely through it
• Be careful not to overload the firebox with too much wood or other fuel sources (remember: too much heat = too much oxygen = no good)
• Block off any flue dampers when lighting fires, to ensure that all smoke is drawn up and out of your home instead of being trapped inside
• Keep matches and lighters outside of reach from children at all times

Call the Professionals

If a Puff Back does occur, call SERVPRO of East Round Rock immediately! SERVPRO is a trusted name in fire restoration and we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are also family-owned and operated, so you know you’re dealing with people who care about their community and understand what you’re going through.

4 Tips for Preparing Pets for a Fire Emergency

8/28/2022 (Permalink)

Pet safety is critical during emergencies.

How To Prepare For A Pet Emergency

You should have a fire emergency plan set up for your family. This plan should contain many components, including pet preparation. Things will get hectic if a fire ever breaks out, and you do not want your furry friend to be left behind. Pet safety is critical during emergencies, and here are some points to keep in mind.

1. Have Pet Supplies in Your Disaster Kit

Your disaster kit should contain supplies to help you and your family while you wait for your house to be habitable once again. It should contain food, medications and water. It also needs to contain supplies for your pet. Have enough pet food to last for five days, medications if your pet is on anything and records of ownership and vaccinations.

2. Get Your Pet Microchipped

During a fire emergency, your pet may panic and flee. This can be extremely disheartening. In addition to dealing with fire remediation, you now have to locate your animal, too. However, if you get your pet microchipped well in advance, then finding it will become much easier.

3. Find Pet-Friendly Accommodations

While your house is being repaired, you may need to stay at a hotel in Round Rock, TX. Look at hotels in your city to see which ones allow pets. It will save you a lot of hassle if the time ever comes. You can also ask friends or neighbors if you can stay with them during this time and if they would be all right with having a dog or cat around for a week.

4. Keep a Pet-Alert Sign in Your Window

You want firefighters to be able to locate your pet in the event of a fire emergency. If you need to evacuate, then you may not be readily accessible to tell the firefighters this information. Keep a sign in your window to inform firefighters there is a pet in this house.

Tips on How To Use a Fire Extinguisher

6/19/2022 (Permalink)

P.A.S.S. is a helpful acronym that stands for "pull, aim, squeeze, sweep.

How To Use a Fire Extinguisher

A fire extinguisher is an indispensable tool for any fire damage containment plan. However, few people have ever had to actually use an extinguisher, and those who have may have only done it once. It is important that everyone in the home reviews the basics of how to operate a fire extinguisher effectively.
Here are some practical tips on how to use an extinguisher.

1. Use the P.A.S.S. Technique
P.A.S.S. is a helpful acronym that stands for "pull, aim, squeeze, sweep." These are the four steps:

1. Pull the pin to break the seal
   
2. Aim low and point the hose at the bottom part of the fire
   
3. Squeeze the handle
   
4. Sweep the base of the fire in side-to-side motions
   
   

After sweeping the base of the fire and putting it out, back away and watch it carefully for a few more moments. The fire may reignite, and if it does, it is a good idea to have the extinguisher ready. 
Following these steps is the most effective way to use an extinguisher. By using the device properly, you can prevent a small kitchen fire from spreading and doing further damage to your home. 

2. Evacuate If You Have Doubts About the Fire Extinguisher
If the extinguisher is not working properly, or if you suspect that it is empty, evacuate immediately and call the fire department. Additionally, if the fire seems to have already spread past its initial stage, an extinguisher may not be enough and you will need to evacuate.
Being able to use an extinguisher effectively is a crucial skill that everyone in the home should learn. In the aftermath of a fire, it is important to handle cleanup and restoration as soon as possible. Contacting a professional fire restoration company in Round Rock, TX, will allow you to get the most out of your cleanup efforts and help you return your home to a safe and comfortable living space.

3 Things to Consider When Estimating Fire Damage

3/25/2022 (Permalink)

Commercial fire damage in Round Rock, TX.

How to Estimate Fire Damage In Your Commercial Building

After a fire causes destruction in your commercial building, it can be overwhelming to keep track of all the costs and repairs that need to be done. However, monitoring the damage caused by the incident can help you feel in control during a stressful situation. If you are concerned about how to estimate the fire damage in your Round Rock, TX, building, the following tips can give you an idea of where to begin.

1. Roof Repair

In the aftermath of a fire, there is usually considerable damage done to the roof. Depending on the severity of your situation, you may have to either repair or replace your roof. In many cases, roofs require emergency tarping in order to recover from the damage and be fully protected from any further harm. Be sure to pay attention to the state of your roof when assessing the damage from your commercial fire.

2. Water Damage

It is likely that flames and smoke aren't the only causes of damage to your commercial building. If firefighters showed up on your property, their efforts to extinguish the fire may have caused excess water to seep into your building. This can lead to water damage costs in addition to the fire damage that you are already dealing with. As you estimate your fire loss, don’t overlook the effects of water damage.

3. Elimination of Debris

If you notice a smoke odor in your building, it is likely caused by the presence of debris. A vital part of the fire restoration process involves removing all traces of debris and eliminating the odor of smoke and fire on your property. When this step is properly taken care of, your commercial building can be one step closer towards a full recovery.
It’s crucial to have your building restored as soon as possible after a fire. Schedule a fire damage assessment immediately to get an estimate of the damage that has targeted your business.

The Importance of Having Your Electronics Cleaned After a Fire

2/21/2022 (Permalink)

Fire damage in a home in Round Rock, TX.

If you’ve recently experienced a fire in your home in Round Rock, TX, you’re likely wondering what can be done to help restore your valuable items that have been damaged by smoke or fire. One type of personal item you will need to handle with extreme care is all electronics. It is best to wait on interacting with your devices until the fire restoration company arrives and evaluates all your belongings during the fire cleanup process. A complete understanding of how smoke affects electronics will help you avoid accidentally destroying your items or hurting yourself.

How Smoke Affects Electronics

Smoke damage is especially harmful to electronics, even if you don’t notice any physical damage. Here’s why:

• Acids contained in smoke residue corrodes metal
  
• Smoke insulates components and causes over-heating
  
• Extremely hot plastic or metal releases toxic fumes
  
• Smoke on circuit boards cause erratic behavior
  
  

How a Fire Cleanup Company Can Help

Fire restoration specialists are aware of how smoke and fire affect your electronics and can help identify which items have been damaged. As long as you don’t turn on your electronics after they’ve been exposed to smoke, there’s a chance the company can get your device working again. Time is of the essence when it comes to restoring smoke-damaged electronics, so make sure you get help as soon as possible. While you might not have the equipment and expertise necessary to restore your device without potentially hurting yourself or destroying your device for good, they will know exactly what steps to take!

Although fire and smoke can have a devastating effect on your electronics, a fire cleanup company can be extremely helpful in preserving items that have been exposed to smoke. It’s important to remember that you might not be able to tell by looking that your electronics have been damaged. Play it safe by keeping your device off and waiting for the cleanup team to inspect it!

3 Steps To Take After a Fire Damages Your Business

12/31/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damaged a business in Round Rock, TX.

What To Do After a Fire Damages Your Business

After your business in Round Rock, TX, has been damaged by fire, you may feel overwhelmed about what to do next. However, you can take several steps to make the fire restoration process easier.

1. Review Your Insurance Policy

Check your insurance policy to get an idea about what costs will be covered by fire insurance. While many insurance policies for businesses include fire damage, some policies offer more coverage than others. Once you are aware of what your insurance will cover, you can have a better idea of what projects to tackle first and how to make appropriate claims.

2. Be Mindful When Cleaning

As you start to clean up your business, it’s helpful to know what you should and should not try to clean. Fire restoration usually involves clearing a building of soot, and touching damaged items could result in deterioration. Additionally, it is generally wise to wear protective clothing to keep yourself safe as you enter your building. If you’re uncertain whether you should remove an item or if you should try to clean it, it’s often best to wait for professional help.

3. Start the Restoration Process Quickly

Although you want to make certain you aren’t putting yourself at risk as you start cleaning, you may not have to put the restoration process on hold. After checking with your insurance agent, you may receive permission to repair some issues before your insurance company sends out an adjuster to document the damage. Save receipts and take photos to provide proof of the costs of restoration to your insurance company.

Once you know the steps to take after your business is affected by a fire, you can start the process of fire restoration. Consider working with fire damage restoration experts who can help with smoke cleaning, sanitization and more.

5 Things You Need To Do To Remove Cigarette Smoke From Your Home

11/28/2021 (Permalink)

An ozone machine can remove smoke odor from your home.

Removing Smoke Cigarette From Your Home

Cigarette smoke can leave your Round Rock, TX, home with a rather unpleasant aroma. No matter how the smoke made its way into your house, you have to go through a major home deodorization to completely remove the smell.

1. Call in a professional. Your first step should be to call in a home smoke and odor removal team. These professionals can help you clean and deodorize your entire space.

2. Wash everything. If you truly want to say goodbye to the smell of cigarettes, you need to wash almost every surface in your house. Clothing, curtains, rugs, carpets, walls, furniture and ceilings all have to be cleaned. The washing process will vary greatly. Some items can be thrown in your washing machine while others have to be wiped down with a deodorizing solvent.

3. Use filters. Removing the smoke odor from the surface of your home may not be enough for a complete home deodorization. The smell can actual cling to particles in the air. You can use a commercial-grade air filter to improve the air quality and smell in your house.

4. Try ozone machines. An ozone machine sends out special molecules that act like smoke particles. The molecules cover all of the surfaces in your home, just like the cigarette smoke did. The difference is the new molecules remove the odor rather than cause it.

5. Replace items. The smelly smoke from a cigarette cannot be removed from every item. If you have a piece of furniture that will not let go of the foul odor, you may need to replace it to ensure your home does not start to smell again.

When it comes to smoke from cigarettes, the odor can be hard to get rid of. Because it can cling to almost every surface in your house, the home deodorization can take a while, but it is often well worth your time.

Are Candles the Right Choice for Your Home?

10/29/2021 (Permalink)

Try using electric warmers for candles.

A candle can make your home in Round Rock, TX, feel extra home sweet home. There is something about the flame and fragrance; nostalgia, maybe? Despite its beauty, a candle flame is a fire hazard. According to the National Fire Protection Association, a candle fire accounted for 2 percent of reported residential fires (averaged over five years). Placement of candles also makes a difference; just over a third of candle fires began in bedrooms. Rather than worrying if you extinguished your candle, your family can rest easy by looking into candle alternatives.

Candles Alternatives

Thanks to innovative thinkers, candle lovers have many safe options that look and even smell like real candles, without the candle fire hazard. It is also important to ensure your family has flameless options available for power outages.

For Beauty and Scent

• There is a variety of flameless candles, such as LED Flameless wax pillar candles. There are myriad scents, shapes and sizes available. Some even have timers.
• Try using electric warmers for candles, oil or wax.
• Himalayan salt lamps do not produce any scent, but they can give any room a beautiful ambiance. Then you can use air fresheners or plug-ins for smell.
• Treat yourself to a little aromatherapy by using an essential oil diffuser.

When the Lights Go Out

• There is nothing wrong with using good old-fashioned flashlights or buy some with LED bulbs that last longer than regular ones.
• Camping lanterns are battery operated, and many can hang and use LED bulbs.
• Book lights are small, but many can clip to objects and are flexible.

If you use candles, ensure your family has smoke detectors, a fire extinguisher and an escape plan. A candle fire (or any fire) can cause significant smoke damage. Also, know that due to the nature of soot, it can sometimes be impossible to remove from surfaces. If your family has the unfortunate experience of a fire, call a professional who knows how to handle the smoke cleanup. If you decide to use the flameless route, then happy hunting for the best safe options for your family.

How Fire Damage and Water Damage Can Go Hand in Hand

7/29/2021 (Permalink)

A fire is one of the most destructive home tragedies.

How Fire And Water Damage Can Affect Each Other

As a homeowner, you should do everything possible to prevent disaster and to protect your loved ones and your possessions. Of course, even your best efforts can’t always avoid accidents or incidents. One of the most devastating disasters at home is a fire. Not only can fire damage destroy the structure and your belongings, but the water firefighters used to put out the fire can ruin parts of your Round Rock, TX home as well.

Putting Out the Fire

If your home is on fire, your primary concern is everyone’s safety. Then, you want fire crews working hard to put it out so they can minimize damage and save your house, if possible. Firefighters are well-trained to combat fires of all sizes and types. They use heavy-duty equipment, including high-pressure hoses. When crews are working to extinguish the fire, the fire hose puts out a significant amount of water, which can cause widespread damage to various parts of your home.

Determining the Damage

Flames can engulf your home and burn down just about anything, but water damage usually accompanies a fire. The following are often affected by water from firefighters:

• Carpet and other flooring, such as hardwood and tile
• Drywall
• Ceilings
• Furniture
• Electronics
• Books

Completing the Cleanup Effort

Fire damage may render your personal items unusable and parts of your home unlivable. Water damage can do the same, but this doesn’t mean the professionals can’t help. In many cases, an experienced restoration specialist can repair damage caused by water. These crews can remove water and dry the affected areas. They can also sanitize the wet areas to help ensure bacteria and mold won’t grow.

Any homeowner should worry about the effects of fire damage. Don’t forget about the consequences of water either. Make sure you call the professionals to help clean up after the firefighters have done their job to take care of the flames.

How To Handle a House Fire

4/10/2021 (Permalink)

House fire damage in Round Rock, TX

How To Handle a House Fire

House fires are common occurrences that affect and devastate many families every year. Residential blazes are scary, unpredictable, and alarming, so ensuring you and your family have a specific fire escape plan in place is crucial to your safety. Follow these simple steps, and be prepared during and after a potential emergency.

1. Be Alert and Take Action
If you experience a house fire in Round Rock, TX, promptly perform the following measures:

• Enact your emergency escape plan
  
• Dial 911 and alert emergency personnel to your situation
  
• Secure medical care for any people or pets with severe burns or injuries
  
• Call worried family and friends to let them know you are safe
  
• Do not reenter your home until a proper fire damage assessment is complete
  
  

2. Put Safety First
Following a fire, confirm with firefighters that it is safe to reenter your home. Dress in boots, long pants, sleeves, helmets, protective eyewear, and masks as you inspect your damaged residence. Consider consulting a professional smoke and soot removal team to clean your house and restore it to a safe and livable status.

3. Check-In
It is crucial to remove any smoke-damaged paraphernalia from your home. Specifically, dispose of any food that might have soiled due to heat or smoke. Physical damage is only a portion of the devastation fires create. Despite devising even the most detailed fire escape plan, many survivors experience feelings of guilt and angst in the months following the disaster. Make it a point to check in with your family members regularly. Ensure they appropriately deal with their stress and get professional help for anyone struggling mentally or financially. Further, watch your household pets, making sure they don't exhibit any long-term symptoms from the fire or smoke.
As ravaging as fires can be, remind yourself that your successful fire escape plan saved your family's lives. Remember that everything else is replaceable, and all that matters is the safety of your loved ones.