Grill Fire Safety

6/21/2023 (Permalink)

At home grilling is an activity that almost everyone enjoys and should be conducted safely with a few precautions. If one is not careful, grill fires may break out occasionally causing causalities of the food, surrounding area, and sometimes people. Here are some things you should keep in mind when grilling this summer to prevent grill fires: 

• Don't leave the grill unattended
• Clean the grill after use to prevent flare ups
• Remove flammable items from around the grill
• Keep your grill in good condition, never operating a faulty grill 
• Keep a fire extinguisher nearby for necessary situations
• Insure connections between the gas tank and grill are secure
• Never cook too close to a building

Home Fires 

A grill fires that grows into a home fire can be a damaging and stressful event. The best way to recover in this situation is by calling professional fire remediation company. These companies have qualified teams prepared to restore any damage caused by smoke, soot, or fire. 

Barbecue Fires
What do you do when your barbecue catches on fire? Remain calm. Check that there is nothing flammable near the grill. It is important that the fire stay contained in order to prevent further damage. If possible, turn off the burners and the line from the gas tank. If necessary, use a fire extinguisher to quench flames, otherwise the fire should decrease naturally and go out on its own. If handled properly, a grill fire may ruin your food but at least your home is spared. 

Why Content Clean?

6/21/2023 (Permalink)

What is Content Cleaning? 

When disaster occurs, many steps must be taken to ensure the property is safe, clean, and restored. One crucial step of the restoration process is content cleaning. Many may ask, what is content cleaning? Content cleaning is the process in which belongings, such as furniture, clothing, electronics, and personal items, are removed, packed, cleaned, and restored. This process removes all contaminants from items preventing potential exposure to harmful hazardous material. 

When Does Content Cleaning Occur? 

After disaster occurs, one should immediately contact a professional restoration company to inspect the situation. This company should be experienced in the field of restoration and content cleaning, possessing all of the necessary equipment, cleaning agents, licenses, and certifications to operate. The longer you wait to have your contents cleaned and restored the worse the damage will become. One should call a restoration company 24-48 hours after the loss to insure relatively fresh damage. 

The Content Cleaning Process

Once the company has been contacted, they will complete a process which goes through many stages to insure a full restoration of contents. 

1. Inspection 

In the first stage, an expert from the restoration company will be sent out to determine the extent of damage and assess the cleaning methods needed for the belongings. 

2. Pack Out

Once the items have been inspected, they will be packed out, labeled, removed, and transported from the premises for cleaning at the company's facility. 

3. Cleaning 

At the facility, the technicians will use specialized equipment and cleaning agents to remove contaminants and restore contents to the previous condition. 

4. Storage

Many times the contents have been fully cleaned before the property has been restored. In these cases, the contents will be packed and stored at the climate controlled, secure facility to await transportation to the restored property.

5. Return

The final stage is the return stage. This includes the return and transportation of cleaned content to the restored facility. The technician will unpack, inspect, and insure the proper placement of belongings. 

Disaster often occurs, when this happens one must immediately call a restoration professional to take necessary steps to insure the property is safe, clean, and restored. A crucial step in this is content cleaning. Content cleaning is the process in which belongings, such as furniture, clothing, electronics, and personal items, are removed, packed, cleaned from hazardous material, and restored. Remember, don't wait to call a professional. The damage will only increase if given time.  

How To Avoid Fires 100

2/23/2023 (Permalink)

Your home is your safety net, that's why it's so scary to imagine anything happening to it. House fires take an average of 3,000 lives per year and we don't want you to become one of those statistics. Although you can't control everything, here are some tips to prevent house fires.

1. Test Your Smoke Alarms

Simple enough, yet so many households fail to check their alarms regularly. To test it, just press the little button on it. If the beep is weak, change it! Smoke alarms can be your best friend during sudden house fires. 

2. Inspect All Heating Sources

Malfunctioning heat sources can spark and cause a fire. Always clean your air filters, and make sure to dust around heat sources often. 

3. Keep Your Stove and Oven Clean

Keep a look out for towels, cookbooks, or clothing that's too close to your burners. Also, make sure to get all the food and crumbs out from underneath the burners. Those could also cause a sudden stove fire. 

4. Store Flammable Products Carefully

Keep any type of aerosol away from any heat sources. They could combust if they become too hot. Make sure you keep candles in a proper spot away from blankets and curtains as well. 

5. Always Have A Fire Extinguisher Handy

Everyone in your household should know where the extinguisher is, as well as know how to use it. 

Things happen, even if you try to prevent it. If a fire has damaged your home, don't forget to give us a call. 

Stopping Roof Leaks

11/23/2022 (Permalink)

Maintenance is crucial for the longevity of your roof. Being exposed to all elements of weather can take a toll on your roof. What can you do if your roof is leaking? Inspecting it yourself can seem daunting, and hiring a roofer may be costly. Is there a simpler solution?

What to Do During a Storm:
If you catch a leak during a storm...

• Locate the Source of the Leak

If you don't have a leak detector, infrared camera, or infrared camera app, you can locate the source manually.

Leaks most commonly occur near roof protrusions such as chimneys, vents, plumbing, or anything protruding through your roofing material. Look closely for water staining. If it's currently raining you may be able to trace the drips.

• Prevent Further Damage

Once you've located the leak, take the necessary measures to prevent further damage. Use a bucket or pan to collect dripping water. If water is pooling in ceiling, a small puncture will relieve the pressure and allow the water to drain.

Use roofing materials such as traps, sandbags, or boards to cover the leak and prevent water from entering home.

Prevent Future Leaks to Your Roof:
1. Check the Attic

Common attic problems could be a direct culprit to your roof leaks. During your next roof inspection, don't forget to check the attic. Signs of Mold, Soaked insulation, Stains around Nails, or Clogged Intake Vents will be clear signs.

2. Inspect, Inspect, Inspect!

Gutters, Shingles, and Protruding Parts can all lead to leaks. Clogged gutters can cause a water back up under your shingles or other roofing materials. Shingles need to be properly secured, and missing/broken shingles need to be replaced. As we learned earlier, protruding parts are the main culprits of roof leaks. Make sure the seals are tight so water can't leak through.

The Storm Is Coming

11/23/2022 (Permalink)

If one is, you should always be prepared. Although violent storms can strike anytime, the fall and winter months typically mark an increase in the threat of sudden, severe storms that sometimes include wind, rain, lighting and even hail.

Authorities issue a storm 'watch' when the potential for severe weather exists. A storm 'warning' will be issued when danger from a severe storm is imminent. The following tips will help prepare you to better protect yourself and your property when a storm is on the horizon. 

• Put a communication plan in place and prepare an emergency supply kit, including a battery-powered NOAA weather radio.
• Postpone outdoor activities; secure outdoor objects that could become airborne.
• Don't use corded phones or any appliances that are "plugged in." Use cell or cordless phones instead.
• Seek shelter in a home, building or hard top automobile. The steel frame of a vehicle (not the rubber ties) can help protect you from a lightning strike if you avoid touching metal or other conductive surfaces. 
• Avoid windows and doors, don't lie on concrete walls, and stay off of porches.
• If you are outside when a storm hits, quickly seek shelter in a sturdy building. Avoid small, isolated structures in open areas and steer clear of hilltops, open fields, the beach or a boat on the water. 

After A Storm

• Avoid storm-damaged areas. Stay away from downed power lines and never try to drive through a flooded roadway.
• Replenish your emergency supplies and repair property damage promptly, before the next storm strikes.

What To Do About Fire And Smoke

11/17/2022 (Permalink)

A fire can destroy your property and cause serious, irreversible damage. The flames move from one item to another, burning everything into ash. The heat created by the flames radiate, causing the surrounding items to crack, melt, and in some cases shatter. After the flames are put out, you have to deal with smoke damage.

If smoke damage is not addressed, it can devastate your home along with everything inside it. Smoke damage can even occur in rooms the fire never reached. For example, during wildfires, businesses and homes have been totally ruined just from the smoke while the building stayed untouched by the flames.

Even a small fire that is put out quickly may still cause smoke damage to the items inside. Also, smoke can impact your home’s structure. That is why cleaning up soot and smoke right away after a fire is so crucial. Smoke acts like an acid and can start to corrode many different materials if left too long.

If fire strikes a structure or home, or if you live near areas that are prone to wildfires, you must act fast to reduce the damage that occurs. Professional smoke damage restoration specialists can quickly assess the damage and create a customized mitigation plan to make sure your home is clear of all fire related damages.

What Can You Salvage?

The answer to this question depends on the extent of the damage and what something is made of. You also need to consider the cost of salvaging some items. You can work with a smoke damage specialist to figure out what items you should clean and which ones you should replace or discard.

How Will Smoke Impact Your Home?

Smoke affects materials in unique ways. Also, the type and temperature of the fire will result in different types of smoke damage through your home. One of the worst ways smoke can cause damage is if it gets into small crevices and cracks, since the particles are so small.

In fact, these issues often go undetected for a long time, leaving that lingering smell of smoke that may last for several months. The best way to remove the smell from your home is by removing or cleaning the affected items and to clean the building materials in the home with agents that are designed to remove the smell. Having this handled as quickly as possible will reduce the potential of cross-contamination.

How Quickly Do You Need to Act?

Time is something that is of the essence when you are talking about smoke damage. The sooner that you act, the more likely you will be to prevent serious damage. For example, there are some materials like porous items and synthetic fires that need intervention within hours of exposure to be saved.

A Ready Response

11/11/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Danville is on call 24/7/365 and is ready to respond to your water loss. We understand that it is very critical that you get back to focusing your attention on getting your home back to preloss condition as soon as possible. Our staff is trained to respond quickly and to assume responsibility for as much of the restoration activity as possible. No matter the size of your home we understand it is important to you to have your home back to its normal condition. We are proud to say we are faster to any size disaster.

SERVPRO takes pride in it’s highly motivated, trained, and professional staff. We employ the latest technology in restoration equipment to assure you receive state of the art services.

If you require service, SERVPRO is always here to help. Call us here at SERVPRO of Danville at (925) 856-8180.

SERVPRO Service: Mold Remediation

11/11/2022 (Permalink)

Did you find something that looks like mold in your home or business?  Let SERVPRO of Danville ease your mind and take care of the problem. Call us at 925-856-8183 for 24/7 emergency service.

Learn a little more about mold testing or sampling from the EPA: 

Is sampling for mold needed? In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. Since no EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building's compliance with federal mold standards. Surface sampling may be useful to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated. Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods and interpreting results. Sample analysis should follow analytical methods recommended by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other professional organizations.

Are there federal regulations or standards regarding mold testing?

Standards or Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for airborne concentrations of mold, or mold spores, have not been set. Currently, there are no EPA regulations or standards for airborne mold contaminants.

For more information on mold visit: https://www.epa.gov/mold/mold-testing-or-sampling

Avoiding A Home Fire

11/11/2022 (Permalink)

Your home is your safety net, that's why it's so scary to imagine anything happening to it. House fires take an average of 3,000 lives per year and we don't want you to become one of those statistics. Although you can't control everything, here are some tips to prevent house fires.

1. Test Your Smoke Alarms

Simple enough, yet so many households fail to check their alarms regularly. To test it, just press the little button on it. If the beep is weak, change it! Smoke alarms can be your best friend during sudden house fires. 

2. Inspect All Heating Sources

Malfunctioning heat sources can spark and cause a fire. Always clean your air filters, and make sure to dust around heat sources often. 

3. Keep Your Stove and Oven Clean

Keep a look out for towels, cookbooks, or clothing that's too close to your burners. Also, make sure to get all the food and crumbs out from underneath the burners. Those could also cause a sudden stove fire. 

4. Store Flammable Products Carefully

Keep any type of aerosol away from any heat sources. They could combust if they become too hot. Make sure you keep candles in a proper spot away from blankets and curtains as well. 

5. Always Have A Fire Extinguisher Handy

Everyone in your household should know where the extinguisher is, as well as know how to use it. 

Things happen, even if you try to prevent it. If a fire has damaged your home, don't forget to give us a call. 

Avoid A Cigarette Fire

11/10/2022 (Permalink)

Though there are various reasons residential fires occur, cigarettes are one of the most common causes of home fires in Danville, CA.

Keep Ashtrays Outside

Properly extinguishing and disposing of cigarettes is often a helpful way to prevent a fire. Though many people keep ashtrays in their home, it can be wise to place your ashtray outside of your home if you want to decrease the chance of a fire occurring. If a cigarette isn’t properly extinguished, an ashtray fire can easily start in your home, especially if the ashtray is near flammable materials. Keeping an ashtray outside and away from flammable objects can be a useful way to keep your home safe.

Don’t Smoke When Sleepy

In order to reduce the likelihood of a cigarette fire in your home, it’s usually best not to smoke when you are tired. Many fires from cigarettes occur when a person is smoking on a sofa or bed and then they fall asleep. When asleep, it’s easy to drop a lit cigarette without noticing, and if the cigarette remains lit, mattresses, cushions, and other materials can quickly catch fire. Avoiding smoking when you’re tired is an easy way to decrease the chance of a home fire.

Smoke Outside

When a person smokes inside a home, a fire is often more like to occur. With so many flammable items in homes, setting a lit cigarette down momentarily can result in a fire. Homeowners whose homes have been damaged by fires may find it helpful to contact fire restoration experts. However, smoking outside of your house can help to prevent a home fire, eliminating the need for restoration and fire cleanup.

Instead of restoring your home after a fire, it’s generally easier and less time-consuming to take precautions to prevent a cigarette fire. Keeping ashtrays outside, not smoking when tired and only smoking outside are helpful ways to prevent a cigarette from causing a fire in your home.