Restoring Contents in a North Syracuse Home After Fire Damage

6/21/2022 (Permalink)

Fire damage and soot removal are cornerstones of SERVPRO's recovery for North Syracuse homes and businesses.

Cleaning by SERVPRO Eases North Syracuse Fire Repair

Fire causes devastating damage to contents by soiling, charring, or burning them partly or wholly. Considering the cost of replacing even one item is high, you can imagine buying several things simultaneously. The alternative is restoration, primarily through cleaning, which can save many items in your North Syracuse home. Below learn more about the cleaning products and methods available for such restoration.

Cleaning is a potent tool to help your North Syracuse home overcome fire damage effects. Since most fires that are stopped before they consume the entire property are managed in the early stages, the damage in most property sections is from smoke and radiating heat. The two aspects cause soiling and color shade changes, respectively. Unpleasant odors are also highly likely. SERVPRO can help you address any of these problems using advanced cleaning resources, making it "Like it never even happened."

Useful cleaning approaches:

• Dry cleaning
• Abrasive Cleaning
• Wet cleaning
• Foam cleaning

The variation in cleaning methods ensures that we only use a process if it is highly effective against the soils or blemishes and does not pose any dangers to the material of the item you want to be restored. Some methods also serve as a precursor to ease the execution of the other approaches. Dry cleaning is one such approach that is safe for almost any type of item. It helps halt deterioration such as etching or staining of surfaces. Our SERVPRO IICRC-certified technicians can perform dry cleaning using vacuums, feather dusters, or dusting cloths, removing soiling from electronics, furniture, and upholstery.

Restoring Oily Residues or Charring

Smoke can leave dry or wet residues depending on what burns. Proteins, oils, and synthetic materials produce oily residues when they combust. When such residue settles on other materials, cleaning it off without leaving blemishes is difficult. Another challenging issue to address is charring, which manifests as blackening or browning. Abrasive or wet cleaning are some practical approaches to dealing with stubborn soils. Wet cleaning introduces cleaning solutions that can contain acidic or alkaline chemicals that help break down the bonds fire residues form with surfaces.

Abrasive cleaning may be necessary for stubborn soils deposited on resilient materials. For instance, charred sections of wooden furniture require abrasive cleaning to remove the charred layer. Abrasion can come from physical force alone or special additives in cleaning products. For instance, liquid crème cleaners are cleaning pastes that contain abrading residues. They can be applied on a surface then when the area is wiped with a duster, the residue helps break down soils. Abrasive cleaning is not only reserved for furniture. Using other mediums such as compressed air, a jet of water, or special bubbles emitted by an ultrasonic cleaner, we can clear fire residues from different contents in your home.

Unique products for cleaning contents:

• Volatile dry solvents
• Dry cleaning solvents
• Upholstery and carpet cleaners

Even with all the resources to facilitate cleaning, saving all contents affected by the fire is impossible. Our SERVPRO technicians ensure you understand the dynamics of the situation you face. We inspect your contents and categorize them as salvageable, unsalvageable, or questionable. We only attempt restoration for the salvageable and questionable items.

SERVPRO of North Onondaga County can help you respond correctly to fire damage, especially when contents are significantly affected. You can reach us at (315) 457-3432.

When to Worry if Your North Syracuse Home Has Water Damage

6/21/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is prepared with equipment and experienced technicians to restore your North Syracuse home or business after water damage.

SERVPRO Handles All North Syracuse Water Restorations

Even though you use water for everyday purposes around the house, it can become a problem if materials are unnecessarily exposed. With timely mopping or other water extraction techniques, people can easily handle many water intrusions in North Syracuse homes. However, the severity of water damage can be high, necessitating assistance from a professional.

Regardless of how the intrusion happens in your North Syracuse home, water damage is gradual. Extracting water immediately or shortly after discovering the leak minimizes the severity of damages. The only issues that may require addressing are bubbling or peeling paint and wallpaper. However, if extraction and drying are delayed, the problems worsen, and the walls or ceiling may feel spongy to the touch as moisture precipitates the disintegration of drywall. When such signs start manifesting, you should be concerned, and involving a professional like SERVPRO is advisable.

Most people worry when they notice the advanced signs of water damage. However, there are other reasons to worry, including unnoticed moisture migration. Water can penetrate beneath floorboards or hard surfaces like tiles where it might go unnoticed for a longer time leading to severe rotting or warping. Fixing such damages would require demolition and costly reconstruction of the floor area. SERVPRO crews can help deal with the moisture using advanced equipment such as drying mats eliminating the need for reconstruction.

Other time-related damages: 

• Ceiling collapse 
• Damage to utilities like electric cables
• Mold development
• Disintegration or delamination of materials

A professional has a higher chance of identifying hidden water damage by relying on technology rather than physical observations alone. Our SERVPRO technicians easily identify moisture pockets hidden behind walls, cabinets, or floor materials using a thermal camera. The tool relies on infrared rays, which identify temperature differences in materials, thus revealing colder areas that appear bluish.

Thinking Beyond Restoration Costs

In most cases, the main inconvenience triggered by severe moisture inside a building is cost-related. Costs can be direct such as when you buy cleaning products and replacement materials. It might also be indirect, such as when the incident forces you to leave your home for some days. However, the cost is not the only problem leaks can create. 

Hazardous conditions are another critical problem to pay attention to after water leaks. In areas of the home, such as the ceiling, water accumulation is not factored in during construction. Therefore the ceiling panels can collapse from the weight if a leak originates in the ceiling cavity. In a multistoried house, particleboard floors can lose their structural integrity from extended water exposure, thus limiting their ability to hold the weight of people or machines. These changes increase the chances of injury when a person or piece of equipment falls through or if heavy materials hit people below. Our SERVPRO technicians use personal protective equipment (PPE) to limit the chances of injury.

Useful PPE: 

• Hard hats to protect against falling objects
• Heavy-duty gloves and boots to protect against sharp objects
• Safety signs to keep people from worksites

Work crews can explore any property section with the appropriate protective gear and safely identify problems at the earliest stages. They can also work faster, thus improving the chances of restoring your home to its preloss state.

SERVPRO of North Onondaga County takes enough precautions when handling water damage to safeguard your interests. Call us at (315) 457-3432 for assistance. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Need for Deodorization in North Syracuse Homes after Mold Damage

6/21/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO professionals in North Syracuse are trained to handle every level of mold damage, including the odors that come with it. Call us today!

SERVPRO Eases North Syracuse Mold Restoration Processes

A house with mold is readily identifiable since the contamination causes deterioration of surface finishes leaving flaking paint and discolored or stained patches. Another sign that a North Syracuse home has mold damage is deteriorating indoor air quality or bad smell. Deodorization is as crucial as other mitigation steps.

A musty smell is a likely change you might experience in your North Syracuse home after mold damage. The unique scent is emitted by the mycotoxins released as the colonies develop across surfaces. Since mold causes deterioration similar to rot in materials, odors can also be emitted by the deteriorating material. SERVPRO has abundant deodorization resources for different restoration tasks, so it is easy to deal with odors generated from microbial growth processes.

Helpful mold deodorization resources:

• Ozone and hydroxyl generators
• Thermal foggers
• Air filtration devices

Odors may be invisible, but that does not mean they are not physical. Odorous compounds such as mold colonies are volatile and continually release molecules into the air, which are felt as unpleasant smells. Combating the moldy odor in your house requires neutralizing the source. One way to achieve this is by using a chemical agent that pairs with the odor molecules, offsetting them. Our SERVPRO technicians use thermal foggers, which heat solvent-based deodorizers, vaporizing them and allowing deep penetration into materials where they can pair with the molecules and neutralize them. 

Using activated oxygen is another alternative. Ozone and hydroxyl generators are handy for this purpose. Ozone is an unstable oxygen molecule that works when the extra atom mixes with odor molecules changing their chemical structure and thus neutralizing them. Hydroxyl generators are another alternative that works by releasing hydroxyl radicals that combine with odor molecules releasing carbon dioxide and water.

Dealing with Airborne Odors

The unpleasant moldy odor in your house might remain in the air rather than materials because of the particulate matter and aerosols released into the air during demolition and cleaning processes. Dealing with these issues requires elaborate air purification processes.

Various air purification resources:

• Electronic filters
• Ventilators
• Air scrubbers

Electronic filters help remove microorganisms from the air. The system works by passing the contaminated air through an electrically charged grid, thus killing the microorganisms. Air scrubbers may be more efficient for moldy residues since they manage odors and improve air quality. The air scrubber draws in polluted air and passes it through activated charcoal and HEPA filters. In terms of odor management, activated charcoal plays the primary removal role. 

Ventilating an area is a physical way to remove polluted air from a house. Because the approach tends to spread residues, it might be counterproductive in a moldy environment where fine residues and microscopic spores are abundant and can be distributed around the property by the high volumes of fast-moving air. Therefore, this method is rarely used as a primary odor control solution, but it can help improve other processes. For instance, after dry fogging a house to deodorize it, ventilation is essential to remove all the remaining fumes. Our SERVPRO technicians have all these categories of deodorization resources and thus can use them where we deem necessary.

SERVPRO of North Onondaga County works diligently to address all issues triggered by mold damage restoring everything to its preloss state. You can reach us at (315) 457-3432. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Why Water Mitigation in Your North Syracuse Home Is Necessary

6/20/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage mitigation services for homeowners in North Syracuse needs the help of SERVPRO. We are ready at a moment's notice.

Mitigating Water Damage Helps Save North Syracuse Homes

When your North Syracuse home has been affected by water damage, immediate and effective measures should be taken. The damage can be due to a burst or leaking pipes, a malfunctioning household appliance, or weather-related events like heavy rains. Whatever the cause, taking proper steps to mitigate a loss is necessary.

Contacting a water mitigation expert in north Syracuse assist in preventing additional damage after a water event. SERVPRO sends a team to assess the extent of the water's intrusion into your home, especially on the walls, ceiling, and flooring. We also make quick emergency repairs for active leaks and board-up openings. Rapid response from our crew minimizes secondary water damages such as;

• Buckled floors
• Crumbled drywall
• Widespread mold growth
• Wood rot and delamination of materials

Water can be elusive since moisture spreads quickly to places you might not imagine. The longer it remains in your home, the more damage it could cause. Water can saturate drywall, causing it to swell. Your walls and ceilings would warp and paint blister and crack.

What Mitigation Entails Effective Mitigation Includes

• Extracting water
• Cleaning and disinfecting the area and home furnishings
• Salvaging of contents
• Drying the affected area

The extent of the mitigation process typically depends on the size of damage to the property. With equipment like high-quality extractors, dehumidifiers, air dryers, and sanitizers, SERVPRO professionals are prepared to completely resolve the problem sometimes without having to remove the furniture and contents. Our crews may leave equipment at your property for a few days to complete the mitigation process then the crew chief confirms the areas have properly been dried and are safe.

SERVPRO of North Onondaga County provides quick water mitigation services across the region. Call us at (315) 457-3432 to get our rapid-response teams deployed to your home. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Mold Removal and Prevention in North Syracuse Basements

6/20/2022 (Permalink)

Mold remediation in your basement is no DIY project. Call SERVPRO of North Syracuse for the help and experience needed for your home.

How to Clean Mold in Your North Syracuse Basement

Wet basements can be a breeding ground for unpleasant pathogens, including mold. Mold in the basement is common due to frequent moisture problems and the lack of proper ventilation and light. Hiring professional services is strongly recommended if the mold problem in your north Syracuse basement seems severe or has spread over a wide area.

Residues from colonies are likely to be released into the air during mold removal in a North Syracuse property. This means that they can easily spread to unaffected areas. Without proper mold handling skills, you may worsen the overall situation. Also, protective gear is essential when handling mold problems. SERVPRO technicians seal off the basement to prevent the spores from spreading to the rest of your house. Our crews use plastic sheets and duct tape to cover openings like vents or doorways.

Why your basement may have been affected

• Flooding
• Unresolved water leaks
• High humidity build-up

A flooded basement is an ideal environment for mold. Damp items such as furniture and carpets can serve as breeding grounds. Also, leaky pipes or drains in your basement increase the risk of finding a mold by surprise.

Cleaning mold

SERVPRO technicians may choose to start with a HEPA-fitted vacuum as this removes the mold from the surface while ensuring no debris is left. Then we scrub the area with a disinfectant before sealing the surface.

How to prevent a mold recurrence

• Consider waterproofing your basement
• Apply a sealant to walls or floors after the mold removal 
• Moisture levels in your basement can be controlled by using a dehumidifier 
• Prevent condensation by insulating exterior walls, roofs, windows, and pipes

SERVPRO of North Onondaga County is efficient, trustworthy, professional, and thorough in mold removal services. Call us at (315) 457-3432 to help identify all the mold, and address all traces "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Offers Commercial Fire Damage Repair in North Syracuse

6/12/2022 (Permalink)

Commercial fire damage restoration is no easy task. SERVPRO has the manpower and equipment for every size disaster.

Fix Commercial Fire Damage in North Syracuse Promptly

The effects of a fire on a commercial property like a warehouse are devastating. Even if the fire affects just a section of the warehouse, it can destroy expensive inventory and building materials.

SERVPRO has expertise in helping reestablish enterprises after fire and smoke damage. Our crew can perform commercial fire damage restoration in your North Syracuse warehouse using sophisticated equipment and techniques. We can restore it within a short time with the lowest impact on your employees, customers, and business.

The initial step in fire damage repair is to test. Our team performs testing to determine the following factors:

• The location of smoke residues.
• If we can clean the residues. 
• If the recent event caused the damage or it is pre-existing. 

Our SERVPRO technicians can observe the contrast between the unaffected and affected areas or between the normal undamaged and smoked walls to find smoke. When we can easily see the residues, we concentrate our investigation on the effects of smoke on various items and the procedures required to eliminate the smoke. The methods we can use to restore your property include:

Ventilation and salvaging

We can use ventilation equipment to eliminate soot and dust. We can also remove damaged inventory and building materials for disposal. We can clean and restore the salvageable items.

Water removal and drying

Your warehouse may have sustained water damage from the hoses and sprinklers used to extinguish the fire. Our SERVPRO team can extract the water using pumps and dry the building using air moving and dehumidifying tools to prevent secondary damage. 

Soot Removal

Soot is acidic and can ruin affected surfaces and contents if you do not remove it soon enough. Our technicians can clean and remove the soot from the walls, shelves, air ducts, and the HVAC system.

Repairs and Reconstruction

Our SERVPRO team can repair and rebuild the ruined sections of the building's interior and exterior to restore it to its preloss state. This may include minor repairs, controlled demolition, or a full-scale rebuild.

You can trust SERVPRO of North Onondaga County to restore your commercial property after fire damage. Call us at (315) 509-9591. 

Water Damage Restoration in Liverpool Needs Professional Care

5/31/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO water damage restoration specialists use state of the art equipment for every job. Call now!

SERVPRO Provides Water Damage Restoration in Liverpool

Water damage is a disastrous event that destroys the contents and structures in a home, making it structurally weak. It also creates suitable conditions for microbial growth.

SERVPRO can perform water damage restoration in your Liverpool home. We are a trained team of experts armed with state-of-the-art equipment to help you complete the water cleanup process seamlessly and efficiently. Our process is as follows:

• Inspection and assessment
• Water extraction
• Drying and dehumidifying
• Cleaning, disinfection, and deodorization
• Restoration and repair

Inspection and damage assessment

When we arrive, we can go through your house to assess the damage it has sustained, which will help us determine the restoration steps to take. When considering the damage, our team also documents everything that is affected and estimates the restoration cost.

Water Extraction

Our SERVPRO team can use electric submersible pumps to get the water out of the house to prevent the destruction from spreading to the unaffected areas.

Drying and dehumidifying

Our SERVPRO team can use non-penetrating moisture meters to detect areas in the building with high moisture content in materials like plaster and drywall to be more directive in our drying process. We can then use axial air movers to pump dry air into the target areas and materials to raise the temperatures. We can use dehumidifiers to remove the excess moisture. Our team can also use thermo-hygrometers to determine whether the humidity ratio in the air has returned to normal.

Cleaning, disinfection, and deodorization

We can use shampoo super concentrates to clean the affected surfaces and chlorine solutions to disinfect them against microbes. Our SERVPRO technicians can also use thermal foggers to spray solvent-based thermal fog deodorizers to the affected areas to remove the bad smell.

Reconstruction

We can repair or reinstall floors or floor coverings and drywall and perform final tests to ensure everything is in perfect order.

SERVPRO of North Onondaga County is available 24/7 and ready to help you get your home back in shape after water damage. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster. Contact us at (315) 509-9591. 

Storm Flood Damage in North Syracuse Calls for SERVPRO’s Help

5/23/2022 (Permalink)

Storm and flood damage restoration services by SERVPRO are second to none. We are here to help 24/7 365 days a year.

How to Handle Storm Flood Damage in North Syracuse

A storm has left debris and caused flood damage on my property. Who can help me bring things back to normal promptly?

SERVPRO is qualified to handle storm flood damage in affected North Syracuse homes. Flooding can cause structural damage. As the water soaks into floor joists and wall studs, it can weaken your home’s structure. Floods can also ruin personal items and cause mold growth within 48 to 72 hours. We can take the following steps to restore your home:

• Emergency services
• Water removal
• Drying 
• Deodorization
• Rebuilding 

Emergency services

After our team arrives at your property, we can take measures to minimize your home’s further exposure to danger. To prevent additional destruction, we can reinforce the doors and windows or board up your home. We can also clear up debris like broken tree branches.

Water removal

We can remove the water using portable extractors because they are easier to take, even in restricted areas. They have a pump, a heater, and a vacuum system.

Drying

We can use drying equipment to stabilize the property. We can use axial air movers and refrigerant dehumidifiers to dry all affected structures and contents thoroughly.

Deodorization

Floodwater can leave foul odors on your property. Odors are volatile (evaporative) molecules the nose senses in the air. They dissipate after restorers remove the source of the smell using various deodorization methods. One method we can use is wet fogging. This involves using ultra-low volume (ULV) foggers to dispense solvent-based or water-based deodorizers. ULV foggers generate small particles that can penetrate many areas where odor particles hide.

Rebuilding

Our SERVPRO technicians are well-equipped to handle all the necessary repairs like fixing leaking ceilings, broken windows, and damaged porches. We can restore your property to its normal habitable condition.

SERVPRO of North Onondaga County is ready to help you handle the storm flood damage in your residence. Our 24-hour emergency hotline is (315) 509-9591.

Mechanical Actions Help Fire Restoration in North Syracuse Homes

5/5/2022 (Permalink)

With advanced equipment, SERVPRO restores property to pre-damaged conditions, "Like it never even happened."

Fire Damage Cleaning in North Syracuse Properties Is Aided by Mechanical Actions

Cleaning up after a fire loss incident means having suitable restoration solutions for multiple rooms of the house simultaneously. Soot is considered among the most substantial obstacles, so our professionals respond rapidly to begin mitigating these scenarios as fast as possible. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster, including post-fire damage recovery.

Types of Soot Cleaning

Fire restoration of North Syracuse homes focuses on how SERVPRO can handle overwhelming fire loss effects like soot particles. Partial combustion creates these hazardous solids, and they can heavily damage surfaces without direct action from our professionals. Soot cleanup can consist of several types of restoration, including:

• Dry Cleaning
• Wet Cleaning
• Abrasive Removal

What Are Mechanical Actions?

The term mechanical action describes physical efforts to help cleaning processes be more efficient. Many of these efforts focus on removing loose debris from the surfaces exposed to soot and smoke solids. The choice in this approach varies based on the severity of the damage to the material and the heap of soot solids to manage. Some of these options include:

• Vacuuming
• Brushing
• Scrubbing
• Pressurized Air Blasting

How Do Mechanical Actions Benefit Cleaning?

Incorporating these mechanical actions, regardless of the intended agitation, allows cleaning practices introduced against soot and smoke residues to be more efficient. Agitation is one of the primary elements of efficient cleaning production, along with temperature and contact time, so having a system in place to incorporate these efforts allows for the most natural cleaning possible for a property.  

After a fire damage incident, cleaning a structure requires several techniques and multiple products. It is one of the truest showcases of the extensive experience and training our SERVPRO of North Onondaga County team receives. Our FSRT-Certified technicians are ready to help your home when you need it by calling (315) 457-3432.

Conditions that Cause Mold Damage in Liverpool Homes

4/29/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is prepared with restoration equipment and experienced technicians. Call today (315) 457-3432.

Many Common Conditions Can Result in Needing Mold Remediation for Liverpool Properties

Mold is an underrated yet heavily destructive emergency for homes. Moist conditions can result from several circumstances to allow mold to develop and spread. 

Unresolved Water Damage

Mold remediation for Liverpool is often necessary when water damage to the property goes unresolved. The longer that materials stay exposed to moisture and standing water, the more the environment and hosting materials are impacted to facilitate these destructive colonies. Organisms need moisture to form colonies, and if homeowners only dry up surface water damage after an emergency, structural cavities can be an ideal damp location for growth. SERVPRO tracks drying processes using advanced tools like:

• Surface moisture meters
• Hygrometers
• Probing detectors
• Thermal imagery

Humid Conditions

Onondaga County experiences several types of adverse weather conditions throughout the year, from heavy snowfall to torrential rains. Moisture and humidity present year-round are among the most significant contributors to mold damage for area properties. Excessive moisture and water content in the environment produce the ideal conditions for mold development in as little as 48 hours, so homeowners need to diligently react when lingering moisture and humidity are a concern within a household. SERVPRO can often manage moisture damage threats in the air through the specific placement and operation of dehumidification equipment like low-grain refrigerant units in our inventory. 

Inadequate Ventilation

Another common reason for mold to develop in homes is poor ventilation. Bathrooms and laundry areas are where this type of inadequacy causes the greatest threats of mold growth and spread. Without the means to ventilate steam and damp conditions possible around water-fed appliances and fixtures of your plumbing system, mold damage can ensue. 

Understanding the common causes of mold development can be instrumental in preventing recurrences in your home and quickly managing the threat when it exists. Our experienced AMRT-Certified professionals on the SERVPRO of North Onondaga County roster are here to help when you need it at (315) 457-3432.