Content Cleaning: The Ultimate Guide to Removing Contaminants in Restoration

4/27/2023 (Permalink)

Content cleaning is a critical aspect of the disaster restoration process.

Disasters can strike at any time, leaving behind a trail of destruction and damage. From fires to floods, disaster restoration companies are there to help get your home or business back to its original state. One critical aspect of the restoration process is content cleaning. Content cleaning is the process of removing contaminants from your belongings after a disaster. This guide will provide you with all the information you need to know about content cleaning.

What is Content Cleaning?

Content cleaning is a critical aspect of the disaster restoration process. It involves cleaning and restoring your belongings, including furniture, clothing, electronics, and other personal items. In most cases, these items are covered under your insurance policy, and it's essential to act fast to prevent further damage.

When to Start Content Cleaning?

The longer you wait to start the content cleaning process, the more difficult it becomes to restore your belongings. Ideally, you should start content cleaning within 24 to 48 hours after the disaster. This timeline ensures that the damage is still relatively fresh and can be cleaned and restored effectively.

Steps Involved in Content Cleaning

1. Inspection: The first step in content cleaning is inspection. A trained technician will inspect your belongings to determine the extent of the damage and assess the cleaning methods required.

2. Pack Out: If the damage is significant, your belongings may need to be removed from the property for cleaning. This process is called a pack-out. Your belongings will be packed, labeled, and transported to a cleaning facility where they can be thoroughly cleaned and restored.

3. Cleaning: Once your belongings have been removed, the cleaning process begins. Technicians will use specialized equipment and cleaning agents to remove contaminants and restore your belongings to their pre-disaster condition.

4. Storage: After cleaning, your belongings will be stored until your property is ready to be returned to its original state. The storage facility should be climate-controlled, secure, and safe for your belongings.

5. Return: Finally, once your property has been restored, your belongings will be returned to your property. A technician will unpack your items, inspect them, and ensure that they are returned to their original location.

The Importance of Content Cleaning

Content cleaning is an essential aspect of the disaster restoration process. It not only helps to prevent further damage to your belongings but also ensures that your property is safe and habitable. Contaminants left behind after a disaster can be hazardous to your health, and it's critical to have them removed as soon as possible.

Choosing the Right Content Cleaning Company

Choosing the right content cleaning company is essential for a successful restoration. Look for a company with experience in content cleaning and restoration. They should have the necessary equipment and cleaning agents to handle a wide range of contaminants effectively. Also, make sure the company has the necessary licenses and certifications required to operate in your area.

Content cleaning is a critical aspect of the disaster restoration process. It ensures that your belongings are thoroughly cleaned and restored, preventing further damage and protecting your health. Remember, the longer you wait to start the content cleaning process, the more challenging it becomes to restore your belongings. Don't hesitate to contact a professional disaster restoration company immediately after a disaster to begin the content cleaning process.

Reasons to replace your supply lines.

3/7/2023 (Permalink)

Experiencing a leak? Check your supply lines.

When you think of your water supply lines, what comes to mind? Maybe you're imagining a big pipeline that carries water from your home's well. Maybe you think about the pipes going from your house to the street. Either way, how often do you consider these vital components? You may not give them much thought until they break and cause a leak under your sink or in your basement, but if that happens, it's time to replace them.

Leaks can lead to water damage.

Leaking faucets are not only an eyesore, but they can also be dangerous. A leaky faucet can cause water damage that leads to mold and mildew growth. This is especially true in areas where your house is humid or you have a lot of moisture from cooking or showering. If left unchecked, this could lead to secondary damages down the road.

If you find yourself with leaking supply lines, it's time to replace them before it gets worse and causes more damage than just some extra cleanup around the sink area.

Save you money in the long run.

Replacing your old supply lines can save you money in the long run. If your water bill is higher than it should be, it may be because of leaky or damaged supply lines. Replacing these will help reduce your monthly expenses and keep them from getting even higher in the future.

When insurance companies evaluate what they'll charge for home insurance premiums, they consider a number of factors, including whether or not homeowners have updated their homes with energy-efficient appliances and fixtures. Making sure that all of these items are working properly can help lower those costs down the road.

Water lines are one of the most common causes of water loss.

Water lines are one of the most common causes of water loss for homes and businesses. Because they're underground, it's easy to forget about them until you have a leak or burst pipe. If you don't properly care for your supply lines, they can become damaged by freezing or heat. They can also break due to age, especially if there are large trees nearby whose roots have grown into your pipes over time.

Modern supply lines are easier to install than ever before. Supply lines come with more features, like shutoff valves, and they're easier to repair. They also have fewer leaks than older ones.

Replacing your old supply lines can save you money in the long run. Water damage is expensive, and it's not just the cost of replacing damaged or destroyed items that needs to be considered. The insurance company will also charge an additional fee for their services, which could add up to several hundred dollars per claim.

If you're tired of dealing with leaky water lines, it may be time to replace them. Replacing your old supply lines can save you money in the long run and prevent damage to your home or business. The best part is that modern supply lines are easier than ever before!

What Are Soot Webs?

2/20/2023 (Permalink)

If your in need of fire restoration, give SERVPRO a call today.

After a fire, your home or business might be left with clusters of black webs. They look similar to spider webs but are black or dark grey. These webs are not spider webs, in fact, they are clusters of soot strands. Soot is a fine, black powder created as fire consumes oxygen. Its presence in your home indicates fire and/or smoke damage.

What is soot?

So, what exactly is soot? Soot is a byproduct of combustion. It's also known as a black powdery substance and is made up of carbon and ash. When a fire breaks out in your home or workplace, using an oven, grill, or fireplace; or when a vehicle catches on fire; soot can be found everywhere.

What are soot webs?

Soot webs are a cluster of soot strands that occurs when soot particles clump together during a fire. The resulting webs can be a telltale sign of a fire. While these webs are not spider webs, they do look similar and have the same effect on your home as spider webs would. They can be removed by a professional company like us at SERVPRO of Fort Collins.

Soot web formations are often found in corners, around light fixtures, and in HVAC systems. If you see any signs of soot or smoke damage in your house, don't wait to schedule an inspection with us!

How can you remove soot webs?

Soot webs are a serious problem, and they can be difficult to remove without professional help. Since the presence of soot webs is usually a result of a fire on your property, the best course of action is always to call a fire cleanup expert to assist you with all your fire, soot, and smoke cleanup needs.

• You wear protective gear like gloves and eye protection
• You have someone else with you to help lift the heavy items (like furniture)
• You take all necessary safety precautions when using chemicals

You use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to remove the dust from your home You thoroughly clean any surfaces that are covered in soot webs

If you see soot webs, they need to be removed by a professional company.

If you see soot webs, they should to be removed by a professional company. Soot can cause significant damage to your home or business. The only way to properly remove the soot is to use a combination of vacuuming, cleaning, and deodorizing. Since it's difficult to get all the soot out of your ceiling or walls when it settles on them, it's important that you call in a professional restoration company. They'll have the experience, equipment, and cleaning solutions to handle the job properly and efficiently.

With all of the information we have provided, you should be able to identify soot webs and know how to remove them. If you are in need of soot cleanup in your home or business, don't hesitate and contact our SERVPRO of Fort Collins team today!

3 Reasons Why Your Basement May Smell

12/12/2022 (Permalink)

Another common reason for a basement to smell is that the ground is wet.

If your basement smells bad, you might want to think beyond the obvious. It's not just a mildew problem or a rodent infestation—it could be something much more serious. In this guide, we'll take a look at some of the most common reasons that basements smell like rotten eggs or sewer gas and how you can fix them.

1. Poor Air Flow

The first reason your basement may smell is because of poor air flow. A basement is a closed space, which means that if you don’t have an adequate amount of ventilation in your home, the air will become stale and begin to smell like mold or mildew. This can be prevented by ensuring that there are no blocked vents from insulation or water damage.

There are also other factors that may contribute to this problem as well; dirt, dust and debris build up on walls and along the floor throughout the year which can create odor issues because this material needs to be cleaned out regularly in order for everything else inside your home (such as your furniture) not get ruined by these particles directly touching them through daily use over time without any care being given towards removing them right away before they accumulate too much filthiness around them!

2. The Ground is Wet

Another common reason for a basement to smell is that the ground is wet. The most obvious way to check this is to go outside and look, but if you have a sump pump, it's worth checking whether it's working properly. In order to do so, open up your sump pump access door and look inside—is there standing water or has the pump been disconnected? If so, secure it back into place and test it out by turning on one of your faucets upstairs.

If that doesn't help resolve the problem, take a closer look at other possible causes: cracks in foundation walls and floors; leaks from pipes (especially those connected with toilets); water damage from flooding caused by heavy rain or ice dams; mold growth due to excess moisture levels in clothes closets or bathrooms.

3. Sewer Gases

Sewer gases are the product of decomposing organic material in your home, and they can be a health risk to you and your family. Sewer gas smells like rotten eggs because it contains sulfur-based compounds. The same foul odor that hits you when you open a can of stinky cheese or an old pizza box is also present in your sewer system.

Sewer gas corrodes metal pipes and causes basement walls to mold or rot due to moisture buildup caused by condensation on them from moist air entering your home through cracks or gaps around windows or doors (or perhaps even through the foundation).

When sewer gases enter at the main stack—the pipe that brings fresh air into your home—they escape into other parts of the house rather than being vented back outside as they should be if there were no leaks anywhere else along its path (like under floors). This means that any openings between rooms could be letting these harmful gases into other areas where they'll linger until someone opens up doors/windows/ventilators again so they can vent outside instead!

Your basement could smell for a number of reasons. One of the main reasons for a smelly basement is water entering where it shouldn’t. If you experience water damage or need odor removal in your Fort Collins, CO basement, Give SERVPRO of Fort Collins a call! 

Shower Won't Drain - What Do I Do?

11/7/2022 (Permalink)

It's important to keep your shower drain clean and clear by cleaning it regularly

What Should I Do if My Shower Won't Drain?

If you have bad smells coming from your shower drain, that may be a sign that your drain is clogged. Clogged drains are not only unpleasant but can also lead to bigger problems if they aren't taken care of soon. If you suspect that your shower drain is clogged, you can follow these steps.

If you have bad smells coming from your shower drain, that may be a sign that your drain is clogged.

The first thing to do when you have a stinky shower is to clean the strainer basket. If this doesn't work, it's time to call in a plumber.

Hair is one of the main culprits when it comes to clogging shower drains.

Long hair can often collect in the shower drain basket or even in the drainpipe itself, keeping water from flowing properly. If your shower won't drain properly due to hair that has become lodged in its drainage pipes, use a drain cleaner designed specifically for this purpose (or use baking soda and vinegar).

Some people don't realize that not all drain cleaners are safe for every type of plumbing system.

While most household chemicals can be used with ease on most drains, some can damage certain types of pipes if they're not used correctly. One example is bleach, which can eat away at the lining of PVC pipes and cause them to crack over time. If you're unsure whether your drain cleaner is appropriate for your home's plumbing system, consult a plumber before using it.

The best thing you can do for your plumbing is to ensure that you're cleaning out your drains regularly to prevent clogs from occurring.

If you're dealing with a plumbing problem and trying to determine whether you need to call a professional, the best thing you can do for your plumbing is to ensure that you're cleaning out your drains regularly to prevent clogs from occurring. If you don't clean out your drain, hair and debris will build up inside of it. 

You should also avoid using chemical drain cleaners at all costs unless they come with explicit instructions as part of their use. Many chemical drain cleaners contain harsh chemicals that are very dangerous and can cause skin irritation if they get on your body; additionally, many types of these products are extremely toxic for children and pets.

You can help keep your shower drain clean and clear by cleaning it regularly and not using harsh chemicals.

If you want to avoid having to call a plumber, it's important to keep your shower drain clean and clear by cleaning it regularly. The most common way to do this is by using a snake, which is essentially a long wire with an attachment at the end that can be pushed down into the pipes. You'll pull the attachments out of the drain, then use a plunger or other tool to loosen whatever is blocking your pipe.

If you don't want to spend money on tools like snakes or plungers, there are other things that can help as well. For instance: pouring boiling water down your pipes will often break up clogs; using baking soda and vinegar (or some other combination) mixed in equal parts will also work; adding salt into hot water (about 1 cup) will soften hard water buildup so it can be washed away easily; and finally, never pour grease down your drains!

Finally, the best thing you can do for your plumbing is to ensure that you're cleaning out your drains regularly to prevent clogs from occurring. You can help keep your shower drain clean and clear by cleaning it regularly and not using harsh chemicals.

How to Prepare Your Business for a Fire

10/5/2022 (Permalink)

Fire evacuation.

How to Fire-Ready Your Company

This article might be a bit of a downer, but it's an important one. Fires happen every day, and if you don't know what to do during one, your business could be at risk. Additionally, there are people with disabilities who might need greater assistance due to limited mobility. Let's go over some steps you can take to prepare your business for fire—and why they're so important!

1. Know where all fire extinguishers are located and how to use them.

When you're in a building, it's important to know where all fire extinguishers are located. If there is a fire, you need to be able to use one as quickly as possible.

When you're in a building, it's also important to know how each type of fire extinguisher works. For example, there are different kinds of fires that require different types of extinguishers: electrical fires require CO2 (carbon dioxide) extinguishers; kitchen grease fires require ABC (alkaline) extinguishers; and combustible flammable liquids like gasoline or oil call for water-based foam.

2. Make sure each employee knows where the fire exits are and the different routes to the nearest exit.

• Know how to use emergency exit signs and know how to use fire sprinkler system, fire alarm system.

3. Have an established meeting area for employees during a fire emergency.

If you have employees, it's important that they know where to go in case of a fire emergency. This will ensure that everyone is accounted for and safe. The meeting place should be outside the building or near an exit, preferably on a wide-open street or driveway where there aren't any obstacles blocking people from exiting the building quickly. It should also be away from any windows or other areas that may catch fire if there is an explosion or other type of damage to your business building. A good idea would be to designate two meeting places—one inside and one outside of your building—and inform all employees about them so they can get out safely no matter what happens during the emergency at hand. It's also helpful if you have someone designated as "leader" who will make sure everyone knows how to get out safely before evacuating themselves; this person could help coordinate efforts among coworkers, so they don't end up lost while trying to evacuate.

4. Review safety procedures on a regular basis.

The final step in the process is to review safety procedures on a regular basis. This should be done at least quarterly, and ideally it will be conducted with all employees present so that everyone’s up to date with their responsibilities. It should also take place in a safe environment where people can express themselves freely (for example, you don’t want to do this during an emergency). While it might seem like a good idea for just managers or high-ranking staff members to conduct this review, we recommend including all employees from the get-go so that they have an opportunity to ask questions about what they need clarity on before an incident occurs.

In addition, make sure that safety procedures are updated regularly and reflect changes in technology as well as industry practices over time—this ensures that your company is prepared for any type of fire situation!

5. Implement a safe evacuation procedure, based on an analysis of your workplace.

A fire evacuation procedure is a set of instructions that allow you to evacuate your workplace safely and quickly. It should be based on an analysis of the layout of your business, including all exits (including stairwells and fire escapes), corridors, waiting areas, storage rooms and other areas that employees may need to use during an evacuation.

To create a safe evacuation procedure:

• Review the layout of your business using an architectural plan or floor plan drawings
• Identify all possible exits from every room in the building – this includes exit doors, windows and internal stairs/ladders leading from floor to floor; walkways outside; fire escapes; smoke doors or other escape routes
• Make sure everyone knows where these exits are located – you can use maps with different colored arrows clearly pointing out each exit point 
• Ensure that all staff know what route they will take if there's ever an emergency at work

6. Make sure employees know how to sound the alarm and what alarms mean.

When the alarm sounds, your employees should know exactly what to do. If they don't, you could be in big trouble. A fire can spread quickly, and people need to know how to react when one breaks out.

The first thing your employees should do is make sure everyone else knows about the fire as well. The best way to do this is by using an intercom system or alarm. This will ensure that everyone hears about it before anything else happens.

7. Ensure that employees with physical disabilities are not excluded from your fire emergency plan

You may have already started to think about your fire safety plan and the steps you would take in case of a fire. If not, now's the time to do it.

Fire safety is important for everyone, but if you have employees with physical disabilities, you will need to make sure that they are included in your emergency plans, so they are prepared in case of an emergency. This means making sure that your plan covers all possible situations, such as an evacuation route (or multiple evacuation routes) and specific accommodations for those who use mobility devices or other assistive technologies.

In addition to this, employers should make sure there are adequate resources available on-site during an emergency so that people with disabilities can evacuate safely with their colleagues. If possible, include a section on how staff members should communicate effectively with their coworkers who use sign language or another form of communication which requires additional support from coworkers when needed during an emergency.

Takeaway: Have a game plan before disaster hits.

The first step to ensuring your business continuity is to have a plan in place. While it may seem like common sense, it's so important that it bears repeating: you need to create a fire evacuation plan for your employees and any visitors. If you don't have one, speak with your insurance agent about what steps you can take now to get started on one.

Once you’ve created the plan, practice it regularly and make sure everyone knows what they're supposed to do if there's an emergency. There are many times when businesses prepare as much as possible but still find themselves unprepared during an actual crisis because they couldn’t adequately train staff members once the time came.

Finally, remain vigilant about maintaining compliance with all local rules and regulations regarding smoke alarms—no matter where in the world your building is located or how old the building may be!

The last thing you want to worry about during a fire emergency is whether your employees know what to do and how to do it. The best thing you can do is create an emergency plan with your team, and make sure everyone knows their role in the event of an emergency. It’s also important to have drills so that everyone knows exactly what they’re supposed to do when something goes wrong in your business or home.

3 Ways To Know That You Might Have a Leaky Supply Line

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

A pipe burst in Fort Collins, CO

Three Ways To Know That You Might Have a Leaky Supply Line

A leaking pipe at your business in Fort Collins, CO, can be caused by a number of things. Rust, poor installation, or frozen water are all signs that a supply line is leaking, leading to a pipe burst. Often, there are signs that you can see that indicate a problem before the pipe actually bursts, and you have a major water cleanup job on hand. Keep an eye out to catch a leaking supply line before it becomes a problem.

1. Increasing Water Bills
If you haven't significantly increased your company's water usage, then a sudden increase in your water bills may indicate a leak. A supply line leaking will drive your water cost up because there is always water flowing. Have a plumber come for an inspection to control the water costs and resolve problems that could lead to a major pipe burst cleanup job.

2. Changes in Water Pressure
A pipe that is frozen or leaking will not be able to provide the same amount of water pressure as a problem-free pipe. You may notice that sinks and toilets are slow to drain or that they clog easily. This could be due to decreased water pressure caused by a leaking supply line. The increased pressure of the pipes trying to do their job could lead to a pipe bursting.

3. Discovery of Water Damage
Standing water is usually a strong indicator that you have a problem. Pipe burst cleanup should be handled by a professional water restoration company. There are different categories of water that can come from a burst pipe, and you want to be careful when dealing with potentially contaminated water. Water marks on ceilings and walls are other indicators that you have a leak. A professional team can use this information to evaluate the extent of the problem and help you restore your business.
Pipe burst cleanup is usually extensive and expensive, so keep an eye out for signs of leaking pipes. The sooner you can catch the problem, the better off your business will be.

Fire Recovery From Assessment to Restoration

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

Fort Collins fire cleanup

Here Are The Steps You Can Expect The Restoration Specialists To Take

Flames in your building in Fort Collins, CO, can cause a lot of fire damage. Whether the fire guts most of your building or only affects a certain area, you will need fire mitigation services to repair and restore what is lost, and it's a good idea to have the same company handle the whole process from start to finish. Here are the steps you can expect the restoration specialists to take.

1. Assessment
The first thing the mitigation team does when it arrives is assess the damage to your property. Technicians survey not only the area where there is obvious trouble but also the surrounding spaces to investigate for smoke or soot damage. It's a good idea to have a mitigation expert present when your insurance adjuster arrives so that every task needed to restore your building is accounted for in the claim.

2. Protection
In addition to the fire damage caused by the event, your building is also vulnerable to further issues if there are spaces left open that allow vandals, thieves or vermin to enter. Therefore, the team should board up broken windows and any holes left by the fire until those areas can be fully repaired.

3. Extraction
It takes a lot of water to put out a fire. Before cleanup can begin, the excess water must be pumped out of the building, and the surfaces need to be dried.

4. Cleanup
There will be parts of the structure that cannot be salvaged. The first step of the cleanup process is tearing out walls, flooring and ceiling tiles that are too badly damaged to be saved. Then all remaining parts of the structure need to be cleaned and sanitized.

5. Restoration
The last thing the team must do is rebuild the structure and restore the affected space to its previous condition. This involves not only replacing everything that was torn out but also painting and matching wallpaper or flooring to what remains.
Fire damage must be mitigated before your building can be restored. A team that does both helps the process go smoothly.

Protect Your Business With a Flood Policy

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

Storm damage to a Fort Collins commercial building.

Three Things To Know About a Commercial Flood Policy

If your business in Fort Collins, CO, becomes damaged in a flood, you could be out thousands of dollars unless you have commercial insurance to cover such losses. Most regular insurance does not cover flooding due to storms. Flood insurance can be purchased separately through The National Flood Insurance Program, which consists of around 60 providers and is managed by FEMA.

1. The Building Is Protected
Floodwater can seep in and cause all kinds of damage to different types of materials including walls, carpeting, appliances, plumbing, and electrical equipment. Luckily, commercial flood insurance usually covers all of these items and more. Coverage generally includes the main building, as well as any detached garages or other facilities.

2. The Contents Inside the Building Are Covered
In addition to the main components of the building, commercial insurance may cover less-permanent structures too. Rugs, curtains, furniture, and other valuable materials that are not part of the building may also be protected. It is a good idea to take pictures of any items before a disaster has a chance to strike. A professional restoration company can often deal with damage to important paperwork and electronics.

3. Not Everything Is Covered
A commercial flood policy does not cover items that are unrelated to the physical structure of your business. For example, cars, other vehicles, or losses incurred during a business outage are not typically covered under these policies. Most deal with flooding due to storms or broken levies but may not apply to problems of flooding originating inside the building. If you have flooding from a broken pipe or sump pump, you may need a different type of insurance for that damage.
Because just 1 inch of floodwater can cause up to $25,000 in damage, it is important to have flood insurance for your business. Read your paperwork carefully to see exactly what is covered by your commercial insurance policy.

How To Avoid a Home Fire When Grilling

7/30/2022 (Permalink)

A grill fire that spreads to a home in Fort Collins, CO, can be a devastating event.

Avoid a Disaster When Cooking Outdoors

Grilling at home is something that nearly everyone enjoys and that can be done safely with a few precautions. Now and then a grill fire breaks out and more often than not the only casualty is the food on the grill. However, if a person is not careful or does something unwise, the fire can get out of control and involve the home. Keeping the following things in mind should avoid a disaster when cooking outdoors:

• Do not cook too close to the home
• Do not operate the grill near flammable items such as a gas can
• Never operate a faulty grill
• Secure the connections from the gas tank to the grill
• Never leave the grill unattended
  
  

It is a good idea to clean the grill on a regular basis. This keeps oils and fats to a minimum and avoids the flaring up of flames.

What To Do During a Barbeque Fire
It is important to keep calm. Panic only makes things worse. So long as you are not too close to your home and there is nothing combustible nearby, the grill fire should stay contained. If it is not too hot, turn off the burners and then turn off the line from the gas tank. In a short time, the fire will simply go out. It is a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case the fire gets serious. You might ruin your food, but you could save your home.

What To Do After a Home Fire
A grill fire that spreads to a home in Fort Collins, CO, can be a devastating event. Calling a professional fire remediation company can help you recover quickly. A trained team will have the experience and the resources to put your home back together again. Fire, soot, and smoke damage will soon be a thing of the past. The repair and restoration process is completed with as little disruption as possible to your family.