Archived Fire Damage Blog Posts

Essential Guide to Fire Damage Repair and Restoration in Bloomfield

Name: SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
Address: 100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT, 06002
Telephone: (860) 216-2785

11/7/2024 (Permalink)

Experiencing a fire is a traumatic event, and the aftermath can feel overwhelming. For residents in Bloomfield, CT, who are faced with fire damage, immediate and professional support is crucial. Fire Damage Repair and Restoration is essential not only to restore your property but also to bring peace of mind back to your home. Here’s a guide to understanding the process, the importance of quick action, and how SERVPRO® can assist you.

Understanding Fire Damage and Its Effects

A fire can cause extensive damage to your home’s structure, furniture, appliances, and personal belongings. Beyond the visible damage from flames, smoke and soot leave behind toxic residues that can linger in the air and on surfaces if not properly removed. Here’s what you need to know:

Structural Damage: The heat from a fire can compromise the structural integrity of walls, ceilings, and support beams, requiring immediate inspection.
Smoke and Soot Residue: Residue can discolor surfaces, ruin materials, and pose health risks if inhaled.
Water Damage: The water used to extinguish the fire often adds to the damage, increasing the risk of mold and mildew.
Odor and Air Quality: Lingering smoke odors can make a home uninhabitable and require specialized equipment to remove.

Why Immediate Fire Damage Repair and Restoration is Essential

Quick action in Fire Damage Repair and Restoration is critical to prevent further deterioration and to keep your home safe. Immediate response helps to:

Limit Structural Damage: Swift action helps prevent smoke and soot from settling deeper into materials.
Reduce Restoration Costs: The sooner repairs start, the lower the risk of severe, irreparable damage.
Improve Air Quality: Professional cleaning removes toxic particles, making your home safer to breathe in.
Preserve Belongings: Timely intervention can save valuable belongings that might otherwise be unsalvageable.

The Steps Involved in Fire Damage Repair and Restoration

Fire Damage Repair and Restoration is a multi-step process that requires expertise, specialized equipment, and adherence to strict safety guidelines. Here is an overview of the process followed by SERVPRO of Bloomfield:

1. Emergency Contact and Inspection

24/7 Response: Fire emergencies can happen anytime. SERVPRO is available around the clock.
Thorough Assessment: Professionals assess the extent of fire, smoke, and water damage to create a customized plan.
Safety First: SERVPRO prioritizes safety and works to stabilize any immediate hazards.

2. Securing the Property

Board-Up Services: Broken windows or doors are secured to prevent further damage and unauthorized entry.
Tarping the Roof: If the fire caused roof damage, tarping helps keep out rain and environmental elements.

3. Water Removal and Drying

Immediate Water Extraction: Standing water from firefighting efforts is quickly removed.
Industrial Drying Equipment: High-powered fans and dehumidifiers prevent secondary water damage and mold growth.

4. Smoke and Soot Cleanup

Surface Cleaning: Using specialized techniques, technicians remove soot and smoke from walls, ceilings, and other surfaces.
Air Scrubbing and Odor Removal: High-efficiency air filters and thermal foggers are used to eliminate lingering smoke odors and improve air quality.

5. Sanitizing and Deodorization

Deodorizing Treatments: Advanced cleaning agents and ozone generators help eliminate stubborn odors.
Sanitization of Affected Areas: Antimicrobial treatments help prevent bacterial and fungal growth, making spaces safe again.

6. Restoration and Rebuild

Repairing Structural Damage: This can include replacing drywall, installing new flooring, and painting.
Final Inspections: Ensuring all areas meet SERVPRO’s quality standards for safety, cleanliness, and odor control.
Restoring Belongings: Special treatments can restore personal items like clothing, furniture, and electronics.

Why Choose SERVPRO of Bloomfield for Fire Damage Repair and Restoration?

SERVPRO of Bloomfield is a trusted name in the fire damage repair and restoration industry. Here’s why you should consider them:

Expertise and Experience: SERVPRO’s technicians are IICRC-certified and well-trained in fire damage repair and restoration.
Advanced Technology and Equipment: SERVPRO uses state-of-the-art equipment to clean and restore your property effectively.
Comprehensive Services: From board-up and water removal to soot removal and rebuild, SERVPRO manages every aspect.
Insurance Assistance: SERVPRO works directly with insurance companies, easing the claims process for you.
Compassionate Care: SERVPRO’s team understands the emotional toll of fire damage and is committed to treating your home with respect.

Tips for Homeowners Facing Fire Damage in Bloomfield, CT

Recovering from fire damage takes time, but following these tips can make the process smoother:

Contact Professionals Immediately: Quick response can reduce repair costs and damage.
Document the Damage: Take photos and make notes for your insurance claims.
Avoid DIY Cleanup: Fire and smoke residues are hazardous; leave cleanup to professionals.
Review Insurance Policies Regularly: Make sure you have sufficient coverage for fire and water damage.

Preventing Future Fire Damage

After fire damage repair and restoration, it’s a good time to consider preventive measures:

Install Smoke Detectors: Check batteries every six months.
Plan Fire Exits: Make sure all family members know the quickest exits.
Reduce Fire Hazards: Avoid overloading electrical outlets and keep flammable items away from heat sources.

Final Thoughts: Restoring Your Home and Peace of Mind

Fire Damage Repair and Restoration in Bloomfield, CT is essential to reclaiming your home and sense of normalcy. With SERVPRO, you can rely on a swift response, advanced restoration techniques, and compassionate support during your recovery journey. Their team’s expertise will ensure your home is not only safe and restored but also comfortable for you and your family once more.

When disaster strikes, trust the experts at SERVPRO of Bloomfield to help you through every step of fire damage repair and restoration.

Where There's Fire There's Smoke...Odor

7/8/2024 (Permalink)

Bloomfield Enfield Smoke Fire Damage Services

Smoke damage can be insidious and difficult to treat alone.

Removing Smoke Odor From Clothing, Furniture, and Carpets

After a fire you’re eager to clean your home, but be careful! You may waste effort or even make things worse if you don’t use proper methods. Begin by contacting your insurance agent immediately after a fire. Then consult with a fire restoration expert like SERVPRO Bloomfield/Enfield. For dealing with the smell of smoke in clothing, upholstered furniture, carpets, and drapes, here are some tips.

Need Smoke Or Soot Removal Services?

Call (860) 216-2785
After a home fire, several factors can influence the severity of the odor:
• Size of the fire: The larger the fire, the more materials have been burned, and the more smoke you’ll have.
• Length of exposure: The longer an area is exposed to smoke, the more deeply embedded the smoke odor can be in all porous materials.
• Size of the room affected: The smaller the room, the more intense and concentrated the smoke odor can become.
• The material burned: Different materials leave behind different odors. A wood fire smells differently than a fire that burns mostly plastic materials, for example. The type of materials affected may influence the type of products you need to remove the smoke odor.

Deodorize Before You Clean
Before you have anything cleaned, properly deodorize the affected items. We recommend you use professionals. A dry cleaner or professional fire restorer will tell you about counteractants. Counteractants are chemicals or additives that break up smoke molecules and eliminate the smoke odor. You need different counteractants depending on the material burned in the fire. Counteractants may be professionally applied to furniture, carpets, and drapes. Fire restorers also may provide them for laundering clothes.

Some professional fire restorers and dry cleaners use an ozone treatment to remove smoke odors. If they do the work in your home, they’ll put your smoke odor affected items under a tent while an ozone generator runs.

Household Remedies Only Provide Temporary Relief
Yes, you may think about using a household deodorizing spray or disinfectant but they provide only temporary relief from smoke odor. And, deodorizing sprays may interact with smoke odor and create an additional odor.

If it’s impossible for you to have your smoke odor infested items restored by a professional fire restorer, you might try one of these methods:

1. Dissolve one cup of dishwashing detergent—the type used in an
automatic dishwasher—in one gallon of warm water. Completely submerge the items and let them soak all night in your washing machine or bathtub. Drain and launder as usual the next day.

2. For items that can be bleached, mix 4 to 6 tablespoons trisodium phosphate (available from your hardware store) with 1 cup Lysol or household chlorine bleach and 1 gallon of water. Add clothes, rinse with clear water, and dry.

We’re here to help. The team at SERVPRO Bloomfield/Enfield has specialized fire restoration training and experience to quickly clean up and restore your home to pre-fire condition. We can remove virtually any pervasive smoke odor and deep-clean soot from upholstery and carpet.

We use a thorough fire damage restoration process:
Step1: Emergency Contact
Step 2: Inspection and Fire Damage Assessment
Step 3: Immediate Board-Up and Roof Tarp Service (if needed)
Step 4: Water Removal and Drying (if water damage is present)
Step 5: Removal of Smoke and Soot from All Surfaces
Step 6: Cleaning and Repair
Step 7: Restoration

So call SERVPRO Bloomfield/Enfield (860.216.2785) anytime, 24/7.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call (860) 216-2785
24-hour emergency service

We've served clients in Ellington, West Hartford, Avon, Springfield, Manchester, Hartford, Newington, Bloomfield, East Hartford, Enfield, Simsbury, Coventry, South Windsor, Agawam, and beyond!

No Kitchen Fires!

7/8/2024 (Permalink)

Most home fires start in the kitchen, and most of those are related to cooking. Since the kitchen has sources of ready fuel, such as cooking oils, gas appliances, towels and more, a kitchen fire can rage out of control quickly and spread to the rest of your home. But if you follow just a few basic guidelines, you can really reduce the odds of a kitchen fire happening to you. Whether you’re cooking or not, follow our tips to prevent a fire from starting in your kitchen.

No Fires When You’re Cooking

Stay put.

The most important thing to do when you are cooking is to never leave your cooktop or range unattended. If cooking in the oven, be sure to be within earshot (to hear a timer go off, for instance) and no further than the next room. If cooking on the stovetop, do not leave the kitchen, period.

Keep it clean.

A fire needs fuel to burn, so keep your stovetop and cooking area free of combustibles. This means towels, oven mitts, paper towels, food wrappers and other items should not be near the stove. It also means that spattered grease should be cleaned up promptly, both on the stovetop and in the oven.

Dress for success.

When cooking, your clothes should be close-fitting to prevent them from touching a flame and catching fire. In particular, if your sleeves are long or loose, roll them up.

Cool it down.

Don’t toss hot grease into your kitchen trash. Let it cool down first, perhaps in an empty can, before disposing of it.

Keep it empty.

Don’t store food inside your oven—if you forget about it and preheat, you may start a fire.

No Fires When You’re Not Cooking

Don’t be plug ugly.

The key to a safe kitchen when you’re not cooking is to use electricity safely. That means all appliances should be plugged directly into a wall outlet, never an extension cord. And that outlet must be properly grounded and must match the appliance’s rating plate. Further, it’s a smart idea to unplug small appliances, like your toaster, when you’re not using them. Finally, check your cords to be sure they are all undamaged and replace any that are frayed or cracked.

Ovens are for eating, not heating.

Never use a gas oven to heat your home. You risk both a fire and carbon monoxide poisoning.

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

We're Here for You

The team at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield has specialized training and experience in fire restoration and cleanup, as well as natural disaster and storm damage cleanup, water damage and mold remediation, water and mold damage, and chemical and biohazard cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield (860.216.2785) any time.

Other Helpful Blog Posts

SERVPRO® publishes educational articles on how you can protect your home and business from fire, water, mold, sewage, storm, natural disaster and other damage.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
Top 50 Franchise Nationally
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

You've Had A House Fire - Now What?

7/1/2024 (Permalink)

Fire damage is insidious and trying to handle your own fire damage repair in Connecticut will be overwhelming. Call us at 860-216-2785!

If you have had a fire in your home, you may be feeling overwhelmed and more stressed than you’ve experienced before. After the fire department has gone, you may find yourself asking “What’s next?” The fire damage may be obvious, as well as the immediate water damage from the firemen’s hoses but the chemical agents and remnants can cause secondary damage well after the fire trucks have driven away.

At SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield we understand the instinct to want to start doing things, to rent a steam cleaner or buy a bottle of cleaning spray and start trying to handle the mess yourself. What you don’t realize is that you may be exacerbating the problem. Cleaners and chemical agents can react with residue and create toxic fumes that could permanently ruin your home, make you very sick, or worse.

So what do you do when you’ve had fire damage? Call us at 860-216-2785 & call your insurance company. Because of our dedication and commitment to making your home look and feel “like it never even happened” SERVPRO Bloomfield/Enfield is listed as a preferred vendor to most insurance companies in the Connecticut area. Your insurance company will assign you an adjuster and reach out to us, or you can call us directly at 860-216-2785. Our emergency responders can be on site within an hour of your call. They will talk you through the process of what needs to be done, the general scope of work and give you a verbal estimate, all for no cost.

From there we can step in while you catch your breath. Our 24/7 crews are extensively trained in safe and efficient ways to return your home to as normal as possible. Our office staff is well versed in working with insurance companies and adjusters. Our project managers are there to answer your questions and make sure you are on the same page and comfortable with the process.

SERVPRO Bloomfield/Enfield completely understands that a house fire was not a situation that you expected, wanted, or likely prepared for. From the initial demo until the last little piece of decoration is cleaned of soot, we will be with you every step of the way. We have the equipment like air scrubbers which can remove the lingering smoke odors from rugs and couches. Our fire cleanup crews will blow your mind with how quick and thorough they are. Just read one of the reviews left by a recent customer:

“SERVPRO never let me down. They did an amazing job with my garage, it was caught up with some fire and the smell from it was horrible. And also everything was drenched from the firefighter’s efforts to put out the fire. SERVPRO crews really took the time to eliminate the odor and dry everything up. Incredible crews. I will definitely recommend your services to everyone I know.”

We are a locally owned company with national resources and we take great pride in all of the services we provide. We are proud to offer

Water damage restoration services
Fire damage restoration services
Mold remediation
Storm damage restoration
Commercial Cleaning Services

SERVPRO Bloomfield/Enfield will be faster to your disaster and can take your fire emergency from “disaster” to “did that even happen?”

Fire Damage? Lower Your Fire Clean Up Costs!

5/8/2024 (Permalink)

SERVOPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield has the specialized fire and water damage cleanup and restoration training and experience to quickly restore your home.

The more time between the fire and restoration the more costs you incur and the fewer items you can restore. Depending on the extent of the fire damage, you may be able to save clothing, leather, books, photographs, kitchen items, furniture, and more.

Restored To Pre-Loss Condition
SERVPRO Bloomfield/Enfield cleans and deodorizes restorable items, sometimes to preloss condition. So don’t throw anything out until you’re certain it must be replaced. Save your property and save money. Now that’s a win/win!

Call SERVPRO Bloomfield/Enfield to discuss. We’re the fire restoration and clean up company that has saved property and saved money for the owners of fire damaged homes. Whether you're in East Hartford or Tolland; Bloomfield or Manchester; or anywhere in between, we can help.

SERVPRO Bloomfield/Enfield
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.216.2785
24 hour emergency service

Cleaning Up and Repairing Enfield Fire Damage

9/3/2022 (Permalink)

Surprised by fire damage in your Enfield property? Call SERVPRO, We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

We Seek Pre-Loss Condition After Fire Damage

With dozens of historical landmarks on the national registry and larger commercial properties in the area like Asnuntuck Community College, when disasters like fires occur, SERVPRO must act fast. A structure fire can leave your property contending with several layers of needed cleanup and recovery, with the largest hazard contributors being:

Ruined Materials
Debris
Smoke
Water Damage
Odors

The city’s emergency responders first address Enfield fire damage. When extinguishing is completed, we can be ready to enter the building and work on the required mitigation and restoration services. Preparedness during the earliest stages and mobilization after the first notice of loss ensure that this cleanup starts as it should when the property is deemed safe to enter.

Working with Your Insurance Provider

Fire damage can be widespread and destructive, whether your home or business. In most cases, restoring these disasters is a process moved through your insurance provider to secure needed funding for the project. As a preferred local vendor for insurance work with national and regional brands, we understand the required documentation and evidence to secure a damage claim approval and work fast to get the process green-lit so mitigation and restoration can start.

Reaching Homes Fast for Fire Mitigation

Extinguishing a fire does not stop the damage it can do to your home. Experienced restoration professionals must move fast from our warehouse with products, tools, and equipment to mitigate loss and protect what matters most to our customers. Some of the focal points of mitigative effort include:

Extraction – While you can appreciate the high volumes of water used to put out the fire in your home, this becomes another threat during the restoration process with standing water and pooling in several areas of the property. We have multiple extractors to manage these surface water threats to get other cleaning processes underway.
Removing Fire Debris – Shoveling out ash, soot, and building remnants can benefit the property in several ways. Not only does this expose structural defects from the fire damage covered by the debris, but it can noticeably reduce soot and smoke odor concentrations.
Managing Contents – Contents in your home can be the biggest priority for protection and preservation, as you cannot replace some items with a monetary value. We relocate some items, clean some on-site, and have technicians ready to transport harmed contents to our SERVPRO facility for more advanced cleaning.

How Damaging is Soot?

Soot is one of the more problematic byproducts of fire damage, and with the way it can spread to many exposed surfaces in the house, it creates a sizable concern for responding technicians. We must evaluate several factors to determine the needed cleaning products to help, including solvents and detergents. Dry smoke requires special products like chemical sponges to remove.

The Lingering Smoke Odors

Odors are another product of combustion that can overwhelm areas of your house. While surface cleaning and efforts like debris removal can help to reduce the severity of smells and malodors, the full deodorization and neutralization of these threats come with equipment from our inventory like HEPA products, hydroxyl machines, and oxidation units.

Who Does Post-Fire Repair?

Repairs and reconstruction are common after structure fires. Unlike other restoration companies, because we have a general contractor license (#0646584), we can complete the needed build-back services like demolition, patches, temporary construction, and full rebuilding of damaged areas in your house.

Enfield fire damage requires a fast and focused response from trained, certified professionals like our SERVPRO of Bloomfield / Enfield team. We can help when disaster strikes at (860) 216-2785.

The Need for Elaborate Fire Damage Restoration in Enfield Homes

7/14/2022 (Permalink)

smoke coming in from under a door during a fire

The smoke from an Enfield house fire can significantly affect the home's indoor air quality. Call SERVPRO for fire and smoke damage restoration.l

SERVPRO Has Resources Suitable for Fire Repairs in Enfield

Fires cause significant damage within a short period. House fires can be life-threatening within two minutes and can engulf an entire property in five minutes. On average, the response from the Enfield fire department takes slightly over 5 minutes, so any incident can significantly damage your structure and valuables. Once the fire department hands over the property to you, there is still significant work to do, collectively known as fire damage restoration.

Although the damage may be significant, it is still possible to save some things. Appropriate Enfield fire damage restoration procedures help salvage more items and complete other necessary procedures such as replacement and refinishing. SERVPRO provides the required tools and Fire Restoration Technicians certified by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration to facilitate your recovery efforts.

Necessary restoration actions

Capturing all fire residues
Removing compromised materials
Removing bad odors

Fire leaves properties dirty due to the accumulation of soot, ash, and discoloration of materials. Completing restoration without cleaning is impossible. In most cases, it is among the first steps you must take. Fire cleanup is not the same as regular house cleaning because smoke residues spread vastly, reaching every corner of a property. The soot particle sizes vary and can be very small, thus penetrating cracks and crevices. Effectively capturing residues is essential during cleaning. Our SERVPRO crews use physical removal methods such as HEPA vacuuming to collect residues or dissolve them in cleaning solutions.

Fire effects on materials

Most materials exhibit changes once exposed to high temperatures. Partially burnt structural materials show visible signs such as charring. Changes may also be less visual but have dire implications. Structural materials may lose their core strength, while utilities such as electric cables can be compromised when heat melts their insulating covers or residues clogging air ducts. Our SERVPRO technicians strip down affected areas removing all the compromised materials, paving the way for cleanup, deodorization, and rebuilding.

Steps necessary for removing odors

Identifying odor sources
Physical removal of odorous materials
Neutralizing odor molecules

SERVPRO of Bloomfield / Enfield is ready to go the extra mile to facilitate fire damage restoration. Call us at (860) 216-2785. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

How Fire and Soot Damage Affects Bloomfield Homes

7/8/2022 (Permalink)

Fire damaged home in Bloomfield? No worries, call SERVPRO to make it "Like it never even happened."

Cleaning Fire and Soot Damage

There are many focal points for fire mitigation and cleanup. When addressing the threats of fire byproducts like soot, SERVPRO professionals prioritize specific objectives when we first arrive:

Surface damage
Structural damage
Harsh odors
Water and moisture effects
Airborne contaminants

Post-Fire Debris

Debris is a combination of ash, soot, charred materials, destroyed contents, and other fire and soot damage in Bloomfield homes. These deposits increase the presence of soot and odors in the environment, making them one of the first obstacles for our responding SERVPRO team to overcome when starting fire mitigation.

Surface Soiling

Soot is most directly associated with physical soil deposits on the surface of materials. Because these solids can stain underlying surfaces or corrosive soot deposits can be, SERVPRO must use solvents and detergents as soon as possible. We can use alkaline wet cleaning products to balance harsh pH for less structural damage.

Soot Particles in the Air

Airborne contaminants are another concern for the property and one of the forms of soot damage that SERVPRO must overcome. Smoke and aerosolized solids are a common byproduct of combustion, and these particulates continually circulate in the air until coming to rest on damaged surfaces. HEPA air scrubbers and environmental cleaning equipment are needed to reduce these airborne threats' presence.

Widespread Malodors

Soot is also connected to malodors spread throughout the structure. As surfaces get cleaned and debris removed from the property floors, the severity of post-fire odors lessens. Soot cleanup can help make deodorization faster and more efficient by counteracting strong smells early in the restoration process.

Soot is one of the more challenging developments of a fire and should be dealt with as soon as possible. Because these corrosive byproducts are interconnected with many post-fire loss effects, our SERVPRO of Bloomfield / Enfield professionals work fast to mitigate them. Give us a call now at (860) 216-2785.

Cutting Costs After Fire Damage

5/9/2022 (Permalink)

A bathroom is severely burned after a Connecticut house fire

Fire damage is terrible as it is. Let’s not make things worse by spending more money than necessary to restore your fire damaged home. Many times you can save money and keep property damage to a minimum through what’s called emergency mitigation services.

Saving Fire Damaged Possessions
Fire damaged property that may look like it needs to be replaced may actually be recoverable. A fire restoration company can save many a heirloom. But act quickly. Prompt fire cleanup and restoration is important because the items found in your home—furniture, carpet, walls, drapes, and even ceilings—can absorb smoke. If too much time elapses between when the fire damage occurs and when fire cleanup occurs, the effects of smoke damage can last for months.

Time Can Cost You Many Possessions
The more time between the fire and restoration the more costs you incur and the fewer items you can restore. Depending on the extent of the fire damage, you may be able to save clothing, leather, books, photographs, kitchen items, furniture, and more.

Restored To Pre-Loss Condition
SERVPRO Bloomfield/Enfield cleans and deodorizes restorable items, sometimes to preloss condition. So don’t throw anything out until you’re certain it must be replaced. Save your property and save money. Now that’s a win/win!

Where There's Fire There's Smoke...Odor

5/6/2022 (Permalink)

Smoke damage can be insidious and difficult to treat alone.

Removing Smoke Odor From Clothing, Furniture, and Carpets

After a fire you’re eager to clean your home, but be careful. You may waste effort or even make things worse if you don’t use proper methods. Begin by contacting your insurance agent immediately after a fire. Then consult with a fire restoration expert like SERVPRO Bloomfield/Enfield. For dealing with the smell of smoke in clothing, upholstered furniture, carpets, and drapes, here are some tips.

Need Smoke Or Soot Removal Services? Call (860) 216-2785

After a home fire, several factors can influence the severity of the odor:
• Size of the fire: The larger the fire, the more materials have been burned, and the more smoke you’ll have.
• Length of exposure: The longer an area is exposed to smoke, the more deeply embedded the smoke odor can be in all porous materials.
• Size of the room affected: The smaller the room, the more intense and concentrated the smoke odor can become.
• The material burned: Different materials leave behind different odors. A wood fire smells differently than a fire that burns mostly plastic materials, for example. The type of materials affected may influence the type of products you need to remove the smoke odor.

We've served clients in Ellington, West Hartford, Avon, Springfield, Manchester, Hartford, Newington, Bloomfield, East Hartford, Enfield, Simsbury, Coventry, South Windsor, Agawam, and beyond.

Fire Damage - Let the Experts Handle Your Home

4/27/2022 (Permalink)

Bloomfield Enfield Fire Damage Restoration

It's hard to see the damage that fire can cause to your home. Let SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield step in while you catch your breath.

Fire damage in your home can be traumatic and scary. After the smoke has cleared and the fire engines have left, you may feel tempted to just brush some soot away and try to go on with normal life. If you are lucky enough to clean up the soot that seems to sneak into every crack and crevice, you may be unaware that the lingering smoke damage and compromised air quality can affect your belongings, your pets, your family for long after the flames have been extinguished.

When there is an immense amount of smoke in your home, as there is after a fire, the effects may linger in unexpected places – clothes, furniture, carpet, even your walls. Along with the smoke, you risk inhaling absorbed soot or other particles left from burnt debris, extinguishing chemicals, and more. Your eyes, skin, sinuses, and even your lungs may feel the effects of smoke and fire damage.

Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785 immediately. We can have our priority responders to your property in under an hour, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Our responders will assess the damage, go over the scope of work and develop a game plan.

From there our crews get to work. First we will work with you to go through the contents of the damaged areas. We will assess and salvage any items in which the cost to restore them is less than the cost to replace them. The contents are removed from the property and taken to the SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield warehouse, locally owned and operated in Bloomfield, Connecticut. At our warehouse we clean, sanitize, and restore the items and then store them in our secure vaults.

Back at the house, our crews will extract any water that may have been a result of the fire fighters’ hoses, bust pipes, or other things that may have happened during the course of the blaze. It is vital to remove the water as soon as possible because sitting water can weaken the home’s structure and foster mold growth. After the excess water has been extracted we will use our state of the art equipment to continue drying the home.

Next comes our cleaning crews. The reviews speak for themselves as customer after customer has expressed their amazement at how quickly and thoroughly they work to remove soot from every affected area. We have the best equipment in the business to effectively eliminate odor contamination caused by the fire and the water.

“The team of women who spent hours cleaning everything in the house were thorough and so very polite and patient with this harried home-owner. A+ to everyone at SERVPRO and many thanks for returning our home to normal once again.” – Lisa B, Google Reviews

Then we begin the demolition stage. Our crews will remove portions of the home too badly damaged to salvage. We understand that it can be hard to see even more of your home demo’ed but your project manager will work hand in hand with you to explain the entire process. It is VITAL to proceed with the demolition because dangerous bacteria and acidic soot can increase the extent of the damage exponentially.

Dealing with a house fire is hard, traumatic, and draining. Allow SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield to help you through the process of bringing your normal back, to make it "Like it never even happened." Our highly trained staff will work with your insurance company and with you to make this process as painless as possible.

You've Had A House Fire - Now What?

4/25/2022 (Permalink)

Fire damage is insidious and trying to handle your own fire damage repair in Connecticut will be overwhelming. Call us at 860-216-2785 and let us help

So what do you do when you’ve had fire damage? Call us at 860-216-2785 and call your insurance company. Because of our dedication and commitment to making your home look and feel “like it never happened” SERVPRO Bloomfield/Enfield is listed as a preferred vendor to most insurance companies in the Connecticut area. Your insurance company will assign you an adjuster and reach out to us, or you can call us directly at 860-216-2785. Our emergency responders can be on site within an hour of your call. They will talk you through the process of what needs to be done, the general scope of work and give you a verbal estimate, all for no cost.

We are a locally owned company with national resources and we take great pride in all of the services we provide. We are proud to offer

Water damage restoration services
Fire damage restoration services
Mold remediation
Storm damage restoration
Commercial Cleaning Services

SERVPRO Bloomfield/Enfield will be faster to your disaster and can take your fire emergency from “disaster” to “did that even happen?”

What Our Customers Say About SERVPRO’s Fire Cleanup Services

7/29/2021 (Permalink)

F I R E in white letters on a red background

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield will do its best to make your fire damage restoration experience as easy and quick as it can be.

There are very few silver linings when it comes to experiencing a house fire, but many SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield customers in north central Connecticut have managed to find the positive in a difficult experience. We are so grateful to be able to make a real difference in the lives of our customers on some of their most difficult days!

“Their response time is uncanny! They arrived before I could finish cleaning up the house to show them around. Our back office had caught fire from a power strip but luckily it was extinguished within minutes. The team that came was very kind and informative—even my kids learned a few things!”—Nikita in Enfield

“Just want to give a great big shout out to the SERVPRO crew. They came in to help us with the water and smoke damage after the fire. Everyone was so helpful, kind, hardworking and compassionate. All those qualities were so appreciated as we navigated through this stressful time. Thank you all so much for a job very well done.”—Josh in Bloomfield

“Recently we had a fire in our kitchen from a towel catching fire by the stove. Just a few days later, SERVPRO removed all the damaged material and furniture from our home. The builders were able to start the reconstruction process very soon, thanks to their speediness. I’m very happy with the hard work put in by the SERVPRO team.”—Saul in East Granby

“On an extremely windy and very cold night two weeks ago, our woodstove experienced a sudden and profound back-draft, which filled the main floor of our house with thick, dark smoke, and also caused a small fire in the room. Through our insurance company we engaged SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield shortly after the event. This was an entirely new experience for us and after our first interaction with SERVPRO staff we knew we were in good hands. They really know their stuff. The project was handled with professional efficiency from start to finish and the results were absolutely amazing. The team of women who spent hours cleaning everything in the house was thorough and so very polite and patient with this harried home-owner. A+ to everyone at SERVPRO and many thanks for returning our home to normal once again.”—Liz in Hartland

When you have suffered damage from a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

We're Here for You

Other Helpful Blog Posts

SERVPRO publishes educational articles on how you can protect your home and business from fire, water, mold, sewage, storm, natural disaster and other damage.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield

Top 50 Franchise Nationally

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

When you have suffered damage from a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

SERVPRO Will Remediate Fire Damage in Your Granby Home

7/21/2021 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield to thoroughly clean and deodorize your Granby home and possessions after the flames have been put out.

Your Granby home caught fire! Fortunately, everyone is safe and unhurt. But your house? There could be a lot of damage ... and maybe you can’t even stay there until it’s cleaned up and repaired. Beyond the practical challenges of getting your life and home back in shape, you’re facing strong emotions and the uncertainty of exactly how to restore the damage to your home and your possessions—and fire, smoke and soot are extremely challenging to fully clean up.

You need to find a local fire damage cleanup expert who is trustworthy and knowledgeable—and who can get the job done quickly and completely. In Granby and north central Connecticut, turn to SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield. We have the resources, experience and equipment to fully restore your home. We’ll respond ASAP, evaluate your home and property and clean, restore and deodorize your possessions and structure.

This is our three-part approach to remediating damage from fire, smoke and soot after a house fire in Granby.

We Clean and Restore Your Building

A house fire leaves soot and other damage on your walls, ceilings, floors and trim. Upon arrival, we assess the damage, then use the appropriate equipment and products to clean each surface. We remove all traces of soot and prepare the surfaces to be repainted if necessary.

We Clean and Restore Your Personal Possessions

SERVPRO will evaluate your furnishings—including area rugs, furniture and window treatments—and your personal possessions—such as electronics, kitchen items, clothing, bedding, artwork, books and documents—to determine what is restorable. We test each item to determine which of our many cleaning techniques will be safest and most effective.

Because fire damage remediation can be complicated, SERVPRO creates a digital inventory of all your damaged items. This makes it easy to track every possession as it moves through the restoration process, while creating clear documentation for your insurance claim.

We Deodorize Everything in Your Home

In addition to cleaning your Granby home and everything in it, SERVPRO deodorizes your structure and possessions of lingering smoke odor. Rather than masking odors, we use advanced equipment, such as foggers that penetrate all the crevices in your home and furnishings, to remove smoke odors at the source.

When you have suffered damage from a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

We're Here for You

Other Helpful Blog Posts

SERVPRO publishes educational articles on how you can protect your home and business from fire, water, mold, sewage, storm, natural disaster and other damage.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield

Top 50 Franchise Nationally

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

When you have suffered damage from a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Prevent Home Heating Fires in Your Suffield House

2/19/2021 (Permalink)

Winter is prime time for home heating fires. Avoid one in your Suffield home by following our basic tips.

We all love the comfort of a cozy, warm home when the temperature drops in north central Connecticut. Most of the time, you turn up the thermostat, set a fire in your fireplace, turn on the hot water … and comfort is literally at your fingertips. But don’t get complacent, because fire danger lurks in our home heating systems.

Follow these basic tips to reduce the chance of a home heating fire in your Suffield home.

Prevent Home Heating Fires with Regular Maintenance and Cleaning

Have your furnace inspected by an HVAC professional each year. Change your furnace filter each month and clear away anything flammable, like cardboard boxes and old paint, from the area around your furnace.

Have the HVAC expert check your water heater to be sure it is operating safely, as well.

Likewise, have your chimney cleaned every year, ideally before the heating season starts. A chimney sweep will remove soot and highly flammable creosote, and will inspect your chimney and fireplace for structural damage, like cracks, that could lead to a chimney fire.

Bonus: While you don’t use your clothes dryer to heat your home, it does contain a heating element. And if enough lint builds up in the dryer cabinet, it can ignite and cause devastating fire damage. Remove lint from the dryer’s trap after every use, and have a pro in once a year to clean the dryer duct and cabinet.

Use Your Fireplace Safely to Avoid a Home Heating Fire

Learn how to set a clean-burning fire using the top-down method, and always use a fireplace screen to prevent sparks from igniting nearby carpet or other flooring or objects.

Use Other Sources of Heat Safely to Prevent a Home Heating Fire

Space heaters are convenient, but beware: they are involved in almost three-quarters of fire-related deaths in the home. It’s important to purchase a space heater that has an emergency cut-off that will kick in if the heater is knocked over. Always plug the heater into a GFI outlet, which will cut electricity in case of a malfunction. Next, never run a space heater unattended and don’t fall asleep with one running. Finally, keep a three-foot margin around the heater when it is operating—and keep objects, furnishings, bedding, clothing, pets and especially children away.

Important: Under no circumstances should you use a gas oven to heat your home—it’s both a source of a house fire and carbon monoxide poisoning.

When you have suffered a home heating fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

We're Here for You

Other Helpful Blog Posts

SERVPRO publishes educational articles on how you can protect your home and business from fire, water, mold, sewage, storm, natural disaster and other damage.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield

Top 50 Franchise Nationally

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

When you have suffered a home heating fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Ask These Questions to Avoid Fire Damage in Your East Granby Home

2/19/2021 (Permalink)

Walk around your home and ask yourself these questions to help prevent fire damage in your East Granby, CT home.

If you need fire damage restoration in your East Granby, CT home, call on SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield. We are ready to help you with complete professional fire damage restoration services that will get you back in your home ASAP.

Look, nobody wants to have their home damaged or destroyed by a house fire, and we certainly hope it doesn’t happen to you and your family! That’s why we’ve created a list to help you avoid fire damage in your East Granby house.

Go through your house area-by-area asking yourself these questions. If any answers are “no,” you can make easy changes to reduce your chances of needing fire damage restoration.

Throughout the House

Do your lighting fixtures have bulbs with the recommend wattage? Are the bulbs at least 12 inches from shades and combustibles?
Are your electric cords in good condition? Are they running freely, not squished under carpets or crushed beneath furniture? Are your outlets feeding only the specified power load?

Basement

Are the areas around your furnace or boiler, wood stove and water heater clear of flammable debris and combustible items?
Are the access doors on your water heater closed?
Are the wires and insulators on your electric breaker panel in good condition?
Are any oily rags stored in air-tight containers away from heat sources?

First Floor

Do you have at least one smoke detector installed and in working condition?
Does your kitchen have a working fire extinguisher?
Have you stored your towels, pot holders and other flammable items away from the stovetop?
Is your stovetop free of built-up grease and food?
Is your furniture made of fire-resistant upholstery?
Has your chimney been cleaned and inspected in the last year? Does your fireplace have a screen to block sparks and is the area in front of the fireplace clear of flammable objects?

Second Floor

Does each bedroom have a working smoke detector? Is there a working detector in the hall outside each sleeping area?
Do all family members know how to escape a fire at night?
Are space heaters at least three feet away from beds and other flammable materials?
Are electric blankets UL-approved? Are the cords undamaged?

Laundry Room

Is your dryer cabinet, duct and surrounding area free of built-up lint?
Is your duct made of metal instead of plastic?

Garage

Is the door between the house and garage solid and weather-stripped to prevent flames and gases from traveling?
Is your garage free of junk, trash and flammable materials, such as old newspapers and used oil?
Are gasoline (in approved containers) and oily rags (in air-tight containers) stored away from sources of ignition?

When you have suffered damage from a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

We're Here for You

Other Helpful Blog Posts

SERVPRO publishes educational articles on how you can protect your home and business from fire, water, mold, sewage, storm, natural disaster and other damage.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield

Top 50 Franchise Nationally

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

When you have suffered damage from a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

No Kitchen Fires!

2/4/2021 (Permalink)

Kitchen fires happen suddenly and can cause lots of damage to your house. Follow our tips to prevent a kitchen fire in your home.

No Fires When You’re Cooking

Stay put.

Keep it clean.

Dress for success.

When cooking, your clothes should be close-fitting to prevent them from touching a flame and catching fire. In particular, if your sleeves are long or loose, roll them up.

Cool it down.

Don’t toss hot grease into your kitchen trash. Let it cool down first, perhaps in an empty can, before disposing of it.

Keep it empty.

Don’t store food inside your oven—if you forget about it and preheat, you may start a fire.

No Fires When You’re Not Cooking

Don’t be plug ugly.

Ovens are for eating, not heating.

Never use a gas oven to heat your home. You risk both a fire and carbon monoxide poisoning.

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

We're Here for You

Other Helpful Blog Posts

SERVPRO publishes educational articles on how you can protect your home and business from fire, water, mold, sewage, storm, natural disaster and other damage.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield

Top 50 Franchise Nationally

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Is Smart Fire Detection Technology Right for Your Home?

1/21/2021 (Permalink)

Adding smart technology to your home's system of smoke detectors can give you even more protection from housefires.

Many of us are incorporating smart technology and devices into our homes: smart speakers, appliances, doorbells, lightbulbs and more. In addition to making your everyday life easier, smart home tech might actually be a lifesaver.

New devices and technologies are being developed all the time, but right now, you can install several fire prevention and detection devices that can stop a fire or minimize fire damage in your home. (Many homeowners can confidently install these devices themselves; if that’s not you, hire an electrician to do the installation and testing for you.)

Smart Smoke Detectors

Connected to an app on your smartphone, these devices can send a notification that smoke has been detected at your home, allowing you to alert authorities immediately from anywhere. Some smart detectors can be wired into a home security system, which can automatically contact your fire department. Other capabilities may include:

Turning on lights and offering verbal directions to help your family escape a fire
Turning off your HVAC system to reduce spread of smoke
Allowing a camera to be set up to record a fire event, providing evidence for your insurance claim

And, while this feature is not in the “lifesaving” category, many smart smoke detectors can send an alert to a smartphone if its battery level is getting low. That’s right: no more 3:00 a.m. chirping, no more hunting for the guilty detector and a chair to climb on, no more ripping the device off the wall and yanking the battery out, no more stumbling back to bed cursing.

Smart Batteries

Instead of buying a smart smoke detector, you can install smart batteries in your existing detectors. These will also send alarm and low-battery notifications to your smartphone.

Smart Heat/Fire Detectors

A smart heat detector does not replace a smoke detector, but because it uses a different way to detect a fire, it can be a good complement to your existing detectors, especially if you get a lot of false alarms.

Smart Kitchen Fire Prevention

The number one cause of home fires is cooking fires, and most of those start when someone leaves the kitchen while the stovetop is in use. A smart sensor uses motion sensing technology to shut off the stovetop if no one is in the kitchen for a specified period of time. It then detects when you return to the kitchen and restarts cooking.

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

We're Here for You

Other Helpful Blog Posts

SERVPRO publishes educational articles on how you can protect your home and business from fire, water, mold, sewage, storm, natural disaster and other damage.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield

Top 50 Franchise Nationally

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Enjoy Your Fire Pit and Campfire … Safely!

7/29/2020 (Permalink)

Enjoy your fire pit or campfire with friends and family—but follow our basic safety guidelines to prevent a fire disaster.

It’s summer and that means friends and family gather around campfires and fire pits to share the dancing flames, conversation, laughter and maybe even s’mores. But while you’re enjoying the fun, you must heed some basic safety rules to make sure the flames don’t spread and turn pleasure into tragedy.

Whether it’s a fire pit or a campfire you’re enjoying, you’ll want to take these important precautions to prevent a fire disaster.

Starting the Fire

Don’t use flammable fluids—lighter fluid, gasoline, alcohol, diesel fuel or kerosene—to light or relight fires.
Don’t start a fire on a windy day.
Seasoned hardwood is the best fuel. Soft woods, such as pine or cedar, can pop and throw sparks, so don’t use them. Don’t burn trash, leaves, paper, cardboard or plywood.

When setting up and using a fire pit:

Don’t overload the fire pit. Make sure you can close the lid to extinguish the fire in an emergency.
Your fire pit should be at least ten feet away from buildings, trees, shrubs and other flammable objects.

When setting up your campfire:

Don’t build a fire in dry conditions or if a fire is prohibited. Use an existing fire ring if there is one.
Your fire should be fifteen feet or more away from tents, shrubs, trees or other flammable objects. Look up to make sure there are no low-hanging branches overhead.

Enjoying the Fire

Have a fire extinguisher, garden hose or bucket of water nearby.
Establish a three-foot safety zone around the fire and make sure children and pets stay out of the zone.
Keep flammable material and fluids far away from the fire.
Don’t wear loose-fitting or flammable clothing, such as nylon.

Extinguishing the Fire

The risk doesn’t end until the flames and embers are 100% out.

If time allows, let the fire burn completely to ashes.
Pour water on the fire until you no longer hear hissing sounds. Make sure all the embers are doused, not just the red ones.
With a shovel, stir the embers to make sure all are wet and cold to the touch.
If you don’t have water, cover the embers with dirt or sand and stir until everything is cool. Don’t just bury the fire and walk away, as the fire can smolder and reignite.

We're Here for You

The team at SERVPRO® of Bloomfield/Enfield has specialized training and experience in fire restoration and cleanup, as well as natural disaster and storm damage cleanup, water damage and mold remediation, water and mold damage, and chemical and biohazard cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield (860.216.2785) any time.

Other Helpful Blog Posts

SERVPRO publishes educational articles on how you can protect your home and business from fire, water, mold, sewage, storm, natural disaster and other damage.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield

Top 50 Franchise Nationally

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Your Home Appliances Pose a Fire Hazard

7/22/2020 (Permalink)

One way to prevent a devastating house fire is to follow these guidelines for the safe use of your home appliances.

Every year, approximately 370,000 homes catch fire in America, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and those household fires cause billions of dollars in property damages.

Of these house fires, about 9%—approximately 34,000—involve electrical equipment. Each year, these electrical home fires account for approximately one in ten fire deaths.

While home electrical appliances—used for cooking, heating, cleaning and more—make our lives easier, they are also potential fire hazards, causing 7% of home fires and 4% of deaths. By following safety guidelines and doing regular maintenance and cleaning, homeowners can operate their appliances safely.

In general, when using any electric, gas or heat appliances:

Clean, inspect and maintain appliances regularly, especially those 15 years or older.
Run appliances only when you're at home.
Purchase appliances with a UL mark, which proves the item meets Underwriters Laboratories safety standards.

The Two Most Common Appliance Fire Risks

The worst culprits in appliance fires are clothes dryers and gas water heaters. Read on for tips that will help you prevent an appliance-caused fire disaster in your home.

Clothes Dryers

Even if you empty your lint tray every time you dry clothes, lint can still build up inside the dryer cabinet, causing a blaze at the heating element or burners. Especially dangerous are dryers that are vented with flexible vinyl hoses, which can easily catch on fire.

Remove lint after each use by keeping vents and filters clean.
Don’t place items stained with combustible fluids, like gasoline or furniture polish, in the dryer.
If your furnace is close to the laundry room, don’t hang clothing or drop dryer lint near it.

At least once a year, clean the lint from the exhaust hose at the back of the dryer, from the dryer cabinet, from around the drum and from the vent line. Replace vinyl vent lines with smooth-walled metal ducts. Follow these steps to clean lint build-up from your clothes dryer.

Lint trap: Pull out the lint screen, push a snorkel brush straight down into the trap and twirl the brush to clean out any lint at the bottom of the trap. (Using a shop vac with a long crevice tool will also work.) Shine a flashlight down the trap to make sure it's clean.
Ductwork: Disconnect the duct from the dryer exhaust and the exterior vent. Take the duct outside and clean all the parts with a round dryer-vent brush. If the duct is plastic or ribbed metal, replace it with a smooth metal one. Reassemble the metal ductwork and seal the joints with aluminum tape. Don't use screws, which snag lint.
Outside vent: Working from inside, spin the vent brush a few inches into the duct, then pull it back and clean off the bristles. Repeat until the bristles reach as far as the exhaust hood on the outside wall. Then go outside and clean the vent hood if necessary.

Water Heater

Because water heaters are frequently located near the washer and dryer, clothes can get piled up against the water heater near the flame, posing a direct fire hazard.

Store paint and other flammable liquids in their original, labeled and sealed containers away from heat sources.
Don’t keep anything flammable near a furnace or water heater, such as debris, combustible materials and rags. Use masking tape to mark off a “combustible-free” zone three feet away from your water heater.
Keep burner/element access doors closed and combustion chamber covers in place.

Be Safe in the Kitchen

While most kitchen fires are cooking-related, not all are. Non-cooking related fires typically originate in refrigerators, freezers or dishwashers. Follow these tips to help prevent non-cooking related fires from starting in your kitchen.

Plug all kitchen appliances, including microwaves, toasters and coffee makers, directly into a wall outlet, never into an extension cord.
For larger appliances, such as ovens and refrigerators, use only properly grounded outlets with circuits that match the rating plate on the appliance.
If you have older two-prong outlets in your kitchen, don’t use an adapter. Hire a qualified electrician to replace the old outlets with properly grounded three-prong outlets.
When moving kitchen appliances, be careful not to roll over or pinch power cords.
Unplug small appliances when they’re not in use.
Regularly clean stove hoods, filters and vents.
Never use a gas or propane oven to heat your home.

Oven/Stovetop

Every year, an average of one out of every eight homes suffers a kitchen cooking fire. Cooking fires cause 23% of home fires and 9% of home-fire deaths.

Cooking fires mostly occur on the cooktop, usually in the first 15 minutes of cooking. If a fire starts on your stovetop:

Turn off the burner and slide a lid over the pot or pan.
Don’t throw water on a grease fire—it may cause it to spread and intensify.
Don’t try to carry the pot or pan outside—you could spread flames throughout your house.
If the lid does not stop the fire, use a fire extinguisher.

Follow these guidelines for safe cooking:

Keep flammable material, such as oven mitts, dishcloths, paper towels and napkins, three feet away from the stove.
Clean your oven and range thoroughly at least once a month to remove built-up food splatter and grease.
Never leave food cooking on a stovetop unattended.
Don’t hang dishtowels on the oven door.
Keep aerosols far away from flames.
Cook on back burners and turn pot handles inward to prevent spills and burns.
Turn gas stovetop flames off before reaching above the stove.
Dress appropriately when cooking; avoid loose clothing and keep sleeves rolled up.
Keep an operating fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
For a gas stove, periodically check that its pilot lights haven’t gone out.

Microwave

Use only microwave-safe containers.
Don’t heat food or materials that are flammable, such as aluminum foil, Styrofoam or some plastic containers.

Toaster/Toaster Oven

Clean out accumulated crumbs that can build up and catch fire on the bottom of the toaster.
Never use these appliances unsupervised, because the heating elements can become faulty over time and may not turn off.

Be Safe Using Your Other Appliances

Bathroom Appliances

Use GFCI outlets and don’t overload them.
Don’t use hairdryers or other electrical appliances near the sink, bathtub or shower.
Keep curling irons, hairdryers, straighteners and other hot equipment away from combustible materials.
Unplug electrical appliances, such as curling irons and hairdryers, when not in use.

A Note on Vintage Appliances

While they may still work, old-fashioned plug-in appliances—a decades-old fan or vintage coffeemaker—were designed to meet outdated safety codes and may have wiring that’s frayed or damaged. If you are determined to use an antiquated electronic appliance, have it rewired by an electrician.

Make Sure Your Home’s Electrical System Is Safe, Too

Since electrical appliances are connected to the home’s electrical infrastructure, preventing an appliance-related fire disaster includes making sure your home’s wiring and electrical equipment is operating safely. Overloaded extension cords, hidden electrical shorts, bad connections and oversized bulbs and fixtures can melt wire insulation and ignite nearby flammable items and materials, potentially causing a house fire.

Pay Attention to These Signs of Danger

It’s important to recognize the signs of impending danger in your electrical system. Shorts, overloaded circuits and bad connections generate heat that can ignite combustibles such as wood framing, rugs or the insulation around a cord or wire. These are some of the signs of dangerous concealed wiring hazards:

Electrical cords that are warm to the touch.
Charred or plastic burning odors, which may indicate oversized bulbs and light fixtures.
Warm-to-the-touch switches or receptacle plate covers, which may mean a poor electrical connection.
Fuses that regularly blow or circuits that often trip, which may be caused by a defective circuit breaker or a short in the cables buried in walls or ceilings.
Lights that dim, flicker, are unusually bright or have bulbs that regularly burn out prematurely.
Appliances that give off a rubbery or burning smell when you run them.
Appliances that spark.

When you see any of these signs of electrical trouble, hire a licensed electrician A.S.A.P. to make the necessary upgrades or repairs to prevent a fire.

Lamp Safety

Never place anything that can burn—such as towels or scarves—over a lamp or heat-producing appliance.
Make sure bulb wattages don’t exceed the fixture’s recommended maximum. Prevent overheating by checking all the light bulbs in your home and changing them if necessary.

Outlet Safety

If you plug in an appliance and the cord slips out of the electrical outlet, the blades inside the outlet may have loosened—and can generate intense heat that can lead to fires. You should replace electrical outlets as soon as you notice that plugs don't fit snugly in them.

Homes built before 1965 typically have ungrounded two-pronged outlets, while newer houses usually have three-pronged outlets. If your home is older, consider upgrading wiring to accept three-pronged outlets, particularly if you are replacing older outlets that may be cracked, damaged or covered in paint.

Follow these good practices when plugging in appliances to minimize fire risk:

Turn off appliances before unplugging them to avoid creating an arc inside that could start a fire.
Plug only one high-wattage appliance into a receptacle outlet at a time.
Plug only one heat-producing appliance, such as a toaster or coffee maker, into a receptacle outlet at a time.

Hire an electrician to make sure your outlets are as safe as they can be:

Install tamper-resistant (TR) receptacles in outlets near where children will be present.
Help prevent shocks by installing ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, basement, garages, outdoor areas and other places where water is nearby or electrical equipment can get wet. (A GFCI can either be installed in your electrical system or built into a power cord.)
To help prevent fires, have a qualified electrician install arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs), which can help protect against arcing and sparking.

Power Cord and Extension Cord Safety

Damaged power cords pose a serious fire risk, so evaluate the cords in your home:

Make sure electrical cords are not trapped against walls or under carpets where heat can build.
Never use electronics with frayed or exposed wires. A short circuit can result in a spark, which can cause a house fire.

Intended for temporary use only, extension cords are often used more permanently. Consider having a qualified electrician add more circuits or outlets so you do not have to use extension cords.

Stay within the electrical limits of extension cords and power strips. Exceeding the recommended power rating—for heavy, medium or light duty use—can be dangerous. Replace undersized cords with larger-gauged ones.
Plug major appliances directly into outlets, never into an extension cord.
Don’t run extension cords under carpets or furniture.
Inspect your extension cords and replace those that are undersized or frayed.

Sources: This Old House, Nationwide, Family Handyman, The Travelers

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

We're Here for You

Other Helpful Blog Posts

SERVPRO publishes educational articles on how you can protect your home and business from fire, water, mold, sewage, storm, natural disaster and other damage.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield

Top 50 Franchise Nationally

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Is Your Fire Extinguisher Ready to Work?

2/21/2020 (Permalink)

A fire extinguisher—one that's maintained and one you know how to use—can make all the difference if a fire starts in your home.

Many homeowners wisely own one or more fire extinguishers, small metal canisters that propel a directed spray of flame-retardant chemicals. With an extinguisher at the ready, you can douse a small fire before it gets out of control, or contain a larger blaze long enough for firefighters to arrive. But the extinguisher needs to be the right type and must be maintained in order to do its job in an emergency fire damage to your home or business.

Note: Don’t use your fire extinguisher if you aren’t sure you have the proper type of extinguisher, if you don’t know how to use it or if you are in imminent danger from the fire.

What Type of Extinguisher Do You Have?

No fire extinguisher can be safely and effectively used for every type of fire. Generally, fire extinguishers are categorized based on the type of chemical agents they contain and the types of fires they combat. This information appears on the extinguisher’s label, along with instructions for use.

The types of fires are:

A class: ordinary combustibles, such as wood and paper.
B class: combustible liquids, such as kerosene, gasoline, oil, and grease.
C class: electrical fires that involve circuit breakers, wires, outlets and other electrical devices and equipment.
D class: combustible metals, such as sodium, potassium, titanium and magnesium.
K class: vegetable oils and animal fats; these fires generally happen in kitchens.

These are few of the most common extinguisher types:

Dry chemical: suited for A-B-C or B-C class fires, these common types of extinguishers are found in schools, homes, hospitals, offices, garages, kitchens and laboratories.
Carbon dioxide: suited for B-C class fires, these extinguishers are often used in laboratories, computer rooms and other areas with sensitive equipment.
Water: most suited for A class fires; cannot be used in B-C-D class fires. These extinguishers are inexpensive and environmentally friendly.
Wet chemical: suited for A-K class fires, these devices are often employed in commercial kitchens and restaurants.

Check Your Extinguisher

At least once a year:

Make sure your extinguisher is in a conspicuous and readily accessible place.
Make sure the pressure dial reads in the green or “charged” area.
Check that the pull pin is securely fastened within the handle and held in place by the tamper seal.
Make sure the nozzle is unblocked.
Check for visible dents or cracks in the extinguisher body.
Review how to use the extinguisher with everyone in your house.

How Long Will a Fire Extinguisher Last?

Fire extinguishers eventually expire for a few different reasons.

Over time, the seal on the neck weakens and allows compressed gas to escape. Extinguishers that have lost much of their pressure will not operate. You can check the extinguisher’s pressure with a pressure gauge.
A-B-C class extinguishers can fail when the chemical in the canister base solidifies. You can delay this process by periodically shaking the extinguisher.

Unfortunately, you can’t trust an extinguisher’s expiration date and there is no surefire way to know if your extinguisher will still work. Because fires can be extremely destructive and fire extinguishers are relatively low-cost, go ahead and replace or recharge any extinguishers you aren’t sure of.

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

We're Here for You

Other Helpful Blog Posts

SERVPRO publishes educational articles on how you can protect your home and business from fire, water, mold, sewage, storm, natural disaster and other damage.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield

Top 50 Franchise Nationally

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Home Heating Fires Can Be Deadly—Prevent One in Your Home

2/21/2020 (Permalink)

A fire burns inside a wood-burning stove.

Home heating fires can be deadly! Stay comfortable and safe by following our home heating safety advice.

Each year across our country, there are more than 50,000 home fires caused by heating equipment, accounting for roughly 15% of all reported home fires. Worse, these heating fires cause $1 billion of annual property damage. Worst yet, almost 500 people die from home heating fires each year.

Clearly, a home heating fire can destroy your home and property, and put the lives of your family at grave risk. Stay safe by following our basic heating safety tips to help prevent heating fires while you and your family stay warm.

General Heating Safety

Keep flammable items at least three feet from space heaters, fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators and candles. (By far, the most common cause of heating fires is combustible material being too close to the heat source.)
Never use your oven to heat your home.
Hire professionals to inspect, clean and maintain your fireplace, wood stove, chimney and furnace every year.

Space Heater Safety

Space heaters are the most common source of home heating fires. They cause 85% of deaths and almost 80% of injuries. Space heaters may be convenient, but please take extra caution when you use them!

Keep a three-foot clear area around the space heater at all times. Be vigilant about keeping children and pets away from the heater.
Turn the heater off when you leave the room, go to sleep or leave your home.
Buy a space heater that senses overheating or tipping and shuts off automatically.
Plug the heater directly into a wall outlet rather than an extension cord or power strip.
Never run the cord under a carpet.
Never operate the heater if the cord, plug or the heater itself is damaged.
Place the heater on a stable, level surface and not in a highly-trafficked area, such as a doorway.
If you have a fuel-burning space heater, always use the correct kind of fuel.

Fireplace Safety

Keep sparks from flying into the room by placing a sturdy metal screen or glass partition in front of your fireplace.
Keep a bucket of sand near the fireplace to smother a fire.
Put the fire out completely before you go to sleep or leave your home.
Let the ashes cool completely (for three or more hours), then shovel them into a metal container with a lid and cover the ashes with water. Bring the container outside and place it at least three feet away from your home or garage.

Wood Stove Safety

Place your stove on a level noncombustible, fire-resistant base.
Burn dry wood, not paper.
Never use flammable fluids to start the fire.
Put the fire out before you go to sleep or leave your home.

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

We're Here for You

The team at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield has specialized training and experience in fire restoration and fire damage cleanup, as well as natural disaster and storm damage cleanup, water damage and mold remediation, water and mold damage, and chemical and biohazard cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield (860.216.2785) any time.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield

Top 50 Franchise Nationally

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Space Heater Safety Basics

2/7/2020 (Permalink)

Flames shoot from a space heater in a bedroom

Follow our basic safety guidelines to prevent a space heater fire that could destroy your home.

Electric space heaters are handy for taking the chill out of a room and keeping you and your loved ones comfortable in your home. Unfortunately, they also cause about one in three winter house fires and four out of five winter heating fire deaths. Why? Space heaters can easily overload home electrical circuits, they have components that can become very hot and some models are prone to tipping over.

As with many consumer products, today’s space heaters are safer and more efficient than older models. Particularly in the last decade, renters and homeowners benefit from better technology and more built-in safety features, like a tip-over shutoff switch.

When Purchasing a Space Heater

Always buy a new space heater, never a used one. When you are researching and making a purchasing decision on a space heater, always look for these features:

A safety certification label from an independent testing organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), ETL/Intertek or CSA International.
Automatic shutoff features, like a sensor that shuts off when it detects that the heater has overheated or tipped over.
A sturdy electrical cord that’s at least 6 feet long.
A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) plug to prevent electric shock is a plus, but if you buy a model that doesn’t have one, don’t use the heater near water.

When Using a Space Heater

When using your electric space heater, follow these guidelines:

Plug your heater directly into an outlet, never an extension cord or power strip, which can overheat and start a fire.
Keep people, furnishings and objects at least three feet away from the space heater.
Be especially vigilant in keeping children and pets away from the space heater.
Never use a space heater for cooking, drying clothing or warming linens.
Don’t store clothing on or around the heater, and keep it away from curtains and bedding.
Don’t use the space heater in high traffic areas, such as doorways—it could become a tripping hazard.
Keep the heater away from sources of water, such as the kitchen or bathroom.
Never leave the heater running all night or when you are sleeping.
Turn off the space heater when you leave the room.
Unplug the heater when you’re not using it.

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

We're Here for You

The team at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield has specialized training and experience in fire restoration services and cleanup, as well as natural disaster and storm damage cleanup, water damage and mold remediation, water and mold damage, and chemical and biohazard cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield (860.216.2785) any time.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield

Top 50 Franchise Nationally

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Most Chimney Fires Are Preventable

1/22/2020 (Permalink)

Follow our tips step-by-step to prevent a destructive chimney fire from happening in your home.

Chimney fires strike more than 25,000 times each year in the U.S., and they cause more than $125 million in property damage. The most common cause of chimney fires is not having your chimney regularly cleaned and inspected. With chimneys, an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure! Protect your home and your family by keeping your chimney clean and in good working condition, always looking out for signs of trouble. This article tells you what a chimney fire is, how it starts and how to stop one from occurring in your home.

Two Types of Chimney Fires

Chimney fires come in two varieties—fast and loud or slow and quiet—but they’re both extremely destructive and can cause your home to go up in flames.

If you suddenly hear cracks and pops as loud as gunshots, followed by a deep, rumbling sound, you’ll know you have a chimney fire. Black, flaming creosote will fall into the firebox, and then, like an explosion, flames will shoot from the top of the chimney and back down into the firebox, pushing smoke into your living space. Finally, the flue may crack and flames can shoot into your walls.

?Slow-burning chimney fires never get enough air or fuel to burst into plain sight, but they can still cause similar damage to the chimney and nearby combustible parts of your home as their louder siblings do. With a slow fire, though, you may not even know a fire occurred until your next chimney inspection.

Either way, you can’t control a chimney fire by yourself, so call 911 ASAP! Because firefighters have to fight the flames from the top of the chimney, water will flood into your house, causing water damage on top of the fire damage. You’ll need to hire a professional disaster recovery company, like SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield, to completely restore both the fire and water damage to your home.

If You Have a Chimney Fire, Act Fast

If you discover a chimney fire, immediately:

get everyone out of the house, including yourself
call 911

Take these additional steps to help save your home only if you can do so safely:

Place a chimney fire extinguisher or fire suppressant into the fireplace or wood stove to consume oxygen and starve the fire
Pour sand or baking soda onto the fire in the firebox (keep a bucket of sand nearby for this purpose)
Close the glass doors on a fireplace or the air inlets on a wood stove

While you wait for the fire department outside, try to keep the fire from spreading by hosing down your roof (not the chimney).

Once the chimney fire is completely extinguished, call a fire damage restoration expert like SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield, who will remove damaged material, treat your possessions for smoke and soot contamination and restore your structure and property to pre-fire condition.

What Causes a Chimney Fire?

Fireplace and wood stove chimneys expel the substances produced when wood burns, including smoke, gases, water vapor and unburned wood particles. These by-products of combustion exit the fireplace or wood stove at high temperatures and flow up into the relatively cooler chimney, where they condense onto the chimney walls as a black or brown residue called creosote. Whatever form it takes—crusty and flaky, or sticky and drippy, or shiny and hardened—creosote is extremely combustible. When your chimney’s flue temperature gets high enough, built-up creosote can start a chimney fire, which burns at up to 2,000°F.

The longer the smoke stays in the flue, the more creosote will form. Creosote is more likely to build up in your chimney if your fireplace or stove:

is burning unseasoned wood
isn’t pulling in enough air
has cooler than normal chimney temperatures

Therefore, the key to preventing a chimney fire is to burn the right kind of fuel, set your wood-burning stove or fireplace up correctly to burn a fast, clean fire—and have your chimney and fireplace or stove cleaned and inspected regularly.

Prevent a Chimney Fire: Clean and Inspect

Every time you use your wood stove or fireplace, more oily, black, sticky creosote condenses onto the inside of your chimney. There it waits, growing thicker and putting your home and family at risk of a fire, until it is removed.

The best way to ensure that you never have a chimney fire is by cleaning and inspecting it regularly. Hire a certified chimney sweep each year before fire burning season starts, in late summer or fall. (If you haven’t done it yet this season, call today before you light another fire!)

The chimney sweep will remove both creosote and any debris carried into your chimney by animals or wind. In addition, he or she will inspect your chimney to look for:

creosote that’s puffy or looks like honeycomb
metal in the damper, smoke chamber or chimney that’s been warped by heat
cracked, damaged or collapsed flue tiles
discolored and/or distorted chimney cap
creosote flakes and pieces on the roof or near the house
roofing material damaged by hot creosote
cracks in exterior masonry
soot deposits around mortar joints of masonry or tile liners

In addition to scheduling an annual chimney cleaning, you should make it a habit to regularly check the condition of your chimney and fireplace. Schedule another cleaning when you notice creosote that:

falls into the firebox during a fire
resembles a honeycomb on the inside of the chimney
is more than 1/4-inch thick

Schedule more frequent cleanings if you burn fires more than a couple of times a week, use lots of artificial logs or burn green or unseasoned firewood.

Prevent a Chimney Fire: Look for Signs of Trouble

Check for these indications that your chimney has been damaged. If you spot any of them, don’t light another fire until you have your fireplace and chimney inspected.

Buckled masonry: Look for cracking or settling inside the firebox or on the fireplace’s surround or hearth, because just a tiny opening will allow sparks and high heat to reach the flammable parts of your home.
Soot in your firebox: Crumbly black soot falling into your firebox is a sign that creosote is building up. Call for a chimney cleaning.
Debris in your firebox: If you notice what looks like broken tiles or pot shards in your firebox, be very concerned. Especially in older homes with terra-cotta chimney liners, these pieces are a sign that the liner has already been damaged by a chimney fire. Don’t use your fireplace until it’s been inspected by a certified chimney sweep.
More smell of smoke: If you smell more smoke than usual when you use your fireplace—or smell it outside the room where the fireplace is—extinguish the fire and call 911. Your local fire department will use heat-sensing guns or thermal imaging to check for danger and damage to your chimney.
Changes in your walls: If heat has been escaping from cracked masonry, a damaged liner or an improperly installed prefab metal firebox, your home’s wood framing can dry, char and may ignite at a much lower temperature. If you notice pictures falling off the wall or areas of bubbling or peeling paint, call for a chimney inspection.

Prevent a Chimney Fire: Follow Best Burning Practices

Prepare your chimney and fireplace or stove so that it burns efficiently and safely, every time.

Install a chimney cap on the crown of the flue to keep debris and critters out of your chimney. A cap will also prevent acidic rainwater from entering and corroding the chimney.
Insulate your chimney’s flue liner (the layer between the flue and chimney walls) to prevent flue temperatures from getting too cool. Wrap a heat-resistant insulation blanket around the liner or pour an insulation mix (such as vermiculite) into the space between the liner and flue.

When you start a fire, you want it to burn hot, fast and clean to create far less smoke, vapor and unburned wood particles, allowing little to no creosote to form in the chimney. This starts with using the right fuel.

Always burn seasoned hardwood that has dried for at least six months and has a moisture content of 20 percent or less (you can test this with a wood moisture meter). When you burn green or unseasoned wood, energy is used initially just to evaporate the water trapped in the wood cells. This, in turn, keeps the resulting smoke cooler and more likely to condense in the chimney and form creosote.
Use dried twigs or branches for kindling and torn or crumpled newspaper or pine cones for tinder. Avoid cardboard or glossy magazine pages that contain chemicals that can emit toxins when burned.
Use the best fire starters for fuel, kindling and tinder, such as well-seasoned hardwood or CSIA-approved logs. Never use gasoline and kerosene to start a fire—these flammable liquids can quickly create a conflagration. And burn coal only in a coal-burning wood stove, because it can significantly raise the temperature in the flue, increasing the risk of a chimney fire.

Once you have selected the right fuel to burn cleanly, you need to build a fire that will burn hot and fast.

Build a clean fire by using the top-down burn method, in which the largest logs are at the bottom of the fire and the smallest pieces at the top, which allows the air to mix well with the fuel. Start by placing the largest pieces of wood in the bottom of the fireplace or wood stove, with the ends at the front and back. Next, stack four to five increasingly smaller levels of wood on top of the first level, placing each layer perpendicular to the one below. Once the stack is about half the height of the firebox, add kindling (the smallest pieces of wood) in smaller and smaller pieces, then top off with wood shavings or crumpled newspaper. Light the material on the top and the fire will gradually burn its way down to the largest logs.
Keep the damper open to allow enough air to quickly move heated smoke up the chimney. When using a wood stove, don’t close the stove damper or air inlets too much or too soon.
Don’t overload the firebox of a wood stove in an attempt to get a longer burn time—that’ll produce more smoke and creosote.

Lastly, extinguish your fire safely and thoroughly before retiring for the night or leaving your home.

Spread out the wood and embers, then shovel ash from the bottom of the fireplace to cover them.
Next, completely cover the cooled wood and embers with baking soda to extinguish any remaining embers.
After the firebox cools (for a minimum of three hours, but preferably eight), shovel the ashes into a metal container.
Fill the metal container with water and store it outside your home and away from other flammable materials until you’re ready to discard them.

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

We're Here for You

Other Helpful Blog Posts

SERVPRO publishes educational articles on how you can protect your home and business from fire, water, mold, sewage, storm, natural disaster and other damage.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield

Top 50 Franchise Nationally

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

7 Ways to Reduce Fire Risk in Your Garage

7/26/2019 (Permalink)

Take these smart steps to reduce your risk of experiencing a fire disaster in your garage.

The second most common location of house fires (after the kitchen) is the garage. Many people keep gas, oil, oily rags and other flammable materials in their garages—not to mention cars, trucks, mowers and other gas- and oil-powered vehicles.

Your garage may also contain flammable clutter, such as newspapers, cardboard boxes and paper waste. Finally, the garage tends to be a small, enclosed space, so that if a fire does start it can engulf the entire space faster.

You can reduce the risk of cleaning up fire damage by following these tips:

Seal any fuels, fluids or cleaners you keep in your garage.
Store flammable liquids in small amounts and far away from sources of heat, like a space heater.
Store flammable materials away from other flammables.
Clear out clutter.
Keep propane tanks outside, not in your garage.
Don’t overload the circuit box when using drills and other electrical devices in your garage. Unplug every electrical device after use.
Keep a fire extinguisher in the garage.

We're Here for You

If a fire does damage your garage, call SERVPRO. We’re professionally trained to handle fire damage cleanup and restoration. We have the tools, experience and knowledge to get your garage and home back to its pre-fire condition.

Other Blog Posts You Might Find Helpful

SERVPRO publishes educational articles on how to protect homes and businesses from disasters and how to deal with mold, fire, water, sewage, storm and other damage.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Get Rid of that Lingering Smoke Odor

7/19/2019 (Permalink)

Smoke odor after a house fire is tough to get rid of. Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield to have it professionally eradicated.

After a home fire, you may experience a lingering odor of smoke, which may be severe, depending on the fire’s size, intensity, duration and source of fuel. You could try a household deodorizing spray or disinfectant, but you’ll get only temporary relief, and the spray may interact with the smoke odor to create an additional odor.

Instead, you’re better off hiring a professional fire damage restorer like SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield. We have the training and equipment to completely remove lingering smoke odor.

SERVPRO uses chemical or additive counteractants to break up smoke molecules and eliminate the odor. We’ll select the appropriate counteractants depending on the material burned in the fire and will professionally apply them to furniture, carpets and drapes—even clothing.

Another method SERVPRO uses to remove smoke odors is an ozone treatment, in which we place your smoke odor-affected items inside a tent while an ozone generator runs.

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

We're Here For You

The team at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield has specialized fire restoration training and experience to quickly clean up and restore your home to pre-fire condition. We can remove virtually any pervasive smoke odor and deep-clean soot from upholstery and carpet.

Other Blog Posts You Might Find Helpful

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield publishes educational articles on how Bloomfield and Enfield residents can protect their homes and businesses from disasters and how to deal with mold, fire, water, sewage, storm and other damage.

Source: Liberty Mutual

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield

Top 50 Franchise Nationally

We serve Bloomfield, Enfield, Suffield, West Suffield, East Granby, Granby, North Granby, West Granby, Hartland, West Hartland, Hartford, West Hartford, East Hartford, Somers, Ellington, Tolland and Vernon, Connecticut.

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Make a Plan to Escape a House Fire

2/22/2019 (Permalink)

Make a plan and practice it BEFORE you need to escape a house fire!

If a fire breaks out in your home, you have to get out fast—even though you may be plunged into darkness, have trouble breathing and are trying to keep family members calm while fighting your own panic. That’s why it’s important to create and practice an escape plan before a fire starts.

Make a Plan to Get Out

Have a plan for young children who cannot get outside by themselves. Decide who will help each child get out safely.
Teach everyone to use the back of a hand to check doors for heat before opening and, if the door is hot, to use a different way out. If you need to use an escape ladder, show everyone where you keep it and practice how to use it.
Teach children to never hide from firefighters and never go back inside a burning building.
Learn two ways out of every room in your home, in case one exit is blocked or dangerous to use.
Remember, if there is smoke, you need to get low and stay below the smoke.
Choose a meeting place a safe distance from your home. Once you’re out, stay out!

For Fire Restoration Needs Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Practice Your Plan

Fires can start anywhere and at any time, so run through the plan at different times of the day or night, and practice different ways out. Do this at least twice a year.

Check your smoke alarms: Test your smoke alarms each month with your kids so they know the sound. Make sure there’s a smoke alarm on every level of your home, and one in each bedroom.
Know where to go: When the smoke alarm beeps, everyone needs to get out of the house quickly and meet at the safe meeting spot.
Perform a Fire Drill: Have kids head to their bedrooms and wait for the drill to begin. Assign adults to help children under 6. Put one adult in charge of sounding the smoke alarm and running the drill. Next, sound the smoke alarm, start the timer and have everyone hurry to the meeting spot. Once everyone gets to the safe meeting place, stop the timer. Try to have everyone there in less than two minutes. If not, keep practicing.

In a real fire, get to the safe meeting place, then call 911 and keep everyone close until firefighters arrive!

For Fire Restoration Needs Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

We're Here For You

If you do experience a fire, professional fire restoration services like SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield can handle the entire fire cleanup process—from assessing the smoke and fire damage to rebuilding your home—like it never even happened. Whether you're in Bloomfield, Enfield or any of our served towns, we can help.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield

Top 50 Franchise Nationally
We serve Bloomfield, East Granby, East Hartland, Enfield, Granby, North Granby, Riverton, Suffield, West Granby, West Hartland and West Suffield, Connecticut.

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

For Fire Restoration Needs Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Own an Older Home? These Fire Risks May Be Lurking

2/22/2019 (Permalink)

An inspection of your older home could be a lifesaver if it uncovers unseen fire hazards.

If your house is more than 40 years old, it can harbor some unseen fire risks. If you learn about them ahead of time, you can take action to prevent a fire from starting—and keep your home sweet home safe for many more years to come.

Outdated Wiring

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there are about 46,000 fires involving home electrical systems each year, and the majority of those could be prevented with a routine inspection. The CPSC says that in many cases, homes that were built between 40 and 100 years ago hadn't been inspected since they were built.

Be alert to obvious warning signs of a failing electrical system:

flickering or dim lights
a shrinking of your television picture
frequent power outages
sparks
unusual sounds like sizzles or burning smells
smoke
any kind of electrical shock
damaged insulation
warm or hot outlets or switches
reliance on extension cords for everyday use

For Fire Restoration Needs Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

If you can't remember the last time your electrical system was inspected, hire a certified electrician or electrical inspector to prevent a potential disaster. Even if you've had an inspection less than a decade ago, you should contact a professional immediately if you start to notice the warning signs of a bad electrical system. Hire only a licensed and insured electrician to do electrical work.

Balloon Framing

In newer homes, each floor is individually constructed to ensure that fire stops between them, but in balloon-frame homes, there's nothing to stop a fire from spreading. Commonly used from the late 1800s through about 1940, balloon framing was a construction method in which a continuous wood stud wall stretched all the way from the foundation of a home to the attic. If your home has balloon framing, flames can spread from the floor to the roof in just seconds.

If you aren’t sure what kind of framing your house has, hire a skilled professional to inspect it. If your home was constructed with balloon framing, a major remodel—to open up the walls and ceilings and install solid blocking to act as fire stops—may be your only option. Alternatively, you may be able to install insulation in empty cavities that would slow or prevent the spread of fire.

For Fire Restoration Needs Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Source: Liberty Mutual

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We’re the fire restoration and clean up company that saves property and saves money for the owners of fire damaged homes and businesses. Whether you're in Bloomfield, Enfield or any of our served towns, we can help.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield

Top 50 Franchise Nationally

We serve Bloomfield, East Granby, East Hartland, Enfield, Granby, North Granby, Riverton, Suffield, West Granby, West Hartland and West Suffield, Connecticut.

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

For Fire Restoration Needs Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Keeping Your Fire Damage Restoration Costs Down

2/7/2019 (Permalink)

Beginning fire damage restoration as soon as possible can make a big difference in cost and results. Don't hesitate!

A fire at your home or business is a real crisis. Once the fire is out, you need to deal with damage from the flames, the smoke and soot, and the water or chemicals used to extinguish the fire. This process can be time-consuming and costly.

The most important thing you can do to reduce fire damage restoration costs is to begin the process without delay by contacting a licensed, insured professional fire damage restoration services company. SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield can restore your property, clean it up, and work with you to keep costs down while keeping the quality of the work high.

Act Quickly

The more time between your fire and the fire damage restoration, the more costs tend to increase. If you act quickly, some fire-damaged possessions can be saved, so you can avoid replacement costs. The longer you wait, however, the more likely it is that you won’t be able to restore valuable possessions. And certain kinds of damage—from water and soot, for instance—grow worse over time, so delaying can make the restoration more difficult and more expensive. Save your property and you save money!

What can be saved? It depends on the extent of the fire damage, but at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield we can often save clothing, books, photographs, kitchen items, furniture, leather goods, heirlooms and more. We begin every fire restoration job with a complete evaluation of the scope of the fire cleanup and a plan for restoring what is salvageable. Our documentation will also make filing your insurance claim quicker and simpler.

For Fire Restoration Needs Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Address Water Damage ... Quickly

In addition to damage from the actual flames, many homes and businesses suffer additional damage from smoke, soot and the water and chemicals firefighters must use to put out the fire. Water, especially, can cause widespread damage—damage that can become much worse if you delay.

After the fire is out, make sure that your home or business is completely dried out. If you don’t, mold, mildew and other consequences will lead to further damage and loss—mold colonies can begin to grow just 48 hours after water damage occurs. SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield Wethersfield uses industrial dehumidifiers and air movers to rapidly dry saturated carpets, padding, furniture and any other wet items. Quick and thorough drying will save you money by preventing further damage to your building and possessions.

Address Damage from Smoke and Soot ... Quickly

Again, you’ll minimize your fire damage restoration costs with prompt action. If too much time elapses between when the fire damage and the cleanup occur, the effects of smoke and soot damage can last for months.

While you’ll easily recognize water damage, you may not immediately see the extent and seriousness of smoke and soot damage. Soot is created when wood-, coal- or oil-based substances are burned. These carbon particles float into the air and can settle anywhere, staining and discoloring objects, and can even endanger your health.

Household items, including clothing, dishes and utensils, furniture, carpet and drapes, as well as walls, floors and ceilings, are especially affected by smoke and soot. SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield cleans and deodorizes restorable items to preloss condition, if at all possible. After our restoration you may not be able to tell which items were affected by the fire and smoke and which were not.

For Fire Restoration Needs Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Other Blog Posts You Might Find Helpful

Fire Damage Repairs

We're Here For You

We’re the fire restoration and clean-up company that saves property and saves money for the owners of fire-damaged homes and businesses. Whether you're in Bloomfield, Enfield or any of our served towns, we can help.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
Top 50 Franchise Nationally
We serve Bloomfield, East Granby, East Hartland, Enfield, Granby, North Granby, Riverton, Suffield, West Granby, West Hartland and West Suffield, Connecticut.

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

For Fire Restoration Needs Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

The 5 Most Common Places a House Fire Starts

2/7/2019 (Permalink)

Taking basic precautions can help prevent fires at these five most common locations in your home.

A fire can start almost anywhere in your home, but some areas are more likely to catch fire than others. America’s 350,000 annual house fires happen for many reasons—faulty electrical wiring, overheated appliances, unattended candles and fireplaces—but taking simple precautions at these five locations may prevent a fire at your home.

Kitchen

Half of all residential fires start in the kitchen due to appliances that use heat/electricity, cooking-related incidents (such as an unattended oven or stovetop), or fabric and material (a dishcloth, for example) that's too close to heat or a flame. An oven/stovetop with baked-on grease and residue can easily cause grease fires. Never leave food cooking on a stovetop unattended.

For Fire Restoration Needs Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Appliances

Appliances that operate with electricity, gas or heat are potential fire hazards requiring fire restoration. Appliances 15 years or older are particularly prone to fire damage, especially if they aren't regularly cleaned, inspected and maintained. It's a good idea to only run appliances when you're at home.

Dryers: lint, fiber and dust buildup is a primary cause of a laundry room fire. Keep vents and filters clean by removing lint after each use, and at least once a year, clean the lint from the exhaust hose at the back of the dryer.
Dishwashers: heating elements in the dishwasher can overheat and catch fire, especially in older models.
Microwaves: although convenient, microwaves can be dangerous if you heat food or materials that are flammable, such as aluminum foil, Styrofoam or certain plastic containers.
Toasters/Toaster Ovens: the electrical elements inside a toaster can become faulty over time and may not turn off, which could start a fire. Crumbs can accumulate and become stuck at the bottom of the toaster, so clean it regularly. Never leave these appliances unsupervised when in use.

Bedroom

There are many potential fire hazards in bedrooms: bedding, curtains, plush items, mattresses. Mattresses made after 2007 are flame-retardant and comply with higher safety standards, so if yours is older, consider purchasing a new one. Install smoke alarms in each bedroom and make a fire escape plan that includes two ways to exit the room (usually through the door and a window).

For Fire Restoration Needs Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Chimneys and Fireplaces

Chimneys and fireplaces can develop structural problems over time, which can cause temperatures to burn too high or chimney liners to loosen or detach, which can allow burning embers and ash to escape to combustible areas in walls, attics and roofs. Keep chimneys and fireplaces cleaned and maintained, and have them inspected and professionally cleaned at least once a year or when there is a quarter-inch buildup of creosote or soot. Keep rugs, tapestries and other fabrics away from the fireplace, and always keep a spark screen in front of the fireplace.

Living Room

Like bedrooms, living rooms contain many potentially flammable items: electronics, drapes/curtains, furniture. Candles are among the leading fire hazards in living rooms. Never leave a burning candle unattended and place it away from flammable/combustible objects.

Fire Cleanup

If you do experience a fire, professional fire damage restoration services like SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield can handle the entire fire cleanup process—from assessing the smoke and fire damage to rebuilding your home—"Like it never even happened."

For Fire Restoration Needs Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

We're Here For You

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield

Top 50 Franchise Nationally
We serve Bloomfield, East Granby, East Hartland, Enfield, Granby, North Granby, Riverton, Suffield, West Granby, West Hartland and West Suffield, Connecticut.

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

For Fire Restoration Needs Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

6 Top Fire Damage Restoration Tips

3/14/2018 (Permalink)

To restore your home after fire damage takes time and expertise.

We’re not going to kid you. Fire damage restoration is tough work. People call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield frequently to ask for advice on how to clean up after a fire. Here are seven of the best tips we give people who ask about fire damage restoration.

Most people can put these tips into practice. But remember that fire damage restoration takes time, work, and skill. Realistically consider whether you want to try these ideas on your own or whether you’d be better off hiring highly trained restoration specialists who will guarantee their work.

Remove Smoke Damage

With any fire you’ll have a degree of smoke damage to your walls, wall paper, and paint. If the smoke damage is not too serious, you should be able to scrub it clean with detergents and bleach. Soot from smoke damage is greasy stuff, so always try to dust as much of it off from a surface before trying to scrub the surface clean. Often, you’ll want to repaint, but make sure all surfaces are clean and dry before you paint.

Limit Activity & Other Simple Fire Damage Restoration Steps

Until your house is restored, limit your activity and movement in the house. This helps prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpets. Keep people’s hands clean so you don’t further soil upholstery, walls, and woodwork. Protect your things by placing clean towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery, and carpet traffic areas. Before you clean know the best cleaning method for that particular cleaning job (one example: Clean and protect chrome with a light coating of petroleum jelly or oil.) Wash both sides of the leaves on your houseplants. Change your HVAC filter and tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers.

Call SERVPRO Of Bloomfield/Enfield for Cleanup and Restoration. Call (860) 216-2785.

Get Rid of Mold & Mildew

Firefighters are great. They save many a live and many a home. But they do introduce mold and mildew into houses when they must use water to extinguish the fire. SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield highly recommends you hire fire restoration professionals to deal with mold and mildew. Mold and mildew can cause serious health problems. It’s difficult for a nonprofessional to know for certain if he’s clean up all the areas affected by the mold and mildew. And mold and mildew can contaminate your furniture, carpets, clothing, mattresses, walls, and vents. The best thing you can do immediately is to air out every room and clean out all vents and filters.

Replace Carpets. Clean And Dry Your Floors

Your floors and carpets end up absorbing the worst of the damage from all the water used to put out a fire. In almost every case, SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield recommends that you pull up any carpets that have water damage and replace them. Water can also seep underneath vinyl flooring and into the cracks in hardwood. You must address this. If you have experience with flooring, you can lift it up and clean under it. But you may want to call a professional fire damage restoration company to assist you.

Avoid Smearing Soot Into Clothing

Cleaning smoke damage from clothing is one of the biggest jobs you’ll have after a fire. Make sure you don’t smear the greasy soot into the clothing or just throw the smoky clothes into the wash. Often times dry cleaning is the best bet, and you should ask around local dry cleaners to see if any have experience with post-fire laundry. Removing smoke odor is another issue and we’ve covered it in another blog post.

Call SERVPRO Of Bloomfield/Enfield for Cleanup and Restoration. Call (860) 216-2785.

Scrub, Soak, And Cleaning Dishes

Dishes are also important items to clean thoroughly after a fire because they will be in contact with your food. Scrub all dishes well, let them soak in a solution of bleach and water (2 tablespoons of bleach per gallon) for at least 20 minutes and scrub some more for safety. When in doubt, if a dish, pot, or pan won’t come clean, cut your losses and throw it out – especially rubber or wooden dishes that absorb smoke.

Help Is Here

The team at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield also has specialized training and experience in fire restoration services, natural disaster prevention, water damage, chemical cleanup, and natural disaster cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield (860.216.2785) anytime.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield

Top 50 Franchise Nationally

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

Space Heater Safety

1/19/2018 (Permalink)

Space heaters, when used properly, are safe and can cut your utility bill.

On January 17, 2018 a space heater caused a fire to break out at 4:30 a.m. at a home on Brooksdale Drive in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. While one of the two residents had to be hospitalized, the residents of that home were lucky. The local fire rescue department had installed smoke detectors in the home and those detectors alerted the residents and helped get them to safety.

Space heaters cause about one-third of all winter house fires and 80 percent of all winter heating fire deaths, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Having combustible materials too close to a space heater (or heating unit) accounts for more than half of all home heating fire deaths across the country. But for us here in the Bloomfield/Enfield Connecticut region, here are three pieces of good news about space heaters and fire safety.

1. Your local Connecticut fire department may offer free smoke alarms.
You may be able to call your local fire department and have them inspect your home and provide free smoke alarms. Programs like this one in Bridgeport, Connecticut happen frequently. In Meriden, Connecticut in 2018 a foundation bought hundreds of smoke detectors for the local fire department to give away.

2. Today’s space heaters are safer.
Consumer Reports says that space heaters get a bad rap. Many of today’s space heaters are not just better-looking but also safer. In the past 10 years manufacturers have improved built-in safety features like a tip-over shut-off switch says Jill Notini, vice president of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.

Space heater or other fire safety concerns? Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785 anytime

3. Follow simple safety rules and you greatly reduce or eliminate any space heater concerns.
Here are some basic rules for using space heaters:

A. Use newer space heaters, not older models.
B. Never buy a used space heater.
C. Only buy a space heater that has a safety certification from the Underwriters Laboratories or Intertek’s ETL Mark.
D. Don’t leave your space heater on when you’re not in the room.

Space heater or other fire safety concerns? Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785 anytime

E. Plug your heater directly into an outlet.
Avoid using an extension cord or power strip because they could overheat.
F. Keep a three-foot perimeter around the space heater clear.
Never store clothing around or on the heater or place it too close to curtains or a bed.
G. Beware of children and pets around a space heater.
Either could knock over a space heater. And unplug the heater when you’re not using it.

Adding a portable space heater to your cold-weather arsenal can make bitter cold winter days much more bearable. When used with care, space heaters can provide safe supplemental heat in a small, targeted area.

More Safety Information
Every month on the SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield blog we publish educational articles on how to protect your home and business from fire disasters repair.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
100 Peters Road
Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call 860-216-2785 anytime

Fire Damage Restoration For Businesses And Homes

9/25/2017 (Permalink)

After the fire in your business or home is put out, take precautionary measures to prevent injury and further losses.

A fire at your business or in your home can mean major losses. If a fire starts, remember to stay calm and act rationally. Having quick access to a written plan of the steps you need to take after fire damage can save precious time and keep your fire damage losses down.

After the fire in your business or home is put out, take precautionary measures to prevent injury and further losses. Your best bet is often to call a fire damage restoration company. Or you may want to handle the fire damage restoration yourself. If so, here are some steps to consider:

1. Think long and hard before deciding not to use an emergency fire damage restoration service

Nearly every corner in the country now has 24/7 access to an experienced, professional fire damage service like SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield. Companies like ours help reduce the fire, smoke, and soot damage at businesses and in private residences. Involving the fire damage restoration professionals also reduces the risk of injury. The professionals have the right equipment and training to safely deal with the aftermath of a fire. Commercial fire damage usually results in a lot of smoke smell. Smoke smell can be a health hazard to anyone working in or near the premises. Commercial fire damage services can help to quickly get rid of the smoke damage.

2. Evaluate the extent of the fire damage

You’ll want a complete and accurate assessment of all damage so you can determine how much it will cost you to restore your business or home. An accurate fire damage assessment will quicken the process of restoration. Speeding the process allows you to get back to your daily activities in the shortest time possible. For businesses this means less business interruption, less revenue loss, and a greater chance of recovering the full extent of your business.

Understanding the level of fire damage will also help you determine what items you need to get rid of. This will help to reduce the smoke smell in your business or home. Your insurance company will also want a full and accurate assessment of fire damage so they can pay your claim efficiently.

For professional fire, smoke, and soot restoration call SERVPRO Of Bloomfield/Enfield at (860) 216-2785.

Prevent further damage

Evaluate beyond the area that seems to be fire damaged. Take a good look at your entire property. Sometimes business owners or homeowners miss a burned window or a damaged roof. If you don’t find all the fire damage you risk leaving conditions that could lead to further fire damage. One example is holes in the roof. They are particularly dangerous and must be addressed before people move back into the business or home. Another example is missing a water pipe or water tap that’s suffered damage. Check all your utilities, including your water. If you notice any leaking taps or pipes, seal them to prevent further damage.

4. Start fire damage restoration

Sometimes a fire’s flames and heat do less damage than the smoke and soot the fire creates. Breathing in smoke can be hazardous. Soot can invade porous surfaces and damage furniture, carpets, drapes, and other valuable items. Commercial fire damage companies know how to clean up soot and smoke damage. The longer you wait to deal with soot and smoke the more damage they can do.

The smell caused by smoke damage is not very easy to get rid of, especially if you decide to handle the restoration process yourself. To do this, you might have to dispose of badly burned items. Soot damage will usually coat items such as curtains, and these might need to be washed thoroughly. Also, soot damage affects the solid surfaces of your home. These will need to be cleaned using a solution made up of vinegar, dish soap, and water. If the carpets and furniture are not badly burned, you should clean them using a HEPA vacuum. This is more effective in getting rid of the smoke damage since the particles are not blown back into your home environment. Finally, you should use an exhaust fan to remove the smoke smell in your building. For more see our post Removing Smoke Odor.

For professional fire, smoke, and soot restoration call SERVPRO Of Bloomfield/Enfield at (860) 216-2785.

And what about water? The fire cleanup process often involves getting rid of standing water. If any pipes or tanks were affected by the soot damage, you will need to purify the water before you use it. Don’t risk getting poisoned.

In the process of fire cleanup, you should be careful not to touch any wires that may have been affected by the fire, or water.

5. See if professionals can save valuable items that appear destroyed

After a fire some items will probably have to be thrown away. But sometimes what looks like an item that is not salvageable can be restored by professionals. Books, leather items, and other valuables might fit into this category.

Help Is Here

The team at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield has specialized training and experience in fire restoration services, natural disaster prevention, water damage, and natural disaster cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield (860.216.2785) anytime.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield

Top 50 Franchise Nationally

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call 860.216.2785
24 hour emergency service

Fire Damage Repairs

3/6/2017 (Permalink)

Most people who suffer fire damage want their lives and their homes to return to normal as soon as possible. Here's how.

Has your home recently been damaged by fire? If so, we bet you’re eager to get started improving your property. Most people who suffer fire damage want their lives and their homes to return to normal as soon as possible. But many don’t know the costs. According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost to repair smoke and fire damage is $5,844.

Fire damage can make areas of your home unusable until the fire damage has been repaired. More extensive fire damage may make your entire home unsafe. You may have to live elsewhere until cleanup and repair work gets done. No matter how minor or significant the fire damage restoration work is, you want to know how long it will take. The timeline depends on the restorative process and whether you take the opportunity to do remodeling at the same time.

Starting Fire Damage Repair Work
It can be difficult to determine how and where to get started with fire damage repair work. The first step in the repair process is to remove water from the home if firefighters used water during the extinguishing process. Perhaps, a kitchen fire left chemical residue for cleanup. Water extraction can be completed by the professionals from SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield quickly and affordably. We arrive in our green vehicles stocked with equipment and supplies to surmount any cleaning and restoration need you have. Then, you can begin the repair process and decide which items you want to replace and which ones need repair.

Call SERVPRO Of Bloomfield/Enfield At (860) 216-2785 Anytime

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield can also suggest to you and your adjuster what items and materials are salvageable. Keep in mind that smoke damage can also be a problem, and some items, such as carpeting and your HVAC system may need to be professionally cleaned to remove the smoke odor from your home.

Get Professional Help
Repairing your home after you have suffered fire damage is not something that you want to attempt on your own. A fire damage restoration project requires a considerable amount of time and energy to complete. But SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield can help you restore your property in minimal time with minimal costs. Our IICRC cleanup and restoration certified technicians have the skills and assets to do a quality job. We are a locally owned and operated fire damage repair franchise. We can also help with mold, storm, chemical, or water damaging events to your property.

More Fire Damage Information
Every month on the SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield blog we publish educational articles on how to protect your home and business from disasters and how to deal with mold, fire, water, sewage, or other damage.

You might also want to explore the educational information on our sister franchise’s blog, SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield.

For Cleanup Or Restoration Needs Call SERVPRO Of Bloomfield/Enfield At (860) 216-2785 Anytime

Here For You
The team at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield has specialized training and experience in water damage restoration services, fire restoration services, mold remediation, commercial services, and natural disaster cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield (860-216-2785) anytime, 24/7.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
100 Peters Road
Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call 860-216-2785 anytime

21 Tips on Preventing Electrical, Home Heating, And Candle Fires

2/20/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Technicians at Commercial Building

According to Portland Fire and Rescue, roughly half of home electrical fires involve electrical wiring or lighting equipment; and roughly half of those involved equipment such as washers and dryers, fans, and space heaters. One big factor is overloading electrical outlets. Tip number one is to plug only one high-wattage appliance into each outlet at a time. Some other safety guidelines are:

2. Never use an extension cord with a major appliance or space heater – it can be easily over loaded. Plug appliances directly into a wall outlet.
3. If a fuse blows or a circuit breaker trips often, lights flicker or dim, or outlets or switches feel warm, have a qualified electrician inspect and fix the problem. These are often warning signs before a major disaster.
4. Use lamp bulbs that match the lamp's recommended wattage (there is usually a sticker on the lamp). Don’t put a 100 watt bulb into a fixture approved for only 75 watts.
5. Power strips with circuit breakers can be useful tools to temporarily plug several items into an electrical outlet, but if used incorrectly they can cause a fire. The use of power strips and multi-plug outlets increases the draw of electricity through your home's wiring. Before creating additional electrical demand, ensure that your wiring is in good repair and capable of carrying the additional load.
6. Make sure your home has ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in the kitchen, bathroom(s), laundry, basement, and outdoor areas, to reduce the risk of electric shock.
7. Install arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) in your home to protect electrical outlets and prevent fires due to arcing.
8. Run extension cords around carpets, not under them. A cord under a carpet can heat up and cause a fire.
9. Replace or repair damaged or loose electrical cords.

Fire Damage Restoration Questions? Call 860-216-2785 anytime

Home Heating Equipment
Home heating equipment cause a good percentage of winter fires and is a leading cause of home fire deaths. In a recent U.S. study, space heaters accounted for four out of five (80%) home heating fire deaths. Yet, some simple steps can prevent most heating-related fires:

10. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment (e.g. fireplace, wood stove, baseboard or portable space heater).
11. Do not use extension cords with portable space heaters – plug them directly into outlets.
12. Use space heaters that have a switch that will shut off if the unit tips over.
13. Have your heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
14. Use a sturdy fireplace screen in front of your fireplace to stop sparks from flying into the room.
15. Throw out fire ashes in a covered, non-combustible container and douse the ashes with water.
16. Make sure all fuel-burning equipment (e.g. gas furnaces and ranges, wood stoves and fireplaces) are vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (C.O.) poisoning.

Home Heating Safety Questions? Call 860-216-2785 anytime

Candle Safety
Portland Fire and Rescue points out that candles, although appealing for the ambiance they can create, are a significant cause of home fires. In fact, candles are one of the leading causes of home fire deaths. More than one-third of home candle fires start in the bedroom, and more than half of all candle fires start when things that can burn are too close to the candle. Remember that today you can use battery powered artificial candles so you avoid having any open flame. But if you do burn old-fashioned candles please observe these safety tips:

17. Use candle holders that are sturdy and won’t tip over easily.
18. Keep candles at least 12” away from anything that can burn.
19. Blow out candles when you leave the room or go to bed; avoid the use of candles in rooms where people may fall asleep.
20. Never burn a candle if medical oxygen is used in the home.

Candle Safety Questions? Call 860-216-2785 anytime

21. Anytime you have any concerns about how to make your home safer from fire, please contact
SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860.216.2785. In an emergency you can call us 24/7.
We've served clients in Avon, Agawam, Bloomfield, Coventry, East Hartford, East Longmeadow, Ellington, Enfield, Farmington, Hartford, Manchester, Newington, Simsbury, South Windsor, Springfield, West Hartford, and beyond.

More Safety Information
Every month on the SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield blog we publish educational articles on how to protect your home and business from disasters and how to deal with mold, fire, water or other damage.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
100 Peters Road
Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call 860-216-2785 anytime

Know Your Fire Types

10/31/2016 (Permalink)

Remember, safety first. Never try to fight a large fire by yourself.

Did you know that if you battle a fire with the wrong type of fire extinguisher you could make the fire worse? For example, use an extinguisher that contains only water on a flammable liquid fire and you’ll spread the fire and put yourself in further danger. But don’t worry. Fires are divided into five classes and fire extinguishers are specifically made to battle one or more of the fire classes. All this is easier than it may sound. Here are the basics.

1. Remember: safety first. Do not try to fight a large fire by yourself. You’re much better off letting professionals handle any fire. One general rule of thumb is that if the fire is bigger than you are it’s too big for you to put out safely.

2. Only use a fire extinguisher when: 1) the fire is confined to a small area, and is not growing; 2) the room is not filled with smoke; 3) everyone else has exited the building; and 4) the fire department has been called.

3. Most portable fire extinguishers are capable of putting out multiple types of fires. Commercial and residential extinguishers primarily suppress Class A, B, and C fires.

Call the fire experts. Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785.

4. Below is a list of fire classes and the extinguishers that put them out. Always check the extinguisher you’re about to use to make sure it’s designed to fight the type of fire you have. The type of fire or fires that an extinguisher can put out should be clearly visible on the label. If you’re not sure, the safest thing to do is to evacuate the area.

Class of Fire: A (A in a green triangle)
Fires of ordinary combustibles like wood, paper, cardboard, most plastics, and cloth
Extinguishers to Use: Water, Foam Spray, ABC Powder, or Wet Chemical

Class of Fire: B (B in a red square)
Fires of flammable liquids like petroleum, kerosene, grease, and others (but not alcohol or cooking oil)
Extinguishers to Use: Foam Spray, ABC Powder, or Carbon Dioxide

Class of Fire: C (C in a blue circle)
Fires of energized electrical equipment such as appliances, wiring, circuit breakers and outlets
Extinguisher to Use: ABC Powder

Class of Fire: D (D in a yellow star)
Fires of combustible metals like magnesium, titanium, sodium (often found in chemical laboratories).
Extinguishers to Use: ABC Powder or Carbon Dioxide

Class of Fire: K (K in a black hexagon)
Fires of cooking oils, trans fats (often used in restaurants).
Extinguisher to Use: Wet Chemical

5. The most common type of portable fire extinguishers are multipurpose, dry chemical, ABC extinguishers. They’re small, easy to operate, and can put out the majority of fires you may come across. Most have 10 to 20 seconds of discharge with a range of 8 to 12 feet.

6. Author and 20 year fire-fighting veteran Scott Finazzo says you should not use a fire extinguisher unless you can say yes to all of these questions:
   Are there two or more ways for you to escape from the fire?
   Do you have the correct extinguisher for the type of fire?
   Is the extinguisher capable of putting out the size of fire you are facing?
   Is the area free from other hazards?
   Can you put out the fire in 5 seconds or less?

A Wealth Of Natural Disaster Information For You
Every month on our blog we publish educational articles on how to prevent natural disasters and deal with them when they occur.

Help Is Here
The team at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield also has specialized training and experience in water damage restoration services, fire damage services, and natural disaster cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield (860.216.2785) anytime, 24/7.

We've served clients in Avon, Agawam, Bloomfield, Coventry, East Hartford, East Longmeadow, Ellington, Enfield, Farmington, Hartford, Manchester, Newington, Simsbury, South Windsor, Springfield, West Hartford, and beyond.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
100 Peters Road
Bloomfield, CT
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call 860.216.2785 anytime

11 Fire Safety Guidelines

8/24/2016 (Permalink)

Never fight a large fire. Call in the professionals.

No matter how safe we may feel, fire may strike at any time. Knowing these general guidelines can help keep your family, your business employees, and you safe in case a fire does occur.

Remain calm.

Pace yourself. You may be in charge of other people. Listen carefully to what people tell you and deal patiently with urgent situations first.

Check doors for heat.

In a fire before you go through a door feel it with the back of your hand. Feel it from the bottom to the top. Do not open a hot door. Doing so puts you at risk of being burned and adding fuel (oxygen) to the fire.

Stay low.

Smoke and heated gases rise. The lower you are the less likely you are to inhale smoke or dangerous gases.

Keep a safe distance.

If you decide to use a fire extinguisher to fight the fire remember that the extinguisher’s reach is probably 8 to 12 feet. Stay as far away from the fire as you can.

Use a fire extinguisher properly. Follow the PASS method.

P: Pull the pin and hold the fire extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you.

A: Aim low. Point the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire.

S: Squeeze the level slowly and evenly.

S: Sweep the nozzle from side to side.

Only use a fire extinguisher if these four conditions are true.

Many times you’re much better off to let fire cleanup professionals handle any fire. Only use an extinguisher when: 1) the fire is confined to a small area, and is not growing; 2) the room is not filled with smoke; 3) everyone else has exited the building, and 4) the fire department has been called.

Concerned about a fire risk or fire damage? Call (860) 216-2785.

Never fight a large fire.

You’re always best off leaving the fighting of a large fire to professionals. One general rule of thumb is that if the fire is bigger than you are it’s too big for you to put out safely.

Face the fire.

Don’t turn your back on a fire. Conditions can quickly change. You need to be constantly aware of the fire’s size, condition, and position.

Observe the smoke.

More turbulent smoke means more dangerous fire conditions. Is smoke pushing out of the top of a door? Then do not enter. Does the area contain significant amounts of smoke? Then the fire probably exceeds your ability to handle it. Call the professionals.

Have a designated meeting place.

Your family or employees should have a specific place well away from your home or business that you will meet at in case of a fire. Knowing where to meet and having two or more ways to get there reduces the risk of leaving someone behind or not knowing where everyone is if you evacuate your home or building.

If you can’t escape the building stay in a fire-free, smoke-free room with the doors closed.

If smoke, heat, or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with doors closed. Place a wet towel under the door and call the fire department or 9-1-1. Open a window and wave a brightly colored cloth or flashlight to signal for help.

Check for injuries and have them treated.

Immediately after the fire have any injuries treated by a medical professional. Wash small wounds with soap and water. To help prevent infection of small wounds, use bandages and replace them if they become soiled, damaged, or waterlogged.

Help With Fires Is Here

The team at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield has specialized training and experience in fire restoration services, natural disaster prevention, and natural disaster cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield (860.216.2785) anytime, 24/7.

We've served clients in Avon, Agawam, Bloomfield, Coventry, East Hartford, East Longmeadow, Ellington, Enfield, Farmington, Hartford, Manchester, Newington, Simsbury, South Windsor, Springfield, West Hartford, and beyond.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call 860.216.2785
24 hour emergency service

10 Key Fire & Fire Damage Facts

3/17/2016 (Permalink)

Never think that if you avoid the fire's flames you are safe.

While flames can cause the most visible damage to your property during a fire, smoke and soot are silent and sometimes invisible hazards that could cost lives. Water is also a reason for damage after a fire. Even firefighters themselves may cause some damage before they can completely put out a fire. Here are 10 important things to know about fires.

1. In a fire, more people die from inhaling smoke than from the flames. Never think that if you avoid the flames you are safe. Always keep away from smoke.

2. Soot is a coating of fine, black dust created when wood, coal, or oil-based substances are burned. These carbon particles float into the air and settle anywhere. Inhaling soot can caused severe lung deficiencies or even death.

3. If soot contaminates items in your home or business, a fire restoration service provider like SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield must assess the damage to see if restoration is possible.

Need Fire Restoration Advice Or Services? Call SERVPRO Of Bloomfield/Enfield At (860) 216-2785

4. The worst possible effect of soot is its tendency to cause cancer and cause serious defects in newborns. Soot produces polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons are responsible for gene mutation for particular groups of genes. They can cause birth defects and increase the chances of getting cancer.

Water’s Good And Bad
5. Water’s great at putting out most fires but the water itself can cause great damage. You must make sure, after the fire is out, that your home or business is completely dried. If you don’t, mold, mildew, and other consequences will lead to further damage and loss. This is why SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield provides industrial dehumidifiers and air movers to dry saturated carpets, padding, furniture, and any other wet items.

6. Mold colonies can begin to grow just 48 hours after water damage occurs. The combination of fire, water, and mold damage to your commercial property or home could result in a complete loss if not handled properly. See our posts about mold, mold myths, and how to clean up mold.

7. Use caution if you decide to do some of the fire damage cleanup after a fire. Never start your cleaning process until you’re properly attired. Wear heavy-duty gloves, safety goggles, and a face mask. Carefully cover your nose and make sure your safety glasses have no place for dust or soot to get into your eyes.

Why Firefighters Break Windows And Cut Holes In Roofs
8. Firefighters are true heroes. However, they often must break windows and cut holes in the roof of buildings on fire. As a fire burns, the fire moves up and down and across, growing very fast. Firefighters break windows and cut holes in roofs to provide ventilation that slows the fire’s growth. Ventilation also helps get rid of dark smoke that makes it hard for firefighters to see where they’re going. The holes and broken windows help firefighters fight the fire more quickly. The bottom line is that breaking windows and cutting holes in roofs help save lives and property.

9. Firefighters will also cut holes in walls at times. That’s not about ventilation. It’s done so the fire department is sure that the fire is completely out. Fire departments don’t want to risk leaving a fire that’s not visible but is still active inside the walls or in other hidden places.

10. If you have a fire, get a copy of the fire report. In most areas, a fire report is a public document. Ask for it at the fire department or fire marshal’s office. The fire report will help you with information that your insurance company and other official offices may request.

For more, see After The Fire: Returning to Normal from FEMA.

Here To Help
The team at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield has specialized training and experience in fire restoration services and natural disaster cleanup.

Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield (860.216.2785) anytime, 24/7.

We've served clients in Avon, Agawam, Bloomfield, Coventry, East Hartford, East Longmeadow, Ellington, Enfield, Farmington, Hartford, Manchester, Newington, Simsbury, South Windsor, Springfield, West Hartford, and beyond.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call (860) 216-2785
24 hour emergency service

Wood-Burning Stove and Fireplace Safety

12/28/2015 (Permalink)

If you’re planning to burn wood, make sure your stove (or fireplace) and chimney have been thoroughly checked by a professional chimney sweep.

Ah! The warm pleasure of gathering around your fireplace or wood-burning stove on a cold winter’s night. Enjoy the warmth, but do be safe. Here are a few wood-burning stove and fireplace tips.

1. Have a professional annual inspection

If you’re planning to burn wood, make sure your stove (or fireplace) and chimney have been thoroughly checked by a professional chimney sweep. Stoves, fireplaces, and chimneys should be cleaned at least once a year. Wood-burning stoves should be inspected annually for ash and creosote buildup, cracks, and animal or bird nests.

Concerned About Your Wood Stove or Fireplace? Call Us Today – (860) 216-2785

2. Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Make sure you have enough smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Are they in good working order? Important in all homes, these detectors are especially essential in homes with wood-burning stoves.

3. Check your wood-burning stove’s ventilation

Venting the stove is the most important part of the wood-burning system. According to Nationwide, 90% of all stove-related fires originate within the venting system. A venting system is not a chimney – it consists of lengths of 24-gauge or heavier stovepipe which connects the stove to an approved chimney.

4. Consider a moisture meter

If you stack wood outside in the weather, the Environmental Protection Agency advises you to consider purchasing a moisture meter. You can use one to make sure your timber is dry and safe to burn. Meters can be purchased online for a little as $20. Hardwoods—such as maple, beech, ash, hickory, or oak—are the best fuel for a wood-burning stove. Your wood should be cut, split, and air dried for at least a year before burning.

5. Keep flammables away

Keep furniture, drapes, rugs, and anything flammable away from your fireplace or wood-burning stove. Sometimes people move furniture closer to the fireplace or stove during warmer months. If you do that, move the furniture and any home decorations back a safe distance before lighting up your fireplace or stove.

6. Always have the right flooring

Never have carpet installed directly in front of your fireplace or wood-burning stove. A spark could land on it and start a fire. Good flooring to have near your fireplace or stove is linoleum or brick. You want a floor that’s not as combustible as carpeting.

7. Keep your insurance company informed

Tell your insurer you have installed a fireplace or a wood-burning stove. If a spark from the fireplace or the wood stove pops out and burns your couch and a large portion of a neighboring wall, you could be stuck paying the entire bill if the insurance company doesn’t know about that particular heat source.

8. Inspect the dampers

If your wood-burning stove has an automatic draft regulator controlled by a thermostat, carefully follow the manufacturer's installation instructions. A manually operated damper can be installed on the pipe near the stove. This damper should not obstruct more than 80 percent of the pipe area. A second damper higher up on the vertical section of the stovepipe is advisable to permit shutting down the stove in case of a chimney fire.

9. If you’re buying a wood stove, buy quality.

Be sure any stove you buy is made of sturdy, suitable material, such as cast iron or steel. Look for the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) label. If you purchase a used stove, check it carefully for cracks or other defects. The legs, hinges, grates, and draft louvers should also be checked carefully.

10. Never do these six things

Be careful with how you install, monitor, and maintain a fireplace or wood-burning stove. Five things you should never do are:
1.    Connect your wood stove to a fireplace chimney unless the fireplace has been sealed off
2.    Connect your wood stove to a chimney serving another appliance burning other fuels.
3.    Start a wood stove fire with flammable fluids, such as gasoline
4.    Extend the stovepipe through a wall or ceiling (unless there’s no alternative)
5.    Burn trash in a wood-burning stove. That may start a chimney fire.
6.    Let a wood fire burn unattended or overnight

Remember, SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield is here to help. We work on know about wood-burning stoves and fireplace safety. So call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield (860.216.2785) anytime, 24/7. At SERVPRO we’re trained in many restoration services.

We know the safest, most advanced, and quickest ways to help you recover from damage to your home or business.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call (860) 216-2785
24 hour emergency service

16 Ways To Prevent Cooking and Cigarette Fires

11/13/2015 (Permalink)

Never leave a stove, grill, oven, or other cooking source unattended.

Cooking fires and cigarette fires can be devastating. Just as difficult can be realizing you could have prevented a fire in your home or business. Here are sixteen ways you can prevent accidental fires.

Preventing Cooking Fires
1. Cooking is the #1 cause of home fires in many communities. Usually it’s because someone’s left the cooking unattended. Never leave a stove, grill, oven, or other cooking source unwatched.
2. Many cooking fire injuries happen when people respond to kitchen fires inappropriately. For example, if you pour water on a grease fire you could make the fire worse. Always use an appropriate way to fight a fire.

Need Fire Damage Repair Services? Call Us Today – (860) 216-2785

3. Keep the handles of all stovetop pots and pans turn in so small children or anything passing by the stove cannot grab or catch on the handles and cause a spill.
4. Examine the area around your stove. Move away anything (potholders, for example) that could catch fire if it fell on the stove.
5. If you have a cooking fire in a pan smother the fire by sliding a lid over the pan. Then turn off the burner.
6. If the fire is in your oven, turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed.
7. If the fire is in a microwave, unplug the microwave or shut off the power and keep the microwave door closed.
8. Never discharge a portable extinguisher into a cooking pan. Doing so will only spread the fire.
9. Don’t carry a hot pot or pan of grease outside because it can lead to burns and scalding. Wait until the grease is no longer hot.

Preventing Cigarette Fires
10. Cigarettes are the leading cause of fire deaths on a national level. Most cigarette fires are caused by improperly discarded smoking material (cigarettes, cigars, pipes, etc). These fires often start outside, then move to a structure.
11. Never smoke in bed or anywhere you might fall asleep.
12. Don’t smoke in a home where medical oxygen is present.
13. Smoke outside only.
14. Don’t discard cigarettes in potted plants, landscaping vegetation, or bark dust. All these materials can easily catch fire.
15. Use a deep, sturdy ashtray or a non-combustible container that cannot be tipped over.
16. Before throwing away butts or ashes, douse them in water or sand.

Remember, we’re here to help. We're fire restoration experts. So call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield (860.216.2785) anytime, 24/7. At SERVPRO we’re trained in many restoration services. We know the safest, most advanced, and quickest ways to help you recover from a commercial fire or a home fire.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield has served clients in Avon, Agawam, Bloomfield, Coventry, East Hartford, Ellington, Enfield, Farmington, Hartford, Manchester, Newington, Simsbury, South Windsor, Springfield, West Hartford, and beyond.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call (860) 216-2785
24 hour emergency service

Fire's Out. Now Prevent Further Damage.

9/11/2015 (Permalink)

The best way to prevent further fire damage to your home is to contact a professional restoration company that specializes in fire damage cleanup.

After a fire in your home you can minimize further damage by following some simple guidelines like these.

1. Be sure you have permission from your fire marshal to re-enter your home.
2. Get the air moving. Open windows to ventilate areas. Install a fan to circulate air. (But see #3)
3. If your home has substantial water damage and the weather is warm, you will probably need to keep the
windows shut and run a dehumidifier. In cold weather, your heating system is operating and the cold air will usually help
remove the moisture. In this case, change your furnace filter daily until it shows no soot.

Need Soot Removal Services? Call (860) 216-2785

4. Dry wet items as soon as you can. Use fans and dehumidifiers to dry carpets and draperies. If not thoroughly dried, carpets and
floors underneath may be quickly damaged beyond repair by mold and mildew.
5. Don't attempt to clean any household textiles (like drapes and carpets) unless you know the proper procedure. You can cause additional damage.
6. Before carpets, draperies, upholstered furniture, and clothing can be deodorized or cleaned, the soot must be removed. Because soot is oily, it easily stains items. This is why these items should not be touched after a fire. We recommend you hire a professional fire restorer. They will remove soot with a heavy duty vacuum.
7. Remove brass and copper items and clean them using brass or copper cleaner. Smoke can etch brass or copper in 24 hours.
8. Place aluminum foil or plastic food wrap under furniture legs.
9. Remove oriental rugs or other colored rugs from wet wall-to-wall carpeting.
10. Cover your dry, clean items with plastic while the fire restoration process is in progress.
11. Remove any fabrics—including carpet, rugs, and draperies—that have sustained fire or water damage. This should clear some of the soot, ash, and moisture out of your home.
12. Remove any clothing from your home. Send clothing to a dry cleaner that specializes in fire and smoke removal. Proper restoration requires certain chemicals, so make sure the dry cleaner has the necessary materials to remove the smoke smell effectively.
13. The best way to prevent further fire damage to your home is to contact a professional restoration company that specializes in fire damage cleanup. They have special licensing, equipment, and expertise to clean your home effectively and safely return it to its former condition.
14. Before your hire a fire restoration company, secure some references from people the company has helped. Usually the professional fire restorer can provide helpful hints to prevent further damage, determine which of your items can be refurbished, and estimate the cost of deodorizing and cleaning your home.
15. When in doubt, check with a professional. We’ve seen too many people take soot removal, deodorizing, and cleaning into their own hands to save money. They end up losing money because they further harm or destroy the items they’re trying to save.

We’re here to help you. The team at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield has specialized fire restoration training and experience to quickly clean up and restore your home to pre-fire condition. We can remove virtually any pervasive smoke odor and deep-clean soot from upholstery and carpet. We use a thorough fire damage restoration process:
Step1: Emergency Contact
Step 2: Inspection and Fire Damage Assessment
Step 3: Immediate Board-Up and Roof Tarp Service (if needed)
Step 4: Water Removal and Drying (if water damage is present)
Step 5: Removal of Smoke and Soot from All Surfaces
Step 6: Cleaning and Repair
Step 7: Restoration

Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield (860.216.2785) anytime, 24/7.

We've served clients in Ellington, West Hartford, Avon, Springfield, Manchester, Hartford, Newington, Bloomfield, East Hartford, Enfield, Simsbury, Coventry, South Windsor, Agawam, and beyond.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call (860) 216-2785
24 hour emergency service

Removing Smoke Odor

9/8/2015 (Permalink)

After a fire, don't try to clean away a smoke odor from textiles until you have deordorized them.

Removing Smoke Odor From Clothing, Furniture, and Carpets

After a fire you’re eager to clean your home, but be careful. You may waste effort or even make things worse if you don’t use proper methods. Begin by contacting your insurance agent immediately after a fire. Then consult with a fire restoration expert like SERVPRO® of Bloomfield/Enfield. For dealing with the smell of smoke in clothing, upholstered furniture, carpets, and drapes, here are some tips.

Need Smoke Or Soot Removal Services? Call (860) 216-2785

After a home fire, several factors can influence the severity of the odor:
• Size of the fire: The larger the fire, the more materials have been burned, and the more smoke you’ll have.
• Length of exposure: The longer an area is exposed to smoke, the more deeply embedded the smoke odor can be in all porous materials.
• Size of the room affected: The smaller the room, the more intense and concentrated the smoke odor can become.
• The material burned: Different materials leave behind different odors. A wood fire smells differently than a fire that burns mostly plastic materials, for example. The type of materials affected may influence the type of products you need to remove the smoke odor.

Deodorize Before You Clean
Before you have anything cleaned, properly deodorize the affected items. We recommend you use professionals. A dry cleaner or professional fire restorer will tell you about counteractants. Counteractants are chemicals or additives that break up smoke molecules and eliminate the smoke odor. You need different counteractants depending on the material burned in the fire. Counteractants may be professionally applied to furniture, carpets, and drapes. Fire restorers also may provide them for laundering clothes.

Some professional fire restorers and dry cleaners use an ozone treatment to remove smoke odors. If they do the work in your home, they’ll put your smoke odor affected items under a tent while an ozone generator runs.

Household Remedies Only Provide Temporary Relief
Yes, you may think about using a household deodorizing spray or disinfectant but they provide only temporary relief from smoke odor. And, deodorizing sprays may interact with smoke odor and create an additional odor.

If it’s impossible for you to have your smoke odor infested items restored by a professional fire restorer, you might try one of these methods:

1. Dissolve one cup of dishwashing detergent—the type used in an
automatic dishwasher—in one gallon of warm water. Completely submerge the items and let them soak all night in your washing machine or bathtub. Drain and launder as usual the next day.

2. For items that can be bleached, mix 4 to 6 tablespoons trisodium phosphate (available from your hardware store) with 1 cup Lysol or household chlorine bleach and 1 gallon of water. Add clothes, rinse with clear water, and dry.

We’re here to help. The team at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield has specialized fire restoration training and experience to quickly clean up and restore your home to pre-fire condition. We can remove virtually any pervasive smoke odor and deep-clean soot from upholstery and carpet.

Preventing A Home Fire: A Checklist

7/31/2015 (Permalink)

Home and business owners depend on SERVPRO Bloomfield/Enfield for fire damage repairs and fire restoration services.

More than 4,000 people die every year in fires according to U.S. government statistics. More than 25,000 are seriously injured. Most of these deaths and injuries could be prevented. Here’s a checklist of some ways you can help prevent a fire in your home and make your home safer:

•    Talk with your kids about the dangers of playing with matches, fire, lighters, and flammable liquids
•    Don’t leave the kitchen when you’re cooking (most home fires start on the kitchen stove)
•    Know and post your local fire department’s emergency phone number
•    Keep gasoline, kerosene, paint thinners, and other flammable liquids in appropriate containers and away from other flammable materials

Need Fire Restoration or Damage Repair? Call (860) 216-2785

•    Keep your garage and basement clear of trash, newspapers, and other combustibles
•    Don’t use flammable liquids like gasoline, kerosene, or benzene indoors
•    Make sure flammable liquids are stored in appropriate containers in a well-ventilated area
•    Safely discard cloths or paper towels used with flammable liquids, preferably outdoors in metal containers
•    Avoid plugging several appliances into one electrical outlet unless you use a UL-approved outlet with circuit breakers
•    Don’t use extension cords with heaters or air conditioners
•    Use smoke alarms throughout your home and test them regularly
•    Use caution with alternative heating sources like kerosene, wood, or pellet stoves
•    Use only the type of fuel that’s meant for these heating sources, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions
•    If you must smoke, do so safely:
•    Never smoke in bed
•    Don’t leave the room with a cigarette burning in an ashtray
•    Keep matches, cigarette lighters, and grill lighters in a locked cabinet
•    Never smoke when you’re drowsy, medicated, or reclining
•    Make sure smokers have deep, sturdy ashtrays, and make sure cigarette and cigar butts are cold before you put them in the trash

If you do experience a fire in the Connecticut region, you can rely on the fire damage repair and restoration services of SERVPRO® of Bloomfield/Enfield. We have restored many fire-damaged homes and businesses. You can also rely on us for smoke damage cleanup.

Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
For any commercial or home cleanup and restoration questions you have, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield anytime, 24/7 at 860.216.2785. At SERVPRO our fire damage restoration teams are trained in the safest, most advanced, and quickest ways to help.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call (860) 216-2785
24 hour emergency service

Fire Damage Clean Up Tips

7/20/2015 (Permalink)

Act quickly but intelligently after fire damages your home.

How do you clean up after fire damage?

First, consider your safety. Only stay in your fire damaged home if you know it’s safe. Remember that electrical and "slip and fall" hazards are some of the most common ways people get injured after a fire.

If putting the fire out has left lots of water on your property, avoid lifting wet materials. They could be much heavier than you think. When fire has damaged your property, some of the first steps you should take are:

What To Do After Fire Damage
•    Limit movement in your home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpets.
•    Keep everyone’s hands clean so you don’t further soil upholstery, walls, and woodwork.
•    Place clean towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery, and carpet traffic areas.
•    If your electricity is off, empty your freezer and refrigerator and prop the doors open.
•    Clean and protect chrome with a light coating of petroleum jelly or oil.
•    Wash your houseplants on both sides of leaves.
•    Change your HVAC filter.
•    Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers.

What NOT To Do After Fire Damage
•    Don't try to wash any walls or painted surfaces or shampoo your carpet or upholstery without contacting a professional. You may do more damage.
•    Don't attempt to clean any electrical appliances that may have been close to fire, heat, or water without consulting an authorized repair service.
•    Don't use any canned or packaged food or beverages that may have been stored near the fire, heat, or water.
•    Don't turn on ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet. The wiring may be damaged.
•    Don't send garments to an ordinary dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set smoke odor.

Remember, we’re here to help. We are fire restoration contractors. Many people in the Connecticut region have used our professional fire restoration services. So call SERVPRO Bloomfield/Enfield (860.216.2785) anytime, 24/7.

At SERVPRO we’re trained in many emergency restoration services. We know the safest, most advanced, and quickest ways to help you recover from fire and smoke damage. We've served clients in Ellington, West Hartford, Avon, Springfield, Manchester, Hartford, Newington, Bloomfield, East Hartford, Enfield, Simsbury, Coventry, South Windsor, Agawam, and beyond.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call (860) 216-2785
24 hour emergency service

Fire Damage? Lower Your Fire Clean Up Costs

5/22/2015 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield has the specialized fire and water damage cleanup and restoration training and experience to quickly restore your home.

Fire damage is terrible as it is. Let’s not make things worse by spending more money than necessary to restore your fire damaged home. Many times you can save money and keep property damage to a minimum through what’s called emergency mitigation services.

Saving Fire Damaged Possessions
Fire damaged property that may look like it needs to be replaced may actually be recoverable. A fire restoration company can save many a heirloom. But act quickly. Prompt fire cleanup and restoration is important because the items found in your home—furniture, carpet, walls, drapes, and even ceilings—can absorb smoke. If too much time elapses between when the fire damage occurs and when fire cleanup occurs, the effects of smoke damage can last for months.

Time Can Cost You Many Possessions
The more time between the fire and restoration the more costs you incur and the fewer items you can restore. Depending on the extent of the fire damage, you may be able to save clothing, leather, books, photographs, kitchen items, furniture, and more.

Restored To Pre-Loss Condition
SERVPRO Bloomfield/Enfield cleans and deodorizes restorable items, sometimes to preloss condition. So don’t throw anything out until you’re certain it must be replaced. Save your property and save money. Now that’s a win/win!

Call SERVPRO Bloomfield/Enfield to discuss. We’re the fire restoration and clean up company that has saved property and saved money for the owners of fire damaged homes. Whether you're in East Hartford or Tolland; Bloomfield or Manchester; or anywhere in between, we can help.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call (860) 216-2785
24 hour emergency service

If you have a fire or water emergency, please call us now at (860) 216-2785

Archived Fire Damage Blog Posts

Essential Guide to Fire Damage Repair and Restoration in Bloomfield

Understanding Fire Damage and Its Effects

Why Immediate Fire Damage Repair and Restoration is Essential

The Steps Involved in Fire Damage Repair and Restoration

1. Emergency Contact and Inspection

2. Securing the Property

3. Water Removal and Drying

4. Smoke and Soot Cleanup

5. Sanitizing and Deodorization

6. Restoration and Rebuild

Why Choose SERVPRO of Bloomfield for Fire Damage Repair and Restoration?

Tips for Homeowners Facing Fire Damage in Bloomfield, CT

Preventing Future Fire Damage

Final Thoughts: Restoring Your Home and Peace of Mind

Where There's Fire There's Smoke...Odor

No Kitchen Fires!

You've Had A House Fire - Now What?

Fire Damage? Lower Your Fire Clean Up Costs!

Cleaning Up and Repairing Enfield Fire Damage

We Seek Pre-Loss Condition After Fire Damage

Working with Your Insurance Provider

Reaching Homes Fast for Fire Mitigation

How Damaging is Soot?

The Lingering Smoke Odors

Who Does Post-Fire Repair?

The Need for Elaborate Fire Damage Restoration in Enfield Homes

SERVPRO Has Resources Suitable for Fire Repairs in Enfield

How Fire and Soot Damage Affects Bloomfield Homes

Cleaning Fire and Soot Damage

Soot Particles in the Air

Widespread Malodors

Cutting Costs After Fire Damage

Where There's Fire There's Smoke...Odor

Fire Damage - Let the Experts Handle Your Home

You've Had A House Fire - Now What?

What Our Customers Say About SERVPRO’s Fire Cleanup Services

We're Here for You

SERVPRO Will Remediate Fire Damage in Your Granby Home

We Clean and Restore Your Building

We Clean and Restore Your Personal Possessions

We Deodorize Everything in Your Home

We're Here for You

Prevent Home Heating Fires in Your Suffield House

Prevent Home Heating Fires with Regular Maintenance and Cleaning

Use Your Fireplace Safely to Avoid a Home Heating Fire

Use Other Sources of Heat Safely to Prevent a Home Heating Fire

We're Here for You

Ask These Questions to Avoid Fire Damage in Your East Granby Home

Throughout the House

Basement

First Floor

Second Floor

Laundry Room

Garage

We're Here for You

No Kitchen Fires!

Is Smart Fire Detection Technology Right for Your Home?

Enjoy Your Fire Pit and Campfire … Safely!

Your Home Appliances Pose a Fire Hazard

Is Your Fire Extinguisher Ready to Work?

Home Heating Fires Can Be Deadly—Prevent One in Your Home

Space Heater Safety Basics

Most Chimney Fires Are Preventable

7 Ways to Reduce Fire Risk in Your Garage

Get Rid of that Lingering Smoke Odor

Make a Plan to Escape a House Fire

Own an Older Home? These Fire Risks May Be Lurking

Keeping Your Fire Damage Restoration Costs Down

The 5 Most Common Places a House Fire Starts

6 Top Fire Damage Restoration Tips

Space Heater Safety

Fire Damage Restoration For Businesses And Homes

Fire Damage Repairs

21 Tips on Preventing Electrical, Home Heating, And Candle Fires

Know Your Fire Types

11 Fire Safety Guidelines

No matter how safe we may feel, fire may strike at any time. Knowing these general guidelines can help keep your family, your business employees, and you safe in case a fire does occur.

Concerned about a fire risk or fire damage? Call (860) 216-2785.