Fire Damage? Give SERVPRO of Columbia County a Call. We Flame to Please!!

6/28/2024 (Permalink)

This SERVPRO employee is in full PPE disinfecting and wiping down items post fire.

How SERVPRO of Columbia County Can Help You

Experiencing a fire in your home is extremely stressful and understandably scary. Fire restoration requires experience, and luckily, SERVPRO of Columbia County is equipped to handle the mess for you! After a fire occurs you may be faced with a wet, soot-soaked mess. Our crews are fully equipped to restore your home to preloss condition. After our team arrives on site, our technicians will immediately set out to inspect all affected areas that need immediate attention.  

Our experienced technicians can identify and restore wet, dry or greasy soot deposits in your home. Fire odors can spread through the home rapidly and set in deep into furniture, upholstery and fabric. Our SERVPRO EPA approved cleaning agents range from oil-based, alkaline and acidic treatments. Coupled with our cleaning agents our machines, such as our Esporta, can clean affected textiles and restore them to their previous condition.  

After removal of all smoke residue, affected materials and charred items, we can begin the deodorization process. After all the mitigation, deodorization and decontamination are complete, we can begin the reconstruction of the affected areas in the home.  

Had a fire in your home? Give SERVPRO of Columbia County a call today at 706-750-0200 and we’ll make it “Like it never even happened”®. 

That’s Not Charlotte’s Web!

6/6/2023 (Permalink)

Commonly, when a fire occurs, even a small one, strange thread-like chains reminiscent of a spider’s web can form. Many people are often concerned that the fire may have attracted some unwelcome guests into their home. Arachnophobes can rest easy, those web-like structures are (most likely) not from a spider, they are soot tags, also known as soot webs.

What Are They and What Causes Them?

Soot tags are thread-like chains that are made from carbon and tar that are released as a fire burns. They are black in color and people often wrongly assume they are cobwebs that are covered in soot. Fires produce heat that releases both soot and smoke. Soot is made up of powdery or oily carbon and tar, while smoke is a vapor that is made up of the finest particles. Heat is naturally drawn to cooler areas, and as it moves, it pulls the smoke and soot with it. The ionized soot particles gather in the corners of walls and ceilings, thereby forming the adeptly named “soot webs” in the home.

Have you recently experienced a house fire? Give SERVPRO® of Columbia County a call at 706-868-5441 for a consultation. We can clean, deodorize, and get your home back to preloss condition in no time!

A Shocking Way Fires Can Start in Your Home

6/17/2022 (Permalink)

Can Batteries Cause a Fire?

The simple answer: yes! This phenomenon has been reported country across the United States. However, unlike AAA, AA, D, and C batteries that have their positive and negative posts positioned at opposite ends, 9-volt battery posts are set next to each other. This can become a potential problem if you place those batteries in that junk drawer along with other metal miscellaneous items such as paper clips, keys, aluminum foil, nail clippers, scissors, and more. When the posts touch metal, it can cause said metal to heat up, and if it is touching a combustible source like steel wool or paper, it can lead to a fire.

Tips for Prevention

• Keep 9-volt batteries stored standing up in a safe place where they can’t be knocked around
• Keep them in their original package or in a battery organizer before use.
  • If you can’t do that, cover both positive and negative posts with electrical tape.
• Never put batteries in a pocket with keys, loose change, or other metal objects.
• Do not store in a drawer loosely or in containers with metal objects or other batteries

In the event your property has been affected by fire or smoke from any source, SERVPRO® of Columbia County is “Here to help.®” If you are in need of our services, please contact us at 706-868-5441.

The Aftermath of Fire Damages

5/6/2022 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO® of Columbia County for any fire restoration needs!

What is Black Soot?

Soot is made up of fine black particles of incomplete combustion. It occurs when something in the home does not completely burn during a fire, whether it’s from fuel, coal, or combustible items around the house, such as plastics, metal, and paper. Soot is mostly made up of carbon but contain low levels of tar, acids, dust, or carcinogens.

Soot vs. Ash

When a fire occurs, there are two types of particles that can normally be found in the homes. Ash is the white or gray powder that is visibly made up of large particles. They are dry, powdery, and papery. It is made up of mostly carbon and other compounds that did not completely burn, much like soot.

Where Does Soot Come from and How Does it Get Everywhere?

Soot occurs during any fire, but it is most prevalent when wood, coal, oil, or plastics burn. Air drafts caused by flames allow the fine particles to float away before they can finish burning, resulting in soot.  Due to that, soot can easily spread throughout the home, even further than the fire damage.

Other Common Causes of Soot

While soot mostly occurs because of fires, there are other causes. Over time, and under the right conditions, you may find soot build up for the following reasons:

• Cooking food
• Burning wood in a fireplace
• Burning candles
• Melting or burning plastics
• Appliance malfunctions
• Furnace malfunctions

Leave soot clean up to the professionals at SERVPRO® of Columbia County! Our trained technicians can make soot damage “Like it never even happened.” For more information, contact us at (706) 868-5441.

How to Be Prepared for a House Fire

4/26/2022 (Permalink)

Fires in the United States

In the United States, there is an estimated 358,500 house fires occurring every year. About 50% of these fires occur in the kitchen, 7% begin in the bedroom, and 6% are caused by chimneys, 4% start in the living room, and 3% occur in the laundry room. Most fires that happen in the kitchen are from cooking, either from grease or from leaving a dish unaccompanied for too long.  Other common causes are from heating equipment, faulty electrical distribution and lighting equipment, and smoking materials such as a cigarette. 

Follow These Steps

1. Ensure that the correct number of smoke alarms are installed and regularly checked.
2. Teach your children what a smoke alarm sounds like and what they should do if they hear one.
3. Make sure all household members know at least TWO ways to escape from every room in your home and where the meeting spot is outside of the home.
4. Create a household emergency communication plan and confirm that all members know who to contact if they cannot find one another.
5. Practice the escape plan twice a year, which would include pressing the smoke alarm test button and yelling “Fire” to alert everyone.
6. Teach every household member to STOP, DROP, and ROLL if their clothing catches on fire.
7. Check and ensure that everyone knows how to call 9-1-1 and that they know the address in case there is an emergency.
8. Have a running log or inventory of the items you own, with photo or video documentation.

Safeguard Your Home

• Every level of your home needs to have smoke alarms, outside of every sleeping area.
• A carbon monoxide alarm in a central location, outside each sleeping area.
• Ensure that your house number is visible and readable from the street, especially at night.
• Make sure that the heating sources in your home are clean and properly functioning. This includes furnaces or stoves, chimneys with creosote buildup, or cracked or rusted furnace parts.
• Check electrical wiring of your home and avoid overloading outlets.
• Only use kerosene heaters if permitted by law and always refuel them outside, after they have cooled.
• Only purchase appliances and electrical devices that have the label of an independent testing laboratory.
• Always store combustible materials in open areas and away from heat sources, placing rags used to apply flammable household chemicals in metal containers with tight-fitting lids.

Have you experienced a house fire? SERVPRO® of Columbia is ready and available to make fire damage "Like it never even happened.®” Call our office at 706-868-5441 to schedule a consultation today.

Preventative Measures for House Fires & Common Ways They’re Started

3/10/2022 (Permalink)

5 Most Common Ways House Fires Start

House fire losses can leave you feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to start in terms of restoration. To help stop house fires before they start, here is a list of the most common ways house fires happen, and some preventative ways to stop them. 

1. Cooking fires are one of the most common types of house fires, causing about 50% of residential fires. Most often, they are caused by grease that is overheated in an oven or on a stove. Once grease is ignited, it is difficult to choke out the flames. 

Tip: Grease is highly flammable and when it reaches about 600 degrees Fahrenheit, it can combust (even without a direct flame source). 

2. Space heaters can cause fires when fabric materials or other combustible items are left too close to them. Heating appliances are the second leading cause of residential fires, responsible for about 12% of household fires. 

3. Faulty electrical wiring causes around 51,000 fires annually. Typically, electric fires occur because of short circuits that ignite within walls. Electrical fires account for about 10% of all residential fires.

4. Fires from cigarettes account for only around 5% of home fires yearly. To be safe try to limit smoking indoors, and smoke outside. Flyaway embers or dropped ignited sticks are a huge fire risk. 

5. New Year’s Day, New Year’s Eve and Christmas are the most frequently used time for candles, those holidays also experience an increase in home fires. 

Preventative Tips to Avoid House Fires

• When cooking with grease, be sure to never leave hot oil unattended. Most kitchen fires start when a homeowner leaves cooking food unattended in an oven or on a stove. 

Tip: Small grease fires can be extinguished rather quickly if you immediately turn the heat off and smother the fire with a metal lid. 

• With a serious fire, do not attempt to put the fire out. Immediately call your local emergency services, such as your fire department. NEVER dump water over a grease fire, doing this can cause boiling grease to explode and throw grease everywhere. 
• When using a space heater, be sure to inspect it regularly to ensure it is in working condition. Space heaters always come with instructions for usage, one of the heaviest rules being do not leave a space heater running unsupervised.
• Annually have your homes wiring checked out by a professional electrician, especially if you own an older home. Do not try to ‘DIY’ any electrical repairs unless you are a licensed professional. 
• Keep matches and lighters in a secure place if you have kids, and never leave a candle burning in a room unattended. 
• When it comes to using candles during important holidays, consider using other options for decorative lighting effects. 

Recently experienced a house fire loss? Give SERVPRO® of Columbia County a call at 706-868-5441 for a consultation.

How Space Heaters Can Cause Damage in Your Home

12/22/2021 (Permalink)

Always use caution when using and handling a space heater. Should you have a space heater damage, please give our team a call fro help at 706-868-5441

What is a space heater and how does it work?

An electric space heater is a portable heating device that is designed to focus heat in a small, designated space. Space heaters work by expelling warm air through a fan, warm air naturally rises and forces colder air towards the floor. The function of a space heater is to effectively circulate heat and warm the room; however, they should not be used as an alternative to a regular heating system. Space heaters are a temporary solution for extra warmth.

Are electric space heaters safe?

Typically, space heaters are safe to sue. However, according to the National Fire Protection Agency around 13,000 house fires occur a year due to heating equipment such as space heaters. There are also other forms of space heaters other than just the electric heater. Gas space heaters are a common type of heater, and when used correctly are safe as well. Gas heaters do give off low levels of carbon monoxide, as well as considering the dangers of an open flame.

An electric space heater poses a considerably reduced threat. Electric heaters are not eliminated from risk entirely. Following a few safety guidelines should reduce your risk of a disaster:

• When shopping for a space heater, always pick one with a tip-over cut-off switch

Often space heaters are placed on the floor and the last thing you want is for it to tip over and start a fire within your home.

• ALWAYS plug your space heater directly into the wall socket.

If plugging into a socket isn’t a feasible option, when using an extension cord make sure that the wiring is a minimum of 14 gauges.

If A Fire Does Occur give our team at SERVPRO® of Columbia County a call. We are always Here to Help® 24/7/365. Give us a call at 706-868-5441 and we’ll make it "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Difference in Fighting Fire Damage Evans

12/1/2021 (Permalink)

Our Passion Drives Success

The SERVPRO Way is what separates our franchise from other restoration companies when restoring your home or business after a fire. Excellent fire restoration processes coupled with SERVPRO proprietary products achieves a full restorative clean for your home after a fire. Not only do we have success proven processes, but we also have passionate crews who will treat your home with respect.

Utilize Your County’s Resources

Avoiding a fire can be achieved through following Fire Safety Tips from Columbia County Emergency Management Agency. Here are a few professional tips that could help your family avoid disaster:

• Speak to your family members or neighbors about your fire safety plan and practice it with them.

• Contact your local fire department's non-emergency line, they may perform a home fire safety inspection and offer suggestions about smoke alarm placement and maintenance.

• If you have disabilities, ask emergency providers to keep your needs information on file.
• Keep a phone near your bed and be ready to call 911 if a fire occurs.

For Commercial Businesses, additional Fire Safety Tip Resources from the Columbia County Emergency Management Agency are as follows:

• Find other exits that you can use in an emergency.
• Are any exits blocked or locked? Do they look like they will open?
• Do you see any leaking flammables or chemicals (paint thinners, pesticides etc.)
• Let a manager know and call 311.

SERVPRO Can Help After a Disaster

Although fires can be prevented, still, disastrous fire instances can occur. As a fire can disrupt your home’s synchronization, our crews aim to return your home to a sense of normalcy after a fire interrupts life. We achieve this goal through working quickly and efficiently to restore your home. Additionally, we strive to provide Five Star / Level 10 service, the highest service-level ratings our teams can provide. Our goal is to have your home to appear and smell unrecognizable to having had experienced a fire damage incident and restore to preloss condition.

Need Our Help? We understand this is a sensitive time for you and your family. For assistance, please call our office team to speak with a restoration expert to learn the next steps towards regaining freedom from your fire damage at 706-868-5441.

Fires Are On The Rise In The Winter

12/1/2021 (Permalink)

Fire Damages Can Threaten Holiday Fun and Safety

House fires occur during the winter months typically from unforeseen, yet often preventable instances.

Keeping yourself prepared for potential fire threats is important to keeping your home and family safe during the holidays. Do you plan to host out-of-town visitors at your home? Important things to note is to assure that your guests know important safety measures. For example, letting your guests know where the fire extinguisher is located, the meeting place outside of a home for a fire, typically your home’s mailbox, and all exit points for the home are vital. Additionally, introducing or helping to familiarize your guests with helpful neighbors could be found important.

Do Fires Increase During the Holiday Seasons?

Usually, fires around the holiday times like Christmas occur because of electrical fires, improper use of space heaters, or from unattended candles. Unattended candles will eventually catch fire because melted wax eventually heats into a gas format which later turns into vapor. This vapor, mixed with oxygen, has a flash point, and can easily catch fire. Additionally, candles with high fragrance content are more likely to catch fire if left to burn for too long. Although we love to fill our home with the strong scents of Cinnamon, apple and pecan around the holidays, these high fragrance candles are to be carefully monitored.

6 Steps for Candle Safety

• Don’t Walk Away from Your Candles. Never leave a burning candle. Make sure the candle is completely out and the wick ember is no longer glowing before leaving the room.
• Secure the Area. Never burn a candle encase anything that could catch fire. This includes anything with fabric, paper, or bedding.
• Keep Kids and Pets Away. Make sure children and pets who do not fully understand the dangers of a candle cannot knock over the candles.
• Avoid Drafts and Vents. Keeping candles away from drafts will help against soot and excessive dripping.
• Don’t touch or move while candle is lit. Never move while lit or while wax is liquefied, this can cause burns or ruin flooring or furniture if there is a spill.
• Keep candles 3’ apart from each other. Keeping candles apart helps them to not melt together or create their own drafts that will cause the candle to alter their burning.

Have you experienced a fire damage this season or simply want to learn more about our restorative process? Call our office at 706-868-5441.

Wood Furniture Looks Ruined After Fire Damage?

10/1/2021 (Permalink)

Answering Your Questions About Fire Damaged Furniture

Does wood furniture burn quickly in a property house fire? During a house fire, flames do not sky away from certain materials more than others. Fire is typically devastating and can be fatal to you and your family. Fire and its flames can and will quickly engulf your home if not responded top quickly.
However, types of wood furniture and their density does have a correlation to how quickly flames will blaze through your home.

Knowing which pieces of wood furniture can be salvaged after a house fire and how it can be treated to be potentially restored is typically quickly identifiable by SERVPRO professionals. SERVPRO crews will always attempt to restore your property are efficiently as possible, instead of your insurance company attempting to simply replacing your beloved items.

Smoke Residue and Soot Residue in Home After a Fire

Aggressive abrasion methods are part of fire restoration in Evans. Our crew chiefs and technicians use a carefully balanced combination of SERVPRO-grade products and detergents to wash, rinse, then dry walls to clean walls affected by soot and smoke damages. After walls are prepped, painting can begin to give a complete restoration treatment.

Types of Abrasion Used for Woods

• Sandblasting: This is a more aggressive type of abrasion and is typically used for hardwood surfaces.
• Soda Blasting: This is a method of using bicarbonate of soda to gently ease on soft layers of wood for cleaning purposes.
• Dry Ice: Typically used for softer woods. Dry ice blasting is unique for antique furnishings that helps to remove only a small amount of wood surfacing while simultaneously not adding excess moisture.

To help with cost of replacing wood furniture, restoring from experts like SERVPRO of Augusta can help mitigate the issue of cost and you can keep irreplaceable furniture you may have initially thought was lost. Need to schedule a consultation after your fire loss? Our teams can help you and your home on the road of recovery – Call our teams at 706-868-5441.

What Happens After I Have a Fire In My Columbia County Home? Call SERVPRO®!

8/25/2021 (Permalink)

Has your family experienced a fire damage? Call SERVPRO® of Columbia County for help at 706-868-5441

After 911, Call SERVPRO® of Columbia County

After the firefighters have left your residence and you are looking at the carnage the fire created, SERVPRO® of Columbia County knows how overwhelming that situation can be. Most homeowners feel that extinguishing the fire was the easy part. But here at SERVPRO® we help you take back control that the fire may have taken from you. Here are a few “first steps/tips” we advise you and your family to follow until our SERVPRO® technicians and crews arrive on scene:

• Limit excessive movement in your home to avoid soot particles from spreading and creating unnecessary additional damage.
• Do not wash any walls or painted surfaces.
• Do not shampoo or clean carpets or any upholstery.
• Do not send clothing to a dry cleaner, as washing clothing improperly after a fire can set the odor in permanently.
• Coat any faucets, trim and appliances with petroleum jelly or oil.

How Do I Know SERVPRO® Can Repair the Damage the Fire Created?

When calling SERVPRO® expect to begin scheduling cleaning and restorative procedures. At SERVPRO® of Columbia County we have the capability to restore your soft contents in our Esporta Wash System. The Esporta is an professional, commercial grade wash system that helps to restore soft contents such as clothing, bedding, drapes, uniforms needed for school or work, leather handbags, delicate items such as feather boas and more all to preloss condition. Once your items begin the process of restoration, through the use of SERVPRO®-grade detergents and agents, know that SERVPRO® also offers these services:

• Upholstery, Carpet, Drapes and Blinds Cleaning
• Deodorization
• Move Outs and Contents Restoration

Need to give SERVPRO® of Columbia County a call to restore your Evans home?

Call us now at 706-868-5441 to speak with our office team about scheduling a consultation. We’re Always Here to Help.®

We Have The Experience And Training To Restore Your Augusta Home After Fire Damage

6/17/2021 (Permalink)

If you need professional assistance with fire damage, Call in the experts at (706) 868-5441. We are always available to help you!

Applied Knowledge To Fixing Fire Damage To Your Home In Augusta

Whether big or small, fire can have long-lasting effects on your home and its contents. The flames themselves, along with water and chemicals used to suffocate them, all leave an imprint on your walls, flooring, and furniture, not to mention your emotional well-being. Eliminating the effects of fire damage is best left to professionals who are used to applying scientific principles to return your home to mint condition promptly. Even the savviest homeowners may find themselves at a loss when faced with the gravity of the situation. 

Fire Damage Restoration

Our team at SERVPRO best serves fire damage to your Augusta home. Our rapid response team is available around the clock to tend to your emergency. All you need to do is place the call. Well beyond our availability, it is our industry knowledge that sets us apart. Our technicians train in the most advanced remediation techniques, and we are ready to apply these principles to your benefit. 

Smoke Damage

When removing soot stains from your walls and surfaces, our SERVPRO team members will apply their knowledge in establishing an action plan. For instance, they may raise the temperature in the room to accelerate the reaction between cleaning agents and residue, or they may use water pressure for thorough stain removal. Our knowledge of each chemical's strengths and application is to your advantage in preserving your home while achieving a complete clean-up. 

House Fire Clean Up

If the fire was extensive, we might not be able to salvage everything in your home. When this is the case, we work with you to properly dispose of burnt and charred materials. We also coordinate so your home is ready for any contractors that need to come in and perform further repairs. Our long-standing experience in the field provides us with a knowledgeable framework to guide our actions. 

As tempting as it might be, leave any fire damage repairs to the experts. At SERVPRO of Columbia County, we provide top-quality services when you are in need. Just call us at (706) 868-5441, so we may help you close this chapter and leave your home "Like it never even happened."

Can Smoke Damage in an Evans Property Cause Permanent Harm?

5/5/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has helped many homeowners recover from the effects of fire damage and our highly experienced crews stand ready to respond 24/7.

SERVPRO Fire Restoration Technicians Can Address Indoor Air-quality Issues and Smoke Residues in a House Fire in Evans

Evans is a township that sits on the outskirts of Augusta, Georgia, to the south and the Savannah River to the north. According to the last census, the local population has grown by over 10,000 people between 2000 and 2010, currently sitting at 29,010 people. Many of the residents are taking advantage of the economies that are afforded by Augusta's metropolitan state area. Last year Evans took first place in Money Magazine's Top Places to Live in the United States. Evans has also won an award from Family Circle Magazine with writers highlighting its reasonable housing market, excellent schools, low crime, and green spaces. Part of what makes Evans stand out is the stunning surrounding landscape with Jones Creek and Bartram trail among the highlights. 

The Evans township strikes the right balance between its small-town vibe and the vibrant city life of nearby Augusta. Many of the stores along Evans' quaint main street are independent or family-run. A stroll along the causeway is an opportunity to find unique gifts, grab a bite of southern-style barbecue or sample some of the local produce from the craft breweries. A short walking distance from the township is the surrounding state park with kayaking, fishing, camping, and hiking facilities. Evans is a serene getaway from the bustling bigger cities and a place to relax. Many of the local independent stores here focus on meditation, yoga, wellness, and spas which help to give visitors some much-needed rest on the weekend away. 

• Evans has several day spas for guests to relax and unwind. The Sol Himalayan Salt Cave and Spa on the Town Center Boulevard is a 433 square foot salt cave that focuses on halotherapy. The Tuscany Day Spa is another highlight that focuses on relaxation and wellness. 
• The Evans Town Center Park, which is just off the Boulevard, is a public space that hosts live music, entertainment, and farmer's markets throughout the year. The outdoor entertainment space also has picnic facilities, bike rentals, and a children's playground. 
• Evans is also home to the Columbia County Amphitheater, which hosts outdoor performance art, pantomime, and plays. Situated on Faircloth Drive, the surrounding park is also home to a war memorial that commemorates the lives lost by residents of Columbia County during the war effort.

Evans Residents Use SERVPRO for Fire Restoration Services

Housefires are unfortunately common in the US and can occur due to leaving a stove unattended or from appliance malfunction. While these situations can be stressful and leave stains or odor permeating your home, they can often be restored to a preloss condition with the correct personnel and equipment. 

SERVPRO Technicians Can Restore:

• Fire damaged homes
• Fire and smoke damage
• House fire cleanup

The temperature and air pressure that is created by fires lead to the creation of thousands of aerosols. These aerosols are microscopic and invisible to the naked eye but can often be felt when breathing or smelling the indoor environment. SERVPRO has professional smoke remediation equipment to help restore your home.

• HEPA filters are capable of removing trace aerosols and odor from your home after a fire. 
• These filters can be fitted to filtration devices, negative air pressure machines, or vacuuming equipment. 
• We are happy to work with indoor environmental specialists to ensure your home returns to its preloss condition. 

After a fire, to address indoor air quality issues, contact SERVPRO of Columbia County for fire restoration at (706) 868-5441.

Flooring Care Cleaning After an Evans House Fire

4/23/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO professionals are expertly trained to clean even the most heavily soot affected flooring - Pictured.

How to Clean Floors After a Fire?

Experienced a Fire in Your Evans Home? SERVPRO of Columbia County is Here to Help® restore your home, including your floors. Floors typically will collect the most smoke residue and soot out of any other surface in your Evans home after a fire. Due to gravity, the natural movement of smoke that does not contact the walls and ceilings will sometimes make its way to your flooring. Because this happens, the floors will have to be cleaned twice. Depending on what type of flooring stairs are made of will determine what cleaning technique should be used to clean and preserve your floors.

Types of Flooring and Different Cleaning Techniques

There are many different types of flooring: resilient hard floors, non-resilient floors, concrete floors, and wood floors. Each type of flooring will require a different type of cleaning strategy from SERVPRO professionals. With regards to cleaning resilient hard floors, “spray buffing” the floor to see the best result is recommended and is a process SERVPRO professionals use to assure we retain the best care of the flooring. This process of spray buffing helps pick up smoke residue and replaces it with a spray buff solution. Spray buffing will also level the surface area and fill in scratches.

Cleaning concrete floors will require a different technique. Depending on the style of the concrete floors there are 2 different ways for cleaning them. If the concrete is not sealed properly then you will need to vacuum or brush them first so they will not leave stains from the cleaning products. If the floors are properly sealed, then they can be wet cleaned using a mild SERVPRO cleanser.

Lastly, wood flooring may require mopping or refinishing depending on the damage caused from the loss. If the floors can be cleaned with mopping, the best cleaner to use is one with a neutral pH level. If you need extra service care for your flooring after a house fire, please call us at 706-868-5441. We’re always Here to Help.®

Lessen Fire Damage with Professional Intervention

2/15/2021 (Permalink)

Restore your Augusta home by calling SERVPRO to assist with fire damage

If you had a small fire in or near your kitchen, you must address all smoke and soot as soon as possible. Due to soot and smoke particles and their corrosive nature, hiring skilled restoration technicians from SERVPRO gets you proven, efficient results. We take the time to carefully handle, clean, and restore all damaged structural materials, appliances, furniture, and belongings.

When handling kitchen fire damage in Augusta, we utilize a range of cleaning techniques to bring your home back to preloss condition. We will inspect:

• Microwaves
• Freezers
• Refrigerators
• Dishwashers
• And more

Many of these appliances include hard-surfaces such as plastic, composite materials, glass, and metal. By inspecting and testing the appliances for surface durability, we select the best dry or wet cleaning methods to remove sticky, protein-based residues. All of our cleaning and sanitizing products are carefully selected and EPA-registered for safety. Depending on the nature of the greasy residue present, our technicians may boost the solution's alkalinity to achieve cleaning goals. 

Fire damage is never anything to leave to chance, especially when there is the potential for lingering odors. Let our fire and smoke restoration technicians (FSRT) at SERVPRO of Columbia County handle your restoration needs. Call us to have a crew sent to your home 24/7 at (706) 868-5441. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster!

Fire and Soot Damage Cleaning and Restoration in Evans

1/8/2021 (Permalink)

Soot can quickly threaten to ruin your home and belongings. Need Soot Cleanup & Restoration Help? Call the experts at 706-868-5441.

Cleaning Fire and Soot Damage

If you have ever experienced a fire at your Evans home or business, after the smoke had cleared you would have noticed numerous flaws of your belongings. Depending on the level of fire severity your home or business endured, furniture, upholstery, and every surface area may have been visibly covered in damaging soot. When attempting to clean, soot can ruin your furniture’s upholstery and cling to furniture if not removed properly. SERVPRO® of Columbia County has the expertise and knowledge to put an end to damaged linens and unsalvageable furniture through our expert processes.

CSRA Trusted Leader in Cleanup & Restoration

SERVPRO® of Columbia County is your areas trusted leader in fire and soot Cleanup & Restoration. Our certified crews and technicians are available 24/7 to quickly serve you. Our 1-4-8 Service Response System assures that your call for help will be answered in record time.

What is the 1-4-8 System?

SERVPRO® of Columbia County upholds to a service response system that guarantees that every customer’s call will be  promptly responded to when in need. The SERVPRO® of Columbia County 1-4-8 Service Response System is as follows:

• 1 – 1 Hour to Receive Your Call and Connect You with a Crew to Dispatch
• 4 – 4 Hours to Arrive On-Site After the Dispatched Loss
• 8 – 8 Hours to Provide a Verbal Briefing with Information Including: Documentation and Communication with Your Insurance Agent and Adjuster.

We specialize in all restoration needs and are equipped with the latest technology to help restore your home or businesses structure, contents, linens, and furniture promptly.

Esporta Wash System

SERVPRO® of Columbia County is an exclusive operator of the Esporta Wash System. The Esporta is located at SERVPRO® of Columbia County operations center in Evans, Georgia and unlike a regular commercial washer the Esporta machine is unique. The Esporta capabilities remove soot, debris, neutralize odors, clean, and sanitize all textiles. It has several chambers for washing textiles and cleans through using a series of detergents that lift soot and odors, rather than through agitation which can mistakenly break down delicate fibers.

Linens Covered in Soot? You Need The Esporta!

Have you recently experienced an Evans fire house fire help that left soot and debris causing harm to your clothing/textiles? Have you experienced soot damaging your furniture and clothing? We will work with you and your insurance to revive your once favorite sweater, or your child’s favorite stuffed animal while simultaneously restoring your home. Call us at 706-868-5441 to receive a quote and expert advice.

Bring Your Kids Out to the Swamps in Augusta

12/15/2020 (Permalink)

This Event Allows Your Family to Experience the Wetlands of Augusta Up Close and Personal

The Phinzy Swamp Nature Park is one of Augusta's most popular attractions. On the third Saturday of every month, the park opens its doors for a special tour for the children. The special "Swamp Treks" focus on educating and letting kids from 3rd grade through 8th grade enjoy everything the vast wetlands and outdoors have to offer.

The next swamp trek takes place on December 19 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and it only costs $10. Each event starts with a morning hike out into the adventurous wetlands, and then it turns into a unique, hands-on nature experience. This month the trek will be focused on nature prints, but attendees to the swamp trek can learn about various topics throughout the year, including:

Camping

Survival skills

Wild animals

Bees

Various birds

SERVPRO of Columbia County is one company that you can rely on 24/7 for your fire and smoke odor repair needs. If you ever happened to suffer from a structural blaze, call us at (706) 868-5441.

Call Us After A Fire in Your Evans Home

12/14/2020 (Permalink)

Our in-house Esporta Wash System was able to breathe new life into this cherished plush baby doll for a family this Christmas Season.

Recently Experienced a House Fire in Evans? We Can Help!

Calling your local Clean Up & Restoration Company, SERVPRO® of Columbia County should be one of your first steps to recovering from a house fire. Timeliness in reacting to fire damage is vital. The faster we can respond to your call, the sooner you can acclimate to your home once cleaned. We place fast response times as a priority, and make ourselves available to you, our customer.

We Are Ready to Serve You

SERVPRO® of Columbia County has the expert processes in place for after-fire event clean up. The products we use to clean your Evans house fire or Evans business fire are made at Headquarters in Gallatin, Tennessee. The products used are some of the few that meet the elevated SERVPRO® cleanliness specifications. To better understand the industry standard process, here is a list of expectations:

1. Call SERVPRO® of Columbia County, 706-868-5441. You will be met by a Production Manager that will discuss the damage and help plan next steps for our crews.
2. Next, crews will be arranged to begin work at your convenience and the fire clean up help process will start.
3. Your Evans property will be cleaned using SERVPRO® registered products, often helping to prepare the property for painting.
4. Additionally, while your property is being restored to preloss condition, we have full capability for additional services such as: Upholstery Cleaning, Textile Restoration, Contents Cleaning On-Site, Contents Cleaning Off-Site through the process of a Pack-Out/Pack-In.

Pro-tip: SERVPRO® of Columbia County has full capability to care for, monitor, and clean your items in storage at our facility and warehouse while your home is being restored.

Call today if you have experienced a fire in your Evans home at 706-868-5441. SERVPRO® of Columbia County is here to help and leave you "Like it never even happened."®

Are Wood Furnishings Susceptible to Fire Damage?

10/23/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Can Perform Fire Restoration on Wooden Fittings, Floors, and Furnishings in your Evans Home.

Does wood burn quickly in a property fire?

It is commonly thought that your Evans home's wooden materials are the first to go in a fire. While wood does provide fuel for fires, it is often different from the types of wood used in construction. A solid wood counter, for example, is likely to retain up to 12% in moisture content, which can slow down the combustion process.  Dense woods slow flames' progress, while modern finishes and coatings can prevent fires from causing permanent harm to these materials. SERVPRO knows when a piece of furniture is restorable and when it is replaceable.

What are the three types of wood found in a home?

• Unfinished wood which is naturally porous and allows smoke residues to penetrate deeper into the wood grain
• Finished wood which usually has a coating of varnish, polyurethane, lacquer, shellac, or paints to make it non-porous
• Photo-finish simulated wood grain is made up of multiple pieces, including particleboard and pressed wood glued together.

Can smoke residues be sanded off of wood materials?

Aggressive abrasion methods are a critical part of fire restoration in your Evans home. Often SERVPRO technicians opt for a wall and surface cleaner with low alkaline levels to avoid inadvertently damaging the surface. When smoke residues penetrate through the layers of wood, surface cleaning solutions become less and less effective. In these circumstances, fire damage restoration technicians can resort to more abrasive cleaning methods that remove upper layers of wood. Blasting equipment fires millions of tiny particles against a wood surface, slowly removing layers of smoke residue, as well as wood, and leaving behind a smooth surface for refinishing.

What types of abrasion blasting are useful for woods

• Sandblasting is particularly aggressive and primarily used for hardwood surfaces.
• Soda blasting uses bicarbonate of soda to ease away layers of softwood like balsa gently
• Dry ice is also used for sensitive woods and removes only a small amount of the wood surface, without adding moisture

Replacing woods can be time-consuming and expensive. To restore wood after fire, contact SERVPRO of Columbia County at (706) 868-5441.

How to Address Fire Damage in a Residence?

9/11/2020 (Permalink)

Call Your Local Fire Restoration Team to Restore Your Home in Martin

You may think that your Martinez home is not vulnerable to a fire, but evidence shows that home fires can erupt quickly. A kitchen grease fire or an electrical short can damage your home in just a few minutes. Very often, the flames burn in only one section of the house, which makes your restoration needs easier to damage. However, even the smallest of fires require professional attention if you want to avoid future complications.

Locally, fire restoration services for Martinez homeowners are our specialty at SERVPRO. We coordinate with repairers and insurance adjusters to make your restoration process as seamless as possible. Our crew is available around the clock to minimize the time in which your home and its contents continue to absorb soot, smoke, and any extinguishing agents used to put out the fire. Every minute counts when we are trying to mitigate your loss in terms of time and money.

Should I call a restoration team even if the fire was small?

Yes! It would be best if you always let our SERVPRO team take a look at the damage in your home. It is best to have our knowledgeable team use the latest technology available in our field to inspect your home. Using tools such as hygrometers and infrared camera imagery, we can detect where water might be hiding in places such as subfloors and within wall cavities. Similarly, we inspect your ventilation system and follow the smoke path to determine how to mitigate the odor it left behind. This thorough assessment focuses on protecting you from developing an environment where your home or health could be compromised. Among the actions we can take to remove traces of the fire we include the following:

• Use thermal foggers or hydroxyl generators to combat the acrid smell
• Discard items, particularly porous textiles that might pose a danger to your health. Upholstery and carpets are especially vulnerable to being damaged beyond repair
• Application of industrial-strength cleaning agents to remove stains and soot throughout your home

SERVPRO of Columbia County is at your service when accidents happen. Call us at (706) 868-5441 whenever you need us and let us apply our expertise to leave your home, "Like it never even happened."

How Can I Get My Home Smelling Good After Fire Damage Restoration?

7/20/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Understands That Martinez Homeowners Do Not Want To Suffer Bad Odours.

Any homeowner understands that pleasant smell is part of what makes a house feel like home. From freshly baked bread to flowers to your favorite essential oils, there are many ways to make your Martinez home smell lovely.

One of the worst things after fire damage restoration in Martinez is the lingering smoke smell. That is why deodorization is an integral part of the SERVPRO remediation process.

Why do smoke smells linger?

Any person who has the misfortune to suffer a house fire knows that the scent of smoke tends to linger. But why is that?

Smoke and soot contain microscopic particles that infiltrate deep into fabrics and are hard to remove.

Smoke and soot can bond to many different types of materials.

Increasing ventilation dilutes some of the smell but does not remove all of it.

Adding scents such as room spray or air freshener mask the smell but does not get rid of it.

What is the best way to get rid of smoke smells?

The best way to rid your home of lingering smoke smells is to give us a call. We train our technicians in a range of deodorizing practices designed to leave your home smelling so fresh it’s "Like it never even happened." Getting rid of smells is an essential step in our fire damage restoration process.

What can SERVPRO do to help?

We have many deodorizing techniques at our disposal, including:

Pellets and granules designed to absorb odors so they cannot return.

U.V. misters that release a fine spray of cleaning chemicals that can get into nooks and crannies and remove smells.

Thermal foggers that are strong enough to tackle even overpowering lingering scents.

Air scrubbers that use fine HEPA filters to pull soot and smoke particles out of the air and pump clean air back into the room.

We can also use fans to exhaust odors, spot cleaning for stubborn soot stains, or injection devices to tackle tiny problem spots, such as stains on the carpet.

We train our technicians to assess your home's condition after cleaning and restoration and decide on the most appropriate deodorization method.

If you are worried about a lingering smell of smoke in your home, give SERVPRO of Columbia County a call at (706) 868-5441.

More information about Martinez.

How Do I Clean Up My Evans Stairs After a Fire?

5/27/2020 (Permalink)

Many homes in our area have beautiful staircases. Should fire happen, call SERVPRO to restore your home.

After a Fire, You Need Professional Help from SERVPRO to Restore Your Evans Home  

When a fire happens in a home, the key to lessening loss is to engage a professional service to mitigate the loss. If incorrect cleaning methods or agents get used, it can result in more significant losses to the structure and contents.  

What Do I Do First to Clean Fire Damage Off My Staircase? 

No matter how the fire damage happened in your Evans home and spread to the stairs, they may have restoration potential if the cleanup begins quickly enough. The longer building materials get exposed to water and soot, they can deteriorate. The following factors are determinants if SERVPRO can restore your stairs: 

• If there is charring to any of the components
• If the treads or risers have damage from water or heat exposure 
• The type of construction materials  

In cases where the stairs have carpet and padding, SERVPRO techs carefully remove it to expose the treads underneath. The wood gets inspected to determine the need for extraction of water or drying due to swelling from moisture absorption has occurred. If necessary, the techs can dry the staircase using their equipment before moving on to the next step in the restoration process.  

The technicians have access to a vast array of specialized cleaning agents, particularly for hardwood. While the carpet and padding may have protected the treads and risers on a staircase, the rails may need detailed cleaning to remove all traces of smoke residues. It is vital that cleaners with the power to release the grip of the smoke get used but also do not harm the wood.  

Fire damage needs fast action for the best outcome, SERVPRO of Columbia County at (706) 868-5441 has certified techs available 24/7 to restore your home to its preloss condition.  

More about Evans.

Where Do I Begin to Clean Up the Fire Damage to My Evans Kitchen?

4/28/2020 (Permalink)

Calling the Experts at SERVPRO for Fire Restoration in Evans Gets Prompt, Professional Results!

If you have a fire in your kitchen from a mishap while cooking, it can leave your interior with much destruction. Before you even notice something catches fire, the flames move quickly, and smoke fills the kitchen and other rooms within your home. Even if the firefighters extinguish the fire fast, you are still left with a mess of debris, saturated surfaces, and sticky smoke particles.

How Does Your Team Perform Fire Restoration Services?
When you contact our team at SERVPRO, we can come to your home 24/7 to assess your fire and smoke damage in Evans. Not only are we experts in fire and smoke restoration, but we can also make sure that your structural elements are sound.

What Should I Do Immediately After the Fire?
It can be frightening and stressful to deal with a fire in your Evans home, but our team is available whenever you need us. These are some of the initial steps to keep in mind to help you navigate the process:

    •    Ensure that the fire department deems your structure safe for entry after the fire is extinguished.
    •    Turn off the main electrical panel to your home if it is not already done. This helps to safeguard against fires that may spark within the walls due to electrical damage.
    •    Even if the kitchen fire was small, do not run the HVAC system in your home. This can cause the smoke particles to travel through your ductwork.
    •    If possible, close off the fire loss area within your home.
    •    Contact our team of skilled fire damage restoration technicians to assess the fire loss and start the cleanup process.

Why Does the Smoke Residue in My Home Seem Sticky?
The type of smoke residue left after a fire depends on a variety of factors. Our team has different classifications for smoke left after a fire, and we have specialized cleaning techniques to help us address each one.

    •    Protein Smoke – This is most likely the cause of the smoke and pungent odors left behind after your kitchen fire. This residue may be difficult to detect with the naked eye, but it sometimes presents in discoloration on the walls and other surfaces.
    •    Wet Smoke – This happens when there are synthetic materials like rubber or plastic that burn. These fires are often lower in heat and have a strong odor. We use wet sponge cleaning methods to wipe away this sticky smoke residue that tends to smear easily with dry methods.
    •    Dry Smoke – This is often left whenever there are organic materials like wood or paper that burn. This is generally a high-temperature burn that is fast-moving, leaving behind a dry film.

When we come in to assess the damage from fire and smoke within your home, we often use a plan of action that includes several layers of cleaning techniques and equipment. This multi-faceted approach allows us to neutralize these tough odors to leave your home in preloss condition “Like it never even happened.”

What Happens to My Belongings During Fire Restoration?
Our team can work to treat your belongings, either on-site or using our pack-out services. We determine the best course of action depending on the availability of space and the level of damage present.

    •    Pack-Out Service: If your belongings require pack-out services, SERVPRO arrives with all of the packing materials and boxes necessary to move your items off-site safely. Items that have been impacted by tough smoke odors and soot residue may be addressed using our powerful submersion techniques. We also have a range of advanced deodorization tools at our facility that allows us to restore your items carefully.
    •    On-Site Service: We understand how vital it is to you that our items are cared for carefully and efficiently. For on-site cleaning. We can move your belongings and furniture to an area of your home unaffected by the fire. By quarantining off a particular area, our team is able to clean the items without smoke particles and debris impacting other areas of the interior.

Kitchen Fire Tips
After a kitchen fire, it is best to remember that your interior calls for specialized care. Our team of skilled and IICRC-certified technicians is available to ensure that everything is done as safely and efficiently as possible. Please remember:

    •    Do not turn on any of your ceiling fixtures after the fire has been extinguished. There could be moisture around the wiring that could lead to electric shock.
    •    Do not consume any food or beverages found within the cabinets or stored near the fire. Any consumables that might have been impacted by the flames, smoke, water, or heat could be contaminated.
    •    Do not attempt to clean anything on your own without the proper tools and methods. Improper cleaning could cause the fire and smoke damage to set in. Our team knows how to make sure that your walls, ceilings, appliances, and all surfaces are carefully cleaned and restored to like-new condition.

Call us at SERVPRO of Columbia County at (706) 868-5441 if you need assistance with fire and smoke damage in your kitchen. You can reach us 24/7 for emergency service.

For more about Evans click here.

We Act Fast In Augusta After A Fire

3/24/2020 (Permalink)

Our trained technicians are prepared for any size fire disaster and are available 24/7. We have the state of the art equipment necessary.

Small Fire, Big Smell

Fire and smoke can be the result of many different things. Maybe you get distracted when cooking and grease fire ensues, or a mischievous teen is playing with a candle in the living room, and suddenly his experiment bursts up in flames. In more extreme cases, an electric malfunction can cause a more significant issue requiring the help of your local fire department. Regardless of the culprit, the smell left behind is often enough to remind you day after day of the event.

In Augusta, fire and smoke damage is best left to SERVPRO. Our team recognizes that the size of the flames is not always commensurate with how much they affect your life. The disproportionate impact is generally evident in the smell of smoke left in your home once it travels through air vents and clings to upholstery and fabrics. Despite your best efforts, the stench may prove to be a worthy opponent, leaving you in need of professional services like ours. As soon as the emergency happens, reach out to our crew and let us begin the restoration process as soon as possible.

Most people do not realize that deodorizing a home takes strategy and know-how. At SERVPRO, we know that ventilation is critical, but we also know that specialized equipment makes all the difference. When we enter your home, we bring tools such as air scrubbers, which utilize carbon filters to remove gases and odors from your home. We may also bring thermal foggers, which contain solutions to prompt a chemical reaction that eliminates the smell, as opposed to covering it. By placing your trust in us, you find yourself with a catalog of deodorizing solutions capable of obliterating the offending smell.

Smoke and fire damage does not need to be massive or catastrophic to disrupt your life. SERVPRO technicians understand the intricacies of each event and apply their expertise to resolve the situation as quickly and effectively as possible. As a homeowner, you are in good hands with our crew. All you need to do is contact SERVPRO of Columbia County at (706) 868-5441 and let us leave your home “Like it never even happened.”

See more about Augusta.

How Advanced Technologies Work for Fire Odor Removal in Augusta

1/21/2020 (Permalink)

Trust Our Professionals With Fire Odor Removal In Your Augusta Home. Call Us At (706) 868-5441.

Deodorizing and Improving Air Quality In Your Augusta Home

The charring and warping of building materials and thick layers of soot are overwhelming evidence that your Augusta home suffered from a fire. Restoration professionals have many strategies to clear away the residues, deep clean, and refurbish burned structures. But to succeed at making it “Like it never even happened,” lingering odors from the blaze must be banished as well.

Persistent Odors a Common Challenge

Struggling with fire odor removal in your Augusta home days, weeks, and even months after the restoration of the visible damage is all too familiar a story. Partnering with our professional deodorization experts is essential to prevent long-term issues.

First Deodorization Efforts

Odor management begins when SERVPRO crews arrive at your home. During the residue cleanup phase, we reduce a significant amount of odor-bearing particles. Deodorizing industry best practices recommend debris removal and deep cleaning, which we do as a matter of course. As we clean, rinse, and, importantly, remove the debris and soling the odors reduce substantially.

Final Challenges and Solutions

Tiny, odor-carrying particles are the incompletely combusted fuels burned or, in the case of kitchen fires, evaporated in your home. They continue to float in the air and infiltrate porous materials, cracks, and crevices even after cleaning. When they deposit into HVAC ductwork, they can be circulated continuously throughout your house. SERVPRO can use masking agents, granules, and sprays to distract from the smell, but we also continue to improve our response by seeking out innovative technologies.

Advanced Deodorization 

Ways that SERVPRO goes beyond conventional cleaning procedures include the integration of air quality equipment and chemical reaction strategies that change the odiferous particles at the atomic level. Elimination, not covering, the smell is the goal.

Air Scrubbers

Negative air pressure machines seal spaces, using suction to force the airborne and smelly contaminants through HEPA filters before venting to the outdoors.

Thermal Foggers

Heated chambers combust deodorants, causing the resultant fog to seek out the soot particles in the air, on surfaces, and within crevices and porous materials. The fog molecules pair with the soot molecules, rendering them non-offensive in smell.

Ozone Machines

When ozone is introduced, it reacts with and destroys chemicals that cause pungent odors. Inhabitants must evacuate the space treated during the process.

Hydroxyl Generators

Hydroxyls occur when ultraviolet rays react with water vapor (H2O) and oxygen (O2). They rapidly decompose harmful organic and inorganic compounds by dismantling the molecular structure of odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Hydroxyl generators operated by our certified technicians are safe to use around people and pets.

Rely on SERVPRO of Columbia County to work with you to find the answer to odors that remain problematic after fire restoration. Call (706) 868-5441 to schedule an evaluation.

Learn more about Augusta.

Call Us After A Fire In Your Augusta Home

12/27/2019 (Permalink)

After A Fire In Augusta, There Are Ways To Lower Costs

If a fire ever burns somewhere in your apartment complex in Augusta, your unit could suffer from minor or more severe problems. Something burning anywhere inside your apartment building could cause fire damage to your unit, depending on how far the flames and smoke spread. Professional restoration companies like SERVPRO often find issues in more than one unit inside a large building. For example, smoke can spread from one dwelling to many others quite quickly.

Once smoke gets inside your home, it can leave behind foul odors and soot residues. During most fire damage projects in Augusta, our SERVPRO technicians find themselves conducting soot removal on many affected building materials or contents. In some cases, pungent aromas can be eliminated once every surface that smoke touched gets cleaned with specialized chemicals. In other cases, when you can still smell smoke after all residues are removed, we can conduct further deodorization procedures.

When the majority of your apartment unit gets affected by smoke, we could have to move all of your contents out of your home so that we can clean them and your structural components separately. In some cases, we can move the contents to another place in your apartment that was not affected. In other situations, we can put a temporary storage unit on the property to help reduce costs.

Other cost-saving strategies during move-outs include storing your affected possessions on the premise. Sometimes we can move contents to a safe area in your unit and leave other things in place. We can also move all the furniture items to the center of the affected room and shrink wrap them, so they do not get damaged.

Another method to save you and your insurance company money is to clean the items before they get packed up. If everything can get cleaned in place then put in a box to get removed, then it can reduce the labor costs of the overall project. Cleaning items before packing them can save our SERVPRO technicians time they would have had to spend unpacking and repacking before returning the items.

If your apartment ever gets negatively affected by a fire in another unit, it is wise to seek professional help. After the fire gets extinguished, call SERVPRO of Columbia County at  (706) 868-5441 any day of the week, and we can help restore your home to the way it was before, “Like it never even happened.”

For more about Augusta click here.

Why Air Fresheners do not Remove Fire Odors in Augusta Homes

10/21/2019 (Permalink)

Home Remedies That Do Not Work for Fire Damage Odor in Augusta Homes 

After a small fire in a home, once the cleanup of the fire damage completes, many people assume the odor diminishes over time. They could not be more wrong.  

When fire damage odor is left behind in an Augusta home, the method of treating the smell successfully depends on the type of fire. Common culprits are a fire on a stove or a candle catching something nearby on fire. These are two different fire types; protein fires that mostly occur in the kitchen respond to distinct cleanup and odor control methods from other kinds of fire loss, for the successful eradication of pungent scents.  

Why Waiting It Out Does Not Work

Once homeowners clean up fire loss in a home, just because it is not visible does not mean it is not there. Soot holds odors, and some particles are smaller than the human eye can see. Cross-contamination occurs when the particles find their way to other areas of the home via foot traffic or the HVAC ductwork. While homeowners wait for the odor to diminish, it is spreading. 

Spray Fresheners

Most spray fabric fresheners work by having chemicals that attach to odors, and when the spray evaporates, so does the smell. The problem with treating smoke odors in this manner comes when deeply embedded scents are the culprit as the sprays do not reach them and are ineffective.  

What Works for Fire Damage Cleanup?

In cases of protein fires, there is a nearly invisible but very pungent mist that coats almost everything in the vicinity. If any remains, so does the odor. SERVPRO technicians use specific cleaning agents such as solvents that cause the residue to release from surfaces and removes them. Technicians also inspect the ductwork to determine if it necessitates cleaning to rid the home of smoke odors. 

Special Applications for Stubborn Odors 

SERVPRO uses professional equipment such as air scrubbers with HEPA filtration, hydroxyl generators that neutralize odorous molecules with the power of UV rays or thermal fogging, which attacks and eradicates deeply embedded odors with a heated solvent that behaves as the smoke did during the fire.  

When you have a fire damage odor in your property, contact SERVPRO of Columbia County at (706) 868-5441. The certified technicians have both the knowledge and equipment to neutralize odors and leave your home smelling like new, "Like it never even happened." 

More about Augusta.

Revolutionize The Fire Damage Remediation Process in Augusta

7/8/2019 (Permalink)

Fixing Charring and Odor Issues after Fire Damage in your Augusta Home Garage

A fire in your home garage can cause severe damages, especially if you store paints or other chemicals in the area without taking proper precautions. These chemicals emit fumes that can ignite easily in case of a spark. The chemicals also cause intense fires that might affect the structural integrity of your home or produce excessive smoke creating various problems. We offer professional mitigation of fire damage, which can help restore your home to its preloss state.

An intense fire can reach the structural support of your home, including beams and joists. Restoring such fire damage in your Augusta home can be challenging because, even if the structure is still stable, removing the charring and smoke deposits left is a tedious process. Our SERVPRO technicians check the depth of charring to determine whether there is a need to replace any structural supports. If it is less than 1/4” deep, we can resolve the problem through cleaning.

Abrasion of charred surfaces is the straightforward solution that comes to mind when restoring fire damage. However, in certain situations, it might not be appropriate because it can cause further damage to the affected materials. Our SERVPRO technicians can apply advanced cleaning solutions such as ice blasting. This method utilizes dry ice pellets, which cause the top layer of the charring to shrink, leading to cracks. As more pellets are blasted at high pressure over the surface, they are exposed to lower, warmer layers. The pellets expand as they revert to carbon dioxide gas removing the layers of charred materials.

Removing charring on surfaces and any other debris from the loss site eliminates most of the problem. However, aesthetical problems might persist. Fires tend to leave pungent odors and also damage paints or other finishes on surfaces. Our SERVPRO technicians can help resolve these problems by painting walls, ceilings, and other surfaces. We also use advanced equipment such as Ozone generators and hydroxyl generators to deodorize your home.

For the complete restoration of your Evans, Martinez or Grovetown home after a fire, call SERVPRO of Columbia County to help. You can reach us at (706) 868-5441 any time. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Click here to see more about Augusta. 

SERVPRO Works With Insurance to Restore Your Fire-Damaged Home

6/17/2019 (Permalink)

Working with Insurance to Recover Fire-Damaged Augusta Homes

One of the advantages of choosing professional remediation and mitigation services after a fire loss incident in your Augusta home is the relationships that our team already has with local and national insurance brands. We understand how traumatic and stressful these situations can be and how important it is to get your property back to preloss conditions as promptly as possible. When you want to recover a house after a fire loss incident, you want to trust in our technicians accredited through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification as Fire & Smoke Restoration and Odor Control Technicians.

It is common for homeowners to decide to reach out to their insurance provider first when fire damages occur in their Augusta residence. With the need that you and your home have for professional inspection and evaluation of loss and damages, even your insurance adjuster might recommend reaching out to our SERVPRO team first. We have a team always ready to roll at a moment’s notice to get vital mitigation work started immediately in your fire-damaged home.

We have qualified management and highly trained estimators that can begin evaluation and documentation of the damage as soon as we first arrive at your property. Your insurance provider often does not begin filing and validating a damage claim for your home without photographic evidence and a catalog of the damages. With this information, we can help with the paperwork, regulations, and steps necessary to get your claim approved so work can begin.

With our relationship established with local and national insurance branches, we have become a name to be trusted when fire loss incidents occur. We can work to submit the necessary information as promptly as possible so that our SERVPRO recovery team can get started with debris removal and vital mitigation efforts.

Every second counts when you are bringing a home back from widespread fire loss effects, and getting the right approval and permission from your insurance provider is where professional restoration and mitigation truly begin. Let our SERVPRO of Columbia County team help you with every phase of fire loss restoration. Call us today at (706) 868-5441.

Check out more information about the city of Augusta. 

Our Fast Response Will Restore Your Augusta Kitchen To Pre-Damage Condition After A Fire

5/7/2019 (Permalink)

Fast Action Limits Fire Damage In Augusta Kitchen Blaze

Fire damage left behind by a protein fire remains one of the most common types of fire loss. It can be one of the most deceptive as the residue often is invisible yet pungent. Many homeowners toss the burned meal, clean the oven or range and assume the odor will eventually go away.

When SERVPRO mitigates fire damage in an Augusta stove or oven, one of the first actions performed by our technicians is containment of the area. This step stops any further spreading of odor-causing particles in other areas of the home. There is often no water to dry or clean up. If there is powder-like residue from a fire extinguisher, our technicians carefully remove it using handheld vacuums with HEPA filters so that they can address the heart of the issue: the odor.

Because of the nature of protein fires, they do not produce much smoke, the flames usually are not significant, and the fire itself extinguished quickly; often the cleanup needed is not done correctly regarding the odor-causing residue. The protein-rich fibers in meats and other protein-based foods turn into a fine mist when exposed to heat high enough to combust. This misty residue is nearly invisible but carries a foul odor that gets progressively worse the longer it remains.

It is vital to have professional mitigation done for this type of fire loss. SERVPRO technicians use EPA-registered cleaning formulas that cut through the residual film left on surfaces and neutralize the odor.

Odor removal after a protein fire is not a one-size-fits-all application. Our technicians have multiple methods for odor removal. When cleaning is not enough to completely eradicate cooking odors, we have machines such as the Hydroxyl generator that uses the same techniques as UV rays from the Sun to eliminate odors at the molecular level.

When pungent odors prove stubborn, thermal fogging is a very effective tool our technicians use. A technician uses a fogger to deliver a heated solvent that neutralizes foul odors. The key is, our technicians do not stop until you are satisfied with the remediation efforts for your fire loss.

Timely mitigation of fire damage lessens the loss. Call SERVPRO of Columbia County at (706) 868-5441, and our technicians have the expertise and equipment to restore your property to pre-damage condition.

Click here for more about Augusta.

Disruptions and stress

1/27/2016 (Permalink)

This business was losing money daily because of a fire to the building

A home or business fire can be a very stressful event for the property owner. Damage to personal belongings and the contents of the building is just one concern. Timely mitigation is the key to controlling damage, while reducing downtime and recovery cost$$$! We understand how disruptive fires can be for business owners, tenants and even customers. That is why SERVPRO offers 24 hour emergency response. Don't proscatinate on making the call to start the mitigation process. A rapid response cuts loss of time and money. SERVPRO will help limit damage and get your home or facility back in operation quickly.