Can Family Heirlooms Be Restored After Fire Damage?

11/20/2021 (Permalink)

Clothing damaged by a house fire may retain a smoky smell

While the idea of your home being struck by lightning may seem extremely rare, lightning fire is actually responsible for millions of dollars in property damage annually. If your home and belongings have fallen victim to a house fire in North Port, FL, there may still be hope for restoring some of your precious belongings. With the help of a reputable fire restoration specialist, priceless family heirlooms may be returned to their previous state. Before your restoration team arrives, be sure to follow these helpful tips to prevent any further damage or loss:

Handle Heirlooms With Caution and Care

In the immediate devastation of a lightning fire, it may be difficult to take a step back from your belongings before jumping-in to inspect them. Moving forward with the following precautions may prevent further damage:

• Avoid movement of damaged goods to prevent shifting soot and ash
• Always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before handling damaged property
• Do not wash painted surfaces without first consulting a fire restoration service for advice

Refrain From Operating Electronic Devices

In a similar nature to water damage, fire and smoke damage can have severe effects on electronic devices. Operating electronics that you suspect have had contact with either fire or smoke may cause:

1. Immediate corrosion caused by smoke residue
2. Further hazards to your device or residence

Delay Sending Clothing to a Traditional Dry Cleaner

Clothing damaged by a house fire may retain a smoky smell permanently if not handled with the correct equipment. Even a traditional dry-cleaning service can leave smoke-exposed fabrics with fixed lasting odors. Any fabric or upholstery laden with ash, soot or smoke should be treated by professionals who deal with home restoration after a fire.

You may be left wondering which of your family heirlooms can be salvaged after a lightning fire in North Port, FL. Follow these simple tips to prevent further damage until restoration specialists arrive.

Maintain Your Swamp Cooler To Prevent Mold

10/29/2021 (Permalink)

Avoid mold problems from a dirty or leaking swamp cooler.

To Prevent Mold, Keep Your Swamp Cooler Clean

In hot, dry climates, swamp coolers, or evaporative coolers, are a great way to cool your home. As the water in the cooler evaporates, it absorbs heat from the air and adds water vapor. However, in Placida, FL, where humidity sometimes rises, it’s important to pay attention to the barometer. If humidity is too high, the water won’t evaporate and mold growth can develop in your swamp cooler. If this happens, it’s critical you clean the mold out of your evaporative cooler before running it again.

To avoid mold problems from a dirty or leaking swamp cooler, it’s important to do regular maintenance on your unit. Follow these basic guidelines to keep your cooler working and prevent mold.

1. Check Water Levels Regularly

Check the water level in your evaporative cooler regularly. If the water level is too low, your cooler may not be able to cool the air effectively. If the water level is too high, a leaking swamp cooler can become a source of chronic moisture in your home, creating the perfect conditions for mold to grow.

2. Keep the Exterior Clean

You should wipe down the outside of your swamp cooler every couple of weeks. A surface build-up of dust or grime can interfere with its cooling abilities. Wiping it down can also clean off any pollen spores that may have settled there, waiting for the right conditions to grow.

3. Clean the Water Tank

It’s a good idea to clean out the water tank periodically. This removes any build up of sediment, lime or organic material that might serve as a breeding ground for mold.

4. Change the Cooling Pads

The cooling pads are one of the first places mold can grow. Inspect them regularly and replace them if they’re cracked or dirty. If you notice a musty smell coming from your swamp cooler, you may have mold. Changing the pads and cleaning the tank should help.

While swamp coolers can be an economical cooling option in Placida, FL, some care is needed. Don’t run your cooler on humid days and perform regular maintenance to prevent a dirty or leaking cooler from causing mold to grow.

Establishing Proper Containment During Mold Remediation

9/14/2021 (Permalink)

Proper containment helps you isolate the problem so that remediation experts can clean quickly.

There are many steps that mold remediation professionals take in your home in Englewood, FL, to get rid of mold contamination. One of the first things they do is to seal off the area. Proper containment of the affected items and areas is essential. It prevents the spread of mold into other sections of the home and thus keeps the problem from getting larger.

Item Isolation

All materials that are at risk of contamination must be separated from the home. For example, if the problem is in your children's bedroom, technicians will bag everything that is wet, moldy, or musty:

• Bedding
• Stuffed animals
• Toys
• Clothing
• Shoes
• Books

Everything must be contained in plastic, sealed bags. If the items can be salvaged, they are cleaned and returned to the home once the whole remediation process is done. If they cannot be salvaged, the bags keep the mold contamination from spreading so you can dispose of them as you would dispose of regular trash.

Air Flow

Mold spores are airborne, so cutting off airflow in your home is vital to keeping a mold problem contained. Turn off the HVAC system and all fans. Close all doors and windows that allow air to circulate throughout your home. Try not to give the multiplying mold spores a free ride to a new destination.

Location Seal

Finally, the contaminated area must be sealed off. Specialists use sheets of polyethylene to line the area, sealing the seams with duct tape or some other industrial adhesive material. The only openings in this covering are the slits technicians use to get in and out of the area.

Mold contamination may seem like a pervasive issue that cannot be resolved, particularly if it is the result of a larger problem such as extensive water damage. Proper containment, however, helps you isolate the problem so that remediation experts can clean quickly without worrying about whether they are causing more harm than good.

What You Need To Know About Lawn Slime

8/31/2021 (Permalink)

You can call SERVPRO to help you treat the fungus if it appeared after a flood.

Lawn Slime: What You Should Know

Your Manasota Key, FL, home's lawn can be a major factor contributing to the beauty and curb appeal of your property. However, problems such as lawn slime can make it look sickly or unappealing. This slime, which may appear unexpectedly, can spread quickly if not treated. Before you attempt to battle this fungus, there are a few facts you may want to know about it beforehand.

It Feeds on Organic Matter

Much like other types of fungi, yard slime does not need sunlight to grow. Instead, it feeds on organic matter in your yard, which may include the following:

• Dead leaves
• Decaying twigs
• Dead turfgrass

Removing these food sources may help you reduce the spread of this outdoor mold, especially during humid weather, as humidity can accelerate mold growth.

It Is Usually Not Related to Other Lawn Problems

Unlike encroaching weeds, bald patches and problems that cause grass to thin or yellow, lawn slime is typically an isolated issue and not related to other yard illnesses. It grows only when there is a food source available, so starving it out can be one of the best defenses against this fungus.

You Can Treat It Several Ways

Fortunately, there are several different tactics you can use to treat this backyard fungus. One is to rake up all the thatching in your yard, along with dead leaves and twigs, to reduce the food supply. Avoid overwatering your lawn, and allow the sun to dry up the mold. You can call in a storm cleanup and mold remediation company to help you treat the fungus if it appeared after a flood. If the mold grows in dark, shady areas, consider pruning your trees to allow more sunlight in and ensure that no sprinkler water pools in these spots.

Dealing with lawn slime at your Manasota Key, FL, home can be a frustrating experience. However, when you know why it grows, what feeds it and how to treat it, you can take the proper steps to heal your yard and make it healthy and green once again.

How To Handle Residential Mold Growth

6/18/2021 (Permalink)

Mold damage in a North Port, FL home.

Mold is a sneaky, silent form of fungus that can grow anywhere at any time. The introduction of a water source can cause mold to multiply exponentially and spread rapidly throughout your home. If you have recently experienced a leak in your roof or your plumbing, it is essential to take proper precautions to prevent excessive damage to your property. Read on to learn more about mold growth and what to do if you suspect signs of a problem in your home.

What Is Mold?

Mold originates in the form of tiny, microscopic spores that are omnipresent. These spores can enter your home in various ways:

• Through open windows and doors
• Via your air conditioning unit
• By attaching to your clothing or pet hair
  

Mold spores thrive in high humidity, and they have the potential to colonize when exposed to water. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate and repair household leaks and water damage before the mold growth becomes unmanageable.

What Should You Do While Waiting for Help?
Mold remediation specialists are available to assist in the event of an uncontrollable household mold problem. While waiting for them to arrive, steer clear of the infested areas, and turn off all cooling and heating systems. Further, turn off any water sources that could be contributing to leaks.

What Should You Not Do?
While waiting for professionals in North Port, FL, to assess your damage, never attempt to move or clean the mold. Household cleaners and bleach only exacerbate the problem. Further, don't try to blow the mold away with air or blot it with a towel. Leaving the mold in its present condition will allow the specialists to best treat it effectively and efficiently.
Mold growth, while stubborn and troublesome, can be remediated and restored by professionals. Following proper mold protocols will allow specialists to eradicate your home, leaving it clean and mold-free.