Content cleaning and fire damage

10/12/2022 (Permalink)

Cleaning of the contents and fire damage

A home fire is devastating, and it doesn't help that you can't even think about cleaning up until the smell of smoke has been dealt with. I know it can be hard to imagine, but there are things you can do to restore your clothing and other belongings. In this article, we'll explore the options for cleaning clothes after a fire, including professional dry-cleaning and content cleaning (home remedies). We'll also talk about how to remove odors from soiled items that may not be salvageable through washing alone.

Not all items are unsalvageable 

The first thing to remember about cleaning clothes after a fire is that you have options. If the damage is minor, you can attempt to clean it yourself. If the clothes are soiled by water or smoke inhalation, professional cleaning may be necessary.

While all these methods can remove fire-related odors from clothing:

• Dry cleaning - The most expensive method, but also one of the most effective for removing smoke smells. It's best if you take your clothing directly to a dry cleaner instead of trying this at home because they'll know how best to treat each material type (and won't lose their license).
• Ultrasonic cleaning - This uses high-frequency sound waves that break up dirt and grime so they can be rinsed away with water during washing machine use; it's also an excellent option for soaking garments that aren't safe for dry cleaning or steam pressing (such as leather).
• Steam pressing - You'll want a professional pressing service rather than trying this at home—if done improperly by an amateur, hot steam could damage delicate fabrics like silk or wool!

Removing smoke odor from clothing can be expensive or impossible.

While it is possible to remove smoke odor from clothing and other non-porous items, such as linens, carpets and upholstery, there are some things you can do to minimize the risk of smoke odor removal in the future.

1. Vacuum your home thoroughly each day. This will help remove any loose particulate matter that would otherwise settle on furniture or in carpeting over time.
2. Make sure your furnace filter is changed monthly (at minimum).
3. Use a dehumidifier if humid conditions are causing problems with mold growth or mildew formation in carpeting or upholstery fabrics. This can help reduce moisture levels while also removing excess humidity from living spaces where people spend time indoors during colder weather periods when they wouldn't normally be outside enjoying themselves at all hours of the day!

Content cleaning is worth the investment

Content cleaning isn't always easy, and it can be expensive. You need a professional who knows how to clean your belongings without damaging them further. To find the right professional, start by asking friends or family members if they have any recommendations. If they don't know of anyone, ask your local fire department if there are any companies in the area that specialize in content cleaning after fire damage.

Once you've found a company, its website will have information about its services and prices on it. Read through this carefully so that you know exactly what they do before hiring them (such as whether they'll be cleaning specific items). Also, make sure that everything listed on the website is available locally—if not, find out how much more it would cost for shipping costs or travel expenses for someone to come out from another city or state!

Once you've hired an expert who can help clean up after your home has been damaged by fire very carefully review all bills before paying them so there are no surprises later down road! In many cases, your insurance company will pay for the content cleaning.

The best way to protect your belongings is by keeping them out of harm's way. If you've been affected by a fire, it's important to get an expert inspection and evaluation before cleaning up the mess. This will ensure that your efforts at restoration don't cause more damage than the fire itself did!

How to Repair a Flooded Toilet

8/16/2022 (Permalink)

Many toilets in commercial buildings are controlled by a device known as a flushometer. While these devices usually work quite well, they are still prone to malfunctioning. This can cause toilets to engage in a never-ending flush cycle, ultimately driving up your water bill and resulting in damage from toilet overflow. If your building in Falmouth, ME, is suffering from this affliction, consult the following guide.

Step-by-Step Toilet Repair Guide

Repairing a toilet is a relatively simple process, even if you have very little plumbing experience. Follow this guide to stop a toilet flood:

• Use a flat screwdriver to shut off the water. There should be a slot on either side of the flushometer, depending on which direction it's facing.
• Use a wrench to loosen the flushometer's top lid. After this, you should be able to unscrew the lid using your hands.
• Carefully remove the flange cover to expose the gasket. You may experience some water spray while performing this step.
• Remove the gasket and clean out any built up sediment. It's a good idea to thoroughly rinse the gasket as well. Use a small, thin object to clean out the weep hole as well.
• Replace the gasket after you finish cleaning it and reverse steps 1 through 4 to reassemble the flushometer.

If the above steps do not resolve your toilet overflow problem, you may have to replace the gasket completely. If your toilet still isn't working properly, you may have to contact professional plumbers to assist you with the issue.

A continuously flushing toilet can drive your water bill up, as well as annoy your employees and drive customers away. It's imperative that you resolve any toilet overflow issues as soon as possible so that you can resume business as usual.

If your commercial bathroom has suffered any type of water damage as a result of the toilet flood, you need to contact flood remediation experts to help resolve the problem.

The Challenges of a Partial Loss Fire

5/27/2022 (Permalink)

The Difficulties Of A Partial Loss Fire

Every business fire is unique in some way. A catastrophic fire can take down entire buildings and leave nothing more than rubble and ash. A partial loss fire is more common and runs the spectrum of destroying rooms and physical structures to only inflicting some relatively minor smoke and soot damage. While you would much prefer a minor fire to a major one, your company in Falmouth, ME, will still face significant challenges. 

Dealing With Smoke Damage

Smoke has several insidious qualities that can damage various aspects of your business. It can leave your facility unusable for a time and it can penetrate HVAC systems and electrical components. The residues from smoke often contain acidic compounds that damage walls and corrode metal. Cleanup is often technical, requiring the services of an experienced fire mitigation franchise.

Working With the Insurance Company

After a partial fire loss, you could have more work and contact with your insurance provider. There could be a series of questions on the ability to repair or replace a list of items and materials:

• Personal objects
  
• Ceramic fixtures
  
• Carpeting
  
• Furniture
  
• Computers
• Artwork

In general, restoring an item is more cost-effective than replacing it, but this is not a hard and fast rule. The cleaning process could be too labor-intensive to merit cleaning, and some items are just not salvageable.

Handling a Complicated Cleanup

Not all fire restoration jobs are the same. While the general process is similar, the details vary. Some jobs involve the removal of water damage from fire fighting equipment as well as the rebuilding of burned structures. Most cleanups are time-sensitive and work has a certain urgency. A fast response can reduce expenses and prevent additional damage such as mold growth and damage from weather.

A partial loss fire presents your company with many obstacles. Professionals can help you meet this challenge in the best manner possible.

5 Ways To Prepare Your Business for a Fire

5/17/2022 (Permalink)

5 Steps To Prepare Your Company For A Fire

No one ever wants to experience a business fire in Portland, ME. But the National Fire Protection Association reported 111,000 non-residential fires in 2020 alone. With those statistics, it's crucial to set up your business to prevent fires and respond to fires. Here are five ways to prepare.

1. Have Enough Fire Extinguishers

Depending on the size of your office or retail space, you need more than one fire extinguisher. There should be one per floor in a multi-level building at the absolute minimum. Fire extinguishers come in various sizes and should be placed in key areas of your business, such as the kitchen area, central office, and near tools or electrical panels.

2. Prevent Fire Damage Through Organization

One way to prevent fire damage is to stay organized. The more dust and clutter, the easier it is for a spark to become a major fire as flames spread over boxes, papers, and other office debris. After a fire, a commercial restoration team can assess the damage to recommend repairs and give prevention tips for the future.

3. Conduct Regular Fire Drills

To keep your staff safe, make fire preparation drills a regular event. Fire drills aren't just for students in school. It's important for everyone to confidently be able to exit the building from any and all exit points.

4. Maintain Exit Routes Regularly

All exit points must be maintained regularly. Ensure that any automatic fire doors work correctly. Keep exit doors unlocked. Check fire escapes or window ladders. A business fire can spread quickly, which won't leave time to address locked doors or broken ladders.

5. Inspect Wiring on a Schedule

Inspect wiring on a scheduled basis. Instead of waiting for a problem, such as an outlet that starts to spark or the discovery of a wire that has lost its covering, inspect all electrical sources every six months and correct any problems immediately.

A business fire can be prevented or mitigated by preparing your business in advance.

4 Tips for Drying Out a Commercial Building

4/1/2022 (Permalink)

If your building floods, it and its contents need to be thoroughly dried as soon as possible.

4 Recommendations For Drying Out A Commercial Building

When your Portland, ME, commercial building suffers water incursion, whether it's from a pipe burst or act of nature, the same basic steps will have to be taken. These steps will help protect any occupants in the affected area and the building and its contents. Professionals will probably have to be called in to remedy the situation thoroughly. Still, you can follow water damage tips to begin drying out the building before help arrives. After all, the quicker drying begins, the less damage will occur.

1. Turn Off Electricity

If you can safely make your way to the breaker box, the power to the area should be turned off immediately. Never walk through standing water in which electrical items are sitting. The electricity can travel throughout the water, electrocuting you. If you can't navigate to the breaker safely, or if you're unsure, you must wait for a professional to cut the power supply.

2. Extract Standing Water

Next, all the standing water will need to be extracted. A wet/dry vacuum is excellent for doing this safely and efficiently. It will also remove smaller debris.

3. Remove Soaked Materials

After you've extracted as much water as possible, one of the most critical damage tips to follow is to remove as many wet materials as possible. This can even include drywall and flooring. Soaked carpet and padding typically aren't salvageable; it can't be dried entirely before mold growth occurs (within 24 to 48 hours). Water damage remediation experts are highly recommended, as they can bring in industrial-grade equipment.

4. Dry Remaining Contents

You can try to dry the remaining contents by opening windows and doors if the outside is less humid than inside, using dehumidifiers, running fans and turning up the heat via the HVAC system or space heaters.

If your building floods, it and its contents need to be thoroughly dried as soon as possible. These are a few damage tips and cleaning tips you can begin before professionals arrive on the scene.

Can You Deduct Storm Damage From Your Business Taxes? 3 Factors To Consider

1/31/2022 (Permalink)

Is It Possible To Deduct Storm Damage From Business Taxes? 3 Things To Think About

Flooding, hurricanes and other types of violent weather events can cause severe storm damage to your Portland, ME, business. The removal of flood water and the repair and restoration of one or more areas of your building may force you to close your business until the damage is fixed. You may be able to recover some of this loss when you file your taxes; however, there are a few questions you might want to ask yourself before you try to claim these damages.

1. Did I File an Insurance Claim?

Before you try to claim damage that occurred from flooding or other types of weather-related events, it is important to ask yourself if you filed an insurance claim and whether you received any compensation. If so, you cannot deduct such losses from your taxes. While it is permissible to receive recompence, you cannot file a claim and then receive a tax discount as well. If you have business insurance, check with your agent concerning your options before you file.

2. How Much Can I Claim?

Not all storm damage to your businesses is tax deductible, and the rules are typically different for commercial properties. For example, homeowners are bound by certain restrictions that involve the total amount of their gross income. As a business owner affected by a weather event, you could be exempt from these caveats. The total amount you can claim will likely depend on past insurance claims and the type of damage your property endured.

3. How Long Do I Have To File?

You may have delayed in your filing as you wait for your flood damage and restoration service to finish repairs to your business in order to have specific cost amounts instead of estimations. While this may help you claim a larger refund, it is a good idea to contact your accountant or local tax office to ask about filing deadlines.

When storm damage impacts your Portland, ME, business, the monetary loss can be considerable. Understanding how to claim it on your taxes before you file may result in faster compensation and avoid delays that could harm your business in the long run.