How does fire restoration work on my Newport Beach property work?

11/16/2023 (Permalink)

You’ve come home from a weekend away to a fire in the home. Or you may have been a victim of a vicious arson attack. Now that your family is safe, it’s time to consider Orange County fire damage. The question many have is where to start. Just how does fire damage restoration work? Here’s all you need to know.

Assessing Damage that Leads to Other Damage

One of the first things a company like SERVPRO of Newport Beach will look at is any future damage that could happen. Professionals will assess the staircases and ceilings/flooring to make sure there’s no risk of collapse from the initial fire damage. This is necessary to protect the whole family later down the line.

Once this assessment is done, the professionals can then look at areas that may not initially look like they’ve been affected. This will include the look at your drywall, rooms where the fire may not have reached (but the smoke could), and the affect on things like your furnace and air conditioning unit.

Professionals will also look at the risk of other types of damage that could later happen. If your roof was affected, this will take priority to reduce the risk of flooding and water damage from the rain!

Repair or Replace?

A company will also look at the chances of repairing damage. Sometimes fire damage in Orange County is so bad that it can’t be repaired. The best thing is to replace. This is often the case with furniture and carpets or curtains.

However, damage doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to lose everything in your home. The repair companies will have specialist tools and equipment to help get deeper into carpet fibers and into the drywall of your home. While you may not get there with the vacuum cleaner, they can salvage much more to help.

It’s not all about the fire damage, either. Professional companies will also look at any water damage in your home from putting out the fire.

Clean and Sanitize Your Home

Another part of the process of Orange County fire damage restoration is to clean and sanitize your home. The companies will use special chemicals and products to get rid of all smoke particles left behind. Even the smallest can lead to health problems later.

There is also a focus on getting rid of odors. The smell of smoke is something that can get to the back of your throat because of particles and leave your eyes watering. The restoration professionals want you to feel like the fire never happened.

After that, you can find companies that offer a full restoration service to help redecorate your home. Yes, home insurance companies can pay out for this to help get yourself back to normal.

Orange County fire damage repair is a long process, so something you want to get a professional fore. This is more than just throwing out some furniture and repainting your walls. The restoration companies will make sure your home is safe and free from future damage.

How Does Restoration After Fire Damage in Orange County Work?

10/3/2022 (Permalink)

You’ve come home from a weekend away to a fire in the home. Or you may have been a victim of a vicious arson attack. Now that your family is safe, it’s time to consider Orange County fire damage. The question many have is where to start. Just how does fire damage restoration work? Here’s all you need to know.

Assessing Damage that Leads to Other Damage

One of the first things a company like SERVPRO of Newport Beach will look at is any future damage that could happen. Professionals will assess the staircases and ceilings/flooring to make sure there’s no risk of collapse from the initial fire damage. This is necessary to protect the whole family later down the line.

Once this assessment is done, the professionals can then look at areas that may not initially look like they’ve been affected. This will include the look at your drywall, rooms where the fire may not have reached (but the smoke could), and the affect on things like your furnace and air conditioning unit.

Professionals will also look at the risk of other types of damage that could later happen. If your roof was affected, this will take priority to reduce the risk of flooding and water damage from the rain!

Repair or Replace?

A company will also look at the chances of repairing damage. Sometimes fire damage in Orange County is so bad that it can’t be repaired. The best thing is to replace. This is often the case with furniture and carpets or curtains.

However, damage doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to lose everything in your home. The repair companies will have specialist tools and equipment to help get deeper into carpet fibers and into the drywall of your home. While you may not get there with the vacuum cleaner, they can salvage much more to help.

It’s not all about the fire damage, either. Professional companies will also look at any water damage in your home from putting out the fire.

Clean and Sanitize Your Home

Another part of the process of Orange County fire damage restoration is to clean and sanitize your home. The companies will use special chemicals and products to get rid of all smoke particles left behind. Even the smallest can lead to health problems later.

There is also a focus on getting rid of odors. The smell of smoke is something that can get to the back of your throat because of particles and leave your eyes watering. The restoration professionals want you to feel like the fire never happened.

After that, you can find companies that offer a full restoration service to help redecorate your home. Yes, home insurance companies can pay out for this to help get yourself back to normal.

Orange County fire damage repair is a long process, so something you want to get a professional fore. This is more than just throwing out some furniture and repainting your walls. The restoration companies will make sure your home is safe and free from future damage.

4 Tips for Cleaning Smoke Damage in Orange County

10/3/2022 (Permalink)

Fires are devastating for the home. They don’t just cause the loss of items during the blaze, but the smoke can lead to damage and health problems afterwards. Even if the fire was elsewhere, you can experience smoke damage within your living space and you need to clean that out. Here are four tips for Orange County smoke damage cleaning.

Increase the Amount of Fresh Air Circulating

One of the best things you can do is get more fresh air into your home. You want to get rid of the smoke particles and toxins and replace with clean air. Open your windows and use fans to help circulate the new fresh air.

If you need to live in an area where the windows remain closed, invest in a dehumidifier and air purifier. Both of these will help to get rid of the particles. When you have a furnace running, ensure you clean it out daily to avoid the soot and smoke mixing together.

Opening windows and circulating the fresh air is also good for the cleaning process. This way you avoid breathing in the fumes from the cleaning products.

Get the Right Equipment

This isn’t just about the cleaning products. When cleaning smoke damage in Orange County, you need to make sure you dress appropriately. This is the time for overalls and safety goggles. It’s also worth investing in heavy duty gloves because of the harsh chemicals. Consider a mask for your nose and mouth to avoid breathing in the smoke and particles.

Tie back your hair and opt for old clothing if you don’t have overalls. Use items that you don’t mind getting damaged.

Protect Items without Damage

Use a cloth to protect any items that weren’t damaged with the smoke. This will help to prevent the soot getting into them. It’s worth putting a sheet down anyway. You’ll avoid transferring the soot around the rest of the home!

Now you can move onto removing the soot, starting with the loose soot on the walls and ceiling. Use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of most of it and a damp cloth for the trickier sections. Considering getting a chemical sponge to help pull out the chemicals from the walls and ceiling, reducing the toxin damage within the home.

Use Recommended Products

SERVPRO in Newport Beach only uses a select number of products to help with Orange County smoke damage cleaning. Make sure you only use those that have been tried and tested, ensuring that they work effectively and safely. While strong chemicals may do the job, they can leave toxic fumes in the house and cause some breathing problems.

If you are in doubt, hire a professional. This is the best way to ensure all the smoke is gone, there’s no damage within the dry wall and no mold growing anywhere.

Don’t put your family at risk for the sake of saving a bit of money. Your insurance company will usually cover you for cleaning smoke damage in Orange County, so use it to your advantage.

Fire Restoration Orange County: 2 Health Problems Associated with Fire Damage

10/3/2022 (Permalink)

Orange Country fire restoration isn’t just useful to get your home back in order after fire damage. It will also help to protect your health. Many people overlook the damage the smoke and fire can do to your health after the event occurs. Here are three health problems associated with fire damage and why you need to restore your home as soon as possible.

The Smoke Particles Remain

Your body was never designed to breathe in smoke. A fire contains harmful particles that damage the body when inhaled, and not just during the actual fire. These particles remain in the house if you don’t take steps to remove the damage. You can breathe in the particles for months and even years, causing a number of breathing problems.

Many people experience shortness of breath and gasping for air. Asthma can also be made worse and it’s possible for some people to develop asthma and other breathing difficulties later in life. The air quality remains poor after the fire, which makes it harder for the body to get in the oxygen it needs.

Opening a window or using a dehumidifier isn’t enough to improve the air quality. You can actually put the particles back into the room through the HVAC system, especially if you haven’t taken care of the damaged filters. The problems persist until you finally arrange fire restoration Orange County.

Poor Mental Health

Smoke and fire damage can also lead to mental health problems. As your physical health is affected, your mental health will depreciate too. With good Orange County fire restoration you can avoid this, since you get rid of the physical health problems.

By leaving the smoke damage, you also get a constant reminder of the fire in your home. You get that reminder of the things that happened and the items you lost. With the constant reminder, comes the fear that it could happen again, making it harder to get on with your life. The best way to forget is to remove all the reminders completely.

Fire restoration Orange County is essential. It doesn’t just get rid of the reminder, but will put your overall physical health first. You get rid of the particles and mold that lead to the breathing difficulties that can plague you for the rest of your life.

California Wildfire property damage mitigation

7/7/2022 (Permalink)

Fire Damage Restoration Tips: Interior Ash and Smoke Removal

FEMA recommends that you have “heating, ventilating and air-conditioning units and all ductwork professionally cleaned to remove soot, ash and smoke residue.” They further recommend that you change your HVAC filters right away and monitor them over the course of next few months.

If possible, it is a good idea to do this first so that you will be breathing cleaner air while you do the rest of your interior fire cleanup. Whether or not you are able to schedule cleaning of your HVAC units and ductwork right away, you will also want to begin to remove smoke particles and clean the air in your home by setting up one or more air purifiers with HEPA filters (not HEPA-type filters).

If you have ash, soot and smoke inside your home, you will likely want to remove the ash first, then the California Wildfire property damage mitigation soot, then the smoke odors. If you have only ash and smoke, remove the ash first, and then begin working on removing the smoke smell. Keep in mind that this only refers to removing the smell of smoke; your HEPA air purifiers should be cleaning the air as soon as possible.

Ash can be removed from most surfaces with a dust cloth. Be sure to wipe down all books, picture frames, contents, as well as the tables or shelves on which they sit. A hand broom or brush can be used to sweep ash of off furniture. Be particularly careful when removing ash from textiles, such as sofa cushions since you can push the ash down into the fabric. On solid surfaces that will not be damaged by moisture, you can dust the surface, wipe the surface down with a damp cloth, and then dry it with a dry cloth for a more thorough cleaning.

After you have removed the ash from your furnishings and décor, you can sweep up any ash on the floor, collect it in bags and place it in your outdoor waste bin. Follow this by wet mopping the floor to remove remaining residue.

You are going to be tempted to vacuum up the ashes, but this is usually not a good idea.  Shop vacuums and other common vacuum cleaners do not filter out small particles, but rather blow such particles out the exhaust in the air where they can be breathed.

Therefore, most associations do not recommend using shop vacuums or non-HEPA filter vacuums; however, you can use a HEPA filter vacuum if you happen to have one.

The next problem to tackle is the smoke smell, which is the main issue for most homeowners recovering from a fire near their home. The first thing to know when addressing this issue is that odor-masking sprays will not work. They might cover up the smell for a few days, but it will return. And, in the meantime, you are just adding more chemicals to the air.  HEPA air filtration is key as is use of ozone treatment in the property.

Questions on this? Call SERVPRO of Newport Beach today 949-646-2073

What Is The Most Effective Way For Cleaning Smoke Damage In Newport Beach?

11/9/2021 (Permalink)

Have you had a recent fire in your home? Do you have damage from water, fire or smoke in your home? Then you need to learn about the most effective way for cleaning smoke damage in Newport Beach, and all of the other damages that may be in your home from the fire.

The most effective way to clean up smoke damage is to let the professionals at SERVPRO of Newport Beach clean it up for you. They are professionals that know how to handle the restoration process after any of these damages to your home occur.

They have the training and the proper equipment needed to ensure that the cleanup is done correctly. They will use specialized equipment and techniques to ensure that all smoke and soot is removed from your walls, ceilings and other surfaces in the home.

We have the training and equipment needed, and also the experience. As you can see from above, they know where to look for the damage, and how to remove it all from your home.

Cleaning up smoke damage can be time consuming, but the professionals have the time needed to make sure that the job is done right. When they leave your home, there won’t be any signs left that the damage even existed in the first place.

Now you can see why the most effective way for cleaning smoke and soot  damage in Newport Beach is to let the professionals handle this big and messy job for you. They will make sure that all of the damage is removed from your home that can be, and they will help you put the fire behind you where it belongs so that you and your family can get on with your lives, and forget about the damage that happened.  Contact us today at 949-646-2073.

3 Tips for Homeowners Facing Smoke Damage Restoration in Newport

11/9/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke and fire damage are devastating for homeowners. While you can lose so many memorable items and keepsakes, you can end up spending a fortune putting everything right. You may have home insurance, but never assume that it will cover you for Newport smoke damage restoration or fire damage repair.

Here are top three tips all homeowners should follow to protect their livelihoods and homes.

Look Over Your Insurance Policy

Not all home insurance will cover fire or smoke damage. If it does, there will likely be limitations. The most popular type of insurance policy is replacement with the “actual cash value.” That means the company will only give you the money for the item and it will be what it has been valued at for the time.

Many of your items won’t actually have a cash value. Your phones, memories, and kid’s toys will usually go forgotten because you have to pay for them out of your own pocket. Or you may not have access to the negatives anymore. While you can’t get everything back, make sure you have a policy with an endorsement to cover everything you own.

File a Claim Right Away

When you do need smoke damage restoration in Newport, don’t wait a while to film your claim. You should report the loss right away. This will make it easier to create a proof of loss and you’ll be able to itemize everything that you have lost from the damage.

If you leave your fire or smoke damage unreported, your insurance company will question the legitimacy of it. They can also question the legitimacy of some of the itemized details. You may also forget about some of the items that were damaged or lost.

By waiting, you end up at the bottom of lists to pay out the costs. Adjustments will come in and you could lose out on money because the cash value of items has changed since you put in the claim—or since the fire.

Keep a Track of All Living Expenses

You can laugh at this, but you’ll be surprised at how useful tracking your living expenses is. This will help you budget financially and can also protect you when it comes to the costs of Newport smoke damage restoration.

When you make a claim on your insurance, you can claim for any additional living expenses while out of your own property. These are the extra costs you’re incurring while you’re not able to live in the house, so the insurance company will want to know exactly the amount you spend normally and the current amount.

Most people under estimate the normal costs of living, especially when it comes to food. This can lead to overestimating the additional costs. When insurance companies look into more details, they’ll see inconsistencies and not necessarily pay out the full amount.

You may also find yourself on the opposite side. You could overestimate the costs of your normal living expenses and not claim the full amount that’s extra.

Dealing with Newport smoke damage restoration and the insurance companies is difficult and a long process. However, you can keep it easier by taking steps now to protect yourself. Follow the above tips and you’ll be ready should you need to make a claim.

Three tips for smoke damage

10/18/2021 (Permalink)

Suffering fire or smoke damage in the home can seem like the end of the world. You’re just constantly reminded of the event. It’s common to want to focus on removing the evidence. It is possible, but it will take some dedication and work. Here are the top tips for smoke removal.

Start by Cleaning Areas

The first thing to do is clean any areas that were damaged by the smoke or fire. You want to get some mild soap and warm water and use it on your cabinets, doors, walls, and all other surfaces in the home. The smoke can lead to bacteria growth, which could up the family at risk later on. Even if you’re not sure if there was smoke damage, take the steps to disinfect.

You’ll want to ensure the areas dry promptly.  This will help the area with the removal of smoke odor in the home. Mild soap has a neutral smell that helps to get rid of the burning or smoky scents.

Use Baking Soda on Your Carpets

You’ll be tempted to use mild soap on your carpets. This can be useful, but you can also do a different and easier trick for Newport Beach smoke removal. Grab some baking soda and sprinkle it across all carpets and rugs. Brush the baking soda into the carpet to make sure you get into all the fibers and then leave it all overnight.

The next morning, vacuum your carpets. You should get a neutral smell. The baking soda will help to balance the acid nature of the smoke, while covering up the dirty, damaged scent.

Once you’ve finished with the baking soda, steam clean your carpets and all your upholstery. This works to deodorize fabric throughout your home. If you don’t do this, the scents will stick deep within the fibers and you’ll smell them at a later date. It’s much harder to remove later.

Make Sure the HVAC Filters Are Cleaned

You’ll be surprised at where the smoke can get to. While taking care of most smoke removal in Newport Beach yourself, there are some elements that you’ll need to hire a professional for. This is especially the case for the HVAC system.

The smoke will get into the filters and air ducts. It can also get into the furnace and air conditioning unit. Make sure everything is thoroughly cleaned. If you leave the smoke particles, you just end up putting the damaging elements back into your air. You continue to put your family at risk and all the other tips have been useless.

Change the filters after any fire or evidence of smoke. Even if the rest of the HVAC unit is safe, changing the air filters is part of your regular maintenance and will look after the health and longevity of the unit.

Smoke gets everywhere. If your project needs professional attention give SERVPRO of Newport Beach a call 949-646-2073

Four tips for fire mitigation and cleanup

10/18/2021 (Permalink)

After a fire, you can be left with a shell of a home that once was. There are memories everywhere of the devastation. You’ll want to get started on fire restoration as soon as possible, but you need to do is safely. Here are four top tips for Newport Beach fire restoration to help keep everyone around you protected.

Don’t Forget about the Water Damage

You won’t just face smoke and fire damage in your home. The water used to put the fire out will soak into the walls, carpets, and your belongings. This is something you will need to take care of right away.

While you don’t want to get rid of everything, you may need to be ruthless with your belongings that could suffer mold or mildew damage. It’s very unlikely that you’ve managed to get to your home within 48 hours of the water damage to be able to save the majority of your stuff. That last thing you want is to put the health of your family at risk.

This will include the drywall, insulation, and other elements of your building’s structure. Get a professional in water and fire restoration in Newport Beach to make sure all the mold and mildew is tackled.

Clean the Smoke Damage

Don’t just repaint your walls after the fire. You’ll need to make sure all the smoke damage is removed. If left behind, the smoke can mix in with dust in your home over time. There’s a chance that it will get into your airways and cause breathing problems.

Lift up the dusty particles of the smoke first and then work your way to the deeper layers. The smoke will have worked its way into the wall structure and drywall, so it will take some scrubbing to get rid of it all.

This can be why getting Newport Beach fire restoration experts in can be a good idea. They will know how deep the smoke can get and the best materials to use to make sure it doesn’t cause a problem in the future.

Wash All Your Clothes

Even if you don’t think the fire reached a certain room, you’ll want to make sure you clean everything in the house. This includes your clothes, unless they were protected by sealable, airtight plastic covers to protect them that weren’t melted by the fire.

The smoke will get into the materials of your clothing. Smoke will have gotten all the way through your house, including rooms that the fire didn’t quite reach. Wash everything that you can.

This is often the most time consuming part of the process. You have to work your way through loads of laundry and may need to take them elsewhere to be cleaned due to your water being turned off or your appliances being damaged.

Get the Electrics Checked

Do not turn your electrics or water back on, until you know that it is safe to do so. Sure, you need them to finish up your fire restoration in Newport Beach, but turning them on too early could lead to more danger. This is especially the case if the fire marshals believe that the fire was caused by something in your electrics.

Get your electric and water systems checked by a professional. It can also be worth getting appliances and plug sockets checked, especially if anyone believes this is where the fire started.

Don’t be afraid to hire professionals for your Newport Beach fire restoration. They know what they’re doing and will keep your whole family safe the whole time.

Smoke smell removal tips for your Orange County property

10/18/2021 (Permalink)

Are you dealing with smoke odors in your home? Whether they’re from fire damage or due to cigarette smoke, you will want your home to smell as good as new. It’s time to consider taking action against the smell. Here are the tips you need for good smoke removal in Orange County.

Start with Disinfectant

One of the best ways to start the smell removal is through good old disinfectant. You only need some mild soap, especially on upholstery and walls. Clean everywhere the smoke has touched, including the doors and cabinets. The smoke scent will ingrain into wood, fabric, and more.

When it comes to the carpet, you can get a carpet shampoo. This will get into the fibers and help remove the remnants of the smoke to clear out the smell. If you want a natural method, baking soda is perfect for Orange County smoke removal from carpets. Leave the baking soda in overnight and then vacuum before steam cleaning the carpet.

Clear Out the HVACs

The smell of the smoke will remain in the air. You want to deodorize the air by removing the foul stuff and replacing it with the good stuff. This means grabbing a HVAC system. However, your system may have been affected by the smoke.

Make sure you get into the HVAC air ducts and clean the filters. Even though the smoke may have been in one room, it will get into other rooms connected by the HVAC system. Clean out the air ducts in every single room for good smoke removal in Orange County.

Use Apple Cider Vinegar Along the Woodwork

Apple cider vinegar is one of the best natural products to have in the home. It’s a natural disinfectant thanks to the acidic qualities. However, it’s not so acidic that it will cause damage to your woodwork. Use a little diluted apple cider vinegar directly on all your woodwork, including your doors and window sills. You can also use it along the skirting board to help life the scent of smoke.

If you’re not certain about using the vinegar directly on the wood, sit bowls of the vinegar around the home for a few days. The scent of the vinegar will overpower the scent of smoke.

Avoid Sprays to Deodorize the Home

Most sprays aren’t good for your health or for removing the scent of smoke from the home. They work by covering up the smoke particles in the air, instead of replacing them. Sure, they smell good temporarily but eventually the fresh scent will disappear and the smoke comes back.

Air purifiers tend to be the best option. They work by attacking the bad smells and replacing them with the good smells, rather than just covering up. They also tend to use steam, rather than aerosol sprays, which have been linked to breathing problems.

It’s time to follow the best tactics for smoke removal in Orange County, including the scents. With the above tips you’ll not only leave your home smelling temporarily fresh, but make sure the old smells don’t come back accidentally.

Fire smoke smell removal

9/13/2021 (Permalink)

When there is a fire in your home, even if the fire is put out right away, there is still going to be damage. The fire may not have caused much damage, if it was put out immediately, but the smoke from the fire definitely caused some damage. For anyone that has smoke damage in their home, it is important for you to learn about smoke smell removal in Newport Beach.

Removing the smell of the smoke, and the damage that the smoke left behind such as, the soot on your belongings, walls, floors and other places is very important. It is not healthy for anyone to be living in a home where the smell of smoke is still there. This can be bad for anyone’s health.

When you have damage in your home, there are some important steps that you need to take to get rid of the smoke smell and damage. The following are the most important steps to follow.

Step 1: Call in the professionals for help

It doesn’t matter what type of disaster you have had in your home; it is always smart to call in a professional restoration company for help. They know how to remove any damage, and to restore your home to its original condition easily so that it is safe for you and your family to live there again.

A professional company such as, SERVPRO, has the knowledge, experience, equipment and time to remove the smoke smell and damage for you. They can also remove any fire or water damage that may be in the home.

They will ensure that as much of the damage as possible is removed, and they will then take the time to restore any area of your home that needs it to its original condition so that you will be able to begin putting the disaster behind you as soon as they leave your home.

Trying to do the cleanup and restoration yourself can be very expensive, and time consuming, and most people just don’t have the time or money needed to do the job right. The professional restoration company will do the job for you for a reasonable cost that is easily affordable for anyone. So it just makes sense to have the first step that you take after a disaster be, calling the professionals for help.

Step 2: Remove all the belongings that you can

Once you have help on the way, it is time for you to begin removing any belongings in your home that haven’t been damaged. This is going to save them from becoming damaged during the cleanup. It will also get them out of the way of the professionals so that they can get to work on cleaning up and restoring the damaged belongings and areas of the home that need it.

Once you have all the belongings out that are not damaged, you need to get rid of any belongings that are beyond repair. Again, this will get them out of the way of the professionals so that they can get the damage cleaned up and restored as quickly as possible for you, and it will also help you figure out what you will have to replace.

Now you know what steps to take for smoke smell removal in Newport Beach. Just be sure that you utilize these steps right away as soon as they are needed after a fire damage so that your home can be cleaned up and restored as soon as possible.

Summary: When there is a fire in your home, even if the fire is put out right away, there is still going to be damage. The fire may not have caused much damage, if it was put out immediately, but the smoke from the fire definitely caused some damage. For anyone that has smoke damage in their home, it is important for you to learn about smoke smell removal in Newport Beach.  Contact SERVPRO of Newport Beach for consultation.

Top tips for selecting a restoration company in Orange County.

9/13/2021 (Permalink)

Fires are devastating. You can lose everything that you’ve owned and precious memories from years gone by. While an Orange County fire damage restoration service can’t bring back everything, they can help to get rid of the evidence of the fire. You need to find a trustworthy and reliable fire damage restoration company and here are three top tips to do that.

Start by Talking to Your Insurance Agent

Discuss your needs with your insurance company first. There are chances that your home insurance provider will pay out for the work. SERVPRO as a vetted and reputable restoration company will work along with any insurance claim for smooth process. 

If you’re not bothered about your insurance company paying for the work or you don’t have home insurance, you can skip this tip. However, you may want to discuss with friends which companies are on the lists to help start narrowing down your list of options. 

Talk to Companies About the Process

Find out more about the process that the fire damage restoration services will go through to repair and make good the problem. This is more than just ripping off wallpaper and adding a fresh coat of paint on. The services will want to check the structure of the property and find out if water removal is necessary.

Don’t hire a company who either doesn’t discuss this process or misses out some vital steps. You need to know from start to finish in detail to help compare what you get for the price. This is also a good way to find out if you will need to move out, especially if just one room was damaged.

Check Out Reviews from Others

The internet is your friend right now. You can discuss the companies with your friends and family members, but you’ll always want to find out what others say about individual firms. This is a good way to make sure you won’t be ripped off or you don’t let cowboys into your home. The last thing you want is poor work that leaves your home worse than it was when you started.

Make sure you go to third-party review sites for the information. While the testimonials on sites for any Orange County fire damage restoration service will help you get started, they are going to be overly positive. If there’s anything negative to say, people will say it all elsewhere.

Getting your home restored will be important on your list. It’s the only way that you can move on from the damage. Your insurance company may be able to help, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the other two tips. You’ll still want to find out about the steps a fire damage restoration service in Orange County will take and what you need to do to ensure a safe, restored home in the shortest amount of time possible.  Feel free to contact SERVPRO of Newport Beach for consultation.  

Four Natural ways to rid of smoke odors on your Newport Beach property

9/2/2020 (Permalink)

Whether there’s been a fire, you’ve been burning a bonfire outside and the smoke has got in the room, or you’ve just burnt dinner, the smell of smoke in the home is off-putting. The best thing to do is to call in professionals, especially when it comes to smoke from fire damage. However, here are four natural ways to initially deal with Newport Beach smoke smell removal.

Use Vinegar Around Your Home

White vinegar works for this, but apple cider vinegar is one of the best options. Not only will you help to reduce smells but you can use it to clean your countertops, bathrooms, and more. There are a few ways to use vinegar to get rid of the smell of smoke.

Start by washing clothes and items in it. You only need a cup with your normal laundry detergent. The acid will help to break down the molecules causing the smell.

You can also boil the vinegar on your stove. This is an excellent way to deal with Newport Beach smoke smell removal from the kitchen, especially if you’ve burnt dinner!

Sprinkle Baking Soda Around the Home

If you’re dealing with hard to reach places, use baking soda. This is an alkaline that’s neutralizing against the smells. It’s also an excellent cleaner!

Place bowls of baking soda around your home. While the ingredient doesn’t have its own smell, it attracts smells and you’ll end up getting rid of them from around your home.

You can also use baking soda in your washing, especially on clothes. It’s mild so isn’t as likely to cause damage like vinegar can if you use too much!

Newport Beach Smoke Smell Removal with Apples

Another trick is to use apples around the home or in your car. This is only a temporary measure though. You’ll need to keep an eye on the fruit due to mold growth.

Apples are a naturally acidic fruit. There’s also a good smell to them, which offers pleasantness to the home. Just chop apples in half and place in the areas of the home suffering from the spell.

Don’t use apple juice for this. Apple juice is often full of added preservatives or sugars that cause bad smells quickly.

Opt for Vanilla Extract or Another Essential Oil

Essential oils are excellent for Newport Beach smoke smell removal. You can also use vanilla extract if you want to keep it as natural as possible.

Soak cotton wool balls in the extract or oil and then place strategically around the home. Every couple of days, you’ll want to replace the cotton wool balls. The scent will spread around the home. The downside is that this is one of the least permanent options as it often masks the smell instead of deals with it.

Many of the ideas for Newport Beach smoke smell removal are just temporary measures. You’ll still want to hire a professional to make sure the smell is completely done and to avoid damage later, especially if the smoke got into the home.

Orange County Fire damage tips until help arrives

9/2/2020 (Permalink)

If you’ve suffered a fire, you will want to act quickly. Your focus will be on getting your home back to normal, as if the fire never happened. Fire damage cleanup in Orange County is available but it can take time for a team of professionals to get to you. What can you do in the meantime? Here are four top tips until help arrives.

Limit the Amount of Furniture Movement You Do

Soot will collect all over the place. Once you’ve got the go-ahead to return home, you’ll want to limit the amount of movement you do yourself. Moving just one item can dislodge some trapped soot and you end up spreading it around your home. You’ll make the situation worse, and the SERVPRO fire damage cleanup crew will have more work on their hands—costing you more.

If you are in doubt, don’t move the items. The team of professionals would rather tackle it themselves rather than devastate you with new purchases to make.

Use Clean Linen and Towels for Walk Ways

Avoid spreading the soot through the house on your shoes. Wherever there is foot traffic, lay down clean rugs, towels and linens. Use old ones that you don’t mind replacing once the fire damage cleanup in Orange County is complete.

Rather than carrying the soot around your carpets (getting the soot into the fibers) will you put it all on the materials that can be thrown away. When throwing them away, make sure you wrap them carefully or let the professionals handle them.

If you don’t have materials you can use in the home, buy some plastic sheets or decorating sheets instead. They will be worth the costs when you get to keep the majority of your carpets and rugs!

Avoid Washing Walls and Carpets

SERVPRO fire damage cleanup professionals will have the right items to use for cleaning. If you try to do it yourself, you run the risk of spreading the soot. Scrubbing just puts the dark soot deeper into woodwork and fibers.

Cleaning yourself can also lead to health damage. You dislodge the soot and start to breathe it in. The professionals will have the right safety equipment to prevent damage to their lungs.

Change Your HVAC Filter

The smoke will have gotten into the filter, where soot lodges. If you just turn on your appliance, you’ll spread the soot and smoke particles around your home. The best thing to do is change your filter and clean within the HVAC unit first.

Don’t use your HVAC before getting it checked. Fire damage may have stopped it working effectively or it may have even been the cause of the fire. Have a professional team make any repairs necessary and only use it when your electricity can be turned back on.

While you want to get your home back in order after fire damage, you need to take baby steps. Fire damage cleanup in Orange County is something that needs to take time. Professional help will get rid of all remnants of fire and help you get back to a normal life. The tips above are just actions you can take until the fire cleanup help arrives.

FAQS about fire damage in Newport Beach

8/28/2020 (Permalink)

A fire damage repair is a necessary step for some people. Whether it’s been an accident or an arson attack, repairing the whole home after a fire is essential. Getting professionals in to do the job is quicker, easier, and less stressful. However, make sure you know everything essential about fire damage restoration. Here are the most frequently asked questions to help get you the answers you need.

What’s the First Thing to Do?

Once you’ve suffered a fire, the very first thing you should do is call your insurance agent. This really isn’t the headache many people make it out to be. The insurance companies can start your claim, help you find reliable teams for your fire damage repair in Newport Beach, and talk you through many of the queries and questions you have.

The insurance company will need to know as many details as possible about the fire for your claim. If it was arson or deliberate, you’ll also need to talk to the police and you can give a police report number to your insurance company. Do it while all the information is in your head to make sure you’re fully protected.

Can You Secure Your Home?

Fires often damage the windows and doors. While your home is left a shell, your life and memories are still in there. You don’t want people breaking in to get hold of anything and everything they can. This means securing your home.

You’ll need to use plywood with bolts for each of the windows. If the door has been broken down, use plywood to secure. Otherwise, you’ll want to get a secure lock that keeps your home safe. Your insurance company will be able to go through steps to make sure you remain protected under your coverage.

Can You Get Access to Your Home?

The property isn’t a safe environment to be in. You’ll need to make sure your home is checked over by a licensed inspector and you’ve had a professional team in for Orange County fire damage repair. The smoke can irritate your lungs and cause illnesses. You will also be at the risk of a weakened home, meaning walls, beams, and floorboards can fall.

Should you decide to go into the home without approval, you could find yourself arrested. If you’re injured, your medical insurance will likely not pay out.

In some cases, you will be able to stay in your home during the restoration process, but this will depend on the amount of damage that occurred. The professionals will let you know the best option for you.

What Should You Do About the Water?

Water is used to put out the fire, but it causes its own damage in the home. You’ll likely find that you need to replace curtains, drywall and other elements, even if they weren’t touched by the flames or smoke because of the water damage.

A reputable restoration company like SERVPRO will work with you about the water damage. In fact, their fire restoration plan will take the water damage into account. Your insurance company can also help set your mind at ease.

Even if the fire was small, consider hiring a professional company for fire damage repair at your home in Orange County. Your insurance will remain valid, you keep the stress to a minimum, and you make sure all the damage is gone.

How to clean Smoke damage on your Newport Beach property

8/28/2020 (Permalink)

A fire is a devastating event to happen. Whether it’s been accidental or arson, there is so much loss and panic. Even minor fires can leave behind long-term damage. After suffering from the initial panic, you then need to deal with the aftermath. You’ll want to know how to clean smoke damage in Newport Beach and here are the steps you need to take.

Go for the Easy Route

Rather than trying to figure it out yourself, why not take the easy route and hire professionals to do it? You may even be able to claim this back through your home insurance.  Check this out first.

When you hire a professional like SERVPRO of Newport Beach, you’ll have individuals who know how to tackle the issue right the first time. They have all the right equipment and products, ensuring all the smoke damage is gone. There’s no chance of leaving particles behind that can damage your health.

You can take some steps yourself while you wait for your appointment. These are the steps on how to clean smoke damage in Newport Beach yourself.

Clear Out the Furnace and the Air Conditioning Units

The smoke will get everywhere, including in your furnace and air conditioning units. Make sure you get into them and clean out the filters. You’ll want to replace filters completely and may need to get a professional in to check the full workings of your units. Make sure all electricity to them is turned off before you start working!

Run the furnace daily and change the filter each time. You’ll need to do this until no soot shows at all. This is a sign that all the smoke damage is gone from the inside.

Have the windows open at all times during the process. Run a fan and help to move all the air out of the window throughout the day.

Remove the Loose Soot

HEPA vacuums are a key tool here.   Use the upholstery nozzle for your vacuum cleaner and start cleaning up all the soot from the surfaces. The loose soot will come right away and the upholstery nozzle can help to loosen off other soot.

Do the floor first and the place a cloth over your carpet. This will help to protect the carpet from further soot damage and catch the dropped loose soot that doesn’t get sucked up in your vacuum cleaner.

Also put a cloth down in rooms that weren’t affected by the fire or smoke. This prevents you trekking the soot into other rooms accidentally.

Opt for a cleaning natural Sponge

Invest in a specialized cleaning sponge for your walls. It has a special chemical that will help to pull the soot out from within the wall. You can then use a dry sponge over the top to grab the soot. A professional will tell you if your wall needs to be replaced if you can’t clean smoke damage in Newport Beach.

Do I really need smoke damage mitigation on my Orange County Home?

8/28/2020 (Permalink)

You’ve likely heard of companies that offer smoke damage restoration in Orange County. For the most part, you hope you never need them, but there’s always the chance of a fire or other type of smoke damage. Do you really need to hire a restoration company to help?

The short answer is yes. Smoke damage is a problem for the home and your family. It can pose serious health risks. Here’s just why you need to hire a company for smoke damage restoration.

Smoke Gets Everywhere

One of the biggest problem is that smoke gets everywhere. Even rooms where there hasn’t been a fire can suffer from smoke damage. It gets in the walls, the furniture, and the carpets.

Smoke leaves behind an odor, which will stick for years to come if not removed. The particles can also lead to damage within the framework in the home and cause health problems for your family, including aggravated asthma and other breathing problems.

When you get smoke damage restoration in Orange County, the professionals don’t just look at the room the initial damage occurred. They’ll look at the whole house and the structure to ensure your home is completely safe.

You Can End Up Spreading the Smoke

It’s not just about the rooms, either. The smoke will get into the air conditioning vents and the furnace. You run the risk of spreading the smoke further around your home when you turn them on. And the appliances are damaged form the smoke.

You’ll need to do more than a quick clean of the filters. Part of smoke damage restoration in Orange County involves the cleaning of the full HVAC system. The professionals will make sure any element of soot is removed to keep you from spreading more around the home.

Smoke Is Highly Corrosive

If you leave smoke, even just a little, to sit on your walls or furniture, you will find that it corrodes through over time. It looks like just a layer of black on the walls that you can scrub away or paint over, but it’s doing a lot of extra damage under the surface.

This can lead to your furniture not lasting as long as it should. In more serious cases, it can lead to the weakening of the house structure, making your home unsafe.

And the same applies to the lungs. If you leave the smoke in the home, the particles will become airborne. This leads to everyone breathing them in and the particles sitting in the lungs for a prolonged time. You’re not just causing or aggravating breathing problems, but putting the whole life at risk. Smoke in the lungs can lead to serious complications like COPD and lung cancer.

The best thing you can do is get smoke damage restoration in Orange County. You’re not just getting rid of the physical appearance of the smoke, but everything that lies underneath. Hiring professionals like the team at SERVPRO of Newport Beach is certainly an invaluable decision for the future of your home and your family.

Will your home insurance cover fire damage?

8/26/2020 (Permalink)

Fire damage in Orange County is extremely destructive. You’re not just looking at repairing the physical damage, but there’s the emotional weight that comes with it all. Then there’s the financial cost. One of the first places you’ll look at getting help is your home insurance.

 Will your home insurer cover the fire damage recovery costs? Here’s a look at everything you need to know.

 It Depends on Your Policy

 Unfortunately, it’s not a straight yes or no answer. Not every insurer is willing to cover the costs of fire damage in Orange County. And not all insurance policies with the same insurer will cover it. 

Before you look to claim for your fire damage restoration, you’ll want to check over your individual policy. Look through all the terms and conditions. If you’re in doubt, you can ring your insurer to find out.

 When you come to change your insurance policy, look out for whether the policy will cover fire damage restoration. Even if you haven’t suffered a fire, you’ll want to make sure this possibility is covered for ease of mind.

 It Can Depend on Restoration Company

 Home insurers will often have a list of companies they work closely with. In this case, the insurer will only pay out if you use their list of recommended companies. If you go with anyone else, there’s a high chance that your costs won’t be covered.

 Before you even think about hiring someone for your restoration, you’ll need to double check that the company you want to choose is covered. The best way to find out is to call your insurer to find out.

 The only time a company on the list will be covered is usually if there’s nobody on the list who can help. This may be due to them being out of the area or because they can’t handle the level of damage. You’ll still need to call the insurer first.

 Your Coverage May Be Limited for Fire Damage in Orange County

 While fire damage restoration may be covered, there are sometimes limitations on the exact elements that are covered. In some cases, it’s only the home or the contents that will be covered. If you suffered a fire in a structure on the property that isn’t attached, some insurers won’t cover the cost. 

You’ll find the details in your policy information. Look through all the exceptions and inclusions. As with all the other limitations, call your insurer if you’re not that sure.

 Like for Like Restorations

 Finally, in the majority of cases, the restoration will be for like for like restorations. This usually means that you can’t get an upgrade on the carpets, wall features, etc. If the home needs pulling down due to structural damage, you’ll need to rebuilt exactly as before.

 Any extra additions you install will be out of your own pocket. This is to avoid people taking advantage of the insurance companies.

 The best thing you can do is to check with your insurance company. Contact SERVPRO of Newport Beach for a free consultation.

3 Fire Tips for Babysitters to Avoid Smoke Damage Restoration in Orange County

6/11/2019 (Permalink)

Smoke damage restoration in Orange County is a costly business. And it’s not just about the finances. There will be the worries of “what if” and the fear that something like this could happen again. Rather than dealing with the aftermath of a fire or smoke issues, why not get a plan in place to keep the family safe.

 Having a babysitter means you’re putting your child’s life in someone else’s hands. While you’d hope they’re trained and prepared for anything going wrong, there’s always a chance that something could happen. The best thing you can do is have fire tips for babysitters to help them keep themselves and your children safe.

 Have All Critical and Emergency Numbers at Hand

Make a list of all the emergency numbers a babysitter is going to need. While they should have the numbers for the local police station and hospital, you also need to make sure they have numbers of both parents of the children. It’s also worth having an extra emergency number for a family friend.

Put all the numbers on the fridge or on a wall hanger by the front door. Make it easy for your babysitter to get in touch if there is an emergency of any type. While this may not help to prevent or avoid the fire, it means parents are immediately notified.

 Have Rules for the Kitchen

 Most of the time, a babysitter isn’t going to need to cook. They may just need access to a kettle for a drink if they want something warm. However, there are times that cooking is a necessity.

 Avoid the risk of fire – and therefore smoke damage restoration in Orange County – by having a set of rules for the kitchen. Children get into all sorts of places and will pull on pans on the stove without realizing the dangers. Make sure babysitters are aware of using the back burners and keep the pot handles out of reach.

 As children get older, you can also teach them the rules of the kitchen. Ensure they know to stay away from ovens, even when preheating, and keep tablecloths away to avoid pulling hot food on top of them. 

Make Sure You Have Working Fire Extinguishers and Other Items

Sometimes fires do happen. They can be from silly mistakes or something more serious. Whatever the reason, some of the fires can be put out quickly, but the babysitter is going to need the right items.

 Make sure you have a working fire extinguisher, fire blanket, and other similar products in the home. You’ll also want to make sure your babysitter knows how to work them. Of course, if your babysitter isn’t comfortable with using them and would prefer just to call the fire brigade, there’s certainly their option and you can’t fault them for that decision. However, give them the option to put out the fire themselves to avoid the danger and future smoke damage restoration in Orange County.

 Looking out for the family means having plans just in case. If you have the plans and options there, the fires are less likely to happen. You can prevent the need for smoke damage restoration in Orange County.

Why Repainting Isn’t Enough for Fire Damage Cleaning in Newport Beach

5/17/2019 (Permalink)

A fire is a devastating thing whatever the reasons for it. Whether it was arson, accidental, or a natural disaster, fire cleanup takes time. You may be tempted to just repaint your walls to cover up the damage, especially if just a little smoke damage. However, this isn’t enough for fire damage cleaning in Newport Beach.

 There’s far more than what you see. Damage seeps deep into the walls and here’s why repainting isn’t enough.

 You’re Treating a Symptom and Not the Damage

Like when getting medical treatments, you can’t just treat the symptoms. The underlying problem is still going to be there. When you repaint your walls, all you’re doing is covering up the damage. You’re not actually treating the problem.

 There is still going to be smoke and fire damage underneath the paintwork. This may have gotten into the insulation and the woodwork around the walls. Your drywall may be affected. You’ll end up with more health problems because you’ve not taken care of the problem.

 The best thing you can do is hire someone for fire damage cleaning in Newport Beach. This helps to treat the cause and not just the symptoms.

 The Damage Can Show Through

Depending on the severity of the damage, it can start to show through your paintwork. You may have scrubbed the initial smoke off the walls, but they’re not clean all the way through. The smoke damage can seep back through and this will lead to discoloration of your paint. If you haven’t scrubbed the walls, the pain doesn’t apply evenly.

 Over time, you can start seeing the damage again. It reminds you of the fire that you suffered. The patches can start small and then gradually get bigger.

 Fire Damage Cleanup in Newport Beach Is Harder Later

 If you leave the damage, it will spread and get worse. You make it much harder to clean up later on. In fact, it can mean much more costly repairs because you decided to hide the damage in the first place. It’s often just the best being honest and getting the damage cleaned up as soon as possible.

 Because it’s harder, it can often take longer to clean up if you leave it. This will end up costing you more money when hiring someone and it will mean more time out of your home before you can repaint the walls again.

 You can end up with more damage. The walls may need to be completely removed and rebuilt. You end up spending more on that than you would have! 

You’re Putting the Family at Risk

Fire damage cleaning in Newport Beach manages to get rid of all traces of the fire. The cleanup crew also works with the right professionals to make sure the structure of your home is safe for people living there. If you do a quick repaint, you don’t get the full checkup on the home.

 You can put your whole family at risk. The smoke within the walls can lead to health problems, while structural damage can weaken the whole house. Is it worth it?

 Hire someone for your fire damage cleaning in Newport Beach. You’ll save in the long term and get a home safe for the whole family.

3 Top Reasons Smoke Removal in Newport Beach is Necessary

3/25/2019 (Permalink)

Smoke removal in Newport Beach is more frequently needed than you would like to believe. Smoke damage occurs for all types of reasons and not because there’s been a major fire in a home. Of course, smoke damage is usually due to a fire, but you can find damage occurs in neighboring rooms and even homes.

To avoid the need for smoke removal and restoration, make sure you know the most common reasons smoke appears. Here are the top three reasons for fires in the home.

Candles Being Left Burning

If you’re a fan of candles, make sure you put them out fully on a night. Never fall asleep with a candle burning and when you do use them, always make sure you get rid of anything around them. The open flame can easily catch onto a fuel source and that causes the fire to spread around the home.

They are certainly pretty to look at, but there are other ways that you can have the feel of candles. Consider battery-powered options instead that don’t have the open flame.

Cooking Units Not Being Watched

Cooking in the home is one of the biggest causes of fires and leads to the need for smoke removal in Newport Beach. When you are cooking, make sure you remain with your units at all times. Whether you have a gas or electric stove and oven, you need to make sure you’re watching for anything possibly connecting with the oil and potential open flames.

Never leave your cooking unattended, but also make sure you have extraction fans going. While you’re cooking, you can end up with some smoke. This may be from the items you’re cooking or from not cleaning the oven and stove properly. The smoke can be just as dangerous and destructive as the fire.

Make sure you clean your cooking units properly to prevent the smoke. This smoke can spread to other areas of the home, even without a fire, and cause health problems. You then need smoke removal in Newport Beach to deal with the damage.

Smoking in the Home

If you smoke, you will naturally have more smoke than others in your home. This is the case whether you smoke cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or even vape. The smoke gets into your air filters and spreads around the home. This can lead to secondhand smoke problems for others living in your home.

The smoke gets into the wood work and fabrics in the home. Even if you smoke outside, you can end up with he smoke wafting into your home. Now is the time to quit to look after your own health but also to prevent smoke from being in the home.

If you are going to smoke, make sure you at least put the cigarettes out fully. Just a few embers still burning can lead to a fire.

There are all sorts of reasons for smoke damage to occur. Sometimes it takes time and doesn’t need an actual fire to take place. Look out for smoke damage and take steps to avoid the need for smoke removal in Newport Beach.

Top Tips to Avoid Needing Fire Restoration Services in Newport Beach

3/25/2019 (Permalink)

Fire restoration services in Newport Beach are needed far more often than you would think. That’s because fires happen far more often than you would like to believe. Whether accidental or deliberate, they occur on a daily basis.

The good news is there are steps you can take to avoid needing the restoration services because you can avoid fires happening. Take these top steps to prevent fires occurring or spreading. After all, most fires are accidental ones in the home.

Make Sure Your Smoke Alarms Work

Start with the smoke alarms. You’ll be surprised by the amount of people that don’t have them. People complain of them being too sensitive when cooking, so they remove them or don’t keep the battery in. You’re playing Russian roulette with yours and your family’s lives.

A smoke alarm is the first line of defense should a fire happen in the home. It will alert you to there being smoke in the house, which travels faster than a fire. Not only do you stand a chance of getting the family out, but you can also prevent a fire getting out of hand so that it needs complete fire restoration services in Newport Beach.

Have Your Heating Sources Inspected

Every now and then, you should make sure your heating sources are working properly. This should be done at least once a year, checking that the furnace and the individual units are working. Not only are you preventing them from causing a fire, but you can prevent them from causing carbon monoxide from spreading through the house.

Get a professional in to check on everything. Some fire restoration services in Newport Beach will also offer safety checks, but you can also go to a qualified technician or gas safety expert for this.

Keep the Stove and Oven Clear

Most fires will happen in the kitchen first. They’re often linked to cooking, especially if you have gas cookers. Make sure your oven and stove always remain clear, whether you’re cooking or not. All it takes is a burner to be left on and that flame catching onto a source of fuel for a fire to start.

When you are using the stove or oven, remain in the room with them. It’s tempting to get other things done, but during cooking is when some of the most serious accidents can happen. If a fire spreads when you’re there, you can put it out quickly and avoid needing the fire restoration services in Newport Beach.

Don’t Leave Items Plugged In

Faulty electrics are another common reason for fires. This could be in the wiring in your home (make sure you get your electrical units checked) or from the devices you’re using. Avoid leaving your items plugging into the sockets, especially overnight.

The only items that will usually be left plugged in are the fridge, freezer, and other items that need to run overnight. Don’t charge phones or computers overnight and use breakers to prevent faults breaking equipment.

With the above tips, you can prevent fires from happening. With that, you prevent the need for fire restoration services in Newport Beach and keep your family safe.

Recovering from the Emotional Effects of Fire Damage Restoration in Orange County

12/10/2018 (Permalink)

Most fires are accidental. The actual fire doesn’t have anything against you personally, but it can certainly feel like it. Not only are you and your family put at risk of the flames and smoke, but there’s so much damage afterward. It’s natural to have some emotional response to fire damage restoration in Orange County.

This can hinder the restoration process if you don’t take note of the understandable emotional responses. Help yourself and those around you with the following tips to recover from the emotional effects of fire damage and restoration.

Understand and Anticipate

The best thing to do is make sure you’re ready for the emotional response. You may think that you can handle it all and be prepared, but none of us have any idea how we will react in a stressful situation. The fight or flight mechanism kicks in. You can find yourself fighting with yourself and those around you in a negative way or in a positive way to get your home back to normal.

Likewise, you could find yourself running. Whatever you do, make sure you get professionals in for fire damage restoration in Orange County.

Try to anticipate the emotional response. Organize your feelings and know that they are understandable and acceptable. It’s how you react because of them that can help or hinder the situation.

There will be rage, stress, and even grief. Don’t worry about feeling like a part of you is gone. Your home is personal and your safe space and losing memorable items will take you through a grieving process.

Take Some Time for Yourself

One of the beauties about getting professionals to deal with the fire damage restoration in Orange County is that you can step away. A good thing to do is put your own emotional needs first. Step away from the house and only be there when you’re definitely needed.

The process of the restoration is long and tricky. You won’t want to get rid of items that have a story but the professionals know what can be salvaged and what can’t.

You’ll need your physical strength when it comes to redoing your home after the initial restoration. Your family will need help emotionally during this process, especially children. Look after yourself, so you have the emotional and physical energy to help them later.

Allow Yourself to Show Your Feelings

There’s nothing wrong with showing that you’re upset. In fact, it’s important that you do show this when you’re going through the process of fire damage restoration in Orange County. Your children will need to see that it’s normal to feel upset and scared. They need to know that they can let their feelings out too.

Bottling up will just make everything much harder. You’ll put yourself under unnecessary stress and extra emotion.

Are you struggling to deal with the emotional effects of fire damage restoration in Orange County? You’re certainly not the only one. With the above tips, you’ll be ready to deal with the emotional roller coaster ride you’re sent through and help others to do the same.

Why Cleaning Smoke Damage in Orange County Is So Important

11/21/2018 (Permalink)

After a fire, whether big or small, you have a lot of work to do. You may be tempted to cut corners and that can mean overlooking some of the minor smoke damage in the home. Cleaning smoke damage in Orange County is extremely important. Here are all the downsides to leaving just a speck of the damage behind.

It’s Detrimental to the Lung Health

If you’re going to ignore all other reasons on this list, make sure you listen to this one. This is why it’s the number one reason on the list. Smoke damage does more than cause problems to the structure of your building. It’s detrimental to the health.

Smoke is made up of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and soot. There may be other chemicals depending on what was burned. All these are damaging to the lungs. You know that CO and CO2 are damaging, causing breathing problems and possibly death.

We have no idea what some of the chemicals will do to the lungs. Do you really want to find out? Cleaning smoke damage in Orange County is the best way to protect your family.

It’s an Irritant

And it’s not just breathing problems that smoke can cause. While you will see some smoke damage, some of it hides inside walls and furniture. It gets into the clothing, ductwork and so many other parts of the home. You’re left with it easily transferring.

The toxins and chemicals in the smoke become an irritant on the skin. You and your family members can suffer from skin problems, including allergies and eczema. Cleaning smoke damage in Orange County is the only way to prevent these problems.

It Weakens the Structure of Your Home

Smoke particles with grow and expand. They’re a little like mold in the way they can accumulate over time and the only way to stop this is by getting rid of all smoke damage. If you allow the smoke to grow, you end up weakening the structure of the home.

The wood dries out and the brick work can start to crumble. Leaving the smoke damage can also lead to some water damage staying behind because you may not have checked the walls properly. The insulation isn’t as effective and can breed more health problems.

With a weaker structure, you’re putting your whole family at risk. You also put the resale value of your home down considerable, as buyers will need to do extra work to fix the structural problems.

It Looks Unsightly

Cleaning smoke damage in Orange County gets rid of the unsightly look. The black soot is visible on all surfaces. It’s hard to cover up with paint and it will damage fabrics.

You have that constant reminder of the fire. This can play on the mental health, as you constantly think about what could have happened, especially if the fire was a bad one.

When you suffer a fire, you need to take action to clean it all up. Smoke damage isn’t a small thing. It’s damaging to the health and your home. Cleaning smoke damage in Orange County is essential.

How to Prepare Yourself Mentally to Repair Fire Damage in Newport Beach

11/21/2018 (Permalink)

Fire damage in Newport Beach is far more common than you would think. A faulty electrical appliance, oil spills in the kitchen, and even arson attacks do happen and they can be devastating. It’s easy to think that it won’t happen to you and then you’re left dealing with the scary aftermath.

After the fire, it’s all about repairing the damage. Hiring a professional is the best thing you can do, since this can be a mentally draining process. Get ready for the process with these top tips.

Don’t Focus Too Much on the Losses

This is certainly easier said than done. While fires can be natural and accidental, there’s still a personal element to them. This is especially the case if the fire has ravaged the whole home. You focus on the things that are gone, the memories that are lost.

Try not to focus on these losses. There’s nothing that you can do about them. The memories are still in your mind and you can make new ones with your family. Many of us even have digital memories saved on the cloud, which means they’re not all gone.

While it’s hard, you want to take a step back from the fire damage in Newport Beach. Hiring a professional to deal with the repair helps with that since you don’t have to see everything that is lost.

Focus on the Saves

To help take your mind off the losses, look at everything that you can save. Look at the items that just need a wash or will need a quick treatment. You can also focus on the rooms that weren’t touched apart from a little smoke damage that can be repaired quickly.

It’s also important to focus on your family. Hopefully, the fire wasn’t so bad that it took a life. Focus on the positive if this was the case, that the people who matter are there with you.

Try to Get Away from It All

In many situations, the company hired to repair fire damage in Newport Beach won’t need you there. In fact, they want you to stay away to avoid health problems due to the fire and smoke damage. Use this to your advantage to get away.

If you can, stay with family or close friends. Having that support is a great way to get through the initial nervous period; that point when you start thinking of everything that could have happened—remember that it didn’t happen.

Take the time to get away on a vacation with the family if you can. Spend some time together and immediately start making your new memories and getting items to replace the ones that were lost in the blaze.

Fire damage in Newport Beach may be common, but it plays on the mind and soul. You can take steps to prepare yourself mentally for the cleanup process. If you want or need to be there, make a pact with yourself to focus on what you still have. Otherwise, try to get away and leave the professionals to their job.

4 Quick Tips for Smoke Smell Removal in Newport Beach

8/13/2018 (Permalink)

When there’s been smoke of any type in the home, it leaves behind an odor. Newport Beach some smell removal is possible without always calling on the professionals. This is especially the case when it comes to a guest smoking in your home, the smell of something burning in the oven, or something else minor. Here are four quick tips to remove smells of smoke from your home.

1. Apply Diluted Vinegar to Your Upholstery

When it comes to furniture, you’ll need to get the white vinegar out. This is a good option for natural cleaning and it will lift out the reason for the smell instead of covering it up. Make sure you dilute the vinegar! While the liquid is good for smoke smell removal in Newport Beach, it will also bleach the color of your fabrics with the acidic content. This is also good for bedding, pillows, etc. Put the items in the washing machine and use the vinegar instead of your usual detergent.

2. Use Baking Soda on Carpets

Baking soda is a neutralizer. It attacks the odor and will balance the smell back out. It’s certainly something you’ll want to consider for your carpets in the home. Just sprinkle it over, brush it into the fibers, and then vacuum it all up. You can also use this on some of your furniture. It’s better than vinegar, as it doesn’t stain or bleach.

3. Use Vinegar and Lavender Along the Skirting Boards

The smoke odor will settle into the wooden parts of your home and in the walls. It’s time to break out the vinegar and lavender essential oil. Mix the two together with some water and use a cloth to run the mixture along the skirting boards. There’s no need to remove this mixture afterwards, as you want it to soak into the wood. You’ll not just take care of Newport Beach smoke smell removal, but help to prevent smells clinging to the wood in the future.

4. Consider an Ozone Machine

If you have stubborn smoke smells, you’ll want to take a more effective and efficient approach. One thing you’l want to invest in is an Ozone machine. These machines emit molecules into the air that settle onto the surfaces. They work to gain complete smoke smell removal in Newport Beach, as they force the molecules of the smell to dissipate.

You can buy an Ozone machine, but sometimes you just need one for a short space of time. Consider getting in touch with a restoration company like SERVPRO of Newport Beach. These machines are used during restoration work and are available to rent on a regular basis or just as a one-off if there’s been a smell you just can’t get rid of.

Are you dealing with Newport Beach smoke smell removal? Consider your options carefully. You don’t want to just cover up the smell, but completely get rid of it. The latter is what the four options above will help to do.

4 Essential Steps to Take After a Fire in Newport Beach

8/13/2018 (Permalink)

A fire in the home is devastating and it becomes personal. Whether accidental or not, there’s a lot that will go through your mind right now. One of those may be calling for Newport Beach fire cleanup services. This is a great thought but it’s not all that should be on your mind. Take out the emotions for now and work on these four essential steps after a fire.

Put Safety Before the Home

Don’t worry about the home right now. It’s going to be hard, but try to take the emotions out of everything that is lost. What you really want to focus on is the family. Make sure everyone who was in the house is out and that everyone is safe. Get medical attention, even if it seems like there are no injuries, smoke inhalation is serious.

Of course, you want to deal with the house as well and this is where trusted fire cleanup services in Newport Beach come into play. They can take the emotions out of the cleanup, so will get to work while you’re looking after your family.

Get Damage Inspected

Before anyone can go into the property, firefighters will need to inspect it. Once a fire is put out, there’s a lot of excess damage, including water and smoke damage. Parts of the home may be too unstable to go into. You’ll need someone to help get all those important documents that were hopefully in a fireproof safe, such as birth certificates, passports, insurance documents, etc.

You’ll also need to get in touch with your insurance provider. This is something worth doing immediately before hiring any Newport Beach fire cleanup services. The insurance company may have certainly services they’ll pay out for and you need to make sure you get the right ones!

Contact Friends and Family

Even if it’s just one room, your home can’t be lived in for a while. That means relying on others for some help and support. There’s nothing wrong with asking friends and family if you can stay on the couch or in the guest room for a short time. You won’t want to impose, so rally a few that you can stay with for short bursts at a time while your home is restored.

If you can’t stay, at least ask them for some help. How about babysitting so you can work with the restoration companies to find anything salvageable? Or help going through documents and items to save as much as possible?

Document Everything Damaged

Once you get permission to go back in, you’ll need to document everything that’s been damaged for the insurance company. This is something that the fire cleanup services in Newport Beach can help do. They’ll be able to get photos of everything, create lists of all items that must be removed, and help you determine whether there’s a chance of saving others.

It’s important to take emotion out of a fire, as hard as that is. Make sure your family is safe and then get to work on restoration.

3 Essential Things NOT to Do in Fire Damage Clean Up in Newport Beach

5/14/2018 (Permalink)

Suffering a fire is devastating, no matter the size of the fire or the reason for the damage. Even if nobody was hurt or killed, the loss of belongings can affect everyone. All those treasured memories are lost and then you have to think about replacing items. However, before you worry about any of that, you need to get started in fire damage clean up in Newport Beach.

There are a lot of tips on what to do to clean up the damage. However, there are also a lot of mistakes that people make. Here are three essential things NOT to do.

#1. Keep Food Items

When the home has suffered a fire, all the food in the house will be dangerous to consume. This includes canned goods and even in rooms where the fire didn’t spread. It’s the heat of fire that makes the food dangerous. You end up with bacteria growth within the food after it’s cooled down.

You’ll want to throw out everything. Depending on your home insurance, you may be able to itemize the food and claim the loss through your insurance. This is especially the case if you run a business on the property (and that’s listed within your home insurance).

#2. Self Newport Beach Fire Damage Clean Up

While you may want to keep the costs of repair down, managing the whole cleanup process isn’t a good idea. You’re far too close to the damage to look at things objectively, but you also don’t know the best way to handle the cleanup. There’s a risk of dislodging the smoke and fire ash residue on the walls or in the flooring, which can lead to you breathing it in and causing lung damage.

The best thing you can do is leave it to professionals. They have the right materials and products to make your house as good as new.

#3. Keep Upholstered Furniture After a Major Fire

If you had a small fire in another room, some upholstered furniture may have been left untouched. However, there are times that you’ll need to completely replace the furniture. Upholstered furniture will collect fire ash and residue. Leaving these behind can cause breathing problems later on.

It’s not just the fire damage either. There will also be water damage from putting out the fire. If items didn’t dry out fully in 48 hours, they run the risk of mold damage in the future. Upholstered furniture is one of the hardest to dry out quickly enough.

Hiring a good team of professionals will help you figure out what you can keep and what needs to be thrown out and replaced. The same applies to the carpets, rugs, clothing, and other similar items.

While you want to get back to normal as soon as possible, you also need to play things safe. Avoid the top three mistakes in fire damage clean up in Newport Beach and put your safety and your family’s safety first.