Ceiling insulation will not last forever, although it will last for many years. As it gets older it will not only lose its effectiveness but it will become dust-ridden and can become the cause of allergies inside the home. Over the years it is also possible that your attic insulation has become water damaged through a leak in the roof, a leaking water pipe or a water heater that is in the attic and has started to leak.
When your insulation has become water damaged it will have to be removed and replaced with new insulation. Removing insulation, particularly old insulation, is a difficult and messy job and is something that should be left to the professionals. An insulation removal expert has professional grade equipment at their disposal and have had a lot of experience with the removal of the most damaged and moldy insulation.
Ceiling insulation can come in the form of cellulose, fibreglass or polyester batts and they can all result in airborne fibers when they are disrupted. For this reason you don’t want to be carrying the old insulation through the house. If you were to attempt to do the job yourself this is very likely what is going to have to happen. Anyone with allergies will have a nightmare time of it if this is the way you go about the insulation removal process.
So how does the water damaged insulation in the ceiling get removed without causing too much trouble inside the house? The method the professionals use is to run a large hose from the exterior of the house up into the attic to the insulation itself. This is connected to a large commercial scale vacuum and this vacuum is used to suck up all of the loose and damaged insulation.
With the possibility of animal infestation and urine and faeces soaked insulation a health issue, the less contact you make with the insulation the better. This is why these large scale vacuums are the way to perform the task. This will allow as little contact with the material as it is possible to make.
You want the water damage to be cleaned up as quickly as possible and with as little mess as practicable. Calling in the insulation damage experts is the wisest move you can make.
Drying A Water Damaged Timber Floor With Injectidry
There is a technique being used by water damage specialists to dry and restore a water damaged timber floor known as Injectidry. It has been believed by some people that the only option open to them after their timber floors have been damaged by water is replacement. This is not always the case.
The Injectidry system works by placing panels on the floor and sealing them so they are airtight. Hoses are then attached to the holes in these panels and these hoses are then attached to the injectidry system. When the system is turned on suction is formed underneath the panels. This then forces air between the subfloor and the wet timber floor by way of the grooves in the boards and this starts the process of drawing the moisture out. At the same time a dehumidifier is set in the middle of the room to remove the moisture from the room.
As long as the water that has flooded the floor is clean there should be no need to remove or replace the affected floor boards. Another factor that is important to the success of this method is that it is undertaken within 12 hours of the flooding. As long as there are no visual signs of molds forming you can expect that the water restoration system will be successful.
People who have used this method of drying have found that within one or two days the flooring has been dried back to its pre-flooded condition.
The Injectidry system does not have to be limited to drying floors with success also reported when using it to dry out ceilings and walls. The system has been specifically developed to target areas of hidden moisture wherever it occurs. Surfaces that have been coated with watertight finishes such as PVA paint, double-sheeted fire walls, insulation, vinyl wallpaper and floors are all capable of being dried using this system.
The units that are used are the Injectidry HP 60i which is an industrial grade high pressure drying system that is designed to dry inside trapped spaces including wall cavities. The Injectidry HP60FDP is an industrial grade high pressure floor drying package.
Take a look at the Injectidry System in action:
It would definitely be worthwhile checking out the official website of the Injectidry System.
The Injectidry system works by placing panels on the floor and sealing them so they are airtight. Hoses are then attached to the holes in these panels and these hoses are then attached to the injectidry system. When the system is turned on suction is formed underneath the panels. This then forces air between the subfloor and the wet timber floor by way of the grooves in the boards and this starts the process of drawing the moisture out. At the same time a dehumidifier is set in the middle of the room to remove the moisture from the room.
As long as the water that has flooded the floor is clean there should be no need to remove or replace the affected floor boards. Another factor that is important to the success of this method is that it is undertaken within 12 hours of the flooding. As long as there are no visual signs of molds forming you can expect that the water restoration system will be successful.People who have used this method of drying have found that within one or two days the flooring has been dried back to its pre-flooded condition.
The Injectidry system does not have to be limited to drying floors with success also reported when using it to dry out ceilings and walls. The system has been specifically developed to target areas of hidden moisture wherever it occurs. Surfaces that have been coated with watertight finishes such as PVA paint, double-sheeted fire walls, insulation, vinyl wallpaper and floors are all capable of being dried using this system.
The units that are used are the Injectidry HP 60i which is an industrial grade high pressure drying system that is designed to dry inside trapped spaces including wall cavities. The Injectidry HP60FDP is an industrial grade high pressure floor drying package.
Take a look at the Injectidry System in action:
It would definitely be worthwhile checking out the official website of the Injectidry System.
Clean Up Flood Damage Safely
Flood damage is an extreme form of water damage and the majority of people are fortunate enough to live in areas where it is likely they will never be threatened by the prospect of their house being inundated by flood.
In other areas there is a real likelihood that some people will be facing annual flood damage. This may be because they live in close proximity to a river which floods after heavy rain or because naturally occurring phenomena such as hurricanes are common at certain times of the year. Those regularly flooded out would be somewhat used to the clean up process, not that it ever gets easy.
Safety Clothing For Flood Damage Clean Up
When attempting to clean up flood damage you will be handling items that are potentially contaminated with all kinds of mildew or floodwater debris. The potential for sewage to contaminate the water is very real so proper protective clothing should be worn at all times.
The proper protective clothing to use when cleaning up flood damage may include:
In other areas there is a real likelihood that some people will be facing annual flood damage. This may be because they live in close proximity to a river which floods after heavy rain or because naturally occurring phenomena such as hurricanes are common at certain times of the year. Those regularly flooded out would be somewhat used to the clean up process, not that it ever gets easy.
Safety Clothing For Flood Damage Clean Up
When attempting to clean up flood damage you will be handling items that are potentially contaminated with all kinds of mildew or floodwater debris. The potential for sewage to contaminate the water is very real so proper protective clothing should be worn at all times.
The proper protective clothing to use when cleaning up flood damage may include:
- Gloves
- Goggles
- Respirator
- Rubber boots
Safety Steps When Cleaning Up Flood Damage
A flooded home can be a very dangerous place to be. There are some steps that should be followed to ensure your safety.
Turn off the electricity. The electricity may already be turned off or the power to the area may have been lost, but you must also be sure that the mains power has been switched off to cut all electricity to the house.
If it is dark indoors and you need light to see by always use a flashlight. Never strike a match or use open flames in case there is gas present inside.
If you have a flooded basement along with flooding in the rest of the home, only partially remove the water in the first stages. It is likely that there will be water outside the house pushing in and removing the water from the basement could result in the pressure from outside the house becoming too great, pushing against the basement wall causing structural damage.
Fresh food, medicine and cosmetics that have come in contact with the floodwater will have to be thrown out due to the potential for contamination.
Appliances that have come in contact with the water should be examined by someone who is qualified to repair electric goods to ensure they are still in working order.
It’s bad enough to have to pick through the damage that has been caused by floodwaters that have inundated the home. Make sure you don’t make the situation worse by ignoring simple safety steps while performing your flood damage restoration.
Steps To Kill Mold In Carpet
If you have carpet in your home, you might not be aware that you have mold in carpet. Mold is a deadly fungus and when it settles in anything, be it carpet or walls, it begins to consume items. From there, it can spread to other parts of your house, from carpets through walls, destroying wallpaper, walls and ceilings. When mold takes root in your home, it can be nearly impossible to get rid of, so it is important to ensure you prevent mold before it happens. Since carpet mold needs heat and dampness to grow, it often puts off a musty smell. In addition, mold is very versatile. If it does not have the moisture it needs to grow, it can lie dormant to create spores. Once the moisture is present again, the mold then becomes active and can resume its various methods of destruction. You must take steps to remove mold from the carpet.
If you are looking for ways to get rid of carpet mold, or to completely kill mold in carpet, you should consider your own safety. Protective items such as gloves and a face mask should be worn, including items, which will cover the skin on your arms and legs. In addition, any footwear, which you wear in the area, should be contained to the area, to prevent it from spreading to the rest of the house. While many people do not have negative reactions to mold, other individuals are highly susceptible to the effects. Using carpet cleaning mold ridding techniques you may not be able to get all of the mold out of your house without professional assistance.
If you inspect the area, which is infected with mold in carpet, you should be able to determine just how infected your home is. If the surface area of the mold infection is likely less than ten square feet, you should be able to perform the cleaning yourself. However, if there is a larger infection, it is recommended to contact professionals who can kill mold in carpet.
Even if you do manage to clean up the carpet mold, you should be aware that a water source is needed to supply the moisture, which allows mold to spread. If there is a water source which is making the floors and carpet wet, mold will continue to grow, even after you clean it up. Looking for plumbing leaks in the walls is the first place you should start when looking for moisture problems caused by mold. This is a vital step in the prevention of future carpet mold and should be the first step you take followed by a complete carpet drying process.
Before you begin heavily cleaning up carpet mold, you should cleanse the entire area with some form of detergent, which can be applied with a steam cleaner. Once this is done, the area should be dried completely before you begin more efforts. A strong cleaner like Lysol should be used to rid the area of mold spores.
Another way of ensuring the mold spores are eliminated once the carpet has been cleaned is to use a HEPA air filter that will capture all of the mold spores that have been released into the air.
The process of completely removing mold from the carpet may require a second application of the cleaning product to ensure that every trace of mold and mildew is removed and there won’t be a reoccurrence of the mold infestation.
If you are looking for ways to get rid of carpet mold, or to completely kill mold in carpet, you should consider your own safety. Protective items such as gloves and a face mask should be worn, including items, which will cover the skin on your arms and legs. In addition, any footwear, which you wear in the area, should be contained to the area, to prevent it from spreading to the rest of the house. While many people do not have negative reactions to mold, other individuals are highly susceptible to the effects. Using carpet cleaning mold ridding techniques you may not be able to get all of the mold out of your house without professional assistance.
If you inspect the area, which is infected with mold in carpet, you should be able to determine just how infected your home is. If the surface area of the mold infection is likely less than ten square feet, you should be able to perform the cleaning yourself. However, if there is a larger infection, it is recommended to contact professionals who can kill mold in carpet.
Even if you do manage to clean up the carpet mold, you should be aware that a water source is needed to supply the moisture, which allows mold to spread. If there is a water source which is making the floors and carpet wet, mold will continue to grow, even after you clean it up. Looking for plumbing leaks in the walls is the first place you should start when looking for moisture problems caused by mold. This is a vital step in the prevention of future carpet mold and should be the first step you take followed by a complete carpet drying process.
Before you begin heavily cleaning up carpet mold, you should cleanse the entire area with some form of detergent, which can be applied with a steam cleaner. Once this is done, the area should be dried completely before you begin more efforts. A strong cleaner like Lysol should be used to rid the area of mold spores.
Another way of ensuring the mold spores are eliminated once the carpet has been cleaned is to use a HEPA air filter that will capture all of the mold spores that have been released into the air.
The process of completely removing mold from the carpet may require a second application of the cleaning product to ensure that every trace of mold and mildew is removed and there won’t be a reoccurrence of the mold infestation.
Emergency Water Damage Removal
In the majority of cases if there has been some kind of water disaster such as a flood or a failure of the water mains pipe that has resulted in significant damage to the home or property it is going to be crisis time. An emergency water damage restoration is going to have to be organized and you are going to have to rely on the help of water damage specialists very quickly.
You will need to know what kinds of services you are looking for the restoration company to be able to provide so that you can be sure the necessary help is available. Some essential features to look for include:
- A 24 hour service from the company where you can rely on help any time day or night.
- Water extraction.
- Mold remediation.
- Drying of the structure that includes all aspects of the home – the structure and the contents.
- A dehumidifying service.
- Sanitization and disinfectant service.
- Pack-out and pack back of the household contents. This includes off-site storage.
Tasks such as water extraction can be major operations, particularly if you live in an area that is prone to such natural disasters as hurricanes or floods. An emergency water extraction should be undertaken by professionals who know what they are doing. The sooner the water is removed from the property the greater the chance that belongings ill be able to be salvaged.
The reason why you want to choose a company who offers full 24 hour service is because water can destroy things in a matter of hours and these hours might make the difference between saving and losing valuable possessions.
The water damage doesn’t necessarily have to be confined to the home for an emergency call out to a restoration company to be necessary. Vehicle water damage is also an occasion where the very best of help will be required with techniques required to dry out the car motor as well as the interior of the car itself. Just because the vehicle has been completely flooded doesn’t necessarily mean that the car is destroyed.
Removing the water from the vehicle is only the first step with drying out the interior essential. If mold is a potential problem following water damage in the home then it is a dead certainty for the car. Interior surfaces provide the ideal conditions for any sort of mold to form with warm conditions adding to the perfect setting.
So remember there is merit in making your call to water damage specialists a priority in times of emergency. By delaying the call you will only be making their job more difficult and less likely to succeed. A good water damage service will provide you with solutions from the moment they arrive. You should get a feeling of confidence when the emergency help arrives.
There are also some tips available on what to do when you have some drywall water damage.
How To Clean A Smoke Detector
Possibly the most effective ways of avoiding having to use the services of a fire damage clean up expert is to install a smoke detector. The next task that will be required to make doubly sure is to keep the smoke detector in good working order. For most of us we install our smoke detectors and then virtually forget about them as they sit unobtrusively on the wall or ceiling.
The question may come up over whether you should clean your smoke detector. The answer is a resounding yes. Dust can affect the workings of your smoke detector and you don’t want to allow anything to get into your smoke detector that may affect its operation in any way. The last thing you want is to find out that your smoke detector has been rendered useless because of too much dust because it hasn’t gone off during a fire.
To clean your smoke detector, all you have to do is run the vacuum cleaner over the top of it to free every possible crack up from any dust that may have made its way in through the gaps.
Another task that must be undertaken on a regular basis is giving the alarm a test run. One piece of advice I have followed to ensure that this important task is carried out twice a year is to test my smoke detector at the start of daylight savings in the Spring and then again at the end. When you set your clocks forward and back, also go around and check that the smoke detectors work properly. You may even carry that a step further by changing the batteries over on this day.
Smoke detectors also will not last forever. Studies have shown that they start to become a little less reliable after around 5 to 7 years and by the 8 to 10 year mark should really be replaced with a new version.
Fire prevention is a much better option than fire restoration so you should be taking every reasonable precaution you can think of to make certain that it is very unlikely that a fire will break out in your home.
The question may come up over whether you should clean your smoke detector. The answer is a resounding yes. Dust can affect the workings of your smoke detector and you don’t want to allow anything to get into your smoke detector that may affect its operation in any way. The last thing you want is to find out that your smoke detector has been rendered useless because of too much dust because it hasn’t gone off during a fire.
To clean your smoke detector, all you have to do is run the vacuum cleaner over the top of it to free every possible crack up from any dust that may have made its way in through the gaps.
Another task that must be undertaken on a regular basis is giving the alarm a test run. One piece of advice I have followed to ensure that this important task is carried out twice a year is to test my smoke detector at the start of daylight savings in the Spring and then again at the end. When you set your clocks forward and back, also go around and check that the smoke detectors work properly. You may even carry that a step further by changing the batteries over on this day.
Smoke detectors also will not last forever. Studies have shown that they start to become a little less reliable after around 5 to 7 years and by the 8 to 10 year mark should really be replaced with a new version.
Fire prevention is a much better option than fire restoration so you should be taking every reasonable precaution you can think of to make certain that it is very unlikely that a fire will break out in your home.
When To Use An Odor Counteractant
After a fire one of the lingering reminders that will permeate through the entire house is the sharp smell of smoke and other burnt chemicals. It’s a smell that will remain until some sort of action is taken to get rid of it. Unfortunately, smoke odor is not a substance that can be easily removed because it permeates into every surface it comes in contact with. Air fresheners will only mask the odor and are largely ineffective over longer periods of time – the smoke odor will return when the effects of the air freshener wear off.
In order to perform an effective smoke damage remediation job you will require an odor counteractant. These products have been designed to do more than simply mask the smoke odors, they are active and work by introducing live bacterial cultures and free enzymes to attack the odor molecules to break them down completely.
There appear to be quite a lot of products that claim to be able to work as odor counteractants and they should be worth considering when faced with the prospect of having to start a fire damage restoration job.
Look at the JonDon Unsmoke 9D9 Odor Counteractant: this is a product to use for the initial suppression of charred and burned surfaces. You can also use it to clean walls, upholstery and carpet in conjunction with other cleaners. The counteractant is sprayed onto the surface affected by the smoke odor with a pressure sprayer or, if using it with the wall or furniture cleaning solutions it can be mixed as required. The dilution quantities advise to mix 1 to 3 ounces per gallon of lukewarm water. This is a product that has been made specifically for eliminating smoke odors during the process of conducting fire damage restoration.
Another product that looks as though it could perform a similar type of job is the Citrus Neutrox Odor Counteractant Concentrate which is a water soluble odor counteractant that works to destroy odor molecules produced by organic and non-organic sources. This is another product that can be diluted and used with other cleaners. According to the product MSDS sheet the product contains no hazardous ingredients so it is a stable product to use too.
These types of products are also often referred to as malodor counteractants and they are often used when dealing with other situations where unpleasant odors are common such as when working with cadavers, animals and bars and restaurants that are constantly filled with smoke odors.
Remember, if you are trying to clean up smoke damage and you have to attack the smoke odors that seem to have seeped into every surface in the house you will not be achieving anything by attempting to clean those surfaces with straight disinfectant and air fresheners.
Products like the odor counteractants mentioned above will break down the molecules producing the odor and give you the result you are hoping to achieve. When choosing the counteractant you will use try to go for a product that specifies it is odor-neutral. Sometimes the smell of the cleaner can be more overpowering than the odor that is being removed.
In order to perform an effective smoke damage remediation job you will require an odor counteractant. These products have been designed to do more than simply mask the smoke odors, they are active and work by introducing live bacterial cultures and free enzymes to attack the odor molecules to break them down completely.
There appear to be quite a lot of products that claim to be able to work as odor counteractants and they should be worth considering when faced with the prospect of having to start a fire damage restoration job.
Look at the JonDon Unsmoke 9D9 Odor Counteractant: this is a product to use for the initial suppression of charred and burned surfaces. You can also use it to clean walls, upholstery and carpet in conjunction with other cleaners. The counteractant is sprayed onto the surface affected by the smoke odor with a pressure sprayer or, if using it with the wall or furniture cleaning solutions it can be mixed as required. The dilution quantities advise to mix 1 to 3 ounces per gallon of lukewarm water. This is a product that has been made specifically for eliminating smoke odors during the process of conducting fire damage restoration.
Another product that looks as though it could perform a similar type of job is the Citrus Neutrox Odor Counteractant Concentrate which is a water soluble odor counteractant that works to destroy odor molecules produced by organic and non-organic sources. This is another product that can be diluted and used with other cleaners. According to the product MSDS sheet the product contains no hazardous ingredients so it is a stable product to use too.
These types of products are also often referred to as malodor counteractants and they are often used when dealing with other situations where unpleasant odors are common such as when working with cadavers, animals and bars and restaurants that are constantly filled with smoke odors.
Remember, if you are trying to clean up smoke damage and you have to attack the smoke odors that seem to have seeped into every surface in the house you will not be achieving anything by attempting to clean those surfaces with straight disinfectant and air fresheners.
Products like the odor counteractants mentioned above will break down the molecules producing the odor and give you the result you are hoping to achieve. When choosing the counteractant you will use try to go for a product that specifies it is odor-neutral. Sometimes the smell of the cleaner can be more overpowering than the odor that is being removed.
What To Do With A Smoke Damaged Piano
A piano is a delicate instrument even though it looks pretty solid and when it has been involved in or near a fire it will have sustained some kind of smoke damage. Smoke is a corrosive substance containing all kinds of toxic chemicals that have not completely combusted in the fire. Smoke also has a habit of invading anything it comes into contact with, getting into the pores and tiny fissures of anything and everything.
A piano is made of wood, metal, plastic and felt among other materials. During and following a fire the air temperature and the humidity in the immediate vicinity fluctuate wildly causing materials such as the wood in a piano to expand and contract. While this expansion is taking place the smoke from the fire finds its way deeply into the wood’s pores where it is trapped.
Other parts of the piano, moving pieces that are sensitive to changes in the atmosphere and in impurities in the air, are also affected. The metal pieces can corrode and the inner workings can become misaligned as the materials suffer from various kinds of smoke damage. Changes also take place in smoke affected rubber and plastic turning soft, pliable parts into hard pieces that are prone to cracking.
In short, the piano will slowly fall apart and the tuning will not be able to be maintained because in all probability the tuning pin block will be destroyed.
As with all other items that have been affected by smoke and soot damage avoid touching surfaces with your bare hands. If you want to attempt a basic clean up, you can remove any soot lying on the flat surfaces with a vacuum cleaner, making sure the nozzle doesn’t come in contact with the piano. Try to make an assessment of the damage that has already been sustained with a visual check and, if you have to touch the piano, do so while wearing gloves.
The best course of action is to call in a smoke damage restoration expert. If possible you will need a professional who has had experience with the remediation of precision instruments such as pianos. The critical point about the fire is the smoke line of the fire and where it descended to. If it descended too low and enshrouded the piano then no amount of restoration is going to save your piano.
You can find out about other kinds of smoke damage in unexpected objects here.
A piano is made of wood, metal, plastic and felt among other materials. During and following a fire the air temperature and the humidity in the immediate vicinity fluctuate wildly causing materials such as the wood in a piano to expand and contract. While this expansion is taking place the smoke from the fire finds its way deeply into the wood’s pores where it is trapped.
Other parts of the piano, moving pieces that are sensitive to changes in the atmosphere and in impurities in the air, are also affected. The metal pieces can corrode and the inner workings can become misaligned as the materials suffer from various kinds of smoke damage. Changes also take place in smoke affected rubber and plastic turning soft, pliable parts into hard pieces that are prone to cracking.
In short, the piano will slowly fall apart and the tuning will not be able to be maintained because in all probability the tuning pin block will be destroyed.
As with all other items that have been affected by smoke and soot damage avoid touching surfaces with your bare hands. If you want to attempt a basic clean up, you can remove any soot lying on the flat surfaces with a vacuum cleaner, making sure the nozzle doesn’t come in contact with the piano. Try to make an assessment of the damage that has already been sustained with a visual check and, if you have to touch the piano, do so while wearing gloves.
The best course of action is to call in a smoke damage restoration expert. If possible you will need a professional who has had experience with the remediation of precision instruments such as pianos. The critical point about the fire is the smoke line of the fire and where it descended to. If it descended too low and enshrouded the piano then no amount of restoration is going to save your piano.
You can find out about other kinds of smoke damage in unexpected objects here.
How To Avoid Chimney Fire Damage
Whether you own an open fireplace or a combustion heater the common factor is the chimney that draws smoke up from the fire and out of the house. But a chimney is not a set and forget proposition, they get dirty and they can become clogged if they are not occasionally cleaned. The potential if the necessary maintenance is not carried out is for a chimney fire with all kinds of resultant damage that is associated with it.
A chimney fire is an awesome event and can be incredibly destructive. The fire can burn explosively producing a great deal of black smoke and heat and all of it directed inside a small area. It doesn’t take very long for a chimney fire to spread from the chimney to more combustible parts of the house such as the roof.
The purpose of a chimney is to draw poisonous gases and smoke away from the living area and out into the air. When these gases and other particles leave the fire they are very hot and travel quickly up the chimney but as they near the top of the chimney they cool and condensation occurs. Substances such as unburned wood particles, gases, vapour, tar fog and hydrocarbons all form part of this condensation to form a sticky substance known as creosote. This creosote sticks to the inside of the chimney as a hardened surface that may be sticky, shiny, crusty or flaky.
The problem lies in the fact that the creosote that is now lining the inner walls of your chimney is highly combustible. If it is allowed to build up into sufficient quantities there is the real risk that it could catch fire inside the chimney causing a chimney fire.
The creation of creosote is accelerated in certain conditions such as burning unseasoned wood, restricting the air flow to the fire and a cooler than normal chimney temperature. Each of these circumstances result in the wood burning at a lower temperature than normal where there is not as much fine particulate burn. Those particles are actually being emitted into the chimney.
So how can you prevent chimney fire damage? You can start by burning the right type of wood and ensuring it is properly dried before adding it to the fire. Even more important is to get your chimney swept and the chimney venting system is inspected annually. You can find a Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certified chimney sweep who will come and check your chimney for you. There may be some additional recommendations apart from simply having the chimney swept.
You don’t want a chimney fire and you can prevent them by burning smaller fires that burn quickly and hot. You want to create fires that don’t produce very much smoke. You shouldn’t ever burn cardboard boxes, wrapping paper or trash. Monitor the heat of the chimney, possibly installing a thermometer to track the flue temperature.
How To Put Out A Chimney Fire
An important item to keep in any household but particularly a house where an open place fire or a wood burning stove are in use is a fire extinguisher. The fire extinguisher should be in close proximity to the fireplace in the desperate case that a fire has broken out. In many cases though a chimney fire will be inside the chimney itself where a fire extinguisher will not be able to reach.
Products exist specifically to extinguish a chimney fire and they work by throwing them into the fire where the resultant burning chemicals rise up the flue to replace the oxygen, removing all of the oxygen from inside the chimney, thus smothering the fire. If you are faced with a chimney fire the first consideration should be the safety of you and your family. If there is time to use a chimney fire suppressant then throw it into the firebox before vacating the house and calling the fire department
It is little comfort that chimney fire repair and the damage and restoration work necessary to recover are covered by the homeowners insurance.
A chimney fire is an awesome event and can be incredibly destructive. The fire can burn explosively producing a great deal of black smoke and heat and all of it directed inside a small area. It doesn’t take very long for a chimney fire to spread from the chimney to more combustible parts of the house such as the roof.
The purpose of a chimney is to draw poisonous gases and smoke away from the living area and out into the air. When these gases and other particles leave the fire they are very hot and travel quickly up the chimney but as they near the top of the chimney they cool and condensation occurs. Substances such as unburned wood particles, gases, vapour, tar fog and hydrocarbons all form part of this condensation to form a sticky substance known as creosote. This creosote sticks to the inside of the chimney as a hardened surface that may be sticky, shiny, crusty or flaky.
The problem lies in the fact that the creosote that is now lining the inner walls of your chimney is highly combustible. If it is allowed to build up into sufficient quantities there is the real risk that it could catch fire inside the chimney causing a chimney fire.
The creation of creosote is accelerated in certain conditions such as burning unseasoned wood, restricting the air flow to the fire and a cooler than normal chimney temperature. Each of these circumstances result in the wood burning at a lower temperature than normal where there is not as much fine particulate burn. Those particles are actually being emitted into the chimney.
So how can you prevent chimney fire damage? You can start by burning the right type of wood and ensuring it is properly dried before adding it to the fire. Even more important is to get your chimney swept and the chimney venting system is inspected annually. You can find a Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certified chimney sweep who will come and check your chimney for you. There may be some additional recommendations apart from simply having the chimney swept.
You don’t want a chimney fire and you can prevent them by burning smaller fires that burn quickly and hot. You want to create fires that don’t produce very much smoke. You shouldn’t ever burn cardboard boxes, wrapping paper or trash. Monitor the heat of the chimney, possibly installing a thermometer to track the flue temperature.
How To Put Out A Chimney Fire
An important item to keep in any household but particularly a house where an open place fire or a wood burning stove are in use is a fire extinguisher. The fire extinguisher should be in close proximity to the fireplace in the desperate case that a fire has broken out. In many cases though a chimney fire will be inside the chimney itself where a fire extinguisher will not be able to reach.
Products exist specifically to extinguish a chimney fire and they work by throwing them into the fire where the resultant burning chemicals rise up the flue to replace the oxygen, removing all of the oxygen from inside the chimney, thus smothering the fire. If you are faced with a chimney fire the first consideration should be the safety of you and your family. If there is time to use a chimney fire suppressant then throw it into the firebox before vacating the house and calling the fire department
It is little comfort that chimney fire repair and the damage and restoration work necessary to recover are covered by the homeowners insurance.
Buying A Fire Damaged House
There are many things to consider before buying a fire damaged property. Fire damage restoration can be quite costly because often a specialist has to be hired to assess the damage and do the cleanup. Furthermore, getting financed to buy a fire damaged property can be quite difficult, unless one is able to qualify for a construction loan that will also include the cost it would take to do the fire damage cleanup.
Here are some often overlooked considerations to take into account before buying a fire damaged property:
1. There may be a significant amount of water damage to the house. Firefighters most likely soaked and saturated much of the wood construction including flooring and roofing. Water damage will cause significant problems including mold and structural damage. Mold, in particular, can be quite costly to clean up.
2. The smoke from the fire could also leave a very sticky residue that can be difficult to clean up and an odor may linger in smoke-saturated construction for years. Often the smoke residue is invisible, so fire damage repair is even more difficult, and yet another specialist has to be brought in to assess the damage. The smoke odor may also be temporarily masked and could begin to seep out weeks, months or even years down the track.
3. There may be a large amount of damage to the electrical and plumbing systems. In addition to the cost of rebuilding, re-wiring and plumbing will most likely have to be redone as well.
4. The cost of the cleanup will need to be assessed and taken into account, along with the asking price of the property. Unless the seller is able to meet the buyer halfway, buying a fire damaged house could be almost as costly as buying a property that is not damaged by fire.
The most important point is to make sure the buyer has a clear understanding of the amount of clean up and the cost involved when buying a fire damaged property. While the asking price may look attractive on paper, the additional time and financial commitment to make the house livable may be more than many are willing to undertake. With that being said, if a person is able to negotiate with seller on the fire damage clean up costs, pay in cash, and has significant experience in fire damage restoration, then this could be a wise decision.
Here are some often overlooked considerations to take into account before buying a fire damaged property:
1. There may be a significant amount of water damage to the house. Firefighters most likely soaked and saturated much of the wood construction including flooring and roofing. Water damage will cause significant problems including mold and structural damage. Mold, in particular, can be quite costly to clean up.
2. The smoke from the fire could also leave a very sticky residue that can be difficult to clean up and an odor may linger in smoke-saturated construction for years. Often the smoke residue is invisible, so fire damage repair is even more difficult, and yet another specialist has to be brought in to assess the damage. The smoke odor may also be temporarily masked and could begin to seep out weeks, months or even years down the track.
3. There may be a large amount of damage to the electrical and plumbing systems. In addition to the cost of rebuilding, re-wiring and plumbing will most likely have to be redone as well.
4. The cost of the cleanup will need to be assessed and taken into account, along with the asking price of the property. Unless the seller is able to meet the buyer halfway, buying a fire damaged house could be almost as costly as buying a property that is not damaged by fire.
The most important point is to make sure the buyer has a clear understanding of the amount of clean up and the cost involved when buying a fire damaged property. While the asking price may look attractive on paper, the additional time and financial commitment to make the house livable may be more than many are willing to undertake. With that being said, if a person is able to negotiate with seller on the fire damage clean up costs, pay in cash, and has significant experience in fire damage restoration, then this could be a wise decision.
A Few Tips When Cleaning Water Damage
Water damage can occur in one of many different ways and regardless of how it actually occurs, it is imperative that you begin cleaning water damage as soon as you can. One of the cautions that should be made clear before you wade into the fray is that water that has invaded the home may be filled with pollutants that are dangerous to your health.
If you are going to attempt to clean water damage you should be sure that the water is clean water rather than water that has been contaminated with sewage or a chemical or biological pollutant. Any items that have suffered water damage as a result of water other than clean water should simply be disposed of.
The first step in cleaning water damage is to assess every item in the house for the level of damage that has occurred. As an immediate guide here are some of the items that will be simpler to discard and replace: ceiling tiles, fiberglass insulation, drywall that has noticeably become swollen, cheap or non-valuable books and documents. Just about everything else can be dried and then cleaned to the point where it will be salvageable.
If the water damage has occurred longer ago than 48 hours there will be a good chance that mold growth will have begun. The first step in this case is to clean any noticeable mold growth before you take any further action. While performing the mold remediation you should also have begun the drying process. This may be done with a dehumidifier in conjunction with fans or heaters.
Carpets, concrete, upholstered furniture and hard surfaces will also benefit by using a water extraction vacuum first. This will start the drying process and then bringing in other methods will give you faster results.
Drapes or curtains that have been damaged by water should be removed from the room and laundered following the manufacturers instructions. Once they have been properly cleaned and dried they should be ready to hang back in their original place following the cleaning process of the rest of the room.
Any object that holds special sentimental or monetary value that concerns you and your own abilities to properly clean it without damaging it should seek the assistance of a water damage specialist. It is better to spend the money on a professional job which may save you the greater cost of losing your valued object.
This post is part of the wide ranging articles offering advice on fire and water damage on this site.
If you are going to attempt to clean water damage you should be sure that the water is clean water rather than water that has been contaminated with sewage or a chemical or biological pollutant. Any items that have suffered water damage as a result of water other than clean water should simply be disposed of.
The first step in cleaning water damage is to assess every item in the house for the level of damage that has occurred. As an immediate guide here are some of the items that will be simpler to discard and replace: ceiling tiles, fiberglass insulation, drywall that has noticeably become swollen, cheap or non-valuable books and documents. Just about everything else can be dried and then cleaned to the point where it will be salvageable.
If the water damage has occurred longer ago than 48 hours there will be a good chance that mold growth will have begun. The first step in this case is to clean any noticeable mold growth before you take any further action. While performing the mold remediation you should also have begun the drying process. This may be done with a dehumidifier in conjunction with fans or heaters.
Carpets, concrete, upholstered furniture and hard surfaces will also benefit by using a water extraction vacuum first. This will start the drying process and then bringing in other methods will give you faster results.
Drapes or curtains that have been damaged by water should be removed from the room and laundered following the manufacturers instructions. Once they have been properly cleaned and dried they should be ready to hang back in their original place following the cleaning process of the rest of the room.
Any object that holds special sentimental or monetary value that concerns you and your own abilities to properly clean it without damaging it should seek the assistance of a water damage specialist. It is better to spend the money on a professional job which may save you the greater cost of losing your valued object.
This post is part of the wide ranging articles offering advice on fire and water damage on this site.
Soot Removal From Carpet
Soot damage can occur in many situations around the house, not necessarily only after a major fire. Anyone with a wood burning heater or an open fire would be well aware that it is possible to find spots of soot lying on the carpet. There are some important steps to take when you notice a soot stain on the carpet so that you avoid making the stain worse. Here are a few tips on how to get fire soot stain out of carpet that covers what you shouldn't do as well as what you should.
There are some things you should make sure you don’t do, keep them in mind while conducting your clean up operation. Firstly, don’t use a vacuum with a rotating brush connection as this will only grind the soot deeper into the carpet pile. Secondly, don’t try to clean the stain by using water because this will simply spread the soot and embed it firmly into the carpet.
Your first step with any soot removal process but particularly when performing soot removal from carpet is to use the vacuum cleaner, but be sure to keep the end of the nozzle at least a quarter of an inch above the surface you are cleaning. If you don’t have a vacuum a stiff brush can be employed to sweep the soot up. Sweeping should be done with quick flicking motions as you remove the soot onto a newspaper.
Once the bulk of the soot has been removed you should then begin to repair the soot stain that is left. Use a citrus degreasing solvent by applying it directly to the stain allowing it to settle in before blotting the stain off with a dry towel. Repeat the process as necessary until the stain has disappeared.
Once the stain has been removed you can rinse the affected area with cold water and then apply a fan to the wet area so that it dries quickly.
There is another product that may be used to absorb the excess soot and it is known as a soot sponge. Unlike other sponges a soot sponge is designed to be used dry. It has been chemically impregnated with a substance that will capture the soot that comes in contact with it into its pores. To clean the sponge when it gets dirty you simply shave off the outer layer of the sponge until a clean surface is revealed. You may then repeat the cleaning process.
A soot sponge will not work as affectively on carpet as it will on the ceiling or the walls but it is another weapon in the arsenal that will help with any fire damage clean up.
By employing the tips explained above on small to medium sized soot damage on carpet you should be able to effectively remove a soot stain without creating greater problems for yourself. Remember that soot is the kind of substance that creates more problems the more it is disturbed. Although it looks dry it is actually quite oily and this is what makes it so difficult to remove.
Further Soot Removal Information
Dealing With Soot Damage Removal
Soot Removal From Glass
There are some things you should make sure you don’t do, keep them in mind while conducting your clean up operation. Firstly, don’t use a vacuum with a rotating brush connection as this will only grind the soot deeper into the carpet pile. Secondly, don’t try to clean the stain by using water because this will simply spread the soot and embed it firmly into the carpet.
Your first step with any soot removal process but particularly when performing soot removal from carpet is to use the vacuum cleaner, but be sure to keep the end of the nozzle at least a quarter of an inch above the surface you are cleaning. If you don’t have a vacuum a stiff brush can be employed to sweep the soot up. Sweeping should be done with quick flicking motions as you remove the soot onto a newspaper.
Once the bulk of the soot has been removed you should then begin to repair the soot stain that is left. Use a citrus degreasing solvent by applying it directly to the stain allowing it to settle in before blotting the stain off with a dry towel. Repeat the process as necessary until the stain has disappeared.
Once the stain has been removed you can rinse the affected area with cold water and then apply a fan to the wet area so that it dries quickly.
There is another product that may be used to absorb the excess soot and it is known as a soot sponge. Unlike other sponges a soot sponge is designed to be used dry. It has been chemically impregnated with a substance that will capture the soot that comes in contact with it into its pores. To clean the sponge when it gets dirty you simply shave off the outer layer of the sponge until a clean surface is revealed. You may then repeat the cleaning process.
A soot sponge will not work as affectively on carpet as it will on the ceiling or the walls but it is another weapon in the arsenal that will help with any fire damage clean up.
By employing the tips explained above on small to medium sized soot damage on carpet you should be able to effectively remove a soot stain without creating greater problems for yourself. Remember that soot is the kind of substance that creates more problems the more it is disturbed. Although it looks dry it is actually quite oily and this is what makes it so difficult to remove.
Further Soot Removal Information
Dealing With Soot Damage Removal
Soot Removal From Glass
Importance Of A Quick Fire Damage Assessment
Following a fire there are many things that must take place in order to begin the restoration process but one of the important first steps is to get a fast fire damage assessment. In order to minimize further damage, health hazards and the damage caused by smoke and soot residue, having an expert on site to guide you in the early stages is very important.
What a timely fire damage assessment can get for you is the security of the safety of you and your family. Very often the urge is almost overwhelming to enter the fire damaged premises to see if there is anything you can salvage or even just to gauge for yourself how extensive the damage is.
The problem is that the house is at its most unstable immediately following the fire, there will be some smoldering embers lying around and live electrical wires could still be present. The assessment is not the home owners to make and a professional fire assessor will make it their business to keep people away from the damage.
Part of the assessment of the property will include ways in which the home can be secured against unwanted guests. For some reason a burnt out home is a target for looters, lowlifes who think nothing of walking into the property with an aim of taking anything that has survived the fire as if the presence of a fire automatically removes ownership of the belongings.
Soot damage is a real problem after a fire of any size and the sooner the fire assessment has been made, the sooner the restoration can get under way. This is relevant to soot damage because soot can continue to damage whatever it is sitting on and the longer it sits there the more significant the damage becomes. Moving quick over the first few hours can save a lot of permanent furniture damage.
A successful fire damage assessment will not be limited to either only inside the house or outside the house, it should involve all aspects of the property. Before going near the structure a complete examination of the state of the walls, chimneys, surrounding trees should be made and a decision be made on whether it is safe to approach them.
The first action you should be taking in response to a house fire is to get in touch with a fire damage assessment expert to guide you through the stages of the restoration. Getting this part right will ensure that later steps will also be done right and it could also ensure the continued health of you and your family.
What a timely fire damage assessment can get for you is the security of the safety of you and your family. Very often the urge is almost overwhelming to enter the fire damaged premises to see if there is anything you can salvage or even just to gauge for yourself how extensive the damage is.
The problem is that the house is at its most unstable immediately following the fire, there will be some smoldering embers lying around and live electrical wires could still be present. The assessment is not the home owners to make and a professional fire assessor will make it their business to keep people away from the damage.
Part of the assessment of the property will include ways in which the home can be secured against unwanted guests. For some reason a burnt out home is a target for looters, lowlifes who think nothing of walking into the property with an aim of taking anything that has survived the fire as if the presence of a fire automatically removes ownership of the belongings.
Soot damage is a real problem after a fire of any size and the sooner the fire assessment has been made, the sooner the restoration can get under way. This is relevant to soot damage because soot can continue to damage whatever it is sitting on and the longer it sits there the more significant the damage becomes. Moving quick over the first few hours can save a lot of permanent furniture damage.
A successful fire damage assessment will not be limited to either only inside the house or outside the house, it should involve all aspects of the property. Before going near the structure a complete examination of the state of the walls, chimneys, surrounding trees should be made and a decision be made on whether it is safe to approach them.
The first action you should be taking in response to a house fire is to get in touch with a fire damage assessment expert to guide you through the stages of the restoration. Getting this part right will ensure that later steps will also be done right and it could also ensure the continued health of you and your family.
Water Damaged Plaster
After a lot of water exposure to a building, regardless of the source of the water, the building must be dried out thoroughly before any kind of restoration can be done. One of the materials that exist in a lot of building is plaster so it is necessary to be aware of the kind of restoration that is required for water damaged plaster.
The good news if you’ve got plaster walls is that plaster can be dried out much more readily than other common wall surfaces such as sheetrock. Exactly ho much better it dries will depend on the plaster mix that was used when making the wall, the amount of water it has been exposed to and where in the wall the greatest damage has occurred.
If the damage to the plaster has come from clean rainwater it should be possible to save the wall. The first step I s to drain the water from the wall cavity by removing the baseboard and drilling holes in the plaster just above the floor. A word of warning here, use a cordless or battery drill when performing this task.
Remove any wet insulation from within the wall cavity. You want to ensure that the wall cavity has dried thoroughly. To speed up the drying process, open windows and doors to promote good airflow or if that’s not possible bring in fans to circulate the air.
Clean down the walls to remove any water stains and you can consider using a weak solution of Clorox and water to inhibit or remove any early stages of mold growth.
When water damages plaster it causes bubbles in the surface due to the way the lime reacts to the water. This may either be minor damage or it can involve the entire plaster coat that can then crumble away. All of the water damaged plaster should be removed and this can be done with a putty knife or a paint scraper. If the plaster surface has become too hard for the putty knife it may be necessary to use a hammer and chisel to scrape back the hard shell that has formed.
If the wall surface is painted you will have to test it to find out whether it has survived the damage. If it peels off easily when scraped with a putty knife it should be removed back until you reach a point where the paint won’t come off easily.
Once you have scraped back to undamaged plaster you can then prepare the surface and replace the plaster that has been removed with a setting-type joint compound. After refilling the plaster and letting it harden, sand it back until it is smooth and then add another layer of the compound, applying it in a direction that is perpendicular to the way it was applied with the first coat. Repeat the sanding process ensuring that the wall is completely smooth. Clean off the plaster dust and then coat the surface with a primer-sealer before painting over the patched up area.
The good news if you’ve got plaster walls is that plaster can be dried out much more readily than other common wall surfaces such as sheetrock. Exactly ho much better it dries will depend on the plaster mix that was used when making the wall, the amount of water it has been exposed to and where in the wall the greatest damage has occurred.
If the damage to the plaster has come from clean rainwater it should be possible to save the wall. The first step I s to drain the water from the wall cavity by removing the baseboard and drilling holes in the plaster just above the floor. A word of warning here, use a cordless or battery drill when performing this task.
Remove any wet insulation from within the wall cavity. You want to ensure that the wall cavity has dried thoroughly. To speed up the drying process, open windows and doors to promote good airflow or if that’s not possible bring in fans to circulate the air.
Clean down the walls to remove any water stains and you can consider using a weak solution of Clorox and water to inhibit or remove any early stages of mold growth.
When water damages plaster it causes bubbles in the surface due to the way the lime reacts to the water. This may either be minor damage or it can involve the entire plaster coat that can then crumble away. All of the water damaged plaster should be removed and this can be done with a putty knife or a paint scraper. If the plaster surface has become too hard for the putty knife it may be necessary to use a hammer and chisel to scrape back the hard shell that has formed.
If the wall surface is painted you will have to test it to find out whether it has survived the damage. If it peels off easily when scraped with a putty knife it should be removed back until you reach a point where the paint won’t come off easily.
Once you have scraped back to undamaged plaster you can then prepare the surface and replace the plaster that has been removed with a setting-type joint compound. After refilling the plaster and letting it harden, sand it back until it is smooth and then add another layer of the compound, applying it in a direction that is perpendicular to the way it was applied with the first coat. Repeat the sanding process ensuring that the wall is completely smooth. Clean off the plaster dust and then coat the surface with a primer-sealer before painting over the patched up area.
Attic Mold and Attic Ventilation
A common occurrence in a surprisingly high number of attics, particularly in the warmer northern climates, is the growth of mold. A common cause of the problem is inadequate ventilation into the attic and with warm moist air rising through the ceiling and into the roof it can get trapped providing the perfect conditions for mold growth.
You may become aware that you have a problem with attic mold if you have noticed a musty smell throughout the house and could never pinpoint where it came from. It is unlikely that there will be any visual evidence to alert you from the fact. Similarly if you have a constant problem with your air conditioning not seeming to do the job adequately, it could mean that there are problems in the attic.
Attic mold can spread completely through the entire length and breadth of the attic. If the mold that is growing in the attic is black mold then there is a health risk involved in the attic mold removal and it would be best to call in the mold remediation experts. Living under an attic full of mold poses a relatively minor health risk because air flow generally travels up and out rather than down and in.
That being said, it is still advisable to initiate some kind of attic mold treatment to remove it from the rafters, insulation or other parts of the attic affected.
Before attacking the mold in an effort to remove it, it is best to take a sample of it to get it tested so you know exactly what kind of mold you are dealing with. The kind that you want absolutely nothing to do with is black mold which can cause some serious respiratory illnesses. Stachybotrys is the black mold type that you are likely to find on wet or damp cellulose material such as the kind you would find in insulation.
If the mold in the attic is not terribly heavy you may simply choose to leave it alone and simply install attic ventilation instead. Attic ventilation fans or soffit vents will ensure that sufficient air is getting into the attic to dry the area out so that any mold will be killed.
You may be concerned that by installing attic ventilation fans and vents you will be compromising the effectiveness of your insulation. In fact, the fans and vents are a necessary part of the cooling and warming process of keeping the temperature in your house controlled. Attic fans will cool hot attics by drawing cooler outside air into the attic through the vents and will also push the hot air out.
Heavy mold infestation should be cleaned completely and the safest way to do this is by calling in mold remediation specialists. It is unlikely that you will find someone who only specializes in attic mold remediation and the best place to look for someone to do the job is to find a fire and water damage restoration professional.
For further reading on mold damage and remediation :
Cleaning Mold From The Ceiling
Mold Detection and Treatment of Clothes
Prevent Mold From Taking Hold In the Home
Restoring the Home From Mold Damage
Repair Mold Damage In Books
You may become aware that you have a problem with attic mold if you have noticed a musty smell throughout the house and could never pinpoint where it came from. It is unlikely that there will be any visual evidence to alert you from the fact. Similarly if you have a constant problem with your air conditioning not seeming to do the job adequately, it could mean that there are problems in the attic.
Attic mold can spread completely through the entire length and breadth of the attic. If the mold that is growing in the attic is black mold then there is a health risk involved in the attic mold removal and it would be best to call in the mold remediation experts. Living under an attic full of mold poses a relatively minor health risk because air flow generally travels up and out rather than down and in.
That being said, it is still advisable to initiate some kind of attic mold treatment to remove it from the rafters, insulation or other parts of the attic affected.
Before attacking the mold in an effort to remove it, it is best to take a sample of it to get it tested so you know exactly what kind of mold you are dealing with. The kind that you want absolutely nothing to do with is black mold which can cause some serious respiratory illnesses. Stachybotrys is the black mold type that you are likely to find on wet or damp cellulose material such as the kind you would find in insulation.
If the mold in the attic is not terribly heavy you may simply choose to leave it alone and simply install attic ventilation instead. Attic ventilation fans or soffit vents will ensure that sufficient air is getting into the attic to dry the area out so that any mold will be killed.
You may be concerned that by installing attic ventilation fans and vents you will be compromising the effectiveness of your insulation. In fact, the fans and vents are a necessary part of the cooling and warming process of keeping the temperature in your house controlled. Attic fans will cool hot attics by drawing cooler outside air into the attic through the vents and will also push the hot air out.
Heavy mold infestation should be cleaned completely and the safest way to do this is by calling in mold remediation specialists. It is unlikely that you will find someone who only specializes in attic mold remediation and the best place to look for someone to do the job is to find a fire and water damage restoration professional.
For further reading on mold damage and remediation :
Cleaning Mold From The Ceiling
Mold Detection and Treatment of Clothes
Prevent Mold From Taking Hold In the Home
Restoring the Home From Mold Damage
Repair Mold Damage In Books
Soot Removal From Glass
Following a fire the soot damage throughout the house might be extensive and there are specialist cleaning methods required depending on the surface that the soot has damaged. The following products and tips should give you the basics required to perform an extensive soot removal from glass surfaces. This soot removal is one of the more pressing tasks required when starting a fire damage clean up operation.
Soot is made up of microscopic particles of carbon and will find its way into the smallest of cracks and fissures in the surface. Glass is one of the few surfaces that you should attempt to clean it yourself.
There is more than a fair share of glass throughout any home and soot will cling stubbornly to whatever has been exposed during the fire. The good news is that there are quite a few products that have been specially developed to shift soot and many of them are available for people who own fireplaces. They can be found from any fireplace or barbecue retailer.
Some of the products that are available to clean soot from glass surfaces include: Anti-Creo-Soot, Speedy-White Multi Purpose Cleaner, White-Off Glass Cleaner, Heatsafe Glass Cleaner.
These products are all made to clean the soot off of fireplace glass surfaces and they work by attacking the fine soot particles. Most of the spray-on cleaners can be applied directly to the soot and then left to work for the next 10 to 15 minutes. Once the spray has been allowed to work its way into the soot particles it can be washed off.
Another cheaper alternative that can work effectively is to take some sheets of newspaper, wet them and then dip the paper in ashes and scrub using the screwed up paper as a rag.
Where soot damage should not be touched when it lies on other surfaces it can be cleaned with a multi purpose cleaner without the risk of creating further damage. Once the cleaner has done its work the residue must be cleaned off completely. These types of cleaners are appropriate for cleaning cold surfaces. When the surface heats up again the soot stains may become apparent again if they haven’t been properly rinsed off.
The build up of creosote on glass surfaces may require multiple applications of a cleaning product to completely rid the glass of the stain. Repeated treatments will eventually break through the soot crust.
You don’t always have to clean soot using a liquid cleaner and a rag. If the soot is thick and difficult to move it may be necessary to take a razor blade and use it to scrape the soot off the glass. As long as the blade is kept at a flat angle to the glass you will avoid scratching the surface. You may not be able to remove the entire soot coating, but it will remove the larger proportion of soot and the rest can be cleaned off with another method such as regular soap and water or one of the soot removal cleaners mentioned above.
Soot is made up of microscopic particles of carbon and will find its way into the smallest of cracks and fissures in the surface. Glass is one of the few surfaces that you should attempt to clean it yourself.
There is more than a fair share of glass throughout any home and soot will cling stubbornly to whatever has been exposed during the fire. The good news is that there are quite a few products that have been specially developed to shift soot and many of them are available for people who own fireplaces. They can be found from any fireplace or barbecue retailer.
Some of the products that are available to clean soot from glass surfaces include: Anti-Creo-Soot, Speedy-White Multi Purpose Cleaner, White-Off Glass Cleaner, Heatsafe Glass Cleaner.
These products are all made to clean the soot off of fireplace glass surfaces and they work by attacking the fine soot particles. Most of the spray-on cleaners can be applied directly to the soot and then left to work for the next 10 to 15 minutes. Once the spray has been allowed to work its way into the soot particles it can be washed off.
Another cheaper alternative that can work effectively is to take some sheets of newspaper, wet them and then dip the paper in ashes and scrub using the screwed up paper as a rag.
Where soot damage should not be touched when it lies on other surfaces it can be cleaned with a multi purpose cleaner without the risk of creating further damage. Once the cleaner has done its work the residue must be cleaned off completely. These types of cleaners are appropriate for cleaning cold surfaces. When the surface heats up again the soot stains may become apparent again if they haven’t been properly rinsed off.
The build up of creosote on glass surfaces may require multiple applications of a cleaning product to completely rid the glass of the stain. Repeated treatments will eventually break through the soot crust.
You don’t always have to clean soot using a liquid cleaner and a rag. If the soot is thick and difficult to move it may be necessary to take a razor blade and use it to scrape the soot off the glass. As long as the blade is kept at a flat angle to the glass you will avoid scratching the surface. You may not be able to remove the entire soot coating, but it will remove the larger proportion of soot and the rest can be cleaned off with another method such as regular soap and water or one of the soot removal cleaners mentioned above.
After The Fire: Seal Fire Damaged Wood
Following a fire there is a lingering odor that serves as a constant reminder of the disaster. It is an unpleasant smell that sits in every pore of the hard surfaces of the house. A complete fire restoration operation can only remove a certain amount of the smoke and soot odor but there is inevitably a residual smell remaining.
Paint products are available for the walls that will seal fire damaged wood that has maintained a strong odor even after the most rigorous treatment. These products are sealers and primers that contain the smell and also covers stains too.
A fast dry alkyd is an oil based sealer that can be used as part of a fire damage restoration. It is an oil-based product that can be applied using a roller or sprayer. It is an inexpensive option but it comes with a few problems such as its smell which, while it replaces the smell of the smoke, can be unpleasant in its own right. It also isn’t particularly effective and can require multiple coats before the smoke odor is removed.
Another option when looking to seal fire damaged wood is to use shellac which is an alcohol-based resin product and comes in either a clear or pigmented version. It can be brushed on or applied with a roller and, through the small particle size of the grains within the liquid, gives good coverage that effectively seals the odors. Once it dries the odor of the shellac dissipates quickly leaving it virtually odorless. This is the more expensive option but it will give you a better result and the application time will be shorter.
Before you use a product like shellac you should first prime it with an oil-based primer. Following that you can use the shellac to seal in the smoke odor.
This type of treatment should only be considered for fire damage that is not of a significant nature. If there is structural damage to the wood surfaces after a fire a fire restoration expert will be able to help you with advice on whether or not the surface can be saved or whether it should be replaced.
The primary aim of the work done following the fire is to make the building safe again, then it must be fit for human habitation. All safety aspects should be followed and that includes the dangers of introducing new chemicals and their accompanying smells. When performing a fire damage restoration, you want to be sure that you are improving the situation and not introducing new and unexpected dangers.
Paint products are available for the walls that will seal fire damaged wood that has maintained a strong odor even after the most rigorous treatment. These products are sealers and primers that contain the smell and also covers stains too.
A fast dry alkyd is an oil based sealer that can be used as part of a fire damage restoration. It is an oil-based product that can be applied using a roller or sprayer. It is an inexpensive option but it comes with a few problems such as its smell which, while it replaces the smell of the smoke, can be unpleasant in its own right. It also isn’t particularly effective and can require multiple coats before the smoke odor is removed.
Another option when looking to seal fire damaged wood is to use shellac which is an alcohol-based resin product and comes in either a clear or pigmented version. It can be brushed on or applied with a roller and, through the small particle size of the grains within the liquid, gives good coverage that effectively seals the odors. Once it dries the odor of the shellac dissipates quickly leaving it virtually odorless. This is the more expensive option but it will give you a better result and the application time will be shorter.
Before you use a product like shellac you should first prime it with an oil-based primer. Following that you can use the shellac to seal in the smoke odor.
This type of treatment should only be considered for fire damage that is not of a significant nature. If there is structural damage to the wood surfaces after a fire a fire restoration expert will be able to help you with advice on whether or not the surface can be saved or whether it should be replaced.
The primary aim of the work done following the fire is to make the building safe again, then it must be fit for human habitation. All safety aspects should be followed and that includes the dangers of introducing new chemicals and their accompanying smells. When performing a fire damage restoration, you want to be sure that you are improving the situation and not introducing new and unexpected dangers.
Prevent Damage With Passive Fire Protection
We don’t spend our days obsessing over the worry that out house may somehow fall victim to a fire, or at least, we shouldn’t. There are some basic steps that you can take to minimize the chances that it will ever happen to us by making structural changes and additions to the house. This type of action is known as passive fire protection and it concerns the materials used to build the house, coatings that can be added to the walls, beams and pipes and compartments that the house may be broken into to retard a fire’s progress.
As opposed to active fire protection which involves sprinklers, fire alarms and fire extinguishers, passive fire protection is actually always at work to stop or retard a fire. It is in the way the building is built and the materials that are used to build it.
Passive fire protection can be broken down to four key areas:
As opposed to active fire protection which involves sprinklers, fire alarms and fire extinguishers, passive fire protection is actually always at work to stop or retard a fire. It is in the way the building is built and the materials that are used to build it.
Passive fire protection can be broken down to four key areas:
- Structural fire protection which guards the essential parts of the building should a fire break out. Supporting beams, walls and ceilings are all coated with insulation.
- Compartmentalization involves ensuring that the fire can be contained to a single area of the building by use of fire barriers such as fire-rated walls, floors and ceilings.
- Opening protection by installing fire doors and windows and surrounding them with fire resistant frames so that they won’t be distorted in a fire.
The aim of passive fire protection is to contain a fire in the same part of the building as it starts, 
limiting the damage it will do to other rooms. Measures such as coating the walls, ceilings or subflooring with materials that will slow that spread of a fire are commonly seen in buildings for this purpose.
It is extremely common to see thick layers of vermiculite coating on the walls and ceilings of the basements of public buildings. This is not a particularly attractive look which is why it is placed in parts of the building that isn’t populated by frequent traffic. But the fire retardant qualities are particularly valuable.
A more acceptable looking method of protecting against a fire is a coating of intumescent paint used on the internal supporting beams. In addition to this you will find fire resistant materials covering pipes or other steel surfaces.
Passive fire protection doesn’t only refer to how the building is insulated or otherwise protected, it also refers to the fire doors and fire walls. Fire resistance rated walls are designed to sub-divide the building and contain a fire for a set period of time.
Part of a building’s passive fire protection involves the ease and means of allowing the occupants to escape. There must be the ability to close doors to protect oneself from a fire in another part of the building and then, in so doing, be able to escape out of a different exit route.
Fireproof cladding is one of the essential materials that make up a firewall and it can be made from such products as vermiculite, perlite, gypsum, intumescent epoxy, calcium silicate, MicroTherm or DuroSteel.
The greater the level of protection that is built into your building, the lower the risk of fire damage. Passive fire protection will also mean that your own personal safety will be assured.
Prevent Water Damage With A Water Leak Detection System
Just as important as repairing a water damaged house after a flood or other type of water damage is taking steps to prevent the damage in the first place. One of the sources of a high proportion of cases of water damage comes from water pipes that have failed. It is possible to detect and prevent water damage from occurring.
It’s possible that a burst water pipe can go undetected for a long time, leaking hundreds of gallons of water and flooding the floor of the home. An automatic shutoff valve will prevent untold water damage due to a failure in the plumbing. By automatically cutting off the water flow when a leak is detected they can prevent flooding.
You can get two types of water leak detection devices. The first is one that you install near the source of the water to the entire house at the service valve. The second is a water leak detector that is installed on the line directly to the appliance.
In both cases the device uses a sensor to detect the presence of a leak. The sensors can be an integral component of the plumbing that can be either wired in to the shutoff valve directly or via a wireless connection. The sensor might be placed on the ground near the base of the appliance where it is most likely a leak will occur. One of these devices can be used to prevent damage from a water heater leak.
Water leak detection systems are available that have two vastly different reactions after a leak is detected. The first is what might be termed an active leak detector and the second as a passive leak detector.
The active leak detector will activate a shut off valve that will immediately turn the water off to ensure the leak is stopped. The passive leak detector will simply sound an alarm to alert you to the fact that a leak has been found. The passive leak detector loses its effectiveness if no-one is home to hear the alarm, meanwhile the water will continue to flow onto the floor of your house.
The leak, if and when it comes, is not necessarily going to play nice and occur out in the open where you can easily spot it and have the access to stop it immediately. Water pipes are also laid underground and are prone to corroding and failing, spilling water straight into the earth and potentially washing away the soil making the ground particularly unstable. You can get a water leak detector that can listen for the distinctive sound of water escaping from a pipe under pressure.
The ideal situation is to have your water leak detector installed on the main water supply line with sensors mounted at all of the vulnerable points where a leak is likely to occur.
The benefits that you will get from installing a water leak detection system is that the risk of water damage to the house is greatly reduced, you may be eligible for a reduction on your insurance premiums and you will have the peace of mind in knowing that your home and valuables are protected.
It’s possible that a burst water pipe can go undetected for a long time, leaking hundreds of gallons of water and flooding the floor of the home. An automatic shutoff valve will prevent untold water damage due to a failure in the plumbing. By automatically cutting off the water flow when a leak is detected they can prevent flooding.
You can get two types of water leak detection devices. The first is one that you install near the source of the water to the entire house at the service valve. The second is a water leak detector that is installed on the line directly to the appliance.
In both cases the device uses a sensor to detect the presence of a leak. The sensors can be an integral component of the plumbing that can be either wired in to the shutoff valve directly or via a wireless connection. The sensor might be placed on the ground near the base of the appliance where it is most likely a leak will occur. One of these devices can be used to prevent damage from a water heater leak.
Water leak detection systems are available that have two vastly different reactions after a leak is detected. The first is what might be termed an active leak detector and the second as a passive leak detector.
The active leak detector will activate a shut off valve that will immediately turn the water off to ensure the leak is stopped. The passive leak detector will simply sound an alarm to alert you to the fact that a leak has been found. The passive leak detector loses its effectiveness if no-one is home to hear the alarm, meanwhile the water will continue to flow onto the floor of your house.
The leak, if and when it comes, is not necessarily going to play nice and occur out in the open where you can easily spot it and have the access to stop it immediately. Water pipes are also laid underground and are prone to corroding and failing, spilling water straight into the earth and potentially washing away the soil making the ground particularly unstable. You can get a water leak detector that can listen for the distinctive sound of water escaping from a pipe under pressure.
The ideal situation is to have your water leak detector installed on the main water supply line with sensors mounted at all of the vulnerable points where a leak is likely to occur.
The benefits that you will get from installing a water leak detection system is that the risk of water damage to the house is greatly reduced, you may be eligible for a reduction on your insurance premiums and you will have the peace of mind in knowing that your home and valuables are protected.
Water Damage From Water Heater Leaks
It is usually pretty obvious that the water heater has started to leak, although this will only be the case if your water heater is in a spot that you see on a regular basis. If the water heater is under the house in a basement that is rarely visited, then the water that has started to pool on the floor under the heater will remain unnoticed until other factors come into play.
Unfortunately, these factors may include a higher than expected water bill, a higher than expected electricity bill or an unexpected cold shower when the hot water runs out. There may be other indicators that the water heater has started to leak such as a constant damp feeling in the air or the growth of mold.
The leak in the water heater may have come about due to corrosion, in which case it will be necessary to replace the water heater, or it could be because of a failure in the water lines. If it is the latter problem, then it may be possible that you can repair the leak yourself. If you are going to avoid any further water damage the water heater is going to have to be repaired one way or the other.
As a means of avoiding significant water damage from a failed water heater that may begin leaking, you can place a drip pan underneath the unit. This is a preventative measure that is not expected to provide a long term solution should the water heater actually start to leak. The drip pan would merely prevent or minimize water damage to the floor until the proper repair work can be carried out. Make sure the drip pan has a drain that can be connected to a waste line so that it can channel the water out of the building.
A water heater leak can cause all sorts of water damage to the home, but even though the thought of possible mold, mildew or subfloor damage may sound like it’s a nightmare there is even greater damage that can be caused. An improperly installed water heater can result in toxic fumes being emitted or can be the cause of a house fire.
One of the simple steps you can take from time to time is to empty a bucket of water from the water heater though the release valve. This will help to rid the water heater of sediment build up which can contribute to corrosion of the unit.
Another step you can take that will also help to prevent major water damage in the house is to install an automatic shut of valve (ASOV), also known as a water leak detection system, to the water heater. The ASOV uses a water sensor that is linked to a water-controlling valve that is mounted on the heater’s cold water supply. When a leak is detected the ASOV stops the flow of water into the heater preventing the slow leak that can become a major water damage problem.
Water is one of the most damaging elements to property, responsible for more damage to properties each year than fire. The best way to avoid adding your property to the list due to a failed water heater is to take preventative measures. Assuming that there will be a water heater leak one day will prepare for a quick clean up job when it happens.
More articles about water damage prevention and restoration.
Hardwood Water Damage
Ceiling Water Damage Repair
Flood Restoration Tasks
Basement Water Damage
Unfortunately, these factors may include a higher than expected water bill, a higher than expected electricity bill or an unexpected cold shower when the hot water runs out. There may be other indicators that the water heater has started to leak such as a constant damp feeling in the air or the growth of mold.
The leak in the water heater may have come about due to corrosion, in which case it will be necessary to replace the water heater, or it could be because of a failure in the water lines. If it is the latter problem, then it may be possible that you can repair the leak yourself. If you are going to avoid any further water damage the water heater is going to have to be repaired one way or the other.
As a means of avoiding significant water damage from a failed water heater that may begin leaking, you can place a drip pan underneath the unit. This is a preventative measure that is not expected to provide a long term solution should the water heater actually start to leak. The drip pan would merely prevent or minimize water damage to the floor until the proper repair work can be carried out. Make sure the drip pan has a drain that can be connected to a waste line so that it can channel the water out of the building.
A water heater leak can cause all sorts of water damage to the home, but even though the thought of possible mold, mildew or subfloor damage may sound like it’s a nightmare there is even greater damage that can be caused. An improperly installed water heater can result in toxic fumes being emitted or can be the cause of a house fire.
One of the simple steps you can take from time to time is to empty a bucket of water from the water heater though the release valve. This will help to rid the water heater of sediment build up which can contribute to corrosion of the unit.
Another step you can take that will also help to prevent major water damage in the house is to install an automatic shut of valve (ASOV), also known as a water leak detection system, to the water heater. The ASOV uses a water sensor that is linked to a water-controlling valve that is mounted on the heater’s cold water supply. When a leak is detected the ASOV stops the flow of water into the heater preventing the slow leak that can become a major water damage problem.
Water is one of the most damaging elements to property, responsible for more damage to properties each year than fire. The best way to avoid adding your property to the list due to a failed water heater is to take preventative measures. Assuming that there will be a water heater leak one day will prepare for a quick clean up job when it happens.
More articles about water damage prevention and restoration.
Hardwood Water Damage
Ceiling Water Damage Repair
Flood Restoration Tasks
Basement Water Damage
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