How To Choose The Right Extinguisher

5/15/2024 (Permalink)

Keeping a fire extinguisher in your home can save you and your property from a small fire. However, there is a wide selection of fire extinguishers to choose from and they are all intended to be used for different fires. 

Extinguisher Classes

Each class of extinguisher fights a different type of fire:

Class A: Wood, paper and trash
Class B: Grease, oil-based liquids and gasoline
Class C: Electrical equipment
Class D: Flammable metals
Class K: Animal and vegetable oils used in cooking

Household extinguishers are rated A, B or C. On the label, the numbers that precede the letters give the rating of the extinguisher's effectiveness against that type of fire. An extinguisher with a 4-B rating, for example, is more effective against a grease fire than one rated 2-B. Higher effectiveness usually means a higher-priced extinguisher. There is no number designation for Class C.

Extinguisher Sizes
You can choose your extinguisher size based on where you will use it. A 5-pound extinguisher is suited for a typical home fire and is easy to pick up and use. A 10-pound fire extinguisher is a good choice for the garage, where a fire may grow before you see it. You can also find stove-top extinguishers that mount above the range.

Best Extinguisher Locations
Safety experts recommend you keep an extinguisher on each floor of your home for maximum fire preparedness. The kitchen is an ideal place because of the enhanced risk of fire in that room. Keep the extinguisher where household members can reach it quickly and easily. The best location is near an exit if the fire gets out of control and you must evacuate.

Equipping your home with the right fire extinguisher can save your home and your family. It is better to be safe than sorry.

The 3 Signs of Mold

5/15/2024 (Permalink)

Mold is a type of fungus that develops from tiny spores that float around in the air, both indoors and outdoors. Mold is often found in humid or moist places, and if allowed to grow unchecked, it can present issues for a building. With that in mind, we offer this quick list to help you identify mold is growing in your building:

1) Musty Odor

Even if you cannot see mold, it can be in your home or business. A very common indicator of the fungus is its smell. When mold grows in an area of your building, you will notice a pungent and musty smell. Take action immediately when you notice the odor. Mold overgrowth can cost you a great deal of money and even your health. You may not be aware of the full extent of the problem until professionals check in between walls and under floors.

2) The Appearance of Mold

Mold may look like cotton, granules, or leather. It can appear in various colors like white, green, gray, black, brown, or yellow. Unfortunately, many people ignore small mold and mistake it for soot or ordinary dirt. Take immediate action when you see tiny discolored and fuzzy growth on furnishings or the surface of building materials.

3) Water Leaks

If you notice water leaks from ceiling pipes, water stains, or standing water, mold might become an issue. Water leaks cause moisture, and that provides an excellent growing place for mold. Check for discoloration or watermarks on carpets, walls, and other materials for hidden mold.

Any business or home can face a fungus fiasco. If you suspect that you have a mold problem, SERVPRO® can inspect the property. Mold remediation is one of our specialties and we can eliminate the issue safely. We also invest in state-of-the-art equipment and continuous training that ensures your home or business is quickly and efficiently restored.

Give us a call today!

Effective Water Damage Restoration for Durham Properties

8/19/2023 (Permalink)

Rely on SERVPRO teams to remove and mitigate the water damage to your Durham property. We are Here to Help® 24/7

SERVPRO® Mitigation and Restoration Solutions

Many first discover Durham by attending its beautiful institutions. The most notable of these is Duke University. As part of the famed Research Triangle, Duke University makes up a collection of renowned schools that promote a shared collective of knowledge to better research, development, and production of scientific advancement. The area is also home to North Carolina Central University, and while not as prominent as Duke, it still provides education to thousands every semester.

Water damage restoration for Durham properties requires experience and fast response. Because many places throughout the city are quickly accessible, our central location is vital. We can reach properties throughout Durham County, though a majority of our need is with the more than 280,000 residents of the 4th most populated city in North Carolina. We even have Large Loss solutions for structures like Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Durham Performing Arts Center, and the Duke University Hospital. 

Efficient Water Cleanup Approaches

• Water Removal – It is crucial to quickly manage standing water concerns before absorption threatens more building materials exposed.
• Moisture Management – Managing moisture, primarily in areas like porous building materials or humidity in the environment, combines many tools in our inventory.
• Water Damage Repairs – Repairs can include initial steps like controlled demolition, plumbing replacement, and more intricate build-back services later.

While you step out of the way for our experienced team to begin water cleanup, take some time to take in the sights you might not always get to appreciate in Durham. Walk around the UNC-Chapel Hill campus and shop and dine at its unique boutiques and small business offerings. Whether you are taking a show at the Carolina Theatre or seeing the exhibits at the Museum of Life and Science, you know your home is in good hands with SERVPRO of North Durham. Call us at (919) 467-0880.

How We Help with Water Damage Repairs in Durham Properties

5/26/2023 (Permalink)

When you are faced with water damage in North Durham call SERVPRO. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Post-Water Damage Repairs Vary from Site to Site

Repairs and water damage in Durham, unfortunately, often go hand-in-hand. With so many business headquarters and high-rise skyscrapers making up the Durham skyline, we must be prepared for water damage recovery and build-back services that vary considerably from one site to the next. Having experienced contractors means we save time navigating North Carolina’s fourth most populous city and helping its nearly 300,000 residents recover.

Durham is most known for being the hometown of Duke University. Thousands call this campus home, and because of large, related structures like the Cameron Indoor Stadium, where the Blue Devils play basketball, to the Duke University Hospital, SERVPRO professionals must prepare for damage of all sizes. In addition, our central location allows us to quickly maneuver through Durham to sites like the Museum of Life and Science or the Carolina Theatre, but also help with homes and businesses throughout the Research Triangle and all of Durham County.

Where Are Water Damage Repairs Needed? 

Assessing your need for water damage repair must happen as soon as SERVPRO professionals begin work on a structure. For example, locations like the Nasher Museum of Art will require more concentrated and careful build-back and repairs to not entirely close the facility. High-rise headquarters also require special treatment from our Large Loss teams, such as the structures for Counter Culture Coffee, Burt’s Bees, and Southern Express. We recognize the needs of our customers to provide them with the best possible service.

• Damaged wall systems
• Sagging ceiling assemblies
• Ruined carpet
• Warped and cupping hardwood floors

Repairs are a vital part of restoring homes after water damage. As challenging as cleanup and recovery can be, proper repairs protect the property and return the residence to preloss condition. From restoration to water damage repairs, trust SERVPRO of North Durham. Call today at (919) 467-0880.

Facilities That Complement Fire Damage Restoration in Durham

5/10/2023 (Permalink)

Seek professional assistance from SERVPRO to address repairs to you fire damaged property. Call us today!

Where to Take Care of Your Welfare During Durham Fire Restoration  

Accessing the things you need as you facilitate fire damage restoration at your property can be challenging. Seeking assistance from SERVPRO addresses the things needed to repair your Durham property. You can broadly categorize those needs into what you require to complete the repairs and those that cater to your well-being.

For your welfare during and after fire damage restoration at your Durham home, you can rely on other businesses and institutions domiciled in this area of North Carolina, known for its scholarly and technological institutions.

Finding a way to relax after a loss incident is a good idea, especially when professionals work hard to resolve your problems. Within Durham, some ways to relax include teeing off at the Hillandale Golf Course or testing your resilience rock climbing at the Triangle Rock Club. You can also spend time outdoors without choosing a specific activity at Twin Lakes Park, Piney Wood Park, or West Point on The Eno Park.

Accommodation Amenities in Durham

Even when the fire damage does not burn all the rooms, you might still need to evacuate your home until it is fully restored. You don't have to go far since the Durham area offers several quality accommodation facilities with different amenities to suit your every need. Some notable establishments to check include:

• Millennium Hotel Durham
• Hilton Garden Inn
• 21c Museum Hotel 
• DoubleTree Suites 
• Rizzo Center

You may need several supplies in the aftermath of the fire incident. Luckily the Durham area is well-served by several national stores like Target on Renaissance Parkway, Lowe's on Fayetteville Road and William Penn Plaza, The Home Depot on Mt Moriah Road, and Walmart Supercenter. 

When SERVPRO of North Durham handles fire damage restoration, the process runs conveniently, allowing you to take care of other issues - call (919) 467-0880 for timely assistance.

Storm Water Damage Repair in Durham Requires SERVPRO’s Help

5/7/2023 (Permalink)

Regardless of the severity of the storm and remaining storm damage, you can rest assured that SERVPRO can help. Contact us 24/7 after an event.

What to Expect from Storm Water Damage Repair in Durham

A storm and the accompanying rain, wind, and hail can transform your home from a haven to a disaster area. Thankfully, professional restorers can quickly repair the destruction and restore everything to normal. Knowing what to expect from expert restorers can make you feel less anxious about cleanup efforts.

No matter the severity of the storm damage in your home, SERVPRO can assist you in tackling it. We have decades of experience in performing stormwater damage repair in Durham. Our restorers can review the storm damage situation and decide which actions to take. These actions may include:

• Preventing the spreading of floodwater.
• Removing contents at risk for damage, like electronics.
• Sealing off flooded areas. 

One of the initial steps our SERVPRO remediation technicians can take is to drain the stormwater. The water may have mud, sand, and other debris. The self-priming trash pump is ideal for removing such water. The pump provides easy access to the pump body if it becomes clogged. Small self-priming trash pumps are portable and can move 10,000 to 60,000 gallons of water per hour using a 1 to 4-inch hose.

Drying is the other vital step in stormwater damage restoration. We seek to achieve balanced drying, the ideal situation where the evaporation rate is slightly less than or equal to the rate of ventilation or dehumidification. We can set up air movers and dehumidification equipment to speed up drying.

Our SERVPRO team can also make flood cuts in the affected rooms. We make the cuts into the wall about one foot above the water line to determine if interior walls have taken water and if insulation and wiring have sustained damage. We can also make flood cuts several days after the disaster to look for mold infestation. We can replace the drywall and insulation if our technicians discover mold behind the walls.

Even after removing the stormwater and drying your property, unpleasant odors can linger. Our SERVPRO team can use different odor-removal techniques to deal with malodors. 

Contact SERVPRO of North Durham for stormwater damage restoration services. Our helpline is (919) 467-0880. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster. 

Handy Services Durham Professionals Can Offer After Fire Damage

3/28/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has experienced technicians with the equipment and expertise your Durham home needs after fire damage. Give us a call right away.

Full-Scale SERVPRO Services Ease Durham Fire Mitigation

Fire damage is easily identifiable because of the blackened or charred surfaces left in the affected areas. Some materials also deteriorate entirely, leaving only fine ash as residue. Cleaning and replacing materials resolves most of the issues. However, some of the problems in your Durham home go beyond the scope of simple cleanup and replacement. To address these cases, you need assistance from a resourceful service provider.

An incident that leaves your Durham home with fire damage can involve various dynamics, including personal injuries as people escape the burning house or fatalities in extreme cases. Unexpected spreading of residues precipitated by house utilities such as the HVAC is also a likely problem and severe microbial growth when moisture from firefighting accumulates in hidden sections of the structure.

Extra services for fire restoration may require:

• Bioremediation
• Duct cleaning
• Mold remediation
• Reconstruction

Since SERVPRO fire restoration technicians have access to various personal protective equipment (PPE), we can readily respond to any task involving hazardous materials before resolving regular fire damage.

Some processes may be necessary to finalize fire restoration to preloss conditions. Cleaning air ducts is one of the required finishing actions. If left unaddressed, they can redistribute residues back into the house later, causing physical soiling or affecting the indoor air quality. Another issue that might affect indoor air quality is mold if the moisture used in quelling the fire is not adequately dried off. These two problems do not always occur, so our SERVPRO technicians first inspect your property thoroughly before deciding whether to resolve those issues.

Easing the Challenges of Fire Restoration

Cleaning up the air ducts or other sections of the HVAC system is a challenging task. It is necessary to section off and place the return and supply lines in a negative air pressure system. Our SERVPRO technicians use a vacuum to extract the residues. We also use rotary brushes to help dislodge any stubborn soils. Some duct sections may be challenging to reach for a thorough cleanup, and the best solution for such areas is to seal the surfaces using an appropriate compound. Our technicians use a ULV fogger to mist the sealing agent ensuring a uniform coat.

Regular structural materials can also pose challenges, especially when the exposure to heat and flames is significant. For example, charring that compromises the integrity of structural support material or surface panels necessitates replacements. Tearing down entire sections or rooms to remove the deteriorated materials can push the costs beyond acceptable levels. Our SERVPRO technicians can facilitate controlled demolition so that you can replace only the deteriorated materials. We can also help find and supervise local tradesmen to facilitate necessary reconstruction.

Stubborn odors can stretch your home’s recovery from fire longer than you expect. Contrary to what you might believe, odors are not just in the air or on the surface of materials. They can emanate from volatile molecules deeply embedded in materials. The odor molecules constantly escape into the air, thus replenishing the bad smells you experience. Therefore, you need a deodorization approach to neutralize all odor molecules and penetrate deep into materials to reach all sources.

Potent deodorization methods:

• Dry fogging
• Photocatalytic oxidation
• Ozone exposure

SERVPRO of North Durham responds fast and with the right resources to address fire damage “Like it never even happened.”

Reasons Durham Homes Require Professional Mold Damage Remediation

3/28/2023 (Permalink)

Found or smell mold? Our SERVPRO team in Durham can root out the cause and remediate the mold damage on your property.

SERVPRO Conveniently Resolves Durham Mold Damage Issues

On discovering mold contamination, it may seem like a benign problem. The signs that alert you of trouble in your Durham home can be a mild musty smell or slight discoloration and bubbling of surface finishes. Therefore, a DIY approach to resolving the mold damage may seem appropriate since it does not seem like much work. You might also want to save costs by doing things yourself, especially when you think the problem might recur. However, several reasons necessitate a professional intervention.

From a casual look at your Durham home, severe mold damage might seem trivial because the bulk of the contamination is hidden out of sight in wall cavities, ceiling spaces, or behind fixtures such as sinks and bathtubs. The true extent of the burden you face is only revealed after opening up the concealment. A professional like SERVPRO has excellent inspection resources, so it is easier to confirm whether the problem is superficial without opening up concealed areas.

Tools for non-invasive mold inspection:

• Thermal cameras
• Borescopes
• Inspection cameras

Even when the extent of mold contamination is not hidden, decision-making can still be a challenge. However, if you consider the superior actions a professional team can take, you can change your outlook. For example, you may not know how to clear heavy mold residues from unfinished structural supports such as trusses or surfaces in an area like the attic. A professional team like SERVPRO can readily tackle such a challenging task through blast cleaning. Superior resources help throughout every stage of the remediation.

Mold restoration stages:

• Establishing containment
• Removing contamination
• Cleaning settled materials
• Drying and deodorization

Various types of containment are necessary for a mold damaged property. You probably know about installing plastic sheeting to cover large openings such as doors and hallways. Professionals like SERVPRO do a comprehensive containment by sealing HVAC vents and creating separate containment sections such as decontamination areas and clean rooms. Containment also involves setting up equipment to establish negative air pressure.

Removing Unwanted Materials

Microbial growth processes contribute to unwanted materials in many ways. The mass of colonies left on surfaces is one such category, while the deterioration of organic materials in contents and structural areas is another category. Procedural removal is necessary to present spreading soiling or exposure to hazardous materials. Our SERVPRO crews clean surfaces from top to bottom to rid them of settled spores. We also consider airflow direction, especially when setting a negative air pressure system.

Removing heavily contaminated materials deemed unsalvageable may also be necessary. Our crews remove porous materials such as drywall, insulation, and carpeting since mold hyphae penetrate them. We also inspect solid semi-porous materials like structural wood to determine the level of deterioration. Removal is necessary when rotting compromises the structural integrity of such materials.

Mold remediation is not over without doing some finishing touches. Drying and deodorization are the main finishing processes necessary. Unlike other property damage, mold limits your choices during the finishing stage. For instance, misting water-based deodorizers in the property can be counterproductive since moisture promotes mold growth. Regular drying involving air movers to boost evaporation can also spread residues. A professional restoration team has access to superior equipment such as hydroxyl generators for deodorization and desiccant dehumidifiers for drying.

SERVPRO of North Durham offers convenient services to eliminate worries about managing mold damage. Call us at (919) 467-0880 when you need assistance. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Advanced Processes Durham Homes Need for Water Damage Cleanup

3/28/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO teams are ready to assist with water damage situations in your Durham home day or night. Give us a call right away.

SERVPRO Has Products to Ease Durham Water Restoration

Deep soiling is one likely outcome of water damage in a home. Such soiling develops because of residues dissolved in the intruding water or from compounds released when materials deteriorate from the moisture exposure. For example, if a pipe bursts in the ceiling, any dust accumulating in the ceiling cavity is swept down, soiling the contents in areas where the water leaks. A sound strategy would help clean up and restore your Durham home to its preloss state.

When handling Durham water damage cases, one of the main determinants of the outcome is the type of cleaning actions applied. A professional team like SERVPRO carefully controls the cleaning process by picking and combining different products to tackle specific cleaning challenges.

Different categories of cleaning products

• Bleaching agents
• Chelating agents
• Buffered cleaning products
• Foam modifiers

Bleaches are among the most used and readily available cleaning agents since they help clear stains. Bleaching action varies, so the choice of an agent must match the source of staining. Otherwise, it can worsen the situation. Bleach can work through oxidation since the addition of oxygen breaks down soils. It can also be a reducing agent that counteracts previous blemishes from oxidation. Therefore understanding which action is necessary to deal with blemishes or stains ensures the right choice of a bleaching product rather than simply going by the brand names.

Enhancing Cleaning Products

Although most commercial products are designed to be highly effective against water soiling, sometimes they might not meet your needs. If the need is limited, such as removing a single patch of stubborn staining, buying different cleaning products is not cost-effective. The input from SERVPRO technicians can help ease the situation since we know how to improve the effectiveness of standard bleaching products sold in the market. For example, heating the water used for cleaning solutions increases temperature, thus boosting the potency of reducing bleaches. Another handy step is increasing the acidity. Enhancement covers many other aspects because you can also modify the soils and water apart from modifying the cleaning products. You can only execute some of these enhancement procedures by mixing the cleaning solution with specialized products.

Specialized Water Restoration Processes

• Maintaining pH at a standard level
• Breaking down salts in hard water
• Increasing or decreasing foaming characteristics
• Separating and suspending soils

Soils from water exposure can be stubborn to address since cleaning also involves using water. For example, if a fabric bleeds, spreading dyes across other surfaces, cleaning can further distribute them. In such a case, finding a way to separate and suspend the dye remnants would be the best approach. Rather than looking for physical methods to achieve that, our SERVPRO technicians look for cleaning products that facilitate dispersion or deflocculation.

The water intruding the property causes problems like spreading soil. However, the water used for cleaning might also introduce some issues. If it contains a significant percentage of dissolved soils, it prevents soaps and detergents from lathering correctly, thus diminishing cleaning effectiveness. Our SERVPRO technicians use chelating to deal with the salts by making them water-soluble and thus conveniently cleaning your draperies, upholstery, or other fabric-based items.

SERVPRO of North Durham is willing to go the extra mile to ensure every aspect of water damage, including soiling, is adequately addressed "Like it never even happened." Call us at (919) 467-0880.

How Experienced Experts Make a Different During Mold Removal in Durham

3/27/2023 (Permalink)

Our SERVPRO techs have the skills and experience to do thorough mold damage inspections on your Durham property.

Why SERVPRO Encourages Immediate Mold Cleanup Services in Durham

If you have been asking yourself why SERVPRO's mold removal services count during a time of need, you are about to learn something new. First, you need to know that mold spores are always present on almost all surfaces; they need conducive conditions to start growing. So, if you recently noticed a musty odor and some black or green specks, there is a high chance that your property has mold.

Our SERVPRO technicians have the skills and experience to do thorough mold damage inspections on your Durham property. For instance, if you do not have the necessary skills, it might be hard to discover when your home heating and air conditioning system becomes infested by mold. Since the humidifier releases water vapor in an attempt to improve indoor air quality, it is common for such incidents.

If you overuse your humidifier without subjecting it to regular maintenance, the damp conditions may favor mold growth. Our IICRC trained SERVPRO technicians have the expertise to check whether your humidifier is infested and do the necessary cleaning. Failing to address such situations may cause health effects.

Using appropriate protective gear when offering mold cleanup services guarantees the safety of our team. It is common to see our experts in face masks, goggles, and rubber gloves. The reasoning is to avoid inhaling, touching, and ingesting the spores.

If the growth is on your wooden cabinets or furniture, we can suck up the loose spores through HEPA vacuuming. When the mold is deep, we can sand it and use EPA-approved solutions to clean the surfaces. We dispose of the contaminants according to the IICRC and local regulations.

Call SERVPRO of North Durham at (919) 467-0880 for effective mold remediation services. Our IICRC-certified technicians are Faster to Any Size Disaster and can be relied upon for immediate water, fire, and mold removal services.