Decorate Your Yarmouth Home Safely This Holiday Season

12/12/2024 (Permalink)

All it takes is a dry tree and an electrical spark to turn your Holidays from magic to tragic. Avoid fire damage this season with these simple tips.

Did you know that more than 1 out of every 5 Christmas tree fires are caused by the tree being placed too close to a heat source?

Something about Christmas Trees and Holiday lights brings a warm and magical feeling to the Holiday Season.  That magic can quickly turn tragic if a fire breaks out and sets your home and belongings ablaze.

To avoid a fire emergency, follow these Christmas Tree safety tips and enjoy the magic of this Holiday Season safely.

• Make sure your Christmas tree is at least 3 feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles or heat vents.
• A dry tree can burn very hot and very fast! Be sure to keep your tree adequately watered.
• Trim the stump at least 2” on freshly cut trees to allow it to absorb the water.
• DO NOT overload light strands or electrical wall sockets.
• Check all light strands for missing bulbs, broken or frayed wires.
• Always turn off tree lights when leaving home or going to bed.

If smoke or fire damage happens in your home, call our Team of professional, highly trained technicians to the rescue.  We are available 24/7/365 to help you!  Call us today.

Removing Smoke Odor From Your Dennis Home

12/8/2024 (Permalink)

Smoke damage in your home may require a professional team to remediate.

Even after the flames of a house fire have long been put out, smoke damage and odors will continue to linger for quite some time. If not properly treated, smoke odor could persist in your home for years, acting as a constant reminder of an incident you’d rather forget. Everything in your home, from floor to ceiling, absorbs an enormous amount of smoke damage after a fire. Follow these helpful tips for removing smoke damage odors from every surface in your home.

Carpeting

• Baking Soda: Heavily pour baking soda on all carpeting with smoke odors and let it sit for around 12 hours. After the baking soda has had time to settle in, vacuum it up with a hepa filter-equipped vacuum cleaner.
• Steam Cleaning: If baking soda doesn’t do the trick, steam cleaning just might remove the odors. If all else fails, hire a professional mitigation company

Ceiling

• Use a Chemical Sponge: Use a dry-cleaning sponge to wipe away ceiling soot damage. This is an essential step before applying any sort of wet cleaning agent. Use a wiping motion to remove stains rather than using scrubbing motions as this may cause the damage to further set in.

General

• Air Out the House: Open all windows in the building. Be sure to place fans in all windows to circulate fresh air throughout the home.
• Appliance Cleaning: When it comes to cleaning appliances after they suffer smoke damage, its highly recommended that you seek a professional service to restore them. If they are self-restored improperly, the damage will likely set in permanently. Many restoration companies, such as SERVPRO®,
   offer contents restoration.
• Documents and Photographs: While not all documents can be saved from smoke damage, there are a few professional options to attempt to restore them. These options include air drying, dehumidification, freezer drying, vacuum freeze drying, and vacuum thermal drying. Again, documents and photographs should not be restored through amateur attempts out of risk of destroying them.

If your home suffers from severe smoke damage and needs professional restoration, trust SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod to get the job done right. From Mashpee to Provincetown, SERVPRO® is on alert 24/7 for your call. Call us today for your smoke and fire damage emergency.

Be On The Lookout For Soot and Smoke Damage As Your Furnace Comes Back To Life

11/17/2024 (Permalink)

Let our professional team clean soot damage in your home the right way!

Where did the summer go?

Believe it or not, it’s time to kick our furnaces back on.

Turning on the heat again for the first time after the glorious summer months can kick up a lot of things, such as dust and dirt that’s been building up in and on the heating vents over the course of the warmer months. Another thing that can be kicked up through your ventilation system could be soot and smoke if a furnace is not well maintained.

 Unlike dust, you can’t deal with the ill effects of soot through vacuuming alone. The soot produced by a puffback has the potential to permanently damage and stain walls, appliances, kitchenware, and virtually everything else it touches. Trying to clean soot with common household cleaning products will only further seal the soot in your home, causing permanent damage and staining.

If your home has suffered from fire or soot related damage, trust the professionals at SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod. Call us anytime, 24/7, at 508-778-7378. We’ll work to make it "Like it never even happened."

Prevent A Fire This Thanksgiving In Your Provincetown Home!

11/14/2024 (Permalink)

To prevent fire damage, take every precaution to keep your home & your family safe.

Deep-frying the Holiday turkey is very popular across the country.  Thousands of fires as well as many deaths and injuries happen each year due to turkey fryer related incidents.  Exercise extreme caution when frying up the family bird this Thanksgiving by following these simple safety tips:

• KEEP AWAY FROM THE HOUSE - Set up the fryer at least 10 feet from your home.  Keep children & pets away and NEVER leave it unattended.
• FIND FLAT GROUND – The oil must be even and steady at all times to ensure safety. Place the fryer on a flat, level surface and carefully gauge the amount of oil needed.
• USE A FULLY THAWED AND DRY TURKEY – Make sure your Thanksgiving bird is completely thawed and dry. Extra water will cause the oil to bubble furiously and spill over which could cause a fire.
• MONITOR THE TEMPERATURE – Use caution when touching the turkey fryer. The lid and handle can become very hot and could cause burns.  Also, be sure to keep an eye on the oil temperature.
• BE PREPARED – Have a fire extinguisher ready at all times.

If you experience a fire related incident this Thanksgiving, call in the PROS at SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod!  Our team of highly trained technicians are available 24/7/365! We will clean up the mess and get your home and your life back in order.  508-778-7378

Puffbacks: When Furnaces Attack Your Eastham Home

11/7/2024 (Permalink)

Furnace puffbacks can cause more soot damage than you think. Professional cleaning is required to reduce permanent staining & odor. Call us!

As temperatures begin to drop, we are turning our furnaces back on again. When your furnace ignites, the risk of a puffback is high.

What is A Puffback?

 A puffback is when a boiler or furnace misfires, causing your home to fill with soot and smoke. These misfires are caused by unburned oils at the bottom of furnaces and boilers suddenly igniting. There are many telltale signs of an impending puffback to look out for. Also, you may have already been the victim of a puffback and don’t even know it. Be on the lookout for signs of a puffback and avoid its many hazards on both your house and your health.

The Warning Signs: 

One of the main signs of an impending puffback is soot-like residues around heating vents and fans. Also, finding dark residues around oil burning heaters may signal that your heater is on the verge of experiencing a puffback. Typically, someone’s first instinct when seeing these residues may be to scrub it away with soap and water, but this will only cause the damage to set in even further. The only effective way to clean up after a puffback is through professional smoke damage restoration. Through chemical treatment and use of the proper tools, a restoration company will be able to return your walls to their original appearance.

Signs a Puffback Already Occurred: 

Many people experience puffbacks and aren’t even aware of it. Ever notice black cobwebs around your furnace? If so, those aren’t cobwebs. Puffbacks create cobweb-like soot strings, making your home a dirty and hazardous mess. When left untreated, the “cobwebs” will continue to form, making any cleanup efforts more and more of a headache. Even though pure soot stains can be treated with the use of chemical sponges, puffback webs are far more labor intensive to clean up and will require professional remediation.

Soot damage will deteriorate objects and structure in your home, sometimes past the point of restoration. Plates and fine China will discolor, paint can be left permanently stained and electronic appliances can be irreversibly damaged. If you see the signs of an impending or prior puffback, get your furnace and oil-burning appliances serviced as soon as possible. In terms of cleaning up the destruction left by a puffback, trust SERVPRO® to get the job done right. Our IICRC certified crew specializes in smoke and fire damage restoration and will make your home look and feel as if a puffback never even happened.

Call SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod anytime at 508-778-7378 to set up your free estimate. From Mashpee to Provincetown, we’re on alert 24/7 for your emergency restoration needs.

Prevent Halloween Fires in your Mashpee Home

10/16/2024 (Permalink)

Prevention is the best defense against fire damage this Halloween.

Halloween is just around the corner, bringing ghosts, goblins & ghouls to your Mashpee doorstep, and allowing you the opportunity to break out your spooky Halloween decorations. All our communities in Barnstable County on Cape Cod love to decorate this time of year but it’s important to decorate safely and use best practices to avoid fire damage.

Did You Know? 2 out of every 5 Halloween fires happen because of improperly placed decorations? It’s best to ensure you avoid fire damage and restoration needs by utilizing the following simple tips.

How to Prevent Halloween Fires

1. Avoid Open Flames

Whether you’ve placed candles in jack-o-lanterns or luminaries, open flames pose a significant risk. Lit candles that are unsupervised can be accidentally knocked over and the flames can spread fast, particularly if they’re near flammable items.

Try using alternative methods to light up your home and yard.  Glow sticks & battery-operated candles are a great way to decorate safely. Always teach children to be aware of any open flames when trick or treating and encourage them to stay away from the flames.

2. Use Dried Decorations Sparingly

While open flames pose the greatest threat for fire damage, there are many other heat sources that can also start fires, particularly if they are surrounded by dried decorations like cornstalks, hay, or flowers. These types of items are flammable and can catch fire easily when placed too closely to high-wattage light bulbs or portable heaters.

Be sure to keep all dried decorations away from any heat source and use them sparingly to prevent accidents.

3. Keep Exit Routes Clear

Halloween fires can also occur from interior decorations like fake cobwebs and paper streamers decorating doorways and windows. This can make it more difficult to exit the home if a fire does break out.

Keep obstructive decorations out of doorways, hallways and windows leaving an open path to exit the home in the event of a fire. 

If you’ve experienced a fire in your Mashpee home and need restoration services, call SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod. In addition to fire damage restoration services, our team also offers water and storm damage cleaning and restoration as well as mold remediation and rodent clean-up. To learn more about our services, visit us online or call (508) 778-7378.

Soot Timeline

8/1/2024 (Permalink)

Soot from a furnace puffback or fire can be very destructive if left untreated or not remediated properly. Don't wait...Call in the Pro's at SERVPRO®

Soot is incompletely combusted materials leftover from a fire. Removing soot from walls and furniture is a very particular process that may destroy your belongings if done wrong or ignored. If left alone, soot will continuously cause irreversible damage to your home and household items.  Here’s a timeline of how soot effects your home and your belongings.

• In minutes: Plastics yellow in color
• In Hours: Surfaces such as countertops, fiberglass, appliances and furniture begin to yellow. Metals will begin to tarnish
• In Days: Permanent staining on clothing, upholstery, and painted walls. Appliances and vinyl flooring will break and require replacement. Metals will rust and corrode
• In a week: Carpets are permanently destroyed. Glass and china will pit

However, if treated right, soot damage shouldn’t be an issue. At SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod, we have to tools of the trade and cleaning methods to put you back in your home fast.  Call us anytime at 508-778-7378 to schedule a free estimate or to receive emergency service. From Mashpee to Provincetown, we're faster to any size disaster. 

Fire Damage in Truro; Don't Do It Alone

7/15/2024 (Permalink)

Fire damage and smoke damage can impact a home beyond what is visible to the naked eye. Call in the Pros for help with the clean-up.

A common mindset people have when their home suffers from smoke or fire damage is to immediately and hastily resolve the situation themselves. It’s completely understandable why an affected homeowner would want to do this, but trying to fix the situation without the proper knowledge and expertise could set the damage and make it harder to get rid of. Here are some things to avoid when attempting smoke removal:

• Limit movement within your house to lessen the spread of soot
• Don’t wash any painted surfaces
• Don’t shampoo any carpets or upholstery
• Don’t clean any electronics
• Don’t bring clothing effected by smoke to the dry cleaners: this will likely make your clothes permanently smell like smoke

For any of your smoke removal needs, call a fire restoration expert. More often than not, the scope of damage a fire or puffback incident causes is larger than it is to the untrained eye. If you have any questions about smoke removal or fire restoration, give SERVPRO® of Mid-Outer Cape Cod a call at 508-778-7378. From Mashpee to Provincetown, we’re available 24/7 to help with your emergency fire damage cleanup needs. If your Cape Cod home suffers from excessive soot damage, trust SERVPRO® to make it "Like it never even happened."

Preventing Kitchen Fires in Hyannis, MA

7/1/2024 (Permalink)

Kitchen fires are a common hazard that can be avoided by taking the proper precautions. Fire Damage and smoke damage require professional remediation.

Very few things are quite as devastating as a kitchen fire. However, if the proper precautions are taken, kitchen fires shouldn’t be a worry. In both home and commercial kitchens, eliminating fire hazards should be a top priority. There are some fire prevention methods unique to each kind of kitchen and methods that can be practiced both at home or in a restaurant. SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod have a few tips to keep your kitchen safe during this scorching hot Cape Cod summer.

Home Fire Prevention

• Update the Fire Extinguisher: Most homeowners likely have a fire extinguisher handy somewhere in the kitchen. Fortunately, they are seldom used in most kitchens. However, this likely means the extinguisher has been sitting for a while and is years past its last useful date.
  Updating your extinguisher will keep you prepared for most emergency home fire scenarios.
• Properly Put Out Grease Fires: Many people know that putting water on a grease fire will only make the situation worse, but don’t actually know how to properly extinguish one. First, cover the flames with a pot/pan cover or baking sheet. For smaller fires, suffocate the flames by pouring baking soda on them. If all else fails, use a chemical fire extinguisher (class B). This will likely ruin your appliances but may just prevent the fire from spreading.
• Clean Stovetop Burners: Whether or not your burners are metal or glass, use benign, non-toxic cleaners to clean them. One old but undeniably good stovetop-cleaning agent is simply white vinegar, baking soda and water in a spray bottle. Using this as a cleaner prevents toxic and flammable chemicals from building up on burners and possibly causing a fire.
• Don’t Leave an Unattended Stovetop: According to the National Fire Protection Association, the leading cause of household kitchen fires are caused by unattended cooking appliances[1]. Always keep an eye on your stove and be sure to check in on your oven and microwave regularly when they are in use.

Commercial Kitchen Fire Prevention

• Mise En Place: There’s a phrase common in the cooking world, “Mise en place”. The phrase means that every ingredient, cooking tool and item a cook uses must be organized and clean. Not only does this get meals out fast and efficiently, but it also greatly lowers the risk of a kitchen fire. If everything is in its place, injuries, slips, contamination and the misplacement of scolding hot cookware can all be prevented.
• Clean Grease Traps and Hood Vents Regularly: There’s nothing a dishwasher hates more than being handed hood vents to clean that are caked in a year’s worth of grease and grime. Even worse than that is the high probability of a grease fire if those vents remain uncleaned. Aim to clean the vents at a bi-weekly pace and dry them completely before reinstalling.
• Be Cautious of What Gets Thrown Away: If you’ve made a mistake cooking, don’t throw it out right away. Any hot items that need to be discarded should be put aside to cool down. Trash cans could possibly melt or catch fire if hot items are carelessly disposed in them.
• Never Leave a Functioning Kitchen Unattended: Just like you would at home, making sure the kitchen is always supervised is the single most important fire prevention method. Also, make sure to set timers for everything that enters your oven. Often times prep cooking, items can get left in restaurant ovens without a timer, causing them to char and catch fire. Also, be sure to make sure all out of use burners are off.

If Your Kitchen Catches Fire

        If the worst has happened to your home or commercial kitchen, call the restoration experts at SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod. We’re on alert 24/7 for your fire damage and smoke damage emergency. We’ll get you back home and back to work faster than any other restoration crew on  Cape Cod. From Mashpee to Provincetown, SERVPRO is your local crew for all things restoration.

[1] https://www.nfpa.org/news-and-research/data-research-and-tools/us-fire-problem/home-cooking-fires

Wet Vs. Dry Smoke: How To Handle All Types of Fires in Barnstable County

4/5/2024 (Permalink)

Smoke damage requires special cleaning techniques that only a Professional can provide. Call us...WE ARE HERE TO HELP!

Ironically, one of the hardest parts of restoring a fire damaged property is dealing with water damage. When a fire is extinguished, it creates a thick, low temperature smoke known as wet smoke. Think of it like putting out a bonfire; when the fires at full blaze, it produces less smoke than a fire going through the smoldering phase of extinguishing. When a fire is still brightly burning dry materials, it creates what’s known as a dry smoke. Both dry and wet smoke damage come with their own unique set of challenges when it comes to restoration.

• Wet Smoke: As previously stated, the water damage that comes with a fire creates a new set of restoration challenges. Thick, wet smoke creates hard to remove residue on virtually every surface of your property. This is caused by partially combusted particles clinging to any area wet smoke has touched. This kind of smoke cannot be removed by an amateur. Wet smoke restoration ranges anywhere from cleaning with specialized chemicals and sandblasters to total reconstruction of the affected areas.
• Dry Smoke: Without the presence of moisture, fire will completely combust anything that comes into its path. While this means smoke residues can be more easily removed, it also means more of your property likely needs to be demolished and replaced. It’s always important to extinguish fires properly, completely and in a timely manner, even if it means more wet smoke residue. While a smaller scale instance of dry smoke damage is very easy to take care of, a large-scale instance of a dry fire is more than likely to spell complete disaster for your property.

No matter what kind of fire your home or business faces, be sure to call SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod after the flames have been put out. Call us anytime at 508-778-7378. We’re locally owned and operated in South Dennis.  We have the crucial knowledge and experience needed to restore your Cape Cod property from Mashpee to Provincetown. Together, we’ll work to make it, “Like it never even happened.”

Smoke or Fire Damage; Repair...Don't Replace.

3/29/2024 (Permalink)

Our expert technicians use a dry sponge technique to remove soot from the walls & ceilings in your home.

When fire strikes, the damage it causes can be overwhelming. A fire victim’s first instinct may be to preserve and clean whatever they can in an effort to salvage items of importance. However, attempting to clean the damage yourself can cause more harm than good. The cleanup and restoration experts at SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape are here to help 24/7 in case of fire damage. Before fire restoration professionals arrive, be sure to take the following steps to prevent further damage from setting in:

• Limit movement around the house to prevent the spread of soot
• Place clean linens and towels on rugs and upholstery
• Coat chrome appliances with oil or petroleum jelly
• Keep furniture legs from touching wet carpet by wedging wood blocks or aluminum foil under them
• Do not shampoo carpets and upholstery
• Do not wash walls and other painted surfaces
• Do not clean electronic appliances
• Do not dry clean clothing with smoke odor

SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape cares about helping you recover from fire related tragedy and has the tools and expertise to help restore what’s important to you. From Mashpee to Provincetown, SERVPRO® has your home, business or organization covered for all your Fire cleanup and restoration needs. Give us a call at 508-778-7378, we’re here to help.

Fire Extinguisher Safety: P.A.S.S. It On!

3/22/2024 (Permalink)

A fire extinguisher in your home can help minimize fire damage in your Cape Cod home.

Do you follow safety guidelines and keep a fire extinguisher in your home? If so, are you certain you have the correct type to fight the fire? A fire extinguisher should be kept in your garage, kitchen, and on each floor of your home. Whether you already own one or are about to purchase one, learn about the different types of extinguishers for the application.

 Below are the four basic types of extinguishers:

• Class A extinguishers put out fires in ordinary combustibles, such as wood and paper.
• Class B extinguishers should be used on fires involving flammable liquids, such as grease, gasoline, and oil.
• Class C extinguishers are suitable for electrically energized fires.
• Class D extinguishers should be used on flammable metals and are typically specific for the type of metal in question.

Most home fire safety experts recommend medium size, multipurpose fire extinguishers that are labeled as suitable for use on class A, class B, and class C fires.

You and other potential users in your household should thoroughly read the extinguisher’s instructions on a periodic basis. A professional fire equipment supplier should inspect each extinguisher annually.

Only use a fire extinguisher if these four conditions are true:

Often times you’re much better off to let professionals handle any fire. Only use an extinguisher when:

1) the fire is confined to a small area, and is not growing

2) the room is not filled with smoke

3) everyone else has exited the building

4) the fire department has been called.

Remember the P.A.S.S. word!

Most household fire extinguishers operate using the following P.A.S.S. technique:

1. PULL: Pull the pin. This will also break the tamper seal.
2. AIM: Aim low, pointing the extinguisher nozzle (or its horn or hose) at the base of the fire.
3. SQUEEZE: Squeeze the handle to release the extinguishing agent.
4. SWEEP: Sweep from side to side at the base of the fire until it appears to be out. Watch the area. If the fire re-ignites, repeat steps 2 - 4.

If you have the slightest doubt about your ability to fight a fire.... EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY!

Important! Once the seal on a fire extinguisher has been broken, it must be serviced before the next use!

Appliances; The Unexpected Fire Hazard

3/19/2024 (Permalink)

Even the most unsuspecting appliance like a computer can cause fire damage in your Cape Cod home.

When thinking of home fire hazards, one might imagine an oven, a furnace, a fireplace, etc. But what about the dishwasher, refrigerator, or even your television? Our Team at SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape has seen fire damage caused by many different unsuspecting electronics. Here are a few tips on how to make sure your home appliances are fireproofed:

• Check your power outlets: make sure power outlets aren't drawing too much power. Don't plug several high-current appliances into the same outlet.
• Keep your cords safe: make sure power cords aren't damaged, under furniture, under rugs or excessively tangled with other power cords.
• Use factory recommended chargers and cables: Many third-party phone cables and chargers are prone to overheating and even catching on fire. Check the power needs of your appliances and see if the charging cables you're using operate at the same voltage.
• Keep an eye on heat generating appliances: While its common knowledge to watch over items cooking in the kitchen and space heaters, be sure computers, game consoles and other appliances that give off heat have enough room to properly cool down.
• Make sure your appliances are properly maintained and up to date.
• Unplug small appliances when not in use.

Even when practicing fire safety properly, be sure to have an exit plan in case of a house fire. Create a designated meeting area for leaving the building and at least two points of exit for every room. If you fall victim to fire damage, call SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod at 508-778-7378, we are here to help!

Fire Damage Prevention in Dennis, MA

3/11/2024 (Permalink)

Fire and smoke damage require a professional restoration team.

In the event of a fire or furnace puffback incident, homeowners often try to remediate the damage themselves, causing further destruction to the residence. If your home suffers from a fire or smoke damage, no matter how big or small, seeking help from fire damage restoration professionals is always a smart choice. However, before professionals arrive, there are a few things you can do to prevent permanent damage from occurring. 

What to do when fire or smoke damage has occurred in your home:

• Limit movement around the house to prevent the spread of soot
• Place clean linens and towels on rugs and upholstery
• Coat chrome appliances with oil or petroleum jelly
• Keep furniture legs from touching wet carpet by wedging wood blocks or aluminum foil under them
• Refrain from shampooing carpets and upholstery
• Do not wash walls and other painted surfaces
• Do not clean electronic appliances
• Refrain from dry cleaning clothing with smoke odor

Our Team at SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod are on call 24/7 for all your fire damage or smoke damage restoration needs. Call us at 508-778-7378 to schedule a free estimate or get emergency cleanup assistance as soon as you need it.  WE ARE HERE TO HELP! 

Smoke Damage in your Dennis Home: Not as Visible as You’d Think

2/14/2024 (Permalink)

Smoke damage and soot will cling to every surface in your home and requires proper remediation.

Often times, on smoke removal jobs, the damage done to the residence or commercial building we're working on is worse than it seems to the untrained eye. Cleaning up after a smoky incident isn't just a matter of removing all visible black spots from walls and furniture. Soot from fires or furnace puffbacks often travels to every room in the affected home or building and settles on every surface even if it isn't immediately apparent. 

Smoke damage restoration includes:

• Emergency board-up & structural stabilization
• Evaluating materials that may be damaged as a result of smoke or soot particles
• Removing charred contents that may seal in smoke.
• Cleaning, eliminating odors and deodorizing surfaces

If your home or business has had a smoke event, attempting to restore your property yourself can do more harm than good.  The aftermath of a fire can be hazardous and cause health problems if it is not taken care of correctly and thoroughly.

Trust the experts at SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod to do the job right.  Call us 24/7 at 508-778-7378 for a free smoke removal estimate. From Mashpee to Provincetown, SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod is here to help with all your water mitigation, fire restoration, storm damage, cleaning, disinfection, and mold remediation needs.

Puffback In Your Barnstable Home? Don't Panic!

10/22/2021 (Permalink)

Most of us are taking time now more than ever to clean our living spaces and make our homes as tidy and comfortable as possible. Furnace puffbacks can be the quickest way to completely derail the cleaning of your house, as it can cause filthy and heavily-staining soot to blow out of every heating vent in your home. Not sure of how to prevent this? Are you already a victim of a puffback? Either way, don’t panic! There are plenty of ways to detect impending puffbacks and SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod has the tools and expertise to thoroughly clean heavy soot incidents.

A puffback is the result of unburned oil at the bottom of boilers, furnaces and water heaters. These unburned oils can suddenly ignite, not only covering your house in soot, but also damaging your appliances. There are many signs that you may have unburned oil buildup, such as gas odors, leaking oil pipes, soot residue on or around the appliance, and weaker appliance performance. Be sure to service furnaces at least once a year to ensure proper functioning. However, if disaster strikes and you find yourself with a puffback disaster on your hands, SERVPRO® of Mid-Outer Cape Cod is here to help! From Barnstable to Provincetown, SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape cod can service your water damage, fire damage, mold removal, disinfecting and soot removal needs. Call us at 508-778-7378

Autumn is Around the Corner, Be Sure to Prevent Puffback

9/4/2020 (Permalink)

As summer is coming to a close, the time to turn heaters back on is approaching at a fast pace. With furnaces kicking back on soon, the chance of a puffback incident is once again a threat. So, you may be thinking, “What is a puffback?”. A puffback is when a boiler or furnace misfires, causing your home to fill with soot and smoke. These misfires are caused by unburned oils at the bottom of furnaces and boilers suddenly igniting. Preventing a puffback is important as the soot and smoke emitted by these incidents are notoriously hard to clean up after. Puffbacks will damage and corrode electronics, permanently stain painted surfaces and cause a myriad of health concerns. However, puffbacks are avoidable if you stay on alert for the warning signs of an impending incident.

                Look for The Signs: There are many telltale signs of an impending puffback. First, if soot-like residues are appearing on or around a furnace, its time to have it serviced by a professional. Also, if dark cobweb-like webs start to form around your heating appliance, your furnace may have been puffing back for a long time, meaning it may need to be replaced or serviced. Other signs of an impending puffback are gas odors, leaking oil pipes, and weaker appliance performance. Regardless of the warning signs, be sure to get furnaces serviced and maintained at least once a year.

                What to do After a Puffback: Even though puffbacks CAN be devastating doesn’t mean they HAVE to be. If a puffback occurs, don’t panic. The worst possible thing a puffback victim can do is to try and take cleanup matters into their own hands with any experience. Trying to clean the soot with soap and water or bleach will cause the soot residue to set into household items more, making it harder to properly clean. Soot and smoke damage needs to be cleaned with certain specific chemicals with the aid of a dry chemical sponge. Consider hiring a professional fire and smoke restoration company to do the job right and prevent further harm to your home and health.

                If your home or workplace suffers from a puffback, give SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod a call anytime at 508-778-7378. We specialize in fire, smoke and soot restoration and will make your property look "Like it never even happened." From Mashpee to Provincetown, We’re on alert 24/7 for your fire, water, mold, cleaning and disinfecting needs.

How to Prevent Electrical Fires at Home

8/20/2020 (Permalink)

The devastating and sudden nature of electrical fires is unmatched by any other household fire accident. Electrical fires can be unpredictable, striking whenever an appliance or wire decides to malfunction. However, these instances are very preventable. With all the appliances running during this sweltering summer season, its very important that you follow these helpful tips and avoid disaster. However, no matter what season is, these tips may just save your home, belongings and even your life. Here’s a look at the various hazards around your house and how to deal with them responsibly.

• Air Conditioners
  • A/Cs Draw a Lot of Electric Current: Air conditioners use more electricity than most other appliances. For this reason, make sure they have their own outlets. Plugging A/Cs into extension cords or power strips may cause outlets draw too much current and start a fire. Also, make sure your A/C power cord is up to date and has a power reset button in case your unit’s power shorts out.
  • Limit A/C Usage: Somedays, it’s hard to go through the summer heat for even a minute without the aid of an A/C. This leads many homeowners leaving their units on 24/7. This habitual usage can lead to outlets and appliances catching fire while the owners are either sleeping or away. Turn off A/Cs for a few hours a day or use other cooling methods like fans when possible.
  • Make Sure You’re Up to Date: Air Conditioners get more dangerous with age. If Air Conditioners aren’t serviced regularly or replaced every few years, they’re highly likely to malfunction. If your unit is constantly tripping circuits, needing to be unplugged, heavily leaking or making more noise than usual, replacement or repair may be needed.

• Lamps and Other Lighting
  • Lighting and Lamps, The Leading Cause of Electrical Fires: For many reasons, lamps are a huge, but seemingly innocent, hazard. If your lamp is constantly tripping circuits, gives off a burning plastic smell when turned on or only works intermittently, stop using the lamp and seek a replacement.
  • Check Lightbulb Wattage: Check the factory recommended wattage requirements for your lamps and lighting fixtures. ONLY use lightbulbs that require the same wattage. While this seems like common sense, many people cause fires by replacing dead bulbs with whatever possibly unsafe new bulbs they may have lying around

• Power Cords
  • Be Careful with Extension Cords: Extension cords can come in handy, but can also cause a lot of destruction if not used right. A few things to avoid when using extension cords include using them with high-wattage appliances, using a cord with exposed wiring and plugging extension cords into power strips.
  • Don’t Overuse Outlets: Every outlet can only handle a certain amount of electric current. Exceed this current, and you run the risk of tripping circuits and destroying outlets. Make sure all of your appliances have the factory or manufacturer recommended power cords.
  • Invest in Surge Protectors: If you need a large number of outlets with very few installed in your home, investing in a surge protector is the way to go. They handle high voltage better than a standard power strip and protect against sudden power surges, keeping your outlets and appliances safe.

• Old Appliances
  • Signs You Need to Contact Your Landlord/An Electrician: As appliances age, they’ll give some warning signs that they are either failing or hazardous. Contact an electrician or your landlord if you see any of the following signs:
    • Sparking outlets
    • Flickering lights
    • Warm or discolored outlets
    • Burning rubber smell
    • Constantly blown fuses

If Your Home Suffers an Electrical Fire: If the worst-case scenario happens and an electrical fire breaks out, shut the power to your home off immediately. If you suffer from fire or smoke damage, call SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod at 508-778-7378. We’re on alert for your fire damage and smoke removal emergencies 24/7. From Mashpee to Provincetown, trust us to make it "Like it never even happened."

Trust SERVPRO To Restore and Repair Your Fire Damaged Home on Cape Cod

5/19/2020 (Permalink)

What you do with your property during the first 48 hours after a fire determines how much of your home needs to be restored or replaced. We here at SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod have years of experience in fire restoration and smoke removal. Be it a fire, smoke or puffback incident, we have the expertise needed to get you back to your home in a safe, timely and inexpensive manner. No matter what kind of fire-related incident strikes your Cape Cod home, SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape cod has a carefully planned course of action for restoring homes from most every disaster.

Puffback: A puffback is the result of unburned oil at the bottom of boilers, furnaces and water heaters. These unburned oils can suddenly ignite, not only covering your house in soot, but also damaging your appliances, furniture, drapes and virtually everything in your home. If you fall victim to Puffback, don’t attempt to clean/shampoo the smoke damage out of your home, as this may cause the damage to further set in and become impossible to get out. Call a professional restoration service to assess the damage and determine a plan of action that’s best for your situation

Fire: At SERVPRO, with every disaster we deal with, our aim is to restore as much of a damaged property as possible to avoid the costs and hassle of replacing damaged items and fixtures. Fire related disasters are no different. Many things factor into repairing a fire damaged home, such as restoring items that suffered from water damaged due to extinguishing, smoke damage that spread to places that can’t be seen by the untrained eye, and transforming the property back into a livable environment. As experts in most every restoration field, we have the knowledge and technology to tackle anything fire damage throws your way.

Soot and Smoke: Anything from gradual smoke damage or heavy soot damage from a fire are all in SERVPRO’s restoration wheelhouse. We have the tech, the proper chemicals and the training to take on smoke damage, making it "Like it never even happened." More often than not, smoke and soot damage effects more of the house than can be seen. In the event of smoke or soot damage, call a professional restoration company to test your property to see exactly where smoke damage is hiding and how to properly remove it.

For your fire and smoke restoration needs, trust SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod to get the job done right. From Mashpee to Provincetown, we’re on alert 24/7 to restore most any fire or smoke damage emergency. Call us at 508-778-7378 to set up your free estimate today.

Cape Cod Fire Restoration: The SERVPRO Difference

5/13/2020 (Permalink)

The Cape has no shortage of fire restoration experts that a victim of puffback or smoke damage can choose from. We here at SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod are aware that there's plenty of competition out there, that's why we go the extra mile to be your one-stop shop for your fire restoration needs. We quickly remove fire, soot or smoke damage through our one-of-a-kind restoration process:

Pretesting

We start the cleaning and restoration process by thoroughly pretesting the property. This allows us to determine which restoration process will be best for your home or business. This also allows the customer to preview our results.

Contents Claim Inventory Service

We use Contents Claim Inventory Service (CCIS) technology to generate hyper-accurate inventories for every room. We organize the contents of your home into three categories: salvageable, non-salvageable and questionable. Our goal is to restore as much of the damaged parts of your home as possible, rather than wasting valuable time and money replacing everything. 

Cleaning and Restoration

SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod will professionally deodorize and clean all restorable contents and structure to their preloss conditions. Our fire restoration expertise includes restoring ceilings, walls, furniture, rugs, upholstery, drapery, electronics, art and many more items susceptible to fire damage. In cases of emergency restoration, SERVPRO will prioritize the cleaning of contents that the customer needs immediately. 

Move Outs

In the event that a customer needs to be moved out due to extensive damage, trust our professionals to move you out and keep a 100% accurate contents inventory during the process. 

In the event of fire damage, smoke damage and puffbacks, trust SERVPRO of Mid-Outer Cape Cod to restore your home or business. We're on alert 24/7 to help with your restoration needs. From Mashpee to Provincetown, call us anytime at 508-778-7378 to schedule an estimate or get emergency restoration assistance.

Simple Fire Safety Tips

10/23/2019 (Permalink)

October is Fire Prevention Month! Did you know that in 1922 the National Fire Protection Association designated the second week of October as Fire Prevention Week to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871? Over the years, October has been designated as Fire Prevention Month - dedicated to raising fire safety awareness to communities across the United States. As we come to the close of Fire Prevention month, here are a few simple fire safety tips for every household that we should follow  every month!

• Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children or in a cabinet with a child lock.

• Candle caution! Keep candles at least one foot from anything that can burn. Do not leave candles burning when you are not in the room or when going to sleep! Consider using the battery-operated candles that look like they have a real flame, without the risks.

• Space heaters need space! Leave at least three feet between the heater and anything that can burn. Turn them off when leaving the room, and do not leave them running when going to sleep! Never use a space heater in the bathroom – water and electricity are a hazardous mix!

• Inspect electrical cords – replace cords that are damaged, frayed, or have broken plugs.

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.

If your home is damaged by fire or smoke, it is critical to contact a company certified in Fire and Smoke Remediation as soon as possible to prevent additional damage. Your locally-owned SERVPRO® of Mid-Outer Cape Cod is available 24/7 to help you through the cleanup process and minimize the cost of fire and smoke damage to your home. Call us at 508-778-7378 - we are here to help!