Tips On How To Clean Your Electronics After a Fire

10/3/2022 (Permalink)

Tips On How To Clean Your Electronics After a Fire

A fire doesn’t discriminate, it will damage everything in its path, including your electronics. After a fire, what you should do is remove any electronics that may have been damaged by heat or smoke. This includes anything from computers to cell phones, laptops, and tablets. A device that has been exposed to extreme heat can become damaged internally as well as on the outside. Even if your equipment isn't showing signs of being affected by the fire (such as no visible burn marks or smoke damage), you should clean it with anti-corrosive agents before using it again. Here are a few tips on how to clean your electronics after a fire.

The first step to cleaning electronics after any fire is to dry them out.

Although there are many ways to dry out electronics, we recommend that the first step is to use a hair dryer in the lowest setting. Avoid using vacuums and heat guns as both can damage your electronics. You also don’t want to put them in an oven as this could damage sensitive components inside of them.

Using a soft brush, clean the outside of your equipment and remove soot.

Using a soft brush or non-abrasive cloth, gently clean the outside of your equipment. Do not use water or harsh chemicals. Be careful not to use electronic equipment with damaged circuitry. Remove any protective casing and covers from the damaged equipment before cleaning it so that you can get into all areas of the device more easily.

Use an anti-corrosive solution to clean the electrical parts while they are still wet.

After the fire, you should clean all the electrical parts using an anti-corrosive solution. This will prevent any corrosion from occurring in the future. The best way to clean these parts is by using a cotton swab dipped in a non-corrosive agent such as detergent or vinegar and baking soda solutions.

Clean the exposed circuit board, memory card, and drive heads.

Clean the exposed circuit board, memory card, and drive heads with a cotton swab dipped in a non-corrosive agent. You can use isopropyl alcohol or distilled water to wipe the surfaces, but make sure not to touch any components with your bare hands. Use a cotton swab, not a cotton ball; it will be easier to properly clean the small areas you need to reach without damaging them.

If you have experienced a fire in your home or business, we hope that this post has been helpful. Cleaning your electronics after a fire can be very difficult and, in many cases, requires professional help. If you are in need of fire damage cleanup and restoration services, including electronics cleaning, don’t hesitate and reach out to our SERVPRO of Pflugerville team today!

Please contact us if you have any questions about what to do after a fire or how our cleaning services could help.

The special Techniques Needed for Cleaning Sewer Damage

7/9/2022 (Permalink)

Sewage backup in Salvista, FL

The Special Techniques Needed for Cleaning Sewer Damage

A sewer cleanup in Fort Myers, FL is a highly technical process that involves many factors. To begin with, sewage water is likely to contain pathogens and microbes that are harmful to human health. This necessitates a number of precautionary steps. Employees and customers of the building should be kept clear of the contaminated water. Cleanup workers should wear PPE such as gloves and masks when dealing with dirty water, and they also might want to consider the following vaccinations:

• Hepatitis A and B
• Typhoid fever
• Tetanus
• Polio

Risk factors vary from location to location. Restoration workers who might encounter a sewer backup should consult with medical professionals as well as the company they work for to learn more.

The Principles of a Sewer Cleanup
It is important to understand that the presence of raw sewage in a commercial building is an emergency. A quick response is mandatory. A reputable water remediation company should be called right away. Certified workers will arrive in a matter of hours and immediately go to work to stop the spread of dirty water. A flooded toilet and a flood are handled in a similar manner, though one might contain more water. The technicians will stop the flow of water, contain the situation, remove the water from the building and then clean and restore the affected areas.

The Use of Specialized Equipment
A quality restoration company has many resources at its disposal when dealing with a sewer cleanup. This allows workers to safely remove water from the building and to dry out and clean walls and other building materials. They can also engage in advanced testing to make certain all standing water or excess moisture has been removed from areas that are hard to reach such as attics and behind walls. Restoration technicians have been trained in the proper use of a variety of specialized equipment. Sewer damage presents many complications, but a professional team is up to the challenge.

What To Do When Your Water Heater Leaks

6/1/2022 (Permalink)

What Should You Do If Your Water Heater Leaks?

A leaking water heater can cause a lot of damage if it isn't addressed quickly. Water damage restoration specialists can clean up the water, mitigate damage and prevent mold growth as a result of a failed water heater.

Damage

A broken water heater can inflict damage in several ways:

• Structural damage
• Deteriorating building materials
• Mold growth
• Electrical wiring damage

If your water heater in Punta Gorda, FL, is leaking, you need to contact an emergency restoration service that can get there fast.

Drying Process

The restoration service will first remove all water, thoroughly drying the area. Depending on the amount of flooding from the leaking water heater, they may have to use submersible pumps or vacuums to remove the flooding. After the water has been pumped out of the building, they will use fans to ensure that all surfaces dry fully.

You can help by removing wet objects and taking them outside as soon as you notice the flooding. You can also open doors and windows to help the space dry faster. If the water may be in contact with any part of an electrical circuit, you could be electrocuted if you make contact with the water. If this is the case, do not touch the water. Wait for professionals to arrive.

Mold Treatment

Mold grows quickly in moist environments and could be harmful to the building and its inhabitants. After the area has been dried, the restoration service will clean every surface with antibacterial sprays. This will kill any mold that has already formed, stop further growth and prevent future damage.

Structural Damage

If needed, the repair service will repair any structural damage from the flood. This could include things like damaged drywall or weakened wood beams.

When your business in Punta Gorda, FL, encounters flooding from a leaking water heater, you need an emergency restoration service to mitigate damage. They will dry the area, treat for mold and repair structural damage.

3 Ways Water Can Cause More Damage After a Fire

5/12/2022 (Permalink)

3 Ways Water Can Extend Fire Damage

A fire at your business in Fort Myers, FL is stressful. Your thorough emergency plan protected your staff, but your building is in ruins. You know that you have to submit a claim for all the fire damage, but there is also a lot of damage from the water used to put a fire out. Careful documentation of all damage is the best way to get the results you want from your insurance company. Here are three ways water can cause more damage after a fire.

1. Electronics Can Be Ruined by Water Damage

If the fire was contained in one area of your business, your electronics might be salvageable. A commercial restoration company can take your electronics to be assessed by professionals who are knowledgeable about soot and smoke damage to electronics. However, electronics in the main area of a fire may be in more danger of moisture. While a local professional should give their input, water in computers and other electronics might mean you need new equipment.

2. Carpeting Can Be Salvaged from Flooding

A fire truck's hose pumps hundreds of gallons of water into a property that is on fire to extinguish the flames. Carpet can be professionally cleaned to remove the soot and smoke smell, but water-damaged carpet requires more intensive intervention. Since mold can form within 24 hours of exposure to water, any carpet that is growing mold should be pulled up and thrown out.

3. Walls Can Be Damaged by a Fire Hose

You may have a sprinkler system at your business. Sprinklers prevent fires from spreading rapidly. While sprinklers do some damage, a hose produces much more pressure and, therefore, more damage. The fire damage done to walls may have only produced burn marks while a powerful hose can break down drywall and seep into any porous material and cause mold to grow.

Fire damage is devastating, but more damage can be done by water when fire crews put the flames out. Careful documentation of every inch of your commercial space is essential for filing a claim with your insurance company.