SERVPRO Can Help You Recover After a Fire | SERVPRO of Marietta West

3/17/2023 (Permalink)

For quick repairs following a fire, get in touch with our team at SERVPRO of Marietta West.

While house disasters can look different depending on the season and type of house, one kind of disaster that commonly causes widespread damage is house fires. Fires can get out of control in mere minutes, leaving behind a wide swath of destruction.

Recovering from a house fire disaster can feel overwhelming for anyone, but rest assured that your SERVPRO of Marietta West team is here for you. We are ready to jump into action any day of the week and at any time of day! Once we are through, your home or business will be returned to its pre-fire state.

Check out our fire damage restoration process below to learn how we will help you, should you suffer through a house fire this year.

Our First Contact

Once you have been assured that everyone in your home is safe and accounted for and the authorities have the fire under control or extinguished, make us your first call.

While fire does have a common destructive quality, all home fires and houses are unique. This is why our first step is to gather as much information as possible so we fully understand your situation. Once we have a plan tailored to your needs, we gather the equipment we need and then hit the road!

Once we arrive at your doorstep, we perform a thorough inspection so we can assess the severity of the damage and the safety of everyone involved in the restoration process.

Protecting Your Home

The faster we get to work, the better it is for your home! We make sure the fire can’t cause any more damage by boarding up any windows or exposed sections of your home, and we can close off areas with tarps to make sure the smoke and soot doesn’t spread further.

Once the area is secured, we get to work! We focus on removing smoke and soot from your ceiling, walls, floors and anywhere else that was affected. After we are through with the surface damage, we clean and sanitize the space to remove lingering odors.

The Final Restoration

Now that your home is smoke and soot-free, it’s time to do the repairs! We can replace drywall, carpet or rebuild entire sections of your home.

No matter how severe your house fire is, our SERVPRO of Marietta West team has the experience needed to help you fully recover from a fire disaster. Call us day or night, we are ready for you!

For rapid repairs following a fire, get in touch with our team at SERVPRO of Marietta West! We will work as quickly as possible to return you to a safe and fully restored property.

Make Your Kitchen Flame-Resistant Before Cooking | SERVPRO of Marietta West

2/20/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is not just a water restoration company. We also offer a full array of fire restoration and odor/smoke removal services.

For the most renowned chefs, prep work is the secret to a successful meal. Even if you’re not preparing food for a five-star restaurant, preparation is essential for home cooks, but not for the reasons you might think!

Preparing your workspace is beneficial not only when cooking delicious meals but also for preventing kitchen fires. Because kitchen fires are frequently started by clutter or a mess, it is critical to clean before you cook. A neatly organized cooking area can help you avoid flames and give you more room to make mistakes.

Cooking in the kitchen doesn’t have to be a catastrophe! Preparing your Marietta kitchen before getting to work can protect your home from accidental flames.

Ready Your Workspace

• Kitchen fires can start from a variety of mistakes and malfunctions, but one of the most common causes is inattention. Whether you’re stepping away to take a call or leaving a spatula too close to the stovetop, carelessness can have a fiery outcome.
• Make sure your workspace is clean and organized before you do anything in the kitchen. Cooking tools should be stored away from heat sources and somewhere they won’t be knocked over. Throw away food packaging and other flammable objects as you cook to avoid setting them somewhere they shouldn’t be and catching fire.

Check Your Equipment

• Before firing up any of your kitchen gadgets, it’s vital to make sure they are clean and ready to use. Dirty cooking equipment covered in grease, food scraps and grime increases the chance of a fire starting and spreading.
• While your stove and oven should be the center of attention, appliances like your microwave and toaster also need a thorough cleaning! To avoid fires and maintain a spotless kitchen, be sure to routinely clean any appliances that use heat or electricity.

Know How to React

• We can’t all be master chefs, and with so many fire hazards in the kitchen, it’s easy for things to go wrong. A quick and effective reaction will make all the difference if flames spark while you’re cooking.
• Kitchen fires can be of various types and necessitate a variety of extinguishing methods. Grease and electrical fires are two of the most common types of cooking fires, and putting out flames isn’t as simple as flinging a bucket of water. Understanding the most effective ways to extinguish kitchen fires will keep you from making a fire emergency any more chaotic.

If a kitchen calamity leaves you with fire damage, get in touch with our SERVPRO specialists. We can arrive quickly to repair the damage, so you can get back to cooking.

Make Your Kitchen Flame-Resistant Before Cooking | SERVPRO of Marietta West

2/20/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is not just a water restoration company. We also offer a full array of fire restoration and odor/smoke removal services.

For the most renowned chefs, prep work is the secret to a successful meal. Even if you’re not preparing food for a five-star restaurant, preparation is essential for home cooks, but not for the reasons you might think!

Preparing your workspace is beneficial not only when cooking delicious meals but also for preventing kitchen fires. Because kitchen fires are frequently started by clutter or a mess, it is critical to clean before you cook. A neatly organized cooking area can help you avoid flames and give you more room to make mistakes.

Cooking in the kitchen doesn’t have to be a catastrophe! Preparing your Marietta kitchen before getting to work can protect your home from accidental flames.

Ready Your Workspace

Kitchen fires can start from a variety of mistakes and malfunctions, but one of the most common causes is inattention. Whether you’re stepping away to take a call or leaving a spatula too close to the stovetop, carelessness can have a fiery outcome.

Make sure your workspace is clean and organized before you do anything in the kitchen. Cooking tools should be stored away from heat sources and somewhere they won’t be knocked over. Throw away food packaging and other flammable objects as you cook to avoid setting them somewhere they shouldn’t be and catching fire.

Check Your Equipment

Before firing up any of your kitchen gadgets, it’s vital to make sure they are clean and ready to use. Dirty cooking equipment covered in grease, food scraps and grime increases the chance of a fire starting and spreading.

While your stove and oven should be the center of attention, appliances like your microwave and toaster also need a thorough cleaning! To avoid fires and maintain a spotless kitchen, be sure to routinely clean any appliances that use heat or electricity.

Know How to React

We can’t all be master chefs, and with so many fire hazards in the kitchen, it’s easy for things to go wrong. A quick and effective reaction will make all the difference if flames spark while you’re cooking.

Kitchen fires can be of various types and necessitate a variety of extinguishing methods. Grease and electrical fires are two of the most common types of cooking fires, and putting out flames isn’t as simple as flinging a bucket of water. Understanding the most effective ways to extinguish kitchen fires will keep you from making a fire emergency any more chaotic.

If a kitchen calamity leaves you with fire damage, get in touch with our SERVPRO specialists. We can arrive quickly to repair the damage, so you can get back to cooking.

Make Your Kitchen Flame-Resistant Before Cooking | SERVPRO of Marietta West

2/20/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is not just a water restoration company. We also offer a full array of fire restoration and odor/smoke removal services.

For the most renowned chefs, prep work is the secret to a successful meal. Even if you’re not preparing food for a five-star restaurant, preparation is essential for home cooks, but not for the reasons you might think!

Preparing your workspace is beneficial not only when cooking delicious meals but also for preventing kitchen fires. Because kitchen fires are frequently started by clutter or a mess, it is critical to clean before you cook. A neatly organized cooking area can help you avoid flames and give you more room to make mistakes.

Cooking in the kitchen doesn’t have to be a catastrophe! Preparing your Marietta kitchen before getting to work can protect your home from accidental flames.

Ready Your Workspace

Kitchen fires can start from a variety of mistakes and malfunctions, but one of the most common causes is inattention. Whether you’re stepping away to take a call or leaving a spatula too close to the stovetop, carelessness can have a fiery outcome.

Make sure your workspace is clean and organized before you do anything in the kitchen. Cooking tools should be stored away from heat sources and somewhere they won’t be knocked over. Throw away food packaging and other flammable objects as you cook to avoid setting them somewhere they shouldn’t be and catching fire.

Check Your Equipment

Before firing up any of your kitchen gadgets, it’s vital to make sure they are clean and ready to use. Dirty cooking equipment covered in grease, food scraps and grime increases the chance of a fire starting and spreading.

While your stove and oven should be the center of attention, appliances like your microwave and toaster also need a thorough cleaning! To avoid fires and maintain a spotless kitchen, be sure to routinely clean any appliances that use heat or electricity.

Know How to React

We can’t all be master chefs, and with so many fire hazards in the kitchen, it’s easy for things to go wrong. A quick and effective reaction will make all the difference if flames spark while you’re cooking.

Kitchen fires can be of various types and necessitate a variety of extinguishing methods. Grease and electrical fires are two of the most common types of cooking fires, and putting out flames isn’t as simple as flinging a bucket of water. Understanding the most effective ways to extinguish kitchen fires will keep you from making a fire emergency any more chaotic.

If a kitchen calamity leaves you with fire damage, get in touch with our SERVPRO specialists. We can arrive quickly to repair the damage, so you can get back to cooking.

Safely Decorating Your Home to Prevent Fires | SERVPRO of Marietta West

12/21/2022 (Permalink)

Do let fire damage ruin your holiday season by taking SERVPRO's fire safety tips to heart. SERVPRO is here 24/7 to help if you experience a fire loss.

Imagine it—the soft glow of strung holiday lights combined with the smooth tones of your favorite winter songs. This time of year is mesmerizing, but it can also cause an increase in home fires when the setup is done incorrectly.

Georgia is not the first thought when someone talks about a winter/holiday atmosphere, but we don’t care, we love how the temperature gets just cold enough to chill but not enough to kill! Additionally, we have plenty of holiday activities like the Georgia Holiday Festival of Vendors and the Atlanta New Years Party to keep our spirits high.

These things make the holidays wonderful, but going out can leave your home unprotected if you haven’t taken preventive measures. Following proper decoration safety procedures can keep your spirits lifted and your home’s protection even higher.

Top Seasonal Hazards

• United States fire departments respond to approximately 790 structural fires a year that began due to holiday decorations. Placing these items too close to heating sources is a major cause of the fires.
• Christmas trees and candles can also be dangerous, but having your artificial tree certified as fire-resistant is a start. Real trees need constant water and cleaning to ensure no flammable needles collect beneath.

Take Preventive Measures

“The stocking were hung by the chimney with care” is more than just a beautifully written line, it’s a way to act with all decoration activities.

Candles are the source of an average of 20 house fires a day, so keep an eye on these items. Additionally, inspect your fireplace annually to check for a buildup of grime.

Ensure that any outdoor decorations are certified for that type of use, and hang them all appropriately with insulated, weather-resistant nails. Pay attention to local guidelines to be positive that you are following the rules as instructed.

Testing your smoke detectors regularly and installing one in every bedroom and floor of the home can help you stay safer, too. Practicing a fire safety plan is another great idea, as is putting SERVPRO of Marietta West in your contacts. That way, you can contact us immediately when a fire strikes your home.

Have smoke or fire damage in your house? Contact us today to get cleaned up fast.

How Flames Can Damage Your Marietta Home | SERVPRO of Marietta West

12/21/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is here to help when fire and smoke damage disasters happen.

A house fire can be a chaotic situation. As if attempting to escape safely isn’t hard enough, the aftermath can present devastating challenges. No matter the cause, the spread of flames can
damage your property in a number of ways.

Flames aren’t the only element of a house fire that can wreak havoc on your home; smoke and soot can also cause irreversible damage when left unaddressed. Your home’s structure and anything inside will face the consequences when flames are burning.

Even a small fire is enough to destroy expensive equipment and necessitate a lengthy restoration. While you work to safeguard your Marietta house from flames, make sure you understand the ramifications a fire emergency can have as well.

Smoke and Flames Ruin Your Belongings

• Once smoke and flames have infiltrated your house, their particles start to seep into your possessions and continue to penetrate deeper over time. Smoke and soot eat away at your electronic equipment, furniture, clothing, family photos and other items in your home.
• Thankfully, many of these items are still salvageable, so make sure to put anything you can in a safe place until restoration efforts have begun. Making sure odors from smoke and flames are eradicated is one of the most crucial restoration procedures involved in saving your possessions.

A Charred Odor Lingers Inside

• When a fire sparks in your home, the smell is sure to give it away. Emergencies, like an electrical fire, can have a distinct smell once flames break out. The smell won’t just linger in your home—it’ll stick to any item it penetrates.
• Even after a fire has been extinguished, a smoky odor is sure to linger until you call in a restoration professional.

Weakening Your Home’s Infrastructure

• It only takes a few seconds for a fire to completely engulf your home. In severe situations, your home’s infrastructure could be significantly weakened and rebuilding efforts could be needed.
• If you wait to undergo repairs after a house fire, smoke can eat away at your walls, ceilings, flooring and roof. Flames have the power to bend metal structures and crack concrete, resulting in an unstable foundation.

Don’t wait for fire damage to worsen, contact SERVPRO for a rapid response. We can get your problem under control before flames, smoke and odors spread any further.

When Fire Sparks, You Need the Pros | SERVPRO of Marietta West

7/20/2022 (Permalink)

If a fire wreaks havoc on your home or business, call SERVPRO of Marietta West ASAP.

Property fires are a deadly phenomenon. While every fire is different, most fires take less than an hour to completely ravage a building’s infrastructure. 

Your next move after a fire is important. A professional and rapid response is crucial since these fires can leave your property in ruins. 

Fires are an emergency that should not be put off for another day. Fire disasters require the services of a team with the expertise and equipment to restore your home or business to its former glory. 

Fortunately, SERVPRO is a leader in the restoration industry, and we work closely with homeowners and business owners to repair damages caused by disasters such as fires! When it comes to fire damage repair, here’s why our team stands out: 

Cutting-edge technology. Our repair approach is built around the equipment we utilize. After a fire, elements such as flames and smoke cause damage and odors. Our team begins with the most important step of the restoration process—inspecting and testing the extent of fire damage. 

After this, we use specialized techniques and equipment to remove smoke and soot from walls, ceilings, floors and any other belongings inside your property. 

We then use a variety of sanitization techniques to disinfect every inch of your property. Finally, if smoke has left a significant odor, we will utilize fogging equipment and air scrubbers to eliminate the stench. 

A trained team of specialists. Our crew is well-equipped to deal with any form of property damage. Our team has the knowledge, expertise, and resources to deal with the aftermath of any disaster through initial and ongoing training. 

Our technicians are also IICRC-certified, which means they have studied the standards and practices of all types of property damage. 

24-Hour emergency services. Natural disasters, such as wildfires, strike quickly, and there’s often little you can do to prevent them from wreaking havoc on your home or business. In situations like this, having a crew that works around the clock is incredibly helpful. 

 SERVPRO of Marietta West is accessible 24/7 to respond to any fire emergency, whether it’s caused by nature or occurs on your property.

If a fire wreaks havoc on your home or business, contact our experts at SERVPRO of Marietta West. We respond ASAP to fire emergencies and can work closely with you to restore your property to its pre-fire condition.

Be More Prepared for Fires With These Simple Tips | SERVPRO of Marietta West

7/12/2022 (Permalink)

If your home is damaged in a house fire, SERVPRO of Marietta West is here to help. Contact us for any fire restoration needs.

Fire damage never stops in this country, and already this year, the American Red Cross has responded to more than 20,000 house fires, which is only a small portion of the total fires that have occurred so far in 2022.

As always, smoke detectors are the main way to prevent extreme home damage or a loss of life, but there are many other measures that you’re able to take to protect yourself and your home. Some are more complex than others, but most involve a good cleaning:

Cleaning Your Hot Appliances

In the state of Georgia, we are proud to have many historic and legendary buildings all throughout our region. However, these buildings are likely outfitted with appliances and machines that are older than most.

Older appliances are more likely to malfunction and result in a fire because of their frequent use and lack of safety mechanisms to prevent accidental disasters. Cleaning them regularly and checking them for any damage is the best way to prevent destruction.

Along with cleaning these appliances frequently, reducing the clutter in your home can allow proper airflow through it, reducing the chance that anything overheats and ignites.

Overloaded extension cords are another frequent cause of fires inside the home. When too many devices are plugged in, these devices are unable to handle the electricity and can burst into flames themselves.

Create a Defensible Space in Your Yard

When a fire originates outside your home, the surrounding land often becomes the last guard against extreme damage. There are intentional landscaping designs that protect your home and provide ample space for emergency workers to do their job and stop a fire before it comes inside.

The level of damage that fires are causing has become so serious that states like California are actively imposing defensible zone requirements for areas outside the home. These methods have shown to be effective in slowing wildfires in the affected areas, but it’s a smart decision regardless of where you are.

However, this innovative technique won’t stop you from planting your garden or cultivating a flower bed—it instead focuses on placing these flowers, bushes and trees in strategic locations that help stop the spread of fires. By having them spread out in this way, it lowers the chance that the fire will jump from your yard to your home.

Keep It Clean & Keep It Safe

Along with maintaining your hot zones and cleaning up in your yard, a thorough spring-cleaning can also help reduce your risk of a fire. It’s best to schedule a time with your family in the spring or summer to work together and knock it out.

These tasks often seem to pile up and weigh you down, but giving yourself plenty of time and setting goals can help you get through them. However, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to reduce fire hazards in the home—simple tasks like dusting help with fire prevention.

If you have experienced fire damage or want to learn more about SERVPRO of Marietta West’s fire damage restoration services, contact us today. We’re here to act fast, 24⁄7.

What Sparks Electrical Fires in the Home? | SERVPRO of Marietta West

6/22/2022 (Permalink)

If you are dealing with the aftermath of an electrical fire, SERVPRO of Marietta West has the equipment to restore the damage.

Electrical fires are a leading cause of home fires, with some 46,700 fires sparking between 2015 and 2019 from electrical malfunctions. There are numerous offenders around the house that are responsible for these types of fires, including light fixtures and appliance usage. 

In 2022, Georgia has already experienced 25 fire-related fatalities. Because electrical fires are a leading cause of home fire deaths, understanding what ignites electrical fires is critical. Taking action in your Marietta home is the first step toward preventing electrical fires. 

Common Causes of Electrical Fires 

The first step toward preventing electrical fires is understanding where they are most likely to occur in the home. Be aware of these potential hazards: 

Extension cords. Extension cords are a major cause of electrical fires in the house, causing around 3,300 fires each year. Overheating is caused by power cords that are overloaded with too many appliances or high-wattage equipment. 

Avoid overloading extension cords; you can check their capacity by looking at the connected tag or its packaging. Cords should never run under blankets or rugs because they can overheat and ignite a fire. 

Faulty wiring and outlets. Faulty outlets are a major problem in the home. Fires can be caused by outdated wires within outlets and loose wiring. Aging cables may be unable to handle newer gadgets such as laptops and televisions, resulting in overloading and the start of electrical fires. 

Check around the house for any loose outlets and replace them as soon as possible. Look for smoke or burn marks around your outlets to identify any aged wires. A burning odor near your outlets is also an indication of aged wiring and should be repaired promptly. 

Light fixtures. Half of all electrical fires in the house are started by items such as light bulbs and lamps. Light bulbs can ignite fires in enclosed fixtures making it hard for heat to escape. The bulb can overheat and melt inside the socket, resulting in a fire. 

Installing excessively high wattage bulbs in lamps might also result in flames. To prevent light fixture fires, unplug lamps when you’re done using them. To avoid overheating, check your appliances to see what wattage your light fixtures can tolerate. 

If you are dealing with the aftermath of an electrical fire, SERVPRO of Marietta West  has the equipment to restore the damage.

Call (770) 428-5467 or Contact SERVPRO if your home requires restoration!

What to Know About Cooking Fires in the Home | SERVPRO of Marietta West

2/7/2022 (Permalink)

If your home or business has experienced fire or smoke damage call SERVPRO of Marietta West. We make fire damage "Like it never even happened."

Cooking is something that many of us do nearly every day, but did you know that it is actually a rather dangerous activity from a fire safety standpoint? Cooking is the cause of nearly half of all home fires every year, and because cooking fires can quickly get out of hand, they can cause serious and expensive damages to the home.

If this has you ready to trade in your frying pan for a takeout menu, fear not! Cooking is perfectly safe as long as you approach it with a mindset of fire prevention, which is exactly what we will discuss today.

Our top cooking safety tips are below so you can be certain you will be safe every time you fire up the oven or the stovetop.

How to Practice Fire Safety When Cooking

Keep a Fire Extinguisher Nearby | Having a fire extinguisher handy is one of the most important safety tips out there. While preventing a fire is important, being able to deal with one quickly and efficiently can save you a tremendous amount of worry. Make sure your fire extinguisher is rated for cooking applications and that it is easily within reach.

Practice Stovetop Safety | The burners on the stovetop can do more than simply heat food, and unfortunately, are the cause of many cooking fires. Having flammable objects too close to the stovetop, leaving food cooking while unattended or not cleaning grease away from heat sources are all major fire starters. Additionally, it is a good idea to turn your pot handles toward the back of the stove so they do not accidentally get bumped.

Be Careful to Clean Your Oven | Oven fires are often caused by dirty ovens and can be easily prevented with regular cleaning. Crumbs and grease can both be flammable if conditions are right, but cleaning can take care of the issue before it becomes a problem. If you do have a fire in your oven, turn the oven off, keep the door closed and let things cool completely before addressing the issue.

*If you have damage to your home due to a fire, you can count on SERVPRO of Marietta West to help. We are here 24/7 to be your fire restoration specialists—contact us today to learn more.

The 4 Crucial Elements of Fire & How to Counteract Them | SERVPRO of Marietta West

1/26/2022 (Permalink)

If your home or business has any damage, SERVPRO of Marietta West is ready around the clock to help you recover.

There’s a three-dimensional triangle shape called tetrahedron you may recall from middle school geometry, which scientists and fire agencies also use to represent the way first get started.

This visual aid, called the fire tetrahedron, shows us the four essential elements of a fire, and gives us insight into how those elements can be used against a fire to bring about its end.

The 4 Things a Fire Needs to Live

Fuel - Fires are hungry little monsters, and the first thing they need is something to eat. Fires can consume most anything, organic materials or otherwise, provided these other elements are in place.

Heat - Burnable materials all have a thermal point at which they become prone to ignition. Some materials reach this point more quickly than others, which make them all the more dangerous as far as fire safety is concerned.

Oxygen - Fires, like humans, have to breathe—at least in a manner of speaking. Fires suck the oxygen from the atmospheres in which they burn, allowing them to continue to grow and simultaneously creating carbon monoxide hazards for people nearby.

Chemical Chain Reaction - These elements all work together in a chain reaction, which perpetuates the growth of the fire until something steps in to put a stop to it. But the elements which start a fire and keep it growing can also be used to undo it.

The 4 Ways to Stop a Fire

Cool It - This can be done in several ways, but the most common and most effective is by water. Restoring a thermal balance to the fuel the fire is consuming keeps heat levels under their combustion threshold.

Smother It - Something as simple as putting a lid on a candle or pan fire can deprive the fire underneath of the oxygen it requires to survive. This is how “stop, drop and roll” works, too.

Starve It - When the pantry is empty, so to speak, a fire gives up. When there’s no more wood or other material to eat, the fire simply has no reason or ability to keep going.

Interrupt the Chain Reaction - A fire can be tripped up by the entry of an outside chemical or gas that breaks up the reaction. If the reaction is adequately disturbed, the fire stops. A gas called halon is quite good at this, but it was found to have a negative impact on the environment and thus has been banned from production.

*If the fire tetrahedron makes a wreck of your home or business, we’re ready around the clock to help you recover. Contact SERVPRO of Marietta West at (770) 428-5467 at any time for fast, thorough cleanup and recovery after a fire or visit www.SERVPROmariettawest.com for more information on our commercial or residential fire restoration services.

Where Fires Might Start in Your Home | SERVPRO of Marietta West

11/9/2021 (Permalink)

Regardless of the cause, SERVPRO of Marietta West is here for you if your home is affected by fire.

Fires happen all over the place. Some are wild, started by lightning. Some are commercial, due to mishaps in the workplace or other factors. And yet others happen on the home front—in fact, more than 25% of all reported fires, and over 75% of fire-related casualties, occur at home.

So where are the places fires might ignite at home? Look through this list and see if you find any places you can exercise a little more caution at home and prevent some potential problems.

| Cooking | Drop a coin on the table, and the odds are even that it’ll land on either heads or tails. Tell a firefighter a fire happened at your home, and they’ll give you the same odds that it started in your kitchen. Half of all home fires start there, and the most common reason is unattended cooking. Simply paying attention while you prepare dinner will drastically reduce your home’s fire risk.

| Heating Equipment | It only makes sense to imagine that the increased use of heating equipment and fireplaces during colder months could lead to a rise in home blazes—it’s a statistical probability. But you can mitigate your risk by being careful with your heat sources. Keep anything flammable at least three feet from any source of heat. Don’t leave portable space heaters on when you go to sleep or leave the room.

| Electrical Fires | Electricity presents a kind of automatic fire risk, but you can do your part in keeping it from becoming an acute danger. Regularly let a professional inspect, maintain or upgrade your wiring and electrical systems as needed. Don’t overuse or misuse extension cords, plug items into loose or sparky outlets, or overload lighting installations with high-watt bulbs.

| Intentional Fires | You’d think humanity might have evolved beyond it, but apparently not: Around 28,000 intentional home fires happen each year, due to direct misuse of heating elements to cause damage to a piece of property.

| Smoking Materials | Smoking in bed, or smoking while otherwise drowsy or impaired, leads to a very sad statistic. Though these types of fires account for only 5% of total home fires, they directly cause almost a quarter of all civilian fire deaths.

Some simple safety measures can prevent dangerous, even deadly, scenarios at home. Every month is fire safety month.

*Regardless of the cause, SERVPRO of Marietta West is here for you if your home is affected by fire and smoke damage. Contact your locally owned SERVPRO team, SERVPRO of Marietta West today at (770) 428-5467 for immediate service or visit www.SERVPROmariettawest.com to see how we can help.

A Fire Safety Tip Refresher for the Home | SERVPRO of Marietta West

10/6/2021 (Permalink)

If you home has suffered fire damage call SERVPRO of Marietta West 24-hours a day for emergency fire restoration services.

Improving your fire safety efforts is a great way to protect your home and your loved ones, but how often have you thought about the ways in which you are being proactive about fire prevention? Unfortunately, house fires are extremely common, and the majority of them are preventable with the right fire safety measures in place.

If you have not done a fire safety audit for your home in a while, it might be wise to do a refresher to ensure that you have not accidentally gotten lax in any of the important elements of fire safety. There are many ways that a fire can start, but by proactively preventing them, you can increase your chances of keeping your family safe.

A Refresh on Household Fire Safety Tips to Keep in Mind

Implementing fire safety tips into your household is so important, as is ensuring that you are keeping up with them throughout the year as well. It may be wise to set a reminder to go through this fire safety checklist every six months or so to make sure everything is properly accounted for.

Here are some fire safety tips to remember:

• Make sure you have an adequate number of smoke detectors in all the right locations in the home—on each floor, outside of sleeping areas, in the kitchen and in common rooms.
• Check your smoke detectors once a month and replace low batteries right away.
• Ensure every room in your home has two exits, which may mean purchasing a safety ladder for rooms on the second story.
• Have a home fire escape plan and practice it regularly with all members of your household.
• Be sure your house’s street numbers are visible from the road in case you need emergency services.
• Establish a family communication plan so you all know how to get in touch should you get separated in a fire.
• Work with young children to practice fire safety skills as they are able.
• Buy fire extinguishers for the home in the appropriate classes and teach everyone in the household how and when to use them.

*If your Marietta home suffers fire or smoke damage, you can count on SERVPRO of Marietta West for all of your fire restoration needs. We are here 24/7 to help you with the aftermath of fire damage—contact us at (770) 428-5467 for emergency fire restoration services 24-hours a day or visit www.SERVPROmariettawest.com to learn more.

Does Your Family Have a Fire Escape Plan in Place? | SERVPRO of Marietta West

9/23/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Marietta West is here to help Marietta & Kennesaw homeowners recover after a fire loss...no matter what size fire damage you've experienced

We would all likely agree that we would rather not experience a fire in our homes, but are you sure that you are doing everything you can to protect your household from fire dangers? Household fires are extremely common, and while educating your family about fire prevention and installing adequate smoke detectors are the first steps to take toward fire safety, it is also important to have a plan in case you must evacuate.

House fires can rapidly grow massive in size, causing smoke to fill the air and making escape difficult or impossible. For this reason, having an escape plan fully memorized in advance can make a major difference—that way, you and your family will immediately know what to do if a fire begins so you can all get to safety quickly.

How to Create a Fire Escape Plan for Your Family

**Consider the Exit Pathways for Each Room** 

To make sure you can safely exit your home no matter where the fire initially breaks out, it is important that each room has at least two exits to escape from. For upstairs rooms, this may make it necessary to purchase an emergency ladder or other sort of device so one could escape from the door or the window if it became necessary to do so.

**Rehearse as a Family Repeatedly**

In a frightening situation such as a house fire, making sure that you have equipped yourself with the knowledge you need to escape is a must, as fear can make logical thinking harder. Make sure that your family rehearses the fire escape plan regularly and can execute it in under two minutes every time.

**Have a Plan for Young Children & Pets**

If you have anyone in the household that may need assistance escaping from a house fire, such as young children, elderly relatives or pets, make sure there is a plan in place for how to help them. Designate someone in the household to help them to safety so no one is left behind during a fire in the confusion.

If your home is damaged due to a house fire, you can depend on SERVPRO of Marietta West. Contact us 24/7 to report damage at (770) 428-5467 or to learn more about how we can help with fire damage restoration visit www.SERVPROmariettawest.com or for more information.

Keep Fire Safety at the Heart of Your Fall Plans | SERVPRO of Marietta West

9/21/2021 (Permalink)

Be mindful about fall fire safety. Always remember that SERVPRO of Marietta West is the trusted leader in the restoration industry.

It’s fall again, and it’s not hard to tell it—temperatures are cooling off, leaves are changing to that gorgeous mix of autumnal colors and the Bulldogs are back on TV every Saturday. Decorations are going up for fall parties and festivals, and everything smells like pumpkin spice. As you decorate and celebrate the season, it’s important to keep fire safety in mind, so let’s review a few things quickly.

| Campfire Safety |

• Fall camping hits differently—crisp mornings and cool nights are perfect for a campfire. But before you start roasting s’mores, make sure you’re building and extinguishing your fire properly.
• Keep your open flame at least 25 feet from any structures, on sandy or dirty ground, with a pit of stones around it. Never use kerosene or lighter fluid to start or accelerate your fire—stick to matches or lighters only.
• An unwatched fire is a dangerous fire. Never leave your campfire burning by itself, and always make sure every ember is completely extinguished by water before you head out of camp.

| Leaf Burning |

• If your yard is covered in dry, brown leaves, you have a few options if you want to be rid of them. You can have them hauled away, mulch and repurpose them, or burn them. If you choose to burn your trimmings and leaves, your first step is to acquire a permit from Georgia Forestry, and then make your local fire station aware that you’ll be using an open fire.
• Burning anything besides organic yard waste is both banned and dangerous.
• A burn barrel is your safest option, if you have one—secondarily, a dirt space with a well-maintained pile will do. Keep your fire 50 feet from the home or any outbuildings, and clear of any low-hanging tree branches that could ignite.

| Halloween |

• If you’re getting ready for a spooky Halloween, or simply putting out more subtle fall décor, be aware of the hazards of hanging or flammable decorations, especially around candles, which cause an alarming number of fires each year. Make sure any string lights are unplugged when not in use as well.

*If your Marietta or Kennesaw home should suffer fire or smoke damage, remember the trusted leader in the fire restoration and recovery industry...SERVPRO of Marietta West. You can contact SERVPRO of Marietta West at (770) 428-5467 to get your property fully restored, including odor removal that will make that annoying smoke smell “Like it never even happened.”

Your Land as Wildfire Defense | SERVPRO of Marietta West

7/26/2021 (Permalink)

If your home is damaged by fire or water loss event, SERVPRO of Marietta West is ready and able to restore your property to preloss condition.

No homeowner wants to think about the possibility of seeing their home destroyed in the mouth of a raging wildfire, but it has to be considered. Wildfires are more common than you might realize. And considering the rate at which they spread and the heat with which they burn, it’s a wonder fire crews are able to quell them at all.

But we do have a few methods for fighting wildfires that don’t require a fire hose, apart from the painfully obvious, which would be starting fewer fires by being more careful. For one: Let’s talk about “defensible space.”

What Is Defensible Space?

It’s not about fighting off invaders from Neptune—“defensible space” is a series of buffer zones you can manage at certain distances around your home. By planting and pruning smartly, removing extra things for fires to consume, and enlisting areas of hardscape or inorganic materials, you can make your home less vulnerable should fire threaten your land.

Think of it as a safety barrier (aka defense) intended to slow the spread of a fire as it comes near by depriving it of the fuel it needs to keep going. It also gives your local firefighters a better chance of stopping a wildfire by giving them room to work while the fire is being rebuffed.

Why Defensible Space Matters

When you think of wildfires, you may think about blazes in the West Coast, but the fact is they can occur anywhere. There were over 59,000 wildfires across the United States in 2020, and almost 1,700 of them were here in Georgia.

Even removing California’s 10,000+ fires from that national state leaves us with an average of almost 1,000 fires per state in 2020, with every state having at least a few. And the number of fires in 2021 has been 25% higher so far.

Defensible space isn’t required by law or building codes in Georgia, but it’s a good fire safety practice all the same: Anything we can do to prevent or stop the spread of fires, we should do, and defensible space is one more way we can make a difference.

*If your home is damaged by fire of any sort, wild or not, SERVPRO of Marietta West is ready and able to repair the damage caused. Get in touch today at (770) 428-5467 to get the SERVPRO of Marietta West pros on your team.

Staying Fire-Safe This Grilling Season | SERVPRO of Marietta West

6/7/2021 (Permalink)

Restoring fire and smoke damage is one of our specialties. Contact SERVPRO of Marietta West to learn more.

Spring is a time of new life, a lifting of the spirits after the long cold winter, and it encourages many of us to activity again after a period that can easily stagnate us. Birds and bees are at their best, and nature practically begs us to be outdoors enjoying its wonder...And when we’re outdoors in warm weather, what do we do?

We barbecue, naturally!

The grill has been waiting so long, and now it’s time to crank it up and get some burgers going. But the increase in outdoor activities tends to lead also to an elevation in the number of accidental home fires. In fact, spring sees more daily fires on average than any other time of year. But there are a few simple things you can do to make sure your outdoor activities are safe from fire this season.

- The Grill - Grills are to blame for most accidental outdoor fires this time of year, and it’s easy to see why. When high heat and flames combine with nearby combustible elements, gas and grease, you can imagine that it doesn’t take much short of the strictest cooking discipline for a fire to start. So keep it safe—don’t use a grill that has leaks or structural damage that might destabilize it, don’t leave the grill unattended while it’s operating, and don’t forget to clean up after. Almost 20% of grill fires are due to poor cleaning.

- The Fire Pit - The social hub of the backyard has become the fire pit for many families. Conversations come easy, and marshmallows roast perfectly. Just make sure you’re set up for safety around the pit. Keep a bucket of water within reach, in case of an emergency or spilled ash, and use that bucket to slowly douse the fire when you’re done. Dumping water can create billowing smoke and send dangerous embers flying. Never leave the fire unattended, and make sure kids and pets don’t go near it without being properly supervised.

- Chimneys & Dryer Vents - These don’t have to be done in spring, but you might as well while you’ve got fire safety on the brain. Your chimney stacks up soot and ash over the winter, so clean it out now so you don’t have a problem when you fire it up again in the fall. And lastly, pull the vent pipe off your dryer and examine it to see if any flammable lint is hiding in it. That stuff goes up quickly in high heat.

SERVPRO of South Atlanta's technicians are on hand ²⁴⁄₇ for emergencies. If you encounter fire damage at your home or business, no matter the cause, we will be there faster and have it cleaned up sooner. Call or click today and experience the SERVPRO difference.

Christmas Fire Safety Tips for Your Marietta Home

12/24/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Marietta West wishes you and your family a very merry and safe Christmas and holiday season!

The Christmas season just would not be the same without shimmery, sparkly lights illuminating homes making everything shiny and bright. When it comes to fire prevention and protection safety is not something we can take for granted. US fire departments responded to an average 770 home structure fires per year that began with Christmas decorations. A live Christmas tree burn conducted by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) shows just how quickly a dried Christmas tree burns with flashover occurring in less than one minute as compared to a well-watered tree, which burns at a much slower rate.

Keep your holiday merry and bright by making fire safety a priority during this holiday season. When planning and implementing your lighting design keep these holiday safety tips in mind to help you reduce the risk of property damage, injury or even death.   

Fire Safety Tips for the Christmas Season

• Before plugging in a set of lights examine the cord for damage. Throw away any worn out or damaged sets of lights.
• Never overload a circuit. Too many decorations and lights can overload electrical outlets and can cause a fire.
• Turn off lights and decorations before leaving the house or going to bed.
• Keep your tree hydrated. Once a tree is dry, it can catch fire easily. Dried out trees should be discarded.
• Inspect and dispose of any damage decorations.
• Decorations are temporary, remove them after the holidays.
• Avoid using candles when possible. Consider using battery-operated candles in place of traditional candles. 

When an unavoidable circumstance like fire damage happens SERVPRO of Marietta West can provide a timely response. We pride ourselves in making fire damage “Like it never even happened.” SERVPRO of Marietta West restoration professionals offer mitigation services ranging from fire, smoke, soot removal, content cleaning and restoration. We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help you regain control quickly. With the industry approved training to employ rapid response, the utmost professionalism, cutting edge-technology and open communication, we strive to restore not only the home but the consumers peace of mind as well.

Customer Reviews and Testimonials

Mrs. Kirkland of Douglasville, GA - “Alvin did a great job! I would recommend SERVPRO of Marietta West to anyone who needs water damage restoration.”

James U. of Marietta, GA - “I want to thank SERVPRO of Marietta West for coming out to my home so quickly. Dustin was kind and courteous. He listened to the issue and know what to do. Dustin gave me expert advice as to how he would treat the situation. Really great service as I would use SERVPRO Marietta West again and refer my neighbors as well!”

Joshua of Powder Springs, GA - “Very professional, the group of guys that came to my home made me feel as comfortable as possible during a terrible situation. Handled the flood in my home like the pro’s that they are!”

More Customer Online Reviews and Endorsements

• Over 70 Positive 5-Star Google Reviews
• BBB - A+ Accredited Business
• SERVPRO of Marietta West is a IICRC Certified Firm
• 4.5 Customer Rating on Facebook

*Check out some of our previous related Fire Restoration Blogs: “Fire Extinguisher Cleanup in Marietta, GA”; “Overview of SERVPRO of Marietta West's Fire Restoration Services”; “Removing Smoke and Nicotine Odors from your Cobb County Home”; “SERVPRO's Fire, Soot, and Smoke Cleaning Process For Your Marietta Home”; “How to Handle a Fire Loss in Kennesaw GA”

SERVPRO of Marietta West 2020 Thanksgiving Restoration Newsline Contest

11/2/2020 (Permalink)

Read this blog and head on over to SERVPRO of Marietta West's Facebook page for a chance to win a FREE Honey Baked Ham!

SERVPRO of Marietta West would like to announce our 2020 Thanksgiving Restoration Newsline Contest! This contest was created to help educate the Marietta and Kennesaw communities on the perils of home fires, and what you can do to help prevent both residential and commercial structure fires. One lucky participant will win a FREE Honey Baked Ham courtesy of SERVPRO of Marietta West.

CONTEST RULES:

• Like and follow SERVPRO of Marietta West’s Facebook page.

• Comment on the SERVPRO of Marietta West 2020 Thanksgiving Restoration Newline Contest post with the answers to following questions (this post will be pinned to the top of our page for your convenience or click here for a direct link).
  • What is the leading cause of residential fires?
  • On average, how many structural home fires occur every year?
  • Who can restore your home or business to preloss condition once the fire has been extinguished and smoke has cleared?
• Tune in for our Facebook Live drawing to see if you’ve won!

2020 Thanksgiving Restoration Newsline

Did you know cooking equipment is the leading cause of residential fires? As the holiday season begins and you find yourself in the kitchen more often while friends and family, fire precautions should be top of mind.

A property owner experiences a flood of emotions when a fire ravages their business or home. Fear, uncertainty, stress, and doubt about the future of the property and their livelihood can be overwhelming to the property owner long after the flames have been extinguished and the smoke has cleared. After the first wave of heroes have rescued the property, Let SERVPRO of Marietta West help you restore it to its preloss condition. Combining rapid response, the utmost professionalism, and open communication throughout the entire job process, we strive to restore not only the home or business structure, but the customer’s peace of mind as well.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) offers the following eye-opening statistics on structure fires:

• Most home fires and fire casualties result from five causes:
• Cooking
• Heating
• Electrical distribution & lighting equipment
• Intentional fire setting
• Smoking materials
• More than one-quarter (27%) of reported fires occur in homes within the last year.
• Even worse, 79% of fire-related deaths were caused by home fires.
• On average, U.S. Fire departments respond to an estimated average of 354,400 home structure fires per year, resulting in $6.9 billion in direct property damage.

If the unthinkable happens and a fire strikes your home or business, give the experts at SERVPRO of Marietta West a call at (770) 428-5467 or visit SERVPROmariettawest.com for more information. We will help make it “Like it never even happened.”

Using a Portable Fire Extinguisher

A portable fire extinguisher can be a life and property saving tool when used correctly. In order to operate a fire extinguisher, the NFPA suggests remembering the word PASS.

• Pull the pin. Hold the nozzle pointing away from you and release the locking mechanism.
• Aim low. Point the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire.
• Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
• Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side

Read the instructions on the fire extinguisher and become familiar with them before a fire breaks out. Encourage your family members and co-workers to do the same. Remember, Extinguishers do have their limitations! It is also important to ensure you have the correct type of extinguisher for your home or facility. Refer to the next section of this blog to learn more about the different classes of fire extinguishers and the types of fire each are designed to extinguish.

Choosing the Appropriate Class of Fire Extinguisher

• Class A: This is the most common extinguisher and can be used to put out fires in ordinary combustibles such as cloth, wood, rubber, paper, and many plastics.
• Class B: Used on fires involving flammable liquids, such as grease, gasoline, and oil
• Class C: Designed for fires involving appliances, tools, or other equipment electronically energized or plugged in.
• Class D: For use on flammable metals; often specific for the type of metal in question. These are typically found in factories and commercial applications.
• Class K: Intended for use on fires that involve vegetable oils, animal oils, or fats in cooking appliances. Generally found in commercial kitchens.

*If you’ve enjoyed this blog feel free to check out some of SERVPRO of Marietta West’s Previous Restoration Blogs: ”Fire Extinguisher Cleanup in Marietta, GA”; “Overview of SERVPRO of Marietta West's Fire Restoration Services”; “Four Steps to Take Immediately After a Marietta or Kennesaw Home Fire”; “SERVPRO of Marietta West: What to Do Until Help Arrives - Fire Damage”; “Have a Safe Turkey Fry This Thanksgiving”

Fire Extinguisher Cleanup in Marietta, GA

10/7/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Marietta West is here to help after your home or business suffer a fire loss. Let us make your fire damage "Like it never even happened."

So you’ve just used your fire extinguisher to extinguish a small fire in your kitchen that started when you lost track of time cooking dinner. While you are grateful that the fire is out, now you wonder what you should do to clean up the gigantic mess left behind? The amount of permanent damage from the fire is minimal, but there are signs of fire damage in the form of scorch marks above the oven. Also, there is fire suppressant powder everywhere. It’s in and around the oven where the fire extinguisher put out the oven fire, and there is a thin layer of dust settling on the surfaces in the room. There is an overwhelming and pervasive smoke smell throughout your entire home and the air is thick with fire suppressant powder. It’s time to call the industry leaders...SERVPRO of Marietta West. We are the fire restoration professionals that can make any size fire damage “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO’s Standard Protocol for Fire Extinguisher Cleanup

Technicians will don appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Cleaning up fire retardant discharged from a fire extinguisher requires PPE like goggles, rubber gloves, and a respirator or dust mask to minimize exposure to hazards during the cleaning process. They will clean the affected area using high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtered vacuums and SERVPRO’s proprietary cleaning products like SERVPRO Orange Plus, Wall and All Surface Cleaner, Bright-N-Neutral Cleaner and disinfectants like Sporiciden or SERVPROxide to sanitize.

How to Cleanup After a Fire Extinguisher is Discharged…

*SERVPRO of Marietta West advises all homeowners faced with fire damage to their home or business to work with a reputable, licensed, and insured restoration company that they trust to complete any restoration project or repairs to their property.

Dry Powder Fire Extinguisher (most common)

Non-Porous Surfaces

• First vacuum up all the dry powder using a HEPA filtered vacuum.
• Then use a professional cleaning solution, like one found in SERVPRO’s line of proprietary cleaning products, to wet clean the affected surface (use cleaning products as directed by manufacturer or according to product label).
• After wet cleaning use clean clear water on a damp clean towel or cleaning cloth to gently remove any residual cleaning product residue.
• Finally, Sporiciden or SERVPROxide can be used to sanitize the affected area (if the area is utilized for food prep, an appropriate food-grade sanitizer should be used to sanitize the food prep area).

Porous Surfaces

• Vacuum thoroughly to remove as much of the dry powder material as possible using HEPA filtered vacuum.
• You may need to beat the surface with a small handle to get the dust to the top of the surface.
• DO NOT work the vacuum back and forth across the area. This will push the dust further into the surface making the area harder to clean.
• Then use a professional cleaning solution, like one found in SERVPRO’s line of proprietary cleaning products, to wet clean the affected surface (use cleaning products as directed by manufacturer or according to product label).
• After wet cleaning use clean clear water on a damp clean towel or cleaning cloth to gently remove any residual cleaning product residue.
• Finally, Sporiciden or SERVPROxide can be used to sanitize the affected area (if the area is utilized for food prep, an appropriate food-grade sanitizer should be used to sanitize the food prep area).

Wet Chemical Fire Extinguisher (less common)

• First remove all excess liquid using wet-vac and towels to dry the affected area.
• Then use a professional cleaning solution, like one found in SERVPRO’s line of proprietary cleaning products, to wet clean the affected surface (use cleaning products as directed by manufacturer or according to product label).
• After wet cleaning use clean clear water on a damp clean towel or cleaning cloth to gently remove any residual cleaning product residue.
• Finally, Sporiciden or SERVPROxide can be used to sanitize the affected area (if the area is utilized for food prep, an appropriate food-grade sanitizer should be used to sanitize the food prep area).

*Important Notice: Dispose of all food, cooking grease or ingestible items that may have come into contact with the fire extinguisher chemicals. 

If your home or business has recently suffered fire damage call SERVPRO of Marietta West at (770) 428-5467 or you can click here and one of our loss coordinators will reach out to you as soon as possible. SERVPRO of Marietta West is here to help 24-hours a day, seven days a week and offers fire restoration services like fire cleanup, contents restoration, emergency tarping and boardup service to secure your property after a fire. Let SERVPRO of Marietta West make your property fire “Like it never even happened.”

For more Fire Damage Tips check out our previous Fire Restoration Blogs: ”Four Steps to Take Immediately After a Marietta or Kennesaw Home Fire”; “SERVPRO of Marietta West: What to Do Until Help Arrives - Fire Damage”; “Removing Smoke and Nicotine Odors from your Cobb County Home”; “SERVPRO's Fire, Soot, and Smoke Cleaning Process For Your Marietta Home”; “Making Your Marietta Home Whole Again After a Fire”

Overview of SERVPRO of Marietta West's Fire Restoration Services

9/25/2020 (Permalink)

If your home has suffered fire damage call SERVPRO of Marietta West. We are here to help and will make fire damage "Like it never even happened."

Since each smoke and fire restoration project is a little different, unique solutions are required to resolve each individual project and often require unique and tailored solutions to complete each project. When different materials burn, the soot and residue they create differs greatly and requires a specific cleaning procedure. The steps listed below illustrate our process for the “typical” fire damage restoration project. Click here to learn more about our fire damage restoration process.

Overview of Fire Restoration Services

1. Emergency Contact - The restoration process starts when you, our customer, call SERVPRO of Marietta West. Our job file coordinator will ask several questions regarding the fire damage event which will help us respond quickly with the appropriate equipment and resources.
2. Inspection and Fire Damage Assessment - We will inspect the property for safety concerns and mitigate any risks to your property and our employees, then carefully inspect, document, and test affected rooms on your property to determine the extent of the fire, smoke, and soot damage. This step is crucial to developing an action plan, scope of work, and allows us to put together an estimate for your fire restoration project. 
3. Immediate Board-Up and Roof Tarp Service (if needed) - Fire damage often compromises walls, windows, and/or the roof. We will board up missing windows and walls and place tarps on damaged roofs to protect your property to restore security and to protect against further damage. 
4. Water Removal and Drying (if water damage is present) - The water removal process begins once the property has been deemed safe to enter and the property is secured. SERVPRO will remove the majority of the water using water extraction tools like high flow rate submersible pumps, sump pumps, high powered truck mounted vacuum systems and commercial portable wet vacuums. We then use dehumidifiers, air movers and an array of IICRC approved drying techniques to remove the remaining water and complete the drying process quickly, safely, and efficiently. 
5. Removal of Smoke and Soot from All Surfaces - SERVPRO of Marietta West also has a host of specialized equipment and techniques at our disposal to remove smoke and soot from ceilings, walls, and other surfaces. Removing any remnants of fire damage and removing smoke odors, not just covering them up (Covering up odors often results in the offending smell returning once the masking agent loses its potency).
6. Cleaning and Repair - We clean, sanitize, and disinfect all of the restorable items and structures that were damaged by the fire. We use a variety of cleaning techniques to restore your belongings to pre-fire condition. We’re also trained to remove odors using industrial air scrubbers and fogging equipment.
7. Restoration - Restoration is the final step in getting your home or business to its pre-fire condition. Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall, painting, and installing new carpet or it may entail major repairs such as the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business. Leave fire restoration to the pros at SERVPRO of Marietta West and let us take the uncertainty and headache out of restoring your home after a fire loss.

Want to know what Marietta and Kennesaw customers think about SERVPRO of Marietta West? Take a look at our 65+ Google Reviews!

SERVPRO of Marietta West is the locally owned and operated restoration company with the backing and national resources of the nation’s leading restoration corporation...SERVPRO. SERVPRO of Marietta West is a preferred vendor for most major insurance companies like State Farm, Farmers, Auto Owners, American Family Insurance, Metlife,  and The Hartford. We have long-standing working relationships with our local agents and help homeowners file an insurance claim when applicable. If your home our business suffers fire damage call SERVPRO of Marietta West at (770) 428-5467 or click here and one of our claims specialists can contact you today. 

*Check out some of SERVPRO of Marietta West’s Before & After Fire Restoration Photos and previous Fire Restoration Blogs: “Fire Restoration project in Marietta GA - Staircase”; “Fire Restoration project in Marietta GA - Living Room & Fireplace”; “SERVPRO's Fire, Soot, and Smoke Cleaning Process For Your Marietta Home”; “Removing Smoke and Nicotine Odors from your Cobb County Home”; “Why You Should Tarp & Board-up Your Marietta Property After Fire Damaged”; “Four Reasons You Should Always Seek Professional Fire Restoration Services For Your Marietta Home”

Four Steps to Take Immediately After a Marietta or Kennesaw Home Fire

9/24/2020 (Permalink)

If you home suffers fire damage, call SERVPRO of Marietta West and let us make your fire damage "Like it never even happened."

There are several things to take into consideration after you or a loved one has experienced a home fire. The American Red Cross has several guidelines that will help you and your family cope with a home fire. They advise you to, “Pay attention to how you and your loved one are experiencing and handling stress.” The American Red Cross also advises people that have a pet should watch them closely and keep them under your strict supervision. 

Handling and processing the stress of a home fire can be very taxing, that's why SERVPRO of Marietta West is here to help. We can help you take control of the situation by providing you with an executable action plan to restore your property to preloss condition, relieving your stress and giving you peace of mind.

4 Steps to Take Immediately After a Home Fire

• Call 9-1-1 immediately. Provide first aid where needed If you are trained and capable to  to do so. Treat burns with cool water and cover them with sterile and clean gauze or cloth to reduce the chance of further infection or injury.

• Let friends and family members know that you are safe. 

• People and/or animals that are seriously injured or burned should be treated or transported to medical professionals (or trained veterinarian) for immediate help.

• Stay out of fire-damaged homes until local fire authorities have deemed the structure safe to re-enter.

*People like infants, elderly people, those without transportation, people with disabilities, and large families may need additional help in emergency situations

Before a Fire Happens, You Should Develop an Escape Plan

• The escape plan should include two ways to get out of each room in case the primary way is blocked by smoke or fire.
• Window security bars should be in good working order and able to be readily opened. Window screens should be easily removable and windows in general should not have impediments that prevent you from opening them easily.
• The second way out of a room might be a window that leads to the roof or a collapsible ladder that allows you to escape from an upper level window.
• With your eyes closed or in the dark you can practice feeling your way out of the house to simulate low visibility due to smoke.
• Teach children not to be scared of firefighters that my be searching the home and not to hide from them in the event of a fire.

*For more information about home fires visit ready.gov/home-fires

SERVPRO of Marietta West offers a host of fire restoration services and can help property managers make just about any disaster “Like it never even happened.” Our team of restoration professionals have the skills and training to quickly, safely, and cost effectively restore water and fire damaged homes to preloss condition. SERVPRO of Marietta West’s highly trained technicians are also well versed and experienced in mold abatement and bioremediation. During these unprecedented times, and with the recent rise of the pandemic, SERVPRO technicians have also become essential workers in the fight against COVID-19.

*For more safety tips and related Fire Restoration Blogs check out the following links: ”SERVPRO of Marietta West: What to Do Until Help Arrives - Fire Damage”; “Have a Safe Turkey Fry This Thanksgiving”; “Smoke Alarms Save Marietta Lives”; “Keep Marietta’s Fall Fire-Free”; “Georgia Fire Statistics as Reported by the National Fire Incident Reporting System”; “SERVPRO’s Fire, Soot, and Smoke Cleaning Process For Your Marietta Home”; “How to Handle a Fire Loss in Kennesaw, GA”; “Smoke & Soot Cleanup in Marietta, GA”

SERVPRO of Marietta West: What to Do Until Help Arrives - Fire Damage

7/30/2020 (Permalink)

If you suffer a fire loss time is of the essence. Call the team that is faster to any size disaster and can make it "Like it never even happened."

Fire damage can be severe and how you respond to it dictates the success and expediency of a fire restoration project. The first 48 hours after a fire damage can make the difference between restoring versus replacing your property and personal belongings. SERVPRO of Marietta West can help prevent fire damage from creating long-term problems and get you back into your home quickly and safely. SERVPRO of Marietta West responds with mitigation services ranging from fire, smoke and soot removal, document restoration and contents restoration including scoping, inventorying and documenting claims for insurance providers like State Farm, Metlife, Farmers, The Hartford and many others. These services help ensure your property, belongings and memories are restored to preloss condition when possible.

SERVPRO of Marietta West is available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year to help you regain control quickly!

What You Can Do Until Help Arrives

• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from spreading and additional damage from occurring. Walking from one room to the other can track soot and smoke particles into non-affected areas, so keep foot traffic in damaged areas to a minimum and be mindful of what you touch with your hands. 
• Place clean towels or old linens on rugs and high traffic areas and upholstery. This can help prevent the aforementioned transfer of soot and smoke particles into non-affected areas.
• Coat chrome faucets, trim and appliances with petroleum jelly or oil. This protective coating can help prevent oxidation, rust, and corrosion that could take place as a result of soot and smoke particles that come in contact with chrome fixtures or building materials.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpet. This can lessen the likelihood of fire/water damage to both the furniture and the carpet.
• Do not wash any walls or painted surfaces. Washing walls could cause smearing and/or set the smoke smells into building materials like drywall making restoration more difficult, time consuming, and expensive.
• Do not shampoo carpet or upholstery. Shampooing  carpet or upholstery could cause smearing and/or set the smoke smells into building materials like carpet and upholstered furniture and window treatments making restoration more difficult, time consuming, and expensive.
• Do not clean any electrical equipment. Smoke and fire damage electronics pose a real fire hazard and should not be turned on without a thorough cleaning, preformed by a competent restoration specialist who has specialized training and tools intended for the restoration of electronic devices.
• Do not send clothing to a dry cleaner since improper cleaning may set smoke odor.

A back-draft of emotions can overcome homeowners after a fire ravages their home. Fear, uncertainty, stress and doubt about the future of the property can seem overwhelming to the homeowner long after the flames have been extinguished and the smoke has cleared.

So after the first wave of heroes (the Marietta Fire Department) have rescued the property by extinguishing the fire, let SERVPRO of Marietta West help you restore it. With our IICRC certified training for employees, an industry leading rapid response time, utmost professionalism, cutting-edge technology and open communication, we strive to restore not only the homeowner’s property, but the homeowner’s peace of mind, as well.

SERVPRO System Services - Residential & Commercial

Restoration Services: 

• Fire, Smoke, and Soot

• Water Removal, Drying and Dehumidification

• Mold Mitigation and Remediation

• Reconstruction; Catastrophic Storm Response

• Move-Outs and Contents Restoration

• Electronics and Equipment

• Document Drying

• Contents Claim Inventory Service

Cleaning: 

• Air Duct and HVAC

• Deodorization

• Carpet, Upholstery, Drapes, and Blinds

• Ceilings, Walls, and Hard Floors

• Biohazard, Crime Scene, and Vandalism

So, before you risk doing further damage by attempting to clean up the fire damage yourself, call the fire damage cleanup and restoration professionals at SERVPRO of Marietta West, we have worked for over fifteen years to help make fire damage “Like it never even happened.”

Different Types of Commonly Found Smoke Damage:

• Wet Smoke - Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, and smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean. Examples include plastic and rubber fires.

• Dry Smoke - Fast-burning, high temperatures; heat rises, therefore smoke rises. Examples include paper and wood fires

• Protein Fire Residue - Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. Produced by evaporation of materials rather than from a fire.

• Fuel Oil Soot -  While “puff backs” can create havoc for homeowners, SERVPRO of Marietta West professionals can, in most cases, restore the contents and structure quickly.

• Other Types - Special loss situations require special care. Examples include tear gas, fingerprint powder, and fire extinguisher residue

Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration for both residential and commercial properties. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s Corporate Training Facility to regular IICRC industry certifications, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property. Our training program includes the following:

• IICRC Training

• Employee Certification Training

• Initial Franchise Training

• e-Learnings

• Continuing Education Classes

Floors, furniture, walls, etc. are particularly susceptible to water damage. Water can be invasive and can quickly spreading throughout your property, being absorbed into the aforementioned items. SERVPRO of Marietta West will arrive quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately.

Check out some of our previous customers Before & After Fire Restoration Photos: “Fire Restoration Project in Marietta, GA - Staircase”; “Fire Restoration project in Marietta GA - Living Room & Fireplace”; “Fire Restoration project in Marietta GA - Home Gym”; “Kitchen Fire”; “Fire & Smoke Damage In Family’s Living Room”; “Amazing Masonry Work On Fire Damage Home”; “Living Room Fireplace”; “Soot Damage From Minor Home Fire”

If you enjoyed this fire restoration blog take a look at some of SERVPRO of Marietta West’s Related Fire Restoration Blogs: “Smoke Alarms Save Marietta Lives”; “Keep Marietta’s Fall Fire-Free”; “Georgia Fire Statistics as Reported by the National Fire Incident Reporting System”; “Removing Smoke and Nicotine Odors from your Cobb County Home”; “SERVPRO’s Fire, Soot, and Smoke Cleaning Process For Your Marietta Home”; “How to Handle a Fire Loss in Kennesaw, GA”

Have a Safe Turkey Fry This Thanksgiving

11/5/2019 (Permalink)

From our family to yours, we wish you a joyous and safe holiday season!

5 Dangers of Deep Frying a Turkey

• Turkey fryers can easily tip over, spilling hot cooking oil over a large area or surface.
• An over-filled cooking pot can cause cooking oil to spill or spatter when the turkey is placed in the pot.
• Even a small amount of cooking oil spilling on a hot burner can cause a large fire.
• Without thermostat controls, deep fryers can overheat cooking oil to the point of igniting a fire.
• The sides of the cooking pot, lid, and pot handles can get dangerously hot.

*from our friends over at The US Fire Administration

If your property suffers damage due to fire or smoke call SERVPRO of Marietta West (770)428-5467 

The damage to your property following a fire can often be complicated due to the unique behavior of smoke. There are two different types of smoke, wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire.

SERVPRO of Marietta West professionals are thoroughly trained in fire cleanup and restoration and know the different types of smoke and their behavior patterns. Knowing this information is vital to proper restoration. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Marietta West technicians will survey the loss to determine the extent of impact from fire, smoke, heat, and moisture on the building materials and its contents. The soot will then be tested to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. Pretesting determines the proper cleaning method and allows your locally owned SERVPRO of Marietta West professionals to focus on saving your precious items.

SERVPRO of East Cobb professionals know smoke can penetrate various cavities within the structure, causing hidden damage and odor. Their knowledge of building systems helps them investigate how far smoke damage may have spread. The following points are additional facts you may not know about smoke.

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke Damage:

• Wet Smoke - (Plastic and Rubber) Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, and smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

• Dry Smoke - (Paper and Wood) Fast-burning, high temperatures; heat rises, therefore smoke rises.

• Protein Fire Residue - (Produced by evaporation of materials rather than from a fire) Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor.

• Fuel Oil Soot - (Furnace puff backs) While “puff backs” can create havoc for homeowners, SERVPRO of Marietta West professionals can, in most cases, restore the contents and structure quickly.

• Other Types - (Tear gas, fingerprint powder, and fire extinguisher residue) Special loss situations require special care.

Smoke Alarms Save Marietta Lives

10/14/2019 (Permalink)

Smoke detectors can be your last line of defense against home fires. Make sure that your home has fully operational smoke alarms!

Smoke alarms save lives when properly installed and maintained according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). In homes, smoke alarms should be in every bedroom and on every level, including the basement. In office and commercial environments, check your states requirements (GA state requirements)or contact your locals Fire Marshal to help ensure all codes are met. 

Test smoke alarms monthly using the test button. Smoke alarms with non-replaceable batteries need the entire smoke alarm unit replaced every ten years. Other alarms need batteries replaced every year and the unit replaced every ten years. If the alarm chirps signaling low battery, take the proper steps to replace the unit or the batteries immediately. Never disable or remove the battery from an alarm. Almost half of fires where smoke alarms were present but did not activate had missing or disconnected batteries (NFPA).

In larger commercial facilities, hard wired or wireless smoke alarms offer benefits such as not needing to be tested as often and activating throughout the entire building if smoke is detected in just one area (NFPA).

If you need hep installing, testing or changing batteries in you smoke alarms contact your local Cobb County Fire Department, an electrician or the American Red Cross. Be sure your home or workplace has a fire emergency plan in place and conduct regular fire drills. For more information on emergency preparedness, contact SERVPRO of Marietta West!

When fire or water damage puts the things that matter most on the line, you need the very best help on the line, as well. That's why knowing the easiest ways to contact SERVPRO of Marietta West is so important. Just go to www.SERVPROmariettawest.com or call (770) 428-5467 to get the team that's faster to any size disaster. We're a leader in giving control back to homeowners, property managers, and even entire communities after ravaging effects of water or fire. So whether you're responsible for 1,000 square feet or 100,000, be ready for the worst, with the very best. SERVPRO of Marietta West your trusted local SERVPRO franchise.

Take a look at some of our before and after fire restoration images, or check us out on Youtube! 

Keep Marietta's Fall Fire-Free

10/8/2019 (Permalink)

Cleaning the gutters is very important to the upkeep of your home or business. Clogged gutters often result in water intrusion which can be costly.

The fall season brings cooler temperatures, beautiful colors, and an abundance of outdoor activities. Plan ahead this season to help ensure it is safe and fire-free fall. If we all work together being safety conscious, we can make Marietta fire-free this fall. SERVPRO of Marietta West has put together the following guidelines to help you and your family have a fire safe fall.

• Fall decorations, like dried flowers and cornstalks, are highly flammable. Keep these and  other decorations away from open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters.
• Keep emergency exits clear of decorations so nothing blocks escape routes.
• Teach children to stay away from open flames. Be sure they know how to stop, drop, and roll if their clothing catches fire.
• Remember safety first when choosing a Halloween costume. Consider avoiding billowing fabric. If you are making your costume, choose materials that won’t easily ignite if it comes into contact with heat or a flame.
• It is safest to use a flashlight or battery-operated candle in a jack-o-lantern. Use extreme caution if using a real candle. Place lit pumpkins away from anything that can burn and out of the way of doorsteps, walkways, and yards.

SERVPRO of Marietta west would like to wish you and your family a safe and happy fall season. If you or someone you know experiences a fire loss call SERVPRO of Marietta West. We are trained professionals you can trust and are preferred vendors for most major insurance companies. SERVPRO of Marietta West has an outstanding fire restoration track record, but don’t take our word for it, check out some of our reviews on Google, Yelp, and Facebook.

Georgia Fire Statistics as Reported by the National Fire Incident Reporting System

9/27/2019 (Permalink)

Cobb County's fines testing and training on fire fighting equipment!

The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) was established in 1974 to gather information about US fire incidents. This government agency created a standardized and uniform way of reporting on not just fire incidents, but also other services as they relate to fire incidents like Emergency Medical Services (EMS), severe weather events, and natural disasters.Through gathering, reporting, and making fire data publicly available, fire departments and city officials are able to use statistical analysis to improve their departments and strengthen possible weaknesses. Much of Georgia’s fire safety laws and regulations can be attributed in part to NFIRS’s tireless gathering and reporting Georgia’s fire statistics.

The following are some of the most recent data points collected by NFIRS on Georgia fire incidents:

• Fire deaths and injuries totaled 2.4 deaths and 8.9 injuries per 1,000 fire incidents. This includes both residential structural fires and commercial fire losses, and is inline with the national averages which are 2.3 deaths and 9.3 injuries per 1,000 fire incidents.
• Residential fires have a higher mortality and injury rate than commercial fire incidents, averaging 7.6 deaths and 26.8 injuries per 1,000 fires in residential settings. These rates are slightly higher than the national averages, which are 6.1 deaths and 24.5 injuries per 1,000 residential fires.
• Structures and Residential fires account for 85.6% of all fire deaths and 81.4% of all fire injuries. These rates are slightly above the national averages which are 77.6% of all fire deaths and 76.1% of all fire injuries.
• In 2018, the U.S. news media reported on 83 home fires that resulted in deaths.
• Between 1990 and 2018 the U.S Fire Administration received reports that 62 on-duty firefighters perished in the line of duty due to fire related incidents.

*Most of the figures and statistics reported were gathered over the 2017 calendar year unless otherwise noted.

SERVPRO of Marietta West is here 24/7 to answer your call, should you ever experience a home fire. We can also help your business get back to normal if it suffers a fire loss. SERVPRO of Marietta West has been the go-to name in the fire restoration industry for years and can help your home our business get back to “Like it never even happened”.

For more information the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) has collected about Georgia, click here.

Removing Smoke and Nicotine Odors from your Cobb County Home

9/27/2019 (Permalink)

Our contents department on site at a homeowner's fire loss. Carefully packing, cleaning, and deodorizing our customers belongings.

There is a tried and true method that will removal almost any odor, and it applies to almost all types of smells, including smoke. The “big secret” is somewhat simple, but the devil is in the details. In order to successfully remove any odor, you must first remove and/or clean the source of the smell. Once the source has been permanently neutralized, technicians will clean all surfaces paying special attention to horizontal surfaces. Even dust sized particles can carry smoke and nicotine smells, so all surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned using HEPA vacuums and professional cleaning products.

We will be taking a closer look at cleaning smoke and nicotine smell from your Cobb County home. The following bullet points are some typical steps or procedures SERVPRO professionals use to clean smoke and nicotine from homes and businesses.

• Cleaning is done using the top-down method. This process’s name is relatively self explanatory. It is best to clean smoke or nicotine residue starting with the ceiling and working your way down the walls, and all the way down to the floors. This will minimize the potential of re-soiling cleaned areas and insure that no spots are missed during the cleaning process. 
• Wet clean all color safe or glossy finished walls and trim surfaces with a light detergent.
• We clean color safe or glossy finished cabinets, light fixtures, windows, and any other surfaces that aren’t part of your regular cleaning process with a light detergent.
• During the cleaning process, special attention is focused on horizontal surfaces. Horizontal surface provide an easy place for odor particles to land and can build up if not cleaned regularly. Examples of not commonly cleaned horizontal surfaces include door jams, window seals, window treatments/blinds, cabinet tops, and crown molding.
• Only soft white cloths are used to do this type of cleaning. We use soft white cloths to prevent damaging the surface, but also to verify that the nicotine is being removed. Because the cloth is white our technicians will be able to see yellow residue developing on the cleaning cloth as they clean. This indicates that the process is working and that the nicotine particles are successfully being removed. We will repeat this cleaning process until no yellow residue appears on the surface or cloth used to clean the surface.
• It is advisable to also have your ductwork thoroughly cleaned and HVAC filters replaced. Smoke and nicotine odor particles are typically airborne at some point, so it is likely that they have contaminated your HVAC system. Duct cleanings are an important step in removing smoke and nicotine odors.
• Thermal fog the entire affected area. Thermal fogging is a process where heat is applied to our professional deodorizing products using a thermal fogging machine. This machine releases a fog that smoke and nicotine odor particles are drawn to and are absorbed by, thus neutralizing the odor.

 Nicotine and smoke odors are probably one of the more common odor related issues and can be cleaned up quickly and effectively by well trained and well equipped professionals. SERVPRO of Marietta West has tons of experience cleaning and restoring nicotine and smoke damaged homes and businesses. Our team of trained professionals have the knowledge base and experience to take on even the challenging odor issues. 

Call SERVPRO of Marietta West for Smoke and Nicotine Odor Removal - (770) 428-5467

SERVPRO's Fire, Soot, and Smoke Cleaning Process For Your Marietta Home

8/2/2019 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Marietta West if you need help cleaning up your home after a fire. We can make it "Like it never even happened"!

So, you’ve just experienced a fire in your home. You have thousands of things running through your mind. How did this happen? Who can I call for help? Will my insurance cover this? Give SERVPRO of Marietta West a call. We are here 24 hours a day 7 days a week, with technicians ready to respond to your call in minutes. Our response time for most emergency call outs is less than one hour. That means that our professional restoration team can be at your home quickly with all the equipment needed to start the restoration process. 

SERVPRO of Marietta West - Fire Services

• The restoration process starts as soon as one of our team members answers your call. They will ask you a short series of questions about the conditions of your home and the fire damage it suffered. This information will help us know what type of equipment and personnel we will need and will help us respond quickly and efficiently to your call. 
• Once our technicians arrive on site, they will immediately start the inspection phase. This is where we assess the damage to your property, develop a plan of action, and explain the restoration process by walking you through the job scope from start to finish. 
• Often when a home suffers fire damage, the windows, walls, and roof can be compromised. In order to protect the structure and contents of your home we will immediately board up broken windows and tarp damaged roofs to safeguard your property from theft and continued damage from exposure to the elements.
• When applicable, we will use dehumidifiers, air movers, and other professional drying equipment to start the water removal process and begin implementing our advanced drying techniques.
• Smoke and soot clings to surfaces such as ceilings, walls, furniture, and clothing (and many other surfaces and textiles). Utilizing our specialized professional equipment, our technicians will remove both the smell and visible signs of soot and smoke damage.
• Using a variety of professional cleaning products and techniques we will clean, sanitize, and disinfect each fire damaged item that is able to be restored to preloss condition. Our technicians are also trained to remove odors using industrial air scrubbers and fogging equipment.
• Reconstruction is the final step in the restoration process. This is where your property is truly returned back to preloss condition. Our construction team will perform repairs such as replacing drywall, installing cabinets, laying carpet and painting.

Fire clean up can be a tricky process. It’s important that you choose a restoration company that you can trust, has the experience and equipment necessary to restore your property to preloss condition. A home fire can be a major life event and typically causes a good deal of stress, so try to avoid making impulsive or rash decisions. Use your best judgment and research the companies you consider completing your home’s restoration. Choose a company that has roots in your local community, an established business track record. Check out their online reviews. Businesses reviews can be very telling and can give you an inside look at how companies treat their customers. Visit review platforms like the BBB, Facebook, Yelp, or Google.

*Check out some of our Customer Testimonials!

How to Handle a Fire Loss in Kennesaw GA

3/5/2019 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Marietta West for commercial or residential water and fire restoration and cleanup (770)428-5467!

Whether it’s a fire in a home or commercial fire damage, the loss can be equally devastating. Home fires may be caused by many unexpected things such as an electrical fault or other anomalies in your home electrical connections. Gas leaks and other fuel energy appliances may also cause a fire in a home. Likewise, fire could start in business settings from an electrical fault, heating materials, or machines such as generators.

What happens after a devastating commercial or residential fire?

Here are the few things to keep in mind should you ever experience a fire in home or business.

Call the Fire Department!

This many seem like common sense, but it merits repeating. If your home or business is on fire immediately get to a safe place and call the appropriate authorities. In most cases this would be your local fire department. Here is a link to Cobb County’s Fire Department -www.cobbcounty.org/public-safety/fire- where you can more information of Kennesaw, Marietta, and Smyrna fire safety.

 Do Not Rush Into the Building

Sometimes the fire may die down, and you think that the inferno is over, but it could flare back up without much notice. Whenever there is a fire in home or business, don't rush in side the premise. Hold back until the fire department or other fire professional indicates that is safe to renter the structure. It may be difficult to resist the urge to rush in to check on your valuables and important documents/credentials, but for safety purposes please only return to the building once it has been deemed safe to do so. Rushing into a building with smoke or even just poor air quality can suffocate you.

Secure Your Property & Contact Insurance Company

An important step on the way to recovery is securing your property (once it has been deemed safe to reenter the building by the fire department or other fire professionals). Some property may be salvageable and needs to be protected from further damage. Protecting the structure from the elements prevents most types of secondary damage and can reduce overall restoration costs. Securing the property also can prevent losses from looting and gives the property owner back a sense of control over his or her property.

This can also help you with the insurance company, as it will help with any forensic examination the adjustor or fire investigator may need to determine the cause of the fire and subsequent compensation. As soon as you have secured the site be sure to contact the fire department for a copy of the fire report.The fire report specifies all the necessary information about the fire including the time, casualties if any, date and the extent of fire damage.

Fire Cleanup Process After Fire Damage

You may want to contact a fire damage restoration company to help cleanup your home or business, especially in the event of excessive smoke damage or soot damage. Generally speaking, it is not advisable to assume you can handle the entire fire cleanup by yourself. Fire loss comes with severe smoke damage and excess soot damage. Restoring the air quality and cleaning the HVAC system for an entire building is an arduous task thus you may need a helping hand to do so. If the damage is quite small, you might be able to restore it by yourself by mixing trisodium phosphate and water to clean up some types of smoke damage. You can use a vacuum to further clean and to pull soot away from the surface by yourself. This may enhance the air quality in your building.

SERVPRO of Marietta West’s fire damage restoration experts can help you clean the soot damage quickly and with a whole lot less effort on your part. Smoke may corrode your walls and other non-damaged valuables since most smoke residue is acidic. Soot damage can also block your ventilation system resulting in poor air quality in your home or business.

It is important to start cleanup as soon as possible to regain normalcy and a sense of control. Cleaning up even a small portion of your home or apartment and even a commercial fire loss, can be very empowering and can boost your weary soul by giving you a great sense of accomplishment.

Visit www.SERVPROmariettawest.com for more information on fire damage or give us a call at - (770) 428-5467 -

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

SERVPRO of Marietta West is locally owned and operated, so we are part of this community too. When you have a smoke or fire damage emergency, we’re already nearby and ready to help. We take pride in being a part of the Marietta community and want to do our part in making it the best it can be.

We are proud to serve our local communities:

• Marietta, GA
• Smyrna, GA
• Kennesaw, GA
• Fair Oaks, GA
• Dobbins Air Force Base, GA
• Big Shanty, GA

Smoke & Soot Cleanup in Marietta GA

10/22/2018 (Permalink)

You can see here where soot and smoke has damaged this homes walls and contents.

Smoke and soot is very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.  

Smoke & Soot Facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are mainly two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Marietta West will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire 

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of Marietta West is strategically located to respond quickly to your smoke or fire damage event. When a major fire or disaster event occurs, we can call upon our national network of 1,700 SERVPRO Franchises and special Disaster Recovery Teams if we need additional resources or personnel.

We are proud to serve our local communities:

• Marietta, GA
• Smyrna, GA
• Kennesaw, GA
• Fair Oaks, GA
• Dobbins Air Force Base, GA
• Big Shanty, GA

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today – (770) 428-5467

Repairing Your Kennesaw Property After A Fire Fire Damage

10/17/2018 (Permalink)

In the event of a home fire get to safety immediately and call 911 - Then call SERVPRO of Marietta West

Has your home recently been damaged by fire? If so, you’re probably eager to get started cleaning up and restoring your home and belongings. Most people who suffer fire damage want their lives and their homes to return to normal as soon as possible. But many don’t know the costs. According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost to repair smoke and fire damage in the metro Atlanta area is $6250.

Fire damage can make areas of your home unusable until the fire damage has been repaired. More extensive fire damage may make your entire home unsafe and you may have to live in temporary housing or with relatives until cleanup and repair work is completed.  No matter how minor or significant the fire damage restoration work is, you want to know how long it will take. The timeline depends on the restorative process and whether you take the opportunity to do remodeling at the same time.

• Starting Fire Damage Repair Work 

It can be difficult to determine how and where to get started with fire damage repair work. The first step in the repair process is to remove water from the home if firefighters used water during the extinguishing process. Water extraction can be completed by the professionals from SERVPRO of Marietta West quickly and properly. We arrive in our green vehicles stocked with equipment and supplies to tackle any cleaning and restoration need you have. 

• Other Things To Consider

SERVPRO of Marietta West can also suggest to you and your adjuster what items and materials are salvageable. Keep in mind that smoke damage can also be a problem.  Some items, such as carpeting and your HVAC system, may need to be professionally cleaned to remove the smoke odor from your home. 

• Get Professional Help

Repairing your home after you have suffered fire damage is not something that you want to attempt on your own. A fire damage restoration project requires a considerable amount of time and energy to complete. SERVPRO can help you restore your property in minimal time with minimal costs. Our IICRC certified cleanup and restoration technicians have the skills and assets to do a quality job. We are a locally owned and operated, water and fire damage restoration franchise. 

Call SERVPRO of Marietta West 24/7 - (770) 428-5467 -

The Importance of Cleaning Dryer Vents

9/28/2018 (Permalink)

According to FEMA, failure to clean home dryers causes 34% of home dryer fires. Home dryer fires cause $35 million in property loss and can even cause injury or death.

To reduce the risk of these fires happening in your or your insured's home or business, SERVPRO of Marietta West can help clean dryer vents and ducts that may have lint buildup.

Other tips for keeping your dryer vents clean from the National Fire Protection Agency include cleaning the lint filter before and after each load and making sure the outdoor vent flap will open and is not restricted by snow, a bird's nest, or other potential obstacles.

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of Marietta West is strategically located to respond quickly to your smoke or fire damage event. When a major fire or disaster event occurs, we can call upon our national network of 1,700 SERVPRO Franchises and special Disaster Recovery Teams if we need additional resources or personnel.

We are proud to serve our local communities:

• Marietta, GA
• Smyrna, GA
• Kennesaw, GA
• Fair Oaks, GA
• Dobbins Air Force Base, GA
• Big Shanty, GA

For more information on cleaning your dryer vents, contact SERVPRO of Marietta West (770) 428-5467

October Is Fire Prevention Month

9/28/2018 (Permalink)

October is fire prevention month, a perfect time to examine emergency preparedness plans for your home and business, including your fire escape plan. Do you have a fire escape plan? Have you changed your smoke alarm batteries within the last year?

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) designates a week each October to focus on fire prevention awareness. The 2018 theme is "Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere." This theme hopes to create awareness in the steps neccessary to reduce the cance of a fire and how to react in the event a fire does happen. The National Fire Protection Association states the folloning:

• "LOOK" for places fire could start. Take a good look around your home. Identify potential fire hazards and take care of them.
• "LISTEN" for the sound of the smoke alarm. You could have only minutes to escape safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Go to your outside meeting place, which should be a safe distance from the home and where everyone should know to meet.
• "LEARN" two ways out of every room and make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily and are free of clutter.

Stay safe and prepare now to help ensure you are ready for any disaster. Find additional safety tips on our website www.SERVPROmariettawest.com

Locally Owned Company with National Storm Resources

We live and work in this community too; we might even be neighbors. As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of Marietta West is close by and ready to respond to storm and disaster events. We are proud to be an active member of the Marietta community and want to do our part to make our community the best it can be.

We are proud to serve our local communities:

• Marietta, GA
• Smyrna, GA
• Kennesaw, GA
• Fair Oaks, GA
• Dobbins Air Force Base, GA
• Big Shanty, GA

Making Your Marietta Home Whole Again After a Fire

8/3/2018 (Permalink)

In addition to being physically and emotionally draining, home fires are typically financially taxing. Of course, your family’s health and safety are your first priority, but over the weeks and even months that follow, you will need to take some practical steps to recover your financial well-being. This is where SERVPRO of Marietta West can help lift the burden of both emotional and financial stress. Our trained professionals help family recover precious belongings, family heirlooms, and critical documents every day.

Here are some prudent steps you can take once everyone is safe and you are ready to start the recovery process:

• Contact your insurance agent as soon as you can to report how, when, and where the damage occurred. 
• Be prepared to provide a general description of the damages (a list/photographs of damaged or lost items are helpful in most cases).
• Do not through away items you plan to claim without discussing it with your agent or adjuster.
• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpet.
• Keep hands clean. Soot on hands can further soil upholstery, walls and woodwork.
• If electricity is off, empty freezer/refrigerator completely and prop doors open to help prevent odor.
• Leave system off until a trained professional can check the system;Change HVAC filters once system has been checked.
• Don't attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces without first contacting trained professional.
• Don't attempt to shampoo carpet or upholstered furniture without first consulting trained professional.
• Do not attempt to clean any electrical appliances (TV set, radio, etc.) that may have been close to fire, heat or water with out first consulting an authorized repair service.
• Do not consume any food or beverages that may have been stored close to fire, heat or water, as they may be contaminated.
• If ceiling is wet, do not turn on ceiling fans. Wiring may be wet or damaged and cause electrical shock, and air movement may create secondary damage.
• Don't send garments to the dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set in smoke odor.

Call SERVPRO of Marietta West for all of your fire restoration needs (770)428-5467

If you found this article useful, check out our related blog "Fire Damage: What To Do Until Help Arrives"

For more helpful advice, our friends over at the American Red Cross have published this guide - Disaster Recovery: A Guide to Financial Issues.

You many also find some helpful direction in replacing vital documents after a disaster below:

 Driver's License: Georgia Department of Motor Vehicles (or appropriate state issuing authority) 

Government Issued ID: Contact the issuing authority

Insurance Policies: Your insurance agent or company

Military Discharge: Department of Veterans Affairs, Papers 1-800-827-1000 or TDD/TTY 1-800-829-4833

Passports: Visit State Department website

Birth, Death, Marriage and Certificates: Georgia Bureau of Records (or appropriate state issuing authority)

Social Security or Medicare Cards: Visit www.ssa.gov or your local Social Security office or 1-800-772-1213 or TDD/TTY 1-800-325-0778

Credit Cards: The issuing financial institution, as soon as possible

Titles to Deeds: Records department of the area in which the property is located

Stocks and Bonds: Issuing company or your broker

Wills: Your attorney

Income Tax Record: The IRS center where filed, your accountant or 1-800-829-1040

Citizenship Papers: Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, 1-800-375-5283 

Mortgage Papers: Lending Institution

Why You Should Tarp & Board-up Your Marietta Property After Fire Damaged

3/7/2018 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Marietta West (770) 428-5467 Water Extraction - Fire Remediation - Mold Mitigation

SERVPRO Can Help Provide Services to Protect Your Commercial or Properties

For some cases of fire damage in Marietta, we may recommend employing a boarding and tarping service to protect your home from further damage. While these services are not required for all mitigation and restoration projects in the aftermath of a fire, in some instances, they can be an essential step to keep your home in shape and prevent thousands of dollars of additional damages from happening. 

Why Use Board and Tarp? 

SERVPRO technicians can put up a sheet or two of plywood and some plastic to quickly protect your structure from absorbing more damage from external sources like wind and rain. However, we do partner with companies that have full resources to do large-scale buttoning up. This can help prevent water issues on top of the fire damage already in your Marietta home. Without these services, many homes are left vulnerable to the effects of rain, wind, and debris from the outside. While setting up these countermeasures are being set up we can go about our business of cleanup and restoration. By working in tandem, we can mitigate damages and look out for you, our client, and your best interests.

When Does SERVPRO Help Set Up These Services? 

Typically, a small board up and tarp over holes in the home's exterior immediately after assessing the situation when our mitigation team arrives on the scene can also add to the safety and security of the structure. We also want to establish cleaning proceedures following IICRC guidelines for fire and smoke restoration as soon as possible. 

What Can Happen Without Boarding and Tarping When Necessary? 

Without anything to fill gaps opened up in your home's exterior by fire, rain, wind, and other weather effects can work their way into your home and cause additional damage to any and all exposed surfaces. These effects can cause thousands of dollars in additional damage and significantly complicate our work in the home, so we at SERVPRO make it a priority never to let that happen. There is plenty to do with extracting any water from the firefighting efforts along with eventually controlling odor problems that accompany fires.

SERVPRO of Marietta West is a locally-owned franchise with national resources to help take care of your home in a time of crisis. Call us at the first sign of fire damage at (770) 428-5467.

For additional articles like this please visit www.SERVPROmariettawest.com

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Four Reasons You Should Always Seek Professional Fire Restoration Services For Your Marietta Home

10/23/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Marietta West Can Restore Your Fire Damaged Marietta Property

Once your home in Marietta is hit by a fire, your top priority is getting your property cleaned and repaired. In many cases, this desire leads people to pursue DIY cleanup projects. If this were your planned methodology, you should reconsider this course of action. If the fire damage is of any consequence, many concerns need to be addressed. Can you do all of this yourself?

1. Water Removal: Standing water left behind the fire extinguishing efforts of the local fire department have several important ramifications. The resulting water damage can be furniture, electronics, clothing, drywall, ceilings, flooring, and more. Water removal must be done quickly. SERVPRO utilizes water pumps, wet-vacs, high-velocity fans and dehumidifiers to extract the water and moisture quickly thereby mitigating the damage. Fire damage unfortunately, has collateral damage.

2. Smoke Damage: The smoke damage that results from a fire can be quite substantive. In fact, the smoke left behind can become embedded in your furniture, flooring, carpets, and walls. If left unaddressed, this smoke damage can remain in your property for years. Soot, another by-product of specific fires, needs special attention for proper clean up to avoid staining of walls and furniture. Effectively removing smoke necessitates the use of professional procedures and products that fire restoration specialists from SERVPRO have in its arsenal.

3. Salvageable Goods: In many cases, homeowners who seek to complete the remediation process on their own will throw away items that are salvageable. Don't make this mistake. Instead, allow SERVPRO to assist you with this aspect of the restoration process. We will assess, inspect and issue you a Contents Claim Inventory Service form--CCIS. This inventories affected household items and classifies them into non-salvageable, salvageable or questionable lists. Items can be containerized and cleaned at our facility by our IICRC-trained technicians.

4. Time Efficiency: If you attempt to complete the fire restoration process without professional assistance, the project will take a lot of time and probably lack positive results. However, hiring SERVPRO to put your Marietta home back in repaired, healthy condition after fire damage enables you to feel confident of the restoration. Consider the effort, equipment, and training involved in successfully restoring your home to its pre-fire condition.

Call SERVPRO of Marietta West For Any Fire Restoration Needs - (770) 428-5467 -

We are proud to serve our local communities:

• Marietta, GA
• Smyrna, GA
• Kennesaw, GA
• Fair Oaks, GA
• Dobbins Air Force Base, GA
• Big Shanty, GA

source: www.SERVPROnortheastjeffersoncounty.com

Repairing Your Smyrna Property After A Fire

9/29/2017 (Permalink)

Don't face this type of mess alone. Call the professionals at SERVPRO of Marietta West!

Has your home recently been damaged by fire? If so, you’re probably eager to get started cleaning up and restoring your home and belongings. Most people who suffer fire damage want their lives and their homes to return to normal as soon as possible. But many don’t know the costs. According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost to repair smoke and fire damage in the metro Atlanta area is $6250.

Fire damage can make areas of your home unusable until the fire damage has been repaired. More extensive fire damage may make your entire home unsafe and you may have to live in temporary housing or with relatives until cleanup and repair work is completed.  No matter how minor or significant the fire damage restoration work is, you want to know how long it will take. The timeline depends on the restorative process and whether you take the opportunity to do remodeling at the same time.

• Starting Fire Damage Repair Work 

It can be difficult to determine how and where to get started with fire damage repair work. The first step in the repair process is to remove water from the home if firefighters used water during the extinguishing process. Water extraction can be completed by the professionals from SERVPRO of Marietta West quickly and properly. We arrive in our green vehicles stocked with equipment and supplies to tackle any cleaning and restoration need you have. 

• Other Things To Consider

SERVPRO of Marietta West can also suggest to you and your adjuster what items and materials are salvageable. Keep in mind that smoke damage can also be a problem.  Some items, such as carpeting and your HVAC system, may need to be professionally cleaned to remove the smoke odor from your home. 

• Get Professional Help

Repairing your home after you have suffered fire damage is not something that you want to attempt on your own. A fire damage restoration project requires a considerable amount of time and energy to complete. SERVPRO can help you restore your property in minimal time with minimal costs. Our IICRC certified cleanup and restoration technicians have the skills and assets to do a quality job. We are a locally owned and operated, water and fire damage restoration franchise. 

Call SERVPRO of Marietta West 24/7 - (770) 428-5467 -

Source: www.SERVPROthequadcities.com/

How to Inspect a Fire Extinguisher

9/29/2017 (Permalink)

In the event of a home fire get to safety immediately and call 911 - Then call SERVPRO of Marietta West

When was the last time you took time to check the fire extinguisher that sits under your kitchen sink? Or the one hanging from a dusty hook in your garage? If you’re struggling to remember, it’s time to check it. Like any other piece of safety equipment, a home fire extinguisher should be inspected regularly to ensure it’s in proper working condition. A fire extinguisher in good working condition is your first line of defense when a home fire erupts.

Ideally, you should inspect your portable home fire extinguishers every month.

Tips for Performing a Monthly Fire Extinguisher Check

• Check the label or tag.

Every fire extinguisher, whether disposable or rechargeable, has a manufacturer’s label or tag. Read the tag and follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance suggestions.

• Check the tamper seal.

If the tamper seal has been broken or is cracked, a disposable fire extinguisher needs to be replaced. If it’s rechargeable, it needs to be serviced professionally. Check the locking or pull pin as well to make sure it’s in the correct position. If the pin missing, the fire extinguisher needs to be inspected or serviced by a professional.

• Inspect for physical damage.

Physically inspect the fire extinguisher for obvious damage. This may include but is not limited to dents, corrosion, cracks and obvious leakage. If a fire extinguisher has leakage, it’s no longer under full pressure and may not work properly when you need it most. Check the fire extinguisher nozzle as well, to ensure it’s not clogged by grime, dust, bugs or leakage from the unit itself.

• Check the pressure gauge.

Check that the pressure gauge needle indicates the fire extinguisher pressure is in the optimum operating range. Often the correct pressure range will be designated by green on the gauge.

• Is the fire extinguisher full?

During your monthly check, lift the fire extinguisher and determine if it still feels full. If there has been a leak, it will feel light, and it won’t have the right amount of pressure to work correctly.

• Shake it.

If you have a dry chemical fire extinguisher, it should be shaken once a month during your inspection. This helps prevent the chemical dousing agent from solidifying at the bottom of the unit.

• Write inspection date on tag.

Keep track of every inspection date by writing it on the fire extinguisher tag.

• Ensure easy access to your fire extinguisher.

Fire extinguishers should always be easy to access if there is an emergency. You don’t want to have to search for it once a fire breaks out. Don’t block fire extinguishers with furniture, boxes or any other items. Everyone who lives in the household should know where the closest fire extinguisher is located and how to use it in case of an emergency.

In the event of a fire emergency, first make sure to get people safely away, then call 911. A home fire extinguisher can be used to put out or control small fires, but it’s still safest to call professional fire fighters before you attempt to control a fire on your own.

If you need professional fire, smoke or water damage cleanup after a fire, call the experts at SERVPRO of Marietta West - (770) 428-5467 -

Source: www.SERVPROauburnrocklin.com/

SERVPRO Salvages Kennesaw Fire Damaged Homes Quickly

8/7/2017 (Permalink)

House fires can be dangerous and messy, call SERVPRO of Marietta West for cleanup!

A home fire can be one of the most damaging experiences a homeowner can face, something no one should ever face alone. Fire does not simply cause damage to your home; it ruins your life, destroys personal belongings, and often leads to loss of fond memories that you can never get back. 
  
You can help prevent fire damage in your Kennesaw area home by learning more about various events that happen in your neighborhood. By discovering more about these incidents, you can eliminate common causes that affect you in your home. Remember, every home is susceptible to fire damage, making it necessary for you to understand how to protect yourself properly. 
  
Having an experienced, licensed, and IICRC certified fire damage restoration technician on your side would not hurt, SERVPRO can help put the pieces back together after disaster strikes. We can fully manage your restoration process and provide you with any additional services required to return your property to normal working order after an event occurs.  
  
Consider this, fires cause much more than heat and smoke damage. You would need to include water extraction, various types of cleaning, sanitation, deodorization, and many repairs to that list to be more accurate in your evaluation. SERVPRO technicians can provide you with each of these services, including repairs that often include replacement of framing materials, drywall, painting, and finish work necessary to return your home to normal.   
  
It is a firefighter's job to put out fires and save lives, leaving additional damage and water in their wake, they are not concerned with saving the contents of your home. It simply is not in their job description. However, every SERVPRO technician takes the time to address items individually, taking a restore versus replace mentality that often returns damaged items to a quality condition you can enjoy for years to come. 

Making the call to SERVPRO of Marietta West puts your home in expertly trained hands that you can count on to put every effort into restoring your home properly after a fire.

Learn more about what our technicians can do for you, call our office and begin your homes recovery, today. (770) 428-5467

Source: http://www.SERVPROevergreenparksouthchicagocity.com/

SERVPRO Helps Prevent Fire in Your Marietta Home with Dryer Vent Cleaning

8/2/2017 (Permalink)

Protect your Marietta home from fire damage with dryer vent cleaning!

House fires affect millions of people every year at the cost of over $500 Million. Smoke detectors have proved their value every year, saving lives and homes from total loss. Most house fires start in the kitchen, but a significant number still occur in a place most forget about once the item is installed, the dryer vent. 

A dryer vent cleaning cost may seem like an avoidable charge, but it is needed to prevent fire in your Marietta home. There are over 15,000 dryer fires each year, and the accumulated property damage cost exceeds $70 Million annually. SERVPRO has the personnel and equipment needed to keep you from adding to those numbers in the coming year. This vent cleaning can also reduce the workload of your clothes dryer while lowering energy usage.

A dryer inside the house or apartment uses a metal exhaust pipe (galvanized iron or steel usually) to vent hot air to the outside of the home. The zinc-coated material is designed to handle the highest dryer setting and more, but not open flames from burning, built-up lint. Since this is an exhaust pipe and smoke seeks the easiest access, a vent fire goes undetected by the smoke detectors much longer than a fire anywhere else in the house. 

If your dryer is in the garage or under a carport, the chance for a major fire is reduced, but not eliminated. The flexible vent tube may not run under the house, but it is still at risk. The buildup of lint can still ignite, destroying your dryer and the washer next to it. As the flexible, plastic pipe melts, the burning material quickly ignites drywall and other building material. Worse, there is the possible loss of a car, boat, ATV or RV that might be parked next to the dryer as well. 

Our SERVPRO technicians can eliminate this threat with an inspection. We can attach an air mover which introduces high-velocity air flow into your vent for just a few minutes. If the build-up has caked against the sides of the pipe, they use a brush with a telescoping handle to scrape the sides and then reattach the air mover to blow the lint outside your home. For a flexible conduit, we detach it from the dryer and clean it outside using either an air mover or your own garden hose to wash it out. 

The cost for vent cleaning is minor compared to other restoration and cleaning work. It is significantly cheaper than removing fire damaged drywall and cleaning smoke and soot covered property. If you need our services or would like an inspection...

Contact SERVPRO of Marietta West - (770) 428-5467 -

Source: http://www.SERVPROsouthnashville.com/

Holiday Fire Facts

12/16/2016 (Permalink)

• One of every three homes Christmas tree fires is caused by electrical problems
• Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur, they are more likely to be serious. On average one of every 31 reported home Christmas tree fires result in a death compared to an average of one death per 144 total reported home fires.
• A heat source too close to the tree causes one in every four of Christmas tree fires.
• Two out of five home decoration fires are started by candles
• One-third of all candle fires start in the bedroom.

The holiday season is a time for gathering with friends and family to enjoy fellowship and quality time. As the weather outside turns frightful, we rely on the warmth of our homes to host gathers with loved ones. Of course, if disaster does strike during the holiday season, SERVPRO of Marietta West is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Call SERVPRO of Marietta West for all of your mitigation and restoration needs - (770) 428-5467

Celebrate Safely This Holiday Season

12/16/2016 (Permalink)

Pretty lights, candles and decorations are just a few of the items bringing charm and cheer to the holiday season-however, if they are not used carefully your holidays may go from festive to frightening.

The American Red Cross offers the following safety tips to hel greatly reduce the fire rick in your home or business this holiday season.

• Place Christmas trees, candles and other holiday decorations at least three feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, portable heaters, radiators, heat vents and candles.
• Make sure that light strings and other holiday decorations are in good condition. Do not use anything with frayed electrical cords and always follow the manufacturer's instructions.
• Always unplug tree and holiday lights before leaving the property or going to bed.
• Never use lit candles to decorate a tree. Always extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to bed.
• Use only sturdy tree stands designed not to tip over. Keep curious pets and children away from Christmas trees.
• Keep anything that can catch fire (pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils,paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains) away from your stove top.
• Designate one person to walk around your property to ensure all candles and smoking materials are properly extinguished after guess leave.

SERVPRO of Marietta West wishes you a safe and happy holiday season!

Fire Damage: What To Do Until Help Arrives

10/11/2016 (Permalink)

Kitchen Fire

A fire can leave behind soot, smoke damage and a host of other problems. Ceilings, walls woodwork, carpeting , and floors will often need a thorough professional cleaning. If your home or business suffers a fire, it is important to take the appropriate steps to prevent further damage until SERVPRO of Marietta West arrives. The following tips may help reduce damage and increase chances of successful restorations.

Do:

• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpet.
• Keep hands clean. Soot on hands can further soil upholstery, walls and woodwork.
• Place dry, colorfast towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery and carpet traffic areas.
• If electricity is off, empty freezer/refrigerator completely and prop doors open to help prevent odor.
• Wipe soot from chrome kitchen/bathroom faucets, trim and appliance, then protect these surfaces with light coating of lubricant.
• If heat is off during winter, pour RV antifreeze in sinks, toilet bowls, holding tanks and tubs to avoid freezing pipes and fixtures.
• Change HVAC filters; leave system off until a trained professional can check the system.
• Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers to stop particles of soot from getting in or out of the HVAC system.

Don't:

• Don't attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces without first contacting SERVPRO of Marietta West.
• Don't attempt to shampoo carpet or upholstered furniture without first consulting SERVPRO of Marietta West.
• Do not attempt to clean any electrical appliances (TV set, radio, etc.) that may have been close to fire, heat or water with out first consulting an authorized repair service.
• Do not consume any food or beverages that may have been stored close to fire, heat or water, as they may be contaminated.
• If ceiling is wet, do not turn on ceiling fans. Wiring may be wet or damaged and cause electrical shock, and air movement may create secondary damage.
• Don't send garments to the dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set in smoke odor.

Contact SERVPRO of Marietta West at (770) 428-5467

Can you do it in under 2 minutes?

10/11/2016 (Permalink)

Fire Safety

Every second counts during a fire. Fire experts agree, people have as little as two minutes to escape a burning home before it's too late to get out. In a matter of moments, a small flame can become a major fire, making it critical to be prepared and have an escape plan in place. A survey conducted by the American Red Cross shows only 26 percent of families have developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. Once a plan is developed, it is critical everyone in the home understands the plan; the best way to do this is by practicing the escape plan at least twice a year. Increase your chance of surviving a fire by ensuring you have working smoke detectors in place, building an escape plan, and then practicing the escape plan.The following are a few suggestions to help you develop an emergency escape plan.

1. Draw a map of each level of your home and show all doors and windows. find to ways to get out of each room. Make sure all doors and windows that lead outside open easily.
2. Consider escape ladders for sleeping areas on the second and third floors. Only purchase collapsible escape ladders evaluated by a recognized testing laboratory. Store them near the window where they will be used.
3. Choose an outside meeting place a safe distance in front of your home where everyone can meet after they've escaped. Make sure to make the location of the meeting place on your escape plan.
4. Teach children how to escape o their own in case you cannot help them. Pla for everyone in your home with special considerations for elderly or disabled individuals.
5. Practice your fire escape plan during the day and at nighttime.

Helpful Tips to Keep Your Home and Family Safe from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

9/19/2016 (Permalink)

Be sure to check your carbon monoxide detectors when you check your fire detectors.

Carbon monoxide is often call “The Invisible Killer”. It is an odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (including: wood, natural gas, gasoline, propane, methane, and oil) burn inefficiently. Carbon monoxide is particularly dangerous because it can be a bi-product of using many household heating or cooking devices. It can be ingested into your body by simply breathing. Carbon monoxide poisoning is often times confused with flu symptoms, food poisoning and other illnesses. Some symptoms include: nausea; shortness of breath; dizziness; light headedness; headaches (any combination of these symptoms). High levels of carbon monoxide can be fatal.

• Carbon monoxide detectors should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards.
• For the best protection, interconnect all carbon monoxide detectors throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement and mounting height.
• Choose a carbon monoxide detector that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
• Call your local fire department’s non-emergency number to find out what number to call if the carbon monoxide detector sounds.
• Test carbon monoxide detector at least once a month; replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• If the audible trouble signal sounds, check for low batteries. If the battery is low, replace it. If it still sounds, call the fire department.
• If the carbon monoxide detector sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call for help from a fresh air location and stay there until emergency personnel.
• If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Do not run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if garage doors are open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not covered with snow.
• During and after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear of snow build-up.
• A generator should be used in a well-ventilated location outdoors away from windows, doors and vent openings.
• Gas or charcoal grills can produce carbon monoxide — only use outside.

SERVPRO of Marietta West for all of your mitigation and restoration needs - (770) 428-5467

You Have So Much Invested In Your Property; Trust Professionals to Protect Your Most Valuable Asset!

9/12/2016 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Marietta West has all the equipment and trained personnel necessary for what ever size job you may have.

The Right Equipment

SERVPRO understands that using professional equipment make a measurable difference in reducing claims loss expense. When time matters, technology and equipment must be counted on to preform. SERVPRO of Marietta West will answer your call with fast action, exceptional equipment, and trained, uniformed personnel. Certainly, the right tool for the job is vital to timely mitigation and restoration, but perhaps more important, SERVPRO fire damage professionals are thoroughly trained in fire cleanup an restoration. for instance, knowing the different types of smoke and their behavior patterns are vital to proper restoration.

• Wet Smoke - Plastics and Synthetics; Low heat, smoldering pungent odor, sticky, smeary
• Dry Smoke - Paper and Wood; Fast burning, high temperatures, dry powdery non-smeary residues.
• Protein - Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor.
• Other Types - Tear gas, fingerprint powder and fire extinguisher residue.

Pretesting determines the proper cleaning method and allows SERVPRO of Marietta West to focus on saving your precious items. Isn't that what really matters?

Deodorization Equipment

• Ultra Low Valume (ULV) Foggers will atomize liquid deodorizing agents, producing a fine mist that easily penetrates sites where odor-causing residues accumulate. The device can also be used to apply fungicides and disinfectants.
• Thermal Foggers dispense solvent-based products in large volume, dense fogs suitable for confined areas. The fog consists of tiny particles of deodorant solution that pair with and neutralize odor-causing particles.

If you or your business has experienced any size fire loss and need help restoring or mitigating the home or business please contact SERVPRO of Marietta West at (770) 428-5467.

SERVPRO of Marietta West Smoke and Soot Cleanup

8/16/2016 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot is very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.  

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.


• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.


• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Marietta West will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today – (770) 428-5467