The Fire Escape Plan Essential for Emergencies | SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County

6/1/2024 (Permalink)

Make sure you have a plan in place when the unexpected happens. Once you're safe, call SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County to help take care of the rest!

The vast majority of house fires are unexpected, which means that they can create chaos in seconds for the unfortunate homeowners that are caught unprepared. Every second counts when it comes to getting out of your home and finding safety, so everyone in your family should know what to do and where to go when a fire breaks out. 

Does your family have a reliable fire escape plan? When was the last time you went over it together? Our team explains below how to create a fire emergency response plan so that everyone can stay safe when disaster strikes.

The Plan Creation 

While every household is different, every household needs to have a fire escape plan. Take the time to draw an outline of each level of your home and then walk around as a family to each room to find the emergency exits along the way. 

Keep in mind that it is important to point out that the windows can (and should) be used in an emergency. However, be sure that you explain the importance of window safety and that windows should never be used as toys or something to play with.

Once you’ve identified exits in every room of your house, go outside and find a central meeting location that you can all access. Be sure that it is far enough away from your home that you can all gather there safely while the fire is being put out. Mailboxes, trees across the street or your neighbor’s doorstep are all good options.

If you live in an apartment or a multi-unit property, make sure you do the same preparations for your family. After creating the diagram of your space, go out into the hallway and make sure your kids know to use the stairs instead of the elevator in an emergency, and locate the fire escape for your level.

Practice Makes Perfect 

While having a plan is a great first step, you need to practice it in order for your kids to retain any information! Simulate a fire emergency by having your kids play in different rooms in your home, and then hit the test button on your smoke alarm. Time your kids to see how long it takes them to get out of their rooms and to safety.

Once they are in the hallway, have them practice crawling on their hands and knees, and explain the importance of staying below the smoke line. Even just a couple of deep inhales of smoke is enough to cause a person to become drowsy and disoriented in the face of an emergency. 

Dealing With the Aftermath 

Once you are outside, have your kids pretend to call 911 and then review the information that they should relay to the dispatcher. Doing this every season can help everyone stay prepared so they can be more confident during a true emergency.

Remember, safety is your top priority during a house fire, so you may be dealing with some pretty significant home damage even though your entire family is safe and accounted for. Give us a call right away so we can confidently tackle your restoration. We will rebuild and restore your damaged home from the ground up! 

A single house fire can lead to serious damage. Call SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County today.

Proven Fire Damage Restoration for Vernon Residents

9/6/2022 (Permalink)

It is time to call SERVPRO to protect your Vernon home after fire damage.

Vernon Property Owners Look to SERVPRO for Fire Damage Cleanup

A fire is a nightmare and often the worst fear for many homeowners. Should you encounter a fire in your Vernon home, you are going to be dealing with confusion, loss, and challenges when it comes to house fire cleanup. Rather than making damage worse or taking too long with DIY cleanup, SERVPRO is ready and able to get to work as soon as possible. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster, handling smoke remediation, charred debris, and total reconstruction to get you results fast. Before you realize it, you can be back to enjoying daily life and putting the memory of the fire behind you.

No matter the level of charring, smoke infiltration, or loss, you need fire damage assistance in Vernon from skilled fire and smoke restoration technicians (FSRT). SERVPRO features qualified experts that follow proven methods to restore your home and belongings to pre-fire condition. Once the flames get extinguished, you can trust SERVPRO will be there to get the job done right the first time. 

Did you know that we continuously work to restore versus replace? In many situations, we can use specialized methods, industrial cleaning equipment, and cleaning agents to make soiled, smoke damaged items and materials like new again.

What is the SERVPRO Fire Restoration Process?

It begins with a phone call to our customer care center, where we will gather information about your fire emergency. This allows us to determine the right equipment and tools to pack onto our Green Fleet of vehicles. If necessary, we also bring alternative power sources and staging equipment that help us complete the job if electricity and space are an issue.

• After our crew arrives, a full inspection gets done to assess the fire damage – this allows us to craft a tailored plan to achieve our restoration goals.
• We initiate board-up and tarping services to protect your interior, including attention for damaged roofing, walls, windows, and door. Proper protection keeps out the elements and vandals, vermin, and intruders until work commences.
• Water removal services help us extract any standing water left from efforts to extinguish the flames.
• Specialized equipment gets set up to remove moisture from the air.
• Tools, equipment, and various products help us address soot and smoke from building materials and other surfaces.
• Cleaning techniques get employed to address soiling and foul odors. We often use air scrubbers with HEPA filtration and thermal foggers to remove odorous particulates.
• Controlled demolition is excellent for removing and replacing unsalvageable materials and executing repair work in various areas.

Contents Cleaning and Detailed Inventory

There are many situations where packing up and moving out your belongings is best for the given project. Our team follows careful protocols for labeling, packing, and moving items off-site for storage or cleaning. Some items might get moved to our warehouse, where we can perform specialized cleaning, including immersion or abrasion cleaning, busting through soilings, and removing even the toughest soot residue.

• If you have delicate items like documents, books, photographs, paintings, and other priceless objects, we also have trusted partners and technicians on our team to perform cleaning.
• We always test items before cleaning to select the correct methods, helping us be effective without leaving any lasting damage. 

Having SERVPRO on your side means having a trusted liaison to work with your home insurance company. We know fire damaged homes and take the time to carefully document everything to help make your claims process as smooth and painless as possible. Call SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County at (973) 383-2024.

Fire Restoration in Your Vernon Home Should Begin Promptly

9/2/2022 (Permalink)

Call the professionals at SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County to help with fire restoration to your property.

Trust SERVPRO for Fire Restoration in Your Vernon Home

After fire damage in your home, you might be wondering what fire damage restoration is all about. It is the process in which professionals repair the damage from a fire, corrosive byproducts, soot, and odors. 

Fire damage can spread to areas that the fire itself failed to reach. You must begin fire restoration in your Vernon residence soon after the fire department clears the property. This process is complex and consists of various steps, including: 

• Assessing the destruction
• Controlling the damage 
• Cleaning and repairs
• Deodorization
• Final restoration

Assessing the Destruction

How much smoke and soot covered your furniture? How deep inside your property did the flames penetrate? Our SERVPRO restorers can evaluate the destruction to determine what requires repairs. The assessment also estimates the associated expenses. 

Controlling the Damage 

Our team can remove items that the flames, smoke, water, and soot did not touch. Removing the items can prevent smoke from lingering and getting embedded in them. We can also contain additional destruction by restoring weakened structures and boarding up holes. 

Cleaning and Repairs

This involves cleaning affected areas and eliminating soot. If smoke staining is present, our SERVPRO restorers can perform a deep scrub and then sand and refinish affected surfaces. We can clean all items covered in debris, dust, or residue. 

Deodorization

Odors are volatile molecules that the nose senses in the air. Since odors are volatile, they dissipate once restorers remove the odor source. We can use several procedures involving different professional products and devices to produce results. For example, our SERVPRO technicians can use water-based odor counteractants to eliminate the smells. They can mix with water in various dilution ratios. We can add them to cleaning solutions to control smoke smells and other odors. 

Final Restoration

This stage of fire restoration involves performing repairs meant to restore a home to its original condition. Our SERVPRO crew can reconstruct ruined structural elements and install new drywall, carpeting, or flooring. We can also remodel affected areas and paint the walls. 

It is helpful to begin the fire damage restoration process soon. Contact SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County at (973) 383-2024 for prompt repairs. 

Various Products Necessary for Managing Fire Damage in Vernon

8/9/2022 (Permalink)

For any type of fire damage in your property you can count on SERVPRO to help.

SERVPRO Is Well Stocked Vernon Fire Cleanup Processes

When a fire ignites, several things happen because it simultaneously consumes and produces materials. Most of the by-products of the combustion process are dark and smelly, so they cause significant soiling to surfaces and contents. Even areas of your Vernon home with minimal fire damage might have traces of soot and other soils.

A thorough cleanup is necessary after fire damage at your Vernon home. Many cleaning methods combined help to complete the process. However, wet cleaning is the most dominant, whether dealing with structural surfaces or contents. SERVPRO invests in different tools and chemical agents to facilitate such cleaning. 

Essential Cleaning Products:

• Heavy duty cleaner for greasy residues
• General surface cleaners 
• Glass cleaners
• Dry and wet fogging agents for odors

Each cleaning product works best under specific conditions because of the different pH levels and active ingredients. For example, general surface cleaners are mildly alkaline, while heavy-duty cleaners are highly alkaline and contain ammonia, making them suitable to strip off greasy or wet soot from surfaces. 

When cleaning transparent or highly polished surfaces, you must exercise caution to avoid etching or leaving streaks on the surfaces. Our SERVPRO crews use specialized products for cleaning and rinsing such areas. For instance, glass cleaners are slightly alkaline and have ammonia content that evaporates from the surface, thus leaving no streaks. 

Managing Fire Odors

The heavy smoke scent left in a house after a fire incident takes considerable effort to manage. Cleaning up physical soils such as soot and charred materials clears a significant percentage of the odors. The odor remnants require elaborate deodorization procedures since they are embedded in materials acting as reservoirs. Our SERVPRO technicians use several approaches to reach and neutralize embedded odor molecules.

Helpful odor management products:

• Water or solvent-based fog deodorizers
• Deodorant granules
• Liquid odor counteractants
• Surface sealers

SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County uses appropriate chemical agents to manage fire damage “Like it never even happened.” You can reach us at (973) 383-2024.

Deodorization Is Crucial to Fire Damage Restoration in Vernon

6/1/2022 (Permalink)

Odor control begins with removing fire damaged debris from a Vernon house by our SERVPRO technicians

Deodorizers Aid Vernon Fire Damage Restoration

An essential part of the restoration process in Vernon is effectively deodorizing the impacted areas and contents of fire-damaged homes. This important task requires professional-grade odor-eliminating products. Fortunately, SERVPRO has all the necessary deodorizers and knows how to use them.

SERVPRO has been handling Vernon area fire damage restoration projects for several decades now and has earned a reputation for excellence. Our highly-trained fire and smoke damage experts, over this time, have performed everything from basic house fire clean up work to complicated smoke remediation and fire restoration jobs. With that said, SERVPRO has become well-known for its skilled deodorization of fire-damaged residences. Some of the products in our arsenal that have made this performance possible are:

• Odor counteracting beads, including those with Cherry # 306 and Cinnamon #316 fragrances, which are materials with time-released, smell-masking agents that float throughout homes on air currents
• Deodorant pellets or granules, are odor absorbers that continuously act to control lingering smoke-related smells in relatively inaccessible areas or entire structures
• Water-based odor counteractants that readily mix with cleaning solutions to neutralize most fire-related scents at a wide range of temperatures and pH extremes
• Water-based wet fog deodorizers that can be converted into a superfine mist and applied with ULV foggers to treat odorous smoke particles in crevices and cracks
• Water-based thermal fog deodorizers, transformable into an extra-fine mist that can penetrate smoke-fouled cracks/crevices, which are not flammable and can be applied with thermal foggers
• Solvent-based thermal fog deodorizers (containing odor counteractants, aromatic phenolics, and fragrances in a solvent base) that are applied to materials with thermal foggers and work to counteract their smoky scents

So, as you can see, SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County is a skilled fire damage restoration service. Call our helpful technicians at (973) 383-2024 whenever you need assistance.

Detailed Restoration After Fire Damage in Your Vernon Home

5/4/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO IICRC certified technicians use the latest technology and equipment for every job.

SERVPRO’s 24/7 Fire Restoration Team Helps Vernon Residents in Need!

Having an emergency such as a fire in your Vernon home already puts you through many emotions. The worst thing to do is exacerbate the issue by placing the weight of DIY house fire cleanup on your plate. SERVPRO is locally owned and operated, offering 24/7 restorations and smoke remediation for area residents. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster - so you can focus on getting back to everyday life without the added worry.

There are many working parts with any project involving fire restoration in Vernon. The good news is that SERVPRO’s technicians are disaster-ready, with crews ready to mobilize day or night should your family’s property suffer from a house fire. We are there within hours and get started as soon as the first responders on the scene tell our crew chief it is safe to enter the building.

Determining the soot soiling and damage level helps our team select the best equipment and processes to achieve our goals. When it comes to fire residues and odors, we look at:

• The location of all deposits of soot and smoke residue
• The various types of residues and the materials impacted
• Spot testing to determine the feasibility of wet cleaning, dry cleaning and which cleaning solutions will work best

If necessary, our technicians formulate a plan for logging all contents and packing them up to move them out – either for detailed cleaning or safe off-site storage. This allows us to have more room within your home to work on the cleanup and reconstruction of various areas. Once we get done, all of your items get returned to their proper places.

Fire restoration with the help of SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County gets you results fast to return to your usual routine. Call us at (973) 383-2024 or request service online when you would like a team dispatched to your property.

Does Fire Damage Restoration in Sparta Happen Quickly with SERVPRO?

2/2/2022 (Permalink)

Removal of soot and smoke deposits often requires elbow grease and hand tools. SERVPRO techs work hard to restore Sparta fire-damaged homes

SERVPRO techs clean residues during fire damage restoration in Sparta? 

Accumulation of smoke and soot residue is one of the biggest problems that restorers must deal with during fire damage restoration of Sparta properties. While there are many cleaning methods available to the SERVPRO techs, it can be tricky to pick the most effective and safe one for the surfaces involved.   

The aim of any cleaning method that SERVPRO techs use during fire damage restoration of Sparta homes is to dislodge the soils in the quickest possible time. If the residue is light and dry, mechanical agitation is often sufficient with no need to use a liquid cleaning product. The ideal conditions for this are when the surface is non-porous, and the residue is not greasy or sticky.

How do SERVPRO techs achieve mechanical agitation during house fire cleanup in Sparta?

The intensity of agitation required depends on the amount of soot deposited after smoke damage to your Sparta home. SERVPRO techs categorize the mechanical actions into the following three categories-

• Mild agitation: Feather dusters, brushes, vacuums, and compressed air produce a gentle agitation that works if the smoke particles are loose, dry and the surface involved is hard and non-porous.
• Mild agitation: If the soils need a bit more aggressive agitation to dislodge, SERVPRO techs use cleaning sponges, dusting cloths, or cleaning towels to get the job done. A small amount of mineral oil is often added to attract light soot particles.
• Heavy agitation: Abrasive media such as sandpaper, steel wool, or roto pads and brushes produce the heaviest agitation. These methods are useful if the soot is heavy, and surfaces don't get scratched easily.
• Media blasting: Pressurized streams of CO2 pellets, bicarbonate of soda, sponge particles, or other media to mechanically remove surface residues.

Call SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County at (973) 383-2024 with any questions regarding fire restoration of your property.

What Are Some Essential Considerations During Fire and Smoke Cleanup in Vernon Properties?

12/17/2021 (Permalink)

You can contact our professionals 24/7. Our fire damage experts are trained in fire & smoke restoration, odor control, upholstery and fabric cleaning.

SERVPRO Considers the Residue Types Left at a Fire Loss Site When Planning Cleaning Process to Improve the Outcomes

Cleaning up a property after a fire incident is essential in restoring it to its preloss state. The dark coloration of most residues left from the combustion process can fool you into thinking that a single cleaning approach is sufficient. However, residues have different physical and chemical properties, so one approach is not likely to clean your Vernon home satisfactorily.

Adapting fire and smoke cleanup in Vernon properties to match the type of soiling is the best approach. SERVPRO considers the types of residues present and the varying traits of each soil. For instance, even though soot is one type of residue, its properties vary greatly depending on how the fire burnt.

Some Common Factors that Distinguish Residues Include:

• Whether residues are corrosive 
• Whether smoke residues are wet
• How fine the residues are
• Whether there are oily or protein residues

Observation helps reveal most aspects of the residues. Our SERVPRO technicians also rely on their experiences to identify any hidden qualities. For example, if we observe that combustion involves plastics or protein, we can expect wet and invisible residues, respectively. We prepare a variety of resources to combat the different residues.

Useful Resources to Clean Fire Residues Include:

• Vacuums to capture fine residues
• Chemical sponges for non-wet surface cleaning
• Specially formulated chemical agents
• Deodorizers

Apart from the residues, the affected surfaces also matter. Factors such as age, porosity, and surface finish affect the cleaning process. Unfinished or aged materials tend to be more porous, thus absorbing most of the residues and necessitating aggressive cleaning. Highly polished finishes, on the other hand, are easier to clean since residue removal mostly requires wiping the surface. However, they are vulnerable to aggressive agitation or strong cleaning agents. 

SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County can handle fire and smoke cleanup after a fire, "Like it never even happened." Call us at (973) 383-2024 for expedited restoration of your property.

Can Professional Restoration Help Secure Fire Damage Claims?

12/2/2021 (Permalink)

Protect your home after fire damage by calling SERVPRO.

Our SERVPRO professionals work with most major insurance companies and local outfits to provide your Sparta home with thorough restoration services. 

One of the most upsetting things about fire damage in your Sparta home is the realization that there is a substantial amount of work involved in returning your property to preloss condition. This recovery is not work that you can do on your own. Relying on even accredited professionals like our SERVPRO team can feel like relinquishing control, especially when securing damage claims with your insurance provider after the disaster gets extinguished. 

Because we are a preferred vendor for fire damage in Sparta homes, according to local insurance providers and major companies, we are a trusted name in the area for restoration. Our relationships with insurance providers in our service area ensure that we go into restoration tasks to understand what insurance adjusters need to approve a damage claim even before it gets made. This experience in recovery can save time and money for our customers. Ultimately, securing your damage claim through your insurance company involves a pre mitigation evaluation of the property. 

What Does the Initial Job Scoping Phase Do? 

Job scoping is a critical task completed by competent professionals overseeing field technicians, such as our project manager and crew chief. These experienced leaders on our roster can walk through your property with you to catalog data related to what tasks are necessary for returning your property to its original state. This process focuses on several key points to ensure that the appropriate personnel, equipment, and products reach the job site when mitigation begins.

• Catalog Damages 
• Inspect Contents 
• Identify Pre-Existing Conditions 
• Generate Cost Estimations 

Fire damage might initially seem devastating to your home, but professional restoration technicians like our SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County team can help. You can reach us 24/7 at (973) 383-2024.

Removing Soot and Smoke Residues After Vernon Housefires

11/24/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO removes sooty residues and smoke odors from fire damaged Vernon homes, "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO professionals have multiple cleaning approaches for damaged building materials in Vernon homes.

There are many obstacles between a damaged and restored home, one of the most challenging being the removal and management of soot and smoke soils. Our SERVPRO professionals offer fast mitigation services to allow for efficient and productive cleaning and restoration services to come. We can make it "Like it never even happened."

Removing Airborne Soot Particles

Even before much of the fire damage in Vernon homes can be addressed and removed, careful consideration must be made about the house's condition, and how directly impacted by this loss it has become. Often, some degree of air filtration and clearing is required to protect a property, its contents, and its occupants. We have HEPA air scrubbers and vacuums to begin regulating the removal of airborne soot particles and microbial threats.

Surface Cleaning with Products

The efforts used to clean up damaged surface materials can often get implemented along with effective mitigating products. Mechanical actions play a vital role in soot management, and some of these categories:

• Mild Agitation – Dusters, soft-bristled brushes, compressed air, and vacuums can all be used in light damage situations. 
• Medium Agitation – More concentrated damages require more aggressive cleaning tactics, including dusting cloths, cleaning towels, and a dry cleaning sponge.
• Heavy Agitation – Heavy concentrations of soot damage require aggressive cleaning approaches like media blasting, sanding, and roto pads.

Our SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County team works fast when cleaning up after a fire loss incident. Mitigation and restoration services provided promptly prevent avoidable harm from befalling structural elements and contents of the house. Our professionals are ready to help 24/7 at (973) 383-2024.

The Public Adjuster

9/29/2021 (Permalink)

If you have ever filed an insurance claim, whether it be for your home, auto or health, you know it can be a very stressful process fraught with uncertainty and questions.  Will I be covered?  How much will I be covered for?  How will it impact my premiums?

Because of this confusion and uncertainty, many turn towards a Public Adjuster to get them through their ordeal.  But, before engaging a Public Adjuster, there are a few things you need to be aware of.

What happens first?

After you’ve taken care of your loved ones, you will need to get your home back in order.  When you have a damaging event to your home, for which you wish to submit a claim, one of the first things you should do is to contact your agent or your insurance company directly.

Your insurance company will record your loss and issue you a claim number.  They will also assign an internal or independent adjuster to review your claim.   This adjuster works on behalf of the insurance company.  This adjuster will schedule a visit to your home to inspect and assess the loss to determine coverage.  This is a benefit to you as a policyholder and does not cost you anything. 

Once coverage is determined, the insurance company’s adjuster will then discuss actions that need to be taken immediately, such as getting the home dried out or possibly boarded up if needed.  They’ll then provide you with their assessed value of the loss.

So now comes the question of whether or not to use a Public Adjuster.  Let’s go through this.

Exactly what is a public adjuster?

A public adjuster is someone that you pay to help you with your insurance claim.  They are an insurance claims specialist who interprets the homeowner's policy, assesses the damage and how much it will cost to repair, and negotiate with the insurance company on behalf of the homeowner until the claim is settled.

The Public Adjuster does not represent your insurance company nor is he/she assigned by your insurance company.  Public Adjusters are sought and hired by you to be your representative and deal with your insurance company.   For their services, they will charge you a fee, typically a percentage of the total award amount that they negotiate with your insurance company.

Remember, a Public Adjuster can assist with the claims process, but cannot get you more money than you are entitled to under your insurance policy and will not be able to get your claim settled any faster. You are simply paying them for a service.

OK, so when should I use a Public Adjuster?

Many will hire a Public Adjuster simply because they don’t have the time to deal with the claim.  Remember, though, you are paying a fee for this convenience. 

Typically, the Public Adjuster will charge a fee of 10%-15% of the final claim awarded.  This can be a sizable fee, so be sure before you sign any paperwork.  It’s also important to know that this fee can be negotiated depending on the size of the loss.

If you chose to deal with the claim personally, there are steps you can take before bringing a Public Adjuster in.  Your insurance company is a reputable business and they want you to continue to be a policyholder.

If you feel you can justify additional damages, speak with your insurance company’s assigned adjuster and present your case.  If you are not getting anywhere, ask to speak with a more senior representative.  You may find that these steps yield good results.

If you still feel that you need more representation, this is when you may consider working with a Public Adjuster.  It’s really a judgment call as to whether or not you believe your loss, and the associated damages you claim, are fairly reflected in your insurance company’s assessment.

Before you proceed, do some simple math. 

Let’s say you had a fire loss, for which your insurance company has assessed a $200,000 payment to cover the loss, but you feel you are entitled to $20,000 more and you have not been successful with your discussions with your adjuster.  So, you hire a Public Adjuster with a fee of 10%.  At the end of it, he argues and wins $10,000 more from your insurance company for a total payment of $210,000. The fee will be $21,000 to the Public Adjuster, netting you $189,000.  You would have been better off accepting the initial payment offered by the insurance company.

How can I find a good Public Adjuster?

As with anything else, a Public Adjuster can be found by doing some internet searches.  Another place to start would be going to the NAPIA website.  They have a vetting process and require their members to be licensed and to have been in business for at least 2 years.

Some steps you should think about:

• Always avoid any Public Adjuster who tries to pressure you into signing a contract. Remember this is a business transaction.
• Interview several.
• Get reference lists and check with their prior clients.
• Check their company websites.
• You can also ask friends and colleagues who they might recommend.
• Avoid single practitioners or small firms unless they demonstrate a good track record.

Before signing anything, make sure your rights are protected:

• Determine how long you have to cancel any contract you sign. New Jersey protects consumers with a 72-hour cancellation provision under the Consumer Fraud Act.
• Verify that the Public Adjuster will remove any lien once the contract is terminated.
• Limit the contract to no more than six months.

Once you’ve identified your Public Adjuster, you will sign a contract between you and them, which obligates your relationship with them until the claim is settled.  The Public Adjuster will likely place a lien on your insurance claim, naming them as an additional payee on all payments from your insurance company.

What role with the Public Adjuster play in the process?

So now you’ve hired a Public Adjuster.  Here’s what you can count on him doing and what you should not expect.

You will still be very involved in helping the Public Adjuster document the loss.  He will need details of the event and information about content damage and their value.

A public adjuster will assess your losses and help you get every penny you deserve, but don't expect miracles.  Understand the insurance company may not agree to everything you want just because you hired a public adjuster.

The Public Adjuster will be your representative and negotiate every aspect of the loss with your insurance company until a final agreement is made.  Once the negotiations are completed, your Public Adjuster’s job is done.  They do not perform or manage the restoration portion of this project.

The next and final step is to begin the restoration process by hiring the various contractors needed to perform the cleaning and repairing of your home.  This could start during negotiations between your Public Adjuster and your insurance company, depending on the urgency and what may have been agreed to. 

Remember, the Public Adjuster may provide you contractor referrals to do the work, however, you are under no obligation to use them, after all, this is your home and you have every right to decide who performs the work. 

Always consider using SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County for your cleaning and restoration needs, regardless of any contractors your Public Adjuster may insist on using. SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County is a full-service restoration company, providing everything from board-up and drying, to cleaning and rebuilding.

Summary

I hope this has helped you in understanding the role and costs surrounding using a Public Adjuster.  There is always risk in any decision.  Minimize your risk by doing your research first by working with your insurance company.  It will be well worth it to go down this path first.

Always feel free to contact SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County at 973-383-2024 to discuss this before making your decision.  We’re always glad to help.

Outdoor Entertaining

6/15/2021 (Permalink)

Summer outdoor parties are some of the best events of the year and one of the safest ways to enjoy summer in the midst of our ongoing pandemic.

The warm nights, food cooking on the grill, and friends and family spending quality time together in the backyard or around the pool create wonderful memories that last a lifetime. But, hosting outdoor events also means there’s an increased risk of home fires.

Fortunately, following some simple safety tips and guidelines can help ensure you and your guests stay safe. Consider the following as you host your next outdoor event: 

• Have an adult present at all times when a portable fireplace is burning
• Use sturdy candle holders that won’t tip over easily
• Keep anything that can burn, as well as children and pets, at least three feet away from open flames
• Use battery-operated flameless candles and solar-powered patio (tiki) torches in place of an open flame. Flameless candles come in all colors, shapes, and sizes, and many are scented. Flameless candles look and feel like the real ones, and add a beautiful soft glow to any outdoor event.

Outdoor entertaining by the numbers

• Outside fireplaces or fire pits caused nearly 3,700 grass and brush fires
• Outdoor patio heater or fire pit injuries have grown each year
• More than half of all candle fires start when things that can burn are too close to the candle
• An average of over 8,800 home fires involved grilling activities each year
• Annually, sparklers, fountains, and novelties account for up to 25% of emergency room fireworks-related injuries.

Contact us at 973-383-2024 if you have a service need or click here to visit our website to learn more about SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County's System Services. 

Helping Homeowners Recover

3/11/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO crew cleaning smoke from a fire damage

A back-draft of emotions often sweeps over the homeowners after a fire ravages a home. Fear, uncertainty, stress, and doubt about the future of the property can overwhelm the homeowner long after the flames have been extinguished and the smoke has cleared.

So after the first wave of heroes have rescued the property, let SERVPRO® of Greater Sussex County help you restore it. 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 customer’s peace of mind, as well.

So, before you risk doing further damage by attempting to clean up the damage yourself, call the fire damage cleanup and restoration professionals.

What You Can Do Until Help Arrives

• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from spreading and additional damage from occurring.

• Place clean towels or old linens on rugs and high traffic areas and upholstery.

• Coat chrome faucets, trim, and appliances with petroleum jelly or oil.

• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpet.

• Do not wash any walls or painted surfaces.

• Do not shampoo carpet or upholstery.

• Do not clean any electrical equipment.

• Do not send clothing to a dry cleaner since improper cleaning may set smoke odor.

SERVPRO® of Greater Sussex County provides the following restoration services:

• Board-ups - In some cases, it may be important to secure openings to your home or structure using sturdy, durable materials designed to protect it from both weather intrusion and intrusion by outsiders. SERVPRO® may perform the board-up themselves, or outside subcontractors may be utilized.

• Move-Outs - If prolonged exposure to the loss event could cause additional damage to your contents, your contractor requests relocation of the contents or the safety of your contents is a concern, a move-out may be recommended. In these situations, SERVPRO® is trained to properly inventory, move out and control the contents from the structure during the cleaning, restoration, and deodorization process.

• Electronics Cleaning - Smoke residues can contain acids that corrode metal surfaces when moisture is also present. If the residues are not removed, corrosion can eat away at the metal casing and can ultimately cause electronic failure in the device. SERVPRO® can clean the outside casing correctly, as well as refer your equipment to a qualified electronics vendor.

• Artwork - Artwork ranges from inexpensive framed pictures to extremely valuable fine art. Restoration of valuable art requires the use of a trained art restorer (known as a conservator), while less expensive art may not warrant these costly specialized services. SERVPRO® will usually subcontract fine art restoration to a conservator. If desired, SERVPRO® may attempt to remove smoke residues and odors, after qualifying with the customer that such cleaning procedures may affect the visible appearance of the item.

• Structural Cleaning - After smoke or fire damage, ceilings, walls, woodwork, carpeting, and floors will often need a thorough cleaning. SERVPRO® will pretest to determine the extent of damage, and then use the specific equipment and cleaning products required to clean and protect the different types of surfaces found in your structure. Depending on the amount of soot, SERVPRO® may even be able to reduce the cost of recovery by cleaning lighter soot deposits found on some surfaces, eliminating the expense incurred with repainting or refinishing. In other cases, SERVPRO® will clean to “prepare for painting”. This process deodorizes and ensures the new paint will adhere properly to the surface.

• Contents Cleaning–All of the restorable contents in affected areas will be professionally cleaned and deodorized.  This includes area rugs, furniture, draperies, and upholstery. SERVPRO® begins by carefully inspecting and testing all fabrics in the structure to determine which cleaning methods are most appropriate. SERVPRO® can provide wet or dry cleaning services. Additionally, all the other restorable contents will be cleaned and deodorized to preloss condition. This includes electronics, art, wood furniture, kitchen items, clothing, bedding, bric-a-brac, and much more. Finally, SERVPRO® can provide an inventory list of all “to be claimed” items if requested.

• Deodorization–SERVPRO® provides specialized services that rid your home or place of business of offensive odors left by fire or smoke damage. SERVPRO® does not merely cover up lingering odors with a fragrance, they seek out the sources of the odor and remove them. 

• Repair / Rebuild - In most cases, SERVPRO® can provide full-scope repair and rebuild services, including structural repairs, painting, and flooring.

So, before you risk doing further damage by attempting to clean up the damage yourself, call the fire damage cleanup and restoration professionals at SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County. 

Contact us at 973-383-2024 if you have a service need or click here to visit our website to learn more about SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County's System Services.

Destroy Odors with DEODORIZATION

12/22/2020 (Permalink)

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 Greater Sussex County professionals arrive.

Even a small fire can cause odors for years to come if the affected areas are not properly cleaned and deodorized. Fire, smoke, and soot damage in your home or business can create unpleasant and potentially permanent problems.

As various materials burn, the smoke produced travels throughout the structure, leaving odorous residues and deposits on surfaces and in hard-to-reach places. Unless fast, professional action is taken, these residues and deposits can cause permanent damage to contents and may result in resurfacing odors.

With technicians certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration (IICRC), SERVPRO® provides specialized services that can rid your home or business of offensive odors left by fire or smoke damage. SERVPRO® does not cover up lingering odors with a fragrance; they seek out and remove the source of the odor. Once the source is found, SERVPRO’s own proprietary line of cleaning products is used to treat and prevent the odor from returning. Any restorable item in affected areas will also be professionally cleaned and deodorized, including furniture, draperies and upholstery, electronics, art, flooring, walls, ceilings, HVAC air ducts, and more.

Ask SERVPRO® of Greater Sussex County professionals to explain the various deodorization methods available and which one will work best for you.

If you or one of your customers suffer a fire damage or some other accident and require deodorization services, contact SERVPRO® of Greater Sussex County immediately. Whether it’s fire, water, or mold damage, or just a stubborn odor that refuses to go away, we’ll help make it “Like it never even happened.”

Contact us at 973-383-2024 if you have a service need or click here to visit our website to learn more about SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County's System Services.

Celebrate Safely this Holiday Season

12/7/2020 (Permalink)

Celebrate Safely this Holiday Season

Local SERVPRO fire restoration specialist says use common sense and caution to help control the risk of holiday season home fires

In a year when large holiday gatherings may not be possible, fire damage restoration specialist SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County says a focus on family decorating traditions and more intimate celebrations may take on extra significance.  It’s as important to keep safety top of mind with a small family gathering as it is with a large holiday party.  We all enjoy bringing the glow of the holiday season to our homes with Christmas trees or menorahs and candlelight, but these statistics from the U.S. Fire Administration show how easy it is for home decorating to turn into a home disaster. 

• The top three days for home candle fires are Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and New Year’s Eve.
• More than half of the home decoration fires in December are started by candles.
• A heat source too close to the Christmas tree causes one in every four winter fires.
• On average, one of every 52 reported home Christmas tree fires resulted in death.

In addition to exercising caution with candles and heat sources, it is important to follow manufacturers’ guidelines for holiday lighting. According to the National Fire Protection Association, electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in 44% of home Christmas tree fires. Though Christmas tree fires may not be common, they can be devastating to more than the house itself. They can destroy irreplaceable photos, mementos, and family heirlooms and even cost lives.  To help keep your holidays bright and your home and family safe, use common sense with candles and tree placement, and follow these important home decorating guidelines.

• Only use decorations that are flame-retardant or not flammable.
• Check holiday lights each year for frayed wires or excessive wear.
• Don’t link more than three strands of holiday lights. 

In a year when so many of the things we take for granted have changed, we know people will still come together – in person or virtually – to celebrate family and holiday traditions. "Stay safe" has become a common expression in the context of public health, but this holiday season, we urge all Sussex County-area home and business owners to think about "staying safe" in their homes as they prepare for and enjoy the holiday season. 

SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County is an industry leader and provider of fire and water cleanup and restoration services. For more fire prevention and fire safety tips and information about fire and water damage restoration services, please visit our website.

For more information on SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County, please contact us at 973-383-2024.  If you have a service need or click here to visit our website to learn more about SERVPRO of Greater Sussex County's System Services.