Christmas Tree Fire Safety

Keeping fires during the year is a relatively simple task, but during the holidays, it gets a little tricky. With a large tree covered in lights and near heat sources, it can easily catch fire.

If you decide to go the artificial route, make sure the brand is clearly labeled as fire-retardant. Just because it isn’t a real tree doesn’t mean it can’t catch fire.

For more traditional celebrators, a live tree should be fresh. It doesn’t have to be chopped down by you, but buying from a reputable seller will help. Needles should stay in place and not fall when being touched or moved.

When placing your tree, stand it three or more feet away from any heat source (no fireplaces, candles, vents, radiators) or blocking an exit. To keep the tree fresh and less flammable, daily hydration is key.

When wrapping the tree with twinkle lights, make sure they have been tested and are strictly for indoor use. Any lights with broken or worn cords should be replaced. When connecting different sets of lights, three should be the max and they should always be turned off before bed.

When the new year rolls around and you’re ready to send your tree to the curb, local recycling programs will help dispose of the remnants.

If a fire does occur, PuroClean of South Charlotte can help fix the damage.

Top 3 Reasons for Fires

Fire departments responded to an estimated 1,240,000 fires in 2013 alone. The leading causes might not be surprising, but they keep renters and homeowners alike privy to important information on their personal safety and well-being.

Cooking Equipment - The leading cause of home fires (43%) is attributed to unwatched cooking and/or cooking equipment. Most civilian injuries occur when civilians attempt to fight the fire themselves instead of calling the fire department.

Heating - One out of five home fires are caused by heating equipment - fixed (and portable) space heaters and wood stoves cause more fires than central heating equipment. Heating equipment causes more civilian deaths than cooking equipment while being less likely to occur.

Arson - The most surprising of all - the third leading cause of fires in the U.S. are set intentionally with a 13% rate of civilian death. Two out of every five arsonist was under the age of eighteen while 20% of business structure fires are intentionally set.

Fire damage is preventable, but when it occurs, calling PuroClean of Metro Charlotte will help put your home back into it’s rightful place.

How to Prevent a Chimney Fire

Now that summer is over and fall is in full swing with winter right around the corner, you might be making use of your fireplace. While newer homes may have the simplicity of a light-switch fireplace, owners of older homes need to be aware that a chimney is not maintenance free. It needs to be regularly checked and cleaned so chimney fires do not destroy your home.

The consequence of an uncleaned chimney means creosote will build up and catch fire. A regular chimney cleaning by a professional  chimney sweep will prevent this build up. After the fire has been put out, PuroClean of South Charlotte knows how to help clean up the damage.

There are two different kinds of chimney fires - slow burning and free burning. A slow burning chimney fire burns at a slower pace and can cause more structural damage to your chimney and home while a free burning chimney fire is impossible to go unnoticed. Massive amounts of smoke and noise (some say like a freight train or airplane) will come from your chimney.

To prevent these from happening, regularly check your chimney and have the creosote removed. Dried and/or seasoned wood are the only thing that should be burned in your chimney. No kerosene or gasoline, cardboard boxes, or wrapping paper should be used either. Dry kindling or clean newspaper are the safer option to ignite your fires.

If chimney fire happens in your home, PuroClean of South Charlotte will help reduce the damage the fire may have caused.

Simple Tips for Cleaning a Small Mold Infestation

Small mold infestation may not be a homeowners biggest concerns, but they are nothing to scoff at or ignore. They may not even require PuroClean of South Charlotte’s help...if they’re small enough.

For homeowners with asthma, allergies or respiratory issues, calling a professional is recommended. If you decide to clean the area yourself, be sure to take the proper safety precautions. This includes wearing non-porous (nylon or latex) gloves and a N95 dust mask during clean up. This will help to prevent contamination and the inhalation of mold spores.

Non-porous surfaces can be cleaned using a combination of liquid dishwashing detergent (i.e. Joy or Dawn), warm water and a terry cloth rag. Mix the detergent with the warm water and wet the the terry cloth rag. The rag should be damp, not saturated. Then wipe down the affected surfaces. The dishwashing detergent has a surface abrasive (surfactant) that will help remove the mold’s hypae (root structure) during the cleaning process.

If the mold has grown on porous surfaces such as linen or fabric materials, it probably can’t be saved. In many cases, the best option for mold-infested porous material is to discard it. Light surface growth on drywall can be cleaned; however, heavier growth often requires the removal of the affected material. Any implements used during clean-up (i.e. rags and gloves) should be properly disposed.

If you encounter an infestation of mold in your home that requires professional assistance, be sure to call PuroClean of South Charlotte.

Steps to Take When Cleaning Up After a Flood

If your neighborhood has been hit by a flash flood and you are one of the unfortunate few that experiences flood damage, don’t panic! There are steps you can take to ease the process of cleaning up your home before we arrive.

Be aware that you only have 24 to 36 hours to stop the threat of mold and bacteria from growing in your home.

First off, call PuroClean of South Charlotte and your insurance agent as soon as possible. While you wait for them to arrive and give you more instruction and advice, unplug and salvage whatever electronics, furniture, rugs, carpets, etc, you can before the removal of the water. Be sure to take precautions and wear protective gear to protect yourself from contaminants.

Whether your basement has been flooded with three feet of water or your living room in an inch, use whatever you can - mops, buckets, water pumps - to drain your home excessive amounts of water. During this process, take pictures of all damage.

Next, remove all of your valuables. Don’t throw anything away before your insurance representative has arrived. Once they have been contacted, start the drying out process. Use what you can - fans, dehumidifiers, open the windows (if whether is permitting) - to ventilate your home and dry out any moisture you can.

When PuroClean of South Charlotte arrives, they will take it from there to check your home for mold and quickly remove signs of damage to keep you and your family safe.

The Cost of a Mold Cleanup

Dealing with the fallout from a mold infestation is something homeowners prefer to avoid. But when it happens, it needs to be dealt with in a timely manner so the health of your family isn’t affected. The cost of mold remediation can be intimidating for homeowners, but PuroClean of South Charlotte will help ease the potential sticker shock of your mold remediation.

The first thing taken into consideration is the extent and amount of mold in your home. A small amount may only run you a few hundred dollars, but a large contamination can be costly. The mold cost and cleanup is broken up into three parts - inspection and testing by a professional, remediation, and final inspection and testing.

Areas in which mold commonly emerges - attics, basements, crawl spaces, etc - are checked thoroughly to gauge the full extent of mold damage. Most initial consultations are free and will estimate the total cost of the remediation. Mold can be tested, depending on the severity of the infestation.

The cost of the remediation covers things like the extent of the damage, whether or not building materials such as drywall or lumber need to be replaced. The infestation could possibly be superficial and might easily be cleaned via HEPA vacuuming and cleaning with an antimicrobial agent. Larger contaminations often require the removal of mold-affected materials (such as drywall, carpeting, etc) and the use of HEPA vacuums and HEPA air scrubbers to filter the air and capture the spores.

After the elimination of all mold, a final inspection by PuroClean of South Charlotte may be conducted if the infestation was severe enough.

Not All Water Damage is Created Equal

Nobody wants to deal with water damage, especially when it can be detrimental to your health.

Water damage can be broken up into three categories, cleverly called Category 1, Category 2, and Category 3 water damage. PuroClean of South Charlotte deals with all three.

The first two (Category 1 and 2) deal with more minor contaminations. Category 1 damage is the safest of the three - the contamination doesn't pose a serious threat to health, but the water in this category can change to a higher level due to contact with things like soil or building materials. This kind of water usually comes from a clean source, such as a broken pipe or the ice-maker line to the refrigerator.

Category 2, mildly contaminated water, such as discharge from a washing machine, has more potential for more minor health risks because it contains more notable contamination in comparison to Category 1. Both Category 1 and 2, after a period of time (usually 48-72 hours) can escalate into a Category 3 situation if not addressed quickly.

Of all three categories, the most dangerous is Category 3 “Black Water” damage, which includes sewage and stormwater runoff that enters the home. This damage can contain harmful pathogenic or toxigenic agents. If exposed to or ingested, Category 3 water damage can cause serious discomfort and sickness.

At PuroClean of South Charlotte, we will work to evaporate any excess black water, dehumidification and temperature control followed by precise monitoring of the structure in question. Every aspect will be inspected - the level of obvious damage, the integrity of the floors along with the potential health risks - to make sure you and your family are safe from contaminated water damage.