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.

Tips to Remember When Grilling

Even though Labor Day has officially signaled end of summer, families are still utilizing grills as the warm weather lingers for one last hurrah. Grilling all summer long may have left you or someone you know with a false sense of grill safety whether you’ve cooked a single chicken or hosted a barbecue every weekend.

It’s always important to remember these basic grilling safety tips:

• Grilling should only take place outdoors and in a cleared space. Grilling in an enclosed space such as your home or garage can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning which may potentially be deadly.
• Be aware that just because you’re outside, you’re not necessarily safe. Grilling should take place at least 10-feet from your home with no dry brush or leaves nearby that may catch fire.
• Keep your distance while grilling by using long-handled tongs or grill forks. Never squirt an accelerant directly onto the grill and always keep clothing tucked away.
• Grills should never be left unattended when lit. Always be prepared to put out a fire with a nearby garden hose or a fire extinguisher, and be sure no unattended children are left near the grill.
• The most common cause of grilling injuries is the fuel line. Whether it’s broken, contains faulty hoses, or unbalanced venturi tubes, an unchecked fuel line can be dangerous.

Keeping these points in mind for the last few weeks of the grilling season will help you avoid the most common causes of grilling accidents. If your home has recently been damaged by a grilling accident or other fire-related disaster, contact PuroClean of South Charlotte at (704) 644-8686 or visit www.puroclean911.com immediately.

Biohazard Cleanup of a Hoarder Home

You may know someone who is a bit of a pack-rat or have even seen the television show, “Hoarders,” but cleaning up a biohazardous hoarder home is a necessity in order to avoid dangerous illnesses and make the home suitable for human habitation.

We’ve seen incidents of hoarding lead to dangerous quarantines due to the possibility of contracting a deadly virus, like when crew members of the TLC television show, “Hoarding: Buried Alive,” showed signs of having the Hantavirus after cleaning biohazardous material in a home. Other cases such as being buried alive under mountains of trash can happen; an elderly couple in Chicago died under mounds of garbage that had accumulated and overtaken the space in their home. However, these were extreme cases. Yes, they do happen. And yes, PuroClean of South Charlotte will be there to help sanitize and deodorize once the clutter has been removed.

If things like animal feces or bodily fluids are present in the home, you simply cannot hose it down and assume it is clean. It needs to be handled delicately and by a professional biohazard specialist who has the correct equipment and chemicals to properly sanitize the home.

It is recommended that carpets that are clearly damaged beyond repair be removed prior to cleaning the home. Any furniture, trash or contents of the hoard that cannot be salvaged must go. Using an enzyme based cleaner to deodorize the home in full protective equipment gear is necessary to stop the possible spread of diseases like the Hantavirus, staph viruses like MRSA and Hepatitis or HIV.

Using cleaners like hydroxyls will help clean the air, but it should be made clear that even if we properly sanitize the home, the odor may persist. That being said, we will make sure everything is sanitized so that people may safely inhabit the home. For more information on biohazard cleaning, contact PuroClean of South Charlotte at (704) 644-8686 or visit our website at www.puroclean911.com