The First 3 Steps in Fire And Water Damage Restoration

Fire And Water Damage Restoration

Fire damage is without a doubt stressful, chaotic, dangerous, and tragic. But, when working with a professional restoration company, the process can become much easier in every area. With The Steam Team, we have a 7-step process when it comes to fire damage restoration. Today, we’ll go over the first 3.

1. Emergency Contact

The first phone call you make should be to emergency services - firefighters will begin, carefully and strategically, extinguishing your house fire. However, your emergency contact should not stop there - after the initial phone call to 911, it’s important that you then call your local cleaning and restoration company. Fire damage is often accompanied by water damage, as the firefighters will use water to extinguish the fire itself, so choosing a company who is equipped and experienced to handle both is extremely important.

1. Inspection and Damage Assessment

After the fire is out, your professional cleaning and restoration company will begin to inspect the home and assess the extent of damage. Not only will this help in the restoration process itself, but it’s also for insurance purposes to ensure that the claim you file is filed correctly and you are given the right amount of reimbursement per your policy. In these cases, it can be difficult for homeowners to correctly assess the damage as it’s extremely hard for them to see their home damaged. That’s why it’s important to call in a professional who knows how to properly document everything - like a restoration company.

1. Immediate Board-Up and Roof Tarp Service

The next step in the process is ensuring the house is kept safe throughout the entire process. With fire damage, windows can become compromised or broken and the roof can be damaged even if you don’t know it. That’s where the professionals come in and board up your windows tarp your roof to protect the inside of your home. In some cases this isn’t needed, but of course, this depends on the extent of damage.

Have You Been Trained in Fire Damage Restoration?

Water & Fire Damage Emergency Service

This one is for all of the insurance professionals out there! Throughout the year, The Steam Team holds a fire and smoke restoration course to help insurance professionals continue their education.

Fire and smoke damage is no doubt a risky business. As insurance professionals, often times you need to help assess the extent of the damage to know what you’re working with. However, this requires health precautions among many other safety measures - and, also for you to learn the process of those (like The Steam Team) who step in to restore the damage. All of this can help you, as an insurance professional, to have a better understanding for the situation as well as your job - further helping the family you’re working with.

What’s Included in Fire Damage Restoration

• Timing is Key

Nobody doubts that you understand how important timing can be with fire damage, however, it’s crucial that insurance professionals understand the extent that fire damage can cause if left unattended.

• Learning Inspection

During training, the instructor will educate insurance professionals about the inspection process and properly assessing the damage and its restoration cost.

• Board-Up

The next step in the restoration process is to protect the home from any compromised windows, walls, or even the roof by using boards to cover the areas or a tarp to cover the roof.

• Water Removal

Since water is used to extinguish fires, there can often be a mixture of water damage on top of the fire damage from when the firefighters put the fire out. Removing this water is crucial to ensuring that damage doesn’t progress any further.

• Smoke/Soot Removal

Finally, we make it to one of the most critical parts of restoration; smoke and soot removal. Without this step, the house could continue to suffer damage even after a “restoration” is completed.

As an insurance professional, knowing the entire restoration process can keep you better informed throughout the claims process. The courses we offer are lead by state certified personnel and last only 3 hours.

Stay tuned on our website to keep up with the latest restoration courses!

Beware of Do-It-Yourself Mold Removal

Water and Mold Damge

We already know that mold can be dangerous - and, in some cases, toxic - so it’s extremely important to take caution when deciding how to remove mold throughout your home. Often times, homeowners will attempt to fix or repair things around their house to try and save money. Unfortunately, there are many circumstances where this initial approach can end up costing more money down the road, when the repair isn’t done correctly. When it comes to mold removal, do-it-yourself techniques can be exceptionally dangerous if not done correctly.

Let’s explore.

How Mold Spreads

The perfect environment for mold to grow (and spread) in is a humid, moist area. When a home suffers water damage (no matter how severe) the house is then immediately susceptible to mold growth. Once mold grows, it can begin to spread through spores that it reproduces that then are carried through different means - whether that’s the air, animals even, or the root of the problem - water.

How Professionals Remove Mold

Removing mold is a difficult job as the spores are microscopic and are often hard to find. Unfortunately, many people have mold in their homes and don’t even know it - but, with proper inspection and treatment the house can be completely restored. Professionals use specialized and advanced equipment to properly remove and treat the mold to prevent further growth. That’s why, when trying to remove mold on your own, you could miss spores and not completely remove the infestation.

If you choose to attempt mold removal on your own, you could risk your health and the stability of your home. It’s not worth it - you may not be able to get every mold spore like a professional can, leaving you and your family continually susceptible to growth and spreading. Don’t hesitate - call The Steam Team!

Getting Prepared for Water Damage

24 Hour Water Damage Service in Austin, Texas 

You’re listening to the news and you hear it - there’s a huge storm rolling in and flood warnings flashing all over the screen. How can you prepare? Better yet, how can you prepare for any type of water damage - natural disaster, busted pipe, or broken appliance?

Moving Your Belongings

If you suspect that flooding may be heading your way, the first thing you can do to protect your belongings around the home is move them to higher ground. If you have a second story, that’s probably the most convenient place to move them to. However, if you live in a one story, you can place important belongings on countertops or above (and in) cabinets, etc.

Inspecting Weak Areas Around the House

Next, before the storm really rolls in (or there’s even a warning of a storm), it’s important to know if there are any weak areas around your home. Whether that may be unsecured windows, foundation cracks, or maybe even doors that aren’t sealed completely.

Treating Water Damage Immediately

Last, do not forget that if you are dealing with water damage - it MUST be treated immediately. Without immediate attention, water damage can become much worse (and quickly). The water can become more contaminated over time, and mold spores can begin to grow and even spread. Do not wait for the damage to progress!

We know water damage can be scary - terrifying, even. But, with help from the professionals, you can take a lot of the stress off of your shoulders and trust that they can handle the damage and restore your home. However, knowing how to prepare your belongings and your home before flooding can (and will) minimize any damage that may occur.

Do You Have a Hidden Water Leak?

Water Damage Restoration Experts

One of the biggest problems that cause water damage is water leaks - often because they’re hidden and hard to find. Not only can these hidden water leaks cause water damage, but they can also lead to mold growth and of course, wasted water. But, there is a solution! These hidden leaks can be found and repaired a few different ways.

Locating the Water Leaks

When looking for water leaks, there are a few common places you should check first - like bathrooms (showers, behind toilets, etc.), under sinks, and water heaters. Another thing you can check is (of course) your water meter, although this is easier to do if no water is currently being used in the house. If it seems like water usage has gone up without reason, it could definitely be a water leak.

What Happens if You Have a Water Leak?

The easy answer here is water damage, but depending on the severity and amount of water - there could be bigger issues like structural damage and mold. With mold, there are always dangers of contamination, allergies, and growth. But it can be stopped!

Cleaning Up Water Damage

If you’ve ever dealt with water damage before - no matter the severity - you know it’s not easy. With slow hidden water leaks, chances are that a good amount of water has built up over time. It’s always best to leave this job to the professionals. They know exactly how to handle each situation - from clean up, drying out the water, and removing mold growth to ensure there won’t be any more damage or risk to your health.

Do you know if you have a water leak? Have you checked for hidden water leaks if your water usage has skyrocketed (or slowly gone up without reason)? Don’t wait any longer - contact the professionals, like us here at The Steam Team.

What Damages Your Carpet?

Carpet Cleaning Horsehoe Bay, Texas

Whether you’re facing holes in your carpet, bald patches, tears, discoloration, shrinking, stains, burns, or any excess wear - you’ve come to the right place. Unfortunately, many things can be damaging to carpet - even too much sunlight! But, hiring a professional cleaning and restoration company can bring your flooring back to life.

Why should you repair your carpet?

Installing carpet in your home is a huge investment! While there are many ways you can elongate its lifetime, there are also many factors that can affect its durability and none of us have control over natural disasters. However, repairing your carpet (professionally) can maintain its value and aesthetics.

But, why hire a professional?

Professional cleaning and restoration companies have extensive experience, education, training, and the latest technology and equipment to get the job done - properly. If you’re a homeowner, chances are you’ve tried your hand at a few do-it-yourself projects over the weeks, months, or years that you’ve owned your house. But when it comes to repairing damaged carpet - or any flooring, for that matter - it’s never recommended to look up the latest YouTube video on how to restore it yourself. In this situation, you could even further the damage to your carpet - keeping you from saving the additional money you thought you would be saving in the first place. With hiring a professional, all of these worries go away! You can count on the technicians to restore your carpet from the damage, or if it’s too damaged - you know they’ll be honest and upfront about needing replacement.

If you stress about the upkeep and regular maintenance of your floors (whether they’re carpet, hardwood, tile, etc.) - you can always trust a professional company (like us, here at The Steam Team) to take care of them.

Do You Have Mold in Your Home?

Mold Remediation Austin Texas

Mold often lurks in homes, especially those that have been affected by water damage. Unfortunately, it’s not often apparent - even if you’re allergic. Sometimes, you could experience mild allergies that seem like seasonal allergies, but for others it could be more dangerous. However, even still, many people live in homes that contain mold without knowing it for years. So, how can you detect mold in your home?

If you’ve experienced any kind of water damage, the best thing to do is have your professional restoration company check for any mold damage so they’ll remove it during the restorative process. On the other hand, mold can grow for a number of reasons - even without extensive water damage. The best way to detect mold around the home is to look for signs such as; congestion, watery eyes, trouble breathing, visible appearance of mold, or even an unpleasant smell around the house.

With small amounts of mold contamination, you may not experience any health effects. But it also depends on the individual, as some react worse than others. Besides the signs that often mimic seasonal allergies, you could even experience skin irritation in the presence of mold. In severe cases of mold, you may face even further symptoms that present as an illness like fever, headaches, and even vomiting! But remember - these aren’t always present, but if mold contamination is causing this reaction in your body, your doctor will be able to test for exposure.

So, if you’ve found that your home is contaminated with mold (whether large or small), how can you get rid of it? Depending on the severity of the environment, you may not have to leave the premises (or you may have to, in severe cases). The best way to remove mold is to call a professional cleaning and restoration company - like The Steam Team.  

Can You Handle Fire Damage Restoration on Your Own?

Water Damage Restoration

When your home has been damaged by a fire, large or small, it can be absolutely devastating. You may have lost important, significant belongings, or your furniture and other structures around your home could be permanently damaged. Overwhelmed by the cost of repairs, you may think you can handle the restoration on your own. But, fire damage restoration can be extremely dangerous and should always be handled only by those professionally certified and trained to do so.

Often times, the leftover smoke and ash residue can be more damaging than the fire itself - as we’ve covered in previous blogs. Not only can it leave permanent discoloration and other aesthetic damages, but fires often leave carbon monoxide behind. Unfortunately, carbon monoxide can be extremely damaging to your health and is invisible to the naked eye - the only way to know if carbon monoxide is present in your home is to test for it. Luckily, professional restoration companies (like The Steam Team) are able to do so upon entering the home. Plus, the technicians know (and have access to) the proper gear to wear to protect themselves from any health damage.

Furthermore, homeowners usually have a difficult time deciding which of their belongings can be salvaged versus those that need to be thrown out. Unfortunately, smoke damage and water damage can permeate into fabrics and other materials around the home that you may not know about. In many cases, belongings that are too damaged and even dangerous to keep around are thought to be safe by someone who’s unexperienced. On the other hand, however, items that could actually be salvaged may be thrown away.

All in all, your safest option is to hire a professional like The Steam Team. If you’re worried about cost, a professional will be able to evaluate the extent of damage and work with your insurance company. Don’t worry! We’re here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, just give us a call!

Can You Handle Fire Damage Restoration on Your Own?