The Dangers of Smoke and Soot after a Fire

 

When fire accidents happen, the one thing people try to avoid are burn injuries. What they do not realize is that you can actually get hurt even after the fire is put out. This is because the soot and smoke that gets left behind afterwards can also bring about problems to the people who happen to find themselves exposed to these.

Most people tend to assume that deaths that occur when a fire happens are due to the flames. In reality, most of the deaths that do happen when a fire erupts are because of smoke inhalation. Smoke can incapacitate a person since it robs them of oxygen, which then results in a person collapsing. When this happens while a building is burning, the person cannot escape from the flames and this is when fire deaths occur.

When smoke is present after a fire, you should be aware that these are also dangerous to your health. While these may not be lethal right then and there, inhaling these for even just a small amount of time can actually lead to health problems in the future. This is because smoke from a fire can come with certain chemicals in them, like hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, and phosgene, all of which are highly toxic.

Smoke is not the only problem you will face when there is a fire in your home or your office. Soot is also a byproduct of such events, and is equally as dangerous to a person’s health as the smoke that lingers after a fire. The ash that is produced after a fire can also carry with it toxic substances that can irritate your skin, your eyes, and if inhaled, can cause respiratory and nasal problems. Some soot may even have cancer-inducing chemicals in them.

Cleaning up the soot and the smoke after a fire is just as important as putting out the fire itself.

These present people with other types of dangers, which are harmful to a person’s health. In order to prevent this from endangering lives, the removal of soot and smoke should not be done by those who do not know how to properly take care of these. People who are trained to clean the smoke and soot out of homes or offices that require fire and smoke damage restoration should do this. They have the know-how and the proper equipment needed to clean these places out safely.

If you are in need of professionals to help you with your smoke and soot clearing tasks, you should get in touch with ServiceMaster By Best today. We have the trained and skilled personnel to handle your smoke and soot clearing work effectively and safely. Call us today or get in touch with us via our contact us page.

Mold Removal Cost - What You Can Expect To Pay

The health and safety of your family is much more important than the price you’ll have to pay to remove the mold, but this guide will help you if you need to get a bid.

If the area is a small one, you can remove the mold yourself with just a few dollars worth of cleaning supplies. If you’re concerned about breathing the spores, you can get a respirator, which will cost from around $25 for a simple over the mouth and nose version, to around $150 for a full face professional level unit. If you’re unsure if you need a respirator there are 7 ways to know if a mold is dangerous. For large infestations, it’s time to call in the pro’s.

When The Job Is Too Big

It’s much cheaper if you can deal with the mold yourself, but large areas can’t be handled very easily be a homeowner. One of the things a mold remediation specialist can do is clean areas like the crawlspace under your home and the duct work in the walls and attic. Mold spores that get into your heating and cooling system can get recirculated through your home, continuing to make you sick even if you’ve cleaned up the area where you originally found the mold.

“Alright, so what can it cost?”

The level of infestation will directly affect your mold removal cost. The remediation cost of a crawlspace can really vary. It could be as little as $500 or as much as $4,000 depending on how big it is, and how much mold is present. If the attic and ducts are involved, the cost for those generally ranges from $2,000 to $6,000. If your home has been flooded and the mold is all throughout it, there is much more that has to be done. This could drive your remediation cost up to $10,000 – $30,000, or higher, depending on the size of your home.

Even though you have an idea of how much mold removal costs, be sure to shop around. The first company you find might not be the best one for your needs. Pricing can vary between companies, but you also have to pay attention to the experience levels and what kind of guarantee they have if the mold comes back.

Remember Insurance Considerations

Most consumers don’t have that kind of money to spend out of pocket, so when you’re considering insurance, make sure you get something that will cover at least part of the remediation cost if you live in a flood zone.  If your home has mold, here are some tips to handle water damage claims through your existing insurance.

Look For Experienced Remediators

You want people who’ve been removing mold (especially black mold) for a while, not new people who aren’t sure about the job. You’ll also want to see if there is some kind of guarantee offered – and there should be. You don’t want to find out that the people didn’t do their jobs properly and the mold has come back, only to be told that there is nothing that can be done until you pay more money.

Final Thoughts

When you find a company where you feel comfortable with the people, the work ethic, the guarantee, and the remediation cost that fit with your personal finances, you’ll be able to get the mold removed from your home and you and your family can get back to enjoying your lives. You’ll be much healthier, and your home will be a safer place to be.

Upholstery Cleaning Services Help Keep Office Furniture Looking Better, Longer

With offices around the country in the midst of their spring-cleaning efforts, many business owners will be looking to upgrade their old office furniture. You know the furniture we’re talking about: the office chair with a big coffee stain on the seat cushion, the dust-infested couches in your lobby, and that old, worn chair in your own office.

While you might think it’d be easiest to just toss the old furniture in the dumpster and replace it with something new, in reality you’re likely much better off exploring your options with an upholstery cleaning service. At ServiceMaster By Best, our commercial cleaning specialists are trained to perform a variety of upholstery cleaning duties, and can help make your old office furniture look as good as new again. We have the cleaning solutions you need to help revitalize their appearance, and extend their longevity.

Need more convincing? Here are 5 reasons why you should call an upholstery cleaning service:

1. Cost Savings

How many times have you heard the expression, “If it ain’t broke, don’t pay for a new one”? While that might not be the exact saying you’re familiar with, the idea remains the same. With furniture being a fairly costly investment for your business, you can’t afford to buy new pieces every time your old ones look dirty. One session from our upholstery cleaning specialists can cost a fraction of replacing the furniture altogether.

2. Revitalized Appearance

A simple cleaning session can completely revitalize the appearance of your old furniture and make it look brand new again.

3. Customer Satisfaction

Have you ever sat down in a reception area and had a cloud of dust fly up around you when you touch the cushion? It’s kind of unsettling, isn’t it? You only get one chance to make a good first impression with your customers, and dirty, dusty chairs in your reception area are NOT the way to do it. By having your furniture cleaned on a regular basis, you can keep your customers focused on the great things you do.

4. Increased Longevity

Though it’s invisible to the naked eye, dust particles are full of jagged edges that slowly breakdown upholstery fibers over time. With a semi-regular cleaning, however, you can remove the dust particles and help extend the life of the fabric.

5. Remove Allergens

With allergy season right around the corner, now would be a great time to rid your office furniture of the dust and allergens they’ve been collecting all year. Your employees and customers will certainly thank you.

Ready to learn more about the commercial upholstery cleaning solutions ServiceMaster By Best Service offers? Before you throw away your old, dirty office furniture; make sure you sign up for a free cleaning assessment.