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Health & Fitness

Recovering from Fire and Water Damage: What You Need to Know.

A house fire or flooding, no matter how big or small, always has devastating effects on your home. It also takes a toll on you both financially and emotionally.During a stressful time like this, all you want is your home back to the way it was before disaster struck. Yet, you will still have to find the strength to deal with insurance claims, and the cleanup and restoration process. To help you understand the issues that might be involved in cleaning up and restoring your home, Steve Wills from ServiceMaster Restoration by Wills, a New London based company, offers some valuable information concerning house fires, flooding and their aftermath.  

Fire Damage and the Aftermath
“One thing is absolutely certain when it comes to a fire: no two situations are alike. Every single fire is unique in the cause, composition, and size and waste; some fires can involve over 100 complex chemical reactions. These factors combined together will determine how the fire damage restoration is conducted.” – explains Steve.

Fire damage restoration can be a very involved process and it's vital that the process begins within hours of sustaining the damage. Besides charring parts of your home and personal items, house fires can alter areas that were not directly affected by the fire. They will most likely be drenched by the water used to extinguish the fire, or smoke-damaged, and there are structural integrity and safety concerns involved.

Fire can cause serious structural damage that may not be able to be repaired and will need to be replaced. For all the reasons the above, this type of restoration work should only be performed by experienced professionals.

Smoke Damage
The smoke produced by even the smallest house fire can have devastating after effects on your home. The smoke and awful smell can spread through every corner of the house and, most importantly, your HVAC ducts. When that happens, small and sometimes harmful particles will deposit within the ducts and linger there for months, undetected. Every time you run your system, you and your family are likely to breathe in these particles, which can cause lung irritation. 

Steve also reminds us that “Different types of fires mean different approaches on how to clean up. A slow smoldering fire will leave a sticky residue that can smear, thus making it more difficult to clean. A fast burning fire leaves a more powdery ash. Smoke from food fires can cover the surfaces of your home with a fine film that’s really tough to see, but easy to smell” Smoke damage requires thorough and specialized cleaning of all the affected areas and the HVAC system needs to be professionally cleaned as well.  

Post- Fire Water Damage and Flooding
“Water damage and fire damage go hand-in-hand. The fire hoses used to extinguish the fire douse the flames at a rate of 95 gallons per minute. Water damage can actually spread far beyond the fire-affected area. It can flood the lower floors and enter into cavities and voids that are hidden within the building. This can damage numerous things like electrical components, insulation, drywall, personal possessions and other property. “– says Steve. 

All types of flooding, whether caused by fire hoses, plumbing accidents or by Mother Nature, can pose serious hazards. Depending on the origin, flooding waters might be contaminated by raw sewage, and other bio-hazards and pollutants. Water pooling inside and around the basement will put some pressure on the home’s foundation and need to be dealt with quickly and wisely, preferably by professionals with the proper expertise and equipment.
For safety reasons, no one should step into a flooded basement without first turning off the electricity, and without wearing protective gear, which is why it is a good idea to call for professional help if your basement is under water.

Mold Damages
According to Steve, “Mold damage can begin in as little as 24 hours after the saturation of building materials. This damage can affect all organic surfaces, and can be much more expensive than the fire damage itself. Waiting even a single day to begin can greatly compound the damage, cost, and restoration time needed. Mold can eventually create an extremely unhealthy environment within the home, while it completely destroys your personal property. Mold and dry rot also has the potential to cause structural decay. By drying the area thoroughly and immediately, this damage can be avoided.”

According to both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Center for Disease Control, no homeowner should ever attempt to clean up a mold infested area larger than 10 sq. ft. on their own. Mold removal experts have a variety of testing and cleaning equipment used to identify sources of moisture, dry out surfaces and wall cavities, and safely removing the mold that is growing in your home before it spreads and causes further damage. 

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