How Portsmouth Residents Restore their Homes after Fire Damage

3/30/2023 (Permalink)

If your Portsmouth home suffers fire damage, call our professionals for assistance with remediation services right away.

SERVPRO Has a Proven Formula for Efficient Portsmouth Fire Cleanup and Restoration

A fire in your home can be a traumatic experience. Everyday household items like draperies, mattresses, or fabrics can quickly ignite and leave behind debris and malodors. Sorting through belongings can be an upsetting experience. However, with a professional fire damage restoration service, it is often possible to save many possessions and return the structure of your home to a preloss condition.

Efficient fire damage restoration in Portsmouth depends upon the organizational experience of technicians. No two household fires are the same. However, it is possible to follow the same detailed procedure for taking home from a burnt-out ruin back to an inhabitable space. After less extreme fire damaging events, we can immediately inspect and begin mitigation steps to preserve, restore, and not replace burned furnishings, fixtures, and assemblies. Our tried and tested response ensures that technicians can deal with the numerous challenges presented by a property disaster like this. Our work begins when you pick up the phone to speak with one of our trained phone handlers. You can provide a notification of loss, and we can schedule a call out to your property. Our team can guarantee that we reach your home within four hours of receiving your call in emergencies. 

The Planning Stages of a Restoration Project

• On arrival, our IICRC-certified technicians can review any information with you on-site and provide the necessary information on insurance, loss management, and any forms you need to fill out.
• A consultation and pre-testing phase allows us to get a more accurate picture of the damages and our techniques to reverse them.
• We can then present your insurance adjuster with a restoration plan and timeframe. Provided you are satisfied, we can begin as soon as you sign an authorization to begin services form.

The early phases of restoration are critical. It ensures that you are kept in the loop regarding work requirements, but it also allows us to organize the service most efficiently. Using the pre-test results, we can then coordinate the delivery of dumpsters for fire debris, removal vans for items that need to be packed out, storage locations for belongings, and equipment. Standard equipment in fire damage restoration relates to air quality. In moderate to severe fires, it may be necessary to bring air filtration devices (AFDs) to ensure that any particulate matter is safely filtered out from the property. Odor control devices such as foggers and misters may be crucial to remove your home's burnt smell. In some situations, advanced equipment like hydroxyl generators can be a valuable tool in returning your home to preloss conditions. 

Performing Effective Restoration in your Home

• Production scheduling involves providing you and your insurance adjuster with accurate time frames for each restoration process. These may include drying the property, storing possessions, and cleaning rooms of soot or smoke residues.
• Job management and monitoring are essential tasks that measure our predicted time frames against actual progress. Monitoring progress helps us to ensure we meet our predicted timeframes.
• All restoration services end with a detailed walkthrough of the property with the homeowner. We can refer to our job file, production scheduling, and job management records with you and answer any questions you may have. 

A house fire is a challenging situation for any homeowner. We are here to ensure the process runs as smoothly as possible. Contact SERVPRO of The Seacoast, SERVPRO of Dover-Rochester, and SERVPRO of Durham for fire damage restoration at (603) 433-4300.

Avoiding Water Damage at Home for Residents of Portsmouth

3/30/2023 (Permalink)

Water damage in your Portsmouth home? Don’t let the moisture take over; call SERVPRO right away.

Preventing Secondary Portsmouth Water Damages with Mitigation Experts from SERVPRO

Many homeowners experience the debilitating effects of water intrusion during their ownership. Water issues can occur from many sources. Preventative measures, while effective, are often incapable of covering all the bases for water-related damages. SERVPRO is here to help put your home back together after an emergency.

Moisture migration can cause water damage in your Portsmouth home to spread from one area to another. As a general rule, wet moves to dry. In practice, liquid spillages often seep into wall cavities, reside beneath fittings or penetrate the subfloor. Professional water restoration services are helpful to homeowners because they combine knowledge of water theory with the practical skills and equipment needed to mitigate water damage. In its simplest form, mitigation is the prevention of further harm to a property experiencing a water intrusion event. Blocking furniture to lift above the water level, extracting liquid, controlling humidity, and drying cavities are examples of the emergency mitigation services we provide. 

Effective Mitigation Can Help Prevent:

• Liquid water or humidity from stagnating and causing microbial growth problems, including bacteria, mold, and virus growth.
• Unnecessary replacement of wet materials, belongings, or home structures adversely affected by water intrusion. 
• Permanent damages to fixtures, building assembly, electrics, and belongings commonly associated with water emergencies.

The structure of your home may feel or appear like a cohesive whole. However, modern properties are constructed from numerous layers. They begin with foundations. These foundations are fitted with the framework, usually solid lumber, that organizes the space within your property into rooms, garages, and staircases. The final layer is gypsum board, drywall, or plaster, painted and decorated. Water impact can vary in severity but is usually measured by how far the moisture has migrated from the source and how deep it has penetrated the building assembly. Measuring equipment to determine the answers to these questions is commonly used once excess water is drained from the property.  

SERVPRO restoration technicians determine the extent of water migration in your home through moisture meters. Moisture meters come in two categories: penetrating surfaces or measuring surface temperatures. Penetrating moisture meters can be used on carpets, softwoods, or furnishings and have an inherent advantage in accurately determining the moisture content of those materials- usually displayed in a percentage. Non-penetrating moisture sensors are typically deployed on denser surfaces such as concrete and some types of hardwood. These sensors measure the temperature of the surface, which can often indicate how much moisture is residing in or behind the object. Sensors are more prone to false readings and may be used several times across the same spot to produce an accurate report.

Finding moisture is crucial in preventing future water-related issues from affecting your home. Many microbial growth issues like mold result from improper restoration following a water intrusion issue. SERVPRO uses advanced structural drying (ASD) technicians to ensure a home dries correctly and secondary damages are minimal. 

Advanced Drying Equipment for Water Intrusion

• Injectidry systems allow technicians to dry the cavities in your home without demolishing walls for access. 
• Rapid air-movers fitted with flex-hoses can often be adapted to circulate dry air beneath fittings and floorboards, ensuring the entire property is dry.
• Thorough dehumidification of the home can reduce chances of water vapor damage which can cause excessive harm to your property. 

Following a water emergency, contact SERVPRO of The Seacoast, SERVPRO of Dover-Rochester, and SERVPRO of Durham for water damage restoration at (603) 433-4300.

Preventing Recurring Mold Damage for Portsmouth Residents

3/30/2023 (Permalink)

No matter the scope of the mold damage in Portsmouth, our team will be able to remediate the area "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Mold Remediation Technicians Can Help Neutralize Microbial Growth

Mold usually occurs in homes that have moisture problems or damp spots. As your property ages, it becomes more susceptible to these issues, becoming more apparent during heavy rainfall, seasonal temperature changes, or plumbing malfunction. Microbial growth does not always go away by itself. Sometimes, professional remediation is required to return your home to its normal condition. 

It is helpful to remember that mold damage in your Portsmouth home is not inevitable. Professionally trained and licensed technicians in the area can help to ensure microbial growth does not become a permanent issue. At SERVPRO, we like to reassure homeowners that microorganisms are not scary. Modern antibiotics like penicillin are derived from molds, and spores naturally occur in almost all indoor spaces. At the same time, we understand that unchecked microbial growth can be a problem for homeowners as it produces odor, damages decor, and can be unhygienic. The transition from being an unnoticeable part of the home to an issue requiring remediation occurs when spores settle in moist or humid regions of your property. Micro-organisms thrive in moisture, which allows them to grow and reproduce. We are here to correct the moisture problems in your home, remediate growth and remove infested materials.

How Unchecked Fungi Can Damage your Property

• Microbes release microscopic particles into the air space of your home, which can create malodor. Indoor air quality is often a focal point of effective remediation. 

• Digestive enzymes that allow microorganisms to process organic matter into energy for growth can take a toll on decor. Common signs include weakening drywall or discoloration.

• Mold reproduces and grows in short cycles that take around 72 hours. Due to these short growth cycles, micro-organisms can rapidly spread from one area to another.

Lab-testing different types of microbes is a time-consuming task. We believe that the visible symptoms of mold are enough to justify remediation, but we are happy to work with both indoor environmental specialists and industrial hygienists during any project. However, our crew chiefs and remediation technicians can handle most household issues without external assistance. We rely on scientifically proven protocols to remediate microbial growth, endorsed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certifications (IICRC). Below are the core protocols supported by these two restoration bodies.

Core Principles for Effective Household Remediation

• Containment uses physical and atmospheric barriers to prevent airborne mold spores from traveling from one part of the home to another. The containment protocol is usually achieved with thick polyethylene sheeting and negative air pressure machines.

• Demolishing and disposing of porous, infested materials. Some of these materials may include parts of the building assembly such as drywall and insulation, which SERVPRO can replace once areas are fully-remediated.

• Production controls dovetail with containment protocol. These include personal protective equipment (PPE) and decontamination rooms to prevent spores traveling via technician's clothing or equipment. We may also use EPA-registered antimicrobial spraying to stop mold from passing through the stages of growth during remediation.

Ensuring that fungal colonization is not a recurring issue in your home requires trained remediation technicians. Contact SERVPRO of The Seacoast, SERVPRO of Dover-Rochester, and SERVPRO of Durham for mold damage remediation at (603) 433-4300.

Kitchen Appliance Fire Restoration in Portsmouth

3/29/2023 (Permalink)

For fast and efficient service call SERVPRO of The Seacoast at (603) 433-4300.

SERVPRO Strategies for Protein Soot Cleanup

Kitchen fires cause nearly 50 percent of the yearly damage related to blazes reported in US residences. Unattended cooking, spills and boilovers, and combustible materials too close to the heat are common causes. Excessively high temperatures encourage liquids to boil away, producing charred and dehydrated ingredients. Greases and oils heated above their “smoke points” break down, becoming rancid. The dehydrated food bits vaporize with the rancid oils into a fine protein-based mist that spreads rapidly throughout the home on superheated air currents. 

The airborne soot attaches to surfaces as it spreads, so it is no surprise that kitchen appliances take a real beating after cooking mishaps in Portsmouth. Fire restoration interventions for protein-soot removal rely on technicians like our SERVPRO crew members, well-trained in the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) best practices for releasing highly adhesive and unpleasant-smelling residues. 

SERVPRO Fire and Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT) focus efforts on the appliances near the kitchen ignition site. Typically the “suite” includes a refrigerator, oven and stove, and dishwasher, with trash compactors, microwaves, and freezers often rounding out the inventory. Appliance surfaces are usually non-porous and factory spray-painted with high-gloss or satin finishes. Some feature a stainless steel veneer. The restoration process includes the following:

• Technicians pre-test how well different cleaners remove the coating in inconspicuous areas. Usually, the protein and oil-rich residues respond best to an oil-based solvent.

• Workers evaluate the surface’s durability during cleaning, gradually increasing heat and agitation aggressiveness to dislodge stubbornly stuck residues. 

• The team adds grit to the cleaner, employs rough-sided tools, or uses both enhancements to break the bond between soots and the surface. The skilled hands of our technicians ensure that if more vigorous scrubbing is needed, we do it cautiously and patiently to avoid permanent damage to the integrity of the appliance surface. 

The specialized training and experience of SERVPRO of The Seacoast fire restoration technicians support thorough appliance cleaning even when protein-based soot is present. Call (603) 433-4300 to set up a fire cleanup and recovery assessment to determine effective interventions.

Signs You Have Water Damage Developing in Your Portsmouth Home

2/22/2023 (Permalink)

Our techs are ready 24/7, 365 days a year.

We Handle All Stages & Causes of Water Damage

Keeping your home in Portsmouth clean isn't just for looks. Keeping on top of the things that can cause decay and serious destruction of the interior living space is crucial for your residence. When your home has water damage, it can steadily increase in the affected area and its intensity. Other related damage can also take root, leaving you with serious issues that become ever-costly.

Many times, homeowners are in the dark about water damage in their Portsmouth property. At SERVPRO, we handle this issue many times a year. We have the skills your home needs to ensure that such damage is minimized and restoration efforts are successful. Our efforts can help keep your home beautiful and stave off problems like mold infestations and unwanted odors.

Here are some tips on what damage from water might appear within your residence:

• Odors that increase whenever the humidity rises
• Increased water bills
• Changes in the texture of structural elements

Odors from the changes caused by water become stronger if the humidity in the air increases. These more intense scents occur because the particles causing the odor are carried on the water vapor droplets. 

A drastic increase in monthly usage costs might only occur if a great amount of water finds its way through a hidden area of a broken pipe. If this is the case, we can locate the problem area and fix it for you. Then we can track the water's path and determine how much damage occurred. 

Extended exposure to water causes materials to change dramatically. Drywall crumbles into small chunky powdery pieces, with the paper peeling or bubbling. It can also become discolored. Wood accents can warp, curl, or split along the grain. Particle boards can fall apart into pieces if the glue disintegrates.

If you begin noticing these signs, call us, SERVPRO of The Seacoast, SERVPRO of Dover-Rochester, and SERVPRO of Durham at (603) 433-4300. We can assist you with an effective response that leaves your home protected.

Mold Inspection Services for Portsmouth Residents

1/24/2023 (Permalink)

Don't let mold take control of your property. Call SERVPRO today!

SERVPRO Has Local Technicians for Mold Remediation

Not all household problems are immediately noticeable. While fires and water intrusion events cause chaos, more slow-burning issues can cause harm to a house. Chief among these issues is microbial growth, commonly known as mold. Microbes are living organisms that include bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Fungi are part of the mold family and can be a massive problem if undetected.

• Mold Remediation
• Mold assessment
• Mold removal

You may decide to get a mold inspection in your Portsmouth home if you notice musty odors or visible deterioration or suspect a water leak in your home. Since these microbes do not require light to grow, they can crop up anywhere. Basement spaces, attics, and closets are all common areas to find an infestation. Unfortunately, most homeowners only discover these issues after mold has grown into full-size colonies. 

Looking for microbial infestations requires knowing how buildings are constructed and how to look for moisture, dampness, or condensation. A building assembly refers to layers, including the wooden frame built directly onto the foundations, stud walls, and surface paints. Usually, if an infestation appears on the surface of walls or ceilings, the infestation is much deeper in the building assembly. 

SERVPRO technicians can detect certain molds by using moisture-measuring equipment. This helps build a picture of where water might be by telling us which materials are wet. Usually, wet materials equal mold growth, and technicians must disassemble parts of the building assembly to ascertain how deep a microbial infestation goes. Thankfully, materials used in a building assembly are relatively cheap to replace, and our technicians can install them to a professional standard. 

• Subfloors are the space between carpets and the framework. Technicians can visually inspect these areas by removing carpets and pads.
• Wall cavities can often be inspected using moisture sensors or thermal imaging cameras.
• Attics and crawlspaces can be directly accessed, with technicians potentially replacing insulation or installing vapor barriers. 

If there is a microbial infestation in your home, it is vital to contact SERVPRO of the Seacoast, SERVPRO of Dover-Rochester, and SERVPRO of Durham at (603) 433-4300.

Get Results - Pro Water Damage Repair in Portsmouth

12/27/2022 (Permalink)

Let your local SERVPRO professionals resolve your water damage problems.

Portsmouth Water Damage Cleanup and Repair with SERVPRO

Water incidents happen, but it is how you address them that counts. Once you turn off the water from a burst pipe or begin the cleanup after a significant spill or flooding, know that reconstruction may be a factor. Rather than hiring someone without experience or putting the weight of such a project on your shoulders, SERVPRO is available in the Portsmouth area to handle water removal services, drying, and repair. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

There is more to water damage repair in Portsmouth than removing standing water and putting on a fresh coat of paint. Hiring skilled water restoration technicians (WRT) from SERVPRO ensures all moisture gets dried and you have your interior back to the pre-event condition because we make everything “Like it never even happened.”

Controlled Demolition To The Rescue

Many water-related incidents call for some level of repair and reconstruction. Replacement is often required if you have saturated drywall or damage to your carpeting, wood floors, or subflooring. SERVPRO uses trusted area contractors to ensure all facets of your project get handled for quality results. 

How Does the Water Restoration Process Work?

• Inspection/Assessment – Once we arrive at your home or business, we assess all damage and identify all hazards. We stop the source of the damage and develop an action plan.
• Water Removal and Drying – All standing water gets up using pumps, extractors, and other powerful tools. At the same time, drying equipment gets set up to lower relative humidity and speed up drying time. 
• Repair and Reconstruction – Unsalvageable materials get removed and disposed of while area contractors work on replacing them and rebuilding any damaged areas of your home. Our proven processes help you to restore versus replace, thus saving you money in the long run.

Never Wait to Call for Restoration Assistance.

Nothing beats the water damage repair services we offer at SERVPRO of The Seacoast, SERVPRO of Dover-Rochester, and SERVPRO of Durham. Call us at (603) 433-4300 for 24/7 emergency service and trusted results. 

Facilitating Water Restoration in Portsmouth Properties

11/22/2022 (Permalink)

Disaster may strike at any time. Call SERVPRO for the storm damage restoration services needed for your property.

Portsmouth Homes Overcome Water Damage with SERVPRO 

During a storm, a property is subjected to several forces that damage it through physical exertion or accumulation of moisture in the interior areas. Although all repair tasks are challenging, water restoration is particularly tasking since it involves several procedures to counter the smells, stains, and physical deterioration, among other issues. 

Crucial Restoration Procedures after Water Intrusion:

• Cleaning
• Drying
• Teardown
• Decontamination 

Water intrusion usually leaves properties soiled with debris, such as silt driven from outside the structure, or even biohazards like sewage if the storm causes a backup. Therefore, a significant part of Portsmouth water restoration is cleaning up sections of the property to remove waste. Our SERVPRO crews use various resources to facilitate cleaning - rotating brushes help clean hard floors, while extraction equipment is suitable for carpeted areas. We use regular detergents and disinfects like quaternary compounds and botanicals to deal with microorganisms that thrive in moist environments. 

Opening Up Enclosed Property Sections

Water damage is rarely confined to open and readily accessible areas. Moisture can wick through materials to reach subfloors, breach the ceiling, and run through wall cavities. Reaching these concealed areas is crucial to curtailing long-term deterioration. Our SERVPRO technicians use skillful approaches for convenient teardowns, thus opening the affected areas without causing too much damage. Having the right equipment also helps facilitate the process.

Helpful Resources for Controlled Demolition:

• Drills to create vent or weep holes
• Contractor bags for debris collection
• Carpet razor knives 
• Pry bars

Removing materials facilitates different restoration procedures. For instance, our SERVPRO technicians can drill small holes to release the water trapped inside walls or ceiling cavities. We can also make wider holes to facilitate warm, dry air ventilation into the enclosures to expedite drying. In other cases, removing large chunks of materials is essential. For carpeted floors, removing the carpet and pad before cleaning and drying the subfloor presents the best chance to limit contamination and odors. 

SERVPRO of The Seacoast, SERVPRO of Dover-Rochester, and SERVPRO of Durham have the best resources to facilitate water restoration. You can reach us at (603) 433-4300. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Fire Damage Restoration of Portsmouth Properties Happens Fast with SERVPRO

9/26/2022 (Permalink)

We aim to restore your property as quickly as possible, “Like It Never Even Happened.”

How Do SERVPRO Techs Handle Structural Cleaning During Fire Damage Restoration of Portsmouth homes?  

Cleaning the structure is a big part of the fire damage restoration of your Portsmouth home. The goal of the SERVPRO technicians is to return the items to their pre-damaged condition during the restorative cleaning process.  

SERVPRO technicians conduct preliminary tests to determine the appropriate cleaning method during your Portsmouth property fire damage restoration. The method of choice should effectively remove the smoke and soot residues without damaging the structure or material itself. SERVPRO techs consider the following factors before they zero in on a method:

• The type of smoke and soot residue- dry or wet
• The extent of the damage
• The type of surface- porous or non-porous
• Chemical composition of the residue

What Types of Residues Are Left After Smoke Damage to Your Portsmouth Home? 

SERVPRO technicians encounter the following types of smoke and soot residues during house fire cleanup in Portsmouth:

• Dry smoke residue
• Wet smoke residue 
• Protein residue

While dry residues are easier to clean, wet residues require unique cleaning products. Damp smoke residues can cause additional damage to your property if left to interact with the surfaces for a long time.  

How Do SERVPRO Techs Tackle Wet Smoke Residues? 

Eliminating wet smoke residues requires water-based or solvent-based cleaning products that can weaken the bonds between the residue and the surface material. SERVPRO techs also consider the pH and hydrophobic properties of the residues to design an effective cleaning method that is gentle on the surface being cleaned.  

Call SERVPRO of The Seacoast at (603) 433-4300; our fire damage restoration techs are available 24/7.  

Need Help with Water Damage in Portsmouth? Call SERVPRO

8/20/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO arrives with heavy-duty extraction and drying equipment to mitigate the water damage in your Portsmouth home.

Role of air movers in SERVPRO’s water damage repair strategy in Portsmouth

Air movers play a pivotal role in SERVPRO’s restoration strategy after water damage to your Portsmouth home. The air movers that SERVPRO techs use produce high-velocity airflow to enhance the rate of evaporation.

SERVPRO techs use air movers to achieve two goals during water damage restoration to your Portsmouth home.

• Replace the saturated boundary layer: As water evaporates from a surface, the air adjacent to it becomes cold and saturated, hindering further evaporation. SERVPRO techs use air movers to replace this boundary layer with a warmer, less saturated layer.
• Recirculate dry air from dehumidifiers: Air movers also play a significant role in circulating drier, dehumidified air throughout the structure speeding up the evaporation.

How do SERVPRO techs select which air movers to use during water restoration in Portsmouth?

SERVPRO techs use several types of air movers during water clean-up from your Portsmouth homes. Typically, the air movers are rated by the air volume they can move in cubic feet per meter (CFM). However, the CFM value of an air mover does not indicate the airflow velocity that an air mover can generate.

The air velocity moving across the wet surface plays an important role in drying porous material containing large amounts of moisture. Hence, SERVPRO techs use feet per minute (FPM) or feet per second (FPS) as units to rate air movers. Most of the equipment used has a high CFM value without compromising the FPM value.

Call SERVPRO of The Seacoast, SERVPRO of Dover-Rochester, and SERVPRO of Durham at (603) 433-4300 if you need assistance with water damage restoration of your residential property.