With ultrasonic cleaning’s heat, special cleaning agents, and microscopic cleaning bubbles professionals are able to clean, deodorize and save most residential or commercial items at a fraction of the cost of replacement. Loss rates for contents damaged in fires and floods traditionally run at about 30% to 40%. Ultrasonic cleaning equipment can reduce that rate to as low as 5% to 10%. Cleaning is quick, efficient, and precise. It can restore fire damaged articles including silverware, collectible rugs, knickknacks, jewelry, and many more house hold items.

Today, ultrasonic cleaning is used widely. As we head into the new millennium, environmental issues are of major concern to all. Many states have enacted tough, new regulations regarding the use of petroleum-based solvents and other highly volatile chemicals. A definite movement toward employee and environmentally friendly cleaning methods has begun, and ultrasonics is becoming a preferred cleaning method.

It has proven again and again that it is the best and swiftest method to clean and restore soot-coated fire-damaged materials

I have read article after article of companies talking about “toxic black mold”. Well  I would to set the record straight. There are thousands of types of mold many of which can be black, and all can have different affects on the body. Here are three type commonly found inside homes.  

Aspergillus is the most common genus of fungi in our environment with more than 160 different species of mold. Sixteen of these species have been documented as causing human disease. Aspergillosis is now the 2^ndmost common fungal infection requiring hospitalization in the United States. Most of the time Aspergillus will appear blue or green and may produce Aflatoxin which is one of the most potent carcinogens known to man.  

 Stachybotrys another fungi that has the ability to produce mycotoxins, ones that are extremely toxic, suspected carcinogens, and immunosuppressive. Exposure to these mycotoxins can result through inhalation, ingestion, and  dermal exposure. Symptoms of exposure include dermatitis, cough, rhinitis, nose bleeds, cold and flu-like symptoms, headache, general malaise, and fever. Stachybotrys is usually black and slimy in appearance.   

Cladosporium on the other hand is black or dark green in color and usually appears in powder form thus making it easy for you to brush off. This mold commonly grows on dead plants, paint, and dirt and even on the surface of fiberglass ducts. This can cause rashes, sinusitis, asthma and other pulmonary conditions to the person exposed to it.  

Different mold species can have varying health effects, but it is important to remember that any excessive mold growth needs to be taken care of, regardless of the species. Any excessive mold growth can lead to increased allergies, toxicity, and house/building structural problems. If you think you are having a mold related illness please contact your doctor. If you need a remediation professional call us now!

How much do you know about fires and home safety? Where is the safest air in your home during a fire? What is the proper home safety protocol for a fire? Take this short, six-question quiz to find out the answers to these questions and to test your knowledge of fire and home safety issues. Lets face it how many of us have really thought about fire protection? It may cross our minds as we watch the news or read the paper. Yet we probably haven’t taken any steps to ensure fire safety in our own homes. Unfortunately most people think it won’t happen to them. It would be nice if that were true, but as statistics show it is not. Every year nearly 4,000 Americans die in fires and more than 25,000 are injured.

Fire and Home Safety

1. True or False: You are in a smoke-filled room. The correct home safety rule is to keep your head as close to the floor as possible as you exit.  True or False
Answer: b) false–heat and smoke rise, therefore the air closest to the floor is the coolest. Plastics, nylons, and other man made materials emit deadly gasses when burned, and these gasses are heavier than air. The proper home safety rule is to crawl to the nearest exit with your head approximately 18 inches from the floor; this is where the safest air is located.

2. True or false: Fire spreads methodically from one object to another and from one room to the next.
Answer: b) false–during a fire heat rises and temperatures can exceed 500 degrees. As this hot air fills the area closest to the ceiling it begins to descend and flow under doors and through cracks. Upon contact with a flammable object, this hot air can ignite a new fire in a different room than the original fire.

3. According to home safety guidelines, if a fire breaks out while you are on the second floor of your home you should… 
a) open the window and jump to safety.
b) run to the door, open it, and exit the room as quickly as possible.
c) feel the door for heat as high up as possible; if it doesn’t feel hot, slowly open it and crawl to safety.
d) none of the above.
Answer: c) feel the door for heat, and slowly open it. If you open the door quickly and the air inside your room is cooler than that in the hallway, a back draft explosion could occur.

4. True or False: Children playing with fires is the leading cause of fire deaths in preschoolers.

Answer: a) true–home safety starts with teaching children fire safety rules. Two thirds of those killed in fires started by children playing are under the age of six.

5. While asleep, a fire starts in your home. Upon waking you should…

a) bolt upright and exit your room and home as quickly as possible.
b) run to the window and jump to safety.
c) frantically run out of the house yelling at your family to wake up.
d) roll out of bed and crawl to safety.

Answer: d) roll out of bed and crawl to safety. Bolting upright could easily plunge your head directly into the extreme heat and deadly thick smoke. One breath could prove fatal.

The better you prepare your family, the better your chances of survival! If you have had a fire and need help please call us!

Premier Restoration employs proven cleaning procedures custom designed for the restoration industry.  Electronics, clothing and furniture will be returned deodorized and cleaned to a pre-loss condition. Trying to clean your own contents after a fire will result in items that are still “smelly” and soot covered and eventually results in costing you more money in replacements. 

At Premier Restoration Services we have the training and equipment needed to handle the complexities of water and soot damage. On average we are able to clean, disinfect, deodorize and completely restore contents for a fraction of the replacement cost. Furniture, clothing, children’s toys, books, dishes and even electronics can be completely restored to pre-loss condition and stored at our secure, temperature controlled facility.

 After the loss, when the insurance claim has been filed, your adjuster and Premier Restoration Services are there to support you and help you make crucial decisions about your claim and return your life to normal as quickly as possible.

      PA’s can drag claims out sometimes for months  while your home sits in ruin while they try to squeeze every dime from the insurance company possible, because remember “the larger the claim the more their commission”. Most honorable restoration companies due this at no cost to the insured, without being dishonest! Don’t get me wrong there are many cases where a reputable PA may be necessary, but before you make that decision. Give us a call. We are here to help.