Electronics Cleaning After a Fire

10/7/2022 (Permalink)

Cleaning Up Electronics After a Fire

If you've been through a fire, you know the stress that comes with it. But did you also know that cleaning up electronics after a fire can be one of the most dangerous parts of the process? If not done correctly, it's possible to damage your electronics—and even worse, expose yourself to harmful chemicals. That's why we recommend hiring SERVPRO of Burlington/Woburn! We have experience working with fire damaged electronics, and we use state-of-the-art cleaning equipment and processes to ensure your devices are safe and clean before being returned to you (or resold).

Cleaning electronics after a fire.

• Clean all components of the device.
• Inspect all components such as keyboard, mouse, and monitor for damage.
• If any of these are damaged, replace them before you proceed to the next step.
• Take care not to touch anything with your bare hands. Use gloves or cloths instead.

Why SERVPRO of Woburn/Burlington?

SERVPRO of Woburn/Burlington is a local, family-owned business that has been serving the community for over 30 years. We have the experience and expertise to handle any size fire, and we’re always available 24/7. We are also certified by IICRC (International Institute of Certified Raters).

Electronics cleaning equipment.

If you have any electronics that have been damaged in a fire or flood, it’s important to clean them thoroughly. Using the wrong cleaning supplies could damage or destroy your device. Here are some specialized electronics cleaning tools and equipment:

• Water damage restoration equipment. This may include drying fans and dehumidifiers, which help remove moisture from the air.
• Electronics cleaning tools. These can be used to gently wipe down surfaces without scratching them or using too much force, which could cause further damage to circuits inside of them.
• Electronics cleaning agent. 

Electronics cleaning process.

• If possible, turn off the device and unplug it.
• Remove the battery if you can. If not, it's okay to leave the battery in place while you're cleaning.
• Remove any memory cards or hard drives that were in use at the time of the fire.
• If possible, remove all external casing from your devices (like a computer monitor). 
• Use a vacuum to remove any dust/debris from inside these devices before cleaning them with water as well as gently wiping down their exteriors with a damp cloth

Don't try this at home!

Don't try to clean your electronics yourself. Not only will you likely damage the device, but you could end up hurting yourself in the process. Don't use water or a wet cloth to clean anything—the moisture can cause corrosion and can damage sensitive components inside your devices. Similarly, don't use a hairdryer or an iron as this can also lead to overheating and other malfunctions of your product that are difficult if not impossible for us repair technicians to fix at home.

If you have any questions about the process of cleaning electronics after a fire, please feel free to contact us at (781) 935-8222. We are happy to answer any questions and provide more information on this topic.

Prepare Your Building Exterior From Storm Damage

7/31/2022 (Permalink)

Conducting exterior maintenance has many benefits for your company and property. A building that looks nice appeals to customers and instills pride in employees. Regular maintenance can be a good way to manage costs, budget for larger expenditures and extend the lifespan of roofs and siding. An aggressive maintenance program also has the potential to prepare your properties against the ravages of powerful storms. A sturdy exterior structure holds up better in high winds, heavy rainfalls and ice and snow buildup. When a big storm heads for Wilmington, MA it's good to know your building is prepared.

The Importance of a Building Inspection

Keeping your building maintained at a high level takes effort and planning. One of the keys to this is a regular building inspection to check on the state of your exterior maintenance. An inspection can be handled in the following ways:

You can conduct the inspection yourself.
The inspection can be turned over to reliable employees in the maintenance department.
You can hire a professional storm damage team to perform the inspection.
You can schedule an inspection on a monthly, semi-annual, or yearly basis.
You can break down the inspection into several sections for roofs, walls, structures, and the grounds.

The building inspection can highlight flaws in your company's level of preparedness. Missing shingles in the roof, cracks in the foundation, and areas of poor drainage should be addressed immediately.

The Benefits of Being Prepared

This can limit your expenses, prevent insurance premiums from rising, and keep your business open. Your employees will benefit from the sense of personal security and the likelihood of job security. Eventually, a storm will hit Wilmington, MA. When it does, the quality of your exterior maintenance program is an important factor in determining the amount of storm damage your business property takes.

How To File a Claim After a Fire

5/21/2022 (Permalink)

How to Make a Fire Insurance Claim

A fire can start in a matter of seconds. Irresponsible smokers, problems with electrical wiring, and lightning storms are just some of the ways that a fire can start on your commercial property. If you've fallen victim to flames, you need to make a fire claim in Winchester, MA, as soon as possible.

Make a List of Damaged and Lost Items
After the fire is put out, make a list of all the items that were damaged or lost in the fire. This includes furniture, inventory, your personal property, the personal property of any employees or clients, and anything else that you can think of. Document each item with as much information as possible for your insurance agency.

• Item Name
  
• Date of the Fire
  
• Type of Loss or Damage
  
• Location of the Damage
  
• Condition of the Item
  
• Description of the Damage or Loss
  
  

If necessary and possible, it also helps to include a list of any repairs you had to make and a police report.

Contact Your Insurance Company
After you create a list of everything you lost or that was damaged, contact your insurance agency about your fire claim. Tell your agent as much information as possible over the phone and follow his or her directions for filing a claim. Throughout the claims process, be sure to document every phone call, piece of mail, and face-to-face meeting that you have. Keep in mind that a claims adjuster will visit your property to confirm your reports about lost items or items that received fire damage.

Begin the Fire Restoration Process
Once you make your fire damage claim and receive approval from the insurance company, you'll need to hire professionals to help begin the fire restoration process. Get quotes from at least three different companies to ensure you're receiving a good rate. A good company will walk you through its process to help you understand what will happen and how your business may be affected.
Filing a fire claim in Winchester, MA, is not as complicated as it sounds. When you provide plenty of documentation, the process will go much more smoothly and you'll be on to the restoration process in no time.

5 Ways to Prevent Mold Build Up at Your Business

4/15/2022 (Permalink)

Carpets and rugs can provide ideal growing environments for mold.

Ways To Fight Mold- Build Up at Your Business

You are primarily responsible for cleaning and maintenance at your place of business in Woburn, MA. You have a comprehensive schedule to clean all high-traffic areas, the outdoor space, and a system maintenance schedule that keeps everything running smoothly. One battle that you are constantly fighting is against mold. Mold spores are omnipresent so preventing them from finding an ideal location to grow is a full-time job. Here are five ways to fight mold build-up at your business.

1. Carpets

Carpets and rugs can provide ideal growing environments for mold. Rugs at entryways should be kept dry so that mold doesn't grow on or under them. Regular carpet cleaning also prevents mold growth. Vacuum often and clean behind large furniture. Consider professional steam cleaning a couple of times per year.

2. Dust

Mold can grow on dusty shelves and in forgotten corners of closets and storage spaces. Have cleaning supplies readily available for all staff so that they can clean their desks.

3. Leaks

If someone makes you aware of a leak, make maintenance a priority. Once you have identified the leak and repaired it, check for secondary damage. If a ceiling was leaking over a carpeted area, plan to do some deep carpet cleaning ASAP. If you can't identify the source of the leak, call a commercial building restoration service that can use special tools to check for leaks behind walls.

4. Landscaping

It's important to check on landscaping and rain gutters to make sure that water isn't being directed toward the building. Basements tend to be humid environments so extra water leaking in nearly guarantees mold problems. Clean gutters and properly oriented down spouts help to prevent flooding.

5. HVAC

In large buildings, the HVAC system gets a lot of use and is susceptible to mold growth. Stay alert to new condensation, dust buildup, or a mildew smell that could indicate mold growth.
In addition to regular cleaning and maintenance, deep dive projects such as carpet cleaning, closet clean outs, and HVAC inspections help to prevent mold growth at your business.

Protecting Your Commercial Building: What Is Mold?

3/17/2022 (Permalink)

Mold usually indicates water damage.

When you own a Wilmington, MA, commercial building, there are many factors that go into protecting it from damage. One problem that can cause serious problems, no matter the nature of your business, is mold. From fast-spreading black mold to Acremonium, which lurks in and around air conditioning drip pans, fungi can crop up seemingly out of nowhere. However, learning about what mold really is and where it comes from can help you shield your building from damage.

How Mold Grows

While it seems like mold might appear without warning, most types grow and spread out of sight and only become apparent when the growth becomes large enough to create an odor. Mold spores exist both indoors and out, and when they find a warm, humid spot, they attach to affected building materials, including:

• Drywall
  
• Behind wallpaper
  
• Interior insulation
  
  

Once these growths are discovered, you may require professional mold cleanup services to eradicate them.

Mold and Moisture

Mold does not require sunlight to grow, which can make it difficult to find. If your building has a moisture problem, the risk of mold may be higher because fungi thrive in moist environments like restrooms, basements and air conditioning ducts. Black mold can be especially prolific and grow as soon as 24 hours after a water event. Ensuring proper cleanup after a flood can help prevent it from forming.

Cleanup Procedures

If you discover a fungi problem inside your commercial building, calling in a mold remediation and restoration service can ensure that the cleanup process is completed properly. From emergency protection of your property after a flood to cleaning up hidden mold under carpeting or behind wallpaper, your remediation technicians can offer you several different cleanup services and aftercare as well to ensure the source of the mold is eliminated.
Protecting your Wilmington, MA, commercial building from black mold and other types of fungi can be a puzzling experience. However, when you understand how and why they appear, the more efficiently you can safeguard against them.

How to Handle Water Cleanup After a Fire

1/25/2022 (Permalink)

How to Deal with Water Damage After a Fire

After the event of a fire, you may think that the fire cleanup is all you need to worry about. However, firefighters must battle the flames with water, so although they are extinguishing the fire, they are also creating the need for water cleanup.

Professionals in Wilmington, MA, should be contacted quickly to help deal with both types of damage. Here are three things you can do to help:

1. Appraise the Damage

A fire in a company’s building can be devastating because of the destruction of the workspace and equipment. It’s important for you to contact your insurance company so that you can recover as much of the cost as possible. Assess the situation and determine the damage that was done. The fire may have destroyed many things, but anything such as equipment, floors, and walls could merely be soggy. Make sure to document anything that was damaged so that you can recover most of the cost.

2. Ventilate the Building

After assessing the damage, it’s wise to get started on the restoration process. Be sure to check with officials before reentering the building, because there might be some safety issues. Once you have been given the all clear, go ahead and start creating some airflow. This can help with smoke cleanup, as the ventilation will clear the air.

3. Thoroughly Clean Salvageable Items

Although drying out items is an important part of water cleanup, it’s also vital to thoroughly clean everything you can to prevent mold and other issues. Fire restorers can bring in specialized equipment to help with the process. Help the professionals by offering any information or aid needed.

Once most of the ventilation and cleaning has begun, the restoration company may focus on renovating walls and floors that have become unsafe from all the damage. Once this is complete, you can look forward to opening your business once more.