Fire Safety: Portable Heaters

12/17/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Richardson is a water damage restoration and fire and smoke damage restoration company on the border of Richardson and Plano Texas.

Portable heaters are popular during the winter, especially when a temporary cold spell falls and you need just a little bit more heat to be comfortable.  Most are inexpensive, which makes them attractive purchases every year.

Yet, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 25,000 home fires are associated with the use of space heaters.

Our office works with fire damaged homes on a daily basis, and we know that safe practices at home can’t be undervalued.  Fire safety practices with space heaters are important to keep families and homes safe during the winter months.

How to Choose a Space Heater

• Purchase a heater with the latest safety technology.
• Buy a space heater that’s meant for the size of the room you’re heating and not larger.
• Choose a heater that has a thermostat so it can know when to turn itself off.

Electric Space Heater Fire Safety

Electric space heaters are the only safe heaters to use indoors because they don’t need ventilation.  

• Plug it in directly into a wall outlet or a short, heavy-duty extension cord.
• Put the heater on a safe and steady platform away from pets, children, and foot traffic.
• Purchase a unit with a tip over safety function.  This will cause the heater to turn itself off if it notices it’s not standing upright.
• Understand the electrical needs of the heater(s) you purchase, and be mindful not to plug so many in that you overload your home.
• Give the heater 3 feet of space on every side.

Smoke and Fire Effects: Is it Bad to Breathe in Fire Smoke?

In case of an emergency, do not hesitate to act.  Inhaling smoke from a fire is very unhealthy and can cause serious health problems.  

When a fire happens, there is almost always visible smoke.  Smoke is the result of incomplete combustion, which means that the material that was burning doesn’t burn completely.  Smoke is what the unburned particles is made up of. It is mostly made up of soot, oils, and ash. Depending on the material the burning object was made up of determines the type of smoke that gets into the air and also embedded into clothing.  

For the sake of your health, do not inhale fire smoke.  Also, do not wear smoke affected clothing as embedded smoke particles may have carcinogens.

Dallas Fire Damage

Should the worst happen and you have a fire at home, know that we can help.  A fire can be devastating. While a homeowner is dealing with the shock of their home and items being damaged, there are also many more strong emotions and important questions in mind.  

It’s easy to be overwhelmed when a fire damage happens, regardless of its size.  We’ve worked to restore many homes and businesses, and we can help you, too. Our priority is to help you navigate this difficult time and get your home back together as quickly as possible.  There’s no time to waste.

Fire Extinguisher Clean Up

One of the best case scenarios in fire damage restoration is when a homeowner was able to stop the fire themselves.  While fire extinguisher clean up isn’t fun, it’s a lot more manageable than rebuild an entire home.

If you need fire extinguisher clean up, give us a call.  We will inspect your home for affected areas and get to work on the fire damage restoration process immediately.  Many times, there is a need for fire smoke odor removal. If the fire happened near an air duct, the smoke may have spread throughout the home.  Our technicians will carefully inspect your property and advice you on the necessary steps to take to make the air in your safe and clean again. Our reconstruction team will also replace anything that was permanently damaged.  

Full Service Fire Cleanup Service

There are many fire cleanup companies in Dallas Fort Worth, but few of them are full service.  We have been handling Dallas fire damage for over 30 years, and we have grown our business to respond to the needs and wants of our customers.  

Their voice is clear: they want a fire damage restoration company that can help them with every aspect of their restoration.  They want one phone call to fix it all.

24 Hour Emergency Response

We have a 24 hour emergency line to respond to any disaster.  Our technicians are dispatched 24 hours a day, every day of the year.  If we cannot perform emergency fire damage repair services due to poor lighting, we will call for 24 hour live security to make sure your home is safe until we can begin work in the morning.

Emergency Roof Tarp

A thick, weatherproof roof tarp will be attached to the roof of your property to prevent weather from entering and causing secondary damage.

Board Up

We board up damaged windows and doors to prevent precipitation and unauthorized persons from entering the building.  This also signals to possible intruders that the property is being cared for and watched.

Structural Cleaning

After the building is secure, we will begin the process of cleaning the smoke fire out of your property.  Debris will be removed.

Smoke Damage Restoration

Smoke damage restoration is when we remove smoke particles have embedded themselves in a material, like a wall, clothing, or piece of furniture.  Smoke damage cannot usually be seen, but it can be smelled. Smoke damage cleanup and odor removal should take place.

Contents Cleaning

Contents are things that are not part of the structure, like furniture, appliances, and toys.  When affected, contents can either be cleaned on site or taken back to our cleaning facility.

Moving Services / Pack Out and Pack Back

When the structure isn’t safe, contents and textiles are moved out of the property and taken to our facilities for cleaning and storage.  They are returned when the property is clean, reconstructed, and safe for inhabitants. Items may also be delivered to a second location if the owner would like them returned sooner.

Storage

Items that have been packed-out are stored in our facilities until they can be returned.

Reconstruction

Reconstruction refers to any portion of your structure that is rebuilt.  Any portion that was permanently damaged during the fire damage is rebuilt to pre fire condition.

House Fire and Insurance Claims

Each one of our customers is assigned a Project File Coordinator.  This person will contact your insurance company and communicate with your insurance adjuster on a daily basis.  If your fire damage insurance claim is not covered, we will quickly find out and let you know what next steps you can take.  If your insurance claim is approved, we will work closely with your insurance company to process your claim.

Trusted Leader in Fire Remediation, North Texas

SERVPRO of Richardson is a water damage restoration and fire and smoke damage restoration company on the border of Richardson and Plano Texas.  We have performed work in Dallas, Plano, Grapevine, McKinney, Frisco, Allen, and other North Texas communities in Collin County for over 30 years.  With our crews responding immediately to jobs, we are faster to any size disaster. We also have a Texas Mold Remediation Contractor License and offer free mold inspections.  You can trust us to restore your home or business.

Our crews are available dispatch for 24 hour emergencies every day of the year.  We can be reached 24/7 at (972) 690-1414.  Call us any time!

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www.SERVPROrichardson.com

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