Heating Hazards: Winter House Fire Property Restoration Services

2/21/2022 (Permalink)

Rapid fire damage restoration can hold the key to limiting the emotional and financial struggles caused by a fire.

Keeping warm in the winter months can be challenging, homeowners often use secondary heating sources to supplement furnaces and radiators to help keep warm. Fireplaces, wood burning stoves, space heaters, or electric blankets can produce comfortable heat for smaller, more targeted areas of your home at a fraction of the cost of turning up the thermostat for the entire home. These heat sources also pose their own unique risks, and it's important to take safety precautions when using them.

The Damage Caused by a Property Fire 

When you experience a property fire, you may reflect on the mess left behind in the charred ruins of the property. However, the damage you need to contend with will go far beyond the ashes. To repair the property entirely after experiencing a damaging fire, you will need to seek the help of a professional team like SERVPRO. Water may have to be extracted after the firefighters' efforts. While a fire may be contained in one area of the building, smoke can fill most or all the areas, and it can cause significant damage and odors. Our trained Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Technicians (FSRT) can resolve these issues.

Commons Source of Winter House Fires

Fireplace

Fireplaces and chimneys require regular maintenance, so conducting an annual chimney inspection and cleaning is crucial. A careful inspection can catch cracks that might leak dangerous gases into your home, and a thorough cleaning removes the buildup of creosote, a residue that can catch fire if ignited by a spark.

Wood-Burning Stove

Though not as popular in the modern era as fireplaces, wood-burning stoves have their own aesthetic appeal and are still used as efficient heat sources in many homes and cabins. Like fireplaces, these stoves must be connected to chimneys, which require annual inspection and cleaning.

Space Heaters

When it comes to safety, space heaters have come a long way in recent years. Some older models increased the risk of house fires, particularly models operated with liquid fuel. Today's space heaters are mostly electric and often have built-in safety features that turn the heaters off if they tip over, overheat, or have been left turned on for too long.

Electric Blankets

As economical as they are cozy, electric blankets can provide comfort at night even with the heat down low. Operating electric blankets in multiple bedrooms can often be much cheaper than turning up the thermostat.

We are Always Here to Help

Many homeowners have little or no experience when it comes to addressing the fallout of a fire loss event.

Comprehensive Reports Assist in Filing Insurance Claims

SERVPRO technicians create detailed reports that include photos and a full description of whether the item was a loss or underwent restorative efforts for reuse. Having these reports helps expedite the filing of insurance claims. The technicians also give recommendations for any needed repairs or reconstruction that the home needs to attain pre-fire damage loss status.

Get Cleanup, Restoration, and Rebuilding in One Place

Our SERVPRO location is uniquely qualified to offer property owners the services of both restoration and reconstruction. Instead of having one company do the cleanup and another company repair or rebuild fire loss areas in the home, you can use a single company for both needs. 

SERVPRO technicians have advanced techniques that allow us to address all the secondary effects of smoke and soot residue. Quick cleanup and proper restoration techniques can make a big difference limiting the emotional and financial struggles caused by a fire. If you do experience a fire, professional fire restoration services like SERVPRO of Old Bridge/Cranbury can handle the entire fire cleanup process—from assessing the smoke and fire damage to rebuilding your home, “Like it never even happened.”