One of the biggest problems with water disasters is its negative effect on carpets and floors. ServiceMaster of Fairfax understands these issues and provides fast, on-premise carpet and wood floor drying.

Here’s what your ServiceMaster of Fairfax professional considers when drying carpet:

• Age and condition of your carpet. If a carpet is so old that it is a better value to replace than attempt restoration, we”ll let you know what makes the best financial sense. ServiceMaster of Fairfax uses industry resources to help determine the exact value of carpet.
• Length of time carpet was exposed to water. Most carpets can withstand water for up to three days, but immediate response to your loss is critical. In most cases ServiceMaster of Fairfax can be at your site within two to four hours.
• Type of water: Types of water affect the restoration process.
  • Clean water: Water from a clean source with no debris.
  • Grey water: Water that is not necessarily clean but is not hazardous (washing machine and dishwasher overflow, for example).
  • Black water: Sewage backup or runoff water. These losses are hazardous and should be handled with caution.
• Water temperature
  The temperature of the water is important to consider. For example, a hot water heater with very warm water will affect the glue used to hold carpet fibers together.

Here’s what ServiceMaster of Fairfax considers when drying wood floors:

• Wood floors are very sensitive, so proper drying is critical.
• Wood naturally holds water—up to 10% depending on the type of floor.
• Wood can absorb another 5% to 10% without showing any noticeable effects. Within a few days, however, floors that cannot hold the water any longer will expand, causing cupping or crowning. Both are very difficult to restore.
• Emergency response is critical for any damage to wood floors.

Sewage cleanup can be a harmful and trying task in any indoor environment, so let the ServiceMaster of Fairfax professionals take care of your sewage backup cleaning for safe and effective restoration. Most people don’t know that a simple clogged kitchen sink will create harmful microorganisms that include bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. Sewage poses a significant threat to human health.  However, the severity of the health threat depends on the content of the sewage and the degree and extent of penetration into the building environment.  The degree of penetration is dependent on the porosity of contaminated materials, the quantity of sewage, and the amount of time the sewage remains in contact with materials.

At ServiceMaster of Fairfax, we quickly remove sewage contaminants and moisture; and thoroughly clean, disinfect and deodorize your Virginia, Maryland, or D.C. home or office. Our goal is to restore your peace of mind so that you can return to your life as soon as possible.

Sewage Cleanup Process:

The ServiceMaster sewage cleaning & restoration process is:

• Sewage remediation must begin as soon as possible.  The longer the contamination sits,  the greater the potential for health risks.
• Unprotected occupants should be evacuated from the affected areas immediately and should not return  until sewage has been removed and disinfectants have been applied.
• Technicians should  take care to avoid “cross-contamination” from affected to unaffected areas by foot traffic or material handling.
• After water removal, all affected areas should be decontaminated by spraying with a disinfectant solution.
• All affected materials should be evaluated for porosity. This  inspection should determine materials as highly porous (saturated), semi porous, or nonporous.
• Highly porous materials that have been exposed to sewage and have a value that exceeds the cost of restoration such as high-value furniture and carpet, and upholstery, should be removed and restored off site.
• Semi porous materials, include linoleum,  hardboard furniture, and construction materials such as wood, painted drywall and plaster, should be cleaned, disinfected, or replaced as part of the initial restoration process.
• Nonporous materials like vinyl and Formica can be inspected for  contamination with a  moisture meter. If migration of contamination below the surface has not occurred, these materials can be fully restored.

Sewage Chemical Disinfection:

Chemicals classified as disinfectants are appropriate for use in areas exposed to sewage backups.  The process of decontamination and disinfection will be important to ensure the elimination of pathogens and organisms that were contained in the sewage or that grew during the period of contamination.  Even concrete can be colonized and broken down my microorganisms if it is allowed to remain wet and contaminated by organic matter.

While sewer backups are never expected, you can expect ServiceMaster of Fairfax to respond quickly and do the job correctly…whatever the problem and whenever it occurs. Contact us to start your sewer backup restoration service now!

Note of caution, one of the most common misconceptions about mold is that it can be removed by spraying the surfaces with products such as disinfectants or cleaners. That will not take care of the mold problem because the allergenic and toxic properties of mold are not removed by using these products. When mold spores get into the air, they still present a health risk to exposed individuals so extreme caution must be taken.

Mold Clean Up Tips:

• Before you begin cleaning and removing the mold, it is critical to make sure that you take measures to prevent the mold spores from spreading to other areas of the house.
• Each room or area should be cleaned separately, one at a time.
• Properly seal each room using plastic sheeting sealed with duct tape to cover doorways, vents, and other openings to occupied areas of the home.
• Maintain dust levels as low as possible during cleaning to prevent spores from becoming airborne and spread to other areas.
• Turn off the HVAC system before cleaning mold.
• Take things that were wet for 2 or more days outside. Things that stayed wet for 2 days have mold growing on them even if you can’t see it.

• Use a bleach & water mix to clean mold off of floors, stoves, sinks, certain toys, counter tops, etc. (See CDC instructions here)
• Carefully remove and discard mold and mold-infested materials into heavy-duty plastic bags.

To minimize exposure to mold during clean up, take the following precautions:

• Wear respiratory protection when handling or cleaning moldy materials.
• Wear protective clothing that can be discarded after the project.
• Wear protective gloves and eye protection.

For more information about our Mold Clean Up Service

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When you are faced with a Water, Fire or Smoke emergency, know that ServiceMaster of Fairfax will be there when you call 703-631-0544. We have also written down some ways to mitigate the damage yourself until our professional mitigation team arrives at your location.

Water Damage Mitigation

• Use dehumidifiers if available.
• If possible, use fans to circulate the air and assist drying.
• Use mopping and blotting to remove as much water as possible.
• Lift draperies off of the carpet, loop through a coat hanger, and place the hanger on the drapery rod.
• Prop up wet furniture cushions for even drying and place small wood blocks or aluminum foil under furniture legs.
• Open drawers on furniture, doors, and luggage to help drying.
• Move photos, paintings, and art to a safe and dry location.
• Remove wet fabrics and dry them as soon as possible. Hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature.
• Remove damp books from shelves and spread out to dry.
• If damage occurs during a cool season, leave heat on; if in summer, use an air conditioner if available.

Warnings About Water Damage

• Do not use an ordinary household vacuum to remove water.
• Do not use electrical appliances while on wet carpet or wet floors.
• Do not go into rooms with standing water if the electricity is still on.
• Do not lift tacked down carpet without professional help. Lifting the carpet incorrectly could promote shrinkage.
• Do not wait to call for professional help. Damage from the water and bacteria growth can begin within hours.

Smoke And Fire Damage Mitigation

• Blow off or brush-vacuum loose soot particles from upholstery, drapes, and carpets.
• Cover carpeted traffic areas with towels or old linens to prevent additional soiling.
• Discard open food packages. The food could be contaminated.
• Only if the electrical service is off, clean out your freezer and refrigerator. Leave the doors propped open or place charcoal in the unit.
• Send clothing with heavy smoke damage to a qualified professional dry cleaner who specializes in smoke damage.
• Clean Formica and chrome fixtures in the kitchen and bathroom to prevent permanent tarnishing.
• Wipe residue from bath fixtures to prevent etching.
• Wipe the leaves of houseplants to remove smoke residue.
• Change the air filter on your furnace if it uses forced hot air.
• Air Out the house to reduce the smoke odor

Warnings About Smoke And Fire Damage

• Do not attempt to wash any papered or flat painted walls without consulting your professional cleaner. Incorrect cleaning procedures could compound the soot residue problem.
• Do not attempt to clean carpets or upholstered furniture. Again, incorrect procedures could increase damage.
• Do not use electrical appliances that have been close to fire or water before having them checked. They could malfunction.
• Do not use ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet. A short circuit could result.
• Do not touch anything. Soot on your hands can permeate upholstery, walls, and woodwork, causing further damage.
• Do not eat food that has been exposed to fire or smoke.
• Do not wait to call for a ServiceMaster Mitigation Professional.

What Is Mold?

We have probably all encountered mold at one time or another. It might have been in the shower, or on a stale piece of bread or wet drywall. Mold is a microscopic life form found in all parts of the world. It is part of the natural decay process of organic materials. There are many different species of mold, and while they are diverse, they share some common characteristics:

• Molds require an organic food source. The most common food source indoors is cellulose, which is found in building materials such as wood and drywall.
• Molds require oxygen, so they do not grow under water.
• Molds require moisture. To prevent mold, buildings must be kept dry.
• Molds are spread by tiny particles called “spores.”

Why Is Mold A Problem?

• The colored, fuzzy growth on the surface of a wall, floor, ceiling or other indoor surface is obviously very objectionable.
• Active mold colonies usually emit a very unpleasant, musty odor.
• Because the job of mold is to digest, decay and recycle dead organic matter, it will eventually destroy whatever surface it grows on.
• Exposure to mold spores can cause mild to severe allergic reactions, depending on individual sensitivity.

How Do You Deal With Mold?

The best way to deal with mold is to prevent it from happening. If the drying of wet building materials is commenced within 24 hours (assuming clean water), the chances of preventing mold growth are excellent. If building materials remain wet, it is inevitable that mold will start to grow. Therefore, addressing and eliminating moisture problems is the critical first step.

However, once mold is present, drying is not enough. Moldy materials must be either removed or decontaminated. This process is called remediation, which means “to remedy” or “to cure.” Proper remediation procedures will be determined by the size, scope and nature of the mold contamination.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published a helpful guidebook for homeowners about the cleanup and prevention of mold problems in homes. This booklet, entitled A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home, can help you decide when you can handle mold cleanup yourself and when you should call a professional. The booklet is available on the EPA website at www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldguide.html.

ServiceMaster of Fairfax Can Help

In the midst of all the hype and hysteria about mold, ServiceMaster of Fairfax is committed to maintaining a reasonable, prudent and responsible position. ServiceMaster of Fairfax has completed intensive mold remediation training and received instruction in the proper procedures for handling mold claims. All are prepared to handle small isolated and large areas affected by mold that may be encountered in the course of normal water damage mitigation services.

Address Mold Immediately

Just how far reaching the effects of mold may be is yet to be determined. What is clear is that living or working in a moldy home or building is ill advised. The obvious response is to address water intrusion issues promptly and thoroughly, before mold has a chance to grow. ServiceMaster of Fairfax is the industry leader in professional water damage mitigation and restoration services and stands ready to serve you.

Carpet Cleaning Tips:

1. Vacuum is the best tool for carpet cleaning. Carpets need to be vacuumed once a week or more in heavy traffic areas.
2. Vacuum heavy traffic areas in a crisscross pattern of overlapping strokes to remove the dirt.
   
3. Carpet not smelling fresh? Try adding baking soda in the vacuum bag to fight odors.
4. For liquid spills, blot liquids with a dry, white, absorbent cloth or plain white paper towel Do not scrub the area but rather blot.
   
5. Soil retardants can be applied to new carpets or to newly cleaned carpets. Always follow manufacturers’ advice.
   
6. Regarding spots and spills on your carpet, remove them immediately.
7. Never dig or brush spots.
8. D0 not over-wet carpet.

If your carpet is in dire need to professional help or you have questions regarding carpet care then please call the Carpet Cleaning professionals at ServiceMaster of Fairfax at: (703) 631-0544 or team@servicemasterbysimmons.com.

ServiceMaster of Fairfax is Northern Virginia’s #1 Fire Damage Restoration Specialists in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area and are ready to handle fire damage emergencies around the clock.  Our Fire Damage restoration team knows that a quick response to cleaning fire damage can minimize your losses after the fire becomes extinguished.

Our fire damage restoration service starts with a structural evaluation of major components of your residence, such as the roof, walls, flooring and insulation. ServiceMaster of Fairfax fire damage experts will work with you throughout the fire cleanup to help you make the best decisions about repair, restoration or replacement of your property.

Fire damage repair includes removing smoke damage and repairing water damage from putting out the fire.  Fire damage restoration of personal property is also part of the process for cleaning fire damage.  Once our ServiceMaster fire damage experts determine which items are reusable, they know exactly which cleaning method or restoration technique will be the most effective making the items usable again.

ServiceMaster of Fairfax will coordinate our fire damage restoration service with your insurance company to reduce stress after the accident and bring you peace of mind.

Below are some Fire Damage Do’s and Don’t so you know what to do immediately after a fire occurs and damages your home. Contact us here to schedule a free fire damage repair consultation. We work 24/7 and will coordinate a meeting as soon as we can.

Fire Damage Do’s:

• Open windows for ventilation, weather permitting.
• Cover carpeted traffic areas with towels or old linens to prevent additional soiling.
• Wipe residue from porcelain bath fixtures to prevent etching.
• Change the air filter on your furnace if it uses forced hot air.
• Tape cheesecloth over air vents to capture any loose soot in the air.
• Blow off, brush or vacuum loose smoke particles from upholstery, draperies and carpeting.
• Empty refrigerators and freezers if electricity is shut off, and prop doors open to allow air to circulate.
• Send clothing to a dry cleaner for cleaning.
• If needed, board up open windows, roofs, or other open areas in order to prevent additional damage.
• Call ServiceMaster of Fairfax, Northern Virginia’s #1 Fire Damage Repair specialist (703-631-0544)

Fire Damage Don’ts:

• Do not enter the building unless you are sure that it is structurally sound and that there are no hazards such as broken glass, spilled chemicals, and exposed wires, etc.
• Do not delay in getting the area cleaned. The longer corrosive gasses from the fire are in contact with surfaces such as metals, the more likely those surfaces will be damaged.
• Don’t touch anything with your bare hands. Oil from your hands can permeate upholstery, walls and woodwork, causing additional damage.
• Do not use ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet.
• Don’t attempt to wash any papered or flat painted walls. Incorrect cleaning procedures could make matters worse.
• Don’t walk on carpet that has soot or put your hands on soot covered surfaces. This will tend to make the soot drive into these porous surfaces and make cleaning much more difficult.
• Do not wet clean soot covered surfaces especially porous surfaces such as lampshades, wall board and ceiling tiles.
• Don’t start your AV system until it has been checked. If there is soot in the duct work, the air movement will spread the soot around the entire building.
• Do not use electrical appliances that have been close to fire or water before having them checked. They could malfunction.

Contact Us About Our Fire Damage Repair Service Now