5 Reasons You Need Professional Fire Damage Restoration

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If a fire has occurred in your home or business and the firefighters have just finished putting it out, you’ll need to have it professionally cleaned and restored, and you’ll probably need it very quickly. You might be thinking you can go in and handle the job yourself, but here are 5 things you should know about if you’re thinking of attempting this.

Immediate Dangers

If you enter a fire-damaged property, there’s likely still smoke in the air inside the building. By entering, you’re putting yourself at risk of irritation to the eyes, throat and nose, and possibly nausea due to the odor of the smoke.

Dangers in the Long-Term

By exposing yourself to smoke inside the property, you could potentially increase your chances of negative long term effects like developing cardiovascular diseases. It's important to know what’s at risk when inhaling smoke.

Hazardous Chemicals

What makes the smoke even more dangerous is that you may not know the source. In many homes, there are cleaning products or other harsh chemicals that could have combusted during the fire or mixed in such a way that they become toxic to inhale.

Vulnerable Immune Systems

Anyone with a weakened immune system such as infants, children or the elderly are at even higher risk of having negative reactions to smoke and soot. Keep anyone with a weakened immune system far away from the property in the aftermath of a fire.

Carbon Monoxide

And perhaps the most immediate and obvious threat, if you enter the property and it's filled with smoke, you could suffer from a lack of oxygen and experience carbon monoxide poisoning, which could cause you to pass out.

The Steam Team

But none of these dangers will be a problem for you or your family at all if you call in The Steam Team! Our professional technicians are trained and given the right equipment to enter these fire-damaged properties and completely clean and restore them. For more information about our cleaning services, please visit The Steam Team website.

How Long Does It Take to Extract Water After Flooding?

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We live in Texas, where flooding is unfortunately an all-too-common natural disaster. When your home experiences flood damage, you lose more than just your belongings. The structure of your home might be compromised, depending on the extent of the damage, and you’ll have to clean and sanitize everything once the dirty flood waters subside. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you begin the process of cleaning up after flood damage.

Water extraction takes time...

If your home or basement is flooded, the water cannot be extracted quickly. Only two to three feet of water can be pumped out a day, or else the sudden change in pressure might cause the walls to collapse. Wood floors will need to be dried gradually to avoid warping or buckling, and other types of flooring, such as carpet or vinyl, will need to be removed so the subflooring can dry out.  

Expect the mess...

The water will have left behind a sizeable amount of mud, as well as other contaminants. You’ll need to tackle the mud first, shoveling out as much as possible, and then proceed by hosing down the remains. Next, sanitize everything: glass and ceramic dishes and countertops can be cleaned in a water/bleach mixture, while metal silverware and pots and pans can be sanitized in boiling water.    

Watch out for mold...

Wear a protective mask to avoid breathing in mold spores. If mold and mildew have already developed on some items, clean them outside to prevent the spores from spreading inside. Walls, if soaked by contaminated flood water, will likely need to be removed to avoid health hazards and to ventilate the studs.

Contact your insurance company immediately to find out what they cover. You may want to hire a professional cleaning and restoration company to help with the process. The Steam Team is made up of experts who specialize in cleaning up after water damage, so don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re on call 24/7! Also for quick carpet

3 Tips to Maintain Your Flooring Through the Winter

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The holidays are a hectic time of year for most people! We’re exhausted from working long hours, tying up the year. We’re frazzled, running on fumes, and full of doubts like “Does Timmy already have this set of Legos? Are gift cards still a ‘thing?’” In the middle of preparing for family gatherings and a season spent indoors, it’s difficult to keep up with cleaning routines! But with the right amount of focus in the correct areas of your home, you can keep your flooring in great condition throughout the winter.

1. Prepare for Increased Foot Traffic

During the winter time, it’s likely that our pets will be spending more time indoors, cuddling up next to us on the couch or beside the fireplace. Wherever their spot is, they’re bound to leave a mess behind.

Having more people in our homes means more foot traffic, and thus more dust and dirt to clean up at the end of the day! Keep the necessary supplies on hand for your convenience, or add a couple of area rugs to your living room.

1. Vacuum, Instead of Dust Mopping/Sweeping

Dust mopping and sweeping both have a way of merely pushing dust and dirt around the room, instead of collecting it. Vacuums are more effective, efficient, and will save you frustration this winter as you’ll be cleaning up more frequently.

1. Have Your Carpet, Tile, or Hardwood Flooring Regularly Cleaned by a Professional Steam Cleaning Company

Having a professional tend to your flooring is a wonderful way to optimize its condition. Whether you have carpet, tile, hardwood, or concrete flooring, a professional cleaning and restoration company has the right equipment to get the job done.

For professional results, you’ll need a professional’s experience and expertise. Give The Steam Team a call today; we’ll have your flooring looking like new, just in time for the holidays!

Indoor vs Outdoor Air: Which is More Polluted?

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It may be difficult to believe that the air you breathe indoors may be more polluted than the air you’d encounter outdoors. This fact is absurd, and only grows more unsettling as we consider that the amount of time we spend indoors versus outdoors is only increasing. All of this may leave us wondering where we can escape to, or at least what can be done to increase air quality. But first, let’s take a glance at a handful of causes to these indoor air pollutants!

What’s Polluting Indoor Air?

1. Tobacco Smoke

Tobacco smoke is a major pollutant, and its second hand smoke lingers in the air far longer, only to settle onto every surface present.  

2. Mold

Mold grows in lickity split and spreads even more rapidly. If you notice a mold issue in your home you’ll need to act quickly! It’s a good idea to call in a professional cleaning and restoration service to ensure that your home is thoroughly treated.

3. Poor Ventilation

Inadequate ventilation is one of the most common causes of indoor pollution. This also explains why you may feel worse in humid climates, or in the winter when the air conditioning isn’t running as frequently. Be sure to properly ventilate your home by utilizing kitchen fans or other exhaust fans, air conditioning units, ceiling fans, etc.

What Can Be Done?

Indoor pollutants can put our health at risk by causing irritated mucous membranes in our eyes, nose, or throat, and an array of other medical conditions. Symptoms are often masked by colds, flus, and other illnesses.  The best thing you can do for indoor pollutants is to eliminate the source(s), and thoroughly ventilate your home.

For a professional touch, consider hiring The Steam Team to thoroughly clean your home and reduce indoor air pollutants!. In no time at all, we’ll have your home looking and feeling pristine and, most importantly, healthy.