Living in San Diego, the threat of fire damage is a real concern for property owners. We have wildfires that rip through the county and if a fire reaches your home the result could be devastating. One thing most people probably don’t think about when they have fire damage to their home is the water damage that comes with it. Sure, the fire department saved your home, but in the process they doused your house with hundreds of gallons of water per minute. That water saturates your home and turns it into a live breeding ground for mold.
Clean Up
Fire and water restoration professionals should take on this job as they are familiar with operating in these environments where soot and water left behind could contain materials that are hazardous to your health. Home restoration professionals will be able to ensure that you can return home with some peace of mind. What is the process of cleaning up when handled by a professional?
A professional should:
- Scrub down of the area to remove soot and ash
- Survey valuables to triage what is salvageable and what can’t be rescued
- Destroyed items can continue to ferment mold and bacteria growth even after it dries
- Industrial strength pumps to remove any standing water
- Dry your home
- Process takes several days and a restoration company should monitor it with moisture meters
- Cut the threat of future mold flare ups with fungicides and other cleaning solutions
Insurance
Contact and insurance agent right away for your immediate need. These include: pumping the standing water out of your home. Covering up your windows and doors (if they broke during the process of fighting the fire), and to square away who will be paying for what.
Where to Start?
There are many people that you need to contact and steps you need to take before restoration gets going. Here is a quick checklist to make your home restoration run more smoothly.
