Types of Smoke

11/21/2022 (Permalink)

Different fires create different types of smoke damage. SERVPRO of Frankfort trained professionals can identify which type of smoke has affected your property so we can properly restore your home or business back to preloss condition.

There is wet smoke and dry smoke. Here are the different types of smoke that we look to identify when we are called to help with a fire or smoke damage.

Wet Smoke- (Plastic and Rubber) Low heat, smoldering fire, has a pungent odor and is sticky.

Dry Smoke- (Paper and Wood) Fast burning, hot temperatures, heat and smoke rise. 

Protein Fire Residue- (Evaporation of materials) Almost invisible, will stain and discolor paint, extremely pungent ‘eye burning’ smell. 

Fuel Oil Soot- (Furnace puff back) Malfunction causes smoke to blow through duct vents and cover the home with smoke odor and soot

Other Types- Fire Extinguisher 

If you have smoke or soot damage in your home or business SERVPRO of Frankfort is ready to help. (815)485-6901.

Emergency Board Up Services

11/21/2022 (Permalink)

It is extremely important to secure your property after a loss that has damaged your roof, doors or windows. Receiving board up services prevents damage from animals and even thieves and vandals. It also helps reduce the cost of repairs by eliminating secondary damage. Receiving a board up service or roof tapping helps ensure the weather does not do more damage to your home or business.  

SERVPRO of Frankfort is even on several town/village and fire department lists to perform board up services.  After a loss that requires a board up service, the fire department or 911 dispatch center calls us right away so we can secure the property immediately. 

SERVPRO of Frankfort is available 24 hours a day to perform emergency board up services. If you have any questions regarding our board up services or any other services we perform, we are here to answer any of your questions. (815)485-0075 

Preventing Winter Water Damage

11/21/2022 (Permalink)

Winter is quickly approaching and with winter comes many ways for water damage to occur in your home. From broken pipes to ice dams and everything in between. Below are a few tips to help reduce the chances of water damage this winter. 

1. Inspect your roof including the flashing to ensure there is no damage. 

2. Make sure all gutters and downspouts and clean and debris free. Ensuring water property flows away from your property.

3. Make sure your attic is property insulated and ventilated. This can help prevent ice dams. 

4. Inspect pipes. Look for leaks, rust or signs of corrosion. 

5. Make sure pipes in the attic, basement or crawl space are properly insulated. 

6. If it gets extremely cold outside run a small the faucets to ensure the pipes do not freeze. 

7. Prepare a list of emergency contacts to call in case of an emergency. Make sure this list includes a roofer, plumber and HVAC repairman that are available 24 hours a day. 

SERVPRO of Frankfort offers free no cost assessments of water damage. If you believe you have suffered a water damage in your home give us a call right away. (815)485-6901. 

Prepare your home before holiday travel

11/21/2022 (Permalink)

With the holidays quickly approaching, many people will be traveling to see friends and family. SERVPRO of Frankfort has prepared a few tips to help prepare your home for your trip.

- Throw away and food in the refrigerator or pantry that may go bad while you are gone. 

- Freeze a cup of water and put a coin on the top. Leave it in the freezer and check it when you return from vacation. When you return if the coin is not easy to remove from the cup, the chances are high that the freezer lost power during your trip resulting in your freezer items to thaw and refreeze. 

- Set the thermostat for vacation. Do not turn the thermostat off as during winter months the house needs to stay at a minimum of 55 degrees. 

- Turn the water off in the home. If you are not turning the main water line off, at least turn valves off to the toilet and faucet. 

- If you will be out of town for long periods of time, consider turning the hot water heater off or on vacation mode to save energy. 

- Lock all doors and windows including the ones in the garage. 

- Give a trusted neighbor a key so they can access the home if there is an emergency. 

- Set lights on timers to make it look like you are at home. 

- If you have a fireplace close the flue so animals cannot get into your home. 

Following these steps will help you enjoy your vacation more and have ;less worry while you are away. 

Commercial Liability

8/24/2022 (Permalink)

Maintain your commercial building and minimizing your legal liabilities during the winter months by taking action to avoid hazards in your workplace environment.  You can protect yourself, your employees and your customers by taking just a few simple precautions:

Use ice melt on sidewalks and  walkways to ensuring the safety of passers buy, customers and employees.  

Clean up dirt.  A surprisingly large amount of dirt gets dragged into commercial building, especially . Dirt can cause significant damage to your flooring over time. To significantly reduce the amount of dirt and debris that gets dragged in, place utility mats inside and outside all entranced to the building.

Prevent slippery floors.  Put utility mats down to minimize slippery surfaces created by snow and rain that gets dragged in when people enter your building. Place wet floor signs out whenever floors need to dry as well.

As a trusted leader in the restoration industry, SERVPRO of Frankfort provides 24-hour emergency service and is dedicated to being faster to any size disaster. We can respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs.  Your property’s appearance speaks volumes to your clients. When it’s impacted by fire or water damage, you need professional help. Every hour spent restoring your business is lost revenue and productivity. When you need professional cleaning or emergency restoration services, we have the training and resources to get your property back to business quickly.

Damage from Clean Water

7/15/2022 (Permalink)

Clean water is considered water from a broken or leaking pipe, or other water source, rainwater is also considered clean. Clean water becomes gray water when the issue at hand is left untreated and bacteria and other contaminants start to grow causing the water to become hazardous. That is why it is so important to call SERVPRO of Frankfort immediately upon discovering possible water damage due to pipe breaks or leaks. 

While you are waiting for help to arrive, consider taking the following precautions to minimize damage. 

1. Shut off the water source and call a professional if possible. 
2. Turn off circuit breakers for rooms that are wet. Do not enter rooms with standing water as electrical shock could occur. 
3. Remove as much of the excess water as possible. Wipe excess water off furniture and mop of blot floors. 
4. Move any sensitive objects such as paintings, documents or valuables to a safe place if you think they may be affected by moisture. 
5. Remove any colored items from the floor to prevent staining. 

When you have a water damage, do not leave your property to chance, call SERVPRO of Frankfort at (815)485-6901

Contaminated Water

7/11/2022 (Permalink)

Contaminated water also known as black water is typically caused by sewage back up, flooding or any type of natural disaster. Black water us highly contaminated and can be filled with fungi, bacteria, chemicals and more. For this reason, black water should always be handled by professionals.

While waiting for SERVPRO of Frankfort to arrive consider these tips. 

• Avoid contact with sewage and any items that have been contaminated by sewage. If you do come in contact with contaminated items, wash your hands thoroughly.
• Do not walk through contaminated areas, as there is risk of spreading damage to uncontaminated areas.
• Do not use household  fans to dry the structure as airflow could spread contaminates. 
• Discard of any food, personal hygiene products or cleaning products that were exposed to contaminated areas.

If you have any questions while you are waiting for help to arrive, we are always willing and able to answer any questions you may have. 

Choosing the right fire extinguisher

7/1/2022 (Permalink)

Choosing the appropriate fire extinguisher is important to help minimize fire damage if it should occur. 

Did you know there are several different classes of fire extinguishers?

Choosing the right one for you can help minimize fire and smoke damage if a fire does occur. 

• Class A: This is the most common fire extinguisher and can be used to put out combustibles such as wood, paper, clothes and most plastics.
• Class B: This extinguisher is used for putting out flammable liquids such as gasoline and oil.
• Class C: Designated for fires involving equipment and appliances that are plugged in. 
• Class D: Designed to be used on flammable metals. These are usually found in factories that work with flammable metals. 
• Class K: Although these extinguishers are generally found in commercial kitchens, they are getting more common in residential kitchens. The Class K extinguisher is designated to use on fires that involve cooking oils. 

Using the appropriate fire extinguisher can reduce the amount of fire damage in your home or business, and SERVPRO of Frankfort is ready to assist with any fire or smoke related damage after the fact. 

Fascinating Hurricane Facts

7/1/2022 (Permalink)

1. The term "hurricane" came from the Taino Native American word "hurucane" which means evil spirit wind. The term "hurricane" came from the Taino Native American word
2. The term hurricane is only used in North America. Everywhere else in the world calls them tropical cyclones, except Asia where they are called Typhoons. 
3. At least 40% of hurricanes that happen in the US occur in Florida. 
4. Every hurricane is given a name. They are named in alphabetical order. So the first hurricane of the year will always start with the letter A. 
5. Every second, a hurricane releases the same amount of energy as 10 atomic bombs. 
6. The first man who every named a hurricane was an Australian weather man named C Wragge in the early 1900s. 
7. All hurricanes begin life in warm moist areas over tropical oceans.
8. The planet Jupiter has a hurricane that is bigger than the Earth itself and has been spinning for over 300 years. 

SERVPRO of Frankfort finds these hurricane facts interesting. Do you? 

Celebrate Summer Safely

7/1/2022 (Permalink)

The first things that come to mind when we think about summer are backyard barbecuing,  fireworks and bonfires. Did you know that July is the peak month for grill fires? 

SERVPRO of Frankfort wishes you, your family and friends an enjoyable and safe summer. Below are a few tips to consider to help ensure your summer stays disaster free. 

• Grills no matter if they are propane or charcoal should only be used outside.
• Grills should be placed away from any structures such as your home, garage or desk. Keep away from awnings and eaves of the home. 
• Always keep your grill clean and empty grease trays from below the grill.
• When using charcoal ensure that the coals are completely cooled before disposal. 
• Never leave a bonfire unattended and make sure it is in an area away from buildings and fences. 
• Never use flammable liquids to start a bonfire and do not burn dangerous items such as paint, tires and aerosol cans. 
• If using fireworks or someone nearby is always wear safety glasses. 
• Never try to relight malfunctioning fireworks, and keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that do not go off. 

If your property suffers from structural fire damage give us a call at (815)485-6901 to help make it "Like it never even happened."