Why DIY Fire Damage Restoration is a Bad Idea

 

How Desktop and Laptop Computers Can Spark a Fire Damage Disaster

Computer Fires: Preventing Fire Damage and Navigating the Fire Damage Clean-Up Process

El Dorado, United States - January 30, 2023 /Restore It Restoration & Cleaning/

Restore-it Restoration and Cleaning offers the fire damage clean up and restoration services El Dorado, AR, residents and businesses need when a laptop or desktop computer causes a fire. There are over 130 million households in the United States, and nearly every home has at least one computer. Many households have multiple devices, including a desktop, laptop, and one or more tablets. Since computers are a part of so many lives, it is important to understand how a desktop or laptop computer can spark a fire and what steps can be taken to prevent a fire.

 

The main causes of computer fires

There are three main causes of computer fires. First, wiring, cable insulation, and the housing in which the device is encased can catch fire. Fire prevention measures for this risk hazard include:

• Upgrading the electrical wiring in the home or business to accommodate the additional load
• Using heavy gauge extension cords
• Avoiding overloading electrical circuits

Second, dust build-up inside a desktop can cause the inside temperature of the machine to become hot enough to catch fire. A remedy for a potential dust fire involves keeping the device clean inside and out. Also, an elevated room temperature compounds the risk of fire. Turn down the thermostat to reduce the risk of fire from dust build-up.

Third, an overheating laptop battery can lead to a fire. These tips will help avoid a fire from an overheated laptop battery:

• Use and store the computer in a cool room with some ventilation.
• Avoid stacking anything on top of a laptop computer.
• When in use, place the device on a hard, flat surface such as a table or the floor.
• Avoid using a laptop computer on the bed, a pillow, or carpeting.
• Keep the exterior case vent covers free of dust.
• Have a computer hardware professional clean and service the device annually.

 

Fire prevention strategies

The explosion in the remote workforce significantly elevates fire risks in the home. In many instances, what used to be a few hours a week on the laptop or desktop is now forty to fifty or more hours per week. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides fire safety tips for operating a desktop or laptop computer. The goal is to avoid personal injury, loss of life, or property damage at home and work. According to the NIH, “Make sure that a multipurpose fire extinguisher (e.g., one rated for ordinary combustibles and electrical fires) is located within a reasonable distance from your personal computer. When you leave your personal computer on and unattended, turn off the monitor during your absence. Monitors generate high voltage internally with the potential to start an electrical fire or even trigger an explosion if the computer is located in a flammable atmosphere (such as one might encounter a gas leak or flammable vapors resulting from a chemical spill in a laboratory). The switch for the monitor is typically found at the bottom of the screen, on the side of the monitor, or, in some cases, at the rear of the unit.”

The NIH reminds users that switching the monitor off will not affect the performance of the computer and will not result in the loss of data. “Turning off the monitor while leaving the computer on will NOT disrupt the computer’s operation or compromise data integrity. When you return, simply turn the monitor back on and wait a few seconds for it to warm up.”

The NIH adds the following tips: “Never leave on a personal computer, monitor, or printer with protective dust covers in place. Doing so may cause excessive heat build-up, which can cause hardware failure and potentially result in electrical fires. Never place liquids on computer components or other electronic equipment where damage from spills could occur. Make sure that your computer’s electrical outlet is properly grounded and has a sufficient power rating to handle all the components connected to it.”

A home or workplace fire is disruptive. To ensure a swift recovery and return to normal life, the NIH urges computer users to manage their data files with a worst-case scenario — a fire — in mind. “Keep backup copies of important data in a remote location (i.e., in another building or in a safe deposit box). This will allow you to restore your data subsequent to a fire or other catastrophic event, rather than experiencing the expense of recovery, or worse, the irreversible loss of data.”

 

Navigating the fire damage clean-up process

When a fire damage disaster occurs, reach out to the professionals at Restore-It Restoration and Cleaning. A crew is available around the clock to provide homeowners and businesses with the fire damage cleanup, smoke odor removal, soot removal, and water damage cleanup services needed when disaster strikes.

For more information about fire damage restoration and smoke odor removal services, call Restore-It Restoration and Cleaning at (870) 417-4614.

How Desktop and Laptop Computers Can Spark a Fire Damage Disaster

 

Safety Tips to Avoid Fire Damage When Using a Space Heater

 

An Emergency Readiness Plan: Vital for Fire Safety and Prompt Damage Restoration

The fire damage restoration professionals at Restore-It Restoration and Cleaning know that when a fire damages a house, the experience can be very stressful for the home’s residents. Unfortunately, house fires are an all too common occurrence. A National Fire Protection Association report found that, over a five-year period, “US fire departments responded to an estimated average of 346,800 home structure fires per year.” The fact that each year hundreds of thousands of Americans will likely experience a house fire is a sobering reality. However, the good news is that homeowners can take several measures to prevent a house fire from occurring, minimize the scope of the damage should the home catch fire, safely escape from a fire, and accelerate the fire damage recovery and restoration process.

Creating an Emergency Readiness Plan for responding to housefires

To prepare for a potential housefire, homeowners must develop an Emergency Readiness Plan tailored to the individual household. A full-orbed readiness plan will encompass relevant action steps before, during, and after a fire. The homeowner will be concerned with three main phases: fire safety before a fire, fire escape during a fire, and fire damage restoration after a fire.

Fire safety

Two of the most important fire safety and suppression tools are smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Early warning devices, such as smoke detectors, are essential fire prevention and readiness tools that can avoid disaster and save lives. Do not underestimate the value that even a few minutes of warning can provide to help the family address the fire or evacuate the home safely.

For small fires, fire extinguishers provide a way to put out the fire and bring the situation under control. To ensure the unit is charged, use the test button or gauge on the device. A damaged or low-pressure extinguisher must be replaced or serviced by a professional. Many house fires are caused by cooking, so keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.

Fire escape plan

The National Fire Protection Association offers the following warnings and advice about escaping from house fires: “Fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you as little as one or two minutes to escape safely once the smoke alarm sounds. A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire. Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home. Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan. Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes. Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors.”

When formulating a fire escape plan, pay special consideration to the concerns of infants and young children, older family members, and loved ones with mobility limitations. Designate one or two people to aid these individuals during fire drills and an actual house fire.

In homes with multiple floors, consider purchasing fire escape ladders. Before using an escape ladder in an emergency, read the usage instructions carefully. Also, practice deploying the ladder from the safety of a first-floor window. Escape ladders should be stored near windows and should be easily accessible.

Fire damage restoration

If the homeowner has not considered the damage restoration and cleaning process in the Emergency Readiness Plan, unnecessary stress can arise in the aftermath of a housefire as the household scrambles to identify, vet, and secure the services of a reputable, qualified, and dependable fire damage restoration company. The best time to choose a damage restoration provider is before a fire starts. Prequalification can help reduce stress and anxiety and provide a clear path forward after fire damage.

A house fire is a complex disaster and often involves water damage and mold damage in addition to fire and smoke damage. Choose a full-service restoration company that offers a wide menu of services, including smoke odor removal and soot removal, to address the issues and restore life to normal.

Contact Restore-It Restoration and Cleaning for more information about fire damage clean up services. The office can be reached by calling (870) 417-4614.

Emergency Readiness Plan

 

Dispelling Misconceptions about Content Cleaning and Insurance

 Restore-it Restoration and Cleaning offers content cleaning and restoration services that El Dorado residents can trust. A fire damage disaster, catastrophic water damage, or storm damage disaster can affect most or all the contents of a home or business. Fire damage may be minimal, but the smoke and soot damage may impact every surface, including walls, ceilings, countertops, flooring, appliances, furniture, upholstery, electronics, artwork, books, personal documents, and clothing. The HVAC system and ductwork may need extensive cleaning, restoration, or replacement.

Homeowners often operate on inaccurate assumptions that can be financially devastating if acted upon. A widely held misconception is that water or fire-damaged contents cannot be restored but must be replaced. Some homeowners think replacement is the first option and assume that replacement is automatic. In contrast, homeowners believe they have the option to cash out without input from the insurance carrier. When a homeowner takes action without first consulting the policy and the agent, a financial disaster may occur. Premature action on the part of the homeowner can result in higher claim costs, negative customer service complaints, and possible loss of customers.

Misconception #1: It is preferable to purchase new items than to restore the original contents.

Some homeowners are willing and eager to spend the time and effort to search out replacement items for what was lost or damaged in a property damage disaster. However, a shopping trip of that magnitude requires time, and the chore of finding a replacement for every piece of clothing and furniture can be daunting.

Also, some items cannot truly be replaced. Insurance industry experts at Claims Journal explain: “Soft contents tend to hold more sentimental value than any other content category because they are often seasonal, purchased for a special occasion, gifted, or hold a special meaning. A homeowner may have an outfit worn to a daughter’s wedding or other memorable events, a flag symbolizing military service, or a quilt that grandma hand-stitched. These sentimental items are often irreplaceable.”

These items may be original, unique, rare, and irreplaceable because of what they are and the intrinsic and economic value they hold. In these cases, restoration is well worth the effort.

Misconception #2: Attempts to restore an item are not necessary for a replacement to be approved.

The replacement does not depend on a determination from the policyholder; instead, efforts to restore the item must come first. Restoration may be waived under two circumstances:

• The contents have sustained structural damage.
• A restoration professional has determined that the contents cannot be salvaged.

Cost savings are a benefit to the homeowner. The typical homeowner, and some carriers, are unaware that there is no charge if the efforts to clean an item fail. The homeowner is not at risk if restoration is unsuccessful or incomplete.

The homeowner has much to gain when cleanup and restoration are successful. Restoration costs are consistently less expensive than replacement costs and usually total about 15 to 25 percent of an item’s value.

Regrettably, many homeowners are underinsured with regard to content coverage. They may have failed to increase the limits of the coverage, or they may have decided to settle for less coverage to reduce monthly policy payments. Everything is fine until a loss occurs. At that point, the policy limitations can be devastating. Since restoration is much less expensive than replacement, some of the difference can be recouped by choosing to restore the damaged items.

Misconception #3: It is a good idea to cash out a content claim rather than wait on restoration.

Sometimes a homeowner may decide to accept a cash settlement from the carrier instead of waiting for the restoration to be completed. This cash-out of the claim does not enable a homeowner to cover the replacement costs of the damaged items. In too many cases, the homeowner underestimates the replacement cost, making the cash settlement look enticing. Unfortunately, the insufficient cash-out amount may only become apparent when the home’s contents need to be replaced but the money has run out. The resulting frustration is often vented on by the insurance carrier or the insurance agent.

The homeowner can avoid the traps associated with these misconceptions by taking the following steps:

• Accurately estimate the full replacement cost of the damaged items.
• Wait on the insurance company to evaluate the extent of the contents damage and present its breakdown of what items the company will seek to restore and what items will be immediately replaced.
• Obtain a guaranteed cash-out amount from the insurance carrier.
• Evaluate and compare each option.
• Choose the one that best meets the needs of the situation.

The Restore-it Restoration and Cleaning team is certified, skilled, and experienced in content cleaning. Utilizing industry-standard equipment, techniques, and cleaning products, the content cleaning and damage restoration specialists can restore most items to their original, pre-damage condition, saving potentially thousands of dollars for the customer or insurance company. Fast, thorough, and professional, Restore-it Restoration and Cleaning is a top choice for content cleaning services in El Dorado, AR.

For more information about property damage restoration services, including water damage, fire and smoke damage, sewage backups, mold remediation, and carpet cleaning, contact the Restore-It Restoration and Cleaning office by phone at (870) 417-4614 or visit the website to request an immediate follow-up.