Uncategorized

Most people are understandably afraid of fire. It’s dangerous, unpredictable, and extremely difficult to put out once it gets going. But did you know that most fire-related deaths aren’t actually caused by the flames themselves?

Statistically, smoke from a fire is actually three times more deadly than the flames. Not only is it extremely harmful to your respiratory system, fire smoke can cause severe property damages. Without proper San Diego fire damage restoration, smoke can endanger your health and belongings long after the fire that produced it has been put out. 

In previous articles, we explained what fire damage is and how it occurs, and outlined the process of fire damage restoration. Now we’ll explain the ins and outs of smoke damage and how to deal with it after it occurs. Keep reading to learn more. 

Can smoke damage be removed?

It can. However, how you go about it will depend on which kind of smoke damage it is. This is because smoke behaves differently depending on which type of fire produced it. Most residential and commercial fires are caused by cooking mishaps, electrical malfunctions, smoking, and accidents. 

Some especially dangerous types of smoke damage include:

Dry smoke

Particularly hot fires that spread rapidly through a property (usually fueled by wood or paper) produce dry smoke. This sort of smoke leaves behind a fine, powdery residue that can get into narrow crevices and seriously damage a property’s structural components and electrical systems.

Protein smoke

Burning organic matter produces protein smoke, which makes this kind of smoke common during cooking-related fires. Due to being mostly invisible, protein smoke-related damage can be especially difficult to remove.

Wet smoke

These fumes are characterized by an unpleasant odor and are typically produced by burning plastic or rubber products. This thick, black smoke is unusually greasy, which can make it very damaging for your property.

Fuel smoke

As its name implies, fuel smoke is caused by burning oil, petroleum, or other fuel. It normally occurs in garages, gas pumps, and other locations that contain significant amounts of petroleum. It has an especially foul smell and is exceedingly hard to clean off. Any fabrics it touches are almost invariably ruined. 

How do you clean up smoke damage after a fire?

Although it may not seem complex on its face, fire and smoke remediation is a specialized task that has to be performed correctly in order to prevent not only permanent property damage, but also severe health risks. 

Furthermore, your insurance company may refuse to pay up if they feel you haven’t treated the damage in the most effective and professional manner possible. For these reasons, unless you have a background in smoke and fire damage remediation, it’s always better to leave this task to the professionals.

Things to avoid doing after smoke damage include:

• Vacuuming upholstery or curtains with a standard upright vacuum. This will just force the soot and other chemicals in deeper.
• Not correctly separating the damaged area from the rest of the home before starting the cleanup.
• Postponing smoke damage remediation instead of dealing with it immediately.

Who should I call when I need comprehensive San Diego fire damage restoration?

Are you in need of highly-trained and professionally-equipped fire damage remediation specialists who can restore your home after a flood or fire? Or maybe a pipe in your kitchen has just burst and you need to have emergency plumbers at your 4S Ranch property ASAP?

If this is your situation, you can’t go wrong by contacting Risk Free Serv. We’re a reputable mold, water, smoke, and fire remediation company that can also help you file your insurance claim and deal with your insurance company. Call us today. 

Did you know that there’s a fire alert in the United States every 24 seconds? While we all sincerely hope we’ll never be a part of this statistic, the reality is that accidents, unforeseen natural events, and criminal actions happen all the time. 

For this reason, understanding how smoke and fire damage restoration works is absolutely crucial in order to protect your belongings and get your life back on track after a fire. Needless to say, this is especially important if you live in a wildfire-prone area like San Diego County. 

In this article, we’ll list some of the common sources of residential fires in America that can cause serious fire and smoke damage to your home. We’ll also give you some pointers on what to do after your house has suffered a fire. Keep reading to learn more. 

What damage can fire cause?

Fire can ignite and spread with terrifying speed, completely destroying a home in a matter of minutes and causing grievous harm to people and animals. Even a small fire that’s immediately put out can result in costly repairs, some of which your insurer may refuse to cover. 

Knowing how a fire can occur and taking the necessary steps to prevent it is vital in order to keep yourself, your loved ones, and your belongings safe. 

Watch out for these 4 common causes of household fires:

1. Heaters

Baseboard and space heaters can cause nearby fabrics to catch fire. Kerosene and other fuel-powered heaters are especially risky. Keep flammable materials away from these devices and never leave them running when you go out. 

2. Careless smoking

Dropped or improperly extinguished cigarettes can easily damage nearby materials (especially fabrics) and cause them to catch fire. Use deep, bulky ashtrays and never put them near highly flammable items such as curtains, clothes, or books. 

3. Electrical fires

According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, electrical malfunctions cause 51,000 fires and kill almost 500 people every year. Making sure your electrical systems are properly installed and updating old wiring systems is critical in order to protect yourself and your property. 

4. Cooking fires

About 49% of all household fires stem from cooking-related activities, usually as a result of overheated grease combusting in an oven or on a stove. Keep a close eye on the kitchen while cooking greasy or oily foods, and make sure to unplug toasters, electric griddles, and other small appliances when you’re not using them. 

Can you live in a house after a fire?

It depends. If the damage is truly catastrophic, the home may be rendered unlivable (or even completely leveled) until extensive restoration work has been done. Even if the damage was localized, there’s still the risk that the smoke from the fire has entered the ventilation system and filled the ducts and vents with fine particles. 

Breathing in these particles can cause the occupants to develop serious lung problems such as chemical bronchitis, asthma, and even emphysema. To ensure there’s no risk, you should have your ventilation system checked by reputable fire remediation specialists. 

Who should I call when I need extensive fire damage restoration in San Diego?

Have you recently had a fire in your Cortez Hill home and you’re looking for someone who can fix the damage? Or perhaps you’re dealing with a mold problem or need an emergency plumbing service in San Diego that can be at your place within the hour?

Here at Risk Free Serv, we say: no problem! We specialize in providing San Diego homeowners with professional-grade fire, smoke, water, and mold remediation and restoration services. Feel free to call us at any hour.

Fire is one of the most destructive forces in nature. It can appear without warning, completely devastate a home, and cause severe injury and asphyxiation, all in a few minutes. Even a fire that was immediately contained can still require extensive clean-up and cause thousands of dollars of damage.

So what’s the best way to deal with fire damage? Is it better to fix it yourself, or should you book professional fire damage restoration services in San Diego? Is it possible to fully remediate an area that was engulfed in flames? We’ll be answering some of these questions and explaining the fire remediation process in the following article. Read on. 

How do you remediate fire damage?

The first thing you should do after you and your family have been relocated to safety and the fire has been contained is to contact your insurance company and notify them about your loss. Wait until their adjuster (and yours, if you decided to hire a public adjuster) has inspected and documented the loss before beginning the fire remediation process.

Once that’s done, follow these 5 steps:

1. Assess structural damage

Make sure your place is safe to be in by having a structural engineer inspect it. If you don’t know any engineers, ask your restoration company to recommend one. 

The engineer will check the state of:

• Interior load bearing walls
• Basement and foundation walls
• Attic, second floor, and basement joists 

2. Secure the property

Reduce the risk of vandalism during the restoration process by boarding up broken windows and securing all entryways except one. Your restoration contractor should be able to do this for you, and your insurance company may even require it.

3. Structural repairs are a priority

Your restoration contractor will call in seasoned carpenters who can rebuild crucial structural elements such as floor joists and the interior framework. This will restore your house’s structural integrity and make it safer to live in.

4. Electrical should come next

Fire-damaged homes often need to have their breaker boxes replaced and all the outlets, wiring, and fixtures tested for safety and replaced if necessary. A thorough inspection by a qualified electrician is a must.

5. Address other problems caused by fire damage

In addition to the damage itself, fire often causes air ducts to become contaminated and mold to appear in damp sheetrock. Furthermore, it’ll also produce soot residue and smoke stains. All of these issues should be addressed by specialized cleanup crews.

How long does fire restoration take?

It’s impossible to say for sure, as every home and every fire is different. A burnt appliance that has left some nasty smoke stains on the kitchen walls will naturally take a lot less time to deal with than a faulty electrical system that has caused an entire floor to burn down.  

Unless you’re a fire remediation professional yourself, it’s best that you contact a trusted restoration contractor and have them assess the damage. Once they have all the facts, they’ll be able to give you a time estimate for the restoration.

Where can I schedule the top fire damage restoration services in San Diego?

Whether you’re looking for experienced remediation technicians who can help you deal with the aftermath of a fire or flood, or need help with a plumbing emergency at your home in Lomita, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Risk Free Serv. 

We’re a fully certified restoration contractor in San Diego that specializes in dealing with fire, mold, smoke, and water damage. Furthermore, we’re fully equipped to assist you with your insurance claim and help you deal with your insurer. Give us a call and request your free inspection today.

Being forced to call in emergency plumbing is something most homeowners in San Diego dread, and it’s easy to see why. Plumbing malfunctions tend to be gross, hugely inconvenient, notoriously difficult to diagnose, and may stem from deeper issues that require costly and time-consuming repairs. 

Luckily for you, you can completely avoid most of these problems and keep your drains and faucets running perfectly all year long by performing regular maintenance and avoiding some common practices that can damage your plumbing system over time. 

We previously discussed some of the most frequently-encountered plumbing issues and explained when you should call in emergency plumbers. In this article, we’ll give you some plumbing maintenance advice that will help you prevent serious problems with your plumbing system. Keep reading to learn more. 

How to prevent plumbing problems?

It goes without saying that you should schedule a professional checkup of your plumbing system at least once every 2 years. Expert plumbers have performed thousands of these inspections and know exactly how to identify future problems and keep your pipes and sewerage system in good condition. 

Here are 4 things you can do to prevent plumbing malfunctions:

1. Get some drain screens

Metal or plastic drain screens cost very little and can easily be placed in the bathtub, kitchen, and shower sinks to keep hair, debris, food particles, and tiny items such as jewelry from getting inside the drain.

2. Use hose screens on your washing machine

Get some cheap hose screens and install them on the cold and hot water hoses on your washing machine. This will prevent sediment buildup from clogging the washing machine’s valves and pumps. Just remember to check the hose screens (and replace them if necessary) once or twice a year. 

3. Refrain from pouring cooking grease into the drain

Cooking grease hardens as it cools. Over time, it can clog a drain and lead to expensive repairs. Instead, pour it in an empty juice or milk carton and throw it in the trash.

4. Avoid flushing flushable wipes

Although flushable wipes are designed to break down in sewer water, this process can still take a long time. As a result, flushing a lot of wipes can clog your pipes and even your septic tank. A clog in your septic tank is especially dangerous because it can lead to serious pipe and tank damage over time. 

How do you keep old pipes from clogging?

A great way to keep old pipes in working condition and also do so in an eco-friendly manner is to give them a baking soda treatment once a month. You can do this by sprinkling about 1/4 cup of baking soda into the drains and following it up with some warm water. 

Afterward, add a cup of white vinegar and leave it overnight before flushing the drain using hot water. Doing this on a monthly basis will keep your drains in good condition without the need for toxic and costly drain opener chemicals. 

Where can I find a reliable emergency plumbing service in San Diego?

Are you currently dealing with a plumbing emergency that needs immediate attention? Or maybe you’ve recently had a fire at your property in East Village and you’re looking for skilled fire and smoke remediation and restoration experts? 

Whatever your plumbing, water, mold, smoke, and fire-related problems may be, you can’t go wrong by reaching out to Risk Free Serv. We’re a fully certified and insured company that offers its clients first-rate emergency plumbing repairs, free fire damage assessments, mold remediation and removal, and more. Get in touch with us today. 

Identifying and addressing an issue before it occurs is always better than having to deal with it after things have already gotten out of hand. This is especially the case when it comes to the plumbing in your home. 

After all, the last thing you want is to wake up in the middle of the night and have to call emergency plumbing in San Diego because a major pipe in your house has burst and is spraying water everywhere. 

In previous articles, we listed some common plumbing malfunctions and explained when an issue is serious enough to warrant calling emergency plumbers. Now we’ll help you prevent these unpleasant situations by listing the 4 silent signs of a faulty plumbing system. Read on. 

How do I check the plumbing in my house?

Many severe plumbing problems initially manifest as minor inconveniences that can be easy to ignore. Homeowners are strongly advised to pay close attention to these little issues and deal with them as soon as possible to prevent bigger (and costlier) malfunctions later on. 

Here are the top 4 signs of faulty plumbing you shouldn’t ignore:

1. Slow drain

This problem can either be caused by an easy-to-remove clog near the drain, or by a deeper issue located farther down the drain line. If a plunger fails to fix the problem after one or two tries, you should call in a plumbing service. 

2. Nasty smell

The plumbing system in your home is specifically designed to keep sewer gas from getting into your home. If you detect a sewer odor in your house, you may be dealing with a cracked vent line or a trap that has run dry. 

3. Discolored pipes

Take a look at the plumbing pipes in your basement. Are they discolored in any way, especially at places where two pipes join together? If the answer is yes, you may have a moisture problem on your hands. This can be caused by dripping from a drain or sink line, or even a leak in the supply line.

4. Slow water flow

Low water pressure or a slow stream is a sign of faulty distribution. If this only happens in one faucet, it’s typically an aerator problem that can be easily fixed. However, if the water pressure is lacking in multiple spots throughout your house, it’s likely caused by a problematic water main, a faulty water heater, or even a supply line leak.

How do you diagnose plumbing problems?

As you can tell from the above list, many serious plumbing issues can manifest as seemingly mild defects. Even something as insignificant as noticing that a part of your yard is significantly more green and lush than the areas around it may signify a sewer issue. 

Unfortunately, unless you’re a trained plumber yourself, you simply won’t be able to definitively diagnose (let alone fix) these deeper plumbing issues. 

For this reason, your best course of action is to have your plumbing system regularly checked by a reputable plumbing company and to call in emergency plumbers should you notice any telltale signs of a more severe problem. 

Who should I call when I need first-rate emergency plumbing in San Diego?

Have you recently encountered some problems with the plumbing system at your Morena property? Or perhaps you’re currently dealing with sewer backup, a burst pipe, or a similar issue that requires the immediate attention of an emergency plumbing service?

As the leading provider of water, smoke, mold, and fire restoration and remediation services in San Diego, Risk Free Serv has an extensive list of plumbers who we use on a daily basis to fully meet all your plumbing needs and more. Give us a call and request your free inspection and estimate today. 

Whether you’re looking to replace an old water heater or fix a leaky water line, it really pays to be familiar with the plumbing companies in San Diego to help with your emergency plumbing situation. 

However, being able to detect plumbing issues and have them fixed by regular plumbers is much better than relying on emergency services after the sewage is already backing up or a burst pipe is spraying water into your home. 

In an effort to help you save money and avoid nasty emergencies, we have outlined 7 common issues with home plumbing systems and provided some pointers on how to identify them. Keep reading to learn more. 

What are the most common plumbing problems?

Before we get into the list of issues, it’s important to point out that you should never attempt to fix plumbing issues on your own unless you have a background as a plumber and you’ve been trained in the most recent coding standards.

Simply put, these malfunctions aren’t something people can guess their way through. Trying to do so runs a considerable risk of making the problem worse. 

Here are 7 plumbing issues to look out for:

• No water. Clogged pipes, frozen plumbing lines, and water line leaks can all cut the water supply to your home. Since water leaks can damage the foundation of your house, you should call in a plumber to deal with them ASAP.
• Sewer smells. Clogged drainage pipes can result in your shower, toilet, or sink letting out an extremely unpleasant odor. This occurs as a result of blockages from materials such as grease, hair, or food, and typically happens as the sewer lines approach the end of their life.
• No hot water. This is a sign of excessive sediment buildup inside the water tank of your water heater. This problem can be solved by hiring a licensed plumber to perform a yearly water heater tune-up. 
• Overflowing toilet. Faulty flappers, clogged sewer or drainage pipes, or just flushing down too much toilet paper are some of the usual causes of overflowing toilets. If you can’t easily solve the issue with a plunger, call in the experts.
• Low water pressure often stems from cracked or otherwise damaged water lines. Another possibility is an aerator blockage. Diagnosing either of these problems requires specialized knowledge and equipment, so don’t hesitate to call in a plumbing service.
• Dripping faucets. Steady drips can stem from a variety of problems, including cracked pipes and pressure buildups. Since even a small drip (10 drops a minute) results in an additional 500 gallons of water being spent each year, it’s very much worth your while to have it fixed.
• Sweaty water heater. Condensation on or around the heater often signifies a slow, steady leak. These can come from cracks in the casing or piping, and can eventually lead to larger problems. Other things to look out for include rusty spots, corrosion, and a large pool of water in the drip pan.

Who should I call when I need dependable San Diego emergency plumbing?

Just as you wouldn’t hire an inexperienced auto mechanic to fix your car or replace your tires, you also shouldn’t cut corners when it comes to dealing with plumbing emergencies and keeping your plumbing system in good working order. 

At Risk Free Serv, we pride ourselves on providing the very finest water, mold, fire, and smoke remediation and restoration services in San Diego. In addition to being available 24/7, our emergency teams are also extremely fast: they will be at your place within an hour regardless of whether you live in Downtown San Diego or out in the suburbs. Contact us today.