It takes a lot of water to put out a fire. Therefore, homeowners may be shocked that the first stage of fire damage cleaning in Pittsburgh, PA, is to dry out the house. Professional fire restoration companies arrive with powerful vacuums to remove all excess moisture from floors, rugs, upholstery, and draperies. They also bring in large heaters to dry out textiles, wood, and drywall. This prevents the additional problem of dealing with a mold or mildew infestation.
Homeowners may also be surprised to learn that fire damage can continue to increase after the fire has been put out. The heat from a fire initiates chemical processes that continue to damage items. Experienced technicians can identify items that have been damaged beyond repair. These items are removed, so that they can focus on things that can be saved.
Fires produce soot, which is a very oily substance. It easily stains all forms of textiles. Professionals use heavy-duty vacuums to remove as much soot as possible from rugs and the other textiles found in the home. This equipment has special nozzles that pull the soot out. Homeowners may cause more damage if they attempt to do this with their own vacuum cleaners. Vacuum brushes may actually grind the soot down in the fibers. Vacuuming may not remove all of the soot. Professionals will know which cleaning solvents to use on each type of textile found in the home.
The smell of smoke that is left after a fire can be nauseating. Often everything in the home must be deodorized to make the home habitable. Fire Damage Cleaning in Pittsburgh, PA includes the use of solvents that loosen the molecular bonds between the fabric and the smoke. Depending upon the type of fabric and the extent of the fire damage, an ozone treatment might be necessary. In this case, all of the items will be placed in a sealed tent with an ozone generator. An experienced fire restoration professional can explain each of these steps to the homeowner. People who would like to know more about this process can find a lot of information on the Internet. Check out Metro-restoration.com to get started.
