Do I Need Fire Insurance for My Building?

10/6/2022 (Permalink)

Do I Need Fire Insurance for My Building?

You're a business owner, so you've got a lot to think about. You have employees, inventory, and investments at stake. When it comes to fire insurance, you might be tempted to think that it's outside of your scope of responsibility. However, if your building catches on fire and you haven't taken out the necessary insurance policies, you could suffer significant losses that put your business in jeopardy—and even put people at risk.

What's the cost of not having fire insurance?

The cost of not having fire insurance is simply the price of a policy, which can vary somewhat in cost per year between different companies and policies. However, there are additional costs associated with not having a policy in place. Fire restoration is extremely expensive and can cost tens of thousands of dollars depending on the extent of damage and how much time has passed since it occurred. Smoke cleanup services can also cost thousands.

Some people consider their home as an investment and don't want to risk losing money in case something happens to it. If you're thinking about buying a house or condo but aren't sure if you should get fire insurance first, consider these questions:

Stay Protected With Fire Insurance.

Fire insurance is important for protecting your building, investments, and reputation. It can help with the cost of fire damage, smoke cleanup and smoke damage.

If you own a building that’s rented to tenants or used as a commercial space, there are many reasons why you should get some fire insurance. For example:

• Your business could be damaged by fire and no longer able to operate if something goes wrong.
• You may have lost rental income while the property was being fixed after a fire broke out in one of your buildings that was not insured against damages caused by such events - which is why it's important that all structures be covered properly before anything happens so an insurer doesn't try charging excessive premiums due to risk factors not being considered beforehand!

Quick cleanup and restoration.

The quicker you can get your business up and running, the better. A fire cleanup company can be there to help with:

• Removing smoke, soot, and other residues
• Disinfecting surfaces that were exposed to smoke or water
• Cleaning up debris or rubble left behind by firefighters and/or workers on site

If you don't have a professional restoration company on board after a fire, these tasks will fall onto your shoulders—and that's not something anyone wants to deal with in addition to all the other challenges they're facing after such a traumatic event.

Fire insurance is important to protect your building, investments, and reputation.

Fire insurance protects you from financial loss if your building or property is damaged by fire.

It will also give you peace of mind while allowing you to get back on your feet quickly with a clean slate after the damage has been repaired and cleaned up. As an added bonus, some policies may provide coverage for the cost of moving supplies and equipment into another location if yours must be demolished after a fire has destroyed it.

Conclusion

Fire insurance is an important part of protecting your building and investments. If you don't have it, then you're putting yourself at risk for losing everything in the event of a fire. It's worth looking into because even if there aren't any fires in your area right now, it doesn't mean they won't happen tomorrow!

5 Things Commercials Owners Should Do Right After a Fire

8/22/2022 (Permalink)

Five Things To Do After A Fire

Fire restoration is a multi-step process, demanding patience and hard work. Commercial owners may want to dive in, cleaning off the soot from walls and tables. This method isn't recommended because the situation is more complex. Proprietors, though, do have a significant role in fixing the facility. The following are five useful things owners can do after a fire.

1. Report the Fire

If you hold a fire insurance policy, file a claim with your insurer immediately. If anyone else leases or owns the building, work with these people as well. The mortgage company, for instance, may be able to work with you on your monthly payments. These agents, however, cannot help if they are unaware.

2. Secure the Area

Above all, do not touch anything on your own as several structural and electrical hazards may exist. It's best to permit a fire restoration company in Dublin, CA, to enter the premises and begin to mitigate potential secondary concerns.
Experts should safeguard the property. Openings should be closed up, preventing unwanted people and animals from entering. Board up exposed windows and doors. Cover the roof with tarps.

3. Approve Remediation Assessment

Water and smoke cleaning are often both necessary to restore the affected rooms. Allow for professionals to complete a thorough inspection of damages and put together a methodical cleanup plan. Send this report to your insurer for approval.

4. Take Pictures

Once the fire department and the restoration team allow re-entry, walkthrough, snapping images of anything destroyed. Gather visuals of the ash and char: document merchandise or equipment destruction.

5. Create an Inventory List

Many policies include property loss compensation. Look through your visuals and then write out the name of each thing. Also, note how much it cost and how you need to replace it.
It's hard to wait, but the process to handle fire cleanup isn't easy or quick. 

Fire restoration professionals require time to care for the building appropriately. Owners can help out by working well with paperwork and insurance communication and leaving the physical cleaning to the experts.

How To Clean Up Water Damage After a Fire

7/20/2022 (Permalink)

If you suffer from fire damage call SERVPRO of Pleasanton/Dublin

Cleaning Up Water Damage After a Fire

If a fire affects your Pleasanton, CA, home, you are likely to have more problems than fire damage. Unfortunately, damage from the fire itself often co-occurs with damage from water.

How Fires Lead To Water Damage

Firefighters have many tools for extinguishing fires, but the fire hose is one of the most effective. These hoses can release several hundred gallons of water per minute, and this water, along with smoke damage, is the homeowner’s responsibility.

Although a sprinkler system is likely to minimize fire damage and use much less water than the fire department, homeowners are still left with a wet mess afterward.

Water Damage Restoration Process
Standing water, no matter the cause, can lead to other problems, including:

• Structural damage
• Bacterial contamination
• Mold growth

Due to these potential problems, it is important to begin drying the property as soon as possible. You can enter the property after the fire department says it is safe to do so. The first step in the restoration process is to dry out the home. There are many tools that can be used for this purpose, including shop vacuums, dehumidifiers and fans.

You can rent these items yourself. Be mindful of the electrical hazards posed by running equipment in wet areas. If you hire a professional restoration company to do the work for you, they will use their commercial-strength tools. Depending on how long the water was present, it may be necessary to sanitize affected surfaces and remove any mold growth. After everything is clean and dry, repair what can be salvaged and replace what cannot.

Unfortunately, fire damage is not the only issue homeowners face after a fire. Water from the extinguishing efforts also causes damage and can lead to mold growth. Fortunately, acting quickly minimizes damage from both the fire and water.

Pass Your Puffback Problems to the Pros

5/21/2022 (Permalink)

While no one wants to experience puffback you’re not alone if you have a problem. Call SERVPRO for more information!

Send Your Puffback Issues To The Experts

Puffback damage occurs when an oil furnace or heating system doesn’t ignite properly. Smoke and soot “puff back”, ending up in the air and over items in connected rooms. This leaves oily and grimy residue on items that need to be cleaned. If you should experience this problem for your property in Dublin, CA, you should notify the fire department as there may be fires due to an explosion. You should evacuate the building until you get word that it’s safe to return to the building.

Considerations for Cleanup of Puffback Damage

It’s important to hire a commercial restoration services provider for cleanup for the following reasons:

• Smoke and soot removal cannot be accomplished by DIY cleaning methods or janitorial services. Traditional cleaning approaches may worsen the damage to items in the building, leading to permanent damage.
  
  
• Furnace puffback can spread over large areas, leaving dirty in hard-to-reach places. Special equipment and techniques are necessary to prevent soot and odors from being embedded in interior surfaces.
  
  
• You cannot paint over oily residue.
• Some interior surfaces, such as glass and metal, may corrode or deteriorate if exposed to smoke and soot longer than a certain amount of time.
  
  
• Additionally, the pros bring the knowledge, wisdom, and tools to bring your property back to pre-puffback conditions as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

Other Things To Know

If you need to file a claim, your insurer will prefer to work with professionals when it comes to restoration. A puffback problem is a sign that your furnace is in need of repair. Call a certified technician to evaluate your system and make repairs. Regular maintenance and checkups in advance can also help you avoid heating system issues that lead to puffback damage in the first place.

While no one wants to experience puffback you’re not alone if you have a problem. In the event of a problem, notify emergency authorities, a certified technician, and a restoration services company to deal with the aftermath. It’s strongly recommended that you pass your puffback problems to the pros!

3 Main Components of a Commercial Sprinkler System

5/16/2022 (Permalink)

The Three Major Components of a Commercial Sprinkler System

When it comes to fire prevention for a commercial building, few devices have more potential impact than a fire sprinkler system. Fire alarms and fire extinguishers also provide solid results, but only sprinklers have the ability to stop an incipient fire at all hours of the day and night. While the installation and maintenance of these systems are complex and technical, the main components can be distilled down to three essential components.

1. Piping

The installation begins with placing a network of piping in the critical areas of a facility. This carries water to where it might be needed should a fire break out. This is in the case of a wet fire system, which uses water for fire suppression. Some contractors use a dry system, which carries compressed air or different substances such as foam through pipes. The piping also includes secondary components such as an alarm valve and a stop valve.

2. Fire Sprinkler Heads

This is where the water (or other substance) emerges from the piping. They are designed to activate when they sense heat at a certain triggering temperature. They have many features that make them safe and ensure that they will not prematurely activate.

A fire sprinkler cleanup becomes necessary after the sprinkler heads activate. A local fire mitigation team in Pleasanton, CA, will come out to clean up the water damage caused by the release of liquid or other substances. This typically entails water removal and drying by trained technicians.

3. Alarm System

When the sprinkler heads release water, an alarm system will activate to notify anyone in the building. The alarm will usually be a combination of loud noises and flashing lights.

A fire sprinkler system is made up of several critical components. When these operate correctly, they provide strong protection in the case of a fire.

How Do Experts Fix Storm Damage?

2/14/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is prepared to handle large loss disasters, such as hurricanes or tornadoes. Call us when you need it!

How Do Professionals Repair Storm Damage?

A severe storm can damage the exterior and interior of a commercial building in Dublin, CA. Mitigation and restoration specialists should recommend the best approach for addressing damage. Mitigation experts will extract standing water and tear out damage before cleaning and disinfecting the area. Restoration professionals will then replace damaged materials and complete the job. Learn more about the stages of storm restoration.

Exterior and Interior Damage

Depending on which portion of the exterior of a structure has sustained damage, a building owner may require the services of a contractor or roofer. A restoration company can be helpful if one or more of the following forms of damage are present:

• Broken windows
  
• Damaged or blown open doors
  
• Roof leaks

A commercial mitigation and restoration company can determine the extent of damage and provide a complete cleanup and rebuilding plan and estimate. It is important to address water damage as quickly as possible to prevent mold.

Interior Damage Mitigation

A restoration company will start by removing standing water. Water from a flood or leak is considered Category Three, which is highly contaminated. Several measures may be necessary to mitigate damage:

• Extract water with a pump or wet vac
  
• Tear out damaged building materials
  
• Clean and disinfect the affected area

Porous materials such as ceilings, drywall or insulation may need to be torn out. These materials are difficult to dry completely and may pose an increased mold risk.

Complete Restoration

Once the cause of damage has been repaired and the effects have been mitigated, restoration professionals can complete the job. It is necessary to wait until the affected area is dry before rebuilding.

Mitigation and restoration are necessary to fix storm damage that affects the interior of a commercial building in Dublin, CA. Building owners should rely on trained professionals to remove water, tear out damaged materials and finish the restoration process.