Your Belongings and Fire Damage
Once a fire has been extinguished, and a water remediation is in process, it is important to begin addressing contents that have been exposed to fire, smoke, soot, and water. Everything is checked individually, and determined as to whether it is salvageable, or unsalvageable. Every object is inventoried, and if unsalvageable is recorded and readied for the Insurance Adjuster to examine for loss purposes.
Anything that is deemed salvageable is boxed up and brought to the SERVPRO Warehouse to be cleaned by the Contents Crew. Depending on the level of heat objects are exposed to during the fire will help determine if it is salvageable as the integrity can become compromised. When the SERVPRO Contents Crew comes across an object that has been compromised it too will be inventoried and placed separate from the salvageable contents.
SERVPRO of Richland County is a locally owned company that specializes in fire, water, mold, and storm damage restoration. We are Here to Help® and ready to respond to fire, smoke, and water conditions in our Richland County communities.
If You Have Questions or Need Help, Call Us Today – (803) 419-0470
Contents Restoration
SERVPRO of Richland County specializes in restoring contents damaged by water, fire, or mold. Our expertise and “restore” versus “replace” mentality can help you save money while preserving precious keepsakes that can’t be replaced. We pretest your belongings to determine what items we can restore to pre-fire condition. We use several methods of cleaning your contents, including:
- Dry Cleaning - Used for cleaning light residues or to pre-clean prior to wet cleaning.
- Wet Cleaning - An effective cleaning method for removing moderate to heavy residues.
- Spray and Wipe -Effective for items that can’t withstand wet cleaning.
- Foam Cleaning - Used for upholstery fabrics that might shrink or bleed if wet cleaned.
- Abrasive Cleaning - Involves agitation of the surface being cleaned.
- Immersion Cleaning - Contents are dipped into a bath of the cleaning product.
Move-Outs/Pack-Outs
If your home requires extensive restoration or cleaning due to fire damage, SERVPRO of Richland County can conduct an organized, efficient move-out of the affected area. Move-out will provide several benefits, including:
- A quicker remodeling process
- Protecting items from potential damage
- Protecting contents from further on-site damage
When restoration is completed, we will work with you to coordinate the move-in according to your needs. The services offered upon move-in may depend on your insurance coverage.
Electronic Cleanup
Fire-damaged electronics can present a serious hazard. Do not attempt to turn on or operate any electrical device that you suspect has been damaged by fire. Smoke residues can contain acids that corrode metal surfaces. If the residues are not removed, corrosion causes electronic failure in the device. We will coordinate the restoration of your electronics, including:
- Television sets
- DVD players
- Computers
- And more
The key to restoring electronics is taking prompt action to prevent further damage. Electronics will be cleaned and inspected by a qualified electronics technician.
Document / Photograph Drying
When your valuable documents, including photographs, are damaged by water or fire, extreme caution should be taken to help ensure the fire damage does not destroy the document. Although some documents may not be restored to pre-fire damage condition, SERVPRO of Richland County can save a great deal and help minimize additional damage.
Depending on the type of documents and the level of fire, smoke, or soot damage, they have five options for the restoration of documents:
- Air Drying
- Dehumidification
- Freezer Drying
- Vacuum Freeze Drying
- Vacuum Thermal Drying
Contents Claim Inventory Service
When a fire emergency strikes, the damage can often feel overwhelming. We can help ease the worry and confusion during the recovery process by offering our Contents Claim Inventory Service (CCIS), which provides a detailed and accurate list of your belongings. We take a room-by-room inventory of your contents, including digital photos, and in some instances, bar coding.
Our Contents Claim Inventory Service:
- Preloss list and value of contents
- Detailed and accurate report
- Better information to settle claims quicker
- Assistance with burden of proof for claims