PuroClean is a proud sponsor of the American Red Cross in the Kansas City area. Our PuroClean franchise will be hosting a blood drive in March! Stay alert for details.

The fire is out, and the smoke has cleared. The fire

department is gone, and the home owners are left with

a disaster on their hands.

The Policyholder should consider leaving the structure,

at least temporarily, especially if someone already

has a known respiratory concern (infants, seniors,

diabetics, asthmatics, etc.)

The next step is to get the professional

mitigation company involved immediately!  They will first

handle any dry out needs in the home and get the home

 Please read over these fire safety tips and remember to turn off all decorative lights (interior and exterior) before leaving your home or going to bed!  Keep you and your family safe over the holidays in Kansas City!

1.Use only lights rated for indoor use when using indoors.

2.Replace any lights with frayed or damaged cords.

3.Keep live trees moist by watering daily.  Dispose of tree when it begins dropping too many needles as dried out trees are very flammable.

 Secondary water damages occur after the initial water intrusion and initial damages.

The value of the initial and continual extraction of water until reaching a damp phase is encountered is crucial to reducing secondary damages. Using the correct water extraction equipment makes all the difference in drying carpet quickly and efficiently.

Tests were done to support the importance of correct water extraction using 100 square yards of flooded carpet:

When  water damage occurs in a home, not only are the floors affected, but often the walls are as well. Sometimes the damage is obvious, but in many cases it is hidden and may be missed by those not specifically trained in water damage restoration.

As water enters a room from the ground level it will begin wicking up the walls and while water damage can be visible, other times the wall does not show signs of moisture.

 Grease fires happen when collections of oil or grease on a stove, oven or fryer get hot enough to ignite.  You only have a few moments to either put out a grease fire or escape the house.

Safe ways to put out a Grease Fire:

Mold inspections in the Kansas City area can vary in cost dependent on the company you are using to do the inspections. We normally don't charge for a visual inspection. I have seen other companies charge anywhere from $75.00 to several hundred dollars, especially if you want a certified mold hygienst report done.

Mold testing in the Kansas City area can range in price from $150.00 to several hundred dollars depending on how many air samples or tape tests you want done in your home or business.

 The National Fire Prevention Association has

designated October as Fire Prevention Month.

October begins the “heating season”

when fires are more common than during the rest

of the year. The holiday season themselves are a

season of increased fire risk.  More residential fires

occur on Thanksgiving Day, than on any other single

day of the year - more than double the daily average!

General Fire Safety:

 1. Take time to get a flu vaccine.

• The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the

first and most important step in protecting against

flu viruses.

• While there are many different flu viruses, the

flu vaccine protects against the three viruses

that research suggests will be most common.

• Everyone six months of age and older should

get vaccinated against the flu as soon as

possible.

Unlike a typical fire that burns the structure and other contents, the typical kitchen "protein only" fire produce little visible smoke residue. The low level of heat reduces the animal fat and food protein to a fine mist that leaves a clear and almost invisible film.

Types of food that can cause protein fire odors: Eggs, meat, beans etc

The Instinctive Drowning Response – so named by
Francesco A. Pia, Ph.D., is what people do to avoid
actual or perceived suffocation in the water. And
it does not look like most people expect. There is
very little splashing, no waving, and no yelling or
calls for help of any kind. To get an idea of just how
quiet and non-dramatic from the surface drowning
can be, consider this: It is the number two cause of
accidental death in children, age 15 and under (just
behind vehicle accidents) – of the approximately
750 children who will drown next year, about 375

All over-the-ground flooding brings contaminants into the home from outside. These contaminants can cause damage to property and also present a serious health risk. According to the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), S500 Standard, all such flooding is classified as Category 3 damage. In Category 3 situations the IICRC recommends that all porous materials be removed and properly disposed of, because of the obvious damage, and the difficulty in sanitizing such materials.

Cooking/Kitchen Safety:
• Always stay in the kitchen when cooking. If you
must leave the kitchen for any reason, turn off the
stovetop.

• No matter how you are cooking, check the food
regularly. Use a timer to remind you to check the
food.

• Wear short, close-fitting sleeves when cooking.
Loose clothing can easily catch fire.

• Never use water to extinguish a cooking fire.

• If oil starts to boil, remove it from the heat
source. Simply lowering the heat will not reduce
the temperature fast enough.

• Be careful not to overfill pots with oil. You need

Dealing with the aftermath of a fire is difficult for a few reasons. If you are cleaning up after a home fire, it is both mentally and psychically tough. You are looking at what may be left of your home from the fire damage. In 2009, there were 377,000 residential fires in the United States, or 78% of the total number of structural fires, a residential fire occurred every 84 seconds, and $7,796,000,000 of property losses from fire damage occurred in residential properties, alone.

SMOKE ODOR REMOVAL

Removing smoke odor resulting from a fire can be a challenging task. Smoke — the result of incomplete combustion; is comprised of solid particles (soot) as well as oils and gases. Its odor comes from volatile molecules released when materials are burned and often linger well after the visible smoke is cleared.

Removing the Source

Many homes in the Kansas City area are
installing wood floors in place of carpet.
The success of the restoration process,
as a result of water damage, may
be dependent upon the following
circumstances:

1.Response time
2.Flooring type
3.Type of wood & type of finish
4.Method of installation
5.Amount of moisture, and the degree of damage

As in all water related incidents, time
is crucial. The longer the moisture remains
left untreated, the greater the potential for permanent damage.

That’s why it’s crucial to call a restoration professional

While many losses are covered, some situations are not. And a better “solution,” certainly, is to help your customers prevent water damage from occurring in the first place! Every insured person would rather that a few steps be taken to avoid ever having to go through the heartache (and wallet-ache) of experiencing water damage.

Let’s look at 4 of the most common problems related to water damage and learn more about water damage prevention. Hopefully, you can avoid the need for any water damage emergency services.

There is alot of misinformation out there regarding how to properly clean and remove mold in your home.  Kansas City, with it's high humidity is a place that is easy for mold to grow and flourish. No mold is good mold and it needs to be cleaned and removed properly or it will grow back in a short time and you will be stuck with the problem again!

Below are 5 myths that you need to be aware of regarding mold cleaning and removal:

Think you can paint over mold and make it go away? Think again...it will reappear in several months..cleaning and removing is the answer!
Beware of alot of misinformation out there regarding the cleaning and removal of mold...hire a professional to get accurate information!
Worried about what type of mold may be in your home? No worries cuz regardless of type...it needs to go!
Call us at PuroClean as we are experts in mold cleaning and removal...plus we always do free estimates!

In today’s business environment, many companies
look to increase revenue by adding new services. This
certainly holds true for companies that perform general
cleaning, remodeling, or handyman services. These
companies often appeal to homeowners or businesses to
perform disaster restoration services.

Disaster restoration, however, is much more
complicated than just removing normal soil. Home
remodeling firms who normally simply tear out and
replace damaged or outdated structure and fixtures are
overwhelmed when faced with water or smoke damaged

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Professional restoration specialists
are just that, specialists.
They concentrate on returning
both the dwelling and content to
pre-loss condition quickly and cost
effectively.
Professional restoration
companies must be
experts in cleaning all contaminated
contents and
structure. They must understand
how to deal with all
types of losses regardless of
how the damage occurred.
With many different types of
surfaces to clean, it takes a trained
and qualified restoration professional
to distinguish the cleaning
process that each of these surfaces

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Do NOT use Chlorine bleach to kill mold or disinfect moldy areas. It is not an effective or long lasting killer of mold and mold spores. Bleach is good only for changing the color of the mold and watering the roots of the mold.
CHLORINE BLEACH IS INEFFECTIVE IN KILLING MOLD FOR THESE REASONS:

All PuroClean providers are affiliated with the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) an independent organization instrumental in developing education programs and research regarding air quality, health and public safety. PuroClean adheres to the standard guidelines for mold remediation as illustrated in: - The NY City Health Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments - The EPA Guidelines for Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings

Freezing Weather and Water Damage
Property damage caused by freezing weather occurs more frequently and creates greater damage than is commonly thought. When water freezes, its volume increases by approximately eleven percent (11%), and this expansion exerts tremendous force. This force is sufficient to break concrete or even steel! When even a small amount of water enters a structure and freezes, the resulting expansion further damages and weakens the structure, allowing more water to enter. The damage cycle continues until the source problem (the initial entry point) is repaired.

*When decorating, be sure to check and only use lights that are rated for “indoor” use.
*Do not use any string of lights with worn, frayed, or broken cords.
*Always unplug Christmas tree lights before leaving or going to bed.
*Never use lit candles to decorate a tree, and make sure all lit candles are placed well away from tree branches.
*Keep live trees as moist as possible by giving them plenty of water daily.
*Do not purchase a tree that is dry or dropping needles.
*If purchasing an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled flame retardant.

Call PuroClean Disaster Response Services for any fire, water or mold loss whether it is large or small...

We have a Large Loss Catastrophy Team standing by!!!

We also specialize in small smoke and fire loss jobs. We are instrumental in helping people get their lives back in order as soon as possible!

General Fire Safety:

• Install smoke alarms and test them once a

month (pick a day, such as the first of each