Five Things You Shouldn't Do When Restoring A Home After A Fire
When your home has fire damage, the best option is to have it repaired by a fire damage restoration service. However, there are many homeowners who choose to perform their fire damage restoration on their own. This should only be done if the damage is small, as there are several mistakes you could easily make throughout the process.
1. Entering an Unsafe Home
Avoid entering your home until you have made sure that it is safe to enter, by a fire marshal. A fire can cause structural problems that can lead to your home collapsing, which can cause serious injuries.
2. Don't Enter Your Home Unprotected
Remember to wear protective gear when you enter the damaged property. You will want to wear a respirator so that you do not inhale the smoke or soot. It is also beneficial to place a plastic sheet or tarp over areas that were damaged by the fire. This also helps protect from soot stains from the ceiling.
3. Be Sure to Ventilate Your Home
Don't start cleaning the fire damage until you have opened all of the doors and windows. There will be toxic fumes in your home and you'll want enough ventilation so that it can be circulated out. Setup a fan that can run to help increase air circulation as well. Ventilation will also help you eliminate the odor more quickly.
4. Dispose of Belongings as Needed
One of your first jobs should be to remove property that is damaged beyond repair. For example, if a couch was burned to the extent where it cannot be used, dispose of it before cleaning the rest of your home. Any items you dispose of will eliminate potential sources of odor, which will help you with the deodorization process.
5. Examine All Your Clothes
Don't assume that you have to get rid of all your clothes. Some clothes can be saved by first giving your clothes a shake and then using the normal method that you use to wash your clothes. After you have washed and dried your clothes, you'll likely have a slight smoke smell left over that will decrease after each wash.
Fire damage is a difficult event to overcome. There are many parts of your home that you may struggle to get the odor out of. For that reason, you should consider consulting and hiring a fire damage restoration company like https://www.cleancareva.com.