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Archive for the Category ◊ Restoration ◊

No More Mold with Water Damage
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 | Author: PuroClean911

PuroClean Disaster Recovery Experts, a flood restoration company serving Thornton, Westminster, Broomfield, Commerce City, Denver and Colorado’s Front Range, recently advanced flood restoration technology into the 21st century. They purchased a new machine that completely re-thinks the way most companies dry flood water from homes and places of business. TES (Thermal Energy System) is a system that uses heat and air exchange far differently than conventional methods.

We live in a part of the country where our homes/businesses can be flooded by frozen/ruptured pipes or everyday accidents where pipes break and cause a flood situation. When faced with this problem, you should contact a restoration company to get he water out and dry your structure. The average restoration company will dry y our home/business in 3-6 days. This length of time can create prime conditions for mold to grow in your home. However, PuroClean Disaster Recovery Experts now dries your home/business in just 24-48 hours! They are using the new revolutionary drying system called TES (Thermal Energy System). PuroClean Disaster Recovery Experts is the only company in our market that uses TES, to dry their customers’ homes and get them back to their regular everyday life quickly, and with less rick of mold.

Mold and structure damage can occur when water is trapped in a building for long periods of time. The faster you dry the home, the less mold and structure damage you’ll have. Some restoration companies use other systems to heat up air in a building to reduce the drying time. What makes this new technology (TES) so different and exciting is that it applies heat directly to the water in the structure, not just the air. As a result, the heat (thermal energy) transfers energy to the water molecules trapped in the building material, thus exciting them and causing more of them to change from a liquid to a vapor. In school, you were taught that molecules in liquid form are constantly moving. The more you heat water, the faster the water molecules move. The faster they move, the faster the liquid changes to a vapor. It’s what’s known as escape velocity or, more commonly, evaporation. Once the water is hanging in the air in vapor form it can be blown out of the building and replaced with dry air.

What all this boils down to is that the time it takes to dry a building has now gone from a few days using conventional methods, to two days or less using TES. This of course depends on the size of the building and severity of the flood. It’s great news for anyone who suffered an ugly wake-up call from Old Mother Nature, e.g. floods and frozen pipes or something as minor as a pipe leaking behind a refridgerator (sometimes no so minor!). If the insurance coverage on your home or business is up to date, flood emergencies should be covered by it. You need to make it clear to your insurance agent or adjuster that, whatever company they hire, you want the technology and advantages of TES. TES will reduce the drying time and get your life back to normal fast. The technology is out there, and because of PuroClean Disaster Recovery Experts, it’s now available in our area.

TES is a break-through product made by Bridgepoint Systems, a Salt Lake City company that manufactures chemicals and equipment for cleaning and restoration professionals. If you have questions regarding TES, how it works, or about PuroClean Disaster Recovery Experts, please call us at 303-566-9600.


To watch an informative video on our TES system please click here

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Safety During the Holiday Season
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 | Author: admin

The Holiday Season is associated with family get-togethers, great family meals, and beautiful home decorations including lights, candles, and Christmas trees.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires, with Thanksgiving the peak day of the entire year. Nearly all cooking fires start with the ignition of food or cooking oil. Other items normally found in a kitchen help feed the fire – such as cabinets, paper, plastic, and curtains. In 2006, U.S. fire departments responded to 112,500 home structure fires. These fires caused nearly $7 billion in direct property damage. Cooking fires accounted for 40% of all reported home fires. Twelve percent of the fires occurred when something flammable was left too close to cooking equipment.
The CDC and the National Fire Protection Association recommend:
• Stay in the kitchen when cooking. If you must leave the kitchen for any reason, turn off the stovetop.
• If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly. Remain in the home while food is cooking, and 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 room in the pan to add food. Overflowing oil can easily catch fire.
• If oil catches fire, use an oven mitt to carefully slide a lid over the pan to smother the fire.
• If oil has overflowed and is burning, get everyone out of the house and call the fire department from outside.
• Keep towels, bags, plastic, and food packaging away from flame and heat.
• Never cook when under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication.
• Install smoke alarms if a home does not have them.
• Test smoke alarms monthly and replace batteries as needed.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, Christmas trees (both real and artificial) are the first items ignited in an estimated 300 reported home structure fires per year.
The U.S. Fire Administration offers the following fire safety tips for homeowners:
• When decorating, be sure to use only lights rated for indoor use.
• Replace any lights that have worn, frayed, or broken cords.
• Always unplug Christmas tree lights before leaving the home or going to bed.
• Keep live trees moist by watering daily. Do not purchase a tree that is dry.
• Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source.
• Safely dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles – dried out trees are highly flammable.
• Make sure artificial trees are fire retardant.
• Place the tree near an outlet to avoid running long extension cords.
• Do not burn a Christmas tree in a fireplace. They are practically explosive.
Candles around the home often invoke a warm holiday spirit, but they are a significant fire hazard – and a leading cause of residential fires! If you choose to set the mood with candles, use extreme caution.

The National Candle Association recommends:
• Always keep a burning candle within sight – never leave it unattended.
• Never burn a candle near anything that can catch fire.
• Always use a candleholder specifically designed for candles and place on a stable, heat-resistant surface.
• Make sure a candle is completely extinguished and is no longer glowing before leaving it.
• Never use a candle as a night light.
In the event a fire should occur, it is important for property owners to know what to do, what not to do, and who to contact once it is extinguished. PuroClean, known as The Paramedics of Property Damage™, is a professional mitigation company specializing in property remediation after a home or commercial structure is damaged by fire and smoke. Fire, along with the resulting smoke and soot, can rapidly harm household items – even after the fire has been extinguished. It is imperative to seek help immediately from a professional restoration company such as PuroClean to prevent further damage.
Regardless of the circumstances – dealing with fire/smoke damage, water damage, or mold remediation – call your local PuroClean office, The Paramedics of Property Damage™. For all property damage situations, these professionals are standing by. They will mitigate the loss to prevent further damage and will then provide restoration services to return the property to a pre-loss condition as quickly as possible. All PuroClean offices have well-trained professional technicians who provide the latest state-of-the-science services to all property damaged from water, fire, smoke, mold, and other disasters.
written by
Will Southcombe
Director of Technical Services, PuroClean Headquarters
Master of Arts,
Master of Business Management,
Water Restoration Technician,
Applied Structural Drying,
Certified Microbial Remediator
Copyright © 2003-2009. All rights reserved in all countries.
Reproduction of the material is prohibited without prior permission.

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Odor Control
Tuesday, September 08th, 2009 | Author: admin

There are few things more offensive than a foul smell that remains after a fire, water damage, or other catastrophe in the home. And there may be nothing worse than to have your home look beautiful after repairs have been completed, but still have the lingering odor of smoke, mildew, or worse.

PuroClean has the expertise to greatly reduce the possibility of lingering odors. With the proper equipment, products, and procedures, a PuroClean professional evaluates every situation and proposes – then implements – a “plan of attack” to eliminate such problems. The professional knows when and how to use masking agents, pairing agents, electronic deodorizers, cleaners, disinfectants, and sealants. He or she will also know when demolition and removal is the best option. Most deodorization jobs will require a combination of procedures to be completely effective.

Water damage frequently causes a musty odor to remain in the home. Improper or incomplete drying of structural or content items is usually the cause. Appropriate drying of the damaged area by a qualified Technician is of utmost importance. Water detection tools available to the professional help eliminate problems that might occur later on. In addition, daily monitoring and charting of the results during the restoration process further ensures that the structure and contents are completely dried.

Odors from fire damage tend to be more complicated. A PuroClean professional will determine a number of factors such as: the source of the contamination, the degree of heat involved, the time the materials were in the structure, the extent of the contamination, and the type of materials directly contaminated. The professional will form an action plan and then implement that plan to eliminate lingering odor problems.

ODOR CONTROL PROCEDURES

Masking agents or fragrances are usually part of every deodorization process. However, care must be taken when using masking agents because they are sometimes offensive to individuals.

Pairing agents, on the other hand, tend to be odor modifiers. One such deodorizing method is to emit a dry vapor into the atmosphere that absorbs the odor molecule and neutralizes the offensive odor.

Ozone is also an odor modifier. It is often called the only true deodorizer because it physically changes the chemical composition of the odor molecule. Ozone works well on a broad range of offensive odors, but its effectiveness depends on the length of time used. It sometimes takes days for it to work well. Whenever ozone is used, caution is warranted. People, pets, and plants should be evacuated during its use. Natural rubber components should be removed or protected. A PuroClean professional knows when to use these procedures and how to use them safely.


Cleaning agents are always an important aspect of deodorization. The first and most essential step in any deodorizing situation is to remove the source, which usually involves cleaning. Unfortunately, this is often ignored or minimized by non-professionals. Cleaning sometimes requires aggressive steps to remove the source of the odors. For example, the heat from a fire causes pores in certain materials to enlarge, allowing contaminants to enter the microscopic openings. Then, once cooled, the pores close trapping the contaminant. This holds in the odor and causes problems if not treated properly. The PuroClean professional, with appropriate training, can detect such problems and perform the correct cleaning procedures.

Where there is fire and heat, there is also pressurization. Increased pressure can force odor molecules into hidden or inaccessible areas, such as behind cabinets, behind baseboards, into walls through switch and socket covers, etc. Sometimes conditions need to be re-created for complete deodorization to take place. By increasing the vapor pressure of the deodorant, it will penetrate into hidden and inaccessible areas the same way the odor molecule traveled.

Completely eliminating odors may require the application of a heavily pigmented sealer to semi-porous building materials (such as wallboard, framing, sub-floor, etc.).

This will permanently seal the remaining odor in the material. In other cases, removing the affected material through demolition is the best option.

Deodorization can be a complex issue. A PuroClean restoration expert knows the basics of odor removal. Odor can and should be attacked very simply. First, eliminate the source. Second, clean the contaminated area. And third, if necessary, seal or remove the source that was exposed to the contamination. Nature eventually deodorizes virtually all odors. Unfortunately, it can take a long time on its own. A PuroClean restoration professional, however, can greatly speed up the process with the proper equipment, training, and expertise.

Regardless of the circumstances – dealing with odors or other aspects of water damage, fire/smoke damage, or mold remediation – call your local PuroClean office, The Paramedics of Property Damage™. For all property damage situations, these professionals are standing by. They will mitigate the loss to prevent further damage and will then provide restoration services to return the property to a pre-loss condition as quickly as possible. All PuroClean offices have well-trained professional Technicians who provide the latest state-of-the-science services to all property damaged from water, fire, smoke, mold, and other disasters.

written by

Will Southcombe

Director of Technical Services, PuroClean Headquarters

Master of Arts,

Master of Business Management,

Water Restoration Technician,

Applied Structural Drying,

Certified Microbial Remediator

Copyright © 2003-2009. All rights reserved in all countries.

Reproduction of the material is prohibited without prior permission.

Category: Restoration  | One Comment
Dirty Little Problem
Thursday, September 03rd, 2009 | Author: admin

The new owners of a home we’ve recently worked on found out that their home had a “dirty little problem” in the crawl-space of their new home. Apparently, the last occupants of the home (who’d been evicted) decided to play a dirty trick on the bank which foreclosed on their home. Instead of turning their dogs loose in the back yard to do their “business” the previous tenants put them in the crawl-space and let them make their “dirt” there. This created quite a problem for the new owners who now found that they had a home with a smelly problem.

Enter: PuroClean – The Paramedics of Property Damage™. We came in and removed the offending material, fogged the area with an enzyme which will eat the odiferous droppings and used an ozone treatment on top of that. In addition we encapsulated the crawl-space to cut out any remaining smell and keep that space free from moisture problems (which would have created mold problems) when the soil around the house gets wet this winter from snow.

To view our video of this project, please click here to watch our “Dirty Little Problem” video.

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Thornton, CO (Grassroots Newswire) 10 July 2009 — In response to growing health and safety concerns in communities nationwide regarding the spread of the H1N1 Flu, PuroClean Disaster Recovery Experts is reaching out to help educate the public regarding measures that can help prevent further contamination.

PuroClean Disaster Recovery Experts franchise owner Mark Wilson is part of the nation’s leading franchise specializing in emergency cleaning/restoration services for properties following water, fire, mold, biohazard, and other situations that can trigger an unhealthy environment. PuroClean offers a unique program called RapidDefense™ that utilizes proven processes and disinfectants registered by the Environmental Protection Agency, that eliminate the deadly H1N1 Flu virus in facilities that have been contaminated.

The H1N1 Flu is a highly contagious virus that has caused a recent outbreak of the disease across the United States and in other countries. The H1N1 Flu is spread in the same way as ’seasonal flu’: through sneezes and coughs, and, when someone touches items with the virus and then touches their mouth or nose, they can be infected. H1N1 Flu contamination requires thorough cleaning and sanitizing of surfaces, paying special attention to common-use areas and surfaces where cross-contamination is most likely to occur.

Wilson suggests the following tips to prevent the spread of the H1N1 Flu:

· Wash hands thoroughly and frequently with antibacterial soap and water throughout the day.
· Consider carrying a small container of an antimicrobial hand sanitizer for use when you cannot wash.
· Avoid contact with persons who may be infected, as much as possible.
· Contact professional service companies such as PuroClean to thoroughly sanitize public areas (bathrooms, locker rooms and gyms in schools, childcare centers, fitness facilities, etc.) with a powerful, proven disinfectant that kills the H1N1 Flu virus on contact.

Known nationwide as “The Paramedics of Property Damage™,” PuroClean serves a role as a rescuer in the Colorado’s Front Range community - built on reliability, responsiveness, and compassion. In addition to responding to major disasters such as fires and floods, PuroClean helps local residents cope with common, everyday property losses, such as burst pipes, oven fires, and washing machine overflows.

About PuroClean
PuroClean is a leader in property damage mitigation and has earned the trust of property owners, insurance professionals, and home service providers throughout the United States and Canada since 2001. Backed by a comprehensive network of over 160 franchise offices and a national training and business support center, each PuroClean office responds promptly to property emergencies demonstrating a high degree of professionalism and compassion. PuroClean technicians are thoroughly screened, insured and trained in utilizing the latest in mitigation technology and procedures throughout the remediation process while operating under a strict code of ethics. In addition to serving the needs of property owners, PuroClean offers hundreds of continuing education classes each year to insurance professionals and property service providers nationwide. For more information on PuroClean, please contact Mark Wilson at 303-566-9600 or visit www.PuroCleanDisasterRecovery.com.

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By Will Southcomb

The Risk: Recent news stories have contained many references to a very serious outbreak of H1N1 Flu in many states and in other countries. As of this writing there are nearly 100 confirmed cases across the US. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that some cases of H1N1 Flu will be potentially life-threatening. “I fully expect that we will see deaths from this infection,” said Richard Besser, MD, acting director of the CDC. “Even ordinary seasonal flu causes about 36,000 deaths each year in the United States” said Dr. Besser. In this special edition of the PuroClean® 411, we provide useful information regarding H1N1 Flu, and how to protect yourself and your loved ones from infection.

How is H1N1 Flu Spread? The CDC states that H1N1 Flu is commonly spread through the coughing or sneezing of infected people projecting virus-infused droplets. Transmission occurs when someone comes in contact with something with the virus on it and then touches their own nose or mouth. H1N1 Flu cannot be spread by eating pork products, since the virus is not transmitted through food.

What are the Symptoms? The CDC reports that the symptoms of H1N1 Flu transmitted from human to human are much like that of seasonal flu. Common symptoms include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing, while runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea have also been reported. H1N1 Flu in humans is most contagious during the first five days of the illness although some people, most commonly children, can remain contagious for up to ten days. Anyone with flu-like symptoms such as a sudden fever, cough or muscle aches should stay away from work or public transportation and should see a doctor to be tested.

How can H1N1 Flu Be Prevented?:
•    Wash your hands frequently – and keep your hands away from your face – a surprisingly effective way to prevent all sorts of diseases, including ordinary influenza and the H1N1 Flu virus.
•    Use antimicrobial hand gels to reduce the spread of viruses, as well as covering your nose and mouth when you cough (with an arm or elbow, not your hand).
•    Avoid other people who might be infected, and avoid unnecessary public places.

•    Stay home when you are sick.

Are Face Masks Effective? Face masks are generally loose fitting and protect the wearer’s mouth and nose from splashes or “sprays.” They also help people avoid touching their nose or mouth. They are not created to protect the wearer from breathing in very small particles. Respirators are snug or tight-fitting and help block breathing in small particles. If used correctly, masks and – more likely – respirators may indeed reduce the risk of getting influenza, according to information released from the CDC. But for people who live in areas with confirmed cases, there is no single action that will provide complete protection. It simply isn’t practical to wear a mask all the time, and they are not 100% foolproof. Face masks and respirators are most useful for people who are in crowded settings, such as classrooms or airplanes, where they will protect the mouth and nose from germs and reduce the likelihood of coughing or sneezing on other people. Wearing a mask might make you feel a little foolish at first, but others will catch on.

Call the Professionals: If H1N1 Flu is confirmed at a location, or if you want to reduce the likelihood of occurrence, it is important to call a professional Emergency Service Company like PuroClean®. Through PuroClean Rapid Defense®, trained professionals from PuroClean will assess the situation and will outline the best approach for each location. They will then clean and sanitize all surfaces and materials using EPA-registered disinfectants with residual benefits for up to three months! If H1N1 Flu has been identified or if you want to be sure the facility is as safe as it can be, then call PuroClean. They will be glad to provide a free evaluation

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Water (Flood) Damage Tips
Sunday, June 28th, 2009 | Author: admin

According to the Insurance Information Institute, water damage related incidents resulting from leaks and other “wet” mishaps are the No. 1 reason homeowners file claims with their insurance companies. Property owners can actually minimize damage and significantly reduce safety risks by following expert advice from PuroClean Disaster Recovery Experts. As the “Paramedics of Property Damage,” PuroClean arrives at the scene of a loss and takes the necessary steps to bring the situation under control, preventing it from becoming worse, and finally providing restoration services to help put the property back to pre-loss condition.
“No one thinks that a water damage crisis could ever happen to them, but the unfortunate truth is that every American is impacted by water damage at some point in their life,” said Mark Wilson, owner of PuroClean Disaster Recovery Experts.
To help minimize loss, and prevent further damage while technicians are en route, Wilson suggests property owners follow these guidelines:
-  Remove as much water as possible by mopping and blotting the saturated area.
-  Wipe furniture to remove excess water
-  Place Aluminum foil between furniture legs and wet carpet.
-  Prop up wet furniture cushions for even drying
-  Lift drapes off flooring, loop through a coat hanger and hang on curtain rod
-  Remove wet area rugs
-  Turn on air conditioner if damage occurs in summer
-  Move valuable paintings, art objects and photos to a safe, dry place
-  Open closet doors, furniture drawers and luggage to aid in drying
-  Remove any wet fabrics and dry immediately.
-  Hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature
-  Stay out of any rooms where the ceiling is sagging from trapped water
-  Turn off the breaker before unplugging appliances
Do Not
-  Use your household vacuum to remove the excess water
-  Use electrical appliances while standing on wet flooring or carpets
-  Enter a room where electrical cords are in water
-  Wait to call for professional help. The longer you wait, the more damage will occur
Services provided by PuroClean include water damage restoration, odor control, fire and smoke restoration, sewage clean-ups, debris removal, water extraction, sanitization, crawl space drying, trauma restoration, emergency board-ups, structural drying, disinfecting, mold removal and basement drying. Backed by a comprehensive network of over 160 franchise offices and a national training and business support center, each PuroClean office responds promptly to property emergencies demonstrating a high degree of professionalism and compassion.  PuroClean technicians are thoroughly screened, insured and trained in utilizing the latest in mitigation technology and procedures throughout the remediation process while operating under a strict code of ethics.  For more information on PuroClean, please contact Mark Wilson at 303-566-9600 or visit www.PuroCleanDisasterRecovery.com

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Enhanced Company Brand Highlights Caring Side of Business: The ’Rescuers’ Who Help Property Owners During Traumatic Times

Thornton, CO (Grassroots Newswire) 5 Jun 09 — PuroClean Disaster Recovery Experts, a locally-owned and operated provider of emergency restoration and remediation services, recently introduced enhancements to its brand highlighting the “compassionate” side of property damage cleanup — the important “rescuer” role that PuroClean fulfills in communities by providing comfort and support for property owners during stressful and vulnerable times.

“Property owners and insurance agents often view our emergency service technicians like emergency service professionals or firefighters, because we play an important role in protecting communities 24 hours a day. The rescue services we offer have earned us a reputation as The Paramedics of Property Damage,” said Mark Wilson, owner of PuroClean Disaster Recovery Experts, serving Colorado’s Front Range. “When we are called to the scene of a property disaster such as the aftermath of a fire, or a home that has been flooded, we’re dealing with more than just damaged property.  People’s lives are shaken up, some more severely than others. While our services focus on restoring property, our mission focuses on offering comfort and peace of mind as we share our customer’s traumatic experience.”

The enhanced PuroClean brand evolved through strategic planning involving PuroSystems, the company’s national franchise support center, and a network of franchisees from around the country. The new brand position focuses on helping both insurers and property owners understand the important “rescue” role that PuroClean plays in the community by highlighting reliability, responsiveness, professional restoration services, and compassion offered during the most vulnerable and critical moments for property owners.

“PuroClean has always been known for doing whatever it takes to ensure customer satisfaction and help relieve their stress,” Wilson said. “Our newly enhanced brand image and message reflects those qualities consistently throughout the communities we serve.”

The new branding was rolled out at the PuroSystems annual convention, a gathering of more than 200 PuroClean business owners and team members held August 19-22 in Nashville, TN.  The new PuroClean logo, one of the more visual enhancements, was introduced to better convey the caring side of the business.  While PuroClean’s previous logo featured a lightening bolt and rising water, implying a service focus limited to weather-related property damage, the new logo features a house and a safety cross –signifying the property rescue element that PuroClean provides in helping property owners cope with more common, every day property losses, such as burst pipes, kitchen appliance fires and over-flowing washing machines. The rescue symbol over the home signifies how PuroClean watches over Colorado’s Front Range-area homes, as well as the loved ones and sentimental possessions inside of it. The new logo will be featured on all marketing materials, as well as uniforms and newly decaled PuroClean property rescue vans.

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