How To Test Your Smoke Detector & Fire Alarm

12/7/2023 (Permalink)

If an event does occur, SERVPRO of Anoka and Forest Lake will be ready to help! We are available 24/7! Reach us at (651) 212 - 2333!

Important To Keep Family Safe

Testing smoke detectors and fire alarms is one of the most important items to help keep your family safe. They are meant to be early warning devices to alert your family of a fire or dangerous smoke. To ensure proper function, these items need to be tested periodically.

Why Do it?

Electronic devices can have batteries that die and other parts that the wear out overtime. By testing them periodically and replacing the batteries, it will help to ensure that your family will have those warning devices in place.

How Often?

U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), suggest that smoke detectors be tested at least once a month and batteries should be replaced at least once or twice a year.

Two Types of Smoke Detectors-

Battery-powered: This type can be susceptible to worn-out or defective batteries.

Hardwired: This type is powered by your home’s electrical system, but typically has back up batteries.

Tip Time: Change your batteries when you change your clocks for daylight savings time – when you spring forward and fall back!

How Do You Test It?

Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the proper method of testing your smoke detector and fire alarm.

Step 1: Alert family members and friends that you will be testing the alarm.

Step 2: Press and hold the test button on the smoke detector. You should hear a loud siren noise, this may take a few seconds. If it is weak or nonexistent, you should replace the batteries. Also, make sure that the smoke detector is clean.

All information and steps above are to help prevent matters from occurring, not a guarantee.

If an event does occur, SERVPRO of Anoka and Forest Lake will be ready to help! We are available 24/7! Reach us at (651) 212 - 2333!

Fire Damage Tips!

6/14/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO your fire damage experts

Fire damage is something not to take lightly. People call SERVPRO of Anoka and Forest Lake frequently to ask for advice on how to clean after a fire. Here are four of the best tips we give people who ask about fire damage restoration. 

Consider whether you want to try these ideas on your own or whether you would be better off hiring highly trained restoration specialists who will guarantee their work.

1. Remove Smoke Damage

With any fire you will have a degree of smoke damage to your walls, wallpaper and paint. If the smoke damage is not too serious, you should be able to scrub it clean with detergents and bleach. Soot from smoke damage is greasy, so always try to dust as much of it off from a surface before trying to scrub the surface clean. 

2. Get Rid of Mold & Mildew

When the fire is gone, mold and mildew enter into houses as a result of the water used to extinguish the fire. SERVPRO of Anoka and Forest Lake highly recommends you hire fire damage restoration professionals to deal with mold and mildew. It is difficult for a nonprofessional to know for certain if he has cleaned up all the areas affected by the mold and mildew. 

3. Replace Carpets. Clean And Dry Your Floors

The floors and carpets end up absorbing the worst of the damage from all the water used to put out a fire. Depending on the severity SERVPRO recommends that you pull up any carpets that have water damage and replace them.

Keep in mind that water can seep underneath vinyl flooring and into the cracks in hardwood. This needs to be addressed to prevent future issues.

4. Scrub, Soak & Cleaning Dishes

Dishes are also important items to clean thoroughly after a fire because they will be in contact with your food. Scrub all dishes, let them soak in a solution of bleach and water (2 tablespoons of bleach per gallon) for at least 20 minutes and scrub some more for safety. Some items may need to be thrown out.

Help Is Here

The team at SERVPRO of Anoka and Forest Lake has specialized training and experience in fire restoration services, natural disaster prevention, water damage, chemical cleanup and natural disaster cleanup.

SERVPRO of Anoka and Forest Lake is available for all fire damage needs! Call (651) 212-2333!

Interesting Fire Facts

12/12/2022 (Permalink)

Fire, water, or mold damage? Reach us 24/7 on (651) 212 - 2333!

Fire Damage Can Occur in 30 Seconds

Combustion or burning, in which substances combine chemically with oxygen from the air and typically give out bright light, heat, and smoke is known as a fire. Fires can occur in homes and outdoors, due to many causes.

Some interesting facts:

1. There is a house fire every ten seconds in the U.S.
2. Home fires can spread in as little as thirty seconds
3. Cooking is the leading cause of house fires
4. More than 15,000 fires a year are started by clothes dryers
5. 21% of fires are caused by arson

It is very important that if there is ever a fire GET OUT, STAY OUT, and CALL FOR HELP! 

Fires can cause severe damage; it is important to practice safe steps when preparing for a potential fire.

If you ever are presented with fire damage, call SERVPRO of Anoka and Forest Lake at (651) 212 - 2333. Our crew will be there in a timely manner to help!

Fire, water, or mold damage? Reach us 24/7 on (651) 212 - 2333!