Have Fire Damage? Here’s Why a Quick Response is Important
If your home or business in Columbus has recently had a fire, you need to act quickly. The sooner you take care of the soot and water damage, the better. Our team at Campbell Restoration offers fast response times in Columbus.
In this blog, we’ll explain all the reasons why a quick response is important after a fire. Along the way, we’ll also explain some of the ways we make your home liveable again. Let’s start by going over what can happen to your home’s structure if you delay fire damage restoration.
What Can Happen If You Delay Restoration After a Fire?
Your Home’s Structural Damage Can Get Worse
Fire weakens wood, concrete, and the other building blocks of your home or business. Support beams warp and walls crack. Without a fast response after a fire, these issues can get worse and lead to secondary damages. When you call our team after a fire, we’ll arrive within hours to inspect your building and stabilize its weakened areas. Temporary supports can make a big difference in preventing further damage.
Smoke and Soot Damage Can Become Permanent
Soot is everywhere after a fire. If it isn’t removed properly, it’ll leave deep stains. In addition to the soot, your drywall, carpets, furniture and upholstery will have smoke odors that are tough to get out if you don’t act quickly. At Campbell Restoration, we offer a Lifetime Smoke Odor-Free Guarantee. But the longer you wait, the harder it is to clean up soot and remove the smoke odors.
Firefighter Water Damages Your Home and Mold Takes Hold
The water firefighters use to put out your fire can cause a lot of damage if you delay professional restoration services. The water seeps into your drywall, insulation, and other parts of your home, weakening your structures and warping your floors. Plus, mold growth can start within 24 to 48 hours. When you call Campbell Restoration after a fire, we bring pumps to remove the water and industrial fans and dehumidifiers to dry everything out.
Cleanup Costs Get More Expensive
The longer you put off professional restoration services, the higher your cleanup costs will be. As we mentioned before, the longer soot and water sit, the more damage they inflict. With a fast response, we can clean damaged furniture and get smoke odors out. With a delayed response, that same furniture can become unsaveable. It’s usually cheaper to restore items rather than replace them.
Repairs Take Longer
In addition to your cleanup costs going up, the whole recovery process takes longer. If you let the damage spread, a quick cleanup becomes a full replacement project. The more repairs that are needed, the longer it will take to get back to normal. Dealing with insurance is also easier the faster you respond to fire damage.
Belongings Are Ruined
You would be surprised at some of the items we can salvage after a fire as long as you call us right away. We can save some of your favorite clothing, electronics, and even photos if we’re able to remove the soot quickly. But once too much time passes, these belongings will be gone forever.
You Can Get Sick
If you’ve had a fire in your home, you should always have your home inspected for health hazards as soon as possible. Leftover soot and mold particles can make you sick. Our team uses HEPA air scrubbers, dehumidifiers, and professional cleaning products to remove soot and mold, making your home liveable again.
Your Insurance Might Not Cover the Damage
Most insurance policies require you to report fire damage quickly. They might also require proof that prompt action was taken to limit further damage. If you wait too long, your insurance company might deny your claims. When you call our team for fire damage restoration, we log all the damage and take pictures of everything during our inspection. We’ll help you deal with your insurance company so you can focus on getting back to normal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fire Damage Response Times
Should I really call Campbell Restoration right after my fire is out?
Yes! Please call our team immediately. The sooner we start the restoration process, the more we’ll be able to recover. Waiting even a day or two gives soot and water the opportunity to do more damage. Faster and easier recoveries also result in lower cleanup costs for you.
Is it safe to keep living in my home after the fire?
No. Some people think it’s safe to keep living in their home after a fire if the structure is sound, but leftover soot and mold particles can harm your lungs and make you sick. It’s much safer to live somewhere else until a professional cleaning crew has inspected your home and made sure it’s safe. Our team uses professional cleaning equipment to remove soot and mold particles and make your home safe again.
What does your team’s process look like?
Our first step is to inspect your property for safety issues and document the damage. Then, we stabilize the weakened areas and board up broken windows. If necessary, we also tarp your roof to prevent further damage. Once all that is taken care of, we can start removing water, cleaning up all the soot, and planning other aspects of your restoration.
Will my insurance cover your services?
Most insurance policies cover fire damage restoration services as long as you report the damage early and can prove you took steps to prevent further damages. When you call Campbell Restoration, we take care of this step for you.
How long will my home’s restoration take?
It depends. If you’ve had a minor fire, the restoration process might only take a few weeks. If you’ve had a major fire or delayed scheduling restoration services, the process can take months. Rapid response helps minimize the time it takes to restore your home by preventing secondary damages.
Call Campbell Restoration Today
Professional Restoration Services in Columbus, Ohio
If you’ve recently had a fire in Columbus, Ohio, don’t wait to schedule restoration services. Delaying restoration services can lead to more extensive damages. When you call Campbell Restoration right after your fire is out, we’ll have a much better chance of saving your home and your belongings.
Call our team at Campbell Restoration today for 24/7 emergency services in Columbus. Our crew will get there as soon as we can to inspect your home and start your restoration.