Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to your questions about fire, water, and mold restoration

FIRE RESTORATION FAQ's

Q: What should I do after a fire?

After you and your family have reached safety and received any necessary medical treatment, contact a reputable restoration service to assess damages, secure your property, and begin restoring your home. It is important to contact a restoration company as soon as possible because beyond damage and toxins from fire, heat, smoke and soot, the large amounts of water used to extinguish the fire can cause additional damage and possible mold growth. If necessary, a restoration company will also board up your home for security purposes. Take as many photos of damage as possible and remember to record information and save contracts, receipts, and other important information. Phoenix Restoration is available 24/7 for fire restoration.

Q: What is the process of fire and smoke restoration?
  • Phoenix Restoration will first diagnose the damage, creating a detailed property recovery plan.
  • If necessary, we will secure your property by boarding up missing windows and walls and placing tarps on damaged roofs.
  • If there is water damage, we will remove the water and use dehumidifiers and air movers until the structure and contents are completely dry.
  • Phoenix Restoration will remove damaged belongings and structural components and use state-of-the-art equipment to clean and sanitize surfaces and remove odors. With precise attention to detail, we will hand-clean restorable belongings, wash and steam-clean fabric and rugs, and use powerful ultrasonic cleaning tanks to restore damaged jewelry, tools, and other items.
  • Belongings can be stored in our climate-controlled warehouses until you are ready to have them returned.
  • Phoenix will communicate with your insurance company on the claim and payment and keep you informed during the entire process.
  • Whether it is a home or business, Phoenix Restoration will restore it to its original state, guaranteeing the work is performed correctly, according to the latest training and industry standards. From the initial inspection, through the cleanup and structural repairs – Phoenix Restoration will provide customized and cost-effective solutions to repair any home or business.
Q: How do I secure my property after a fire?

The Phoenix Restoration team will help you protect your property from further damage or theft by boarding-up damaged openings, including windows, doors, and walls, and tarping damaged areas of your roof.

Q: Can I stay in my home during fire and smoke restoration?

Whether you can stay in your home during the restoration process depends on a number of factors. Smoke, soot, mold and mildew are toxic and can damage you and your family’s health, so unless you are able to live in an undamaged, confined area of the house, it’s best to reside elsewhere. Also, you may not have access to water, power and gas during the restoration process as it’s typically required that all utilities be turned off.

Q: What will happen with my valuable or sentimental items?

We will work with you to establish what belongings can be restored to pre-fire conditions and what items you consider valuable or sentimental. We are careful to treat all of your property with respect and will work diligently to restore any valuable or sentimental items.

Q: Can the water used to put out the fire damage my home?

Yes. The large amount of water used to extinguish the fire can cause further damage to the home’s structure and contents and result in mold growth. It’s important to remove water as soon as possible.

WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION FAQ's

Q: What should I do if I find flooding or water damage?

Water damage in your home can be a result of leaking or broken pipes, blocked drains, a leaking water heater, flooding, severe weather, fire damage and other causes. It’s important to quickly remove the water and completely dry affected areas to prevent “secondary damage” from water soaking into structural materials, spreading, and causing mold growth. As soon as possible, contact a reputable restoration company to assess the damage, extract the water, and begin restoring your home. With 24/7 availability and state of the art equipment, Phoenix Restoration will pinpoint the water damage to reduce repair costs, ensure an accurate diagnosis of the damage, and completely dry the area. Take as many photos of the damage as possible and remember to record information and save contracts, receipts, and other important information.

Q: Should I try to clean up the water / dry it myself?

If water has flooded a large area of your home, you can try to remove as much water as possible, but if the area is not thoroughly inspected for moisture and completely dried, you run the risk of “secondary damage.” Secondary damage includes mold growth where water has seeped into your flooring and behind walls and is usually more expensive and inconvenient to correct than doing it right the first time. Phoenix Restoration relies on the latest moisture detection equipment, including infrared cameras, to identify all moisture points. Caring for a water damage is not about ‘drying the carpet’. Structural drying involves finding all the moisture, preventing secondary damage including mold, protecting sub floors, wall cavities and air handling systems. Sewage water in your home can pose a serious health risk, so Phoenix Restoration recommends not touching it yourself and calling a reputable restoration company.

Q: What is the water damage restoration process?
  • Phoenix Restoration is available 24/7 for water damage restoration and can quickly respond to an emergency.
  • Our technicians will inspect the damaged areas and use the latest moisture detection equipment, including infrared cameras, to pinpoint all areas of damage and develop a precise plan for restoration.
  • We will extract all water, remove and dispose of irreparably damaged materials, and place powerful dehumidifiers, air movers, and other necessary equipment to thoroughly dry the area.
  • The drying process could take a matter of days or longer, so our technicians will frequently monitor the area to establish when it is completely dry and stop secondary damage.
  • We will treat affected areas with an antimicrobial spray to hinder mold growth and kill bacteria, viruses and germs.
  • Phoenix will communicate with your insurance company on the claim and payment and keep you informed during the entire process.
  • Whether it is a home or business, Phoenix Restoration will restore it to its original state, guaranteeing the work is performed correctly, according to the latest training and industry standards. From the initial inspection, through the cleanup and structural repairs – Phoenix Restoration will provide customized and cost-effective solutions to repair any home or business.
Q: Are there different types of water damage?

When performing water damage restoration, we identify what type of water is present and that can inform how we will proceed with our restoration efforts. There are three different types of water:

  • Clean water: A broken pipe, overflowing sink or tub, or water line back-up won’t pose a serious health risk to you or your family but can still damage flooring, structural materials and other contents.
  • Grey water: Water from an overflowing toilet, washing machine, or sump pump failure can contain chemicals and bacteria that pose more of a risk to humans and animals and could cause more damage in the future if the area isn’t properly dried and disinfected.
  • Black water: Damage from sewage, flood waters, and ground water can contain bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants that can pose serious health risks to humans and animals. It’s imperative to completely extract all water, remove and dispose of contaminated material, and thoroughly disinfect all affected areas.
  • Changing water: Depending on conditions, water can become more contaminated and progress to a type that poses more health risks.

MOLD REMEDIATION FAQ's

Q: What is mold?

Mold is a type of fungus that consists of small organisms found almost everywhere. They can be black, white, orange, green, or purple. Outdoors, molds play an important role in nature, breaking down dead leaves, plants, and trees. Molds thrive on moisture and reproduce by means of tiny, lightweight spores that travel through the air. You’re exposed to mold every day.

In small amounts, mold spores are usually harmless, but when they land on a damp spot in your home, they can start to grow. When mold is growing on a surface, spores can be released into the air where they can be easily inhaled and potentially cause health problems. – WebMD

Q: What are the signs of mold in my home?
  • Mold requires moisture to grow, so it will most often be found in places in your home where water is present – bathrooms, damp basements, and kitchens – but it will also show up in any damp areas in your home. High humidity, water leaks, and flooding will result in mold growth. Sight and smell are the most common ways to detect mold in your home. A musty, stale odor can signal mold, along with varying colors of patchy stains on materials in your home ranging from fuzzy to slimy to powdery.Stachybotrys Chartarum, often called “Black Mold,” is one of several species of mold that produces a toxic byproduct called mycotoxins, which can cause health issues in humans and pets, particularly infants and those with asthma or other health conditions.
Q: What impact will mold have on me and my family?
  • If you can see or smell mold, a health risk may be present.  Color is not an indication of how dangerous a mold may be.  Any mold should be removed and the moisture source that helped it grow should be removed. Since the effect of mold on people can vary greatly, either because of the amount or type of mold, you cannot rely on sampling and culturing to know your health risk.In 2004 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people; with asthma symptoms in people with asthma; and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition.Other recent studies have suggested a potential link of early mold exposure to development of asthma in some children, particularly among children who may be genetically susceptible to asthma development, and that selected interventions that improve housing conditions can reduce morbidity from asthma and respiratory allergies. – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Q: What is the process of mold remediation?
  • At Phoenix Restoration, we have Certified Microbial Remediation Supervisors who are fully educated in microbial contamination and the most effective ways to remediate it.
  • Our technicians will identify all the areas where mold is growing and safely remove and dispose of materials that have been damaged by mold growth.
  • Remaining areas will receive anti-microbial treatment to kill existing mold and prevent regrowth.
  • Phoenix Restoration will use state-of-the-art equipment to clean the air in the home and remove mold spores. We can also clean and disinfect the air duct system and carpeting to leave the environment healthy and safe.
Q: How do I stop mold from coming back?

Recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control to prevent mold growth:

  • Keep humidity levels as low as you can—between 30% and 50%–all day long. An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help you keep the level low. Bear in mind that humidity levels change over the course of a day with changes in the moisture in the air and the air temperature, so you will need to check the humidity levels more than once a day.
  • Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier during humid months.
  • Be sure your home has enough ventilation. Use exhaust fans which vent outside your home in the kitchen and bathroom. Make sure your clothes dryer vents outside your home.
  • Fix any leaks in your home’s roof, walls, or plumbing so mold does not have moisture to grow.
  • Consider not using carpet in rooms or areas like bathrooms or basements that may have a lot of moisture.

Phoenix Restoration has a team of highly-trained responders on call 24/7 to provide
continuity of operations therefore reducing interruptions and property loss.

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