Recent Posts

Preparing for Spring Storms | SERVPRO of Houston County

3/1/2024 (Permalink)

heavy rain pouring down on an outdoor metal roof in a storm Let SERVPRO of Houston County help you get from April showers to May flowers.

Spring has finally come back around, which means new flowers, greener grass and plenty of spring storms. Here in our part of Georgia, spring can bring anything from frost to tornadoes and heavy thunderstorms.

As spring stretches along and temperatures start to feel more and more like summer, storms can often become intense. With such a wide variety of weather possible during this season, it is crucial that we all prepare ourselves for anything.

In order to be prepared, you need to have a reliable way to receive weather notifications and updates. There are lots of options that can help you keep your family safe.

The Power of the Internet

For many of us, screens and phones are an integrated part of our day and never very far away from our hands. That makes receiving notifications on your cell phone a great way to stay safe. There are Wireless Emergency Alerts that come through automatically for a variety of situations, but you can also sign up for a number of apps that can keep you up to date.

When you choose an app to receive notifications from, stick to well-known names or local sources. Many radio and news stations have their own apps that can notify you not just when the weather is severe, but when your town is facing any other kind of events. Make sure you sign up for alerts from the city as well, which can also keep you informed about road closures or other emergencies.

If severe weather is predicted to be heading your way, don’t rely on alerts alone. Keep an eye on the news so that you are not only aware of how Mother Nature is feeling, but also staying informed about evacuation orders and shelter openings.

Non-Electronic Options

We may love our screens and the ways they can keep us connected, but electronics all have a battery that will eventually wear out. It’s not uncommon for storms to knock out power long-term, so it is crucial to have another way to receive alerts and news updates.

If you live close enough to hear weather sirens at home, get to know the different alarms so that you can respond appropriately. Invest in an NOAA weather radio as well. These are often powered with a hand-crank or solar power and can last for several hours. They are also portable, which means even if you are sheltering or evacuating, you can stay informed.

Having multiple ways to receive weather alerts can save your life—but it doesn’t mean you won’t end up dealing with some damage to your home after an event rolls through. Call us the moment you discover damage, and we can start your recovery around the clock. We will get things put back together so you can get back to living like normal.

Serious storms can cause serious property damage. Call SERVPRO® 247 for immediate restoration assistance.

Disasters and Your Business: How to Recover Fast | SERVPRO of Houston County

2/15/2024 (Permalink)

business man in office talking to female SERVPRO rep SERVPRO of Houston County is here for your business every step of the way, from ERPs to disaster recovery.

Disasters can leave behind damage that affect your home, your community and your business in a matter of minutes. After a disaster strikes, you can be left wondering how to take a single step forward.

Putting your home back together is crucial after a disaster, but when you own a small business, getting back to work is likely just as crucial. Fortunately, by making a plan and keeping our SERVPRO of Houston County number programmed in your phone, you can put your life back together fast.

Prepare Ahead of Time

In order to recover quickly, you need to prepare ahead of a time. With an emergency plan, you and your employees can quickly prepare before and respond after a flood, fire or storm strikes in order to keep work moving forward.

One of the most crucial parts of an emergency plan is communication. Your team should be so well-versed in your disaster response that they move seamlessly through the steps. Make your plan a part of regular training to ensure it is always fresh on everyone’s mind.

Every few months, spend time walking through your building and pointing out where water shut-offs are. Take note of fire extinguisher locations as well, and make sure your employees know how to use them. Walk exit routes and ensure they are well-labeled so that quick escapes can be made when needed.

After a disaster strikes, make sure your staff knows how to get back to work. If you will be working remotely, check equipment and secured networks before the event occurs. If you have an alternate location to work from, make sure everyone knows when and how they are expected to report to work.

Consider how you will communicate with your team, and keep in mind that some networks may go down long-term. Using multiple forms of communication is the best way to keep up with everyone.

Recover Quickly

By creating a plan and preparing ahead of disasters as much as possible, you can rest a little easier knowing that the road to recovery is already laid out for you. Call SERVPRO® as soon as you can safely do so, and we will start your restoration right away.

As our professional team starts tackling rebuilding, drying out or any other recovery efforts your physical location needs, you can start sharing your story with your customers. Be transparent about what has happened, and keep them posted on the progress of your recovery. Use multiple platforms to make sure your message is heard by as many people as possible.

Throughout your recovery, it is important to keep an open mind. While our team works hard to get things back to normal, you may need to be flexible in how you move forward. Keep the big picture in mind but understand that this will be your new normal for a while. Scaling back or shifting how you operate will help you push forward in order to get back to the way things used to be.

Get through any disaster that strikes by planning ahead and practicing your plan often. Communicate often and frequently in order to keep everyone on the same page, and offer yourself a little grace as you walk through the process. You will be back to work in no time.

Has your business experienced a disaster, or do you want help building an emergency plan? Contact us to find everything you need.

A Team That Can Handle It All | SERVPRO of Houston County

2/1/2024 (Permalink)

heavy rain pounding down on a blacktop surface SERVPRO of Houston County is Here to Help® when any disaster strikes!

Sometimes the cliche “when it rains, it pours” holds all too true. A minor event can lead to more and more until you are dealing with a complete mess. This is particularly true when you consider damage left after a disaster strikes.

It doesn’t matter if it comes from Mother Nature or a manmade accident inside your home, damage almost always leads to more damage. That is why having a team that can handle everything like ours at SERVPRO® is crucial.

The Impact of Disasters

Disasters have an incredible impact on your home and your community. While sometimes you are given the opportunity to prepare as a storm heads your way, things can still change quickly for the worse. Manmade disasters that occur inside your house can be just as bad, especially when they strike without any kind of warning.

When rains get heavy around town, it can trigger flooding, which can leave parts of your home wet and cause mold to grow. High winds might knock over trees and put your house at risk or knock out power long-term. Fires in your home will leave behind smoke, soot, structural, water and odor damage.

The longer one kind of damage is allowed to hang out, the faster other kinds of damage will start to take over your home.

The physical toll isn’t the only thing you will have to worry about, either. The mental toll that living through any disaster, large or small, can take can be incredibly devastating. That makes fast, efficient restoration by an understanding team crucial.

A Single Team, Total Restoration

One of the most important parts of disaster recovery is timing. Disasters will never happen on your schedule, which is why we are available 247, 365 days a year. With one call, you can start your restoration the moment you need it. We will gather your information and get a crew headed to your property right away.

Our experts are certified and highly trained in every disaster scenario you can imagine. Our experience is local, too, because we are local. As a locally owned and operated small business, we are your neighbors. We love this community, and we have experienced the same disaster you have. We have cleaned homes and offices all around town.

If you have roof damage after a strong storm or high winds blow through, we can get to your home night or day to tarp it and protect against other damage. When a flood strikes, we will start to remove water right away while we also dry out your belongings in order to prevent potential mold growth and save your personal items.

Sometimes your home is damaged beyond repair, but we’ve got that covered as well. We can rebuild entire sections in order to make things feel like yours again. We want you to get back to normal life fast, and we will do whatever it takes to make that happen.

As a total restoration company, we stay with you until you are completely satisfied. If there are lingering odors after a fire or mold invasion, we will work to get things sealed and sanitized so that your house feels and smells like yours.

With a local, certified and trained staff, equipment that is top of the line and nonstop availability, SERVPRO is the only call you will have to make in order to get past the rainy days. Sunshine is in your future, and we can’t wait to help you get there and enjoy every moment of it!

Have you experienced a disaster and need restorations? Make one call to our office to start recovery fast.

Toasty and Safe from Fires | SERVPRO of Houston County

1/16/2024 (Permalink)

brick chimney with lit fire logs Fire safety is a top priority for us at SERVPRO of Houston County this winter. Keep your home safe with these helpful tips!

The cozy season is more than here, which means wearing all the fuzzy clothes and spending as much time as possible under a blanket. There is nothing quite like curling up with a toasty fire gently burning in the fireplace.

Did you know that the number of house fires goes up considerably in the winter? Cozying up is great—when you do it safely. Fireplace, space heaters and other heating devices can leave our homes vulnerable to disasters when they are not handled with care.

Addressing Your Fireplace

There really isn’t anything that can quite compare to the sights and sounds of a fire on a cold night. While it may be a great way to relax, fireplaces are one of the more dangerous places in your home when they are not properly maintained. If you use wood in your fireplace, ash and other debris should be cleaned out after every use. Your chimney should be cleaned and inspected by a professional every year.

Never put anything that could catch fire near your fireplace, including mantle decorations. You should have smoke detectors and a carbon monoxide detector that is working well either in the room with your fireplace or right outside of it. If you have a gas or electric fireplace, check the connection point often to ensure nothing is leaking. Dust around your fireplace weekly, and it’s never a bad idea to keep a fire extinguisher close at hand when you do use your fireplace.

Space Heater Safety

Space heaters are a great way to warm a room, but they are another common source of house fires in the winter. Space heaters are responsible for nearly 1,700 house fires every year, most of them preventable.

Always run your space heater on a flat, even surface. Space heaters need room to work, so make sure they have a three foot radius around them. Always check the cord before plugging it in directly to the wall. Space heaters should never be plugged into an extension cord or power strip.

Teach your children and your pets to stay away from the space heater when it is operating. Even if the heat feels great directly on your feet, avoid putting the space heater too close to the couch, bed or curtains. Turn your space heater off at night—blankets are a much safer option for staying warm.

Suggested Safety Features for Your Space Heater

If your space heaters are more than five years old, you may want to consider upgrading them in order to get the best safety features. While all new space heaters that are available for purchase are going to come with some kind of safety features, there are a few things you want to look for before you choose to run one in your home.

Do a little research on the manufacturer to ensure they are both certified and reliable. The units should have been put through plenty of testing before being resold. Any space heater you use should have automatic shut off features that kick in when the unit has been running for a certain amount of time and when the unit is bumped or knocked over.

Cords on space heaters should be well-made and at least six feet in length. Since plugging into an extension cord or other electrical extender is a huge no-no with space heaters, make sure you are purchasing one with a long enough cord to meet your needs and run safely.

By giving a little love to your fireplace and running your space heaters safely, you can keep your home warm and toasty all season long. If you do have an incident, one phone call to SERVPRO of Houston County is all it will take to clean up smoke, soot and any other damages fast.

A quick fire damage restoration is just a phone call away. Call SERVPRO® for immediate assistance.

The Places That Leak | SERVPRO of Houston County

1/2/2024 (Permalink)

close up of condensation on window pane and ledge Water damage can happen anywhere in your home. Call SERVPRO of Houston County to restore water damage on your property 24/7, 365.

Can you count all the places in your home where water is used? Having instant access to water makes things a lot easier in our day to day. Whether you’re tossing a load of laundry in or hosing down the dog, we constantly rely on water.

Water may make things easier, but water can also create a total disruption of our lives when it ends up in the wrong place. Mother Nature can throw us for a loop or even just a small leak could end up costing us a whole lot.

When you know how to find leaks in your home, you can protect your home and prevent losses. And the good news is that all it takes to keep things protected is some easy home maintenance.

Under Your Sinks

The kitchen and the bathrooms are some of the top locations for leaks to happen in your home, and oftentimes, they can be tricky to find. Not only do most of us store more than we should under the sink, there can be multiple water lines coming and going. All of that can allow a tiny leak to drip for a while before you find it.

When a leak starts under your sink, it can quickly do damage in your cabinets, behind the wall and under your floor. Look under all of your sinks at least once a week, feeling all the water lines for moisture. Tighten connections, and replace any seals that are beginning to wear out quickly.

Beneath Appliances

Appliances make things a lot easier for us, but they are also susceptible to hidden leaks. Dishwashers, washing machines, refrigerators with ice makers and water heaters can all leak from a hole the size of a pinhead, causing some serious damage.

Pull your appliances away from the walls they are near every few months. Look for signs of mold growth, excess moisture or water drops on the floor. Clean around them well, and feel any water lines you can reach. Just like when you check under your sinks, make sure connections are tight and replace anything that has shown signs of aging.

Behind Your Walls or Floors

One of the tricky things about leaks starting anywhere in your home is that they can move to other locations pretty quickly. Water can seep through cracks and holes, getting behind your walls or under your floors.

If you notice a musty odor or there is a new squeak in your floor, it is time to investigate the possibility of water damage.

Around Your Windows and Doors

When the temperatures swing up and down, condensation can form on your windows. Because this is so common, it can be easy to ignore. This condensation can linger and damage the very structure of your home.

Check around your windows and doors regularly by using your hands to feel for moisture. Look for cracks or gaps, and make sure everything is well-sealed. The changing seasons are a great time to give everything a fresh layer of caulk.

If you ever find water damage in your home, it shouldn’t make you panic. It only takes a single phone call to SERVPRO® to get things restored quickly. We are always available to handle a major flood or structural damage. It’s our goal to get your life back to normal fast.

Don’t ignore signs of water damage! Call SERVPRO for a quick restoration.

Local Is Always Better | SERVPRO of Houston County

12/15/2023 (Permalink)

group of 3 SERVPRO reps standing near a green semi truck at a work site No job is too big or too small for our team of industry leading experts at SERVPRO of Houston County!

Thinking about disasters is something none of us want to do, even when they are far removed. Imagining something happening to our own home or town is something that seems completely unfathomable.

You can prepare your home for natural disasters, but even the most prepared home could still end up damaged. A manmade disaster can create even more chaos as they can happen completely out of the blue.

Regardless of how your home was damaged, the faster you can get back to life as normal the better. That is why choosing a local company to help will always make the difference.

Making the Right Choice

Walking away from a disaster and seeing your home damaged is an incredibly difficult situation to handle. You will need to make fast decisions and answer questions, all while trying to navigate the wave of emotions you and your family are experiencing.

Timing is crucial when it comes to repairing your home after a damaging event, which is why you need to know how to choose the right restoration service. You want to choose a service that has plenty of experienced workers who are not only highly trained, but are also certified. You also need a company that is available the moment you need them, whether it is night or day.

SERVPRO of Houston County has you completely covered and checks every single one of those boxes, but we also have the added benefit of being locally owned and operated. We live in your neighborhoods and understand the importance of our community as well as you do.

Our professionals have experienced all the disasters our area has faced. We know firsthand the toll, both emotional and physical, that dealing with damage can have. When disaster strikes, our team isn’t just focused on getting the job done, we are focused on putting our community back together.

A History of Experience

When you are facing a damaged home, seeing a friendly face that is ready to take charge can be a huge comfort. You also need to know that there will be enough help to make your recovery process fast and easy. SERVPRO® comes with the backing of a national brand. That means we can rely on our national network of offices to bring in exactly the right amount of help.

SERVPRO was started in 1967 and has been growing in the restoration industry ever since. There are now more than 2,000 locations all over the nation, including ours right here in Houston County.

Working with SERVPRO of Houston County means you are working with professionals that are experienced, trained and come certified in all things disaster recovery. With plenty of equipment at our disposal as well, we are a total recovery package.

Our team can handle everything your recovery will require from start to finish. We can tarp your roof or rebuild part of your home. SERVPRO is the only call you will need to make as we come with highly trained professionals and industry leading equipment.

We also consistently train our employees and stay ahead of the latest techniques and technology. Whatever it takes to make your restoration process smooth and fast is what we are going to do.

A history of experience and a local team of professionals that loves your hometown as much as you do make choosing SERVPRO easy. Whatever you need, we’ve got you covered.

Want to learn more about everything we can do for you? Contact us to be prepared for anything.

Standing Water in Your Business | SERVPRO of Houston County

12/1/2023 (Permalink)

concrete floor tiling with large cracks and water on it Has water damage infiltrated your business? Give SERVPRO of Houston County a call to get that resolved!

The day has begun and you head into your building—only to be overwhelmed with a musty, damp odor lingering in the air. As your panic rises, you begin to consider all the places a leak may have sprung.

This is not a great way to start your day, but picture walking through the door and ending up standing in an inch of water. Now you are living in a nightmare!

Whether a natural disaster strikes or your plumbing fails, the faster you can take on standing water in your business, the less damage you will have. Get to know what to do when a flood happens in your building so that you can get back to work.

<h3step-at-a-time">One Step at a Time

Even when a flood or storm with heavy rains is predicted and you did what you could to prepare your building, finding your property flooded can be really overwhelming. Give yourself some grace and take a deep breath.

With a few simple steps, you can start the recovery process fast and prevent deep damage or the potential spread of mold.

1. Stay safe. Safety should be your top priority when it comes to any kind of disaster. Find a dry spot to take a better look at what is going on, and call SERVPRO® immediately. No matter what time of day it is, we can start your restoration process over the phone and get a crew to your property fast. While you wait, take as many photos as possible.

2. Limit the disaster. The faster you can locate the source of the water, the faster you can stop potential damage. This is also helpful for better understanding exactly what kind of water you are dealing with. If water is still flowing, try to turn it off at the source. If the water is coming from an internal source but you can’t find the exact one, use the main water shut-off to cut the flow to the whole building.

3. Dry things out. Floodwaters, even when they come from a clean source, can become contaminated as they mix with other substances. The more you can stay out of the water, the better. Try to open windows or find other ways to increase the air flow and ventilation to the flooded space. Remove any wet items you can or any items that might be in the water’s path as things progress.

<h3with-the-pros">Work With the Pros

When our team gets there, they will immediately start removing water and drying out your belongings. At the same time, they will assess your property and let you know what recovery is going to take. We also work directly with your insurance agency to ensure the whole process is as smooth as possible.

While your recovery is progressing, you can turn your attention to getting everyone back to work. Our team will let you know if part of your building is still safe to function out of, and close off the area needing restoration so that you can keep business going.

As your team gets back to work, our team will continue getting everything dried out. It is always our goal to put everything back together exactly as it was, restoring as much of your property as possible. We will work hand in hand with you on every decision that has to be made so that you know exactly what is happening every step of the way.

Don’t let a flooded building throw you for a loop. Move quickly, and call SERVPRO right away. We will have you back to work in no time.

Do you need repairs after a water disaster in your commercial building? Contact us to get dried out quickly.

Damage and Your Home | SERVPRO of Houston County

11/17/2023 (Permalink)

residential home with roof destroyed and debris falling down If you discover damage in your residence, call SERVPRO of Houston County right away.

Every day, your home faces a number of threats that could leave it damaged. Severe storms, fires or even just aging structural beams are all disasters that could happen at any moment. There is even the threat of the neighbor who loves to impress his kids with how far he can throw…and leaves your window broken and you on the phone with your insurance company.

There may be risks, but we can’t spend all of our time worrying about them. Instead, we can prepare for them so that our homes are as safe as possible. We can’t predict everything that will happen, but when we are ready for anything, extreme losses can usually be avoided.

To get prepared, we have to first make sure we understand just how our homes can be affected by some of the biggest risks. The more you know about what it is you may face, the less scary risks will become and the easier the recovery process will be. With SERVPRO® of Houston County right around the corner, you can rest assured that your restoration process can happen fast.

The Biggest Risks

Georgia is a beautiful place to live, with fairly moderate temperatures and plenty of green spaces. We all know too well, though, that the weather in Warner Robins and surrounding areas can be a mixed bag. Tornadoes are a very real possibility in the warmer months—we even saw 18 in one day in 2022. Thunderstorms, heavy rains and even the occasional freeze also can’t be ruled out.

With so much volatile weather often a possibility in our forecast, there are lots of threats we need to be prepared for. The most common ways your home might be damaged are water damage, roof damage and fires.

We might be landlocked in this part of Georgia, but heavy rains still leave our roofs vulnerable to leaks and plumbing failures can quickly flood the insides of our homes. Our roofs are also at risk from strong winds during thunderstorms, tornadoes or even the lingering tropical storm pushing in from the coast. Fires can also start internally or externally, although most house fires are the result of manmade error.

Compounding Damages

We know from seeing the tornado damage around us over the years how traumatic living through a disaster can be. We also know that one kind of damage often leads to another. Flooding rains can leave your basement full of water and most of your property wet, which can then allow mold to form and rapidly spread to your foundation.

Fire will burn everything near it, but smoke and soot can travel well beyond where the flames were, leaving walls blackened and your entire house with an odor. On top of that, the water or chemicals used to put out the fire can leave your home with additional damage.

Regardless of what kind of disaster your home experienced, recovery is completely possible step by step. The SERVPRO team is trained in a multitude of situations, which means we are ready to handle every single part of your restoration. We have experience in water, fire, wind, mold and even construction. No matter what has happened, we can put your home back together again.

After a flood occurs in your home, our first step will be to get everything dry. We will also start making sure everything is structurally sound and tackle mold growth. This might mean we need to replace parts of your foundation or a roof beam, or it could mean sanitizing and removing odors.

When a fire disaster strikes your home, we will tackle removing the most burned areas first. We will also seal your home from the elements while the rest of your recovery proceeds. Our crew will address every room to ensure smoke, soot and odors are gone. Depending on how bad the damages were, we can tear down and rebuild rooms so that your home is your home again.

SERVPRO is the total package. We work directly with your insurance and coordinate any other contractors that are needed to put everything back together. Our team’s goal is to make the process simple and get you back home quickly.

Does your home need restoration and you don’t want to make more than one call? Contact us to get everything handled by one team.

Why You Should Create an Emergency Plan | SERVPRO of Houston County

11/17/2023 (Permalink)

clip board with a disaster preparedness checklist and emergency supplies in the background Are you prepared for disaster? SERVPRO of Houston County is here for you when disaster strikes!

Natural disasters have been on the rise over the years. According to recent statistics, not only are they occurring more often in more places, but they are also getting stronger. That means more damage, more often.

Statistics might be helpful for getting a numerical view of things, but they don’t always mean something will happen to your business, right? Even if you never see a damaging natural disaster at your place of work, though, manmade disasters are always a possibility everywhere.

Maybe you aren’t excited to think through all the potential risks your business could face, but staying ahead of things that could interrupt your workflow is important. When you are prepared, you can move forward without fear of losses.

The Importance of a Plan

With the instances of natural disasters continuing to grow every year, forming a plan can go a long way in saving lives and preventing extensive damage. Getting to know your risks better can help you take action before they happen, which means you can stay better protected from potential flooding, severe weather or fires.

Not only do both natural and manmade disasters leave behind physical damage, but they can also be one of the most financially challenging situations your business will ever have to walk through. When you have a plan, you can make sure your team is safe and your finances are, too.

A plan can also mean you get back to work as soon as it is safe to do so after a disaster. Many businesses that are forced to close because of damage never reopen. Creating a plan means you and your employees will know exactly what to do and you won’t miss a minute of work.

An Emergency Ready Plan

If you are wondering where to begin, start with a call to SERVPRO®. Our Emergency Ready Plan is the perfect business solution to get you through any possible disaster. With a plan curated exactly to your needs, you can stay safe and protected even before anything ever happens.

To get started, our team will provide a free assessment of your business. We will address every potential situation you might face and create actions to get through all of them. Our experienced crew will walk you through everything you need to do before, during and after a disaster strikes.

When a storm or other potential disaster is predicted, you can take steps to prevent losses. You may need staff members assigned to secure paperwork and prepare electronics, or your work ahead of a disaster might require getting your building ready to avoid damage. Whatever your needs are, you won’t have to rush through getting directions out—with a plan in place, everyone will know what to do as soon as you say “go.”

The Emergency Ready Plan will also include a solid communication plan. A chain of command will be created to ensure your team knows who they can expect to get instructions from, as well as who to report to throughout the event. Once it is safe to do so, our team will head to your property in order to start restoring damage while you resume operations, whether on site, remotely or at an alternate location.

Your emergency plan should be a complete package in order to best meet your needs—and that is exactly what the Emergency Ready Plan is. We make sure your business avoids financial losses and your employees stay safe. You not only get a complete plan to get through anything, but you also get our experienced team and 247 availability. It’s our goal to restore your property fast so you can keep your business going.

Ready to create your Emergency Ready Plan for your business? Contact us for your free assessment to start the plan you need.

Fire-Free All Holiday Season | SERVPRO of Houston County

11/17/2023 (Permalink)

pan on kitchen counter in residence ablaze while unattended Fire damage in your home? Not for long with SERVPRO of Houston County on the case!

The holiday season has returned, and no matter how you celebrate or when you celebrate, there is bound to be some pretty good food during this time of year. If you are the main chef when it comes to making all the classic family dishes, you’ll need to ensure you are cooking safely to prevent a potential fire.

House fires increase during the holiday season every year, and a good number of them start in the kitchen. That doesn’t mean you should ditch all the old recipes and order a deli platter, instead with a few extra precautions, you can serve the meal you want while enjoying a safe home.

Reducing Flammable Materials in the Kitchen

When you head into the kitchen to start preparing the meal, take a few steps to prepare your space as well. Kitchen fires often move faster because of clutter.

Keep pot holders, wooden cooking utensils, towels and holiday decorations away from any sources of heat. A single oil bubble or a quick spark can catch material on fire and start a spread of flames throughout your kitchen.

Think about what you are wearing as well. Skip the fun apron with the dangling strings and opt for clothes that are slightly tight-fitting without a lot of frills. Loose fabric, hanging decoration and even long sleeves can present a fire hazard while you cook.

Keep a Close Eye on Food

It is always a good idea to stay close by any time you cook. Whether you are baking, boiling or grilling, a fire can start in a matter of seconds and spread just as fast. Stay in the kitchen so that you can take fast action to put out any flames should they spark.

If you are planning on frying a turkey for one of your celebrations, take a few extra steps to keep everything safe. Make sure the kids and your pets know to stay away while the fryer is on, and follow any safety guidelines laid out by the manufacturer.

Put your fryer on a level surface, and avoid putting too much oil in. Make sure your turkey is completely thawed—even a partially frozen turkey will cause the oil to splatter and pop, creating a burn and fire risk.

Install Protective Measures

Fires may not be totally preventable, but the more you do to stay safe, the lower your risks will be. Make sure your home has plenty of protective measures in place as well.

There should be a smoke detector on every level of your home, including one either in your kitchen or very near it. Get into the habit of checking smoke detector batteries monthly, but also check the one near the kitchen right before your day of cooking for the season.

A small fire extinguisher is another helpful piece of equipment to keep near the kitchen. It should be somewhere you can grab in a hurry, and make sure a few of your family members know how to properly use it. Be sure to keep pot and pan lids at arms’ reach as well so that you can smother any grease fires that might pop up.

Make your home as safe as it is cozy this season. If you do experience a fire of any size, call us. We are available around the clock to handle your damage quickly. We will get your home put back together so that you can get back to enjoying the magic of the season.

House fires can happen in the blink of an eye. Contact us for a quick restoration day or night!