5 Tips from the Experts About Fire Damage Restoration in Austin, Texas

Fire Damage restoration services In austin texas

A fire is one of the most devastating disasters a home, office, or building can experience.  While you’re trying to get your life back in order, it’s only natural do want to be hands-on as soon as possible. The only problem is that sometimes that’s not the best idea. Here are five tips about fire damage restoration that’s sure to minimize damage and get your life back in order. 

1. Avoid Making The Damage Worse

It can be easy to go into a frenzy when you’re faced with an unimaginable tragedy. You’re scared, confused, and just want to make things right – we get it. When you’re faced with fire damage, however, sometimes less is more. Limit movement to avoid spreading soot, cover carpet and upholstery with clean towels, and try not to stress – everything will be okay.

2. Plan Your Next Steps

Before you start the cleaning or restoration process, call the professionals. The Steam Team is trained in all things fire restoration so that you can rest easy knowing that the best people in the business are here to help get your life back to normal. 

3. Fix What You Can But Only What You Should

While you might want to take a crack at fixing the damage yourself, it’s not only unrealistic, but it can also be unsafe and cause more destruction. Feel free to change your HVAC filter and clean out your refrigerator if the power is out, but leave the rest to the professionals.

4. Be Wary Of Cleaning

Sometimes cleaning can be a mistake instead of making things better. Don’t try to wash your walls or carpet before contacting The Steam Team to evaluate the situation. Avoid cleaning electrical appliances that have been close to fire, heat, or water, and don’t send clothes to the cleaner so that the smoke doesn’t set in the fabric. For now, think less is more. 

5. Be Careful

Last but not least, be extremely careful when moving around the dwelling and using appliances and furniture. Don’t turn on the ceiling fans if the ceiling is wet, and don’t eat any packaged food that could have been exposed to smoke. 

If you’re dealing with fire damage, call The Steam Team and have peace of mind knowing that we’ve got it from here.

How To Safely Clean Up After Fire Damage in Austin, Texas

Austin Cleaing Professionals

​Nobody wants to think they’ll have a fire occur in their Austin, Texas home or business, but they’re more common than you may think. It's important to know how you’re going to clean up after such a disastrous event, and how to do it safely. You might be thinking of cleaning up the mess yourself and restoring your home or business to its former glory. But before you get in there and start scrubbing, here are some things you might want to know. Call your fire damage cleaning Austin, Texas headquarters.

Harmful Chemicals For Fire Damage Clean Up

The modern home in Austin is filled with all sorts of chemical compounds that can become dangerous when they combust or combine with other chemicals. In the event of a fire, the smoke can contain many of these dangerous chemicals and should under no circumstances be inhaled.

Carbon Monoxide

Inhaling carbon monoxide (which is in smoke) can decrease your body’s supply of oxygen. This can cause reduced alertness, headaches, aggravate existing heart conditions and cause a variety of other health concerns.

Irritation and Nausea

There are also more immediate effects that almost anyone will have when exposed to smoke, such as irritation in the eyes, nose and throat, as well as an odor that can sometimes cause nausea. These are all signs from your body telling you to stay far away from the smoke.

At-Risk Individuals

Infants, children, and the elderly are particularly at risk of health issues as a result of smoke and soot. No children, seniors, or anyone with a weakened immune system should get near a room or building that has just had a fire.

Long-Term Health Risks

Long term exposure to smoke has been associated to an increase in cardiovascular diseases. Some studies have shown that firefighters, for example, are more likely to develop long-lasting respiratory issues and cardiovascular disease.

A Safer Way To Clean Up After Fires in Austin, Texas

Because of all of the reasons listed above, and many more, it is highly unsafe to try cleaning and restoring a fire damaged home yourself. To keep you and your loved ones safe, hand the job over to the professionals. The Steam Team of Austin who are experts will be able to safely restore your home, business or room, without your safety or the safety of your loved ones at risk.Call for a free fire damage restoration estimate in Austin.

How To Avoid These Dangerous Aftereffects of Fire Damage

Fire Damage Austin

Millions of people experience serious fire damage in their homes every year, and if it happens in your home, as much as you don’t think it will, you need to be prepared. After the fire is put out by firefighters and you’re assessing the damage, you might be thinking of cleaning up the mess yourself and restoring your home or room to its former glory. But before you get in there and start scrubbing, here are some things you might want to know.

Dangerous Chemicals

The modern home is filled with all sorts of chemical compounds that can become dangerous when they combust or combine with other chemicals. In the event of a fire, the smoke can contain many of these dangerous chemicals and should under no circumstances be inhaled.

Weakened Immune Systems

Infants, children, and the elderly are particularly at risk of health issues as a result of smoke and soot. No children, seniors, or anyone with a weakened immune system should get near a room or building that has just had a fire.

Immediate Dangers

There are also more immediate effects that almost anyone will have when exposed to smoke, such as irritation in the eyes, nose and throat, as well as an odor that can sometimes cause nausea. These are all signs from your body telling you to stay far away from the smoke.

Decreased Oxygen

Inhaling carbon monoxide (which is in smoke) can decrease your body’s supply of oxygen. This can cause reduced alertness, headaches, aggravate existing heart conditions and cause a variety of other health concerns.

Long Term Health Effects

Long term exposure to smoke has been associated to an increase in cardiovascular diseases. Some studies have shown that firefighters, for example, are more likely to develop long-lasting respiratory issues and cardiovascular disease.

The Safe Way

Because of all of the reasons listed above, and many more, it is highly unsafe to try cleaning and restoring a fire damaged home yourself. To keep you and your loved ones safe, hand the job over to the professionals. The Steam Team experts will be able to safely restore your home to its former glory. Don’t hesitate to call.

How To Avoid Fire Damage In Your Home Austin, Texas

Fire Damage Clean Up Austin Texas

The Steam Team has a lot of experience dealing with the aftermath of fires, since we offer fire damage cleaning and restorations services. From our many years of serving the central Texas community, we’ve learned a thing or two about how these fire disasters start and how they might be avoided with the right practices. Here’s some important advice on avoiding fires in your home.

Check Your Dryer Vents

You might not think too much about it, but a dryer vent that’s left uncleaned and builds up lint can easily lead to a fire and cause irreversible damage to your home. Any buildup of lint or debris in the dryer vent can become flammable and extremely hazardous. Keeping your dryer vents cleaned is of utmost importance when it comes to preventing fire disasters. Even if a fire doesn’t occur, a buildup of lint or debris will cause the dryer to work harder, raising your energy bill in the long run.

Yearly Inspection

The common recommendation from most professionals is that you have your dryer vents and connected systems inspected and cleaned once every year. Here at The Steam Team we offer that very service. All vents, ducting and connected systems will be thoroughly cleaned to help keep your home safe from fire disaster.

Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning

Our professional technicians will be ready for your call if you need dryer vents cleaned and you haven’t done it yet this year. They’ll arrive with the most powerful and effective equipment for the job and we’ll offer you fair pricing backed with a guarantee. We handle not only residential, but commercial dryer vent cleaning as well! If you want to help avoid fire damage in your home or business, call in The Steam Team. For more information on our many other services, visit The Steam Team website.

Staining Your Concrete Flooring: Is It Worth It?

Carpet Cleaning

If you want a flooring option that’s easy to clean and nearly impossible to damage, concrete is excellent. Many people wonder if it's worth it to have their concrete floors stained. Here at The Steam Team, we know all about different flooring options and their best treatment practices. Let’s talk about the changes you can expect if you decide to stain your concrete floors, and how The Steam Team can help if you decide to do so!

Upgraded Appearance

If you already own a concrete floor, you may think it looks dull since it’s just a gray slab. If you don’t own a concrete floor, this appearance may turn you off of the idea of getting one- but you should know that with staining you can make your concrete look like nearly anything. 

It can be professionally stained to look like hardwood, marble, stone or even leather. Since concrete flooring is cheaper to those alternatives you’re also saving money but getting that same luxurious appearance.

Simple Maintenance 

Of all flooring options, stained concrete is perhaps the easiest to maintain. The stain will not chip, fade or peel over time. The only maintenance required to take care of this floor is an occasional mopping. As long as you do that, your concrete floor will stay in great condition and the staining will continue to add beauty to your home or business.

How The Steam Team Can Help

Concrete staining is a big job that requires a lot of equipment and a time-consuming process. Because of this, most people leave concrete staining up to professionals. If you’re looking for a team of professionals to get the job done right, look no further than The Steam Team. Our technicians have years of experience and the proper equipment to transform your dull concrete floor into whatever look you want. For more information on our concrete staining process and the many other services we offer, please visit The Steam Team website.

Throw Out The Brush: A New Way To Clean Tile and Grout- Cleaning Professional

Tile Cleaning

Oftentimes, homeowners neglect their tile floors and don’t clean them properly, or when they do clean them, they get on their hands and knees and use a brush to scrub the grout. This method is extremely tedious and it’ll wear you out in no time. We’re here to tell you to throw out that old brush! There’s a much better way to properly clean your tile and grout.

Steam Team Professionals

When you give a call to The Steam Team, we’ll send in professional technicians, and they’ll first give your tile a full inspection to come up with a proper cleaning method for every area of the tile as needed. Then, furniture will be carefully moved and all areas of the tile will be prepared for cleaning and separated from other flooring like hardwood or carpet.

High-Tech Cleaning

When the cleaning process begins, we’ll use only the highest quality products, like high powered vacuums to remove all dry soil from the tile. We will aslo sweep by hand if needed. Then, a scientifically advanced cleaning agent will be sprayed over the entire surface of the tile, ensuring the best clean possible. 

A state of the art self-contained pressure cleaning system, manual brushes and a mechanical rotating brush will all be used as needed to clean the tile thoroughly, reaching even the most complex and difficult areas. Then a final rinse solution will be pumped through the machine, leaving your floor looking shiny and new.

Finishing Strong

When the cleaning process is complete, our technicians will put finishing touches on the floor. Grout colorizing, if needed, will be done before the sealing process. We will then apply the proper sealer for the specific type of tile in your home or business. Technicians will then have one final walkthrough inspection to ensure that everything was properly cleaned. 

For more information on the services we provide, visit The Steam Team website.

How Do You Care for Your Area Rug?

Discussing the cleaning industry with morning coffee

Area rugs are a beautiful addition to any room, typically bringing all of the different contents in the room together for that beautiful finish. Just like with any element of our home, we want it to stay the way it looks as soon as we got it, right? So, when was the last time your area rug received the deep cleaning it needs? Just like with any carpeting or other flooring, area rugs need their regular attention, too. On today’s blog, we’re going over all you need to know about the deep cleaning of your beautiful area rug.

Area Rug Inspection

No matter what kind of area rugs exist inside your home, The Steam Team knows how to take care of them. Our trained professionals are familiar with the fibers and dyes that go into your beautiful textiles. We’ll start there. By inspecting your rugs and figuring out exactly what they need, we’ll be able to proceed with the cleaning process. 

The Cleaning Process

To start, we’ll use a pile lifter and vacuum to remove as much dirt and debris as possible. Do you know just how dangerous dirt particles are for your area rugs, and carpeting, for that matter? Dust and soil can actually cut the individual carpet fibers, reducing the lifespan of your beautiful area rug! But don’t worry; The Steam Team will get it all cleaned up right away! 

Rinse and Dry

Finally, we’ll rinse and dry your rug. We’ll thoroughly rinse away all contaminants and cleaning solutions. And The Steam Team would never leave your home without ensuring that your carpeting is perfectly dry. With steam cleaning, so little moisture is used, anyway! After your rug is rinsed clean and dried, we’ll be well on our way. 

The Steam Team knows the value of your area rugs, and will do all that we can to protect them. So if your area rug is due for a deep rug and carpet cleaning, don’t hesitate to give us a call today!

The Steam Team Guide To Preventing House Fires

If a fire ever occurs in your home, will you be prepared for it? The National Fire Protection Association says that there are about 365,000 house fires in the U.S. every year, and they can cause massive damages and financial loss. To help you prepare yourself for a fire, The Steam Team has written this short, simple guide to preventing house fires.

Kitchen and Electronics Safety

To help you prevent fires, you need to pay attention to how most house fires start. Many start from accidents in the kitchen or with electrical wiring. Be sure not to leave rags or anything flammable on or near burners in the kitchen, even if you think you’ve turned the burner off. Don’t cover electrical wiring with anything flammable like rugs or blankets, all it can take is one spark from a damaged wire to set the fabric on fire. And of course, don’t plug in or unplug any electrical wiring with wet hands!

Systems Check

Thorough inspections of all possible fire-starting systems in the home should happen often. Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, you should regularly check up on your electrical system, including outlets, as well as the natural gas/LP system, and the heating and air conditioning systems.

Working Alarms

Properly functioning smoke alarms will likely be your first indicator if an actual fire breaks out in your home. Because of that, you need to have one installed in every bedroom if possible, and check to make sure they work once a month. If they don’t, have the batteries replaced.

The Steam Team Fire Damage Cleaning and Restoration

We hope these important fire prevention tips have been helpful. Don’t forget that in the case of a real fire occurring in your home, we offer full fire damage restoration and cleaning. For more information, please visit The Steam Team website.

Stained Upholstery is No Problem for The Steam Team

It’s no secret that accidents happen frequently, and can rarely be avoided. The same is true for our upholstery; sometimes we spill things, or the dog jumps onto our furniture with wet and muddy paws! Luckily, The Steam Team is here to remedy the situation! Our team of trained professionals will happily come out to your home and work at removing stains from your upholstery. Here’s how: 

Getting Started

First of all, The Steam Team recognizes that certain types of upholstery have needs that vary from other types. Fortunately for everyone involved, our team of trained experts can easily recommend the appropriate cleaning method for your upholstered furniture. You can sit back and relax while we begin the process of removing those pesky stains! 

The Steam Team Method

Steam cleaning uses nothing but hot water high water pressure to effortlessly and effectively lift stains from upholstery (but also carpet, grout, natural stone, you name it!). We’ve perfected our methods by now, and can’t wait for you to see our results! 

Along with making sure your upholstery is spotless and stainless, The Steam Team can also apply a fabric protectant. Over the years, your furniture has seen some action (especially if you have children or pets, who like to jump on furniture). Stains, spills, and ultraviolet radiation all cause your furniture to eventually appear lackluster. Why not protect your upholstered furniture by applying a fabric protectant? It’s a great investment! 

Cleaning upholstery is just one of our many talents. We have over a decade of experience cleaning and caring for all types of flooring, from carpet to hardwood to natural stone. We also help the cleanup process after disasters strike, like floods or fires! No matter what you need, you can rely on The Steam Team. Just give us a call today! You won’t regret it.

How The Professionals Help After Water Damage

Water damage can happen in the blink of an eye- most of have seen it, unfortunately. Whether it’s caused from a storm or other type of natural disaster or it comes from within the home itself- maybe from a broken appliance or busted pipe- it’s all devastating and potentially dangerous. Here at The Steam Team, we handle water damage regularly, so we’re here to give you a few tips!

Removing Water

Most importantly, never try to remove water damage yourself- you always want to call an expert on water removal. They will safely (and efficiently) remove any excess water from your home and ensure that there aren’t any health hazards or mold growth around the home.

Using the Right Equipment

Depending on the extent of the damage, you may need to call in the professionals just to be able to use their equipment. An experienced, professional restoration team will have equipment to suction the excess water out of your home.

Knowledge

Apart from having the right equipment, a professional team of technicians will have the knowledge and experience in how to restore your home from flood damage. They’ll move the furniture to the right areas, avoiding already-damaged areas to keep the process moving smoothly. They’ll ventilate the home to help dry out the home faster- these little tips and tricks that professionals have up their sleeves can make the entire process go drastically smoother.

If there’s anything to remember when it comes to dealing with water damage, it’s this: act immediately. The longer you wait, the more bacteria is likely to grow and you face a big chance for mold. Call us as soon as you can, we know how time sensitive these situations can be and our staff is properly trained to deal with any water damage.

How Important is sealing your floors? Austin Cleaning Company

Professional Cleaning in Austin 

Does your carpet have protectant? Do you know whether or not you need it? When we spill liquids and substances onto our carpet, the fibers absorb the mess, causing the carpet to stain or develop an odor. Or multiple odors- uh oh! But carpet protectant can help with this, and we’ll tell you how! We can protect your marble and stone floors too. 

If your carpet doesn’t have protectant, perhaps it’s time to make an investment! Let’s discuss how carpet protector works, and whether or not you should install it in your home.

How Does it Work?

Ultimately, carpet protector helps prevent wear and tear on your flooring! It also repels dirt and helps to prevent stains and odors from forming; isn’t that a relief? It basically does everything we want it to! And on the plus side, if your carpet is near a window and is fading from the sunlight, carpet protector provides ultraviolet protection to reduce discoloration. So there are many advantages to making this investment; you just have to decide whether it’s right for you.

Do I need Carpet Protectant?

Is there anyone in your household who’s known for making messes, spilling their drinks, tracking in dirt, etcetera? Do you have children or pets? If your carpet experiences a lot of foot traffic and you’re noticing wear and tear more quickly than you prefer, you might need carpet protectant!

The Steam Team knows just about everything there is to know about carpet, and yes, carpet protectant. We believe it’s highly important to have for your flooring, so your carpet will last longer, look better, and feel fresher! If you’re curious about carpet protectant, don’t hesitate to contact your leading carpet cleaning and restoration company in Austin, TX - The Steam Team. We’ll be more than happy to come out and install protectant for your carpet! For 24 hour water damage service call us at 512-451-8326 now.