Restoration professionals are often asked if they are able to remove cigarette or tobacco smoke odors. For instance, a home may need to be deodorized when it is being sold; an apartment may need the service between tenants; an automobile may need odor removal; etc.
The EPA says that Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) is the mixture of smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar, plus the smoke exhaled by the smoker. It is a complex mixture of over 4,000 compounds, more than 40 of which are known to cause cancer in humans or animals, and many of which are strong irritants. ETS is often referred to as “secondhand smoke,” and exposure to ETS is often called “passive smoking.”
The smoke from tobacco clouds the air and sticks to every surface of the area. It is not only seen in the air; people can also see, smell, and feel a yellowish-brown, sticky substance that is left on all surfaces and furniture in areas where smoking has taken place. This extremely hard-to-remove residue discolors painted surfaces and plastics. It can permanently change the appearance of wallpaper, blinds, paint, and many other items in the area. The smoke can penetrate into furniture, carpets, walls, windows, and every other nook and cranny in the area. And the building’s HVAC system will carry the smoke odor and the residues throughout the structure. The contaminants are not only unsightly but can off-gas odors that many people simply find unbearable.
The end result of long term smoking in enclosed areas is much the same as that of an actual fire. Unfortunately, one difference is that the smoke from a fire is sometimes much easier to remove from walls or other surfaces than tobacco smoke. Removing tobacco residues can be a real challenge. It is very time consuming, as residues are present throughout the entire home, business, or other affected area.
Restoration professionals, insurance professionals and property owners should be aware, at the beginning of a tobacco-smoke cleanup project, that there is no magic bullet that just whisks away residues and smells. Though it would be nice to be able to plug in a “magic” machine or spray some “miracle” liquid to eliminate tobacco smoke problems, such products simply do not exist. The only effective way to remove tobacco residue and smell is through very thorough cleaning and then sealing all structural surfaces. Even though residues may appear to be concentrated in only one area, once cleaning starts it will normally be found that all areas are contaminated, and cleaning all surfaces will be necessary to remove contaminants and odors. The very tiny particles of tobacco smoke find their way into all areas. The cleaning process will always include deodorizing agents to help with that process. Even after thorough and successful cleaning, it is usually necessary to seal surfaces with a sealant designed to lock in the very last of the stains and odors. It is important to recognize that a normal “primer” is not sufficient, and a product designed to seal smoke residues is required. Finally, the surfaces will be ready to paint, refinish, or to apply new coverings.
The “soft” things in a home such as upholstery, bedding, window coverings, clothes, etc. will need special attention. Because they absorb odors so well, and are often easily damaged, they will be very difficult to successfully restore and may require outside specialists. Testing should be conducted to evaluate the success of such efforts. In many cases, the decision is made to simply replace these materials and items.
After the restoration professional has finished the cleaning, it may be necessary to use specialized, professional equipment to help remove the very last of the odors, often in areas that cannot be cleaned (inside joints, inside walls, etc.) This will often involve hydroxyl generators or ozone generators. Both are professional equipment that create molecules which can follow the smoke into tiny spaces, and both processes effectively destroy the malodorous particles.
As with every property loss, PuroClean restoration professionals help bring property back to a pre-loss condition. PuroClean restoration professionals are highly trained and skilled in procedures not only to remedy tobacco smoke odors, but to return property owners to their restored property cost-effectively and in the shortest time possible.
Regardless of the circumstances; dealing with trauma, remediating mold, responding to water damage or fire/smoke damage – PuroClean Professional Services is ready to take care of all your needs, please give us a call 24/7 at (440) - 748-PURO (7876).
Monday, May 10, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
PuroClean Professional Services - NE Ohio Water Damage Restoration Leaders
The primary function of a restoration contractor that performs emergency mitigation services is to handle the claim professionally, expeditiously, and cost effectively. Professional restoration contractors should understand what it means to be professional when conducting their business. They should also understand the importance of prompt response and quick action to limit the scope of the loss. However, a difficult area to institute and control is how to be cost effective. This is especially true when customers are making demands and expecting quick action concerning what is happening to their home and belongings.
Water damage mitigation that is performed by using the PuroClean QuickDry System (PQDS), focuses not only on stabilizing and reducing further damage, but also includes reducing unnecessary services that increase direct costs. Direct costs are labor, time, and materials that contribute directly to the total dollar amount of sustained damage. The PQDS reduces that total dollar volume by enacting tested and proven procedures while performing water damage mitigation services.
Many water mitigators use a light wand extraction which removes some water and may involve moving all or half of the furniture from a room so that the carpet can be pulled back far enough to remove the cushion (pad). The furniture has to be re-moved from the room so that air fans can be placed under the carpet in a corner to “float” the carpet. The concept of floating the carpet with air makes the room difficult, if not impossible, to occupy. This is a major problem in bedrooms where headboards, footboards, and rails need disassembling, and mattresses and box springs need to be carried into a dry, unaffected area. That is, if any dry areas ex-ist. Under the PQDS, furniture in any affected room only needs to be manipulated enough to extract the water. Furniture is then placed on blocks and tabs to prevent the transfer of furniture stain or the development of rust marks. The time and labor saved in performing this function alone is substantial, espe-cially if multiple rooms are involved.
These PQDS procedures include a new extraction technology that enables water to be removed from the carpet and cushion (pad), simultaneously without disengagement of the installation. This extraction removes 90 to 95% of the total liquid moisture available in the carpet and pad. By removing this quantity of liquid moisture, less time is required to evaporate any remaining moisture by airflow and dehumidification. Most projects are completed on the average within three days.
Removing wet carpet from the installation is risky business. Carpets that are totally saturated are more easily damaged when wet than when they are dry. This is due to the fact that the latex binder between the primary and secondary backings is 50% weaker when saturated with water. Even with the best intentions, removing the carpet tension with a knee kicker or pulling the carpet from the tack strip can often cause rips or tears.
If the carpet is not disengaged, the pad is not removed, and the furniture is minimally disrupted, then the entire cost of new cushion, professional power stretched installation, and furniture remanipulation is not required. This results in a tremen-dous direct cost reduction.
The aggravation, frustration, and total inconvenience of the old process must also be considered as an indirect cost reduction. A non-monetary form of indirect cost is the price that one pays in stress and duress when processing a claim incorrectly which creates fear, suspicion, and distrust on the part of the customer and inevitably the insurance adjuster. The PQDS takes these issues and other factors into consideration when mitigat-ing a water loss.
Structurally, the PQDS employs many cost effective philosophies, for example, drying drywall in place. Many schools originally taught that any initial wicking of water into drywall specifically dictated the removal of baseboard molding, both vinyl and wood, as a necessity to dry the lower wall area. Technicians went so far as to poke holes in the wallboard to increase evaporation and ventilation. Some even sprayed water based antimicrobials into the holes increasing the wetness factor. These actions dictated, providing that the area dried properly, that new baseboards will need to be installed and that the entire room or rooms will require painting to correct the damage done to the surface during the demolition.
The PQDS does not initially require removing baseboards when wetness is detected. PuroClean structural dryers are deployed forcing air directly towards the wet walls drying the area in most cases without removing the molding. This direct airflow against the lower wall dries the baseboard, the wallboard, and the framing structure. Many types of insulation, for example, fiberglass batt, will dry as well. Baseboard molding removal would be necessary only if cellulose or rock wool insulation were present. These materials lose loft and respective R value when wet and compressed. Replacement is war-ranted for these materials.
When comparing the old drying procedure and philosophy to the new PuroClean QuickDry System, there is no contest. The direct cost effective savings as well as the indirect time and incon-venience reductions are obvious.
Call PuroClean Professional Services for any additional questions or concerns.
440-748-7876
Water damage mitigation that is performed by using the PuroClean QuickDry System (PQDS), focuses not only on stabilizing and reducing further damage, but also includes reducing unnecessary services that increase direct costs. Direct costs are labor, time, and materials that contribute directly to the total dollar amount of sustained damage. The PQDS reduces that total dollar volume by enacting tested and proven procedures while performing water damage mitigation services.
Many water mitigators use a light wand extraction which removes some water and may involve moving all or half of the furniture from a room so that the carpet can be pulled back far enough to remove the cushion (pad). The furniture has to be re-moved from the room so that air fans can be placed under the carpet in a corner to “float” the carpet. The concept of floating the carpet with air makes the room difficult, if not impossible, to occupy. This is a major problem in bedrooms where headboards, footboards, and rails need disassembling, and mattresses and box springs need to be carried into a dry, unaffected area. That is, if any dry areas ex-ist. Under the PQDS, furniture in any affected room only needs to be manipulated enough to extract the water. Furniture is then placed on blocks and tabs to prevent the transfer of furniture stain or the development of rust marks. The time and labor saved in performing this function alone is substantial, espe-cially if multiple rooms are involved.
These PQDS procedures include a new extraction technology that enables water to be removed from the carpet and cushion (pad), simultaneously without disengagement of the installation. This extraction removes 90 to 95% of the total liquid moisture available in the carpet and pad. By removing this quantity of liquid moisture, less time is required to evaporate any remaining moisture by airflow and dehumidification. Most projects are completed on the average within three days.
Removing wet carpet from the installation is risky business. Carpets that are totally saturated are more easily damaged when wet than when they are dry. This is due to the fact that the latex binder between the primary and secondary backings is 50% weaker when saturated with water. Even with the best intentions, removing the carpet tension with a knee kicker or pulling the carpet from the tack strip can often cause rips or tears.
If the carpet is not disengaged, the pad is not removed, and the furniture is minimally disrupted, then the entire cost of new cushion, professional power stretched installation, and furniture remanipulation is not required. This results in a tremen-dous direct cost reduction.
The aggravation, frustration, and total inconvenience of the old process must also be considered as an indirect cost reduction. A non-monetary form of indirect cost is the price that one pays in stress and duress when processing a claim incorrectly which creates fear, suspicion, and distrust on the part of the customer and inevitably the insurance adjuster. The PQDS takes these issues and other factors into consideration when mitigat-ing a water loss.
Structurally, the PQDS employs many cost effective philosophies, for example, drying drywall in place. Many schools originally taught that any initial wicking of water into drywall specifically dictated the removal of baseboard molding, both vinyl and wood, as a necessity to dry the lower wall area. Technicians went so far as to poke holes in the wallboard to increase evaporation and ventilation. Some even sprayed water based antimicrobials into the holes increasing the wetness factor. These actions dictated, providing that the area dried properly, that new baseboards will need to be installed and that the entire room or rooms will require painting to correct the damage done to the surface during the demolition.
The PQDS does not initially require removing baseboards when wetness is detected. PuroClean structural dryers are deployed forcing air directly towards the wet walls drying the area in most cases without removing the molding. This direct airflow against the lower wall dries the baseboard, the wallboard, and the framing structure. Many types of insulation, for example, fiberglass batt, will dry as well. Baseboard molding removal would be necessary only if cellulose or rock wool insulation were present. These materials lose loft and respective R value when wet and compressed. Replacement is war-ranted for these materials.
When comparing the old drying procedure and philosophy to the new PuroClean QuickDry System, there is no contest. The direct cost effective savings as well as the indirect time and incon-venience reductions are obvious.
Call PuroClean Professional Services for any additional questions or concerns.
440-748-7876
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