Commercial Cleaning

2/12/2022 (Permalink)

Did you know that while SERVPRO is known for our cleanup and restoration of smoke, fire and water disasters, in reality however we are a specialty cleaning company. Employing the same skills our certified cleaning technicians use in remeading fire damage, we use in commercial cleaning.

We were recently contracted by a local health care facility to deep clean their kitchen in advance of a state inspection. They utilized our experienced labor force and specialized cleaning agents to complete the important task. We worked non-traditional hours and met the time frame in order to have them ready for the inspection.

So when your commercial kitchen absolutely needs a professional touch, SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge is "here to help". If we can cleanup after a fire, we can clean your commercial kitchen.

Below is a video of our team cleaning a commercial kitchen floor.

https://youtu.be/a5JwUCDncFg

What is a Hydroxyl Generator

8/29/2017 (Permalink)

A Hydroxyl Generator helps kill odor molecules from any odor. Here we are using one at a recent fire in Scranton.

A hydroxyl generating systems are a new green technology, and the industry's most advanced solution for eliminating odors, purifying the air, and decontaminating surfaces and contents. The Odorox® systems are scientifically confirmed, field proven, and disruptive to all conventional deodorization and cleaning technologies.

Hydroxyls (OH) are safe, naturally occurring molecules that are created in our atmosphere when the sun’s ultraviolet rays react with water vapor. They play a critical role in cleaning the earth's atmosphere and are often referred to as the "detergent" of the atmosphere. They can be used to kill bacteria, viruses and mold, and to break down volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chemical fumes, gases, vapors and unpleasant odors. Through the use of patented UV technology, Odorox® replicates the natural production of hydroxyls to eliminate biological and chemical contaminants.

Odorox® technology has successfully been implemented in a wide array of applications including residential and office complexes, hotels, disaster restoration, sewage treatment plants, locker rooms, fat rendering plants, meat processing plants, and commercial beverage production facilities.

Odor Removal

8/3/2017 (Permalink)

Hydroxyl generator is one tool we employ to help kill odor molecules. This machine is completely safe.

ODOR REMOVAL:
As experts in deodorization, SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge is trained to identify and eliminate offensive odors. These odors can come from a number of sources both inside and outside a structure.
SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge teaches IICRC technical classes in the proper removal of odors. Masking and other short cuts don't work when your odor problem is serious or persistent.
We have the training and equipment to identify and eliminate these offensive odors. By identifying the cause of the odor and determining the conditions in which it contact any surfaces, the odor can often be removed over time without a trace. Our certified technicians have access to several odor removal products capable of penetrating surfaces to neutralize an unpleasant odor thoroughly.
The science of identifying and eliminating odors can be a tricky thing, so give us a call, and leave the restoration to us. (570) 235-1646

Post Construction Cleaning

7/18/2017 (Permalink)

Above is a picture of a recent post construction cleaning we are doing for a gymnasium in Scranton.

SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks-Summit/Old Forge, the Scranton areas leader in smoke, fire and water cleanup and restoration offers our services in the area of post construction cleanup. Ultimately, while we are known for our smoke, fire and water damage cleanup capabilities, we are a specialty cleaning company which utilizes its skilled employees and specialized equipment to help business owners, construction companies and homeowners put the final touches any any construction project.

Once the floors are down and the drywall is up, it's time to remove debris and dirt in order to lay carpet, paint and decorate. SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge, can provide the cleaning and debris removal services to prepare the building for interior design.

You want the facility to look its best when the doors open. SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge can provide the cleaning services to give the building that extra shine.

Call SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge for an estimate.

What Makes SERVPRO Special

9/29/2016 (Permalink)

An air scrubber cleaning the air of any harmful spores as part of a cleaning project for the Scranton school district.

As part of a project for the Scranton school district, SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge was tasked with cleaning and dis-infecting an entire school due to elevated levels of "micro-particles" in the air.
The scope of the job included hepa-vacuuming all the ceilings, walls and carpeting as well as a horizontal cleaning of all the contents. So literally everything had to be touched. What makes SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge the premier specialty cleaning company in Lackawanna County is our trained staff and specialized equipment including air scrubbers and hydroxyls. Both these pieces of equipment clean the air of any harmful spores that can pose a risk.
Below are pictures of the SERVPRO team in action. We were able to clean the entire school in a weekends time and get a clean air quality test back, ensuring the safety of both students and teachers.
When safety is a concern and a specialized team is needed, call SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge at (570) 235-1646. We are available 24/7/365 with the trained employees and specialized equipment to complete the job anywhere in the Scranton area.

Dirty Carpets

8/23/2016 (Permalink)

Preventive maintenance Programs

Don’t let dirty carpets discourage customers from frequenting your place of business. Here’s how to maintain clean carpets to help keep customers happy.

Owners of commercial properties and retail stores may not always put “clean the dirty carpets” at the top of their to-do list, but for their customers, this can be a deciding factor in whether they choose to stay or go from your business.

According to ISSA data, a facility with foot traffic of up to 1,000 people per day can result in nearly 24 pounds of soil brought in over the course of a 20-day period. But it doesn’t take that much foot traffic to soil or damage the carpets in your store; if left untreated, “stains settle in and become eyesores that can’t be hidden.” Often, a soiled carpet starts to smell, with potential odors emanating from food or fluid stains or mold —not only discouraging visitors from entering, but helping to shorten the life of the carpet.

Dirty carpets can also give the impression that a business owner doesn’t care much about appearances, which can lead to doubts about the quality of whatever products or services are being offered. On the other hand, properly cleaned and maintained carpets can last up to 10 years or longer, and improve air quality by removing dust and allergens.

Consider a customer’s perceptions upon entering a place of business. In one retail facility, the carpet is clearly stained by food, fluids or “snow melt” (stains caused by white salt) and a foul odor rises up from the floor. In another facility, the carpet looks fresh and clean, as if it’s just been purchased and set down on the floor, lending the entire store an inviting and welcoming atmosphere. It’s not hard to imagine which store most customers would prefer.

There’s just too much at stake to ignore carpet stains and wear-and-tear in your place of business.

Short- and Long-term Cleaning Measures

Several short-term cleaning measures can help keep your commercial carpets looking clean and fresh. With the use of environmentally friendly chemical cleaning agents, you should consider removing any stains or spills as soon as they occur. Commercial carpet cleaning experts advise vacuuming at least once a week with a quality vacuum cleaner, but with even greater frequency if there’s considerable foot traffic over the carpet.

Stain-resistant carpet protection spray can be another valuable resource for protecting untreated carpet, as stains and dirt can become embedded in the fibers. This spray creates a shield that’s invisible to the human eye around carpet fibers in order to prevent grime and dirt from adhering to the carpet.

Perhaps the most efficient tool for your carpet’s long-term care is periodic deep cleaning(once every 12 months or sooner depending on foot traffic levels). Quality deep cleaning involves the use of heat, pressure and extraction, which removes more dry particulate soil than any other method. If you hire a professional cleaner, make sure they use Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) SOA Platinum Certified Equipment. A CRI Certified Platinum provider uses equipment that removes 90–100 percent of soil from commercial carpets and can extend the life of those carpets by as much as 30 percent.

SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge does preventative maintenance programs for commercial properties which included scheduled carpet cleanings. Call us today at (570) 235-1646 to discuss a preventive maintenance program for your business.

Specialized Cleaning Services

6/29/2016 (Permalink)

Specialized Cleaning Services: SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge is the premier specialty cleaning company in Northeastern Pa. Know for our smoke, fire and water cleanup and restoration, we are also specialty trained to clean dangerous bio-haz situations. Some of our areas of expertise are: Crime Scene Cleanup Suicide Clean Up Meth House Cleaning Skunk Odor removal Decomposition Clean Up & Odor Removal Accident and Trauma Scene Clean Up Blood Clean Up Biohazard Clean up Tear Gas Removal Fingerprint Dust Removal Rodent Clean Up We offer: 24 Hour Dispatch Insurance Billing SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge can quickly respond and deal with any biohazard incident and most often bill our services to your insurance company. Call us 24 hours for crime scene clean up services or questions in the Scranton area (570) 235-1646

Residential Cleaning Services

4/13/2016 (Permalink)

Residential Cleaning Services

SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge knows that life happens. Kids spill drinks, pets have accidents, and homes get dirty. We offer cleaning services ranging from air duct cleaning to removing biohazard contaminants. Our residential cleaning services will not only ease the burden of the constant maintenance of your home but will also create a safe, clean, and comfortable living environment for your family. Our cleaning services include the following:

• Air Ducts & HVAC
• Biohazard
• Carpet and Upholstery
• Ceiling, Walls, and Hard Floors
• Odor Removal and Deodorization
• Sewage and Toilet Overflow
• Trauma and Crime Scene
• Vandalism and Graffiti

Puffback - Scranton, PA

4/6/2016 (Permalink)

Notice the soot staining the interior of this home in Scranton, Pa. SERVPRO was called by the insurance company to re-store to pre-puffback condition.

Puffbacks send soot throughout the entire heating system which affects every room where heat or air is discharged. Whether it be oil-based or gas, they pose a serious challenge to the business or homeowner to clean. Notice the soot on the walls of this home in Scranton, Pa that SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge was called to clean.

SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge has the experience and specialized cleaning products to safely and efficiently clean the structure. Always call a professional cleaning company to deal with these disasters. SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge is the Scranton area's leader in smoke, fire and water cleanup and restoration. We are an emergency services company available 24/7 to meet any specialized cleaning needs in the Lackawanna County area. Call us at (570) 235-1646.

Hoarding

3/28/2016 (Permalink)

Hoarding home where SERVPRO was called to clean a puffback situation.

Hoarding is a condition where a person has persistent difficulty discarding personal possessions. The large amount of possessions fill the home and prevent the normal use of the space. Living space becomes cluttered. It may be unusable. Hoarding brings distress and emotional health concerns.

• When talking a person who hoards, focus on safety rather than the clutter.
• Be empathetic. Match the person’s language. If they call it hoarding, then you can call it hoarding.
• Help the residents make a home safety and escape plan. Stress the importance of clear pathways and exits. Practice the plan often. Exit routes may change as new items are brought into the home.
• Install working smoke alarms in the home. Test them at least once a month.
• Reach out to community resources. Talk to members of the fire department to alert them of your concerns. They may be able to connect you with members of a hoarding task force.

Wintertime's Impact on In-door Air Quality

3/22/2016 (Permalink)

If recent studies looking into the way we work and live are correct, there’s a good chance you’re reading this article from inside an office building, a hospitality space, or another indoor location. In fact, according to a study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we “spend approximately 40 hours a week in office buildings,” in addition to eating, drinking, and sleeping in enclosed environments. 

According to some estimates, Americans now spend, on average, up to 90 percent of their time indoors. Because of the amount of time we spend interacting with our indoor environments, roles within the cleaning and maintenance industry have never been more important, especially when it comes to commercial spaces.

In particular, during the winter months, it’s more crucial than ever to think about the quality of the air we breathe, particularly in cold locations. This time of year, dirt, dust, slush, and grime increase, while our exposure to cleaner outside air diminishes.

It may seem counterintuitive, but according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) basic information on indoor air quality, indoor air levels of many pollutants may reach at least two to five (or even up to 100) times higher than they do outside. Though we associate outdoor air quality with cars, trucks, factories, and pollution, the air inside contains more of the things that have a negative effect on our health.

One reason for this is carpet. The carpet we walk on every day actually serves as a giant filter. This filter can hold up to twice its weight in dirt while still appearing clean, according to the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI). This can be quite a problem in high foot-traffic areas because large quantities of pollutants can be disturbed and spread or waft throughout a building, especially if they enter the forced-air ducts. During winter months in colder locations, this problem can become demonstrably worse as facilities combat increased contaminants like slush, snow, and salt, along with the usual substances we face all year long.

By recognizing the main causes of indoor pollutants and engaging some simple strategies and tools to combat wintertime buildup, we can all maintain a clean and healthy facility for those who come to our locations to visit and work.

Target the Entrances and Exits

Whether your facility houses commercial or hospitality-based activities, it has entrances and exits—and these are a cleaning crew’s greatest challenges. High foot-traffic locations like these are the entry points for virtually all dirt, dust, germs, and allergens, and, if they go unchecked, they are where contaminants begin their journey toward every square foot of your building.

Because pollutants spread quickly in high-traffic areas, it’s important to build multiple cleanings into your daily routine. An aggressive cleaning strategy will not only improve the visual aesthetics of your location, but it will also help you capture incoming dirt and dust before they have the opportunity to spread. Ignoring this foundational step invites possible liability, not only from slips and falls related to moisture and puddles, but also from the unseen health risks that concern visitors.

Each building has its own set of challenges, but poor indoor air quality is one thing many of them share. According to a report by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “20 to 30 percent of commercial buildings suffer from indoor air quality problems.”

This alarming number means workers and visitors are at risk of developing short- and long-term health issues due to unsanitary air.

Slush Zones

To improve the air quality in your space, and make your carpet or hard floors more sanitary, you must start where pollutants enter. During winter months, your entrances will be full of snow, slush, and salt. To keep these slush zones clean and dry, the first thing you’ll need are high-quality, soil-removal mats. These mats separate dirt and grime from shoes and are the first and most basic step you can take to combat messes in your space.

But mats are only the first line of defense, and without more aggressive strategies and higher-powered tools, they will not prevent winter-specific messes from spreading. Therefore, each facility or building crew should adopt a three-level approach to cleaning and maintenance. Those levels are: routine cleaning, interim maintenance and, finally, deep cleaning.

Level One

Routine cleaning means just that: cleaning multiple times a day at regularly scheduled intervals. Routine cleaning is even more important in hard floor areas as puddles and moisture from slush and snow can increase the risk of slips and falls.

Scheduling is a big part of any routine cleaning strategy. As David Moisa—a category manager at Edward Don & Co., a distributor of food service supplies and equipment—says, a routine cleaning strategy means you’ll have made “a well-documented plan geared specifically towards winter months. This means that the end user must have timeframes and areas of focus…walkways, entrances into the facility, as well as most common areas. Cleanup crews need to be aware of the times that are best to clean each specific area.”

As part of your routine cleaning strategy, it’s also recommended you incorporate several tools. If you don’t have the resources to purchase a full line of products, a commercial grade upright vacuum will go a long way toward cleaning problem areas quickly, while also meeting a number of other needs. However, a more robust line of products—including a commercial upright, a cordless backpack, a wet/dry vac, and a blower—can help maintain entrances, exits, and stairwells easily.

When you’re looking at building your cleaning strategies, it’s important to first and foremost find products that are equipped with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration system. Along with HEPA filtration, another way to ensure you capture particles is to use self-sealing bags; they trap dust before it can escape your vacuum and waft throughout the facility, promoting healthier disposal. Also consider products with activated carbon, as it neutralizes odors during the vacuuming process, creating a more pleasant experience for cleaning crews and visitors.

You may also want to consider products that have been approved by CRI. Because CRI is one of the few independent organizations within the cleaning industry, its bronze, silver, gold, and green seals mean something important.

Levels Two and Three

For interim maintenance and deep cleaning, also use a heavy-duty extractor and a one-gallon steam vacuum with clean water reservoirs. These enable you to clean every part of a carpet or hard floor effectively, whether you’re dealing with dirt, slush, snow, or salt.

These strategies and tools can make your job easier and keep your day-to-day operations functioning more efficiently. Whether you have carpet, hard floors, or a combination of the two, these tried and tested tools and strategies will help make your buildings and facilities cleaner and more sanitary places.

Running the cleaning and maintenance programs at a large commercial or hospitality-focused facility is no easy task, but these easy solutions can make a positive difference in the way you work and the way your visitors spend their time in your space.

This article was courtsey of Cleaning and Maintenance Management. http://www.cmmonline.com/articles/236180-wintertimes-impact-on-facility-air-quality

SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge is the Scrantons areas premier speciality cleaning company. We offer free estimates and service the Lackawanna and Wyoming counties. Call us today 570-235-1646 if your facilities in-door air quality could improve.

Eliminating Skunk Odor

3/1/2016 (Permalink)

Imagine the surprise as you enter basement to find a skunk living there. IKES!! That's what happened to a homeowner in Scranton. The critter fell through a sub-terrain window and once spook sprayed causing the entire home to become affected.SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge was called to eliminate the odor. Using our specialized equipment (hydroxyl generator, air scrubbers and vapor sharks) and professional cleaners we were able to eliminate the odor and return the homeowner to a safe clean living environment.
SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge is the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area leading specialized cleaning company. From mud to blood we do it all, including skunks. Should your home or business experience a specialty cleaning need in Lackawanna County call us at (570) 235-1646 for 24/7 emergency assistance. 

Restaurant kitchen Cleaning

2/23/2016 (Permalink)

Before and after of a nicotine and grease stained restaurant kitchen cleaning in Dunmore, Pa.

SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge doing a restaurant kitchen cleaning in Dunmore, Pa. 

The picture displays the before and after of the ceiling which was stained in grease and nicotine. Using our specialized training and chemicals we are able to "Make it like it never even happened", the difference is striking.

Where it be smoke damage from a kitchen fire or a grease issue from kitchen cooking, SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge has the specialized chemicals and trained personnel to handle the job. Specialty cleaning is our specialty. If your kitchen needs professional help, call SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge at (570) 235-1646.

The Remediation of Urine

2/22/2016 (Permalink)

Urine is a solution of metabolic wastes and certain other, often toxic, substances that the excretory organs withdraw from the circulatory fluids and expel from the body. Part of the problem with urine is in understanding the habits of the animals of the home where the urine problem exists. For instance, cats do not always make a “spot” in the corner or against the leg of a chair. Find all of the problem areas before attacking the “problem."

Treatment

Before taking on a deodorizing job, it is important to keep in mind that the cost of odor control should not exceed the cost of replacement of the textile.

It is imperative to remove the source (that means keeping the pet away) from the urine contaminated area.

The problem with urine on textiles, especially carpet, is twofold:

1. If the urine is allowed to sit, it will develop a putrid odor from microbial action or natural oxidation, and especially on areas where it has been repeated voided.
2. The staining due to the coloring pigments present naturally in urine or from the bacterial or fungal growth associated with these areas.

Stains

One pigment that gives coloration to urine, urochrome, is the oxidized form of a colorless urochromogen.
Chromogen, on treating with an oxidant, gives a yellow coloration.
To treat such a stain, the best approach is to use reducing agents (the opposite equivalent of oxidizing agents).
Likely, heat may be required in conjunction with a reducing agent, as in the heat transfer method.

Deodorization

Urea is an excellent culture medium in which microorganisms grow with great rapidity. The bacteria can either be cocci or bacilli.

One of the changes that occurs when urine is allowed to remain at room temperature is a variable increase in pH secondary to proliferation of urease producing bacterial contaminants and escape of carbon dioxide from urine.

Acidifying the affected area will slow down the action of bacteria and help dissolution of the urine salts.

The real dose of a wide variety of bacteria comes from the environment into which the urine is deposited. Skin scales, old urine deposits, dirt and other organic and inorganic materials in indoor environments are teeming with all kinds of bacteria.

Your weapons are cleaning with a slightly acidic cleaner and very good deep extraction, bacterial microorganisms, germicides, durable antimicrobial treatments and the transient fragrance deodorizers.

No one of these is magic, and how you identify the problem areas and use these tools will prompt either success or failure. Equally important is to try to understand your customer”s expectations.

If urine on the textile, such as carpet, is promptly tended to by spray extracting, the problems associated with odor and staining will not occur. However, in real life situations, this is not the case, since pets tend to pick a spot and frequent that area repeatedly.

Continuously voided urine over the same area of the carpet will impregnate not only the backing but also the carpet fibers and could also damage the sub-flooring, especially if it was wood, unsealed concrete or similar material, and may make it difficult to deodorize.

Pets may also void all over the area and the odor goes unnoticed and the voided urine “just sits there”.

Some pet owners may not notice the odor problem, as their sense of smell becomes desensitized. If the pet is removed from the area and the urine dries, the smell may not be discernible. But in such situations, the odor can come back after the carpet becomes wet, for instance, from cleaning. Humidity can also increase odors.

One method of treating is based on the fact that when urine is preserved with antibacterial agents like formaldehyde or thymol, it will not develop odor.

First, it is best to flush and remove as much urine as practically possible. Then acidification before application of germicide is helpful as it retards bacterial action.

The contaminated area is then treated with an appropriate germicide containing a suitable perfume. The germicides can be oxidizers, iodophors, phenolics, quaternaries (quats).

Some germicides work better than others. The germicide must be compatible with area to be treated. The germicide kills the odor-causing bacteria and the perfume acts as a masking agent.

Depending on how badly the area is contaminated by the urine, the padding and backing of carpet must be treated by direct application or needle injection, and a second or third application may be necessary.

Use of the durable chemically reactive silane quaternary ammonium treatment provides longer-term control of offending bacteria, yeast or fungus.

Another approach is based on the natural decomposition of urine in soil, where naturally occurring bacteria is able to degrade the urine.

This is done by seeding and inoculating the area with non-pathogenic bacterial cultures (incorrectly called enzymes). The logic being that the introduced bacteria will rapidly consume the food source in urine and hence consume the source of odors.

In such cases, the area must be kept moist and warm for 24-48 hours for this approach to be affective, and maintained within a narrow pH range. The success of deodorization will depend on holding these conditions, which are conditions difficult to sustain on carpet in the field. These are the same conditions that promote mold growth. For low levels of urine contamination, this approach can conceivably work, but for heavy contamination the abatement of odor will be difficult.

http://www.cleanfax.com/diversification/the-remediation-of-urine/

Benefits of Carpeting

2/4/2016 (Permalink)

Carpet is a beautiful and sustainable flooring choice for homes, offices, schools and commercial spaces. It provides a comfortable place to sit, work, learn and play. It also cushions the impact of slips and falls, reduces noise and makes it easier to learn and concentrate.

Odor Removal - Urine

12/28/2015 (Permalink)

Eliminating an odor issue at a home in Scranton

Intense odors from from pre-existing urine contamination is common in water damage restoration. Because odor molecules are transported to the olfactory region by attaching themselves to moisture in the air, it stands to reason the more moisture present, the stronger the odor.

Odors can be eliminated ONLY if the source is identified and removed. This means treating the cause of the odor itself. Thus, urine decontamination may be necessary to safely restore the structure.

For general health and comfort of the inhabitants of the structure, it may be necessary to temporarily control the odor until elimination is procedures can be affected. This can be done by procedures known as masking, pairing or modifying.

Incomplete drying is the primary reason for residual odors after water damage restoration, and microbial growth is what causes the odors. This is another reason to hire a professional restoration company to mitigate water damage in your home or business. The corresponding odor is secondary damage, and with the proper drying techniques it can be eliminated.

SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge is the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre leader in water damage restoration. Eliminating secondary damages, including lingering odor issues in a home or business, is what a professional restorer will do. We are an IICRC certified firm with the training necessary to properly mitigate water damage to a home or business. As an emergency services company, we are available 24/7 to meet any size disaster. Call us today at (570) 235-1646 should your home or business experience water damage or has a lingering odor issue.

Eliminating Odor Issues

12/22/2015 (Permalink)

Hydroxyl Generator uses ultra violent light to eliminate odors. It is completely safe and can be used in occupied structures.

SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge is often called to tackle odor issues. We can clean and treat smoke odor from a fire, stale cigarette odors in a house or car, mold and mildew, pet odors, dead animal odors and lots of other smells.

Puff Backs

10/7/2015 (Permalink)

Soot webs resulting from a puff back

Now that the weather is cooling off, people will soon be turning on their heaters. This means that it's puff back season. Puff back occurs when a heater which has accumulated soot over the course of the year is turned on and the fan system distributes it through the ventilation system into the home or place of business.

Puff back affects oil-filed heaters. Soot builds up as oil burns and can store up over months and years. During a heater malfunction a small explosion can take place, causing puff back. This soot can be distributed through the ventilation system, affecting surfaces, fabrics and electronics. When the soot affects electronics, it can cause loss of functionality. Over the longer term, the soot can cause corrosion, short circuiting, and loss of functionality. If remediated quickly, damage can often be prevented.

If you experience a puff back loss, there are a few steps that you can take to prevent further loss:

1. Power down all electronics
2. Remove electronics from affected area
3. Do not turn on or charge electronics

Puff back is a potentially serious issue around the time when people start turning on their heaters. If you have an oil furnace, it may be a good idea to have it cleaned before you turn it on.

What is a Puff Back

9/18/2015 (Permalink)

The soot webs are evidence of a puff back.

Puff back" is a term used to describe what happens when built up oil ignites in a furnace, resulting in an explosion.  The soot and other debris from the explosion can easily be carried throughout a home by the exhaust and heating systems.  This means that potentially every room of a house can be damaged.  Puff backs are characterized by the oily, black soot left behind, often appearing like spider webs.  The residue from a puff back usually requires extensive cleaning and restoration services offered by SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge.

Air Duct Cleaning

1/26/2015 (Permalink)

Utilizing a system of whips and negative air pressure to clean the duct work of all contaminants and impurities.

Ventilation systems are often the biggest culprit in poor indoor air quality. Make it a priority to inspect the ductwork of your home or business.

If your HVAC has been operating for some time without attention, it could be circulating odors, dust and other contaminates.

SERVPRO Franchise Professionals routinely inspect the heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit (HVAC).  Keeping them clean can extend the life of the equipment. This can in turn save you money and give you cleaner air to breathe.

However, duct cleaning is not always necessary. SERVPRO Franchise Professionals will make recommendations about the best way to address any indoor air quality concerns. This can save you money and provide peace of mind on the health of your system.

The benefits of servicing your HVAC unit include:

• Helps to restore peak energy efficiency.
• May help to eliminate offensive odors.
• Helps reduce the potential for mold growth.

For more information on duct cleaning contact your local SERVPRO Franchise Professional today. SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge proudly serves Scranton, Clarks Summit, Carbondale, Forty Fort, Tunkhannock, Old Forge, Jessup, Throop, Taylor, Peckville, and surrounding areas.

Improper cleaning of a Puff Back

11/24/2014 (Permalink)

This stain was caused by the homeowner attempting to clean an oil based puff back by himself. Always call a professional cleanup and restoration co.

This stain on a ceiling in a home in Forest City, Pa is a result of the homeowner attempting to clean this oil based puff back himself. He used water in his attempt to remove the soot however he made the issue worse since water caused the soot to embed into the paint and sheet rock making the claim worse.

SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge was called to professionally clean this structure by using chemical sponges which remove the soot without smearing and embedding it thus reducing the claim.

Always call a professional cleaning company with puff backs to ensure proper cleaning and a return to pre-loss condition.

SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge is the premier specialty clean up and restoration company in Northeastern Pennsylvania, proudly serving all of Lackawanna and Susquehanna counties.