Disasters are never a good thing, but there are some disaster situations that are far more damaging to your home or business than others. Building fires and interior flooding, for example, are two of the most devastating disasters that can affect your home or business. The fire and water involved in these disasters are intensely damaging just by themselves, but there are also several other factors involved with both types of disasters adding to the ultimate damage left on your building. For all damaging events affecting your building, you can count on ServiceMaster of Newton for comprehensive disaster restoration in Newton, IA.
The many additional factors in fire and water related disasters often can’t be avoided (for example, the water damage sustained when fighting a building fire), but our restoration teams are well equipped to handle the recovery from any type of disaster.
Focusing on the damage that building fires alone leave shows the numerous aspects of the disaster as an entirety. One specific problem many home and business owners face, especially with minor fires, is the debris and residue left by fire extinguishers.
What’s inside a fire extinguisher?
The common types of fire extinguishers contain a dry chemical foam agent such as nitrogen, sodium bicarbonate, mono-ammonium phosphate, potassium bicarbonate, or potassium chloride. These types of fire extinguishers use either stored pressure and nitrogen or compressed carbon dioxide to propel the contained extinguishing chemicals. Wetting agents like detergents and water additives are also often contained in common fire extinguishers.
What does it do to your building?
Not only can the dry chemicals and propelling agents affect your health if you’re exposed to an environment where a fire extinguisher was used, these substances can also damage electronics, carpeting and upholstery, hardwood floors, metal surfaces, finishes on a variety of materials, and more. Additionally, the residue from a fire extinguisher is difficult to fully remove without the help of a qualified fire damage restoration professional.
Fire extinguishers are an important fire safety device to have at the ready in your home or business, but after they’ve done their duty and put out the flames, they can introduce a host of problems all on their own. If you’re struggling with fire-related building damage, contact ServiceMaster of Newton at (641) 792-9580 for comprehensive, professional disaster restoration in Newton, IA.
