PuroClean of Northeast Houston – Beltway 
There’s nothing like a home disaster to put a damper on the momentum propelling us from the holidays into the new year. But unfortunately, the holidays tend to result in more home disasters than any other time of year.
In fact, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 30% of all home fires and 38% of home fire deaths occur between December through February.
From frying turkeys and dried out holiday trees to freezing temperatures that can cause pipes to burst, there are a number of things that can go very, terribly wrong.
To help you hold on to the holiday spirit, we have 5 tips to prevent potential home disasters. And if the disaster has already happened, PuroClean is just a phone call away to help you pick up the pieces to move forward.
5 Ways To Prevent A Home Disaster
Here are 5 ways to help prevent a home disaster from stealing your stride this year.
If you experience a home disaster, give us a call right away at (713) 250-8800. Visit our website for more information.
1. Prepare For Cooking Fires Before They Happen
Whether you’re a professional chef or just barely learning to boil a pot of water, everyone has to start somewhere. And unfortunately, that means many times, new-to-you cooking methods can result in cooking fires.
Aside from doing your research on any potentially dangerous method of cooking, you should also stay prepared for the worst. This means making sure you know what to do in the event of a fire. Otherwise, you may need our Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration services.
First of all, it’s important to realize there are different types of fire extinguishers.
Most household fire extinguishers are Class A, B, and C. It’s not a bad idea to have one of each in your home. But if you’re getting experimental with frying foods in oil, you’ll want a Class K fire extinguisher on hand. These are specifically designed to fight fires fueled by cooking oils, animal fats, vegetable fats, and grease.
Second, ensure that your fire extinguisher is not expired. Yep, just like the food in the back of your pantry that you may have forgotten about, fire extinguishers do indeed expire.
Last but not least, you need to know how to use your fire extinguisher. Familiarize yourself with the instructions before you need to use them. And when the time comes, follow those instructions to the T. Doing so can save your house and your life.
2. Give Your HVAC System A Fighting Chance With Proper Maintenance
Houston sure does get hot. So much so that we often forget that it can also get pretty cold during the winter months, too.
To get through the summer and winter comfortably, Houstonians heavily rely on our HVAC systems. But did you know that for it to perform properly year round, you should have a professional perform an annual maintenance checkup on your HVAC system?
Furthermore, there may be serious health and safety consequences from not maintaining your HVAC system. Firstly, a faulty HVAC can result in a heater fire – putting your home and family at risk.
Plus, it is up to you, the resident of your home, to change your air filters regularly. There are a variety of different filters on the market. Some need to be changed monthly, while other more expensive ones may only need to be changed every 6 months. Forgoing this step can lower the quality of life for everyone (pets included) living in your home and can drastically reduce the work life of your machine.
What is important is to read the filter description carefully and not wait too long between changes. Moreover, a home with pets and/or immune-compromised people (including babies) should usually be changed more frequently than stated on the product.
3. Have A Plan To Prep Your Pipes When The Temperatures Drop
The hottest months of the year may have us looking forward to bundling up in the cold. But when the temps drop to freezing or below…You’ve got another issue on your hands.
Aside from keeping you and your family warm, you want to keep your house functional and inhabitable. A burst pipe in your house is the last thing you ever want to deal with.
When your local meteorologist warns of an upcoming freeze, that’s your cue to start insulating your pipes. Make sure to do a full perimeter check to insulate all exterior pipes, including:
- Irrigation pipes
- Water softener system
- Sprinkler system backflow prevention device
- Pipes located under pier and beam homes
- And any other specialized water features on your property
Once the temperature starts to drop, it’s also a good idea to drip water from your faucets. The constant water flow can help prevent ice build-up that could result in a home disaster.
However, if you lose power or if a pipe does burst, then you may need to drain the water from your pipes and water heater. To do this, locate your isolation valve and turn it off. Then, turn on the faucets both closest to and farthest from the pipe to help it drain quickly. You will also want to set your water heater to either “low” or “vacation mode” to prevent the coils from overheating or the pilot light from going out.
If a pipe does burst, your friends at PuroClean of Northeast Houston-Beltway are just a phone call away. Visit our website and save our number (713) 250-8800 in your phone today!
4. Attend To Possible Leaks Before They Get Out Of Control
Have you been keeping an eye on a water spot on your ceiling?
Maybe a sprinkler head has been going rogue?
Or are you hearing a constant drip…drip…drip…coming from your HVAC’s overflow valve?
If so, the time for procrastination is over!
It’s so important to address any possible water leaks before they get out of control. Moreover, these could potentially be or become much bigger issues. And you don’t want to be dealing with an emergency when the city is closed down due to a freeze or other natural disaster.
Proper annual maintenance in and around your home can potentially save you tens of thousands of dollars, if not the value of your entire home. This is your sign to have a professional repair any minor leaks before they become house-destroying, ceiling-collapsing nightmares.
5. Be Cautious About What Goes Through The Garbage Disposal
If you’ve ever experienced a kitchen sink backup because of a malfunctioning garbage disposal, you may remember the terrible smell. And surely, you would prefer to never experience the smell or mess again.
Typically, the holiday season is when people cook the most. Everyone’s home from school and work, and you finally have the time to get through your favorite recipes!
However, this also means that your garbage disposal may take a beating. Whether it’s naive children (teenagers included), well-meaning relatives, or just you being in a hurry, too much of the wrong things may end up down the drain.
Coffee grounds, potato peels, eggshells, pasta, and so much more are just a few everyday remnants that can clog up your drain. Not to mention the grease from cooking a whole turkey or preparing a family’s worth of bacon!
Carefully review your garbage disposal’s user manual. And when in doubt about what can go down the drain – toss it in the trash instead.
When Preventative Measures Aren’t Enough, PuroClean Is Here To Help
Regular home maintenance and preventive measures for specific situations can certainly reduce the risk of experiencing a home disaster this season. However, sometimes situations escalate and are no longer in our hands.
When this happens, PuroClean of Northeast Houston-Beltway is here to help. We are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and you can count on us to respond immediately when you need us.Visit our website to learn more and give us a call at (713) 250-8800 with questions or to schedule an appointment.
PuroClean of Northeast Houston – Beltway 