Are you planning on frying your turkey this Thanksgiving?

11/17/2021 (Permalink)

Safety is always first!

Next week we celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday. This can mean time to rest or celebrate with family. Typically a feast will be in the works, we hope you enjoy it safely. 

 Are you planning to fry your turkey? This is a task that requires strategy and patience because it can be dangerous if not done correctly. Here are a few safety tips for frying your turkey at home. 

• Deep fry your turkey at least 10 feet away from your home, not on your deck
• Place your deep fryer on a leveled surface and gauge the correct amount of oil needed for your size turkey
• Make sure to completely thaw your turkey before placing it in the fryer
• Protect your skin by wearing flame retardant gloves and shoes with closed toes
• Do not attempt to move the fryer once it is already operating
• Do not heat the oil higher than the recommended temperature for your turkey or from the fryer manufacturer
• Do not attempt to put out an oil fire with water

 We hope that you enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday, with or without the deep-fried turkey. Stay safe and remember that your local SERVPRO of Poolesville/Clarksburg/Damascus is always here to help!

Grill safety recap to start off your grilling season!

5/26/2021 (Permalink)

Cafeull with the grill!

The season for grilling is almost here and with Memorial weekend coming soon, we would like to share a few safety tips for indoor and outdoor grilling. Using cooking equipment like a grill comes with responsibilities that we should consider before we start cooking on the grill. One important thing to consider is that a grill requires your full attention while using it, you should not leave it unattended. Also, make sure that you do not leave your cooking utensils on the grill while you are cooking, you do not want to burn or melt your cooking utensils from leaving them on the grill for too much time. If you are using a charcoal grill, make sure that you are lighting up your grill safely by using the correct amount of lighter fluid. If you are grilling indoors on a stovetop, be sure to cook at the correct heat measurement to help prevent heavy smoke and oil spills in your kitchen. We hope that these tips helped prepare you for the grilling season, for more helpful information check out www.nfpa.org. Always remember that your SERVPRO of Poolesville/Clarksburg/Damascus is always here to help and make it “Like it never even happened.”

Kitchen fire causes soot damage!

1/11/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can make it "Like it never even happened."

Did you know that 2 of every 5 house fires start in the kitchen? Cooking is a big responsibility that should not be taken lightly. While cooking, food should never be left unattended. Use a timer while cooking, this will help remind you when your meal is ready. Keep all mittens, cleaning rags, plastic food containers, and any wooden cooking spoons or utensils away from the stovetop while cooking to prevent a fire.

Kitchen fires leave soot damage and debris that can be hazardous to your health if you stay in that affected area for too long. If you have a kitchen fire call 911 right away if necessary. When you are ready to start restoring, give us a call. Our team is always here to help and make it “Like it never even happened.”

Turkey frying tips and tricks

11/24/2020 (Permalink)

Avoid this for the holiday season!

The Thanksgiving holiday is finally here, and with that comes many fun recipes. One of them being the popular fried turkey. Though fried turkey is very delicious there are many precautions to take when frying. Here are a few do’s and don’ts.

Do’s:

- Make sure to set up the deep fryer away from your home

- Set the frying pot on the cold burner and then turn on the burner

- Make sure to use your mitts and apron while frying turkey to avoid contact with hot oil

- Set a timer to remind you of your cooking time

Don’ts:

- Do not set up the deep fryer on a patio

- Make sure turkey is patted dry before placing it in hot oil

- Do not allow children or pets near the hot fryer

- Do not use water to cool off the hot oil

We hope you find these tips helpful. Always remember that SERVPRO of Poolesville/Clarksburg/Damascus is always here to help. Happy holidays from our family to yours.

Can my live Christmas tree catch on fire? Yes it can!

12/11/2019 (Permalink)

Enjoy your Christmas holiday without a Christmas tree fire!

Did you know that Christmas trees alone result in 13 million dollars, annually, in property damage? More importantly, these fires present real risk towards family and friends. According to the American Christmas Tree Association, 77 percent of US households will celebrate Christmas with a Christmas tree. If a live tree is a must for the Holiday season, please read the following safety precautions to help prevent a Christmas tree fire.

• When purchasing a live Christmas tree, look for a tree with vibrant needles that are hard to pluck and don’t break easily from its branches.
• Look for a tree that isn’t already shedding its needles.
• Place your tree in a strategic place, away from heat sources like fireplaces, candles, heat vents or lamps.
• Keep your tree filled with water to avoid dry out.
• Throw out damaged Christmas lights.
• Turn off your Christmas lights before bed every night.

We hope you will find these tips helpful. Always remember that your SERVPRO of Poolesville/Clarksburg/Damascus is always here to help and make it “Like it never even happened."

How to react when a fire occurs at home

11/22/2019 (Permalink)

Don't Panic, call SERVPRO!

As the holiday season quickly approaches and home kitchens become makeshift restaurants, it is important to understand fire safety and to have protocols in case of a fire at home. The first 48 hours after a fire damage can make the difference between restoring versus replacing your property and personal belongings. SERVPRO’s 1-4-8 Service Response Guidelines can help prevent fire damage from creating long-term problems. SERVPRO of Poolesville/Clarksburg/Damascus professionals provide timely response with mitigation services ranging from fire, smoke, and soot removal to contents claims inventory and document restoration. These services help ensure your property, belongings, and memories are restored to preloss condition when possible. We are available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year to help you regain control quickly.

WHAT YOU CAN DO UNTIL HELP ARRIVES:

• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from spreading and additional damage from occurring.

• Place clean towels or old linens on rugs and high traffic areas and upholstery.

• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpet.

• Do not wash any walls or painted surfaces.

• Do not shampoo carpet or upholstery

• Do not clean any electrical equipment

• Don’t not send clothing to dry cleaner since improper cleaning may set smoke odor.

A backdraft of emotions often sweeps over the owners after a fire ravages a home. Fear, uncertainty, stress and doubt about the future of the property can overwhelm the owner long after the flames have been extinguished and the smoke has cleared.

So after the first wave of heroes have rescued the property, let us at SERVPRO of Poolesville/Clarksburg/Damascus help you restore it. With the industry approved training to employ rapid response, the utmost professionalism, cutting-edge technology and open communication, we strive to restore not only the home, but the customer’s peace of mind, as well.

Fire tips from SERVPRO of Poolesville/Clarksburg/Damascus.

7/2/2018 (Permalink)

Did you know that according to The National Fire Protection Association, Firefighters respond to a fire every 79 seconds? Sounds terrifying, we know! Here are a few precautionary steps that may help you reduce the risk of a fire.

• A working smoke alarm in each room can definitely make the difference in your home. The batteries on the smoke alarms should be inspected monthly, just to make certain that the batteries are still intact.
• Make sure that you have a fire extinguisher in each level of your home; Also that every member of the household knows how to use them properly.
• Reduce the risk of a fire outside of your home. You can do this by removing dead trees, shrubs, and debris at least 30 feet away from your home; also by maintaining your gutters, roof, and eaves clear from debris.
• Be sure to keep candles away from curtains, furniture, and out of the reach of children.

Keep your home safe this 4^th of July, and remember “We’re here to help” should you need your local SERVPRO!

Careful with that grill!

6/21/2018 (Permalink)

Be Grill cautious.

After all the spring showers and flash floods this year it is refreshing to know that summer has begun. Along with hot summer nights come delicious barbecues with a grill. While it may seem like something ordinary, a grill is actually cooking equipment which we should be cautious with. Did you know that 9,600 home fires are started by grills each year! You may ask yourself, what can I do to avoid a grill involved incident? According to The NFPA, “five out of six (or 82%) grills involved in home fires were fueled by gas, while 14% used charcoal or other solid fuel”.  Simply changing your methods can drastically reduce the possibility of a grill caused home fire. For more tips and suggestions check out www.nfpa.org . Remember that SERVPRO of Poolesville/Clarksburg/Damascus is always here to help and make it “Like it never even happened.”

Schools out!

6/18/2018 (Permalink)

Get out, and stay out!

A kid’s favorite thing to hear is that Schools out. Summer time brings so much joy to children. After a long school year they finally get to relax and unwind. To parents however it brings worry, and stress. Will my children be safe at home? If something happens, will they know what to do? SERVPRO of Poolesville/Clarksburg/Damascus has a few tips for you on having your children prepared in case of a fire.

• Teach your children what smoke alarms sound like, and what to do when they hear one.
• Ensure that all household members know two ways to escape from each room, and know the family meeting spot outside of your home.
• Establish a family emergency communications plan, and ensure that all household members know who to contact if they cannot find one another.
• Practice escaping from your house at least twice a year.
• Make sure everyone knows how to dial 9-1-1.
• Teach household members how to stop, drop, and roll in case their clothes were to catch on fire.

For more tips and recommendation’s contact SERVPRO of Poolesville/Clarksburg/Damascus at (301)482-0818. Remember we’re always here to help, and make it "Like it never even happened.”