Heavy Rains Don't Have to Lead to Home Rain Damage

6/21/2021 (Permalink)

If you need help dealing with any damage caused by water, contact SERVPRO of Central Honolulu today and experience the SERVPRO difference.

Spring is a beautiful time in Honolulu. Weather is pleasant, the jacaranda trees are in full bloom, and it just feels like life has a new freshness to it.

The beauty of nature beckons us once more to leave the living room and enjoy some fresh air, and we’ll take any old excuse to do it.

There are also many social events outside which involve the time-honored tradition of barbecuing. Graduation parties, gender reveals, church functions and family reunions all call for some steaks, wings or veggies to be smoking in the background.

But this increase in backyard activity also means an increase in home fires. In fact, spring sees more daily fires on average than any other time of year. So as the season gets into full swing, let’s go over a few basics you should be handling to make sure your spring and summer are fire-safe.

The grill. Grills get the finger pointed at them first for spring home fires, but they’ve earned the stereotype. The combination of high heat and flammable materials, sometimes even an open flame, give fires an easy place to manifest. Make sure your grill is in good working order with no leaks or weaknesses in the structure, keep it away from anything flammable (including decking or siding), and clean it thoroughly when you’re finished. Almost 20% of grill fires are due to poor cleaning.

The fire pit. Backyard conversations around the fire pit are a regular occurrence during these months, but make sure you’re doing it safely. Have a bucket of water within arm’s reach to douse any dancing flames, and use it to slowly and safely put out the fire when you’re done. Embers should be cool to the touch before you go inside. Also, don’t use leaves or pine needles in your fire, because they create lots of tiny embers that can travel easily on the wind. Never leave fires unattended, and never leave children or pets by the fire alone.

Chimneys and dryer vents. It’s rare for homes in our area to have fireplaces, but if you do, take steps to care for it now. Instead of waiting until fall, clean your chimney out now that winter is over, and get rid of soot and ash buildup inside that creates a fire hazard. And clean your dryer’s vent pipe, ensuring no lint has caked inside—that stuff goes up in flames quickly.

If you encounter fire damage at your home or business, no matter the cause, your local SERVPRO agents will be there faster and have it cleaned up sooner. Call or click today