Five Important Suggestions for a Safe Family Thanksgiving

Holiday preparations are underway across the Triangle, Lillington and Fayetteville for the traditional family get together in many homes. It is a joyous time for area residents; yet one reality is that Thanksgiving is the most prominent day of the year for burn injuries and home cooking fires.

Burn cases are increasing every year around Thanksgiving because busy and distracted cooks injure themselves when lifting the heavy pan of turkey; they come into contact with hot pans or hot oil, and the accidents happens. In the busy holiday season, distraction can create hazards. Thanksgiving Day is the peak day of the year for home cooking fires. AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex wants everyone in the Triangle and across Cumberland and Lee Counties to stay safe this Thanksgiving. If an accident happens know that AdvantaClean is the team to call in North Carolina for cleaning up fire, smoke, and water damage.

AdvantaClean of Cary/Apex offers these five important suggestions for a happy and safe Thanksgiving dinner:

• Be attentive to what’s cooking: Most home fires happen in the kitchen when something gets too hot on the stovetop or in the oven, and is usually the result of something unattended or overlooked. Always have someone watching as dinner cooks. Never leave the turkey in the oven unattended or leave anything cooking on the stove top with no one watching.
• Certain cooking methods are safer than others: Frying and deep frying in hot fats or oils are much more hazardous than baking or steaming, especially if the cook is inexperienced or isn’t paying close attention. One rule of thumb for safe holiday cooking is “low and slow” avoiding any use of high temperatures. This will help prevent fires and injuries.
• Don’t let flammable materials get near the heat: Loose fitting clothing, sleeves, and aprons can easily come into contact with a flame or hot burner on the stovetop and catch fire. Potholders, towels, and other fabrics should be intentionally kept away from heat sources. Cotton and linen fabrics are the most likely to ignite when accidentally contacting a hot surface or flame.
• Engage in the proper use of cooking equipment: Be aware of any inappropriate use of pots, pans, dishes, and various utensils. For example, glass casserole dishes can’t tolerate the high heat of stove top burners, and can crack or burst if not used properly. Although it is a growing and popular trend, deep frying a turkey poses numerous fire and personal injury risks, even for experienced cooks. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends not using this method.
• Have a fire extinguisher available near the kitchen: Proper use of a fire extinguisher is the most effective way to quickly put out most cooking fires. However, it’s important to note that a fire that can be contained and smothered, such grease in a pan on the stove, should simply be covered with a lid and allowed to cool.

AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex specializes in helping home and business owners recover from fire, smoke, and water damage. We offer the best IICRC Certified expertise, equipment, and customer service available in the Triangle. While we appreciate new business, we also want everyone in North Carolina to have a happy holiday season free of fires and injuries.

We wish everyone the best and not the most stressed Thanksgiving Holiday ever!

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AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary and Apex is your environmental specialist in Wake and Johnston Counties. Our team of certified professionals is ready to address all your service needs.

Your air quality and restoration specialists in the Triangle!

Call 919 434 7249

AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex

Photo: pixabay.com

 

Five Leading Causes of Triangle Home and Business Water Damage

The upcoming fall and winter temperatures can bring increased potential for water damage in Triangle homes and businesses. It is also one of the busiest times of the year for people in North Carolina. Kids in the Raleigh area can now take advantage of cooler weather and the Holiday Season. In combination with the busy summer and vacations, not much attention is usually paid to certain types of building maintenance.

It is important to note that water damage from to small leaks within structural and plumbing facilities is one of the leading causes of family and business disruption and financial losses. A few simple strategies can help prevent water damage disasters and the mold that often comes afterward in these situations. AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex is the local service specialist in water damage and mold remediation. Our team has managed a variety of water damage conditions over the years.

AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex offers these five important tips for preventing water damage and mold:

• Freezing pipes and hoses can burst and start leaking when temperatures are less than 32 degrees: It does not have to get to 10 or 15 degrees to create problems. Any pipes on the outside of a building, or in unheated attics and crawl spaces, need to be insulated to prevent freezing. Garden hoses should be disconnected and drained before freezing happens, or the potential result can be damage to the plumbing inside the building.
• Locate and seal any roof, window, or siding leaks: These types of leaks tend to develop slowly and go undetected for periods of time, especially during dry and cool weather. These leaks usually become apparent with a wind driven rain event, such as a heavy rain or winter storm. An undetected leak can result in mold growth in sources like attics, crawl spaces, and inside walls. The only prevention strategy is monthly inspections to look for evidence of leaks or excessive moisture.
• Water supply hoses to appliances, sinks, and toilets need to be assessed and replaced as needed: These hoses are present nearly with dishwashers, washing machines, refrigerators, sinks, or commodes. They can slowly develop cracks and start leaking small amounts, or they can suddenly burst and create damage everywhere. A widespread recommendation is to replace appliance supply hoses at least every five years. As for sinks and toilets, regularly inspect the supply lines and shutoff valves.
• Today’s modern appliances do not last like they used to and can fail earlier than anticipated: All appliances that use water, including washers, dishwashers, and refrigerators, have internal plumbing and water valves. Due to manufacturing defects or age, usually at seven to 10 years, this internal plumbing can fail and leak. The best prevention is to replace external supply lines and regularly inspect for water leaks.
• Anywhere there is moisture, mold can grow: Mold and its food sources are present nearly everywhere in the environment, both indoors and outdoors. Moisture is the missing ingredient and with an ample supply, mold can grow and spread. Mold, on many occasions is a derivative of an acute water damage problem. It can start growing within 48 hours of any moisture.

In the unfortunate event a Triangle home or business has water or mold damage, AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex is fully qualified and capable of remediating the situation properly and quickly with the right people, equipment, and training. In addition to years of experience across Apex, Cary, Southwest Wake and beyond, we are IICRC Certified in water damage restoration and mold remediation.

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AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary and Apex is your environmental specialist in Wake and Johnston Counties. Our team of certified professionals is ready to address all your service needs.

Your air quality and restoration specialists in the Triangle!

Call 919 434 7249

AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex

Photo: maialisa, pixabay.com