Posted by Todd Ellebruch on Thu, Mar 04, 2010 @ 03:01 PM
On Thursday, March 11, 2010, Carrara Companies will hold two CE courses at Motorists on the topics of disaster recovery and dehumidification/drying. Both courses will be held in the Plaza Dining Room.
Disaster Recovery: This class explores loss prevention. How can agents or brokers help themselves and their insureds by minimizing risk? Briefly looks into developing a disaster plan. (3 CE credits, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.)
Dehumidification / Drying: This subject discusses the importance of dehumidification. Why is it necessary? Reviews water damage and how it affects the home or business. (3 CE credits, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.)
While these courses are geared toward agents, associates are welcome to attend with supervisor approval. To register, please contact Deborah Kenney in Training and Development.
Posted by Todd Ellebruch on Thu, Mar 04, 2010 @ 02:32 PM
The Grange Academy has partnered with Carrara Companies to offer CE classes on Fire Damage Recovery and Water Damage Recovery. Each class is 3 hours in duration with a free continental breakfast and catered lunch being provided. These classes are being offered as a full-day session. Due to our partnering with Carrara we can offer these CE classes at a reduced rate. The cost for the one day session is: $25 for agents and $18.75 for Senior Partners.
These classes will be delivered by the Carrara Companies which was founded in 1996, providing commercial and residential cleaning and restoration services throughout Ohio. Each of the classes will offer valuable information on damage and recovery to property and electronic hardware/data following water and/or fire damage. This will help you provide improved service to your clients when a loss does occur.
For more information, feel free to download the flyer here.
To register, visit: http://www.grangeagent.com/
Posted by Todd Ellebruch on Thu, Mar 04, 2010 @ 09:28 AM
By now, we all know of the risks of what smoking does to our health. But can cigarette smoke really be unhealthy for our contents, especially our electronics? You bet. Like our bodies, electronic devices generate heat and need air to breathe, and in doing so create an environment in which dust can collect in and on the circuitry. Unlike regular dust though, dust from cigarette smoke contains three things which can kill electronics: moisture, nicotine, and tar.
Moisture can condense on the circuit boards, allowing the dust and other elements to gather and stick to it. There is also the possibility of excessive moisture causing corrosion of the metal components on the boards themselves. The nicotine and tar co-mix to basically encrust on the interior components, causing fans to clog and heat sinks to fill with this material. This can cause overheating, and essentially kill the electronic.
Another danger is data loss. The small particles which travel in cigarette smoke, can seep into a hard drive, and cause damage to the platters which hold the information. If those platters become damaged, there is a greater potential the data contained on those disks becomes corrupted, lost, and sometimes unrecoverable.
Finally, cigarette smoke causes a discoloration of the material. The sticky tar and nicotine will cause the color of the material to turn burnt-yellow. Even during restoration, if the build-up is significant, they will always be some measure of discoloration due to the chemical reaction caused between the elements.
The best thing to do is obviously quit smoking. If however, this is not an option, regular maintenance and staying clear of your electronics while smoking will give them a longer life.
Posted by Jim Dunphy on Tue, Mar 02, 2010 @ 09:39 AM
Disaster Recovery, a topic many of us have heard of, yet few wish to think about. Management execs and business owners alike would agree that this investment in time and resources may or may not pay off. It is a gamble on a gamble at best. Why plan for the improbable?
It is reported that even in this post Katrina era, fewer than 50% of businesses today have a Disaster Recovery Plan and of those that do, less than half have tested their plan. In today’s challenging economic climate why put forth the effort in time and resources to prepare for something unlikely to happen to you or your business? Time is money.
A recent Gartner Group study found that 70% of companies that suffer a major disaster, without a valid recovery plan in place, fail within the next year and only 10% who survive make a full recovery. Companies without a plan have slower recovery times that are more costly resulting in lost customers, revenue and shareholder confidence.
Experts agree that businesses hit by disaster are stunned into reality as seconds turn to minutes and minutes to hours as they find themselves unprepared to deal with a disastrous event in the workplace. At the end of the day, you may never need it – yet, the evidence is clear that having a Disaster Recovery Plan in place will assist your business to:
- Save lives & minimize property damage
- Contact EMS vendors to assist with immediate recovery & restoration efforts
- Quickly resume mission-critical functions and minimize business interruption
- Restore service and customer confidence
- Minimize overall financial impact
Now is the time to plan for disaster – this is not only prudent business decision but can make the difference in surviving the’ unthinkable’. Having a viable Disaster Recovery plan is an absolute must in the world of business today.
Posted by Ed Duke on Mon, Feb 15, 2010 @ 05:49 AM
Now you know the reasons why you should have your air ducts cleaned regularly, below are some helpful reminders on whom do you find to do the work.
How do you choose an air duct service company?
A word of caution if you make your decision based on price. The national average price to clean ducts for a medium size home will range from $400-$1,000. If you come across a company who can clean your ducts for an amount significantly less, then you are not getting a quality company and their process may leave you “breathless”. Properly cleaning your HVAC and duct system can’t be done for $100 or even $200. These companies are referred as “blow-and-go” air duct cleaning companies. These companies often charge a nominal fee and do a poor job of cleaning the heating and cooling system.
Ask for a description of their cleaning process. The top cleaning companies will use a rotary brush which will scour and clean the duct while using negative air pressure and a powerful vacuum to suck up the debris before it gets airborne.
You should also do your due diligence and research the companies you are calling. Go to their website (if they don’t have one that could be a red flag), are they part of the Better Business Bureau and are they a member of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA).
Find out if you can be involved in the cleaning process by looking at your system before they start cleaning and after they are done. Ask them to show you the debris that was in your system. If they won’t/can’t show you the duct work before and after, you should be waiving another red flag. If you are not going to be home during the cleaning, demand before and after pictures so you can feel comfortable the work was actually done and your investment was worth it.
Finally, asking for references and referrals which will solidify you made the right contractor choice.
Points to Remember
- Don’t make your choice strictly on price. All good companies are going to be in the same ballpark. Cheaper is never better and if it’s too good to be true, it is.
- Ask about the cleaning process and confirm they are using negative air and a vacuum system.
- Do your research, website, BBB, NADCA, references.
- Get involved in the cleaning process to protect your investment.
Posted by Ed Duke on Thu, Feb 11, 2010 @ 01:42 PM
As we spend more time indoors during this time of the year, breathing clean air is even more critical, especially for those with respiratory disorders. Many people spend countless hours cleaning their homes, vacuuming, dusting etc. only to ignore their central air system and have their contaminated air blowing throughout their home.
As you prepare to make the investment in having your central air system and duct system cleaned, there are many questions you should ask.
Can having our system cleaned REALLY improve our indoor air quality?
Bacteria, fungi, mold and small particles of dust collect in your HVAC (Heating, ventilation and air conditioning system) and have potential to cause health problems. You can improve your indoor air quality (IAQ) by removing these contaminants.
How often should I have my air ducts cleaned?
There is not a right or wrong answer, the homeowner needs to make their own decision taking into consideration the following factors:
- Recent renovations or remodeling in the home
- Pets in the home
- Water or smoke in the HVAC system
- Anyone with respiratory challenges who would benefit from improved air quality
- Smokers in the home
- Visible mold growth in the duct work
- Ducts clogged with dust or debris
Posted by Eric Schlaubach on Wed, Feb 10, 2010 @ 08:38 AM
Disaster can mean different things depending on who you are. A disaster may range from a flooded basement or fire, to a natural disaster. We will assume, for this example, a disaster happens at work.
A tornado has directly hit your building, and there is no power or structure left. What happens next, and how will your company get back to normal business? This is a prime example of disaster recovery. What can you or your fellow employees do to help business resumption. There are many different things to think about.
Hopefully your company has put some thought into developing a disaster recovery plan. This plan will pose as a bible in getting your business back to normal operations. What is covered in a disaster recovery plan? One could have a list of a thousand line items, but some major components of the plan should be:
IT Recovery, structure repairs, temporary office space, call tree, evacuation procedures, server backups, Insurance, data recovery, phones, temporary tasks for employees, customer notification, media response, and risk assessment.
Each of the above topics should list details in addressing the needs of your company. The goal is to reduce any loss of revenue by getting resuming business. If a plan is developed beforehand and implemented effectively, a lot of money can be saved and prevent your company going out of business. Many companies have experienced a disaster and failed at an effective recovery with an end result of closing its doors – forever.
If you are reading this and are unsure if your company has a Disaster Recovery Plan, ask. Without a plan business resumption is difficult, whether you work for a small business or a large corporation. Many of us think, "A disaster won't happen to us", well I hate to say it, but it will.
Posted by Jim Dunphy on Thu, Jan 21, 2010 @ 01:59 PM
In the spirit of giving this holiday season, Carrara Companies recently joined in the effort in assisting a local family in their time of need.
The McClellan family of Akron had recently fallen on tough times, including having taking custody of 3 grandchildren ages 1, 2, and 3 who completed a family of 8 when joined by mom & dad and their 3 teenage children already living at home. Life was crazy enough when in late October the family had a basement fire in their home.
As if having to live outside their home and provide for the needs of six children were not enough during the clean-up and repair process, smoke damaged contents in the home included Christmas presents that had been stowed away early for safekeeping by Santa’s elves.
In light of this situation, Carrara Companies’ owners Justin and Julie Sucato decided to help. Plans were put into motion to help with toys, clothes, and food for the McClellan Family. Next, the date was set for a surprise visit at the McClellan residence from Santa’s Helpers along with Santa Claus (proudly portrayed by 28 year Santa Veteran – Nationwide Insurance Agent, Rick Zivsak) following the move back into their home two weeks before Christmas.
On the evening of Dec. 17, the McClellan Family State Farm Insurance Agent, Jennifer Kaiser, joined Carrara Companies Vice President, Julie Sucato with her daughters, Olivia and Ava, help make the McClellan Family Holiday a little brighter by delivering food and toys just in time for the holiday! The smiles and joy shared by all was truly an example of what the holiday season is all about!
Posted by Todd Ellebruch on Thu, Jan 21, 2010 @ 01:18 PM
When you think of dangers in the home or office, radon is not one usually on the top of most people’s lists. However radon is responsible for an estimated 20,000 deaths per year in the United States, with lung cancer being a known effect from exposure.
What is radon? Radon is an invisible gas, both tasteless and odorless. It is produced from the decay of natural occurring uranium in soil and water, and may accumulate in homes, commercial buildings, and drinking water. It usually gets into a building, impacting the indoor air quality, through cracks, gaps, and/or joints in the structure or substructure as well as hidden cavities and a building’s water supply.
The State of Ohio falls into the moderate-high zones for potential elevated radon levels. It is recommended all homes be tested for radon, and if in the market for a new home be sure to ask if the home as been tested. Although many homes today are built to prevent radon from coming in, it is still a good idea to have testing done.
Thankfully, testing for radon is easy. You can purchase a test kit yourself or hire a qualified radon testing company. If there is a radon problem, it probably can be fixed for about the same amount of money as other common home repairs.
For more information about radon, how to obtain a test kit, or find a qualified testing company, visit the EPA’s website along with the State of Ohio’s website.
Posted by Ed Duke on Fri, Jan 15, 2010 @ 08:29 AM
New upholstered furniture can be very expensive. Considering people, and sometimes pets, sit on furniture it's no wonder furniture gets dirty. Even simple aged furniture can benefit from a good cleaning. Most often, once people have their furniture professionally cleaned, they are amazed at how incredible it looks!
Having your furniture professionally cleaned saves you time and money. Here are some tips to use in between cleanings:
KNOW YOUR FABRICS
Synthetic fibers (polyester, etc) are fairly easy to clean without ruining the color or fabric. If however, your cushions use more than 50% cotton or if they use Haitian Cotton, you should have them professionally cleaned. Certain fabrics require special attention to clean and are easily ruined using the wrong product.
USE FABRIC PROTECTION
This helps with maintenance and care. Always clean spills or stains in a timely manner. Follow manufacturers' instructions for proper care.
TURN THE CUSHIONS
Change the cushions around from one part to the other in addition to turning them over. Some cushions get more usage than others.
VACUUM
Do this weekly for general cleaning. This will aid in removing surface dust and dirt.
AVOID SUNLIGHT & POLLUTANTS
Too much sun causes fabric to fade. Also, proper ventilation can help your fabrics from absorbing airborne pollutants.
CALL A PROFESSIONAL
It is best to have a professional clean your upholstered furniture once every couple of years. Experts recommend having this done rather than wait for your furniture to get visibly dirty. The dirtier your fabric becomes, the harder it is to restore it to its original glory!