Mold – The Growth & The Avoidance
Following a water loss, time is of the essence in regards to avoiding secondary damage, which can include mold growth. Prolonged exposure to excessive moisture enables microbes to flourish. If any water damaged environment is not promptly and properly restored, many environmental microbes, such as odor-causing bacteria and fungi will colonize, grow, and amplify on building materials. These microbes will eventually contaminate the indoor air and may create health risks for those live or where there.
There are five growing conditions that are requirements for mold growth. Altering or removing one or more of these conditions best obtains effective elimination and prevention. These conditions are:
The bottom line is this, upon discovering you have water problem in your home or business, the dry out process should begin immediately. Under normal conditions, mold growth can become evident after only 48 hours. Not only can this increase the claims cost, but can also have adverse health effects on the occupants.
Disaster Recovery – Nine Priorities for Better Response Preparedness
We only need to look at weather events the past few years, to realize disasters hit home when we least expect them. Most would agree it would be unwise to knowingly live in a home without smoke detectors, or have a plan to evacuate and call 911 in the event of a fire emergency – yet many of us do not have a basic plan to handle a weather disaster either at home or work.
How will you communicate and prioritize what needs to happen once a disaster has already occurred? This can be a life or death scenario, which should garner our respect and attention in where we live, work, and play. In today’s business environment a basic plan, which is rehearsed and understood by all parties ahead of the storm, can be worth thousands – if not millions – of disaster recovery dollars.
Make it a priority to plan and respond with the following priorities for your disaster plan.
- Develop a disaster planning team to handle mission critical business activities, functions, staffing and manage supply needs for various emergency response scenarios. The team should be committed to employee safety and minimizing business interruption.
- Implement a crisis communication plan with a multi-layered system to communicate with all involved employees and their families, emergency personnel, senior management, and local authorities both fast and efficient.
- Clearly define organizational policies for leave and sick time. Expectations should be established for salaried employees in the event they or their families are affected by a disaster and cannot report to work.
- Cross train all critical personnel to insure best response for employees who are not available during an emergency.
- Think locally. Establish a link with local vendors, business partners, and authorities to review evacuation procedures and how those will be communicated across all levels in an emergency situation. These should vary by scenario.
- Think regionally. Develop plan to hire primary and secondary responders to help you get back on your feet quickly in the event of a major catastrophic event. Contingency agreements which guarantee response time, resources and pricing can be invaluable.
- Be prepared to work remotely. Insure your ability to work off-site and communication capabilities across all channels to ensure business continuity.
- Everyone should rehearse and practice drill with their companies and families. This will help to ensure that everyone understands what to expect in the event of an actual emergency.
- Educate and share your knowledge with others in your industry, insurance carrier, and local private and public companies in your community.
Disaster Planning and Priority Response is everyone’s responsibility. Step up the challenge and share best practices across industries to continually update and rehearse your plan. Finally, be sure to train staff, family, and loved ones to execute your disaster plan during an actual emergency which will save lives, communities, and money.
High Winds, High Wind Damage
Ohio has experienced a mild winter in terms of temperature, but the winds have been howling. Trees and branches are causing damage to properties and homes from the high winds. Southern Ohio and a few other states have witnessed horrendous tornadoes, with some homeowners may be wondering, “Does my home have any damage from the wind?”
In most cases damage to your home caused by wind is covered by your insurance policy. Please see your carrier for specific coverage questions, but let’s explore what damage can look like. Keep in mind, wind speeds in excess of 45 mph can damage homes, shed’s and garages.
Common signs of damage are:
- Missing Shingles – Many times are visible from the ground
- Lifted Shingles – Can be visible from the ground but a closer look may be needed
- Extension ladders may be needed to get access to your roof. Shingles have a seal at the end of the tab which helps it adhere to the lower shingle tab. If winds lift the shingle the seal can be compensated
- Cracked shingles tabs from lifting
- Missing siding
- Loose siding
- Missing Fascia
- Loose Fascia
If you are missing shingles, and or siding, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to determine if your home is damaged. Other effects can be less noticeable and may require a closer look. Loose shingles and or loose siding can out your home at higher risk from weather related damage, and can lead to more damage the next time a swift breeze comes. If you are not able, or can’t inspect your home properly, you should seek professional help. Good contractors can help you by determining what damage, if any; your home has suffered due to wind damage. Roofing and siding are meant to protect the inside from weather outside, but if any of these are compromised, you could experience interior damage.
Lead Still an Issue in Ohio
With many homes in Ohio built before the United States ban on use of lead based paint in 1978, lead is still an issue in many homes and buildings across the state. A study commissioned by the state in 2009 found about 36% of children between the ages of six months and six years were almost guaranteed to live in a home with lead based paint. From the study, the top five cities affected are: Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, and Akron.
Because you cannot visibly see if paint has lead in it or not, the only way to be sure if lead is present is to have it professionally tested. Because home test kits are less than reliable, you will not know the dangers you may be exposed too. The only positive way to find out if you or someone you know has been exposed to lead is through a blood test. Poisoning from lead may cause stomach pains, fatigue, mood swings, kidney damage, seizers, reproductive issues, coma, and in extreme cases death.
If buying a home built before 1978, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Anyone selling a home, must disclose in writing any known information about lead paint in the home, and must share any test results of any lead tests performed. Contracts are to give potential buyers up to ten days to check for lead, and while not required by the buyer they must be given the opportunity. Any home buyer must be given a copy of the EPA publication “Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home.”
If renovating a home built before 1978, you should hire a company to test for lead and then someone qualified to remove it if found. In 2008, the EPA issued the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule which states firms performing renovation, repair and painting projects in homes before 1978, must be certified by the EPA. If the project is small enough, and you would prefer to do the work yourself, remember to use proper PPE of gloves, goggles, and a respirator with special lead (HEPA) filters. Make sure to properly clean and sanitize the area when completed.
Doing a little investigation, and knowing whom to talk to, will help keep – or remove – lead exposure from your home. To learn more, visit the EPA’s webpage on Lead.
Signs for Air Duct Cleaning
When you think about it, 90% of our time is spent indoors. Most of us take for granted that the air is safe to breathe. There are specific warning signs that point to poor indoor air quality and cause potential health effects associated with long term exposure.
The indoor air can be influenced by many things in the environment. The quality of the air is primarily impacted by four kinds of issues. The list includes airborne particles such as pollen and pet dander, mold, bacteria, and chemicals known as volatile organic compounds. Poor ventilation and the release of contaminants from different sources inside and outside the home can affect the air quality. Also, high temperatures and humidity can aggregate the problem causing contaminates to multiply.
Here are specific signs that air duct cleaning may be needed:
- Dusty environment
- Black lines or debris around the registers or diffusers
- Awake feeling congested
- Burning smell when the furnace kicks on
- Musty odors
- Allergies flaring up
Any of the above signs point towards needing air duct cleaning. If ignored the air quality will only get worse, and the exposure can have negative health implications. Long term exposure could be detrimental or cause chronic health issues. Excessive Coughing, sore throats, wheezing, sneezing, watery eyes, fatigue, dizziness, difficulty breathing, and headaches may be the effects of poor air quality. In some cases, the air quality can even cause or increase upper respiratory congestion, rhinitis, nasal congestion, nose bleeds, asthma, or lung disease.
The first step in improving and avoiding these health effects is air duct cleaning. Utilizing a firm that is NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association) Certified is ideal. The cost of cleaning the air ducts does not compare to the investment to protect your family from bad air. A HEPA rated air filter can also improve the air after the cleaning is completed.