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.

At first, water migrates from the source horizontally in all directions. Given time, water penetrates over, under, and through the bottom plates of the walls. Eventually if not contained or removed, the water flows into the adjoining rooms. Saturation occurs as gravity pulls moisture deeper into structural flooring materials.

As wood and other hygroscopic materials readily take up and absorb moisture, they become saturated and begin to swell. Furniture, hardwood floors, and even plywood underlayment can warp, buckle, and/or delaminate. The longer everything remains wet will directly impact the chances of irreversible damage done by the water.

As standing water evaporates, the humidity can increase beyond 60%. This abnormal humidity will begin to affect books, pictures, paintings and other hygroscopic materials, causing secondary damage. The water may “wick” up vertically affecting the drywall, insulation, and framing. Draperies and upholstery can also develop water rings as water comes into contact with these materials and begins to “wick” up the fabric.

In time, fungi and bacteria spores can germinate and multiply in organic materials. As fungi damage continues, the indoor air quality degrades rapidly. Bacteria, fungi, and viruses become hyperactive in this moist environment. Beyond any possible damage, health risks can arise if not addressed or handled appropriately.

Fast response normally prevents water damage from moving through all 5 stages. You must always have a great sense of urgency and respond quickly when dealing with water damage. In all situations, the underlying cause of water accumulation must be rectified. If not corrected, mold growth will re-occur even after drying. It is imperative that water infiltration is corrected as quickly as possible after the onset of damage.

• Mold Growth
• Paint peel and Stain Damage
• Wet or Dry rot on window sills
• Window damage around sash
• Staining of carpets or damaged hardwood floors
• Drywall damage

First let’s explore the cause of condensation; the why part of how condensation occurs. Excess humidity manifests itself in the form of condensation around the coldest area of a wall, such as in the area near windows. The warmer the air, the more moisture it will retain, and so when air in your building comes in contact with the colder glass surface, it is subsequently cooled and moisture is released in the form of condensation on the glass.

Air contains water vapor in varying quantities, with the capacity related to the temperature – warm air holds more moisture than cold air. When moist air comes into contact with either colder air or a colder surface a dew point is reached, and the air is unable to retain the same amount of moisture releasing water in the air or on the surface.

Can you reduce the condensation on my windows? The short answer: yes. In order to reduce condensation, humidity must be controlled and air movement must be generated. As the exterior temperature drops, the humidity level needs to decrease if the condensation is to be controlled. Indoor humidity levels should be maintained between 30% – 50% at a temperature of 75 degrees.

Increase ventilation in areas which produce humidity like bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens. Be sure to properly vent the air outside the structure, and not into another space such as an attic. Dehumidifiers may be needed in basements or areas in a building with a large water source like an aquarium or large fish tank. Humidifiers can create problems, whether it is attached to the furnace or installed in a room, so be careful not to overuse or exceed the humidity range.

Well, if a broken water pipe is the culprit, you need to first turn off the water source and call a repair service. Did your sump pump fail? Then, get a plumber out as soon as possible to repair or replace the sump pump. In either case, the source needs to be addressed before any clean up can begin. And remember, quick response is the key to mitigating, or minimizing, the loss in water damage.

Failure to react swiftly can lead to secondary damage, commonly referred to as moisture damage. Secondary damage is damage that is not caused as a direct result of the primary damage or incident. Primary damage would be wet carpet, drywall, and anything else that came in direct contact with the initial water source. Below are some common causes of secondary damage:

• Typically accompanies a water damage incident that is either extensive or not cleaned up in a timely manner, perhaps one that was undiscovered for an extended time.
• Damage that is caused by improper recovery procedures such as dehumidification that is inadequate to the facility size or rate of evaporation.
• Damage caused by unknown conditions that are either missed or not accessible during the initial assessment phase.
• Damage that is caused by either failure to respond in a timely manner or inability to respond in cases such as buildings under investigation.

QUICK RESPONSE IS THE KEY TO MITIGATING THE LOSS IN WATER DAMAGE.

If the cleanup process does not begin immediately and the water begins to evaporate on its own you can begin to suffer the effects of secondary damage. Eventually the air will have absorbed as much moisture as it can and will become fully saturated. As the evaporation continues, that moisture will have to go somewhere else. That somewhere can be in items such as drywall, ceiling tiles, as well as other levels of the home. Examples of secondary damage include:

• Sheetrock and plaster crack and sag
• Hardwood floors begin to buckle and the finish is damaged
• Vinyl and resilient flooring can release from the floor
• Mold spores can begin to colonize

As you can see, secondary damage can really increase the claims cost. And if the water damage in question is not covered under your insurance policy, this can put a big dent in your wallet.
Below are some more tips you can follow that may help you minimize the amount of damage your house will suffer after water damage.

• Elevate all furniture on aluminum foil to prevent bleeding stain onto the carpet.
• Ventilate wet areas. Turn on the A/C in the summer, and in the winter, alternate opening windows and heating.
• Remove water from flat surfaces by mopping.
• Take up saturated oriental rugs from hardwood flooring.
• Open drawers/doors on furniture for interior drying.
• Remove all artwork, paintings, photographs, and electronics to a safe and dry area.
• Hang draperies and furniture skirting up and away from wet flooring.
• Call Carrara Property Restoration for assistance.

Remember, quick response is the key to minimizing or eliminating secondary damage. Failure to act in a timely fashion will only make things worse.

It does not matter if the piping is made from copper or plastic (PVC), an eighth of an inch crack will allow 250 gallons of water a day to come into the home and wreck flooring, furniture, and other personal property. How can you prevent your pipes from freezing, and what do you do when it occurs? The following tips provide help to answer your questions.

Look in the basement, attic, crawl space, garage, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets for water pipes not insulated. Hot and cold water pipes require proper insulation, as a hot water line can still freeze if the water is not running through them and the water temperature is cold.

Use a pipe sleeve, heat tape, or other similar material on exposed water pipes. They should be carefully wrapped, with ends butted tightly, and joints wrapped with tape. Seal any area around the pipes, which may allow cold air inside. When severe cold weather arrives, even the smallest amount can cause a pipe to freeze.

Take preventive action by keeping garage doors closed, and opening cabinet doors to allow the warm air to circulate. Keep the thermostat no lower than 55°F and at the same temperature during the day and night. While you are away, if possible, ask a neighbor to check your home periodically to ensure it is warm enough and no pipes have burst.

If you turn on your faucet, and only a trickle of water comes out, you may have a frozen pipe. Keep the faucet open while you attempt to look for the affected area. Apply heat to the section of pipe by using a hair dryer, portable space heater, or by wrapping towels soaked with hot water. Never use electrical appliance around standing water.

Never use a propane, charcoal, kerosene heater, or blowtorch to heat the pipe. The fast boiling water could cause the pipe to explode. In addition, an open flame brings a serious fire hazard as well as carbon monoxide exposure. Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If the area is inaccessible, do not hesitate to contact a licensed plumber. Think about adding insulation or moving the pipes if the problem continues year out.

When you first purchase your home, you want find out what your flood risk is. You can do this by calling your local emergency management office. Ask to see a flood map of your community to help determine just how much water you could expect in the event of a flood. Remember, you don’t have to live near the water to be at risk. If you find out you live in a flood plain, the next step you should take is to purchase flood insurance. This should be done immediately, seeing as that most policies take 30 days to go into effect. Flood insurance will help reduce the inevitable high cost of restoration after the flood. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, approximately $6 billion in damages are caused by floods every year.

Working from the outside in, it is suggested you have a licensed professional contractor add waterproof veneer to the exterior walls, which will keep shallow water from seeping into your home. The electrical panel, water heater, and furnace should all be elevated and the HVAC system should be raised or flood-proofed to avoid water damage. To prevent flood water from blocking the drains of your home, sewer taps should be installed with appropriate check valves.

It is also wise to get a sump pump. Usually the first place in the house to be flooded is the basement. Basements are usually built below ground level, and this is where the flood waters will naturally converge. Most basements have a sump pit, which is a hole located in the lowest area of the basement to collect water. The sump pit helps by allowing a way for water in the basement to flow out. Be sure to periodically check on the sump pump to make sure it is working. A word to the wise, do not pump the water into the sewer as it could overload your septic system and damage it.

Another major concern will be to move your household inventory to higher places. Start with the small things, such as photo albums, legal documents, and jewelry. Then, if feasible, move the furniture and major appliances like your refrigerator, range, and home entertainment system. Safeguarding what you currently have from flood damage will be more cost-effective than having to buy new furniture and appliances after the flood.

Of course nobody is capable of preventing floods, but as we discussed, there are ways to prepare your home so that flood damage and the consequential expenses of floods can be minimized.

You certainly could take a pencil and paper, or grab a camera and list everything you own. Having a professional inventory prevents any questions in the event that you did have to make an insurance claim.

You work hard to buy the things you want. Fire, theft or natural disaster — just one unexpected catastrophe – can take these away in just seconds. Once most belongings are gone or damaged, the insurance company or police will ask for detailed descriptions and often require pictures as proof of ownership. What will you do? If you can’t remember what you have you can’t collect on it.

If you were asked to write down all your belongings without looking around your property, would you remember everything?

Having an insurance policy is the first step in protecting your things but just isn’t enough. Disaster victims are usually required to provide a list of items they are claiming for replacement, including price paid and date purchased. A thorough contents inventory, created prior to your loss, is the answer. This information is a sure way to give yourself asset protection to help you recover from a disaster.

Homeowners, renters and businesses all need this information. Without it you could fall victim to your memory. Take your bathroom for example, try and remember everything you have and write it down. Afterwards double check the list by verifying what you listed. Did you miss anything? This is just the bathroom, try inventorying from memory your kitchen or living room. How much money might you be losing without having an inventory pre-disaster?

Maximize your insurance claim reimbursement and reduce the emotional stress associated with a loss. Whether you inventory on your own or pay a professional 3rd party it is worth it. Peace of mind and the risk of losing money on your claim are not worth it. The price to have someone inventory your home before the disaster is well worth the investment. Consider the time and agony trying to provide this information after the fact.

More people every day are realizing the need for an inventory before disaster strikes. Unfortunately, some haven’t yet gotten to that point and find themselves devastated from a fire or other catastrophe. Often the emotion of the loss and the stress of being under a deadline to compile their inventory create a feeling of being overwhelmed and unable to take action.

Below are other reasons to consider having an inventory of all your valued contents.

• Ensuring you have sufficient insurance coverage for your home and/or business
• Proof of asset values when applying for a business loan or line of credit
• A detailed list of all business assets, rather than just those on a depreciation schedule
• Estate planning and estate settlement
• Loss or damage in moving or storage
• Thorough documentation of contents of rental and vacation properties
• Sale or purchase of a business
• Divorce and prenuptial agreements
]]> http://www.carraracompanies.com/personal-contents-if-you-can%e2%80%99t-remember-what-you-have-how-will-you-recover-if-you-experience-a-loss/feed/ 0 http://www.carraracompanies.com/trauma-clean-up-%e2%80%93-part-1-violent-death/ http://www.carraracompanies.com/trauma-clean-up-%e2%80%93-part-1-violent-death/#comments Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:23:17 +0000 admin http://www.carraracompanies.com/?p=1661 Trauma clean up, or crime scene clean up, is a topic that nobody wants to have to think about, let alone ever have to deal with personally.  Whether it is a violent murder or suicide, or a case of an unattended death, families are left traumatized, devastated, and with a large to do list. In the midst of the grieving process, families must make funeral arrangements, deal with end of life financial items, as well as communicating the tragedy to friends and family. With so much to do, the clean up process is often overlooked.

In many cases, families do not move out of their homes following a death that occurred in that very home. It is then the job of the restoration company to come in and return the scene to its pre-loss condition.

The average person not familiar with bio-hazard clean up may believe that wiping up the blood left on the walls and contents and giving the affected carpet a good scrubbing is sufficient.  Unfortunately that is not the case. For example, a thumbnail-sized bloodstain on the carpet could have a 2-foot diameter bloodstain on the floorboards beneath it. As you may imagine the “hidden” blood is carrying germs, bacteria, and possible infectious disease. For the safety of the family and the restoration team, all blood needs to be approached as if it were carrying blood-borne pathogens, such as HIV and hepatitis. This is why these types of situations call for a professional company that specializes in blood and biohazard remediation.

The safety precautions and training a certified restoration team needs is:

First and foremost, a certified technician dressed head to toe with personal protective equipment which is commonly known as PPE. This includes a one-time-use suit, gloves, boots, and a respirator. They should also have all the proper vaccinations to prevent them from potential diseases. The supplies they need can include, but are not limited to, biohazard waste containers, buckets, spray bottles, brushes, hospital grade disinfectants, putty knives, and shovels. Ozone machines and/or thermo foggers, may also be required if there is a smell left behind that cannot be removed through basic ventilation.

When the scene is released by the proper authorities, now the work can begin. The scope of the work can range from containment, carpet and drywall removal, remnants removal, and contents scrubbing.   It should be noted that every drop of blood needs to be completely removed. Any bodily fluid left behind has a potential for blood-borne disease.

The final step in violent death clean up is properly disposing of the biohazard material. You cannot put hazardous waste in a regular landfill.  In order to transport the waste, companies need a special permit, and the waste must be burned in a medical waste incinerator.

Whatever the specific situation, when it comes to trauma cleanup, safety is paramount and it is best to call a professional.

]]> http://www.carraracompanies.com/trauma-clean-up-%e2%80%93-part-1-violent-death/feed/ 0 http://www.carraracompanies.com/hoarding-poses-real-problems/ http://www.carraracompanies.com/hoarding-poses-real-problems/#comments Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:01:05 +0000 admin http://www.carraracompanies.com/?p=1652 People of all ages and from all walks of life can be hoarders, and the problem often worsens with age. Hoarding becomes a compulsive driven way of life where one is not able to control the impulse to keep even the most mundane items including receipts from 30 years gone by. Severe hoarding is often a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder, which afflicts as many as 3% of Americans at some point in their lives. It can also be a tell tale sign of other mental disorders that include depression, delusional disorder and dementia. TLC (The Learning Channel) features a show on hoarders that spotlights this growing problem in America. Hoarding poses many challenges to a property restoration contractor. Challenges include increased labor costs and decreased job efficiency and employee safety.” Additionally, insurance claims costs are increased when the client is forced to live away from home and they expect to recoup coverage for content items which have little or no value on paper.

Jim Dunphy from Carrara Construction, Restoration and Cleaning stated, “Hoarding is a real problem and affects service at all stages of the restoration and reconstruction process.” Jim said, “When hoarding is an issue, the restoration contractor plays a critical role in the process where our goal is simple – to get the client back into their home as quickly as possible.” Job success is often determined by how quickly we can assist the hoarding client in choosing what they have that is worthy of restoration, cleaning and discarding. This process can prove difficult for a hoarder restoration client.

Signs of Hoarding:

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Storing broken appliances & electronics
• Excessive amounts of old magazines and newspapers
• Old clothes no longer worn
• Junk Drawers in every room
• Every room becomes storage
• Your car becomes a closet
• Your daily life is impacted

Hoarding Recovery Tips

• Identify the type of hoarding behavior
• Acknowledge the need to control your environment and develop healthy ways to do that
• Set specific goals and expectations for recovery
• Develop ‘One Touch Approach’
• Enlist help of family & friends
• Commitment to change and personal good health
• Consider professional mental health assistance

Hoarding cases emerge via the media when authorities uncover homes filled with animals, newspapers, garbage and piles of possessions that cover every available surface. These conditions often render the homes uninhabitable and require a professional approach. The hoarding client should be treated with respect and compassion with emphasis on a non-judgmental approach. Hoarding clean-up projects improves success when a close family member (son-daughter-sibling) agrees to participate in the execution of the hoarding clean-up. Ultimately, the client must be committed to personal change for long term success to recover from hoarding behavior.

]]> http://www.carraracompanies.com/hoarding-poses-real-problems/feed/ 1 http://www.carraracompanies.com/carrara-halloween-2011/ http://www.carraracompanies.com/carrara-halloween-2011/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:03:18 +0000 admin http://www.carraracompanies.com/?p=1648 The Business Development team at Carrara is at it again this year. One might argue that Halloween is their favorite holiday of the restoration company, as for the fourth year in a row Jim and Eric have spooked clients with their Halloween cheer. Year one was Batman and Two-Face, while year two was as The Three Musketeers and year three Shrek and Donkey were out in force.

Beware the Dark Side as clients get visited by Darth Vadar, and luckily Yoda will not be far behind. Most of us remember the battle between the dark and light sides of the force, and besides battling one another, Vadar and Yoda will be thanking their clients for partnering with Carrara over the years. “Bringing laughter and excitement to our clients is worth it”, says Jim Dunphy.

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