The first thing a restoration company looks for upon arrival to a home or commercial property, is the age and maintenance of the current roof and its components. Was the roof installed correctly? Was tar paper applied to the deck before shingles were placed? These are just two examples of details home owners should be aware of when getting a new roof installed. As time progresses, a large amount of responsibility will be placed on the home owner being aware of proper installation or roofing and regular maintenance to ensure the proper life of shingles and roofing itself. Below are a few factors all home owners should always be checking with their current roof conditions, and during installment.

Does my roof have proper ventilation?
Improper use of ventilation and soffit systems can wreak havoc on even newer roofs. Without ventilation wood is caused to expand and contrast, leading to buckling/cracking of shingles in extreme weather situations. Without ventilation mold growth can be a serious risk due to excessive moisture and heat.

Were all the components of my roof properly installed?
Standard roofs should contain a deck placed over structure, weather stripping placed in high risk areas (those where two valleys meet, in front of fascia, and sides of roof). Ice damming can lead to large amounts of water entering the home. Metal flashing around chimney and in valley’s help to be a defense to water damage. Tar paper laid on top of decking is crucial to the life of wood, and proper nailing and shingle placement can be the difference in a roof lasting 5 years and one lasting 15.

Have I been checking on and performing maintenance on my gutters?
Gutters should be inspected yearly to ensure there is no damage and/or clogs from leaves, debris etc. Gutters are a crucial part of the roofing system to properly drain and redirect water from the home. As gutters back up water is re-routed behind fascia board and into sheathing, siding and can rot out windows.

Are trees above the home presenting eminent danger to my roof?
Trees next to, and hanging over the roof can present numerous possible damages. First, large branches and limbs hanging over the roof are always capable of disconnecting from the tree and causing extensive damage to the roof. These limbs should be removed so falling damage is not a concern. Second, shade provided by full trees can enable plant and moss growth due to wet/dark environment. Lastly, leaves, sticks and buds falling onto roof and into gutters can cause clogs and shingle damage as they decay.

As claims increase due to hail and natural disasters, more responsibility will be placed on home owners to maintain their roofs. These are just some of the steps home owners can regularly do to ensure their homeowners policy will be honored in the event of a storm with extensive damage.

FAST FORWARD 10 DAYS: Johnson family arrives home from the vacation, only to find water running out from underneath the garage doors to the home. As water cascades down the driveway, they rush into the home and are greeted by a foul rank odor of mildew and high moisture.

CULPRIT: The water supply line to the 2nd floor toilet broke eight days earlier, allowing water to run through the home unabated. The shocked homeowners begin to cry as they discover soaked cardboard boxes filled with family photos, household electronic equipment, and antiques destroyed by excessive water damage.

The average cost for a water damage event of this magnitude can easily exceed tens of thousands of dollars in clean-up and repair damages. We are all at risk of such a loss everyday when we leave to go to work or while we are sleeping. Other common causes of residential Water damage include: failed sump pumps, washing machines hoses, appliance water supply lines, or failed toilet tank valves to Furnace condensation lines. With so many opportunities for water to cause damage, it makes sense to follow preventative measures to prevent and minimize what a water loss would look like if it struck your home. The following tips are meant to serve as your Water Damage Restoration Survival List:

1. Disconnect Main Water Shut off to home when leaving for weekend or extended period of time.
2. Test Sump pumps every six months (avg. life 7-10 yrs) by pouring 5 gallon bucket of water into well.
3. Keep all basement areas organized with contents on shelving from ceiling if possible in plastic totes.
4. Replace all appliance plastic water supply lines with copper or steel mesh fitted lines.
5. Keep water risk areas outside of home including septic tanks, ground water run-off gutters maintained.
6. Place water shut off tags to water main, appliance supply, and garden hose lines to the house.
7. Install frost free hose bibs and disconnect garden hoses in the fall and turn off water supply to outside.
8. Inspect roofing systems annually and clean-out gutters, downspouts and garage floor drains.
9. When water damage occurs, always seek professional advice on best steps for mitigation and repair.
10. Safety First! Never step into standing water in areas with live electric. Disconnect power to be safe.

• Go paperless. Receive and pay your bills electronically. Not only will you reduce the use of paper, but the amount of fuel used in transporting them.
• When washing your clothes, use the warm/cool setting. By this simple switch, you can save 100,000 barrels of oil from being used.
• Instead of throwing away old computers and electronics, recycle them. Best Buy has a great program for helping you dispose of them. Click here for more information.
• Consider switching your electronics to more modern, eco friendly ones. Companies such as HP offer solutions for help reducing impact on the environment.
• More and more portable devices have the ability to recharge themselves, but for those that do not, use rechargeable batteries. Recycle the non-rechargeable batteries when you replace them.
• Instead of throwing away those old magazines, donate them to your local business and schools. Keeping them in circulation, keeps them out of the landfills. Just because it’s out-of-date, doesn’t mean the information is useless.
• Contact your utility company and request a free energy audit. Not only could you help save energy, but you can also save a little money too.
• Homeowners may receive up to $1,500 in tax credits for home improvements on windows/doors, HVAC systems, water heaters, metal and asphalt roofs, and insulation, which are energy star compliant.

There are many more things you can do to help reduce your carbon footprint, and help stop global warming. For more information visit www.earthday.org and www.epa.gov/earthday/.

Recently a customer experienced an issue with a wire which went bad and prevented the furnace from operating. This caused the temperature of their home to drop below 60 degrees before we caught it. With cold weather this can be an issue, as pipes can freeze and then burst.

Below are things to consider when looking to keep your furnace running efficiently and extend its life.

• Check for gas leaks.
  Check for leaks 2 times a year, if there is a leak you will smell the odor from the natural gas. Will smell like eggs.
• Check the thermostat to ensure it is working properly.
  If the temperature setting is not matching the output there could be a problem with the thermostat.
• Changing you air filter.
  Depending on your air filter this may need to be changed monthly, Quarterly or every six months.
• Furnace Cleaning.
  This is recommended to be completed by a certified HVAC professional. Including cleaning the burners and giving the furnace an overall evaluation. Having them out 2 times a year is recommended.
• Inspect Tension Belt.
  You may need a HVAC Certified technician for this. It is recommended to have a service agreement with a company to service your furnace 2 times a year. This will enable you to catch problems before they occur.
• Check venting to ensure it is properly venting.
  Fumes can be harmful and are intended to vent from the home.
• Cleaning of the air duct system.
  Debris accumulation in your air duct can affect the furnace and the efficiency of it. Not to mention the quality of the indoor air you are breathing.
• Inspect Pilot light.
• Shutting the furnace off after winter.

Replacing your furnace prematurely can be very expensive. A furnace should last on average 30 years, and with proper maintenance, you could expect to get and additional ten or more years out of it.

Regardless of the water source from which this mold grows, there are risks associated with exposure as well as cleanup.

First, a few facts about mold…

• Mold grows best in warm, damp, and humid conditions
• Mold spreads and reproduce by making spores
• We cannot avoid mold spore particles as part of our everyday lives
• There are approximately 100,000 species of mold
• Very little of those are capable of producing disease or toxins

Exposure and Symptoms: What groups of people are most at risk to mold exposure and what symptoms are associated with exposure? For allergy sufferers and persons with existing lung disorders, mold exposure can be difficult. Young children and the elderly are also sensitive. According to the CDC, symptoms may include but are not limited to nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, asthmatic like symptoms or skin irritation.

Killing Mold, Remediation: When it comes to remediating mold it’s always best to hire a professional mold removal or remediation service. These organizations have trained and experienced mold removal technicians that are certified in this process.

Common chemicals used to clean mold include bleach, borax, vinegar, and ammonia. The following talking points should be utilized when mold remediation steps occur.

1. Although air movers are standard equipment in during water mitigation, they should not be utilized when mold is present for fear of spreading the mold spores. Should air movers be necessary when mold is present, containment must be established.
2. Use of respiratory equipment must be utilized. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has guidelines to follow for such a device. Additionally, PPE (personal protective eyewear) should be used
3. Protective suits that seal at the ankle and wrists should be worn.
4. An approved HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filtration system must be used for vacuuming. It’s not sufficient to use a HEPA filter; rather a HEPA vacuuming device is needed.
5. Do not eat, drink, or use tobacco when mold remediation is occurring.

Unlike kale, stachybotrys, cannot and should not be consumed, touched, ingested, or inhaled. It can however be safely removed and eliminated with the proper education, training, and techniques.

Insurance agencies, safety organizations, and developers have recognized this and developed their own apps to assist their customers in getting the information they need. But with each marketplace saturated with apps, which ones could best fit your needs? Check out our recommendations below, and why.

Insurance Apps
Whether you have State Farm, USAA, Nationwide, Allstate, or another major carrier, having access to your insurance information should be mandatory.

Disaster Preparedness
Before you are in a disaster, being prepared and knowing what to do can make a huge difference. From building a simple checklist to an entire kit – be prepared.
Android: Disaster Readiness | iOS: StopDisaster | Blackberry: Disaster Management Guide

Emergency Response
You are in an emergency and first aid is needed. Not everyone remember exactly what to do in an emergency. These apps will help.
Android: First Aid – ARC | iOS: First Aid – ARC | WP8: Emergency Kit | Blackberry: First Aid Reference

Family Matters
Knowing the locations of your family members in a disaster/emergency is priceless, and finding them can be easy. The below apps will help you keep track of your family members, whether in an emergency or not.
Android: Life360 | iOS: Life360 | Blackberry: Life360 | WP8: HelpBridge

General Tools
These general tools will help you in a disaster or emergency.

• Flashlight
  Android: Tiny Flashlight | iOS: Flashlight by Rik | WP8: Flashlight-X | Blackberry: Flashlight
• Cloud Storage
  Android: Dropbox or Google Drive | iOS: Dropbox | WP8: Boxfiles for Dropbox or Skydrive | Blackberry: Dropbox
• Gasbuddy
  Android: Gasbuddy | iOS: Gasbuddy | WP8: Gasbuddy | Blackberry: Gasbuddy

Don’t limit yourself to these apps, and if you have one you prefer, definitely use it. Smartphones have given both companies and consumers access to information, and the ability to communicate more effectively. The only other things to recommend, are keeping a charger and extra batteries at the ready. Without those, everything else is useless.

Question: What happens at times like this?
Answer: Hundreds of millions of dollars of property damage escalate when many of us are not prepared to deal with the aftermath of power interruption due to downed utilities and the handcuffed efforts to restore power following a storm.

The following are examples of what can and does happen following a wide spread power outage:

1. Utilities can often go down for days if not weeks at a time.
2. Fires can result from damaged power lines and power surges.
3. Downed trees can delay power from being restored and slow service from 1st responders.
4. Power companies do not make repairs to home power connection – just from street to home.
5. Basements flood from failed sump pumps and sewer drain lines can back-up.
6. Local resources reach max capacity within hours following a storm – including EMS contractors.
7. Cell phones may not work due to overloaded circuits.
8. Realization of little or no preparation for needs of elderly / special needs persons.
9. Food spoils in defrosted refrigeration and freezers.
10. Insurance company claims response time is negatively impacted due to demand.

Are we doomed? No. You can prepare today for what you hope won’t happen tomorrow or the potential future. The following list will better prepare you for a power outage in the future. Planning now, can and will pay off, the next time the lights go out.

• Have a plan for your family – plan should include all family members and close friend contact info, places to stay, meeting places and plan protocols defined by storm loss (Tornado, Hurricane, Snowstorm, etc.) type.
• Stock up your supply kit to include: Flashlights spare batteries, a radio, First Aid Kit, Bottled Water, non-perishable food items, blankets, cold-medicines, corded land line telephone.
• Consider having back up power with a gas powered or natural gas whole house generator.
• Have a list of on-call responders to help in your time of need such as clean-up contractors, plumbers, tree services and electricians.

Be prepared in case you must evacuate:

• Think about how you will handle pets (can you take them with you?)
• Contact your relatives and tell them where you are going.
• Prepare a “To Go Bag” should you need evacuate.
• Take copies of important documents, prescriptions, child care items.
• ATM / credit cards, cash in small bills, backed up PC data, personal records & photos.
• Extra sets of keys.

Finally, be aware of the risk areas around your home and take measures to be best prepared. It is suggested you unplug all electrical items, except a lamp on each floor. This will protect electric items from damaging power surges, which can occur when power is restored. High end electronics should be used with a surge protected power strip when possible. Be knowledgeable with regards to turning off major appliances such as the furnace and hot water tanks, which may be necessary to temporarily ‘winterize’ your property for a prolonged power outage.

A little preparation today can make a big difference come the next storm which takes out the power to a neighborhood town near you.

Home maintenance isn’t as hard as it looks. With a little know how you would be surprised at how easy these are. You do not need to be a professional to ensure your appliances and structure are working properly.

The following are tips that can help you maintain your home. Many of these do not cost much but the payoff of completing the task is priceless.

There are many more tips to keep you busy when considering maintenance on your home. Please consult a professional to get even more information on how to keep large costs from creeping up on you. In regard to maintenance a little can go a long way, especially in your wallet.

As is the case with any time of property restoration, quick response is always a key step in mitigating a water loss. Extracting as much water as possible is next and is followed by proper dehumidification. Dehumidification can help save items such as soft goods, paper products, and other valuable porous materials. Timely dehumidification can also save structural items including sheet rock, baseboards, and fine woodwork. And finally, serious environmental conditions and secondary damage can be avoided as well as business interruption in most cases. And for you business owners, you know how costly business interruption can be.

Now, there are two types of dehumidification that are used in water damage losses; refrigerant and desiccant. We will focus on refrigerant this month. Many small commercial and residential water damage jobs are served well by this method. The dehumidifier pulls in humid air, runs it over cooling evaporation coils, and creates condensation, which is drained away. If any of you have a dehumidifier in your home, you know how this works.

Helpful Tip: If your personal dehumidifier has a relative humidity setting, a good range is anywhere between 30-50% for health and comfort.

These dehumidifiers are used to bring balance back to the drying system. When a dehumidifier cannot keep up with the rate of evaporation, a drying system is out of balance. This is where secondary damage, or damage that is not a direct result of water damage, occurs. An example of secondary damage is mold growth, and we want to avoid mold whenever possible. It is this reason multiple fans and dehumidifiers are used in many cases.

When water damage occurs, it is important to get the restoration process started as soon as possible. Phone calls to your insurance company and a restoration company should be the first step taken. The sooner you can get the water extracted and the proper dehumidification equipment installed, the sooner you can get back to life as normal. Or if this happens to your business, the sooner you can re-open your doors.

Here are 5 situations when you should consider having your ducts cleaned by a professional:

1. When water is present in your ducts

When moisture is in your ducts, it could cause mold growth. The first step is to eliminate the source of the water. Once that’s fixed, the area with mold should be disinfected and the rest of the ducting system should be cleaned as well.

2. Following construction

Regardless of whether you are moving into a new house or just recently finished a remodeling project, construction debris such as drywall dust, fiberglass pieces and sawdust can accumulate in ducts. It’s a good idea to have your ducts cleaned when moving into a new home or following a major construction project at an existing home.

3. When experiencing furnace problems

If you are having issues with airflow from your furnace, the cause could be a blockage. Have your ducts cleaned and inspected before investigating costly replacements or repairs. The proper maintenance of all furnace and air conditioning components can improve airflow.

4. When suffering from allergies or asthma

If someone in the home suffers from a respiratory ailment, it may be helpful to have ducts cleaned to remove allergy triggers like dust or dander. Pollutants in ductwork could cause unexplained illnesses in your household. Also, if your ducts are infested with rodents or insects, it’s a good idea to have the system cleaned after the infestation is removed.

5. If it’s been more than two years since the last cleaning

Over time, ducts accumulate dirt and debris from normal use that can degrade your air quality. Every home has dust, so it’s important to maintain a regular cleaning schedule to keep your ducts clean.

If you choose to have your ducts cleaned, it’s important that you have it done by trained professionals. Improper cleaning could damage your heating and cooling system or release more dust and pollutants into the air than if the ducts had just been left alone.
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