There are the numerous fans that turn your living room into an airport launch pad as well as dehumidifiers left in the middle of the room. Obviously this equipment is necessary and imperative to the goal of getting your home dry and back to pre-loss condition, but what are the benefits of property dehumidification? We will explore them next. As is the case with any time of property restoration, quick response is always a key step in mitigating Read More
You finally have your dream basement. Nicely carpeted, stocked with food and drinks, outfitted with the latest electronics, a home entertainment system and comfy furniture. Now for your nightmare: a heavy summer downpour that threatens to flood your newly remodeled basement. Could this disaster have been prevented by a small pump installed in the lowest part of your basement? This pump, known as a sump pump, can help keep the area under your Read More
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 Read More
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 Read More
When water damage occurs, there are five specific stages of water damage. Treatment must be quick and appropriate to limit the severity of the damage. The need for emergency service should become very apparent as we review the five stages of water damage. 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 Read More
Why does condensation form on your windows, and what you can do to prevent it? Common results due to damage from condensation are: 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 Read More
You come home and find your basement drowning in 3 inches of standing water. What happened? What do you do now? 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 Read More
The arrival of colder weather brings the promise of frozen pipes for homes and businesses, especially those unoccupied for extended periods of time. Insurance companies estimate approximately 250,000 homes have their pipes freeze and burst each year. 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 Read More
Spring signals the end of winter, the beginning of warmer weather, and the perfect time to start looking for warnings signs your roof might need a little attention. While roof repair can be expensive, the inspection can be free if you do it yourself, and know the signs. Before going on the roof, conduct a visual inspection to ensure it is safe from rot and debris. Make sure the pitch of the slope is no greater than 6/12. This means for every Read More
A flooded basement is one of the trickier elements of water damage restoration. It involves various steps to ensure a complete restoration. If you have a flooded basement, make sure you turn off any electrical feed inside the house. At this point, before you are able to go down to the basement, you have no idea if you have any short-circuits down there, something which may cause fire hazards, or even threatens your life. If you do not have a Read More