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2017 Restoration Articles

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2017 RESTORATION ARTICLES
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Art- MZ article – Restoration- December 2017

Preventing Water Damage

DID YOU KNOW that a nice vacation is one of the most coveted, relaxing events you can experience? That’s right… a relaxing time in a beautiful location, enjoying time with family and friends… it can’t be beat.

But that nice vacation becomes a disaster with all kinds of regrets if the family arrives home to a flooded house!

It is one of the absolute worst events in life. You didn’t want to come home. You wanted to extend your vacation, but you know you have to go to work on Monday. So you arrive home late Sunday night, and when you walk in the door, instead of nice, plush carpet awaiting your footsteps, you discover a squishy experience, and the first thing you hear is the sound of a pipe spewing water all over the place in another room.

Oh, if only you had been home when that pipe broke! If you had been home, you could have quickly shut off the main water supply and cleaned up the small mess. But Murphy’s Law dictates that if the worst can happen, it will. Pipes seem to break when no one is home. Sump pumps seem to fail when no one is home. The list goes on and on.

What can you do?

Here are some tips homeowners can use to ensure water damage does not occur:

1.    Secure all windows and doors. Remember that a storm can drive water into your home if there is any type of opening, even a small one at a window.

2.    Don’t turn off the heat! Keep the thermostat set at a level that ensures nothing inside will freeze. In winter months, you never know how cold it may get when you are on vacation.

3.    Some hot water heaters have a vacation setting. Play it safe and take advantage of it.

4.    This one is really important! Shut off all water supply sources to anything that might leak, like the washing machine. Even better? If appropriate, shut off the main water supply to the home, but leave instructions if anyone is going to visit or stay at your home while you are away.

5.    Make sure your sump pump is in good working order. A failed sump pump means ground water is going to intrude and create havoc in your home.

So enjoy your next vacation, but don’t let coming home be a disaster. Follow these tips to make sure you don’t suffer from a water damage disaster.

(But if you do, call a water damage pro. They can fix it!)
 

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Art- MZ article – Restoration- November 2017

The Awesome Power of Flood Waters

DID YOU KNOW that just a little bit of water can become a huge headache?

This is true for water that might get into your basement, such as from a pipe break or a sump pump failure.

When this happens, you should quickly call your water damage pro because you know that it is really tough to clean it up yourself, plus you don’t want the added headache of dealing with mold.

But another type of water you should be aware of isn’t one that always comes into your home from a broken pipe or a failed sump pump.

It’s one that you can encounter while traveling, and you might not realize the danger.

That’s right. We are speaking of flood waters. When you see the stories on television, you know how dangerous they can be. We’ve all seen the clips and photos. But… did you know that it doesn’t take much water at all to put you and your family in danger?

Beware! It can happen to you…

The amount of water you can wade in safely at the beach doesn’t mean it is safe on the road. It only takes a tiny amount of water, maybe just an inch or two, to cause hydroplaning and loss of control of your vehicle.

And if you encounter six inches of flood waters, you can be in big trouble. You not only can hydroplane and lose control, but when you stop, your car can stall, leaving you stranded.

Add in another six inches of water and now your car can float away, with you inside of it!

You think big trucks are safe? Normally, they are, but it only takes two feet of surging flood waters to float away a big truck.

So play it safe. Stay in when there are reports of flooding. And when you must travel when there is heavy rain, stick to designated (and safe) driving routes.

While your water damage pro can handle anything that happens in your home, such as a flooded basement, he won’t be much help if you are in your car and you are floating away!

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Art- MZ article – Restoration- October 2017

Water, Water Everywhere!

DID YOU KNOW that water is the most essential element of life? That’s right. We all need water. We need it to bathe, to drink, to water plants and the grass, and even to enjoy recreationally, such as in a swimming pool.

But are there times when you may wish water was scarce? Yes, such as when some water ends up where it shouldn’t be, like on your valuable wood floor.

When that happens, you must clean it up quickly. If you don’t, permanent damage can occur.

Any remaining water in your valuable wood floor means there is the potential of the floor warping and then requiring expensive sanding and refinishing. Worst case scenario? You may have to replace areas of the wood floor that can’t be fixed. Ouch! That’s expensive.

Here’s the problem, though, the real challenge. When water does intrude, you can dry the wood floor with mops, towels and even that old box fan you have in the attic, but did you get it all? Is the water totally gone? You touch the floor; it seems dry, but is it really dry?

It would be nice if there was a way to determine if all moisture was removed after your home suffered from water damage.

Wait a second… is there a way?

There is! There are specialized companies that have some really cool equipment that can detect even the smallest amount of moisture. Like in carpet, in walls, in your wood floors, for example.

And that’s why calling a company specializing in moisture detection is a smart decision. Do it right. Call a water damage restoration pro.

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Art- MZ article – Restoration- September 2017

These Are Dangerous Waters

DID YOU KNOW that even a little bit of water in the wrong place can be downright dangerous?

That’s right. You want your home to be clean and dry, but once in a while, it happens… a pipe breaks, a basement floods, or a roof doesn’t do its job and the water comes right in.

While a small amount of water can be cleaned up easily, large amounts require a professional service. And the “categories” of water damage should be considered, no matter how much water is involved.

Category 1: Normal, “clean” water from a clean source like a leaky pipe, a sink, etc. This type of water is not considered dangerous, but if left unattended, it can quickly become harmful.

Category 2: This is “grey” water and may contain contaminants and bacteria that could be harmful to your health. At this point, it’s best to call a professional water damage company.

Category 3: This is “black” water and always considered dangerous to health of occupants. Do not attempt to clean this type of water, which consists of contaminants from sewage, toilet back-ups and flood waters. Always call a pro!

While it may be tempting to grab the wet-dry vacuum and clean up water on your own, consider the risks to your health and to your family. It doesn’t take long at all for a small amount of water to become a big problem, such as mold.

Be smart — call a water damage pro!

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Art- MZ article – Restoration- August 2017

Protect Yourself

There aren’t many events that are more disturbing or more tragic than a flood or fire in your home.

Your home is a place to raise your family. It’s a place to feel safe and secure. So when an event occurs that takes it all away from you — even temporarily — it’s normal for a feeling of helplessness to overwhelm those in the family.

You need help. You need reassurance. You want everything to be back to normal and you can’t do it alone.

So you turn to your insurance company and your agent you have been paying faithfully for many years. All you want is for your valuable items lost in the disaster to be replaced.

That’s what insurance is for, right?

But then you discover the hassle of proving what you had in the home and the condition of the items. Sure, you may eventually get replacements for all your lost belongings, but it can take a lot of time as you haggle with the insurance adjuster.

How to avoid this

Now is the time to prepare. There are some simple steps you can take to ensure that if the unthinkable does occur — even if it is just your basement flooding from rain waters — you are prepared.

Step 1:  Ask your insurance agent if he or she has a worksheet available so you can create an inventory of all your belongings. There are also online sites that have resources to document your belongings.

Step 2: Create the list of all your valuables, even those just valuable to you, and take video or photographs of everything. Be sure to scan all your paper receipts. If you don’t have a scanner, take close-up photographs of your receipts.

Step 3: You need to protect you documentation. Your lists, your photos, your scanned documents… all need to be put in a safe location. Most use the “cloud,” an online file system that can be accessed from any computer. Of course, you have the username and password, so all your data is safe.

Protect yourself. Have the proof you need in the event of a disaster.

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Art- MZ article – Restoration- July 2017

Hiding in the Shadows

DID YOU KNOW that mold can develop in your home and all it takes are three common things?

1.    Moisture: Mold needs moisture to grow, which is why you see it all the time in showers and baths… and, unfortunately, in basements. You can clean up the mold in a shower or bath, but when you see it in other parts of the home, it’s best to call a pro.

2.    Food: Mold is alive, and needs to eat. So usually you won’t see mold growing on plastic surfaces in your home. It will grow on wood and other organic surfaces. However, dirt in the carpet or on the floor can be a food source, so keeping your house super clean is smart.

3.    Darkness: Mold likes the shadows of your home, and grows quickly in the dark. That’s why basements are often the first place mold is discovered.

Do-it yourself mold removal?

If you are going to clean up some mold in your house, it’s important to protect yourself. A mold removal specialist knows the dangers of mold, and if you hire a pro, you will see him all suited up and protected against possible contamination.

For cleaning up very small amounts of mold, like you might find in a shower stall, be sure to wear rubber gloves, the type that come up to your elbows. And wear a good mask, the type the EPA recommends (like an N-95 from your hardware store) so that you don’t inhale mold spores. Spores are actually the dangerous part of mold, and they are very tiny and float in the air, which means you can breathe them in. Eye protection goggles are also smart, but avoid goggles that have holes in them.

Remember, do-it-yourself mold removal is only for those common molds like in showers and baths. Anything else? Call a pro!

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Art- MZ article – Restoration- June 2017

When a Pipe Breaks

 DID YOU KNOW that every home and business has water pipes, sewer pipes and lots of other pipes?

Of course you do, and you also know that they can leak and break and create quite a mess.

One thing that you need when this happens is a company to come to your aid — fast! When a flood happens in a home, there are many causes, such as a broken pipe, or maybe the hot water tank breaks, or sometimes the sump pump fails and the basement fills up with water. A flooded basement is not fun to come home to after a weekend away. Isn’t that when it seems things happen?

Have you ever thought of turning off your water source when you leave for a long vacation? You might consider it, doing so if you don’t have someone staying at your home. Even though water damage companies can quickly put things back in order for you, it’s best you don’t go through the experience at all!

But accidents happen. When you do have the unfortunate luck of a broken pipe or water coming into your home, you can, of course, clean it up yourself. But a professional water damage restoration company specializing in flood cleanup jobs has the professional equipment to quickly remove the water and then dry out your house so you don’t have to worry about mold or mildew starting to grow.

Have you heard the horror stories about mold growing after a pipe breaks, a roof leaks or some other catastrophe? Some of these stories are true. Don’t let this happen to you. When disaster strikes, you need quick, professional and capable help.

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Art- MZ article – Restoration- May 2017

It's Not 'Just the Carpet'

Many water damage pros have been called by good people just like you who need help “just sucking up the water from the carpet.”

This can be water from an overflowing sink, toilet, maybe a washing machine that got a little ambitious during the spin cycle… or it could be from something more serious, like a broken water pipe or roof damage from a storm.

No matter what, some homeowners only see and think about the squishy carpet and don’t know about all those other areas in the home where water has affected it.

That kind of thinking can get you into a lot of trouble.

While water can just damage the carpet, it usually goes other places as well… such as down the register vents into floors below, behind baseboards and then under the walls and then up the drywall, into other rooms, under furniture that you never move, and into all kinds of other areas. It can also get into wood floors you thought were watertight, creating all kinds of very expensive problems if you don’t get it all dried out quick.

Sucking up the water is just part of the job. Detecting where the moisture really went is important, as well as using professional tools and drying equipment to reach those areas and get them like they were before — bone dry, and safe for your family.

Calling your water damage pro immediately and then listening to his expert advice is something smart consumers (just like you) must do when water causes damage to your home. If you wait too long, you invite a host of difficulties, such as mold and odors that are challenging to remove.

Remember, it’s not “just the carpet” — it can be other areas of your home as well. Don’t take a chance. Call your water damage pro.

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Art- MZ article – Restoration- April 2017

How Dangerous is Mold in Your Home?

Everyone wants the safest, healthiest home environment for their families. You would do anything to protect your loved ones from exposure to any substance that could cause them harm.
 
One of those feared substances is “mold” and with what you have seen in the news in recent years, exposure to harmful or “toxic” mold has affected the health of countless people — folks just like you.
 
This brings up the all-important question: Just exactly how dangerous is mold in homes?
 
That’s a tricky question, because there are many types of mold and mold is virtually everywhere. There is probably a little bit in your basement right now. Your shoes when you came home yesterday no doubt brought in a few mold spores. Mold spores can be in breathable space and travel in the air.
 
When you step outside, you are surrounded by mold. There’s nothing you can do about that. The main concern is usually what’s in the home, not outside, although if you are sensitive to mold you should avoid all damp areas that could promote mold growth, inside and out.
 
Some people are affected by even the smallest amounts of mold. They may have nasal issues, watery eyes, coughing and other physical reactions. A smaller segment of the population are very sensitive to exposure to mold, having severe reactions that can be life threatening. Others aren’t affected at all, and can be around and/or exposure to all types of molds with no apparent sensitivities.
 
The CDC has plenty of information for those concerned with mold in homes. One of the issues they raise is keeping moisture out of homes. “Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding,” according to the CDC government website.
 
The issue is twofold if mold is growing in your home. You must clean it up or have it cleaned up, and you must fix the moisture problem. You can do your research on how to fix the problem, but the best solution is, no doubt, getting expert advice from your professional water damage restoration contractor or mold removal or remediation company. Keep your family safe. Call the experts.

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Art- MZ article – Restoration- March 2017

Electricity Exposed!

Electricity. It’s an amazing force of nature and used by virtually everyone in the world, in some form or other.

For most homeowners, and even those working in commercial buildings, the number of appliances that use electricity is mind-boggling. With that comes the issue of safety. After all, if you have a dozen (or more!) items all humming with power in your home, odds are that eventually there could be an issue with electrical safety.

Don’t let that happen to you. Give these practical, household appliance tips some consideration to keep your family and loved ones safe while enjoying the benefits of anything powered by electricity. Although electricity can become exposed, you don’t want that! Smoke, fire, and other damage can occur.

Appliance safety

An “appliance” doesn’t have to be a stove or refrigerator. The term can refer to smaller items, such as space heaters. All appliances that use electricity generate some type of heat and can become unsafe if electrical connections become loose or damaged. That can happen with normal wear and tear and age of the appliance. Even gas appliances, such as an oven or stove, most likely use electricity to ignite the flame, or even keep track of the time of day.

The job of certain types of appliances is to generate heat, and a lot of it, which automatically elevates the safety concern in the home. These can be toasters, toaster ovens, regular ovens and stovetops, space heaters, clothes and hair curling irons, hair dryers and more. The list can be extensive. Make sure, when applicable, there is plenty of space from anything that generates heat and anything that can ignite. Many homes have suffered fire and smoke damage because someone set down a clothes iron on something ignitable or the toaster was too close to the side of the refrigerator and papers attached to it caught on fire.

We all know this, as well: When there is electricity and water, shock hazards can occur, along with possible fire ignition. Analyze each appliance and make sure they aren’t too close to any water source.

Next month, we’ll discuss another appliance safety feature that you might be wondering about… power cords!
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And remember, if anything does happen in your home, whether it is a fire and smoke damage situation or flooded basement, do the best thing to bring conditions back to normal. Call your favorite disaster restoration company. After all, it pays to call a pro!

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Art- MZ article – Restoration- February 2017

Until Help Arrives

There are many steps you can take as a responsible homeowner when flooding occurs in your home, whether from an overflowing toilet or a failed sump pump.
 
First of all, keep it safe. Do not do anything that can cause physical harm to yourself or your family, which can mean working in areas with electricity that have water damage issues.
 
Pick things up. When water intrudes, picking up smaller items and placing them out of harm’s way is important.
 
For objects you value, normally smaller items, and can get to without danger to yourself, start wiping them off and getting them dry. Although your water damage pro will handle the final cleaning and restoring of valuable objects, you can do much to help the process. 
 
Some materials are sensitive, and need special attention. These can include wood furniture, fabrics, upholstery, rugs, art and other valuable items. If you can remove these from flooded areas and wipe them off and allow them to dry, you might assist the drying and restoration process. Especially pick up and allow to hang in a safe place items such as valuable rugs.
 
As a general rule, get things up off the floor. These would be especially larger, more valuable items, such as sofas, chairs, tables, etc. Most water damage situations are just a few inches deep, so putting these items up could be possible and very helpful to preserve their value. But if not, don’t worry… your water damage pro (who is no doubt now on the way) can handle it. He has special wood or foam blocks or other items to do the job to protect your furniture and larger items.
 
But no matter what, don’t delay in doing what is best: Calling your water damage pro!

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Art- MZ article – Restoration- January 2017

Keep Mold at Bay: Take Away its Food

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes how water damage situations (such as from a flood, leaky or broken pipe, sewage backup, etc) can be potentially hazardous… not just initially, but over time as well.
 
Why? Because of the potential of mold and how it affects human health. Exposure to damp and moldy environments and materials can be especially harmful to those sensitive to irritants common to mold contamination. Some find that even being outside near plant life in the process of decomposition is a problem. Mold and mildew can run rampant under certain conditions, causing allergic reactions.
 
So when a water damage does happen in your home, don’t take chances. Mold needs moisture. It needs to be fed. It will grow on organic materials that are wet. If you take away its “food” you inhibit the ability of mold to grow.
 
Important reminders
 
Remember that mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, anywhere there is a leak. This can be around windows, behind walls where water has intruded, from leaky roofs, and especially from leaky pipes – especially those that are leaking and you didn’t know about it!
 
Many homeowners are tempted to clean up water that comes into their home, such as when a sump pump might fail or when a toilet might overflow. Good intentions for sure. But if you don’t get it really dry, really fast, there can be problems.
 
Here’s a scary thought: Some professional water damage experts won’t even do a water removal job if they can’t get to it within 24 hours. They know mold could have started to grow and that means more work than simply extracting water and drying the home could be required.
 
You don’t want all that headache. When any water intrudes into your home, remember it’s more than water. It’s breeding ground for mold. Do what’s best. Call your water damage pro!