At the end of every winter, we might forget about the previous spring rains and subsequent flood damage in Philadelphia, PA that might have occurred in the area.
But when unrelenting rain starts to fall, one thing you don’t want to experience is regret in not being prepared, whether it is from leaks related to your roofing, windows, or the possibility of a flooded basement in Philadelphia, PA. While those might seem like minor issues, when they happen to you, they quickly move up to disastrous. Making sure your home is safe, secure, and devices like your sump pump (if you have a basement) are in good condition. But when heavy rains hit your area, and flooding is a possibility, the website ready.gov has some great advice for your preparedness plan. Make a plan This is important to do in advance, as when an emergency strikes you will be in panic mode. Have a discussion with family members, about what you will do, where you will go, where you might meet up if separated and mobile phones are not working. Be sure to discuss your pets as well and have a plan for them. Human life is invaluable, and we feel the same way about our pets. Have a written list of important phone numbers in case your cell phone loses charge or isn’t functioning. Build a ‘go-kit’ Have the necessities in a backpack or other easy-to-grab bag. Necessities include documents, such as birth certificates, passports, legal documents, and other papers you should not lose. Having some cash is important in the event credit cards can’t be used. Clothing, medications, and other necessities should also be in your ‘go-kit’ supplies. Basically, think about what you simply can’t go without for several days if you have to be out of your home. Check your insurance policy Now is the time to make sure you have coverage for natural disasters that might strike your home. Don’t assume. Ask your insurance agent and make sure you have it spelled out clearly in your policy. Not all natural events are covered by regular homeowner policies. But if the unthinkable does happen to your home, and it becomes damaged by any disaster event, do the right thing and get it all fixed quickly — and safely. Doing the flood cleanup in Philadelphia, PA yourself can expose you to future potential hazards. Call your favorite restoration company. After all, it pays to call a pro!
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Musty basement cleanup in Levittown, PA is a chore that must be done quickly yet can be very frustrating. Trying to chase down a musty odor is not easy. It’s a restoration project that is crucial to you enjoying your home.
A smelly basement is not just an odor problem; it usually indicates something more severe is going on. What you are smelling could be just damp materials, but it could also be black mold in Levittown, PA growing, and the off-gassing of that process. This isn’t pleasant nor healthy. There are several steps you, as a homeowner, can take to help fix this issue. Step #1 Doing some simple cleaning can accomplish quite a bit. Keeping things clean – and dry – is key to curbing the smells that can come from a basement. Take the time to inspect all the materials in your basement and get water damage cleanup in Levittown, PA. Most likely, these items that could have odor issues are porous materials, such as clothing, bedding, and similar items. Have your carpet cleaned professionally, if there is carpet in the basement. Using a home carpet cleaning machine might actually do more damage than good. Hire a pro. Step #2 Look at the sources of potential musty odors. Windows that are drafty, walls the seep in water, anything that can create odors should be inspected and addressed. Remember that musty smells usually come from water in basement in Levittown, PA. Step #3 Although you may think that your basement is nice and dry, it might not be. The only way is to monitor the humidity level. You can do this with a hand-held device, the type your restoration pros use, but that may not be practical for you. Those devices can be very expensive. Better yet is to set up a dehumidifier that has that information on it with its display. This way, you can run the dehumidifier as needed to keep the humidity at the level you want it to be. The lower the humidity, the less you should experience musty odors in the basement. And the absolute best way to know if those musty smells from the basement are due to water intrusion, or other restoration issues, and what to do about them, is to consult with your favorite water damage professionals. After all, it pays to call a water damage in Levittown, PA company! Even the smallest amount of water that intrudes into your home can quickly gravitate from a nuisance to a significant issue. And a water intrusion that involves hundreds or thousands of gallons of water may mean you become homeless for a short time, while the repair is performed
Did you know that water losses are given classifications? One water loss isn’t always like the next. There are differences. Many water damage in Philadelphia, PA situations involve a basement, and often a sump pump failure. Others are from leaky pipes or even broken pipes in Philadelphia, PA. When this occurs, along with other types of water loss situations, did you know the water type is classified by professional water damage restoration experts as “clean?” That’s right. Even if it looks dirty, because of a lower amount of potentially hazardous contaminants in the water, it is given a “Category 1” classification. However, this type of water loss can quickly escalate into a more dangerous situation, if not removed and affected materials dried out quickly. Then we have water damage situations that may contain potentially hazardous contaminants and bacteria that could be harmful to your health. An example would be a toilet that overflows, that doesn’t involve raw sewage. This would be a “Category 2” classification. A Category 1 can become a Category 2 if left unattended, because of bacteria and microbial growth occurring over time. And it gets worse from here. A “Category 3” water damage situation is “black” water and is always considered dangerous to the health of occupants in a home or building. An example would be a raw sewage backup and contamination. Another would be flood cleanup in Philadelphia, PA waters, since you aren’t sure of the source of the water or where it has been. The contamination involved would dictate wearing personal protective equipment and even respirators. Never risk your health. For Category 1 and Category 2, there is a chance you could extract and dry the area yourself. Often, it ends up in frustration and even mold growth. But for Category 3, never attempt this on your own. In fact, play it safe. Always call a professional water damage cleanup in Philadelphia, PA company when you have any type of flooding situation in your home. After all, it pays to call a pro! When a fire, flood, water leak, mold damage in Bensalem, PA, or other issue that makes your home either inhabitable or just an inconvenience to deal with, you must decide “Will I clean this up myself, or hire a pro?”
While some small, minor “disasters” can be tackled by a do-it-yourselfer, most restoration projects are best left to the pros. Here’s why: Safety Obviously, keeping your family and loved ones safe is important to you. When dealing with disaster issues, what might seem like a minor issue may actually be a dangerous situation. Water damage, even from the smallest leaks, can require mold cleanup in Bensalem, PA. Wet materials that might seem to be drying out could hold moisture in hidden areas. Smoke from a fire can be dangerous as well. Back to normal Anyone that has never suffered from a loss might not understand the emotions, frustrations and feeling of hopelessness that are common during a restoration project. Using a professional company means things move along quickly, and you are back in your home or able to use damaged rooms as soon as possible. Doing it yourself can make the project drag on for days longer than necessary, often with undesirable results. Insurance coverage Water, fire, smoke, wind, mold… what’s covered? And what’s not? Insurance policies are difficult to interpret, yet a professional disaster restoration company works with insurance companies every day, so they are best equipped to help you through the process of dealing with insurance agents and adjusters. You want to be treated fairly and receive fair coverage from your insurance company. Having a qualified, reputable restoration contractor in your corner helps with the entire process. A disaster restoration company can help with flood cleanup in Bensalem, PA. Do what’s right. Call your disaster restoration in Bensalem, PA company when you suffer any type of loss. Broken pipes in Philadelphia, PA, leaky roofs, plugged up drains, wind-driven rain, and other issues can strike at any time, especially during spring weather.
When water intrudes, you want to clean it up, and fast. Most homeowners call their favorite disaster restoration company in Philadelphia, PA, but while they wait, they find it very difficult to do nothing about their unfortunate situation. Some may attempt to vacuum up the water, get out all the fans, rip out wet sheetrock, and other tasks that need to be handled — at least in the minds of those affected by a disaster. It’s really tough to sit by, wait, and do nothing in a situation like this. But often, that’s exactly what you should do. Nothing. Make the phone call to your restoration company and get their advice and wait for them. With this in mind, consider these definite “do not do” activities in the event of a water damage in Philadelphia, PA situation. Do not vacuum up any water with an ordinary vacuum cleaner (yes, it’s been done and not with good results) and it is best to avoid even a wet/dry vacuum. If you must do some water extraction yourself, make sure it is a professional grade piece of equipment, such as something you might rent, as there are safety considerations to keep in mind — such as avoiding electrocution. Don’t use electrical appliances, even ordinary ones that might seem harmless, when in the vicinity of flooded areas. Make sure any power cards are properly grounded in your home. Don’t go into heavily flooded rooms if you can, don’t walk on wet carpet or through flooded areas, such as a basement. Again, the electrical issue can be a factor. If the flooding is limited and you simply have a squishy carpet, you may be able to move around the home, but only after you have made certain power is turned off in affected areas and there are no safety concerns. Don’t start pulling apart building materials, such as sheetrock, or removing carpet, as you might make a bigger mess that will make more work for the restoration company that is on its way. Small injuries can quickly become infected injuries. Don’t wait! Disaster restoration companies clean up water damage in Philadelphia, PA and work 24/7, 365 days a year. It’s the nature of disaster work. Do the right thing, and give your favorite restoration company a call the minute disaster strikes. After all, it pays to call a pro! At the end of every winter, we might forget about the previous spring rains and subsequent flooding that might have occurred in the area.
But when unrelenting rain starts to fall, one water damage in Toms River, NJ thing you don’t want to experience is regret in not being prepared, whether it is from leaks related to your roofing, windows, or the possibility of a flooded basement. While those might seem like minor issues, when they happen to you, they quickly move up to disastrous. Making sure your home is safe, secure, and devices disaster restoration in Toms River, NJ like your sump pump (if you have a basement) are in good condition. But when heavy rains hit your area, and flooding is a possibility, the website ready.gov has some great advice for your preparedness plan. Make a plan This is important to do in advance, as when an emergency strikes you will be in panic mode. Have a discussion with family members, about what you will do, where you will go, where you might meet up if separated and mobile phones are not working. Be sure to discuss your pets as well water in basement in Toms River, NJ and have a plan for them. Human life is invaluable, and we feel the same way about our pets. Have a written list of important phone numbers in case your cell phone loses charge or isn’t functioning. Build a ‘go-kit’ Have the necessities in a backpack or other easy-to-grab bag. Necessities include documents, such as birth certificates, passports, legal documents, and other papers you mold damage in Toms River, NJ should not lose. Having some cash is important in the event credit cards can’t be used. Clothing, medications, and mold cleaning in Toms River, NJ other necessities should also be in your ‘go-kit’ supplies. Basically, think about what you simply can’t go without for several days if you have to be out of your home. Check your insurance policy Now is the time to make sure you have coverage for natural disasters that might strike your home. Don’t assume. Ask your insurance agent and make sure you have it spelled toxic black mold in Toms River, NJ out clearly in your policy. Not all natural events are covered by regular homeowner policies. But if the unthinkable does happen to your home, and it becomes damaged by any disaster event, do the right thing and get it all fixed quickly — and safely. Doing the cleanup black mold in Toms River, NJ yourself can expose you to future potential hazards. Call your favorite restoration company. After all, it pays to call a pro! |
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August 2024
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