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How Dangerous is Mold in Your Home in Philadelphia, PA?

4/28/2023

Everyone wants the safest, healthiest home environment for their families. You would do anything to protect your loved ones from exposure to black mold in Philadelphia, PA.

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 damage in Philadelphia, PA?

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 and water damage in Philadelphia, PA 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 a flooded basement in Philadelphia, PA,” according to the CDC government website.

The issue is twofold if mold is growing in your home. You must clean it up or have mold damage cleanup in Philadelphia, PA, 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 cleanup in Philadelphia, PA company. Keep your family safe. Call the experts.

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Keep Mold at Bay in Fort Washington, PA

4/23/2023

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes how water damage in Fort Washington, PA situations (such as from a flood, leaky or burst pipe in Fort Washington, PA, sewage backup, etc) can be potentially hazardous… not just initially, but over time as well.

Why? Because of the potential of mold damage in Fort Washington, PA 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 you find black mold in Fort Washington, PA 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 damage in Fort Washington, PA 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 emergency cleanup in Fort Washington, PA company!

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Getting Ready for Weather

4/19/2023

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For many across the country — and the world — changes in weather patterns, especially from warmer weather to colder weather, means preparing the home for the inevitable intrusion of wind, rain, and more.

What does that involve? One would be weatherproofing, which means you are proactive in protecting your home from suffering from water damage in Philadelphia, PA. Even a small freezing-cold draft entering a home and affecting a pipe can freeze it and cause it to become a burst pipe in Philadelphia, PA, resulting in a water damage situation.
Here are some easy time-saving tips to ensure you not only save money on your gas or electric bill but also minimize the risk of mold damage in Philadelphia, PA to your home in very cold weather.

Inspection
This means start looking for openings — any openings — in your home that can allow air or water intrusion.
For air intrusion, check around doors and windows, and this is pretty easy if you just hold a facial tissue up around potential cracks and crevices. If there is any type of air leak, the tissue move and show that.
For possible water intrusion, look for water stains in basements, around windows, any place that seems possible for water to enter your home. Plug any openings you find with quality materials. You might need water damage cleanup in Philadelphia, PA.

Filters and vents
You want the maximum efficiency from your furnace system so change all filters on a regular basis, usually monthly.
Now might be a good time for a professional inspection of your duct work and having the ducts cleaned, if they are soiled.

Replace old weatherproofing
All your doors and windows should have weatherproofing material. With time and weather factors, these weatherproofing strips can and will age and become brittle and fail.

Purchase quality replacement weatherproofing materials and replace them if you notice they are not providing an air-tight seal. It’s not a bad idea to replace them every few years no matter how they appear.

Prevent to protect
With a thorough inspection and a little work on your home, you can prevent issues from arising during cold weather. Spend the time to do it right.

However, if something bad does occur — it happens! — and you suffer from any type of damage to your home, do the right thing and get professional help right away. Call your favorite company to clean up water damage in Philadelphia, PA. After all, it pays to call a pro!

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‘Do Not Do’ Activities After a Water Damage in Philadelphia, PA

4/16/2023

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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 basement cleanup in Philadelphia, PA company, 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 water damage cleanup in Philadelphia, PA 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 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!

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The Saga of Sewage in Fort Washington, PA

4/13/2023

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When water damage in Fort Washington, PA strikes your basement, or any part of the home, you panic a little. But it isn’t too bad as long as it isn’t too deep. You'll just need a professional for some basement cleanup in Fort Washington, PA.

But when sewage strikes, that’s an entirely different situation. Raw sewage can’t be as easily removed and cleaned as a typical water intrusion, such as from a storm or burst pipe in Fort Washington, PA.

The first order of business is to find out whose sewage it is. Did it come from your own home because it couldn’t drain properly? Is it a simple overflow from the toilet? Or is it from the sewer system backing up from the street?

There’s a big, big difference dealing with your own poo and the poo of all your neighbors.

The small jobs
As mentioned, sewage can occur from a simple toilet overflow. Those dirty jobs are easy to handle. Put on rubber gloves, preferably rubber boots, and other protective gear so there is no skin contact. A wet/dry vacuum is a handle tool for picking up raw sewage, since you are dealing with just one overflow and the amount is small. After removing the waste, use a powerful disinfectant on the floor to clean the last of it up. If you have carpet, that might need to be replaced.

The big jobs
Some sewage backups occur because of a failed sewer system, not just a simple overflow of a toilet.

A common issue with sewer issues is when your sewer line is attacked by tree roots. Over time, roots can work their way into the sewer line, as they search for water. The roots grow into the line, expanding and eventually plugging up the line completely. Then your normal household use of the plumbing system backs up into the home.

The worst type is a backflow from the public sewer system, where gallons — or even hundreds of gallons — of raw sewage from all types of sources can enter your home. There are various causes of this, but the bottom line is you now have contaminants that are very hazardous to your health.

When this happens, it’s time to protect yourself. Don’t attempt to go into the basement and clean it yourself, even if you have face masks and skin protection. The biological hazards are too great.

This is one of those times you must call a professional water damage company, one that specializes in sewage issues. After all, it pays to call a professional for emergency cleanup in Fort Washington, PA!

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Toilet Tragedies in Philadelphia, PA

4/9/2023

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There’s not much that can cause a panic and loud screaming than when the handle of the toilet is pushed and — instead of everything swirling down into the sewer line — it all comes rushing back out.

You know what the “everything” is... and you surely do not wish to be the offending flusher who must clean it up. But someone needs to do the emergency cleanup in Philadelphia, PA.

Yes, when a toilet overflows, it’s time to put on your best game face and get ready for action. Put this nightmare behind you. But before you start work, you might wish to reach for good shoes, like rubber boots, along with gloves and other protective gear. A nose clip might not be a bad idea, either.

The first order of business is to stop this exciting event from happening again. Be sure the toilet is unplugged, draining, and working properly. If you clean everything up and it all happens again, your nightmare just repeats itself.

Scrape up any (ick) solids and soak up any liquids with disposable towels. Remove as much excess contamination as possible.

Then liberally apply a strong disinfectant cleaner, something appropriate for this type of work. Your local hardware or grocery store will have a selection of products, and you may have something under your kitchen sink that will work.

Wipe down everything, even if in doubt if a surface was affected. Better safe than sorry. After doing all of this, do it one more time, just to be sure.
Follow this with cleaning the same surfaces with a typical bathroom cleaning product, to remove any remaining residues.

Although this is a common occurrence and it is a safe bet that every home has a vengeful toilet that has belched up offending olfactory gunk, be sure to do a thorough job with your cleanup process. Bacteria can grow and affect the health of your family.

To keep your home clean and healthy, there’s something else you can do. Reach out to your emergency plumbing service in Philadelphia, PA. They know how to handle not only floods, fire and smoke, or mold damage in Philadelphia, PA… but sewage backup as well. Let them handle the icky stuff.

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Prepare for Spring Flooding in Bensalem, PA

4/5/2023

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At the end of every winter, we might forget about the previous spring rains and subsequent flood damage in Bensalem, 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 Bensalem, 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 Bensalem, 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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How Dangerous is Mold in Your Home in Philadelphia, PA?

Keep Mold at Bay in Fort Washington, PA

Getting Ready for Weather

‘Do Not Do’ Activities After a Water Damage in Philadelphia, PA

The Saga of Sewage in Fort Washington, PA

Toilet Tragedies in Philadelphia, PA

Prepare for Spring Flooding in Bensalem, PA

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