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Today’s world seems to offer us a limitless variety of new environmental toxins and irritants that can make us sick. But one old nemesis, mold, has been with us for as long as homes have harbored moisture. Let’s take a look at how this common household problem can wreak havoc on your health — and when you need to leave mold removal to the professionals. What Is Mold? Mold is a type of fungus made up of yeasts. These yeasts accumulate into thread-shaped assemblies which may grow until they take over large areas of a floor, wall, or other surface. Mold requires moisture in order to thrive, so it tends to grow on damp areas of a home. You may recognize a mold problem, if it’s hidden from view under floorboards or inside air conditioning ducts, by the presence of a mildewy or musty smell. Mold and Its Effects on … Continued

One of the saddest things about the aftermath of a flood is seeing your precious and irreplaceable photos lying in a pool of water. A couch or a dining room table can be dried out or repurchased, but nothing can re-capture those special moments with your friends and family. The good news is that your wedding, vacation, family and other photos can be restored in most cases, if you act quickly. Steps for restoring and fixing your photos 1. Don’t delay. The longer you wait, the less likely you’ll be able to restore your photos. You want to begin working on your photos before they have a chance to dry out and stick together. Peeling them apart after they’ve dried will often damage the face of the photos. Ideally, your photos shouldn’t stay wet for more than two or three days. 2. Rinse the photos in cold, clear water. Begin … Continued

The foundation of your home is what keeps it standing. What happens when your foundation is badly damaged? Recovering after a disaster or other problem can be difficult, knowing a bit about the repair process may make it easier. Here is the basic process of foundation repair. Why Your Foundation Might need Repair There are a million different reasons your foundation might need to be repaired. Maybe your home has been through an earthquake, maybe it has been through a fire, maybe there is a sinkhole in your yard, maybe there has been a flood; there is no end to the possible situations that may have caused a need for repair. Since foundation repair is exceedingly common, learning about the process may be beneficial to you. In most cases, a major structural event is what causes the need for foundation repair. Perhaps you noticed that your home started sinking after … Continued

Tips for Snowbirds – An End of Winter Checklist There are many benefits to spending the winter in Arizona. But when it comes to getting your vacation home ready for your summer escape, it is important to be proactive instead of reactive. Here are a few tips for snowbirds to prevent water damage while they are away for the warm season. Trim Back Trees The desert monsoons include notoriously brutal wind, and a fallen tree limb can easily cause roofing damage. In some cases, this damage then leads to flooding on the inside of the home due to the accompanying intense summer rains. Help keep this type of severe issue at bay by trimming back foliage ahead of time or hiring a professional landscaping company to monitor the situation throughout your time away. Check Doors and Windows Another important thing to check before you leave is the weather stripping on … Continued

Cleaning Up Smoke Damage, Professionals vs At Home Methods After a fire one of the most common issues that people deal with is smoke damage and the pervasive smell of smoke in their clothes, their belongings, and even in the house itself. Using home remedies like vinegar to remove smoke odor may work on a small scale, but when it comes to cleaning the entire home of a smoke smell, a professional company is going to be the best bet. Using Vinegar to Remove Smoke Odor White vinegar is a great way to clean smoke damaged clothes and to get rid of the odor without your having to throw them out. You can add vinegar to your wash and it will help neutralize odor. Vinegar can also be used to wipe down surfaces and neutralize the smell of smoke on hard surfaces. Another way to use it is to leave … Continued

What Type of Restorative Services are Involved in Cleaning Up Fire Damage? After a fire, odds are your head is reeling and you really are not sure what direction to go in. That being said, the first step you should take is finding a reliable fire restoration contractor. Contractors are not only going to have the tools needed for restoration and recovery, but they are also going to have know-how and experience that you may not have yourself. Your fire restoration contractors will be able to help you determine what steps to take next and what services you may need to recover. Types of Restoration You Might Need After a Fire Fire Damage The first type of damage you will likely face is the fire damage itself. In most cases, items that are severely damaged by fire are better thrown out and replaced than trying to salvage them. A good … Continued

While many furniture pieces can be replaced with insurance money after a fire or other disaster, family heirlooms and unique items that you’ve collected over the years have special meaning and are worth a little time and effort to try to keep them.  Many furniture items, such as wood tables, chests and chairs, are good candidates for restoration after a fire. Soot and water from the fire department’s efforts to extinguish the fire are the biggest causes of damage after a fire. Fortunately, in many cases, these pieces can be cleaned up to (almost new) condition.  1. Act quickly. The quicker you act after the fire, the greater your success rate at restoring your furniture. That’s because soot, combustion byproducts and water will continue to seep into porous wood after exposure. Removing these elements quickly is important to curbing any further damage. In addition, avoid unnecessary handling until you are … Continued

A Running Toilet Can Cause a Flood Water damage doesn’t always involve a massive monsoon or major foundation breach. Some floods begin as nothing more than a leaking or running toilet. Let’s examine how the littlest room in the house can create a big flood problem, along with steps you can take to prevent, troubleshoot, and respond to such problems. Parts of a Toilet Your toilet is a fairly simple piece of machinery. The toilet bowl has a twisted water trap which sends used water through the toilet drain to the sewer line as fresh water pours into it from the toilet tank. When you flush the toilet, the chain attached to the flush valve open a rubber flapper at the bottom of the tank. At the same time, a fill valve allows fresh water to re-fill the tank until an attached float ball presses against it, closing it off. … Continued

In the event of a nasty rainstorm, you have likely heard friends or neighbors mention the need for a sump pump. In homes with basements that get any amount of water, residents will want to invest in a sump pump. Sump pumps are installed in the lowest level of a house, typically the basement or crawlspace as a way to prevent residential flooding. If you have experienced any form of water damage in the past and don’t have a sump pump, you should contact a contractor to receive an estimate on sump pump installation.   What is a sump pump? Sump pumps are designed to remove water from the lowest point in the basement or crawlspace of a home. Both groundwater and rainwater are collected by the sump pump and then pumped several feet away from the property. A sump pump is designed to work in conjunction with a sump … Continued