Fires are scary and very traumatic. Even if they are put out quickly and the damage is somewhat minor, fire damage can be hard to clean up and take care of. Here at Warren Restoration, we handle all sorts of damage cleanup situations, including fire damage, often and would love to make your fire damage situations easier. Here are a few things that are going to help the cleanup process, as well as a few things that you should avoid when possible.
What to do:
Instead of tracking soot everywhere, line carpets and rugs with towels, rags or plastic.
Your HVAC system can spread soot, so change your furnace and AC filters. You can also cover your vents with towels or even cheesecloth.
Keep your movement within the home limited, and touch things as little as possible.
Don’t forget about the fridge! If you don’t have any power, turn it off, clean it out and keep the doors open.
What NOT to do:
Attempt cleanup on your own. This is a meticulous job that requires special attention and skills.
Use anything electrical. Wiring can be damaged from fires at different points, and you never know where damage might be lurking!
Keep canned goods. Throw them out, especially if they were near the fire.
Launder your own clothes. Consider a specialty dry cleaner. Some cleaners can actually cause the soot and smoke smell to be set rather than cleansed.
If you are the recent victim of fire damage, please contact us here at Warren Restoration today for the best in cleanup results.
Let’s get a few things straight! Mold is something that needs to be taken care of by professionals, and there are harmful types of mold. But before we become all doom-and-gloom, we here at Warren Restoration would like to tell you about some of the facts that can turn this horrifying microbe into something manageable.
First, mold is fairly common. There are thousands of species old mold out there, and the majority of them aren’t harmful to humans. This means that you don’t need to panic if you see mold growing in your home– but you do need professionals to address it.
Second, mold is not going to kill your real estate listing. Let’s say that you discover mold in your home, but you were thinking of putting it on the market soon. While you do need to disclose that mold was found, if it was professionally handled, it will not usually hamper the sale of your property.
Third, mold won’t come back if you take care of the underlying issues. Mold will come back time and time again if you don’t address leaks or humidity, but it will stop growing if you fix the leaks, encapsulate crawlspaces and don’t provide a hospitable environment.
To learn more about mold growth and how to tame it in your own home, give us a call today at Warren Restoration.
Weather damage and other unexpected disasters can affect any homeowner. If you are worried about mold, water, fire, storms, wind damage or any other issue that has occurred on your property, give us a call us at Warren Restoration! Our family-owned business is ready and able to help you with all your disaster restoration needs, no matter what time of day or night it is! We offer disaster cleanup, biohazard and hoarding cleanup, and restoration services that are always focused on saving and restoring, rather than demolishing, whenever possible. To learn more about our emergency services and disaster cleanup and restoration assistance, please contact us today.
Water damage isn’t something that any of us want! If you are a homeowner, it can be helpful to read this article even if you haven’t experienced water damage. We here at Warren Restoration like to help our customers be as prepared as possible, so we have compiled a list of four things we want you to know about water damage problems.
Not all insurance for water damage is the same. There is water damage, and then there is flood damage. They are two completely different things. This can be confusing, but flood damage usually occurs from things like living in a flood zone, excessive rainwater or sewage backup, whereas water damage is caused by a burst pipe, washer overflowing, etc.
There are different types of water. When it comes to water damage, did you know that there are different types of water? Most insurance and damage control companies will rate your water into 3 categories: clean water, water that can contain bacteria, and water that is highly contaminated.
Water damage needs immediate attention. No matter what type of water damage you have, it needs immediate attention. Mold can start growing within 24-48 hours after water exposure, so time is of the essence!
Your insurance company needs to know. The first call you make after discovering your water damage should be to cleanup and damage restoration experts. The second needs to be to your insurance company.
If you are the victim of water damage in any way or form, please contact us here at Warren Restoration immediately.
Flooding is something that no one wants to happen to their home. Even if the flooding is minimal from rainwater or from an indoor water source, flooding can be damaging and problematic. Here at Warren Restoration, we help with flooding issues often, and we have seen that there are more issues than just water damage when it comes to flooding– especially if the flood isn’t taken care of immediately. Here are just a few hidden damages you should watch out for if you have recently been the victim of flooding.
Mold. Mold and flooding problems, sadly, go hand in hand! Mold loves to grow, and it needs moisture in order to do so. If your property is not dry, it doesn’t matter which materials are damp– they can start to mold.
Higher Risk of Fires. During a flood, if the water level is high enough, it can short circuits in appliances and mess with the electrical outlets. This increases your risk of fires due to appliance wiring malfunctioning.
Exposure of Contaminants. If your flood waters came from the outside of the property, such as rainwater, then you are at an increased risk of contamination and exposure to bacterium. Rainwater runs along collecting pesticides, germs and even sewage if the sewers back up, so all of these substances can be located in flood waters.
Increased Pest Problems. Did you know that termites and carpenter ants prefer soft wood? Moist wood after flood waters is particularly soft and easy to chew through, making it an easy target for pests like these.
In order to prevent issues like these ones, be sure to contact us immediately after flooding problems for the best results.
When you plan to leave your home for several days, you should learn how to prevent water damage to the structure while you are away. There are several types of problems that can lead to having water in a building, causing extensive problems. Some of the situations that can occur while you are away from your home include:
Bursting water pipes – tends to happen during the winter
Natural floods – from overflowing rivers or lakes
Sewage backups – leading to moisture and sewage damage
Water heater leaks – from an old and degraded water heater
Flooding from plumbing fixtures – caused by old sinks, bathtubs or toilets
Storm damage – caused by rooftop leaks after heavy rainstorms
Before you leave home for an extended amount of time, make sure to avoid any water damage by performing these tasks.
Water damages are one of the biggest reasons no homeowner should skimp on good coverage. Whether it’s from a busted pipe, broken septic system or a flood, water damage is one of the most crucial forms of coverage on a home insurance policy.
Although water damages are one of the most common claims, knowing what classifies as eligible damage can be tricky. In fact, there are many instances where a homeowner may want to claim water damages but cannot receive compensation.
Read on to learn more about how home insurance providers define water damages, what types of water damages you can claim and how to get covered in the event your property is affected.
Can you imaging your basement, completely flooded? What about moldy drywall? Or Mildewed grout? Mold is the ever present culprit when water damage occurs. Here’s 9 tips for preventing mold damage from ever happening in the first place.
If you see a water stain on your ceiling, it is likely because of a leak coming from a heating appliance, your roof, or a part of the plumbing system. It may have seeped through the ceiling and then evaporated, leaving the discolored patch of mineral deposits. Warren Restoration is interested in helping clients do some detective work and find the source of the leak.
Roofing systems are never permanent. If you want to enjoy maximum ease and comfort, you should aim to replace your roofing system at home in intervals of two full decades or so. You shouldn’t ever brush replacement off, either. Failure to address a roofing system that’s past its expiration date may lead to all sorts of headaches for you. It can help to take note of any and all indications that your roof may be due for complete replacement service.
