Water damage in your home can be an absolute nightmare. It is oftentimes found after the fact and the damage can be catastrophic. The signs may come hours, days or weeks after a leak has occurred and the resulting issues can impound substantially. As a homeowner at the very first signs of water damage, action must be taken immediately for your own health and safety and peace of mind.

As in many cases, action is reactive with water damage. A leak may not be seen for some time and this simply cannot be completely avoided. At the first signs of water damage you must contact the right resource for assessment and repair. Additionally here are a series of first steps at the first sign of water damage:

• If possible, identify the source of the leak. This may or may not be easy but should be attempted in order to provide  information to a repair professional.
• Contact your insurance company right away. A claim will be put into action and will help with the next steps for repair.
• Call a remediation expert within 24-48 hours of discovery. 
• Take photos of the damage and progression of the leak. This will serve as a useful tool in assessment and insurance claim processes. 
• If applicable contact your HOA or Community Association. Certain bylaws may address structural leak issues. 

Water damage in your home can be a disaster both financially and emotionally. It can start your home into a long list of repairs that can last weeks, days or months. A headache for all involved and a situation that cannot always be avoided. Should you find yourself in this situation, rest assured that it doesn’t always mean a disaster response is to follow. As a homeowner it is crucial that you partner with a well trained, well qualified and above all else well trusted repair resource for just such an occasion. The worst feeling is not knowing who to call or what to do when a problem occurs. We cannot always prevent a problem but we can be prepared with who to call when it happens. 

Mold: can it ever be completely removed?

It is common knowledge that mold is many things at once. It is common and it is dangerous, it can grow anywhere and it can be nearly impossible to get rid of. While your best efforts and expenses will certainly try to tackle this issue, it will undoubtedly prove to be a formidable opponent at best. And while we know where and how mold happens, can it ever be fully removed?

Mold is known to grow in a high moisture environment especially around leaks in roofs, windows and especially where there has been flooding around building materials like drywall, tiles and paint.  Unfortunately many building materials provide perfect nutrients that encourage mold to grow. Wet materials like paper and wood products create an ideal foundation and breeding ground for mold and a high percentage of leaks large and small will find their way to these types of materials almost as soon as the water enters the building. This is precisely why time is truly of the essence in identifying the problem and getting it fixed. 

So once the issue has been professionally assessed and handled you might find yourself wondering if this problem will come back again. And the answer is yes but also no. Here’s what that means:

According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) “There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.”

So the takeaway is that even when mold is cleaned and removed, it will come back if the moisture and humidity levels are not controlled. The true and only permanent removal of mold is prevention and that is simply to control moisture levels not just from a disaster like a flood but from everyday sources like a dripping shower or even leaking plumbing fixtures. 

A leak should never be underestimated and ignored. The resulting damage can be an absolute nightmare for a homeowner. Mold growth can rapidly become a major problem in what seemingly feels like no time at all. Immediate attention and action is required at the first sign of a leak within your home. A well trained and qualified professional mold remediation company will be your most effective and thorough line of defense against mold growth. 

Holiday Fire Safety Tips Part 2

The holiday season is a very fun, very festive time of year. A season filled with many gatherings and celebrations, dinners and parties and a whole host of indoor and outdoor gatherings, all together with family and friends to celebrate with holiday cheer.

With the nature of the festivities of this season many homes are widely adorned with lights and trees, candles and decorations inside and out. And with the colder, festive months come a heightened level of unique dangers to most homes. A higher percentage of residential fires happen in the colder Fall and Winter months. Primarily caused by heating, electrical malfunctions and unsafe, unattended cooking indoors and outdoors. And while all of these hazards can happen anytime of year, they certainly seem to happen more frequently during the holidays and nothing will take the joy out of your holidays quite like a home accident or a  house fire. 

Regardless of what you celebrate or how you celebrate those special moments, please take the following steps and precautions into consideration this time of year:

• Outdoor decorations and maintenance:
  • Holiday Lights – Above all else, decorate responsibly. All outdoor lighting and extension cords must be manufactured for outdoor use only. Do not use indoor lighting for outdoor use. All lighting should be tested for strong wiring. Annual testing of all light strands and cords for frayed or exposed, decaying sections. Any damaged wires or cords should be replaced prior to use. Keep all lights away from standing water or snow and always protected and covered if weather elements occur. 
  • Chimneys – Have your chimney professionally inspected annually. With a wood burning fireplace only burn dry wood. Green or damp wood when burned can sizzle and smoke and create additional dangers to the roof .  
  • Outdoor fireplaces and firepits – Always maintain a minimum of 10 feet out from your home or any structure on your property. Never operate in windy weather as sparks and flying embers can easily set surrounding homes and plants ablaze. 
  • Decorations– As with outdoor lighting, decorate responsibly. Always ensure that all wiring and cords are in good condition, free of any damage or fraying. Always keep all plugs and cords away from water or snow and always covered and protected if weather elements occur. 

As a homeowner, understanding the elevated risks of this time of year and exercising simple attentive precautions will keep you, your family and friends and your home safe for many festive holiday celebrations for years to come. 

Holiday Fire Safety Tips Part 1

The Fall and Winter holidays are a festive time of year. The weather has cooled, if only slightly, and the season of celebration begins. It’s a time of year to bring out the decorations, indoor and outdoor, and invite friends and family over to celebrate with holiday cheer. 

With the nature of the festivities of this season many homes are widely adorned with lights and trees, candles and decorations inside and out. And with the colder, festive months come a heightened level of unique dangers to most homes. A higher percentage of residential fires happen in the colder Fall and Winter months. Primarily caused by heating, electrical malfunctions and unsafe, unattended cooking indoors and outdoors. And while all of these hazards can happen anytime of year, they certainly seem to happen more frequently during the holidays and nothing will take the joy out of your holidays quite like a home accident or a  house fire. 

Regardless of what you celebrate or how you celebrate those special moments, please take the following steps and precautions into consideration this time of year:

• Indoor decorations:
  • Holiday Lights – All lighting should be tested for strong wiring. Annual testing of all light strands and cords for frayed or exposed, decaying sections. Any damaged wires or cords should be replaced prior to use. Use clips instead of nails to hang indoor lights. A nail is easy to puncture a wire and will in turn leave an exposed section. 
  • Candles – Use real candles sparingly and in elevated, uncluttered spaces. Never leave a burning candle unattended and keep wicks trimmed in between each use. Always exercise extreme caution with burning candles when small children are present. 
  • Seasonal plants – All plants and trees should be a minimum of three feet away from any heating source, especially a fireplace. Always maintain appropriate water levels so as to not let your trees or plants dry out with increased home heating. 
  • Christmas tree – As with seasonal plants, always keep your tree a minimum of three feet away from any heating source and pay close attention that the heating vents are not blowing directly onto your tree which will in turn dry it out faster. Keep appropriate water levels constantly monitored and filled. Never under any circumstances put real candles on your tree as a decoration. And at the end of the season when your tree is removed from the home have it disposed of or recycled immediately. Never leave a dry, brittle tree in your yard or garage as it is highly combustible. 

• Fireplace– As with candles, never leave a fire in the fireplace burning unattended. Keep all manner of materials and decor a minimum of three feet away from the fireplace. Be aware of stockings hanging directly above a fireplace. 

As a homeowner, understanding the elevated risks of this time of year and exercising simple attentive precautions will keep you, your family and friends and your home safe for many festive holiday celebrations to come. 

How long does the fire restoration process take?

Just as no two fires are alike, no two cleanup and restoration processes will be alike either. To put it simply, the extent of the repair will be directly tied to the extent of the damage and can span weeks or months in either scenario. Regardless of the time, the most crucial factor is having a well-skilled, well-trusted restoration resource to help you navigate such a devastating time because the better the restoration company, the faster the cleanup. 

As the restoration process will vary in time given the individual details of each situation, there will be basic and common guidelines to expect with every scenario. 

• Assessment will occur first. This will be immediate and rapid as the safety concerns will be of greatest importance. Assessing the damage will be the key to knowing the extent of the work that needs to be completed. This can be one day or several. 

• Cleanup and damage control will be next. This can be a time variable depending on the amount of damage that has occurred. This can be days or even weeks dependent upon the scope of work that is necessary for repair and rehabilitation. In most cases this may be the most lengthy timeline of the process. 

• The primary factors that will determine the length of time at this stage will be extent of damage from the blaze, condition of the remaining structure and foundation, the presence of any water and smoke damage and lastly if there is any mold growth beginning.

• Repair and rebuild is the final component. Again, dependent upon the scope of damage, the scope of repair is determined. Any restoration company that is worth its weight will truly take the repair to the deepest level ensuring that your home and your family are in the safest conditions possible. 

A house fire can easily be one of the most devastating occurrences for a family.  Having the right resources at hand will be priceless for peace of mind alone. Part of managing this overwhelming experience is having a trusted support system in place to help you understand the process and guidance in the scope of work and timeline required. Time is of the essence and a trusted restoration resource will provide the much needed peace of mind to a homeowner during this stressful time.  The tools to alleviate stress will be a homeowners greatest resource of all and Affordable Home Works aims to be that resource for you should you need it.