Common Signs of Water Damage

Detecting water damage can be a difficult task as often water damage losses don’t become evident right away. In fact, most of them exist over a prolonged period before being identified and restored. By that time, the underlying problem causing the water damage becomes severe and managing it becomes extremely difficult. For avoiding any such situation and ensuring that you contact the water restoration company before the problem turns bigger, you must get acquainted with the preliminary warning signs. The section below would introduce you to the most common indicators of water damage. 

Sound- If you think that all the signs of water damage are meant to be seen, you are wrong. There are some signs that can be heard. If you are hearing sounds of dripping water, rushing water, or creaking floorboards, it seems that your home might have already become a victim of water damage. It’s true that such sounds might also occur in spite of having a healthy plumbing system; however, still, you must get your home checked for water damage if you hear the sounds constantly. 

Smell- You must also keep your nose alert for detecting moisture or water damage in your home. Dampness boasts a distinct odor; it might resemble the pungent smell we usually associate with mold. So, when checking your home for water damage, you should look for smell besides other obvious indicators. 

Puddles- If there’s a leak in your home’s plumbing system or if something in the system is dripping, you might soon see pools of water develop along the problematic area. Whenever you find any unusual puddle, do monitor it and find out whether it returns after being cleaned up. A puddle that comes back even after being cleaned up might be a sign of a seepage or leak. 

Mold- Mold typically occurs only when there’s water damage. You might not need to hire a water damage restoration service provider if condensation in the bathroom has resulted in mold formation. However, you will have to treat mold as a sign of excessive moisture formation in certain parts of your house and do the needful for getting those affected areas dried as quickly as possible. Getting rid of mold is also necessary for health reasons; that’s because exposure to mold might make you and your family members suffer from allergy, headaches, and nausea. 

Coolness- Are you finding it hard to heat up your home? If yes, treat the problem as a sign of dampness in your walls. Accumulated moisture tends to draw out heat of the walls so that it can get evaporated. This makes the walls and the entire home much colder. 

Discoloration- Here, it must be noted that discoloration can occur due to a number of reasons; so, it’s important to make sure that the discoloration in your home is actually a result of water damage. If the discoloration has been caused by water “streaks” running down along an end of your house, it’s definitely a sign of water damage. In most cases, those streaks occur due to an overfull gutter. 

What To Do After Water Damage

          What’s the first thing that you are supposed to do after a major storm passes through your property? Apart from a storm, there are other factors that can cause flooding in your building, including burst pipes, appliance breakdowns, sewer back-up, faulty sump-pump and more. This can be a difficult time for you, but there are steps that you can take to feel in control of the situation. Here is what Temecula water damage restoration recommends:

Safety First

If the water damage was serious enough for you to leave your house to stay elsewhere, you should make sure that your flooded house is safe before you return. As a necessary safety precaution, check for any noticeable structural damage, such as loosened foundation elements, cracked walls, holes, and warping before entering your home. If there are any damages to sewer lines, electric devices, gas and water pipes, contact your utility companies immediately. Also, remember to switch off the fuse box and the main power source for your house because water and electricity don’t mix.

Take Pictures

Before you think about doing anything regarding the damage caused by water, make sure that you take clear photos or video for your insurer. Soft copies are useful because they can be copied and stored electronically. If you choose to dry out your property and make repairs before documenting the damage, you could significantly reduce your expected compensation.

Be Concerned About Your Health

The water in your flooded house may be clear, but there’s a chance it could be contaminated by household chemicals or even sewage. In light of this, you are advised to wear rubber gloves, high water-resistant boots or waders when you enter your home. Any food that may have been affected by the water should be discarded. Also, use only boiled water until the water entering your house is declared to be safe for consumption.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Temecula water damage restoration advises that you contact your insurance provider immediately. Homeowners insurance varies depending on the type of coverage that you have. Your provider will send someone (an insurance adjuster) to evaluate the damage and determine if it’s covered by your policy. This is why it’s essential to document every detail before cleaning out your home and making repairs. The photos and videos that you took may be used by the insurance company to assess the damage correctly. If there are any repairs that you want to be done immediately, you should talk to the insurance company about them. 

Cleanup

You should start the cleanup process after your insurance company has assessed the damage and advise you to go ahead. Anything that’s not safe for use should be thrown away. You may also be advised to remove the drywall, insulation, and flooring to prevent mildew and mold from spreading in your house. Also, furniture should be dried out, cleaned thoroughly or thrown away if the damaged caused is beyond repair. 

Mold starts to emerge 24-hours after a flood, and if left to grow, it can be very frustrating to eliminate them from your flooded house. In this light, you are advised to remove your belongings from water and dry them as soon as possible. However, you should seek the help of an expert to assess the damage before doing anything. Temecula water damage restoration is here to help you to assess your damage and advise you accordingly.

Want To Know More About Mold Damage Restoration?

Water damage restoration is an essential activity after any flood or excessive rains. Mold is one of most primary causes of damage due to water. Discussed here, are several ways you can avoid a mold attack and perform all water damage restoration activities.

Molds belong to fungi group of microorganisms. Most people believe that spraying bleach during water damage restoration is enough. Fact is water damage restoration can't be done with bleach alone. If you look at mold removal, the first step is to identify the source of leaks. You should start water damage restoration within 48 hours of water flooding on your home or office as mold takes that much time to grow.

The first step to water damage restoration is drying the area and the properties affected fast. Use the know-how of the methods in mind, or If you determine the extensive damage, call for help from professionals. You can utilize services of professional water damage controllers. These are a specialist who will come with the right equipment and know-how. However, if you have an insurance cover, you must call them to make assessments first before even doing any mold removal.

Your claim adjuster can also help you get a right contractor. You can ask him to call the contractor. With a professional, you can ask for thorough cleaning, drying and salvaging whatever can be recovered and refinished. Ideally, you should begin the drying within 48 hours of the flood. Also, in between flooding and drying, you should keep a minimum time of 48 hours.

If the mold has already covered a large area or is extensive, just seal that part from the rest of your unit to help you keep infants, older people and even yourself, safe and healthy. You should wear protective clothing if you are a part of a team doing water damage restoration. All workers must wear protective gears so that they do not get any infection.

Make sure you and the contractor's team had looked in every nook or cranny for any traces of mold. Do not leave places like behinds of wallpaper, wall to wall carpet, wall cavities, etc. You should inspect your property yourself before you give a signal to your adjuster to pay the contractor. Look for any strange smell or any traces of mold. If you observe any health issue, confirm that it is not due to decay. Water damage restoration should not be considered complete until every minute trace of mold has been checked, cleaned and the entire house dried.

If you see any mold-inflicted stuff that can't be retrieved, just keep it in plastic bags and dispose of it. There are several items which will not be in condition even after full water damage restoration. Stuff like tiles, insulation, fiberglass insulation may need replacement. Restore hard surfaces as long as you have used disinfectant along with vacuum pump.

If the area affected by mold is more extensive than 100 square feet, you will surely need professional help with the necessary equipment, so try and get help as soon as possible.

Essential Steps That You Should Take In The Event Of Flood Damage

Most people normally value their homes. However, accidents normally happen when you least expect. Your home can get flooded at any time. This mostly happens to those people who live in areas that are normally affected by storms and so forth. Floods are a common phenomenon in such places. Flood damage happens when water damage occurs from a water intrusion from outside your home structure. If your insurance policy covers flood damage, you can easily get compensated.
You will note that most policies normally exclude flood coverage because they are costly to purchase. Flood waters are normally considered contaminated waters because they can cause damage that is more expensive to fix than just regular water that comes from a kitchen pipe in your house. There are several steps that you should follow in the event of flood damage. These include:

1. Make an insurance claim
This is one of the first steps that you should take after you have experienced flood damage in your home. You should make a claim with your insurance company. You will realize that they will require a general description of the damage to the property. Depending on the level of destruction, your insurance company will get back in touch within a few days.

2. Hire an insurance adjuster to look at the damage.
It is important that an adjuster visits the property to evaluate the issues. He or she will determine if the problems were caused by wind or water. This decision will greatly affect what the agency will cover. If you do not have a flood insurance as part of your policy and the problem was due to water invading your home, you have to fight for your flood restoration damages to be covered.

3. Ensure that you document all the damages.
You should document all the damages caused as a result of flood damage before making any repairs. This can include the destruction of things such as: furniture walls, ceilings and so forth. If water rose significantly, your electrical system may require to be checked. You can also take photographs and videos of any structural destruction as well as any contents that were affected.

4. Take measures to mitigate further problems.
Once you have made an insurance claim, you should make temporary repairs to your home in order to prevent additional issues. If your windows had been broken, you should cover them with plywood. If your roof had been damaged, you can hire a professional to repair it. This can prevent your property from getting damaged. However, you should save the receipts for this work so as to recoup the costs. It is important that you keep the undamaged windows and doors open so that your house can dry out. This can go a long way in preventing the growth of mold.

5. Schedule permanent repairs.
Once everything has been evaluated you should begin to schedule the repair work. In this case, you can get a reputable contractor to help you out.
Flood damage can be detrimental to your home. You should follow the above-mentioned steps in the event of flood damage in your home.

HANDLING SMOKE DAMAGE AFTER A FIRE

Fires occur in residential or commercial premises from time to time and cause significant damage to property. Some of the major causes of fire damage are accidents and negligence, faulty wiring, faulty construction, defective appliances, willful misconduct and natural disasters. In case you are a fire victim, the next course of action is usually fire damage restoration.

Fire damage restoration is the process of returning the damaged property to its pre-loss state. One crucial aspect of the water/fire restoration process is smoke damage restoration. Dealing with smoke damage is often the primary pain point after the fire is put out. Below is a simple guide on how to manage smoke damage after a fire.

1. IDENTIFY THE TYPE OF FIRE

Not all fires are the same. Depending on the source, every fire will have a personality and damage type. Low oxygen fires tend to leave behind wet smoke residue. On the other hand, high oxygen fires leave the drier smoke residue. 

You will find it a lot easier to clean residue from high oxygen fires. In case you used water to extinguish the fire, the humidity in the premises will typically increase. The increased moisture causes the wooden structures to absorb more smoke and residue.

2. OBSERVE SAFETY

Smoke is corrosive and can damage anything if you give it enough time. In many cases, smoke from a commercial or residential fire is not only emanating from burnt wood. It may come from other items such as plastics, chemical, and leathers.

These factors will determine how you deal with the smoke damage. The air around these charred items may be toxic. As such, you should consider wearing nitrile gloves and dust masks. Another recommended task is ventilating the premises. Open all the windows and install a fan to circulate air.

3. ELIMINATE ANY SOURCE OF ODOR

Odor from smoke damage can be particularly challenging to deal with. Start by removing all the items that you have deemed to be a total loss or beyond repair from the property as soon as possible. Doing so will mitigate a considerable amount of the smoke odor.

The next step is drying any remaining wet items. Use fans and dehumidifiers to achieve this. The smoke odor may remain in upholstered furniture, draperies, carpets, and clothing. This will be the case if you do not adequately deodorize them before cleaning. You should ideally seek professional assistance for this process.

If you cannot have the textiles professionally treated, there are two options. The first is to soak the textiles in a cup of dishwashing detergent dissolved in a gallon of warm water. The second option is to use household chlorine bleach for the items that can be bleached.

4. CLEAN SOOT STAINS FROM WALLS

If possible, use a chemicals sponge to clean soot from the walls. Chemical sponges are usually available from a cleaning supply company. You can also use other non-water based cleaner for this task. Rubbing alcohol or paint thinner also work well. 

However, you must exercise caution while using these items due to the fumes and toxicity. Wear rubber gloves and increased ventilation while you are working. Avoid using water-based cleaners on plaster walls. They cause the stains to bleed into the walls.

You should contact your insurance agency as soon as possible following a fire incident. They may provide advice on the restoration process and legalities. They may be able to recommend a professional water and fire damage restorer. Regardless of whether you enlist the services of professional fire restorers, the above actions can help minimize further damage

Help! My Home has Suffered Water Damage

One of the most damaging and devastating things any homeowner can experience is water damage. The term ‘water damage’ entails a wide range of possible losses caused by sudden presence of water in your home, where it can lead to destructive processes like rusting of steel, rotting of wooden components, etc. Water damage can be caused due to different reasons such as burst pipes or catastrophic events like storm or flood.
When your home suffers from water damage, you will suddenly panic, worrying about what you can do now and what will happen to your stuff. The most important question you’ll ask yourself is: Will the damage be covered by homeowner’s insurance?
There is no doubt that water damage can be troublesome and the more you know about it, the better you can handle it. Here are some important things you must know about water damage.

1. Insurance Policies 

You may think that whether water damage is caused by flood or a burst pipe, it is the same. However, it is not the case. Flood damage is not covered under standard home insurance policies. If you live in an area where there is a possibility of flood, then you will probably have a policy through the National Flood Insurance Policy (NFIP).
You need to specify the claim you are making, whether it is water damage or flood damage, so that it can be addressed accordingly.

2. Bummer! Insurance does not cover all Water Damage 

It is important that you review your insurance coverage and find out about any exclusion related to water damage. Most policies provide insurance coverage on sudden damage, for example, if there was a bad storm then the water damage will be covered under insurance.
However, if water damage is caused due to improper maintenance on your part or gradual leaks over time, then insurance will not cover such claims.

3. Emergency Mitigation 

Once water damage has occurred, you must begin emergency mitigation to protect your home from further damage. How you handle water damage in the first 24 hours is critical for your property damage claims.
There can be serious life, health, and safety risks if water is not completely dried. It is best to contact water damage restoration companies to get the job done. They will have the right water removal and drying equipment to dry out your home and prevent further damage.

4. Contacting the Insurance Company

If your home has suffered water damage, then insurance companies should be contacted right away to make the claim. An adjuster will be sent by the insurance company to assess the damage and determine if it is covered by insurance. If your loss is covered by insurance, the sooner you contact the insurance company, the sooner they’ll pay out.
The insurance company may not send the adjuster right away so it is best to gather evidence for the claim. Take photos of the damage, the water, before, during and after clean up.
God forbid it should ever happen, but if your home ever suffers from water damage, keep these simple things in mind to prevent further damage and make the insurance claim to compensate for your loss.