Archive for 'Water damage repair'

Spring is here and for allergy sufferers that can mean watery eyes and itchy noses. Pollen and other outdoor influences can make your allergies worse, but many times the culprits are indoors. Here are some common household sources of allergens and a few tips for keeping them at bay.

Mold

Mold is all around us. Spores are in the air, inside and out, and molds are constantly breaking down old plants, foods and other organic materials. Mold thrives in moist conditions, which means that the leaky bathroom pipes or water damaged sofa are prime locations for mold growth.

Mold allergies typically present with symptoms similar to that of other allergies. You may have a stuffy or runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, rashes, hives and/or wheezing. Getting rid of indoor mold sources may help your symptoms.

Mold breaks down any surface where it grows, so it is important to act quickly if a mold problem develops in your home. Cleaning mold can release mold spores, so if you have a mold allergy be careful when cleaning or hire a professional mold remediation team to tackle the job for you. If your home has permanent damage from mold or if you can’t clear up the problem on your own, get professional help.

Dust Mites

Dust mites are another common household allergen. Interestingly people are typically allergic to the dust mite droppings rather than the dust mite themselves. Dust mites thrive in moist conditions, just like mold, so a dehumidifier might be a good investment if you have allergies. Frequent cleaning and lower humidity can keep dust mites at bay.

Professional carpet cleaning can help get rid of dust that vacuuming alone cannot reach. Try to clean your carpets at least once a year, more often if you have pets or children. Clean carpets don’t just look great, they can improve your indoor air quality while removing potentially irritating substances from your home.

Animal Dander

Your pets may also be making your allergies worse. Animal dander, or dead skin cells, can cause allergic reactions. Other people may react when they come in contact with pet saliva or urine that is commonly found on animal fur. If you have allergies keep your pets outside or consider finding them a new home.

People with animal allergies may be able to minimize their symptoms by limiting their contact with particularly allergenic areas. For example scooping the litter box might not be the best choice if you can find someone that isn’t an allergy sufferer to tackle the job. Pet hair can harbor allergens, so vacuum regularly and clean your carpets professionally at least twice a year.

Allergies can be miserable, but relief is possible. The right care and limiting your exposure to these three household allergens may make a difference in your allergy symptoms this spring.  To learn more about Mold removal Carlsbad, click here.

Red, itchy eyes and stuffy noses. Allergies are no fun. Outdoor allergens like pollen and dirt are common causes of allergy symptoms, but they might not be your only problem. Your home could be the cause of many of your allergy symptoms.

Watch Out for These Common Allergy Sources in Your Home

• Pets- Even brief exposure to a pet can cause allergy symptoms in someone with allergies. Pet dander, or dead skin, is a common culprit. Many allergies do not appear or become active until an exposure threshold is reached. If you have allergies or asthma, skip the pets. All pet owners should keep their homes clean to limit exposure to potential allergens. Clean your carpets and upholstery often and vacuum regularly.
• Dust- Dust is filled with allergens including dust mites, tiny pieces of food, mold, pollen, animal dander and insect pieces. Any of these substances can cause an allergic reaction on their own, but when combined become a particularly allergy inducing combination. Dust can be especially bothersome during cleaning when dust is disturbed and able to easily enter the nasal passages. If you are allergy prone you may want to wear a dust mask when vacuuming and cleaning.
• Mold- Mold thrives in warm, moist environments like in your bathroom or kitchen. Mold spores are a major allergen and can cause serious allergic reactions. If you have a mold problem make sure that you get professional help as soon as possible to clean up the mold and fix the problems that are causing mold growth in the first place.
• Indoor Plants- Indoor plants might make your home more beautiful, but they can also make your allergies a lot worse. Many people think that pollen from the plants is the culprit behind the allergy problem, but most of the time it is actually the mold that can grow around the plant and in the soil.

Tips for Allergy Proofing Your Home

If you have allergies it is a good idea to work on allergy proofing your home. A few simple changes can make a big difference in how you feel. Here are a few tips:

• Take Care of Mold and Mildew- Mold and mildew not only cause allergies, they can also permanently damage your home. If you have mold, hire a mold removal specialist and get the problem fixed.
• Clean Regularly- Keeping your home clean will help keep allergens at bay. Vacuum daily and get your carpets cleaned at least once or twice a year, more often if you have kids or pets.
• Find Out What Bothers You- If you have allergies you will want to limit your exposure to potential allergens in your home. If you know you are allergic to pets, keep them out of the house. If you struggle with a pollen allergy limit your exposure to plants and pollen. Limiting your exposure to allergens can help alleviate the problem.
• Control Humidity- Humidity helps foster mold and dust mite growth, both of which are potential allergens. Consider using a dehumidifier to control the humidity level in your home.

Your home might be aggravating your allergies, but you don’t have to just endure. Learn to control the allergens in your home and start feeling better. Talk with your doctor or an allergy specialist if you suffer from allergies for personalized advice. To learn more about Mold removal San Diego, click here.

Mold thrives in moist areas making the bathroom a hotbed for mold growth if you aren’t careful. Too much moisture in the air can cause other problems as well, everything from mildew to allergies to home damage. The key to having a clean and healthy home is controlling moisture levels in every room of the house, especially the bathroom. Here are some tips for bathroom moisture control.

Ventilate

A lack of ventilation is one of the biggest causes of bathroom moisture problems. Bathrooms are moist areas and need ventilation. Some common ways to ventilate include opening a window, installing a fan and allowing air flow through the house. We will talk about a few of these ventilation methods later in this article.

Measure the Humidity

Knowing where your humidity levels stand will help you to determine if you have a bathroom moisture problem. A device called a hygrometer can easily tell you the humidity level in your home and/or bathroom. They are fairly inexpensive and can often be found in upscale hardware stores. The humidity level in your bathroom, and in every room in the house, should be between 40 and 60%.

Install and Use a Bathroom Fan

Ventilating fans are often found in bathrooms, especially those without a window. They are great at moisture control, but do have to be turned on to work. If you have a bathroom fan, use it. If you don’t have one consider having a fan installed. Many models are rather quiet, so if the noise of your current unit is bothersome, replace it with a quiet model. Dehumidifiers can also be used in the bathroom.

Consider an Interval Timer

Many people only run their bathroom fans when they are in the bathroom, but it can take hours to restore humidity to the proper levels after a steamy shower. An interval timer can help. Some timers feature a dial that can be set to a specific amount of time. Others allow you to program on and off times for your bathroom fan. These timers make it easy to run your fan and keep humidity at bay.

Use Outdoor Air

Fresh outdoor air is another way to control humidity in your home and bathroom. Open a window, open some doors and let the air flow.

Get Professional Help

There are a lot of things that you can do on your own to control bathroom moisture, but if things do get out of hand or if you having difficulty controlling mold or mildew it may be time for some professional assistance. Mold removal experts can help you to find and remove moisture sources and to repair any damage that mold or mildew may have caused.

Keeping in control of the humidity in your home and bathroom is essential for keeping mold and mildew out. The bathroom does have a lot of potential for moisture problems, but if you use these tips bathroom moisture doesn’t have to be a problem.

If you haven’t tackled your spring cleaning yet, now is a perfect time to start. The weather is lovely, flowers are blooming and your house is definitely in need of a deep clean. Here are 10 spring cleaning tips to help you spruce up your home.

1. Schedule It

One of the hardest parts of spring cleaning is getting started. Pull out your calendar, find an open day and schedule it. Once it’s on the calendar it is much more likely to get done.

2. Start with a Trip to the Cleaners

Before you get started gather up everything that needs a professional cleaning and take it down to your local cleaners. Drapes, curtains and winter coats are especially important to include on this cleaning trip. If you take these to the cleaners first they will be ready when your cleaning is done. Plus it’s easier to clean windows and walls when curtains aren’t in the way.

3. Stock Up on Supplies

Don’t get stuck half way through cleaning the floors by running out of cleaning solution. Stock up on all of your favorite cleaning supplies before you get started. Also have plenty of clean rags, paper towels and sponges on hand.

4. Make a List

What do you want to tackle with your spring cleaning this year? Make a list of every project you want to get done. Organizing projects by room makes it easy to work your way through the list. As items are cleaned, check them off your list. A list will help you to get everything done and nothing feels better than the sense of accomplishment as you cross items off the list.

5. Enlist the Family

Don’t clean on your own. Get the family to help. There are jobs for every age and skill level if you use a little creativity.

6. Look for Problem Areas

Don’t forget to look for problem areas in your home as you clean. Look under  your kitchen and bathroom sinks for mold damage and watch for leaky pipes and other problems. If you find mold or water damage call in the professionals and fix the problem before it gets worse.

7. Call in the Professionals

Some cleaning jobs are best left to the professionals. Make sure you find a reliable company and schedule an appointment with carpet cleaning professionals. Clean carpets last longer and look better. A professional cleaning will get out dirt, stains and grime better than any do-it-yourself attempts.

8. Step Outside

Outside needs a little spring pick me up too. Step outside and cleaning the outside of windows and doors. Now is also a great time to freshen the lawn and plant new flowers.

9. Don’t Forget Hidden Surfaces

Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s clean. Move appliances and clean behind the fridge and stove. Light bulbs, ceiling fans, base boards and corners can also use a little TLC.

10. Perfection Isn’t Necessary

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be perfect. Anything you do is better than doing nothing at all. Don’t worry about tackling every project on your list or getting everything just right. Do what you can and then be happy.

Spring cleaning time is here again. Use these tips to make the most of your spring cleaning.

Pollution isn’t just a worry when you head outside. The air inside of your home or office can also be contaminated. Improving indoor air quality is just as important as improving outdoor air quality, possibly even more so due to the many hours we spend indoors each day. Here are 5 simple ways to improve the air quality in your home or office.

Skip the Air Fresheners

That bottle of air freshener might make your home smell good temporarily, but it also releases chemicals into the air that will stick around for a long time after the smell has faded. Skip the sprays, cleaners and other products with synthetic fragrances and make your home smell fresh naturally. Fresh sliced lemons in the disposal will make your kitchen smell lemony fresh. An open window will let in fresh air and let out chemicals that may be lurking in your home’s air.

Clean Your Carpets and Floors

Dust is a magnet for allergens and chemicals. These toxic substances can accumulate in the dust in your home and compromise your indoor air quality. The solution is simple. Mop, sweep and vacuum regularly. Don’t forget to bring the professionals in at least once a year, more often if you have pets or children, for a carpet cleaning. Clean carpets and floors will improve the air quality in your home and as a bonus look great too.

Ventilate

A little ventilation can go a long way when it comes to indoor air quality. Open a window and let in some fresh outdoor air. If allergies are a problem you can use air purifiers or air filters to ventilate your home.

Buy a Houseplant

Houseplants aren’t   just pretty; they also act as a natural air purifier of sorts.  Adding a houseplant, or two, to your home will add a touch of beauty to any room while improving your indoor air quality.

Don’t Smoke Inside

Smoking is bad for your health and for your indoor air quality. If you choose to smoke make sure that you go outside. Studies have found that smoking bans can improve indoor air quality by as much as 90% (and in some cases even more). Simply going outside to smoke can have a dramatic effect on indoor air quality and health.

We spend the majority of our time indoors. Make sure that you are breathing the cleanest air possible by focusing on improving indoor air quality. These 5 simple ways to improve air quality will help you and your family to breathe easier.

If you have mold in your home or office you may need to call in the professionals for clean-up assistance. Mold problems can be difficult to remedy and requires extra precaution to avoid endangering your health during the clean-up process. Mold remediation professionals can help you find the problem, fix the problem and keep it from ever coming back.

Of course, not all mold clean-up companies are created equally. Some will go the extra mile to ensure that your mold problem is eradicated. Others take your money and disappear leaving you with a moldy mess. Here are a few key questions to ask when choosing a mold removal company.

What Training/Certification Have You Received?

Many states do not require mold removal companies to acquire certification. Although it may not be a requirement, it is always a good idea to work with certified mold removal companies since they have the training and expertise needed. Certified mold removal companies not only understand how to remove mold, they understand how to do so safely. The IAQA (Indoor Air Quality Association) and The Clean Air Trust, as well as other groups, offer certification programs for cleaning and restoration professionals.

What Are Your Rates?

Many people use cost as a determining factor for choosing a mold removal company, but this isn’t the best way to choose. Mold left to its own devices can ruin the structure of your home, damage possessions and even cause health problems. Do you really want the cheapest option when so much is at risk? Ask about rates, but compare using other factors, like experience, customer satisfaction and training. The goal is to find a mold removal service that offers both quality service and a good value.

Do You Have Any References I can Contact?

Advertisements will always make a mold removal company sound like the best around, but past clients know the inside scoop. Ask for references and then contact them. Good companies should have plenty of satisfied customers willing to share their experiences.

How Will You Keep the Mold from Returning?

You shouldn’t have to worry about mold returning soon after the work is done. Ask your removal company how they will fix the problem and keep the mold from coming back. This process usually involves eliminating the mold’s water source. Simply treating a surface with anti-mold paint or sprays won’t fix the problem, but eliminating the water source will.

Why Should I Choose Your Company?

Every mold clean-up company will paint a beautiful picture of the services they offer, but this question still holds some key answers to the discerning customer. If a mold removal company focuses their response on cost savings alone, move on. Choose a company that focuses their response to this question on the things that really matter: quality service, excellent training, guaranteed results, etc.

Choosing a mold removal company is a big decision. Don’t just open the phone book and call the first number you find. Instead interview prospective companies and find the service that will work hard to remedy your mold problem safely and effectively.

A house fire is reported in the United States every 90 seconds. Fires are common and the damage that they cause can certainly be devastating. Fire damage doesn’t stop when the flames get put out. Smoke damage is often just as destructive, and sometimes even more so, than the fire that caused it. To fix fire damage we need to understand what smoke really is.

What Is Smoke?

We all know that smoke comes from fires. But, what exactly is smoke? Basically defined smoke is a combination of liquid molecules, gasses and tiny solid particles that are created when things burn. Fires often lack enough oxygen to burn everything completely. When this occurs, the unburned substances become smoke. Smoke generally comprised of carbon (also known as soot), wood tar, oils, ash and various chemicals.

Understanding Smoke Damage

When a fire is put out smoke seems to dissipate, but this is often an illusion. As the air cools down the floating smoke particles settle creating a thin film-like coating on surfaces and items nearby. The substances in smoke are then able to start damaging your items. Let’s take a look at a few compounds in smoke to understand how they cause damage.

Soot: Soot is very oily and these oils can permanently stain carpets, textiles and other cloth items. Laundering isn’t enough to remove soot. It is recommended that you remove soot by vacuuming before cleaning clothing and other textiles to ensure that these oils do permanently stain items in the wash.

Smoke Odor: Anyone that has ever been around a fire knows that smoke carries a very definite odor. This odor is often stronger in building fires due to the burning of plastics and other synthetic compounds. This smoke odor requires special cleaning measures to be removed. Air fresheners and sprays may mask the odor temporarily, but cannot remove it. Special treatments are needed to break down the smoke molecules and remove the odors.

Chemicals: Various chemicals found in smoke can permanently discolor and damage items. For example brass can be permanently etched after being exposed to smoke for less than 24 hours. Smoke can also seep into plastics and permanently discolor them. The chemicals in smoke are highly acidic and corrosive and will damage items with which they are in contact until the smoke is cleaned off.

What Can You Do?

The effects of smoke damage can be greatly reduced by acting quickly. Once a fire damaged structure is deemed safe for reentry, get to work. DIY restorers need to start working quickly to dry wet items, provide air flow and start cleaning soot and smoke from items. If you are working with a restoration company, contact them immediately. Many companies offer 24 hour emergency response. The sooner you start eliminating smoke and soot from your building, the less damage smoke can cause.

Any kind of disaster that wreaks havoc on a home and creates damage can be overwhelming to a homeowner. What would you do if your home was suddenly filled with water and you had to repair flood and potential mold damage? Where would you start? Luckily you don’t have to tackle these situations alone. Expert help can repair many possessions and can make the task of cleaning up after a flood or fire a little more bearable. Keep reading for a peek into the window of restoration experts in action and better understand the type of help that experts can offer.

Provide Direction and Focus

Our homes are our sanctuaries and when they are damaged it can be hard to see past the emotion and take action. Restoration experts aren’t emotionally attached to your home and will be able to provide you with clean-up direction. They can help you to understand the tasks that need to be tackled and will provide much needed direction to get your clean-up underway.

Can It Be Saved?

Many of your damaged items can be completely restored with the proper help. Flood, fire and mold restoration experts can restore many items including photographs, books, important documentation, furniture, discs and tapes and more. An untrained eye will not be able to determine what items can be saved and which should be tossed out. Experts can help you to answer the ever important question in restoration work, “Can it be saved?”

Utilize Proper Restoration Techniques and Procedures

Restoration experts are immersed in the restoration industry. They are aware of tricks and techniques for restoring items and minimizing damage. For example a carpet cleaning expert might be able to minimize bleach damage on a carpet and re-dye the area. A mold expert can find hidden water sources and eliminate them. With expert help damaged items once though unsalvageable may be able to be saved.

Lessen the Damage

The first few days after a flood or fire are critical days. Smoke is very corrosive and will quickly permeate items. Quick clean-up is essential for removing smoke and restoring items become smoke damage sets and becomes permanent. When a flood occurs quick clean-up will help to reduce the occurrence of mold which can further damage items. Water soaked furniture and carpets may be salvageable if they are dried quickly and properly. If you wait too long they will need replacing. Experts help can stop damage and minimize the occurrence of future damage.

Safety First

One final reason to work with experts after a flood, fire or other damaging event is safety. Experts know the potential dangers lurking in a damaged home and will use the proper safety equipment and procedures.

Damage from flood, fire or mold doesn’t have to be the end of the world, or even the end of your possessions. Restoration experts are ready to spring into action to help you save your stuff. The clock starts ticking as soon as the damage occurs, so get help quickly.

You may not be surprised to hear that a recent study conducted byNew York’s Citizens’ Environmental Coalition (CEC), an environmental organization operating in Upstate andWestern New York, found that the average house contains six different highly toxic substances floating around in household detritus, dust bunnies, and lodged deeply in your carpet. You inhale these particular six contaminants, and probably dozens of less-lethal but still toxic chemicals, every minute you spend inside your house.

While these chemicals, namely phthalates, pesticides, brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated compounds, alkylphenols, and organotins, are harmful to adults even in the micro-quantities found in carpet, the study suggested that the risk to pets, children, the elderly, and developing fetuses can be up to 40 times higher than that of an adult. For a culture that spends more than two-thirds of our lives in our homes, these chemicals slowly interfere with the respiratory and reproductive systems, causing breathing disorders like asthma or in utero reproductive issues. If your carpet is old, you can receive 50 times more toxins indoors than out. If your carpet is shag or plush, the risk of toxic exposure increases.

For those of us with pets and small children, these risks cannot be ignored. Bacteria tracked in by adults wearingsoled shoes and walking on pavement pale in comparison to the amount of bacteria tracked in by a dog running through urine, fecal matter, and environmental toxins found in the yard. Are you horrified to watch Junior eat a cracker off the floor, now? While we don’t recommend that you get rid of your pets or your kids, you owe it to your family to make sure that cross-contamination between your pets, who don’t think twice about bringing in all kinds of nasty bacteria, and your children, whose underdeveloped immune systems and their proximity to the floor creates a real risk of developing long-term health consequences.

Your home should be a sanctuary to protect your family, not a repository of bacteria and poisons. Cleaning your carpet regularly is the only way to avoid exposure. You can do most of the cleaning upkeep yourself, by vacuuming two or more times a week, encouraging your family to remove their shoes upon entering, and steam-cleaning with water, rather than detergent, but starting off with a thorough, professional carpet cleaning is the first step you should take.

Mold. It can be intriguing, disgusting and sometimes even scary. An old slice of bread that turns into a fluffy white forest fascinates. On the other hand when old leftovers turn into a bubbling pot of mold it is a little repulsive. And then there is the mold we all fear, toxic mold that could be lurking unseen deep within your walls. What is mold? Where does it come from? Let’s take a quick look at the three main factors that are needed for mold to grow.

It Starts With a Spore

Mold is everywhere. Mold starts as a spore and travels through the air until it lands on a surface. It is said that no indoor area is free from mold. Mold is present in the natural environment as an important part of nature’s clean-up crew. Molds break down organic matter like leaves and fallen trees. Without mold the leaves from last fall would still be in perfect condition on your front lawn and the forest would be filled with old fallen trees. We need mold.

While we need mold outside, we don’t need it indoors. Large quantities of mold can health problems and breathing difficulties. Now, this is where things get a little tricky. If mold is everywhere, why isn’t it growing everywhere? The answer is simple. Mold needs the right conditions to grow and prosper. In addition to spores mold also needs a place to grow and moisture.

A Place to Grow

Mold can grow almost anywhere. Mold can grow on almost any surface from wood to glass to walls. The mold spores float through the air and land on surfaces where they can start to grow. Warm environments encourage mold growth more than cold environments.

Moisture

Mold spores also need moisture to grow. There are thousands of different types of mold and every single one of them needs moisture. Moisture can come from a variety of sources including humidity, standing water, poor drainage, even the mist from a shower. Once you combine a mold spore, a place to grow and the proper amount of humidity, you might just end up with a mold problem. Luckily there are a few things you can do to prevent mold problem or to correct the issue should a problem occur.

Strategies for Prevention

Since mold needs moisture, the most effective strategy for reducing mold is reducing moisture. Keep the humidity levels in your home or office lower than 50%. It is also wise to properly vent showers and kitchens. Bathrooms and basements tend to be especially damp, so avoid carpeting these rooms. Also watch for signs of excess moisture. Leaky pipes, improperly installed drain pans and other areas can quickly become a hotbed for mold growth.

If you do find mold in your home or office, act quickly. Mold eats away at any surface where it is growing and can cause permanent damage. Mold can also make people very sick from both allergies and toxic exposure. Use caution when cleaning up mold. Mold spore exposure is greatly intensified when cleaning. It is important to both thoroughly clean the area and remove the source of moisture. Cleaning might take care of the problem for a few days, but if the moisture remains, the mold will surely return. Professional help is recommended when the mold, caused by contaminated water or flooding is persistent.

Mold is a part of life, but hopefully it isn’t a part of your home or office. Remember for mold to grow you need a spore, moisture and a surface. If you are having mold problems, contact a local mold removal specialist to protect the structure of your home or office and the health of those inside