Avoid Needing Restoration Services in Spring Spring is the perfect time to perform routine maintenance checks in your home. This simple checklist will help you avoid the need for restoration experts in spring and summer. Follow these steps so you can enjoy the warmer weather with peace of mind. Clean Those Gutters Autumn leaves may be a distant memory when it comes to your lawn, but your gutters probably tell a different story. Leaves, twigs, gumballs, and other debris can clog gutters, preventing them from doing their job. Heavy spring rains plus clogged gutters could equal disaster for your roof if water backs up under the shingles, causing leaks and water damage. Blocked gutters can also cause puddling around the foundation of your home, leading to leaks and flooding in the basement or crawl space. Avoid the need for restoration services by cleaning those gutters every spring. Check the Batteries in Smoke Detectors We may have already sprung forward, but it’s not too late to check the batteries in your smoke detectors. Press the button to make sure your detectors are still working properly after you’ve installed new batteries. Want to get double duty out of this chore? Have your family perform a simple fire drill when you test the detector. This is also a great time to review your family’s fire safety plan. Look for Signs of Mold If you experienced water damage from frozen pipes or leaks from snow melt during the winter, you’re probably eager to put the whole thing behind you. But in some cases, winter water damage can lead to warm-weather mold and mildew. Check any areas that received water damage or flooding. Damp, musty smells, increased allergy symptoms, or unexplained respiratory illness can also be signs of hidden mold. Call in the experts at the first signs of mold to avoid the need for more extensive restoration services later. Clean the Grill Warm weather means firing up the grill, but a grill that has been sitting all winter needs attention. Clean the grate and check the cavity of the grill for leaves, pine straw, and other debris that can blow in. Small animals and rodents have been known to build their nests in unused grills, so be sure to check the cavity for flammable nesting materials. Check propane tanks for rust and make sure all lines are secure. Make sure your grill isn’t too close to the house or roof overhangs. Check Foundation Vents If your home has a crawl space, there are vents along the foundation walls near the ground. These vents can become clogged with leaves, blocking air circulation and creating the kind of damp environment that mold loves. Likewise, erosion can wash soil into mounds against the foundation that block the vents and lead to flooding. Check each vent carefully, and clear away any blockage that may have built up during cooler months. If you fear your foundation vents have become buried from years of soil buildup, restoration services may be needed to locate and return them to a functioning state. Keep Your Basement Dry Look for leaks and seepage around your basement each spring. Make sure there’s nothing happening outside that could cause water to pool around the foundation of your home. In the basement, inspect any existing caulk or sealant for cracks or peeling, and reapply as needed to seal small cracks and other potential entry points for water. If you have a sump pump, test it by slowly pouring water into the well to make sure the float turns on the pump. If you have a dehumidifier, check the coils for mold and replace clogged filters.
Signs of Hoarding: How Restoration Experts Can Help Photo Credit via pixabay.com / Pixabay Every home gets messy and full of clutter from time to time. However, when the clutter comes to a point where it affects your life and your health, a more serious problem may be underway. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America defines hoarding as the compulsive purchasing, acquiring, searching, and saving of items of little or no value. Hoarders are incapable of organizing or discarding their items, and even though they know this way of life is affecting their lifestyle and health, they believe one day that these possessions will be useful or needed. Here are some ways to tell if you or a loved one have signs of being a hoarder. Parts of the home are inaccessible or unusable When you enter a compulsive hoarder’s home, you’ll generally find that the furniture has been moved into the middle of the room. Piles of objects, whether they’re papers or random possessions will be stacked in corners and eventually fill the room where only a pathway exists throughout the home. There is no organization to the clutter When it comes to hoarding, there is no organization to the clutter they have accumulated. Like items may be placed with other like items, but usually, things are stacked precariously or tossed everywhere inside the room. Items have no value A lot of hoarders will keep broken appliances, old clothes, or junk mail; anything that they may need one day, or that they may get around to fixing one day. None of these items hold any actual value, and probably never have or will. They are unwilling to give their items up and get angry when the idea is mentioned by a third party. The home is unsanitary If a home is so cluttered that only pathways exist instead of rooms, then you can bet the home hasn’t been cleaned in a while. Depending on how long the hoarding has been happening, there could be long-standing unwashed dishes and laundry and grimy toilets. Defensive when confronted If you know someone who has signs of hoarding and you’ve tried to confront him or her, you may know the conversation can end badly. If someone has a compulsive hoarding habit, he or she will feel attacked when you mention how “messy” the home looks. Compulsive hoarders believe they have plans for all of their items, and if you don’t like the way their home is then you will not be welcome anymore. Once a hoarder has made the decision to clean up his or her home or property, the cleanup and remediation should be handled by a company with the experience to perform the specialized care and treatment required. GET RESTORATION EXPERTS recognizes that cleaning out a hoarder’s home is not just another cleaning job. We have the compassion and the expertise to take every step necessary to thoroughly eliminate the clutter and return the home to a clean, safe, healthy living environment. For a full list of services, call 1-877-503-8782 or visit us online at www.getrestorationexperts.com/hoarding/.
Get a Plumbing Video Inspection before Buying a Home Phot Credit via Pixabay.com / Pixabay When purchasing a new home, you can never have too many inspections. Investing in a plumbing video inspection before you purchase a home will help ensure that sewer lines are free of problems. A sewage backup is one problem that can quickly and completely destroy the value of your home. A common mistake made by new homeowners is calling a plumber after the home is purchased. You need to know the existing condition of the plumbing system. The most effective way to do this is to order a plumbing video inspection. Why Invest in a Plumbing Video Inspection? A video inspection can and will identify all types of problems. It can determine the condition of the plumbing and water system on the property you’re purchasing. It can quickly locate a blockage or backup in the plumbing system. A plumbing video inspection is also the only way to identify underground pipes that may be misaligned or damaged by corrosion or tree roots. A video inspection can also diagnose grease buildup, leaks, and other obstructions. It is recommended to have this analysis repeated after any plumbing service is performed to verify that the pipeline has been properly cleaned or repaired. Video cameras can also locate lost jewelry and other values that have been lost in pipes. How does a Plumbing Video Inspection Work? A professionally-trained and skilled technician at Restoration Experts inserts a flexible rod with a high-resolution video camera on its tip into pipes from two inches to thirty-six inches in diameter. The flexible rod allows the camera to travel through the pipe and around the corners to see the entire pipe. Real-time video image transmission allows our technician to determine the condition of the inside of the pipe. We will be able to understand any existing problems the plumbing system has had and any potential problems it may have. The images can and will be saved for your permanent records. This service does not require digging on the property, opening walls to access water lines, or damaging existing pipes. We can perform a thorough inspection of any plumbing system with the use of a specialized video camera. A sewer system blockage can cause damages to your heating system, sheetrock, flooring, and personal items. If a blockage is present in your sewage system, eventually an unwanted smell will fill your home. Let’s investigate your pipes before a problem occurs! Restoration Experts has been providing complete residential and commercial plumbing services since 2001. Call us today at 877-721-8812 or visit us online to learn more about our plumbing services.
The Effects of Household Mold and Mildew on Your Health Sambeet / Pixabay Slimy black spots on your shower curtain and fuzzy white patches on the walls and floor are sure signs of mold in your home. But, did you know that mold can be black, white, orange, green, or purple? It can grow on walls, floors, appliances, carpets, and furniture; all it needs is moisture to grow. Mildew also lets its presence be known in more ways than one. Plus, it only takes 24 to 48 hours of a surface being exposed to water for mildew to appear. Both mold and mildew can affect your health in serious ways. Mold and mildew poisoning can easily go unnoticed or be mistaken for other health conditions. If you have allergies or asthma, these two components can do more harm than you realize. Even for a healthy individual, exposure to mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs. People more sensitive to mold and mildew are infants and children, the elderly, those whose immune systems are compromised, and people with chronic lung disease. All molds have the potential to affect your health. The harm depends on the type of the mold, whether it produces toxins, and how long you have been exposed. Mildew can also present a serious health threat to people and animals susceptible to respiratory concerns. The most common symptoms and health effects associated with mold and mildew are respiratory responses. However, some symptoms that are often mistaken for other conditions are: Weakness Headache Difficulty concentrating/poor memory Joint pain Skin sensations Shortness of breath Sinus congestion Throat irritation/wheezing While some individuals may not be affected by mold at this moment, the EPA reports that repeated exposure to can cause sensitivity and health problems. It’s important to invest in a company who knows the process of mold remediation. It’s impossible to get rid of all molds in your home. If you see mold, it’s important to clean it up correctly and fix the problems. However, mold remediation is not the same as mold removal. Mold remediation focuses on getting mold levels back to normal and keeping the molecules at natural levels. At Restoration Experts, we have proven methods to address your mold problems. We also have a mold remediation process proven to get results. And because mildew is not always visible, we also offer a mildew removal process. If you suspect you may have mold and mildew, call Restoration Experts at 1-877-959-8662.