Archive for Disaster Plus
Some Basic Facts About Mold
Posted by: | CommentsMolds are fungi that can be found both indoors and outdoors, and they have the ability to survive harsh environmental conditions, making them difficult to eliminate. Molds grow best in warm, damp, and humid conditions, and spread and reproduce by making spores.
Many people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can cause symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation. In cases of individuals with serious mold allergies, the reactions can be far more severe. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath. Some people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs.
When mold is found in your home, it can present a danger not only to your health, but to the structure of your home as well. Mold left untreated can destroy the building materials used in your home, resulting in thousands of dollars worth of damage. Along with the ever-present health risk associated with mold exposure, the potential for damage makes mold one of the worst problems a homeowner can face.
If you find mold growing in your home, don’t try to tackle the problem yourself. This is one of those instances where it really pays to bring in an expert. A company that is certified in mold remediation is your best chance of removing the problem quickly and reducing the potential dangers to your home and your family.
Preventing Water Damage by Keeping Gutters Clean
Posted by: | CommentsOften, water damage to a home is not the result of flooding or leaky pipes—it’s the result of clogged gutters. Leaves and debris can cause your gutters to get backed up and clogged. When your gutters don’t properly drain water, it can potentially become a danger to the roofing, siding, and windows of your home.
It’s important to clean gutters to ensure proper drainage. If gutters get clogged up, they can create a number of problems for property owners including:
- Bent gutters
- Wood rot
- Foundation damage
- Excess pressure on gutters which can cause leaking or separation
- Erosion of landscaping
- Providing a home for rodents, pests, insects, mosquitoes, etc
While it may seem like a chore that you’d like to keep putting off, it is an important home maintenance step and one which should not be ignored. Your gutters are there to help you keep your home functioning smoothly. Don’t neglect to maintain them or you could find yourself having to shell out a lot of money in order to repair them. Do your house a favor: Keep your gutters clean.
Preventing Summertime Water Damage
Posted by: | CommentsEvery season presents its own set of challenges when in comes to preventing water damage. During the cold months, frozen pipes are a frequent source of flooding. Now that we have reached the warmer summer months, there are several things which could increase the possibility for water damage.
Summer storms, including hurricanes in the Atlantic states and monsoons in the southwest, bring with them heavy rainfall, high winds, and storm surges in coastal communities. These events can cause flooding as well as water damage from backed up storm drain systems and blown out windows and rooftops.
Flash floods, caused by slow moving severe thunderstorms, can result in water damage to homes in just about any area. Because they occur so quickly, the normal drainage systems are not able to keep up with them and the area becomes inundated with water.
Now is the time to check around your home for needed repairs and maintenance, such as checking all plumbing for leaks and making sure rain gutters are free of debris. Clogged rain gutters are the most common reason for water seepage under the roof or into the walls of your home.
If you experience flooding of any kind, the key is to act quickly to remove standing water and dry the area out as soon as possible. By using the services of a company which specializes in water damage restoration, you can help limit the amount of damage your home suffers and decrease the chance for mold growth.
Wet clothes can be a source of mold
Posted by: | CommentsThis time of year, many of us are enjoying the warm weather by going to beaches or swimming pools, and often coming home with wet clothes or swimsuits. Placing wet clothes in a hamper can lead to mold growth in a very short period of time. Not only can mold stain your clothes, but it can spread to other areas of your home. In addition, having a large amount of wet clothes packed into a small area can even increase the relative humidity levels inside the house.
The best way to prevent any of this from happening is to never put wet clothes or towels into a hamper. Hang them somewhere where they can dry out first. If you have tennis shoes which have become wet, consider letting them dry outside before bringing them into the house.
If you’re not going to do laundry right away, you can always throw wet clothes into the dryer long enough to remove the moisture, and then place them in the hamper. Make sure that your clothes dryer is vented outside of the home so that you are not releasing moist air back into your house.