Preventing Summertime Water Damage
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
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.
Preventing mold and saving energy while on vacation
By · CommentsSummer is peak vacation time for many people, which often involves closing up their homes for extended periods of time. Any time a house is going to be closed up during the warm summer months, there is the possibility of mold developing due to lack of air circulation and rising humidity within the home. An easy solution is to leave the air conditioning running, but that can become costly.
One way to prevent mold and not run up high electric bills is to use a programmable thermostat. By setting it to run your air conditioner at 72 degrees for just two hours every morning, and over 80 degrees the rest of the time, you can remove moisture from the air during the cooler hours when the humidity level is highest and your A/C runs most efficiently. Programmable thermostats can be found at most home improvement stores, and the majority of them allow you to program multiple settings.
When you return home from vacation, it’s a good idea to air your home out as much as possible. Take a few moments to visually inspect the home for signs of mold such as discolored tiles, walls, or ceilings. If you see signs of mold, don’t wait to take action. Contact a mold remediation company as quickly as possible to stop the spread of mold before it gets worse.
An interesting article we received from the latest Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) newsletter about Asthma.