It happens, and not at the most opportune time. You push the flusher, and then it all happens. The toilet overflows. You panic, you might scream…that’s just one simple issue, and with bathrooms there are many issues….
A clogged toilet may overflow when flushed, or a water supply line leaks under a bathroom sink, or someone (possibly you) starts filling a bathtub and forgets—any of these can turn the water loose in the bathroom. Not a good scenario at all. When this happens, it’s may seem it is all over, and you can’t fix what’s happening. However, there are some things you can do to fix some serious issues. Control the flow It may be a simple concept, yet when you can’t find the shut-off valve, panic can attack. Don’t delay – look for the shut off values now and be ready for what’s going to happen eventually. Watch the electricity Where there is water, and electricity, there is danger. Mark your power supply so you can find the breaker that turns off the power to your bathroom. Start mopping or extracting Standing water is not a good thing. While a fresh leak is one thing, if given time that water can start to seep into areas that can create costly water damage in Smithville, N.J.. With the first inclination of water intrusion, start extracting. As time moves on, the best thing to do is get a mold test in Smithville, N.J. It is always best to start at the beginning of a mold problem, have mold removal in Smithvilee, N.J. done early. Of course, the best thing is to call your favorite water damage restoration company. After all, it pays to call a pro! Possible related image for posting. Many people have a fear of mold and what it can do to your health, especially if you have sensitivities or allergies to mold spores.
When you think of mold growth and contamination in your home, you assume it would apply to dark, damp basements and what can occur after a pipe breaks or other water damage in Seaside Heights, N.J. situation. And you would be right, most of the time. But there are other issues that can come up that involve mold, and it doesn’t have to be in a dark basement or after a water damage event. If you have moisture, a food source, and especially dark conditions, mold can grow. Your bedroom As scary as it may sound, it’s true. Mold can grow on and even inside your mattress. As you sleep, you perspire, and that moisture can be all that mold needs to start to grow. While you can clean visible mold from the surface of your mattress, it is very difficult to get clean what is inside the mattress. A professional cleaning company may be able to help. But prevention is what you should concentrate on, and an appropriate mattress pad/cover will help. Your bathroom Common areas that can experience mold growth are around the base of toilets, shower stalls or bathtubs, and under sinks, such as in cabinet areas. It’s no surprise when you spot some mold in those areas. However, mold can also grow on cleaning supplies that haven’t been used in a few days, and even on toothbrushes such as those left unused because of a trip away. Anything you use that involves moisture (brushes, scrub pads, buckets) and especially stored in a dark place, be sure to clean and dry them completely. Your kitchen The kitchen is a mold playground, because of all the food sources combined with potential moisture. There are so many places mold can grow they can’t all be mentioned here, but obvious ones include inside and behind the refrigerator, under the sink, and in cabinets. Mold growth inside the refrigerator goes against logic that mold requires warmth – it is obviously not always true. Frequent inspections of dark areas where mold may grow unnoticed is important, such as under sinks and where there are pipes that can leak or simply have condensation on them. The best and easiest think to do is get a mold test in Seaside Heights, N.J., and if necessary have a professional come of and do a mold removal in Seaside Heights, N.J. and clean up. If you do find mold, do the smart thing and call your favorite restoration company. After all, it pays to call a pro! At the end of every winter, we might forget about the previous spring rains and subsequent flooding that might have occurred in the area. This can bring about some water damage in Port Republic, N.J.
But when unrelenting rain starts to fall, one thing you don’t want to experience is regret in not being prepared, whether it is from leaks related to your roofing, windows, or the possibility of a flooded basement. While those might seem like minor issues, when they happen to you, they quickly move up to disastrous. Making sure your home is safe, secure, and devices like your sump pump (if you have a basement) are in good condition. But when heavy rains hit your area, and flooding is a possibility, the website ready.gov has some great advice for your preparedness plan. Be aware, with continuous water, mold is a possibility and you should consider a mold test in Port Republic, N.J. Make a plan This is important to do in advance, as when an emergency strikes you will be in panic mode. Have a discussion with family members, about what you will do, where you will go, where you might meet up if separated and mobile phones are not working. Be sure to discuss your pets as well and have a plan for them. Human life is invaluable, and we feel the same way about our pets. Have a written list of important phone numbers in case your cell phone loses charge or isn’t functioning. Build a ‘go-kit’ Have the necessities in a backpack or other easy-to-grab bag. Necessities include documents, such as birth certificates, passports, legal documents, and other papers you should not lose. Having some cash is important in the event credit cards can’t be used. Clothing, medications, and other necessities should also be in your ‘go-kit’ supplies. Basically, think about what you simply can’t go without for several days if you have to be out of your home. Check your insurance policy Now is the time to make sure you have coverage for natural disasters that might strike your home. Don’t assume. Ask your insurance agent and make sure you have it spelled out clearly in your policy. Not all natural events are covered by regular homeowner policies. But if the unthinkable does happen to your home, and it becomes damaged by any disaster event, do the right thing and get it all fixed quickly — and safely. Doing the cleanup yourself can expose you to future potential hazards. Call your favorite restoration company. A professional can help you with mold removal in Port Republic, N.J., and the insurance details as well. After all, it pays to call a pro! When the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, speaks… most of us listen.
And the EPA has much to say about mold, which can affect health in minor, irritating ways (slight respiratory issues) to severe life-threatening reactions, resulting in medical care and the unthinkable. Having a professional mold test in Osborne Island, N.J. is an easy thing to arrange. Here are the edited highlights from the EPA.gov site, along with our own thoughts, that all households should consider. Of course, the EPA recommends that everyone should fix plumbing leaks, water intrusion issues, and keep all interior surfaces clean and dry at all times. If you do this, mold should not be an issue. But if it happens, here are some tips. Mold cleanup Who should do the cleanup? There are a number of factors. First, consider the size of the mold problem. If less than 10 square feet, you may be able to handle the cleanup yourself. However, with water damage in Osborne N.J. and mold growth more than 10 feet, consult an expert. And there is no way to know 100% if even a small amount of mold could have an adverse health effect on you or those you care about. HVAC and air conveyance systems Don’t minimize the impact that mold can have in your ductwork or other air conveyance areas. Hidden mold may be out of sight, but it should be taken seriously. Slight musty odors should trigger an investigation. Get your duct work inspected immediately and have the work done by a professional. Restrooms, shower stalls and more Mold is normal in some areas, like in the corner of a shower stall. Don’t panic. Just clean it up. But if you need help, hire a pro. A very small amount of mold is no doubt fresh and can be easily removed. Hiring a pro If you decide to contact and use a disaster restoration company or a mold removal service, be a smart consumer and check their references and credentials. There are many “companies” that claim to be experts in mold removal, but they are far from qualified. Do the right thing with mold. When you know you have it, you should know how to get rid of it. The easiest, best, and safest way is to let a disaster restoration, water damage, or mold removal in Osborne Island, N.J. company do the work. After all, it pays to call a pro. Broken pipes, leaky roofs, plugged up drains, wind-driven rain, and other issues can strike at any time, especially during spring weather.
When water intrudes, you want to clean it up, and fast. Most homeowners call their favorite disaster restoration company, but while they wait, they find it very difficult to do nothing about their unfortunate situation. Some may attempt to vacuum up the water, get out all the fans, rip out wet sheetrock, and other tasks that need to be handled — at least in the minds of those affected by a disaster. It’s really tough to sit by, wait, and do nothing in a situation like this. But often, that’s exactly what you should do. Nothing. Make the phone call to your restoration company and get their advice and wait for them. With this in mind, consider these definite “do not do” activities in the event of a water damage in Ocean City, N.J. situation. Do not vacuum up any water with an ordinary vacuum cleaner (yes, it’s been done and not with good results) and it is best to avoid even a wet/dry vacuum. If you must do some water extraction yourself, make sure it is a professional grade piece of equipment, such as something you might rent, as there are safety considerations to keep in mind — such as avoiding electrocution. Don’t use electrical appliances, even ordinary ones that might seem harmless, when in the vicinity of flooded areas. Make sure any power cards are properly grounded in your home. Don’t go into heavily flooded rooms if you can, don’t walk on wet carpet or through flooded areas, such as a basement. Again, the electrical issue can be a factor. If the flooding is limited and you simply have a squishy carpet, you may be able to move around the home, but only after you have made certain power is turned off in affected areas and there are no safety concerns. Another safety concern is the possible growth of mold after a water damage situation. After things are cleaned up, it is a good idea to get a mold inspection in Ocean City, N.J. You always want to use a professional if mold removal in Ocean City, N.J. is needed. Don’t start pulling apart building materials, such as sheetrock, or removing carpet, as you might make a bigger mess that will make more work for the restoration company that is on its way. Small injuries can quickly become infected injuries. Don’t wait! Disaster restoration companies work 24/7, 365 days a year. It’s the nature of disaster work. Do the right thing, and give your favorite restoration company a call the minute disaster strikes. After all, it pays to call a pro! Mold is everywhere and is necessary for life. But too much of it — and especially if what is considered by many a harmful variety — can be hazardous to the health of many.
Not everyone is sensitive to exposure to mold. Some people can be around it and have no side effects at all. Others have allergic reactions, asthma symptoms, and various respiratory issues. The absolute best defense to mold exposure is to keep as much of it out of the home in the first place. There is no way to eliminate all molds, but some practical mold prevention steps are necessary to a healthy home. Controlling moisture is the primary goal to minimizing mold growth. Mold is a live organism and needs moisture to grow and spread. If you reduce moisture in the home, you take away the food source of mold. For many homes, this means concentrating on the basement. Water seepage into basements is a common cause of mold growth. From expensive steps such as hiring a company to seal off basement walls, to inexpensive steps such as running a household dehumidifier — whatever you decide to do is going to help any moisture situation. Venting bathrooms, laundry rooms, and other moisture-generating areas of the home is also smart. Physically removing air laden with moisture means mold growth is limited. Running the air conditioner during humid periods of the year keeps the humidity content lower in the entire home. Yes, it costs to run the AC, but it will cost you more if you have a mold problem and need professional remediation. You may need to have mold removal in Mystic Island, N.J. Keep an eye on areas that suffer from condensation, such as windows, doors, even pipes under sinks. Condensation is an excellent source of moisture that mold will use to grow. Remember, mold can be found almost anywhere, and can grow on virtually any surface, such as wood, paper, and dirty carpet (mold usually does not grow on clean carpet). You can always have a professional mold test in Mystic Island, N.J., just to be safe. If you discover moisture intrusion issues, such as from a leaky pipe, drain, toilet, or in the basement — anywhere in the home — take steps to fix the issue. And be sure to inspect for mold growth. If you see any evidence at all, do the right thing. Call your professional water damage, in Mystic Island, N.J. company right away. After all, it pays to call a pro! When something fails, such as a high-pressure fresh water source to your toilet… or perhaps a leaky drain pipe underneath the kitchen sink… no matter what it may be, you usually know what to do.
You know the drill… clean it up, get it dry, and call a professional water damage In Margate, N.J. restoration company to ensure all is good and there is no possible way mold can grow. You want peace of mind, and this is the way to get it. However, sometimes you just don’t know when things happen, when things leak or when water intrusion occurs — because it can be slowly invasive and build up over time. There are several steps to determining if you have an actual water damage situation and when you must call a pro — and when you can do it yourself. Remember, you can’t be too cautious with the well-being of your loved ones. The nose knows Damp and wet areas affected by water intrusion demonstrate themselves after a day or two with a very easy to detect odor. It will just smell wet, musty, and unhealthy. If you detect anything like that, it’s time to do some serious investigating. You may not actually see the water intrusion, but no doubt it is probably there. Surface damage You can often see swelling materials, such as the particle board under a sink, providing evidence of water intrusion. When things buckle, even if you notice it after the surface has dried, there is potential of subsequent water damage, because if it leaked once… it will again! This may be a good time to have a mold test in Margate, N.J. Stains You can usually see this in the ceilings and areas around water sources. Sometimes it is around windows. If you detect water marks (think of a carpet under a water fountain in a building) then you need to put your investigative hat on and figure out if it is a big deal or not — and most likely, it will be a big deal. The evidence of water damage can be easy to see, and sometimes it hides and continues to affect surfaces and your health until it becomes a serious issue. If you have any water damage issues or questions, do the right thing. Call your favorite water damage professional company today. After all, it pays to call a pro! Call a professional for mold removal in Margate, N.J., if needed. |
Jo Lucas
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April 2023
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