Measuring Moisture After a Flood
When the unthinkable happens and your house suffers from any type of flood, you want to know how extensive the damage is. There is the obvious squishy carpet to tell you part of the story, and the visible standing water such as you might have in a basement. But do you really know how far water has intruded? Water intrusion can go into all types of areas, such as under hard floors, in walls, filling the ductwork, wicking up surfaces and going places not even close to the original flooded area. It can destroy HVAC systems and valuable furnishings and belongings. When that happens, some of the items damaged are discarded and replaced, hopefully by your insurance company. But even when things seem dry, are they? If you don’t take care of all the moisture, you could have a buildup of malodors, musty smells, and even mold growth that can be extremely costly to remediate. If you wait too long and then see a little mold, there can be much more behind the surface that you will have to remediate. All this means it’s important to have the “right stuff” to find moisture. Restoration professionals have the equipment needed to detect and pinpoint moisture. Moisture hunting should never be a guessing game. After there has been a water damage or leak, it is critical to be able to gauge how much moisture remains in walls, floors, and ceilings, and any other affected areas. Bacteria and mold growth is no joking matter. It can even damage the actual structure of your home. Moisture meters help detect this moisture. The pros use different types. One is the pin moisture meter that has two metal probes that penetrate the surface to take a moisture reading. When activated, an electrical current will flow from one pin to the other and measures the resistance. Another type is the pinless moisture meter. These work by an electromagnetic sensor pad put on the surface, and it takes a moisture reading, measuring down as far as 1.5 inches in some cases, depending on the meter. Using a professional restoration company helps with many aspects of repairing a flooded home, one of them with your own stress level. When something as devastating as a flood occurs, it can have a devastating effect on you and your family. Do the right thing when you have water damage. Call your favorite restoration company. After all, it pays to call a pro! Three Cleaning Products You Already Have
When you are cleaning your home, you need cleaning products. While you use some traditional products specific for your cleaning tasks, you may have some others in your home that can do the trick. Here are three that you no doubt have somewhere in the kitchen and can use to keep your home fresh and clean. Dish detergent One of the most famous of all time is Dawn, and you’ve seen the footage about birds in oil spills being cleaned up with this detergent. Water by itself is a great cleaning solution, but it doesn’t work very well on oily soils. You need more power. While Dawn is often mentioned, almost generically, any dish detergent is a grease-cutting tool. A few drops in water gives you a quick, effective cleaning solution for greasy surfaces, such as countertops. You can use a few drops in a bucket as an effective window washing solution if you use a wand and squeegee. There are many uses; a quick Google search shows you dozens of them. Just be sure to wipe away or clean off the detergent residue because that can attract more soil. Baking soda While most put baking soda in the refrigerator or cabinets (with the lid open, of course) for deodorizing purposes, some use it as a scrubbing additive, when you need a little more than elbow grease. It works on toilet bowls, sinks, and all types of surfaces. It’s a two-fold product, for cleaning and also deodorizing. Stinky trash can? A small container of baking soda left inside will help. It works as an odor absorbent, capturing malodors and freshening the air. Try it out! Vinegar Sometimes, an acidic solution is needed for cleaning, such as for nicotine residues or smoke, and for neutralizing some soils. Some use it as a deodorizer. It also cleans out any appliance that runs water through the system, such as coffee makers. Vinegar can remove lime scale, soap scum, and even rust if given enough time. Vinegar may have a strong odor, but it can’t be beat for handling some specific cleaning challenges. Just hold your nose! Of course, your favorite cleaning company knows all about these products, and more. The tricks and hacks that make them the pros. When you need help, call them. After all, it pays to call a pro! Restoration Mistakes… Exposed!
The word “restoration” has many meanings. If you Google “water damage restoration” you might come up with topics such as “iPhone dropped in toilet” and similar unthinkable tragedies. But for the purpose of today’s topic, we are going to concentrate on what the pros call “disaster” restoration, such as from water flooding your basement, pipes breaking, a kitchen fire, mold, and similar restoration projects for your home. When you have water damage The mistakes begin when you think you can simply use your wet/dry vacuum and such up the water and put a fan on it. It’s not going to dry out what you can’t see, such as in the walls, the carpet cushion, and other areas where the water has affected. When things are wet, it takes real effort to get it dry, clean, and odor-free. Be smart and make sure you know where the water went, and how wet it really is. Sounds like a job for the pros, right? It is! They have the moisture sensors, meters, and equipment necessary for the job. When you have a kitchen fire A house fire is one of the most devastating disasters that can happen to you. But there are some fires that are relatively small and manageable, such as the common kitchen fire, which happens when cooking goes wrong, and flames pop up. One of the worst mistakes is not having a proper fire extinguisher, one that hasn’t reached its expiration date. Make sure the expiration date is still in the future, and that the class of extinguisher is for kitchen and grease fires and can be used on electrical fires. This means no water extinguishers of any type. Most multi-purpose extinguishers are acceptable, but make sure you have what you need. When you find mold Some people are sensitive to mold spores, and others aren’t. The main thing is to get a professional to inspect and give you the advice you need. While cleaning mold from a shower is one thing, finding it in the basement or on a wall is another. Be smart and have a healthy fear of mold contamination. Mold exposure can lead to all types of health issues for some people. No matter the disaster you face, though, restoration pros are ready to help. Do the right thing and consult with your favorite restoration company. After all, it pays to call a pro! Cleaning Mistakes… Exposed!
If there is one thing you value and appreciate, it would be efficiencies when you clean your home. You want your time to be well-spent and effective as you clean your home and keep it looking great and a safe haven for your family. And you want your efforts to really count, your cleaning to do just that… clean. Get rid of the dirt and make it all look good. Yet all too often we make mistakes with our cleaning process and can even do more harm than good. Here are a few cleaning mistakes… exposed! Carpet spot removal When you see a spot on the carpet and grab your favorite carpet spotter, give it a squirt or two, you might then scrub the spot. Perhaps with a brush. When the spot doesn’t budge, you might scrub harder. That is a big mistake! When you scrub the carpet you are going to fray the fibers, damage the texture, and can even make the spot worse. When carpet spotting, apply your spotting solution, work it in gently with a white towel, and blot away the spot. If the spot remains, call your favorite carpet cleaning company. Cleaning glass Doesn’t everyone spray their glass, whether a mirror or window, and then use a cloth or paper towel and wipe in a circular motion? We all do. But there is a better way. Spray your solution on the window, use a towel to clean smudges and dirt, spray it again and use a squeegee to remove the liquid. If you don’t have a squeegee, avoid the circular motion with your towel. Go horizontal, and then vertical, until the glass is clean. This helps avoid streaking. Vacuum maintenance It’s what you don’t see that can be harmful. Some rely on a sensor telling them their vacuum bag is full. Others wait until they can see it is full, to the brim. You should change your vacuum bags when about halfway full, never more than 2/3 full. The longer debris, soil, dander, and other contaminants are in the bag, the greater the odds you will have foul odors from what’s “growing” inside the bag. Spend a little more time and money on your vacuum and keep it happy with a fresh bag. When you start cleaning, it’s always smart to get good advice. And the best advice comes from your favorite cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro! |
Property Damage Restoration Services of Texas
Archives
March 2024
Cleaning & Restoration OutPost Site Cypress TX
|