Preventing Water Damage in Your Home

Water damage can be very expensive and difficult to fix. The good news is, you can prevent it from happening. By preparing your home for the influx of excessive water, you can save a lot of money, stress, and time.

Having said that, here are some ways you can stop water from wreaking havoc in your home:

• Maintain proper drainage. – Improper drainage can lead to considerable foundation issues in your home. It makes your foundation weak, and this can lead to uneven setting, and cracks. It may also provide a convenient pathway for water to get into your home.

Poor drainage can be fixed by installing properly functioning gutters. Likewise, make sure to clean your gutters on a regular basis. This will keep water away from your home’s foundation.

• Test your sump pumps. – Having sump pumps can help your home prevent water damage. This is on the assumption that it will work well when you need it the most – during storms and heavy downpour. To make sure that your sump pumps are always in good shape, regular inspection and proper maintenance are important.

To test your pump, slowly fill it up with water. Make sure the float rises, and then goes back once the water level goes down. Otherwise, your sump pump may need repair or replacement. Having a battery-operated sump pump may be necessary if you live in an area where flooding frequently happens.

• Inspect your home for any leaks. – Even small leaks can cause big problems in the future if they go undetected. They can lead to mildew, mold, termites, and rotting, among others.

Inspect your home, and check for stains on the walls and ceilings, damaged shingles, dripping water anywhere, and dark spots under pipes. Likewise, check your roof for leaks. Fix damaged or missing shingles.

If you notice signs of leaks in your windows, you may have compromised seals. You should have your windows fixed right away.

Uneven, drafty doors may also be responsible for leaks. Try installing some weatherstripping at the bottom. This, however, may not be sufficient, and you may require a completely new door.

• Inspect your exterior siding. – As a homeowner, you need dependable and durable siding. This is because worn out or faulty siding will let water enter your home easily. Installing vinyl siding is a good way to limit water damage. Wood siding is prone to warping and rotting. This can lead not only to water damage, but pest infestation as well.

• Maintain a dry home. – Aside from regular maintenance of your sump pump, roof, pipes, and appliances, it is also a good idea keep your home always dry.

Dealing with water damage can be stressful, not to mention costly. The good news is, you can prevent it from happening in your home. All you have to do is prepare your home to face the onslaught of heavy rains and storms. Follow the tips provided in this post. These will help you prevent unnecessary work and expenses resulting from water damage.

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Benefits of Hiring an IICRC Certified Company

Hiring efficient and responsible workers is an investment. It would prevent losses associated with poor work performance. Employing technicians from an IICRC Certified Company is one way to ensure that you are hiring capable workers.

About Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)

The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) is a non-profit organization that aims to establish and advance globally recognized standards and certifications for the inspection, cleaning, and restoration and installation industries. It is currently managed by a board of 15 industry leaders. These leaders represent the interests of the organizations’ registrants and help shape the organization’s policies and uphold its standards. The company values respect, responsibility, integrity, excellence, and expertise.

Benefits of employing an IICRC Certified Company

An IICRC Certified Company employs one or more IICRC certified technicians, adheres to business ethics, and have current insurance and licensee requirements.

1. Employs IICRC Certified Technicians 

IICRC certified technicians are equipped with knowledge and skills needed to do restoration work with efficiency and speed.

IICRC Certified Technicians are trained formally. Their skills are honed through experience. They have also passed one or more of the comprehensive examinations administered by the IICRC. Always striving to give their clients the best service possible, they keep abreast with current and emerging trends in their fields through participating in continuing training and education programs.

Professional restoration technicians are quick to respond to any project. They know that prompt remediation is the key to providing quality service without increasing the cost. For example, replacing a broken water pipe immediately would prevent the deterioration of wooden floor boards.
Employing an IICRC certified company will give you peace of mind because you know that you are in capable hands.

2. Adheres to Business Ethics 

All IICRC Certified firms are dedicated to follow business ethics. All IICRC Certified firms are expected to:
• Give accurate information to clients.
• Conduct business with honesty and integrity.
• Keep liability insurance to protect all parties in the event of an accident.
• Have a written complaint policy.
• Allow the Better Business Bureau or similar arbitration to investigate disputes within the company and accepts the decisions and recommendations of the arbitration.

3. Maintain current insurance and licensee requirements

The excitement of opening a business or running one may cause entrepreneurs to ignore the need for licenses and permits. The most common licenses and permits are Business license, Fire Department Permit, Air and Water Pollution Control Permit, Sign Permit, State licenses, and Federal licenses. Obtaining these is as fun as visiting the doctor, but failing to comply often result in legal action that ends in high fines or closure.

Hiring someone from an IICR certified company would prevent cancellations and postponement of work due to license issues.

Conclusion

If you need restoration done for your home or office, consider hiring an IICRC Certified Company. Their capable technicians, business ethics, and current insurance and licensee requirements guarantee quality and honest service. It is better to employ the right workers from the start than to be troubled half-way through a restoration project.

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When Do You Need To Call An Emergency Water Damage Company

Unwanted water leaks and floods in the home is a source of great stress and anxiety. Aside from the discomfort caused by wet floors and leaking ceilings, excess moisture quickens the deterioration of a house and increases the probability of mold growth. Some water problems have easy Do-It-Yourself fixes, while others need the skills of a professional.  Here are some scenarios when calling a Water Damage Company is beneficial:

1. Flooding from fire fighting efforts

Sometimes, water damage comes with fire damage. Restoring a fire-devastated property poses health risks. Even after the thick black fumes are gone, the odor of smoke lingers. Furniture, carpet, walls, wooden surfaces, and other porous materials hold in smoke particles.  Smoke and soot caused by fire may lead to bronchitis, asthma, and other respiratory problems. Professionals are trained to identify risks and know what equipment to use to protect themselves.

2. Leaking appliances and water heaters 

Attempting to repair appliances that leak may cause the appliance to short-circuit. It may further cause the appliance damage that is otherwise preventable if a professional repaired it. It could also lead to electrocution.

3. Broken plumbing

Plumbing issues should not be put off, as they might become worse and lead to further damage. Knowing the signs of a broken pipe is important for pipes are usually hidden from view. The signs of a broken pipe include damp floors, low water flow rate, problems with the hot water system, and dripping faucets. If you have had the same water system for more than ten years, it is advisable to get it checked. Take note that sometimes, installing a brand new water system is more efficient and less expensive than calling a plumber every week.

4. Flooding due to storms 

Fixing flooded houses has three steps. First, the water must be completely extracted and dried. Then it requires dehumidification, cleaning, and sanitizing. Third, the house would be restored to its original condition. The drying step can be easily done by homeowners. However, generally, only a water damage company has the proper equipment for the dehumidification, cleaning, and sanitizing flooded basements.

Also, flooding caused by storms is often characterized by very high volumes of water. When the floods recede, the excess mud and water inside affected houses are difficult to remove. To ensure quick cleanup, it is recommended to call the water damage company.

5. Water problems due to tornadoes 

Tornadoes can destroy or even demolish houses in minutes. Sometimes it leaves a house in a dangerous state with furniture, appliances, and cutlery thrown in disarray. Electrical cords may become exposed and broken glasses may be scattered everywhere. To prevent accidents, hiring professionals to restore the house is recommended especially if there are children living in the house.

6. Sewage backups

Sewage backups happen when the water comes back into the home through water pipes from sewer or drainage systems. It is caused by floods or broken sewer lateral. A sewer lateral is the pipe that connects the city sanitary main sewer to the building. Cracked or broken sewage lateral due to deterioration associated with age or tree roots can allow groundwater to seep into the pipes and cause sewage backups.  In a similar fashion, water due to floods can push water back into homes.

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50 Upgrades Your Home Deserves in 2018

You keep saying you’re going to retile the bathroom, or switch out the cabinets in the kitchen, or paint the living room once and for all. You magically need to add a closet where there isn’t one; the bedroom lacks light. But even smaller adjustment—new blinds, an upgraded showerhead, a rug—can make a home much more reflective of its inhabitants. Well, now's the time. Call it a New Year’s resolution or a pledge for self-care, but put down the phone (after you read this, of course), head to the hardware store, and hop to it. Wallpaper a room that badly needs personality or hack an affordable marble floor—your home deserves a little more this year. Here are 50 of our favorite ways to be clever in 2018.

1. Hard-wire for less. The simplest light socket is also one of the most attractive, especially if you put one of these bulbs in it.

2. Or just clamp a light wherever you need it. With this spotlight that’s not just for photo sets anymore.

3. Build out a minibar on a bookshelf, your side table, tucked in a cabinet, and more.

4. Or skip the bar cart entirely and make space on a shelf (even mount one) for your favorite bottles.

Read More: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/home-renovation-ideas-upgrades-your-home-deserves
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