What Can Everyone do to Repair Water Damage?

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What Can Everyone do to Repair Water Damage?
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Table of contents

• What Can Everyone do to Repair Water Damage?
• Should Everyone Have Their Air Ducts Cleaned?
• What Can Someone Do About Water Damage To Their
  Home?
• What Does Air Duct Cleaning Involve and Who
  Should Do It?
• Why Mold in the House is Dangerous and Must be
  Removed

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What Can Everyone do to Repair Water Damage?

• This is a question that gets regularly asked
  online, but there isnt a simple answer. The real
  answer is that it depends on what type of water
  damage is being dealt with. Water damage can
  range across a number of areas in the house and
  by degree. There is minor water damage and then
  there is major water damage. 
• Minor water damage can be handled by the
  homeowner if its a quick, easy fix but should be
  handled by a professional if it takes any real
  measure of carpentry to repair.

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• Quick, easy to fix water damage is usually
  something simple like some discoloration in the
  paint on a wall or ceiling. It can result in some
  discoloration to wallpaper. The truth is that
  replacing the wallpaper is a job that takes time,
  but can be done by almost anyone. If the
  situation involves a little bit of discoloration
  to paint, then there are two options one can
  take 
• First Dilute water with a sterilizing agent.
  Vinegar can be used, but it isnt as effective as
  bleach. Bleach will kill any bacteria in the
  stain and, for white paint, is better at
  restoring the color. With this, its better to
  delicately brush away the stain and then let it
  dry overnight. The best results with this method
  are over a twenty-four hour period.
• Second Repaint. This is a solution that means
  repainting an entire wall or an entire room, but
  should only be used if the first solution doesnt
  work. This takes time, but can be done by anyone.

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• Major water damage is an entirely different
  subject and can range from destroyed drywall to
  an entire wall needing replacing. Regardless of
  the amount of damage, its best to have a
  professional come in and make sure that there
  isnt more damage that cant be seen or if more
  damage will occur due to an ongoing problem.
• If a specialist does come into the house and
  discovers that water damage has happened because
  of an ongoing issue, then its best to take care
  of the issue first. If it isnt solved, then the
  water damage will just occur again and again.

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• Once the source of the damage is dealt with, its
  then that a professional team will establish if
  there are any further issues that might be a
  problem, like the development of mold or other
  issues. After that, they will make sure that
  everything is properly dried out so that they can
  begin work and ensure that there arent any other
  issues that rear their heads once everythings
  dry.
• Its then that final work can begin. This means
  that something minor, like drywall can be
  repaired quickly, or more major work to replace
  damaged wood, insulation, floors, etc. can be
  done. Again, if this is the type of damage thats
  occurred to a persons home, they shouldnt
  attempt to repair it themselves. Get
  professionals to do this type of repair work to
  ensure that its done correctly!

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Should Everyone Have Their Air Ducts Cleaned?

• This is a relatively new question and a new field
  of service relative to most others in the
  industry. For people who have forced water
  systems for heat, then there is nothing to
  discuss. But, for those who do have forced air
  systems, there are proponents now of the idea of
  having their air ducts cleaned. 
• So, is there any basis behind this? There isnt
  any scientific proof yet as to whether or not
  its better for people, but there are good
  reasons to have it done beyond just a regular
  maintenance issue. Here are a few reasons as to
  why someone should have their air ducts cleaned
• Efficiency The average home can collect up to
  forty pounds of dirt in its air ducts in one
  year. Thats a lot of buildup and can result in a
  lowering of the overall efficiency of the duct
  system. By cleaning a homes duct system, one
  might just end up with lower power bills.

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• Mold buildup This is one of the biggest reasons
  to have a duct system cleaned. If there is a
  sufficient buildup of mold in the air ducts, then
  a homeowner can literally have their own
  ventilation and heating system working against
  them. If mold is found in the ducts, then not
  only are the air ducts blowing it all around the
  house, which is dangerous for people, but it
  could actually be helping the mold to spread.
• If anyone is experiencing the symptoms of mold
  contamination, which involves various
  breathing-related issues, like difficulty
  breathing, sneezing, coughing, sinus problems,
  etc. then have a professional check the
  ventilation system of the home. If mold is
  present in them, then they need to be cleaned. 
• Infestations This isnt one thats commonly
  thought of, but it can happen. In major cities
  with rodent infestations, rats and mice can get
  into air ducts and use them as an easy highway
  through a persons home. For insects, like ants
  and wasps, air ducts are the perfect place to set
  up shop as they arent easy to get at by humans,
  but again, they make great passages of transport
  for the insects.

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• If anyone is experiencing any of the above, its
  best to have professionals come in and clean the
  infestation out of the ducts for the peace of
  mind and health of everyone in the home.
• Clogs This is also the biggest argument for
  regular duct cleaning. If buildup in ducts
  persists over a long period of time, clogs can
  develop. Not only that, but the buildup can get
  to such a degree that particles of dust and other
  elements can be released through registers,
  causing air pollution problems within the house
  itself. 
• Should everyone get their air ducts cleaned? Its
  always ultimately the choice of the homeowner,
  but there are some solid reasons behind regular
  duct cleaning that are proactive in removing
  various issues that might already be a problem
  and preventative in stopping future problems
  before they have a chance to start.

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What Can Someone Do About Water Damage To Their
Home?

• Water damage to a home can be a serious problem
  that needs to be dealt with immediately. All
  sorts of water damage can happen to a persons
  home, including leaks in the roof, leaks in the
  basement, and burst pipes, but flooding is
  usually the most common culprit that can cause a
  great deal of damage to a home.
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• Once the flooding has occurred, its time to deal
  with it. If a house is still in the middle of a
  flood and water is still coming in, theres
  nothing to be done right away. A clean-up crew
  cant remove the water and start the process of
  cleanup if theres still water coming into the
  affected area!

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• After floodwaters recede or the issue causing the
  flood had been repaired or stopped, then its
  time to act.
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• First of all, dont panic. There are many water
  damage restoration professionals out there to
  help and they are just a phone call away. So, get
  a hold of one and give them a call!
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• This is where the professionals come in to take
  care of a home. Their process begins with a
  thorough inspection of the premises. In these
  times, its best to point out the obvious places
  of damage to make the process of identifying
  issues faster for them, but if they ask or
  inspect places that dont appear to have any
  problems, denying them access or blocking their
  access to those areas can lead to future issues.

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• Restoration specialists arent being nosy.
  Theyre just usually more experienced in knowing
  where other damage may have occurred that most
  people might not notice, so allow them some
  leeway on where they can and cant go!
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• At that point, water removal begins. This is
  where the team does what it sounds like they do
  they remove any standing water from the affected
  area(s) of the home. This is the most logical
  start to the process, as nothing can be
  accomplished while there is still water on the
  property.
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• The team will then begin the process of drying
  out the property so that repairs can begin. Not
  only does it make sense that people cant make
  repairs to something thats still soggy, but a
  water damage restoration company cant properly
  assess damage and repairs until everything had
  completely dried out.

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• Its then that the team can begin the restoration
  of the home. This final step of the process is
  also one of the biggest. Restoration means that
  the home will be brought back to how it looked
  before the water damage occurred. This can be an
  involved process due to the extent of the damage.
  Drywall, insulation, and even warped wood can all
  be replaced. Final touches like carpeting and
  paint are then added to restore the home to its
  original appearance.
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• The most important thing to remember about water
  damage restoration is to leave it to the
  professionals. Theyve developed this process as
  the best way to assist people and its proven
  effective. Its also why they are the first
  people that everyone calls!

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What Does Air Duct Cleaning Involve and Who
Should Do It?

• There is a new wave hitting the suburban market
  and that is the service of duct cleaning. This
  was never seriously considered in the past as a
  must-do for a persons home, but various reasons
  for doing it have come to light in recent years,
  most having to do with air quality inside the
  home.
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• For people curious to have the service done, they
  tend to wonder what the process involves and who
  they should call to have it done. The process
  itself involves a few different contributing
  factors to cost, like the size of the system, how
  accessible it is, and just how dirty it is.

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• First, realize that duct cleaning doesnt just
  mean cleaning the air ducts, themselves. It means
  cleaning other components of the ventilation
  system as well, including the registers,
  diffusers, heat exchangers, drip pans, motor and
  housing. So, this isnt just cleaning one part of
  the heating and cooling system, its the cleaning
  of all of it.
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• That means to expect a professional team to show
  up and also expect them to be thorough! This can,
  but may not necessarily include using chemical
  biocides designed to eliminate any harmful
  bacteria that might exist in the system.The
  process for doing a proper duct cleaning means
  that professionals need to be hired to carry it
  out. So, what should people look for in an air
  duct cleaning company?

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• Find out what their reputation is like. Never
  depend on what a companys website says. Its
  designed to tell everyone who visits it that
  theyre the best, most respected, etc. The right
  thing to do is to get references from the company
  and look up online reviews from multiple
  websites.
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• Always get an estimate. Once youve done that get
  a few from other companies and compare. The
  lowest price isnt always necessarily the best,
  but it does show a person what the general range
  is and it helps to narrow down the list.
•  
• Expect the whole shebang! Never choose a company
  who guarantees that theyll only do half of the
  job. This is another reason to compare with other
  companies, because multiple estimates include
  multiple lists of everything they do and their
  prices. That means that a prospective client can
  also discover which businesses are offering the
  full service, and not just part of it.

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• Check to see if theyre certified and adhere to
  national standards. This is a little more
  difficult to check on, but one can ask to see a
  professionals credentials to verify that they
  are certified HVAC specialists as no one is
  actually certified to do air duct cleaning.
•  
• Watch out for convenient deals. This is where
  someone is offering a complete air duct cleaning
  for only fifty dollars. No one is going to offer
  a deal like that, because they would be out of
  business within a short period of time! Deals
  like that are either scams or theyre
  deliberately misleading with small print that
  covers the rest of the cost.
•  
• With these guidelines, anyone can get a good,
  efficient company to do their duct cleaning.

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Why Mold in the House is Dangerous and Must be
Removed

• A little bit of mold was regarded for years as
  nothing to be afraid of, but recent years have
  shown that mold in the house is not a simple case
  of something one finds in their shower. It can be
  dangerous for everyone exposed to mold and
  dangerous for pets, as well.
• There are, of course, molds that are the typical
  kinds that one finds that really arent much of
  an issue for people. This is the kind of mold
  that ones find around a shower or a toilet. A
  little bit of vinegar and bleach easily
  dispatches the problem and everyone continues on
  living in the home without a problem.
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• There are molds, though, that are much more
  dangerous to peoples health and need to be dealt
  with, including the infamous black mold that
  everyones heard about in the last ten years, or
  so.

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• What is black mold? The simplest explanation is
  that its marked by its color, which is a dark
  black, as opposed to the other colors of mold one
  might find in the house, such as green and grey
  molds. Black mold is found in the warmest, and
  wettest parts of the house. So, the places to
  look for it includes leaky basements and possibly
  bathrooms with ongoing moisture issues, or ones
  that arent well ventilated.
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• Why is it so dangerous? It doesnt just look bad.
  Mold can seriously damage a persons health. The
  most serious result of mold is how it affects a
  person. Mold consists of spores which become
  airborne. Once in the air, people are in danger
  of breathing them in. Thats where the issue
  starts once the spores interact with the lungs,
  they can lead to health problems.

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• What is black mold? The simplest explanation is
  that its marked by its color, which is a dark
  black, as opposed to the other colors of mold one
  might find in the house, such as green and grey
  molds. Black mold is found in the warmest, and
  wettest parts of the house. So, the places to
  look for it includes leaky basements and possibly
  bathrooms with ongoing moisture issues, or ones
  that arent well ventilated.
•  
• Why is it so dangerous? It doesnt just look bad.
  Mold can seriously damage a persons health. The
  most serious result of mold is how it affects a
  person. Mold consists of spores which become
  airborne. Once in the air, people are in danger
  of breathing them in. Thats where the issue
  starts once the spores interact with the lungs,
  they can lead to health problems.

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• If a home tests positive for mold, then the mold
  needs to be removed at once. A professional team
  can accomplish this and it is not advised for
  homeowners to attempt to do it themselves. If
  non-professionals attempt to remove a mold
  problem, they can actually inhale the very spores
  theyre trying to get rid of. There is also an
  issue that there can be more mold than meets the
  eye, which specialists are trained to look for.
  So, get a professional in to test for and remove
  mold problems in the home!
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