3 Easy Ways To Prevent Home Water Damage

If you are filing a homeowner insurance claim, it is most likely due to water damage. Flooding accounts for 90% of the damage caused by natural disasters, according to FEMA. Similarly, the primary cause of non-disaster home claims is plumbing supply system or drain system failure, as well as blocked or broken toilet plumbing, washing machine supply line and drain blockage, and water heater failure from age and corrosion. To lessen the impact of these catastrophes before water damage restoration begins, there are three basic steps to reduce water damage, including the growth of mold. Remember to check for structural damage before entering your house, and turn off electricity wherever necessary.

Remove Standing Water

Wear protective clothing and equipment, such as gloves, boots and goggles when cleaning up flooded areas. Take all water soaked materials, such as clothing, bedding, furniture and rugs, outside to dry, and put mattresses out for removal. A finished basement full of water must be pumped slowly, no more than two or three feet a day, to avoid causing damage to the walls from outside pressure. Pump as much water as possible from the house. Shovel out mud and debris where you are able, and spray hard surfaces with water to remove as much sediment as possible.

Clean to Minimize Mold Growth

Clean flood water contaminated surfaces with hot water and strong disinfectant. To prevent mold growth and kill bacteria, wipe surfaces down with a solution of 1/4 cup chlorine bleach per each gallon of water. Upholstered furniture and carpeting should be cleaned by professionals.

Ventilate Your Home

It is very important to keep the air moving in your house in order to dry wet surfaces and reduce the possibility of mold growth. Open windows and doors and set up fans in every affected room or area. Use dehumidifiers to hasten drying.


If you have not already called us in to do the initial cleaning, we, at Utah Flood Cleanup, can take over from you at this point, and we will perform water damage restoration of your home. We can send our certified technicians to your home at all hours of every day, in fully stocked and equipped service vans. Aside from the cleaning services we can provide, we will perform inspections, locate the source of flooding or leaking, remove damaged materials, and apply an EPA approved, microbial deodorizing and sanitizing solution. We monitor moisture levels, and use industrial fans and dehumidifiers to dry your home quickly, and we perform mold remediation when necessary.


Utah Flood Cleanup provides free phone consultations, and free inspections for all insurance covered water damage. We will work with you and your insurance company if you are filing a claim. We also guarantee our workmanship for five years and have affordable financing plans available.


If you would like to learn more about our water damage restoration services, please go to our website at UtahFloodCleanup.com or call us at (801)876-5225.


About the Author:
Josh Ray is a disaster cleanup professional and the owner of Utah Flood Cleanup. He is a certified mold professional, asbestos inspector, water damage IICRC carpet cleaning professional, and holds a RRP certification. You can rest easy knowing an experienced professional is helping repair you fire damage, water damage, or mold remediation issue.


Utah Flood Cleanup
685 E. 2850 N.
North Ogden, UT 84414
(801) 416-2666

5 Fire Safety Tips To Prevent Fires In Your Bedroom

We can never be too careful when it comes to preparing and dealing with tragedies. A lot of people try to insure their properties in case a disaster hits. One of the leading causes of property loss is fire. But what if we could prevent tragedies such as fire from happening? Which safety measures can we put in place?

Disaster Clean Up Companies

Disasters can strike any moment without fore warning. Therefore we should know the right people to call for disaster restoration. Utah Flood Cleanup is our go-to disaster Management Company. Founded in 1992 and located in Utah, this disaster management company deals with fire damage restoration, water, and mold damage. Utah Flood Cleanup understands our needs, and therefore the company is always prepared with their best technicians at hand. They are additionally well-equipped with the most recent and most advanced tools enabling them to handle tough jobs.

Utah Flood Cleanup has made it their mission to ensure that all properties are as good as new once they are through restoring them back. They can handle both commercial and residential houses and are available every hour of the day.

Safety Tips to Prevent Fire in your Bedroom

Fire is very destructive, and most of the time, it leaves nothing to be salvaged. That is why it is easier and less costly to prevent fires than to deal with the after effects of a fire. Some precautions can be adopted to help to avoid fire disasters.

• It is advisable to install smoke detectors in the bedroom and any other room in the house and ensure they are working at all times.
• Ensure that all electric switches have arc circuit interrupters which are essential in case the circuits become overloaded. Combustible items and heat sources such as candles should never be placed close together.
• Acquire a mattress that meets the flammability standards. Such kind of a mattress goes a long way in preventing the spread of fire in the bedroom.
• It is advisable to place phones, laptops, tabs and any other electronic devices on hard surfaces.
• All electrical wires around the bedroom should be properly installed and should not be left hanging out of the sockets.

Preparing for disaster

When a disaster strikes, it can be tough to adapt if we did not have a plan in place before hand. Everything in this life is unpredictable. No one knows what tomorrow holds. And because of this, everyone should always be ready for anything both psychologically and physically. It is always important to have ready to go-bags that contain necessary items for survival. Having a backup plan ready in case of emergency is important.

Conclusion

One of the major ways to prepare for disasters is to always have a disaster management company on speed dial. Utah Flood Cleanup is one of the best businesses in the market, and they will always have the client’s back. This company can restore any damage be it fire damage restoration. They are only a phone call away.


About the Author:
Josh Ray is a disaster cleanup professional and the owner of Utah Flood Cleanup. He is a certified mold professional, asbestos inspector, water damage IICRC carpet cleaning professional, and holds a RRP certification. You can rest easy knowing an experienced professional is helping repair you fire damage, water damage, or mold remediation issue.


Utah Flood Cleanup
685 E. 2850 N.
North Ogden, UT 84414
(801) 416-2666

3 Tips to Avoid Water Damage This Summer

The summer should be a time for relaxation and family fun. When the weather is sweet, our hearts and minds long to wander to thoughts of vacation destinations and family cookouts. The last thing we want or need to deal with during the summer is water damage and the headaches it brings with it. Water damage repair can be a costly disruption to our social and professional lives. If water damage does occur in your home or business, Utah Flood Cleanup is here to help. Luckily, however, there are preventative measures home and business owners can take to avoid the headache of water damage cleanup. We'd like to take a moment to discuss three important tips to avoid water damage this summer.

Take Care of Your Roof

Your roof is your home or business' first and a main line of defense against weather of all sorts, but especially rain. When a roof starts leaking, the damage to a structure can build quickly. The visible damage may start as nothing more than discoloration on the ceiling or walls, but be assured that if left go, the water damage can become catastrophic, possibly even forcing the abandonment of the home or business. Be sure to inspect your roof yearly, or if you're not able, call a professional to come assist you. Any damaged or missing shingles should be replaced as soon as possible to avoid costly water damage repair

Clean Those Gutters

Your gutters are there for a lot more than to keep the water from dripping on you when you enter or exit your home or business. The main purpose of gutters is actually to take the water that pours off the roof in the rain and get it away from the foundation of the house. When water is allowed to pour straight off the roof and land so close to the foundation, a slow erosion process occurs that will inevitably lead to deterioration of the foundation and moisture making its way into the home. This can lead to mold infestation and other water damage related issues. So keep those gutters clean and free of debris to ensure that they are in proper working order.

Maintain Your Windows and Siding

Aside from the roof and gutters, the exterior of the walls of your home or business, including windows, is the vanguard in protection from the elements. Thorough inspection and maintenance of siding and windows is key to keeping your house dry and free of water and mold. Make sure the exterior of the house is inspected yearly and after heavy storms with high wind and that any minor repairs are completed before they cause major water damage related headaches.

Conclusion

Following these 3 easy tips will go a long way to helping keep your home or business dry and water free. If you do have any trouble, however, the team here at Utah Flood Cleanup is here to help. Call Us!

3 Tips to Stay Safe When You Have a Sewage Backup

Just the phrase “sewage backup” is enough to strike fear in the hearts of a homeowner. It conjures up images of gross matter in the tub or shower, in the basement or on residential flooring. So as a homeowner, what can you do when faced with a sewage backup?

Find the Cause

First, try to pinpoint the cause of the problem so that you can at least begin to take care of it even before the pros come in. It may be that your sewer line is clogged, causing backup into your sink, tub or toilet. Large trees with extensive roots can also create backup problems since the roots can grow into and around the pipes, causing holes and blockage. Or, especially if you live in an older house, your sewer lines were probably built from iron and clay, both of which break down and/or rust over time. Understanding the cause of your problem will help you help us hone in on our job.

What You Can Do Before the Pros Arrive

The best idea for cleaning up a sewage leak is to call in one of the professional sewage cleanup services in Utah. If you decide to tackle this before we arrive, there are several things you can do:

• Clean your floors as quickly as possible, but be prepared to replace flooring that has been deeply penetrated by the sewage.
• Use a small amount of non-ammonia dish detergent mixed with one part chlorine bleach to four parts water to wash down all affected surface.
• If area rugs are salvageable, wash and dry them well. Have carpeting that has been slightly affected cleaned by a professional, but discards any carpeting that has gotten soaked.
• If it is safe to turn off all your power, do so; if you aren’t sure, wait until a professional gives you the okay.
• Don't flush your toilets or drain your sinks or tubs, and this can just create more mess and more problems.
• Do not try to unclog the system using harsh chemical products that can make things worse by damaging your pipes.

How to Keep Safe

Be aware of the issues that sewage backup can cause - health hazards, fire hazards and extensive property damage - and know how to protect yourself:

• Wear protective gloves, goggles, boots and a face mask.
• Open windows in order to ventilate the area.
• Keep children and pets away from the affected area.
• Add a cup of chlorine bleach when washing any contaminated clothing or bedding.

Call the Professionals

No matter how much you know and how thorough you may be, in order to ensure that the cleanup process is completely successful call one of the sewage cleanup services in Utah. We here at Utah Flood Cleanup have the expertise and experience to deal with cleaning and repairing the damage, and we can make sure that there is nothing left over that might cause the growth of mildew, fungi, and bacteria, all of which can create future problems for you.


About the Author:
Josh Ray is a disaster cleanup professional and the owner of Utah Flood Cleanup. He is a certified mold professional, asbestos inspector, water damage IICRC carpet cleaning professional, and holds a RRP certification. You can rest easy knowing an experienced professional is helping repair you fire damage, water damage, or mold remediation issue.


Utah Flood Cleanup
685 E. 2850 N.
North Ogden, UT 84414
(801) 416-2666

3 Signs of Mold in Your House

Over a thousand species of mold exist. The problem isn't in mold existing, but the quantity of it in a finite area. If your home becomes a place for mold to breed, you face potential health hazards. It's hard to know if you need mold removal. Have you noticed a musty smell in the house or noticed some wall discoloration? It's important to identify the signs of mold in your house for the safety of you, your family, and your home.

Unusual Smell

Sometimes a smell is hard to detect, especially if living among it for a while and the smell is still more of an undertone. However, leaving the home and returning may encourage the detection of strange odors. Mold produces an odor from the microbial volatile organic compound, or MVOC, gasses. This musty odor is a high warning sign of mold, even when not visible. Mold will grow in dark, damp areas such as behind walls, in ceilings, and under floors. Although mold grows very quickly, it isn't easy to detect. That's why visible signs of mold indicate an already troubling problem and an immediate need for mold remediation.

 

Ceiling or Wall Discoloration

While it's easy to recognize the outright growth of mold, minor discolorations are a strong indication of mold growth. The most obvious discoloration of mold comes in green or black. However, the slightly discolored areas of a wall are potential signs, as well. For instance, a white wall with slightly yellowed or off-white discoloration may indicate the beginning growth of mold in your house. The most common discoloration comes in:

• Yellow
• Grey
• Blue-green
• Black
• White
• Variations on the hue and tone of these colors.

Discoloration will likely be irregular and come with minor structural damage, such as peeling paint or curling of wallpaper. Mold remediation is the surest way to reverse these effects.

Water or Stains

High humidity, condensation, leaks, and standing water are all breeding grounds for mold. Standing water, such as in the basement, suggests a leak in the home. Water soaked into the walls, floors, or ceilings will stimulate the growth of mold. If you find you have standing water, clean it immediately and check for signs of mold. If mold is present, it's time for mold removal. Water stains need an inspection if no obvious signs of growth exist. When checking water stains consider their color, appearance, and texture.

In addition, if past flooding has occurred, a mold is a high likelihood. Water intrusions, such as broken water lines, are difficult to detect right away, which leave standing water and the chance for mold growth.

Utah Flood Cleanup for Mold Removal

If you're uncertain whether you have mold or have clearly identified the growth of mold in your home, contact Utah Flood Cleanup. We're efficient, effective, and timely. Mold is a serious condition for any home and health. Call us at (801) 416-2666 for a free consultation and let us make your home safe.


About the Author:
Josh Ray is a disaster cleanup professional and the owner of Utah Flood Cleanup. He is a certified mold professional, asbestos inspector, water damage IICRC carpet cleaning professional, and holds a RRP certification. You can rest easy knowing an experienced professional is helping repair you fire damage, water damage, or mold remediation issue.


Utah Flood Cleanup
685 E. 2850 N.
North Ogden, UT 84414
(801) 416-2666

3 Types of Toxic Mold

Mold is something most homeowners are terrified of, and at Utah Flood Cleanup, we fully understand why. Everyone has heard the horror stories of toxic mold growth and about how living in moldy environments can potentially lead to a range of different health problems. However, the truth is that there are more than 100,000 different types of mold and only very few of these are actually toxic.

Of course, to the untrained eye, all mold looks to the same. This means that it's always a good idea to hire a mold remediation specialist, as otherwise, it will be impossible for you to know if you're facing one of the many harmless species or one of these truly toxic varieties.

Stachybotrys

Typically referred to simply as black mold, Stachybotrys is by far the most dangerous type of mold for human health. Unfortunately, it is also one of the toughest types of mold to fully get rid of once it has fully set into a building. In fact, while bleach is often effective at killing most other species, it seems to have virtually zero effect on Stachybotrys.

Worse still, decreasing the humidity levels in the home, which is important in helping to dry out any wet spots, generally makes black mold problems even worse. This is because the lower humidity levels cause the mold to release its spores, thus spreading the problem throughout the house.

Exposure to this type of mold can lead to a range of serious health problems, especially in infants and young children. Typically, the first signs of exposure are similar to a cold or flu and can include coughing, sneezing, wheezing, rashes and diarrhea.

There are actually numerous types of black-colored mold, but this particular species is actually more of a greenish-black color and is generally slimy. As well, it is only ever found on wood, paper, and other cellulose products.

Aspergillus/Penicillium

These are the two most common types of mold found in water-damaged indoor environments. Although it is what penicillin is made of, penicillium is nonetheless toxic and can lead to asthma, pulmonary edema, bronchitis and, in cases of long-term exposure, emphysema. Similarly, aspergillus also typically leads to pulmonary infections and asthmatic sensitivity.

Chaetomium

Not much is actually known about this rarer mold species. However, what is known is that it can potentially lead to permanent DNA damage and neurological damage. Like most other species, the first symptoms of exposure tend to be the same as other allergic-type reactions. Chaetomium usually thrives in wet drywall and generally emits a very strong, musty odor, which at least makes it slightly easier to diagnose.

In the long run, it doesn't really matter what sort of mold problems you're facing, as the most important thing you can do is to immediately attack the problem at the first signs. Acting quickly is one of the keys to successful mold remediation. Not only will this help prevent the mold from spreading and thus minimize the amount of damage it does to your home, but it will also prevent any serious damage to you and your family's health in case you are dealing with one of these toxic species.

About the Author:

Josh Ray is a disaster cleanup professional and the owner of Utah Flood Cleanup. He is a certified mold professional, asbestos inspector, water damage IICRC carpet cleaning professional, and holds a RRP certification. You can rest easy knowing an experienced professional is helping repair you fire damage, water damage, or mold remediation issue.

Utah Flood Cleanup
685 E. 2850 N.
North Ogden, UT 84414
(801) 416-2666

3 Tips for Home Fire Prevention

Despite having the word "flood" in our name, we also understand how an unchecked fire can lead to damage either from something catching  fire and burning a home down or from the smoke that results from a strong blaze and leads to ruined furniture and valuables. According to the National Fire Protection Association, over 11,000 civilians were injured in 2015 from fires that started within the home. Below, we have provided a trio of tips to bear in mind in order to prevent a potential fire from affecting your home.

Tip #1: Be Mindful of Potential Heat Sources

Make sure that you have the house's heating system regularly checks by professionals. The term "heating system" includes any area where heat, flames or smoke are common, such as a fireplace or chimney. You want to make sure that all heat sources are clean and kept free of particulates that could potentially ignite and cause a fire.

It is also important to remember that a clothes dryer is a potential fire hazard if the lint trap is not regularly cleared. Should a clog develop in the dryer's filter or its lint trap, temperatures inside the dryer can grow beyond the rate that air escapes and the lint can be forced into contact with the dryer's heating element; resulting in a fire hazard.

Tip #2: Minimize the Chances For A Blaze Around the House

Keep potential sources of kindling as far away from the home as possible. Remember that this can include:

• Piles of firewood or dead tree limbs.
• Leaves either bagged up or left on the ground.
• Any form of trash or debris that can potentially work as an accelerant, such as anything oil- or paper-based.

Even a small patch of grass can lead to a massive blaze if it makes contact with any of the above, which may then spread to your house if left nearby. When disposing of hot ashes, toss them into a metal container far away from the home and any garage or tool shed.

As for mindfulness inside the house, keep vessels of cooking oil far from the stove. When cooking something that involves oil, you should always pay attention to the stove. If a grease fire flares up, immediately cut off the burner and then suffocate the blaze by covering it with either a lid or generous amounts of baking soda.

Tip #3: Be Mindful of Your Electrical Needs

Be exceedingly mindful of heating devices commonly sold during the winter season. While space heaters are great for warming a room, they can elevate temperatures to levels sufficient for starting fires. Be mindful of outlet extensions and power strips; too many active devices can overload circuitry. Always replace old or distressed power cords.

If you have any issues or concerns with fire or smoke damage, please don't hesitate to contact us at Utah Flood Cleanup. We can be reached through our website or over the phone at (801) 416-2666.

About the Author:

Josh Ray is a disaster cleanup professional and the owner of Utah Flood Cleanup. He is a certified mold professional, asbestos inspector, water damage IICRC carpet cleaning professional, and holds a RRP certification. You can rest easy knowing an experienced professional is helping repair you fire damage, water damage, or mold remediation issue.

Utah Flood Cleanup
685 E. 2850 N.
North Ogden, UT 84414
(801) 416-2666