When it comes to reviewing home care, one area that is often overlooked is the crawl space. Many homeowners don’t realize the vital role the crawl space has in their home. Keeping the area clean, dry and pest free plays a key role in maintaining a homes health. In this article, we are reviewing the 7 benefits of having your crawl space professionally cleaned.
Prevention Of Mold And Mildew
The number one concern with crawl spaces is moisture content. They have a strong tendency to attract moisture and water from natural sources such as groundwater, rainwater, and condensation. Even in the California heat, humidity can cause water to collect in your crawl space which will lead to the growth of potentially harmful molds and mildew. As the crawl space is one of the most neglected areas of the home, the potential for harmful molds increases.
Ensures Structural Integrity
As humidity gathers beneath your home and in your crawl space, the presence of any level of moisture has the potential to seep into your floors and walls. Areas that hold water or allow water to collect allows and encourages the growth of molds. If water seeps into any wooden beams or flooring, there is the likely potential for wood rot to form. This rot will greatly affect the structural integrity of your home and may lead to additional damages.
Save Money With A Clean Crawl Space
You may be surprised to learn that maintaining a clean crawl space goes a long way in helping to maintain your homes set temperature. How is this possible? A dirty crawl space may cause blockage of your vents and ducts. This impedes airflow, causing your air systems or HVAC to work harder, longer.
Clean Air
If your vents and ducts are clogged, chances are they are full of potentially harmful debris. Mildew, molds, and dust can be pushed from the crawl space and into your home. Maintaining a clean crawl space allows for fresh, clean, and breathable air.
Reduce Odors
If you’re finding your home has a lingering odor that just doesn’t seem to go away no matter how much cleaning you do, chances are it’s coming from your neglected crawl space. These odors permeate the area and make their way through your flooring and vents into your home. Causing many of us to question our cleaning abilities and wondering where the hidden source is.
Remove And Control Pest Problems
If you’ve noticed a pest problem in your home, whether it be insects or rodents, chances are they began in your crawl space. With this area being the least to be disturbed, it makes for an excellent nesting area and an easy doorway into your home. Exterminators should be sure to check your crawl space, while our team right here at RCS in Sonoma County can provide a good cleaning to remove all leftover debris.
Provides Clean Access And Storage Space
Aside from acting as an additional storage area for items in your home, your crawl space provides easy access to wires, plumbing and ventilation systems. Having a clean area to work in will only make any repairs and installations go much more quickly, while additionally providing the opportunity for a quick assessment to ensure there are no damages present.
If you’re located in the Sonoma County around Santa Rosa and have a crawl space you may have neglected over the years, don’t be shy! Give us a call right here at Restoration Certified Specialists for a professional assessment and cleaning of your crawl space.
Returning home from a long day at work only to hear water sounds emitting from your basement is never a delightful experience. Unfortunately, flooding is a more common occurrence then we like to admit. Between natural groundwater incidences, sewage and plumbing failures, we are bound to experience a flooding issue at some point. In this article, we will discuss what to do if you find that your basement has flooded.
Play It Safe
First and foremost is safety! An issue cannot be resolved if you find yourself in the hospital. Where there is pooled water there could be electricity as well. We all know this combo to be dangerous, and this is why you should never enter a flooded basement or any other area that is flooded when there are electrical outlets present. Ensure all power has been shut off to prevent injury. It is equally important to be aware of any harmful chemicals or pollutants that may be present, such as if the flood is caused by a sewage leak. Always wear protective gear before entering a flooded area.
Turn Off Water And Electric
As mentioned above, you should turn off the electricity in your home before entering a flooded area. The same goes for the water in your home. If you don’t know where the leak is coming from, the best way to cease it is to shut off your water. This will prevent additional flooding from any plumbing failures that may have taken place. To prevent any additional sewage-related flooding, avoid using appliances such as your dishwasher, washing machine, and toilets. Once the source of the flood is found and resolved, you can resume normal usage.
Call Your Insurance Company
With all flooding and water damage, you should call your insurance company to review your coverage options. The agent you speak with will provide information on the claims process and will likely advise on the do’s and don’ts of flood safety. Many agents will also provide a list of contractors available for you to call.
Call The Professionals
Whenever you are faced with flooding or any type of water damage, call the professionals. If you’re in the Sonoma County area, our experts right here at Restoration Certified Specialists are ready to assist! We will provide efficient cleanup and repair of all water damaged parts in your home along with treating and preventing the growth of molds and mildew. Our 24 hour a day emergency service allows for a quick response so that you don’t need to worry about your home suffering any long-term damage.
If you suffer any form of flooding, whether it be in the basement, under a sink, or in any other room of your home, call RCS, we are here to help.
Did you know, most insurance claims that are related to water damage are due to plumbing related failures? Breaks and clogs in piping, plumbing, and appliance issues are far more common than weather-related causes. As such the most common areas for these complaints is the kitchen and bathroom. One cause that we don’t typically consider, is clogged drains. You may be surprised to learn the extent of damage a clogged drain is capable of causing. If a drain clog is not addressed right away, and flooding occurs, the resulting water damage may lead to warped wood in flooring, cabinetry, and walls. Tiles can be popped out and mold can easily develop. In this article, we are discussing 6 tips to help prevent plumbing failure in your home.
Always Use Cold Water With Your Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposals are turning blades within your sink, these cause quite a bit of friction on their own, generating heat and causing food particles to seal to the blades. Use of cold water before and during the use of your garbage disposal will ensure all food particles are safely flushed past and through your pipes. It is perfectly acceptable to run hot water after your garbage disposal has been shut off, should you feel it is needed. One key point with using your garbage disposal is to avoid tossing high fiber and stringy foods, such as potato peels, corn on the cob, and celery. These types of foods will make your garbage disposal work harder, and may not flush properly down the drain, leading to plumbing issues.
Practice Grease Disposal
One of the biggest causes of a clogged drain, especially in the kitchen, is grease. If you have a garbage disposal it is encouraged to never pour grease down the drain. Using hot water as you pour grease down a drain only provides a false sense of security as even the hottest water won’t push all grease through your entire piping system before cooling off and allowing the grease to solidify.
One of the best practices is to use aluminum foil while cooking known greasy foods for quick and easy disposal. Another option is to set aside a disposal container such as a coffee can, cup or jar for later disposal in the trash. Finally, if dumping grease down the drain is an absolute must, use cold water. While again it isn’t a safe all and your drains may still become clogged, this will at least prevent the warm grease from cooling off deep down in your piping where it will then solidify. It’s far easier to push a solid substance down your pipe than it is a hot liquid.
Avoid Use Of Oily Body Care Products
It’s natural to want to use the best products while in the shower or while washing your face. However, much like cooking grease you’re going to want to avoid using products that are oil-based or feel greasy to the touch, as these are likely to have poor results when going down your shower and sink drains.
Use Natural Clog Removal Products
If you do find yourself with a clog, avoid the harsh chemicals. Over time, use of chemical products can cause corrosion to your piping. Try using a baking soda and vinegar combination first for a more natural declogging solution.
Avoid Disposing “Flushable” Products
We all know that disposal of feminine hygiene products down the toilet is a big no-no as it’s the fastest way to a clogged drain. Unfortunately, the same rings true for many wipes and other items that are labeled as “flushable.” The deterioration time just isn’t the same rate of toilet papers and may cause clogging down the line.
Use A Drain Screen
A drain screen is always a good idea, whether you’re in the shower and need to catch hair, or you’re in the kitchen and need to catch food particles, proper use of a drain screen will go a long way in preventing clogs.
Following these 6 tips to prevent a clogged drain will assist in avoiding a clogged pipe and an expensive mess. Pipe breakages and drain overflows can easily be caused by an unattended clog, leading to unwanted water damage. If you do experience water damage due to plumbing failure in the Sonoma County area, give RCS a call. Our 24/7 emergency response team will come right away to assess the situation and resolve your water damage concerns.
Surviving a water damage event in your home can be tough. Whether the cause is a natural disaster, or simply a broken water pipe, the cleanup process can be time consuming, costly, and potentially dangerous when you try to handle it alone. You should contact a water restoration specialist to help you through any water damage situation. Here are some survival strategies that you can employ after a water damage event has occurred in your home.
Address Damages Immediately
As difficult as it may seem to do, try not to panic. The first and most important step in addressing water damage issues is to get help immediately. Fast action is necessary because water can spread quickly throughout your home and saturate everything in its path. Within an hour of the damage, stains and finishes from furniture can cause permanent staining on floors and carpets. Any important paper materials can become impossible to salvage in a very short time, and their dyes can seep and cause additional staining. If the damage is left unattended for just a few hours, sour odors can arise, drywall can swell and break down, and unprotected metal surfaces can tarnish.
After a couple of days, there is a greater risk for mold and mildew to grow and spread, which can adversely affect people with respiratory issues and allergies. Windows, doors, casings, studs, and wood floors can begin to swell and warp, creating a more costly restoration process. Acting quickly will help minimize any further damages and reduce the potential health risks to you and your family.
What You Can Do Before it Happens
Although most homeowners’ insurance policies cover basic water damage claims up to the purchased limit, prevention is better than dealing with claims issues after the fact. There are ways to protect your home against water damage before it occurs. Here are just a few steps you can take toward preventing damage in the first place.
Clean Gutters – Though it’s probably one of those jobs you make excuses not to do, a clogged gutter can allow rainwater to spill into your foundation, through your roof, or into your basement or crawl space. Water should flow away from your home to prevent impairment to the foundation. This might seem like a small thing, but the damage can be significant.
Watch Where You Plant –Keeping soil from plants and trees around your foundation helps with drainage, but you should be careful with those roots! Invasive roots from plants or trees in your yard can grow into sprinklers, pipes, and even septic tanks.
Know Where Your Water Main Is – Turning off the water main in a water emergency can save you cost if a pipe bursts. You should also repair any leaks in your appliances or pipes as soon as possible.
Consider Water Detection Devices – Such devices will sound an alarm when it comes into contact with significant water.
Check Your Sump Pump – Testing your pump can prevent a water disaster, so you should make sure it’s working properly by testing it annually.
Use a Drain Snake – Instead of chemicals that can eat away at your pipes, use a drain snake for clogged drains. It’s also a bad idea to pour grease down your sink drain, as it can cause a back up that you might not notice until it’s too late.
Check Your Hot Water Heater – Look for signs of corrosion around your water heater and maintain it regularly by flushing it at six-month intervals.
Secure Your Roof – For obvious reasons, always make sure your roof is rain ready.
After Water Damage Happens
When you contact Restoration Certified Specialists in Santa Rosa, our trained technicians can evaluate the water damage to help you decide the best course of action for your situation. Using industry-approved water extraction methods and the right drying equipment will help us alleviate further damage. Our quick response will allow us to clear any water that may be trapped in walls, floors, or furniture to alleviate the likelihood of mold growth. For more information about the additional steps we take to make your home comfortable and safe again, click here.
You may not be able to control the damage from a natural disaster or from water used to put out a fire in your home. However, getting the water out after the fact doesn’t have to be a grievous process. Whether the job is big or small, water damage should be promptly attended to when it occurs. Simply call the experts at RCS, and we will provide you with the fast, quality service you need.
