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How To Protect Your Documents In Case of Emergencies

How To Protect Your Documents In Case of Emergencies

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Most of us have family photos and one-of-a-kind paper and digital documents that we’d be lost without. It is wise to be aware of what natural disasters and other emergencies damage your irreplaceable documents and how you can protect your documents from emergencies. Keep reading and find out.

How To Protect Your Documents In Case of Emergencies

Natural Disasters Can Damage Your Documents

What natural disasters and emergency situations can damage your priceless documents? Here’s just a few unforeseen circumstances you could find yourself up again:

  • Fire (from nature or from an electrical failure in your home)
  • Flooding
  • Severe Weather (thunderstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.)
  • Mold Damage
  • Termites (they like to eat paper as much as they do wood)
  • Theft

So, what can you do to make sure you don’t lose all your documents during an emergency?

Protecting Your Documents During Emergencies

Don’t get caught off-guard. Follow these emergency document protection tips:

  • Have an emergency plan. Being unprepared will cost you. Consider having a “go-bag” with photo copies of your important documents, cash, clothes and other necessities. Know what documents you need to protect (birth certificate, marriage license, etc) and have them in multiple safe places.
  • Keep multiple backups. Always backup your digital and print files. Have photocopies of important documents stored in more than one location – like one at your home, one at your work and another at your parent’s house. Back up digital documents on an external hard drive and to the cloud.
  • Store priceless documents in a fireproof, flood-proof safe. This is a great safeguard for your home and office. Be sure your safe is installed in the wall or bolted to the floor, so it can’t be easily stolen.
  • Keep files in elevated places. Never store paper files or photos on the floor – this is inviting water damage. Place your documents in waterproof containers and at the top of shelves or in your attic.
  • Get mold, crawlspace and critter inspections. Problems sneak up on you when you’re not actively looking out for them. Regularly look for mold in potential trouble areas. Have your crawlspace checked for critters, termites and mold. Wherever you store your documents, keep the area clean, so you don’t invite any unsavory conditions.

 

 

5 Signs It’s Time to Clean Your Attic

5 Signs It’s Time to Clean Your Attic

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When’s the last time you gave your attic a good cleaning? Could there be mold or water damage in your crawl space? What about rodents or insects?

Keep reading and find out how to know if your attic needs attention. Then, check out five signs that tell you it’s time to clean your attic or crawlspace.

How to Know if Your Attic Needs Cleaning

Do you have an attic maintenance and cleaning schedule? You don’t have to check in often, but you should inspect and clean your attic or crawlspace at least twice a year: once in the spring, and again before the winter.

Other times you should check on or clean up your crawl space are covered in the five tips below.

If you’ve never had a professional crawl space inspection before, it’s a good idea to schedule one. A restoration and cleaning expert can look at your attic or crawlspace and search for potential issues, including:

  • Mold or water damage
  • Insufficient insulation
  • Improper ventilation
  • Weak support structure
  • Animal or insect intrusions
  • Rotting wood or other structural damages

5 Signs It’s Time to Clean Your Attic or Crawlspace

Want to know when it’s time to clean your crawlspace? Here are five signs that tell you the time is now!

  1. Strange Sounds

Hearing scurrying above you or in the walls? Noticing a lot more insect traffic in your house? Critters love to make themselves at home in attics and crawl spaces. If you hear strange noises, you may have pests in your house.

  1. Discovery of Asbestos

If you recently found out that any part of your property contains asbestos, schedule a professional inspection immediately. Asbestos can be dangerous and needs to be removed safely, even from the attic.

  1. Recent Severe Weather

After a rain or snow storm, you want to check out your crawl spaces for possible leaks or water damage. During heat waves, you want to be sure your attic is properly ventilated and hasn’t become home to any new animals.

  1. Animal Droppings or Unexplained Garbage

If a rodent takes up residence in your crawl space, it will usually give itself away in a matter of time. Look for small animal droppings as an indicator of mice or rats. Other animals, like birds and raccoons, are known for collecting garbage. If you see garbage in weird places, that’s another sign you have an unwelcome guest in your crawlspace or attic.

  1. Unpleasant Smell

Inexplicable and foul smells are a sign of trouble. It could mean you have mold in your crawl space. Likewise, you may have an animal carcass in your attic. Either way, unpleasant odors tell you there’s something wrong in your attic.

 

Common Home Insect Pests In Northern California

Common Home Insect Pests In Northern California

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Although household pests are common, they can be a real headache for homeowners. They give the impression of a dirty house and in some cases, could even be detrimental to your health.

Certain pests are known for spreading disease or having a deadly sting that could cause serious illness or death. Even ones that are considered harmless to humans can still wreak havoc on your home.

Depending on the region you live, some pests may be more burdensome than others. In Northern California, certain pests you may encounter include:

Ants

Ants are common pest for households, creating a steady line of insects seeking food and water. You can usually trace the trail back to their original pile, if you have the patience to follow the entire line. While most type of ants are relatively harmless, two species to look out for in California are the Red Imported Ant and Carpenter Ant. The Red Imported Ant was first found in the state in 1998, and it known for it’s stinging bite. Carpenter ants can cause serious damage to your home or building – although they don’t consume wood, as their name suggests, they just hollow out wooden pieces to nest.

Cockroaches

Possibly the most common household pest known to man, cockroaches infest pretty much any building or structure than can provide shelter. Six types of cockroaches are commonly found in California, including America, Brown Banded, and Oriental cockroaches. The most troublesome is the German Cockroach, who prefer the indoors and are notoriously difficult for homeowners to remove without assistance. Known for spreading disease and bacteria, they are an unwanted guest in anyone’s home or business.

Black Widow Spiders

Probably one of the most well known spiders due to it’s lethal bite, black widow spiders are common throughout the state of California. The females are usually identified by their unique markings – an all black body with a bright red hourglass on the belly. Black widows are known for their reclusive habits, so they may be lurking in dark corners or holes throughout the home. As the most venomous spider in the U.S., homeowners should be especially diligent in eliminating black widows if they are found.

If you come across an infestation in your home (or even just a single insect that has you worried), the best thing to do is call a licensed pest control company to investigate. They will be able properly identify your pest problem and recommend an effective treatment to remove your pest.

Roof Rat Guard Your Crawlspaces Against Animal Pests

Guard Your Crawlspaces Against Animal Pests

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Outdoor temperatures are turning chilly in California, and that means that outdoor pests are looking for a warm and cozy spot indoors. Unfortunately, the crawl spaces in your home are a perfect location for rodents.

Which Pests Do You Have To Be Concerned About

There are three species that we commonly see when we get calls to come do rodent damage cleanup and sanitization:

  • The tiny house mouse can create big problems in your home when they enter to find shelter and food. Because they’re so small, they can live undetected in your home for quite a while. Your first clue will be mice sightings during the daytime; if you see them, you have a big problem.
  • The common brown rat or sewer rat is actually the Norway rat species. They’re very large with a 9-inch body and a 7-inch tail. They can very quickly do lots of damage to your home because they gnaw on materials like electrical wires and wood beams.
  • Smaller than Norway rats, roof rats are also very common in California and create similar damage. They will multiply very quickly in your home. One adult female can give birth to as many as thirty baby pups in a year.

All of these rodents can create structural damage, and they spread disease. Exposure to their feces is a health hazard and they also carry ringworm, salmonella and other harmful diseases. And you certainly do not want a rat bite! In addition to rodents, other species like birds, raccoons and squirrels may be calling your crawl spaces “home”.

What We Can Do About Animal Pests

We will help rid your home of these unwanted guests by cleaning up and professionally sealing your crawl spaces. We’ll remove mold and mildew and install a vapor barrier to make it much less inviting for rodents and other pests. We effectively isolate the crawl space from the outdoor elements and the effects will last for decades. Our barriers offer the added benefit of blocking harmful radon gas and improving your home’s energy efficiency. In some cases, the homeowner can even use the new crawl space as an added storage area. In many cases, we are also able to install drains and pumps to improve drainage around your foundation.

Crawl spaces are not often on a homeowner’s list of home improvements, but it can make a real difference, so give us a call, whether you have pests or not.

3 Quick Tips for Dealing With Pests in your Home

3 Quick Tips for Dealing With Pests in your Home

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No matter how careful you are about making sure that your food is properly stored and your home is infestation-poof, chances are that at some point, you are going to end up with strange animals living in your home. Whether you end up dealing with an infestation of mice, bats, squirrels, or snakes, or even just an abnormal number of spiders and bugs, it is never pleasant to find unwanted creatures living in your home. Here is a short list of a ways to help you deal with these undesirable houseguests.

1. Animal Control/Pest Control

If you have animals living in your home that aren’t Fido or Schrodinger, then it's a good move to call animal or pest control. Animal control will come to your home and help you deal with just about any non-insect pest. If you can do so safely, trap the creature(s) in one room. If you can’t trap the animal(s), then feel free to leave your home for awhile until the animal can be safely dealt with. Ways to trap small creatures include: using a laundry basket and weighting it down, or simply closing a door and sealing the gap underneath so the creature cannot get into the rest of your home, then wait for animal control.

Or if you seem to be experiencing an influx of insects, just call pest control for help. They do all the work for you, and there are many natural services available now so you don't have to worry if toxins have been a major concern for you in the past.

2. Double Check Your Food Storage

No, not food storage like you’ve stocked up for the apocalypse, but food storage as in, how is your food stored? In particular, how have you stored foods that don’t require refrigeration, such as crackers or grains, or baking ingredients and spices? Loose food or spills and drips can build up and attract unwelcome visitors to your home. Make sure that all loose foods that need to be stored are in tightly secured containers. This will help cut back on the number of creatures attracted to your home.

3. Have a Home Inspection

If you continuously have pest issues, and you cannot figure out what is going on or where these creatures are coming from, consider having a home inspection. Have someone who has been certified by the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors to come to your home to give it a thorough examination for any structural issues you may have overlooked. It is best to have a certified Home Inspector to come check your home instead of individual specialists, like electricians and plumbers. A home inspector will come and look at the overall picture, which helps to prevent any issues slipping by unnoticed, which can happen if you use multiple specialists, rather than one highly trained specialist.

The Hazards of Pests in Your Crawlspace

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If your home has a crawl space, chances are you’ve never really thought about it much. Besides just trying to keep it closed, what else can you do to manage or maintain it? Overall, is there any reason you should? The short answer is yes, absolutely. If you’ve never been in your crawl space or paid any attention to it, odds are that you may have something living or growing inside, or both. One of the main reasons you should hire a professional to check out your crawl space is pests. 

Pests love to take residence in crawl spaces since they are ideal nesting areas and provide shelter from the elements. Today we’ll talk about potential invaders you may have, and how best to take care of them.

Rats

Rats are a major health and safety hazard for most people, and crawl spaces are a natural breeding ground for them to get into your home. Rats love to make nests out of all kinds of material and usually crawl spaces are loaded with debris and dirt that can make a lovely rodent home. Once they’ve set up shop in your crawl space, rats will then try to enter your house to get into your cupboards and pantry in search of food. Beyond the obvious danger of having rats in your home, they can leave disease and pave the way for other pests, such as bugs or even mold.

Raccoons

Another animal that loves to dwell in your crawl space is the lowly raccoon. These critters are always in search of a warm, dry area to raise a family, and nothing is quite as inviting as a crawl space. From their home under your house, raccoons can start to cause problems by chewing on ducts and pipes, and going through your garbage.

Insects

Ants and cockroaches are two prime examples of insect invaders that love to call your crawl space home. Termites are another big problem, as they can weaken your floorboards and have easy access to the rest of your home. Like with rats, these bugs can set up shop in the crawl space and then move into your living areas, spreading disease and destruction by eating your food and ruining your insulation.

Get Rid of Pests

If you’re worried about your crawl space being home to pests, the best way to be sure is to check. If crawling under your house doesn’t appeal to you, you can get a professional to come and do an inspection. In addition to pests, you may have water leakage or mold, so it’s always a good idea to get an inspection regardless. If you do have a colony of rats, ants, or other critters, call a professional pest removal service to come and clean out your crawl space. Many service providers will also take steps to ensure that future infestations won’t happen.