Call: (707) 570-0555 | Email: info@cleancrawlspace.com

restoration clean up

Tag Archives: Water Damage

clean and tidy crawl space

The Importance of a Clean Crawl Space

Leave a reply

In the labyrinth of your home, there lies an often-overlooked yet vital area known as the crawl space. This hidden pocket beneath your house may be an afterthought, but it plays a crucial role in maintaining your home’s structural integrity and air quality. This article delves into what crawl space cleaning is, why it’s essential, how to tackle mold and water damage, and the best practices to ensure a clean and safe environment below your home.

  • Understanding Crawl Spaces
  • The Necessity of Crawl Space Cleaning
  • Combatting Mold and Water Damage
  • Best Practices in Crawl Space Cleaning
  • Wrapping It All Up

Understanding Crawl Spaces

Crawl spaces are compact, low-clearance areas beneath the first floor of a home. They typically house plumbing, electrical wiring, and sometimes even HVAC systems. Often seen as a convenient storage area or an irrelevant part of the home, crawl spaces are actually vital in supporting the building’s structure and ensuring adequate ventilation.

In terms of construction, crawl spaces are either built into the original design of the house or created during a home renovation. The primary purpose is to lift the home off the ground, thereby offering protection against soil moisture and pests. Additionally, this space can act as a buffer, insulating your home against extreme temperatures.

The significance of a crawl space extends beyond its functional aspects. Ignoring this area can lead to an accumulation of mold, dust, and pests, which can compromise not only the structural health of your home but also the well-being of its residents.

The Necessity of Crawl Space Cleaning

Most homeowners may never even set foot in their crawl space, let alone clean it. However, just because it’s out of sight doesn’t mean it should be out of mind. A neglected crawl space can become a breeding ground for mold, pests, and even rodents, causing a cascade of problems that could affect your home’s integrity and your health.

For instance, water accumulation in a crawl space can lead to wood rot and structural damage. A well-maintained crawl space will not only prevent these issues but will also improve the overall energy efficiency of your home. It can even save you money on your energy bills in the long run.

Your home is like a body, and just like you wouldn’t ignore an infection, you shouldn’t neglect your crawl space. Professional services for crawl space cleanup can provide a thorough cleaning, making your home safer and more energy-efficient.

Combatting Mold and Water Damage

Mold growth and water damage are two of the most common issues plaguing crawl spaces. A damp and dark environment provides the perfect breeding ground for mold, which can subsequently enter your home’s air supply. For a comprehensive approach to eradicating this problem, mold removal services are often necessary.

When it comes to water damage, it can manifest in various forms such as pooling water, rusting metal components, or even decaying wood beams. Prompt action is crucial to mitigate the damage. Utilizing water extraction services is a highly effective way to deal with such issues.

“Your crawl space is not merely an empty area under your home; it’s an integral part of your home’s ecosystem that directly impacts your living environment.”

Best Practices in Crawl Space Cleaning

Cleaning your crawl space is not a task that should be undertaken lightly or without preparation. First, personal protective equipment like gloves, masks, and coveralls should be worn to minimize exposure to harmful substances. Second, you should remove any debris, such as fallen insulation or garbage, that may have accumulated over time.

A thorough vacuuming can help remove loose dirt, dust, and small pests. After the initial cleaning, it’s advisable to seal off the crawl space to prevent future issues with moisture, pests, and mold. Insulation can also be added or replaced to improve energy efficiency.

Wrapping It All Up

In summary, a clean and well-maintained crawl space is not just a footnote in home maintenance; it’s a chapter worth paying close attention to. Addressing the cleanliness and integrity of this area can lead to long-term benefits such as better air quality, improved energy efficiency, and ultimately, a happier and healthier life within your home.

If you have more questions or require expert advice on crawl space cleaning in and around Sonoma County, feel free to contact RCS Cares.

water valves under sink

Water Damage Caused by Home Appliances

Leave a reply

Water damage can come from a variety of sources. One of the most common causes for water damage comes from failure of home appliances we all have and depend on every day.

Find out which appliances in your home pose the greatest risks.

Washing Machines

The approximate lifespan of washing machines is anywhere between 5-15 years.

Most water damage from washing machines occurs due to supply hose failure.

Water Heater

Whether gas or electric, water heaters have an average life expectancy of about 10 years.

Regular maintenance is the key to a water heater’s longer life.

Water damage can result from cracks, slow leaks, sudden bursts, rusting, sediment build-up or heating element failure. At least once a year, inspect the pipes and shutoff valves.

Toilets

Although the lifespan of most toilets is well over 25 years, water damage is primarily due to clogs and overflowing water.

There can also be water damage risks if the toilet experiences problems with the valves used to fill, supply, and flush the toilet, or the supply line itself.

Dishwashers

The life expectancy of dishwashers falls between 7-12 years, but there’s no guarantee it couldn’t fail sooner.

When your dishwasher fails, water damage can result from leaking gaskets around the door when in use or damaged supply or drainage lines.

Ice Makers

While ice makers in the freezer section of your refrigerator are very convenient, if the water lines become damaged or fail, you’re at high risk for water damage.

If the lines are made of plastic or copper, durability is a factor, and the lines can easily become damaged or fail over time.

Because the lines are hidden behind the refrigerator, you may not remember to check them before it’s too late. Checking them at least once a year for wear or damage is highly recommended.

Sump Pumps

The job of a sump pump is to pump out any excess water in your home, typically in the basement, before a flood occurs.

However, if the sump pump fails, the odds of flooding and water damage are almost imminent.

Sump pump failure can be caused by:

  • Clogs or debris in the pump
  • Clogged discharge lines
  • Sump pump is the wrong size for the pit
  • Broken pump valves
  • Improperly connected
  • Power outages

Conclusion

As you can see, home appliances are things you depend on every day but tend to take for granted. That is, until they fail and result in flooding and water damage.

When disaster strikes, a home appliance fails and you are left with cleaning up the water damage, call RCS in Santa Rosa for help and restoration.

women looking at hole in wall

Restoring Valuables After Water Damage

Leave a reply

One of the most heartbreaking things about water damage is how it damages or destroys precious mementos and valuables.

Here are things you can do in an effort to save your valuables.

Identify the Water

First, figure out what kind of water caused the damage. Try to determine whether it is dirty, salty, or sewage, which contains toxic chemicals and other biohazard risks.

If your items come in contact with toxins, check with a water damage professional as to how to manage restoration.

Lower humidity levels in the space with a dehumidifier as soon as possible

Salvaging Valuable Items

Here are some more great suggestions from FEMA as to how to salvage your irreplaceable items.

Prioritize

It’s not always possible to save each and every damaged item. If an item has been exposed to toxic water, it may be in your best interest to let it go.

If there are a lot of damaged valuables, decide which ones you absolutely must have and those you are capable of letting go.

Use a Gentle Touch

  • Handle water-soaked items with great care.
  • Remove wet photos from frames or albums.
  • Clean photos with a clean water rinse, then dry on paper towel or hang on a line with plastic clothespins.
  • Remove paintings and pictures from frames.
  • Place paper towel sheets sporadically in between wet book pages.

Soft Cloths and Brushes

  • Lightly and gently wipe any dirt from items with soft cloths and/or brushes.
  • Never rub dirt away as this will grind it further into the items.

Air Dry

  • Air drying is best because the less you handle saturated items, the better the chance of salvaging them. This is especially true with paper or photos.
  • Protect the images in photos from contact with any other surfaces while air drying.
  • Set up a designated indoor drying area to keep items away from heat and sunlight, which could cause further damage.
  • Ramp up the drying process with fans and dehumidifiers.

Store items you can’t get to within 48 hours into the freezer to prevent mold, ink from running or dye transfer.

Freeze items such as photos, books, or other papers for cleanup at a later time.

Conclusion

Dealing with water damage cleanup can be overwhelming and take a good deal of time. But in the end, the potential of salvaging meaningful valuables is well worth the time and effort.

In Santa Rosa, RCS is here to take care of all your water damage cleanup and restoration needs.

 

commercial dehumidifier in room

The Importance of Dehumidifiers in Water Restoration Process

Leave a reply

After any kind of flooding or water damage incident, the affected areas may look nice and dry to the naked eye. Don’t be fooled.

Water soaks into floors, carpeting, drywall, wood, and other porous surfaces like a sponge. What may appear dry may be hiding a good amount of water that you can’t see.

Here’s how dehumidifiers help dry out the water you can’t see.

Undetected Water Damage

The damage from undetected water can spell disaster for a homeowner.

After drying up standing water, there is secondary water damage to deal with. Secondary water damage causes wood to warp or rot, mold to grow and leaves behind a very strong musty odor. In addition, it compromises structural integrity.

When a strong musty odor sets in, it’s very difficult to remove and is a telltale sign that mold is present.

Mold has been proven to cause health issues like runny eyes, sneezing, and other allergic reactions. For anyone suffering with a compromised immune systems or upper respiratory tract, mold presents a serious health risk.

The Drying Power of Dehumidifiers

A dehumidifier is one of the best tools to combat visible, undetected, and secondary water damage. It dries up residual moisture leaving your space thoroughly dry.

Dehumidifiers also go to work drying up hard-to-reach areas that are more difficult to access manually.

They are excellent for use in counteracting excessive humidity levels in your home left behind by a flooding event. High humidity levels create an environment that’s ideal for mold to set in, grow and spread.

Dehumidifiers vs. Fans

While water damage restoration technicians are likely to use both dehumidifiers and fans, there are distinct advantages to using a dehumidifier.

Fans

  • While fans help with the drying process, they also circulate highly humid moist air throughout the water damaged space.
  • The features of fans are limited. You can only adjust the height, tilt, turn the air on high or set to oscillate.

Dehumidifiers

  • A dehumidifier purposely removes moisture from the air. Removal of moisture and humidity is key to speeding up the drying process.
  • Dehumidifiers come in all sizes, which you can customize for either a small or large room.
  • More customized settings to choose from to run continuously, select running time, program running option for type/size of room, take advantage of the auto re-start feature or display humidity levels.

Conclusion

A dehumidifier is one of the best investments you can make after a water damage event. If you are fortunate enough to never experience flooding, a dehumidifier is still useful to consistently keep humidity levels down and comfort levels up.

If you need help drying out and cleaning up after water damage, the experts at RCS are available 24/7. For professional restoration services, call today.

 

raining wet ground

Protecting Your Home After Heavy Rain Damage

Leave a reply

Sometimes, when it rains, it pours. When it does, your home is at risk for serious damage from heavy rains and flooding.

Here’s what you need to know about the potential for extensive water damage after heavy rains or a flood.

Potential Damage

No matter if it’s just enough water to cover a floor or several inches of standing water in your home, here are some things that can be damaged after heavy rains:

  • Foundation
  • HVAC system
  • Water Heater
  • Walls
  • Doors
  • Floors (wood, tile or carpeting)
  • Personal property

Standing water at ground level damages areas and items kept in the basement, in addition to items in a shed, crawlspace or garage.

While this damage certainly presents dangers to your home and its value, it puts your health and safety in danger as well.

Structural Damage

Unless the water resulting from heavy rains or flooding is removed immediately and completely, you may experience on-going issues and further dangerous or costly repairs.

Water damage behind drywall causes wood rot, damage to wall studs and cracked, crumbling walls.

Water that has soaked metal components leads to rust, which compromises both the strength and integrity of any metal structure and support.

Active mold isn’t picky about where it grows. It eats away any and all structural components, making them weak and ultimately failing. Over time, unchecked active mold can be more destructive to a home’s structure than the initial heavy rain or flooding damage itself.

In addition to water removal, it’s also important to dry and sanitize any areas affected by water damage from heavy rains or flooding.

Health Risks

Residual moisture left after heavy rains not only produces mold and mildew, but also promotes the growth of harmful bacteria and becomes a breeding ground for bugs and insects.

Any items in the lower level, especially water-soaked carpeting and furniture, needs to be thoroughly dried, cleaned, and sanitized or simply replaced before it’s safe to use again.

Otherwise, breathing in black mold, mold spores, bacteria or exposure to insect droppings may cause serious health lung or breathing complications. This is especially true for elderly or very young residents of the home.

Safety Risks

Water can damage appliances typically kept in the lower level such as the water heater, water softener, refrigerator, freezer, washer, and dryer. One of the more expensive things water can damage is your HVAC system.

Because water and electricity do not mix, standing water can negatively affect your entire electrical system by causing sparking, shorts in the circuitry and/or damaged outlets.

There is a danger of electrical shock if you touch electrical wiring or breakers while standing in a heavily water-soaked area.

Conclusion

If you’ve been a victim of flooding or heavy rain damage, don’t take any chances with your home, health, and overall safety.

In Sonoma Valley, call the water and mold removal experts at RCS. We have the experience and tools to restore your home quickly and safely to its pre-flood condition.

rain on deck

Three Types of Common Water Damage

Leave a reply

We all know water is to be avoided at all costs when it comes to home maintenance. Water and moisture can do immense amounts of damage to all types of building materials over time, with wood being particularly susceptible to its damaging effects.

As a property owner, you should be aware of three common sources of water intrusion harmful to your property.

  1. Water can penetrate your home during storms with wind-driven rain. 
  2. Floods from local water sources and rapid rainfall. 
  3. Internal plumbing leaks and burst pipes.

Each of these three sources has its own playbook for dealing with them.

Rain is inevitable, and you’re going to have to deal with water coming down onto your roof, trying to get in through the ceiling and coming in through the windows and siding via wind. After a storm, do a check of ceilings and walls near the ceiling, door and window for water leaks. 

If you get a lot of rain in a short period of time, it can cause localized “flooding” on your property. Make sure the ground is properly graded to give run-off water somewhere to go away from your home. If your property is perfectly flat or the grade runs towards your house, water will pool around your foundation, eventually leading to problems. 

If you own a home in an area highly prone to flooding, make sure you have a flood plan and all the appropriate insurance information you need in the event of a flood. It’s hard to mitigate and prepare for a flood of the Russian River, so make sure you pay attention to local codes and regulations, which are usually crafted to help residents deal with such issues.

Do an annual check-up each year on the plumbing throughout your home. Pay close attention to connections and junctions and look for evidence of slow leaks – like mineral trails or buildups that may or may not also be wet. Evidence of slow drip patterns can also provide hints to a slow-growing problem. It’s always a good idea to make friends with a plumber you can trust.

In the event water does manage to make it into your home, we are here and ready to help. Whether you’re looking at minor or extensive damage, RCS Cares specialize in water damage recovery and can help you get your property back to normal as soon as possible. Contact us at 707-570-0555 to talk about your project today.