Sewage Cleanup and Sewage Removal Concerns

Sewage can happen in your property from different ways. One of these is basement flooding. Inside the nasty water that fills up like a gigantic tub, can be all sorts of contaminants from the outside, including sewage deposits. Another avenue of waste is from damaged plumbing. A leaky pipe or transfer that has not been sealed properly can carry nasty bacteria. And lastly, a natural disaster that has as its medium sewer from wastelands or areas where there is not proper run-off. Just a microcosm of these particles in your property can cause all kinds of issues in the environment, making it an unstable place to be. It is best to remove yourself and whatever items you can possibly salvage away from the disaster zone. Health risks are involve...

Get Professional Water Damage Restoration Help in Chicago and Suburbs

There are many steps you can take as a responsible homeowner when flooding occurs in your home, whether from an overflowing toilet or a failed sump pump.

First of all, KEEP IT SAFE.

Do not do anything that can cause physical harm to yourself or your family, which can mean working in areas with electricity that have water damage issues. If you are in doubt of how to handle a particular situation, get help, or wait until the experienced help arrives.

PICK THINGS UP.

When water intrudes, picking up smaller items and placing them out of harm’s way is important.

For objects you value, normally smaller items, and can get to without danger to yourself, start wiping them off and getting them dry. Although your water damage professional will handle the final cleaning and restoring of va...

Fire and Water Damage Restoration in the Chicago Area!

When a fire strikes your property by whatever means it happens, to put the fire out water has to be administered in many of the fire damage cases. Unfortunately, now do you not only have fire and smoke damage to deal with but also water damage from the inundation of a flow of steady water to assist with putting out the fire. This can leave your property in a very nasty state, along with foul odors, and possibly the development of mold.

A fire and water damage restoration company can and will assist you in getting your property back to normal. First, with a comprehensive cleanup and restoration process. Second, a plan of action to rebuild or restore the property. This includes getting rid of nasty odors, damaged items, complete dry out and...

Water Damage Restoration In The Know

Water damage is one of those things that does not announce its arrival. Water damage restoration can be very difficult if you have experienced before or not. As each case can come in with a different face. There are means to learn and recognize areas where water damage can have an impact upon your environment. Below are some things to keep in mind:

Be Observant

Most of the time, it is easy to notice signs of water damage. Other times, it may not be as easy to identify the signs, because of hidden problems. A good nose can help detect peculiar smells in a room or cabinet, a keen eye can notice discolored and fuzzy growths, stains or discoloration on the walls and ceiling. Peeling paint might be a strong indicator there is excess moisture at work.

Take Hold of the Matter

You ne...

Sensitive to Mold and Other Allergens?

DID YOU KNOW that even the healthiest of individuals can still feel negative effects in the presence of some common things around the house?

It’s not something that necessarily has to start growing in the basement of your house after a flood. It’s something that can “just happen” and it’s not good news. But it can be easily fixed.

First of all, what are we talking about?

Old Stuff Brought in

There are some items that can come into your home that can trigger your allergies or other sensitivities. These can include cardboard boxes, packages and other items sent or brought to you. The worse of these would be old stuff, things that have been around a while, gathering allergens, including black mold.

Old ‘normal’ stuff

We’ve all been to a library and...

How Dangerous is Mold in Your Home?

Everyone wants the safest, healthiest home environment for their families. You would do anything to protect your loved ones from exposure to any substance that could cause them harm.

One of those feared substances is “mold” and with what you have seen in the news in recent years, exposure to harmful or “toxic” mold has affected the health of countless people — folks just like you.

This brings up the all-important question: Just exactly how dangerous is mold in homes?

That’s a tricky question, because there are many types of mold and mold is virtually everywhere. There is probably a little bit in your basement right now. Your shoes when you came home yesterday no doubt brought in a few mold spores. Mold sp...

Identifying Water Damage Restoration Issues

1. Standing water: If there is standing water, there is water soaking into building materials every second that the water sits. The longer it sits, the harder it will be to dry out and properly mitigate. It should be noted that water damage may lead to mold, but it doesn’t have to end up that way. Quickly addressing a water damage issue can mitigate any issues with mold growth. Remember, in order for microbial growth to occur, organic matter, moisture, warmth and oxygen must exist.

2. Water condensation: Condensation is especially problematic in older homes where there isn’t proper ventilation. In these areas, mold will commonly begin to grow on the ceiling, typically above the shower and surrounding areas. If there is a window in the area, it is recommended that it be opened during and after shower use. If there is a ventilation fan in the bathroom, it should run during and after shower use to properly ventilate the area.

3. Water staining: If you see water stains or water lines on cabinets, drywall, etc., it indicates previous water damage restoration in the area. Why does this matter? Because this is a direct indication that there are multiple water losses in the area and it is difficult to determine how many and how severe. Water damage left untreated will often result in mold or mildew in the affected building materials.

4. Strange color: Typically, you will see a green or black substance on the building materials if mold is present, however, mold can come in all colors of the rainbow. Any discoloration in the damaged area may be an indication of microbial growth.

5. Growth on building materials: Often times people will simply be concerned by the darkening of wood after it has been wet, believing it to be mold growth. However, simple darkening of the wood doesn’t necessarily mean that there is a mold problem. Mold will usually present itself as growth on the surface of “natural” materials; wood, paper, etc., where it is provided with a food source and prime conditions for growth.

6. Musty odor: A very obvious key indicator of mold is smell. It’s usually a musty odor that smells like the basement of an old building; it is very unpleasant and should instantly be addressed.

7. Increased humidity: Even without using a hygrometer (humidity meter) you can sense increased humidity in a room. It’s like walking into a bathroom after someone has taken a shower or walking outside after a rainstorm. The air is thick and heavy; you can sense that there is a water damage issue before you even see visual indications.

8. Water damage left unmitigated: According to the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), microbial growth can begin as soon as 24-48 hours, depending on the conditions. For this reason, water damage restoration Evanston IL contractors will remove more building materials and perform a more invasive mitigation service if they believe it has been sitting for multiple days. It’s possible that mold may not be present even after several days; however, it is still not a risk that water damage restoration contractors will want to take.

9. Confined spaces: Mold is usually going to present itself in confined areas such as crawl spaces, wall cavities, closets or behind pieces of furniture. It is in these areas that there is little to no air movement, which prevents these areas from drying out and leaves the area ideal for mold growth.

10. Health symptoms: According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), allergic reactions to mold are common. Mold exposure can also cause asthma attacks to individuals who are allergic to mold. Allergic reactions may show up in individuals in the form of irritated eyes, skin, nose, or lungs. These are only some of the symptoms associated with mold exposure. For more information, please see a health professional.

Water Damage Restoration Evanston IL

Get the Best Help for Flood Restoration

Maybe the most important decision local Chicago area residents will make after flood waters recede is the selection of a flood restoration service in Barrington to help clean up the mess. To get the right help you’re searching for, following is a list of things to keep in mind when doing your due diligence. You want to enlist the right water damage repair and restoration service. The list:

1. Bonded & Insured. Before selecting a flood repair company be sure they are fully bonded and insured. There are many companies out there posing as the real deal only to get into your wallet and leave you standing confused and empty-handed.

2. Certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration. These guys help assure work is performed to the highest industry standards and in compliance with health and insurance expectations.

3. Auxiliary Services. Flood damage often warrants not just the need for water extraction; there is carpet removal, upholstery cleaning, air duct disinfectant, temporary storage for possessions and mold removal and remediation, disposal of contaminated items and complete disinfectant of surface areas. These are matters that must be addressed and handled properly if you are to fully recover from a disaster like flooding.

4. Satisfaction Guarantee. There should be in writing some sort of guarantee as to the work performed, and the drying methods used. Checking online reviews and the BBB will assist in arriving at a good decision.

5. Commercial Equipment. When you get a major flood situation there is an important need to use commercial grade equipment like dehumidifiers, air movers, drying equipment, moisture readings, hygrometers, infrared where necessary. These powerful instruments along with the right chemicals to properly disinfect, deodorize, sanitize and antimicrobial treatments aid in ensuring you get a clean environment.

6. Customer Service. It is essential to employ only the most experienced flood restoration service in Barrington and repair specialists especially after major flooding. Sometimes damage is not visible to the naked eye; behind walls, excessive moisture that leads to mold or other problems may be missed by less experienced technicians. The CleanUP Guys offer trained restoration professionals, guarantee and experience you need in order to bring your property back to its formerly pristine condition.

Fire, Water, Mold and Complete RebuildsWe don’t anticipate that a fire can ever happen to us until it happens. A fire can damage property and cost you more than just the money in your wallet, but the stress and strain of having to rebuild, or even start all over again. It’s vital to contact a company that specializes in fire and smoke damage restoration properties in Elmwood Park IL immediately. Since putting our fires deals with water, it can easily lead to the next grave problem, mold. You need help immediately and from a company that can give a quote within 24 hours.As a property owner, you need the assurance of a company that has the experience to deal quickly and effectively with a variety of problems associated with a p...

Basement Mold Remedy and Water Damage Cleanups

Since moisture is a leading cause of mold it is very important to keep it at a level, if possible, where it does not start to breed unwanted bacteria. We commonly call it mold. One of the areas in the home that gets more moisture normally, than any other area of the home, is the basement. Basements also typically have the worst ventilation of the entire house, so moisture usually has no way to escape, leading to mold contamination. Thus, basement mold in your house in Wilmette, can be caused by a few of the following issues:

• Condensation in the basement can cause mold. Moisture condensates on the outside of pipes because of the cool temperatures. If this moisture collects, mold will form.

• Flooding water that is not taken care of and removed immediately will lead to mold buildup. Dangerous molds can grow in your basement if it is not dried, quickly following a flood or any other type of water damage.

• High levels of humidity in your basement is yet another way for mold to grow in your home.

• Leaking pipes, cracks in the home’s foundation, and leaking gutters can all bring more moisture into the basement. If these leaks are not addressed immediately, mold will build up rapidly. And while this list is not exhaustive, there are so many more ways that moisture tries to find a hiding place in the home.