Flooded Basement? Water Damage? Broken Pipe? | Water Damage MN
Steps You Must Take NOW To Prevent Further Damage! Restoring your home or business after water damage is a frustrating experience. Fortunately, natural disasters don’t occur every day, and hopefully you’ll never have to deal with water damage from rising water or flooding. However, simple plumbing leaks or overflows, broken or burst pipes and sewer or septic backups are far more common. While dealing with water damage may seem fairly simple (mop or wet vacuum; fans used to promote evaporation), unfortunately, this fails to consider the degree to which water can penetrate into structural cavities and assemblies, creating trapped pockets of saturation. Too late, property owners become aware of the on-going effect of this trapped water on structural and contents materials, which may include: discoloration, warping, splitting, delamination, and musty odor and mold growth. Don’t Gamble with Your Home and Family’s Health! If a pipe, water heater or appliance is broken and leaking, locate shutoff valve and shut off water to house. This will prevent more water entering the house. AVOID HAZARDS! Be extremely careful of the deadly combination of water and electricity. Also, be cautious of slippery wet carpets and floors. Stay away from Raw Sewage backups, which contain nasty bacteria and can be harmful to your health. CALL 612-331-4454 for 24 Hour Emergency Services, from our IICRC Certified Water Damage experts. We’ll get your home clean and dry as fast as possible, to return your life to normal! Prevent Damage – Wood furniture will leave permanent stains in carpet, so move it to an unaffected area if possible, or put foil under the legs until we arrive! Fixing Water Damage NOW Prevents Mold Problems Later! Water Damage Restoration is a complex process. An inexperienced company that rushes through the job can cause more harm than good by drying the surface of your structure while leaving moisture trapped inside the walls and floors. This can lead to microbial growth that can adversely affect your health and that of your family. Done Right has the right equipment to dry any structure, and years of experience in Water Damage, Flood Cleanup, and Applied Structural Drying. After any standing water has been removed and any leaks have been identified and repaired, our specialists use powerful state of the art fans, dehumidifiers, air scrubbers, and desiccant equipment to remove of the extra moisture that remains in the air. We also continually adjust the temperature and humidity to reduce or eliminate any warping, swelling, or cracking of floors, walls, and furniture. “One Call Does It All 612-331-4454” Direct Insurance Billing | At Your Door in 1 Hour or Less | 24 Hour Service Flooded Basement? Water Damage? Broken Pipe? – Steps Your Must Take...
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Water Damage Repair and Restoration MN Water damage is one of the most common homeowner’s insurance claims in the country. Most water damages are caused due to frozen, broken or burst pipes, leaky appliances and flooded basements. These occurrences often lead people to discover the details of their home insurance policies. When It Comes To Water Damage, What You Don’t Know Can Cost You! With spring rains and spring flooding just around the corner, and there are things people can be doing today to help ensure they’re as prepared as possible should flooding occur in their area. The first thing people should consider – even those in low-risk flood zones or areas which have never flooded before – is purchasing flood insurance. According to an interactive tool on NFIP’s website just 2 inches of water could cost you $7,800 in cleanup. And over the past 10 years, the average flood claim has amounted to over $33,000. Are You Prepared for Spring Flooding? You are eligible to purchase flood insurance as long as your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program. Check the Community Status Book to see if your community is already an NFIP partner. Consumers should be aware that flood insurance policies generally take 30 days to go into effect. For more information on flood insurance, and to find out your flood risk, visit www.floodsmart.gov. FLASH_Insurance_Guide Does Homeowners Insurance Cover a Flooded Basement? Here’s a question thousands of homeowners and renters will be asking now that Spring is finally here. Will insurance cover the water damage in my basement? Unfortunately for most the answer is “probably not.” Standard Homeowners’ insurance does not cover damage from flooding, so unless you have a specific flood insurance policy, you will have to foot the bill for any water damage from the recent rains. The Insurance Information Institute offers this rule of thumb: water that comes from top down (ice dams, for example) is generally covered, but when water comes from the bottom up, such as in flooding, it’s not covered. Water damage can result in increased insurance rates, decreased resale value of home and property, and even health issues for years to come if not properly – and promptly – repaired. Learn how to protect yourself and your family from water related damage with these quick tips: § React Fast. Time is of the essence. When water damage takes place it is imperative to contact a Minnesota water damage repair and restoration company as soon as possible. Don’t wait until the next morning – search for providers that offer 24/7 support! Mold and mildew can begin growing within 24 to 48 hours! Thus prompt action is important following a water-related disaster or accident. The speed with which you take action to begin the water damage restoration process will determine how much can be salvaged. § Remove. Until all the water is extracted and the humidity levels returned to normal, it may be necessary to remove furniture and other items from the area even if they aren’t in direct contact with the water. High humidity and general unsanitary conditions may contaminate other items. Work with a reputable Minnesota water damage restoration expert that provides water extraction, sewage clean-ups, crawl space drying, structural drying, basement drying, dehumidification, odor control, sanitization, disinfecting, carpet cleaning, debris removal, emergency board-ups and mold remediation. § Report. Extensive water related damages often require the financial support of insurance – after all, that is what insurance is for. Don’t risk the health and security of your family and investments by trying to do it yourself; instead, locate a...
Read MoreMinnesota Water Damage Repair and Restoration Minneapolis St Paul MN
Minneapolis and Saint Paul MN Water Damage Restoration Whatever the cause and type of water damage, nowhere does the term “the right tool for the job” have as much, meaning that a thorough and complete job requires the right equipment. Insurance adjusters who do not authorize and approve the use of HEPA-filtered Portable Air Scrubbers (PAS) on all water loss jobs may want to rethink their position. Any water loss poses a significant opportunity for particle contamination and for microscopic bio-pollutants such as fungi (molds) and bacteria that thrive in wet indoor environments to proliferate. Even smaller water leaks or overflows of sanitary water can ultimately trigger fungal growth if wet materials are not promptly identified and thoroughly dried. The Importance Of Using The Right Equipment For Water Damage Restoration Why Insurers Should Approve the Use of Portable Air Scrubbers on Every Water Damage Remediation Job It is very important to note that the very activities undertaken to remediate the problem can increase the risks of air contamination. For example, as forced-air drying evaporates water from surfaces, carpet and other materials, contaminants such as fungal spores and ultra-fine dirt and dust particles are likely to be released into the air. Once aerosolized (suspended in air), workers exposed to these pollutants can inhale them. Particles stirred up during remediation also create housekeeping and cleanup issues that can increase the cost of the cleanup. ANSI/IICRC Standard S500 The Institute for Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC) has developed an ANSI-approved standard for water damage remediation. Now in its third edition, ANSI/IICRC S500-2006 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration places water hazards into one of three contamination categories based on the quality of the water after it comes in contact with building materials: • Category I – Water that originates from a sanitary source and does not pose substantial risk from dermal, ingestion or inhalation exposure. • Category II – Water with a significant amount of contamination and the potential to cause discomfort or sickness if ingested by humans. • Category III – Grossly contaminated water that can contain pathogenic, toxigenic or other harmful agents. Types Of Indoor Air Pollutants The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) places air pollutants into three general categories: particulates, bio-aerosols, and volatile organic compounds (VOC), all of which may be released into the air during or following a water loss event. Particulates Particulates from building materials are primarily released into the indoor air after the event or during the remediation process as opposed to during the water loss event itself. These commonly include dirt, drywall, VCT and concrete dust, fiberglass, carpet and asbestos fibers, sawdust, smoke particles, and metal fumes. Larger, visible particles and smaller particles that agglomerate (clump together) will likely settle onto surfaces within minutes and remain there until physically removed by cleaning or vacuuming. These particles are not generally a respiratory health issue, because they are too heavy to remain aerosolized for very long. Studies have shown, however, that more than 99% of the particles suspended in air are ten microns (0.0004 inches) or less in size. That’s five to 10 times smaller than a human hair and smaller than we can see with the naked eye. Particles and allergens this tiny are typically light enough to remain aerosolized for long periods of time and can readily spread through a building or home on air currents, and they are easily re-aerosolized when they do settle onto surfaces. They also pose the greatest potential health threat: “While larger particles (those greater than 10 microns in diameter) get caught in the nose...
Read MoreWater Damage Edina MN | Water Damage Repair | Edina MN Water Damage
Water Damage Repair Edina MN | Water Damage Services Edina MN Mother Nature has proven year after year that havoc can occur at a split second. Tens of thousands of buildings and homes across the country have suffered moisture/water damage as a result of severe weather (acts of God) or just plain bad luck. Water damage to a structure can occur in many ways. Even the most solidly built and well-maintained building can be damaged by a violent force of nature, such as a flood, tornado, or wildfire. In other situations, a water pipe may burst, and air conditioning leak, moisture intrusion, backed up septic tank or sewer line, or a sump pump may malfunction while you’re away on vacation and do serious water damage to your home and possessions. Understanding the categories of moisture/water damage is the first step in getting your home or building back to normal conditions. Categorizing the level of contamination of water in a damaged structure is required to perform loss assessment and evaluation activities. The category of water contamination must be considered so the correct procedures can be established for processing water-damaged structures and materials. Water damage is divided into three general categories: 1) Category 1 – Clean Water 2) Category 2 – Gray Water 3) Category 3 – Black Water However, the category of water contamination should not be identified solely by the color of the water, but by the source, contents, history and characteristics of the water. Category 1– Clean water originates from a source that does not pose substantial harm to humans if the clean up is performed within 24 hours of occurrence. Clean water sources may include, but are not limited to, broken water supply lines, melting ice or snow, falling rainwater, broken toilet tanks and toilet bowls that do not contain contaminants or additives. Clean water that has contact with structural surfaces and content materials may deteriorate in cleanliness as it dissolves or mixes with soils and other contaminants, and as time elapses. Category 2– Gray water contains a significant level of contamination and has the potential to cause discomfort or sickness if consumed by or exposed to humans. Gray water carries microorganisms and nutrients for microorganisms. Examples of gray water sources may include, but are not necessarily limited to, discharge from dishwashers or washing machines, overflows from washing machines, overflows from toilet bowls with some urine (no feces), sump pump failures, seepage due to hydrostatic pressure, broken aquariums and punctured water beds. Gray water may contain chemicals, bio-contaminants (fungal, bacterial, viral, algae) and other forms of contamination including physical hazards. Time and temperature aggravate Category 2 water contamination levels significantly. Gray water in flooded structures that remains untreated for longer those 48 hours may change to Category 3. Category 3– Black water contains pathogenic agents and is grossly unsanitary. Any persons with compromised immune systems, respiratory problems or allergies, or who are under 2 years of age or elderly must remain off the job site until the building is judged safe for occupancy. Black water includes sewage and other contaminated water sources entering or affecting the indoor environment. Toilet backflows that originate from beyond the toilet trap is considered black water contamination, regardless of visible content or color. Category 3 water includes all forms of flooding from seawater, ground surface water and rising water from rivers or streams. Such water sources carry silt and organic matter into structures that create black water conditions. The water is considered to be Category 3 water in situations where structural materials and/or contents have been contaminated with such contaminants as pesticides,...
Read MoreWater Damage Mold In Your Minnesota Home Part 3
Mold and Hidden Water Damage Mold From Ongoing Minor or Hidden Water Damage Continued from Water Damage Mold In Your Minnesota Home Part 1 Virtually everyone has some type of mold or another somewhere in their home. Although not all types are toxic, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish types without lab testing. Black molds can develop from water intrusion like water seepage, improper drainage and irrigation, plumbing leaks, basement flooding, rain and condensation issues. While toxic mold is less common than other mold species, it is not rare. For that reason, it is imperative to treat and remove all molds as if they are potentially harmful. Regardless of the type of mold found, a home containing mold is essentially not a healthy home. Exterior Water Intrusion Mold can grow on any wet building materials. Once it is discovered, it must be addressed quickly and appropriately. Delayed or improper treatment of mold issues can multiply repair costs significantly. When building materials such as wood siding, brick, concrete block and stucco are exposed to moisture sources from outdoors, over time that moisture can penetrate exterior walls and enter the wall cavity, creating perfect conditions for mold growth in between exterior and interior walls. Eventually the moisture and mold can penetrate all the way through to the interior side of wall surfaces. By that time, extensive damage to the structure has already taken place. Water and Mold Cleanup and Repair Begin any cleanup by drying your home, including removing any water-damaged items to help facilitate drying. Water-damaged walls and floorboards will need to be thoroughly dried, and drywall will likely have to be thrown away. All wet insulation, carpet, and similar items will also have to be thrown away. If you are cleaning personal items, there will be some hard choices to make. Cloth materials can normally be cleaned by laundering them several times to remove the impact of the water. Many other porous items, such as couches, stuffed animals, papers, and some older pictures, will have to be thrown away if they have been in the water for longer than 48 hours. Remember, it is better to throw something away than have it become a source of mold in the future. The long-term health issues associated with mold can be reduced by ensuring that a proper cleanup is done. If you suspect you have a mold problem from hidden water damage, it is always best to hire a qualified and experienced specialist that is knowledgeable in the latest water extraction and drying methods. If your home was flooded for longer than 48 hours, you will probably need to consult a Certified (IICRC) Water Damage Restoration Professional. A proper inspection can help detect water intrusion issues early, saving thousands of dollars in repairs costs. Some of this information was quoted from an article called “Is Indoor Mold Contamination a Threat to Health?” by Harriet M. Ammann, Ph.D., D.A.B.T. – Senior Toxicologist at Washington State Department of Health, Olympia, Washington. Is Indoor Mold Contamination a Threat to Health.pdf Download Or for a full copy of her report in Microsoft Word format CLICK HERE Mold In The News //theforagerpress.com/bookstore/blackmold/moldnews.htm MINNESOTA Investigating and Remediating Mold in Minnesota Public Schools – State Dept. of Health Molds In Our Environment //www.cdc.gov/mold/faqs.htm Health Effects of Mold //www.weather.com/activities/health/allergies/mold/health_effects.html Frequently Asked Questions about Black Mold //theforagerpress.com/bookstore/blackmold/moldfaq.htm Mold In The News //theforagerpress.com/bookstore/blackmold/moldnews.htm MINNESOTA Investigating and Remediating Mold in Minnesota Public Schools – State Dept. of Health...
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