How To Treat Mold

9/13/2023 (Permalink)

Mold testing in Layton, UT.

A musty odor in your commercial building in Layton, UT, is a clear sign of mold. What may not be clear is the visible presence of the fungus on your walls or ceiling. If you suspect you have mold but you can't see it, an indoor environmental specialist must test the building before remediation can take place.

6 Steps to Treat Mold

1. Detection

Some business owners try to locate problems themselves using a mold test from the local hardware store. The only thing this test will tell you, however, is that spores are present in the building, and that's always true. Any time the door opens, mold can enter on clothes, hair, and shoes. It doesn't become a problem until it concentrates and begins to grow on surfaces. Sometimes, you can't see the surfaces where it grows, though. Then you need a professional inspection.

2. Testing

A certified hygienist conducts tests on both surfaces and the air. These tests reveal more than just the presence of mold:

• Location of the greatest concentration of spores
• Type of mold present
• Air quality of the affected area

Once the testing is complete, the mold mitigation specialists know where to start.

3. Assessment

The report from the indoor environmental specialist is an essential part of the overall assessment process. It tells the remediation team members how large an area they need to seal off so that the mold problem doesn't spread any further in the building. From that point, they can create a plan of action for taking care of the issue. At this point, they should also be able to provide a general estimate to supplement your insurance claim.

4. Removal

One of the first things that technicians must do is tear out any unsalvageable material. If there is mold growth on any porous matter, such as drywall or industrial ceiling tiles, it cannot simply be washed away. The fungus on the surface isn't the only problem. When spores settle, tendrils called mycelia to reach down into the spaces beneath the surface to anchor the growth. Once this happens, the only way to get rid of it is to take the affected materials out altogether.

5. Retesting

After the growth has been removed, the remaining surfaces are cleaned and dried to prevent the problem from returning. Then the area must be retested. This crucial step of the process ensures that the actions taken by the mitigation team are effective and that no mold issue persists. Remediation must be completed before the structure can be rebuilt.

6. Restoration

The final phase is getting the building back to normal. New tiles and drywall are installed. Paint and wallpaper are matched to the existing space so that no one can tell where the problem occurred. The job isn't done until your building looks like there was never a problem at all.

If you suspect that you have mold in your building but you don't see any visible evidence, you should call an indoor environmental specialist. A professional test reveals what kind of problem you have and how big it is. This is exactly the information the mitigation team needs in order to do its job well.

Avoid a Candle Fire With Safe Habits and Alternatives to Open Flames

8/31/2023 (Permalink)

Avoid a Candle Fire in your Layton, UT house by following these important tips.

The soft flicker of a flame is soothing and comfortable. For many homeowners, the gentle scents and appearance of candles provide a calming, peaceful atmosphere. Unfortunately, candle fire is also responsible for a lot of home damage:

Avoid Fire Damage by following these tips

At least 2% of home fires are caused by candles.

Just a few years ago, there was an average of 20 candle fires are reported each day, and today there are more than 10,000 each year. Fires due to candles peak during December and January.

These facts come from the National Fire Protection Association and their research division. Looking at these statistics, is it possible to safely use candles in your home?

Prevent a Candle Fire From Destroying Your Home

The good news is that today there are plenty of options for getting the same ambiance from candle fire without the risks associated with open flames. If you do plan to use the real thing, be sure to take the following precautions:

• Clear the area around the candle. Plants, decorations, linens, and other flammable items all pose fire hazards.

• Position candles where children, pets, and blowing curtains won't knock them over. Make sure candles are placed on a sturdy, level surface.

• Never leave candles unattended; many fires occur when homeowners fall asleep and more than a third of home candle fires started in bedrooms.

• Store candles, matches, and lighters where children can't reach them.

Habits for Proper Care of Candles

In addition to these foundational safety habits, there are several other things you can do to improve your well-being around candles. Trim candlewicks to about a quarter of an inch. If the wick is too short, the flame won't burn correctly. If the wick is too long, it will cause the flame to flare and flicker. Flares can lead to fires.

Take the heat of candles into account. Some candleholders (such as wine bottles) aren't sturdy or heat-resistant enough to withstand the burning heat. The rising temperature can cause glass holders to crack, spilling out wax and potentially causing a candle fire. It's also important that you place candles at least 3 to 4 inches apart and avoid handling candles before they cool.

Alternatives to Open Flames

Many fire safety authorities (as well as fire damage cleanup and restoration professionals) recommend using alternatives to candles. One of the most popular of these is the flameless candle. These are available in many sizes, shapes, and colors. Some are remote-operated, and many use an LED bulb that mimics the flicker of a candle flame. You can even find these candles with a warm vanilla scent. Some of the other options to consider include reed diffusers, wax warmers, humidifiers with essential oils, and strings of fairy lights.

The best way to avoid fire and smoke damage, as well as the cost of fire and smoke cleanup, is to take preventative steps and improve fire safety in your Layton, UT, home. This includes the installation of fire extinguishers and fire and smoke alarms. Develop the appropriate habits for enjoying an open flame and learn to properly maintain your candles. Best of all, consider an alternative. Don't let your peaceful evening end with destructive candle fire.

Why Are My Home’s Water Pipes Making Noises?

8/31/2023 (Permalink)

If you hear strange noises from pipes in your Kaysville, UT home, can exist issues that must be fixed.

Are your Kaysville, UT, home's pipes making strange noises like loud knocking and banging? There's obviously some type of problem with the plumbing, whether a pipe break or something else. Now it's time to determine the exact issue and what to do about it.

How Do I Stop the Racket?

1. If Running Hot Water Causes Knocking

Do you ever turn on the hot water tap and hear knocking? Does it continue several minutes after you shut off the tap? If so, the hot water supply lines could be poorly constructed. Hot water makes chlorinated polyvinyl chloride piping expand, so if it doesn't have enough free space, it could be knocking against other objects as it expands. Find the pipes that are causing the noise and give them more room between them and other things. This work could be invasive, requiring cutting into walls and relocating piping, so you will probably need a professional plumber.

2. If Running Cold Water Causes Banging

If you hear pipes knocking while running cold water or as soon as you turn on a faucet, you probably have high water pressure. High water pressure can cause the water to flow through the pipes too rapidly. This fast flow makes the lines shake, and they can rattle against anything close like walls or other pipes, causing knocking and banging. You can get a water pressure test gauge to test your home's water pressure, which should be 40-80 PSI. A plumber will need to inspect the home's pressure-reducing valve if the pressure is above 80 PSI. A plumber will determine if they can simply adjust it or if they must replace it. Extremely high water pressure could lead to a pipe break, so someone should investigate as soon as possible. A water damage restoration company can help if you discover a leaky pipe during this process.

3. If Shutting Off Water Causes Knocking

If you're hearing knocking after you shut your water supply off, whether cold or hot water, it could be what's called a water hammer. A water hammer happens when a water valve is turned off, which causes the water running through the pipes to crash into the valve. This crash causes the pipes to shake, which causes the knocking. Water hammer is a phenomenon that can happen in various scenarios, including when you turn off water taps, flush a toilet, or when the clothes washer is finished filling. If your home was built after the 1960s, water hammer arrestors were probably installed, but if you're experiencing water hammer, your home may not have them. Homes built pre-1960s have air chambers; water hammer arrestors weren't invented yet. If your home has air chambers, the best option for reducing water hammers is by draining all of the water from your home's plumbing and then turning the water main on again to refill it.

Strange noises like banging and knocking coming from your water pipes can not only be annoying, but they can also be a sign of a more significant issue. Avoid the possibility of having to fix a broken pipe after a pipe burst or pipe break by getting the problem solved as soon as possible.

Rain May Lead to Mold Growth

8/18/2023 (Permalink)

Mold growth found after a storm in Layton, UT.

Black mold can show up in your Layton, Utah, house seemingly overnight. Have you noticed a connection between rainy days and mold growth? There are a few instances when rain can lead to mold popping up in your home.

5 Reasons Rain May Lead to Mold Growth

1. Faulty Roof: If your roof is missing shingles, it may not be able to keep water out of your home like it should. This can lead to water buildup in your attic or drips down your walls, which invites mold spores to make a home.
2. Bad Foundation: Cracks in your foundation could be another way excess moisture makes it into your home. During the rain, the falling water goes into the ground and starts to travel. If your foundation isn't properly sealed, the water can find its way into your home.
3. Poor Attic Ventilation: When the attic does not have proper ventilation, condensation can start to build up in the space. Even condensation is enough of a moisture problem to allow black mold to make a home.
4. Worn-Out Weather Strips: Weather stripping around windows and doors can become cracked and faded over time. When it rains, the water may seep its way into these crevices. Mold may start to build up around your windows and doors because of the trapped moisture.
5. Too Much Water: Heavy rains can lead to too much water for an environment. When this happens, floods can fill your basement or garage. Flooding is a common cause of mold growth.

No matter what issue has caused your moisture problem, you need to get to the heart of the issue. Wiping away the surface mold won't help you rid your home of the fungus. Instead, you need to call in a professional mold cleanup crew.

Rain sometimes exacerbates issues with your home. If you notice black mold pop up after every downpour, it could be tied to a bigger issue with your house.

5 Steps for Flood Cleanup

8/4/2023 (Permalink)

Thurnderstorm in Layton, UT.

Floods come in all shapes and sizes, from minor plumbing leaks to major storm surges. It is often difficult to see a level of your home underwater, and it can leave you wondering about specific cleaning requirements. Most water damage specialists in Layton, UT, suggest a five-step process for flood recovery.

5 Step Process for Flood Cleanup

1. Remove Water From Interior

The primary objective after a storm surge is to remove the water, not to perform flood clean up. Most professionals will use a combination of shop vacs, portable pumps, and pumping trucks, depending on the depth of the flood.

2. Dry the Interior

Thoroughly drying the space is among the most important cleaning requirements. Mold can begin growing within 24 to 48 hours after water damage. The quicker you can dry the space, the less chance for other problems to arise. Restoration companies often use air movers, dehumidifiers, and fans to help move the drying process along.

3. Mitigate Further Loss

A significant concern for many homeowners is mitigating further loss. Most insurers require homeowners to protect the property from greater harm or risk their claim. Disaster response teams might suggest using plywood to cover vertical damage, like broken windows, and tarps for horizontal damage, like wind-torn roofs.

4. Clean and Disinfect

Before you know it, the disaster response crew will explain how to flood disinfectant and clean your space. The team you hire will remove all debris, and use commercial products to eliminate any harmful bacteria.

5. Restore the Space

With the space clean and dry, the team can begin focusing on any structural repairs. The restoration phase is about removing any sign of storm damage and making your house look like never even happened.

The cleaning requirements after a flood or storm surge are simple: remove water, dry the space, protect, clean, and repair. However, depending on the damage, a homeowner might want to consider calling a professional for help.

3 Steps for Restoring Your Home to Its Pre-Fire Condition

9/13/2022 (Permalink)

This Layton, UT home suffered from smoke and fire damage

No homeowner wants to watch his or her Layton, UT, home go up in flames. Whether your house has survived a minor, moderate, or severe fire, you likely want to begin cleanup as soon as possible. As part of a complete cleaning process, restoring your home involves dealing with fire, soot, and smoke damage.

Three Steps For Fire Damage Restoration

1. 1. Overall Structure

Fires often weaken studs and floor joists. They may also ruin drywall and tile. The first step in any fire-cleanup process is to evaluate the safety and habitability of the home. Once a professional deems the house is safe to occupy, cleanup can begin. Technicians have the skill, equipment, and knowledge to remove fire marks and other remnants from surfaces throughout the home.

2. Accumulated Soot

Soot can be as bad or worse than fire or smoke damage. Not only does accumulated suit discolor walls and carpeting, but it can also ruin furniture and personal keepsakes. Unfortunately, you may have to throw away uncleanable items. Some, however, are probably salvageable. Since you are not an expert, you likely can’t know which items to preserve and which ones to toss. As part of the cleaning process, restoration technicians do the analysis for you.

3. Smoke Infiltration

As you probably know, smoke can work its way into small places throughout your home. Even if you haven’t sustained much fire damage, you may have a tremendous amount of smoke infiltration. To effectively remove smoke, professional restorers use a variety of smoke-cleaning techniques. In addition to replacing HVAC filters and scrubbing walls, technicians often rely on ozone machines to remove smoke odors.

Fire damage, soot damage and smoke damage can destroy the comfort, value and appearance of any home in Layton, UT. Fortunately, you don’t have to deal with the negative effects of fires. By working with the right restoration service, you can likely return your home to its pre-value condition.

Steps To Take When Your Toilet Leaks

9/13/2022 (Permalink)

A leaking toilet is usually a simple problem to solve.

There are several signs you have a leaking toilet. It may take longer to fill up or you may see water on the floor after flushing. There are three basic things you need to do to fix the problem.

3 Steps You Need To Follow To Fix A Toilet Leak

1. Locate the Source

The first step is figuring out where the issue lies. There are several places where leaks can originate:

• Inside the pipes
• Inside the tank
• From the supply line
• Under the base

A good test to help you discover the source of the leak is simply to flush the toilet. If water rises swiftly in the bowl and it threatens to overflow, you probably have a clogged pipe. If the water won't stop running, you may have a faulty gasket inside the tank. Water on the floor can either be from a leaky supply line or a broken seal in the base. Finding the source informs the steps you must take to get rid of the leak.

2. Fix the Problem

Once you know the cause of the leaking toilet, you can probably find sufficient tools at your local hardware store to take care of the problem. It may be as simple as tightening the bolts at the base of the toilet. If you don't have any experience fixing plumbing issues or you cannot locate the source of the leak, however, it's best to call a plumber in Layton, UT, to fix it.

3. Repair the Damage

Any type of bathroom leak can cause hidden water damage. This is especially true if the problem goes undetected for a long time or if there are delays in getting it fixed. After the leak is repaired, water restoration experts can assess the damage it caused to your walls, floors or even the ceiling of the floor below the bathroom. Fixing the damage quickly is the key to avoiding additional problems.

A leaking toilet is usually a simple problem to solve. To keep the problem from getting out of hand, fix the toilet and any damage it causes in a timely manner.

4 Steps To Protect Your Home From Water Damage

8/10/2022 (Permalink)

Bursting pipes can cause severe water damage.

Bursting pipes have many causes, and this increases the difficulty of addressing the problem appropriately. It's one thing to fix broken pipe systems; it's another to make sure you don't have further water damage and, possibly, mold. If you want to avoid serious damage, you need to know exactly which steps you need to take as soon as a pipe bursts.

4 Steps You Need To Take For a Bursting Pipe

1. Shut Off the Water

You'll have to address a few questions at this point:

• Can you identify the point of the burst?
• Can you access the burst?
• Is there a quick way to shut water off at the point of trouble?

It's important that you stop water from gushing into your home as quickly as possible. Your best course of action may be shutting everything off at the water main. This may be located in the basement or on the outside of your home.

2. Open Windows and Doors To Increase Ventilation

You need to begin the drying process as quickly as possible. This will make it easier for water damage cleanup and restoration professionals to save your home from more damage. It will also keep your costs and frustration down.

3. Remove Water Quickly

It doesn’t take long for bursting pipes to send inches of water into the rooms of your home. Use towels, mops, wet/dry vacuums, and anything else that will pick up water. The faster you remove water from the area, the better you can avoid hidden pockets of moisture that cause trouble later on. Make sure you check the surrounding rooms for increased humidity or evidence of seeping water.

4. Turn on Fans and Dehumidifiers

Borrow fans and dehumidifiers from your Layton, UT, neighbors if you have to or get some from an equipment rental agency. Use fans in the rooms with open windows and use dehumidifiers in enclosed spaces. Remember to empty the water out of the dehumidifiers whenever the tanks fill up.

These important steps can protect you from expensive damage, and contacting professionals is the best way to avoid secondary damage, such as mold in areas that you can't see. When you have bursting pipes, take these four steps and then call your insurance agent and the water cleanup pros.

5 Tips To Create a Business Fire Escape Plan

7/25/2022 (Permalink)

A fire escape plan for a commercial building.

It is estimated that there are more than 100,000 commercial fires every year. While a fire damage and restoration company may be able to restore the property, business owners in Layton, UT, need to ensure the safety of everyone inside. Establishing a fire escape plan is essential for that to happen.

Essential Parts of an Emergency Escape Plan

Every business may be different, but there are key ingredients to an emergency plan regardless of the size or type of business.

1. Identify Potential Hazards

While not all fires are preventable, many of them are. The first step in creating a plan requires determining what hazards your business may face. Inspect every part of the property to determine what may be a fire threat. Things to look for include overloaded electrical outlets, equipment near water, employees using space heaters and storage closets with flammable chemicals. If your business has a kitchen, it is ideal to establish rules to ensure that any equipment is being properly used.

2. Assign Key Roles

When a fire breaks out, it is often a chaotic situation. To help ensure your fire escape plan works, it is important to establish a chain of command and assign key roles to specific individuals. Along with a chief warden, who will take the lead during an event, other assignments should include an assistant warden, route guides and floor monitors. The route guides will work to help people calmly evacuate and keep the path clear while the floor monitors will ensure everyone is safely out of the area.

3. Establish Designated Escape Routes

Successfully evacuating requires knowing the best path out. Every plan should have both a primary and secondary escape route. These routes should also be kept clear of objects that may slow down the escape. A map should be created, especially if your business has multiple floors, that clearly shows the route and fire extinguisher locations. Along with getting out of the building, ensure that everyone knows where to meet up after exiting the building. This location should be a safe distance away from the property.

4. Have a Communication Plan

Communication is always important, especially in an emergency situation. It is important that one of the key roles established in the plan is in charge of calling emergency responders, as well as communicating with customers, employees and other business-related people. This is an important role to not only ensure that everyone on-site has up-to-date information but also to ensure that business operations will get back on track faster after the situation is over.

5. Practice the Plan

Practice makes perfect applies perfectly to being prepared for emergency situations. Just like kids in school, adults also need to regularly go through the fire plan and conduct drills. Doing so helps reaffirm that everyone knows what they should be doing as well as serves as an opportunity to make the plan as efficient as possible.

Every business should have a fire escape plan. Whether the business is small or large, ensuring that everyone knows where to go and what to do may help ensure everyone's safety.

How To Save Your Wet Wood Floor

7/25/2022 (Permalink)

Water can damage your wood flooring.

Wood flooring is beautiful and can enhance the look of your building. However, wood floors can easily be damaged by water from a pipe burst, spill or another source. Quick action is required to prevent permanent damage.

How To Save Your Wet Floor

Waxes and sealants provide you with more time to clean up spills and other water damage before it is absorbed into the wood. However, quick action is still required to save your wood floor from permanent damage:

1. Remove Wet Objects

Anything wet that is lying on your floor will continue to leach water into the floor. Additionally, mold and mildew may grow which can infiltrate the seams and pores of your floor. Remove wet rugs, carpets, clothing, toys, furniture and other items as soon as possible. Throw out items that can not be salvaged and move the rest to a location where they can dry without damaging your floor.

2. Remove As Much Water As You Can

Use mops, towels and clean rags to absorb as much liquid as you can. If you are dealing with a pipe burst, make sure the water supply to the pipe is shut off so that additional water isn't leaking onto your flooring. You can remove larger amounts of water with a wet vacuum. Continue to vacuum even after there is no longer visible water on the surface of the floor. This will remove some of the water that is in the plank seams and wood pores. Keep vacuuming until you are no longer seeing any new water in the vacuum canister. If you are dealing with damage from a flood or a large amount of water from a plumbing issue, consider contacting a water restoration service in Layton, UT, to assist you with removing the water from the flooring.

3. Dry the Floor

Once you finish removing as much water as you can with the wet vacuum, finish drying the wood. Position a dehumidifier in the center of the room and run it on its highest setting for a minimum of 24 hours. Position fans around the room and run them at high speed. If the damage is on an upper floor, place fans on the level below and aim them toward the ceiling to help dry the subfloor and underside of the flooring. If it is not raining, you can open some windows to increase air circulation.

4. Check for Mold

Moisture promotes mold growth. Look for signs of mold in the pores of your wood floor. If you find any, clean the floor with baking soda and water or contact a mold restoration service.

5. Test for Remaining Moisture

Use a moisture testing meter to check for moisture remaining in the wood of your floors. It may take several weeks for the floors to completely dry. Keep running your fans and dehumidifier until the meter shows no moisture remaining in the flooring.

Water from a pipe burst, flood or spill can severely damage wood flooring. However, taking quick action to remove water and dry the flooring can reduce the amount of damage that occurs.