Avoiding Molds when buying older homes

Older Homes could have been flooded at one point

Avoiding mold-infested older homes. (Photo Credits)

When buying an older home, it is a possibility that it may have been flooded at one point in its existence. And while the agent may not really inform buyers about how an older home was restored following a flooding incident, there are still ways to determine whether the home has molds or other adverse effects of flooding. San Diego CA Flood Removal 

Apartment Therapy says annoying odours is one of the first signs.

“The thing about weird smells is that they have a source, and the source can cost you major dinero to fix. In older homes, it’s tempting to chalk up any mustiness to that “old house smell.” Real estate agents may even refer to it that way, or try to camouflage the odors with candles or air fresheners. It’s always good to bring up any funky smells when you’re touring a potential home, though, because such smells can be indicators of big problems like water damage, mildew, mold, and even infestations of pests like rats or cockroaches.”

The article is continued here.

Check the ceiling

The ceiling can also give a clue as to whether the older home may have mold or fungal infestations as mentioned in the website Comfree.

“When checking the ceilings of an older house, it is vital to look for any type of sagging or water stain marks that look like little clouds. A ceiling that sags with a parachute appearance is a sure sign that the roof is leaking. Water stain marks on the ceiling could signal that mold exists in the attic. Depending on the size and square footage, those problem areas could cost tens of thousands of dollars each to repair. Before buying an older home, consult with a professional home inspector and obtain a detailed report outlining each problem area.”

Read the whole post here.

Floorboards should be checked

Raywhite.com in its website, also advised older home buyers to check on the floorboards and walls of the home that they are about to buy.

“If you find something major wrong during this stage you could save yourself the time and money of hiring inspectors and perhaps decide to avoid the property completely. Take a close look at the exterior and interior walls, as well as floorboards, skirting boards and the roof. Look out for signs of mould or damp, and check for sagging or cracking that could be a result of structural problems.”

Check out the whole article here.

Here’s a video that will help buyers in deciding about buying an older home.

Improving Indoor Air Quality the Natural Way

The post Avoiding Molds when buying older homes appeared first on Ace.

Packing a Flood Survival Kit

Protect the whole family with an easy to grab flood kit

A disaster that can take place anytime. (Photo Credits)

Having a flood survival kit can greatly help in ensuring safety during flooding.

United Kingdom Based Home Protect gave the basics on how to make one.

“A flood survival kit should contain all the items you need to get through a flood safely if you are unable to get out through the lower floors of your home. For this reason it is advisable to store (the majority of) your kit on the upper floors where possible, in a convenient and easy to access spot. Because it is not always possible to predict how submerged your home might become, it is useful to store part or all of your kit in water-tight containers and/or plastic boxes with lockable lids. Important documents, such as policies and certificates, need to be sealed in waterproof containers and should preferably have duplicates kept in a secure off-site location.”

Read the whole guide here.

List of contents

The website Urgent Survival enumerated the contents of a flood survival kit. Flood San Diego, Ca    

“With all the flooding, saturated ground, levees & dams maxed out to full capacity all across the south central region, other mandatory evacuations are a very real possibility. Make a plan! If this happens what will you do? If you don’t have a survival backpack kit ready to go for emergency evacuations then stop what you are doing right now and either buy one or make one. When an immediate evacuation order is issued there are always mixed reports on what is actually going on. You need to assume the worst is coming. Grab your kit, wallet/purse, and any prescription meds and head to higher ground immediately.”

Print the whole list from here.

Floatation Device

The Prepper Times meantime shared a Do-It-Yourself Instructional Video of how to create a floatation device that will also serve as a flood survival kit that can be used during a massive and life-threatening flooding situation.

“This is a prototype design of a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) Survival Kit for water emergencies such as floods and tsunamis. While I have several general purpose emergency kits, I didn’t have anything specific to act as a flotation aid. While the top priority is to evacuate a water hazard path as quickly as possible, I still wanted to have an emergency kit available that could potentially aid with my personal flotation and possibly help save loved ones. While tsunamis are more probable in coastal regions, flooding can occur almost anywhere.”

Watch the video here.

Preparedness can definitely help a lot in increasing survival rates during massive flooding incidents.

Appliances and Flood Damage

 

Getting sick of Black Molds

The Dangers of Black Mold Exposure

Black molds can be lethal. (Photo Credits) 

Exposure to black molds can be fatal, therefore it is in the best interest of any property owner to prevent its growth in his home or commercial establishment.

A good way to avoid this is making sure that flood damage gets treated professionally once it takes place so that flood waters, and moisture can be removed from the areas that had been affected by the flooding.

Black molds thrive in moist environment hence areas where moisture may have been retained should be properly dried and treated by a flood restoration company. The illnesses that black molds can cause should convince any homeowner that the money that can be saved from refusing to avail professional services is definitely not worth the health concerns it may bring about.

Dr. Pompa.com relayed the many illnesses one type of black mold can cause.

“Aspergillus is another toxic mold that is a big threat to our well-being. In Pittsburgh, they recently shut down one of the country’s best transplant programs because Aspergillus was present in the intensive care unit for post surgery, and people were dying from the exposure. When you are on an immunosuppressant drug, Aspergillus grows in your lungs very easily. Aspergillus exposure can cause multiple symptoms, including fever and chills, blood streaked sputum from the lungs (hemoptysis) and/or severe bleeding from the lungs, shortness of breath, chest pain, joint pain, headaches, eye problems, nose bleeding and facial swelling.”

Read the rest of the post here.

When black molds thrive

Spotmold.com meantime shared a study about toxic black mold exposure.

“One of the biggest problems with mold sickness is that it impacts everyone differently. Some may experience minor allergies, and other health conditions like asthma and chronic sinusitis, while other mold sensitized patients may suffer severe illnesses. One physician documented the health symptoms of 227 patients that lived in water damaged buildings during a three year period. What this doctor found was that 98% of his patients had one of the gene types where their immune systems were not able to effectively deal with contaminants from water damaged.”

Check out the rest of the feature here.

More illnesses from exposure

Psych Central also shared other symptoms that could be felt upon constant exposure to black molds. Get rid of Flood

“Many species of black mold and mildew (or the mycotoxins they produce) can cause or aggravate a quantity of diseases. General effects from molds such as Stachybotrys area, Penicillium, Cladosporium and some strains of Aspergillus, are asthma, pneumonitis, upper respiratory problems, sinusitis, dry cough, skin rashes, stomach upset, headaches, disorientation and bloody noses. Many other kinds of mold and fungus are also toxic, and many mycotoxins are recognized carcinogens. Severe exposures can cause internal bleeding, kidney and liver failure and pulmonary emphysema. Such wellness risks due to the appearance of mold in a residence are a grave matter to residents, and can pose possible responsibility for landlords of rental homes.”

Read the rest of the post here.

Toxic black mold can be prevented from growing inside a home. The key is being well informed about it, and seeking professional services when faced in a situation that could allow it to grow.

Eliminating Molds after a Home Flooding

 

Frozen Pipes Can Cause Flood Damage

Bursting Frozen Pipes and Home Flooding

Frozen pipes that have leaked or have been busted are an instant cause of flooding in the home. (Photo Credits)

Frozen pipes have been a common occurrence during winter. The worse thing about it is apart from a busted plumbing fixture, it may also cause flood damage.

In the event that frozen pipes burst what then should property owners do?

Hadley Insurit says water should be removed from an area as quick as possible, but if the damage is beyond a small area, professional help is definitely a must.

“For more severe damage, such as leaks affecting multiple rooms or floors of your home or cases where leaks have gone unnoticed for more than 8 hours, a water mitigation or restoration professional may be required.”

Read the whole article here.

Just the tip of the iceberg

The AA Blog agrees that busted frozen pipes bring more damage than the initial trouble it can cause. Emergency AceRestoration Flood home repair         

“Post-leak damage. It is worth noting that sometimes the secondary damage such as mould growth, corrosion and structural deterioration can be worse than the initial leak. A quick reaction time will help reduce the extent of the damage and the cost to restore your home.”

Check out the whole post here.

Prevention is the key

The website Nothwards Housing explains that prevention is the key from keeping pipes from freezing, and eventually bursting.

“If you’re at home, use the thermostat to keep the temperature comfortable. During the day a good setting is 18°C – it’s comfy and keeps the cost down. If it’s freezing outside, set the heating to stay on all the time, but turn the thermostat lower for the night. Remember, the higher the thermostat, the more fuel you use. If you’re away in cold weather, leave the heating on all the time but set the thermostat right down to 6°C. This will stop your pipes freezing, but it won’t cost much.”

Read the rest of the tips here.

It is important to call on flood restoration specialists when a part of the home has been flooded. The cost of services of a flood remediation specialist is nothing compared to the financial burden untreated flood damage may cause to a structure, and on the health of its occupants.

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Flood Damage from the Roof

 

When Roof Leaks Give Way to Flood Damage

Flood damage may also come from a leaking roof. (Photo Credits)

Roof leaks are usually just taken and addressed for what it is – a Roof Leak. When it is being  remediated usually it is just the roofing structure that is repaired, and the flood damage it brought about is usually shrugged off.

Roof Doctor Utah warns shrugging off the flood damage a roof leak brought about, can cause even more damage and could even lead to health repercussions.

“When a basement floods, it can be toxic to clean. However, sometimes the worst water damage is what we don’t see. A rotting roof or foundation and dangerous black mold are often caught too late. Unfortunately, this is the kind of damage that homeowners don’t regularly check for. Insurance companies see it time and time again: The warning signs were there, but homeowners aren’t equipped to spot them, and they put inspections, seemingly small repairs and fixes on the back burner until real damage is done.”

Read the whole article here.

How to determine if there is a problem

To give homeowners a clue, Good Rich Roofing shared some ways on how to detect a roofing issue. AceRestoration Flood Removal near me San Diego         

“Check for the following signs of roof damage: Buckling shingles – Buckling is caused by movement in the roof deck. This also happens when roofing felt is improperly applied; Missing shingles – This usually happens when strong gusts of wind blow the shingles away. Improper fastening may also be a cause; Curling shingles – Shingles curl when too much water is absorbed; Damaged flashing – For new roofs, this can be caused by improper installation. For old roofs, on the other hand, damaged flashing can be caused by drying or cracking.”

Check out the rest of the post here.

What to do now?

Lyon’s Contracting says, when a leak is evident, do not hesitate to immediately call for expert help.

“We’ll begin by tracing the roof leak back to its source. The wet spot on your ceiling doesn’t necessarily correspond to a roof leak above the same spot. Water can travel surprisingly long distances before leaking into your interior. We’ll find this roof leak and repair it. We’ll also perform a thorough evaluation of your roof’s current condition, and determine if there’s any hidden structural damage.”

More on this post here.

Roof inspections are very important when it comes to preveing flood and water damage.

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Protecting against Black Water Damage

The illnesses that black water damage can bring

Black water damage and health. (Photo Credits)

Black water damage can be life-threatening. It can cause illnesses and discomforts that could pose serious health risks to occupants of a home or a commercial structure. Ace Restoration Homepage

Category three water damage or what is described as water damage is primarily from Sewage backups, drainage overflows, and weather-related flooding.

KSFY.com says in case a homeowner finds his home getting inundated with black water damage here are preventive measures that he can do to avoid illnesses.

“Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with flood water. Discard any food that was not in a waterproof container. Undamaged commercially canned foods can be saved if you remove the can label, wash the can and then disinfect it with a solution of bleach water. Relabel the cans, including expiration date with a marker. Wash all clothes worn during the cleanup in hot water and detergent. Seek immediate medical attention if you become injured or ill.”

Read the rest of the post here.

Other preventative measures

The News Star also published some warnings. “If your home was flooded, it should be cleaned and dried quickly and thoroughly to prevent mold and future damage by wood rot. Since flood water may be contaminated with sewage or other biological pollutants, it’s advisable to safely disinfect, too. Areas wetted by clean rainwater, for instance from a leaking roof, may not need to be disinfected. All wet areas should be allowed to dry thoroughly before being covered or enclosed.”

Check out the rest of the post here.

More than just the obvious health dangers

The website My Ark LA Miss meantime shared that apart from the obvious illnesses there are other physical and mental discomforts that flooding could bring to homeowners and their families.

“The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals says the flood water and damage could pose a risk to the family’s health. Dr, Shelley Jones, the Regional Medical Director for DHH, says, ‘People, who have been through these traumatic things, are more likely to not eat right or not get enough rest making them more prone to disease.’ Experts say flood victims returning to their homes should be on the lookout for mold that could make them sick.”

More on the report here.

Black water damage should never be dealt with on one’s own. Professional help should be sought at all times to ensure that illnesses and other damages can be prevented.

Saving Flood Damaged Photos

 

Saving Flood Damaged Photos

There is still hope for flood damaged pictures

What to do when photos get damaged by flooding? (Photo Credits) 

One of the most heart-breaking things a homeowner could see in his flooded home are photos and important documents destroyed by unexpected flooding. San Diego CA Flood

The good news though is that something can be done to salvage these memorabilia.

Ancestry.com gave several tips on what to do with water-damaged photos.

“Carefully separate photographs and documents using both hands and lay them flat on your absorbent surface. Make sure nothing is overlapping or the items will stick together as they dry. If you don’t have time to separate individual paper stacks, dry them in stacks no more than ¼” high. Photos should always be laid out in single layers. If preserving especially old photographs or artwork, consider placing wax paper on top of the item and weighting down just the edges with glass (jars, bottles, etc.) or any small heavy item so they will dry a little more flat. If using a clothesline method, hang only sturdy items only on the line. Hanging drenched papers might result in more damage to the item.”

Read the rest of the tips here.

Salvaging flood-damaged memorabilia

Crest Leaf however said that it will be best to call professionals in case an individual wants to make sure to save the memorabilia from permanent damage.

“If you are worried about messing up the steps, or unsure about how to salvage certain photos, rest assured that photo restoration companies can work their expert magic on saving as many of your family photos as possible.”

Check out the rest of the advice here.

Moving Forward

Moving forward, Water Damage Advice says moving forward, when everything has been restored, keepsakes and photos should at the very least be backed up. “Make extra copies of your important documents and store them in different locations in case of a flood. You can also scan your documents for storage on an external hard drive that you can store in a safe place. Copies of documents are one of the best ways to make sure that you will have one even if another is destroyed.”

Read the rest of the post here.

Have you ever had a water-damaged photo?

Restoring flood damaged documents