Information Blog Regarding Water Damage

Do you know you could literally be flushing money down the drain if you are yet to upgrade your plumbing system in some time? Anyway, there are so many things available to do to be in control of your plumbing costs. It doesn’t end at saving money on water bills alone, but you also get to add more value to your home. If you’ve grown tired of excessive wastage of water in your home, give these plumbing upgrades a try.

• Buy a New Water Heater

Spending money on traditional water heaters is a waste of money. They cause hot water to just sit in pipes unused till it cools. That is, you’ll have to run the water till it’s hot, which results in extra wastage. So, opt for water heaters with a pump that delivers on demand. These types don’t waste as much energy as the traditional type and you won’t need to run water for like 10 minutes just to get hot water.

• Switch to Low Flow

Except you are the type that can’t do without a high-pressure shower, you get to save more by using low flow fixtures. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, various options are available today. However, some of these options require so much initial investment but you’ll enjoy the benefits after some time.

• Take Care of Your Pipes

Whether you are currently building a new home or you just purchased an older home, most pipes aren’t insulated properly and this causes loss of heat, which makes water heater work overtime and leads to excess waste of water. If you insulate the pipes, you have tackled any kind of heat loss, especially when winter approaches. It’s also ideal to call a technician to inspect your pipes for leaks.

If your home is at least 40 years old, you might want to consider replacing the existing pipes. Many of the pipes in houses this old are made of galvanized steel, and this is susceptible to corrosion which causes the pipes to clog frequently.

• Recycle Your Water

One of the best things to spend your money on during a plumbing upgrade is to purchase a “greywater or gray water” recycling system. A greywater system takes water from the faucets, showers, and other fixtures (except the toilet) then pumps them into the garden or fills a reservoir. Since the water isn’t coming from the toilet, you shouldn’t worry yourself about contamination. This recycling method is a time and money saver. If you can’t afford this, you purchase a rainwater barrel from a home improvement store in your vicinity, and use the water for your garden or yard.

Have a Family Discussion

Though, this isn’t an upgrade for your plumbing system but it’s quite necessary, especially if you have kids in your home. Tell them about the importance of conserving water. If you do this, you have given them a sense of responsibility and they can be held accountable for wasting water.

No matter how many preventive measures and procedures are taken, there are often times when water damage becomes inevitable. A sprinkler system may go off inadvertently or a pipe may get ruptured at an unidentified point. When any of this or other situations occur, water damage unavoidably occurs with its undesirable effect. Rather than panic or become unnecessarily fearful, it is time to get proactive. There are some quick steps that can be taken to immediately rectify or at least reduce the extent of damage done. Also, these steps are necessary to ensure that no harm comes to anybody within the immediate vicinity of the site of water damage. The steps are as follows:

Electricity is the enemy- If you still remember your high school physics to a good extent, then you’ll know that water lowers the resistivity (or increases the conductivity) of any object. In other words, your water flooded apartment is quite likely to get you zapped just by standing on the wet wooden floor if there’s an exposed source of electric current. So the first step to take should be to turn off every electrical appliance right from the source; switch off all power outlets to ensure your safety.

Salvage dry stuff: Books, wooden chairs or tables, clothes, cartons, or generally any objects that have not yet been affected by the spreading water should be removed from the affected area. Often, in the panic of a water damage incident, your first instinct may be to try and get rid of as much of the moisture as you can, however, this is not a very smart move for two reasons. First, you can’t keep up with the spread of the moisture no matter how fast you try to mop, so why not get the damageable stuff out of the way first. Also, removing as many objects as possible allows you to unclutter the space and focus exclusively on dealing with the water damage.

Mop! Mop!! Mop!!! As much as you can, make an attempt to dry off any fresh source of water spillage.
Although you may eventually need to take more serious steps such as bringing out furniture, sun drying rugs or even using a dehumidifier, it’s still important that you mop as much as you can. You will be surprised at how effective an absorbent piece of fabric can be in mitigating the consequences of water damage.

Ventilation- One of the ways by which you can dry out an area effectively is through the bulk motion of ambient air. Open all windows and if there’s a fan or an air-conditioning unit, turn it on. This will make it easier to deal with the moisture as fast as possible.

All of the above are only preliminary lines of action, but they’ll definitely lower the extent of destruction and reduce the amount of work you have to do in correcting the adverse effects of water damage.

If someone asks you if your house is at risk of flooding, it’s likely your answer will be no. That’s exactly what many homeowners tend to believe about their houses. What you don’t know is that flooding or rather water damage is a common cause of property damage in the country. Many parts of the United States often experience spring thaws which end up in floods. The first misconception you should, therefore, stop believing is that water damage is uncommon.

Some owners have certain beliefs or rather misconception about water damage restoration as a result of a remediation work that wasn’t done properly by a given company. Whenever you’re faced with water damage or flooding, you need to take proper restoration measures to prevent further damage and make your home safe again. Here are common water damage myths.

Water Damage and Flood Restoration is a DIY Job

Well, many homeowners get used to handling their own repairs that it becomes normal to handle any task at hand, regardless of its complexity. While it’s possible to walk to a nearby store and rent flood damage cleanup equipment, understand that this is a task that requires a professional touch. Water damage restoration companies not only have remediation experts but also have access to specialized, high-power equipment that can be used for water removal. The professionals also have a deep understanding of the best remediation methods.

Cleaning up is a Lengthy Process

Well, if you belong to the group of homeowners who think that cleaning up after water damage is a lengthy process, it’s time to learn the truth. When you hire a professional water damage troy remediation company, the experts will strategically plan on how to effectively clean up your home and ensure the damaged areas are restored within a relatively short time. With their fast response times and modern equipment, professionals will complete the water removal and restoration process within a few days.

Mold Takes Longer to Grow

The assumption that mold will take longer to grow in a moist environment is wrong. Any amount of moisture or standing water in your home will encourage mold growth. Note that this takes as little as two days after water damage or flooding occurs. Mold growth not only affects the air quality in your home but can impact the health of your family as well. In addition to taking the necessary preventive measures, it’s crucial that you hire a professional for immediate mold cleanup after flooding occurs.

Bleach Kills Mold

Those who attempt DIY restoration assume that by using bleach, they will get rid of any mold in their home. Well, this is wrong since bleach can only get rid of the stains. It’s important to note that bleach is not safe for use as well. If you want to deal with mold growth effectively, turn to professional mold cleanup experts who will not only remove the mold but also prevent them from developing and spreading in your home.

I should contact my Insurance Company First

While this statement holds some truth in it, it’s important to note that you need to deal with the standing water within the shortest time possible to prevent secondary damage. Remember you cannot determine the extent of the flooding or water damage before hiring a water damage restoration contractor to assess the area. It, therefore, makes sense to take care of the affected area first before contacting your insurance company. You don’t want to cause delays in the water removal and cleanup process.