Author : Jacklyn Hartfield

Water damage is any loss that results from water infiltrating an area or place it is not supposed to It is one of the leading and most common causes of property damage in the US and affects people from west to east coast

Water damage in a home doesn’t have to be the consequence of a flood The continuous presence of moisture due to inconspicuous leaks, drippy faucets, corroded seals, and plain ill-maintenance are all factors that lead to the structural damage of a home

A dry home always lasts longer than a humid one A moisture-rich environment will lead to rotting of structural foundations, termites, and the growth and spreading of molds To avoid water damage in your home, regularly maintain and check these areas for any signs of dripping, leaking, or moisture build-up:

Kitchen

Water traffic in the kitchen is high Clean water flows from the faucet and runs down the drain Underneath the floors or behind the kitchen walls are water pipes leading to the sinks, and drainage going down to the sump pit Aside from this, there are also heavy appliances that can leak or hide liquid beneath such as the refrigerator dishwasher, and the stove Any of these are potential water damage sources

Bathroom

Another area of the house where water frequents is the bathroom There are four main sources of water in the bathroom: the toilet, the sink, the shower, and the bathtub Like the kitchen, there are water and drainage pipes behind walls and under the bathroom floor

Because toilet water is contaminated, the toilet is one of the most important areas to check for leaking Check if the seal that holds the toilet in place needs maintenance Make sure the toilet still flushes properly

Basement

The sump pit found beneath the basement is where all drainage from the house is directed to If the sump pump that drains the sump pit fails, a nasty grey water flood ensues Since the basement is below ground level, water tends to run through tiny cracks in the basement walls and floors if they haven’t been waterproofed with a waterproof sealant

Attic

If a roof gutter gets blocked by debris, this can cause water to overflow from the gutter, under roof shingles and into the attic walls Inspect the attic at least once a week especially during heavy rain or snowmelt to make sure this isn’t happening to your home Another thing to inspect is the presence of rodents The boxes and unused items stored in the attic make an ideal place for vermin Constant urine and feces will seep through the floors and cause dampness It also encourages the development of molds and harmful bacteria

Roof

Damaged shingles in the roof allow water into your home during rain and snow causing water damage Water stains on the ceiling indicate your roof needs to be repaired – and soon

Area surrounding your house

The grounds surrounding your house should lead ground water away from your home, not towards your home If rain caused erosion to change the slope, perhaps it is time to order a new truckload and restructure it back to a safe 2% or more incline

Trees and various plants absorb groundwater So why not plant a few or more around, not only are you protecting your home against water damage, but you’re helping the environment as well

Statistics show that one out of three people will experience water damage Prevent water damage in your own home by being observant and regularly maintaining each and every part of your home

Jacklyn Hartfield is a house issue disaster writer for Westchester, NY Toxic Mold Removal and Yorktown Heights, NY mold removal

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Author : Jim Corkern

With all the growing concerns about mold and the health hazards that surround it, we need to take a good look at our homes and businesses and learn where the places are that seem to incite mold growth the easiest You might be surprised at all the places where it can start and then thrive if it is not found and killed

Outdoor furniture cushions are a place where it likes to grow Some of theses cushions are made from a waterproofed fabric and will not saturate themselves, but the water and moisture that can remain on the surface will still allow mold growth

Bringing the cushions indoors during winter seasons is a good idea Cover the rest of the outdoor furniture with vinyl or plastic to protect them Clean you outdoor cushions often with products or solutions recommended for them if they are exposed to a lot rain or humidity

Basements are often damp and dark places where mold loves to grow If you have old furniture or papers stored down there and there is either moisture from water seeping in somewhere or much humidity, this makes for a perfect mold environment

Using a humidifier or fan can help reduce the moisture If your basement is really damp all the time, you might wish to consult a professional to find the best way to diagnose and fix the moisture problem

Laundry rooms can produce mold when damp or wet clothing is left lying around for very long A leaking washing machine can cause growth to appear on wooden baseboards If your dryer is not vented properly, the humidity from the dryer heat, especially if the dryer is located in a basement, can cause enough dampness to produce mold

Kitchen and bathrooms that do not have proper ventilation can be hot spots for mold Every time there is steam in a bathroom, it helps to inspire mold growth Exhaust fans can play a large part in helping to reduce this risk

Many times people will have exhaust fans in their kitchen or bathrooms and just fail to use them They can not help with moisture if they are not turned on

Any where there is a water leak there is the potential for mold Underneath sinks, around the toilet base, behind a shower wall or bathtub can produce mold if water is present

Mold behind walls is some of the worst because you do not usually know it is there This can result in tearing out sheetrock and walls if it is undetected The best prevention is to check for water leaks often

Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Miami Water Damage Restoration and
Orlando Water Damage Restoration
Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.

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Author : Jim Corkern

We all hate it when the bathtub or the toilet overflows, but what about the long term consequences of such an occurrence? Not cleaning up spilled water completely can do a lot of damage to the floors and walls of your home, not to mention creating a good environment for mold to grow in

Clean up as much of the spilled water as you can If you have carpet, soak up all the water on the surface that you can and after that, pull up the carpet so you can get underneath it Drying the carpet as thoroughly as possible is the most important thing Mold and mildew grows in carpet and once it starts to grow, there is not a whole lot that you can do to remove it Carpet is a bad thing to have inside a bathroom and most people know that If you do have carpet there, remove it and install tile or laminate that is caulked around thoroughly

You need to have a vent installed in the bathroom, preferably above the bathtub or the shower stall This will allow the steam and heat to escape the bathroom, go through the attic, and outside into the atmosphere Letting the steam stay locked up in the bathroom with the door closed while you are bathing or showering is a bad idea because the ceiling and walls soak up the moisture and then dry that way This is another cause of mold growth

Keep a check on the plumbing that goes to your dishwasher and to the washer in your laundry room Either of these household appliances can malfunction and leave your kitchen or laundry room floor flooded and if it happens while you are not at home, you will have lost quite a lot of time that could have been used cleaning it up before your floor has a chance to absorb it

Any plumbing underneath the bathroom and kitchen sinks should also be examined for leaks on a regular basis, around once a month just to be safe A leak can spring up overnight, so it is important to catch these as soon as you can to prevent any damage from occurring

A leaking roof is also another regular cause of water damage and the signs of it are well known, especially when the water seeps through the sheetrock and stains the ceiling

Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
flood and water damage cleanup and
water damage restoration> companies across the united states.

Syndication Source: Article Wild

Author : Aydan Corkern

Today almost all home owners have a fear of developing mold There is a very good reason for the fear because it can really depreciate any value there is in a house When the mold problem gets extensive enough, it could end up costing thousands of dollars to have the problem remedied When it gets behind walls in woodwork and in sheetrock, it usually means tearing out walls, floors, or ceilings Anywhere it is found it has to be destroyed and affected areas replaced if they are too far gone to simply clean it away with disinfectant

When there is mold in a home, you can often tell by a damp and musty smell that will come from the affected area Many times it will form in a basement that has damp concrete or cinder block walls Sometimes there can be attic mold because of an ongoing roof leak Plumbing problems inside the home that have unattended leaks will cause mold too Natural disaster flooding will often destroy a home completely when it is left submerged for a week or more

Mold can develop easily because of a humidity problem This is when there is sufficient moisture in the air, combined with a warm climate, and proper food to feed the mold A bathroom or kitchen that has no exhaust vents or fans are perfect examples of good environments to develop mold The reasons why exhaust fans are so important in these particular rooms is because there is often hot steam vapors that stay in the air for long enough to make things like certain paints, sheetrock, wallpaper, and wood moist often enough to allow mold development Sometimes just the climate you live in can provide enough humidity to cause the toxic element to grow

Many homeowners that have any of these problems are trying out dehumidifiers in their homes These units can be small enough to dehumidify a single room or you can buy systems that will work throughout the entire home They can range in price from one hundred dollars or less to a lot more for an entire home These units will pull the dampness from the air and keep it from making surfaces moist enough to produce mold Preventing the development of mold to start with is a sure way to stop the problem before it starts When the air in the home is drier, it makes it almost impossible for mold to take hold

Aydan Corkern is a writer of many topics, visit some of her sites, like
Water Damage Restoration and Chicago Water Damage Restoration.

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Author : Paula Adams

No one would deny that the bathroom is a very important place Real estate listings show the number of bathrooms right along with the number of bedrooms We spend a lot of time using the bathroom so we want it to be comfortable It should also be functional If you have the right accessories your bathroom can be a standout

We take many accessories in the bathroom for granted We figure we can get by with a plain tub, sink, toilet and faucets Without too much cost we can change a plain tub or sink into a masterpiece Consider replacing your average plastic shower curtain with a curtain made of fabric Your shower curtain is the largest item in your bathroom and you can capitalize on that by having a nice curtain made of fabric Also look into other types of ways to hang your curtain There are curtains that don’t hang on the normal shower rod hooks, but instead fold over the curtain rod and snap in place

The accessories like a toothbrush holder, soap dish and towel racks can make a big difference in the look of your bathroom First of all you want to make sure they match, but you also want to make it look like you put some thought into what went in your bathroom Make your visitors feel special by spending a little extra money on bathroom accessories in the guest bathroom

If you’re looking to spend some serious money on changing your bathroom, you can look at exotic faucets or even a sink basin that sits on top of the vanity not inside A new beveled mirror and vanity lights can add sparkle to your bathroom Oversized, fluffy towels will give the impression of hotel luxury

If you have the space, you can put some furniture in the bathroom A sit down vanity or a chaise would make your bathroom luxurious Don’t forget wall pictures or other hangings Most bathrooms include a scale Get a nice scale that you don’t mind showing off just like a piece of furniture

If you feel like you need a little more space in your shower, consider installing a curved shower curtain rod This rod begins and ends in the same place, but it curves at the middle and increases your space in the shower about 6 inches You can use the same type of shower curtain with a curved curtain rod as you do with the normal straight rod

There are many things you can do to spice up your bathroom Get a book or look online for ideas and then make them your own

Make some changes to your bathroom without breaking the bank. If your shower is a little cramped check out a curved shower curtain rod. Get a different curtain and forget about those annoying shower curtain hooks.

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