PuroClean Portland & Vancouver

Some questions to ask when working with a restoration Professional. If they are certified they will be able to answer these.

What materials were affected by the water, and how were they tested?

· Where is the test site located within the structure?

· What would the expected moisture content be in that geographic area during that
season? What support exists for this conclusion?

· How close to a dry standard should a material be for one to consider it dry
enough?

When insurance agents and Restoration professionals, start believing that in 3 days the structure will be dried back to normal, it can cause serious problems. It could cause that to be the standard. Companies would start having to guarantee the same dry time just in order to compete. Then on the 3rd day of all water jobs equipment would be pulled. Thus leaving your home at risk.

The risks of leaving a structure only partially dry could cause the structure to grow mold or rot. technicians would spend more time making sure they get out in 3 days instead of really focusing on making sure the job is done right. What would you rather deal with, your house having some fans in it to help the drying process. Or would you rather they get the equipment partially dry only to come back down the road. These claims of drying in 3 days are nothing but a scam. Keep in mind wood is like a sponge it can hold a lot of water.

A recent trend has started among insurance and several restoration companies that a wet structure can be fully dried in 3 days time. A restoration professional might say this as a tactic to gain more adjusters, thus leading to more jobs. An insurance adjuster might even refuse to work with a company who claims otherwise. Is this expectation a cause for concern?

According to the IICRC, certified guidelines for restoration professional to follow, says nothing about this 3-day drying rule. In fact the according to Ken Larsen, and IICRS instructor say’s there is nowhere in the book that even implies that structures should be dried in 3-days. This is just a bad marketing strategy, one that may end up causing more problems than they had anticipated.

With adjusters and contractors publishing such erroneous material, it may lead to further problems regarding the contractor and adjuster relationship. This would lead to adjuster only referring business to contractors who can guarantee this. However, there is no scientific proof to back these claims. You simply cannot guarantee a structure will dry in 3 days. You have to take into account the humidity, how wet the area got, how big the area that was affected was.

With spring we can expect a to have some crazy storms. With at lot of rain comes the chance of ground flooding. This could cause potential for water damage to your home. According to the IICRC, ( Restoration Guidelines) storm water is automatically categorized as a class 3 water loss. This is our highest level of contamination rating.

When dealing with class 3 water loss it is very important to understand the potential harm the water may cause. Class 3 water can old tons of bacteria, fungi, and even harmful viruses. Be sure to take immediate action and protect yourself. Wear tall water proof shoes and gloves if you have to be in it. It is advised to quickly bring in a restoration proffessional.

It is there job to secure the home. They will walk through first to asses the damage, then begin removing all excess water. They will determine what items can be saved and what will need to be properly disposed of. Only a professional should be doing the clean up. They will have all the necessary equipment and safety gear to work in such conditions. Call your local PuroClean to help assist in getting your home and lives back to normal.

It is important, when selecting the right restoration professional, to do your homework first. This is your home and your belongings and not everyone will treat them with care. Things to look for are Certifications. Are they certified by the IICRC? This is a company that is recognized in the industry proving training and certifications for restoration companies.

Another thing to look at is are they insured. What would happen if they were doing work and caused more damage, but were not covered? Most professionals wont have a problem showing you proof of insurance and certifications. If they refuse, it would be best to keep looking.

Your insurance company is the one that will have the final approval on the work being done. So be sure to ask your restoration company if they have ever worked with your particular provider. If they have they will know what will and wont be covered. It can also help when you have someone that speaks the agent language.

Here is some helpful info for those who are doing some of their own plumbing improvements.  Always remember, these are helpful hints and not necessarily the fix to correct your water flow issues.

Please contact me if this sounds like a similar situation in your home.

–  Sediment Clogging Faucets –

Have you had the need to do a plumbing repair that caused you to turn off the water in the house?

People have had this problem and as they turned the water back on, all of a sudden water is restricted or stops flowing out of certain faucets or fixtures.

Sediment in the pipes is broken loose when you turn on the water at the main valve. This sediment then clogs the small ports in faucet cartridges, the flow restrictors in shower heads and faucet aerators.

You can minimize these issues by SLOWLY turning the water back on making sure ALL hose bibs are open on the outside of your home.

This way some or most of the sediment is ejected out of these faucets. This trick works most of the time. Remember; open the main valve VERY slowly to minimize the hard rush of water through your pipes.

Remember to unscrew all faucet aerators before you run water out of the faucets. Flush the lines, then re-install the aerators.

If someone has health questions or problems related to Toxic Chinese Drywall, they should contact their healthcare provider for evaluation and assistance.

If restoration work is required, it is important to call a professional mitigation/restoration company such as PuroClean. PuroClean professionals are certified and fully trained. They will adhere to all safety requirements when working around contaminated materials. They will ensure that there is no cross-contamination of these toxic materials or fumes inside of the structure, and that all removed materials and cleaning solutions are disposed of in the proper manner, as required by regulations.

Regardless of the circumstances – dealing with Toxic Chinese Drywall, responding to water damage, fire/smoke damage, or mold damage – call your local PuroClean office, the Paramedics of Property Damage™. For all property damage situations, these professionals are standing by. They will mitigate the loss to prevent further damage and will then provide restoration services to return the property to a pre-loss condition as quickly as possible. All PuroClean offices have well-trained professional technicians who provide the latest state-of-the-science services to all property damaged from water, fire, smoke, mold, and other disasters.

Investigation shows that Toxic Chinese Drywall is a wide-scale problem. Importation dates are between 2000 and 2007, but installation of these materials could have occurred after that time. Chinese drywall has been used throughout the states of California, Florida, Georgia, the Gulf States region, the Northeast, the Southwest, and many other areas of the United States. Hundreds of thousands of homes may be affected.

Indications of the presence of Chinese drywall in a home include:

• Sulfur odors, usually associated with a rotten

egg smell

• Metal in the home that is turning black or being

pitted, with no other obvious cause, such as

pipes, wiring, light fixtures, belt buckles,

jewelry, mirrors, picture frames, etc.

If a home was built or remodeled after 2000 and the above indicators are present, then there is likelihood Chinese drywall is in the home. A homeowner should contact a qualified professional with indoor air quality or air testing credentials. Referral lists are available online at sites such as www.iaqa.org. Certified professionals have the expertise and the equipment to collect and analyze samples to measure the presence and the concentration level of toxic compounds. Proper identification is a key factor to determine potential property damage and health concerns.

There have been a number of news articles recently reporting cases of Toxic Chinese Drywall. “Toxic” may be a bit of a media overstatement, but several independent laboratories have confirmed the presence of harmful fumes emanating from Chinese-made drywall. In the right environment, these fumes can damage property and may cause health problems.

Studies show that Chinese drywall has the potential to off-gas various fumes and vapors – at least some of which are sulfur-based. In a closed environment, which many homes have today, these gases accumulate and concentrate in the indoor atmosphere. When these fumes come in contact with moisture on sweating plumbing pipes or air conditioning coils, a sulfur compound is formed that includes sulfuric acid. This compound corrodes the coils, turning them black, and eventually causing damage. It also attacks the solder joints of copper plumbing, copper wiring, and other metal in the home. Many homes have had air conditioning systems repaired or replaced because of accumulated corrosive damage to those systems.

In addition, the potential for harm to people and animals is also a real concern. Homeowners have reported symptoms, such as nosebleeds, itchy eyes, and respiratory problems. Health concerns increase for those who may be particularly susceptible, such as the very young, the very old, those already ill, and persons using immunosuppressant drugs.

Damage Caused Within Hours

• Furniture that has direct contact with water will start to delaminate/swell causing the legs to split.
• When wood starts to swell it will cause the finish to crack.
• Gypsum board and drywall will swell and disintegrate.
• The smell of mildew will start to become apparent.
• Metal surfaces will begin to tarnish, corrode, and rust.

Damage Caused Within Days

• Sever warping of wood items.
• Adhesives in wood release.
• Paint blisters and plaster dissolves.
• Doors and windows casings swell and delaminate.

These are a few things you will start to see the longer the water goes un treated. The next time you experience a water loss be sure to waste no time find a certified professional to extract the water and begin the drying process. It’s up to you to prevent any further damage.