For additional information and resources…

CLICK this link to apply for FEMA AID:
http://www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm
or call FEMA @ (800) 621-FEMA
For the city of Queens information:
http://www.queensbp.org/
For Queens Emergency services:
http://www.queensbp.org/content_web/emergency.shtml

Water Damage and Taking Care of the Attic

Water damage can happen in any part and all parts of the house and they can run havoc in places most ignored just like the attic. Attics are located at the top of the house just below the roof. They fill the spaces between the ceiling and the slanted roof. Some attics are made as bedrooms and some are made as home offices with windows and staircases but most of the time attics are used for storage of things that are not needed and thus make it to be one of the most neglected portions of your home.

Attics can also acquire water damage, especially during a big storm and the moisture level of the attic changes or when there are leak in pipes or stains on walls. When this happens, water damage follows. The necessity of cleaning up the mess brought about by water damage should be remedied.

Having an attic requires having a vent as well. It should be installed at the peak of the roof. Moisture and surface discoloration found within the vent is a red flag. Look for the location of the moisture problem and clean it. Any indication that there are debris near the vent or even bird nests should be removed right away. Make sure that there is enough ventilation both in the attic and even in crawl spaces.

When doing prevention and maintenance against water damage, it is also necessary to inspect the insulation. An indication of a good running insulation is when it is still soft, thick and fluffy. The main job of an insulator is to keep the heat from escaping and condensation. If the insulation becomes moist, better search the cause of the moisture and fix it especially during the rainy season when uneven temperature gets inside the attic and could cause the insulator to get wet. When the insulation gets wet, better dispose of it since they may make the moisture level higher than usual.

Doing water damage inspection should also include inspecting the ceiling and floor. Look around the plumbing pipes, chimneys, vents and skylight if there are mold formations or if these are starting to rot. Also, check for water damage at the bottom side of the roof sheathing and rafters if there are visible signs of stains.

The water can easily come through truss, the attic floor or the rafters so the floor should also be examined, if there are visible signs of dampness.

Do regular maintenance and check up the attic’s swamp coolers, air conditioners and the heating, ventilating and cooling system. These appliances can also be a cause for water damage and by doing a habitual checkup on the said items, possible damages may be lessened.

Recessed light canisters could also help to indicate if there is water damage build up in the attic. If there are stains close to the wood or if the insulation around the canisters is damp or has stains, this is evidence that moisture is present.

---

House damage and other home problems can affect a person. BPS helps Longmont, Colorado residents deal with stress with options for Longmont, Colorado counselling and Longmont, Colorado Therapists.

Effective Water Removal Considerations

Water removal is a daunting task but if you hire professional help, you could effectively deal with the problem right away and even save lots of dollars in the process. Before calling for help by the way, any homeowner must have realistic expectations from the service provider to avoid disappointment and worse, calling another company to clean up the mess of the previous one.

Water removal services per se means ridding your home of flooding either caused by natural causes such as storms or man-made reasons like water leak due to busted pipes. And the more important consideration is the time that it takes for the water removal company to do the job. The sooner they can do the job, the better. Time frame, price and providing ventilation are three basic considerations in choosing the right water removal service company.

How fast is fast?

Thirty minutes to an hour is a good turnaround time. It helps if the water removal company is near your place. This way, the waiting time is less and you can easily follow up if they’re on their way to your house. If there’s a waiting list ask for a commitment from the company and clarify that if they don’t meet the time agreement, you’re free to contact some other provider. Have a backup handy. List at least three companies that provide the same services. It’s safe to prioritize the ones nearest your place.

How low should you go?

After considering the proximity of the water removal company to your place, consider the price. If the nearest provider is more expensive than the next, then you should consider it carefully. Calculate the time difference. If you wait ten minutes more to save on a few dollars, that’s something that you must consider. You as the homeowner can assess the damage best so if it’s an immediate need, you alone can decide if you would go for the more expensive provider. Meantime, while waiting for them to arrive do the necessarily precautionary measures-unplug all electrical appliances, if possible, turn off main power switch and save all the things that you can. Start with the small things that you can salvage. Put them in a safe, elevated place to avoid further damage.

Is providing additional ventilation part of the service?

It must be. If you contacted a water removal company that doesn’t have dehumidifiers or equipment to hasten the drying up of your place, you better consider others who can. Providing additional ventilation is as important as water removal service. Can you tolerate waiting for a few days to have your place dried up rather than achieving it in, let’s say, 24 hours? Don’t forget this important aspect or you’d end up with a damp house longer than necessary.

While you cannot totally avoid the damages caused by flooding, you can easily minimize the damage by being alert, proactive and choosing the right water removal services to help you with your concerns. For the process to be effective, time, equipment and presence of mind are all needed for immediate resolution to the situation at hand.

---

BPS provides Boulder, Colorado psychologists and Louisville, Colorado psychiatrist when residents of Boulder, Colorado need them after house disasters happen.

A Complete Do-It-Yourself Guide to Doing Flood Damage Cleanup

Flooding has been one of the primary problems all over the world. Flood has taken a lot of properties already and even lives. Even if the floods were dried out, a dozen of problems will still come out. These include repairing of damaged fences, walls or floors, garbage are all over the place and molds present after flood. Looking at your house soaked with mud and water is really horrifying. You would not even know how or where to start cleaning up. Relax; there are a lot of companies now which are offering flood damage cleanup. If you can’t afford to hire one however, here are some tips for a “do it yourself” flood damage cleanup. Below are some guidelines on how to restore your home after flood damage.

1: Safety first

Flood damage cleanup should be done keeping safety precautions in mind. Make sure that the main switch for your electricity is turned off. Some of your electricity outlet may still be soaking with water. Have your appliances be checked an electrician before you use them again. Some of them may require some wiring replacement.

2: Wear rubber boots.

There may be some debris or broken glasses that flood might bring into your house. For houses located just right on the foot of a mountain or those houses near a forest, there’s some possibility that wild animals like snakes might get stuck into your house due to the flood. It will be better to have rubber boots on for your own safety before doing a flood damage cleanup.

3: Sanitation

Appliances that hold your food should be sanitized properly. This includes your refrigerator and freezers. Insulation should be dry; otherwise, it will need some replacements. Wash the shelves with clean water and detergent and use disinfectants in rinsing. Use baking soda and hot water in cleaning the interior of your refrigerator. Leave the door open to let the air circulate. This is also to avoid bad odor to remain inside your refrigerator. Should bad odor remain; you can place pieces of charcoal inside the ref.

4: Washing Machine and Dryers

You may need the services of a professional conservator. This is to make sure that it is still in safe working condition. Once it has been checked, then you can start restoring them. Put disinfectants and let it stir for a few minutes using hot water. Unplug the dryer. Use damp cloth dipped in disinfectant to wipe the drum. Rinse the dryer by wiping damp cloth dipped with clean water.

5: Restoring your Carpets

You can use vacuum cleaner to dry off your carpet. Do it several times to make sure that water is completely lifted off. Clean the area where the carpet has been placed. Use a disinfectant and make sure that it is dried completely before putting back the carpet.

6: Furniture

This requires your judgment on the extent of the damage done. Not all pieces of furniture can still be restored. However, if the flood damage is less serious then you may still find ways to restore them.

Flood damage cleanup is not just cleaning up those messes. You should also be ready for future problems that may arise. Mold contamination is more likely to occur with upholstered furniture like your couches. It is not enough to dry them. A professional on this furniture can help. On, the other hand, restoring solid wood furniture can be done by cleaning and putting some anti- termite solutions.

Flood damage cleanup can really be tiring and requires a lot of time to do. But it’s really rewarding to look at your house or furniture after being restored from flood damage. These flood damage cleanup tips can serve as your guide to start anew after flood. Just make sure that safety should come first.

Water Damage Restoration: Four Simple and Easy Steps

Following a flood or any other episodes of water accumulation, water damage restoration is imperative. This can be a tedious task but it needs to be done at the soonest possible times to avoid further damage and to avoid the growth of bacteria or molds. Hiring a professional water damage restoration contractor may be one of your options. These services have the necessary expertise and machinery needed for a speedy and effective water damage restoration.

But true enough, hiring a water damage restoration company can be quite expensive and can cause a strain on finances especially if you do not have insurance coverage. Fortunately, the water damage restoration can be successfully done by you and your family following these simple and easy steps:

1. Ensure Safety

Before you reenter your homes make sure that it is safe to be in contact with wet surfaces. It is very likely that water has reached your electrical system and may cause shock upon contact. What you can do is to cut off the electrical supply to your home by turning off you main electrical control switch.

Next, send an advance party to your house. You may hire a professional for this. Have foundations, wall partitions and ceilings checked. Water may cause these parts of your home to weaken most especially if flood water was present over extended periods. If you do not have these checked, ceilings or wall partitions may collapse on you and your family during the water damage restoration.

Lastly, have your family wear the proper attire for the water damage restoration project: gloves, coveralls, goggles and masks are needed.

2. Extract Water

If standing water is still present on any part of your house, extract them before any cleaning can be done. If water is still a considerable amount, you can rent and use pump outs. On the other hand, a wet vacuum or ordinary mop and sponge can be used.

3. Disinfect

Flood water is very dirty and may have contaminated you house with millions of bacteria. Disinfect every surface that may have been in contact with flood water including walls. To make this easier and faster, fit a sprayer with bleach and water solution and hose down walls and large pieces of furniture. Do not however, use this solution on metal-made materials.

The kitchen will be a tough place to disinfect and requires more attention than any other part of the house. Food is prepared in this room and it is crucial that no traces of bacteria are left. Wash all utensils with a solution of bleach and detergents then air dry them afterwards. Silverware, pots and pans on the other hand, can be disinfected by submerging them in hot boiling water for at least ten minutes.

4. Dry Everything

After washing and disinfecting all flood contaminated materials, make sure that you completely dry everything. Drying is crucial to a cleanup since mold growth may result. Like flood-borne bacteria, mold is a health hazard that can cause mild to severe allergic reactions.

Common Causes of Sewer Backup on Residential Property

A sewer backup is caused by a clog in either the main sewage line for your city or in the private line that goes from your home into the main line, usually somewhere under the street in front of your home. When a line becomes blocked off the sewage has no choice but to reverse course and go back in the other direction. This kind of clog is almost always the cause of a sewer backup into a residential home.

You can be pretty sure that the problem lies within your own sewer line when your home is the only one in the area affected. If sewage comes back up through a toilet, sink, or other drain the cause is likely to be a clog at some point in your sewage line. The responsibility to fix the problem will be on you in this situation, since the city cannot fix clogs that are on your private property.

It is common for parents to laugh about small scale sewer backup problems that result from a small child flushing a hot wheel car or other small toy down the toilet. The clog in those cases is right there in the toilet and the water that floods the floor is almost always clean water without human waste. It is a rather simple problem to cleanup and many parents consider it just part of having children, but there are more serious sewer backup problems that can be caused human behavior that cannot be laughed away.

The most common causes of sewer backup into a residential home are items being flushed or washed down sinks and toilets which do not belong in the sewage system. Some people may not realize the hazardous consequences of their actions while others may feel it isn’t likely to happen in their home. The truth is sewer backup can happen anywhere, at any time, no matter who the person is or how careful they are. It can happen as the accidental result of something a child flushes down or even by teenagers who don’t understand the full impact of their actions.

Some of the items that often cause a sewer backup on private property may surprise you. Here is a short list of some random items often found.

*Underwear
*Baby Diapers
*Tampons
*Keys
*Cat Litter
*False Teeth
*Grease and Oils

Any item that can fit down a drain or toilet can cause a clog that brings sewage flooding into your home. How items like diapers end up flushed through a toilet can be difficult to imagine, but it does happen.

Grease and oil are among the most common causes of sewer backup into homes. Never rinse cooking grease down the kitchen sink because over time it will collect in your sewage line and harden off until you have at least a partial block. You will not even know this is happening until you have a sewer backup into the home.

Preventing a backup completely is not possible since it can happen in the main city line as a result of other people’s careless behaviors, but you can protect your own line and prevent it to a large degree.

The Importance of Wet Spots and Water Removal

There have been many times when we encounter something new and troubling in our homes like a broken window or an unhinged cabinet door which we can easily fix with our trusty tools. However some circumstances, like the recurrent ones, demand more of our attention like that constant puddle on the floor. There are many instances that we notice this but we listlessly wipe it off and throw it to the back of our minds and dismiss it as if nothing. If this is the case, we have to be more aware that these small patches of water that keeps appearing on our floor could be a silent warning for a much bigger problem ahead of us.

When we encounter this leaky situation, we do not think much of the water removal. We insist to think that this is just a leaky pipe which could be easily resolved by the rusting wrench in the tool box. But this repeating occurrence can bring about a much severe event leading to a flooded basement or floor. We become mindful of this when a strong storm has come our way, forcing us to call for help to the nearest water removal company. So why else should we think much of this situation and opt for immediate water removal?

Constant leaking and flooding of water can lead to a higher humidity in the room. Such air density can bring about a lot of insidious damage to our property. We do not really know it, but the water droplets in the air are slowly damaging our documents and photographs and these could be irreplaceable materials. If we refuse to do a more thorough water removal in our basements, we encourage growth of molds and mildew in our water absorbent things like upholstered furniture, carpets and clothes. Imagine going about your everyday activities wearing a mold infested piece of clothing.

Also, without immediate water removal, several insects consider this as an allowable breeding ground. Later on this will haunt us as a viral infection to the elderly and a respiratory distress syndrome on the young. Water removal has proved to be important to save the household’s health.

Finally, the immediate process of water removal is significant in saving the house’s foundations. Water on our floors could only mean that they have come from the water source which goes around our homes in the ceiling and walls. If water has been leaking through the pipes, it most certainly has passed the structure supporting the house. Without quick water removal and pipe repair, the water continues to soak on the wood or other materials causing them to weaken. If we do not act upon this, we are sure to encounter a collapse of the floor boards or walls and somebody may be seriously hurt. Not only this, but think of the money it would cost you. Reconstruction of such things could cost so much more than the cost of immediate repair of the water pipes.

So next time you see that innocent puddle again, think of the repercussions you would pay if you just dismiss it.

Simple Water Damage Restoration Tips For Homeowners

Water damage usually occurs in homes when there are pipes that burst or when the home’s water system suffers from a leak and it goes unnoticed for a long time. When this happens, some furniture and areas of the house are damaged due to prolonged contact with water. Molds and mildew may also grow in the damp areas and cause illnesses and even death. Water damage restoration is thus needed to halt possible disastrous effects.

Water damage restoration is the procedure of restoring a property to its original condition before it suffered any form of water damage that may be due to leaks or flooding. Water can have serious effects on property especially wooden surfaces. Homeowners are often faced with this problem which, given the erratic weather and complicated water system of houses, is almost inevitable. It is therefore important that homeowners are well-equipped with knowledge of the steps to take when the need for water damage restoration arises.

Before starting with the procedures of water damage restoration, remember to switch off the main power source to avoid any possible incidents of electric shock while the affected areas are flooded or damp. It is important to determine whether there are any electric appliances or electric equipment that may have been reached by the waters. If there are any, carefully remove and unplug them and transfer them to higher areas after the main power is switched off.

When flooding is still present, the waters must be allowed to recede. If this will take a long time or if this is next to impossible, pumps may be resorted to. Homeowners may purchase sump pumps and keep them handy in case incidents like this occur.

Once the water is pumped out, it is important to let the affected areas dry completely. This is to avoid the growth and reproduction of mold and mildew. All the dirt and mud in the ceiling, walls, floors and furniture that are affected must be scrubbed off. After removing all the dirt, it is also necessary to disinfect the area. Homeowners may use a detergent to make sure that the areas are kept clean. The dirt and mud caused by flooding and leaks may have gone deeper into the structures and furniture than is visible to the eye so it is important that extensive cleaning and disinfection is made to avoid any damage and potential hazards to the health of the residents.

Water damage restoration can sometimes be too big a task for homeowners to do themselves. When there is a big damage to property caused by flooding, it may be wise to refer the case to a water damage restoration company. The damage may be bigger than expected since there are a lot of effects that may be unseen. These companies that offer this type of service have the necessary experience and skills to combat the situation. They are also equipped with the proper gadgets and machinery that will make water damage restoration more speedy and efficient. This is helpful in avoiding further damage and diminishing losses.

Homeowners have many options to choose from when confronted with the challenge of having to do water damage restoration. What is important is that they have in their hands the right information so that they will be able to take the proper steps.

Attributes of the Best Water Removal Services

When your home is terribly damaged by water, it is your priority to have water removed from your home right away. This is because your home is your investment; you want to protect your equity. This is why you want nothing less but the best water removal services to get rid of damaging water from your home. You want to contain water damage as much as possible. You want to have the peace of mind that your home is being taken care of by the best experts in the field of water removal and water damage restoration.

Basically, there are two reasons why you seek the best and quickest water removal services. One, because you know that a water-saturated home is highly susceptible to growing molds and mildew. You want, therefore, to prevent their growth. Molds and mildew can produce unpleasant sight and smell in one’s home. Moreover, they pose potential hazards to one’s health. If water or moisture in your home is not thoroughly removed (such as in walls), it will encourage molds to grow in no time at all.

Two, you want to make sure that structural damage caused by water is contained. If water is not thoroughly removed, this would cause gradual decay in affected areas.

The best water removal services would make sure that your home is dry through and through before leaving it and before billing you. In removing water from your home, they also correct moisture level in your home.
The best water removal services understand the dangers of water saturation to home interiors and the materials inside them. This is why they would do their best to thoroughly remove water and moisture in your home. The best water removal companies truly care for your home and give the best value for your money.

They would remove, therefore, not only visible, stagnant waters in your home or extract water from your carpet. Just as important, they would remove hidden moisture inside your home walls, cabinets, closets, cupboards, and furniture. To achieve this goal, the best water removal company use high-tech and industry-proven water removal and drying equipment.

The best water removal crew also understands that the essence of successful water restoration is time. Thus, they work in the fastest time possible without sacrificing quality of work. They work speedily, but thoroughly.

Do you need to pay huge to get the best water removal services? Absolutely not! Quality service need not necessarily be expensive. This is why comparison of water removal companies before you settle with one is important. Find out if the water removal company you’re dealing with has the training and the certification in water removal. How long have they been in the industry? Find out testimonials from previous customers online or from friends and people you know who have hired water removal contractors before.

In other words, the objective of the best water removal services closely matches yours. That is, to have damaging water completely removed from your home in order to protect it from further structural damage, and to protect it from health-threatening molds and mildews. And since water removal is the first step in and foundation of water damaged restoration process, the best water removal services properly ready your home for further restoration steps.

Document Drying Services-A Blessing to Water Damaged Documents

Disasters including floods and hurricanes bring with them a horde of problems resulting in confusion and chaos. We could rather substantially imagine the emotional strain and fleshly discomfort caused by these disasters, especially the restoration process of every water dilapidated items including our important documents, photos and many other mementos which are the storehouse of crucial information and memories of our existence. To overcome such sudden emergencies, our staleness to behave rather quickly will be able to spare the documents from getting further dilapidated by flood waters. If the documents have suffered comprehensive damage, then we could change our documents using document drying services.

Restoration of damp to wet documents is very important through document drying services because most of the times, we do not have additional copies of these documents. So, we need to go in for the restoration process to retrieve the relevant records.

Document drying services are proven to be a blessing for every one of those who have got their papers dilapidated by flood waters in their homes or offices. We should consider ourselves to be fortunate enough as we could find sufficient number of these companies offering such services around us for saving our personal papers and some important book collections after water damage. We could use document drying services of these companies to ensure prizewinning restoration of our dilapidated documents thus saving our time and effort for doing this by ourselves. The restoration process really depends on the document which you want to spare and the extent of damage that it has suffered.

Document drying is no doubt a cumbersome and daunting task. As long as the documents are wet, they are likely to become dilapidated due to puckering, blocking, swelling and ink smearing which could damage them or drive them into a state of impossibility in their restoration. However, we could look forward to almost 100% results if we take timely action in seeking help of professionals involved in providing document drying services.

The restoration process involves withholding drying of the wet papers at the earliest time possible to prevent them from further dilapidation. They are refrigerated in seal-proof boxes to spare them from further destruction. For professional companies offering document drying services, blast freezing is an option which is considered useful for saving critical documents as substantially as special collections. During the restoration process, the documents are moved in refrigerated trucks to the close and available withholding dry facility. Flood waters often leave a place of silt on the documents which can be cleaned before sending the documents for withhold drying. The next step towards restoration includes drying the paper to be withheld on a dry chamber having sufficient vacuum without exposing the documents to the water phase.

We could spend different types of damp to wet documents including photographs by selecting the most appropriate technique of document drying provided by professional companies equipped with relevant technologies and skillfulness in various document drying services. Only then could the restoration process become successful. So, if your home gets flooded by water, do not be discouraged. For you could get your documents restored by taking them to a document drying service center because it is always better to change your documents rather than getting them replaced.