servproofhampshirecounty.blogger

Freeze, Melt, Ice Dams, Prevent Further Water Intrusion

2011-01-29T09:05:00.000-08:00

The sun is out the temperatures are climbing above the melting point (freezing point if it's coming down). With roughly 50 days left to winter, we have, in some cases literally, a ton of snow on roofs and around buildings.

I know everyone is tired, but to avoid further issues in the next 2/3 of Winter, we need to get outside on days where temps creep over 32 degrees and clean up our roofs, and now the next culprit, the snow around foundations. If you have piles of snow against the foundation of your building or against the outside walls, you should begin to shovel it away or snow blow it or just simply remove it. The same holds true for your roof. The less snow around or on the building, the less apt you are to have water intrusion from the ground into your basements. Breaking up the ice dams by getting some grooves into them and removing snow from the roof as high up as you can will avoid water penetration from the roof structure.

Should you encounter issues with water intrusion into your building, call us to dry it. Failure to dry this out quickly will raise your chances of mold and microbial growth thus subjecting your indoor environment to some poor air quality. Keep working little by little on the nice days, and the bigger problems of severe Winter weather will not be an issue for YOU.

Feel free to check in with our office should you have issues with your building with regard to water, soot, odors, etc.

After The Storm

2011-01-13T07:58:00.000-08:00

Well, we finally hit "the jackpot" with regard to a "real snowstorm". Most people in the area have and continue to dig out from yesterday's Nor'easter that dumped nearly, and in some cases, more than two feet of snow on the area.

We are all physically and maybe mentally tired after digging out, but let's not think that we are done with our work. I point this article in the direction of our Real Estate, Property Manager and Insurance Colleagues who are responsible in one way, shape or form for houses in particular. Many of us have experienced ICE DAMMING on a roof in the past. It has been a while since we have experienced big snow, so let's run down ICE DAMS just a little.

ICE DAMS occur when snow at the higher portion of the roof begins to melt (many times because of poor insulation) from the conduction of heat from the house. The melted snow then passes under the snow on the roof and when it hits the colder portion of the roof (the soffit) at the bottom, it refreezes forming ice that was once snow. As water continues to travel down the roof, the layer of ice gets thicker and thicker until eventually the entire soffit end of the roof is a two foot thick block of ice (in the case of this weeks snow). The water continues to build behind the ice dam, however, and backs up the roof eventually backing up under the shingles and seeping into the roof, attic and eventually down the insides of the walls and ceilings within the structure. This will not picked up upon until eventually a puddle appears or dripping takes place. Now there are some serious issues.

As a result of this intrusion of water, wall, ceiling and floor cavities will need to be dried in a quick fashion, (hidden water is even worse), otherwise the structural integrity will be jeopardized and there will be an opportunity to support mold and other microbial growth. At this point you or your clients will need to call a roofer and a remediation company that specializes in water damage assessment and mitigation. The cost has now increased in order to protect the home or restore it to it's pre-loss condition.

We can help prevent a major loss by simply calling our office. We can provide you with information on ICE DAMS as well as assist in drying structure and restoring once the damage has occurred. ICE DAMS should also be dealt with by a roofer or contractor once they have formed. You can easily do more harm than good or be seriously injured or worse by "DOING IT YOURSELF" to save some money.

A ROOF RAKE is a great investment to make to prevent ICE DAMMING on a roof in the first place. By cleaning the roof above the soffits or approximately THREE FEET up the roof with a roof rake, you will vastly improve your chances of avoiding water intrusion through your roof as a result of ICE DAMS. These can be purchased at most home improvement centers for less than $50.00 and allow you to clear your roof from ground level. A major note of caution is to watch overhead power lines when using your roof rake.

I typically rake my roof after any depth of snow over four inches or so, just to ensure that there is no build up over time of ice and snow on the edges of my roof.

In closing - raking your roof as soon as you can after a snowfall is vital. In the event that ice dams form, there are a couple of things you can do to rectify the problem. First it is recommended that you get an experienced roofer on board to take care of it. Secondly, you can chop grooves in the ice to relieve the water above the dam, you can also install some heater cables onto your roof and melt some grooves into the ice. This will take some time, but it does work. Caution must be exercised when on a ladder in snow and ice situations (like I had to say THAT, huh?), also do NOT use rock salt, ice melt, an axe or blow torch, as you could SERIOUSLY damage your roof or your entire house.

Servpro of Hampshire County and Shrewsbury/Grafton can supply you with more information on ICE DAMS. You can reach us at 413-589-8975 or 508-393-7898. Until next time, be safe, stay dry and warm.

Disaster Recovery

2010-10-25T06:05:00.000-07:00

It has been documented and the statistics are scary, that any business sustaining an interrupting event or "disaster" has got the deck stacked against them for survival moving forward. It is something that none of us really want to think about but, how many of us share a building with another business or with tenants that we are counting on being "smart" or careful all of the time. Something as simple as an unattended candle or a mechanical failure such as a toilet line leak could incapacitate your business and put you in jeopardy if you are not prepared.

Who will be the first person you call in such an instance? Your Insurance Agent, more than likely. What is their phone number? What if this happens during "non-business" hours? How will your event be handled and by whom? Who is your representative there? Are you covered? Furthermore, how will you run your business? What backup plan do you have should your facility be partially or totally affected and deemed inoperable? Who can you count on to get you back up and running either partially or entirely? It would be ideal to have a business partner that can understand what is important to you PRIOR to the event.

Servpro of Hampshire County and Shrewsbury/Grafton understands that being incapacitated for any amount of time can affect your money making ability and can work with you to get you back up and running as quickly as possible. Whether it's providing a temporary facility and moving you to it or getting an area of the existing space safe, secured and operable, Servpro can get the job done. We have provided emergency services to many large businesses over our 15 years of business in Western Massachusetts, paying special attention to working with decision makers to make it "Like it never even happened" as quickly as possible. From area schools, day cares and medical facilities to, just recently, a large national retail store. Fires, broken pipes, backed up sewer drains and blocked grease traps are among the causes of disaster for some of our larger losses.

Please take a moment to think these questions over. How prepared are you should something of this nature happen to you? Are you going to search the phone book or sign up with someone waiting at the curb to "sell" you their service and make promises. How much do THEY know about your business?

Contact me at kevin@servprohcsg.com or at our office for a complimentary consultation and discussion on Disaster Recovery. We can become familiar with you and your facility and business as well as provide you with a "Playbook" for a quick recovery. With Winter coming soon, there are more mechanical and natural opportunities that can cause a disaster to occur in your life. Take time NOW to plan for something that you will hopefully never have to deal with. The time invested now could save your business in the future.

Fire Safety Month - Are You Prepared?

2010-10-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

As stated in a previous post, disasters can range in size and in importance. A spilled glass of wine on a carpet on the day you are hosting a dinner party will be a "disaster". Is it as large as the house getting flooded or having a fire? Probably not, but to you AT THAT MOMENT, it may very well be. How will you handle that? How will you respond? Who can fix that for you in a timely manner?

It is important to have a plan of action in the event of a "disaster". What is your plan of action to recover as quickly as possible and have that "dinner party" go off without a hitch or "like it never even happened"?

For more information on Disasters and Recovery Profiles, email me at kevin@servprohcsg.com or call our office at (800) 947-0975 to schedule a consultation.

I will post more information as time goes on here as well, so stay tuned.

One final note: Can you exit your house from your bedroom with you eyes closed while holding your breath? Have a predetermined exit strategy for evacuating your house during a fire. Quickest way out with a meeting place for you and your family members. In a fire you will not be able to see or breathe. A little scary food for thought. Practice makes perfect.

Here We Go Again!

2009-11-16T07:28:00.000-08:00

OK, so it's been a while! I am sorry for not paying better attention to my postings and getting all of you something you can sink your teeth into in a little more timely fashion. It has been a busy year, and it is winding up quicker than I am sure most of us would like it to. If you look back to my very first post on here, you will find a bunch of "stuff" that I could once again post as we roll forward.

We had a pretty tame Summer and Autumn for all intents and purposes. Yes, it rained weekend after weekend after weekend, but it was really never anything too major, that would cause any big problems for the home or business owner. Ida just wreaked havoc on the Carolina's and Virginia but didn't pack much of a wallop when it got to us. Nuisance stuff in general, but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't be thinking that it couldn't happen to us.

Disasters can happen at anytime, and vary in type. Man-made, mechanical and natural disasters can (and will) put an unexpected crimp in your life at anytime. You have to plan ahead while the waters are calm so that when they become turbulent, you can wade your way through as painlessly as you can. Whether it's spilled juice on a carpet, a broken pipe or the remnants of a tropical storm, you will be ready if you PLAN AHEAD.

SERVPRO of Hampshire County can provide you with assistance in Disaster Recovery Planning (DRP), all YOU have to do is ASK!!! We can provide a detailed worksheet for home and business owners that simply requires filling in the blanks and storing your plan off site so that you have a "play-book" when the time comes.

Call our office today and ask for Kelly, Ed or Me, and we will be more than happy to supply you with the proper worksheet(s). Our number is on the CONTACT US page of this website. In the meantime, feel free to go back now, read what was posted a year ago, and begin to plan for a safe and relaxing Holiday Season.

I will catch up to all of you again very soon. I promise!

Indoor Air Quality - Spring's Fresh Air

2009-05-12T11:13:00.001-07:00

Hello again everyone, it's been a while since I blogged and quite frankly, there hasn't been much to write about. We have finally had some consistently warm outside, not much rain, life has been good on that front.

I hope that everyone has opened the windows and doors in their buildings and PURGED the stale old air out and let new fresh air in. There are a few things that you should be looking to have done at this time as well though and that is where we come into play. Duct cleaning removes the "junk" from your duct work before you switch from HEAT to A/C for the summer. This gets rid of the majority of pollutants before you button up for the summer cooling season.

Secondly, a good thorough carpet cleaning will remove pollutants from your carpets and leave you with a cleaner "air filter" than you had before. As the air moves through your building, impurities get caught up in the fibers of the carpet and linger there until removed. Basic cleaning will take care of this buildup and again, help cut down on indoor pollution levels.

It's really all about comfort and health when it comes to IAQ, the less "crud" in the environment, the better you will feel in the long run AND the better things will look as well.

We are looking for any of you out there that want to make sure that your summer IAQ is at it's best possible.

Call us today to schedule a carpet or duct cleaning. Mention this blog and receive a santizer application to your duct work or carpet protectant application to your carpet cleaning at no additional charge. How can you beat that?

I will catch up to you all again real soon!

What next?

2009-03-09T19:48:00.000-07:00

So, here we are, on the brink of Spring, warmer weather, practically no more snow shoveling or snow blowing, what a life! We have all persevered! So the question is posed.....WHAT NEXT?

All winter long I have been going on and going on about ice dams, frozen pipes, furnace malfunctions and fire hazards, now that things seem to be on the upturn what could possibly be next? Well, there is plenty when it comes to your homes. The recent economic downturn and tightening of the wallets certainly doesn't spell good news in general, but as I see it, more people will be spending more time at home or around the home. Home improvements versus selling and upgrading are still big. However, if you are thinking of selling, STAGING YOUR HOME FOR SALE is very important. You need to get every dollar you can for your house when selling. Having PRE-SALE inspections for problems like mold growth, moisture intrusion, pest issues and structural problems will be very important BEFORE listing your house. "An ounce of prevention" is the line that comes to mind.

Calling SERVPRO of HAMPSHIRE COUNTY for moisture and visual microbial growth inspections. Our contact info is on our webpage.

Secondly, pest inspections are the other major recommendation. Calling BUDGET PEST SOLUTIONS will get you an honest and thorough inspection at a reasonable price. Should there be any issues, JOHN BOUDREAU has the ability to not only treat the problem, but fix the damage done by those pests. Call John at (413) 385-0065 for a preventative inspection, Real Estate Inspection, or solutions to what's "buggin" you.

Finally, if you are thinking of selling, and don't have a realtor yet, you need to contact JOHN PEDRO, PEDRO REAL ESTATE, for a home analysis and to list your property. JOHN has been a realtor for over 20 years I believe (or MORE), and knows his stuff. He is a straight shooter and will get your property moved for the right price. John can be reached at (413)547-8781.

Either of the two JOHN's can help you should the spring thing be to sell or buy or just plain old tune up the home, oh yeah, along with SERVPRO OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY, YOUR cleaning solution.

Until next time, this is Kevin signing off.

Relief and Hope

2009-02-12T17:27:00.000-08:00

Ahhhhhhhhhh. 56 degrees yesterday and it felt WONDERFUL. I hope that everyone had the opportunity to open a door or window and allow that stale, stagnant air that has been bottled up inside out, and allow some crisp, fresh air in. Turning over the air in your house or office is a great way to improve the health of the people that have been bottled up inside since waaaaaaaaay back before the holidays. The freshness gives a renewed sense that Spring may be not be too far behind and the piles of snow and ice and salt will soon be a distant memory.

Of course with all of the positives of the warmth, the higher sun and the diminishing piles of winter "crud" comes yet another opportunity for water intrusion. The snow should have all but melted off of the roof tops, ice dams shrunken or gone away as well, but where did all that "melt" go? Hopefully it ran off or evaporated, but did you check your basement to ensure that none of that water has penetrated that area? With the snow pack around the house, the water that has run off the roof may have gotten absorbed or trapped against the foundation, allowing it to seep into the house that way. I don't mean to keep harping upon water intrusion, but it is the season, and we do still need to keep our eyes open in our attic and basement areas. Ignoring moisture in these areas will only cause further issues that you may not be aware of until it's too late. Read some of my other posts to learn more about extended high levels of moisture in your home or work place and take a few minutes to inspect particularly CORNERS in the basement or attic to make sure you haven't been intruded upon.

As usual, my final word about this topic is; while the weather is nice, take a few moments to clear some of the snow away from your house and double check the gutters and downspouts to make sure that the water coming off of your roof is draining AWAY from your building. Keeping your interior dry is vital for the health of it and the people occupying it.

Pitchers and Catchers.......they are reporting!!! Snow will melt, trees will bud, grass will reappear, only a matter of days away, stay positive!

Frozen Pipes - Avoiding a nightmare

2009-02-06T06:37:00.000-08:00

Water Intrusion into your home or business can be a nightmare no matter how it gets in there. By practicing the following safety tips, you can avoid water intrusion and the resulting water removal and drying process as a result of frozen pipes:

1) Keep your cabinet doors open during cold spells. This allows warm air to circulate around pipes that are in them.

2) Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets, especially if the pipes for those faucets run through unheated or uninsulated (under-heated or under-insulated) portions of your home or business.

3) Consider shutting off outdoor faucets (written about in a previous blog). Find the shut-off in the basement or crawlspace where the pipe feeding the faucet leads outside and turn it "off". Once you do that, open the outdoor faucet and to ensure that it drains completely and the inner valve is shut off.

Much of this is common sense, but every once in a while it's nice to have a reminder of what you can do to AVOID issues with water intrusion due to frozen pipes.

Keep your chin up, there is only a few more days until Pitchers and Catchers report to Spring Training. The thaw is so near!!!

Winter Weather Advisory

2009-02-03T15:00:00.000-08:00

So here we are, almost half way through "WINTER 2008-09" and we have had one doozie of a season already. We have experienced one of the coldest December's on record, which averaged approximately 6 degrees colder than last year (according to my gas bill anyway), snow and ice have blanketed the area keeping us all wondering if we will ever see the green grass again or even the blacktop in some cases.

Along with the cold weather and the snow and ice comes a plethera of issues where our buildings are concerned. Ice dams are a common issue right now with water backing up behind them and into the wall cavities and attic spaces causing unseen infiltration until it is too late. It is important to head to the hardware store and grab a roof rake (an easy $30 investment typically), then USE IT after each snow storm.

Ice damming is a phenomenon that occurs when built up snow on the cold eaves (soffits) of the house has water from the melting snow higher up the roof run through it and freeze into a solid block of ice. As more and more water runs down the roof, the ice dam grows in height. Eventually the height of the ice causes the water to back up far enough on your roof to permeate under the shingles and into your structure. Attacking the snow from the start is crucial as once the ice forms, it's a task (no it's more than that) to get rid of the ice. Typically some sort of chisseling or chopping will need to be done to relieve the backed up water. NIGHTMARE!!! Take into account taking a ladder out on a slippery driveway (or other surface) and/or working in frigid conditions, nothing good will come of this! Call a roofer, see if they will take care of this for you, call US to deal with your water intrusion or for tips on how to deal with it on your own.

Water inside your structure for an extended amount of time is NOT GOOD at all. It must be dried and should be done by a professional. The effects of extended moisture infiltration only get worse over time with insulation R-value loss, wood rot or mold taking hold after days of wetness. Typically your Homeowner's Insurance will cover this event, check with your agent as far as to what extent it is covered. Failure to dry your structure thoroughly will cause as many problems as not raking that original snow off the roof in the first place. It all flows downhill (no pun intended).

Another big problem right now is damage from frozen and burst pipes. Once this happens, get hold of us IMMEDIATELY. I cannot stress the importance of dealing with water issues in the house in a timely manner. The longer the water sits, the more damage occurs and worse. Health and safety issues can be tied to the "mingling" of water and your structural components and the daily "stuff" tied to it. It only takes 72 hours to turn what was clean water to the equivelant of laundry discharge water and another 72 - 96 hours to turn to the equivelant of sewer water. Sounds delicious doesn't it? Most molds will begin to multiply within 48 to 72 hours where the visible signs will begin to rear their ugly heads.

Finally, it's February......have you checked and changed your furnace filter?

Again act swiftly when it comes to water intrusion in your house or business, there is a lot riding on a dry environment!

Coming next - Generator Safety

Let the Games Begin

2008-11-28T06:50:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is over, here comes the onslaught of advertising, Christmas music, TV specials, etc..

As you begin to decorate and entertain, make sure you follow all of the proper instructions and safety procedures.

Keep your trees watered DAILY.
DO NOT over use outlets and extension cords.
Use the proper cords.
DO NOT put cords under rugs.
Remember your candles, do not leave them burning unattended.
Trim the wicks as well and keep candles away from trees and wreathes.
Watch what is on the stove at all times, make sure all burners and the oven are off when leaving the house.
Keep pot and pan handles IN when cooking, no long or loose sleeves while cooking.
Did you have your chimney cleaned this year prior to using the fireplace?
Outside water spickets shut down for the year now?
Gutters cleared of leaves and downspouts cleaned? Ice and snow buildup results in water intrusion through the roof.
PLANNED and PRACTICED escape routes in the event of a fire? THIS IS CRUCIAL. Try to walk from your bedroom to your planned exit with your eyes closed and holding your breath.

This is a small checklist, but one that could save your life and the lives of your loved ones. Take a moment to review this once a week, ensure that your house and family are protected BEFORE a crisis or disaster occur. Prevention is important, reaction planning is VITAL.

As I wrote in my earlier blog, stay FOCUSSED on what's important, GIVE THANKS for what you have, and ENJOY the Holidays. Commercialization of Christmas and the Holidays has somehow sucked the fun out of the season, it's time for us to take back the fun and enjoyment.

Until next time.....stay safe and keep it clean!

'Tis the Season

2008-11-08T16:39:00.000-08:00

So we are deep into the year, only a few weeks remain. The leaves have changed and dropped from the trees, already we are seeing signs of the Holiday Season creeping up around us. Many of us have not even finished our yard cleaning and buttoning up of our outside work before the the harsh cold of winter begins.

As we approach Thanksgiving it's important that we keep a calm head about us and stay focused on the important things around us. This sounds philosophical, but it's because of this lack of focus that bad things happen. Whether it's forgetting what the true meaning of the Holiday's is, or just getting tied up in all of the hustle and bustle of it all, lack of focus causes bad things to happen.

So as we move forward, stay focused. Don't forget about the pot cooking on the stove or the candles that you lit in the other room. Remember not to overload your outlets with decorations or space heaters, use proper cords where applicable. When you leave to visit loved ones, make sure that someone is responsible for checking your house DAILY. The visit should be to pick up the mail and newspaper, walk through the ENTIRE HOUSE, including the basement. Left unchecked that basement could become your unwanted indoor pool.

In closing, keep in mind as the weather turns colder, snow begins to fly and the days continue to get shorter that this is not only the season of giving and all that, it's should also be the season of focus. Focus on things that are important in your life and don't forget to be thankful for what you have. Stay safe and enjoy the coming days and weeks, it really can be a lot of fun.

Innaugural Blogpost

2008-10-31T11:28:00.000-07:00

Welcome from our President and Director of OperationsWelcome to our newly revamped website!!! Thanks to Abdul Musa of GROWURBIZ for the work he has put in and the ideas he has given to make this site what it is. It is a new and exciting time as we finally enter the “new millennium” and use the web as an avenue to further expose and promote our business. Please provide some feedback if you have any ideas or “stuff” you would like to see here.IT’S SPRING!The coming of a new season, warm weather and sunshine (hopefully); brings an opportunity that all of us should take advantage of, I am speaking of improving our indoor air quality.

It is certainly a big issue these days; it seems as if everyone knows someone who is affected by indoor allergens or a “sick building”. It is time to crack open those windows and doors throughout your house or business (DO NOT FORGET THAT YOUR BASEMENT IS PART OF YOUR HOUSE!) and “purge” the trapped air from the winter. Of course, make sure that it is an appropriate day to do that, allowing air with high moisture content in can work adversely as well. Ventilation is key to improving indoor air quality. It is also time to think about cleaning your carpets, upholstery and duct work. All of these harbor invisible allergens that may wreak havoc with your respiratory systems as well.

Remember that these items act as “filters” for your house and need to be cleaned or changed to remove the pollutants from them. In conclusion, as you go through this spring, and start venturing outdoors to deal with the dreaded “honey-do” list, don’t forget to share some of that nice outdoor weather with your indoor environment. The comfort and freshness experienced may be your own!Again, Happy Spring and welcome to our site. Check back periodically for some fresh, new ideas for your home, business and comfort!