Tag: Water Damage Prevention

How to Prepare for Flood or Water Damage

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how to prepare for flood or water damage

National Preparedness Month, which is recognized every September, serves as a reminder for families and communities to be prepared for disasters and emergencies. One of the best ways you can be prepared during this month is by gearing up against flood and water damage. September also happens to be a month when hurricanes and heavy rainfall are common and if handled improperly, can lead to severe problems for homeowners. If you want to take measures against water or flood damage but you don’t know where to start, don’t worry. The experts are RestoPros are here to provide some tips on how to prepare for flood or water damage.

1. Emergency Plan and Kit

If you are faced with a situation where your house begins to flood, you will most likely be in panic mode. However, that can be prevented if you have taken some measures to prepare yourself and your family with the right tools and planning. Here are some things in mind while coming up with an emergency plan and creating an emergency kit:

  • Your emergency kit should most definitely include flashlights, necessary medications, copies of personal documents and cellphones with chargers. The Red Cross goes into further detail about the items you should have in your kit. Take a minute to look over their guide and even take the quiz at the end to ensure you’re fully prepared!
  • Pay attention to all flood alerts. Remember: A flood or flash flood WATCH means that a flood is a possibility. A flood WARNING means flooding is already occurring or is about to occur. If you get a warning, take precautions immediately.
  • Come up with a household evacuation plan based on this helpful template.
  • Take measures to protect your home. Flood damage can cause severe destruction to your home’s foundation, appliances and furniture. Consult a professional about raising your furnace, water heater and electrical panel to floors that are less likely to be affected by flooding. Move furniture and other valuables to safe places. 

2. Install A Sump Pump

A sump pump is an important appliance to have, especially if you live in an area where there is risk of flooding. It is located in a pit in a crawlspace or basement and is designed to pump water away from your home, should flooding occur. Speak to a professional about installing a sump pump in your home, in order to ensure protection from flooding.

3. Install Backflow Valves

Another way to protect your home from flooding is by installing backflow valves. When flooding occurs, sewage can often back up into a house and even flow into the main water supply line. This can be hazardous for your health as sewage can contain a multitude of waste, toxins and pollutants. Backflow valves block drainpipes to ensure that water flows AWAY from your home and never in the opposite direction.

4. Check Water Pressure

Sometimes, it doesn’t take a big flash flood to cause water damage to your home. Often, it can be caused by unregulated water pressure inside your home. If the water pressure in your home is too high, pipes, lines and hoses might burst which can cause water damage. Water damage itself brings a myriad of problems with it such as high restoration bills and mold growth. Take a minute to use a pressure gauge or regulator to ensure the water pressure in your home is maintained. Ideally, you want the pressure to be between 40 to 60 pounds per square inch (psi).

5. Tackle Any Leaks

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, leaks in different places in your home such as showers, faucets and toilets can waste a lot of water over time – in addition to adding to homeowners’ water bills. Serious leaks can also cause water damage around your home. Monitor your water bill to ensure there aren’t any sudden increases. Check for leaks around faucet gaskets and pipe fittings to confirm if there are any leaks or not. You should also consider installing leak detection devices near places in your home that could be susceptible to water damage.

Stay Prepared with RestoPros! 

We hope this guide on how to prepare for flood or water damage was helpful. If you have any questions about water damage prevention or restoration, don’t hesitate to contact the experts at RestoPros! Call us today at 855-587-3786 or schedule a service online!

How to Prevent Mold After Flooding

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how to prevent mold after flooding

A flood damaged home can be a massive source of anxiety for homeowners and renters who face this problem due to hurricanes, heavy rain or burst pipes. A flood damaged home comes with a myriad of other issues such as figuring out the cleanup process, repairing any damage, filing a flood insurance claim,  and finding a temporary place to stay if necessary. On top of that, you might end up dealing with a mold infestation that could potentially further damage your home.

Mold is a fungus that is primarily attracted to damp areas so it’s no surprise it shows up in places where there is a leakage or water damage. However, the team at RestoPros has some tips on how to prevent mold after a flooding so you don’t have to deal with another unnecessary and expensive problem.

Preventative Measures to Take Against Mold

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, it can take 24 hours for mold to start growing after being exposed to water. So, you will have to act fast. Here are some quick preventative measures you can take to avoid mold after flooding:

  • You will need to dry up the wet areas as soon as possible. Open windows and doors to air out the rooms in your house and use fans if possible. Consider using dehumidifiers to regulate the humidity in your home. Dehumidifiers are appliances that can remove excess humidity from your home and can be helpful in keeping your home dry, especially after flooding.
  • Mold can especially grow on items that are absorbent and porous. Get rid of items such as upholstered furniture, plush pillows and curtains if they have been wet for more than 24 hours. However, if you think they can be thoroughly cleaned and dried, put them in a place where they can dry out.
  • You’ll probably have to get rid of your carpet if it’s been dampened by dirty water for more than 24 hours. However, if you can’t get rid of it immediately, use a wet vac to remove the water from the surface of the carpet.
  • Clean wet surfaces such as kitchen counters, metal objects, shelves and closets with disinfectant.
  • Consider these natural mold cleaning products you can make with just a few ingredients in your home!
  • You might have to cut some openings in the bases of your walls to let air in. Before you do that, remove any baseboards or moldings as they can prevent the lower portion of your wall from drying out well. If you notice a lot of damage to your drywall, it might be better to let a professional handle it.

Some Other Things to Keep in Mind

In addition to knowing how to prevent mold after flooding, we also want you to keep these things in mind to ensure your recovery process is safe:  

  • If you have flood insurance, contact your insurance company. Remember to let them know if you need an insurance adjuster to visit your home before the cleaning begins. Be sure to document everything so you can show your insurer the extent of the damage!
  • Be careful when it comes to dealing with water damaged electrical appliances. Don’t step into a flooded basement if you think any outlets or cords have been exposed to the water. Remember not to touch any electrical appliance with wet hands or while standing in water.
  • Wear protective gear like gloves and rubber boots to avoid contact with chemicals and contaminated water.
  • Remember to keep yourself clean by washing your hands with soap and clean running water.

Need Professional Help? Contact RestoPros!

While you’re armed with the knowledge to prevent mold after flooding, keep in mind that you might need the help of professionals to ensure a safe process of cleaning and repair. You don’t have to handle these problems on your own — the experts at RestoPros are here to help. Our knowledgeable pros are experienced in mold remediation, mold testing and water damage restoration. Call us today at 855-587-3786 or fill out a service request form on our website!

How to Avoid Water Damage in Your Home

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How to Avoid Water Damage in Your Home

Water damage is a serious threat to you and your home, and it doesn’t take much water to do serious damage. The fact is, an undetected small leak can cause more damage than a major leak that’s detected right away. Many plumbing leaks happen in areas where they might go unseen or unnoticed for weeks. Leaks located behind walls, under floors, underground, or those that happen while you’re away can be costly to the homeowner.

What’s more, you also have to think about rain and flood damage, because while homeowners insurance will cover most sudden accidents, it does not cover flood damage or leaks caused by unresolved maintenance issues. Fortunately for you, the professionals at RestoPros – the leading mold and water remediation company for the greater DFW Metroplex – are going to show you a few things so you know how to avoid water damage in your home.

  1. Invest in a Leak Detector.

Leak detectors are a great way to ensure that you know about a possible leak before it has time to do any damage. While these gadgets used to cost a lot, they’ve come down in price over the years. Some of the most popular brands are available for less than $50 and should have enough sensors to cover your water heater, dishwasher, refrigerator, and washing machine. The sensors work by detecting moisture. If they detect moisture where there shouldn’t be any, they send a notification to your phone, alerting you to the trouble.

  1. Check Your Gutters for Obstructions.

One of the more common ways water enters you home is through the roof. Sometimes that’s because you have damage to your roof or are missing shingles, perhaps due to a storm or high winds. The other way is much sneakier in its attack. Rather than pounding its way inside the home, it reverses directions and sneaks in through perfectly good shingles. Shingles are designed to be a watershed for water flowing down your roof, but they don’t work so well if that water reverses direction. When gutters and down spouts are obstructed and clogged with debris like leaves and vermin, they begin to act like a dam of sorts. As water backs up behind this dam, it enters home by travelling in the opposite direction the shingles were designed for. This can cause major damage to walls, ceilings, and electronics.

  1. Annual Maintenance Checks.

All pipes, lines, and machines that produce or carry water need to be inspected once a year for signs of wear or damage. Think of it as your home’s annual physical. Like putting off getting a check-up from your doctor, putting off your home’s inspection can lead to more problems and damage later. Nothing lasts forever, so do yourself and your home a huge favor this year and schedule an annual check-up with a qualified professional. These inspections can detect problems to come before those problems come for you.

 

While we hope these tips will help you avoid water damage in your home, they’re no substitute for an experienced professional. The water damage experts at RestoPros have a long-standing reputation for expertise, professionalism, and hard work. If you’re looking for a skilled and highly trained technician for mold testing, mold remediation, water damage restoration, or HVAC duct cleaning anywhere in the Dallas Metroplex, call us at (855) 58-RESTO (855-587-3786) to schedule an appointment today!

How to Avoid Water Damage in the Kitchen

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There are two areas in a home which use the most water: the bathroom and kitchen. And since we’ve previously discussed preventing bathroom mold and moisture, we now want to help Dallas/Ft. Worth homeowners on preventing water damage in the kitchen. After all, kitchens are where we cook, clean, and eat, making water damage the last thing we want in there!

The experts at RestoPros have detailed a guide below on how to avoid water damage in the kitchen. Be sure to follow this guide to better protect your Dallas/Ft. Worth home.

Avoid Putting Certain Items Down the Drain

Not all organic material can go down the drain of your kitchen sink. Items such as fat, oil, and grease may seem fine at first if they’re a liquid. But once cooled down they solidify, which can clog up the plumbing and further cause leakage and eventually water damage. In general, avoid putting any oils down your drain (which includes greasy protein and vegetable scraps.

Additionally, you want to avoid putting any fibrous, starchy, or durable food waste down the drain. Items such as eggshells, pasta, rice, celery stalks, and fruit pits can all clog your drain, as well as damage your garbage disposal.

Clean Spills as Quickly as Possible

The more a spill lingers, the higher the chance it can cause water damage. If you spill any liquid in the kitchen, you’ll want to clean it up as soon as possible. Spills left unattended will begin to soak into porous surfaces such as wood and drywall. And once the surface becomes too damp, water damage can occur.

The best way to clean up water spills is by using an absorbent cleaning material such as a towel or rag. After soaking up all the water, be sure to pat down the stain with paper towels to remove any leftover moisture.

Inspect Your Plumbing Regularly

Every now and then, look at your kitchen’s plumbing for any drips, leaks or damaged pipes. Malfunctioning plumbing can be hidden, and water could be seeping into your cabinets and drawers without you even knowing. Therefore, you’ll want to regularly keep an eye on your kitchen’s plumbing, which includes your refrigerator if it has a water/ice component.

Wash Dishes More Carefully

When washing dishes, set your faucet to a lower pressure. Too much water pressure will cause water to bounce off dishes and onto other areas of your kitchen. This can lead to water soaking into walls, cabinets, and other areas.

If you use a dishwasher, remove any large food chunks and waste from your dishes before filling the racks. This helps prevent bits of food from clogging the water pipes, which can lead to a leaking dishwasher. Additionally, only use dishwasher soap for the dishwasher. Regular dish soap is not compatible with dishwashers and can also cause your dishwasher to leak.

Protect your kitchen from water damage by following these prevention tips! If you’ve discovered water damage in your kitchen, or any other part of your Dallas/Ft. Worth home, contact RestoPros for our water damage restoration services. Give us call at 855-587-3786 to have our leading experts restore your home from water damage.

Related Links:

Water Damage – Cleanup and Mold Prevention – Environmental Protection Agency

Handling Water Damage Claims – Texas Department of Insurance

6 Common Leak Causes

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Leaks in your home are one of the worst – and most annoying things that can happen. Leaks are known to potentially cause water damage and even mold growth. What makes leaks especially troublesome are their many causes. Water can leak from your roof, plumbing, or even under your home.

We all know leaks are a horrible experience for Dallas/Ft. Worth homeowners. But do you know how leaks can happen? To help prevent leaks your home, you’ll want to be aware of the common causes. The experts at RestoPros have assembled a list below!

Clogged Drains

When a drain has no clear passage for water to exit through, pressure will continually build up. Eventually, the water pressure can cause a pipe to start dripping. Although dripping may seem like a small nuisance at first, the problem will only get worse if not resolved. With enough pressure, the pipe can eventually burst, spraying water everywhere.

Drains are most commonly clogged by build-ups of grease, soap, food, and even hair. Worse, a clogged drain can cause a pipe to have multiple leaks. This increases chances of water damage and possibly mold growth.

For information on helping to treat clogged drains, click here.

Clogged Downspout/Gutter

Much like a drain, your gutters and downspout are a main exit for water, but they collect rainwater instead of tap. Also, like a drain, they can become clogged if not maintained. A clogged gutter can be overfilled with water and possibly leak into your attic. Same problem can apply to a downspout. A clogged downspout disallows water from draining out your roof, further increasing the chance of leakage.

Leaves, dirt, and trash are known to build-up in your gutters and downspout. Fortunately, with a ladder, you can clear out a clogged gutter with a water hose and your hands – provided you wear gloves! You can also use a water hose to flush out your downspout.

For more information on protecting and cleaning your gutters and downspout, along with other rain leakage protection, click here.

Overfilled Dishwasher

Although it may seem like you’re maximizing water usage at first, stuffing your dishwasher can actually be disastrous. If a dishwasher is overfilled, the drain or valve may not seal properly. This can cause water to overflow and not have anywhere to go, except your floor!

Using dish soap instead of dishwashing liquid is not beneficial either. Dish soap is extremely foamy. The immense amount of bubbles produced can also overfill your dishwasher, potentially causing it to leak. Only use soap intended for the dishwasher!

Loose Washer Hoses

Generally, when you have your washing machine installed, two hoses are connected: drain and fill. As their name suggests, theses hoses are responsible for filling and draining the water in your washing machine. If they are not connected properly or damaged, water can leak during a wash cycle.

Damaged Piping

Piping is how water is transported throughout your home, and leaks are bound to happen. Water pressure can damage piping. High water pressure can loosen the connection of piping, which can cause dripping. If this pressure isn’t resolved, a pipe could eventually burst, spraying water everywhere!

Additionally, loose corner connections on pipes can also drip water. This can happen under sinks, as piping tends to be folded with several corners when below a faucet.

Another way piping can be damaged is by tree roots. Trees or vegetation with invasive roots can puncture underground water leaks, causing a leak. If you are wanting to plant new trees, purchase species without invasive roots.

Improper Toilet Water Levels

Toilet water is horrid, especially when it leaks! Unfortunately, improper water levels in the bowl and tank can cause water to overflow. Certain factors can cause this.

The common cause of a leaking toilet is when the flapper fails to seal the valve. Water can no longer be held in the tank and flows into the bowl. Flushing a clogged toilet can also cause leakage, as this is another way the tank will overfill the bowl.

By knowing these common leak causes, you can help to avoid them for your Dallas/Ft. Worth home. However, if a leak has already caused water damage in your home, you’ll need to contact RestoPros immediately. We help to remediate water damage while also helping to ensure no mold has grown in your home. Call 855-587-3786 for affordable water damage remediation and mold testing services.

Related Articles:

Save Forth Worth Water – Leaks

Rain Leakage Protection for Your Home

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With spring approaching, along comes increasing chances of severe storms and heavy rain in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Although the intensified precipitation seems like a welcome change from the bitter cold, the associated rain leakage can be a detrimental issue, leading to the likelihood of water damage and mold.

Without rain leakage protection, you may be spending your spring cleaning wiping up mold and contacting a water damage restoration company. RestoPros recommends every Dallas/Ft. Worth homeowner to make ample preparations against rain leakage. Follow these tips below to ready your home for spring!

Maintain Your Foundation

  • Check along the foundation of your home for any cracks, chips, or any other degradation, as these problems can lead to leaks.
  • If cracks are larger than a hairline, clear out any debris using a screwdriver, and use an adhesive patch to seal the crack (Polyurethane, silicone, or latex concrete caulk is available at almost any department store).
  • Be sure to monitor the bricks and concrete around your doors and windows as well, as these are especially vulnerable to rain leakage when surrounding foundation is damaged.

Monitor Your Exterior Paint

  • After examining your foundation, you’ll want to monitor your home’s exterior paint for additional cracks and deterioration.
  • Receding exterior paint offers little defense against rainwater seeping into your home and should have a new coat added if in poor condition.
  • Generally, wood siding requires new coats every 3-7 years, while aluminum siding lasts about 5-6 years. Additionally, painted brick has a much longer lifespan of 15-20 years, but can still require the occasional touch-up depending on its condition.

Clear Your Downspout and Gutter

  • Rain leakage is no different than winter leakage when it comes to gutters and downspouts, as blockage and clogs can cause the same kind of damage.
  • Flush out any clogs in your downspout using a water hose or drain cleaning tool, and make sure your downspout has a clear passage before cleaning your gutter.
  • When cleaning your gutter, be sure to practice ladder safety: keep ladder legs on solid and level ground, never use the top step, and dry your feet before stepping on the ladder.
  • Using a water hose or drain cleaning tool, unclog any blockage on each of your gutters. Be sure to test your gutters with a pitcher of water after cleaning to ensure they have a clear passage towards your downspout.

Inspect Your Roof

  • While you’re up next to your gutters, be sure to give a quick examination of your roof to avoid rain leaking into the attic.
  • Your roof should be examined once a month for any damages or loss of shingles. Doing so will help you act accordingly to avoid an issue becoming too severe over time.

Seal Windows and Doors

  • Using weather stripping, seal any open cracks on your doors and windows to avoid moisture seeping into your home.
  • Weather stripping can be found at almost any department store and are used on both doors and windows to prevent drafts and moisture.
  • Additionally, you can purchase insulated covers for your windows, as well as door seals to maximize moisture protection for your home.

Rain leakage protection is important as we enter spring and should be practiced by every Dallas/Ft. Worth homeowner. However, do be aware if rain leakage has occurred to contact RestoPros to assess your home for any water damage or mold. Our water damage restoration and mold testing services help to guarantee safety and comfort for your home. Give us a call at 855-587-3786 to schedule an appointment and get started.

How to Waterproof Your Basement

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How to Waterproof your BasementWe all know that the best way to fix something that’s broken is to keep it from breaking in the first place.  So the best way to clean up your house when it comes to water damage and mold is to prevent it from ever becoming a problem in the first place.  We know that’s not always possible.  And for the events where, despite your best efforts, storms and burst pipes have damaged your home, RestoPros Inc is always ready to go when you need someone to help clean up and restore your home after a disaster.

Still, a lot of damage for homes comes in the form of a flooded basement.  The very best way to prevent that is to have your basement waterproofed, protecting it from possible flooding.  Most waterproofing should have been done when the basement was built.  Fortunately, there are still things you can do even now.

Outside

As good as your basement and foundation are, constant water flow over time will erode the structure away and lead to eventual flooding.  The best thing you can do is channel and direct water away from the foundation.  Make sure that all gutters and downspouts are clear and clean.  The best way to test this is to pour water into the gutter and make sure it is draining properly.  You want water to be carried at least five feet away from the house.

Take a look at the ground around your leading up to the edge of your home.  It should always be slanted away from the home.  If the slant of the earth causes water to pool against your foundation, it will soak into the earth and eventually lead to foundation damage and basement leaks.  You should also stay mindful of plants that are growing too close to the edge.  You want some clearance between the wall and any flowers or shrubs, since you want to avoid roots growing into your basement or places where water can pool and work its way in.

  • Sloping Ground
  • Downspouts and Water Channels
  • Plants too Close to Foundation

Inside

Moving inside the basement, you’ll need to conduct a visual inspection of the walls and ceiling.  If your basement or cellar does have a window, make sure that it’s sealed properly.  Once your inspection is completed, you’ll need to repair any cracks in the walls with a cement patch.

Of course, fixing large cracks isn’t all you should be doing.  Using a sealant and waterproof paint on the inside of the walls will help to limit any water that does manage to trickle into the cement wall, without allowing it to damage items on the other side.

Waterproofing your basement means taking precautions for when water does manage to get into your home.  Conduct an emergency test of your sump pump.  Have someone monitor the outflow line outside and pour water into the sump pump well.  Emergency pumps should start almost immediately, while manual pumps will need to be turned on first.  Make sure that all of the water is being pumped away from the well and out past the foundation.  If your pump is malfunctioning, have it replaced immediately.

As a final task, if you’re worried about excess flooding, you can have a professional contractor inject hydroclay around the basement.  This substance absorbs water readily, holding it until the ground dries out and preventing water from assaulting your basement walls directly.

  • Fix Cracks and Holes
  • Waterproof Paint/Sealant
  • Sump Pump Installation/Repair
  • Hydroclay Injection

Again, preventing a basement flood, or any water damage from flooding and burst pipes, is cheaper and easier to do than fixing things when they break.  But, when water damage has become a problem, which can happen, you can rest easy knowing that there are reclamation teams, like those at RestoPros, who are readily able to help deal with extensive water and mold damage.

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