Preventing Water Damage From Your Bath and Shower
When we think of water damage we tend to think of the basement and of floods heading into there and destroying all of our boxes of memories, legal documents and more. This is of course a serious thing to happen and should it occur you will then need water extraction as soon as possible and damage restoration so you can go back to living normally.
Water Damage In The Bathroom
However at the same time this is not the only kind of water damage that you are likely to have encountered. While this is the stereotypical image of water damage that springs to mind, there are many other scenarios where water damage is a real threat. In particular water damage is a problem in bathrooms – rooms that see us using a lot of water that we slop over the side and drip off our bodies and that we aren’t always careful with – and actually this causes a measure of water damage on a constant basis and damages the carpet, the mats, and sometimes even leaks to other floors. Avoiding water damage here is your responsibility and very important.
Tips For Preventing Water Damage
There are ways to prevent water damage in the bathroom. For instance make sure your bath and shower are well designed for keeping water in. Shower enclosures are smart as long as the doors are well sealed, while getting a good glass divider is crucial if your shower is over your bath.
When washing think carefully about how you are going to do so and avoid large movements or filling the bath too full which can cause water damage. Likewise when you get out – be sure to dry yourself before stepping out so you aren’t dripping with water. When you do, make sure there is a bath mat ready to stand on to catch most of the water that does come off of you.
Bouncing Back with Restoration Services
Some things in life cannot be anticipated. When your home has been hit by a disaster, it can feel like you’ve been literally knocked to the ground. Experiencing a fire, flood, or crime in your home is often surreal and paralyzing. In the wake of events like these, it’s hard to push the emotions and shock to the side in order to make rational decisions and steps towards recovery. Luckily, restoration services are available to help you through every step of the aftermath.
![[IDAHO-L-0144] Teton Dam Flood - Rexburg](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/5801541007_422f35ae33_m.jpg)
Because your home is so important to you, it’s OK to be picky about who you choose as your home restoration service provider. There are a few things you should look for in a trusted professional.
A PROVEN PROTOCOL
A restoration service provider should adhere to a standard process with proven success. You should expect a lot from your specialist, such as:
- IICRC certified in water restoration
- Professionally attired with a personal I.D. badge
- Thoroughly explains the restoration process and welcomes your questions
- Provides you with full documentation and job scope before any work starts
- Cleans up after the job is done as if he was never there
STANDARDS IN EXCELLENCE
You’re going to want a professional who has been providing quality home restoration services for a long time, backed by customer satisfaction. Look for qualities that stand out like fast response, quality results, genuine concern and clear communication.
EXTENSIVE TRAINING
Because equipment and technologies used to fight water, fire, smoke and mold damage are continuously updated and improved, it’s important that the restoration service provider remains in stride with such developments. Continuous training and education led by skilled instructors can ensure this. Education courses should cover topics like rapid structural drying (RSD), fungus and mold remediation, category 3 black water mitigation, fire and smoke damage restoration, and ethics in insurance, business and life.
EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
Technology and equipment plays a large role in battling against water, fire, smoke and mold damage. In order to help damage restoration specialists best prepare for real-life situations in the field, companies should maintain industry-leading training facilities. Facilities like these provide hands-on experience in damage restoration, beginner and advanced training sessions, educational demonstrations for the insurance industry and test-marketing of cleaning and restoration tools under consideration for network use.
Rainbow International® is the only home restoration and cleaning company that can provide all of the above and more. Let Rainbow International be the one to help you bounce back.
Why You Should Know About Flood Damage Cleanup
Seeing your home destroyed by a flood is truly heartbreaking. Floods could become a great health risk, with the dirty water and all. Not only are we talking about diarrhea and the like, but we’re also looking at mold growth which could precipitate asthma, allergies and a whole slew of other respiratory diseases. And on top of that, you have to think about all the things that you lost, like your furniture, appliances, beds, stoves and pans..even your shoe box of memories.
Structures that have been saturated with water are very dangerous, therefore extra precautions should be taken. When entering an area that has been flooded, make sure that the debris has settled first and you have to make sure that a certain area is safe prior to entering. Stepping on a rotten piece of flooring could mean plummeting to your death.
Always make sure that electrical systems are turned off to avoid getting electrocuted. You should also unplug all your electrical appliances like fans, airconditioning systems, refrigerators and the like. When you need to use a certain electrical equipment to help you dry the room, make sure that the cord does not drag around the wet areas. Cover them if you must.
Flood damage cleanup is never an easy task. When doing so, survey the area and see if the damage could be fixed with just elbow grease and a few helping hands, or if you need the help of professionals. Be realistic. If you think it is too much for you to do, call a contractor to help you clean it up. They are well trained and would spot things that you would miss. They may be expensive, but they are worth it. Coming home to a place that looks just like new..that’s worth it.
Water damage restoration is even harder than flood damage cleanup. If you own a house with beautiful hardwood floors, you would know what I’m talking about. After a flooding, immediately try to dry out the area. Sweep off all the excess water. Open all the windows. Turn on fans. Do what you must to preserve your flooring, for once water damage sets it, not only does it look unsightly, it could also be very dangerous. So load up on knowledge on flood damage cleanup and water damage restoration. You never know when that kind of information might come handy.
Water Damage Dehumidification
If your home or business has recently flooded or been affected by water damage in any way, here are a few tips on how to make sure that your property doesn’t become a breeding ground for black mold or other types of fungal growth. Black mold removal can be expensive and intrusive to your property, so make sure that you follow these tips if your property has been affected by water damage.
In order to repair water damage correctly, you will need to dehumidify your property in conjunction with water removal. Extracting the water isn’t enough. You need to make sure that the relative humidity of the property stays below 60%. The colder the air temperature, the lower the relative humidity needs to be in order to prevent condensation. Condensation is a primary cause for mold growth in homes. Mold growth can cause serious health issues, including severe allergic reactions and other respiratory problems.
Remember, the drier and warmer the air, the more water vapor it can hold and the faster the evaporation rate. The colder and more humid the air, the less water vapor it can hold and the slower the evaporation rate. This relationship is vital to the water damage cleaning and restoration process. You can dehumidify a property using ambient outside air, provided that the air outside is drier and warmer than the inside air. If not, circulating outside air into the property might actually worsen the problem. Other issues with circulating outside air into a property for water damage repair include the lack of environmental control with constantly changing weather conditions, building security (since it is open), and energy loss.
Another way to dehumidify flood water damage properties is using closed or mechanical drying systems. These techniques and equipment make the process more controllable and the property more secure, since they don’t rely as much on external venting. Dehumidifiers are an essential tool for any water damage restoration company and can make all the difference in getting your property back to its pre-loss condition following a water damage event.
Dealing With Frozen Water Pipes
The bitterly cold weather is having an effect on the water pipes of many people’s houses. Freezing conditions result in frozen water inside the pipes and this can result in burst pipes that won’t become apparent until the temperature rises and the water melts. The problem is that the leak may not become obvious when you are still at home and the leak could be allowed to go on unchecked for hours.
Many people are reporting that their sprinkler systems are spraying water due to a crack in the exterior pipes. You will be able to work out if your pipes are frozen or broken simply by turning on the faucet and nothing comes out. If this happens you should remain vigilant until the water flow returns.
If you want to ensure that you avoid coming home to a water damage problem the best idea is to identify where the master water shut-off valve is and, if you’re going to be away from the house for any length of time, turn the water off.
There are many areas in the country where residents have never been confronted with the problem of frozen water pipes and so all of this is new. The urge will be to want to thaw the pipes out as quickly as you can but it’s an urge that can be destructive rather than helpful. There are some steps to take if you want to thaw out your water pipes but it is a task that you should only attempt if you know what you’re doing. Thawing frozen water pipes too quickly can be a sure road to broken pipes.
A couple of tips to help you properly thaw out your water pipes include thawing them out by applying warm, damp washcloths to the pipes and by turning up the indoor heat and exposing the indoor pipes to it. The idea is to proceed with the thawing process slowly and patiently or you run the risk of causing more damage than may have been otherwise going to occur.
Before you even think about dealing with your frozen water pipes your best option is to talk to a plumber for some advice. Let the professionals guide you and save you the expense of having to clean up severe water damage.