Well we are officially in the middle of Fall and heading toward Winter. Will we get rain this year? Will we not? (Fingers crossed we do).
Every year we deal with flooding at client homes. Sometimes it can't be helped -- a slab leak or a broken water line often just 'happens'.
Here are a few of the proactive steps you can take to help prevent unexpected water intrusion and/or damages:
Have you had your roof inspected this year? I bet you're thinking 'why?' Well, all roofs deteriorate in the sun and wind or debris can also affect your roof. Very often the pipes and vents need to be resealed so water can't get in under the edges of your roofing materials. Broken tiles should be replaced and any composite shingles should have crack repairs or replacements as well.
What about your HVAC system? We recommend twice yearly inspections (once each in Fall and Spring). Not only do you want to make sure your system is operating properly and efficiently but also so the condensate line is clear (a common source of flooding).
What about your property drainage? Has anything changed at your home (or your neighbors) that might affect the way rain water drains (or a broken irrigation valve)? The last thing you want is to get flooded because someone inadvertently changed the landscape elevation.
Do you have an area prone to standing water or historic water intrusion? Maybe a French drain is in order. A French drain
is a trench filled with gravel or rock or containing a perforated pipe that redirects surface water and groundwater away from an area.
When was the last time you had a plumbing inspection? How old are your angle stops? Do you have rigid water supply lines or the new flexible lines? How long has it been since the cartridges in your shower and faucets were changed? What about your toilets? How long has it been since the rubber components have been changed?
Out here in the desert, where the water is so hard, cartridges will get clogged and then leak, particularly in showers. Toilet tank components can shrink over time and even flushing them weekly is not always often enough to prevent them from leaking.
Do you have someone checking your home weekly when you're gone through the summer? Or on vacation? Really -- you should have someone (Executive Errands® is ideal!) to check in on your home. We can't stop water intrusion but we can certainly identify it as quickly as possible after it occurs and take action to keep the situation from worsening.
What if you take all the proactive steps and you still have a water intrusion issue? First of all, don't panic. The key is getting the area evaluated and into dry-out as quickly as possible.
The first objective is to stop the water intrusion at its source and then stop or prevent any mold from occurring (or from spreading) if at all possible. The water remediation industries' accepted time frame for mold to grow is 24 to 48 hours after water exposure.
Mold is ever present, microscopic spores that can grow into colonies when exposed to water. Optimal temperatures for mold growth are 70-80 degrees so if a wet area gets exposed to our temperatures of 100 degrees or more in the summer, mold might sprout and spread quickly.
Treating mold varies based on the situation - sometimes removal of the Sheetrock is sufficient while other situations require containment and rigorous treatment; sometimes even environmental testing. In all cases, it is necessary to bring in a qualified water remediation specialist.
We have done dozens of flood remediation over the years. Some of these problems go through insurance; some do not. Some require reconstruction, some do not.
In most cases, we can usually get someone to your home quickly with the proper dehumidifiers and air movers necessary to dry-out your home as fast as possible. Often we don't even have to tear the home apart. Whenever possible we do a 'dry in place' process that minimizes secondary damages.
When you find yourself facing water damage, give us a call. We'll help you calmly, efficiently and as quickly as possible. And remember, when it comes to water, we want rain, but we don't want it in your home!
For more information or to set up an account, please give us a call at 760.898.9604 or by email. No matter what you need, we are just a phone call or email away!
