Tips to Prevent Water Damage from Household Leaks
February 26, 2010
One doesn’t need to be faced with a big flood in order to experience water damage. There are many things within the home that can cause small leaks and this can be just as bad as having a basement flood during a storm. Fortunately there are some things which can be done.
Often, where there is a tiny leak, it can go unnoticed for weeks or even months on end. That’s not to say there’s no way of finding them. Ensure that one knows how to read the water meter then turn off all faucets and any appliances that may use water. Keep checking every few minutes over the course of an hour or so. If the value stays the same then there’s no leak. If it increases, even if this is negligible, there might be a leak somewhere that needs to be addressed.
Water damage in the bathroom can not only cause discoloration of the tiles but it can also be dangerous since it makes it very easy to slip. The biggest culprit in this is the caulking around fixtures such as the bathtub and toilet. Check these areas for any signs of cracks or mold growth. If one notices any of these, re-caulking will have to be done. However, it’s also a good idea to call in a plumber to ensure that pipes within the wall aren’t leaking and causing the effects seen.
Air conditioning units are notorious for developing small leaks. If they’re the sort which are placed outside the home then this may not be a problem, but inside units can easily cause water damage to flooring. It’s a good idea to have all air condition units in the home checked by a trained technician once a year or so. This will determine if there are any obstructions and allow for the problem to be dealt with before it really becomes an issue.
Washing machines, by their very nature, deal with water. Unfortunately that water has a bad habit of seeping through any loose or deteriorating hoses. The amount may be so small initially that it’s easy to miss, especially if it settles under the machine. Washing machine hoses should be inspected every couple of months to ensure that the connection is secure and it doesn’t need to be replaced. The same goes for any machine that regularly uses water, such as the dishwasher.
Pipe cleaners are a homeowner’s friend. Don’t be afraid to use them. There are many products on the market which simply need to be poured down the drain and they remove any sludge that may have built up. Obstructions are one of the most common causes of pipe leakages so it’s important to deal with them early.
Electronic restoration can salvage computers and tvs
February 5, 2010
Most people wouldn’t expect that you can clean water and fire damaged electronics with water. There is a technique specialists use to clean fire and water damaged electronics. If your personal electronics become damaged by water or fire you might want to consider using a restoration company that offers electronic restoration services. Most techniques used to clean a TV or computers aren’t achievable by home products, but there are a few things you can do to lessen the damage to your belongings. Make sure that the electronic devices are out of out the way of water if possible. Don’t risk shocking yourself over a computer. Before the restoration company arrives determine what you want to be cleaned. The sooner the device gets to a restoration company the better chance of it being saved. It’s better if the device is still wet because if it dries that means corrosion or rusting of components can happen.
Before the restoration company starts the cleaning process they will determine whether it’s even salvageable. Most steps are similar for cleaning a fire or water damaged electronics. Not only is the outside wet or covered in soot the inside is to. The specialist will disassemble the device whether it is a TV, computer, or radio. They have special degreasers and washing chambers made for cleaning electronics. If the electronics have been in water it’s important to get the contaminated water off metal parts such as mother boards and hard drives to prevent rusting and corrosion. Soot from smoke can cause staining so a fire wash can remove soot and help stop staining. Deionized water is what is used to clean the electronics. It is water that has had the minerals pulled from it making it safe for electronics.
After the washing faze is done the electronics will be put into drying chambers. The drying chambers consist of dry heat air at about one hundred and twenty degrees. This is the idea temperature that the pores open. Even after the device is washed there could be a smell to it from the fire opening the electronics pores making it smell like smoke. A scented mixture is put into the drying chambers so when the electronics heat up to one hundred and twenty degrees its pores open again removing the smoke smell and replacing it with the new fresh scent. The electronics are put into the drying chambers for at least twenty four hours maybe longer depending on how bad the smell is.
When the washing and drying fazes are done the electronics are reassembled and tested. The whole goal to electronic restoration is to make the device work like new. Sometimes the device can have a little bit of melting or staining. It is your choice whether you want this device back. If not let your restoration company and insurance agent know. You insurance company will usually replace the item or give you money for how much it was worth before the disaster.
