Essential Tips for Homeowners to Get Your Home Ready for Every Season

7/28/2023 (Permalink)

As a homeowner, preparing your home for every season is crucial to ensure its safety, efficiency, and comfort throughout the year. Each season brings its unique challenges and demands, making proactive preparation essential for avoiding costly repairs and maximizing energy efficiency. In this blog, we'll explore essential tips and tasks to get your home ready for every season, empowering you to create a comfortable and well-maintained living space all year round.

Spring Cleaning and Maintenance

Spring is the perfect time to tackle cleaning and maintenance tasks to refresh your home after the long winter. Schedule a thorough cleaning of your home's interior, including dusting, decluttering, and washing windows. Inspect your HVAC system, change air filters, and consider professional air duct cleaning for improved indoor air quality. Additionally, inspect your roof and gutters for any winter damage and address any necessary repairs promptly.

Preparing for Summer Heat

As temperatures rise, ensure your home is ready to beat the heat. Test and service your air conditioning system to guarantee optimal performance during the hot months. Seal any gaps around windows and doors to prevent cool air from escaping and hot air from entering. Consider installing window treatments or awnings to reduce solar heat gain and invest in energy-efficient fans to promote better air circulation and reduce reliance on air conditioning.

Preparing for Autumn

Autumn is a beautiful season, but it comes with its own set of tasks. Before the chilly weather sets in, inspect and clean your fireplace or wood-burning stove. Check for drafts around windows and doors and seal them to retain warmth indoors. Inspect your heating system, replace filters, and consider scheduling a professional tune-up for optimal efficiency during the colder months. Don't forget to clean out gutters and downspouts to prevent clogging and potential water damage.

Winterizing Your Home

Winter demands special attention to protect your home from harsh weather conditions. Insulate exposed pipes to prevent freezing, which can lead to costly plumbing repairs. Check the weather stripping around windows and doors and replace any damaged or worn-out sections. Consider installing a programmable thermostat to regulate indoor temperatures efficiently and lower heating costs. Stock up on essentials like ice melt and snow shovels to ensure safe walkways and driveways during snowy weather.

Preparing Your Outdoor Space

Each season brings changes to your outdoor space, so ensure it is ready for enjoyment and functionality year-round. In spring, clean and inspect your patio or deck, repair any damage, and apply a fresh coat of sealant. Summer is the perfect time to spruce up your garden or landscaping and invest in outdoor furniture or shades to create a comfortable outdoor oasis. In autumn, remove fallen leaves regularly to prevent slippery walkways, and store outdoor furniture properly for the winter months.

Getting your home ready for every season is an ongoing responsibility that helps protect your investment and maintain a comfortable living environment. By following these essential tips and preparing for seasonal changes, you can ensure your home is always well-maintained, efficient, and ready to face whatever challenges each season brings. Implementing these proactive measures not only enhances your home's functionality and appearance but also saves you time and money in the long run. Remember, a well-prepared home is a happy and harmonious home for you and your family, no matter the season.

What To Do With Mold Damaged Belongings

9/12/2022 (Permalink)

Mold damage in Clayton, MO

Look Into The Option Of Cleaning Anything Affected By Mold

After a flood, leak, storm, or other water-related disaster, cleanup is a necessary hassle. If things aren't dried and cleaned promptly and properly, mold cleaning may be added to your to-do list. Mold can affect both the structure of your home in Clayton, MO and your belongings within it. Before tossing out damaged items and acquiring costly replacements, look into the option of cleaning anything affected by mold.

1. Cleaning Belongings
There are many different ways to clean the items in your home that are damaged by mold. The methods used are dependent on the items in need of mold cleaning. Dry cleaning, wet cleaning, spray and wipe cleaning, foam cleaning, abrasive cleaning, and immersion cleaning are options available to clean mold from different surfaces and fabrics.

2. Cleaning Electronics
Electronic items damaged by water are a hazard. Do not use any electronic item that may have been damaged by water. A trained specialist should be consulted for proper drying and cleaning of any device that needs attention. The exterior of electronic devices should be meticulously cleaned and dried by a professional before being inspected by an electrician to verify they are safe to use.

3. Cleaning Documents and Artwork
Of all items that may be damaged by mold, documents, photographs, and artwork may be the most important to recover instead of replace. These may hold much more than sentimental value. Documents may be vitally important, while artwork may represent a significant financial investment. Depending on the type of item damaged, and the extent of the damage, there are multiple specialized drying techniques available through mold remediation specialists.
Personal belongings that suffer mold damage are often thrown away instead of salvaged unless they hold strong sentimental value. Mold cleaning services exist to help restore artworks, furniture, clothes, and more. It could save you money on replacement items if those you already own are able to be cleaned.

How To Identify and Remove Black Mold From Your Cooling System

8/20/2022 (Permalink)

Mold inside an air duct can be difficult to spot

How to Recognize and Get Rid of Black Mold in Your Cooling System

Black mold is an especially nasty form of fungus. Although typically found on ceilings and walls, these notorious spores also grow within air vents. This presents a distinct problem, as temperature control systems are natural spreaders of airborne contaminants. When an infestation takes hold inside your system, get rid of the offending intruder ahead of staff becoming negatively affected.

Identifying Mold Inside Air Ducts
The mold that lurks inside your air conditioning unit in Rock Hill, MO, can be difficult to spot. Find it by:

• Searching for black dust
• Smelling for musty odors
• Removing and visually inspecting suspected vents

If your building’s ventilation does, indeed, have black mold and it has been there for a considerable amount of time, it may have spread beyond your ability to treat it without qualified aid. Contact a commercial mold remediation and restoration professional to handle the matter on your behalf.

Removing Mold From Inside Air Ducts
As soon as you determine that trouble exists, acquire safety equipment. Make use of rubber gloves, safety goggles and respiratory masks before attempting any cleaning.
Examine your insulation. Any that has become compromised must be removed. Disposal should be performed with an industrial vacuum. Many municipalities have strict regulations concerning storage and transportation of old insulation, so identify which rules apply to your area.
Combine one tablespoon of cleaning detergent with a half-tablespoon of baking soda and one cup of water to create your own mold removal solution. Bleach also makes an appropriate cleaner. Turn off the vents and rub your solution all over the interior with a clean cloth. Next, employ a light brush to scrub away any remaining mold. Once your freshly clean ducts have dried, spray them down with an EPA-approved mold growth inhibitor.
Black mold becomes a particularly noxious threat after it breaches HVAC units. If an issue emerges within yours, eliminate it before employees start breathing it in.

Preventing Water Damage at Your Business

6/28/2022 (Permalink)

Maintain landscaping

Water Damage Prevention for Your Business

Property managers are likely familiar with problems stemming from water in home and business properties. The damage from water can be extensive and costly. Licensed plumbing services in Clayton, MO, suggest that managers or owners observe four rules to minimize the risks of water damage to their businesses.

1. Maintain the Building's Exterior
A broken pipe is not the only risk of water damage. The gutters, downspouts, roofing, windows, doors, etc. can all provide access points for excess moisture. If you do not already, you should clean your gutters at a minimum in the spring and fall; however, many professionals suggest at the change of every season. Additionally, you should have your roof inspected annually for signs of wear. Finally, check all door and window seals, repairing any that are old and cracking.

2. Schedule Routine Pipe Cleanup and Assessment
Dealing with water in-home or a business is a challenge. After all, most building materials do not mix well with water. Therefore, to avoid water damage, you should consider having annual or more frequent plumbing inspections. Additionally, you should try to get the building sewers cleaned at least once per year.

3. Maintain Appliances
Appliances like freezers, washers, etc. are potential sources of a disaster. Like with plumbing and a building's exterior, you need to focus on appliance maintenance. Most appliances come with warranties or service guarantees. Do not be afraid to call manufacturers and take them up on their offers.

4. Maintain Landscaping
Landscaping needs to grade away from the building. If your property is not maintained, debris can allow moisture to sit and soak close to the building's foundation. Foundation cracking is often the result of gradation problems.
No property owner wants to deal with water in-home or at their business. By focusing on the above four tips, you can reduce your risks of water damage. You can also call a professional to assess specific preventive actions you can take.

Our Newest General Manager!

6/21/2022 (Permalink)

Congratulations to our newest General Manager, Steve Burgdorf!

It’s time to announce our newest General Manager, Steve Burgdorf! Starting as a part-time employee over ten years ago, owner Kevin Thole says Steve has been instrumental to our mission and growth, rising through the ranks to his newest position.

In addition to his glow-up (featured above??), Steve has gained invaluable wisdom in the world of restoration and serving others. A typical day in the life of Steve includes showing up early and working late, solving problems and making sure operations run smoothly and efficiently. And while he’s great at those things, Steve’s favorite part of the job is helping people who have had their lives upended from property damage get back on their feet. There’s always something new, and the opportunity to see others reach their personal and professional goals gets Steve excited every day.

Steve is inspired by the positive and optimistic people around him — an optimism he also reflects — and relishes a challenge. Even when days are long and tough, Steve says that it is rewarding to know you’ve made a positive difference in people’s lives, and that makes everything worth it.

Thanks for all you do Steve! You’re a rockstar!

Stay tuned for an announcement regarding Steve’s other promotion this week!

3 Facts About Mold Remediation Costs

1/24/2022 (Permalink)

Mold remediation in Glendale, MO.

Mold Removal Costs

Mold remediation can be an expensive process. Determining which type of mold is present and the extent of an infestation may cost anywhere from several hundred dollars to $1,000 before remediation. Here are three facts to keep in mind regarding mold removal costs.

1. Costs Come in Several Stages

A visit from an environmental hygienist may take several hours and range from $200 to $600. This specialist will take air samples to analyze. Analysis of each sample may cost $30 to $150. Remediation is the most expensive phase of the process. If mold growth is limited to crawlspaces or a small portion of a home, cleanup may cost up to $5,000. If mold growth is more extensive, expenses may range up to $6,000 or more. If structural damage is widespread, cleanup can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 or more.

2. Most Homeowners Insurance Excludes Mold Remediation

It may be difficult to get a claim to remove mold covered by standard homeowners insurance. An additional rider or endorsement may be available for this damage. It may also be possible to obtain coverage if mold results from a covered peril and you have proof that you have done everything you can to mitigate or prevent damage.

3. Black Mold Removal May Be More Expensive

If toxigenic mold is present in a residence, the cleanup process may end up being more expensive. Remediation professionals may recommend that homeowners arrange for a decontamination chamber or airlock around quarantined areas. Additional equipment may be necessary if the infestation is widespread.

These three facts should prepare a homeowner to spend at least several thousand dollars on mold removal, even for a minor infestation. It may be possible to simplify the remediation process and obtain a more accurate estimation of the total cost of these procedures by contacting a full-service mold damage restoration company in Glendale, MO.