If you have had a home or some kind of building submerged in water, by way of either rain, or some kind of flood, then you are probably well aware of just how frustrating of a task drying it out can be. If you have not had to do this before, then you’re in luck, because here are some different ways to start drying it out.
One of the most unexpected things that can happen is a flood. And sometimes, the water can get high enough to where it can get inside of your home, or building, and drying this water out is a long arduous process. And, depending on the building, hot air drying techniques can do more harm than do help.
The very first thing you should do before drying your building out, is to make sure that there is no room for electrical hazard. You should make sure that all of the power in your home is completely off. You shouldn’t just be aware of the electrical hazards; you should keep an eye out for biological ones, because the flood water could very well be infected with human waste, chemicals, dead bodies, and countless amounts of bacteria that could cause serious medical harm. It is important that you protect your eyes, hands, mouth, and wear a respirator. You should wash your hands very thoroughly after cleaning, and once again before eating. It is recommended that you use strong disinfectant hand soap.
It is also important that you keep documentation of the damage done to your home. It is preferred that you document the damage with photos and a video camera. This will be a big help when making an insurance claim and finding out what compensation you will be eligible for.
You should also take time to make temporary repairs to prevent more water from getting into your home and causing further damage. Once again, these repairs should only be temporary.
A recommended place to begin drying out your home is the attic. If there is any wet insulation, you should remove it immediately, because it is cumbersome, and holds a lot of moisture for a long period of time causing more damage to the foundation, such as wood rot, rust, and drywall damage. It is also important to remove anything else that has water on it, or in it. You should make sure, after these measures are taken, that you keep your home cool, and that air is circulating. You might want to keep your windows open for a short amount of time, as long as it’s not raining.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
North Carolina Mold Remediation and other states such as
New Jersey Sewage Damage Cleanup companies across the united states.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Cladosporium Mold
Cladosporium mold is one of the most common and globally present molds in existence. It has around 40 species that are found in soil or on decaying organic matter and some studies that have been conducted in North America and in Europe claim that the mold is present outdoors year round, although the concentration of this mold is quite low during the winter.
In the summer, spore levels can reach from 2,000 to 50,000 particles per cubic meter of air. The air and concentration of these spores in your home are influenced by two factors: the outdoor concentration and whether the mold is growing in your house or not.
In the home, Cladosporium species manifest themselves as an infection in the walls, second to Penicillium species, Aspergillus species, and Wallemia sebi. It is prevalent on building materials that have gotten wet. The four species that occur most commonly are Cladosporium herbarum, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Cladosporium macrocarpum. The spores of these molds are dispersed by air currents and are extremely common in outdoor environments; when they are found indoors, they grow on surfaces where moisture is present.
The different species of this mold that occur are not generally human pathogens unless a person’s immune system has been compromised in some way. They do, however, have the tendency to cause allergic reactions in certain people. Exposure to high levels of spores can induce asthma and chronic allergies. A concentration of 3000 spores per cubic meter of air space are usually seen as being of clinical importance. Some people may react to a lower concentration of these spores depending upon their own individual sensitivity to them. Infections of the toenails and skin can occur, along with some reports of sinusitis and some pulmonary infections, but only rarely do these occur.
These species of mold are detected quite easily in mold test kits and spore traps around the home and can appear as black, grey, green, or brown when it grows upon a surface. Generally speaking, the only negative effects associated with Cladosporium are allergic reactions and are less serious of a threat than molds such as Penicillin, Aspergillus, and Stachybotrys. Prolonged exposure to Cladosporium, however, can cause weakened immune systems and while they do not produce any mycotoxins of any significance, they do produce some volatile organic compounds that are associated with odors.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Connecticut water damage restoration and other states such as
New Jersey Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.
In the summer, spore levels can reach from 2,000 to 50,000 particles per cubic meter of air. The air and concentration of these spores in your home are influenced by two factors: the outdoor concentration and whether the mold is growing in your house or not.
In the home, Cladosporium species manifest themselves as an infection in the walls, second to Penicillium species, Aspergillus species, and Wallemia sebi. It is prevalent on building materials that have gotten wet. The four species that occur most commonly are Cladosporium herbarum, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Cladosporium macrocarpum. The spores of these molds are dispersed by air currents and are extremely common in outdoor environments; when they are found indoors, they grow on surfaces where moisture is present.
The different species of this mold that occur are not generally human pathogens unless a person’s immune system has been compromised in some way. They do, however, have the tendency to cause allergic reactions in certain people. Exposure to high levels of spores can induce asthma and chronic allergies. A concentration of 3000 spores per cubic meter of air space are usually seen as being of clinical importance. Some people may react to a lower concentration of these spores depending upon their own individual sensitivity to them. Infections of the toenails and skin can occur, along with some reports of sinusitis and some pulmonary infections, but only rarely do these occur.
These species of mold are detected quite easily in mold test kits and spore traps around the home and can appear as black, grey, green, or brown when it grows upon a surface. Generally speaking, the only negative effects associated with Cladosporium are allergic reactions and are less serious of a threat than molds such as Penicillin, Aspergillus, and Stachybotrys. Prolonged exposure to Cladosporium, however, can cause weakened immune systems and while they do not produce any mycotoxins of any significance, they do produce some volatile organic compounds that are associated with odors.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Connecticut water damage restoration and other states such as
New Jersey Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.
SIDS Caused by Mold?
SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) has been a worry on every new parent’s mind for a long time and its cause has been a mystery for just as long. Scientists all over the world claim that SIDS can happen to any infant, anywhere, any time, and there is absolutely nothing the parents can do to stop it. Most parents simply resign themselves to this and say that there is nothing that they can do to stop SIDS from occurring, but the fact is that a new study out of New Zealand claims to know the cause of it.
The answer lies within the crib the child sleeps in! The chemicals of arsenic, phosphorus, and antimony were first manufactured into crib mattresses back in the mid 1900’s and these chemicals are required by law to be in mattresses as a fire retardant. But, it is not just the mattress alone that causes the crib death, the study says. It is only when mold finds its way into the mattress that you begin to have a problem. When Scopulariopsis brevicaulis gets into one of these mattresses that has these chemicals in it, it begins to feed on them and releases them back into the air as toxic fumes or nerve gases. It is activated by heat and so when the baby sleeps on it (or especially when it has a fever), the mold begins to grow more quickly and lets the gases out into the air.
While the gas disperses almost immediately, it is still dangerous for infants to sleep on the mattresses because they are breathing too close to the surface of it. They are breathing these gases while they are still potent and this is what causes crib death.
So, what can you do? Do not use anything in the crib that contains these chemicals and wrap the mattress in plastic to keep these dangerous gases from escaping. It’s best to do this when the mattress is brand new so you know there isn’t any mold in it and if you have an old mattress that was given to you by friends or relatives to use, throw it away. There are special baby mattress wraps that you can use to wrap up your baby’s mattress, but are only available from New Zealand.
Also, use only materials such as 100% Egyptian cotton blankets for your baby to sleep on. Do not use sheepskin, polyester, anything that is quilted, padded, or filled, pillows or cushions. 100% cotton is the best thing to use.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Houston Fire Damage Water Restoration Contractor companies and
Los Angeles Water Damage and Restoration Services.
The answer lies within the crib the child sleeps in! The chemicals of arsenic, phosphorus, and antimony were first manufactured into crib mattresses back in the mid 1900’s and these chemicals are required by law to be in mattresses as a fire retardant. But, it is not just the mattress alone that causes the crib death, the study says. It is only when mold finds its way into the mattress that you begin to have a problem. When Scopulariopsis brevicaulis gets into one of these mattresses that has these chemicals in it, it begins to feed on them and releases them back into the air as toxic fumes or nerve gases. It is activated by heat and so when the baby sleeps on it (or especially when it has a fever), the mold begins to grow more quickly and lets the gases out into the air.
While the gas disperses almost immediately, it is still dangerous for infants to sleep on the mattresses because they are breathing too close to the surface of it. They are breathing these gases while they are still potent and this is what causes crib death.
So, what can you do? Do not use anything in the crib that contains these chemicals and wrap the mattress in plastic to keep these dangerous gases from escaping. It’s best to do this when the mattress is brand new so you know there isn’t any mold in it and if you have an old mattress that was given to you by friends or relatives to use, throw it away. There are special baby mattress wraps that you can use to wrap up your baby’s mattress, but are only available from New Zealand.
Also, use only materials such as 100% Egyptian cotton blankets for your baby to sleep on. Do not use sheepskin, polyester, anything that is quilted, padded, or filled, pillows or cushions. 100% cotton is the best thing to use.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Houston Fire Damage Water Restoration Contractor companies and
Los Angeles Water Damage and Restoration Services.
Protecting Your Basement From Mold
While you should protect all areas of your home from mold, the basement is one of the most common areas to find it. Since it is underground, dark, and can be a moist, cluttered environment, this is almost the perfect place for mold to grow in the home. You might be able to smell the mold in your basement, but be unable to see it because it tends to hide behind sheetrock, wallpaper, under carpets, rugs, and etcetera. If you suspect mold exists in your basement, then the best thing to do is call in a professional or buy a mold testing kit. What can you do after the mold in your basement is removed to keep it from returning? Here are a few tips.
If there are any water spills or leaky pipes in your basement, do your best to get them cleaned up and dried as quickly as possible. Mold loves moisture and will grow almost anywhere that it exists. It can start to grow in as little as 48 hours after water is introduced to an environment.
A humidity meter can be purchased at the hardware store and you want to try and keep the humidity in the basement below 60 to 65 percent. You can also purchase a de-humidifier to help with this if you’re having trouble controlling the humidity. If you see condensation on your basement windows or on any pipes, dry these surfaces immediately and continue to try and reduce the humidity.
If your clothes dryer or shower is located in the basement, make sure that the hot air it puts out is vented to the outside.
The soil outside your home should be sloped away from the foundation so that water flows away from the basement. If it is not, water will begin to leak inside and allow mold to begin growing in the house.
Keep the air moving around in the basement. Allowing air to become stagnant is another factor that encourages mold to grow. Well-ventilated areas of the home are rarely as moldy as areas that have no ventilation at all.
Try not to store papers or cardboard boxes directly on the floor. Mold likes to eat anything that has its base in organic material, especially paper and wood of any kind. It is the natural job of mold to decompose organic material, but you do not want it doing this in your basement.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
water damage restoration contractors and
Mold Remediation companies across the united states.
If there are any water spills or leaky pipes in your basement, do your best to get them cleaned up and dried as quickly as possible. Mold loves moisture and will grow almost anywhere that it exists. It can start to grow in as little as 48 hours after water is introduced to an environment.
A humidity meter can be purchased at the hardware store and you want to try and keep the humidity in the basement below 60 to 65 percent. You can also purchase a de-humidifier to help with this if you’re having trouble controlling the humidity. If you see condensation on your basement windows or on any pipes, dry these surfaces immediately and continue to try and reduce the humidity.
If your clothes dryer or shower is located in the basement, make sure that the hot air it puts out is vented to the outside.
The soil outside your home should be sloped away from the foundation so that water flows away from the basement. If it is not, water will begin to leak inside and allow mold to begin growing in the house.
Keep the air moving around in the basement. Allowing air to become stagnant is another factor that encourages mold to grow. Well-ventilated areas of the home are rarely as moldy as areas that have no ventilation at all.
Try not to store papers or cardboard boxes directly on the floor. Mold likes to eat anything that has its base in organic material, especially paper and wood of any kind. It is the natural job of mold to decompose organic material, but you do not want it doing this in your basement.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
water damage restoration contractors and
Mold Remediation companies across the united states.
Easy Ways To Maintain A Smoke Free Fireplace
Quite a few homes have fireplaces, but not all of them are fit to be used as they are because they have not been cleaned in so long that when you do try to use them, it fills the house with smoke. This can do a lot of damage to the inside of the home, including ruin the paint on your walls, your curtains, and discolor your carpet. It is also a health risk, since breathing this in is not good for anyone, but the elderly, people with allergies, pets, and children are especially affected. Fortunately, though, in most situations you can make a fire that will not smoke up your house without much trouble as long as you follow a few rules.
The damper of your chimney needs to be open before you do anything. Burn some paper or other easily combustible materials in the fireplace, because you want to warm the chimney up. Cold air in the chimney is will push the warm air down and cause the smoke to fill up the room.
Open up the windows in the house and make sure that there is enough air circulating to ignite the fire. A home that is insulated well might not have enough of a draft to allow the wood to catch on fire.
You should also have some fireplace bricks underneath the grill to add some more air circulation to the process. More draft in the fireplace will make it easier for the fire to ignite.
The top of the fireplace also needs to be cleaned out regularly, since anything that gets stuck in it like leaves, sticks, bird nests can keep the smoke from being able to escape and so it floods back into the house, which is exactly where you do not want it.
You should also have the fireplace cleaned by a professional cleaning service if possible, since a layer of creosote is likely built up on the inside of the chimney. This is a tar-like substance that results from burning wood in the fireplace and if your chimney has not been professionally cleaned before and you have lived in your house for many years, then it is time for it to be. Creosote can catch on fire and cause the whole house to burn down, so having it cleaned out is essential.
To keep your fireplace functioning the way that it should, you need to know how to use it and take care of it and by the time winter gets to you, you will be able to enjoy your fireplace once again.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
water damage restoration companies and
Dallas Residential Water Damage Restoration Contractors.
The damper of your chimney needs to be open before you do anything. Burn some paper or other easily combustible materials in the fireplace, because you want to warm the chimney up. Cold air in the chimney is will push the warm air down and cause the smoke to fill up the room.
Open up the windows in the house and make sure that there is enough air circulating to ignite the fire. A home that is insulated well might not have enough of a draft to allow the wood to catch on fire.
You should also have some fireplace bricks underneath the grill to add some more air circulation to the process. More draft in the fireplace will make it easier for the fire to ignite.
The top of the fireplace also needs to be cleaned out regularly, since anything that gets stuck in it like leaves, sticks, bird nests can keep the smoke from being able to escape and so it floods back into the house, which is exactly where you do not want it.
You should also have the fireplace cleaned by a professional cleaning service if possible, since a layer of creosote is likely built up on the inside of the chimney. This is a tar-like substance that results from burning wood in the fireplace and if your chimney has not been professionally cleaned before and you have lived in your house for many years, then it is time for it to be. Creosote can catch on fire and cause the whole house to burn down, so having it cleaned out is essential.
To keep your fireplace functioning the way that it should, you need to know how to use it and take care of it and by the time winter gets to you, you will be able to enjoy your fireplace once again.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
water damage restoration companies and
Dallas Residential Water Damage Restoration Contractors.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
