Homeowners and Commercial Property Managers have a new problem on their hands – Black Mold has become a national threat and the mere mention of it causes waves of panic in residential and commercial occupants of homes and buildings.

In actuality, all the “information” on the internet about black mold is a combination of hype and reality. The two major questions you want to ask yourself when you are presented with a potential black mold problem are:

1. Can black mold in any amount be a health issue?
2. When do I hire a professional to remove the black mold?

Imagine a tenant, working in a commercial building, calls the property manager panicking because he sees a small, quarter-size black mold growth on the wall next to his cubicle. He has “researched” online and has learned that black mold has killed animals and can make humans very sick. The property manager, concerned for the health of the tenant and the legal liability, goes into a panic as well.

What both parties don’t realize, is that while the visual mold is worrisome, of greater concern is the amount of mold and the quantity of black mold spores. Many people fail to understand and/or remember that mold is an organic substance and is found everywhere – in every building and home and has been that way since the dawn of time. Even the cleanest home and/or commercial property will have some amount of mold in it.

So, exactly how much mold is a health hazard? The answer is based on two criteria. The first is how much mold is outside the home (or building) compared to how much is inside. The second criteria is the difference in the amount of mold spores between the affected room (or tenant space) and the non-affected rooms. If it is discovered that the room or space in question has higher levels of mold spore counts than the non-affected areas, then mold removal or mold remediation becomes your next step.

Once this is determined, you will need to decide whether to hire a professional company to do the remediation, or if you can and/or should do it yourself. The answer to this varies depending upon who you ask. If you read the EPA Guidelines or the New York Health Department Guidelines on Mold Removal, they will advise that any mold problem with over one hundred (100) square feet of mold surface (a combination of all areas), should use a professional mold removal company. Any amount less than that can be performed by a non-professional – assuming that they follow the proper guidelines. However, there are other guidelines that suggest that due to health concerns and the possibility of law suits, that any amount of black mold should be re-mediated by a professional.

Whichever path you choose to solve the mold issue in your home or commercial building, health concerns and legal liability are probably going to be your guiding factors. Due to the public’s inadequate understanding of mold and the scientific community’s lack of definitive proof on the effects of mold, the answers are not cut and dry. When considering the best solution for removing black mold (or any type of mold), you must evaluate your particular situation. If you have any doubts, hire a professional company to protect yourself. Additionally, be sure that any company you hire follows the IICRC 502 Mold Remediation Guidelines, the most common mold guidelines.

So, you suspect that you may have mold, but you are not certain. You have a musty odor and/or you see an area that looks like mold on your walls or ceilings. While beginning to panic, you look online and see that there are Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Mold Test Kits. Since this seems much more cost-effective than hiring a professional (which can cost around $350.00 for mold testing), you head to the nearest store to pick one up!

At the store, you see various brands and the costs are even more reasonable than you initially thought – generally between $10 and $30. Once you get the kit home, you open it to find a petri dish and sticky solution which you place in the room that you believe may have mold. You carefully follow the instructions and after the allotted 24-48 hours, determine that you indeed have some type of mold growth. To find out exactly what type of mold you have, you now send your sample off to the company for “lab testing” (there are over 1,000 kinds of mold typically found indoors). Approximately a week later, the results come back and they tell you indeed have mold and the exact type of mold you have.

However, there are a few issues with your results. First, most of the mold test companies tell you to send in 2 samples. One from the room you believe is infected and the other from outside. This is because there are mold spores everywhere and they need to compare the difference between inside and outside to determine if there is a problem. Unfortunately, the test sample from outside is difficult to get accurate results for due to weather conditions, placement, sun exposure, etc. Since they want 2 samples to compare, you have now doubled your initial expense for the kits.

The next concern about DIY test kits is the petri dish sampling. While this can be an effective method, it is important to remember that mold will grow on almost any surface if the conditions are right. If a mold spore hits the surface in the petri dish (which can easily have come in on your clothes or through an open window), it will grow, but may not be because of mold growth in that particular room.

As well, molds grow at different rates. So, your “lab results” that tell you the types of mold present in your home can be inaccurate. A particular mold may be more prominent in your results simply because it grows faster than the other molds and choked them out in the petri dish during incubation. Furthermore, these tests always come with the disclaimer that False Negatives and False Positives are a possibility due to the fact that the purchaser/user are not mold professionals and could have made errors during the testing.

However, the most frustrating issue with the DIY testing kits is the money. While it seemed like such a good price, the lab fees are extra. And since they recommend 2 kits, that is double that amount to get results that may or may not be very accurate! In addition, many of the “lab results” come back with a recommendation of hiring a mold testing company to confirm their findings. That means that you spent between $100 to $150 for the DIY testing and now they want you to hire the professionals for the additional cost! When all is said and done, this process really only cost you more money than you would have spent hiring the professional in the first place!

The bottom line is that Do It Yourself Mold Testing Kits, while seeming inexpensive, don’t create accurate useable and useful information to lead to understanding the mold problem you actually have. It also doesn’t guide you on correct mold treatments that should be used, or whether it is wise to do the clean-up yourself or hire a Certified Mold Remediation Contractor. While these kits seem good in theory, with you and your family’s health at stake, it is advisable to have a professional evaluate this serious situation.

The process of removing junk can be back breaking and time consuming which is why our team is here to help in the process. Our service includes a team of workers to come in and throw everything out and is priced by how much the truck is filled up.

Trash & Junk Removal Services

• Trash Removal
• Garbage Clean-up
• Cleaning after a remodeling
• Rubbish Removal
• Demolition Cleanup
• Tire Pick-up and Disposal
• Debris Hauling

Debris, Rubbish, Trash, Junk, or any type of item that you need hauled away and disposed of than you’ve found the right company, as SI Restoration can remove any unwanted item. SI Restoration can handle any junk removal process if it’s small or large. The service can be as easy as hiring our staff to take away the junk for you while you go out on the town and enjoy the day. The pricing is competitive and our staff is friendly and insured in case someone gets hurt. SI Restoration prides itself on great customer service and is rating a A+ on BBB.

 Call SI Restoration at the number above for your Junk Removal, Debris, Garbage, or Trash Clean-up needs or use the contact form below.

Water Damage

SI Restoration is IICRC certified to respond day or night for kitchen floods, overflow of a sink that damages your house, leakage from an upper floor that soaks your carpet, bathroom flooding, or any type of water damage; we are here to help you. Our staff  has  a combined 300 years of emergency clean up experience to get your water damage extracted, dried and put back to a how it was before the damage. .

Water Damage, Flooding Cleanup, Snow Damage, and other types of Water Damage can create serious problems if not addressed ASAP. Mold damage could ruin drywall and insulation and wood floors can warp and have to be replaced if not dried immediately. If you decide to wait, please beware that the insurance company may not cover your water damage later on. The insurance company requires that you the homeowner or property manager quickly and correctly start the clean up process including water extraction and drying. By just waiting one day may cause a claim denial.

Fire Damage

If you live in Philadelphia, Montgomery county, Delaware county, Bucks county, and Chester County don’t worry SI Restoration has trained employees ready to help you 24 hours seven days a week. Everything from boarding up the windows and doors to smoke damaged walls and floors. SI Restoration has IICRC certified technicians in fire damage clean up which will get your home or commercial property ready for painting or construction. SI Restoration treats all size fires as if it were the worse fire damage in the world. Kitchen fires, laundry room fires, electrical fires, bedroom fire damages are all treated with professionalism and compassion.

Mold Removal and Mold Remediation

Mold removal and mold remediation is serious business. Just wiping the mold away may actually create more mold spores, which creates an even bigger problem.  SI Restoration follows IICRC guidelines which reassures you that we will make sure that not only will the mold be cleaned up correctly, but the mold will not spread due to faulty workmanship and incorrect practices. There is no size limit or minimum amount of mold that SI Restoration can’t handle. Our goal with mold removal and mold remediation is simple. Our mission is to create a healthy environment and reduce the chance of liability.

Hoarding Clean Up

Let’s face it, if you have the hoarding illness or have a loved one who has the hoarding illness, it can be embarrassing. What makes it easier is that SI Restoration has trained case managers who are NCGCS certified and trained, to have compassion and create a non judgmental and understanding relationship with the hoarder.  Don’t be afraid to call us, we will keep your situation confidential, and we have certified employees to take care of your hoarding situation.  Whether it’s animal hoarding or hoarding of paperwork, we are here for you and can assist you in living in a healthier environment.

Junk Hauling and Junk Removal

Everybody at some time collects too many things or finds themselves in a situation with large items such as refrigerators, sofas, appliances, and just big and bulky items. Whether you are faced with huge piles of unwanted items or just just have too much stuff, let SI Restoration get it off your hands. SI Restoration has the big trucks and the man power to pick up and take away all your stuff. SI Restoration offers:

• 15 Foot cube trucks
• 30 day billing available for commercial customers
• 24 hour seven days a week same day service ( additional charges may apply )
• 2 employees or more depending on need
• Will recycle or donate items if applicable
• Fully insured and bonded
• Technicians uniformed, background tested and drug tested
• Cleaning services available

Crime Scene Clean Up

If you are dealing with a crime scene or blood and body fluid clean up situation, SI Restoration would like to extend our condolences. Although we clean up after crime scene situations daily, every situation is heart breaking and sad. We understand the last thing you are thinking about is the cleaning up after a loved one or friend. Fortunately, SI Restoration is open 24 hours 7 days a week and can get an ABRA certified technician to your home or business within 2 hours.  Weather it is a murder situation, suicide, bio hazard or any type of blood spill or body fluid clean up, SI Restoration has the technicians that will assist you with respect and maturity in your time of need.

Smoke Damage

Most homeowners don’t realize that smoke particles have an average size of .04 micron in size. The smoke particles are so small that smoke can get behind cabinets, inside wall cavities and into areas that no human can reach or touch. Missing these areas can lead to smoke odor and future smoke residue that will resurface on your walls and furniture. SI Restoration has over 22 years of experience in cleaning, removing and solving smoke damage issues. Our smoke clean up team can assist you with any smoke clean up situation coming from kitchen fires, electrical fires and smoke related situations.

Blood Cleanup

Blood spills and blood clean up situations can be caused by many situations such as medical, murders and suicides. Cleaning up of blood is not as simple as taking a rag and some cleaner. Blood contains many life threatening diseases including AIDS, hepatitis , etc. One wrong move may cause you to contract the blood that you are cleaning up. SI Restoration and it’s employees are OSHA blood borne Pathogen trained and ABRA certified. Our technicians are available 24/7 around the clock to assist you in cleaning up the blood and keeping you and others safe. We also have the experience to make sure that all blood effected materials are removed to keep the area safe for home residents and employees in a building.

SI Restoration has a staff on call at all times depending on your situation and can handle a small residential restoration or a large commercial restoration. With over 22 years of experience we hope that you choose SI Restoration.

SI Restoration services Water Damage, Fire Damage, Smoke Damage, Hoarding Clean Up, Junk Removal, Mold Removal, Crime Scene Clean Up and Blood Cleanup in Philadelphia and it’s surrounding states.

For more information on our services, please call the number above or use our contact form.

Removing debris from a commercial building.

SI Restoration has years of experience with cleaning up and cleaning out your home or business. Our goal is to remove your junk with the best customer service at a good price. Our Philadelphia region, obtains a brand new fleet of trucks to remove your junk and our staff is ready for your junk removal situation.

The team at SI Restoration has been helping and assisting clean-outs for over 22 years and has the expertise and skills to make sure the items are removed properly. Our service is easy, we come into your home and remove your junk relieving you of wasted time that it would take you to make multiple trips to the local dump and the time to travel back and forth. The Philadelphia Junk Removal team is trained to remove your items and fill up our trucks. The home owner or business owner typically saves money from having someone else do all the hard work because it would save you gas, hours of work from cleaning, and having to make multiple trips to the local dump.

SI Restoration Junk Removal Philadelphia Services Include:

• Free Estimates
• Professional and Courteous Staff
• Fully Insured Employees
• Competitive Pricing

Providing Philadelphia with Cleanup of:

• Construction Debris
• Appliances
• Unwanted Furniture
• Garage Clean-outs
• Various other junk and items

Please contact us at the number above or with our contact form below for Junk Removal in Philadelphia or the surrounding areas.

Mold abatement, also known as mold removal, has become a major concern in the United States in the last few decades. Prior to that, mold abatement was hardly a thought in most commercial property managers and homeowner minds.

Mold abatement in the early 1900′s was comprised of taking a rag and some household cleaner and wiping the walls down. If the mold came back, the clean-up process was repeated. People were not concerned and mold based lawsuits were practically nonexistent. The earliest cases of mold-related illnesses were in the 1800′s in Prague, where there was mold covered hay that affected the health of farm animals and in the 1930′s in Russia, again with mold covered hay.

However, in the 1980′s mold was connected to major health issues (nasal congestion, skin rashes, asthma, headaches, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, etc.), creating a need for performing mold abatement correctly and effectively to prevent the mold from spreading.

There are over 1,000 different types of mold. Mold occurs naturally in our environment and is the earth’s organic recyclers. However, when mold is able to grow indoors, problems can occur. The biggest issue when performing mold abatement is spores. Mold releases spores to reproduce. The spores are what cause illness. These spores become airborne and are able to grow on any organic substance if they are introduced to optimal conditions. Mold releases spores whenever it feels threatened (this is its way of ensuring its own survival!) Mold feels threatened and releases spores whenever it is disturbed in any way (mainly by trying to cut-out and clean-up the mold!).

The key to performing effective mold abatement is to prevent the spreading of mold spores. Although there are few national guidelines for mold abatement, almost all require containment. Containment, as it sounds, is the process of containing the work area that the mold is in to prevent the spores from leaving the contained area and affecting the outside areas.

Although that may sound simple in theory, mold spores are so small that unless the containment is secure, the mold spores can easily escape. To ensure that the contained area prevents the spores from leaving, certain procedures must happen.

Here are the standard mold abatement procedures to ensure that the contained area is secure:

1.  Plastic walls must surround the mold affected area using 6 mil plastic.
2. An entrance way is created by securing a specially designed zipper on one (1) wall.
3. A negative air machine creates constant suction in the room removing any spores that will be created when the mold abatement is being performed. (The negative air machine is a powerful vacuum-like machine with a HEPA filter attached and a plastic tube leaving the containment. The tube leaving the containment temporary plastic wall leads to the outside of the house or commercial property.)

Once this process has been set up, the chances of mold spores leaving the work area are very minimal.

Now, the actual mold abatement can be performed. When the work is finished, the negative air machine stays on for a few days to ensure that the mold abatement and the equipment have been successful. Please be aware that a visual inspection of the removal process may not be enough. A qualified mold testing company should be hired to determine if the mold and mold spores are at a safe level.

Blood Cleaning- Risks, Procedures, Diseases, and Suggestions

There are times when the process of blood cleaning falls on every person. Whether you are cleaning up after an accident, trauma, crime or death, you will want a company to assist you quickly, compassionately and completely.

Blood Clean Up Risks

Blood cleaning after a small cut or other small accident can seem very simple. However, any body fluid left on floors, carpets, baseboards, etc. can lead to mold, bacteria and fungus growth and can cause illness months, or even years later. Federal regulations deem all body fluids to be biohazards and a qualified and responsible restoration company will always treat the clean-up this way!

To understand the correct process for blood clean-up, let’s discuss a few of the situations you will be presented with.

Blood cleaning procedures are much more complicated than most untrained people believe. Many individuals believe that getting a mop, bucket and some rags will suffice. However, blood cleaning is a lot more involved. When you see blood on the floor, walls and/or carpet, the safest thing you can do for yourself is to assume that the blood is from someone that has been in contact with an infectious disease. Even if the blood is from a trusted person, this assumption could save your life!

Blood Cleanup Procedures

The first thing you need to do before cleaning up any blood is protect yourself. The best way to protect yourself is to follow the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen rules. These guidelines, designed by the United States Federal Government, protect anyone involved with biohazard and blood cleaning tasks. They detail the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and blood cleaning procedures. If worn correctly (by following the guidelines and manufacturer suggestions), PPE will significantly reduce the chances of catching any diseases or illnesses. As you can see by this statement, PPE does not guarantee protection while performing blood cleaning, but it does offer the greatest safety net for individuals to limit their exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

Blood Cleaning Diseases

Next, you need to think about is where the blood is. If the blood is on carpet, the stained area itself must be removed safely. Using a carpet knife may sound basic, but one wrong move and the carpet knife could cut skin, leaving you vulnerable to infectious disease. Blood soaked mattresses present another hazard. Carrying a mattress through a home is difficult enough without blood. Imagine carrying out a mattress containing blood. Microscopic droplets of blood could be infecting the person carrying it as well as every area that the mattress is carried through! The professionally trained biohazard technician will cut the mattress up into smaller pieces and place the pieces into biohazard bags. This adheres to state and local regulations and makes it easier for the technicians to remove the items from the house without creating more blood cleaning issues. In addition to following these regulations, the American Biohazard Recovery Association (ABRA) certified technicians will use a specially designed cutting tool that is intended to cut the blood soaked mattresses and carpeting without injuring the user.

Blood Cleanup Suggestions

As you can see, blood cleaning after a small accident or in the aftermath of a terrible event can be very difficult and cause great risk to human health. It is vital that anyone attempting to perform any type of blood cleaning follow all OSHA, EPA, federal, state and local regulations and procedures. There are additional guidelines and techniques included with the OSHA Bloodborne guidelines and ABRA certifications for blood cleaning. The best suggestion is to study and read these guidelines before attempting to clean up after a blood situation or to hire a licensed, insured and certified company to assist you with this daunting and traumatic task.

For more information on Blood Cleanup in your area, please contact the number at the top of this page or use our contact form.

“ Do I need Mold Testing?”

Many Washington DC property managers and owners are now receiving mold complaints in greater numbers than ever before. The media and the internet has created a type of hysteria that wasn’t present 20 years ago. Property owners, commercial or residential in Washington DC now face a major challenge. The major challenge is how do they know if they have mold, and how do we know that the mold has been removed completely.

The only way to answer those two questions is to perform mold testing. The problem now is that there are many different ways to test for mold and different kinds of mold testers. How does one know how to trust one Washington DC mold tester from another? To help out I have listed and discussed the different options in testing for mold in Washington DC to help make the most informed decision.

Home Mold Testing Kits- You can find these kits in any department store or hardware store. They are easy to use and in most cases you will discover some type of growth. The reason is simple. Mold and bacteria float in the air in every house and building all the time. There is no way to control the flow of mold spores especially in the Washington DC area which is near wooded areas and water inlets. So when one uses a mold kit to test for mold, it is a guarantee that they will find some type of mold growth. Washington DC residents shouldn’t be alarmed as this is a natural issue. The question is not whether you have mold, but how much mold you have in your home compared to what is normal in your area in Washington DC. This reasoning argues the purpose of mold kits and the false hope it gives.

Washington DC Mold Containment & Removal

Rental Air Testers- Rental mold air testers are machinery that tests the mold spore count in the air to determine if you have too much mold and what kinds of mold you have. You can find these machines via the internet. The problem with the average person using these machines, is the accuracy of readings. These machines used inaccurately may create false readings and create hysteria and worry.

“ The mold tester”- You will find these companies or persons all over the internet and in ads in publications. The mold tester is a person who has gone to a certification one day or two day school to become certified in “ mold testing”. The problem here is that the schools themselves are not certified through the state or government. Although these mold testing schools mean well and probably do a good job, there certification and certified students will lose a case in a state or federal court due to a lack of expertise. Any opposing attorney if you are sued because of mold will bring in a certified Industrial Hygienist to prove that there testing and readings are false and performed incorrectly.

Industrial Hygienist- Industrial Hygienists sound like they would only be used for big factories and medical labs. Actually many of them are available for homes and commercial property management in Washington DC. The industrial hygienist is just like a mold tester, except they have actual scientific degrees. There years of education and experience gives two major advantages. One fact is that there testing, is taken more serious in most legal court systems. The second is that they actually will take the legal responsibility if they test an area after it has been re-mediated and the mold has been removed. This means if the mold comes back there liability insurance will cover any legal damages that may occur if mold comes back after there testing. The other mold testers can not make that claim.

Mold testing as you can see has different outcomes depending on who is testing and testing with what. The major lesson is to understand what and who you are dealing with when it comes to mold testing in Washington DC.

For more information on our Washington DC Mold Remediation Services, please visit our Mold Removal page, call us at the number above, or use the contact form below.

Washington DC Mold Removal Contact Us Form

“Why can’t just any cleaning company in New Jersey clean up Crime Scenes”?

New Jersey has it’s fair share of crimes including murders, suicides and attempted suicides.  These types of crimes also create other issues such as blood and body fluids that spill and splatter over everything including walls, carpets, flooring, mattresses and other absorbent materials. But one could assume that all it takes is plastic gloves, mops, buckets and nerves of steel. For cleaning companies in New Jersey who believe this, there are other issues they will face. Those issues are workman’s comp issues, incorrect disposal of medical waste and law suits for failure to properly clean up a bio hazard issue leaving medical waste to harm others. Let’s review each issue.

Crime Scene Cleaning New Jersey Issue 1

Getting in the cleaning business, especially in New Jersey is easy. Just go to the store and buy rags, cleaner, some mops and your in business. The problem becomes challenging when blood and body fluids become an issue. Let’s take a situation that happens all the time. A cleaning company receives a call from a family member extremely upset that their cousin has attempted suicide. As the cousin is quickly taken away to the hospital, the family now notices that blood sprayed and spilled all over the room. As any blood related situation is disturbing, so is the cleaning up of the blood and body fluids. A family member suggests calling a cleaning service and the cleaning service that comes to the house assumes that cleaning up of blood and body fluids can’t be that much different than cleaning up after there own children’s nose bleeds.

The cleaning crew starts cleaning and mid way an employee yells “ oh my “ I cut my finger on a blood stained scissors that was left on the floor by the victim. The employee starts crying because they now assume that maybe the suicide victim may have had AIDS or hepatitis. He runs to the car and to the nearest New Jersey hospital. Luckily the victim didn’t have either diseases, but the scissors did have rust and now the employee has Tetanus. The employee sues the employer because the employer never got workman’s compensation insurance. To make matters worse the employee also sues the homeowner for his injuries as the injuries were done at their home.

Crime Scene Clean Up New Jersey Issue 2

The New Jersey cleaning service who believes that nothing could get worse gets another source of bad news. After cleaning up the crime scene ( suicide is considered a crime legally ), the blood stained carpet, blankets, and the blood it self was found by a nearby dumpster. The State Of New Jersey health department inspects a complaint that blood items were found in a public area and unsecured according to New Jersey State Law. Now the cleaning company has added a crime of illegally dumping medical waste at an improper facility. Believe it or not, but the family of the suicide victim who hired the cleaning company is also in trouble because it was there responsibility to have hired a company who is certified and has the knowledge to dispose of medical waste.

Blood Clean Up New Jersey Issue 3

Most would think there would be enough problems, but sadly there is more. The cleaning company gets another call from the family that a visitor in the house stepped on the carpet and blood squished on their shoes and feet. The visitor is now suing the family for infecting them and for letting them in an area that was still contaminated. The family is suing the cleaning company for not using blood and body fluid clean up industry standard procedures and following OSHA Blood Borne Standards including but limited to removing any item that possibly absorbed blood.

The bottom line is that cleaning up crime scene situations in New Jersey  is a serious issue involving moral, safety and legal issues. It is advised that clean up companies in New Jersey should refer any blood and body fluid issues and crime scene clean up situations to ABRA certified companies and those companies who understand New Jersey laws involving disposal and transportation of blood and body fluids.

A few major cities served for Crime Scene Clean Up New Jersey:

• Newark, NJ

• Jersey City, NJ

• Paterson, NJ

• Elizabeth, NJ

• Edison, NJ

• Toms River, NJ

• Trenton, NJ

• Clifton, NJ

• Camden, NJ

If you are in need of a New Jersey Crime Scene Clean Up company, please call the number at the top of this page or use our contact form.

Washington DC has it’s fair share of flood damages as compared to other areas throughout the US. Washington DC has older homes and with that, older appliances, plumbing and other structure materials that over time, the weather can make them crack. The cracking or breaking of these items leads to water intrusion and water damages . These damages can be as small as a puddle, to flooding entire floors in homes and building in Washington DC.

Although Washington DC residents have a multitude of vendors and resources to prevent water damages and flooding, there are times that even the best kept home and best managed building will leak and have mass water damage. The best alternative after doing preventive maintenance is to prepare for a flood cleanup and how to protect the important items that may get wet after flooding and water damage.

Water Damage and Humidity Damage Concerns

One important issue when having a water damage or flooding problem in Washington DC is important papers, documents and of course computers and other electronic devices. It is advised to remove all of these items; water damaged or not, due to possible humidity damage. It is not surprising to see papers and folders on the floor scattered around the tables and desks, which are now soaking wet and maybe floating around. When papers and folders get wet they stick together and are hard to separate. While you are waiting for your water damage restoration company to arrive and extract the water and dry the wet carpets and walls to prevent mold, it’s probably a good idea to start examining the wet papers and computers and electronic devices.

Electronic Water Damage Advice

Your first step if possible, is to remove all items of concern into a dry area. be careful with wet papers as they may tear when being removed. Computers should be shut down and any information should be backed up before moving the device.

Water Restoration in Washington DC for Protecting Carpets

When moving the wet papers and electronic devices, one should be careful where they are sitting these items, and what they are sitting them on. Many Washington DC Water Damage victims place their wet damaged items on newspapers and colored towels. Wet newspaper when sitting on the carpet can actually transfer the news articles on the dry carpet. Also wet colored towels and clothes can also transfer their color onto the floor and carpet that they are resting on. The best advice is to rest wet items and wet papers on a white clean sheet on a hard surface. The best choice is concrete and hard surface vinyl flooring.

When these items are in a dry area, bring in a fan to start air movement on the wet items. If possible, remove these devices from the house so the dry air can start to remove the moisture from the important electronic parts. Never plug in your electronic device ( i.e computer , calculator, etc. ) while it is wet or when you think it may be dry. Always take the electronic devices to a certified repairman specializing in the device that was wet to determine if these devices are still useable.

Water Damage Equipment and Preparation

Papers should be dried first before starting to handle the documents and folders. Many Washington DC water damage residents believe that it is good to open up the windows to let fresh air in or turn up the heat to help dry the air. These actions are the worse thing to do. Too much heat caused mold to start to grow faster and the open windows actually bring in more mold spores from outside. The best thing to do is make sure the air condition system ( HVAC ) is on at all times. The HVAC system acts as a mini dehumidifier assisting the drying process.

The big lesson to learn is that extracting water and drying wet carpet is not the only issue of concern with water damage problems in Washington DC. Those items can be replaced with greater ease than important papers and computers. So when the water damage restoration contractor is on their way to your house or commercial building, start looking at those important papers and electronic devices.

Water Damage in Washington DC Main Points:

• Over time weather can make items crack which allows water damage
• Create a plan to protect important items
• Backup Information on potentially water damaged devices
• Avoid placing wet items on colored towels and newspapers
• Take electronic devices to a professional repairman
• Don’t open windows or turn on the heater as it can cause mold growth
• Keep the air conditioner on as it can assist in the drying process

Other Water Damage Information not specific to Washington DC:

• Water Extraction Issues
• Water Removal from your Home or Building
• Restoration Industry Information
• Water Damage Tips
• Making an Insurance Claim

Washington DC ( District of Columbia ) Office Services:

Arlington, Alexandria, and other surrounding areas.

If you need Water Damage Help or Flooding Assistance in Washington DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Delaware, or New York please call us at the number on the top of this page.