Month: April 2020

As the winter snow disappears, the melt water makes its way into lakes, rivers, and streams, causing them to overflow their banks. While the rushing water can be a serious hazard, it’s what the water contains that is truly dangerous. Bacteria, waste materials, oil and fuel, and other contaminants mix with the water and create a health concern for humans and animals alike. When this contaminated water makes its way into your home, it’s imperative that you follow these basic tips to keep yourself, your loved ones, and your property safe.

Wait Until the Flooding Stops

Although you may be tempted to take action during the worst of the flooding, it’s not a good idea. Besides the fact that there may be contaminants that can harm you, flood waters pose other dangers. Flood water is often murky and full of debris that can cause serious physical harm. It’s not worth the risk. Wait until the majority of the water has receded before attempting to enter a flooded area of your home or property.

Don Protective Clothing and a Mask

Before you enter a flooded area of your home, make sure you’re fully protected. Because you don’t know what kinds of nasty things are lurking in the water, it’s best to assume it’s toxic and to act accordingly. A mask, rubber gloves, waterproof boots, and protective clothing are essential. If you don’t have these items on hand, do not attempt to enter the area, assess the damage, or take action to clean up, your health depends on it.

Be Aware of Mold, Mildew, and Fungus

Water build-up inside your home, especially during the warm months, can lead to the growth and spread of dangerous mold, mildew, and fungus. Even if there are no visible signs of mold growth, it can still be there. Remember that mold can begin developing in as little as 24 hours and once it does, it will spread quickly throughout the space. If mold was already in place, a flood will only make the problem worse.

Assess the Flood Damage

Once the water level lowers, make sure the electricity is turned off and that the structure is safe enough to enter. Thoroughly inspect your home, making note of any damage caused by the flooding. It’s a good idea to take pictures and document everything before you begin any clean-up or restoration activities. This way, you’ll have what you need to show your insurance company when it’s time to file a claim.

Not Everything Can Be Saved

You might be tempted to remove items from your home that you’re attached to, either because of sentimental value or because they’re expensive. Soaked items can sometimes be saved, but this isn’t always the case. For example, porous materials like drywall, particle board furniture, books and papers, and some furniture may need to be removed and discarded as they are impossible to clean and disinfect.

Call a Water Damage Specialist in Minnesota

Dealing with water damage is no easy feat, in fact, it can be dangerous and extremely difficult, which is why it’s best to leave it to a professional. It’s understandable that you just want to get the water out of your home so you can get back to life. But, if you aren’t careful, you could end up causing yourself more problems. The water damage specialists at Satin Touch are experienced and have all the equipment necessary to get your home back in order after a flood. Contact us online or call 763-954-0744 if you’re experiencing flooding. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays and we’re always ready to act.

Water intrusion happens to even the most careful property managers and business owners. Building age and accidents happen. It isn’t always obvious however, and you can end up with water damage from a hidden leaking pipe or a malfunctioning washing machine. When that happens, you want to hire water damage restoration companies that know how to help you. The right company can:

Make Insurance Claims Easy

Having professionals evaluate items that were damaged by water keeps everyone involved happy. Tenants and employees are relieved of the stressful process of thinking about all they have lost, and insurance companies are reassured that the evaluated correctly.

Save Tenant Or Office Property

It is sometimes necessary, in extreme cases, to pack up items in a building and remove them to a warehouse where they can be restored. This is a complicated operation that requires inventorying items that are being removed and noting any damage that was there before the water did its work. Once it is done, though, it keeps tenants happy since their beloved possessions are preserved.

If it was your office that got flooded, vital items for your work need to be saved. Computers that hold the only copy of your project can sustain damage, and machinery unique to your operation can start to rust. Removing them from the encroaching water and professionally preserving them will ensure that your projects can continue, even in the face of an emergency.

It also allows the crew to get to the flooring and walls more quickly for a thorough restoration.

Quick Turn-Around

Efficiency is important for a number of reasons. Mold starts growing within 24 hours of finding warm, damp conditions, and mold hurts building materials. Even if things can’t get moldy because of cold conditions, water damage worsens over time. For instance, water that has crept up through the basement can continue to creep up, warping floorboards and causing sticky doors, until the underlying problem has been fixed. Tenants don’t want to live with that if they don’t have to. They will appreciate you hiring a company that deals with it quickly.

Another reason that is almost as important as preserving your property from more damage is that you may have to provide a different place for your employees to work while an office is being cleaned up. Homes Reinvented can provide temporary shelter for tenants if there is space, but you might need to borrow specialized equipment to work while the office is being restored. None of this is cheap, and it is upsetting to everybody. The sooner the old building is restored, the sooner everyone is happy.

Some of the quick turn-around comes from the efficient, modern techniques used to dry out and repair the home. Much, though, comes from being available immediately. The sooner a company can start on their work, the better for the building.

Professional Work

Dehumidifying a building and fixing it is not something that anyone with a manual can do. Professional companies that specialize in repairing water damage tend to be the people with the equipment required to do a thorough, quick job. Outdated equipment and techniques can leave water behind and allow mold to start growing. This is an area where doing it right the first time is critical, and you want the professionals on the job.

Homes Reinvented wants to help companies thrive after suffering water damage. We offer a pack-out program for severe cases, and they have their own software for tracking items that they have to take to a warehouse for restoration, and we go the extra mile to make your tenants comfortable. Space permitting, we can even temporarily house your tenants until their home is fixed.  For more information about what we can do for you, contact us.