Three signs you may have mold growth on your property.

11/16/2023 (Permalink)

Do you have a mold problem? You won’t initially know just by looking at your home in many cases. Orange County mold can grow in the floorboards or drywall. You can end up overlooking an issue, while your family experiences health effects because of it. It’s time to be more proactive in searching for the mold in your home after flooding. Here are three signs you have mold in your home.

There’s a Musty Smell in Your Home

More often than not you will smell mold before you see it. This is especially when the mold is hiding in the walling or behind furniture. Mold in Orange County has a musty smell to it. It’s almost like there’s a dampness still in your home and as if parts of your home haven’t seen the light of day for a long time.

Follow your nose. If you think you can sense damp and smell this old and must scent, there are chances that you have some mold growing somewhere. As the mold gets worse, the scent will become more overpowering.

You See Spots on Your Walls or Furniture

Mold can initially look like dirt on the walls or furniture. When you wipe it off, you think you’ve gotten rid of the problem, and you can move on. But then that stuff that looks like dirt returns.

Some mold is dark in color and other mold can actually look white! Black mold is more dangerous to your health than green mold, but both are bad. You want to make sure you get rid of them as soon as possible. Wiping up the mold from the surface doesn’t get rid of it. You need to take steps to avoid the heat and moisture and get rid of all mold spores in the home. You may need an Orange County mold removal service to get rid of it all.

There’s a Water Problem

You won’t always see the mold growth, but you’ll see the precursor to the mold issues. Water problems are the reason most mold grows. After all, the spores accumulate in areas that are dark, damp, and warm.

If you know you have a water problem in your home, such as a leaking pipe, you’ll need to watch out for mold growth in those sections of the home. Get the water problem fixed as soon as possible and then dry out the area as quickly as possible. This can help to prevent mold from forming in the first place. If you’re not quick enough with the drying, you will need to treat the growing spores.

The water problems may not actually be a leaking pipe. You may have condensation or a poorly ventilated room. You’ll need to take steps to prevent water accumulating in areas. Even clean water will lead to a mold issue.

Don’t be ashamed about mold growth in your home. Most people will have mold in Orange County at some point in their lives. It’s almost impossible to avoid it completely. You need to pay attention to the scents and sights around your home. These are the signs that you have an issue that could affect the health of everyone in your home.

Some common causes of water damage in Newport Beach.

11/16/2023 (Permalink)

Newport Beach water damage can be devastating. There’s the chance that you could lose everything—all your precious memories and valuables. It’s natural to do everything you can to prevent water damage from even happening. While you don’t have power over Mother Nature, you do have power over some of the events in your home. By knowing the common reasons for water damage occurring in the home.

Problem Gutters

One of the biggest reasons is linked to the gutters. During the fall, the gutters become clogged with falling leaves. However, even during other seasons, debris can collect and become an issue. Blocked cutters leads to the chance of water damage in Newport Beach. When gutters become blocked, the water will overflow. It runs down the side of your house and through small cracks if any have formed.

You’ll need to clean your gutters out regularly to prevent this from happening. Get rid of debris and fallen leaves throughout the year to protect your home.

When cleaning out the gutters, you have the chance to inspect the material. Small cracks and holes in the gutters will also lead to water damage in the home. Every time it rains, the water will seep through the cracks and you may not realize there’s a problem from the inside until extensive damage has happened and mold grows.

Flat Roofs

Your roofing is a major contender for Newport Beach water damage. This is especially the case if you have a flat roof. In theory, flat roofs should be fine. Water dries up on its own eventually, after all. However, the flat roofs just aren’t as good as sloped roofs. With a sloped roof, the water drains off quickly.

Flat roofs do have a small slope to allow water to run off. However, that slope can deteriorate over time. Debris builds up over time on top of a flat roof, which puts excess pressure and can cause to quicker degradation on the roof. Pools of water can form within these sections that degrade, putting more pressure on and causing cracks to form.

Standing water is also the perfect home for mold growth. This will get into your ceiling and you’ll need to look at Newport Beach water damage restoration for your home.

Leaking Pipes

Water damage in Newport Beach can go undiscovered for a long period of time. This is especially the case when it comes to leaking pipes. After all, the problem can occur within the walls, the flooring, or even the ceilings. You only realize there’s an issue when the damp spots form and the mold grows. This type of water damage can also lead to black mold.

Leaking pipes become a problem for all types of reason, including cracks forming or burst pies. It’s important to take steps to protect your pipes to avoid the damage.

You can help to prevent the most common reasons for Newport Beach water damage. Keep an eye on the above problem areas so you don’t run the risk of health problems and lost memories.

How does fire restoration work on my Newport Beach property work?

11/16/2023 (Permalink)

You’ve come home from a weekend away to a fire in the home. Or you may have been a victim of a vicious arson attack. Now that your family is safe, it’s time to consider Orange County fire damage. The question many have is where to start. Just how does fire damage restoration work? Here’s all you need to know.

Assessing Damage that Leads to Other Damage

One of the first things a company like SERVPRO of Newport Beach will look at is any future damage that could happen. Professionals will assess the staircases and ceilings/flooring to make sure there’s no risk of collapse from the initial fire damage. This is necessary to protect the whole family later down the line.

Once this assessment is done, the professionals can then look at areas that may not initially look like they’ve been affected. This will include the look at your drywall, rooms where the fire may not have reached (but the smoke could), and the affect on things like your furnace and air conditioning unit.

Professionals will also look at the risk of other types of damage that could later happen. If your roof was affected, this will take priority to reduce the risk of flooding and water damage from the rain!

Repair or Replace?

A company will also look at the chances of repairing damage. Sometimes fire damage in Orange County is so bad that it can’t be repaired. The best thing is to replace. This is often the case with furniture and carpets or curtains.

However, damage doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to lose everything in your home. The repair companies will have specialist tools and equipment to help get deeper into carpet fibers and into the drywall of your home. While you may not get there with the vacuum cleaner, they can salvage much more to help.

It’s not all about the fire damage, either. Professional companies will also look at any water damage in your home from putting out the fire.

Clean and Sanitize Your Home

Another part of the process of Orange County fire damage restoration is to clean and sanitize your home. The companies will use special chemicals and products to get rid of all smoke particles left behind. Even the smallest can lead to health problems later.

There is also a focus on getting rid of odors. The smell of smoke is something that can get to the back of your throat because of particles and leave your eyes watering. The restoration professionals want you to feel like the fire never happened.

After that, you can find companies that offer a full restoration service to help redecorate your home. Yes, home insurance companies can pay out for this to help get yourself back to normal.

Orange County fire damage repair is a long process, so something you want to get a professional fore. This is more than just throwing out some furniture and repainting your walls. The restoration companies will make sure your home is safe and free from future damage.

5 Places SERVPRO Will Check for Mold Growing in Your Home

10/3/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage isn’t always immediately visible. There are times that the problems happen within the wall cavities or under the flooring. These problems persist for months. It’s only when you start seeing mold forming that you will realize there’s an issue. When handling mold or water damage remediation, SERVPRO will check the following areas for your home. They’re worth checking regularly yourself, too!

1. In the Basement

The most problematic area in the home for mold growth is the basement. Mold loves dark and damp spaces, which is exactly what the basement offers. The air circulation is usually poor, unless you’ve developed your basement to ensure the air circulates better. The issue is the lack of windows in many basements. This is one of the first places SERVPRO will check if there’s even the thought of a mold issue.

One of the good things about this room is that you can easily keep an eye on it. Check the corners and crevices in the walls first. The minute you see mold growth, you’ll need immediate action as it will spread quickly.

2. Around the Bathroom

Remember that dampness that mold likes? Well, it can often find that within the bathroom. It’s important to take steps to repair damp problems within the room. Poor ventilation is one of the most common reasons for mold growth in the bathroom, so make sure you have an extractor fan when using the shower/hot water and try to keep the window or bathroom door open to allow more circulation. Around the shower, bath, and toilet are the most problematic areas.

3. Check the Laundry Room

Again, because of the heat and moisture that builds in the room, the laundry room can be one of the most problematic areas. You’ll often see the growth of the mold start behind furniture, especially your washing machine and dryer. Pull these out regularly to check behind them and make sure the area is clear.

Broken parts and leaking pipes from the laundry appliances are common issues. Make sure you get anything fixed immediately rather than trying to just mop up the water!

4. Attic Spaces Are a Problem

SERVPRO will also take a trip to the attic spaces to check on them. They’re other areas that are problems because of the lack of ventilation. This is especially the case if the attic hasn’t been insulated properly, there are problems with the roof, or if it hasn’t been refurbished well. Remember all the moisture from the lower floors of the home will rise up. It gets into the attic and creates the perfect breeding ground for mold.

5. Check Walls and Crawl Spaces

One of the hardest spots for you to check will be the wall and crawl spaces. SERVPRO makes a habit of checking within to make sure there are no growing mold colonies. Leaking pipes, undiscovered water damage, and lack of ventilation contribute to mold growth.

Protect your home by knowing the common places mold grows. SERVPRO will help to clear up all the mold and get rid of all spores to make sure you have a healthy home.

How Much Will Water Damage Cleanup by SERVPRO Cost in Orange County?

10/3/2022 (Permalink)

After suffering any type of water damage, the first thought is finding someone to help with the repair work. You may be on a tight budget, so the quotes you receive are going to come into play with your decision. SERVPRO is one of the highest-rated companies in the country, but how much will the water damage cleanup cost in Orange County?

 This isn’t an answer with a one-size-fits-all answer. There are various factors that will go into determining the cost.

 What Type of Water Damage Is It?

There are multiple types of water damage, and we’re not talking “small” and “large” amounts of damage. You may have a burst pipe that runs from under your sink or your toilet bowl may have overflowed and lead to unsanitary water leaking around your bathroom.

The type of water is going to affect the cost o SERVPRO. Clean water that doesn’t cause an immediate risk to the health could be as little as $2,000 but if you have unsanitary water that requires protective clothing, you’re going to be looking at more expense since affected materials will need removed and replaced.

How Much Needs Restoring?

To get an accurate quote, you’re going to need to discuss the amount of restoration that is needed. Your water damage may have only spread around the under the sink area, which means fixing the pipe, working on the cabinets, and maybe replacing some of the drywall around a small section. That’s going to cost so much less than having to repair a whole room or even a whole room.

 The best thing you can do is be honest about the amount of damage. If your carpets are going to need ripping up and all the drywall in the room will need replacing, you’ll want to communicate that immediately.

 Naturally, the size of your home is going to affect the cost for Orange County SERVPRO water damage cleanup. Only got a one-bedroom basement apartment? That’s going to cost a lot less than the four bedrooms detached house.

 Sometimes you only need the home drying out. The water is clean and it hasn’t been left stagnant for days. The sooner you start acting on water damage, the cheaper it is going to be.

 Is It a Follow-up Visit?

You thought you dealt with the water damage at first. However, months later, you’ve found mold growth. Now you need to find someone to help deal with that.

 This is going to cost differently than the actual water damage. After all, there’s some more extensive work that needs doing for mold remediation. In some cases, the source of the water needs to be found, especially if it wasn’t dealt with properly in the first place.

In some cases, your Orange County home insurance may cover the costs of your SERVPRO water damage cleanup. If not, the above is a guideline to help you determine the cost for your needs.  Give SERVPRO of Newport Beach a call today for an estimate.  

Prevent the Need for Water Damage Restoration in Orange County in the Winter

10/3/2022 (Permalink)

The winter is one of the most common times people need to hire someone for water damage restoration in Orange County. Not only is this the time of more snow and rainfall, but it’s also the time that freezing occurs. You’ll be surprised by the amount of homeowners suffer from frozen pipes.

When a pipe bursts, the water damage can be extreme. And it isn’t just in one room. You can find multiple rooms on multiple levels in the home are damaged. This can even take place in multiple units if you live in an apartment building.

It’s important to prevent pipes from freezing and then bursting. You also want to take steps to protect the home from the forces outside in the winter. Here’s how you can prevent the need for water damage restoration in Orange County.

Turn Your Heat On and Off

Even if you’re not going to be in the house, make sure your heating turns on for a few hours in the day. You want to set your thermostat to about 65F, especially if you’re not going to be in the house. This will allow the heating to turn on for a bit, warm up the space, and prevent the freezing cold from taking over.

You don’t need your heating on all the time. If you don’t want to set the heating to turn on once the heat gets to a certain level, have it set to turn on and off at particular times. Last thing at night and first thing on a morning will help counter the cold during the worst periods.

Shut Off Water Outside

If you have outside taps, make sure the water to them is shut off in the winter. This helps to prevent any water building up in these pipes so they can’t freeze and then burst. You’ll be surprised by the amount of people who don’t shut off their water!

The water outside can be black. If it runs into your home, the water damage restoration in Orange County is going to be much harsher and can lead to losing more belongings.

Insulate Your Pipes and Walls

Insulation is your best friend in the winter. It’s not just going to help keep your home warmer, but it can also prevent the pipes freezing and potentially bursting. Make sure all your outside walls are insulated – you may be able to get a tax deduction for this due to the heating and energy efficiency benefits.

You can also place insulation around the drains and pipes. This is beneficial for any drains or pipes outside the home that tend to freeze. You’ll prevent the inside from freezing because the cold temperatures don’t hit as much.

If you do end up with frozen pipes, you can use hot and cold water flowing through slowly to help unfreeze them. Turning up your thermostat a little extra can also help to thaw out the pipes. Doing both will help reduce the need for water damage restoration in Orange County.

Flood Damage in Newport Beach: 4 Sneaky Signs of Flooding

10/3/2022 (Permalink)

Taking care of flood damage in Newport Beach as soon as possible is crucial. This helps to protect your belongings and your home, while also putting the health of loved ones first. To take care of flood damage, you need to know that it’s even a problem. Here are four sneak signs of flooding and water damage somewhere in your home.

There’s a Smell of Mold

At first, you’ll see the mold appear. However, over time, it has an odor. If there’s mold somewhere in the walls of your home or even under the flooring, you’re likely to smell the flooding before you see it. Check for any musty smells around the home, almost as if the outside is now inside somewhere. It can also smell like you haven’t been in a room for a few days.

There are times that you’ll initially cover the smell. It’s a normal reaction, especially if you can’t immediately tell where that smell has come from. However, the mild scents won’t overpower it. You’ll need a strong air freshener.

Just remember that covering it up doesn’t help. You’ll need to get someone to help deal with flood damage in Newport Beach.

Carpets or Upholstery Is Stained

Keep a look at patches on your wall or even around your flooring. If you have upholstery or carpets around the flooring, look out for stains and patches that just don’t quite match. This isn’t a sign of aging, but a sign of damage.

There’s a high chance that there’s some flooding around the area. You’ll see the patches grow with time, as the water and the mold damage spreads. It’s important to deal with this damage right away, as the mold fibers will stick around when you clean and cause more damage in the future.

Sometimes, you’ll be able to feel the dampness. Your carpet may feel soggy, or you may feel like there’s a pool of water somewhere.

Rust Appearing Around Hinges

A lot of hidden flood damage in Newport Beach is within the walls. You’ll need to look for external signs that there’s an issue and a common one is rust around hinges. Sometimes the signs can be overlooked, especially when dealing with shutter hinges or outside door hinges, as you can think it’s to do with the outside weather.

Rust can appear in other parts of the home, too. Look out for rust around the taps in the kitchen or bathroom. Check around the pipes that you can see and any other metal work in the house.

Cracks Along the Wall or Ceiling

A major sign of flood damage in Newport Beach is cracks forming on the ceiling or along the walls. This is a sign that your drywall or your plaster is starting to crumble from the water damage. You’re weakening the system within the house and run the risk of further damage, including the bathroom until falling through.

Take this sign seriously. You’ll be surprised at the amount of smaller cracks that are overlooked and even painted over.

Look out for signs of flood damage in Newport Beach. The sooner you get it seen to the less you’ll pay in the long run.

How Does Restoration After Fire Damage in Orange County Work?

10/3/2022 (Permalink)

You’ve come home from a weekend away to a fire in the home. Or you may have been a victim of a vicious arson attack. Now that your family is safe, it’s time to consider Orange County fire damage. The question many have is where to start. Just how does fire damage restoration work? Here’s all you need to know.

Assessing Damage that Leads to Other Damage

One of the first things a company like SERVPRO of Newport Beach will look at is any future damage that could happen. Professionals will assess the staircases and ceilings/flooring to make sure there’s no risk of collapse from the initial fire damage. This is necessary to protect the whole family later down the line.

Once this assessment is done, the professionals can then look at areas that may not initially look like they’ve been affected. This will include the look at your drywall, rooms where the fire may not have reached (but the smoke could), and the affect on things like your furnace and air conditioning unit.

Professionals will also look at the risk of other types of damage that could later happen. If your roof was affected, this will take priority to reduce the risk of flooding and water damage from the rain!

Repair or Replace?

A company will also look at the chances of repairing damage. Sometimes fire damage in Orange County is so bad that it can’t be repaired. The best thing is to replace. This is often the case with furniture and carpets or curtains.

However, damage doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to lose everything in your home. The repair companies will have specialist tools and equipment to help get deeper into carpet fibers and into the drywall of your home. While you may not get there with the vacuum cleaner, they can salvage much more to help.

It’s not all about the fire damage, either. Professional companies will also look at any water damage in your home from putting out the fire.

Clean and Sanitize Your Home

Another part of the process of Orange County fire damage restoration is to clean and sanitize your home. The companies will use special chemicals and products to get rid of all smoke particles left behind. Even the smallest can lead to health problems later.

There is also a focus on getting rid of odors. The smell of smoke is something that can get to the back of your throat because of particles and leave your eyes watering. The restoration professionals want you to feel like the fire never happened.

After that, you can find companies that offer a full restoration service to help redecorate your home. Yes, home insurance companies can pay out for this to help get yourself back to normal.

Orange County fire damage repair is a long process, so something you want to get a professional fore. This is more than just throwing out some furniture and repainting your walls. The restoration companies will make sure your home is safe and free from future damage.

4 Tips for Cleaning Smoke Damage in Orange County

10/3/2022 (Permalink)

Fires are devastating for the home. They don’t just cause the loss of items during the blaze, but the smoke can lead to damage and health problems afterwards. Even if the fire was elsewhere, you can experience smoke damage within your living space and you need to clean that out. Here are four tips for Orange County smoke damage cleaning.

Increase the Amount of Fresh Air Circulating

One of the best things you can do is get more fresh air into your home. You want to get rid of the smoke particles and toxins and replace with clean air. Open your windows and use fans to help circulate the new fresh air.

If you need to live in an area where the windows remain closed, invest in a dehumidifier and air purifier. Both of these will help to get rid of the particles. When you have a furnace running, ensure you clean it out daily to avoid the soot and smoke mixing together.

Opening windows and circulating the fresh air is also good for the cleaning process. This way you avoid breathing in the fumes from the cleaning products.

Get the Right Equipment

This isn’t just about the cleaning products. When cleaning smoke damage in Orange County, you need to make sure you dress appropriately. This is the time for overalls and safety goggles. It’s also worth investing in heavy duty gloves because of the harsh chemicals. Consider a mask for your nose and mouth to avoid breathing in the smoke and particles.

Tie back your hair and opt for old clothing if you don’t have overalls. Use items that you don’t mind getting damaged.

Protect Items without Damage

Use a cloth to protect any items that weren’t damaged with the smoke. This will help to prevent the soot getting into them. It’s worth putting a sheet down anyway. You’ll avoid transferring the soot around the rest of the home!

Now you can move onto removing the soot, starting with the loose soot on the walls and ceiling. Use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of most of it and a damp cloth for the trickier sections. Considering getting a chemical sponge to help pull out the chemicals from the walls and ceiling, reducing the toxin damage within the home.

Use Recommended Products

SERVPRO in Newport Beach only uses a select number of products to help with Orange County smoke damage cleaning. Make sure you only use those that have been tried and tested, ensuring that they work effectively and safely. While strong chemicals may do the job, they can leave toxic fumes in the house and cause some breathing problems.

If you are in doubt, hire a professional. This is the best way to ensure all the smoke is gone, there’s no damage within the dry wall and no mold growing anywhere.

Don’t put your family at risk for the sake of saving a bit of money. Your insurance company will usually cover you for cleaning smoke damage in Orange County, so use it to your advantage.

Fire Restoration Orange County: 2 Health Problems Associated with Fire Damage

10/3/2022 (Permalink)

Orange Country fire restoration isn’t just useful to get your home back in order after fire damage. It will also help to protect your health. Many people overlook the damage the smoke and fire can do to your health after the event occurs. Here are three health problems associated with fire damage and why you need to restore your home as soon as possible.

The Smoke Particles Remain

Your body was never designed to breathe in smoke. A fire contains harmful particles that damage the body when inhaled, and not just during the actual fire. These particles remain in the house if you don’t take steps to remove the damage. You can breathe in the particles for months and even years, causing a number of breathing problems.

Many people experience shortness of breath and gasping for air. Asthma can also be made worse and it’s possible for some people to develop asthma and other breathing difficulties later in life. The air quality remains poor after the fire, which makes it harder for the body to get in the oxygen it needs.

Opening a window or using a dehumidifier isn’t enough to improve the air quality. You can actually put the particles back into the room through the HVAC system, especially if you haven’t taken care of the damaged filters. The problems persist until you finally arrange fire restoration Orange County.

Poor Mental Health

Smoke and fire damage can also lead to mental health problems. As your physical health is affected, your mental health will depreciate too. With good Orange County fire restoration you can avoid this, since you get rid of the physical health problems.

By leaving the smoke damage, you also get a constant reminder of the fire in your home. You get that reminder of the things that happened and the items you lost. With the constant reminder, comes the fear that it could happen again, making it harder to get on with your life. The best way to forget is to remove all the reminders completely.

Fire restoration Orange County is essential. It doesn’t just get rid of the reminder, but will put your overall physical health first. You get rid of the particles and mold that lead to the breathing difficulties that can plague you for the rest of your life.