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News
HEALTHY INDOOR ENVIRONMENT, INC. is often recognized in the media. Here are couple of our helpful community awareness articles.
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Top 10 Home Repairs you can't ignore |
#1) A WATER LEAK-Anywhere A stain on your ceiling. A toilet that rocks. White powdery stuff that grows on your bricks or foundation. A musty smell in your home. Whatever the source, the culprit is water, and the damage can be severe. Water is probably the single most destructive force to a house if left ignored. The water that soaks into the structure, behind walls, sub flooring, under cabinets etc… Many homeowners just make sure the carpet is dry but the hidden areas of remaining moisture can lead to wet rot, dry rot, mold and termite infestations. Water can cause roofs to collapse, foundations to buckle and all manner of expensive repairs. What’s more, water not found and dried to below 16% moisture content for most structural material may turn into mold as soon as 8-12 days. The fix: Stop the leak by any means necessary, repair the damage and take the required steps to make sure the problem doesn’t reappear. The next wisest course of action; call us 24/7, we have moisture meters that can find the hidden water, what percentage of water has soaked into the structure and give advice on how to hold down further water damage. We do not charge for our emergency inspection and there is no obligation to use our services. Although we do come fully equipped and ready to work in case you do decide to take advantage of our water damage recovery and structural drying services. Why are we standing ready to serve you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Because immediate action is prudent and holds down cost of expensive repairs if water intrusions are handled promptly. *During storm surges, check to make sure your sump pump is working properly. #2) Flickering lights: Do your lights dim when the fridge switches on or you crank up the microwave? You may have bad wiring or too many appliances hooked to one circuit. Either one can cause a fire. A lot of older homes have only one or two circuits in the kitchen. People will update the kitchen but still have all the appliances running off those two circuits. It’s far safer to have at least four circuits: two for countertop appliances, one to run the dishwasher and garbage disposal and another dedicated line for the microwave. Flickering lights also can be a sign of failing connections in aluminum wiring, a feature in homes built between 1965 and 1973. The fix: You can try to distribute power-hungry appliances more evenly by not running more than one at a time or by plugging some into another circuit. But the best fix is a cure: Get an electrician to upgrade your wiring, add more circuits, or both. If you have aluminum wiring but can’t afford to upgrade, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends making your wiring safer by using special crimp connectors rather than the usual twist-on style. For more information, consult a professional electrician. #3) Rodent incursions: If you hear the pitter patter of little rodent feet, don’t turn up the stereo to drown them out. It’s not just that rodents can carry diseases and make a mess nesting in the tax records you’ve saved in the attic. Rats, mice and other vermin love to chew through insulation and wiring and are suspects in many house fires.
The fix: Use traps and bait products or call in an exterminator. Mice droppings can carry the deadly Hantavirus, and rodents themselves can carry everything from salmonella to the plague, so professional help might be the wisest course. #4) Soaring fuel bills: If you’re paying a lot more for gas or oil and there hasn’t been a rate hike recently the culprit could be problems with your furnace. This is more than a pocketbook issue, since poorly functioning systems can cause deadly carbon monoxide exposure in the home, typically from malfunctioning heating systems. The fix: Have your furnace professionally cleaned and inspected annually, including the flue. The cost is usually less than $100.00. Install UL-approved carbon monoxide detectors, which cost $25.00 to $50.00 each. #5) Peeling paint: Paint is like a home’s skin. It’s the first line of defense against incursions by water and pests. Water that seeps into wood can lead to rot. At the other extreme, unpainted wood can quickly get too dry and crack.
The fix: Scrape off the old paint, sand the surface smooth and apply a coat or two for fresh color. (Be cautious in homes built before 1978, since many still have lead paint. Dust and chips from such paint can cause irreversible brain damage in children and nerve damage in adults. Consider hiring professionals to test your home and remove any lead paint. Your local or state health department should be able to provide referrals to testing labs and contractors.) #6) Smokey chimney: Chimneys that aren’t properly cleaned and maintained can catch fire. Creosote, a by-product of wood burning, can build up in the flue and ignite unless removed. The fix: Get your chimney swept and inspected annually; the cost is about $100.00 (You can find certified chimney sweeps via the Chimney Safety Institute of America). #7) Dirty, or missing, air conditioner filter: This is something neglected way too often. Overloaded or missing filters allow dirt and dust to settle on the air conditioner’s coils. Warm air passing over the coils causes condensations. What you get is mud—and a perfect medium for mold to grow and be blown all over the house. Enough gunk can block air from getting into the system, causing it to catch fire. Many air conditioner failures can be traced to this simple lack of maintenance. With a new filter replaced regularly, you can preserve a $6,000 air conditioning system. The fix: Replace the filter once a month while the air conditioner is in use. Get your system checked annually. Ground-fault circuit interrupters: These electrical outlets, with their distinctive red and black buttons, are designed to prevent deadly shocks. Outlets in bathrooms and those in kitchens within six feet of the sink should be replaced with GFCI outlets. They’re the best $7 you’ll ever spend, they’re a lifesaver. The exception: Do not put a refrigerator on a GFCI. A fridge’s normal on-and-off surges can trip the interrupter and leave you with an icebox full of rotting groceries. #8) Flexible gas connectors: Gas appliances installed more than 10 years ago may still have dangerous brass connectors that can fail, according to the safety commission, leading to fires or explosions. These should be replaced with an approved connector, typically stainless steel. But don’t move the appliance to inspect, since even a slight motion can cause the weak soldered connection to break. Have a professional appliance repair person check and make any changes. #9) Garage door openers: Yours should have an electric eye that looks for obstructions and an automatic reverse mechanism to prevent someone from getting squashed. #10) Dryer vents: The lowly clothes dryer causes more than 15,000 fires every year, often caused by lint buildup in the duct that vents to the outside. Clean the ducts regularly and replace plastic ducts with metal versions. If you enjoyed this article, please forward our website to a friend. www.healthyindoorenvironment.com Thank you! |
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11/1/08 |
Artical-2 Sump pump failure/sewer back-up coverage |
Water Catastrophes
From the desk of Cynthia John
(Community Awareness Development)
If you or someone you know has a basement, you need to read this notice:
One out of every three homeowners experience a water intrusion in their home and may not know to make sure they have an additional rider for “sump pump failure or water back-up” coverage as part of their homeowner’s insurance policy. Please take 15 minutes out of your day to call your insurance agent to confirm you have this protection and inquire about the limits available and the deductible amount specifically for this rider. Many basements are very nice these days and you may be storing your belongings in the basement. So make sure all furnishings and contents are covered as well. Please, don’t forget to check on this. This coverage is very affordable and well worth it!
The next time you have even the smallest water intrusion in your home or place of business remember we are available 24/7, yes even on holidays for emergency water extraction and drying to prevent water damage. We can bill your insurance company if you have coverage!
We Are Your Source For Emergency Water Damage Prevention
Please, write our number 800-894-1891 under Flood in your phone book just in case. or remember our name Healthy Indoor Environment to find us on the web. Thank you. www.healthyindoorenvironment.com
If you ever need an emergency flood cleanup due to a sewage back-up, please do not try to cleanup, repair the water damage or disinfect the flood damage yourself regardless of the color or content of the water.
Please call us, My husband, Michael John (owner/operator with 31 years of experience) will answer the phone and offer an immediate response for emergency flood damage cleanup and free advice by phone or a no obligation moisture inspection and recommendations at your home or place of business 24/7 to prevent water damage from occurring.
We are here to help you in time of need. Open 24 hours! You’ll get service, not just a recording.
If you enjoyed this article, please share our website with a friend. www.healthyindoorenvironment.com Thank you! |
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