You may have heard the phrase “always expect the unexpected” but truthfully speaking, how many of us are prepared for household disasters? And how many us of really know what to do should we ever experience one? The experienced restoration technicians at American Hometown Services have provided the following most common household disasters and some of the things that can be done to help minimize damage from occurring. Rest assured the experts at American Hometown Services are available 24/7 and will respond quickly to take care of the clean-up and restore your home to its former pre-household disaster condition!
Common Household Disasters
• Your Basement is Under Water – If the water is a result of a burst pipe or other plumbing problem, shut of the water immediately at the main pipe. Don’t attempt to enter the basement, as it may not be safe to do so. It is possible to be electrocuted even in a few inches of water. Contact an electrician to cut off the power and a plumber for assistance with burst pipes. If you are experiencing a flood due to inclement weather, contact American Hometown Services for immediate assistance with water damage restoration. How to stop this from happening? While it is impossible predict a burst pipe, you can protect your basement from weather induced flooding by ensuring that your yard slopes away from your home, your gutters are clean and functioning correctly and by installing a sump pump in the basement floor.
• You Lit a Fire but You Forgot to Open the Damper – Try using a poker to pull open the damper. If that fails to work, you can limit smoke damage by closing off the room, turning off the HVAC system and opening the windows. You can then extinguish the blaze with a fire extinguisher. You will more than likely have soot stains on the walls and mantel. Never attempt to put out a fire with water, water will turn soot into a liquid pigment which is very difficult to remove. Vacuum up as much of the residue as possible before scrubbing stains with a clean towel and a nonabrasive powdered cleanser mixed with water. For more extensive damage including fire and smoke damage, contact American Hometown Services for immediate fire restoration assistance. How to stop this from happening? Make sure your open the flue before lighting the fire. Most importantly, make sure you stay close to the fire until the initial burst of flame has subsided and you are completely sure that the fire is drafting correctly.
• The basement or attic is covered in mold – Humidity during the summertime time is the perfect breeding ground for mold spores. In fact mold can begin to grown and become visible within 72 hours in the right conditions. How to prevent mold? Set your air for 77 degrees during the summer months to keep the interior of your home dry. If you have double-hung windows with storm windows, you can keep the air circulating by keeping the top sash open and the screen down over the bottom sash. If you find mold in your home, contact American Hometown Services for immediate assistance with their comprehensive mold remediation and removal service.
