Water Damage Delaware County Expert

On a recent inspection of a property that had sustained extensive water damage from a broken pipe on the second floor, the owner called us with some concerns.  He had hired another Water Restoration Company at the urging of his insurance company, and felt that the job was not being completed like it should.  They did a minimal amount of work and placed an immense amount of fans and dehumidifiers in his house and then left. When he asked for a copy of the bill that they were submitting to the insurance company, they were hesitant.  Finally he was able to see the bill, and realized that they hadn’t completed half of what they were billing for, and still felt that the home wasn’t completely dry like it should be.  When I entered the property, I immediately saw water lines that went undiscovered, but the other company and the insurance adjuster.

Water Damage Delaware County Expert

The home owner then hired us, and this is what we found.  This picture shows just one of several walls and ceilings in the house that had severe water damage that wasn’t being addressed and wasn’t structurally dried or disinfected.  After a few days, everything was removed, cleaned and dried.  As for the other company, the home filed a complaint through his insurance company, filed another complaint with the BBB and his local Department of Consumer Affairs and is possibly seeking legal action. Remember one key piece of information, if you should ever go through a water loss, or any loss for that matter, you can hire ANY remediation contractor you want, and do not have to hire whomever your insurance adjuster says, no matter what. 

For more information, visit our website at Biowashing.com

Water Damage Philadelphia Experts

Countless times I remind people of doing there due diligence when hiring any type of contractor, and the picture below should indicate why.  A customer in Berwyn Pa., suffered a water loss from a break in a plumbing line under the sink, and they listened to the insurance company and hired a franchise restoration company to perform the work.  A couple of weeks, later they began to notice a smell and after several failed attempts to contact the contractor, they called us and I quickly identified that under a piece of furniture on the opposite side wall of the kitchen, water had tracked through and damaged the flooring.  The floors, which may have been saved if they were initially treated and dried, now had to be removed since they buckled and the smell the home owner was being exposed to was in fact mold.  So remember, when putting a claim through your insurance, you can hire any contractor you want, so long as their certified and insured in the type of loss, and really look into that company to make sure they’re right for the job.

Water Damage Philadelphia Experts

WATER DAMAGED CARPET

Pictured here is a carpet which sustained long term water damage and now is fraying.  The first inspector never checked this wall, or the carpeting for any damage, and just relied on an invasive moisture meter.  When we were hired not only was the carpeting beyond remediation, but structural and water damage was found on the adjoining walls.

For more information, click here:  BIOWASHING

Best Water Damage HOARDING

On a recent inspection of a property that had sustained extensive water damage from a broken pipe on the second floor, the owner called us with some concerns.  He had hired another Water Restoration Company at the urging of his insurance company, and felt that the job was not being completed like it should.  They did a minimal amount of work and placed an immense amount of fans and dehumidifiers in his house and then left. When he asked for a copy of the bill that they were submitting to the insurance company, they were hesitant.  Finally he was able to see the bill, and realized that they hadn’t completed half of what they were billing for, and still felt that the home wasn’t completely dry like it should be.  When I entered the property, I immediately saw water lines that went undiscovered, but the other company and the insurance adjuster.

Best Water Damage HOARDING

The home owner then hired us, and this is what we found.  This picture shows just one of several walls and ceilings in the house that had severe water damage that wasn’t being addressed and wasn’t structurally dried or disinfected.  After a few days, everything was removed, cleaned and dried.  As for the other company, the home filed a complaint through his insurance company, filed another complaint with the BBB and his local Department of Consumer Affairs and is possibly seeking legal action. Remember one key piece of information, if you should ever go through a water loss, or any loss for that matter, you can hire ANY remediation contractor you want, and do not have to hire whomever your insurance adjuster says, no matter what.

For more information, visit our website at Biowashing.com

Water Damage Berwyn

Countless times I remind people of doing there due diligence when hiring any type of contractor, and the picture below should indicate why.  A customer in Berwyn Pa., suffered a water loss from a break in a plumbing line under the sink, and they listened to the insurance company and hired a franchise restoration company to perform the work.  

Water Damage Berwyn

A couple of weeks, later they began to notice a smell and after several failed attempts to contact the contractor, they called us and I quickly identified that under a piece of furniture on the opposite side wall of the kitchen, water had tracked through and damaged the flooring.  The floors, which may have been saved if they were initially treated and dried, now had to be removed since they buckled and the smell the home owner was being exposed to was in fact mold.  So remember, when putting a claim through your insurance, you can hire any contractor you want, so long as their certified and insured in the type of loss, and really look into that company to make sure they’re right for the job.

WATER DAMAGED CARPET

Pictured here is a carpet which sustained long term water damage and now is fraying.  The first inspector never checked this wall, or the carpeting for any damage, and just relied on an invasive moisture meter.  When we were hired not only was the carpeting beyond remediation, but structural and water damage was found on the adjoining walls.

For more information, click here:  BIOWASHING

Water Damage Collegeville Expert

Water Damage Collegeville Expert

On a recent inspection of a property that had sustained extensive water damage from a broken pipe on the second floor, the owner called us with some concerns.  He had hired another Water Restoration Company at the urging of his insurance company, and felt that the job was not being completed like it should.  They did a minimal amount of work and placed an immense amount of fans and dehumidifiers in his house and then left. When he asked for a copy of the bill that they were submitting to the insurance company, they were hesitant.  Finally he was able to see the bill, and realized that they hadn’t completed half of what they were billing for, and still felt that the home wasn’t completely dry like it should be.  When I entered the property, I immediately saw water lines that went undiscovered, but the other company and the insurance adjuster.  The home owner then hired us, and this is what we found.  This picture shows just one of several walls and ceilings in the house that had severe water damage that wasn’t being addressed and wasn’t structurally dried or disinfected.  After a few days, everything was removed, cleaned and dried.  As for the other company, the home filed a complaint through his insurance company, filed another complaint with the BBB and his local Department of Consumer Affairs and is possibly seeking legal action. Remember one key piece of information, if you should ever go through a water loss, or any loss for that matter, you can hire ANY remediation contractor you want, and do not have to hire whomever your insurance adjuster says, no matter what.

For more information, visit our website at Biowashing.com

Water Damage Broomall Expert

Water penetrates into structural cavities creating trapped pockets of saturation. The detection of water in these areas can often only be discovered with sophisticated moisture detection meters to decrease undetected moisture which will continue to cause damage. This damage, at a minimum, will cause odors. Greater damage will surface when materials delaminate, shrink, split and further deteriorate to where costly repairs are required. More than just removing excess water, having the knowledge and equipment to further dry a home or facility (including substructure materials) completely back to pre-loss conditions in a thorough and timely response, will minimize the damage to the structure and to the contents within. It also helps in preventing the future growth of mold.

Water Damage Broomall Expert

When the rain stops and water subsides, flood victims can follow a few simple steps to reduce property damage and limit health risks. Flooding occurs when rising water overflows the natural boundaries of bodies of water, such as rivers and streams, and flows across the ground picking up all kinds of contamination. The water can be contaminated with soil bacteria, decaying insects, animal droppings, oils and fluids from roadways, and fertilizers and pesticides from fields or gardens.

Here’s some for post flood cleanup:

• Use caution when entering buildings. Make sure electrical power is off and the structure is sound before entering and inspecting a flooded building. Small animals or reptiles may also seek shelter inside a structure, so be cautious when repositioning contents or removing materials.
• Protect yourself. Wear an organic vapor respirator, available from paint or building supply stores, along with rubber gloves, eye protection and protective clothing. Ventilate affected areas by opening windows, and eventually, by placing a fan in a window.
• Work toward the fan as you clean to minimize cross contamination.
• Know what items to throw away. Porous items that absorb contaminated flood water shouldn’t be restored. Drywall, carpet and pad, mattresses, pillows, box springs and particle board normally should be discarded if wet.
• Wet clothing and many household fabrics may be salvageable. Machine washing, including at least a 10-minute soak in detergent and hot water, should remove most contamination and stains.
• Open pockets of saturation. Remove base molding and portions of damaged walls and wet insulation. Locate the water line and measure 15 inches to 20 inches above it. Everything below that should be removed and discarded. Flooring, such as hardwood, laminate or sheet vinyl, should be removed to expose pockets of saturation underneath for cleaning, sanitizing and drying.
• Clean aggressively. Wall cavities and exposed durable materials (studs, joists) should be cleaned by pressure washing with detergent solutions. After thoroughly cleaning and flushing salvageable materials, apply a disinfectant solution liberally. A water restoration professional may be needed to perform this service safely and effectively.
• Prevent mold growth. Although it takes a few days to appear, mold thrives in a moist environment with organic material (e.g., paper or particle board), and temperatures between 68°F and 86°F. Keep air moving and maintain moderate temperatures as possible.
• Dry out before you rebuild. To prevent dry rot and on-going structural damage, don’t reconstruct or cover wood materials until its moisture content falls below 16 percent. Moisture meters are available online, but it may be best to hire a water restoration professional to confirm proper drying before reconstruction.
• Consider hiring a professional. A professional water damage restoration company has trained technicians, specialized cleaners and antimicrobial agents, and extraction, drying, dehumidifying and moisture measuring equipment.

For more information, visit our website at Biowashing.com

WATER DAMAGE DONE WRONG

WATER DAMAGE DONE WRONG

On a recent inspection of a property that had sustained extensive water damage from a broken pipe on the second floor, the owner called us with some concerns.  He had hired another Water Restoration Company at the urging of his insurance company, and felt that the job was not being completed like it should.  They did a minimal amount of work and placed an immense amount of fans and dehumidifiers in his house and then left. When he asked for a copy of the bill that they were submitting to the insurance company, they were hesitant.  Finally he was able to see the bill, and realized that they hadn’t completed half of what they were billing for, and still felt that the home wasn’t completely dry like it should be.  When I entered the property, I immediately saw water lines that went undiscovered, but the other company and the insurance adjuster.  The home owner then hired us, and this is what we found.  This picture shows just one of several walls and ceilings in the house that had severe water damage that wasn’t being addressed and wasn’t structurally dried or disinfected.  After a few days, everything was removed, cleaned and dried.  As for the other company, the home filed a complaint through his insurance company, filed another complaint with the BBB and his local Department of Consumer Affairs and is possibly seeking legal action. Remember one key piece of information, if you should ever go through a water loss, or any loss for that matter, you can hire ANY remediation contractor you want, and do not have to hire whomever your insurance adjuster says, no matter what.

For more information, visit our website at Biowashing.com