1. What caused the mold to grow in my house?
Anytime the moisture levels in your home are at 60% or higher, mold can grow. What's frustrating for
many property
owners is that they don't see a puddle on the floor or water dripping from the ceiling. When mold grows,
the source of
the moisture is usually hidden under floorboards or behind walls.
2. I seem to be sick all the time. Is the mold in my house making me ill?
It could be. Because mold spores are microscopic and airborne, you'll end up breathing them into your
lungs. Depending
on the type of mold and how well your immune system functions, you may develop some serious health
symptoms that could
end up being the result of mold. That's why a mold remediation company takes mold removal so seriously.
The space
affected by mold is isolated and contained during cleaning so the spores won't spread to other areas of
the house, and
the remediation team stays suited up in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the process.
3. Does bleach kill mold?
For the majority of surfaces in your home, bleach won't actually get rid of your mold problem. It's the
"iceberg
effect." Visible mold is usually a small percentage of the actual amount of mold growth. Bleach can't
kill mold on
porous surfaces like wood, and while tile or fiberglass surfaces can be cleaned with bleach, often the
mold has spread
far deeper. The reason why mold remediation companies don't recommend DIY cleanup isn't that they want
to make more
money; they know, in their experience, that a mold problem is usually far more invasive than can be seen
with the naked
eye. Simply cleaning the surfaces can provide false assurances that you got rid of the mold, only to
have it come back
time and time again.
4. Is water damage covered by my insurance policy?
Water damage insurance claims depend on a few different criteria. Ultimately, that's a question
you'll have to clarify with your insurance company. However, we can tell you that the viability of
water damage insurance claims depends
primarily on what caused the damage (storm, burst pipe, plumbing malfunction, localized flood, sump
pump failure, etc.).
Some insurance policies will outline scenarios that will NOT be covered without specific riders like
flood insurance, or
sump pump failure insurance.
Contacting a restoration contractor as well as your insurance adjuster at the same time is a good
idea because the
restoration contractor will help make sure that not only will the water extraction and dry out be
covered but the
rebuild process that should follow. If the full scope of the claim isn't outlined and agreed upon
from the start, there
may be issues down the line, and property owners may find themselves having to pay out of pocket to
get the property
completely back to normal.
5. How long will it take to dry out my property?
That depends on the types of materials that were affected by water. Drywall, carpet, and hardwood floors
will take
longer to dry than other materials in the space. We use moisture meters throughout the process and in
many different
locations to gauge the moisture levels and will continue to adjust our fans and dehumidifiers to achieve
an efficient
but effective dry time. The bare minimum of "three days to dry" may only produce a surface dry, but can
still leave
behind moisture levels that create an ideal environment for mold to grow.
6. Should I start mopping up the water myself?
Most homeowners start trying to remove the water themselves before they realize they'll need to contact
their insurance
company about a claim so they can call in a water damage restoration company. However, standing water
around anything
with a power cord or outlet or sagging ceilings makes the area unsafe. Also, many insurance claims
require documentation
of the loss BEFORE any work is done, including removing the water. Always take plenty of photos of the
damage you see
before taking any action to start cleaning up the mess. Your restoration contractor will be able to back
up your
insurance claim scope with the necessary technical documentation as well.
7. What Is the Electric Cost of Running a Dehumidifier in the Crawl Space?
Comparatively, it is less than running a small refrigerator.
8. Is Mold Damage and Crawl Space Repair Covered by Insurance?
In most cases, it is NOT covered by insurance, but financing is available, and approval is easy. Call
today!
9. Is fire damage covered by insurance?
Most often, yes. You'll need to check your specific policy for the full scope of coverage, but in
general, if the damage
was caused by a flame, it's covered. Your best bet is to hire a professional damage restoration company,
such as
[company,data=name], to help you through the claims process. We know how to avoid some common missteps
when it comes to
making sure the entire loss is documented and covered. Many homeowners and insurance companies forget,
for instance, to
consider that your HVAC system will need to be cleaned of soot, and, since fires are extinguished using
water, many
areas of your home may need to be restored due to water damage even if they weren't directly affected by
the fire.
10. How soon can I move back home after a fire?
Depending on the extent or location of the fire damage, some homeowners can move back in a few days or
longer. The fire
department will usually turn off electricity and gas to the property right away, and that won't be
restored until a
building inspector says that it's safe to turn those utilities back on. If you experienced significant
smoke damage and
the home's occupants include elderly persons, young children, or those with chronic health conditions,
it may be wise to
stay until the smoke cleanup is complete. Contracting with a damage restoration company experienced in
fire damage
repair can often get you back home sooner because they'll have the resources to hire and manage the many
tradespeople
who will need to work together to make the home liveable again. One perk of hiring [company,data=name]
is our guarantee
to you and your family! When you hire [company,data=altname] for damage restoration, if we can't keep
you in your home
or your home is otherwise uncomfortable, and you have to go stay in a hotel, the first night is on us!
11. I aired out my house after a small fire, but it still smells like smoke. What can I do?
Smoke damage is rarely limited to one area of the house, and it leaves behind a residue that can hide in
crevices and
out-of-reach areas, and a simple "airing out" may not be sufficient. We recommend consulting with a
smoke damage
technician who can help you troubleshoot the next steps.