You might not think of it, but you have an amazing tool available to you that will help you to find out when there is an issue with mold in your home – your nose! While the human nose isn’t as sensitive as some animals, it is still able to tell when something is off. This is why it is a good practice to listen to your nose. When there is a smell that is musty or off in some way, it could be that you have detected mold growth in your home. What Makes Cigarette Smoke So Special?Of course, you need to know what to do about it. There are some tools available for homeowners to test a suspicious substance for themselves, and usually it will need to be sent in to a lab. Of course another option is to use a professional service, such as us here at Hero Remediation. We have trained professionals that are able to help in the testing and remediation of mold problems.
We will first analyze the data to give you a full picture of what the issue is, and how harmful the particular type of mold is. After that we will develop a plan of action for you to know each step in our process. Depending on the type of mold and how extensive the infestation is, we will make sure you know what to expect. Our team of expert mold remediators will then go to work and make sure that your property is completely free of mold and restored to its original state. After everything is done, even the most sensitive nose will be unable to pick up any traces of mold in your home, and you can rest easy knowing that your family’s health is not going to be affected by mold spores in the air.
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It's That Time Of Year AgainOfficially, the Atlantic hurricane season begins tomorrow. It runs from June 1st until November 30th and it always brings a lot of destruction in its path. The past couple of years have been worse than ever, and scientists predict that this year will follow the same pattern with more serious storms and extreme weather patterns. The last two years, forecasters actually ran out of names for the named hurricanes, something that usually doesn't happen, but it seems to become the norm these days. More storms translated into more hurricanes making landfall than usual as well, and that can be expected to repeat this year. So knowing all this, what precautions should you take? Prepare For The WorstOne of the most common problems after storms is that people aren't as prepared as they should be. Many have the "It's not going to happen to me" mentality, and because of this, they don't expect to be in a tough situation after a storm. To avoid that, prepare as if every single storm was heading straight for you. Having a go-bag prepared with the essentials to survive if you need to leave your home suddenly is a great way to prepare. It is also wise to keep a constant supply of non-perishable food and drinking water stored at home in case you get stuck in your home for an extended period of time. What Comes AfterIf your life is turned upside down after a storm, Hero Remediation is going to be your best friend. We can help you deal with water damage in your home and make sure that your home doesn't take more damage after the fact. Keeping our number at hand is yet another thing you can do to prepare for the hurricane season.
Dealing with strange odors in your home is never fun, and sometimes it can be tricky to figure out exactly what the cause is. There are some specific events that might require a professional service to deal with the odors in your home, and we're going to consider a few of them in this post. FireWhether it is a small fire that is contained quickly, or a major one that does a lot of damage to your home, rebuilding damaged sections of your home is most likely going to be your first concern, but you will notice that the odor of smoke keeps lingering a long time after all the repairs have been finished. While you might feel like the odor lessens after a period of time, this is basically just your nose getting used to it. An easy way to verify this is to go away from your home for a day or two. When you get back, you will definitely notice the odor. Cigarette SmokeThis odor is probably the worst you can deal with in a home if you're not a smoker yourself. At times, people have bought homes not noticing the odor until they started living in the building, and at that point, it's their problem to deal with. The problem with cigarette smoke is that there might be several items in your home that makes the odor linger for longer. There could for example be a film on all the lightbulbs in your home which would start smelling when the lights are turned on. It's also common that filters in your HVAC system absorb the smoke odor. MoldThe main consideration when it comes to mold odor is that the source of the odor needs to be addressed first of all. Usually you will find mold growth in dark damp areas of your home, so mold remediation should be your first step. After that is cared for, odor removal comes next. Our ToolsWe use a chemical-free process for odor removal here at Hero Remediation. It is accomplished by using Hydroxyl generators.
Identifying signs of previous water damage is essential because this will help you prevent future costly repairs like mold infestation. As a home buyer, hire a professional to thoroughly check for signs of earlier water damage. If the water damage is not found as soon as possible, it can result in costly repairs as well as a health risk because of molds.
Identify Water Damage: 1. Outside the Home The ground should slope away from your home and not towards it to avoid water damage. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell whether or not the grade is proper around your home, but it can cause serious problems if water is not kept away from the foundation. Water can get in the minor cracks, and as it works its way, you could be experiencing water damage in no time. 2. Inside the Home An obvious sign of water damage inside your home is water rings on walls or ceilings. This could result from something as simple as a leak from the roof or a leaking pipe. By examining the area around sinks and bathtubs, looking for warped floors and soft spots the source might be found. 3. In the Basement and Attic We are experts at finding water damage. We will be checking for damp basements that can cause mold infestation and lead to health risks and expensive repairs. Hiring a professional expert is essential to ensure that your home is safe from water damage. We will check signs of water damage and overall condition to ensure that you are buying a home in its peak condition. No homeowner wants mold in their home, right? But, have you ever asked yourself why? Surprisingly, there are many who only know that mold is harmful, but not exactly why that is. There are several side effects from having mold in your home, but here are the main ones that you should keep in mind. Health RisksMold can worsen existing health conditions, such as asthma and allergies. Depending on the seriousness of your illness, as well as the extent of the mold infestation will have a bearing on how serious the side effects are. When it comes to symptoms that aren’t too severe, a runny nose, watery eyes, coughing, sneezing, and itching are common. Even though this might not be very serious, it is a sign that something isn’t quite right. In addition to that, symptoms that aren’t all that severe could worsen with time. The longer you are exposed to mold, the more serious symptoms will present themselves. Headaches, fatigue, and difficulty breathing are among the more serious effects that you might experience. Definitely not something that you want to subject your family to. Damage to Your HomeMold is not just harmful to your body, it can also damage your home over time. Mold feeds on organic materials, which could include any woods, fabrics, or paper that was used in the construction of your home. It can even eat away glue, causing issues where wallpaper detaches from the wall. It is not a quick process, but if mold is allowed to grow for a long time undetected, it can do quite a bit of damage. Damage to the point where there are serious issues doesn’t happen overnight, but usually, you will need to do some serious restoration work to resolve the issue.
As you see, mold growth in your home is a serious issue and one that should be remedied as soon as possible. Fortunately, we offer our services to help with mold remediation, as well as other issues that come from water intrusion. ![]() A 3300 sq. ft. two-story home in Florida had been listed for sale for 18 months. Not a single offer was made to purchase it because it had a strong cigarette smell. The realtor reached out to a contractor, and they immediately said they could help. They placed two hydroxyl generators on the first floor and two more on the second floor. No physical cleaning was needed because the walls were not yellow. After five days, the smell was completely eliminated, including from the carpet upstairs, drapes, and kitchen cabinets. They billed a flat rate of 95 cents per square foot, and it only required one worker to set up the machines and pick them up. The very next person to see the house placed an offer and it was sold! (www.randrmagonline.com) Bad odors from a fire, smoke, water damage, animals, mold or other sources can be very difficult to get rid of. Many malodor removal techniques simply cover up the smell or use harsh chemicals that can potentially cause damages to the property or its occupants. At Hero Remediation, Odor Removal is conducted by using chemical free hydroxyl generators! If you have any kind of bad odor at your property, then contact us to begin the recovery process. We have emergency services and are available when you need it. You might have seen on the news how flooding disasters are becoming more and more common around the country. No one wants to see their neighborhood under several feet of water with cars floating by, but for more and more people, it is a real risk. What are some factors that can contribute to your home being at risk for flooding? Location, Location, LocationWhile that is what you would hear from your realtor when looking for a new home, it is also something that comes into play when you assess the danger of flooding in an area. Is your home close to waterways that are prone to flooding? Is it near the ocean? Is it much lower than the surrounding neighborhoods? All these factors play a role in the risk factor for your home. What Lies BelowThe soil your home is built on also plays a major role. If water can drain easily through the ground, it is going to be better off in a flood, while types of soil that won't let water through can make a problem worse. Hard packed clay and similar ground is going to cause the water to accumulate on the surface and possibly cause flooding in your home. Urban AreasThe problem with cities is the amount of asphalt as well as rooftops that funnel the water down towards you. Large parking lots can easily collect huge amounts of water that will need somewhere to drain. If your home is downhill from a parking lot, that could be a cause for flooding where you live. Remediation For YouFlooding can do huge amounts of damage to your home, and it could cause problems that linger for years. This is why it is essential to partner with a trusted remediation company, such as us here at Hero Remediation.
When you see any of the previously mentioned situations arising near your home, keep us in mind. While you can get water damage from any type of leak, there are some leaks that are worse than others. Of course, we’re talking about sewage leaks. While it’s pretty disgusting to think about toilet water leaking into your home, it is not a good time to panic. Usually, when panic sets in, mistakes are made. If you have them available, you should wear thick rubber gloves as well as rubber boots during the cleanup to keep from getting exposed and possibly sick. What Is So Bad About Toilet Water?Toilet water can make for a much worse situation than regular water leaks because of the abundance of bacteria in the water. It is very important that the leak gets taken care of right away. If at all possible, you need to stop the water flow that is feeding the leak. Turning off your water supply will make it stop the quickest, but depending on what was in the pipes when the leak started, and what floor in your home the leak is located on, there might be quite a bit of water that will push its way through before it stops gushing out. This is especially the case when there is a clog in your main sewage line, and a lower floor toilet starts gushing out water. If the upstairs bathroom and shower were used, all that water is going to come out before it slows down. Cleanup Takes TimeCleanup of contaminated water is a messy business, and you want to make sure that you don’t leave bacteria-infested water in your home. This means that bleach is going to be your best friend. Cleaning all surfaces that had sewage water on them with bleach will kill the bacteria. You should also do the same with any mops, buckets, and tools you use for the cleanup. The recommended mixture for this type of cleaning is one cup of bleach to one gallon of water.
If you want professional help with the cleanup, give us a call and we will be there as soon as possible. When it comes to mold growth, it is important to remember that it doesn't just start from major events or in damp basements. There are also some things that we all might be guilty of that could end up being a problem. Let's just consider a few of them and what action would be a better option. Wet Clothes And MoldWe all end up with wet clothes in our home at one time or another. Maybe we get caught out in the rain, maybe we have some clothes that we don't want to run through the dryer, or maybe we have worked out really hard and got sweaty clothes that we got out of. While this isn't a problem in itself, they should never be piled up somewhere where they will take a long time to dry. It could provide mold with the perfect location to start growing. Instead, you should hang up your wet clothes in a spot where they get good ventilation, or you should wash and dry them right away. Procrastination is not going to be helping you in your fight against mold. Spills Need to be Cleaned Up Right AwayIt's easy to do it - you are gesturing while talking to your friends, and you knock a glass over. If you have carpet in your home, it might not even be noticeable after a short while, but that doesn't mean that everything is ok. Mold can start growing, even underneath your carpet, and not be detected until it's a serious problem. This is why you should clean up spills quickly. If necessary, using a steamer on your carpet can help to minimize the risk of mold growth in your home. While there are some liquids that have a higher risk for starting mold growth, you should be concerned with spills no matter what the liquid is. Be Careful With Your PlantsIf you have a lot of live plants in your home, it is important to remember that water from an overwatered plant can leak onto the floor. Since the water will take a while to run through the dirt, you should get used to stopping watering earlier than you might expect to be needed. Keeping a saucer underneath the plant pots as well can be an added layer of protection. These were just a few situations where you should consider whether what you are doing is going to encourage mold growth. It all comes down to the basics. Avoid moisture and have good ventilation. On the other hand, if the problem is from a major event, like flooding and big leaks, you would do well to contact us to take a look at the possible damage to your home.
![]() Whether the cause is flooding, storms, rains or a busted pipe, dealing with large amounts of water in your home is not for the faint of heart. There are many issues that can crop up after the fact if water remediation isn't done properly. This could either mean costly repairs further down the line, or worse, health problems that linger for years to come. This is why water remediation is important, but some might wonder exactly what is involved in the process. That is what we're here to tell you. First - Inspect the Water DamageFor anyone doing water remediation, it is important to have a proper mix of technology and experience to be able to do the best job possible. There are modern tools to asses the state of a building, such as moisture meters that will tell you how much damage the water intrusion in your home has caused. Naturally, a tool is useless unless it's in trained hands, and that is what we provide. We will also check to make sure that there is no active source of water intrusion, since it is meaningless to do the remediation if there still is an active leak. We can assess the work that is needed and then provide an estimate of time and cost to you. Next - Dry It UpThe first part of water remediation is always going to be water removal. The longer water is left in your home, the more damage it will cause. Using pumps and vacuums, we will make sure that the water is removed from your home as soon as possible. After it is gone, more tests will be performed to get a more complete picture of the situation we're facing. After this comes the drying phase. We use commercial grade dehumidifiers to ensure that everything is as dry as possible. When that is completed, everything needs to be cleaned. While there are certain situations where there is a higher risk of contaminants in the water, such as sewage backup, there will always be a need for cleaning and sanitizing. Finally - RestorationAfter all these steps have been completed, it's time to perform the actual restoration. There might be a lot of material that needs replacing, especially if the water has been standing for a longer period of time. It's not always easy to tell beforehand how much of the home needs to be replaced, but rest assured that we will do our very best to make sure that your home will look as if nothing ever happened.
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AuthorHERO Remediation is Central Florida's premier flood and water damage restoration company. Fully licensed and experienced. Archives
May 2022
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