Dangers of Unknown Water Damage

Wikipedia reports that Brittany Anne Murphy-Monjack, better known as Brittany Murphy, big screen star of films including Clueless, Girl Interrupted, 8 Mile, Sin City, Happy Feet, and Riding in Cars with Boys, died on December 20, 2009 from pneumonia despite public speculation of an eating disorder or drug abuse.  Sharon Murphy, mother of Brittney Murphy, has filed a lawsuit against her former attorneys alleging legal malpractice, breach of express and/or implied contract, and breach of fiduciary duty concerning the legal firm's negotiation of a settlement in this case which is underscored and aggravated by Sharon's reported discovery of "extensive water damage and mold infestation".   Sharon suggests the real cause of death of her daughter and her daughter's husband, Simon Monjack - who died five months and three days later with the same diagnosis, was Black Mold.

Black mold or toxic black mold is known to the scientific community as S. chlorohalonata and is one of the fifty species of Stachybotrys.  S. chlorohalonata is frequently found in water damaged buildings with poor indoor air quality and can result in a wide range of ailments depending on the length of exposure and the volume of spores inhaled.  It is well reported and documented that long term exposure can result in a bevy of maladies including immunosuppression, dementia, ongoing and recurring respiratory infections, irregular heartbeat, and death.

If Sharon can prove that the underlying cause of death for Brittany and Simon was in fact black mold infestation that was caused by the builder purposely covering up known water damage then she may in fact have a legitimate case against her previous attorney who settled the case opposed to perusing damages against the builder - who may be criminally negligent and, therefore, strictly liable for the deaths.  Alas, I am not an attorney and I am not qualified to practice law so I can only speculate, for entertainment purposes only, as to the potential responsibility and liability of this case.

However, what I can state without disclaimer is that mold abatement (defined as suppression or termination) is well within the operating scope and professional expertise of a professional, independent water damage restoration company.

A professional, independent water damage restoration company is professionally trained and industry certified to remediate (repair) water damage and eliminate other damages and risks caused by water damage including mold.  The reader would be wise to consider that such qualification and expertise may not be what you get when you call a national franchise or your insurance adjuster's suggested or "preferred" company to remediate your water damage as these "dependent" companies tend to cut corners in order to continue being preferred.  Perhaps the builder in question was an insurance company  preferred company?  We can only speculate.

R.I.P. Brittany Murphy

R.I.P. Simon Monjack

Best Wishes Sharon Murphy

May no one have to suffer the caustic and fatal effects of black mold again.

This article is composed by and offered as a public service by Jimmy K. Jimmy K is the Independent Owner and Operator of Emergency Response Restoration (http://www.emergencyresponserestoration.com/), 2665 N Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Jimmy K is a true consumer advocate who is not afraid to battle the insurance company to ensure the proper restoration of the consumer's water damaged home office or asset.

Why You Should Repair Water Damage Quickly

It is an unfortunate reality that many people underestimate the potential damage water can cause with even limited exposure time.  Chemistry teaches that water can be a base or an acid depending on environmental factors meaning that in high acid environments, water acts as a base and in low pH environments, water is slightly acidic.  The mutable nature of water affords water the ability to carve through solid rock to create beautiful natural wonders but this same ability can also destroy drywall, plumbing materials, and other common building materials.  This point, however, is often forgotten when people deal with water damage.

When dealing with water damage, many people simply focus on the top layer of water and neglect to do anything for the layers of water that have penetrated the subsurface or been absorbed in to the gypsum board (aka drywall and sheetrock) and sill plates usually due to the double whammy of they do not understand the risks and they do not have the proper extraction equipment.  Wikipedia reports that gypsum board is "easily damaged by exposure to water" and "supports the growth of mold."  While gypsum board is treated to make it more water resistant, should the gypsum board be punctured or should water, as in the case of water damage, collect around the unprotected area of the gypsum board, the porous gypsum board will then readily absorb and hold the water.  The longer this absorbed water stays inside the gypsum board the more damage it causes.

Unlike fire damage that leaves a visible and generally static path of damage, water damage can be subtle and can manifest its destruction over a period of time.  Opposed to the immediate destruction caused by fire, water, similar in many ways to stress, can slowly chip away at the host until it requires extensive repair at a cost that is MUCH higher and over an area MUCH larger than initial exposure would have been required to treat.  The subtle nature of water is what causes water damage to be regularly underestimated and, therefore, undertreated in real world case scenarios.

Unfortunately, despite the best intention and valiant effort of many honorable do-it-yourselfers, their efforts are for naught as they simply lack the equipment needed for remediation and such equipment is not commonly available at your local rental shop.  At best these people may have access to a commercial carpet cleaner which can effectively remove the top layer of water but does little to penetrate the subflooring or remove the absorbed water so they will stop when the area feels dry and will leave a fan on.  This method is very similar to the method employed by remediation professionals in the infancy of the water restoration profession but this was soon sent to pasture as it was quickly shown to be ineffective, at best, and a catalyst for decomposition and mold growth, at worst.

The best way to combat water damage, and to prevent the short and long term devastation caused by water damage, is to call a professional water damage restoration company as soon as the damage is found.  While the honorable do-it-yourselfer will have the unrelenting urge to break out their equipment and assist the professional water damage restoration company, the best way a do-it-yourselfer could assist the company is by disabling the source of the water damage (if possible), ensuring the area is free from electrical risks, and ensuring the affected area is free of debris and physical hazards (if possible) so that the professionals can extract the water as quickly as possible to minimize the restoration time.

Proper timing is essential for the fastest restoration.  Now you know.

This article is composed by and offered as a public service by Jimmy K. Jimmy K is the Independent Owner and Operator of Emergency Response Restoration (http://www.emergencyresponserestoration.com/), 2665 N Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Jimmy K is a true consumer advocate who is not afraid to battle the insurance company to ensure the proper restoration of the consumer's water damaged home office or asset.

What is that Smell?

You smell it... a foul stench that permeates the air and chokes the oxygen from you as you struggle to breath without holding your nose but you cannot find the source of the stench.  You have searched everywhere you can think to look but the smell persists and you wonder aloud if it is actually worsening.  You know it can't have anything to do with your recent water damage as you called the best carpet cleaner in the phonebook - the "family" owned operation with the big ad - and you were there when they removed the water.  They gave you full disclosure concerning a "little" dampness and even added a pleasant smelling chemical as you are a wonderful customer.  So, then, what is that smell?

That smell can be any number of maladies ranging from decomposition of hidden organic materials through the silent yet continual destruction of your walls through mold.  Such maladies omit a foul and offensive odor and each could have been avoided or abated by using a professional water damage restoration company.

The carpet cleaner was introduced herein as a generic but realistic scenario as this scenario plays out on a daily basis.  Most victims of water damage severely underestimate the scope of work that is required to indemnify the situation while simultaneously fearing the perceived cost to fix the situation.  While the carpet cleaner is working to the best of the cleaner's ability, a carpet cleaning company is NOT a professional water damage restoration company and is ill equipped, at best, to address the bevy of tasks required to properly remediate the water damage despite its best effort and honorable intention.  Additionally, most carpet cleaners are paid from the pocket of the water damage victim whereas a professional water damage restoration company can handle the entire restoration project thereby restoring the scenario to it preloss condition with, in many cases, little to no out of pocket money from the water damage victim as the water damage restoration company bills the water damage victim's insurance company for its service.

So rather than argue to defend the integrity of that nice man from the carpet cleaning company and wondering what that smell is, hire that nice man from that professional water damage restoration company and enjoy your restored asset without smell and without the risk of future problems stemming from an underestimation of the damage the water caused initially.  Better yet, tell your family and friends how that nice man from the water damage restoration company was able to complete ALL of the work without taking money from your pocket and how happy you are with the work!  They need to know.

This article is composed by and offered as a public service by Jimmy K. Jimmy K is the Independent Owner and Operator of Emergency Response Restoration (http://www.emergencyresponserestoration.com/), 2665 N Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Jimmy K is a true consumer advocate who is not afraid to battle the insurance company to ensure the proper restoration of the consumer's water damaged home office or asset.

Water Damage of the Rich and Famous

Despite the house, the cost of the house, or even the architectural design of the house, no home is immune to the effects of water damage.  It has been widely publicized that Pop sensation Rihanna is looking to short sale her 8,250 square foot, 8 bedroom, 10 bathroom, Beverly Hills home due to "extensive damage from moisture and water intrusion."  Despite paying $6.9 million for the home about two years ago, the singer is looking to sell the home at a $2.5 million loss.  Citing damage to, "but not limited to", the roof, windows, doors, and balconies, one would have to wonder who in their right mind would buy this home knowing what is already disclosed for any where near the amount offered?

While her asking price for this rapidly depreciating asset may be otherworldly, her desire to take the money and run is prudent.  Not counting the money she is losing every moment professional corrective measures are not taken, or are delayed, thus allowing the water to continue to damage her home, the unseen damage is likely to be much more of a financial abyss then the immediate $2.5 million loss.  It seems unlikely that this slow seeping water damage is acute so this damage has, most likely, been steadily increasing in volume for some time (a period most likely longer then her two year ownership) so the hidden damage can be extensive.  Then there are the health considerations that run tangent to chronic water damage including toxic black mold.  The inherent heath risks of black mold are well known and well documented and the chances for Rihanna's home being a black mold hotspot are good.

For the record, we take nothing at face value and have found the actual listing online.  While Rihanna's home is quite a bargain, considering and compared to similar listings in the Beverly Hills area, and her full disclosure is admirable, we feel the chances of the house being sold "As-Is" with " EXTENSIVE damage from moisture AND water intrusion" and with "encroachment issues and other problems" is limited.

At this point, we feel, the only way for Rihanna to stem the financial loss she continues to incur is by using an independent water damage restoration company to mitigate the damages and stop the water damage at its source.  Hiring a professional, certified independent water damage restoration company is a prudent financial step as such company can restore the home to its preloss condition thereby negating the immediate $2.5 million loss which could allow Rihanna's undervalued home, for the market it is in and based on comparables, to achieve its true value and sell for much more than $4.5 million.

Best wishes Rihanna.

This article is composed by and offered as a public service by Jimmy K. Jimmy K is the Independent Owner and Operator of Emergency Response Restoration (http://www.emergencyresponserestoration.com/), 2665 N Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Jimmy K is a true consumer advocate who is not afraid to battle the insurance company to ensure the proper restoration of the consumer's water damaged home office or asset.

Water Damage Restoration 101: The Dangers of Water Damage

 In this, our 20th public service article, we looked back and asked ourselves the best and most basic question of all, who cares?  How does the intra-industry information we have shared with the public benefit the public and why would someone take time from their busy schedule to read what we have freely presented?  The answer, of course, is self interest.  In this "ah-ha" moment we realized that we are missing a key component in our article database... the health risks and financial dangers posed by and created by exposure to water damage.

So then, why is water damage a concern to me and why should I care about it?

1. Water damage can destroy the structural integrity of your structure rendering it unusable and inhospitable.  Even a small amount of water damage can wreak havoc with your drywall, flooring, and infrastructure as it penetrates and is absorbed into the structure.

2. Such penetration and absorption can easily become an ideal environment for health risks and financial challenges associated with the unconstrained growth of mold, bacteria, and structural degradation.

3. Water conditions can quickly degrade into Category 2 or Category 3 water conditions.  Category 2 water, also referred to as "Grey Water", is known to carry microorganisms and can be caused by reasons as common as a sump pump failure or a compromised dishwasher.  Category 3 water, or "Black Water", poses serious human health risks and can carry a wide range of life threatening fungi, bacteria, viruses, and other microbes.

4. Any category of water that is not removed properly and by a trained professional can penetrate and poison or infect local sources of clean water.

5. Water damage that is not cleaned professionally can have devastating long term health and financial consequences.  Unless the structure owner is a trained water damage restoration professional, the admirable and laudable American original Do-it-Yourself attitude should not be used in this situation and at no time should any one cut corners to cut costs.

Only a professional water damage restoration company is equipped and trained well enough to remove the water, restore your structure to its preloss condition, and dry the structure to a level that adheres to the structure's normal dry level, thereby, circumventing all of the issues we have outlined.

While any one can easily suck the top layer of water off a floor using a simple grocery store rented wet/dry vacuum cleaner, for example, this can, and will, miss the water that has penetrated the inner layers of the structure including the subflooring and inside the wall cavities.  This is the real threat of water damage and is the reason you should only use an independent water damage restoration company to handle all of your water damage restoration needs.

Water Damage Restoration 101 What about my memories?

Water damage is uncompromising and can be devastating. The stress incurred by loss of the use of your property is bad enough but the loss of irreplaceable pictures and family heirlooms can be a tremendous strain. This article will outline some steps you can use to prevent loss to such items.

- Prevention is the key -
Per the adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of Cure," the best way to prevent loss of irreplaceable pictures and family heirlooms is by eliminating or severely reducing the ability to lose said items. Preventing the ability to lose or damage such items is the key to enjoying the maximum pleasure and benefit such items convey for the longest amount of time.

- Image all irreplaceable documents and pictures to your PC -
Most people have some form of scanning device in their home or place of business but for those who do not, and for those who do not have the time, interest, or technological ability to do it themselves, there are low cost services that will image these items for a nominal cost.

- Synchronize your iDevices, cameras, and other electronic devices to your PC -
iPhones, iPads, touch devices, and other similar items that allow the user to take pictures, download personal items, or otherwise express themselves creatively, are lost, stolen, and damaged every day so all of the personal data contained on such device is forever lost. For most people, synchronizing such device is as simple as plugging their device into their PC. More advanced users may have turned off the autostart process but can reactivate the service by simply running the original application.

- Regularly backup your PC -
People seem to forget one basic tenant of computer law... computers are machines... it is not if they will break down but when. Many times computers break down at the most inconvenient times and unless the user has backed up their PC to some external source - i.e. flash drive, file server, Internet backup, etc., all of the files, documents, pictures, etc. on such PC are lost until such time their PC is fixed or their data is retrieved. The entire nightmare scenario can be avoided by simply backing up the PC.

- Keep all original and PC backups in a safe storage area off the premises -
This should go without saying but many people keep the backup directly next to the source. While this may not matter in the scenario of a computer crash, should the user experience fire or water damage, then it is reasonable to assume that something that killed the source can kill the backup. It is a best practice to keep the backup in a safe place separate from the source.

- Use only copies or electronic images -
Now that all irreplaceable pictures and family heirlooms are safely backed up and stored away, the enjoyment of such items should not be lost in the attempt to protect such items. The electronic reproduction of such items will afford the utility such items provide with the peace of mind knowing that the originals are secure from loss or damage. Truly a win-win scenario.

Unfortunately, these words of wisdom may come too late for your needs. Should this be the case, then a professional water damage restoration company may be able to refer your electronic devices to a qualified recovery center for possible repair or data recovery. Any paper or non-electronic items, however, may be lost depending on the conditions of the loss. It is clear that the best key to recovery is prevention.

This article is composed by and offered as a public service by Jimmy K. Jimmy K is the Independent Owner and Operator of Emergency Response Restoration (http://www.emergencyresponserestoration.com/), 2665 N Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Jimmy K is a true consumer advocate who is not afraid to battle the insurance company to ensure the proper restoration of the consumer's water damaged home office or asset.

Water Damage Restoration 101 Why use a Water Damage Restoration Company?

While in the midst of a recent job, the insurance adjuster came out and asked why we are continuing to dry when the floor looked dry upon the adjuster's visual inspection. An insurance adjuster, presumedly, is better qualified and has more experience in water damage restoration than a homeowner who is dealing with an emergency remediation service for the first, and hopefully final, time. The sincere question of said adjuster prompted this article as if someone who is supposed to be professionally educated and experienced in this arena does not understand what dry means, then it stands to reason that the in duress homeowner does not know and can reasonably question the time and effort we expend in doing a professional water damage remediation.

Let's face it, money is always a consideration. Any person, in a purely fiduciary and cost accounting point of view, could make the reasonable determination that removing water from a structure can be accomplished by simply using a store rented machine, a shop wet vacuum, or by any carpet cleaning service found in the phone book. This reasonable and cost controlling assumption that any of the water removal methodologies just outlined is correct as any of the aforementioned water removal methods should be able to remove the top layer of water but NONE of those water removal methods can remove the water that has penetrated the flooring, base boards, or drywall. Unfortunately, the moisture not removed by these methods is, often times, the underlying catalyst for costly structural damage and can create the optimal conditions for mold growth. While this approach to save money is understood and appreciated, this approach is unnecessary as, in many cases, a professional water damage remediation company can handle such work for little to no out-of-pocket cost to the homeowner.

In addition to the cost savings the professional water damage remediation company may afford the homeowner, a professionally trained and intra-industry certified company will know the industry established dry standard for the region they serve and will ensure that the moisture content of the affected area will be dried to the established drying standard and not to a level that looks, feels, and otherwise appears dry upon a casual inspection. The benefit of this is simple... the potential for structural damage is abated and the potential for mold growth is minimized thus saving the homeowner untold expenses in home repair and medical costs.

So what does dry mean? When is something dry? Dry does not mean a moisture content of zero as even in the desert there is moisture - if you know where to look and how to extract it. Dry, in the context of water damage remediation, refers to a point in the intra-industry drying standard at which the moisture content is stated to be dry. Each region, by virtue of its unique ecology, has its own established drying standard. The outline of each region is beyond the scope of this article but any interested party can easily find the established drying standard for their region online. It is to this point that a professional water damage remediation company will dry to, or beyond, to ensure your home indemnified to its preloss condition. Then, and only then, is your affected home / structure able to be deemed as dry.

As outlined in this article, there really is a lot that goes into a water damage remediation service... far more then is apparent at first glance. Now that you have a reasonable understanding of the time, money, and risk you can offset via the contracting a professional water damage restoration company, you now know that your fiduciary responsibility and cost saving intent is BEST served by using a professional water damage remediation company whenever water damage occurs.

This article is composed by and offered as a public service by Jimmy K. Jimmy K is the Independent Owner and Operator of Emergency Response Restoration (http://www.emergencyresponserestoration.com/), 2665 N Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Jimmy K is a true consumer advocate who is not afraid to battle the insurance company to ensure the proper restoration of the consumer's water damaged home office or asset.

Psychologically Surviving the Storm Recovery

While Tropical Storm Emily seems to be lessening in strength and may not effect Florida in any way, the existence of Tropical Storm Emily shows that hurricane season is here and by all estimates, this hurricane season is expected to be active. There are a bevy of available guides that outline hurricane preparedness and what to do before the storm hits but few of these guides outline how to psychologically survive the environmental and financial effects of being hit. The loss of property, personal heirlooms, and independence that stems from surviving a hurricane is devastating enough but they, unfortunately, can be the tip of the iceberg. Many of these stressors outlined in this article are not considered until the situation arises. It is our hope that someone may read this article and find some solace in the guidelines presented.

1. Bored, frightened, and hungry children
In this era of seemingly endless multimedia distractions, many the kids of today are ill equipped for the harsh conditions of the mundane outside world. For the parent who just witnessed the irreversible destruction of their home, personal possessions, and other fruits of their lifelong investment, the inane banter of children whining about being bored can add immense unnecessary stress to an already unbelievably stressful situation. The best solution to this problem is a deck of cards. While Uno, Crazy Eights, and other specialized card games exist, in this reality, space is everything so a simple pack of playing cards can be employed for long term entertainment. The versatility of a standard deck of playing cards is unmatched by any specialized cards and can bring a much needed escape from the harsh post storm conditions.

2. Pets
The financial burden of caring for a pet in a devastated economy can wreak psychological havoc amongst pet owners when they find themselves competing for the same food and water resources as their pet. The pet owners surely has the best intention for the well being of the pet but when the worst has happened and the owner is forced to choose between self preservation and pet preservation, often times it is the pet who suffers. The best solution is to prevent this scenario from happening. Find a pet shelter, find a pet boarding facility, or make arrangements to move the pet to a friend or family member's home - in an unaffected area - before the storm hits. The immeasurable psychological damage of this scenario is easy to stave off with simple prevention.

3. Looting
If you are in an affected area, you need to move to a shelter, friend or relative's house, or to a hotel room where available. While the macho concept of protecting the homestead is honorable and appreciated, the lack of food, clean water, and the constant image of loss is too much on even the toughest psyche. Nothing adds insult to injury better than hunger pains and communicable diseases obtained in a disaster. The need or desire to protect your nonfunctioning and completely unusable 60" HD LCD TV is foolish, it can be replaced... pick up and move on. The best defense against loss is photographic or video evidence. BEFORE the approaching storms hits, photo catalog all of your possessions, heirlooms, expensive electronics, and vehicles; scan all sensitive documents and pictures to your PC; and make a text file of all your Internet usernames and password and then burn all this evidence to a robust medium like DVD. The contents of said DVD can be used for insurance claims, restoration or recreation of lost heirlooms, and is small enough to be easily protected and transported. While other backup methods, including remote backup exist and are reasonable, recovery from these methods can fail when there is no Internet activity, no electricity, no working computers, and your overly stressed mind cannot recall your name let alone Internet passwords. This DVD can put your mind at ease.

4. Money
In a time of disaster the adage of "Cash is king" is never more apparent. All of the modern luxuries of credit cards, debit cards, and electronic bill payment fail when there is no electricity and no ability to withdraw money from an ATM. The solution is cash. You should maintain a cash reserve in your home for emergencies. This reserve does not need to be large, in fact, too much cash would make you a target so a small coin collection or paper currency reserve should be enough to help you get to an unaffected area in order to regroup and survive.

Surviving a disaster is trying enough. The strategies outlined in this article are presented in the hope that this information helps someone who suffers such challenge survive and recover with as little displacement, loss, and psychological scarring as possible.

This article is composed by and offered as a public service by Jimmy K. Jimmy K is the Independent Owner and Operator of Emergency Response Restoration (http://www.emergencyresponserestoration.com/), 2665 N Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Jimmy K is a true consumer advocate who is not afraid to battle the insurance company to ensure the proper restoration of the consumer's water damaged home office or asset.

Frequently Asked Questions: Water Damage Remediation

You come home and you find your floor is full of water. You identify the source and stop the leak. Then you grab your wet/dry vacuum cleaner and suck up all the excess water. There are still a few damp area and it smells kind of musty so you open the window and will nature take its course. In your mind your Do-it-Yourself attitude just saved you a ton of money. Case closed.

The Do-it-Yourself attitude is admirable and the laudable hallmark of American culture but such attitude can prove to be, as in this case, misguided and have potential long term health and financial consequences.

Issue1: Using a wet/dry vacuum cleaner to extract the water
Problem1: This extraction usually does not extract all the moisture from the affected area
Why this matters to you1: The remaining water can promote structural decay and be a catalyst for mold.

Issue2: Opening widow to dry naturally
Problem2: In hot, humid regions, such as FL, the sweltering heat can actually prevent evaporation
Why this matters to you2: This prevents drying and is an IDEAL condition for accelerated mold growth.

Issue3: Employing Do-it-Yourself to save money
Problem3: In many cases, the honorable and honest Do-it-Yourself attempt ends up costing more money
Why this matters to you3: Losing money is bad no matter how you look at it. The potential savings can be offset by having to redo the work and the need for special equipment that is used one time.

Why should I care about Mold?
It is well established that exposure to certain types of mold are well known to have serious health effects in humans. It is certainly not in the interest of anyone to be exposed to mold.

OK, so I'll hire a carpet cleaning company to get rid of my water.
This is a logical step as the typical carpet cleaner will have access to better commercial vacuum equipment than the homeowner but this logic fails in two main areas, cost and ability. Trying to save money by hiring a carpet cleaner can have negative budgetary impact depending on the company used and time involved. While many carpet cleaners are exceptional at their trade and are, usually, worth every penny, carpet cleaners do not know how to remove water from walls, monitor and control ambient moisture, and other such concerns of a professional water damage remediation company.

So how can I get rid of this water and save money?
The best way of getting rid of water damage, preventing or eliminating exposure to mold, and saving money is by hiring a professional water damage restoration company. An independent, professional water damage restoration company is professionally trained and intra-industry certified to thoroughly and professionally handle all aspects of structural drying, odor control, mold handling and removal, and other relevant water damage restoration considerations. More importantly, in many cases, such services can be done at NO or little cost to the property owner using methods including direct insurance billing.

So why pay out of pocket and do the work yourself when the professionals can do the work for you at little to no cost? It's a no brainer.

This article is composed by and offered as a public service by Jimmy K. Jimmy K is the Independent Owner and Operator of Emergency Response Restoration (http://www.emergencyresponserestoration.com/), 2665 N Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Jimmy K is a true consumer advocate who is not afraid to battle the insurance company to ensure the proper restoration of the consumer's water damaged home office or asset.

Top Four Reasons to use an Independent Restoration Company for Mold Removal

We recently reviewed a mold remediation (professional removal and control) article that was written by a company that ranked well in a major search engine search.  To be fair it needs to be stated that this company is a carpet cleaning company NOT a water damage remediation company so they may have presented their misguided and potentially tortious information in good faith with the purest intent; unfortunately, however, the information they provided could make a bad situation MUCH worse.

The advice the carpet cleaning company suggested was to open your windows in order to combat the mold.

This advice is dead wrong.

Mold is a decomposer meaning that it's scientific function is to break down waste material into its basic elements.  As such, mold is always in the air but its normal airborne concentration is negligible in effect to most people.  It is only when mold starts to congeal and grow upon a host that the concentration becomes an issue.  There are legally binding and enforced control methods and procedures that MUST be adhered to in order to stave off any liability any time a professional remediation company handles mold and opening the window is NOT one.

In consideration of this grievous error, we present, the " Top Four Reasons to use an Independent Restoration Company for Mold Removal".

1. A less qualified company can make serious errors

As presented in the opening of this document, the company in question, most likely, was presenting the erroneous information in good faith.  They may actually believe that their advice is sound and they may employ their advice in the field which, assumedly unwittingly, exacerbates and compounds the problem by, in this case, spreading mold spores.  Rather than professionally containing the situation, as is professionally expected and legally required, opening the window spreads mold spores throughout the area which can, easily, get into the air conditioning system and infect the entire structure opposed to a smaller contained area which is much easier to control and remediate.  This mistake can have grave effects on health and the eventual remediation costs.

2. A less qualified company may not have the correct equipment or use their equipment effectively

Without professional certification and continuing education a less qualified company may not have made the necessary financial investment in professional equipment for reasons as simple as they do not know they need the equipment.  The less qualified company may, for example, have a basic understanding of the required process and make valiant efforts to employ their existing infrastructure but such infrastructure may neglect a strategic filter that effectively traps mold resulting in the less qualified company unintentionally spreading mold.

3. A less qualified company may underestimate the situation

Without the proper equipment and education a less qualified company can easily misstate the problem simply because they cannot adequately assess the true scope of the issue.  It is common for a less qualified company to assess and "control" surface mold - mold that is easy to see with the naked eye - because they lack wall penetrating equipment, for example, and the expertise to use such equipment.  The lack of such equipment and expertise can result in a less qualified company cleaning the tip of the iceberg but never seeing or knowing the true depth of the iceberg.  Such underestimation can easily lead to future service calls for a much more severe problem.

4. A less qualified company may not adhere to current standards

Unless the less qualified company takes it upon themselves to learn and maintain currency with professional standards and legal requirements, the working knowledge they have, is likely to be dated and could have a detrimental aggregate effect.  The professional water damage industry is constantly introducing new and improved techniques and technology to assist the in-field professional and is constantly being subjected to new and emerging government regulations to maintain quality.  Such advancements are likely to be unknown to a less qualified company which could entail significant issues down the road for the less qualified company and the property owner.

Using an Independent Restoration Company for Mold Removal protects the interests of the structure owner.  There is no guarantee that using an less qualified company can save the structure owner any money but using an Independent Restoration Company does guarantee that the job is done to all industry and governmental standards as efficiently as possible with the assurance that the Independent Restoration Company is using the latest and greatest technology and techniques.

Now you know.

It's your money.

It's your choice.

Choose Wisely

Choose a customer focused, independent emergency restoration company.

This article is composed by and offered as a public service by Jimmy K. Jimmy K is the Independent Owner and Operator of Emergency Response Restoration (http://www.emergencyresponserestoration.com/), 2665 N Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Jimmy K is a true consumer advocate who is not afraid to battle the insurance company to ensure the proper restoration of the consumer's water damaged home office or asset.

Unreasonable Water Damage Insurance Claim Denials

This article is written to illustrate what bad faith insurance practices look like in the real world and to offer victims of such unfair practices some avenues for correction or remedy.  We are certified water damage restoration experts not attorneys or public adjustors.  As such, no part of this article will offer any type of advice or instruction so the reader should consider and hold all information herein as being presented for informational purposes only.

1. A customer had a hot water heater break while on vacation which caused a lot of damage to the floor.  The claim was denied because the insurance adjustor stated it water damage was not controlled in a reasonable amount of time despite the customer calling immediately upon discovery and taking all reasonably possible and layman known measures to stem further damage.  The customer pursued the claim which promoted the adjustor to send the customer a form demanding an insane amount of information covering a period of several years which had little to do with the water damage incident and was nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to trap the customer into making any possible error or omission to further deny the claim.
   
   
2. A customer went through their adjustor preferred and recommended water damage restoration company to remediate damage caused by an appliance malfunction.  The customer was not pleased with the performance or quality of the service and sought out an independent water damage restoration company to review the work of the adjustor preferred and recommended company only to find that the adjustor preferred water damage restoration company failed to dry many areas to professional water damage restoration industry specification.  The customer presented the independent review to the insurance adjustor and found the claim was denied as the adjustor stated the second company's interference exacerbated the situation which caused further damage despite the second company coming in after the adjustor preferred and recommended company pulled out.
    
3. A customer noticed the flooring looked unusual and was surprised to find it saturated when the customer stepped on it to see what was happening.  A plumber found a hidden leak that the customer had no knowledge of until the flooring reacted as it did.  The water damage required the customer rip up the affected flooring and drywall for repair.  The insurance company denied the claim citing the policy required a sudden and accidental break for coverage which they verified was not the case by the amount of mold growing in the affected area.

It is unfortunate but cases such as these are more common than not as it is the insurance company's standard operating procedure to make every effort to deny the claim thereby frustrating the customer which ultimately negates or severally reduces the ultimate payout when the claim denial is appealed.  This unscrupulous and predatory methodology is unfair and sadistic and should not be leveraged against an in-duress customer who has paid all bills honorably and on time and is simply looking to have their elected insurance company adhere to its contractually obligated commitment by restoring their asset to its preloss condition.

The insurance claim battle is purposely designed to be a long, daunting, and harrowing task but a task that a professional independent water damage restoration company ("PIWDRC") can assist with.  Such a PIWDRC will have the industry longevity and experience necessary to help its customer successfully navigate the insurance minefield.  Each of the cases presented herein, for example, were successfully remediated to professional water damage restoration industry standards and closed with such PIWDRC assistance.

It's your money.

It's your choice.

Choose Wisely

Choose a customer focused, independent emergency restoration company.

This article is composed by and offered as a public service by Jimmy K. Jimmy K is the Independent Owner and Operator of Emergency Response Restoration (http://www.emergencyresponserestoration.com/), 2665 N Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Jimmy K is a true consumer advocate who is not afraid to battle the insurance company to ensure the proper restoration of the consumer's water damaged home office or asset.

Insurance to Cover Insurance

Yes it has come to this. Customers who honorably pay their inflated insurance premiums dutifully and on time have to wonder what games their insurance company will play to deny or reduce their claim should the time arise that they ever need to file a claim. This insurance lunacy runs the gambit of all insurance arenas including auto, health, life, and property and has customers so scared of being denied or canceled when they file a legitimate and contractually obligated claim that people who have acute chest pains, for example, refuse to get checked out as they do not want to pay the bill and they are deathly afraid of a negative result getting back to their insurance carrier as either their premiums would increase dramatically or they will be canceled. Enough is enough.

It is not fair that a consumer who pays on time and in good faith is subjected to such demeaning and bad faith practices by the company the consumer specifically contracted to offset perceived and potential risk. It is not fair that the insurance company immediately takes an adversarial and intimidating stance any time any of its customers files a claim as the insurance company tortuously and unconstitutionally convicts the customer of filing a fraudulent claim without probable cause or evidence and mandates that the burden of proof of innocence is on the consumer. It is not fair that the insurance company adjustor is working against the interest of the customer while acting like the customer's best friend. It is not fair that the adjustor will savagely and sadistically employ psychological warfare against the in-duress customer in order to trap the customer in to making statements that will be leveraged to reduce or deny the claim. It is not fair that all regulatory bodies consider such unethical consumer abusing and bad faith practices as legitimate and fair practices. It is truly not fair that a consumer who employs the same bad faith tactics against the insurance company is guilty of insurance fraud but there are no penalties or consideration for the reverse injustice herein coined as "consumer fraud". No, consumer fraud is BIG business and the insurance companies are well leveraged to protect themselves from any potential liability for their bad faith policies and procedures.

While the concept of insurance to cover insurance is enticing, alas, it is unreasonable. Any risk assessment professional would cower at the prospect of insuring that the insurance company lives up to its contractually obligated policy. The risk assessment professional would know that despite the insurance company parking its Lamborghini outside the governmental assistance office and changing into its designer "poor" clothes before crying poverty, the insurance company is flush with cash and has spent a considerable amount to protect its "good neighbor" image. The costs and time associated with having to mitigate of all the insurance company's lies, deception, manipulation, and bad faith legalese make the concept of insurance to cover insurance a losing proposition.

As destitute as it sounds... there is HOPE. A professional independent water damage restoration company will have the resources and experience required to help its customer to force the customer's insurance company into restoring the customer's water damaged asset to its preloss condition by using a restoration company that is customer focused and will do everything it takes to satisfy the customer - not the lap dog of the insurance adjustor whose only ambition is to get a bone from the adjuster.

It's your money.

It's your choice.

Choose Wisely

Choose a customer focused, independent emergency restoration company.

This article is composed by and offered as a public service by Jimmy K. Jimmy K is the Independent Owner and Operator of Emergency Response Restoration (http://www.emergencyresponserestoration.com/), 2665 N Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Jimmy K is a true consumer advocate who is not afraid to battle the insurance company to ensure the proper restoration of the consumer's water damaged home office or asset.

Looking for the Unfair Insurance Trade Practices Act

Emergency Response Restoration recently reviewed an attorney written article, on an attorney owned blog, which outlines the Unfair Insurance Trade Practices Act ("UITPA") and the reason for its inception in the 70's.  The article revels that Florida became the first state to implement portions of the UITPA into its  Florida's “Civil Remedy Statute” FL § 624.155, commonly known as the Florida Bad Faith Statute, in 1982 but a Google search for UITPA finds nothing and Google insists UITPA is spelled incorrectly and recommends UTPA or the University of Texas - Pan American.  Wikipedia and Bing had similar results which really makes one wonder why such pertinent and relevant consumer focused information is, apparently, not to be found although history revels the need for such information and governmental protection as early as the 1970's.  Similarly, a web search for "bad faith insurance florida" brings hundreds of hits and even revels attorneys and law firms that specialize in holding insurance companies accountable for their bad faith insurance practices.  It is clear that Bad Faith Insurance is BIG business and the insurance industry will stop at nothing to control all aspects of this vital and consumer necessitated information to unscrupulously protect its fraudulent and widely promoted "good neighbor" image.

Having served the our fellow Floridians for numerous years in good faith, Emergency Response Restoration can vividly recall a personal brush with such bad faith practices when a major insurance company dropped all of it FL Homeowner's Insurance customers, to protect its profits, but in the same breath told the same customers - it just purposely blighted - that they want to keep the automobile policies.  Any person or company with honorable intentions would be floored by the audacity of this asinine and other worldly concept but this insurance company was serious which reveals how out-of-touch these companies are with their customers and how inelastic and beyond reproach the insurance companies really envision themselves to be.

It is for these reasons that a customer who is suffering from accidental or emergency water damage needs to choose a company that is not the lap dog of the insurance company.  These adjustor preferred and adjustor recommended companies are preferred and recommended because they have demonstrated to the insurance company adjustor that they will cut whatever corners necessary to appease the adjustor meaning protect the profits and reduce costs by using substandard equipment, labor, or practices.  In turn, the insurance company then employs these same protected profits and cut costs to maintain the insurance company's image of being consumer focused while doing all it can to implement further bad faith practices and control all points to the contrary.

It's your money.

It's your choice.

Choose Wisely

Choose a customer focused, independent emergency restoration company.

This article is composed by and offered as a public service by Jimmy K. Jimmy K is the Independent Owner and Operator of Emergency Response Restoration (http://www.emergencyresponserestoration.com/), 2665 N Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Jimmy K is a true consumer advocate who is not afraid to battle the insurance company to ensure the proper restoration of the consumer's water damaged home office or asset.