Dry Out Nightmare

~ WARNING ~
This article is not for the timid or those with low risk tolerance... you have been warned!
Recently we received a call from a customer who was complaining about mold. It seems this customer suffered water damage that penetrated at least two floors of his three story water-front asset that is located in a high profile historic district. The customer did "the right thing" and called in the claim to his insurance carrier who promptly dispatched their lapdog, ragtag restoration vendor to address the claim... and address it they did.

The dispatched restoration company, according to the customer, did succeed in drying the easy, top level water but did NOTHING to dry the structure's core. As soon as this restoration company achieved it's predetermined and insurance preferred level of dryness, they pulled out and told the customer that everything was fine. Unfortunately, for them, this customer was not your typical customer as he was an experienced home builder and knew that there was NO way that his structure was dry.

His home, by his own description, was an older home and he was very familiar with his home's layers of plaster, sheet rock, and insulation and knew that since water ran down the walls AND penetrated the substructure, that moisture was still trapped inside. He was, rightfully so, concerned about the real potential for microbial growth and hired a general contractor to check his walls for him... he was right... the affected area was FULL of mold. The general contractor reported, wisely and ethically, that the areas need to be gutted in order to rebuild to code which will cost a LOT of money. This is when the customer called us for help.

Unfortunately, the general contractor's initial visual inspection appears correct and the entire affected area does need intensive remediation before reconstruction can begin and, worse yet, since the insurance preferred lapdog company completed their remediation effort "satisfactorily"... it is a REAL possibility that ALL costs associated with this remediation process will be the burden of the customer.

He is the REAL terrifying conclusion of this true story... the dispatched water damage restoration company, despite its incompetence and lack of care, acted in accordance with the will and interest of its insurance company masters. The insurance company seeks only to limit expenditures, by all means necessary, while still demanding on-time receipt of ever increasing premiums. Such faithless penny pinching allow the insurance carrier to subrogate its costs and liabilities to such inexperienced and lapdog restoration companies to the ultimate detriment of the insured consumer.

Don't let this increasingly common scenario happen to you.

Only an independent water damage restoration company works in the interest of the customer independently of the insurance company's greed and improper, self-serving limitations. Such a company has made the large but necessary financial commitment to education and equipment so that they have the tools and knowledge to find the water that is bound within the structure's infrastructure so that your asset is THOROUGHLY dried so that such nightmare scenarios remain a story.

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.

Carpet Cleaning is NOT Restoration

It is reasonable and financially prudent for a consumer to want to spend the least amount of money possible to achieve the maximum benefit. In this regard it is understandable why savvy consumers would make the unintentional mistake of hiring a carpet cleaner to remove the water as neither the consumer nor the industrious carpet cleaner are aware of the subtle complexities and onerous detail a professional water damage restoration project demands.

Let's face it. Anyone can remove water. All you need is a wet/dry shop vacuum, on the high end, or a straw, on the low end, and viola... the water is removed! Although, admittedly, most carpet cleaners would have equipment that is better suited for water extraction than a residential wet/dry vacuum. A high level carpet cleaner may also have dehumidifiers and fans but simply having such equipment does not mean that the well intentioned carpet cleaner is proficient in the use of such equipment or knows how to optimize deployment. For example, anyone can set up a computer system and press the power switch. Such a deployment may be useable but such set up is prone to a gaggle of information technology related risks ranging from malware through data integrity. A more prudent installation would be completed by someone with specialized information technology training who is experienced and knows how to prevent obstacles that a less informed and educated professional would not be aware of or know how to combat upon manifestation. Likewise, a carpet cleaner does NOT have the specialized education or ability to balance the atmosphere, calculate the moisture load, design and deploy a negative air drying chamber, or manipulate vapor pressure - processes and procedures that are common, everyday measures employed by professional water damage restoration companies.

Water damage restoration professionals employ such exotic tactics in the best interest of the customer to ensure the core of the structure is dry, prevent or reduce mold from establishing itself or spreading throughout your structure, and create optimal drying conditions. These considerations are well beyond the scope, understanding, or ability of even the most well intended carpet cleaner but are considerations that can manifest a severe negative financial and, potentially, health challenges if not addressed. Mold horror stories are common and easily accessible in a simple internet search but mold is NOT the only microbial consideration or concern that is common in a water damaged structure. Unfortunately, that list is extensive.

Only a professional, independent water damage restoration company has the specialized training and education to protect your health and financial interests from the repercussions of water damage. Some such water damage professionals even charge your insurance company directly so there may be little, or no, out of pockets expenses. In that light, it is obvious that the optimal fiduciarial decision is to use an independent, professional water damage restoration company for your water damage as the alternative can cost more and expose you to long term heath and financial challenges. Make the prudent decision.

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 Causes:Bad Weather

Our last four articles explored four of the most common reasons a property owner could suffer water damage but what is the MOST likely reason for water damage? Bad weather.

Here in Florida, the lightening capital of the world, bad weather can be a daily event. Ask a local and they will confirm that summer in Florida means rain, storms, and hurricane season. There is no escape from the weather extremes. The days can be unreasonably hot and humid only to have it rain. Unfortunately, the rain does not last long and it serves only to turn the day into an unfair and unwanted sauna as the rain visibly evaporates from the ground and hangs in the air. This constant wet expansion with heated compression wreaks havoc with roofing materials - and that is a good day.

When hurricane season hits... all bets are off. Hurricane season can severely test your property's building codes with high winds, a LOT of rain, and constant battery from subsequent debris. While hurricanes CAN and DO spawn tornados... water spouts (tornados that occur over the ocean which usually dissipate when they reach land) are COMMON even in good weather. ANY such "weather anomalies" can damage your asset and create water damage.

The associated water damage does NOT need to be severe or extensive, in fact, a small breach in the roof is all the water intrusion necessary to begin devaluing your asset. Even a tiny pinprick can allow water to start destroying your attic and your walls. Unfortunately, such minute pinpricks may not be known until well after the devaluation and destruction of your asset has been in effect for some time which can be, arguably, much more devastating then immediate and extensive damage.

Prevention is the best way to save your asset from water damage. The next best is rapid response as the sooner the water source is identified and resolved, the less damage there is to restore. In the real world, however, the first two scenarios are rarely the norm. As such, the best way to return your property to the condition it was in before suffering water damage (its "preloss condition"), is to use a professional, independent water damage restoration company.

Only a professional, independent water damage restoration company has the education, experience, and equipment to completely restore your property to its preloss condition in a timely and customer focused manner. Simply removing the top level water is not enough to dry the core of the structure and may not enough to prevent future complications and microbial growth. You owe it to yourself to make sure your water damaged asset is handled by customer focused water damage professionals.

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 Causes:Water Heaters

Sources state that the estimated lifespan of any given common household storage water heater is anywhere from five to fifteen years. Per these assumptions, one could reasonably expect to incur 2 to 6 water heater related issues or replacements within the 30 year lifespan of a typical mortgage. Obviously, this a real yet commonly underestimated potential source of significant water damage.

Aging water heaters will rust and leak. If the property owner catches it in time then the potential for damage is minimal but if the property owner not discover the damage in time, the resulting damage can be substantial. In Florida, due to the high water table, basements are a rarity so water heaters are typically located on the same floor as the living area thus maximizing the need to regularly inspect the water heater for wear and rust and resulting damage should a leak or breakage occur. Similarly, apartment and condominium dwellers, depending on the size of the unit, may have the water heater located in an area that is central to the unit thus maximizing the radius of the potential damage.

There are various things you can do the reduce this potential water damage risk. Common wisdom includes regular inspection for any water leakage, regular inspection for rust, turning off the main water source if you are going to be away from your property for an extended period of time, and having a relief valve installed on the water heater - assuming you do not already have one - in order to regularly remove the bottom sediment which promotes deterioration and oxidation. Before you embark on the later, however, and you do so at your own risk, be careful NOT to splash yourself with the potentially scalding water that is coming from the water heater and, similarly, be sure to have a pail stable enough to handle the hot water and hot sediment without breaching. Better yet, have a professional check it out for you.

In a perfect world water heaters never leak and all damage is caught in time or is minimal; unfortunately, in the real world, when the water heater breaks, it is reasonably sudden and the damage is extensive. Since most people do not turn off the water lead in when the leave, as it is not a common consideration most people would do on a regular basis, once breached, the water heater not only dumps the contents of its storage tank but the water continues to flow due to the open water line contributing to extensive water damage. Should this occur, then you owe it to yourself to hire an independent and customer focused water damage restoration company. Only an independent water damage restoration company focuses its interest on customer service and customer satisfaction so that your restoration is its interest and such company will do whatever it takes to restore your asset to its preloss condition.

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.