Water Damage Restoration In Your Kitchen

June 14th, 2009 by admin

Author : Isolde Werry

Water damage in the kitchen can be due to a variety of reasons It would be critical to know the source of the water damage, and immediately implement appropriate actions There are isolated cases involving kitchen appliances These incidents can be immediately addressed and would usually require minor efforts on the part of the homeowner However, major disasters like floods would require extensive water damage restoration activities

The following describes tips and basic procedures that can be employed by homeowners to achieve full water damage restoration of their kitchens and properties

Water Damage caused by Kitchen Appliances

There are several appliances and equipment in the kitchen that utilize water to function Having pipelines for water, these appliances can sometimes be the source of water damage in the kitchen The most common culprit is leaks Most leaks are visible as these leave water puddles in the base of suspected appliances or near water pipelines Other evidences for leaks are discolorations and deformations on wooden structures near leaking appliances

One method to confirm if there is a leak in the house is to monitor changes in the water meter after all appliances that utilize water are turned off Take note of the water reading after turning off the appliances, and then wait for an hour or two before taking another reading Be careful not to open any faucet or even flush the toilet when this is ongoing Significant changes in the readings signify a leak It is important to identify the source right away and perform necessary water damage restoration procedures

Most common culprits are dishwashers, sinks and refrigerators Leaks could occur on water pipes causing water to pass through Breaks or cracks in the sealants could also allow water seepage, and if left unhindered, would cause serious water damage later on

Maintaining proper and periodic maintenance of these appliances and equipments is a sure way of preventing leaks and water damage Homeowners should be aware of these methods to prevent a safe and risk-free environment in their homes

Water Damage caused by Floods

Flooding can cause serious damage to homes particularly in basements and kitchens Severe water damage can result if immediate action is not performed However, precautionary steps should first be followed before any water damage restoration can take place

Ensure that electricity has been turned off from the flooded area Electricity and water is a very lethal combination so extra precautions in this regard should be followed Unplug any remaining electrical appliances, and if water damaged, should be relocated to another location for appropriate restoration

Basements and kitchens that have recently experience flooding are also at risk of being invaded by a variety of creatures that have been displaced from their homes Before performing any water damage restoration work, ensure that no snakes, insects and other small animals or critters are present Check cabinets, drawers, and closets in the kitchen for any of these uninvited guests

Food that was left in the kitchen during the flooding should be disposed The contents of water damaged refrigerators or freezers, like meats, fruits and vegetables should be thrown away Food in cardboard boxes should be discarded Bottled water and drinks that have been exposed to floodwater should also be discarded, as well as food items in jars including fruit preserves Undamaged canned goods should be cleaned and disinfected, however, if signs of indentations and seepage are seen, these cans should be disposed of properly

Cooking tools and other utensils should be removed and cleaned in a separate area Use a solution of bleach and detergent dissolved in warm water to clean these items Separate handles and covers during cleaning to remove any floodwater remnants that could have seeped in these areas After rinsing with a disinfectant, thoroughly dry the items using air blowers

Remove any remaining water in the kitchen floor through sump pumps or a wet/dry vacuum cleaner Mop remaining water or use absorbent sponge or cloth Clean all surfaces like walls, cabinets, drawers and counters using the bleach-detergent solution Remove dirt and accumulated mud, if any, and thoroughly rinse with disinfectant-treated water

Dry the area with fans or air blowers Maintain proper ventilation as necessary by opening doors and windows to allow good circulation of air If necessary, use dehumidifiers to hasten the drying process and complete the water damage restoration work

Practical and simple tips can be applied by homeowners in the advent of water damage related emergencies in their homes, particularly in the kitchen and basements In such cases, water damage restoration activities should be performed immediately and prevent any risk of complications that can be hazardous to the homeowners and their families

Isolde Werry is a disaster article writer for Dallas Water Damage Restoration and Miami Water Damage Restoration

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Water Damage Restoration In Your Kitchen

June 10th, 2009 by admin

Author : Isolde Werry

Water damage in the kitchen can be due to a variety of reasons It would be critical to know the source of the water damage, and immediately implement appropriate actions There are isolated cases involving kitchen appliances These incidents can be immediately addressed and would usually require minor efforts on the part of the homeowner However, major disasters like floods would require extensive water damage restoration activities

The following describes tips and basic procedures that can be employed by homeowners to achieve full water damage restoration of their kitchens and properties

Water Damage caused by Kitchen Appliances

There are several appliances and equipment in the kitchen that utilize water to function Having pipelines for water, these appliances can sometimes be the source of water damage in the kitchen The most common culprit is leaks Most leaks are visible as these leave water puddles in the base of suspected appliances or near water pipelines Other evidences for leaks are discolorations and deformations on wooden structures near leaking appliances

One method to confirm if there is a leak in the house is to monitor changes in the water meter after all appliances that utilize water are turned off Take note of the water reading after turning off the appliances, and then wait for an hour or two before taking another reading Be careful not to open any faucet or even flush the toilet when this is ongoing Significant changes in the readings signify a leak It is important to identify the source right away and perform necessary water damage restoration procedures

Most common culprits are dishwashers, sinks and refrigerators Leaks could occur on water pipes causing water to pass through Breaks or cracks in the sealants could also allow water seepage, and if left unhindered, would cause serious water damage later on

Maintaining proper and periodic maintenance of these appliances and equipments is a sure way of preventing leaks and water damage Homeowners should be aware of these methods to prevent a safe and risk-free environment in their homes

Water Damage caused by Floods

Flooding can cause serious damage to homes particularly in basements and kitchens Severe water damage can result if immediate action is not performed However, precautionary steps should first be followed before any water damage restoration can take place

Ensure that electricity has been turned off from the flooded area Electricity and water is a very lethal combination so extra precautions in this regard should be followed Unplug any remaining electrical appliances, and if water damaged, should be relocated to another location for appropriate restoration

Basements and kitchens that have recently experience flooding are also at risk of being invaded by a variety of creatures that have been displaced from their homes Before performing any water damage restoration work, ensure that no snakes, insects and other small animals or critters are present Check cabinets, drawers, and closets in the kitchen for any of these uninvited guests

Food that was left in the kitchen during the flooding should be disposed The contents of water damaged refrigerators or freezers, like meats, fruits and vegetables should be thrown away Food in cardboard boxes should be discarded Bottled water and drinks that have been exposed to floodwater should also be discarded, as well as food items in jars including fruit preserves Undamaged canned goods should be cleaned and disinfected, however, if signs of indentations and seepage are seen, these cans should be disposed of properly

Cooking tools and other utensils should be removed and cleaned in a separate area Use a solution of bleach and detergent dissolved in warm water to clean these items Separate handles and covers during cleaning to remove any floodwater remnants that could have seeped in these areas After rinsing with a disinfectant, thoroughly dry the items using air blowers

Remove any remaining water in the kitchen floor through sump pumps or a wet/dry vacuum cleaner Mop remaining water or use absorbent sponge or cloth Clean all surfaces like walls, cabinets, drawers and counters using the bleach-detergent solution Remove dirt and accumulated mud, if any, and thoroughly rinse with disinfectant-treated water

Dry the area with fans or air blowers Maintain proper ventilation as necessary by opening doors and windows to allow good circulation of air If necessary, use dehumidifiers to hasten the drying process and complete the water damage restoration work

Practical and simple tips can be applied by homeowners in the advent of water damage related emergencies in their homes, particularly in the kitchen and basements In such cases, water damage restoration activities should be performed immediately and prevent any risk of complications that can be hazardous to the homeowners and their families

Isolde Werry is a disaster article writer for Dallas Water Damage Restoration and Miami Water Damage Restoration

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Insulate Your Home and Save Energy

April 17th, 2009 by admin

Author : Art Gib

Energy is being wasted in your home as you read this Where is it going? Right through the walls! Even in well-insulated homes, heat escapes through the walls when it’s cold out, and heats comes in when it’s hot out

A great way to experience this is by going from an insulated part of the home into a non-insulated part (the garage or attic perhaps?) during a hot summer month Better yet, try it in California’s Death Valley where temperatures can soar into the 120’s You’ll gain a rapid appreciation for California insulation technology

When you’re done being cooked, take a look at your energy bills and your home’s insulation and see if there is some money that might be saved there The more you can prevent your home’s heater or air conditioner from fighting against outdoor conditions, the more money you’ll save

Help Me Conserve Energy in My Home!

As mention earlier, the less your home climate control systems have to fight the weather outside, the less they’ll work and the less energy they’ll use In the next few paragraphs, we’ll discuss what you can do to ensure that warm air stays in the house during the winter months and hot air stays out during the summer months

The first thing you want to do is make sure that your house isn’t “leaking ” Just like a car tire, having a hole in the house is bad But unlike a car tire, instead of leaking air out, it’s going to let air in — and that’s exactly what we want to prevent

Leaks occur most commonly around doors and windows On a windy day, the large leaks can be easily found by simply running your hand around the frames of your doors and windows For windows, you can often use silicone to seal around the frame However, if your window has a hole in it, it’s time to replace it

Single-pane windows are also very inefficient at keeping unwanted heat or cold outside where it belongs If you have single-pane windows, consider replacing them with the double-pane variety

Leaky doors can often be temporarily fixed with wads of insulation or by stuffing folded up newspapers in the cracks The only problem with the latter solution is what to do when somebody knocks on the door or you need to get out and do some shopping

Generally, replacing a leaky door is the best option for maximum efficiency

And finally, to stop warm air from getting out (or vice versa depending on the time of year) make sure that your walls and ceiling are insulated

Some residents that live in the warm (but not too warm) climate of Southern California might feel like there’s no need for insulating their home However, even San Diego gets snow sometimes, so be sure to be ready with plenty of insulation for your California home

Future Energy Corporation (http://www.energysavers.com) specializes in providing California insulation to help make your home more efficient. The author, Art Gib, is a freelance writer.

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