Tips To Prevent Mold

Mold is one thing that is sure to wreak havoc in your property. It affects everything from your health to your bank balance and can strike at any time! One of the most common causes of mold outbreaks we see in homes is the seemingly harmless condensation build up on windows which can very quickly build up and damage the wooden frames and the adjoining walls if left unchecked. Here at Advanced Drying and Environmental Technologies, we offer a superior expert mold remediation service to eradicate all traces of mold from your property, but wouldn’t it be better if you were able to prevent mold in the first place? With our tips and tricks, you can at the very least minimize if not prevent mold growth in your home.

English: Olive Hill, KY, June 2, 2010 -- Dange...

Photo by Liz Roll/FEMA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Some preventative measures which can immediately start to help to prevent mold from taking hold are as follows:

  • Ensure guttering is kept clean,free from debris and in a good state of repair. This will help to prevent moisture from running off towards the siding where it will spread rapidly through the wood and enter the interior.
  • Where possible, ensure the ground slopes away from the foundations of your property to avoid water build up. This applies to both grass and concrete.
  • Keep your indoor humidity levels low at all times regardless of the temperature. It is possible to buy gauges to monitor this in most hardware stores for just a few bucks.
  • Make sure drip pans from air conditioning units, refrigerators and other appliances are emptied and cleaned on a regular basis.
  • Clean up water spills immediately.
  • Be vigilant of leaks by checking all pipes regularly – especially in forgotten corners under the sink or in the basement.

If you are not sure whether or not you have mold in your home, then why not call us today to arrange a mold testing visit from our team of experts. It is essential to ensure that you know the extent and the source of any mold infestation as it could be toxic. We can test to make sure that your property is mold free and advise you if your home is a suitable environment for mold to thrive. Remember that mold spores are not visible to the naked eye – just because you cannot see mold staining does not mean that there is no mold.

What You Need To Know About Mold & Dampness

Mold and rust on the wall

Mold and rust on the wall (Photo credit: Cornell Fungi)

The majority of people do not actually realize that there is always mold present both in the air and on a wide variety of surfaces. Mold can grow anywhere that there is a source of moisture. However, prolonged exposure to damp or moldy conditions can have a negative impact on your health. That is not to say that mold definitely will harm you, but everyone needs to be aware of the possibility.

Some individuals are particularly sensitive to molds, and in these individuals some of the symptoms that may be observed include throat irritation, wheezing, skin inflammation, itchy eyes and nasal irritation. If the individual actually has a mold allergy, then the effects can be much worse. It is recommended that anyone suffering from an immune system deficiency, or chronic illness including asthma and lung disease, should stay away from mold wherever possible as exposure can result in very serious infection.

There is sufficient evidence, according to the Institute of Medicine, that confirms a strong link between indoor mold and upper respiratory tract issues, especially those in high risk groups such as children, the elderly and those with existing health concerns.

At Advanced Drying & Environmental Technologies, we understand these risks and that is why we offer a fully comprehensive mold remediation service which not only removes visible mold, but also the spores in the air and the root cause of the problem. If the mold growth in your property is being caused by an undiscovered leak or even a humidity issue then it must be addressed otherwise the mold will simply regrow. The same is true if the property is not properly dried following a flood. The moisture can remain within walls or carpets providing a perfect environment for mold to grow. That is why mold remediation must always be handled by professionals to ensure complete removal.

Dealing With Smoke Damage

When a neighbor’s home or even their yard catches fire, you will probably not think to much about how it is actually going to impact your own property. However, before long you will probably start to notice the stench of stale smoke inside your home, and you may even find that there is a residue of soot on your walls. The fire does not necessarily have to be on your property for it to be affected by smoke damage. There is no single solution when it comes to dealing with smoke damage, that’s why it is essential that you all in an expert to carry out the remediation work for you. When you all upon Advanced Drying and Environmental Technologies to assist in your smoke damage clean up we will carefully evaluate the situation and then decide on the most beneficial course of action.

fire - onlookers

(Photo credit: Daveybot)

There are some steps you can take yourself in the meantime, and in very mild cases these may even resolve the problem. If you do attempt these steps, then be sure to wear goggles, gloves, dust mask and long sleeved clothing to protect yourself from possible contaminants in the smoke residue.

  1. Be sure to ventilate the property well as smoke can linger long after the fire is extinguished. Open your windows and doors and turn on any extraction fans that you might have. This will help to remove any excess smoke.
  2. Use a heavy duty vacuum cleaner to suck up any ashes or suit on carpets, upholstery, soft furnishings and other surfaces. A regular household vacuum will not be powerful enough, but an industrial or heavy duty model will lift the worst of the debris away.
  3. Clean smoke damage and suit from surfaces such as walls with a sponge and warm water. Only do this on surfaces that will not be damaged by doing so.

There is no guarantee that these methods will resolve your issues, but they will likely minimize the damage. However, we do offer a 60 minute emergency call out here at Advanced Drying and Environmental Technologies, so if you feel at all unsure or are afraid of causing additional damage then why not just give us a call and wait for an expert to arrive.

Our expert technicians are fully trained and properly qualified to both clean up and deodorize your home following any smoke damage that is incurred, whether it be from a ear by fire or a blaze in your own home. Call us today for a free, no obligation quote.

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What To Do In The Event Of Water Damage

When it comes to water damage, many people fail to realize that the manner in which it is handled when it first occurs will have a huge impact on whether or not the water restoration process is actually successful or not.

Here at Advanced Drying and Environmental Technologies, we pride ourselves on being the leading water damage and restoration service provider in Atlanta and the surrounding area. We know how to handle water damage, and above all else we certainly understand that the first few hours are the most critical in these situations. That is why we place so much importance on our rapid response policy of reaching clients within 60 minutes of the initial call. It is your actions in the first few minutes which are going to determine the success rate of any remediation and restoration work carried out in your property.

Rautatientori metro station flooding after wat...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When you notice flooding or water damage the very first step you must always take is to contact a fully qualified water restoration technician. This is not something you can handle alone, you must have someone who is trained to deal with water damage, flooding and every other water based emergency. That is where we come in – all of our technicians are properly trained to the highest of industry standards and know exactly how to minimize the damage to your property. You cannot delay in calling, as water damage can worsen rapidly to the extent that after 48 hours, there is very little chance of restoration.

When you call Advanced Drying & Environmental Technologies, your call is answered not y a generic call center but by a trained professional. This allows us not only to dispatch a technician, but also to offer some essential advice for you to follow when you wait. Some of the suggestions we might make include :

  • Shutting off the electricity supply if it is safe to do so.
  • Lifting curtains and upholstery skirts out of the water by pining them up.
  • Removing paper products such as books.

There are a few things you should never do is these situations including trying to vacuum water up with a domestic vacuum cleaner or using newspaper to absorb water. In some cases, we may even advise that you just leave the property until we arrive. It is essential to remember that our technicians are highly trained, they have the protective clothing and the equipment needed to handle your emergency safely so it is best left to them.

Advanced Drying & Environmental Technologies is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

Weatherproofing Your Property

As we move closer to the fall and winter seasons, the likelihood for adverse weather conditions increases. Now is the time to consider whether or not your property is sufficiently weatherproofed so that you can avoid or at the very least, limit the amount of water damage which occurs.

When it comes to weatherproofing your property, it is only ever as efficient as the weakest point. For example, there is little point in ensuring that your basement is flood proofed if there is a roof leak. Roof leaks present some unique challenges for your property since the roof is quite often the property’s first line of defence against adverse weather conditions. If there is a leak, then the water can soon spread to other areas of the property including the walls and structure.

Roofs in the Atlanta area come under some heavy fire all year round! Consider that in the summer months they are exposed to extremely high temperatures and regular heavy thunderstorms which can often bring with them heavy rains, hail, tropical storm winds and lighting. This can often result in leaks and structural weaknesses. It is a little known fact that the majority of roof damage actually happens in the hottest months of the year rather then in winter. However, the full extent of the problem may not become evident until the latter part of the year when we become exposed to snow and heavy rainfall. If you fear that your roof has been damaged over the summer then do not hesitate to call Advanced drying & Environmental Technologies, we have the tools and the expertise to rectify roof damage and weatherproof the property regardless of how big or small the problem.

With roof leaks, as with any source of water damage, the very first step is to rectify the cause. This means the problem cannot worsen. Once the root cause has been identified and handled, we can then move on to restoration work. It is important not only to clean up  visible water, but to ensure that there is no moisture left lurking inside the walls, floors or other structural components. This is something we can guarantee our technicians will do for you when called to restore your water damage.

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Fire Water Restoration Techniques

Fire water restoration is not something that we usually think about when there is a fire in our own home or a neighbouring building. Everyone seems to focus more on the fire and smoke damage caused, but water damage is just as big a concern and you can be affected even if the fire was not inside your property. Often sprinkler systems in a neighboring commercial property or runoff water from the fire brigade extinguishing a local fire can enter your home leaving destruction in it’s wake.

The amount of permanent water damage that can be caused in this situation can be devastating. That is why here at Advanced Drying and Environmental Technologies, we make ourselves available 24/7 to attend to such incidents and reduce the level of damage to your property. Our technicians are fully certified and have been trained to the highest possible standard in restoring your home to its previous condition. With a combination of extraction, drying and repair techniques along with the latest in infrared technology we are able to assess the damage completely and ensure no moisture remain within the floors or walls leading to further issues such as rot or mold a few months down the line. With our fire water restoration services you can be sure that everything will be dry – not just the visible surface water.

We need to do the job from inside – out and find exactly where the issue lies. Our qualified professionals use cutting edge wall injection drying techniques. We pierce tiny openings which allow our qualified specialists to stick in injectors that circulate air flow between your walls and floorboards in order to dry up wallboard, wood and insulating material, preventing costly removal and replacement as an element of fire water restoration. Our injection technique also eliminates deterioration of conduit casings along with other metal inside walls, also it makes certain there isn’t any chance for wood rot to take hold.

The water might have absorbed the scent of fire or smoke and may transfer this smell to materials and pieces of furniture. Just as before, we deliver innovative technological know-how to your property or business enterprise. Our industry experts will freshen upholstered home furniture, floor coverings and curtains. We generally make use of “counteractants,” that breakup odor molecules. One “counteractant” is ozone, which connects to odor molecules and in essence makes them benign — preventing them from giving off a stench. The ozone generator is a remarkable achievement in odor remediation. Our fire water restoration may also call for “thermal fogging”, which neutralizes odor.

 

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Preparing For Hurricane Season

From his vantage point high above the earth in...

Hurricane Seen From Space (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Each and every year hurricane season arrives elevating worry about protection and damage to property. With the latest tropical storms building up along the coast, it is essential to understand how to plan for this type of weather. Regardless if you are inside the forecasted path of the hurricane or otherwise it is usually imperative that you understand the proper safety measures to consider in case a hurricane does turn up.

  1. Secure your home: Spend some time to fit window shutters for your property, or board up your windows. This safety measure aids in preventing flying debris from going through the glass windows of your property. Furthermore, this will not only aid the prevention of the actual physical destruction from shattered windows but by continuing to keep the windows protected you’ll also find it helps prevent possible hazardous water damage and mold in your property. It’s also vital that you check out your house thoroughly and make certain every little thing that might be embroiled in the hurricane is secured. This can include all garden furnishings and backyard swingsets or any other kid’s playthings.
  2. Secure and Prepare Motor vehicles: Invest time to fill your vehicle prior to the hurricane strikes. If perhaps an unexpected emergency does appear you’ll have lots of gas in the vehicle to get wherever you’ll want to go.
  3. Put together an Emergency Case: It will always be smart to have a travelling bag filled with things that you might require in case of a crisis. Things that you ought to have on hand will include a torch with lots of batteries, an emergency radio, food items, bottled drinking water along with a emergency first aid kit. Be sure to make time to put together a bag in advance since when hurricanes are on the point of arrival a lot of merchants may well run out of the essential products.
  4. Thoroughly clean your Rain gutters: Making the effort to clean out your rain gutters can easily make a massive difference with regards to the safety of your property. Rain gutters are made to reroute water from pooling at the bottom of your property, in turn protecting against water damage and flooding. If the rain gutters are stopped up with leaves or any other debris they may be inadequate and water will overflow and accumulate at the base of your property.

Hurricane season is here but making the correct actions can avoid significant damage to your home. Whether it’s actual physical damage of anything ramming into the house or even the dreaded water damage and mold that could creep into the property, it will always be essential to care for your home just before bad weather strikes. Make sure to always take refuge and consider safety routes and evacuations in advance in the event of an unexpected emergency. Of course, should disaster strike, don’t forget that Advanced Drying & Environmental Technologies is on hand 24/7 for emergency restoration work.

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Time Is A Major Factor In Carpet Drying

One of the most frustrating consequences of flooding, whether because of severe weather conditions or a burst water line, is wet carpet in your home. If you do not arrange for immediate carpet drying then you may soon be faced with a mold infested carpet and that mold growth can soon spread to the walls and end up causing structural damage to your property. There is the added danger that after a few hours the surface of the carpet may actually appear wet and you might be tempted to leave it be. However, it is likely that the spongy padding under the carpet has absorbed the moisture creating the perfect breeding ground for mold. It takes just 24 to 48 hours for mold to grow in these conditions so it is essential that caret drying is carried out very quickly.

If you call us out to deal with your wet carpet with the first 24 hour of exposure to water then we will very likely be able to salvage the carpet completely. If you wait up to 48 hours then we can probably rescue the carpeting but may have to dispose of the padding underneath. However, if the carpet remains wet for more than 72 hours then there is little chance of salvaging the carpet. The basic rule of thumb is that the quicker you start the carpet drying process, the more likely it is that your carpet will be salvaged. However, with each passing hour, that chance reduces.

Here at Advanced Drying & Environmental Technologies, we use the most advanced drying technology operated by certified water restoration specialists to dry your wet carpets. You can rely on us to deliver the three E’s of carpet drying:

  1. Extraction of the water
  2. Elimination of any residual moisture
  3. Eradication of odors and mold

As we mentioned earlier, time is a major factor and that is why you can call us 4 hours a day, 7 days a week,365 days a year and we will arrive within 60 minute of your call. This guarantee covers the whole of Atlanta and the surrounding area so whether you have a wet carpet in Duluth or need carpet drying in Roswell we are waiting on your call.

 

 

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How To Deal With Basement Flooding

Basement flooding is a water damage restoration job which is a classic example of what Advance Drying & Environmental Technologies deals with on a day to day basis. It is so common for this type of water damage to lead to a severe mold infestation if not dealt with appropriately. Time and time again we get called out to homes and businesses where there has been a flooded basement, but the client has hired a water pump and pumped it ut themselves and turned up the heat to dry out what is left behind only to discover a few days later that there is mold in the carpets, on the furnishings and all over the walls. What they thought they were doing was “drying” the basement – what they were actualy doing was creating a warm and humid playground perfect for rapid spreading of mold! This is why you must always seek professional advice when it comes to a flooded basement.

Here in the Atlanta area, basement flooding comes along fairly often. It is just something we need to deal with living in an area where there is such a humid climate and a rough rainy season. It is exactly because it is so common that residents of the area need to know how to react in case of flooding. It is estimated that a flooded basement will result in an average insurance claim of $5000 – that’s a pretty hefty sum. If you have a finished basement then the claim could be much higher! Some of the items that can be affected in a basement flood include heating systems, stored goods, duct work, furnishings and electrical boxes and that is before we even consider the potential for structural damage.

So what should you do on discovering a flooded basement? It’s simply really – just call Advanced Drying & Environmental Technologies any time day or night, weekends or holidays – we are on hand around the clock to spring into action. All calls to us are handle by trained operators who understand exactly how to deal with this problem. They will dispatch a team to arrive within the hour and also start working with you there and then on the phone by advising you on what to do while you wait. This might be to shut off the power if it is safe to do so or it may be to get the famiy outside until the team arrives to evaluate the damage.

Once we arrive on the scene we will use high capacity pumps to force out the water as fast as possile, before bringing in air movers and dehumidifiers. We can also use injectors to dry inside the walls if required. Not only will we remove water and dry up the moisture, we will remove anything that cannot be salvaged. We are fully trained to handle this sort of situation so do not delay, call as soon as you discover the problem!

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Choosing The Right Home Restoration Service

Fire and flooding are a property owners worst nightmare. The level of destruction that both of these can present, not to mention the risk of physical harm, can be potentially devastating. In the worst case scenario you may need to relocate, but in most cases water and fire restoration services can help to restore your property to it’s former glory. The key is finding the right restoration service. Here at Advanced Drying & Environmental Technologies, we pride ourself on providing Atlanta and the surrounding area with the very best in terms of fire and water restoration services. We have fully trained and certified technicians available around the clock and we are on call 365 days a year. We know that emergencies tend not to happen during office hours. That’s why our office is always open!

When you are choosing a restoration service, one of the main things you need to look at are their qualifications. We have listed all of our relevant certifications, and we feel confident that on seeing them you will be reassured that we are properly qualified for the job. We are so confident in the abilities of our highly trained staff that we guarantee all of their work for 12 months after completion. In addition to this, we also use only the most advanced equipment which is specially designed to tackle these restoration tasks to the highest possible standard. We are experts in our field, with years of experience dealing with restoration work in both commercial and residential properties of all shapes and sizes.

When you call Advanced Drying & Environmental Technologies for assistance, the work begins immediately. Your call is handled by a trained customer care operative – not a call center. They can advise you of any steps you should take while waiting for the technicians to arrive. This may be turning off the water supply or electricity if it is safe to do so, or it may be vacating the property. Our technicians will be with you inside of 60 minutes because we know that the sooner we get to work, the less damage will occur. With Advanced Drying & Environmental Technologies you will be getting the best restoration services at reasonable rates. We are the company that Atlanta relies on, and our stellar reputation in the area shows that we can be trusted to handle all of your restoration needs professionally and efficiently.

 

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