Security and Water Flow

With a flood or any sort of real water damage, the biggest concern is security and killing the flow of water. You likewise need to get rid of as many things as could reasonably be expected from the site to grow black mold. Be that as it may, shouldn’t something be said about those greater things? There are a lot of threats of water-harmed heaters… yet you can’t generally expel them from your home to make sense of the degree of the harm.

Water damage is conceivably harming to gas-let go furnace segments including interior valves, burners, and in addition electronic sheets that control the framework. Consequently, a furnace reached by water is frequently pronounced a security risk and should be supplanted.

Maybe no framework in your house is more imperative in the winter than your furnace. Without it, you’d be in a bad position. So while the effect of home water harm is awful regardless of what you look like at it, having your heater harmed when the temps are frosty outside can be disastrous. So we should discuss things you can do to shield your heater from water harm should the most dire outcome imaginable transpire this winter.

Dangers of Water-Damaged Furnaces

Furnace Failure

Regardless of whether local temperatures aren’t that cool, it’s as yet not perfect to require your heater and find that it’s not utilitarian months after the water harm happened. This can be particularly hazardous for families with youthful kids or elderly relatives who are more delicate to low temperatures.

Electrical Short-Circuit

In the occasion the heater does even now work, the exact opposite thing you require is another debacle staring you in the face in the event that it lights an electrical fire. This staggering mix would mean a possibly deadly fire to add to your issues.

Carbon Monoxide Risk

A harmed heater that still capacities could be emanating lethal carbon monoxide exhaust. This quiet and completely wrecking situation is the reason authorities in Minnesota are encouraging those influenced by the surges to introduce carbon monoxide identifiers in their homes.

Knowing these possibly long haul perils of water-harmed furnaces is another approach to secure your family and home after water harm. It likewise strengthens the significance of appropriately tending to, repairing, or supplanting water-uncovered things, instead of expecting they seem safe.

To help avoid winter water damage to your furnace, remember these normal issues:

• Anticipate solidified channels. Amid bone chilling winter climate, water spouting from a water supply pipe that has cracked because of solidifying frequently surges the cellar where the heater is introduced. Protect defenseless traverses of pipe and close any openings that enable cool outside air to invade into territories of the house where channels are steered. In the event that a hard stop is estimate, turn on family unit fixtures and enable them to stream medium-term.
• Oversee softening snow. A profound snow bank gathered alongside the house may leak water into storm cellar dividers beneath as it dissolves. Cellar substance including the heater can be harmed. Scene around the house border ought to be evaluated to redirect snow melt far from the establishment. Where conceivable, scoop or overwhelm profound snow from the house before it melts. Installation of a sump pump turns away rehashed storm cellar surges.
• Keep condensate streaming. High-effectiveness private furnaces with AFUE evaluations over 90 deliver gallons of fluid condensate, normally released outside the house through a deplete pipe. Under bone chilling conditions, the deplete pipe may solidify and discourage stream. Obstructed support into the heater will flood and close down the heater, possibly harming parts or potentially the inside zone where the unit is introduced. On the off chance that condensate solidifies happen, contact a qualified HVAC temporary worker to move or potentially protect the deplete line. If not you could have cause for a mold remediation problem.

To protect your furnace from water vandalization, you ought to lift it and guarantee that it is path higher than the most astounding conceivable surge water levels. Lift your furnace to shield if from flood harm by following these three simple ways:

1. Measure the Height of Mounting Base

Check the most astounding surge height in your cellar. Add no less than one foot to this stature to decide the correct tallness for your mounting base.

2. Apply a Base for Your Furnace

To developing the mounting base of your furnace, measure the width of your heater at that point include no less than 6-inches each side. Utilize this estimation to decide the measure of your mounting base.

In the wake of taking estimations, blend the bond and develop the mounting base. To make the ledge for your mounting base, cut four bits of wood at that point nail them together to make a case. Put pressed wood under the container; nail it to the timber at that point empty cement into the case. Give the base and ledge a chance to remedy for a couple of days before you introduce the heater.

3. Install the furnace

Set the heater over the counter at that point associate the blower engine and the vent.

Conclusion

A water leak detection problem isn’t just an irritation to your day by day life and schedule, there are well being dangers and it can likewise be exceptionally unsafe.

Generally the harm is caused when an issue abandons being seen immediately. Time is of the pith when you are managing water harm, and the key is to act quickly! Not exclusively can the water demolish your rugs, roof, and furniture, however it can likewise crush valuable family belonging, essential reports, and imperative, individual things.

You may need to empty your home amid the repairs, and the interruption of your ordinary routine could truly affect your lifestyle. Staying in a lodging or at a companion’s house isn’t the manner in which you need to spend your week, or at times, weeks.

When you end up in a water harm emergency, nobody can deal with the harm superior to experts. Amid such an unpleasant time, you will require somebody to enable you to see there is a promising finish to the present course of action; managing water harm can put a great deal of strain on you.

Serious Mold Inspection or Cleanup Mistakes

The number one error is the failure to protect the inspector, worker, or occupants, from toxic or allergenic mold that may be disturbed and brought to elevated levels during inspection and testing. These error includes failure to wear proper protective equipment during inspection and Austin mold remediation work, and failure to establish and maintain adequate dust control measures during a mold remediation project.

Toxic Black Mold Remediation

The second example often results in an extended and unnecessarily costly mold cleanup job, while the first example can lead to temporary or even more serious illness of the inspector or occupants.

Failure to find and remove the problem mold in a building.

Too often, incomplete inspection, incompetent testing, or hasty “magic bullet” approaches to mold remediation result in incomplete work, and often they even result in removing materials that were not the mold problem while leaving the problem mold in place.We have reviewed too many projects for which the building owners have paid a high fee for work that did little or nothing to remove the mold problem.

Mold Cleanup Project Containment Failures

Perhaps the most common mold remediation project failure after failing to properly and thoroughly inspect and diagnose the locations and causes of mold reservoirs prior to starting work, is failure to properly control dust and debris caused by demolition and removal of moldy materials such as carpeting, drywall, or plaster.

Reliance on shortcuts for mold inspection, mold testing, and mold remediation

Examples: Sole reliance on infra-red inspection or mold sniffing dogs or air tests to find mold in buildings, inadequate dry out methods after flooding in buildings, and use of bleach or fungicides as a substitute for actual cleaning or removal of problem mold. These type of measures are ineffective and in some cases, they can be dangerous for building occupants.

Another Austin Community Served by ATEX Water Damage Restoration

We are happy to announce that we now provide water damage restoration to Steiner Ranch neighborhood in Austin, Tx area code 78732.

Steiner Ranch is a master planned community situated between Lake Austin and Lake Travis. The community consists of 4,600 acres located in an area that offer lake access and beautiful views. Steiner Ranch Homes are built by some of Austin’s finest builders with prices ranching from the $300s to into the millions. Here you can find beautiful custom built golf course homes, lakefront homes, Canyon view homes and practically everything in between. Steiner Ranch is truly a rare find. Steiner Ranch houses for sale range from the $300s to over $5 million.

Steiner Ranch houses three community centers with pools, a lake club with access to Lake Austin and 20 miles of hike and bike trails. It is also home to the University of Texas Golf Club, a 7,225-yard championship golf course.

Homes in Steiner Ranch are designed to provide dramatic use of natural light and to stylishly blend with the surrounding landscape. Steiner Ranch, since the beginning, has made a firm commitment to maintaining its natural surroundings, helped the community earn recognition from the Austin Business Journal as “Best Master-Planned Community” in the greater Austin area in 2004.

UT Golf ClubSteiner Ranch offers incredible golfing opportunities. First & foremost, the UT Golf Club is located in the heart of the neighborhood and offers an 18-hole signature course with a new clubhouse to be completed within months. There are many other fantastic Golf Courses located within a ten-minute drive of Steiner Ranch. River Place & then many phenomenal golf courses located in Lakeway, Texas are all a short drive.

Steiner Ranch is known as the “Land Between the Lakes” because it is surrounded by Lake Austin to the South, East, & West, and by Lake Travis to the North. You literally can not find a better location for lake lovers than Steiner Ranch.

The Steiner Ranch Boat Club is located at the Southwestern tip of Steiner Ranch and includes a boat ramp, parking, & day boat slips all included as part of the Steiner Ranch HOA dues. The Steiner Ranch Boat Club provides access to Lake Austin, which is known for some of the best wakeboarding in the country. You can boat down Lake Austin, view the beautiful mansions that line its shores, and stop for a burger at Ski Shores, or a fantastic taco at Hula Hut. Along the way, you’ll pass Austin Country Club & the beautiful 360 bridge.

Lake Travis provides phenomenal boating & sailing activities and is just 5 minutes away. If you prefer to store your boat & launch it yourself, you can do so at any number of dry storage locations, and launch at the Mansfield Dam boat launch. If you prefer to keep your boat in the water, or in caddied dry storage, you can do so at Emerald Point Marina – located next to Carlo’s & Charlie’s, and also 5 minutes from Steiner Ranch. Whether you like to wakeboard, ski, sail, tube, or just float, Steiner Ranch provides the best proximity to these activities in Austin!

This Texas flooding is getting way serious. Lake Travis is at 107% of it’s official capacity. The Colorado River is already above flood stage and the LCRA has 3 gates open and a week of more rain is forecast. Bastrop Tx neighborhoods have already been flooded by heavy rains with more to come. There has been a tidal wave of emergency water removal requests from Bastrop, TX. 

Rosenberg TX

Flash flooding has forced mandatory evacuation of Rosenberg in Fort Bend County. Residents are ordered to leave their flooded homes as the Brazos River has risen above flood stage and still rising and is expected to reach record level of 53 feet today.. Five people had died in the flooding, which stemmed from heavy rains that started on Thursday, and have persisted throughout Memorial Day weekend.

Dallas, Houston and San Antonio have suffered from serious flooding this may. Some areas have had more that 20 inches of rain in a 24 hour period.
This morning forecast here in Austin calls for more rain all across the hill country every day this week. It seems there’s no end in sight. We fear it’s not over.

Water and Fire Damage Emergency

Water damage and or fire damage emergencies are two of the most commonly needed emergency services in the Austin area. Most water damage originates inside the home, from things like faulty, frozen, broken pipes and connections or block sewage. Usually this types of incidents are covered by home owners insurance. They do require immediate attention. In a water damage situation standing water raises the humidity in the home making the perfect environment for mold to quickly grow. A floor covered with water raises the danger of electric shock if the power is left on. Drywall can become quickly saturated and lose structural integrity and possibly collapse. Carpet, the pad underneath and the concrete floor, must dried cleaned along with damaged furniture, and electronics.

Broken Pipes

Broken pipes or leaking pipe connections can leak water inside the walls or attic for some time before the problem is visible, giving mold the opportunity to grow and spread. Just a simple leak can turn into a major problem if it is not corrected quickly. dealing with water damage and mold in your home can be stressful, and will only multiply to a major disaster if not properly addressed immediately. Our technicians are standing ready to respond with the immediate professional help 24/7.

Sewage Backup

Sometimes we carelessly throw things in the toilet that just should go there. This can lead to a blocked sewer line causing the toilet to overflow and spill sewage over the floor. We’ve found that the blockage does not allows happen right away. When it does happen, many times people try continuously plunging and flushing hoping to solve the problem quickly The toilet continues to over flow with ever flush and the sewage spread over a larger area. It’s time for professional help. Don’t wait it only gets worse with time.

If you find yourself needing a water or fire damage emergency clean-up, mold remediation, or sewage clean up call ATEX Water Damage Restoration for a quick professional response. Call us 1-512-410-5349 for 24/7 emergency service.

Flooding

Here in Central Texas we are plagued with flash floods. People drown every year driving through our many low water crossings. TURN AROUND DON’T DROWN. Our many heavy rain storms cause flash flooding in many low lying areas. Many of our river and streams are overburdened and can send a wave a water crashing downstream flooding and destroying almost everything in it’s path. These flood disasters are not covered by Homeowners Insurance. If you live near rivers, streams or low lying areas get Flood Insurance. When you need help for emergency water extraction in Austin, please ATEX Water Damage Restoration 1-512-410-5349

Leaks Not Always in Plain Sight

Sometimes there are water leaks in your home that don’t do any visual damage to the house. However, leaking water is monitored by your water company for billing. So, these types of leaks do damage to your pocketbook. There are some simple techniques that you can use water leak detection.

• Hot Water Leaks Sometimes the pressure Valve is plumbed into a drain and may be leaking without your knowledge. Listen for a hissing sound if you can’t remove the drain pipe.
• Toilets You can open the water tank to add some food coloring. If the food coloring shows in the bowl after a few minutes, you have a leak.
• The Meter Line If you have a shut-off valve buy the house shut the water off. Now take a look at the meter reading if it’s still turning you have a leak in the line to the house.
• You also want to check all the housing bibs and garden hoses and connections for leaks.
Hopefully, you won’t find leaks but if you do you can call your plumber and point directly to the leaks you want to be repaired. That should save some time on the hourly rate.

Record Rainfall

In late October El Nino sent a huge weather system across Texas that produced heavy rainfall and powerful thunderstorms. Texas has seen record rainfall, heavy flooding, and thunderstorms that produced tornadoes across the State. Parts of Texas got as much as 20 inches of rain. As many as six tornadoes rampaged through the area South and East of Houston.

Autos Washed Off the Road

Victims have been washed off the road in their automobile by rushing flood waters. Bodies were recovered in San Antonio, Austin and Houston from flooded waterways. Parts of I-35 South of Austin were closed by flooding. We had multiple water rescues in Austin and around Travis County. Multiple residents were rescued from the rooftop of their house. Austin Fire Department deployed boats to help with rescues.

The High Cost of Flooding

October 2015 is now Austin’s record setter, 22.08 of rainfall recorded. 14.54 Inches of that record fell in one day. The total flood damage restoration for Texas could be as high as $3 Billion.

It’s Not Over

I remember the rain El Nino sent us in ’93 but I don’t remember the flooding and damage like we are getting now. It was a pretty devastating end the 2015. What I fear is, El-Nino is not done with us yet. We could have more of these powerful storms coming in the months ahead. I see more storms hitting the West Coast, flooding many cities there. Hopefully as the storms move to the east they will miss us.

Here’s some of the things you need to do if you have water in your in your house.

Whether it’s is caused by leaking, broken pipes or flooding, there are some things you’ll need to do to get the best outcome. First, if it’s possible stop the flow of water. If you have a water leak from broken pipes, turn your water off at the meter. Do your best to contain the water damage until help arrives.

Be Safe

If it’s flooding the first consideration should be the safety of you and your family. Fast rising water in a flash flood can be extremely powerful and dangerous. Get to safety as soon as possible. Check the structure of the house to make sure it safe to enter. Make sure you have a flashlight and turn off all water and electrical sources. You don’t want to mix standing water and electricity. It’s a good idea to wear waders flood waters are likely to be contaminated. Also, you’ll need a set of rubber gloves to handle all the water damaged items. Get the water out.

Document

Make sure you document all the damage. Take pictures or videos of all the damage. You‘ll need this to when you file your claim for insurance coverage. Call your insurance agent.

Remove Water

Get the water out. Move out as much of the wet trash as you can. Place aluminum foil, or something that will not absorb water, under the legs of all wood furniture. Move everything that is wet out of your house onto a dry area as soon as possible.You are in a race against MOLD. Mold can develop in as little as 24 hours. The sooner you can get things dry the better.

If your area is declared a “disaster area” by the government you have access to additional resources.

Get Help

Call or email us at 512-410-5349. Our technicians are ready to respond immediately to provide the professional assistance you need when you need it most.

An Unpleasant Fact of Life

It’s one of those unpleasant facts of life. Mold, it can be found in every environment we humans live in. You’ll find mold in the soil, on plants, and decaying organic matter. It’s all part of the process of decay and rebirth. All this is fine and good, but left unchecked mold growth in doors can become a serious health hazard for humans. Mold can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat. It can cause skin irritation, sneezing, frequent headaches, trouble breathing. Constant exposure over time can increase the human body’s sensitivity to mold. To find out if you have a mold problem order a mold inspection Austin.

It’s In Our Home

Most households will occasionally see mold growth on food or in damp areas of the home. Molds produce spores that will land and grow on any available surface. Molds require food, and any organic surface such as wood ,insulation, paper, cardboard, will do. Basically all the materials used to build you house or office can provide the food for mold growth. Throw in moisture and you have the optimal environment for mold. You can’t eliminate all the food sources but, the one thing you can have some control over is the moisture.

Regular Maintenance Helps

Regularly checking your water sources for leaks and moisture build up can go a long way in having some control over moisture content in your environment. Look for leaky pipes, check bathroom areas where humidity is usually high and maintain ventilation to keep humidity as low as possible. Where ever and whenever mold is spotted it should immediately eliminated. Air conditioning systems should be maintained and if mold is spotted or suspected a professional inspection and cleaning is called for. If you live in a high humidity climate a dehumidifier may be necessary. You need to be aware that the best mold remediation will be worthless if the source of moisture is not eliminated.

Serious Mold Damage

If you have a water damage event like a flood, or plumbing failure, immediately call in a Water Damage Restoration Professional to dry the structure. Quickly drying the saturated areas and items denies mold a place to grow. The longer you wait the worse it will be. It only takes mold a short time to get a foothold in a suitable environment…

Again, don’t wait get professional help ASAP.

Natural Disasters Are Not Predictable

It seems every year that more and more natural disasters are occurring. From mudslides to tornadoes, floods to wildfires, natural disasters happen quickly bringing misery that can drag out for a long time. While natural disasters can’t be predicted, it helps to plan for them, assuring your business, store, hotel, factory, or healthcare facility will be back on its feet if the unthinkable comes to pass. You must get on the carpet cleaning service immediately!

Experience

During the years of providing disaster recovery services, we’ve learned a lot. We’ve learned how to assess the damage to your structure. We’ve learned to be proactive in our approach, believing that the best defense is a good offense. We’ve learned to trust our experience. We’re not resting on our laurels either. We constantly strive to improve our service. We’ve added the best equipment and our technicians have taken courses on implementing the newest technologies. We’ve studied previous disaster recovery efforts so we can more effectively incorporate the strengths of previous efforts.

Waiting Is Not An Option

When a natural disaster strikes, speed is critical. The hole in your roof needs to be fixed while it’s still raining, not when the storm is over. We can be on-site within an hour, repairing any leaks in the roof, removing any standing water, recovering and documents that were damaged in the event. Our efforts begin when our boots hit the ground on your premises.

Day or Night

Whether your business is in a flood plain or right in the center of tornado alley, you should have a contingency plan in place. Failing to plan is the same as planning to fail. ATEX Water Damage Restoration can spring into action with one phone call 24/7, nipping the damage in the bud. It’s easier and more effective to plan ahead than to decide how to react in the middle of a storm. Give us a call to discuss how we can help protect your business from natural disasters.