Emergency Restoration Checklist

Here is a helpful checklist to minimize damage to your property following a fire, flood, storm or other disaster event.

• Alert your insurance company immediately. Your insurance agent is your partner during this stressful time. He/she will guide you through the claims and clean-up process.
• Take photos of the damage prior to the property being cleaned-up, boarded-up or demolished. Having photographic documentation of the damage could be helpful for insurance purposes.
• Determine whether your house or place of business is structurally safe. If not, you will need to evacuate the facility and make alternate arrangements.
• Shut down the electrical and water supply and close the main gas valve, after the threat of physical danger has passed. These steps will help you avoid further damage, so it is important to know in advance where these important systems are located.
• Protect and secure property assets and/or personal belongings.
  • Relocate all valuables to a safe and dry place.
  • If there is standing water, try to remove as much of it to the outdoors as possible and run the air conditioning, a dehumidifier or a fan to help dry out the area. WARNING: Standing water will begin to produce dangerous mold within 48 hours, making it imperative to remove all standing water.
  • If conditions allow, cover broken windows and doors as well as damaged walls and roof areas with plywood or plastic sheeting to prevent additional moisture entry and to protect the property from the elements.
• Inspect the property thoroughly. Your observations and comments will help speed up the restoration process when professional help arrives.
• Determine if there are roof shingles missing or if there is any damage to your home's exterior, including to the gutters, windows, siding, chimneys, etc.
  • Inspect the property for any signs of water infiltration.
  • Determine if the insulation is wet or damaged. Be sure to check the insulation around your windows and doors and in your attic, crawl spaces and walls.
  • Look closely to verify that your foundation walls are intact.

In most cases your insurance agent will make clean-up/restoration contractor recommendations. However, in some situations, you may be advised to hire a restoration company of your own choosing. The following are tips for hiring the best professional restoration company:

• Look for a professional restoration company that specializes in working with property owners after a fire, flood, storm or other disaster. These companies are a better choice than general contracting companies that may offer restoration services.
• Be sure that the company you choose is licensed, bonded and insured in the state where the work will be performed.
• Do not sign a contract unless the job is described in detail including what will be done, a price estimate and what materials/tools will be used.
• Ask for a list of references. Also, look at before and after pictures of the company's work.
• Do not hire a company that requires a larger than normal deposit in order to start work.

The most effective way to recover from a fire, flood, storm or other disastrous event is to take action quickly Carefully following the Emergency Restoration checklist will help the disaster relief experts restore your home and property to normal as quickly as possible.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Frank_Nemshick

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How To Repair Gutters | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva helps a homeowner solve a problem with leaky gutters over their patio.

Flooded Home: Make Sure Everything is Dry Before Rebuilding

NDSU Extension Educator Carl Pedersen shows what to look for and check out in your home before rebuilding after the flood.

For more flood information check out http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/flood

About Alltek Restoration

 

You can only expect a professional staff when working with Alltek Restoration, Inc. We value and expect quality, efficiency, punctuality, cleanliness, and courtesy. Our team believes in our commitment and dedication to each client’s satisfaction is second to none.

• Quality work, Integrity, and Commitment
• Prompt completion and timeline.
• Detailed estimates upon invitation to bid.
• Explanation of contract and specification

Alltek has established successful working relationships with qualified and competent professionals, and subcontractors who share our customer-oriented philosophy.

Our Guarantee: We warranty all work that is done with your project whether we ourselves do the work or our subcontractors do the work.

Contact our office in Pittsburg, CA, at 925-732-7200 to speak with one of our construction designers about your upcoming project.

ari247.com

How to Use a Fire Extinguisher

Watch more Home Security & Safety videos: http://www.howcast.com/videos/341988-... Accidents happen. Be prepared to fight your own fire by learning how to use a fire extinguisher. Step 1: Know how fire extinguishers are classified Know how fire extinguishers are classified. Class A extinguishers are for common combustibles like paper or wood; Class B are for flammable liquids; and Class C are for electrical fires. Tip The Red Cross recommends ABC classified fire extinguishers for home use. Step 2: Inspect the fire extinguisher Inspect the fire extinguisher before use. Read instructions and warnings; check that the pressure gauge needle is in the green portion of the gauge; and check for a clogged nozzle, a broken seal, or other damage. Tip A fire extinguisher won’t work if it’s not properly charged. The pressure gauge measures the charge. Step 3: Decide if you'll evacuate or stay and fight Decide if you’ll evacuate or stay and fight the fire. Consider the size of the fire, the amount of smoke in the room, and whether there is a reliable escape route. Step 4: Remember the acronym PASS Remember the acronym PASS. It stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep. Step 5: Pull the pin that unlocks the operating handle Pull the pin or ring that unlocks the fire extinguisher’s operating handle, and aim the extinguisher at the base of the fire. Tip Aim at the fire from 6 to 8 feet away. Step 6: Squeeze extinguisher lever to discharge contents Squeeze the extinguisher lever to discharge its contents, and sweep the hose back and forth until the extinguisher is empty. Did You Know? Food Network star Alton Brown used a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher, a water cooler bottle, and a tennis racket to make a fruit smoothie on television.

Howcast

How to Prevent Water Damage From Household Fixtures | This Old House

This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows ways to detect and stop common plumbing leaks. (See below for a shopping list and tools.) SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse Shopping List for Preventing Water Damage From Household Fixtures: - battery-operated sensor, sounds alarm when it comes in contact with water - wireless moisture sensor, detects leak and shuts off water flow - water-heater pan, placed beneath water heater and piped to drain - water-heater shut-off valve with moisture sensor, shuts off water supply when leak is detected - water dam, is wrapped around base of water heater to corral water leak - washing-machine pan, placed beneath washing machine and piped to drain - washing machine shut-off valve with moisture sensor, shuts off water supply when leak is detected - in-line shut-off for water supply lines, shuts off water flow should the supply line burst Tools for Preventing Water Damage From Household Fixtures: - screwdriver - adjustable wrench - pipe wrench About This Old House TV: This Old House is the No. 1 multimedia home enthusiast brand, offering trusted information and expert advice through award-winning television, a highly regarded magazine, and an information-driven website. This Old House and Ask This Old House are produced by This Old House Ventures, LLC and are presented on PBS by WETA Washington, DC.

This Old House

Got Water Damage? Hire The Services Of A Professional And Reputed Fire And Water Restoration Company

If you have come in here to read this article, you are probably looking for a fire and water damage restoration company that will do a professional restoration job in your house or commercial property. This article will give you a few tips about picking the right Fire and water restoration company.

• It is preferable that you only call for fire and water damage restoration companies that have a solid reputation in the field. Stay away from one man teams or free lancers who will promise you a great job only to give you a run around with poor results.
• Look for a company that will offer 24/7 services. Damage restoration is essentially an emergency service and a company that offers that service should ideally have service availability around the clock.
• Ask if the company has the latest equipment. Some small companies will often be short handed when it comes to quality equipment. A professional water damage repair company should ideally have state of the art commercial grade equipment such as dehumidifiers, blowers, truck mounted water extraction units, portable extraction units and other tools such as moisture gauges and humidity meters and emergency generators. If the water damage is significant, a good company will use a lot of equipment to bring about the best results in the fastest way possible. Hiring a small company that will have very limited equipment will mean longer water damage restoration times which will in turn greatly increase the related losses. When it comes to the effectiveness of a water damage repair company, their responsiveness and speed should be of utmost concern to you as it can save you a significant sum of money.
• Help with the insurance process - Fire and water damage restoration companies are not just important to fix up your house. They in fact play a very important role in your damage situation by helping you with the insurance process. Insurance, as you might already know, can be a very daunting process when approached on your own. You might not know how to fill out the forms correctly or you might ask for too little when you file a form. A good fire and water restoration company will appoint an insurance specialist or insurance consultant to your case. This person will then work with the insurance adjustor appointed by the insurance company. With the insurance consultant on your side, you can relax and be assured that a professional is helping you.

Guarantee on the insurance claim - There could be a situation where you might commission water damage restoration work before being approved by the insurance company. It can be a rude shock to receive a check for an amount that does not cover all the expenses of the restoration work. A professional water damage restoration will help you avoid that pickle of a situation by putting out an estimate that will be accepted by the insurance company. Also, they will guarantee their repair estimates in such a way that they will not charge you personally if the insurance company's check does not cover all of the expenses then the fire and water restoration contractor agrees to waive the additional expenses.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_E_Smith

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5771152

HFSC Home Security Camera Living Room Fire

A home security camera captured an actual living room fire, showing how quickly a fire can spread. Every home should have a working smoke alarm and residents should practice an escape plan. All new homes should be protected with home fire sprinklers. For more information about home fire sprinklers: https://homefiresprinkler.org/

Returning To Your Flood Damage Home

Returning home after a natural disaster. This video will discuss how to return to your home for the first time after a natural disaster. This phase normally follows the immediate aftermath and clearances from authorities. The video goes through a checklist of things to do and look for to ensure the safety of you and your family. The video will highlight things like: what to do if you smell gas, protecting yourself from electrical injuries, wearing waterproof boots to avoid floodwater touching your skin, preventing carbon monoxide poisoning by keeping fuel burning devices outdoors and away from windows, only eat and drink food and water that you know is safe, etc.

HUDchannel

HUDchannel

Got Water Damage? Hire The Services Of A Professional And Reputed Fire And Water Restoration Company

If you have come in here to read this article, you are probably looking for a fire and water damage restoration company that will do a professional restoration job in your house or commercial property. This article will give you a few tips about picking the right Fire and water restoration company.

• It is preferable that you only call for fire and water damage restoration companies that have a solid reputation in the field. Stay away from one man teams or free lancers who will promise you a great job only to give you a run around with poor results.
• Look for a company that will offer 24/7 services. Damage restoration is essentially an emergency service and a company that offers that service should ideally have service availability around the clock.
• Ask if the company has the latest equipment. Some small companies will often be short handed when it comes to quality equipment. A professional water damage repair company should ideally have state of the art commercial grade equipment such as dehumidifiers, blowers, truck mounted water extraction units, portable extraction units and other tools such as moisture gauges and humidity meters and emergency generators. If the water damage is significant, a good company will use a lot of equipment to bring about the best results in the fastest way possible. Hiring a small company that will have very limited equipment will mean longer water damage restoration times which will in turn greatly increase the related losses. When it comes to the effectiveness of a water damage repair company, their responsiveness and speed should be of utmost concern to you as it can save you a significant sum of money.
• Help with the insurance process - Fire and water damage restoration companies are not just important to fix up your house. They in fact play a very important role in your damage situation by helping you with the insurance process. Insurance, as you might already know, can be a very daunting process when approached on your own. You might not know how to fill out the forms correctly or you might ask for too little when you file a form. A good fire and water restoration company will appoint an insurance specialist or insurance consultant to your case. This person will then work with the insurance adjustor appointed by the insurance company. With the insurance consultant on your side, you can relax and be assured that a professional is helping you.

Guarantee on the insurance claim - There could be a situation where you might commission water damage restoration work before being approved by the insurance company. It can be a rude shock to receive a check for an amount that does not cover all the expenses of the restoration work. A professional water damage restoration will help you avoid that pickle of a situation by putting out an estimate that will be accepted by the insurance company. Also, they will guarantee their repair estimates in such a way that they will not charge you personally if the insurance company's check does not cover all of the expenses then the fire and water restoration contractor agrees to waive the additional expenses.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_E_Smith

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5771152