The health problems associated with water leaks

The past few decades has seen water damage becoming an increasingly frustrating problem for property owners across the country. Climate change, faulty appliances and ageing water pipes and sewers can all lead to a flooding problem that can mean that your home or business can quickly become a victim of an accumulation of excess water.

When people think of water damage they tend to imagine it coming from a clean source such as a burst water main or faulty washing machine but this is not always the case. In fact there are three different types of classifications when it comes down to invasive water. Clean water is from a burst water pipe or supply line, faulty faucets overflowing bath tubs etc. The next category is known as “grey water” and this usually has some kind of contaminate which includes the fresh water in a toilet bowl, as although it may appear clean it is more than likely to be contaminated by bacteria from previous usage. Also the water from a washing machine dishwashers etc and exposure to this water can often cause illness and is rather unpleasant. The third and final category is “black water” and this carries the most risk of illness due to the type of contaminates it contains. More often than not this kind of water will contain raw sewage, but also surface water and sea water also falls into this category. Exposure to this kind of water is extremely hazardous and can cause severe health problems that can result in hospitalization and even death in the most severe cases. 

However it is not just the water that can be hazardous to health, mold likes to grow in damp places and if you do not tackle the problem of water leaking into your property then you are going to find yourself with a host of new problems. Black mold is the most dangerous and can cause breathing problems especially amongst those that already have pre-existing health problems, as well as sinus problems and skin allergies.

Restoring your property after water damage is important if you want to avoid problems such as structural damage and the growth of mold and mildew. It can be a lengthy process, dealing with water damage and it can also cost quite a lot of money to put things right. Nevertheless it is important to correct the damage in order to enjoy your property.

Remove mold safely to prevent health problems

Did you know that there is a form of mold that can be hazardous to your wellbeing if it’s located in your property? It is known as black mold, and it has the potential to be harmful to humans and their lungs if it’s inhaled on a regular basis. Eliminating black mold is an essential procedure, however, black mold removal must be completed in a protected and cautious way to remove the mold permanently and ensure it in no way returns.

Initially, attempt to discover where the mold is growing within your property. Mold is prone to growing in dank and undisturbed areas that have an excess of moisture such as basements and areas that are not prone to dampness such as the bathroom.

Next up, you ought to cordon off any areas that mold has been discovered. This can be achieved by making sure that you lock doors and windows and making sure that people do not attempt to enter or exit the room. Ensure that everybody in the household is aware that the sealed off area is undergoing black mold removal so that they do not enter the affected area and risk their health.

This initial component of black mold removal is to use a light mist spray in order to spray the affected area. The area should be made damp so that the spores can be eliminated quickly and easily. Once this has been completed, you need to use a brush, damp cloth or sponge with a soap solution and begin to scrub each area as meticulously as you can.

Once you have removed the mold, you should use a sanitizing spray on the affected areas to ensure that mold does not grow back, but also ensure that you keep the room well ventilated and free from damp.

The removal of black mold should be completed with the utmost care and vigilance but it’s a very important procedure if you would like to make certain that everybody in your property is not affected. Mold has the potential to cause grave health problems and illnesses if the trouble is not dealt with competently and rapidly. It’s extremely imperative that all and sundry understands that you’re treating the problem of black mold so they can stay away from the affected area. Follow this advice and black mold should not cause you too many health problems.

Wet carpet renovation can protect your health

If you have had a flooding incident or other water leakage event in your home then you would probably have had to deal with a wet carpet. A wet carpet is annoying and it can be difficult to avoid it causing health problems at a later date.

Microorganisms and mold and mildew may start to develop below or above a wet carpet and this can have a harmful consequence if you or your relations inhale the air for an extended phase of time.

This type mold infestation can bring about all types of troubles comprising hives, allergic reactions, coughing and other respiratory related troubles. People do not understand how dangerous and that mold can be difficult to eradicate. If not dealt with rapidly it can easily multiply and extend to other areas of your property. Mold can pass through the floor and up the inside of walls and this can make your entire home one massive great big health risk.

If the water damage is too severe then it may be best to remove the offending carpeting altogether and replace it with a new one. The important action to take is to call in a professional company. They will be skilled in dealing with wet carpeting, mold and mildew. If it has advanced, then your options are going to be limited and you will find that the carpet is going to have to be removed and cleaned completely.

Mold growth is not something you should ignore as it can have serious health implications for you and your family. The mold growth may not be the cause of death or anything so critical. On the other hand, it could be the reason that you or someone in your family may be feeling under the weather a touch. You should know that mold spores can cause some nasty health problems such as skin problems, sinus problems and breathing problems especially for those people who already have pre-existing health problems such as asthma and bronchitis.

Such health problems can be made worse by inhaling airborne mold spores and in the worst case scenario it can lead to hospitalization. That is why you should use the services of a professional carpet cleaning company to fully eradicate the mold infestation and thus protect the health of you and your family.

Smoke damage restoration

A devastating fire can happen at any time to home or business, and if it happens to you then you will need to act fast. Apart from the obvious fire damage, there is going to be a lot of smoke damage and accumulations of soot that can cause significant damage to the building if you do not take remedial action straightaway.

However, if you are considering undertaking the work yourself you may want to consider the alternative of employing the services of a professional smoke damage remediation company. A specialist company will be able to deal with the problem much more expertly than if you were going to do it yourself.

You should not waste anytime in starting the renovation process after smoke damage as this will assist in limiting the amount of possessions that will need to be replaced. The kind of damage that will take place due to large amounts of smoke is the tarnishing of metals, yellowing of furniture and flooring and staining of interior walls.

Each fire is different and will cause different kinds of damage that will need to be dealt with in order to restore your property back to its former glory. Professional cleaning companies will be able to assess the damage and know how to repair the damage and treat each scenario on its own merit.

A reliable and professional smoke damage company will be able to respond to your call 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and 365 days of the year. A certified smoke damage remediation company will be certified and only use specially trained staff and the latest in technology in order to eliminate smoke and its effects on your property.

So do not delay, as soon as that fire is extinguished get on the phone and contact your local professional smoke remediation company.

Is Your Home Affected By Chinese Drywall?

It is estimated that between 2004 and 2007, up to 500 million pounds of potentially defective drywall was brought into America from China. This Chinese drywall can negatively impact your home in a number of ways. Some of the signs that there is defective Chinese drywall in your home include a strong smell of sulfur – often likened to rotten eggs or burnt matches. Those individuals who have this drywall in their homes often report very frequent headaches and often copper wiring corrodes. One common complaint is failure of air conditioning units, because the emissions caused by the drywall leads to corrosion of the copper coils inside the units. Other individuals have reported that their silver jewelry has tarnished, or that metal components or exposed wiring in household appliances has failed.

 Reports of defective Chinese drywall have been registered in 23 different states, although 75% are from Florida alone. If you suspect that your home may have been affected by this drywall then it is important to call in a professional to perform drywall testing. The testing process will usually comprise of two steps – Air Quality Testing and Removal!

 The testing phase determines whether or not there is elemental sulfur present in your home as this will identify whether or not there is a problem with your drywall. This air testing may even pick up other contaminants you were not aware of. If the indoor air in your home does test positive then it is recommended by both the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that it is removed as soon as possible.

 The long term health effects are not yet known but, in my opinion it is much better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your health and the health of your family. Along with headaches, some of the symptoms reported include a persistent cough, itchy skin and eye irritation.

Complications that arise from body modification

It startled me today to learn that in excess of 25% of people who undergo body modification suffer from complications and amazingly as many as 1 in 100 16 to 24 year olds who have had piercings have had to be taken to hospital. As many as 31 percent of that age bracket have suffered from problems that needed medical attention, with piercings that have been done by a non-professional or by oneself being the most likely to require medical assistance. Therefore it is vitally important to make sure that any individual that is contemplating getting a piercing should go to a reputable piercer.

Most advice when it comes to body modification is simply common sense, that is do not attempt to do it yourself, make sure that you are fully clued up about the procedure and that the body modification parlor you visit is clean and hygienic. Also the person doing the body modification should explain to you fully about after care and how to look after your body modification in order to avoid complications.

 Almost 50% of the females in the 16 to 24 age group owned a piercing and those people who belong to lower social classes were far more likely to have a piercing. The most popular places to have a piercing are the belly button, the nose, the ear, the tongue, the nipples and the eyebrows.

Women were more likely to have a belly button piercing, but this kind of piercing is not popular with men in general, whereas, nipple piercing was the most popular amongst men but not with the ladies.

The most likely problems associated with piercings within the age group of 16 to 24 year olds are swelling, infections and bleeding, with the tongue being the most problematic area for complications, closely followed by the nipples.

There have been some reported cases of Hepatitis A and B, although this is only in very rare cases, but you should bear this in mind when deciding on getting a body modification, so stay safe.

The health implications of lead based paint

Here is some important safety information I have just discovered about the dangers of lead paints that I need to share with you in order for you to avoid exposing yourself and your family to potential ill health.

You are probably already aware of the heavy metal that is known as lead, but you may not be aware that for many years it was used as an additive in paint. It was primarily used to aid drying and to increase the durability of the paint, unfortunately when lead paint becomes old and flakey it can be inhaled and cause harm, especially to small children.

Lead paint was eventually outlawed in 1978 but in older houses it still persists to this day, as it may well do in older children’s toys.

The biggest risk of exposure to lead based paint comes with renovating an old home that includes surfaces that have been painted with lead based paint. Once sanding or scraping of these surfaces begins, particles that are released into the air can be inhaled unwittingly by the operative, so it is crucial that you test for lead based paint before you start renovating any older home.

If you employ the services of a professional contractor to carry out the renovation, then make sure that they are certified to remove lead based paint, as they will make sure that they take the necessary precautions to avoid contamination.

As for toys that may contain lead, the exposure risk is not as high as during a renovation but is still something that you should bear in mind when allowing your children to play with these kinds of toys. This is something that should be more concerning if the toy comes from a country that is not so hot on regulations outlawing lead based paint in its toys.

If you suspect that one of your child’s toys contains lead, then remove the toy and dispose of it, and only buy toys from places that you can trust and know that they do not use lead based paint.

Risks Of Black Mold

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It seems like black mold is becoming an increasingly common problem for our community these days, as are the health concerns it brings with it. A recent study by the Mayo Clinic indicated that almost all chronic sinus problems were as a result of exposure to black mold, while the reported rate of asthma has increased threefold because of mold.

There are many species of mold found in the home, but the most concerning is Black Mold, or to give it its scientific name : Stachybotrys Chartarum. This is a very toxic species of mold and can be found naturally both indoors and out. When outdoors, it is pretty harmless and will thrive in moist soils, rotting wood and manure. However, indoors it will grow almost anywhere that moisture has been absorbed, particularly carpeting, drywall and flooring amongst others. As there is not so much ventilation indoors the risks become more acute.

Commonly, the health risks caused by black mold appear in the form of an allergic reaction. Inhaling the spores cause hay fever like symptoms which can be uncomfortable but are not too serious. However, in some cases the reactions are much more serious resulting in Mold Induced Asthma, Allergic Fungal Sinusitis, Bronchitis, Pneumonia and many other respiratory conditions. In young children, the elderly and those with existing conditions these are more serious and can be fatal.

Why take any chances? Call in a professional mold testing expert to check out your property for the presence of black mold.

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The health risks associated with a flooded basement

A home that has a flooded basement can pose a significant risk to your health and the health of your family. In no time at all, you can expect a flooded basement to be a breeding ground for mold and mildew, which will necessitate the removal of the fungi as quickly as possible.

The health implications of mold growth have the potential to be extremely serious, especially if you or members of your family have pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or bronchitis.

Once you have discovered mold and mildew in your home then it is not advisable to eradicate it yourself, it can be dangerous to tackle mold without the proper safety equipment as spores can become airborne and they may spread to other parts of your property, as well as being inhaled by anyone in your home.

Therefore, it is a good idea to call in a team of professionals who have the equipment and the experience to tackle this kind of infestation properly. It is imperative that you call in a specialist mold cleaning company as soon as you spot mold growth to limit the damage to your home and its possessions.

A basement that has become the victim of flooding has the potential to cause you and your family a significant number of problems with your everyday life, but these problems can be prevented by yourself by carrying out regular routine inspections of your basement every so often. Inspecting your basement on a regular basis will help you to detect the early signs of water leakage or water seepage which could lead to a serious case of basement flooding in the future. So remember that old adage that prevention is a lot better than the cure and that making sure that you do not become a victim of basement flooding and its adjoining health problems is the way to go.