Sherm here! Great read onmold remediation Chicago. There are five levels of mold remediation that you should use to guide you on when to get a professional mold remediation company or just take care of the issue yourself.
Mold Remediation: Level 1 - Small isolated area (10 square feet or less)
At this level you can take care of the mold contamination on your own hence saving you the money that you could have spent on a mold remediation company. This level categorizes small infections that are usually found on ceilings and small areas on the wall. Mold remediation can be conducted by regular building maintenance but those doing this job should remember to wear personal protective garments such as glove, disposable respirator and eye protection. The work area and the adjacent spaces should be unoccupied. Containment can be done by simply misting the contaminated area prior to remediation. After cleaning the area with a damp cloth and removing materials that cannot be cleaned from the house, you should let it dry completely to prevent further mold growth.
Level 2 - Mid size isolated areas (10-30 square feet)
The same protective measures in level 1 should be also taken when dealing with mold remediation in this level. After taking out all the materials that have mold in plastic bags that are tightly sealed you should and the mold contaminated area is thoroughly cleaned with a damp cloth the area should be vacuumed with a HEPA vacuum.
Level 3 - Large isolated areas (30- 100 square feet)
At this level mold contaminates patches on the wall the same precautions applied in level 1 and level 2 should also be applied in level 3. In addition to these precautions, use plastic sheets to seal all the air movements around the work area and places adjacent to it. Vacate all the occupants in the work area as well as the surroundings. All areas should be completely dry and visibly free from mold.
Level 4 - Extensive contamination (more than 100 square feet)
At this level health and safety professionals who are trained in mold investigations (mold remediation) should be consulted before the mold remediation process begins. Every a person that will be working in the infested area should put on protective garments that are disposable to prevent mold spore from spreading to other parts of the house. Working area should also be completely isolated from the rest of the home. All the openings should be completely since mold is air borne. Before reoccupying the make sure that air monitoring is conducted to confirm if your home is safe for you to move back in.
Level 5 - (Air Conditioner and HVAC Systems)
If only a small part of the air condition is infested by mold then you can handle this problem using the steps in levels 1 and 2. However it is recommended that all mold infestation in air conditioners and HVAC systems should be left to the professional mold remediation companies who should follow the precaution measures in levels 1 through to level 4. In addition to these, the workers should shut down the HVAC system before commencing with the work and remove any material that is supporting the growth of the mold in the system and seal it in a plastic bag. They should also use antimicrobial agents that are designed to prevent the growth of the mold.
Professional Crawl Space Cleaning in Chicago Area. Using an encapsulation kit in your crawl space is the first solution to get rid of water clogging, termites, dust, dirt, rodents and of course bad odor. Unfortunately, many people do not know how to choose the best encapsulation kit because it is the crawl space liner that provides all the protection that you need. Going in for a random encapsulation kit may not provide you the best crawl space liner which certainly will leave you in disappointment of wasting your time, energy and money.
This undoubtedly is the reason why with my extensive experience in this industry I recommend people to go for certain specifications in their crawl space liner. It is important that you do a little research before you choose any encapsulation kit, since your little knowledge on what you are installing beneath your home is important for you to know if it's the right solution to your problem.
Here are some suggestions on how you should use the best crawl space liner:
·Thickness:choosing a crawl space liner that gives you a thickness of 60 mil will surely protect your home from any damages from your crawl space. The thickness of the liner is extremely important because this thickness will not only offer insulation value but will not allow any insect to eat their way through and into your home. It is also important to keep away any kind of water leakage or even moisture control.
·Zero Perm:this is one of the highest ratings in crawl space liner and provides one of the best techniques to keep away moisture, water and radon gas. Choosing a liner that gives you this kind of rating can make your home moisture and waterproof. This indirectly prevents the future growth of mold.
·Aluminum foil:choose a liner that is Energy Star Rated and that has 99% of pure aluminum foil backing. Aluminum foil is extremely important to reflect up to more than 97% of heat. This will keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, not to mention this is one of the best ways to reduce your energy bills. This is also known as a good way to conserve energy.
·Warranty:choose a liner that gives you a warranty of more than 20 years. This is extremely important because you just do not want to run from one dealer to another every time your crawl space encapsulation runs a leak. A good liner stays for more than 20 years and will give you ultimate protection.
It is extremely important that you do a little research on the Internet before you decide on a dealer for your job. A little research will help you to know the kind of qualities that are available in the market and the best dealers that can provide you a hassle-free DIY installation.
With an extensive amount of experience in designingcrawl space encapsulationkits,Seal Tight Solutionshave contributed in helping thousands of households protect their crawl space from health hazards and damages, making it a very clean space for households.
Great read for homeowners. Basement and Attic Cleaning Chicago. Ah yes: It's that time of year where you will hear the birds start chirping; the sunset sets later due to Daylight Savings Time; the sound of someone using a lawnmower to cut their grass and someone driving in their car, truck, SUV, etc. while hearing that ever-present thump of the bass from their sound system. All of this means that Spring is here (actually the season officially took place on March 20.) Spring is a time for re-birth, forget new year's, this is the season to get busy and do stuff that you always wanted to do. In my personal opinion, Winter is like the guest that would not leave: that person was cool when they stopped by. But after a while, you get tired of them and you want to kick them out.
If you want to get involved in Spring Cleaning, here are a set of instructions to help you along the way:
The Inside Job:
1. Storm Windows
Your storm windows have been up for a good while by now. I am guessing that the last time you actually opened your windows was probably between last September and Early October. This is the right time to take down the storm windows. After a rough Winter of freezing rain, snow, sleet, ice, temperatures in the single digits and with wind chills below zero at times during the season, the idea of opening the windows and let the fresh air come into your home is sounds good.
2. Mop and Dust every room in the home
After dealing with people tracking in the snow, salt, and dirt while walking inside during the winter, Spring is perfect time to use a mop to clean the floors. Get a mop, bucket, dust rag and some cleaning products (Pine Sol,Windex, Clorox, etc.) and get busy. If you have carpet in your living room and dining room floor, use the vacuum to sweep the each room to get rid of dirt and other debris. If you don't want to do that, hire a professional carpet cleaner to do the job.
3. Clean the Attic and Basement
Yeah, it's a pain to clean both the attic and basement because you have to move stuff around along with trying to decide what to keep and what to throw away. But this job is worth because of two reasons: 1) you can create plenty of space in both spots and 2) you could get make some money off of your discarded items by the way of a Yard Sale. It's like that old saying "Another man's trash is another man's treasure."
4. Clean the closet and dresser drawers
We all have clothes that either we don't wear anymore; are too small; too big; or never had the chance to wear it at all and now it's out of style. If you want to create some space in your closet for some new attire, why not donate those old clothes, shoes, hats, belts, jewelry, etc. to your local Salvation Army, Goodwill or thrift store. The same thing goes for your dresser drawers. You need to clean off the top and inside each drawer so that you not create some space but also become able to close them without having something sticking out.
5. Take down winter curtains
The heavy curtains served its purpose in the Winter to protect us from the cold air/breeze from coming into our homes. Now is the time to take down the heavy curtains and put up the lighter curtains so that once the windows are open, we can feel the warmth of Spring.
6. Clean the ceiling fan
If you have a ceiling fan, clean it often. There is nothing more embarrassing than having company over to your place and when you turn on the fan, the dust just flies off the fan handle and your guest will see the debris fall to the floor. To save the embarrassment, get a dust rag and clean each fan blade at least once a week.
Let's take it outside:
1. Take down Christmas lights and decorations
If you have not taken down your outdoor Christmas lights or decorations by now, especially if the weather in your city or town was fairly decent during the Winter, please do it now. You don't want to be THAT person who still has their Christmas decorations when it's 75-80 degrees outside.
2. Rake up tree limbs
Your front and backyard (if you have one) is probably covered with tree limbs, leaves, trash and other debris leftover during the Winter. What you need to do is grab a couple of trash bags, broom, rake, shovel and a sturdy trash can and take care of business. Once you're done with that task, you might think about cutting the grass. Now, if your yard is in bad shape, use some grass seed to help the grass grow during the Spring and Summer (Experts say that the best time to apply grass seed is in November and December because the rain, snow, and sleet can actually make the grass grow faster, but that should not stop you from adding grass seed right now.)
3. Plant flowers, trees, shrubs, bushes, trees, and lawn maintenance
If you have a green thumb and love the idea of working outside with plants, this is up your alley. Spring is a great to plant flowers and trees, add some seeds into the ground in order to grow vegetables and if you decide to do this, add some bushed and shrubs. Spring is the season where the grass grows very fast. So you need to cut your grass at least once a week until June, where the grass doesn't grow as fast. As a homeowner, it is very important to have a well-maintained lawn because it gives the impression that you really care about your community.
4. Set out the patio furniture
It is a hassle to get the patio furniture out of your garage or basement, but hey it is worth it setting the chairs and tables outside, especially after being cooped up in the house all Winter long and at the same time, you look forward to sitting outside during a nice and warm Spring day. Make sure you wipe down all the chairs and tables thoroughly with soap and water after you set them outside. Also, if you have seat cushions for the chairs, wash and wipe those down as well.
5. Clean out the barbecue grill
Unless the grill was used during the Winter because you missed having barbecue, you probably have not used it since Labor Day. Prior to that first barbecue, clean out the grill very thoroughly with soap and water. Make sure there are no dust, cobwebs, etc. in your grill. After a while, you will have a clean and shiny grill and within no time having cookouts during the Spring and Summer will become a regular thing at your home. Now, if your grill is either old or on its last legs, my suggestion is that you invest in a new one. Check your local paper or online for some great deals on a grill.
6. Clean the Garage
Just like the attic and basement, cleaning the garage is a big time headache because all of us have placed so much stuff in there, we often say "I have to clean out the garage" and we never get around to it. Well, today is the day to clean it out. Yeah, it might be an all day job (or a 2-3 day job depend upon how much stuff you have in there) but it is worth it. Start by creating a pile of what items to keep and what to throw away. Then, get rid of any boxes and trash that you might have in the garage. Next, decide whether or not you want to have a garage sale for the items that you need to toss out--who knows, like the yard sale example explained earlier, you could make some money off of your discarded items. Finally, once you have finished the job, take a look to see if you're satisfied with the garage and if not, keep at it until you feel that it is totally spotless.
Spring Cleaning is a tough task to deal with. This article provided some steps to take in order to get the job done. One final thing, if you want make the job go a little faster, turn on some music - it works every time.
Elmwood Park IL Basement Flood Cleanup. You have made a wise decision if you have started to look for a flood cleanup contractor to carry out your basement flood cleanup or other water damage cleanup. Water damage can occur in households for a variety of reasons. It could be that somebody just forgot to turn off a faucet or it could be that a water pipe broke when you were sleeping. It can be pretty deflating to walk into a basement or another room in your house to see it submerged in knee deep water. However, here are some steps that you should take immediately if you have not taken them already.
Have you found the source of the water leak? It is imperative that you carry this out as soon as you can. It is obvious that you would have shut off an open faucet although some homeowners fail to address problems such as a broken pipe that might be concealed. You can stop this flow by shutting off the power supply to your house. The easiest basement flood cleanup or other water damage cleanup starts with a water leak that has been stopped in the timeliest manner possible.
Have you turned off the electricity? Never attempt water damage cleanup or a basement flood cleanup without first turning off the electricity. There might be exposed wires that you are unaware of and you could easily get electrocuted by water that is a great conductor of electricity.
Have you shut off the natural gas supply? Often times during a basement flood cleanup, a professional flood cleanup contractor discovers that the natural gas is still left on. This is a very dangerous situation and it should be shut off before the water damage cleanup is carried out.
If the water damage was minimal, you can carry out the flood cleanup yourself although a flooding is rarely a simple problem. A homeowner will often find that he or she is woefully short of knowledge and equipment when it comes to carrying out a basement flood cleanup that can quickly become very stressful and too difficult to manage.
A professional flood cleanup contractor will have many men who will work as a team to address your flooding problem in the fastest way possible. Many companies work day and night and you can call them at any time of the day for an emergency service. They will have with them powerful commercial grade equipment in the form of water pumps and water extraction units that will quickly allow them to get the water out of the house. Once that is done, they will set up a series of powerful dehumidifiers and blowers to begin the drying process.
Most residential dry and wet vacuums will not be powerful enough to suit a basement flood cleanup that will often require a large amount of water to be removed. Though a professional flood cleanup contractor might seem like another expense that you can do without, it will actually save you a lot of money in the long run as they will be able to restore your house in the safest, most effective and most cost effective way possible.
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Sewage Cleanup Glenview IL. Seeing sewage from a weather event or sewage backup is not a pretty sight. In fact, just looking at it will make you want to run. When the drainage lines get full, you get a backup of sewage from the nearest area.
Another things about sewers, especially those in urban areas, is that they have aged to the end of no return. Another reason for sewage backup is lack of regular maintenance with the septic systems. When it rains a lot, the soil can cause a sewer to back up and stop working.
When people are exposed to this toxic garbage, it can cause serious health risks. The water from the sewage has lots of bacteria and fungus because of all of the garbage that has been stopped up. If the sewage is not cleaned and removed, it can pose a serious danger to the people that live in that affected area.
There is also the risk of toxins, viruses and parasites within the sewage. Of course, it should be cleaned as soon as possible. However, this should be left up to experienced and trained technicians to do the sewage cleanup. A professional company will be able to conduct the sewage cleanup in a safe manner.
One of the first things that would have to be done is remove the sewage. The technicians have equipment that can take care of that. Then they would use antifungal and antimicrobial solutions. In addition to that, they would also use mildecide.
If the sewage affected the inside of your home, a dehumidifier would be used. They may have to use additional solutions to make sure the affected areas are properly sanitized. They want to make the home the way it was prior to the sewage backup.
The technicians would have to remove any material that was affected, such as wood, drywall and carpet. These materials are known to suck up moisture and can also contribute to mold and mildew. Then it would be a matter of getting rid of the smell. They should also check for leak stains, musty smell, mildew odor and peeling material, just to name a few.
It's a good idea for the sewer cleanup companies to have 24 hour service in the event of an emergency. They never know when they'll have to come to the rescue and help someone get rid of sewage. Hiring a professional company to do the job is the best way to ensure your safety and your health from contamination.
Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS.com, a leading service provider for water damage restoration. To learn more aboutSewage DamageandSewage Cleanup, visit RestorationSOS.com.
