Month: January 2022

Homes in Northern Idaho can be susceptible to damage caused by the state’s temperamental weather. In late spring and early summer, thunderstorms sweep through the area. With strong winds and heavy rains, floods, broken windows, and falling trees pose a threat to your safety. Hot, dry summers can also yield lightning storms that can quickly cause wildfires. If you want to avoid having to pay the time and money for disaster cleanup services, then you’ll want to take extra measures now to help protect your home from disasters.

Protection from Floods

There are many ways to keep your home and valuables safe during flood conditions. Several disaster relief organizations and home improvement shops can provide you with sandbags. Place them around your doors, windows, and other points of entry. They can stop both water and loosened soil from getting into your home. You can also call a home restoration company to add extra sealants to these areas and check for any weak points in your home’s structure that could possibly lead to flooding.

Prevention of water in your home is ideal, but if you can’t stop the water from getting in, there are some steps you can take to minimize the impact of the water damage. You can install or upgrade a sub-pump in your basement to help redirect water as soon as it gets in. To protect your valuables, be sure to store items in plastic bins and keep them as high off the ground as possible. If your home is prone to flooding, you may want to consider storing your valuables in another part of the house altogether.

Protection from High Winds

Floods can be frustrating to deal with but aren’t necessarily as dangerous or harmful as high winds. Not only can trees near your house fall, but any loose debris can be swept against your house, breaking windows, doors, roofs, and sidings. If you know a strong storm is going to be passing your home, consider taping and boarding up your doors and windows. You’ll still have to deal with the broken glass after, but this can prevent things getting into your home in the meantime.

Protection from Fire

Unfortunately, there’s not as much that can be done to protect your home against fires. The best way to protect your home is to stay aware of the conditions. Also, store any valuables in fire safety boxes, and listen to the advice of local authorities. Fire situations can change and grow quickly, so being aware is key.

If you want to protect your North Idaho home from disasters (or need disaster cleanup services after a storm or fire), then call Insight Restoration at (208) 427-2825. Our team can help with disaster prevention and cleanup. We are available 24/7 to respond to any emergency situation at any time.

There’s no argument that mold is a bad sign. Mold is often a lasting result of water damage, as it thrives in moist environments. Mold is a stubborn foe that won’t easily leave. If left untreated, mold can cause serious health concerns in your family and damage to your home. It’s never recommended to try and remove mold on your own, as it can cause serious allergic reactions and even infections. If you find or suspect mold, here’s why you need professional mold removal and remediation services as soon as possible.

Health and Safety

The most dangerous aspect of mold is the threat to your health and safety. Mold is a highly toxic fungus. Breathing in mold spores can cause severe allergic reactions such as a runny nose, scratchy throat, and watery eyes. Breathing mold in for too long can even begin to damage your lungs, sometimes permanently. Mold spores aren’t usually big and often aren’t visible at all to the naked eye. You can breathe in mold even when you can’t see it.

Mold surfaces are also very toxic. Even with the proper equipment, handling mold puts you at risk of infection. Some mold species can cause irritation and infection of the skin as soon as you touch them. It’s always recommended to hire a professional mold removal and remediation specialist. A professional will be properly trained and certified in handling mold, and can remove it from your home safely and effectively.

Foundation Damage

Mold is dangerous to the surfaces it grows on. Your home’s health is also at risk when mold is left untreated. Mold will eat away at the surface it grows on and can spread fairly quickly over time. If left on its own, mold can cause severe issues with your home’s foundation and overall visual appeal.

Wood is particularly susceptible to mold degeneration. If hidden behind a wall or under a floor, mold on your home’s foundation is more likely to go unnoticed. However, this can cause even worse damage to your home, weakening its overall structure. It may seem like it’s easy enough to ignore foundation-level mold, but removing it as soon as possible will save you time and money in the long run.

Finding mold in your home is a frustrating time. It’s important to remember to never try and remove the mold by yourself, as this could lead to health concerns and infection. Always hire a professional mold removal and remediation specialist to handle the mold for you. The technicians at Insight Restoration are fully trained and certified to remove mold quickly and effectively from your home. If you find or even suspect mold in your house, don’t hesitate to call us at (208) 427-2962. Our phones are open 24/7, and we’ll get a mold specialist out to your home as soon as possible to begin the removal and remediation process.

Floods are a frustrating situation that can cause a lot of damage. The process usually begins with basement water removal, but there are so many other things to consider it can be hard to keep track of it all. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by a recent basement flood, know that you are not alone. Many homeowners struggle with the cleanup and repair of a flooded basement, but there are ways to help mitigate the damages and frustrations.

Act Fast

The most important step in dealing with a flooded basement is to act fast. Water damages increase significantly the longer they are left to sit. Even a small flood can cause serious issues if not handled quickly. Removing the water from the basement and beginning the drying processes as soon as possible could help prevent mold, structural damages, and electrical issues. The longer you wait to act with a flood, the more damage your home could sustain.

As soon as you notice your basement is flooded, call the professionals to have the water removed and the drying process started. Floodwaters often carry high levels of bacteria and other toxins from outside, and it’s not a good idea to try and clean it up on your own. A trained, certified technician will be able to remove the water safely and inspect the area for any mold or other hazardous conditions.

Take Note of the Damages

Before you call your insurance company to file a claim, make a detailed report of the damages caused. Your technician will be able to provide you with a full, itemized inspection report detailing the severity of the damages and the cost estimate to fix them. Taking pictures or videos of the damages, where safe to do so, will also help your claim be processed faster. Finally, make a list of any insured items that were damaged in the flood.

Prevent Future Floods

Once the cleanup and restoration of a flood are finished, it’s easier to breathe again – but that doesn’t mean the work is over. If a basement floods once, it’s likely to flood again. Taking the steps to shore up your basement’s defenses after a flood can help prevent damage in the future. Sometimes the fix is as simple as adding additional sealant to your walls. Other times, you may need to install a new sub-pump to help control the flood damage. No matter the fix, always assume another flood is possible. Store all valuables in plastic tubs to prevent water damage in the future.

If your home has experienced a flood, you need professional help with basement water removal. Insight Restoration is available 24/7 at 208-427-2962 to respond to any emergency flooding, day or night. Don’t let a flood ruin your home or put your family’s health at risk. Act fast and let our trained and certified technicians clean and restore your basement and provide additional preventive services if needed.