Recent Posts
Prepare Your Home for Storm Season: 6 Crucial Steps to Take
11/30/2023 (Permalink)
Prepare Your Home for Storm Season: 6 Crucial Steps to Take
11/1/2022
When the winter storm season hits, anything can happen. Even the best weather professionals can get things wrong, and any of us can find ourselves Googling restoration services near me after a major storm. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to decrease the risk that you'll experience storm damage, however.
1. Trim, Trim, Trim
Your trees are one of your home's greatest threats, and fallen trees are common after a storm. Roofs weren't made to endure blunt impacts from large trees, and the damage can be extensive. Any tree can cause some risk. Since you don’t want to cut them down, a good compromise is to trim away all dead branches and any limbs that are a threat to your home or car.
2. Repair Steps and Railings
The constant freezing and thawing of early winter, and then the ice of later winter storms, can wreak havoc on steps or railings that are already in poor condition. Fix everything up to ensure you don't have an accident.
3. Winterize Pipes and Faucets
Be sure to turn off the water to your outdoor faucets. By doing so, you can avoid having to clean up after a spring flood from a pipe that was cracked during a winter freeze. If you have indoor pipes that run close to your exterior walls, add some extra insulation or wrap the exposed pipes. Be sure to keep your home heated to at least 65 degrees to ensure pipes don't freeze.
4. Clean Your Chimney
Every year in America, nearly 27,000 chimney fires cause many millions of dollars in damage, displace families during the coldest season of the year, and even cause deaths. You take every precaution inside whenever you light a fire, but you might have forgotten about the chimney. Get your chimney inspected and cleaned every year.
5. Check the Smoke Alarms
Winter means cozy fires, heated wood stoves, electric blankets, and space heaters. These are all major fire hazards, and the simplest first line of defense for your family is a set of good smoke alarms. There are two types of smoke alarms, and you should have both.
Photoelectric alarms detect smoldering, smoky fires. They are best to have near bedrooms and places where an errant spark might settle into a rug or couch or a fire in the walls might send out smoldering heat. Ionization alarms detect fast, flaming fires, and are important to have in places where you can have a sudden, relatively smoke-less blaze, such as kitchens. You can also get dual-sensor alarms that have both technologies.
6. Prevent Ice Dams
Clogged gutters can build up ice dams that destroy the gutters and damage the roof. Clean out the gutters, and once your gutters are clean, be sure to put in quality gutter guards to keep leaves and debris from building up.
Call Us When You're Looking for "Restoration Services Near Me"
Despite the best preparations, accidents can happen. When they do, we're here for you. Contact us at SERVPRO of Coeur d'Alene right away if a winter storm damages your home.
Four Reasons To Hire a Restoration Company Instead of a General Contractor
11/30/2023 (Permalink)
Four Reasons To Hire a Restoration Company Instead of a General Contractor
If you've experienced any kind of fire, water, storm, or mold damage to your home in northern Idaho, chances are, you are not going to opt for “do-it-yourself” no matter how much building experience you have. Instead, you need to hire a professional builder who can properly assess what needs to be done and who can restore your home to its pre-damaged condition.
But if you're thinking about hiring a general contractor to perform the work, think again. General contractors are great if you intend to remodel a house or build a new house from the ground up, but when it comes to rebuilding after a disaster, your best bet is to search for "restoration contractors near me" and, when you do, you'll find that our experts at SERVPRO are the best technicians available to handle every aspect of your restoration job from start to finish. Here’s why.
1. Specialized Skills
For starters, most general contractors outsource their jobs to subcontractors while they manage and oversee the project. They often work with the same subs, and that’s a good business practice. But when it comes to restoration, you can’t work with just any sub. Restoration work is different. It’s not just a question of building know-how, it is a question of water damage, fire damage, storm damage, and mold remediation know-how.
When you hire restoration specialists, technicians who are highly trained in specific types of damage restoration will perform all the work. At SERVPRO of Coeur d'Alene, our staff have IICRC industry certifications and undergo additional certification and franchise training. They are required to take part in continuing education classes to ensure that they know about the most up-to-date technologies and practices for repairing and restoring homes with fire, water, storm, or mold damage.
2. Thorough Service
If you hire a general contractor to perform restoration work on your home after damage, the subcontractors will certainly do their best, but the fact is, they may not have the necessary equipment to perform the cleaning, drying, or extraction processes that a professional restoration company will have. After all, their bread and butter is straight construction, and it does not make sense to purchase special equipment or provide extra training to their personnel if they rarely have to utilize that equipment or those skills.
For example, if your home has been damaged by a flood, leak, or even a fire that was extinguished by fire hoses, our experts use advanced detection devices to find water that is still present or that may have seeped into walls, attics, or floor joists in areas that look undamaged. We also have commercial drying equipment that is not available at a local big-box construction store.
Even more, for fire damage, it is not uncommon for soot and smoke to have left residue in rooms that are completely undamaged by the fire itself. That residue can create odors, cause paint or other finishes to discolor over time, and may even be toxic, leading to respiratory or other health problems. A general contractor will probably ignore those spaces that are not visibly damaged by a disaster, but a restoration company goes beyond what is visible.
3. Affordable Service
Because general contractors outsource their jobs to other trades, you end up paying not only the subcontractors’ fees, but you’ll probably end up paying a premium on that, as general contractors often charge their own fees over and above what they pay their subs. Moreover, general contractors probably won’t bother helping you with an insurance claim.
When you choose SERVPRO of Coeur d'Alene, we know what insurance companies need in order to substantiate your claim. While we can’t handle every aspect of your insurance claim, we understand that your financial well-being depends on having the insurance company cover the maximum amount of your restoration bill depending on the coverage you have. We will work with you to make sure you get the best service at the best price, with adequate documentation, to minimize any hassle or out-of-pocket costs.
4. 24-Hour Emergency Service
If your disaster occurs at night or on a weekend, chances are, you won’t be able to reach a general contractor or other conventional builder. At SERVPRO we offer 24/7 emergency services, so whether you wake up in the middle of the night to fire, water, or storm damage, you can expect an immediate response.
Contact SERVPRO of Coeur d'Alene today to learn more about the different services we offer and how we can help restore your home after a disaster.
How Long Does Water or Flood Damage Take to Dry Out?
11/20/2023 (Permalink)
How Long Does Water or Flood Damage Take to Dry Out?
Extensive flooding in your home or commercial building can be a nightmare scenario, and even a minor leak can cause a challenging mold infestation. Water starts to damage building materials and possessions within as little as an hour, so it is important to start the water restoration process as quickly as possible. The longer areas of your home are wet, the greater the damage will be. As soon as you can, contact a quality water remediation company such as SERVPRO of Coeur d'Alene.
If you do experience a water leak or water damage, the time it takes to dry out varies according to certain factors such as:
- How many gallons of water entered your home or office building
- How long the water went unaddressed
- What types of surfaces the water contacted
SERVPRO® can do a full investigation of your building in order to determine how long the water restoration process will take in your case, however, buildings can usually be restored in a few days. The average dry time for buildings with significant water damage is five days, but in some cases, only three days of drying are needed. The dry time might be as long as 7-10 days if porous flooring materials and carpeting were affected.
How Does a Water Remediation Company Address Water or Flood Damage?
Mitigating the effects of water damage and restoring your building requires a thorough process that involves correctly ascertaining the extent of the damage, removing the water, drying out lingering moisture, repairing damaged materials, and rebuilding areas that were unsalvageable. As our experts go through the following steps, they use specialized techniques and equipment to minimize the dry time:
Responding to the Call and Conducting an Assessment
Our experts are dispatched as soon as we get an emergency call. When we arrive on site, we will act fast to find the source of the leak or flooding and prevent more water from entering the building, if necessary. We will conduct tests to determine whether or not the water is contaminated, and we will perform a thorough investigation to learn how far the water has traveled.
Disposal Services and the Securing of Undamaged Items
You may have some furniture and building materials that need to be disposed of, while other possessions may simply need to be relocated and/or restored. We offer both of these services, along with the implementation of advanced sanitizing and deodorizing methods.
Water Extraction, Drying, and Dehumidifying
We use industrial-grade pumps and dehumidifiers to remove excess water and dry out the building. Sometimes, a surface may appear dry even when it is still wet, so we monitor the process carefully to ensure that all areas of your building dry out completely.
Cleaning and Restoration
Once all of the areas of the building are dry, we can focus on replacing any drywall or carpeting that was removed and conducting major repairs as needed. Sometimes, entire rooms, walls, and parts of the ceiling are rebuilt.
Questions?
Address water damage quickly to restore your peace of mind, sanitize your space, and help your building function again. When you need a remediation company that will respond with expertise at a moment's notice, contact SERVPRO of Coeur d'Alene.
4 Steps to Prevent Your Hose Bib From Freezing
11/20/2023 (Permalink)
4 Steps to Prevent Your Hose Bib From Freezing
Winter is coming, and it's time to start getting prepared. Some things are unpredictable and therefore, tough to prepare for like fallen trees after a storm, but other things are in your control. As your water damage repair company, SERVPRO® can help you avoid problems during the winter such as keeping your hose bib from freezing.
Four steps to Prevent Your Hose Bib From Freezing:
1. Turn Off Water to Your Whole House
Your home has a main water pipe that supplies every faucet and pipe with running water. Find this main water pipe and turn the valve as far as it will go. Most valves should either have an on/off arrow marking to show you the correct direction or should be turned clockwise to shut them off.
2. Drain Your Outdoor Faucet
Once you've shut off the main supply of water, you want to get the remaining water out of the hose and faucet outside. Simply turn the faucet fully on, with a bucket beneath it, and allow all remaining water to flow out.
3. Turn Off Water to Your Outdoor Faucet
Locate the pipe that leads from your main water supply to the outdoor faucet or faucets. Usually, this pipe is located near the ceiling rather than near the floor, like your main valve, and should be just inside the wall from where your faucet comes out on the exterior.
If you have faucets on two or more sides of the house, make sure you get all the valves leading to each one. As with the main valve, either follow the on/off arrows or turn the valve clockwise. This will ensure that once you turn the main water supply back on, no water goes to the pipe or pipes leading outdoors.
4. Turn Your Main Water Valve Back On and Check
Keep a bucket under your outdoor faucet and, ideally, have a friend there to watch it while you turn the main water supply back on. If you did everything right, water will now flow to all other pipes but won't be coming out of the outdoor faucet/s. You should now be protected from any water damage caused by frozen pipes.
Why Is It Important to Protect Your Hose Bib?
The pipes in your house are generally protected from freezing by your home's heating system. You might have noticed, however, that smaller pipes running very close to exterior walls can freeze up on a really cold night, and the outdoor faucets are even more at risk.
They're simply too exposed, and once the water thaws again, you're liable to have extensive water damage issues because water and metal respond differently to cold. Water molecules expand as they freeze, but metal molecules retract. In other words, the pipe is getting "smaller" while the water is getting "larger," and that can break your pipes.
Reach Out to SERVPRO for Help
If you forgot to winterize your hose bib, need help figuring out what to do, or have experienced a water or storm emergency, we offer 24-hour service to protect your home and restore your structure and belongings. Remember that the longer you wait, the more you risk losing. Contact SERVPRO of Coeur d'Alene immediately if you need help.
WINTER Homeowner Tips
11/6/2023 (Permalink)
WINTER Homeowner Tips
It's winter which means its time to take extra precautions to protect your home from water damage! Follow these tips below to help keep your home safe this season.
#1 Protecting Those Pipes- Water expands as it freezes. If water that is caught inside your pipe freezes, it will expand which can cause your pipes to burst and/or crack! Pipes can burst if the water pressure is built up inside, behind a block of ice. TIP: It is always a good idea to leave your faucets dripping in extremely cold weather.
#2 Check the Heat- Checking your furnace by turning on the heat and blower helps your heater operate like it should. TIP: By reversing the direction of your ceiling fan, the counter-clock-wise movement allows warm air to circulate down into your room.
#3 Preventing Ice Dams- These Dams form when heat escapes through the roof and melts snow that settles. Snowmelt then gets into the roof’s edges and freezes most often in the eaves. Ice Dams can later melt and improperly drain, leaking through a roof and causing water damage in your home. TIPS: Clean the clogged gutters and downspouts. Seal places that allow warm air to leak from your home. Make sure your soffit vents are clear to allow air to flow properly.
#4 Clean and Store your Lawn Equipment- Empty all of the fuel. If this is not done, it can damage fuel lines and other components. TIP: Clear out each machine from yard debris and any oil build up. Sharpen the blades. Store in a garage throughout the winter if possible.
#5 Inspect your Fireplace and Chimney- Clean out all soot and debris that could catch fire. TIP: Keep the flue closed when you are not using the fireplace. You should not be able to feel any cold air coming down the chimney.
#6 Seal Windows and Doors- Caulking around windows and doors can help on heating costs. TIP: Put weather stripping around your entryways.
# 7 Crawlspace Prevention- Crawlspace foundations generally have vents. TIP: Vents should be covered or closed near any bathroom sources to prevent excess moisture and/or water damage.
How Long Does Water or Flood Damage Take to Dry Out?
11/1/2022 (Permalink)
How Long Does Water or Flood Damage Take to Dry Out?
Extensive flooding in your home or commercial building can be a nightmare scenario, and even a minor leak can cause a challenging mold infestation. Water starts to damage building materials and possessions within as little as an hour, so it is important to start the water restoration process as quickly as possible. The longer areas of your home are wet, the greater the damage will be. As soon as you can, contact a quality water remediation company such as SERVPRO of Coeur d'Alene.
If you do experience a water leak or water damage, the time it takes to dry out varies according to certain factors such as:
- How many gallons of water entered your home or office building
- How long the water went unaddressed
- What types of surfaces the water contacted
SERVPRO can do a full investigation of your building in order to determine how long the water restoration process will take in your case, however, buildings can usually be restored in a few days. The average dry time for buildings with significant water damage is five days, but in some cases, only three days of drying are needed. The dry time might be as long as 7-10 days if porous flooring materials and carpeting were affected.
How Does a Water Remediation Company Address Water or Flood Damage?
Mitigating the effects of water damage and restoring your building requires a thorough process that involves correctly ascertaining the extent of the damage, removing the water, drying out lingering moisture, repairing damaged materials, and rebuilding areas that were unsalvageable. As our experts go through the following steps, they use specialized techniques and equipment to minimize the dry time:
Responding to the Call and Conducting an Assessment
Our experts are dispatched as soon as we get an emergency call. When we arrive on site, we will act fast to find the source of the leak or flooding and prevent more water from entering the building, if necessary. We will conduct tests to determine whether or not the water is contaminated, and we will perform a thorough investigation to learn how far the water has traveled.
Disposal Services and the Securing of Undamaged Items
You may have some furniture and building materials that need to be disposed of, while other possessions may simply need to be relocated and/or restored. We offer both of these services, along with the implementation of advanced sanitizing and deodorizing methods.
Water Extraction, Drying, and Dehumidifying
We use industrial-grade pumps and dehumidifiers to remove excess water and dry out the building. Sometimes, a surface may appear dry even when it is still wet, so we monitor the process carefully to ensure that all areas of your building dry out completely.
Cleaning and Restoration
Once all of the areas of the building are dry, we can focus on replacing any drywall or carpeting that was removed and conducting major repairs as needed. Sometimes, entire rooms, walls, and parts of the ceiling are rebuilt.
Questions?
Address water damage quickly to restore your peace of mind, sanitize your space, and help your building function again. When you need a remediation company that will respond with expertise at a moment's notice, contact SERVPRO of Coeur d'Alene.
5 Signs You May Have a Mold Problem
11/1/2022 (Permalink)
5 Signs You May Have a Mold Problem
Every home or business owner shudders at the thought of dealing with a mold outbreak. Without the proper treatment, mold spreads rapidly and can be dangerous. Don't be caught Googling "mold removal companies near me" after the problem has escalated. Know the signs to watch for so that you can identify mold problems in their infancy and call a professional cleaning and restoration team like SERVPRO of Coeur d'Alene.
If you notice any of the following signs in your home or business give us a call and we can help you discern whether or not it's a problem.
1. Water Damage
A significant sign that you could have dangerous mold in your home is water damage. Flooding and leaks are both major contributing factors to mold growth. Often mold is caused by a water emergency that occurred before you occupied the house. Look for circular stains on the ceiling, bubbling and cracking drywall, and aged water-level stains around supporting beams in the basement or garage to discern if there was a water emergency before you arrived.
If flooding or leaking occurs while you live in the home, make sure you contact a restoration team to mitigate the damage. Having highly trained restoration specialists remove water and dry the flooded areas is the best way to prevent future mold issues.
2. Unusual Odors
Sometimes the first clue you have mold will be the accompanying smell. Unfortunately, mold damage is not always immediately visible, and the areas most severely impacted are often just out of sight. The inside of your home's walls, attics, and even HVAC system can all be infested with mold that isn't visible at a glance.
Mold has a musty, sickly-sweet odor, and the smell intensifies as you move closer to the infested area. No amount of air fresheners will consistently mask it, and it will return even after airing out the room. If you smell what you believe to be mold, call a mold remediation team and have them come to assess the situation before you try using fans to dissipate the scent. If it is mold, the last thing you want to do is potentially blow spores further through your home.
3. High Humidity Levels
High humidity levels mean a high percentage of moisture in the air. When the air is damp indoors, it creates the perfect environment for mold spores to travel and grow. In addition, condensation is more likely in areas with high humidity, and the resting moisture can contribute to mold growth.
Location plays a part in humidity levels, as does airflow. Whenever the humidity level rises above 60%, it becomes easy for mold and mildew to grow. A humidity level between 30% and 60% is optimal for most indoor environments.
4. Physical Symptoms
When mold is present in your home or workplace, you may suffer from physical symptoms. If you have a mold allergy, the Mayo Clinic has reported that you can have symptoms which include “coughing, itchy eyes, and other symptoms that make you miserable.” In addition, individuals with asthma may notice that they need to use their medications more frequently.
5. You Find Yourself Searching for "Mold Removal Companies Near Me"
If you've found yourself seeking help but haven't made the call yet, it's time to let a professional address the issue. While accepting that you may have a dangerous mold problem in your home is the last thing you want to do, the sooner you reach out for help, the sooner they can fix your mold problem.
Whether you're confident you have a mold problem or are simply questioning if you do, talking to a cleaning and restoration company is the next step you should take. Protect your health and the longevity of your home by addressing any mold issues now. Contact our team at SERVPRO of Coeur d'Alene, and let us manage your mold situation.
4 Steps to Prevent Your Hose Bib From Freezing
11/1/2022 (Permalink)
4 Steps to Prevent Your Hose Bib From Freezing
Winter is coming, and it's time to start getting prepared. Some things are unpredictable and therefore, tough to prepare for like fallen trees after a storm, but other things are in your control. As your water damage repair company, SERVPRO can help you avoid problems during the winter such as keeping your hose bib from freezing.
Four steps to Prevent Your Hose Bib From Freezing:
1. Turn Off Water to Your Whole House
Your home has a main water pipe that supplies every faucet and pipe with running water. Find this main water pipe and turn the valve as far as it will go. Most valves should either have an on/off arrow marking to show you the correct direction or should be turned clockwise to shut them off.
2. Drain Your Outdoor Faucet
Once you've shut off the main supply of water, you want to get the remaining water out of the hose and faucet outside. Simply turn the faucet fully on, with a bucket beneath it, and allow all remaining water to flow out.
3. Turn Off Water to Your Outdoor Faucet
Locate the pipe that leads from your main water supply to the outdoor faucet or faucets. Usually, this pipe is located near the ceiling rather than near the floor, like your main valve, and should be just inside the wall from where your faucet comes out on the exterior.
If you have faucets on two or more sides of the house, make sure you get all the valves leading to each one. As with the main valve, either follow the on/off arrows or turn the valve clockwise. This will ensure that once you turn the main water supply back on, no water goes to the pipe or pipes leading outdoors.
4. Turn Your Main Water Valve Back On and Check
Keep a bucket under your outdoor faucet and, ideally, have a friend there to watch it while you turn the main water supply back on. If you did everything right, water will now flow to all other pipes but won't be coming out of the outdoor faucet/s. You should now be protected from any water damage caused by frozen pipes.
Why Is It Important to Protect Your Hose Bib?
The pipes in your house are generally protected from freezing by your home's heating system. You might have noticed, however, that smaller pipes running very close to exterior walls can freeze up on a really cold night, and the outdoor faucets are even more at risk.
They're simply too exposed, and once the water thaws again, you're liable to have extensive water damage issues because water and metal respond differently to cold. Water molecules expand as they freeze, but metal molecules retract. In other words, the pipe is getting "smaller" while the water is getting "larger," and that can break your pipes.
Reach Out to SERVPRO for Help
If you forgot to winterize your hose bib, need help figuring out what to do, or have experienced a water or storm emergency, we offer 24-hour service to protect your home and restore your structure and belongings. Remember that the longer you wait, the more you risk losing. Contact SERVPRO of Coeur d'Alene immediately if you need help.
How Long Does Mold Removal Take?
11/1/2022 (Permalink)
How Long Does Mold Removal Take?
Discovering mold in your home or business can be extremely alarming. Everything from health and safety concerns to expense and time worries crowds your mind. You are probably asking yourself a lot of questions such as, are there any companies that provide mold remediation services near me? And how long will it take to get this mold taken care of so I can get back into my house or business?
The answer to the first question is easy: Yes! SERVPRO of Coeur d’Alene has experience remediating all sorts of building disasters, including mold infestation. The second question, however, is a little more complicated to answer, because each scenario is different, with different levels of severity when it comes to mold. But a good ballpark answer is: usually, the mold remediation process lasts between one and five days. Why so long? Well, there is a lot more involved in mold clean-up than spraying and wiping.
What Causes Mold to Grow?
Mold spores are everywhere, on surfaces, in the air, inside, and outside. They are microscopic and can float into your house on a breeze or come running in on your dog’s fur, and your HVAC system can blow mold spores all over your house. You cannot completely eliminate mold from the air or your house, so the goal is not to eliminate all mold, but to not let mold colonies develop and take hold.
A mold colony can develop in as little as 24-48 hours once spores are introduced to moisture. As the spores enter your home, they will cling to high-humidity areas. The most common sources of mold colony growth are:
- Leaking Pipes
- Areas with high levels of humidity (think: bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms);
- Lack of or inadequate ventilation
- Condensation
- A leaking roof or ceiling
- A damp basement or crawl space
- Recent home flooding or storm damage
Signs Mold Is Present
Sometimes mold grows in visible areas making it easy to spot: a dark or black splotch or spots on the wall. Other times, it lives inside your walls, spreading quickly. While only a trained specialist can conclusively identify mold, there are tell-tale signs to look for if you suspect mold in your home or business:
- Musty odors
- Unexplained spots on carpeting
- Peeling or bubbling wallpaper
- Persistent allergy symptoms or other unexplained health problems
- Dark or colored spots on walls
- Warped wood or drywall
If you suspect mold, don't disturb the area. Mold spores can easily spread through the air where you may breathe them in, or where they can easily migrate to other parts of your home or business.
The Remediation Process
Once you spot or suspect mold in your building, call a professional right away. They will identify the trouble areas and go over a mold remediation plan with you. Steps in this remediation plan will likely include:
- An inspection and damage assessment: this will include a thorough visual search, as well as using various technologies that can detect mold and hidden moisture;
- Containment: it is critical to keep the mold contained in one area, and there are various ways of preventing the spread of mold spores.
- Air filtration: in the contained area, “air scrubbers” that will filter spores out of the air are set up.
- Removing mold and infested materials: the area will be thoroughly cleaned with antifungal and antimicrobial cleaning agents; some mold infestations will require the removal of severely infested articles, such as drywall or carpeting.
- Cleaning belongings and surrounding surfaces: while hard surfaces are relatively easy to clean, furniture and other belongings may need to be disinfected in other ways, and deodorized by fogging.
- Restoration: we will restore the area to the way it was before the damage occurred.
Get Professional Help Immediately
Once you suspect mold, finding the right company to tackle the problem is critical. Don’t try to resolve the problem yourself: when it comes to mold, going the DIY route may end up making the situation worse. The longer you wait, the more complex the remediation and restoration process becomes.
Get your mold problem solved quickly and thoroughly. At SERVPRO of Coeur d'Alene, we're pleased to be the trusted leader in clean-up and restoration in our community. If you spot or suspect mold in your home or business, contact SERVPRO of Coeur d'Alene today—we're close by and ready to respond!
Prepare Your Home for Storm Season: 6 Crucial Steps to Take
11/1/2022 (Permalink)
Prepare Your Home for Storm Season: 6 Crucial Steps to Take
When the winter storm season hits, anything can happen. Even the best weather professionals can get things wrong, and any of us can find ourselves Googling restoration services near me after a major storm. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to decrease the risk that you'll experience storm damage, however.
1. Trim, Trim, Trim
Your trees are one of your home's greatest threats, and fallen trees are common after a storm. Roofs weren't made to endure blunt impacts from large trees, and the damage can be extensive. Any tree can cause some risk. Since you don’t want to cut them down, a good compromise is to trim away all dead branches and any limbs that are a threat to your home or car.
2. Repair Steps and Railings
The constant freezing and thawing of early winter, and then the ice of later winter storms, can wreak havoc on steps or railings that are already in poor condition. Fix everything up to ensure you don't have an accident.
3. Winterize Pipes and Faucets
Be sure to turn off the water to your outdoor faucets. By doing so, you can avoid having to clean up after a spring flood from a pipe that was cracked during a winter freeze. If you have indoor pipes that run close to your exterior walls, add some extra insulation or wrap the exposed pipes. Be sure to keep your home heated to at least 65 degrees to ensure pipes don't freeze.
4. Clean Your Chimney
Every year in America, nearly 27,000 chimney fires cause many millions of dollars in damage, displace families during the coldest season of the year, and even cause deaths. You take every precaution inside whenever you light a fire, but you might have forgotten about the chimney. Get your chimney inspected and cleaned every year.
5. Check the Smoke Alarms
Winter means cozy fires, heated wood stoves, electric blankets, and space heaters. These are all major fire hazards, and the simplest first line of defense for your family is a set of good smoke alarms. There are two types of smoke alarms, and you should have both.
Photoelectric alarms detect smoldering, smoky fires. They are best to have near bedrooms and places where an errant spark might settle into a rug or couch or a fire in the walls might send out smoldering heat. Ionization alarms detect fast, flaming fires, and are important to have in places where you can have a sudden, relatively smoke-less blaze, such as kitchens. You can also get dual-sensor alarms that have both technologies.
6. Prevent Ice Dams
Clogged gutters can build up ice dams that destroy the gutters and damage the roof. Clean out the gutters, and once your gutters are clean, be sure to put in quality gutter guards to keep leaves and debris from building up.
Call Us When You're Looking for "Restoration Services Near Me"
Despite the best preparations, accidents can happen. When they do, we're here for you. Contact us at SERVPRO of Coeur d'Alene right away if a winter storm damages your home.