Mould and your health Are your eyes, nose and throat always irritated?  Are you suddenly coughing?  Have you developed Symptoms of Asthma?  These Health Symptoms may indicate mould in your home!!!   Mould poses a serious Health Risk that R.C White takes extremely seriously.  We treat every home and building as if it were our own home or place of work.  If mould is left untreated or treated improperly it will continue to grow, which may decrease your overall health Five Common Areas for Mould Growth in your home:  Basement Cellar – This is a cold damp area in your home.  Check the floors and walls regularly  After a Flooded Basement – If your basement has flooded you are more susceptible to mould if it was not treated properly. – Check the nooks and crannies to see if mould is growing! Underneath Your Fridge – This one is missed far to often.  Move that fridge and check during spring cleaning at the very least.  Under Carpet – If your carpet got wet and was left to dry improperly it can…

Hiring certified restoration services For results you can have confidence in, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration (IICRC) recommends hiring a certified restoration services firm for fire and smoke damage. Restoration to a property can be complex. Proper smoke and odor removal are tasks that require technicians certified in these specific areas. When selecting a certified restoration firm several factors must be considered: Formal and up-to-date specialized training Health and safety certifications Experience in a wide range of restoration projects Proof of proper insurance and licenses In the wake of a fire that has covered homes with smoke and ash, it’s important to begin clean up as soon as possible in order to prevent permanent damage or discolouration from soot residue. Call right away! The first thing to do is call your insurance company so an inspector can come assess the damage, then call a professional like RC White. Restoration technicians know that damage increases and restoration costs escalate…

Hiring a flood damage repair company When a natural disaster like flooding overtakes a house, extensive flood damage repair will be needed to preserve what is left. Few things cause as much destruction as water. Water causes severe problems for the materials found in carpet, fabric, drywall and furniture. While it will take a few days before issues start showing up, once they do, it is already too late. Any professionals that are hired to perform flood damage repair should be Cleantrust certified. To secure this certification, the flood damage repair company has to take a number of classes and be approved by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification. It may seem like flood damage repair is a straightforward process, but it is much more complex than it appears at face value. It is not enough to just throw away furniture and fabric that is wet, though this is a good first step. Professionals in the industry have access to a number of tools that allow them to detect dangerous levels of moisture. These…

Water damage restoration Few things cause as much destruction as water. Water damage is one of the most preventable types of damage but the also most destructive. Many times, water damage happens because the homeowner has failed to maintain their property. Even in new homes, some builders will cut corners and use cheaper components. You should educate yourself and learn some routine home maintenance to prevent an accident. Sometimes a $15 pipe can prevent damage repairs which can cost thousands of dollars. Learning what to look for can help you before damage occurs. Water damage is very common in this area in spring and fall due to heavy rainfalls. Some people aren’t sure if they should call a plumber, a construction company… if you have water damage as well as mould, you really need to call a restoration company. Be sure to call your insurance company within 24 hours if you plan on making a claim. They can also recommend a company to help. So what do you do if you have water in your home? Most importantly,…

Thunderstorms and flooding The Essex Regional Conservation Authority is concerned about flooding along the lake shores in Essex County. The water level has not been this high since 1998. The previous record rain level was 170 set in June of 2008 and 2015 is set to surpass it. ERCA blames heavy snow the past two winters, and says the wet spring is also a factor. A lot of rain can fall during a thunderstorm. And it can some down pretty fast too – sometimes so fast the storm drains can’t keep up with it. This causes flooding in the streets and water pooling around downspouts on your home. Things to watch for during thunderstorms: Listen for your sump pump going on and off. If it is, go down and check the water level. Watch for clogged catch basins out in front of your home. Call 311 to report a flooded street. Obviously, avoid downed power lines and broken gas lines. Report them to 311. Stay indoors. If you smell gas inside your home, leave and call 911.   After the storm: Report fallen trees, flooded streets…

Flexible water pipes and flooding Do you have flexible plastic water pipes in your home? Between 1995 and 2007, Kitec piping was a popular choice for new home plumbing. While some PEX piping performs fine, one type (branded under the Kitec name) had a design flaw with the fittings that homeowners should know could cause flooding. Kitec was sold under various brand names including Kitec, PlumbBetter, IPEX, AQUA, WARMRITE, Kitec XPA, AmbioComfort, XPA, KERR Controls and Plomberie Amelioree. Kitec plumbing consists of flexible aluminum pipe between an inner and outer layer of plastic pipe (PEX pipe) with brass fittings. Recalls of the product started appearing by 2005. The fittings were made with a high zinc content that caused dezinctifying in situations with aggressive water conditions. This in turn could either restrict water pressure or cause the fittings to fail completely, causing flooding and water damage to homes. Many issues surrounding the pipe deteriorating is the temperature of the hot water running through the…