Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Flood & Water Damage Cleanup in Northeast Ohio

EMILIO SOLI, GEORGE CRUZ - Managing Partners

*** 2009 NE OHIO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MALE ENTREPRENEURS OF THE YEAR ***


Northeast Ohio property owners have been seeing some backups and water-related issues from the remnants of the melting snow that hit the area over the last few weeks. The ground is completely saturated at this point and a lot of times this water has nowhere to go and can threaten the structural integrity of a foundation and/or basement.



When noticing water damage and flooding to your basement be aware that flood water may contain sewage. Call a professional immediately. We are available with 24-HOUR EMERGENCY HELP. 440-748-7876. In the meantime, it is very important to protect yourself and your family by following these steps:



- Keep children and pets out of the affected area until cleanup has been completed.
- Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles during cleanup of affected area.
- Remove and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected (such as, mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings, and most paper products). PUROCLEAN WILL DO THAT
- Remove and discard drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with sewage or flood waters. PUROCLEAN WILL DO THAT
- Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces (such as flooring, concrete, molding, wood and metal furniture, countertops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures) with hot water and laundry or dish detergent. PUROCLEAN WILL DO THAT (w/ specialized chemicals)
- Help the drying process by using fans, air conditioning units, and dehumidifiers. PUROCLEAN WILL DO THAT
- After completing the cleanup, wash your hands with soap and warm water. Use water that has been boiled for 1 minute (allow the water to cool before washing your hands).
Or you may use water that has been disinfected for personal hygiene use (solution of ⅛ teaspoon [~0.75 milliliters] of household bleach per 1 gallon of water). Let it stand for 30 minutes. If the water is cloudy, use a solution of ¼ teaspoon (~1.5 milliliters) of household bleach per 1 gallon of water.
- Wash all clothes worn during the cleanup in hot water and detergent. These clothes should be washed separately from uncontaminated clothes and linens.
- Wash clothes contaminated with flood or sewage water in hot water and detergent. It is recommended that a laundromat be used for washing large quantities of clothes and linens until your onsite waste-water system has been professionally inspected and serviced.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you become injured or ill.



Health Risks
Flood waters may contain potentially dangerous materials, such as fecal material from overflowing sewage systems, agricultural runoff, and chemicals from industrial areas. Wading in flood waters can also be a cause of infection or result in a variety of injuries. Also a threat of electrical currency to be generated in standing water that can have fatal affects to a human being.



PuroClean Professional Services
440-748-7876
24-HOUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE



*** WE COME APPROVED AND PREFERRED BY PROPERTY INSURANCE CARRIERS ***



PROUDLY SERVING NORTHEAST OHIO


Monday, March 1, 2010

Water Backups in Cleveland & Akron Caused By Snow Melting

Basement backups can be very dangerous. Grounds around NE Ohio are pretty saturated with temperatures starting to rise and snow melting. PuroClean Professional Services have been flooded (no pun intended) with phone calls from property owners seeking advice on how to handle their wet basement problems and for cleanup requests.

Homeowners suffering from water damage are faced with an extremely stressful experience. Water loss and damage is a real threat for property owners. In fact, according to the Insurance Information Institute in the last year, 22 per 1,000 household have entered a claim for water related damage. These situations are more common than most people think. At times in the year such as now, water damage is often the result of the weather, such as storms, melting snow, freezing pipes, and ice damming.

When presented with flooding situations, time is of the essence. React quickly. Call 440-748-7876 for professional help. Available with 24-Hour Emergency Service.

To help minimize loss, and prevent further damage while technicians from PuroClean are en route, property owners should follow these guidelines:
Insurance
o Call your agent.
o Take photographs of the damage.
o Keep all receipts from hotel stays, home repair materials, etc.
Plumbing
o Check pipes on well pumps and irrigation systems.
o If sewage is backing up in the shower or under the toilet, your whole system is backed up. Call a professional and don’t use other sinks or toilets.
Roofing
o If the neighbor’s roof is missing shingles after a storm, you can assume that yours probably is, too.
o If only a few shingles are gone, try to cover the area with a garbage bag.
o If you have a large area of ripped tar paper or wood, cover it with a tarpaulin and call a roofer immediately.
Electric
o Most damage to electrical systems comes from water.
o Appliances exposed to water should be serviced before being used again.
o Check for sparks or frayed wires if wires are exposed call an electrician and do not turn on the power.
o If it appears that water has infiltrated your breaker box, call an electrician.
o Avoid fallen and dangling wires or metal fences.
o If a limb has fallen on a power line, turn off the power and call the utility company.
o If a fallen limb touches your property, it becomes your responsibility, but you should not attempt to clear them as they may be tangled in power lines. Call an electrician.
Flooding (Take these steps to minimize damage before the restoration professional arrives.)o Throw out all food, including canned goods, medicines and cosmetics that have been touched by flood water.
o Keep a photographic inventory of anything that must be thrown out.
o Don’t take pets into a flooded area and never let them drink standing flood water.
Miscellaneous
o Turn on air conditioner if damage occurs in summer.
o Move valuable paintings, art objects and photos to a safe, dry place.
o Open closet doors, furniture drawers and luggage to aid in drying.
o Remove any wet fabrics and dry immediately.
o Hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature.
o Stay out of any rooms where the ceiling is sagging from trapped water.
o Turn off the breaker before unplugging appliances.

PuroClean Professional Services
440-748-7876


Emilio Soli, George Cruz - Managing Partners

*** Proudly Serving Northeast Ohio ***