Saving Carpet After Water Damage - PuroClean

Can We Save Carpet?


A pipe breaks and water is everywhere. The policyholder calls the insurance agent and the restoration process begins. Timing is important. The sooner the policyholder makes the call, the quicker the response will be, and in most cases, the lower the total costs of restoration.

Though many issues can be discovered involving water damage, this article focuses on just one - the carpet. Of all the dollars spent on property claims, floor covering is by far the most expensive category. If we can save a large percentage of water-damaged floor coverings, the savings would be significant on a national scale.

CAUTIONING CUSTOMERS

As with any property damage, health and safety is of primary importance. The customer should be cautioned about slipping and falling on wet flooring, electrical hazards, contaminated water, and falling debris such as drywall or acoustical ceiling tiles. Some customers attempt to extract the water themselves. While this can be of some benefit, a shop vacuum, towels, and ceiling fans are no replacement for professional extraction and drying equipment.
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE

Quick response is critical. The longer the unwanted water is allowed to remain, the more likely the carpeting will be permanently damaged. Regardless of the hour, the mitigation process should begin without delay. It is very important to get a professional mitigator involved as soon as possible. The very best opportunity to save carpet (and other items) is to have professionals on site immediately.

CONTAIN AND CONTROL

The initial phase of the mitigation process includes addressing safety issues and employing contain-and-control procedures. Carpet is a multi-layered installation with a big sponge (padding) under it. Standing water must be pumped or extracted to prevent migration of water into adjoining areas and sub-surfaces. Professional moisture meters are used to determine the exact location and extent of water damage. The source of the water will determine whether the carpet and padding can be saved.



DETERMINING CATEGORY OF LOSS

The first step professional mitigation companies take is determining the category of loss as follows:
Category-1 ("clean" water)
A Category-1 loss is from a clean water source and has not come in contact with materials that carry a health concern for the occupants. This would include broken water pipes, leaking hot water heaters, tub or sink overflows, etc. With Category-1 type losses, professionals can extract water from the carpet and pad and dry them both, in place! This dramatically reduces the cost of the claim and helps restoration efforts move faster.
Category-2 ("grey" water)
Category-2 is not a clean water source since it contains contaminates with the potential to cause discomfort or sickness if swallowed or contacted. This would typically include overflow from washing machines or dishwashers, toilet overflows with no solid matter, broken aquariums, sump pump failures, etc. Because of the additional contamination, this type of loss requires the replacement of the padding, but the carpet itself is usually salvageable. If, however, a Category-2 loss is not treated promptly (generally within 48 hours) it will "degrade" to a Category-3.
Category-3 ("black" water)
A Category-3 is water that is grossly contaminated -- containing pathogenic or other harmful agents and materials. Examples of this type of loss include sewage; toilet backflows that originate beyond the toilet trap (regardless of color); all forms of flooding from seawater, rivers, or streams; rising ground water; and water entering the structure from hurricanes, storms, or other weather-related events.
This water condition is of primary concern when it comes to the health and safety of the occupants. It should be treated seriously! Policyholders should not expose themselves to Category-3 water. If, for some reason it is necessary, then they should be cautioned and reminded to wear gloves, shoe protection, and other items to protect themselves. Mitigation professionals, however, are expecially trained to handle this type of loss and are the best guarantee of property containment.
Industry standards require that carpet and pad that have been contaminated with black water must be bagged, removed from the structure, and disposed of in an appropriate location. This also applies to other absorbent materials that have come in contact with black water such as textiles, drywall, etc. Professional restoration companies understand this and operate accordingly.
Property training is the key. Every water damage situation is different. There are varying circumstances that determine whether the carpet can or should be saved. Its age, condition, the type of installation and quality of material are all factors that need to be considered. The goal of a restoration company is to savfe and "restore." Restoration saves money because higher replacement costs are avoided. Home owners also return to their normal lives more quickly with successful restoration.
Mitigation professionals have the training and knowledge to evaluate each situation and to determine the best course of action. They are also trained to communicate well with policyholders, agents, and adjusters to insure that everyone understands the restoration process and proper procedures involved.


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If you need any assistance regarding the entire process of handling your water damage concerns, please call 440-748-7876.

NE Ohio's "Paramedics of Property Damage"

PuroClean Professional Services - NE Ohio Water Damage Restoration Leaders

The primary function of a restoration contractor that performs emergency mitigation services is to handle the claim professionally, expeditiously, and cost effectively. Professional restoration contractors should understand what it means to be professional when conducting their business. They should also understand the importance of prompt response and quick action to limit the scope of the loss. However, a difficult area to institute and control is how to be cost effective. This is especially true when customers are making demands and expecting quick action concerning what is happening to their home and belongings.

Water damage mitigation that is performed by using the PuroClean QuickDry System (PQDS), focuses not only on stabilizing and reducing further damage, but also includes reducing unnecessary services that increase direct costs. Direct costs are labor, time, and materials that contribute directly to the total dollar amount of sustained damage. The PQDS reduces that total dollar volume by enacting tested and proven procedures while performing water damage mitigation services.

Many water mitigators use a light wand extraction which removes some water and may involve moving all or half of the furniture from a room so that the carpet can be pulled back far enough to remove the cushion (pad). The furniture has to be re-moved from the room so that air fans can be placed under the carpet in a corner to “float” the carpet. The concept of floating the carpet with air makes the room difficult, if not impossible, to occupy. This is a major problem in bedrooms where headboards, footboards, and rails need disassembling, and mattresses and box springs need to be carried into a dry, unaffected area. That is, if any dry areas ex-ist. Under the PQDS, furniture in any affected room only needs to be manipulated enough to extract the water. Furniture is then placed on blocks and tabs to prevent the transfer of furniture stain or the development of rust marks. The time and labor saved in performing this function alone is substantial, espe-cially if multiple rooms are involved.

These PQDS procedures include a new extraction technology that enables water to be removed from the carpet and cushion (pad), simultaneously without disengagement of the installation. This extraction removes 90 to 95% of the total liquid moisture available in the carpet and pad. By removing this quantity of liquid moisture, less time is required to evaporate any remaining moisture by airflow and dehumidification. Most projects are completed on the average within three days.

Removing wet carpet from the installation is risky business. Carpets that are totally saturated are more easily damaged when wet than when they are dry. This is due to the fact that the latex binder between the primary and secondary backings is 50% weaker when saturated with water. Even with the best intentions, removing the carpet tension with a knee kicker or pulling the carpet from the tack strip can often cause rips or tears.

If the carpet is not disengaged, the pad is not removed, and the furniture is minimally disrupted, then the entire cost of new cushion, professional power stretched installation, and furniture remanipulation is not required. This results in a tremen-dous direct cost reduction.

The aggravation, frustration, and total inconvenience of the old process must also be considered as an indirect cost reduction. A non-monetary form of indirect cost is the price that one pays in stress and duress when processing a claim incorrectly which creates fear, suspicion, and distrust on the part of the customer and inevitably the insurance adjuster. The PQDS takes these issues and other factors into consideration when mitigat-ing a water loss.

Structurally, the PQDS employs many cost effective philosophies, for example, drying drywall in place. Many schools originally taught that any initial wicking of water into drywall specifically dictated the removal of baseboard molding, both vinyl and wood, as a necessity to dry the lower wall area. Technicians went so far as to poke holes in the wallboard to increase evaporation and ventilation. Some even sprayed water based antimicrobials into the holes increasing the wetness factor. These actions dictated, providing that the area dried properly, that new baseboards will need to be installed and that the entire room or rooms will require painting to correct the damage done to the surface during the demolition.

The PQDS does not initially require removing baseboards when wetness is detected. PuroClean structural dryers are deployed forcing air directly towards the wet walls drying the area in most cases without removing the molding. This direct airflow against the lower wall dries the baseboard, the wallboard, and the framing structure. Many types of insulation, for example, fiberglass batt, will dry as well. Baseboard molding removal would be necessary only if cellulose or rock wool insulation were present. These materials lose loft and respective R value when wet and compressed. Replacement is war-ranted for these materials.

When comparing the old drying procedure and philosophy to the new PuroClean QuickDry System, there is no contest. The direct cost effective savings as well as the indirect time and incon-venience reductions are obvious.

Call PuroClean Professional Services for any additional questions or concerns.
440-748-7876

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

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 ***

PuroClean and Area Roofing Companies Are Scrambling to Help Ice Damming Issues in Ohio

The number to call for your property damage emergency is 440-748-7876. You will not be the first person to use that nor the last. The last three weeks have been somewhat standard and normal in terms of snow fall that is a yearly constant for the area. However, the issues involving Ice Damming at the edge of peoples roofs and gutters have been everything but normal for the past couple of years.

Ice dams are the accumulation of ice at the eaves and valleys of roofs, and in some winters create major problems for property owners in Northeast Ohio. Insufficient attic insulation and/or attic ventilation can cause roof snow to melt and slide down to the eaves, where the roof surface is cooler and the melting snow freezes to the roof. Subsequent melting causes water to pool behind this dam and sometimes the water seeps between the shingle layers, wetting the roof deck and possibly the walls and ceilings below.

The surrounding counties of the Greater Cleveland and Akron metropolitan areas saw record amounts of ice accumulation last winter and it is approaching similar numbers again this winter.
Ice Dams can cause MAJOR property damage, especially when the Damming is so strong that water starts to intrude into the house and affect ceilings, walls, and floors. If you suspect water damage to the inside of your house, you must act immediately and call a professional. Time is of the essence with how fast the ceilings and walls can undergo advanced drying techniques as well as mold prevention remedies. How fast it is treated correlates to how much it will affect your pocket book.

PuroClean has been helping property owners all over NE Ohio deal with water damage mitigation. Our technicians simply dispatch from one service call to the next and the day or night is not over until every call that day has been treated and helped. Thus, we have earned the nickname of "Northeast Ohio's Paramedics of Property Damage".

The picture above shows how they are formed and what they look like.


DON'T DELAY WHEN AN ICE DAM CAUSES WATER INTRUSTION!
Contact PuroClean Professional Services immediately if you suspect an Ice Dam has caused water damage to the interior of your property!

440-748-7876

Cleveland & Akron Homeowners Are Beginning To Deal With Damage Left By Snow

This winter storm is leaving behind a lot of damage, and homeowners across the area are only beginning to cope with it. Visions of ice hanging from roofs, tons of snow-clogged downspouts, and gutters on the ground are the scene of properties across NE Ohio.

"It's been a nightmare for a lot of people," says insurance agent Crystal Cline. Cline knows firsthand because she gets the claims that homeowners call in. "Ninety percent of them have been homeowners and a majority of them are ice forming in the gutters, and then causing leaks within the home," she said.

But the big question for most is will their homeowners insurance cover the damage? "Yes, if they have the proper policy," said Cline. "Most homeowners' policies do cover losses to the house itself." That means water damage caused by clogged gutters and frozen pipes, and even losses caused by power outages, are covered. Outside your home - repairing fences, retaining walls and removing fallen trees - depends on the language of your policy.

And don't forget, the standard policy is subject to your deductible which is usually $500. "If you have a $500 deductible, that means you have to pay the first $500 of the repair," she said. "Anything over that amount, the insurance company would pay."

The claims are only just beginning.

Agents across the NE Ohio region all share similar sentiment that a lot of claims, especially in the next week or two if there is a thaw, when everything melts is when we will all see a lot of water damage. That time is almost before us right now.

Ice dams are the accumulation of ice at the eaves and valleys of roofs, and in some winters create major problems for property owners in Northeast Ohio. Insufficient attic insulation and/or attic ventilation can cause roof snow to melt and slide down to the eaves, where the roof surface is cooler and the melting snow freezes to the roof. Subsequent melting causes water to pool behind this dam and sometimes the water seeps between the shingle layers, wetting the roof deck and possibly the walls and ceilings below. The surrounding counties of the Greater Cleveland and Akron metropolitan areas saw record amounts of ice accumulation last winter and it is expected to be a prevalent issue again this winter.


If you are experiencing water intrusion from this issue, time is of the essence. DO NOT HESITATE from calling a professional company with that is preferred and has an existing relationship with insurance providers, like PuroClean Professional Services.

Even if you are unsure of the scope of the water damage, it would not hurt to call. We are available with 24-hour emergency service. If we get to the issue quick enough, we may be able to save the structure, therefore saving much more damage from occurring.

440-748-7876

Ice Damming Emergencies in Cleveland & Akron, Ohio

Ice dams are the accumulation of ice at the eaves and valleys of roofs, and in some winters create major problems for property owners in Northeast Ohio. Insufficient attic insulation and/or attic ventilation can cause roof snow to melt and slide down to the eaves, where the roof surface is cooler and the melting snow freezes to the roof. Subsequent melting causes water to pool behind this dam and sometimes the water seeps between the shingle layers, wetting the roof deck and possibly the walls and ceilings below.

The surrounding counties of the Greater Cleveland and Akron metropolitan areas saw record amounts of ice accumulation last winter and it is now becoming a prevalent issue again this winter.

Ice Dams can cause major property damage. The pictures above show how they are formed and what they look like.

The illustrations show the accumulation of ice at the eaves and valley of the roof. Insufficient attic insulation and/or attic ventilation is causing the roof snow to melt and slide down to the eaves - here the roof surface is cooler and the melting snow freezes to the roof. Further melting causes water to pool behind this dam and the water then seeps between the shingle layers. The roof deck is saturated and possibly the walls and ceilings below.

The surrounding counties of the Greater Cleveland and Akron metropolitan areas are seeing large amounts of ice dams this winter and it is becoming an issue that cannot be ignored.

DO NOT DELAY WHEN AN ICE DAM CAUSES WATER INTRUSTION!

440-748-7876

PUROCLEAN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Northeast Ohio's "Paramedics of Property Damage"

With Frozen Pipes Thawing and Snow Melting, PuroClean and Area Plumbers Scramble to Fix Water-Related Issues

As a result of the recent, yet typical, frigid temperatures that winter brings to Northeast Ohio, many area plumbers, public service workers, and PuroClean Professional Services have been busier than normal dealing with frozen and ruptured water pipes and lines to homes and businesses.

Many calls PuroClean has received have been busted water lines to attic crawl spaces and basement areas. Some property disasters left behind over five feet of water.

Area residents have been put in a position to call their respective public service workers to come and shut off their water after problems with pipes have been discovered.

Melting snow is an annual formality facing the Northestern area of Ohio. Sometimes this can affect properties lacking the foundation support to with-hold the added amounts of water that melting brings. A lot of back-ups, leaks, etc. have been troubling many area property owners and even businesses.

If you have experienced any water-related property disaster please don't hesitate to contact a professional company. Time is of the essence with these circumstances and the longer you wait the more you jeopardize the structural integrity of your property.

PuroClean Professional Services provides 24-hour emergency property disaster services.

Call 866-944-PURO (7876)