water damage cleanup port st lucie water damage port st lucie

Spotting and Addressing Water Damage Before Buying a Home

Posted by Editor on

Buying a home can be an anxiety-ridden experience for both the seasoned and first time buyer. Owning your own home is very rewarding in many ways, but you should be aware of any previous damage done to the home before you buy. One of the main things you should watch out for when you are purchasing a home is signs of any previous flooding in the house requiring water damage cleanup. Here are some tips on how to spot water damage and deal with it before purchasing.

Keep Your Eyes Open

During an initial walk-through of a home, you should always keep your eyes open for signs of mold and mildew. You can also, many times, smell mildew before you see it, so utilize your sense of smell as well. Not all mold is detrimental to your health, but letting mold run rampant in your home is not a chance you want to take. Black mold is especially dangerous and you should immediately call your local water damage cleanup crew to assess the damage before you buy.

Check for Soft Spots

Water damage that has been left for a long time can leave some other clues even if there are no outward signs of mold. Black mold can grow on the inside of walls and underneath floors and can be just as risky for your health when the spores are airborne. While you are walking through, make sure you notice if there are any soft spots in the flooring, especially in kitchens, laundry rooms, or bathrooms. You should also feel along the walls for soft spots and dampness. Even if you do not feel any damp spots, you may feel some bubbling where water separated the paint from the drywall.

Location, Location, Location

Location is a huge factor in the home buying process and its variables include more than commute time and quality of schools. If you are seriously considering a home, you should check where it sits on an elevation keyed map. If it is located in a valley, near a river that floods, or near a coastline with frequent storms, then you should make sure that there is a good grade decline away from the perimeter of the home as well as an effective draining system. Call a professional to inspect it if you are unsure.

Call A Water Damage Expert

Having an inspection done before buying a home can be very beneficial, but if you are concerned about water damage at all, you should have a water damage cleanup professional like Regency DRT in Port St. Lucie inspect as well. Many problems can go unnoticed when a home inspector walks through the home because he or she is checking for various issues at the same time. A seasoned water damage professional will know the signs of water damage immediately, and furthermore, the company can give you an estimate that will help you negotiate the price in your favor with the current homeowners. It is important to contact a water damage cleanup specialist before you buy because there are some homes with flooding damage that might make you think twice about purchasing that particular house.

 

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The Science of Hurricanes

Posted by Devin Bommarito on

Hurricane season in the Atlantic brings with it a plethora of dangerous and devastating weather. But how does all of this get started?

All hurricanes are essentially fueled by two simple things: heat and water. Hurricanes generally begin above the equator, where the waters are significantly warmer. The air just above the ocean’s surface takes in heat and moisture and, as the hot air rises, it leaves the air below it with a lower pressure. This cyclical process repeats and produces swirls in the air, according to NASA. This creates a thunderstorm that has the potential to turn into a hurricane.

Warm water in the Atlantic is really the first key element hurricanes need to get started. Another important key factor is wind shear. Wind shear, according to Federal Aviation Administration, is a change in wind speed and/or direction over a short distance. Wind shears can be either horizontal or vertical and are most commonly caused by strong differences in temperature. These contribute to the cyclone of warm and cool air that starts a hurricane.

These two ingredients for hurricanes don’t just happen on their own, though. Gerry Bell, the lead seasonal hurricane forecaster for NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, says that “there are two dominant climate patterns that really control the wind and pressure across the Atlantic.

The El Niño/La Niña cycle is the first of these climate patterns. El Niño is a large-scale ocean-atmosphere climate interaction that causes periodic warming in the ocean surface temperatures. These effects are seen in the winter season, with wetter-than-average conditions expected. La Niña is essentially the opposite of El Niño, in which it represents below-average ocean surface temperatures, but slightly warmer temperatures in the Southeast region.

The second climate pattern that impacts hurricanes is the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). This is a climate trend that has a time span of 25 to 40 years and is generally associated with warmer waters in the Atlantic. When the AMO is in a warm phase, there tends to be stronger hurricane patterns. Currently, we have been in a warm phase AMO, conducive to hurricanes, since 1995.

Hurricanes start out as tropical cyclones. Once a tropical cyclone’s winds have a sustained speed of 39 to 73 mph, it is then considered a tropical storm and it gets a name from the list put out by the World Meteorological Organization. If the sustained winds reach speeds of 74 to 95 mph, the storm becomes a Category 1 hurricane.

CategorySustained Wind SpeedPotential Damage
174-94 mphMinimal – some roof leakage, gutter damage, snapped tree branches
296-110 mphModerate – major roof and siding damage, uprooted trees causing road blockage, power loss for days to weeks
3111-129 mphExtensive – gable and decking damage, many uprooted trees, extended power outages
4130-156 mphExtreme – roof and exterior walls destroyed, snapped trees, power outages for weeks to months
5157 mph or higherCatastrophic – high fraction of framed houses destroyed, power outages for weeks to months, large areas uninhabitable for weeks to months

 

Toilet Tragedies

Posted by Editor on

There’s not much that can cause a panic and loud screaming than when the handle of the toilet is pushed and — instead of everything swirling down into the sewer line — it all comes rushing back out.

You know what the “everything” is… and you surely do not wish to be the offending flusher who must clean it up. But someone needs to do the dirty work.

Yes, when a toilet overflows, it’s time to put on your best game face and get ready for action. Put this nightmare behind you. But before you start work, you might wish to reach for good shoes, like rubber boots, along with gloves and other protective gear. A nose clip might not be a bad idea, either.
The first order of business is to stop this exciting event from happening again. Be sure the toilet is unplugged, draining, and working properly. If you clean everything up and it all happens again, your nightmare just repeats itself. Continue reading “Toilet Tragedies” →

Houston Winter Storm & Pipe Bursts

Posted by Devin Bommarito on

Houston Winter Storm & Pipe Bursts

When Regency DRT arrived in Houston this morning the temperature dropped in Southeast Texas into near-historic levels, causing thousands of reported pipe bursts in Houston alone. Not only that but it left millions of homes and businesses without power creating a better environment for pipes to freeze.

With an average yearly snowfall of 63 inches and temperatures reaching -25 to -30 Fahrenheit, our Michigan location is no stranger to this type of damage.

Continue reading “Houston Winter Storm & Pipe Bursts” →

Toilet Tank Leaks, What You Need To Know!

Posted by Devin Bommarito on

According to the American Water Works Association (AWWA), toilets are responsible for approximately 27 percent of the water used in homes on a daily basis. The amount of water used by toilets is only increased when there is a leak. A leaking toilet tank can result in an incredible loss of water every minute it has not been stopped. It oftentimes goes undetected until a leak test has been conducted.

Continue reading “Toilet Tank Leaks, What You Need To Know!” →

Safe or Not Safe?

Posted by Editor on

Have you ever walked or drove down a road and came across a sign that declared, “Floodplain Zone!”

If it was near your home, you might have panicked. But if it was somewhere far from your home, you felt safe.
A floodplain can be dangerous because any home in or near one is subject to flooding. If you have a basement, you have more to worry about.

But did you know that even if you live outside a floodplain, there are flooding issues that you must be aware of? Continue reading “Safe or Not Safe?” →

types of water

Different Types of Water

Posted by Editor on

We all have those unwanted surprises in our lives. Water damage is one of them. When experiencing the unexpected trauma of having your Indian River property flooded and your valuables damaged, it might be smart to familiarize yourself with the different water types that you could be swimming in. Some water types can pose a serious threat to your health and safety. We at Regency DRT are experts in properly handling water damage and want to ensure your family and pets are safe from harm.

Category 1: Clean Water

“Hey! I can’t turn off the sink!”

This type of water comes from sanitary sources like overflowing sinks, rain, snow, and water supply line problems. It poses no substantial risk from dermal, ingestion, or inhalation exposure; however, it must be treated quickly. If left untreated within 72 hours, it will move to a Category 2 water loss.

Category 2: Gray Water

“Hey! the washing machine is spitting out water!”

This category of water is considered to be moderate and may cause illness and discomfort. Just like a Category 1 water source, this problem needs to be dealt with immediately. If it’s not treated within 48 hours, it becomes a Category 3 Loss, which is a lot more expensive to deal with. The most common sources for gray water are toilet bowls, sump pumps, dishwashers and washing machines. Most important rule to remember? Don’t drink this water! It contains chemicals not fit for consumption and you might find yourself feeling a little under the weather.  

Category 3: Black Water

“Hey! The toilet is overflowing and the water doesn’t look too pretty!”

This is where a water dilemma gets serious and will require you to take immediate action. The danger levels for black water are extremely high and can cause serious illnesses like infections, long-term respiratory problems, etc. Black water should be left strictly to the professionals. The use of specialized equipment is required to clear black water without threatening the health of both humans and animals in the area. The most common sources are any sewage or toilet backflows as well as ground surface water carrying silt and organic matter. This problem requires the help of professionals who are certified by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).

Act Fast!

When your house has been water damaged, there is no time to lounge around and wait for a good time to start the cleanup process. We at Regency DRT have more than twenty years of experience to handle every type of water damage dilemma you might face. Some of the services we provide include water extraction and pump-outs, complete structural drying, dehumidification, mold and sewage remediation, water damage cleanup due to frozen pipes and broken pipes, and off-site personal property cleaning.

Please contact us for more information on how we can help you. Even if you aren’t interested in our services at this time, we are happy to offer any advice and information on how to recover from water damage.