DID YOU KNOW that even a little bit of water in the wrong place can be downright dangerous?
Toilet Tragedies
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
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.
When Should I Call a Professional?
It’s pretty common to have a water leak and not even realize it. Most leaks are hidden from plain sight and require special attention to detail in order to notice them. Take a moment and look for the following signs that result in the need for leak detection services.
Toilet Tank Leaks, What You Need To Know!
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!”
Four Types Of Thunderstorms
Like other things in life, thunderstorms differentiate depending on certain conditions. Sure, we’ve got severe and non-severe storms, but are you aware that there are four different types of thunderstorms?
Safe or Not Safe?
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?”
Know Your Water
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.
Water Damaged Electronics
It’s a terrible sinking feeling (pun intended) you get when you drop your iPhone, iPad or Android — or other expensive hand-held electronic device — into water, such as a sink, bathtub or (gross) toilet.
When that happens, you respond quickly. You dip your hand into the offending reservoir, grab the device and shake it vigorously,
hoping against all odds that you can force all moisture out before permanent damage occurs.
You may even dunk your device into a bag of rice, hoping that online tip you read about rice pulling moisture from electronic devices is true. You may submit it mercilessly to the business end of a hairdryer until it is too hot to hold.
What’s the best thing to do when electronic devices suffer from water damage? Continue reading “Water Damaged Electronics”
Fight, Flight, or Do It Right
Nothing quite compares to the comfort of walking into your house, removing your shoes, and sinking back into your favorite recliner for a moment of relaxation after a long day. On the other hand, nothing quite compares to the panic and devastation that arises from coming home to find your home and belongings soaked, submerged, and potentially destroyed. Upon coming across such a disaster, it may seem that water damage cleanup is a near impossible task. Typically, this is where one’s fight-or-flight mechanism kicks in.
Realizing your home has been flooded can send you straight into panic mode. This may lead you into some dangerous waters, pun intended and could lead to further harm to both you and your home. You may find yourself tempted to fling yourself into the danger zone in a frenzied rampage to save your belongings. However, entering the area without protective gear can be extremely dangerous, as the water may contain unknown and detrimental contaminants and bacteria, as well as sharp objects such as nails, broken glass, or exposed wires. In addition, without turning off the water and electrical power, not only are you likely to have more water damage, but you also run the risk of fostering an electrical current in standing water. It is not a good idea to impulsively rush into the situation and tackle the disaster without a serious and professional assessment. “Fighting” the flood on your own is extremely dangerous and could inflict serious injury, inevitably leading to bigger problems than you started with.
Additionally, water damage can also be quite overwhelming, and if you are more prone to the “flight” aspect of the fight-or-flight conundrum, you may find yourself searching for quick-fixes to try to patch up the problem and ignore the real, more long-term consequences. Laying a few towels down and turning on some fans might seem to dry out the area, but much of the more serious damage will be virtually untouched. There may still be water in places you can’t see, like in the walls and beneath floorboards, which can lead to structural decay and mold growth. When left untreated, this can pose a serious threat to the health of all those in the household and could potentially generate major problems in the future.
All-in-all, the best way to handle this type of disaster is simpler than you might think. By reaching out to a water damage restoration service like Regency DRT in the Port St. Lucie area, your home can be saved without much hassle at all. Many water restoration companies offer different services, each tailored to your individual needs. Every disaster is different, and these companies are equipped to handle anything ranging from plumbing backups to severe flooding without causing any stress. An inspection will be conducted to assess damages and determine the source of the water. From there, the service will determine what actions must be taken to recover your home and its contents, and the disaster will be professionally handled so that you and your home are taken care of.