Water damage clean up is best left to the experts!

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”9057″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Last week we were called out to do another site visit for a mold removal consultation. The walls of the finished basement of this beautiful home near Philadelphia were covered in many species of toxic mold.
As the story unfolded, the homeowners had a flood in their basement last Spring that was caused by a broken supply line to their washing machine.
This was a clean water loss (Category I), which meant that everything could be saved. [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]However, instead of calling an IICRC certified firm, the poor homeowners called a carpet cleaning company who had advertised themselves as a “flood damage expert” to come in to remove the water.
The carpet cleaner didn’t have the knowledge or tools – like moisture meters and infrared camera – to assess the damage correctly when it occurred.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Because the carpet cleaning company missed the water that had wicked up the drywall, they left a lot of water in the walls and insulation that caused the mold to grow.
Now the homeowners have significant health problems like constant headaches and coughing that their doctor told them was from toxic mold exposure.
(For a list of symptoms associated with toxic mold exposure see Dr. Mercola’s 2011 article Mold: The “New” Hidden Pandemic Sweeping Across America)
The mold in this home grew on the wet drywall and insulation in the basement and was circulated throughout the home by the forced air heating/air conditioning system.
The initial damage caused by this clean water loss in the home might have cost the homeowners less than their insurance deductible if it had been dried in three days with the proper equipment. Now, the full mold remediation project will cost them thousands to repair.
Unfortunately, in our challenging economy, this kind of story is becoming commonplace.
So how can you protect yourself?
How can you know what contractor to chose in your hour of need so the water damage cleanup will be done the right way?

Here are 5 Tips for selecting a water damage cleanup contractor you can trust:

1. Do: try to work with local and branded contractors.
Tip: Usually these folks have uniforms – they’re not running around in jeans and T-shirts.
2. Do: verify the contractor’s work with online vetting organizations like Angie’s List https://my.angieslist.com and Merchant Circle https://www.merchantcircle.com
Tip: See what others have said about the contractor in a public forum.
3. Do: ask to see the contractor’s licenses or certificates.
Tip: The contractor numbers should be visible to you on the trucks as required by law in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
4. Do: pay with a check or a credit card.
Tip: Beware of a contractor who tries to pressure you to pay for the whole job up front – if an offer is only good “now or never,” find someone else!
5. Don’t: Pay for all the work until it is finished and you are satisfied! Usually a down payment or a deductible is required for work to begin, but a reputable contractor will provide you with an explanation of the work to be done and the steps that will be taken.
Remember: price is not the best indicator! There will always be less than honorable contractors out there ready to undersell a job just to get the work, but it’s no guarantee they know what they’re doing.

For water damage restoration from an IICRC certified firm you can trust in the Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey region, call the professionals at PuroClean Emergency Recovery Services at 877-750-7876

We’ll get you clean, dry and sanitized quickly so no mold will grow!

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