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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Archived Why SERVPRO Blog Posts

What To Do If Your Water Heater Is Making Noises

3/12/2023 (Permalink)

A water heater is an important appliance that provides hot water for a variety of household needs, including washing dishes, doing laundry, and taking showers. However, if you start hearing strange noises coming from your water heater, it can be cause for concern. In this blog post, we will discuss what to do when your water heater is making noises.

Step 1: Determine the Type of Noise

The first step in addressing a noisy water heater is to determine the type of noise you are hearing. Is it a rumbling or popping sound? Is it a hissing or whistling sound? The type of noise can help identify the source of the problem.

Rumbling or popping sounds are often caused by sediment buildup in the tank. This can lead to overheating and damage to the tank if left unchecked. Hissing or whistling sounds, on the other hand, may indicate a leak in the tank or a malfunctioning pressure relief valve.

Step 2: Turn Off the Water Heater

Once you have identified the type of noise, the next step is to turn off the water heater. This will prevent any further damage from occurring and ensure your safety while you investigate the problem.

Step 3: Inspect the Tank

Carefully inspect the tank for any signs of damage or leaks. If you notice any cracks or leaks, you will need to call a professional plumber to repair or replace the water heater.

If you don't see any visible signs of damage, you may need to flush the tank to remove sediment buildup. To do this, turn off the water supply to the tank and attach a hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. Open the valve and let the water drain out until it runs clear.

Step 4: Check the Pressure Relief Valve

If the noise is caused by a malfunctioning pressure relief valve, you will need to check the valve and replace it if necessary. To do this, turn off the power and water supply to the tank and remove the valve. Inspect it for any signs of damage or debris, and replace it if necessary.

Step 5: Call a Professional

If you are unsure about what is causing the noise or if you are uncomfortable performing any of the above steps, it is best to call a professional plumber. They can diagnose the problem and recommend the best course of action to repair or replace the water heater.

In conclusion, if your water heater is making noises, it is important to act quickly to prevent any further damage and ensure your safety. Determine the type of noise, turn off the water heater, inspect the tank, check the pressure relief valve, and call a professional if necessary. By following these steps, you can keep your water heater running smoothly and avoid any costly repairs or replacements.

How To Differentiate Mold from Mildew

8/10/2022 (Permalink)

Do I Have Mold or Mildew In My Home?

When you come across possible mildew or mold damage in your Glendale, CO, home, you may be wondering which of the two problems you face. There are a few ways to tell the difference between these two forms of fungi. Here are three things you may want to know.

1. Depth of the Growth

One of the main ways to tell the difference between mildew growth and mold growth is how deep it goes. Mildew tends to grow on the surface, while mold tends to root into the substance it's feeding on. Because of this mold can cause actual damage if it’s allowed to remain.

2. Coloration

Another way to tell the difference between mildew and mold damage is the appearance of the fungi you are looking at. Mildew tends to be thinner in appearance and may range in color from gray to white with occasional yellow tones. Mold on the other hand may look slimy or fuzzy, and it has a full range of colors with gray, white, green, brown, orange, and even black tones.

3. Ease of Removal

As mentioned earlier mildew growth on the surface while mold roots beneath. This can affect the ease of removal. Many cleaners are designed to remove mildew with a spray-on wipe off formula. If you try this method and it fails, odds are you may be facing a mold problem instead. When this is the case it's highly recommended that you contact a local mold remediation service. These professionals will have the ability to remove the mold, clean the area, and then make repairs to any damages that may have been caused.

When determining if you have mildew or mold damage in your home, there are few ways you can check. One of the biggest differences is the depth of growth. You can also look at the coloration of the spores to determine which it may be. Finally, how easy it is to remove may be an indication of which species it is. If you do have mold it's highly recommended to contact a remediation service.

A Homeowner Briefing: Broken Pipes and Insurance

7/11/2022 (Permalink)

Broken Pipes and Insurance

Having a homeowner's insurance policy is necessary to protect your investment, but it takes some work on your side to know what is included or not. Most people know that rising water types of floods are not covered by traditional policies, but what about water damage from a broken pipe? Would that be covered by your plan?

Insurance Coverage for Unexpected Breaks

Each policy should be read carefully for details, but water damage from a pipe that breaks suddenly and without neglect should be covered by most insurance policies. Damage can be mitigated by immediately responding to the flood with the use of a professional restoration company. Services such as water removal, drying, and restoration may also be included in your insurance coverage.

Denied for Negligence

Homeowners have a lot of responsibility for routine maintenance around the home, including maintenance for plumbing. Make sure you keep up with the maintenance of your pipes so that you don't end up with damage from negligence, which may be denied by your insurer. Here are common examples of denials:

• A homeowner ignored a chronic leak and failed to fix a broken pipe, which resulted in a full break and damage to a home.
• Homeowners were not maintaining a warm enough temperature in the home to keep the pipes from freezing during the winter.

Be Your Own Maintenance Manager

A flood is the last thing you want in your home in University Hills, CO. You don't have to be a plumber in order to take care of your plumbing system. You can keep your home reliable and safe by educating yourself about care and routine maintenance for your pipes. Most importantly, never shut off your heat during the winter months, even if you go on vacation, and inspect your system of pipes regularly. These actions will help prevent breaks and all complications of water damage in your home.

3 Ways To Treat Burns in the Workplace

5/21/2022 (Permalink)

Workplace Burns: Three Treatment Options

When a fire occurs at your University Hills, CO, business, and an employee suffers burns, it can cause you as much worry and anxiety as the fire damage you discover in the aftermath. Any kind of burn, no matter its seriousness, is likely to cause pain, and there are a few steps you can take to treat and protect the burn until medical help arrives.

1. Keep the Employee Calm
Your injured employee is likely to feel fear and pain as the result of a burn, so before you render first aid, take him or her to a quiet area and seat them. Check for signs of shock, which may include changes in breathing and cold, clammy skin. Offer water and encourage the employee to rest and stay still while you continue to treat the burn.

2. Use a Burn First Aid Kit
Keeping a first aid kit specifically to treat burns can help you react faster when an employee gets burned trying to fight a blaze and reduce the risk of fire damage. Fresh gauze, cotton or moleskin pads, bandages, burn cooling ointment and topical painkillers are all useful items for your burn kit. Use gauze or the pads to cover the burn, taking care to avoid breaking any blisters that formed after the burn occurred.

3. Use Cool Cloths
No matter the type of burn, using cool, wet cloths to ease the pain and prevent swelling can help keep the employee calm. Have a few employees hold a damp, cold cloth to the burn and stay with the injured person if you must oversee the initial repairs, fire damage reports and the assessment performed by your fire mitigation and restoration company.
Fire injuries at your University Hills, CO, business can be frightening, but you can prepare for an emergency by keeping a burn kit on hand and staying calm to assist an injured employee until medical help arrives.

4 Steps To Stop Mold Growth

1/28/2022 (Permalink)

Mold can grow anywhere if moisture and organic material are present.

Stop Mold Growth At a Residence 

Mold can grow anywhere if moisture and organic material are present. Mold spores are everywhere, and an environment that has everything necessary for fungi to thrive runs a high risk of developing a mold problem. Mold can start growing in as little as 24 to 48 hours after water damage. Take these four steps to stop mold growth at a residence in Cheesman Park, CO.

1. Reduce Moisture

Lowering moisture levels is the single most important mold prevention method. Mold requires moisture and a source of food in order to grow. Extract excess water introduced to a residence from any source and run a dehumidifier to draw out residual moisture.

2. Schedule a Mold Test

If your home has recently experienced water damage, it may be advisable to schedule a mold test. An environmental hygienist or mold specialist can take air or spore samples to determine which species of mold are present and determine the extent of an infestation.

3. Make a Remediation Plan

If less than 10 square feet of visible, non-toxigenic mold is present, a homeowner can take steps to clean up and prevent the damage. It is advisable to seek assistance from a mold damage remediation service for a widespread infestation or one involving hidden mold or toxigenic species.

4. Clean or Tear Out Moldy Materials

Mold prevention and remediation experts can recommend which materials can be cleaned and which should be torn out or disposed of and replaced. In general, hard surfaces with superficial mold are better candidates for cleaning than porous materials such as carpet or drywall.

These steps can be useful for stopping mold growth at a residence in Cheesman Park, CO. While mitigating water damage and reducing moisture may be enough to slow or stop active growth, mold spores may continue to spread to more advantageous areas until existing colonies are eliminated.