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Mold Blog

What to Do When You Find Mold in Your Home

Mold Remediation Services Tampa Fl
Mold remediation

Mold contamination can have serious implications for your health and your family members. A health report shows mold can cause red eyes, allergic reactions, skin rash, and a runny nose. Those with weak immune systems, children, seniors, and those with chronic illnesses are at a high risk of mold complications. Throughout the nation and here in Tampa, mold remediation is essential. If you find mold in your home, you should remove it and prevent further growth. Here is a guide to mold remediation and measures to ensure mold does not return to your home.

How Does Mold Look Like?

Knowing what mold looks like is the first step toward discovering what to do when you find mold in your home. Mold can appear in spots with different colors and be smelly and musty. It mostly appears in places with a lot of moisture and may sometimes be challenging to know when there is mold in your home.

How to Remove Mold From Your Home

Locate the Mold in Your Home

The first step to mold remediation is identifying all areas with mold in your home. Look for discoloration spots, especially in high moisture areas. The easiest way to identify mold is by using mold-testing kits. However, it is worth noting that these kits are not always accurate, and you may get incorrect and misleading results. You can get accurate results if you let a professional test the mold for you because they have the right tools and expertise.

Identify the Cause of the Mold

Knowing what causes mold growth in your house will help you take measures after cleaning and avoid having similar experiences in the future. For instance, if there are leaky roofs and pipes, ensure they get fixed after removing the mold. This can reduce the humidity levels and discourage the growth of mold in the home in the future. You do not want mold to return after barely a few days or weeks of cleaning.

Remove Moldy Materials

Many items in your home, such as carpets, cardboards, drywall, wallpaper, and insulation materials, commonly support mold growth and accumulation. It is important to remove these materials and place them outside before you do anything else. Removing the materials will make your work easier.

Clean the Affected Areas

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bleach and other cleaning products can remove mold from surfaces. Without the right tools and cleaning supplies, you may get frustrated at the end of your cleaning if you do not apply the appropriate measures. Here is a guide to cleaning the mold.

  • Get a bleaching agent and soap
  • Open windows and doors before you start cleaning
  • Wear protective goggles, boots, and rubber gloves
  • Clean the affected areas using soap, water, and bleach
  • Clean all the affected materials before bringing them back into the house
  • Seal all leaking areas to prevent mold from growing again
  • Keep humidity levels lower in your home

Avoid mixing bleach with other cleaning products because it will produce poisonous gas that may cause health complications. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on using bleach and other cleaning supplies. You should be careful to avoid spreading mold in other parts of the mold when removing it because it can quickly spread and grow in other areas.

Hire a Professional for Mold Remediation

Knowing what to do when you find mold in your home can help keep your home free from mold. Don’t try to handle the mold situation in your home. If you are looking for mold remediation in Tampa, Lighting Restoration is here for you. Contact us, and let s help clean the mold in your home.

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Water Remediation

What To Do When have Water Damage

Whether it is from a broken pipe, heavy rains, busted hoses, or even back-flowing toilets, water can cause a lot of damage to your home if it is not dealt with quickly and efficiently. Unfortunate as it may be, water damage can happen to any of us at any time. According to estimates, the Tampa Bay Area alone typically reports above 15,000 water-based losses every year. On any particular day, about 20 homeowners in Hillsborough County return to their homes only to find busted hoses, leaking pipes, back-flowing toilets, and overflowing washing machines,

As a homeowner, there is only a handful of things as stressful as coming home to a water-damaged home. Not only is there the physical damage to contend with, but there is also the emotional rollercoaster of witnessing your most significant investment get ruined along with personal belongings.

What to do when you have water damage

Typically when you come home only to find it flooded, your initial reaction will be panic. However, you must quickly regain your composure since you must take quick and decisive action. Once you are calm, it is time to take action. Here is what to do.

1. Immediately call Lightning Restoration. Lightning Restoration is the number one water damage remediation and restoration company in Hillsborough County. Call us immediately you notice water damage since time is of the essence. The quicker the LR gets there, the more we will be able to save you money and damage content.

2. Shut off the water if possible. Turn off the water flow into your home if possible. If it is a broken pipe, close the valve and if it is a washing machine, unplug it from the wall outlet.

3. Switch off the power. Water and electricity are a dangerous mix. Don’t do anything that will put you or your loved ones in danger. If you are concerned about electrical items in the water, you can shut the power off to the house with your main breaker. To save content, you can slide aluminum foil or saran wrap under the legs of furniture items. You can also use towels to soak up standing water while LR is en route to your home.

4. Rescue any valuable items. If possible, try to move any valuable or sentimental items to a safe, dry place. This step will help mitigate the amount of damage done and give you a sense of control during what can feel like a very chaotic time.

5. Keep the doors and windows closed. Florida is very humid, which may slow the drying process. Therefore, keep the windows and doors closed unless it is unseasonably cool outside, .

6. Lightning Restoration will be there immediately to take care of everything for you and establish a drying system in the house.

Who do you call for water damage?

Once you have taken the necessary steps to protect your home and belongings, it is time to call the professionals. Here is where the challenge comes in who do you call first? A water remediation company or your insurance company? While your initial instinct may be to contact your insurance company first, we highly recommend that you first call a remediation company such as Lightning Restoration.

Insurance companies are interested in one thing, saving money. They will always prioritize their interests which often does not line up with what is best for the homeowner. On the other hand, Lightning Restoration is always on the homeowner’s side. We prioritize the homeowner’s interests even during the insurance claim, ensuring they are fully taken care of during this difficult time.

About Lightning Restoration services

Since its establishment in 2006, Lightning Restoration has risen to become the premier restoration company within the Tampa Bay area. We specialize in fire, mold, & water remediation with proven procedures in cost efficiency and maximizing job time. We are also the most preferred vendor by hundreds of insurance carriers, insurance agents, property owners, and property management companies.

Our remediation and restoration services include:

  • 24/7 emergency water extraction
  • Moisture mapping and an immediate detailed assessment with an outline of remediation procedures.
  • Industrial grade drying equipment, including high-capacity air movers and dehumidifiers.
  • Professional assistance with your insurance claims process.

At Lightning Restoration, we understand that this is a stressful and challenging time for you, but rest assured that we are here to help. We guarantee excellent restorative cleaning services with effective, ongoing reporting and communication. Our technicians will arrive on the site within two hours of the initial call and provide a complete estimate, with photos, to the parties involved within 24-48 hours of completing the job.

Note. Throughout the insurance claim process, Lightning Restoration always takes the homeowner’s side to ensure they get the best possible outcome. In case of an emergency flooding in your house, call Lightning Restoration immediately and have someone truly on your side when it comes to your insurance claim.

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Fire Damage

Signs You Need Fire Restoration Services

Dealing with a building that has been affected by a fire can be quite stressful. According to the
National Fire Protection Association, no fewer than 100,000 fires occur in non-residential properties
yearly. If the fire is small enough, you may be able to clean things up and restore the building.
That said, some fires may require that you hire a fire restoration service. Did you know that soot is acidic and will continue to damage well after the fire is out? Here are some signs that
you need to work with a professional.

Stained Walls
One of the things that may happen during a fire is staining your walls. If you notice black and gray
stains on your walls after a fire, it might be a sign that you need to find a fire restoration service
because the stains should be addressed as soon as possible. A fire restoration service will be able
to properly clean the walls to remove any smoke particles. In some instances, they may even
recommend that you replace the material. Attempting to do this on your own can end up costing
you more, and it’s time-consuming, too.

Rust
Rust is a sign that the acidity of the soot is damaging fixtures, hardware and electronic components. If you notice rust after putting out a fire, chances are your hardware was exposed to acidic soot particles.
If this is happening on hardware that you rely on, it can cause problems when you go to use them
again. To avoid this situation, you should hire a professional to sort things out. That way, you can
maintain a functional home that is also safe to live in. The damaged materials should be replaced
and the area should be cleaned properly to minimize the secondary damage.

Lingering Smell
Sometimes the smell of smoke can be difficult to do away with, even if you clean up your home
after a fire. What most people may not understand is that smoke is easily absorbed into many
materials throughout the home. To ensure that the smoke is properly eliminated, you may need to
find a fire restoration service to help you out. A professional fire restoration service will inspect
your home and determine all of the areas that have been damaged by the smoke. Once this
service is completed, the smell of smoke will be gone and you can breathe fresh air again.

These are some of the signs that you need to hire a fire restoration service as soon as possible.
Are you having trouble getting your home back to its pre-fire condition? Get in touch with the fire
restoration service at Lightning Restoration today and we can help you out.

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Uncategorized

Things You Should Know About Homeowners’ Insurance Coming Into The Busy Months of Storm Season

A hurricane deductible is usually much higher than the deductible for all other perils. Typically, the hurricane deductible is 2-5% of your coverage limit, where your other deductibles are usually in the $1000-$2500 range. At the 2-5% range, a $350k house will have a hurricane deductible range of $7000-$17,500.

During a hurricane or surge event, flood water damage is not covered by your standard homeowners’ policy. If you live in Florida, whether you are rated as a flood zone or not, you are in one. The benefit of not being rated in a flood zone is that you get that insurance at a significant discounted rate. Take advantage of it. Remember Hurricane Charley. It was supposed to hit Tampa head on. It changed course, made landfall in Port Charlotte and made its track up the center of the state. It flooded everything from Wimauma thru Orlando…all non-flood zones.

What is considered flood? Flood water damage is when 2 or more adjacent properties have standing water (2nd property can be the road). This means that if you have standing water, but your neighboring properties do not, you do not have flood coverage. Since it is ground water, it is also not covered by your homeowners’ policy either. Make sure that you have gutters on the house and proper drainage to prevent ground water intrusion that will not be covered by insurance.

Nearly every insurance carrier in the state has a vendor program. This is where reputable restoration companies are vendors for the insurance carrier and are sent out directly by the carrier to perform remediation. The restoration company agrees to the pricing & process guidelines of the carrier and the carrier guarantees payment of the emergency services of their vendors. We are happy to be on over 30 insurance vendor programs in the state of Florida.

During a named storm surge event, like a tropical storm or hurricane, a good number of insurance carriers in the state will turn off their vendor programs. The reason for this comes right from the information listed in this article. If a carrier sends out a vendor and guarantee’s payment of their bill, the carrier may be paying where they are not liable. It could be work that does not meet the hurricane deductible or not covered at all because it falls under flood insurance. Since it is so common, they will simply tell their policy holders to find a company to perform the remediation and restoration services.

At Lightning Restoration, we are proud to be the company of choice for hundreds of insurance carriers, insurance agents, property managers, home builders, home inspectors, realtors and most importantly… homeowners in our community. Our promise to our neighbors is to always act promptly and morally to help you through one of the most challenging times you will face. We take the weight off your shoulders and put it on ours. Our extensive knowledge and organization helps us navigate those confusing claims waters.

Remember to Demand the Lightning Van during your time of need.
Water, Mold, Fire & Biohazard Restoration Specialists.
(855) 850-LTNG (5864)

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