Last updated 9 months ago
If water is on the loose in your home, you could soon be paying the price. Even modest leaks from plumbing or roofing can cause serious damage and lead to dangerous mold growth. So what can you do about it? Be on the lookout for signs of water damage, protect vulnerable pipes from freezing and busting when the temperature drops, and call a professional if you see or smell mold.
Water Damage
Drywall, stucco, and nearly all building materials can be damaged by moisture. Moisture penetrates wood and other materials over time, causing them to swell, warp, and rot. The result is serious structural damage. The solution is to stop the source of the leak, dry out the structure, remove the already damaged material to keep the problem from spreading, and restore the structural integrity of the building.
High Humidity
While some humidity in homes is perfectly fine, relative humidity levels above 50% should be avoided because they promote condensation and damp conditions that contribute to itchy skin, dust mite growth, water damage, and mold. Levels over 100% cause humidity to condense into liquid. High humidity levels also make a home less comfortable to live in and air conditioners less effective at cooling.
Mold Growth
Where there’s water, fungal spores, and a comfortable temperature, there’s usually mold growth. Uninhibited moisture creates the perfect conditions for mold to thrive, especially if the source of the moisture is hidden in wall voids, basements, attics, and other nooks and crannies. High levels of mold are dangerous. When breathed in, mold spores can cause upper tract respiratory problems in otherwise healthy people, according to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.
DASO Restoration offers Long Island flood and water damage restoration and extraction services. Give us a call if you discover serious damage from a water leak or experience flooding in your home or business. We also offer mold removal, fire damage clean up, asbestos and lead abatements, and bed bug removal services. Talk to one of our friendly team members about your water damage problem at (718) 893-0252.
Last updated 9 months ago
Do you ever wish you could ask the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention anything you wanted? Through iTunes, you can receive official information on a variety of subjects, including mold.
If you experience water damage or flooding in your home, look to the CDC for information about mold. Mold can be dangerous to your health, especially if you already suffer from allergies or asthma. Listen to the CDC’s iTunes podcast for facts and recommendations concerning mold and how to deal with it.
Have your mold safety removed by the professionals at DASO Restoration. Our New York team will detect and mitigate the mold in your home. We also offer water damage and fire damage cleanup. Give us a call today at (718) 893-0252.
Last updated 10 months ago
Bed bugs have made an unprecedented return since WWII. New pest treatments virtually eradicated the bugs in the late 1940s, but they’ve since made a comeback in North America and around the world. Have bed bugs made it as far as your home?
Morning Bites
If you wake up with red spots on your body that weren’t there the night before, you might have bedbugs. The carbon monoxide you exhale while sleeping smells really good to bed bugs; that’s how they know how to find you. The tell-tale sign of bed bug bites is a series of red, sensitive bumps in a relatively straight line.
Brown Spots on Your Sheets
After a bed bugs feeds, it changes color from a light tan to a blood-soaked brownish red. Feeding every three hours or so, bed bugs relieve themselves as they get full and leave tiny spots of stained blood behind.
Dark Specks in Your Bed Seams
Little clusters of dark specks behind your head board, in the seams of your bed, or anywhere on or around your bed for that matter may actually be bed bugs. Take a closer look. They’re easier to see after they feed because they’re swollen with blood. If you actually see bed bugs, chances are you have an infestation because they’re normally quite elusive. Call a professional for help.
Used Furniture
Bed bugs can live for several months without feeding. They aren’t very good travelers, so they’d rather stay where they are and wait for you to come to them. That’s why you have an increased risk of developing a bed bug problem when you bring in used furniture. Make sure to inspect used furniture for bed bugs before buying.
DASO Restoration offers bed bug removal solutions. We understand the importance of eradicating bed bugs in your home or business, so we make ourselves available seven days a week, 24 hours a day. We also provide emergency services for water damage, fire and smoke cleanup, mold removal, and asbestos abatement. Give us a call today at (718) 893-0252 for more information.
Last updated 10 months ago
As you know, hurricane season began on June 1st. Due to our moderate and warm winter, the season is unpredictable. However, depending on the severity of these storms, they can be very catastrophic and upsetting as we've recently seen from Hurricane Irene.
Below is some useful information that we encourage you to read as it explains how to prepare for these types of situations if and when they occur. And remember, we at DASO Restoration are and will be available 24/7 should you need any assistance. Call us today at (718) 893-0252.
Here are some simple measures you can take now to ensure that your family is ready for hurricane season:
1. Select a safe place for the family to weather the storm. This may be a location in your home -- consider a windowless room on the bottom floor. If your home doesn't have a safe area, you should know the locations of at least two emergency shelters near your home. If you have special medical needs and don't think you'll be able to get to the shelter on your own, contact the county in advance to make prior arrangements.
2. Stock up on food and water. You should have enough non-perishable food and water in your home to last the family for at least a week. If your stock of supplies is old, be sure to refresh it. You might want to purchase new canned goods every few years and rotate the rest through your pantry. Water should be replaced annually.
3. Prepare other disaster supplies. You'll need to stock up on batteries, flashlights, rope, tarps, plastic bags, bad-weather clothing and other essentials to help you through the aftermath of a bad storm.
4. Get your home ready. If you have hurricane shutters, make sure that you have all of the parts and have some extra screws/washers handy. If you don't, have a supply of plywood precut to fit your windows. Gather anything loose from your yard and store it in the garage. Watch the news when a storm is approaching and protect your home when advised by local authorities. If you wait until the rain starts, it may be too late.
5. Develop a family communications plan. You might become separated before or after the storm. It's a good idea to have an out-of-state contact (a relative up north?) to act as the point of contact for all family members in the event of an emergency. Make sure everyone in the family knows who that person is and carries their phone number in their wallet or purse.
6. Check your insurance coverage. Companies stop writing coverage when a storm is approaching. Ensure that your homeowner's insurance has enough windstorm coverage to rebuild your home in today's market. Also, remember that standard insurance doesn't cover flooding. You'll need special flood insurance from the federal government.
7. Plan for the family pets. Shelters will not accept pets. However, there will be Pet Shelters in close proximity to the Human shelters for your pets. The best idea is to evacuate early to a friend's home that's located in a safe area.
8. Keep your vehicles gassed up to at least half a tank at all times throughout hurricane season. When a storm approaches, lines WILL get long (up to five hours!) and gas stations will run out of gas before the storm hits. You need to have enough gas to safely evacuate if the situation warrants.
Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit:
-Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
-Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
-Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
-Flashlight and extra batteries
-First aid kit
-Whistle to signal for help
-Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
-Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
-Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
-Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
-Local maps
-Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger
Additional Items to Consider Adding to an Emergency Supply Kit:
-Prescription medications and glasses
-Infant formula and diapers
-Pet food and extra water for your pet
-Cash or traveler's checks and change
-Important family do
cuments such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container. You can use the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) - PDF, 277Kb) developed by Operation Hope, FEMA and Citizen Corps to help you organize your information.
-Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov.
-Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
-Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
-Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
-Fire Extinguisher
-Matches in a waterproof container
-Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
-Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
-Paper and pencil
-Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children
Find out how to keep food safe during and after an emergency by visiting FoodSafety.gov.
