With the winter season comes the risk of burst pipes. When temperatures dip below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, there’s a chance of your pipes freezing. When this occurs, it causes the water inside the pipes to expand by approximately nine percent. This increased water volume ultimately causes the pipes to burst. If you’re dealing with burst pipes this winter, contact an experienced water damage restoration professional for help.
Here are a few ways you can prevent your pipes from freezing this winter season:
The easiest way to prevent pipes from freezing is to make sure they are properly insulated. Exposed pipes have a higher probability of freezing than those that aren’t. Make sure pipes located in your unheated crawl space and garage are insulated with foam pipe covers and insulating pipe wraps. When you’re insulating pipes, a good rule of thumb is to remember that pipes located in unheated areas are most at risk of bursting.
Running your faucets helps to keep a steady flow of water moving through the pipes. Letting your faucets drip is enough to keep them from freezing. Keep an eye on the weather forecast so you know when to drip your faucets. Once temperatures go above freezing, you can shut your faucets off.
Maintaining your home’s interior temperature is another easy way to prevent your pipes from freezing. Most experts agree that you should keep your interior temperature between 60 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent your pipes from freezing. While you may be inclined to lower the thermostat when you’re not home, try to avoid this. By keeping your temperature the same throughout the day and evening, your pipes won’t have as high a chance of freezing.
Since many pipes are hidden behind cabinet doors, they can easily freeze because they’re getting constant exposure to cold air instead of warm. Leaving your cabinet doors open helps warm up the pipes so they don’t freeze. In fact, some studies have confirmed that leaving cabinet doors open made a nine-degree difference.
If the weather gets too cold, homeowners can use a product called heat tape to prevent their pipes from freezing. Heat tape wraps around the pipes and keeps them warm. If you decide to use heat tape, be mindful that it can be hazardous if it gets too hot. It’s important to read up on how to properly install this before use or to hire a professional plumber to install them for you.
Water damage from burst pipes is common during the winter. If you have a burst pipe, don’t fret. The team at Green Genie Environmental can help. Our team is trained to properly clean water damage and prevent mold growth. Call us today at (716) 466-6653 to schedule an appointment.
The winter season in New York is very cold. It’s not uncommon for temperatures to dip below freezing. As the cold weather draws near, it’s smart to be on the lookout for signs of water damage. If your home is damaged from a water leak or burst pipe, an experienced water damage restoration company can help.
Here are the most common types of water damage caused by cold weather:
When temperatures reach a maximum of 20 degrees Fahrenheit, expect your pipes to freeze. Freezing temperatures, such as the ones that the great state of New York experiences, causes interior pipes to freeze if they are not properly insulated. When these pipes freeze, it can cause the water inside the pipes to expand by a whopping nine percent. This becomes too much for the pipes to handle, which in turn, causes them to burst.
Frozen/burst pipes are incredibly common during the winter season. However, there are a few steps you can take to avoid them. First, make sure your pipes are adequately insulated. Second, leave your cabinet doors open and drip the faucet. This will help keep the water flowing and allow warm air to reach the pipes. This will thaw them out.
Melting snow is another common cause of water damage during the winter season. When the snow melts, it turns to water and can seep into your home’s foundation. If left untreated, the melted snow can cause your foundation to crack. When it accumulates on your roof, melting snow can also damage your roof and seep through the ceiling. It can also result in mold, which if left alone, can trigger allergies, worsen respiratory conditions, and eat away at your carpet, wooden structures, and ceilings.
If you experience a snowstorm this winter season, be sure to remove snow away from your home before it starts to melt. This can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.
Sometimes, water damage during the winter isn’t caused by burst pipes or melting snow, but rather miscellaneous sources of water. These include everything from water hoses to water valves. For example, water valves and hoses that are subjected to freezing weather can burst due to the water’s rapid expansion. Depending on where these are located near the house, they could seep into your foundation and cause it to crack.
Whether it’s the result of melting snow or freezing temperatures, water damage is a headache to deal with during the winter season. If your home experiences water damage, the professional water damage restoration experts at Green Genie Environmental can help.
We only use eco-friendly, sustainable methods of disinfecting areas affected by mold and water damage. We understand how busy the winter season can be, which is why we will work quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem. Call us at (716) 466-6653 to schedule an appointment.
There’s nothing fun about finding mold on your wooden floorboards, walls, or other structures. It’s a misconception that mold can cause wooden structures to rot. In reality, the presence of mold could be a warning sign that rot is imminent. This is because mold needs moisture to form. If you notice mold on household wood, it’s time to call a professional mold services company for help.
Here are the top signs of mold on wood:
As mentioned above, mold needs moisture to survive. Mold thrives in dark, humid temperatures like closets and attics. Unfortunately, these areas usually feature wooden beams, rafters, and other structures. If there is a presence of moisture as a result of a burst pipe behind a wall or a roof leak, you should inspect your wood as soon as possible. Any time wood is exposed to heat and moisture, it could be a sign that mold is right around the corner.
Mold is often recognized by its foul, musty odor. If you smell this any time you approach something wooden in your house, it could be a sign that it’s infested with mold.
Damage and discoloration are also common signs of mold growth on wood. This discoloration is usually white, so it will be easily recognizable the moment you see it.
Mold tends to grow on the surface of wood, and feeds off of structural polymers, sugars, and proteins. The best way to see if there’s mold on wood is if you find areas with visible black, white, green, orange, or purple spots. Sometimes, what may seem like mold may not even be mold at all.
This is known as staining. While the discoloration that staining gives may be easy to mistake for mold, staining isn’t hazardous since the discoloration doesn’t come from a biological source like mold does. Sources of staining include minerals, fasteners, naturally occurring enzymes, exposure to the sun, and can even just be generated by the wood itself.
There are a few things you’ll notice if it’s just staining:
It’s not fun to find mold on any of your surfaces, but especially not on wood. Since these wooden structures can succumb to rot after time, not treating mold at the onset can cost you a lot of time and money. If you have mold in your home, contact the mold services team at Green Genie Environmental. We only use eco-friendly methods of mold removal. Give us a call today at (716) 466-6653 to schedule a mold removal appointment.
As a cat or dog owner, it goes without saying that you love your pet. Pets are a part of the family. As such, you want to protect their physical health and well-being. Like humans, pets can also be affected by mold. However, many chemicals used to treat mold are just as harmful to your pet. This is why eco mold removal is beneficial for everyone involved.
Experts say that black mold is the most toxic to animals. However, black mold is an umbrella term used to describe several different types of mold. In most cases, when someone mentions black mold they’re referring to a specific strand called Stachybotrys chartarum. This type of mold is usually green and usually grows after water damage. It’s most commonly found in attics, bathrooms, and kitchens.
The problem with Stachybotrys chartarum is that it sometimes produces mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are dangerous if digested. Oftentimes, mycotoxins grow on spoiled foods like cheese. If your dog eats this, could experience a number of symptoms such as muscle spasms and tremors.
Whether they breathe in mold spores or ingest them, pets will exhibit several common symptoms of mold exposure. These include:
Your dog or cat may also experience traditional allergies symptoms such as sneezing or watery eyes. One of the worst symptoms your pet could suffer is a pulmonary hemorrhage. Common signs of this include vomiting and fainting.
Many cleaners can remove mold form your home. However, many can prove fatal for your pet. Bleach – one of the most common mold cleaners – can be very dangerous for your cat or dog if accidentally ingested. When cleaning mold yourself, your pet may accidentally step in the residue. When this happens, they lick their paw to clean them, unknowingly ingesting an incredibly toxic substance.
Any household cleaner that contains the following ingredients can be harmful to your pet:
When you’re protecting your pet from mold, you don’t want them to suffer by accidentally ingesting the cleaner. An eco-friendly mold removal company can give you peace of mind. At Green Genie Environmental, we only use eco-friendly products and methods of mold removal and remediation. If you’re looking for an eco mold removal company, Green Genie Environmental can help. Call us today at (716) 466-6653 to schedule an appointment.
Water leaks are always unexpected. However, you may be surprised by the types of damage they cause. If your home recently suffered a water leak, you need to be aware of the possible damage it can cause your wallet, home, and everything in your space. When the unexpected happens, remember that a water damage restoration company like Green Genie can help.
Mold and mildew are one of the most common types of damage resulting from a water leak. However, you might not realize you have mold until it’s too late. Mold damage is often hidden underneath floorboards, on ceiling tiles, and behind walls. This is because those spots are where water damage is most likely to occur. If you notice mold inside your home, it can cause serious health problems, which leads us to our second point…
Mold can develop in as little as 24 hours after water exposure. When it grows, it can worsen respiratory conditions such as lung cancer and asthma. Furthermore, mold growth can also trigger allergies and cause difficulty sleeping and concentrating. Mold also causes anxiety and depression.
If you or anyone in your household is routinely getting sick or unusually tired or unfocused, it may be a sign of a mold infestation.
You might not realize you have a water leak until you look at your water bill. A slow water leak will cause your water bill to skyrocket. A water leak may also cause your other utility bills to increase, since water damage caused by a roof leak may damage your insulation and force you to keep the heat on.
While it’s not the traditional damage you might think of, a water leak can cause a lot of damage to your wallet and cost you expensive out-of-pocket repairs.
An unexpected water leak can cause your home to suffer structural damage. This can damage your electrical systems, rafters, and ceiling joists. Water damage can also cause damage to your drywall that requires it to be completely gutted and replaced.
If water got into your home through a hole in your ceiling or roof leak, you should be on the lookout for ceiling damage. A roof water leak can ruin your lights and ceiling fans, as well as damage tile. It can also cause ceiling tiles to collapse, which could create serious damage to your home and yourself.
You never expect a water leak to occur. When it does, you need a professional you can rely on. Green Genie Environmental only uses eco-friendly methods of treating water damage and getting your home back to normal. If you’ve encountered an unexpected water leak, call the water damage restoration professionals at Green Genie Environmental for assistance. We can be reached at (716) 466-6653.
In many cases, you don’t catch closet water damage until it’s too late. Closet water leaks aren’t caused by a leak in the closet themselves. They are most often the result of pipe damage behind the walls or a water leak in an adjoining room such as your kitchen, laundry room, or bathroom. Unfortunately, when you don’t notice a closet water leak in time, mold grows quickly due to the low visibility and humidity. This is just one reason you need a water damage restoration professional to come out. Here are some others.
Though we mentioned it earlier, mold growth is one of the main reasons you should hire a water restoration company if your closet suffered water damage. Mold is a type of fungal bacteria that grows when it’s exposed to water and rising levels of humidity. Unfortunately, your closet is the perfect place for this since it doesn’t get adequate circulation.
If your closet is infected with mold, your clothes can develop a mildewed smell that makes them unwearable. Furthermore, mold spores can trigger allergies and cause respiratory conditions, such as lung cancer and asthma, to get worse. If you discover mold, you need to call a water damage restoration company as soon as possible.
Both water and mold can cause structural damage to your home, especially your closet. Water can cause structural damage to the interior of your closet by damaging the walls, insulation, and drywall. Likewise, mold can eat away at wallpaper and your closet’s carpets.
Because you’re probably not inspecting every inch of your closet regularly, it can be easy to let these problems get worse without realizing it. A water damage restoration company can remove the water from your closet and properly disinfect these areas to make sure all the excess moisture is removed. Just remember: if you notice bubbling wallpaper, streaks, or a foul, musty odor inside your closet, it may be a sign of a water leak.
Not every water leak is out in the open. Sometimes, they’re in really difficult-to-reach spots like your bedroom or hallway closet. Fortunately, professionals have the proper tools to treat water damage in tight spaces, such as your closet. This lowers the risk of accidentally missing a spot if you clean it yourself.
Sometimes, you might not have the right equipment at home to properly deal with and treat water damage. If this is the case, hiring a water restoration professional is necessary. Water restoration professionals have dehumidifiers, strong disinfectants, and pressure cleaners to resolve the issue.
If you recently discovered mold or water damage inside your closet, call the water damage restoration pros at Green Genie Environmental for help. We only use eco-friendly methods of water damage removal. Get in touch with us at (716) 466-6653.
Mold not only destroys your home but it can negatively affect your children’s health. If you discover mold inside your home, you don’t want to use a bunch of harmful chemicals to get rid of it. Eco mold removal can safely remove mold from your premises, so you and your children can live in a mold-free home. If you’re a parent, here are the most common health effects of mold in children you should be aware of:
Mold commonly causes respiratory illnesses in both adults and children. Black mold exposure can have serious consequences for young children, particularly newborns, as it increases their risk of developing hemorrhagic pneumonia. Tragically, this can lead to death.
At first, your child may mimic symptoms of allergies or the flu. These respiratory symptoms include:
If your child develops these symptoms but doesn’t get better in a reasonable amount of time, it may be a sign that it’s being caused by mold exposure.
Mold exposure can cause irritated skin, especially in young children. Children may present with rashes or suffer from constant itching. Unfortunately, the eyes can also be affected. A child suffering from eye irritation caused by mold exposure may experience:
If a child is exposed to toxic black mold, they can develop neurological conditions. This is because the trichothecene mycotoxins kill off neurons, which ultimately impair brain function. This is one of the most serious health effects of black mold exposure and can cause the following symptoms in children:
The side effects mentioned above are serious, but unfortunately, they’re not the only ones you should look out for. Over time, mold exposure can also cause children to experience:
Furthermore, if your child is always getting sick with cold or flu-like symptoms, it may be a sign that they are immunocompromised as a result of the toxic black mold exposure.
Unfortunately, there is no single sign of mold exposure, so it’s important to keep an eye out for any of the symptoms mentioned above. If your child is experiencing any of the above symptoms, the last thing you want is to expose them to more harmful chemicals. That’s why you should turn to Green Genie Environmental for all your eco mold removal needs.
At Green Genie Environmental, we only use eco-friendly methods of removing mold from your premises. If your home is suffering from mold exposure, don’t wait. Call us today at (716) 466-6653.
Black mold is the most common type of mold that grows in bathrooms. Black mold is a type of fungi that typically develops in residential households. When it develops, these toxic mold spores can trigger allergies. It can also make existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma, worse. Worst of all, mold can slowly eat away at your ceiling tiles. This causes them to cave in. If you recently noticed black mold on your bathroom ceiling, it’s time to call an eco mold removal company for help.
Here are the top causes of black mold on bathroom ceilings:
Excessive humidity causes black mold to grow. A humidity level of anything above 55 is enough for black mold to grow. HVAC systems can affect humidity levels indoors, causing them to change from room to room. Keep an eye on humidity levels in different rooms to prevent the growth of black mold. Also, keep your bathroom well ventilated. This will keep black mold at bay and prevent it from growing.
Mold thrives in dark conditions. This makes your bathroom a prime location, since the lights are usually off when not in use. If your bathroom ceiling recently suffered a leak, the room’s natural darkness can exacerbate mold growth. One way you can combat this growth is by adding a few fresh plants. Plants help purify the air by absorbing toxins.
Black mold grows in moist conditions. If not treated correctly, a water leak can cause block mold to grow on or inside your walls. Improperly remediated water damage can also promote the growth of black mold.
A water leak can be caused by:
While this is not an exhaustive list, these are a few of the most common causes of water leaks in residential and commercial properties.
The type of insulation you have installed can affect the possibility of mold growth. Mold will grow on fiberglass and rockwool. While proper insulation should prevent mold growth, insulation that is improperly sealed can promote humidity and moisture – two factors that can cause black mold to grow. While you can minimize this after the fact by trying to control things like humidity and moisture, using spray polyurethane foam to insulate can block out any holes or cracks that could allow moisture and humidity to get in.
Black mold can be toxic, which is why you don’t want to use chemicals to remove it. That’s why you need to contact the eco mold removal pros at Green Genie Environmental. Our technicians only use eco-friendly methods of mold removal. Give us a call today at (716) 466-6653 to schedule an appointment.
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