Standing water inside of a home anywhere is a nuisance and most homeowners do not appreciate the liquid’s intrusion. It can happen almost anywhere, but most of the time the leaking of water into your house is completely preventable and the ability to repair it is always there.
Standing water not only causes water damage to the floor and walls, but it can also become a healthy breeding ground for mold. Stachybotrys atra is known for having a love of standing water and this is one of the last molds that you want growing in your house. While this mold is not as common as other genii of mold such as Cladosporium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium, it is not a rare one. It generally appears on items that have a high amount of cellulose content, such as dust, wood, paper on drywall, and etcetera. It requires almost constant moisture for days or weeks in order to start growing.
The health problems caused by Stachybotrys atra can be anything from coughing, runny noses, wheezing, and etcetera all the way to serious respiratory infections, rashes, and other serious health conditions.
Removing standing water from your home should be done as quickly as possible in order to prevent this mold growth and to prevent water damage. There are a few different causes of standing water.
If there is standing water in the basement after a heavy rain, then the cause could be that water is leaking into the basement through the foundation near the surface. This generally happens when water settles in around the base of the home in pockets because the soil is not piled high enough around the house. Water should not be allowed to settle around the house in this manner, so pile soil up around the foundation so that water runs down and away from it. Another good thing to do to keep this from happening is keeping your rain gutters cleared out as often as is necessary to keep them unclogged. Installing downspout extensions can also help run the water away from the home.
A cause of chronic standing water in the basement could be an underground spring leaking through the wall. There may not be much that you can do about this other than to have a drainage system installed. Do not assume that one type of drainage system fits all types of home constructions, because it does not. Talk to a contractor and find out what they recommend.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Miami water damage restoration companies and
mold remediation companies across the united states.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Water Damage Prevention: Exhaust Fans
Keeping moisture out of your bathroom can be a big task, but installing an exhaust vent over the bath tub or the shower can be a tremendous help in this endeavor.
The purpose of the unit is to remove the steam from the bathroom so it does not become absorbed by the ceiling and walls in the bathroom and cause water damage. Mold growth is also a typical problem in the bathroom, so the exhaust fan will actually help you fight this second problem.
The quality of the fan is important. The quieter the fan’s operation, the higher the quality is. Some manufacturers do not put a noise rating on the packaging of the product, but most tend to do this to separate their high end exhaust fans from their basic ones. The other determining factor is how much air the exhaust fan will move per minute. The higher quality the fan, the more air it will remove from the room.
Ask yourself whether or not you want a light integrated into the fan unit. If so, then you might need a little bit of knowledge of how the electrical system in your house works. Purchasing a book on the subject is advised if you plan on installing the unit yourself.
If the fan is going to have a light in it, then it is a good idea to use the hole in your ceiling that should already exist from your original overhead light. If this does not exist or you want the fan separate from the light, you will create a hole with the jab saw. The electrical book you should have purchased should lay out the options on the kinds of switches you can use and how each one should be wired so you know you have continuity and that the wiring you install is correct.
After you are done wiring the fan, the exhaust duct kit will be installed next and this should come with instructions. This kit can be purchased at some hardware stores and home improvement stores.
Venting the air to the outside with the hose that came with the duct kit is not that difficult to do. Find the nearest soffit in your attic and cut a hole in it that follows the instructions that came with your duct kit. Attach the hose to it and you should be finished.
You will save a lot of money and time by installing this fan before water damage and mold becomes a problem in the bathroom. The damage caused by either can be quite extensive and expensive to repair.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Mold Remediation and
water damage restoration> companies across the united states.
The purpose of the unit is to remove the steam from the bathroom so it does not become absorbed by the ceiling and walls in the bathroom and cause water damage. Mold growth is also a typical problem in the bathroom, so the exhaust fan will actually help you fight this second problem.
The quality of the fan is important. The quieter the fan’s operation, the higher the quality is. Some manufacturers do not put a noise rating on the packaging of the product, but most tend to do this to separate their high end exhaust fans from their basic ones. The other determining factor is how much air the exhaust fan will move per minute. The higher quality the fan, the more air it will remove from the room.
Ask yourself whether or not you want a light integrated into the fan unit. If so, then you might need a little bit of knowledge of how the electrical system in your house works. Purchasing a book on the subject is advised if you plan on installing the unit yourself.
If the fan is going to have a light in it, then it is a good idea to use the hole in your ceiling that should already exist from your original overhead light. If this does not exist or you want the fan separate from the light, you will create a hole with the jab saw. The electrical book you should have purchased should lay out the options on the kinds of switches you can use and how each one should be wired so you know you have continuity and that the wiring you install is correct.
After you are done wiring the fan, the exhaust duct kit will be installed next and this should come with instructions. This kit can be purchased at some hardware stores and home improvement stores.
Venting the air to the outside with the hose that came with the duct kit is not that difficult to do. Find the nearest soffit in your attic and cut a hole in it that follows the instructions that came with your duct kit. Attach the hose to it and you should be finished.
You will save a lot of money and time by installing this fan before water damage and mold becomes a problem in the bathroom. The damage caused by either can be quite extensive and expensive to repair.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Mold Remediation and
water damage restoration> companies across the united states.
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