5 Landscaping Strategies To Prevent Your Home From Flooding

6/14/2022 (Permalink)

Plant a rain garden.

Ways To Protect Your Home From Water Damage

Outside flooding due to a severe rain storm can damage your Saxton, PA, home. However, you can protect your home from water damage with the following landscaping solutions.

1. Plant a Rain Garden
Rain gardens are eco-friendly, low-maintenance drainage solutions containing native plant species with deep roots that do not require frequent watering. These gardens collect and retain runoff from impervious surfaces, including

• Patios
  
• Driveways
  
• Roofs
  
• Sidewalks
  
  

Strategically placing rain gardens approximately 10 feet from your home creates a barrier protecting your home from flooding.

2. Lay Heavy Mulch
An absorbent layer of mulch over the soil surrounding your home traps rainwater before it can reach your home. Mulch consisting of heavy wood chips will not wash away, and underlying soil erosion is preventable when you divert rain spouts away from your foundation with extenders.

3. Maintain Healthy Grass for Natural Rain Drainage
Healthy grass absorbs large volumes of water and can efficiently prevent outside flooding. Applying fertilizer can strengthen grass root systems and increase their absorbency. Fertilizer also reduces bare patches on your lawn, causing the soil to become impervious to water and promoting flooding.

4. Level Your Yard
Rainwater traveling along the ground that slopes toward your home can quickly accumulate near the foundation before the soil can absorb it. Although plantings along the slope can slow the water's flow, leveling the ground is a better flood prevention strategy.

5. Build a Retaining Wall
Retaining walls can add beauty to your landscape and eliminate flooding by supporting the soil and preventing erosion. They can also accommodate drainage pipes that direct water into the ground away from your home.
Your landscape can play a vital role in protecting your home's exterior and interior from water damage. However, when outside flooding becomes a problem inside your home, a flood mitigation service in Saxton, PA, can clean your space and offer helpful advice about preventing future floods.

4 Sand Bag Alternatives That Will Protect Your Property From Flood Damage

4/22/2022 (Permalink)

Sandbags can be harder to remove.

Alternatives to Sandbags

For decades, business owners have used sandbags to limit flood damage to their properties. After all, they are easy to find and cheap to purchase.
Yet there are downsides to sandbags, as well. For starters, they can be quite heavy. A single sandbag may weigh around 29 pounds. Even if you are able to get the sandbags in place, they can be even harder to remove. That is because they are considered hazardous materials and cannot just be emptied into any Everett, PA, landfill.
Luckily, there are other ways to block floodwater and limit your need for cleanup and restoration services after a storm. Here are some alternatives to sandbags.

1. Plastic Poly Tubes

These long tubes can be filled with dirt or sand to make them higher. They can thus easily block the water from getting past a door. However, as with sandbags, they can be quite difficult to move into place.

2. Garbage Bags

For an inexpensive approach, try filling garbage bags with sand or dirt to create your own sandbag. This can take some time to do, so these bags are best for floods for which you can prepare well in advance. Still, making your own sandbags is cost-effective and should let you put more money back into your business.

3. Transportable Fences

These fences create a barrier that surrounds your premises and blocks water from entering. You can position them where you want, and setting them up does not require too much effort.

4. Flood Dams

You can even fight water with water by purchasing inflatable flood dams. Simply fill up these dams with water and place them around the perimeter of your property. This process is fairly quick and thus works well when you and your employees need to evacuate in a hurry.
When a flood is heading for your building, you do not need to use a sandbag to protect your property. The above alternatives could be just as effective.

How to Avoid Mold Issues in Your Facility

2/22/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO uses a variety of equipment to stabilize air moisture levels and prevent mold growth after storm or water damage!

Mold is a common issue in commercial buildings. Mold spores are a natural occurrence, and the only thing you can do is try to prevent mold growth in your structure in Bedford or Blair County, PA. Here are three things that you can do to avoid mold problems.

1. Keep the Building Clean

Mold needs food and moisture to survive, which is why you need to maintain a clean and dry environment. Vacuum once a week with a HEPA vacuum. However, how often you need to vacuum depends on how much and what kind of traffic your building sees. Thorough carpet cleaning should be performed at least once a year but more often if your building is highly trafficked. In addition to carpet cleaning, mats at doors for wiping feet should be cleaned and replaced on a regular basis.

2. Perform Regular Maintenance

Fix a leaky plumbing system or leaks in the building envelope as soon as possible to prevent excessive moisture and mold growth. Any condensation or wet spots need to be dried immediately as mold can grow within 24 hours. Have HVAC systems inspected regularly to detect mold or any potential for mold growth early. Part of this maintenance should also be the cleaning of air ducts. Mold can live off of the dust that collects in them and travel to other areas of the building. This is also why carpet cleaning is so important: carpets collect lots of dust.

3. Maintain a Hostile Environment

What this means is that you have to create an environment in which mold doesn’t have a chance to grow. Use a dehumidifier to keep the relative humidity level at bay, preferably below 60 percent. An ideal level would be between 30 and 50 percent. Any rooms in your building that are prone to high levels of moisture should be vented properly. Increased ventilation is also important when the outside air is cold and dry.

Because mold spores are part of our environment, it’s important to take these steps to prevent mold problems. Should you ever encounter issues with mold, a mold remediation professional can help you to successfully rid your building of mold.

What Exactly Is Mold?

2/15/2022 (Permalink)

This wall took on serious mold damage. SERVPRO remediates any kind of mold problem!

Everyone is aware of the dangers of mold, but do you know precisely what mold is and why it is dangerous? By understanding what mold is, you will have a better understanding of why it is so important to have professionals in Bedford County, PA handle mold cleanup. Additionally, you will know why black mold is so extremely dangerous.

Different Types of Mold

Mold comes in all shapes and sizes. Some of the most common varieties you will find in a commercial building include:

• Aspergillus
• Stachybotrys
• Cladosporium
• Serpula lacrymans

Mold is a type of fungus that typically results in discoloration, bad odors and a fuzzy appearance. To the naked eye, mold may appear dusty. The reason for this is that any kind of mold releases spores that enter the atmosphere. This is why you should avoid being in a room that has a significant moisture problem. Humans can breathe in the spores, and those spores can circulate throughout the rest of the building through the ventilation system.

Dangers of Mold Growth

If you are not careful, then fungus can quickly turn into black mold. The main different between these two variations is the type of spores they release. All types of mold produce toxins, but only more severe mold can product mycotoxins. These are organic compounds that are released directly into the surrounding atmosphere. As far as eliminating this mold, the solution will be the same as any other. Additionally, it is important to remember that while this variety is the only type that can produce mycotoxins, it does not necessarily mean it will automatically produce them once it has grown.

There is a lot of misinformation surrounding mold. If you have any questions whatsoever, then do not hesitate to get in touch with a professional black mold cleanup crew near you. You can have your commercial building inspected regularly to ensure mold never grows.

3 Tips for Preventing Mold Growth in a Rental Property

2/8/2022 (Permalink)

Storms can cause sever flooding, which can lead to mold growth. SERVPRO addresses the entire extent of the damage!

Whether you own a rental home or apartment complex in Bedford County, PA, you need to ensure your tenants have a safe environment. This means a house that is free of any water damage or mold growth. You, as the landlord, need to be proactive about mold prevention. It actually works in your best interest to prevent mold because you will save money and increase the chances of the tenants wanting to renew the lease.

1. Address Leaks Before Renting a Property Out

When you are between tenants in a property, you want to give the building a thorough inspection. During this examination, you should keep an eye out for any areas that are prone to leaking. This includes holes in the roof that could cause mold development in the attic. You also need to ensure the pipes are still in good working order. This kind of inspection should take place at least once annually.

2. Be Wary of Carpets

As the property owner, part of your mold prevention may require you to tear out carpets and replace them with hardwood. Even spilling a glass of water on a carpet can lead to mold growth. Even if only one area of the carpet has mold, the entire thing will need to be torn out, which can be costly.

3. Address Any Mold Immediately

It is unsafe for your tenants to be in a building with mold. Your tenants may even refuse to pay rent until the issue is handled. Therefore, you want to stay in the loop, and if your tenants tell you about a problem, then you need to take care of it immediately.

Mold prevention is much easier to handle than removal. In the event you do find mold in your rental property, you need to hire a professional crew right away so that your tenants will be happy and safe.

How To Deal With Mold Until a Professional Can Remove It

2/2/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can remediate any mold growth, like the one on this wall!

In just 24 hours, mold can develop within your commercial building in Bedford County, PA. You need to address this right away before black mold starts to grow, which is much more dangerous. You should leave mold cleanup to the professionals, but it may take a couple hours for someone to come out. In the meantime, there are steps you can take to prevent the mold from escalating further.

1. Shut Off the Building’s HVAC System

You may see mold on drywall and assume it is localized. However, that patch actually releases various spores into the atmosphere, and they can spread to various parts of the building through the air conditioning system. However, it is still good to air out the affected room, and you can open up windows to promote circulation. Additionally, you can also bring fans into the room to promote adequate airflow.

2. Keep People Out of the Room

Whether there is black mold in the basement or a bathroom, you want to put up caution signs informing people to stay out until a professional comes. It is dangerous to be in a room with a significant moisture problem, and you do not want to put your employees in harm’s way.

3. Do Not Apply Bleach to the Mold

You may think you will be helping the mold cleanup crew by applying bleach to the affected area beforehand. For starters, bleach is not as effective at removing mold as most people think. In fact, there are some circumstances where bleach will actually exacerbate the problem. Bleach is also toxic, and you need to be wary of breathing in any fumes.

The best thing you can do when there is black mold in your building is to stay out of its way until a professional crew comes around. Mold is considered an emergency, so you probably will not have to wait long.

3 Common Ways That Powerful Storms Can Damage Your Solar Panels

9/13/2021 (Permalink)

Once a major storm passes through Bedford County every home in the neighborhood can show you its destructive power.

Once a major storm passes through Bedford County every home in the neighborhood can show you its destructive power. However, if you’re curious about buying solar panels for your residence, knowing what kind of significant roof damage or panel destruction can be caused by brutal storms is of the utmost importance. Here are three general causes of solar panel damage, often inflicted by the intensity of Mother Nature’s outbursts.

1. Water damage due to insufficient sealants can force panels to fail. Given that panel seals aren’t vastly different from those of window panes, having outdated or cracking seals that allow water to seep through can create the beginnings of substantial panel damage. Degradation and short-circuiting can begin to appear as a result of this wet intrusion. Therefore, resealing panels on a regular basis is a crucial part of being a panel owner.

2. Intense hail storms can lead to faulty or destroyed panel faces. The onslaught of destructive hail on solar panels can wreak havoc on the surface of the glass, or simply break the panel altogether. If a powerful hail storm is expected, taking precautions by covering panels can help. However, unexpected hail storms can leave a panel owner frustrated, as there are not many options for preventing hail damage.

3. Falling debris can not only create significant roof damage but damage to panels, as well. If a strong storm passes through your town, any resulting debris such as broken tree branches, falling rocks or mud, etc. can become a serious hazard to panel glass. Even the simplest leaves and twigs can create micro-scratches on the panel surface. A good rule of thumb is to keep the solar glass in open areas and out from under large trees, if possible.

When you live in a place like Bedford County owning solar panels can be a great investment. However, panel damage due to intense storms is always a possibility. Therefore, these three common causes of panel destruction should often be considered before making a final decision for your home.

Three Ways Landscaping Can Be Used To Prevent Home Flooding

8/6/2021 (Permalink)

A flooded home in Bedford, PA.

Landscaping Can Help Prevent Flooding In Your Home In Three Ways

Flooding can be one of the costliest forms of damage that can happen to a home in Bedford, PA. While a homeowner can work to prevent other forms of water damage with regular maintenance and inspection of plumbing and HVAC systems, outside flooding, which can be just as costly as internal damage, can be prevented in other ways. Here are three types of landscaping that can help prevent this type of flooding.

1. Artificial Means of Drainage

There are two different ways that a homeowner can use constructed means to drain excess water. One option is diverted rainspouts. These useful instruments divert the excess from outside flooding away from walls and down inclines. Secondly, a homeowner can use a specially constructed driveway to allow for greater rain drainage. Both options can also add little aesthetic touches to a home.

2. Low-Maintenance Options

If a homeowner is on a budget in terms of time, there are other great options to explore. Heavy mulch in the flower beds around the home can absorb a great deal of excess water. Another possibility is adding swales around the property. Swales are depressions that are usually found around the borders. After a heavy rain storm, the water should drain into the depression rather than stagnating on top of the grass.

3. Beautiful Long-Term Additions

If a homeowner has a green thumb or is willing to invest more for long-term additions, these options may be of interest. Adding on a green roof – what is essentially a lawn on top of the home – can help soak up the excess water after heavy rain. On top of this, it can be a beautiful feature. Another option is creating a rain garden out of native plant life. By placing the “thirstiest” plants in the middle of a declined space, the water has an easier time filtering into the soil.

All of these options are great ways a homeowner can work from the outside to prevent water damage. However, it’s always a good idea to seek out professional help if more information is needed about how to prevent damage due to outside flooding.