Candles are always beautiful, and they are especially abundant during the holiday season. The top five days for home candle fires are: Christmas, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Day, Halloween and December 23rd. During 2003-2007, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 15,260 home fires started by candles per year. These fires caused an annual average of 166 deaths, 1,289 injuries, and $450 million in direct property damage. Candles caused 4% of reported home fires, 6% of home fire deaths, 10% of home fire injuries, and 7% of direct property damage during this period. We all love the beauty of candles, but it is important to be careful!

So, as we get ready to enter this season, it is very important to keep safety in mind.

The National Fire Prevention Association recommends:

Cooking/Kitchen Safety:

• Always stay in the kitchen when cooking. If you must leave the kitchen for any reason, turn off the stovetop.
• No matter how you are cooking, check the food regularly. Use a timer to remind you to check the food.
• Wear short, close-fitting sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can easily catch fire.
• Never use water to extinguish a cooking fire.
• If oil starts to boil, remove it from the heat source. Simply lowering the heat will not reduce the temperature fast enough.
• Be careful not to overfill pots with oil. You need room in the pan to add food. Overflowing oil can easily catch fire. If oil catches fire, use an oven mitt to carefully slide a lid over the pan to smother the fire.
• If oil has overflowed and is burning, get everyone out of the house and call the fire department from outside.
• Keep towels, bags, plastic, and food packaging away from flame and heat.
• Never cook when under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication.

Candle Safety:
• Always keep a burning candle within sight – never leave it unattended.
• Never burn a candle near anything that can catch fire.
• Always use a candleholder specifically designed for candles and place on a stable, heat-resistant surface.
• Make sure a candle is completely extinguished and is no longer glowing before leaving it.
• Never use a candle as a night light.

Christmas Decoration Safety:
• When decorating, be sure to use only lights rated for indoor use.
• Replace any lights that have worn, frayed, or broken cords.

• Always unplug Christmas tree lights before leaving the home or going to bed.
• Keep live trees moist by watering daily. Do not purchase a tree that is dry.
• Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source.
• Safely dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles – dried out trees are highly flammable.
• Make sure artificial trees are fire retardant.
• Place the tree near an outlet to avoid running long extension cords.
• Do not burn a Christmas tree in a fireplace. They are practically explosive.

General Fire Safety:
• Install smoke alarms and test them once a month (pick a day, such as the first of each month).
• Change the batteries regularly – many experts recommend changing your smoke alarm batteries twice a year – when you change your clocks for Daylight Saving Time, and back.
• Have a dry or foam fire extinguisher in your kitchen. Check the expiration date to be sure it is current.
• Have an evacuation plan in case of a fire.
Practice the plan.

By knowing and using good safety practices, we can help to ensure that everyone has a joyous and safety holiday season.

In the event a fire should occur, it is important for property owners to know what to do, what not to do, and who to contact once it is extinguished. PuroClean, known as The Paramedics of Property Damage™, is a professional mitigation company specializing in property remediation after a home or commercial structure is damaged by fire and
smoke. Fire, along with the resulting smoke and soot, can rapidly harm household items – even after the fire has been extinguished. It is imperative to seek help immediately from a professional restoration company such as PuroClean to prevent further damage.

Regardless of the circumstances – dealing with fire/ smoke damage, water damage, or mold remediation – call your local PuroClean office. For all property damage situations, these professionals are standing by. They will mitigate the loss to prevent further damage and will then provide restoration services to return the property to a pre-loss condition as quickly as possible. All PuroClean offices have well-trained professional technicians who provide
the latest state-of-the-science services to all property damaged from water, fire, smoke, mold, and other disasters.

written by

Will Southcombe

Director of Technical Services,
PuroClean Headquarters
Master of Arts,
Master of Business Management,
Water Restoration Technician,
Applied Structural Drying,
Certified Microbial Remediator

In April 2010 a host of new training, certification and work practice requirements, specified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA), “Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Program” went into effect. As of that date, businesses involved in restoration, mitigation, renovation, etc., must apply for and receive EPA certification to disturb paint as part of their work whenever they are in pre-1978 homes or child-occupied facilities. In addition, all of these jobs must be supervised by EPA-certified renovators; individuals who have successfully completed an EPA-accredited, full-day training course. All workers on such a job site must be properly trained and equipped to follow the RRP Program’s lead-safe work practices when performing their assigned tasks.

Renovation is broadly defined as any activity that disturbs painted surfaces and includes most repair, remodeling and maintenance activities, including window replacement, as well as emergency services following damage caused by water or fire. Because the term “renovation” is defined so broadly, many Contractors who are not generally considered “Renovators,” as that term is commonly used, are considered to be “Renovators” under the RRP Program and must follow the rule’s requirements.

Under EPA’s RRP Program, both businesses and supervisors who perform (or direct other workers to perform) renovations must be certified by EPA. The certified construction firm is required to ensure (1) that all individuals performing activities that disturb painted surfaces on behalf of the firm are either certified Renovators or have been trained by a certified Renovator; (2) that a certified Renovator is assigned to each renovation project; (3) that the program’s recordkeeping requirements are met; and (4) that the pre-renovation educational materials are properly distributed (see below).

To become a certified Renovator, an individual worker must successfully complete an eight-hour initial Renovator training course offered by an accredited training provider. The course completion certificate serves as proof of certification. The certified Renovator is required to ensure that the renovation is performed in accordance with the work practice standards of the RRP Program. These requirements include pre-work testing to ascertain whether there is LBP present. If there is, then the requirements specify the use of warning signs and work area containment, the proper use of necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the restriction or prohibition of certain practices (e.g., high heat gun, torch, power sanding), proper handling of all waste materials, cleaning and specific, post-renovation cleaning verification. EPA’s rule does not require everyone involved in performing a regulated renovation project to receive training from an accredited training provider. The rule allows firms to use other workers to perform renovation activities, as long as they receive on-the-job training (OJT) in work practices from a certified Renovator.

In addition to specifying safe work practices and procedures, the EPA RRP Program also mandates that all businesses that perform mitigation/ restoration, renovation, repairs and painting jobs in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities must, before beginning work, provide owners, tenants and child-care facilities with a copy of EPA’s lead hazard information pamphlet, Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools. A copy of this pamphlet is available at: http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/
renovaterightbrochure.pdf.

Contractors must document compliance with this requirement using an EPA-approved form. This pamphlet outlines some of the potential  hazards that lead paint can pose to individuals, especially children.

In the case of an emergency situation (water damage, fire, etc.) there are a few exemptions from some of the rules. These exemptions focus mostly on the homeowner/occupant-educational requirements (the Renovate Right pamphlet). There are no exemptions from pre-work testing, safe work practices, cleaning requirements, etc. They also, of course, do not exempt a business from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Duty of Care: the responsibility of every business to ensure a safe work environment for its employees.

Be assured: All PuroClean businesses are in full compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency, Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rules, and all other regulations and laws. To ensure your peace of mind in all circumstances, with LBP or not; and to ensure full compliance with all EPA, OSHA and other regulations, and regardless of the circumstances — dealing with water damage, smoke/fire damage, mold remediation or biohazard mitigation — call your local PuroClean office, the Paramedics of Property Damage™. For all property damage situations, these professionals are standing by. They will mitigate the loss to prevent further damage and will then provide restoration services to return the property to a pre-loss condition as quickly as possible. All PuroClean offices have well-trained professional Technicians who provide the latest state-of-the-science services to all property damaged from water, fire, smoke, mold, and other disasters.

written by

Will Southcombe

Director of Technical Services,
PuroClean Headquarters
Master of Arts,
Master of Business Management,
Water Restoration Technician,
Applied Structural Drying,
Certified Microbial Remediator

The molds that cause problems in homes need just three things to grow:
Food – Anything that used to be alive (wood, cardboard, paper, wool, silk, leather, etc.).
Temperature - These molds thrive in the range of68°F to 86°F (the same range we typically keepour homes).
Water – Very little is needed. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicatesthat indoor humidity above 60% is sufficient to allow
mold to develop.

Since our homes normally contain a lot of potential mold “food,” and are normally kept at a temperatureconducive to mold growth, all that is missing is water.

Water is also the most likely cause of damage to property across the nation. It includes everything from overflowing sinks, to leaky or broken pipes/hoses, to drain or sewer back-ups, to over-ground water from heavy rains or river/coastal flooding. If the water is in contact with any form of dirt (remember, flood waters certainly contain lots of “dirt”), then the growth can occur even more quickly since dirt always includes
organic material – “mold food.”

In all cases, water damage must be remediated quickly and thoroughly or it will result in mold growth. Complete drying, back to normal conditions, is very important since any excess moisture will result in mold growth.

Mold is often seen as obvious “growth” or even “discoloration” on materials like paper or wood. Colors can range from white to orange and from green to brown and black, and it gives off the well-known “musty/moldy” smell.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC),” The Institute of Medicine (IOM) found there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, coughing, and wheezing in otherwise healthy people. The IOM also found limited or suggestive evidence linking indoor mold exposure and respiratory illness in otherwise healthy children.”

The CDC recommends that all molds found in the indoor environment be eliminated, adding, “Generally, it is not necessary to identify the species of mold growing in a residence, and the CDC does not recommend routine sampling for molds.” Since all molds have the potential to cause allergic or allergic-like symptoms in people, especially highly susceptible individuals, they should be eliminated whenever they are found. Knowing the name of the mold does not change anything since the same safety precautions should be used whenever remediating mold, regardless of the “name.”

Mold Prevention Tips
There is no practical way to eliminate all of the mold spores in an indoor environment. But there are many ways to help control moisture and mold growth in your home. The basic rule is: if you can see or smell mold, take steps to eliminate the excess moisture, and to clean and remove any mold. It is very important to quickly identify and correct any moisture sources before health problems develop.

Stop The Water

• Fix leaks in pipes and any damp area around tubs and sinks so mold spores don’t have agrowing environment.
• If you rebuild or remodel, do so with water-resistant building materials such as tile, stone,deep-sealed concrete, waterproof wallboard,
water-resistant glues, etc.
• Prevent seepage of water from the outdoors into your house. It’s important to have rainwater from gutters or the roof drain away from the house. The ground around the house needs to slope away to keep the basement and crawl space dry.
• Ventilate any crawl space as much as possible to allow for thorough drying.

Keep  It  Dry
• Reduce the moisture in the air with dehumidifiers, fans and open windows or air conditioners, especially in hot weather. Do
NOT use fans if mold may already exist; a fan will spread the mold spores.
• Try to keep the humidity in your home below 40%.
• In moisture-prone areas, consider easy-to-clean, water-resistant floor coverings, such as vinyl or stone tile.
• Reduce potential for condensation on cold surfaces by insulating.

Dealing  With Mold
• If you discover mold, the first step is to find and eliminate the water source, as above.
• Then, if it is a small area (less than about 10 sq ft), and you feel comfortable, clean the mold with a detergent solution and thoroughly
dry all materials.
• If it is larger than 10 sq ft, consider calling a professional mold remediation company, such as PuroClean, the Paramedics of Property
Damage™. Their well-trained, professional technicians understand and apply industry standard approaches to remediate mold completely, while being as safe for your home and your family as possible.

Regardless of the circumstances – dealing with mold, water damage, fire/smoke damage, or bio-hazard remediation – call your local PuroClean office, the Paramedics of Property Damage™. For all property damage situations, these professionals are standing by. They will mitigate the loss to prevent further damage and will then provide restoration services to return the property to a pre-loss condition as quickly as possible. All PuroClean offices have well-trained professional technicians who provide the latest state-of-the-science services to all property damaged from water, fire, smoke, mold, and other disasters.

written by

Will Southcombe

Director of Technical Services,
PuroClean Headquarters
Master of Arts,
Master of Business Management,
Water Restoration Technician,
Applied Structural Drying,
Certified Microbial Remediator

Before you do any of the following processes, it is very important to be safe. You will be dealing with some degree of biological contamination, and safety is even more important than usual. Certainly, you will want to wear gloves and eye protection. You also want to protect yourself from splashes or spills on your skin. And, finally, you should consider wearing an N-95 disposable respirator (available at Home Depot and
similar stores). While the risk of inhaling contaminants is slight, it does exist, and it is certainly best to be safe. The other purpose served by an N-95 is that it keeps splashes from contacting the mucus membranes of your mouth or nose. And, finally, it is a physical barrier that will stop you from accidentally touching your mouth or nose with your (potentially contaminated) hand or finger. That is a habit that is difficult to break, and the mask stops it from happening.

In every mal-odor situation, the first step is to remove the source. If pet urine odors are on nonporous surfaces (metal, plastic or vinyl, etc.), thorough cleaning is the first step, and it may be enough. Pet urine and skunk spray contain natural oils, so using a strong detergent is very important since those oils contain the odor and must be removed. Using very warm (but not dangerously hot) water will make the
cleaning faster and more effective. It may be necessary to clean the same area more than once. When finished, a final rinse with warm water helps remove the last bits of material, and it also removes any residue of the cleaning solution. This will prevent re-soiling since any residue will tend to attract dust and dirt.

Often the pet urine or skunk contamination is on porous materials, such as carpet, upholstery, drapes, particle board, etc. If it is on the surface of these materials, then cleaning, as above, is usually the first step. If cleaning is not successful, or if there is simply too much for the process to be successful, then you should call a professional restoration company such as PuroClean. In the case of carpet and pad with excessive pet urine damage, it is common that those materials are simply removed and disposed of as trash.

Semi-porous materials, such as wood (subfloor, 2×4’s in walls, etc.) are a little different. As always, start with cleaning as above. Use your solution liberally. One of the goals is to have the cleaning product penetrate these materials to the same extent as the odor material, to help neutralize all of the materials. If particle board is heavily damaged by any fluid, including urine or skunk, then it cannot be restored to

pre-loss condition and needs to be removed. If the job is too large or too complex, or if what you try doesn’t work, then you should seek assistance from a PuroClean professional restoration company. PuroClean professionals have specific training, specialized equipment and professional-grade products especially designed to help deal with cleaning and odor issues.

When you are dealing with an odor problem from decomposition, you should always consider calling PuroClean. If the situation involves a deceased person, then it is essential. After the proper authorities (coroner, medical examiner, etc.) have removed the body, then cleaning and
decontaminating the remaining fluids come under federal or state, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Blood and Other Potentially Infectious Material (BOPIM) regulations. These regulations specify the training, equipment, safety issues, and products that must be used to safely remove and decontaminate an area damaged by BOPIM.

If the source of the decomposition odor is a rodent or other small animal, the odor usually seems to be much larger! Even here, you may want to consider calling in a PuroClean professional restoration company. If you decide to “do it yourself,” then the approach is similar to the above. All of the safety items are extra important because of the decomposition materials. Damaged, absorbent materials are simply put in the trash. Semi-porous and nonporous materials need to be thoroughly cleaned and then sanitized with a disinfectant. OTC disinfectants are very effective and will result in a clean and sanitary surface.

If an odor is still present, then try an air freshener. If the problem persists, call PuroClean. PuroClean professionals will have special products as well as special equipment, such as ozone or hydroxyl generators that can be very effective in completing the deodorizing process.

Regardless of the circumstances – dealing with an odor problem, water damage, fire/smoke damage, or mold remediation — call your local PuroClean office, the Paramedics of Property Damage™. For all property damage situations, these professionals are standing by. They will mitigate the loss to prevent further damage and will then provide restoration services to return the property to a pre-loss condition as quickly as possible. All PuroClean offices have well-trained professional technicians who provide the latest state-of-the-science services to all property damaged from water, fire, smoke,mold, and other disasters.

written by

Will Southcombe

Director of Technical Services,
PuroClean Headquarters
Master of Arts,
Master of Business Management,
Water Restoration Technician,
Applied Structural Drying,
Certified Microbial Remediator

The EPA says that Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) is the mixture of smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar, plus the smoke exhaled by the smoker. It is a complex mixture of over 4,000 compounds, more than 40 of which are known to cause cancer in humans or animals, and many of which are strong irritants. ETS is often referred to as “secondhand smoke,” and exposure to ETS is often called “passive smoking.”

The smoke from tobacco clouds the air and sticks to every surface of the area. It is not only seen in the air; people can also see, smell, and feel a yellowish-brown, sticky substance that is left on all surfaces and furniture in areas where smoking has taken place. This extremely hard-to-remove residue discolors painted surfaces and plastics. It can permanently change the appearance of wallpaper, blinds, paint, and many other items in the area. The smoke can penetrate into furniture, carpets, walls, windows, and every other nook and cranny in the area. And the building’s HVAC system will carry the smoke odor and the residues throughout the structure. The contaminants are not only unsightly but can off-gas odors that many people simply find unbearable.

The end result of long term smoking in enclosed areas is much the same as that of an actual fire. Unfortunately, one difference is that the smoke from a fire is sometimes much easier to remove from walls or other surfaces than tobacco smoke. Removing tobacco residues can be a real challenge. It is very time consuming, as residues are present throughout the entire home, business, or other affected area.

Restoration professionals, insurance professionals and property owners should be aware, at the beginning of a tobacco-smoke cleanup project, that there is no magic bullet that just whisks away residues and smells. Though it would be nice to be able to plug in a “magic” machine or spray some “miracle” liquid to eliminate tobacco smoke problems, such products simply do not exist. The only effective way to remove tobacco residue and smell is through very thorough cleaning and then sealing all structural surfaces. Even though residues may appear to be concentrated in only one area, once cleaning starts it will normally be found that all areas are contaminated, and cleaning all surfaces will be necessary to remove contaminants and odors. The very tiny particles of tobacco smoke find their way into all areas. The cleaning process will always include deodorizing agents to help with that process. Even after thorough and successful cleaning, it is usually necessary to seal surfaces with a sealant designed to lock in the very last of the stains and odors. It is important to recognize that a normal “primer” is not sufficient, and a product designed to seal smoke residues is required. Finally, the surfaces will be ready to paint, refinish, or to apply new coverings.

The “soft” things in a home such as upholstery, bedding, window coverings, clothes, etc. will need special attention. Because they absorb odors so well, and are often easily damaged, they will be very difficult to successfully restore and may require outside specialists. Testing should be conducted to evaluate the success of such efforts. In many cases, the decision is made to simply replace these materials and items.

After the restoration professional has finished the cleaning, it may be necessary to use specialized, professional equipment to help remove the very last of the odors, often in areas that cannot be cleaned (inside joints, inside walls, etc.) This will often involve hydroxyl generators or ozone generators. Both are professional equipment that create molecules which can follow the smoke into tiny spaces, and both processes effectively destroy the malodorous particles.

As with every property loss, PuroClean restoration professionals help bring property back to a pre-loss condition. PuroClean restoration professionals are highly trained and skilled in procedures not only to remedy tobacco smoke odors, but to return property owners to their restored property cost-effectively and in the shortest time possible.

Regardless of the circumstances — dealing with tobacco smoke or other fire/smoke damage, water damage, mold, or biohazard remediation — call your local PuroClean office, the Paramedics of Property Damage^™. For all property damage situations, these professionals are standing by. They will mitigate the loss to prevent further damage and will then provide restoration services to return the property to a pre-loss condition as quickly as possible. All PuroClean offices have well-trained professional technicians who provide the latest state-of-the-science services to all property damaged from water, fire, smoke, mold, and other disasters.

written by

Will Southcombe

Director of Technical Services,
PuroClean Headquarters

Master of Arts,

Master of Business Management,

Water Restoration Technician,

Applied Structural Drying,

Certified Microbial Remediator

PuroClean Disaster Recovery Experts, a flooded basement company serving Thornton, Westminster, Broomfield, Commerce City, Denver and Colorado’s Front Range, recently advanced flooded basement technology into the 21st century. They purchased a new machine that completely re-thinks the way most companies dry flood water from homes and places of business. TES (Thermal Energy System) is a system that uses heat and air exchange far differently than conventional methods.

We live in a part of the country where our homes/businesses can be flooded by frozen/ruptured pipes or everyday accidents where pipes break and cause a flood situation. When faced with this problem, you should contact a restoration company to get he water out and dry your structure. The average restoration company will dry your home/business in 3-6 days. This length of time can create prime conditions for mold to grow in your home. However, PuroClean Disaster Recovery Experts now dries your home/business usually in just 24-48 hours! They are using the new revolutionary drying system called TES (Thermal Energy System). PuroClean Disaster Recovery Experts is the only company in our market that uses TES, to dry their customers’ homes and get them back to their regular everyday life quickly, and with less rick of mold.

Flooded Basement

Mold and structure damage can occur when water is trapped in a building for long periods of time like in flooded basement. The faster you dry the home, the less mold and structure damage you’ll have. Some restoration companies use other systems to heat up air in a building to reduce the drying time. What makes this new technology (TES) so different and exciting is that it applies heat directly to the water in the structure, not just the air. As a result, the heat (thermal energy) transfers energy to the water molecules trapped in the building material, thus exciting them and causing more of them to change from a liquid to a vapor. In school, you were taught that molecules in liquid form are constantly moving. The more you heat water, the faster the water molecules move. The faster they move, the faster the liquid changes to a vapor. It’s what’s known as escape velocity or, more commonly, evaporation. Once the water is hanging in the air in vapor form it can be blown out of the building and replaced with dry air.

What all this boils down to is that the time it takes to dry a building has now gone from a few days using conventional methods, to two days or less using TES. This of course depends on the size of the building and severity of the flood. It’s great news for anyone who suffered an ugly wake-up call from Old Mother Nature, e.g. flooded basement and frozen pipes or something as minor as a pipe leaking behind a refridgerator (sometimes no so minor!). If the insurance coverage on your home or business is up to date, flood emergencies should be covered by it. You need to make it clear to your insurance agent or adjuster that, whatever company they hire, you want the technology and advantages of TES. TES will reduce the drying time and get your life back to normal fast. The technology is out there, and because of PuroClean Disaster Recovery Experts, it’s now available in our area.

TES is a break-through product made by Bridgepoint Systems, a Salt Lake City company that manufactures chemicals and equipment for cleaning and restoration professionals. If you have questions regarding TES, how it works, or about PuroClean Disaster Recovery Experts, please call us at 303-566-9600.

To watch an informative video on our TES system please click here

For all of your Flooded basement needs please call us today 303-566-9600

Biohazard remediation

falls within the scope of the BOPIM standard.

The standard provides regulations to protect workers from the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens such as the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and many others. The BOPIM standard has several requirements, including:
• The use of work practice controls
• The use of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Proper handling, transport, and disposal of hazardous medical waste materials
• Specific required vaccinations
• Mandatory training
• Record keeping
Hazardous medical waste includes blood and other potentially infectious materials, such as spinal fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, and other body fluids. PuroClean restoration professionals are aware that these materials may cause infection to others. During the cleanup process, proper steps are required to always maintain the safety of workers or other individuals near the cleanup site. All biohazard materials are assumed infectious and are treated accordingly.
As with any type of property damage, PuroClean restoration professionals ensure that their actions do not compound the sense of loss of the property owners. In traumatic situations associated with BOPIM cleanup, PuroClean restoration professionals are exceptionally sensitive to the things they say and do – especially remembering that those involved may be emotionally vulnerable. It is important to show extra care and understanding at every stage of this type of cleanup. If others are at the location, PuroClean restoration professionals empathize with the traumatic situation these people are dealing with.
It is essential to use proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to help ensure the safety of workers. PPE is necessary in complying with OSHA regulations and worker safety, but varies from job to job, depending on conditions. PPE should always include full-face protection, gloves, properly designated waterproof coveralls that include feet and head protection, and if necessary, a respirator with appropriate filters. The objective of wearing PPE is to avoid potential infection by ensuring that no hazardous material enters the body through skin, eyes, mouth, nose, or any other area.
The proper use of PPE, along with comprehensive training in handling hazardous medical waste, is vital during restoration. An initial assessment will identify immediate areas of concern and determine the scope of the work involved. Once a plan is in place, remediation efforts begin as quickly as possible.
PuroClean professionals start with an initial sanitization for worker safety. All potentially infectious materials are then carefully removed from the site. Hazardous medical waste is handled in compliance with OSHA regulations, appropriately processed, and sent to a licensed hazardous medical waste incinerator. Porous materials such as fabric and carpeting are removed in accordance with industry standards and government regulations. All other affected materials that are not considered hazardous medical waste are either removed or professionally decontaminated and sanitized, depending on the situation. Remaining materials such as drywall and flooring may be sealed – usually for cosmetic reasons to cover any stains from the incident.
Typically, the removal of contaminated materials, along with cleaning and sanitizing, sufficiently controls odors. In some cases, additional deodorization may require hydroxyls or ozone processes.
As with any property loss, PuroClean restoration professionals can help bring an unfortunate situation to a satisfactory solution. PuroClean restoration professionals are trained to clean up after traumatic events in a highly professional manner. They know how to remediate biohazard situations safely and in accordance with all applicable laws and standards. If you have a homeowner or business owner with a biohazard loss, call your local independently owned and operated PuroClean office for prompt and professional service.
Regardless of the circumstances – dealing with biohazards, remediating mold, responding to water damage, or fire/smoke damage – call your local PuroClean office, the Paramedics of Property Damage™. For all property damage situations, these professionals are standing by. They will mitigate the loss to prevent further damage and will then provide restoration services to return the property to a pre-loss condition as quickly as possible. All PuroClean offices have well-trained professional Technicians who provide the latest state-of-the-science services to all property damaged from biohazard remediation, water, fire, smoke, mold, and other disasters.
written by
Will Southcombe
Director of Technical Services, PuroClean Headquarters
Master of Arts,
Master of Business Management,
Water Restoration Technician,
Applied Structural Drying,
Certified Microbial Remediator
Copyright © 2003-2010. All rights reserved in all countries.
Reproduction of the material is prohibited without prior permission.

A phenomenon that can occur from Autumn through Spring is ice dams on the roofs of homes. Ice dams can cause damage to structures that can be very severe. Following is some important information about ice dams, how they can be prevented, and who to call if one should cause damage to your home.

What is an ice dam, and how does it form?

When snow accumulates on a roof, a cycle of melting and refreezing occurs. In a perfect world, the snow would melt off the roof, enter the gutters, and flow harmlessly to the ground. However, two key factors can interact to cause problems: the outside air temperature and the temperature of the inside of your attic.

The warmer your attic is, the more melting will occur. Normally, the resulting water would flow off the edge of the roof. Under certain conditions, though, when outside air temperature is very low, the edge of the roof stays below freezing and the water refreezes when it gets to that point. This ice then forms a line, or “dam,” at the edge of the roof. As more snow melts, it also refreezes when it gets to the “ice dam,” and the dam keeps getting bigger.

Once this dam gets large enough, the melted snow that pools up behind it can force its way back under the roof shingles and then leak into your home!

Contrary to some popular opinions, gutters do not cause ice dams. However, an ice dam can extend into a gutter if weather conditions permit.

How can ice dams be prevented in the first place?

In many instances, the answer is… insulation and ventilation!

InsulatIon

Since the main cause of ice dams is an overly warm attic, a good start in preventing ice dams is to lower the attic temperature. Installing additional insulation in the attic area is as easy as laying additional layers across the existing ones, or having more insulation blown in. However, there are limits to the usefulness of this procedure (diminishing returns), and a professional roofer or insulation person should be consulted if you have any questions. If you notice bare sections on your roof while the rest of the roof has snow, it is an indication there may be insufficient insulation under the bare areas and an inspection of the attic area should be made to confirm this – and then to remedy the situation if necessary.

And, finally, you should also inspect the weather-stripping and/or insulation on attic stairways or hatchways to be sure it is in good shape and seals well. This will help seal the warmth out of the attic area and help prevent ice dams.

VentIlatIon

Even with optimal insulation, there is still heat leakage into the attic. This is when the value of attic ventilation becomes apparent. Without adequate ventilation, heat will build up regardless of the amount of insulation.

First of all, inspect your attic to be sure that the existing vents have not been covered by insulation or other materials or objects. If this has occurred, it is necessary to remove the insulation (or other material) from the soffits so air can move through them freely. The usual recommendation for venting is 1 square foot of vent for every 150 feet of attic floor area.

If your home does not have that ratio (many older homes do not), then you should contact a Contractor to remedy the problem.

If your home does not have vents, consider adding a ridge vent. Again, a professional Roofer or Contractor can give sound advice on the procedure.

If you are not sure about the condition of your roof, you should contact a professional Roofer in your area for advice or assistance.

What are the indicators of an ice dam?

If you notice water damage (marks, drips or lines) on ceilings or exterior walls, it can be an indication that an ice dam has formed, and ice and water have forced their way into your attic area. In addition to fixing the cause of the ice dam, it is important to recognize that this is a true water damage situation that should be remediated by trained professionals, such as PuroClean, to prevent additional damage to the structure (such as rotting), and to prevent the development of mold – a health hazard to people inside of the structure.

Regardless of the circumstances – if water damage occurs from freezing or other sources, call your local PuroClean office. For all water damage, or damage from fire or smoke, PuroClean professionals will mitigate the loss to prevent further damage and then provide restoration services to return the property to a pre-loss condition as quickly as possible. All PuroCleanoffices have professional, well-trained and certified Technicians who provide the latest state-of- the-science services to all property damaged from water, fire, smoke, mold, and other disasters.

written by

Will Southcombe

Director of Technical Services,

PuroClean Headquarters

Master of arts,

Master of Business Management,

Water Restoration technician,

applied structural Drying,

Certified Microbial Remediator

Copyright © 2003-2009. All rights reserved in all countries.

Reproduction of the material is prohibited without prior permission.

written by
Will Southcombe
Director of Technical Services,
PuroClean Headquarters
Master of Arts,
Master of Business Management,
Water Restoration Technician,
Applied Structural Drying,
Certified Microbial Remediator
Copyright © 2003-2009. All rights reserved in all countries.
Reproduction of the material is prohibited without prior permission.