Keep up with checking and getting your forced air heating/cooling systems cleaned, and see the immense benefits!
Allergies
Dirty air ducts are especially troublesome for those who have allergies, because unkempt air ducts could trigger a reaction and greatly affect your quality of life. About half of all allergies are made worse by contaminated indoor air quality.
There are plenty of creepy crawlies hiding in the dust that naturally accumulates in your home. Things like dust mite feces, cockroach particles, and lead are common allergies that are individually quite frequent in homes, especially older houses. Other naturally occurring substances include pet dander, mold, and debris, which totals on average of 40 lbs of dust a year!
Poor HVAC Performance
Not having regular checkups on your air ducts could really affect the over all performance of your HVAC. Buildup on HVAC Coils can reduce efficiency by over 20%, which saves energy and money. Not only that, but in the case of damage, about 90% of all HVAC problems and failures are due to dirt, debris, and dust, all of which could be easily avoided by keeping up with regular maintenance.
The Best Medicine is Prevention
These contaminants and health hazards associated with dirty and unkempt air duct quality are all preventable. If you are not a trained professional, it is impossible to assess the severity yourself, as these issues lay on the “inside” and are not visible.
You might just blame the season or other outside factors for your poor allergies or stuffiness. Even though you cannot see it, does not mean it is not there or that it is not a danger. Prevent issues and stop problems before they get a chance to start, all with easy, timely maintenance.
How To Prevent Damage and Contamination After Duct Cleaning
If you’ve had your air ducts cleaned and maintained by a trained professional, there are other steps you can and should take to ensure that your air quality is at it’s peak. Doing these few, simple steps will help you avoid unwanted reactions and will boost your HVAC efficiency! Make sure to:
Damage-Minimization Tips for the Rainy Months in Canada
Not only is it a bit of a bummer, but it can also put you and your family at increased risk for house floods and water damage. At Steamatic, we are here to help in case of damage in the home, but we would prefer it didn’t happen in the first place! So here are some water damage prevention tips that might help you out during this warm, rainy Canadian spring.
Keep valuable documents and items with sentimental value above ground.
A flood will, most likely, affect the basement. While it is possible that an above-ground floor could be affected, it is still a wise idea to utilize above-ground floors for storage of important items and documents. Water damaged items might be repairable, but documents are more likely to be completely ruined. Birth certificates, contracts, and bills should all be kept upstairs in case of a flood. Irreplaceable materials goods, or materials goods of high value, should also be kept upstairs to reduce the chances of damage. Do a quick sweep of the items stored in the basement, and assess whether you should rethink their position there. If they are durable, or if their loss is not the end of the world, then keep them in the basement.
Keep floor drains clear of any possible obstructions
Your floor drains serve a valuable, important purpose; let them do their job! In case of accidental flooding during these wet months, a floor drain will greatly help in lower water accumulation and will make clean up much, much easier. Even a small obstruction could slow down the draining process in the basement, which will cause more damage and cleanup to an already unfortunate situation. Simple being attentive to this minor detail will save you a lot of hassle in the long run.
Eavestroughs and downspouts can make all the difference.
Adjusting and clearing you eavestroughs and downspouts will make sure that the water is directed away from your household. This makes it less likely that a flood will occur! Getting up on to the roof sounds scary and like a chore, but we gaurantee that getting up there is much, much easier than dealing with a basement flood! Spring brings rain and showers, and during this time of the year, it is especially vital to check the eavestroughs and downspouts.
Always Have A Plan of Action
Despite following all these tips, sometimes flooding and damage is inevitable. Maybe it was bad luck, maybe it was a simple mistake, but these things happen. That’s okay! As long as you have a course of action planned in case of such emergencies, you will be prepared to handle the situation if it ever arises. Research companies before hand and find one you feel comfortable with. Check their credentials and their history. Do they provide all the services you need in case of a spring-time flood? Will they provide references from past clients? Are their technicians skilled and experienced in the services they offer? Knowing who you will need to contact in situations such as these will give you a much needed peace of mind.
How to Choose a Water Restoration Company
Here are some important tips to deciding if a technician is right for you.
Experience Speaks Louder Than Words
A company might have a well done website and look established and professional, but this does no necessarily speak for their abilities and qualifications. Looking for a company that has been around for many years and one that is highly regarded will help sort out the credible companies to the less than satisfactory ones. See if they have their credentials listed online, or give them a call. A reputable company will have no problem discussing this with potential clients. Some will even be happy to provide references from past clients
Don’t Go Cheap.
You can compromise price on some things; flights, brands names, and movie tickets.. But not on something as critical as saving your home and possessions. Choosing a technician based on an extremely low price means compromise in other area’s of repair. A cheaper water-restoration company might cut corners in something as sensitive and important as restoring a home, which would be a time and money waster for you. Along with this, immediately going with the suggested technician provided by your insurance might also be a bad idea. Your insurance company will go for lower end recommendations, so keep that in mind when deciding on a restoration company.
Variety is Key.
Water does no discriminate, and in the event of a flood, it’s unlikely that only one area or one thing will be damaged in the process. Not only should you choose a company that offers a diverse set of restoration services because it is convenient, but it also speaks heaps about the company itself. A restoration company that offers limited services indicates that the technicians are not trained to their highest potential. Many of that services they are lacking in are likely to be standard knowledge and skills that a trained and advanced technician should already have.
This should be an obvious one, but it can be intimidating and daunting to discuss an issue you’ve never experienced with a trained professional. However, it is essential if you want to find a well equipted restoration expert.
Using these tips, you can help find the best most equipped technician to do the job, the first time. Don’t be continually burdened by a flood or storm, make informed decisions and your household will be back normal in no time.
Protect Your Family From Asbestos
It goes without saying that finding the right professional water damage restoration expert after such an event in crucial. There are many problems that can stem from the discovery of exposed asbestos in a home.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a natural silicate mineral, a series of thin fibrous crystals that are typically blue in colour. The use of asbestos as a material is not a new idea, and its’ use dates back almost 4,500 years ago. Some uses for asbestos included vinyl floor tiles, roofing, plaster, drywall, panels, and texture coats. Asbestos was a popular building material in the 50’s up until the 90’s, before it was found to be highly dangerous to human health. It was used widely because of its’ powerful insulating properties and fire protection abilities.
Because of this, houses made before 1990 are very likely to contain asbestos. Do not fret! If the material with asbestos in your home is in good, stable condition, there is little to no threat in harm. However, water-damaged products put you at risk for asbestos poisoning.
Risks of Asbestos Contact
If there is a risk of asbestos exposure through inhalation, action needs to be taken immediately. Exposure to asbestos is dangerous being the fibres in the material are almost indestructible and are immune to heat and chemicals. The fibres get trapped in the lungs and remain there, which causes inflammation and scarring. The extreme durability of asbestos is the reason it became popular as a building tool, but because of the ignorance to its health effects, it is now common in households.
Because it is a carcinogen, the risk of lung cancer is increased to those who have been exposed to asbestos. You are also at risk for asbestosis, a condition in the lungs that could cause coughing, shortness of breath, and permanent lung damage.
It is clear that staying away from the potential of asbestos exposure is important, so why put you and your family at risk? If you fear the possibility of asbestos in your home after water damage, immediately seek the help of a water-restoration expert, like us at Steamatic! It is also important to note that asbestos is hard to identify off sight alone, and having a professional make sure of it’s presence or absence is crucial. Acting diligently and be informed to keep you and your family safe from asbestos poisoning and other negative side affects.
How to Clean Up After a Flood
Diligence and speed is necessary immediately following the accumulation of water in a home. Acting quickly could be the difference between an easy fix and a mildew infested home with potential for further water damage. Remember, hiring a trained profession is always ideal in situations such as these, but there are some measures you can take right after a flood that will help the severity of the situation before a professional arrives. Those with any breathing problems such as asthma are particularly vulnerable to flood-related complications, such as mold, so speed is vital to not only the home, but also to ones’ own safety.
Water-Damage and Mold: What You Need to Know
Luckily, there are ways to help prevent the growth of mold in a flooded home. Here are some tips and tricks to dealing with mold-worries.
Mold can be tricky and could pop up long after the water damage from flooding. While all these tips are valuable, it is a good idea to consider having a professional deal with the possibility of mold. Not only will you be in the best hands in mold prevention and care, but it is also just one less job for you! Act swiftly and wisely to prevent further unneeded damage.
5 Ways to Prevent Water-Damage
Post-Flood Water Damage Prevention Tips
In Canada, floods are typically much less severe, but even these more menial flooding experiences can be dangerous. Burst plumbing and heavy rainfall can put your family at risk of electric shock, and often ruins homes, leaving families poor and without a place to stay. However, if you act quickly, you can minimize the damage and even save some of your possessions that would otherwise have been lost.
Do you know what to do in the place of a flood? Most people are already aware that the demands of a post-flood clean-up far exceed the abilities of most amateur cleaners. Improper cleaning of drywall and other common materials found inside the home’s interior can cause all kinds of damages. In these circumstances, you will need to turn to a professional cleaning company like Steamatic, who can navigate the shock, infection, and drowning hazards of a post-flood cleaning while giving you stunning restoration results.
Though it is crucial to call in professional help, there is more that can be done while you wait for help to arrive. Acting in the proper way can help preserve your property and save many personal items. Taking the wrong course of action, however, can worsen damages and expose you to some serious health hazards. Read on to learn some handy post-flood water damage prevention tips!
While these water damage prevention methods are effective ways of minimizing worst-case scenarios, they are obviously not enough to combat flooding on their own. These supplementary steps should only be taken after you have contacted Steamatic water damage restoration professionals. Our team of highly-trained and professionally-equipped workers is standing by 24/7. We operate with the urgency and care that a disaster on this scale demands.
Call us today at 1-888-767-7616, or visit Steamatic.ca to learn more.
Making a Case for Concrete Cleaning
What is so important about cleaning your concrete?
We live in a concrete jungle, as they say. The developed world is almost completely encased in concrete. Paved panoramic views and concrete landscapes have become a natural part of our lives to the point where we accept them as a constant. However, most of our associations with these surfaces involved dirty, stained concrete.
Gum and grime-covered walls in the subway, weather-worn pavement, and oil-stained parking lots are usually what comes to mind when we think about concrete surfaces. Dirty concrete seems like standard fair, so why clean it?
Keep your concrete in shape for longer.
Our cleaning process removes harmful contaminants that could erode your concrete over time. Once erosion sets in, the problem will only get worse without treatment, as porous damaged areas leave wide openings for water and other chemicals to rush in.
Protect the environment with Steamatic Pavement and Car Park Cleaning
From an environmental perspective, cleaning your concrete is a hugely important step towards maintaining a healthy planet. Streets, parking lots, and other concrete or paved surfaces are the single largest source of nonpoint source pollution. Consider that street pavement drinks up all manner of harmful chemical spills in an average day. Leaky car engines pass overhead all day long, and people are always discarding beverages or spilling oil in the street. It is thought that urban pavement is one of the largest carriers of metal and hydrocarbon pollution. Pavement is also a significant carrier of nutrient and pesticide run-off from landscapes and atmospheric sources. To make matters worse, pavement and concrete surfaces are usually exposed to considerable levels of urban watershed, since they are rarely protected from rainfall. This means that any pollutants being held by the porous concrete are being washed into more vulnerable areas like wells, water mains, ponds, and rivers.
Steamatic’s concrete and pavement cleaning service can safely remove all pollutants, while also taking care of ugly stains. Most companies’ concrete cleaning service starts and ends with sweeping and mechanical broom treatments, but Steamatic goes the extra mile. We use some of the best green-cleaning technology available. Our concrete and pavement cleaning process will bring out industrial-strength pressure washers and dry-ice blasting equipment to rid your parking lot or outdoor surfaces of any pollution in a safe and environmentally-sensitive style. These techniques mostly use various forms of water as their cleaning solution, with an eco-friendly emulsifying agent incorporated as needed.
Boost your curb appeal and make a stunning first impression with Steamatic.
Beyond doing your duty to the environment, investing in a Steamatic concrete or pavement cleaning can benefit your home or business by creating a stunning first impression. When somebody arrives at your home or business for the first time, their eyes will automatically seek out your driveway or parking lot. This cannot be avoided – people need to park, after all. It is up to you to decide how this unavoidable first-look will affect your guest’s perception of your home or business. Somebody who pulls into a cracked lot strewn with broken glass and sticky oil spills with have a very different experience than the person who pulls into a bright and immaculate parking garage. People understand that the parking lot is very low on the totem pole when it comes to ranking cleaning priorities, but this only makes it that much more impressive when your guests arrive to perfectly-clean concrete and pavement.
The implications of perfectly-clean pavement and concrete surfaces are far-reaching. Realty players looking to take advantage of a promising seller’s market could invest in a Steamatic clean to boost their closing sale price, or draw in more viewings. Home owners looking to host the perfect dinner party may need to give their patio or walkways a make-over to get the desired results. Draw more walk-in business to your with a more appealing store-front. The possibilities are endless.
Steamatic concrete and pavement cleaning services are available 24/7 to handle any emergency and accommodate even the most chaotic of schedules. We offer a diverse range of restoration and clean-up services, and can have your concrete and pavement looking like new in a single day. We have been helping home and business owners make the best first impression possible for over 40 years now.
If you would like to learn more about how Steamatic’s concrete and pavement cleaning process can benefit your home or business, then call us today at 1-888-767-7616, or visit Steamatic.ca!
Health, Huge Savings, and a Happy Home: The Benefits of HVAC Cleaning
It is hard to argue with the bare-bones logic of automotive maintenance enthusiasts. You need to make an investment of time and money in order to keep your high-performance machine running optimally. The health and money-saving benefits cannot be ignored.
Well, the same can be said about your HVAC system. Though your HVAC system is certainly less glamorous than a high-performance vehicle, it is similarly sophisticated, and its maintenance is equally if not more important. After all, this often-overlooked piece of machinery is responsible for the air your family breathes, their warmth in the winter, and their comfort in the summer.
If you are interested in learning about how Steamatic’s HVAC cleaning services can help your family stay healthy, comfortable, and save money, then read on to learn about the benefits!
Extend the life of your equipment and reduce ownership costs.
The term “ownership costs” is somewhat ambiguous, and it can be defined in many ways. For the car owner from the introductory example, ownership costs include oil changes, tire rotations, windshield repairs, and so on. Understandably, these costs increase when the car starts to break down due to owner neglect.
Relative to our discussion of your home’s HVAC system, routine maintenance service from Steamatic has a similar purpose. It has been empirically proven that neglecting to perform routine maintenance results in a gradual decline of mechanical system’s energy efficiency and durability. For homeowners who neglect to maintain their HVAC units, ownerships costs will soar as they begin to experience premature equipment failure, inflated operating costs, and unforeseen replacement expenses.
Simply put, Steamatic saves you money over the long term. The affordable cost of your maintenance appointment will quickly pay itself back in ownership savings.
Maintenance means optimal energy consumption and low utility bills.
It isn’t hard to imagine how a dirty and poorly-maintained HVAC system will bump up your energy bill. Clogged or dusty air ducts will make it harder for air to pass through, so that your HVAC system pushes hard to get heated or cooled air to the thermostat. This kind of overdrive heating and fan work can quickly add up.
Furthermore, poorly-calibrated thermostats and dirtied condenser coils will end up consuming much more energy than those which are well-maintained. It is estimated that even a lightly soiled coil can ramp your HVAC operating expenses up by 15-25%.
Improve the health of your families and the productivity of your employees.
Whether you are looking to maintain the HVAC system in your home or office, you will find the health benefits difficult to ignore. At home, dirty ducts and sub-optimal HVAC systems can blow dirty air and allergens at your family, friends, and pets all day long. Imagine the eye, throat, and respiratory irritation they would experience sitting in front of a filthy fan. Over the long term, this can cause serious health issues, especially in those vulnerable populations already suffering from some form of breathing issue. A simple single-day Steamatic maintenance call can eliminate all of these concerns to help your loved ones breathe better and be healthier.
These health concerns apply both to home and office environments, but in a business setting, the financial benefits are especially pronounced. When your HVAC system is blowing clean air, you can expect to see better attendance and significantly less “sick building syndrome.” It is estimated that more than 20% of employees will experience headaches, fatigue, problems concentrating, and itchy noses or eyes in the workplace as a result of poor indoor air quality. Furthermore, keeping the temperature comfortable year-round will keep your employees happy and therefore more productive in the work place. Comfortable interior temperature is especially important in culinary or food production settings where sweat becomes a health hazard.
In our society, we spend a considerable amount of time indoors. This is problematic if your HVAC system is allowed to dirty or fall into disrepair. Save money and keep everybody healthy with a simple Steamatic maintenance call. Steamatic’s expert team has been at the forefront of the industry for over 40 years, and are on-call 24/7 to accommodate all of your cleaning needs. Call 1-888-767-7616 today!
