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You Can't Run, You Can't Hide, Mold Will Eventually Find You
By Urbain Beck
Mold is everywhere and no one can escape it. You'll find it in the air, on surfaces, in the refrigerator, in the house or office, and outside. Like karma, it's one of those things that you can't run from. You can't hide from it. Mold will creep into everyone's lives and homes at some point or another.
While mold is not a health concern for many people, it can create moderate to severe allergic or asthmatic reactions for others.
Aside from health considerations, mold is an ugly fungus that damages your home or office. It's something you don't want.
The first step in dealing with mold is to identify and correct its cause. The rule of thumb is this: No mold can grow without moisture. If the amount of mold is not too big, mold remediation in your home can be a do-it-yourself job. The sooner you can get rid of the mold, the better. This is because the longer mold is allowed to grow the more difficult it is to clean up.
Molds reproduce by spreading tiny spores. These microscopic spores float on air currents until they can find a suitable spot to grow. If you have existing mold spots, the spores obviously do not have trouble finding good breeding grounds. With a mix of moisture and other conditions, these spores will germinate and produce new mold growth.
When inhaled by some people, these spores create allergic reactions or exacerbate asthmatic conditions. If you are suffering from allergic reactions to airborne mold spores, you might consider using a negative ionizer (or negative ion generator). Negative ions are able to remove the spores from the air.
Having mold in your home is certainly not uncommon. It's a little known fact that 70% of homes have mold in their wall cavities. Some homes are worse than others. Homes with bad mold damage might have mold spores growing from the shower head that become airborne and then take over large portions of bedroom or other walls. Obviously, homes that have had flood damage will also fare worse in the mold department than others.
If ignored, small moldy areas will grow larger over time, so it's important to remediate little patches of mold as soon as you see them. If mold is visible, it is not necessary to test for mold. Take care of it straight away.
Remediation is the term used for the cleanup and removal of the mold infestation or growth. If the job is small enough, mold remediation might be something you want to do yourself by drying the area, scrubbing away the mold and using bleach to kill the mold. There are also antimicrobial coating products on the market that you can use to remove mold and prevent its re-growth. Any product that touts mold killing abilities should have an EPA registration number on the label. No cleanup or remediation is complete until you have repaired the water or moisture problem that contributed to the mold's growth in the first place.
Mold is something that everyone has to deal with at some point or another. The best way to handle mold in your home is to stop it early by reducing the moisture that contributes to the mold growth. Use a negative ion generator to remove spores from the air. As soon as you see small mold patches, remediate them before they become a bigger problem.
Mold will eventually find you, no matter how much running, hiding, or ignoring you do. Discover how to fight back by visiting http://www.mold-mildew-info.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Urbain_Beck
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Is Your Homeowner's Insurance Giving You Protection from Flood Damage or Losses
By Casey Yew
The first thing that surprises many people about flood insurance is that everybody is actually considered to live in a flood zone according to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) - its simply a question of whether you are at low, moderate or high risk of flooding. Obviously some people, depending on where they live, are at greater risk than others.
And another surprise is that even people who live in areas not particularly prone to floods may be at risk from flooding - around 30% of claims for flood damage come from areas that are considered low to moderate risk. And during a 30 year mortgage, a typical home has about a 25% chance of being damaged by a flood.
Many homeowners are also surprised to learn that flood insurance is not included under their regular homeowner's insurance policy or renter's policy. And a surprising statistic is that in general, you are 30 times more likely to lose your home to a flood than a fire. Every year around $2.4 billion is paid out in insurance claims for flood damage or losses.
A flood can mean any kind of water damage or damage from mud, poor drainage or seepage. Much flooding is caused by winter storms, melting snow and hurricanes - things which many people tend to overlook. Just an inch of water can potentially cause costly property damage and a car can be swept away in just two feet of water.
Because most policies don't cover flood damage, Congress established the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in 1968. This program allows people who may be at risk from flooding to purchase adequate insurance - even after the flood or water damage has occurred.
Several companies offer flood insurance - always make sure the company you choose is backed by the NFIP. This ensures you will be adequately protected in the case of flood damage. This is one type of insurance you shouldn't take out at the last minute - one disadvantage with the program is that after you have taken out flood insurance, there is a 30 day waiting period before any coverage takes effect.
As with other products and services, always shop around when comparing policies. The internet has made it just as easy to compare prices on line as it is to call around the various companies. Around 5 million people in the United States have some form of flood insurance and the average monthly premium is around $350 per year.
Take into account the amount of coverage you will receive in the event of a flood, as well as the amount of the monthly premiums. Make sure that there are no exclusions to the policy that may affect you. And make sure your insurance company can easily be contacted if and when you need them.
Most flood insurance policies will cover the costs of replacing or repairing both property and goods in the event of any damage. Contents can include furniture, clothes, rugs and carpets and other possessions - even the food in your freezer.
Contents and buildings both generally have separate deductibles (the amount you must pay before the insurance covers the costs) - so if both your property and contents are damaged by flooding, you will have to pay both deductibles.
So even though you may not obviously live in a high risk flood area, consider taking out flood insurance. Like most insurance, you hope to never use it - but it's comforting to know it is there.
Get Your Insurance Guide Now. Find Out More Information about Different Types of Insurance such as Medical, Car, Dental, Term-life, Travel and Home Insurance.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Casey_Yew
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When Your Carpet Gets Flooded
By James C
It happens all of the time. You come home from work to find water running out of your garage or front door. You rush inside to find that your water heater tank has sprung a leak and your entire house is now flooded. As your couch floats by you begin to wonder what to do. This article will give you some information that you need to know if the unthinkable happens to you.
Water heaters are just one source of flooded home. Other sources include broken pipes, broken ice maker lines, and clogged air conditioner drains to name a few. No matter what the source of the leak, there are steps that you need to take immediately to rectify the situation.
The longer your belongings stay wet, the worse the damage will be so the first thing you should do is call a flood specialist. A water damage restoration company will have the equipment necessary to extract the water from your home and dry it quickly. Do not even think of tackling this problem yourself. A shop vac and some floor fans will just not get the job done. Professional flood restoration services will bring thousands of dollars worth of specialty equipment into your home to take care of the damage.
Now that you have a water restoration company on the way, contact your insurance company. The quicker you let them know about the problem, the quicker you will get your claim settled and your life back in order. Many companies will immediately send an adjuster to the scene and others may choose to just contact you the next day. Once you get an adjuster, they may tell you that you need to use their restoration company but remember that they can not insist on it. They can only recommend a company. You have the right to use any company that you choose.
After your restoration company has extracted the water from your carpets and floors, they will set up powerful fans and dehumidification equipment. This equipment will completely dry your home over the next few days. After your carpet is dry, your adjuster will decide what is salvageable and what needs to be replaced.
This is of course an over simplification of the process involved but it gives you an idea of what you need to do. Contact a restoration service, contact your insurance and then hope for the best. Flood damage is never easy to clean up but remember that you will eventually get through it.
The author runs a site on Carpet Cleaning in Houston. Find local cleaners and information on carpet and Houston upholstery cleaning.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_C