It is time to make sure you know what potential hazards your family and home may see in the warmer months and how you should protect yourself from them.
Outside the home is most dangerous during summer storms which can cause damage from lightning, flooding and wind.
✔ Lightning is dangerous anywhere outdoors so if you hear thunder, be making plans to be indoors. Even indoors, be safe by staying away from electrical outlets, plumbing, telephone cords, and metal parts of the structure because lightning can travel through these. Lightning traveling into the home this way can cause electrical fires as well as risk of shock to the tenants.
✔ Flooding can be dangerous to your health and home even after the storm passes. Flood waters can cause risk of electrical shock. It can pose health risks by carrying harmful bacteria and viruses into your home as well as chemical contaminants from runoff. Water damage mitigations will help remove damaged materials and sanitize the area to protect your health.
✔ Wind damage during a storm is often underestimated. In severe storms, winds can get up to high speeds, and in the case of straight line winds, can last for a long time making it able to push heavy items around and damage almost anything. When wind pushes something into your home or business, it is left exposed to the storm which can also cause water damage.
Inside the home sees more danger from failures that cause flooding, fires or mold.
✔ The best way to prevent household fires is to keep flammable items away from heat sources, don't overload outlets, replace frayed or damaged cords and have regular inspections of chimneys, fireplaces and furnaces. Keep your smoke detectors in good working order and have a fire extinguisher on hand. Finally, have a fire escape plan for your family and run drills to be sure they remember what to do in an emergency. After the fire is put out and everyone is safe, call ServiceMaster of Gwinnett for your fire damage restoration.
✔ Water damage can come from plumbing failures, overflows, faulty appliances, clogged gutters, and sewage backups. Protect yourself by performing regular inspections to be sure there are no leaks, clogs or potential failures. If you see some water from a leak or overflow, there is probably more where you cannot see it. Call ServiceMaster of Gwinnett right away to evaluate your damage and mitigate any water loss that the tech finds. Water will continue to damage the structure until it is removed.
✔ Mold growth has a stigma that comes with it. People think that having mold means you do not take care of your home or are dirty in some way. In truth, mold can grow in any area that is moist and stagnant like cavities between rooms in your home in as little as 48 hours after water gets trapped in there. That means that even the cleanest and most careful people can find mold growing in their home. Airborne mold spores are a health hazard so it is best to get a mold remediation instead of doing it yourself. Professional technicians are trained to safely remove the mold and clean the air for the health of everyone that lives or works in that environment.
Be sure to inspect your home or business regularly to avoid these hazards and stay safe. If you do have damage from fire, water or mold, call ServiceMaster of Gwinnett to help you minimize the damage and keep your family or coworkers healthy.
