If you came home and there was a pool of water in your home from a leak, would you know what to do? Many of Grand Junction's second graders would thanks to the Mesa County Safety Council's Safety Fair. At the fair, many vendors and volunteers shared with students about many hazards that exist in Western Colorado from wildlife to crossing railroad tracks.
SERVPRO of Grand Junction taught students how to safely determine if water needs to be shut off in the event of an emergency. At the booth, it was stressed that electricity and water do not mix. Students than ran a relay to shut off a water valve that they were asked to find the location of in their own home. Students were given tools to locate the shut off and were asked to have their parents find it with them.
After a disaster in your home or place of business, your insurance company will require an itemized list of your belongings and contents. To ensure fair and accurate compensation, it is important that you keep your list up to date and document valuable items.
There are several methods to completing a list and each household or business will have their own preference.
Though time consuming, the most thorough and accurate method is to keep an itemized list, either on paper or electronically, of all items purchased. Document the serial number, the make, the model number, and purchase price and date if available. Including all of this information will insure that you will be fairly compensated for any damage to your belongings and will reduce stress in a typically high-stress situation should you suffer from a disaster.
Another method is to take photographs or videos of your property: wall to wall, ceiling to floor. Update your photo-documentation annually or as changes are made within and on your property. When doing this method, be sure to pan in on or zoom in on more valuable items and making clear through the images the significance of the item. Save your inventory in a safe place and make it easily accessible. Some insurance agents suggest placing a copy your document, whether on a CD, DVD, jump-drive, memory card, etc in a safety deposit box or in a safe place. Providing a copy to a relative could be helpful as well should you experience a disaster.
SERVPRO of Grand junction is providing assistance for inventory and kits at no cost. Visit ReadyGJ.com have a free home emergency kit shipped directly to you.
In Western Colorado, many of our homes have crawl spaces. Because they are not areas of our home that we frequent, costly problems can go undetected.
You want to check your crawlspace for moisture to avoid mold growth, which can be a health hazard. Excess moisture may be sign of a larger problem such as a pipe leak that would need to be addressed.
The tips in the video will help make sure your crawl space is properly maintained.
-Check the foundation walls and make sure there are no cracks where water can enter. Also make sure there are no holes in the ceiling of your crawlspace.
- Check for adequate veneration. Fresh outside air will help reduce the levels of moisture in your crawl space and the incoming air will also dilute and reduce mold present in the crawlspace.
-Check for missing or sagging insulation. Sagging insulation is often a sign of excess moisture.
-If you do not have a vapor barrier in your crawl space, have one installed. (SERVPRO can do this for you-970-241-8181) If you currently have a vapor barrier, make sure it goes up a few inches along the foundation walls.
-Check for leaks around HVAC ducts and plumbing pipes.
- Your dryer vents should vent outside and not directly into the crawlspace.
Vapor Barrier Application
If you suspect moisture in your crawlspace, call 241-8181 to have it checked out. If excess moisture is found, we can help dry out your crawlspace and remove mold.
