Are you smarter than a 2nd grader?

     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.

Save Yourself a Headache- Create an Inventory

     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.

Grand Junction Crawl Space Checklist

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.

Stuck in a muddy crawlspace

If you find your crawlspace looking like this one, give us a call at 970-241-8181

Save Your Business in an Emergency

Example of how an emergency ready profile identifies key locations

       Of businesses that suffer from a disaster, such as fire and water, roughly fifty percentage of those businesses are never able to reopen their doors. Of the businesses that survive, an overwhelming majortiy of them had a preparedness plan in place. Disaster can strike at any time. According to FEMA, in 2010 there were 362,100 structural fires with a result of a 6,646,900,000.00 dollar loss.  At SERVPRO, we offer a free, comprehensive preparedness plan to help prevent more damage than necessary.

    A water loss can be a very costly disaster. The amount of time that a structure is exposed -to water is directly related to amount of damage that is created. With an Emergency -Ready Profile in place, all occupants of a structure would have knowledge of where the water shut off is located and potentially save the structure from damage and potentially save lives.
    In addition to clearly photographing, describing location, and providing access information, the gas and water shut off locations are clearly marked with large and easy to read tags. The profile includes any clear descriptions that would be worth noting.
    Key information such as utility providers, HR information, maintenance personal, and more would be clearly documented along with contact information for each.

Water Tag used to mark shut off

    Because each building or business or home has specific needs, the Emergency Ready Profile can be tailored to fit the needs of each prospective business. For more information about creating a free Emergency Ready Profile, contact SERVPRO of Grand Junction at 970-241-8181.

Flooded Crawl Space Disaster made "Like it Never Even Happened"

Lance stuck in the mud of the Bohl Family Crawlspace

When Julius and Shirley Bohl noticed that moisture was gathering on  their high grade windows, from the inside of their home, they knew something in their home just was not right. When Julius accessed their crawl space, their suspicions had been confirmed. In their crawlspace, they discovered four inches of water as a result of two broken pipes. They called their insurance agent who provided a list of vendors and the Bohls chose SERVPRO because of the company's reputation. They had used SERVPRO before in Denver, and though they knew that SERVPRO of Grand Junction had an entirely different crew, they knew that SERVPRO had high industry standards and was very reputable.
      When Lance and Dallas arrived on the scene they placed thick blankets through out the traffic areas in the home that they would be using to protect the carpet and flooring. After they pulled the vapor barrier, which had not withstood the 4 plus inches of water and needed replaced, water still remained in the the crawl space. Julius described the water leaving the pumps from the crawl space as a faucet of running water.
     With the crawlspace still very moist, the Bohl's heard a shout for help. When they got to the source of the call for help, they found Lance stuck in mud to his knees in their crawlspace. That goes to show the amount of moisture that was in the crawl space.

Dallas and Lance applying the new vapor barrier

      Though the equipment was noisy, the Bohls found the drying process with SERVPRO a favorable one. "The guys were very professional," said Mr. Bohl of Dallas and Lance. Mrs. Bohl was pleased and summed it up when she said, "It would take an expert to know that anything had ever happened."
     If you suspect moisture in your crawlspace, call SERVPRO of Grand Junction at 970-241-8181. Excess moisture can cause mold, a very costly problem and can have health implications for you and your family. 

Here is the video testimonial the the Bohl family provided:

Understanding Asbestos in Colorado

There are many misconceptions about asbestos and you may be surprised to find the many products that are manufactured with asbestos today. In the restoration industry we are constantly faced with asbestos. We must issue tests to ensure that the restored areas are asbestos free or face hefty fines. Here is some information to help you understand what exactly asbestos is and how to protect yourself.

Q: What is asbestos?
A: The Colorado Department of Health and Development states that, "Asbestos is the name given to a number of naturally occurring minerals that have been mined for their useful properties such as thermal insulation, chemical and thermal stability, and high tensile strength. The types of asbestos that are regulated are: Chrysotile, Amosite, Crocidolite, Anthophyllite, Tremolite, and Actinolite. Asbestos deposits can be found throughout the world and are still mined in Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the former Soviet Union"

Q: Why is Asbestos a Hazard?

whatisasbestos.net

A:  According to The Colorado Department of Health and Development ,"Asbestos is made up of microscopic bundles of fibers that may become airborne when distributed. These fibers get into the air and may become inhaled into the lungs, where they may cause significant health problems. Researchers still have not determined a "safe level" of exposure but we know the greater and the longer the exposure, the greater the risk of contracting an asbestos-related disease. Some of these health problems include:
• Asbestosis - a lung disease that cases scarring of the lungs. Eventually, this scarring may become so severe that the lungs cannot function. The latency period (meaning the time it takes for the disease to become developed) is often 25-40 years.
• Mesothelioma - a cancer of the lining of the lung and chest and/or the lining of the abdominal wall. This form of cancer is peculiar because the only known cause is from asbestos exposure. The latency period for mesothelioma is often 15-50 years.
• Lung Cancer – can be caused by asbestos. The effects of lung cancer are often greatly increased by cigarette smoking (by about 50%). Cancer of the gastrointestinal tract can also be caused by asbestos. The latency period for cancer is often 15-30 years."
Asbestos becomes a hazard when it is airborne. Otherwise, when left alone, asbestos poses very little threat. 

Asbestos Bans:

Products that contain asbestos:

For more information and downloadable content about asbestos laws in Colorado follow these links:
Asbestos Bans
General Asbestos Information
Renovating and Demo Information