Swamp Coolers Cause Stream of Stress In Spring

     In dry desert climates, such as the Western Slope, swamp coolers are efficient and cost effective to cool a home. Because water runs through copper pipes for the coolers to work, it is important that home owners completely drain the cooler of water to prevent burst pipes during the winter.
When water is not drained, when freezing outside temperatures arrive in the winter, the water inside the pipes expands and can cause the copper pipes to burst.
The damaged pipe usually remains undetected until a homeowner turns on their swamp cooler for the first time of the year. Soggy drywall, sunken or fallen ceilings and many other  problems can be a result of a pipe burst in a ceiling or wall. The damage can be catastrophic if not caught early on.
Here are some important tips you should follow if you or someone you know experiences water damage in their home:

1. Shut off the water source to stop the flow of water to the broken pipe

2.Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the house to prevent electric shock

3. Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting 

4. Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removing lamps and tabletop items

5. Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions for even drying.

6. Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpet.

7. Move valuables or electronics to a dry, safe area to prevent damaging them.

8. Hang draperies with coated hangers up to avoid contact with wet flooring

9. Hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature.

NEVER USE A HOUSEHOLD VACUUM TO REMOVE WATER- DOING SO WILL RESULT IN ELECTRIC SHOCK.

SERVPRO of Grand Junction is available 24/7 to help with water clean up. We can be reached at 970-241-8181 and will help you with water cleanup as soon as possible.

Candle Fire in Grand Junction

This fire started after a candle ignited a curtain

In 2005-2009, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 12,860 home structure fires that were started by candles according to the National Fire Prevention Association. At SERVPRO of Grand Junction, one of many jobs is to clean such fires.
Last week, we responded to a fire that had created very little structure damage, but heavy soot and smoke damage throughout the entire home. The fire was started when the family left for school and work and forgot to extinguish the candle before leaving. At some point while they were gone, the candle ignited curtains that were directly above the candle. The family returned home to a thick soot and smoke throughout the home. The soot left behind was very oily due to the synthetic fabric of the curtains. This soot can be hazardous to breath  from the chemicals used to create the curtains.

Soot particles and webbing on the ceiling and wall.

SERVPRO of Grand Junction wants to remind you to never never candles unattended. Here are simple some candle safety tips to keep you safe:

• Never leave your home with candles burning

• When using candles, place them in a sturdy container such as metal, glass or ceramic.

• Place in-use candles out of reach of children and pets
•  Keep candles away from any material that is likely to burn.

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.