Water Damage Restoration

Thursday, November 14, 2019

How to Visit the Great Barrier Reef — and Help Preserve It While You're There - Travel+Leisure

How to Visit the Great Barrier Reef — and Help Preserve It While You're There Travel+Leisure

Cayucos Mold Damage Company Answers The Question, 'Why Is There Mold When Nothing Is Wet?' - A-Town Daily News

Posted: 13 Oct 2019 12:00 AM PDT

mold damage Cayucos

–Mold doesn't need things to be wet in order to grow; it needs a combination of circumstances that include moisture that isn't necessarily detectable to the eye or by touch. ServPro in Cayucos, the mold damage specialist, answers the question "Why is there mold when nothing is wet" by explaining the conditions that mold needs to grow and how to prevent those conditions.

Mold is never completely eliminated because mold spores are everywhere, just waiting for the perfect conditions to grow. Mold spores need a combination of organic matter for food, moisture, warmth, and oxygen. The organic matter and moisture is the reason mold is often discovered in piles of leaves in the shade of trees in the middle of summer. The leaves provide the organic matter and the shade helps retain the level of moisture the spores need. Mold grows best in warm temperatures between 77 and 86 degrees, and this is why warm weather does not necessarily announce the end of "mold season."

The old saying: "An ounce prevention is worth a pound of cure," certainly applies to mold. Removing as much of the conditions that feed mold as possible is the best approach to preventing mold damage.

Step one is to keep all surfaces clean and dry and provide plenty of ventilation.

Start outside by removing wet damp landscaping away from the foundation of the building. Where possible, replace water-hungry shrubs and flowers drought-tolerant plants.

Clean up fallen leaves that can harbor mold spores. For those who like to leave fallen leaves on the ground because of the benefits to the soil, just remove those next to the foundation. Fallen leaves can be recycled as garden mulch.
Check the roof and exterior siding for loose shingles, boards, and cracks and make the necessary repairs.
Check attics, basements, crawl spaces for signs of leaks and moisture and make the necessary repairs.
Check under bathroom, kitchen and laundry room cabinets and check for signs of leaks and moisture around the walls and flooring near appliances and fixtures.
Include any stonework or masonry in the inspection.
Check for leaking pipes and other plumbing fixtures.
Clean up any mold and check for any mold or water damage. The damage can be in the form of rotted wood or crumbling drywall, stains, and serious rot damage to the structure of the building.

Call the ServPro Cayucos mold damage experts for a thorough inspection of your home or business. The ServPro team knows that mold damage can disrupt your life. The team is highly trained to clean and restore residential and commercial property for mold, damage, fire damage, water damage, smoke damage and a wide range of other situations.

ServPro Cayucos
Cayucos, CA 93430
(805) 541-1271

This press release is by San Luis Obispo SEO company Access Publishing, 806 9th Street, #2D, Paso Robles, CA 93446, (805) 226-9890.

Fort Meade mold lawsuit targets Corvias Management-Army - Washington Times

Posted: 13 Nov 2019 02:55 PM PST

Nearly a dozen military families at Fort Meade in Anne Arundel County are taking their on-post landlord to court, saying they have been forced to live in substandard homes filled with rampant mold, rotting wood and standing water.

The federal lawsuit, filed this week, targets Corvias Management-Army LLC and Meade Communities LLC, the companies that manage and operate the privatized on-base housing at Fort Meade.

"Requests for maintenance have been ignored, repair efforts when made have been substandard and slipshod attempts at cosmetic fixes have not resolved the problem," the lawsuit states. "All the while, defendants have collected the full amount of the servicemembers' housing allowances, preventing them from moving off base."

The families range from junior military members on their first tour of duty to a veteran Army colonel with almost three decades of service. They contend that Corvias forced them to live in squalor that caused and exacerbated significant health problems.

"At Fort Meade, the on-base housing has been a tremendous source of stress and harm to these servicemembers and their families as a result of defendants' actions and inactions. Defendants, on the other hand, have profited substantially from this arrangement," the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit argues there is a "pervasive" problem with mold in the housing at Fort Meade.

A Corvias spokeswoman told Stars and Stripes newspaper that the company is aware of the lawsuit, which doesn't reflect the resources and attention that has been brought to housing at Fort Meade.

Army Col. Scott Gerber noticed problems from the start in 2018 when he and his family moved into their Corvias-managed home on Fort Meade.

"They found the kitchen flooded, with water running from the kitchen into the garage," according to the lawsuit.

It was the first of several instances of water damage and mold infestation in the home. The garage tested positive for black mold, according to the lawsuit. The company eventually moved the family to another home but that one also had severe mold problems, the lawsuit states.

Col. Gerber's wife suffered a severe allergy attack while living there.

Other families listed in the lawsuit complained of severe mold with their homes. In each case, they said Corvias did little to address the problem.

The lawsuit argues that the property managers were aware of the conditions. The housing contract included a "mold addendum" families are required to sign before they move in. According to their lawyers, the addendum attempts to "downplay" the adverse health effects of mold by saying it's organically "all around us" and there is conflicting evidence that it can cause medical problems.

The lawsuit accuses the company of a variety of actionable offenses, ranging from gross negligence to breach of contract.

According to the lawsuit, the families are asking for a jury trial and want the case certified as a class-action lawsuit.

'In my eyes, he's just a modern day crook'| Contractor pleads guilty to theft - fox23maine.com

Posted: 11 Nov 2019 03:30 PM PST

[unable to retrieve full-text content]'In my eyes, he's just a modern day crook'| Contractor pleads guilty to theft fox23maine.com

McFadden Kastrup - Rhyme Hip Hop

Posted: 12 Nov 2019 09:48 PM PST

The web site is experiencing technical difficulties. A contractor should then classify your home's state on a scale of one to four, with one which means only a part of the room has absorbed water, two meaning your complete room has been broken and three that means there may be intensive damage to your complete room.

Our water injury restoration…[Read more]

Dive Like a Pro: What you need to know about cold water diving - Scuba Diver Magazine

Posted: 11 Nov 2019 05:33 AM PST

Photographs by Mark Evans, Byron Conroy and Garry Dallas

As we are in the depths of winter, it seemed only right that our Dive Like A Pro section focused on cold water diving, or rather, what items of kit you need to safely and comfortably dive in chilly conditions. We also asked our experts for any tips and techniques for diving in cold water. So read on, and remember – just because the temperatures are plummeting, doesn't mean you have to stop diving.

Setting up for a cold water dive

cold water diving

Alex Warzynski, BSAC Chair, Advanced Instructor and member of Nottingham University SAC, said: "Keeping warm while diving in cold water and cold air is a technique that does take a bit of thinking about. Getting into the 'Ready Brek' mindset makes it easy to explain – you need to generate a warm glow around you first thing, then preserve that glow throughout the day. A good place to start is a decent undersuit. After trying all sorts, here's what works for me: layering. A decent merino base layer with thermals on top that you can add to or take away works well for me from break-the-ice temperatures all the way to late summer. The trick with any undersuit is that it must have some structure and resistance to collapse. An undersuit that resists the crushing from your drysuit will keep you warm.

"To keep warm from the outset, I stick my undersuit on after breakfast. I just get to the dive site, chuck my drysuit on top and I'm ready to go. Between dives, cheap ski gear is excellent at keeping warmth in – hat, gloves, jacket, fluffy neck warmer – all to maintain that core body temperature.

cold water diving

"So now we're warm there are a few other things about cold-water diving you might not think of apart from the obvious reg free flows. Jumping into cold water with three battery bars on your dive computer might cause a premature blip as the battery chemistry can't always cope with the cold. Ditto torches, cameras and strobes. Drysuit latex seals can stiffen in the freezing cold – this doesn't damage them but before you do any stretching, the latex needs to be rewarmed so they're flexible. A leaky drysuit is particularly uncomfortable in really cold water – if you have a leak but can't find it, try turning your suit inside out, unscrew the inflator and turn it round, then block off the neck and wrists with whatever you can find (footballs, pans, wine bottles, coke cans and traffic cones have all been used). Blow it up, and squirt soapy water all over it. The leaks will blow up a neat bubble. I have some tailor's chalk in my toolbox to mark the leak position so once it's bone dry, a blob of Aquasure sorts it or, for something more permanent and professional, two-part glue and seam tape.

"Winter diving can be very rewarding with a bit of forethought and preparation. As someone said to me many moons ago: 'there's no such thing as a cold dive, just the wrong kit!'"

Garry Dallas, Director of Training RAID UK and Malta, said: "To be honest, it's the best time of the year to go diving in cold water. Less algae, more nutrients in the sea and therefore more marine life. It's a no-brainer, although sometimes in very cold water a lack of good thermal protection on yer bonce can lead to brain freeze in the first 20 seconds or so.

"Looking at thermal protection… don't skimp, keep warm! Everywhere from head to toe needs another layer. Only wearing the extra sweater does add more buoyancy to the top of your body and knocks your hovering trim out a bit. To keep yourself in trim, wear the socks and bottoms too. Wet gloves… well, here's the time to invest in some dry gloves, they prevent water contact with the skin that chills your hands down to the bone! So, you'll be glad you got them. The thicker the under-glove, the more air gets in your gloves to keep you warm. Just make sure both inner and outer gloves fit you… well… like a glove!

Cold Water Diving in Iceland

cold water diving

"Heated vests… they are awesome! Externally battery-operated vests are easy to shut off, if there's a problem, but internal ones aren't. Be cautious of misusing the burn-time (usable power) of the vest; diving with your vest warming your body and keeping blood circulation going during the first part of the dive (normal on-gassing), then finding towards the end the battery runs out will cause your blood circulation to slow down, preventing normal off-gassing and can cause your body to develop DCI symptoms.

"Make sure your wrist seals aren't too tight, in cold water, now that your torso has redirected the blood flow within it, your hands will become colder even quicker.

"Scuba equipment… remember, the air temperature can often be colder than the water temperature, so breathing off a second stage regulator in 0 or sub-0 degrees out of water can cause the first stage to freeze prematurely. Turn the second stage breathing adjusters down, easier breathe – easier freeflow. Don't use warm water regulators below 8 degrees C. Inflator buttons can stick through lack of use, so as usual, make sure all your equipment is serviced properly. Always suck a negative pressure test on the second stage regulator to check it works before you connect to the cylinder.

"Finally, keep warm, before and after a dive, don't be a 'hero' unless you've got a pee valve fitted, it really does hurt if you can't go!"

Will Harrison braving the snow for a cold water dive

cold water diving

Mark Powell, TDI Instructor Trainer and Training Advisory Panel Member, commented: "Many divers seem to laugh or think you are joking when you mention diving in the dead of winter. Cold-water diving may not appeal to everyone out there. But for some, cold water brings the best visibility, solitude, and a very unique aquatic environment. Around the world, quarries, lakes, rivers and even ocean dive sites are swamped with people when the weather is warm and the required exposure protection is minimal. When the weather turns cold, you often have many of these dive sites to yourself. This means when you head to the water to dive, you and your buddy may not have many other divers to ask for support, so you need to take the items you need to remain comfortable. A few of the items that you may wish to have are listed below.

"Any type of physical activity can cause a person to get dehydrated. When the weather is warm and the sun is shining, it is much easier to recognise that we have been sweating and need to replace fluids. Conversely, cold weather often makes us bundle up and avoid cool drinks. When you head out to any dive site, especially a cold-weather site, remember to throw some water in the car. Between dives and around our aquatic activities, we need to remember to replace fluids and stay hydrated. This will make us feel better and ensure time at the dive site is much better. Similarly, cold weather always means it is a good time for hot drinks. Prepare a thermos and take some hot chocolate (or another hot fluid) out to the dive site. Nothing is better than leaving the water, throwing on your warm clothes, and then sipping a hot cup of coffee or chocolate drink. Your dive buddy will think you are the greatest person in the world.

"Just like fluids, we burn off calories when we dive. The act of adding bulky equipment such as extra exposure protection and the longer preparation time needed to set up and don gear for cold-water diving can make a diver burn off a large number of calories. As we exercise, we get tired and our bodies need more fuel to operate at a maximum level. Taking snacks to the dive site will make sure we have something to munch on and to replace calories after a long dive in cold waters. Essentially, these snacks can be true comfort food to make a diver feel better.

cold water diving

"One of the most-critical things that a cold-water diver needs may be undergarments. If you do not know what these are, they are clothes worn beneath a drysuit to provide thermal protection. When you pack your gear up and head to the water, why not throw some extra items into the car? Most companies that make undergarments often make layering systems. By taking more than one set of thermals to the water, you will know you have multiple options available to you to help you stay warm. Things like liners also fall into this category. Liners help wick sweat away from the body and provide an extra layer of thermal protection beneath normal undergarments. In many instances, liners can really help your hands and feet to stay warm. They are inexpensive items that take up almost no room. So why leave them at home.
"If you have never seen a first stage fail in cold water, it is amazing to see. Many divers would be surprised to know that a first stage can freeze in water temperatures well above freezing. Cold high-pressure gas moving through tight spaces expedites the freezing process. So, if you know you are planning on diving in cold water, why not give yourself peace-of-mind? Make sure you get your hands on regulators ready for cold-water diving. Often, these are diaphragm first stages or a first stage with an environmental seal to protect the system. You should not have to worry about temperatures and failing life-support gear during a dive when worries such as these can be completely avoided.

"If you have done much cold-water diving, then you have misjudged temperature at some point and experienced an ice-cream headache without the delicious treat underwater. Cold water against the soft tissues of the head can be a miserable experience. Similarly, if you have stayed in chilly water too long before, then you know what it is like for your hands and feet to begin to chill. Eventually they become like blocks of ice. For these reasons, thermal protection for your head and hands should always be carried along for cold-water dives. Hoods and gloves take up minimal space, so it may even be worth carrying multiple options with various levels of thickness and protection. If you do not need these items you will not mind leaving them at home, but you will kick yourself if you need options and just did not throw them into the car.

"One of the most-miserable things for me when diving in chilly waters is if my feet grow cold. Once they get too cold, it seems like my feet will never be normal again. This worry causes me to pack multiple socks when I head out for a cold-water dive. These socks may include normal running socks, heavy wool socks, and even Thinsulate undergarment socks. The ability to layer thermal protection on your feet will help you stay warm, but having extra pairs of socks means you can keep your feet dry and warm no matter what happens. In a drysuit you almost never stay truly dry. Be it a small leak or sweat, you will be damp somewhere. Remember that fluid runs downhill, so having dry socks in the car on a cold day can fix a world of problems if they happen. Similarly, remember to carry real shoes or boots to the dive site. Cold weather may mean slush, snow, or just low temperatures. Keeping your feet warm and covered while you prepare for your dive, or following the dive, will help you remain comfortable.
"Just like socks and shoes, a jacket and warm clothing can serve similar purposes on a cold dive site. The ability to remain warm while you prepare and break down your gear can be critical. Why would you risk being cold when a jacket could fix this problem? Remember to toss warm dry clothes into your car that are not used as undergarments. This will give you a warmth option on the surface if nothing else is working.
"People lose a huge amount of heat through the head. Wearing something as simple as a hat or beanie can help a diver stay warm while walking around a dive site. Think about it. Almost every thermal protection company makes and sells beanies, which is why TDI/SDI have just launched a new beanie. You wear a hood to remain warm underwater, so why not a hat on the surface? Simply wearing a hat can help a diver retain large amounts of body heat and remain warm before, between, and after dives.
"One of the wildest helpful items on a cold-water dive is anything heated. Various companies make heated undergarment systems. These systems often require battery packs. If you have one of these, why leave it at home? Accessories such as heated systems for drysuit diving can make a day of diving much more enjoyable. Take time to check out what is available and see what is right for you.

"Lastly, no one likes breaking down and cleaning equipment in the cold and wind. One of the easiest ways to simplify your life is to keep large storage bins in your vehicle. Bins allow you to simply place damp equipment into containers that will protect your car. Once home, you can carry the containers inside and break down and clean your gear in comfort. This type of planning will keep you from standing in frigid air breaking down gear and worrying about getting your car wet.

"Cold-water diving can be very fun. It is a unique experience that offers different types of challenges, but challenges can be fun. Just remember that when you head to the water, plan for your own personal comfort. There is no reason not to try and remain warm. Pack the extras into the car that can make you have a good time and remain comfortable. Again, these are just a few suggestions that can help you enjoy your time at the water when it is cold, but think through what you may need or want, and develop your own list."

GUE's John Kendall said: "Diving in the cold can be incredibly rewarding. You are often greeted by very good visibility, and often the dive sites are a lot quieter. However, there are numerous downsides and risks. The two obvious risks are equipment malfunction and diver malfunction. As the air and water get colder, there is a much higher likelihood of freeflows from your regulators. To avoid this, make sure that the regs are correctly tuned, and turn down any venturi assists. Also avoid breathing the regulators above water too much. In truly freezing conditions (such as ice diving), none of the regulators will be breathed above water. Believe it or not, the water will help keep the first stage warmer (as the water rarely gets much below 4 degrees C, whereas the air can be well into negative temps). You should also consider having truly redundant gas sources (such as a twinset) so that neither first stage is feeding more than one second stage. This will help reduce the load on the first stages if you end up gas sharing.
"In terms of diver malfunction, we have all experienced this to some degree. Humans get more stupid as they get cold. The body starts changing its blood flow to keep the central organs warm, and the brain goes into a survival mode. This means we are less likely to make good decisions when we are very cold. Staying warm is a must, and this starts before the dive. Make sure you are well rested, and eat a proper breakfast before the dive. Slow release carbs, such as porridge, are great for this. Then make sure you don't get too cold on the surface prior to getting in. Standing around on a cold carpark is a pretty good way of losing core body temperature before we even get wet. Make sure you have adequate and good undergarments, and a dry drysuit. The best undergarments will still keep you warm if you are a little damp, but a flooding suit can be particularly dangerous in cold water. A good measure of how well an undersuit will insulate you is the amount of buoyancy that it has. Generally more buoyancy means more trapped air, and it's that air that keeps you warm. A good hood and gloves are also essential. Personally, I wear drygloves for any cold diving. Electrical heating has become more popular and easy to acquire, but be careful of it. Batteries inside the drysuit can lead to nasty burns if the conductors get damaged, so external batteries are the safe way forward. And be mindful about running the heating all the time, if you have deco to do, it is better to try and avoid using the heating too much on the bottom phase, but keep it for the decompression. There has been a lot of research done by the NEDU about this, and cold on dive, warm on deco is the safest way forward.
"Finally, don't be afraid to call the dive early if you are getting cold. Remember, we dive for fun, so if you're not enjoying it, then get out."

The best carpet cleaner of 2019: Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro - Business Insider Nordic

Posted: 01 Oct 2019 12:00 AM PDT

The best steam cleaner

The Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner utilizes the pressure of steam to offer chemical-free sanitization that can be used on floors, grout, and so much more.

The Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner brings the power of steam cleaning to your home at an affordable price. In just seven minutes, this unit heats steam to 275 degrees, allowing you to quickly get cleaning. This low-moisture steam works on all surfaces, including floors, furniture, mattresses, ceramic and tiles, grout, and even car interiors. It's more than just a carpet cleaner, and its versatile design makes it suitable for use throughout many areas in your home.

This steam cleaner cleans, disinfects, sanitizes, degreases, and deodorizes without using chemicals, relying instead on the cleaning power of pressurized steam. According to This Old House, steam cleaning can loosen dirt and kill threatening substances like dust mites, bacteria, mold, and allergens. Additionally, the hot steam dries quickly. Because this cleaner uses just water, you also don't have to worry about buying (or running out) of cleaning products.

You can operate the Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner with just tap water, and it offers up to 50 minutes of continuous cleaning time. This 18-piece kit includes everything you need to do a full-house cleaning, including a rectangular floor tool, three microfiber pads, a window tool, two extension tubes, one lance, one microfiber cloth, one triangular tool, one triangular tool microfiber bonnet, five nylon brushes, one brass brush, and one AddFresh Fragrance Disc.

The unit weighs just 9 pounds and is on wheels, so you can roll it through the house. It also features a 16-foot power cord and a 6.5-foot steam hose, allowing you easier access to hard-to-reach spaces.

The Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner has a 4.5 out of 5-star rating on Amazon, based on more than 800 reviews. Good Housekeeping positively reviewed this cleaner, giving it a score of 85 out of 100. They said, "The Dupray Neat Multi-Use Steam Cleaner boasts impressive cleaning prowess, scoring nearly full marks across the board on all of our tough cleaning tests. We were especially satisfied with its window cleaning ability, blasting away embedded dirt effortlessly, drying fast and leaving the glass shiny and smear-free."

Pros: Chemical-free cleaning, steamer operates on just tap water, heats up in seven minutes, works on multiple surfaces, backed by a two-year warranty, up to 50 minutes of cleaning time

Cons: No suction or vacuum function, steam can be dangerous so careful handling is needed, need to continuously hold down a button to operate steam function

Buy on Amazon for $149.78

2 floors of Dania Beach apartment building evacuated after rooftop pool leaks for 2nd time - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale

2 floors of Dania Beach apartment building evacuated after rooftop pool leaks for 2nd time WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale

Cayucos Mold Damage Company Answers The Question, 'Why Is There Mold When Nothing Is Wet?' - A-Town Daily News

Posted: 13 Oct 2019 12:00 AM PDT

mold damage Cayucos

Step one is to keep all surfaces clean and dry and provide plenty of ventilation.

Start outside by removing wet damp landscaping away from the foundation of the building. Where possible, replace water-hungry shrubs and flowers drought-tolerant plants.

Clean up fallen leaves that can harbor mold spores. For those who like to leave fallen leaves on the ground because of the benefits to the soil, just remove those next to the foundation. Fallen leaves can be recycled as garden mulch.
Check the roof and exterior siding for loose shingles, boards, and cracks and make the necessary repairs.
Check attics, basements, crawl spaces for signs of leaks and moisture and make the necessary repairs.
Check under bathroom, kitchen and laundry room cabinets and check for signs of leaks and moisture around the walls and flooring near appliances and fixtures.
Include any stonework or masonry in the inspection.
Check for leaking pipes and other plumbing fixtures.
Clean up any mold and check for any mold or water damage. The damage can be in the form of rotted wood or crumbling drywall, stains, and serious rot damage to the structure of the building.

ServPro Cayucos
Cayucos, CA 93430
(805) 541-1271

This press release is by San Luis Obispo SEO company Access Publishing, 806 9th Street, #2D, Paso Robles, CA 93446, (805) 226-9890.

Water Damage Restoration

Thursday, November 14, 2019

How to Visit the Great Barrier Reef — and Help Preserve It While You're There - Travel+Leisure

Cayucos Mold Damage Company Answers The Question, 'Why Is There Mold When Nothing Is Wet?' - A-Town Daily News

Cayucos Mold Damage Company Answers The Question, 'Why Is There Mold When Nothing Is Wet?' - A-Town Daily News

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'In my eyes, he's just a modern day crook'| Contractor pleads guilty to theft - fox23maine.com

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Dive Like a Pro: What you need to know about cold water diving - Scuba Diver Magazine