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Royal Water Damage – IICRC Certified Firm

IICRC Certified Firms have earned the right to display the cleantrust logo as a symbol of quality. In order to achieve IICRC-certified status, firms must meet a rigorous list of standards in business ethics and expertise. All IICRC Certified Firms must:

• Present accurate information to consumers and conduct business with honesty and integrity.
• Require a technician on all jobs who has been formally trained and passed all required tests.
• Require a continuing education program to keep technicians up-to-date on the latest changes in the industry.
• Maintain liability insurance to protect all parties in the event of an accident.
• Maintain a written complaint policy and agree to Better Business Bureau or similar arbitration to resolve disputes, and accept the conclusions and recommendations of arbitration.

The IICRC actively has relationships with fiber producers, carpet and fabric mills, furnishing manufacturers and retailers, and others affiliated with the industry. The use of cleantrust  service professionals is specified in leading manufacturers’ maintenance brochures and warranties.

When it comes to cleaning, restoration and inspection, the IICRC writes the books

As an ANSI-accredited standard-development organization, the IICRC has led the way in establishing the main industry standards and reference guides for professional carpet cleaning, upholstery and fabric cleaning, water damage restoration and mold remediation.

Each IICRC standard takes years to develop and the coordination of several experts in the field, including allied tradespersons; manufacturers; international, national and regional trade associations; individual or franchise professionals; cleaning, inspection and restoration industry organizations; insurance industry; training schools; contractors; and public health professionals.

These standards are reviewed and updated at least every five years. Many of these fields, such as the water damage restoration field, change rapidly and those who are certified keep up with the advancement of the science and generally accepted practices of the industry.

The IICRC helps keep homes and businesses healthful

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average person spends 90 percent or more of their time indoors, where levels of pollutants may be two to five times (and occasionally more than 100 times) higher than outdoor levels.

This makes it extremely important to perform regular maintenance inside your home or business. In addition to vacuuming, cleaning and checking for water damage on a regular basis, using a certified technician for cleaning will help extend the life of your flooring and upholstery and ensure that your home or business is healthful for those who live and work there.

A leak detection device can be your first line of defense against water damage in your home. Here’s a look at what’s available:

• Passive systems are alarm-only detectors. They are relatively inexpensive and should be placed near appliances and fixtures that use water, in the basement and in other areas where you may have a concern about leaks. The units emit a loud noise or whistle when a leak is detected. Typically battery-powered, they are portable and require no hard wiring, so they’re ideal for do-it-yourselfers.
• Appliance leak detectors are connected to specific appliances that could leak, such as a washing machine or a refrigerator with a water dispenser. These detectors also issue an alarm, but because they turn off the water to the appliance when a leak is detected they are considered “active” leak detection systems. Some appliance leak detectors can be installed by a homeowner; others may require professional plumbing assistance for best results.
• Whole-house leak detection systems provide widespread protection. A shut-off valve is installed on the main water line; the system’s primary unit is typically hard-wired to an electrical source to power the valve. When a leak is detected, the sensors transmit an alert to the main unit, which shuts off the water to the entire house. Moisture-sensing technologies for these systems vary by manufacturer and generally are either internal components of the shut off valve or external moisture sensors that are installed at all appliances and fixtures where leaks can occur. Sophisticated systems can be connected to a home security or fire alarm system, and can be programmed to send an electronic message about the leak to you or a security company. Plumber contractors often install whole-house systems.

In addition to installing leak detection devices, homeowners should stay on the lookout for potential water problems around the home.

• Pay attention to damp or discolored areas under sinks or near refrigerators, and around bathroom fixtures. 
• Look for rust on the exterior or base of a water heater.
• Replace hoses on the washing machine every 3-5 years as part of a proactive maintenance plan.
• Investigate musty smells in the basement or near water fixtures.
• Clean and test your sump pump periodically.
• If a leak is discovered, have it repaired immediately.

  If you suspect a problem, consider having a plumber check your pipes, fittings and water pressure.

If you do incur water damage be sure to call us for a FREE Estimate and Evaluation at 215-657-2244.

Royal Water Damage Restoration 215-657-2244

Homeowners insurance protects your home, its contents, and, indirectly, your other assets in the event of fires, theft, accidents or other disasters.

A standard homeowners policy (known as an HO-3 policy) will protect you from things like fires and fallen trees. Notice how we didn’t mention floods or earthquakes—those events are specifically not covered by a standard policy and require additional coverage. Homeowners in some areas of the country may be required by their mortgage company to carry these kinds of policies.

A standard policy will also protect your possessions from said disasters as well as theft. But a standard policy is not a blank check: There’s a limit to how much you’ll be compensated. If you have specific items of value, such as jewelry or artwork, you can pay a little extra each year to insure them for their full replacement value.

Now, if someone is on your property and slips and falls and sprains his ankle, he might sue you for his medical expenses. Homeowners insurance covers your liabilities in this situation as well. And like the examples mentioned above, you can pay more for extra coverage. Homeowners insurance isn’t required by law, like auto insurance. But mortgage companies usually require you to obtain a policy before they’ll give you a loan.

How Much Coverage Do You Need?

Your home insurance policy should cover enough to entirely rebuild and furnish your home were it wiped off the map. Ask a home builder to walk through your home and give you an estimate of what it would take to rebuild; that figure should be the basis for how much replacement coverage you’ll need. Be sure to point out any unique and/or expensive details that would add to the replacement cost.

Once you’ve determined the replacement cost of your home, you’ll need to know what kind of coverage you want. There are a few key terms here:

Guaranteed Replacement Cost Coverage. This means that the insurer will pay for the rebuilding of your home no matter the cost. These policies are hard to find these days.

Extended Replacement Coverage Many insurers offer coverage that caps the payout at around 125% of your home’s insured value.

Inflation Guarantee (or Guard). This feature makes sure that your home’s insured value stays current with the marketplace.

If you get a reliable appraisal, extended replacement coverage and an inflation guarantee, you should be in good shape. The appraisal provides a realistic starting figure and the inflation guarantee makes sure that your home’s price stays current. The 125% coverage means that, even if construction prices outpace inflation, they probably didn’t outpace it by 25%, so you should have enough money for whatever work you need done.

One last thing: The law requires you to have flood insurance if you live in an officially recognized high-risk area. To find out your flood risk and to find plans (which are offered by the government), go to floodsmart.gov.

When it comes to protecting your possessions, you may want more coverage than your standard policy allows. If you have anything of exceptional value (a family heirloom, a piece of art, jewelry, etc.), you should insure it separately. Insurers will charge extra for this coverage (something like an extra $10 on your monthly premium per $1,000 of value insured), but it pays to be covered.

Also keep in mind that there are two different kinds of coverage when it comes to personal articles. There’s “actual cash value” and there’s “replacement cost.” You want coverage for replacement cost. “Actual cash value” is what you’d get if you sold your valuable today — a lower amount than what you initially paid. “Replacement cost” pays you the amount of money you’d need to buy a brand-new item to replace your old one.

Liability Coverage

Say a guest stays at your home and slips on the floor and sprains his ankle. He decides to sue you. Your homeowners policy includes liability coverage in case you lose the court case. Generally speaking, standard policies offer $100,000 to $300,000 of liability coverage.

Supplemental liability coverage can boost your protection to $1 million or more. If you don’t own a car, adding that kind of coverage can be relatively cheap—less than $100 per year—and isn’t a bad idea. If you do own a car (putting you at greater risk for causing damage to people and property), expect to pay $300 to $400 a year. Check out your auto policy to see what kind of coverage you already have.

Shopping for a Homeowners Policy

There are three kinds of home insurance companies and salespeople:

Direct sellers, who sell directly to consumers (GEICO, Progressive and USAA fall into this category).

Captive agents, who only sell one company’s insurance products (for example, State Farm and Allstate agents).

Independent insurance agents, who sell policies from many different companies.

It’s possible that all of these groups will deny your insurance application for anything from the risky pool of alligators in your backyard or the tornado that runs through your property every year. Don’t despair. Many states have state-sponsored insurance programs for the hard-to-insure. Search for your state’s FAIR (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements) plan if you’re having a tough time with the traditional insurers.

Your Deductible

Like auto or health insurance, your homeowners insurance has a deductible (the amount you must pay before coverage kicks in). Like those other policies, you should opt for the highest deductible you can afford. If you do, the cost of your insurance premium (the monthly bill you pay) will surely be lower. Plus, a low deductible forces your insurer to cover more of your costs — costs they pass on to you in the form of increased premiums.

Remember: You should not use insurance to cover every conceivable expense, just the big ones. If reinstalling a gutter will cost you $200, pay the $200 — don’t start filing claims for it. Insurers hate it when you file too many claims, and may raise your monthly premium or even cancel coverage because they’ll view you as too risky. It’s not about gutters—you want the insurance when you have to pay for a whole new roof.

A good rule of thumb to follow: If you can fix anything for less than $1,000, don’t file a claim

Although mold is a natural substance and water damage mold and is not the greatest of diseases to be felt by the human beings, the fungus might cause some serious problems like irritation to lungs and eyes, allergies, asthma attacks and sinus congestion. If a house has water damage it takes as little as 24-48 hours for mold to develop in those places. In the household, water damage mold tends to be prevalent where there is enough moisture present for the fungus to feed on. The most vulnerable place for water damage mold to grow is bathrooms which are not hygienically maintained and it can also be hidden under carpets or floor tiles which are generally not cleaned regularly.

When your basement gives you musty smell and walls are decolorized that is when you confirm that you have water damage mold in your house. Restoration must be quickly adopted in order that the mold does not cause considerable health hazards. There are a number of things you must take care of if you have this growing around you. The first thing to do before you contact Royal Water Damage is to open your doors and windows so that clean air can get through your house so that the moist condition on which the mold lives will be reduced. Dry up all the house hold blankets and carpets with dehumidifiers.

Water damage mold can be cleaned by relatively simple techniques which can be performed by you. But you have to take suitable precautions like wearing gloves and goggles if you are removing it with your hands. These precautions protect you against harmful mold which are in their advanced stages of growth. A thorough cleaning with Lysol soap solution and water would take care of any mold in household carpets. The floor then has to be painted with an oil paint so that further mold does not accumulate over there.

Besides these there is also dry wall water damage mold which can be reduced by cutting away the dry wall where the mold is suspected to be present. This needs to be followed by cleaning up of any mold seen on the wooden boards by using soap and water. There are a lot of other ways to control water damage mold. A physician’s examination for such water damage mold can also be of great use as a final measure of safety against the spread of any disease.

Call Royal Water Damage for a NO Obligation – FREE Estimate.  215-657-2244

How do I know the true cost of water extraction, flood water cleanup, damage repair, or even file a claim? How would I know what proper tools to get the work completed on my own? Here are 5 questions to ask yourself before you go to the hardware store or even have your neighbor come to do the flood cleanup for you at a discounted rate.

215-657-2244 for a FREE No Obigation Estimate

We don’t often think of damage from frozen and broken water pipes as being on the same scale as a natural disaster, but damage from water is the most prevalent — yet least recognized — catastrophe. In fact, frozen and broken water pipes rank No. 2 behind hurricanes in terms of both the number of homes damaged and the amount of claim costs in the U.S.

Damage from frozen and broken water pipes can be a homeowner’s nightmare. When a pipe bursts, water gushes from the pipe like a fire hydrant, turning a basement into a lake within minutes. Water from frozen and broken pipes causes the most damage while people are away from home, because the plumbing can rupture and water can run unnoticed for several days. Repairs of around $50,000 are common due to water’s wrath.

Frozen and broken water pipes are a significant cause of loss across the nation. Damage can include soaked and ruined drywall. Wallpaper turns moldy. Kitchen cabinets warp, and carpet and draperies can be ruined. Photo albums, paperwork, antiques, furniture and clothing also can be destroyed. Sometimes homes have to be gutted because mold and mildew cover every inch from floor to ceiling.

Potential damage from frozen and broken water pipes is preventable. Efforts to prevent pipes from breaking in your home will save you from the nightmares of water damage and help reduce the enormous insurance claims  that result. Policyholders share the financial burden of frozen and broken water pipes through increased homeowners insurance rates. Obviously, preventing broken water pipes is in your best interest

Call today for your No-Obligation, FREE Estimate – (215) 657-2244
Royal Water Damage suggests five easy  things you can do to protect your home from frozen and broken water pipes:

1. Disconnect all garden hoses and other outside hose connections. If possible, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets.

2. Insulate all exposed pipes located in your basement, under your home, on outside walls or in attics. For pipes with northern exposures, use heat tape according to the manufacturer’s instructions. (Improper usage may cause a fire.)

3. Set the thermostat to at least 55 degrees even when your home is vacant or unoccupied during the winter. If you plan to be away during cold-weather months, have someone regularly check your home
to make sure it’s staying warm enough to prevent freezing.

4. Winterize sprinkler systems according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Blowing out excess water with a compressor may be the best way to prevent frozen and broken pipes. If you have a swamp cooler, winterize it by disconnecting the water source and clearing the line.

5. Very important is knowing how to shut off the water supply if a pipe bursts. Quick action can minimize damage.

Taking  these few precautions before the next freeze sets in may save your home
from the devastating effects of frozen and broken water pipes.

Mold can be found almost anywhere and it can grow on nearly every surface, as long as moisture and oxygen can be found. When too much moisture accumulates in buildings or on building materials, mold growth usually occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or unaddressed. Many mold troubles remain hidden from site for a long period. They are discovered when someone using a sensitivity to mold spends in time the building and gets sick.

The first step in flood damage restoration is water extraction. Royal Water Damage can send a team immediately, whenever of day, to help you as soon as you need them. When possible, find and stop the initial source of the water (plumbing, faucet, etc). Remove as much water as you can.

It takes a great deal to restore smoke-damaged possessions: far more than a vacuum and scrub brush. Royal Water Damage is skilled in this kind of detailed work. The initial step to restoration is the removal of soot. A commercial-strength vacuum can be used to clean and extract soot. Individual items must get hand-cleaned for soot removal. Whilst the restoration is happening, the property will be open whenever you can for clean air. After the soot is removed, smoke residue must be cleaned. An ozone generator helps extract smoke particles in your home office and belongings. A thermal fogger also draws the smoke out.