Mold in your home

Even though we don't experience humidity in Montana like other states, mold is still a very present and real issue in our homes and businesses. We are equipped with the right knowledge and equipment to clean mold that may be present. One of our biggest concerns when cleaning mold is getting to the source of the moisture and trying to prevent mold growth from happening in the future.

This is a very helpful article from the EPA website on moisture control.


Moisture Control
Water in your home can come from many sources. Water can enter your home by leaking or by seeping through basement floors. Showers or even cooking can add moisture to the air in your home. The amount of moisture that the air in your home can hold depends on the temperature of the air. As the temperature goes down, the air is able to hold less moisture. This is why, in cold weather, moisture condenses on cold surfaces (for example, drops of water form on the inside of a window). This moisture can encourage biological pollutants to grow.
There are many ways to control moisture in your home:

• Fix leaks and seepage. If water is entering the house from the outside, your options range from simple landscaping to extensive excavation and waterproofing. (The ground should slope away from the house.) Water in the basement can result from the lack of gutters or a water flow toward the house. Water leaks in pipes or around tubs and sinks can provide a place for biological pollutants to grow.
• Put a plastic cover over dirt in crawlspaces to prevent moisture from coming in from the ground. Be sure crawlspaces are well-ventilated.
• Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to remove moisture to the outside (not into the attic). Vent your clothes dryer to the outside.
• Turn off certain appliances (such as humidifiers or kerosene heaters) if you notice moisture on windows and other surfaces.
• Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that the appliances themselves don't become sources of biological pollutants.
• Raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses. Use insulation or storm windows. (A storm window installed on the inside works better than one installed on the outside.) Open doors between rooms (especially doors to closets which may be colder than the rooms) to increase circulation. Circulation carries heat to the cold surfaces. Increase air circulation by using fans and by moving furniture from wall corners to promote air and heat circulation. Be sure that your house has a source of fresh air and can expel excessive moisture from the home.
• Pay special attention to carpet on concrete floors. Carpet can absorb moisture and serve as a place for biological pollutants to grow. Use area rugs which can be taken up and washed often. In certain climates, if carpet is to be installed over a concrete floor, it may be necessary to use a vapor barrier (plastic sheeting) over the concrete and cover that with sub-flooring (insulation covered with plywood) to prevent a moisture problem.
• Moisture problems and their solutions differ from one climate to another. The Northeast is cold and wet; the Southwest is hot and dry; the South is hot and wet; and the Western Mountain states are cold and dry. All of these regions can have moisture problems. For example, evaporative coolers used in the Southwest can encourage the growth of biological pollutants. In other hot regions, the use of air conditioners which cool the air too quickly may prevent the air conditioners from running long enough to remove excess moisture from the air. The types of construction and weatherization for the different climates can lead to different problems and solutions. 

http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldresources.html#Floods

As always we offer inspections and estimates for mold if you are concerned about areas in your home. http://buffalorestoration.com/restoration-services/mold-remediation.php

Steps to take if your pipes freeze in your home

So far we have had a very mild winter but pipes can still freeze and cause damage. I found this article on the State Farm's website that has some good tips in case this happens in your home. 

For the full article you can visit:  http://learningcenter.statefarm.com/residence/maintenance/preventing-frozen-pipes/index.html

If Your Pipes Do Freeze

What do you do if your pipes still freeze, despite your best preventative measures? First step: Don’t panic. Just because they’re frozen doesn’t mean they’ve already burst. Here’s what you can do:

• If you turn on your faucets and nothing comes out, leave the faucets turned on and call a plumber.
• Do not use electrical appliances in areas of standing water: You could be electrocuted.
• Never try to thaw a pipe with a torch or other open flame because it could cause a fire hazard. Water damage is preferable to burning down your house!
• You may be able to thaw a frozen pipe with the warm air from a hair dryer. Start by warming the pipe as close to the faucet as possible, working toward the coldest section of pipe.
• If your water pipes have already burst, turn off the water at the main shutoff valve in the house; leave the water faucets turned on. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the water shutoff valve is and how to open and close it.

Tips to stay safe during fire season

We have been receiving and abnormal amount of fire calls this year. These fires have started from all sorts of sources from spontaneous combustion to a faulty thermostat to a laptop charger overheating. The bottom line is fires can happen to anyone at anytime. We want to make sure our customers take the steps to be prepared if disaster does strike.

Here are a few items to think about during this season:

• Scrapbooks- Are they stored in a firesafe case?
• Photo's- Are they backed up at an off-site location such as a safety deposit box?
• Inventory of contents- Keep a journal of model numbers, prices and pictures of electronics and other valuables inside the home. This helps with replacement costs for the insurance company.
• Insurance coverage- Have you met with your insurance agent lately to review your policy? Have you purchased any new valuable items such as firearms or jewelry that aren't listed on your policy? Make sure you have enough coverage for your contents...whether you have renters insurance or a homeowners policy.
• Pets- Would the fire department know there are pets inside the home should something happen? Do you have a "pets inside" sticker visible?
• Fire extinguisher- Do you have one? Do you know where it is if you needed to put out a fire in the middle of the night? Do you know how to use it?
• Fire escape plan for your family- Have you met with your family and made a plan if a fire were to happen? Would your children know how to get out of the house safely?
• Smoke alarms- When is the last time you changed the batteries in the alarm or tested them? Smoke detectors save lives...did you know the fire department will come to your house to inspect your smoke detectors and make sure your home is safe? You can call the local fire department to schedule an inspection anytime.

We hope these items help to prepare you better if a fire were to happen in your home. This is also a great article I found on the Montana Red Cross website. You can follow the checklist to make sure you are fully prepared.

http://www.redcross.org/www-files/Documents/pdf/Preparedness/checklists/FireSafety.pdf

We hope everyone has a fun and safe New Year!

Firehouse Blend Coffee

We are so excited to partner with the Bozeman Firefighters to help them kick start this fundraiser. To place an order you can also call our office at 406-586-8109

The article below was published in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle earlier this week and does a good job of explaining the fundraiser.

Anyone walking down the coffee aisle at a couple local grocers today might notice a different brand resting on the shelves near the bags of Starbucks and Montana Coffee Traders.
The Bozeman firefighters’ union, the Local 613, along with City Brew Coffee, has put out a private label coffee.

The “Firehouse Blend,” complete with a fireman’s helmet with the number “613” on the bag, is being sold as a fundraiser for the union’s benevolence fund. Described as smoky and bold, it was made by City Brew Coffee. The Billings company is splitting 20 percent of its profits with the International Association of Firefighters’ Burn Foundation. That money will go to the International Burn Camp in Washington, D.C., where a firefighter and a child from each state spend a week together.

Money from sales of individual bags of coffee goes entirely to the local union’s benevolence fund, said Josh Charles, an engineer with the Bozeman Fire Department. The benevolence fund is for things such as buying toothbrushes and clothes for families affected by house fires and to help firefighters unable to work because of injuries, he said.

“Every bag we sell stays locally in Bozeman,” Charles said. “We wanted to have this fundraiser so we could give more back.”

It took about a year of planning and trying to make it work before the union was able to join with City Brew. The union had to commit to buying 720 bags of coffee and couldn’t find the money.
But a donation from Buffalo Restoration, a Bozeman-based company that does insurance damage repair, covered that upfront cost.
 
“We go in after (the firefighters) leave and we get to see firsthand the great job they’ve done in terrible circumstances,” said Ben Yanker, company president. “(We’ve) just really come to respect those guys and what they do to help members of the community. They go above and beyond.”

The coffee is sold at Joe’s Parkway Market and both Town & Country Foods stores in Bozeman. If all the bags go for the “minimum donation” of $10, the fundraiser should bring in about $4,000, said Cherie Swanson, business development director with City Brew Coffee and the mind behind the fundraiser.
It’s really cool, Yanker said. Selling the coffee gives the firefighters another way to raise money to give back to the community.

And some of the money from this first round of sales will go toward buying the next 360 bags of coffee, so the fundraiser can continue.

“We’re just proud to help these guys out,” Yanker said.

It's time for Christmas Lights!

Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is right around the corner which means it's time to dust off the Christmas decorations and prepare your house for the holidays.  We want to give you some tips to make sure your home is safe during the holiday season. House fires increase significantly during this time of year due to indoor lights, alternative heat sources and an increase in cooking.

This great article from the U.S Fire Administration.

Preventing Christmas Tree Fires

• Christmas Tree Fire Hazards - Movie segments demonstrating how fast a live Christmas tree can become fully engulfed in flames. Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house. A burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases.
• Selecting a Tree for the Holiday
  Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.
• Caring for Your Tree
  Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
• Disposing of Your Tree
  Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or woodburning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling center or having it hauled away by a community pick-up service.

Holiday Lights

• Maintain Your Holiday Lights
  Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.
• Do Not Overload Electrical Outlets
  Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires - they should not be warm to the touch.
• Do Not Leave Holiday Lights on Unattended

Holiday Decorations

• Use Only Nonflammable Decorations
  All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents.
• Never Put Wrapping Paper in a Fireplace
  It can result in a very large fire, throwing off dangerous sparks and embers and may result in a chimney fire.
• Artificial Christmas Trees
  If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, make sure it is flame retardant.

Candle Care

• Avoid Using Lit Candles
  If you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning.
• Never Put Lit Candles on a Tree
  Do not go near a Christmas tree with an open flame - candles, lighters or matches.

Finally, as in every season, have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home, test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times. Know when and how to call for help. And remember to practice your home escape plan.

As always Buffalo Restoration is just a call away for your water and fire damage needs. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

Our 2011 Buffalo Restoration Fire Scholarship Recipient

We had the wonderful opportunity to meet with our 2011 recipient and her family and award her the scholarship on the 18th. Ashleigh Buckner is a nursing student who will use the scholarship to help fund her schooling as it becomes more intense as she starts her clinicals. Asheigh's dad Steve has been a volunteer at Fort Ellis Fire Department since 2005.

We will be giving away a Fire Scholarship at least once a year to a child or grandchild of an active or career fire personnel member. We are excited to be able to give back to these wonderful men and women who serve our community.

Pictured is Ben Yanker, Ashleigh Buckner, Alisa Lister and Steve Buckner

Prevent Ice Dams Early

Ice dams are the cause of water damage year after year. We are still early in the season and prevention is key.  Ice dams can cause water to leak into the attic and living areas, damaging sheet rock, flooring and personal possessions.  Water can find its way into wall cavities and go undetected and possibly cause mold to grow. It is also not uncommon to see damage to shingles and gutters on the exterior.

DO:
• Improve ventilation in attic
• Insulate around penetrations
• Clear out rain gutters
• Install heat cable as a last resort
• Remove icicles

DON’T:
• Climb on roofs with snow and ice
• Chip at ice – it may cause more damage