Looking around for a used vehicle to buy either as your first car or as a replacement for your last one can be a hassle enough by itself without having to worry about whether you’re going to end up buying a lemon. You have to worry about financing, what kind of vehicle is best, and if it’s going to break down on you as soon as you get it home, but one thing that a lot of people don’t tend to think about when shopping for a new vehicle is if it has ever been completely submerged in water.
These vehicles aren’t always readily noticeable as having been submerged before. Dishonest car dealers and individuals looking to cheat you aren’t likely to tell you that a vehicle has been flooded, so you have to watch out for yourself.
One of the most dangerous things about vehicles that have been flooded can be is the possibility of mold growth in the interior of the car. It’s just as dangerous as the mold that can grow inside your home, but you’re less likely to notice it because most people don’t think about mold growing in their cars. Sometimes bad car dealers will try to cover the odor of mold in the car with air or carpet fresheners. You never know if the mold has been completely removed from the car unless the carpet has been replaced and the interior cleaned by a professional.
Even the engine isn’t safe. Any flood waters the car has been exposed to contain sand, dirt, silt, or any number of debris that can work its way into the engine and cause it to malfunction. Even sewage can be found in some flood waters.
There are also electrical problems abound in vehicles that have been flooded before. Many things on a vehicle today are monitored not by manual gauges, but by electronics and trying to use these by powering on the car before it’s completely dried out will probably ruin them.
Look for rust in the trunk of the car, particularly around the headlights and smell the interior closely. If there’s a musty odor or you can detect a scented air or carpet freshener has been used, it’s probably a good idea to go somewhere else to find a vehicle. Even if you purchase a vehicle history report off of a website, you might not get all the information on a vehicle. You’ll get any information that was reported to the insurance company and a claim was done on, but if the car was submerged and the person or dealer chooses to sell it without reporting the incident, they can.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Miami Residential Water Damage Restoration Contractors and
Orlando water Damage companies.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Water Damage and Its Causes
Water damage is one of the worst things that a homeowner or a landlord can have to deal with on their property and most of us generally know what causes it, but what about the specifics? There are many different causes of water damage, but some are a bit more evident and common than others.
One of the best things that you can do to prevent water damage in your bathroom is to have a tile floor and not a carpeted one. Carpeted bathroom floors are popular in some circles, but they’re particularly good at absorbing water and hiding a water damaged (and probably mold infested) floor underneath. If you don’t have a tile floor yet and you can’t afford to have one installed at this time, do your best to make sure that your toilet and bath tub do not overflow.
A leaky roof is often a culprit of water damage in the attic and on ceilings and this can be prevented by purchasing a waterproofing sealant for your rooftop. This will prevent water from seeping into the house through a small sized leak. Unless something punctures your roof, this should fix most problems. Making sure your roof is properly angled depending on the climate that you live in is also essential to preventing water damage due to a leaky roof. If the roof is not properly angled so that snow and ice can fall off and to the ground, it will weigh down on it and eventually cause not only structural damage, but also water leaks.
Check the pipes underneath your kitchen and bathroom sinks and also any other pipes that are exposed to make sure that they are not cracked or otherwise damaged. They and any hoses should connect firmly to dishwashers, laundry washers, and sinks. Properly insulating your exposed pipes indoors and outdoors is also essential to keep them from freezing and bursting during the winter. If it drops below 20 degrees, leave a little water running through your faucets; running water is more difficult to freeze than its standing counterpart.
The land around the base of your home should be sloping away from it so that water is directed away from the foundation. If it is not, it will leak into your cellar and possibly cause structural damage to your home’s foundation. Water loosens soil and it can cause your home to sink into the ground over time.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Houston Fire Damage Water Restoration Contractor companies and
Los Angeles Water Damage and Restoration Services.
One of the best things that you can do to prevent water damage in your bathroom is to have a tile floor and not a carpeted one. Carpeted bathroom floors are popular in some circles, but they’re particularly good at absorbing water and hiding a water damaged (and probably mold infested) floor underneath. If you don’t have a tile floor yet and you can’t afford to have one installed at this time, do your best to make sure that your toilet and bath tub do not overflow.
A leaky roof is often a culprit of water damage in the attic and on ceilings and this can be prevented by purchasing a waterproofing sealant for your rooftop. This will prevent water from seeping into the house through a small sized leak. Unless something punctures your roof, this should fix most problems. Making sure your roof is properly angled depending on the climate that you live in is also essential to preventing water damage due to a leaky roof. If the roof is not properly angled so that snow and ice can fall off and to the ground, it will weigh down on it and eventually cause not only structural damage, but also water leaks.
Check the pipes underneath your kitchen and bathroom sinks and also any other pipes that are exposed to make sure that they are not cracked or otherwise damaged. They and any hoses should connect firmly to dishwashers, laundry washers, and sinks. Properly insulating your exposed pipes indoors and outdoors is also essential to keep them from freezing and bursting during the winter. If it drops below 20 degrees, leave a little water running through your faucets; running water is more difficult to freeze than its standing counterpart.
The land around the base of your home should be sloping away from it so that water is directed away from the foundation. If it is not, it will leak into your cellar and possibly cause structural damage to your home’s foundation. Water loosens soil and it can cause your home to sink into the ground over time.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Houston Fire Damage Water Restoration Contractor companies and
Los Angeles Water Damage and Restoration Services.
Mold In Our Daily Lives
Everybody knows how much damage mold growing inside a home or a workplace can be to human beings, but something that we tend to forget is just how important mold is to our daily lives. It exists everywhere, but people all over the world have used it to help advance society for years.
Molds have been used to make things like cheese, breads, and beer, which are some of the most important and basic foods we have. Bleu cheese contains mold and is pretty popular both in its salad dressing form and in its whole cheese form. Bread is a staple in almost every home on the planet and while beer might not be that important to some people, but it’s obvious how popular it usually is with the masses and some people can’t really imagine life without it. Sake is made in Japan by using a mold and what is known in Japan as red yeast rice is also made using mold, even though they require two different kinds. Other fungi such as mushrooms are used in our foods to help flavor them and add more substance to our meals. They’re particularly popular in Italian food and some species of mushroom can cost as much as several hundred or even between one and two thousand dollars per single pound.
Molds grow in the wild and assist in the decomposition of dead bodies and burnt foliage. After a forest is burned to the ground, the first things that begin to grow again on the landscape are fungi. Molds, which are classified as fungi, are some of the oldest organisms on the planet and have been here since before even the oldest dinosaurs. They break down anything that is based on cellulose like wood or any other form of dead plant and animal matter.
Molds are cultivated in laboratories worldwide for a number of uses, especially different kinds of medicines. Penicillin, one of the first shots that citizens of the United States receive, is made from mold in mass quantities and was discovered by accident. It’s been used to kill all kinds of bacteria that cause human diseases, including Staphylococcus and has been used since 1929 when Alexander Fleming first made known his discovery.
Molds only really become an issue whenever they begin to grow inside homes or businesses. They can cause us an innumerable amount of health problems and can damage our building structures on a basic level, not to mention making them unsightly.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
water damage restoration companies and
Dallas Residential Water Damage Restoration Contractors.
Molds have been used to make things like cheese, breads, and beer, which are some of the most important and basic foods we have. Bleu cheese contains mold and is pretty popular both in its salad dressing form and in its whole cheese form. Bread is a staple in almost every home on the planet and while beer might not be that important to some people, but it’s obvious how popular it usually is with the masses and some people can’t really imagine life without it. Sake is made in Japan by using a mold and what is known in Japan as red yeast rice is also made using mold, even though they require two different kinds. Other fungi such as mushrooms are used in our foods to help flavor them and add more substance to our meals. They’re particularly popular in Italian food and some species of mushroom can cost as much as several hundred or even between one and two thousand dollars per single pound.
Molds grow in the wild and assist in the decomposition of dead bodies and burnt foliage. After a forest is burned to the ground, the first things that begin to grow again on the landscape are fungi. Molds, which are classified as fungi, are some of the oldest organisms on the planet and have been here since before even the oldest dinosaurs. They break down anything that is based on cellulose like wood or any other form of dead plant and animal matter.
Molds are cultivated in laboratories worldwide for a number of uses, especially different kinds of medicines. Penicillin, one of the first shots that citizens of the United States receive, is made from mold in mass quantities and was discovered by accident. It’s been used to kill all kinds of bacteria that cause human diseases, including Staphylococcus and has been used since 1929 when Alexander Fleming first made known his discovery.
Molds only really become an issue whenever they begin to grow inside homes or businesses. They can cause us an innumerable amount of health problems and can damage our building structures on a basic level, not to mention making them unsightly.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
water damage restoration companies and
Dallas Residential Water Damage Restoration Contractors.
Fighting the Landlord Over Mold
No matter where you live in the United States, one important thing to realize when you’re renting a home or an apartment is that there are some things you are not liable for and the landlord is. Some landlords will try to tell you that a certain thing is not their responsibility or that it was not in the lease, but the fact is that the landlord has a responsibility to make sure that the home or building that you are renting is a safe and healthy environment.
If you discover mold growing in your rental, your first order of business is to have a mold test done either by yourself or preferably by a professional. You have to first prove to the landlord that a problem exists in the rental before you can make him or her do anything about it. Once you have the burden of proving there is mold off your shoulders, then you can worry about what you’re going to do if the landlord chooses to do nothing about it. Mold inspections and tests are not generally covered by most leases and so you have to pay for them.
You must decide whether to continue living in the unit until your landlord takes the necessary steps to have the mold removed or to leave and try to make your landlord pay the cost of relocating you. Depending on the size of the mold infestation, it might be more feasible to stay in the unit. If it’s a large infestation, staying shouldn’t be considered. Sometimes mold can be gotten rid of by you if you’re unwilling to bother with your landlord and go through the trouble of making him or her do anything about it, but whether you do it yourself or have your landlord take care of the problem for you, the mold must be removed somehow if you are to continue living there safely.
When you notify your landlord that a mold problem exists, do this by certified mail so that you have legal proof that you communicated this to him. Send along the proof in the form of a paper signed by a certified mold inspector and what the mold test concluded. If this notice is received and you receive no communication from your landlord, sending a second notice saying that you are not going to pay your rent until he does something about it is the next level. If this is still ignored, notify your landlord a third time by certified mail and inform him that you are moving out and that you will be getting a lawyer. You can sue your landlord for the cost of relocating due to the mold and he is also probably liable for any medical expenses you have incurred due to the infestation.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Texas Water Damage Restoration and
Houston Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
If you discover mold growing in your rental, your first order of business is to have a mold test done either by yourself or preferably by a professional. You have to first prove to the landlord that a problem exists in the rental before you can make him or her do anything about it. Once you have the burden of proving there is mold off your shoulders, then you can worry about what you’re going to do if the landlord chooses to do nothing about it. Mold inspections and tests are not generally covered by most leases and so you have to pay for them.
You must decide whether to continue living in the unit until your landlord takes the necessary steps to have the mold removed or to leave and try to make your landlord pay the cost of relocating you. Depending on the size of the mold infestation, it might be more feasible to stay in the unit. If it’s a large infestation, staying shouldn’t be considered. Sometimes mold can be gotten rid of by you if you’re unwilling to bother with your landlord and go through the trouble of making him or her do anything about it, but whether you do it yourself or have your landlord take care of the problem for you, the mold must be removed somehow if you are to continue living there safely.
When you notify your landlord that a mold problem exists, do this by certified mail so that you have legal proof that you communicated this to him. Send along the proof in the form of a paper signed by a certified mold inspector and what the mold test concluded. If this notice is received and you receive no communication from your landlord, sending a second notice saying that you are not going to pay your rent until he does something about it is the next level. If this is still ignored, notify your landlord a third time by certified mail and inform him that you are moving out and that you will be getting a lawyer. You can sue your landlord for the cost of relocating due to the mold and he is also probably liable for any medical expenses you have incurred due to the infestation.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Texas Water Damage Restoration and
Houston Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
Here Is How To Prevent House Fires
Fires happen all over the world, but the fires that happen inside a person’s home are often the most preventable and all it takes is a little diligence and some common sense to discover what the fire hazards in your home are and how to get rid of them when you find them.
It is a fact that most house fires happen in the kitchen. Even though a great number of these small stove fires go unreported because they do not do any damage, you really need to learn what you can do to prevent them from happening in the first place, because it only takes a second or two for a small fire to spread into a much larger one. House fire prevention begins in the kitchen by learning that you should never leave anything on the stove unattended unless it is an emergency and you should never leave the house to go and run errands during this time unless someone is going to be there to keep an eye on the cooking.
You also need to be careful with deep fryers and electric skillets. Any appliance that emits a large amount of heat needs to be monitored consistently to make sure that it does not overheat and catch on fire and you should not ever have to use an extension cord with these. Small extension cords like the ones you would use for lamps will NOT work and will melt. If you must use an extension cord, make sure it is a heavy duty one with a gauge of at least 14.
Heating shortening and oil in the kitchen also poses a significant problem, since it is so flammable. Heat these slowly so that they do not burn and do not catch on fire and if you have to leave the room, turn them off or have someone watch them for you.
Space heaters are also a big problem during the winter time and like with deep fryers and electric skillets, do not use an extension cord with these. Do not place them near drapes or other fabric items and keep children away from them. Also try not to leave them on overnight while you are sleeping unless you absolutely have to and even then, make sure you take the necessary steps to keep flammable items away from them. Do not use these in the bedrooms of small children due to the amount of flammable stuffed animals, pillows, and blankets that are likely to be there.
The worst thing that you can do is let yourself become comfortable with these appliances and allow yourself to think that you know what you are doing and a fire cannot happen to you. Letting your guard down in this manner is what causes a large amount of house fires.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Orlando water damage restoration companies and
Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.
It is a fact that most house fires happen in the kitchen. Even though a great number of these small stove fires go unreported because they do not do any damage, you really need to learn what you can do to prevent them from happening in the first place, because it only takes a second or two for a small fire to spread into a much larger one. House fire prevention begins in the kitchen by learning that you should never leave anything on the stove unattended unless it is an emergency and you should never leave the house to go and run errands during this time unless someone is going to be there to keep an eye on the cooking.
You also need to be careful with deep fryers and electric skillets. Any appliance that emits a large amount of heat needs to be monitored consistently to make sure that it does not overheat and catch on fire and you should not ever have to use an extension cord with these. Small extension cords like the ones you would use for lamps will NOT work and will melt. If you must use an extension cord, make sure it is a heavy duty one with a gauge of at least 14.
Heating shortening and oil in the kitchen also poses a significant problem, since it is so flammable. Heat these slowly so that they do not burn and do not catch on fire and if you have to leave the room, turn them off or have someone watch them for you.
Space heaters are also a big problem during the winter time and like with deep fryers and electric skillets, do not use an extension cord with these. Do not place them near drapes or other fabric items and keep children away from them. Also try not to leave them on overnight while you are sleeping unless you absolutely have to and even then, make sure you take the necessary steps to keep flammable items away from them. Do not use these in the bedrooms of small children due to the amount of flammable stuffed animals, pillows, and blankets that are likely to be there.
The worst thing that you can do is let yourself become comfortable with these appliances and allow yourself to think that you know what you are doing and a fire cannot happen to you. Letting your guard down in this manner is what causes a large amount of house fires.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Orlando water damage restoration companies and
Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
