Flooded Basement Boston 02118

This client had water damage in his basement which was caused from his basement flooding due to a water heater rupture.  They heard something weird in the morning before leaving for work but never decided to go into the basement to check to see if what was going on?  A broken leaking pipe near the water boiler had ruptured causing the flooded basement.  All the carpet was soaking wet by the time they found out.  They needed us to extract and dry the basement out.

VioClean 800-277-2532 24hr water damage services

Water Damage in Boston K St SouthBoston

Here is a recent job we did when the basement flooded with sewage on K st Boston.  If people are not familiar with South Boston it can be difficult to navigate in a restoration truck with heavy equipment, parking is a real pain.  We got lucky with parking on this one and saved the day for this happy client we were able to take out all contaminated contents and  extract and clean a very large basement in just about 4 hours!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Category 3 loss is grossly contaminated and may contain pathogenic, toxigenic or other harmful agents. Such water sources may carry silt, organic matter, pesticides, heavy metals, regulated materials, or toxic organic substances.

VioClean

800-277-2532

How to Select a Professional Cleaning Company

The first thing to understand about hiring a professional cleaning company is that all companies are NOT the same.  Hiring a cleaning service isn’t a commodity. You need to do a little homework in making a selection.

Price

Yes, price is a consideration, but it shouldn’t be the deciding factor.  The cheap cleaning companies cannot afford things that protect you like liability insurance, workman’s compensation, and background checks on employees.  The brutal truth is over half the companies in our area don’t have this type of protection for you.  This leaves you vulnerable. At VioClean we carry full liability and workman’s comp. And we do full background checks on all employees.

100% Guarantee

Make sure the company has a written guarantee stating that they will return if problems arise.  Many companies give a vague satisfaction guarantee.  But you need one in writing.  At VioClean, we guarantee, ” If you’re not happy, you don’t pay for the job.” Furthermore, if any spots return, we’ll come back at NO CHARGE for up to 30 days.

Training and Certifications

Many companies have no professional training. Make sure the company you choose has been professionally trained to do what they do.  Many times, certifications are given. The IICRC, is the largest certification body for professional carpet cleaners. VioClean has been trained and certified by the IICRC in the are of carpet cleaning and water damage restoration.

Water damage in Lynn, Ma

Here is a photo of some water damage in Lynn, Ma caused by a sewer main line backup. As you can see this is a dirty job that needs a professional clean up service that can disinfect and dry it out afterwards.

Sewage and water damage in basement

Extraction completed

Water Damage Prevention

Benefits of a water damage mitigation program Water damages can affect many physical, operational and financial aspects of your property operations. Beyond the obvious damages to the building’s structure and electrical/HVAC systems, a water-related incident can negatively affect your tenants, operations as well.

If your tenants experience business disruptions, you will most likely be required to offer rent reductions or waivers. Managing the remediation process itself can be time-consuming for your building staff. In the worst case, conflicts can arise that lead to expensive lawsuits and can put your reputation as a landlord at risk.

Property owners and managers can reduce the possibility of extensive losses through a comprehensive water damage mitigation program. The program should be developed based on detailed checklists that are specific to your facility. This detailed analysis gives your organization’s risk managers, safety managers, building engineers and other professionals more control over these potentially paralyzing situations.

A typical checklist assesses procedures and practices such as:
• Are small leaks promptly repaired?
• Is the cause of any leak analyzed to determine if it was an isolated occurrence,
or a symptom of a system-wide problem?
• Are housekeeping personnel instructed to immediately notify maintenance when
any type of dripping, leakage or clogged drains is found?
• Is there close monitoring of the work of outside contractors and vendors that may
affect piping systems (sprinklers, water, etc.)?
• Are there any liquid storage tanks or vessels (hot water, condensate, boilers, fuel
oil, etc.) inside the building, mechanical penthouse, or on the roof?
• Are pipe diagrams or prints up to date, and showing the location of valves for all
liquid carrying systems?
• Are shut off valves “exercised” (closed and reopened, lubricated as needed)
at least annually to verify they can be quickly closed during an emergency?
• Is someone available on all shifts trained to respond immediately to any leak?
• Is someone immediately available at all times with authorization
(24 hours x 7 days) to call and bring in the professional clean up and restoration companies?

This is just a short list of issues to be analyzed when developing a comprehensive water damage mitigation program.

PREVENT Frozen Water Pipes

The root of the problem is the nature of water itself.  Almost every material in the universe shrinks or contracts in size as its temperature is lowered.  Water contracts in similar manner as the temperature drops, but only to 32° degrees Fahrenheit.  Below that temperature, water has a unique property: it actually begins expanding.  Imagine a sealed pipe and the water contract down to 32° degrees with no problem.  However, at 32° degrees and below, the pipe is still shrinking in size while the water starts growing in size.  With faucets closed, the pipes cannot release the increasing pressure of the frozen water.  Intense pressure develops and increases until the pipe splits or tears to release the pressure.  Both plastic (PVC) pipes and copper pipes may burst.  The water is still frozen, however, and will not begin dripping, leaking, or spraying until it thaws back into liquid.  When the thawing does occur, the water escapes the pipe and begins water damage.

The best approach to the whole threat of frozen water damage would be prevention. The pipes most susceptible to freezing are usually those that are near outer walls, in crawl spaces, or in the attic.  All of these pipes should be properly insulated and even wrapped with approved heat tape where necessary.  Outside leaks of air should be sealed.  Garden hoses should be disconnected and where possible, pipes leading to outside pipes should be shut off and drained.  Open doors to interior cabinets containing water pipes in order to circulate warm air inside them.  As a hard freeze approaches, open both hot and cold faucets to a trickle to help prevent the water from freezing. (The water department wont give you a break for the increased water usage, but you may end up saving thousands of dollars in potential damage claims.)

 

Upholstery cleaning and maintenance tips

You can save your upholstery fabrics from most liquid spills if you treat them fast enough.  Most upholstery fabric purchased today comes treated with a fabric protector such as Teflon or Scotchgard.  A primary benefit of these protectors is that they prevent most spills from penetrating the fabric for at least 30 seconds.  In those first seconds most spills can be easily absorbed with a cotton towel and a damaging stain thwarted.

Unfortunately, when spills occur most people are indecisive about the best course of action.  By the time an absorbant towel is located and applied to the spill, it is too late.

Be prepared!

In your living and family rooms place a small white cotton hand towel under a seat cusion to be used for emergency spills.  Advise everyone in the family where the towel is located (for example, under the cushion).  Have a practice “spill drill”.  Let each family member imagine there has just been a spill on a chair.  Go to the sofa, lift the center seat cushion and pull out the hand towel.  Quickly take the towel to the spill and gently place it on top of the spill ( do not rub, smash or scrub).  The towel will be far more absorbent than the protected fabric.  In most cases this action alone can prevent permanent staining.

Hot spills such as coffee will penetrate the fabric protector much faster, so quick response is vital.

Fabric protector is essential for keeping your upholstered furniture looking good for a long time.  Always ask if it has been applied when you purchase a new piece of upholstered furniture.  The protector will not come off later during cleanings, but it will wear off in normal use.  It should be restored periodically when you have the fabric professionally cleaned.

VioClean Earns Coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award

Award reflects businesses’ consistently high level of customer service

VioClean has been awarded the prestigious 2011 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor bestowed annually on approximately 5 percent of all the businesses rated on the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service and health providers.

“ We strive to provide great service and value for our clients, there feedback is very important to us, as it helps us better serve our clients. Thanks to all who have worked hard to achieving this award, I am grateful to the many who have supported VioClean’s rapid growth over the years,” said Trung Nguyen president and Founder of VioClean.

“Only a fraction of the businesses rated on Angie’s List can claim the sterling service record of being a Super Service Award winner because we set a high bar,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “The fact that VioClean can claim Super Service Award status speaks volumes about its dedication to consumers.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have met strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their clients and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

 

Ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2011 Super Service Award logo next to business names in search results on AngiesList.com.

 

 

VioClean

211 Essex St

Swampscott, Ma 01907

www.vioclean.com

800-277-2532

Is Mold covered in my Insurance Policy?

Many question if property and casualty insurance policies cover the remediation of mold infestation and subsequent structural repairs.  According to an article in the August 2000 Claims Magazine, Mold & Mildew: A Creeping Catastrophe, Everette Lee Herndon, Jr. states, ” Some of these losses are covered, some are not.  If the water damage is the result of a covered loss, the resultant damage, mold (including fungi, mildew, etc.), is probably also covered.”  In order to avoid paying for remediation of pre-existing mold this article urges adjusters to make a site visit within the first 24-72 hrs, stating that any molds visible in the first two days after water damage are normally pre-existing and therefore generally not covered under the claim loss.

Mold contamination does not occur in every water damage loss.  An adjuster must look for mold when circumstances warrant and must call in appropriate qualified experts for guidance when needed.  Mold remediation may be expensive, but failure to remediate a covered damage may be even more expensive in comparison to the health issues and financial impact.  Everette Lee Herndon Jr., claims consutlant and expert witness, recommends that a mold remedition contractor should be contacted when there is more than a small area (greater than 10 sqft) of visible mold contamination.

VioClean

800-277-2532

Mold in Boston What’s the Fuss?

An explosion of insurance claims have been attributed to the increased media attention in recent years.  There have been many stories in the media about health related symptoms caused by mold in the indoor environment.  Back in 2009 there was a tenant from Tewksbury, Ma that was awarded $1 million from her landlord over mold problem in the house she was renting.  She said her landlords, area developers John Sullivan and his father, Kevin Sullivan, ignored her complaints.

Read more: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/18961264/detail.html#ixzz1U4qwzreU

Health problems are primarily caused when mold spores enter the air and humans inhale them.  When large numbers of spores are inhaled through the mouth or nose deep into the lungs, they can interact with the human tissue and blood system and result in serious health problems.  Mold spores are invisible to the human eye and can become airborne when disturbed by air movement, handling a mold contaminated item, cleaning, and demolition activities. Contact with moldy surfaces can cause skin irritation and ingestion can cause serious food poisoning.  Most mold spores are 5-10 microns in size with one micron requires personal protective equipment (PPE) such as full body suits, gloves, and eye protection.  Clean water floods that are properly dried out within 48 hours generally do not require extensive demolition or porous building materials and containment procedures.

Contact VioClean 800-277-2532 if you have any concerns related to water intrusion or mold issues we provide a complete assessment of air quality and provide solutions to solve the problem.