Water Damage Newburgh

Whether your water damage in Newburgh is due to flooding or broken pipes, Hudson Valley DKI is here to help you in your time of need!

Protect Your Property From Spring Water Damage

Spring brings warmer temperatures, and warmer temperatures mean melting snow.  Melting snow and spring showers on a just-thawed ground can create a recipe for disaster. Soggy, uneven ground can puddle and cause flooding.  Sometimes this run-off can seep into your property through leaks and cracks in the foundation causing damage to the building structure, furnishings, and facilitate the perfect environment for mold and mildew.  What steps can you take to help re-route the water and protect your property from water damage in Newburgh?  Here are some items to be aware of…

Ice Damming

Ice dams occur after a heavy snowfall when warm air in the attic causes the temperature of the roof to rise and the snow to melt.  As snowmelt runs down the roof, it refreezes when reaching the colder roof edge, forming a mound of ice.  Ice dams are those chunks of ice that form along the edges of your roof, and while frozen, they’re no more trouble than the icicles that hang down. But during the warmer parts of the day, water melting off the roof pools behind the ice.  With nowhere else for the water to go, it seeps back up under the shingles. Ice dams allow water from melting snow and ice to pool on the roof which will eventually leak into your home.  Sometimes water can find its way 5 to 10 ft. back up under the shingles. Eventually, it drips through the roof into the soffits, walls, and worst of all, onto your ceilings.  If you wish to remove snow from your roof, do so safely. After a heavy snowstorm, rake the snow off your roof line to prevent ice dams from forming, and remove icicles.  This will prevent ice dams from forming and water damage inside your home from happening.

Spring Runoff

Melting snow can seep into the soil next to your foundation, causing water damage to crawl spaces, basements, and corner joints where the wall meets the floor.  Grading the ground closest to your foundation can help prevent this from happening. Build up the soil in order to have at least a six-inch slope from the foundation to at least ten feet from the property to keep water from seeping into the foundation or basement.

Clogged Gutters

Clogged gutters can cause water to spill over the side, down the walls of your home and seep into the foundation. Make sure your gutters are free of debris to ensure proper water flow.  It is important to position downspouts away from your property.  Extenders can be used to ensure the water is directed 2 or 3 feet away from the foundation.  Your gutters are your first line of defense.  However, houses without gutters often have leakage problems caused by water splashing against the foundation. Digging a trench, lined with thick plastic or pipe can be used to divert the runoff from the roofline.  Covering the area with landscaping materials or stones will prevent debris from blocking the flow of water.

Water that has seeped into your home through any of these scenarios cause a perfect habitat for mold growth.  Mold is known to cause health problems if not taken care of properly by certified mold remediation specialists.  By finding water damage quickly you can prevent unnecessary damage.  If you are in the Newburgh area, Hudson Valley Contracting-DKI is on call 24 hours a day for your water damage disaster.

Protect Your Property From Spring Water Damage

Spring brings warmer temperatures, and warmer temperatures mean melting snow.  Melting snow and spring showers on a just-thawed ground can create a recipe for disaster. Soggy, uneven ground can puddle and cause flooding.  Sometimes this run-off can seep into your property through leaks and cracks in the foundation causing damage to the building structure, furnishings, and facilitate the perfect environment for mold and mildew.  What steps can you take to help re-route the water and protect your property from water damage in Newburgh?  Here are some items to be aware of…

Ice Damming

Ice dams occur after a heavy snowfall when warm air in the attic causes the temperature of the roof to rise and the snow to melt.  As snowmelt runs down the roof, it refreezes when reaching the colder roof edge, forming a mound of ice.  Ice dams are those chunks of ice that form along the edges of your roof, and while frozen, they’re no more trouble than the icicles that hang down. But during the warmer parts of the day, water melting off the roof pools behind the ice.  With nowhere else for the water to go, it seeps back up under the shingles. Ice dams allow water from melting snow and ice to pool on the roof which will eventually leak into your home.  Sometimes water can find its way 5 to 10 ft. back up under the shingles. Eventually, it drips through the roof into the soffits, walls, and worst of all, onto your ceilings.  If you wish to remove snow from your roof, do so safely. After a heavy snowstorm, rake the snow off your roof line to prevent ice dams from forming, and remove icicles.  This will prevent ice dams from forming and water damage inside your home from happening

Spring Runoff

Melting snow can seep into the soil next to your foundation, causing water damage to crawl spaces, basements, and corner joints where the wall meets the floor.  Grading the ground closest to your foundation can help prevent this from happening. Build up the soil in order to have at least a six-inch slope from the foundation to at least ten feet from the property to keep water from seeping into the foundation or basement.

Clogged Gutters

Clogged gutters can cause water to spill over the side, down the walls of your home and seep into the foundation. Make sure your gutters are free of debris to ensure proper water flow.  It is important to position downspouts away from your property.  Extenders can be used to ensure the water is directed 2 or 3 feet away from the foundation.  Your gutters are your first line of defense.  However, houses without gutters often have leakage problems caused by water splashing against the foundation. Digging a trench, lined with thick plastic or pipe can be used to divert the runoff from the roofline.  Covering the area with landscaping materials or stones will prevent debris from blocking the flow of water.

Water that has seeped into your home through any of these scenarios cause a perfect habitat for mold growth.  Mold is known to cause health problems if not taken care of properly by certified mold remediation specialists.  By finding water damage quickly you can prevent unnecessary damage.  If you are in the Newburgh area, Hudson Valley Contracting-DKI is on call 24 hours a day for your water damage disaster.

Mold Removal New Burgh

If you suspect or spot mold growth in your home, call Hudson Valley DKI for mold removal in New Burgh and get to the root of the problem to prevent additional damage or mold growth.

Protect Your Property From Spring Water Damage

Spring brings warmer temperatures, and warmer temperatures mean melting snow.  Melting snow and spring showers on a just-thawed ground can create a recipe for disaster. Soggy, uneven ground can puddle and cause flooding.  Sometimes this run-off can seep into your property through leaks and cracks in the foundation causing damage to the building structure, furnishings, and facilitate the perfect environment for mold and mildew.  What steps can you take to help re-route the water and protect your property from water damage in Newburgh?  Here are some items to be aware of…

Ice Damming

Ice dams occur after a heavy snowfall when warm air in the attic causes the temperature of the roof to rise and the snow to melt.  As snowmelt runs down the roof, it refreezes when reaching the colder roof edge, forming a mound of ice.  Ice dams are those chunks of ice that form along the edges of your roof, and while frozen, they’re no more trouble than the icicles that hang down. But during the warmer parts of the day, water melting off the roof pools behind the ice.  With nowhere else for the water to go, it seeps back up under the shingles. Ice dams allow water from melting snow and ice to pool on the roof which will eventually leak into your home.  Sometimes water can find its way 5 to 10 ft. back up under the shingles. Eventually, it drips through the roof into the soffits, walls, and worst of all, onto your ceilings.  If you wish to remove snow from your roof, do so safely. After a heavy snowstorm, rake the snow off your roof line to prevent ice dams from forming, and remove icicles.  This will prevent ice dams from forming and water damage inside your home from happening

Spring Runoff

Melting snow can seep into the soil next to your foundation, causing water damage to crawl spaces, basements, and corner joints where the wall meets the floor.  Grading the ground closest to your foundation can help prevent this from happening. Build up the soil in order to have at least a six-inch slope from the foundation to at least ten feet from the property to keep water from seeping into the foundation or basement.

Clogged Gutters

Clogged gutters can cause water to spill over the side, down the walls of your home and seep into the foundation. Make sure your gutters are free of debris to ensure proper water flow.  It is important to position downspouts away from your property.  Extenders can be used to ensure the water is directed 2 or 3 feet away from the foundation.  Your gutters are your first line of defense.  However, houses without gutters often have leakage problems caused by water splashing against the foundation. Digging a trench, lined with thick plastic or pipe can be used to divert the runoff from the roofline.  Covering the area with landscaping materials or stones will prevent debris from blocking the flow of water.

Water that has seeped into your home through any of these scenarios cause a perfect habitat for mold growth.  Mold is known to cause health problems if not taken care of properly by certified mold remediation specialists.  By finding water damage quickly you can prevent unnecessary damage.  If you are in the Newburgh area, Hudson Valley Contracting-DKI is on call 24 hours a day for your water damage disaster.

Hudson Valley DKI

                                                        4 Fire Damage Myths Debunked

Fire can cause catastrophic amounts of damage to your home or business, you may even call it the ultimate annihilator. Fire consumes almost everything in its path and what it doesn’t consume it damages. The path left behind fire usually consists of the charred, sooty, and oily residue of what used to be there. As a home or business owner, you are responsible for the safety of the people, contents, and property. Fire prevention safety should be on the top of your list. With that in mind, Hudson Valley DKI in has decided to debunk some common fire damage restoration myths that you may have heard.

First Fire Damage Myth: Smoke Detectors Are All I Need.

Smoke detectors are great at providing an early warning…when in working order. Make sure your smoke detectors are installed properly and have well-charged batteries. Smoke detectors can provide you and your family with the opportunity to stop before it gets out of hand, however, there may be some unforeseen factors that can go wrong. It is crucial that you have an evacuation plan in place for fire damage emergencies. Sit down with your family, housemates, or employees and put together an emergency preparedness plan so, if the time comes, everyone can evacuation the property safely.

You may also want to invest in the appropriate fire extinguishers or sprinkler system for your home or business.  Providing that additional layer of safety can go a long way in preventing fire damage to your property and saving the lives of property residents. Fun Fact: fire sprinkler systems are eligible for insurance rate savings and can increase property value.

Second Fire Damage Myth: Sprinklers Cause Way More Damage

When a fire occurs, typically, only the sprinkler within range of the fire will active, releasing water directing on the fire. The other sprinklers will remain dormant unless the fire spreads. Roughly 85% of the time, during a fire, only one sprinkler will be active.

With that in mind, fire sprinklers can reduce damage and property loss significantly. The sprinkler system will quickly eliminate the heat and control the smoke from the fire, limiting the damage the fire is able to cause. Any resulting water damage is minimal compared to the water damage caused by fire-fighting hose lines.

Third Fire Damage Myth: Most Fires Are Caused My Electrical Malfunctions

According to FEMA, The US Fire Administration, electrical malfunctions is not the leading cause of fire damage, nor is it the second-leading cause of fire damage. Cooking is responsible for nearly half of all house fires reported in the United States. Heating comes in a far second, causing over 12% of the house fires in the US. Electrical house fires come in third with consisting of only 6% of the house fires in the US.

Fourth Fire Damage Myth: Flames Pose The Biggest Threat In A Fire

Flames can cause some major destruction, but smoke inhalation is responsible for most fire-related deaths. Smoke is chalk full of toxic chemicals and is easily inhaled, leading to unconsciousness and then death.

For fire damage and smoke damage cleanup and restoration, make sure you contact a professional certified and insured company like Hudson Valley DKI that knows every step of the fire and smoke restoration process and how to do it correctly.

Fire Damage Prevention Tips

Fire can break out in residential homes at any time, on any day of the year, and with little warning. Just last month Gardnertown Magnet School was temporarily evacuated when a small electrical fire broke out I the basement. Luckily, local firefighters were able to stop the fire from spreading and no one was injured. When a fire breaks out in your home it can be costly and emotionally draining. Lifetimes of family memories can go up in smoke within a matter of minutes.  At Hudson Valley DKI in Newburgh New York, we believe in fire prevention and safety. As much as we love helping those in need recover from fire damage disaster, we want to help them prevent these devastating disasters. Take the following steps to prevent a fire damage disaster from occurring.

Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors are one of the first lines of defense when it comes to stopping a house fire. The alarm should be mounted on the ceiling in the center of the room, hall, or stairway. Be sure and check the battery in the alarm every six months. Never install a smoke detector by a window, vent, or doorway. Fire often occur at night while you are sleeping that is why smoke detectors are so important. Smoke detectors will give you an early warning and help save your loved one’s lives if they are placed and maintained properly.

Appliances

Check all plugins for any signs of damage and avoid overloading plugins or extension cords. If any cord looks frayed replace it immediately. Faulty wiring and old outlets are two main causes of house fires. Keep all appliances free of grease build up and unplug small appliances when not in use. Home appliances such as stoves and dryers are also known to cause house fires. Keep lint trap cleaned out in the dryer if trap becomes clogged it can cause the dryer to overheat and start a fire.

Fireplaces

If your home has a wood stove or chimney always open the damper when starting a fire, leave the flu open even if the fire is only smoldering. Have your chimney cleaned yearly to keep chimney free of debris. If your chimney does not already have one, invest in a spark arrestor to prevent sparks from escaping the chimney. Use a chain mesh screen to keep your flooring and furniture safe from sparks. Woodstove chimneys must be clear of debris rust and or cracks. Never use starter fluid to start a fire, water down ashes before discarding them. If you have a gas fireplace make sure there are two separate locations for a gas valve. You will want a backup valve to shut off the gas if a problem arises.

Roofs

Having a roof made of fire proof materials such as metal, clay or asphalt shingles can go a long way in preventing fire damage. Trim any overhanging branches and keep the roof free of any other debris that could potentially spread fire. Gutters should be cleaned twice a year to prevent the buildup of leaves and any other fire hazardous material.

Following these steps will go a long way in preventing a house but there is no guarantee that a fire still won’t breakout. Make sure you have an escape plan in place, educate family members, be repaired. Hold fire drills regularly so that family members know what to do and where to go if a fire breaks out. You may not be able to protect your loved ones from every calamity but with a little common sense and planning you will be able to spot potential fire hazards and stop them before the unthinkable happens when a fire strikes.

If your home does suffer from fire damage contact your local authorities first and foremost and then call a professional fire damage restoration company to clean up and damage left behind.