by Darrel on February 10, 2012

Regardless of what Punxsutawney Phil predicted on Ground Hog Day, Vermonters know we’ve got more winter in front of us and any boyscout worth his badges will tell you, be prepared.

The biggest culprits in Vermont in winter are Mold Damage, Water Damage, and Fire Damage… And they are all related (fire can lead to water damage and result in mold damage, if not handled properly). Let’s take a look at how you can be prepared.

Fire Damage
When it comes to Fire Damage, prevention is the cure. But accidents do happen and when they do, you should know what to do and what not to do. Soot is incredibly hard to clean. Much of the work should be left for the pros (even laundering), but there are a few simple things you can do to prevent further contamination: wear gloves and wash your hands, turn off your ventilation systems, and wash your house plants.

Mold Damage
Water damage can quickly lead to Mold. Mold exposure can cause all kinds of problems ranging from simple headaches and flu-like symptoms to more severe reactions, so a timely response can protect your health.The first thing you must do is stop the source of moisture (ie: turn off the water to your home and fix any plumbing leaks), then you can start to clean small areas (less than 10 sq. ft.). Use common household detergents or natural cleaners like grapefruit seed extract, vinegar, or tea tree oil (tea tree oil is a broad spectrum fungicide that kills all the mold families it contacts).

Water Damage
When it comes to water damage, your rapid response can have a great impact on preserving your home and belongings. Drying things up as quickly as possibly will reduce the potential for the development of mold. Here’s what you can do:

• Turn off the water – This may seem obvious, but in an emergency, the obvious can be elusive.
• Remove excess water – Mop up as much as you can. In cool weather open the windows; in hot weather turn on the A/C.
• Prop up upholstery.
• Remove area rugs to a dry place.
• Protect valuables – move paintings and artwork to a safe, dry location.
• Dry clothing as soon as possible – Fur and leather should be dried at room temperature.
• Protect your furniture – Place plastic or aluminum foil under the legs of your sofa and chairs, open doors and cabinets to facilitate drying.

The list of things you should not do in the case if water damage of short, but essential in preventing electrical shock: do not use a household vacuum cleaner, do not operate electrical appliances, and do not touch any electrical outlets.

In any case, the best preparation Vermonters can have is a phone number: 802-878-9800. Call PuroClean.

by Darrel on January 17, 2012

Lately, residential fires have filled the nightly Vermont news. There were five fatal fires in the Burlington area in 2011. In 2012 there has already been one fatal fire in Essex Junction, a residential fire in Burlington, and a fire destroyed a popular local business in Middlesex.

Some of these fires are related to wood stoves and fireplaces, some to faulty electrical wiring, others to cigarettes. In many cases simple fire prevention measures, like the use of an ash can or even an ash tray, might have preempted disaster. In other cases, the fires that ripped through Vermont homes and businesses were inevitable.

When disaster strikes, it’s important to react as quickly as possible even after the fire is out. This will help insurance companies contain the losses, help homeowners get back to normal life, and reduce the potentially toxic after-effects caused by fire damage.

Every fire generates particles of incomplete combustion that remain in the air and on surfaces after the fire is out. Many of these particles  are known carcinogens. They range in size from 0.1 to 4.0 microns. A micron is tiny: there are 25,400 microns in one inch. Because of their very small size, these particles are easily inhaled which is why they are so dangerous. The presence of such particles might warrant complete evacuation of the property.

Once these potential health hazards are addressed, it is time to consider the contents of the home or business. A quick response time here can also make a huge difference. Consider the consequences of fire damage: Within minutes plastic and marble surfaces begin to permanently stain; Within hours metals tarnish, grout stains, fiberglass yellows and furniture yellows; Within Days floors stain, fabrics are lost, and wood furniture finish is history.

This is why you should contact a professional fire damage mitigator like PuroClean who will communicate the processes that will take place, how your property and personal items will be protected, and work with you and your insurance company on getting your life back together after the fire. When it comes to professional smoke and fire damage mitigation on your behalf, PuroClean’s responsibilities include:

• Respond rapidly to the customer
• Communicate the procedures and secure an authorization
• Scope the damage and provide a detailed estimate
• Control and contain to prevent continuing damage
• Prevent cross-contamination
• Properly clean and process the entire job
• Process and properly dispose of wastes
• Provide effective odor control
• Provide an environment ready for any final repairs

by Darrel on December 21, 2011

Many of us in Vermont think of water damage as a warm weather problem (think spring floods and Hurricane Irene), but residential water damage during freezing winter weather is more common than you might imagine.

When water freezes, its volume increases by approximately eleven percent (11%), and this expansion exerts a huge amount of force. This force is enough to break concrete or even the metal water pipes under your kitchen sink!

So far, the winter has been mild in Northern and Central Vermont. In Chittenden County in particular, you may still have time to take precautions against winter weather wrecking havoc in your home:

• Shut off the valve supplying your outside water lines – drain these lines by opening the tap. Leave it open so any small amount of water that might be left in the line has room to freeze and expand without causing any damage.
• Check water pipes running close to outside walls and in unheated crawl spaces. Put fiberglass insulation between the pipes in your home and the exterior walls to help keep them warm and prevent freezing.
• Pipes running through unheated spaces should be covered with fiberglass insulation or pipe sleeve insulation.

The disaster resulting from frozen pipes is not one you’ll ever want to relive. The actual damage to the pipe is often minimal compared to the water damage the mess can cause in your home. Prevention is the best cure when it comes to frozen pipes.

Once the cold weather is upon us, there are still some things you can do to prevent frozen pipes:

• During a cold snap, leave cabinet doors open under the sink so that heated air can warm pipes.
• Leave bathroom and kitchen doors open to encourage heat circulation.
• Open the taps just enough so that there’s a slow drip. This will relieve water pressure that could build up between an ice blockage and a closed spigot and rupture the pipe.
• During extreme cold, keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both day and night.
• If you will be away from home during cold weather, leave the heat set to 55ºF.

In the event of a flood in your home this winter, time is of the essence. Water will soak into a concrete floor within six to 12 hours and make it much more difficult to dry. And mold can begin to grow within two to three days. Mold can spell trouble with your insurance claim and with your cleanup efforts.

This is where PuroClean comes on to the scene with CPR – Controlling, Protecting, and Restoring damaged property and contents. The restoration professionals at PuroClean are trained in the latest in mitigation technology and procedures. They’ll get you back to normal in no time, so you can get back to enjoying winter.

image credit: www.howdididoit.com

by C. Jane Taylor on December 7, 2011

Home fires are nondenominational. Whether you light the menorah or decorate the Christmas tree, take good care this holiday season, more residential home fires occur during the holidays than at any other time of the year.

According to FEMA nearly 156,000 fires in the United States occur during the winter holiday season each year. These fires can be particularly dangerous as ignition occurs so close to a good fuel source – spruce needles or candles.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, Christmas trees, both real and artificial, were the first items ignited in an estimated 300 reported home structure fires per year since 2000. These fires claim nearly 630 lives, cause 2,600 injuries, and $936 million in property damage each year. Stories of menorah-caused home fires are prevalent online, though statistics were not as easy to find.

Some simple precautions can prevent you and your family from becoming a home fire casualty statistic this holiday season.

If you light the Menorah:

• Place your menorah on a secure table or counter – away from blinds, drapes or curtains
• Place your menorah on a fire retardant surface – such as a ceramic plate or aluminum foil
• Keep kids and pets away from flames
• Do not leave a lit menorah unattended

Christmas tree safety:

• Keep your tree away from ignition sources such as candles, fireplaces, wood stoves, portable heaters
• Do not decorate your tree with candles
• Do not use lights with frayed or broken cords
• Unplug your tree when you leave the house or go to sleep
• Keep live trees moist – when the needles start to fall off, it’s time to get rid of your tree

Be prepared this holiday season: check your smoke detectors and make sure your holiday decorations do not block an exit. In the event of a fire, time is of the essence. A blocked entry/exit puts you and your family at risk.

Even if you do take the necessary precautions to protect your family this holiday season, accidents can happen. When they do, call PuroClean. Fire, and the resulting smoke and soot, can very rapidly harm household items, even after the fire has been extinguished. It is imperative to seek help immediately from a professional restoration company, such as PuroClean, to prevent further damage.

“Happy Holidays”, a collective, nondenominational and inclusive wish for the period encompassing Thanksgiving, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Winter solstice, Christmas Day (The Nativity of the Lord), Boxing Day (St. Stephen’s Day), the New Year and Epiphany.

Merry Christmas and  Hanukkah Sameakh!

Image credits: green.yahoo.com, vermontchristmastrees.com

by Darrel on November 15, 2011

A puffin is a cute little diving bird that fishes along the sea coast. We don’t have them here in Vermont, but we do have puff backs. Puffins make cute little odd quacking sounds; puff backs create black, greasy, oily messes…

A puff back is the puff of smoke and soot from a malfunctioning heating unit inside your furnace that brings gunk into your home. When a furnace works properly, it combines fuel and oxygen in balanced amounts for good, controlled combustion. The correct mix produces a steady flame and burns the fuel almost completely. The puff back happens when the mix is unbalanced. For example, when the rate of combustion in your furnace slows, but the fuel injected into the heating system remains constant, a sudden combustion can occur.

Much like the backfire of a car, a puff back can cause a “boom” and a big vibration. This vibration shakes loose accumulated soot in the heating system and duct work. The air stream of forced air that normally brings lovely heat into your home instead brings these soot particles. Think of how the heat moves into all the areas of your home. The soot from a puff back will take the same path.

Residue from a puff back is usually an oily, sticky film whose base is petroleum. It has a strong smell and makes a mess that permeates everything. Because the puff back is backed up by a little explosion, these soot particles get a boost getting into the nooks and crannies of your home and furniture. Not only does the soot from a puff back get into the fabric of furniture and exposed soft goods, it can get behind doors and into drawers. It can get into closets and permeate your wardrobe.

The combination of nooks and crannies, propulsion and a petroleum base makes the mess caused by a puff back so difficult to tackle. Often traditional cleaning methods make the mess even worse than when you started. Professional remediation teams like those at PuroClean in Williston will often use alkaline degreasers and wet-cleaning methods to restore property damaged by puff back soot. In some cases they also use sealants to preventing re-contamination.

In most cases, an immediate response by a trained professional restoration company is called for. Quick action by a pro will help mitigate your losses and return your home to a pre-loss condition as quickly as possible. Proper maintenance of your furnace and chimney can prevent puff backs, but if they do occur, it’s time to call the pros at Puroclean. Then you can get back to bird watching…

by C. Jane Taylor on November 2, 2011

Thanksgiving is fast approaching. I remember the first time I ever saw a sweet potato marshmallow casserole. It was on Thanksgiving, and it was on fire.

The place for flaming marshmallows is around the campfire, not the kitchen. Unfortunately many holiday treats will catch fire in the kitchen this Thanksgiving. According to the National Fire Protection Association, it is the peak day of the year for kitchen fires.

Let’s look at some kitchen fire stats:

• Kitchen fires are the number one cause of residential fires in the US.
• Almost three times more residential fires occur on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year.
• 90 percent of Thanksgiving kitchen fires are  are caused by unattended cooking.
• According to CNN, “Local fire departments responded to roughly 1.6 million fires in 2008. “That’s a residential house fire every 19 seconds, resulting in about $11 billion worth of damage.”

Fortunately, a little prevention goes a long way when it comes to kitchen fires. Here are a few easy things you can do to prevent a kitchen fire as you cook the holiday feast: Roll up your sleeves while you are cooking; Remain in your home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you to check the food; Keep towels, bags, plastic, and food packaging away from flame and heat; Keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen, and know how to use it.

If you do have a cooking fire, these kitchen fire tips from FEMA and the US Fire Administration can make all the difference in the world:

• When in doubt, just get out. When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after you leave.
• If you do try to fight the fire, be sure others are already getting out and you have a clear path to the exit.
• Always keep an oven mitt and a lid nearby when you are cooking. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan (make sure you are wearing the oven mitt). Turn off the burner. Do not move the pan. To keep the fire from restarting, leave the lid on until the pan is completely cool.
• In case of an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you or your clothing.
• If you have a fire in your microwave oven, turn it off immediately and keep the door closed. Never open the door until the fire is completely out. Unplug the appliance if you can safely reach the outlet.
• After a fire, both ovens and microwaves should be checked and/or serviced before being used again.

by Darrel on October 25, 2011

Vermonters stick together – especially when it comes to disasters like the flooding we’ve seen this year. The after math of Hurricane Irene brought us even closer together. Volunteers poured out of the woodwork. People unaffected by the storm in Burlington and Winooski found their way to volunteer stations in Waterbury and Rochester. Neighbors shored up neighbors. The disaster brought out our finest qualities as Vermonters.

So it is no surprise that when faced with small home repairs, many of us  turn to our local handyman. It’s just another way to help out a neighbor by buying local. But for the big stuff, like water damage and fire damage you should really call in the experts. Professional restoration is more cost efficient in the end. And the beauty of hiring PuroClean Vermont is that they are local, too.

Professional restoration services, like those provided by PuroClean, are the result of keeping current with the latest technology available. Restoration is not just a matter of brushing something off. The complexities posed by smoke and water damage are often unknown to the average maid service or handyman. For example, water damage caused by contaminated water requires a completely different restoration approach than does damage caused by clean water. And soot damage if treated improperly will potentially destroy rather restore your property. What if the damage you’re facing is caused by both smoke and water? Professional restoration specialists have to be experts in the cleaning of all contaminated contents and structures.

And then there is insurance. You may be facing multiple claims from a single incident. This can be confusing and costly if not handled correctly. That’s why the insurance industry depends on professionals who do quality, timely work, understand the needs of the insured, and service the claim from the initial call. It streamlines the insurance claims process and makes it more cost-effective. PuroClean Managed Services has more than ten years of experience working with insurance companies and their adjusters.

You should not be afraid of calling a professional restoration service…in the end, it will save time, money and your property. The Williston office of PuroClean Vermont has a great sign on their door. It says, “If it’s dirty, we can clean it! If it’s wet, we can dry it!” They are the paramedics of property damage. And though some of their gear looks like something from Ghostbusters, these guys get the job done best.

If there’s something strange
in your neighborhood
Who you gonna call?
If there’s something weird
and it don’t look good
Who you gonna call?

by Darrel on October 14, 2011

What scary thing is in your basement this Halloween? Is it a trick or is it a treat? Chances are whatever it is will grow into a monster if left unattended for the winter.

Vermonters are lucky, they have basements. Or are they? Basements are the best places to store gear, the furnace, the workshop, and the man cave, but basements can be scary places. Your basement can be terrifying too, unless you take some preventative steps before the snow flies. Basements are already cold. Here are out Top 7 Tips to prevent a horrifying spring in your basement:

Preventing Fire Damage:

1. Get your furnace inspected – Call an HVAC professional. This simple step has the potential to lower your fuel costs, or it can even prevent a home fire damage.
2. Get you fireplace ready – Call the Chimney sweep; stack your firewood safely away from the exterior of your home.

Preventing Water Damage:

1. Prevent Plumbing Freezes – Locate your water main. In the event of an emergency, you’ll need to know where it is and how to turn it off.  Drain any garden hoses you’ll be storing in the basement. Drain air conditioner pipes and, if your AC has a water shut-off valve, turn it off.
2. Pipes can freeze and burst – Insulate the water pipes in your basement, including those that go to and from the water heater and a permanent humidifier. Insulate them with foam pipe insulators, self-adhesive insulation tape or purchase a fiberglass and plastic pipe wrap insulation kit.

General Good Ideas for Winterizing Your Home:

1. Prevent ice dams – Use ventilation and/or insulation to make sure your roof and eaves will be the same temperature so they shed snow and ice at the same rate.
2. Inspect your roof gutters cleaned – Gutters are designed to protect your home from water damage. Keep them clean so they can do their job.
3. Check for any cold breezes in the basement. You can turn off the lights and do this with a candle, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Find the source of the cold air and fill any gaps with insulation – wear appropriate protective gear while you’re doing this. Fiberglass insulation can be a nightmare under the skin.

All those unsuspecting victims in horror movies who sought safety in the basement must have stepped out for popcorn during the basement scene in the Blair Witch Project – the scariest part of the whole movie.

image credit: http://www.filmreference.com

by C. Jane Taylor on October 4, 2011

Continue »

by C. Jane Taylor on September 28, 2011

Heating season is nearly upon us here in Vermont. And no matter what the Eye-On-The-Sky guys on VPR say about the warm weather forecast today, fall weather is inevitable! For many of us, heating season means wood heat. More than 30% than of Vermonters heat their homes partly or entirely with wood.

Home heating is the second leading cause of home fires in the US. According to the US Fire Administration, heating fires account for 36% of residential home fires in rural areas every year. The most common wood stove-related home fire is a chimney fire. Most chimney fires are caused by creosote build up. Using algebra, it pays to keep your chimney clean.

Creosote is the product of wood smoke and moisture. Burning unseasoned or wet wood contributes to creosote build up. Once creosote build up reaches about an inch thick, it becomes an ignition hazard. Properly dried wood can often prevent this hazard. Good firewood stacking is a huge part of good firewood drying.

So, should you stack your wood like a Canadian or like a Scandinavian? If you have ever driven across the border, you know that our neighbors to the North are expert woodstackers. Canadian wood piles are the hospital corners of the arboreal world. Their wood piles are perfectly straight and trim and go on for centuries.

Scandinavian woodpiles, on the other hand are circular. Some might find this blasphemous, but the Scandinavians have been heating with wood for millennia, so their technique is worth some consideration for this post and for my woodpile this year. Stacking wood in the round takes less time, topples over less often, and sheds water better, thus keeping your wood off the ground and dryer longer.

Arka puinen kartuttaa! (Finnish for “Nice wood pile!”) Trevlig trä stapla! (Swedish) Whatever method or language you choose, make sure to leave space for good air ventilation. According to Martha Stewart’s website, you should leave enough room for a mouse to run through, but not enough for the cat chasing him. She’s Scandinavian in origin, right?

by C. Jane Taylor on September 23, 2011

The flood waters of Hurricane Irene ripped into homes and changed the course of rivers to fill Vermont basements and Main Streets. The expedition of recovery efforts lead to some radical river reconstruction in Central and Southern Vermont. Landowners and towns were given the go ahead to bulldoze, excavate and dredge. The resulting channelization, deepening, and clearing of rivers is bad news for fish and wildlife, as their habitat was, in some cases, obliterated. It is potentially bad news for Vermont homeowners as well.

Extensive modification of a river’s course often produces only limited reduction in flood damage. Even when successful, these kinds of modifications result in moving the problem downstream. Not very neighborly. River engineering can be a controversial subject. We want to keep our homes and businesses safe; we want to keep our environment pristine. Can we do both economically?

Some European towns have included the restoration of natural floodplains and river meanderings in the floodworks of their towns so that flood waters are slowed and damage is mitigated. This solution is potentially a win-win for homeowners and wildlife.

But regardless of where you stand on the issue, if your home has recently suffered water damage from the floods in Vermont, your need for a dry, safe home is more immediate that the ultimate resolution of the river management debate.

FEMA gives some smart rebuilding tips that can lessen and possibly prevent future water damage:

• Install a sewer backflow valve to prevent sewage from backing up into the house.
• Elevate water heaters, furnaces, washers and dryers at least six inches above basement floors or move them to an upper floor. Use a licensed contractor when making plumbing or electrical changes.
• Raise electrical panel boxes, switches, and outlets at least one foot above the 100-year flood level. For help in determining the 100-year flood level in your area, check with local officials.
• Cut drywall to at least one-half inch above the floor, especially in basements. Concrete floors commonly absorb ground moisture which travels up the wallboard allowing mold to grow unseen within the walls. Seal the gap between the wallboard and the floor with wood or rubberized floor trim.
• Anchor a fuel tank by securing it to a large concrete slab or to ground anchors using metal straps.
• Add waterproof veneer to exterior walls and seal all openings, including doors.
• Use flood-resistant building materials – materials that can withstand direct contact with floodwaters for at least 72 hours without being significantly damaged. These building materials are available at many home improvement stores.
• Build interior and exterior floodwalls. A watertight masonry floodwall can be constructed to enclose furnaces, utilities and appliances on the lowest floor of the building. On the outside, a similar wall could be constructed around the perimeter of the basement opening to keep water from entering.

image credit: mansfieldheliflight.com

by C. Jane Taylor on September 12, 2011

Puroclean, the “paramedics of property damage,” is known for its rapid response to residential and commercial property damage in Vermont. Though they do fire damage repair and mold remediation, this year Puroclean is all about helping Vermonters recover from water damage. Spring floods brought federal disaster declarations, Hurricane Irene brought 9 inches of rain in a single day, and Tropical Storm Lee hampered flood relief efforts with even more rain. Vermonters have seen more water damage this year than in recorded history. Continue »

by C. Jane Taylor on September 6, 2011

In Vermont, we rarely think of hurricanes and hurricane season. The disastrous flooding caused by Irene changed all that. Happy-go-lucky Vermont homeowners who used to just close a window or two during bad weather are now subscribing to the National Hurricane Center’s Twitter Continue »

by C. Jane Taylor on August 30, 2011

The above scenes plaster hurricane-related national and Vermont websites, newspapers and FaceBook pages today. Hurricane Irene brought on the worst flooding Vermont has seen in more than a century.

At this point, wet basements are the least of our worries. Hurricane Irene closed schools and knocked out power for thousands of Vermonters. It damaged and in some cases destroyed homes, businesses, farms, bridges and roads. Even the emergency operations headquarters was forced by the flooding to relocate from Waterbury to Burlington.

Natural disasters can bring out the best in Vermonters. There are many, many cases in which brave Vermonters came to the rescue of their neighbors and communities. Stories include those you might expect about shared meals, generators, and potable water. They also include unexpected and unusual rescues.

Unlike the New York Bay kayakers who had to be rescued during the storm, the Vermont kayakers highlighted in an email forwarded to me were the rescuers at Jericho Settler’s Farm.

This is the stuff upon which local legends are built. Individuals and organizations are making herculean efforts to restore some sense of normalcy to Vermont homes and businesses.

According to the Burlington Free Press, 3 FEMA trucks (Federal Emergency Management Agency) filled with emergency supplies such as food and blankets, arrived last night at Camp Johnson in Colchester. And according to Vermont Emergency Management 27 more arrived at the National Guard Base at 8:00 this morning.

Those who were not effected by the storm are encouraged to support the relief effort in any way they can. The following YouTube video put together by the Red Cross makes a poignant plea. The melancholy solo cello music accompanying the images is certainly a bit over the top, but so was the water in so much of our small state:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1tCdtoMzsU&feature=share

For continuous updates on road closures and relief supplies, consult the Vermont Emergency Management website.

image credits: FaceBook, Jericho Settler’s Farm

by C. Jane Taylor on August 12, 2011

Wood stoves have always been an important Vermont icon. With proper use, they can be a more affordable, more cozy method of home heating. Given the state of the economy, many of us are looking for a less expensive alternative. We also welcome the comfort of good aesthetics. The wood stove answers the call on both counts.

Some people new to using wood heat may not know how to do it safely. According to the Department of Public Service, heating equipment is the leading cause of home structure fires in Vermont. New stove users can be particularly vulnerable.

The hazards of heating with wood include fires started by the heat radiated by the stove, stove pipe or chimney. If this heat is excessive it can ignite walls, floors and other combustible materials. Fires are also started by sparks and glowing coals falling out of front loading stoves when opened, or by flames leaking out of faulty chimneys. Puff-backs are also possible, leading to either flames or smoke coming out of the stove’s air inlets.

In any case, these dangers can be avoided. Learn as much as you can from your wood stove dealer and installer. And be vigilant about good maintenance. Good chimney maintenance is the key to safely using wood heat, but when finances are tight, chimney – and even furnace – maintenance is often overlooked and can become a fire hazard.

Preventing fire damage is worth every moment and penny it takes. Smokey Bear is the mascot of the fire service and Sparky of the fire department. Perhaps the dollar should be the symbol of good chimney maintenance. It represents the return on your investment.

image credits: US Fire service, sparky.org

by C. Jane Taylor on August 9, 2011

If you are on the ball, you already had the chimney cleaned to prevent puff backs in your wood stove. Now there are things you should do to prevent puff backs in your oil furnace. In an oil furnace puff back, soot and oil blow back into the house. The presence of petroleum in oil furnace puff backs can do some serious damage to your belongings.

As in a wood stove puff back, there are some precautions you can take. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure: have your furnace serviced annually before heating season.if you are not able to have your oil furnace serviced, monitor it closely during the heating season. A sudden change in the smells generated by your furnace can indicate a problem, have this checked out right away.

If a puff back does occur, time is of the essence. The petroleum-based oil can cause long-term damage, but under the right conditions, your carpet and furniture can be saved. Though puff back clean up is a fairly involved process, don’t wait. The sooner you act, the greater your chances for complete remediation.

Here is what we recommend: Turn off the furnace and leave the house! Breathing soot is is not good for you. Soot is comprised of tiny particles of impure carbon (the result of incomplete combustion). In some cases, these particles are so tiny that once introduced cannot be easily dislodged from your respiratory system by coughing or sneezing. Don’t take the risk, just step out side.

Also tramping soot around your house is not good for you stuff. Soot can leave dark stains; the oils in it can embed into porous materials. Get outside and give us a call. We’ll take it from there.

To help with clean up efforts, do not do any of the following:
• Wipe or attempt to wash soot residue from walls or ceilings.
• Use furniture or walk on carpeting affected by the puff back.
• Use food items or canned goods exposed to soot.
• Turn on computer, stereo’s, electronic appliances, TV’s until they can be cleaned
or checked.

Puff back clean up is a special process that eliminates the source of the soot and its detrimental effects. It is particularly difficult to prevent further damage during remediation. To this end, we’ll carefully clean vulnerable articles to prevent oils from being embedded.

Then during the clean up process, we take care to remove the odors caused by the puff back, so your house can feel like home again.

image credit: www.redbubble.com

by C. Jane Taylor on August 2, 2011

The Vermont flood waters have finally receded. The sun is shining and summer emerged. Vermont farmers are making hay, kids are eating ice cream at the Lake, life is good. Across the state, wet basements have been dried and reconstruction is well underway. Though in some wet basement cases, because homeowners waited, water damage services became mold remediation services, we are on the other side of an unprecedented soggy event.

Or are we? 2011 definitely takes the prize for Major Disaster Declarations in Vermont, with almost 6,000 incidents reported from the spring storms, but there is a history of flooding in our little state. Looking back at FEMA records, there were several recorded Major Disaster Declarations here:

March 1964  – Flooding
August 1969 – Severe Storms, Flooding
July 1973  -  Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides
August 1976 – Severe Storms, High Winds, Flooding

View the full report here, but you get the picture: every four years or so, Vermonters are victims of flooding and subsequent water damage. In fact there are more than 1 million water damage incidents every year in the United States. This is not a recipe for certain disaster, but rather a call to action. Prevention is the very best medicine for water damage.

There are things you can do, beside moving to the top of a hill, to prevent water damage in the future. Here are some important steps you can take to keep your feet dry the next time Mother Nature throws it at us:

• Clean Your Gutters – This is a painless job that should be done annually. It will probably cost you less than $100, depending on the size of your house.
• Clean Your Perimeter Drains – This job should be done every 3-5 years. Every time you have your septic tank pumped, you should also have your perimeter drains cleaned. Just put it in your calendar and make a date when the time comes.
• Get an Inspection – A professional inspector can give you the heads-up on possible water damage vulnerabilities in your home. Even if you are a do-it-yourselfer, it pays to get some professional guidance here.  A general home inspection will cost less than $500.
• Permeable Paving – Or Gravel Fill – Conventional asphalt and concrete pavement prevents water from naturally seeping into the ground, instead it runs off to surrounding low areas – like your basement. Try using a permeable pavement or paving stones. Better yet, use gravel fill. The paving should cost less than $5000, the gravel less than $1000. Either can cost less than remediation and reconstruction.
• Sump Pumps – Installing a sump pump could save you thousands. Considered by many to be the last line of defense against excess water, a sump pump can divert enough water away from your home to prevent harm your property.

image credit: vermontdailynews.com

by C. Jane Taylor on July 28, 2011

Most Vermonters are not thinking about their wood stoves during the dog days of summer. Instead we are trying to keep the beer cold and find the least populated swimming hole. But wood stove season is not too far away. If you have ever experienced a puff back, you know it’s time to contact the chimney sweep.

Puff-backs are usually associated with oil furnaces, but wood stoves are also susceptible. Puff backs, or back-puffing, occurs when gasses are trapped in the firebox of the stove. If the puff back is bad enough, it will send soot and creosote into your home, in very rare cases, a puff back can break the glass front of a wood stove.

Wood stove puff backs have many causes ranging from huge problems like fundamental structural complications in the stove, chimney and pipes to easily solved troubles like insufficient air supply in the house. Let’s start with most obvious and inexpensive solutions first. This is where Dick VanDyke, or your local chimney sweep, comes into service:

• Blocked passages in the stove- Over time creosote, ash and fly ash can build up in your stove and chimney and prevent the free flow of smoke. Birds nests, dead leaves and other contaminants can block the chimney from above.
• Pipe layout – Too many bends and turns can cause problems. Your pipes should be as straight and vertical as possible.
• Leaky chimney or pipe system – Leaks in the chimney or pipe act like leaks in a sprinkler hose or a vacuum cleaner hose; the draft will pull air through the path of least resistance – which may not be where you want it to be if there are leaks. Test for sizable leaks with a small hot fire, with the stove’s inner damper open; go around the pipe joints with a stick of incense, and look for spots where the force of the draft pulls the smoke in.

The more difficult-to-solve puff back problems can be caused by:

• An over-cool chimney or pipe system – because smoke is lighter than air, it rises. Long, straight  runs of pipe can cool the smoke and cause it to slow egress from your home.
• An over-sized flue – Hot gasses lose their heat and momentum in large spaces. This problem is common to stoves vented through a fireplace chimney.
• Outside Chimneys – Outside chimneys are more difficult to warm up and lose their heat faster that enclosed pipe systems, making it difficult to to warm the flue enough to make it draw well.

The best remediation for the smoke damage and soot caused by puff-backs is prevention. But if your summer duties preclude the care of your wood stove, Puro Clean Vermont is here to help. We are fire damage specialists.

image credit: chestnuthilllocal.com

by Jane Taylor on July 21, 2011

Vermonters are nothing if not resilient. The flooding this spring gave us ample opportunity to demonstrate our mettle. Reactions to the vast water damage caused this spring varied from self-deprecating laughter to crushing tears of despair as homes and businesses were inexorably harmed.

The U.S. Small Business Association is making our Yankee resilience a bit easier to manifest with low interest loans. Interest rates are as low as 2.68% for homeowners, 3% for non-profits and 4% for businesses. The deadlines for these loans are fast approaching: For physical damages such water damage and economic injury leading to loss of business incurred between April 23 and May 9, the deadline to apply is August 15th. For damages incurred during the storms on May 26th and 27th, the deadline is September 6th. In either case, it is high time to apply.

A recent press release from the SBA spells it out:

The disaster declaration covers the Vermont counties of Caledonia and Washington, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private non-profit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Addison, Chittenden, Essex, Lamoille, Orange, and Orleans in Vermont; and Grafton County in New Hampshire.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed personal property.

Call the SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center for loan information and application forms at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people with speech or hearing disabilities), send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or download an application at www.sba.gov. Or apply online.

Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

For more information:
- Contact the Vermont District Office of the SBA
- On July 18th, the SBA announced the opening of a Business Recovery Center in Barre, at City Hall, 6 North Main Street.  Open Monday- Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 image credit: vpr.net

by Jane Taylor on July 11, 2011

Vermont has seen an unprecedented amount of stormy weather this spring and summer: first the flooding in April and May, now the summer sky is busy with widespread thunderstorm activity. Some of these storms contain damaging winds and lightning.

Recent satellite data collected by Colorado’s University Corporation for Atmospheric Research suggests that there are more than 3 million lightning flashes worldwide per day. This is more than 30 flashes per second on average. Cloud-to-Ground strikes are often the most spectacular of these strikes.

Here’s how it works: the flash brings a negative charge on its descent. As it approaches the ground, it draws surges of positive charges from sharp objects and irregularities on the ground. The lightning’s “return stroke” creates the visible flash and shock wave (thunder) as it heats the surrounding air to 54,000 degrees.

A dental building in Stowe and the community hall at Essex Junction’s Holy Family Church were two recent “irregularities on the ground”. Vermont is certainly not lightning-prone, Florida and the Rocky Mountains hold that distinction, but our state is susceptible.

The biggest lightning months are June, July and August. According to the US Fire Administration, lightning causes more than 17,000 fires each year. Granted, most of these fires are not in Vermont!

Puro Clean does help homeowners across Vermont recover from fire damage, but we would much rather help them prevent it. Here are a few lightning tips to keep in mind:

Preventing a lightning strike when you are outdoors
Lightning FAQs from the National Weather Service
Lightning Safety Guide (download)

image credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/hotreactor/

by Jane Taylor on June 30, 2011

The rain has stopped for now, but many Vermonters (and the federal government) are wondering if it’s really over. This is important because current FEMA disaster relief for affected parts of Vermont is for damages incurred between April 23 and May 9. Too many of us know only too well that rain continued well after May 9th!

According to the Vermont State Climate Office, there were several episodes of heavy rain throughout the month of May: the 4-6th, the 14-16th, the 19-21st, and a huge downpour event 26-28th. The end of May also saw severe thunderstorms, some producing damaging winds and hail. May rainfall amounts measured at the Burlington International Airport added up to 8.67″, exceeding the previous May precipitation record of 7.11″ set back in 2006.

As FEMA regroups, gets a new calendar and reviews weather data and property damage occurring after May 9th, Vermonters need to make sure they register with FEMA. Initially we were encouraged to call 2-1-1, Vermont’s health and human services help line, to report any property damages caused by the flooding. But reporting the damage is not enough, you also must register with FEMA. Here’s how:

• Register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov
• Call FEMA’s toll free registration number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) from 7 AM to 10 PM (EDT). It will take about 15 minutes to complete the process.

Before you call or open up your browser, get your data together. You’ll need:

• your Social Security number
• your phone number
• your mailing address and the address at the damaged property
• A Brief description of the damage
• Your Insurance information
• Direct deposit information (to help speed delivery of funds)

This last line is encouraging…

image credit: opencage.info

by Jane Taylor on June 13, 2011

Even as I write this post, strong thunderstorms are rolling through Vermont taking out power (5,000 customers in Rutland County alone were without power today) and exacerbating water damage caused by unprecedented flooding this spring. But Vermonters are not sitting idly by waiting for sunshine, they are taking action:

• The United Way is collecting flood damage reports for FEMA
• The Governor is extending his disaster request to President Obama
• The Governor announced $3M in emergency loans for businesses damaged by the flooding
• Senators Leahy and Sanders asked Obama for additional disaster relief
• The Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration is helping flood victims interpret their flood insurance policies by phone (802-828-4872)

This is all great news. Flood waters are receding. But many Vermonters are looking forward to getting back into our homes. Here are some precautions you should take before you reenter your home and start the after-the-flood cleanup:

• Make sure your power is off – if you cannot get to your main power switch without getting your feet wet, call an electrician
• If your house has been flooded for several days, open all the windows and doors to bring in fresh air and reduce to potential effects of mold
• Check for any structural damage before re-entering your flooded home
• Have your drinking water tested – contact your local town clerks office to learn if there have been boil water orders in your area
• Gas may be trapped in your house – use flashlights instead or torches or matches and don’t smoke

Don’t go back into your home empty-handed.  We recommend equipping your self with the following:

• Flashlight
• Waterproof Boots
• Rubber Gloves
• First Aid Kit
• Trash Bags
• Cleaning Supplies, mops, buckets
• A Camera, Smart Phone or Camcorder to record the damages – for insurance purposes
• Pencil and Paper to make notes for insurance purposes

image credit: noaa.gov

by Jane Taylor on June 3, 2011

The internet is flooded with articles about the high water and water damage recovery in Vermont. The most encouraging news I’ve seen on the matter, besides some sunshine in the forecast, comes from VTDiggercom:

The process of obtaining financial assistance from the federal government from late April and early May flooding is on-going. Vermont completed its part of the process Friday when Governor Peter Shumlin sent a formal request to President Barack Obama for a disaster declaration.

For FEMA, monetary levels of damage are the biggest indicators of need. According to Governor Schumlin’s website, FEMA found in excess of $3 million in damages statewide (this was before the flash floods in Central Vermont). The costs of the flood damage incurred in Addison, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orleans, and Washington counties are high enough to qualify for a disaster declaration.

This is great news for our local communities, but what does it mean for the individual homeowner dealing with mud or a wet basement? FEMA Individual Assistance is much more difficult to obtain. More from the Governor:

“We have shown significant public infrastructure damage and I’m confident we will be granted federal funds to help rebuild roads, bridges, and other public property,” Gov. Shumlin said.  “Now we need to show private property damage.  I encourage everyone who suffered flood damage to their homes to call 2-1-1 so FEMA can get an accurate picture of damages.” (http://governor.vermont.gov)

The process of obtaining an Individual Assistance declaration is just beginning,Vermont must show a significant impact from the flooding to be considered. As some homes are still under water, this will take some time.

In the meantime, document the damages using your camera, smart phone, or video camera, and start cleaning up. There are many things you can do on your own to get the ball rolling, the Department of Public Safety lists several flood recovery resources.

The first thing you should do is make some phone calls:

• Call 2-1-1 to report all damages, losses and recovery costs. These damage reports are essential to gain FEMA assistance
• Call your insurance company
• Call Puro Clean 24-hour emergency services 888.379.6940

More Vermont flood resources:

Flood Recovery Guidelines
FEMA Individual Assistance – assistance to individuals, families and businesses in an area whose property has been damaged or destroyed and whose losses are not covered by insurance
Apply for Assistance -
Repairing your Flooded Home – step-by-step advice to clean up, rebuild, and get help after a flood.

image credit: flickr.com/photos/bencevans/

by Jane Taylor on May 29, 2011

For the Barre and Montpelier areas of Vermont, mud season has a whole new meaning this year. Last week’s unprecedented deluge knocked many Vermonters off their game. Flash floods closed schools, blocked roads, and caused power outages across the region. But Vermonters are accustomed to these kinds of problems, right? Maybe not. The novelty of these recent inconveniences is MUD, and lots of it.

Mud tipped cars on their sides and slid under doorways into basements. Mud sent residents from their homes and trees hurtling into Route 2. And mud kept the phones ringing off the hook here in the Puro Clean office in Williston. We have had to tell many an anxious homeowner, “We don’t do mud. Call a septic company and call us back. We’ll put you on the list.” If you have a wet basement, you need to get on the list.

We are equipped for water damage, but mud is a different story. We will clean up and dry down your basement after the mud is gone. But call your local septic company soon. Water damage mitigation, in this case mud damage mitigation, is all about time. The sooner we can start, the sooner we can stabilize and reduce further damage.

The first thing you should do if  your house is affected by the mudslides is call your insurance agent, then call us. Your insurance agent will send an adjuster; we’ll send the best water damage specialists on our team. Because mud acts as a transport for contaminants that are potentially dangerous to humans, you’ll need more than just shovels and a shop-vac. Puro Clean is well-equipped to contain and remove these contaminants.

As you begin to clean up, take good notes. List damage and take photos and videos. You’ll need complete records for any claims, disaster assistance, or income tax deductions.

Even as you add up the damage, know that you are not alone. Check out WPTZ Burlington’s U Local page for Vermont Flooding images and videos posted by your friends and neighbors. And here are some important local resources:

State of Vermont – issues timely warnings, road closings and updates
Vermont Emergency Management - delivers nationally standardized emergency services that reduce the loss of life and property during natural and man-made disasters
Identify Landslide Risks – the Department of Public Safety gives information on how to identify your risks
Flood Recovery: What you Should Be Doing Now – A number of communities have suffered significant damage in last week’s flooding.

image credit: ulocal.wptz.com

by C. Jane Taylor on May 17, 2011

In this high-water hiatus between receding flood waters and consistent rainfall, Vermonters are facing some potentially hazardous water damage from Category III Black Water. Category three is not a hurricane, a science fiction movie, or a navigable river. It’s dirty water and it could be in your house right now.

The IIRC (The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification)defines Categroy Three this way: Category 3 Water – That which is highly contaminated and could cause death or serious illness if consumed by humans. Examples  include sewage, rising flood water from rivers and streams, ground surface water flowing horizontally into homes. Bingo! Lake Champlain, The Winooski, The Lamoille, the run-off from the neighbor’s garden are all culprits this Spring.

In the world of flooded Vermont basements and living rooms, we think of Category three black water this way: it is either water whose origin is unsanitary or potentially infectious to humans or it is grey water (household waste water from things like laundry and dish washing) that has been around too long.

Here’s where you need the professionals to come in – not just to help you dry out your house, but to ensure that it is done correctly. If the water damage is not remediated within twenty-four to forty-eight hours, things can start
to head in the wrong direction. Most of us are already familiar with the harmful effects of mold (sneezing, headaches, difficulty breathing, and worse), but Category Three black water can carry waterborne diseases.

This stuff has to be taken seriously. And that is exactly what PuroClean is about. In the right hands, air movers, water extractors, infrared cameras, and dehumidifiers will do things your shop vac only dreams of. PuroClean also uses air scrubbers to clean the air, negative air machines with containment to prevent contamination from spreading to unaffected areas. Then they follow up and clean surfaces.

Only then will it be safe to go back into the basement…

image credit: kayakingdreamin.blogspot.com