DYI tips to have your A/C running efficient

8/24/2016 (Permalink)

Join us as we continue our series of essential summer maintenance tips with great notes on how to keep your air conditioning unit functioning properly courtesy of Jeff Wilson at DIY Network!

Obviously with the heat raging through Danbury, citizens want to turn the air conditioner up to keep the home infernos down! However, with any appliance, unit or tool that is primarily used seasonally, it is important to ensure nothing damaging occurred during the “offseason”. Luckily, this can be completed in 10 easy steps according to Wilson.

Step 1 - Shut off the power. An easy and often overlooked step. Don’t skip it or you could risk not being around for steps 2 through 9!

Step 2 - Clean away debris. Grab some work gloves and a screwdriver to remove the top enclosure. Dig out the the dead leaves and any offending material.

Step 3 - Spruce the fins. Once the top is removed, use a garden hose to spray the fins from the inside to the out. Not a pressure washer - just a hose - otherwise the fins will spray all over the lawn like a failed fishing trip.

Step 4 - Check the fins for damage. If you didn’t heed our advice in Step 3 (see above), this step will take longer. If the fins need to be straightened use a blunt butter wife.

Step 5 - Clean around the unit. Once everything is reinstalled, sweep away debris and growth around your unit.

Step 6 - Ensure the unit is level. There is one exception: “Service Experts’ Moody adds this exception: “If you have a heat pump system, it’s okay for the pad to be slightly sloped away from the home’s foundation to allow for defrost run-off during the winter.”

The last few steps require cleaning inside the unit. If you are not comfortable with these steps, please call a professional.

Step 7 - Clean the evaporator coil with a no-rinse coil cleaner.

Step 8 - Check the evaporator drain.

Step 9 - Change the blower air filter. This should be checked twice a year. Once for summer and once for winter. See that’s easy to remember.

Step 10 - Turn the power back on. This is essential for the unit to work, otherwise all of your hard work will be for naught. If you skipped Step 1, you’re probably not still reading this.

So, with these 10 easy steps you can beat the heat this summer and ensure a cool happy season!

Tips to Help Prepare for the Fall Beauty

8/24/2016 (Permalink)

Summer is still in full swing in the Danbury, CT area but autumn will be here soon. These long hot days and nights will give way to cooler temperatures. Every season brings change and a different set of items to stay on top of with your house. Since it is never too early to start thinking about getting your home ready for a changing season, let's start with a quick list of recommended items.

1. Have the roof inspected for leaks or damaged shingles. This summer seems to bring torrential downpours and sweltering heat in alternating amounts. Heat builds up in the attic causing temperatures to rise. It becomes more of a problem when the attic is not vented. If the heat has no place to escape, it can cause your shingles to blister and crack while making it’s way out. Let's avoid that!

2. Power wash any siding. Many HOA maintained communities mandate the cleaning of house siding. Muck and grime can accumulate and leave a horrid green grime stain.

3. Check for wood rot near window seals. Moisture in wood creates an environment conducive to fungal growth and causes the wood’s fibers to deteriorate. So, when water contacts an unprotected wood surface for a long enough period of time, the wood begins to rot.

4. Test your smoke detectors! (Buy them if you own none!) This is important because besides having a hot house, a fire won't warn you on its own. Having these installed may bring down your home insurance as well.

Insurance Carrier and your Water Damage in Danbury, CT

8/23/2016 (Permalink)

For many homeowners, the fear of discovering Water Damage somewhere in their home is among their top concerns. This is because water damage can happen quickly, and can be expensive and challenging to fix.

Most homeowners assume that because Water Damage is commonplace, that it is covered as part of their homeowner’s insurance. However, there are different kinds of water damage, which may or may not be included, depending on your insurance policy. Below is an overview of different kinds of water damage, and what you can expect from your insurance. 

 General Water Damage

Most homeowner’s insurance covers sudden or accidental water damage inside your home, which includes water line leaks, burst pipes, and if your appliances or sinks begin to overflow or leak. In many cases, burst pipes and appliances are covered by residential insurance policies, but there are often stipulations that must be taken into consideration. 

For example, most insurance companies consider “water damage” to refer to water which hasn’t entered your home through the ground or your sewer lines, so if your problem is a result of these factors it may not be covered. 

Additionally, if you are planning to be away from your home for more than a day, consider shutting off the main water supply, and coordinate to a friend or neighbor to check up on the state of your home while you are away. If you don’t take these precautions before going away, your insurance company may reject your insurance claim. If you’re traveling for business or taking a vacation, make sure to coordinate accordingly to ensure that your home is safe while you’re away.

 Sewer Line Backups

If “clean water” insurance claims refer to water, which has entered your house through your plumbing, then “dirty water” refers to the water found in your sewer line, drains, septic tank, downspouts, and eaves troughs.

In most cases, sewer backup isn’t a standard feature and it may not included in your property insurance. However, it can usually be added as optional coverage, and is especially useful if you live in a rural area which is prone to flooding, or which requires you to have a septic tank or sump pump. 

Protect your Home

Your home is arguably your most valuable asset, and as a result, it’s important that you stay informed about how to protect it. If your home has encountered water damage and is in need of emergency services call SERVPRO of Danbury/Ridgefield at 203-791-0920. .

Document Drying/Processing

8/2/2016 (Permalink)

SERVPRO's Document Drying Chamber

Did you know that SERVPRO of Danbury/Ridgefield can perform freeze-drying and document cleaning after your fire damage or water damage emergency? 

Vacuum Freeze drying

- Process in which an item containing moisture is frozen and dried using various vacuums and pressures to achieve sublimation.

- Sublimation

• The direct conversion of a solid (Ice) into a gas (water vapor), without passage through a liquid stage. Take dry ice for example. Dry ice is made of carbon dioxide, not water. When dry ice is exposed to normal atmospheric conditions it begins to sublimate, it turns directly from its sold stage into its gaseous stage bypassing the liquid stage.

-Digitizing 

-With the new age of technology digitizing records and documents has become a standard practice in most industries. This eliminates the need to have massive file storage rooms and allows us to access records at the click of a button. If your file room was damaged by water, or smoke, and need to be cleaned, dried, or decontaminated, digitizing might be a good choice to eliminate the need to have 100’s or even 1000’s of documents and records in storage.

Gamma Radiation

- High-energy photons are emitted from an isotope source (Cobalt 60) producing ionization (electron disruptions throughout aproduct. In living cells, these disruptions result in damage to the DNA and other cellular structures. These photon-induced changes at the molecular level cause the death of the organism or render the organism incapable of reproduction. The gamma process does not create residuals or impart radioactivity in processed products. Gamma irradiation is a process that is used for cleaning/disinfecting, and decontaminating documents or other consumer goods.