Category: Go Maher

When handling fire and smoke damage restoration one might think the best approach is to get to it fast and attack the clean-up efforts.  This option may be one that only wreaks more chaos.  It is going to be hard; anxious is a light word to use in this situation but really the first step in fire and smoke damage restoration is to get professional advice.  Contact your local insurance agent, who most likely will be one of the first calls you make, they will put you in touch with many local restoration professionals for advice and services.

Fire restorers will help in determining salvageable items.  Restoration professionals will provide tips on how to restore items with fire and smoke damage; they will give tips on whether it is wiser to refurbish or replace an item and can provide estimates for cleaning services throughout the home.  There are plenty of times when a fire has occurred and the damage may look like nothing much on the outside however structurally can totally be disastrous.   Fire and smoke damage restoration professionals can help sort out the bigger picture.

If choosing to attempt fire and smoke restoration on your own it is important to still follow certain tips and guidelines.  Although it is not the preferred method of restoring ones home sometimes this option is the only one available.  Below is important information when restoring a home after smoke or fire damage enters the picture.

• Understand that not all structures are safe to enter after a fire.  It is important to get clearance from the fire marshal BEFORE obtaining access into the home.
• Circulation is a key component.  Open all windows and allow fans to circulate the air throughout the rooms.  Things to remember if it is super cold the heater will run and the filter will need to be continually cleaned until the soot does not appear.  If heat is a factor the cooling unit alongside a dehumidifier will be the best combat.
• Wet items should be removed and dried. This will help prevent mold and mildew.
• Smoke will destroy brass and copper items within twenty four hours.  Remove them, clean them and store in a safe spot until cleanup is complete.
• Soot will stain carpets, drapes and all textiles in the home.  The oils present will stain.  When cleaning and deodorizing these items it is important to remove them before restoration takes place.  Soot should be dealt with using heavy duty professional equipment.  Regular vacuums grind the soot in instead of lifting it out.
• Smoke will linger for ever if not properly deodorized.  Ideally a professional smoke damage restoration professional will assist you in the process.
• If a professional is not in the budget you can try to treat clothes and textiles with a mixture of one cup dishwasher detergent and one gallon hot water. Other items that can be bleached can be soaked with six tablespoons tri-sodium phosphate, one cup Lysol or bleach and one gallon water.  Then rinse with clean water.
• Walls and soot is another beast.  Paint thinner or rubbing alcohol can work.  The problem lies with the fumes and smell.  Wear gloves and a ventilation mask.
• Smoke can penetrate drywall, air ducts and other porous surfaces.  It is important to use aides to neutralize the odor.  Concealing it is not a wise option in cases of fire and smoke damage.

Mold remediation, clean up, removal and prevention will likely occur within ones home or business at one time or another.  Handling mold is not a job for everyone.  Mold carries with it risks.  There are measures to take when resolving the issues mold brings with it.  It is important to find the source, minimize the mess during the clean up phase, clean and remove the mold.  Prevention will be the final step in resolving a mold problem.

First and most important to fixing the mold issue is finding and fixing the moisture issue.  Likely this will be in the vicinity of where the mold has been spotted.  If the source of the moisture is not fixed and only the mold is cleaned it will come back.  The problem is only masked at that point.  In fixing the issue it is important to resolve to gain control over the moisture levels.  If the levels in one given room are over fifty-five percent the best option is a dehumidifier.

If a leak or flood has occurred the problem is more clear and defined.  This will be a matter of removal of the excess water using a pump to clear the area of water.  From there it is important to ensure that the area is completely dry.  This is possible using fans to circulate the air and a humidifier.  All wet items should be removed and properly taken care of.  Problems that go unattended for over forty-eight hours can lead to the most complications. Immediate care and resolution are the best options in mold remediation.

The next step after removing and finding the source of the issues is to clean and remove the mold.  Before this is even started it is advisable to prevent the spores from scattering. When the mold becomes airborne it will start to reproduce on whatever it lands on given the conditions are right.  To prevent these areas of mold growth from spreading each area should be blocked off and cleaned separately.  You can do this by sealing the room with plastic sheeting and place tape on the edges as a seal. Air purifiers are wise to run throughout the space.

Cleaning the mold is another beast all on its own.  Know going into the mold remediation process, depending on the size, quantity and type of mold present professional mold restoration services might be the better option.  Professional mold restoration services are provided by trained professionals. They know exactly what they are doing and can have life back to normal before many homeowners can even have the area prepped for the cleaning and mold removal process.

The mold should not be completely dry.  Dry mold has a tendency to sail through the air better than moist mold.  The affected areas should be cleansed with cleaner specially designed to kill and remove mold.  Many non-porous materials can be reused after being affected by mold however porous materials such as ceiling tiles, carpet, furniture etc. that are visibly affected need to be destroyed.  Sometimes those items can be cleaned and reused if not badly affected however it is best to not chance anything that may be uncertain.

Mold should be removed and placed in thick construction grade plastic bags.  Don’t try to move the bag through the house.  With mold it is best to throw the bag directly out the window eliminating the movement of mold from each room on the way out to the trash.  Mold is nothing to mess with. It is unsightly, unhealthy to live with and breathe in and hard to safely take care of.  If in doubt with a situation involving mold look for advice from professional mold remediation services.

The last thing many of expect is to have a fire happen within our home.  The odds are against it.  Think about it.  Out of all of the people that you encounter have any of them experienced the loss associated with a fire in the home?  We were shocked when we woke up to see our neighbors home in flames.  Fire fighters were crawling all about the roof to punch holes for the water hoses.  It was a scene out of a movie.

The most important thing as neighbors was helping in them through the fire restoration process.  Fire remediation is time consuming and requires effort on the part of the home owner.  The pain of this process can be minimized with preparation.  Yes, it is important to think that a fire could happen and be prepared for the disaster it leaves in his path.  The same is true for storm damage, water damage and catastrophes of all kinds.  Preparation can limit the loss.

The absolute most important thing in your home above and beyond any personal possession is the life of family members.  It is important the plan of attack is in place for them to maneuver safely out of the blaze and into a place of safety.  Make sure all your family is on board and are aware of a special meeting spot.  This way when help arrives you are all either accounted for or the location of the missing person can be narrowed down to a certain location within the home for firefighters to focus on their retrieval.

Pets, photos and any and all contents in the home can be replaced and are not worth the safety of any member of the family.  I know many people think of pets as family members and will risk their lives to save them.  This should never be attempted.  The life of a family member and what they bring to your family is much greater than that of a pet.  It is not worth risking human life.

Families should own a fire proof safe.  In it they should keep copies of any important hard to replace documents such as mortgage info, birth certificates and an inventory of the homes contents.  The inventory of the contents of your home and garage will be valuable in replacement through the insurance company.

In the digital age many of us store photos in albums and on computers both which can become damaged in a fire. It is best to upload photos to a digital store so that they are stored forever on an external source and found via an internet site.  Albums are of course not replaceable.  This is one of the hard parts about fire loss.  Memories are destroyed.  Lessen the loss by sending hard copies of photos to loved ones throughout the year in hopes that if needed they are there for you if disaster strikes.

Invest in quality smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers.  These items are all used to ensure minimal damage to your home.  If a fire is caught before it begins to spread it is likely that firefighters can extinguish the fire and prevent fire damage throughout the entire home.

Fire damage can devastate a family.  It will take time to regroup and get back on your feet.  Taking precautions upfront to minimize the distress your family would feel after a fire is helpful and needed for any disaster.  Fire, storms, floods and other forces can cause a need for any of the above.  Taking a bit of caution today will save a lot of time, energy and priceless memories.

When a flood occurs it is never a minor issue.  Water creates a path of destruction and disaster throughout the affected area.  In your home it can create issues with the structure of the home, family’s personal artifacts and the health of those inside the home.  Water from floods is often full of contaminants and sludge.  Items throughout the home, no matter their value, are susceptible to the flood water whether it is one inch or ten.  Carpets, walls, electric appliances and expensive furnishings can be destroyed with just an inch of water. Whereas deeper flooding will wreak havoc on the systems contained within the home. The more substantial the flooding the more likely the ducts, heating & cooling systems, homes structure and well could be affected.

Cleaning up after a flood occurs takes time, patience and proper technique.  It will not be a process that happens overnight.  Sanitation and cleansing processes should be attempted in more serious flooding by restoration professionals.

When you contact your insurance agent, which should happen immediately after you notice a flood has occurred in your home, they will put your in contact with restoration professionals.  The damage will be assessed and pictures taken to help value the damage in financial terms.  Complete records are a must. Photo or video documentation is necessary in order to apply for assistance, claims in insurance and tax deductions.

When the home floods it will not be chlorinated pool water.  The water will be sludgy and a mix of mud and water will be throughout your home.  The first thing that will occur is the removal of this substance.  It can be shoveled out and then sprayed down to release dried mud for removal.  This will be a long exhausting process.

Every surface will need to be sanitized and disinfected.  This can be done using several different solutions.  The one recommended is to begin with a hot water and bleach solution.  A quarter cup of bleach should be diluted with each gallon of water.  This combination of chemicals is sure to rid breading bacteria from surfaces.  It is important after an initial clean to go room by room and do a thorough cleaning. Below is an example of what should be done for an individual room.

Kitchens

• Wash all cupboard contents, even if not directly affected by flood waters.  This is important because the bacteria are breeding in the standing water and then floating through the air.  It will land amongst plates, dishes and cupboard contents. Wash with a solution of 2 tablespoons of bleach to a gallon of water, rinse and air dry.
• Metal pots, silverware and metal utensils should be boiled for ten minutes.  Using bleach on metal is not advised as it will turn the metal dark and tarnish it forever.
• All cupboards and counters should be disinfected and then rinsed before dishes are allowed to be put back in them.  These steps will ensure that bacteria from the flood waters is not sitting in the kitchen, baking into food and living on plates that will be used at meal time.

It is advisable to hire a restoration firm that deals in water restoration.  Flooding can cause major damage to the home.  Professionals know exactly what to look for in cleaning up to prevent issues from occurring later on such as mold.  Floods can occur from storm damage, faulty plumbing, broken pipes and events Mother Nature herself brings us such as snow and heavy rains.  No matter the size of the flood damage a professional restoration company can come in and restore your home and lives within a few weeks where as doing the cleanup on your own won’t be nearly as thorough or fast.  Time is not on your side when dealing with water extraction.  Mold and mildew start within twenty-four hours and spread through the air causing more headaches later on down the road.

The last thing needed after a fire has ravaged a homeowner’s dwelling is to enter into negotiations with the insurance company.  However that is what every homeowner in this situation faces.  When making an insurance claim, in order to begin the fire restoration procedure, individuals enter into contract negotiations with their insurance company.

It is up to the homeowner to represent the value of the dwelling and personal property involved in the fire.  It is up to the insurance company to negotiate a damage claim on the home and personal property without overvaluing the loss.  Is it possible that a homeowner going through this personal strife can handle this on their own or is it wise to have a professional in to negotiate on their behalf?

It is obvious; the homeowner should seek out advice for a professional restoration service company.  With the help and guidance of a company that handles situations such as fire damage, water damage and storm damage a homeowners rights and best interest will be represented.   Every piece of damage to the structure and personal property is examined and gone through to determine if it can be repaired or if it will need to be replaced.

Problems arise all of the time when belongings are only part damaged or the damage is not visible to the naked eye.  In these situations insurance agents often want to repair the good rather than replace it to try and save some money in the contract negotiation.   The problem with this is instances when the repair turns out not to be sufficient enough to fix to the issue.  An example of this is when a fire has left smoke damage and such on rafter beams.

If an insurance agent tries to save money by repairing the issue with an odor sealant, such as Kilz, and the problem is merely masked the problem is still there for the homeowner to deal with at a later date.  Professional restoration companies will negotiate with insurance companies to offer up a better solution to issues within the home rather than masking them for later headaches to the homeowner.

Another issue that is seen a lot in restoration is hardwood floors damaged by water and smoke.  Often the insurer recommends that the floor be sanded and resealed.  This however is a mask to the underlying future issue which is buckling caused by the water used to put out a fire.  Emergency restoration services know that really a floor expert needs to come in and evaluate the extent of the flooring damage.  In some instances sanding and resealing will be fine but others will find out that in sanding the floor thickness will be compromised and therefore it is better for the floor to be redone.   Without a professional to represent a homeowner many insurance companies will look to prevail by offering up any excuse to why a repair is fine even in situations where it is clear replacement is a better option for the homeowner.

Another area that is in constant debate is the need for new air ducts after a fire.  Many companies claim that cleaning the residue is good enough.  This is however untrue and air quality will forever be compromised.  Smoke from a fire is full of harmful toxins that will cause damage to a respiratory system.  Is this a risk as a homeowner that should be taken for an insurance company to save a few bucks?

Emergency professional restoration companies can offer advice to homeowners going through crisis situations such as fire restoration and water removal.  These are the same people that will guide you towards professional representation be it through a lawyer or restoration company to help a homeowner fight to have their home back in like kind and quality.

Exactly what a homeowner feels upon seeing their home go up in smoke and water being sprayed upon all of their household belongings is something only someone that has been through it can describe.  Seeing smoke billowing out, flames shooting through the roof and firefighters scampering throughout the home are disturbing to say the least.  Once the flurry is subdued a homeowner will need to start working with an insurance professional and a professional emergency restoration service company to get life started in the right direction once again.

It is important for homeowners to know what they are getting into when looking forward to the proper fire and water damage restoration.  The steps are; a site review, an assessed financial figure, repair, an insurance plan and a final inspection for quality.

It is important to get off on the right foot when it comes to restoration services.  A site review will make sure that this happens for homeowners.  A professional will come out and look at the damage.  This may be done in conjunction with an insurance reviewer.  The restoration professional will come out and examine for complete devastation, partial devastation for items that can be repaired and things that are normal and without damage.  Depending on the fire and water damage nothing may be left in the last category.

For this first step and each step here after homeowners need to make sure that the restoration company that they are dealing with is reputable and have proven themselves with restoration services in the past.  It is important that as a professional service they know what they are doing and don’t hesitate when it comes to getting their clients affordable prices along with a quick turnaround for work to be completed.

A financial figure is often something that needs to be reviewed bit by bit.  Not only does a review need to be complete to ensure everything has been included but it should also stand its own when compared amongst other companies quotes.  When comparing quotes homeowners must see what is being paid for and determine between the companies that they have sought out quotes from which offers the greatest amount of services at the most reasonable price in the quickest time frame.  When all of those elements mesh than a homeowner can feel at ease with the company chosen to provide fire restoration to the home.

The next step is the actual work phase of the equation.  Your fire restoration project will begin and given the size of the home and damage needing to be fixed a project manager will guide the project from start to finish.  This person will be the one in charge of seeing that work is completed in a timely fashion and up to the standards set forth in the quote/contract between the homeowner, insurance company and restoration service firm.  Fire restoration is a complicated procedure that must be completed correctly to avoid future damage to the home.

The next step will be for the claims to be submitted to the insurance company for payment.  Many restoration companies will help a homeowner through this process.  They have been through it many more times than the average homeowners therefore know loop holes and procedures before submitting claims.

When the restoration firm has completed work on the home a group of quality inspectors will come out and examine the property.  They will put the home through test for air quality, moisture, etc… and if something is not right will ensure that the problem is dealt with before the final stamp of approval is given on the project.  This ensures that many checks and balances have been done and that the fire restoration to the property is done in the correct manner.

Mold is a natural part of our environment.  That is not to say it is a pleasant one when infesting the one thing you pour your life savings into, your home.  Mold does play an integral part in nature by helping to break down dead trees and leaves however are not so helpful when abundantly growing within a home.  A common question amongst homeowners with a mold issue is, “How and why did mold start to grow in my home?”

Mold starts to grow and infest a home right under a homeowner’s nose.  It often goes undetected for a bit of time because mold reproduces by sending out microscopic spores into the air.  As they float through the air they seek out damp, moist areas and the spores land making a home.  These damps surfaces within your home are ideal breeding grounds for the reproduction of more mold spores.  This is of course a very general look at how mold grows and spreads.

It is obvious that mold spores don’t become an issue or problem inside homes until they are given a host spot to breed off of.  The main goal for homeowner’s is to prevent this from happening.  Simple solutions to moisture build up are exhaust fans in laundry and bath areas.  Homeowners should make sure that duct work is ventilated properly so that moisture is not allowed to build up in attics and basements.  Dehumidifiers on air conditioning units are helpful as is looking under sinks and cupboards regularly to inspect for leaks.

Mold is a serious issue not only because it is unsightly but also a hazard to one’s health. Inhaling or mold may cause an allergic reaction to those sensitive to mold.  Asthma can be made worse do to the effects of mold on the respiratory system.  Reactions to mold include; a runny nose, sneezing, eyes that are swollen and red and rashes that affect the skin.  If a homeowner notices that family members are become sick more often than usual they should inspect the home for mold spores.

Mold remediation, or removing mold, is tricky.  Yes, homeowner’s will want to remove the mold but it is impossible to completely remove the mold spores from the air.  The idea is get rid of the present and unsightly mold spot and then remove the source of moisture so that the comfy home the mold has been enjoying is destroyed.  Mold remediation is more about controlling the habitat to prevent future mold growth.

By controlling moisture and fixing issues that allow water and dampness to stick around you are in essences killing the mold.  In mold remediation if a homeowner cleans up the mold issue but then does not fix the moisture problem than the mold is likely to return.  The truth is that the only way that mold spores will not reproduce is to take away their home and food source.  If a homeowner is finding that mold keeps returning even after they feel the problem has been fixed it is best to call in the professionals.  The problem or source could be deeper.  Mold issues that are allowed to fester will eventually destroy a home and its value.

The weather has been so unpredictable lately.  Storms are ripping through the area leaving paths of destruction.  Many homes have had damaged that is too minor to file an insurance claim.  In this case homeowners are on their own to make repairs.  My home falls into this category.  Not only do we have issues with flood waters occasionally, we live on a river, we have an abundance of large trees in our yard that storms wreak havoc with.

The last heavy rain we had had brought several large branches down in are yard.  One of them actually took a large chunk out of our siding.  The storm damage to our home was minimal in comparison the tree that fell on our neighbor’s car.  We still had to take care of it but we were thankful it was something small to deal with.

There are minor obstacles involved with the repair of siding.  First you must make sure you purchase siding to match the existing color and size of the current siding.  In our case this was not hard.  The previous owner stored some in the garage.  The only problem we had was that the coloring was a bit off due to the sun fading the house.  Really not a huge problem for us because the area we were working on repairing was minimal. Many home maintenance stores will have siding samples that can be brought home for comparison.

My spouse and I are novices when it comes to home repairs.  We were able to use basic tools we already had for this job.  The first thing we did was remove the broken pieces of siding.  To do this we used a utility knife and a framing square.  This provided a straight edge and gave us a guide for the knife.  We cut the siding with an inch on both sides to spare and proceeded to pull it away from the house cutting it on the bottom.  Snips area great tool to have on hand as well as a zip tool for home improvement projects. A zip tool can be used to go up the backside of the siding to remove the nails with the siding.

We measured the piece of siding that came out and using our framing square and utility knife cut out a section of new siding to fill in the existing hole. We made sure our measurement include a half inch overlap on either side.  Our thinking was that this would prevent any weather damage from occurring behind the siding because access would not be granted to water, snow or rain. Thankfully damage did not extend beyond the siding to the actual house. We were lucky that we did not uncover any deeper issues.

The installation was super simple.  We slid it into the area and tapped in a few roofing nails.  The siding was good to go and blended fairly well considering that the house had been in the sun for awhile longer than the siding.  If this problem exists for you and your issue is in a more noticeable spot on the house you may consider removing a piece of siding in a more inconspicuous spot to cover the damaged area.  The older piece with camouflage right in around the other siding and the new piece will be somewhere inconspicuous.

If after this reassurance that vinyl siding repair after storm damage is easy even for a novice you are not convinced call in a local handyman.  This is a rather minor job that should be able to be completed in under an hour or two, depending on the size of the affected area.  Storm damage is not preventable.  However it is not always massive and can often be dealt with by an individual homeowner.  Professionals are available to assist you if the storm damage that affects your home is more than just a piece of bunked up siding.

Where do you store things that treasured such as holiday paraphernalia, off season clothes, toys, sports equipment and all of life’s accumulated stuff?  The basement is the area in most people’s homes that stores the goods that are important but not needed on a daily basis.    So when a sump pump fails and water damage occurs how do you start the cleanup to repair your space and belongings? How can you protect yourself from sump pump failure in the future?  This article will look into way to clean up and prevent future water damage due to sump pump failure.

Prevention is the key in any catastrophe.  Was there something that could have been done sooner to prevent the issue from occurring in the first place?  Regular maintenance to your sump pump can help prevent failure.  One way to do this is to check for built up debris in the pump.  This can happen when small toys or debris are left to sit and hinder the float device in the sump pump from working.  The float needs to be tested frequently as it took can wear out without the help of kid toys and debris. The float allows the pump to start and stop as needed.  It is essential that the float is in proper working order for the sump pump to continue working as it should.

Regular cleaning of the weep hole is also encouraged in order to keep the pump functioning normally.  You can clean the weep hole using tooth picks or a small tool to remove excess debris.  Whatever you do be careful not to break anything inside the weep hole as this will hinder the function of the pump.

The impeller is a small filter that can easily be clogged with debris.  If you hear a whining noise this is the first thing you check.  It might just need a good cleaning however you will need to check and make sure the impeller has a good connection to the pump.  Most impellers are connected with blots.

The water in the sump pump can become stagnant causing a foul odor to be emitted. By filling the basin with a bleach and water mixture.  Doing this and filling the basin will cause the pump to cycle and help eliminate any odor.  Another great idea in preventing sump pump failure is a backup power supply that kicks on automatically if the power fails.  This is an expensive option but will be paid for during the first storm and power outage.

What do you do if your sump pump fails and you are looking at a basement full of water damage?  The first thing that needs to be accomplished is fixing the pump.  Make sure you unplug electrical devices. Once the water is being pumped out evaluate the damage.  If it is minimal bring the damaged items into a dry space and turn a fan on them.  However, if the damage is significant you will want to call in the professionals.  Water damage can be worsened if not properly dealt with.  The last thing you want to be handling after a sump pump failure is mold remediation so make sure the water is cleaned up properly the first time.

Prevention is the key for many of the failures we see in our lives.  With a little bit of maintenance and upkeep house hold problems can be prevented.  Water damage is one culprit that can be avoided with regular care.  How do you know when that little puddle in front of the refrigerator is more than just one of the kids spilling water on the floor?  Here is a checklist to follow in your home to prevent the need for water restoration.

Utility Spaces

• Supply Lines:  Regularly check the lines coming and going from washing machines.  Hoses should be checked every six months and replaced when wear is evident.  Most often hoses have a life expectancy of about three to five years.
• Water Heater: They are a big culprit for water damage in homes.  All water heaters should be installed in the lowest level of your home.  This will help to minimize damage if it should develop a leak. Also look for rust and wear.  Around the time you start to see this occur is also around the time you should replace the water heater.
• Sump Pumps: The last thing you want is for a sump pump to fail in your home.  Regular maintenance and a backup power supply can help eliminate the worry surrounding yours.

Bathrooms

• Tubs:  A big culprit for leaks around a tub is inefficient caulk.  Caulk is something that needs to be replaced at the first signs of visible wear.  Another area within the tub that can be an issue is broken supply lines and pipes.  If the floor or wall becomes soft a leaking pipe can be to blame.  Have a plumber out to evaluate your situation.  It might not be a bad time to have them replace the supply lines into the tub/shower, toilet and sinks.
• Sinks: Not only can supply lines start to leak overtime so can the connector pipes.  If you spot a small leak it is probably time to look at the drain pipes and resealing them.
• Toilets:  Supply lines and wax seals are the biggest issues to perform routine maintenance on to prevent the need for water restoration. Leaks from the toilets caused major issues in our foreclosed home. So much so that we had to replace the tile and carpet in the rooms adjoining the bathroom.

Kitchens

• Dishwashers: You will need to periodically check underneath the sink for leaks. This is where the water supply connects the dishwasher to the water supply. Also you can look for leaks around the dishwasher that could be coming from the seals on the dishwasher.  Other ways that leaks can be noticed besides visually seeing the water is to look for discoloration around the cabinets and floor surrounding the area.
• Refrigerator:  Most of the time refrigerators are fine. If you have an ice maker or water dispenser hooked to the refrigerator you will have to be more diligent in checking hoses and connections in and out of the refrigerator.
• Sinks: The kitchen sink needs to be periodically caulked and pipes checked.  Slow leaks can be caught early and prevent bigger messes for homeowners.

If you do find a leak occurring in your home the best option is to first shut the water supply off to the house. This will give you time to look into and resolve the issue without further water damage being done within you home. If the damage is overwhelming call your insurance company for advice on professionals you can turn to for your water restoration needs.  Prevention is the key in helping to eliminate large problems from happening but of course nothing is ever fool proof.  Being prepared encase of an issue is the smartest way homeowners can deal with any water damage issues.