This winter the temperatures in Michigan have mostly been above normal, with some freezing temperatures at night. At this time of the year, we’re usually talking about freezing temperatures and how that type of weather can often lead to frozen pipes and water damage in homes and businesses. While freezing pipes might not be as big a problem this year, water damage can result from a number of situations. Some of the most common water problems include a slab leak, old plumbing, clogged gutters, frozen pipes or a hot water heater leak. Dry winters can also compromise caulking around windows, causing a leak that you may notice in your walls. Whatever the cause of the water damage, you will want to take steps to repair the leak and dry areas quickly in order to mitigate water damage.  Prevention and Maintenance. There are some things you can do to help prevent leaks around the house.  Exterior caulking around the windows may prevent water leaks.  Gutters should be cleaned a couple of times a year to make sure water is flowing away from the house.  Testing a sump pump regularly is worthwhile.  Check the seals around your appliances, especially if they are old. And while checking appliances, make sure the hoses connected to your appliances are secure.  Check your HVAC system regularly to keep it clean – and change your filter often.  If you notice corroded pipes, have them replaced. Basement walls that leak may be in need of a full waterproofing system or sump pump – jobs that should probably be left to the pros.  If you discover a leak early, here are some ways to dry out your property.  Move the air naturally by opening windows and doors. Opening closet and cabinet doors helps also.  Move the air mechanically. Restoration companies generally have high powered fans to move air faster for quicker results.  Dehumidify the area to remove water vapor from the air. Shut the windows and doors to decrease outside humidity in the room. When water damage is more severe, most professional restoration companies have very efficient dehumidifiers to dry out the air more effectively.  Pump water from the damaged area using a sump pump.  Remove water from floors. A professional wet/dry vacuum can be used to suck water from carpets. These vacuums may prove useful in saving rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting if the water damage is minimal. Restoration contractors often have high-powered vacuums with a large capacity for removing water from more severe conditions. Remove furniture, rugs and other items that have become soaked with water. A professional restoration company can often dry these thoroughly using state-of-the-art equipment. Throw out any wet insulation.  The technicians trained by Restoration 1 of Metro Detroit have the expertise to diagnose water damage issues and take the most appropriate steps to return your home or office to a safe and habitable state. A leak can happen at any time, even in the middle of the night. Restoration 1 of Metro Detroit offers 24/7 water damage restoration services. Our team can arrive quickly to get the cleanup process underway. We won’t leave until your property is stable and safe for your return.    If your property has sustained damage from a flood or leak, call the professionals now at Restoration 1 of Metro Detroit at 734-304-0861. We provide timely and honest service to each and every customer. RESOURCES Don't Get Stuck With Damaged Property Fill in your details, we'll contact you right back. First Name** I consent to receive text messages from this business. Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Δ

Are you prepared for a severe winter that includes below average temperatures? Last winter was mild, but that’s not a guarantee that this winter will be too. Although you can’t control the weather, you can take steps to prepare your home in case the temperature takes a deep dive. Here are some tips to help you get started. As the timeworn saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Investing your time – and sometimes your money – now, can save you costly repair bills later. Preparation Outside Your Home Clean out your gutters. Leaves, twigs, and other debris can impede the proper flow of water and may facilitate the formation of ice dams in extreme weather.  Prune trees and remove dead branches. Not only is a late fall pruning healthy for your plant material, removing large, damaged branches will ensure they don’t end up falling on your home. Turn off outside water spigots. Consider installing a freeze-proof fixture if you don’t have one already. Do it yourself or hire a plumber to do it for you. Repair any damage to exterior steps. Check for loose mortar, caulking, and grout as well as cracked surfaces. Keep steps clear during ice and snow events. Inspect the exterior for leaks around doors and windows. Caulk will deteriorate over time, allowing water to enter and freeze. Remove damaged caulk and replace it with new. Winterize outdoor water systems. If you have a swimming pool, hot tub, irrigation system, or other exterior water feature, winterize them according to the manufacturers’ instructions. Preparation Inside Your Home Insulate your attic, basement, and crawl space. A well-insulated attic can help prevent the formation of ice dams. Insulated basements and crawlspaces help keep pipes from freezing. Consider investing in a backup power source. Continuous power will not only help you stay warm, but it can also prevent frozen pipes. A portable power generator will do the job. Stay current on routine maintenance of your HVAC system. Regular service by your local professional will reduce the chance of a system failure when you need it the most. Check pipes for cracks, leaks, and loose fittings. Take note of what you find, make the repairs yourself, or call your plumber to do the job. Ask your plumber about installing an emergency pressure relief valve. This can protect your plumbing system from pressure due to frozen pipes and may prevent them from bursting.  Move combustibles away from heat sources, such as fireplaces, wood stoves, and space heaters. This is a good practice always, but especially when temperature causes increased use. Understand your plumbing system. Learn about the general layout of your plumbing system and know where the main shutoff valve is located. Check your homeowner’s insurance coverage. Consider adding sewer backup insurance. If raw sewage backs up in your home, it will be costly to repair. The added coverage will be worth it. If a cold wave hits before you have time to complete your preparations, don’t panic. Here are some tips for keeping potential damage from spiraling out of control. Limiting Damage During Freezes Heat your house to a minimum of 65 degrees. Since the temperature inside the walls is considerably lower, this will help make sure it stays at least above freezing.  Make sure you know the location of the main water shutoff valve. Although you might have completed this task, double check when temperatures plunge below freezing.  Insulate pipes in unheated areas. If you have an unheated basement or a shop sink in the garage, wrap those pipes with insulation tape. Open cabinet and vanity doors to allow warmer air to circulate around pipes. You can use newspaper or old towels to provide a layer of protection on indoor pipes. Open all hot and cold water faucets and let them drip slowly. Keeping water flowing slowly through the pipes can help prevent freezing. Keep your fireplace flue and garage doors closed when not in use. This will help to keep the temperature inside your home as warm as possible. Enlist the help of friends. If you plan to be away during a freeze, ask a neighbor to check the interior and exterior of your home regularly. Keep sidewalks and steps free of snow and ice. Make sure your snow shovels are in good working order. Purchase ice melt for hard surfaces and keep it handy. During a freeze and melt cycle, check your gutters for ice dams regularly. Use a rake to dislodge snow from the roof’s edge. Learn how to remove ice dams safely . During a heavy snow or ice storm, check trees for newly damaged branches and remove them before they fall. Even a healthy limb can buckle under the weight of ice buildup. If your pipes freeze, try to thaw them immediately or call a plumber for help. You can try a hair dryer, heat lamp, or heating pad for this process. If you experience a burst pipe, turn off the main shutoff valve first. Then clean up any standing water and call a plumber to repair the pipe. If you experience a burst pipe and water damage affects the surrounding area (carpet, flooring, drywall, ceilings, etc.), contact a water restoration professional as soon as possible. The area must be thoroughly dried to prevent mold from growing and damaged materials must be removed before repairs can begin. These tips can help you be prepared and know how to handle threats to your home from a severe winter freeze. Even if this winter is another mild one, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you can handle whatever it might bring! RESOURCES Don't Get Stuck With Damaged Property Fill in your details, we'll contact you right back. First Name**

Holiday fires are the worst. They’re so destructive, and to see the damage done to homes and businesses during the holidays is depressing. And even more so, because so many fires are usually preventable. We are all so busy during the holidays that sometimes caution gets thrown out the window. And when we’re in a hurry, we might just try to make things work – rather than do what’s best. Instead, as you string up the lights, prepare that special meal, or light a cozy fire, take a quick look and review these holiday safety tips. Deck the Halls Safely Check used light strands for frays or cracks and replace empty bulb sockets with new bulbs. And plug them in before you string them! It’s always good to know beforehand that they’re working well! Replace damaged light strands with Underwriters Laboratory (UL) approved merchandise. Red UL markings are safe indoors & outdoors; green UL markings are indoors only. When decorating outside, keep ladders and decorations away from power lines. Make sure the ladder is stable before you begin climbing. It’s always good to have a partner nearby when you’re on a ladder too!  Some DON’Ts concerning your ladder: Never stand on the top step (or top cap) of a ladder, place a ladder on an unstable base, or move a ladder with someone on it. Never use a hammer and nails to secure outdoor lighting to your house. Instead, purchase special lighting clips made just for this purpose. Outdoor lights and inflatable decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) to prevent electric shock. Limit the load on outdoor extension cords to three strands per cord, and only use approved, heavy duty extension cords. If using a live tree, cut two inches off the trunk before placing it in your tree holder. Remember to keep the water level full. Consider setting an evening reminder every day to check the water level. Never use electric lights on a metallic Christmas tree. The tree can become electrically charged if metallic needles become lodged in a light socket. Keep trees at least three feet away from fireplaces, radiators, and other heat sources, and never block a doorway with your tree. One last note: more and more often now, window washing companies are installing and storing decorations for families. Now, that’s convenient. . . and safe! Avoid Fire Starters Never place candles where they are within the reach of children or pets, or where they might easily be knocked over.  Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children. Consider keeping them in a locked cabinet or store them high above a child’s reach. Try using flameless electric candles that are powered by batteries. You can set timers to come on daily – and use them year after year! And if it’s the scent of the candles that you want, try a candle warmer to reduce the risk of fire. Never burn trees, greenery roping, wreaths, or wrapping paper in your fireplace. The inks used on wrapping paper can be toxic when burned. Use a fireplace screen on your fireplace at all times when a fire is burning. Sparks can fly out quickly and ignite something close by. Make sure all embers have been extinguished before you go to bed at night. Spread them out and wait for the heat to dissipate before you turn in. Wait overnight or longer for them to cool before you dispose of them Never leave candles or fireplaces burning unattended or when you are asleep. Set a timer for outdoor lights to go off so you won’t have to remember. Have your chimney cleaned and inspected annually. Keep the area around the fireplace free from clutter and dust. Be informed about the dangers of turkey fryers. Consider finding a local restaurant instead. If you must fry your own, do it outside away from structures like homes, cars, and decks. Do NOT use a fryer or grill in your garage! Never leave cooking food unattended, whether on the stove or in the oven. Plan your meal accordingly, taking advantage of early preparation and reheating. The holidays can be a joyful time for family and friends to gather. Staying informed about the risks associated with seasonal lighting and decorations can help ensure your memories will be warm and happy. Enjoy the season!  Contact our expert Western Wayne County team today, should you need us! We are available 24/7.   Don't Get Stuck With Damaged Property Fill in your details, we'll contact you right back. First Name** I consent to receive text messages from this business. Email This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Δ

As we enter the holiday season, millions of Americans will gather around their tables to share a special meal with family and friends. Some families will try new recipes and others will relish the opportunity to prepare traditional favorites, but the kitchen will be the center of activity either way. Amidst all the hustle and bustle, you’ll want to be extra careful to avoid kitchen fires, food mishandling, and accidental injury. Here are some tips to get you started. Preventing Kitchen Fires Since half of all house fires start in the kitchen, it’s especially important to practice excellent safety habits during this busy time of the year. Grease fires can erupt when hot oil or fat overheat or come in contact with a flammable substance. Combustible fires can flare up quickly if materials like plastic, fabric, or paper come in contact with a hot coil or open flame.  Never leave appliances unattended. If you stay close, you’ll be able to intervene in the event of a faulty appliance, excess smoke, or fire. Keep a fresh fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen. Salt or baking soda can also help for a small flare up, but never put water on a kitchen fire – it can make it worse.  Remove combustible materials from cooking surfaces. Keep a lid handy for pots and pans just in case – turn the cooktop off and use a lid to smother any flames. When cooking, don’t wear loose clothing or sleeves that dangle. In addition to interfering with easy movement, the excess fabric can easily come in contact with a hot surface or open flame. Use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on. Also, check food regularly if you are simmering, roasting, baking, or broiling. You can also make your cooking experience safer and more enjoyable by cleaning the area thoroughly before you begin food preparation. Pay particular attention to cooking surfaces to avoid grease buildup. Safe Food Handling According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 48 million people get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from foodborne infection and illness in the US each year. Many of these are children, older adults, or people with compromised immune systems. It’s important to minimize risk by knowing and practicing safe food handling behaviors. Go straight home from the market after purchasing your groceries. Perishable foods should be refrigerated within 2 hours, so don’t run errands after you have made your food purchases. Check the labels for dates. If a product does not have a date, write the purchase date on it with a Sharpie. Place newer items in the back so you’ll use older products first. Place raw meat, poultry, or seafood in separate plastic containers or sealed bags. This prevents juices from dripping and causing potential cross-contamination. Wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds prior to food preparation. You should also wash after handling food, using the bathroom, changing diapers, or touching pets. Follow the CDC’s 6 steps to preparing your holiday turkey safely . Turkey and its juices can be contaminated with germs so be sure you know how to handle this before you begin. Harmful bacteria can contaminate kitchen surfaces and quickly spread to cutting boards, utensils, and countertops. Start with a clean kitchen and use hot, soapy water and a clean dish cloth (or paper towels) to wipe up spills. Wash dish cloths after each use in the hot cycle of your washing machine. Preventing Injury in the Kitchen Accidental injury can occur in any room in your home, but the kitchen is a particularly high-risk environment. Hot surfaces, open flames, and sharp objects are regular elements of meal preparation. The holidays present wonderful opportunities for meal preparation and social gatherings but having too many people present in your kitchen can be hazardous.  Keep children and pets out of the kitchen. Children are particularly susceptible to burns either from their curiosity or from hot liquid spills. Pets present a tripping hazard, so keep them out. Sharpen knives before using them. Dull knives can be more dangerous than sharp ones. Since cuts from knives are the most common kitchen injury, carefully handle and store them. Don’t wear open-toe shoes in the kitchen during meal prep. Exposed toes are far more likely to sustain an injury. Consider wearing sneakers or slip-ons with a rubber sole for extra grip. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove during cooking. This way they won’t be accidentally bumped, and children can’t grab them. Arrange your work surface so you won’t have to carry hot liquids too far. Consider using a tray or trolley if you need to carry hot liquid to another room. If you get a mild burn while working in the kitchen, run the area under cool water or wrap it in a cool, damp cloth. You can download the Red Cross First Aid App for free. Accidents happen, but this app can help you be ready to help with the click of a button. And just in case of more serious injuries, make sure you know where the closest urgent care or emergency room is located. Make sure your family has a safe and joyful celebration this year. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be well on your way to a happy holiday. RESOURCES Don't Get Stuck With Damaged Property Fill in your details, we'll contact you right back. First Name**

  Take The Time To Declutter Home and Office Springtime seems to give us all a little bit more energy – and the motivation to get organized! If you’ve done a bit of spring cleaning this year, you might be in the mood to get rid of some things around the home and office. It’s rewarding to declutter and start the new season fresh. Here are some tips to make it easier! START WITH YOUR HOME. Start Simple. Give away one item a day. Fill one trash bag a week. I have a friend that put the giveaway item is his car each day. At the end of the week, he made a trip to Goodwill. Filling up a trash bag is easy. . .check out the cabinet in your bathroom, throw away old bottles, cans and ointments.  Be Forceful. Go through your closet and give away any clothes you’re not wearing anymore!  Tackle a dresser. Go through the drawers of your dresser. Organize the clothes and throw out old, torn or stretched-out items.  Tackle the linen closet. Throw away any sheets that don’t fit your bed sizes. How many sheets sets do you need per bed? Decide, and then throw or give away the most worn sets. Give everyone at home a box. Within 2 weeks, they have to fill the box with things to give away. Even kids can get into this action. Donate the toys to a pre-school, or books to the library. Make it fun and feel good about it! DECLUTTERING THE OFFICE Set one day aside for everyone to clean up. No meetings are allowed on this day. Make sure you have plenty of trash and recycling cans ready. You’ll improve the look of your office and employees will find things they thought they lost!  Set procedures for keeping files. If you have many employees and you often work in teams, establish this procedure: Only the head of the team keeps all of the documents. Everyone else can pitch the document if it’s of no use to them.  Clear off all flat surfaces. Counters, desk tops, work stations – they are all clutter magnets. If you need to keep a few things out, that’s OK, but make it a goal to free most of the surface.  Appoint an archivist. One person should be keeping and storing a sample of all company literature. It’s historical data that might come in handy later. But not everyone has to store brochures from long ago! Store old files off sight. If you can’t pitch files, then store them off site. After a year, you might be able to throw away the oldest files that are being stored. Once you’ve decluttered, consider taking some photos! Not only will these photos remind you of how organized everything is, but they could be great resources of information for your insurance company – should you have any problems during the year.     Don't Get Stuck With Damaged Property Fill in your details, we'll contact you right back. First Name**

  This winter the temperatures in Michigan have mostly been above normal, with some freezing temperatures at night. At this time of the year, we’re usually talking about freezing temperatures and how that type of weather can often lead to frozen pipes and water damage in homes and businesses. While freezing pipes might not be as big a problem this year, water damage can result from a number of situations. Some of the most common water problems include a slab leak, old plumbing, clogged gutters, frozen pipes or a hot water heater leak. Dry winters can also compromise caulking around windows, causing a leak that you may notice in your walls. Whatever the cause of the water damage, you will want to take steps to repair the leak and dry areas quickly in order to mitigate water damage.  Prevention and Maintenance. There are some things you can do to help prevent leaks around the house.  Exterior caulking around the windows may prevent water leaks.  Gutters should be cleaned a couple of times a year to make sure water is flowing away from the house.  Testing a sump pump regularly is worthwhile.  Check the seals around your appliances, especially if they are old. And while checking appliances, make sure the hoses connected to your appliances are secure.  Check your HVAC system regularly to keep it clean – and change your filter often.  If you notice corroded pipes, have them replaced. Basement walls that leak may be in need of a full waterproofing system or sump pump – jobs that should probably be left to the pros.  If you discover a leak early, here are some ways to dry out your property.  Move the air naturally by opening windows and doors. Opening closet and cabinet doors helps also.  Move the air mechanically. Restoration companies generally have high powered fans to move air faster for quicker results.  Dehumidify the area to remove water vapor from the air. Shut the windows and doors to decrease outside humidity in the room. When water damage is more severe, most professional restoration companies have very efficient dehumidifiers to dry out the air more effectively.  Pump water from the damaged area using a sump pump.  Remove water from floors. A professional wet/dry vacuum can be used to suck water from carpets. These vacuums may prove useful in saving rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting if the water damage is minimal. Restoration contractors often have high-powered vacuums with a large capacity for removing water from more severe conditions. Remove furniture, rugs and other items that have become soaked with water. A professional restoration company can often dry these thoroughly using state-of-the-art equipment. Throw out any wet insulation.  The technicians trained by Restoration 1 of Metro Detroit have the expertise to diagnose water damage issues and take the most appropriate steps to return your home or office to a safe and habitable state. A leak can happen at any time, even in the middle of the night. Restoration 1 of Metro Detroit offers 24/7 water damage restoration services. Our team can arrive quickly to get the cleanup process underway. We won’t leave until your property is stable and safe for your return.    If your property has sustained damage from a flood or leak, call the professionals now at Restoration 1 of Metro Detroit at 734-304-0861. We provide timely and honest service to each and every customer. RESOURCES Don't Get Stuck With Damaged Property Fill in your details, we'll contact you right back. First Name** I consent to receive text messages from this business. Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Δ