Radon is a cancer causing radioactive gas. You can’t see it. You can’t smell it. You can’t taste it. But is may be a serious problem within your home and a hazard to your health.

Radon is a natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into any type of building.

EPA estimates radon causes thousands of cancer deaths in the US each year.

Testing for radon is easy and inexpensive.

High levels of radon can be reduced with the installation of a radon reduction system by a certified or qualified radon mitigation contractor.

For more information on radon go to www.epa.gov/radon.

Residential and Commercial flood insurance policies are available to both owners and renters of a property.  You can choose if you want a) contents only, b) building only or c) both.  You can purchase a policy for as little as $129/year.

In order to qualify for a flood insurance policy you must live in a community that participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

If you live in a high risk or Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), you are more than twice as likely to suffer water damage by flood than by fire.  Also, if you live in a SFHA and received disaster assistance in the form of a federal grant or loan, you must cover the building for flood insurance for as long as you own it.

There is a 30 day waiting period for all new flood insurance policies.

For more information visit www.floodsmart.gov .

Whether you choose to photograph or videotape the items, i.e. jewelry, electronics, collectibles, antiques, etc., it is extremely important to log these items for insurance purposes. Insurance companies that provide homeowners coverage encourage their clients to be pro-active in creating a registry of personal belongings, in case of a fire or significant water loss that could destroy such items in, literally, a matter of minutes!

It doesn’t matter if you live in Levittown or Yardley, Bensalem or Doylestown, disasters happen and many times with little or no advanced warning. The restoration process can be long and drawn out, not to mention stressful and tedious. By preparing in advance you can aid the insurance adjuster to account for all important articles in your home to make sure you are properly reimbursed.

Predicting Hurricanes Improves

In the aftermath of a tropical storm on the east coast you may experience an overwhelming amount of flood water to cleanup. Some storms produce wind gusts over 60 mph, certainly strong enough to create some tree damage on your property or even send a heavy limb crashing through a window. Whenever you expose your home to torrential rains, a flooded basement and carpet damage is often a result. The first thing to do is to contact your homeowners insurance company or a licensed public adjuster to help you negotiate the claim. The next step is to mitigate any further damage.

Storm Damage & Flood Cleanup

Water removal and restoration is more than just throwing a few bathroom towels on the floor. Depending upon the severity of the flood damage, it is not uncommon that our clients find themselves literally up to their knees in water. Here is a flood cleanup fact sheet that should help you get started. A portable water pump may be required initially during the water extraction process. In most cases, we are forces to look beyond the surface of just damaged carpeting. Sometimes we are called upon to bring in large dumpsters and remove furniture, storage containers and begin a sorting process to identify salvageable and unsalvageable belongings. The painful experience begins when our clients recognize the true value of their losses when photos and old memorabilia gets damaged.

The best way to handle a late summer storm is to be prepared as best you can. If you know of any leaks based upon previous storms, it is best to seal them when the ground is dry and not a cloud in the sky. Procrastination is one of the seven deadly sins. Don’t let a tropical storm catch you off guard.

Tom is a Bucks County Web Marketing professional and our local SEO guy that really understands how MDL Restorations Inc. works. We have asked him to write these posts after interviewing us.

This story focuses on Levittown, a truly unique community, built by Levitt and Sons and consisting of (originally) only six models of moderately priced homes. All were originally constructed as single family dwellings. Over time homes have been renovated, and the evidence of these six models has become less distinct.

In the essence of speed, Levitt and Sons used a unique step based “assembly line style” of building method. While the house, obviously, remained stationary, construction crews moved from house to house; each with one specialized task, resulting in a finished home every 16 minutes. Construction occurred between 1952 and 1958, 17,311 homes in total were completed over this time. A challenge that many Levittown residents have encountered over the years is as a result of heating system installed in these homes – Radiant Heat.

Radiant Heat Construction in Levittown

There have been several downfalls identified with the original construction of Radiant Heat Systems in Levittown. Many of these downfalls resulted in water damage occurring out of sight over time.

• Heat Loss – Clearly heat loss is an issue with all heating systems. Heat loss can occur where drafts have been indicated in the structure of the home (windows/doors). However, in the installation of Radiant Heat in Levittown, heat loss most often occurs from the lack of insulation that was installed under the edges of the concrete floors.
• The simple science of the interaction of copper and concrete is a significant downfall in the original construction of the system. Without a protective barrier in place, corrosion was inevitable.
• It was common in the original construction of the Radiant Heat systems to not place a vapor barrier beneath the slab. At the time the intent was to save money, however, as time went by the copper began to leak into the ground. Because the leak did not rise up through the floor, homeowners were largely unaware of the water damage occurring.
• Depending on how the copper tubing was installed, the pipes could be prone to breakage. Construction of the Levittown community occurred quickly, and some critics note that due to the speed on construction, and the emphasis on cost savings, materials were crude, and labor perhaps not as skilled.
• Some have said that the issue is with the slab construction. 2×4’s were placed across a gravel bed to hold up the radiant pipes. Then they poured the concrete. Inevitably there were spots in the slab that were thinner and more prone to cracking. Once the concrete cracked, the pipes were next.

While many Radiant Heat Systems in Levittown lasted for decades, some problems proved too costly to repair and lead homeowners to install baseboard heating systems instead.

It’s not a question of if your system will leak, it’s when it will (if it hasn’t started to already).

Original versus Current Radiant Heat Systems

There are numerous benefits to Radiant Heat Systems, newly constructed systems are certainly considered energy efficient and can keep your home at a consistent temperature throughout the cold winter season. Not to mention the heated floors!

However the construction of older systems, such as the systems originally installed in the Levittown area, were considered “primitive”. Today, many contractors use PEX tubing, a cross linked polyethylene product and rubber tubing in lieu of copper. Installers find the mix of PEX and rubber tubing creates a system that can take more stress than inflexible copper.

Preventing Water Damage from Radiant Heating Systems

So what should you do if you have a Radiant Heat System installed in your home? The key is in the maintenance. If you have an original Radiant Heat System installed in your home, have your system assessed by professionals to ensure that problems are not brewing. Water damage, even subtle over time, can cause greater problems including mold. Water damage restoration started earlier can be a much simpler (and less costly) endeavor then if left for a longer term

If you have a newly installed system – have it inspected regularly to catch small problems BEFORE they get out of control.

MDL Restoration is proud to serve the water restoration needs of the Levittown community and the greater Philadelphia area. Your home is at the heart of your family – and we understand the investment you’ve made in your home. Together we can protect your investment well into the future!

Do’s

• Shut off source of water supply
• Turn off circuit breakers near wet areas
• Remove excess water by mopping or blotting the affected area
• Wipe excess water from wood surfaces and don’t allow to dry in the sun
• Prop up furniture on balls of aluminum foil or blocks to separate from wet carpet
• Lift drapes off flooring
• Remove valuable objects to a dry, safe place
• If possible, without electrical risk, have fans running to help dry out surfaces

Do’s for Contaminated Water

• AVOID all contact with sewage and sewage contaminated items!
• Wash hand thoroughly

Don’ts

• Enter a room with standing water to avoid electrical shock hazards
• Try to lift we carpet
• Leave magazines/books/newspapers on wet surfaces that could cause staining
• Use vacuum
• Use tv’s or other appliances
• Turn on ceiling fans
• Wait to call MDL RESTORATION, INC!

Don’ts for Contaminated Water

• Walk on damaged or wet areas, will spread contaminants
• Turn on HVAC system, could spread contaminated air
• Use household fans, will also spread contaminated air

If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold, but don’t fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back. The clean-up should be done by a professional restoration company who knows how to tackle the source of the problem and remediate it properly!

Exposure to mold can cause irritability to the eyes, skin, nose and throat. Headaches, flu-like symptoms, breathing problems and even asthma attacks can occur with prolonged contact to mold. Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed.

Moisture control is the key to mold control.

The choir was created by music teacher Mrs. Lynne Winner, a teacher in Bristol Township for 22 years. Only children who exemplify good behavior are permitted into the group and are required to uphold the “good behavior” model. Most of the children in the choir are 3rd, 4th and 5th graders, with a few 6th graders that assist with the younger children. The choir has become so popular among the students that Mrs. Winner created a Sign Language Club for the younger students who will progress into the choir as they become older and maintain their good behavior status.

Many insurance companies have done away with Preferred Vendor Lists, leaving homeowners on their own to find a reputable contractor to place their trust in after suffering a loss in their home. Travelers Insurance is not one of them.
Travelers scrutinizes its contractor applicants thoroughly before allowing them to become a member of their elite force.

So, rest assured you are dealing with a professional company in MDL Restoration, Inc.! We are fully licensed and insured, IICRC certified and EPA Lead Paint certified. Customer service is our highest priority! Our ability to walk you through every step of the process is our signature.

If you experience a loss in your home, no matter which company you are insured with, trust MDL Restoration to do it right the first time!

• FREE Consultations
• Discounts on deductibles
• State-of-the-art equipment

• Service your heater. Puff backs are very common during the winter months and are more contaminating than you think. The oil residue seeps into the pores of plastic, wood, drywall and other surfaces. The longer the residue sits the harder it is to clean (or save) the surface and rid of the contamination.
• Turn off your outside hoses/water spigots. These can freeze then break and the water may cause leakage into the ground/walls of your home and lead to mold formation.
• Make sure your main water source is turned off if you go on vacation, even if you leave for a day or two. Without continuous use, water pipes can freeze, burst and create major damage to your home.
• Clean your gutters. Water can build up and creep into the walls of your home.
• Candles are a major cause of fires. Keep candles away from walls, curtains, papers and other flammable materials.
• Check your smoke detectors.

MDL Restoration, Inc. is dedicated to giving you a quick response and professional customer service should you experience a traumatic situation. Our technicians will assess your loss, explain in full detail how they will remediate it and walk with you through the entire process.