Check out the May 2022 edition of Restoration & Remediation, featuring advice on how restorers can expand the range of their services, tips on successful drying with moisture meters, considerations for CAT work and much more.
No, that is not a typo, it is definitely meant to be furry and not fury. We are talking about indoor air quality (IAQ) here, not Armageddon. But, make no mistake about it, for severe allergy sufferers the differences often feel like semantics.
The success of your water damage restoration business is dependent on the quality of work your production staff puts out and the feeling the water damage victim is left with after the fact.
Here are five ways to train and prepare your restoration employees to provide the best customer experience, both in their everyday work and after disasters.
I have worked in many CAT losses, where I created friendships with government agents, adjusters, environmental professionals, and restorers. The consensus is “CAT losses are some of the hardest, dirtiest, unsafe, time consuming, physically exhausting, and mentally challenging jobs you will ever be involved with”. If you plan on working in CAT losses, consider the following.
While crises can take many forms, standardizing a response plan to prepare for such events can help ensure your fleet minimizes downtime while maximizing safety. The thoroughness of your fleet’s response plan and protocols allows your organization to remain informed and ready to act during stressful times.
“In the first part of this series, I identified the steps to create a respiratory protection program. This second article will cover how to implement and follow your program. Once everything is implemented, you will have an OSHA-compliant program tailored to your company and designed to protect employees from the hazards in the Restoration Industry,” Barry Rice, CSP, writes.
Best practices for the removal of bed bugs from a building are usually a combination of identification techniques, removal by vacuuming, vapor steaming or other application of high heat, and an application of pesticide. A final step of removal of pesticide residues by cleaning may be required.
One of the most commonly asked questions we receive is, “what temperature kills bed bugs?” This question is typically followed up with, “how long should I conduct my treatment at the “kill” temperature?”
Watching a movie that was set in the wilds of the Rocky Mountains happened to remind me of a line from Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book: “For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.” I believe this sentiment to be true in business as well as in nature.
Remediation after water contamination should be done fast and thoroughly. One of the main tools to use are moisture meters, which can assess the moisture condition of materials before starting remediation work. Meters should also be used to make sure all excess moisture is gone once the work is finished.
In response to an explosion of “toxic mold” claims in 2000-2001, the insurance industry acted in unprecedented unison to universally get rid of all claims related in any way to mold. They didn’t stop at just excluding claims from mold; they threw bacteria into the exclusion as well.
Moisture meters are easier than ever to use and now with exciting Bluetooth connectivity, moisture meters offer great flexibility and customization. They are fast and accurate, and the information they provide will always be critical to making good drying decisions. Know the meter’s capabilities. Follow the manufacturers’ procedures and recommendations supported by your own knowledge and experience.
The water damage restoration industry is changing rapidly, and moisture meters are no exception. In this article, I will focus on the changes in smart technology which are making it easier to take moisture readings and provide valuable information to contractors in real-time about their jobs.
