With Winter on its way, the comforts of a cozy, warm home can help you forget about the lack of sunshine and bundling up like the Abominable Snowman. To help you prepare for the colder months ahead, here is a handy winterizing checklist designed to keep old man winter from ruining the season.

Conserve Energy

Most heating systems will likely be running daily throughout the winter so remember to change your HVAC filters every month.

Warm air rises and escapes through your roof, therefore any areas around recessed lights, attic hatches, and plumbing vents where warm air can escape into attic spaces should be checked to avoid water damage due to ice dams. An air-tight barrier between the interior of the house and the attic will help to prevent ice backup. If your attic wasn’t built with a ventilation system, contact a trusted professional or contractor about ventilating your attic before winter.

Weather stripping is an excellent way to help seal warm air in and cold air out, use around windows and doors to prevent leaks.  Available at most hardware stores, weather stripping installs quickly and easily and is relatively inexpensive.

If you have the luxury of a fireplace, you can reduce heat costs by opening the dampers or cracking a window about an inch to prevent the fire from drawing warm air out of the rest of the house effectively replacing it with cold air. Be sure to close off doors leading into the room.

Don’t forget, to avoid fire damage, store firewood in a dry place a minimum of 30 feet from your home.

Clean Gutter Winterizing

Keeping gutters clean will help water to drain away from your roofline and your house effectively preventing roof leaks and water damage. Clogged cutters are more likely to freeze, causing blockages where melting ice and snow can leak into the roof, damaging your home. Clear gutters while weather is warmer or hire a professional handyman to do the dirty work.

Protected Pipe Winterizing

According to the IIBHS, a burst pipe can cause more than $5,000 in water damage! Fortunately, there are things you can do to protect your pipes from the bitter cold. Pipes located near outer walls may be susceptible to freezing in extreme temperatures causing water damage. Letting your water drip from hot and cold faucets can keep pipes from freezing when cold snaps take hold.

Open cabinet doors to let warm air circulate to places where pipes exist such as below sinks. Exposed pipes, such as those found in attics, basements, or crawlspaces, may require extra insulation around them. Prevention goes a long way to safeguarding against a burst pipe that could cause whole house damage due to flooding.

Be Emergency Ready by Winterizing

Losing power during winter storms or being snowed-in is never easy so prepare yourself for such an emergency by keeping an emergency kit handy—you’ll be glad you did.

• Bottled water
• Flashlights
• Nonperishable food items
• Blankets
• Utility company phone numbers
• Battery backup for important electronic equipment
• First-aid kit

Safe Holiday Decorating

‘Tis the season, as they say, but remember decorate safely. Inspect the wires of your light display before switching them on. Light cords can become frayed with use and present an electrical fire hazard. Always check light strands before installing on your tree, they too can become damaged after a full year in storage. Keep live trees watered,  since dry trees catch fire easier. Never leave your tree lit when not at home.

Pre-Winter Yard Maintenance

Cold weather doesn’t mean your yard maintenance is done. Tree and shrubs should be pruned back and away from house and windows. Icy conditions can cause branches to break causing roof damage. Survey the roof by walking around your home to see if ice dams have formed; call a contractor if you suspect this is the case to avoid any further water damage.

Be sure to check the foundation for small cracks or openings where mice or other rodents can get in. Pests seeking warmth can get in and wreak havoc on insulation. Keep snow clear of gas meters and away from your dryer exhaust and basement windows to avoid backups and leaks.

Using this checklist will see you well on your way to preventing any major damage this winter however, when life throws you a snowball you simply can’t dodge—our trusted 24/7 response professionals will have you back in front of that fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book in no time.

Share these Halloween safety tips from Advance Restoration to help family and friends remain safe!

 

• Children are twice as likely to be killed in traffic accidents on Halloween
• 41 Million children will trick-or-treat this year in the U.S.
• 63% of children do not carry a flashlight while trick-or-treating
• 1 in 13 kids have food allergies
• 82% of parents do not use reflective tape or visibility aids on children’s costumes
• 70% of parents do not go with their children trick-or-treating
• $13 million dollars in property damage is cause d by Halloween related fires each year
• 12% of kids younger than 6 are allowed to -Trick-or-Treat alone
• 65% of parents do not talk about Halloween safety before sending their children out to trick-or-treat
• 52% of the automobile deaths occurring on Halloween involve alcohol
• 41 people are insured in house fires each Halloween

Tips to Keep Children Halloween Safe

• If you’re sending kids out trick-or-treating, make sure they have something bright and reflective on their costumes. That way, people driving will be able to see them after dark.
• Make sure your child can see! Masks and large hats or wigs can block vision. If you can use makeup instead of a mask, it’s not a bad idea.
• All costumes should be fire-resistant.
• Children should carry flashlights or glow sticks to increase visibility
• Be mindful of allergies or choking hazards when giving or receiving candy or toys
• Go along with your little ones during neighborhood trick-or-treating if they are under 13 years of age.
• Tell your kids to stay in large groups as an added safety measure
• Set a time that your children should be back at home
• If you are out driving, remember that kids tend to dart across streets, slow down, and keep your eyes on the road.

Sources: Census.gov, Protect America, Inc., SafeKids.org, Nationalcalandar.com

The average cost of drying out your property from category 1 water damage averages about $2592 according to HomeAdvisor.com.  As licensed professionals, we can determine the cause and extent of the damage by categorizing and classifying the damage, which are two of the largest factors in providing an accurate estimate for water damage repair cost, and the final bill.

How to Avoid High Cost to Repair Damage

To avoid elevated water damage repair costs for restoration, preventative measures immediately after the damage occurs is key. Moisture left untreated can cause mold spores to grow and standing water increases the scope of the cleanup which includes setting equipment for dryout, extracting any water, finding source of moisture and repairing, sanitizing, and replacing any damaged drywall or other materials needed to bring the property back to pre-loss condition.

Document the Damage

Whatever the cause or water damage repair cost, documenting the damage for your insurance claim is important. Contacting a professional immediately to diagnose, document, and determine the cause and extent of damages can save you thousands of dollars. Most people don’t realize the true extent of the damage. Some damage can take years to reveal itself such as wood rot and mold that is hidden and unseen causing damage to structures.

Hazardous wind damage weather outlook for many counties including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Livingston, St. Clair, Lapeer, Genesee, Shiawassee, and Saginaw

 

According to surfacing weather reports, there is a chance of severe wind damage due to high winds occurring Tuesday through early Wednesday morning. High winds and thunderstorms are expected across southeastern Michigan becoming more severe by evening as they become more intense.

Wind gusts up to 60 MPH could cause wind damage and injury according to forecast and isolated tornadoes toward the southern border of Michigan could potentially pass through.

Tornadoes can happen anywhere and anytime with the potential to bring intense winds and funnels. If you are under tornado warning, find a safe shelter immediately.

• Take shelter in a sturdy building with a safe room such as a basement or storm cellar
• Small interior rooms make good shelter on the lowest level of your home
• Stay away from doors, windows and outside walls
• Watch for flying debris
• Take cover by shielding your head and neck with your arms or other sturdy covering

For more information on how to stay safe when a storm or tornado threatens, download this Tornado Information Sheet from FEMA. If you experience property damage in southeast Michigan due to storm you can find information to help you recover quickly by clicking here.

The Detroit Free Press reports that a blast of cold air will push temps into the mid-30’s. The cooler air will see metro Detroit experiencing its first frost around the first week of October, according to the report.

It’s official. Fall is here. Northern lower and parts of the Upper Peninsula are expecting lower temps beginning Friday evening producing the first frost of the season.

The fall season officially begins September 22. Changes in the length of daylight along with cooler temperatures will promote visible signs that fall is here as leaves turn to vivid shades of yellow, orange, and red.

News of our first frost brings to mind the need for winterizing our homes. It’s much easier to winterize before bad weather sets in. Frozen gutters can cause the fascia to pull off the house and ice dams can wreak havoc on your shingles causing roof damage.  An ounce of prevention can go a long way, here are some tips for winterizing your home.

First Frost Preparedness for Your Home:

• Winterize your sprinkler system
• Unhook hoses and insulate hydrants
• Seal up any foundation vents
• Change your furnace filters and turn on thermostats
• Check weather-stripping around doors, windows, and garage doors
• Clean out and apply heat tape to gutters, downspouts and eaves.

All too often, Advance Restoration sees the results roof leaks due to winter storm damage that could have been avoided. While temps are still fairly accommodating—there is no time like the present to winterize.

Former NBA basketball legend, Michael Jordan donating #2 million to aid in Hurricane Florence relief efforts of residents in North and South Carolina. Jordan, who played high school hoops in Wilmington, North Carolina, gave $1 million each to the Foundation For The Carolinas’ Hurricane Florence Response Fund and the American Red Cross, according to recent press releases.

Advance Restoration is mobilizing manpower, water extraction and dry-out equipment now to the east coast—we hope to see you there, Michael Jordan!

Danger still exists after hurricane Florence, even though the driving rains and winds have subsided. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the following safety tips for homeowners returning after the storm.

Is your neighborhood safe for your return? Stay tuned to local news on radio and social media for important announcements concerning the storm damage, for medical aid and other assistance such as food, water and shelter.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Be aware of specific travel routes and assembly points authorities have established for residents in the area. Roads may be closed due to flooding or road damage.

You may not have access right away to your home. Emergency rescue, power crews and other personnel may be tending to special needs. Roads may be blocked, power lines down and people may be trapped and in need of help. Avoid driving, sight-seeing or entering a storm ravaged area unnecessarily, it is better to stay put and wait instructions regarding safe return.

Avoid downed power lines, even if they appear to be harmless.

Avoid metal fences and other metal objects near downed lines.

Do not use matches or lighters in a storm damaged area until all gas lines have been checked for leaks.

Consider having professionals such as licensed contractors inspect your home for damage and to help with repairs, especially gas and electrical lines.

Assume that standing water is not safe and use properly stored water for consumption or boil your tap water.

Remember to keep your radio tuned to a station issuing emergency bulletins for the latest information and to be certain that you have the all-clear to return home safely.

Advance Restoration wants to ensure everyone remains safe until the time is right to return to your home and when you do— We’re there when you need us to help with all your storm damage restoration needs.

What you should know about house fire and your homeowners fire insurance coverage

Cooking is the #1 cause of house fires according to the National Fire Protection Association. Kitchen fire damage can be devastating— even worse, finding out that the home fire section of your homeowner’s policy does not fully cover your losses.

If you’ve experienced a minor kitchen fire or even a major home fire destroying your entire home— make sure you have adequate home fire insurance coverage to repair or replace destroyed property. After a fire is not the time to find out that your policy is incomplete. Here are some things to consider when buying or updating your policy:

• Get the right home insurance coverage for your needs
• Know the value of your home and possessions
• Purchase replacement cost instead of actual cash value
• Ask your insurance agent about guaranteed replacement cost for your home structure
• Make sure your disaster living expenses are accounted for

Putting the right policy in place to make sure your home fire insurance coverage limits can cover you in the event of a total loss is important and by following these simple tips you will be closer to the coverage you deserve. You may want to visit FreeAdvice.com to understand your home insurance options.

Advance Restoration is a disaster restoration company devoted to fully restoring clients facing house fire damage including smoke & soot damage and content restoration. We want you to stay safe and believe it’s important to have a plan in place so that when fires flare up, you and your family know what to do—download a free fire Escape-Planning_Guide  provided by the National Fire Protection Association. Stay safe.

3 Fall Preparation Tips for Avoiding Winter Property Damage.

Although it’s only fall…winter is looming whether we like it or not! Fall leaves can wreck havoc on our gutters and downspouts, add snow, ice and cold temperatures and you have a fine recipe for winter storm damage. Fall preparation is the perfect anecdote to winter hazards.

We love to hear from our customers, but we hope it’s just to say, “Hello, we miss you guys” rather than, “hurry, our roof caved in!”

Here are a few simple Fall preparation tips you can do to prepare for cold weather that will save you time, money, and a phone call to Advance Restoration—even though we love hearing from you!

• Frost proof your faucet-If the shut off valve to your spigot is outside, you are at risk of a leaky or frozen pipe that could potential thaw and crack in the spring causing water damage inside and outside your home. Insulate these pipes now to prevent from freezing or better yet, install a frost proof faucet that extends a pipe from the outside into the house so that the shut-off point and washer are on the inside and away from the elements.
• Invest in a roof rake-The average roof can hold up to four feet of fresh snow and as snow begins to melt or collect from multiple storms, the weight of the snow can become too much for your roof to handle. The combined weight of snow and water puts your roof at a higher risk of roof damage due to collapse. Invest in a roof rake now so you can be ready; it can be your best friend after a winter storm.
• Consider purchasing flood insurance-Consider purchasing flood insurance, if you live in a flood-prone area, to cover possible flood damage that may occur during the spring thaw. Homeowners’ policies do not cover damage from floods. Ask your insurance agent about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) if you are at risk. More information on NFIP is available at Fema.gov.

If you prepare for the cold weather you will be in much better shape to enjoy time with friends and family by that cozy and clean fireplace. You might even have time to bake some cookies and drop them by Advance Restoration (just thought we’d sneak that in there!). If freezing temperatures have gotten the best of you— we’re just a phone call away and ready to serve with 24/7 emergency service. You can also check out our resources page for more tips and important disaster recovery information and links.