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Author: Luke Armstrong

Expert in emergency fire and water restoration services, fire cleanup and water damage cleanup, mold removal, as well as commercial and residential cleaning services, including carpet, upholstery and furniture cleaning. Contributor to several restoration and cleaning blogs.
How to Thaw a Frozen Septic Line
Frozen Pipes, Sewage Cleanup

How to Thaw a Frozen Septic Line

Septic lines are most often found in rural areas. When your winter cabin, for instance, is located out in the woods, the septic line is responsible for treating wastewater from the cabin’s bathrooms, laundry, and kitchen drains. In the countryside, centralized sewer systems are uncommon, giving the septic line importance. The septic line in a winter lodge occupied for a few months of the year, for example, is likely to freeze due to disuse. Normally, the septic line functions well, even under frigid temperatures—if the plumbing is in regular use. Routine draining and flushing of the home’s plumbing system ensures moving water. Immobile water can freeze and block the septic line. If your winter getaway features a septic line, and it freezes in the bitter temperatures of February, you ...
What to Do When the Toilet is Overflowing
Safety Tips, Water damage cleanup

What to Do When the Toilet is Overflowing

When your toilet overflows, it can spur incredible angst and anxiety. Your eyes glaze over as you watch the water slowly fill to the rim then spill over the top onto your bathroom floor. A toilet overflow can be dreadful, especially if it is a recurring problem. Several factors can cause an overflowing toilet: A clogged drain line may at times be the reason a toilet overflows. A water line that connects to the washing machine, for instance, may be clogged, leading to the clog to the septic tank or sewage system. The water lines connecting to the sewer system in your home may be blocked or dislocated due to tree roots. Or, if your home features a septic tank, it may be too full to absorb any additional water. The trap at the back of the toilet may be blocked with too much to...
5 Fire Safety Tips for the Holiday Season
Fire Damage Restoration, Safety Tips

5 Fire Safety Tips for the Holiday Season

Stay safe during the holidays with our fire safety tips The holidays bring warmth, togetherness and cheer. During this festive time of year, home fires also spike. Flammable materials become suddenly abundant, including ample decorative lighting, candles, cooking gadgets and indoor Christmas trees. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that from 2012 to 2016, firefighters battled an annual 170 house fires that were sparked by Christmas trees. Not only did these fires cost $12 million in property damage annually, but they also contributed to four fatalities. Keep the holiday season both merry and safe by following these fire safety tips: 1. Put gifts under the tree instead of putting out fires. It takes less than 30 seconds for a fire caused by a Christmas tree t...
What is Considered Clutter?
Hoarding Cleaning

What is Considered Clutter?

When you do a Google search of the word “clutter,” you may find a variety of definitions that come up. You will most likely find that clutter doesn’t always include physical items, rather, it can be negative thoughts in your mind that complicate everything else. But overall, clutter is considered anything messy and unnecessary in your space. While everyone’s situation will be different with different items, you will begin to notice the inessential things after reading this guide. Here’s what you can do to clean out some of this clutter to open up more space, both physically and emotionally. What is Considered Physical Clutter? In today's fast-paced and technology-driven world, it's easy for our physical and digital spaces to become cluttered. From overflowing closets to an i...
How to Clean Fire Damaged Jewelry
Fire Damage Restoration

How to Clean Fire Damaged Jewelry

It can certainly be traumatic to discover that your precious jewelry has been severely damaged in a house fire. Even if they do not have high monetary value, some may have been passed down by generations, making them almost impossible to replace. However, the majority of these types of metals and stones have a considerably high melting point, allowing them to survive the flames. Even if they look unsalvageable, they actually only contain a smoke residue that can be cleaned with special products and methods. Restoring Jewelry After a Fire Although many types of jewelry can be restored after a fire, they can also be melted down and recast into their original form. However, there are restoration jewelers who are specially trained to handle fire and smoke-damaged jewelry, using the proper...
How to Prevent Mold in the Winter
Mold remediation

How to Prevent Mold in the Winter

Mold is a common issue for homeowners, no matter what the season. Winter, however, produces a different set of circumstances that make the contamination of mold within a home very likely. Residential homes tucked away in high-snowfall areas seemingly experience an increase in moisture during the cold season. The heavy snow produces moisture that can lead to an infestation of mold indoors. Tightly closed windows and insulated doors during winter allow less ventilation within the space. Summer’s dry indoors transform into winter’s moisture-ridden environment. Where moisture is left unchecked, mold spores latch on and multiply. Mold’s Destructive Path from Health to Property Many individuals residing in colder climates remain cozy indoors during winter. Those with respiratory issues ...
How to Look for Mold Before Buying a Home
Mold cleaning, Mold remediation

How to Look for Mold Before Buying a Home

Looking for a new home is an exciting venture, especially if you are a first-time home buyer.  The feeling you get when you find the right home is amazing, but you must stop yourself from getting too excited until you give the home a thorough inspection.  One of the biggest issues you should check for before purchasing a new home is mold.  Mold is a very serious problem that is sometimes difficult to spot in a home, and sellers are not always upfront about disclosing potential mold issues.  If you buy a house with extensive mold growth, you will be responsible for mold remediation which can be quite expensive. Before you close on a new home, make sure you inspect the home for mold according to the following tips. The Dangers of Mold in a Home There are many reasons why you should ...
Cleaning Home For Holiday Guests: Before And After
Cleaning and restoration tips

Cleaning Home For Holiday Guests: Before And After

The holidays are a time for merry gatherings, happy family reunions, joy and laughter, and lots of fun. A time for family and friends when we take a break from our busy lives to enjoy the company of beloved people and the festivity of the season. As the holidays draw nearer, excitement overwhelms us at the thought of welcoming dear friends and relatives to our homes and indulging in revelry and merrymaking. When opening our homes to loved ones, we want to make our guests feel relaxed and comfortable. We want the atmosphere to be joyous and cheerful and the house to sparkle with holiday lights and decorations and, of course, perfect cleanness. Making your home bright, clean, and inviting for your holiday guests, however, requires a lot of effort that is no fun to do. To make holid...
Winterizing a House: How to Prepare for Winter
Safety Tips

Winterizing a House: How to Prepare for Winter

It’s getting to be that time of the year. As we start turning up the thermostat and grabbing heavy coats out of the closet, you know it’s only a short while before winter. This means it’s time to prepare. It may sound like the last thing you want to do, but taking small steps now will save you time, energy, and money throughout the colder months – more time spent being warm and toasty instead of worrying about leaking windows and skyrocketing utility bills. Thankfully, winterizing a house really doesn’t take that much time and is relatively inexpensive. This can also prevent damage during the winter, such as burst sprinkler heads and pipes. These are every property owner’s worst nightmare, not only compromising the plumbing system but destroying building materials with freezing wate...
Prepare for the Winter with These Furnace Maintenance Tips
Air Duct HVAC Cleaning

Prepare for the Winter with These Furnace Maintenance Tips

With the winter season approaching, your furnace will soon be put to work, heating your home to provide you and your family with a comfortable, cozy environment to live in. Before the winter arrives and you start putting your furnace to heavy use, it is essential to check that it functions correctly. Otherwise, you’ll risk having a problem with the heating system and going without heat in your residence during the coldest months. It is important to do routine maintenance on your furnace in the fall and clean it out to ensure its effectiveness. Use the following tips as a guide for furnace maintenance and cleaning so you can ensure that your furnace will provide you with heat throughout the winter. Safety First When it comes to doing any type of maintenance around the house, your safet...