Did you know that your home is more likely to be damaged by a flood than a fire? Probably not, but the statistics have proven this time and time again. According to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), 25% of flood claims come from areas with low to moderate flood risk.
This is why it’s always best to be prepared. Flood insurance is the best thing you can do this in order to protect your home and valuables from expensive water damage repair.

Do you live in a low risk or high risk flood area?

It’s good to know the status of the area you live in. You can find this information online through the FEMA website. If you live in a high risk flood area you may be required by law to protect your property. Keep in mind that mold damage can even effect the high rise apartment buildings hit by floods, so don’t think your safe from water damage if you live in this type of set up.

Flood Insurance Costs

Flood insurance costs can be as low as $119 a month for a Preferred Risk Policy. If you’re hit by a flood and in need of water damage repair don’t hesitate to call us. We’re your leading Utah water damage and flood restoration company and we use high volume desicant dryers, dehumidifiers, the latest technology in axial air movement, and mobile high volume refrigeration and heating units. Call us today, your Utah disaster company for more information.

Frozen pipes ruin and disrupt hundreds of thousands of homes every winter. Since it’s not easy to recover a pipe once it’s frozen, it’s best to know how to prevent what will inevitably be a disastrous situation.

Copper and plastic pipes are most susceptible to bursting and can a cracked pipe can spill up to 250 gallons of water in one day! Just imagine how much damage that much water can do to your home!

Frozen Pipe Safety Precautions:

• Before the cold hits insulate all pipes throughout the crawl and attic spaces in your home. Exposed pipes are the most susceptible and need special care at winter time.
• Heat tape can be used to secure pipes and keep them warm all winter.
• Seal up any leaks that allow cold air to enter in.
• Disconnect all garden hoses
• A drip of hot and cold water can keep your pipes from freezing over night.
• Open cabinet doors to allow heat to circulate especially under your kitchen and bathroom sinks.
• If traveling always set your thermostat no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit
• When traveling for a long amount of time, shut off and drain your water system

When a Pipe Freezes:

Don’t take any chances. Call us immediately so that we can fix the problem before the ice melts and too much damage is done. Never try to thaw a pipe with an open flame because burning down your home is no trade for water damage.

Call us your Utah disaster cleanup company: 801-938-7334 or send us your contact information and we can contact you. We’ve been doing this for over 35 years, and we want you to understand that no matter what the damage we can help.

Any type of loss, whether it’s the loss of a family pet or you’ve had valuables stolen from your own home, is hard.  Losing years and years of valuable documents on your computer is equally hard no matter how it’s happened.  And, it’s especially hard on small business owners that can’t pay for costly backup systems that keep them protected from unexpected disasters.

Fortunately, these days most of us depend on computers to store our most vital documents and pictures.  As a result, disaster companies have had to scale up their ability to restore data in the event of any type of disaster, including fire or extreme water damage.  In fact, experts say that disaster companies can restore up to 80% of fire- and water- damaged electronics and communications equipment to a pre-loss condition and the entire restoration process can be completed within days.

Here are the things we can restore:

• Computer Systems
• Control Devices
• Home Appliances
• Home Entertainment Systems
• Manufacturing & Testing Equipment
• Microwave Ovens
• Radio & Telephone Systems
• Robotics & Automation Components
• Security & Surveillance Systems
• VCR & Television Systems

Example of how we’ve helped

On September 11, 2001 Fuji had $20 million worth of computers, including servers, routers and other complex data equipment located on the 26th floor directly adjacent to where the World Trade Towers used to stand. Our Electronics Decontamination Specialists set up temporary workstations that allowed the equipment to flow from one process to the next in an organized and methodical fashion and restore their most important data in a timely fashion.

If your company, large or small, has experienced data loss we are here to help. But you have to ACT FAST!

Once a disaster has occurred, the destructive elements of corrosion are set in motion. Time works against recovery. We are your Utah disaster cleanup company and are always here to help!

In August of 1999, a massive storm hit Salt Lake City causing destruction to homes, the Delta Center and Triad Center, power lines, vehicles and numerous other buildings. One person was killed and at least 49 others were hospitalized leaving everyone living in Utah devastated and shocked.

Although experts say it was a once in a lifetime event, we can’t absolutely discount that a storm of this size won’t happen again.  Even storms of a much smaller scale can damage homes and yards, and bring danger to you and your loved ones.  In Utah, earthquakes are also a lingering threat so it’s best to prepare your homes to withstand both of these natural disasters to keep your family protected.

Disaster Proof Your House from Storms and Earthquakes

• Storms: there are a number of actions you can take to protect your home from a vicious storm (such as tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning storms).  Keeping trees trimmed around windows will keep branches from shattering glass in high winds.  Always keep your rain gutters and downspouts clean from debris so they can minimize water erosion to your home’s foundation in case of excessive rain.  You can also check your roof, walls and windows to make sure there are no leaks.  If there are, have them repaired immediately.
• Earthquakes: if your home is already built it will cost a lot of money to turn it into a more earthquake proof structure. But keep in mind that if you live on or near a fault line, these renovations are necessary.  If you don’t have the money or patience for this, you can at least limit the number of interior items that can fall on top of someone and cause harm. The best way to do this is to securely fasten everything in your home including clocks, pictures, mirrors, book shelves, dressers, cabinets, etc.

UDK Storm Damage Restoration

Even if you try any of these suggestions there is no guarantee that your home won’t be affected when a natural disaster strikes.  Luckily, there are experienced professionals you can call to restore your home and valuables.  UDK is the largest Utah storm damage restoration service company and can handle all your Utah disaster cleanup needs. If you have residential or commercial property damage caused by any of the following, UDK will respond in under 60 minutes:

• rain water damage
• hail damage
• snow damage
• wind damage
• lightning damage
• flood damage
• fire damage
• tornado damage

UDK will work with any major insurance company. In fact, most insurance providers prefer to work with UDK, because it is a full-service damage restoration company. We are with you every step of the way from the initial storm damage cleanup to the complete restoration finishing touches.

60 Minutes Response Time – 801-938-7334

If you’re home has been affected by the Herriman City fire all is not lost.  The smoke smell doesn’t have to be permanent, and you can reclaim most your valuables even if they’re covered in soot.  All you need is the advice of qualified fire restoration professionals before you begin to clean and repair your home.

How to Clean and Repair Fire & Smoke Damage

For those of you returning home don’t feel too frustrated at what you might find! Taking action right away can be a great help.  Just keep in mind that any incorrect or delayed actions can seriously hinder restoration.  Follow these helpful tips below for the best results:

1. Contact your insurance agency immediately. They can provide advice on restoration or replacement of damaged items.  If you rent, notify the owner right away so you can go over the damage together. (Note: we work with all major insurance agencies).
2. Call a fire restoration company.  Some may be leery to contract with a restoration contractor without understanding what their insurance company is going to pay for, but these professionals can help you save a lot of time and money. They have years of experience in cleaning and repairing fire and smoke damaged buildings, furnishings and personal belongings.   Also, they can help determine which of your valuables can be saved, and remove the smoke smell from your home. If you choose not to do this you can still salvage many of your valuables.  Just continue on with these steps!
3. Get the air moving! Do this by opening all the windows, and plug in as many fans as you can get your hands on.
4. Remove soot before you clean or deodorize.   Soot can be oily and can easily stain your carpets, bedding, rugs, and clothing and wall surfaces.  If possible, hire a professional restorer to have it removed with a heavy-duty HEPA vacuum.  If you want to attempt this yourself, be sure to rent a HEPA vacuum from your nearest rental center with a brush attachment or if you have a central vacuum system in your house that will work as well.  Hold the vacuum brush nozzle slightly above the surface to avoid grinding the soot into the fabrics.
5. Use a chemical sponge to clean soot from walls. You can get this from your local cleaning supply company.    A brush attachment for your central or HEPA vacuum system will also work.  Be sure to clean the brush if it shows signs of smudging.  Only us a dry brush attachment.

Other useful cleaning tips:

• Brush-vacuum loose smokes particles from upholstery, drapery and carpet.
• Wash your plants with water on both sides of leaves (water softener helps).
• Change furnace filter using a good quality pleated filter during and after cleanup process.

Utah Disaster Kleenup can Help

Utah Disaster Kleenup (UDK) is one of the most experienced and respected Utah disaster cleanup and disaster restoration contractors. By continuously reinvesting in the latest and highest quality disaster cleanup technology, training and specialty equipment, UDK is able to restore any residential or commercial property from water, fire, mold and natural disasters.

UDK staff members would like to send their sincerest apologies to those affected by the Herriman City fire. We care about your families and your homes and are here to help you with any questions you have, or services you may need.

Winter is almost here and that means frozen fingers, toes and possibly even pipes!  And although frozen fingers and toes are easy to warm up, a frozen pipe can cause serious damage to your home and/or business!  This is because when water freezes, it expands causing pipe seals and pipes to shatter.

The result: water everywhere!

In this economic downturn, nobody wants to waste money fixing repairs! So, here are some useful tips from Utah Disaster Kleenup on how to prevent water damage before it’s too late:

Frozen Pipe Prevention Tips:

• Insulate pipes in basements, crawl spaces and the attic where the temperatures might drop below freezing.
• Seal any openings that allow cold air inside — like those around dryer vents, electrical wiring or pipes.
• In areas of potential freezing, have the water drip into the sink to keep the flow moving. Consider insulating pipes for further protection.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks and closets where pipes are located, and keep doors ajar between heated and unheated rooms.
• If on vacation, keep home heated at no lower than 55 degrees.

More water damage prevention tips

Note: If you expect the overnight temperatures outdoors to drop below freezing, those are the conditions where unprotected pipes are likely to burst.

Restoring Frozen Pipes

If pipes are frozen, locate the crack before they thaw and then turn off the water to the house to prevent further damage.  To thaw the pipes you can increase the temperature in your home, or simply use a hair dryer or heating pad on the pipes.  All three methods are very effective!

Danger Alert: Never try to thaw a pipe with a torch or open flame, this could cause a fire and more damage!

Water Restoration

If flooding does occur, you will need to unplug all electrical items and contact a disaster clean up company right away! Here are some tips to help when water damage strikes.  Utah Disaster Kleenup will respond within 60 minutes in our radio dispatched mobile extraction units. With powerful vacuum units we’ll quickly cleanup any standing or flowing water or moisture.

As you can probably imagine, once the initial response to a disaster is over and family members or employees are all accounted for, this is one of the first questions people ask any remediation and restoration company whether it is a Utah disaster cleanup company like UDK or a similar business in other states.

The answer inevitably becomes: “it depends.” Whether or not your homeowners’ policy will cover your particular damage depends both on your individual policy as well as the circumstances surrounding the disaster. The two most confusing cleanup jobs in terms of whether or not there will be coverage are water damage and mold.  Here is a brief primer of homeowners’ policies vis-à-vis disaster coverage.

Water Damage

Most insurance will cover water damage caused by storms, broken water pipes, fixtures, and appliances. Damage to the structure itself will be covered, along with damage to contents that comes as a direct result of the disaster. Insurance will only cover losses due to rain, however: if a river floods as a result of the same storm, the structure and contents will not be covered; which brings us to the topic of flood damage.

Water damage that comes as a result of flooding from a stream, lake, river or ocean is NOT covered under homeowners’ policies. Even mud flow damage will fall under this category. You must purchase insurance separately through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program in order for these kinds of losses to be covered.

Mold

Most policies will definitely cover mold remediation, cleanup, and restoration efforts if the fungus is present as a DIRECT RESULT of a covered event such as a non-flood water-related disaster. If the mold is present due to owner neglect or growth has occurred over a long period of time, then cleanup is usually NOT covered. This is why it is so essential to have your home professionally inspected for mold anytime you suspect it may be present.

Bottom Line: Check Your Policy

The above scenarios are meant to be a general guideline only: for specifics about what your policy does and does not cover, be sure to check with your insurance agent.