Volunteer Mold and Indoor Air Quality

Knoxville Flood Events and Major Water Leaks

Volunteer Inspection Services, LLC is available for consultations Monday through Saturday, 8:00AM – 9:00PM. Contact us today!

It happens every day somewhere in our community. Most folks never give it a thought until they walk in their homes or businesses and notice an inch or two of water in their kitchens or living rooms.

In your home many items precious to you can be destroyed and the loss of your home for days, weeks, and potentially months can result. In your business damage to records, loss of use and potential loss of you business can result. Water damages more homes more severely and more often than fires.

With water damage comes the likelihood of mold growths in areas both visible and invisible to the property owners eye.

Prepare for the Potential:

• Know the location of the main water shut off valve to your building and make sure everyone knows it, and how to operate it. The time to learn this is not when a pipe bursts.
• Be aware of potential burst and major leak areas, water heaters, clothes washers, kitchen dishwasher and sinks, bathrooms, are frequent contributors to interior floods.
• Regularly look around the above areas and watch for drips or tell-tale water issues.
• Have your foundation professionally inspected annually. We charge less than $ 100.00 for this service.
• Store precious items, records and valuables off of the floor.
• Keep all you valued contents in plastic sealed containers, NOT CARDBOARD BOXES.

Safety First:

If you notice a flood in a building don’t rush in, as some appliances, if submerged, will short out and electrically charge the water. Potential shock hazards may exist in extreme circumstances.

Immediate Reaction and Action Required:

1. Shut off the water.
2. Start dry out immediately. Keep a “WetVac” and box fans on the ready.
3. Take photos and videos of the damage and flooding.
4. Contact your insurance agent to report the flood. Make sure they understand the volume and nature of the problem. Never use the word “LEAK.” They will likely contact a professional restoration company, but don’t wait for their response.
5. Pull out furniture, rugs and other items on the floors to get them out of the house.
6. Start de-humidifying immediately. Running your air conditioning system constantly is a good step in the right direction.
7. When the “Cavalry” (aka Restoration Company) arrives, brief them on the source (if you know it) and the steps you have taken. Insist that they pull up carpet and wood flooring to do a proper dry out.
8. Call Volunteer Inspections at (865) 385-0170 for a full analysis, documentation, source identification, moisture evaluation and written report. Insurance and restoration companies fear us. Our clients love us.

Insurance Companies and Claims:

We have worked with dozens of insurance companies and hundreds of adjustors. They are not all created equally. Insurance companies adjusters are trained and compensated to minimize dollars spent on claims. Restoration companies will only do the minimum services the insurance companies will pay for. They work for the insurance company, not you.

Normally the adjuster will resist pulling flooring (wood and carpet), removing base cabinets and opening lower sections of walls and baseboard. Unfortunately, this normally should be done if you have had more than a ½ inch of water flood.

Insisting on a Full Effort.

As the insured, you must advocate for yourself. We can help by providing a fully documented inspection, written report with required protocols and follow up evaluation. A flood event is a nightmare at work or home. You don’t have to go it alone. Your insurance company will typically reimburse you for all costs and fees paid to a professional inspection company.

Document your claim from beginning to end:

Take photos. In this day of digital photography and smart phones, it’s cheap and easy. Take hundreds of photos and videos. Keep a journal: hour by hour, day by day. Keep dates times and records of all conversations. Maintain all of your original receipts. Record hours worked by you, family, employees, items damage, contractor’s time and work. In the trauma of the moment many things will be forgotten – keep good records. Your documentation will pay you.

When does Mold and Bacteria Growth Begin:

Mold and bacteria begin growing immediately. It is not unusual for folks to start noticing a musty odor within a few hours of the flood event. Indoor air quality samples, humidity readings and infrared thermal imaging should be performed within 24 hours of the event and after the restoration company gives you the all clear.

You can only expect what your will to inspect.

Seeing the Unseen:

Volunteer Inspections, LLC has the tools, knowledge and techniques to find moisture, mold and other hidden issues not visible to the naked eye. Protect your investment and have an advocate who knows the landscape of flooding, water damage and insurance and restoration companies on your side.