Beautiful Home - Toxic Materials Hiding in Your Home if its Older than 1970

4 Toxic Materials Hiding in Your Home if its Older than 1970

Older homes have charm and years of history, but they may also be hiding threats that can put you, your family and your pets in danger. Harmful fungi and poisonous chemical by-products can be lurking in your home if it is older than 1970. Sneaky invisible toxins can be concealed for decades and you have no way of knowing without proper testing. These potential contaminants can pose a great risk to your family in the air you breathe and the water you use.

If you suspect toxic materials may be hiding in your home older than 1970, do not hesitate - take immediate action to keep your family safe and healthy. While there are several different products on the market that can help you identify harmful levels of toxins in your home, a reputable disaster restoration and clean-up company will use the latest technology to identify the health risks, locate the contamination source(s) and develop a plan to make your home safe through remediation.

1. Dangerous Levels of Radon

As an odorless, invisible toxin, radioactive radon is the #1 cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and leaves smokers more susceptible. Radon is the result of a natural breakdown of uranium, rock, soil, and water and can enter your home through cracks in the foundation. According to theAgency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set guidelines of 4 picocuries/liter (pCi/L) for maximum radon levels to prevent the risk of developing lung cancer. The EPA warns that environmental radon concentrations below this level may still carry a risk, especially to children.

Periodic testing is recommended for older homes and for those living in a basement, on the ground level or on the first or second floor. The professionals at Utah Flood Cleanup understand the potential threat radon can cause. Our in-home radon testing begins with a short-term test that will tell us if there are elevated levels of radon. If the short-term test shows radon levels above 2.7 pCi/L, long-term testing will be conducted for more conclusive results by considering humidity levels and other weather variations.

2. Hazardous Asbestos

Asbestos exposure is extremely harmful and can cause mesothelioma and a number of other lung-related illnesses. This toxic group of hazardous silicate materials falls into two general categories and six different types, as outlined in the 1986 Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). The asbestiform varieties include:

Chrysotile or White Asbestos (Serpentine)
Crocidolite or Blue Asbestos (Riebeckite)
Amosite or Brown Asbestos (Cummingtonite/Grunerite)
Anthophyllite
Tremolite
Actinolite

Asbestos was used between 1920 to 1990 when the EPA began regulating materials containing asbestos. This dangerous substance can be lurking in the walls, ceiling or gas heater of your home or office. While asbestos is harmless when it is in good condition, broken-down asbestos materials release fibers that are unsafe. Asbestos can be identified in older homes by dusty areas with dark brown spots. Professional asbestos testing and removal are recommended to avoid further contamination that may endanger you or your family.

If you suspect your home or office has an asbestos problem, do not hesitate to call an experienced asbestos remediation company immediately. The trained professionals at Utah Flood Cleanup will perform an inspection, take samples of suspected asbestos materials, conduct testing and determine the hazard level. We will develop a corrective action plan for remediation of existing asbestos and work with you for preventative actions to avoid further exposure.

3. Toxic PCBs

Many older homes built before 1979 contain potentially dangerous polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) components and materials like paint, caulk, electrical wiring insulation, and fluorescent light ballasts. PCBs are odorless toxic chemicals that are known for adversely affecting the immune system, endocrine system, reproductive system, and the nervous system and also may increase your risk of cancer.

Electricians have the training to identify and check the condition of PCB lined or insulated electrical wiring in older homes. If your electrician has found rotting wire insulation that may contain harmful PCBs, seek professional help as soon as possible to ensure your safety and the safety of your family and pets. Because PCBs are harmful to your health and the environment, it is a good idea to call a local professional remediation company to perform air-quality testing and safely and effectively remove all toxic PCBs.

4. Harmful Mold & Mildew

Mold or mildew found both indoors and outdoors can cause damage to property and seriously affect your health. Long-term exposure to mold by inhaling mold spores may cause an allergic reaction with symptoms like red eyes, skin rashes, and a chronic runny nose. Secondary mold compounds can increase the risk of asthma and certain autoimmune illnesses. Mold and mildew will begin to grow 24 - 48 hours in wet, damp, moisture-filled areas.

If you have had recent water damage from a leaking pipe or flooding if you or another family member is experiencing unexplained allergy-like symptoms or you notice an unpleasant musky odor - you may have hidden mold. If you suspect mold or mildew call a professional mold removal expert with the experience and specialized equipment to identify mold, access the infestation, prevent further contamination and safely remove it from your home. Mold can grow anywhere with moist, warm conditions, including:

Basement
Attic
Crawl Space
Ceiling Tiles
Under Wallpaper
Within Drywall
Heating or AC Vents

Utah Flood Cleanup Provides Professional Remediation for Older Homes in Utah

Utah Flood Cleanup has been providing homeowners and business owners with professional remediation for homes older than 1970 for over 25 years. Contact Us today for your free remediation consultation and free estimate for your older home. With 11 locations across the Beehive State, we are available for emergency service 24/7 at 801-416-2666 to respond quickly to your contamination concerns.

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Utah Flood Cleanup

We are disaster cleanup experts located in the state of Utah. We perform cleanup for water damage, floods, mold, fire & more. Give us a call at 801-416-2666 if you're in need of assistance.

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I was corrected and they are still in business. Talked to Daryl and he’s a great guy. Would definitely send work his way if I ever need it.

Robert Mixon

22:36 07 Mar 23

We had a leak in our roof while we were out of town. Daryl was so helpful and responded quickly so we were able to get our wood floor dried out to avoid damage to the floor. He was very professional and knew exactly what needed to be done.

Gary Hatch

22:52 07 Jun 22

I contact Daryl about wanting to have a mold inspection done in my crawl space. He was incredibly nice and immediately booked at time with me. When he arrived at the house, he carefully did his work, showed me the results of the tests. Thankfully there was no mold. But, even better, he took the time to show me and explain a few areas of concern for the future. Really incredible service. I wish everyone was so professional. I couldn't recommend someone more highly. 5 star!

rhayesparton

23:22 13 May 22

Daryl with Utah Flood Clean Up, came to inspect a previous roof leak that had left some moisture in our walls. He was very honest about his findings and detailed with the information for removing it! I am a General Contractor and I won’t use anyone else!

Garry Naccarato

14:11 23 Apr 22

My experience with this company is that they are honest and great to work with. Very refreshing to have someone you can trust.

Trevor Heaton

19:44 06 May 20

Called for some detailed information about mold/removal. Daryl was busy, but called back just a few minutes later and spent time answering ALL my questions. He was very knowledgable and patient. Thank you Daryl.

Diane G

18:00 17 Apr 20

Sadly, I've had to use Utah Flood Cleanup 4 times in the last year! I really appreciate how quickly they responded to each casualty. They were there right away! Daryl, the owner, gave me a price that was half of the other quote I got, and his men are professionals... not kids who don't have a clue. Plus, he included more "fixes" in his quote for less money. He is very knowledgeable and I felt very confident in his recommendations. He also worked directly with our insurance adjuster so that I didn't have to! I highly recommend this company.

Ashton Carrington

16:09 16 Apr 20

I called Utah Flood Cleanup when I had a leak in the kitchen that drained down into the basement. Daryl came out shortly after speaking to me on the phone! He was friendly, professional and very knowledgeable. He quickly and thoroughly assessed the situation, explaining everything he did as he went along. I was very impressed with how thorough he was in his examination of the damage. He let me know up front what I was looking at and I felt he was very honest and reasonable. I've had other companies out who seem to know very little and just want to start ripping everything out at once! Daryl explained and showed me why he recommended what he did and I felt very comfortable and confident in his recommendations. I highly recommend this company!! You won't be sorry.

Jo Carrington

03:09 08 Jun 19

Call these guys for the best knowledge and serve for water damage or mold.

Daryl Olsen

18:58 26 Jan 19

We wanted our house checked for mold due to a moderately high mold count in the air sample. They were very thorough and found only one small spot in the bathroom that needed attention. They advised on our options for dealing with it and did not propose expensive and unnecessary repairs.

Heather Steed

02:09 16 Aug 18

We absolutely love Utah Flood Cleanup, they come in and take all the problems over. The headache of insurance companies, they pack your items up, the clean up and restoration, and they even move all the items back in. All of there staff are professional and very knowledgeable, they layout a reasonable budget and fight against the insurance to get your house to the best finished state. All of there sub contractors are fast and experts in their fields, this company only uses professional tradesman. We really appreciate all that the Utah Flood Cleanup guys have done for us.

Kit Cc

03:27 15 Aug 16

Josh and Sam came to inspect the mold we found. They were on time, considerate and knowledgeable about our situation. They presented our options and recommendations to treat the issue. I will recommend Utah Disaster to my friends and family.

Connie Pinnell

18:16 08 Jun 16

Jaxon came and assessed water damage in our basement. They were very helpful and went out of their way to make the experience as painless as possible. Very responsive when questions came up and they were never pushy, which I appreciate.

Aimee Hollingsworth

19:48 01 Jun 16

Jaxon was great, he answered his phone at 6:30 am and was out in an hour and got my basement cleaned up

neil norton

14:55 31 May 16

Within the last year we had a major flood in the basement, and just today had another water issue that flooded a smaller portion of the basement. I called The Flood Company immediately and they were on-site within an hour or so. I'm extremely pleased with The Flood Co. The professionalism and expertise demonstrate by Jackson and Sam put my mind at ease, knowing we would be taken care of well. I would recommend The Flood Company to anyone in need of these services. They get a five star rating from us!

William Hansen

03:03 26 May 16

My main water line broke and our crawl space was flooding. I called my insurance company and they recommended these guys. Sam and Jesus showed up and got things taken care of. They stopped the water line and put fans to dry the area. The insurance process was super smooth I'm glad I called them!

Karla Maquin

04:11 06 May 16

Utah Flood Cleanup is amazing! Josh and Jesus stopped by after their shift and were kind enough to give us a free inspection of our flood problem. Our little 4 year old thought he'd make a sauna in the bathroom. He flipped the shower on and walked away. We never heard the water running and came upstairs to put my daughter to bed. Sure enough, the shower was pointed into the bathroom and flooded the whole thing. Josh and Jesus came out got the whole place inspected, pulled out themal meters and moisture meters and confirmed there was water damage (and old mold growth from previous spills). They grabbed their tools and began demolishing the floor themselves, right then and there so we could get fans on it to prevent future mold growth. I hope I never have another flood but if I do, I'm definitely calling them again! They're the best!!~~~

Jessica Means

01:49 22 Apr 16

These guys are great to work with and really go above and beyond to serve their customers.

Zack Adams

17:36 16 Dec 15

I called in the morning and they came that afternoon. Chris and Jesus came. They were professional, polite, knowledgeable and they quickly got the place all cleaned up and prepped for the repair. Then they recommended some handymen to do the repair. I hired Hank and he was great too. Did the whole job in one day.

Alan Green

20:37 16 Oct 15

You showed up to our house based upon little information. When you got here you went right to work looking to see what was going on. With being a family of 7, it can be a scramble being out of a bathroom and no shower. You were excellent and so kind on letting us know what our options are and what you can do to resolve the problem in our basement bathroom. With being in our new home, not even making a second mortgage payment yet, it is hard to discover there is mold and a water leak through out the basement bathroom and laundry room. I really appreciate the time you took out of your day to come to our house. My brother in law referred us to you, and it was the best referral, so thank you very much.

Ashley Metz

22:39 30 Sep 15

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Disaster Cleanup Frequently Asked Questions

What types of damage do you handle?

At Utah Food Cleanup, we offer water damage cleanup, fire and smoke damage restoration, mold removal, and more to the greater Ogden and SLC area.

Are you licensed and certified?

Yes, we are licensed in the state of Utah and we hold many certifications, including:

IICRC Certified (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification)

Do you guarantee your work?

Yes, Utah Food Cleanup guarantees all of our work! We offer you a five-year workmanship guarantee on everything we do.

What are the advantages of hiring restoration services vs a general contractor?

There are a number of advantages to hiring restoration services rather than a general contractor.

General contractors basically work at rebuilding; they know how to build your home or office, but restoration professionals can envision what your home or office looked like before the disaster. They know exactly how to bring it back to what it looked like before, without scrapping the entire thing and starting over.

Emergency restoration services professionals are ‘rebuilders’ rather than builders. They will work to recover as much of your damaged space as possible, helping you save time and money. These professionals also know how to work with insurance companies and can help you with your claim.

What areas do you service?

We service Ogden, Utah and the surrounding areas. Everywhere from Bountiful to Park City, to Tooele and West Jordan. Contact us today to see if we service your area.

What type of equipment does Utah Flood Cleanup use?

At we use Utah Food Cleanup, our Ogden Utah damage restoration company uses a variety of equipment. We use pumps, vacuums, and shampooers to remove water, and of course, dryers to help dry it all out. We also use things like ozone machines to remove the smell of smoke from your property and dehumidifiers to pull moisture from the air. We utilize a wide variety of restoration equipment during the process.

What can I do to help?

In case of a water disaster, you need to make sure you leave the equipment running at all times. You should notify us right away if it shuts off for any reason. For mold and mildew, make sure to open all of your windows, keep your pets and children away from the mold, and most importantly, don’t try to clean it yourself. When it comes to fire and smoke damage, contact us right away for help, whether you need fire damage cleanup for commercial or residential properties. If you have a flooded basement, turn off your utilities, and then call us!

The floodwaters are rising, and I need help RIGHT NOW. Can you come right away?

Yes, we can! Utah Flood cleanup is available 24/7. Call us right away.

Can you bill my insurance company directly?

Our Utah disaster cleanup company will work directly with your insurance company If you have a flood damage insurance claim or a water damage insurance claim, contact us first. We can help you get the most from your insurance company who will do everything they can to not pay your claim. Our damage restoration services will have your property looking like new in no time, and we will take care of water related insurance hassles.

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