Are your water bills are alarmingly high?  Is there excessive water or mold under your carpet? Do you hear running water when all your water is turned off? Your may have a leak under your home's foundation. A leak occurs under a slab when a pipeline under your house's foundation or along the walls develops a steady leak.

The water that is running out of the broken pipe under your house's "slab" may cause severe damage to your home. A home with a slab leak is a structure that has the possibility of collapsing. Slab leaks are a plumbing nightmare because they can be expensive and time consuming to fix.  

Here are some causes of a slab leak under your home:
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• Bad Pipes at the time of Construction: ​Sometimes when homes are built the pipes under the home are fitted inadequately from the beginning.  If the initial construction crew used cheap pipe fitters or inexpensive plumbing materials, then the possibility of the piping system breaking is higher with the ebb and flow of the water pressure through the years.

 

• Older Pipes: If your residence was built more than ten years ago, then there is a high chance that soil, sand, or gravel can rust the pipes and rusty pipes can burst easily.

 

• Strong or Abnormal Water Pressure: Piping is often made of copper. Small pipes that are made of copper can raise the water pressure and the pipe will just burst open. 

The experienced technicians at King's remediation, a water damage restoration company in the Palm Springs area, will locate the source of the leak under your foundation quickly and carefully. If you have a slab leak in your home, we can help! Call us today at (760) 844-2326 to receive a free estimate. You can Trust in the King!
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In just two minutes, a fire at your home can become life-threatening. In five minutes, a residence can be engulfed in flames. Here are some tips:

Create and Practice a Fire Escape Plan

In the event of a fire, remember that every second counts, so you and your family must always be prepared. Escape plans help you get out of your home quickly. Twice each year, practice your home fire escape plan.  Some tips to consider when preparing this plan include:

• Find two ways to get out of each room in the event the primary way is blocked by fire or smoke.
• A secondary route might be a window onto a neighboring roof or a collapsible ladder for escape from upper story windows.
• Make sure that windows are not stuck, screens can be taken out quickly, and that security bars can be properly opened.
• Practice feeling your way out of the house in the dark or with your eyes closed.
• Teach children not to hide from firefighters.

Smoke Alarms
A working smoke alarm significantly increases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire.
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• Install both ionization AND photoelectric smoke alarms, OR dual sensor smoke alarms, which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors.
• Test batteries monthly.
• Replace batteries in battery-powered and hard-wired smoke alarms at least once a year (except non-replaceable 10-year lithium batteries).
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, both inside and outside of sleeping areas.
• Replace the entire smoke alarm unit every 8-10 years or according to manufacturer’s instructions.
• Never disable a smoke alarm while cooking – it can be a deadly mistake.

Smoke Alarm Safety for People with Access or Functional Needs
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• Audible alarms for visually impaired people should pause with a small window of silence between each successive cycle so that they can listen to instructions or voices of others.
• Smoke alarms with a vibrating pad or flashing light are available for the hearing impaired. Contact your local fire department for information about obtaining a flashing or vibrating smoke alarm.
• Smoke alarms with a strobe light outside the home to catch the attention of neighbors, and emergency call systems for summoning help, are also available.

More Fire Safety Tips
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• Make digital copies of valuable documents and records like birth certificates.
• Sleep with your door closed.
• Contact your local fire department for information on training on the proper use and maintenance of fire extinguishers.
• Consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler system in your residence.

If you have a fire in your home, we can help! Call us today at (760) 844-2326 to receive a free estimate. You can Trust in the King!
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As homeowners in the Palm Springs area, most of us use our air conditioning units during most hours from May - September.  AC units are a God-send during our hot months, but they can also be a breeding ground for mold. Mold can easily grow in an environments that are rich in moisture and organic material, and with temperatures between 32 and 120 degrees. Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can provide such conditions unless you take steps to prevent moisture and mold  from accumulating in the system. Here are some tips to help prevent mold in your HVAC system:

• Replace air filters regularly - Wet and dirty air filters are inefficient at trapping mold spores and other contaminants. These particles will contaminate your HVAC system if you don’t change the filters on a regular basis, usually once a month.

    

• Keep ducts dry -  Some ducts in the HVAC system may harbor larger amounts of moisture and mold. Have your HVAC system checked to find which ducts are the most affected. Clean and fix ducts and replace water-damaged components.

 

• Maintain the drain pans - If the drain pans are not sloped and cleaned regularly, standing water won’t be able to drain through the deep seal trap and will accumulate in the drain pans. The water and microbes in the drain pans will result in mold growth.

 

• Apply an HVAC mold inhibitor - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered, HVAC-approved mold inhibitors can prevent mold and mildew growth in your HVAC system. The inhibitor should be applied to all the components of your heating and cooling unit following the manufacturer’s instructions.

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• Use a disinfectant - Before applying the mold inhibitor to your HVAC system, you need to treat it with a disinfectant first. Look for an EPA-approved disinfectant that is labeled for use in HVAC systems.

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Evaluating, protecting and restoring your home after mold damage is our specialty. Our restoration pros can help protect your family from mold damage. If you have (or suspect you may have) mold in your home, call us today at (760) 844-2326 to receive a free estimate. You can Trust in the King!
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Sewage spills caused by toilet overflows, backed-up septic tanks, or sewer system backups create a hazardous environment for your family. Acting fast in these situations helps protect your family and your home. When a sewage backup happens, you need to move quickly. Sewage is a natural delivery method for disease and infection. Evacuate young children, elderly, people with asthma and weak immune systems first. 

Health Concerns
Sewage cleanup requires handling infectious waste. You must take the proper precautions to protect yourself and your family from disease. The longer the sewage is in a building, the greater the chances of it spreading disease. Protect other areas from the overflow to avoid further water damage. Water damage from a sewage spill can lead to mold growth. Mold creates more issues for your family’s health. 

Sometimes overflows happen when no one is home. If the overflow has been sitting for an unknown number of hours, consider hiring the specialist at King's Remediation. Bacteria and viruses have spread at this point, making safety gear and breathing apparatuses a must. If a sewage spill hasn’t been properly decontaminated, your family could still get sick.

Hiring a Sewage Cleanup Specialist
King's Remediation can do more than deal with a disgusting mess. We will clean carpet and upholstery, decontaminate your home, and perform water damage restoration throughout your home. If a sewage overflow saturates carpeting and/or soaks into drywall, these materials have to be replaced. Our specialists use equipment like dehumidifiers, air scrubbers, and steam cleaners. Sometimes specialists can salvage a carpet by cleaning and disinfecting it.
 
Another benefit of hiring King's Remediation is speed. Our professionals can quickly restore your home or business to normal, preventing further contamination and letting you get on with your life. Oftentimes, insurance may cover the cost of hiring our professional help. If you have sewage damage in your home, call us today at (760) 844-2326​ to receive a free estimate. You can Trust in the King!

Figuring out what to do after a fire at your home in the Palm Springs area can be a very stressful and overwhelming process, and it can be hard to decide what to do first. Below are some first steps that will help you get your life back to normal:

1. Call your insurance agent immediately. 
It's important to notify your agent of the fire and confirm the coverage on your policy You will be getting calls at all hours of the day from public adjusters and contractors who will try to offer you a deal on putting your house back together. These calls can create a lot of stress and confusion. We suggest you speak to no one but your agent to discuss your options at this point in the process.

2. Call the Pros at King's Remediation
Immediately after a fire, especially if it is a minor one, you’ll need to clean up any soot or water damage. It is important to hire a reputable service to deal with these issues. Our professionals can help with cleaning up soot and water damage, boarding up windows, and other construction. We have many years of experience helping families recover after a fire. Call us at (760) 844-2326​.

3. Separate damaged property from undamaged property. 
The insurance company will need a detailed inventory list from you after they inspect the loss. Separating your damaged property from your undamaged property will make it easier for you to make a list of your damaged items. This list needs to include the date you purchased each item, the brand name, the price you paid, and the serial number, model, or description of each item. If the item was a gift, be sure to indicate that as well.
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It’s a good idea to submit your receipts with this inventory list. If the receipts were destroyed in the fire, or you didn’t keep any receipts, request copies of prior bank statements. This can make obtaining duplicate receipts easier. Keep in mind that photos of any damaged items are always helpful if receipts are not available.

4. Save undamaged property from further destruction. 
Any items that are not damaged should be put in a safe place, even if it means putting them in storage. King's remediation offers off-site storage of your precious belongings. Our team will safely package your items, transport them to our warehouse, and return them to your home after remediation services are rendered. Insurance adjusters are typically very fair when it comes to adding additional costs for storage.

5. Cooperate fully with the insurance company’s investigation. 
When a fire claim is reported to an insurance company, it is given top priority. Usually the adjusters come out to see the loss within 24 to 48 hours. To help settle your claim in a timely manner and to your satisfaction, be sure you are available and on time for all meetings, that you return calls promptly, that any requested paperwork is completed as quickly as possible, and that you contact the company or your agent immediately with any questions.

 6. Find somewhere to stay if you can’t live in your home.  
​Most homeowner’s policies include “Loss of Use or Loss of Rents” coverage, which will pay for the food, clothing, and shelter that you and your family may need for a specified period of time. Keep in mind that your policy will pay for “like kind and quality” living arrangements. 

Additional helpful tips for before disaster strikes:
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• Review your homeowner’s policy to be sure you have replacement cost coverage, loss of use coverage, and adequate dwelling coverage. The last thing you want to hear after a fire is that you were underinsured.

• Save all your receipts and put them in a metal fireproof box or in a storage facility off the premises, such as a safety deposit box. Better yet, scan the receipts and save them to a computer file. Taking a video of your entire home and the possessions within it is the next best thing to receipts. This will show the insurance company what sort of lifestyle you had prior to the claim.
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• Be sure to have smoke detectors in every room of your home to ensure that everyone gets out of the house or apartment safely in the event of a fire. Have exit ladders and fire extinguishers handy, and know how to use them.
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• Discuss escape strategies and plans with your family prior to a fire, and consider a fire drill to help ensure everyone’s safety.

Evaluating, protecting and restoring your home after a fire is a lot of work. Our fire restoration pros in Palm Springs can help restore your home to it’s pre-fire glory. If you have a fire in your home, call us today at (760) 844-2326​ to receive a free estimate. You can Trust in the King!

If you are having a problem with allergies then there's a good chance there could be mold growing somewhere in your home. Common allergic reactions to mold include sneezing, sore eyes and a runny nose or nasal congestion.

Do you notice your allergic reactions are worse when you're at home but you feel better when you go out? If so then it's especially likely you could have mold. If you find that your allergies are worse in some other building, like your workplace, then there could be mold growing there instead. 

​Below are some common signs to watch out for that could indicate you have mold growing in your house:

Smelling a Mold Odor
When you have mold growing hidden away in your house, often a moldy smell might be the only clue that it's there. Don't ignore mold odors if you can't see any mold. You should thoroughly inspect your home before any mold problems get worse.

Seeing Signs of Mold Growth
​Visible mold growth might seem like an obvious sign of mold. However many people don't notice small amounts of mold growth or they think it's just soot or dirt. Sometimes people simply ignore visible mold in their house.

If you can see mold growth, even if it's only small, you should take action immediately. Small mold patches can spread and the fact that there is any mold shows that the conditions in your home are right for mold to grow. If you don't take care of mold it will soon become a bigger problem. Visible mold growth could also be a sign that there is a much larger mold colony growing hidden away from view.

Sometimes you might not realize there is mold in your house, especially if it is unusual looking mold. Some mold growth looks white and thread-like. Other mold appears as clusters of small black spots. Mold can be black, gray-brown, gray-green or white in color. Mold growing behind wallpaper made of vinyl can even appear orange, pink or purple.

If you have had any long term moisture problems in your house it's usually inevitable they will lead to mold beginning to grow. So if you know you've had some water problems in your home then it's a pretty good sign you could have mold.

Some signs that you have a moisture problem include water stains or discoloration on walls, floors or ceilings in your house. Seeing these could be a clue that there is mold growing within or behind the material.

Another sign of a moisture problem is surface abnormalities like peeling, bubbling or cracking of the paint or wallpaper. If your walls are bowed, bulging or warped it probably means moisture has gotten into them. Another clue is if the surface of walls or other materials feel damp.

Water Leaks
The above signs of water problems in homes are usually created by leaks. However if you already know that you have had a water leak (such as leaking pipes or a leaking ceiling) then just that knowledge by itself, even if you don't see signs of water damage, is a good sign that you might have mold growing in your house around the area where the leak was.

Mold growth from leaks can often be hidden. If the leak was behind a wall or other surface then any mold will probably be hidden behind the surface too. Even if the leak was not behind a surface there could still be mold hidden out of view behind a wall or other surface from water which seeped through.

Past Flooding
​If your house has been flooded in the past then it's likely that mold would've started to grow. Any mold would probably be growing in places where flood water remained the longest such as in the basement. Floods can often create mold growing out of view behind walls or under floors.

Condensation
If you see a lot of condensation in your home then it's a sign that you have a high amount of moisture and hence a sign that you could have a mold problem. Condensation will occur on surfaces such as glass windows or metal pipes. Mold could be growing where the condensation builds up and collects. Rusting indoor pipes are a sign that you could have a lot of condensation in your house.

Besides the fact that condensation creates a build up of moisture for mold to grow on, condensation can also be a sign that you have a humidity problem in your home. A high humidity level can feed mold and it is another sign that you might have a potential mold problem.

Evaluating, protecting and restoring your home after mold damage is our specialty. Our restoration pros can help protect your family from mold damage. If you have mold in your home, call us today at (760) 844-2326 to receive a free estimate. You can Trust in the King!

​Whether a flood is caused by ground water, falling water, or home water system malfunction, there are some best practices you’ll need to employ within the first hours after the flood to ensure the safety of your home and family and give you the best outcome possible with your insurance company. Here are our recommendations:

Avoid Additional Risks
If the flood was serious enough for you to leave your home, be sure you stay safe upon your return. The Federal Emergency Management Agency warns that you should check for any visible structural damage, such as warping, loosened or cracked foundation elements, cracks, and holes before entering the home and contact utility companies if you suspect damage to water, gas, electric, and sewer lines.

In addition, it’s important to have a working flashlight and turn off all water and electrical sources within the home. Even if the power isn’t operational, it’s a good idea to go to your fuse box and turn off the main, plus all of the individual fuse connections. That way, if the power is reactivated, you’re not at risk for mixing standing water and electricity.

Take Pictures
Before you remove any water or make any repairs, fully document the damage for your insurer by taking photos or video. Digital versions are best because they can be stored electronically and easily copied. If you start removing water or making repairs before you photograph the damage, you could potentially decrease the extent of your coverage.

Protect Your Health
Even if the water in your home is clear, it could be contaminated by sewage or household chemicals. Wear waders, hip- or waist-high waterproof boots. In addition, wear rubber gloves to remove water-damaged possessions and to avoid contaminants. Be sure to throw out any food that may have come into contact with flood waters. FEMA recommends boiling water until authorities declare the water supply is safe.

Call Your Insurance Company
Since you should notify your insurer soon as possible after the flood, it’s a good idea to keep your insurance company and local agent’s phone number in your always-ready emergency bag. In cases where a flood has affected a region or community, your agent may be busy handling his or her own flood issues. In that case, contact the insurance company’s headquarters.

Advise your insurance representative of the state of your home and any repairs you intend to do immediately. Be sure to follow the insurance company’s direction about whether or not to wait for an adjuster to inspect the property before making repairs. Document the damage and conversations at every stage of the process.

Find Out if You're in a Disaster Area
Once a region has been officially declared a “disaster area” by government authorities, property owners have access to increased resources, including public services to protect and remediate the area. In addition, you may have access to financial assistance. Your insurance company will have additional information on this or you can contact FEMA directly.

Remove Water
Once you get the OK from your insurer to remove the water, use a sump pump, available from most hardware or home supply stores for $150 to $500, and a wet vac ($40 to $130). Water is heavy—a cubic foot weight 10 lbs.—so be careful not to injure yourself, especially if you’re carrying buckets of water up and down stairs. Open doors and windows to allow fresh air to circulate so long as that won’t allow in more water.

Mitigate Mold Damage
Mold can develop within 24 to 48 hours of a flood, so remove wet contents, including carpeting and bedding, as soon as possible. If an item has been wet for less than 48 hours, it may be salvageable. However, you’ll need to decide whether it holds enough monetary or sentimental value to try to do so. And notify your insurance company before removing items to ensure that you’re not affecting coverage. Always photograph the flood-soaked items.

Rugs, for example, may be dried and then cleaned professionally. Large pieces of furniture that are saturated will likely be difficult to dry effectively, and should often be discarded.

Mold growth can be controlled on surfaces by cleaning with a non-ammonia detergent or pine oil cleaner and disinfecting with a 10% bleach solution. (Caution: Never mix ammonia and bleach products, as the resulting fumes can be highly toxic.) Always test this solution on a small area of the item or area you’re cleaning to be sure it doesn’t cause staining or fading.

Take photographs before removing wet wallboards and baseboards because insurers will want to see the height of any water damage to walls. Carefully poke holes at floor level in the drywall to allow water trapped behind it to escape.

Secure the Property
As the homeowner, it’s your responsibility to secure the property so that no additional damage occurs. Put boards over broken windows and secure a tarp as protection if the roof has been damaged. Again, take photographs to prove to the insurance company that you have done everything possible to protect your home against further damage.

If the home is habitable, take precautions to keep yourself and your family safe from injury. Use flashlights to move around dark rooms, for example. If the home isn’t habitable, don’t try to stay there. Move to a shelter or alternate location. Consult your insurer to find out what provisions the company will make for temporary housing while your home is being repaired.

Call the Pros at King’s Remediation
Evaluating, protecting and restoring your home after a flood is a lot of work. Our flood restoration pros can help restore your home to it’s pre-flood glory and protect your family from other dangers such as mold damage. We can help you every step-of-the-way, including packing and storing your furnishings and belongings while the work is completed. If you have a flood in your home, call us today at (760) 844-2326​ to receive a free estimate. You can Trust in the King!