Top Gardeners in Flower Mound, TX 75028
New Photos 15 photos
Blogs View more
Is Your Chimney Ready For Old Man Winter?
Whether for aesthetics, for heat or for both, our fireplaces all have different places in our lives. Regardless of the regularity in which you use it or the design value it brings into your space, all fireplaces have parts and pieces that need to be inspected at least twice a year. Depending on the frequency of use, you may need it inspected four to five times in a year. Dangers in running a fireplace maintenance free, range from loss of efficiency to increased risk of life threatening fire. It's important to have a qualified professional inspect your chimney yearly or anytime you notice problems. Such as: you have a flue blockage, inadequate smoke shelf and or material defects, you may experience smoke staining. If your flue cap is out of sorts or perhaps your flue is misaligned, you might notice water staining or rust around your fireplace. Another risk involved with flue misalignment or a faulty chimney cap is wildlife intrusion. Giving access to your wall voids and attic space to nuisance wildlife such as bats, squirrels, rats and more can be asking for big problems. The great news is that all of these problems are easily mitigated by proper maintenance and diligent inspection, after all, you can't address the problem if you don't know that it exists. If you are experiencing any of the above problems, a trained professional to replace your cap, re-align your flue or re-crown your chimney top is recommended. Most fireplaces have flues that are coated with a material that is smooth and heat resistant. This is done to prevent scorching or damage to the interior of the chimney or combustibles leaking through the flue. If you think that you have a chimney with an unlined flue, again, please reach out to a professional that specializes in coating chimney flues. If it has been a considerable amount of time since the chimney has been used, please inspect the chimney or have it inspected from the top down. This will give you a chance to have the presence of nuisance wildlife assessed. There are several areas to consider when performing a thorough chimney sweep or fireplace inspection. Many modern chimney sweeps will never step foot on your roof and we agree that roof access is not necessary to get a chimney clean. However, be sure that you employ a chimney sweep or inspector that does demand access to the top of the chimney, otherwise an inspection would not be complete. The top of the chimney has so many items of interest or concern that to ignore it during a sweep and or inspection is to truly gamble with the efficiency of the fireplace and or the safety of the residents in the home. It should also be noted that inspection items of interest will be different between the appliance type and fuel used. If the sweep conducting your chimney inspection never asks you about the type of fuel you use, you should be a little concerned. Different brush heads will be needed and frequency of cleaning will differ if you are burning coal, wood, oil, gas or biomass. We generally like to see chimney inspectors / sweeps using inspection checklists that have items of concern for local code conformity and that have different sections for appliance types. Read the rest of this blog post at http://www.redeemedservice.us/2/post/2013/11/is-your-chimney-ready-for-old-man-winter.html ...read more
By Redeemed Professional Services LLC November 14, 2013
Hidden Enemies: Mildew, Mold & Bacteria
Mildew, mold and bacteria are organic pollutants that can be found in most Dallas / Fort Worth Homes. We would like to preface this article by stating that it is impossible and possibly a bit naive to attempt to remove your home of all of these organic pollutants. That being said, there is a growing amount of home owners that are choosing to have mold testing and inspection to get an increased control on their presence and how to curtail their growth in our homes. It should also be said that, while a mold test and or mold inspection can help identify the kinds of molds that are currently present in your home, it will not, however, guarantee that your home is mold free or won't experience mold growth at a later time. Customarily a mold test samples existing mold and simply identifies the type or species of mold visible. Yet home buyers or homeowners can choose a route that is a bit more expensive, but much more thorough and informative with detailed inspection and testing. These more thorough inspections and tests can identify types of mold with greater risks to the health of those that will be living in the home. With prolonged exposure, molds could lead to some serious health concerns. As stated above, it is impossible to get rid of all organic pollutants. Any home owner or home buyers goal should be to identify or have identified the sources and signs of those pollutants. This way you can mitigate their entry into and end their stay in your home. Everybody has been exposed to organic pollutants, but, the effects they have on our bodies vary according to the amount of time exposed, amount of the pollutants, as well as the type of pollutant. Some pollutants may have little to no impact on an inhabitant, while it may wreak havoc on another inhabitant with the same level of exposure. Typically both the elderly and young children are more susceptible to adverse reactions. There are different methods for controlling organic pollutants and we are going to look at them. But before we do look into them, let's dig a bit deeper into what we are dealing with. Mildew, mold and bacteria are one celled organisms. Mold and mildew come from the Kingdom Fungi or organisms that have no chlorophyll or vascular tissue. Other microorganisms in this kingdom are yeasts and mushrooms. While there are differences between mildew and mold, the concerns when dealing with them are similar. Mold is grown from spores that can be found all throughout our environment. In most cases these spores are not active, but when conditions are right, and the humidity level eclipses 70%, spores will start to germinate. Typically, mold attacks organic matter like cotton, leather, papers and old photographs. Mildew is a bit different in that it is more of a surface concern that that mostly grows on siding, brick, concrete and other surfaces covered with dirt or organic matter. Chances for mildew and mold increase when temperatures surpass 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Mold and mildew can often be spotted by discoloration, growths and musty or stale odors. Housing exposed to flooding, high amounts of rain, high humidity and water leakages are notably more susceptible to contamination. Bacteria, our other single celled frienemy, has the propensity to contaminate HVAC systems or other moisture heavy areas. Bacterial growth typically accounts for most clogs in HVAC drain pans and drain pipes. Bacteria also often create the primary sticky coating found on heat transfer surfaces and catch both dust and fibers which often lead to clogged coil passages. Unfortunately, a frugal method of uncovering these hidden pollutants does not exist. But once we know they are there, there are ways that we can identify its source and determine a plan to eliminate it. Certain acts of God like flooding or serious water penetration from storms will quickly lead to mold conditions unless decisive and quick remedial action is taken. Your typical home inspection does not contain specific identification or investigation of any organic pollutants such as mildew, mold and bacteria. If concerns exist about the presence of molds, especially if they may be related to health problems, you should immediately reach out to a qualified environmental specialist and inquire about investigation and identification services. The bottom line is that Fungi and bacteria, like all other living creatures, require water or moisture to live. If we are to reduce or mitigate the chance of your home becoming a breeding farm for these pollutants we must address conditions that could lead to water penetration and or high humidity. Click here to visit our site and read the rest of the article and get free advice for dealing with Mildew, Mold&Bacteria.; ...read more
By Redeemed Professional Services LLC November 03, 2013
Related Articles View more
