Welcome to United Water Restoration Group of The Woodlands 2nd Newsletter! We hope you and your family are staying safe and are keeping cool! With Memorial Day fast approaching, enjoy the company of the ones you love! Savor the delicious food, the great company and the memories that will be made. With all the joy a holiday can bring, will you take a moment to remember the fallen heroes who have served this great nation. To all of the sons, daughters, brothers and sisters who never came home, we will not forget you. It is because of their great sacrifice that we live in the greatest country on earth, The United States of America. To the fallen, we remember you, we honor you, and with the greatest sincerity, we thank you.

Owning a home can be a joy for you and your family, but it also can come with some unexpected headaches. A house is generally one of the biggest investments you will make in your lifetime. In order to protect that investment, you should vigilantly look out for household problems- such as water damage and address them before they worsen. If left unattended, residential water damage can detrimentally impact the structure or cause other complications, including mold, that poses a health risk to people who live in your home. Being proactive and looking for early warning signs will help cut down on cost as well prevent damage to any personal belongings such as pictures, furniture, or electronics. A simple way to help prevent extra damage is to walk through your home every couple of months looking for signs of water damage. Some of the most common signs are discoloration and staining to walls and ceilings. Your flooring also might show signs of warping and dis-figuration as water has leaked underneath without you noticing or you might come across a “musty” odor.

Here are a few ways to help protect yourself against possible costly water losses:

1. Check and maintain your appliances regularly for leaks according to manufacturer’s directions. You should try to have your air conditioner serviced at least 1-2 times a year, as backed up A/C lines can cause serious damage in your home.

2. Have your pipes checked. Though most pipes in your house should last the lifetime of your home, accidents do occur. Getting a whole house re-pipe is one option that you could consider. This can be costly up front but could save a lot of money in the long run by preventing a future water leak.

3. Know the location of your water main. If you leave your home for an extended period, such as taking a vacation, shutting the water off to the home can help prevent you from coming back to a flooded house. If you happen to have a large leak, knowing how and where to shut the water off will help prevent any extra unnecessary water damage as well.

4. Install water detection devices. A water detector is a small electronic device that sounds an alarm when its sensor is in contact with moisture. Its main benefit is that it detects low moisture levels or slow leaks that often go unnoticed. Install it near water heaters, sump pumps, washing machines, dishwashers and toilets to prevent extensive damage and mold growth.

5. Monitor your water and sewage bill. Sometimes, the only way you know that water is leaking is by taking a closer look at your water bill. If your usage jumps significantly from one month to the next without explanation, put your “water detective’s” hat on. Is there a leak in your crawlspace or is it a pipe in your front yard? Don’t leave mystery leaks unattended!

If you happen to find a possible water leak, investigate those leaks that you find right away and act accordingly. If you opt to ignore moisture damage, or postpone making the necessary repairs, be prepared to experience mold, mildew, dry rot, or even structural damage to your home. Keep in mind that homeowner’s insurance provides coverage for damage that is sudden and accidental. Damage that results from lack of maintenance is not covered on a standard homeowners insurance policy. Your best bet is to call a professional water restoration company to mitigate the damages before they get worse.

Keith Barnett

9 reviews · 9 photos

a week ago-

Positive: Professionalism, Punctuality, Quality, Responsiveness, Value

This company is not "industry standard". They blow standards away because while they want to run a profitable business they also care about doing what is right and fair for their clients. I have no problem referring them to my family, friends and associates. They know they are walking into a situation where there has been a major loss. They do good work. They are a pleasure to work with and made us know we were in good hands!

Mold may be present in your home and affecting your life even if no actual mold is visible. Here are four things that may indicate you need mold remediation. The general rule is that when mold is visible, it is time to kill it and remove it. But mold isn’t always visible and so there are other criteria to strongly consider when it comes to mold remediation.

Here are the four things to look for to determine if you have mold:

1. A water event or occasional/frequent water intrusion

Water does not necessarily equal mold growth as spores have to already be present. But since mold spores are microscopic (2-10 microns), a water event is usually the trigger that causes mold to be seen or otherwise detected.

Note: Mold means moisture or humidity is, or has been present. Water does not necessarily mean mold growth is present.

2. Discoloration

Most molds cause the organic material the mold is consuming to change colors. Whether the food source for the mold is human food or drywall paper, if colonization is allowed for enough time, there will usually be a discoloration that will reveal a problem.

Most molds, when allowed to grow in abundance, are visibly seen in certain colors. Mold is not only black. Many species are visible in gray, white, brown, red and even some hues of pastel colors. Some molds look like dust, or fuzz, while others look like sand granules. Certain molds thrive on certain food sources, and they all require different moisture content or relative humidity in the ambient air.

Note: Water seeping through masonry sometimes causes a white crystalline, powder-like discoloration called “efflorescence”. This substance is made up of minerals and should not be confused with mold.

4. A musty odor

Is there a musty odor that prevails, or come and goes? Some molds are odorous when colonizing. Although some species do not cause odors, when a musty, moldy odor is combined with other criteria, one can conclude that mold is present. Even if mold is not visible, remediation may be necessary.

Note: Some individuals have a great sense of smell. Others may think that they do. Odor alone should not be the only criterion used to determine whether remediation is necessary. Some actively colonizing fungal species give off odors. Dead or dormant spores generally do not, but are just as detrimental to human health. Absence of odor does not mean that there is no mold and odor does not mean that it is caused from fungal growth. Do not rely solely on scent for detection.

4. Adverse human health effects

A good indication that there is “unacceptable fungal ecology” within a building envelope is that occupants feel health symptoms when spending extended periods of time in a certain space and feel much better when spending extended periods of time outside that space. If residents in a home or employees in a workplace experience congestion, allergy symptoms, headaches, fatigue or respiratory problems after each night’s sleep or after the end of each work day, this may be an indication of unhealthy air quality.

One environmental hazard to cause unhealthy air quality is a mold infestation. If one spends a week on vacation away from work and home and all symptoms disappear, perhaps the home, school or workplace has unacceptable fungal ecology or unhealthy indoor air quality.

Too much time on your hands? Wanna' put those master grilling skills to use this Memorial Day? Check out this mouthwatering recipe courtesy of The Old Farmer's Almanac. You can check out other great recipes from their site as well at, https://www.almanac.com/cooking.

These amazing gourmet burgers will have your mouth watering with delicious toppings, including applewood bacon. This is an upscale burger recipe for a special feast!

BACON TOPPING

INGREDIENTS:

6 slices Applewood smoked bacon

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Preheat grill to medium-high.

Arrange bacon in single layer on baking sheet. Cook in oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until brown and crispy.

RELISH & MAYONNAISE

INGREDIENTS:

3 tablespoons butter

2 Gala apples, peeled, cored, and finely diced

1 yellow onion, finely diced

1 teaspoon chili paste or sambal oelek (near hot sauces in most large supermarkets)

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 lemon

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons thinly sliced scallions

INSTRUCTIONS

For relish: In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter.

Add apples and onions and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, or until tender. Add chili paste and salt. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm.

For mayonnaise: Remove zest from lemon and set aside. Juice half of lemon. In a bowl, combine zest and lemon juice. Add mayonnaise and scallions and
stir to combine.

SLIDERS

INGREDIENTS:

2 pounds freshly ground beef chuck

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley

2 teaspoons salt

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon Balsamic Glaze

1 tablespoon melted butter

2 teaspoons dark-brown sugar

1 teaspoon chili paste

12 slices sharp white cheddar cheese

12 brioche slider rolls or dinner rolls, split in half

1 cup coarsely chopped red leaf lettuce

INSTRUCTIONS

For sliders: Break beef into clumps by hand and put into a bowl. Add parsley and salt.

In another bowl, whisk together Worcestershire sauce, Balsamic Glaze, melted butter, brown sugar, and chili paste.

Add to beef and gently mix to combine. Form into 12 patties.

Cook on grill for 3 minutes. Turn over, top each with slice of cheddar, and cook for 3 minutes more. Transfer patties to a plate.

Place rolls split side down on grill for 1 minute, or until lightly toasted.

To assemble: Spread mayonnaise on bottom half of each roll. Arrange lettuce on top. Add patty, cheese side up. Halve each bacon slice. Put one half on each patty. Top with relish and remaining roll halves.

YIELD:

Makes 12 sliders.

CREDIT:

Veronica Callaghan, Glastonbury, Connecticut

PHOTO CREDIT:

Becky Luigart-Stayner

SOURCE

• The Old Farmer's Almanac Readers' Best Recipes