La Nina Announced Yesterday the Bureau of Meteorology announced that Australia is officially heading into a La Niña season, extending at least until the end of 2020, and perhaps well into 2021. In our last post, we discussed ways that homeowners and tenants can prepare for flooding. However, businesses need insights too, and that’s what this article is here for. We’ll include some of the more obvious tips, as well as tips and tricks that we’ve picked up from all our years of water damage restoration. General Tips Here are the standard flood management tips you’ll see on Google for businesses. These are all helpful, but they’re mostly fairly obvious. Check your insurance policy and ensure you’re covered for flood damage. Some insurance policies will list flash-flooding as a separate type of risk from regular flooding, so make sure you fully understand what you’re covered for. The insurance company wants the clearest picture possible of the damage, so a slow walkthrough with your phone camera (both before a flood and again after it) can be extremely useful. Update your emergency procedures, signage, and employee emergency details. Make sure your emergency kit and first-aid kit aren’t expired. You can buy pre-built first-aid kits cheaply these days; having a couple of extra on-hand is always valuable. Uncommon (but helpful) Tips Find your catchment area from this map and bookmark this page from the BOM. You can check the second link regularly to make sure you’re up to date on weather conditions in your area, and spot flood warnings early. Do you have on-hand the practical flood-fighting tools: buckets, sandbags, mops, squeegees, gumboots? Outdoor brooms are also very effective at moving water, and unlike the other suggestions, may not be sold out as soon as the rain starts coming down. If you’re the kind of business that operates through flooding (such as us at NLR Restoration), make sure you have all the basics checked off: do you have enough casual staff on hand for extra work? Do you have enough PPE, enough equipment? Is everything test-tagged? If you’re operating extractors or other electrical equipment in flood areas, running all equipment through an RCD is essential to safety. Increasing stock on consumables is often a good idea. Running stock close to zero is dangerous, especially when storm season is rapidly approaching. It only takes one flood in the wrong area, and consumables may not be able to be replenished for weeks Building after a flood event Water Damage Tips for Property and Building Managers: Find and digitize your floor-plans, if you haven’t done so already. Restorers will ask for floor-plans, electrical plans, and plumbing plans on the first day, and this can save you thousands of dollars of wasted time and trial-and-error costs, and will increase the quality of mitigation, as power loads are able to be balanced most efficiently. For larger mitigation works, you may wish to request a reverse brief. Larger restoration companies will all be able to produce these without much effort, and it’s an easy way to weed out companies that may not have the capacity to handle large jobs. Problems to Avoid as a Building Manager Solving three key problems can increase both the speed and quality of restoration works: A lack of keys: restorers aren’t able to mitigate through locked doors, and they can’t break down doors, so if your building security policy allows for it, you may wish to cut extra copies of master keys. Delayed entry notices: figuring out who is allowed to issue RTA Form 9 – Entry notices prior to flood events is crucial. Due to complex management structures, it can take some time to determine who is responsible for entry notices in larger jobs. Delayed written authority: many restoration companies have a policy that they will not begin mitigation works without first given authority in writing. Sometimes this is as simple as a one-line email, and sometimes it may be a signed authorisation form given to you by the restorer. Either way, the faster approval is given, the earlier mitigation can begin. Hopefully this information has proved to be useful and helpful for you. As one of Queensland’s biggest restorers, we’ve definitely seen our share of jobs when water damage hasn’t been properly prepared for. If you think you are at risk this storm season, reach out to us at enquiries@newlife.net.au or call us on 1300 356 633. We are always happy to chat about how to prepare, and help put action plans in place if these issues do eventuate.

What is a La Niña, and Why Does it Matter? EDIT: The BoM has officially declared a La Niña is underway, read the official climate update here. At its most basic level, La Niñas come with increased rainfall, heightened risk of cyclones, and cooler temperatures during the day. The BOM first issued a warning in mid-August but now this is expected to have solidified into a declared La Niña. Will There be Flooding? Parts of Australia flood every year, due to our extremely variable climate and the size of the country. However, this year is likely to have many more floods than normal. Whether this translates into floods in your area is much more difficult to predict. It depends on your altitude, proximity to bodies of water, whether you’re on a flood plain, and more. Predicting floods in any particular area is very difficult long-term, but scientists use floodplain hydraulic models to predict these numbers. However, these are all predictions at the end of the day, and none will likely be perfectly accurate for your area. However, the BOM has a helpful map, and paired with their Flood Watch warning page, you can see if any alerts have been issued for your local area. When was the last La Niña? There isn’t only doom and gloom on the horizon, however. 2017 was declared a La Niña, and that year kicked off the most recent drought. However, the La Niña before that was 2011, with historic flooding all across Queensland (costing an estimated $2.4 billion) and Victoria (estimated $2 billion). In Brisbane, where NLR has our homebase, the Brisbane River rose 4.6 metres and overwhelmed every restoration company in Brisbane for months. What should I do now to prepare? Preparation for a La Niña is dependent on your context. If you’re living on a flood plain, it may be wise to make sure your pantry has a couple extra cans of food, and that you have some sandbags on hand. It’s also worth bookmarking the Bureau’s Flood Warnings webpage, and periodically checking for alerts in your area. You can also prepare an emergency kit and purchase a first-aid kit, check with authorities where the nearest relocation centres and routes are, and if you’re a homeowner, check if your insurance covers flood damage. It is also worthwhile to print and laminate a list of emergency telephone numbers, though many modern smartphones are water-resistant nowadays. Of course, we’d recommend having our number (1300 356 633) on hand in case of floods. NLR has handled over 12,000 restoration jobs in Australia, from 500-unit floods in high-rises, to whole schools, to shopping centres and supermarkets, to (literally) thousands of homes. It is essential to get someone out quickly to mitigate the damage and dry your building, because the longer the water remains, the larger the cost to your home at the end of the day. We have technicians and phone operators available 24/7, ready to help. For even more preparation, the Red Cross has an amazing resource that helps connect you to all the information you may need, and comes with a handy checklist for flood preparation. Lastly, if you’re in Queensland, the government has designed a resource specifically to help you get ready for flood season. What links can I follow to read more? The Chief Scientist’s Flood Fact Sheet: https://www.chiefscientist.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0028/49528/floods-fact-sheet.pdf The West Australian Government’s Prepare for Flooding infosheet: https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/safetyinformation/flood/Pages/prepareforflooding.aspx

Why Does Carpet Need to Be Properly Dried? If you have had water inundation that has affected your carpets, they need to be properly dried to restore functionality and prevent long-term issues. Water inundation can come from a variety of sources, from rainwater floods to burst wastewater systems. Depending on the source and level of water saturation and damage, the situation may be classified under different category levels. Regardless of the categorisation, however, it is vital that wet carpets be dried as quickly and thoroughly as possible. If they are not addressed immediately or effectively, there can be several negative consequences. When carpets are saturated with water, there is potential for underlying structures to be affected. The longer the carpet is wet, the more moisture the material underneath (e.g. concrete) may absorb. Furthermore, the moisture may spread from the original location to other parts of the carpet or building materials, creating a bigger problem. Moisture from a wet carpet may also evaporate into the air, creating higher humidity levels across the premises and leading to further issues such as mould growth and bacteria growth. If the carpet is not dried quickly or thoroughly, mould also may begin to grow in or under the carpet itself. As well as being unsightly, mould has been linked to negative health conditions (see this article for more information, and this article1 for an in-depth scientific review). For all these reasons, it is important to dry carpets quickly and thoroughly. Why Use NLR to Dry Your Carpet? It may be possible to dry small patches of wet carpet by yourself (see this article for more information on DIY carpet drying, and this article for some general tips). However, there are many mistakes that can be made when attempting to dry carpets. It may also be significantly more hassle to DIY a carpet drying job than to call in a team of professionals with heavy-duty equipment. If you are looking for qualified professionals to dry your carpet effectively in a short time frame, please don’t hesitate to to contact our office to enquire about this service. You can also visit this page to learn more about the carpet drying services we offer. There are numerous benefits to using NLR to dry your wet carpets. These reasons include: We offer a full scoping and assessment prior to commencing remediation work. Instead of merely hoping that standard drying equipment will do the job, our technicians travel to your premises to conduct a full scoping and assessment of the situation. Our fully-stocked vans have a variety of equipment designed for different sites and problems, so we can ensure that our technicians have the most effective drying equipment ready to meet your precise needs. We perform rigorous pre-testing of the area to assess exactly which areas need drying. Often there is water present that cannot be seen, whether under the carpet or in surrounding areas, and it is vital that this be addressed as well if full remediation is to occur. Our trained technicians use water meters and thermal imaging cameras to assess precise moisture content in the carpet and other materials. This serves as a baseline measurement to test against after drying has finished, and a scoping tool to estimate the length of time and equipment required to dry the area. Our multi-level drying process starts with vacuum water extraction. Using a wet vacuum to draw water out of the carpet immediately gets rid of large quantities of moisture. This means that the following drying processes are more efficient and take less time to complete. Our next step is using dehumidifiers and air movers to draw all remaining moisture from the carpet and surrounding areas. Dehumidifiers, as the name suggests, draw moisture from the environment, safely depositing it in a removable container or outside, well away from the worksite. (Click here to learn about the benefits of dehumidifiers.) Our technicians choose the right dehumidifiers for the needs of the worksite, and ensure that they are set up correctly. Air movers may also be used to increase air circulation in the damp space, increasing the efficiency of the dehumidifiers. (Click here to learn more about air movers in carpet drying.) We offer air scrubber hire to purify your air at the same time as drying the carpet. If you are concerned about any musty odours, mould or other contaminants that may have developed as a result of the wet carpet, we can use air scrubbers to take care of this. Our technicians can advise you on which air scrubbers will suit the needs of your premises, and set up the equipment. The air scrubbing process can happen concurrently with the dehumidification and drying process, allowing you to to use the space as soon as possible. Our technicians can do any carpet removal and/or lifting as necessary. Lifting of wet carpet can be a strenuous and complex task. Our trained technicians can assess whether it is necessary to temporarily lift your carpet to ensure thorough drying, and carry this out if necessary. If some or all of the carpet is unsalvageable, we can also remove and dispose of the carpet. We offer carpet cleaning to ensure your carpet is in optimal condition. While our standard process usually involves just removing moisture from your carpet, we can also clean the carpet after the drying process is complete. If you are worried about any contaminants remaining trapped in your carpet, or if it was in need of a clean before the water damage occurred, you can request that our technicians also clean your carpet. We perform post-drying tests to ensure that the drying process has been effectively completed. Our technicians do not just leave equipment running for a certain period of time and trust that the job has been done properly. When they come to remove equipment, they will first test the carpet to ensure that the drying process is fully complete. Using a moisture meter gives our technicians a precise indication of

Even more noteworthy is the fact that water damage in itself may be a signal of other deep-seated problems in the structure of the facility. More often than not, individuals are incentivised to undertake the water damage restoration on their own without enlisting the help of professionals. Of course, this can be a pretty admirable thing to do since you will be likely to make significant savings. Nevertheless, this could also be a devastating experience (and the wake-up call that you actually need to realise that you do need a water damage restoration expert). There are varying mistakes that you might end up making in the water damage restoration process. One of the most common mistakes in water damage restoration is the failure to undertake proper and comprehensive evaluation of the water damage. It is noteworthy that a significant component of the restoration process is the evaluation of the magnitude of the damage and the type of water that actually caused the damage. There are varying forms or categories of water damage based on the type of water, as well as the location of the damage and the humidity among other factors. Category 1 is the form of water damage that emanates from clean water, in which case you can handle the damage yourself without any issues whatsoever. Category 2 water damage, on the other hand, is caused by muddy or dirty water, in which case taking extra safety precautions is required until the source of the pollution can be determined conclusively. In the case of category 3 water damage, sewage water would be the most likely culprit. The water is black in colour and incorporates strong smell, in which case exposure to the water can result in skin diseases or irritation. There is also Class 4 water damage, which can be difficult to handle on your own since it usually emanates from flooding that would submerge particular parts of the house, thereby pooling the facility for days or weeks. Failure to undertake proper and comprehensive categorisation of the water damage prior to restoration would be likely to harm your health or simply cause the restoration efforts to amount to a naught. In addition, there is the mistake pertaining to taking too long to respond to the water damage. Of course, any form of damage to your home would be likely to be a stressful affair not only because of the cost but also the implication of the same. More often than not, home owners try to avoid or take too long to repair the water damage for some days in the hope that the problem will solve itself in the long-term. Unfortunately, such ignorance can be immensely costly in the long-term as it would be likely to result in further worsening of the problem in the long-term and the short-term. In some cases, individuals tend to simply clog or turn off the source of the water and imagine that the problem has gone away. However, this could result in further problems such as the development of mould, which would be a health risk to the family in the long-term. Moreover, most people make the mistake of using inappropriate equipment. It is noteworthy that initial water clean-up usually involves the use of mops and towels especially in cases where the damage is seemingly not extensive or even wet dry shop vacuum cleaners and sump pumps in case of extensive water damage. However, it would be extremely wrong to mistake the failure to see more water for successful cleanup. Complete drying out of the facility would be the most fundamental component of the water damage restoration process. There is always the likelihood that hidden water would be trapped in the structure, in which case it would only be removed using moisture detection equipment. Such hidden moisture could result in the development of mould, which would be more damaging in the future. In essence, it might be imperative that you rent or buy commercial fans and humidifiers to eliminate the risk for future damage. In addition, people often make the mistake of failing to take the necessary precautions. This is particularly common in cases where there are floods or some damp conditions in the facility. You might be tempted to have a peek at the extent of water damage by putting on the lights. However, in cases where there is still water on the floor of the facility, it is advisable that you be careful prior to initiating any cleanup exercise. There is always the risk of being electrocuted especially since the water might be touching the electrical circuits. Even more noteworthy is the risk of exposure to hazardous waste from the septic systems and damaged pipes, which could have a negative effect on your health. Lastly, people fail to be detail-oriented when undertaking water damage restoration. More often than not, people assume that water damage repairs simply revolves around wiping away the visible liquid and the replacement of the carpeting and the ceiling. However, there are other fundamental details that are seemingly minute but should be considered. Key among them is checking the plug holes to assess the damage that could be causing the water damage in the first place. In addition, you may need to examine the air ducts as such areas are common breeding grounds for mould. Any attempt to neglect the seemingly minute details could expose you to worse problems in the long-term and the short-term. Ultimately, you may realise that water damage restoration is best carried out by a professional. More often than not, the mistakes could cost you more in the long term despite the fact that you will likely make them subconsciously. The intensity of the outcome of course differs. Taking the initiative to get the assistance of a water damage restoration professional right from the beginning is imperative right from the beginning.

Small-sized carpets If the wet carpet is as small in size as a bath towel, you need to start the drying process by extracting water using a shop vac. Extract as much water as you can. You can also use different attachments from big to small to see which gives the best results. All you have to do is push the attachment against the carpet so you seal on the carpet until water is sucked from the pad. You also need a filter that’s capable of handling wet vacuuming. While the sponge-like filter works fine, paper filters will only disintegrate and clog. After extracting the water, the next thing to do is to get some towels and extract the remaining water. Lay the towel on the wet area. You can jump or walk on these towels to push water to come out of the carpet pad. Replace wet towels and repeat the process until the towel is already dry when you step on it. When you already forced much of the water to make the carpet semi-dry, the next thing to do is use a fan to allow warm air to spread generously across the wet areas of the carpet. If you have removed the underlay, you can simply peel the carpet back and dry the back of the carpet as well as run it to dry the floor and walls. Dehumidifiers should also be arranged in such a way that the air from it blows across the carpet. Medium-sized carpets If your carpet is less than 10 feet by 10 feet, that belongs to the medium category. The process of cleaning small-sized and medium-sized carpets are pretty much the same, except that in the latter, you need to expose the carpet pad. After extracting as much water as you can with a shop vac, you need to peel your carpet back to expose the pad underneath. To do this, you need to position yourself at the corner of the carpet with the wettest area. Grab the fibres with your thumb and index finger and pull it up and back. If you can’t get a good grip, you can use pliers instead. Be careful not to yank too hard as this may cause the fibers to be removed from the carpet. Once you have successfully separated and exposed the pad, extract water from it using the shop vac and towels. You can also use heaters, fans, and dehumidifiers to dry the pad. Be patient when drying the pad as this part really takes time before all the water dries up. Your patience will really be tested when drying medium-sized carpets. Most of the time, this kind of carpet may take three days to dry fully. Large-sized carpets If your carpet is as big as a 100 square feet room, then that will already be considered as a large-sized carpet. For carpets of this size, you only have two options — buy a commercial drying and extraction equipment or call a professional damage restoration company. The sheer size of the carpet is enough explanation of why you need commercial-grade equipment to extract water from it. Also, you need to know the proper way of cleaning the carpet to keep it from smelling and keep the moulds from growing. And take note that even if you use high-tech cleaning equipment, drying large-sized carpets may take a minimum of three days. Apart from that, you also need to have a significant water supply to clean it thoroughly. The pad alone can already take two days to dry, too. The concern escalates when water from the wet carpet already wicked your plasterboard up. Since you can’t see or feel this, you’ll need to use an infrared camera or moisture meter to check if your walls are wet. If they are, then you need to dry it too before moulds start feeding on it. Why you need to have your carpets dried Aside from the foul smell that will circulate the room, mould growth is another big reason why you need to have your carpets dried right away. When you cannot detect the moisture and moulds start to thrive in your property, you will not damage the surface and structure of your home, you also expose yourself and your family to health risks brought by these stubborn moulds. If you have kids, older people, or family members with respiratory problems, the threat brought by mould doubles. And later on, if you still can’t address the problem and your house gets terribly damaged, you can’t claim reimbursement from your home insurer. It’s unfortunate to think how a simple issue such as getting your carpet wet can quickly escalate into a problem that can compromise your health, home, and finances. This leaves one thinking that indeed, cliche as it may sound, an ounce of prevention is way better than a pound of cure. Have your wet carpets dried today and avoid health and financial repercussions tomorrow. How We Can help NLR provides wet carpet drying services to Brisbane and Sydney regions with a 24/7 immediate response service. If you are unsure of the costs involved, we can run you through the costs to dry over the phone as well. We can also bill the insurance company directly.

Living in a flood-prone area necessitates being prepared to mitigate and handle the damage caused by water. Problems may also occur due to leaky sinks, broken pipes, roof leaks, foundation cracks, faulty gutters, poor exterior siding, pump failure, and overflow of washing machine or dishwasher. Facing the aftermath of any of these culprits can be one of the homeowner’s worst nightmares. It is vital to act immediately and appropriately to reduce the impact on the structure of the property and prevent health problems. Major damages require the professional skills of a water damage restoration contractor, which can cost a lot of money. But, if you think the damage is manageable, dealing with it yourself is a great option. Do-it-yourself tips for water damage restoration Stop the source of water If the overflow is due to plumbing issues, turning off the main water valve will stop the flooding. However, if it is nature-related, you need to wait until the rain stops or the flood subsides. Evaluate the amount of damage immediately Evaluating the situation will help you determine if you can handle the damage or seek professional help. It is essential to do the assessment as early as possible to limit the escalation of damage which includes mould growth. Be thorough during the assessment and avoid making assumptions that you may regret afterwards. Take photos or videos of the damage to the structure and the discarded items before, during, and after the cleanup. You may be needing them for inventory purposes, insurance claims, or future renovation projects. Assess the kind of water There are three water categories that you need to be aware of. Category 1 – It is clean and free from significant contaminants. Category 2 – Has some contaminants. It comes from floods and overflows of sinks, washing machines, dishwashers, bathtubs, and urine-containing toilets. Category 3 – Contains a lot of contaminants. It usually comes from sewage backups, toilet overflow with feces, and groundwater floods. Wear protective gear Make sure that you are safe from electrical hazards, gas leaks, and chemicals. Wear rubber gloves, boots, long sleeves, eye protection, or respirator masks to prevent electrocution, contamination, slip and fall accidents, and other health risks. Be watchful for snakes, fire ants, rodents, and other dangerous animals. Remove the standing water Once it is safe, start removing the pool of water. Use sponges, mops, or sheets to dry the floor area. Wring saturated cleaning materials in a bucket and dump the water away from the property. Extract water from surfaces, counters, and furniture using a towel. Work in sections to limit the foot traffic on the wet floor or carpet. Constant walking across the carpeting will wear it down faster. If the water is a few inches deep, using a bucket or pump will help you bail it out. Begin the cleaning and drying process Mould can grow within 24 hours, so it is vital to clean and dry the affected area. Remove the furniture, rugs, carpets, bedding, documents, and other items from the room. Brush and wash away the dirt from the solid furniture immediately. Air dry them in the roofed patio or porch to increase the chances of salvaging the items. Open your windows, closet windows, and cabinet to dehumidify and hasten the drying time. Ventilation is beneficial to prevent moisture that hastens the growth of bacteria and mould. Save important documents. Put them in a dry area. Unfortunately, you need to discard some things that are totally drenched and difficult to dry out. Run your vacuum cleaner over the walls and floors. Even if the walls appear unaffected, cleaning, disinfecting, and drying them is necessary to prevent odour, mould, and structural decay. Check hidden cavities under the furniture, cabinets, mechanical spaces or behind walls to make sure that there is no stored water. For stained and damp clothes, treat them first with a prewash spray before washing them with laundry detergent and rinsing them with cold water. Soaked upholstered furniture and contaminated mattresses need to be dumped to ensure the safety of the family. Plastic, solid wood, and metal furniture can be cleaned and restored to its former condition. Dry them completely in an exposed area, out of the sun to prevent warping. To salvage the rugs and carpets, clean and vacuum them as quickly as you can. Methodically suck up the water to maximize the extraction. Use a wet-dry shop-style vacuum instead of the regular vacuum during the process to prevent damage and the risk of electrocution. You can also use absorbent towels to dry your carpet. If they are totally saturated with water, the drying period will be longer. It is important to do moisture testing of the areas floors and walls after the job is complete to ensure all is dry. You can purchase moisture meters relatively cheap now. When to call a professional restoration service company? It is more practical to do the cleaning, drying, and restoration if you have the knowledge, time, and necessary equipment or if it is a minor problem. But, if you think that it is more than you can handle and the risk can cause discomfort and harm to your family, getting a professional contractor is the best option. Moreover, professional assessment and restoration will facilitate your claim for home and flood insurance reimbursement, if needed. If you require water damage restoration in Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne, please call us today at 1300 356 633.

It is important to ensure the water is removed as quickly as possible to ensure there is no corrosion on the important metal parts or elevator components. This article will discuss how we do this. 1. It is necessary for us to liaise with a properly qualified lift technician. They can secure the lifts and make it safe to complete the water extraction and the drying 2. Removal of water damage – This can be done using a suitable sump pump which can be hired from a reputable hire company. See the picture to the right. The pump is submersed in the lift well to remove any standing water. The residual water at the bottom of the lift well after pumping with a sump pump can be removed with mopping or a reliable carpet cleaning water extraction machine. 3. Removal of contaminants – Sometimes the water damage at the bottom of the lift well could be contaminated (i.e. sewage). In this case we would Pressure clean and extract to concrete block wall in the lift well Pressure clean and antimicrobial treatment to lift base and electrical cabling Treatment of block walls and concrete floor surfaces with an alkaline solution 4. Drying of concrete brickwork – in many cases it is important to dry the water damage from a lift to ensure there is not a mould problem in the building later on. If the water in the well has been sitting there for long periods of time, the bricks can become saturated. If the brickwork is not dried, it is possible the moisture can encourage bacteria and mould problems. This can cause hazardous odours throughout the building. In the picture on the right, we use a desiccant dehumidifier for 8 days at the bottom of the lift well as well as 2 air movers to dry the surrounding brickwork. If you have water damage in your lift well, please call us so we can help remove the water

How we do it Remember this first step! Mould can grow within 48 hours after exposure to flood water damage. This can cause PERMANENT staining. Also, it can be a health hazard. Therefore it is important to dry your photos as soon as possible. How to Save Photos after a flood Remove the photos carefully from the albums. You may need to use a spatula to help separate the plastic from the photo. You may also need to cut the plastic off the album to prevent damage to the photo in this process. The water damaged photos can be air-dried, separate all the photos and lay them face up preferably on towels Excess water is drained off the photographs and light blotting with a towel Water damage photo drying Photos are hung up to dry in our drying room (or lay face-up on a towel in our drying room) We also take a photo inventory which forms part of our contents delivery manifest Curling of Photos Water damage can cause curling of photos. There is another method that we can use to uncurl the photos however, in most situations the uncurling is not needed as it can add considerable cost to the salvage. Conclusion It is a fairly simple process that should be done right. The key is to ensure the photos are attended to right after the damage occurs. If you would like a quote in South East Queensland for drying water-damaged photos please call us on 1300 356 633.