HOW IS YOUR INDOOR AIR QUALITY?

Furnace Filer
Most houses with forced-air furnaces have a standard furnace that is designed to keep its duct work clean. This design does not actually improve indoor air quality. This is why furnaces require a furnace filer. Filter actually protect the furnace. They also contribute to good indoor air quality by cleaning the air circulating through the house. The filters job is to catch air borne particles such as dust, dander, lint, pollen, mold spores and bacteria. Filter designs and rating systems vary so some filers claim to filer more air born particles than others. 

The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers has devised a rating system for filters. They use numerical values ranging from 1 to 12, with higher numbers referring to filers that capture more dust. Some filters remove large, heavy particles from the air but still allow smaller particles to flow through. Large particles are categorized from 6 to 100 microns in size. Medium sized particles are categorized from 0.3 to 6 microns in size. Small particles are categorized from 0.3 microns and below. Review your manufactures recommendations to make sure you are using the right furnace filers for your furnace. 

There are many types of filters out there: 

· Fiberglass or cellulose pad - usually held in a cardboard frame and capable of protecting the equipment. This catches most of the larger dust particles which tend to block the heating and cooling coils; low cost but least effective in removing small particles.

· Washable/reusable filter - uses a flat plastic or metal foil pad. This can be washed with a hose and reinstalled; should be washed monthly; may last 3 to 5 years.

· Pleated polyester filter - provides more filtering capacity than a flat filter; many are made with electrostatically charged fibers that attract small particles; lasts up to 3 months.

· Deep-pleated, high-efficiency air filter - about the same size as the ordinary filter but 4 to 6 inches thick. They do not fit in standard filter holders and require a special box in the duct system; electrostatically charged fibers can be used in the filtering media.

· Electronic filter - about the same size as the box for a deep-pleated filter; requires electricity to operate; air is directed through a high-voltage grid which applies a positive charge on particles in the air stream; particles are attracted to a negatively charged element; should be washed monthly; removes small smoke particles; high initial cost and maintenance are disadvantages as is the cost of repair if the power unit fails.

When it comes to changing your furnace filter is a general guideline that is should be replaced at least every three months to maintain maximum efficiency. Some types of filters may need to be washed or replaced more often so you should check it monthly. Change furnace filters according to the manufacturer's directions.

Duct Cleaning
Professional air duct cleaning is a way to improve indoor air quality. To find out if your ducts need cleaning, pull off some supply and return registers and take a look. If a new furnace is being installed, you should probably invest in a duct cleaning at the same time, because chances are the new blower will be more powerful than the old one and will stir up a lot of dust that has been hiding in there. Clean HVAC systems can perform more efficiently, which may decrease energy costs, and last longer, reducing the need for costly replacement or repairs. This will also benefit you if you suffer from allergens.

Air Cleaner
An air purifier is a device which removes contaminants from the air. These devices are commonly marketed as being beneficial to allergy sufferers and asthmatics, and at reducing or eliminating second-hand tobacco smoke. Commercial grade air purifiers are manufactured as either small stand-alone units or larger units that can be affixed to an air handler unit (AHU) or to an HVAC unit found in the medical, industrial, and commercial industries. A portable model is great for the bedroom while a whole-house unit removes contaminants from the air is it passes through the ductwork.

Chimney
Have the furnace vent and chimney flue examined regularly to ensure safe, proper exhaust. If the flue is not cracked that heat and carbon dioxide fill up the room. Carbon dioxide can cause headaches and ultimately death. 

VOC’s
Keep VOCs under control. VOCs are found in household products such as carpet, adhesives, composite wood products, paints, solvents, electronics, varnishes, upholstery and vinyl. Cooking, smoking, storing chemicals, cleaning and using photocopiers, also release them. Remove sources of VOCs when possible, ventilate rooms with new furnishings, and shop for low- or no-VOC paint.

Humidity
Decrease humidity to assist with indoor air quality. Mold, mildew and dust mites need plenty of moisture to thrive. Aim to keep relative humidity lower than 50%. This may require running a dehumidifier alongside the air conditioner in the summer. Make sure you have proper ventilation in your bathroom where you are most likely to see humidity.

Ventilation
Allow fresh air inside by opening the windows or running the exhaust fan, especially when cooking, cleaning or applying a fresh coat of paint.

SNOW LEADS TO ICE DAMS

Chicago is a snow globe once again. As beautiful as our white landscape is outside this abundance of snow can lead to property damage - ice dams.

What is an ice dam?
Ice dams are formed when heat from the attic melts snow at the ridge or peak of the roof causing an “avalanche” of snow and ice to overflow the gutters. The melted water can then back up under the shingles and work its way into the house. This can continue over an over as the sun melts the snow and a drop in temperature refreezes the melted water. This can leave property damage behind. Older roofs with heat leaking attics are at higher risk of seeing water intrusion

Ice dams can cause numerous damages to your property inside and out:

• Damaged gutters, soffits and fascia
• Raised shingles
• Leaky roofs
• Moisture inside the home
• Moisture that is left untreated can lead to Mold

In order to prevent ice dams from forming try the following:

• Check for a build up of snow around the edge of your roof where it meets the gutter. Clear the snow away that accumulates 3 ft. up the roof from the gutter (This is where ice dams are most likely to occur.) It is best to do this while the snow if still light and has not yet hardened into a chunk of ice. You can use a snow rake to clear the snow away. A snow rake is an aluminum scraper that is mounted at a right angle on a telescoping aluminum pole. It can be found at most of your local hardware stores. It is not recommended that you climb the roof yourself to remove the snow. Note that raking may cause potential damage to the shingles so beware how hard you are raking. Picture of a snow rake is shown below in the gallery.
• Install heat cables before too much snow builds up around the gutters. Heat cables are high-resistance wires that are mounted on the roof edge in a zigzag pattern. They plug into an outdoor GFCI receptacle and melt the snow that builds up over time. This can be found at many of your local hardware stores. Picture of roof & gutter de-icing kit is shown below in the gallery.
• Roofmelt is a product that you can use to melt snow that is accumulating on your roof. It is similar to the salt we throw on the ground to melt snow. There are pet friendly versions of this product since it can fall off of the roof. This can be found at many of your local hardware stores. Picture of roofmelt is shown below in the gallery.
• Keep your roof cold. Close up attic bypasses by plugging any leaks that are allowing heat to escape. Winter is the perfect time to enter your attic to see where heat is escaping and cold air is entering.
• Install vapor barriers between the attic floor and insulation.
• Add roof and soffit vents to your home. Attic ventilation draws in cold outdoor air and flushes out warmer attic air, cooling the attic and the roof in the process.
• Vent exhaust from fans and clothes dryers through the roof, not into the attic.
• Seal openings where light fixtures and ceiling fans have been installed.
• Make sure you have an accurate amount of attic insulation. Insulating up to R-60 is recommended for our type of climate. R- then the value is the number given to insulation products that state their resistance to heat flow. The increasing value provides more insulation. R-60 translates into having approximately 21 inches of insulation in your attic. Homes built prior to 1970 have little to no insulation. Older homes will tend to have less insulation than modern homes that are built energy efficient. Overtime insulation can settle causing its density to decrease overtime. This then allows heat to escape. If you are unsure if you need more insulation contact a company that offers attic insulation services to see if you are in need or more insulation.
• Contact a roofer to remove the snow. Roofing companies can typically steam ice dams off of the roof. This steam method is like a pressure washer and can melt the ice away without damaging the roof. It is safer to remove icicles when they are starting to form opposed to when they are a large harden chunk of ice. Be careful when attempting to remove icicles. Chipping them away from the ice dam can break or puncture the shingles causing further damage.

Will your insurance pay to have ice dams removed?
Your insurance company is under no obligation to pay for the cost to remove ice dams. Ice dams themselves are not considered a covered peril on most insurance policies. You would need to verify with your insurance company to see if they would cover any costs to have ice dams removed.

What to do if you have interior water damage:
If you discover interior water damage then you probably have a leaky roof. An ice dam is the most likely culprit for seeing water intrusion. Your roof is not the only problem though, your attic is also the culprit.

An inspection is needed to determine the exact cause of the water intrusion. Do not ignore this water damage because it can lead to mold damage. This is a sign that you have a issue with your roof and/or your attic. You will need a restoration professional to inspect your damages. Roofers will only inspect your roof and will not address the water damage inside your home. Rainbow International is a full service restoration company that can perform your property inspection and assist you with your damage. Before a thorough inspection can be performed the snow on your roof will need to be removed by a roofer or it will have to melt. Rainbow International and most other restoration companies will not remove the snow for you.

During your inspection your restoration professional should discuss:

• How address the leaky roof
• How to address the heat escaping from your attic
• How to dry out the interior water damage (mitigation) to prevent mold
• The cost of this service, if the cost will exceed your deductible and if the damages would most likely be covered by your insurance company

Note that mitigation on the interior damage will not be performed until the snow is no longer an issue. If the interior damage is addressed before the roof and/or attic is fixed you still run the risk of allowing the damage to occur again.


Before you file a claim:
Speak with your insurance agent before filing a claim through the 1-800 number. The 1-800 number will automatically file a claim and you may not have a valid claim on your hands. This will affect your C.L.U.E. Report even if the claim is not paid out. If you are not sure what your C.L.U.E. Report is speak with your agent or check out https://personalreports.lexisnexis.com/fact_act_claims_bundle/landing.jsp


Your insurance agent can offer you guidance as to whether your damages would be covered or not and if it sounds like they exceed your deductible. They can also review your policy with you to let you know if there are any limitations. Your insurance agent will most likely recommend that you get a property inspection to verify this so they can inform you whether it is worth filing a claim or not. Rainbow International works with many insurance carriers by providing this information to them directly.

Will damage from ice dams be covered by your insurance company?
The answer to this question lies in the policy language describing the scope of the exclusion. Your insurance agent can notify you if there is anything in your policy that is specifically excluded or limited. In most cases, the insurance company will typically cover damages to the interior and exterior of the home that are a result of excess weight from snow and ice dams. There’s typically no exclusion on most policies that applies to damages caused as the result of an ice dam, so the costs associated with remediating the interior water and repairing the damage would most likely be covered.

After determining the extent of the damage it is important to file the claim in a timely manner. You are more likely to have your claim denied if you prolong filing which in turn can cause further damage. As the policy owner you are response for mitigating your damages.

Keep in mind that the insurance company will ONLY cover the areas of the structure that were damaged. This does not mean you will receive an entire new roof if only a few shingles were damaged. This is often a misconception when people file an insurance claim.




Rainbow International of South & West Suburbs works directly with your insurance provider if you have a property damage claim on your hands. Our team of experts can handle any type of property claim stemming from weather to fire, smoke, water or mold damage.