Prepare for Hurricane Season! 5 Tips for Your Home’s Protection

Your home might be in danger of getting damaged this hurricane season, which is why it is important to take proactive measures to ensure its safety. Here are some tips that we have compiled to help you protect your biggest investment. 

• Put up hurricane shutters. Installing hurricane shutters is a great help in preventing your windows and doors from getting damaged by objects that may be blown off by strong winds, and will thereby save you money from repair and replacement costs.
• Clear your yard of loose debris. Items that can easily be picked up by a hurricane can cause serious damages to your property. Garbage cans, scrap wood, fallen branches and even those branches or trees that may break in the event of a hurricane should be removed.
• Secure your outdoor equipment. Aside from the items that you have in your yard, it is also equally important to secure your outdoor equipment, such as your barbecue grill and patio furniture. Wall hangings and other decorations should also be stored inside your home. Cover your outdoor fixtures, such as lamps and lights, with suitable and durable materials to prevent breakage.
• Clean your gutters. Clear your gutters of leaves, twigs, and other accumulated debris to ensure that water can flow freely. Clogged gutters and downspouts can cause seepage into your walls and create water damage, which is costly and may be difficult to remediate.
• Check your insurance. Before a disaster strikes, it is a good move to check on your homeowner’s insurance and flood insurance. Check the particular items or areas that are covered by these so that you can opt to shop for additional insurance for your more important items or for those that aren’t covered by any policy.

Hurricanes are devastating, which is why it is important to prepare ahead. If you’d need help for water damage restoration in Naples, Florida, and its surrounding areas, Expert Restoration & Cleaning Services is the company to trust. We also perform carpet cleaning and odor removal. Expert Restoration & Cleaning Services is also a great choice for bathroom and kitchen remodeling in Southwest Florida. We pay attention to detail and uphold quality workmanship above all. Call us 24/7 at 239-641-9953.

For Florida Snowbirds: 5 Tips to Prepare Your Florida Home for the Summer

Spring has officially arrived in some parts of the United States, and Florida's snowbirds are starting to pack up and head north, leaving their winter homes behind. Without ample preparations, the heat and high levels of humidity during the summer can cause problems like mold and water damage, which you have to deal with when you return again during the winter. To prevent these situations from occurring, we have compiled some tips for you!

· Plumbing and electricity. Check for leaks in your plumbing to prevent accidental flooding and water damage. It would be much better if you turn off the water supply in your home. Make sure that all faucets are closed and if you can, have your pipes drained to avoid leakage. When it comes to electrical equipment, unplug your appliances. Lightning strikes often visit Southwest Florida, and you wouldn’t want the surge entering your home! You can also consider installing a surge protector.

· Services. Temporarily put your services on hold, such as newspaper and deliveries. You can also have the post office hold your mail or have them forwarded if you will be away for a long period of time. You can also ask a neighbor or trusted friend to take care of any unexpected packages delivered to your doorstep.

· Maintenance. You can ask or hire someone to trim the lawn and clean the gutters from time to time, so that your house appears to be inhabited.

· Hurricane Preparation. Make necessary preparations for the hurricane season so that you can protect your home from hurricane damage, if any. You can also ask a friend to be on lookout.

· Thermostat. Mold and mildew can thrive if you would not take control of your home’s temperature and humidity before you leave. Set your humidstat between 45 to 50 percent, and your thermostat between 80 to 84. Also, allow some natural light to enter your home.

Do not forget to lock your doors in windows in your hurry! We hope that these tips can make your return to your Florida home more welcoming. In case the inevitable happens and you’d need help with water damage, mold, and cleaning, Expert Restoration & Cleaning Services has got your back! We are an emergency damage restoration company in Southwest Florida. We also perform bathroom and kitchen remodeling in Naples, Florida, and its surrounding areas. If you need our help, contact us at 239-641-9953.

The Best Energy Saving Tips for Spring 2018

The Sunshine State basks under the sun all year long, but it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have seasons! Spring, for instance, offers the best weather for Floridians before the hot summer months. Winter is almost over, and as you do your cleaning and prepare for spring, check these energy saving tips we have compiled for you. Springtime gives cool nights and warm days, but it can get hot! Make sure that only the temperature gets high, and not your electric bill.

• Tune up your A/C. Hotter temperatures mean harder work for your air-conditioning unit. Doing system maintenance will not only clean your A/C but also make it work properly and efficiently, and therefore enable energy savings. Simple things like changing the air filter can be done alone; you can hire expert HVAC technicians to do the harder parts of the routine maintenance for you, since they are well-experienced in the job and can thereby make the process quicker and more efficient.
• Seal cracks and openings. Airflow loss through broken ducts or random cracks can lead to a high electric bill. Seal these gaps to prevent air leaks as well as keep the warm air out.
•    Use your thermostat efficiently. During warmer weather, bear in mind to program your thermostat to a higher setting, ideally at 78 degrees.  This cuts off about 6 to 8 percent of your energy costs. If you wish to control your home’s temperature settings while you’re away, you can try investing on a programmable thermostat.
• Open the windows. You can try turning off your A/C during the day and make use of natural ventilation by opening your windows strategically in order to create the perfect cross breeze. This trick could also help cool you down during the nights.
• Utilize your ceiling fans. Ceiling fans cool your body down by circulating the air inside a room. This would keep you comfortable even without turning on the air-conditioner, thus saving you money.
• Exploit the sunlight. Keep the lights off during daytime by allowing sunshine to enter your home. You should avoid direct sunlight as this could cause your home to get hotter. Find a spot where you can let an indirect beam in to illuminate your space.
• Do cooking outside. Doing your cooking in the kitchen can increase the temperature by a few degrees. To avoid heating up your home, stay out of the kitchen and do some outdoor grilling.

Springtime in Florida can also get hot, so it’s better to keep a few tips in mind! If you’re already starting your spring preparations and need professional help, Expert Restoration &Cleaning Services, Inc. offers professional cleaning, damage restoration, and remodeling services in Southwest Florida. We uphold quality workmanship in every job we are tasked to do and deliver only the best results. For carpet cleaning in Naples, FL, and other services, contact us today at 239-641-9953.