Water Damage

Damage Assessment

First Response will do a full assessment and can lower the risk of additional damages and save on restoration costs. We can help prevent your water loss from developing into more serious health problems such as mold-related illnesses.

We have the training and technology to assess the problem thoroughly. By utilizing specially designed probes and electronic moisture meters, we can detect the presence of moisture inside a wall or underneath a carpet without serious demolition or disturbance to the surface.

Last February we moved our offices to our current location in East Newark , and during the move I found a baseball that was nestled in the back of a large drawer. I glanced down, and there was that famous signature, I remember when I asked him to sign it, he graciously did, and it brought back so many memories.

The year was 1981, a hot sultry August Saturday night under a full moon with over 12,000 cheering fans crowded in to Don Edwards Babe Ruth Baseball facility. Baseball  players 19 years old  from all over the

United Sates that were selected by a sophisticated tryout program orchestrated by the (United States Baseball Federated) and  (IMBIA) a division of the Olympic Committee were standing at attention as the National Anthem played.

As the National Anthem faded into the night the fans went wild as they cheered for boys that they had grown to know during the last seven days. They came from all over the world to play in the world’s first World Friendship Baseball Series.

Across the field stood the opposing team standing in a regimented format looking almost military like. The Korean music began to play and the entire ball park stood at attention as we listened to the words and music to their National Anthem. The Anthem came to an end and again the standing room only baseball facility went berserk as the United Stated cheered and welcomed the team from Korea .

The evening was the highlight of one of the largest "all volunteer" events ever organized in Newark , Ohio .

Let’s go back in time…..

It’s the summer of 1979 several months after our Second Babe Ruth World Series, we were campaigning and using every contact from the Governor to local business leaders for their support in hosting the first ever World Friendship Baseball Series to be comprised of 11 teams from almost every continent in the world and a team from the United States.

Our community organized many people and businesses during the two Babe Ruth World Series,so we were the first choice by the United States Baseball Federation” and “IMABA,” a branch of the world Olympic Committee, to host the first ever World Series for 19 year olds. .

  

During lunch at Annarino’s Center Cafe, Don Edwards, Roger Balding and Tom Newman approached me to be the “Host Chairman” of the first ever International World Baseball Series ever held for 19 year olds. This series was to be the format for selecting teams and players to play baseball in future Olympics.  

Now, I’d been part of a few who worked to bring all the Babe Ruth Series together, but working on a world stage was a different challenge. The first thing in my mind was how I can get out of this predicament. My first thought was my Dad. I had already taken too much time away from our company during the two Babe Ruth World Series, so this will be an easy out for me.

  

My response to this group was “thanks for asking, but no thanks” my father would have no hide nor hair of me taking off any more time. Well, about this time these guys laid it on my Dad, and he said I could have the time off if I chose to accept this position. After nearly passing out, my response was, “I’ll think about this challenge as it was going to be the biggest thing I had ever encountered. I’d give them my answer after  some thought.”

After a lot of soul searching and discussion among people who’d be part of this “epic event” I accepted this community wide, and I mean “community wide” project.

The United States Baseball Federation and “IUMBIA” sent me to Tokyo , Japan to present this first ever 19 year old baseball series event to a world congress of baseball officials. It was just like the United Nations all the countries had little head phones listening to him being interpreted to their language while sitting behind a  sign hosting the name of their country.

My interpreter and I spent the next several days meeting other baseball officials from about 40 countries who committed to the possibility of coming to Newark , Ohio in a little more than a year to play in our world series.

Soon after the Japan trip, it was decided the countries who were going to be invited to our ‘World Friendship Series.’ This was the beginning of probably the biggest committee of volunteers ever assembled in our community.

Our biggest problem was how to or orchestrate such an event and host 11 different countries. I specifically chose 40 community people to be committee chairpersons, most of whom I had never meet. They recruited approximately another 1,200 1,400 volunteers.

I can remember in rather large meetings with well over 50 people in attendance, Jerry Nethers said, “What the heck are you doing running an international  baseball tournament. You don’t the difference between an ERA and an IRA.” I told Jerry, one of my closet friends, “I don’t need to know. I’m a team builder and have assembled people a lot smarter than me.”

Fast forward to a Saturday night in August, 1981, and the second game of the 3 game wining series. Korea is up one game. I was standing on the first base line with a nationally known baseball player who was a team mate of Babe Ruth. I  spent the better half of the afternoon with other baseball officials listening to stories about the “Babe” by none other than left hander New York Yankee, Lefty Gomez. How could it be any better, A full moon, standing room only, and our USA home team playing for the championship? We were being televised to South America and being radio broadcast all over the world from Newark , Ohio and here I was, standing beside Lefty Gomez. It couldn’t be any better.

Then it happened Korea won game two and took home the first ever “World Friendship Baseball Series” Championship.

I looked down at the baseball in my hand, autographed by Lefty Gomez, to Dave and Tim. I remembered their father handing me the ball and asking me to get it autographed, which I did. In all the excitement of the moment I forgot about the ball. I wonder if anyone knows of their whereabouts. Dave and Tim, where are you? If anyone knows, please contact me on Facebook or at 1^st Response.

How Do I Winterize a Vacant House?

First of all, it is advisable to leave the heat on very low. Though it might seem like a waste of money or energy at first glance, a minimal heating bill will be less expensive than the cost of potential repairs if everything were to freeze up. There are many systems and components in a house that are meant to be kept at or near room temperature. By using your furnace or boiler at a low level, you are keeping these things secure.

Most people know that a big part of winterizing is dealing with pipes and plumbing. If you have turned off the water, hopefully that means the house was plumbed on a downgrade so you were able to drain all the pipes completely and eliminate the chance of water expanding inside them and breaking the pipes. If not, it usually is advisable to leave some water running through the pipes by turning on the fixture closest to where water enters the house and at the farthest point indoors, say in an upstairs bathroom. It needs to trickle constantly to keep water flowing.

It is also advisable to wrap insulation around the water heater, the pipes leading to and from it and insulate any pipes exposed outdoors, in a crawl space under the house, etc. If the pilot light is left on, it is not necessary to drain the water heater, but if not, then it probably should be drained and turned off. You might call a local plumbing company in your area to discuss whether you should turn the water back on or not.

It is not a bad idea to put some anti-freeze in both the tank and the bowl of each toilet. If the heat goes out and water inside the toilets freezes, it could crack the china fixtures.

Winterizing your plumbing and water systems might be the most important aspect of winterizing in general, but coming in pretty close is inspecting your roof and cleaning out your gutters. The roof and attic of a vacant house might be left alone for very long periods of time, so getting a roof inspection before cold weather hits is a fantastic idea, and could end up saving you some serious money in the long run. Gutters, like plumbing, can develop real problems if ice is allowed to build up in them. Having your gutters cleaned before winter begins will reduce the risk of too much ice forming inside them.

Finally, make sure someone checks on the house every week or two, if at all possible. Though you can certainly take precautions such as winterizing whatever you can in and around the house, unexpected situations can still occur. A quick look around done periodically for as long as the house is empty (even during warmer weather) can mean the difference between a problem being caught early enough to be fixed before any damage is done, and a problem that's left unchecked long enough to cause hundreds or even thousands of dollars in damage.

FIRE

Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidation processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition. In ancient Greece, fire was considered one of four elements.

The flame is the visible portion of the fire. If hot enough, the gases may become ionized to produce plasma. Depending on the substances alight, and any impurities outside, the color of the flame and the fire's intensity will be different.

Fire in its most common form can result in conflagration, which has the potential to cause physical damage through burning. Fire is an important process that affects ecological systems across the globe. The positive effects of fire include stimulating growth and maintaining various ecological systems. Fire has been used by humans for cooking, generating heat, signaling, and propulsion purposes. The negative effects of fire include water contamination, soil erosion, atmospheric pollution and hazard to human and animal life.

Remembering

NEWARK — Craig Young remembers the morning in 1992 when he walked into the burned building that used to house his contracting business.

There was soot on the walls and a thick smell of smoke; he could hear the water-logged carpet squish as he walked across it.

At first, as a contractor, Young assumed he’d be able to fix the damage. But he soon realized the specialized process of repairing fire damage required equipment and skills he did not possess. As he watched people come in to clean up, he remembered looking at the commercial-grade dehumidifier and thinking, “I ought to get one of those.”

Twenty years later, as the owner of 1st Response Restoration and Reconstruction Specialists, Young is the owner of a dehumidifier and countless other special tools his company uses to combat damage caused by fire, smoke, mold and water.

“In this business, there are so many tricks of the trade,” said Young, who has been in the contracting business since his youth.

After his Manning Street business caught fire in 1992, Young began exploring what it would take to operate a business that specialized in the removal of fire, water and mold damage.

He eventually opened a local franchise of Purofirst, a national company, and 10 years later left the franchise to start 1st Response, a full-service construction company certified with the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification.

He meets with people who have walked into their homes for the first time after a fire to realize the roof is gone, the living room is scorched or the floor is covered in water.

Young tells them it will be OK — he’s been there.

The 1st Response crew sizes up the damage and springs into action, first looking to save as much of the structure as possible.

“Our goal is to repair and restore, rather than rip and replace,” Young said.

Items are taken from the customer’s home or business to the 1st Response facility on O’Bannon Avenue, where they individually are cleaned or replaced if necessary.

It’s a great feeling, showing a customer a room, business or home that has been brought back to life, Young said.

“When people come in and they see that finished product, that’s your business card,” he said.

The 24 hours per day, seven-days-per-week service primarily operates in Licking and surrounding counties. It keeps Young and his employees busy, but he couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

“It’s a very rewarding business,” Young said.

Full Service Contractor - 1st Response

740-345-4911

Serving Licking, Knox, Coshocton,

Muskingum, Perry and Fairfield Counties

1st Response

CALL 1st RESPONSE

740-345-4911

Serving Licking, Knox, Coshocton,

Muskingum, Perry and Fairfield Counties

Some of the benefits of working with 1st Response, include:

A full-service construction company.

A Certified Firm with the INSTITUTE OF INSPECTION, CLEANING AND RESTORATION CERTIFICATION.

We are a Preferred Contractor for most major insurance companies, and have worked with over 50 other insurance firms.

The Staff personally responds immediately to every call.

Emergency service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Our Certified, trained technicians use the latest technology available for restoration and reconstruction work.

You will receive a timely and accurate estimate.

Immediate Board-Up

First Response

1st Response, Newark, Ohio

Before and After

MOLD

The best way yet to detect mold is simlpy to see and smell it.

Look for areas in the home that mold may be present.

Mold's favorite places happen to be bathrooms, kitchens, and basements.

Check any area that may have a lot of moisture.

Remember mold can be any color.

Red ,black, green, purple, or any other color.

If you can see or smell mold, then you have mold.

It is pretty simple.

While everyone else is gone for the weekend...we are here for you 24/7. 

If disaster should strike you, your friends, your family....CALL 1st RESPONSE! 

(740) 345-4911

and we will take it from there.

Plan Ahead

Make sure all family members know what to do in the event of a fire. 

Draw a floor plan with at least two ways of escaping every room. 

Make a drawing for each floor. Dimensions do not need to be correct. 

Make sure the plan shows important details: stairs, hallways and windows that can be used as fire escape routes.

Geographical Area Covered by 1st Response

Area covered by 1st Response

Some of the benefits of working with 1st Response

A full-service construction company.

A Certified Firm with the INSTITUTE OF INSPECTION, CLEANING AND RESTORATION CERTIFICATION.

We are a Preferred Contractor for most major insurance companies, and have worked with over 50 other insurance firms.

The Staff personally responds immediately to every call.

Emergency service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Our Certified, trained technicians use the latest technology available for restoration and reconstruction work.

With 1st Response you will receive a timely and accurate estimate.

Some HOT Weather Suggestions

Fans and Ceiling Fans

If you’re looking for ways to beat the heat, a ceiling fan can be a great investment for your home. This one appliance can make a room feel 6 or 7 degrees cooler, and even the most power-hungry fan costs less than $10 a month to use if you keep it on for 12 hours a day. Good fans make it possible for you to raise your thermostat setting and save on air-conditioning costs. Fans don’t use much energy, but when air is circulating, it feels much cooler. Ceiling fans are best, but a good portable fan can be very effective as well.

You should remember that even mild air movement of 1 mph can make you feel three or four degrees cooler. Also make sure your ceiling fan is turned for summer – you should feel the air blown downward.

Shades, drapes, or blinds

Install white window shades, drapes, or blinds to reflect heat away from the house. Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun (east-facing windows in the morning and west-facing windows in the afternoon) to keep the sun’s heat out and help fans or air conditioners cool more efficiently. Always remember that the best way to keep your home cool is to keep the heat out.

Internal Heat

The most common sources of internal heat gain are; appliances, electronic devices, and lighting. Be aware from where the heat is comming. Now if you have air conditioning, use it wisely. Don’t put lamps, televisions or other heat-generating appliances next to your air-conditioning thermostat, because the heat from these appliances will cause the air conditioner to run longer. The heat they produce will make it think your house is warmer than it really is, and your system will run harder than it needs to.

•Unless you absolutely need them, turn off incandescent lights and heat-generating appliances. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents; they produce the same light but use a fifth the energy and heat.

•You should also try to avoid heat-generating activities, such as cooking, on hot days or during the hottest part of the day. If you are cooking, use your range fan to vent the hot air out of your house. By reducing the amount of heat in your home, you will have to use less energy to cool it.

Other things to remember

Humidity makes room air feel warmer, so reduce indoor humidity. Minimize mid-day washing and drying clothes, showering, and cooking. And when you must do these things, turn on ventilating fans to help extract warm, moist air.

Avoid landscaping with lots of unshaded rock, cement, or asphalt on the south or west sides because it increases the temperature around the house and radiates heat to the house after the sun has set.

If the attic isn’t already insulated or is under-insulated, insulate it NOW. Upgrading from 3 inches to 12 inches can cut cooling costs by 10 percent.

Some Summer Tips

Some "tips" to keep cool during these HOT Summer days.

1. Reduce the cooling load by employing cost-effective conservation measures. Provide effective shade for east and west windows. When possible, delay heat-generating activities such as dish washing until evening on hot days.

2. Over most of the cooling season, keep the house closed tight during the day. Don’t let in unwanted heat and humidity. Ventilate at night either naturally or with fans.

3. You can help get rid of unwanted heat through ventilation if the temperature of the incoming air is 77 F or lower. (This strategy works most effectively at night and on cooler days.) Window fans for ventilation are a good option if used properly. They should be located on the downwind side of the house facing out. A window should be open in each room. Interior doors must remain open to allow air flow.

4. Use ceiling fans to increase comfort levels at higher thermostat settings. The standard human comfort range for light clothing in the summer is between 72 F and 78 F. To extend the comfort range to 82 F, you need a breeze of about 2.5 ft/sec or 1.7 mph. A sow-turning ceiling-mounted paddle fan can easily provide this air flow.

5. In hot climates, plant shade trees around the house. Don’t plant trees on the South if you want to benefit from passive solar heating in the winter.

6. If you have an older central air conditioner, consider replacing the outdoor compressor with a modern, high-efficiency unit. Make sure that it is properly matched to the indoor unit.

7. If buying a new air conditioner, be sure that it is properly sized. Get assistance from an energy auditor or air conditioning contractor.

8. Buy a high-efficiency air conditioner: for room air conditioners, the energy efficiency ratio (EER) rating should be above 10; for central air conditioners, look for a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) rating above 12.

9. In hot, humid climates, make sure that the air conditioner you buy will adequately get rid of high humidity. Models with variable or multi-speed blowers are generally best. Try to keep moisture sources out of the house.

10. Try not to use a dehumidifier at the same time your air conditioner is operating. The dehumidifier will increase the cooling load and force the air conditioner to work harder.

11. Seal all air conditioner ducts, and insulate ducts that run through unheated basements, crawl spaces, and attics.

12. Keep the thermostat set at 78 degrees F or higher if using ceiling fans. Don’t air-condition unused rooms.

13. Maintain your air conditioners properly to maximize efficiency.

BEWARE of untrustworthy contractors .............

•Beware of “fly-by-night” contractors or “storm chasers” who swarm the area after a storm. They may not be properly licensed or insured or may be using inferior materials and may be hard to locate later if there is a problem with their work.

•Ask for and check references. Trustworthy businesses should be able to direct you to references that will vouch for their credibility. Follow through and confirm the company’s reliability with multiple references before you hire.

•Beware of price gouging. Some unethical businesses may be marking up their products or services by as much as 500 percent. If you can wait to do any repairs until this busy time passes, do it.

•Make any temporary repairs, then take the time to hire ethical business contracts. Beware of companies who claim your home is structurally unsafe and needs expensive repairs.

•Check with your insurance company, and make sure to take pictures and document any repair needs as soon as possible.

•Compare bids, but determine which company will provide the best quality and not just the lowest price. Some “storm chaser” companies will offer rock-bottom prices, but may be unlicensed or providing inferior services. Legitimate contractors can provide a “Certificate of Insurance” that verifies they have current liability and workmen’s compensation coverage. Every consumer should verify that contractors are properly insured and licensed before allowing them to work on their property.

•Remember that reputable companies don’t ask for the entire fee up-front. Never pay more than one-third of the cost before repairs are complete. Also, pay by check or credit card instead of cash. These more secure methods of payment ensure that you will be more likely to track and retrieve your money in case of a scam.

1st Response is a FULL SERVICE contractor, specializing in restoration. CONTACT US

Call us at 740-345-4911.

Some DO's and DONT'S about flooding

How to safely clean affected areas due to flooding:

•Do not wade into standing water in your basement unless you are sure the electricity to your home is off.

•Unless you are certain basement flood waters came from around the foundation or from window wells, you should assume it contains sewage.

•Minimize skin exposure by wearing rubber boots and gloves and keep children and pets away from flood contaminated surfaces.

•As soon as the water is drained away, all wet items should be cleaned and thoroughly dried within 48 hours of flooding to prevent the growth of mold.

•When cleaning, items should first be washed with soap and water to remove visible debris and dirt. A disinfecting solution of one-half to three quarters cup of household bleach to one gallon of water should then be applied to the surface and allowed to air dry.

•Promptly fix any leaks in your home’s roof, walls or plumbing to eliminate moisture that could promote mold growth.

•Discard wet carpet, rugs and upholstery that cannot be easily cleaned to prevent mold growth.

•Keep the humidity level in your home between 40 and 60 percent to prevent mold growth.

1st Response suggestitons .......

Craig Young and 1st Response  say consider using the following flood damage prevention tips:


•Install a sewer backflow valve to prevent sewage from backing up into the house.

•Elevate water heaters, furnaces, washers and dryers at least six inches above basement floors or move them to an upper floor. Use a licensed contractor when making plumbing or electrical changes.

•Raise electrical panel boxes, switches, and outlets at least one foot above the 100-year flood level. For help in determining the 100-year flood level in your area, check with local officials.

•Cut drywall to at least one-half inch above the floor, especially in basements. Concrete floors commonly absorb ground moisture which travels up the wallboard allowing mold to grow unseen within the walls. Seal the gap between the wallboard and the floor with wood or rubberized floor trim.

•Anchor a fuel tank by securing it to a large concrete slab or to ground anchors using metal straps.

•Add waterproof veneer to exterior walls and seal all openings, including doors.

•Use flood-resistant building materials – materials that can withstand direct contact with floodwaters for at least 72 hours without being significantly damaged. These building materials are available at many home improvement stores.•Build interior and exterior floodwalls. A watertight masonry floodwall can be constructed to enclose furnaces, utilities and appliances on the lowest floor of the building. On the outside, a similar wall could be constructed around the perimeter of the basement opening to keep water from entering.