Water damage is no laughing matter.Lenox Chem-Dry and Marietta Chem-Dry wants insured homeowners to know their rights and be familiar with these 16 water damage do's and don'ts to protect themselves and their property in the event of a flood.

Water damage is no laughing matter. Lenox Chem-Dry and Marietta Chem-Dry wants Metro Atlana homeowners and businesses to know their rights as well as several do's and don'ts so that in the event of broken/frozen pipes, busted water heaters or any other flooding events, homeowners can take several preventative measures to protect their homes.

According to State Farm, an average of a quarter-million families have their homes ruined and their lives disrupted each winter, all because of water pipes that freeze and burst. In fact, an eighth-inch (three millimeter) crack in a pipe can spew up to 250 gallons (946 liters) of water a day. Both plastic(PVC) and copper pipes can burst.

What to do if you have water damage:

1. First and most importantly, stay calm.

2. Turn off the power to all outlets in the affected rooms. Never enter a flooded area/room without first doing this. If the water line is in or above the electrial outlets, stay OUT of the water!!

3. Has the leak has stopped? If not or if unsure, call a plumber.

4. If the leak has stopped, contact a water damage company ASAP.

5. Contact your insurance company, file a claim (if applicable) and document claim #. Reconfirm your deductible. If possible, get the name and number of the adjuster assigned to your claim.

6. If the power has been securely turned off in affected areas, and the water is not higher than any electrical outlets, remove as many personal belongings/furniture as possible from affected areas as long as the ceiling is not sagging from water.

7. Use ziploc bags and cover wood furniture legs.

8. Get as many of your belongings, boxes, clothing, etc out of the areas where the water will need to be extracted.

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What NOT to do if you have water damage:

1. Again, DO NOT enter a flooded area/room without first turning off the power to those outlets PRIOR to entering the room.

2. Do NOT use your household vacuum to remove water unless it is a wet-vac.

3. Do NOT use TVs or other appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors, inc. concrete.

4. Do NOT switch on ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet + stay out of rooms with sagging, wet ceilings.

5. DO NOT call just any contractor! Not all contractors specialize in water damage! This is actually a science because it's more than just extacting water.

6. DO NOT hire the cheapest person in the phone book - you may end up paying for this later if the home is not fully dried out from top to bottom, inside and out.

7. DO NOT think you have to let the insurance company dictate who you use. You have a right to use whatever company you want.

8. DO NOT TRY TO "DIY" water damage!! Just because a wall may not feel or look wet does not mean that it's dry. The same goes with flooring - if a section of carpet is damp on top, the pad and subfloor may be soaked and the affected area may go out much farther than you realize. If you wait until it starts to "smell", it may be too late... The smell is typically an indicator of mold/microbial growth and instead of preventing a problem, which you could have done, by thinking that the water would "dry out by itself" or that there wasn't "that big of a problem" you may now need costly mold remediation.

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Lenox Chem-Dry + Marietta Chem-Dry have received the Consumer's Choice Award for their 24/7 Emergency response water damage in Atlanta. They have been nationally recognized + published as a Disaster Restoration Industry leader. They also offer low moisture/dry carpet/upholstery cleaning, specializing in pet urine, brown or plant stains, green cleaning in Metro Atlanta using the patented Chem-Dry cleaning system. They also clean Oriental rugs, mattresses, drapery, tile and grout and more. You can reach them at 404-233-8898.

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4x Consumer's Choice Award Winner, Lenox Chem-Dry + Marietta Chem-Dry, have added yet another highly specialized premium service for their Atlanta clientele, leather repair and restoration! Don't waste money buying new; spend only a fraction and RENEW!

Lenox Chem-Dry and Marietta Chem-Dry, carpet and upholstery cleaning specialists, are proud to unveil their newest premier service: leather restoration. Just imagine your aged upholstery or favorite recliner... What about a favorite sofa hidden in a corner? After time, the leather often starts to fade, crack, become less supple.... Eventually the time comes to throw out the upholstery because it seems so far gone.
With our revolutionary services, we can completely restore your upholstery and revive it to what it once was. Pet owners particularly love how we can improve the pet claw scratches and scuffs on both interior upholstery as well as the auto upholstery.

How can we help your home? Well, sofas that are aged, cream, dirty and dingy can be rejuvenated but even better, they can be redyed.... Imagine - does your leather piece no longer match your decor'? No problem - we can completely change the color!

Automotive/Cars/Motorcyles - Leather motorcycle seats, saddles, leather jackets, vintage purses, shoes, bucket seats, leather dashboards and trim, they can all be improved upon and made to look beautifully.

We are one of the only certified firms in the state of Georgia proudly serving Metro Atlanta offering these services. We provide free no-obligation estimates and are currently offering 20% off leather restoration services with mention of this press release.

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Lenox Chem-Dry and Marietta Chem-Dry, Consumer’s Choice Award recipient for 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 for trusted carpet cleaning and emergency water damage restoration, is now offering superior stone and tile care services, including cleaning and sealing.

Tile and grout, which are most common in kitchen and bathroom areas, are breeding grounds for bacteria, capturing dirt, residues, cleaning products and even food crumbs as you walk across the floors. Due to the perceived health benefits of easy to maintain tile, homeowners are expanding their flooring selections to include tile in great rooms and other living spaces. However, they are not informed that porous stones, including granite countertops, and grout need to be sealed to preserve the unstained appearance of the stone and grout but more importantly to prevent health issues arising from children or pets that are on the flooring; not only will stone and grout hold crumbs and dirt but also urine.

Natural stones, including granite, marble and travertine, and grout are incredibly porous so a professional cleaning and sealing of the surface is crucial. Consider this: every time you run a mop across the floor or a wet rag over granite countertops to clean the surfaces, the dirty water is actually working its way deep into the pores of the stones and grout. Even sweeping can agitate the dirt and push more into the grout pores.

“Our new service will make your tile and grout look like new,” said Roger Pisaneschi, owner of Lenox Chem-Dry and Marietta Chem-Dry. “The response from clients has been amazing. In fact, many cannot even believe what their grout used to look like.”

The best professional services will apply a proprietary cleaning solution followed by a high-pressure water rinse and a powerful extraction process to loosen and remove all of the embedded dirt. Then, a coat of heavy-duty sealant is applied to keep the grout as clean as possible in-between professional cleanings.

“It is important to clean and seal your tile and grout on a regular basis,” says Pisaneschi. Because sealed tile is highly durable, maintenance is simple. Pisaneschi recommends cleaning your tile floors with a pH-balanced cleaner as often as every other day – and insists on using a professional cleaning service every 18 months in order to deep clean the stone and grout pores.

For additional information on professional tile and grout cleaning or for a free estimate, contact Lenox Chem-Dry at (404) 233-8898 or visit www.lenoxcd.com

In honor of their six year anniversary, Lenox Chem-Dry is offering an introductory offer of 16% off tile/stone care cleaning and sealing services. Min. charges still apply.

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