Wet Carpet in Cars: Where Did That Come From?

With the recent onslaught of hurricanes, flood-damaged cars seem be just about everywhere. Awareness has been raised among Americans to be careful in buying these restored vehicles. However, a small percentage of cars also suffer from water damage without it being even exposed to the slightest of flood. Evidence of this is only present in wet carpet.

One of the reasons for wet carpet inside your car is the air-conditioning system. Clogged A/C tubes can cause water to drip down on the passenger side, thus the wet carpet. In order to avoid this, you have to conduct a regular check of the tubes. Make sure that they do not have debris big enough to clog your system.

Another reason why you have a wet carpet is cracks near the door. If your vehicle has some cracks, these could let the water in especially when it is raining. It could also let water in when you are doing some car washing.

Faulty rubber door seal is also a primary reason for wet carpet. The rubber sidings in your vehicles door might no longer be working leaving some openings where water could come in.
Depending on the make of your car, some sunroofs could catch water and have it flow inside your car. Heaters can also fracture and leak due to rust and corrosion if not checked regularly.

Some cars also suffer from water damage and wet carpet when parked in a slanting position. The culprit in this case is the improperly placed wires which could act as conduit for water from the A/C to travel to the carpet. The inclined position of the car makes it more possible for the water to move.

Damaged evaporator core box can also be the reason for the water inside your car. Since this car part is not easily accessible with it being hidden behind the dashboard, damages to it is not easily detected and might take years before it would be discovered.

Another probable reason yet is plugged up drain slots in the doors. Rain water hitting your car’s window drains through one of the slots at the bottom edge of the door. You can unclog these slots wit the use of a thin bladed knife. Open the door and carefully examine its bottom edge. The narrow slots that you could see along the lowest edge of the exterior “skin” of the door are the drain slots.

Upon inserting the knife into the slot, pull it in and out while also swinging t back and forth inside the slot. This should break down whatever is causing the blockage and allow to water to drain. Be careful though, as water could drain out and spill on you.
Using a garden hose, let water run along the lower edge between the window and the bottom of the widow opening.

Keep in mind, however, that this could only work for small debris. If you suspect that there could be large debris stuck in the drain slots, you would need to take out the inner panel of the door and remove the debris.

There could still be other reasons why you have a wet carpet inside your car. This could include windows and sunroof inadvertently left open. Just the same, knowing where the water came from is already a step towards the solution of your problem.

A Total Flood Damage Cleanup

A house damaged by flood is never a heart warming sight for anyone. It brings a lot of headaches, worries and stress. This is usually the case of basements, the most ignored part of one’s house.

Structural damage as well as health and safety problems are one of the results of a flooded basement. Pooled water provides the best environment for mosquitoes to bred in while mold can thrive in damp walls. These molds can produce spores that might be harmful to your health.

Water pressure can also damage your foundation and provide openings for small insects to enter your flooded basement. Insects such as ants and termites are drawn to wet environments. They can be quite destructive moving from your flooded basement to wall spaces as well as electrical conduits. These are some of the reasons why a flood damage cleanup should be done as soon as it is safe to do so.

Make sure that your home is already safe to enter. Remember to wear rubber gloves, masks and water-proof gloves before starting any flood damage cleanup effort.

The first step in flood damage cleanup is to have a water damage professional conduct an inspection of the interior and exterior of your house to check which areas need to be attended to first.

Check if, aside from the flood in your basement, you also have busted pipes that can wreck your flood damage cleanup efforts. Keep in mind that, even small water puddles can lead to flood is left unchecked.

Use a sump pump to drain water from your basement. Check your drains and gutters and make sure that water flows away from your home. Any flood damage cleanup effort would be futile if drains and gutters are not checked properly making water flow back into your basement.

Pools of standing water outside your home can serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. This insect is known for carrying diseases such as Malaria, Encephalitis and West Nile Virus. To avoid this, flatten areas where water accumulates, concentrating first on portions nearest to your home. Damp and heavy soil can damage your foundation causing cracks that can lead to another round of flooded basement as well as create entry points for insects and small animals. Trim back any branches that touch your roof. Remove any dead or rotting trees and stumps.

Flood water in your basement can seep into your walls causing wood to rot. This would become a food and shelter source for ants and termites. This makes flood damage cleanup in basements a must. Basements should likewise be sealed off so that it doesn’t flood again. If the cracks in your basement are not sealed properly, you can end up with a whole colony of unwanted roommates that are really tough to evict. Contact flood damage clean up specialists or a pest control professional if you need help in the cleaning or exterminating process.

Once you have removed any standing water from your house, you can start washing and scrubbing your walls. Do not forget to sanitize these parts also to ensure that molds and other bacteria or fungi have been removed.

Put epoxy on all cracks in your house. Epoxy can stretch from the inner to the outer wall as well as expand and contract with every temperature change.

Although the whole flood damage cleanup process can take a while, it still is worth it. Any delay in starting it could mean a minute less for you or your family member’s life.

The Joy of Gift-giving in Latvia

Nestled between Lithuania and Estonia is a small, flat country commonly called the “get-away-from-it-all” destination - Latvia. Latvians find joy in giving gifts to their friends and relatives. Their country lays claim to one of the world’s most enduring holiday symbol.
Christmas

When one hears of gifts and gift-giving, one immediately thinks of reindeers and sleighs, Santa Clause and his elves, and shiny gift wrappers. Christmas is automatically in one’s mind with images of Christmas Trees undoubtedly not far behind.

Latvia is traditionally called the birthplace of Christmas Trees hence making Christmas one of Latvia's very important festivities. At the start f the advent season, advent wreaths are hung inside houses.

Christmas is considered a part of family celebration which includes Christmas tree decorating and gift-giving on Christmas Eve. Families also attend the midnight mass on the eve of Christmas. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals are made of potatoes, sauerkraut and pork, small pies, and lentils with bacon. One can expect 12 gifts from Father Christmas, one for each of the 12 days of Christmas. Poetry reading is a popular activity before gifts are opened.
Celebrations last for 12 days after Christmas with some Latvians dressing in Christmas trees with artificial roses. Gingerbread can be found everywhere during this season. December 26 is reserved for the celebration of the Boxing Day.

Meteni

Meteni is a traditional Latvian festival held during the 23rd February of every year as part of the country's ancient calendar of events. Latvians serve dishes made from parts of a pig, bread, barley and beer. Sledding is one of the popular activities during this festival. The degree to which one celebrated Meteni was believed to be proportional to the success of one's crops.

Summer Solstice

Latvians also celebrate Ligo Diena (Midsummer’s Eve) Jāņi (Midsummer’s Day, St. John’s Day) in commemoration of the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. This usually falls on the 23rd and 24th of June of every year and involves going out into the countryside for festivities. A Latvian legend tells of a fern that will flower only on this night. Couples would usually go off into the woods to search for this 'flowering' fern with the men wearing crown made of oak leaves and the women adorned with wreaths made of wild flowers. It is also a time to get together with families and enjoy sumptuous meal. Popular activities include bonfires and maypole dancing.

Autumn Equinox

Every September 23, Latvians celebrate the Autumn Equinox. This festival marks the start of the threshing season at the Autumn equinox, the same season meant for the souls of the dead. The traditional activities include chasing and welcoming Jumis, the spirits of the dead. Latvians serve their guests with bread, rooster, pork or mutton.

Latvians also celebrate other occasions like New Year’s Eve where Latvians go out into the streets and watch fireworks, New Year’s Day, Labor Day, Latvian National Day and Proclamation of the Republic but with lesser fanfare. Since most of Latvians are Catholics, celebration of Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday is also encouraged.
Latvians are also known to indulge in gift-giving with family and friends during birthdays, baptisms and weddings. However, one must be guided by the following when presenting Latvians with gifts.

- The thought that goes with the gift is more appreciated than the price of the gift
- When invited to their house, it is best that you bring along for the hostess a box of chocolates, a bottle of imported liquor, fruit or flowers.
- Flowers should be given in odd numbers as even numbers suggest mourning
- Red roses are a no-no unless you are going to a funeral.
- Open your gifts as soon as your receive them as this shows appreciation.

In Latvia, traditions are instilled even to children belonging to the new generation. Their celebrations are not just tourist come-ons but are evidence of how much they hold their traditions important.

Turkmenistan: A Different Take on Gift- Giving

In Central Asia, there lies a country of Turkmen known as Turkmenistan. About 90% of its inhabitants are Muslims thus; images of Santa Claus, reindeers and shiny green-red gift wrappers are not easily recognized. One might presuppose that the joy of gift-giving does not exist in this region. However, with 11 public holidays, Turkmenistan shows the world how one can share gifts in a different way.

Ramazan and Seker Bayram

Being predominantly Muslim, the most important holiday for Turkmen is the Ramazan (local name for Ramadan) and the subsequent Ramazan Bairam. As much as traditional songs and activities mark the start of Ramazan, festivities and gift-giving activities symbolize its end. Ramazan Baira (end of Ramadan, Eid ul Fitr) usually calls for gaieties with a lot of cooking. Sweets are prepared for neighbors and children who would go from house to house making this holiday also known as Seker Bayram (Candy or Sugar Bayram). Gifts in various kinds are given to each other. These celebrations are based on the appearance of the moon thus; there is no specific date for it.

Oraza or Kurban Bairam

Kurban Bairam is celebrated 70 days after the end of Ramadan. This four-day festival marks the start of Hajj or the holy pilgrimage. During this time, a large number of sheep are sacrificed with the meat given to the poor.
Women’s Day
Women’s Day is Turkmenistan’s version of Mother’s Day. It is usually held on March 8 and is a national holiday. It celebrated the importance of women and encourages everyone to give token or gifts to the women in their lives be it their classmate or mother.

Novruz Bairam

This is the most colorful of all the Turkmenistan festival and is celebrated around March 21. It commemorates the arrival of spring and coincides with the vernal equinox. Pre-Novruz activities include cleaning the house, buying new clothes and cooking of special dishes as well as sweets. On the day itself, families share the festive meal that they have prepared and visit relatives and friends to share meal with them. This is also the day for them to visit their deceased relatives. Other activities include folk dancing and reading of destans (epic).

Novruz is also a time for children to go from house to house while singing traditional rhymes and collecting gifts and small tokens.

Novruz is a Turkic holiday that has been around for centuries. It is an occasion for friendships, renewal and happiness; a celebration closely intertwined with Turkic traditions and cultures.
Turkmenistan, being a region of festival-loving people, celebrates other holidays, albeit with much less revelries and gift-giving, that have taken a deep root in the Turkmen culture. This include the celebration of New Year’s Day, Flag Day (February 19), Constitution Day (May 18), Remembrance Day (October 6), Independence Day (October 27-28), and Day of Neutrality (December 12). They also celebrate smaller feasts like "The drop of water is the grain of gold" festival every first Sunday of April. Last Sunday of April, on the other hand, is set aside for Turkmen horses. May 19 is for the Makhtumkuli poetry festival while the last Sunday of May is the Turkmen Carpet Day, a relatively new holiday decreed by the late President Niyazov. Turkmen melons are celebrated on the second Sunday of August. Bakshy day held every last Sunday of September celebrates Turkmen folk singers while the last Sunday of November celebrates the Harvest Festibval. Even though Turkmen do not have Christmas, December is not essentially a cold month as they celebrate the Neighborhood Day.

Most of the Turkmen celebrations or festivities are associated with stages in one’s life such as birth, childhood, marriage and death. Their celebrations are not just reasons to commemorate but are expressions of the culture that they have.

The Document Drying Services

Once the flood waters have receded or the smallest water puddle mopped up, a new problem begins. Water damage does not just end when the last drop had been mopped up. It can extend to the something that not anybody can notice – your documents.

When documents have been damaged water, the usual reaction is to find various ways of drying them out from fanning them to using industrial vacuums.

Currently, there are five document drying services you can choose from. This includes air drying, dehumidification, freezer drying, vacuum freeze drying, vacuum thermal drying, and Thermaline.

Air drying

It is the oldest and most convenient form of all document drying services. However, cheap it is not. With air-drying you would need to spend a lot of energy and time. And that’s not all! Air dried documents become distorted and, if the document drying is not done properly, it could cause formation of stains as well as growth of molds. This document drying technique is best suited for damp to slightly wet documents.

Dehumidification

This process, also called dessicant-drying, has proven its efficiency time and again specifically in big companies. Its advantage comes in the fact that it can be done without having to move your documents. This is especially effective in the cases of libraries and archives. However, you may need to have a number of dehumidifiers. This process is one of the document drying services that is not recommended for those with water-soluble ink.

Freezer drying

Moderately wet documents as well as leather-bound books and those with vellum bindings maybe subjected to this document drying method. It makes use of self-defrosting blast freezers capable of freezing materials very quickly. Documents may also be placed in the freezer in stacks or spread out to dry.


This particular method could take some time depending on the gravity of the damage. It is not particularly recommended for coated paper.

Vacuum thermal drying

This method uses a vacuum thermal drying chamber. Documents, either frozen or not, are placed into the chamber and are dried above 0° C. Although cost, effective, it fares no better than air-drying and freezer drying as it could still cause documents to be distorted. It is, however, very suited for un-coated papers.

Vacuum freezing

One of the two most expensive document drying services, vacuum freezing makes use of very complex machineries. It is based on the principle of sublimation wherein water is forcibly transformed into vapour without going through the liquid phase. You can expect to have your vacuum frozen documents within two weeks. Although relatively expensive, this technique produces satisfactory result compared to other document drying services.

Thermaline or Cryogenic Drying

Although still under revision stage, this copyrighted name for a relatively new technique answers the difficulty of drying large numbers of rare leather-bound or vellum-bound books. It can be quite expensive but can give the same, if not better, satisfactory result as the Vacuum Freezing method. Documents with water-soluble ink as well as coated papers can be dried using this technique. It uses advanced technology combined as well as a variation of the Freezer Drying technique.

Knowledge of the different document drying services can help you decide what the most suitable answer to your water damage problem is. Keep in mind, however, that no matter how much you know about the different techniques, nothing beats quick response and getting in touch with professionals who can give dependable document drying services.