WEST MICHIGAN – A deep freeze that produced massive amounts of snowfall last week followed by an increase in temperatures has water creeping its way into people’s homes.
Rob Vansuilichem, general manager of Everdry in Grand Rapids, said he’s had to bring in extra crews just to keep up with the number of calls.
“I normally have two to three guys going out and doing storm inspections this time of year, and right now we’re running four to six,” Vansuilichem said. “We’re getting a lot of calls. A lot of people are really in panic.”
Everdry specializes in basement and crawl space waterproofing. By the time many people notice water inside their homes, there’s already a big problem, Vansuilichem said.
“Prevention is very important.. Clear down spouts, make sure gutters are cleared.” You might notice cracks in the foundation or a musty smell that would indication mold.
Mold can actually begin to grow within just 24 to 48 hours after water entering a home, Vansuilichem said.
“Most of the mold issues are in the basement. The furnace draws air up through the basement, blows it up through the house…and you don’t even realize that it’s actually throughout your whole house. It can be a health hazard.”
