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HOMEOWNER 101

Welcome to Homeowner 101...THE RESOURCE for new and experienced homeowners!

Havoc Heroes Restoration Services is committed to giving back to the communities we serve by providing homeowners with relevant information about how to take care of their homes with our Homeowner 101 Blogs. Informational articles are listed below under various categories so that the homeowners can quickly find the information they need.

Additional blogs and topics will continually be added and so check back frequently. If there is a topic of interest that you would like to request, please place your topic request in the "Contact Us" tab and we will do our best to provide that information.

I. Homeowner Maintenance (This section is currently being built, check back soon)

I. Homeowner Maintenance

A water heater is one of the most neglected major components of a home...until there is a leak causing water damage, no hot water, or brown hot water. While the general consensus is that a water heater will last in a home for about 10 years, with a bit of annual maintenance, it may easily last longer.

One of the most common causes of water damage inside the home is due to the failure of those black rubber water intake hoses behind your washing machine as over time they begin to get dry and cracked or burst...but luckily there is a very easy fix which is extremely affordable.

Whether you've rented an apartment or own a home, it is very important that you understand the fundamentals of the electrical system installed in your home. You should know what to do in case something goes wrong. This information is crucial when you need to shut off a circuit for repair, when you need to reset the circuit breaker after it has tripped or in case of an emergency. The circuit breaker is your main component to begin with because it controls the supply of power to the different areas of your property.

II. Home Insurance

II. Home Insurance

While as a homeowner, we all hope never to experience a property loss, property losses do happen and a little preparation now can save you lots of headaches, time, and dollars later in the event your home does incur property damage.

Many homeowners mistakenly think that all water damage is the same and is covered by your homeowner's insurance policy. Ground water is water that enters into your home from a source outside your home, such as from general flooding or a sewer backup.

Your house has sustained storm damage, water damage, flood damage, or fire damage and you need help...and fast...but who do you call first? Should you call your homeowner insurance company's 1-800 emergency number first or not?

III. Emergency Services

III. Emergency Services

9-volt batteries power our smoke alarms, household items and toys.
They can be found in most homes. But these batteries can be a fire hazard if not stored safely or disposed of with care.

A. Water Damange

When the sewer or your septic tank backs up into your home or office, it is definitely not a pretty site or smell and, unless only in a very small area, cleanup of this mess should not be a DIY project as this is contaminated water which can be a major health hazard!

Lots of homes have them....those dark and damp abysses under your home, the "crawl space", and the reality is that what happens in your crawl space does not generally "stay in your crawl space"....

A common question after water damage in a home is whether the hardwood floors can be saved and the answer depends on several factors. The first consideration is how much water went on your floors and how long was the flooring exposed to the water? The second factor is what kind of "hardwood" floor do you have or is it actually a laminate floor that looks like hardwood?

A common question asked by homeowners if their home sustains water damage is can they dry it thoroughly by themselves or should they hire a professional? Well the answer is a definitive Yes and No!

All water damage is wet but that is where the similarities end. You come home from the grocery store and see water on your kitchen floor and your first reaction is to attempt to dry it up, thinking that it is "just water".

So if you see signs of water damage or areas that need mold damage removal during a home inspection, call a professional to find out what the source of the problem is as water damage restoration and any necessary mold remediation is vital to keeping your new home healthy.

C. Mold (This section is currently being built - check back soon)

C. Mold

While oftentimes the words mildew and mold are used to mean the same thing, there are actually some key differences, primarily how to get rid of them.

VI.Miscellaneous

VI. Miscellaneous

Cobb County homeowners who are 62 or older as of January 1st of the current year may file for the School Tax Exemption (Cobb County Age 62 Tax Exemption) by completing and submitting the exemption form on or before April 1st of that year.

What is hotter, melted glass or a sparkler? Melted glass is 900 degrees F and a sparkler is 2000 degrees F!The next time you hand your child a sparkler, keep them safe with the following tips: *Always use fireworks under adult supervision

Homeownership is the American Dream but with this dream also comes the responsibility of taking care of your home which can be quite a challenge.

Currently there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted from a human to your household pet; however, very little is known about this virus...