Dustless on the Other Side

Picture this scene: Your house has finally been restored so you don't have to spend another night in a hotel. The walls of your house are freshly painted per your color preferences, the new floors have been stained and finished, the last of your furniture has been moved back in from a container and the final cleaning has been completed.

But, while you are moving back in, you notice that although the cleaning crew seemed to have worked diligently for most of the day, there is a thin layer of dust on everything in the restored areas. Upon further inspection, you discover that even rooms that were not affected by the loss have a layer of sawdust thick enough to write your name in. Outraged, you call the restoration company and insist on another cleaning that will encompass all the areas that are now covered in dust. Your sense of relief turns into frustration because this nightmare seems as if will never end.

This scenario can be avoided by a dual effort on the part of the restoration company and the homeowner. When the contents are removed from areas that will be sanded and finished, it is the restoration company's responsibility to cover all return registers in the affected areas with a filter. This basic step keeps the sawdust from the sand and finish from filtrating through the HVAC system and depositing on flat surfaces in unaffected areas.

On the other end, the homeowner can prevent a frustrating predicament simply by changing HVAC filters before the cleaning begins and by being reasonable in their expectations of post-restoration cleaning. No residence is completely dust-free.

That's just a small tip from the wisdom of someone who had to find out the hard way--through experience.

Chloe L. Hudson - Senior Contents Technician