FAQ

General Questions

  • Immediately call for professional help. Water and bacteria-growth damage can begin within hours.
  • Remove as much water as possible.
  • Remove wet area rugs or other floor coverings not permanently attached.
  • Do not attempt to start removing wall-to-wall carpet without a professional.
  • Move photos, paintings, and art objects to a safe, dry location.
  • Never enter a room with standing water until electricity has been turned off!
  • Never use a regular household vacuum to remove water.
  • Never lift tacked-down carpet without professional help.
  • Never use electrical appliances while on wet carpet or flooring.
  • Do not disturb visible mold.
Typically, anyone can participate in a water damage referral program.

Yes, there are restrictions for example:

  1. Insurance agents cannot receive any incentive that might be considered a conflict of interest.
  2. The affected Homeowner is not allowed to profit from his own loss Therefore they are excluded from receiving any cash payment. or finder’s fee However,
    • A) They are allowed to receive discount service and credits to be used for service.
    • B) They are allowed to Refer Family and Friends to the program and collect finder’s fees wen is not a conflict of interest.

Drying Process

Drying time is determined by a combination of factors, including, location, duration, and source of water, type building materials, weather conditions, and how quickly emergency services begin. Through consistent monitoring and evaluation of the drying process, we can determine when the drying is complete. Your carpet may feel dry to the touch but may still be wet underneath. While there are no rules to determine how long your property will take to dry, we can tell you it may take between three and five days or more, depending on the conditions.

Proper testing with our specialized equipment is the correct way to determine if things are completely dry. Touch alone may be a false indicator.

Not necessarily. We will adjust the temperature to its optimum setting for the proper drying conditions. Please do not change the setting or doing so may prolong the drying process.

It is not unusual to smell odors during the drying process. Increased heat and humidity can also lead to increased odors that may be coming from the drying building materials, or dormant spill and accident areas. Do not confuse these normal odors with the odor of mold. As the drying process continues and humidity levels drop, you will notice these odors disappearing on their own. Deodorizers are often used to minimize these effects as well.

Opening your windows to assist the drying process is not always recommended. Outside weather conditions may vary, so the technician will determine when and if the outside air is appropriate.

It is strongly suggested that you keep the traffic to a minimum. Wearing shoes is recommended for your safety. 

Equipment

When water damage has occurred, water can be absorbed into the drywall (sheetrock), baseboards, subflooring, etc. Drying these surfaces requires high-velocity air movers to accelerate the release of absorbed water into the air. Dehumidifiers are necessary for removing this excess moisture to help protect property and create conditions for efficient drying. Please do not turn off or move drying equipment without first calling.

Our water damage mitigation specialists will place and monitor equipment to achieve optimal results in the shortest amount of time. Please make sure no one turns the equipment off or moves it. Please notify our office immediately if the power goes off or if the equipment turns off. 1866-621-3864.

Mold

If you see mold growth or water stains, a mold test can help identify related microbial activity. You can also look for areas where water leakage has occurred, such as roofs, pipes, ceilings, or walls. Musty smells may also indicate the presence of mold. But ultimate it needs to be tested.

The most effective means to keep mold in check include keeping the humidity level of your home at 40–60 percent, and always utilizing exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens, along with dryer vents outside your home. Lastly, if there are leaks in your roof, walls, or plumbing, it is important to repair them as soon as possible.

Most experts recommend a professional remediation company when elevated mold levels are detected. Remediation professionals are specially trained to isolate and treat mold-affected areas to avoid contaminating adjacent spaces.

 

Sometimes you will hear terms like “toxic mold” and “black mold” used to refer to molds. While identifying the type of fungus or mold may be interesting, it does not affect the course of action. If mold is present, the CDC has strongly recommended that it be removed, no matter the type*. 

Breathing in mold spores can worsen asthma, cause fatigue, and even irritate your lungs and mucous membranes. Individuals with allergies or compromised immune systems should be especially wary of mold infestations. Black mold can produce symptoms of illness like coughing, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and skin rashes.

Affected Materials

Non-porous flooring can trap water and prevent it from drying properly. Specialty floors are evaluated and efforts to restore them will be made.

The extent of damage and the construction of the furniture will determine if your furniture can be restored. Your furniture must be dried before damage can be assessed. Unsalvageable furniture will be documented for you, and if any items need to be discarded, a customer release form will need to be signed

Our technicians will evaluate moisture content, determine the severity of the damage, and may have to remove some of your ceiling for ventilation. Wet insulation can also be a hazard and may need to be removed.

A few reasons your carpet may not be salvageable:

  • Delamination (occurs when the backing separates from the carpet fiber) 
  • Loss of adhesion (may be caused by prolonged exposure to water or age of the carpet)  
  • Permanent stains 
  • Sewage contamination 

Personal Property

If you file an insurance claim, you may receive guidance from your insurance representative. However, this is a decision you must reach on your own. There are several factors to consider.

 Safety is paramount. Our equipment is as childproof as possible, but we require your supervision to make sure no children play with it. Air movers and dehumidifiers will create noise and make your property drafty for a few days. It is important that the equipment remains on, so if the noise is disruptive to you, you might want to consider an alternate place to stay.

Not usually. If items need to be moved out, we will let you know in advance.

 

Depending on the source, nature, and extent of the damage, it may be best to move all belongings to a secure facility for cleaning, storage and to make room for restoration or construction. ServiceMaster Restore will work with you and your insurance claims representative to manage this process.

 

Yes

 
  • Cash
  • Medications
  • Valuable Jewelry
  • Checkbooks
  • Personal Documents 
  • Valuable Paintings 
  • Weapons/ammunition
  • Stamp/coin collections
 

Hard surfaces can be cleaned and sanitized. Affected items that cannot be sanitized require disposal. Porous materials such as drywall, ceiling tiles, insulation, particleboard, paneling, etc., that have been directly affected should be removed during the emergency service visit.

 

We recommend you make a list of items (including food items) deemed no restorable. Make a copy for your insurance company and keep one for yourself.

 

Costs

Xactimate is a software used by insurance companies and restoration contractors to price materials and labor.it outlines the specific items necessary to restore the property, provides zip code specific pricing, and is updated monthly

Based on average electrical rates, it may cost less than $1 per day per piece of drying equipment to operate. Actual costs can vary depending on current rates from your local electricity provider.

The property owner is responsible for payment. As the property owner, you will need to sign a form authorizing the work and payment. If this is an insurance claim, we collect only the deductible amount and bill the balance to your insurance provider as a service to you. If you have a large loss, your mortgage company may be included as a payee on the payment from your insurance company, and you may need to obtain a signature from them as well. If your claim is not covered or you decide not to file a claim, you will be expected to pay in full at the time of service. NOTE: Emergency Mitigation services do not have a Deductible it is only the rebuild portion NOTE: Emergency Mitigation services do not have a Deductible it is only the rebuild portion of the restoration process.

If you did not find what you were looking for here, feel free to contact us by going to our contact us page.

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Policies & Guidelines

Guidelines

  1. Paid per leads Referral commissions will be paid to referrers for successful sales resulting from referred leads.
  2. Lead will qualify for a commission, once the customer has signed the Certificate of satisfaction becoming a paying customer.
  3. Commission will be determined by the company and may be subject to change.
  4. Any commissions based on percentage will be paid after the sale has been completed and the company has received payment in full from the referred customer.
  5. Only one referrer can receive a commission for each referred customer.
  6. Referrers must comply with all program policies and guidelines to be eligible for a commission.

Eligibility Criteria:

  1. Referrers must be individuals or businesses with an existing relationship with the Restoration company.
  2. Referrers must provide accurate and complete information about the referred customer.
  3. Referrers must not engage in any unethical or illegal activities to promote the program or services of the Restoration company.
  4. Referrers must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and ethical standards.

Policies:

  1. The Restoration company reserves the right to change or terminate the referral program at any time without notice.
  2. Commission payments will be made via check or electronically, depending on the preference of the referrer.
  3. Commission payments may be subject to taxes and other fees in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
  4. The Restoration company is not responsible for any errors or omissions in referral information provided by referrers.
  5. Referrers may not refer themselves or use multiple accounts to receive commission payments.