Many homeowner insurance policies do provide some level of coverage in a water damage situation, but you will need to contact your agent for details about your policy. The source of the water damage is important when dealing with insurance. Some flooding related to weather events requires special insurance that is gained through the National Flood Insurance Program.

When a water emergency occurs in your home or business, it’s only natural to want to take action immediately. Below are some preliminary steps you can take before we arrive, but only attempt what you can do safely.

1. Shut off the water source, if possible. If you’re not sure where the water is coming from, we’ll inspect and handle the situation as soon as we arrive.
2. Remove excess water by mopping, blotting, or wiping. This could include flooring and hard surface furniture which has standing water on it. Do not use your household vacuum to remove water, since it could cause damage to the vacuum or be unsafe.
3. Protect carpet, rugs, drapes, and upholstered items from further damage. Place aluminum foil or parchment paper between furniture and wet carpet or rugs. Remove books, magazines, or other colored items from carpets and rugs. Hang draperies up with coated hangers to avoid contact with wet floors. Remove pillows or cushions from wet upholstered items.
4. Avoid using electric or electronic items that have come into contact with water. This may include items such as light fixtures, ceiling fans, televisions, or appliances. If there is a possibility that someone else on the property may turn on an electric item that has come in contact with water, consider turning off the power to individual circuits within the power distribution panel of the property.

Drying out a structure depends on the severity of the water damage that occurred, and they type of structure, with an average situation taking 3–5 days. This can vary greatly though, depending on the magnitude of damage, amount of contents affected, any demolition that may be required, and the presence of any hazardous materials.

Returning a home or business to its pre-loss moisture levels is a closely monitored process, with our professionals making adjustments to equipment to help ensure the area is recovering as quickly as safely possible.

The majority of cleaning after a fire is working to remove soot residues from the structure and contents of the home or business. We have a specific process we follow, which is tailored to each fire damage situation.

Experiencing a fire to your home or business can be traumatic and stressful, and knowing what to do after a fire can seem overwhelming. First, contact a local disaster relief agency and your insurance company for immediate assistance, especially if you’ve been displaced. Try to locate any necessary documents you’ll need, like a driver’s license and other records, but don’t enter the structure unless the fire department has deemed it safe for you to do so, first.

The timeline for a fire restoration varies greatly, and depends on the severity of fire, smoke and soot damage. The size of the building and the amount of contents also helps determine the length of time for restoration. SERVPRO technicians will complete a full scope of work at the beginning of the project and will provide you with an estimated timeline so you know what to expect.

Finding mold in your home or business can be troubling, and it’s natural to want to get rid of it fast. Because mold spreads fast and can sometimes be inconspicuous, it’s best practice to call in professionals like SERVPRO to diagnose and address the mold issue for you.

Depending on the severity of the mold in your home, it is sometimes possible to remain in the home during remediation. One of the first things SERVPRO does before beginning remediation work is to erect containment around the affected area so that it is isolated and to limit cross-contamination in areas not affected.

It is not recommended that you try to clean mold yourself, but instead have it handled by professionals who have been trained to do so. You can try to determine the water source that is feeding the mold growth and stop or turn off that source. However, be sure not to disturb the mold in doing so.

It’s also a good idea to turn off your HVAC system until a professional can inspect and diagnose your mold issue. Keeping the fans running could spread mold spores and increase damage to your property.

The time it takes to fix flood damage depends on the severity of the flood. We’ll inspect your home or business and discuss with you the severity of damage and our plan to help return your property back to pre-loss condition. We’ll then work to remove the water that shouldn’t be there using pumps and water extracting equipment. Once the excess water is gone, we use dehumidifiers and other specialized drying equipment to help return the area to its normal moisture level. This is a closely monitored process, with our teams continually making adjustments to equipment to help ensure the area is recovering as quickly and as safely possible.

Storm damage may be covered by your insurance policy, but you’ll need to reach out to your agent to get specifics about your particular coverage. It’s important to note that your home must be maintained to a reasonable standard. Otherwise, it could be hard to prove that the storm was the cause of the damage versus a lack of proper maintenance and general wear and tear.

SERVPRO provides many of the services you may need after a storm blows through your area. We provide emergency roof tarping and board-up services to help prevent additional damage from the elements and provide security to your property. This service may be needed immediately if your property was damaged by falling trees, hail, high winds, tornado debris or fire. A SERVPRO location near you offers 24/7 emergency service and is available to help.

The time it takes to clean carpets greatly depends on the size of the area being cleaned, and the type of cleaning we are performing. SERVPRO uses five different carpet cleaning methods, which will be chosen depending on the type of carpet fiber and degree of soiling.

Any spots or heavily soiled areas will be treated prior to cleaning. While not all stains can be removed, we have the knowledge, methods and cleaners necessary to remove spots, if possible. Most cleaning companies have only one or two cleaning methods, whereas SERVPRO has 10 fabric cleaning methods. We will match our services to your cleaning needs.

Curtains or draperies should be cleaned every three to six months. However, if a member of your household has severe allergies, consider cleanings more often.

Here are a few common methods of removing graffiti:

1. Solvents and a stiff/wire brush.
2. Pressure washing.
3. Media blasting using dry ice or sand.

Yes, SERVPRO can fix your fire/water damage and reconstruct any areas extensively damaged. Having just one point of contact through the entire process is best, saving you worry and stress. The continuity of having someone who is familiar with every detail of your project from beginning to end is a huge benefit of working with SERVPRO.

SERVPRO aims to restore your home or business to its original state before any damage occurred. While construction services are not always required, the severity of the damage will determine the necessity. We will clearly communicate the extent of damage assessed and the remediation and construction plan with you before work begins.

No, you do not need to be present while we work to repair your home. We will communicate regularly with you about the timeline and current stage of the project, so you are aware of the activities occurring on any given day.