Greener Cleaning

In commercial cleaning today, everybody wants the job done quicker and “greener.” ServiceMaster Professional Restoration is always here to help! here are some tips you can follow at home: When choosing cleaning chemicals, choose one just strong enough to do the job quickly and completely. Too much or too strong, a chemical can leave dangerous residue or affect Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Similarly, an alternative chemical that is too weak might be “greener” but if much more needs to be used to do the job, or it takes twice as long to apply, your green benefit is eliminated.

Three Key Questions:

The success of each and every decision made during the restorative drying process depends on the information upon which the decision was based. The process of restorative drying involves a continuous cycle of information gathering, interpretation, decision making, validation and adjustment... There are 3 questions that summarize the information that must be obtained, documented and evaluated throughout the restorative drying process. When left unanswered, these questions are the source of the most common deficiencies in inspection and documentation. The four key questions, or 'knows' of drying are:
•What's Wet?
•How Wet Is It?
•Is It Drying?
Inspection, monitoring and documentation answer these 3 questions. A gap in this process will result in improper drying, additional water damage, and compromised cleanliness and integrity. Proper instruments and tools are a key ingredient to successful completion in the drying process.

What is water damage?

Water damage occurs when pipes burst or water seeps into a basement through a leaky foundation. Water damage can be expensive to fix and in some cases home buyers want to hold sellers accountable for it. Who should pay for water damage depends on when it's discovered. Same is true for how to fix it - the fix will depend on how extensive the water damage is. Learn about water damage and how to resolve it here.

Are You Shopping for a House?

Now is a great time to buy the home you've always dreamed of...
QUESTION:I am shopping for a house. What do I need to know about homeowner’s insurance before I buy?

ANSWER: There are two parts to a typical homeowner’s policy: (1) property coverage protects the home and contents plus losses for additional living expenses, and (2) liability coverage protects you from lawsuits. The amount of home coverage should be at least 80%, or more, of the replacement cost of your home. Coverage of the contents of your home is usually an amount at least half of the structure coverage.

Question of the day:

QUESTION: I rent a house from the owner. Do I need Homeowners coverage?

ANSWER: You cannot insure the structure (house, itself), but you can insure your personal belongings under a renters insurance contract and your landlord or lease agreement may require that you also do so.

Outside walls, doors and windows

Inspect outside walls, doors and windows each spring and fall for unusual wear or tear. Water and moisture can penetrate these common areas if they're not maintained regularly. Repair or replace caulk, weather stripping, glazing, window seals, door seals or any other exterior area damaged by use, abuse or normal weathering. Examine your exterior siding and replace any missing or damaged fasteners or screws. Repair or replace punctured siding.

Remember to look under your home for sagging, torn or water-spotted bottom barrier. This can indicate poor or damaged insulation, which may cause water lines to freeze and break. These symptoms also can indicate an existing leak.

Check your home's pneumatic storm door closer and safety chain. If these are loose or not working properly the storm door may blow open. That lets water in and can cause additional damage. Inspect exterior doors, especially wooden ones, for wear and tear and cracking.

Also check weather stripping and seals as well as the sill and the threshold for signs of leaking or other damage. Inspect the putty or caulking around metal windows. Clean and remove cracked or dried-out material and replace it with an upgraded sealant or caulk.

Protect Your Home from Water Damage

Water damage - whether caused by leaks or condensation - can do more than cause unsightly stains in your home. It can cause permanent structural damage to the home and erode its strength.

As a general rule, water damage from poor or infrequent maintenance, neglect or general deterioration isn't covered by your insurance. But proper home maintenance can help you prevent messy and costly damage to your home.