Winter may technically be over, but the threat of water damage is ever-present. Many people think that once the snow melts away, the threat of basement flooding is gone. This, however, could not be further from the truth. Heavy rains throughout the Chicago area prove that often. Your sump pump is your last line of … Read more
A water damage emergency is not just an inconvenience. It is a serious and stressful situation that can result from any number of water disasters — many of which you can’t fully prepare for. Every minute counts when it comes to assessing, extracting and cleaning water damage in a room or building. However, with the right water restoration … Read more
Restoring a home after water damage generally involves two phases. The first is drying out the structure and cleaning up from the water. This can take anywhere from three to five days, depending on how long the home received the water exposure. The second part of the process, restoring the home to its former state, … Read more
Your home just sustained serious water damage, and after recovering from the initial shock, you are ready to make your insurance claim. Most people have never gone through the insurance claim process for water damage. You will need to take five basic steps: Call your insurance agent as soon as possible Fill out any claim … Read more
Yes. Your air conditioner can cause extensive water damage to your home. Maybe it’s just a small puddle around the unit or an inch of water in your basement. At ServiceMaster, we have seen homeowners actually have their ceiling collapse due to flooding from an AC unit. Here are some of the most common causes of … Read more
Home floods are both devastating and destructive. They can hit out of nowhere, even in low-risk areas where you may have never considered a flood possible. Instead of being caught off-guard and potentially losing precious valuables and money, you can protect your home from a flood today by following a few simple steps. You can’t … Read more
It’s already devastating enough when your home floods — but it’s even worse when you have no idea it’s coming. It helps when you can prepare for flood season in Chicago ahead of time to keep your home and basement dry. While the rain falls in Chicago, you can feel helpless. However, ServiceMaster of Lincoln … Read more
It’s likely that at least one room in your house has carpet. If excess water seeps into that carpet, it can cause a mess, whether it’s from a flood or a broken pipe. The good news is that you can sometimes salvage carpet that sustained water damage. It depends on what kind of water leaks … Read more
The hours and days after a home flood are critical. It’s difficult to begin the task of cleaning up when you and your loved ones are still reeling from the damage. However, you should start the process of restoring your home immediately to minimize the damage and potentially save your valuables. If you wait too … Read more
We can take all the precautionary actions necessary to keep ourselves, our home and our family safe and sound —but sometimes, Mother Nature undoes all of our preparation by causing the unexpected. Natives to Chicago are all too familiar with natural disasters during the winter season. From Chicago ice and snow storms to blizzards and … Read more
