1. Can I inspect my home and belongings after fire damage?
To ensure your safety, it is always best to have one of our fire restoration specialists with you during your inspection. Before entering your home, you may also need to check with the fire department or a licensed building inspector (structural engineer, industrial hygienist, etc.) to make sure it is safe to go inside.
2. What will happen to the items left in the home during a fire restoration?
In the event of an emergency causing significant damage to your home or business, our team will inventory your belongings, carefully pack them, and then take them to our facility to clean and store them until you are ready to move back home. All Serv Restoration’s 85,000-square-foot contents cleaning and storage facility is climate controlled, secure, and fully insured.
3. Can we attempt to clean the fire or smoke damage ourselves?
In order to effectively remove soot and smoke damage from your home or business, it is necessary to use the appropriate chemicals, the right equipment, and the good judgment that comes from training and experience. All Serv Restoration’s fire and content specialists are certified and professionally trained. Our teams have the knowledge and materials to clean, restore, and repair your property correctly after a fire. In the long run, you can save a significant amount of money and time by contacting a professional fire restoration company immediately.
4. How will All Serv Restoration work with our insurance company?
We are proud to be an insurance carrier-preferred restoration company and we have lots of experience working with many insurance companies and adjusters. We offer expert assistance with all insurance claims and will work directly with your insurance adjuster. It is our goal to lend our expertise and assist you throughout the entire process to realize the most advantageous outcome for your case.
5. How can we estimate the extent of the fire damage for insurance purposes?
We use insurance standard estimating software called Xactimate to write an accurate and detailed estimate. After assessing your situation to determine the amount of damage that has occurred to your home or business, we will provide you with a cost and time estimate to complete your job. Typically, home estimates are completed within 24 hours and business estimates within 72 hours of our visit.
6. The fire didn’t do much damage, but now my whole house smells like smoke. Can you help?
One of the most frustrating effects of a fire is the permeating, lingering smoke odor left behind. Tiny microscopic smoke particles can travel throughout your home and circulate through your ventilation system, and may even remain within your air ducts and ventilation system. All Serv Restoration’s fire and content specialists use state-of-the-art cleaning processes and special equipment to remove the smoke, soot, and odors from your home. After that, our team disinfects, sanitizes, cleans, and deodorizes affected areas, surfaces, belongings, walls, and fabrics.
7. For additional information:
The American Red Cross has an excellent guide called “Picking Up the Pieces After a Fire,” designed to help keep you safe and speed your recovery after a fire. To read more about what you can do immediately after a fire, please visit this page for more information.
1. Does my homeowner’s insurance cover water damage?
Each provider has its own specific policies, but whether or not the water damage will be covered depends on the cause of the damage. For example, most policies exclude flood damage caused by overflowing, streams, rivers, and/or lakes unless you have specialized flood insurance. On the other hand, if the flooding was caused by a plumbing problem, such as burst pipes, or roof damage after a storm, then your provider will probably cover the costs of recovery. Every situation is different and you won’t know until you contact you insurance company and adjuster.
2. Will my homeowner’s insurance cover mold damage?
Some insurance providers require you to have a specific mold growth policy; however, every insurance provider is different. Often time, insurance companies will cover mold growth if it were caused by a covered issue, such as a burst pipe. Because every situation is different, contact us so we can help walk you through the claims process.
3. Will my insurance cover damage caused by fire?
Most providers will pay for almost every aspect of recovery after a property fire, regardless of the cause. This includes acts of arson, grease fires, electrical fires, etc. Your insurance company will likely pay for reconstruction, contents restoration, deodorization, cleaning, and even temporary housing; however, every only your insurance provider can confirm what is covered.
4. Do I have to work with the restoration company my insurance agent recommends?
Insurance companies are permitted to recommend preferred restoration companies; however, they are not permitted to require you to use a specific restoration firm. You can choose to work with All Serv Restoration or any licensed restoration contractor. We are more than happy to work with you as well as your insurance company.
5. I don’t want to file an insurance claim, is this ok?
Absolutely! It is completely up to you whether you file a claim. If you do decide to file an insurance claim, we will work with you or your insurance company at your discretion.
1. If water damage occurs, does that mean that my carpet or floors are ruined?
One of the biggest issues with water damage is the effect on floors and carpeting. Fortunately, All Serv Restoration understands these issues and provides quick water-restoration services. We also utilize cutting-edge technology to save your valuable flooring.
2. My home is flooded with water! What should I do?
Immediately call All Serv Restoration at 937-223-555. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year! During your initial phone call, we will walk you through the emergency service process, including steps you can safely take to minimize the damage. All Serv Restoration’s certified technicians will arrive quickly, and together we will come up with the best possible solution to getting your home or business back in shape.
3. My home is flooded with sewage! What should I do?
Sewage damage, often referred to as “black water,” is considered unsafe, due to high amounts of disease-causing pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, parasites, and mold. Because of the risk involved, we recommend that you call All Serv Restoration immediately so that our certified technicians can quickly begin the processes of safely removing sewage and treating all of the infected areas. This prevents the spread of harmful contaminants throughout your home or business.
4. What is that smell after water damage?
During the water restoration drying process, lingering odors are considered normal. These odors are caused by increased heat and humidity coming from the drying building materials, dormant spill, and/or accident areas. They are a natural part of the drying process and are not to be confused with the odors caused by mold or mildew. As the drying process continues and humidity levels drop, you will notice these odors disappearing on their own.
5. Will it help to get multiple estimates from other companies?
No. Insurance companies do not require multiple estimates. You can simply call All Serv Restoration, and we’ll handle your entire claim. We utilize an estimating software called Xactimate,® the same estimating software that your insurance company uses. This software not only ensures fair and accurate pricing to customers, but also allows our estimating team to sketch building dimensions, create remodeling profiles, and tailor customer work orders to assist us in providing fast, accurate service.
6. Will my insurance company pay for water damage cleanup, and repairs?
Most of the time water losses are covered by homeowners insurance; however, every situation is different. To find out whether you are covered for water damage, cleanup, and repairs you will need to contact you insurance company and adjuster. All Serv Restoration can help you expedite your claim by ensuring that you have all the required documentation for insurance filings.
7. For additional information:
Please consider reading “Repairing Your Home” written by the American Red Cross:
1. What is the difference between mold and mildew?
Both mold and mildew are types of fungi that grow well in moist, humid conditions where a light is either poor or non-existent. Mold and mildew can cause odor problems, damage building materials, and lead to allergic reactions in at-risk individuals, as well as other health problems. The main differences between the two are their appearance and where they are found. Mold is often thicker and black, green, red, or blue in color and more often found on food, in walls, and other permanent structures. Mildew usually is lighter, powdery, and gray or white and is more often found in showers, on paper, plants, and on fabrics.
2. What about companies that claim to test and remove mold?
Generally, it is not necessary to identify the species of mold growing in a residence, and CDC does not recommend routine sampling for molds. Since the susceptibility of individuals can vary greatly either because of the amount or type of mold, sampling and culturing are not reliable in determining your health risk. If you are susceptible to mold and mold is seen or smelled, there is a potential health risk; therefore, no matter what type of mold is present, you should arrange for its removal. Furthermore, reliable sampling for mold can be expensive, and standards for judging what is and what is not an acceptable or tolerable quantity of mold have not been established.
3. Should I use bleach to clean up mold?
No. Although bleach will kill and decolonize mold, it does not remove mold. Dead mold can still cause allergic reactions. It is not necessary to kill mold to remove mold. Soap and water and scrubbing can remove mold from hard surfaces. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and the U.S. Health Department agree that bleach or other biocides should not routinely be used to clean up mold.
4. Do I need to hire a mold remediation/removal company to remove mold, or can we do it ourselves?
The answer depends on how much mold is present and where it is located. If the mold is on furnishings or boxes, simply discard the materials. Moldy materials are not considered hazardous waste; they can be sent to a regular landfill. If the mold is on a hard surface but occupies less than ten square feet, wash the area with soapy water (scrubbing with a brush may be necessary), rinse, and allow the area to dry before repainting. If you have asthma, severe allergies, or a weakened immune system, get someone else to do the cleanup. Larger areas (greater than ten square feet in area) should be cleaned by someone with experience in doing this type of work, like All Serv Restoration.
5. Can mold cause serious health problems?
Molds produce allergens, irritants, and toxins that may cause adverse reactions in humans. Reactions to molds depend on how much a person is exposed to, their general health, the person’s age, and the person’s sensitivities or allergies. The same amount of mold may cause health effects in one person, but not in another. Exposure to mold can cause a variety of symptoms. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) indicates there is sufficient evidence to link mold and other factors related to damp indoor environments with some upper respiratory tract problems, asthma, shortness of breath, and even pneumonia, especially in the elderly or the very young.
6. Is your company experienced in mold removal?
All Serv Restoration’s team has vast experience in mold removal and remediation in both residential and commercial properties. Our technicians are well trained, qualified and certified to undertake any kind of mold problem in your home or business. Our technicians are trained and certified in mold remediation by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) organization. Our company also follows the primary standard of care for the professional mold remediation industry established by the IICRC’s S520 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation. This is a national consensus-based guide for the remediation of mold-damaged structures and contents.
