Water Damage Claims Explained! Here's What You Can Expect...

6/24/2019 (Permalink)

Never Fear! SERVPRO of Chester, Hardin, Henderson and McNairy Counties is here to help you navigate your water damage claim.

Water damage to your home, regardless of the cause, can be a nightmare to understand.  You’ll have to deal with insurance, adjusters, contractors, and your house might be a complete mess. Sometimes, just understanding the process and the lingo can make it a lot easier on the distraught homeowner. Here’s a basic rundown of what happens when SERVPRO responds to your water damage.

The first thing that generally happens is that you come home from work, or wake up in the morning to find water standing, or worse, spewing from a faulty pipe, toilet, or other plumbing fixture. Now you’re not sure what to do, but never fear, here’s what happens next…

STEP ONE: Turn off the water at the source of the leak if possible. If you’re not sure of the source, or not able to shut off water to it, then turn it off at the outside main. The faster you can stop the water from coming in, the less damage will occur.

STEP TWO: Call your insurance company. Get your claim started as soon as possible to prevent delays in getting your home repaired.

STEP THREE: Call in a plumber or the necessary professional to stop the leak and correct the problem. Clean up and repair cannot begin until the leak has been stopped. Most insurance companies don’t cover the “cause of loss” (the leaking pipe or faulty appliance), but they do cover the damage caused by it. More than likely, the plumber or other professional’s repair bill will be an out-of-pocket expense.

STEP FOUR: Call SERVPRO of Chester, Hardin, Henderson and McNairy Counties. We’ll take all your information and dispatch a crew to begin extracting any standing water, tearing out damaged materials, and set drying equipment.

This is known as the mitigation phase of the claim. Keep in mind, the mitigation phase is only to mitigate, or stop, further damage. We will tear out flooring and/or drywall only to find the “dry line”, or the place where the water damage stops, which may not be the entire room or space.

Once we’ve removed all the water and damaged materials, we’ll set drying equipment to dry any structural material that was affected by water. The drying phase usually takes 3-5 days, during which we’ll monitor the moisture level at regular intervals to ensure things are drying properly. This concludes the mitigation phase, and most insurance companies issue payment to the mitigation provider directly, although sometimes the policyholder’s name will be listed on the check also, and will need to be endorsed by you. However, each insurance company is different, so check with your own provider regarding their process.

During the drying phase, SERVPRO of Chester, Hardin, Henderson and McNairy Counties, or your preferred contractor, will build the repair estimate and submit to your insurance company. Typically, your deductible is applied on this estimate, as opposed to the mitigation portion, but again, companies vary, so check with your adjuster. 

STEP FIVE: Once drying is complete, and a repair estimate has been approved by your insurance company, repairs can begin. Insurance companies typically will replace entire rooms of flooring, so if, during mitigation we only removed partial flooring in a given room, the remainder will be removed and the entire floor replaced. If you’ve chosen SERVPRO of Chester, Hardin, Henderson and McNairy Counties to complete your repairs, we will discuss with you each aspect of the repairs, and help you choose flooring, paint colors, etc. based on the allowance given by your insurance company. Repair time can vary depending on the extent of damage and the availability of materials, but rest assured, it’ll soon be back to “Like it never even happened.”

Finally, once repairs are completed, you’ll need to sign our “Certificate of Satisfaction” stating we completed all repairs according to the approved estimate. Payment can then be issued by your insurance company. If you have a mortgage, the check may need to be endorsed by the mortgagee, and/or you, the homeowner, prior to being remitted to SERVPRO. If you have a deductible, it will be payable at this time as well. Don’t worry, though, our office personnel are here to help you with that process as well.

Call SERVPRO of Chester, Hardin, Henderson and McNairy Counties today! We’re here 24/7 to help! 731-983-0883

Pipes Burst??? Here's What To Do!

1/30/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO heroes combined with our SERVPRO-exclusive equipment quickly makes your water damage seem "Like it never even happened."

Here’s a little story for you…

 Once upon a time there was a young couple who had recently purchased their first home just outside the city limits. The high temperature had remained in the twenties for a few days now, but not today. Today’s forecast called for a beautiful day full of sunshine and a high of forty-seven! Finally – it would be bearable outside and cozy inside.

As the wife arrived home from work, she noticed a hissing sound as she unlocked the front door. As she walked down the hallway past the bathroom, the hissing got louder and with each step she heard a squishing sound. As she discovered the squishing sound was wet carpet, she suddenly realized what was going on.  But just to be sure, she quickly turned on the faucet in the sink. She was correct. There was little water pressure, which meant that somewhere a pipe had burst and was leaking water.

What many people don’t realize is that when a pipe freezes, it can remain intact until the frozen water begins to thaw, as the water begins to move again, the leak makes itself apparent. Spraying water in some random direction, soaking down anything from the dirt under the house, to the flooring and carpet just above. Either way, here’s what to do when you find yourself in this situation.

First things first – SHUT OFF THE WATER SUPPLY!

This will ease the pressure on the pipes and allow the water to drain slowly and hopefully cause less damage.

Next – Call a licensed plumber to find and repair the broken pipe.

 Last but not least - call SERVPRO of Chester, Hardin, Henderson and McNairy Counties!

Our 24-hour response team will immediately start the drying process. We’ll remove your belongings quickly to prevent any further damage, then we’ll tear out damaged flooring and drywall. Finally, we’ll set our exclusive SERVPRO drying equipment to begin drying the structure (subfloor and wall studs).  We’ll work with your insurance company and adjuster to determine what’s covered under your policy, and help you understand every step along the way.

Ask about our SERVPRO exclusive document drying system to save your most important and irreplaceable documents!!!

CALL SERVPRO OF CHESTER, HARDIN, HENDERSON AND MCNAIRY COUNTIES TODAY!!

731-983-0883 * 855-983-0883 * or email us at SERVPRO9972@yahoo.com

Chester, Hardin, Henderson and McNairy Counties 24 Hour Emergency Water Damage Service

8/13/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Chester, Hardin, Henderson and McNairy Counties is available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today - 1-855-983-0883

We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of Chester, Hardin, Henderson and McNairy Counties has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration—in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business.

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

• Your name and contact information
• Your insurance information (if applicable)
• The street address of the water-damaged home or business
• When did the flooding or water damage occur?
• What caused the water damage (if known)?
• Is there electricity available (on-site)?

About SERVPRO of Chester, Hardin, Henderson and McNairy Counties

SERVPRO of Chester, Hardin, Henderson and McNairy Counties specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Faster to Chester, Hardin, Henderson & McNairy Counties Water Damage Event

6/5/2018 (Permalink)

Flooding and water emergencies don’t wait for regular business hours and neither do we. SERVPRO of Chester, Hardin, Henderson & McNairy Counties provides emergency cleaning and restoration services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—including all holidays.

Faster To Any Size Disaster

Flooding and water damage is very invasive. Water quickly spreads throughout your home and gets absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, and more.  SERVPRO of Chester, Hardin, Henderson & McNairy Counties arrives quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately. This immediate response helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs.

Need Emergency Service? Call Us 24/7 – 731-983-0883

Water Damage Timeline

Within Minutes

• Water quickly spreads throughout your property, saturating everything in its path.
• Water is absorbed into walls, floors, upholstery, and belongings.
• Furniture finishes may bleed, causing permanent staining on carpets.
• Photographs, books, and other paper goods start to swell and warp.

Hours 1 - 24:

• Drywall begins to swell and break down.
• Metal surfaces begin to tarnish.
• Furniture begins to swell and crack.
• Dyes and inks from cloth and paper goods spread and stain.
• A musty odor appears.

48 Hours to 1 Week:

• Mold and mildew may grow and spread.
• Doors, windows, and studs swell and warp.
• Metal begins to rust and corrode.
• Furniture warps and shows signs of mold.
• Paint begins to blister.
• Wood flooring swells and warps.
• Serious biohazard contamination is possible.

More Than 1 Week:

• Restoration time and cost increase dramatically; replacing contaminated materials and structural rebuilding may be extensive.
• Structural safety, mold growth, and biohazard contaminants pose serious risks to occupants.

About SERVPRO of Chester, Hardin, Henderson & McNairy Counties

SERVPRO of Chester, Hardin, Henderson & McNairy Counties specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.