Common Winter Homeowner Claims

The winter is a busy season for ServiceMaster of Prescott as a majority of the claims we handle during the winter season are related to water damage, fire damage, or freezing related losses. Our experts have experience in getting these winter related claims handled quickly and easily.

If you experience any of the following damages, though here in Prescott and the Verde Valley we do not have to worry about many of these, this winter has already shown to be very eventful. We cannot say what you may be affected by, but contact us if you do. For services in Prescott and surrounding areas call: 928-445-9205 or if in the Verde Valley call: 928-634-5402. We are here anytime day or night for immediate help!

#1. Frozen Pipes
Pipe freezing occurs when the pipes in side or outside your home are exposed to freezing temperatures. Power outages or poor heating can cause your pipes to freeze and burst, leaving you with large amounts of water inside of your home! Floors, walls, ceilings, furniture and contents can be destroyed overnight. Preventing and getting rid of mold can be very expensive, contact ServiceMaster right away!

#2. Ice Damming
Do you have large icicles hanging from your gutters? This can be a symptom of a very serious roof problem called ice damming. When ice clogs up your gutter, melting snow on your roof has nowhere to escape. When water can’t escape, it sits on your roof for an extended period of time. As a result of sitting, re-freezing and re-melting, it is only a matter of time before water finds its way underneath your shingles and into your home. This can lead to costs to remove mold or even replacing the whole roof!

#3. Collapse from Weight of Ice/Snow
Homeowners who have to shovel long driveways each winter know just how heavy snow can get. It’s no wonder that when snow and ice build up on a roof, deck or awning, they can cause a collapse. Collapses occur mostly during winter months for this reason. A collapse of your roof, deck or awning can create a large and expensive clean up.

#4. Missing Shingles & Siding
Heavy winter winds can cause shingles and pieces of siding to blow off of your home, leaving it exposed to the elements. Have you ever driven through your development after a windstorm and seen a whole row of houses with strips of shingles and siding missing? Just one heavy gust can cause a lot of damage. Have your roof inspected regularly.

#5. Soot Damage from Fireplace
Nothing beats sitting by a warm fire with a cup of hot chocolate while watching the snow fall outside. When the fire gets too big, however, it can leave permanent smoke marks on the ceiling and walls around your fireplace. Getting rid of smoke damage requires restoration by a professional, contact ServiceMaster!

#6. Trees Down on Property & Home
Having a tree fall down in your yard can lead to a weekend of work and a large bill. When a tree falls on your home, it can be a life-changing disaster. After a tree falls on a home, it is often unlivable. Be sure to keep your trees trimmed.

#7. Fire from Space Heater
Space heaters are a common culprit for winter house fires. To ensure that your home is heated safely, keep your space heaters away from combustible materials. Unfortunately, even the most carefully maintained space heater can cause a fire in your home. When a fire occurs in your home, contact ServiceMaster right away to get the smoke damage cleaned up fast.

If you have suffered from any of the above damages, contact ServiceMaster immediately. Our restoration service get things back to the way they used to be, restoring peace of mind. If your property has suffered fire, water, or smoke damage, turn to the expert team at ServiceMaster Restore® to help! Our emergency call center is prepared to handle your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Call us now at (928) 445-9205 or (928) 634-5402.

More info:

Water Damage Restoration

Fire Damage Restoration

Restoration Services in Prescott AZ

What to Do Following a House Fire

As the temperatures start to dip in Northern Arizona and it gets colder outside the chances of a fire or smoke damage increases in your home. Everything from heater and fireplace malfunctions, common cooking and electrical issues can ignite a fire.

Experiencing a house fire is a frightening, sickening, and very upsetting experience. In the aftermath of a fire, it is very important to know what to do to protect yourself and others from any possibility of further harm.

ServiceMaster of Prescott brings you this article will help you with key things to do and know after a fire.

1 - Ask when it is safe to enter a house or other building on the property after a fire. Do not enter a house or other building that has been affected by a fire until you have listened to the professionals telling you that is okay to do so.

2 - Recognize that if a house or building is too badly damaged, you may not be allowed back inside at all.

3 - Contact family members that may not have been with you. Let them know what happened, let them know that you're okay and let them know the information that is necessary. Don't assume that someone is going to contact your insurance. This is the number one thing that you need to do. If you are a tenant, contact the owner/landlord and/or their insurance company.

4 - Understand what happens with a "fire report". A fire report will discuss what structure the house was in, what area was involved, the time of the incident, the date of the incident and it will have an incident number if it comes through the Yavapai County fire department.

5 - Know how to get a copy of a fire report. You may be able to call the YC fire department for a copy.

6 - Secure the property. If you have not already being told to do so, it is important to secure your property to prevent possible looting. Talk to emergency services on how best to go about this. Most insurance policies require this.

7 - Consider the clean up requirements. If your house has been damaged rather than destroyed, interior clean up will be required. Keep in mind that damage to the property often goes beyond what the eye can see. (Removal of a destroyed house should only be done by professionals like ServiceMaster of Prescott.) You should spend a little time assessing whether you think you can perform the clean up. However in most cases fire damage restoration services are covered by the insurance company.



8 - Know how to handle smoke and soot damage after a fire. If you do make the decision to clean up yourself, be aware that soot and smoke damage might be significant and often creates a film on the walls. There will also be residue from the extinguishers used by the fire crew. It may be easier to contact a restoration company to handle the smoke damage.

9 - If water hoses were used to put out your fire drying your home is very important. It is best to ServiceMaster of Prescott to do the fire damage and water damage restoration at the same time. Water damage can lead to more damage or even mold if not dried properly.

10 - Seek counseling if needed and reassure children. Having your house damaged or destroyed by fire is extremely traumatic and can have lasting impacts on each family member, depending on his or her ability to cope.

If you ever suffer a house fire, we hope that these tips will help. For fire damage restoration services in Prescott, Cottonwood, and Sedona contact ServiceMaster of Prescott ASAP!

How to Handle Your Home's Mold Remediation in Cottonwood, Sedona, and Prescott

Mold is a nasty fungus that thrives in environments of excessive moisture, and recently in Northern Arizona we have had a lot of that! The recent monsoon season has left a lot of water running into please it shouldn't have. As these areas continue to be moist, we are going to see more mold remediation cases in Prescott and the Verde Valley.

If you live in the harder hit areas such as Cottonwood and Sedona, mold becomes a common issue for property owners, especially after our monsoon floods, plumbing leaks, or water damage. It can take effect and thrive quickly after the introduction of water or a moisture source to an area, and it can cause damage in as little as 48 hours. Mold damages properties, and can cause health concerns, allergens, and poor air quality.

With so many negative effects associated with it, the natural inclination for many is to try to remove mold on your own as soon as it is discovered. However, attempting mold removal and mildew removal on your own can make the damage and danger worse by releasing mold spores and exacerbating the issue.

The first step to dealing with mold is always to contact ServiceMaster of Prescott. We have the right tools and training to get the job done. Simply wiping away the mold is not going to solve the problem. A restoration professional is needed to inspect the damage and ensure the mold removal is handled properly.

Due to the microscopic nature of mold spores, removing all mold from a property is not always a realistic goal; however, mold remediation professionals can repair the damage, restoring your home or business to a healthy, clean state.

Regardless of the cause, the mold remediation process begins by contacting mold remediation professionals like the experts at ServiceMaster Restore®, who will:

Inspect and assess the mold damage

Contain the mold

Filter the air

Remove the mold

Clean the area and belongings

Restore the property

For more on mold removal and remediation, please use the following links:

Mold Removal in Cottonwood, Sedona, and Prescott

Mold FAQ

Mold Remediation Services

My House Caught on Fire - What Do I Do Next?

No homeowner can ever be fully prepared for his/her house to catch on fire and if this does occur, many have no idea what to do next. The professionals at ServiceMaster of Prescott bring you these tips.

If the fire is fairly larger-scaled the fire department will be called to the home to put the fire out. Once this happens, the fire department will leave your home and it is usually up to the homeowner to begin the process of recovering the home.

The homeowner should get into contact with his/her insurance agent or company immediately to let them know what has happened. An adjuster will be sent to assess the damage and cost.

If your home and belongs are salvageable, you will need to hire a company to help get your home back to the way it was. A fire restoration company provides all of the services necessary to do this.

ServiceMaster of Prescott is here for you 24 hours a day, so if fire damage does happen you can call on us and we will be there to help you!

If your home is not salvageable, we will do our best to save and restore each item that has not been completely destroyed by the fire, water, smoke, or soot.

If the damage is severe you may need to leave the home. If you must leave, it is still vital that you do not waste any time to begin the restoring of your home.

While the insurance company processing the claim, it is of important to begin trying to prevent more damage to your home due to excess moisture from the water used to extinguish the fire. Moisture will cause a terrible odor and the formation of mold. If this does happen the mold and water could further damage items or areas in your home which were otherwise salvageable.

Our suggestion would be to begin the dry-out process as soon as possible. Many times insurance adjusters will not even come to inspect your loss until the dry-out process is complete.

Remember, ServiceMaster of Prescott is there in any capacity that you may need us. We are ready to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us at Prescott Area 928-445-9205 or Verde Valley 928-634-5402.

More Information:

Types of Fire Damage
Fire Restoration Services
More about Fire Damage