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a house with a mold smell
By Derek Martindale 22 Mar, 2024
Say goodbye to the unpleasant and musty smell of mold in your house with these helpful tips. Learn how to effectively identify and tackle mold growth to eliminate its odor for a fresh and healthy home. Get rid of the smell of mold in house!
By Hanna Robinson 06 Jul, 2017
Monsoon brings a lot of water. Rainy season does not only pose risk for flood, it can also lead to pesky water leaks in your home. Some of the residents in Arizona complain about monsoon water leaks during the wet season. This is why it’s highly important that you have your roof and house checked before the rainy days arrive. As they say, it’s always better to be ready for the rainy day.
By Emma 21 May, 2017
Plumbing is an important part of the home. Your pipes and other plumbing systems must be well-built, developed and maintained. However, problems may still arise even if you take good care of your plumbing. You may not be prepared for such emergency situations. If problems like this arise, what automatically comes to mind is to call a local plumber. But before you do that, you must make sure first if you really need a plumber or another specialist. So here are five things you need to know and consider before calling a plumber. Check if the plumber is licensed and reliable. A license alone is not enough. You also need to look into the experience and reputation of the plumber. You can do this by taking some time to read reviews. But don’t base your decision on the reviews alone. Just use this to have a quick background regarding the plumber’s reputation and skills. Get free estimates. This will help you get an idea of how much money you should prepare. However, you must keep in mind that affordability does not mean bad quality. Don’t equate quality with the price of the plumbing work. But don’t expect that the best plumber will be the cheapest. The plumber must not only be experienced and skilled; he or she must also be trustworthy. See to it that you entrust your home to a professional whom you can trust and count on. Let your instinct dictate you on this. And again, read some reviews. Check if the plumber offers workmanship warranty. Is he willing to fix any wrongs in case something comes up due to his performance? Is he reputable when it comes to installation work? Ask yourself questions so you can ask the potential plumber too. This is the most important. Ask yourself if you really need a plumber. Is the work needed fit for a plumber or would another specialist be more appropriate? Remember that there are things that plumbers can’t do. Assess the situation before you call a plumber. Chances are, you might not need a plumber after all, but a restoration specialist. These are the kinds of things a restoration specialist can do: There is a water damage restoration team who will assess the damage to your home. They will check if there is serious water damage due to flooding, burst pipes or other issues. So if the supposed “plumbing” problems have made your carpets, furniture and other valuables a mess, you don’t need a plumber, but a restoration specialist. The restoration team will remove the water from your home and dry all your things to try and salvage your possessions. This means that they can solve both your plumbing and drying issues. Restoration specialists understand the many types of water damage. They can solve your plumbing and drying situations.  The next time you encounter a “plumbing” issue, ask yourself first the five things mentioned in the article before calling a plumber. Remember what plumbers can’t do that restoration specialists can handle. If you decide to call a restoration team, don’t hesitate to contact Slate Restoration .
By emma 20 Jul, 2016
TOP WATER DAMAGE REPAIR COMPANY IN MESA, AZ
By Hanna Robinson 14 Jul, 2016
MONSOON SEASON
By emma 10 Jul, 2016
WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION SERVICES IN CHANDLER, AZ
By emma 14 May, 2016
If your home or business was vandalized, you are probably feeling angry, worried and unsafe. In addition to being expensive to fix, vandalism can also leave your home or business vulnerable to other potential damage or theft. If you have broken doors, windows, or damaged walls, it may be easier for people to get into the building to steal your belongings or vandalize the interior of the building. In addition, outside elements that your belongings would normally be protected from (like rain, wind and even wildlife) might make their way into your home or business and cause more damage. After the police have left the scene, you will need to secure your home or building by boarding up broken windows, doors or holes in walls. If you rent your home or office building, you should contact the property manager before attempting to board anything up.
By emma 14 Apr, 2016
Even though we live in the desert, we aren’t immune to mold. In fact, mold spores are found everywhere and it would be nearly impossible to keep yourself and your family from ever encountering mold in at home, at work or in the outdoors. However, if you find a moldy patch in your home, or you find that you have an extreme mold problem, you should have it removed, either by cleaning it yourself or hiring a professional. If the moldy area in your home is less than a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch and it is on a non-porous surface, you should be able to handle the cleanup yourself, but if the mold covers more than 10 square feet, it has penetrated a porous surface (like drywall), or if you have allergies, asthma, respiratory disease or have other health problems then you should call a professional . The first step in mold cleanup is fixing the source of the moisture, otherwise it will just keep coming back. Common sources of moisture in homes are bathrooms that aren’t well ventilated, leaky pipes and faulty seals near windows and doors. Once you have fixed the source of the problem and you’re ready to take on the mold, you should follow these steps to keep yourself safe. 
By emma 10 Mar, 2016
While you can’t always predict when a pipe will break in your basement or when a storm will cause your roof to spring a leak, there are steps you can take to prevent water damage in your home. All it takes is a little time, effort and some routine home and appliance maintenance. So while you’re making your to-do list for this weekend, keep these tips in mind. You might save yourself from a major headache in the future. Clean out roof gutters. We may not get much rain here in the desert, but that’s all the more reason to get out your ladder and clean your gutters. Debris from trees can really build up since we go long stretches without any rain to wash it away. So when it does rain, a clogged gutter could cause water to spill over the top of the gutter and around your foundation, ultimately ending up in your basement, or living room.Clogged gutters can also cause damage to your roof. You can find lots of how-to’s and video tutorials online if you haven’t ever cleaned your gutters before. Of course, if your gutters are too high, don’t try to do the job on your own. You can always call a professional to help Don’t run your appliances when you aren’t home. Although it might be tempting to load the dishwasher before work or start a load of laundry before you head out for dinner, you could be setting yourself up for a disaster. If a leak happens when you are home, you can quickly turn off the water supply and clean up the water before it has a chance to soak into your subfloor or baseboards. But if you’re away from the house for the day or the evening and your appliances are running, you might not find out until hours later. This goes for drying clothes, too since dryers are a leading cause of house fires. So do your laundry when you plan to be home for a while. You can still multi-task! Put in a load of laundry before you start on dinner or do other chores—or use the time to catch up on some Netflix. Inspect your appliances regularly. We have huge machines in our homes that pump multiple gallons of water through nothing more than rubber pipes, what could go wrong? Washing machine (and dishwashers for that matter) aren’t meant to last forever. And when something goes wrong (a hose bursts, for example) they can spill hundreds of gallons of water into your home in an hour.Since the supply lines to washing machines are always on, the water won’t stop coming out until someone notices and shuts it off–another reason not to do laundry when you aren’t home! If you’ve had your dishwasher or washing machine for more than 5 years and you’ve never replaced any parts, you might want to look into replacing the rubber hoses, or swapping them out for sturdier steel-braided ones.You can also get an automatic shut-off valve , which will kick in if it detects water. You can buy one of these for about $170, but you might need to hire someone to install it for you. So while that’s a pricier fix, it could give you peace of mind knowing that if your machine does break, the water damage won’t be nearly as extensive.Even if your appliances are working fine right now, it’s still a good idea to check them over once every six months for parts that seem to be wearing out. It’s possible that a hose on your washing machine or dishwasher already has a small leak, but maybe it isn’t very noticeable yet. Don’t use unclogging chemicals to unclog your drains. While quick-fix drain cleaning products might seem like a good option for unclogging your drains (the commercials make it look so satisfying!) some of those cleaners contain sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid, powerful chemicals that are very caustic and can eat away at your pipes—especially if you live in an older house.Instead of using chemicals, buy a drain snake at the local hardware store and try to handle the clog yourself. If you can’t get the job done then you may need to call a plumber. Sometimes they do have to use chemicals if the clog is severe, but that is always the last resort. Pay attention to your water bill. Since most of your pipes are hidden behind walls or under floors, you might not know there’s a leak until it’s too late. If your water bill spikes for no apparent reason or has been gradually growing for the past few months, you may have a leak somewhere. Check all the pipes you can see yourself and if you can’t find anything, call a leak detection specialist to come take a look. If you take these steps to prevent water damage in your home, hopefully you won’t ever need to call us, but if you do have water damage and you want us to take a look, give us a call at Slate Restoration. We’re happy to help and will work with you to help you find the best solution for your home’s issue.
By emma 25 Feb, 2016
By emma 17 Feb, 2016
Mold, it’s not only gross, it’s dangerous. So how do you pick this culprit out of the line up? Let’s start by discussing the signs of mold growing in your home! The first sign of mold to look out for is the smell. Now I know your husband or your kids probably make a lot of pungent smells, but this one’s different! If you consistently smell something (typically a musty odor) in the same area, even if you don’t see anything, you might have mold.  The next sign that you might have mold is the actual appearance of mold (facepalm, DUH). If you are in the shower or the tub and you spot something that black, green, gray, slimy, powdery, etc. and it’s not just the normal shower scum, it’s probably safe to say you’ve got mold! Unfortunately, not all molds are as easy to detect as it is in the shower, damp places like a cellar or basement could very easily be home to mold as well, so get your flashlight and go see what monsters are hiding in the dark. The third, and one of the more scary signs of mold, is health issues. If you find yourself feeling better shopping or at work and it’s not just because it’s a break from the kids or because you love your job (What…? JK, we love ours too!), then you might have a mold problem. Health issues due to mold happen the second you step through your front door. These invisible signs of mold can include allergy like symptoms, congestion, watery eyes, feeling extra tired, etc. The fourth and final clue to there being mold in your home is your home’s history. Have you had any water damage or leaking that wasn’t professionally taken care of? How old is your home? Do you live in a particularly humid area? The answers to these types of questions can all be factored into whether or not you have the silent killer in your home. If you do happen to stumble across mold, or if you don’t, but have a hunch that it’s there, please do not hesitate to give Slate Restoration a call. If left untreated mold can continue to cause more and more damage to your home and your health. In fact, certain types of mold can even be deadly. Don’t let something completely fixable and preventable like this be the end. Instead, contact our IICRC certified technicians to come inspect the damage while you go do something actually worth the risk, like skydiving or swimming with sharks. Call us now at (480) 550-2511 !
By emma 11 Feb, 2016
Once upon a time, in the middle of one of those beautiful Arizona monsoons, you suddenly realize, hey it’s raining inside too. Unless you’re starting a new trend of homes without roofs, then it’s pretty safe to say you’ve sprung a leak! Yikes. Of course, not every leaky ceiling results in “raindrops”, other signs of water damage to your ceiling/roof include: good ol’ water spots, dark spots, sagging, etc. However, it is important to note that if you experience ANY of the above signs it is very imperative that you take immediate action.  Step 1: “2319! We have a 2319!” Or in other words…we have a situation where you need to quickly contain the foreign object and destroy it. In this case the foreign object in your home is water (yeah I know, so foreign right?) and we’ll just change the last part to before it destroys you. Start by putting a trashcan or bucket underneath the leaky area or supposed leaky area. This helps to prevent water damage on your floors, cause we all know you ain’t got time for that! Now, if you don’t have a sagging, bulging, or leaking ceiling, you’re doing a great job, feel free to head to step two! But if you do have a sagging, bulging, or leaking ceiling then containing the water is going to take a little more effort. Try to remain calm and collected with what you need to do next but realize you truly do need to act fast. You see, if the water that is causing that bulge or leak continues to pool you could quite literally have your roof collapse on you, and you REALLY ain’t got time for that! Proceed to cut off the power to the problem room by flipping the circuit breaker (if you don’t know what that means, well, what’s a better time to learn then now). After the power is off, go and grab a screwdriver or a drill. Well that’s what we’d recommend. A long nail, ice pick, or sharp stiletto 😉 might work too. Once you have your weapon of choice proceed back to the bulge and stab it right in the heart! In all seriousness I am telling you to puncture a hole in your ceiling. In all seriousness (again) I am also asking you to be safe as possible, although this might be kind of a fun opportunity to “punch a hole in your wall” it can also be dangerous. So wear safety goggles, put a tarp down, and just don’t be stupid. Now back to it…the best place to puncture the beast is right in the middle, where it is sagging the lowest. Once you have done the deed the water can now flow freely through, preventing further damage to your home. Good job, you may now proceed to step two! Step 2: The next step to fixing a raining roof is pretty much past the point of DIY and onto professionals, so give us a call! Or give whoever you want to work with a call. We don’t care but I mean you might when you learn that we’ll come assess the damage done, for free 🙂 In the end, when it comes to leaky, bulging, raining roofs the most important thing to do is to take action! Putting it off can lead to dangers such as mold or a collapsed roof…and let’s be real…we know you DO got time to avoid that!
By emma 01 Feb, 2016
Water damage emergencies come in many shapes and forms. There are the expected damages from a flood or a burst pipe, but more often than realized, the cause of extensive water damage is not so apparent. For example, something as “small” as a dishwasher leak can actually have devastating effects if not treated properly. And unfortunately, and fortunately (misery loves company am I right?), it happens to the best of us. You go to start the dishwasher one evening (after finally clearing that mile high pile of dishes that had taken up a permanent residence in the sink) when you realize you’re out of dishwasher soap. Ugh. Totally not cool, but totally resolvable with hand dishwashing soap, right? Wrong. What happens next is just disastrous. You proceed to pour a reasonable amount of soap in, close the door, and press start, then head out the door for dinner. What you don’t know, but will soon find out when you come back from your delicious meal, is that hand dishwashing soap is NOT an equal replacement to actual dishwasher soap. Within minutes a million bubbles and “gallons” of soapy water will be cascading out of your dishwasher and onto your beautiful floors. *gasp*water damage Side note: Dishwasher soap is specifically engineered to be used in dishwashers…no other soap is. Side note (again): It’s always a good rule of thumb to be home and alert when you are using kitchen appliances that can cause any sort of water or fire damage. Of course, there are other reasons a dishwasher might be leaky such as a bad installation, loose connections, a faulty door, etc. However the result is unfortunately almost always the same, a wet and in danger of being damaged floor. When you are in this situation, do not panic. Start by stopping the flow of bubbles by turning off the dishwasher. Next, clean up as much water as possible. Grab all the towels, bowls, sponges, whatever might be needed to stop pools from forming and to get the water off the floor. Following your best clean up job determine the extent of the damage, if it is severe (i.e. if you are experiencing leaking on the downstairs ceiling located below the dishwasher) or even if you are simply unsure and concerned call Slate Restoration to come provide a free damage inspection. No strings attached. In the end, time is a critical when it comes to water damage. Ensure it stands in your favor by responding and taking action as fast as you can. Remember, the less damage done, the more money you save! Give us a call at 480-550-2511 .
By emma 20 Jan, 2016
Did you know that cooking fires are the leading cause of house fires here in the valley? Unfortunately the majority of these fires are caused due to thoughtless actions (or inactions). Fortunately , this means that the majority of kitchen fires can be avoided by following these preventive cooking fire tips. Let’s start with the basics. No matter what (and I mean that) you should always have a working smoke detector and fire extinguisher. Both of these items were created for a reason, your safety . To not have or use them, is a one-stop shop to stupidity (and in this case stupidity=fire). Although the dang things (i.e. fire detectors) will always be annoying they are truly worth it. The Mesa, AZ Fire Department recommends using a dual sensor smoke detector because they are able to detect both flaming and smoldering fires. Now let’s move a little closer to the source, the kitchen. When you are in the kitchen cooking, it is so important to always be aware and alert. This means that leaving the stovetop unattended to go watch your favorite TV show while the noodles boil is a big no, no. However, there are times when circumstances, out of your control, force you to leave the kitchen. If you must leave the kitchen when you are grilling, boiling, or broiling, always set a timer (or two) to make sure you still remain cognizant and alert of your food. While grilling, boiling, and broiling can all quickly turn dangerous if unattended, there is one cooking activity which must always, always, always be attended to, that is frying. Believe it or not, oil is one of the most dangerous things that you cook with (ironically it is also one of the most common items you cook with). Due to this, the use of oil while cooking must be carefully monitored at all times. In fact, frying food poses the highest risk for kitchen fires. Now I’m going to say this once loud and clear, keep an eye on what you fry. If you start to smell or see smoke that means that your oil is way too hot and on the verge of turning into a fire. But guess what? You won’t see or smell smoke unless you’re there! So I lied, I’m going to say it twice, keep an eye on what you fry! Seriously people just do it, you’ll never regret not catching that episode if it keeps you, your family, and home safe. Other important preventive cooking fire tips include: Keeping anything that can easily catch on fire, out of the way (including small children)! Oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, paper towels, etc. should always be kept a safe distance away. Make sure that when you are done cooking you clean up properly. In other words, turn everything off. In addition, make sure to never put grease (hot or not, but especially not hot) in the garbage. If your beautifully cooked meal left you with some greasy substance properly dispose of it by letting it harden and then throwing it away in a container such as a coffee can. Improper disposal of grease in the trash can quickly turn to tragedy if the grease either catches on fire, or catches something else on fire. Finally be prepared to put out a fire if need be. This is where that fire extinguisher will come in handy. Beware of other methods commonly used to extinguish a fire, such as water. Never throw water on a pan with oil, actually to be extra safe, never throw water on any pan in the kitchen. The Mesa Fire Department created a fantastic video that demonstrates what could happen if you were to throw water onto a grease fire. Instead, cover the pan or pot that’s on fire with a lid and let it sit. Do not reopen the lid, as this will let oxygen in once again reigniting the fire. In the end, when it comes to preventive cooking fire tips the bottom line is to keep you safe. If you do not think you can handle the fire, or even if you do, evacuate and immediately call 9-1-1. While there will never be a sure fire way (pun intended) to avoid a kitchen fire, these tips are a great place to start. So please be smart and safe. Besides, not having to deal with any fire cleanups makes our job a whole lot easier 😉
By emma 11 Jan, 2016
Last week Arizona experienced some pretty crazy weather. Like it was so crazy that I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who woke up wondering when they moved to Seattle! Anyway, all this rain had me thinking about how many of us Arizonians are probably entirely unaware of what to do if there is ever a flooding emergency in AZ. Well worry no longer, because we’re going to get down to the nitty-gritty of it all right here, right now. First and foremost it is important to recognize that a flood can happen anywhere (yep, including our beautiful, sunny state of AZ). Floods might be localized to a particular street/neighborhood or it might be widespread, even affecting entire cities! That sounds scary, and it would be, but knowledge is power and in this case, knowledge of how to handle a flooding emergency in AZ is the power to help yourself, and others, to be kept safe! Now let’s starts with the basics. First, how to prepare for a flooding emergency in AZ: Start by finding out if you live in a predetermined flood area (heads up…if you live near a wash, this might be you)! Know the terminology. This is important because let’s say you’re driving home one evening jamming to your favorite song when all of a sudden they “interrupt this program” to inform you of a flash flood watch. Do you know what that means? What about if they said flood hazard? Knowing the terminology is like knowing what red, yellow, and green mean for a traffic light. In other words, it’s important. To learn more about flooding terminology click HERE. I know it might seem a little ridiculous out of context but in times of trouble an emergency supply kit (not limited to just a “flooding emergency in AZ” kit) might legitimately be your lifesaver, so put one together and store it in a safe but accessible spot. Plan, it’s as simple as it sounds. Have a plan of where to meet up if you’re not with those who are most important to you and have a plan if you need to get to higher ground. Don’t ever let your car’s gas tank be on low. You never know when you might need it (hint: if there’s a flood traffic is probably going to be even slower which makes a full tank of gas even more important). Flooding aside, this is just a good tip to follow! Trust me, it’s no fun being stuck on the side of the road because you drove 30 miles on empty. Not that I’m speaking from experience… Next, what to do if there is a flooding emergency in AZ: A good rule of thumb is to stay tuned into the radio or TV. Yes, even if you might be pissed that your program keeps on getting interrupted with that never-not annoying beep, keep it on and pay attention. Now this next step is typically not the norm in the AZ, but you know what they say, “hope for the best and expect the worst”. If you are ever ordered to evacuate here are a few of the basic things you’ll want/need to do (to learn more about evacuation procedures check out American Red Cross, Ready.gov, flash.org, etc.): Take only essentials Turn off gas, electricity, and water. Secure your home Don’t forget the animals Follow the designated evacuation procedure If you are not ordered to evacuate (most likely the case for a flooding emergency in AZ) Stay tuned to emergency stations on the radio or TV and listen for further instructions. Prepare to evacuate even if it is only temporarily to a neighbor’s home or shelter. Always be as safe as possible. Really don’t try anything stupid during a flood, I hate to break it to you but you’re not invincible. Sorry but tough love. Finally, what to do after a flooding emergency in AZ: Once again listen to news reports to ensure that it’s not only safe outside but that the water supplies are also safe and uncontaminated. Never, ever, ever enter flood waters. It doesn’t matter if they are standing still or moving. Both are dangerous. Beware of power lines that might have gone down or roads that might have been damaged by the waters. Be cautious when entering buildings and homes because unfortunately, flood water is the master of both seen and unseen damage. Always clean and disinfect everything that was touched by flood water. Seriously guys treat this ish like it was poop water (because unfortunately, there’s a good chance it was). Finally if you return to your home or business and find that there is damage beyond your control, give Slate Restoration call at 480-550-2511 . We are pros at this! In no time we’ll be there to help you recover from the devastating effects of a flooding emergency in AZ. You can count on us.
By emma 04 May, 2015
WATER DAMAGE AND YOUR PHOENIX RENTAL PROPERTY
By emma 22 Apr, 2015
“It’s not that bad,” “it will probably dry out on its own.” These are famous last words in the water mitigation industry. When water damage occurs in a home or business, most owners focus primarily on the water that they can see. BIG MISTAKE. 85% of a home’s value is in it’s structure, aka the part of your home you don’t see. Carpet, drywall, baseboard, these materials are all relatively inexpensive compared to the framing and structure of your home. So, when you decide the damage in your home isn’t a big deal because it doesn’t “look bad,” you could be setting yourself up for major trouble down the road.  One person who found out what a costly mistake neglecting water damage in a home could be is my mother in law. Years ago, they left the bathtub running and had some water overflow from the upstairs tub down into the formal dining room on the first floor. They checked it out and decided it had only affected a little drywall and that it would dry on its own (this was well before I entered her life and could have saved her some serious heartache). After she and her husband decided not to mess with it and quickly forgot about it all together. Well, that is until they put their home up for sale almost ten years later. Since it was a beautiful home, they found a buyer quickly and thought they were some free… NOT SO FAST… During the standard pre-sale home inspection, the inspector noticed some minor damage to the drywall in the formal living room and asked if there had been any water damage. At that point they hardly remembered the bathtub incident, but the inspector knew something was amiss and ordered a mold test to be done. The test came back positive and the buyer freaked out. My in-laws quickly called me to remediate the mold (which was a relatively minor task), but it was too late, the damage had been done. The buyer was so concerned they immediately backed out of the deal. Two months later they decided to make another offer…for $20,000 less than the initial offer. After significant heartache and stress, they finally sold their home, losing $20,000 because of a minor flood almost a decade earlier that could have been professionally remediated for under a thousand dollars! So next time you are inclined to think that that minor leak in your home or business “isn’t that bad,” remember my in-laws and be smart! Take care of it now to save yourself the headache later!
By emma 18 Apr, 2015
“Should I file a claim?” We hear it all the time. It is probably the number one question we here out on the job site. The second most common question is, “If I file a claim, is it going to affect my premium?” Filing a claim can be an anxious and uncertain time for a homeowner that comes at a time that is already filled with stress. Weighing the pro’s and con’s of filing a claim versus paying out of pocket to repair water damage in your home can be extra tough when you are not even sure what the consequences are going to be. Every insurance carrier is different, but no matter who you are insured with, here are some smart questions to ask before you file a claim: “When was the last time I filed a claim?” Whether a claim was filed due to property damage, theft or accident, having a claim already on your record will greatly increase the chances of your premiums going up upon renewal, or worse, you could have your carrier non-renew your policy, which will leave you scrambling for new (and most likely) more expensive insurance. “How long have I been with my current insurance provider?” Regardless of your claims history, many carriers will non-renew any policyholder that files a claim within the first year of coverage. “What is my deductible?” This can be a huge factor, especially as many carriers are increasing deductibles, sometimes without homeowners even realizing it has happened. We recently did a job for a homeowner who swore she had a $1,000 deductible, only to realize after she had filed a claim that her carrier had increased her deductible to almost $4,000 without her even knowing it. Had she known her actual deductible, she would have chosen not file a claim, but to take a cash-pay discount and keep her claims record clean. “Would I rather pay now or later?” Let’s say you have $1,000 deductible and a restoration contractor estimates you have $2,300 in damage. Would you rather negotiate a cash price of $2,000 out of pocket, or file a claim, pay your $1,000 deductible and then have your homeowner’s insurance go up $200 a year for five years? In the end, the numbers may be about even, and it becomes a matter of personal preference and comfort. “Do I plan on shopping for new homeowner’s insurance in the near future?” Once you have filed a claim, you become far less appealing to a new insurance carrier. So, if you plan on shopping for a new insurance provider, be careful before filing a claim. Even one claim can put you in a different risk category, potentially increasing premiums by hundreds of dollars a year. Also, remember that often times once a claim is filed, it is going to be on your permanent record. “Zero pay claims,” as they are known in the industry, occur when someone files a claim and then receives no payout, either because the claim was denied or because the cost of the repairs are less than the deductible. Even though there was no payout, these “zero pay claims” can still raise your rates and follow you around for up to 5 years. So be careful! Ask your water mitigation company if they offer cash pay discounts or if they specialize in “in-place drying,” which help mitigate your water damages while minimizing potentially costly repairs. Well, hopefully this is helpful. In a situation like this (as in most situations) I would recommend you call your carrier, ask for their expertise, and find out the nuances of your particular carrier. And, if they aren’t helpful, you can always call SLATE Restoration. Or, even better, call me, Jason Jarvis, owner of SLATE Restoration on my cell phone at 480.495.9622 . I would be happy to give you my opinion or answer any questions you may have.
By emma 10 Mar, 2015
Do You Need an Arizona Plumber or Restoration Company? Plumbers and Restoration companies often work side by side when dealing with potential water damage to personal property. Both work to keep your home safe from water damage and even more important, healthy from mold risk. There are some common misunderstandings when knowing what plumbers do and what restoration companies do and when you need them. Plumbers are always necessary to stop and fix the source of the water loss. If you have a broken water line or bad washing machine valve or your sink tends to overflow then a plumber is your best friend. He will come out and determine what exactly is wrong and fix it for you. If said broken water line happens to break while you are out of town or even at work for the day and floods out a room or two or heaven forbid an entire floor then you will need a plumber and a restoration company. A restoration company such as Slate Restoration will extract all the excess water from the broken water line and remove drywall and other building materials from the property that were badly effected by the water. Equipment is then placed to dry out the rest of the property that is holding on to moisture. Dehumidifiers and air movers help speed up the rate of evaporation and will quickly dry out the water that was drowning your home. In summary, If you come home to water flooding out your front door, you will call a restoration company to handle the water in your home and the damages it caused and a plumber to fix the cause of the water flooding out your home in the first place.
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