You return from a long day at work

You return from a long day at work, open the front door and you hear it - water gushing out of control. What do you do?

First, find the source of the flow. Is it the washing machine hose? Or is it the water line to the icemaker? Is it the line from the sprinkler system into the house? Or is it a valve under the sink? When that is determined, shut off the outside water supply and contact a local plumber.

Next - Call ACE! We will discuss with you the nature of the flood and what your options are. Most of the time, mechanical systems in the house are covered by your homeowners' insurance policy. In this case, you are responsible for the deductible, and the insurance company will work with us regarding the balance of the invoice.

It is wise to videotape the extent of the damage before you start moving your household belongings. For the few moments that this takes, it is good documentation for your records. In most cases, the insurance adjuster may not be out to your house for 5-10 days and by that time we will have completed the restoration process.

Now it's time for you to assess the situation and go about gathering your belongings and getting them out of the affected area.

Now what do WE do?

First, we thoroughly inspect the flooded area. We are concerned with the extent of the hidden spread of water and if the water is clean or gray water (water that has been used either by machines or humans). We use hygrometers to determine if the spaces behind your walls are wet - moisture sensors to assess humidity and hydro-sensors to determine how far the water spread under your carpet. This scientific evaluation prior to taking things apart helps us - and you - to understand the status of the flood and the extent of the affected area. When we both understand the situation, we begin the restoration process.

Next, we assist you in moving all the furnishings and furniture outside of the affected area. We will be extracting the standing water, on carpets and hard surfaces. Then we will disengage the carpet from the tack strip, open up seams, and pull back the carpet. The pad retains a great deal of water that is difficult, if not impossible, to extract completely. The Restoration Industry standard is to protect the carpet and replace the pad. It is the most economical and healthy choice. We sack up the pad and remove it off site, and extract the remaining water that is on the sub-floor. We will then bring in High Powered Carpet Dryers and De-humidifiers to quickly dry the building, the carpet and your belongings. The rule of thumb is that mildew will begin to grow within 48-72 hours, so we are interested in correcting the moisture situation as soon as possible. Because we own our own equipment, we are able to provide the manpower and equipment to assure you and the insurance company that this will be done correctly.

Finally, we will arrange a time with you to treat the affected areas with an anti-microbial fog that will kill any potential or existing mildew. This is a standard procedure. It usually requires you to be out of the area for several hours. It dissipates and does not leave any residue.

We will monitor the flood on a daily basis until it is dry. Then we will arrange the earliest convenient time for you to reinstall a new pad to match your existing pad, reinstall the carpet, clean and deodorize the carpet and return the furniture back on pads, grooming the carpet when we are done.

Our service is complete. We take this part of our business very seriously because we know it is disruptive to your life to have your house torn up.

So what does it cost? No two floods are the same. We always put our services in writing before we begin. In most cases, we collect your deductible on the first visit and then work with your insurance company for the balance. In situations that do not qualify for insurance claims, we will work with you to find answers that meet your needs.

Remember - the insurance company has three responsibilities:

To return your home to the condition it was in prior to the incident.
To the mortgagor who carries the note on your home - that it retains its value and that the flood does not permanently affect the structure of the house.
That your home is returned to a healthy state with no residual chemical or mildew that could affect the health and well being of your family and pets.

Print this to keep handy in case of a flood!

Breathe the Clean