Is Water Damage From a Frozen Pipe Burst Covered by Insurance?

6/13/2022 (Permalink)

Read these Tips and learn more about Frozen Pipes and Insurance coverage.

Discovering a pipe burst in your Cedar City, UT, home can turn into a devastating experience. The best approach is to do all you can to prevent your pipes from freezing. Even a small quantity of water can result in a lot of damage in a short time, so one of the first actions you'll need to take is to file an insurance claim with your homeowner's insurance company. Most of the time, insurance will cover loss from a burst pipe.

This coverage will help cover the costs of hiring the emergency cleanup services of water damage restoration professionals. Although nothing is guaranteed, the following tips can help you significantly reduce the chances of your pipes freezing so you don't have to worry about pipe bursts.

How To Prevent Frozen Pipes

1. Leave Your Faucets Dripping

On those freezing winter nights, you should leave the indoor faucets near exterior walls dripping. Letting them run slightly will keep water constantly flowing through your pipes, preventing the water from freezing and relieving pressure in frozen pipes. 

2. Keep Your Thermostat Turned Up

During the coldest months of the year, it is essential to ensure your home's thermostat stays set to at least 55 degrees. Keeping your home at this temperature probably isn't a problem unless you plan to be away from home for an extended time. If you are leaving for a while during the cold months (e.g., if this is a vacation home), make sure the indoor temperature stays warm enough to keep the pipes from freezing. 

3. Insulate Your Exposed Pipes

You have several choices for safeguarding your pipes, such as heat tape and foam insulation. It's important to insulate all exposed pipes, including the lines in and near your attic and crawlspace. You must also protect the pipes in your home's exterior walls. This protection will help you get the most reimbursement from an insurance claim. Also, keep the cabinets open during freezing temperatures to give your home's warm air easier access to the pipes underneath. 

4. Maintain Your Exterior Faucets

When the weather begins getting cold, you should detach water hoses from exterior faucets. A hose attached to a tap won't allow it to drain thoroughly. In freezing temperatures, the water will freeze and then expand. This interior expansion will cause the faucet to break. If possible, it's also helpful to shut the water off to the exterior faucets. You can get faucet covers at a hardware or home improvement store to keep on the taps throughout the winter. 

5. Shut Off Water Supply and Drain Your Pipes

If you are leaving your home and expect to be away for more than a couple of days in the winter, turn off the water supply to your home. Then drain the pipes to make sure there is no lingering water. 

It's best to be proactive to try everything possible to avoid a pipe burst. However, nothing is guaranteed, and you may have to file a homeowners insurance claim. Call your homeowner's insurance company to review your coverage to be confident you're as prepared as possible if a disaster does occur.

Noisy HVAC? Here’s Why and How to Fix It

6/10/2022 (Permalink)

Old HVAC systems make a lot of noise.

HVAC systems tend to make strange noises, but any homeowner can usually recognize when the sound changes into something different. Diagnosing where the sound is coming from is usually the first step to diagnosing the problem, but the type of noise itself can give you a major clue about the type of problem you’re dealing with. Here are 11 of the most common HVAC noises that you may encounter and how to handle them.

11 Common HVAC Noises and What They Mean

Rattling

Something is loose or broken. Typically, this is either the furnace blower or the motor. Additionally, there could be debris inside the system. Check for loose screws. If the rattling gets louder as it runs, turn it off and get professional help because something is broken or disconnected.

Popping

Popping happens when warm air goes through cold ducts, but this should only happen when you haven’t used your heater in a while. Besides first turning on your system, you might hear popping noises if fluid is leaking or freezing.

Scraping or Thwapping

Typically, these scraping sounds are not indicative of monstrous issues, but a problem with the fans. Something is obstructing the fan blades from properly moving, which damages the blades, and the motor, and can even lead to a refrigerant leak.

Humming

Humming is caused by loose parts, electrical problems, or motor issues. While humming is not a dire problem itself, it’s often a harbinger of HVAC problems.

Clicking

Clicking can happen for several reasons in an AC unit. It can be difficult to pinpoint the cause without the help of a technician. If your heater is clicking, it could mean there’s a problem with the ignition system.

Booming

A boom is often preceded by clicking. Your furnace will make a booming noise when it tries to light but doesn’t work. It will continue its attempts, creating a build-up of gas that lights up all at once when it finally ignites. A technician should take a look at it, but you may also need to have the flue and chamber inspected or cleaned.

Hissing

If the hissing is coming from your AC, it’s usually due to an internal refrigerant leak in the compressor. Turn off the power to the AC immediately and get it checked. If your furnace is the source of the hissing, there’s likely a leak in the furnace itself or in a connected air duct that needs to be replaced.

Buzzing

There are four main reasons why your HVAC is buzzing: the compressor is malfunctioning, the refrigerant may be leaking and freezing the parts, debris is blocking regular movement, or there’s a loose part that’s shaking. If the buzz comes from your AC, you might need to clean the condenser coil or change the air filter. Regardless, you’ll want to get it looked at.

Clanking or Banging

Banging or clanking is similar to rattling and usually comes from a loose part of your system. You may need to replace the compressor, realign the fan blades, or balance the indoor blower if the noise is coming from your AC. A boiler will bang if scale forms on the heat exchanger as well.

Screeching or Squealing

A loud screech is typically the fault of a bad fan belt that needs to be replaced. However, it could also be caused by a malfunctioning motor or blower. Your motor could need lubricant, but if that doesn’t help, a technician will be able to determine the problem.

Whistling or Screaming

High-pitched whistling or screams are not a good sign. When the noise comes from a boiler, the air is likely trapped in the system. If your AC is the culprit, turn it off right away. There could be a leak that’s building into a high refrigerant pressure. Don’t turn it on again until you can have a professional look at it to determine the problem.

We Hear You: Calling in the Professionals

When you have a strange noise coming from your HVAC system, don’t panic. Follow these guides and contact a professional HVAC service to help you resolve the problem and the noise behind it.

To help prevent these unsettling noises and the even more frightening issues causing them, you should get your HVAC system checked once a year. If you have a heat pump that’s doing double-duty heating and cooling, you should schedule an appointment every 6 months. Regular tune-ups and inspections can save you lots of money—and frustration—down the road.

If your HVAC system is making any of these noises, contact the technicians at SERVPRO of Cedar City/Fillmore. We’ll diagnose the problem and, even better, fix it for you so that you can rest at ease again. Contact us today to schedule an appointment or to learn more about our services!

We are an IICRC Certified Firm

6/10/2022 (Permalink)

The IICRC is the leading provider of certifications for the Disaster and Restoration Industry.

SERVPRO of Cedar City/Fillmore is an IICRC firm. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) creates the standards for the restoration industry and provides training and certification to restoration companies. IICRC Certified Firms have the right to display the IICRC Certified Logo.

IICRC Certified Firms must

• Present accurate information to consumers and conduct business with honesty and integrity.

• Require a technician on all jobs who have been formally trained and passed all required tests.

• Require a continuing education program to keep technicians up-to-date on the latest changes in the industry.

• Maintain liability insurance to protect all parties in the event of an accident.

• Maintain a written complaint policy and agree to Better Business Bureau or similar arbitration to resolve disputes, and accept the conclusions and recommendations of arbitration.

The IICRC Develops The Standards For The Restoration Industry

The IICRC has been the driving force in establishing the main industry standards and reference guides for professional carpet cleaning, water damage restoration, and mold remediation. These IICRC standards take years to develop and require the coordination of experts in the field: manufacturers, industry organizations, insurance professionals, training schools, contractors, and public health professionals.

Every five years, the standards are reviewed and updated. The water damage restoration field changes rapidly with advancements in technology and science, and therefore the standards must evolve to keep pace.

About SERVPRO of Cedar City/Fillmore

SERVPRO of Cedar City/Fillmore 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 and we are an IICRC Certified Firm. We believe in continuous training: 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.

Carpet Cleaning Questions

6/10/2022 (Permalink)

Dirty carpets can be cleaned by experts.

At SERVPRO we are often asked questions about carpet cleaning. These questions include things such as, how often I need to clean my carpets, will cleaning my carpets make them get dirty faster, and how long will my carpets take to dry. In the next few posts, we will tackle these questions and give you the much-needed answers.

Will cleaning my carpets make the get dirty faster?

There are some companies that do not thoroughly rinse carpets well enough. When this happens the soap residue that is left behind will attract dirt and make the carpets look dirty faster. At SERVPRO of Cedar City/Fillmore, we utilize a truck-mounted carpet cleaning unit that heats water up to 230°. When hot water is used in a sufficient quantity to rinse the soap out of a carpet there is very little residue is left behind. If there is not a lot of soap residue left behind the carpet will not look dirty faster.

When should I clean my carpets?

My answer to this is “It depends”. There are several different factors that come into play when the discussion of when a carpet should be cleaned comes up. First, how much traffic is your carpet seeing? If you have seven kids that live in your house and they keep their shoes on your carpet are seeing a lot of traffic and probably need more frequent cleaning if you only have two adults living in your home you won’t need it done as often. What type of area environmental conditions are close to your house? Do you have a gravel driveway, dirt driveway, cement driveway, or asphalt? Some of these will cause you to track more dirt into your house. There are many more factors that come into play but as you can see it is hard to say exactly how often a carpet should be cleaned.

In general, I recommend that as soon as it starts to look like it is getting dirty that you clean it. If that time comes in three months that is when you should clean it. Even if your carpet looks clean after a year I recommend not going longer than a year between cleanings.

Over time there are dirt and dust particles that settle into your carpet that your vacuum can not remove. These particles get ground into your carpet and create wear patterns commonly called traffic areas. Regular cleaning can prolong the life of your carpet.

Why call SERVPRO of Cedar City/Fillmore?

4/28/2022 (Permalink)

Always open and 24/7 service, even on holidays.

There are several different restoration companies in our community. What is it that makes us the best? The list is long and covers many different reasons. In this post, I will cover three important advantages that we have to offer.

First of all, technicians are trained and certified. This makes it so that we can respond quickly to your disaster even when we are busy. Some of the other companies do not have the personnel to handle the jobs that we do, and getting to your home quickly can make a difference in the amount of damage that is caused and the cost to repair it.

Second, we have all the equipment needed to handle your disaster including specialty drying equipment like desiccant machines, and a wood floor drying extraction mat system just to name a few. These types of equipment are very helpful when they are needed and not every company has them on hand and ready to go. This is one more thing that sets us apart from the competition.

Third and even more importantly we are honest and ethical in the work that we do. Some companies will remove things like cabinets when they could be dried in place, or they will remove drywall when it didn’t need to be. We reduce the costs and time that it takes to get your house put back together. When it comes to dealing with a disaster in your home one of the most frustrating things can be the time that it takes to get back to normal we work to minimize this as much as possible.

5 Leading Causes of Winter House Fires

4/4/2022 (Permalink)

Winter is the time of the year when you cozy up inside the house with heating, cooked meals, and scented candles. But since many home appliances are working round the clock, the risk for house fires increases significantly. Many other sources can cause a fire in your home during the cold months. Learn what the most common causes of winter house fires are and how to prevent them!

Christmas Tree

Decorating a Christmas tree with lights or candles adds a wonderful aesthetic, but it also poses a fire threat. If you are using too many light strands or the lights are worn out, they can cause a flame. Both artificial and real trees pose the threat of catching fire. Real trees are highly flammable, but artificial ones have dangerous chemicals that can burn severely. 

If you’re buying a real tree, make sure to buy a fresh, green one because trees with dry needles are more prone to catch fire. Add water to the tree daily to prevent it from drying out and make sure the tree is away from any heat sources.

Candles

Scented candles add a lovely ambiance to the house and fill it with a welcoming scent of sugar cookies, vanilla, cinnamon, or any other scent of your choice. But candles are also an open flame and, hence, a fire hazard. Candles are responsible for every two out of five home decoration fires, as per the U.S. Fire Administration. Make sure to blow the candles out when you’re going out or sleeping. Ensure at least a one-foot distance between the candle and any flammable material.

Smoking

Any form of smoking inside the house is a potential fire hazard. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, smoking material caused an average of 18,100 fires annually during 2012–2016. Though it might be tempting to smoke indoors, always smoke outdoors. Keep the smoking material away from children and any flammable sources.

Dryers

Almost 3,000 house fires every year are caused by dryers catching fire. Lint builds up in the dryer filter and is unable to release heat properly. This happens more frequently in the winter and fall months. Make sure to clean the lint out between uses and have the vent cleaned professionally at least once a year. Only run your clothes dryer when you’re home and awake.

Cooking

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, cooking is the leading cause of house fires. The kitchen gets busy during Thanksgiving and the holidays. Make sure you’re running kitchen appliances only when you’re in the kitchen, keep the stoves clean and clear of any grease build-up, store flammable materials like towels and potholders away from the stove, and keep children and pets away from the stovetop.

Winter brings festivities and opportunities to spend more time with family at home. But you should always be cautious to ensure that your home is not another statistic for winter home fires. If your home suffers from a winter fire, contact SERVPRO of Cedar City / Fillmore for our fire restoration services.

How to Keep Your Property Safe During a Blizzard

4/4/2022 (Permalink)

Utah is known for having “the greatest snow on earth.” With that title, it’s not surprising that the state sees blizzards every couple of years. These severe snowstorms have heavy winds and last for several hours. Temperatures drop, and visibility decreases, making it dangerous for people to be outside. But even when people stick to the indoors, homes and other buildings must quite literally weather the storm. How do you make sure that your house stays standing during harsh blizzard conditions? Here are several tips to help your commercial or residential property stay safe even during blustery blizzards.

Protecting Your Home from Blizzards

Prepare the Exterior of Your House

Clear Your Roof

Your home’s roof and siding will bear the brunt of the storm, which means you need to give special attention to these areas. Before a blizzard, clear your roof of any existing snow. This might seem counterintuitive since the blizzard will undoubtedly leave your roof with a new layer of snow. But new snow from the blizzard will compact any remnants of snow, weighing down and posing a cave-in risk for your roof.

Keep a Shovel Handy

Although most blizzards don’t have much snowfall, some can drop 2–6 inches of snow per hour. If your area expects the second type of blizzard, you’ll want to keep a shovel (or two) close by to dig yourself out. We suggest keeping a shovel in your entryway or right inside your garage, so you’ll have easy access to it during the storm.

Clear Exterior Vents

The last thing you want during a blizzard is to have your heater quit working. When the vents to your heating system are covered, they can overheat or cause problems. If you have time before the blizzard hits, take a moment to clear any snow or ice on your exterior vents.

Prepare the Interior of Your House

Fill in Cracks

If your home has any cracks, holes, or gaps, you’ll be able to tell during a blizzard. Keep out the cold by caulking any cracks you find, especially around windows and doors.

Stock Up on Water

When a snowstorm is bad enough, utility companies sometimes shut off your water to prevent freezing and bursting pipes. Store some water bottles and jugs of water that you can use to cook and drink.

Know Where the Valves Are

Blizzards can cause electrical problems and natural gas leaks. In those situations, you don’t have time to go looking for the natural gas valve. Take some time before the storm to show all the adults in your home where to find the natural gas valve, water valve, and electrical breaker box.

Protecting Your Business from Blizzards

Have an Emergency Plan

Your company should have an emergency plan already in place before a blizzard appears on the horizon. If you don’t already have one, create a plan that lists emergency procedures like where to gather and which exits to use. In either case, take some time to review the plan with your employees so that everyone knows what to do.

Create Emergency Kits

Homes and businesses alike can benefit from premade emergency kits. Fill these kits with winter necessities like matches, blankets, flashlights, a first aid kit, radios, and non-perishable food. If you have existing emergency kits, check that everything in it is in top shape. If anything isn’t working properly, replace it before the blizzard hits.

Have a Backup Power Supply

Everything from the computers to the break room fridge in your office needs power. If you lose power, you’ll also lose valuable time and efficiency. Even a small portable generator can save your business during a blizzard.

Blizzard & Snowstorm Protection

When a blizzard or another severe snowstorm arrives, you can keep your home and business safe from the howling winds and snow. A little preparation makes all the difference. Prepare both the inside and outside of your building to ensure it stays standing and that everyone inside stays safe. If your residential or commercial property suffers damage due to a blizzard, let SERVPRO of Cedar City / Fillmore help. We have a specialized team that deals specifically with catastrophes like blizzards, tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes. Our SERVPRO Disaster Recovery Team is available 24 hours a day, each day of the year, to help you whenever disaster strikes.

Why Fall is a Great Time for Professional Carpet Cleaning | Deep Clean

10/26/2021 (Permalink)

Many of us may be familiar with spring cleaning, but this doesn’t mean spring is the only time to do deep cleaning. After all, your home is likely to

Why Fall is a Great Time for Professional Carpet Cleaning

1. Your Shoes are Bringing in More Dirt and Grime During the Fall

While there is no shortage of dirt during spring and summer, many environmental changes come with fall. You’re likely to track in more leaves, dirt, slush, and mud during fall months, which don’t help the air quality of your home. Cleaning your carpet will help rid you of dirt and debris, which will in turn improve your home’s air quality.

2. Better Fall Weather Leads to Faster Dry Times

As summer leaves, so do hot temperatures and humidity, which can make carpet take longer to dry. Fall offers cold, but not freezing temperatures, which are ideal to speed up carpet dry times when you have your carpet professionally cleaned. It also lessens the chance of mold or mildew growth. You can open up your windows to let in the nice fall breeze to help dry your carpet as well.

3. Freshen Up Your Home with Clean Carpet for Holiday Guests

With the holidays around the corner, you may be planning to entertain for Thanksgiving or another holiday this year. When your guests arrive, there’s no doubt that you want your home to be clean and fresh for them. What better way to freshen up your home than by having your carpets deep cleaned? Cleaning your carpets in early fall will help you get ahead so that you don’t have to worry about cleaning when the holidays roll around—not to mention it’ll leave your guests with a good impression of your home.

Deep cleaning your carpet can have several other benefits as well, including reducing the risk of you or a family member catching a cold, and it can help restore the softness to your carpets, both of which are great things to have during fall. When you’re ready to have your carpet professionally cleaned, trust the best company in the Cedar City area to get the job done. SERVPRO of Cedar City/Fillmore has a variety of carpet cleaning services to help you prepare your carpets just in time for the holidays.

Getting Rid of H2Odors

3/18/2021 (Permalink)

H2O Odors

Water intrusion, leaks, and flooding can ruin a home. Even if there is no structural damage, it’s going to be a major headache for the person who has to clean up what can be an overwhelming mess. Home flooding can come from both exterior and interior sources; a water pipe can bust, rain can seep in, a fish tank can crack (yes, we’ve seen it), or a creek can overflow and enter the house. Wherever the water comes from, you are going to have to dry and clean it.

Once the water recedes or evaporates and you clean and dry the affected area, odors can linger. Bacteria, mildew, or mold growth are the main culprits when it comes to offending smells. The odor is one thing but left untreated, what you may not be able to see can cause serious health problems. Mold, specifically, can have a major negative impact on indoor air quality. Our SERVPRO of Cedar City/Fillmore technicians have doubled over because of lingering mold odors. Mold damage must be addressed or it will only get worse.

What can we do to most effectively clean?

Step One: Remove the Water

Soak it up. Sponge it up. Mop it up. Sweep it out. Use every roll of paper towels you can find. The water must go. Don’t be afraid to bring in the pros. Our team at SERVPRO of Cedar City/Fillmore is equipped with pumps and industrial-strength suction hoses. Before the cleaning and restoration process can begin, the area must be water-free.

Step Two: Clean, and Then Clean Some More

Get some bleach and get to work. Scrub it all and then scrub it again. Be mindful of porous materials. Depending on what type of water you are dealing with, the material will likely have to be removed. Rip it out and install new. It will be far more costly in the long run if you allow mold or mildew to fester. Carpet cleaning may be a needed follow up to this process.

Step Three: Dry it Up

Once the water is removed and you have thoroughly cleaned, do all you can to get air circulating and dry the area as best you can. A fan will help, but this is another area where your best bet is to contact the professionals. We have air movers and dehumidifiers that keep air moving, remove moisture, and help to better dry the area. We also can deploy HEPA air scrubbers that can address small odor particles still lingering in the air.

SERVPRO of Cedar City/Fillmore helps in addressing various challenges caused by flooding, high water, and water damage. For more information, call us at (435) 251-9241. Let us make sure that no odors linger after water damage hits your home or business!

Why SERVPRO Provides Quick Disaster Response Times

3/12/2021 (Permalink)

Why Choose

When your Cedar City or Fillmore property has been damaged in a disaster, it’s imperative that you select a company with quality services and fast response times to restore your property.

At SERVPRO, we have the fastest response times in the Cedar City and Fillmore areas. This means after a disaster hits your property, we can be over to clean up and restore it as soon as possible!

We pride ourselves in being faster to any disaster than other disaster service companies in the area. Speed is important in any disaster situation, especially if your home is underwater. Not only can our response times make a difference in the damages, but they can help get you back to your daily routine faster than you expected.

Slow Response Times Can Cause More Damage to Property

The longer a company takes to respond, the more damage your property will endure. This goes for any type of disaster but especially flooding.

Our quick response times can mean the difference in saving or losing your furniture, walls, floors, doors, clothing, and other items in your home. Our fast services can also help save your home from further damage caused by disasters, such as fire, floods, hailstorms, snow, and other winter storms.

Quick Response Times Save Money

Not only do our quick response times save your property, but they save you money. The less damage your property endures, the less money it will cost to clean up and restore your building or home.

Longer response times typically mean your property will suffer from more damage. The more damage your property suffers from disasters, the more money it will cost for damage restoration.

How is SERVPRO Quick to the Scene of Disasters?

At SERVPRO, we’ll quickly arrive at the scene of disasters with our 24-hour services. Whether your home has been harmed by hail, endured fire damage, flooded, or damaged from any other disaster, we are available at all times of the day or night to assist you.

But don’t take our word for it, listen to our satisfied customers!

What Do Customers Have to Say About SERVPRO’s Fast Emergency Services?

“I called about 8:30 in the morning, they were here 3 hours later...it is a 2.5 hour drive.  In walked two women named Penny and Felicity.  They greeted us courteously, asked about the damage, and PROMPTLY went to work.  They were very kind, courteous, KNOWLEDGABLE, helpful, and above all, very interested in our feelings and concerns.  They stuck to the task at hand, never wasting a moments time...unless we had a question.  Then, they stopped and answered it to our satisfaction.  When they left, we had all our questions answered and were completely satisfied in every respect with what came next.”

—Bill M.

“The crew was great.  Showed up same day, highly respectful, cleaned up the damage, shampooed carpets and provided follow up service.  Recommended to neighbor....same result.”

—William L.

“Fast and friendly. Very concerned about how I felt and any requests that I had. So glad to have had their help at such a devastating time.”

—ArvaDale A.

Contact SERVPRO for Fast Disaster Response Times

The next time your home or commercial property suffers from disaster damages, hire us for your building damage restoration! With our fast emergency services, we’ll be at your property ready to help you in no time. Contact us today for quick response times to any disaster.

Why SERVPRO Is a Preferred Vendor

3/31/2020 (Permalink)

Hail can lead to storm damage in Cedar City, UT.

When your Cedar City, UT, property has been damaged because of failing appliances, natural disasters, or freak emergencies, the last thing you want is to hire professionals to do subpar work. How can you be sure that you'll get great results from cleanup and restoration professionals? One of the best ways to feel confident you've chosen reliable professionals is to get a recommendation from your insurance company. SERVPRO works hard to be a successful part of your insurance company's vendor program.

What exactly does it mean to be a preferred vendor?

Property restoration companies must complete a list of steps to qualify for these programs. After completing all the required guidelines, the company demonstrates:

• Compliance with the Institute of Inspection
• Cleaning and Restoration standards
  
• Willingness to abide by standardized pricing and discount services
  
• Adherence with specific insurance company requirements
  
  

Some of the steps required to become a preferred vendor include routine background checks for employees, ongoing maintenance for equipment, and completion of multiple training programs.

Why do insurance companies offer preferred vendor programs?

Ultimately, a professional relationship with a restoration company that upholds high standards and abides by strict compliance standards is good for both parties. The insurance company knows that the restoration technicians are trained to do satisfactory work quickly, so repeat repairs aren't necessary. Cleanup crews that work efficiently for standardized prices keep costs down for the insurance company. In return, preferred companies know that they'll get a referral when an insurance agent meets with a homeowner.
Do These Programs Work in Your Favor?
Your insurance agent must balance the insurance company's desire to maintain a balanced budget with your need to pay for property repairs. When restoration professionals offer top quality services for competitive prices, the agent satisfies both requirements. Ask your Cedar City, UT, SERVPRO franchise for more information about how the program works and whether your insurance company uses preferred vendors.

3 Ways Electronic Records Can Assist With the Claims Process

1/31/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is ready 24/7 to help with any type of damage.

When your home is damaged, whether it be by a flood, fire or accident, you will likely need to file an insurance claim to cover the cost of repairing the damage and restoring your house. Hiring certified restoration specialists who utilize an electronic claims service can help you file your claim faster and better. The faster you file, the sooner you can be compensated, so this service can save you a lot of worry. Here are three ways the Claims Information Center at SERVPRO of Cedar City / Fillmore, can benefit you.

Electronic Records Can Assist With The Claims Process

1. Error Reduction

When you have to copy information from one source to another, there is always the chance that you can make an error. One small discrepancy between your claim and the information provided by the repair company can cause your claim to be delayed or even denied. When a preferred vendor such as SERVPRO makes their electronic records available to you and your insurance agent, you don't have to worry about something being written down incorrectly. The fewer hands information has to go through to get to your insurance company, the fewer the mistakes that are likely to be made.

2. Record Retention

Files can easily become disorganized. When records are stored electronically, finding the file needed for an insurance claim is a simpler process. Anyone who can access the records can search for the needed information and find it relatively quickly.

3. Delivery Efficiency

When your home has been damaged, a quick turnaround for getting repairs done and paid for is preferred. Paper-based claim filing can take quite a long time. You wait to get the records from your repair specialists, and then you must wait for those records to reach your insurance company. Electronic records, however, can be accessed and sent immediately, making the time it takes to file your claim shorter.

Getting the money you need from your insurance company is important. When you need to file an insurance claim, SERVPRO is Here to Help.

More than just a restoration company

6/28/2019 (Permalink)

Fires can cause soot and damage to homes in the local Cedar City areas.

SERVPRO of Cedar City/Fillmore is often thought of as a great disaster restoration company, but we are so much more than that. We can take care of several different cleaning needs.

For example this last summer we cleaned fire retardant off of several homes in the Brian Head area after a major wildfire. We deodorized the interior of some homes as well to rid of the smoke odor.

We also offer Other cleaning services such as carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, tile, drapes, blinds, Ceilings, walls, hardwood floors, air ducts, deodorization, biohazard, and vandalism clean up. We can take care of your needs for your home or business regardless of the size of the building.

We are proud to be part of a great community that looks out for each other during times of disaster. We will do our part to help with the cleanup process.

The little things

6/28/2019 (Permalink)

When it comes to cleaning your home and getting ready for winter sometimes it is the little things that matter. Doing some quick simple things that can potentially save you a lot in the long run.

Regularly checking and replacing the filters in your heating and air conditioning units is relatively inexpensive and easy to do, but it can make your heating and air condition units operate more efficiently and last longer.  

Another little thing that is quite important is cleaning the lint out of your dryer and dryer vents. Over time this lint builds up and can be a  fire hazard in addition to reducing the effectiveness of your dryer.

Both of these things can be done easily and neither of them takes an inordinate amount of time. Both of these things can and will make things in your home work more efficiently, last longer and reduce fire hazard in your home.