FAQ

Question #1 – Why should I turn on the water faucets at freezing temps?

Contrary to what some believe, the freezing temperatures do not directly cause your pipes to break on a cold winter night. When water in a pipe freezes, the pressure created by the expanding ice can break weak areas in your pipe. Joints are especially susceptible this kind of damage. Keeping your pipes well-insulated is the first line of defense. Also, running the faucets on a low flow inside your house will give the water an outlet if freezing occurs, pressure does not build up between the ice blockage and the open valve, so your pipes are spared.

Question #2 – Are store bought DIY kits good for sewage and drain clean-up?

Water line coming into your home is usually going to be a clean water source. Anything outgoing should be considered contaminated. This includes sources such as your bath tub, toilet, or kitchen sink. A sewage backup or drain spill is a serious matter due to the level of contamination in the water.

When you drain dish water, there’s a lot of old food residual in the water that goes down the drain. All that slightly contaminated water goes through your dirty P-trap under the sink. Most people do not clean that out frequently. Also, the P-trap is there so that you don’t have to smell the rancid food residue and germs that collect and live in your drain line. If a drain pipe breaks or a sewer pipe backs up, you might need a professional to clean up the mess.

Question #3 – Is the smoky odor from an appliance fire less dangerous than a larger fire?

The noxious odor leftover by a structural fire gets embedded into walls, floors, and any surviving possession. But that’s not the only type of smoky odor that needs professional remediation by a company like Soil-Away. It’s hard to generalize the hazards of smoke residuals according to the size of the fire; it depends upon the fuel that burned in that fire. For instance, burning wood smoke has a different chemical composition than say the vapors from a greasefire in your kitchen. This is why it’s important to let a trained professional check it out. Experts, like the staff at Soil-Away, have been taught the different types of smoke and fire damage along with the best solutions to remove the smoky odors.

Question #4 – What are “Soft Goods?”

What are soft goods? That is a broad category of items that includes clothing, drapes, shoes, stuffed animals, bags and even emergency protective gear like the stuff firemen use. The list is long. Recovering these things from a home that has undergone a fire is a task best left to a professional restoration firm like Soil-Away. They are the only restoration firm in their service area with the specialized Esporta WashSystem and an Esporta Certification for cleaning soft goods. This cleaning system has been designed to combine technology, special cleaning cycles, and powerful detergents to return any salvageable fabric type to its regular use.

Question #5 – How long can I wait to call someone in for water damage cleanup?

The short answer here would be “don’t delay. Call!” Procrastination only expandsthe problem and could increase your expense in the cleanup. One of the first things a professional restoration team will do is find how the water got into your house and caused the damage. Was it a damaged pipe, a leaking roof, a faulty dishwasher, or something else? Whatever the cause, itneeds to be fixed immediately. You also want to ensure a thorough cleanup and drying of the affected areras. If any organic surface is allowed to remain wet, you run the risk of secondary hazards like mold. Where water damage is found, never say “I’ll get around to it.” Take care of it immediately.

Question #6 – If I’m on a professional carpet cleaning schedule, should I still vacuum?

Routine vacuuming and professional carpet care work together to keep your carpet beautiful. Professional cleaning services clean the deep-down dirt that collects in your carpet, but they do not replace the regular vacuuming. Normal vacuum cleaners pick up the majority of dirt left over by daily traffic, but not all of it. Over time, enough residual material will collect and become an abrasive force that could damage the fibers of your carpet and ultimately the base where the weave is held together. So, continue with normal vacuuming between professional visits from a company like Soil-Away Cleaning and Restoration Services. Our equipment and products will lift even the deep-down dirt and restore the carpets former beauty and extend its years of usability.

Question #7 – Is it necessary to board up my property after a fire?

Boarding up a residence or a business is to protect the property owner as much as those who might be tempted to intrude upon the premises. If the property must be left unattended overnight then the answer is “yes”; the structure should be boarded up to prevent entry at night. First, it is best to enclose the fire damaged building to protect the inside from a rain shower. Also, vandals could otherwise enter an unprotected structure and cause even more damage, or be injured themselves because the building is structurally unsound. The former means more restoration work (and more expense). The latter might lead to litigation against the property owner because they could be held responsible if someone is injured in their building.

Question #8 – Can insurance companies decide which restoration firm I can hire?

No! Many home-owners do not know this, but insurance companies cannot dictate which restoration company you hire. Under the law, that decision is yours alone. Your insurance carrier may be one of the good guys who would not attempt to coerce your decision toward one of their “preferred” companies. A few of the less scrupulous providers might attempt to imply that you would benefit from using a firm from their list of contacts. If confronted with this tactic, just remind them that they are breaking the law. You have the final decision of who gets to work in your home or business.