by Brianna Crandall — January 23, 2015—As much of the United States experiences freezing temperatures and extreme winter weather conditions, experts from ServiceMaster Restore, a leading restoration company and part of the ServiceMaster family of brands, warn home and business owners how to prevent — and manage — some of winter’s most costly damages.
Weather experts are prompting people nationwide to prepare for the coldest weather since last year’s polar vortex. With freezing temperatures come many costly damages, such as burst pipes, ice and snow damage, and much more, reminds the company.
Peter Duncanson, director of disaster restoration system development at ServiceMaster Restore, says it is critical for business owners and managers to know what to do in the event they experience any damage.
ServiceMaster Restore offers these cold weather safety precautions:
- Cover exposed outdoor water faucets to prevent freezing. Use a cover available at any hardware store to insulate and protect them.
- Ensure down spouts are clear to allow melting snow and ice to run through freely.
- Leave cabinet doors under sinks open to help circulate air and prevent freezing.
- Leave water running (slow trickle) to prevent pipes from freezing.
- Use only approved space heaters to prevent fires in homes.
- Keep drapes and flammable items away from space heaters.
- Do not use ovens or stoves to warm homes.
- Avoid snow buildup on roofs:
- Melting and freezing of ice on roofs can cause “ice dams” that lift shingles and can cause water to seep into the home.
- Heave built up can cause roof collapse — remove snow build up by using push brooms from a safe location on the roof.
- Snow and ice melt from roofs can refreeze in rain gutters. Ice buildup can damage the gutter by pulling it off the structure or cause seepage into the structure.
What to do if a home or business has suffered water damage:
- Use fans to circulate air and assist the drying process until an expert can arrive.
- Remove as much water as possible by mopping and blotting.
- Wipe furniture dry.
- Lift draperies off carpet, loop through a coat hanger, and place the hanger on the drapery rod.
- Prop up wet furniture cushions and place small wood blocks or aluminum foil under furniture legs.
- Remove wet area rugs and open furniture drawers and closet doors to enhance drying.
- Move photographs, paintings and art objects to a safe, dry location.
- Hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature.
- Remove damp books from shelves and spread out to dry.
- Call for professional help immediately. Damage from the water and bacteria growth can begin within hours.
“Emergencies are never planned and are especially unpleasant in extremely cold temperatures,” said Duncanson. “Even when people prepare their properties and follow the proper steps to prevent winter-related damage, they can still be caught off guard with damage. Knowing what to do before — and after — is critical to keeping property safe.”
ServiceMaster Restore has a nationwide footprint, local crews, equipment and mobile command centers to assist homeowners and businesses impacted by the severe winter weather. For businesses, the commercial recovery line is 1-866-RECOVER.
With more than 1,800 franchised and licensed locations around the world, ServiceMaster Restore and ServiceMaster Recovery Management serve customers through a global network of franchises available 24/7/365 to provide residential and commercial restoration services resulting from damage caused by water, fire or smoke.
ServiceMaster Recovery Management (SRM) is the large-scale commercial catastrophic disaster restoration unit of ServiceMaster Restore. Both entities have operation and consulting experience on “countless” disasters, including cleanup after Hurricane Katrina and the Pentagon after September 11, 2001. Additional brands of ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc., include Terminix, American Home Shield, ServiceMaster Restore, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids, Furniture Medic and AmeriSpec.
