Fire & Smoke Damage

Restoration

Common Questions and Answers

Click here to view our PDF version of this page. The fire trucks may be gone, but without proper and IMMEDIATE response, the real damage and the costs are just beginning. To return your residential or commercial property to its pre-loss condition requires the assistance of a professional restoration company - this is not the job for a do-it- yourselfer. For results you can have confidence in, we recommend that you hire Classic Carpet Care & Restoration. Restoration to a property can be complex. Proper smoke and odor removal are tasks that require trained technicians, and we are a trained restoration firm. To select a trained restoration firm, several factors must be considered" • Formal and up-to-date specialized training • Health and Safety certifications • Experience in a wide range of restoration projects • Proof of proper insurance and licenses

Here are some common questions and

answers pertaining to fire and smoke

restoration:

Q1: Will I still smell smoke when you are done? A1: We use very specialized equipment and products to remove and/or neutralize smoke. We use the latest techniques available to put your house back to a pre-loss condition. Our job is not complete until you are satisfied. Q2: Do I need an estimate before you start any cleaning or repairs? A2: Often the amount of the cost to clean contents is unknown; however, our pricing is based on standardized pricing for the industry. We use a computer-estimating program that downloads the new price list every month. Your insurance company also uses the same program and price list. When an adjuster is assigned to your claim, we will explain to them what we have done up to that point for any emergency repairs, then get any authorization before further steps are taken. Before any repairs are made, we will have an agreed-upon estimate with your insurance company. Q3: My house is wet after the fire department was here, can you dry it out? A3: Yes, we use specialized equipment to dry out your house. We are highly trained in water damage and restoration (please see our "Water Damage Restoration" service page). Q4: How does the dry-out process work? A4: Q5: How do you know if everything is dry? A5: We use very high-tech moisture meters designed to specifically check for proper moisture content. We will not repair or cover up any areas that may be still wet. This is why it's a good decision when you choose to call Classic Carpet Care & Restoration. We are trained in water damage restoration, thereby assuring you of the best quality service, and giving you the peace of mind that it will be dried out properly. Q6: Is it okay to leave the equipment running, or do I need to do something with it? A6: The equipment we use is capable of running for months without being shut off. The equipment will not overheat with proper use. However, if you hear or smell anything which seems abnormal, please unplug the equipment in question and call us immediately at (906) 774-4514, or (906) 786-4514. Our technician will be checking all equipment and dry-out progress on a regular basis. Q7: If you use Ozone, will it hurt me or my things? A7: We are very careful when using Ozone and will only use it on items that will not be harmed. After we have used Ozone, we will only allow you in the area when it is safe. We also now use Hydroxil Generators for odor control. They are totally safe to use around people and pets. Q8: What is an air scrubber? A8: We use air scrubbers to help clean the air. They use two pre-filters and a large Hepa filter. Air scrubbers remove 99.97% of all air particles, making a safer work environment. Q9: What if we want to do the repairs? A9: The most critical part of fire damage is the drying process and odor control. If you want the odor to be guaranteed to be gone, we would recommend the repairs be performed by our trained technicians. If you want us to only do the emergency repairs, we will bill your insurance company for the emergency repairs separately. Classic Carpet Care & Restoration has a team of very qualified repair specialists. Q10: Will my insurance company cancel me now that I have made a claim? A10: Because each insurance company is so different, we would advise you to ask your agent or adjuster. Q11: Will my insurance premium go up now? A11: Each insurance company has different guidelines. You will need to ask your agent or adjuster. Q12: What is going to happen with my damaged furniture and/or contents? A12: We will do our best to restore your contents to a pre-loss condition. If we are not able to restore any items we will set them aside to be itemized and turned in to your insurance adjuster. Your adjuster will determine coverage according to your policy. Don’t throw anything away! Q13: Do I need to do anything? A13: We have worked very hard at building a business where your responsibilities are very minimal. There may be a few items we will need you to pick out such items as floor covering, or other damaged items. In the event that is necessary, we will review it with you at the time we review your damage area. For the most part, you should be able to just go about your daily activities without much worry or concern. Q14: If it can’t be saved, what will be replaced? A14: Our job is to bring your home back to pre-loss condition. We will use the appropriate methods to save each and every item. The heavily damaged items will need to be cleaned before we are able to determine what is considered permanent damage. If we are unable to save an item, we will set the item aside to be itemized and turned in to your insurance adjuster. Q15: What is the difference between Carpet Classic Care & Restoration, and a general contractor? A15: We have spent thousands of dollars on specialized training and equipment, dealing specifically with fire damage. Our main objective is to minimize the impact on your day-to-day living. If you hire a general contractor, often they do not understand the concept of "saving versus replacing". Just an example: We are able to remove smoke odor without replacing everything. By saving verses replacing we are able to get you back into your house sooner. If someone comes in and removes everything, the insurance adjuster may not approve the bill. Q16: Why do I give Classic Carpet Care my deductible? A16: It is your responsibility to pay your deductible. Your insurance company will subtract your deductible from our bill and pay us the balance. As an example, if you have a deductible of $500.00 and our bill is $3000.00, then: Insurance check $ 2500.00 Deductible $ 500.00 Total amount paid $ 3000.00 Q17: Why must we go through all this paperwork prior to doing emergency repairs? A17: We try to stay as organized as possible to ensure the quality work and customer service you deserve. The paperwork we are required to maintain is a very important part of the foundation to help us achieve the highest standard of customer satisfaction. Q18: Should we make arrangements for you to get in our house? A18: Yes, it is very important that we have access to monitor the job. If you are not going to be available, then we need to work out a plan to gain access. Q19: How much is my electric bill going to be with all of this equipment? A19: Classic Carpet Care has made every effort to use equipment that maximizes the fastest drying time and consumes the least amount of power necessary to achieve the best drying time and results. The following are approximations as to the additional utility costs for each piece of equipment: Air-moving fans or axial fans - average $1.41 per day Air Scrubbers - average $1.47 per day Dehumidifiers - average $3.78 - $4.76 per day Heaters - average $4.76 - $19.02 per day Large Air Scrubber - average $3.59 per day Q20: Can I turn off the equipment at night? A20: No, we really need to keep the equipment running. Turning off the equipment may increase the chance of mold growth. Q21: Must I stay in my home during the repairs? A21: The amount of smoke damage, and how it affects you, will determine if you can stay in your home. If you need to stay outside of your house, you may want to ask your insurance adjuster about additional living expense or A.L.E. coverage. Q22: Why does the insurance adjuster wait so long to inspect my loss? A22: Often the adjuster will wait until the dry-out process is complete in order to be able to assess damages. On occasion, because of our good relationship with an adjuster, they may rely on our photos and scope of repairs without doing an inspection of their own. Q23: Why does my house smell so bad? A23: If the fire department used water to put out the fire, the humidity in your house has doubled or tripled from what is normal and materials are wet that normally are not designed to get wet. If it has been 3 - 4 days since the initial fire, and your house has not been dried out, you may start to smell a sour odor, which indicates that bacteria may be forming. After we have dried your home and have performed a thermal fog, the smell should be better. That is why it is very important to take immediate action to prevent further damage. Q24: Will I need to contact a contractor or does Classic Carpet Care do that for me? A24: We can give you a list of contractors that are accustomed to working with insurance companies. Q25: What is Thermal Fogging? A25: A thermal fogger is appropriately named. It is a device that uses heat to produce a fog without degrading the active ingredient. A thermal fogger produces a range of droplet sizes including a large number of very small droplets. This makes a thermal fogger the preferred type of equipment to reach air spaces in areas highly obstructed by vegetation, or other physical obstructions in buildings. The large number of very small droplets produced in a thermally generated fog also makes the fog highly visible. This can help the operator to monitor the fog and ensure thoroughness of application. Q26: Is the final choice on the finished product my decision or the adjusters? A26: The choice of repairs is always yours. Be aware that your insurance company only owes like, kind, and quality. If you choose to do something else, you may have to pay more out of your pocket. Q27: What is ultrasonic cleaning and how does it work? A27: Ultrasound is energy in the form of a wave motion which is above the maximum level of audible sound. This energy is transmitted to the cleaning solution via a bank of transducers underneath the machine. The result of this process is termed cavitations, tiny bubbles of vaporized liquid which explode when they reach a high pressure. Cleaning takes place as shock waves dislodge soil from the surface of the contaminated articles placed in the water bath. Q28: Are any of the chemicals used harmful to my pets? A28: You should always avoid contact with chemicals. We advise you to keep any pets away from the affected area. Q29: Do I have to replace with the same materials, or can I upgrade? A29: You may upgrade, however we will need you to sign a change order which shows the difference in price and gives us the authorization for repairs. You agree to pay the difference in cost. You may also want to contact your insurance adjuster to discuss this matter. Q30: Why do I have so many cobwebs? A30: Cobwebs are formed from smoke particles linking together forming a chain. When you see cobwebs throughout your home, it is not from your lack of house-keeping. Q31: Why does it look like water is running down from my ceiling? A31: Smoke is made up of small water droplets. Smoke rises and concentrates at the ceiling and causes large amounts of moisture to collect. Q32: Do you guarantee your work? A32: Yes, Classic Carpet Care guarantees all of our workmanship. Before we consider any job complete you will need to sign a form of work completion and satisfaction.