Restorative Drying FAQ
- What is restorative drying?
- Can I turn off the equipment at night?
- Or maybe wondering if you need to do anything?
Pride Cleaning & Restoration in St. Louis has been in business since 1987. Over the years we have faced many problems and our employees have come up with some creative ideas to resolve these issues. One of the biggest challenges facing our technicians is answering all the frequently asked questions our clients have regarding water damage. So, we sat down and answered the most common questions and put it all together in this handy Question and Answer Guide. Our past clients loved it, so we’re pleased to share this with you. In this guide, you will learn the answers to all these questions and many more…
FAQ
Q: Do I need an estimate before you start the dry-out?
A: Often the amount of the dry out 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 quarter. 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, then get an authorization before further steps are taken. Before any repairs are made we will have an agreed estimate with your insurance company.
Q: Do I have mold?
A: This is a very big concern and we at Pride Cleaning & Restoration have spent a lot of time and money on education and equipment to become qualified in water damage restoration. In most cases, if the drying process can be started fairly quickly, you generally do not need to be concerned with mold.
Q: Is it o.k. to keep this equipment running or do I need to do something with it?
A: The equipment we use is capable of running for months without being shut off. They will not overheat and should be fine. If you hear or smell anything which seems to not be normal, please unplug the equipment in question and call us immediately at 888.838.5868. Our technician will be checking all equipment and the dry out progress on a regular basis.
Q: How do you know if everything is dry?
A: We use very high tech moisture meters designed to specifically check for proper moisture content. We will not repair or cover up any areas, which may still be wet. This is why you have made a good choice to call us, not just a construction company. We are trained and certified in water damage assuring you the homeowner of the best quality service and giving you the peace of mind that it will be dried out properly.
Q: The equipment you have running is making the air feel muggy; can I open a window or door to let in fresh air?
A: Our equipment is increasing the rate of evaporation causing the air to feel moist. Part of our monitoring process includes checking both the conditions indoors and out. If our technicians instruct you to open some windows that may mean that the conditions outside will help in the drying process; otherwise, with the use of our high tech. dehumidifiers you will notice much drier conditions in 24 to 48 hours.
Q: What if we want to do the repairs?
A: The most critical part of water damage is the drying process. After the dry-out has been completed by our trained and certified technicians you may want to do the repairs yourself or hire a general contractor to do the repairs and that would be fine. We can bill your insurance company for the emergency repairs separately. Pride Cleaning & Restoration has a team of very qualified repair specialists if you would prefer to have us complete the job for you.
Q: Will my insurance company cancel me now that I have made a claim? And will my Insurance Premium go up?
A: Typically no, however, because each insurance company has different guidelines, you will need to ask your agent or adjuster.
Q: What is going to happen with my damaged furniture and/or contents?
A: 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!
Q: What is restorative drying?
A: A few years ago the standard procedure was to remove any wet materials, replacing with new. Today, with much better equipment and training, our goal is to dry-out your property, while saving as much of the structure as possible.
Q: How long will the dry outtake?
A: Typically the average water loss takes between 2 to 5 days. If materials have been exposed to water over a long period of time it may take longer.
Q: If it can’t be dried, what will be replaced?
A: Our job is to bring you back to a pre-loss conduction. After the dry out process has been completed, we will be able to determine what has permanent damage. At that time we will submit an estimate of repairs to your insurance adjuster for approval.
Q: What is the difference between you and a contractor?
A: We have spent thousands of dollars on specialized training and equipment, dealing specifically with water 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: 90% of the time we are able to save drywall with 3 days of drying, without putting any holes in it. If someone comes in and removes all of the drywall, you have turned a 3-day job into about a week and a half process.
Q: Why do I give Pride Cleaning & Restoration my deductible?
A: Your deductible is your responsibility to pay. Your insurance company will subtract your deductible from our bill and pay us the balance. As an example, if you have a deductible of $250.00 and our bill is $1000.00: Insurance check $750.00 less Deductible -$250.00 = Total amount paid $1000.00
Q: Why do you have to monitor the job so often?
A: For us to achieve the best results, we need to closely monitor the dry out process. This may include moving, adding, or removing equipment and checking humidity and temperature readings to ensure your property is returned to its pre-loss condition.
Q: Why must we go through all this paperwork prior to extraction?
A: We try to stay as organized as possible to help ensure the quality and customer service you deserve. Paperwork is a very important part of the foundation to help us to achieve this.
Q: Must I stay in my home during the dry out process?
A: Often you can stay in your home depending on the areas that are affected. You may lose the use of your bathroom, kitchen, etc. If you need to stay outside of your house, you may want to ask your adjuster about additional living expense or A L E coverage.
Q: Why does the adjuster wait so long to inspect my loss?
A: Often the adjuster will wait until the dry out process is complete in order to be able to assess damages. Other times because of our relationship with the adjuster, they may rely on our photos and scope of repairs without having to do an inspection of their own.
Q: Why does my house smell so bad?
A: Often times 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 to 4 days since the initial water loss and you start smelling a musty odor, you may be getting bacteria forming. After we have dried out the affected area, the odor should be gone.
Q: Do I contact a contractor or does Pride do all the cleaning and repairs?
A: If you would like us to we can take care of any repairs that may need to be performed. If you choose to have someone else do the repairs, you are responsible to hire a contractor yourself.
Q: Are any of the chemicals used harmful to my pets?
A: You should always avoid contact with chemicals. We advise you to keep any pets away from the affected area.
Q: Is the final choice on the finish product my decision or the adjusters?
A: The choice of repairs is always yours. 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.
Q: Do you guarantee your work?
A: Yes, we guarantee our work, so you can rest assured that the recovery job will be done right. No restoration job is complete until you are 100% satisfied. Once we complete your job, you will need to sign a form of work completion and satisfaction.
Q: Why is it so dry in my house?
A: It is our goal to get the air in your house as dry as possible by doing this it speeds up the drying process; however, it may feel dryer then you may be used to. You may also need to water any plants more often.
Q: Can I turn off the equipment at night?
A: No, we really need to keep the equipment running. By turning off the equipment it will prolong the dry out process and may increase the chance of fungi growth.
Q: Do I have to replace with the same materials, or can I upgrade?
A: You may upgrade; however we will need you to sign a change order. You must also agree to pay for the additional cost prior to the installation/repair of the upgrade.
