"A Statement on Water
Damages"
Restore It, in
it's continuing effort to provide the best possible service at the fairest price and
highest level of customer satisfaction, would like to take this opportunity to talk with
you briefly about effective methods of servicing your insured when they have water damage
claims.
For many years, the
standard practice has been to extract standing water, pull the carpet and remove and
replace padding. Restore It improved on this method by removing pad but drying
the carpet in place in most situation, thus reducing wear on the carpet and cutting costs
for the insurance company.
Extraction is always
necessary when there is water still in the carpet. Extraction reassures the insured,
promotes quicker drying time and helps eliminate browning caused by jute coloration and
soil picking up the fibers as evaporation takes place.
After extraction, the
furniture should be removed or pads put between the furniture and carpet to prevent rust
or furniture stain. Furniture stain can never be removed. If we are there while the area
is still wet, we will attempt to remove the furniture stain and are sometimes successful.
Removal of the furniture or putting pads under the furniture also protects the furniture
from moisture damage.
Padding removal is
frequently not necessary and this is the area of water damage we want to address. With the
use of under carpet fans, we have eliminated the need for padding removal and replacement
in the majority of smaller losses.
There are many problems
with removing carpet and padding from the insureds' premises. Older and inexpensive
backing on carpet causes shrinkage when removed from the tack strip. Separation often
occurs when carpeting is removed because the glue is less stable. Left in place and
allowed to dry, the glue once more becomes fast. Relaying seams is one of the most
difficult problems making them impossible to repair satisfactorily.
Many of these problems
can be eliminated or at least reduced by extracting water and drying the padding and
carpet on location. Some of the "fears" include the possibility of mold and
mildew. Mold and mildew require constant moisture and high temperatures. Extraction and
the under carpet fans eliminate both of these problems.
There are many advantages to this improved
method:
