Ice dams form when the top part of the roof is warmer than the bottom. The warm temperatures melt the snow and ice on top of the roof. The water then slides down to the edges of the roof and freezes again close to the eves of the house, often creating icicles. The best way to avoid this problem is to ensure that your attic is properly insulated and sealed against leaks and moisture.  Ice dams form when snow on a part of the roof melts due to poor insulation, travels down the roof and re-freezes. This causes water to seep into the roof and get into the house. These ice dams prevent water from going into the gutter. Instead, the water can travel to the home’s ceilings and walls, causing structural damage and the formation of mold, which can be a serious health hazard.

Try some of the following steps to avoid ice dams and other moisture problems in your attic:

Add spray or batt insulation inside your attic to prevent the heat from the home escaping through the attic.

Vent all indoor fans, such as bathroom fans or exhaust fans out of the house, rather than into the attic.

Seal all air leaks inside the attic with caulking or weather stripping. You may want to enlist the help of a qualified professional to find and seal attic leaks.

Replace the underside of the roof’s eaves with ridged vents, which will prevent moisture from lingering inside the attic.

Install rafter vents to prevent water on the roof from collecting and creating ice dams.

Brush snow off of the roof using a broom or “roof rake” to prevent the snow from melting and causing dams and icicles. Take care not to damage the shingles on the roof.

If you do experience water or ice damage to your home or business call the professionals at ISC Services by dialing  1.888.244-7337.  We have a team of pro’s available 24/7 to respond and assist in helping fix you problem.

I’m going to be having a HUGE Super Bowl party at my home this year and I’m really stressed out! Instead of snow this year we got rain, rain and more rain. The recent rainstorms that seemed to last forever have found their way into my basement for the first time since we moved in 5 years ago and I have no idea where it came from. We soaked it up with a ton of towels and used a wet/dry vacuum to soak it up and it appears to look fine, however, it is starting to smell really bad and I’m really worried something is wrong. OMG! Where is the smell coming from? It’s horrible!! Should I do something more? And how can I prevent this from happening again?” Really sad

Answer for Mary in Troy, Michigan:

I’m so glad you asked this question; a lot of people are in the same position this year. The answer isn’t exactly simple, but with the right information and a little effort your Super Bowl party should go on as scheduled with no worse smells then chicken wings and nachos!

Using towels and a wet/dry vacuum is a logical solution in cases when you have concrete floors and walls. However, the horrible smell you mention makes me suspicious? Keep reading.

First, where did the rain enter the basement? Was it the floor drains? Was it the sump pump? Or did it come in from the perimeter of the basement walls? If it came from the floor drains, the technical term is “Black Water” (basically considered ”crappy” water!). If it came from the sump pump, the technical term is “grey water” (typically clean water). The good news is, both sewer and sump pump back-ups are a limited coverage insurance loss with a proper insurance Rider called, “Sump and back-up coverage”. That is a question for your insurance agent. The not so good news: if the water was around the perimeter of the basement walls this policy will not help you.  Ground water is generally a foundation problem and insurance coverage will   not protect you even with a Rider.

Now, is your basement finished   with carpet, drywall, trim molding and doors? I suspect at the very least, you had carpet and that is the culprit that is producing the smell. This   happens when all the water was not removed. It only takes 72 hours of carpet and drywall being wet for the water to go from “clear” safe water to “black” dangerous water, no matter where it came from. Now, here is where it really   gets smelly. After 72 hours you have to remove and discard carpet, pad, base   molding, drywall and any wet insulation. It sounds like you are past your 72   hours and towels will not soak up your problem. The basement will likely need   to be dried down professionally with commercial dehumidifiers, and air movers and sprayed with an antimicrobial in order to prevent future bacteria or mold growth in the future. I know, what a pain in the butt! The good news is that there are people to help you and you are not alone with this problem. So, Mary, put the towels back in your linen closet & call ISC   Services’ (888.244-7337) 24/7 if you have an emergency so we could help you soak up this problem.

This was a long answer, but an awesome question that we get a lot. And remember to visit our website to find more helpful information and learn about our “We Care” deductible program so you can save money by letting us do the work.

www.iscservices.net

10 Ways To Help Prevent Water

In Your Basement

Interior of your home:

• Visit rooms in your home that you don’t frequent
  often like second floor bedrooms and closets and
  look at your ceilings by exterior chimneys.
• Visit your basement and inspect every corner.
• Check your sump pump to ensure that it is working
  and going on and off by itself. If you have to shake
  it to get it to work, that means it needs to be replaced.

Print   off the CHECK LIST below 
to do your own home inspection:

*Take a walk around your home. Start from the top of
the roof down to ground level

1. Inspect your roof for missing shingles from top down.   Ice could have damaged them this past winter and they must be replaced ASAP. Hopefully you have some of the shingles left over that might match existing coloring.
2. Look for gutters that have fallen away from the overhang due to ice build up or just broken loose. Re-attach gutter to fascia or fascia board might need to be replaced.
3. Clean out gutters. If gutters are full of debris or leaves, water will        overflow right to the grade below and likely will end up in your basement through hydrostatic pressure.
4. Look for trim boards that have expanded and have left gaps or pulled away from flashing. Replace boards or re-nail into place.
5. Check for cracks or gaps around perimeter of windows, especially on exterior window sill. Gaps must be caulked again even if it was done in        previous year.
6. Inspect brick mortar that may have loosened or has fallen out. Brick  will need to be tuck pointed with mortar. Also, inspect chimneys as they        tend to collect moisture and freeze. The Brick ultimately will flake around the top.
7. Inspect vinyl or aluminum siding for missing or bent panels and split caulked joints. Replace damaged siding and caulking.
8. Ensure you have gutter extensions still attached to the end of the gutter downspout a minimum of 24 inches away from the home.        If they are dented, you need to replace them. They must also be pitched        away from your basement wall and in a direction that will not redirect the water back toward the basement wall.
9. Look for water puddles around perimeter of the home behind landscaping or the ground sinking around perimeter of foundation.  This happens from years of the ground compacting after the home was built or rain water that was never redirected away from the home. Adding fill dirt is a simple solution to raise grade around foundation.
10. Concrete driveway or patio along house that might be pitched toward foundation wall. This will need to be raised to pitch away from the   house or replaced depending on severity.

If disaster strikes, we are the team to call. ISC SERVICES toll free 888-244-7337 or visit us ONLINE at www.iscservices.net

~24/HR EMERGENCY SERVICE~
1-888-244-7337
]]> http://iscservices.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/towels-towels-are-there-enough-towels/feed/ 0 42.547339 -83.164339 42.547339 -83.164339 iscservices http://iscservices.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/fire-and-smoke-damage/ http://iscservices.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/fire-and-smoke-damage/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:37:18 +0000 iscservices http://iscservices.wordpress.com/?p=188 Continue reading →]]> Any fire and smoke damage can be detrimental to your home, business and belongings. Most things in your home can be replaced, but that one certain item that took you months to find, may be irreplaceable. In any case, you most likely want to contact a professional cleaning and restoration company (ISC Services is a certified firm).  They will have all the right procedures to properly clean your home or business as well as remove the smell of smoke.

Smoke Damage in a home or commercial business is not only very difficult to clean up, but done incorrectly can leave a structure with a long term health impact. Proper PPE (personal protection equipment) it very important during the clean-up process of any fire or smoke damage. It is strongly recommended that only certified Clean Trust (formerly IICRC) Certified FSRT Technicians are hired to perform this type of cleaning and structure restoration. FSRT (fire & smoke restoration technician) Certified Technicians have gained special training for dealing with the safety, process and clean-up protocols necessary to restore a structure and its contents back to pre-loss conditions.

The light switch plate (top picture) and what appears to be a burn mark on the wall (lower photo), demonstrate how smoke can travel during a fire. What appears to be a burn mark is actually a nail hole. These photos were taken during an inspection of a very large structure fire. The fire was on a lower floor of the facility and the smoke was so dense that it traveled throughout the structure walls of the entire building eventually forcing its way out of every nail hole and electrical fixture.

Fire and smoke damage can occur under a few different circumstances. You may have an unfortunate fire that happens unexpectedly in your home or business. Or you may have a puff back that can spread black soot throughout the structure.  Hopefully you never have to deal with any of these problems, but you want to make sure you are well prepared in case this situation occurs. For more information about how ISC Services can help when fire and smoke damage affects your home or business, call ISC Services at 1.888.244.7337. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and are always on the ready to provide emergency services.

Unfortunately, every year home owners and commercial property managers try to solve smoke damage problems themselves when they should be contacting a professional restorer like ISC Services (www.iscservices.net) or 1.888.244.7337.  Keep in mind that how the problem is addressed early on, can dictate what results can be seen when the work is completed.  Let the experts at ISC Services worry about your home or business so you don’t have to.

Not only is it important to prepare for the risk of fire, but it is also important to prepare for the aftermath should one occur.

1. It is natural to think it will never happen to you. It is likely that you or someone you are close to will experience a fire or smoke damage. This is why it is vital to have a solid plan should an event take place! ISC Services has all the  vital contact information and effect protocols to assist in safety, secondary damage containment, Insurance Adjuster contact information and is a certified  Professional Fire and Smoke Restoration Company.
2. If you are insured, contact your insurance company for detailed instructions on protecting the property, conducting inventory and contacting fire damage restoration companies, like ISC Services. Note: Insurance companies, Insurance Agents and Insurance Adjusters may recommend a Restoration Contractor. The property owner always has the right to choose their Repair Service Provider.   If you are not insured,  ISC Services can still provide necessary services and repairs to your home or business.
3. Check with the fire department to make sure your residence is safe to enter. Be watchful of any structural damage caused by the fire.
4. The fire department should see that utilities are either safe to use or are disconnected before they leave the site. DO NOT attempt to reconnect utilities yourself.
5. Conduct an inventory of damaged property and items. Do not throw away any damaged goods until after an inventory is made. There are very effective inventory processes that should be followed to ensure maximum replacement claim values.
6. Try to locate valuable documents and records. Remember: Important documents should always be stored in a Fire Resistant File Cabinet, Fire Resistant Safe or outside location. Eg. Safe Deposit Box. *Note: ONLY CONTENTS (a certified contents restoration company which ISC SERVICES partners with) is a highly skilled Document Restoration Specialist that can carefully restore damaged legal documents, medical documents, historical documents, books and other important papers.
7. If the damage requires you to leave your home, contact the local police department to let them know the site will be unoccupied.    ISC Services can provide “Board-Up” services to provide additional security to Residential and Commercial Properties.
8. Begin saving receipts for any money you spend related to fire loss. The receipts may be needed later by the insurance company and for verifying losses claimed on income tax.
9. Notify your mortgage company of the fire.
10. Check with an accountant or the Internal Revenue Service about special benefits for people recovering from fire loss.

What to look for when you’re home or business is affected by water or sewage damage:

The water damage will be found in three dimensions. Water always seeks equilibrium with its environment and wet always goes to dry, if it can. Just finding the extent of the water damage on the floor isn’t enough.

• The water damage needs to be mapped to determine how far up the walls it has wicked, and how far down into the substrate the water damage has gone, including possibly entering the crawlspace in a conventional foundation.

This can’t be done by touch. Very specialized water damage inspection tools and meters will be required, and every water damage professional has them. A thorough understanding of water damage demands every water damage contractor be familiar with the “science of drying”, also called psychrometry. Ask your water damage contractor what the dry standard is of each structural component suffering potential water damage. With proper water damage inspection tools and water damage experience, he should be able to tell you on a scale of 100 points the moisture content of water damaged and non water damaged materials. If he can’t, call a different water damage restoration professional.

• Make sure your water damage restoration contractor draws a “moisture map” of the affected area showing the FULL extent of the water damage migration, and that he updates the water damage moisture map daily to show the progress of the water damage/structural drying project. A professional water damage restoration contractor should explain the risks of what are called secondary damages resulting from a water damaged structure.

These secondary damage risks are primarily caused by increased vapor pressure (a result of poorly controlled ambient temperature and humidity), and mold/bacterial contamination. Make sure the water damage restoration contractor you hired has, uses and documents the usage of a thermo-hygrometer to trend the drying potential of the environment. A water damage contractor should offer 24/7 service since water damage is a progressive condition that gets worse the longer it takes water damage mitigation to begin.

• A professional water damage restoration contractor should select the structural drying equipment in a scientific method based on materials, size of the water damaged area, and the class and category of the water damage. At the very least he should be certified in applied structural drying, water damage restoration, and have a certification in mold remediation…a working knowledge of the relationship between water damage and mold damage should be mandatory.
• For sewage related water damage, or water damage resulting from water coming into the structure from outside surface or ground water sources all hygroscopic (absorbs water) materials should be cut out and thrown away in a manner consistent with industry accepted guidelines for water damage restoration.

ISC Services is a professional restoration firm that specializes in water damaged properties with years of experience at structural drying, water damage restoration.

COMMON SOURCE FOR WATER DAMAGE INSIDE YOUR PROPERTY

Water leaks can happen anywhere in the house, but they occur most frequently in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry rooms.

• Kitchen Dishwasher – Periodically check under the sink to see if the hose connection to the water supply line is secure and is not leaking. Check around the base of the dishwasher for evidence of leaks. Look for discolored, warped, or soft flooring materials or water damage to nearby cabinets.
• Refrigerator – If your refrigerator has an ice maker, check the hose connection to make sure it is securely attached to the water supply line. The wet spot you see on the floor near the refrigerator may be melted ice cubes or it may be a crimped ice maker line about to burst.
• Sink – Re caulk around sinks and pay attention to slow-draining pipes. This may indicate a partially blocked drain. Check the pipes under the sink for signs of water leaks.
• Bathroom Showers and Bathtubs – Discoloration or soft areas around floors and walls near showers or bathtubs may be your first indication there is a leak. Check caulking at joints where the walls meet the floor or the bathtub, looking for cracks or mold. If either is found, clean and remove loose material and apply new sealant. If the shower walls or floor are tiled, a leak may develop if there are cracks or missing areas of grout.
• Sinks – Check under the sink for signs of leaks from water supply lines or drain pipes.
• Toilets – Placing inappropriate objects or too much toilet paper in the bowl can accidentally clog toilets, especially low-flow toilets which are now required in homes. Hanging bowl deodorants are frequently the culprits. These objects can lodge deep in the plumbing system, and can block the line or create an obstruction that grease and other materials can cling to – eventually causing blockage. In addition, some chlorine tablet cleaners may corrode some of the internal components, eventually leading to a leak.
• Laundry/Utility Room Washing Machine – Inspect washing machine hoses regularly for wetness around hose ends and signs of bulging, cracking or fraying. Replace the hose if a problem is found or every three to five years as part of a proactive maintenance program.
• Air conditioning – At the start of the cooling season, have the A/C system serviced by a qualified contractor. Make sure their service includes inspecting and cleaning the air conditioner condensation pan drain line to keep it free of obstructions. Change the air filters on a regular basis.
• Basement sump pump – Sump pump systems assist in keeping unwanted water out of your home. Battery-operated back-up sump pumps can offer a degree of protection against power failure or failure of the primary pump. A generator can also be used to power the pump in case of a power failure. Test the sump pump before the start of each wet season to ensure it is in working order. Sump pumps are not intended to last more than 10 years and must have some components replaced or serviced within those 10 years.
• Water Heater – Most water heaters last 10 to 15 years. Wet spots on the floor or a rusted tank may signal a problem. Hot water heaters should be installed on the lowest level of the home and always located next to a floor drain. If installed above or adjacent to finished spaces, the hot water heater should be placed inside a drain pan with the drain pan piped to the floor drain.

COMMON SOURCE FOR WATER DAMAGE OUTSIDE YOUR PROPERTY

• Leaking roofs, poor drainage, and clogged gutters and downspouts can lead to significant water damage inside your home.
• It is best to disconnect garden hoses from all spigots before the start of winter, fill in any low spots around the house so water drains away from the foundation, repaint wood siding as needed, and inspect caulking around windows and doors. Replace any caulking where it is cracked or deteriorated.
• Roof – keep valleys, gutters and downspouts free from buildup of leaves, twigs and other litter that would prevent proper drainage. Proper roof and eave ventilation may help extend the life of the roof by reducing the buildup of heat and moisture in the attic. Preservatives available for some types of roofs may help limit weathering effects of moisture and retard growth of molds and mosses. Avoid walking on a roof to limit wear and tear. Only necessary repairs or inspections should warrant walking on the roof. Keep trees trimmed to prevent them from rubbing against the roof or from providing excessive shade.

Watch for:
1. Missing, curling, cupping, broken or cracked shingles.
2. Damage or deterioration around the flashing at chimneys, vents and other junctions.
3. Damage or deterioration in valley areas of the roof.
4. Water stains on your ceiling. If possible, check your attic around flues, plumbing vents, and chimneys.
5. Pooling or ponds of water that fail to drain from flat or low sloped roofs may indicate low areas and inadequate drainage.
6. Make sure downspouts are extend several feet away from the house so water is carried away from the foundation.

Water Damage is classified by Category and Class of damage:

CATEGORY

The Category of the water loss is based on the waters point of origin:

• CATEGORY 1 – Originates from a source that does not pose a substantial harm to humans. ( Water from faucet, garden hose, water heater, water supply line etc. )
• CATEGORY 2 – Contains an elevated level of contamination and has potential to cause discomfort or sickness if consumed by or exposed to humans. ( Water from dishwasher, washing machine, laundry tub, water softener etc. )
• CATEGORY 3 – Contains pathogenic (disease causing) agents and is grossly unsanitary.”Black water” includes sewage and other contaminated water sources entering or affecting the indoor environment. ( Water from drains, rivers, lakes, oceans etc. )

If Category 2 water is not removed promptly from the structure, it may be reclassified as Category 3.

CLASS

The Class of the water loss is based on the size and items affected:

• CLASS 1 – Slow rate of evaporation – (Least amount of water) Water losses that could affect only part of a room or area; or even large losses containing low permeability/porosity materials (e.g. plywood,particle board, structural wood, VCT, concrete.) Little or no wet carpet and/or cushion are present. Minimum amount of moisture can be held in the remaining structural materials.
• CLASS 2 -Fast rate of evaporation – (More water than class 1) Water losses that affect the entire room of “carpet and pad.” Water has wicked up the walls as much as 24 inches. There is moisture remaining in structural materials (e.g. plywood, particle board, structural wood, VCT, concrete.) Due to the amount of water held in dirt or mud, Crawl spaces in most circumstances, will also fit under Class 2.
• CLASS 3 – Fastest rate of evaporation – ( Most amount of water) Water may have come from overhead. Everything is wet. Must have carpet and pad. Ceilings, walls, insulation, carpet, cushion, and sub floor in virtually the entire area are saturated.
• CLASS 4 – Specialty Drying Situation- ( Same amount of water as a Class 1 ) These losses involve wet materials with very low permeability/porosity ( e.g. hardwoods, sub floor, plaster, brick, concrete, stone ) Class 4 differs from a Class 1 due to the deep pockets of saturation that require the use of a desiccant or low grain dehumidifier to achieve the low specific humidity. Even then, the Class 4 drying job will take longer to dry than a typical Class 1.

Indoor water destruction encourages the growth of bacteria, which are disease-causing pathogens and allergens!

When flooding occurs a quick reaction to seepage, spillage or backups can save your valuable property from direct water damage, as well as protect your family or other occupants from harmful contaminants. Immediate response to a water emergency saves time and money and protects property and health.

ISC SERVICES can immediately assess the loss, then remove harmful substances, salvage and restore valuable property and sanitize all surfaces and systems to remove raw sewage and dangerous organic contaminants.

When your building is contaminated with sewage backing up from the septic lines or from flooding that involves sewage or organic matter, as in the case of a river overflowing and invading your property, there is a serious threat to human health. Decontamination, which includes water extraction, cleaning, and disinfection, can be effective in reducing this particular potential health risk. Without appropriate action, extensive damage will occur immediately. Several days may elapse before the cause of the backup is determined, the problem is corrected and the flooding subsides. This exposes your property to permeation and contamination and leads to the growth of potentially disease-causing bacteria, which may pose a serious health risk to occupants of the building.

The process for restoring a loss that has occurred due to sewage back-flow is handled much differently than a fresh water situation.

• We assess the damage and clean up the problem by completely sanitizing and decontaminating the surfaces, structures and systems.

• Everything is cleansed properly and residue and microbial contaminants are effectively removed.

• We completely remove all water used for cleaning.

• All contaminated and saturated materials are disposed of appropriately.

• Technicians are equipped with proper protective coverings to avoid “cross- contamination” foot traffic or material handling.

The following are considered sewage back-flow:

• Rising water from rivers or streams

• Sump Pump Failures

• Floor Drain Backups

• Flooding of Sea Water

• Septic tank back-flows

Exposure to sewage and contaminants poses serious consequences. Sewage water contains pathogenic, fungal, and viral contamination that is a severe health risk. Health and safety are our primary concern. Failure to remove sewage will result in a dangerous environment. ISC Services emergency response teams are armed with extensive Personal Protective Equipment (P.P.E) to protect themselves against exposure. After all safety precautions have been taken, removal of any and all porous material that has been affected occurs. Material includes carpet, wood, linoleum, plaster, and anything else that can absorb moisture. Non-porous material needs to be thoroughly rinsed with a biocide solution to kill remaining bacteria.

ISC Proudly Services the Following Areas

Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, Saint Clair, Lapeer, Genesee, Livingston, Washtenaw, Monroe, and Lenawee Counties.

Algonac, Allen Park, Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield, Bloomfield Hills, Brighton, Canton, Center Line, Chesterfield, Clarkston, Clawson, Clinton Township , Davison, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Eastpointe, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Flint, Franklin, Fraser, Grand Blanc, Grosse Isle, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Points Shores, Grosse Pointe Farms, Harper Woods, Harrison Township, Holly, Huntington Woods, Inkster, Lake Orion, Lapeer, Lincoln Park, Livonia, Ludington, Macomb,  Madison Heights, Milford, Monroe, Mt Clemens, Northville, Novi, Oak  Park Oakland Township, Plymouth, Pontiac, Port Huron, Redford, Richmond,  Rochester, Rochester Hills, Romeo, Romulus, Roseville, Royal Oak,   Southfield, Southgate, St. Clair Shores, Sterling Heights, Taylor,  Trenton, Troy, Utica, Walled Lake, Warren, Washington Twp, Waterford, Wayne, West Bloomfield, Westland, White Lake, Wixom, Ypsilanti,–

Emergency Response Services Offered by ISC (www.iscservices.net) 

ISC SERVICES is ready to help property owners recover from water damage. Water, Flood, Wind & Fire can cause more problems to a property then what is readily apparent. CALL NOW (888) 244-7337 LET US HELP YOU! Your home, business is the largest investment you will make. Let us help you cleanup the water, flood, wind & fire damage. We can have a highly trained and certified crew at your door in less than 30 minutes, 24 hours a day. We stand ready to serve you.

If water or flood damage is NOT cleaned up fast and properly you run the high risk of having mold , along with other bacteria start growing inside the walls and under floors. Our team of trained professionals will find all the water damage and start the cleanup process now.

If fire and smoke damage is Not cleaned up fast and properly you run the high risk of the soot causing irreversible damage. CALL NOW (888) 244-7337  LET US HELP YOU! It is very important that certain surfaces get cleaned immediately after the fire is out.

Insurance or not we are here to help you. We accept all insurance carriers, and bill them direct. We will waive most deductibles. We also have programs for those property owners who don’t have insurance.

Don’t hand your largest investment over to an untrained, non-certified company. Call the professionals at ISC SERVICES to help you with your water, flood, wind and fire damage cleanup.

THE PROCESS

1. You Call

2. We Respond

3. We Asses

4. We Dryout

5. We Clean

6. We Deodorize

7. We Disinfect

8. We Rebuild

9. Job Done

10. We Bill your Insurance Direct

11. YOU RELAX.
    
    ISC Proudly Services the following areas
    Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, Saint Clair, Lapeer, Genesee, Livingston, Washtenaw, Monroe, and Lenawee Counties.Algonac, Allen Park, Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield, Bloomfield Hills, Brighton, Canton, Center Line, Chesterfield, Clarkston, Clawson, Clinton Township , Davison, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Eastpointe, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Flint, Franklin, Fraser, Grand Blanc, Grosse Isle, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Points Shores, Grosse Pointe Farms, Harper Woods, Harrison Township, Holly, Huntington Woods, Inkster, Lake Orion, Lapeer, Lincoln Park, Livonia, Ludington, Macomb,  Madison Heights, Milford, Monroe, Mt Clemens, Northville, Novi, Oak  Park Oakland Township, Plymouth, Pontiac, Port Huron, Redford, Richmond,  Rochester, Rochester Hills, Romeo, Romulus, Roseville, Royal Oak,   Southfield, Southgate, St. Clair Shores, Sterling Heights, Taylor,  Trenton, Troy, Utica, Walled Lake, Warren, Washington Twp, Waterford, Wayne, West Bloomfield, Westland, White Lake, Wixom, Ypsilanti,

Emergency Response Services Offered by ISC Services include the following: 

One of the issues related to power outages is the potential for pipes to freeze and burst. The same problem is also more likely during periods of extreme cold temperatures if a home is not sufficiently heated, unheated or not properly insulated. Pipe bursts can lead to a significant mess and disrupt routines and comfort during the clean-up process.

As you prepare your home or business for the fast-approaching chilliest months in Michigan, it’s helpful to have a plan in the event of a cold weather disaster. Many of your neighbors have turned to ISC Services (www.iscservices.net or 1.888.244.7337) for a swift and superior response after damage to a home or business. That’s because the team at ISC Services has the expertise to provide solutions after virtually any type of disaster.

Restoration services from ISC Services begin with an emergency response, crucial to protect your property from secondary damage. This step involves board-up and security services to prevent theft and injury. Also, it may include temporary plumbing services, emergency tree removal, and restoration of electric service, natural gas service and heat, whenever necessary.

The licensed and insured restoration professionals at ISC Services then handle cleanup, debris removal and complete reconstruction, including window replacement, while complying with all building codes and OSHA safety standards. During these steps, any damaged contents will be removed, sent to secure storage and restored. ISC Services can also guide a property owner or manager through the insurance process, providing full service coordination of a claim.

If cold weather disasters disturb your home or business in the coming months, make your first call to ISC Services. The toll-free number is 888-244-7337, and disaster cleanup and recovery is available in Michigan and Ohio. Visit our website  if you prefer to request services via the internet at (www.iscservices.net)  or on your smart phone at(iscservices@m.com).  Please enjoy a wonderful winter season and keep this contact information within reach should you need help.

Most home owners insurance policies cover:

• Wind-related damage to your house, your roof, your possessions, and other  insured structures on the property.

• Damage from wind-driven snow or freezing rain that got into your house after  the wind damaged your home.

• Tree limbs that fall on your home (both the damage to the house and the cost of removing the  tree are typically covered up to about specified amount based on your policy limits).

• House damage caused by falling ice, or other falling objects, or by the  weight of snow or ice.

• Freezing conditions such as burst pipes or ice dams (when water can’t drain into the gutters and instead seeps into the  house), as long as you did what you could to keep the house warm and the pipes  and drains properly maintained.

Melting snow that seeps into a home from the ground isn’t covered by your  home owners policy. You need to buy flood insurance for that.

If you have storm damage, contact your insurance agent or company  representative as soon as possible. Start a home and contents inventory to document your losses with lists, receipts, or photographs.

ISC Services provides 24 hour emergency services to home and business owners who have experienced any of these related events.  By calling 1.888.244.7337 you will speak with a live operator who can dispatch one of our ISC Emergency Services Teams immediately.  ISC Services works with many insurance carriers and has many years of experience helping home and business owners through this difficult process.  Call us or visit our website at www.iscservices.net.