If you need emergency water extraction, call ServiceMASTER by Althouse Cleaning now at:
El Paso (915) 581-4347 or Las Cruces (575) 647-2273
Just like 911, we respond 24/7

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clip.
Emergency Water Extraction
When your water heater breaks and releases
60+ gallons of water in your home, hopefully your first response is to turn off the source of the flooding
and remove from the floor objects that may be damaged. What's next?
Call ServiceMASTER by Althouse Cleaning to extract the water from the carpet and dry your home to
prevent mold. We are ready to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week.
Water not only soaks into the carpet and pad. It
also gets under your wood or laminated flooring. It wicks
up sheetrock and plaster walls, and up furniture legs and any fabric touching the floor.
With so much water newly available in a dry environment, it goes
into the air as excess humidity. This extra moisture, if untreated, can be absorbed into upholstery leaving them
musty smelling; and into wooden cabinets making them warp. Cabinet and furniture wood finishes
may also be damaged.
Damage differs with the type of water as well. Two ways of classifying water damage events are 1) the cleanliness of the
water and 2) the difficulty in removing the moisture.
Rampant Mold and Bacterial
Growth
The worst by-product of excess moisture is
mold and bacterial growth, because it causes severe health risks. For this reason,after extracting the
water from the floor, high volume air movers are strategically placed throughout your home to dry
the structure quickly . These air movers constantly circulate air in a vortex
pattern (circularly).
As the water evaporates and is lifted into
the air, refrigerant dehumidifiers draw in moist air and return warm dry
air back into the room. The water condensed from the refrigeration process is lead through a hose to drain
into a sink, bathtub or to outside. Technicians return daily to monitor the humidity and
moisture content until the structure is dry. This detailed information is forwarded to your insurance
company for their records.
Your Home Owner, Business or Renter's Insurance Policy
Your home owner insurance policy requires that the policy holder respond as quickly as possible to
limit the damage. Your insurance agent or insurance adjustor is the only one who can tell you the extent of your
coverage. Ground water flooding from outside is usually only covered if you have a separate flood insurance
policy (ask your agent).
Carpet, wood floors, cabinets, furniure and other
materials can be permanently ruined if not properly addressed. Even sheetrock and electrical systems
can be damaged to the point that they require replacement.

Water leaking from upstairs while the owners
were
on vacation caused so much damage that the
fire
department shut off the electricity. The water-
logged
sheetrock also required removal.
Water damage can occur from a variety of sources: a broken pipe, a faulty appliance(i.e. dishwasher, water heater,
etc.), a leaky roof, or rising ground waters like El Paso and Las Cruces experienced in 2006.
ServiceMASTER by Althouse Cleaning
reponds to emergency water extraction calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Althouse Cleaning is on
the direct repair programs of all major insurance companies and are know and respected by local adjustors. For your
convenience, your insurance company is billed directly by Althouse Cleaning.
Secondary Damage
The initial damage is costly but far worse are the problems incurred if the house is not completely
dried. Excessive moisture is absorbed in the walls, cabinets, furniture, carpet padding and even the air. The
general dampness gives mold and bacteria the environment they need to thrive and multiply. As these organisms grow,
your home becomes an increasingly dangerous health risk to you and your family.
ServiceMASTER by Althouse Cleaning
has powerful equipment to efficiently remove as much water as possible from your
carpet and carpet pad. Often this can be done without removing the carpet! They will set up the needed air movers
and dehumidifiers to completely dry your home or office. Althouse technicians will monitor the drying process with moisture meters to insure that you will have
no mold problems from the water damage incident at a later date.
Monitoring and Documentation
Most insurance companies now require water damage restoration contractors to document daily
moisture readings at their insureds’ homes. On the initial visit Althouse technicians extract water from floors,
set up air movers (blowers) and dehumidifiers. They take digital photographs, draw flood maps, and record moisture levels. This information is then sent to the
insurance claims department in a specified format (usually Xactimate software). Flood maps are marked with
letters that coincide with line items on the moisture log.
On following days, technicians return to take new moisture readings and evaluate the drying
process. Sometimes equipment is moved to other areas or removed; however sometimes additional
equipment is added to insure proper drying. Each day new data is placed on the log sheet until the structure is
completely dry. At that time equipment is removed and the client signs a certificate of satisfaction. All
information is then sent through the internet to the insurance claims adjuster.
More on equipment... More on monitoring... More
on advanced training...
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