HOW IS YOUR INDOOR AIR QUALITY?

Furnace Filer
Most houses with forced-air furnaces have a standard furnace that is designed to keep its duct work clean. This design does not actually improve indoor air quality. This is why furnaces require a furnace filer. Filter actually protect the furnace. They also contribute to good indoor air quality by cleaning the air circulating through the house. The filters job is to catch air borne particles such as dust, dander, lint, pollen, mold spores and bacteria. Filter designs and rating systems vary so some filers claim to filer more air born particles than others. 

The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers has devised a rating system for filters. They use numerical values ranging from 1 to 12, with higher numbers referring to filers that capture more dust. Some filters remove large, heavy particles from the air but still allow smaller particles to flow through. Large particles are categorized from 6 to 100 microns in size. Medium sized particles are categorized from 0.3 to 6 microns in size. Small particles are categorized from 0.3 microns and below. Review your manufactures recommendations to make sure you are using the right furnace filers for your furnace. 

There are many types of filters out there: 

· Fiberglass or cellulose pad - usually held in a cardboard frame and capable of protecting the equipment. This catches most of the larger dust particles which tend to block the heating and cooling coils; low cost but least effective in removing small particles.

· Washable/reusable filter - uses a flat plastic or metal foil pad. This can be washed with a hose and reinstalled; should be washed monthly; may last 3 to 5 years.

· Pleated polyester filter - provides more filtering capacity than a flat filter; many are made with electrostatically charged fibers that attract small particles; lasts up to 3 months.

· Deep-pleated, high-efficiency air filter - about the same size as the ordinary filter but 4 to 6 inches thick. They do not fit in standard filter holders and require a special box in the duct system; electrostatically charged fibers can be used in the filtering media.

· Electronic filter - about the same size as the box for a deep-pleated filter; requires electricity to operate; air is directed through a high-voltage grid which applies a positive charge on particles in the air stream; particles are attracted to a negatively charged element; should be washed monthly; removes small smoke particles; high initial cost and maintenance are disadvantages as is the cost of repair if the power unit fails.

When it comes to changing your furnace filter is a general guideline that is should be replaced at least every three months to maintain maximum efficiency. Some types of filters may need to be washed or replaced more often so you should check it monthly. Change furnace filters according to the manufacturer's directions.

Duct Cleaning
Professional air duct cleaning is a way to improve indoor air quality. To find out if your ducts need cleaning, pull off some supply and return registers and take a look. If a new furnace is being installed, you should probably invest in a duct cleaning at the same time, because chances are the new blower will be more powerful than the old one and will stir up a lot of dust that has been hiding in there. Clean HVAC systems can perform more efficiently, which may decrease energy costs, and last longer, reducing the need for costly replacement or repairs. This will also benefit you if you suffer from allergens.

Air Cleaner
An air purifier is a device which removes contaminants from the air. These devices are commonly marketed as being beneficial to allergy sufferers and asthmatics, and at reducing or eliminating second-hand tobacco smoke. Commercial grade air purifiers are manufactured as either small stand-alone units or larger units that can be affixed to an air handler unit (AHU) or to an HVAC unit found in the medical, industrial, and commercial industries. A portable model is great for the bedroom while a whole-house unit removes contaminants from the air is it passes through the ductwork.

Chimney
Have the furnace vent and chimney flue examined regularly to ensure safe, proper exhaust. If the flue is not cracked that heat and carbon dioxide fill up the room. Carbon dioxide can cause headaches and ultimately death. 

VOC’s
Keep VOCs under control. VOCs are found in household products such as carpet, adhesives, composite wood products, paints, solvents, electronics, varnishes, upholstery and vinyl. Cooking, smoking, storing chemicals, cleaning and using photocopiers, also release them. Remove sources of VOCs when possible, ventilate rooms with new furnishings, and shop for low- or no-VOC paint.

Humidity
Decrease humidity to assist with indoor air quality. Mold, mildew and dust mites need plenty of moisture to thrive. Aim to keep relative humidity lower than 50%. This may require running a dehumidifier alongside the air conditioner in the summer. Make sure you have proper ventilation in your bathroom where you are most likely to see humidity.

Ventilation
Allow fresh air inside by opening the windows or running the exhaust fan, especially when cooking, cleaning or applying a fresh coat of paint.

SNOW LEADS TO ICE DAMS

Chicago is a snow globe once again. As beautiful as our white landscape is outside this abundance of snow can lead to property damage - ice dams.

What is an ice dam?
Ice dams are formed when heat from the attic melts snow at the ridge or peak of the roof causing an “avalanche” of snow and ice to overflow the gutters. The melted water can then back up under the shingles and work its way into the house. This can continue over an over as the sun melts the snow and a drop in temperature refreezes the melted water. This can leave property damage behind. Older roofs with heat leaking attics are at higher risk of seeing water intrusion

Ice dams can cause numerous damages to your property inside and out:

• Damaged gutters, soffits and fascia
• Raised shingles
• Leaky roofs
• Moisture inside the home
• Moisture that is left untreated can lead to Mold

In order to prevent ice dams from forming try the following:

• Check for a build up of snow around the edge of your roof where it meets the gutter. Clear the snow away that accumulates 3 ft. up the roof from the gutter (This is where ice dams are most likely to occur.) It is best to do this while the snow if still light and has not yet hardened into a chunk of ice. You can use a snow rake to clear the snow away. A snow rake is an aluminum scraper that is mounted at a right angle on a telescoping aluminum pole. It can be found at most of your local hardware stores. It is not recommended that you climb the roof yourself to remove the snow. Note that raking may cause potential damage to the shingles so beware how hard you are raking. Picture of a snow rake is shown below in the gallery.
• Install heat cables before too much snow builds up around the gutters. Heat cables are high-resistance wires that are mounted on the roof edge in a zigzag pattern. They plug into an outdoor GFCI receptacle and melt the snow that builds up over time. This can be found at many of your local hardware stores. Picture of roof & gutter de-icing kit is shown below in the gallery.
• Roofmelt is a product that you can use to melt snow that is accumulating on your roof. It is similar to the salt we throw on the ground to melt snow. There are pet friendly versions of this product since it can fall off of the roof. This can be found at many of your local hardware stores. Picture of roofmelt is shown below in the gallery.
• Keep your roof cold. Close up attic bypasses by plugging any leaks that are allowing heat to escape. Winter is the perfect time to enter your attic to see where heat is escaping and cold air is entering.
• Install vapor barriers between the attic floor and insulation.
• Add roof and soffit vents to your home. Attic ventilation draws in cold outdoor air and flushes out warmer attic air, cooling the attic and the roof in the process.
• Vent exhaust from fans and clothes dryers through the roof, not into the attic.
• Seal openings where light fixtures and ceiling fans have been installed.
• Make sure you have an accurate amount of attic insulation. Insulating up to R-60 is recommended for our type of climate. R- then the value is the number given to insulation products that state their resistance to heat flow. The increasing value provides more insulation. R-60 translates into having approximately 21 inches of insulation in your attic. Homes built prior to 1970 have little to no insulation. Older homes will tend to have less insulation than modern homes that are built energy efficient. Overtime insulation can settle causing its density to decrease overtime. This then allows heat to escape. If you are unsure if you need more insulation contact a company that offers attic insulation services to see if you are in need or more insulation.
• Contact a roofer to remove the snow. Roofing companies can typically steam ice dams off of the roof. This steam method is like a pressure washer and can melt the ice away without damaging the roof. It is safer to remove icicles when they are starting to form opposed to when they are a large harden chunk of ice. Be careful when attempting to remove icicles. Chipping them away from the ice dam can break or puncture the shingles causing further damage.

Will your insurance pay to have ice dams removed?
Your insurance company is under no obligation to pay for the cost to remove ice dams. Ice dams themselves are not considered a covered peril on most insurance policies. You would need to verify with your insurance company to see if they would cover any costs to have ice dams removed.

What to do if you have interior water damage:
If you discover interior water damage then you probably have a leaky roof. An ice dam is the most likely culprit for seeing water intrusion. Your roof is not the only problem though, your attic is also the culprit.

An inspection is needed to determine the exact cause of the water intrusion. Do not ignore this water damage because it can lead to mold damage. This is a sign that you have a issue with your roof and/or your attic. You will need a restoration professional to inspect your damages. Roofers will only inspect your roof and will not address the water damage inside your home. Rainbow International is a full service restoration company that can perform your property inspection and assist you with your damage. Before a thorough inspection can be performed the snow on your roof will need to be removed by a roofer or it will have to melt. Rainbow International and most other restoration companies will not remove the snow for you.

During your inspection your restoration professional should discuss:

• How address the leaky roof
• How to address the heat escaping from your attic
• How to dry out the interior water damage (mitigation) to prevent mold
• The cost of this service, if the cost will exceed your deductible and if the damages would most likely be covered by your insurance company

Note that mitigation on the interior damage will not be performed until the snow is no longer an issue. If the interior damage is addressed before the roof and/or attic is fixed you still run the risk of allowing the damage to occur again.


Before you file a claim:
Speak with your insurance agent before filing a claim through the 1-800 number. The 1-800 number will automatically file a claim and you may not have a valid claim on your hands. This will affect your C.L.U.E. Report even if the claim is not paid out. If you are not sure what your C.L.U.E. Report is speak with your agent or check out https://personalreports.lexisnexis.com/fact_act_claims_bundle/landing.jsp


Your insurance agent can offer you guidance as to whether your damages would be covered or not and if it sounds like they exceed your deductible. They can also review your policy with you to let you know if there are any limitations. Your insurance agent will most likely recommend that you get a property inspection to verify this so they can inform you whether it is worth filing a claim or not. Rainbow International works with many insurance carriers by providing this information to them directly.

Will damage from ice dams be covered by your insurance company?
The answer to this question lies in the policy language describing the scope of the exclusion. Your insurance agent can notify you if there is anything in your policy that is specifically excluded or limited. In most cases, the insurance company will typically cover damages to the interior and exterior of the home that are a result of excess weight from snow and ice dams. There’s typically no exclusion on most policies that applies to damages caused as the result of an ice dam, so the costs associated with remediating the interior water and repairing the damage would most likely be covered.

After determining the extent of the damage it is important to file the claim in a timely manner. You are more likely to have your claim denied if you prolong filing which in turn can cause further damage. As the policy owner you are response for mitigating your damages.

Keep in mind that the insurance company will ONLY cover the areas of the structure that were damaged. This does not mean you will receive an entire new roof if only a few shingles were damaged. This is often a misconception when people file an insurance claim.




Rainbow International of South & West Suburbs works directly with your insurance provider if you have a property damage claim on your hands. Our team of experts can handle any type of property claim stemming from weather to fire, smoke, water or mold damage.

WINTER'S BACK AND SO ARE FROZEN PIPES

It’s that time of year again. We are slipping and sliding all over the roads. Our winter attire has us bundled up and made us immobile like little Randy from A Christmas Story.

The winter wonderland may be serene outside but inside pipes are bursting like party poppers on New Year’s Eve. In the colder months your homes pipes are at risk. Water damage is among the most common causes of insurance claims. In April of 2014 2013 claimsjournal.com stated that Illinois was ranked number 6 among the top ten states with the most water-related claims as reported by State Farm. This year alone 8,100 water-related claims were reported to State Farm just in Illinois. Frozen pipes winter greatly can have great impact on this total.

In general, water damage from a burst pipe can be covered by a standard homeowners or commercial insurance policy. Something you may run into is that some policies require the insured to maintain a certain temperature in buildings and homes while others may require homeowners to have a working alarm system in the event the heat turns off.​ Though your company may cover the water damage left behind they will not covered the damaged pipe itself. It is your responsibility to pay for the cost to repair, replace and pay the plumber for the service. Review your policy with your insurance agent to make sure you are covered if you had a frozen pipe loss on your hands.

To prevent frozen pipes try these tips: 

• Make sure your gutters are free of debris so melting snow and ice can flow freely through the gutter.
• Allow your faucet to drip slowly. Flowing water will prevent freezing.
• Do not allow your heat to drop below 55 in the winter months.
• Open cabinet doors below sinks to allow warm air to circulate.
• If you’re away for an extended period of time winterize your pipes by having them drained.
• If you’re away for an extended period of time have a neighbor check on your home.
• If you have an unoccupied rental property have some check on it in the winter months.
• Disconnect your garden hose and install covers on outside faucets.
• Wrap pipes near exterior walls and in crawl spaces with pipe insulation from your local hardware store. 
  

• Make sure heating vents are open in all rooms, especially the basement where itis the coldest.
• Consider weather sealing your windows to prevent drafts.
• Insulate outside walls and unheated areas of your home.

What to do if your pipes freeze: 

• Heat up the pipe with a blow dryer or a space heater until the water can freely flow through the pipe.
• Start thawing it nearest to the faucet. Open the faucet slightly so water can be released as it starts to thaw out.

What to do if the pipe bursts: 

• Locate your water shut off valve and turn off the main water supply. This will prevent water from continuing to pour out. View more info. on how to shut your water off here: How to Locate Your Water Shut off Valve
• Contact Rainbow International at 708-460-0911 to assist with water damage clean up.
• Contact your insurance agent to notify them of your loss.
• Contact a plumber to address the broken supply line. Water damage should be cleaned up after the source of the problem has been fixed to prevent more damage from occurring. 
• Take pictures if it will be some time before your insurance adjuster can get out to protect your property.

GET FAMILIAR WITH YOUR WATER SHUTOFF VALVE

Does everyone in your home know where the shutoff valve is to your main water supply? You should. The difference in knowing where it is and how to use it could save you.

If you have a broken pipe, leaky toilet or faulty water hose line it could continuously pour water until the main water supply line is shut off. It could cost you thousands of dollars in water damage if you don't know where the shutoff valve is or how to use it.

In some houses that receive city water there is an easily accessible valve where the main water pipe enters the building. Every home is built differently and all homes are built suitable to their climate. Some have basements while others do not. Your supply line is most likely located in your basement but may be elsewhere.The time to locate it is before an emergency occurs.

Once you have located your shutoff valve you can turn the valve off to stop the water flow by turning it to the right if you have a valve that looks similar to a round gear. Righty tighty lefty loosey. If you have a valve that looks like a thin handle turn the handle so that it is sticking out from the pipe. The valve remains open if it is inline with the pipe as shown in the picture below. 

However, not all houses have this valve. If this is the case, you will need to find the water meter valve located underground near where the water main that runs by your house. It is typically located under a heavy iron cover close to the curb. Some of these covers can be accessed if you have the right tools though many have special bolts to prevent people from tampering with them. If you are not able to access this cover contact your village or your local police station immediately.

If you live in a rural location then you receive your water from a well. To turn off your water supply simply shut off the switch or circuit breaker to the well pump.

If you have not had your shutoff valve checked in some time you should have a plumber look at it to make sure it is in proper working order.

INFORMATION ON STRUCTURE FIRES

According to nattybongo.tv structure fires totaled 487,500 in 2013 and caused 2,855 14,075 civilian injuries and $9.5 billion in property damage. Every 65 seconds one structure fire was reported.

WATCH THIS VIDEO - This could be your home

Cooking Fires

Did you know that most house fires start in the kitchen? As of today cooking is still the leading cause of home fires. The smallest spec of grease could cause your entire home to be engulfed in flames. For those that have an electric stove please note that this type of stove is involved in more house fires than gas stoves. Do not leave anything flammable like alcohol or towels near the stove while cooking. Be sure to keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen for emergencies.

Space Heaters

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that more than 25,000 residential fires and more than 300 deaths are caused each year by space heaters. 

Space Heater Tips:

-Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from furniture or other combustible 
  materials. (Curtains, bedding and etc.)

-Avoid placing space heaters on carpet or rugs.

-Turn space heaters off if there is no supervision. Even brand new units can        

  malfunction.
-It is best to purchase a unit with a tip-over safety switch. This will automatically 
 shut off the  unit if it falls over.  
-Do not attempt to use unvented combustion heaters inside your home. They will 
  produce  carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide which is harmful to your health.

-Use a heavy-duty extension cord if one is needed.

Dryer Fires

According to dundasjafine.com 15,000 dryer fires occur each year. The most common source of dryer fires is list and household dust. Together they can cause a blockage causing the dryer to catch fire. To prevent dryer fires detach the dryer from the air duct that runs through the home. Make sure the passage way is clear. In some cases you may need a professional to clean out of your dryer vent for you. Also, be sure to clean the vent trap on the dryer after each load of laundry. The outside vent trap on the outside of the home should also be maintained to ensure it is lint free.

Vinyl ducting is no longer recommended and is more likely to catch fire.

Smoking Fires

There are about 7,600 smoking-related fires in homes each year says http://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/smoking.html. Use caution when smoking in the home. There are many combustibles in every room of the house. Never leave a cigarette unattended.  

Electrical Fires

Electrical fires can sometimes be prevented. If you are not a licensed electrician do not attempt to wire anything in your home yourself. Hire a professional to avoid potential issues. Many electrical fires cannot be prevented so make sure your smoke alarm is in working order to detect and smoke.

  

Undocumented Student Statistics	Data
Average number of residential home fires each year	374,000
Average number of deaths each year from home fires	2,600
Average number of injuries due to home fires each year	12,975
Average annual dollar loss to due to home fires	$7.32 billion
Cause of Home Fires	Percent of Fires
Cooking	56 %
Heating	16 %
Electrical Malfunction	9 %
Other Unintentional, Careless	8 %
Open Flame	6 %
Intentional	5 %

Source: http://www.statisticbrain.com 

Have you ever walked through a building after it has caught fire? I have, and it's devastating. The smell lingers in your nostrils even when you are out of the home, you feel wet mushy drywall under your feet, you can not touch anything because smoke damage is everywhere and the sight of ones belongings damaged by soot is a sad one. I will never forget the feeling that overwhelms me when I have walked through a fire. I hope that no one ever has to experience this in their life time but not all fires can be prevented. If you neighbor has a fire and the wind changes it can cause your home to catch fire. Who would you turn to if this happened to you?

There are many things that follow a fire so make sure you have a trustworthy company that is reliable so they can assist you. Rainbow International would like to be that company in your time of need. If you have smoke damage or suffer a fire loss please contact our service line for assistance with your mitigation, contents, textiles and rebuild - 708.460.0911.

THANKSGIVING LEADS TO FIRES AT SOME HOMES

On Thanksgiving Day, there are more residential fires than any other day of the year. Most of these fires occur between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Every year deep-fryer fires are responsible for five deaths, 60 injuries, the destruction of 900 homes, and more than $15-million in property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Use precaution when cooking this holiday to avoid cooking fires.

According to State Farm, over the last 7 years Texas has had the most reported turkey fires and Illinois follows as the second state. http://www.foxnews.com/…/this-state-has-most-deep-fried-tu…/ Use precaution when cooking this holiday to avoid cooking fires.

I had previously serviced a fire loss due to the homeowner cooking in his garage. When asked why are you cooking in your garage anyway he told me “I’ve cooked in my garage before on cold days and nothings happened”. Unfortunately this time he lost everything in it as well as a majority of his home.

Play it safe this turkey day by keeping the following in mind while cooking:
-DO NOT deep fry your turkey in the garage. As cold as it is this time of year you must deep fry your turkey outside the garage far away from your home or vehicle. Every year people attempt this and many cause a flash over fire that sends their home into a blaze. 
-DO NOT over fill your deep fryer with oil. This can cause a fire. 
-Verify the temperature your fryer should be heated to. The recommended temperature for a deep fryer is typically 375 degrees. Temperatures that reach higher than the recommended temp. can cause a fire. 
-Defrost your turkey before deep frying. 
-Slowly lower your turkey into the oil to avoid oil spilling over onto the propane. 
-Avoid using deep fryers that claim they can be used in the home. 
-Keep towels and alcohol away from the stove and oven area. 
-Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.

See how deep fried turkeys can catch fire:

http://www.syracuse.com/…/12_greatest_deep-fried_turkey.html 
http://www.al.com/…/…/11/turkey_frying_gone_bad_what_no.html

A fire can ignite and take over your home in seconds! Even if a small fire occurs the smoke damage left behind can drastically affect a home and cause you to have to file a claim. Should damage occur contact Rainbow International to assist in restoring your property damage: 708.460.0911.

Get to know Rainbow International of South & West Suburbs and see photos of their work by checking out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rainbow-International-of-South-West-Suburbs/211496272371049?ref=hl

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND IF YOU HAVE A LOSS -  HOW TO AVOID GETTING RIPPED OFF

With all the storms and fires we see every year there is a steady increase in the number of

storm chasers, shady board up crews and public adjusters (PA's) preying on homeowners. Don't become a victim and be weary of people that were not sent by your insurance company. No one ever thinks their house is going to catch fire so they are not mentally or psychically prepared for what follows. Here are some things to keep in mind to avoid being scammed if you suffer a loss.

If you suffer any type of loss turn to your insurance agent for guidance. Don't rely on some person who shows up while your home is still a blaze or tells you they are gonna waive your deductible if you just sign this piece of paper. During this tragic time you need someone you know, someone you trust, someone who recommended coverage's to keep you protected in times like this.

Focus on the now and not the many things to come just yet. First make sure your family and pets are safe. This is the time to think of what you need from your home: personal belongings, keys, important papers, photo ids, insurance policy, things of value (they may be hidden), money & checking, clothes (if they do not have fire/smoke or water damage), medicine (if it does not have fire/smoke damage) and anything else you feel you need. Keep in mind that if your home is boarded up it may be days before you can renter. 

Figure out where you are going to stay: family, friends or even a hotel. If you had a fire loss your insurance can typically assist in making arrangements for you to stay in a hotel. Do NOT telling anyone other than family, friends or your insurance where you are staying.

While you are trying to figure out where you are going to lay your head tonight you need to prepare yourself for the vultures that will be flocking around your property. Random people will be approaching you saying they can help you. Some will lie and say anything to find out what insurance company you have so they can claim to be sent from that company. Do NOT give these people any information about your insurance, yourself, your work place or where you will be staying. Some may even offer you money and claim that you don't have to sign any paperwork for this so called gift. No one is going to offer you money and not hound you for something in return. Avoid these people at all costs. They do not care about your family and getting you back home. Their main focus is how they can maximize your claim so they can make more money. Once the checks start to come they will disappear and your home will be left unfinished. 

It may be a few days before your insurance adjuster can make it out to inspect your property. During this time your phone will be blowing up and people may even show to your hotel looking for you. These chasers main goal is to get you to sign with them before your adjuster even sees your property. This gives them an opportunity to "spike" the job. This refers to throwing some equipment in your home while taking some of your items out of the home to make it appear as though things are already moving along. The last thing you want is to have some random company touching your property or your personal property before anything has been approved. During times of continuous storms insurance adjusters are a lot more understanding if water damage losses are addressed before they are able to inspect your property. In these types of cases it is recommended that you inform your adjuster that you have a company that can clean up the damage. They will inform you take pictures of everything for documentation. Water damage losses need to be addressed in a timely manner to prevent further damage such as mold. Because of the overwhelming amount of claims storms bring insurance adjusters can quickly get backed up. Many will even recommend that you proceed with having a restoration clean up your water loss opposed to prevent mold from forming. In regards to fire losses, the longer contents are left in a boarded up smoke damaged building the more damage they can take on. Of course you want to act right away and see things moving out and demotion beginning but do NOT do anything until your insurance adjuster approves or you may affect your claim. Because there are so many things that go into addressing a fire loss (demolition/structure/rebuild, contents/total loss, temporary housing, and etc.) you should always run things by your insurance adjuster before any type of work is performed. Because there are so many shady companies out there trying to maximize a claim by ripping of the insurance company there are certain protocols that need to be followed. Your insurance policy has a cap on the structure as well as the contents. This means your insurance is only going to pay out so much and that total depends on the amount of coverage you choose. If a shady company you let take over your claim submits a large bill then you are responsible for remaining balance after your insurance proceeds run out.

Once your adjuster comes out they will inspect your property so they can develop a scope of the work. This may take some time if your loss is severe. Thorough measurements and pictures must be taken so they have accurate documentation. Every building material in your home needs to be accounted for and a price is then calculated so they know how much it will accurately cost to restore your home.Take advantage of this time with your adjuster and ask questions. What will be covered and what won't, how much money do I have to use for expenses such as food and clothing, how long can I stay in a hotel, am I going to move into a temporary home (if the loss is severe enough), can I still eat any food in my fridge or cabinets (not recommended in severe fire/smoke loss), can I still use my medicine (not recommended in severe fire/smoke loss) or any other important question you need an answer to. It make take some time before your scope of work is finalized. KEEP ALL YOUR RECEIPTS for anything purchased while you are out of your home so you can be reimbursed. Make sure you have a good understanding of what you can be reimbursed for. Many people assume they will be reimbursed for any food lost due to power outage from a storm. They do not realize that the food loss amount needs to exceed your deductible and your deductible needs to be met before anything would even be paid. Keep in mind all policies are different and you would need to verify with your insurance agent.

While you are trying to get your life back in order after a fire loss you should be thinking of who you are going to use to help you restore your home and your contents. Are you going to go with your insurance companies recommended vendor, your friend/family member that is a general contractor or a company that you found on your own? Now is the time to think of what your needs are and who can meet them. It is usually best to find a company that is a full service restoration company like Rainbow International. Full service refers to a company that can assist with the mitigation, clean up, smoke removal, content pack out/cleaning/storage/total loss list, potential mold issues and the rebuild. There are many contractors out there that limit their specialty. If they have limited services you will then need to find one company to handle your contents and another company to rebuild your home. The most important thing a restoration company must have is IICRC certifications in fire, smoke, water and mold. This certification means they know and abide by restoration guidelines and are capable of handling the issues many general contractors don't know how to handle. Research potential companies to avoid future conflict and to put you at peace knowing you made a good decision with your life's investment. Google is endless at allowing you to do some thorough research. Look at a companies website, testimonials, pictures of their work, feedback online from clients, BBB rating/complaints, Cook/Dupage/Will County lawsuits, Facebook and anything else that aids in your decision making. As the policy holder you have the right to choose whomever you want to restore your home but researching companies is a critical aspect in the decision making. 

Before cleaning and construction can even begin your contents need to be addressed. Some may be salvageable so they will need to be packed out and stored until they can be cleaned. Your textiles will need to go to a dry cleaner that is experienced in cleaning smoke damaged clothing. Severely damaged clothing can NOT be laundered at the laundry mat because the smoke smell will still linger after it's been washed. Your non-salvageable items will be written down on a total loss list (also known as a non-sal) and you will be reimbursed for these items. If some items are not recognizable they may need your help to list damaged items from memory. Keep in mind that you may not see the items that are packed out of your home for months so be sure you have everything you need. Did you know that if you choose to go with a public adjuster in Illinois they can receive up to ten percent of the total amount they negotiated for your contents? 

Now is the time to hope you choose to go with a RCV policy over a ACV policy. Hopefully you also went with the recommenced building replacement amount your insurance agent offered. Keep in mind there is this thing insurance companies like to call "depreciation". This means that things depreciate over time so they are going to pay you but they are going to withhold some of the value since it is not new. A new shirt is different than a old shirt that has been worn a million times and in now shrunk and faded. Newly installed carpet is different than carpet that has a wear pattern from being walked on over the last ten years. In regards to your contents, you will receive multiple checks to replace your contents minus depreciation if you have a RCV policy. The catch is that you will not receive the full amount for that item unless you go out and repurchase the lost item and submit your receipt for it. If you have a ACV policy you will only receive one check for your contents minus depreciation. When restoring your home your insurance company takes into consideration the age of your building materials and they cost the replace them. Again, a new roof is different than a twenty five year old roof. Did you know that if you choose to go with a public adjuster in Illinois they can receive up to ten percent of the total amount they negotiated for your structure?  If you hire a public adjuster to negotiate your claim you are now looking at giving away twenty percent of your insurance proceeds (10% for contents and 10% for structure)! 

 CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE INFORMATION ON THE CLAIMS PROCESS

If you suffer a water loss then there is a chance that your home can be restored with minimal to no demolition depending on your damage. Rapid Structural Drying (RSD) dries building materials in place. Rainbow International implements the latest RSD technology when addressing water damage situations. Many companies come in and cut out walls and tear up flooring because it increases the size of the claim and the amount they can bill for. Construction often leads to higher bills so it is always best to try and save what you possibly can. Extensive demolition is often unnecessary and just forces the insurance company to raise rates to cover over inflated jobs. Did you know that in most cases clean water can be sucked through the padding and the carpet to dry the sub floor opposed to ripping up the carpet and padding? Thanks to advance technology and top of the line equipment the insides of walls, carpets and sub floor can now avoid being torn apart. There are situations such as sewage damage and flood damage where carpet and padding needs to be replaced. Ask questions so you have a good understanding why a company recommends the services they are performing. Many people don't realize the average going rate for insurance repair or mitigation so they are often stunned by a final bill. The latest technology can dry your home out in three to four days opposed to inconveniencing you by running equipment for seven days. Effective equipment isn't cheap but it gets your home back to normal with a quicker turn around. Minimal damage and the accurate insurance coverage will assist in keeping costs low. If you are under insured or did not take advantage of the additional coverage's that were recommended then you may be looking at higher out of pocket cost. Please keep in mind that each circumstance will always dictate the outcome. 

If you are looking for a honest and reliable restoration company that can assist you with your fire, smoke, water, mold and wind damage contact Rainbow International at 708.460.0911.
Check us out on the web by Googling Rainbow International of South West Suburbs.