Experts at ServiceMaster Restore Urge Home Preparedness Ahead of the Season’s Worst Weather

December 5, 2017

Use these seven strategies to avoid costly damage this winter season

MEMPHIS, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Ahead of winter’s arrival, ServiceMaster
Restore experts are urging homeowners across the country to prepare
their homes for cold temperatures and severe weather. Wind, snow, ice
and freezing temperatures can all wreak havoc on a home, especially if
it’s not well-prepared for the elements.

Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center recently released its
annual U.S.
Winter Outlook, predicting wetter-than-average conditions across the
northern U.S. and drier-than-normal conditions in the South. “Even so,
we all know how unpredictable weather can be. That’s why it’s so
important for homeowners to prepare now, so they’re ready for anything
Mother Nature throws their way,” said Peter Duncanson, a 30-year
ServiceMaster Restore veteran, who has spent much of his career helping
home and business owners recover from severe damage caused by winter
weather.

A recent ServiceMaster Restore survey revealed two-in-five homeowners
have no idea what they are doing when it comes to prepping their house
for a potential weather emergency.1 “It’s shocking how many
people don’t realize how easy and affordable it is to adequately prepare
their homes for winter,” said Duncanson. “A few preparations now can
save thousands of dollars in potential damages, and allow homeowners to
enjoy their home, instead of dealing with winter’s aftermath.”

One of the best resources, Duncanson says, is the American Red Cross
Emergency app, which is sponsored by ServiceMaster. The free app
provides expert advice on what to do before, during and after severe
weather events, includes maps of nearby shelters, and notification
capabilities to let friends and family know that you’re safe. To
download, text “GETEMERGENCY” to 90999, search
“American Red Cross” in the app store or go to redcross.org/apps.

To get ready for the winter season ahead, Duncanson recommends taking
these seven simple steps to safeguard your home’s interior and exterior:

Outside the Home:

Outdoor water faucets connected to garden hoses are likely to freeze
and lead to burst pipes. Disconnect all hoses, and cover the faucets
to help safeguard your outdoor pipes. Insulated covers can be
purchased for $5-$10 at a local hardware or home improvement store.
Rain gutters clogged with leaves can cause big problems once snow or
freezing rain begins to fall, as they often lead to dreaded ice dams.
As they thaw, they can cause costly water damage in your home. Be sure
to clear them before colder temperatures start to settle in.
Many homeowners invest in sheds to store expensive yard equipment –
but unless the sheds are properly sealed, the equipment and other
contents can be damaged by the elements. Check for cracks or gaps that
could let in cold air and fill with caulk. Be sure that loose or
damaged roof shingles are replaced or repaired.

Inside the Home:

Use a programmable thermostat to regulate the temperature in your
home. If you aren’t going to be home for a few days, ensure the
temperature is set no lower than 55 degrees. For extra precaution
during extremely cold weather, open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors
so warmer air can circulate around pipes or allow kitchen and bath
faucets to run slowly to avoid freezing.
Change furnace filters and schedule a furnace checkup with a heating
system professional to avoid waking up with no heat on the coldest
morning of the season. Routine maintenance will help keep your unit in
top shape now and in seasons to come.
Prevent frozen pipes in unheated areas of your home, like basements
and attics, by wrapping them with foam or self-adhesive insulating
tape. Pipes closer to exterior walls that are exposed should be
covered and a 6-inch section of pipe insulation foam can cost as
little as $3 – thousands of dollars less than dealing with a burst
pipe.
Have a temporary backup plan, just in case your heating system does go
out. For instance, take time to clean the chimney now, if you plan to
use vented gas logs or a fire place. If you plan to use space heaters,
inspect them to be sure the wires aren’t frayed and the units are
working properly, and remind family members to be extremely cautious
when using them.

For more expert tips and information on how to prepare for and recover
from extreme winter weather, visit ServiceMasterRestore.com
or visit us on YouTube
or Facebook.
For immediate assistance and clean up, call a live ServiceMaster Restore
operator 24/7 at 1-800-RESPOND.

About ServiceMaster Restore

With approximately 2,000 franchised and licensed locations around the
world, ServiceMaster Restore and ServiceMaster Recovery Management (SRM)
serve customers through a global network of franchises
available 24/7/365 to provide residential and commercial restoration
services resulting from damage caused by water, fire, smoke or mold. SRM
is the large scale commercial catastrophic disaster restoration unit of
ServiceMaster Restore. ServiceMaster Restore and SRM have operations and
consulting experience on countless disasters, including clean-up after
Hurricane Katrina and the Pentagon after September 11, 2001.
ServiceMaster Restore is a business unit of Memphis-based ServiceMaster
Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SERV), a leading provider of essential
residential and commercial services. More information can be found at www.servicemasterrestore.com
and http://www.srmcat.com/.
ServiceMaster Restore is the Official Disaster Restoration Specialist of
Minor League Baseball™.

About ServiceMaster

ServiceMaster (NYSE: SERV) solves the homeowner’s dilemma. Every day, we
visit more than 75,000 homes and businesses through our extensive
service network of expert professionals. Technology powers our trusted
experts to engage with customers so they can order, buy and receive
services when, where and how they want them. Our well-recognized brands
includes American Home Shield (home warranties), AmeriSpec (home
inspections), Furniture Medic (furniture repair), Merry Maids
(residential cleaning), ServiceMaster Clean (janitorial and residential
floor cleaning), ServiceMaster Restore (disaster restoration) and
Terminix (termite and pest control). Like, follow or visit us at facebook.com/ServiceMaster,
linkedin.com/ServiceMaster,
twitter.com/ServiceMaster,
or servicemaster.com.
ServiceMaster is the Official Home Services Provider of Minor League
Baseball™.

About the Survey

The 2017 ServiceMaster Weather Emergency Survey presents the findings of
an online survey conducted by Toluna from April 18-20, 2017 among a
sample of 1,555 American homeowners 18 years of age and older. The
margin of error for a sample of this size is ± 2.5 percent at a 95
percent level of confidence. Some numbers may not add up to 100 percent
due to rounding.

1 2017 ServiceMaster Weather Emergency Survey conducted by
Toluna from April 18-20, 2017 among a sample of 1,555 American
homeowners 18 years of age and older

Contacts

ServiceMaster Restore
Alison Bishop, 901-827-6956
Alison.bishop@servicemaster.com
or
Ana
Senior, 617-939-8346
asenior@conecomm.com