You never take home fire safety for granted. From evacuation planning to eliminating obvious hazards, you’re prepared for the worst. However, you may be surprised at the danger posed by a number of ordinary items around the house. With more than 85 years of combined experience, ServiceMaster by Zaba has restored fire-damaged homes. We want you to stay safe, so we’ve put together the information you need to identify flammable materials in your home. Read on for a revealing overview of common household items that can cause house fires. Key Takeaways Many household items and materials are flamm ..read more

Bubbles can ruin the looks of a wall that was freshly painted a few days earlier. They can suddenly appear on a wall that hasn’t been painted in years. What’s going on? How does such an odd collection of beads and blobs grow on a wall surface? It’s a problem that shows up more often than you might think. ServiceMaster by Zaba helps Chicago homeowners with water-damaged interiors every day, so we’re well acquainted with bubbling paint on walls. Let’s take a closer look at what’s happening behind those blisters in the drywall. Key Takeaways Bubbles in drywall can be caused by is ..read more

Is your basement filling up with foul-smelling water that should be draining through the sewage line? That nasty backup is probably the result of an overflowing ejector pump. With more than 85 years of combined experience, ServiceMaster by Zaba knows how to clean up contaminated gray water and Category 3 water. We’re sharing that expertise so that you can stay safe dealing with an ejector pump breakdown. Key Takeaways If the pump fails, be prepared to turn off your home’s water and electricity. Protect yourself from exposure to the contaminated water with water-proof boots and gloves, goggle ..read more

When you’re dealing with a leaking toilet pipe, how do you take care of a mess that needs cleanup and a plumbing breakdown that needs an immediate fix? ServiceMaster by Zaba has restored water-damaged bathrooms for more than 85 years, so we know several ways to solve the problem. Read on for insider information explaining what you should do in this situation. Key Takeaways If your toilet pipe begins to leak, turn off the toilet’s stop valve. Flush until the tank empties. Use a dry cloth to wipe the line, locate which part of the pipe is leaking, and tighten, repair, or replace the component ..read more

It’s easy to miss, but when the outdoor faucet is leaking, it’s quietly causing problems. Whether you call it a spigot, hose bib or faucet, you need to stop the drip. With more than 85 years of combined experience cleaning up water damage, we know how a simple leak can complicate things. Let’s take a look at common outdoor faucet problems, the best DIY fixes and pro tips that make the job easier. Key Takeaways If the outdoor faucet is leaking, turn off the main water supply to your home. You’ll need a screwdriver, adjustable pliers, an adjustable wrench and a seat wrench to take care of ..read more

Frigid weather can put a chill on your routine, but a frozen pipe inside your home puts everything on hold. Locating the blockage isn’t easy. If you’re trying to find a frozen pipe and thaw it, you need to know where to start. We can help. With more than 85 years of combined experience, ServiceMaster by Zaba has taken care of homeowners dealing with burst pipe water damage. Read on for all you need to know about finding, thawing, and preventing this wintertime headache. Key Takeaways If you need to find a frozen pipe and thaw it, start by opening all the faucets and making sure a pipe h ..read more

Do you notice stains on the ceiling when you glance up? Is water suddenly dripping through the light fixtures overhead? In either case, you’re looking at ceiling water damage. For more than 85 years, ServiceMaster by Zaba has taken care of homeowners in your situation. Learn how to solve this overhead headache before it spreads and causes more damage. Key Takeaways At the first sign of ceiling water damage, turn off the main water supply, move or cover belongings and set buckets under the leaks. If water is leaking through overhead fixtures, turn off the electricity. Start repairing the ceil ..read more

If your fireplace is leaking water, you have to act fast: a leaking chimney can quickly cause structural damage and mold, and lead to thousands of dollars’ worth of expensive repairs. Don’t worry, though – you’re not in it alone. Here at ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba, we’ve been helping repair water damage in Chicago-area homes since 2008, so we understand what it takes to fix the mess caused by a leaking chimney.  In this blog, we’ll share our top tips for fixing a leaking chimney and repairing the damage caused by water intrusion.  Key Takeaways Before you can fix a fireplace ..read more

A leaking bathtub drain can warp floors, soak surrounding drywall and set the stage for unhealthy mold growth. We know how fast damage spreads from a leaky tub drain. ServiceMaster by Zaba has been restoring water-damaged bathrooms for more than 15 years. Read on for easy-to-follow guidelines covering everything you need to know about fixing a drain leak in your bathtub. Key Takeways Before you get started, turn off the water supply and unplug bathroom appliances. Depending on the type of repair, basic tools for the job include pliers, a screwdriver, plumber’s putty, a flashlight, plunger an ..read more

Has your apartment flooded due to a burst pipe or an overflowing bathtub from upstairs? At ServiceMaster by Zaba, our experience helping renters with apartment flooding stretches back more than 15 years. Let’s cover everything you need to know about how to handle a flooded apartment.  Key Takeaways If your apartment is flooded, shut down the electricity, locate the source, and call your landlord, insurance agent, and a water damage restoration company. If the flooding is minor, mop up the water, and start drying interiors by running fans throughout the apartment. Scrub and disinfect all ..read more