FAQ’s

Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Questions:

[expand title=”How much does carpet and upholstery cleaning cost?“]

Carpet cleaning prices are charged by square footage. There are several packages from which to choose, and prices vary according to what other services are needed. Extra services include pet treatments, red stain removal, pre-vacuum with the pile lifter and carpet protector such as scotch-guard.

Upholstery cleaning is determined by the size and condition of the upholstery. Extra services, such as protectant, pet treatments, and red stain removal, are an additional cost. We also clean micro-fiber and leather furniture.

For current prices on carpet and upholstery cleaning, call our Logan Office.

For current prices on carpet and upholstery cleaning, call the ARS office nearest you.
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[expand title=”What kind of equipment does ARS use to clean carpets?“]ARS uses the truck-mounted VORTEX system. A VORTEX is the World’s Most Powerful Cleaning Machine! The VORTEX is a self-contained cleaning system that uses energy from its diesel-powered engine to heat the water that will be used for cleaning. Hot water is power sprayed into the carpet, upholstery, tile etc. to loosen dirt and grime. This machine and method leaves your carpets cleaner and drier, faster than ever.[/expand]
[expand title=”What is a VORTEX?“]A VORTEX is the World’s Most Powerful Cleaning Machine! The VORTEX is a self-contained cleaning system that uses energy from its diesel powered engine to heat the water that will be used for cleaning. Hot water is power sprayed into the carpet, upholstery, tile etc. to loosen dirt and grime. The water and dirt and grime is then sucked by a high powered vacuum into a separate holding tank. This machine and method leaves your carpets cleaner and drier, faster than ever. On average a customer can expect drying times anywhere from 2-4 hours after cleaning depending on the relative humidity in the home or business. The entire system is truck-mounted, making it possible for more power and more storage area for hoses and other equipment.[/expand]
[expand title=”How long will it take for my carpets to dry after being cleaned?“]Carpets usually dry in 2–4 hours depending on the relative humidity in your home or business. As ARS technicians are cleaning, they will set up fans for faster drying time.[/expand]
[expand title=”How often should I have my carpets cleaned?“]It is recommended to get your carpets cleaned every 6-12 months depending on the “traffic” in the home (i.e. the number of occupants and pets).[/expand]
[expand title=”How often should I have my carpets cleaned?“]It is recommended to get your carpets cleaned every 6-12 months depending on the “traffic” in the home (i.e. the number of occupants and pets).[/expand]
[expand title=”What stains can ARS get out of my carpet/upholstery?“]Stains that can usually be removed are blood, sewage, egg, water, ink, paint, gum and candy, fingernail polish, reds stains and rust stains.[/expand]
[expand title=”Can ARS get rust out of my carpet?“]In most cases, yes. [/expand]
[expand title=”Can ARS get furniture stains out of my carpet?“]No[/expand]
[expand title=”Why did spots come back after carpet cleaning?“]If a spot comes back after cleaning, there maybe a couple of reasons why: 1) The stain is actually in the carpet pad and has wicked back up into the carpet, or 2) depending on the type of spill—such as a sugary soda—it needs to be rinsed again to get rid of the lingering substance. If a stain comes back within a week of having your carpets cleaned, give us a call and we will come back out and re-clean it for free.[/expand]
[expand title=”Can ARS get red stains out of my carpet?“]Red stains are the hardest to get out of any carpet- about 1 out of 100 stains can we get out completely. For the best results, try and clean as much of the stain as quickly as possible.[/expand]

Flood- Water and Sewage Damage Questions:

[expand title=”What should I do if my home is flooding?“]

• Remain calm
• Try to locate the source of water or sewage, and turn it off if possible
• Call the nearest ARS location for 24 hour Emergency Water Removal. Timely action is needed to prevent further damage to carpet, furniture, and/or personal belongings. If needed, ARS can call a plumber for you to find out where the water is entering the home, and to fix the leak. CleanTrust Certified technicians will remove water from the affected area and begin mold and mildew prevention by drying out the area with humidity-lowering fans
• While waiting for ARS, remove any furniture or personal belongings out of the affected area. For more tips and things you should and should not do after a flood, check out our Client Tips page or just call

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[expand title=”How much will it cost to restore my home after a flood?“]

The cost to restore a home or business after a flood varies significantly depending on the size and amount of work that needs to be done to extract, clean and restore the home. ARS estimators and/or insurance adjusters can determine the extent of the damage, and decide the best course of action to restore your home or business to its pre-loss condition. If the home is covered by insurance, and the insurance company has agreed to cover the costs, the homeowner will only be responsible to pay the deductible (if applicable). If you want an ARS Estimator to give you an estimate for repairs after the property has been properly dried out, call the ARS location nearest you.

**Homeowner will be responsible to pay for any item that’s above and beyond what the insurance is willing to cover.
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[expand title=”I had water damage to in my home a couple of days ago and I cleaned it up myself but it smells musty. Is there a way to get rid of the musty smell?“]When ARS technicians are called to cover a water damage job, we use a high-powered extraction unit to remove the water, and air movers and dehumidifiers to speed drying and remove excess moisture from the air. We then apply a chemical to all affected areas that are clean and dry, which inhibits mildew and mold growth. In most cases, the equipment and chemicals a homeowner has access to are not enough to do the job properly. Without proper cleanup and dry-out, a small job can turn in to a larger, more-expensive job very quickly.[/expand]
[expand title=”My home is brand new, but I am getting water in my basement- what should I do?“]Many things could cause this, but the main cause of outside water coming into the home is poor grading of the soil near the house. New homes are more likely to settle along the “back fill” area of the foundation dig. The water then becomes trapped in the lowest place, which is most likely against the walls and windows, allowing the water to come in to the home. Make sure that the down spouts are piped beyond the home by several feet and the dirt grade is sloped at least 2% or 1/4″ per foot in the first 10 feet.[/expand]
[expand title=”Why does it take 3-4 days to dry? The carpet seems dry after the first day.“]Carpet dries faster than drywall, baseboards, and wood floors because it is less dense. Sometimes moisture gets behind the drywall and it takes longer to bring out the moisture. Paint also prohibits the drywall from drying as fast.[/expand]
[expand title=”What is an ice dam and how can I prevent it from happening?“]An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow from draining off the roof. The water can back up under the shingles and leak into a home, causing damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and other areas.

To prevent an ice dam, don’t heat the roof; keep it cold. When you keep the attic cold, the snow on the roof eventually dissipates without melting large amounts of water at once. The underside of the roof deck should not exceed 30° F. The best way to maintain low temperatures is by ensuring that there is adequate insulation, and sealing any gaps that let warm air pass into the attic from the house. The attic must be ventilated so that cold air comes in and heated air escapes rapidly. Some remodeling contractors are under the impression that heat passing through the attic helps prevent ice dams; the opposite is true. Although excess heat moving from the attic through the roof rapidly melts snow, once the melted snow touches the cold eaves, it quickly freezes and forms an ice dam.[/expand]
[expand title=”If my kids leave the hose on or the sprinklers malfunction, is it covered by insurance?“]Coverage of water damage depends on the insurance company, but most insurance carriers do not cover water that enters the home subsurface. Usually there is coverage if the water comes from the home’s plumbing system and does not become subsurface (enter the home through the foundation). Be familiar with your specific coverage and contact your insurance agent with any questions about your policy.[/expand]
[expand title=”How do I make sure my pipes don’t freeze?“]Remove hoses from hose bibs before the threat of frost and/or install insulated covers over hose bibs. If you are worried about your pipes freezing, make sure your home is heated properly and that heat is getting to places like pipes under sinks (you may need to open cupboard doors to allow the heat to pass through). If your pipes do freeze, try to thaw them by turning on a small amount of water to slowly warm the pipes up. In some cases, you may need the help of a profession plumber to remedy the situation.[/expand]

Mold Remediation & Cleanup Questions:

[expand title=”How do you clean up mold?“]This is a common question when a homeowner is worried about mold growth in the home. Here is a basic rundown of what is done during a mold test and what a professional restoration company such as ARS Flood and Fire Cleanup does during mold remediation.[/expand]
[expand title=”Mold Testing“]Mold testing is the collection of mold samples for laboratory analysis. Usually it is an Industrial Hygienist that will come and take both surface and air samples to be tested in a laboratory, although there are some do-it-yourself home mold tests on the market. A surface sample is taken directly from the surface by a tape lift imprint, a cotton swab, or actual piece of mold surface. For air samples, a canister called a spore trap will be set, and the number of spores that are captured will determine a representation of the mold in the air. The surface and air tests are important to identify what types of molds are present to determine the proper remediation procedures, as well as the seriousness of potential risks. The data from the test can be used in determining what needs to be done to remove any mold spores found. ARS does not do mold testing, but if you call, we can refer you to a qualified Industrial Hygienist in the area. If there is a mold problem, ARS can do the necessary mold remediation.[/expand]
[expand title=”Mold Remediation“]Mold remediation is the process of removing mold and restoring the home back to pre-mold condition and is usually done by a professional restoration company, such as ARS Flood and Fire Cleanup. Mold removal and cleanup varies from project to project, so call your local ARS for more details.[/expand]