ServiceMaster by Zaba Blog

Featured Blog Posts

flooded bathroom

Flooded Bathroom? Here Are 10 Essential Steps to Recovery

Clogged toilets can happen in the best-kept homes, apartments, or condos. Busy families can forget someone’s filling up the tub. A pipe can freeze during the night and burst before you’re awake. From faulty plumbing to a sewage backup, it doesn’t take much to flood the bathroom. Are you wondering how to clean up a […]

Read More…

kitchen of hoarder

“I Am a Hoarder and I Need Help” – 10 Steps to Self-Help

It can feel as though you’re completely isolated and on your own. Even with the help of friends and family, dealing with hoarding can become overwhelming. It consumes the space in your home while it drains your ability to cope. As you look in the mirror, you say, “I am a hoarder. How do I […]

Read More…

frozen water pipe burst chicago

A Pipe Burst and Flooded My House in Chicago – What Do I Do?

Some years, it seems like Chicago winters are the coldest in the nation. We break records, shovel snow and shiver through historic polar vortexes. Residents across the city take it all in stride, but we never get used to the freezing effect it has on our plumbing. Are you ready to deal with frozen pipes […]

Read More…

commercial cleaning tips and tricks the ultimate guide

Commercial Cleaning Tips and Tricks: The Ultimate Guide

It takes a lot of hard work to keep your business looking its best. Whether you manage an office building, run a restaurant or own a retail outlet, it’s your responsibility to keep the place spotless. It seems like there’s always so much that needs your attention. Are workplace cleaning chores stealing your valuable time? […]

Read More…

tornado safety tips

15 Tornado Safety Tips (People Often Forget About Tip #4)

You can count on our spring and summer seasons here in northwest Illinois to always deliver severe weather. This past June, we saw the destruction left behind after four tornadoes hit our area in just one night. Meteorologists are predicting that we’ll see an increase in the number of these dangerous weather events. Last year, the National […]

Read More…

basement flooded chicago home

“When Do I Need a Sump Pump?”- Your Question Answered

If this summer is typical, we’ll get more than 10 inches of rain by the end of August. That might seem like a lot, but it’s nothing compared to the severe weather and flash flooding that hit Chicago and the suburbs last year. If you’re like most residents here, you remember where you were that stormy Monday […]

Read More…

how to prevent flooding

How to Prevent Flooding in the House: 10 Critical Steps to Take Now

When severe storms blow through your area, homes and businesses face the risk of flooding. Are you prepared to weather our next deluge? Unfortunately, very few homeowners have taken steps to prevent flooding in their home. We see the devastation that heavy storms leave behind as we help people recover property and belongings after a flood. While […]

Read More…

musty smell in house

Musty Smell in House: What to Do (& How to Get Rid of It)

It usually gets better after a good cleaning spree, but it never quite goes away. You really notice it when you’ve been gone for little while. That musty smell in the house shouldn’t be the first thing that greets you when you walk through your home’s front door. You don’t have to accept musty odors […]

Read More…

water leaking from the washer

How to Prevent Water Leaking from the Washer: 10 Best Tips

Do you take care of laundry in the basement or a utility room? Is your washer a traditional top-loader or a contemporary front-loading model? Can you be sure that it won’t break down and flood your home? It’s easy to answer the first two questions, but most homeowners trust their washing machine to do its […]

Read More…

water damage causes

Here are the Top 10 Causes of Water Damage in Your Home

Old plumbing and leaky appliances around the house aren’t out to get you, but sometimes it seems that way. The weather plays a part too with winter freezes that burst pipes and spring rains that flood basements. Our cleanup and restoration teams have seen it all here in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. In our […]

Read More…

black mold removal

Black Mold Removal: How to Get Rid of It in 10 Steps

It can start with a slow leak inside the wall or an area in the bathroom that always stays damp. You might not notice it until it turns into unsightly splotches, but black mold can begin growing on surfaces in as little as 24 hours. While you want to clean it up right away, you […]

Read More…

what to do after a house fire

What to Do After a House Fire

A home fire can occur with very little warning and cause extensive damage to the house and your belongings. Here at ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba, we’ve been providing fire damage restoration services for more than 15 years, so we understand the impact of this disaster. In this blog, we’ll share our top tips for reclaiming […]

Read More…

how to remove ice dams

Ice Dam Removal Strategies – What You Need to Know

Heavy snow, freezing temperatures and winter winds take a toll on the roof. Add ice dams to this winter equation, and you have a frozen phenomenon that threatens the integrity of shingles, eaves and gutters. Are you ready to get out the ladder and head up to the roof to remove your ice dams? We […]

Read More…