Resource Center: Homeowner Guides
Practical, plain-English help for homeowners in Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties. These guides come from the MaxClean Restoration team, an IICRC Certified Firm based in Freehold. Each one covers how to stay safe, what to do right now, what not to do, and when to call for help.
Emergency right now? Call 732-539-2942 . We're open 24/7 and usually on site in about an hour near Freehold, or about 2 hours in Lacey, Stafford, Barnegat and Little Egg Harbor.
Water
| Guide | Summary |
|---|---|
| Burst pipe: what to do in the first hour | Shut off the water, stay safe, and limit damage before help arrives. |
| Flooded basement or sump pump failure | Stay safe around water and power, get the pump going, protect your belongings. |
| Toilet, washer or dishwasher overflow | Find the shutoff valve, tell clean water from contaminated water, and stop hidden damage. |
| Water heater leaking | Shut off the power or gas and the water supply safely, and protect your floors. |
| Frozen pipes: prevent them and thaw them safely | How to thaw a frozen pipe without a fire risk, and how to keep it from happening. |
| Water coming through the ceiling | Stop the leak from upstairs, stay out from under a wet ceiling, and dry the structure. |
| Wet hardwood floors | Stop the damage, what cupping and crowning mean, and how fast drying can save the boards. |
| Found a slow or hidden leak | Spot the signs of a hidden leak, check your water meter, and stop it before it turns into mold. |
Fire & smoke
| Guide | Summary |
|---|---|
| After a house fire | Re-entry, board-up, soot do's and don'ts, and getting your claim started. |
| Furnace puff-back | Oily soot after a furnace or boiler misfire: what to do and what not to touch. |
| Smoke or soot from a neighbor's fire | Your home didn't burn but smells like smoke? Here's what to do. |
| After a kitchen or grease fire | Sticky grease smoke residue, odor and extinguisher cleanup after a stove fire. |
| Chimney or fireplace fire | Stay safe, stop using the fireplace until it's inspected, and handle smoke and soot. |
Mold
| Guide | Summary |
|---|---|
| Found mold in your home | What's safe to clean yourself, and when it's time for a pro. |
| Attic and crawlspace moisture | Warning signs, common causes and what to do before mold starts. |
Storm
| Guide | Summary |
|---|---|
| Storm prep for NJ homeowners | A printable checklist for nor'easters, hurricanes and summer storms. |
| Tree fell on your house | Stay clear of wires, get everyone safe and protect the house from the weather. |
| Roof leak or ice dam | What to do when water comes through the ceiling, and why ice dams form. |
Sewage
| Guide | Summary |
|---|---|
| Sewage backup in your home | Why sewage is a health hazard, what to stop doing right away, and how it gets cleaned safely. |
| Sewer backup vs. overflow | How to tell a sewer or septic backup from a fixture overflow, and why the cause matters for your claim. |
| Septic system backup into your home | Stop using water, stay safe, and learn whether it's a full tank, a blocked line or a failed drain field. |
Insurance & the restoration process
| Guide | Summary |
|---|---|
| The home insurance claim process, step by step | What usually happens from the first call to the final walk-through, and what to keep track of. |
| What happens on day 1 of water mitigation | What our technicians do on the first visit, what the equipment does, and what to expect after. |
| What to expect during reconstruction | How rebuilding works, from scope and selections to the final walk-through. |
Working with your insurance
We send the invoice to your insurance carrier on your behalf, but the invoice is still the homeowner's responsibility. That includes your deductible and anything your carrier doesn't pay.
In New Jersey, homeowners usually have the right to choose their own restoration contractor. We specialize in working with both homeowners and insurance companies to make sure the work is properly documented for your claim, so your home gets back to its pre-loss condition.
Seasonal home maintenance
- Spring: test the sump pump, clean gutters, service the A/C, check outdoor faucets and hoses for leaks.
- Summer: keep the basement dehumidifier below 50%, check the washing machine hoses, trim trees before storm season.
- Fall: clean gutters after the leaves drop, service the furnace, disconnect garden hoses and shut off outside spigots, test smoke and CO detectors.
- Winter: keep the heat at 55°F or higher, let faucets drip during hard freezes, know where your main water shutoff is.
- Every 1–3 months: change the HVAC filter.
Your free home emergency plan
Save your shutoff locations, emergency contacts, appliance details and maintenance reminders in one place, and share it with family or house-sitters. It's free from MaxClean Restoration.
Our services
Water & flood damage · Fire & smoke damage · Mold remediation · Emergency tree removal · Furnace puff-back cleanup · Sewage cleanup · Reconstruction
Call 732-539-2942. Open 24/7 and usually on site in about an hour near Freehold, or about 2 hours in Lacey, Stafford, Barnegat and Little Egg Harbor.
MaxClean Restoration, 11 Bannard Street, Freehold, NJ · IICRC Certified Firm · NJ HIC #13VH12188600 Serving Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties.
