For Homeowners, Wetter Winters Aren't Better

MEMPHIS, TN--(Marketwired - December 08, 2015) - According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 2015-2016 winter season is predicted to be wetter-than-average with El Niño triggering the potential for extreme precipitation in many parts of the country.

With these predictions suggesting precipitation concerns for both home and business owners across the country, ServiceMaster Restore, a business unit of ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SERV), and one of the largest disaster restoration companies in the United States, urges home and business owners to prepare now for what could be a record-setting winter season.

"When it comes to winter weather, it pays to be prepared for the worst. Last year, ice dams wreaked havoc for home and business owners in the Northeast and demand for disaster restoration related to winter weather issues was extremely high," says Peter Duncanson, director, disaster restoration system development at ServiceMaster Restore. "Although many areas across the country experienced mild temperatures this fall, preparing now is vital as excessive precipitation combined with freezing or near-freezing temperatures can cause significant damage overnight."

Some of the most common and costly causes of winter damage include ice dams, burst pipes and leaks. ServiceMaster Restore shares expert tips on how to winterize homes and businesses and help avoid damages, expenses and inconvenience.

• Review your insurance policy closely and pay attention to specifics on what is and is not covered under the agreement.
• Clear rain gutters, repair roof leaks and cut away tree branches that could fall on a house or other structures.
• Keep gutters and downspouts free of debris and make sure water is flowing several feet away from the foundation.
• Check for cracks or small holes in the foundation where water can seep in. Even a few inches of water from melted snow or excessive rain can cause interior water damage to carpet, drywall, wood floors and even your home or business' structure.
• Cover exposed outdoor water faucets to prevent freezing. Use a cover available at any hardware store to insulate and protect them.
• Leave cabinet doors under sinks open to help circulate air and prevent frozen pipes during extreme temperatures.

ServiceMaster Restore is trained, equipped and ready to restore homes and businesses before, during and after winter storms. With a number of regionally based large-loss command and control centers, a disaster operations center to track severe weather and 1,800 franchises nationwide, ServiceMaster Restore can mobilize from across the country to handle any size job.

For more expert tips and information about winter preparedness and aftermath response, visit ServiceMasterRestore.com, like us on Facebook and follow #WinterWeatherTips on Facebook. For immediate winter weather assistance and clean up, call a live ServiceMaster Restore operator 24/7 at 1-800-RESPOND.

About ServiceMaster Restore
With approximately 1,800 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 or smoke. 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 the 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 www.servicemasterrecoverymanagement.com.

About ServiceMaster
ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SERV) is a leading provider of essential residential and commercial services, operating through an extensive service network of more than 8,000 company-owned, franchised and licensed locations. The company's portfolio of well-recognized brands includes American Home Shield (home warranties), AmeriSpec (home inspections), Furniture Medic (furniture repair), Merry Maids (residential cleaning), ServiceMaster Clean (janitorial), ServiceMaster Restore (disaster restoration) and Terminix (termite and pest control). The company is headquartered in Memphis, Tenn. Go to www.servicemaster.com for more information about ServiceMaster or follow the company at twitter.com/ServiceMaster or facebook.com/ServiceMaster.