Bouchard Cleaning & Restoration DKI serves Caribou, Fort Fairfield, Limestone, Washburn, New Sweden and the rest of northern Aroostook County. Our owner, Norman Bouchard, grew up in Van Buren and started his career in Northern Maine, and we still serve the County today. Call 207-947-4454 or toll-free 1-800-479-6676. We answer 24/7/365. After hours, a local answering service pages our on-call staff, who call you back within 15 minutes.
All of our cleaning and restoration services are available in Caribou, for homes, farms and businesses. The sections below cover the problems we see most often in this part of Maine.
Ice jams, spring melt and frozen pipes
Most flooding around Caribou comes in spring, when the Aroostook River breaks up and ice jams push water onto low ground near the Fort Fairfield line and upstream toward Washburn. The Little Madawaska floods low property on Noyes Road and at the end of Sullivan Drive. Frozen ground sends snowmelt into basements well away from either river.
The other big cause is frozen pipes, especially in camps and houses that sit empty part of the winter, where a burst line can run for days. We extract the water, dry the building and monitor moisture until it is normal, and we can dry wet documents. Our water damage restoration page has the process and the water damage tips cover the wait.
Puff-backs, chimney smoke and fire damage
About three out of four homes in Caribou heat with oil, and some also burn wood. An oil burner that misfires can send a puff-back of soot through the ducts and coat the whole house, and a smoky woodstove or chimney fire leaves similar residue. Soot smears when it is wiped, so do not try to clean it off the walls.
We assess the damage, board up if needed, pack out and inventory belongings, then clean, deodorize and scrub the air with HEPA equipment. The ducts are cleaned so the furnace does not keep spreading soot, and we can handle reconstruction when there is structural damage. We work with all insurance companies. See smoke & fire damage services.
Mold after a wet spring
Half of Caribou’s homes were built before 1960, and many have basements that take on water every spring. When a basement stays damp from April into summer, mold usually follows on framing, stored boxes and the backs of finished walls. A dehumidifier and a working sump pump help, but once mold is growing it has to be removed properly.
We assess the problem first and tell you what needs doing and what testing is required. Then we remove the mold with HEPA air scrubbing and anti-microbial treatment, tearing out and rebuilding damaged materials where we have to. See mold assessment & removal and our tips to prevent mold growth.
Sewage and biohazard cleanup
Homes on the Caribou Utilities District sewer and homes on private septic systems can both back up into the basement during spring melt, and either way the water is a health hazard. We remove what cannot be saved, clean the area and disinfect it with the TOMI SteraMist system, which kills 99.9999 percent of pathogens on contact and leaves no residue. We also clean up after a death or injury, hoarding, animal waste and vandalism, working with family members, landlords and realtors. See biohazard cleaning.
Cleaning and sanitizing for Caribou businesses
We clean and sanitize medical buildings, nursing homes, schools, daycares, municipal buildings, restaurants, gyms and offices. Our TOMI SteraMist disinfection is effective against norovirus, MRSA, C. diff, H1N1 and other pathogens, and it is used for preventive cleaning as well as after an outbreak. See cleaning & sanitizing. For landlords, we also clean apartments and condos between tenants, covered on the apartment & condo cleaning page.
Duct cleaning for oil-heated homes
Over a long Aroostook heating season, the furnace moves a lot of air through the ducts. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends cleaning ducts every 3 to 5 years, and sooner after a puff-back, in homes with pets or smokers, or when someone in the house has allergies. Clean ducts can also help with heating costs. See duct cleaning.
Carpet, upholstery and floor care
Mud season and winter sand are hard on carpets and entry floors. We clean carpet and upholstery with van-mounted hot steam extraction, move the furniture ourselves and set it on blocks and tabs, and the carpet typically dries in 12 to 24 hours. We also treat stains and pet odors, wax tile floors and clean grout. See floor care services.
Post-construction cleanup
When a renovation, addition or new building is finished, we clean up the dust, mud, adhesive and debris, wash the walls and high spaces, take the stickers off new windows and clean the windows, sills and screens. Carpet, tile and the duct system get cleaned as well, so the sawdust does not come back through the vents. Farms and camps that were rebuilt after a fire or flood get the same treatment. See post-construction cleaning.
Clothing and contents restoration
Winter clothing, bedding and blankets that went through smoke, a puff-back, flood water or sewage are often worth saving. Our Esporta Wash System returns about 90 percent of soft contents to food-grade clean, according to third-party testing, and it uses a phosphate-free detergent. Snowsuits, boots and wool that sat in a flooded basement are good candidates. See clothing restoration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you really cover Caribou and the rest of Aroostook County?
Yes. We serve all 16 Maine counties, from Presque Isle to Kittery. In the County that includes Caribou, Presque Isle, Fort Fairfield, Limestone, Washburn, Van Buren and the surrounding towns.
Which number do I call from Caribou?
Call 207-947-4454 or toll-free 1-800-479-6676, day or night. After hours, our on-call staff return your call within 15 minutes.
An ice jam flooded our property along the river. What should we do before you arrive?
Call your insurance company. Don’t use a household vacuum on the water, don’t turn on ceiling lights if the ceiling is wet, and stay out of rooms where the ceiling is sagging. If it’s cold, keep the heat at about 70 degrees to help things dry. Our water damage tips have the full list.
Our pipes froze and burst while the camp was closed. Can you dry it out?
Yes. We extract the standing water, dry the structure and contents, and monitor moisture until everything is dry. If water ran for a while before it was found, we also check for mold.
We had a puff-back. Is it safe to run the furnace again?
Have the burner checked before you run it, and don’t turn on electronics or appliances that are covered in soot until they have been cleaned. If the heat has to stay off in cold weather, put antifreeze in the toilets and sink traps or call a plumber so the pipes don’t freeze.
Can you handle a big commercial or farm building loss up here?
Yes. We have several crews and can take on large projects. As a DKI member we can also bring in additional trained technicians and equipment from the DKI network when a job calls for it.
Do you sanitize medical offices and other businesses in Caribou?
Yes. We clean and sanitize medical buildings, nursing homes, schools, daycares, offices and restaurants.
What if insurance won't cover the cleanup?
We work with all insurance carriers and can help you through the claims process. If your claim is denied or you don’t have insurance, our partner Enhancify offers financing so you can pay over time.
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