Calling
Who will I be speaking to?
An independent biohazard cleanup company that works in the Knoxville area. This site does not employ cleaners. The company explains what it would do and how it prices the work, and you decide whether to hire it.
Can I call before the police or the medical examiner have finished?
You can call to ask questions, but no cleaning can start until the scene is released. If you are not sure whether it has been, Knoxville Police take non-emergency calls at 865-215-4010.
Does the phone get answered at night and on weekends?
Yes, someone picks up 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, holidays included.
Am I obliged to hire whoever answers?
No. You can ask questions, take time, or call someone else.
Is there a charge for calling?
No. Any price is between you and the company you hire.
Cleanup
Does the company repair the damage too?
Usually it removes and disinfects. Rebuilding, such as new flooring or drywall, is a separate job.
Do I have to be there?
Usually not for the whole job. Someone with authority over the property has to agree to the work.
Can things be saved?
Hard items often can. Soft items that have absorbed fluids usually cannot. Tell the company what matters most.
Payment
Will insurance pay?
Sometimes. It depends on the policy and the cause. Call the insurer before work starts.
Does Tennessee help victims of crime with cleanup?
Its Criminal Injuries Compensation fund can consider cleanup costs when a violent crime happened in the victim's home. The crime must be reported within 15 days.
Guides
- After a death at homePolice, the medical examiner, the funeral home, then cleanup.Read more
- Who pays for cleanupInsurance, Tennessee's crime victim fund, owners and estates.Read more
- What affects the costWhy prices vary and what to ask before you agree.Read more
- For landlordsWhen it happens in one of your units.Read more
Call whenever you feel ready
You do not need to know the right words or have a plan. Say what happened, where it is, and whether the police or the medical examiner have finished. The company takes it from there, and the decision to hire stays with you.
Speak with a cleanup company
An independent company that works around Knoxville answers. Tell them what happened and where, then ask how they would handle it and how they price the job. The choice to go ahead is yours alone.
Call (865) 276-0393Reachable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Calls may be recorded; see the referral disclosure and privacy policy for details.