Emergency Tree Service in Millcreek, PA

What does emergency tree service involve?

Emergency tree service is the fast, careful removal of a tree or limb that has already fallen or is about to. A tree resting on a roof is under heavy tension, and one wrong cut can shift it deeper into the house. We rig the weight, lift it off in pieces, and clear the driveway or yard so the damage can be covered and repaired.

When do you need emergency tree help?

Call right away if a tree or limb is on your house, garage, or car, blocking your only driveway, or hanging broken in the canopy over where people walk. A big tree that suddenly leans with soil lifting on one side is also an emergency. If a line is down, stay back and call 911 and Penelec first.

Why do trees fall during storms here?

Millcreek's worst tree damage comes from wet lake-effect snow in fall, while leaves are still on, and from ice storms in late winter. Hard west winds off the lake snap weak forks. In spring, soaked clay soil lets whole trees tip over with their roots attached.

What affects the cost of emergency tree work?

• Where the tree landed, since work on a roof is slower than work on a lawn.
• How much tension is in the trunk and limbs.
• Equipment needed, such as a lift or crane.
• Size of the tree and how much debris there is.

We explain the price before we start, and we'll give you photos and an invoice for your insurance claim.

Can a storm-damaged tree be saved?

A tree that lost a few limbs can often be saved with cleanup cuts. A tree that split down the trunk or pulled out of the ground can't. Once the danger is gone, we can come back for trimming overhanging limbs before winter on the trees that made it, or schedule a planned removal for the ones that didn't.

What do homeowners ask about emergency tree service?

Will homeowner's insurance pay for the tree removal?

Many policies help pay when a tree damages a covered structure, like the house or garage. A tree that falls on open lawn often isn't covered. Call your agent and take photos before anything is moved.

Should I cut the fallen tree myself?

No. Trunks and limbs under tension can spring back hard when cut, and chainsaw injuries during storm cleanup are common. Leave anything touching the house or a wire to a crew.

How fast can you get here?

After a storm, we go to trees on houses and blocked driveways first. Call as soon as it's safe and we'll tell you when to expect us.

What should you do in the first hour after a storm brings a tree down?

Start by getting everyone out of the rooms under the damage and keeping kids and pets away from the yard. Look for sagging or sparking wires before you walk outside. A limb lying across a service drop can energize a chain-link fence or a puddle. If the tree has opened the roof, move furniture and electronics away from the leak and set buckets out, but stay off ladders and leave the roof itself to the crew.

Next, take wide photos from the street and close photos of where the trunk touches the house, the car, or the fence. Those pictures help your insurance agent and give us a clear look at the rigging problem before we arrive. When you call, tell us where the tree is resting, roughly how thick the trunk is, and whether a driveway or garage door is blocked.

Which trees fail first in a Millcreek lake-effect storm?

The early-season snow bands that roll in off Lake Erie in October and November are the hardest on yards from the Presque Isle side of the township up to West Ridge Road and out toward Fairview. Maples and oaks still hold their leaves then, so each branch catches a heavy load of wet snow. Silver maples with old topping cuts, Callery pears, and willows near low, wet spots tend to break first. Dead ash left standing after emerald ash borer goes brittle and can drop whole tops with little wind.

Can you work in snow or freezing rain?

We work once the storm has passed and it's safe to climb or run a lift. Ice-coated limbs are slippery and unpredictable, so on some jobs we first secure the tree in place and finish the cutting when conditions improve.

Do I have to wait for Penelec before you start?

If any wire is touching the tree, yes. The utility has to clear or shut off the line first. Trees that are nowhere near a wire can be handled right away.