Provider profile
PuroClean of Downtown Chicago
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Chicago homeowners dealing with water damage that has led to mold, especially in condos and older homes near downtown where insurance coordination matters.
Best for
- Chicago homeowners facing water damage in condos or apartments where insurance claims need active coordination
- Situations where water damage has already progressed to mold growth, since they handle both remediation and reconstruction under one roof
- Property managers and commercial clients in the downtown Chicago area who need a restoration company with industry association ties
- Spanish-speaking homeowners who need restoration services — at least one crew communicates in Spanish
- After-hours emergencies where same-day response and insurance documentation matter
About this company
PuroClean of Downtown Chicago is a franchise restoration company based on Potomac Avenue in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. They handle water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold removal, biohazard cleanup, and reconstruction for both homes and commercial properties. Owner Keegan Trudgen and co-owner Tim Lohse run a team that works directly with insurance companies throughout the claims process.
Their website describes a proprietary QuickDry System that uses infrared cameras and moisture meters to map damage, followed by staged extraction, dehumidification, and drying. For mold work, they describe containment with negative air pressure and HEPA filtration, followed by surface cleaning with EPA-registered disinfectants. They specifically note that bleach is ineffective for mold because it only bleaches rather than killing the growth. They also offer a specialty hardwood floor drying system using desiccant dehumidification and drying panels designed to minimize refinishing.
The company holds IICRC and EPA Lead Safe credentials, and maintains memberships in BOMA Suburban Chicago, the Chicagoland Apartment Association, Community Associations Institute, and several insurance industry groups. These affiliations suggest a focus on property management and insurance referral relationships. They claim service across Chicago, Aurora, Joliet, Naperville, and Elgin.
4.8 stars across 76 Google reviews is a strong rating for a restoration company. The volume is modest but the consistency is notable — only 2 reviews below 4 stars in the last 18 months. Most reviews specifically name the crew members who showed up, which suggests a stable workforce rather than a rotating roster of subcontractors.
Services
Service area
Headquartered at 3536 W Potomac Ave in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood. Reviews confirm regular work across Chicago proper, including River North, downtown, and surrounding neighborhoods. The website claims coverage extending to Aurora, Joliet, Naperville, and Elgin, and one review mentions a crew traveling to Milwaukee for a sewage job.
Review consensus
Jon (project manager/estimator) appears in more reviews than any other staff member, consistently praised for responsiveness, clear communication, and working with insurance adjusters. Ruben is the most frequently named field technician, praised for attention to detail, careful handling of belongings, and thorough cleanup. Dallas, Dylan, and Sergio form the core field crew and get repeated mentions for punctuality and helpfulness. Laura Bartoli drew strong praise from multiple reviewers as a "rockstar" who handles client needs. Several reviews highlight how the team works around homeowner schedules and keeps them informed with daily calls. Insurance coordination is the single most praised capability — multiple reviewers say PuroClean escalated to senior adjusters when claims hit obstacles.
2 found across 76 total reviews at 4.8★. The 1-star review from Lesa Moore is unusual — she initially posted a 5-star review praising Daemon, Epi, and Ruben for a sewage cleanup, then updated it weeks later claiming the cleanup was incomplete, cross-contaminated her home, and that the crew did not wear protective gear. She also alleged that Daemon planned to charge insurance for unnecessary equipment. Tim Lohse responded that they could not locate a job under her name. The 3-star review from Hayley Turner (a Local Guide with 129 reviews) described a pattern of billing problems: her insurance was charged $20,000 including services never performed, equipment left behind by a subcontracted air duct company, and a rug damaged by cleaning equipment that was billed for but never actually cleaned. The owner reached out but the review remained at 3 stars.
Both negative reviews center on a gap between what insurance was billed for and what was actually delivered. This is a structural risk in restoration work where the company deals directly with insurers rather than the homeowner on billing. The owner responded to both complaints — Tim Lohse's response to the 1-star review claimed no record of the job, while the response to the 3-star offered to connect and resolve. Neither response engaged with the specific billing allegations in detail.
Jon/Jonathan (project manager/estimator — consistently positive). Ruben (field technician — consistently positive, most-named crew member). Dallas (field technician — positive). Dylan (team lead/field tech — positive). Sergio (field technician — positive). Daemon (field technician — positive in most reviews, named in the updated 1-star complaint). Laura Bartoli (coordinator/office — strongly positive). Isidro (field technician — positive). Israel (field technician — positive). Epi (field technician — positive in most reviews, named in the 1-star complaint). Alicia (coordinator — positive). Elizabeth (communication/coordination — positive). Nichole/Nicole (field support — positive). Gio (field technician — positive). Tim Lohse (owner — praised by name in older reviews, authored owner responses). Mitch Pinsky (crew chief — positive). Amanda Martinez (contents crew — positive). Ryan Beardsley (estimator — strongly positive). Andrew Ramos (restoration coordinator — positive). Gabriel/Gaby Roman (manager — positive). Miguel (field technician — positive). Arnold Donato (customer service — positive). Julio (field technician — positive). Dennis (field technician — positive). Alfredo Gomez (reconstruction — positive). Jose Roman and Alex Roman (field technicians — positive). Steve (crew — positive).
Ask for Jon or Ruben if you can — they are the most consistently praised across dozens of reviews. Get an itemized scope of work in writing before the crew starts, and check each item off as it is completed, especially if your insurance is being billed directly. The two complaints both involve gaps between what was billed and what was done, so staying involved in the insurance documentation protects you.
Keep in mind
- This is a franchise operation under the national PuroClean brand. The local owners (Keegan Trudgen and Tim Lohse) run the Chicago office, but corporate frameworks govern pricing and some procedures.
- One reviewer reported being charged by insurance for services never completed, including rug cleaning and air duct work done by a subcontractor. Ask for an itemized scope before work begins and verify each line item is completed.
- A 1-star reviewer initially posted a positive review, then updated it months later claiming the sewage cleanup was incomplete and cross-contaminated the home. The owner responded that they could not locate the job in their records. This back-and-forth is unresolved.
- Their service area claims extend to Aurora, Joliet, Naperville, and Elgin — a very wide radius from their Humboldt Park base. Confirm response times for locations outside Chicago proper.
- They do not perform mold testing or inspection. You will need a separate company for testing before and after remediation.