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Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Sep. 30, 2013
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Franchise revenue          
Home warranty contracts term 1 year   1 year    
Franchise revenue as a percentage of consolidated revenue from continuing operations 6.00%serv_PercentageOfFranchiseRevenueToConsolidatedRevenueFromContinuingOperations   6.00%serv_PercentageOfFranchiseRevenueToConsolidatedRevenueFromContinuingOperations    
Total profits from the franchised operations $ 54serv_ProfitsFromFranchisedOperations $ 51serv_ProfitsFromFranchisedOperations $ 78serv_ProfitsFromFranchisedOperations $ 71serv_ProfitsFromFranchisedOperations $ 72serv_ProfitsFromFranchisedOperations
Deferred revenue          
Deferred revenue 511us-gaap_DeferredRevenueCurrent   448us-gaap_DeferredRevenueCurrent 423us-gaap_DeferredRevenueCurrent  
Deferred customer acquisition costs          
Deferred customer acquisition costs 38us-gaap_DeferredCostsCurrent   30us-gaap_DeferredCostsCurrent 27us-gaap_DeferredCostsCurrent  
Advertising          
Advertising expense     114us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense 112us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense 109us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense
Property and equipment          
Gross Property and equipment 363us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross   381us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross 322us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross  
Less: accumulated depreciation (228)us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment   (204)us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment (164)us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment  
Net Property and Equipment 135us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet   177us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet 158us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet  
Depreciation of property and equipment, including depreciation of assets held under capital leases 36us-gaap_Depreciation 35us-gaap_Depreciation 48us-gaap_Depreciation 42us-gaap_Depreciation 38us-gaap_Depreciation
Land          
Property and equipment          
Gross Property and equipment     6us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandMember
6us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandMember
 
Buildings and improvements          
Property and equipment          
Gross Property and equipment     31us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_BuildingAndBuildingImprovementsMember
29us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_BuildingAndBuildingImprovementsMember
 
Buildings and improvements | Minimum          
Property and equipment          
Estimated Useful Lives     10 years    
Buildings and improvements | Maximum          
Property and equipment          
Estimated Useful Lives     40 years    
Technology and communications          
Property and equipment          
Gross Property and equipment     225us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= serv_TechnologyAndCommunicationsMember
192us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= serv_TechnologyAndCommunicationsMember
 
Technology and communications | Minimum          
Property and equipment          
Estimated Useful Lives     3 years    
Technology and communications | Maximum          
Property and equipment          
Estimated Useful Lives     7 years    
Machinery, production equipment and vehicles          
Property and equipment          
Gross Property and equipment     105us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= serv_MachineryProductionEquipmentAndVehiclesMember
80us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= serv_MachineryProductionEquipmentAndVehiclesMember
 
Machinery, production equipment and vehicles | Minimum          
Property and equipment          
Estimated Useful Lives     3 years    
Machinery, production equipment and vehicles | Maximum          
Property and equipment          
Estimated Useful Lives     9 years    
Office equipment, furniture and fixtures          
Property and equipment          
Gross Property and equipment     $ 14us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= serv_OfficeEquipmentFurnitureAndFixturesMember
$ 15us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= serv_OfficeEquipmentFurnitureAndFixturesMember
 
Office equipment, furniture and fixtures | Minimum          
Property and equipment          
Estimated Useful Lives     5 years    
Office equipment, furniture and fixtures | Maximum          
Property and equipment          
Estimated Useful Lives     7 years