Water Damage Frequently Asked Questions

[VIDEO] Homeowners insurance provides coverage for damage that is sudden and accidental (such as water heater ruptures or pipe bursts). However, flood damage, no matter the source of the water, is NOT covered by standard homeowners policies. Flooding can occur from storms, sewer backup, and overflowing rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans. However, you can purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. Note that water damage that results from lack of maintenance is not covered on a standard homeowners insurance policy.

[VIDEO] Mold can grow on the surface within 24 to 48 hours.

[VIDEO] You can avoid water damage by cleaning gutters and downspouts, checking your appliances regularly, upgrading washing machine hoses, checking your water pressure, monitoring your water bill, etc.

[VIDEO] Yes. Water can cause swelling, warping, delamination, and joint line separation, but it is best to contact an emergency restoration specialist to make the final determination before assuming that the laminate is damaged.

Yes – including subfloors, reconstruction and refinishing. The repairs needed depend on many factors.

Yes – we have a system for removing water from carpets, but sometimes carpets and pads must be replaced after getting wet. If mold is present, this can also affect the outcomes. If the water was clean and we can dry and sanitize them, they can sometimes be saved.

It depends on the material and how long it was wet. We can asses this for you during a visit. Move furniture to a dry area or put it on blocks so it can begin to self-dry as soon as possible.

Water damage can occur after natural disasters, such as thunderstorms or hurricanes that cause flooding, from pipe bursts, appliance malfunctions, roof leaks, foundation leaks, septic tank overflows, poor drainage, and more. Flash flooding, pipe bursts, and sewage backups are especially dangerous as they can produce several inches of water in less than a day.

Floodwater that comes from outside and from sewage backups contains dangerous contaminants like viruses and bacteria. If the water isn’t drained within 24-48 hours, structural damage and mold growth can ensue. Even water leaks that infiltrate your home slowly can cause damage to the building and lead to mold growth. Mold left unchecked will spread quickly through the home.

Firstly, contact a water damage restoration company as soon as possible. Don’t wait as water can cause mold and irremediable damage to the wood, walls, and carpet in your home. Afterwards, contact your insurance company to start the claim process. If safe, shut off the utilities in your home to avoid further damage. Don’t enter your home if it has suffered structural damage. Don’t walk through flood water if electricity hasn’t been turned off and to avoid contaminants.

The first thing professionals do is remove damaged materials that will either be restored or discarded. Materials include baseboards, insulation, furniture, carpeting, upholstery, carpet padding, fragile woods, drywall, and more. After the damaged items are removed, the technicians begin drying out the water and disinfecting the areas. Specialized tools like air movers and dehumidifiers are typically involved in the drying process. Professionals will also handle mold damage in the restoration process. Mold-infected surfaces will be disinfected and restored as quickly as possible to prevent it from spreading.

Homeowners insurance provides coverage for damage that is sudden and accidental (such as water heater ruptures or pipe bursts). However, flood damage, no matter the source of the water, is NOT covered by standard homeowners policies. Flooding can occur from storms, sewer backup, and overflowing rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans. However, you can purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. Note that water damage that results from lack of maintenance is not covered on a standard homeowners insurance policy.

If you hired us to handle your loss from start to finish, you don’t need to worry about finding a general contractor. We have a team of qualified, experienced professionals to do the reconstruction needed, or we use sub-contractors as a part of the restoration package.

Please Don’t! Because our technicians have set up the best conditions on your property for drying it efficiently, if you open windows during the drying process it causes problems. Depending on weather conditions, opening windows slows down the drying progress. So, the best rule of thumb is to keep doors and windows closed, and don’t turn off air conditioning or heat without talking to us first.

Please Don’t! The drying process requires running the equipment 24 hours a day for several days. Our equipment is designed for efficiency. That means, depending on the size of the loss, on average, the estimated cost to run this equipment can be as little as $1 to $2 per day. And because we know the noise might be problematic, for sleeping purposes or the quiet enjoyment of your home or office, we often suggest you call your insurance agent to see if your policy covers alternate living expenses or business continuity expenses.

Absolutely! Our specialized equipment is made to run continuously without overheating or causing safety problems. Remember, we position the equipment in a particular way to promote the drying process. So please don’t move it.

We set up the equipment we use during the drying process so it will remove as much moisture from the affected space as possible. Our equipment creates an atmosphere that’s as dry as possible. This is just temporary. Once the drying process is complete, and we remove the equipment, the air condition will return to normal.

Once the water is extracted and we begin the drying process, we need to monitor and control the moisture and humidity levels in the home. By doing this, we can prevent the growth of toxic mold. In addition, insurance companies require daily monitoring reports to justify your claim for damages.

If the property damage doesn’t require a lot of reconstruction, you can stay in your home or office.

When water contacts drywall, it sags and disintegrates. You will see paint bubbles and peeling as the water wicks up the drywall. If water dwells in your property for any length of time, wood structures begins to swell. The glue holding your particle board kitchen and bathroom cabinets dissolves, causing them to crumble. Third, water-soaked carpets “delaminate.” Delamination is the term for carpet that pulls away from its backing. Once this happens, the carpet is permanently ruined. Fourth, water damage can short-out electrical systems. This can cause fire and shock hazards and damage to electronic equipment.

Sudden broken pipe, appliance malfunction (dishwasher, water, heaters, washing machines, etc.). Depending on your policy, the coverage may include structure only with a separate limit for contents; structure and contents up to policy limit; and structure only, no coverage for contents.

If the damage is more than half the market value of the house, you may not be able to salvage it. Your insurance company will decide how to proceed, depending on the extent of the damage.

It’s impossible to make your home flood proof, but you can take several measures to prevent flood damage.

Remove wet moist or damp items, wipe up spills, fix any plumbing leaks, control the humidity in your home, reinforce the sealant, when cleaning your floors make sure you dry the floors completely.

Replace missing shingles, clean gutters, inspect vents, valleys, chimneys, pipes, skylights, etc. You should also check your attic ceiling and remove ice buildup during heavy snow.

The bathroom is a prime area for water damage, since almost everything you do in there involve water use. To prevent water damage, you can replace torn shower curtains, dry the floor and drain water from the tub after use, check for leaking pipes, and ensure that the grout and caulking are in good condition.

Contact your insurance agent and/or adjuster and they will tell you everything you need to have ready to ensure the claims process is smooth.

Check the surface of the wall for water stains, peeling paint, or warping. Push on the wall lightly – if it’s soft and spongy, that’s an indication of moisture damage. Then, take the smell test. If the wall smells musty, like rotted leaves, it is a telltale sign of water damage.

For a small area, you can mix one cup of vinegar and 2 cups of water and spray on the area. If your entire carpet is damaged, you should call in a water mitigation company, such as PuroClean, to take care of the damage.

You can check the walls and ceilings for water stains, the floors for warping and buckling, and the pipes for corrosion, leaks, missing grout, and mold. Attics and basements may have damaged flooring, mildew or mold, dampness, and odors. Also, be sure to inspect the exterior of the home for cracked roof tiles, puddles, standing water, and whether the ground is sloping away from the house.

First you have to remove the damaged floor material, add the framing as needed, then measure, cut, and fasten new plywood.

An easy way to tell if your tile floors are water-damaged is by checking to see if any tiles are darker in color than the other tiles.

You should get a professional home inspector to determine if there is water damage and the extent of the damage. A contractor can estimate the repair cost.

It usually takes about 24 hours to dry, however, high humidity and warm temperatures will increase the time frame.

Your carpet make take anywhere from 8 to 24 hours to dry. You can speed up the process by turning on the heater, air conditioning, or ceiling fan.

Your insurance may cover leaks in your roof and the resulting damage depending on the cause of the leak. The specifics should be outlined in your individual policy.

Your insurance may cover damage to your home caused by your leaking roof, and they may even pay to remove the portion of the ice dam that’s directly causing the leak. Unfortunately, we do not know your specific policy. And therefore, you should contact your insurance agent and/or adjuster to find out if you qualify.

In many cases, warranty on appliances, furniture, flooring, and other items does cover water damage. Please check your warranty information for detailed coverage.

You may be able to add water damage coverage to your insurance policy. Contact your insurance agent and/or adjuster to find out if you’re eligible for coverage.

In many cases, it does, but it varies from one policy to the next. Your insurance agent and/or adjuster will be able to tell you whether you have coverage or not.

Homeowner’s insurance provides coverage for damage that is sudden and accidental (such as water heater ruptures or pipe bursts). However, flood damage, no matter the source of the water, is NOT covered by standard homeowner’s policies.

The first thing professionals do is remove damaged materials that will either be restored or discarded. Materials include baseboards, insulation, furniture, carpeting, upholstery, carpet padding, fragile woods, drywall, and more. After the damaged items are removed, the technicians begin drying out the water and disinfecting the areas. Specialized tools like air movers and dehumidifiers are typically involved in the drying process. Professionals will also handle mold damage in the restoration process. Mold-infected surfaces will be disinfected and restored as quickly as possible to prevent it from spreading.

Firstly, contact a water damage restoration company as soon as possible. Don’t wait as water can cause mold and irremediable damage to the wood, walls, and carpet in your home. Afterwards, contact your insurance company to start the claim process. If safe, shut off the utilities in your home to avoid further damage. Don’t enter your home if it has suffered structural damage. Don’t walk through flood water if electricity hasn’t been turned off and to avoid contaminants.

Floodwater that comes from outside and from sewage backups contains dangerous contaminants like viruses and bacteria. If the water isn’t drained within 24-48 hours, structural damage and mold growth can ensue. Even water leaks that infiltrate your home slowly can cause damage to the building and lead to mold growth. Mold left unchecked will spread quickly through the home.

Water damage can occur after natural disasters, such as thunderstorms or hurricanes that cause flooding, from pipe bursts, appliance malfunctions, roof leaks, foundation leaks, septic tank overflows, poor drainage, and more. Flash flooding, pipe bursts, and sewage backups are especially dangerous as they can produce several inches of water in less than a day.

It depends on the material and how long it was wet. We can asses this for you during a visit. Move furniture to a dry area or put it on blocks so it can begin to self-dry as soon as possible.

Yes – including subfloors, reconstruction and refinishing. The repairs needed depend on many factors.

Yes – we have a system for removing water from carpets, but sometimes carpets and pads must be replaced after getting wet. If mold is present, this can also affect the outcomes. If the water was clean and we can dry and sanitize them, they can sometimes be saved.