Water damage questions, answered plainly
Most questions come down to four things: what to do in the first ten minutes, why Florida humidity matters, what is priced and what is repaired later, and what insurance does and does not cover. The answers below stay general, because every house, every source of water and every policy is different.
- Phones answered 24/7
- Storm water, slab leaks, A/C condensate
- Estimate approved before work
- Moisture readings documented
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First steps and safety
Where is the main water shut-off on a Florida slab home?
Usually in a meter box near the street or at the front of the lot, with a second valve where the line comes into the house, often by the garage or a hose bib. Find it on a dry day, check that the handle turns, and tell everyone in the house where it is.
Is it safe to walk through standing water indoors?
Not if it reaches outlets, cords, appliances or the air handler. Water and live power are the real danger. Turn off power only if the panel is dry and easy to reach, otherwise stay out and call. Treat water from a drain, septic system or canal as contaminated.
What should I photograph before anything is moved?
Every wet room, the line where the water reached on walls, damaged belongings and the source if you can see it, with a few wide shots and a few close ones. Photos taken before things are moved help your insurer, and the crew adds its own readings afterward.
Slabs, block walls and septic lots
How do I know if a leak is under the slab?
Common signs are a water meter that keeps moving with every fixture off, a warm spot on a tile or concrete floor, the sound of running water in a quiet house and an unexplained rise in the bill. A licensed plumber confirms and repairs it, and the crew dries what got wet.
Can block and stucco walls hold water?
Yes. Concrete block is porous, and water can wick up the inside of a wall from the slab and hide behind paint, stucco or drywall on the inside. Meters and a thermal camera show where it went, so the crew does not guess which sections stay and which come out.
Why did the toilet and floor drain back up after heavy rain on a septic lot?
Heavy rain on sandy ground with a high water table can saturate the drain field, so wastewater has nowhere to go and may rise inside the house. That is Category 3 water. A septic company handles the tank and field, and the crew cleans and dries inside. See the septic backup page.
Storms, canals and flooding
Is flood damage the same as storm damage for insurance?
Often not. Wind-driven rain through a damaged roof or window is usually a homeowners claim, while surface water from heavy rain, a rising canal, the river or tidal surge is flood, which needs a separate policy, usually through FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer. Check your declarations page.
What does the crew do when a storm opens the roof?
It can tarp or board the opening to keep more rain out, then extracts water and dries the ceiling and walls below. Roof replacement is a roofer's job. Keep photos of the damage and call your insurer before any permanent repair so the claim record is clean.
Does it matter that the water came from a canal rather than the roof?
Yes. Canal, lagoon and river water is Category 3, so carpet, pad and porous drywall usually come out and surfaces are cleaned and disinfected. Rain through a roof is cleaner at first but can pick up debris, so the crew checks the category on arrival.
Drying, humidity and mold
How long does drying take?
It depends on the materials, the amount of water and the air. A small clean-water leak can be a few days, a block wall or a slab can take longer, and humid weather stretches it. Readings decide when the equipment leaves, not a fixed number of days.
If everything dried within 48 hours, is mold ruled out?
No. The EPA's 24 to 48 hours is a guideline, not a deadline. Mold may have grown in materials that dried inside it, especially in warm humid air. A musty smell or a stain that returns after drying is a reason to book a mold inspection.
Who is allowed to remove mold in Florida?
Florida licenses mold assessors and mold remediators separately through DBPR, and the rules apply to mold areas above about 10 square feet. An assessor may not remediate a structure it assessed in the last 12 months, so testing and cleanup come from separate companies. Ask for the DBPR licence number.
Costs and estimates
What is the emergency-stage price?
It covers stopping the spread: extraction, equipment setup and monitoring for the first stage. It is explained before work starts and you approve it. Rebuilding work such as drywall, flooring and paint is quoted after drying. See the estimated prices for ranges.
Why is drying priced by area and by the day?
Because the job scales that way. Extraction depends on how much floor is wet and how deep, and drying depends on how many air movers and dehumidifiers run for how many days. A bigger or slower-drying job means more equipment and more days, and the price rises with it.
Will you give a firm price over the phone?
Only a rough sense. Water moves into places a phone call cannot see, so firm numbers come from meters and a walkthrough. What you get on the call is how pricing works and what drives it, and the actual emergency-stage price is explained on site.
Insurance and documents
Does the crew file my insurance claim?
No. You file the claim, and coverage is decided by your insurer under your policy. The crew can give you photos, moisture readings and a record of the work to share. Call your insurer early, and ask about a separate hurricane deductible.
Does a homeowners policy cover a burst pipe?
Often, when the damage is sudden and accidental. Long-term or hidden leaks are commonly excluded, and flood and sewer backup usually need their own cover or an endorsement. Policies differ, so read yours or ask your agent before assuming either way.
How long does a flood policy take to start?
Flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program generally has a 30-day waiting period, so a policy bought as a storm approaches may not cover it. A private flood policy may differ. Ask the agent about the start date, and see the guide on flood vs homeowners insurance.
Question not answered here?
Call and ask. A technician will give you a straight answer, even if the answer is that you do not need us.