Need Help With Water Damage? Here's Who to Call.
The right professional depends on where the water came from and what needs to happen next. A plumber may stop a broken pipe, a roofer may repair a roof leak, and a water damage restoration company may handle extraction, drying, cleanup, and damaged materials.
Who should you call for water damage?
Water damage can involve more than one trade. The company that stops the source is not always the same company that removes the water, dries the structure, or repairs the finished materials.
Water Damage Restoration Company
A restoration company may handle water extraction, moisture assessment, structural drying, removal of damaged materials, cleaning, and related mitigation work. Some companies also provide reconstruction, while others stop after mitigation.
Plumber
A plumber may be appropriate for a burst pipe, failed plumbing connection, leaking fixture, water heater problem, or other plumbing source. Repairing the source and repairing the resulting water damage are often separate jobs.
Roofer
If rain or snow entered through the roof, a roofer may need to locate and repair the exterior source. Interior drying and repairs may still require restoration or construction work.
Sewer or Drain Professional
Multiple backed-up drains, sewage entering through a floor drain, or recurring sewer problems may require a drain, sewer, septic, or plumbing professional to address the underlying cause.
Electrician
An electrician may be necessary when water has affected electrical panels, wiring, outlets, fixtures, appliances, or other electrical systems. Do not enter an unsafe wet area to reach electrical equipment.
HVAC Professional
Condensate problems, drain failures, equipment leaks, or water originating around heating and cooling systems may require an HVAC professional in addition to any necessary drying or repair work.
What does a water damage restoration company do?
Water damage restoration generally focuses on the damage caused by the water rather than simply repairing the pipe, roof, appliance, or other source that released it.
Depending on the loss, restoration work can include evaluating affected areas, extracting standing water, accessing wet materials, setting drying equipment, monitoring moisture, cleaning, removing materials that cannot appropriately remain, and preparing the property for repair.
A restoration project may include:
- Inspection of affected rooms and materials.
- Water extraction.
- Moisture measurements.
- Air movement and dehumidification.
- Removal of damaged drywall, insulation, flooring, or other materials.
- Cleaning or disinfection when appropriate.
- Monitoring drying progress.
- Documentation of the work performed.
- Reconstruction or coordination with another contractor.
Some restoration companies perform both mitigation and reconstruction. Others remove water and dry the structure but leave drywall, flooring, painting, cabinets, and other rebuilding to another contractor.
Our Water Damage Cleanup & Repair Guide explains the overall process in greater detail.
When should you call a water damage restoration company?
Not every spilled glass of water requires professional restoration. The need for help increases as the amount of water, affected area, contamination, hidden moisture, or safety concerns increase.
Standing Water
Significant standing water may require extraction equipment and evaluation of how far moisture has spread.
Multiple Rooms
Water affecting several rooms or floors can involve substantially more hidden moisture than a small localized spill.
Walls or Ceilings
Water inside wall cavities, ceilings, insulation, or other concealed areas can be difficult to evaluate from the surface alone.
Sewage
Sewage and contaminated water require additional safety, cleaning, material-removal, and disposal considerations.
Unknown Drying
If you cannot determine whether flooring, walls, insulation, or other materials remain wet, professional moisture assessment may be useful.
Mold or Odor
Visible mold, musty odors, or a loss that remained wet for an extended or unknown period can require a more careful evaluation.
Questions to ask a water damage restoration company
You should understand what a company believes is damaged, what it wants to do, and how you will be charged before authorizing work when circumstances allow you time to ask.
What areas of my house do you believe are wet?
How did you determine where the moisture is located?
What materials do you recommend removing, and why?
What materials do you expect to dry in place?
What drying equipment will be used?
How will you determine when the structure is dry?
What is included in the estimate?
What is not included in the estimate?
Does your work include reconstruction?
What could cause the final cost to change?
What documentation will I receive?
What licenses or insurance are required for this work where I live?
How should you compare water damage estimates?
Comparing only the total price can be misleading. Two companies may quote different amounts because they are proposing different scopes of work.
One estimate might include only extraction and drying. Another might include demolition, cleaning, reconstruction, or additional affected areas.
Compare the actual scope
- Which rooms and materials are included?
- What is being removed?
- What is being dried?
- How much equipment is proposed?
- How is equipment usage charged?
- Is monitoring included?
- Is cleaning included?
- Is disposal included?
- Is reconstruction included?
- Is repair of the original source included?
Before comparing totals, determine whether the companies are actually proposing the same work.
See our complete Water Damage Costs Guide for more information.
Should you call insurance or a restoration company first?
There is not one answer for every situation. If there is an active emergency, immediate safety and reasonable steps to prevent additional damage may need attention before the entire insurance process is resolved.
At the same time, your policy may contain notice requirements, duties after a loss, deductibles, exclusions, and other conditions. Follow applicable claim procedures and keep records of emergency work.
Useful documentation can include:
- Photos and video of the original damage.
- The apparent source of the water.
- Emergency plumbing or source-repair invoices.
- Restoration estimates and authorizations.
- Moisture or drying documentation you receive.
- Invoices and receipts.
- Reconstruction estimates.
- Communications concerning the claim.
See our Water Damage Insurance Guide for the broader coverage discussion.
Understand what you are authorizing
Water damage can be stressful, particularly when the loss is actively getting worse. That makes clear communication especially important.
When circumstances allow, read the authorization and ask questions about the scope, pricing, payment obligations, insurance involvement, cancellation provisions, and work being approved.
Ask for clarification if:
- You do not understand how you will be charged.
- The proposed scope is unclear.
- You do not understand why materials are being removed.
- You are told reconstruction is included but it is not written in the scope.
- You do not understand your payment responsibility.
- Someone makes guarantees about what an insurer will pay.
- You are being asked to sign a document you have not had an opportunity to understand.
A contractor can provide information about its work and charges, but homeowners should be cautious about treating statements concerning insurance payment as a substitute for the actual policy and claim decision.
What caused the water damage?
Start with the source. Once you understand what is causing the water, it becomes easier to determine which professional may be needed.
Burst Pipe
Stop additional water and address the failed plumbing before moving into drying and repair.
Burst pipe guide →Water Heater
Determine where the heater is leaking and consider hot water, electricity, gas, and surrounding damage.
Water heater guide →Roof Leak
Address the exterior source while also checking ceilings, insulation, walls, and interior materials.
Roof leak guide →Sewage Backup
Sewage requires attention to both the underlying drain or sewer problem and contaminated-material cleanup.
Sewage backup guide →Ceiling Water
Find what is above the affected ceiling and stay alert for electrical and falling-material hazards.
Ceiling water guide →Basement Water
Basement water may originate from plumbing, drainage, groundwater, sewage, a sump system, or exterior conditions.
Basement water guide →Water damage professionals
WaterInMyHouse.com is building resources to help homeowners locate water-damage and restoration professionals while understanding the services being offered.
Are you a water damage or restoration professional?
WaterInMyHouse.com offers opportunities for restoration and related service companies interested in reaching homeowners researching water damage, cleanup, drying, and repair.
advertise@waterinmyhouse.com →Finding water damage help FAQ
Who should I call first for water damage?
It depends on the source. A plumber may be needed for a broken pipe, a roofer for a roof leak, a sewer professional for a backup, and a restoration company for water extraction, drying, and damage mitigation. Some losses require more than one type of professional.
What does a water restoration company do?
Services can include water extraction, moisture assessment, structural drying, removal of damaged materials, cleaning, monitoring, and sometimes reconstruction. Services vary by company and project.
Do plumbers clean up water damage?
A plumber's primary role may be repairing the plumbing source. Some companies provide additional services, but significant water extraction, drying, and restoration are often handled separately.
How do I choose a water damage restoration company?
Ask what areas are affected, how moisture was identified, what work is proposed, what will be removed or dried, how pricing works, whether reconstruction is included, and what documentation you will receive. Also check applicable local licensing or insurance requirements.
Should I get multiple restoration estimates?
When the situation is safe and time allows, comparing scopes can help you understand differences between providers. During an active emergency, necessary steps to prevent additional damage may require more immediate action.
Will a restoration company work with my insurance?
Many restoration companies regularly provide documentation used in insurance claims, but that does not mean the contractor determines coverage. Insurance payment depends on the policy and claim.
Does a restoration company fix the broken pipe?
Not necessarily. Repair of the original plumbing, roof, sewer, appliance, or other source may require another trade even when a restoration company handles the resulting water damage.
Do restoration companies rebuild after water damage?
Some do and some do not. Ask whether the proposed work includes reconstruction such as drywall, flooring, paint, trim, cabinets, and other finished materials.
Understand the work before making a decision
Still trying to figure out what kind of help you need?
Start with the source of the water. Once you know whether you are dealing with plumbing, roofing, sewage, an appliance, or another problem, you can identify the right first call.