Guide · Hiring
How to choose a water damage restoration company in Pennsylvania
In an emergency you'll hire the first company that answers. That's fine, as long as you ask a few questions and read what you sign.
Five questions before they start
- Are your technicians IICRC certified in water damage restoration? The IICRC sets the industry's cleaning and restoration standards and certifies technicians.
- Can I see proof of insurance? At minimum, general liability and workers' compensation.
- Will you take and share daily moisture readings? Drying should be documented with meter readings, not judged by touch.
- Do you bill my insurer directly, and what will I owe? Get the answer in writing before the equipment goes in.
- Do you do the rebuild too, or only the drying? Many companies only mitigate. Know whether you'll need a second contractor.
Read the paperwork
- Work authorization: gives permission to start emergency work. Normal and expected.
- Assignment of benefits: transfers your right to be paid by your insurer to the company. It can make billing easier, but it also means the company deals with your insurer directly, and disputes can involve you. Read it carefully before you sign.
- Direction to pay: tells your insurer to pay the company directly, without assigning the rest of your rights.
Red flags
- A crew that shows up uninvited after a storm and pressures you to sign that day.
- A demand for full payment up front.
- A refusal to give a written scope or estimate.
- No physical business address, or a name that doesn't match the paperwork or truck.
- Tearing out large amounts of material before documenting moisture readings.
Your cancellation rights
Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act gives you three business days after signing to cancel a home improvement contract without penalty, and a full refund if work hasn't started. The right doesn't apply in immediate emergencies such as loss of water or power. In April 2026 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that a cancellation doesn't have to be in writing. Contracts over $500 must be in writing, and on jobs over $5,000 a contractor can't ask for more than one-third of the price up front. If you think a contractor has acted unfairly, contact the state attorney general's consumer protection office.
Licensing and registration
Pennsylvania requires contractors who do $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year to register with the Attorney General's office, and the registration number must appear on contracts, estimates and ads. You can check a number by calling 1-888-520-6680. Cities and townships also issue permits for rebuild work.