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Water damage

Water damage restoration in Pennsylvania

Burst pipes, flooded basements, leaking water heaters and sewage backups. Get connected with a restoration company that serves your county, and use the steps below to limit the damage now.

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What's happening?

Burst or frozen pipe: what to do in your home right now

  1. Shut off the main water valve.It's usually where the water line enters the house, often in the basement or crawl space near the meter. Turn it clockwise until it stops.
  2. Open the lowest faucet in the house.This drains the water still in the lines and takes pressure off the break.
  3. Turn off the water heater.Set a gas unit to pilot or off, or switch off the breaker for an electric one, so it doesn't run empty.
  4. Never thaw a pipe with an open flame.A hair dryer or space heater kept away from water is fine. Torches start house fires.
  5. Photograph everything before you move it.Wide shots of each room, then close-ups of the damage and the failed pipe. Your insurer will ask.

Flooded basement: what to do in your home right now

  1. Don't step in if water could reach outlets, cords, or the electrical panel.Call your electric utility to cut power at the meter first.
  2. Check the sump pump.Is it plugged in, is the breaker on, is the float stuck, is the discharge line frozen or blocked?
  3. Note where the water came in.Groundwater, a failed sump, a sewer backup, and surface flooding are often covered by different parts of a policy, or not at all.
  4. Don't relight a furnace or water heater that sat in water.Have it checked by a qualified technician first.
  5. Start moving belongings to dry ground and take photos.Mold can start in 24 to 48 hours, so drying should begin the same day.

Sewage or toilet backup: what to do in your home right now

  1. Treat it as contaminated (Category 3) water.Keep children and pets out, wear gloves and boots, and wash any skin it touches.
  2. Stop using every drain, toilet, and appliance that drains.Each flush can push more sewage into the house.
  3. Don't try to clean carpet, padding, or upholstery that sewage touched.Porous materials that sewage soaks into usually have to be removed by a professional.
  4. If you're on city sewer, call the public works or sewer department.A blocked main in the street is the city's problem. A blocked line on your property usually isn't.
  5. Check whether your policy has a sewer or water backup endorsement.Standard homeowners policies often exclude backups unless you added it.

Roof leak or storm: what to do in your home right now

  1. Stay off the roof during the storm.A tarp can wait. Falls cause more harm than leaks.
  2. Catch the water and protect the floor.Buckets, towels, and plastic sheeting under the drip. Move electronics and furniture.
  3. Watch for a sagging ceiling.If drywall is bulging with water, keep people out from under it. It can come down without warning.
  4. Shut off power to rooms where water is coming through light fixtures.Use the breaker panel only if you can reach it from a dry spot.
  5. Photograph the ceiling, the attic if it's safe, and any storm damage outside.Insurers usually need proof of when and how the damage happened.

Fire or smoke: what to do in your home right now

  1. Don't go back in until the fire department says it's safe.Ask them for the incident or report number. Your insurer will want it.
  2. Don't run the furnace or central air.The system can spread soot through every room in the house.
  3. Don't wipe soot off walls or furniture.Rubbing smears it deeper into surfaces. Restoration crews use dry sponges and specific cleaners.
  4. Throw away food, drinks, and medicine that were exposed to heat, smoke, or water.Sealed cans can still be compromised.
  5. Call your insurer, and the American Red Cross if you need a place to stay.Ask about additional living expenses coverage before you book a hotel.

Mold or musty smell: what to do in your home right now

  1. Find and stop the moisture first.Mold comes back if the leak, condensation, or humidity behind it isn't fixed.
  2. Don't disturb large patches.Scraping or sanding releases spores. Keep the door closed and the HVAC off in that area.
  3. Small spots can be a DIY job.The EPA suggests patches under about 10 square feet can often be cleaned by the homeowner on hard surfaces.
  4. Call a professional for larger areas, hidden growth, or anything after sewage or flood water.Also if anyone in the home has asthma, allergies, or a weakened immune system.
  5. Don't count on bleach.The EPA doesn't recommend it as a routine step. On drywall and wood, removing damaged material and drying the area matter more.

How the work goes

What a professional water damage restoration job involves

  1. 01

    Inspection

    Find the source, stop it, map how far water traveled with moisture meters and thermal cameras, and assign a category and class.

  2. 02

    Extraction

    Pump out standing water and pull water out of carpet and pad with truck-mounted or portable extractors.

  3. 03

    Drying

    Set air movers and dehumidifiers sized to the space, and take moisture readings daily until materials reach dry standard.

  4. 04

    Cleaning and repair

    Clean and treat affected areas, remove materials that can't be saved, then rebuild drywall, trim and flooring.

Mitigation vs. restoration

You'll hear two words. Mitigation is the emergency part: stopping the water, extracting it and drying the structure so damage doesn't spread. Restoration or reconstruction is putting the house back: new drywall, paint, flooring and cabinets. Some companies do both. Others only mitigate and hand off to a contractor. Ask which you're getting.

How long drying takes

A typical clean-water job takes three to five days of drying equipment running, longer for hardwood, plaster or a finished basement. A good company records moisture readings every day and removes equipment only when readings show the materials are dry, not on a fixed schedule.

Choosing a company

  • Ask whether technicians are IICRC certified in water damage restoration.
  • Ask for a written scope and an estimate before non-emergency work starts.
  • Ask whether they bill your insurer directly, and what you'll owe.
  • Read anything you sign. Know whether it's a work authorization or an assignment of benefits.

Questions

Water damage restoration FAQ

What should I do first after water damage?
Make it safe (stay out of water near electricity, and leave if you smell gas), stop the water at the fixture valve or the main shutoff, photograph everything before cleanup, then call your insurer and a restoration company. Drying should start within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold.
How long does water damage restoration take?
Drying a typical clean-water job takes about three to five days with professional equipment. Hardwood, plaster and concrete take longer. Repairs such as new drywall, paint and flooring come after drying and can add days to weeks.
Does homeowners insurance cover water damage in Pennsylvania?
Usually, if the water was sudden and accidental, such as a burst pipe or a failed supply line. Standard policies usually exclude slow leaks, flooding from outside, and sewer backups without an endorsement. Your policy language decides.
Can I dry water damage myself?
A small, clean spill on a hard floor caught right away usually can be. Once water has soaked carpet pad, gone under baseboards or wicked up drywall, professional extraction, air movers, dehumidifiers and moisture readings are the reliable way to dry inside walls and floors.

Read next

The first hourSafety, shutoff, photos and dryingClean, gray or black waterWhy the category changes the jobPennsylvania insurance claimsCoverage and your insurer's deadlines

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