The source of the leak should be ascertained first and then repaired so that your home or commercial building doesn’t sustain further damage. The faster you can have the water removed, the less likely it is that the water will seep through the drywall and flooring and damage the foundation, struts, and subfloor. Mold and mildew can grow surprisingly quickly, often in less than 24 hours. They can also be damaging and require professional remediation treatment to remove them.

Maybe. Many homeowners’ insurance policies have different coverage for leaks, burst pipes, and flooding, so your coverage will depend on the type of water damage event. Many policies will cover sudden, accidental water damage but may not cover damage due to neglect (failing to replace old pipes in a reasonable amount of time) or flooding (such as a natural disaster).

Check your policy carefully. At First Response Water Damage, we work with your insurance carrier on your behalf to help you get as much coverage as possible.

Minor water damage that only affects a small area can be cleaned up and restored in as little as a couple of days; superficial damage is fairly easy to clean. However, if there was flooding or standing water in the structure, or if the water soaked through the flooring and drywall to the bones of the structure, water damage repair, and mold remediation could take a few weeks, maybe a month, for large structures affected over a wide space.

Sometimes, yes, you can stay in your home while the water damage is cleared away and repaired. There are other times when it’s simply not safe, especially if mold has started growing. The mold itself can be hazardous, and even though the remediation solutions that we use at First Response Water Damage are EPA-approved and safe for people and pets, we don’t recommend being in the home if there is a question of contamination. Likewise, if the water damage affected the structure to the point where it’s unstable or unsafe, we recommend leaving your home or business until the building inspection deems it safe.

You may smell signs of hidden water damage in your commercial or residential structure before you see it. If you note musty odors or the smell of wet newspapers, there’s likely water damage somewhere and possible hazardous black mold.

Other signs to look for include warped flooring, peeling or “bubbling” paint, peeling wallpaper, fading or discolored walls, and a sudden increase in utility bills (and you didn’t change your water use habits)