Water damage restoration: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What water damage restoration is

Water damage restoration removes standing water, dries the structure with fans and dehumidifiers, discards ruined materials, cleans and sanitizes, and repairs walls and floors after a leak or flood. The speed of the response matters, because wet materials start to grow mold and warp within a short time.

Signs you need it

  • A supply line, a water heater, a washing machine or a dishwasher has leaked onto the floor, and water has reached walls or subfloor
  • Water came in through the roof, a window or a foundation during a storm, and carpet, drywall or insulation is still wet
  • Ceilings are stained, sagging or dripping, or walls feel cold and damp to the touch
  • A basement or a crawl space has standing water or a line of water on the walls after rain
  • You smell a musty odor or see discoloration days after a leak, which can mean moisture is still inside the structure

What the pro does

  • The restoration crew assesses the water type and the spread, and checks the moisture inside the walls and under the floors
  • They stop the water source if it is still running, and remove standing water with pumps and extraction equipment
  • They remove the wet materials that cannot be dried, such as carpet pad, insulation, drywall and some flooring, and bag them for disposal
  • They set up air movers and dehumidifiers, and monitor the moisture readings each day until the structure is dry
  • They clean and sanitize the surfaces that will be kept, using methods suited to the water type
  • They document the drying and the readings, then repair the walls, floors and finishes once the structure is dry

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Area affected and the number of rooms, floors and wall cavities that got wet
  • Water type, such as clean supply water, gray water or contaminated water, which changes the handling and the disposal
  • Amount of standing water and the extraction needed
  • Materials that must be removed, such as carpet, pad, drywall, insulation or subfloor
  • Length of drying time and the number of days the equipment must run
  • Repairs to walls, floors and finishes after drying, which may be a separate line
  • Access to the damaged areas, including crawl spaces and attics

What a written quote should spell out

  • Affected rooms and the water category, with the water type identified
  • Extraction method and equipment for standing water
  • Materials to be removed and the materials to be dried and kept
  • Drying equipment, the number of units and the days they run
  • Moisture readings taken and the dry target the structure must reach
  • Cleaning and sanitizing included, and the repairs to walls and floors listed separately

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What type of water is this, and how does that change the cleanup and disposal?
  • How will you dry the wall cavities and the subfloor, and how will you know when they are dry?
  • Which materials are you removing, and which can be dried and kept?
  • Will you document the moisture readings each day, and can I see them?
  • Do you also handle the repairs, or will another contractor do the rebuild?
  • What should I do with the insurance claim, and do you work directly with the insurer?
  • How do you prevent mold while the structure dries?

Red flags

  • They do not check the moisture inside the walls and only dry the surface you can see
  • They tell you to keep carpet and pad that are soaked through without testing them
  • They do not record the moisture readings or the drying progress
  • They push a large contract before they have assessed the water source and the spread

What you can do yourself

Turn off the water at its source if you can reach it safely, and move furniture and valuables out of the water. Photograph the damage for your insurer and remove wet items that can be dried on their own. Stay out of standing water near outlets, the panel or appliances, and call an electrician or the utility if the power is at risk. Do not try to dry wall cavities or subfloors yourself, and call a restoration contractor when the water has reached the structure.

Licenses and permits

Water damage restoration is commonly done by licensed or registered contractors, and electrical and plumbing repairs are often limited to licensed trades. Some areas require a permit for the structural repair. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local building department for the rules that apply to the restoration and the repair.

Water damage restoration questions

How fast does water damage need to be dealt with?

As fast as you can. Wet materials can start to grow mold within a short time, and the structure can be damaged. Call a restoration company as soon as the water is stopped and the area is safe to enter.

Can I keep the carpet after a leak?

Sometimes. Clean water that is removed quickly may allow carpet to be dried and kept. Contaminated water or a long soak usually means the pad and the carpet must be removed. Ask the crew to test the materials and explain what they will keep.

How do I know the house is dry?

A moisture meter reading in each wall and floor, compared to a dry reading from an unaffected area, shows the drying progress. Ask the crew for the dry target and the readings before the equipment is removed.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

How it works

  1. 1. Describe the job

    Pick the service, add your ZIP and a sentence about what is going on.

  2. 2. Pick the pros you want

    See screened pros who serve your ZIP and choose who you want to hear from.

  3. 3. They reach out

    They contact you the way you chose: phone, email or in-app messages.

More inspection and remediation guides

Find a pro near you

Find a pro

About this guide

Request water damage restoration