Water damage questions, answered

If the water stayed on a hard surface and was wiped up within an hour or two, usually not. Call when water reached drywall, went under flooring or cabinets, came through a ceiling, or came from a toilet, sewer line or outside flooding. Those situations tend to hold moisture you cannot see.

Yes. The phone line is open 24/7, including weekends and holidays. Water damage does not wait for business hours, and drying works best when it starts early.

Communities across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, plus Key Largo and parts of Martin County including Stuart, Palm City and Hobe Sound. The service areas page lists covered cities and ZIP codes.

Extraction and setup usually happen on the first visit. Drying commonly takes about three to five days, with moisture readings each day. Repairs such as new drywall, baseboards or flooring come after the structure is dry, so the full job can run from a few days to a few weeks.

Often not. Drying equipment is noisy and runs around the clock, but many people stay home. Leaving is more likely when sewage or flood water is involved, when large areas are removed, or when mold containment is set up.

Water soaks into drywall, wood framing, subfloors and concrete. Air movers and dehumidifiers pull that moisture out slowly, and turning them off early leaves damp material behind walls where odor and mold can start.

Carpet wet with clean water can often be dried in place, although the pad underneath is frequently replaced. Carpet and pad soaked by sewage or flood water are removed because they cannot be reliably cleaned.

Stop the water at the fixture or main shutoff if you can do it safely. Stay away from wet outlets and cords, and avoid rooms with sagging ceilings. Photograph the damage, move valuables and electronics to a dry room, and put foil or plastic under furniture legs sitting on wet carpet.

Tell building management or the association as soon as possible, and let neighbors below know if water may be coming through. Leaks inside walls or from another unit often need the building engineer to shut off a riser or locate the source.

You can do both at the same time. Reporting the loss early and documenting the damage with photos helps, but waiting days for an adjuster before drying starts can let the damage spread. Keep the moisture logs and photos from the restoration company.