Water damage questions from Anchorage homeowners
Most questions fall into three groups: what to do in the first minutes, which side of the meter a leak is on, and how the drying, the record and the insurer fit together. Calls are answered at any hour and a crew is sent as soon as one is free.
- Frozen and burst pipes
- Snowmelt and roof leaks
- Basement and crawl water
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (833) 490-5225. Or send this and we call you back.
The first few minutes
Where is the main water shut-off in a house?
In many houses it is in the cellar, near the point where the service enters the building. If you cannot find it, tell the line and it will help you locate it.
Can I run a pump in standing water?
Not while the power is on near the water. Turn the power off at the panel first, and keep out of the water near the pump and its cord.
What should I photograph first?
The water line, the wet floor, any stain on the ceiling and the source if you can see it, all before anything is moved.
Pipes, meters and drains
Is the leak mine or the utility's?
Close every fixture and read the meter. A meter that keeps turning with the house shut off points outside the house. The utility answers for its side of the meter, and the owner answers for the house side.
Why did the pipe leak after the cold had passed?
A pipe that froze can split while it is still closed by ice, and it leaks once the water moves again on the thaw.
Who clears a sewer backup?
A blockage on the house side is cleared by a plumber. A blockage in the utility's main is the utility's to clear. The crew records where it started.
Drying, mold and the record
How do I know when the house is dry?
When every measured area reaches the dry reference from an undamaged part of the house. A surface that looks dry is not enough on its own.
Will drying stop mold from growing?
Drying removes the conditions mold needs, but it does not guarantee that no mold is present. Visible growth is recorded and dealt with under the mold steps.
What do I send to my insurer?
The written log, the readings, the photographs before and after, the list of removed materials and the scope, with the utility's answer and the plumber's invoice.
Question not answered here?
Call and ask. A technician will give you a straight answer, even if the answer is that you do not need us.