Water damage questions from Spokane homeowners
Most questions fall into four groups: what to do in the first hour, why water reaches the lower levels here, how drying works and what to keep for the insurer. Calls are answered at any hour and a local technician is sent as soon as one is free.
- Frozen pipes and freezes
- Basement flooding
- Spring runoff and river water
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The first hour
What is the first thing to check?
The power. Stay out of standing water near outlets, cords, the panel and appliances. If the panel can be reached from a dry spot, switch off the power to the affected area. If not, wait for an electrician or the utility.
Should I shut off the main water?
If you can reach the main valve safely and it is not in standing water near the panel, shut it off. That stops a supply line from adding water while the crew is on its way.
Can I pump the water out myself?
Only if it is shallow, safe and clear of electrical equipment. A household pump or wet vacuum is not built for standing water in a live basement.
What should I photograph?
The water line on each wall, the entry point, any item standing in the water and the lowest part of the room. Take them before anything is moved.
Why water reaches the lower level
Why does a basement take water after the snow has gone?
Melt water keeps the ground saturated for days, and the pressure pushes water through walls, joints and window wells. The Spokane County Flood Insurance Study describes spring snowmelt as one of the two main flood types in the county.
Is rain on snow different from snowmelt?
Yes. Rain on a deep snowpack adds to the melt and produces a faster, larger runoff. The county study lists the two as separate flood types.
Can the river flood a basement that is not on the bank?
Yes, through the drains and the ground, when the river is high. The water in a house depends on its floor level and its drains, not only on its distance from the river.
Can frozen pipes cause the same damage?
They can. A split line is an inside problem that shows at one fixture, and it is repaired by a plumber. The crew removes and dries the water it leaves.
Drying and cleanup
When does drying finish?
When the readings for each material reach their target, not after a fixed number of days. The crew logs the readings on each visit and tells you when the work is complete.
Will you cut into my walls?
Only where the readings show the moisture is held in the wall. The cut height is set by the readings, and it is explained before it is made.
What happens to my carpet and furniture?
Items that can be cleaned and dried are kept. Items that cannot be dried are listed and removed, and the insurer may want to see them before they are discarded.
Can mold start in a dried basement?
Mold needs moisture. Drying to target is the first defense, and the mold page explains what a crew checks and when a separate assessment helps.
Insurance and records
What will my insurer want?
The photographs, the water line, the crew's written record, the list of damaged items and the readings. Ask the insurer what else it needs and when.
Who decides what is covered?
Your insurer, under the terms of your policy. Outside water and flooding are often treated differently from sudden water inside the home, so read the policy and ask in writing.
Where do I complain about a claim?
The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner handles consumer complaints about how a claim is handled. Keep the claim number and copies of everything you send.
Do I get a price before the work?
Yes. The price is explained and approved on site before equipment runs or any removal starts.
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.