Water Damage Questions Gaithersburg Property Owners Ask

If anyone is in danger, call 911. Otherwise, shut off the water if you can do so safely, then call a plumber to fix the source and us to deal with the water.

Often yes, but not if there is sewage, an electrical hazard, a sagging ceiling, or a gas smell. When in doubt, stay out of the affected area.

Only if you can reach the breaker panel without standing in water. If you cannot, call an electrician or your electric utility instead.

Take photos and video of the water source, the wet rooms, the water line on the walls, and damaged belongings. Keep them for your insurer.

Photograph them first, and keep a list. Your insurer may ask what was damaged.

It depends on where it came from. Water from a clean supply line is the least risky, while sewage and floodwater are contaminated and should be avoided.

Extraction removes standing and soaked-in water. Drying removes the moisture left in walls, floors, and framing, using air movers and dehumidifiers.

It varies. Many jobs take several days, but the amount of water, the materials, and the weather all matter, so we cannot promise a number.

Fans and a household dehumidifier help with small spills. They rarely reach water inside walls and subfloors, which is why we measure moisture.

We take moisture readings and compare them with a dry part of your building. Equipment comes out when the readings show materials have reached a dry state.

Not always. Clean-water drywall can sometimes be dried in place, while contaminated or long-wet drywall is usually replaced.

It uses power and can add to your bill. We can tell you what to expect when we set it up.

Stay out if the water is high or near electrical equipment, keep children and pets away, and call us. Photograph the damage when it is safe.

If water is rising in the pit or spreading on the floor, yes. Call us, and ask a plumber about the pump.

Sometimes, if the water was clean and we reach it quickly. Carpet padding is more often replaced.

A plumber diagnoses and fixes the line, and we clean up the contaminated water and materials. WSSC Water says the sewer line from the property line to the building is generally the owner's responsibility.

It is the most contaminated category of water, such as sewage and floodwater. It needs protective equipment, and soaked porous materials are usually removed.

We advise against it. Sewage can carry bacteria and viruses, and household cleaning does not reach what soaks into porous materials.

Shut off the main water valve, open a faucet low in the house to drain the lines, and call a plumber and us.

Ice can crack a pipe without leaking. The water comes through the crack when the ice melts.

If the pipe has not burst, shut off the water and call a plumber. Never use an open flame.

Turn off the power or gas, close the cold water valve, and call a plumber. We deal with the water and what it soaked.

Rain-only stains usually mean the roof. Stains that keep growing in dry weather may be plumbing.

Yes, both. Thermal imaging and moisture meters help us trace hidden water, and a pipe camera lets us look inside drain lines. They help locate the problem, and a plumber makes the repair.

No. Our work is the water and the damaged building materials, and we coordinate with your plumber, roofer, or electrician.

Mold can start to grow within a day or two on wet materials, which is why quick drying matters.

Watch for fuzzy or discolored patches and a musty smell, especially in basements, bathrooms, and attics. Mold behind a wall may only show up as an odor.

No. Paint will not stop it, and mixing bleach with other cleaners can create dangerous fumes. Fix the moisture and remove the damaged material.

We handle remediation. Testing is a separate service from an independent specialist, and we will tell you when a test makes sense.

Often, for a sudden event such as a pipe break. Policies differ, so check yours or ask your insurer.

Flooding usually needs a separate flood policy. Sump pump overflow and sewer backup often need an added endorsement.

Yes. We document the damage and explain which records matter. We cannot decide coverage or promise a claim will be paid.

Keep photos, videos, a list of damaged items, receipts, and your messages with your insurer, landlord, or property manager.

In general, you may choose who works on your property. Confirm with your insurer if you have questions.

Tell your property manager or association right away, take photos, and call us to start drying your unit.

It depends on the building. Some have a unit shutoff, and some are controlled by management, so find out in advance.

Tell your landlord or property manager in writing, photograph the damage, and keep your messages. Ask your own renters insurer what it covers.

Yes. We restore shops, offices, restaurants, and multi-unit buildings, and we try to schedule the work around keeping the business open.

Yes. We answer emergency calls around the clock, every day of the week.

Yes. There is no charge for the estimate, and we explain the pricing before any work begins.

We are licensed and insured (license #528011). Our company and our technicians are IICRC-certified. Ask us for proof.

We offer a workmanship warranty on repair work. Ask us for the terms.

Yes. We can repair or replace drywall, insulation, and flooring after the building is dry.

We serve 12 Gaithersburg neighborhoods, 7 nearby communities, and 15 ZIP codes, and we confirm service by street address. See our areas we serve page.

Ask about licensing, insurance, a written estimate, and how they measure drying. Our about page lists the questions we recommend.

Your street address, where the water came from, which rooms are wet, and whether it is still coming in.