A basement takes in water after a night of heavy rain
What homeowners notice
After a night of heavy rain the owner comes downstairs to find water across the basement floor, deepest in the corner nearest the floor drain. Carpet at the bottom of the stairs is wet through and the power outlet near the washer is in the water.
What we do
The power to the basement is cut at the panel before anyone steps in, and the water is pumped from the low corner and vacuumed from the carpet. Moisture meters are run along the lower walls and the subfloor, and the carpet pad is lifted where the readings stay high. Air movers and a dehumidifier are set for the room, and the readings are taken again on each visit.
What to expect
The room is dried to its readings over several visits, the carpet pad that could not be dried is replaced with the owner's approval, and the drying log and photographs are handed over for the insurer.
A homeowner in Goddard notices a brown ring on the ceiling of a bedroom that was not there before a hailstorm. It grows after the next rain, and a small bubble forms in the middle of it.
What we do
The crew does not press on the bubble. A controlled release of the water is made under a sheet, and the insulation above is checked through a small opening in the ceiling. The wet insulation is removed where readings stay high, and the framing above is dried. The roofer is asked to inspect the roof covering and the flashing around the vent.
What to expect
The ceiling is dried and the damaged board is replaced after the readings show the cavity is dry. The roofer's report and the drying log are kept together for the insurance claim.
A split supply line wets a wall in a Wichita kitchen
What homeowners notice
The owner hears running water inside the kitchen wall with every tap shut. A section of vinyl flooring by the sink is lifting, and the cabinet base is soft at its bottom edge.
What we do
The crew shuts the supply at the main and reads the wall with a meter. A small opening is made where the readings are highest, and a split fitting is found on the supply line. A licensed plumber repairs the line on a separate visit, and the cavity is dried before the wall is closed.
What to expect
The cabinet base is removed and replaced after the readings confirm it cannot be dried. The subfloor and wall are dried to readings, and the record of the leak, the repair and the drying is kept for the insurer.
A water heater in a garage sits in a shallow pan. Water has overflowed the pan and run across the concrete toward the door into the house, and the bottom of a stored box is soaked.
What we do
The power to the heater is switched off and the cold-water inlet is closed before the tank is touched. The water is removed from the slab and the pan, and moisture readings are taken across the slab, the edge at the door and the lower wall. A plumber is called to replace the heater, and the crew notes the condition of the pan and the drain line for that visit.
What to expect
The slab and the lower wall are dried to readings, the stored items that were soaked are photographed and listed, and the replacement heater is installed by the plumber with the drying record for reference.
Grey water rises through the floor drain of a finished basement after a laundry load. The carpet is wet along the drain wall and the owner has already tried to mop it up with towels.
What we do
The drain is not used again until it is cleared, and the crew wears protective equipment for the water. The standing water is removed, and the carpet and pad that the water reached are taken out because they cannot be cleaned to a safe condition. The hard surfaces are cleaned, and the drain is cleared at its clean-out. A plumber is called to check the main line for the cause.
What to expect
The room is dried to readings over several visits, the removed material is photographed and listed, and the owner receives the plumber's note on the line along with the drying log.
A washer hose fails behind a cabinet in a laundry room
What homeowners notice
The owner finds the laundry room floor wet after a wash cycle. The cabinet beside the washer is swollen at its base, and water is coming from behind the unit when the machine is running.
What we do
The supply valve is closed and the machine is switched off at the plug before it is moved. The hose is found split at its crimp. The floor and the cabinet base are read, and the kickplate is removed where the readings show water behind it. The subfloor is dried to readings before the flooring or the cabinet is repaired.
What to expect
The cabinet base is replaced after the readings show it cannot be dried. The hose is replaced by the owner, the subfloor is dried, and the record is kept for the insurer.
A stock room in a small shop takes in water through its ceiling
What homeowners notice
The owner of a small shop finds a stained tile ceiling in the stock room, with water dripping onto shelving. Boxes on the lowest shelf are wet and the floor at the back of the room is standing with water.
What we do
The stock is moved, photographed and counted, and the power to the shelving lights is isolated. The standing water is removed, and the ceiling tiles that are wet are taken out. The wet insulation above is read and removed where it will not dry. The trading area of the shop is kept open, and the closed area is planned in writing for the owner.
What to expect
The stock room is dried over several visits with a log the owner can give the insurer, and the ceiling is rebuilt by the owner's contractor once the cavity reads dry.
several visits typical visit
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