Water Damage FAQ

Response time depends on your location within our service area and current crew availability. We dispatch immediately after your call. For active emergencies — water actively flowing, flooding in progress — tell us when you call and we prioritize your job above all else. We maintain on-call crews 24/7 for this reason.

Yes. Our emergency line (803) 615-2244 is staffed around the clock, every day of the year including holidays. A real dispatcher — not an answering service — picks up and dispatches your crew. Water damage doesn’t follow business hours, and neither do we.

If it’s safe to do so: (1) Shut off the water source at the shutoff valve. (2) Stay out of rooms with standing water if there’s any risk of electrical hazards. (3) Move valuables, documents, and electronics away from the wet area. (4) Do NOT run fans or turn on your HVAC system — this spreads contamination and moisture to unaffected areas. Leave everything else to us.

Yes, completely free and with no obligation. A certified technician will arrive, assess the damage with professional moisture meters and thermal imaging, document everything, and give you a clear scope of work — all at no cost. You decide whether to proceed with services.

Most residential drying takes 3–5 days with professional equipment running continuously. Larger jobs, jobs with structural material removal, or Category 2/3 water situations can take longer. We monitor moisture readings daily using calibrated meters and don’t remove equipment until every affected material reads dry. We never rush the drying process — incomplete drying leads to mold.

It depends on the extent and category of the water damage. Minor Category 1 (clean water) jobs — such as a contained appliance leak — are usually fine to live through. Category 2 or 3 situations involving gray or black water, sewage, or significant structural demolition may require temporary relocation. We’ll give you a clear recommendation based on your specific situation, and your insurance may cover temporary housing costs.

We use commercial-grade drying equipment including truck-mounted water extractors, low-grain refrigerant (LGR) dehumidifiers, axial and centrifugal air movers, and desiccant dehumidifiers for severe jobs. We also use thermal imaging cameras and calibrated moisture meters to map damage and verify drying. All equipment is IICRC-standard and monitored daily.

Yes. We handle the complete process from emergency extraction and structural drying (mitigation) through demolition of unsalvageable materials and full rebuild (restoration) — drywall, flooring, trim, and painting. You don’t need to coordinate multiple contractors.

Mitigation is the emergency phase — stopping further damage, extracting water, drying the structure, and removing unsalvageable materials. Restoration is the rebuild phase — replacing drywall, flooring, cabinets, and returning the property to its pre-loss condition. Both phases are typically covered by insurance when the water loss qualifies as a covered event.

That depends on your specific policy, your carrier, and the circumstances of your loss. Every policy is different and coverage decisions are made by your insurance company — not by us. What we can do is help you document everything correctly, present the strongest possible claim, and advocate for a complete scope of work with your adjuster. We’ll walk through your situation with you at no charge before any work begins.

Call us first. The most urgent priority is stopping the damage — every hour of delay increases cost and risk. We’ll help you document everything properly from the start and in many cases contact your insurance company on your behalf as part of our service. Calling the insurance company first does not speed up the process and sometimes leads to miscommunication about what’s covered.

Yes. We communicate directly with adjusters, submit documentation, handle scope negotiations, and in most cases bill your insurance carrier directly. You pay only your deductible (if applicable). We work with State Farm, Allstate, USAA, Nationwide, Travelers, Farmers, and most other major carriers.

If your claim is denied, we can help you understand the reason and, in some cases, assist with supplementing or appealing the decision. We also offer private-pay pricing for jobs where insurance isn’t involved. We’ll always be transparent about costs before any work begins so there are no surprises.

No. The inspection and assessment is completely free with no obligation. If you decide not to proceed with services after we’ve assessed the damage, there is no charge. We want you to make an informed decision.

Mold can begin colonizing in as little as 24–48 hours in the right conditions — warmth, moisture, and an organic food source like drywall or wood. South Carolina’s humid climate accelerates this significantly. This is why we treat every job with mold prevention protocols from day one, regardless of whether visible mold is present.

Call us immediately. Visible mold indicates that moisture has been present long enough for colonization to begin. We handle mold remediation as part of our restoration services, including containment, removal, HEPA air filtration, and antimicrobial treatment. Do not disturb mold growth before remediation — this can spread spores throughout the property.

Yes — sewage backup is classified as Category 3 (black water) contamination and contains bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. Do not touch sewage water or allow children or pets to contact it. Our crew arrives in full protective equipment and follows certified biohazard cleanup protocols including extraction, disinfection, and antimicrobial treatment of all affected surfaces.