💧 Water & Flooding — who do I call?
Leaks, burst pipes, flooded basements, mold.
Water problems split by source and speed. A burst pipe or a plumbing leak is an emergency plumber; a leak that only shows when it rains is a roofer; standing water that has soaked drywall and flooring brings in a restoration company, and your insurer, in that order. The one that is not a trade call at all: a sky-high bill with no visible water, which starts with your water utility.
Pick your exact situation:
- A Pipe Just Burst — Who Do I Call?
Call an emergency plumber to repair the pipe and a water damage restoration company to dry the structure — but…
- Huge Water Bill, No Visible Leak — Who Do I Call?
Call your water utility first, not a plumber. They will re-read the meter, tell you whether the loss sits befo…
- I Found Black Mold — Who Do I Call?
Call a mold remediation company for anything larger than about 10 square feet, or inside walls, HVAC, or after…
- My Basement Is Flooding — Who Do I Call First?
Do not walk into standing water until power to the basement is off — that is the actual danger. Then: clean wa…
- No Hot Water — Who Do I Call?
Call a plumber — water heaters are plumbing work in most areas, not electrician work — but check the obvious f…
- No Water At All In The House — Who Do I Call?
On city water, call your utility first — it's free, and a main break may already be logged. On a private well,…
- One Drain Is Backing Up, Not the Whole House — Who Do I Call?
One slow or backing-up fixture with every other drain in the house running fine is a branch-line clog — a plun…
- Pipes Are Frozen — Who Do I Call?
Call a plumber if you can't find or reach the frozen pipe, or if no flow returns — and an HVAC tech first if t…
- Sewage Smell in the House — Who Do I Call, and Is It Dangerous?
Usually nobody — start with the free fix: pour a quart of water into every drain you rarely use, like floor dr…
- Sudden vs. Gradual: Why Water Damage Claims Get Denied
Water claims die by the calendar. Policies exclude leakage occurring 'over a period of weeks, months or years,…
- Water Damage: Plumber, Mitigation, Restoration, or Insurance — Who Does What?
Four players, strict order: a plumber fixes the source of the water; a mitigation crew extracts water and drie…
- Water Damage: Should You Call Your Insurance at All?
Only for big losses. One water damage claim raises your premium about 25% for years and sits in the CLUE datab…
- Water Leaking From the Ceiling — Who Do I Call?
Who to call depends on timing: appears or worsens when it rains → a roofer; appears when the AC runs, or only …
- Water Leaking From the Upstairs Neighbor's Unit — Who Do I Call?
Call the HOA or property manager's emergency line first — they can enter the unit above and you can't. Then yo…
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