Water damage questions from Jacksonville homeowners and landlords
Most questions fall into four groups: what to do in the first minutes, why water behaves differently in this city, how drying works in humid air, and what happens with licenses, claims and complaints. Calls are answered 24/7, and a crew is sent as soon as one is free.
- Phones answered 24/7
- St. Johns River and storm water
- Scope explained before work starts
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Fastest: call (833) 490-5225. Or send this and we call you back.
The first few minutes
Where is the water shut-off in an older house?
Often under a kitchen or bathroom sink, at the water heater or at the main near the meter. In some houses there is a separate valve for each unit. Find yours while the floor is still dry.
Should I turn the power off at the panel?
Only if you can reach the switch from a dry spot. If the panel or outlets are in water, leave it alone and tell the crew, which will work around a dead circuit rather than a live one.
Can I start cleaning before the crew arrives?
Move what is easy to lift and photograph everything first. Do not use a household vacuum on standing water, and do not scrub silt into the floor, since that spreads it.
What if the water is coming through the ceiling?
Keep people out from under it, switch off that room's light at the panel if you can reach it safely, and call. Do not push on the ceiling, since a wet ceiling can give way without warning.
Why water gets in here
Why does water come up through the floor near the river?
Saturated ground can feed moisture into a crawl space or a slab edge for days after the surface drains. The crew measures the ground at the foundation as well as the rooms.
Is storm surge a real risk in Jacksonville?
The city's storm updates forecast surge up the Intracoastal and the northern St. Johns in the 2016 storm, and standing water was expected to last days in some places. Low rooms and garages are the first to take it.
Why do garages flood from the street?
Garages sit at street grade, and runoff that cannot leave by the storm drain finds the lowest door. The slab edge and the wall behind the garage are then measured for moisture.
Why does a roof leak show on the ceiling only after a storm?
Water can soak the attic insulation and travel along the framing before it drips. The stain often shows well away from the leak point, so the attic is checked too.
Drying, plaster and mold
How long does drying take in humid air?
It runs until the readings reach the goal for each material, and this site gives no number of days. Humid outdoor air slows the drying, so the equipment is set to the air as well as the materials.
Can old plaster be dried or does it have to come out?
Often it can be dried in place if it is still bonded to its lath. Plaster that has lost its keys or is crumbling may need to come out, and that is decided at the wall after readings.
Why not open the windows?
On a humid day, outdoor air can carry more moisture than the house. The crew measures the air first and advises whether to open or close the house during the work.
How do I know there is mold?
A musty smell or a stain that keeps coming back is a reason to check. The crew can measure moisture. A full mold assessment is done by a licensed mold assessor, and the crew will refer you if that is needed.
Price, licenses and claims
Why is there no price on the site?
A figure given before the water and the building have been seen would be a guess. The scope and price are explained on site and approved by you before work begins.
Who holds the license for mold work in Florida?
Mold assessment and remediation are licensed by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation under Chapter 468, Part XVI of the Florida Statutes and Rule 61-31. A water-damage company may not hold that license, so ask for the number and check it.
Who handles a complaint about an insurance claim?
The Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Consumer Services, takes consumer complaints about claims. This site does not say what a policy covers, so read the policy and ask the insurer what it needs.
Who repairs the pipe or the roof?
A licensed plumber or roofer, chosen by you. The crew stops the water and dries the building, and it tells you which trade is needed for each part of the repair.
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.