How Much Does Water Damage Restoration Cost?

Water damage is a constant reality in Flagstaff and Northern Arizona. Whether it occurs because of natural causes, such as flooding caused by monsoon season or snowmelt, or because of a burst pipe or broken toilet, nobody wants to deal with water damage and the corresponding clean up. Our team at Mammoth Restoration is here to remove, remediate, and restore your home and/or business from any type of water damage.

You’re probably wondering, will water damage repair cost me an arm and a leg? Is it worth hiring a water damage company or should I just do it myself? What does a water damage restoration contractor even do? Those are all very valid questions that we are going to address in this blog.

The Overall Cost Of Water Damage Restoration

It’s not easy to put a simple price tag on water mitigation. As you can imagine, there are many factors that play into the cost of water damage restoration. In general, how large is the area and the amount of sitting water? How long has the water been sitting there (remember: the longer the water sits, the bigger the damage)? What type of water are we dealing with: clear, grey and possibly contaminated or black? How big is the source of the water damage (is it as small as a pipe leak or is the problem as big as a water heater)? Do the affected areas require mold removal? And, lastly, how much reconstruction is needed?

Licensed water restoration contractors can easily classify the cause and extent of the destruction. Since you’ve probably come here to figure out a ballpark of costs, the national average of water damage restoration is $2,703, but the price you’ll pay for water restoration really depends on your specific situation and the costs vary on a case by case basis. Nevertheless, based on the factors mentioned above, the average homeowner spends between $1,145 and $4,425 to restore or repair water damage. HomeAdvisor created a great cost breakdown with estimated pricing for specific areas of a home. According to them, water damage restoration can run you as low as $450 and up to $9,600 depending on the circumstances.

However, like in many other aspects of life, chances are that companies and individuals who don’t have a proper license can afford to charge less. Please be aware that trying to save some money here may lead to a poorly executed job and a tail of headaches afterward. You’ll want to be in the know, so always ask for a detailed written estimate of the work to be performed. That way you’ll be aware of what will be done as well as plan ahead if you require further water damage restoration.

When To Hire A Water Damage Restoration Contractor

After reading the previous section, you probably think ‘…it’ll be fine, I’ll fix it…’ Let us advise you against that! Signs for water damage are serious and not to be ignored as mold-infested walls, ceilings, or floors are a health hazard! Attempting to fix water damage yourself can be a very time-consuming, expensive, and frustrating task. But, because mold can start growing as early as 48 hours, you’ll want to act fast. While it’s understandable that some homeowners want to pinch pennies and resolve the problem themselves, they can potentially underestimate and worsen the damage.

Because water damage can range from minimal to possibly disastrous, it’s always a good idea to call a licensed water damage contractor to assess the situation. There are several benefits that come with hiring a water damage company. Firstly, the source of the water damage, such as a crack in the foundation or a leaking pipe in the wall, may not be apparent to the average homeowner. Professionals from water damage restoration companies have a trained eye for identifying the problem. To solve the problem, they come in with specialized heavy-duty equipment, such as dehumidifiers, air movers, and vacuums. The equipment helps to restore water-damaged materials and remove bodies of standing water with proper and protective equipment.

Not only is the advanced equipment a major plus, but the danger of electrocution is also another big reason why you should let the professionals handle the water damage. They know what needs to be done when wires get submerged. Don’t put your life on the line!

The goal for water damage restoration companies is to reduce your loss as much as possible as fast as possible. Besides the support of water cleanup, remediation, and damage repair, restoration companies also assist with insurance claim estimations. Who doesn’t want to speed up the process and save some time and money?

What To Expect From A Water Damage Restoration Contractor

First and foremost, restoration contractors will conduct a full inspection of the water damage and what caused it. Throughout this process, moisture sensors may be used to figure out whether water is in the walls. During the inspection period, the contractor identifies what needs to be done to remove all the excess water, determines the extent of required repairs (including damaged household items) and the necessary removal of carpeting, furniture, electronics, and other appliances.

We specialize in water cleanup, extraction, dehumidification, air movement, demolition and disassembly of any water-damaged materials. After the assessment of your situation is complete, a water removal and cleanup team will move out any of your belongings to start removing the water by means of professional pumps and vacuums. Even though the heavy-duty equipment is very efficient, multiple water removal sessions may be required to make sure all of it is removed. Through enhanced air circulation, big high-powered fans are an effective drying method to reduce the moisture of the affected area and dehumidify it completely so there is no potential breeding ground for mold.

Once the area is cleaned, you can expect the repairs and restoration phase to begin, which is the last step. The whole area will be cleaned and sanitized, especially if the water was not clear. Then, whatever needs to be repaired, whether it’s your carpet that needs to be replaced or your baseboards needing repairs, you can expect the water damage company to take care of it. Just be sure that you have it in writing when they assess the scope of the work.

In case you’re looking for further information to better understand the restoration process we outlined our step-by-step process in our Water Damage: Understanding our Restoration Process blog.

Quick Tips To Prevent Water Damage In Your Home

Since nobody wants to deal with the aftermath of water damage, here are a few tips on how to prevent water damage in your home:

1.     Make sure your water drains away from your house – if there is a big storm and the water runs down the outside of foundation, it may seep into any cracks.
2.     Disconnect hoses – that will help prevent your pipes from freezing, which will, in turn, save your pipes from potentially busting and creating damage to walls, floors and foundation.
3.     Clean gutters and downspouts – again, you want to avoid blockage as the standing water can damage the roof and gutters. Also, overflowing water can damage the foundation. So, make sure that your downspouts are free and give the water an opportunity to flow away from the home.
4.     Check sprinklers and irrigation systems – make sure they’re installed in a way where they don’t damage the walls and foundation of your house.
5.     Know your water main – the quicker you can access your main water valve to shut off the water in case of a burst pipe, the more time, stress and money you save. Also, remember to shut off the water while you’re away for a longer period of time.
6.     Investigate leaks right away and fix promptly – you don’t want the mold, trust us!
7.     Check washing machine hoses and upgrade if necessary – this is easily overlooked. A brittle and old hose is one of the most common reasons for water damage.
8.     Check your water pressure – typically the water pressure for residential water systems is between 40-70 psi. If the water pressure is too high, your pips may not be able to withstand the pressure. Install a pressure regulator if it exceeds 100psi.
9.     Monitor your water bill – as mentioned earlier in the blog, sometimes water damage is not easily detectable for the average homeowner. Thus, keeping an eye on the water bill will help you determine whether there is a hidden leak somewhere.
10. Install water detection devices – alternatively to monitoring your water bill, you can also install water detection devices that will start beeping when even the slightest bit of moisture is detected. Ideally, you want to install those close the water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers, and toilets.

Conclusion

We can’t stress enough how critical it is to act immediately when detecting any signs of water damage. If you’re looking to limit the cost of water remediation, time is of the essence. The faster you act, the less damage occurs, and the happier your wallet will be! While you may be able to fix small leaks yourself, we recommend getting a specialist to assess the damage and ensure preventive measures are in place to avoid moldy aftermath. A water damage restoration contractor not only alleviates the stress of cleaning up the mess and repairing what is broken, but they also assist with insurance claims to get your daily life back to normal as soon as possible.