Frequently asked questions

An independent restoration contractor that serves your area, or a call service that connects you with one. We don't do the work ourselves; see how it works.

No. You pay nothing to this site. The contractor quotes its own price.

Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Eagle, Kuna and Garden City. Say your ZIP code when you call.

Under Boise City Code 10-2-5-2 the property owner is responsible for the private service line: cleaning, unstopping, maintaining and repairing it (city code).

Standard homeowners policies don't cover flood, according to the Idaho Department of Insurance; flood policies typically have a 30-day wait (DOI). Ask your insurer about other water damage.

In Boise, replacing wall coverings is exempt, but opening walls to the framing needs a permit, and so does replacing a water heater (PDS homeowner guide).

Often three to five days of equipment for a typical room with clean water; longer for hardwood, a lot of water or water that sat. The readings decide, not the calendar.

Boise exempts replacing wall coverings, painting and floor coverings, but a permit is required if the project removes wall coverings to expose the framing (PDS homeowner guide). Ask your contractor which applies; the Building division is (208) 608-7070.

Ask first. Drying relies on the equipment running continuously; switching it off slows things down.

Look through the access hatch with a flashlight: standing water, wet or fallen insulation, condensation on the joists or a strong musty smell are all signs. Don't go in if water is near wiring.

Yes, on joists, subfloor and insulation. See mold removal.

A plumber for leaks under the floor; an irrigation or landscaping contractor for sprinklers and grading; a drainage contractor for groundwater. The restoration contractor dries what got wet.

Often where the water line enters the house: in the garage, a utility closet, near the water heater or in the crawl space. Find it before a cold night.

Ice splits the pipe while it's frozen; the leak only starts when it thaws. That's why breaks often show up the next afternoon.

Yes, if it's exposed to cold air through vents or gaps. Ask the plumber about insulation, heat tape or sealing the vents in winter.

The irrigation district or ditch company that runs it. The City of Boise lists the district numbers on its pressure irrigation page; if you're not sure which one serves you, start there. The restoration contractor handles the water that got into the house.

The City of Boise treats 7,000 cubic feet per second as the lower flood stage and 16,600 cfs as a 100-year flood, and tries to keep spring flows below 6,500 cfs, a rate it says is exceeded about once every five years (flood control).

Standard homeowners policies don't cover flood, according to the Idaho Department of Insurance, and flood policies typically have a 30-day waiting period (DOI).

A slow drip isn't, but it needs attention soon. Water pouring from the tank or the connections is: shut off the supply and the power or gas straight away.

Many policies treat a sudden failure differently from a slow leak. Your insurer is the one to ask.

A licensed plumber. Idaho plumbing licensees don't need separate contractor registration for work within their license (DOPL).

The EPA recommends a professional experienced with contaminated water when water damage came from sewage (EPA).

Often only with added sewer or water backup coverage. Check your policy or ask your agent.

We didn't find one on Boise's sewer pages. Ask a plumber whether a backwater valve suits your house.

The EPA says homeowners can usually handle an area under about 10 square feet, if the moisture problem is fixed (EPA guide). Larger areas, mold in ductwork or mold after sewage are better left to a professional.

Not usually when mold is visible: removal and fixing the moisture come first. Testing helps find hidden mold or confirm the result.

Not on drywall or wood. Moldy porous materials are removed; hard surfaces are cleaned with detergent and water.

Usually, once the soot causing it is cleaned out, including ducts and contents. Lingering odor generally means soot remains somewhere.

Almost always. Firefighting water needs extracting and drying like any other water damage.

Many can be cleaned. Fire restoration companies often pack out contents to clean them and list what can't be saved.