Water damage questions from Hammond homeowners and landlords
Most questions fall into four groups: what to do in the first minutes, why water behaves the way it does in this city, how drying is set and how long it takes, and what the paperwork and the insurer will ask for. The answers below are the short versions.
- Basement water
- River and storm flooding
- Frozen and burst lines
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (833) 490-5225. Or send this and we call you back.
The first few minutes
Where is the main water shut-off in an older Hammond house?
Usually in the basement, at the point where the service pipe comes through the foundation wall, often near the water meter. In a house with a crawl space it may be in the crawl space instead.
Should I turn off the power to the basement?
Turn off the circuits you can reach safely, but only if the panel is dry. If the panel or an outlet is in the water, leave the power alone and say so on the call.
Can I pump the basement out myself?
For a small amount of clean water from a known source, with the power to the wet area off, it can be reasonable. For river water, sewage or water of unknown depth, it is better left to people who can handle it.
What should I photograph first?
The water line on the wall and the room from the doorway. Then the damaged items, the floor and, if the water came from outside, the outside of the house.
Rivers, storms and drains
Did the 2008 flood reach Hammond?
Yes. The Little Calumet overflowed after a levee failed, hotels near the river were evacuated and basements across Lake and Porter counties flooded.
Why does my basement fill when the pump stops?
A sump pump that stops in a storm lets the pit fill, and the water finds its way through the slab and the wall joints. The pump, its float and its discharge line are checked first.
Why does sewage come up through the floor drain?
A storm can overload the drain system, and the lowest drain in a house takes the water first. Sewage is handled as contaminated, which means porous material is removed.
Why is water coming through the foundation after heavy rain?
Saturated ground pushes on the wall, and water finds the nearest joint, crack or window well. The entry point is traced and dried.
Drying and the house
How long does drying take?
Until each material reaches its goal on the readings. Drywall can be quicker, while plaster, masonry and a closed cavity take longer, so there is no fixed number of days.
Why does the wall still feel damp after the equipment has run?
Plaster and masonry hold moisture longer than drywall. A wall can feel damp and still be within its goal, and the readings show which it is.
Can the mold be painted over?
No. Paint hides growth and does not stop the moisture that feeds it. The material is dried, cleaned or removed first.
Will the floor cup or warp?
Rapid drying can cause some boards to cup, which is why the air is controlled and the readings are watched. The record shows what the floor looked like at the start.
Permits, insurance and paperwork
Do I need a permit for repairs?
The city or town building department where the house sits answers that. Work that opens walls, changes lines or alters the structure is the work most often covered.
Is water damage covered by insurance?
The policy and the insurer decide. Sudden water is generally treated differently from gradual leakage, and flood and sewer backup are generally excluded unless an endorsement was added.
Is there a price on this site?
No. A figure given before the water has been seen would be a guess, so the price is explained and approved on site.
Can I see reviews first?
The reviews page is empty, because no reviews have been collected yet. None will be invented.
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.