The referral line
About calling
Who answers when I call?
An independent restoration contractor that takes jobs in Minneapolis and nearby suburbs, or a call center working for one. This site only routes the call; it does not send anyone itself.
Does calling commit me to anything?
No. You can ask questions, have the damage looked at and then decide. The contractor gives you its own price before work starts.
What should I have ready?
Where the water came from, which rooms and floors are wet, roughly when it started, and whether you have already stopped it.
Do you handle fire and mold too?
Yes, the same number reaches contractors for smoke and fire cleanup and for mold removal.
How is the price worked out?
By the contractor, based on how much is wet, what kind of water it is, how many days of drying it takes and how much has to be removed and rebuilt. This site does not set or see prices.
Will insurance pay?
That depends on your policy and on how the water got in. Read the Minnesota insurance basics and ask your insurer or agent.
Water Damage Restoration
Water Damage Restoration
How long does drying usually take?
Several days of equipment for an ordinary room soaked by clean water. Basements, hardwood and plaster often need longer. The meter readings decide when it is finished, not the calendar.
Do I have to move out?
Usually not for a single room. Sewage, heavy smoke, or losing the only bathroom or the heat can change that. Ask the contractor once they have looked.
Will the walls be opened?
Often the bottom of the drywall is cut away so the cavity behind can dry and be checked. Plaster walls are sometimes drilled instead. Ask what will be removed and why before it happens.
Water Extraction & Drying
Water Extraction & Drying
Can I leave the equipment off at night?
It is meant to run continuously. Switching it off lets moisture creep back into the materials. If the noise or the power draw is a problem, tell the contractor; they can sometimes change the setup.
Does the heat need to be on?
Usually yes. A warm, closed house helps the dehumidifiers. The contractor may ask you to keep a steady temperature and the windows shut in cold weather.
Can carpet be saved?
Sometimes, when the water was clean and it is caught early. The pad underneath is usually replaced. Carpet soaked by sewage is thrown out.
Frozen & Burst Pipes
Frozen & Burst Pipes
Is a burst pipe covered by insurance?
The Minnesota Department of Commerce says a standard homeowners policy typically covers burst-pipe damage, but may not if the house was left unoccupied without heat, or if the damage came from a slow leak over a long period. Your own policy decides. See the insurance guide.
No water at all in the morning: is it frozen?
Often it is the service line or a pipe near where it enters the house. Check that the main valve is open, then call the city's water emergency line or a plumber who thaws lines. Restoration only comes into it if something has split.
Should I use a torch to thaw a pipe?
No. Open flame near framing starts fires. Use gentle heat such as a hair dryer or a space heater kept at a safe distance, or leave it to a plumber.
Flooded Basement Cleanup
Flooded Basement Cleanup
Is it groundwater or sewage?
Clear water seeping at the wall joint or coming from a window well is usually groundwater or rain. Gray or brown water with an odor coming up the floor drain is treated as sewage. When in doubt, the contractor treats it as contaminated.
Do I need a waterproofing company too?
Possibly, if water keeps coming in through the walls or floor. Cleanup and drying deal with this event; drain tile, grading and wall sealing deal with the next one.
How soon should drying start?
Within a day or two. The Minnesota Department of Health notes that materials dried within 24 to 48 hours often do not grow mold.
Sewage Backup Cleanup
Sewage Backup Cleanup
Does homeowners insurance cover a sewer backup?
Often not without an endorsement. The Minnesota Department of Commerce says neither flood insurance nor a typical homeowners policy covers sewer backups, and that a separate endorsement is needed. Check your policy for one. More in the insurance guide.
Can I clean it up myself?
Small, shallow backups on a bare concrete floor sometimes can be, with gloves, boots and disinfectant. Anything that soaked into carpet, drywall or furniture is better handled by people with the gear and a way to dispose of it.
Will a backwater valve stop it happening again?
It can help in some houses. The city offers advice on whether you need one: call 612-673-2406 and describe your situation.
Ice Dam, Storm & Roof Leaks
Ice Dam, Storm & Roof Leaks
Is the stain dry once it stops dripping?
Not necessarily. Insulation above the ceiling and the framing around it can stay wet for days. A moisture meter or a look into the attic answers it.
Do I need a new roof?
That is a question for a roofer. Ice dams are usually an attic air-leak and insulation problem, according to the Commerce guide, rather than a sign of a bad roof.
Is storm damage covered by insurance?
It depends on the policy and on how the water got in. The Minnesota Department of Commerce has consumer guides on homeowners insurance at mn.gov/commerce.
Water Heater & Appliance Leaks
Water Heater & Appliance Leaks
The leak was small. Do I need anyone?
If the water stayed on a hard floor and you dried it within a day, maybe not. If it ran under flooring, into a cabinet base or through to a ceiling, a moisture check is worth it.
Who replaces the appliance?
A plumber or appliance installer. A restoration contractor handles the water damage around it.
Can the flooring be saved?
Tile and sheet vinyl often can. Laminate and some engineered floors swell and usually need replacing. Hardwood sometimes flattens with careful drying.
Fire & Smoke Damage
Fire & Smoke Damage
Can smoke smell be removed?
Usually, once the soot itself is cleaned off. Contractors use cleaning, sealing and odor treatment. Soft items like clothes and curtains may need specialist laundering.
What about the water from the hoses?
Treat it like any other water loss. Carpet, drywall and insulation below the fire may need drying or removal.
Do I need to board up?
If windows, doors or the roof were opened by the fire or the firefighters, yes. Many restoration contractors can secure the house.
Mold Remediation
Mold Remediation
Do I need a mold test?
Usually not. MDH says testing is rarely needed and that visible growth should simply be cleaned up and the moisture fixed.
Can I clean small spots myself?
MDH gives steps for cleaning mold, including protective equipment and never mixing bleach with other chemicals. It suggests hiring a professional if you cannot use a respirator or are sensitive to mold.
Will the mold come back?
It can if the moisture returns. Ask the contractor what caused it and what would stop it, such as a fixed leak, a dehumidifier or better drainage outside.
Basement, ceiling, smoke or mold
Talk it through with a local restoration contractor
A single call reaches an independent contractor who handles water, fire and mold jobs around Minneapolis. They will ask questions, may come out to look, and give you their own price. Hiring them is your choice.
Water where it shouldn't be?
The call goes to an independent restoration contractor that takes jobs in Minneapolis and the nearby suburbs. Have the source, the wet rooms and the start time in mind.
Call (612) 471-0822Calls may be recorded. How the line is paid: referral disclosure. How call data is handled: privacy.