Water Damage Restoration FAQ for Nashville Homes and Businesses

Mitigation is the emergency work that stops the damage from getting worse: extracting water, removing materials that cannot be saved and drying the structure. Restoration is the repair work afterward, such as replacing drywall, flooring and trim. Both are usually needed, and we handle both, including full reconstruction when the damage is extensive.

The IICRC sorts water by contamination. Category 1 is clean water from a supply line. Category 2 is gray water, such as dishwasher or washing machine discharge. Category 3 is black water, such as sewage or outside flood water. The category decides what can be dried in place and what has to be removed.

Classes describe how much water is in the structure and how hard it will be to dry, from Class 1 (a small area with little absorption) to Class 4 (materials such as hardwood, plaster or concrete that hold water deeply). The class helps decide how much drying equipment is needed and for how long.

Carpet wet with clean water can often be dried and cleaned if work starts quickly, although the pad underneath is often replaced. Carpet soaked by sewage or flood water is contaminated and is usually removed.

When water wicks up a wall, the bottom of the drywall and the insulation behind it stay wet. Removing a strip at the bottom, often called a flood cut, lets air reach the wall cavity so it dries properly and prevents mold. With clean water caught early, we can sometimes dry walls without cutting.

We use moisture meters to measure wetness inside materials and thermal imaging cameras to spot cooler, wet areas behind surfaces. That lets us map exactly how far the water traveled before we open anything up.

Please leave them running. Drying works best when the equipment runs around the clock, and switching it off lets humidity climb back up, which slows drying and raises the risk of mold.

Common signs are a musty smell, black, green or white spots on drywall, baseboards or wood, and staining or bubbling paint near where the water was. Mold can also grow inside walls where you cannot see it, which is why we check hidden areas with moisture meters.

Not on porous materials. Bleach can lighten mold on hard surfaces, but it does not reach mold growing inside drywall, wood or carpet. Proper remediation means containing the area, removing mold-damaged porous materials, cleaning what remains and fixing the moisture source.

Not always. When mold is visible and the moisture source is known, remediation can usually begin without testing. Testing by an independent assessor can be useful when mold is suspected but hidden, or when there are health concerns.

Mold needs moisture to grow. If the leak or humidity problem that caused it is fixed and the area is dried properly, mold is unlikely to return in the same place.

Only go back in after the fire department says it is safe. Even then, soot and smoke residue can irritate the eyes and lungs, and fire can weaken floors and ceilings. Wear a mask if you must go in, avoid touching soot-covered surfaces, and have a restoration professional inspect the home before cleanup begins.

In most cases, yes. Odor removal means cleaning soot from every surface, including inside cabinets, ducts and wall cavities, and then treating the remaining odor at its source. Simply covering it with fragrance does not work.

Firefighters use large amounts of water, which soaks floors, walls and contents. That water needs to be extracted and dried quickly, along with the soot cleanup, to prevent mold. See fire and smoke damage restoration.

Stay out of rooms with sagging ceilings, move belongings away from leaks and take photos. Then call us to tarp the roof and remove the water before more rain gets in. See storm damage restoration.

Yes. Outside flood water can carry sewage, chemicals and debris, and it can hide electrical hazards. Avoid contact with it, keep children and pets away, and do not enter flooded rooms if outlets or appliances may be under water.

Usually not. Water from rising rivers, creeks or surface runoff normally needs a separate flood insurance policy. Check your policy, and see flood damage restoration for what the cleanup involves.

We do not recommend it. Sewage contains bacteria and viruses, and porous materials it touches usually need to be removed and the area disinfected. Trained technicians with protective equipment should handle it.

Common causes include tree roots in sewer lines, grease and wipes clogging pipes, collapsed or aging lines and heavy rain that overwhelms the city system. A plumber should clear and inspect the line, and we clean up the damage. See sewage cleanup.

Do both, as soon as you can. Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to stop further damage, so starting water removal quickly protects your home and your claim. Report the loss to your insurer and keep records of everything.

Photos and video of the source and the damage, the failed part if there is one, receipts for emergency costs and professional documentation. We provide photos, daily moisture readings and a written scope of work, and we work with all insurance companies.

Yes, somewhat. Air movers and dehumidifiers use electricity while they run. The equipment is removed as soon as moisture readings show the structure is dry.

We move furniture off wet floors or set it on blocks so it does not soak up moisture, and we move belongings away from the work area. Items that were damaged are photographed and listed for your insurance claim.

We check the job regularly, usually every day, to take moisture readings and adjust the equipment until the structure is dry.

Yes. After the damaged area is dried and repaired, some homeowners use the chance to update a kitchen, bathroom or basement. We offer renovation and remodeling as a separate project with its own written estimate.

Replace rubber washing machine hoses with braided steel, check under sinks and around the water heater regularly, keep gutters clean, know where your main shutoff is, and consider leak sensors or an automatic shutoff valve.

We serve Middle Tennessee, including Brentwood, Franklin, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Mount Juliet, Smyrna, La Vergne, Murfreesboro, Lebanon, Spring Hill, Columbia, Clarksville, Dickson and more. See all service areas.