Company to help assess whether we have water damage?
Any recommendations for a company that can assess whether or not our home has water damage? Due to a dumb mistake with our downspout runoff-tube, some water got into our house during the heavy rains a couple weeks ago — but all the areas we can SEE are totally dry. Is there such a thing as a company with machines that can detect the growth of mold or mildew, or experts who can help assess whether this was a one-time thing or a problem that now needs fixing? No new water came in during the most recent rains, but we want to nip any possible water-related issues in the bud.
Mar 31, 2023
Parent Replies
We had water leak into our wall through a window and Dio at Max Restoration ((650) 238-8637) was great. He gave us a free estimate/inspection and had a moisture meter that clearly showed where the water had reached and where was dry. Unfortunately we did have a lot of water in our wall and he took care of cutting out and drying the affected areas at 1/3 the price another company quoted us. We did need to hire someone else to replace the drywall, repaint, etc. though.
I think you can also buy a moisture meter online but the cheaper versions require you to make small holes in your wall. The kind he had was much more sensitive and could do a reading just from the surface.
The company I think who can help you is American Leak Detection. Their technician uses an inferred gadget to detected moistures that the eyes can see, such as a leak in the walls, or leaks in pipes embedded in concrete. They only offer detection, no remediation. I used them to find out how water was coming into my house after heavy rain storms a few years ago.
I would recommend Bordi Restoration for this. They've assessed and fixed water damage at our house twice now. They have the kind of machines you're looking for, and they're prompt and lovely to work with.
Yes! Bill Weber in Walnut Creek at IR Environmental Services can do the inspection as well as RestCon Environmental out of Sacramento. They both service the Bay Area. You can also contact Five Star Restoration. They are really great and we have used their services several times for water intrusion issues. They have amazing inspectors that work hand in hand with the Environmental testing companies (fivestarrestoration.com). Each time we have had an issue, they found the source, identified the problem as well as the solution. Honest and thorough. I could not recommend them more highly!
Your insurance may cover this service. We recently had 2 separate water issues with a rental we own. One was water mysteriously coming through the ceiling from heavy rains and the other was an overflowing dishwasher which totally soaked the hardwood. The insurance company sent out Servpro for free. From there you can decide to pay for remediation yourself or go through your insurance deductible.