Contact Albany Water Restoration

What should you do first when water gets into your house in Albany?

Start with safety and the water supply, and call us while you work down this list.

• Keep everyone out of water that has reached baseboard outlets or a power strip until the power to that area is off.
• If a pipe or supply line is leaking, close the main water valve. In homes with basements it's usually on the wall where the water line comes in from the street.
• Storm water usually gets in through window wells or the joint where the floor meets the wall. Move what you can to a dry room.
• Check the sump pump's breaker if the pit is overflowing, and if you have a battery backup, make sure it kicked on.
• A pipe that burst in the cold can keep leaking as it thaws. Close the main valve first, then open a faucet to drain the line.
• Lift furniture onto blocks or move it to a dry room if you can do it safely, and leave heavy pieces for the crew.
• According to the EPA's guide to mold and moisture, drying water damaged materials within 24 to 48 hours helps prevent mold, which is why the call shouldn't wait until morning.
• Check your own policy before you decide whether to file. The Indiana Department of Insurance claim tips explain what to do before an adjuster visits.

What does the person who answers need to know?

A few details on the first call help the crew plan the visit before they leave.

• Whether the leak has stopped or water is still coming in.
• If any of it came up through a toilet or floor drain, since that changes how the crew handles it.
• Whether the water is only in the basement or has come up to the main floor.
• Whether this happened overnight or in the last hour.
• If the furnace or water heater got wet.
• Whether someone will be home to let the crew in.
• If you plan to file a claim, which company your policy is with.

Answer what you can, and the crew will fill in the rest during the first visit.

What does the first visit look like?

First they confirm the water is off and the area is safe to work in. If the source is still a mystery, finding it comes before anything else.

Water usually reaches farther than the wet spot you can see. The crew traces it with meters and takes the damage photos that go into your photo report.

Our water restoration manager is IICRC certified. The IICRC is the standards body behind S500, its standard for professional water damage restoration, now in its Fifth Edition from 2021.

Once the damage is documented, someone walks you through it in plain terms, and the decision about insurance stays with you. Check your own policy for what it covers.

If you go ahead, the crew removes standing water, sets up drying equipment and checks the readings on return visits until the wet materials are dry.

What's worth knowing about water damage in Albany homes?

The mix in Albany includes two story homes. Most homes here have basements, which is where water usually collects first, whether it's from a pipe or from the ground. If you live close to the Mississinewa River, high water can find its way in through foundation walls or window wells. Older homes in the area can still have galvanized supply lines, which corrode and narrow over time. Share what you know about the house on the call, even if it's a rough guess.

Is your neighborhood in the Albany service area?

This number covers Albany and its neighborhoods, including these:

• Riverside · most with basements
• Mississinewa Acres · basements are common
• Mississinewa Heights · built mostly in the 1940s to 1960s, many over crawl spaces
• On The Fairways · built mostly in the 1980s, many with finished basements
• Murphys Addition · most with basements
• Manors 4th Addition · built mostly in the 1960s to 1970s, basements are common

If you're just outside Albany, in Eaton, Selma and Gaston, this is still the number to call. If you're not sure your street is in range, call and ask, and the person who answers will tell you whether a crew can get to you. You can read more about water damage restoration in Albany and basement flooding.

What should you know before you call?