Burst Pipe and Appliance Leak Water Damage

A burst supply line or a failed appliance can release a large amount of water in a short time. Because supply water is under pressure, it often travels under baseboards, into carpet pad, beneath cabinets and into the bottom of walls before the leak is noticed. Stopping the water, removing it and drying the affected materials promptly can help limit additional damage.

We answer water-damage calls 24/7. For emergency water damage, we typically arrive within 60–90 minutes in our primary service area of Hernando and Pasco counties around Spring Hill, with arrival times varying based on location, traffic, time of day and crew availability. Outside Hernando and Pasco counties, we give you an estimated arrival time when you call.

Leaks we dry out after

• Supply lines and burst pipes: a split line under a sink, a failed fitting or a pipe inside a wall.
• Water heaters: a leaking tank or failed relief line, often in a garage, closet or utility room.
• Washing machines: burst fill hoses, drain hoses and overflows.
• Dishwashers: failed supply connections and drain leaks under the cabinet.
• Refrigerator ice makers: small supply lines that can leak slowly behind the refrigerator for a long time.
• AC condensate drain lines: clogged lines and overflowing drain pans, a common source of water damage in Florida homes.

Toilet overflows and drain backups need different procedures; see sewage backup and toilet overflow cleanup.

Who does what

The source of the leak is repaired by the right trade: a licensed plumber for pipes, fittings and water heaters, and a licensed AC contractor for the air conditioning system and its drain line. Plumbing and AC work is outside our scope: we remove the water, dry the affected materials, document the work, and coordinate timing with whoever repairs the leak so drying can start as soon as the water is stopped.

What to do right away

1. Shut off the water. Use the shutoff valve on the appliance supply line, or the main valve for the house if you cannot find it or it does not stop the leak.
2. Turn off power to wet areas if you can do it safely. Never walk through standing water near outlets, cords or appliances that are plugged in.
3. Take photos and video of the water and the source before anything is moved.
4. Move rugs, furniture and valuables out of the wet area, and put foil or wood blocks under furniture legs that cannot be moved.

Not all leak water is the same

The IICRC classifies water by its source and condition, and the category determines how the job is handled:

• Clean-source water (Category 1): a broken supply line, a water heater or an appliance supply-line failure usually starts as clean water. When it is addressed promptly, many materials, sometimes including carpet and pad, can be dried in place.
• Appliance discharge (Category 2): water from a washing machine or dishwasher drain or overflow contains significant contamination. Carpet pad and other materials that cannot be adequately cleaned, such as insulation, particleboard and many laminate, vinyl and engineered-wood floors with water underneath, are generally removed rather than dried, and the area is cleaned before drying.
• Water that has been sitting: clean water can become more contaminated over time, depending on how long materials stay wet and the temperature, or when it flows through contaminated areas. A musty or sour odor can be a sign. This is one more reason a slow leak deserves prompt attention.

We decide the category on site, based on the source and the conditions we find.

How we handle it

1. Assessment. We identify where the water came from, how long it may have been leaking and which materials it reached, and determine the category.
2. Extraction. Emergency water extraction removes standing water from floors, carpet and pad with truck-mounted or portable extractors and weighted extraction tools.
3. Finding hidden moisture. Pin and pinless moisture meters confirm which materials are wet. Thermal imaging can help show where to check more closely, such as behind a cabinet or along the bottom of a wall.
4. Removing what cannot be dried or cleaned. Materials that cannot be dried effectively in place, or that the water category means should not be kept, are removed.
5. Drying. Structural drying uses commercial dehumidifiers and air movers, placed and adjusted based on moisture readings.
6. Documentation. Photos, moisture readings and drying records for you and your insurance company.

Asbestos and lead in building materials

Before drywall, ceilings, flooring or other building materials are removed, we review them for materials that could contain asbestos or lead-based paint. Asbestos can be present in homes of any age, and homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint. When a building was constructed in 1986 or earlier, or a material in a newer building looks suspect, we have it evaluated by an independent environmental professional before it is disturbed. If asbestos or lead-based paint is present, that work is handled by appropriately licensed or certified professionals. This can affect the schedule; until then, we focus on removing water and controlling humidity.

Slow leaks and slab leaks

Not every leak is sudden. An ice maker line, a dishwasher connection or a pipe in a concrete slab can leak slowly for weeks before you see warped flooring, a damp baseboard or a higher water bill. Concrete and the flooring over it can hold moisture for longer than drywall or carpet, so drying after a slab leak may take additional time.

A slab leak is located and repaired by a licensed plumber. Once the plumbing work is done, we extract any standing water, check the slab and the materials around it with moisture meters, and set up drying based on the readings.

How long drying takes

Most water-damage drying projects take approximately 3–5 days, but drying time varies based on the materials affected, the extent of the loss, moisture levels and site conditions. Hardwood floors, concrete, cabinetry and other difficult-to-dry assemblies may need additional time. Actual moisture readings, not an arbitrary number of days, determine when drying is complete.

Materials that stay wet are where mold can start. See preventing mold after water damage.

Insurance

Insurance coverage for water damage depends on the cause of the loss and the terms of your policy. We document the restoration work with photos, moisture readings and job records, and we can communicate with your insurance adjuster about the work we perform. Coverage and claim decisions remain with your insurance company.

How we work with insurance

Service area