Water damage restoration runs in six steps: stop the water, inspect and photograph the damage, extract standing water, remove materials that cannot be saved, dry the structure with dehumidifiers and air movers while tracking moisture readings, then repair and rebuild. Drying usually takes three to five days, longer for plaster and old wood floors. Need it started now? Call (413) 603-1274.
The six steps
- Stop the source. Shut the water off and repair the pipe so no more water comes in.
- Inspect and document. Photos, moisture readings and a map of what is wet, for you and your insurer. See documenting water damage for insurance.
- Extract. Pump and vacuum out standing water and pull water from carpet. See water extraction.
- Remove what will not dry. Soaked pad, wet insulation, sagging ceilings, swollen trim.
- Dry and monitor. Dehumidifiers and air movers, with readings each visit until every spot matches a dry reference. See structural drying.
- Repair. New drywall, plaster patches, flooring, trim and paint. See water damage repair.
Typical timeline
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| First hours | Water off, pipe fixed, extraction, equipment set |
| Days 1 to 3 | Drying, daily readings, equipment moved as areas dry |
| Days 3 to 5 | Most drywall and framing reach dry. Plaster and hardwood may take longer |
| After drying | Repairs, once your insurer approves the scope |
In older Chicopee homes
Plaster and lath walls, old-growth wood floors and fieldstone basements all hold water longer than newer materials. Homes built before 1978 may also have lead paint, so any wall that is opened should be handled with lead-safe work practices.
What you can do to help
- Keep the drying equipment running day and night, even if it is noisy
- Keep doors and windows to drying rooms closed unless we ask otherwise
- Move small items and valuables out of affected rooms
- Keep pets and children away from equipment and cords
- Do not move equipment yourself. It is placed based on readings
- Tell us if you notice a new stain, smell or swelling between visits
When repairs can start
Repairs start when the readings say dry and, if you have a claim, when the insurer approves the scope. Some homeowners use the gap to choose flooring or paint colors so repairs can move quickly once the go-ahead comes.
Who does what
In many restoration jobs, several trades are involved: a plumber for the pipe, a water mitigation crew for the drying, sometimes an electrician to check wet wiring, a heating technician for a flooded boiler, and a contractor for the rebuild. Water Damage Pro handles the plumbing repair and the drying as one job, and tells you plainly when another trade is needed. You get one point of contact for the water and the pipe, from the first call to the final readings.
Questions
Can I stay in the house during drying?
Usually yes. The equipment is noisy and warm, and some rooms may be closed off.
Why not just repair right away?
Closing up wet framing traps moisture and leads to mold and failed repairs.
How do I know it is really dry?
Ask for the final readings compared to a dry area of the same material.
Start the process now
Call (413) 603-1274 now. Pipe repair and drying in one call, locally owned in Chicopee.