Water damage questions from Colorado Springs homeowners and landlords
Most questions fall into four groups: what to do in the first minutes, why water shows up where it does, what the work involves and what the insurer will ask for. The questions below are grouped that way, and each answer says where the policy or the building decides the matter rather than this site.
- Hail and roof leaks
- Burst pipes and freezes
- Burn-scar runoff
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (833) 490-5225. Or send this and we call you back.
The first few minutes
Where is the main water shut-off in a Colorado Springs house?
Often in the basement or the utility area, at the point where the service pipe enters the house, and sometimes near the meter. Find it on a dry day and label it, so you know where it is in the dark.
Should I turn off the power?
Turn off the circuit to the wet area at the panel if the panel is dry and you can reach it safely. Do not touch the panel if it is wet or standing in water.
Can I mop up the water and wait?
You can remove a small amount of clean water, but the water in the carpet pad, the wall and the subfloor will keep moving. Call the line as well, so the drying can start.
Why water shows up where it does
Why does a hail leak show up in a room far from the roof?
Because water runs along the rafters and the top of the wall before it drops, so the stain can be some distance from the opening.
Why do pipes split after a cold snap?
Water inside a frozen pipe expands, and the split often opens when the ice melts and the water moves again. The damage is usually found on the thaw.
Why does the burn scar matter for my house?
The 2013 burn-scar runoff overflowed Fountain Creek and ran through Manitou Springs, so heavy rain on the scar can still produce runoff that reaches low parts of a lot.
What the work involves
How do you decide what can be dried and what must be removed?
By the readings. Each material has a dry standard, and material that cannot be brought to it is removed and listed.
How long does drying take?
It depends on the materials and the water. The equipment stays until the readings meet the standard, and the homeowner is shown the numbers at each visit.
Will you move my furniture?
Items in the path of the work are moved to a dry area, and each is photographed before it is moved. Ask the crew to show you what is being moved.
Insurance and the record
Will my policy pay?
The policy and the insurer decide. A sudden discharge is generally treated differently from flood and gradual leakage, and the Colorado Division of Insurance takes complaints about how claims are handled.
What should I keep for the claim?
The photographs taken before cleanup, the readings, the list of removed items, the invoices and every letter from the insurer.
Do I need to keep the damaged material?
Keep it until the insurer has inspected it or has said in writing that it may be discarded.
Question not answered here?
Call and ask. A technician will give you a straight answer, even if the answer is that you do not need us.