Frequently Asked Questions

Look for IICRC certification, proof of licensing and insurance, and a clear willingness to document damage for your insurance claim. A company that gives you a vague answer about credentials or pushes you to sign before explaining the process is a red flag.

Your insurance policy information, a rough timeline of when the water damage started, and photos of the damage if you have already taken any. It also helps to know where your main water shutoff valve is located.

A very small, contained spill caught immediately with clean water can sometimes be handled with towels and a household fan. Anything covering more than a small area, contaminated water, or water that has been sitting for hours needs professional extraction and drying to avoid mold and structural issues.

A network pro documents the cause and extent of damage with photos and moisture readings, then submits that documentation to your insurance carrier and bills them directly for the covered work. You are typically responsible for your deductible, though coverage specifics depend on your individual policy.

Not necessarily. Many homeowners are present for the initial assessment and any time equipment needs adjusting, but continuous presence is not usually required once drying equipment is running, as long as someone can be reached if needed.

Mitigation is the emergency response, extraction, drying, and removal of materials too damaged to save, that stops the damage from getting worse. Reconstruction is the rebuild afterward, installing new drywall, flooring, and finishes to bring the space back to its original condition. This network connects you with pros for the mitigation phase; reconstruction is a separate scope handled by a general contractor, which network pros can refer you to if you need one.

No. Network pros handle extraction, drying, and removal of materials that cannot be saved, mitigation only. Rebuilding drywall, flooring, or finishes is reconstruction work, a separate scope. If you need a contractor for that phase, network pros can point you in the right direction, but it is not part of this service.

If drying equipment makes parts of your home unusable, some homeowners policies include loss-of-use coverage for temporary lodging. This depends entirely on your specific policy, so it is worth asking your insurance carrier directly.

Ask for the moisture readings and documentation behind any recommended repair, not just a verbal assessment. A legitimate recommendation should be backed by measurable data you can see and, if needed, get a second opinion on.