Water damage questions from Cedar Rapids homeowners and landlords
Most questions fall into four groups: what to do in the first minutes, how the work is done, what it costs and how the record and claim fit in. The answers below use the same facts as the service pages and do not promise a time or a figure.
- Cedar River flooding
- Storm and hail damage
- Frozen and burst pipes
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 an older Cedar Rapids house?
Often in the cellar, where the service line enters the building. If you cannot find it, call the line and ask for help while you keep people out of standing water.
Should I turn off the power to the basement?
Only if you can reach the switch from a dry location. If the panel or outlets are in the water, leave them alone and tell the crew, which will check them safely.
Can I use a wet vacuum on the water?
Not on water that may be sewage, and not near an outlet that is under water. Household equipment is not built for either. Leave the removal to the crew.
What should I photograph before I move anything?
The water line on the walls, the damage in each room, the contents and any appliance or fixture in the water. Note the time you noticed the water.
Cellars and river water
What did the 2008 flood do to Cedar Rapids?
The City of Cedar Rapids records a Cedar River crest of 31.12 feet on June 13, 2008, the highest level in its recorded history, and says the flood water reached about 10 square miles, or 14 percent of the city.
Why does a cellar stay wet after the river has fallen?
Saturated soil holds water, and the walls and framing keep releasing it. Drying takes time, and the readings decide when the cellar is dry.
Is basement water after rain a different job from a river flood?
The steps are the same. A rain flood is often shallower and smaller, while a river flood reaches more of the building and brings silt, so the cleanup is larger.
Who handles the flood debris?
The crew sorts and removes the debris from your property and confirms the disposal route for each load. The city's 41,771-ton figure for 2008 is a city-wide total, not a figure for one house.
How the work is done
How long does drying take?
It runs until the readings show the structure is dry, which takes several visits. No fixed number of days is promised, and the readings are shown to you on each visit.
Will you open my walls?
Only where the readings show moisture has reached a cavity that cannot be dried from the surface. Each opening is explained before it is made and recorded afterward.
What happens to the carpet and the drywall?
Carpet pad and insulation that have soaked up water usually come out. Drywall is opened to a safe line where it holds water. Hard surfaces are cleaned and kept where they can be dried.
What if mold shows up during drying?
Stop disturbing the area and tell the crew. Growth is removed once the structure is dry and is not painted over. The mold page describes the next steps.
Cost, records and claims
Why won't you give me a price over the phone?
Because the price depends on what the water reached, which only the crew can see. The price is explained and approved on site before any work starts.
Will my insurer pay for this?
Only the insurer decides, under the terms of your policy. The crew keeps the photographs, readings and removal list the insurer will ask for, and it can send them when you ask.
Where do I take a complaint about a claim?
The Iowa Insurance Division takes complaints about how claims are handled. Put the complaint in writing and keep copies of the claim papers with it.
Who gives me a permit answer for rebuilding?
The City of Cedar Rapids building and floodplain office is the local contact for floodplain and repair-permit questions. The crew's readings can support the question, but the office decides what applies.
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.