Water damage questions from Panama City homeowners and businesses
Most questions fall into four groups: what to do in the first minutes, why water keeps spreading after it looks dry, how the drying is measured, and what the insurer and the records need. Phones are answered 24/7, and the crew goes out as soon as one is free.
- Phones answered 24/7
- Hurricane and storm surge water
- Scope explained before work starts
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 shut-off in a Panama City home?
Usually where the supply line enters the building: in a utility room, a garage or an outdoor box near the meter. Turn it clockwise until it stops, and leave it closed until the crew has seen the line.
Should I touch the electrical panel if it is wet?
No. If the panel or an outlet is in water, stay back and call. If the panel is dry and you can reach the breaker safely, turn off the power to the wet room.
Can I start pumping the water out myself?
A household wet vac can take a small spill from a hard floor with the power off. After a larger loss it leaves the floor and the subfloor wetter, and it should not be run near live wiring.
Why water keeps spreading
Why is the wet area bigger than the stain?
Water moves through drywall, insulation and framing, and it reaches places well away from where it came through. The stain is the point where the water reached the surface, and the readings show the rest.
Why does the house smell after it looks dry?
Moisture still in the framing, the pad or the subfloor can keep a smell alive. The readings show whether the materials are dry, and a smell that comes back is a reason for a licensed mold assessment.
Drying and records
How do you know the house is dry?
The crew takes moisture readings in the walls, the floor and the framing, and it stops when they reach the dry target for each material. The log is shared with you.
What do I keep for the insurer?
Photographs, the readings, the scope, the list of removed items and the receipts for emergency work. Keep them together and dated, and ask the insurer in writing what else it needs.
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.