Special Water Damage Situations

Some losses don't fit the usual pattern. The basics stay the same, stop the water, document, dry and verify, but the details change.

This topic is part of our complete guide to water damage restoration. The articles for this topic are listed at the end of the page.

Situations we see

• Vacant or seasonal homes: long-running leaks and mold. Many policies limit coverage for vacant homes.
• Historic homes: plaster, old-growth wood and original finishes that are worth drying in place.
• Fire sprinkler discharge: a lot of water fast, often in commercial buildings.
• Multi-floor losses: water from an upper floor soaks every level below.
• After firefighting: water used to put out a fire has to be dried along with the smoke cleanup.

For owners of vacant properties

• Shut off the water main when the property is empty.
• Have someone check the property regularly.
• Use leak detectors with phone alerts.