Water damage questions from Franklin 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. Each answer says where the policy or the building decides the matter rather than this site.
- Flooded basements
- Creek and storm water
- Burst lines and sump failures
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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 Franklin house?
Often in the basement or the utility area, near where the service pipe enters the house, sometimes near the meter. Find it on a dry day and label it.
Should I turn off the power?
Turn off the circuit to the wet room 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 water in the pad, the wall and the subfloor keeps moving. Call the line as well, so the drying can start.
Why water shows up where it does
Why does water come into a finished basement days after a storm?
Because a sump can stop, a drain can back up or water can seep through a window well, and the water spreads under the carpet before it shows.
Why do supply lines split inside a newer wall?
Pressure, fittings and age can each cause a split, and the water runs down the cavity before it reaches a surface.
Why does a creek reach a yard that is not beside the water?
A creek overflows its banks and spreads across lower ground, and runoff from the street collects at the lowest point of each 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 reach it is removed and listed.
How long does drying take?
It depends on the materials and the water. Equipment stays until the readings meet the standard, and the homeowner is shown the numbers.
Will you move my furniture?
Items in the path of the work are moved to a dry area, and each is photographed before it moves.
Insurance and the record
Will my policy pay?
The policy and the insurer decide. Flood and gradual leakage are generally treated differently from a sudden discharge, and the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance takes homeowner claim complaints.
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.