Emergency Water Damage Restoration in Pottsville: get the water out and the structure dry

Call the water damage line

For active water damage, flooded basements and drying, call the dedicated water damage line. The number below goes to dispatch for this service only. For leaks, drains and fixtures, use the main number shown across the site.

Water damage line: (888) 681-3447

The first steps while you wait

1. Stop the source if you can, by closing the main water valve or the fixture shutoff.
2. Turn off electricity to wet areas, from the panel, only if the panel is dry and you can reach it safely.
3. Photograph and video everything before moving it.
4. Lift furniture and valuables clear of the water.
5. Open windows for airflow when weather allows, and keep children and pets out.

Damage assessment and major loss inspection

Before equipment goes in, a technician inspects the affected rooms with a moisture meter, notes where water traveled and decides which materials can dry and which must come out. For a major loss, such as a whole flooded basement, the assessment also records the water level and the source, which is useful loss documentation if you file a claim.

Water extraction and removal

Extraction uses pumps and wet vacuums to take standing water out of the structure. Speed matters because water spreads into drywall, subfloors and insulation. Pumps handle deep water in a basement or crawl space, and wet vacuums handle shallow water on floors and carpets.

Drying equipment: air movers and dehumidifiers

After standing water is gone, moisture stays in building materials. Air movers push dry air across wet surfaces, and dehumidifiers pull moisture out of the air so it does not return. A technician places moisture meters in walls and floors and checks them daily until readings come down to normal.

Flooded basements and crawl spaces

Basement flooding in the area has come from heavy rain, melting snow and sewer or drain backups. A sump pump, where one exists, helps with groundwater, and the drain clearing covers sump pumps and basement drainage. For removal, the first job is to stop more water from entering.

Sewage backup cleanup

A sewage backup is more serious than clean water. The plumber clears the blockage first, as described under sewer line page, then removal and drying follow with extra caution about contamination. Porous materials touched by sewage are generally removed instead of dried.

Burst pipes and plumbing leak damage

A burst pipe can soak a ceiling, walls and floors within minutes. After the plumber repairs the pipe, as covered under whole house repiping, drying begins. Ceilings below a burst pipe may need to be opened to release trapped water.

Leaks from other sources

Roof leaks, air conditioner overflow, irrigation lines and appliances can cause water damage too. Removal and drying are the same, but the source repair is a different trade, so a roofer or appliance technician may be needed.

Flooring and carpet

Carpet and pad that sit in clean water can sometimes be dried in place if action starts quickly. Hardwood, laminate and tile adhesives are harder. If materials have swelled or lifted, they may have to be removed. A technician checks moisture under the surface before saying what is salvageable.

Insurance claims and loss documentation

Take photos and video before and during the work, keep receipts and write down dates and conversations. Ask your insurer what it covers before you sign. Standard homeowner policies exclude mine subsidence, which is insured through the Pennsylvania DEP Mine Subsidence Insurance program, reachable at 1-800-922-1678. This service does not file or negotiate claims.

Condos, apartments and rentals

In a multifamily building, water often travels between units. Report the leak to the property manager right away and ask who arranges the repair of the source. Multifamily buildings hold roughly a quarter of housing units in the city, so shared walls and ceilings are common. Commercial space is covered on the commercial plumbing page.

What this service does not include

Mold testing and mold removal, structural rebuilding and basement waterproofing are separate trades. If a foundation wall is cracking or a basement floods repeatedly, ask a waterproofing or structural specialist to inspect.

Water damage questions

Sources of water and what follows

Tracing where a leak starts is covered under leak location, and freezing damage under repiping and pipe repair. For quote factors, see the cost guide.