When Do I Call My Insurance Company to Report Water Damage?

A common misconception among homeowners is that when faced with a basement flood, the first thing they need to do is call their insurance agent. That is not true. Your insurance agent can’t get water out of your basement, and ultimately, that’s the most important first step. Remove the water first and THEN call your insurance company.

We say this a lot when discussing some of the common mistakes homeowners make when dealing with a flood loss, but your home’s health is your responsibility. And ultimately, no one cares more about your home than you do, and that includes your insurance adjuster.

The order of filing the claim is not as important as making sure you stop the water source and get the water out as quickly as possible. While you’ll certainly want to file a claim in a timely manner, you do not need to go through the process of filing a claim before calling for help.
Find the source of the water and make sure it’s stopped. The easiest thing to do is cut off the main water supply to your house.

Call a certified basement flood cleanup company. There are a couple of main accreditations that restoration companies can have. The primary association is IICRC, which offers accreditations for a variety of different trades, such as Water Damage Restoration Technician (WRT), Applied Structural Drying Technician (ASD), and a host of others. Companies and individuals can also become certified through RIA.

It’s important to use a company certified to perform the work properly. Not only do they know how best to remove water from your basement and make sure that it is properly dried, but you’re less likely to deal with any issues/concerns from your adjuster during the claims process. They’ll typically have a list of reputable, certified contractors in the area that deal with water losses, so they’re familiar with their level of service and professionalism.

If your home or business is in North NJ, we’re a company that can, clean, and restore your home from water damage caused by leaks, floods, or broken pipes.

We are here to help, call PDQ today at 973-447-3363 to speak with one of our damage & cleanup restoration experts.

Recently Completed Jobs

See All

Gillete, NJ

Michael R. contacted PDQ Fire & Water Damage Restoration after discovering significant water damage in his finished basement in Gillette, NJ. A burst pipe behind the wall caused hidden moisture intrusion that soaked the carpet, padding, and lower...

Long Hill, NJ

Nicole A. contacted PDQ Fire & Water Damage Restoration after noticing water damage along the baseboards and lower drywall in her Long Hill, NJ home. The loss was caused by a slow and undetected Water Pipe Break inside the wall that allowed moist...

East Hanover, NJ

Brian S. contacted PDQ Fire & Water Damage Restoration after a Burst Pipe flooded the small bathroom of his East Hanover, NJ home, causing immediate water damage to the flooring, vanity base, and adjacent wall cavities. The loss occurred when a f...

Our customers love us!

See All

4.98 out of 371 reviews

Other pages you may be interested in...

To save your property, count on PDQ Restoration for post-fire water damage restoration in Chester, Madison, Boonton, Morristown, and other New Jersey cities.

PDQ Fire and Water Damage Restoration delivers the highest quality wood floor water damage restoration in Somerset, Warren, Sussex & across New Jersey.

PDQ Fire and Water Damage Restoration delivers the highest quality carpet water damage restoration in Somerset, Warren, Sussex & across New Jersey.