FAQs

The hot water heater in my home just burst. What do I do?
It’s still raining and my basement is already full of water. Should I call?
What can I do while waiting for you to arrive?
Everything in here is soaked! Should I tear out my carpet?
How long will this take?
I’m concerned about mildew. What will happen to my house?
There has been a sewage backup. What do I do?
I rent my home or apartment. What issues should I keep in mind?
Will my insurance cover the damage done by a flood?
Should I find a hotel room while work is being done?

The hot water heater in my home just burst. What do I do?
Whether the water damage was caused by water heater failure, sewage backup, plumbing leaks or groundwater issues, Sparkkles will not begin the drying process until the initial problem is fixed. If the issue was caused by any kind of plumbing failure, call a plumber, or at the least turn off your main water supply.

It’s still raining and my basement is already full of water. Should I call?
Feel free to call us to report the flood, but expect to be asked to call back after the rain has stopped. It would be a waste of your money for us to have to return several times to remove water from the same source. Because our technicians often leave high-amperage electrical equipment including air movers and dehumidifiers for more than a day at a time, the risk of fire and damage to equipment is very high for continuously leaking sources.

What can I do while waiting for you to arrive?
-Try to keep the indoor temperature at or below 70^oF until someone arrives.
-At your discretion, turn power off at the breaker panel for the affected rooms. This is usually a good idea when water is standing more than an inch.
-If you are able, either begin moving furniture out of the affected room or place plastic or aluminum foil under the furniture’s legs to prevent furniture stain from bleeding into your carpet.
-Use a coat hanger to keep draperies and curtains from skimming the surface of wet carpet.
-If furniture in the affected area contains valuables including china, crystal, guns or other breakables, begin moving them to a safe location so that our technicians may begin moving large furniture as soon as they arrive.
-Don’t use electrical equipment around the affected area. The use of shop vacs and wet/dry vacs could result in electrical shock or fire.

Everything in here is soaked! Should I tear out my carpet?
Usually, proper drying can save carpet that has been wet for less than twenty-four hours. Your insurance company may not compensate you for replacing carpet if they have not authorized its removal. If at all possible, do not begin removing wet carpet.

How long will this take?
Depending on the size of the affected area, initial remediation will usually take between two and four hours. Large commercial jobs and extra-large homes will take longer. Our technicians will usually need to leave equipment running and will check daily for drying progress. Complete drying can take anywhere from less than a day to several days, again depending on several factors. Restoration (replacement of structural materials, painting, carpet/pad replacement, etc) is varied in every instance.

I’m concerned about mildew. What will happen to my house?
As long as proper drying techniques are implemented within twenty-four hours, there should not be any issues with mold and mildew growth. Sparkkles technicians thoroughly check not only the carpet, but also structural materials of the house itself. Though not required, our technicians also apply a fungicidal spray to affected areas as added protection against mold and mildew. In instances where a moisture problem has not been detected within twenty-four hours, we have certified staff available to remediate mold issues.

There has been a sewage backup. What do I do?
First, be sure the problem causing the backup is fixed. This usually involves either shutting off the main water valve or cutting off water supplying the fixture that is leaking. If the backup is from city water lines, be sure to contact your city’s sewer department as soon as possible. If at all possible, stay away from the affected area until decontamination is complete. If you feel that you must enter the contaminated area, wear rubber gloves while handling materials in the area; wear a respirator at all times.

I rent my home or apartment. What issues should I keep in mind?
The actual home/apartment-owner has to call Sparkkles to begin the drying process. There is also an authorization form that must be signed by the owner if we are to begin work, so they should be present at the time of the incident. If you are leasing, the first call you should make is to the person or company from which you lease the damaged property.

Will my insurance cover the damage done by a flood?
Because each insurance policy is different, there is no single answer for this question. Often, homeowner policies cover damage from plumbing and other indoor leaks; to be covered by leaks from outside sources such as groundwater or rain intrusion, a separate flood insurance policy is required. Contact your insurance company to be sure of what is covered and what is not.

Should I find a hotel room while work is being done?
This decision is entirely yours to make. In most cases, airmovers and dehumidifiers will be placed in areas that must be dried. While they are not dangerous if left alone, these machines are noisy and may prove an annoyance in everyday activities.

If your house is damaged by a sewer backup or any other unsanitary water source, or if for other reasons it is unsafe to live and sleep there, our technicians may recommend that you find somewhere else to stay while initial drying is taking place.

Not all insurance companies immediately validate the cost of temporary living space. Contact your insurance agent to find out if you are covered.