Water damage questions from Lafayette homeowners and business owners
Most questions fall into four groups: what to do in the first minutes, how the work is priced and approved, what the crew will and will not promise, and how the records and insurance work. The answers below set out each one plainly.
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- Flooded homes, burst pipes and roof leaks
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The first minutes
Where is the main water valve?
In many homes it is in the cellar, a utility room or a closet near where the service line enters the building. Ask a neighbor or look for the shut-off near the water meter, and turn it clockwise to close it, if you can reach it safely.
Should I turn the power off?
Turn off power to the wet rooms at the panel only if the panel is dry and you can reach it without standing in water. If the panel is wet or the water is near it, leave the power off at the meter or call the utility.
Should I start pulling up carpet?
No. Pulling carpet up can spread the water and hide where it came from. Photograph the floor first, and let the crew decide what comes up.
Can I use a household fan or pump?
A fan or a pump can help a little, but it can also push moisture into dry rooms or run near water. Use them only if the power is off and the area is safe, and tell the crew what you ran.
Price and approval
Can I get a rough figure over the phone?
No, and you should be wary of anyone who gives one. The price depends on the water, the materials and the building, and it is explained on site before any work starts.
What is in a written scope?
The rooms affected, the water category, the materials to be removed, the materials to be dried, the equipment and the expected visits. Ask for it in writing before you approve the work.
Can the scope change after the work starts?
Yes, if the crew finds more damage. The new scope is explained before that work is done, and you can approve or decline it.
What is promised
Will a crew come the same day?
A crew is sent as soon as one is free. A same-day visit is not promised, and no arrival time is given on the call.
Does the line answer at night?
Yes. Calls are answered 24 hours a day, every day, including storm nights and holidays.
Will the work be guaranteed?
The company that does the work carries its own responsibility for it, and the line does not warrant the work. Ask the company what it will do if the work is not right, and get the answer in writing.
Records and insurance
What records will I receive?
Photographs, moisture readings, removal logs, equipment logs and a final report, dated and kept with each visit. Give a copy to your insurer if it asks for one.
Who decides what the insurer pays?
The insurer decides, under the terms of your policy. The records from the work are what the insurer reads when it reviews the claim.
Where do I complain about a claim?
To the Louisiana Department of Insurance, which accepts consumer complaints. Its complaint page is at ldi.la.gov/consumers/complaints.
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.