Water is seeping up through the concrete floor. Is that a slab leak?
It could be. Other signs: a warm patch on the floor, the sound of running water with every tap off, or a water meter that keeps moving when nothing's running. Turn off the water at the meter to stop the flow. A plumber finds and repairs the pipe in the slab; the wet flooring, baseboards and drywall are what restoration pros dry out and replace.
A pipe burst and it's leaking through the wall right now. What do I do first?
Shut the water off at the meter or the main shut-off. Turn off power to any room where water is near outlets, if you can reach the breaker without stepping in water. Then call. Every hour the water sits, it moves further into insulation, subfloor and cabinets.
Water is raining from our garage ceiling. Is it the roof or a pipe?
It can be either. If it started during rain or after hail, the roof is the usual suspect. If it's dry outside, look to a water heater, an attic line or an upstairs bathroom. Either way, keep people out from under a ceiling that's sagging — one holding water can come down.
Sewage backed up into the house last night. Is that the city's problem or mine?
It depends where the blockage is. In Hurst, the line from your house out to the point where the city's system takes over is the homeowner's; the city handles blockages in its own lines. If you think the problem is in the city's line, call Hurst Public Works Dispatch — the number is in the flooding section above. The sewage that came inside needs professional cleanup either way.
Does it cost anything to call?
No. The call is free and there's no obligation. The restoration company explains its charges before any work starts.
What do y'all charge to come out and look at it?
That's for the restoration company to tell you. This site doesn't set prices, and you'll hear their charges, including anything for the visit, before any work starts. Four things drive the cost of water damage cleanup in Hurst: how much water there was, whether it was clean or sewage, how long it sat, and what it got into. If the water came from a leak under the slab, the plumber who finds and repairs the pipe bills separately from the drying and the floor and wall repairs.
Will insurance cover it?
It depends on the policy and the cause. A sudden burst pipe is usually treated differently from a slow leak, and water that comes in from outside during a storm is generally a flood-insurance question, not a homeowners one. Photograph everything before it's moved, call your insurer early, and don't wait for approval to start drying.