On the first call
These can be asked before anyone arrives.
- Are calls handled by your own staff or by an answering service?
- Who would come out, and are they employees or subcontractors?
- Roughly when could someone arrive, and will you confirm before coming?
- Do you serve my specific Denver address?
- Do technicians hold IICRC certification in water damage restoration?
- Will you photograph and measure moisture on the first visit?
Once someone is on site
Ask these before signing anything.
- What equipment will be set up, and how many units?
- How will you decide what materials stay and what comes out?
- Will suspect asbestos or lead materials be tested before demolition?
- How often will you take readings, and can I have copies?
- What is the expected end point, and how will you show it is dry?
- What documents are you asking me to sign, and what does each one do?
- Do you bill my insurer directly, and what am I responsible for?
- If repairs are needed after drying, do you do them, or will I hire a separate contractor?
Encouraging answers versus vague ones
| Encouraging | Vague |
|---|---|
| Names the people who will come and their role | Cannot say who will arrive or when |
| Explains readings and offers to share them daily | Says the house will be dry in a fixed number of days regardless |
| Describes tear-out decisions material by material | Wants to remove everything without measuring |
| Shows sample paperwork before you sign | Rushes paperwork or calls it a formality |
| Separates mitigation from later rebuild | Promises what the insurer will pay |
Common questions
Do I have to use the company my insurer recommends?
Policies and insurers differ. Many allow you to choose, but ask your insurer how they handle it and whether there are any requirements.
How many companies should I call?
In a true emergency there may be time for only one or two calls. That is why it helps to vet a company before winter, using these questions, and keep its details with your shutoff instructions. If water is already off and nothing is actively spreading, calling a second company for comparison is reasonable.
What if the answers are fine but something still feels off?
Trust that. You can ask the technician to stop and leave before work begins, as long as you have not signed an agreement that says otherwise. Read the authorization carefully for cancellation terms.
Should the plumber and the drying contractor be the same business?
They can be, but they often are not. What matters is that the pipe gets repaired by a licensed plumber and that the drying is measured and documented. Ask each one how they coordinate with the other.
General information for Denver, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.