Readiness check

Will your water loss dry out or grow mold?

Water restoration is a race: mold starts in 24 to 48 hours, so fast extraction and drying decide whether you save the building or fight mold. And a job that is not documented to a dry standard does not get paid. Answer for how the work actually runs. This is general guidance; confirm with the IICRC S500 and the insurer. The score stays on your device; enter an email only if you want the water restoration checklist sent over.

1. Do you respond and start extraction fast (knowing mold starts in 24 to 48 hours)?Yes, rapid response and extractionSame day, sometimes slowerIt can sit a day or two

2. Do you identify the water category (clean, gray, black) to set PPE and save-vs-remove?Yes, category drives the scope and PPEWe eyeball itWe treat all water the same

3. Do you extract the standing water before relying on evaporation to dry?Yes, extract first, it removes far more waterSome extraction, then air moversWe mostly just set fans

4. Do you create a real drying environment (air movers plus dehumidifiers, balanced)?Yes, air movers and dehus sized to the classFans only, or undersized dehusWhatever equipment is on the truck

5. Do you stop the water source first (so you are not drying a building still taking water)?Yes, source stopped before dryingUsuallyWe start drying regardless

6. Do you remove what cannot be saved (carpet pad, flood-cut drywall, Cat 3 porous)?Yes, remove vs dry by category and materialWe try to dry most of itWe leave it and hope

7. Do you monitor moisture daily to a dry standard from an unaffected area?Yes, daily readings to a documented dry standardWe check when it looks dryNo moisture monitoring

8. Do you document the job (readings, photos, scope) for the insurance claim?Yes, full documentation for the carrierSome photosLittle documentation