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San Bernardino Water Damage

After a leak or flood, have you protected the property and the claim?

Answer eighteen questions about stopping the water, documenting the loss, dealing with your insurer and choosing who dries the property. See what is done and what to do next. Runs in your browser. No account, no card, no call.

Your water damage, right now

Safety first: if water is near electrics or the building looks unsafe, stay out and call for help.

Stop the water and stay safe

Is the water supply to the leak shut off, at the fixture or the main valve?

Is everyone staying away from water that could reach sockets, cords or appliances?

Do you know whether the water is clean supply water or from a sewer, toilet overflow or outside flooding?

Have furniture, documents and valuables been moved off wet floors where it is safe to do so?

Document the loss

Have you photographed the source of the water before any repair?

Have you photographed every affected room, including floors, walls, ceilings and belongings?

Are you keeping damaged items, or photographing them before they are thrown away?

Are you keeping receipts for emergency costs, such as a plumber, fans or somewhere to stay?

Have you written down when the water was found and what you did first?

Your insurer

Have you reported the loss to your insurer and noted the claim number?

Do you have your policy, and have you read what it says about water damage and mould?

Do you know your options for choosing your own contractor rather than the insurer's preferred vendor?

Are you recording who you speak to at the insurer, when, and what was agreed?

Who dries the property

Will the company take moisture readings at the start and every day of drying, and give you copies?

Will anything removed be limited to areas the moisture readings justify?

Will they photograph the work at each stage for the claim?

Can they bill your insurer directly, in a format your adjuster accepts?

Can the crew explain the work in the language you are most comfortable with?

Answer the questions to see your score. It updates as you go.

Method: yes counts a question in full, partly counts half and no counts nothing. Each is weighted from one to three by how much it matters to safety, to limiting damage and to the claim, and the score is the weighted share out of a hundred. Unanswered questions are left out. This is general guidance, not advice on your policy.

After a leak or flood, have you protected the property and the claim?

Answer eighteen questions about stopping the water, documenting the loss, dealing with your insurer and choosing who dries the property. See what is done and what to do next. Runs in your browser. No account, no card, no call.

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