Water damage in Huntsville
Water damage in Huntsville usually comes from one of three things: heavy rain finding a way inside, a pipe that bursts in a freeze, or a plumbing or appliance leak. In a humid climate, how fast the house is dried matters as much as the cause.
Heavy rain
NOAA's engineering weather data for the Huntsville airport station lists a 100-year rainfall rate of 3.5 inches per hour. Rain that heavy overwhelms gutters, comes in around windows and doors, and seeps into crawlspaces and basements. Note where water came in; the repair should fix the source, not just the damage.
Freezes
NOAA lists an average of 40 freeze-thaw cycles a year at the Huntsville station. Because hard freezes aren't constant, pipes in crawlspaces and exterior walls are often lightly protected. When a cold snap comes, they burst. On February 25, 2015, the National Weather Service reported 5 to 12 inches of snow across most of north Alabama; spells like that bring frozen-pipe calls. Know where your main water shutoff is, and shut it off first if a pipe breaks.
Humidity and mold
NOAA counts about 935 hours a year at the Huntsville station with the wet-bulb temperature above 73°F. In humid air, wet drywall, insulation and flooring don't dry on their own, and mold can start within a couple of days. Fast drying with proper equipment is the main job of a restoration company.
What a restoration company should do
Ask how soon they can arrive and start extracting water. Ask how they'll measure moisture in walls, floors and framing, and how they'll document drying day by day. Ask what they'll remove and why; wet carpet pad and some drywall usually have to go, while hardwood floors and cabinets can sometimes be dried in place. Ask how they decide when the house is dry, using measurements rather than guesses.
Clean and dirty water
Water from a supply line is clean at first but degrades over time. Water from a sewer backup or from flooding that came across the ground carries contamination, and porous materials it touched usually must be removed. Ask how the company classifies your water and what that means for the work.
Insurance
Call your insurer early, and take photos before work starts. Ask the restoration company to provide moisture readings, photos and an itemized list. Read any form before signing; some assign your insurance claim to the contractor. You can choose your own company.
Before you hire
Ask for an estimate in writing and how they'll bill. Ask whether they also handle rebuilding, or only drying and demolition, and who coordinates the two.