Water damage in Sioux Falls
In Sioux Falls, water damage often starts with cold: a pipe that freezes and bursts, or an ice dam that pushes melt water under shingles. Spring snowmelt and summer storms add their own share.
Burst pipes
NOAA's engineering weather data for Sioux Falls gives a 99% winter design temperature of −11°F and lists a 50-year frost depth of 102 inches. Pipes in exterior walls, over garages and in unheated spaces freeze in deep cold, and when they thaw, a split pipe floods the house. Know where your main shutoff is and shut it off first. Keep the heat on when you're away in winter, and ask someone to check the house.
Ice dams
NOAA lists about 75 freeze-thaw cycles a year and a 50-year ground snow load of 40 pounds per square foot. Ice dams at the eaves back water up under shingles and into ceilings and walls. Stains on ceilings near outside walls in late winter are a common sign.
Snowmelt and rain
NOAA lists a 100-year rainfall rate of 3.5 inches per hour. In spring, snowmelt and rain can overwhelm drainage and sump pumps, and basements take water. Check that your sump pump works before spring, and keep the discharge line clear of ice.
Storms
On the night of September 10–11, 2019, severe storms with straight-line winds of 80 to 100 mph and three brief EF-2 tornadoes struck Sioux Falls. Wind damage opens roofs and windows to rain. Tarp and board openings quickly to stop more water from getting in.
What a restoration company should do
Ask how quickly they can arrive and start removing water. Ask how they'll measure moisture in floors, walls and framing, and how they'll record drying each day. Ask what they'll remove and why. In winter, drying a house with cold, dry outdoor air works differently than in summer; ask how they'll manage heat and air movement.
Clean and dirty water
Water from a supply line starts clean but degrades over time. Sewer backups and flood water carry contamination, and porous materials they touch usually have to go. Ask how the company classifies your water.
Insurance
Call your insurer early and photograph damage before work starts. Ask the company for moisture readings, photos and an itemized list. Read any form before signing; some assign your claim to the contractor. You can choose your own company.
Before you hire
Get the estimate in writing and ask how billing works. Ask whether they handle rebuilding and, if so, which city licenses they hold for that work.