Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about leaks, drying, fire and smoke, mold, sewage, biohazards, insurance and working with RestoreX.
FAQ
Water & leaks
How do I find out where a leak is coming from?
Look at what’s above and beside the stain first: bathrooms, the kitchen, the water heater, the roof or a unit upstairs. Water runs along pipes and framing before it shows, so the stain is rarely right under the source. Moisture meters trace the path. See water damage restoration.
Will a space heater or fans dry it out?
Not on their own. Heat and moving air pull water out of materials and into the air, and without dehumidifiers it settles right back into drywall and wood somewhere else. Real drying balances airflow and dehumidification and checks readings until they hit a dry baseline.
The crawlspace under my house has standing water. Is that urgent?
It’s worth dealing with quickly. Water under a raised-foundation house soaks insulation and framing and raises humidity in the rooms above, which is how mold starts. Find the source, from a broken line to storm runoff, and get it pumped and dried. See crawlspace cleanup.
FAQ
Fire & smoke
Who secures a house after a fire?
The owner is responsible for it, and a restoration contractor can board the windows and doors and tarp the roof for you once the fire department releases the property. See emergency board-up.
Why does the whole house smell like smoke when the fire was in one room?
Smoke follows the air, through hallways, ducts and wall cavities, and settles into porous materials far from the fire. Cleaning has to follow the same path, and odor treatment comes after the residue is gone. See odor removal.
FAQ
Mold, sewage & biohazards
Does California license mold remediation companies?
California has no separate state mold license. Mold work falls under a contractor’s license, and RestoreX holds the C-61/D64 Water/Fire/Mold Remediation classification with the CSLB. If you want an independent inspection or testing before or after the work, a separate consultant can do it.
Is a sewage backup a health hazard?
Yes. Sewage carries bacteria and other pathogens, so carpet, pad and drywall it soaks usually have to be removed, not just dried. Keep people and pets away from it and don’t vacuum it with a household vacuum. See sewage cleanup.
Who cleans up after a death or serious injury at home?
In California, the company you hire should be registered with the state public health department as a trauma scene waste management practitioner. RestoreX holds that registration in Petaluma and Hayward. See biohazard and trauma cleanup.
FAQ
Insurance & working with us
Do you handle my insurance claim?
No. We document the damage, write a detailed scope and estimate, and can go over it with your adjuster. The claim itself, coverage decisions and any negotiation stay between you and your insurer, or a licensed public adjuster if you hire one.
Do I have to use the restoration company my insurer suggests?
That’s your choice. An insurer can recommend a contractor, but you can hire the company you want. Ask any contractor for its CSLB license number and check it before work starts.
Which areas do you cover?
The North Bay from our Petaluma office, and the East Bay, San Francisco, the Peninsula and the South Bay from Hayward. See service areas, or call (844) 623-3946 and ask about your address.
Is your phone line staffed after business hours?
It is. Calls to (844) 623-3946 are answered 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays, because pipes burst and sewers back up at 2 a.m. as often as at noon.
Talk to RestoreX
Still have a question?
Ask us directly at (844) 623-3946.