What causes water damage in Seattle homes
- Old plumbing: galvanized supply lines, cast-iron drains and aging water heaters that fail inside walls or under floors.
- Basements and crawl spaces: water through foundation walls, window wells and floor drains during long rainy periods and atmospheric river storms.
- Sewer backups: roots and old clay side sewers. Sewage is Category 3 water and needs professional cleanup and disinfection.
- Multi-unit leaks: one leak in a condo or apartment can reach several units and common areas below.
Wet materials need to be dried within 24–48 hours to prevent mold. We use moisture meters and other moisture detection tools to find water inside walls, ceilings and subfloors, and keep drying until readings are back to normal. More on our water damage restoration and what it costs. Before the next cold snap, read how to prevent frozen and burst pipes, and for coverage questions see what homeowners insurance covers in Washington.
