Water in your home right now? Do these three things first
- Stop the water if you safely can. For a burst pipe or leaking appliance, close the fixture valve or the main water shut-off, usually in the basement where the water line enters the house.
- Stay clear of water near electricity. Don't walk through standing water that may be touching outlets, extension cords, appliances or the electrical panel. If you can reach the breaker panel from a dry floor, switch off power to the wet area.
- Photograph everything, then call. Take photos and video before anything is moved for your insurer. Then call to be connected with a local water damage restoration provider.
Our step-by-step guide on what to do after water damage covers the first 24 hours in more detail, including what not to throw away.
What water damage restoration involves
Water damage restoration is the process of removing water from a building, drying the structure to safe moisture levels, cleaning and sanitizing affected materials, and repairing what can't be saved. It's different from simply mopping up: water soaks into drywall, insulation, subfloors, carpet padding and framing, and what you can't see is what causes mold and lasting damage.
A typical restoration job follows these stages:
- Inspection and moisture mapping. Technicians find where the water came from and use moisture meters and often thermal cameras to see how far it has spread behind walls and under floors.
- Water removal. Pumps and truck-mounted or portable extractors pull out standing water and water held in carpet. See emergency water extraction.
- Removing what can't be saved. Soaked carpet pad, saturated drywall and insulation are often cut out, especially when the water was contaminated.
- Structural drying. Commercial dehumidifiers and air movers dry the building over several days, with readings taken to confirm progress. This stage is covered on our water damage drying page.
- Cleaning and sanitizing. Surfaces are cleaned, and antimicrobial treatments are applied where needed.
- Repairs. Drywall, flooring, trim and paint are replaced or repaired once everything is dry.
Why the first 24 to 48 hours matter
Speed changes both the cost and the outcome. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises drying water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. The longer water sits, the more it wicks into materials, and the more those materials have to be removed rather than dried.
Water also gets dirtier over time. The restoration industry's IICRC S500 standard sorts water into three categories, from clean water (Category 1) to grossly contaminated water such as sewage (Category 3). Clean water that sits on building materials can degrade into a more contaminated category, which means more removal and more sanitizing. Our post on the categories of water damage explains the difference.
Common causes of water damage in Chesterfield homes
Chesterfield's weather and housing shape the water damage problems local restoration providers see most:
- Heavy storms and flash flooding. The St. Louis area can get extreme rain in a short time. On July 26, 2022, about 9 inches fell at Lambert Airport by noon, breaking the previous daily record of 6.85 inches set in 1915.
- Basement water. Many Chesterfield homes have basements, and heavy rain brings seepage, window-well leaks and overwhelmed drains. See flooded basement cleanup.
- Sump pump failures. A pump that loses power during a storm, burns out or can't keep up is one of the most common causes of a wet basement. See sump pump failure water damage.
- Burst pipes in winter. St. Louis winters bring hard freezes, and pipes in exterior walls, crawlspaces and garages can split. See burst pipe water damage.
- Sewer backups. Blocked or broken sewer laterals and overloaded sewers can push wastewater up through floor drains. See sewage backup cleanup.
- Storm, hail and roof leaks. Wind and hail damage let rain into attics and ceilings. See storm and roof leak water damage.
- Appliance and fixture failures. Water heaters, washing machine hoses, dishwasher and ice-maker lines, and toilet supply lines fail without warning.
Water damage services available in Chesterfield
Depending on what happened, the provider you're connected with can help with one or more of these services:
Emergency water extraction
When there's standing water on the floor, removing it fast is the first priority. Emergency water removal uses pumps and extractors to pull water out of floors and carpet before it spreads.
Flooded basement cleanup
Basements take the worst of storms and sump failures. Cleaning up a flooded basement means removing water, saving what can be dried and removing what can't.
Water damage drying
Drying is what prevents mold and hidden rot. Structural drying uses commercial dehumidifiers, air movers and moisture readings over several days.
Burst pipe water damage
A split supply line can release a lot of water quickly. Burst pipe water damage cleanup deals with the water in walls, ceilings and floors after the pipe is fixed.
Sump pump failure
When the pump stops, groundwater rises through the floor. Sump pump failure cleanup covers the water, drying and what to ask your insurer.
Sewage backup cleanup
Sewage is a health hazard and needs professional handling. Sewage backup cleanup includes safe removal, disinfection and disposal of contaminated materials.
Storm and roof leak damage
Wind, hail and heavy rain can soak attics, ceilings and walls. Storm water damage restoration dries and repairs the interior once the roof is secured.
Mold remediation
Mold can start within days of a leak. Mold remediation after water damage removes growth and fixes the moisture problem that caused it.
Clean, gray and black water: why the source matters
The kind of water involved decides how it's cleaned up. This table follows the categories used in the IICRC S500 water damage standard:
| Category | Typical sources | What it usually means for cleanup |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 (clean) | Burst supply pipe, overflowing sink or tub, failed appliance supply line | Often dried in place if handled quickly |
| Category 2 (gray) | Washing machine or dishwasher overflow, toilet overflow without feces, sump pump failure | Cleaning and antimicrobial treatment; some porous materials removed |
| Category 3 (black) | Sewer backup, flooding from outside, toilet overflow with feces | Porous materials usually removed; full sanitizing and protective equipment |
The EPA advises calling a professional experienced with contaminated water when water damage involves sewage or other contaminated water.
Signs of hidden water damage
Not all water damage is obvious. A slow leak inside a wall or under a floor can go unnoticed for weeks. Watch for:
- stains, bubbling paint or soft spots on walls and ceilings
- warped, cupped or lifting wood and laminate floors
- a musty smell, especially in basements and closets
- baseboards pulling away or swelling
- a water bill that's higher than usual with no change in use
Our post on signs of hidden water damage explains how to check each one.
What happens when you call
Water Damage Chesterfield Pros is a referral service. We don't send our own crews. We connect you with an independent local restoration provider. Here's how a call works:
- You call the number on this page. Tell us briefly what happened, whether the water is stopped, and your address or nearest cross street.
- Your call is connected to an independent water damage restoration provider who serves your area and is available to take the job.
- The provider explains next steps: when they can arrive, how they assess and price the work, and anything you should do in the meantime.
- You decide. You agree on the work and price directly with the provider. There's no charge from us for the referral, and no obligation to book.
Providers are independent businesses. They set their own prices and availability and are responsible for their own work, insurance and any required licensing. Read more about how our referral service works.
Questions to ask the restoration provider
A good provider will be glad to answer these before work starts:
- Are your technicians trained in water damage restoration? Many companies train staff to the IICRC standards. Ask which certifications their team holds.
- How will you measure and document drying? Ask whether they'll take and record moisture readings, which also helps an insurance claim.
- How is the job priced? Ask for a written estimate or a clear explanation of how charges are calculated.
- Do you work with insurance companies? Some providers can share documentation directly with your insurer.
- Are you insured? Ask about liability coverage before anyone starts removing materials.
Before you file a claim, our guide on whether insurance covers water damage explains what's typically covered and what isn't. For what affects the price, see the water damage restoration cost guide.
Areas we serve around Chesterfield
We take calls from across Chesterfield, Missouri, ZIP codes 63005 and 63017. That covers the residential areas west of St. Louis to Chesterfield Valley, the former Missouri River floodplain once known as Gumbo Flats. It took 6 to 15 feet of floodwater in the Great Flood of 1993 and is now protected by the Monarch-Chesterfield Levee. We also take calls from these neighboring communities:
- Ballwin: an established St. Louis County suburb along Manchester Road, where basement water and sump pump problems are common after storms.
- Wildwood: a large, partly rural city south of Chesterfield, where homes are spread out and response planning matters.
- Eureka: a Meramec River city that saw catastrophic flooding in December 2015 and again in April 2017.
If you're nearby but not listed, call and we'll tell you whether a provider covers your address.