Water in your home right now?
Water Damage Restoration and Water Removal
A burst pipe, a wet basement or a leak that ran all night. We pull the water out and start drying on the first visit.
A person answers 24/7.
What you can expect from us
- A real person answers the phone 24 hours a day, and we can often be on site within a few hours.
- We work with every insurance company and document the damage for your claim.
- Ajaxx is an IICRC Certified Firm, which means our technicians are trained to the industry's cleaning and restoration standards.
Water damage restoration starts with stopping the water and pulling it out. Then we find the moisture you cannot see, in walls and under floors, and dry it with air movers and dehumidifiers. We check readings every day and leave the equipment until the materials read dry.
What to do right now
- Shut off the water at the main valve if you can.
- Stay out of water that may touch outlets or appliances.
- Move furniture and boxes off wet floors.
- Take photos before cleanup.
Is it safe to go back in?
- Gas or fire: if you smell gas or see fire or smoke, get everyone out and call 911.
- Electricity: do not step into standing water that may touch outlets, cords or appliances. Turn power off at the breaker only if you can reach it from a dry spot; otherwise call your utility or an electrician.
- Standing water: floodwater and sewage can carry bacteria. Avoid skin contact and keep children and pets away.
- Sagging ceilings: stay out of any room where the ceiling is bulging or sagging. Wet drywall and plaster can fall without warning.
- Mold: do not scrub or disturb visible mold. Keep anyone with asthma, allergies or a weak immune system away from the area.
What happens on the first visit?
We handle your project from start to finish, and the first hour decides how big the job gets. We work in this order.
- Make it safe. Find the source and make sure it is off. Cut power to wet circuits if needed.
- Check the water. Clean water from a supply line is handled one way. Sewage or floodwater is handled another, and anything soft it touched usually has to go.
- Find where it went. Moisture meters and a thermal camera show how far the water spread into drywall and subfloor. We mark the edges and photograph them.
- Pull the water out. Extractors take water out of carpet and pad. This step does more than any number of fans.
- Set up drying. Air movers go along the walls. Dehumidifiers are sized to the room.
What does water damage look like in a basement?
Most of our water calls are basements. In an unfinished basement, the water is easy to see on the concrete. We pull it out and dry the block walls and anything stored on the floor.
A finished basement hides more. Water runs under the carpet and into the pad and the bottom of the drywall. The dark patches on the carpet in this photo show where it spread.
More on this: basement flooding cleanup and crawl space water removal.
How long does water damage take to dry?
Usually 3 to 5 days for clean water caught early. Hardwood and plaster take longer. We take readings every day. The equipment stays until the materials read dry, not until a set date.
Waiting makes it worse. After a day or two, clean water starts to go bad, drywall weakens and mold can start.
What causes water damage in Southeast Michigan homes?
- Sump pumps that lose power in a spring storm
- Pipes that freeze in outside walls during a cold snap
- Floor drains that back up from an old sewer line
- Old water heaters that fail in a finished basement
- Washer hoses and ice maker lines
- Groundwater seeping through block walls after long rain
What about my belongings and electronics?
Wet boxes, clothes and furniture can often be saved if they are moved and dried quickly. We can pack them out, clean them and store them. See contents cleaning and pack-out. Unplug wet electronics and do not turn them on. See electronics cleaning and recovery.
What will my insurance adjuster ask for?
Expect questions about the cause and when it started. The adjuster will also want photos from before cleanup, a list of damaged belongings and proof the house was dried. We take the photos, keep the daily moisture log and send the records to you and your insurance company. We work with every insurance company.
Office: 206 E Huron St, Suite 107, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 · claims@ajaxxrestoration.com
Does Ajaxx work with my insurance company?
We work with all insurance companies and document the damage with photos and moisture readings.
Water Damage Questions
How fast should water damage be dried?
Start as soon as possible. Clean water can turn into gray water after 24 to 48 hours, and mold can begin growing in that window, so extraction and drying should begin the same day if you can.
How long does it take to dry a house after water damage?
Typically 3 to 5 days for clean water caught early. Hardwood and plaster take longer. We take moisture readings every day and keep equipment running until materials read dry.
Do I have to remove wet drywall?
Not always. Drywall that was wet with clean water and dries quickly can often stay. Drywall soaked by sewage or floodwater, or that stayed wet too long, usually has to be cut out. Moisture readings decide.
Is it safe to stay in the house during drying?
Usually, if the power is safe and the water was clean. Equipment is loud and warm. If sewage or mold is involved, keep children, pets and anyone with health problems out of the work area.
Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?
It depends on your policy and the cause. Sudden losses like a burst pipe are treated differently from flooding, gradual leaks or sewer backup. Read your policy and ask your agent or adjuster.
What happens when you call?
- Call or text
A person picks up any hour. Tell us what happened and we'll tell you what to do until we arrive. - We look first
We can often be on site within a few hours. We check for hidden water or soot and walk you through the plan. - We stop it from spreading
We pull out water, cover openings or seal off the area on the first visit. - We clean up and keep records
We clean what can be saved. You get photos, notes and moisture readings to send your insurance company.