Water Damage Questions
Two sets of answers: how sending a request works, and the practical questions that come up in the first hours after water gets into a house. Cost, insurance and flooding each have a page of their own, linked at the end.
Sending a request
Does it cost anything to send a request?
No. The form is free to send and does not commit you to anything. The company that picks up your request prices the job itself, and our cost page explains what goes into that number.
Who receives my request?
A restoration company that works in Newport News and nearby on the Peninsula. Your request is never published on this site, and the privacy policy lists each field the form sends along with where it goes.
Is Newport News Premier a restoration company?
No. It is a website that passes requests to a local company, and that company does the inspection, the estimate and the work. The about page says what the site does and what it leaves to others.
What kinds of damage can I send a request about?
Leaks and burst pipes, flood and storm water, sewage backups, mold, and fire and smoke. If none of those fits, pick "Not sure" and describe it in your own words.
Do I need to know what kind of restoration I need?
No. Most people only know that something is wet, stained or smells wrong. Write down what you can see, where it is and when you first noticed it. The company works out the rest when it looks at the house.
Can renters send a request?
Yes. Tell your landlord or property manager as well, because the building's owner usually decides on repairs to the structure and claims them on the building's insurance. A renters policy is generally for your belongings, which our insurance page touches on.
In the first hours after a leak
What should I do first when water gets into the house?
Close the main water shutoff if the water is coming from a pipe or fixture. Switch off the breaker for wet rooms, but only if you can reach the panel without standing in water. Photograph every wet room before moving anything. Then lift furniture off wet carpet and move rugs, papers and electronics somewhere dry.
Where is the main water shutoff valve?
Usually where the water line comes into the house. In a house on a crawl space, check the front foundation wall from inside the crawl space; in others, try the garage, a utility closet or the area near the water heater. Find it and test it on a quiet day, not in the middle of a leak.
Can I dry out water damage myself?
A small spill of clean water, caught within hours, can often be dried with fans and a rented dehumidifier. Larger leaks are harder, because water wicks up drywall and runs under flooring where you cannot see it. Without a moisture meter there is no way to know the framing is dry. Floodwater and sewage are never a do-it-yourself job.
How can I tell if there is water damage behind a wall?
Look for paint that bubbles or peels, drywall that feels soft or crumbles at the bottom, baseboards that have swollen or pulled away, and a musty smell that stays after airing the room. A stain that keeps growing means the leak is still active. A restorer confirms it with a moisture meter before cutting anything open.
What do clean, gray and black water mean?
They are the three categories restorers use under the IICRC water damage standard. Clean water comes from a supply line or a tap. Gray water has some contamination, like a washing machine overflow. Black water is sewage or floodwater from outside, and anything porous it soaks is usually thrown away. The category decides how much comes out and how the house is cleaned.
Should I run the air conditioning after a leak?
Usually yes, if the system itself was not flooded. Air conditioning pulls moisture out of the air and helps drying, especially in a humid Newport News summer. Do not run it if water reached the air handler, the ductwork or the crawl space the ducts run through, because that can spread moisture and odor through the house.
More answers sit where they belong: what shapes a restoration estimate, how Virginia insurance treats water and flood, and what to expect from flooding in Newport News.
Still not sure what you need?
Describe what you can see, and the company that reads it works out the rest. Sending the form is free.