Water Damage or Mold? Reach Local Providers by Phone

How this phone service works

Water from a burst pipe, a leaking appliance, a roof leak or a flooded basement keeps spreading until it is removed and dried. Call the number on this page to reach an independent local provider of water removal, drying or mold remediation, where one serves your area.

The line is for US homeowners with new water damage or mold; renters should contact their landlord or property manager. Providers are independent businesses: you decide whether to hire one and agree on the work and price with them.

When a call makes sense

Call when water or mold has reached areas you cannot dry or clean on your own:

Pipes and appliances: A burst pipe, water heater, washing machine or dishwasher that soaked floors or walls.
Basement: Standing water after heavy rain, a failed sump pump or a sewer backup.
Ceiling: Stains, sagging drywall or dripping water from a roof or upstairs leak.
Flooding: Water that came in from outside after a storm or from a river.
Mold: Mold spreading over a surface, or a musty smell after a leak.

Repairing the source, such as a pipe or roof, is a separate job; the IICRC S500 restoration standard treats it as the property owner's responsibility.¹

What to do first

Safety comes first. These steps draw on federal guidance:

Electricity: If it is safe to do so, turn off the power. Do not touch electrical equipment that is wet or while standing in water.²
Water: Close the main water valve or the valve at the leaking fixture, if you can reach it safely.
Gas and appliances: Do not touch wet appliances still plugged in. If you smell or hear gas, leave and contact the gas company from outside.³
Floodwater: Stay out of it; it can be contaminated and hide debris. Children should not help with cleanup.²
Photos: Photograph or film the damage, including water levels on walls, before moving or throwing anything away. Then take reasonable steps to prevent further damage.^4,5

According to the EPA, wet materials dried within 24–48 hours usually do not grow mold.⁶ Have wet appliances checked by a professional or your utility before use, and run generators only outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house.³

What water damage providers do

Methods vary by provider. The IICRC standards S500 for water damage restoration and S520 for mold remediation describe procedures and precautions for this work.^1,7 A job often includes:

Inspection: A safety check, the water source, how far the water spread and which materials are wet.⁸
Water category: How contaminated the water is. Category 3 water is grossly contaminated, such as sewage or rising water from rivers or streams.⁸
Removal and drying: Extracting water, removing materials that cannot be dried, then drying with air movers and dehumidifiers until drying goals are met.⁸
Mold work: Containment, removal and cleaning where mold is found.

Ask for a written estimate and scope of work before work starts; rebuilding may be a separate contract.

Mold: when to bring in a provider

The EPA says that if the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet, roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch, you can usually handle the job yourself.⁶ Consider a provider with mold experience when:

Larger areas: Mold covers more than about 10 square feet, or there was a lot of water damage.⁶
Contaminated water: The damage was caused by sewage or other contaminated water.⁶
Heating and cooling: You suspect mold in the HVAC system. Do not run it; it could spread mold.⁶
Health: Someone has asthma, COPD or a weakened immune system. CDC says they should not stay in a moldy home or be there during cleanup.⁹

For small jobs, CDC advises at least an N95 respirator, gloves and goggles, and never mixing bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser.⁹ When hiring, check mold experience and references.⁶

Insurance and costs: water damage or flood

Coverage depends on the cause of the water and your policy; only your insurer decides a claim.

Homeowners policies: A standard policy will not pay for flood damage or routine wear and tear.¹⁰ Ask your insurer about pipe and appliance leaks.
What counts as flood: For the NFIP, two or more acres of normally dry land or two or more properties partly or completely under water.¹¹
Flood insurance: Flood damage needs a separate policy. A new NFIP policy takes effect 30 days after purchase, with four exceptions.¹²
NFIP limits: Up to $250,000 for the building and $100,000 for contents; belongings kept in basements are not covered.¹²
Sewer backup: An NFIP policy covers water damage from a sewer that backed up during a heavy rainstorm, but not from a backup caused by clogged pipes.¹²
Deadline: Submit NFIP claim documents within 60 days of the flood, or within the time your adjuster or insurer gives you.¹³

The provider sets the price, which depends on the damage, materials and area. If possible, keep damaged items until the adjuster visits and keep receipts for what you spend.⁴ Talk to your insurer before you sign a contract or pay.⁵

Before you hire: checks, privacy and recording

Checking a provider is the homeowner's responsibility. Federal guidance suggests:

License: Confirm the contractor's license with your state or county government.¹⁴
Insurance: Ask the contractor for proof of insurance.¹⁴
Estimates: Get written estimates from more than one contractor.^14,5
Contract: Get a written contract and read it carefully.¹⁴
Payment: Pay by credit card or check, never by wire transfer, gift card, payment app, cryptocurrency or cash. Demanding full payment before work starts may be a scam.^14,5
Final payment: Only when the work is done and you are satisfied.¹⁴

This page has no forms. What you share on the call goes to the partner network and the provider you are connected with. Calls may be recorded. Never give out bank passwords or verification codes.

What happens when you call

What usually happens on the call:

Call from a safe, dry place away from standing water.
Give your ZIP code so the call can be matched with providers serving your area.
Describe the damage: the source, the rooms affected, how long things have been wet and any mold.
Confirm that you own the home. Renters are asked to contact their landlord.
If a participating provider serves your area, you are connected. The provider explains next steps, such as an inspection and written estimate; you decide whether to hire them.

Questions people ask before they call

Who answers when I call?

A partner referral network that connects homeowners with independent local providers. Signup Here does no restoration work, and the providers are not our employees.

Do I have to hire the provider?

No. You decide after hearing how they would handle the job and what it would cost.

I rent my home. Can I use this line?

This line connects homeowners only. Tell your landlord or property manager about the leak, and photograph damage to your own belongings.

When can a provider come out?

That depends on the providers in your area and their schedules. Arrival times are set by the provider, so ask on the call.

Is this line run by FEMA or an insurance company?

No. Signup Here is not affiliated with FEMA, the National Flood Insurance Program, any insurer or any utility. For a claim, contact your insurer directly.

Important information

signup-here.com is a free service to assist homeowners in connecting with local service providers. All contractors/providers are independent and signup-here.com does not warrant or guarantee any work performed. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to verify that the hired contractor furnishes the necessary license and insurance required for the work being performed. All persons depicted in a photo or video are actors or models and not contractors listed on signup-here.com.

Calls may be recorded and monitored for quality, training and as a record of your request.

Connections depend on provider availability in your area; a call does not mean that a provider will accept the job or arrive at a particular time. Only homeowners are connected.

Signup Here may be compensated by its partners for calls placed through this page. Water Damage Help Desk is a Signup Here service, not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA, the National Flood Insurance Program, any insurer, utility or government agency.

This page is general information, not advice on insurance claims, coverage or legal rights. Ask your insurer, agent or attorney about your situation.

Ready to talk?

Make the area safe, stop the water if you can and photograph the damage. Then call the number on this page to be connected with an independent provider in your area, where one is available.

Call now: (888) 576-3071

Hours: Lines open daily; provider availability varies by area

Water Damage Help Desk · a Signup Here service

Sources

This page is general information, not professional, legal or financial advice. It was written from public sources and checked on 3 November 2026. Rules, prices and availability change; the provider you speak with will confirm what applies to you.