The leaks we see most in Central Florida
Most water damage here starts inside the house, not outside. A few sources come up again and again.
- Burst or cracked supply lines. The small hoses under sinks and behind toilets are under pressure all day. When one splits, it runs until someone turns off the water.
- Water heaters. Tanks wear out from the inside. A slow drip in a garage or closet can soak a wall for weeks before anyone sees it.
- Washing machine hoses. Rubber hoses get brittle with age and heat. A failure on the second floor reaches the ceiling below quickly.
- AC drain lines and air handlers. Our air conditioners pull a lot of water out of the air. When the drain line clogs, the pan overflows into a closet, a hallway ceiling or the attic insulation.
Whatever the source, the job is the same. Stop the water, find every place it reached, and dry the structure until the readings say it is done.
Slab homes hide more water than you think
Most homes in Orlando sit on a concrete slab. Water that lands on the floor has nowhere to drain, so it spreads sideways under carpet, laminate and vinyl plank. From there it wicks up into baseboards and the bottom of the drywall.
The carpet can feel dry on top while the pad underneath is soaked. Tile can look fine while water sits in the grout lines and under the edges. That is why we measure instead of guessing. Moisture readings show us where the water actually went, including inside walls and under flooring, so nothing gets sealed back up wet.
Why Florida humidity makes speed matter
In drier places a small leak can sometimes dry on its own. Here it rarely does. Our air holds so much moisture for most of the year that wet drywall, carpet pad and wood framing have nowhere to give their water up to.
Mold can begin growing within 24 to 48 hours after materials get wet. Wood swells, laminate cups and drywall softens. The longer water sits, the more has to be removed instead of dried. Getting drying equipment running in the first day is often the difference between saving a floor and replacing it.
What we do when we get there
We start by making sure the water is stopped and the space is safe to work in. Then we map the wet areas with moisture readings and take photos before anything moves.
Standing water and soaked pad come out first. Anything that cannot be dried, like swollen particle board or saturated pad, is removed carefully, and we show you why. Then we set up air movers and dehumidifiers sized for the space and for Florida air. We come back to check readings until every area is back to normal.
You get the photos and moisture readings for your records. We work with all insurance companies and document everything your adjuster needs: photos, moisture readings and a detailed, itemized estimate.
Homes and businesses, any hour
We work in houses, condos, rentals, offices, shops and restaurants across Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties. For a business, we plan the work around keeping you open where we safely can. For a home, we explain each step so you know what is happening and why.
If the water came in from outside during a storm, see our page on flood and storm damage. When the drying is done, we can finish with a carpet cleaning so the room feels like yours again.