Why extraction is the first tool out of the truck
Air movers and dehumidifiers dry what is damp. They are slow and costly against what is wet. A truck mount or portable extractor pulls water out of carpet and pad in minutes. Skipping that step is one of the most common reasons a dry out runs long.
What we extract, and from where
- Carpet and pad after a supply line, toilet tank or water heater leak
- Tile and luxury vinyl, including water that has run under baseboards
- Garage floors where a water heater let go
- Closets and hallways, which trap water and are easy to miss
Clean water, gray water and black water change the job
| Water | Typical source | National range |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1, clean | Supply line, sink, tub overflow, toilet tank | $3.75 to $4.25 |
| Category 2, gray | Washer or dishwasher discharge, toilet bowl without feces | $4.10 to $6.50 |
| Category 3, black | Sewage, outside floodwater | $7 to $7.50 |
These are national figures from cost guides, not a local quote. Category also decides what stays. Carpet wet with clean water can often be dried in place. Carpet soaked with sewage cannot.
What happens in the first hour on site
Power check
No one walks into standing water near live outlets. If the breaker cannot be reached from a dry spot, an electrician is the first call.
Photos for your claim
We photograph the water line and the source before anything moves.
Extraction passes
Several slow passes over carpet. Pad that is saturated is cut out in sections.
Move and block
Furniture comes off the wet floor and sits on blocks or foil so stain does not wick into the carpet.
Readings
Meter readings on the walls show how far the water climbed. Drywall wicks water upward.
What you can do before we get there
- Shut the main valve. In the valley it is often in the front yard near the sewer riser cap, in the garage or at a manifold.
- Stay out of standing water that touches outlets or cords.
- Lift small electronics, papers and rugs onto a counter or bed.
- Open interior doors so air can move, but leave the AC set where it was unless we say otherwise.