Frequently Asked Questions
And Very Helpful Answers
The Basics
As soon as you discover water, fire, smoke or sewer damage, call Tidal Wave. Call us before you call your insurance company. We'll send a First Responder out to assess the damage. We can then call your insurance to give them the information they need to start your claim.
We negotiate with insurance to ensure your covered for all the damage and appropriate restoration.
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Tidal Wave cleans up the water and muck usually in 3 - 7 hours. The drying time can take another 24 - 48 hours. Obviously cleanup and dry time will depend on the size and extent of the water damage.
We expedite the water removal because the longer it's there the more damage it can cause. Some companies take days to remove the water. We consider the water an emergency and deal with it immediately.
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For the health and safety of you and your family, it's not wise to clean it up yourself. Water damage can affect the electrical system. Cleaning may release asbestos, lead paint, or other hazardous materials. Our professionals know the dangers and the hidden damage. We have the equipment to clean it up safely.
Working with Insurance
Absolutely! John Myer, Tidal Wave Owner, used to work for an insurance company. He knows the ins and outs of how insurance works, what information they need to process your claim, and most importantly, how to negotiate the amount needed to properly clean and restore your property.
Definitely! Most property insurance policies cover floods caused by leaking or burst pipes, tub or toilet overflow, fire extinguishing, sewer backups, etc.
Some people assume they can't file a claim because they do not have flood insurance. Flood insurance refers to natural disasters. If your water damage didn't come directly from Mother Nature, but from inside your home, it's probably covered.
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Costs
There's no way to estimate without assessing your specific damage. However, the short answer is, your cost will essentially be whatever your deductible is on your policy. Insurance should cover the rest.
But to give you a scope, there's the obvious damage you can see, then there's likely hidden damage within floors, walls, or ceilings you can't see. The longer the water is present, the worse the damage becomes. Eventually, it will become a mold problem, which exponentially increase the cost.
To keep the cost to a minimum, and to shorten the time to restore your property, contact us the moment you find water damage.
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The homeowner is always ultimately responsible for paying for the damages. However, if you have insurance, they should cover you according to their policy. In most cases, the homeowner is only responsible for the deductible.
For the majority of our customers, we negotiate with the insurance company, and bill them directly. You know from the beginning that the most you will have to pay is. your deductible.
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My valuables
If you have valuable artwork, china, heirlooms, etc., that were water, smoke or fire damaged, you need to contact a professional restorer who specializes in your specific items. Your insurance may cover those items as well as your property.
Please let us know if you have valuable items when our First Responder arrives. We want to take special care when cleaning not to disturb those items.
If you do not already have a list of items that cannot be restored, take a picture of them for your insurance company. That will help in filing your claim.
Water Damage
When you call Tidal Wave, we send a First Responder out immediately. If you haven't been able to stop the source of the water, we may contact a leak detection company.
Your First Responder will assess the damage and contact your insurance company. We will then dispatch a Cleanup Crew. They will extract the water, remove unrestorable carpet or drywall if necessary. Once the water is removed, they'll leave drying fans for a day or so to dry everything out.
Once the Cleanup is finished, we schedule your repairs and restoration. These are local contractors we know and trust. We oversee all restoration work.
When the job is complete, we bill your insurance company.
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Unfortunately, when there is visible water damage, there is nearly always hidden water damage, too. Water can get into your electrical system, seep deeply into walls, floors, the ceiling on the floor below. It may not show up right away, but always assume the damage is deeper than what you can see on the surface.
Call 770-693-4568
Most water damage (other than from storms) comes from leaky pipes, broken water lines, or overflow from toilets, sinks or tubs. Even a slow-drip leak from a pipe can cause significant damage over time.
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Fire & Smoke Damage
When you call Tidal Wave, we send a First Responder out immediately to assess the fire, smoke, and water damage and contact your insurance company. We will then dispatch a Cleanup Crew. They will extract the water, remove unrestorable carpet or drywall if necessary. Once the water is removed, they'll leave drying fans for a day or so to dry everything out.
Once the Cleanup is finished, we schedule your repairs and restoration. These are local contractors we know and trust. We oversee all restoration work.
When the job is complete, we bill your insurance company.
Call 770-693-4568
Yes, if your fire department determines it's safe to enter. It's better to re-enter your home after Tidal Wave has assessed the damage and spoken with your insurance adjuster. It's important not to disturb damaged areas or remove any items until your insurance company can document the damages.
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With Tidal Wave, the cleanup is usually 3 - 7 hours. That's removing the water the firefighters used, and some destroyed materials. It's critical to get the water out first so it doesn't create more damage. We'll set up drying equipment immediately and let that run for a day or so until everything is dry.
After the cleaning and drying, we'll schedule repairs and restoration. That may take a week to get all the professionals scheduled. We oversee the work so it's completed correctly and on time.
The total amount of time from start to finish will depend on the extent of damage. Tidal Wave will keep you informed and set a realistic timeframe for completion.
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Sewage Damage
When you call Tidal Wave, we send a First Responder out immediately. If you haven't been able to stop the source of the sewage, we may contact a plumber.
Your First Responder will assess the damage and contact your insurance company. We will then dispatch a Cleanup Crew. They will extract the water and muck, remove unrestorable carpet or drywall if necessary. Once the sewage is removed, they'll leave drying fans for a day or so to dry everything out.
Once the Cleanup is finished, we schedule your repairs and restoration. These are local contractors we know and trust. We oversee all restoration work.
When the job is complete, we bill your insurance company.
Call 770-693-4568
Unfortunately, when there is visible sewage damage, there is nearly always hidden damage, too. Water from a toilet overflow or sewer backup can get into your electrical system, seep deeply into walls, floors, the ceiling on the floor below. It may not show up right away, but always assume the damage is deeper than what you can see on the surface.
Call 770-693-4568
With Tidal Wave, the cleanup is usually 3 - 7 hours. That's removing the water and muck, and some destroyed materials. We clean thoroughly to remove the smell. We'll set up drying equipment immediately and let that run for a day or so until everything is dry.
After the cleaning and drying, we'll schedule repairs and restoration. That may take a week to get all the professionals scheduled. We oversee the work so it's completed correctly and on time.
Call 770-693-4568