One of the biggest concerns about the price of emergency water damage cleanup. Especially if the damage occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend. It’s a common misconception that you can save a large amount of money by waiting until regular business hours. Depending on the extent of the damage, you could actually spend more money because you waited. We look at the price of after-hours water damage cleanup and help you determine whether it’s worth waiting to save a few dollars.
Will After Hours Water Damage Cleanup Cost More Than Waiting?
Unfortunately, it’s hard to determine whether you’ll save money by waiting. The biggest advantage of waiting is that you save on emergency response fees and on labor rates.
Emergency response fees are usually a flat fee that varies depending on your location. For example, the fee is higher in larger cities like Los Angeles or Chicago than it is in smaller cities like Cleveland or Kansas City.
As for the labor rates, the price increase is usually a percentage of the hourly rate. Typically, the added percentage only applies to after-hours work. Work done during normal hours is usually billed at the normal rate.
Additionally, almost every contractor uses the same estimating software to calculate the price for your job. These after-hours rates are set in the software, so you won’t see that much of a difference from estimate to estimate.
However, water will do more damage the longer that it sits and mold can grow in as little as 24 to 48 hours. Both of these will drive up the price of cleanup, which can quickly offset the savings of waiting.
Factors to Consider When Deciding Whether to Wait on Water Damage Cleanup
There are several factors to consider when deciding whether to call now or wait for cleanup services. Due to the risk of increased cost and mold, we recommend you call immediately in any water damage emergency.
- Amount of Water – If there is only a small amount of water, you may want to clean up the damage yourself or wait until the next morning. It’s hard to provide a specific amount of water it’s safe to wait on though.
- Type of Water – The type of water determines how long you can wait before starting cleanup. You can wait a little longer if it’s clean water from a supply line than if it’s raw sewage.
- When the Damage Occurred – If you wake up at 7 am to find your basement flooded, it might be worth waiting an hour for a water damage company to open. However, if it happens at 6:30 pm on a Friday night, waiting until Monday morning will dramatically increase the price for cleanup.
- Are You Filing an Insurance Claim – Perhaps the biggest consideration is whether you plan to file an insurance claim. If you do, there is no reason to wait. In fact, waiting to call a contractor increases the risk of having your claim denied.
What Defines a Water Damage Emergency?
Although this seems like a simple question, it’s difficult to provide an exact answer. One person may consider an inch of water an emergency, while another person may think it means a foot or more.
For that reason, we define a water damage emergency in terms of amount, equipment, time, and type:
- Amount – Safely remove the amount of water
- Equipment – Using the equipment you already have
- Time – In less than two hours
- Type – As long as it does not contain sewage
If you cannot meet those conditions, it’s probably a water damage emergency. Regardless of the time of day or night, you should probably call a water damage restoration company for assistance.
How to Get the Lowest Price on Emergency Water Damage Restoration?
The best way to get the lowest price on water damage cleanup is by calling a contractor for an estimate right away. This way you have a real price for your situation and can decide on the best course of action.
Because contractors know price is a major concern, almost every contractor offers a free estimate for water damage clean up and repairs. If they do not offer a free estimate, they will clearly explain this in advance.
It’s also important to understand they cannot provide an accurate estimate over the phone. Providing accurate pricing on cleanup requires seeing the damage in person.
Get a Free Estimate From a Local Contractor Now
Restoration Local makes it easy to get a free estimate for water damage cleanup. Call 1-888-443-3110 now to speak with our on-call restoration specialist near you.
