Water Damage, Mold and Restoration Companies in the Chicago Area

What Makes Chicago Different

Chicago is a basement city, and that shapes almost every water loss here. Much of the city drains into a combined sewer that carries both storm water and sewage in the same pipes. When a heavy summer storm fills those pipes, water can push back up through a basement floor drain. Treat that water as sewage, even if it looks clear, and remove soaked carpet and drywall rather than drying them in place.

Winter brings the other big risk. Deep cold splits pipes in outside walls, enclosed porches and crawlspaces, and the leak often shows up when things thaw. Snow and ice on the roof can form ice dams that push melt water under shingles and into ceilings. Freeze and thaw cycles also open cracks in foundation walls, which is why spring seepage is so common.

The housing is old. Bungalows, two-flats and greystones built before 1978 may have lead paint, and old boilers and steam pipes were often wrapped in insulation that can contain asbestos. Many older homes still get their drinking water through a lead service line. Test before you sand, scrape or tear out anything in an older home.