Water Damage, Mold and Restoration Companies in the Utica Area

What Makes Utica Different

Utica winters are long, cold and snowy. Pipes in exterior walls, porches and unheated basements freeze and split, and the leak often shows up when things warm up. Ice dams form along the eaves of older homes with little attic insulation, and meltwater backs up under the shingles into ceilings and walls. Heavy snow on a flat or low roof can also push water in around vents and seams.

Much of the housing is old, including two family homes and wood frame houses built long before 1978. Lead paint is common, and old plaster, boiler pipe wrap and floor tile may contain asbestos, so test before you tear anything out. Stone and block basements seep in spring, and a dehumidifier helps keep mold away.

The Mohawk River and the creeks that feed it can flood in heavy rain, spring melt and ice jams. Floodwater from outside is contaminated, and a standard homeowners policy does not cover it. If the heat goes out in winter, open cabinet doors under sinks and let faucets drip until it comes back on.