Single-digit temperatures always send fear into the hearts and wallets of homeowners who pray the water pipes don’t break. The unlucky are faced with the unpleasant task of drying out carpets, walls, flooring and cabinets. If that doesn’t happen quickly, mold can become a difficult and expensive issue.
Alan Hoffman, owner of Homegate Realty in Reno, says if there is a broken pipe, turn the water to the house off and then call the insurance company: “The insurance company will send out an adjuster who will provide an approved list of contractors to use, and the homeowner should definitely use those contractors. If problems arise later, the homeowner can go back to the insurance company to make it right, so that protects the homeowner.”
John Langondis disagrees. He’s the owner of A-Plus Cleaning and Restoration.
“The insurance adjusters will push contractors on the homeowners who might not be certified to do this work and then when there are problems later, the homeowner is stuck with the charges,” he said.
State Farm Insurance agent Lorri Myler says they do provide the homeowner with a list of approved contractors, but it’s up to the homeowner to pick anyone they want to use. “We don’t shove one contractor on a homeowner, but if they use someone on the approved list, all the work is guaranteed,” she said.
Both the Builders Association of Northern Nevada and the Associated General Contractors (AGC) say the homeowner should always check to make sure a contractor is licensed with the State Contractors Board. “Water damage is a very special cleanup situation,” said John Madole, executive director for AGC. “You want to make sure you use the right people because you do not want mold in your home.”
For information on local contractors, including complaints, go to the Nevada Contractors Board at nvcontractorsboard.com.