Get plain answers before you make the next call
These guides explain what to do after water, fire, smoke or mold damage in a Chicago home, how insurance claims usually work, and how to prevent the next problem. Each one cites its sources and links to the help you need.
Water damage
What to do in the first hour after your basement floods
The first hour after a Chicago basement flood, in order: stay safe around power, find the source, call 311, take photos, call your insurer, start drying.
Read the guideHow long does water damage restoration take?
Published timelines for each stage of water damage restoration, from the first 48 hours to drying and repairs, plus how Illinois claim rules add time.
Read the guideWho fixes water damage in a Chicago rental?
What Chicago's Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance says about repairs, access and fire or casualty damage, and what renters insurance covers.
Read the guideWhat to do when your sump pump fails
Your sump pump quit and the basement is taking on water. Here is how to stay safe, find the cause, protect your claim and dry out before mold starts.
Read the guideWhat water damage restoration costs in Chicago
Published national cost ranges for water damage restoration, what changes the price in a Chicago basement, and how insurance coverage fits in.
Read the guideInsurance
Can you choose your own restoration company?
What Illinois insurance rules and consumer guidance say about hiring your own restoration contractor, and what happens when estimates differ.
Read the guideWho pays for condo water damage in Chicago?
How the Illinois Condominium Property Act splits water damage between a Chicago condo association and unit owners, and what an HO-6 policy covers.
Read the guideDoes homeowners insurance cover water damage in Illinois?
What an Illinois homeowners policy usually covers for water damage, what it leaves out, and the sewer backup notice rule insurers must follow since 2025.
Read the guideHow insurance claims work with a restoration company
What happens, in order, when a restoration company and your insurer handle the same water or fire claim in Illinois, and the timelines insurers follow.
Read the guideSewer backup or flood? What insurance covers in each
How to tell a sewer backup from a flood in a Chicago basement, and which coverage usually pays: a water backup endorsement or a flood insurance policy.
Read the guidePrevention
How to stop frozen pipes and what to do when one bursts
Keep pipes from freezing in a Chicago winter, thaw a frozen pipe safely, and take the right first steps when a pipe bursts, from shutoff valve to claim.
Read the guideHow to prepare your Chicago home for spring storms
A Chicago checklist for spring storms, from gutters and sump pump battery backups to backflow valves, overhead sewers, weather alerts and insurance.
Read the guideFire and smoke
What to do in the first 24 hours after a house fire
Step-by-step help for the first day after a house fire in Chicago, including who to call, when to go back in and how to protect your home and your claim.
Read the guideHow to handle smoke and soot safely
Who should stay out, which respirator to wear, how to clean soot without spreading it and when to call a professional, based on EPA and CDC advice.
Read the guide