What water damage restoration costs in Chicago

Here is what published cost guides say water damage restoration costs, what we could and could not find for Chicago, and what tends to move the number up or down on a Chicago job. Every figure below comes from a named source, so you can check it yourself.

Is there Chicago-specific cost data?

We looked and did not find a published, citable Chicago average. HomeAdvisor’s Chicago listing for water removal shows local companies but no local price figures. So the ranges in this article are national figures from HomeAdvisor, Forbes Home and Fixr.

Local prices do shape insurance estimates. Adjusters price claims in the estimating software insurance companies use, and United Policyholders says insurance company adjusters use one program, Xactimate, to calculate building damage, repair and rebuilding costs. Its maker, Verisk, says each line item draws on pricing researched across more than 460 localized markets in the U.S. and Canada, so those estimates reflect local pricing rather than one national number.

What do national cost guides say?

Fixr’s low example is $350 for an overflowing toilet, and its high example is $50,000 for black water in a basement after a sewer backup.

How does the type of water change the price?

Cost guides sort water into three categories, and the price per square foot climbs with each one. In plain terms, HomeAdvisor describes clean water as water that has not touched chemicals or sewage, gray water as water carrying contaminants such as detergents, and black water as water that has come into contact with sewage. HomeAdvisor labels these Category 1, 2 and 3.

The black water numbers leave out a big piece. HomeAdvisor says its figure does not include replacing contaminated items, and Forbes Home says the total cannot be estimated up front because everything the water touched has to be replaced.

What does a flooded Chicago basement cost?

Basements deserve extra attention in Chicago. Most of the city’s sewers carry rainwater and wastewater in the same pipes, and WBEZ reported that, based on MWRD modeling, the system can be overwhelmed after two-thirds of an inch of rain in an hour. In an August 2023 analysis, WBEZ counted roughly 38,000 flooded-basement reports to 311 since 2019. The city’s more than 80,000 bungalows were built with full basements (WBEZ).

Published basement figures:

• One inch of clean water: $500 to $1,500 to remove (HomeAdvisor).
• Two feet of sewage backup: $2,800 or more (HomeAdvisor).
• Drying a 500 square foot basement: $2,000 to $7,000, not counting repairs (Fixr).
• Basement drain repair: $700 to $6,000 (HomeAdvisor).
• Basement jobs overall: $500 to $80,000 (HomeAdvisor) and $2,000 to $85,000 (Fixr).

FEMA’s flood insurance fact sheet puts the bigger picture this way: just one inch of water can cause roughly $25,000 of damage to a property. That figure covers damage to the home and belongings, not only the restoration work.

What else shows up on the bill?

Beyond removing water and drying, these line items are common in published guides:

• Emergency service fee: $50 to $200 (Fixr).
• Labor: $70 to $200 per hour for water damage companies (Fixr and Forbes Home).
• Mold remediation: $1,100 to $3,400, with an average of $2,225 (HomeAdvisor). Fixr lists $1,500 to $4,000.
• Drywall: $1 to $3 per square foot to repair (HomeAdvisor), or $1.50 to $3 (Fixr).
• Plaster: $6 to $19 per square foot to repair (HomeAdvisor), or $6.25 to $18.75 (Fixr).
• Hardwood: $10 to $15 per square foot (HomeAdvisor and Fixr).
• Ceilings: $450 to $1,600 (HomeAdvisor).

If mold is already growing, our mold remediation page explains that part of the work.

How much of this will insurance pay?

It depends on what caused the water and what your policy includes. NerdWallet explains that a homeowners policy typically covers sudden and accidental water damage that starts inside the home, up to your limits and minus your deductible. The Illinois Department of Insurance says standard policies do not cover flood and usually do not cover sewer backup or sump pump overflow unless you add an endorsement.

That endorsement has its own limit. NerdWallet found that water backup limits often start around $5,000 per year and that the coverage can cost up to $250 per year. Compare your limit to the basement figures above. For flood coverage, WBEZ reported in 2023 that a FEMA spokesperson put the average federal flood insurance premium in Chicago at $670 per year.

This is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Check your own policy and talk to your agent or adjuster about your situation. Our insurance claims page explains how we document a job so the estimate and the claim line up.

How can I keep the cost down?

1. Stay safe first. If water could be touching outlets or appliances and the power may be on, stay out of it. The CDC says to shut off the main power only from a dry location and to call an electrician if you would have to step into water. Your utility can also help. Call 911 for any emergency.
2. Stop the source. For a burst pipe, Nationwide says shutting off the main water valve stops the flow.
3. Start drying quickly. The EPA says to dry water-damaged areas within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold, which adds its own cost.
4. Keep the water from getting worse. The IICRC standard says time and temperature can affect the category of water (Cleanfax), and the guides above price dirtier water higher per square foot.
5. Move belongings out of the wet area so fewer items need cleaning or replacing.
6. Ask for a written, itemized estimate so you can see what each line covers.

Our water damage restoration page explains what the work includes.

When to call a restoration company

Here is what happens when you call us:

1. A person answers, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
2. We ask what happened, where the water came from and how much area it reached.
3. We send a crew to remove the water and start drying out your home.
4. We document everything for your insurance company.

When you are ready, you can contact us here.