Get burst pipe damage dried and repaired
If a frozen pipe split or a supply line burst and water is running into your walls or ceiling, shut off the main water valve if you can and call us, and a real person answers 24/7 and sends a crew.
Burst pipe water damage restoration means drying and repairing everything the escaping water reached, from ceilings and walls to floors and framing. When you call Kodiak Restoration in Chicago, a real person answers 24/7 and we send a crew to remove water, open wet areas where needed, dry the structure, document it with photos and readings, and rebuild.
- A real person answers 24/7
- Photos and moisture readings for your claim
- One team from dry-out to rebuild
- [LICENSED AND INSURED: CONFIRM]
When should you call us?
- A pipe froze and split during a cold snap
- Water is dripping through a ceiling below a bathroom or kitchen
- A wall along the outside of the house is wet after a freeze
- A supply line under a sink, toilet or washer broke
- A pipe burst in an unheated basement, garage or crawl space
What can you do right now?
- Turn off the water at the main shutoff valve to stop the flow.
- Stay away from sagging ceilings, since a wet ceiling is heavy and can come down.
- Stay out of standing water if the power may be on, and keep electrical devices away from wet areas.
- If another pipe is frozen, thaw it with gentle heat only, never with an open flame or torch.
- Call a plumber to fix the pipe and let your insurance agent know.
If anyone is hurt, you smell gas or there is fire, call 911 first.
Here is what we do, step by step
Answer and dispatch
A real person answers 24/7, makes sure the water is shut off and sends a crew.
Trace the water
We follow the water from the break through ceilings, walls and floors with moisture meters and record what we find in photos and readings.
Remove and open up
We remove standing water and, where needed, open sections of drywall or ceiling so trapped water and wet insulation can be dried or removed.
Dry the structure
We set air movers and dehumidifiers and track moisture readings until materials are dry.
Coordinate the claim
We write the estimate in the estimating software insurance companies use and work with your adjuster.
Repair and restore
Once your plumber fixes the pipe, the same team repairs drywall, ceilings, floors and paint, and we send you updates until it is done.
How does insurance usually handle this?
Triple-I lists freezing of a plumbing system and accidental discharge of water from plumbing among the causes of damage covered by most homeowners policy forms. Damage from slow, long-term seepage is generally excluded as a maintenance issue. Check your own policy and talk to your agent or adjuster about how your loss will be handled.
This is general information, not insurance advice. We are glad to walk you through what we see and what to ask your insurer.
How claims work with usTalk to a person now
We answer 24/7. Tell us what happened and we will tell you what happens next.
Call [TRACKING NUMBER]Questions about frozen and burst pipes
Why do pipes burst when they freeze?
Water expands as it freezes, and the Red Cross notes that expanding ice can break a pipe no matter what it is made of. Pipes in unheated basements, crawl spaces, attics and garages, and pipes along poorly insulated outside walls, are the most likely to freeze.
How do I keep pipes from freezing in a Chicago winter?
The Red Cross suggests opening kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors so warm air reaches the plumbing, letting cold water drip from faucets served by exposed pipes, and keeping the thermostat at the same setting day and night. Triple-I recommends keeping the house at 65 degrees or warmer. If you leave home in cold weather, the Red Cross says to keep the heat no lower than 55 degrees.
What should I do if a pipe is frozen but has not burst?
Keep the faucet open and apply gentle heat, such as an electric hair dryer or towels soaked in hot water, as the Red Cross advises. Never use a blowtorch, propane heater or other open flame. If you cannot find or reach the frozen section, call a licensed plumber.
Do you repair the pipe itself?
We handle the water damage: drying, removal of what cannot be saved and the repairs to your home. A licensed plumber should repair the pipe, and we plan our drying and rebuild around that repair.
Will my ceiling or walls have to be opened?
Sometimes. Massachusetts public health guidance says wallboard that is not dried within 48 hours, and wet insulation inside the wall, should be discarded. We use moisture readings to find wet areas and open only what we need to dry or replace.
Can ice dams cause water damage too?
Yes. Triple-I explains that ice dams near gutters and downspouts can cause water to build up and seep into your house. Keeping gutters clear of leaves and debris lets melting snow and ice drain. If ice dam water is coming through a ceiling, we dry and repair the inside.
Related services
Water Damage Restoration
Leaks, overflows and water in floors, walls or ceilings.
Learn moreMold Remediation
Visible growth or a musty smell after a leak.
Learn moreReconstruction and Repairs
Drywall, flooring, paint and repairs after the cleanup.
Learn moreHelpful guides
Sources
- Preventing and Thawing Frozen Pipes (American Red Cross)
- The homeowner's severe cold weather survival guide (Triple-I)
- Winter Preparedness: During Winter Storm and Extreme Cold (City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications)
- Checking Your Home After A Fire (American Red Cross)
- Safety Guidelines: Reentering Your Flooded Home (CDC)
- Which disasters are covered by homeowners insurance? (Triple-I)
- Am I Covered? (Triple-I)
- Quick Reference: Water Damage Response in Buildings (Massachusetts Department of Public Health)