Questions about water in a Brandywine home, answered
Short answers to what people in Brandywine ask first: where the shut-off is, what to do when a drain backs up, why a basement floods in a summer storm, and what a quote depends on. Each answer links to the page that covers it.
- Phones answered 24/7
- Flash floods, burst pipes, sewer backups
- Scope and price in writing before work
- Ask for the MHIC license on repairs
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (833) 490-5225. Or send this and we call you back.
Emergencies and first steps
What do I do if the basement drain has backed up?
Stay out of the water, do not run taps or flush toilets, and wear gloves if you have to go near it. Sewage can be in backed-up water. Ring (833) 490-5225 and say whether the backup happened while water was in use or when none was running, since that decides who clears the blockage.
Why did my basement flood in a summer storm?
Intense local storms can overwhelm drains and small creeks faster than they clear, and that often happens outside the mapped floodplains. It is a different problem from a pipe leak, and the crew checks which one you have.
Can I run a household vacuum over the water?
No. Keep clear of outlets and cords, and let the crew bring equipment made for wet work.
Cost, insurance and the rules
Do you give a price over the phone?
No. A figure given before anyone has seen the water would be invented. The scope and the price are explained on site and approved by you before work starts.
Does a homeowners policy cover flood?
A standard homeowners policy almost never covers flood, which usually needs a separate policy. Sewer or sump overflow is generally covered only with a water and sewer backup endorsement, which Maryland requires insurers to offer and which you may decline. The Maryland Insurance Administration takes complaints, and your policy and your insurer decide the cover.
Do I need a Maryland home improvement licence?
Where the work involves repairs or rebuilding on a home or apartment of three units or fewer, ask for the contractor's Maryland Home Improvement Commission licence number, and check it with the Commission. Whether pure drying work needs the licence is a question to ask, not a thing to assume.
Question not answered here?
Call and ask. A technician will give you a straight answer, even if the answer is that you do not need us.