Emergency Water Extraction

If you have standing water in your home or business, call 786-919-0159. A live person answers 24/7 and sends a crew with a fast response to pump it out and start drying anywhere in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.

Water extraction is the first and most important step in any water damage job. Every gallon pulled out with extraction equipment is a gallon that does not have to evaporate later. Fast, thorough extraction can cut drying time by days, keep flooring and drywall from being torn out and lower the chance of mold.

When You Need Water Extraction

• Standing water on tile, wood, laminate or concrete floors
• Carpet that squishes when you step on it
• A burst pipe, failed water heater or broken supply line that flooded a room
• An AC closet or washing machine overflow that spread across the floor
• Water that came in under doors during a storm or king tide
• A sewage or toilet backup (handled as contaminated water)

How Water Extraction Works

1. Safety check. The crew confirms power is off to wet areas and identifies the type of water: clean, gray or contaminated.
2. Stop the source. If water is still running, it is shut off at the fixture or the main valve.
3. Bulk water removal. Submersible pumps handle deep water. Truck-mounted or portable extractors pull water from floors and carpet.
4. Carpet and pad. Weighted extraction tools squeeze water out of carpet and pad. Pad soaked with contaminated water is removed.
5. Moisture mapping. Meters and thermal cameras show where water has spread under flooring and into walls.
6. Drying setup. Air movers and dehumidifiers go in right away so the structure starts drying the same day. See water mitigation and drying.

Clean Water, Gray Water and Black Water

The type of water decides what can be saved. Clean water from a supply line or water heater can often be extracted and dried in place if work starts fast. Gray water from a washer, dishwasher or toilet overflow without waste carries contaminants, so carpet pad and some porous materials usually come out. Black water from sewage, storm flooding or surge is contaminated; porous materials are removed and every surface is cleaned and disinfected. Clean water left sitting for a day or two can turn into gray water as it picks up bacteria, which is one more reason speed matters.

Water Extraction in South Florida Homes

Most South Florida homes are concrete block on a slab with tile, laminate or wood floors. Water spreads across the slab under flooring and wicks up drywall from the bottom. Tile itself handles water well, but water trapped beneath it and behind baseboards does not dry on its own in our humidity. In condos, extraction has to happen quickly in every affected unit, because water travels through slabs and ceilings to the units below.

Will Insurance Cover Water Extraction?

Most homeowners and HO-6 condo policies cover water damage that is sudden and accidental, such as a burst pipe, a failed water heater or an overflowing appliance. They usually exclude damage from slow leaks that went on for weeks, normal wear and tear and flooding from outside water, which needs a separate flood policy.

Your policy also expects you to prevent further damage, which is why starting water extraction right away matters. To protect your claim, photograph the damage and the source before cleanup, report the claim promptly, keep receipts and ask for the crew’s moisture readings, photos and drying records to share with your adjuster.

What to Do Before the Crew Arrives

• Shut off the water at the main valve or the fixture.
• Turn off power to wet rooms at the breaker if you can do it from a dry spot.
• Take photos and video of the water and the source.
• Move electronics, papers and small furniture to a dry room.
• Do not use a household vacuum on water, and stay out of rooms with sagging ceilings.

Extraction Equipment and Why It Matters

Not all water removal is equal. Truck-mounted extractors have the most suction and work well for single-family homes with a short hose run. Portable extractors go anywhere, including high-rise condos and upper floors. Submersible pumps handle deep water in garages and ground floors after flooding. Weighted and stand-on extraction tools press water out of carpet and pad far better than a regular wand. The right combination pulls out the most water in the least time, which shortens the drying that follows.

Why Hours Matter

In the first few hours, water spreads across the slab and under baseboards. Within a day it wicks up drywall, swells wood and laminate and soaks cabinet bases. By the second day, mold can begin and clean water starts turning into gray water. A fast extraction can mean drying in place instead of tearing out floors and walls, which keeps repairs and insurance claims smaller.

• First hour: water spreads across floors and into carpet pad.
• First day: drywall wicks water upward; wood and laminate begin to swell.
• Day two and beyond: mold growth can start; odors develop; more materials need removal.

What Extraction Costs Depend On

Cost depends on how much water there is, how many rooms are affected, whether the water is clean or contaminated, what flooring is involved and how hard the space is to reach. A single bathroom is a much smaller job than a whole floor or several condo units. If the cause was sudden and accidental, homeowners insurance usually covers extraction as part of the claim.

Extraction in Condos and High-Rises

Condo towers add complications: elevators, loading docks, parking and building rules. Crews bring portable extraction equipment that fits service elevators and coordinate with building staff for access. Because water travels through slabs to the units below, every affected unit should be extracted and checked the same day. Let the person who answers know your building and unit number, and notify management so access is ready.

After the Water Is Out

Extraction removes the water you can see. The water you cannot see, inside drywall, under tile and in subfloors, is removed by structural drying over the next several days. Air movers and dehumidifiers run around the clock, and daily moisture readings show progress. Leaving the equipment running and keeping doors and windows closed so the dehumidifiers work efficiently gets your home dry fastest.

Extraction for Businesses

In offices, stores and restaurants, extraction often happens after hours or in sections so the business can keep operating. Large open floors may need several extractors working at once. Moving inventory and equipment out of the water early prevents much of the loss. See commercial water damage.

Related Services

• Water Mitigation and Drying: the drying that follows extraction
• Water Damage Repair: rebuilding what was removed
• Flood Cleanup: when the water came from outside
• Sewage Cleanup: contaminated water and backups

Where We Provide Water Extraction

Water Extraction is available 24/7 across all three South Florida counties, in every city, town and neighborhood:

• Miami-Dade County: Miami, Hialeah, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Doral, Kendall, Homestead and more
• Broward County: Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, Pompano Beach and more
• Palm Beach County: West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Jupiter, Wellington and more

See every community on our South Florida service areas page.

Water Extraction Questions