Water Damage Restoration in Louisville, KY

What's going on and what to do right now

Water damage usually shows up in one of four ways: a burst pipe or appliance leak, a flooded basement after heavy rain, sewage backing up through a floor drain, or mold showing up weeks after water sat somewhere it shouldn't have. Each one is different, but the first steps are mostly the same.

Stop the water if you can. Find your main shutoff valve, usually on the lowest level of the house near where the water line comes in, and shut it off. Louisville Water recommends tagging that valve now, before you ever need it.

Once the water is off, take photos of everything before you touch it. Kentucky's Department of Insurance says to photograph damage before you throw anything out, save a piece of anything you do discard, and keep every receipt, even for a wet/dry vac. Those records matter when you file a claim.

If sewage is involved, keep kids and pets out of the area. Wear rubber gloves, rubber boots, and goggles if you go near it.

Why Louisville, KY sees so much water damage

Louisville gets hit from several directions at once.

Spring rain comes fast and heavy. In March 1997, 7.22 inches fell in a single day, and MSD took more than 7,000 calls, mostly about sewer backups and basement flooding. In April 2025, more than 7 inches fell over five days, pushing the Ohio River to its 8th-highest crest on record.

Parts of older Louisville run rainwater and sewage through the same pipes. When those pipes fill up in a heavy storm, water can back up into basements. MSD calls flooding the most severe natural disaster in Louisville Metro.

Winter adds its own problems. Louisville averages about 74 nights a year at or below freezing. On December 23, 2022, temperatures dropped 50 degrees in 12 hours, bottoming out below zero.

The three kinds of water, in plain terms

Restoration companies sort water into three categories, from clean (like a broken supply line) to grossly contaminated (like sewage or river floodwater). Which one you have changes how the job is done. Under the IICRC S500 standard, the most serious category includes sewage, backflow from beyond a drain trap, and rising water from rivers or streams.

The category affects what can be dried and saved and what has to come out.

What a restoration company typically does

A water damage restoration company may start with water removal, then set up drying equipment to pull moisture out of walls, floors, and framing. Materials that can't be dried, like saturated drywall or soaked insulation, are usually removed. Once everything is dry, the repair work begins.

One important point: finding and fixing the source of the water is a separate job. A burst pipe needs a plumber. A leaking roof needs a roofer. The restoration company handles the drying and cleanup; the source of the leak may need its own specialist.

Insurance basics worth knowing before you call

Homeowners policies are generally written for sudden, accidental damage, like a burst pipe. Slow leaks and gradual wear are common exclusions. Flood damage is typically excluded from a standard homeowners policy entirely. Flood coverage comes from the National Flood Insurance Program, and it usually takes 30 days to go into effect after you buy it.

Kentucky's Department of Insurance says to take steps to prevent more damage, like water removal, but hold off on permanent repairs until the adjuster has seen the situation. Meet the adjuster before signing a repair contract. Since April 2, 2024, Kentucky law also prohibits signing your insurance benefits over to a contractor, though you can still have the insurer pay a contractor directly for covered work.

When you do hire a company, get a written contract that spells out the work, the total cost, and the completion date. Never pay the full amount before the job is done.

How to choose a water damage restoration company

Ask for references and check them. Make sure the company carries its own insurance. Get everything in writing before work starts, including the scope, the price, and the completion date. Kentucky's Department of Insurance says never to pay the full amount before the work is complete.

How this free referral service works

This site is a free referral service for Louisville-area homeowners. When you call, the call goes straight through to a local water damage restoration company. When you fill out the form, we pass your information to a local company who will reach out to schedule a visit and give you a free quote. We are not a restoration company. We do not do the work, set the prices, or make any promises about results.

After a house fire, the water used to put it out is only part of it. See fire damage restoration in Louisville.

Frequently asked questions