What Is a Water Damage Inspection and How Much Does It Cost?

By Hannah Stephens

November 14, 2024

From minor leaks to large-scale flooding, finding water somewhere it shouldn't be inside your home is high on the list of homeowner nightmares. Water damage can cause mold, rot and even structural problems, so tackling the issue as soon as you notice it is essential.

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A water damage inspection is the first step toward a dry, healthy home.

What Is a Water Damage Inspection?

Water damage inspections assess the scale of the damage caused by a water event in a residential or commercial building, such as a burst pipe or flood. A qualified inspector can identify the affected areas of your home and recommend water damage restoration treatments to get your house back to its original condition. They can also assess the contamination level of the water to help you avoid harmful substances that pose a risk to your health.

Who Performs Water Damage Inspections?

Certified water damage restoration specialists often provide inspection services. Working with a restoration company is advantageous because you can usually book remediation through the same company to get your home up and running as quickly as possible.

Alternatively, a licensed home inspector can carry out water damage inspections. This route is more common if you plan to sell your home and want to determine the impact of water damage on your property's value. If you claim the cost of repairs through your home insurer, your insurance company may also send an adjuster to inspect the damage and calculate your compensation amount.

What Does a Water Damage Inspection Involve?

During a water damage inspection, your assessor will first identify the source of the water and repair the cause of the leak or flood to prevent more moisture from entering your home. Next, they'll inspect your house thoroughly to identify damaged materials. Inspectors typically use moisture detectors and other technologies to find impacted areas.

After inspecting your home, your inspector will categorize the water damage. The four water damage categories are:

Class One: Impacts less than 5% of the surfaces inside your home
Class Two: Impacts between 5% and 40% of the surfaces inside your home
Class Three: Impacts more than 40% of the surfaces inside your home
Class Four: Severe damage that impacts surfaces that tend to resist moisture absorption, such as concrete or plaster

Water damage assessors also check for contaminated water during inspections. Category one contamination involves clean water from your home's fresh water supply, while category two involves water from a somewhat contaminated source like a dishwasher. Category three contamination is the most serious and contains pathogens and other harmful substances. Common sources of category three contamination include sewage and flood water.

Finally, your inspector will recommend treatments to dry out your building materials, prevent further damage to your home or belongings and repair damaged areas. If your inspector works for a water damage repair company, they'll provide a restoration quote at this stage.

How Much Does a Water Damage Assessment Cost?

Remediation companies typically include water damage inspection costs in their quotes. Many companies offer free assessments, while others may charge for inspection services. Fees vary significantly between areas, but most water remediation specialists charge $70 to $200 (CAD 98 to CAD 279) per hour, according to data from Today's Homeowner.

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Mitigation: What Happens After a Water Damage Inspection

After a water damage inspection, you'll need to hire a specialist to dry and repair the damaged parts of your home. Without prompt remediation, mold can flourish in damp areas, and your house may develop potentially serious structural issues.

The first step in any water damage restoration project is removing water using specialized equipment, such as wet vacs and submersible pumps. Next, your remediation company will remove any materials that can't be restored and empty affected rooms to allow the surfaces to fully dry.

Your home may require cleaning and deodorizing if the damage involves contaminated water. While it can be tempting to clean your house yourself to reduce costs, waterborne contaminants could compromise your health. Remediation technicians use personal protection equipment when cleaning contaminated areas, so this job is best left to the professionals.

Finally, your restoration specialist will use dehumidifiers or air movers to dry out any remaining moisture. Depending on the extent of the damage, your home may require further repairs. You may need to hire other licensed professionals if the scope of the repairs is beyond your water restoration company's expertise.

All CAD conversions are based on the exchange rate on the date of publication.

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