Water and fire damage questions

Fixr lists water damage restoration at $1,200 to $5,000, with a $3,000 national average. Bob Vila gives $1,305 to $5,707. Clean water from a supply line costs less per square foot ($3.75 to $4.25) than sewage or flood water ($7 to $7.50), and rebuilding is extra.

Fixr puts fire damage restoration at $3,000 to $40,000, with an $11,900 national average, or about $4 to $6.50 per square foot. Smoke odor cleanup alone runs $200 to $1,200, and soot removal $400 to $1,700. A small kitchen fire and a house that needs a full rebuild are very different jobs, so get the scope in writing.

The plumbing repair is the small part: Fixr lists burst pipe repair at $200 to $1,000, about $500 on average, and thawing a frozen pipe at about $100. The water the pipe released is the larger bill. Fixr puts water damage restoration at $1,200 to $5,000, before rebuilding.

Fixr lists ice dam removal at $600 to $1,800, about $1,200 on average, and steam removal at $400 to $600 per hour. That is the ice on the roof. The wet insulation and wall cavities inside are a separate drying and repair job.

Fixr puts most mold remediation jobs at $1,500 to $9,000, with a $3,500 national average, and $10 to $30 per square foot. Bob Vila gives a lower range of $1,125 to $3,439. The size of the area and how much material has to come out decide the price.

Drying usually takes at least three days, according to Fixr, and Bob Vila puts it at about 72 hours for most areas. Rebuilding can take several more weeks, depending on how much was removed. Waiting on an insurance adjuster or on materials adds time, and in a New Hampshire winter a house with no heat has to be warmed before it will dry.

The EPA says to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. In a finished basement or a wall cavity behind an ice dam, that rarely happens without dehumidifiers and a moisture meter.

Pipes in unheated spots freeze first, along with the ones in outside walls under kitchen and bath sinks. The Red Cross advises opening cabinet doors so warm air reaches the plumbing, letting cold water drip on very cold nights, and keeping the heat at no lower than 55°F when you are away.

Warm air from the house leaks into the attic and heats the roof deck. Snow melts on the upper roof, runs down to the cold eaves and refreezes into a ridge of ice. Water then backs up under the shingles and into the ceiling and walls. Extension services point to sealing attic air leaks and adding insulation as the fix, with ventilation helping.

In much of Manchester the sewer pipes carry both rainwater and sewage. The city says its overflows exist to keep that mix from backing up into streets and basements during storms. A backflow device on your sewer line is the usual defense, and the city runs a CSO 50/50 Sewer Backflow Program that reimburses part of an approved device in combined sewer areas, installed by a licensed plumber.

Stop the water, then get it out and dry the structure fast. Wet carpet pad and drywall that stayed wet usually have to be cut out; framing and subfloors can often be dried in place with fans and dehumidifiers. Moisture readings should show the materials are dry before anything is closed up. Then the rebuild.

Don't go back in until the fire department says it is safe. Don't turn on the furnace or air handler, which spreads soot through the ducts. Photograph everything before cleanup, call your insurer, and secure the house against weather. Soot is acidic and keeps etching surfaces, so cleaning should start within days.

A restoration company stops the damage. It dries the house and removes wet or burned material, then cleans the smoke and soot. Some also rebuild; others hand that off to a general contractor. Ask which they do before you sign, so the job doesn't stall halfway.

For a small area, yes. The EPA says that if the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet, roughly a 3 foot by 3 foot patch, you can usually handle it yourself. Larger areas, mold in the HVAC system, or mold after sewage or flood water are jobs for a professional.

New Hampshire's rental standards (RSA 48-A:14) don't name mold, but they do cover defective plumbing and sewage backups. They also cover a roof or walls that leak consistently, and heat that keeps the unit at an average of 65 degrees F. Tell the landlord in writing and keep a copy. If nothing happens, call the local health or code office. General information only; ask a lawyer about your own case.

Usually when the water is sudden and accidental, like a burst pipe, and usually not when it is flood water from outside, which needs a separate flood policy. The NH Insurance Department has said most homeowners policies exclude flood damage. Sewer backup is often excluded too unless you added an endorsement. Read your policy and ask your agent.

Generally you can choose your own restoration company. Ask your insurer in writing how it handles a company that is not on its list, and read every form the company hands you, including any that assigns your benefits or directs payment to them.

It can affect renewal. Before filing a small claim, compare the repair cost with your deductible and ask your agent how claims affect your renewal. Report a real loss promptly either way; waiting can give the insurer a reason to call it long-term seepage.

Often yes. Under RSA 361-B, when a sale of $150 or more is made at your home rather than at the seller's place of business, you can cancel by written notice before midnight of the third business day. The federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule is similar. Emergency work you asked for can be treated differently, so read what you sign.

Not necessarily. A national franchise is a locally owned business using a shared brand, and quality varies by owner. A local independent company can be just as equipped. What matters more is a written scope, moisture readings you can see, and proof of insurance. Don't sign insurance forms on the spot.

New Hampshire has no state license for general contractors or for restoration and mold companies, which the state's own consumer protection lawyers have pointed out. Plumbers and electricians are licensed through the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. So ask for proof of insurance, a written scope and price, and check whether the city needs a building permit for the repair.