Dry Effect lists water damage restoration, mold testing and remediation, fire damage restoration, sewage cleanup, basement waterproofing, air duct cleaning and odor removal. The company says it serves roughly a 60-mile radius around Cincinnati, including Northern Kentucky, and that it has operated since 2013. Its website lists IICRC certification and an emergency phone line.

Listed since 02/13/2020

Water damage restoration in Cincinnati

Much of Greater Cincinnati drains through combined sewers, which carry stormwater and household waste in one pipe. The Metropolitan Sewer District says about 40 percent of its system is combined, mainly in the city and older suburbs, and that during heavy rain the flow can be pushed backward through the public sewer and into buildings. It also draws a line that matters to owners: a backup caused by lack of capacity in the public sewer falls under its Sewer Backup Program, while a failed or clogged private building sewer is the property owner's responsibility. Water that comes up a floor drain is treated as contaminated, which is a different job from a burst supply line, so know which one you have before work begins.

What a water, mold and smoke job involves

The first step is stopping the source, then sorting the water by how contaminated it is. Clean supply-line water can often be dried in place. Sewage or floodwater usually means removing carpet pad, drywall and insulation that cannot be made safe. Crews extract standing water, set air movers and dehumidifiers, and record moisture readings until the structure reaches a dry standard. If mold has started, expect containment, removal of affected material and a check afterward. Fire work adds soot cleaning and odor control, and sometimes the duct system. Ask who records the readings and how the HVAC system will be handled. See what to expect from water extraction and drying and mold after water damage: testing and remediation.