A burst pipe, an overflowing dishwasher, or water creeping under the slab after a storm: whatever started it, one call to A Water Damage connects you with an independent, licensed and insured water damage contractor in Des Moines.
The call is free, and you only pay the contractor if you approve their quote.
Calls are routed to contractors serving zip codes including 98148 98198.

Carpet pad soaks through in minutes, drywall wicks water upward within hours, and the 24 to 48 hour mark is when mold starts to become a serious concern.
We are a referral line, not a restoration company. When you call A Water Damage from Des Moines, the call is routed to an independent local contractor who handles the extraction, drying, and repairs directly with you.
Water damage calls come in at the worst times. A washing machine hose splits during a Saturday load. A second-floor toilet overflows and drips through the kitchen light fixture. A sump pump quits in the middle of a downpour. People calling in are usually standing in the mess, phone in one hand, towel in the other, trying to figure out who to trust. That is the moment this service was built for.
The contractors in the network are independent businesses. They set their own prices, carry their own licenses and insurance, and stand behind their own work. Many hold IICRC training in water damage restoration and applied structural drying, and they show up with the gear the job needs: truck-mounted or portable extractors, commercial dehumidifiers, air movers, pin and pinless moisture meters, and thermal imaging cameras that spot wet framing behind finished walls.
Before you sign anything, ask the contractor for proof of license and insurance and a written estimate. Any reputable pro will provide both without hesitation, and most will walk the property with you, take moisture readings, and explain exactly what needs to come out and why.

Plenty of water damage stays hidden for weeks. Watch for these warning signs, and if you see one, get a professional moisture check before the problem grows.
Drywall wicks water upward like a sponge. If the bottom of a wall feels soft, shows a tide line, or the paint is bubbling, water is sitting inside the cavity.
That earthy, musty odor usually means moisture is trapped somewhere you cannot see, often under flooring or behind baseboards, and microbial growth may already be starting.
Hardwood boards that cup at the edges, laminate that peaks at the seams, or vinyl plank that lifts all point to moisture coming up from the subfloor.
If the water meter keeps turning with every tap closed, a pipe is leaking somewhere inside the walls, under the slab, or in the yard.
Yellow-brown rings or a bulge in the ceiling mean water is collecting above. Do not puncture it yourself, and keep people out of the room until a pro checks it.
Any visible standing water needs to come out fast. The longer it sits, the deeper it soaks into subfloors, cabinet bases, and drywall.
Water damage repair is really three jobs back to back: get the water out, get the structure dry, then put the home back together. The independent contractors you reach through this line handle all three, so you are not juggling a separate extraction company, drying company, and remodeler.

The first job on an emergency call is to stop the water and make the space safe. After that, the pro photographs everything, takes moisture readings, and starts pulling water with truck-mounted or portable extractors. On carpeted floors, weighted extraction tools squeeze water out of the pad, which shortens the drying phase and gives the carpet a much better chance of being saved.
Houses fail in predictable ways: supply lines under sinks, water heaters at the end of their life, dishwasher hoses, ice maker lines, and toilet fill valves. Independent pros in the network handle the full arc, from removing wet drywall and insulation to drying the framing, treating for microbial growth, and rebuilding with new drywall, paint, baseboards, and flooring.
For businesses, downtime is the real expense. Commercial contractors bring bigger equipment, including desiccant dehumidifiers that handle large volumes of air, and they can plan the work in phases so you can keep part of the building open. Daily moisture logs give your landlord or insurance adjuster a clear paper trail.
Drying is a science, not a box fan in the doorway. Pros set up a closed drying chamber, place air movers to push air across wet surfaces, and run low-grain refrigerant dehumidifiers to pull moisture out of the air. They check readings every day and adjust until framing, subfloor, and drywall reach dry standard, which is the moisture level of unaffected materials in the same home.
The best mold remediation is the kind you never need. After extraction, pros treat exposed framing and subfloors with an EPA-registered antimicrobial, cut out porous materials that stayed wet too long, and run HEPA air filtration if spores could travel through the house.
Not all water is the same. A sewage backup or river flooding is Category 3 water and requires protective equipment, removal of contaminated materials, and disinfection. Slab leaks need electronic leak detection. Crawl spaces need wet insulation pulled and vapor barriers replaced. Describing the situation on the call helps match you with the right specialist.
Every hour of standing water adds to the repair bill. Get a local pro on the way.
When water is on the floor, you need a short path to help. Here is what happens after you call.
When you call +1-877-637-9008, you will be asked a few quick questions: what failed, which rooms are wet, and roughly when it started. Those answers help route you to the right local contractor.
The contractor confirms your address, gives you an arrival window, and may walk you through shutting off the main water valve or the breaker to a wet room while you wait.
On site, the pro maps moisture with meters and thermal imaging, classifies the water category, photographs the damage, and gives you a written estimate before any work begins.
After your approval, water is extracted, drying equipment goes in, and readings are taken daily until everything is dry. Then comes the rebuild. Keep the drying logs and photos the contractor provides, since your adjuster will want them.

You need a pro who picks up, arrives when promised, and gives a straight answer on cost. That is what this line is set up to deliver.
Every contractor runs an independent, licensed and insured business. Ask for proof before work starts. A reputable pro will not hesitate.
Calls are answered around the clock. Since the pros already work in Des Moines, arrival is often quick, sometimes inside an hour, depending on demand and distance.
You get a written estimate after the inspection and before anything is torn out. Many contractors work directly with your insurance company and use the same pricing software adjusters use, which keeps the claim process smoother.
Calls go to contractors who already work neighborhoods in and around Des Moines. They know the local building styles, the usual trouble spots, and how weather affects homes in the area.
Calling is free. You are under no obligation until you approve a written estimate directly with the contractor, and you can always get a second opinion.
Dated photos, moisture readings, and drying logs are standard on every job. Insurance adjusters rely on these records, and they help you avoid disputes about what was damaged and how it was fixed.
People rarely remember the equipment. They remember that the phone got answered, the contractor arrived when promised, and the bill matched what was written down.

The water heater gave out late on a Sunday and soaked the garage and laundry room. The pro I was connected with arrived in under an hour, extracted everything that night, and had drying equipment running before he left. Straightforward and honest.
Dana R.Water heater failure, garage and laundry roomI did not know drywall could hold that much water until the contractor showed me on his thermal camera. He cut a two-foot flood cut along the hall, dried everything in four days, and walked me through the readings each morning.
Marcus T.Supply line leak behind hallway wallWe run a small dental office and a pipe burst over a weekend. The contractor worked in sections so we only lost one day of appointments, and the drying logs made our insurance claim painless.
Priya S.Commercial office, burst pipeSump pump died during a storm and we had three inches in the basement. The pro pulled up the carpet pad, saved the carpet, and treated the walls so we would not get mold. Fair price, written up before they started.
Jim and Carla W.Basement flood, failed sump pumpOur dishwasher had been leaking quietly and the laminate started lifting. The contractor found water under the cabinets too, removed the toe kicks to dry underneath, and saved the cabinets.
Alicia M.Hidden dishwasher leak, kitchenWater from the upstairs bathroom came through the dining room ceiling. The pro drained the bulge safely, dried the joists, then patched and painted. The ceiling looks brand new.
Ben K.Toilet overflow, ceiling damage
Here are straight answers to the questions callers ask most. If yours is not here, call and ask.
Arrival times vary with distance and demand, but local contractors often reach you within an hour or two. You will get an arrival estimate when the contractor calls you back.
Yes. The independent contractor inspects the damage and gives you a written estimate before work begins. You do not pay for the referral, and you are never obligated to hire the contractor.
Common emergency services include water extraction, drying setup, sewage cleanup, tarping, and board-up. Describing the situation clearly helps match you with a pro who has the right equipment.
Most policies cover sudden and accidental water damage, like a burst pipe or a failed water heater, but not gradual leaks or outside flooding unless you carry flood insurance. Contractors provide photos, moisture readings, and drying logs to support your claim. Check your own policy details with your agent.
Most structural drying jobs take three to five days. Dense materials like hardwood, plaster, and concrete can take longer. The contractor checks readings daily and removes equipment only when materials reach dry standard.
Shut off the main water valve if you can, switch off breakers to wet rooms, move valuables and furniture off wet floors, and take photos for your insurance. Do not use a household vacuum on standing water, and stay away from sagging ceilings.
It depends on the source. Clean water from a supply line is Category 1. Water from a dishwasher or washing machine is Category 2 and can make you sick. Sewage and outside floodwater are Category 3 and should only be handled with protective gear. When in doubt, stay out of it.
Not always. If the water was clean and the carpet is extracted and dried quickly, it can often be saved, though the pad usually gets replaced. Carpet soaked by sewage or floodwater should be removed.
Watch for a musty odor, black or green spotting, or new allergy symptoms indoors. The contractor can take moisture readings, and an independent mold assessor can test the air if needed.
No. A Water Damage is a free referral service. We connect you with independent, licensed and insured local contractors who perform the work and bill you directly. Always confirm licensing and insurance with the contractor before work begins.
Most Des Moines neighborhoods are covered, along with nearby zip codes such as 98148 98198. You will find out on the call if your address falls outside a contractor's area.
A quick call can tell you whether it is a DIY cleanup or a job for extraction equipment.
Calls from Des Moines are routed to contractors who work locally, so they understand the homes here, whether that means older galvanized plumbing or newer PEX lines and tankless water heaters.
Common service zip codes include 98148 98198, and nearby cities appear in the list below.
