Water damage questions from Honolulu and Oahu households
Most questions fall into four groups: what to do in the first minutes, how the drying works, what license and checks apply and how insurance is handled. The answers below are written for a homeowner or a shop owner who needs to act now.
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The first minutes
What if I cannot find the shut-off valve?
Shut off the main for the building if you can reach it safely, and tell the phone team that the valve is not found. The crew will locate the source on arrival.
Can I use the wet bathroom or kitchen?
Not while water is standing and while outlets or appliances are wet. Keep off the floor until the crew has checked the room.
Drying and readings
What is a moisture reading?
A measurement of how much water a material holds. The crew takes readings in the wall, the floor and the subfloor, and it compares them with a dry area of the same building.
Why does a wall still feel damp after the drying?
The surface can dry while the cavity behind it stays wet. Ask for fresh readings and a return visit before the wall is closed.
Licenses and checks
How do I check a contractor?
Use the DCCA Licensing and Business Registration lookup at businesscheck.hawaii.gov, and check the license type against the scope.
When is an asbestos check needed?
When an older building's material may contain asbestos and the work would disturb it. The check comes before the material is cut or removed.
Insurance and records
What should I keep for my insurer?
Photographs with dates, the readings, the written scope, the invoices and the drying record. This site does not decide the claim, and the policy decides the cover.
Where do I complain about an insurer?
The Hawaii Insurance Division, part of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, takes complaints about insurers.
Question not answered here?
Call and ask. A technician will give you a straight answer, even if the answer is that you do not need us.