Home repair companies are inundated with calls due to rain

Each company said callers complained primarily about weather-related sump pump failures, flooded basements, foundation problems and sewer backups. If water problems aren’t addressed, they can turn into mold within “a matter of days,” said Dana Joyce, marketing manager at Revive Restoration. Revive Restoration employs 40 people and serves Madison only.

Sump pumps remove water and debris from the lowest parts of a home, such as the basement or crawl space, to prevent flooding, water damage and mold.

Joyce says Revive Restoration employees do an average of up to two water damage repairs a day. For mold damage, they do up to six a day, she says. Most of those come from people who had water damage but didn’t discover it right away.

Compared to 2023, when Wisconsin experienced a significant drought, calls for water-related home repairs have increased 20% this year.

“It’s a lot crazier than last year,” Joyce said.

The situation is not much different at Certi-Dry. The company employs about 70 people and serves Madison, Janesville and Waukesha.

Matthew Sayre, sales manager for Certi-Dry, said the company receives about five calls a day in Madison alone asking for water repairs.

That’s also about five calls a day for mold. At Certi-Dry, the number of customers needing weather-related repairs is up 30% from last year, Sayre said.

Joyce of Revive Restoration said she has some tips for property owners to prevent water damage.

“Make sure you get your gutters cleaned at least twice a year,” she said. “If you have a sump pump anywhere in your house, check to make sure it’s working at least twice a week. The best time to check it is when it’s running – when you know you’ve been stuck in a rainstorm for 10 minutes.

“It’s good practice to have your foundation inspected. We live in a state with extreme temperature changes. You never know when a crack will appear in the foundation. It’s important to have it inspected once a year.”