What water damage cleanup costs

The cost guides price water removal by how dirty the water is. Clean water costs the least to remove and dry, water from a washer or dishwasher (gray water) costs more, and black water costs the most. HomeGuide counts water from toilets and sewer backups, groundwater coming in and rising seawater as black water.¹ So a basement flooded by groundwater is priced at the black water rate.

The size of the area matters too. How far a sewage backup spread is what moves its price across the range.⁶

These ranges are for taking out the water, drying the area with equipment and cleaning up. Some include small repairs: Fixr's average job includes drywall and ceiling repairs in a bathroom.² Fixing the pipe or appliance that leaked is a separate job, and so is rebuilding after a large loss.

• A flooded basement as one job. There aren't enough published figures to give a range for it. Use the black water rate above for a basement flooded by groundwater.
• A one-room sewage cleanup, or sewage cleanup by the square foot. There aren't enough published figures for those.
• Drying equipment by the day. None of the cost guides we read prices it.
• Insurance claim averages. They include repairs and rebuilding, so they aren't cleanup prices.

• What kind of water the company thinks it is (clean, gray or black), since that sets the rate.
• How many days of drying the price includes, and how the company will check the area is dry before it leaves.
• Whether the price includes taking out and replacing drywall, flooring or insulation, or only the drying.
• Whether the company works with insurers, if you've started a claim.

If water is near outlets or the electrical panel, read what to do in the first hours after water or sewage gets in before anything else.

Each company on this site is listed with its phone number where it has one, so you can call two or three and compare. You can also use the request form to reach restoration companies near you.