Dry to the studs, not just the surface.

Not by how it looks or feels. A home is dry when moisture readings across the affected walls, subfloor and framing reach their target levels and hold steady between daily checks. We take those readings every day and stop when the numbers say it is dry, not when the calendar does.

For a very small leak caught within a few hours on a hard floor, sometimes. Once water has reached drywall, subfloor or wall cavities, household fans and dehumidifiers are usually undersized for the job, and moisture left in the structure is how mold starts.

Carpet and pad can sometimes be dried in place when the water was clean and extraction started quickly, though the pad often has to come out. Hardwood absorbs water through its face and edges and can cup or buckle within a day or two, so it usually needs specialized floor drying set directly on the boards.

Usually not. Most families stay in the unaffected rooms. The equipment is loud and runs around the clock, so if it has to run in a bedroom or the only bathroom, staying elsewhere for a few days can be easier. Sewage losses are different and often mean leaving until cleanup is done.

Sudden and accidental water damage, like a burst pipe, is typically covered, including the drying. Long-term leaks are often excluded, and flooding from outside the home usually needs a separate flood policy. We document every reading so the claim is decided on evidence.