What should I do first if my Plainfield home has water damage?
Stay safe around electricity, stop the water at the main shutoff if it is a pipe or appliance, photograph everything and call a water damage restoration company. Press 1 on our line and we connect you with a local one.
- Safety. If water is near outlets, cords or the panel, stay out. The CDC says never to switch power while standing in water.
- Stop the source. Close the main water shutoff for a pipe or appliance leak. For sewage from a floor drain, stop using water in the house.
- Document. Photos and video before anything is moved.
- Call. Your insurer if you plan to file, and a restoration company to start drying.
Who do I call about a sewer backup in Plainfield?
The Village of Plainfield Public Works Department. A blockage can be in the public sewer, which the village handles, or in your private service line, which is the homeowner's responsibility.
A useful check before you call: if only one drain is backing up and the others work, it is most likely a clog in your own plumbing, so call a plumber. If several fixtures back up at once, or neighbors are having the same problem, the public main may be involved. Either way, sewage is IICRC Category 3 water and needs careful cleanup. See sewer backup cleanup.
My Plainfield house is fairly new. Why did it flood?
Newer homes flood too. A sump pump that loses power, a discharge line that freezes, a supply hose that bursts or a storm that overwhelms the drain tile can all put water in a basement built last decade.
Most of Plainfield's growth came after 1990, so many homes have sump pumps, water heaters and appliances of a similar age, which can mean they reach replacement age around the same time. Heavy rain that saturates the ground around foundations is the other common trigger. See sump pump failure and appliance leaks.
Does the DuPage River flood homes in Plainfield?
The DuPage River runs through the village center on its way south toward the Des Plaines River, and the April 2013 storm brought record flooding to parts of the DuPage River system. Homes near the river and its floodplain face surface flooding that a standard homeowners policy does not cover.
The Illinois Department of Insurance says standard homeowners policies do not cover flood. That takes a separate flood policy, and FEMA says an NFIP policy typically has a 30-day waiting period, so it has to be in place before the storm. Read more in our Illinois insurance guide.
How soon does drying need to start?
Within 24 to 48 hours, according to the EPA, to prevent mold growth.
That window is why it is worth calling early instead of waiting to see if a shop vac and fans will do it. A restoration company will extract water, pull out wet materials that cannot be saved and run dehumidifiers until moisture readings say the job is done. The Naperville water damage guide covers the process, costs and how to choose a company.
Do I need a permit to rebuild in Plainfield?
Ask the Village of Plainfield before rebuilding. Permit rules are local and differ from Naperville's.
Cleanup and drying generally do not need a permit. Rebuilding framing, drywall, electrical or plumbing often does. Ask your contractor who pulls it.
Do you help with all of Plainfield?
Yes, on both the Will County and Kendall County sides. We connect you with a local water damage restoration company, and that company confirms it serves your address.
Plainfield is bordered by Naperville to the north, Bolingbrook to the northeast, Romeoville to the east and Joliet to the south. Other nearby towns we cover: Aurora, Bolingbrook, Lisle, Wheaton, Warrenville.