Water Damage Restoration in Lacey, WA

Water damage in Lacey: first steps

1. Stop the water at the fixture or main shut-off, often in the crawl space or garage.
2. Don’t enter a flooded crawl space if water could be in contact with wiring or equipment.
3. Photograph the damage and the source.
4. Get extraction and dehumidification started — winter air won’t dry it.
5. Call your insurer.

Groundwater and crawl spaces

North Thurston County’s prairies drain through gravelly soils into a shallow aquifer. In unusually wet winters, groundwater has risen high enough to flood crawl spaces and low-lying properties for weeks at a time. Unlike a burst pipe, groundwater keeps coming back until the water table drops, so the response combines pumping, drying and longer-term fixes like a sump, drainage improvements or a sealed vapor barrier.

Crawl space drying includes removing saturated insulation, taking readings on joists and subfloor, dehumidifying until wood is dry, and treating any mold growth.

Homes around Lacey’s lakes

Long Lake, Pattison Lake and Hicks Lake neighborhoods include older homes, some with septic systems. Heavy rain saturates drain fields and can cause backups; lakeside lots may also see higher groundwater. Sewage and floodwater are contaminated and require removal of affected porous materials and disinfection.

Hiring and insurance in Washington

Contractors must register with L&I. Sudden leaks are usually covered; groundwater and flooding usually are not. Washington’s insurance commissioner publishes a helpful guide on leaks, water damage and mold. See our mold remediation page and the nearby Olympia page.