Phone line launching soon. We are not taking calls yet. Email info@sarasotawaterdamagefl.com.

Rising water near outlets, or a gas smell? Get out and call 911.

Phone Line Launching Soon
Menu

Storm, flood & leak help · Sarasota County

Water Damage Restoration in Sarasota, FL

Storm water in the living room, a ceiling stain after a squall, a supply line that let go overnight: we connect Sarasota property owners with independent local restoration companies that pump it out, dry the structure and document the loss.

Phone Line Launching SoonEmail us
Illustration of the Sarasota shoreline at dusk: Gulf waves, a barrier island with palms and homes on the mainland

Local referral service

Water damage restoration in Sarasota starts with finding every wet spot

Water damage restoration in Sarasota, FL is rarely just about the puddle you can see. Water runs under baseboards, wicks up the bottom of drywall, collects under tile and vinyl plank and soaks the insulation in a ceiling below. On a slab home it spreads sideways across the floor; in a condo it can travel down to the unit beneath. A restoration crew has to find all of it before the drying plan makes sense.

Through our referral line (opening soon), you can be put in touch with an independent water damage company that serves your part of Sarasota County. A technician comes out, stops or confirms the source has been stopped, extracts standing water, measures moisture room by room and sets up drying equipment. Materials that cannot be saved are removed and photographed so your insurer can see what was lost and why.

When you are ready, email info@sarasotawaterdamagefl.com while our phone line is being set up.

Illustration of a moisture meter held against a wet wall

How it works

From first call to a dry house

We are a referral service. The work itself is done by an independent restoration company that you deal with directly.

  1. Tell us what happened

    Share your ZIP code and the source: storm water, a roof leak, a pipe, an appliance or the AC. That is enough to match you with a company that covers your area.

  2. Book a water check

    A technician inspects on site, maps moisture with meters and explains what needs to be extracted, dried or removed before any work starts.

  3. Drying and documentation

    Equipment runs until readings return to normal. Photos, moisture logs and a scope of work give your adjuster a clear record of the loss.

Services

Water damage services across Sarasota

Storm and flood water extraction is the most urgent job after a Gulf storm, but most calls in a normal month come from plumbing, appliances, roofs and air conditioners. Each page below explains what the work involves and what to do before help arrives.

Storms, hurricanes and water from outside

Lead serviceStorm & Flood Water ExtractionPumping out rain and creek water after storms, then drying slab floors and walls before mold sets in.Learn moreNamed stormsHurricane & Storm Damage CleanupTarping, water removal, debris and drying after a hurricane or tropical storm passes Sarasota County.Learn moreBarrier islandsStorm Surge & Coastal FloodingSalt water, sand and mud on Siesta Key, Lido Key, Longboat Key and bayfront streets after surge.Learn moreAfter wind and rainRoof Leak & Ceiling Water DamageWet attic insulation, sagging drywall ceilings and stains after a storm or an aging roof lets go.Learn more

Plumbing, appliance and AC leaks

PlumbingBurst Pipe Water CleanupFailed supply lines, fittings and old pipe that flood a kitchen, bath or garage before the main is shut off.Learn moreUnder the floorSlab Leak Water DamageHidden leaks in pipes running through or under the concrete slab: warm floors, damp baseboards, rising bills.Learn moreGarage & closetsWater Heater Leak CleanupTanks that rust through or relief valves that drip, soaking garage walls, closets and nearby rooms.Learn moreKitchen & laundryAppliance Leak Water DamageWashing machine hoses, dishwasher lines, ice makers and fridge supply lines that leak under cabinets and floors.Learn moreYear-round in FloridaAC Condensate Leak Water DamageClogged drain lines and rusted pans in attic or closet air handlers that soak ceilings and walls.Learn more

Cleanup, drying and repairs

Category 3 waterSewage Backup CleanupToilet and drain backups, overwhelmed sewer lines after heavy rain and septic failures.Learn moreFollow-up riskMold After Water DamageMold that grows when a leak or flood was not dried fast enough, and how to stop it spreading.Learn moreThe core of the jobStructural Drying & DehumidificationDehumidifiers, air movers and daily moisture readings until walls, floors and framing are back to normal.Learn moreTile, plank, carpet, wallsFlooring & Drywall Water DamageDeciding what to dry and what to replace: tile and slab, vinyl plank, laminate, carpet, baseboards and drywall.Learn moreUnit to unitCondo & HOA Water DamageLeaks that cross floors in downtown, Siesta Key and Longboat Key condos, and how master and HO-6 policies split it.Learn more

Storm season

Why Sarasota storms cause so much water damage

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and 2024 showed how quickly the threats can stack up. Tropical Storm Debby stalled over the area in early August and dropped close to 18 inches of rain near Sarasota, according to the National Weather Service, flooding neighborhoods along Phillippi Creek and around Pinecraft. Seven weeks later Hurricane Helene passed more than 100 miles offshore and still pushed roughly 5 to 6 feet of storm surge into Sarasota County, flooding St. Armands Circle, Lido Key and Siesta Key Village.

Hurricane Milton followed on October 9, 2024, making landfall near Siesta Key as a Category 3 storm. Sarasota County describes it as the first hurricane to make landfall in the county since 1944, with the worst surge from Venice south toward Boca Grande. Two years earlier, Hurricane Ian's rain sent the Myakka River to record levels and flooded much of North Port.

Each type of storm leaves a different kind of water behind. Rain through a damaged roof is usually clean at first. Surge and creek flooding carry mud, salt and sewage, and they call for a very different cleanup, which we cover on the storm surge and coastal flooding page.

Illustration of a storm cloud with rain falling on a house

Service areas

Sarasota ZIP codes and nearby towns

Every Sarasota ZIP code from 34231 to 34243 is covered, along with several neighboring communities. Each area page covers the housing, flood risks and utility details that matter for that part of the county.

Sarasota by ZIP code

Nearby towns

See all service areas

Local building notes

What makes water damage in Sarasota homes different

Most houses here sit on concrete slabs, so there is no basement to catch water. It spreads across the floor instead, under tile, laminate and the bottom plates of interior walls. A slab also hides plumbing, which is why a warm spot on the floor or a meter that keeps spinning can point to a slab leak rather than a visible pipe.

Air conditioning runs most of the year. A clogged condensate line or a rusted drain pan in an attic air handler can drip for weeks before a ceiling stain appears, and the humid air makes drywall slow to dry once it is wet. Many older Sarasota houses are concrete block with plaster or furred-out interior walls, which hold water differently from the drywall in newer construction and need their own drying approach.

Downtown, on Siesta Key and on Longboat Key, a large share of homes are condo units. A leak from one unit can damage several below it, and the association's master policy and each owner's HO-6 policy may each cover part of the loss. Our condo water damage page explains how those claims usually split.

Illustration of a mid-rise condo building with a leak between floors

Florida insurance

Insurance rules every Sarasota owner should know

  • Deadlines are shorter than they used to be. Florida law gives you one year from the date of loss to report a new or reopened property claim and 18 months for a supplemental claim.
  • Flood is a separate policy. Homeowners policies exclude rising water and storm surge. National Flood Insurance Program policies normally take 30 days to start, and a signed proof of loss is usually due within 60 days of the flood unless FEMA extends it.
  • Hurricane deductibles are different. Most Florida policies carry a separate hurricane deductible, often 2 to 5 percent of the home's insured value, according to the Florida Department of Financial Services.
  • Assignment of benefits ended for newer policies. For residential policies issued on or after January 1, 2023, you cannot sign your post-loss insurance benefits over to a contractor. You stay the one dealing with the insurer.

The state's Insurance Consumer Helpline, run by the Department of Financial Services, can answer claim questions at 1-877-693-5236. Our Florida water damage insurance guide goes through the whole process.

Illustration of an insurance claim form with photos and a checklist

Before help arrives

What to do in the first hour

  1. If water is near outlets, cords or the electrical panel, or you smell gas, leave and call 911.
  2. Shut off the water at the main valve, or turn off the appliance or AC unit that is leaking.
  3. Switch off breakers for wet rooms only if you can reach the panel from a dry spot.
  4. Photograph and video every wet room, the source and any damaged belongings before moving anything.
  5. Lift furniture onto blocks or foil, move rugs and electronics, and wipe up what you safely can.
  6. Call your insurer to open a claim and write down the claim number.

The first 24 hours guide has more detail, including what to do after a hurricane when roads are closed and power is out.

Illustration of air movers and a dehumidifier drying a room

Hiring tips

Questions to ask any restoration company

After a big storm, trucks from out of state arrive quickly and door-to-door offers are common. A few questions help you compare companies on equal terms:

  • Can you show your Florida license and proof of insurance? Contractor licenses can be checked through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
  • If mold covers more than about 10 square feet, will the work be done by a Florida-licensed mold remediator, as state law requires for paid work of that size?
  • Will you take moisture readings each day and share the drying log with me and my adjuster?
  • What will be removed, what will be dried in place, and how will you decide?
  • Who handles the rebuild once drying is finished, and is that a separate contract?

Take your time reading any contract, and never sign one that leaves the scope or the payment terms blank.

Ready when you are

Get a restoration pro out to the property

An independent local company can trace where the water went, set up drying and keep a record of every step for your insurer.

Phone Line Launching SoonEmail us

Questions

Sarasota water damage questions

How fast does water damage need attention in a Sarasota home?

Start the same day if you can. Drywall, baseboards and carpet pad soak up water within hours, and Sarasota's humid air slows natural drying, so a room that stays wet for two or three days is far more likely to need tear-out. Mold can begin to grow on damp materials in that window too.

Is flood water from a storm covered by my homeowners policy?

Usually not. Standard Florida homeowners policies exclude flood, meaning rising surface water or storm surge entering the home. Flood is covered by a separate policy, either through FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood insurer. Rain driven through a storm-damaged roof is handled differently and is often covered by the homeowners policy.

How long do I have to report a water damage claim in Florida?

Under Florida Statutes 627.70132, notice of a new or reopened property claim must reach your insurer within one year of the date of loss, and a supplemental claim within 18 months. Those are outer limits. Your policy also asks for prompt notice, so report the loss as soon as you safely can.

What does a water check involve?

A technician looks for the source, then uses moisture meters and often a thermal camera to map how far water traveled into walls, floors, cabinets and ceilings. You get a picture of what is wet, what can be dried in place, what has to come out and how long drying should take.

Who do I call if the leak is on the public side of the meter?

Inside Sarasota city limits, the City of Sarasota Utilities Department handles water mains and the meter. In unincorporated areas such as Gulf Gate, Palmer Ranch, Bee Ridge and Siesta Key, contact Sarasota County Public Utilities. Leaks on the house side of the meter belong to the property owner.

Do you send someone yourselves?

No. Sarasota Water Damage is a free referral service, not a contractor. We connect you with an independent restoration company that serves your ZIP code. That company sets its own schedule and terms, so ask it about licensing, insurance and how it will document the job for your insurer before work begins.

Phone Line Launching Soon