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Water damage restoration for California homes, in 6 cities

Close the main valve, then call: California water jobs get extraction, drying and a written estimate.

In California, 14% of homes were built before 1950, when walls were often finished in plaster rather than drywall.

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  • Water removal, drying and repair

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Technical drawing of a water damage job: a flood-cut wall drying with an air mover and a dehumidifier.
Calls answered 24/7 for emergency water removal & extraction, water mitigation & drying, water damage repair, flood damage restoration and sewage cleanup.
PasadenaSanta MonicaMission ViejoCarlsbadBurbankMurrieta
California with the cities where 911 Water Damage Fix takes calls.

Water damage calls are answered 24/7 across California, city by city; check a ZIP code in California.

57% of homes in California were built before 1980.

Every water damage service in California

What California homeowners face

California's housing explains much of its water damage. Census figures show 57% of the state's homes were built before 1980 and 14% before 1950, so aging supply lines, water heaters and drains are common sources. With 44% of homes rented and 24% in buildings with 5 or more units, a leak often crosses into a neighbor's unit and involves a landlord or association. Calls come from 6 cities: Santa Monica, Pasadena, Burbank, Mission Viejo, Carlsbad and Murrieta. Santa Monica's homes are mostly older apartments, while Murrieta's are mostly newer houses.

Floods are less frequent but costly. FEMA flood insurance records show 0.5 claims per 1,000 homes statewide from 2016 to 2025, and FEMA's National Risk Index puts the yearly inland flood loss at $149 per $100,000 of building value. Only 1.3% of California homes carry federal flood insurance.

Before you call for water removal, check three things. A homeowners or renters policy usually covers sudden water, such as a burst pipe, but not slow leaks. Water from outside needs flood insurance, which standard policies exclude, and flood damage restoration depends on that policy. For the rebuild, check the contractor's license with the Contractors State License Board. If a drain backed up, sewage cleanup involves Category 3 water, so ask how contaminated materials will be removed.

What the California figures say about water damage

California has 14,532,683 housing units, according to Census estimates.

4% of homes in California are mobile or manufactured homes.

  • 14,532,683 Housing unitsCalifornia
  • 39,242,785 ResidentsCalifornia
  • 14% Homes built before 1950California
  • 57% Homes built before 1980California
  • 4% Mobile and manufactured homesCalifornia
  • 0.5 Flood insurance claims per 1,000 homes, 2016 to 2025California
  • 1.3% Homes with federal flood insuranceCalifornia
  • 149 Yearly inland flood loss per $100,000 of building valueCalifornia
  • 44% Homes that are rentedCalifornia

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-year estimates; FEMA OpenFEMA, FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, claims from 2016 to 2025 (not endorsed by FEMA); FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Residential Penetration Rates v1 (not endorsed by FEMA); FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, December 2025 (not endorsed by FEMA).

Guides for California cities

Before you call in California

How much does water damage restoration cost?

Most home jobs fall between about $1,300 and $6,400, based on HomeAdvisor's 2026 survey, with an independent HomeGuide range of $2,000 to $6,000. A small clean-water leak can be $150 to $500, while water that sat through much of a house can pass $15,000. Water removal and drying run about $3 to $12 per square foot, depending on whether the water was clean, gray or sewage. The written estimate after an inspection is the price that applies.

How long does it take to dry out water damage?

Drying usually takes several days, and the moisture readings decide when it is done, not the calendar. Clean water caught early in carpet and drywall dries faster than water that soaked into hardwood, plaster or subfloor for days. Equipment is billed per unit per day, so ask for the daily readings: they show which areas have reached the dry standard and when the air movers and dehumidifiers can come out.

Will my insurance pay for water damage in California?

Often, when the damage is sudden. Standard homeowners policies list accidental discharge from plumbing and appliances as covered, according to the Insurance Information Institute, while flooding from outside and sewer backup need separate coverage. Check your policy, call your insurer early and keep the crew's photos and moisture readings.

Do water damage companies need a license in California?

Rules differ by state and by the kind of work. Drying and cleanup alone often need no special license, while the repair and rebuild part usually falls under contractor licensing, and mold work has its own rules in some states. Ask the company which California license it holds for each part of the job and check it with the state board.

National price ranges before a California estimate

Typical US ranges from published cost guides; the written estimate for a job in California is the price that applies.

JobTypical rangeUnit
Water damage restoration, typical home job$1,300 to $6,400per job
Small clean-water leak, part of one room$150 to $500per job
Water removal and drying, clean water$3 to $6per sq ft
Water removal and drying, sewage or floodwater$7 to $12per sq ft
Flooded basement or ground floor, 500 to 1,000 sq ft$2,000 to $8,000per job
Sewage backup cleanup$2,000 to $10,000per job
Water-damaged ceiling repair$350 to $2,500per ceiling area

Typical US ranges from published cost guides (HomeAdvisor 2026, HomeGuide, Fixr), not quotes. The written estimate after an inspection is the price that applies.

Calls answered 24/7 in California

Day or night, the call is answered, and the price is written down first.

Call (833) 728-2327Calls answered 24/7
Call (833) 728-2327, answered 24/7