About This Site and Who Does the Work
This page tells you who runs this website, who does the work in your home, and how to check them yourself. You shouldn’t have to take our word for any of it.
Water in your home right now? Call (425) 307-0286.
Who runs this website?
This website is owned and run by WD Repair Bellevue. WD Repair Bellevue writes and maintains the guides, pays for the phone line and keeps the site online.
WD Repair Bellevue does not do restoration work in your home and doesn’t send crews, write estimates or bill you for repairs.
How this site works
When you call (425) 307-0286, a call partner routes your call to a participating independent restoration company that serves Bellevue. That company answers, sends its own technician, writes your estimate and does the work.
When you send the contact form, a participating local restoration company may call or text you about your request.
Your contract is with that company, not with WD Repair Bellevue. The company is independent. This site doesn’t own, manage or supervise it.
Companies may pay for the calls and requests they receive through this site. You don’t pay anything to use this site or the phone line.
We can’t promise which company you’ll reach. We also can’t vouch for any company’s work, so check them yourself using the list below.
You’re never obligated to hire anyone. You can get other estimates and choose any company you like.
Who does the work, and how to check their credentials
The company you’re connected with does the work. Before anyone starts, ask for each of these and check it yourself. Each one has a public lookup.
- Registration, bond and insurance: use the Washington L&I verify tool to check the company’s registration, bond and insurance (Washington L&I).
- IICRC Certified Firm: ask whether the firm is IICRC certified. Look it up on the IICRC Global Locator. The IICRC also verifies firms by phone at 844-464-4272 (IICRC Certified Firm Verification page).
- Mold work: Washington has no specific certification requirements for mold or water-damage restoration (Washington State Department of Health). Ask for IICRC certification and check the company’s L&I registration.
- Licensed plumber: only L&I-certified plumbers can legally perform plumbing work on someone else’s property (Washington L&I). Ask for the plumber’s certification.
- City of Bellevue contractor registration: contractors working in Bellevue must meet state registration requirements (City of Bellevue, Contractor Registration). Ask for the registration details.
- Insurance: ask for a certificate of insurance before work starts.
Ask which IICRC certifications the technicians hold. Common ones are WRT (Water Damage Restoration Technician), ASD (Applied Structural Drying) and AMRT (Applied Microbial Remediation Technician). WRT is the entry-level water damage course and comes before ASD. You can ask for a certificate number and check it with the IICRC.
For red flags and what to ask before you sign, see our hiring checklist.
This site has no restoration crew, so we don’t post photos of staff.
How we write and check our content
Our guides answer the questions Bellevue homeowners ask after a leak, in plain language. Here is how each page is made:
- Sources first. Every number, price, law or local fact comes from a named source. We cite it in the sentence, such as “(Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner)” or “(HomeAdvisor, 2025)”.
- Fact-checked. Each claim is checked against its source before the page goes live. Claims we can’t confirm are removed.
- Kept current. We recheck pages when laws, prices or City rules change. This page was last updated in November 2026.
- Drafting tools disclosed. Some drafts start with writing software. A person edits and fact-checks every page before it’s published.
Our guides explain how things usually work. They aren’t legal or insurance advice. Your policy and your adjuster decide what’s covered.
Found a mistake? Call (425) 307-0286 and we’ll check it.
Standards a restoration company should follow
Good restoration companies follow the industry’s published procedures:
- ANSI/IICRC S500, the standard for water damage restoration. It covers homes, businesses and the belongings inside them.
- ANSI/IICRC S520, the standard for mold remediation. The current edition is the 2024 fourth edition (IICRC).
These standards are why a proper job includes moisture readings, drying records and clear rules for dirty water. What that looks like on a job: how we work.
What we won’t do
Some promises sound helpful but can cause problems in your claim. This site won’t make them, and you should be wary of any company that does:
- Negotiating your insurance claim. Negotiating an insurance claim on someone’s behalf is public-adjuster activity under Washington law (RCW 48.17.010). A restoration company should document the damage and work with your adjuster.
- Waiving or absorbing your deductible. A company should not offer to cover your deductible. Ask for pricing and terms in writing.
- Testing and removing mold on the same job. Ask whether the same company will test and remove the mold. Independent testing gives a clearer result. Our guide to Washington mold law explains the options.
We also won’t rank Bellevue companies against each other. Companies may pay for calls through this site, so a “top companies” list from us wouldn’t be independent.
Sources for the claims on our pages
Each claim on the homepage is listed below with the page or document we checked it against. Where a source is a City or agency page, the link goes to that page.
First steps when water gets in
Turn off the main shut-off valve to stop water flow and flooding when a pipe breaks. Source: City of Bellevue, Prevent Frozen Pipes.
Turn off electricity if it is safe, and do not touch wet electrical equipment. Source: FEMA, Floods.
Avoid wading in floodwater, which can be contaminated and electrically charged by downed power lines. Source: FEMA, Floods.
Remove standing water and make the house safe from structural, electrical and physical hazards. Source: U.S. EPA, Flooded home.
Wear protective gloves, an N95 respirator and goggles before entering a flooded home. Source: U.S. EPA, Flooded home.
Do not turn on the HVAC system until the home is cleaned, dried and repaired. Source: U.S. EPA, Flooded home.
Freezing, weather and utilities
You are responsible for protecting water pipes from freezing and for repairing broken pipes on your property. Source: City of Bellevue, Prevent Frozen Pipes.
Freezing temperatures can cause pipes to break. Protect exposed pipes and call a plumber if a pipe breaks. Source: City of Bellevue, Prevent Frozen Pipes.
If you suspect a frozen water meter, call Bellevue Utilities at 425-452-7840. Source: City of Bellevue, Utilities contact.
For a major water-main or street leak, contact Bellevue Utilities at 425-452-7840. Source: City of Bellevue, Water Leaks.
The City of Bellevue maintains main sewer lines and service connections in the public right-of-way or dedicated easements. Source: City of Bellevue, Wastewater.
Problems in the private side sewer line are generally handled by a private plumber. Source: City of Bellevue, Wastewater.
What usually floods Bellevue homes
Replacing a water heater, and related plumbing work, can require a City of Bellevue permit. Source: City of Bellevue, Plumbing Permits.
Pipe repairs and alterations can require a City of Bellevue plumbing permit. Source: City of Bellevue, Plumbing Permits.
A clogged condensate line or overflowing drain pan can allow moisture to spread into nearby ceilings or walls. Source: U.S. EPA, Mold remediation guide, chapter 3.
The City of Bellevue identifies exposed outdoor faucets and pipes in unheated attics, garages, and crawl spaces as especially vulnerable. Source: City of Bellevue, Snow and Ice.
Bellevue’s stormwater system moves runoff toward Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish, and intense storms can overwhelm it. Source: City of Bellevue, Storm and Surface Water.
Intense storms can overwhelm the drainage system and cause flooding. Source: City of Bellevue, Flooding.
Blocked storm drains are a common cause of drainage problems that let water pool. Source: City of Bellevue, Flood Protection.
Mold, drying and contaminated materials
Moisture meters can measure the moisture content of building materials after water damage. Source: U.S. EPA, Mold remediation guide, chapter 3.
Moisture meters can also monitor the drying process. Source: U.S. EPA, Mold remediation guide, chapter 3.
EPA guidance recommends responding to water damage within 24 to 48 hours to help prevent mold growth. Source: U.S. EPA, Mold remediation guide, chapter 3.
Restoration professionals classify water by contamination level. Sewage and outside floodwater require more protective cleanup than a clean supply-line leak. Source: U.S. EPA, Mold remediation guide, chapter 3.
Porous materials contaminated by sewage or floodwater often cannot be reliably cleaned and may need to be removed. Source: U.S. EPA, Mold remediation guide, chapter 3.
Whether carpet pad can be saved depends on the water source, the contamination and how quickly it is dried. Source: U.S. EPA, Mold remediation guide, chapter 3.
For a small, clean spill on a hard floor, a wet vacuum can remove accumulated water. Dry the surface promptly and watch for moisture reaching walls or flooring. Source: U.S. EPA, Mold remediation guide, chapter 3.
You don’t need to sample for mold in most cases, because you can usually see or smell it. Source: Washington State Department of Health, Mold.
Washington has no specific certification requirements for mold or water-damage restoration. Source: Washington State Department of Health, Hiring a contractor.
Make sure the contractor you hire is licensed, bonded and insured. Source: Washington State Department of Health, Hiring a contractor.
Choosing a restoration company
Use the Washington L&I verify tool to check that a contractor has an active registration, bond and insurance. Source: Washington L&I, Verify a contractor.
Check that the contractor maintains a safe job site, and check its license history for past lawsuits or violations. Source: Washington L&I, Hiring a contractor.
Make sure the contractor has experience cleaning up mold, and check references. Source: U.S. EPA, Brief guide to mold, moisture and your home.
Look up the firm on the IICRC Global Locator for IICRC-certified professionals and firms. Source: IICRC Global Locator.
Only L&I-certified plumbers can legally perform plumbing work on someone else’s property. Source: Washington L&I, Plumbing.
Contractors working in Bellevue must meet state registration requirements. Source: City of Bellevue, Contractor registration.
The City requires permits for covered plumbing work, including water-heater replacement. Source: City of Bellevue, Plumbing Permits.
Once coverage is determined, you have the right to select your own contractor. Your insurer may recommend contractors, but it is not required to provide a list. Source: Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner, Filing a claim.
Insurance
Homeowner insurance often covers sudden, accidental water damage, such as a burst pipe. Coverage for gradual leaks and damage from delayed repairs can differ. Source: Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner, Leaks, water damage and mold.
Washington rules generally require an insurer to investigate a claim within 30 days after notice (WAC 284-30-370). Source: Washington Administrative Code 284-30-370.
Washington rules generally require an insurer to accept or deny a first-party claim within 15 working days after receiving completed proofs of loss (WAC 284-30-380). Source: Washington Administrative Code 284-30-380.
Negotiating an insurance claim on behalf of an insured is public-adjuster activity under Washington law (RCW 48.17.010). Source: Revised Code of Washington 48.17.010.
Service pages
Sewage or other contaminated water requires a professional who has experience cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by contaminated water. Source: U.S. EPA, Brief guide to mold, moisture and your home.
Porous materials that are wet may need to be removed. Source: U.S. EPA, Mold remediation guide, chapter 3.
Service pages
Under Bellevue City Code, the property owner owns and maintains the private side sewer on private property. Source: Bellevue City Code 24.04.115.
A side sewer permit is required to construct or repair a side sewer. Source: Bellevue City Code 24.04.240.
Washington landlords must keep plumbing and structural components in reasonable repair. Source: Revised Code of Washington 59.18.060.
Standard home policies generally don’t cover flood damage. Flood insurance is a separate policy. Source: Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner, Flood insurance.
Sewer backup is not covered by a standard home policy, but it can be added as an optional endorsement. Source: Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner, Flood insurance.
Questions about who we are? Call (425) 307-0286
Ask the company you’re connected with for its registration, bond and insurance details before you sign anything.