What happens when you call
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Tell us what happened. 30 seconds - where the water is and how bad.
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You're connected with a local restoration crew while you're on the line.
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The crew confirms timing and sets your arrival time with you directly.
What do Boston crews handle?
- Burst & frozen pipes
- Flooded basements & crawl spaces
- Sewage backup & extraction
- Storm & roof-leak flooding
- Ceiling leaks & appliance failures
- Structural drying & dehumidification
Common emergencies in Boston
- Nor'easters
- Ice dams
- Frozen pipes
What's different about water damage in Boston?
Boston winters write the playbook: ice dams pond meltwater under roof shingles until it finds the ceiling, and deep freezes burst pipes in triple-decker walls that were never insulated to modern standards. The housing stock is old - original galvanized lines, plaster walls that hold moisture - and spring thaws push groundwater into stone-foundation basements.
Northern policies cover sudden freeze-burst pipes as long as the home was reasonably heated - and ice-dam water damage to the interior is typically covered even though the roof maintenance itself may not be. Sewer and sump backup need their own endorsement.
Your call goes to a crew based in the Boston area. Serving Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Quincy, Newton, Brookline, and all of Suffolk County.
Repairing water damage in Boston: rules, homes, and who to call
In Boston, the flood map changes the permit. Inside the city's Flood Hazard District, which follows FEMA's Special Flood Hazard Area under Zoning Article 25, long-form permits go through flood plan review at Inspectional Services. If repair costs exceed 50% of the building's market value, the home is treated as substantially damaged and must meet the same flood standards as new construction. To close out that permit, a home needs an as-built Elevation Certificate from a licensed surveyor. Smaller repairs that don't change structure or use can go on a short-form permit, but a condo owner in a building of three or more units must hire a contractor. A standard homeowner policy usually does not cover natural flooding; NFIP coverage is separate and typically starts 30 days after purchase. For a broken city main or a sewer backup, call the Boston Water and Sewer Commission's 24-hour line.
Permits and licensing
Massachusetts splits contractor rules in two. Anyone contracting for work on an existing, owner-occupied home of one to four units must hold a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration, and jobs over $1,000 need a written contract. The state's guidance chart also lists drywall, plastering and structural repairs as needing a Construction Supervisor License and a building permit. Plumbers, gas fitters and electricians are licensed by separate state boards. In Boston, Inspectional Services issues permits; a short-form permit covers repairs that don't change a building's structure or use. Inside Boston's Flood Hazard District, repairs costing more than 50% of the building's market value trigger full flood compliance and an as-built Elevation Certificate. These city rules stop at Boston's limits; Cambridge, Quincy and other neighbors run their own permit offices.
How Boston homes are built
Much of central Boston sits on filled land. The Boston Groundwater Trust lists Back Bay, the South End, Fenway, Bay Village, the North End and parts of Beacon Hill among those areas, and says most buildings put up there before the 20th century rest on wood piles that decay if groundwater drops. Substantial rehabilitation there can trigger the city's Groundwater Conservation Overlay District review.
When emergencies cluster
Boston's emergencies cluster in winter, when snow, ice and deep cold hit roofs and pipes, and in coastal storms. Logan Airport recorded 22.1 inches of snow on January 27, 2015, and 64.8 inches that February. On January 4, 2018, the Boston tide gauge reached its highest water level on record. Logan logged 23.6 inches of snow on January 29, 2022, and hit minus 10 degrees on February 4, 2023.
Water and gas: who handles what
Water and sewer in Boston are run by the Boston Water and Sewer Commission. Report a water or sewer emergency, such as a broken main or a sewer backup, to its 24-hour emergency line, 617-989-7000. If you smell gas, go outside first, then call 911 or your gas utility; National Grid's Massachusetts gas emergency line is 1-800-233-5325. Don't touch switches, unplug anything or light a flame on the way out.
Also serving nearby
Common questions
How fast can someone be here?
Our line is answered 24/7, and you're connected with a local restoration crew while you're on the call. The crew confirms timing and sets your arrival time with you directly.
Is ice dam damage covered in Massachusetts?
Interior water damage from an ice dam is typically covered; repairing the roof and gutters themselves often isn't. Review your policy, including endorsements. Photograph the ceiling staining and the dam before it melts.
Our triple-decker's pipes froze - covered?
Typically yes, if you followed your policy's freeze precautions - usually maintaining heat, or shutting off the water and draining the pipes. Insurers may ask about thermostat settings and whether heat was maintained, so answer accurately. Once it's safe, start drying to prevent further damage.
Do I need a permit to fix water damage in my Boston home?
Usually. Replacing drywall, plaster or framing generally needs a building permit, and the state's guidance chart lists those jobs as needing a Construction Supervisor License too. Minor repairs that don't change structure or use can go on Boston's short-form permit, and owner-occupants of one- or two-family homes may pull it for work they do themselves. Plumbing and wiring go to licensed trades.
How do I check a contractor before signing in Massachusetts?
Look up the Home Improvement Contractor registration and any Construction Supervisor License on the state's search tools. For work over $1,000, the law requires a written contract with the registration number, start and completion dates, and a deposit no higher than one-third of the price unless special-order materials cost more. Hiring an unregistered contractor, or pulling the permit yourself, removes Guaranty Fund protection.
Does homeowners insurance cover flooding in Boston?
Usually not for natural flooding. The city's emergency management office notes that most homeowner policies cover water damage from internal defects, while natural flooding needs a separate flood policy, typically through the NFIP. Most NFIP policies take effect 30 days after purchase, and they cover only certain items in a basement, so check your policy before you need it.
Do you work with my insurance?
Many restoration contractors work with adjusters. Ask how billing works on the call, and ask the contractor about documentation and coordination with your adjuster. Sudden, accidental water damage is typically covered by homeowner's insurance. Review your policy, including endorsements.
What does it cost?
It depends on how far the water spread. Ask for a written scope and estimate before work starts. Sudden, accidental water damage is typically covered by homeowner's insurance. Review your policy, including endorsements.
What should I do while I wait?
If it's safe, shut off the water source and power to wet areas, and move valuables up off the floor. The crew handles the rest.